Producing Reproducers!

Thoughts in the Midst of a 21 Day Fast

2012-02-04T15:08:00.000-05:00

Why do people fast? For health reasons, to lose weight, or for spiritual reasons, Right now I am finished with the second week of a 21 day fast. I am doing a "Daniel Fast" which means no caffeine, no meat, no dairy, no tea, sugars, nothing artificial. I am basically eating veggies and fruit and drinking water. Can I say it's been easy in many ways, partly because my wife is doing a GREAT job of buying and preparing foods that are tasty! Secondly, I have done all of my other fasts without food, and some by eating smoothies. Fasting is not about some sort of "rabbit's foot" or rubbing a magic lamp so God will bless me. It's about drawing closer to God and doing away with distractions and spending lots of time in prayer. Frankly things around me (others lives) have really become very hard. People are ending up in the hospital, people losing their jobs, marriages that are struggling and family situations of others at near breaking point. It is causing me to be more prayerful that's for sure. I am believing God for some very specific things but they are not about me but about Him. That's right, I so want God to receive the Glory and Honor and Praise for anything that happens because of this time. Our entire Staff fasted together for 10 days and our Senior Pastor did a 21 day fast before we all started. A couple other staff people are still fasting for the full 21 like I am. The best and least that happens is that we all draw closer to God than when we started. That God may do something significant for our church and others would be a total blessing. I really hope that when I am done I hunger and thirst more for God than I do a glass of iced tea, or a hot cup of Mocha, or a steak. After fasting completely from food for 40 days, the first temptation the devil tried to get Jesus to give in to was food. "tell this rock to turn into bread". Jesus wanted to eat I am sure of that, but Jesus' reply was scripture, "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Doing the will of His Father was more fulfilling than filling his belly! Can the same be said of us? I realize through this time how much certain foods had me addicted and since my body is to be a holy temple of God I need to make sure pure and healthy foods go in.
What about you? What are you willing to do in order to hunger and thirst after God more than you are doing today? Is there something more important? That's an idol. Could you give up watching the Superbowl if it meant you could use that time instead on your knees listening to Him and drawing closer to Him? I pray that true follower of God's (not just believer's of His) would be willing to abandon anything in order to draw closer to God. James 4:8.

Walk in the Spirit - My Focus Verse for 2012

2012-01-18T08:45:00.000-05:00

Galatians 5:25 says "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (NIV) the (NLT) "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.". (Message) "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we don not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives."

This is my focus verse for 2012. Walking and living by the Spirit of the living God. I want to break this down just for a minute than get practical. There is a pre-supposed phrase here, "Since we are living by the Spirit.." What exactly does it mean to live by the Spirit? Yes, Jesus lives in us, but He also promised that when he left for Heaven, that He would not leave us as orphans all alone but it was actually good that He was leaving. Here is a short Biblical list of the purposes of the Holy Spirit.

Counselor - John 14:26
Truth Giver - John 16:13/I Corinthians 2:10
Strength - Romans 8:26
Fruits given by the Spirit - Galatians 5:22
Seal - Ephesians 1:13
Word of God/Sword of the Spirit - Ephesians 6:17

This is a short list, and of course there are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit but that's a whole blog on it's own. My point is this, when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and now indwells in every believer at the moment of salvation, we act much like a faucet. We determine if we are going to open up and live under the power/influence/leading of the Holy Spirit or of the leading of our own power or even the world's. We say yes or no all of the time to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to be aware of His promptings all of the time. He wants to lead in our lives but we say yes or no. So many people are just too busy/noise filled to know this is even going on. When we learn enough scriptures and practice them we are walking in the Spirit. When we see someone in need and choose to sacrifice instead of being selfish we are walking in the Spirit. We either gratify ourselves or God. (Galatians 5:16;I Thessalonians 5:19) I liken living in the Spirit to have a special antenna, it is up and circling all over to point to an opportunity to share Christ verbally or serve someone, or speak up, encourage or exhort. When I am sensitive to this I am ALWAYS amazed at what happened. Are you? Don't miss out on this HUGE part of the Christ life. My goal this year is to continue to be open and obedient, courageous and let the Spirit have His way in my life. How about you?

The Year of Jubilee

2011-12-31T21:12:00.000-05:00

2011 is over in just a few more hours and as most of us will look back for awhile and then look forward with hope and anticipation. When looking backward, a good majority of people will have regrets. It's normal, it may have been those pounds that didn't come off, or the bank account didn't grow like we'd hoped, or maybe the people we'd hoped to finally connect with on a consistent basis, we just couldn't find the right time for. Then there are some people who will look back and are very happy about the way the year turned out. Maybe that's you, and you practiced the disciplines that were necessary to lose that weight, found ways to save money in order that your savings account is now in a healthier place, you connected with that friend or family member and you stuck to it and now you've celebrated.
Some things we plan for and they happen, and some things we don't follow through on and they don't happen. Then there is God's favor, which contrary to some TV evangelists, is a mystery that we cannot make happen by sending in a donation and getting some specially blessed prayer clothe. Much of God is a mystery and accepting that is just a good idea! This past year for me was all about God's blessing. For the last several years I sought God for a verse, and a theme for each coming year. And He as answered. Corny as they sound here are some of them that my good friend Tim and I came up with.
"It will be heaven in 07'"
"It will be great in 08'"
"It will be divine in 09'"

Tim and I have formed a kind of pact with one another that we would be there for each other no matter what. Sort of like men who fought in foxholes on the front-lines and heard bullets next to their ears. So as we shared our deep desires, prayers and hopes and we would take time to pray and fast. Sometimes these fasts would last several days, even more. We were foxhole brothers. I stood by him and he did the same! Lots of listening and some hard conversations, but that's they way it should be.

Onto 2011. A Bible verse I really put to memory and meditated on was Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." All commands in the Bible come with a promise, in this case delight yourself in God, (the command), He will give you the desires of your heart,(the promise). God took it further and communicated to me that this year would be a "Year of Jubilee" I wasn't sure what that meant, but I shared it with Tim and we committed it to God and prayed like crazy. God showed up!! Many, many people I know saw God do some amazing things. Not everyone for sure, in fact for some it was the opposite. But I know that for many it was an amazing year. As I said, God is mostly a mystery and I cannot really explain how I heard from God but I KNOW I did. Here is a short list of my Jubilee blessings and of some that others experienced.

* I moved from Florida to North Carolina to serve as Life Groups Pastor at Southbrook Church. I had been out of full time ministry while God chiseled away some things in my life and character.
* I got married to Karyn whom I love with all my heart, we are best friends and basically waited on God for His perfect timing. We waited 6 plus years. That's a long time, but she is worth it and so is what we have now! We are so happy and amazed!
* My youngest daughter graduated from college with two majors and did so with high honors and worked a job as a Debate Coach at Whitney Young High School in Chicago.
* My oldest daughter and her husband left N.E.Georgia for the Mile High City of Denver without knowing anyone, trekked out there to pursue Graduate School. They have had a hard year but it has brought them closer to each other and to God and though they wished their current circumstances were different, when it's all said and done, they will have seen how good this hard time will have been for them. I am so proud of them both!
* Tim left full time church ministry to be launched in a National Marriage Ministry. This was something he had been praying for several years!
* My friend Alma got a great job after being in a job that was not using her true talents and gifts. Her sister, who was not able to get pregnant, along with her husband got to adopt a boy and within just a few months after that they got pregnant. So instead of no babies, her and her husband now have two.
* My wife's son got his graduate degree from a prestigious program near Boston and he won Teacher of the Year honors in the school district he teaches at in Florida.
* My wife's daughter took a courageous step and left the company she worked for several years to follow her passion by starting a Flower Company and it's thriving.

The list really could go on for quite awhile and these are just a few highlights. Whatever happens in 2012 I know that God will still be a mystery, but by faith we can take our hopes and dreams to Him and that practicing disciplines is also a great way to bring about the results and desires we have. But I also know that every good and perfect gift comes from God. He longs for us to delight in Him and He longs to give us the desires of our hearts. It's just that sometimes we must wait on His timing and be willing to trust Him completely if He says no! Only God knows how hard I trusted Him for what I had prayed for and I know that the intimacy and honesty we gained in our relationship with one another is not replaceable. Not even close! Happy New Year to you, and thank you God, I will take great care of all you have blessed me with. And by the way, this year's verse is Galatians 5:25 - look it up!

A Simple Christmas that is FULL!

2011-12-25T18:11:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to you all! I am sitting here with Karyn, we have the fire going and we are listening to Christmas music. I love Christmas music but too much of a good thing is not good and starting tomorrow I will be done with it. Karyn and I did give presents to others, our kids, and so on but not to each other. We have the money mind you, it's just that there wasn't anything we wanted or needed. And the cool thing about it is, we are good with it. Seriously, it's so cool. To be very honest, we both are just so incredibly glad that we are together and after years of waiting on God to give a blessing for our marriage, we are overwhelmed by His goodness. That's where the focus has been all week and all day so far! God's goodness. There is this hymn I remember after I first converted to true Christianity, and the chorus went something like, "Count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings and see what God has done."
I hope you got some cool gifts and gave even better ones, but seriously, I challenge you that before you go to bed tonight (exhausted I am sure) take time to list on a pad of paper as many things as you can that are blessings in your life. It may be things, positions, accomplishments, people and well you know... I love being around thankful/grateful people versus those who can find anything or anyone to complain about. Sure, grateful people may seem a bit corny, but that's because they are sincerely thankful and they can't keep it in. This Christmas I can tell you that I have a long list of reasons to be thankful and grateful. Heck, the fact that you are reading this far means that you are one of those reasons!!! Merry Christmas!

What an Offer

2011-12-06T20:10:00.002-05:00

Every week I get the Sunday Charlotte Observer, and at this time of the year it is twice the weight because it is filled with advertising. I have to wade through it all to find the newspaper I want to read. We got rid of cable TV many months ago and now I do not have to watch all of the infomercials touting the latest and greatest products. The pitchmen they use are amazing (there is probably a school for this), they really are hyped up aren't they?

So let me get to the point of this blog - several years ago one of the high school students we had in our church called me asking for a favor. In a class at her school they were writing comparative religions papers and her Jewish friend chose Christianity. Our student was stumped by some of the questions her friend was asking, and her call was to see if I would be willing to sit with the two of them at my house and answer these questions about Christianity. A couple days later (and having bathed this in prayer), the doorbell rang, I opened the door, and here was our student, then her friend, and then her Mom followed in after them. It quickly became apparent that the Mom didn't want me to try and convert her daughter in the midst of the conversation.
The questions were good ones, I think I answered them well and honestly, and used the Old and New Testaments, as well as outside historical writings to help explain Christianity. When we were all done the Mom spoke up. In essence what she said was this;
"You truly are sincere and enthusiastically believe in your religion and that is commendable, but why must you tell others about your beliefs all of the time?"
Good question I thought to myself, and at the same time I was asking God for help. Here is what I said; "if you find a new product you love like a detergent or phone, do you keep it to yourself or do you tell your friends about it?" She said "of course I tell them"; I then told her that I had searched many years earlier for what I thought was the best belief system involving God that made the most sense, seemed to be the most truthful and I jumped in. I told her that my life had changed so much because of this that I couldn't possibly keep it to myself. And that's still true today.
Here is the offer as simple as I can state it, are you ready?

1. God made us for a love relationship with Him, but in order for it to be the right kind of love, He gave us a choice instead of making us robots.

2. Our choice has been to have life on our own terms, that in many ways please us but displease Him, it's what we call sin, it's an archery term used a long time ago to signal a missed bullseye. If you missed it, the scorer would yell "Sin". The Bible says that we all have missed the mark, we have gone our own way. The result is death, both physical and spiritual. To prove my point that we were born with a sin nature (just go peek inside a toddler room), though no one taught them selfishness, if they see something some other toddler has has they go and just take it away.

3. God hated that we separated ourselves from Him so He sent His perfect/sinless Son Jesus to take our place. He willingly went in our place even though we were the ones who deserved it. Now that's love!!!

4. For everyone who puts their trust in what Jesus did for them, He forgives COMPLETELY! The Bible says God removes our sin from Him as far as the East is from the West and He sees it no more!

5. When we die, we get to spend eternity thanking Him for this gift of what we call salvation, freedom! Because we will want to, and not because we will have to. We even get to do some of that now when we sing praise songs and hymns, at home, at a church or with others in a small group.

6. None of us knows when we will die, but it will happen, the decision we must make while we are living is what to do with this gift of God. We can't make it after we die, the prayers of others will not help us once we are dead. Our good deeds and nice personalities will not help one bit, even the amount of money we give away won't help us either. Forgiveness with God cannot be earned. It's what separates Christianity from all of the other religions. God works His way toward us, instead of us trying to work our way toward Him! It all comes down to an honest and sincere belief about God. If we really get it, it can't help but change our life. Our actions are just the result and not the method!

As we enter Christmas, a holiday that every country in the world celebrates and has for over 2000 years, know this, we all are responsible for what we do with God's great gift of Jesus. You may get some great presents and give some away, but I know for sure that NOTHING will compare or outlast this simple, expensive, but free gift. What will you do with it?

Things that are Obvious and not so.

2011-11-30T08:20:00.000-05:00

You may know that I recently went to Haiti with other Pastors and lay leaders from Southbrook Church where I serve as Life Groups Pastor. We had a two-fold purpose, to encourage and equip Pastors at a 2 day conference and to support our Pastor as he spoke at a 3 Night Crusade. This trip was really hard work. Why? Because of the obvious spiritual battles there. Demon possession was out in the open, as well extreme poverty and a lot of hopelessness. As we were driven around Port Au Prince, all I could see was extreme poverty and a lot of hopelessness. Dirty water, sewage rivers right in front of houses that were at best tents, tattered, and butted up against each other with literally no space between. It was crowded, the air was smoggy and the roads were not nearly wide enough for 3 cars wide let alone the 5-6 that somehow managed to pass each other without lines, lights or traffic cops. You get the picture, well you'd have to go there to do that. The Presidential White House was the symbol of Haiti for me, no one had done anything to repair it, it lay broken for all to see.

Over in Haiti they are used to people being possessed and therefore knew how to exorcise demons, they would come right out in the open, taunting us. Here in the States it's not near as obvious, what is anti-God can actually seem subtle and that's the danger. Spiritual warfare is here, that's for sure, it's just subtle. It shows up in apathy, in-difference and being sucked into the vortex of media. I got rid of cable because, frankly what shouldn't be funny was. It was worldliness seeping into my pores and I was becoming okay with it. When I was in Haiti I could smell, see and hear the spiritual forces that battled me and other followers. Here in the good ol' USA, I can recognize the warfare, but I am afraid far too many people who call themselves Christians, who go to church, give and serve, don't even recognize it. What seemed so obvious in Haiti is the same dark forces battling us here, it's just that methods that our enemies use to disengage us from God and move us toward worldliness and eventually evil are different and maybe even subtle.

In I Peter 5:8 we are told that the devil prowls around like a hungry lion seeking someone to devour. Lions are smart, they don't waste their energy running around going after the strongest and fastest prey, they wait and find the sick and injured animals and then have them for a snack. Satan will not necessarily go after the strongest believer, but he will go after the one who has let their guard down and let the world seep in. It shows up in not spending time in God's word and skipping church or Life Group here and there, watching TV shows and reading gossip magazines. Verse 9 is key, "Resist him, stand firm and he must flee." Under the canopy and power of Jesus' name, the devil has to leave. Many times I say aloud, "in the name of Jesus, the victor and exalted one, be gone Satan, you must leave this place." I believe it, do you? Finally in Ephesians 6:10-18 we are given very specific instructions and weapons in this battle. Several times we are instructed to put on the FULL armor of God, meaning, don't forget any, wear them all. "For we wrestle/our battle is not against an obvious foe, but against rulers, authorities and principalities of this dark and evil world." There it is!!!! It was not meant only for the early church 2000 years ago as they were getting started. It's real and here and recognizable. Be aware and alert! I felt it, saw it and heard it in Haiti, don't let this lesson be lost on you, the devil is prowling around and he does have the keys right now! But they will be snatched away when Jesus comes again and Satan will be vanquished forever, in the mean time he is doing his best to disrupt and destroy!

