A Cool Opportunity

I had a very nifty opportunity to meet Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. It was a lunch where about a dozen local pastors were able to have a sit down, face-to-face chat with him about leadership and the upcoming Leadership Summit.

For me, it was a real joy to meet a man who truly inspired me before I went to Bible College. I will never forget hearing him preach so passionately about how the local church is the hope of the world. It put a fire in my bones. I never thought I'd meet him face to face. But cool, I got the opportunity.

And I was able to tell him thanks. And that was neat for me. Here's a shot of me and Bill (we're really good friends now!)...

I wanted to hug him, but when I tried his personal body guards tasered me (but I'm alright now). I think he really will come over for that barbecue I invited him to at our house.

Anyway, it was fun getting to meet one of my heroes.

My Encounter Journey (Day 25)

Today's Scriptures are Leviticus 26:9-13. What a wonderful Savior! What a wonderful God! How do I deserve such love? How do I deserve this grace?

One of my favorite songs is Amazing Love. Here's a portion of the lyrics:

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I am so magnificently small and insignificant. I serve a mighty, mighty Savior. Reviewing such amazing thoughts wants me to simply break out in praise to this awesome God we serve!

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Jesus for saving me from my slavery! I love you. I need you. I can't survive without you! In Your Loving Name.

I'm a proud Dad!

Both of my sons' softball teams are undefeated (4-0)! They are doing really well. Jacob's team is really clicking and playing extremely well (they have a great coach - me!) and Jonathan's team is also doing very well, but they have had to battle much harder to remain undefeated.

Jacob and Jonathan both hit triples last night in their respective games. It is so cool to watch them play. They have a lot of skill and really enjoy the game.

Before the season began, as I learned who the players would be on our team, I e-mailed all of them and told them to memorize 1 Corinthians 10:31. We aren't playing to win. We are playing our very best, in whatever position we play, to give honor and glory to God. And that philosophy has paid dividends of an undefeated season so far.

Again, I am a very proud dad!

My Encounter Journey (Day 24)

Today's Scriptures are Romans 6:11-18 and John 8:31-36. I find it very compelling that Paul says that we need to not offer up the "parts" of our bodies to sin. I started thinking about what in the world that could mean.

How can I offer up a part of my body to sin? I guess I can sin with my eyes when I look at something I shouldn't look at. I think I can sin with my hands when I use them as a tool to get something I don't need or to offend someone who I am mad at. I believe I can sin with my ears when I listen to things that I should not. I sin with my feet when I willingly walk into trouble, knowing that it will lead me to ruin.

I even sin with my heart, when I long to do something that is wrong because it will make me feel better. I sin with my mouth when the words that come out of it are used to tear down and destroy.

I do offer up the various parts of my body to sin. I need to stop. As I thought through the list, there are not many untainted parts of my body that sin has not left it's dark imprint upon.

But thank the Lord, I am no longer held captive by those ways. I can choose differently now because of Christ and His power within me, I can choose to live for Him and not me.

"Father, wash me clean from sin's dark stain. I still see it's affect in my life. I once took a bloodbath and that cleaned me up...but like my dog, Bessie, I went quickly back to wallowing in the dirt. Help me to stay clean, Lord. Cleanse me. Purify me. Transform me...from the inside out. Thank you Jesus. In Your Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 23)

Today's Scripture is Galatians 5:1. This verse is interesting to me. It is like one of those paradoxes you see sometimes in Scripture. We are free, but we are servants of Christ.

I think one of the ways I see this verse worked out is like the Financial Peace University Class we are going through at church. One of the first "baby steps" that he has you go through is to have a $1000.00 emergency fund.

We did that...well, almost, we were very close to having the full $1000.00 and then on one day I blew a tire, broke my rim and strut all in one shot. The bill came to over $400.00. What would have been not only a car problem, would have also been a financial problem. Now it is only a car problem.

When you have an emergency fund, you don't really have emergencies. That is a very "freeing" concept.

Our salvation in Christ Jesus is similar in that, we no longer have to operate like the rest of the world, in it's slavery to sin. We have literally been freed up by Christ to operate in a whole new way! How sweet it is!

We no longer deal with problems like the world does. We can have a peace about us in the midst of intense heartache and trouble. That is because of our new found freedom through Christ and His sacrifice for us. That is an awesome thing. It really is freedom.

"Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. Thank you for the freedom I have in You. Thank you that I no longer have to be overcome by the sorrows of this world. You are my Rock, my Fortress. I love you, Lord. In Your Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 22)

Today's Scriptures are Isaiah 58:1-9; and Matthew 6:16-18. Fasting is so hard. It is hard to deny me of anything. I am a devourer. I like to consume...whatever it is. I want it and I don't want to withhold.

I believe this week I will be fasting but I am not going to share on the day(s) that it will be happening. I will continue to journal and share but not about that. That is only for me and God.

My prayer is that I will sincerely zero in on Him as I do this. That He will reveal to me His will and make is known. I want to turn down the clatter of all the other stuff in my life right now.

"Heavenly Father, help me to be madly in love with you. Help me to desire nothing but you and your Presence. Help me to practice your Presence each day. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 21)

This past week was the best yet. I really enjoyed all the Scriptures and have just really felt like God has been growing me big-time! I am happy right now. The Lord and I have really been clicking lately.

That's really what is most important. I need to continue to seek out the Lord even after this Encounter Journey is over. Not sure how that will work with my blog yet but, I know that this has been wonderful for me as a person.

This past week's focus being on people has been good. It has helped me to see areas of my life that I need to grow in my relationships with others. This coming week will be challenging with the focus being on fasting. I already have a sense of some things that I need to deny in my life in order to focus more on my Father.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for teaching me Your Truths. This coming week, Lord, help me to be faithful and obedient to You in those things you ask of me. In Jesus' Name."