Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Risky Business
I'm certainly no thrill seeker. The thought of plummeting toward earth in a skydiving adventure really freaks me out (I've seen to many movies where chutes didn't open!). I don't really like to travel that fast or jump off things. Waterskiing is about as adventurous as I get - and last time I did that I strained my rotator cuff. But God seems to be speaking to me about risk. Our current sermon series The Great Escape...breaking free from the things that keep us in chains! is a study through the Exodus where Moses comes back to Egypt (after being chased out of town 40 years ago) to convince a king to just let all his slaves go! No armies. No secret weapons. Just the call of God on his life. Pretty risky, I'd say. I just finished reading The Big Idea from Dave Ferguson. Part of the premise is that we've got to take risks in our churches. The mission is too critical to just maintain the status quo. Besides, in eternity, what else should we risk more than connecting others to God? Then I read Perry Noble's blog this morning and he talked about the importance of taking risks as a pastor to advance God's kingdom. God is definitely working on me in that area. I'm not really sure where all He's taking me, but it's going to be a great ride. I just hope He doesn't lead me out of a perfectly good airplane!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Is it just a guy thing?
Our new church building is coming along. Its so exciting to see things being done. Its probably a guy thing, but I love to go over to the building site and just watch the heavy equipment work. We don't have a lot over there - an excavator, a skid-steer, and a small dozer. But I could sit over there for hours and just watch them move dirt around. Odd, I know!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"6"
Yesterday, my oldest daughter, Annabeth, turned 6 years old. Where does the time go? It was only yesterday she was a helpless baby - now our third is on the way! Annabeth is growing up so fast. She no longer needs our help for every little thing (and thinks she needs less help than she actually does!). She can read and write and do a little math. She is really amazing. She will be a great leader. She's smart and stubborn and passionate. I pray Wendy and I can just teach her to love Jesus. If we can do that, she'll do great work advancing the kingdom of God.
At her Kindergarten graduation last week, her teacher gave her the "Debra" award. That suits her because Debra was a leader and a warrior for God. I am looking forward to see what God will do through Annabeth. But I can wait. I'm fine with her just being my little girl a while longer! They grow up too fast.
Daddy loves you, Annabeth!
At her Kindergarten graduation last week, her teacher gave her the "Debra" award. That suits her because Debra was a leader and a warrior for God. I am looking forward to see what God will do through Annabeth. But I can wait. I'm fine with her just being my little girl a while longer! They grow up too fast.
Daddy loves you, Annabeth!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
nowhere to hide
This morning I read Proverbs 15. Verse 11 really jumped out at me. I'm not sure why. The truth in it is not something I don't know or haven't heard - it just stuck out.
"Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord -- how much more the hearts of men!"
A scary thought. Even the very mystery of Death is no mystery to God. He knows the inner workings of the process. And in his infinite knowledge, just as he knows all about Death, he knows every part of me. Sometimes I wish he didn't. Sometimes there are things in there I'd rather him not see. I can hide from my wife. I can keep things from my kids. I can put an image out there for my church to see. But God sees it all. He knows. Nothing is hidden from him. Just like Adam, my soul is naked before him, no matter how I may try to put leaves on top of it. I'm an introvert anyway, I don't like being that open, and its frightening.
But its also empowering! God sees all the gunk in there and yet he still wants to use me in his kingdom and has gifted and enabled me to do so. While I don't like that he can see all that is not right with my heart, I think he can probably see some good stuff in there that I haven't even seen yet. Things that he put there when Christ came to live in me. And he put those thing there because he had a plan for me - and he will complete it. That's exciting!
May God reveal our hearts - both the evil we need to purge and the good we need to grow in.
"Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord -- how much more the hearts of men!"
A scary thought. Even the very mystery of Death is no mystery to God. He knows the inner workings of the process. And in his infinite knowledge, just as he knows all about Death, he knows every part of me. Sometimes I wish he didn't. Sometimes there are things in there I'd rather him not see. I can hide from my wife. I can keep things from my kids. I can put an image out there for my church to see. But God sees it all. He knows. Nothing is hidden from him. Just like Adam, my soul is naked before him, no matter how I may try to put leaves on top of it. I'm an introvert anyway, I don't like being that open, and its frightening.
But its also empowering! God sees all the gunk in there and yet he still wants to use me in his kingdom and has gifted and enabled me to do so. While I don't like that he can see all that is not right with my heart, I think he can probably see some good stuff in there that I haven't even seen yet. Things that he put there when Christ came to live in me. And he put those thing there because he had a plan for me - and he will complete it. That's exciting!
May God reveal our hearts - both the evil we need to purge and the good we need to grow in.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
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