The Great Negotiator

That's what I am.

I'm really gonna miss PPC when he's gone for the year (or more)

Yesterday we talked a lot about nonnegotiables.  For example, church is a nonnegotiable.  I don't think, "should I go to church? do I want to go to church?" because those are invalid questions.  Church is nonnegotiable so theres nothing to consider, I just go.

Bible study is a nonnegotiable.  It's not just required by the Berean covenant, studying the bible is required for my growth, to know and love more the God who so loved me.  (which on a totally tangent topic, I was thinking, If God is timeless and sees a million years ago, ahead, the present all at once, wouldn't that mean He is always seeing and experiencing the sacrifice of Christ for all of eternity?  And for my sake?)

Those two are good but what other nonnegotiables are in my life, which ones do I need?

Is class a nonnegotiable?  To best glorify God in His calling to me, yea probably.

Is panda express a nonnegotiable?  I wish, but by no means.

Is facebook, twitter, blogger, tv, games, movies, motorcycles, cars, snowboarding, hiking, nonnegotiables?  Sometimes they are for me and they really don't need to be, especially when they are the reason for which i negotiate to not go or do something I should.

(Here's the heartbreaker) Are my disciplines nonnegotiable?  They shouldn't be, but they so often are.  In what greater area can I not afford to compromise than my relationship with God.  This was the sharpest rebuke in talking to PPC.  Ultimately, reading and praying are probably the most important things you can do in life.  One is talking to God, the other is listening to Him.  How can I in any way neglect that necessity and incredible blessing.

Was CCM a nonnegotiable for me?  Should it have been?  It's not a church after all...

Is hanging out a nonnegotiable?  Well depends whether its for the purpose of glorifying God or to glorify myself and my liesure.  It is a nonnegotiable thing to disciple, be discipled, and to encourage your brothers a sisters.  Fun is optional (but awesome)

Theres some tough ones to discern too, like, is my work nonnegotiable?  Hmm well I suppose that depends on what God's plan for me is (as best as I can discern it)  Maybe one day God will call me to forsake my job and at that time, it will be a good thing.

Ultimately, I need to make a few more things nonnegotiable, and probably compromise on some of the things I've habitually made nonnegotiable.  Time to go to prayer meetings consistently, pray more, journal more, read more, study more, pursue God in any and every way.  And more not in the sense of what I do now plus one, but more as in consistently.

(One of many issues that came up in asking if I wanted to be a teacher for the kids is, that I need to be more consistent.  PPC notices that I am up and down everyweek, doing better, then being dry, really passionate, then a little defeated (or more like dragging my feet, I'm never ever defeated with Christ by me).  I missed a few bible studies while they were considering me.  So I guess consistency is indeed something I need to work on if its so apparent to the leaders)