Plumb Lines

A REAL Bucket List

2011-08-19T14:03:00.008-05:00

This week I stumbled upon an interesting website called bucketlist.org. The concept is pretty cool and simple enough - you create a list of things you hope to accomplish or experience before you kick the proverbial bucket. It reminds me of a song performed by Tim McGraw, I think it's called Live Like You Were Dying (yes, I am a Tim McGraw fan). If you ask me, life should be lived, really enjoyed and treasured. I wish I always acted as though this idea was rooted deep in my being. But I don't. I have lots of days that seem to just kind of begin and end without much in between. Man, this is missing it. Just plain missing it.

Best-selling author Erma Brombeck said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me." Perhaps this should really be the heart of a legitimate bucket list. Without meaning to scrutinize others' dreams, I can't help but question whether or not we have adopted a shallow concept of what a real bucket list should look like. Admittedly, my initial thoughts for a personal list includes (in random order):

Earn my pilot's license
Sail from Panama City to the Caribbean Islands
Watch a Red Sox/Yankees game from the top of the Green Monster
Bag an Alaskan Moose to have mounted and placed above my fireplace
Travel with Claire to New Guinea

You get the idea. My selfish bucket list would have a ton of things that were exciting, exotic, and expensive (the American dream, right?!) But, what if this list took a backseat to another one, a more selfless list. This whole concept is inspired for me by a young lady you may have probably heard of by now: Rachel Beckwith. Not even 9 years old before her transition from this life to the next and she got it, I mean really got it. Her idea of a birthday present was raising money and giving it away to people in need. What an incredible heart, what an incredible attitude. Suppose Christians adopted this same mindset and began acting as if this were most important to us. What a world of difference I believe our culture would see in us, our faith, our God. I dare myself to live like Rachel Beckwith. I challenge myself to re-evaluate what my personal bucket list should look like. Maybe more like:

Travel to meet my Compassion Int'l child in Africa to hug him and tell him face-to-face that I really do love him
Preach God's love and grace to students every month
Build a home for a family as an expression of God's desire to bless people
Adopt a child who feels unloved to show them how precious they truly are
Smile regularly - even when I feel discouraged
Invite more people to have dinner with my family
Pray with Claire to God the Father daily
Hug my mom and dad every chance I get

I think this list is shaping up a lot better...

Now, if you care to share I would love to hear from you - what's on your real bucket list?

2011-08-13T13:47:00.010-05:00

So here's a very cool idea: dressing for a cause. It has become real easy for people to make a positive statement with the threads they choose to put on their backs. Take, for example, one family's nicely designed T-Shirts, which you can find here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWaymanFamilyNest

The Wayman Family is in the process of adopting a child from Africa (Ethiopia I believe). If you would like to join them in their cause to share love with the children of the world, and look stylish at the same time, then you can purchase one of these shirts off their website. The proceeds will be used to help the Wayman's with the costs of bringing home their bundle of joy. As I think about the incredible example of love demonstrated by those who pursue children in adoption I am reminded of God's love for us. He is the ultimate example love and calls us His very own sons and daughters: 2 Corinthians 6:18 - I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Solid Rock Bible Camp

2011-07-30T13:01:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow, just after lunch, I will take off from Dallas, TX headed for Solid Rock Bible Camp just outside Great Bend, Kansas! This is a great opportunity for me to share the Truth of Christ with some eager middle school students in an environment perfect for spiritual growth. Getting outdoors and surrounding myself with God's creation does wonders for my soul (as I think it does for most people). This camp offers plenty of time for students and staff to get outdoors and play lots of group games, hit the swimming pool, and even go horseback riding. I will be speaking throughout the week and praying for God's Word to work on all of our hearts. As is normally case, I am filled with anxiousness and excitement as I get all my ducks in a row for the students. For some reason preaching always tends to work me in a frenzy! I am reminded, though, that God will be faithful to do His thing and that I need not sweat the small stuff. This week should be a blast, but I also pray that it will be fruitful. My mission and prayer is to lead the students to a more faithful life, one in which they realize the priceless value of the Cross and engage their hearts fully in God. I hope you will take a moment to join with me in this prayer for these students. May their hearts become fully alive and pleasing to Him!

New Year/New Push

2011-01-02T15:03:00.005-05:00

This morning we had a really thought-provoking sermon in church from preacher Bill White. Of the many issues he discussed the one that really generated the most thought for me was the concept of self-accountability. Many Christian men and women are phenomenal "encouragers". In the New Testament one of Paul's close companions was a man known as Barnabas, which roughly translates as The Encourager. I am very grateful for those God has put in my life to give the extra push that keeps me going in the right direction. I hope that I never take for granted the Barnabas-type people in my life. Many of these are the ones who also are willing to ask me the uncomfortable or tough questions that help me stay grounded and humble in my walk. I need those questions and that brutal accountability. But what if these people, and their accountability, disappear? What happens to me and my spiritual health then? I have never really thought about this (and hope that it never actually happens). Realistically, though, it is possible to live without partner accountability. As Christians we are never without accountability. We must discipline ourselves to be accountable to ourselves and to God. A lack of partner accountability provides no excuse for lackadaisical living. God demands and deserves a devoted life. There has to be a point when a man determines in his heart to be accountable to himself and to his King. Ultimately we will all be required to answer for our own actions, and no excuse will be acceptable. We need to have a "holiness or bust" attitude that pushes us to chase after God's heart in spite of difficult, "accountable-less" circumstances. I am praying that with the onset of the New Year I would be driven to leave excuses in the garbage where they belong and pursue righteous living for myself and my King. Will it be great to have partner accountability? Absolutely. And I'll take every ounce of it I can get. But the bottom line is my new push will be to make myself accountable to myself.

1 Gift - 2 People

2010-12-10T11:01:00.002-05:00

This is awesome. I love when people put their creative thinking to work and use it to solve dilemmas in our world. There are so many ways we can make positive impacts in our cultures, societies, and around the planet that it really is a shame we don't do it more often. Well, here is a solid way to make an impact while turning on the light in another person's brain. Check out the website http://majiwater.com/ and do some reading. Read what the organization's purpose is and ask yourself, "How much would I really appreciate a clean, fresh gallon of water? Especially if there was no clean water available?" Now, get busy helping other people and provide for a major need in their life. Water. It's just water. But for millions of folks water is not just water. It's precious. Do yourself a favor this month: Buy some water from the Maji Water website and pour into another person's life. Give some bottles of Maji Water to friends and family for Christmas and get them on board, too. Heck, make it your Christmas tradition. While you're out making a difference buying water for others remember what Christ has done for you, "Whoever drinks the of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Buy water from Maji Water.

Dude! It's a Double-Rainbooooowwwww! What does it mean?

