PeaJay's Place

I Love Family Day!

2011-08-22T13:53:00.000-04:00

Family Day at Rhodes Grove is one of my favorite Sundays of the year! Yesterday, we enjoyed a combined worship service in the Meadows Conference Center followed by a delicious meal in the dining hall. Then from 1-3, we had run of the grounds. Here's a list of some of my favorite things from yesterday's event:

Gathering as a single body for worship. Don't get me wrong...I am not opposed to multiple worship services. I also enjoy having the opportunity to put everyone together from time to time.
Enjoying a whole-church meal with no prep or cleanup. The staff at Rhodes Grove puts on a delicious meal for very reasonable prices.
Spending time together. When it comes to building relationships and enjoying each other, there's just no substitute for time.
Watching people interact. It's always neat to see a few new friendships emerge out of this event.
Baptism. There's just nothing like celebrating what God has done in people's lives through Baptism!
FUN, FUN, FUN!!! I'm always surprised to see how fast the day goes by. Can't wait for next year already!

21 Years

2011-08-18T11:20:00.000-04:00

On this date, 21 years ago, Janet Sarah Menger and James Oliver Bolich, Jr. stood before God, their families and friends and covenanted together in marriage. I'm still amazed at the blessing Janet has been, and continues to be to my life. In some ways, it seems like just yesterday. And yet, I find it difficult to remember life without her by my side. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

The Inward Journey

2011-08-17T13:43:00.000-04:00

Recently, I've been focusing my devotional reading on the books of 1 &2 Timothy and Titus. The impetus for these choices was the US National Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Our speaker referenced several passages that really gripped my heart. So, I decided to immerse myself in these books for the next several months. For July and August, I've been focusing on Timothy. Here's the passage that struck me today:

"This is the only race worth running" (2 Timothy 4:7; MSG)

Amen!

Fitness Report

2011-08-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

It's been quite some time since I've updated you on my fitness progress. Here's the latest:

By the end of 2010, I made it to my goal of getting under 265 lbs. Actually, I made it to 255, coming to an overall total of 70 lbs lost. But the question was whether or not I could maintain it.
I began 2011 with the goal of staying in the 255-260 range without counting calories. After 3 months, I needed another challenge.
The next goal was to complete a 5K. That's something I never thought I'd do. In fact, I could not imagine why anyone would WANT to do it. But on March 23rd, I met my goal...walking the race in just under 43 minutes (thanks to a little help from some friends...thanks Derek and Chris)!
I started wondering if I could ever run a 5K. I came across the "Couch to 5K Plan" and started working little by little. After about 15 weeks, I am now able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes!

So what's next on list?

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, I plan to run my first official 5K race. It's scheduled for the "Rails to Trails" in Shippensburg...one of my favorite courses. My goal is to finish, but I wouldn't mind doing it in around 30 minutes.
I'm also going back to intentional calorie counting. When I turned 40, I weighed 326 lbs. By the time I turn 45 (in July 2012), I would like to have lost a total of 100 lbs. That would get me to 225 and propel me towards another future possible goal.
A month or so ago, I learned that a friend had completed his first "Sprint Triathlon". I never heard of one of those, so I did some research, and am starting to seriously consider the possibility.

That's the latest on my fitness journey. I'll let you know how things go as I move forward.

Back to Blogging...Again

2011-08-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

Last July, I moved my blog to Wordpress. Then I went on vacation. When I returned, the blog died. But I happen to be a person who believes in resurrection. So, here we go again.

I've changed the layout, and I haven't decided on exactly what I'll be posting. But I went back to a previous post and was reminded that my reasons for writing this blog haven't changed:

It makes me translucent. I want share my life, but total transparency may be a bit more than any of us really wants.
It makes me accountable. The discipline of writing posts helps keep me going, even when I don't feel like it.
It makes me think. If you're not learning, you're not growing, and I want to keep growing.
It gives us opportunity to interact. As you post your comments, we're sharing life.

So, for those who missed me, and those who never realized I left, PeaJay's Place is back.

Sneak Peek 4.25.10

2010-04-22T07:48:00.000-04:00

For the last 3 weeks, we've been talking about "How To Be Rich". This week, we'll wrap up the series by learning the key to having God give you more. On top of that, we'll be baptizing about 6 people during the 11:00 worship celebration. It's going to be a great day!

The Remodeling Saga Continues

2010-04-20T08:09:00.000-04:00

I have a free night tonight. Actually, there's no such thing as a FREE night right now. I'm still in the process of painting. The ceiling in the kitchen and dining area is done. The walls in the dining area are finished. The new lighting fixture has been installed. And one coat of paint is on the trim in the dining area.

So, tonight, I'll tackle the 2nd coat on the trim and, hopefully, get the switches and receptacles changed so that I can get the wall plates back on. At least that's the plan

Sunday Rewind 4.18.10

2010-04-18T20:36:00.000-04:00

This was week three of our "How to be Rich" series. So far, we've seen that if we have more than we need, we are rich. And we've talked about how easy it is for our trust to shift away from God and onto money. But have you ever wondered why God made you rich? The answer is simple. God mad us rich so that we could give more away (2 Corinthians 9:11). So how do you learn to give more?

Most of us are intentional consumers. If we are going to learn to give more, we have to learn to be intentional givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). And the starting point for us is the tithe. The first 10% of all our income belongs to God (Leviticus 27:30). It's holy. It's His. And He instructs us to give it to our local church so that spiritual nourishment can happen through the ministries of the local church (Malachi 3:10). But the power of the tithe isn't really about increasing the church budget. It teaches us to put God first. And it increases our faith. As we give to God first, we learn to trust Him.

If you've already learned to blessing that comes along with giving God His tithe, you're not done yet. The Tithe isn't the ultimate goal...just the starting point. God didn't make you rich so that you can give the minimum...He wants you to excel in giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). So start being creative. Use the skills you've learned to plan your consuming into planning your giving. Pray about it. Talk with your family about it. Investigate. Find the most effective place for you to make a real difference in the world.

God has blessed us with more than we need. We’re rich. We will not trust in our riches, but in Him who richly provides. Because we have more, we’ll give more! That's how to be rich in a way that honors God.

Sneak Peek 4.18.10

2010-04-16T08:35:00.000-04:00

The average Shippensburg household is among the top 1% of wage earners in the world. We may not feel rich. But we are rich.

Have you ever wondered why God has given you so much? That's the question we'll answer as our "How to Be Rich" series continues.

My Journey 4.14.10

2010-04-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

As I was reading the Bible today, I came across a passage that I've read before, but that hadn't struck me quite like it did today.

To set the context a bit, Saul had been commanded by God to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. Saul did most of that. He preserved the King's life and his men preserved the best livestock and loot. Then, he tried to tell Samuel that the reason they did that was so that they could sacrifice them to the Lord.

Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

It's so easy to make excuses with God... to allow ourselves to believe that if we just do enough good things, then it will make up for our sins. Thanks, God, for the reminder that what you really want is for me to listen to your voice!

Sunday Rewind 04.11.10

2010-04-12T07:41:00.000-04:00

This week, we continued our series, "How to Be Rich", by talking about the deceitfulness of riches. Money promises us happiness, security and peace. But it can't deliver those things. Only God can give those things. And yet, it's so easy for our trust to shift away from God onto the riches He provides.

It starts slowly. We tell ourselves that we need the new toy… the new clothes… the new car… the new house. Don't have the case? No problem, use the credit card. Card maxed out? Use a new card to pay the minimum balance on the other. Or get a second job. And before long, money becomes the central focus of your life.

Here's the simple truth...Matthew 6:24. It’s one or the other. The central focus of your life is either going to be God or money. Neither will share. For many of us, money will be the #1 competitor for our heart. So, how do you know if you love money? Here are a few thoughts to consider.

People who love and trust money never have enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10). We tell ourselves that if our stack was just a little bigger, that we'd be secure. And as soon as we do that, we're hooked. Our trust has just shifted away from God to our stack. And the stack is never big enough. Wealth is deceitful. you'll never have enough.

People who love and trust money have money in the bank but no peace in their hearts (Proverbs 15:16). Many of us are making more than our parents did. We have more than we ever imagined. We have way more than we need. But the financial pressure that we’ve created for ourselves is making us miserable. We keep telling ourselves that if we have that one more thing, then we’ll be happy. But instead of being happy… instead of finding peace… we find ourselves more stressed out than ever before. Wealth is deceitful It cannot provide the happiness and peace we crave.

People who love and trust money find it difficult to give big. We think that if we had more money, that would solve our problems. But more money isn’t going to keep your kids off drugs… heal your friend from cancer… make your marriage better… it’s not going to solve your problems. In fact, it will create some problems. When we could give generously, we don’t b/c we’re worried that our stack won’t be big enough. But look what happens when our trust is in God instead of our stack...2 Corinthians. 8:2-3.

We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by riches…thinking more money means happiness, security and peace. It can’t deliver those this. Happiness, security and peace will never be found in the things of this world. They are only found in the One who gives life… abundant, eternal, and free. That’s how to be rich.

The Journey Continues

2010-04-07T08:13:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, I received an iPod Touch as a gift. Since then, I've been enjoying discovering a variety of very useful apps...like Whack-a-Mole and Paper Toss. But I've also found a free Bible Reader app that I've found helpful as well. It allowed me to download the translation of my choice for use when offline, and provides multiple locations when I have wi-fi access.

But the best part (so far) is that it gave me the ability to connect with the Bible Reading Plan of my choice. Now, all I have to do is open the app and start reading. The device does all the remembering for me. And, as long as I have my Touch and a wi-fi connection, I can spend that time with God wherever I am. That sounds lazy. But yesterday, it proved helpful.

On the way to the office, I discovered I had a tire going flat. That took me to Shetron's Tire at 7:30 am. Unfortunately, they don't open until 8. Was I stuck? No! Across the street there is a laundry mat...with wi-fi access. And since I had my Touch, I could spend that half hour talking with God instead of mumbling to myself. I call that a win.

I'm not happy!

2010-04-06T08:54:00.000-04:00

Each year, my family and a good friend have a lot of fun with our March Madness brackets. We compete to see who has the last team left and who has the most total wins. Although I enjoyed watching this year's tournament, I discovered something last night that is unacceptable.

Only one of us (not me) had a team in the championship game. And when the final counting was done, not only did I not have the most total wins, I didn't even make 2nd place. On top of that, I only escaped last place by 1 win! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Still...it was a great tournament!

Sunday Rewind 4.4.10

2010-04-05T09:18:00.000-04:00

Many of us want to be rich. We dream of the big house, new cars, retiring early to travel in luxury, able to buy whatever we want, whenever we want it. This week we began a new series called, "How to Be Rich". It's not about learning how to GET rich. It's about learning how to BE rich in a way that honors God. We started with some good news and some bad news.

The good news is...you are rich. And that's great news! It means you have all kinds of rich people opportunities. You can afford to have your kids in so many activities that you don't know how to get to them all. You can afford to have stuff you don't need. You can afford to have somebody else cook your food (even if it is fast food). On top of that, you can use the resources God has given you to make a difference. If God has blessed you with more than you need, you are rich! And the Bible encourages us to enjoy those blessings (Ecclesiastes 5:19).

The bad news is...you are rich. And that's very bad news. One day, Jesus was having a conversation with a rich guy. It soon became obvious that the rich guy trusted in his stuff more than he trusted in God. Look at Jesus’ response...Luke 18:24-25. There are some significant problems that come along with being rich. It’s harder to depend on God. It distracts us from true priorities. It give us greater responsibility.

So, over the next three weeks, we are going to learn to trust God instead of the things we’re working so hard to pursue. We are going to learn to prioritize our lives in a way that honors God. We are going to learn how to be truly rich.

