Reflections

Weekend Reflections:
-Good to see family this weekend
-Kelsey sure makes AMAZING pies!!
-Fun games of ping-pong with my kids and nephews/niece
-Went through family picture albums...oh the memories!!
-Good to see A LOT of family back home!!
-Chloe is doing a project on the family tree on my mom's side of the family...interesting stuff!
-Major accident on the toll road...traffic was stopped for quite some time...did a U-turn to get out of it...
-HORRIBLE weather on the trip to Ohio...rained the whole way
-The kids do soooooo well traveling now...next year? SCREAMING BABY!
-The Buckeyes AND Irish won again this week. GREAT SATURDAY!
-Sunday was REALLY good...testimonies...praying...music...MORE testimonies!
-I love services like yesterday's service...when the "message" comes from the people.
-We have amazing people at this church...I love being here!
-Looking forward to this week...good things happening!

Cool Class today

This morning I asked my students what they do for Thanksgiving...it was very cool to hear their stories...I love families! We all share our struggles and our victories...we get to see each other at our best and worst. Yet...in the best of families we continue to love each other. We learn to say we are sorry...we learn how to put ourselves to the side and focus on others. It was quite fun really to hear the stories today...all of them were a little different...yet I could see in my student's eyes their love for their families. Some of them come from pretty rough backgrounds. I sure wish that I could just take them home with me...and allow them to jump in with our family. I pray for those kids...really love those kids! Praying for God to continue to use me in their lives. Good morning today...looking forward to seeing my family tonight!

POWER!

Preached yesterday on "Stepping Back...a call to Unity!" What a MORNING! The energy in the room was good...the Spirit was moving! Jerimae led our musical worship by himself...he hasn't done that in a long, long time...it was soooo good. Candles were lit...incense burning...worship had a depth to it...My message was a challenge to our church to step back and see the big picture. I shared about my Wild @ Heart journey...about getting out of the woods and sitting on top of a mountain...how freeing it was for 2 hours to pray, read the Word and journal on the side of a mountain...and being able to see mountain...after mountain in front of me. That is a lot like what God gets to see...he gets to step back and see ALL of the past and ALL of the present AND all of the future. As I sat on that mountain I remembered...remembered what God had done and is doing...and I began to dream about the future. In the weeks after that trip, God took me on a real journey of whether or not I was in the middle of his plan for my life. The cool part is that he answered YES! And I am thankful!

I told our people again yesterday that there is no other church where I would rather raise my family that here. I love the people here...I love their heart for God and each other...How they love and want to impact their community.

I closed out the message 2x's...sounds weird, but it really worked! The challenge was to live: United in Jesus...United in trust for God and each other...United in Prayer...United in ACTION! Then we did our announcements and talked about the outreaches we are doing and then we brought in new members.

THEN THE CLOSING WAS PRICELESS!

Last week the kids used an energy ball...it is a really cool thing! If 2 people are holding the ball, but not touching each other with their other hand it will not light up...BUT when you complete the circle it lights up...So there we all stood...everyone in the auditorium grabbed hands and it lit up...UNTIL someone let go...THEN the light went out...they would grab hands again and it lit up...then someone else would let go...You get the idea!

THE POINT...if we ALL are living in Unity with Jesus Christ...diving deep into his Word...if we ALL are United in PRAYER...seeking GOD...begging him to work in the our lives and the lives of others...if we ALL are UNITED in TRUST...trusting God and each other...AND we are UNITED in ACTION...BEING Christ to each other and our community...JUST IMAGINE WHAT GOD WILL DO THROUGH US...BUT...the key word here is ALL! WE NEED EVERYONE! EVERYONE! EVERYONE! And when that happens...only God knows what can be accomplished for HIS sake! Ummm....THAT is something I want to be a part of!!!!

Steppin' Back...

This afternoon I have been prepping for my message on Sunday. God has been prepping this message in me for a little over a month...each step of the past month has cleared the pathway for what he has stirred in my heart...Sunday we will be talking about "Steppin' Back...a Call to Unity."

I just took a break from my prep and hit a couple of blogs...one being Mark Beeson's blog...he is the pastor of Granger Community Church. I read his blog about 1x a quarter...and today was the day! He had to very provoking quotes...On from Scripture and the other from a church leader...

The Scripture...
Jeremiah 6:16 - This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

Alan Hirsh Quote:

Alan Hirsch was quietly prophetic with his sober challenge to the gathered crowd. During the final session of the AND Conference Alan said:
"My passion is for the Church in the west. In Europe the lights are going out on the Church. Unless something miraculous happens, you'll see the light of the Church in Europe go out. So it will either happen in America, or it is not going to happen. The battle is won or lost here. I've bet my life on that. I've bet my movement on it. I trust the Americans will get it, shrink rap it, and deliver it to the rest of the world."
Anyone up for the challenge? The world is waiting...
Romans 8:18 - I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next.

Tuesday Night

Tuesdays saved me this year...not physically... but spiritually and emotionally. I meet with 2 different groups of guys on Tuesday nights...3 guys in the afternoon and 4 in the evening. One of the groups has been going through a book...Radical...and the other is studying Ephesians and Colossians. THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN UNBELIEVABLE!

