Can you hear me now?

It happened again! God gave me a good visual for the message on Sunday when I used my brand new hedge clippers to chop through the extension cord and come close to electrocution. What a great picture of what can happen when we don't remain rooted in Love, together with the saints! The power of God will quickly be "cut off" in our life. Spiritually speaking, its like choosing to use the rickety, manual hedge clippers over the super jacked-up power clippers.

After the service, I must have had 4 or 5 people tell me they have ruined power cords using power clippers as well. That helped me not feel so bad knowing there is a whole club full of idiots like me! I don't mind being an idiot as long as I'm not the only one ;-)

So leaving church feeling like we had just experienced on of the most powerful services of the year, I was really bummed to come in on Monday to discover our super cool dual-channel digital audio recorder didn't record the message during either service. Ouch! It struck me today that just as easy as it was for a piece of equipment to not work right (or for a person to forget to use it correctly), our testimony or the opportunity to be one can be missed or ruined as well. One frustrated comment degrading another person, or one moment of fear that keeps you from inviting a person to church, and a Jesus opportunity can be lost.

Today, don't allow an opportunity to point another person to Christ pass by or be ruined by self. Memorize this verse and meditate on it.......... and see what God will do through you!

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect... 1 Peter 3:15

The fish bowl......

My kids surprised Christie and I one day several months back by telling us they were saving their money for a "fish fund". Really.....??? When did we decide we were adding another family pet? Please, please, please.......
As you have guessed, they won! After all, it is a good exercise in hard work and discipline to earn and save money to purchase something yourself. Even better when something else "fun" comes along and the decision to raid the coffer is made. I was glad to see them struggle with those decisions and deal with the consequences.
The day finally came and we purchased a brand new, 16 gallon aquarium complete with all the fixin's. Funny thing is, you can't just take it out, fill it up, and then add fish! After several days of washing gravel and water additives, we are ready for the fish. I must admit I'm just as excited as the kids are! We're getting FISH.......aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

The water temperature may be the trickiest part of the aquarium. Certain fish need the water to be a certain temperature to survive. Guess what temperature the water will naturally become without intervention....... room temperature. The only way to intervene is to change the room temperature (which isn't practical) or literally insert a heater into the water.

The spiritual story behind the story: we are called by God to enter the culture and to influence it for Christ, without being changed ourselves. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” This is actually the theme verse for our student ministry. Pastor Josh is challenging students to let the light of Christ "illuminate" the darkness around them.

Are you allowing the light of Christ to illuminate the world you live and work in? Are you influencing for Christ or being influenced by the world and people around you?

I want to live in a way that influences people for Christ! I want to be in the world but living a counter-cultural lifestyle that takes focus off me and brings glory to God. When we do this, He will take care of the rest, drawing people to himself.

You want it...... You got it!

I've had the privilege of hanging out with other pastors and church planters for a few days this week, and we have been studying the book of Phillipians together. I have been thinking about the things I want in life, things I can't get enough of. Here's my list:

I want more passion for the word. Yes, I love it and I'm staking my eternal destiny and my earthly calling on it! But..... to be honest, there is more room in my life to be filled with it. I long for that passion and that desire to be completely saturated.

I want to be a better father and husband. Yes, I love my wife with all my heart, and my children with my life, but that doesn't make me perfect. It also doesn't excuse my deficiancies. I have room for improvement, and I don't want to look back one day and have lots of "I wishes".

I want to be a better leader, a more passionate Christ-sharer, a more committed friend, and a more disciplined man of God. Enough said!

I want to forgive and be forgiven quicker. I want to let God be God, and stop trying to take his place so often. He doesn't want his children to carry guilt, burdons, or responsibility for spiritual results. He wants obedience, he'll take care of the rest!

May the prayer of Paul be mine and yours as well:

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Phillipians 3:8-9

Press on!

Is it bed time yet?

Have you ever been to kids camp as an adult? If you have, you know how I feel! Loved it......... kids jumping, singing, shouting with joy...... little hearts bending toward Jesus and light bulbs of understanding beginning to flicker and come alive! And....... holy guacamole am I tired! Dragging kids out of bed in the morning and begging them to shut up (not those exact words) and go to sleep at night..... "why are you not with a buddy", and "yes you have to bring your bible" have been trickling from my mouth in my sleep lately.

I need rest! Been there lately? Calgon, take me away! There are three forms of rest that will refresh the soul and keep me going. We all need all three on a regular basis. Deficiency in one area, even if the other areas are solid, causes a severe imbalance. These areas are: physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual. You knew that....... but do you do anything about it? Are you resting enough? Are you calming your mind and life enough? Are you talking with Jesus and enjoying peaceful conversation with him each day?

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

I need rest, and most of it is found in Jesus. Lets get into His word this week and receive it! Do your SOAP devotions, and he will be everything we need. Like our theme from camp, lets "Take it in, and live it out"!

Peace