What a week of college football. Thursday night I couldn't go to bed because Oregon State was trouncing some other team that was over rated. Wake Forest loses to nobody. Florida loses to less than nobody. At press time, it looks like Georgia is going to get beat (down 17 with 3 minutes to go). Clemson got beat (hehehe). I love football and I can't wait for the fall each year and for game day each week!
As great as football is for the die hard fan, shouldn't our passion and excitement for Christ and his church be that much greater! Shouldn't we wake with anticipation each Sunday. Shouldn't we long for that first good morning word with the Lord each day......
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2
Make this your prayer, your cry to God, and he will respond! He will draw you close as you draw close to him!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Blah Blah Blah………
That’s enough debating for me. Do you already know who you are voting for? I do. I don’t believe anything tonight changed many minds that were made up. If your mind isn’t made up yet, call me :-) I don’t really understand how a person wouldn’t know who they are voting for. I guess some could be so disengaged that they have no idea yet who each man is and what they stand for.
Do you think the president is powerful enough to change the direction of the human race? I don’t personally believe that the president of the U.S. has the power to ruin or save the world. I believe there are enough checks and balances to keep the president from trouncing on the flag and the constitution (not that either man would do so).
Want to know the most important issue to me? I’ll tell you in an upcoming blog……. But I’d like to hear what is most important to you. There is a comment option at the bottom of this post. Click on the word comment and let me know what you consider the most important issue of the presidential race and the country. You can even do it anonymously if you need to. Let me hear it.
Do you think the president is powerful enough to change the direction of the human race? I don’t personally believe that the president of the U.S. has the power to ruin or save the world. I believe there are enough checks and balances to keep the president from trouncing on the flag and the constitution (not that either man would do so).
Want to know the most important issue to me? I’ll tell you in an upcoming blog……. But I’d like to hear what is most important to you. There is a comment option at the bottom of this post. Click on the word comment and let me know what you consider the most important issue of the presidential race and the country. You can even do it anonymously if you need to. Let me hear it.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ouch!
How many times have you been told to suck it up........."No pain, no gain"?! I don't like pain. I like gain alot, but pain, not so much! I want the cliff's notes on pain. Give me quick, easy, to the point, and as effortless as possible. That's what my body and mind say!
We had a blood drive at the church this week, and I allowed my precious life-blood to be syphoned off through a nail-sized needle and a rubber hose. It hurt a little, but it wasn't bad in all honesty. It still isn't my idea of a good time. So why give? I learned yesterday that each donation (pint) can save 3 people's lives. The platelets are used for surgery to stop bleeding, the blood cells for people with sickness or disease, and the blood for trauma (I think I got that straight). This isn't a plea for blood donations, although it is a noble cause we should all give to. It is a reminder that things that make an eternal difference aren't always easy. Often, they take great sacrifice, work, and commitment.
25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20
God hasn't called us to comfort or personal pleasure...... he has called us to commitment to sharing the love of Christ and serving people! We are called to worship him and love each other. Why are we talking about serving at NP? Because we are called to put others before ourselves. We have been given so much in Christ......therefore we have so much to give through him as well! No excuses. Lets just do it!
We had a blood drive at the church this week, and I allowed my precious life-blood to be syphoned off through a nail-sized needle and a rubber hose. It hurt a little, but it wasn't bad in all honesty. It still isn't my idea of a good time. So why give? I learned yesterday that each donation (pint) can save 3 people's lives. The platelets are used for surgery to stop bleeding, the blood cells for people with sickness or disease, and the blood for trauma (I think I got that straight). This isn't a plea for blood donations, although it is a noble cause we should all give to. It is a reminder that things that make an eternal difference aren't always easy. Often, they take great sacrifice, work, and commitment.