What if Your Life Ended Up in the Bible?

2011-11-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

One of the thoughts I've had for a couple years but never put down in writing is this; those who ended up being in the Bible never knew they would be. We know that most messed up, and some triumphed, but God chose to use their lives to influence ours and millions of others over the years since they were recorded. Now I know that nothing can be added to or taken away from the scriptures, I am not suggesting this at all. But go along with me for a minute.

What if some parts of your life, okay like the really hard parts, the testing of your faith parts ended up being recorded? What would be written about you? Would it inspire people? Would your thoughts, actions, attitudes and words cause others to follow God, follow God more closely, or even choose God because of your life? There is a lot that can be said here, but for the sake of one of my shortest blogs ever....

Let's you and I live our lives as if everything about us, good, bad and in between were going to end up being read by millions for years and years to come. One prayer I pray most days goes like this,

"Lord, may everything I say, think or do, bring honor and glory to You."

Orphae

2011-11-07T20:19:00.001-05:00

Back in college I had this friend Bruce, I had never met anyone like him, he was his own man in so many ways. This was back in the late 70's and Bruce and I couldn't have been more different, which was cool. He was a singer, artistic, a craftsman, passionate and a bit of a rebel. I was a jock, insecure and not good at the things he was. He introduced me to Mocha when virtually no one had even heard of it yet. We loved antiques and would turn old pieces of junk into someone else's treasure. We have gone our separate ways, each of us having moved several times across the country, raising children, and struggled through many things personally.

One of the things Bruce shared with me back in college was this word Orphae. What is Orphae you might ask. It is this feeling, a euphoria if you will that can happen anytime. You know it when you are experiencing it, like yesterday. My wife Karyn and I were taking a walk in a State Park, the place was practically empty except for a couple guys out fishing on the lake and some guy taking photo's of a fashion girl with high heels, a bright yellow dress and as out of place as you can imagine. Anyway, Karyn and I were walking with the loud sound of leaves crunching beneath our feet and geese making their honking sounds, Fall colors were still bursting, a slight breeze would refresh us and then all of a sudden this incredible aroma. It was sensory overload!! We couldn't quite make the smell out, was it clove? We didn't know but it was amazing and we could find it only in this one area. As we walked, sometimes talked, held hands, sat in the sun, took pictures or identified trees, we marveled at God's creation and just knew we were experiencing Orphae.

It isn't quite explainable, it could be watching someone experiencing joy, a taste of a dessert or special meal, it could be music that moves you or words on a page. Whatever it is, you can't create it nor hang onto it. I hope you have, or get to experience it!! Maybe you even have a different name for it. What a cool thing after all of these years to remember my friend Bruce tell me about Orphae, I kept a journal of Orphae experiences for a long time. I will post a picture of a recent time I experienced it, but it may not help you because you weren't there at the time. Orphae is a wonderful thing. Thanks Bruce!

Mary and Martha

2011-10-11T13:21:00.000-04:00

There is this unique and very short story found in Luke 11:38-42 of Jesus in the home of Martha and her sister Mary, that's a pretty big deal, having Jesus and his disciples visit in your home. But notice the completely different responses of these two sisters. Martha gets all worked up and starts preparing food while Mary chooses instead to sit and listen to Jesus as he speaks. This becomes pretty irritating to Martha and it's not long before she gets resentful enough to speak pretty boldly to Jesus about it. Talk about awkward! How would you feel if you were Mary? How would you feel if you were Martha? How would you feel if you were Jesus?
What happens next is amazing. Jesus calls Martha out, "You are worried and upset about MANY THINGS" in other words, this is how you live Martha! You can't sit still, be quiet, or chill, Martha was most likely a control freak or a Type A personality, at the very least she was a doer. You know the type, you may even be one, the kind that says there is always something to do and someone has to do it so it might as well be me. Jesus says that Mary is doing the most right thing. Psalm 46:10 says "be still and know that I am God..." Being still seems so un-productive and ....lazy! But is it? Jesus says that Mary chose the better option, the only right option. Many people read this and try and heed this but then have no clue how to do this. Seriously, it amazes me that most people cannot shut off their minds for any significant time. Prayer is not just talking but also about listening, many people try to sit in silence and than go crazy. I have done some silent retreats before and I come away from those so full of peace and serenity and slowed down. I have scheduled time away from phones, computers and people and though it takes me awhile to "dial down", when it's time to go back to the "noise" I wish I didn't have to.
Here is my challenge for each of us...be still, worship Jesus, listen for Him, be quiet. According to Him it's the most right choice from time to time. We are commanded to proclaim God to others and serve Him by serving others, be lights shining in the darkness but just as Jesus took time to pray and be alone (see Mark 1:35) so must we. If we do not practice the presence of God in our lives we will end up becoming resentful, busy and lacking peace. Do a quick inventory of your life right now, are you resentful over something or someone? Look at your calendar, is it filled (maybe even with necessary items) but God has been crowded out? Which is the most common theme of your heart - peace or chaos? This short story shows us a very important lesson, be still and take time to sit at Jesus' feet to listen and worship, it's the most right thing!!! Remember we are called human beings, not human doings!

Waiting on God is Always Worth it!

2011-10-01T09:42:00.001-04:00

I've been married all of 12 days, and it's been nothing but fulfilling and more than Karyn and I thought it could be. I know, your'e out there in cyber world saying, "wait, it's just the honeymoon phase, then you'll see." I DOUBT IT! We didn't really even get a honeymoon, in fact just the opposite. We packed and loaded a moving truck by ourselves just a day and a half after we got married, we quickly said goodbye to warm weather and the beach, drove to Charlotte in separate vehicles, we un-loaded the truck (can you say fatigue?), Karyn un-packed everything she had packed so carefully and has been setting up our home while I worked. Doesn't sound like a honeymoon does it? Well think again, because even in the midst of that we just stare at each other like a couple 16 year old's and hug each other all of the time and thank God that this is what He had in mind while we walked in obedience on His timing.
We are realistic and know that our personal and professional lives will be tested, our health and of those we love will change, but that's what makes a marriage strong - testing!!! I want to tell you that the waiting part was so difficult (testing). Many lonely nights apart not knowing if we would ever be together. I would cry out to God as my Deliverer and wonder if He was hearing me, I would pray and believe only to hear silence most of the time. Sometimes when I would do my sunrise run along the beach I would see Karyn out on her walks and we would stop and talk and basically have our hearts ache over the waiting on God. We would hang out together but know God had not fully opened the door and friendship was the best we could have at the time. We both wanted to honor God by waiting on His timing and part of that was letting go completely of each other. All we have is from Him and is not ours to keep!
Here's a major thought out of all of this. In the Old and New Testament's none of the people who were written about knew that their stories would be chronicled, that they would become a part of the best selling book of all time!! A book written by God, full of stories of people who were basically losers whom God showed love, mercy, grace and patience with time and again. What if your life or my life were being chronicled? What if all the things we say and do each day ended up in a best selling book? Would you and I be found to be living the kind of lives that pointed others to the same God written about in the Bible? Would we be described as radical followers, patient people who wait on God, obedient and full of faith? I believe with all my heart that Karyn knows that our waiting on God and not running ahead of Him, nor lagging behind Him was worth it. We fought by praying, trusting and waiting because we are worth it. Obedience is always best, and many times it will cost us great amounts of something or everything, but I know, and have known that God is faithful and trustworthy. Don't run ahead or lag behind, walk in step with the Spirit and in the midst "delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart."

He Makes All Things New!

2011-09-07T20:51:00.002-04:00

Okay so some of you have been waiting for this news, I promised I would share it but it had to be the right time. I am about to be married! Karyn Joy is going to be my bride and I get to be her husband!!! I realize that we are not young in age by numbers but don't tell us, because you would think we are about 30 years younger than we are! We are joyful people for sure, but when God delivered this immense blessing/miracle in our lives well, we are humbled and full of great thanksgiving.

Here is the scoop for those of you who do not know our story. We both have been married before and they did not end how either of us wanted. We met about 6 years ago and fell pretty much head over heels for each other! However, God is more concerned with making us holy than happy and we must have needed some extra doses of suffering to make that happen because over the course of these 6 years there have been job changes, career changes, financial hardships, health issues, and on again off again times with each other, but never a green light from God. I can honestly say that God spoke to me to not let go of two things. One was full time ministry and the other being Karyn. Neither of these were idols, and I can tell you there were some pretty raw and honest discussions, intense prayers sessions, times of fasting and digging deeply into God's word and holding on for dear life. We certainly made it our goal not to run ahead of God (dangerous)and not to lag behind Him (just as dangerous) but to walk in step with Him. Sometimes that means Him taking much away from us to truly get our un-divided attention and He did.

A passage from Psalm 71:20-21 describes my last 7 years or so..."Though you have made me see trials, many and bitter, you will restore my life again, you will bring me up from the depths and restore me to a place of honor once again." If you un-pack those verses they can be pretty hard to swallow but if you trust in Him and His deliverance than when you receive His promises well let's just say CELEBRATION!!!! "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father above!" We can't wait to be one, we can't wait to help each other know God better, serve Him, and help others discover God and His offer of salvation through Jesus. We can say for sure that the years of suffering were worth it for they truly brought us to many places of surrender. I can also say these years were worth it because Karyn is worth fighting for and because I believed God even when it looked like I should have given up and moved on. He clearly makes all things new!

I am now serving in a church I LOVE and I have the woman I would do anything for! Thank you God for discipline, faithfulness, just enough mercy for each day and grace in abundance!!

Staying in Shape or Getting in Shape

2011-09-02T12:41:00.000-04:00

Confession time!! Got your interest didn't I? I was a highly competitive athlete for many years, wrestling from 4th grade all the way to the college level, I was a fairly good runner afterward and I have always stayed in pretty good shape. I laughed at those who said age would do funny things (bad) to you. Then it happened! I got way out of shape. There are reasons I can give but honestly they would be weak excuses and sad alibis. I moved from Florida and missed my favorite running and biking routes, I had no ocean nearby to swim in, and here in North Carolina there seems to be a law against shoulders on the sides of roads, so running and biking seems very dangerous. A day of lost exercise slipped to the next, I worked lots of hours at my new job and justified sitting in front of the TV after a long day. Then what to my wondering eyes appeared on my body but belly fat, atrophied muscles, sore joints and a core section that reeked of middle age!! For the first time in my life I can say I am overweight and out of shape. So what do I do with this new found, and much hated state I find myself in?

Spiritually speaking many can find themselves out of shape so to speak. It's not hard since we know that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities and principalities of this dark and evil world." Ephesians 6:12. How do followers get out of spiritual strength/shape? Probably just as easy as I did physically. We get lazy, distracted, even bored, we stop looking for opportunities to share our faith with those we come in contact with, we stop being hungry for reading and applying the Word of God, and we end up "praying without ceasing" (a rather poor excuse we use) rather than making time for our "prayer closets" to have uninterrupted, passionate and intimate prayer time. Before you know it, it's been a long time since you last "met" with God and you have atrophied spiritually. You find your way into non-public sin and your soul has gone un-noticed and un-attended. But here is the great news!!!!

No one is beyond the outstretched arms of God. He is always there for you and I. It takes one step on our part, (surrender/repentance). Then it takes iron sharpening (see Proverbs 27:17) and before you know it the fire is burning strong and steady in your soul and it flows out of you to those around you.

I am doing the grunt work to get back in shape physically and it will take effort, consistency and others to encourage me, but I am determined to get there AND STAY THERE!! Spiritually speaking, you can do the same thing. It will take effort on your part, consistency and others to encourage you, but with the power and help of the Holy Spirit you can do it and you can STAY THERE!

Believe me, I know first-hand that it's a lot easier to stay in shape than to get there!!!

Mile Markers and Water Marks

2011-08-07T19:36:00.001-04:00

Last week I was driving home from South Florida (more on that in my next blog I promise), I decided to take a detour off of I-95 about an hour North of Jacksonville to St. Simon's Island, Georgia. The summer before my Senior year of college I lived there learning ministry skills, hard core discipleship training and sharing the great news of Jesus Christ and His incredible offer of forgiveness and an abundant/meaningful life. It had been a long time since that summer (I won't tell you how long, but it's a long time). So when I crossed the bridge to the Island I got excited, I reflected on many of the friends I gained, the lessons I learned and still use today, and the things God spoke and did in my life. It was a very significant summer for me. I was a fairly new believer and I was surrounded by spiritual giants, they proved to be so encouraging to me and a great example for life and ministry. I believe God started to really write on my heart that full time ministry was what He was calling me to, and as I look back I see how much He used the St. Simons experience.

But as I drove around nothing looked the same, I got lost, the Island had sprouted buildings, businesses, vacation homes and properties everywhere. It didn't look or feel the same! I found the old Lighthouse, a great reference point and today it is open to tour and climb (I did). I found the Pier, but that was re-built and didn't look the same nor did the downtown area. I couldn't find the original buildings we did our meetings and outreaches in, nor the houses we all shared. There were 30 of us college students plus the staff who led it, and some great lay people who supported and worked alongside us. I know God used that summer as a mile marker/water mark for my life and see that He marked me there. And another really cool thing was that all these years later that ministry lives on, much bigger than the one we started. Today, over 1,000 students meet at "The Gathering Place", where students gather to worship and find true life through Jesus Christ. Churches that were once territorial now run this and many, many lives have been transformed through it. I wonder how many of us that participated that summer are still impacting others for God's Kingdom? My guess is that it's probably 100%.

Thank you God for the people who showed patience and grace to me and taught me so much about being passionate, focused, reaching and pouring into seekers who become believers so they fall so deeply in love with you that they turned around and did the same for others!

Finding a great fit!

2011-07-23T17:21:00.001-04:00

Blue jeans, love them! But not all jeans fit the same. Levi's are cut one way, than there are jean styles, slim fit, straight leg, low rise, loose fit, boot cut, you name it there is a style out there. It used to be you had to break them in yourself, and by the time they fit so comfortably, they started to rip. Today, you can actually buy them ripped, and it costs more!

You have to wear them for them to fit the best, and when it comes to people in Life Groups, the same is true, they come in all styles, age oriented, singles, divorced, married only, men's, women's, parents of teens, recovery groups, groups for spiritual seekers, Bible Study, book study, topical, sermon based, neighborhood, and the list only grows. The reality is that groups take time to "fit" right, you can't start a group that is broken in! That would be nice, rare for sure, it takes time to bond, get real, get honest and then get real honest. Sometimes it takes a trial in a group member's life to bond people, but time it does take.

If you are in a group, is it all that you hope it to be? Probably not, but I ask you, "are you being the best group member you can be?" As we look in the Acts 2:42-47 we see that these people were fully devoted to one another, not sort of devoted. They ate together in homes daily, they shared communion, studied and were taught the word of God, they prayed together, they shared with whomever had need (do you even know the material needs of those in your group?). These early believers had a radical group life, and the result was they had glad and sincere hearts, they even had the favor of un-believers and nearly everyday people were converting to Christianity because of the message of Christ, and the group life of those believers. Getting along and loving others takes time, grace, love and effort, but you can't do it just by attending a worship service, serving others or even tithing. We need each other, I need you and you need me! Isolation and cocooning is not Biblical nor wise! Jump in and start a group or join one and remember it takes time,grace, love, effort, honesty and you being the best member there is!