Sneak Peek 4.4.10

2010-04-01T08:14:00.000-04:00

This Sunday is Easter Day. And we're doing something a little different. Since last Sunday was Friend Day, I wanted to begin a series this week that would pique the curiosity of our friends. In these uncertain financial times, I couldn't think of any better subject to address than money. So, this Sunday, we're starting a series called, "How to Be Rich".

This week, we'll talk about some good news and bad news about being rich. I'm looking forward to celebrating the resurrection with you all!

Anticipation

2010-03-31T08:11:00.000-04:00

It's the last week of Lent, and the anticipation is building. Anticipation for what? For the celebration of the resurrection! But first, there are some difficult last steps to take.

On Holy Thursday, we gather to remember the Passover meal that Jesus celebrated with his disciples in that "upper room". We're reminded that Jesus is the final sacrifice. We're reminded to serve each other in love. We're reminded that every time we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. And we're reminded that Jesus' betrayal was sealed by the kiss of a friend.

On Good Friday, we gather to remember Jesus' crucifixion and death. We're reminded of the high price Jesus paid for our sin. We're reminded that our bondage to sin has been broken. We're reminded that the work of salvation is finished. And we're reminded that we, too, are called to carry our cross.

On Holy Saturday, we wait. It's probably my least favorite day of this journey. I don't like waiting. I want to do something. But that's the point. This isn't about me. It isn't about what I want or what I can do. It's about waiting on God's timing. So we wait.

The season of Lent is almost over. Are you anticipating the celebration?

Changing Seasons

2010-03-30T09:24:00.001-04:00

Basketball season finished on Saturday. Little Leage baseball tryouts were held on Sunday afternoon. we received a call last night. David was drafted by the Braves (wonder if there's a signing bonus). Practice begins on Friday. And the beat goes on...

Sunday Rewind 3.28.10

2010-03-29T08:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Friend Day at Prince Street Church, and it was great!

I enjoyed seeing the smile in people's faces as they introduced me to the friends they brought. I enjoyed reminding people of the great friend we have in Jesus. But mostly, I enjoyed gathering again with God's people to celebrate Him.

The central feature of the message yesterday was a video called, "You Can Lean On Me". The poem, written and recited by Jackie Perdas (a PSC member), was shot and produced by Jared Risser (Pastor of Youth and Worship Ministries).

Thanks, Jackie and Jared. You did a GREAT job!

Sneak Peek 3.28.10

2010-03-25T08:13:00.000-04:00

I've been looking forward to this Sunday for a long time. This Sunday is "Friend Day", and over the past several weeks many of us have taken the risk of inviting people to come with them to church. It's been fun hearing the blend of nervousness and excitement that has been building.

The wait is almost over. Sunday is almost here. So let's keep praying, asking God to draw our friends to himself. And let's remain open to what He wants to do in our lives, as well.

Facebook Fast

2010-03-24T08:41:00.000-04:00

For the second consecutive year, I'm fasting from Facebook during the season of Lent. Every time I feel the tug to log on, it reminds me that my priority relationship is with the God who created me, who loves me, and who has a great purpose for my life.

Last year, I missed my time on Facebook a lot, and couldn't wait until Easter Day. But this year, I'm having a different experience. I don't miss it nearly as much. And as Easter Day approaches, I'm thinking through the role Facebook plays in my life.

On one hand, it gives me opportunity to connect with people I might otherwise not. But, on the other hand, I've noticed a disturbing pattern develop in my life. I have become far more a servant to Facebook than it is to me. And that has to change.

I know I want to remain connected to the online community and available to those who use this social media tool. I'm just not sure of the boundaries I will set to keep myself from sliding back into the role of servant.

Easter Day is coming. I guess I better figure those boundaries out soon!

Sunday Rewind

2010-03-22T08:34:00.003-04:00

This week we wrapped up our "Just Walk Across the Room" series by looking at how Jesus used an amazing catch to call three commercial fishermen to "Grander Vision Living". You can read the story here.

It made no sense to go back out. It made no sense to do again what they had done all night doing. There’s only one reason Simon agreed: Jesus said to do it. They let down the net, and Jesus created such a miraculous harvest that it left these experienced commercial fishermen in awe. It was so amazign that Simon felt unworthy to even be around Jesus. But Jesus knew there was something special about Simon, James and John. He saw the potential in their lives to do something greater than any of them had imagined.

And that takes us to the decision all of us have to make. From the moment Jesus came to earth, right up to today, he’s been asking the same question: Are you going to throw your one and only life into pursuing small fish, or will you risk tossing your net out in anticipation of catching the human sized ones?

Many people spend their entire life pursuing small fish... things that seem like a big deal at the moment, but that are really only temporary. I'd love to have a big house… with a wrap-around porch… with oversized rocking chairs… on 50 acres… with a pond... and a putting green… multiple garages… filled with new cars, motorcycles, coffee roasting equipment and a boat… and enough money and free time to use them. None of those are bad things. But they are all temporary. They’re all small fish. When I die, they’d all belong to someone else.

Many people spend their one and only life chasing things that end up being small fish. But God invites us to something bigger than ourselves. He invites us to "Grander Vision Living". What’s that? Grander Vision Living is allowing other pursuits to fall away in order to focus on the priority that is nearest to the heart of God: people. God invites us to partner with Him in the most incredible mission imaginable: finding what is lost, restoring what is broken, and reclaiming what is his.

For Simon, James and John, Grander Vision Living meant leaving their boats and nets to follow Jesus. But it doesn’t always mean that. It only requires reflecting God’s heart by leaning toward people. Jesus has thrown the door to God’s Kingdom wide open for everyone. And he says, "You are welcome here. Come on in and join us. Love and acceptance await.” This is the profound message we get to carry to people who are on the other side of the room.

Imagine if every carpenter, bank teller, teacher, homemaker, business person, student, every person among us saw themselves in the people business. Yes, our paycheck comes from our employer, and it’s important for us to give our employers our best effort. But our mission comes from Christ. So we throw our arms wide open, looking for every opportunity to give away the single greatest gift, an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their lives.

What are you spending your life pursuing? Maybe you've been fishing for paltry perch your entire life. Today you can switch gears. You can head toward landing the biggest fish of all... a person's soul.

Sunday Rewind 3.7.10

2010-03-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

What we see on the surface often does not tell the whole story. It’s true of pictures, and it’s true of people. So, if we're going to live the kind of life that naturally and intentionally points people toward Jesus, we've got be truly engaged in people's lives. We've got to go beyond the smile and a handshake to genuinely know people. Want to know how? Try living in 3D.

Develop Friendships. Better than anyone in history, Jesus acted on the possibility in people. He looked at people from God's perspective, and often began with a simple conversation. Take, for example, the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4: 4-26). Jesus went to the town watering hole at noon on a hot day, and when a woman came, he simply asked for a drink of water. Often, all it takes to begin pointing people to Jesus is opening our eyes to see people from God's perspective...the neighbor you’ve never met… the coworker that’s always grouchy… the mom at the ballgame who’s unmerciful on the ref, the coach, her kid, and everyone around her… the person sitting all alone at church. All of them are real people. And if somebody would just take the time to develop a genuine friendship, there's no telling what could happen.

Discover Stories. There was good reason why the Samaritan woman was coming for water at the hottest part of the day. She was ashamed. She knew that she was the one mothers used as an illustration when talking to their daughters about purity. Jesus didn't let knowing all about this woman get in the way of genuinely engaging in her life. I wonder...if you knew that the neighbor you’ve never met lived in isolation because she has medical complications, or that the coworker that’s always grouchy lived with an abusive spouse, or that the over-the-top mom had parents that rode her unmercifullyor that the person sitting alone at church decided to come one more time to see if anybody cared before attempting suicide, would that make a difference in your perspective? Of course it would. But we'll only know those things if we take the time to discover stories.

Discern Next Steps. Jesus used the common ground of water and the Samaritan woman's anticipation of the coming Messiah to take the next step. He offered her living water… a relationship with God not based on location or lineage, but on faith. What's the next step? It's the one that follows the step that took you across the room in the first place. Maybe it will be offering a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Maybe it will be celebrating a special day. Maybe it will be offering to pray, or a phone call, or an email, or a text. I don’t know what it will be. But I do know that with a little patience, a little perseverance, and a big dose of being tuned into the ever present Spirit of God, and next steps occur.

Want to get started? Here's a simple step all of us can take: Look around you. On your way home today, before you park the car, look around you. Ask God to help you see your neighbors as He sees them. At school or at work tomorrow, look around you. Ask God to help you see your classmates, coworkers, teachers and bosses as God sees them. Everywhere you go this week, look around you. Is there someone there that God wants you to develop a friendship with? Is there a story He wants you do discover. Is there a next step He wants you to take?

Sunday Rewind 2.28.10

2010-03-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

What's the best gift you've ever given someone? Jewlery? A car? A Red Ryder BB gun? All of those things are good. But as Christians, the greatest gift we can give to the people around us an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their lives.

We know that, but as soon as the subject of evangelism comes up, a variety of emotions begin to surge through most of us...guilt, fear, anxiety, regret. On top of that, many of us have convinced ourselves that pointing people to Jesus is a complicated thing better left to "evangelists".

But, what if we unloaded the guilt, the fear, the anxiety, and the regret. What if we took the burden of “getting people saved” off of our shoulders. What if witnessing was as simple as walking across the room and giving someone the greatest gift possible? It is that simple. Do you want to be used by God to point people to faith? Here are some ideas:

Be willing to step in to the "Zone of the Unknown". Most of us go to extraordinary lengths to build a "Circle of Comfort". But staying forfeits the opportunitiy to do anything significant with your life. If God is going to use you to point people to faith, you have to be willing to step out of your "Circle of Comfort" into the "Zone of the Unknown".

Essentially, that’s what Jesus did. Qhen we were helpless, Christ left heaven to step across time and space to rescue us. He took a decided step toward the ungodly, embracing the worst this planet had to offer with acceptance and love and forgiveness (Romans 5:6-8).

Jesus isn't the only one who did that. Think about your faith journey. One day, a person also took a risk to walk across a room, reflecting the curiosity, kindness, and love of Christ. Someone made the decision to take the gift they’d been given and give it to you.

Listen for the Holy Spirit's Promptings. Most of us put WAY too much pressure on ourselves in evangelism. We tell ourselves that it’s up to us get people saved. We think that if we just learn the right formula, technique or prayer, that we can get anybody to give their life to Jesus. But "getting people saved" isn’t our job, only God can do that.

Our job is to walk when God prompts us to walk, talk when he says to talk, be quiet when we’re at risk of saying too much, and stay put when he leads tells us to stay put (Galatians 5:25). The only thing we need to sustain effective evangelism year after year after year is an ear fine-tuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes there’s an open door. Sometimes there isn’t. How do you know? Listen to the Spirit’s promptings.

Do What's in Front of You. It would be nice if the work of evangelism were predictable. But it isn’t. It's a lot like gardening (Mark 4:3-8). Sometimes we’re the roto-tiller, breaking up hard soil in someone’s heart so the next person who comes along might have some influence. Sometimes we’re the sower, spreading the seed where someone else has done the hard work. Sometimes we’re the watering can, helping to quench thirsty souls. Sometimes we’re the garden weasel, dealing with the things that distract a person from God. Sometimes, we’re the harvester, picking really ripe fruit from the vine.

It isn’t up to us to choose the role we play, and we can’t predict the time frame of someone coming to faith. The Spirit of the holy, omnipotent, omnipresent God gets to do those things. Don't worry about the role you are playing, or how long it’s taking. Just do what’s do what’s in front of you, leaving the results in God’s hands.

