Here it is...

Ok...so let's do this thing for real. I know many New Year's "resolutions" are made from false motives or vain ambitions so Im not making any! What I am going to start is living up to the man God wants me to be. I am going to take better care of myself, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and philosophically. Perhaps I need to elaborate, not for you but for my own understanding as I spout this stuff from my keyboard whilst listening to the 90's station on Pandora! ;)

First, physically, I am changing my habits to better reflect the intent God has for my life. As of this morning, I weighed in at 260! There...it's out there. This is the most I have weighed since high school and now its going to change. I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. (Cliche' but true) I am going to need some help in this so I implore YOU to help me.

Second, Spiritually...again, changing my habits to allow for growth. Reading the books that I have wanted to for a long time...Mere Christianity, Entire Narnia Series, Dante's Inferno (for the cynical side of me), works of Augustine, Origin, Plato, Socrates (pronounced So-crates for all you Bill and Ted's fans) as well as some leadership books...feel free to suggest some good ones.

Third, I feel pretty good emotionally as I know that everything sort of flows out of the first two.

Finally, really exploring the hard Theological questions that I have wrestled with for the past 12 years, drawing some conclusions, and keeping them to myself. This way I can avoid the onslaught of bickering and judgement that often comes with forming conclusions that accomplishes nothing and pushes people further away from what I think God intended for our lives.

The outlook for 2012 looks good and I intend to make the most of it. How bout you?

Shalom...

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Vacation

So it's been a while since I have written anything...I am currently sitting on the beach enjoying a much needed vacation after a long summer of planning for the fall and lots of busy weeks of camp. I know that it was worth it and relationships with lots of kids were deepened with Jesus, but I have mixed feelings about being out of the office for that many weeks. Part of me enjoys the break in the monotony while another part of me feels as if I should be busy doing other things. Worse yet, why is it that us within the ministry profession feel as if we are neglecting our ministry if we take a short break or vacation? Is that an honest assessment? Anyone else feel that way? Sometimes I wonder if we feel that way because of the burden on our hearts to see people's relationship with Jesus deepened, or if it's because we find ourselves working too hard at the wrong kinds of things.
One of my goals when I get back in the office (after cleaning it from top to bottom) is reevaluate my schedule to better accomplish the relational style of ministry Jesus!
On a side note...I have been reading Shane Hipps book about the hidden power of electronic media on our culture. GREAT BOOK! I highly recommend it...
Till next time...

Shalom


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ReThiNk and ReNeW!!!

Commitment: defined as the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself. I sometimes wonder why it is that people have such a problem with it. I was reading in the paper today about Law Day (a day when legal professionals get out of their offices to engage in services that aren't usually on their agendas). They helped clean up a delapidated property by giving of themselves for a greater cause!
They got their hands dirty.  I wonder if people understand the greater cause of Christ...it seems like we go around living in fear of what might happen if we actually got busy. Or we live in denial thinking we couldn't possibly make a difference. Cancer Walks, Benifit Poker Runs, Community Watch, Law Day...all great causes! And I believe God works through those causes through the passions of the people He created, but the greater message of Christ is not some abstract concept to be merely talked about, rather, it's a practical one as well. A cause that brings a message of hope and love to a world that can't seem to cope with themselves; a cause that listens as an overwhelmed mother struggles to raise her kids alone; a cause that makes people feel valued and loved and appreciated; a cause that gives a teenager hope and guidance to make the right choices and feel accepted. This is the greater cause of Christ, not to be saved from hell in the hereafter, but to experience Heaven right here where we are, through our daily walk and lifestyle. Why would we not want to commit, to pledge ourselves publically, to engage ourselves with a body of believers who share the same passion to work to see the cause grow? Membership with a local Church is not about a formality so you have your name on some roster (or withdrawl it from another one), it's about getting busy doing Kingdom work and declaring to everyone else that, you too, share the same passion that the message and work of Christ can bring hope and love to a hurting world who needs Him.

Commitment: sitting on the sidelines, doing something only once in a while, saying "but what about me?", Baptism? Really? nahhh, not for me.

I Challange all of us to reThink and reNew ourselves...

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To serve and protect...

I often find myself protecting kids from themselves and then wonder...why didn't I listen to the adults around me when I did stupid stuff. Oh, wait...there were no adults around me who pulled me aside and told me what an idiot I was. I know it is tough to have frank conversations with our kids, but I think about my own life and wonder if I would have made the same mistakes if SOMEONE had pulled me aside to knock some sense into me.
My own significant changes did not begin to happen until a man came into my life to do just that. His name is Craig Atkins. He was not just my boss, but an elder in the church at the time (and more importantly, a Father when I needed one most). I will never forget the morning I overslept and was late for work on a Monday morning (after being told that if I was late again to just stay home), and after oversleeping the previous day and neglecting my duties as a Sunday School teacher for the 3rd - 5th grade class...this man, this father, this mentor pulled me aside and gave me a stern word of wisdom. Essentially he told me to MAN UP!! He made it very clear that my actions would have consequences yet was gentle enough to encourage me all at the same time.
I have not, nor will I ever forget that day! That was the BIG ahhaaaa moment that helped the adolecent boy become a Man of God.
I don't have a problem having those tough conversations with teens now because I remember how beneficial it was to me!!! I am called to serve and protect...

Thanks Craig!!!

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My own mortality

Many things go through my mind this birthday season (mine was Wednesday, Isaiah's is today, Andrea's is the 7th)...first, I think about how my life will leave an impression on my family and the Church. I have officially outlived my father...he died three months before turning 36...and I remember the day, when Isaiah was two, that I had spent more time with him than my father had spent with me. I also vividly recall the birth of Joshua when I had brought one more child into the world than my father was afforded to do. I remember growing up without a father and envying the kids who had one. I also remember feeling comforted by my mother who taught me perseverence every time she paid the bills with one income. With everything I have experienced in my short 36 years on this soggy rock, I know my life will count for something. I am determined to be a good daddy. I am determined to be a good husband. I am resolved to be a man after God's heart yet I am reminded of my own mortality. I know I have lived almost half my life at this point and still have much to learn.
Second, I think about my savior as it is Good Friday and what must have gone through his mind as he wondered if the cup could be removed from him. His own mortality was imminent and his life changed humanity.
My life was changed as well. This kid, who grew from a fatherless family to being the father of one, was changed by the love of the Father for his children by the mystery of allowing his own son to be the sacrifice for missing the mark.
Today, I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my church.
I love my God!

I am...no longer mortal but eternal!

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