Passion for the Christ

2011-06-24T12:58:00.001-04:00

It's become a tradition each Good Friday to watch the movie "The Passion of the Christ",it's very emotional for me, and it always points to some amazing realities. Jesus paid it all! When this travels from my head to my heart/soul than I cannot help but be compelled to be with Jesus all of the time, to praise Him, worship (worth-ship) Him for who He is and thank Him for what He has done. And it's all out of gratefulness, It became for me a passion to do anything for Him, and to share this great news with others and help them understand Him better!

I am so thankful I "Got it" at the moment of salvation (right before my 18th birthday), but where and why is there a disconnect for so many others? Why is Jesus and church just another thing in their lives? How did that happen? I think the answers "Fire Insurance", your Get out of Hell Card is one reason. People are told that Jesus paid it all and all you have to do is confess your sins and you will be saved, and you will go to Heaven instead of Hell. But rarely does that person "Get it", because we have moved onto the next not yet saved person and "win" them to Jesus. Christ's sacrifice cost Him everything, true, salvation is free but that's not the end of it all! Immediate follow up, we call it discipleship is a must!!! Another reason people don't "Get it" is because living for God is a lot harder than living in the world and seeking comfort and pleasure!

In Luke 8, Jesus shares a parable about 4 seeds, the first seed the birds got to, the second seed fell on rock and no roots could grow, the third got choked up by all the weeds that stole the sun and nourishment of the soil, and the last seed went deep into the soil, produced fruit 100 times more than the seed that started it all. Jesus goes onto to explain the story. The seed is the word of God, the first seed represents those who hear God's word but the devil robs it from their hearts so that they end up not believing it to be true. The seed that lands on the rock, represents a person who receives the word of God with joy, even excitement and they may even follow God for awhile but when trials come and tests them to the core they look to some other way of getting through the crisis other than trusting in God. Everyone faces trials, it's how we get through them that matters, and in desperate times people without strong core beliefs can lose direction and turn to whatever else sounds right. The third seed represents those who worry, don't trust God truly, the ways of the world seem better to them than the ways of God (that's most people I believe). They love the here and now stuff more than they love the one who loved them enough to die for them. They end up with many mistresses! We know God says He is jealous for us and will have no one or nothing else competing for His love or He just leaves us to ourselves. And of course the last seed represents those who "Get it", they are compelled by His love, no one has or will love them like He loves them and that becomes their life. It's an amazing offer, complete and absolute forgiveness, un-conditional love, an opportunity to live the adventure of serving and representing God, and of course we get a place in eternity with Him once this life on earth ends. Who in their right minds would turn this down? FAR TOO MANY!

I want to say to anyone reading this that no matter where you are right now in your relationship with God - IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!!! God promises that no one is beyond His outstretched arms of longing embrace for you. Seriously, no matter what you've done, or what's been done to you, God longs and waits for your return. His love for you and I is absolutely passionate and when we finally "Get it" ours becomes that too! "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Together

2011-06-20T14:35:00.004-04:00

This weekend I had several wonderful experiences and they all had to do with relationships and God in the midst. There are so many so called experts out there on Twitter, Facebook and Blogs (like me right now). Some are merely theorists, who can talk a good talk while others are true practioners. I really love information, but only IF it leads to TRANSFORMATION.

I am relatively new to the church I serve, and I have been busy scheduling as much time as I can with our people, maybe that's one of the reasons I have put on about 10 pounds since moving here, meals with people. But I don't want to sit in my office only writing training manuals and strategizing, as good and necessary as those tasks are. I am called to BE WITH people!! I love Southbrook Church, we have a very passionate and Godly Pastor in Rob Singleton, and his family, a staff that is united and practicing our Core Values, and a congregation in love with God, and many people finding God weekly. Ours is not a sit on your hands kind of church. Over the weekend I performed a funeral for someone I did not know, but knew the daughter-in-law and was honored she asked me to preside, (weep with those who weep). I also heard of the death of a man whose son and wife I am getting to know, again (weep with those who weep). After a meeting at the funeral home on Friday I decided to visit our Monroe Campus for Family Night at Vacation Bible School. What a great time watching that team serve and lead with excellence (rejoice with those who rejoice), I did my best to stop and chat, say hi, or talk with as many as I could because relationships matter. I am so grateful God created me so relationally!!! I need my down time mind you, but I get I energized by being with people!!! After VBS, I wanted to go support our Weddington Student Ministries team as they kicked off their Summer Tour, I got there a little late but people were still hanging around, so I had another opportunity to build more relationships. I even got introduced to a potential key leader who is chomping at the bit to use her gifts for Life Groups.

Sunday, (Father's Day) was a full one, but so rewarding. I believe strong relationships occur because of bonding experiences and not just by hanging out, but it takes one for the other to happen. After helping lead our FUSE Volunteer Pump Up at 8:15, and then going to our Worship services where our people literally nailed their "UNLESS" list to the cross, I was invited to our Executive Pastor's house for a quick (for me) Father's Day meal even though they had extended family over. (I was truly honored,thanks again Kush's), we had some more bonding, but I had to cut it short, but for good reason as I had signed up to serve with our great team for the monthly serve at the Charlotte Rescue Mission. There were like 20 of us instead of the usual 8-10, (on Father's Day no less). We worked hard, side stepping each other in order to serve the men who are trying to find their way to God and overcome addictions. It was so wonderful to watch our folks dive in and serve so well and begin to bond. Many of us did not know one another until right then and there, but we do now!

Being in other's lives is what it's all about, isolation is never good. In fact it's deadly! Now because I am a people person, I am lucky in that meeting new people energizes me, I know I am not the norm, so for you who get anxiety attacks at the thought of meeting new people, can I just say that rarely will you be disappointed, out of 10 people that you meet, one or two may even become a life long friend, or for a season, a very significant someone. Whether it's weeping with those who weep (at a funeral), or rejoicing with those who rejoice by encouraging Ministry Team Leaders, or serving alongside the saints. We need each other!!! Today is a great day to reach out to a long lost friend, mend a wound, seek forgiveness, give it, thank someone who made a difference, or perhaps invite someone new along for the journey of doing life together. The role model is Jesus, full of compassion, truth, love and mercy, and he didn't give theory!! He walked daily with real people, getting dirty as he walked hard and dusty roads to meet people's felt and real needs. He made a lot of time to build relationships, we should do the same, the rewards are incredible our lives richer for it!

The Joy Factor

2011-06-03T10:34:00.001-04:00

Joy is missing in our world today and it's no wonder! Natural disasters happening around every corner, nearly everyday. People losing their homes, possessions and being completely displaced. The job market is of course terrible, college students are no longer able to find jobs in their field of study that they just invested a whole lot of money, time and effort on, they are just happy to find a job. Not to mention those adults who have been outsourced, replaced, or are over qualified, replaced by someone who can live with a lower salary. People are popping prescription drugs at incredible rates because their stress levels are so high and exercise too low. I see joylessness played out in checkout lines as people are so inpatient, and put out with everyone talking loudly on their cell phones oblivious to those around them. On the road people seem to drive as if they are entitled to drive however they want and act out with road rage like never before. Courtesy and kindness are nearly extinct. Happiness of course is totally related to circumstances...

JOY has nothing to do with circumstances and it is NOT a personality trait! In Galatians 5:22-23 we are told that the results/benefits/fruit of having the Holy Spirit in our lives is joy. It comes from God! You cannot manufacture it, you either have it or you don't and that means you are either walking in step with the Spirit of God or you are not.

As a follower of God and while I am living in the extreme times I am, I want JOY to overflow out of me! I want this to be true for two reasons; one for me, I need and want to walk in step with God's Spirit, and so I can thrive and not just survive. Secondly, I want the people who are suffering, discouraged, angry, sad, lonely, needy and at the end of their hope to experience what I have. I want JOY to overflow out of me! But I must walk in step with the Spirit. How do you do that? That's what I will write next time, but for now I challenge you to examine your life, an easy way to know if you are walking in step with God's Spirit is to ask yourself and even others if Joy is consistently a part of your life.

The In-Between

2011-05-17T17:03:00.001-04:00

Going home, you can do it but it's never the same! I went home recently for my youngest daughter's college graduation (Way to go Elyse), and I was also able to go visit my siblings who live in the small town we grew up in. When I am there I love to go for long runs along familiar streets, and one of the places I run by is our town's cemetery. It reminds me of my mortality, I was born here and I have lived in many cities and states since then but I love coming home. We all have a birthdate and celebrate it, but we also have a death date, that date we have no clue about, but rest assured it's coming. Not trying to sound doomsday or morbid, it's just a reality.

What happens in-between our birthdate and death date is EVERYTHING! We have no idea when our death date will be, for all I know this could be my last blog. But what we do with that in-between time is called our life? I know when I put my head on the pillow at night I take for granted that I will wake up the next day and get to live it passionately for God. I am so incredibly glad to know the following;

* I know that God loves me, chose me and I responded to that invitation.
* I know I am not good enough to earn my way to Heaven, but because Christ Jesus went in my place I am able to spend eternity with God worshipping Him, enjoying whatever He has for me here and there and that hope is secure.
* I know that He has given me purpose and gifts/abilities to accomplish that purpose and so my life has meaning!
* I know that my life is not my own, it was bought with a price I could never repay, but it is in fact a free gift available to anyone just for the asking.
* I know that my life would be a complete wreck without God, sure I could live and have a job and get up and do it all over everyday, but frankly that is never enough for me or most people. We are always asking "Is that all there is?". "What is the meaning of life?" "Why am I here?"

So, we have a birthdate, and the reality is we have a death date, it's just not known to us yet. The question I challenge you with right here and right now to ask is...

WHAT WILL I DO WITH THE IN-BETWEEN?

Bold and Passionate Prayers

2011-04-08T10:02:00.000-04:00
A lot has happened since my last post, but I want to write about what I read in scripture this morning. Over in I Kings, Solomon had just finished building the Temple and was dedicating it, and in Chapter 8 in the Message version it says that he had finished praying bold and passionate prayers, he had been kneeling the whole time and had his arms raised before God. I am someone who loves prayer, I love praying, listening in prayer, praying with others and participating in Concerts of Prayer. I am a praying kind of person, not boastful here to make myself seem ever so spiritual, but I am communicating that I LOVE PRAYER!

I am often curious why some Christians, in fact a majority have such a hard time praying out loud in public whether it be a small or large group. Why? Do they just not practice prayer in private, or have they not had good modeling? Do we just not teach on it enough? Is it just an odd practice speaking to someone we can't see or hear from? Is this why Prayer meetings are so poorly attended in most churches? And when believers talk about wanting revival, do they not know that before every great revival in history it was always proceeded by a movement of prayer? I want revival, we NEED it badly as we watch the world coming apart at the seams all the more reason to turn toward God. I would have loved to hear Solomon's BOLD and PASSIONATE Prayers, I want to have bold and passionate prayers, who is with me? Let's get out of the shadows of shame and ignorance and self consciousness about our prayer lives and lets learn together how to pray boldly and passionately. Let's make our prayer lives a strength rather than something we hope others just won't find out about. Speaking to God, pouring out to Him and even hearing from God ought to be the most natural thing we do, like breathing.

Delighting in God

2011-02-06T14:22:00.003-05:00
For 2011 I have chosen to meditate and wrap my life around 2 verses from scripture. The first is Romans 15;13 "I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace BECAUSE you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (more on that verse in another blog) but the other verse is;
Psalm 37:4-5. "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust in Him and HE will do it."

One of the last things I am about is one of those wealth and prosperity Christians, there is absolutely no logic or correct line of thinking here. Try preaching it in India or Haiti or any 3rd world country. Honestly the poor do not have the lure and distractions of money, they just need to survive everyday, but they have a joy from God that no amount of money could ever give. Enough of that....here is what I am learning and applying each day this year regarding Psalm 37:4-5. First, delighting in God without asking Him anything for myself is not as easy as you might think, well not for me anyway. I find in my prayer life that so much of it was in asking God for answers for myself and others. Yes, I am commanded to bring my requests before God with faith and with His will in mind. I am also commanded to pray without ceasing as well as many other commands, but delighting in Him has been so good for my soul!!! The fact that He knows what my heart desires are all ready makes it redundant to ask what He knows anyway, my part is to delight in Him, totally commit my life to Him and His part is to grant me the desires of my heart that are in line with His perfect will! How cool!!! So this is how a new prayer for me might sound like;

"Father, I delight in my future, that You hold the keys, that You are the author and perfecter of my faith and I delight that no good thing do you withhold from those who truly love you. I delight that you are the giver of all good things, I delight that your protection for me is secure as You go before me, come behind me and send Your angels to camp over me! I delight that you actually care so intimately about me that when one more of my hairs falls out (and more have fallen out then grown back in) you know it! Thank you God for knowing my every step and day and nothing takes you by surprise. In Jesus matchless name, Amen!"

How I might have prayed this prayer could have sounded like this; "Father God, I need your help desperately, I need a better paying job. I need to provide better for those I love, and I feel so in-adequate in not doing so. Please God, please, I ask that you jump in and help me quickly, I am in dire straits here and you know it. Thank you and bless you God, in Jesus matchless name - Amen!

Do you see the difference? I am a Dad and I am so glad when my adult children communicate something to me about me that they love about me. I disliked it when the only thing I was good for was when they just asked for things only I could provide, I did love providing it, but not wanting it to define my parental existence. So it is true of my relationship with my Heavenly Father, He has the resources to provide everything I need, and He could give me everything I want, (that would not be good of course). But the best thing I can do is delight in Him.

How do we delight in God? Well, that's for the next blog! I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you delight in God on a regular basis!

Is Christmas just for Kids?

2010-12-23T22:02:00.005-05:00

I admit it I am a kid at heart! Growing up in a large family in a small rural Mid-Western town, I have stored some really good memories, and of course they are somewhat romanticized. Magical snow-falls on cold nights, sledding on a hill that at the time seemed a lot longer and steeper than it is today, drinking hot chocolate with large melted marsh-mellows that left a mustache on my upper lip but did warm up my chilled to the bones body! I remember Christmas Eve services at my church where we held candles while singing "Silent Night" at midnight and then heard the church bells ring as the service ended. Now that was pretty cool. I remember all 5 of us kids "sleeping" in the same room on Christmas Eve and waiting the next morning for our parents to drink their coffee before we could come downstairs, open our stockings first and then taking turns (youngest to oldest and one at a time) opening our presents and saying thank you after each one.
Good memories as a kid for sure, and later as a Dad myself I did my best to create memories for my girls. Whether it was decorating the house, letting them pick out the real tree, and decorating it with the sounds of really old Christmas music playing in the background. We would read my collection of Christmas stories while drinking hot chocolate and picking out a local family to share the 12 Days of Christmas with as we anonymously put a package on the front steps, rang the door bell and ran before they could see us and never knew who did it!
But my girls are grown up now, and just a couple weeks ago I helped my oldest and her husband decorate their very first tree and listen to the same corny Christmas music that she has to play! It can be depressing not having little ones around, but I truly want to focus on the gift of God and everything that goes with it. I don't want to get caught up on racking my brain out trying to come up with that just right gift for the special people in my life in hopes that they will really, really love it or hope that those who choose to give me a gift will give me just the right one so that my fragile ego will be stroked just enough to feel good!
No, instead I want to experience the knowledge from head to heart that God truly loved me enough to send His perfect Son to take my place and pay in full the penalty for my waywardness that my efforts and good deeds could never do. I am amazed that God would replace my filthy rags of niceness and good works that will always fall short with a royal robe of His righteousness that Christ Himself will put on me. I can barely take in that He chose to adopt me, give me an inheritance that has a value that cannot be measured and that God would not just choose me but use me, that He would give me a new identity, a new name and allow me to come boldly before Him with confidence all because of what Jesus did by being obedient instead of keeping His rightful, comfortable throne in Heaven and leave it for a humble, smelly stable. That He would choose to be spat on, wrongly accused, mocked, beaten beyond recognition and then endure for awhile the cross and be separated from His Father all so that we could be set free from sin and be forgiven.
He has changed the world, the fact that the world stops and celebrates Him is amazing, but that we worship temporal gifts instead of the true gift and the great gift giver must sadden Him immensely. May Christmas 2010 become the year when we all bend down on our knees and take the time to worship and adore what this season and holiday are all about! Oh Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!