2010-07-21T14:52:00.004-05:00

This video had me cracking up! I couldn't stop laughing and the guys that watched with me were seriously crying because it is so funny! The guy who video's this is something different to say the least, but in a way I can't blame him for his reaction to what he sees. Think about this: Romans 1:20 explains that we will be able to experience a little bit of the goodness of God through His creation. While this guy certainly seems to be enthralled by the beauty of the rainbow I don't think it is out of the question for humans to sometimes become overwhelmed with the beauty of God's creation. Plus this is just a hilarious video. Have fun.

Encouragement

2010-06-23T11:51:00.004-05:00

Today calls for a little encouragement. This silly, uplifting video should do the trick. The little girl in the video is a good reminder of the attitude we all need to have. Even when times are tough, like not being able to look in the mirror unless your stand on the counter, you can rest assured that are some really good things going on in life. I hope that I can rid myself of negativity on a regular basis and count my many, many blessings. God is a wonderful Father and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Are there things that you are thankful for? Are there areas in life you've felt defeated lately? Well kick that defeated attitude to the curb and begin this self-affirmation activity ASAP! We all need do this!

Incredible Video: McDonald's/Coca Cola Classic

2010-06-22T16:35:00.011-05:00

Here's an incredible video. The video is found on Lanny Donoho's website: (http://www.lannydonoho.com/). I can't imagine how much time and energy went into making this thing! I wish I had the equipment and know-how to pull off something like this! Watch it and be amazed. It will make you appreciate cool videos all the more.

By the way, for all of you nay-sayers who think this type of stuff is for the birds, you should be aware of the fact that McDonald's and Coca Cola Classic just hired this team. The fast food/soda company duo asked the team to produce a commercial featuring their stellar use of T-Shirts and same actors. I'd say that's quite the pay day. See Video Here:

Lanny Donoho and www.thinkbigstuf.com

2010-06-21T13:47:00.007-05:00

Now that my summer is free from the stresses of seminary classes I am attempting to be more diligent in the area of blogging. I had planned to make a witty blog based on the World Cup, particularly the now famed use of the "vuvuzela". However, that post is being postponed due to some much richer information being provided by my good friend, Adam. He introduced me to a website: www.thinkbigstuf.com. This website is sweet. The brains behind the movement is Lanny Donoho (pictured above). I think that the light bulb located between his first and last name is more than appropriate. He has such an innovative mind for practical, impactful ministry. Take the following video for example:

It's clear to see his heart for those less fortunate. But what's more is that he doesn't stop with just a strong sense of compassion, he follows up with a strong sense of activism. Let's face it, people's lives will not be changed if we only feel compassion towards. We must put those feelings into movement and be intentional about seeking the proper measures to engage their problems head on. Thanks Lanny for constantly pushing the limits and providing a worthwhile example.

Great Information from Fellow Pastor

2010-05-24T11:09:00.001-05:00

http://jedipastorken.blogspot.com/2010/05/when-days-end-in-why-meeting-man-named.html

The Central Theme

2010-03-26T06:35:00.004-05:00

Christ died on the Cross, in our place, as requested by the Father, setting us free from the eternal curse that we brought upon ourselves, as an expression of His love, then overcame death by raising Himself from the grave, conquering Satan and sin, proving His deity and holiness so that we might believe. This must remain central in our hearts and cannot be forsaken or replaced with any other notion. Minimizing this truth is to mock the central theme of the gospel.

Back from Mission

2010-03-23T23:30:00.003-05:00

I have been back from Mission, TX for a few days now and decided to make the time for a little update on our ventures. We were very blessed as a church to partake in the gospel in such a powerful way. Our church led numerous projects which provided platforms for us to share the gospel. These projects included women's spa days, pouring concrete, painting houses and churches, soccer clinics, vacation Bible schools, literacy drives, and block parties. I was privileged to join the construction crew and we were assigned the task of building bathhouses for two families. The families needing the bathrooms were otherwise bathing outside under a water house. One family had 3 kids and the other had 4. Needless to say they were in quite a desperate situation. The trip gave me the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings I have been given. One of the big questions I had ask myself was whether or not I would devote myself to God given the same circumstance. Do I serve Him because He has blessed me or do I serve because of who He is? I must be careful not to serve out of the abundance of blessing, for there in lies the trap and lie of prosperity gospel. What if the blessings stop coming from God? Does my loyalty to Him then cease as well? No. It must not. Then I only love God for His gifts and not His love. We all need to make sure that we are serving for the right reasons. How bitter would you be if you couldn't even afford a bathroom for your wife and 4 kids?

Mission 2 Mission

2010-03-12T12:34:00.003-05:00

I will be leaving with about 50 other people from our church bright and early in the morning headed for a town in south Texas called Mission. Ironically enough, we are calling this a mission trip. Mission to Mission. Yep, ironic. Last year's trip proved to be fruitful and eye-opening as I trust this year's experience will be much the same. It is a great privilege to be able to serve in this capacity and I am filled with mixed emotions. God will do great things through this little trip and I am thankful that He has made this possible. Be in prayer for the recipients of the gospel for they are a huge part of our motivation. Also, pray for our hearts to be aligned with God's Spirit in order that we would represent Him well.

Project Rescue

2010-03-10T15:37:00.004-05:00

I have not made time for a post in a while, but this bit of information was too good to overlook. There are lots and lots of ways for us to spend our money, whether we invest in our 401k, go to a movie, or donate to charity. I recently came across what seems to be a very worthwhile charity, but don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself: http://www.projectrescue.com/. The organization strives to help the victims of sex trade. Their website is certainly worth a look. And while you're at it why not see what you can to do help? You just might help change a life.

Lady GaGa, Sexuality, Christ...

2009-12-09T22:15:00.009-05:00

It's no secret that Lady GaGa has made it to the spotlight of our culture. Unfortunately, she's also made it to the spotlight in the eyes of kids and teens, too. Her tunes are edgy and her beats are catchy. She's actually not a bad performance artist. Like so many other "icons", though, she lacks in many areas. Because of her willingness to push so many limits in so many areas she has attracted the attention of so many people. Maybe its her willingness to wear scimpy outfits that attracts young men to her, or maybe it's her provocative song lyrics. Either way, she's won the idolization of testosterone pumping males thus beginning the domino effect. Girls treasure so much the way they are viewed by guys. When a guy adores a scandulous, provocative, bi-sexual pop star young women take notice. Could Lady GaGa's living example be considered trendy? Let's hope not. The last thing needed in this world is another person living completely contrary to God's word while simultaneously being exalted. Her 4 number-1 hits this year are a sad demonstration of the worship she's been granted - the same worship that should belong to Christ. I feel that sexuality and spirituality (particularly Christianity) are very closely linked. Consider sections of scripture like these: 1 Cor 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" and Eph 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality". The Bible indeed has much to say concerning sexuality, much more than can be discussed in this discussion. It's sad and sometimes even sick to hear about the life styles lived by people like this. The message they preach is a message filled with unholy principles that needs to be countered. It can be. Our job as Christians isn't condemning anyone whose life or words fail to honor God (mine doesn't always). Instead our job is to educate ourselves, with God's Word, and make ourselves aware of the Truth. We then need to exhaust ourselves with trying to live in that Truth. Of course we don't earn extra credit by living "right", we've already aced the exam through God's Grace. We strive to live Holy in order to honor God and exemplify His ways to everyone, especially those outside the faith. Christ gave Himself on the Cross for everyone, not just us "Christians". If we live loud enough and bold enough His message can overcome.