Want to get started? Here's a simple step all of us can take. Prayer. Every day this week, at the beginning of each day, offer the following prayer: “God, my life is in your hands. Use me to point someone toward you today – I promise to cooperate in any way I can."

Sneak Peek 1.31.10

2010-01-29T08:25:00.000-05:00

When God called Jeremiah to ministry, he, like others before him, made excuses. And often, we do the very same thing. This week, we'll learn some lessons from the story of Jeremiah about how to respond when God calls.

Sneak Peek 1.24.10

2010-01-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's a big weekend for Prince Street Church. On Saturday, we're holding our Wild Game Dinner. Our speaker is David Martin, PA Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer. David will also be speaking in both morning worship celebrations on Sunday, and will be facilitating a discussion during the Sunday School hour. Should be a great couple of days!

Day of Prayer

2010-01-20T08:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I spent the day in prayer. Thanks to the generosity of Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center, I had a quiet, warm place to get away without distraction. Here's the outline I followed:

Silent listening (9:00a - 9:30a)
Scripture & Devotional readings (9:30a - 10:00a)
Reflection & Prayer (10:00a - 11:00a)
Journaling (11:00a - 11:30a)
Lunch
Scripture & Devotional readings (12:30p - 1:00p)
Reflection & Prayer (1:00p - 1:45p)
Journaling (1:45p - 2:00p)
Silent listening (2:00p - 2:30p)
Pick my son up from school & help w/ homework (3:00p)

5 Reasons to Spend Extended Time in Prayer

2010-01-19T08:01:00.002-05:00

Each month, I try to get away for a day of prayer. Why? Here are 5 good reasons I found in "How to Spend a Day in Prayer" by Lorne Sanny:

1. For extended fellowship with God -- beyond your morning devotions. It means just plain being with and thinking about God. God has called us into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ. Like many personal relationships this fellowship is nurtured by spending time together.

2. For renewed perspective. Like flying over the battlefield in a reconnaissance plane, a day of prayer gives opportunity to think of the world from God's point of view. Especially when going through some difficulty we need this perspective to sharpen our vision of the unseen, and to let the immediate, tangible things drop into proper place. Our spiritual defenses are strengthened while we "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

3. For catching up on intercession. There are non-Christian friends and relatives to bring before the Lord, missionaries on various fields, our pastors, our neighbors, our government leaders-to name a few. Influencing people and changing events through prayer is well-known among Christians but too little practiced. And as the times become more serious around us, we need to reconsider the value of personal prayer, both to accomplish and deter.

4. For prayerful consideration of our lives before the Lord -- personal inventory and evaluation. You will especially want to take a day of prayer when facing important decisions, as well as on a periodic basis. On such a day, you can evaluate where you are in relation to your goals, and get direction from the Lord through His Word.

5. For adequate preparation. If God has given us plans and purposes in these times alone, we will be ready when opportunity comes to move right into it. We won't have to say, "I'm not prepared." The reason many Christians are dead to opportunities is not because they are not mentally alert, but they are simply unprepared in heart. Preparation is made when we get alone with God.

Sunday Rewind 1.17.10

2010-01-17T16:45:00.002-05:00

Today, we wrapped up our series, "So You're Dead...Now What?" by talking about the subject of Heaven. The reality is that many of us have little idea of what Heaven will be like. Part of the reason is because none of us can even imagine how incredible Heaven is (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Although total understanding is beyond our grasp, we can catch a glimpse of heaven by reading John's account of the vision God gave him, recorded in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:1-4). And from this glimpse, we can draw a few heavenly conclusions:

God will establish a new Heaven and a new earth. We may not know all the details of when, how and where, but one day, the same God who offers us new life in Christ, who will give us a new resurrected, glorified body, will also redeem creation.
God will do away with death, mourning, and pain. No more headaches, backaches or arthritis. Sickness...worry..stress...financial pressure...anxiety? Gone! No more babies dying from lack of nutrition. No more death or divorce. No more genocide. No more earthquakes!
God, Himself, will dwell with us. Moses could barely handle seeing the back side of God's glory. But we will see God face to face! Finally, the unbroken fellowship God wants with His people will be reality. At that moment, we will worship... and we’ll worship… and we’ll worship… and when we’ve worshipped a really long time, the words to the song Amazing Grace will take on new meaning… "When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun."

Sneak Peek 1.17.10

2010-01-14T08:44:00.000-05:00

Most of our ideas of what Heaven is like come from movies, music and cartoons. You know... wings... clouds... harps... and the like. For many of us, God looks like either George Burns or Morgan Freeman. But that's not how the Bible describes it.

This week, we wrap up our "So You're Dead...Now What?" series by catching a glimpse of what awaits those whose have placed their faith in Christ.

Family Devotions Update

2010-01-13T07:58:00.000-05:00

The fight for family worship has been going well. More often than not, we are eating dinner with enough time left to spend some time reading the Bible and praying together.

We are using a devotional guide that is geared towards kids. It includes a verse of Scripture verse, a paragraph or two of application, and at "Kid's Tip" idea. Here's our routine:

The boys take turn reading the Scripture verse.
I read the application paragraph(s).
The boys take turns reading the "Kid's Tip".
We have a brief (1-2 minute) discussion about the "Tip".
We each share one prayer request, we select a missionary to pray for, and then pray for the person next to us.

It's really been enjoyable and has led to some interesting discussions. Keep praying for us.

Sunday Rewind 1.10.10

2010-01-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

If I were Satan, one of my strategies would be to convince people that Hell doesn't exist, or at least that it isn't that bad a place. If I could do that, two things would happen. First, people would reject God with little fear of consequences. Second, Christians would be unmotivated to share their faith.

Sounds familiar doesn't it. That's exactly where we are. According to an August 2009 USA Today story, 75% of people believe in Heaven, but only 40% believe in Hell. And I suspect that the actual number of people who understand and believe what the Bible says about Hell is a much lower number.

So let's do something about that. Let's look at this unpopular subject. We begin with an obvious question. Why would a loving, gracious God create a place like Hell in the first place? Here are two reasons the Bible gives:

Hell exists for God to deal righteously with Satan (Matthew 25:41). Many people think of Satan as the activities coordinator of Hell. But that’s not the case. It is a place where Satan and the demons are punished for their rebellion against God.
Hell exists is for God to deal righteously with unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Far from being a social club where fellow sinners enjoy another round, Hell is a place of separation and everlasting punishment.

When it comes to the specifics of Hell, there's a lot of uncertainty. But Jesus told a story one day about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus (Luke 16:19-27). Let's look at a few observations from this story:

Hell is a place of
The rich man was full in conscious.
The rich man's eternal destiny was irrevocably fixed.
The rich man pleaded for someone to help his loved ones know Jesus.

This is some of what the Bible says about Hell. The sad part is that many people who call themselves Christians don't believe it. Not really. How do I know? Because if we really believed in the horrors of Hell, nothing could stop us from doing something about our loved ones, friends, neighbors & coworkers who are headed there.

Most of the time Jesus spent warning people about Hell, he wasn’t talking to sinners... not to drunks, prostitutes or tax collectors. He was talking to the religious folks. Jesus warned people who claimed faith, but didn't live it out. So what do we do with that?

What we believe about death and eternity will shape how we live today. When it comes to what the Bible says about Hell, we either believe it or we don’t. And if we do, our lives will be dramatically different.

Sneak Peek 1.10.10

2010-01-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

According to an August, 2009 USA Today story, 74% of Americans believe in Heaven, but only 40% believe in Hell. I would argue that the actual number of people who understand and believe what the Bible says about hell is much lower than 40%. Most of our mental images of Hell come from the TV, from movies, from comedians and cartoons, not from what God says about the subject.

So that's what we're going to talk about this week. Let’s let the truth of God’s Word shape our understanding of what Hell is really like. We're going to learn why Hell exists and a few other lessons drawn from a powerful story Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar. See you Sunday, as we continue our series, "So You're Dead...Now What?"

The Fight for Family Worship

2010-01-06T08:24:00.000-05:00

My highest priority as a parent is seeing my sons know and love God. Far more than I want to see them succeed at school, sports or Scouts, I want to see my boys experience a deep relationship with the One who created, called, redeemed, adopted and gifted them to do great things for the Kingdom of God.

I have always known that an important part of that process is family worship. That is, spending time together reading and talking about God's Word and praying together. Over the years, we have made several attempts at establishing this discipline. But the same problem keeps derailing us...scheduling.

It's not that we don't have the time. All of us have time to do everything that is important to us. The problem is finding a time that all of us have together. I am often out of the house in the evenings and let's just say that mornings are often not a terribly godly time in our house. Even dinner times get bumped around, and by the time we make an eat a meal together, I'm often finding myself running out the door.

But on vacation, we had a conversation. After attending a wonderful worship celebration at Hopewell Christian Fellowship, we talked together about what each heard God saying to us. We all came up with the same issue...we need to fight for family worship. After talking about the options, we decided that if we eat dinner at 5:30 pm, we should be able to include a time of family worship.

On Monday, we began. We failed to eat at 5:30, but I didn't have a meeting, so we just moved things later, and had a wonderful time of worship. Last night, dinner didn't happen until nearly 7:30, and the boys still had homework. We caved, and missed our time.

But tonight is another opportunity. We all have activities at church tonight, but there's no homework. So, it's on to round 3. Pray for us.

SUCCESS!!!

2010-01-05T08:54:00.000-05:00

Longtime readers may remember that on October 30, 2006, I started going to the gym with Derek at 5:30 am. At the time, my weight had reached a peak of about 330 and I set an initial goal of getting below 300. I lifted and treadmilled, squatted and elipticaled, and made it to 315. That's when plateau set in. No matter what I did, my weight fluctuated between 310 and 315 for about 18 months.

Then Derek had a baby. Well, actually, his wife had a baby. Derek just helped. But the result was that Derek could no longer hit the gym at 5:30 am. I became worried. Now that my partner was gone, would I have the determination to keep going?

The first change I made was a new workout time. 3:30 pm is a much more civilized time. I also changed my workout. I found a few 8-week programs online and got to work. The weight started coming off. Over the 1st 8 weeks, 10 pounds. Over the 2nd 8 weeks, another 10.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, the scale tipped below 300 for the first time in my memory. But the stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day is tough. I knew there was a good chance of putting on some pounds during the holidays.

I was careful...not good, just careful. I kept going to the gym, even on vacation. And yesterday, when I stepped on the scale, I was very pleased. 296.5! After a month of eating more than I should of things that I really shouldn't, I'm still below 300. So, I'm calling that success. It took 3 years and 2 months, but I have met my initial goal.

And I'm not going back. My next goal is 275, and I'd like to be there by the end of 2010.

Sunday Rewind 1.3.10

2010-01-04T08:27:00.001-05:00

Death is an uncomfortable subject. For many people, talking about death, walking into a funeral home, or even driving past a cemetery can be a very unsettling thing. Still, death is an important subject to talk about. Why? Because what we believe about death and eternity will determine how we live.

