Tag Archives: patience

Christian Soapbox, Nathan Dooley

COUNT THE COST

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There was a time… a time when I transitioned from a site supervising security officer to an engineer of a 14-story class double “AA” office tower that required knowledge around high end M&E (Mechanical and Electrical) equipment to manage through SCADA systems alongside my chief engineer. These machines were the power of the Tower, everything was programmed to turn on and off at specific times: lights on, air moving, water flowing, and doors secure.

The environment was damn near perfect for any and all the fortune 500 companies. A fortress of success and cutting edge technology… What could go wrong? As long as the condition was perfect my job was humbly making keys, eliminating odors from p-traps, painting, changing ceiling tiles, etc. And it was during that time as an engineer I became inspired by an idea. I decided to start a ministry called “Salvational Engineering” where I would pick up trash around our little place in the hood. 

The idea was to prune the ministry by hitting every neighboring’ hood encompassed around mine—and you wouldn’t believe some of the things I found as trash, or actually… you just might!

So while that was in the making, a friend of mine invited me to help him on a move. I thought it was just me helping a friend; I tried to refuse payment, but he insisted on paying me for the hard work. And it was HARD work! Moving is no joke!

Then the friend called me again for a move, then again, again, and again. As this became something of a normal thing I saw the potential my friend had to do something about this moving thing and planted the idea of him starting a moving company; to which if he did, I’d be his right hand. Next thing I know we’re free falling, quitting our careers to pursue this entrepreneurial thing; it was grind time, everything changed! Salvational Engineering quickly faded into the background and eventually was set aside for an unexpected future resurrection.

At this junction the risk became surreal when my friend and I didn’t get that expected direct deposit into our accounts. We had to get side jobs to stay afloat: stained fences, landscaped – from planting flowers to cutting down trees – and then beating up rich people… ask Fred! (I’m joking). The business grew and grew, beyond our expectations, it was amazing to see how God took care of us at every turn, overcoming every obstacle. My wife was able to quit her job for us to focus on making them babies, but then… guess what happened! I’d later get terminated due to a story for another time…

Nathan preparing to recruit and my “conscience” (wife) interrupting 😂.

I know, the suspense will kill but long story short; we’d worked out our problem with another christian brother because after all we’re members of the same body in Christ. I was invited to come back as part of the Swan Moving Services team but had decided that continuing on that journey wasn’t worth the potential destruction of our friendship.

The principle that was crucial for me to understand before anything and everything else was that as believers I belonged to Christ before the business, relationship, and especially my own soul! I am going to teach you what that means and how to meet that principle as the story continues. Remember the machines that keep the power in the Tower; we function like machines, and the power in our “Tower’s” is the Spirit of God if the Spirit of Christ dwells in us (Romans 8).

James 3:1

“Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment.”

I have a responsibility, especially in the trouble of today, to be humble before the Holy Spirit as He helps me navigate from the sin of past experiences to the discipline of our heavenly Father. I have believed and am believing with enduring faith in trials and temptations of this present evil age, humbled to suffer in the name of Jesus Christ as a son of God. Discipline hurts but produces the trait of humility and fruit of righteousness which is of heavenly value through Jesus Christ exalted as head over all.

So there I was, free to do whatever again…

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Christian Soapbox, Nathan Dooley

MY GREAT AUNT FAITH

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Good morning, I’m at my third office off the road and have abstained from coffee although I had a hostess cupcake for breakfast… don’t judge me *said with a subtle laugh.

I received some heavy but celebratory news yesterday, my great aunt passed. It’s heavy because this great aunt is one I’ve had time with when visiting my grandma, and my grandma is an anchor to my life’s story. That’s why it’s heavy, but “how is it celebratory?” I’m excited to tell you about this part!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

If my great aunt has fallen asleep believing that Jesus died and rose from the dead—and I believe she has—so also God will bring my [great aunt] with Him [her] who has fallen asleep through Jesus! THAT… is exciting news!

Trying not to get emotional as I write this with a good crowd of people in front of me I can see the sun rising where the first day here is a vapor of smoke in the wind compared to the day my great aunt Faith is already having (considering the time difference between waking up from a dream here on earth to that of a life now in heaven). Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

However, my writing and your reading indicates we’re still here, “…we who are alive,” Paul said, “who remain…”. Ouch! Yep… still here. That’s what happens when you pinch yourself, don’t do that.

Christian Soapbox

How Patience Is A Key Ingredient To Wisdom And Righteousness

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It’s subjective, but I find that the most difficult—yet effective—way to learn patience is to subject myself to counsel. What this looks like as a practice is actively pursuing the Lord, my wife and the-other about a decision. No… not ‘the-other’ as in, another wife—you know what happen to Solomon—but the-other, as in, another person. And it is ideal for the person not only to be knowledgeable about the nature of the decision, but to know me personally. I’m talkin: spiritually, psychologically, financially, the works. Because if those measures aren’t known by my counsel… then making an important decision before receiving counsel will result to chaos. The experience is excruciating!

For Laura and I to make the most out of our time, advance in our field, and accomplish the ultimate goal of persuasion that the world cannot deny being the freedom we have in Christ Jesus our Lord— well… then… I need a twenty-five hundred dollar laptop!

Okay while that was meant to be funny, the point is a decision to purchase a laptop that can handle video editing software at the budget of $2,500.00! Given my personality, I want the best and don’t want to wait, because… well, I can be an idiot. It’s really as simple as that! However, I do love God and desire to honor Him with all my heart.

Patience is a key ingredient to wisdom, and after listening to the Lord, my wife, and Ryan; you’d be real proud of me! I didn’t choose the $3,100 Razer from Micro Center (considering the awesome labor day deal they had for 0 interest)—which would have been convenient—and settled on a $2,584.00 ASUS from Amazon. We’ll see how it turns out, but I’m confident the value of this transaction was experienced in the eternal development of my character for righteousness by the process of procedure we executed together, not myself alone for some financial gain, material possession, or grandiose idea (not that those are wrong, bad, or evil). But the aim is not to miss the mark!

DISCLAIMER:
Nathan Psychology: The study of oneself for righteous behavior, and my written perspective on the experiential process of edification to sanctification. What does it mean to be born of God, overcome the world, and be made new through faith in believing Jesus Christ is the way of my salvation? I’m discovering the path through spiritual discipline—