Heros

I've been working this week on the SWAT team material for our next sermon series..."Old School Good Guys". We'll be spending the next month looking at some Old Testament heros. Caleb and I have been talking a lot about David and Goliath this week...it's been a lot of fun.

One of the things I love about the Bible is it doesn't gloss over the failures and weaknesses of it's heroic figures. You think about a guy like David....a man after God's own heart....but in times he left his heart unguarded...an adulter and murderer. Or what about Samson....incredible strength and gifting from God...but could not control himself. Jonah...an unlikely hero.

Here's the "aha"for me. First, I want to be my kid's hero....but that doesn't mean I have to be perfect...or to try to hide my weaknesses from them. Just like I am learning from the great steps of faith....and the missteps of failures made by my Old Testament heros...I want my kids to learn from mine. (Note....that will require being honest and sharing those hard stories with them) Second, it encourages me to have more grace with people. God uses people who have done major boneheaded things! As a matter of fact, it seems they may be His favorite folks to use. Maybe it's because our big failures create the humility and transparency required for Him to receive all the glory.

So, don't count yourself out of being a hero of the faith yet!

Get Happy

I read an article in Reader's Digest this week called "Why We're Happy". It's basically a study of the key indicators showing if a person will be happy. Here are the biggest predictors they found:
1.) Faith (Gather!)
2.) Work (Go!)
3.) Marriage and Family
4.) Charity (Give!)
5.) Freedom - this included economic and political...but ironically they found where freedom from moral standards increased, happiness decreased (Grow!)
God knows what we need. Feeling down this week....Give something away, find believers to get together with and encourage each other in your faith, hug your wife and kids, find purpose in the work God has given you to do, celebrate your freedom! Have a happy week!!!

A "no excuses" person in a "not my fault" world

Never teach anything to your kids that you don't want to have to live up to! They will remind you...

I heard this statement on the radio: "being a no excuses person in a not my fault world". I loved it and after our SWAT team last week I started sharing it with my son, Caleb. Here's the verse that brought it back to my mind in SWAT team: 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life" Phil 2: 14-16.

The context of this instruction comes right after an explanation of how Jesus....being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be held onto...but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant. Here's where most of my complaining and arguing comes from....I'm trying to hold onto something I think I am or should be....and trying to make sure my "rights" are not violated. So, I've been trying this "stop complaining" thing; and it does definately stand in contrast to how the world does things. Want to amp up the effectiveness of your witness? Try to complain and argue less....and you'll shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life!

Dunkin' doo-dah

(Note: When Caleb was younger, our nickname for him was Doo-dah. His cousin still calls him that)

I'm so excited about this Sunday afternoon. It's special in that it is the first Baptism for COC...our church plant, but even more special that I will get to baptize my own son. How cool is that? As a matter of fact...we'll be baptising 9 people on Sunday. That really makes all of the loading/unloading trailers, and setting up an elementary cafeteria worth it.
I'm very grateful this week for a long list of people who gave of their time, talents, and treasures to make sure my son....and others like him... had a chance to hear and respond to the Gospel.

• Pastor Brad and Sarah - for having vision for a church plant on 380 and the faith to go for it
• Pastor Dane and Mandy - for being the best Children's pastors ever! (and my favorites!)
• Jerry and Ronda Brawner - for all the work you put into getting us set up every week so that there are no distractions to hearing the word of God preached
• Randy and Shannon Rich - for putting in hours on making our media sharp and for helping out with the Children's ministry. (and noticing if I forget to blog!)
• Eric and Tasha Wrona - for loving our kids like their own (they think they're related to your kids anyway) and leading our SWAT teams. They way you get the kids to interact with truth is amazing
• Brad and Lauren Zwaska - for leading the Providence SWAT and faithfully proclaiming the truth.
• The people of COC who love our kids and set an example of service and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

We're blessed....and grateful to be doing life with you guys!

Life Comes at you fast

It's been one of those weeks for me. One of the hard things about being involved in Christian community is that if we do it right....we end up carrying each other's burdens....and sometimes its amazing the things folks are carrying. Just this week....I've talked to believers whose marriages are hanging on by a thread, whose finances appear to be one step away from losing it all, whose health is failing, who just received devastating news, and whose jobs are in jeopardy. It really does rain on the just and the unjust.
I remember this phrase I heard a lot as a child about saving "for a rainy day". As I watched people around me go through stuff this week and the different ways they handled all life handed them....it became evident who had been spiritually "saving up for a rainy day" and who had not. I'm amazed at how we run to God when it's all falling apart...and then wonder why He seems so silent. There is a strength and confidence that is built in a child of God who has learned to listen to His leading and is armed with His word that gives us peace in the storm.
So what? Well, if it's raining in your world right now....take a step back and see what God has done in your life, count your blessings, and run to His word. If it's sunny....turn to Him, learn to listen to Him, and prepare...it's likely rainy days are coming. Life comes at you fast.....

Do you swear to listen to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

So, I've decided to pursue peace. Here's a snapshot of my life right now: new job that I am learning with limited training and feeling somewhat inadequate for, new baby on the way that I don't know how I'll afford, house on the market that we just found out is 200 square feet smaller that we bought it at, Mer overwhelmed with her workload in the embroidery business right now, and I'm having trouble finding time to get everything done. (Note...I'm so grateful and excited to have my new job and that we're having a baby....it's just all overwhelming right now)
I think the biggest enemy of peace for me is fear. Fear that I won't measure up, fear that we won't have enough money, fear that I'll disappoint those I love and that are counting on me. I'm realizing today how those fears get a hold of me. One hint....the devil is called the Father of Lies for a reason.
So, how will I pursue peace? "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. ....And the God of peace will be with you." (Phil 4) I gotta change who I'm listening to! I'll take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. From this day forward, I swear to listen to and think about the truth........you know the rest.

Disconnecting.....to connect

I'm blogging kind of late in the week because I've had some internet issues this week. Iit's amazing how much you realize you've become dependant on that thing when it's gone for a while. Without email, up to the minute news feeds and blogs...how in the world are we supposed to keep up?

But something wierd happened on Sunday without the internet. Since I didn't wake up on Sunday morning able to work on my "to do" list online, I had more time to relax....and in doing that, to connect with God and with my family. It was really cool.

Then, on Monday I hear a sermon on the radio. It's about the 6:1 ratio. God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Then He gave us the Sabbath as a day of rest.

I just finished our SWAT guides this week. We're in week 5 of the Home Repo series.....the master bathroom. It's fitting that it's on Mother's Day, don't you think? It is all about how to rest, relax and reflect....and enjoy the peace that knowing God brings to our lives.

Seems like God is trying to tell me something. Something like "Martha, you are busy and concened with many things. But Mary has chosen what is better....and it won't be taken away from her." (Check out Luke 10 for the whole dialogue).

Maybe in our day and time, it would go something like this.....close the laptop, turn off the cellphone and come away with me for a while. Enjoy the 6:1 ratio you were meant to live in!