Fireproof Coming 9/26/2008!

Getting the Wrong Message

I finished my sermon this morning in the diner at HyVee on the southside of Des Moines. Sometimes it helps me to do that being out of the office. I really enjoy this series I am in and have come to the conclusion that I like preaching from the Old Testament more than I do the New Testament.

That's weird for me because three years ago, I definitely wouldn't have said that. But there is something magnificent and genuine about the roughness of the stories in the Old Testament.

Last week having preached on The Mistress, my son told me something funny. I guess that morning, Matt (their youth pastor) was challenging the youth to take a stand when they are exposed to inappropriate messages. If they are in a movie that is raunchy, then Matt challenged them to just walk out. If they are watching a TV show that is bad, then turn it off.

Well, my son said that the content of my sermon was "R" rated and he and the youth probably should have walked out. I told them I didn't think that was what Matt was getting at...but hey, at least they are listening!

Made me think...

This past Wednesday night at church, I was in my office while the kids program and the youth program had their last meeting before summer. I went down to scope out some of the snacks that the youth group had. One of the youth, typically known for saying whatever pops into his mind, said something to me that made me think.

He said, "I wouldn't want your job. You always look like you're mad or stressed." Wow. That made me wonder. Does my countenance reflect that? Am I always looking stressed or mad?

If that is the case, then what a drag!? I don't want to look mad or stressed all the time. I mean, I should get a day every once in a while to have that look (maybe Tuesdays). But I shouldn't have it all the time.

I have been somewhat concerned about the church lately, but I still don't want to look like I'm Mr. Wilson. That really bums me out. I hope that's not what most people think.

Whatever I look like, I sincerely don't want to look mad. I really do struggle with my anger at times and I don't want it to win in my life and capture my countenance as well.

I wonder if that's what other preachers are known for...looking mad or stressed? What do you think?

How I spent my Memorial Day!

This is actually my neighbor's yard. Here's mine...

I know it's a little hard to see, but trust me, it's under there.




Around 10PM on Sunday evening is when this old oak fell into our yard/house. Luckily our tree on the side of our home caught the brunt of it and helped to protect our home. We could have ended up like our neighbor's down the street. Look at this shot...


Something that struck me with this whole episode is that my neighbor's tree looked really good on the outside but was hollow and decayed on the inside...just like some people I know. If your innards ain't good, then you ain't no good at all! Without Christ on the inside, the first strong storm that hits your life means your destined to fall...just like my neighbor's tree!

Well...I'm a little more sore and tired than normal. But this is what it looks like in my yard now...

Follow Up On Maria Chapman's Death

I would encourage you to grab a box of Kleenex and read Jim Houser's (Steven Curtis Chapman's manager) run down of the memorial service that took place this weekend to remember Maria. It blew me away. You can read it Here.

Prince Caspian

We went last weekend to see Prince Caspian. This movie was fantastic! It has a great message. It is done extremely well. IMO, it's better than the first movie. It does deviate from the book a bit, but it still stays within the spirit of Lewis' work.

This is a war film, make no mistake. The battle scenes are longer and more intense than the original movie. But there's no gore, per se. The bad guys just kind of fall over dead...no blood, really.

But I still believe it is a good family film. I highly recommend it! To read another extended review click Here.

Pray for the Chapman Family

I am sure by now you have heard the awful news of the tragedy that occurred at the Chapman family home yesterday evening. Please pray for the family. You can send them a condolence Here. If you listen to the latest CD by Stephen Curtis Chapman, you will see that it is almost like God was preparing them for this. Pray for their son, Caleb. We can not even begin to know the grief.

One Prayer Trailer

My Encounter Journey (Day 30)

Well...confession time for me. I have been silently asking God to help me with my struggles...here's a few I have.

I wish that I could not be so angry and grumpy. I want to be more happy.

I wonder if I am really doing something worthwhile with my ministry...I have been at The Fort for almost 10 years and the church hasn't grown past 200 (is it me?).

I wish that I could learn to manage my time better.

I wish that I could actually conquer some of my sin struggles, but some of them just seem to hang on and on in my life.

I wish that I was more skilled at dealing with people...I feel as though most of the time I usually flub up relationships.

I wish that I knew what I was doing...half of the time, I feel as though I am flying by the seat of my pants.

I wish I had a deeper and more consistent walk with Jesus...a lot of the time, I feel like a fool who barely knows the Lord.

