What Do I Do In My Free Time?

Well, the results are in. I'm not sure I like them. Now, something I want to be clear about: I'm not changing my numbers to make me look "good." I know a higher authority than man that I will report to for my actions. That includes this blog. A few things to explain on how I calculated my numbers: I only counted FREE time. I did not count my time at work, eating or sleeping(I allowed myself 7 hours of time for sleep each night. Any extra time sleeping I did factor in as Personal Time because I was choosing to sleep as a free time activity.) These numbers are all approximate. I didn't need every single second to get a feel for how I am spending my time. Also, this study is from Monday-Thursday, so its only a part of a week, but it was still good.

God Time = Time I spend reading my Bible, praying, or volunteering for God.

Family Time = Time I spent with my family instead of doing my own thing.

Personal Time = Time I spent doing things for me. (Watching TV, Playing Xbox, etc.)

Here are the numbers for my last week:

I had 10 hours of free time. I'll put them in order from the most time spent to the least time spent.

Family Time = 5 Hours

Personal Time = 3 Hours

God Time = 2 Hours

Ouch. Now, I can make all kinds of excuses for this. Like I spend a lot of time in the Bible studying for Youth Lessons and church on Sunday, but that isn't the same as chosen time with God. Or that I had a particularly busy week, but this was a typical week for me. They are all busy. No, I wanted an honest assessment of my free time and that is what I got. Doesn't matter that it was only 10 hours, what matters is that God is at the bottom of that list. I see 3 hours that I could have spent with God, but didn't. Looks like its time for a change.

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15 minutes...

For the past few weeks I have been filling out time analysis sheets for my job. Essentially, I have to write down what I am doing for every 15 minute block of the day. Now, I am not upset by this, nor was it done to try and expose any down time I had. It was just something they asked me to do. I have to say, on my end it was a learning experience and really good for me as well.

I got to see how much time I actually spent on each area of my job. How much time I spent updating a website or see specifically that it took me 1 hour to do a mail out. It really shows where you are spending most of your time.

It got me thinking, "What if I did this for my personal life? Where would most of my time be spent? Would I be happy with the end result?" Its a fact that where you spend your resources (time, money, whatever) is where your heart is. Am I ready to see where I am investing my time? I am going to do this next week. I'm not counting my work time, I am taking a time analysis of my free time. My goal is not to change what I am currently doing, but rather just write down what I am doing. Next Friday, I'll let you know the result. Anyone care to do this with me? (I won't publish your results if you choose to participate, that would just be cruel!) It won't be easy or fun, but then again self IMPROVEMENT rarely is.

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

-Psalm 90:12

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I’m not scalping...

A few days ago I took the youth to a Chris Tomlin & TobyMac concert. It was a lot of fun! We had a great spot, about 15 feet from the stage! It was one of the best concerts I have been to in a long time.

Due to some of the youth not being able to go, I wound up with extra tickets. I called some friends who I thought would enjoy the concert and could go last minute, but I still wound up with extra. After some thought and discussion with the people there, I decided just to give the tickets away.

Now, like I said, these were great “seats.” They were on the floor right in front of the stage. Not cheap seats. So, I took up position a bit away from the entrance and was holding the tickets in plain view. As people came up to go into the concert, I would just ask, “Do you have tickets yet?” I was a bit shocked as most people would say, “Yes.” Then I would watch these people walk up and get in line at the ticket booth.

Now, I am not known for being the smartest person all the time. In fact there are many times something can be staring me right in the face and I’ll miss it. “What in the world?” I thought to myself. “Why are they doing that?” Then I realized what was going through their mind. “Can you believe the nerve of that guy? Scalping tickets at a Christian concert!”

So, I decided to change my tactic. I walked right up to where people standing in line to buy tickets and started my conversations with a new statement: “Hi, I’m not scalping. I have extra tickets I am giving away. Anyone interested?”

The looks I got from the people there, some of the same people who walked by me and said they had tickets, was priceless. They looked confused, skeptical, and disbelieving. Finally, after one of those great awkward silences, this guy walked up and said, “Do you have 6 together?” “ Sure do!” I said. “Here ya go.” He took them and asked where they were. “Right up front, on the floor.” I answered. Almost everyone in line turned back around as I said that. It didn’t take long for me to run out of tickets then. Two teenage girls even hugged me as I gave them tickets for them and their parents. Unfortunately, I did run out and had to tell a few people that I didn’t have anymore.

The whole experience got me thinking, “I wonder if this is why some people won’t accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Does it all sound just too good to be true? Is it too hard to believe that it is free? That someone else already paid the price for our gift?”

If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior because you think its just too good to be true, I urge you to just accept the free gift of His forgiveness and salvation. Don’t put it off thinking that His grace is not enough or that the gift of salvation costs too much. The the reason those of us who are redeemed do all that we do for Jesus Christ is because we want to, not to pay for what Jesus gave us.

Salvation is free.

If you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved.

In Christ,

jon walton

Selfless...