A Paradigm Shift in True Christianity!

2010-11-14T09:02:00.006-05:00
Question - Why are most Christians here in the United States not radically different than the many believers in other countries who are literally being imprisoned, tortured or dying because they are willing to stand up and stand out for their faith? Answer - because churches here are spending so little time helping new believers truly "get it". They are often in too big of a hurry making sure the new believer fits into their culture than helping them really fall deeply in love with God. Most mature believers have become saturated with the world and fitting into a bland form of religion. The church in the U.S. has for the longest time been far more interested in how many members or attenders they have, how many programs they provide, who has the nicest facilities, children's programs, student ministries and worship experience instead of walking a new believer by the hand to the point where transformation is taking place and knowing and living out scripture is an obvious part of their DNA. Is what churches are teaching/modeling about following God really making a difference? I don't think so, look around you and see the results of what I call the "Have to" principle and has almost always trumped the "Want to" principle. What I mean by this is we spend so little time helping new followers fall so deeply in love with God that they want to spend time with Him, reading His words, memorizing and meditating on it. Worship is alive and authentic, giving time, money and gifts are want to and not have to, and true community is something those where those on the outside looking in desperately want for themselves. Instead we communicate verbally and non-verbally that going to church services, being in a Life Group, serving and giving are the deal. THEY ARE NOT THE DEAL, but they can be a result of the true deal!

It took Jesus 3 years with 12 guys and honestly they did not get it until Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit for them to be different. If 3 years of daily time with Jesus wasn't quite enough back then, how can we presume to think a 4 week Sermon Series on transformation, and then herding them into a Life/Small Group will do the trick?

Spending time helping believers get it requires first and foremost helping them have "right thinking" about God and authentic Biblical thinking. Often times this means "un-doing" a lot of false truth, misconceptions and have to's. This process cannot be hurried!!! How can it be? If George Gallup and George Barna are correct regarding how many people here in the States claim to be Born Again Christians and not just Protestant's than why hasn't this world and country become something other that what it is...A MESS? I declare that we must take time to help new followers get how much God loves them, all that He has done for them and all that they are in Him. If they get this, the overflow of the hearts and their minds will become transformational in how they live. Look at Acts chapter 2 and what you will find is a radically different church than what we see in 99% of churches today. People cannot be transformed through a single service or program, how many followers have been taught the great commission found in Matthew 28? I know many can recite this verse, but seriously when we are commanded to "teach everything that Jesus was and did" how many Christians know what this is? Instead we have a Biblically illiterate society, I have witnessed this everywhere I go to speak or worship. It's not because churches are not providing classes and programs, for I think it's being provided, it's just that we do not have disciplers or mentors (whatever you want to call them) taking the time to walk alongside a new follower until he or she gets it. We cannot pass go and collect $25 here, this part is critical.

Jesus taught the Seed Principle found in the Gospels (Matthew 13/Luke 8) when He told the story about 4 kinds of seeds. Only 1 in 4 produced fruit. I don't know about you but that is a horrible statistic!! I am going to begin praying and fasting for a transformational movement where all we do is help people "get it" before we ask them to go public about it, where we really walk alongside new followers while they fall in love with God, and not the do's and don't of religion and church, but a radical way of seeing God for who He really is, what He has really done and who we are in Him. Who will join me, or lead me to whom can I join to see this into reality? I know it starts with prayer as it must come first and foremost through faith in God. Believe me, God wants this, grieves over it not being here already and wants us who are secure in our faith to pass this onto others! May God ignite a new Christianity here in the States that overflows out of hearts that are fully in love with Him.

60 Years is Quite Amazing!

2010-10-14T14:00:00.006-04:00

I am flying out of Florida tomorrow to go back to my hometown in Illinois to gather with all of my siblings, my daughters, son in law, their nephews, nieces, their kids and their grandkids to celebrate something truly amazing. My Dad and Mom married each other 60 years ago this month! That's a long time and worth celebrating!!! As with any kid growing up back then there were things I didn't like, that I suffered through, and things I wished were different about my parents and family. It's taken some years of thinking, writing and talking things out to come to a very good and accepting place about my life! And we didn't even have that much dysfunction! But growing up the 4th of 5, and with the 3 ahead me being high achievers and popular didn't make it easy for me since I was neither particularly smart, athletic or popular! I eventually caught up in many ways, but what I KNEW and could count on was that I always had the love and support of my parents and my family. My folks showed love and verbalized it too. And a part of their legacy is the reality that the 5 of us off-spring all love each other deeply, would do anything for each other and those around us, and that we are pretty close!

We are planning a fun and hopefully memorable celebration, a catered dinner, a photographer, an open house, some gifts and speeches! All of this to honor them and they deserve it!!! They have seen a lot happen in history since 1950, they raised 5 kids without microwaves and a dishwasher, we had one car for many years, one tv without a remote control, we shared rooms. There were Dr. and Dentist visits they probably could not afford, Christmas and birthday presents that made any luxuries impossible, and sacrifice was a regular part of their lives. Most of our vacations were spent visiting relatives or camping,and we didn't mind at all. I can't imagine what it was like paying for school supplies and clothes at the beginning of each school year! My Dad worked a factory job even though he truly wanted to be a history teacher, and my Mom worked mostly as a Florist. I can't imagine they had much money left over after a trip to the grocery store, but we never lacked for anything. They loved on as best they knew how, made sure we were honest and respectful and didn't swear, or we would get our mouth's washed out with Ivory soap. They came to our sporting events (well Mom didn't, she couldn't stand watching). They even put a couple of us through college even though they never went.

In just a few words - they were rock steady and always could be counted on. They remained faithful to each other even though they are two very different people. As we gather this weekend there will be 4 generations of Conklin's and a long and wonderful legacy passed on! Here's to you Don and Dorothy Conklin, congratulations on 60 years of marriage, that is quite amazing and so are you Dad and Mom!

Welcome to the Family

2010-08-05T23:31:00.005-04:00

This past weekend my oldest daughter Brittany married Thomas Rivera up in N.E. Georgia. Of course a family wedding can be a pretty big deal, but when you are the Father of the Bride, well, it was my first! I need to admit something from the get go, I screwed up quite a bit these last 4 years while they dated. I am not saying it was all my fault, but I need to take responsibility for my actions/lack of them. I am a Father that has been pretty protective of my girls and I have prayed for my daughter's spouses since the day they were born. I prayed that their husbands would love God first and foremost, my daughters next and then take great care of them by providing for them and bringing out the best in them! I messed up because I made it nearly impossible for Thomas to reach the standards I had in my head and heart. I became a very judgmental and self-righteous person, and it spilled out in other area's of my life.

Fortunately, God and some special people in my life who have a lot of wisdom and were willing to speak the truth in love to me, helped redeem the situation. Thanks to Karyn, my Mom, Tim Popadic and Dick Walker!!! And thank you Holy Spirit for convicting me gently, and for author John Piper's writings which help steer me in the right direction. I have much to learn and a long way to go on this journey that's for sure! All that to say that in that final hour I call 11:59:59, I was able to sit with Brittany and Thomas and confess sin, seek forgiveness, walk in repentance and start fresh! Thank you Britt and Thomas for grace and forgiveness. I always wanted a son and now I have a son-in-law whom I want to get to know a lot better and do fun, masculine and spiritual things together.

I write this to express to you that no matter what you've done or not done, or what's been done to you, it's never to late for redeeming it all!! Hope is a powerful thing and I want to give you some if I can. I didn't see a way out of my mess up and knew I had pushed my daughter and Thomas away by my self-righteous behavior. But, thankfully through a teachable spirit and an incredible God, the best outcome prevailed. If there is a relationship in your life that needs healing and reconciliation, or a wrong that needs righting, or some sin that needs confessing, I just want you to know that it's never too late! God wants us to live in peace and harmony, with love and grace lavished all over each other. Swallow your pride (not easy to admit or do) and make the move toward everything God wants for you (wherever possible make your amends). The results of this are incredible!!! They lighten your load, bring freedom and allow you to have hope for a great present and future.

My family drove 2,000 miles roundtrip over the weekend to be together for this joyous occasion and we all had the time of our lives! What was also amazing was how much easier my family accepted and loved on Thomas than I ever did previously. Thomas, welcome to the family!!!

Pastor in Disguise

2010-04-27T21:41:00.004-04:00
As most of you know I was in full time ministry as an Associate Pastor for 25 years, I was also a College Head Coach, and a High School Coach, but really I have been a Pastor most of my adult life. These last few years I have been working in the Optical Field to put food on the table. I have learned ,and it has been a great place to be light and salt way outside the walls of a local church. Most first time patients I help have no idea I have been in ministry, though through these 3 years I have many repeat patients, and there have been many wonderful conversations regarding spiritual matters. I have even preached at a local church through some patients of mine who are Elders at their church and invited me to preach. This was a very cool experience. Last week one of my patients (I think a very wealthy one as he had a driver/attendant) came into the store and wanted me to fill a couple prescriptions, as we conversed he looked at me and said, "you are so spiritual, you are like an Pastor in disguise"... It was to me a wonderful compliment in so many ways.
Truly I can't wait to get back into full time ministry (my calling from God) but what a cool thing for a stranger to pick up on what God has called me to be and sees in me!

Being Okay with not being okay!

2009-12-19T08:37:00.005-05:00
I am a classic optimist, a hopeful, perhaps even whimsical person, which makes it fun to be with and around me! But people cannot always be happy, that's neither realistic nor authentic, for whatever reason I never found it safe to share the harder, deeper struggles of my life with others...so I didn't. People tried to get inside the more authentic me, but I was guarded and most likely out of touch with my inner self, probably because I didn't want to find something I didn't like. However one of the great "gifts" of my life has been personal tragedy, in my case it was divorce. I hate being divorced, everything associated with it for myself, my children, family and friends!!! I didn't want to be divorced (no one truly does) but some great gifts have come and because my private life was played out to many in public because I was a Pastor. The old saying that you can run but you can't hide is so true, the long and short of it is this; a 2 week counseling session 1,000 miles from home with a gifted and tender Christian counselor revealed the following;

"Kevin,you are not okay, everyone around you who loves you knows that you are not okay, so until you are okay with not being okay, you will not be okay."

What a gift, and what a revelation, but what a struggle this has been for me. As this Christmas comes and all that comes with it (gift giving, lots of miscellaneous cash spending) I find I am not so okay with not being okay. For the last couple years I have been out of full time ministry and financially it was much better paying and providing for than my current job in the Optical field. I am grateful for my job, I work with some wonderful people and I am good at my job, but financially it does not provide like I, my adult children and friends are used to. They may be okay with this, but I am not! So this Christmas I am re-visiting the truth that I need to be okay with not being okay. I always want to improve and do my best but I also need to be authentic and honest with myself and others. I am in process, God is chiseling me, re-shaping me, refining me through trial to be more like His Son Jesus. And that's not only okay, it's GREAT! Merry Christmas to all!

The Dreaded Recall

2009-10-30T21:36:00.004-04:00

Have you ever recieved a phone call, letter or postcard informing you that something you own has been found defective and or dangerous and you need to take it somewhere to be repaired, or send the product back to recieve a replacement? It's called a recall and it's a huge drag for the company and the owner! I researched statistics regarding recalled products, cars, car parts, clothes, machines, you name it. Because the company cannot gurantee the product will perform as it should and in order to avoid huge lawsuits they have to expend unbelievable amounts of money to give true customer satisfaction. I am talking hundreds of billions of dollars! Recently I took care from start to finish a recalled Starbucks Coffee Grinder. After stopping at a couple stores I was given an 800 number to contact and I would be given further instructions. Well, this recall was so big that it required a special hotline just for this specific grinder. Starbucks had to hire people just to take care of this, and it all could been avoided had the grinder been made right the first time. I had to give them my e-mail address so they could send me a UPS printing label so I could spend my own money to ship the grinder back to Starbucks. With-in 6-8 weeks they promised they would send a new one. They did!
This somehow got me to think about God and His promises, they have never been re-called! The Bible is FULL of promises from God to His people and He has never broken one!!! Not one in all of humanity, and that is incredible! I have broken promises, and so have you, but God never does. And yet it can be so easy to trust in things (even quality companies/products), or in other people who have proved to be faithful and trustworthy, but they too will let us down. May I encourage you and remind myself at the same time that though His timing is not our timing, and His ways are higher than ours, He is totally and un-equivically trustworthy. No recalls from God and I promise!!!

Physcial vs. Inner Pain

2009-08-25T21:26:00.006-04:00
I am one of those guys who thinks he knows how to handle pain, though I am small in stature, I can say I am pretty adept at blocking out pain in order to achieve a goal. Sports are a great way to learn pain blocking/management and wrestling is a pretty good test compared to other sports. I started wrestling in 4th grade in gym class and then it turned into intramurals and then traveling teams, all the way to District, Regional and National tournaments. I had the chance to compete in college and on our team every guy was extremely good in high school, which meant talk was cheap and there was no place to hide. We had National Champions and plenty of All Americans, I was not one of them! When times got tough some guys feigned injury in order to get a break from the intense workouts. Ocassionally I did, I am not proud of it.
There is physical pain and then the other kind (emotional/mental/spiritual), we all have endurance levels, tolerances we can hit and some we just can't get past. I am not sure what my levels are but to this point I have not wilted/quit yet! There sure have been plenty of tests, especially lately! Last night and today I hit the wall. I was angry, sad and disappointed and honestly wasn't well inside. I wasn't going to hide my pain, so with a trusted friend I shared my pain. He knew I wasn't myself and I appreciate that he lived out "weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice." Romans 12:15.
This too shall pass, but one thing I have learned and continue to do is show up and be authentic rather than mask or stuff. I was a great stuffer, and again not something I am proud of! I know I have to "get it together" and want to, but last night and today was just one of those days I would have rather dealt with phyiscal pain than the emotional/spiritual kind. I know how to do the first much better than the second. But I am getting better at the second! Progress not perfection. I want to leave you with a couple thoughts when it comes to dealing with any kind of pain.

1. Isolation is NEVER good, don't leave yourself alone - show up with a trusted friend. Perspective is one of the least expensive tools you have and it's always one of the richest if the person; Knows you well, loves you much and is willing to speak the truth in love to you. Proverbs says "wise people seek the counsel of many", it's where we get the saying two heads are better than one.

2. Be real, be honest and be really honest!

3. Don't let too much time lapse before working toward any kind of resolution or you will leave a small opening for the enemy to get in your mind/heart! Do not make agreements with yourself in your weak moments!

I will get through the pain, (the options are not good otherwise) but I will be authentic enough to share my pain! If all we ever do is share our victories with others, most will feel like failures. Most of life is made up of setbacks but most of what we tell others our only of our victories. Not a good thing! Thanks for reading!

Extravagant Love

2009-07-19T21:30:00.004-04:00
Most of us settle, admit it! Either because we are lulled to sleep by the drone of one day following the next, or often we live with regret over what we didn't do more than because we did too much. Woulda, coulda, shoulda! "it costs too much, I can't afford that..." But every once in awhile we hear about someone doing something meriting the word extravagant. Some philanthropist who gives an anonymous gift to an organization or individual that is might be considered extravagant, or when someone gives a gift that is well beyond what might be considered normal. I love it even better when I am either on the giving or recieving end. A friend of mine struggled with a rather extravagant purchase for themself, in fact they debated so much over the purchase that they went to the store on successive days looking at it, debating it but having the hardest time justifying it.

This afternoon I tagged along and did tried to be a support! The item was purchased and the joy on their face was remarkable, not a selfish "mine, mine, mine" look, but more like life is too short not do something just a little over the top! It was so fun I even took a picture! They didn't buy the gift to flaunt it in front of others and be noticed, it was just something that was good for the soul.