25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20
God hasn't called us to comfort or personal pleasure...... he has called us to commitment to sharing the love of Christ and serving people! We are called to worship him and love each other. Why are we talking about serving at NP? Because we are called to put others before ourselves. We have been given so much in Christ......therefore we have so much to give through him as well! No excuses. Lets just do it!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Environments
Quite some time ago I shared the experience of getting talked into buying a fish aquarium by my 3 persuasive children. I have to admit, now I'm hooked like a great big kid too! I love to watch the water pour in from the filter and listen to the peaceful sound. I love watching the little fish swim up, down, all around. Its funny to watch them follow your hand around the front of the glass just waiting for a treat to fall from the heavens into the waters below.
We have had some new excitement on the home front.... we have fry's! Not the kind that come with a happy meal, but the kind that come when boy fishes and girl fishes swim together in perfect union :-o We have 4 fish called Platys, and they give birth to live fish called fry. So now I have spent even more money buying a little floating "tank-in-a-tank" to keep the fry from becoming a "happy meal". I couldn't resist!
This shouldn't be a surprise to us at all. You put boy fish and girl fish together in the proper environment, and BAM........ you have little fishes! You and I can say the same about environments in our life. If you fill your life with God's word and Godly influences......... you will become a mature follower of Christ! If you spend quality time with your spouse and love in word and deed...... you will become a mature and fulfilled spouse! If you watch every tv show and sitcom that comes down the pipe........ you will become a lazy, worldly minded couch potato. It's simple, yet so few put the principle into practice.
Richard Blachaby says that you are as much like Jesus as you want to be. The only thing keeping you from becoming more like Jesus is you. You have to want it. You have to strive and pray and repent and press in each day. Its all about environments. Which environment are you choosing to live in today? Choose the right path, the right environments, and you will become a mature disciple of Christ!
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
We have had some new excitement on the home front.... we have fry's! Not the kind that come with a happy meal, but the kind that come when boy fishes and girl fishes swim together in perfect union :-o We have 4 fish called Platys, and they give birth to live fish called fry. So now I have spent even more money buying a little floating "tank-in-a-tank" to keep the fry from becoming a "happy meal". I couldn't resist!This shouldn't be a surprise to us at all. You put boy fish and girl fish together in the proper environment, and BAM........ you have little fishes! You and I can say the same about environments in our life. If you fill your life with God's word and Godly influences......... you will become a mature follower of Christ! If you spend quality time with your spouse and love in word and deed...... you will become a mature and fulfilled spouse! If you watch every tv show and sitcom that comes down the pipe........ you will become a lazy, worldly minded couch potato. It's simple, yet so few put the principle into practice.
Richard Blachaby says that you are as much like Jesus as you want to be. The only thing keeping you from becoming more like Jesus is you. You have to want it. You have to strive and pray and repent and press in each day. Its all about environments. Which environment are you choosing to live in today? Choose the right path, the right environments, and you will become a mature disciple of Christ!
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
What a freakin game.....
Did you see it? The Monday night battle of what many argue are the two best teams in the league. The Phildalphia Eagles versus Americas Team. The stars of the NFL. God's team, the Dallas Cowboys! What a game. Electricity was in the air as they packed the house in their brand new, state of the art stadium coined "Jerry's House". He's not my favorite person or NFL team owner, but I loved the Boys long before he came into the picture.
It was a back and forth game. 41-37. 7 lead changes. Terrell Owens moved past Cris Carter into second place on the NFL's all-time list for touchdown receptions. It was the second highest scoring MNF game ever! But it wasn't easy, and it didn't look good at times.
To be honest, I thought the momentum shift to the Eagles at the beginning of the second quarter could be to much to overcome. They scored 2 touchdowns in the first 19 seconds of the quarter. But the fat lady didn't sing. In fact, she wasn't even warming up in the dressing room!
