I LOVE MY WIFE!

photo by lovelypetal


I was reading in Proverbs 5 today and it struck me again. I love my wife!

I am really looking forward to speaking on Sunday. I read Proverbs 5 today and I love the challenge to rejoice in the wife of your youth. I love my wife! I need to always be exhilerated with her love. I love my wife!! I praise God for His truth to help me keep my focus. In this sex-crazed world, remaining faithful is a challenge. But God gives us instruction for every guy (married or not). May God use His word to live life to its fullest and to enjoy marriage. I still do!

I get to officiate a wedding this weekend so I am a little nostalgic, but I praise God for working in my life and giving me a great partner for life. I am so grateful for God's help in my life so that I can experience amazing love and companionship with my wife. Did I say it already? I love my wife!

I need more faith in God

I need more faith. I read how Jesus challenged His followers who did not have the faith to heal a demon-possessed boy. In Matthew 17:14-21, you can read how Jesus scolds the disciples who did not have the faith to do great things for God. In my own life, I need to exercise greater faith.

I prayed today that we would not get rained out for Acres of Fun with the Sowing Hope children. The rain held off. God answered.

I am praying for the sale of our house in Hilliard. I need more faith to trust that God would do the seemingly impossible--sell our house today. But I trust God to do His great work so that I can testify to His greatness.

I am tired, but fulfilled. God is great! He can do anything. As my faith increases I can experience what Jesus said, "nothing will be impossible to you (verse 20)." My faith begins as a mustard seed and grows into a strong, fruitful tree. Amen!

Leading myself away from temptation

photo by designatednaphour

Pastor Bob challenged us this past Sunday to remain pure in our sexuality. As a man I need this challenge often in my life. I desire to follow God. I desire to reflect God's purity. But the culture today is sexually charged. It is saturated with sex.

In Pastor Bob's outline, the first guideline was to calculate the consequences. I was reminded of the song by DC Talk, "What if I stumble." In the lyrics of the first verse I see how challenging it is to fight sexual temptation and to win. I don't want to have only negative motivation--"don't do it because you'll get it," "What if I stumble, what if I fall? What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all? Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl? What if I stumble, and what if I fall?" But I desire to have a positive motivation--do stay pure because it's best!" "I hear you whispering my name [you say] My love for you will never change [never change]."

So, I will fight for sexual purity rather than fight with guilt after I succumb to temptation.

I especially found profound Pastor Bob's remark that "one of the most effective lies of Satan is that our sin will not cost us anything." You can not only hear the sermon, but also you can read a transcript.

You can find resources in the battle to comprehend God's standards like Stonegate. Their mission is to point people away from sexual sin to restored intimacy with God and others. He is speaking at a purity seminar in February 2009 in Grand Rapids, MI.

On the response card I added my response, "Please pray for me. I will continue to overcome temptations by choosing God's path to stand up under the temptations that assail me." May God grant me success over sexual temptations all my days.

Into the Wild

photo by gauravonomics

My year listening to God

I watched the movie with my wife at the dollar theatre a few months ago. I liked the journey that the character took. He sought solitude to find himself. Then found himself in solitude. But hunters eventually found him alone in the end. My spouse commented how depressing the movie was to her. But in my opinion, I view the ending of the movie as a challenge to engage others now during the process of trying to find yourself rather than hope to engage others after I find myself.

Jesus sought God in solitude. He tried to center himself with His own relationship with God the Father. As God the Son, Jesus wanted communion, but people got in the way.

photo by david locke

In my readings this morning, Jesus tried to get alone with God but people were along the way. In fact, the text reads, "[Jesus] left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick (Matthew 14:13-14)."

Later on, "Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone (Matthew 14:22-23)."

photo by ingorrr

If Jesus had to make time to get alone with God, then I must follow His example. It is hard to carve out time to read the Bible and to hear from God. I learned that I must set the time and the place in order to benefit from getting the time to work. When I have set the time and the place, I have been more regular with my time reading the Bible. So, I challenge you to set the time and the place to read the Bible today for tomorrow's schedule. Then watch God come to you and speak to you from His word.

Jesus went into the wild and made time with God. So too, you and I need to go into the wild and discover our true identity in God by spending time with Him. May you experience the growing insights and direction from God by reading the Bible.