Switching gears, I want to point out some events in the Bible that show God's extravagant love for us. There are far too many for this blog, but how about when the prostitute pours an extravagant bottle of perfume over Jesus' and the disciples rebuke her saying they could have sold the bottle and used the money towards helping destitute people. I love it that Jesus didn't get mad at her! She was worshipping Jesus extravagantly! Or the Father of the prodigal son upon his son's return, has their best cow slaughtered, a robe placed on him and he throws a big party instead of giving him his just desserts.

I write this because today or this week maybe you and I ought to do something extravagant, something that may raise some eyebrows but really make a memory. Like forgiving someone who in your mind just doesn't deserve it. Or instead of casting a judgemental eye on that homeless person you pass everyday, and we come up with our list of reasons we shouldn't, maybe we could take them out for a nice meal, instead of handing out small change. God was extravagant with His love, grace and forgiveness to all who ask for it, Jesus is our example and He died for us even though we put Him there. May we figure out creative ways to be extravagant! Life is short! Be extravagant!

Burnin' Calories and Other Things!

2009-06-14T21:12:00.003-04:00

I admit it, I have never ever counted a calorie in my life. This is not a boastful thing, rather I have always used different methods of knowing whether I was needing to burn some calories/fat or not. This is a bit of a anomaly since I spent years 9-20 weighing myself countless times a day as a wrestler, first in Elementary School, onto Jr. High, then High School and then finishing my career in College. I had to watch what I ate, how much I ate and unfortunately found some creative and not so healthy ways to lose weight.

I share this because this past month I have increased my workouts and added variety to them. I have been an avid runner since the early 70's (no jokes please), and I lift weights (a bit), bike and LOVE anything outdoors. This past month I have ridden my bike a lot more than I ever have, and I am swimming in the ocean at least 3 times a week. I AM BURNING CALORIES AND FAT! I am not sure how much but I am sure it's a lot.

This week I had the honor of writing our church's IMAX Guide (a Bible study supplement to the weekend sermon) at www.gochristfellowship.com. In the sermon and in the Bible verses there was a clear call to holiness. Many times we are commanded to confess and turn away from anything that is not fully pleasing to God but do we? Or do we give in and let the the not so God glorifying things seep in? Both the sermon and the guide made it obvious is that the Holy Fire of God will burn away anything that is not glorifying to Him, all followers of Him need to be active and serious about this, not at all comfortable! I had grown comfortable! I think many of us do!

Psalm 32 and 51 speak clearly about what happens when sin (things in our lives that do not glorify God) goes un-checked. We grow hard in our hearts, we become callous and we begin moving further away from God and His people! Of course there are other consequences like increased stress, decreased laughter and joy, lying and deception happen more often, and we are vulnerable to the destructive consequences that will damage our lives and possibly those near us. In the message version in Psalm 139 it says;

"Investigate my life O God, find out everything about me. Cross examine and test me and get a clear picture of what I'm about; see for yourself whether I've done anything wrong- then guide me on the the road to eternal life."

I have come a long way in being more like the follower of God I was created to be, I also know upon authentic inspection I have more to go. In Hebrews 12:29 we are told that God is a consuming fire! He will burn off what is in our lives that will not last and is not Holy! I don't care nearly as much about burning calories and fat as I want to have my flaws and un-Godly ways burned off so that all you see is Him and Him glorified. God wants us to be a Holy people! Let's burn some!

Your Heart is Good!

2009-06-01T20:58:00.003-04:00

I am about to turn 51 and I made a promise to myself and a friend that I would get a physical. So a couple weeks ago I got one. I was not too worried as I am in good shape, I exercise consistently, eat pretty well, don't smoke...you know healthy habits. But as a person gets older what lies beneath is what you must know about in order to remain healthy. Preventative medicine. In the midst of my physical my Dr. was alarmed to see a blockage in my heart and odered an echocardiogram. He also ran some other tests. Today I met with him to go over the results. I was curious of course to find out if my heart was good or not. While I was sitting there I hear God say very clearly to me these words. "Kevin, your heart is very good!" I knew what He was speaking of was not my phsical heart that pumps my blood and keeps me alive. He was speaking tenderly to me about my soul/heart. It was so good to hear Him communicate this truth to me! Though I believe I have a good heart, it's good to hear it said from my Abba/Papa! And I want to say to you... Your heart is good!

Here are a few verses regarding the heart.

I Chronicles 28:9 - God searches every heart..
Psalm 86:11 - give me an un-divided heart.
Psalm 139:23 - search me O God and know my heart...
Proverbs 13:12 - hope deferred makes the heart grow sick
Proverbs 15:20 - a cheerful heart is good medicine
Jeremiah 17:9 - the heart is deceitful above all things
Luke 6:45 - out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks
Proverbs 4:23 - above everything guard your heart!

I know this, since I have given my life and heart over to God, He has replaced the evil in my heart and filled it with His good. I have seen my deceitful, selfish and very capable of evil heart transformed with a pure and passionate desire to KNOW God and make Him KNOWN. He has set my heart free, God is the true lover of my heart!

A simple heart check up requires each of us to search our hearts. Are we desiring Godly things, good things that bring Him glory or glory only for ourselves? Do we want to love others, especially those not so easy to love? Do we want the best for others? Do you hate what is evil and cling to what is good? Do we have compassion for the poor, the wounded, widowed and orphan? I know I have a ways to go to have an even healthier heart, but it was both good to hear my Dr. and my God say to me - "Your heart is good Kevin"!

Abba, Papa, Daddy!

2009-05-12T21:07:00.003-04:00

When I became a Father back in 1987 I was so excited! And ignorant! I had a nice but not so close relationship with my Dad back then and I knew I wanted more with my kids. I loved being a Dad, having responsibility, enjoying and watching my daughter develop and change daily, weekly, monthly.... When my second daughter came in 1989 I was afraid there was not going to be enough love in my heart to go out to her since I loved my first daughter so much. Of course love became exponential so not to worry! I loved every part of being a Dad of 2 girls, teaching them so many things and enjoying them. All of our tag team wrestling matches on the basement carpet, giving them "dreamers" at night to go to sleep to, and the many inventful and creative things we did then that showed them how much I delighted in them. As they got older I did my best to teach them responsibility and interdependence! Today they are 21 and almost 20, doing great in college and being so responsible! When they were young they had to ask for things because they were not always capable nor did they have the resources. They didn't build their relationship with me simply asking for things all of the time, they also enjoyed having a Dad and Mom who played with them, read them stories, took them on trips and all the things parents and children do to delight in each other.

In Psalm 37:4 we are told to "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Too often I find I am asking "Daddy" for things much more than I am delighting in Him and that is a terrible way to form and maintain a healthy relationship. If all my kids ever did was ask, ask, ask and ask some more I don't think our relationship would be very good. I need to get back to truly delighting in being a Dad and they being my daughters, and I need to really get back to truly delighting in God. I do not want to base my realtionship and conversations with Him around always asking, pleading, praying.

When I was in college and new to the faith I remember a girl at school (Annie) who used to open her prayers something like this... " Dearest Abba, Papa Daddy". It was so informal, and sounded very much like she was intimate with and delighting in her relationship with God. It was new to me but I wanted that for myself. May I, and may we learn to delight in God and not spend so much of our relationship always asking, pleading and praying to Him about the desires of our hearts, instead may our relationship with Him become the deepest desire of our hearts!

Simplicity

2009-04-30T18:25:00.013-04:00

Last week I had the opportunity of helping a new believer learn the simple basic truths about being a follower of God. It was so refreshing because it brought me back to the simplicity of it all. Then this past Sunday I taught twice, first in the morning at Christ Felllowship in a Life Study called "Identity in Christ", the other was at a Faith Holy Temple Church. Let's just say I was the only brother of the other color! Both were just way cool! Because God was obviously there and I am so glad I got to be a part of what was simple. The truth and pure worship.
There is much to take in when it comes to God's word, but when it all comes down to it we know that God created us for relationship. In order for it to be perfect love God would not MAKE us love Him, He gave us choice! John 3:16 is simple - (Kevin's interpretation here)

"But God so loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son that whoever believes that God loves us that much, and accepts the free gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ will not end up seperated from God for eternity but instead will have full intimate relationship in perfected bodies, with no tears, pain with new bodies without suffering but instead passionate worship and extragantly wonderful relationship with Him and everyone who chose God while here on earth!

In the Identity in Christ study on Sunday it came down to this, who we are gets completely changed when we choose relationship with God and begin seeing ourselves as God does. We are so valuable! Do you know who you are? I am not my job, that is what I do but I am, and forever will be a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I am not my own, God paid the price and redeemed me, bought me with an expensive price (His Son). I must be valuable if God was willing and wanting to do that. And He wants EVERYONE to experience this truth as well.

Onto the Sunday night service at the Faith Holy Temple Church. I love that people can worship God in so many different ways! No way is the right way except that we worship Him in Spirit and truth. My church is huge (25,000), the church I preached in had 50 people. There was no light director, no sound checks,instead children became the spontaneous choir, singing and shouting to and for the God of the Universe! There was no production (well the kids did sway back and forth in a way I would only look foolish doing, they prayed, took an offering and greeted one another with sincere hearts and then I preached out of II Peter 1.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him."

What a God! God's love and plan for us is simple! It's not 25 things you must do...it's "love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your neighbor as you want to be loved by others." Simple isn't it?

What Fragrance Are You?

2009-03-31T21:59:00.003-04:00

We all have a scent, our own smell if you will. When I think of my Grandfather I always think of his pipe smell and the aroma of fresh baked bread, he loved to bake bread. I used to visit my cousins in Indiana who lived on a farm, and those smells were very pungent at first, but they grew on me to the point I barely noticed them later!

In II Corinthians 2:14-16 the Apostle Paul tells us we are the fragrance of Christ. Everywhere we go we are an aroma of God, to God, and to those who have a saving relationship with Him. Even to those who are not yet rightly connected to Him. Paul goes on to say that to others we are like the stench of someone dead and decaying (think dead animal). To others we are like the smell of life (think Spring when grass and flowers and trees are blooming).

Most adults have a favorite fragrance we spray on to smell good. Most of us can tell the difference between something very expensive and something pretty cheap. Then there are the older people who like take a shower in it and you can smell 'em a mile away....ha ha. In any case we all leave behind a scent, but what kind? For me in every situation with every person I want to leave the life giving aroma of God's love and grace, His forgiveness and mercy to all who I am exposed to. I can only do that by consistently being in His presence, "eating" His words, chewing on them and desiring them to become a part of me. I need to be filled with Him so much that He overflows, He comes out of my pores and leaves an aroma. We are commanded to make the most of every opportunity we have with everyone. How about you? What fragrance do you leave behind as your scent?

As I close I want to share a recent tragic story. I worked with a guy named Pat, his formal name was Pastor. As far as I could tell through lots of time spent with him working and hanging out, Pat was not a friend of God, he was full of life, generous as all get out, and a family man for sure. But Pat had a lifestyle that was not altogether one lived to please God. I went out with him less than 2 weeks ago and have always tried to be a God aroma if you will. Last Monday I got a call that Pat died in a 1 car accident, he was driving fast, turned too sharp, flipped his car and was ejected. He died! Besides the shock and sadness of the void he leaves for his wife, daughter, family and friends is the distinct possibility he may not be spending eternity in paradise! You and I never know if this day will be our last, or the last of those we love, but we must, I must live intentionally to be a fragrant aroma, not a stench of judgemental, narrow minded, graceless and self-righteous know it alls, but full of grace and peace and love and truth!

Florida Rains and Nourishment for Dead Souls!

2009-03-19T22:32:00.006-04:00

This winter has been brutally dry in South Florida, true the ocean is right here, but almost all the grass and many trees are brown and barely alive. But the last two days or so we have had those South Florida rains, not a sprinkle here or there but lots of rain. Inches at a time. You can nearly watch the grass and trees come to life it's an amazing transformation.
Our souls can be like this. We can walk through the motions and as John Ortberg says;

"Soul dissatisfaction cannot go long without leading us into sin. We have an inner soul court and an outer soul court. The outer court is what the public sees and many can be invited into, but the inner court is the "holy of holies" that God sees, and what He sees cannot be staged, there are no shortcuts. Authenticity of a lack of it will be found out. The soul is either satisified or it is not, but it must be."
If you are dry spiritually, admit it and immediately turn for God's refreshment of love, grace and mercy to shower on you. Romans 8:1 "there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." James says "draw near to God and He will draw near to you." God wants you and I to be alive and refreshed, it takes discipline for sure, but mostly it takes the reality of just how much He loves us! He loves us! You need to identify the reasons you got dry in the first place and then seek wisdom and develop an action plan on how to get out and stay out. A book I suggest you devour is written by John Eldredge titled "Waking the Dead", check it out! The Holy Spirit wants to move in and reign in our lives!

It's God's kindness that leads us to repentenance."

How Far is the East from the West?

2009-03-13T19:23:00.003-04:00

Look at the picture of our planet, and as you do I want you to look at the point most east. If you could travel east and move your way to the backside you would still be traveling east. If your starting point were N.Y. and you traveled east and made it around the globe and arrived back in N.Y. you would have ALWAYS traveled east. In other words East and West NEVER meet! North and South do. Case in point if you traveled from the South Pole to the North Pole you would be heading North, once you reached the North Pole and wanted to head to the South Pole you would have to travel South, South and North meet, but East and West NEVER do! In Psalm 103:12 the Bible says this;

"AS far as the east is from the west so have I removed your sin, and I see it no more."

We all do stupid things, things we never intended to happen, things we cannot undo, things we regret, maybe even deeply. Some of those things we can hide and many we cannot. Being found out is the worst isn't it? When you are found out people can judge, be critical, gossip, stupid stuff can disqualify us from things down the road we really want to do but won't be able due to rules, agreements or standards. When we hear of famous people who get found out of their stupid stuff we cringe, go cynical, judgemental or any number of places. But when it happens to you/me well all of sudden we hope to be treated/looked at differently. Aren't you glad that God in His amazing grace, mercy and forgiveness not only removes our sin but He can't even see it any longer? Wow! When we hear of others who get "found out" let's remember God's grace, mercy and forgiveness extend to everyone who call on Christ to be saved! Thank God!

Oh How the Days Go By!

2009-03-04T20:42:00.004-05:00

Here we are well into 2009, time does seem to fly! Some of us made goals and some are keeping them, others of you well....you know! The older I get the faster time goes. I checked into why it seems that way even though I have the same amount of seconds, minutes and hours as I always have is because I have more experiences to have filled my mind which requires me to store images, ideas, thoughts, things to do, things I have not done and so on... It's a time capacity thing. So the older I get the more I reflect on the significance of my life. I want my life to have mattered and so do you but time just seems to race by and our days blur and if we are not carful we have not managed our time/life it has managed us! In a scene from the movie "Saving Private Ryan, the elder Ryan is standing near the tombstone of the Captain who saved his life but lost his in the process and he told Ryan to "make it count". The elder Ryan then asks his wife if his life made a difference, "yes of course it did" she responds.

So, if times does seem to go by and our days and weeks and even months seem like a blur how do we KNOW our lives matter? We all want to be about significance, something not just about ourselves as good as that might be, but beyond ourselves.

Let's begin with the relationships we have. God, so many times we wish/hope to live our relationship with God more out of aliveness rather than religiousity. But so many times we attempt this by our own strength, knowledge and wisdom and we KNOW that is never enough! "not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit says the Lord". Then then is our family, friends and co-workers. Have we help make their lives better than if we had not been allive at all? How do we know? There are our gifts, things we are good at. Did those make a difference? Can you even list the things you really excel at?