When it comes to the subject of death, a lot of mystery is involved. The Bible is clear on some things, and other things are not quite as clear. Here are a few things that we know for sure about death and what happens after you die:

Death is certain (Hebrews 9:27). Studies are conclusive. Approximately 1 out of 1 people die. I’m going to die. You’re going to die. Unless you are a believer and Jesus returns in your lifetime, you are going to die. And what happens then depends on what you did with Christ in your lifetime.
The soul and the body separate (Matthew 10:28). The body and the soul are 2 different things. And when your physical body dies, you will be as alive as you have ever been. The body may die, but the soul lives on.
You will face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). That's a pretty sobering thought. Forget Simon Cowell, each of us will stand before God! Now, exactly how this works out is a subject that smart, godly, biblical people disagree on. But, as I read the Bible, I see two judgments.
Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-12,15). At this judgment, there are dead people and there are books. One of those books is called the Book of Life, and there are other books, which evidently contain our deeds. If your name is not found in the Book of Life, then apparently, you are judged by your works. Biblically, we know that no one is good enough to qualify for heaven. Therefore, everyone who is judged by their works will be thrown into what is called "limne pur", the Greek terminology for the lake of fire, everlasting destruction, hell, eternal damnation, and separation from God. The Great White Throne Judgment is a place you do not want to be.
Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment is not about our eternal destination. It's about judging to see whether or not you are worthy of rewards in heaven. Some of us will be rewarded so big that it’s going to take a million year just to soak in Jesus' words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Others of us will have a different experience. You're believers, but you've done hardly anything but receive Christ. You'll get into heaven, but only as one "escaping through the flames" (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).What you believe about death and eternity will determine how you live. One day, death will come. At that moment, you will either receive the welcome embrace of Jesus. Or, if you are without Christ, you will face gloom and despair and hopelessness. But either way, at that moment, your eternal destination is irrevocably fixed and eternally unchangeable.

That's what makes this moment so important. If you don't know for sure that you will received Jesus' embrace, please click here to find out how you can have peace with God.

Back to Blogging

2009-12-31T09:17:00.003-05:00

On September 14, 2009, I put my blog on hiatus. I wasn't sure I would ever return to it. But, I've decided to start it up again. Why? Here are a few reasons:

It makes me translucent. I want share my life, but total transparency may be a bit more than any of us really wants.
It makes me accountable. The weekly post about my devotional life helps keep me going, even when I don't feel like it.
It makes me think. If you're not learning, you're not growing, and I want to keep growing.
It gives us opportunity to interact. As you post your comments, we're sharing life.

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

2009-09-14T08:45:00.002-04:00

Sneak Peek 9.10.09

2009-09-10T10:37:00.002-04:00

This Sunday, we're beginning a new series of sermons designed to help us wrestle with the question, "What's a healthy, growing, reproducing disciple of Jesus Christ?"

Over the next 5 weeks we'll look at two guiding principles and eight qualities that keep us on track and enable us to identify the next step each of us needs to take in the journey of discipleship.

This week's title: "Getting on Track".

Fantasy

2009-09-08T08:47:00.003-04:00

Two years ago, I began playing fantasy football for one reason...to do something with my boys. At the time, they really didn't know anything about it. I was the head coach, and they were my assistants. It was fun...especially last season.

But it's time for a change. I decided to hang up the "clip-board". I thought that meant I was done with fantasy football. I was wrong.

Both boys want to keep playing. And each wants his own team. So, instead of hanging it up, I have two teams to track. But this time, they are the head coach and I'm the assistant.

Our draft is tonight. David has football practice, so we'll just let the computer autodraft for him. I'll be manning the computer for Jim, but he'll be making the selections. I wonder who will end up with the better team?

As for me, I'm just going to enjoy spending the time with my sons. I love being a dad!

Sunday Rewind 9.6.09

2009-09-06T20:13:00.003-04:00

Today, we concluded our "Listen and Learn" by talking about listening to God.

Over the years, Christians have generally agreed that God speaks in at least the following ways: nature, people, wisdom, conscience, scripture, and the Holy Spirit. We could spend a long time talking about each of these ways that God speaks. And we could probably add a few to the list.

The issue isn't whether God speaks; the issue is whether we are in a position to listen.

Jesus often ended his sermons with the phrase, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear”. What Jesus is saying is, “Some of you are in a position to listen to what I said, other aren’t. My message is only for those who are in a position to listen.”

So, who is in a position to listen? Simple. If you want to be in a position to hear from God, you have to have a "Your will be done" attitude in every area of life (Matthew 6:9-10).

But instead, I think most of us go through life with things basically under control. We’re not opposed to God, but we’re not wide open either. And every so often, we hit an uh-oh moment and we want God to give us some advice. We want God to speak to one specific area. It’s not a “Your will be done” thing, we're just looking for a little advice.

The problem is that prayer is not a call-in show. God is not an "answer man". He's not willing to sit on his throne waiting for you to ask for some advice. He wants to speak into your whole life. And every time we hold out on him, we stand the risk of missing His voice.

So, how do we get there? How do we get to a “your will be done” attitude in prayer? "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

When we get still. When we quiet ourselves… not to learn something… not to get advice on something… not to tell God something… but just to know something… that God is God… then He speaks...and we're in a position to hear His voice.

God is speaking. Are you in a position to listen?

Sneak Peek 09.03.09

2009-09-03T08:23:00.002-04:00

This week, we're finishing up our "Listen and Learn" series by talking about listening to God. I'll share some ways that God speaks (most of which won't surprise you). I'll explain why so many of us struggle to hear Him. And I'll wrap it up by talking about how to correct that.

See you on Sunday!

A New Discipline

2009-09-02T08:38:00.002-04:00

A couple years ago, a friend began the practice of taking a few minutes at 10, 2 and 6 to read the Gospels. I've been thinking about it on and off since then, and have decided to modify it a bit to fit my life (a 6:00 break just doesn't work for me). How?

Last year, some friends gave me an audio book compilation of Michael W. Smith reading the Gospels. It's divided by chapter, each providing a 4-6 minute episode. That's the perfect length for a coffee break. So, here's my plan.

When I'm in the office, I typically break for coffee at about 10:30 am. Depending on the day, and my schedule, I sometimes take a break in the afternoon about 2:30 pm. Each time I break, I plan to listen to an episode from the Gospel.

I began on Monday with Mark 1 and really enjoyed it. I was out of the office all day yesterday. This morning I'll pick it up with chapter 2.

Thanks, Todd, for the idea, and for your friendship.

Back to School

2009-09-01T08:17:00.002-04:00

It's the second day of school and I'm a little surprised.

The thing that surprises me the most is that we haven't had a struggle to get the boys out of bed. In fact, they've been up before me. They have been out the door before Janet. They have remembered their lunch both days. And there hasn't been a fight about who is sitting where in the van.

Two days of no crying, no threatening, no shouting. I'm confused. But I'll take it for as long as it lasts.

Sunday Rewind 8.30.09

2009-08-30T15:04:00.003-04:00

We're in the middle of a series called "Listen and Learn". Over the course of these three weeks, we are exploring one central idea: What and who you listen to will influence what you do.

Last week we talked about the people we should tune out and the people we should tune in. Next week we’re going to talk about listening to God. Today, our theme was listening to the voice of wisdom.

In the book of Proverbs (1:20-33), Solomon describes wisdom as a woman, shouting in the streets. She wants to be heard. Her message is available for anyone who wants to listen. It isn’t a Christian thing. It's not an American thing. You don’t have to go to a special place to hear her message. It’s not a secret you have to investigate. Wisdom is available to anyone who will listen.

But so many of us don't. Instead we listen to the voice of discontentment. We listen to the voice that says, “You can have a shinier one, a smaller one, a bigger one, a younger one, one with more channels…" And the result is painful consequences. Think about it. Your greatest regrets are very likely directly linked to failing to listening to the voice of wisdom.

Of course, after calamity strikes, we all want to hear from God. After we begin to feel the pain of our decisions... after someone files for divorce... after we won’t graduate, then, we call out for wisdom. And that's when we discover that there's good news and bad news.

The good news is that God will take you back. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter how many times you've done it. It doesn't matter how unforgivable you feel you situation is. God will never refuse you. He will always welcome you with open arms.

The bad news is that you could be facing consequences that may never go away. There are memories that there are no magic prayers to erase. There are habits that may take years to break. And, if you've been ignoring wisdom for a long time, it may be hard for you to hear her voice again. But, if you will turn away from going your way and open your ears toward wisdom, wisdom will speak.

The question is, "Will you?" Will you shut out the voice of discontentment… shut out the voice of your passions… shut out the voice of our culture… and ask wisdom, “What would you suggest?”

What and who you listen to will influence what you do

Sneak Peek 08.27.09

2009-08-27T09:02:00.002-04:00

This week, we'll continue to"Listen and Learn", a series based around a single premise: What and who you listen to will influence what you do.

There is no shortage of advisors in this world, but when a myriad of voices come at you, how do you know which ones to listen to and which ones to brush aside? The Bible advises us to “seek wise counsel,” but what does that mean? How do we define “wisdom”?

This Sunday, we’ll reveal the one voice we should always be open to.

My Journey...Getting Back on Track

2009-08-26T10:26:00.003-04:00

Life can get crazy. And when life gets crazy, we cheat, often causing increased stress. Nutritious meals become a trip through the drive-thru. Sleep becomes burning the midnight oil. Exercise becomes dragging yourself out of bed in the morning. Conversations with your spouse become single-syllable grunts. Spending time with God? Well...He'll understand.

Every year, about this time, I find myself doing some reflection on my schedule. And, every year, about this time, I discover the same thing. I've gotten lazy. I'm cheating. It's time to get back on track.

Here's an excerpt from my reading this morning that I need to be reminded of, especially as the school year ramps up to full speed:

Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will beging to sense his grace. (Matthew 6:6; The Message)

It was good advice then. It's good advice today. God, grant me the grace to do it!

The Last Week Before School Begins

2009-08-25T08:54:00.002-04:00

It seems hardly possible that school begins next week. But it's true. Summer is nearly gone. And that means changes have begun in our home.

For one, school year bed time began this week. It's not being received well. The boys have been staying up until 10 or later many nights this summer. So heading to bed at 8:30 and 9:00 seems really early, even to me. The real struggle will be in getting up in the morning. But we'll save that one for next week.

The other big change is that Janet is gearing up for a new year. I've enjoyed seeing her during the day, especially at lunch. In-service begins on Wednesday, so it will be back to eating alone.

Of course, the new school year brings with it the return of sports practices and scouting events. I guess it's time for life to return to its normal hectic pace.

Sunday Rewind 08.23.09

2009-08-23T15:59:00.002-04:00

We began a new series today called, "Listen and Learn", in which we are exploring the following statement: Who and what you listen to will influence what you do.

Most of us are quick to recognize the truth of this statement in others, especially those who are younger than us. But the truth of the matter is that regardless of our age or stage in life, all of us have times when we are tempted to listen to voices that tell us what we want to hear.

This was Ahab's problem (2 Chronicles 18). He wanted to attack. He had a lot of people cheering him on. But there was one lone voice who refused to go along with the crowd. This lone voice gave Ahab great advice...advice Ahab wouldn't hear. And, as a result, Ahab was killed in battle.

But this isn't just a story about kings who lived a long time ago. Most of the greatest regrets in our lives can be directly linked to voices who were telling us what we wanted to hear. The lone voice of reason was there, and we knew it was telling us the truth. But we went ahead anyway. And we paid the price. We've lost relationships. We've lost reputations. We've lost homes. We've lost clear consciences.

The good news is that when we are making decisions, if we are seeking God's face, the voice will be there. And then we have a decision to make. We will either drown out the voice, or we will listen to it.

Next Sunday, we'll talk about listening to Wisdom. The following week, we'll talk about hearing God's voice. But for now, consider the following five questions:

Who are you listening to?
Who do you need to quit listening to?
Who should you be listening to?
What do you not want to hear, but need to?
Whose advice are you resisting b/c you don’t like the person giving it?

Outta' Here

2009-07-25T09:09:00.007-04:00

Beginning Sunday afternoon, I'll be on vacation. For me, that means getting away from the computer. So...no blogging until vacation is over.

Sneak Peek 07.23.09

2009-07-23T08:24:00.002-04:00

This week, we'll conclude the "Growing to the Chapel" series by looking at two questions you must be able to answer before you ever consider getting married (they're also good questions to reflect on after you're married).