Alive @ Alive

photo from Alive 2008


My first experience at Alive was memorable. I took my son and his best friend. Thanks to the Wooster Grace Children's Ministries and their leaders for conducting this all-day event. Cordell Smith and Carrie Sansom were great leaders.

photo from Alive 2008

My favorite parts of the day were spending time with my group listening to testimonies and interviews by Brady Quinn and Casting Crowns. I thoroughly enjoyed the following groups: EleventySeven; Leeland, Hawk Nelson & Casting Crowns. My boys spent an hour on the lake in paddleboats while I watched, rested, and chilled on the shore; I even met a student from Akron who let me toss a frisbee with him while his friends were occupied.

You can get a sense of the spectacle of a music festival by visiting the daily blog (you can see part of our group in bright gold t-shirts on the ALIVE daily blog). Overall, it was a great day to build relationships and to conduct an all-day service project of picking up trash wherever we were.

photo by Alive 2008

Venti--Jesus, No room, please.

photo by spcummings


Youth Ministry Resources, Ideas and Activities Keeping Pace: Addressing Teen Trends in Ministry YouthWorker.com

I get to teach this Sunday in the Internationals ABF. The ABF comprises people from nations within our church and community who come together and learn more about God every Sunday at 11am in Room 142 at Wooster Grace.

I am continuing the series on cults and other beliefs where the challenge is to discover the main tenets of various faiths and then to discern how to share one's story of faith with others.

As Greg Stier (founder of Dare2Share Ministries) states, “Starbucks Spirituality” Will Become More Prevalent. He sees the ghettoizing of the Christian worldview where the world will see only greater distorted perceptions of Christianity." He cites one result of this compartmentalization as “Starbucks spirituality”—"the customized, 'made to order' picking and choosing of beliefs from varying religious worldviews. For example, a Starbucks-spirituality approach might pull a tenet from Buddhism, add an aspect of Wiccan and blend it with a few core beliefs of Christianity. To counter this phenomenon, it is essential that Christian teens be grounded in the core doctrines of the faith."

So my intent is to challenge the Internationals ABF to share their faith in light of the Starbucks Spirituality prevalent in our culture. In fact, I intend to challenge them to engage in one good conversation with someone this week and to share what happened.

I love the song by Casting Crowns, "Everyman," which puts the burden of outreach on the one professing faith in Christ. The lyrics of the second chorus says at the end, "Will we help them understand? Jesus is hope for every man."

It is our privilege and responsibilty to go and to share what God is doing in our lives. I wonder if you can engage a conversation this week where you start from where the person you talk to is versus where you want the person to be. To be more clear, discover a new person's story and then share your own story with them. You can start today. So share what happens here with me.

Leave a legacy like Tim Russert

photo from celebrity.elle.com

Pastor Bob shared on Father's Day in his sermon how father's need to be reminded that your children are watching your decisions you make in life. My decision as a father affects the destiny of my children. Whoa! What a responsibility.

His message has its application in the life of Tim Russert. Russert exemplified a heart for faith and family. As a father whose faith mattered and whose family mattered as well, I find his example where our children will still remember the kind of father we were. Luke Russert shares his reflections upon his father's life--his father, Tim Russert, died from a massive heart attack on Friday, June 13. His memorial service is going to be shown today at 4:30 on MSNBC. You can view other recollections of a man who impacted those around him regarding his choice to value his faith and his family.

I trust that you will see the disonance in your life and choose to apply the message that Pastor Bob shared about five major decisions every father faces. May you decide to be a difference-maker in the lives of those around you--Tim Russert did, a father who passionately embraced faith and who passionately loved his family. Russert exemplified that leadership shows strength over laziness. I want to show leadership in my family, not laziness.

I went to the park near the Nick Amster/Ida Sue schools last night to "walk" with my family and mother-in-law, Margie Buriff. As I strolled around the loop, I ate a quick sandwich, apple, and drink. Then the boys wanted me to play soccer with them. After a full day, a full stomach, and a full lap, I thought of saying not this time; but I recall the challenge from the Bible that Pastor Bob shared--leadership or laziness; presents or presence; consistency or convenient. It would be lazy for me to give an excuse. It would have been more convenient to offer a reason for not playing. But praise God I won that battle and chose leadership and consistency so that I can remain present in my family's life. I am still on the journey for learning how to be a great father. The battle is daily. So I choose to unsheath my sword to battle to make decisions that will lead my family in a God-honoring way.