We are responsible for our lives and stewards of our time. We all choose how productive/un-productive we will be and God will hold us responsible. So many of us come home from work and "treat ourselves" to the tv in order to un-wind, and the next thing you know we have fallen asleep on the couch and it's well passed bedtime and we saunter into bed to sleep for a few hours and wished we hadn't wasted the night when we promised ourselves time to write that e-mail, make that phone call, spend quality time with our spouse/children or hang out with that friend who is suffering, read our Bible etc...

In one of my favorite movies "It's a Wonderful Life" George Bailey thought his life such a waste since it did not turn out the way HE wanted it too. But He got to see how much of a difference he actually made and in the end he celebrated! We can all stop right now and decide to truly turn to the Holy Spirit to empower us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and make the most of the days we have. To quote one of my favorite Bible verses, John 10:10; "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." Steal kill, destroy, think about that in lieu of your time, days, weeks, months and years. As a matter of fact, this could be our last day so we better get at it now! How about turning to God, surrendering and seeking Him for a new day/future.

Helping People See

2009-02-21T10:01:00.003-05:00
For over 25 years I have had the honor of helping people see, in the context of spiritual matters that is. I believe God gifted me, called me and there is fruit that is long term to confirm this. Thank You for your GRACE and MERCY God! I love and am passionate about teaching God's word and His precepts into something that is transformational in people's lives, whether it be in front of a crowd of thousands, or in a coffee shop with one! It makes my heart come alive!!!

Over the last couple years due to life's twists and turns, what I thought was God's clear will and through disappointments that have nearly killed my heart I have not been consistently able to do this.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Prov. 13:12

The last 2 plus years I have worked for an Optical Company literally helping people see. Filling prescriptions, making repairs and adjustments that improve their sight. Watching them put contacts or glasses on for the first time, or with a new RX, and then watching the smile on their face as they see clearly when minutes ago life was blurry is quite cool. BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING!

I am so seeking God for a place to serve Him again and my heart gets sick every once in awhile due to hope being deferred. One of the verses I have clinged to during these last 2 years is Romans 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Only you know the things you hope for, it may be a person, a better marriage, a new job, a new house, more money, less worry....but in the end, you and I must place our hearts desires in the tender hands of the God of all Hope and Peace so that we can experience true joy to overflow that comes from the Holy Spirit...

Soul Care 301

2009-02-17T09:33:00.002-05:00
This will be brief but I believe Life Impacting, as was my intention with the other posts on Soul Care.

What makes your heart/soul come alive?

Yes, think about that for a minute. Make a list of the activities and people who make your heart/soul come alive, who have or could cause your life to leap out of the mundane of your day.

St. Ireneous is quoted as saying "The Glory of God is man fully alive."

I resonate with this but at times struggle with it. So make a list of all the activities and people who have done this or would. On a very consistent basis do these, spend time with them. YOU MUST!

John 10:10 says "the thief comes to rob, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." Do you ever see Jesus as bored? Our enemies attempt everyday to rob of us life, kill our desire, steal our joy and destroy our sense or real purpose in this world. But we all have a very important role to live it out, we do. But we can slip into the mundane check out line without a thought until one day we wake up and ask "what happended to the life I desired?"

You don't have to live like this anymore! Do those activities and spend time with those people who cause your soul to stir and come alive. Your life depends on it! You know it and so do I!

Soul Care 201

2009-02-14T08:44:00.004-05:00
Hurry Sickness! It's an epidemic! Here are the symptoms.

Impatience while your computer boots! "Hurry up will ya?"
Spying the check out lines to see which lane is the shortest or which clerk the fastest.
Coming up to a stoplight in a multi-lane road and pre-determining which cars ahead of you will pull out the fastest..
Got the disease? Most of us do... But listen to this.

"Be still and KNOW that I am God." Psalm 46:10

"Martha, Mary has done the better thing, sitting here at my feet." Luke 10:38-42

As we move onto to Soul Care 201 our life skill is that we must slow down! We MUST! We live in a very distracted culture. I have noticed now with text messaging and internet savy phones that there may be a need for phone etiquette. When I am with a person in a conversation but they are checking their phone for a text, or checking e-mail their eyes are on their phone and their minds are not present. I can get that way with God. I may be in a quiet room alone with my Bible and journal but I am not present. Martha was in the same house with Jesus but she was preoccupied. Jesus rebuked her and said it's better to be with Him than busy/hurried doing things for Him. Doing things for Him is good as well but not as good as being with Him. We were created for relationship!

So here are some things to work on in our 201 edition;

* Learn the art of being still! Learn to slow your mind, thoughts down. Leave alone for a few minutes each day the to do list, the conversations yet to be had or the ones you have and are replaying, slow down!

* Understand that being busy and even productive can rob you of relationship with God. Granted, getting things done and checking things off so that you make time with God is good. But which comes first? It needs to be the first thing and even then don't check meeting with God off as if it were a task. Relationship is never task! God actually longs to meet with us, alone and un-interrupted, as well as throughout our day. But if we are so busy in duty and task we might miss a word He has for us, a scene He wants for us to take in, a person to help or a joy to experience...

* Jesus was never in a hurry, nor should we be. It amazes me how much coffee we drink and how many energy drinks we consume. Why? To get more done! And yet we also are spending more time on sleep aids! I just read those thoughts in John Elderdge's book "Walking with God" Is your soul refreshed or tired, dutiful or alive with anticipation of the adventure ahead?

Check out your soul and listen for hurryness. Perhaps it's time to learn to slow down in order to truly live!

Soul Care 101

2009-02-08T15:24:00.003-05:00
We live in a society that loves/craves busyness. It's supposed to be a sign of productivity. But busyness doesn't always equal productivity, just activity. In Proverbs 4:23 we read;
"Above EVERYTHING guard your heart/soul, for out of it flows everything."

Soul care is the most important activity we should be about doing. Tending our souls. I don't hear alot of Pastors preaching about it, few books have been written though I highly recommend anything by Henri Nouwen, Eugene Peterson, John Eldredge, John Piper and Brennan Manning. How do we tend our souls? Here are some thoughts on a basic course I would teach.

1. Be still and quiet for a long time. Get the Noise out! It may take awhile.

2. Continue #1 until the 1,000 messages/voices have stopped.

3. What do you hear when you are finally "quiet"?

Here is what you might hear;

"I'm tired" then rest your body, your mind. Do this regularly so you can go longer without having to be here again!

"I'm sensing emptiness in the midst of busyness. What can I do about this?" Go to Him, confess and know that He loves you, forgives you and wants you to be Holy!

"I feel disconnected and distant from God." Draw near to God (get friendly and intimate) and He will draw near to you.

Soul Care 201 coming next!
"

Control - What You Really Need to Know!

2009-02-05T08:50:00.005-05:00

Control is usually associated with fear, fear stands for F.alse E.vidence A.ppearing R.eal, most people tend to take control when they think an outcome will not turn out the way they want it to. Make sense? More on that for another blog though.

When I was in college (in the 70's), I competed on a Nationally ranked wrestling team. I was not very good, but I made the team every year! We had one of the best coaches in the U.S.. and I learned many life lessons from him. Let me share one.

During my Junior year I had lost 3 matches in a row which I had never done ever my whole career, and we were about to compete in a Big tournament that we had a shot at winning. Sadly I didn't place, after my second loss I left the arena and found a place where no one would find me, I lost it emotionally! Much to my surprise my coach found me, knowing I was not at a good place with my athletic career. He asked me 2 questions, the first was "what are the chances there are better wrestlers out there than you?" I said "obviously". Next he asked, "what are the chances there are worse wrestlers than you?" I responded with "I sure would like to wrestle one right now because I could use a win". Next he asked if I did everything I could to be an excellent wrestler, like practice all my moves, do the extra conditioning workouts, eat well and get rest, I said yes. He went and said, "Kevin, you have control over 2 things, your attitude and your effort, you have no control over whether there are better or worse wrestlers than you, but you do have control over your attitude and effort. Do your best, your absolute best and leave the results alone." To be honest my psyche was too wounded to grasp this life changing conversation at the moment, but later I got it.
A week or so later all 12 of us pinned our competition and it was a perfect team score, a rare feat! After arriving on campus from a long and celebration filled van ride, Coach told us to get our practice gear on and meet him in the wrestling room. He worked us to the bone for the next 45 minutes. He told us it was the worst effort he had ever witnessed from one of his teams and our attitudes were prideful and arrogant. I was a bit confused still. A week after that we lost 2 matches in one day, to the University of Illinois and Indiana State, much larger schools than ours by far, but we lost them just the same. As we got back home from a very silent van ride, he told us he was never more proud of a Taylor Wrestling team, and even the opposing coaches wanted to know how our coach got maximum effort and such great team chemistry out of his wrestlers.
It was then that I got the truth. You and I may be great at some things, but not give our best and the satisifacation in this is hollow. Or we could be terrible at other things but give max effort even though the results are not good but arrive at a place of peace knowing we did our very best. in the book of Colossians it says; "whatever you do, do as unto the Lord" The Greek word there is Arete' and it means effort worthy of God. Results and outcomes, relationships and finances may not turn out the way we want, but if we give God honoring effort and Christ-like attitude we can KNOW that's what truly matters.

Routine Maintenence

2009-01-29T12:52:00.007-05:00
When I was a teen and I needed to fill up the car with gas, I went to a gas station and someone who worked there actually came out to my car window, asked what I needed and promptly serviced the car. They would fill it up, or put in whatever amount and type gas I wanted, wash my windshield, check the oil and other simple routine maintenence stuff. When that was done I paid and went on my way.
Routine car maintenence is a not exactly fun, but necessary, it's protection against potentially damaging repairs and all around a good thing to do. Gas stations today do not provide that service so I am left to myself to do this. I also have some routine maintenence I practice for my life and here are some of the things from my checklist.

1.Spiritually I do my best to have a fully alive relationship with God that overflows into every aspect of my life. How I treat and serve others, how I give of my time, gifts and talents and basically how I live my life for Him and not for myself. It takes time and concentration and being very intentional as well as creative in order to keep it from becoming stale.

2. Physically I try to exercise regularly, stretch, eat pretty healthy foods/drink and get an adequate amount of sleep.

3. Mentally I love to read, and grow intellectually as well as learn new skills and have stimulating conversations with others.

4.Emotionally I keep a close watch on my "joy meter", I use the tools I gained from my years in Recovery Ministry and I do my best to keep my emotional bank account high by scheduling time with the right kinds of people and doing the right kinds of fill 'er up activities. I also journal a lot and that really helps!

5. In my roles, I set monthly specific goals to keep myself motivated, making a difference and to be strategic as I live to the full each day I have here on earth.

So there you go! Simple routine maintenence, it makes a difference! What about you?

My Friend - Abba

2009-01-22T17:10:00.004-05:00
I love people! Yep, it's true, I love them in every phase and stage - Broken and whole! I love making friends, deepening friendships and connecting. People are messy (me included) since we are all in process but that's the greatness of it all. I am not a "love 'em and leave 'em kind of person, and if you know me, you know this to be true (I pray). I am long haul all the way! I do understand there is a relational capacity where we can only "manage/maintain" closeness with so many people, but when people are a part of your passion then I believe that capacity is really large!
Last night, I was at church and I ran into a number of people. Some were truly people I "KNOW" deeply, others not so much and then I watched strangers interact. For one of my friends it was interrupted time and not quality, but it was still time spent together. You know the people where it's just good for your soul and life no matter how little or much time you have together. We wanted to spend more time together after church but she was too spent and the time that we wanted for deeper stuff just wouldn't have happend, so we put a rain check on it. I had time with another of the people I love, we had some un-interrupted time and it was good to hear his heart about things that his is passionate about that may come to fruition so this was time well spent. It was not as long as we would have liked but it was good to hear his heart! We have been hit and miss lately so it was good. Later I picked up his youngest son at the nursery, that little guy and I have a unique connection. He is too young to really communicate verbally with me but the connection has is there. I haven't seen him in a couple weeks so when I came to pick him up he had the biggest smile and a big hug for me! We both kind of gave a non-verbal "awwww"...

So here is the deal! God is creator, His is El Shaddai and mighty, He is Holy, majestic, and well.... He is God. But, and this is amazing, He calls me/us friend! Think about that for awhile will ya? When we meet together often there is this awwww thing where we are really connecting, sometimes it is interrupted (my fault entirely) and then there are times when we just don't connect. If you have gone any length of time without connecting with a dear friend and then you finally get to, well you know....awwww!! Abba loves us so much! Why don't you take time right this moment and re-connect or just connect with Him. He is especially fond of us!! James says that if we draw near to Him, He WILL draw near to us...He calls us friend! Don't let the moment pass you by, it's the best thing we have!!!!

G.P.S. and you!

2009-01-15T11:42:00.008-05:00

My best friend just got a GPS, (Global Positioning System) that helps do everything but drive her car. She has found this tool to be both fascinating (you can find every eatery anywhere, where gas stations are with-in feet of present location, even where construction is); and hilarious (she can program different languages and male/female voices). She has decided on "Samantha" as her current voice director and they are now buddies! Samantha tells her where to go, when to turn and if she misses her turn, Samantha re-calibrates in order for my friend to still get to her destination.

You know where I am going with this don't you?

Yep, wouldn't be great if God were that involved with every detail of our lives so we would always reach our destination without getting lost along the way? Though my friend trusts in Samantha big time to get her where she is intending to go, Samantha is not fool proof, my friend still has default tools like a real map, her own eyes and of course the humility tool called "asking for directions". God is perfect and so are His ways, we get to trust God, we must choose Him in everything. Sometimes His ways are so clear (thou shall not murder, not lie, do encourage each other and build one another up...) but there are those times where not heeding His directions could be fatal, life long damaging and so on.

But we do have an internal GPS, I call it "God's Powerful Spirit" (a little tacky I know) the Holy Spirit lives in believers. He has many roles to fill, He directs, convicts, leads, indwells, brings glory to Jesus, He comforts, counsels, empowers, and allows us to do more than we can ask or imagine.
The important part here is; are we "tuned in" or un-able to hear Him at all, or worse, do we ignore Him when He directs?

I want to hear from you! Let's swap Holy Spirit stories of experiences you have had when you were truly guided by God's Powerful Spirit or when you didn't and the lessons you have learned! He is our internal GPS!!!

The Messes We Make

2009-01-04T11:03:00.008-05:00

A couple weeks ago I helped my foxhole friend clean his garage before his wife's family invaded their house for the holidays. It was his attempt to create a more organized space for his own family and to appease his in-laws who have always seen his garage as a "death-trap." He had to take responsibility for the mess, he owns the house and the space and he is ultimately responsibile for how his family does or does not take care of that space. His kids are pretty young and so perhaps they are just not responsibile enough to do their share. Their lives are busy and maybe it's just not a huge priority.... until family come! Sometimes outside stimuli, a need for a fresh start, getting ticked off enough to act, or the fear of being exposed can incite action!

Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returns to it's vomit, so a fool who repeats his folly."

We all have habits that are either healthy or un-healthy. Yesterday in an attempt to help someone out, due to some really bad decisions/in-decisions he is responsible for, we ended up in an even greater mess. I heard myself during the 4 hour discussion repeat nearly everything I have before to him and he just sat there seemingly un-able to connect the dots on how he gets there. I couldn't get him to understand but his mess was also effecting my life and those I love - big time!
As long as we are all in process we all have messes! Seen and un-seen, and there may be many legitmate reasons for how they got there, but in the end we are responsible for most of them. When it comes to cleaning up messes I admit I love both the process and creating systems so it can stay cleaned up, and of course I love the results! I love it! But what I don't love is not doing things differently enough so the messes keep happening....Have you been there?

"Insanity is doing the same things, the same way and expecting different results."