Those have been some of my internal struggles through this encounter journey. I am still a work in progress...a beta project.

My Encounter Journey (Day 29)

Well, these past 28 days have been a trip. I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging my encounter experience. I feel a little naked through it all, but I wanted to be as honest as I would be if I were journaling in my own notebook. God has really meddled in my life. I liked that.

My intentions are to continue blogging on a devotional level, but not to this extent. I will probably do a once-a-week devotional blog post from something that I am reading in Scripture. I will (Try) to make those posts happen on Mondays. I will start next Monday with that.

My prayer has been that the encounter experience would be something widely embraced by folks in the church. I get the sense that it wasn't widely embraced but more like kinda-sorta embraced. Whatever the result there, it had a better, and unforeseen result in my own life. And for that I am very glad.

So tomorrow will be my last Encounter Journey Post. From here on out, Monday's will be called My Bible Journey Posts. I'm looking forward to that.

My Encounter Journey (Day 28)

Well...two more days and the encounter journey is over. I have really enjoyed the experience. I believe those that did this (not too sure how many actually did) would have really benefitted from it.

I feel God has been really meddling in my life through this experience. I'm very glad He has. He has helped me to see new things. He has helped me to restore relationships that have been broken. He has ministered to my heart.

You have to be a fool to not believe in Him!

"Thank you Father for meddling. Thank you for all the flipping you have been doing in my life. Thank you for the encounter series and its impact in my life. In Jesus' Name."

Bella Review

Last night we watched the movie Bella. Bella means beautiful. And that is exactly what this movie is. It is done in an artistic way, but it has a message that is amazing!

In terms of crude or profane language, the worst that you will hear is someone say, "He is a piece of..." but the sentence is never completed. There really is nothing negative in the film.

It has a very strong message concerning life and the choices a woman faces when she experiences an unwanted pregnancy.

I would encourage you to walk, don't run, to your video store and rent or buy Bella. It is a great movie. You won't be disappointed! For a more extended review click Here.

My Encounter Journey (Day 27)

Today's Scriptures are Romans 8:12-18. My relationship with God has always been deeply and profoundly shaped by the fact that my earthly father was absent from my life. At first, that meant that I carried a deep wound, but as time passed and I grew and I began to understand my Heavenly Father, then I learned a great truth. The truth was this, I am God's child. I am not a mere product of an act of lust between two consenting adults. I am not an abandoned little boy...I am a son of God.

That is a wonderful, happy truth that began to help me navigate life on a course that led me to not having to worry about trying to win the approval of men...because like Paul said that is a fruitless exercise that only takes you away from serving Christ (Galatians 1:10).

But something else has happened in my journey. I have now reconnected with my earthly father. And I am learning to love him too. All that I used to consider that he gave me was the gift of how NOT to be a father to my two sons. But now I am learning more in life. I am learning a little bit about being the son of someone and how that matters. God is teaching me so many things in my life...and I love it.

Sonship...being called a son, is a big deal. Not that being a daughter is unimportant...but there is something dynamically special about being a son. And I am learning it now as an adult. It is a good schooling I am going through.

As I learn to be a son again, in a new and fresh way, I get to learn even more about my wonderful, loving Heavenly Father who never left me or abandoned me. He was always Present in my life. The safety of that closeness is what has sustained me...even in my most shameful and dark times.

As my earthly father desires to know me...I am reminded of my Heavenly Father's desire for me to know Him. Wow! He just blows me away each and every day!

"Thank you, Abba, Father for never leaving me alone. For always caring for me. For never giving up on me. I love you and I want to know you more. In Your Son's Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 26)

Today's Scriptures are Matthew 11:28-30. I love to sleep. But I can only do it for so long. I remember when I was young, I could sleep till noon. But now I can hardly sleep past 7:00AM. I'm not quite sure what that is.

There have been times when I couldn't sleep. My mind was too busy. I wanted to sleep. I would lay down in bed and go through all the motions, but all I would end up doing is tossing and turning and staring at the ceiling.

When you want to sleep and you can't sleep, it is a real drag. What Jesus is talking about is that ability to be able to have your mind calmed down and be able to lay down quietly and comfortably and fall asleep.

I love that. That sounds so relaxing, so comforting. There have been times where it was just so hard to turn my mind off. But Jesus can do that. He offers complete rest. Rest from worry. Rest from stress. Rest from conflict. Rest from health issues. Rest from any and all things that life can throw at us.