It's no secret

My son and I watched the movie, Kung Fu Panda yesterday. We enjoyed spending time together but I came to a conclusion from the movie which I will share below.





The movie is funny but action-packed (for a animated movie). I heard more adults laugh than children. I enjoyed the movie. You can see movie stills which show good CG-animation.




STOP SPOILER ALERT!


If you haven't seen it yet, I may spoil it for you so stop reading. Bookmark or recall the date of my post and then come back after you see it so you can comment on my post.





As we trotted from the sidewalk and across the street into the parking lot, I shared with my son the insight that from my perspective there is no magic formula for living for God all your life. It's simply choosing to follow God each day. The simplistic thought--"there is no secret recipe," moved me to remunerate upon my own journey with God. "There's no secret formula for following God all your life."

The God of the universe who created all things wanted a relationship with people. He initiated the relationship but we as human beings chose to disobey. Then God made a way to restore humankind's relationship with Him. Now I must reflect on His provision, decide for myself, and then choose to follow Him everyday. Too simplistic? Too good to be true? It may seem so, but there is no secret scroll, no esoteric formula, no superhuman heroics. It's belief put into action. I believe what God says and I act upon that knowledge, choosing to follow God, each and every day.

For God says, "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you (Revelation 3:20--The Message)." He wants a relationship, not robots, not rules, but a relationship with me and with you.

To follow God is to simply by faith believe and choose to follow Him everyday. There is no secret formula. Just believe. I wonder what you think is the simplest way to view following God. Share your attempts with me.

God speaks to me

photo by idea_hamster

My year listening to God--

In my readings this time, I came across how God spoke to the early patriarchs and their neighbors. God even spoke to those who were not His people.

God does not speak to me in an audible voice. He prompts things into my thoughts and mind. Some things I need to clarify. I need to verify those impressions with what I know about God from the Bible and what He says in the Bible. His revelation in the Bible directs me and either affirms or denies the reflections of my heart. The more I read and comprehend, the more I am able to live and understand how to live for God.

I am intrigued how God spoke to people in the early days of the Bible. Genesis 30:1-31:16 record how God answered prayer for childless wives. According to this context, God allows children and keeps some from not having children. This can be construed as punishment or as a typical challenge in life to face. When Melissa and I first got married, we desired children; but we could not conceive.

For a long time, we prayed, tried various child-bearing strategies, but no conception occur. However, in time God gave us; not one, not two, not even three, but four great children. God answered our prayer.

In the Bible, you can read these words, "God listened to Leah and she became pregnant...(Genesis 30:17)." Or "The God remembered Rachel ; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth...(Genesis 30:22-23)."

Later in the story, God speaks to Jacob; "Then the Lord said to Jacob...(Genesis 31:3)." Further on the Bible discloses how God spoke to Jacob, "The angel of God said to me in a dream, 'Jacob." I answered, 'Here I am.' And He said...(Genesis 31:11-12)." God spoke to people. He speaks to me. He can speak to you, too; if you listen.

photo by adam_flix

You may say that you are not a Christ-follower or a poor follower of Jesus. But I believe God can still speak to you. That's what I am going to read for tomorrow.

I wonder what you think about God speaking to me. I wonder if you've had someone speak to you. Or maybe some voice speak to you. I'd like to read how you are discerning who is speaking to you.

The Lakers are drying up!

photo by compujeramey's


I was channel surfing last night between Raiders of the Lost Ark and whatever was on ESPN2. I'd occassionally check on the game.





With about 6 minutes to go, I saw how Kobe had the three amigos horse-tied. Eighteen points. I thought it was over. About 20 minutes later I just wanted to catch the final score when I happened on the fourth quarter. It was close again.





I thought the Lakers would survive, but poor shots, lack of energy, and excellent defense brought the Celtics to the brink of the championship. ESPN has a good video recap.





An interesting take from the Finals, Sam Alipour reported from LA how the fans were devestated. I don't think the fans in LA truly hate, the Celtics. I think the fans were shocked by the outcome.