Manic Monday: Focus

June 6, 2011 · 2 Comments ·

1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed ; Do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed ; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD ; Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation ; For You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions ; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD ; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will abide in prosperity, And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.
15 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged ; Bring me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins.
19 Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all his troubles.

~Psalm 25

Looking for home…

June 2, 2011June 2, 2011 · 1 Comment ·

Greatness is forged in adversity and the only substance it cares about is character. Adversity purifies character. It makes it shine. This is the development of Christ likeness. We too often find ourselves in the “prosperity gospel.” It is a false notion that if things are going well, then God must be pleased. Life isn’t saved and easy, it’s saved and hard.

We too often forget there are brothers and sisters in Christ who daily wonder if today is the day they may earn the martyr’s crown. Are they any less godly from the persecution they endure? No. Nor are they any better. God developed a plan for us all. Like art, some of our lives are tragedy, others drama, action, mystery, and some comedy.

We too often forget that here is not our home.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God ; for He has prepared a city for them. ~Hebrews 11:13-16

When we meditate on stories of triumph or sacrifice we see heroes. They are not perfect people. They often have great flaws. God is in the process of shaping us. Just as He shaped them. In each of these stories we see the glimmer of the image of God. As God brings out that spark He as well as we look to the day when all things are made new.

I would suppose it is much easier to write this than to live it. I’m sure it’s much more engaging to read about it then to be in it. Perhaps we too often shy away from it. The pleasantness of here can cloud the future far greater than any discomfort can. This may not make sense, but life in a fallen world doesn’t. We look to the day when all things are new.

There are no silver bullets, no perfect formula’s, no quintessential programs. There is work, study and prayer. Such should result in a growing love for God and a passionate desire to love people. Often living godly in daily life and building opportunities to share the Gospel may seem unsexy, but there is no getting around work. We all want bling, but I find it ironic that it was in a gentle breeze that God’s presence was made known to Elijah.

There is a funny thing I’ve found about heroes. While we fawn over their stories- they are often reluctant to share them and are glad that it is over, wishing none to go through it. Still, character is evident in adversity and shows a pure product. One day the glimmer will shine brightest when we are in the City God made for us. That City will be home.

If you thirst for heaven, then its time to man up. When adversity hits you will see how far He has brought you and how far you have yet to go. Home is soon, but not yet.

To my love….

June 1, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

9 years today I married the love of my life! I love collecting songs that remind me of Kelly. Here are my top love songs…

Top love songs
1 Be thou my vision (wedding song)
2 The Other Side of Me ~MW Smith (wedding song)
3 The Way you love me ~Faith Hill
4 I want to hold your hand ~The Beatles
5 Forever and Always ~Shania Twain
6 Heaven ~Bryan Adams
7 Make Us One ~Cindy Morgan
8 Every Morning ~Basshunter
9 Every Time We Touch ~Cascada

Love you, babe!

A quote on a dynamic church…

May 31, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

A friend sent this quote by Chuck Colson to me. It got me thinking and its something we should ponder:

“I miss traveling abroad. I always returned home from visiting out partners in Third World nations invigorated, revived, and encouraged. I would often find more exciting, growing, church vitality in places like Sri Lanka or Papua New Guinea or Peru than in comfortable churches at home.

In many nations, the church is a tiny, embattled minority – and it has no superstars. So when the church wants to evangelize, for example it can’t depend on a celebrity or bring in Billy Graham for a crusade. The people do the work themselves. Which means the church functions as the church, not a bunch of observers watching someone else perform.

When we sit passively in our pews, paying some charismatic leader to entertain us and other staff people to do ministry, we do much more than miss the living dynamic of how Jesus intends His church to work in the world. When we mimic the culture around us with our pedestal complex, we offend a holy, all powerful God, the most grievous consequence of all.

Of course we should respect those who are invested with spiritual authority. That’s biblical. But there’s a difference between respect and adulation. With the latter, we are always in danger of stepping over the line giving glory to man rather than God.

It’s easy to see how the world’s fascination with fame has snuck into our tents and sapped our effectiveness. Yet this attitude runs absolutely contrary to that which Christ modeled when He, the King of the universe, came to live among us as a suffering servant.”

P. 334-335 Being the Body by Chuck Colson.

Manic Monday: Lovin the military!

May 30, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

Given the justice brought to a certain terrorist who is sleeping among the fishes, this memorial day seems more special. Times of war are always controversial in US history. Hard decisions are called hard decisions for a reason. Sacrifice is called sacrifice for a reason. The military shows us the best of man in the darkest of times: Sacrifice for the joy of freedom.

Thanks for serving!

But if you do what is evil, be afraid ; for [government] does not bear the sword for nothing ; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Romans 3:4b

Why not Wednesday? Play outside

May 25, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

Sometimes you just need to get outside and play. This helps clear your head, think right and enjoy the gift of life.

Manic Monday: Enjoying life or idol?

May 23, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

The Bible days all things are lawful, but we’re also to be mastered by nothing. Idols are specifically false gods. Sometimes it isn’t idols but other things in life that distract us from what’s most important.

The Bible also teaches us to enjoy life as a gift from God. Life brings many joys and things that bring out nuances of it. We often fear enjoying something, that it may be an ‘idol.’ Fear isn’t acting in faith. If doing something violates your conscience then stop it.

But what if that thing in life is a platform to connect with others? We love to share with others what we love. Perhaps God wired in you to love something to give you opportunity to connect with someone else you normally wouldn’t. I’m not talking about rushing the Gospel, but building a genuine relationship around something you love. From that relationship, then God may give you boldness to share your hope in the Gospel, and still enjoy your passion.

(especially on Monday)

Lynx & Stuff

May 20, 2011September 15, 2011 · Leave a comment ·

A change in publishing on the horizon…
http://www.cfpublishinggroup.com/

Online diagramming tool
http://www.diagram.ly/

Throwing religion under the bus… sigh.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/19/my-take-doomsdayers-show-what%E2%80%99s-wrong-with-all-religion/

Comparing the HCSB with other translations
http://hcsb.org/translation-comparison.aspx

Info on the Twitter hash tag
http://www.techforluddites.com/2009/02/the-twitter-hash-tag-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-use-it.html

Christian conference junkies…
http://theresurgence.com/2011/05/16/the-crisis-of-conference-christians

Interesting discussion on hip-hop & education
http://vimeo.com/22591307

Design inspiration
http://mashable.com/2011/05/15/web-design-inspiration/

Manic Monday: Slow times

May 16, 2011 · 1 Comment ·

Kelly and I had the joy of serving in the normally crazy full nursery Sunday. It was quiet. Just a few kids. Scary. We waited for kids to drop from the ceiling and yell SURPRISE, but no such ambush occurred. Quiet and slow times are good. You need them.

When I worked at a Buick dealership as a teenager and college student I remembered a phrase often said. I told myself I needed to remember it. I didn’t. Now I did.

“Slow times are training times.”

When things are slow you have opportunity to work extra on things you normally wouldn’t have time for in the normal business of life and especially hectic business of life.

In slow times you can: Play, prep, train, clean, experiment, connect, network, catch your breath, and/or prepare the ground for rain. (In Seattle that would be prepare yourself for Sun.)

Use the slow times to your advantage. God knows we need them.

(especially on Monday)