[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’no-padding’ shadow=’no-shadow’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=’tophead’ color=’main_color’ custom_bg=” src=’https://truepursuit.org/www/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Blog-Post-Banner-1-1500×438.png’ attachment=’8217′ attachment_size=’extra_large’ attach=’scroll’ position=’top center’ repeat=’stretch’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=’#0a0a0a’ overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ custom_class=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’100′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’100′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’100′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’100′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_section]
[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’no-padding’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=’tophead’ color=’main_color’ custom_bg=” src=’https://truepursuit.org/www/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Red-and-White-TP-Line-1500×54.jpg’ attachment=’7305′ attachment_size=’extra_large’ attach=’scroll’ position=’center center’ repeat=’contain’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=’#0a0a0a’ overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ custom_class=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’100′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_section]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ link=” padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’600px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=” custom_class=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=’rgb(255, 255, 255)’]
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
My dad used to call the warning lights on his dashboard “idiot lights”.
The term came from a belief that drivers were becoming less and less capable of reading gauges and therefore needed a light to warn them of an ensuing problem. The difference between reading a gauge and seeing a little red light can be significant. Gauges, if read properly; can give the driver a heads up that a problem might be looming. The “warning light” however usually means there is a problem and you had better get the car to mechanic immediately.
We have all had our share of experiences with idiot lights and our vehicles over the years. How many of you have had the “check engine” light come on but you kept on driving? It is probably just a maintenance reminder, we say. I was recently riding with a friend and his “check engine” light came on…he said that usually when it comes on he just hits the “reset” button and it goes away…classic. I have even heard of people putting a piece of tape on the instrument panel to block their view of the warning light…really? It is like the guy who hears a noise in his car and turns up the radio, so he can’t hear it any longer.
Photo by Gabriel Gurrola on Unsplash
We all have a tendency to want to avoid these kinds of situations. Our human nature seems to always tend toward the avoidance of trouble or inconvenience or pain. We don’t really want to find out that something is broken and in need of repair.
Our hearts are a lot like the engine in our vehicles. God has also designed us with an warning light or two so that He can warn us when there is a problem that needs attention. For instance, for years I had frequent outbursts of anger (rage really) toward my family, and more specifically, toward myself. I also would do just about anything to avoid being rejected or disliked by others. I was critical and judgmental toward those who made me feel weak or insignificant. As a matter of fact, I could fill up this page with examples of the “warning lights” that were blinking all over the place in my life. We all have them…broken places in our hearts and lives, which cause all kinds of bizarre and unwanted behavior.
Photo by Leio McLaren on Unsplash
The question is, what do we do with them? Like with my car, I tended to avoid the warnings…I would “hope” they would go away and not come back…I would make myself busy, so I would not have to deal with the obvious.
You know, for many years I believed that all too familiar lie that said “this is just you Pete”. Really, I would look around me and everyone appeared to not struggle with any of the stuff that was a daily struggle for me. I was convinced that is was just me. I felt like damaged goods, or that I took too many drugs when I was young, or that my high school principal was right when he said, “You’ll never amount to anything”.
In his book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, Peter Scazzero says…” we change our behavior when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing”.
Think about it, how many people do you know that have sought help after some major crisis in their life? That was my story…I repeatedly ignored or covered up the warning light in my life until one day my interior life was exposed in all of its ugliness. All of a sudden, the pain of avoiding the warnings and staying the same was greater than the pain of changing, whatever that meant.
Photo by Toby Wong on Unsplash
I am so grateful to God for breakthrough, healing and restoration that He has brought into my life over the past several years. I am also grateful that I get to help others along this same path.
Only when a man takes an honest look at what is beneath the surface of his life, can he find healing, and live out of his true heart.
So by all means, when you sense that your broken life is in need of repair, hit the pause button and ask Jesus to reveal the issue. Then ask Him to come heal that broken place in your heart. If you would like some help along the way, just ask.
Title photo by Michael Held on Unsplash
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=” color=’main_color’ custom_bg=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” attach=’scroll’ position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=” overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ custom_class=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’-40′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’0′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_section]
[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=” color=’main_color’ custom_bg=’#e7e7e7′ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” attach=’scroll’ position=’top left’ repeat=’no-repeat’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=” overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ custom_class=”]
[av_two_third first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ link=” padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=” custom_class=”]
[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Recent TP Weekly Reading Posts’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”][/av_heading]
[av_slideshow_accordion slide_type=’entry-based’ link=’category,22′ wc_prod_visible=” prod_order_by=” prod_order=” items=’5′ offset=’0′ size=’featured’ autoplay=’false’ interval=’5′ title=’active’ accordion_align=” custom_title_size=” custom_excerpt_size=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” custom_class=”][/av_slideshow_accordion]
[/av_two_third][av_one_third min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_heading tag=’h2′ padding=’10’ heading=’Online Community’ color=’custom-color-heading’ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ custom_font=’#000000′ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”]
Subscribe to receive weekly posts like
this sent to your inbox
[/av_heading]
[av_button label=’Subscribe’ link=’manually,https://truepursuit.org/online-community’ link_target=” size=’small’ position=’center’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’dark’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_hr class=’custom’ height=’30’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’200px’ custom_border_color=’#000000′ custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_button_big label=’View All Posts and Resources’ description_pos=’below’ link=’manually,https://truepursuit.org/online-posts-and-resources’ link_target=” icon_select=’yes-left-icon’ icon=’ue87d’ font=’entypo-fontello’ custom_font=’#ffffff’ color=’custom’ custom_bg=’#972923′ color_hover=’theme-color’ custom_bg_hover=’#444444′ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_button_big]
[/av_one_third]
[/av_section]
[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’no-padding’ shadow=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” custom_arrow_bg=” id=’tophead’ color=’main_color’ custom_bg=’#353535′ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” attach=’scroll’ position=’center center’ repeat=’stretch’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_opacity=’0.5′ overlay_color=’#0a0a0a’ overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=” av_element_hidden_in_editor=’0′ custom_class=”]
[av_two_third first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=’no_margin’ margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ link=” padding=’0px,0px,0px,0px’ border=” border_color=’#eeefee’ radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=’#353535′ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=” custom_class=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’5′ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=’#939393′ custom_margin_top=’10px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue809′ font=’fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_textblock size=’15’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Support our resource development, ministry and mission
[/av_textblock]
[/av_two_third][av_one_fifth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’10’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=’#939393′ custom_margin_top=’10px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue809′ font=’fontello’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_button label=’Give’ link=’manually,https://truepursuit.org/give’ link_target=” size=’small’ position=’left’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’light’ custom_bg=” custom_font=’#ff0a0a’ custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[/av_one_fifth]
[/av_section]
Leave a Reply