The only issue I take with what this Scripture said, Jesus claims in it that "His yoke is easy." I want to take issue with that. I have been through enough in my short time here on earth to discover that is not always the case. I have been through very difficult times as His follower. Why would He say that?

The only thing I can gather is that in those times where I really was struggling as His follower and things were hard (not easy), it was because I wasn't resting in Him. I was working. I was doing. I was performing.

Jesus wasn't able to help me because I was too busy doing His work without letting Him help me. Then you can't rest. Your mind can't slow down. You end up worrying.

I want to have my Savior minister to me so that He can minister to others through me. Until that happens, I will have trouble sleeping.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for the peace, the rest, the comfort that you offer to us. Help me to relax. Help me to really abide in you. In Jesus' Name."

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."

You will be my Withnesses?

I am reading another book currently (I probably shouldn't have started this one with all the others I have to finish right now). The book is 11 by Leonard Sweet. I only read the Introduction today, but it grabbed me. He introduces the meaning of the book 11. He says that the book is an exploration of the 11 Withnesses every person needs on life's journey.

Withnesses is his shorthand for "indispensable relationships." Hebrews 12:1 says that we are "...surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses..." and yes, sometimes we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. But other times we're surrounded by a great cloud of witlesses. But most of all we need to be surrounded by a great cloud of Withnesses. "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone.'"

I am excited about getting into this book, I think it will be a great read!

My Encounter Journey (Day 20)

Today's Scriptures are Philippians 2:1-11. My attitude stinks most of the time. I'm grumpy. I'm irritable. I'm grouchy. The very traits I despise in other people I wear most of the time.

I guess that makes me a hypocrite. I can put on a good attitude when I am wanting something. BUt my most often go-to attitude is grumpiness. Why is that?

It's because I don't do what this Scripture says. I don't consider others better than myself. I don't have a Jesus-attitude.

That really does need to turn around for me. I need a new attitude. I need to embrace more of Christ in me so there is no room for that in my life anymore.

"Heavenly Father, help me to not be an "image manager" but help me to only have one image...the image of your Son, that others can clearly and always see in me. Help me to not be grumpy. Help to live a healthy lifestyle so that my attitude is positively affected by that. Help me to treat others above myself. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 19)

Today's Scriptures are John 19:25-27.

It is a wonderful thing to have people in your life that are closer than family. People that you can tell anything to or ask anything of. John was that for Jesus. He would do anything that Jesus asked of him, and he did. He would even die for him, and he did.

I think I have some friends like that. Someone that I believe I could tell anything to. Someone that would help me in whatever situation I found myself.

We need that. We need people in our lives that stick closer than a brother.

"Lord, thank you so much for friendship. Thank you for buddies. Thank you for allowing life to be experienced with others. It is a wonderful thing to have true friends...people that you know will always stand by you. Help me to be that same kind of friend. Help me to honor the friendships I have. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 18)

Today's Scriptures are John 13:21-25. In this passage, Jesus reveals that somebody is going to betray Him. What begins is a lot of staring and looking at each other. All of them were trying to figure out which one it was.

I remember being in youth group and playing a game called wink. The object of the game was that someone was randomly chosen in secret to be “the murderer.” And the murderer’s job was to act innocent and simply wink at people without giving it away who he/she was.

Everyone else’s job was to look around at everyone else and try to 1) not be killed and 2) guess the identity of the murderer before he/she winked everyone to death. If you happened to be the unlucky recipient of a wink, you had to lay your head down on the table and say that you had just been murdered.

I don’t know why, but I loved this game. We played it a lot in my youth group. It really is a blast. And that is kind of the imagery that comes into my mind when I read this scenario with Jesus reclining at the table with His disciples that evening.

Everyone was trying to figure out who the bad guy was. No one was really sure. Some might have been wondering if Jesus was giving some future-oriented prophecy. If that was the case then any and all could be guilty. But if it wasn’t a future prophecy but more of a current reality, then who did it?

We all know who it was. It’s kind of like we get to read it from the vantage point of having our heads down on the table, already having been winked at. We know Judas is the bad guy.

One of the things that I think is unfortunate for the church today is we like to play wink too much. We spend too much time pre-occupied with who the bad guys are. Fact is only Jesus knew. That was good enough. Jesus was able to handle that information.

