- Had a fabulous time on the Men’s Retreat. This was our third annual retreat and we took it up a notch. I really connected to the theme this year which was Thirsty. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” This weekend God met us and we were filled. Great weekend!
- My son has croup. The little guy is coughing and wheezing like an fat, asthmatic kid (Hey, I resemble that remark). He sounds so helpless and we feel so helpless. Big prayers for my little boy.
- I’m elbow deep reading Doctrine by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. This is a concise and accessible theology book that is catching my attention and drying up my highlighter.
- I turn 30 this week. I am planning a month long project to mark the occasion and I spent a good deal of time preparing for it last week. Prep work has to be finished by this Wednesday. Better cut my hair before then.
- I am thankful to so many people who pour their lives into me that I can hardly stand it. I have a great support system in my family and friends. I am blessed beyond measure.
- I had to cancel our Sunday night teen service due to my son’s illness. Hopefully everything will be back to normal and we can have Tuesday night Bible study at the house on Tuesday. I missed being with the teens tonight.
- I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to live as Jesus lived. 1John 2″6 is punching me in the gut right now. “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” Right. In. The. Gut.
Category Archives: Life
I Love This Kid!!!!
There are not a lot of things that come naturally to me. I’m not the smartest- I had to work for every B & C I got. I’m not the most athletic- just because I’m shaped like a ball doesn’t mean I can hit one. I’m not the most talented either.
But being a dad fits me like a glove right now. I never thought that I would love this kid as much as I do.
I find myself hovering over his bed almost every night while he sleeps. I think I’ve woken him up a few times. I pray that God will make him a better man than me, that Jesus will save him, and that the Spirit will guide him in everything he does.
I love this kid and I thank God for the gift of being his dad.
Youth Ministry Tip #4: You Gotta Have Friends
This week’s Youth Ministry Tip could be one of the keys to ministry longevity. You MUST surround yourself with people who love you, care for you, have fun with you, and who develop you. You need friends.
Close Friends
We live in a society that isn’t big on deep, meaningful relationships. Find ways to buck that trend. Be intentional about gather a group of people around you that you can call friends. Friends help ease burdens, are there to encourage you, and help you build margin into your life. Who are your closest friends?
Ministry Friends
I am privileged to work amongst a great set of men in an area-wide ministry circle. We genuinely care for one another and enjoy each other’s company. Over the years we have moved from just planning events together to really getting to know one another. We share triumphs and heartaches, frustrations and practical advice. I love these men and I know they care for me and my family. Do you have a group like this around you? If not, what can you do to begin building this type of group in your area? If you are going to stay in ministry long-term you must surround yourself with people who are like-minded and who are in the trenches right alongside you. Who are your Band of Brothers or Sisters?
3 in the Morning Friends
Back in high school I had a group of my buddies that I knew were my 3am friends. These are the guys I could call at any hour on any day. In fact, I still consider these guys close enough to take my call at anytime. Life and situations have changed us (Babies and kids are asleep at 3am) but I am glad I have people like this in my life. Who can you count on to be there for you whenever you need them?
Ministry is not designed to be a solo journey. Get you some friends to help share the burden. Encourage one another and lean on one another.
Book Review: Primal
One of my favorite authors, Mark Batterson, has a great new book called “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity.” I got my hands on an advanced copy and finished reading it earlier this week. I want you to know that this is Mark’s best book yet.
The challenge of “Primal” is to get back to the basic element of Christianity. Len Sweet once remarked that the best picture of the church is that of a swing. The power of a swing comes from the point where we lean back and kick forward. In order for the church to make an impact in the future we must be willing to lean back- past all church traditions and dogmas- all the way into the arms of Jesus. When we do that, we can then move powerfully into the future with the Gospel message. For Mark, the essence of the Gospel message– the most basic element- is living out the call of the Greatest Commandment. That’s the heart of the Gospel. Well.. the heart, soul, mind, and strength of the Gospel.
If Jesus said that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the most important commandment, then doesn’t it logically follow that we ought to spend an inordinate amount of our time and energy trying to understand it and obey it? We can’t afford to merely good at the Great Commandment. We’ve got to be great at the Great Commandment.”