And we'll wrap it all up by giving married couples opportunity to celebrate their relationship with a Vow Renewal Ceremony.

The Week Before

2009-07-21T08:30:00.004-04:00

It's the week before vacation. Beginning Sunday afternoon, I will spend 14 days away from the computer...away from the phone...away from all the things that typically fill my days.

What are we doing? Spending time together as a family. Do we have a plan? Yes...sort of. But the plan will be subject to daily adjustment. That's what we do on vacation.

But before I can head out, there are details to cover. I'm pushing hard to get myself worked ahead far enough to be able to "get out of Dodge" without leaving things in the air.

Oh...and it's fair week. That means taking 2 shifts with Jim in the Boy Scout Pizza booth (Wednesday afternoon and Friday evening). Oh...and it Clarence Boyd baseball tournament week. That means games and practices for David.

It's going to be a crazy week. But it's so worth it!

Sunday Rewind 7.19.09

2009-07-19T14:53:00.003-04:00

This week, we continued our "Growing to the Chapel" series by looking at some of what God's Word has to say for women.

So, we went back to the beginning. God. God created Adam and Eve, put them in the Garden of Eden, and game them one and only one rule… you can eat anything you want, except for the fruit of just one tree. We know how that one ended.

God rebelled against God's truth and submitted to Satan's lie. This has been many ladies' problem ever since then. They have been submitting to Satan's lies and ending up with broken hearts. But it doesn't have to be that way.

The power of sin has been broken. That means the tables can be turned. Ladies, you can choose to rebel against Satan's lies and submit to God's truth. Let me suggest three ways:

Rebel against the “outward beauty” lie; submit to the "inward" beauty truth. From the moment you were born you’ve been told that what matters is your outward appearance. But that's Satan's lie. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30). The truth is that a woman's true beauty is found in her relationship with God. The more you grow in your relationship with Him, the more desireable you will become to Godly men.
Rebel against the “I need a guy” lie; submit to the "I need God" truth. Damsels in distress waiting for their knight in shining armor to come and sweep them off their feet and carry them into happily ever after makes for a great fair tale, but it’s a destructive way to look at relationships. Ladies, you do not need a man to complete you. Rebel against Satan's lie. God is all you need (Philippians 4:19). The love and acceptance you crave is found in Him. Your security is found in Him. He is the only one who will never leave and never let you down.
Rebel against the “I can change him” lie; submit to the "God's best" truth. Ladies, what's the deal with bad boys? How can sweet, godly girls settle for guys who rebel against God? Why do you settle? You think you can change him. But you can't. Only God can change lives. Do not settle for a fix-er-upper. Rebel against the lie. A guy's life will quickly demonstrate his heart (Matthew 7:17-20). If his life isn't producing Godly fruit, cut him loose. God has someone better for you. Trust Him.

Sunday Rewind 7.12.09

2009-07-12T19:50:00.003-04:00

Today, we arrived at the 2nd week of our series titled "Growing to the Chapel" by looking at three specific ways that God has called and equipped men to lead in the marriage relationship.

Lead-her to emotional security. 1 Corinthians 13 gives a beautiful description of love. Men, is your wife secure and full of hope and trust and peace? Or is she nervous, wondering if she can trust you. How have you lead her? Are you leading her to emotional security?
Lead-her in purity. 2 Corinthians 11:3 provides a warning we need to hear again today. Men, we have to fight away the temptation to fill our minds with lustful thoughts. They will cause us to see women as objects rather than as people, and make us completely incapable of loving our wives the way she deserves to be loved.
Lead-her closer to Christ. Ephesians 5:25-27 describes the Church being a bride being presented holy and blameless. If we're going to love our wives the way Christ loved the Church, then we have to be the spiritual leaders in our homes. Men, we’ve got to quit making excuses. If you golf game isn’t working; you figure it out, right? It doesn’t matter if you’re not an expert. Just start.

Someone has said that you can tell the quality and depth of a man by looking into his wife’s eyes. When’s the last time you looking into your wife’s eyes? What did you see? Did you see someone who is secure, pure, close to the love of God?

Gentlemen, your wife is becoming what you lead her to become. God created you to be a great lead her. Satan will tell you that you can’t. Tell him to shut up and get behind you. Tap into the power of God inside of you and lead-her.

Hanging with my bride

2009-07-07T08:40:00.002-04:00

This is a strange week.

On Sunday, we dropped both of our sons off at Rhodes Grove for a week of camp. That leaves Janet and me alone. Know what that means? A week of doing whatever we want, whenever we want. I'm loving life!

One of the ways we're celebrating is going out to dinner every night. On Sunday we went to Knutes. Last night found us at Mei Lin's. The obvious choice for tonight is Ruby Tuesdays.

Don't get me wrong, I love my boys. I love being a dad. But I especially love hanging with the most incredible woman God ever created...MY BRIDE!

Sunday Rewind 7.5.09

2009-07-06T11:43:00.003-04:00

We want great marriages. God wants us to have great marriages. So why don't we see more great marriages? The answer...because too often, we don't follow God's advice.

This week we began a series, called "Growing to the Chapel", in which we'll explore some of what God says about the covenant of marriage. It will build a great foundation for those who are not yet married. And it will serve as a refresher course for those of us who are.

Let's begin with two important foundational principles:

God did not make us because he needed us; He created us to love us. God is completely self-sufficient. He wasn’t lonely, feeling unfulfilled or bored. God created us simply to be the primary focus of His love (1 John 4:19).
God did not create woman for man; He created woman for man to love. Woman was not created to be man’s servant. That was never part of God's plan. Instead, men are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25).

We don't want the kind of marriages that we see around us. Today, somewhere around half of marriages end in divorce and of those that survive, that's about all they do...survive.

If we're going to arrive at a different destination, we have to take a different path. Here are a couple commitments we can make to pursue marriage by God's path:

I will wait until marriage to share the "intimate blessings" of marriage. Marriage is to be honored by all (Hebrews 13:4). That means everyone who is married AND everyone who is unmarried. Let me put this very simply. The gift of physical and emotional intimacy are reserved for those who are married.
Instead of focusing on what I want, I will focus on what I want to give. If we are going to follow God's plan for relationships, we must never look to people to meet our needs, fill the void or to make us feel whole. That’s God’s role. God is the one who meets our deepest needs. God is the one who fills the void in our lives. God is the one who makes us whole. We begin as recipients of God’s love, and over time, we become so filled with God’s love that we begin to want to share God's love with our best friend for the rest of our lives in the covenant of marriage.

A Little History

2009-07-04T08:22:00.002-04:00

A couple years ago, I read David McCollough's fantastic biography of John Adams. In it, I learned that the Continental Congress approved the resolution for independence on July 2, 1776 and that most of the delegates signed the document on August 2, 1776. But I was especially struck by the words John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail.

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Sounds like a great itinerary for the day.

Sneak Peek 7.2.09

2009-07-02T07:35:00.002-04:00

This Sunday, we're beginning a new series called, "Growing to the Chapel".

All of us want great marriages. I have good news for you. God wants us to have great marriages, too. And He's given us great advice on how to make that happen. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to grow to the chapel. For those not yet married, it will provide a great foundation. For those who are, it will be a great reminder.

This week, let’s talk about “Pre-Pairing” for the covenant of marriage...pun intended. Our key text is 1 Peter 1:13-15.

I'll see you on Sunday.

My Journey 7.1.09

2009-07-01T08:56:00.004-04:00

I came across the following hymn text during my personal worship time. Written by Charlotte Elliott, the title is "O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen". It's not a familiar hymn to me. But the lyrics are a great reminder of the power of the gospel.

O Holy Savior, friend unseen,
Since on thine arm thou bidst me lean,
Help me, throughout life's changing scene,
By faith to cling to thee.

What though the world deceitful prove,
And earthly friends and hopes remove;
With patient, uncomplaining love,
Still would I cling to thee.

Though oft I seem to tread alone
Life's dreary waste, with thorns o'ergrown,
Thy voice of love, in gentlest tone,
Still whispers, "Cling to me!"

Though faith and hope may long be tried,
I ask not, need not, aught beside;
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The soul that clings to thee!

Keeping My Mouth Shut

2009-06-30T08:32:00.003-04:00

Nine days ago, I made a terrible mistake.

In the course of casual conversation, I talked about how pleased I was about the reliability of our van in front of our mechanic, Lenny. Making it worse, I said that I would not replace the van until Lenny told me it made no sense to fix it. You know what comes next...right?

On Monday, the van died...blown engine. And with over 100,000 miles, it made no sense to fix it. So we started shopping.

We narrowed it down to two vehicles: a 2004 Ford Freestar with 63,000 miles at Parson's Interstate Ford, and a 2005 Pontiac Montana with 53,000 miles at Kyner's Auto Sales. Both salespeople were great. Shawn at Interstate Ford "bent over backwards" for us to find a vehicle that would meet our needs. Ron and Kyner's was a big help, too.

In the end, we preferred the Montana, so that's what we purchased. How do we like it? Is it a good vehicle? Is it meeting our needs?

This time, I'm keeping my mouth shut.

Sunday Rewind 6.28.09

2009-06-28T16:24:00.002-04:00

I love stories of people reaching their maximum potential. Movies like "Rudy" remind us that the only way to achieve our maximum potential is to give maximum effort. A couple weeks ago, I was asked a question that has really been bothering me. "Are you fulfilling your maximum redemptive potential?" Before you answer, consider the following:

The Church is God's primary redemptive tool. Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave really clear instructions (Acts 1:8). We are His witnesses. That means every event of our life is a new episode in the ongoing story of God’s grace.
Our empowerment is complete. We don't have to do this on our own. God has given us the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21). That means we have all the power we need to be His witnesses.
Victory is guaranteed. Jesus describes the Church as a great expeditionary force attacking the gates of evil in this world (Matthew 16:18). When God’s people are fulfilling our task in the power of the Holy Spirit, there’s nothing this world can do to stop it.
Timing is critical. – Nobody knows when the world will end, but make no mistake, the end is coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). Either by death or by Christ’s return, all of our time is limited, and everyone separated from God is on a collision course with eternal damnation. There’s no time to waste.

Are you fulfilling your max. redemptive potential? It doesn't take much thinking for many of us to come to the same conclusion. No, I'm not.

So what are you going to do about that? Here are a few suggestions.

Pray. Seeking God’s face in prayer is the most significant thing you can do. Ask God to help you see people as He sees them. Ask Him change you. Ask Him to bring people into your life who are far from God. Ask Him to act in peoples’ lives. Ask Him to use you as part of the process.
Live. Living a life of holiness and devotion to God is essential. We can’t talk about grace and mercy while being judgmental and vindictive. We can’t talk about joy with a frown on our face and a growl in our voice. We must be living evidence of God's transforming grace.
Build. Building intentional relationships with people who are far from God is the best way to reach people with the gospel. I'm not talking about developing a list of prospects. Far from it. Let's build real relationships based on love.
Look. As we seek God’s face in prayer, live a holy life and build intentional relationships, we must always looking for opportunities to take the next step. You never know when God will create a chance for you to share your faith story. A special event might be the perfect opportunity to connect your friend with other disciples. A sermon series may speak specifically to a need in a friend’s life.

Do those things and you'l be moving toward fulfilling your maximum redemptive potential.

Getting a Round to It

2009-06-23T08:14:00.002-04:00

It's Tuesday. It's a beautiful Tuesday. How will I celebrate? Simple.

My older son is at Boy Scout Camp. I'm really proud of the progress he is making in his pursuit of the rank of Eagle. But that's a story for another day.

When we dropped him off, my younger son asked, "Dad, can we play golf this week?". I gave my typical answer..."We'll see", which he knows means "if at all possible".