When our groups first started meeting a while back, I left the discussions EXHAUSTED...spiritually and emotionally exhausted. I can't explain it...except to say that a spiritual battle has been raging around me for quite some time...and it has been intense! "Meetings"...good meetings...productive meetings...usually FIRE ME UP! I live off of them! But the past months, they have drained me.

BUT...

Over the course of the last couple of months, something has changed in me...something has been re-stirred up in my heart. Something has rattled me...yet...healed me. And the men that I meet with have been a HUGE part in that. WATCHING...listening to them...experiencing God along side of them. SEEING God move in their lives. INCREDIBLE! God is changing these men AND he is changing me! It has been such amazing conversation...

THE BEST PART?

IT DOESN'T STOP ON TUESDAY'S WITH THESE GUYS! They are working to live it out every day...they mess up...BUT they are bouncing back stronger and more in love with God!

So...why has this saved me? The life change in these guys has brought a healing to my heart. I left the church building late last night after a few meeings...and every one of them charged me up even more...I realized that God has "restored my soul." My longing for him has been restored for some time...now he is restoring my longing for the church...and I have these guys to thank...because of their passion for Jesus...their questions...their victories...their lives have given me new hope for what God is doing here. And it just feels good!

Commitment

Interesting word! There are different things that we are committed too...some are stronger than others...some we may be able to back out of, while others are a lifelong commitment. I have been thinking through this, especially over the past few weeks/months. I have made several commitments in my life that are UNCHANGEABLE...

-I am a follower of Jesus Christ
-I am married to Kelsey...so long as we both shall live
-I will follow the call God has made on my life
-I will raise my children in the VERY BEST way possible
-I will be a man of my word....that my word means something...If I say that I will do it...then to the best of my ability I will do it!

The first 4 are easier for me...the last one can be a wrestling match...there are times when we have to...due to life circumstances or a calling from God...back out of a commitment. Here is the deal for though...When that happens...I promise to bath that decision in prayer...to seek out wisdom through prayer, the Word and people that I dearly trust. Why? Because our emotions lie to us! If we focus on what we "want" or how we "feel" we could make a HUGE mistake. These decisions should never be taken lightly! And then...make the decision and move forward.

Stuff

Random Stuff roaming through my mind as the week begins...
-2010 has been a tough year
-I am thankful for 2010
-I have not been this excited about the future of Grace in a long time!
-God answers prayer.
-I'm glad God listens.
-WHat I wish? That God would answer sooner sometimes!
-The journey is worth it...and we must continue to enjoy the journey
-What if...nay...I'll save this for Sunday morning!
-2011 is going to be HUGE for our church...HUGE!
-I NEVER want to be content living off of the stories of the past...I want new ones...new ones of God's faithfulness and come through power TODAY!
-MEN...PUT SELFISHNESS ASIDE AND BE THE MAN GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO BE!
-MEN...STEP UP FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
-It never stops amazing me that our church is 50% UNDER the age of 18! Happened again on Sunday!
-God has raised up some AMAZING children's workers! Simply Amazing!
-I ran 2 miles under 16 minutes Saturday...that is a new PH record! (2nd mile was 1 minute faster than my first!!)
-Jaden juggled a soccer ball 10 times last week. (Now I owe him DQ!!)
-Chloe swam a 200 BUTTERFLY at practice...BY HER OWN CHOICE! NICE!!
-We applied to school for Luke next year...wonder what will happen there?!
-Ever wonder why some people come from the worst of circumstances and make A WHOLE LOT out of their lives...while others who have every opportunity never accomplish much?
-I want to be an overcomer!
-Before I left school today I taught...Orchestra, choir and band...crazy schedule on Mondays!
-I learned something last week...I love being a pastor more than anything else in the world.
-Seeking God's wisdom on some decisions...sure wish he would make the answer so clear...so very clear
-My heart aches for people who struggle through addictions...it is soooooooo hard to walk through that...YET UNBELIEVABLY worth it
-Hey...whose responsibility is it to change your life? Husband? Wife? Mom? Dad? Children? Boss? Friend? THE RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS!!!!
-If I could do anything in the world right now, do you know what I would do? I do.
Last night...there I was...driving to pick up a prescription at Walgreens...and I flip on the radio...a verse in Hebrews was shared...cut me like a knife last night...Oh...you want the verse? I will probably be sharing that on Sunday too...so you'll just have to wait!!

Reflection

Whoa...Yesterday was another KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK service...just powerful. The message was the 6th lie of our 5 Lies of Satan message series. (You got it...our 6 of 5...THAT is how we roll!!) This one was "There is only one way to God." OH...JIM BROUGHT THE MESSAGE! It was right on...moving...clearly putting it out there...AWESOME! The time of music was just good...real good. Travis and Angie Miner with their kids have started coming to our church...INCREDIBLY gifted couple who LOVE Jesus. He has a gift for leading worship...just flowed through the service. Um....it was just good.