That's how I want to press through a dark day in my life to finish strong. Richard Blackaby asked in a recent message, "do you want to be comfortable, or Christlike?" We don't grow the most through blessin, but through adversity. I want to be the man that perseveres through the hard place in life. Anyone can handle the easy day and the easy assignment, but not the hard ones!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Monday, September 15, 2008
So good
It really was so good to get away, and it was good to come home! We had an awesome, restful time in Hilton Head for a few nights and were inspired by God. Henry Blackaby's son, Richard, was our retreat speaker. He brought the hammer down and God spoke to us loud and clear. The only reason I have for not going to the next level with God is ME! I have no other excuse when I have the opportunity each day to know God better!
I learned another lesson that still makes me a little sick. I paid what Dave Ramsey calls a "stupid tax" at the beach. We were strolling along the beach one afternoon and I found a perfect minature sand dollar, about the size of a quarter. I picked it up and gently protected it in my hand so that we could take it back home to the kids. It was even sweeter because when we were at the beach with them this summer, we wouldn't let them keep a live sand dollar to bring home. As we were leaving the beach, I passed a lifeguard, and for some reason I held out my hand to show them the find. I wanted to know if it was uncommon to find one so small. As if in slow motion, the dude reached out and took it from my hand, and broke it. Now in his defense, I'm sure it was an accident, but that didn't matter. My heart sunk and I almost lost my lunch right on him! I'm not sure if I wanted to cuss, punch him, or cry the most. All I could say was, dude...... you've got to be kidding me!!! I walked away slowely so as not to speak my mind further.
God taught me a lesson that day...... actually he taught me many lessons. I'll share a few in the days to come in different settings, but here is one that Christie and I agreed on immediately. Some things are meant to be protected, hidden, and cherished in your heart. Some things aren't meant to be shared. Some things are meant to remain pure, unadulterated, and hidden from the world. Some things are to be preserved until a divine moment, one appointed by God!
I learned another lesson that still makes me a little sick. I paid what Dave Ramsey calls a "stupid tax" at the beach. We were strolling along the beach one afternoon and I found a perfect minature sand dollar, about the size of a quarter. I picked it up and gently protected it in my hand so that we could take it back home to the kids. It was even sweeter because when we were at the beach with them this summer, we wouldn't let them keep a live sand dollar to bring home. As we were leaving the beach, I passed a lifeguard, and for some reason I held out my hand to show them the find. I wanted to know if it was uncommon to find one so small. As if in slow motion, the dude reached out and took it from my hand, and broke it. Now in his defense, I'm sure it was an accident, but that didn't matter. My heart sunk and I almost lost my lunch right on him! I'm not sure if I wanted to cuss, punch him, or cry the most. All I could say was, dude...... you've got to be kidding me!!! I walked away slowely so as not to speak my mind further.
God taught me a lesson that day...... actually he taught me many lessons. I'll share a few in the days to come in different settings, but here is one that Christie and I agreed on immediately. Some things are meant to be protected, hidden, and cherished in your heart. Some things aren't meant to be shared. Some things are meant to remain pure, unadulterated, and hidden from the world. Some things are to be preserved until a divine moment, one appointed by God!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Looking Good
Well....... the kids are doing much better today, and it looks like we are going to be able to get away on our retreat. SWEET! I don't know about you, but I love listening to God at the coast. Sure, he speaks to me wherever I am, but it looks and sounds so beautiful and peaceful in places like the coast and the mountains.
I listened to The message by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro that we will hear this coming Sunday. The dude is a wise man of God! He is going to challenge us with a powerful word on who God is and what he has created us to be. You don't want to miss it! As a matter of fact, we should all pray hard and invite people to come with us. God is going to change lives this Sunday! Can't wait.
I listened to The message by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro that we will hear this coming Sunday. The dude is a wise man of God! He is going to challenge us with a powerful word on who God is and what he has created us to be. You don't want to miss it! As a matter of fact, we should all pray hard and invite people to come with us. God is going to change lives this Sunday! Can't wait.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Highlights and Nothingness
Here are some highlights of Monday and Tuesday:
Bailey went to the doctor with a sinus infection last week, and was still miserable as of yesterday (after 5 days on meds). Yesterday afternoon, Nathan started hacking so bad he could barely breath. We thought he was having an asthma attack. Come to find out today, they both have a bronchial virus. Well wouldn't you know Taylor borrowed it from them and was feeling bad by bedtime.