Well, today it's possible. So, after my dentist appointment today (YUK!), the two of us will grab some lunch and head out to play 9 at my favorite Tuesday course.

Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Rewind 6.21.09

2009-06-21T20:39:00.002-04:00

Imagine that you’ve taken your family camping and the unthinkable happens. Your son walks off into the forest and gets lost. What would you do to find him? Maybe the better question is, what wouldn’t you do?

You holler and search. In desperation, you call the park ranger who calls the rescue squad. When they arrive, they start setting up camp. Then they make sure everyone is in official rescue squad uniform. After that they pull out the rescue manual and review protocols. Meanwhile, you're going insane. Your son is lost in the darkness surrounded by the dangers of the forest, alone.

Can you imagine yourself in that scenario? It’s not that the rescue squad is doing bad things. Their priorities just aren't the same as yours. It’s not their son.

Here’s the point: Every person on the face of the earth is a precious child in God’s eyes. Many are separated from relationship with him, lost in the darkness of a world of sin, facing the dangers of without God and without hope. Meanwhile, all across this nation, His rescue squad, the Church, is doing a lot of very good things. The problem is, too often, our priorities are not the same as God's. Lost people are infinitely valuable to God. Want to see how much? Check out Luke 15.

The story of the lost son is probably pretty familiar to many of us. We relate to the younger son. We like to remember that God has gladly welcomed us home.

But, too many times, I’m afraid we fill the role of the older son. Many of us struggle to remember a time when we weren’t Christian. We’re the son who didn’t leave, who did his job faithfully. We’ve shaped the ministries of the church to fit our preferences. Others are welcome, as long as they come on our terms. And we find ourselves getting irritated over the big deal that gets made over sinners.

Please don't misunderstand me. Helping people walk as Jesus walked is a critical aspect of the ministry of the church. We must encourage each other to live with transformed minds, attitudes and behaviors. We must continue to work together to ensure that the ministries of the church meet the needs of Christians who desire to grow in their relationship with God.

But we must also do whatever is necessary connect with people far from God and introduce them to a saving relationship with Christ. The question is, who gets served first? If we’re going to be faithful to the Great Commission, the needs of people far from God must be considered first.

Who's perspective does your life most reflect, the father, or the older son? Lost people are infinitely valuable to God. How valuable are they to you?

Sunday Rewind 5.31.09

2009-05-31T15:46:00.002-04:00

Not long ago, being a member of an organization was important to people. Today, membership means much less, especially to those under the age of 40. In fact, many people today find themselves wondering why church membership is practiced. So, today, we wrapped up our series on “4 Significant Christian Practices” by talking about Church Membership.

Although Scripture does not specifically prescribe church membership, it does clearly support membership’s underlying goal...spiritual development. You see, membership is not about accumulating numbers, it's not about privilege, and it's certainly not about gaining power. It's a tool we use to help "continue to live" in Jesus (Colossians 2:6-7).

To do that, we ask members to affirm a variety of things:

Shared faith (Ephesians 4:4-6),
Shared doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3-5),
Shared standards (Ephesians 5:15-16),
Shared accountability (Galatians 6:1-2), and
Shared ministry (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Today, we received 10 new members into the fellowship of Prince Street Church. It was a great day!

Sunday Rewind 5.17.09

2009-05-17T15:44:00.002-04:00

This was the second week of our series called, "4 Significant Christian Practice". Today, we turned our attention to baptism.

Identifying marks are important to us. They remind us of who we are, or at least who we want people to believe we are. But the marks do not make us who we are.

What does this have to do with baptism? Simple. Baptism is the identifying mark of the disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s our logo…our family crest…our way of recognizing that a person has said yes to the promises of God. But why baptism?

One reason is that Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17). Lots of people were being baptized by John that day. But Jesus' baptism wasn't like the others. His obviously wasn't about repentance; it was about His identity. When we are baptized, we are following Jesus' example. We are going public with the truth that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. But, baptism is more than just following Jesus’ example, it’s also a matter of obedience.

Jesus ordained baptism (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus' instructions are crystal clear. When people come to faith, He wants us to use baptism as a public identifying mark. Jesus’ expectation is that every disciple will be baptized. And, ever since then, the Church has been using baptism as the identifying mark of the disciple of Jesus Christ. How do we know that?

Paul practiced baptism (Acts 19:4-5). Everybody who comes to faith in Jesus is baptized. It’s the identifying mark of the disciple of Jesus Christ.

So, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and haven't been baptized, quit waiting! And next time you are present for a baptism, enjoy the party!

Sunday Rewind 5.10.09

2009-05-10T20:22:00.002-04:00

Rituals are part of every culture. They give us a way to express our identity, connect us with people from the past, and establish foundations for the future. Rituals can be powerful reminders of who we are, or they can be thoughtless routines done only for the sake of tradition.

This week we began a new series, called “4 Significant Christian Practices". Over the next four weeks we’re going to explore Child Dedication, Baptism, Holy Communion and Church Membership. We’ll look at Scriptural connections, talk about what role these practices play in our experience of faith, and, most of the time, practice them. We begin with Child Dedication.

The birth of children floods us with thoughts and emotions. But mostly, we find ourselves grateful for the incredible gift of life that God has entrusted to our care. And that’s where the ritual of child dedication comes in.

Child Dedication celebrates God’s gift of life. That’s what the practice of child dedication is, but where does it come from? What does the Bible have to say about the practice of child dedication?

Child dedication finds its roots in the story of Hannah & Samuel (1 Samuel 1-2). Hannah cried out to God for a child. He said yes. And about a year later, she presented Samuel to the Lord. In Dhild Dedication, we bring our child to a place of worship, give thanks to God publicly, and we go home, to live out our commitment to nurture their faith.

Child dedication is a parental commitment (Proverbs 22:6). Kids learn faith mostly by watching their parents practice it. In child dedication, parents dedicate themselves as well as their child, promising to provide a Christian home of love and peace, to raise their child in the truth of the Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage their child to one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Child dedication is a community event (Hebrews 5:24-25). The Christian faith has always been something that is done in community. The church plays a role in the nurturing of children. We support families in prayer, providing Biblical instruction and set an example by our lives.

Put all this together, and you have a significant Christian practice.

Slideshow Samples

2009-05-07T14:01:00.003-04:00

I'm putting together some "campus tour" slideshows for the website. Here are some samples:

View Photo Slideshow

Make a Free Flash Slideshow

Sneak Peek 5.7.09

2009-05-07T07:33:00.001-04:00

Rituals are part of every culture. They can be powerful reminders of who we are, or they can be thoughtless routines done only for the sake of tradition.

Throughout our history, Christians have established hundreds, if not thousands of rituals. When people know what they mean, they are powerful. When we lose connection with the meaning, they simply become routine.

This week we’re beginning a new series, called “4 Significant Christian Practices”. In this series, we’ll look at Scriptural connections, talk about what role these practices play in our experience of faith, and, most of the time, practice them.

Up first, Child Dedication.

The Journey 5.6.09

2009-05-06T09:27:00.003-04:00

This week, I'm meditating on Psalm 136. It's unique characteristic is that after each phrase, the psalmist writes, "His love endures forever".

Usually, I find this choice irritating. By the 3rd or 4th repetition, I'm thinking, "OK, I get it already!" And just that quickly, I'm reminded that I obviously don't.

His love endures forever. Too often, I take it for granted.
His love endures forever. Too often, I ignore it.
His love endures forever. Too often, I abuse it.
Still...His love endures forever.

Thanks be to God!

Sunday Rewind 4.3.09

2009-05-03T14:01:00.002-04:00

Today, we concluded our series on trust by exploring the risk associated with trust.

Like it or not, trust is a risky proposition. Most of us choose to avoid this risk by harboring suspicion. But harboring suspicion risky, too. It poisons our attitudes and will eventually destroy our relationships.

And then there's 1 John 1:5-7. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

That means we have a choice to make. If we choose to conceal...choose to be suspicious...choose to walk in the darkness that characterizes this world, we’re liars. But, if we'll walk in the light, we'll experience genuine relationships, have a redeeming impact on our neighborhoods, and Christ’s blood purifies us from sin.

We know these things, but how do we live it? Try considering these questions:

Are there people I have a difficult time trusting?
Is it my issue or theirs?
What can I do about my part?
What do I need to address with them about their parts?
Who do I sense has a difficult time trusting me?
Why do they have a difficult time trusting me?
What can I do about it?

Sneak Peek 4.30.09

2009-04-30T13:41:00.003-04:00

This Sunday, we're concluding our series called, "Trust" by talking about managing the risk associated with trust. I look forward to seeing you.

A Good Place to Be

2009-04-29T09:08:00.003-04:00

This week, I'm reflecting on Psalm 131.

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord— now and always.

I'm not always there, but this morning, I'm finding these words are really resonating with me. What a great place to be!

Sunday Rewind 4.26.09

2009-04-28T10:41:00.002-04:00

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. When trust is present, relationships flourish. When it’s not, they disintegrate. As Christ-followers, we’re called to trust. But, we all struggle with trusting sometimes. This is the tension we’re exploring in this series of sermons. Last week we discussed choosing to trust. This week we talked about choosing to be trustworthy.

What does it mean to be trustworthy. How do you know somebody is worthy of trust? How do you show people that they can trust you? This isn’t a new problem. Throughout the history of the world, civilizations have developed oath rituals to establish trustworthiness.

In Jesus' day, God's people swore by all sorts of things: heaven, earth, Jerusalem, their heads. It got so complicated that it became necessary for rabbis to decide which oaths were binding. It’s in this environment, that Jesus turns up the heat. His message is simple. Quit trying to be clever with your oaths. Just do what you say you'll do and don't do what you say you won't (Matthew 5:33-37). Therein lies the path towards being a person who is worthy of trust.

Does that mean if we make a single mistake, we're not trustworthy? No! Being trustworthy is not the equivalent of being flawless. No matter how hard we try, all of us drop the ball sometimes. We all create gaps.

Being trustworthy is not the same as being perfect. But a trustworthy person addresses the gaps they create. So, let’s boil all this down to some positive steps each of us can take to choose to be trustworthy.

I commit to do what I say I will do and when I don’t, I’ll tell you. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to be honest with each other. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to own our faults.
I commit to not over promise and under deliver. But, if it looks like that’s where things are headed, I’ll tell you. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to be realistic about or abilities. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to kill our pride.
If you confront me about the gaps I have created, I’ll tell you the truth. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to handle candid conversations well. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to speak truth in love.

Imagine the impact it would have on this community if we would choose to be trustworthy AND choose to trust. We’ll find ourselves being less suspicious of each other. We’ll begin thinking the best of each other. We’ll bring a completely different attitude to our neighborhoods. We’ll bring glory to God as we grow in our relationships with Him and with each other

Friends, let’s choose to trust and be trustworthy.

A Helpful Lyric

2009-04-22T08:13:00.002-04:00

This is a very busy season for me.

Over the next two weeks, I am serving communion to about 25 people who are unable to attend worship due to physical constraints. It's always a blessing to do this, but it also takes a considerable amount of time. Meanwhile, the ordinary tasks that must be done each week still need to be completed. In addition, I'm discovering the stress of Little League baseball (cf. yesterday's entry). Consequently, I'm feeling spent.

Then, this morning, I came across the lyrics of an old song in my devotional reading. I hope you find it as helpful as I did:

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

A New Way to Loose Control

2009-04-21T18:31:00.002-04:00

Having kids involved in athletics is a great way to loose control of your life. Practices, games, make-ups, and travel continually conspire to dominate family life. But today, we reached a new level.

Yesterday, it rained...a lot. Tonight, we had a Little League baseball game scheduled. Late this afternoon, it rained some more. I thought surely the game would be cancelled. But it wasn't.