Be Holy, Because I Am Holy

2009-11-05T22:35:00.008-05:00

1 Peter 1:16 is such a small statement, but if I really accepted this statement for what it is, a command, then my life would look contrastingly different. Tonight in our guys campfire group we talked about how disturbingly easy it is to fool ourselves by living halfway in the light. We only expose the part of our lives that we are comfortable letting other people see. This message really hit me between the eyes! Last week the question of the night went something like, "If you knew that every minute of your life would be put on TV for the world to see what would you do different?" Again, the question found its mark directly in the center of my heart! I want badly to be holy, but I feel so very far from it! The awareness of shortcomings in life can sometimes leave me feeling discouraged, but I'm reminded that only through the power of Christ given to me through the Holy Spirit am able to live a life worthy of the calling of Christ. Consider this prayer from Augustine:

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Augustine realized, like we all must, that we are powerless on our own. We must acknowledge Him and His power! Too often I live oblivious to Him and do things on my own. This only leads to failure after failure. We must strive to mesh our lives with Him. John 15:5 reminds us: "Apart from Me you can do nothing."

Father, thank You for reminding me that I am nothing without you. Thank you for inspiring me through Your Word, my fellow brothers, and those who have preceeded me like Your servant Augustine. Empower me to live a life that reflects my adoption into Your family. Help me to live well. Strip away pride from my life that I would focus on Your plans, Your ways, and Your Love. Breathe in me, act in me, draw my heart, strengthen me, and guard me. Thank You for your neverending compassion and mercy. I love the way You show Your love to me. I love the way You love me. I love You.

Creation VS Evolution: Awesome Video Online!

2009-11-03T11:48:00.003-05:00

The debate ensues: Creation, Evolution, Both? People arguing from opposite sides of the fence are educated and well prepared for debate so who do we believe? Do we accept the stance of Christianity blindly without "scientific" evidence or do we reason with logic that the scientific community, with all of its conclusions and evidence, must be right? It's a confusing topic that is long from being settled. In the meantime I suggest that you check out this incredible (and FREE!) video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5488284265590289530#

It's well worth the time you'll spend watching it as it provides a well-rounded view of the issues at hand from the world's leading experts on the topic.

Grace, The Gospel, and Luther

2009-11-02T14:25:00.009-05:00

The Luther Rose. This symbol is commonly found in Lutheran churches. As I've been studying the life of Martin Luther and his contribution to the Church I was introduced to the symbolism behind this image. The Yellow Circle surrounding the blue represents the eternal life of all believers. The blue space was Luther's color for eternity spent in Heaven with The Christ. (Sidenote: Heaven is not so much a place but a reality that we will never be physically absent from the Christ). A Christian, because of their redemption, should live with eternal joy, thus the White Rose. The red Heart shows the new life that a person possesses through Christ. And last, but certainly not least, the black Cross. The Cross in the center, thus showing that is central to the faith. Apart from the Cross, everything else represented would not be possible. The new life, the joy, and eternity in Heaven are all dependent on the Cross. Why is it black? To represent the sin that Christ took upon himself to bring the world to the Father. Christ accepted the curse of the Cross as an eternal act of love for us. He did this so that we would become new, joyous creatures elated to live with Him forever. The centrality of the Gospel is Christ and His supreme act of grace demonstrated on the Cross. It is this same grace that restores all of us. I pray that I will daily live in the grace afforded me through the Cross.

Toilets and Blessings

2009-10-29T12:06:00.004-05:00

I just saw this picture on my twitter page from charitywater.org. This organization has a simple mission: give safe drinking water to people who need it. The caption that goes along with this picture says, "this toilet was used by slumdwellers in Monrovia, Liberia." It reminds me that I am blessed. I have never had to use a shack positioned on the edge of a pond to relieve myself. My gut says that if you're reading this from the convenience of your home, office, or school using your computer and high speed internet connection that you rarely, if ever, experience conditions like these. We are blessed. Spend time giving God credit for how incredible your life is.

Reach

2009-10-27T11:47:00.003-05:00

Today as I read Romans I was reminded how marvelous a thing it is to be found in God's grace. It's difficult (if not impossible) to comprehend how God can look upon us with favor, mercy, compassion, love. It is only by GRACE that we can call ourselves sons and daughters of the King. I am thankful that our Father saw fit to reach down into this world and into my life for I know that it is impossible for me to reach Him by any other means. I am thankful that through the Cross God reached to me, a depraved sinner, and saw fit to bring me into a right relationship with Himself. I am thankful that Christ, who was and is God, seeing my desperate need, reached out His arms and completely ended my cursed state. I am thankful that one day Christ will again reach out to me and call me home with Him. Thank You for reaching me.

Encouragement

2009-10-26T16:04:00.005-05:00

Personally, there's never enough encouragement. I can always use more, especially from the ones I respect and love. My world can completely change with genuine encouragement. I tend to be my biggest critic. It's commonplace for me to get down on myself and beat myself up over the little shortcomings in life. Often, after trying to live an upright standard of life on my own, I realize the futility of personal effort. While frustrating, this pushes me to the Cross. I must realize that only there will I find the power to be the man God has called me to be. That's good news. He's provided for me. Now if I would live in that realization and forsake living life of my own effort. What's more good news is that He is also an encourager: John 16:7 & 13 read, "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; bu if I go, I will send Him to you...He will guide you into all truth." I desperately need the Encourager and maybe you do, too. What would He say? How would He encourage? Maybe like this:

Dear Servant,

How are you? I can tell that you are frustrated from all of your up’s and down’s. I can see that you are disappointed with yourself and your inconsistency. Be encouraged. Not because it’s okay to be inconsistent, but because it’s all been handled. You’re trying too hard to do things on your own, can’t you see? This life wasn’t meant to be lived in solitude. You are not designed to fight your spiritual battles in isolation. You are designed to follow me. I will lead you, guide you, and show you the way. I am here to give you assistance every step of the way, not just when you think you need it. So please, stop living as though you don’t need me. Stop waking up every morning with a list of do’s and don’ts – life is more than that. I care more about your heart than your actions.