On Father's Day Missy, Isaiah, and I went to her parents house to spend time with her dad and family. We had a great time just sitting, eating and talking. When we got ready to leave, Isaiah (my son) wanted to walk home. We are neighbors so its not a long walk. I was happy to spend some time with my son, so I accompanied him. On the way, he saw a dandelion. "Dad! Dad! I have to make a wish!" He exclaimed as he bent down an picked it. He has been saving his money from chores and gifts to get a new Nintendo DS game, so I assumed that would be what he was going to wish for, but still I thought it was a cute moment with my son. I would never have guessed the words that would come out of his little mouth. He closed his eyes, held the weed close to his mouth and said:

"I wish my dad would have a great Father's Day."

Then he blew as hard as he could, causing only about 3 of the seeds to release their grip from the stem. Not to be defeated, he quickly shook the rest of them off!

I was touched. I almost cried. I bent down and hugged him and said, "Thank you buddy. That made my Father's Day great."

God continues to teach me through my son. Seems like I heard a sermon about thinking of others before yourself recently. Pastor Rick used this scripture that fits this situation pretty well I think:

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3

Thank you, God, for my amazing family You have given me.

In Christ,

jon walton

I Didn't Know Jesus Is Real...

After giving my son, Isaiah, a bath one night, I was in his room with him while he put on his pajamas. It was just one of those little moments of me spending time with my son, talking, laughing, and being silly with him. I was praying to myself, "God, You know how I love my son. Please save his soul, but I trust in your time." I suddenly felt impressed to talk to my son about Jesus.

I asked Isaiah, "Buddy, what do you know about Jesus?" Isaiah, still kinda laughing from being silly, said, "He is God's son and He died on a cross." I thought to myself "Good job boy!" But then God, and I have no doubt about it, gave me a question to ask him. "Isaiah, do you know that Jesus isn't just a story?" Isaiah looked at me with a serious, intent face and said, "I didn't know Jesus is real." I explained it to him best I could. We talked about things that are real, like mom, dad, the cars outside, and things that aren't, Batman, Spiderman, and cartoons. He didn't accept Jesus as his savior that night, but I think he understands that Jesus is real.

Many people may say that Jesus is real, but I don't think they BELIEVE it until it changes their lives.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

-2 Corinthians 5:17

What Would You Do If You Knew God Was With You? (Part 2)

Have you ever been given a task that was so big you thought it would be impossible to accomplish? In the Old Testament, Joshua (The successor to Moses as leader of the Israelites) was given a task by God that seemed overwhelming. He was to lead the Israelites to war against giants, walled cities, and fierce warriors. Can you imagine?

The other part of this, is God didn't show up and do everything for Joshua. Joshua had to go into these places and fight the battles. He had to destroy the villages and towns. It wasn't easy.

Yet in the midst of all this, God was with Joshua. God provided miracles to help Joshua accomplish the task assigned to him. It wasn't easy, but Joshua succeed. How? He KNEW God was with him.

Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

-Joshua 1:9

He was told this 7 times, 3 times by Moses and 4 times by the LORD. Joshua had seen God be with Moses through all the hard tasks Moses had to do. Joshua had faith that God would be with him as long as he was doing the task, no matter how difficult, God had given him.

What would you do if you KNEW God was with you? Would you take on the hard tasks? Do you want to know God is with you? Then do what Joshua did. Spend time with God and ask Him what task He has for you. When God tells you, be willing to do it, no matter how hard it may seem. Because if it is from God, He is with you, wherever you go.

In Christ,

jon walton

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What Would You Do If You Knew God Was With You?

I am reading the book "Plan B" by Pete Wilson. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Whether you are in a plan B situation, have went through one, or haven't experienced one yet this book is great.

At one point in the book, Pete(I met him not long ago, I feel I can call him by his first name.) is talking how when things don't go the way we think they should, we start looking up and wondering, "God, where are You?" Its as if we think God has abandoned us, when the reality is God has never abandoned us.

Be satisfied with what you have, for He(Jesus) Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

-Hebrews 13:5b

So what then? If we are to take the Word of God as Truth,(which it is) should it not cause us to respond to troubles differently than those who do not have God with them?

Look at the life of Joseph from the old testament. Over and over he had troubles come to him. He had lots of good and bad things happening to him. He was loved by his father, but hated by his brothers. His dad gave him a wonderful coat, his brothers decided to beat him up an kill him. One of his brothers convinced the others to spare Joseph's life, so they sold him into slavery. He gets promoted in Potiphar's house, then gets thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit. It goes on and on with him through several years, yet never does the Bible show Joseph getting upset with God, or even his circumstance. Why? Because all throughout the Joseph's life you see this phrase in the Bible, "The Lord was with Joseph." Through he good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, the comfort and the pain, Joseph knew the Lord was with him. Because Joseph knew the Lord was with him, he approached his troubles with confidence that he would get through them. He approached his troubles with faith that the Lord would take him through the bad times.

What would you do if you KNEW God was with you?

Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

-Hebrews 13:6

In Christ,

jon walton

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