I believe that due to agreements we make about our lives, agreeing with other people's opinions of us, things that happen or don't happen to us, failures, in-decisions, wrong decisions, poor models, generational sins, the enemies who rage war against us (all of the above) we live in messes. Repeated messes! Many messes if not most of them we cannot clean up ourselves, especially when they involve/effect others. Out of fear we either do one of the following; we jump in and take control, hope others will jump in and rescue, or we do nothing. As I mentioned in my previous post on gravity, it takes God's strength to help us pull away! I will be taking some action, but first I am taking time to ask God to help me understand how the mess happened in the first place, what my role was, and ask for His help, His wisdom and then the faith and partnership to get it cleaned up the best it can be!

Thank God He is cleaning up my messes as I surrender my responsibility, my control and the blame I have placed on others/things! Thank God I have His word, The Spirit, other people who love me and can speak the truth into my life! Thank God - He makes all things new through His presence and power, His grace and love!

The Pull of Gravity

2009-01-01T10:02:00.006-05:00

As you and I begin a new year, hope comes with it. Desires and prayers, dreams and hopes, but if you have lived long enough you know they can be short lived and then we just live/exist/fit in... Why is that? I have a theory, it's called gravity, yeah gravity, you know the stuff that holds us here so we don't float away, it's the stuff that holds us down. People can only get so far up without being brought back down. Some can jump higher than others (Michael Jordan, David Thompson) and if we use a trampoline it helps and is fun, or if we are lucky enough to get in an airplane we make it to 30,000 feet but it brings us back down as well.
Our lives are much like this aren't they? Our generational curses can hold us down, the limitations others may place on us, the ones we place on ourselves and then there is the enemy who does not want us to become all that God desires for us.

"The thief comes only to rob, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life to overflow." John 10:10.

As we face a new year and try and put together plans to break away from our past so we can have a better future, let's remember that we cannot do it ourselves. It is impossible. The author Gerald May (highly reccomend) says we cannot arrange for the life we treasure. But we sure try! Goals, resolutions etc. but for most of us trying to break away from personal gravity is so hard, it takes so much effort to break away. How do we do it then if we cannot do it on our own?

The Apostle Paul "One thing I do, I forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. For I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength to do it" Phillipians 4.

Gravity will prevent some things, but with God nothing is impossible. My prayer and hope for 2009 is that the things that hold us down from being all that God desires for us will be destroyed. You and I cannot arrange for it, but we have a God who is stronger and limitless. Oh to have the kind of faith that God is pleased with, "for without faith it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11. Instead of getting in line with everyone else and getting lost in the drone, take some time right now (I mean it!) and ask yourself what is it you really want to break away from, have victory over, do differently? Take it to God and like the persistent widow, wear God out on this. Make specific plans to be sure, seek out others who are excellent at this or have overcome it and learn from them. Read a book on it by all means! If it's from Him, about Him and pleases Him, be persistent, test Him on this and pull away from those things that have hindered you in the past!!! God bless you indeed!

Your Life Long Counsel

2008-12-28T20:08:00.003-05:00
Quiz - Can you name 3-5 people who fit the following criteria -
A). The KNOW you best.
B). The LOVE you most.
C). They are willing to speak the truth in love to you.

How did you do? The Bible speaks about having these kind of people in our lives. "Wise people seek the counsel of many" Proverbs says. It is where we get the saying "Two heads are better than one". We all have decisions to make that are pretty impactful and dealing with the pressure and knowing how to make the right decision can be alot to handle. So why not do the Biblically correct and entirely helpful thing and design a life counsel. I have several people I can call in a moment's notice who if I asked, would pray and get back to me once I shared the necessary information needed so I can make a great and Godly decision. I can say that each of these people has spoken the truth in love to me. It is a great person who can do this. We don't need "yes" only people, we need iron sharperners and truth bearers. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" I KNOW I am not wise enough, so I ask for wise counsel. I KNOW I don't have all the right perspectives on most situations, so I ask for perspective. I KNOW that prayer is essential and having others pray for me is VITAL... I KNOW that allowing others into my life who love me enough to give perspective and Godly wisdom with truth no matter the consequences is a gift beyond measure. They sharpen me which at times mean sparks will fly and pressure will be applied if I am to be shaped into all God desires in me, for me and through me. One time I did not heed their advice, fear and listening to the wrong voices brought about a terrible fate. One I would do over in a less than a heartbeat. I can't un-do it, oh how I wished I could, but I have learned from it, they have forgiven me and I have done the best I can to move on after much healing and counsel and time!
Write out those names, pray and then start communicating with them and ask them to consider being a member of your LIFE COUNSEL and watch how God uses them!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

2008-12-24T20:57:00.005-05:00

I LOVE Christmas! Nearly everything about it! Okay, nearly! There are parts I don't, probably the same ones you don't. But just like in the "Charlie Brown Christmas" where the characters try and capture Christmas in a play it starts complicated and then gets simple. Christmas is simple, we make it complicated with expectations and approval and making everything just right!!! It should not be complicated but simple!

I love getting and receiving presents. I love carols and being spontaneous and extravagant. Like tonight. I drove 45 miles one way just to deliver a couple of un-wrapped presents to some dear friends. The presents were not worth much, but it was the whole idea of driving there just to say hi, give them a couple presents and say Merry Christmas.

God gave! Simple! God gave His only Son, His perfect Son! His blameless, Holy Son! Why did He do that? Because He so loved the world! You and Me! I had a poster at one time that I loved. It said this "I asked Jesus how much do you love me, and He reached out His arms out and said "this much" and then He died". A picture was in the background of those words and the picture formed a cross on a hill! Get it?

After we were given and chose the costly and free gift of salvation we were given gifts! Unique gifts. No one can give the gifts we have! No one! Combined with our personality, our natural gifts and our Spiritual gifts you and I are totally unique... and we have MUCH to offer. Do you know what your gifts are? Most believers do not! How sad! May I encourage you to find a tool to find out what they are! You probably know what your personality type is, and what your natural gifts and abilities are. But...do you know what you super-natural gifts are? God gave them to you and the world needs them. Needs them desperately! The body of Christ does not function nearly as well as it should with you either sitting on the sideline or un-aware. This year make it your goal to know them and begin to use them. God gave His greatest Gift and His name is Jesus! Then God gave you and I gifts and we/they are needed! Merry Christmas!

How to Keep your Accounts Overflowing

2008-12-21T22:46:00.006-05:00
A special Happy 21st Birthday cheer to my daughter Brittany! I love you so much and am so proud of you!

In these days of economic insecurity nearly all of us are watching more than ever where our accounts stand by checking daily on-line. This is a good thing. We do this to make sure there is enough to pay the bills, invest and have in case of emergency's.

If we are un-wise we can loose it all. In a heartbeat! I would like to move onto different accounts. Our emotional, physical and spiritual accounts. I heard a friend speak at a retreat say something both profound and impactful.

"You have as many friends in your life as you want, you have as much money in your life as you want, you have as much knowledge and strength in your life as your want, you have as much peace and God in your life as you want, and you have as much love in your life as you want."
Wow! I had to think about that long and hard and at first I rebelled inwardly about those statements and as the speaker went on and explained himself it did make sense. We have choices all of the time, and based on our choices we do have as much or as little of anything we want. Of course there are some exceptions...

So I keep close eye on these accounts and tend to them meticulously. Here's how;

I know the people and activities in my life that either make a deposit or withdrawl. As I am watching my accounts, if I see one or more running low, then I schedule time either with those people who are deposit people or by doing activities that do. I am not suppose to completely avoid the people and activities that are withdrawls but I make sure my accounts are full before I do. I do not enjoy paying my bill and balancing my check book, so before I do them or after I reward myself with spendig time being with or doing deposit things. The same is true with certain people. I may have a tough confrontation or leadership conversation to have and I am pretty sure it will end up being a withdrawl, I make sure my account is high first and after. I take time to know my schedule ahead of time and then assess my accounts to make sure I insert things into my life that are desposits because I am equally aware of the withdrawls coming up too.

Hope this makes sense. Here's my challenge.

1. Make a list of the deposit people in your life.
2. Make a list of the deposit activities in your life.
3. Make a list of the withdrawl people in your life.
4. Make a list of the withdrawl activities in your life.
5. Take daily, weekly, monthly and longer looks if you can (seasons) when you know you are going to need deposits because of the withdrawls.

You will find your life will become more joyful and more productive, your soul more at peace and what you give to others of youself will be so much better as well!

Speaking the Truth in Love II

2008-12-14T16:26:00.006-05:00

Back to the subject of Biblical confrontation! I am going to share the steps I try to use in speaking the truth in love.

1. Seek to understand the other first.
Steven Covey in one of his 7 habits, states "to be understood, first seek to understand". Before confronting anyone and speaking the truth in love, it is truly wise to step inside the life of the person and envision their life and what brought the conflict on in the first place. One of the things I have learned is that so many times the problem is really the symptom. For instance, if a person has a drinking problem, many people might thing that drinking is the problem, not so! The better/deeper question to answer is what caused the person to drink in the first place.
So when going to a person and speaking the truth (which is really your version of the truth) in love, make sure you really know as much as you can. It builds mercy, grace and compassion.

2. Pray!
I am serious, it slows me down, and helps me hear from God. Don't think about praying, pray. Don't talk about prayer, pray!

3. Make Peace your goal!
I've found it's best to state the goal as being "to be at peace with anyone/everyone as much as it is possible". It creates safety and trust and makes the goal reconciliation not blame or right or wrong. Discord and misunderstanding if left alone for any length of time can cause infection, it festers. Too much time left without attempt to make things right and communication can allow for so many bad ideas and mis-truths. It's best to speak early so less damage takes place. The enemies of our own flesh, the devil and the world attack, know this, rebuke it and resist it!

4. Realize it's a process and not an event!
Rarely do two or more people arrive at reconciliation in one shot. It takes time. State this at the get go and it helps take pressure off!

5. Talk back.
What I mean is that when it looks like you are nearly done with the conversation do this simple skill. It goes like this.
"This is what I heard you say, is that accurate? Is there anything I missed or added that you want to comment about?" Then have the other person respond and then let them say the same thing. We have filters, we hear things that may not have been said or inferred. Make sure both of you are on the same page. In the same way, I like to close with this statement.
"we are about to walk away from this conversation, is there anything you would have liked to have said but didn't? Is there anything you want to say before we leave it at this point?" This helps alot. It is amazing how many times someone has responded.

Okay, this is enough for now. I want to hear from any of you out there!

Speaking the Truth in Love

2008-12-09T23:19:00.009-05:00

Confrontation is hardly ever easy is it? It never was for me growing up that's for sure. I feared it! I admit it, it just was not healthy in my home as a kid. Whenever a difficult conversation would take place I wished I could just go invisible!

The late Jim Elliot wrote in the book "Through the Gates of Splendor"
"the fear of the thing is often more great then the thing itself".

That is true, and I think most people fear confrontation so we avoid it. And most people just are not good at speaking the truth in love. In Ephesians 4 we are commanded to speak the truth in love to one another. Most people get the speak the truth part down all to well, but it's usually not seasoned with love. In one church I served in, the church split over their in-ability to do this. The church lost, the community looked on with no real desire to join because of the way the church mishandled a conflict. For a long time I hoped that God would just jump in and fix relationships that had conflict, hoping He would supernaturally intervene so I would not have to. One of my long time mentors confronted me early on in my adulthood and ministry experience in a very healthy way, but I remember my reaction was not healthy, it was more of a "how dare he". I now realize he did not have to confront at all, but he showed his love for me by doing it. He has become my daughter's God Father because of his love and truth lifestyle.
My parents did not do this so well, and I hated confrontation, I cringed and felt so weak and shamed through most of it. Case in point, I have 4 siblings and at the landing of our house was a wodden plaque with a dog house and a hook in the middle, and next to it were 5 puppies and each bore our name. When we got home and saw the plaque (we couldn't miss it) we would look to see if one of us was in the doghouse. Many times passive/aggressive behavior took over and either a yelling/shaming confrontation occured or the silent treatment did and we never knew where we stood until our puppy one day was out of the doghouse.
The Holy Spirit, books and authentic relationships over the years has strengthened my emotional health and I am now able to speak the truth in love to people, and do it very well I think. I don't go searching for conflict to resolve but will face it rather then avoid it or become resentful.
I am going to continue this thread as I have a very significant confrontation coming up, I pray it goes GREAT, not just good. There is a lot riding on it for many people and a long future potentially hanging in the balance. I end with a question that invites response, "how do you do confrontation?"

Dealing with the Here and Now!

2008-11-27T21:15:00.004-05:00
Happy Thanksgiving! My two daughters are supposed to be here for Thanksgiving. I was so looking forward to it. Time together, no expectations other than time spent together. My oldest daughter got in on time and though I have had to work she has caught up on sleep and getting better since she is run down. My other daughter was supposed to come down this morning but missed her flight. So instead of a whole day spent together eating and hanging with friends, she won't be getting in until 10 tonight. A whole day lost of not spending time together. She was distraught, I am sad and it is what it is! My daughters missed a day of being together, we all did.
Life is like that more often than not. It is amazing how many things don't work out. I can count so many times where the thing desired for most of the time just did not happen. The longer I live the more I understand that most of life comes out of disappointment not of dreams fulfilled. So what do I do with this? I have noticed it takes a lot of hope and energy to desire after so many disappointments. Lately, after some pretty horrific disappointments I am having the hardest time desiring and having hope. "Hope deferred makes the heart grow faint" the good book says. How true! How very true! Now with the holidays here, there are things we all hope for, family and friends to get along, or even better, get along great! Gifts to get and receive that we truly hope will at least give some satisfaction! In other words GREAT MEMORIES MADE!
I love Romans 15:13, I come back to it time and time again in moments like these when my hope is low and my desire is hard to find.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

There is so much to glean from in this verse, and all of it requires my trust and dependence on God. He provides joy, peace and hope and it comes in overflow, not just enough but more than enough. I find that when my trust and dependence on Him is low so is my joy, peace and hope. In this season may you and I find that no matter what our desires and hopes that we find them through God and not through anything else.

Embracing Trials

2008-11-20T10:13:00.003-05:00

Psalm 71:20-21

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."

True confession here - most all of my life I just was never sure I had what it took to make it, I mean really make it in life. I grew up with this message that I just was not good enough and that life is measured by success and achievement. Sound familar? At times I would experience moments when what I offered to others was very very good and oh to hang onto those moments. But they were fleeting and for whatever reason I did not absorb them deeply into my heart, instead I would rush into the next thing trying to prove my worth.
I understand now that the only way to know I have what it takes is to be tested, to face trial after trial. And really, it's not just a issue of achieving to prove worth, my true worth rests in who God is, what He has done for me and who I am in Him. Read through a couple of my favorite quotes;
"Hope knows that if great trials are avoided, great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted. Pessimism and defeatism are never the fruit of the life-giving Spirit, but rather reveal our unawareness of present risenness." Brennan Manning from Abba's Child

"A warrior must develop an un-yielding heart. This is where he will be most profoundly tested. Above all a warrior learns to yield his heart to nothing. Not to kill his heart for fear of falling into temptation, but to protect his heart as a great resovior of passionate strength and holy desire." John Elderedge

I will write more, but I know as a Valiant Warrior I was meant to fight in battle, have adventure in my life to keep my soul alive and alert and to have a beauty to rescue. Trials are my friend!