The book divided into 4 sections to highlight the different facets of the Greatest Commandment that Jesus brings to our attention. Mark “reimagines” these elemants as follows:
The heart of Christianity is primal compassion
The soul of Christianity is primal wonder
The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity
The strength of Christianity is primal energy
Mark’s power as a writer comes from his ability to weave his heart and passion for the things of God into every story, every bullet point, and every conclusion. You become enthralled in the quest because Mark is enthralled with the quest. Mark Batterson is the real deal. He is a loving husband and father who loves his church and wants to introduce everyone to his Savior. You will not be disappointed by this book.
Here’s a great challenge for you. Make “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity” the first book you read in 2010. As we start a brand new decade begin by working out your heart, soul, mind, and body to reconnect to the Gospel of Jesus. Start 2010 as a part of the primal movement to rediscover the Greatest Commandment for your life.
Disclaimer:This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.
Chase the Lion Week 3 Notes
This is the midway point in our Chase the Lion series. This week is all about reframing your problems. Each day brings it’s own set of problems, issues, and challenges. We can choose to view these problems through the world’s perspective and find ourselves crushed under the weight of life’s problems or… we can begin to see our problems through the frame of Scripture and find that God meets us and carries through anything that is thrown at us.
Chase the Lion Week 3: Reframing Problems
Reframe (verb): to recondition a mental attitude or outlook
Problem (noun): a source of perplexity, distress or vexation
In order for us to put our faith firmly in God we must learn to reframe problems. Life throws everything it has at us and we feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities, expectations, crisis, and problems facing us.
We shared stories though about people facing extreme situations- cancer, poverty, injustice, and death. The men and women, in the face of extreme problems, stood tall and proclaimed “God is Good!”
Have you ever wondered what it is that enables someone to overcome adversity? How can someone have that “God is Good” attitude in the midst of suffering? Their problems have been reframed. Rather than seeing a problem, they see an opportunity. An opportunity to worship.
“Who you are is not determined by your circumstances. The outcome of your life will be determined by your outlook on life.”
This isn’t some pithy, new-age, believe-and-achieve, feel-good statement. If you look at your problems through the frame of Almighty God and His Word- if he is bigger than your fears or problems- than you can begin to see as He sees. Your outlook will begin to be His outlook.
Scripture will reframe your perspective on everything:
It reframes your Identity (Who you are)
It reframes your Destination (Where you are going)
It reframes your Circumstances (What you’re going through)
It reframes your Legacy (What you leave behind)
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11–12 TNIV)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2–4 TNIV)
“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” (Philippians 1:29 NLT-SE)
Charizomai– Greek word meaning to grant favor, in kindness.
Do we really see our suffering as a privilege gift from God? We should.
The ultimate key to reframing our problems is the act of worship. In the face of suffering, in the midst of trials the key to turning our pain over to the Lord is pure worship.
The best example of this is found in Acts 16.
Despite (in spite?) of their dire circumstances, Paul and Silas reacted with worship and actually witnessed to those around them.
“Worship reframes circumstances. The circumstances you complain about become the chains that imprison you.”
What about you?
1) Are there any circumstances that are currently imprisoning you? What are they?
2) What things have you complained about this past week? How can you turn those situations into opportunities for worship?
3) List 10 things you are thankful for
A Prayer for Small Groups
One of my go-to ministry resource sites is Simply Youth Ministry. Their stuff is so great and highly customizable that I find myself going back to them time and time again. In my inbox this morning I saw their weekly training email and I found a wonderful blessing: A Prayer for Small Groups. I wanted to share this with everyone because I think it is a wonderful prayer and reminder that discipleship happens when a small group of believers gather together to “do life together” in the presence of Almighty God. In these small groups, God is glorified, faith is fostered, people are cared for, and the Church marches on!
A Prayer for Small Groups
by Kevin Mahaffy, Jr.