I know it must be difficult to understand. You live in a culture that demands self improvement, self realization, and self centeredness. That’s all the work of the enemy. You must redevelop your entire thought-life in order to gain a better perspective on how to truly be successful. Success is not about triumph, it is about submitting yourself to Me. You need to understand that as long you are the focus of your decisions and actions you will continue staying stuck, or worse. Rather, turn your attention to Me and those around you. It is totally counter-cultural, which may be difficult, but we both know it is the only way.

Will, stop worrying about who you are. You are mine and that is enough. I am not concerned about whether or not you make a name for yourself as a preacher or pastor. I prefer that you focus more on getting to know Me instead of telling others about Me.

Rest assured that you will have trials in this life. You will experience difficult times and rough moments. Don’t loose it because that’s normal. I want more than anything for you to rely on Me to pull you through those brutally harsh experiences. You are prized in my eyes and I promise that I will screen everything that comes your way. If it’s too big for you to handle, I’ll handle it for you. You can trust me.

When temptation raises its head and stares you down remember, I fought the same fight. I experienced the temptation to be lazy, have pride, and lust. I know that you sometimes think there’s no possible way to overcome those things in your life. There is. Or have you forgotten the Cross? Have you forgotten what was accomplished? I set you free to sin no more – live like you know that. I did not die for my sake, it was for you. Carve that into your heart and remember when you feel like giving in that I provided a means for you to honor Me.

I am so happy that you are my son. I remember the party we had up here when the eyes of your heart were opened for the first time! Now, my son, take heart in me as your Father and give me more than you think I am capable of handling. I am always here and I will never forsake you.

My Own Screwtape Letter

2009-09-30T15:23:00.006-05:00

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to write my own Screwtape Letter. If you are familiar with C.S. Lewis' work The Screwtape Letters then this will ring a bell with you:

My Own Screwtape Letter

My Dear Wormwood,
I commend you for your persistent efforts. Our fellow is showing signs of stubbornness to our attacks, but I trust that through continued pressure he will soon be upon the breaking point, making a decision that will cause shame and separation from his King. Keep in mind that you can not afford to be too aggressive in the measures you choose to take. Instead choose attacks of a more subtle, prolonged nature that will prove most beneficial for seasons to come. Of course, you should always be ready to charge without caution, having studied our victim knowing when he is most vulnerable.

It appears that your increased work of complacency is providing adequate dividends. Our subject is most unaware of the dangers that accompany a tolerating attitude. Through my centuries of experience I have seen many extraordinary men and women crumble with decay as a result of their mediocrity. We know full well, dear Wormwood, their King desires for our patient to experience continued growth and renewal – we must not allow that to happen. Continue your work of whispering in his ear that he has achieved much in the spiritual realm, he will believe it. His satisfaction with current circumstances will allow us to usher in laziness and apathy. We may not possess much influence, if any, over one who is passionate, but much can be done in the life of the complacent.

Similarly, Wormwood, I approve of your crucial timing with the firing of our victim’s lust triggers. You are wise to note that in the company of others our person resists valiantly against our efforts to reacquaint him with his lustful passions. Fortunately for us, few of our Enemies followers truly believe in the power and strength they can harness through sincere fellowship. Therefore be encouraged to persevere in your efforts. When he is alone remind him of the pleasures he will experience through his fantasy world. Coax him down the long, lonely path of selfishness, pleasure, and pride. In the darkness of night he will be most susceptible to your schemes – turn your suggestive whispers to bold commands. You must show some resiliency here, Wormwood, for he will initially put up a bold fight for he knows firsthand how he should behave, but keep in mind the power of perseverance. The longer he is isolated the more prone he is cave in under the pressure.

Lastly, and perhaps of utmost importance when he caves be ready to suffocate with shame. Our fellow is highly prone to wallow in humiliation and guilt. How I desire for all stay in their cages of shame, for there they find no capacity for reconciliation. Howl over our patient and echo words of worthlessness. You know full well the magnitude such words can have over one who has reached their breaking point. Smother out any signs of confession or repentance – we have no hold over the reconciled. Fight with every ounce of energy to defeat our person with a feeling worthlessness. Above all he must never be reminded of the price that was paid for his life, for there he finds the power of humility and grace.

Your affectionate uncle
Screwtape

I would encourage you to write your own version of a Screwtape Letter. It's an eye opening exercise that is designed to help you understand your personal struggles with obedience to Christ. Let me know how it goes!

If you are interested in getting your own copy of The Screwtape Letters then check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652934

Las Vegas

2009-05-13T14:55:00.006-05:00

Earlier today my mom read this and sent it to me. I liked it and thought I would put it up here for everyone else. It's pretty thought provoking.

Splinters in the soul
Remember the "What Happens Here Stays Here" Las Vegas campaign? You're going to be seeing a lot more of it in the near future, according to today's Wall Street Journal. The city has tried in recent years to lure you with promises of affordability in a recession, but no more. Now we're going to be told that we can "enjoy some forbidden fun, or indulge in extreme behavior like conspicuous consumption," according to the Journal.

A few years ago, our family stayed a night in Las Vegas en route to a vacation in California. We'd never seen the city, and wondered what we'd missed. Turns out, Vegas isn't much interested in catering to a Baptist preacher. I don't know anything about "shooting craps" except that it doesn't sound like something they teach at the seminary. I was equally lost watching the other ways people lose money. For a neophyte like me, it was less fun than a monthly deacons' meeting (something I never thought I'd say).

But I am interested in their old/new slogan. The city can promise that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I'm doubtful. Unless they have invented a way to purge memory banks when we cross the city limits, I'm pretty sure they suffer from the law of unintended consequences like the rest of us.

In Numbers 32, the people of Israel are preparing to cross the Jordan River and take their Promised Land, but some of them want to pitch tents and build cities where they are. Their warriors are willing to help the rest of the army conquer the land, but they intend to settle in their current circumstances. Moses gives them permission, so long as their men fight as promised. But if they don't, "you will be sinning against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out" (v. 23). What he said to them, he said to us.

I have learned the hard way that there is no such thing as secret sin. In four churches I served over 25 years as a pastor, I watched as friends struggled to make peace with their past. Private thoughts and personal transgressions are like splinters in the soul. We can ignore them for a while, but the longer they remain, the more they fester. One of my students at Southwestern Seminary nearly died from a blood infection resulting from an unattended wood splinter in his thumb. I've seen the same thing happen to marriages, families, and ministries. What happens where you are today, won't stay there.

The good news is that our Father in heaven is ready to forgive all we confess and forget all he forgives (Jeremiah 31:34). Where has guilt found you today? Name that sin, repent of it, and ask God to forgive it. When guilt pushes on that splinter again, claim the fact that it is gone and God is gracious. Do this every time guilt returns, until it gives up and you are free. Why not start now?

This is taken directly from Dr. James Denison's GodIssues.org.