So, we rushed through homework, and got to the field to discover a muddy mess. Raking and shoveling ensued, as a little sun began to peek through the clouds. We were just about ready to play, when the game was postponed until tomorrow.

There's just one problem. We have other things on the calendar for tomorrow. Now what?

Sunday Rewind 4.19.09

2009-04-19T15:50:00.002-04:00

Trust. It’s the foundation of all relationships. When trust is present, relationships flourish. When it’s not, relationships disintegrate. But here's the strange part. We all want to be trusted, but almost all of us struggle to trust people.

Today, we began a series on trust by looking at an undeniable truth: Often there are unexplainable gaps between what we expect people to do and what they actually do. And, although we have no choice about when “gaps” happen, we do choose how we respond when those gaps happen.

When gaps happen, we can choose to fill them with either trust or suspicion. Unfortunately, most of the time, we fill them with suspicion. As a result, relationships are eroded and we find ourselves becoming cynical. But it doesn't have to be that way. As Christ-followers, we have been called to trust.

1 Corinthians 13 contains a fantastic definition of love. In it, Paul writes, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

So, why do we find it so hard to trust? Part of the reason is our past. We've been burnt repeatedly. So we learn to hold back on trust. Another reason is our present. We're bombarded with stories of broken trust. And it makes us wonder if anyone can be trusted.

The question is, “What do we do about it?” How do we move from people who fill gaps with suspicion to being people who choose to trust? Let me share with you three positive steps you can take toward becoming a person who chooses to trust.

When there is a gap between what you expect and what you experience, fill it with trust. This one is simply an act of the will. Instead of allowing yourself to be suspicious, choose to believe that there is a good reason why this gap was created. Choose to trust.

When you observe someone filling a gap with suspicion, come to each others' defence. Rumor mills and gossip factories are sin, every time. And they won't end until we choose to refuse their product. So let's start thinking the best of each other and defending each others' character.

If what you experience begins to erode you trust, go directly to that person about it. Most of the time, gaps have perfectly good explanations. Sometimes, they don’t. We won’t know which is true until we have a conversation directly with the person involved.

Imagine how different your world will be when your default reaction is trust instead of suspicion. Imagine how different your community will be when you refuse to allow others to spread suspicious rumors. Imagine how different our relationships will be when we choose to talk with each other.

Amazing transformation can happen, if we'll choose to trust.

Sneak Peek 4.16.09

2009-04-16T11:13:00.003-04:00

Do you ever struggle with trust? I do. And it bugs me. So what do you do about it? How do you build a family, organization or community that is characterized by trust?

These are the questions we'll be exploring over the next three weeks. This Sunday, I'll share three positive steps each of us can take to make us people who choose to trust.

A Different Kind of Weekend

2009-04-10T07:51:00.003-04:00

Weekends. They come 52 times a year. We look forward to them. We enjoy them. We wish they were always longer.

But this is Holy Week. That makes this weekend different. This weekend, we have the opportunity to experience the "real time" journey of Jesus from the Upper Room to the Cross, from the Cross to the tomb, from the tomb to the resurrection.

Last night, we remembered Jesus and his disciples gathering for their Passover celebration. We sang, read Scripture and gathered around the table for Holy Communion. But we also offered the ancient practice of footwashing as a way of symbolizing serving each other in love. It's a simple worship celebration that I really enjoy.

Tonight, we'll gather again to remember the agony of the Cross. It's an uncomfortable time. But it's supposed to be uncomfortable. The service is at Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene, beginning at 7:00 pm.

Tomorrow is a really weird day. There's nothing to do but wait. And again, that's the point! It's not just about remembering the events of each day. It's about building anticipation. For what?

I'm really looking forward to Sunday. I'm looking forward to seeing the flowers. I'm looking forward to hearing the story. I'm looking forward to singing together. I'm looking forward to the family meal. I'm looking forward to the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

So this is a different kind of weekend. And I'm glad it is.

Sneak Peek 4.9.09

2009-04-09T08:29:00.002-04:00

This Sunday is Easter Day.

That means we're celebrating the resurrection. But instead of telling the story through a sermon, we're combining speaking and singing together in a musical titled, "The Power of the Cross".

So, bring your friends...bring your family...and join us as we celebrate the risen Christ!

Just In Case You're Wondering

2009-04-07T21:19:00.002-04:00

Based on our incredibly suspect scientific methods, Bounty paper towels are stronger than Viva when wet. Viva beat Brawny. Brawny beat Scott. Scott beat Big Top.

Just in case you were wondering.

Science Fair Season

2009-04-07T07:54:00.002-04:00

Science and I have a love/hate relationship. I enjoy science, but I hate math. So, it's with some trepidation that I anticipate this evening.

Last night, I was informed that the boys' science fair project is due one week from today. The problem is that they will be at their grandparents house from Thursday through Monday. And, since tomorrow night we have activities in church, the whole project has to be done tonight.

I'm told that they already have all the supplies they need. It's something about measuring the absorbancy of paper towels. I'm not exactly sure how to do that, but we'll figure it out.

Thankfully, they are doing this project as a team.

Sunday Rewind 4.5.09

2009-04-06T08:37:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, we wrapped up our series called, "5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith", by talking about pivotal circumstances. What are those? Pivotal circumstances are those significant moments in life when we are tested in a way that allows us to see God more clearly, building our faith.

All of us face these moments. Some are good experiences, but most are heart-breaking, gut wrenching moments...situations that could threaten faith, but end up building it. Take, for example, John 11.

Jesus' dear friend, Lazarus was sick. So his sister, Martha sent word to Jesus, expecting him to come do something. But Jesus didn't. He stayed where he was, allowing Lazarus to die. Talk about a pivotal circumstance!

Why did Jesus wait? Why didn't he do something? He did it to build faith. Jesus created a pivotal circumstance to build faith. Now, 2000 year later, we’re reading the story, saying, "Is Jesus really the resurrection and the life?" Yes, he is! "Does he really have that power?" Yes, he does! "Is this true… that in the midst of all the junk of this world, we can hang onto Jesus?" Yes, you can!

When pivotal circumstances come, lean into the hand of God. You will see Him leverage these things to do something in you and through you, growing your faith.

If this is where you're living right now, let me give one suggestion. Instead of asking for circumstances to change, will you ask God to let you see Him in this? If we can see God in our pain, we won’t despair…we won’t lose faith.

Whether we like it or not, God uses pivotal circumstances to grow our faith, big.

Sneak Peek 4.5.09

2009-04-02T07:45:00.002-04:00

This week we're finishing our series, "5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith" by talking about pivotal circumstances.

What are pivotal circumstances? They are those moments in life when everything changes... when God becomes real. Sometimes they are happy times. But mostly, they are heart-breaking experiences.

We'll see that God is so interested in growing our faith that He'll even leverage the painful times of life to draw us closer to Himself.

Encouragement for Down Days

2009-04-01T07:43:00.002-04:00

Palm Sunday is a day of mixed feelings for me.

On one hand, it's a day to join again with the crowds that cried out, "Hosanna!". But, on the other, it reminds me that my sin also adds the the cries of, "Crucify Him!"

The reality is that walking with Jesus is not always an easy stroll down the garden path with people enjoying your presence. Sometimes it includes suffering, with people actively working to harm you. And when those days come, I find Psalm 56 very helpful. I hope it helps you, too.

Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do?
They don't let up—they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse. They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me.
Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people!
You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.
If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side.
I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God. Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?
God, you did everything you promised, and I'm thanking you with all my heart. You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom. Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life.

One of My Favorite Things

2009-03-31T16:25:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite things is throwing baseball in the back yard. It's a simple pleasure, I know. But it's one that I look forward to every chance I get. That's probably because it reminds me of my own childhood.

Every day, my father would get home at the same time. And every day, he'd find me waiting for him, ball in hand. I can still see him coming up the brick walkway, setting down his black briefcase, loosening his tie, taking off his watch and putting it in his pocket, and slipping on his glove for a catch.

Now, I'm the dad. It's a beautiful day. I think I'll go home and see if my sons would like to have a catch.

Sunday Rewind 3.29.09

2009-03-30T09:26:00.002-04:00

Throughout the Season of Lent, we are exploring "5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith". So far, we've looked at practical teaching, providential relationships, and private disciplines. This week we talked about a tension everyone who walks with God experiences at some time in their journey.

At some point, God is going to allow you to see a need which creates a heavy burden in your heart. You know something needs to be done. You talk with God about it, pleading for Him to intervene. That's when things take an unexpected turn. Instead of somebody else stepping up, God whispers in your ear "You do something".

Matthew 14:13-33 is a perfect example of this. The disciples didn't know how to feed more than 5,000 people. So they asked Jesus to send them away. Instead, Jesus said, "You feed them." Huh? How do you feed 5,000 people on just enough food for 13? Simple... You do what you can do, trusting God to do what only He can do.

So the disciples started giving away what they had. And when it was over, they had 12 baskets of leftovers. Why? Because the disciples were great caterers? NO! They just did what they could do, while Jesus did what only He could do.

A little later, the disciples were in a boat, on a stormy sea, going nowhere. Jesus shows up, walking on the water, and apparently Peter has an insight. He connects what happened on shore with what's happening now. He figures that if Jesus invites him to do something, all he has to do is do what he can do, trusting Jesus to do what only He can do.

So he asks Jesus to invite him out of the boat. What a daring prayer! "God, invite me out of the boat." I don't know how to walk on water. But I know how to get out of a boat...I know how to walk...and I'll trust You with the rest.

Here’s the bottom line: at some point in your journey, God is going to say to you, “Do something about that”. Then you’ll have a decision to make. Will you do what you can, trusting God to do what only He can do?

Where is God nudging you? What’s the pulling you’ve been dodging?

This isn't about recruiting, it's about your faith. God wants to have an intimate relationship with you, and He's asking you to step out of the boat as an exercise of faith. Will you do what you can do, trusting God to do what only he can do?

If you do, you’ll experience God in a brand new way. If you don’t, you will never know what God might have done through you if you had said yes.

Will you do what you can do and allow God to do what only he can do?

Which Way?

2009-03-18T08:38:00.002-04:00

Spiritual leadership is a difficult thing. Often, I find myself placed in a situation where I'm asked to make decisions I don't feel equipped to make. Frankly, I don't know what the right answer is, sometimes. When those times come, it’s tempting to shift into a pattern of just doing what most people want.

The problem is that spiritual leadership is not representative democracy. Sometimes the direction God is leading us is resisted strongly by God’s people. That's when it gets really tough. And when that happens, it’s easy to identify with David’s words in Psalm 143:

Listen, Lord, as I pray! You are faithful and honest and will answer my prayer. I am your servant. Don’t try me in your court, because no one is innocent by your standards. My enemies are chasing me, crushing me in the ground. I am in total darkness, like someone long dead. I have given up all hope, and I feel numb all over.

Have you ever been there? Stuck between a rock and a hard place...feeling like you're wrong, no matter what you do? I have. So what do you do about it? What do we do when we find ourselves having to make a decision we don't feel equipped to make, especially when the answer we're giving is really unpopular? Let me read David’s solution to the problem:

I remember to think about the many things you did in years gone by. Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you. Please hurry, Lord, and answer my prayer. I feel hopeless. Don’t turn away and leave me here to die. Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. Please rescue me from my enemies, Lord! I come to you for safety. You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.

I've learned that the voice I need to hear most is God's. It's more important then listening to the congregation...more important than listening to experts...more important than anything else.

Oh, and, by the way, I’ve also found that when I’m faithful in spending that time with God, my ability to make decisions improves significantly. Go figure!