Father, today as our small group meets
I pray that each person will feel your heartbeat
May they know they are special, they’re cared for, they’re loved
Your kingdom come, on earth as above
Our time together, though not long only short
May it seed true communion with You in our hearts
Help us see Your image inside of each other
Teach us what it means to truly love one another
Away from the big, the loud, the flash
Just a few of us here to share and to laugh
To discuss Your Word, to share and go deeper
To talk real life and be our brother’s keeper
Praying for one another as we journey through life
May we encourage each other to reflect Your light
Let us always be inclusive, welcoming, warm
A safe place for all in the midst of life’s storms
Lord we all come from a myriad of places
Give us wisdom and kindness and grace and patience
Thank you for unity in the midst of diversity
Make us one in Christ, true Christian community
Bless those abundantly who have opened their home
Upon their house, God we pray Your Shalom
May it be filled with laughter, with joy, and with vision
In return for their giving, God we pray Your provision
And let us, O Lord, never ever forget
That there’s someone else out there who has yet to connect
Your eyes and your mouth to see and invite
That not one, O Lord, would be alone in the fight
It’s a mystery to me why they seem to be Your preference
But amazingly in the end small groups make a great big difference
Life on life, Jesus you modeled it back then
So I’ll do the same, in Jesus name, Amen.
My Friends, My Mentors
Mark Batterson over at Evotional had this to say about Virtual Mentors:
When I am in my office, I am surrounded by several thousand mentors that sit on my bookshelves. Authors are virtual mentors. Some of them died hundreds of years ago. Others would never have time to meet with me one-on-one. But their writing is a form of mentoring.
I’ve heard that the average author takes about two years to write a book. So that means when I read a book I gain two years of life experience. Read a hundred books this year and you’ll gain two hundred years of life experience.
I’m being mentored by George Müller, Eugene Peterson, Francis Chan, and Scot McKnight right now. That translates into a lot of life experience according to Mark. Makes me even more determined to read, learn, and lead.
Who is mentoring you today?
My Murtaugh List
I started watching How I Met Your Mother on the recommendation of a friend last year after the writer’s strike. I love the way that friendships are presented on the show and I absolutely love how the show deals with getting older. The protagonists are all young 30 somethings dealing with growing up and moving forward through life.
On Monday’s episode the guys brought out their Murtaugh list- the list of things that they are now too old to ever do again. The idea for the list came from Danny Glover’s Det. Sgt. Roger Murtaugh from the Lethal Weapon series. In the films Murtaugh is always about one week from retirement when some crazy terrorist group of money-launders or dirty South African diplomats crop up to threaten his well-deserved R&R. His famous catchphrase was “I’m too old for this stuff!” (this is a PG site)
On How I Met Your Mother things like crashing on a friend’s futon, dying your hair a crazy color, and pulling an all nighter were all on the Murtaugh list. The episode was really funny and, of course, it got me thinking.
Today is my 29th birthday so I asked Sandy to help me come up with my own version of the Murtaugh list. I asked her what are some things that I am too old to do anymore. I sometimes still pull an all nighter- my recover time is a bit longer though. I still like going to concerts during the week nights- again recovery time is more of an issue. I still eat crazy mexican food without the help of Tums or Prilosec.
In some ways I’m still as young as I ever was. However, the bell tolls for everyone so I wanted Sandy to help me start a list before my memory starts to fade (joking!).
Here is what we came up with:
“I’m too old for this stuff.”
I’m too old… to forget which days the trash is picked up. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… to drop clothes next to the hamper. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… to keep sneaking “Black iTunes Cards” ($50, $100) into the shopping cart in the hopes that Sandy won’t notice. (acc. to Sandy)
I’m too old… Windows down. Sunroof open. Stereo blasting… In a school zone.
I’m too old… to shop at American Eagle.
I’m too old… for lava lamps.
I’m too old… to decorate our bedroom exclusively with Christmas lights.
I’m too old… to play crab soccer.
I’m too old… to forget toothpaste on a trip. (I never forget my toothbrush. Just the paste)
I’m too old… to “get” the Jonas Brothers.
I’m too old… to teach other drivers a “lesson” with my horn or deceleration.
I’m too old… for flip-flops.
I’m too old… to get anything pierced.
I’m too old… for the front tuck.
I’m too old… to take quizzes on Facebook.
I’m too old… to eat mexican food everyday for a week. (I’m pushing 3 days already)
Seriously though… I’m almost thirty. Most people go through life never out growing the really negative and immature things in life. As I get older I try (try, try, try) to get wiser and better with age. I haven’t learned much it seems at times but I have hung onto a few truths recently…
I’m too old… to hang onto grudges.