Off the Field Antics

2009-05-11T17:36:00.006-05:00

The Dodgers and Giants are teams that don't like each other too much. This point was made rather boldly last night as Dodger Casey Blake thought it necessary to taunt his opposing pitcher, Brian Wilson. Why was this such a big deal? Well partly because this is the biggest Dodgers news since the Manny suspension, but also partly because the nerve that Blake struck with Wilson was deeply emotional.

Brian Wilson has performed a sign with his arms after finishing his work on the mound for a while now, so my sources say. This arm-crossing gesture is done as a tribute to his late father and as a sign of his faith. Well, last night after Casey Blake took one of Wilson's pitches past the outfield wall he also emulated Wilson's gesture - no doubt poking fun at him. Wilson, after the game, was upset and speechless. His emotions were running wild.

Is Wilson justified in being so upset? Is Blake really a bad guy after doing this? This makes me wonder how many times I get my feathers unnecessarily ruffled for a mindless joke. I question whether or not it does me any good to get all worked up over the times when other people don't take me seriously. Is it prideful of me to allow such obscure events to control my attitude and impact my response? I think I've got to overcome these little, obscure things and rise above it. Sure, some words and actions may hurt and sting to the core. But ultimately they should never get close to upsetting us. If this was the case then I think Christ would've had more to say when his accusers hit Him in the face, plucked out His beard, and spit in His eyes. He understood that His faith was far more important than their insensitive actions and, maybe, so should we.

You Only Live Once

2009-05-10T17:51:00.004-05:00

So there's this advertisement not far from my apartment that reads, "You only live once. Make sure it's enough." The product they're trying to sell is Dos Equis. I'm not real sure why that statement is supposed to make me want to buy beer, but it does give me something worthwhile to think about.

When I think about "living enough" many ideas come to mind: Am I actively pursuing my life dreams? Am living without regrets? Am I taking risks? Am I being the husband I promised I'd be? Am I living a life that glorifies Christ? That last question, to me, is by far the most important.

Or maybe let's look at the way Rick Warren puts in his most famous work The Purpose Driven Life: "The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you." With his words in mind the question now becomes, "Am I living to show the the glory God?"

In order for me to accurately show God's glory I would first have to know God. Check. Next, comes the part that is less comfortable. In order for me to show the world how incredible God is I must loose sight of the lame person that I am. As long as my eyes are selfishly fixed on me I'll never see God's glory much less translate it for the world to see. This is a place that few people linger, though we should. We should spend diligent time in the arena wrestling with ourselves if only to destroy our pride and ego's. After that mission is complete (which it never is) can we successfully move forward with honorable duty of making much of the one true King.

How is God glorified? Glad you asked. God is glorified the most in us when we are satisfied the most in Him. At least that's what Piper has to say on the subject. And I like his simplification. The quest now rests with us being supremely satisfied in Him, His love, His works and making Him known to the world. After all, He is the world's most interesting Man/God/Spirit.

Are you living enough?

Mom, Dad, and Fishing

2009-05-03T19:08:00.013-05:00

With the warming of the weather and cabin fever swelling up inside I keep thinking back to how much I'd love to be at home wetting a hook. This office with its shelves of books becomes less and less appealing as the school year slugs along. Don't get me wrong, I've loved the new experiences and adventures, but there are times when all I can think about is being back in the place where part of me still lives.

Growing up in Georgia was incredible! As a kid, my parents encouraged me to "get out from in front of the TV" and get outside. I often took their advice. Whether it was playing baseball, soccer, football, hunting, exploring or whatever else I just loved being outdoors. One of my favorite things to do growing up was fishing. My parents had a small pond that was semi-secluded where I could get off by myself and cast away the day. Sometime close to the age of 11 they started paying me for doing little chores around the house. At the end of a busy Saturday I'd earn a few bucks and head off for the bait and tackle shop just down the road. After about 5 minutes on my bike I was drooling over the fancy lures that lined both of the aisles - just like I hoped the fish would later drool over them. I typically exhausted my allowance on lures that were the most colorful, biggest, or most expensive, surely they were the best. After tying one on to the end of my line I rarely achieved success. Instead, within 20 minutes I'd be halfway up a tree chasing the $4 spinner bait I had worked all day for. My casting skills were about as good as my lure selection. With maybe 1 or 2 fish I'd proudly walk back home and show off my catch of the day to mom. She always ohh'd and ahhh'd over the little things, making sure I know how proud she was. Dad, on the other hand, was more concerned with making sure I cleaned the slimy fish so they didn't go to waste. With his help we cleaned the fish together while the mosquitos cleaned us. The next day my skin was red and itchy with the poison ivy that covered the same tree guilty of snagging my expensive lures - but mom knew how to take care of that, too. I doubt I'll ever forget those boyhood summers spent around the small pond. And though the fish were never really big enough to boast, my memories of home are never too small to forget.

2009-04-28T15:01:00.011-05:00

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doeor of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."

-Teddy Roosevelt

Christ was an arena man. I believe He understood this way of life long before dear Mr. Roosevelt uttered the above words. Christ was indeed a man of great enthusiasm, great devotion, and He certainly spent Himself in the worthiest of causes. He lived a risky life and put it all on the line. His motivation was of the purest form and His achievement would be the greatest ever in history. His achievement, though, was not His own - He refused for it to be. Instead, this arena man decided to extend His most glorious achievement completely to us. An act of grace for which I am eternally thankful.

May I now embrace life with the exact same attitude He possessed. May I now enter the arena with an unwaivering focus. May I now pursue goals that only He could accomplish through me. May I now risk everything for His name's sake. May I now be filled with the purest motivation. May I now humbly share in the victory Christ has achieved for me and live life to its fullest.

Very Cool Websites

2009-03-31T13:34:00.004-05:00

Earlier today I received an email from the seminary that discussed a former student's current ministry to teens. The grad, Tim Kimberly, works with a website called HeLives.com. The website is amazing! In only a few minutes of browsing I found discussion forums where literally thousands of people are engaged in spiritually-minded discussion. There are also spotlights on the sight that include things like IAMSECOND.com, bible reading tips, and much more. One of my favorite links is to a website called BibleMap.org. This website really blew me away. It utilizes googlemap images, connects them with Biblical location references, and even provides a detailed description of what makes the location signigicant from a Biblical viewpoint. I will definitely be using this in upcoming youth discussions! Here are the links to both of these great websites:

http://www.helives.com/blog/

http://www.biblemap.org/

Do yourself a favor and check them out!

Spring Break Mission Trip

2009-03-28T23:24:00.006-05:00

Ty Pennington probably has my newest favorite dream job. He's the host of Extreme Home Makeover and makes a living changing lives by building homes. Who wouldn't want to do that? I know I would! On our mission trip during spring break we did a mini version of just that. I loved it!