Sometimes we’re not. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out who the worst people are among us and then when all of our suspicions are confirmed, we have a hard time serving those people and continuing to minister to those people (Jesus was able to wash Judas’ feet…we don’t even want them to sit in the same row with us as we sing “How Great Thou Art”).

I think it best that we probably not be so pre-occupied with playing wink. Here’s the dirty little secret. We’re all winkers! We’re all sinners and bad guys. We all have screwed up and thus we are totally screwed…without Jesus. But with Jesus in the mix, everything changes.

He doesn’t play the game like we play it. He is able to treat sinners and even betrayers with a level of dignity that very few of us can ever seem to achieve. I think we could learn a lot from Jesus.

Yes it is true. There are bad people who do bad things among us. But, don’t search to hard for them, because you might end up seeing yourself.

“Heavenly Father, help me to not go on witch hunts. Help me to care about the things you care about. Help me to not always be seeking out sinners so I can condemn them, but help me to love sinners because you loved me…a sinner. Help me to hate self-righteous indignation. Cleanse that tendency out of me. In Jesus’ Name.”

My Encounter Journey (Day 17)

Today's Scriptures are John 13:1-5. I love this passage of Scripture. Jesus the mighty become Jesus the lowly.

He serves his disciples in what was probably their most awkward moment in their 3 year journey with Jesus. Imagine the silence in the room as Jesus stands up. Should they get up with Him? Does He need something? Maybe He's just going to the bathroom?

But He starts to remove his outer clothing. Why is He doing that? Did a bug get in there?

And then He wraps a towel around His waist. No, He's not going to do what I think He's going to do, is He? This can't be.

And then the water basin. And the first disciple that He kneels down before...just imagine that posture. The Highest Leader of All kneeling before a bewildered follower.

Nothing but silence. No words spoken. It is all they can do to stay seated. You hear only the water dripping and the movement of His hands over their dirty feet.

I find it compelling that John goes out of his way to make sure that we know that Judas isn't only present (he's the only disciple mentioned by name in these verses) but that he had already committed to betrayal. Imagine that one. Jesus washing his feet.

No one in the room except Jesus and Judas knew anything more. And neither of them let on that they knew anything at all. But Judas was even more uncomfortable than the rest of the disciples as this happened to him as well.

Here's my take-away from this...I need to be that kind of leader. A servant leader. I need to be stooping way more than I stand propped up (and when I am propped up, maybe it should be while I am on my cross).

I also need to understand that those close to me, may not always be there. And even though I may feel betrayed, I still need to serve them.

I need to care deeply about those that I lead. I need to do tasks that I might have a tendency to consider "beneath me."

"Lord, thank you for the Perfect Example. Help me to follow it. Help me to be humble. Help me to not aspire for greatness in any one's eyes. Help me to find satisfaction in menial work. Help me to not care about position. Help me to serve others."

My Encounter Journey (Day 16)

Today's Scriptures are John 11:17; John 11:32-36. From pretty early on in my understanding of the Bible, I fell in love with John 11:35 because it is one of the shortest verses in the Bible and whenever there was any kind of a verse memorization contest as a child, this was my standard go-to verse. Jesus Wept. It's easy to memorize.

But it isn't so easy to remember. He wept when he saw the grief his friends experienced. He was shaken and hurting because of their struggles. That blows me away. If he did that for them, he does that for me. But I don't remember that. And instead of letting that knowledge minister to me, I will find comfort in other things.

Sometimes I will medicate my grief or struggles in unhealthy ways...because I forgot that two-word verse that I memorized as a child. Jesus wept. And if he wept for them, He will weep for me. My pain is in His heart. I am not alone in my trials. Wow! That's a pretty amazing concept if you let your brain soak on that one for a while.

The other side of that coin is that we are called to be Jesus to other people...to love people like Jesus does. And part of that experience is to weep with our friends through their pain and struggles.

In our machismo-driven, male-ego culture...this isn't going to come very easily for many. We need to be strong and tough. But sometimes you need to weep.

I never really understood crying. Why do it? What good does it accomplish? It always seemed like a very silly thing to me. But I understand a little more now that I am older. Crying is good. It is actually quite good for you medically. The benefits are that there is a great release within you. And emotionally a person feels like something has been lifted after a good cry. It really is good for a person. I get that. But it is still a little hard for me.

