Be All There (even when busy!)

Wowza! It's been a busy past several days. Just wanted to blog that I'm too busy to blog!

We are getting ready for our Be All There series at Watershed. I'm excited, yet nervous about it (because I'll be doing the teaching!). Thanks for any prayers you may say on my behalf and for Watershed.

"Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliott

Influencing Younger Generations

If you know me, you know I am an extremely uncool person. I may drink Mt. Dew, wear my shirts untucked, and have a blog, but no matter how hard I try, I am very uncool. But I'm fine with that! I used to not be (my fake Air Jordan's in jr. high revealed that), but the harder I tried to be cool, the more uncool I became (you've probably seen it before - it's a very painful thing to watch). But I have finally accepted that I am called by God to be an uncool follower of Jesus, husband, father, and pastor.

But while you and I both know the truth about my uncoolness, there have been a few times in my life where some people misinterpreted the truth and actually thought I really was cool. You're probably thinking "who in the world could make that big of a mistake?" Well, they have a good excuse... they were kids.

Kids flocked to me (some still do, but most are catching on to my uncoolness so the magnet affect is starting to fade). Whether it was the first and second graders I taught Sunday School for right after college, or the kids at the missionary kid school in Venezuela, they wanted to be around me. Why? Because I was simply a young adult who would give them attention, talk with them, listen to them, be silly with them, and just simply spend time with them. Kids are attracted to young adults simply because they are adults who are just over the threshold of adolescence, and so therefore that makes them cool in the eyes of a grade schooler.

But too many young adults seem to be focused on their futures (careers, dating, marriage, having their own kids, etc.) to notice that they have a window of opportunity they will never get again in life - to be cool to the generation immediately behind them.

So are you taking advantage of your coolness? What kids have you influenced lately to know Jesus and love him? How are you giving to the generation coming behind you?

The Divine Paradox - Beautiful and Fearsome

I've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia to my girls. One of the things I have enjoyed about the book is how C.S. Lewis described Aslan, the Christ-figure in the books. He is both beautiful and terrifying. I really believe the Scripture describe God like this - he is the most fearsome thing we will ever encounter, and yet the most beautiful, and we will want to be with him because of his incredible love, and yet we will always be aware of the incredible power he holds.

And so this Augustine quote I read in "TwentySomeone" last night really echoed this paradox with me:

You, my God, are supreme, utmost in goodness, mightiest and all-powerful, most merciful and most just. You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present amongst us, the most beautiful and yet the most strong, ever enduring and yet we cannot comprehend you. You are unchangeable and yet you change all things. You are never new, never old, and yet all things have new life from you. You are the unseen power that brings decline upon the proud. You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. You support, you fill, and you protect all things. You create them, nourish them, and bring them to perfection. You seek to make them your own, though you lack for nothing. You love your creatures, but with a gentle love. You treasure them, but without apprehension. You grieve for wrong, but suffer no pain. You can be angry and yet serene. Your works are varied, but your purpose is one and the same. You welcome all who come to you, though you never lost them. You are never in need yet are glad to gain, never covetous yet you exact a return for your gifts. We give abundantly to you so that we may deserve a reward; yet which of us has anything that does not come from you? You repay us what we deserve, and yet you owe nothing to any. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can any man say enough when he speaks of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you! For even those who are most gifted with speech cannot find words to describe you.?

Saint Augustine
Confessions, Bk 1, Sect. 4

Keeping Your Word

Personal News
What a day! It's a Monday, my normal day off, and I am truly taking a day off today. Currently, I am sitting in my backyard under the shade of our big ash tree, typing on my laptop, connected wirelessly to the Internet with a cold glass of water next to me. It is about 62 degrees outside right now, sunny, with an extremely calm breeze. It sure is a lot easier on days like this to say "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) ;o)

Today is the first day of school, which also means it is M's first day of kindergarten. She was pretty nervous last week and was NOT looking forward to going, but a series of small gifts from God over the past few days (meeting her teacher, seeing her class room, etc.) helped her change her mind and she was ready to go today.

K, on the other hand, couldn't wait for school to get started. She's been eagerly anticipating today since mid-July. Our non-morning girl was up early, grinning from ear to ear, and while Mom fixed her hair, K said, "this is the best day of my life!" Oh, that I pray that attitude continues for life!

Personal Thoughts
The wedding last Friday went well despite the 92% humidity, 92 degree heat, and 92 mosquitos. But there was a downer on the evening. A friend we didn't expect to see there told us she was getting divorced.

LeAnn and I were shocked. She was devastated. It was such a God-thing that we were able to sit with her at the reception, and cry with her and listen to her share about how broken she is. She does not want this divorce, she desperately wants to work things out, but her husband is determined to finish this out. And to make matters worse, they are still under the same roof.

While Colbee and Vivi fully meant the vows they said last Friday night, I don't blame my friend one bit for being a bit cynical. She, too, meant the words she said at her wedding, and she believed her husband did too. And now those words are being so easily (yet painfully) broken. It is so painful when flesh rips.

I have every intention of keeping the vows I made to LeAnn 11 years ago. But yet, do I keep my word in every area of life?

Christ told us to let our yes be yes and our no be no (Matthew 5:37). And so whether it be marriage vows, or work committments, or an agreement between friends, would you be a person who "keeps their word," who let's their yes truly be yes and not just "maybe" or "yes, as long as I feel like it"?