In a town called Dona, TX a family lost their home 2 months ago in a fire. For now the whole family (father, mother, and 6 daughters!) lives in a travel trailor on their property! The trailor is about 20 feet long! That's were we stepped in. In four days we completely framed their new home and boxed in their roof. They should be moving into their new home in about a week. It was amazingly gratifying to spend my time with my church helping folks who really need it. The experience really opened up my eyes.

Our church also led multiple VBS's, soccer clinics, quilting workshops for women, and 2 block parties. It was incredible to see our people unite under the His name and work for His people. When all was said and done it was reported that over 50 people joined the Family! Incredible! I am so thankful to be used by Him and for Him!

Never, Ever Forsaken

2009-03-12T15:06:00.009-05:00

At times I am utterly without words. As I gather information about another shooting not far from my home in southern Georiga my eyes swell and the my emotions run wild. What would cause a man to kill his mother, an 18-month old baby, and numerous others? How can people become so violent and relentless?

Michael McLendon killed 11 people (including himself) on Tuesday, March 12.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-12-ala-shootings_N.htm

It confuses me and breaks my heart - partly for the families of the deceased, the community, the friends - and partly for Michael. The investigators have yet to find a motive and doubt that they will. I am no psychologist or personality profiler, but I would wager that Michael McLendon had reached a point of hopelessness. A life without hope will take desperate measures. My last message was in response to the murder of a church pastor, husband, and father who was shot in cold blood while standing in the pulpit of his church of more than 20 years. I am also aware that there has been a school shooting in Germany just this week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/4980428/Germany-school-shootings-Massacre-survivor-thought-it-was-a-prank.html

A confused, hopeless boy, Tim Kretschmer, entered his high school armed and prepared for murder. After killing 9 students and 3 teachers he fled killing more civilians on his spree. Finally, just like shooter Michael McLendon, he took his own life. He was 17. Once more I grieve for the school, the community, and the family members affected by this awful event - but also grieve for Tim. How awful he must interpret his life in order to even think of something so breathtaking.

Again, I am not qualified to even hypothesize as to the reasons these two people resorted to such extreme measures. But part of me wants to say that they lived lives with no hope. Some German investigators have claimed that 17-year old Tim was simply taking out his frustrations on women as a result of not having any luck with girls (of course this is not verified). Either way, I feel in my heart that if these fellows possessed the supernatural love and hope of our Savior these events would have been avoided.

I am thankful that regardless of all the evil actions of this world I have hope in my Jesus. I know that if I were to wake one day without my car, my home, my health, my family, my wife, my church, my friends, my country or anything else...I can bank on Him. He will never leave me or forsake me.

I think of Christ word's on the Cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Many claim that Christ was forsaken by God the Father - I believe that this is perhaps one of the biggest blunders in modern Christian thought. God is omnipresent, omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient, faithful, and true to His word. Just as He told Moses and Joshua that He would never leave or forsake them He tells us (Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5, and Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8). Why would He claim such acts of loyalty only to set a contrary example with His own Son? I don't believe He would. I believe, rather, that Jesus was pointing us back to God's faithfulness when He uttered those words on the Cross. Psalm 22 is an incredible example of what it means to count on God even when it seems that all hope is lost. I am thankful that even when Christ was dying for my sins He realized that His Father "has not hidden His face from Him" and "listened to His cry for help" (Psalm 22:24). And I am thankful that He promises to be there for me.

When the world seems to be falling apart I can count on my God to hold me till the end.

I am never forsaken.

Life: Tough

2009-03-08T21:52:00.012-05:00

Reverend Fred Winters sounds like a class-act guy. Winters graduated with his Bachelors from Southwestern Baptist Seminary, his masters from Wheaton College, and his Ph.D from Southern Baptist Seminary. He has pastored his church for over 20 years and also taught at Midwestern Baptist Seminary. Perhaps his greatest milestones in life are his wife and children. To be sure, his church and family loved him.

Earlier today life was very routine, I would imagine, for Reverend Fred Winters and his family. No more. As quick as a gun trigger can be pulled everything changed. Reverend Winters took a shot in the chest leaving his family with a shot in their hearts. Church members and law officers are dumb-founded as to why such hostile actions occured. Nonetheless, for a community, church body, and family life took on a whole new meaning today. Here's a link to the story: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=7033937&page=1

It breaks my heart.

Why does God allow such devastating events to happen in our lives? Why does it always seem that just when we get a grip on things life gets slippery? What goes through the minds of men and women who justify committing such unthinkable crimes against others?

Questions always tend to outnumber answers. There are aspects to this life that don't make sense - things we wish we could change. But no matter. We serve an incredibly sovereign, just, good, and loving Father who always knows what is absolutely best for us. Always.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

It is impossible for me to make sense of this incident. I simply can't fathom taking another person's life. There is no way I could approach a family who has experienced an event of this magnitude and to tell them that they just need to "find the good in this" or that "everything will be just fine." But as my pastor says, "Jesus is about more than just the good stuff - the miracles, the blessings, and the eternity in heaven - He's also about the Cross." And as tough as the Cross is, we must find a way to embrace our own in service to our King. Life is tough and I'm not denying that, but I believe with all my heart that even in the painfully difficult moments God is good.

Is it right to have certain rights?

2009-03-02T23:10:00.008-05:00

About a week ago my wife and I watched as Hollywood dispersed some of its most coveted awards - Oscars. The film that dominated the night was without doubt "Slumdog Millionaire". I've yet to see the movie. I've yet to see any of the movies, actually, that received nominations. But I did listen to quite an interesting acceptance speech given by the actor who starred in the hit movie "Milk". Sean Penn, who won best actor for playing Harvey Milk, gave me a lot to think about with his well constructed words. To people who previously voted against homosexual marriage Penn said "Sit and reflect...antcipate great shame." He further stated, "We've got to have equal rights for everyone." Watch his speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dnM8v9aaR0

I am in no way suggesting that people like Sean Penn should carry much weight in our decisions as responsible Christians. But, do people need to be given the ability to decide for themselves whether or not they can marry anyone they choose? Are we denying people their freedom of choice by not allowing them to be homosexually married? Or are we right in determining that because our Bible's condemn homosexual behavior that our government should, too?

It is not illegal for people to sleep around with others before they are married. Our laws do not forbid idol worship, greed, dishonoring the Sabbath, or even disobeying parents. So when do we need to draw the line? I guess I am trying to imagine how Christ feels about the whole issue as it pertains to whether or not this should be an actual law. I feel as though He offers us the ability to make choices in life. Joshua decided in the Old Testament that he and his house would serve the Lord. Judas decided that 30 pieces of silver was a worthy price for betraying his Rabbi. And for centuries humans have been making decisions that affect their lives, our world, and their eternity.

But hear this: I am in full support of God's sovereignty and in support of our freewill - I believe they coexist in delicate balance. If God hadn't chosen me I would never have been able to accept Him. God's ways are much higher than our ways, so for me to say that I completely understand this mystery would be a lie.