But there are times when it isn't. When I am watching TV with my family or some soft spot in a movie. Even when I see the pain in people I don't know, I can cry rather easily. BUT, when it comes to those I do know. I hold back. I don't know what that is.

But I need to learn the discipline of being able to understand people better emotionally. I need to empathize with others in their pain and struggles.

"Heavenly Father, help me to be weaker. Help me to not be so emotionally guarded. Help me to really feel the pain of others in my life. Help me to care enough to really, sincerely want to help change things for others when they are enduring trials. Help me weep, Lord."

Talking with my sister update

God is amazing (and a little crazy). If you scroll down and look at my Encounter post from today, you will see that I made a commitment to contact my older sister by the end of this week and just start reconnecting with her. Well, God decided that was too long.

Take a look at the time of when I made the Encounter post this morning. It was early. A little later in the morning, my grandmother from Florida called me (she never does that) and she wanted me to know that my older sister wanted me to call her ASAP because her husband had been stung by a scorpion and she wondered if that was serious (it's not...it's a lot like a bee or wasp sting). So I called her. We chatted for a while. We had a good conversation.

I plan on calling her later in the week to just continue the conversation...unless God thinks I need to call her tonight at midnight or something.

I just thought I'd update you on the day's events. God is amazing (and a little crazy).

God is funny

I think that God has a great sense of humor. Yesterday I preached on Encountering God Through People and part of the sermon's focus was on doing better at prioritizing coming to worship on Sunday morning. It just so happened that this was the lowest attended Sunday we have had all year. So the really faithful few heard the message.

It's kind of like trying to prove Global Warming during the coldest winter on record. It just doesn't work very well. Oh well, such is life. God gets the last laugh!

My Encounter Journey (Day 15)

Today's Scriptures are Matthew 12:46-50.

I never got along very well with my older sister. Still don’t, to be totally honest. We don’t get into fist fights like we had a tendency to do when I was a child. We just don’t talk to each other. I mean it. No birthday cards. No phone calls. No letters. We just don’t communicate at all.

That’s kind of weird, if you think about it. I have two sons. They are brothers. I would die if they treated each other the way my sister and I relate. Why is that? Why is it okay for me but not for them?

Probably because I’m a hypocrite. Getting along with others in my family wasn’t always an aspired to goal. We really knew how to fight. We learned to live in toleration of each other. We never really out right hated each other…we just lived life close together without really caring about each other.

That’s how it is in church sometimes. We just don’t really care that much about each other. And that is sad. Just as sad as me not having a relationship with my older sister.

If that’s how I relate to my sister, then it bums me out that Jesus thinks of me as his brother. I have a proven track record of being a bad brother. I wonder if Jesus feels like my sister at times? I wonder if I cold shoulder Jesus?

Well, I think I need to make some significant changes in my life. I am going to give my sister a call before this week is out and see how she is doing. Just talk. Not sure how that will go, but it can’t be any worse than what is happening now.

“Lord, thank you for calling me a brother. Forgive me for being a bad brother. Help me this week in talking with my sister. Help me to not have an agenda in calling but help me to just be interested in her and her life. Give me words, Lord. In Jesus’ Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 14)

This has been an interesting week. The focus of this past week has been on prayer. I spent some good quality time this week getting alone with God. Sometimes I did that by leaving my office and going to the woods for a walk (and a snake hunt…it’s surprising how spiritual that kind of activity can be).

Other times I just got up early, before anyone else and spent time alone with God…putting Him first in my day. I like that. I think it is really important to start my day with Him. I want to keep the practices we are going through on this Encounter Journey up past this experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is nice to do something just for me…and not feel like it is something I hope everyone else will benefit from.

I remember many years back I preached a three week series on anger that I called, “How to be Good and Mad.” That series was for me. The church just happened to be there each week as I preached to myself.

That’s what I feel like this series is. It is for me. And the church is just there as I realize this is my most important adventure as a Christ follower…to have a deeper, richer, better encounter with God than I have ever had.

This next week’s focus is on encountering God through people. I am a people person, but I am also a difficult person to get along with. So this week I expect God to be chiseling away at some areas in my life where I rub other people the wrong way. (I hope I can keep some of my issues related to being a better driver than the rest of humanity though…I hope God doesn’t go there!)

Should be a good week ahead!