I’m too old… to argue with you.
I’m too old… for winning points.
I’m too old… to care whether they like me or not.
I’m too old… to care about getting the credit or the glory.
I’m too old… to keep up with the Jones… of anyone else for that matter.
I’m too old… to blame others for my shortcomings.
I’m too old… to waste time.
I’m too old… to wait for someone else to clean it up.
I’m too old… to avoid responsibility.
I’m too old… to remember how they slighted me.
I’m too old… to let others get me off my game by snide comments.
I’m too old… to waste any time fretting over past mistakes.
I’m too old… to give up on the future.
What are you too old for?
Here’s to getting old everyone! Have a great day and may your Muratugh lists- the funny ones and the real ones- be short lists!
The Last Note
Out of the whole Beatles catalogue it is incredibly hard for me to pick just one favorite song.
Do you pick something from their early years? I Wanna Hold Your Hand? Love Me Do? Can’t Buy Me Love, perhaps?
What about their later years? Revolution or Carry That Weight?
Maybe a song that you never get tired of singing? Hey Jude or All You Need Is Love?
While it is hard for me to pick my favorite Beatles song it is no trouble at all to pick my favorite note from a Beatles song.
It is that final chord that comes at the end of A Day in the Life. The whole of the song builds and builds until one final crescendo. In that final definitive one E-major chord we get the entire summation of the song. Everything all at once – laid bare and finished. That last note leaves us with the lasting impression of the whole song.
And so it is in life.
We tend to focus so much on first impressions or keeping/maintaining other people’s impressions of us that we forget that what truly matters — What we will be remembered for is that final note. Our actions, the way we treat people, the way we love and serve- all these things are what truly lasts and will reverberate with people long after our song is over.
The E-major chord in A Day in the Life lasts for 40 seconds. That is quite a long time.
Imagine that this idea too translates into real life. What if your final note, the impression that your character and life leaves with those you’ve left behind, had so much power and energy behind it that it was able to ring out 40 years? That would mean your song would be heard by at least 3 generations.
I have always believed that I could care less about having a building dedicated in my name. But to have a building dedicated in the name of one of my children or great-grand children? That would tell me that maybe I did something right.
What are you doing today to add power to your final note? What impressions are you leaving people with? Today as the music of your life is being played- as it builds and crescendos, moves and sings- remember that everyone is building up to their final note.
May you do whatever you can to make your final note ring out loud and reverberate long after your song is finished.
WWYD?
Do you find yourself asking What Would Micheal Do?
Before you accuse me of being arrogant hear me out.
A friend of mine has a 2yr old (soon to be 3yr old) son. This friend of mine and I grew up going to Jr and Sr high together and for the most part we are just as close as we were then. I love his family and his little boy is adorable. I often get to talk with the little one over the cell phone while his Dad prompts him to “carry on a conversation” with me. Sometimes he goes on and on and sometimes he just says “Hi Mikey!” Love it!
BTW, this little boy is the one and only person who can get away with calling me Mikey. Don’t even try it.
While at his grandparents house this little boy somehow got a hold of a picture of me from high school. According to his parents he keeps this picture of me in a little box and pulls it out, talks with me, asks me what I’m doing, and then puts it away.
When I first heard this story I laughed. “How cute and how bizarre?” I thought. A thrill of emotion went through me as I beamed with pride over the idea that I am loved by this little boy.
But beyond being cute and sweet this little story serves as a great big reminder to me.
We are all being watched. You, me, everyone has little eyes and little lives looking to see how we treat them, treat others, and how we live out our worship to God.
Someone, somewhere right now is asking themselves the question WWYD? What Would YOU Do?
They may not have your picture in a box but they look to see how you react to difficulties in your life.
They may not see you everyday but they think about how you show your care for others.
They may not talk with you each week but they orient their priorities to the things that that are priorities in your life.
Hopefully, soon my own son will be here to look to me for guidance, to talk with me, to share with me, and to learn from me. I hope that the words that I say, the actions of my heart, and the pattern of my life is something that he and others can look to in order that they may understand more about the One that I serve.
May our rally cry be like Paul’s, not that people follow us to be like us alone, but that they follow our example because we are following the example of Christ. (1Cor 11:1)
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.