DFP - Defensive Fighting Position

2008-11-14T08:34:00.003-05:00

A Foxhole! Perhaps an odd subject to write about when it comes to all things spiritual transformation but not really. BTW, the picture I posted I found out is from July of 1958, I was a month old! Okay moving on, we are not meant to wage war alone. Far too many people live their inner lives isolated, private and alone. WHY? Are they afraid that if people really knew them they would freak out and leave? If that were the case then nearly everyone would be alone. Life is a both a process, but it is also a hostile battle. Scripture clearly points this out. I think many people are un-aware, they just believe their lives are full of hassles mixed with joys. Ever since Eve and Adam were tempted the battle ensued. Spiritual warfare will be another upcoming subject I am passionate about. But back to the Foxhole.
A foxhole was set up so that there was a 360 degree fighting position where those in the foxhole could protect each others' back. Whose got yours? I am serious! When you are hit with battle who has your back? Who is in your life that you know and are known enough to trust each other to be there during life's most difficult times? I want a sharpshooter who knows how to defend and take out the incoming attackers. I don't want just a nice person I am friends with. I want a warrior, someone who is not afraid of war, who not only is willing to be on the front-lines but knows it's necessary. Someone who wears and uses the entire armor with great skill and a warrior's mind and heart.
Here's my question to you. Who is your foxhole person/people? YOU MUST HAVE SOME! Who would say they want you in their foxhole? This needs to be addressed immediately, if no names pop up you need to fix this right away! I have several and I am grateful, and for all you Kevin Conklin Foxhole people out there reading this...thanks for asking me to watch your back/heart and for doing the same for me! We are in this together!!!!

Take Heart

2008-11-11T10:50:00.004-05:00

In John 16 Jesus is giving the news to His followers that His time with them is coming to a close. They don't understand it, Jesus makes it clear and then gives them some promises about life after the one they know. Then He says them in verse 33;

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the (troubles of this) world. italics mine!

Yesterday I got the news that due to budget constrains myself and 22 other people were going to be layed off at the church I serve at. In this world you will have trouble! I sat there in shock and disbelief, but only for a moment. I am in touch with my emotions to be sure, but the reality of God's promises to me and His faithfulness brought me almost immediately out of my shock. I was facing trouble, but Jesus has overcome everything! That's the truth.
In James 1 it says "Consider pure joy when (Not if) you face various trials BECAUSE you know (are convinced) that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature/whole, complete, not lacking anything."
This has to be one of my favorite scriptures because it explains the point of hard times, and even better it reminds me to embrace trials because my true desire is to be whole/mature and complete not lacking in anything. James says that the only way to get there is through various trials. NO SHORTCUTS!
Just a couple minutes ago I read my oldest daughters blog (thanks sweet Britt), she has faced many a trial in her almost 21 years. She is a deep feeler and that means she has mercy gifts like few I know. As her Dad, all I wanted to do was drive up to N.E. Georgia at her college and hug on her, love on her and be there with her. I can't, but God is and does! she knows that deep in her heart and I pray she is convinced of that right now in this moment and the ones to come! I write all of this to remind us that hard times and suffering will come, they are promised not out of some sadistic manefesto by God but as an opportunity for us to become whole and complete not lacking in anything. I close with this incredible verse from Proverbs 4:23 "Above everything else, guard your heart, it is the well-spring of life." We are assualted all of the time, the enemies of satan, the world and our own flesh attack us, so we must protect the most important thing, our heart, our good and valuable heart! Jesus said that the thief comes to "rob, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life to the full/abundant/overflow." In the midst of our sufferings and trials remember that Jesus has overcome and that we can be joyful in the midst of them because of what it will produce in our lives.

A Big taste of Humble Pie!

2008-11-08T23:05:00.007-05:00

Today at my Optical job I got jolted. I think God wanted to show me that I need to have a much more merciful and compassionate heart. Sometimes I need to get a refresher course in humility. The very first patient was actually a homeless man. His odor evident within 25 feet. I found out later he hadn't showered in 3 weeks. He had just been released from jail after having been shot in a fight. He walked in without shoes, carrying them instead in his hands with another change of clothes, and clearly had been in a bad place in his life. I won't speak for anyone else at our store but it was repulsive. I was concerned that other patients once they came in would walk out. The guy had insurance so he was eligible to receive glasses. I asked him to put his shoes on, he went to the Dr.'s office to fill out paper work and the Dr.'s tech ran him through a series of pre-exam tests. Once he came from his exam and I saw that he had an RX, I went to him to wait on him. I had him sit down and saw that he had no co-pay so a free pair was coming his way. His skin was worn, chaffing and his smell only worse the closer I got to him. He had a terrible wheezing cough and to safeguard myself from potential sickness I asked him about it. He told me he had emphysema and some other type of cancer. In other words, he wasn't just sick, the man was dying. I found him a frame, filled his RX, gave him his receipts and since he had no phone in which to contact him, I told him to come back in a week.
I cleaned all the instruments I had to use to fill his Rx and washed my hands completely. Then I wept inside and asked God to wash my own heart clean. Jesus died for him as much as He did me! Later today, a proudly homosexual teen came in to order glasses. I don't know what his situation, but Jesus loves him as He does me and my homeless patient, and as much as the College Professor I waited on and as much as the elderly couple. I needed to swallow a big helping of humble pie today. I choked down my pride and self-righteousness, I am no better than any of these and as the Apostle Paul said of himself "the chief of all sinners". I just know this. No matter my financial situation, my educational achievements, the people I know, the places I've lived and traveled, the car I drive or the talents I possess, I need God's love and grace every second of every minute of every day! Thanks God for the humble pie, may I be different for this helping!

Less Information More Transformation

2008-11-05T21:38:00.004-05:00
In studying the great revolutions of our country one such revolution was the industrial revolution where we went from manual everything to mechanization, it changed so much of how we do what we do and allowed for mass production. We now live in the information revolution and it amazes me what we have access to in just seconds. Okay, I am not old but even in my adult lifespan so much has changed how I do life and my job. For instance in high school there were typing classes where we typed on real typewriters. In college we actually had to use the dewey decimal system because you had to go to a library and grab a stack of books to research and pull out quotes and read the book in order to write a paper or make a speech. Then the green screen computers came out and we used MS Dos and we had those templates that went over our keyboards so we could know all the things our computers could do if we pushed certain keys with other keys. Amazing! Now, with wikipedia and google life is so much faster and easier. But....when it comes to spiritual things reading and information do not altogether mean change and transformation. Knowledge and understanding do not automatically produce morphing.
I am even more passionate that true transformation comes one person at a time, over time and that through test and trial we learn all about the kind of character, strength and perserverance we have. There are no shortcuts to transformation. In this Information Revolution seekers and believers alike still want the answer to this question "does it work?"

How to Clean Out Your Fridge

2008-11-03T22:09:00.006-05:00

At my office is a Staff Refrigerator. That fridge has been on the fritz for awhile and facilities sent out an e-mail basically asking all staff to clean out any food we brought. No one did! For a week or so that fridge was unplugged. So as I was picking up some copies in the workroom today I noticed a foul odor, upon further investigation I came to the conclusion it was the fridge. I opened it (what was I thinking?) and out came one of the worst smells you can imagine. Things were growing in there if that gives you a word picture. So, Robyn from facilities and I strapped on some latex gloves and cleaned that baby out. Problem solved! But not easy on the eyes, nose and the office.
Now let me move onto our lives in the same vein. Often times if we leave things alone that we know are not good, rotten is more like it, it will not be hidden for long. It will be noticeable!! Why on earth do we allow ourselves to be convinced that we might get away with hiding the yuck of our lives from others, even God?
Believers do not for the most part do a great job of "speaking the truth to one another in love" nor do we do a great job of "confessing our sins to one another so we might be healed." Nor do we practice much of what we are commanded by going to someone in sin and confronting them over for the sole purpose of restoring them back into right relationship with God. How long do we think we can hide the rotten smell of our lives in secret? Perhaps at one time or another instead of grace being applied liberally we experienced judgement. So we might not know how to apply it to others or we are fearful of being considered self-righteous and judgemental. Or we just live much too isolated from others to earn the right to know and be known. Scripture is clear that we must be iron sharpeners. We must live close enough to each other to know and be known, to care/love enough to confront, for the long term consequences are not good. We will end up being a stench to ourselves and others.
So lets choose to live out what David said in Psalm 139, "search me O God and know my heart, try me and see if there is any wickedness in me and lead me to the righteous and everlasting way." Today, do a self inspection, clean out your "fridge/soul" before the inner contents get out and everyone knows, or worse, God and you end up far apart/hypocritical and hardended in your heart. I think I will clean out my fridge on a regular basis, excuse me I need to go to the kitchen right now!!!!

Contenment

2008-11-02T21:33:00.006-05:00
Life is FULL of challenges! They are not our enemies but our friends! They bring about character and perseverance! At the same time we have our desires. Assuming our desires are Godly and aligned with His will, God wants us to ask for our hearts desire. We have the story of the persistent widow who wore out a Judge to get her way. I often wonder if God wants us to "wear Him out" to test us to see if we are serious about our desires. But...these desires must not become an obesession/idol. Paul said that he had found contentment in every circumstance. I have some things to learn in this regard.

I got some news today that crushed a huge desire of my heart. I prayed and lived out all the things I could that I truly thought right about this. I am not sure I have prayed harder for something. And I must admit, I had let the desire take over my thoughts this past week. Not Good! I had a strong sense about the situation taking a turn I didn't want, and fought hard in the battlefield of my mind. My sense of intuition/spirit prompting is pretty accurate and what I sensed turned out to be true. I deeply want to be content in all situations. I must be a slow learner when it comes to this so God is granting me another test to conquer! I so need the workings of the Blessed Counselor on this one and to saturate my mind with His word and make sure I am alert and aware of the enemies (my flesh, the world and the devil). How are you at contentment? I could use some advice!

2008-11-02T08:44:00.000-05:00

What Makes your Heart Come Alive

2008-11-02T08:21:00.003-05:00
I love amusement rides. What I don't love is standing in those long lines just to get on the ride. The ride is what I am waiting for, wanting to experience, but which takes longer? (the long boring line) What is over so quickly? (the exhilirating ride) While I wait in these long lines, my heart is aching to hurry up and get on that ride and experience life to the max. Most of us are willing to wait ridiculously long amounts of time for a few brief moments of "LIFE". Jesus was talking about the kind of life He desired us to experience and why He came, but it came as a good news/bad news announcement. John 10:10 "The thief comes to rob, kill and destroy..." get us in the long lifeless line we call life. He robs us of what God truly wants us to experience, he kills our desires and hopes and he destroys within us the longings we have to make a difference, to make our life count. So maybe we experience life every once in awhile like God intended, but like that ride it's brief and then we hop back in another lifeless line where we spend the bulk of our lives. We were called to be aliens, not to imitate the others, this is not our home, this place robs us and kills us and destroys us. We become like cattle/sheep following the one ahead of us doing what everyone else, in a line that is going to eventually slaughter us.
But Jesus went on to say at the end of the verse "but I have come that you might experience the life I intended for you to live, one that overflows (not just trickles). There is a constant (sometimes second by second) battle going on between the life God intended and the one we settle for. God says we must "be alert, always standing firm for the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." Alert! What, we must be alert? Absolutely! But do you feel alert most of your life? Or more like you do when standing in those hideously long lines? Now since God truly loves us and wants the best for us, I don't think it included the long lifeless life. But the overflowing, live life to the full kind. Can it be done?
That's next!

A shout out to team Fusion

2008-10-31T23:04:00.002-04:00
Okay just a quick step away from the handling challenges. Tonight one of my activities was to stop in and say hi at a Fall Harvest Party that 60 or so attended from Christ Fellowship's Singles Ministry (Fusion) at the church I serve at. I had the honor of starting this group up from scratch a year and a half ago and now there is a strong core team of 20 or so leaders developed, leading teams themselves. Onto this idea of producing reproducers, I just stepped down as Director a couple weeks ago so to watch this leadership team in action tonight was a blast! Exhilirating really! It was so fun to watch. I built the team to give it away. And I must say, it worked. I truly believe the best days of ministry are the ones when we give stuff away! Jesus did it so well and I imagine He was so proud! I am of the team God helped us form. Now it looks like it is going to multiply at two of our other campuses as two of our leaders want to do this, and form their own teams! Exponential and transformational! What a great thing to be a part of! One of the reasons I know I was created to be and do!

How do you live during life's challenges?

2008-10-31T08:28:00.003-04:00
Challenges - trials - tragedy - We cannot avoid them try as hard as we may, and we do try hard. Making great choices helps but not complelely. Doing your best to control others (I know you don't do it but others do) control enviornements around you only gets you stressed out and prideful over others who are in difficult situations. But there are times when you have absolutely no control over how and when and even why challenges come your way. Did Job? What he got for being the most righteous man during his life was perhaps the hardest challenge of anyone I've read or heard about.

Here are a couple quotes to chew on;

"Hope is the language of faith when evidence of God's care and presence does not seem clear to us." Brennan Manning.

And again from Brennan;

"Hope knows that if great trials are avoided, great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted. Pessisim and defeatism are never the fruit of the life giving spirit but rather reveal our unawareness of present risen-ness."

Wow! Instead of avoiding challenges they should be seen as pathways of character building and greater intimacy with God. There are no shortcuts to great faith. "And without faith it is impossible to please God." I am not saying ask God for challenges, yet we can embrace them rather hurry through them. I am finding the deepest and most intimate times with God (and isn't that the goal?) are when I am faced with the greatest challenges of my life. I think I will make this a discussion topic this week. Here is a verse for you to ponder as you think about these quotes as well, for scriptures are even better than great quotes from deep people.

Romans 15:13 "may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Lots to meditate on there huh? Until tomorrow! Or tonight!

The Be with Principle

2008-10-28T21:44:00.000-04:00
Okay so in my last post I talked about how Jesus took 12guys for 3 years and even in His presence for the most part they did not truly "get" who He was. It was only after He ascended and the Holy Spirit came and then commissioned that they became world changers and went from fearful to fearless. One of the sad things about today's discipleship/spiritual growth is the lost aspect of being with people. We are all in process and yes there are things to study and discuss (absolutely necessary) and scripture totally supports and promotes it. But...what is sort of lost and to be honest even lost in scriptures is Jesus' building relationship with His followers. Not much is really written about this. I wonder why. 3 years together day after day and much of those details are left out. These people left everything to follow Him and His mission for all eternity hindged on these 12 for the 3 years. Regardless of what is not written, Jesus took time to build up and in and later through these people. So, what does that mean for you and I when it comes to the great commisson. We know the first part..."go into all the world and preach the truth, baptizing and make disciples... but look next, "teaching them to obey everything I have taught you and I am with you until the end of things here on earth as you know them." This is HUGE!!! We live in a Biblically illiterate Christian age and believers moral standards and lifestyles (according to a lot of studies/polls) are not that different than un-believers. I believe it's due to these two aspects. The lack of being with and building deep relationship and teaching people everything Jesus taught and that we need to obey it. Discuss!!!

Passion vs. Emotion

2008-10-27T20:15:00.001-04:00
I have some passions, and so do you! But life can bury them can't they? I was talking to my foxhole buddy Tim last night about desire. It took him a couple minutes to come up with the things he was truly passionate about, that he truly desired for life. Those passions and desires get lost in surviving financially, our jobs and relationships and time goes so stinkin' fast that before you know it another week has passed, another month and another year. What do we have to show for it? I am realizing that the few things I am passionate about will either get buried (along with me) or I will fight hard and pursue them. It takes so much effort however to keep them in front of me long enough to do something about them. Emotional events/moments last a day or week at best, but true passion can and should last a lifetime. They should define us! Do they? Let me briefly share one of mine. Producing Reproducers. I heard Dr. Dann Spader share this at a training conference run by Sonlife Ministries that Dann founded and ran. Dann and some guy named Bill Hybels were running Son City in suburban Chicago in the early 70's and Bill went on to start WillowCreek Church and the WillowCreek Association, Dann instead used their philosphy of ministry and used it to train Youth Workers. Both used the same model. I look at Jesus' life and how he took 12 guys (not the type of men we would have chosen) and took 3 years (we like instant) and added with the Holy Spirit transformed the world. If you are a believer and follower of Jesus then one day you and I will be able to trace our spiritual roots to one of those 12 Apostles. I can't wait. On the trail behind us, people we lead to Christ will have to go through us in their roots to the 12. Frankly, I am hoping, praying and trying to do something about that being a really, really long line. Next post I will begin to share my thoughts on how that can be done today!