Christie and I have been majorly stoked about an opportunity to get away this week/weekend for a marriage retreat for pastors. We were going to leave a day early to have an extra day alone. Wouldn't you know it would be the week my kids pick to get sick. I know they didn't choose this and they wish they weren't sick. This is another one of those days you wish you could suffer for them, but you just can't seem to help them feel better. So, we feel so badly for them, and at the same time we are getting bummed that we might not get away at all! It'll be alright.
I sat through a really tense meeting today. It didn't have anything to do with NP, and I wasn't in a drivers seat in the conversation...... just listening and experiencing the discomfort with several others. I don't think a resolution was found, but it was an example of a healthy, biblical way to communicate truthfully and honestly. I don't know why its so difficult to have honest conversations on the spot, versus putting them off and letting them build up to something they didn't have to be. I guess we're all human and we hate conflict and relational discomfort. I learned alot today, and I gained even more respect for some men of integrity!
Bailey went to the doctor with a sinus infection last week, and was still miserable as of yesterday (after 5 days on meds). Yesterday afternoon, Nathan started hacking so bad he could barely breath. We thought he was having an asthma attack. Come to find out today, they both have a bronchial virus. Well wouldn't you know Taylor borrowed it from them and was feeling bad by bedtime.
Christie and I have been majorly stoked about an opportunity to get away this week/weekend for a marriage retreat for pastors. We were going to leave a day early to have an extra day alone. Wouldn't you know it would be the week my kids pick to get sick. I know they didn't choose this and they wish they weren't sick. This is another one of those days you wish you could suffer for them, but you just can't seem to help them feel better. So, we feel so badly for them, and at the same time we are getting bummed that we might not get away at all! It'll be alright.
I sat through a really tense meeting today. It didn't have anything to do with NP, and I wasn't in a drivers seat in the conversation...... just listening and experiencing the discomfort with several others. I don't think a resolution was found, but it was an example of a healthy, biblical way to communicate truthfully and honestly. I don't know why its so difficult to have honest conversations on the spot, versus putting them off and letting them build up to something they didn't have to be. I guess we're all human and we hate conflict and relational discomfort. I learned alot today, and I gained even more respect for some men of integrity!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Dang!
I can't believe how long its been since my last post! How easy it is to get busy and forget/neglect things.
This morning was awesome. Josh and the band did an excellent job bringing us to the throne. The place was packed! We have reached so many new people this year that we are almost back to where we were last fall, which is excellent given all the transition we've been through. The message was HOT! Perry Noble shared his One Prayer: Make us Dangerous. The dude is simply hysterical, yet so insightful with scripture. You need to hear it if you missed it. Last week too! Craig Groeschel (I think that's how its spelled without taking the time to look) shared his one prayer last week.
I'm excited about what God is doing at North Point. I'll take the long days any time to have exciting times like these! I think everyone in the church is inviting their friends that are far from Christ to come to church. Keep it up guys......... eternity is at stake!
This morning was awesome. Josh and the band did an excellent job bringing us to the throne. The place was packed! We have reached so many new people this year that we are almost back to where we were last fall, which is excellent given all the transition we've been through. The message was HOT! Perry Noble shared his One Prayer: Make us Dangerous. The dude is simply hysterical, yet so insightful with scripture. You need to hear it if you missed it. Last week too! Craig Groeschel (I think that's how its spelled without taking the time to look) shared his one prayer last week.
I'm excited about what God is doing at North Point. I'll take the long days any time to have exciting times like these! I think everyone in the church is inviting their friends that are far from Christ to come to church. Keep it up guys......... eternity is at stake!
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