“Lord Jesus, help me to continue in this journey of encountering you in a new and fresh way. Help me be the person you want me to be. Help me to love my brothers and sisters the way that you love me. Thank you for putting up with me. In Jesus’ Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 13)

Today's Scriptures are 1 Corinthians 1:3-11; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-8. The common theme I see running through these verses is that we need to be faithful to our commitment to Christ because soon we will be with Him forever.

People don't like to be told what to do. In fact, people don't like the truth by nature. They would rather be told simply things that will make them feel good. My calling, as Paul clarifies to Timothy, is to preach to truth. It is to do what God has called me to do.

God has called me to help people change their lives. To help people come to real transformation. It is a messy business, but that is the call nonetheless. And it isn't popular. People don't like to change. They like recliner Christianity. But God is not only taking charge of the remote, He is kicking us out of the recliner.

My role is to do what He asks of me without question. I need to be faithful in my own commitment to Christ, but also I need to be faithful in my calling as a pastor. God wants me to call for life amendment. Life change.

What I know is that this kind of change doesn't come through maintaining a set of systems or rules...it can only come about by falling madly in love. People need to learn to fall in love with Jesus. When that happens their lives will change. I need to preach and teach in a way that helps people to fall in love with their Savior.

"Lord, give me the strength to do what you have asked of me. Keep me on the path. Help me to keep my head in all situations. Help me Lord, to be faithful to my calling. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 12)

Today's Scriptures are Matthew 21:21-22 and James 4:1-3. I like to think I am a spiritual guy. Some people think that because I am a pastor I have a closer connection with God than most, like I am somehow better connected or something.

My secret is I kind of like that. But it is a lie. I am not any better connected than anyone. I struggle with my prayer life like most, maybe even more than most.

And the other problem is my motivation in prayer. When I pray, I am the centerpiece. I am what is most important. Me getting or having seems to be my main mantra. I like and I want therefore I pray.

I think that God hates that selfishness in me. I think He desires to wash that out of me. But I am like my dog Bessie...I don't want a bath. I enjoy the stinkiness of my own selfish heart...so I continue to pray selfish prayers where I am always prospering.

What if the best thing that could ever happen to me was that I would not get? What if it would be of great benefit for me to lose? Could I ask God to not let me have anymore?

Maybe I can start small. Just a today kind of prayer. I wonder if it would go better for me to have God get what He wants today instead of me. I think that's where I'll start.

"Lord, today your will first. Today, I want you to do and accomplish all that you need in me and through me before I do anything for me. Your will be done in me. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 11)

Today's Scriptures are Colossians 3:1-17; Colossians 4:2-6. There is a definite theme in these verses...how I live matters. Not only does God care, but the unbelieving world does too. I need to live a life that is consistent with the things that come out of my mouth on Sunday.

It's not enough to just say it. People need to see it. It should not be a shocking thing, if people were to find out, that I go to church. In Colossians 4:5, Paul says that we are to make the most of every opportunity. That language comes out of the market place.

One thing I know for certain...I hate shopping. I'm not good at it. If I want something, I go to the store that has it, I find it, I buy that particular item (and nothing else). My wife doesn't shop like that. She knows a variety of stores that carry the same item or very similar items. She will also research which store has the very best price on the item. She will then see if the item will be going on sale, if it is, then she will hopefully be able to use a coupon to purchase the item.

That way, she got the item for the best price. But, that is a lot of work. It takes time and energy on her part to find great deals like that. That is exactly what Paul is talking about. Making sure that we get the best deal (opportunity) with our lost friends. We need to always be looking for the right moment to bring up our faith in Christ or an opportunity to invite them to church.

Paul speaks a lot about praying for these opportunities. Most of us don't do that. We have prayed before we have purchased larger items for our home. Things like a new appliance. We have spent time praying that we could find the best one at the best price. We should do the same for the opportunities to share our faith.

The main point is we need to remember, I need to remember, that when I lose my temper...people are watching. That when my language isn't God honoring...people are watching. When I treat my wife or my kids poorly...people are watching. And people may decide to not follow Christ simply based on what they see in my life. How I live matters.

"Lord, help me to live for you in a way that helps people see who you are. Help me to make the right choices. Help me to always recognize that what I say and do matters. Grant me opportunities, Lord, with my neighbors to share the love of God with them. I pray specifically for Susan, Lord. Help us share our faith in a way that attracts her to the Kingdom and doesn't repel her from it. In Jesus' Name."