That being said, let's go back to Penn's words: "We've got to have equal rights for everyone". Do you think that people need to have this RIGHT? Or should it remain the right of the majority to determine what rights all people should have? The more I think about this the more confused I get.

What do you think?

Discipline

2009-02-20T18:57:00.007-05:00

I had a very interesting coversation over lunch today concerning the topic of discipline in the church setting. I have a suspicion that the church (the term "church" here is being used very broadly to reference all protestant churches in our society) has lost its touch with the need for church discipline. What I mean is that our churches are slap full of members who are not fulfilling their mandates as believers. This could manifest itself in habitual absence from the local assembly, immoral behavior, failure to tithe adequately, or other circumstances. My opinion is that members who demonstrate their unwillingness to fulfill their mandates are wrongly treated by the church leadership. The leadership of the church is responsible for addressing such issues in a biblical manner. When questionable behavior is swept under the rug by the leadership members are sent a very strong message about their lifestyle - live however you please and you will not face any consequences. This message is then passed on to those outside the body of believers. Translation: The Christian church is nothing more than a group of people who call themselves righteous, but live life very much the same way as unChristian people.

Maybe I am taking this too far. Maybe I'm not taking it far enough. What if the reason that so many "Christian" men and women have such difficulty living holy lives is because deep down they know that they will not have to answer to Christian leaders. Paul took this problem very seriously during the era of the early church. He explained very explicity an outlined procedure for how to deal with members with questionable behavior. If the church practiced this procedure more what would the demographics of the typical church look like? Would they be any different? Probably.

I propose that one reason our churches lack the zeal to pursue disciplinary actions when they are deemed necessary is because they realize that the person receiving the discipline will withdraw their membership. And this creates a mountain of problems: the disciplined person maligns the local church, takes his tithe, takes his family, and joins another local body.

On the flip side, however, taking disciplinary action could prove very fruitful. One could hypothesize that members who are taken seriously by their church leaders will also take their church, and hopefully their personal faith, more seriously. Not only so, but also the unchurched population may view the church with more respect.

Or maybe I'm just naive.

The Winds Will Blow

2009-02-18T23:52:00.006-05:00

There are moments, days, weeks, or possibly even longer periods of time when life has a tendency to get tough. One person has said, "In life we can't determine the direction of the wind - we can only adjust our sails." How true! Life can be marked and measured with the trials and hardships a person encounters. Some have suggested that actually it is the rough times that need to be embraced, not spurned. Case in point: The Holy Spirit led Christ into the wilderness. He purposely led Him into a time of difficulty and testing. After 960 hours (40 days and nights) of intense focus He wasn't merely relieved of His wilderness experience. Instead, the tough got tougher as He was severely blindsided (if God can be such) and battled by the nemesis. And through all of the trials, hardships, tests, and battles God the Father was glorified. Jesus adjusted His sails, so to speak, to ensure that His ship stayed the course. We must do the same. The course is narrow and frought with its share of wild - but what good what a life be if it were only filled with smooth sailings? As another man has said, "Smooth seas don't make skilled sailors." The winds will blow - how will you respond?

Taken, Human Trafficking, and Christ

2009-02-16T00:21:00.008-05:00

Last night Claire and I got together with some friends to see the movie Taken. It was a fairly intense movie with plenty of action, which I am a sucker for. But the movie also had a couple of themes that have been turning over in my mind for a while. For starters, the plot has a lot to do with illegal human trafficking. I am becoming more and more aware of this horrendous practice and every time I am exposed to it I can't stop thinking about it. In college I watched a documentary that dealt with illegal sex trafficking of young mothers and their daughters in Middle Eastern Countries. Stories from the rescued are very similar. The mothers and daughters are kidnapped during the day when the husband/father is working. He arrives home to see his family gone - usually never knowing what has happened. Some children, on the other hand, are purposely granted to "employers" who convince the parents that their children will be working honest jobs for decent wages. This, however, turns out to be a lie and the children then enter the underground sex market. It's heartbreaking to mentally trade places with victims like these. The movie deals slightly with these types of issues which is great because it continues to raise awareness about an issue that is growing on a global scale. The other, more positive, theme that I latched on to is the idea of a father pursuing his child at all cost. Liam Neeson portrays the father of the kidnapped victim and, without using too much detail for fear of spoiling a good film, demonstrates certain Christ-like qualities. The concept of a father going to such lengths doing whatever he deems necessary to free his child mirrors rather vividly the model of our Heavenly Father. It was a great reminder for me and I hope that you will see the same Love given the opportunity. The movie struck a nerve in me and I am now interested in learning more about the ruthless act that has become known as human trafficking. Without doubt this a problem that needs to be taken more seriously and more proactively. Dilemmas like these must not be swept under the rug. Instead, the people who truly possess hope should rally together in hopes of putting an ending to such an evil trade. You can learn more here: http://www.humantrafficking.org/ .

Summit: Open House

2009-02-12T12:39:00.009-05:00

Well, last night our youth group hosted our first Summit: Open House. The reason for this event was to give the "young at heart" a taste of our weekly program. It allowed us to minister to the adults in a pretty fun and creative way. The concept of purposely putting these groups of people together was very intimidating to me, especially given the topic of our discussion. Our students definitely proved themselves to be huge contributers. They brought a certain spice that only they can. The topic of the discussion was basically the idea of youth and mature teaming up to achieve one common goal: Becoming disciples, creating disciples, and glorifying Christ.

The crisis is that we are faced with young boys and girls who are crying out to be taught how to be become Godly men and women. We, as the Church, have dropped the ball and so allowed our youngsters to walk through life with little to no guidance. Thus we have, in John and Stasi Eldredge's words, a world full of un-intiated men and women. These folks are left to figure out life on their own. Mom and Dad have exited the highway many miles ago. Others have determined that they needn't overstep their boundaries. Hey, "The school system can handle it," or "Why not let our government step in," we reason. Unfortunately this mindset may prove to be a major downfall for our youth. Instead we must take a more proactive approach. We must engage.

Joe White, who has been regarded as knowing more about teenagers than anyone in North America, has much to say on this topic. First and foremost, we must realize the power of parents. The roles of the mother and father must be taken with much seriousness and responsibility. They are on the front lines, so to speak, in the battle for creating disciples of youth. When they embrace their God-ordained responsibility families become stronger and youth develop more maturely.

But the local church also has a responsibility. And perhaps this role isn't necessarily as clear as it needs to be. The local church should be pooling its resources to provide families with the knowledge and the ability to develop disciples in the home. When the "church family" takes priority over the family at home then our vision of what's truly important becomes skewed. Rather than parent's realizing their responsibility to develop disciples in the home they forfeit that job to the local church's youth program. This only becomes the job of the church when, sadly enough, children are orphaned and have no other parental figures to show them the way. No, I don't believe the local church was designed to raise kids properly. The local church is far more than that (perhaps a topic for another discussion). By equipping families properly the local church offers a service that will indeed help fulfill its mandates, thus glorifying Christ and making disciples.