Sunday Rewind 3.15.09

2009-03-15T20:56:00.003-04:00

Who is someone you believe God has used to grow your faith? Maybe it was a conversation, and experience, or maybe it was just the way they lived their life. I'll be it wouldn't take you long to create a list of people. That's because our relationships with people impact our faith in God.

Parents quickly learn about the impact of people on their kids. But this lesson isn't just for our kids, it's true for all of us. Take, for example, what God's Word says, "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20).

We know this is true. But what do we do about it? Let me suggest two parts to that answer:

Some of us need to be a little more intentional about connecting with people. I know that requires risk, but if you take the risk, very often the people you come in contact with often become providential relationships that God uses to grow your faith.
Some of us need to become more available for God to use as a providential relationship. Often providential relationships begin with very awkward moments, but if we'll be bold enough to be willing to have a hard conversation, we make ourselves available for God to use in a powerful way.

A Day With the Family

2009-03-14T13:03:00.002-04:00

Today, I'm spending the day with my family.

This morning, I worked on an Eagle Scout project with my older son. He is part of a great troop of boys who work well together to help each other out. Today's project was doing some mulching around benches on the Rail to Trail in our area. I am proud of him for volunteering to help.

This afternoon, I'm going to help my younger son brush up on his baseball skills. It's been a couple years since he's played, and has a tryout coming up for Little League. So, it's off to his "field of dream" to do some fielding, throwing and batting.

Then it's time for haircuts. It's been over a month since the last time, and it really shows. I'm not looking forward to that. The boys hate it and I'm not a big fan. But it's better than paying a barber to do what I can do myself.

Finally, tonight, we'll watch the greatest chihuahua movie of all time. But first, I better take a look at tomorrow's sermon.

Home Again

2009-03-13T08:58:00.002-04:00

It's 9:00 am on Friday morning. I'm back in Shippensburg, but my head is in a jet-lagged blur. So many things happened in the last 10 days that it will take some time to process my experience. But I thought I'd at least share some highlights of my trip to the Netherlands.

I met some really wonderful people. From the staff of Atlantic Bridge, to local pastors and teachers, to waiters, store clerks, and peope on the street, the people I met are the greatest highlight of the trip.
I saw some beautiful sights. The Netherlands is a beautifully flat country of farms, medieval towns, modern cities and lots of water. Oh...and a few windmills, too.
I was stretched. I love my country, but our way of doing things is not always the best way. People all over the world have some really good ideas.
I saw huge potential for ministry. For the last 6 years, we have been sending people to do work projects. But there is so much more than can be done, if we are willing to open our eyes to new ideas and take some risks.

I am grateful to the people of Prince Street Church for enabling this trip, and especially to Wayne, Pat, and Steve for their companionship. And I look forward to seeing where things lead as we seek God's face together.

Sunday Rewind 03.01.09

2009-03-01T14:15:00.002-05:00

God wants all of us to have big faith, and He's actively in the process of making that happen. One of the things He uses to grow our faith is practical biblical teaching. Take, for example, the way Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-29). This wonderful story includes a promise and a warning.

The promise is simply this...if you apply what you learn from God's Word, your life will withstand the storms of life. The warning is simple, too...if you only hear what God's Word says, your life will crash and burn.

Jesus' lesson couldn't be more clear. Still, for some reason, we've allowed ourselves to buy the lie that you get credit for just showing up...that learning more stuff makes us a disciple. But it doesn't.

Knowing more does nothing. Doing something about it is what makes the difference.

There’s value in quiet contemplation. But somewhere in our lives, we need to be exposed to people who are brave enough to make us mad, or guilty, or ashamed or something, so that we will become something different.

That's why it's so important to put yourself in environments where the Bible is taught in ways that go beyond information. Demand it of my. Demand it of your class leaders. Demand it of the people teaching your children.

What foundation are you building your life on?

If you do nothing but hear what God says, and does nothing about it. you’re like a person who builds his house on a foundation that will not survive a storm. Iit may look perfect for a short period of time, but it’s going to crumble.

You have to put yourself in environments where God’s word is taught in personal, applicable way because the storms are coming. The streams will rise. The wind will blow and beat against your house. And when it that happens your house will stand because it’s build on a strong foundation.

At the end of the day, it’s obedience that makes all the difference.

Sneak Peek 02.26.09

2009-02-26T11:29:00.002-05:00

God wants all of us to have big faith, and He's actively in the process of making that happen. Throughout the Lenten season, we're exploring "5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith". This week we're looking at how God uses practical biblical teaching to produce huge faith. See you Sunday!

Don't Argue, Go!

2009-02-25T09:06:00.003-05:00

It's been a little while since I've written about my devotional times. You remember what that means, right?

This morning, I was reading Acts 9. It's the story of Paul's "enlightenment" on the road to Damascus. But it wasn't God's conversation with Paul that struck me. It was His conversation with Ananias that got my attention.

God gave Ananias clear and simple instructions. "Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He's there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again."

That sounded like craziness to Ananias. So he did what most of us would do. Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."

I can relate with Ananias. There are times in my life when what God wants me to do and what I want to do are two very different things. Times when I protest God's clear directions. It's in those moments I need to remember how God responded to Ananias.

"Don't argue. Go!"

God, grant me the grace to go instead of arguing. Amen.

Facebook Fast

2009-02-24T10:17:00.002-05:00

Lent begins tomorrow. That means I have a choice to make. I can just treat the next 5 weeks as any other. Or, I can reclaim the discipline of using Lent as a season of reflection/repentance and preparation for the celebration of resurrection on Easter Day. I've chosen the latter.

That decision means I will need to find a way to increase the time I spend alone with God. And the only way that's going to happen is to stop doing something else. That's right...a fast. But what? What can I choose to stop doing that will both give me increased time AND remind me to get alone with God?

I've decided that this year, I'm going to fast from Facebook. That may not sound very spiritual. It may even seem wrong (withdrawing from people). But here's what I know. I typically spend 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times per day on Facebook. That's exactly the kind of periodic reminder that will help me. So, I'm logging off Facebook and turning off all email notifications of activity.

I'll see you all in the season of Easter!

Sunday Rewind 02.22.09

2009-02-22T20:37:00.001-05:00

Take a moment and do some imagining with me.

Imagine that you had absolute confidence that God knows your name and is always with you. Bad things happening? No problem, God has it under control. Great things happening? No big deal, it's just another blessing from God. Temptation isn't a problem because God is greater than temptation.

Imagine if that were your experience. Wouldn’t that be nice?. OK, imagination time is over. It's time for some reality.

That is exactly where God wants to take you. God wants you to have big faith. Want to see what that looks like? Check out the story of the Centurian in Matthew 8:1-10.

This Roman officer knows what it is to be a man under authority. He knows people obey him because of his connection with Rome. Somehow, he has noticed that Jesus is also a man of authority. But His power doesn't come from Rome, it comes for God. That why he knows that if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed.

That's faith. In fact, it's such a powerful expression of faith that even Jesus is impressed. It's also the kind of faith He wants to see in His people.

So, if God wants to build my faith, how does he do that? That’s what we’re going to be looking at over the next several weeks. We're looking at "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith. They include:

Practical Teaching
Providential Relationships
Private Disciplines
Personal Ministry
Pivotal Circumstances

Imagine having perfect faith. That’s where you want to be. That’s where I want you to be. That’s where God wants you to be.

Sneak Peek 02.20.09

2009-02-20T09:15:00.002-05:00

Take a moment and do some imagining with me.

Imagine what your life would be like if you had perfect faith. Imagine that you had absolute confidence that God knows your name and is always with you. Bad things happening? No problem, God has it under control. Great things happening? No big deal, it's just another blessing from God. Temptation isn't a problem because God is greater than temptation.

Imagine if that were your experience. Wouldn’t that be nice?. OK, imagination time is over. It's time for some reality.

That is where God wants to take you. God wants you to have big faith. And beginning this Sunday, we're going to look at "5 Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith".

Simple Joys

2009-02-17T13:19:00.003-05:00

Too often, I fail to recognize some simple joys for the great blessing that they are. The most recent example is our kitchen table.

For our family, the kitchen table is the place where we do life together. Of course, we eat there. But we also talk, do homework, play games and many other things at our kitchen table.

For the last several weeks, our kitchen table has held the contents of several of our cabinets as they are being painted. Since we don't have a dining rome, we've been standing at the counter to eat our meals.

But last night, we finally cleared the table and ate a meal together. What a simple joy! I'm grateful for the new look our kitchen is taking on. But I'm even more grateful for those moments of family gathered around the table.

Sunday Rewind 2.16.09

2009-02-16T08:20:00.002-05:00

Today, you're alive. One day, that won’t be true. And when that day comes, the only thing that will last is what we’ve done for the glory of God and what we’ve invested in other people. So let me ask an uncomfortable question…When you die, what legacy will you leave in the lives of others?

I have been blessed to have a string of people who have invested in me. That list includes Sunday School teachers, college professors, fellow pastors, and many others. I am who I am today, largely because these people, and many others invested in my life.

What legacy are you leaving in the lives of others? Yesterday, we wrapped up our series on Philemon with two simple lessons to empower others in the Kingdom of God.

Believe in people. Paul could have looked at Onesimus like everyone else. But when others saw a thieving, runaway slave, Paul saw Kingdom potential. Do you want to leave a legacy in the lives of others? Look for the potential. Believe in people.
Take risks on people. Paul took a huge risk with Onesimus. He put his name, his reputation, and his own resources on the line. Most of us are where we are because somone took a risk on us. Do you want to leave a legacy in the lives of others? Take risks on people.

Sneak Peek 02.12.09

2009-02-12T17:21:00.002-05:00

If you're reading this, your condition is temporary. Right now, you are alive. But one day, that won’t be true. And when that day comes, the only thing that will matter is what you’ve done for the glory of God and what you’ve invested in other people.

This week, we're concluding our study of Philemon by asking an uncomfortable question, "When you die, what legacy will you leave?"

What's in it for me?

2009-02-11T07:37:00.002-05:00

It seems that lots of people want a hand-out these days. Banks...car manufacturers...the list goes on and on. In this environment, fighting the urge to feel that I "deserve" something is getting increasingly difficult.

Then I turn to God's Word. There, I'm reminded that I don't want what I "deserve". I'm reminded that my provision has nothing to do with government bailouts. I'm reminded that my reward has nothing to do with anything in this world.

Instead, I've been given the incredible gift of God's grace. My provider is God, the One who made, owns, and sustains every resource both visible and invisible. And my reward is Christ. Therefore...

I'm asking God for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I'll contemplate his beauty;
I'll study at his feet.

That's the only quiet, secure place
in a noisy world,
The perfect getaway,
far from the buzz of traffic.
(Psalm 27:4-5)

Sunday Rewind

2009-02-08T14:12:00.003-05:00

Today was week 2 of our series called “Changed”, a study of the book of Philemon. Last week we studied the changed life that Onesimus experienced when he came to faith in Christ. Today, we looked at how God wants to change our thought processes. If we look at thing from God's perspective, everything changes.

In my sneak peek, I shared a card trick with you. To remind you, here it is again:

I promised to show you how it's done. And promised that when you saw the solution, everything would change. I'm a man of my word. So, here's the big reveal:

When we see things from God's perspective, he allows us to see:

the good through the bad. There's a lot of pain and trouble in this world. But God's goodness is all around us. The problem is that many of us are so locked into the bad that we can't see God's goodness. But, God’s perspective allows you to see things that were always there, but you never saw before.
the purpose through the pain. Do you remember, "Formerly, but now"? Some of us are in the “formerly”. The "but now" hasn’t come, yet. If that's you, learn to ask a different question. Instead of asking “Why?” ask “What?” God, What do you want to show me…what do you want me to do…what do you want me to see. Those are the questions that will help you see the purpose through the pain.