Our world seems to be running out of word-keepers. And our world desperately needs them more than ever.

A Polarizing Book (Velvet Elvis)

I finished reading Rob Bell's first book Velvet Elvis a couple days ago. I knew going into the book that it was very polarizing. A quick read through the reviews at Amazon reveals that people either loved or hated the book. (Most good books get that kind of reaction.) Like I said: polarizing.

Personal Polarization
But what I didn't expect was that I would be personally polarized. I can't remember another book that I've had a reaction to like this. I loved the book, and hated it at the same time.

There were times where I found myself thinking "I've thought that all along and have always been afraid to voice it!" and at other times thinking "but if you take Rob's idea further, it opens the door to many dangerous trains of thought". I thought his trampoline and brick wall analogies were brilliant, I found myself completely understanding the Epilogue since I experienced something kind of similar, I was uncomfortable about the discussion about Biblical Interpretation (but I don't want to admit that I think he's right)... as you can see, I'm internally polarized.

And to share yet another personal polarization: I think every Jesus follower should read this book, yet there are some people I don't want to read the book for fear of what their reactions might be (in both directions).

So should you read it? Yes. But don't say I didn't warn you. And don't let it polarize you against me. :o)

Weddings

I'm officiating a wedding tomorrow night. Colbee and Vivi make a great couple. They have a beautiful location out at the gazebo at Touch of Class. They've picked out one of my favorite passages,Colossians 3:12-17, to be read in Portuguese and English (Vivi is from Brazil). While I probably should blog about this after the fact, I know it is going to be a beautiful ceremony. I love weddings.

Why?
I think I love officiating weddings because I get to be up front with a couple during a holy, mystical moment. To stand there and watch two great individuals vow before God and friends to enter into a marriage covenant and allow God to make them one flesh is so incredible, I find it difficult to provide the right words.

But I also love what weddings do to me. As I verbally paint a picture of what a God-designed marriage looks like, I am reminded each time of what my own marriage should look like. And often I find myself needing to make small changes to be the husband that God wants me to be and the husband a great woman like LeAnn deserves (and so that I'm not a huge hypocrit to all of these couples I do pre-marital counseling with!).

If you are married, are you being the husband or wife that God wants you to be? If you are single, what are you doing now to develop your character to be the husband or wife God desires you to become in case he holds marriage in your future?

In Christ...

Man, I have so many blog ideas in my head, but just not time to get them typed out here. I really should be heading home right now, but I've got a moment to type here, so I'm taking it.

Are you living "in Christ"?
I started Ephesians this past week in my personal reading time. Man, is it rich! Already done with it, but I'm going to re-read through it a few times I think. As I started chapter 1 on Tuesday, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with how many times Paul says "in Christ" or "through Christ" or "in him" or some other variant. I was in the NET Bible this week (may do a different translation this next time through) and "in Christ" was jumping out all over the place!

It really got me. Do I see my all of my life as being "in Christ", or just a little part of me? Do I see the circumstances around me as being "in Christ" or do I just let them pass me by? Am I doing the things I do during my day "through Christ" or in my own strength?

How about you? Are you daily living "in Christ"?

Mighty Mouse

I'm a Mac guy, and while I don't plan to post much about Macs, this one I felt was worth posting.

Mighty Mouse is on his way!

Dumb name, but looks very cool. But it is 5 years too late! $49 isn't a bad price, but they should have put this out more than a couple of years ago (or left the cord off to be up-to-date). Apple (who was recently named by 600+ CEOs in Business Week as the Most Innovative Company) used to ignore the cry for a two-buttoned mouse with scroll wheel, claiming the one-button mouse as more than efficient enough - now it seems they've changed their ways.

But better late than never, right?

Are you an "Apple"?
Some local church congregations act like Apple has with the computer mouse. They refuse to change things. "But we've never done it that way." And something that surprises me is that I've even heard that line uttered by a young adult before! (Remember, I pastor young adults.)

But our God, the God who does not change, is changing everything! In fact, the whole Christian life is about change! We are changed into new creations when we start following Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are constantly being changed and transformed as we mature in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). And we will be changed yet again when we enter heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The Christian life is one of constant change. The only thing that doesn't change is God Himself (Malachi 3:6).

So are you afraid of change? If so, why? In what areas of your life do you need to change? In what areas does your church/ministry/life need to be "better late than never"?

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

What are you living for?

Living With a Hurt Knee
Had a great weekend in Greenville, IL with my wife's family. Lots of laughter, lots of games, little sleep, but restful still. However, the weekend ended with a downer: on my only water ski run of the weekend, just minutes from piling into the minivan to head back to Iowa, I wrecked. Big time. My left knee is punishing me by giving me intense pain when I try to bend it, so I am regularly reminded of the incident. Oh well, I may walk like an old man, but I'm still young at heart...

Living For What Matters
Just saw a video (which requires QuickTime to view) that was a promo for last January's Passion Conference. You can skip the end of the video when the retreat dates start coming up, and you can put it on mute (the music isn't that great, in my opinion), but the content is super. My favorite part:

Renown=what lasts the longest
Renown=fame that will never fade away
Renown=ultimate glory
Most stuff people live for fades with time
One fame lasts forever...

What are you living for? Is it something that fades, something perishable? Or is it something that lasts forever, something imperishable, something worth dying for?