THEN...we ended the morning with our first "2nd Sunday Lunch." Every 2nd Sunday of the month we are bringing in food and hanging out after the service. It was REALLY, REALLY good to see people connecting. (And not just connecting with their food!!) It was very cool!

GREAT morning!!

Umm...GREAT words!

Psalm 31 GRABBED me this morning...I'll let THE WORD speak for itself...

"In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth."

When you are done reading Psalm 31...CHECK OUT chapter 30...GREAT...GREAT words!

Respect

I have a great deal of respect for Pres. G.W. Bush...he had a VERY open and honest interview last night...he was honest about his shortcomings...about his decisions that he questions...he was straight-forward about the war...Katrina...economy...and his thoughts about Pres. Obama. I have to say I respect him even more after the interview...here was the BIGGEST issue for me...

When asked about Pres. Obama, Pres. Bush said: "President Obama has plenty of critics and I'm not going to be one of them." OH MAN! PRICELESS! Here is a man who was ATTACKED by Obama and many others throughout the campaign...criticized for the decisions he made...and now he is taking the high road. WELL DONE MR. PRESIDENT!

I'm sure that Pres. Bush has opinions...but he has also sat in Pres. Obama's chair...he knows what it is like to have millions and millions of people that you are responsible for...he has been there...I hope that he sticks to this...

It also made me think...what if those of us in the church did the same thing for our leaders? Both the leaders in our own church and other church leaders...What if we decided that we weren't going to publicly criticize their decisions....that we were going to either support or keep our mouths shut...especially if we have never had to make those decisions. WOW...

Reflections

Sunday. A day of life change for many people. Our service ended with people writing down their sins and then we burned them...took them outside to a fire pit and BURNED THEM UP! I pray with ALL THAT IS IN ME that people left those sins...addictions...struggles right there...that they allowed God to move in with his grace and forgiveness...that they will take RADICAL steps of life change!! POWERFUL Morning!!

All things...

"All things..." not some things...not a few things..."And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

For too long I believed that "good" meant happiness...and that it had to happen here on earth...But I think that sometimes we won't see how it worked to the good until we get to heaven...sometimes it is something that happens within us...a strengthening of our faith. Whenever it happens...the bottom line for me is...HOPE! This verse is 100% about hope!!

Argh...Technology!

Nothing frustrates a good plan like technology!! This afternoon was one of those days for me...I had my afternoon planned out...lunch...then head to the office...I had my to do list for the day ready to go...including wrap up a couple things for the service on Sunday (OH IT IS GOING TO BE POWERFUL!!!!) and work on Kidzone stuff. BUT...I got a curve ball when I went to check my email. I couldn't check it...nothing there. Doesn't sound like a big deal except that the plan for Kidzone was emailed to me, so I couldn't work without it!! Sooooooo...1 1/2 hours later my email worked...only I lost ALL of my incoming emails from yesterday. Oh well...I "punted" and ended up having a very productive afternoon...just not doing the things on the original to do list! ;)

Even More Scripture from Sunday...

Psalm 42: 9-11

"I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?' My bones suffer mortal agaongy as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so distrubed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."


People shared POWERFUL word from THE Word on Sunday...JUST POWERFUL!!

Soccer!

I LOVE TO COACH! And I especially love to coach my kids...nothing is more rewarding than watching a group of kids come together as a team...to see them develop their skills together. This soccer season has been fun...Luke's team is all 4 year old boys...they really got better this year. In our first 2 games this year we just got KILLED! Like 12-4...15-2...then they didn't lose for the rest of the season. The boys really learned the game...fun to watch.

Jaden's team was amazing...the boys were the most coachable kids I have ever coached. They worked hard and really enjoyed playing together. They were VERY FUN to watch...I taught them some things that I used to use with my middle school teams. VERY COOL...They went undefeated this year...excellent season...coachability goes a LONG way!!

More Scripture

A couple of more verses that were shared on Sunday...read them outloud to yourself...let the words PENETRATE your heart and mind...

Acts 20: 24..."However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."


Romans 8: 28...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Power of THE Word

The Bible has power...all it has to do is be spoken and it can penetrate hearts...that was the case at service yesterday. We had a time when people could come and share a scripture...any scripture they wanted to share...I was in tears as people read...and thinking about the people who were sharing and the stories that are behind each of those scriptures...POWER! VERY moving...

Here are a couple of the verses:


Galatians 2:20:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."


Proverbs 3: 5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

THAT was cool!

Our message on Sunday was all about the Bible...why we believe that it is 100% true...where it came from...how we got it...and then Pastor Jim ended the message with stories of people people who had given up their lives...had died...protecting the Word. It was VERY powerful...I closed the service with a challenge to dive into the Word and encouraged our people...all of us...to read through Proverbs this month. After I dismissed everyone...something happened...something that has never happened like it. People just started clapping...TRUST ME...my closing was NOT the reason...it was far from worth that...I believe it was something that was inside of each person in the room...they simply longed to respond to the message...longed to thank those that had given their lives so we could have the Word...longed to thank GOD for giving us HIS word...IT WAS POWERFUL! VERY POWERFUL!