Hear my heart on this: I am not attacking family or church. I am only delivering my perspective on a possible cause to the given crisis coupled with a possilbe (and I think highly probable) solution. Whatever it takes, though, my prayer is to see people becoming disciples, creating disciples, and glorifying Christ.

GREAT EXAMPLE OF ACTION

2009-02-10T23:39:00.009-05:00

Well, I'm supposed to be studying hard for my Greek class, but I am too interested in this website I just learned about that is on a mission to change the world. The company designs and makes shirts which are sold to raise money. The money then goes to create clean water for people who are without one of life's most essential needs. The coolest thing about this website and company is that is was founded by a guy who is still in high school! That blows me away! He is certainly a dude who is seeing things properly and actively working to make things better. I am definitely impressed. I can't wait to get my shirt and help an amazing cause. Well done Mr. Miller. Check the link on the side to find out more!

Prayers

2009-02-10T16:55:00.002-05:00

Father, I am incredibly thankful. Who am I that I should receive Your miraculous love? Who am I that I should receive Your blessings? I have so much that comes directly from Your loving hand: devoted wife, supportive parents and siblings, encouraging friends, dedicated church family, physical health, and the prayers of your saints. Why should I receive these blessings from You? I have no answer Lord. Only out of the abundance of Your mercy, kindness, compassion, and love. You are so loving, Father. You show us how to live with perfect love because You are perfect love. I am blessed with countless intangibles. Your love is good. Your love is beyond compare. You are God. Thank You for watching over my family. Thank You for meeting our needs. Thank You for peace, joy, and prosperity. Thank You for being patient with my stubborn soul. Thank You for this nation and its leaders. Thank You for medicine and healthcare. Thank You for food, clothing, shelter, and all the extras. Thank You for blessing me with laughter and fun. I have much for which to be thankful.

Lord, I pray for the people in my life who are experiencing turbulent circumstances. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would drench my friend who is struggling with a spiritual crisis. She is regularly bombarded with numerous philosophies of life and I can tell that she wants Truth. I am asking for You to guard her heart against Satan's arrows. Protect her from the influence of her society and worldly friends. Replace her fleshly thoughts with Holy Truth and make her see the Light.

Jesus, please tend to the needs of my friends who are undergoing a family health emergency. Use this time to solidify their family and their faith. Draw them together as one as they have united in Your Name. Guide the thoughts and actions of the medical team as they address the physical needs of their loved one. Give them Your peace and joy - regardless of what may come of this trial . Love them in a way that they can sense Your Spirit.

And Father, please continue to develop me as Your son and servant. I have far to travel in this process, for sure. Let me refuse complacency. God please instruct me on the right ways to honor You and glorify You to this world. I pray that Your message of selfless love would permeate my being and pour out of my life onto all that I encounter - through word and deed. I pray that I would "set myself on fire and burn for the world to see" as Wesley prayed. May Your fame be the concern of my life. Teach me to use the influence and resources I have from You to meet the needs of others in a God-exalting fashion. You are worth my life's devotion. Help me to live in You.

Busy Busy

2009-02-09T18:14:00.002-05:00

I can't say enough about how refreshing DNow was for my heart last weekend! Physically though, it was draining! And because of all the energy I put into the planning process I am now a little behind in some other areas - like school. Seminary is probably one of my favorite things right now, but often it can become very overwhelming. No one ever said it would be easy. I am extremely thankful to have this excellent opportunity to be a student of DTS - even in the difficult times. It will be interesting to see how hard of a time I have playing catch up over the next few days. With prayer and discipline I think I can do a decent job, but we'll see. I've been listening to the Hank Murphy Band and to Lecrae today - good stuff. The message presented through their music is phenominal. It's impressive to know that God is using so many different means to spread His gospel. It's a great reminder that my goal shouldn't necessarily be to become a good student, good pastor, or good husband. Rather I need to become a servant of the One who served me in the greatest way possible. All the other responsibilities will become easier when I get my focus established properly.

Disciple Now 2009: GameTime

2009-02-08T20:16:00.003-05:00

What an incredible experience for me! I thoroughly enjoyed DNow and I am very thankful for the way I was refreshed spiritually. I am certainly drained physically, but my spirit is encouraged. Planning the retreat was intimidating, to say the least, but all in all I'm thankful for the way everything came together. The church family of the Crossing thoroughly impressed me as I watched them work together with the attitude servant. Everything they did was above and beyond the call of duty. Our guests, Hank and Nathan, were right on. Hank never ceases to hit home with my heart through his ministry of music. His lyrics, talent, and passion combine to create moving music. Nathan was well studied and very relational in his discussions. All of his stories and illustrations brought home his Biblical teaching. I am very thankful for the work God has performed in their lives.

2008-01-09T14:04:00.000-05:00

God, I have started today miserably. Rather than waking up at a decent hour I slept in like a lazy man. I am lazy. And Father, I also confess that mornings are one of the most difficult times of my day especially for facing temptation. Today I am off to a less than honorable start for sure. So Father I commit the rest of my day, breath by breath, to You. Not to myself, the people around me, or their thoughts about me. Father I just pray that You would convict me of the choices I make and the attitude of my heart. My goal today is to honor You and actually spend time with You, not just spend time about You. Be with me today and rescue me from my sinful nature as only You can. It is for freedom's sake that I have been freed and freedom sounds so nice. Lord give me a heart of patience and compassion. Make me strong against temptation. Give me the desire to pursue You as I know You pursue me. Thank You for loving me so passionately and giving Your life for me. You are worthy of all my love and adoration. Thank You for your undying pursuit of making me like You - holy and loving. Thank You for showing me true love that I may show it to those around me. Lord, take control of all that I am.

2008-01-09T01:31:00.000-05:00

Lord I admit that I am currently experiencing perhaps one of the most testing times of my life. I constantly feel as though my faith in You is being brought into question. Do I really believe that You are in control with all the in's and out's of my life? If so, do I really believe that You have my best interest in mind? Lord, in my heart I know that You are God. In light of that fact I must confess my pride and selfish nature. It should not matter if things are easy or pleasant at this point in my life. What should matter is Your glorification. My purpose in life is not to be successful, happy, responsible, or even "Christian", but instead to glorify You. Lord I must lay down my desires and plans. I need to take up You. I believe you would have me seek You instead of Your plan. I know that's how I feel with the people in my life. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Lord, I want to be obedient. I have daily regrets about my attitude and actions. I battle depression, laziness, and doubt. If, however, I would just spend my time with You and focusing on honoring You then my days would be different. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Are these evident in my life? They would definitely be much more evident if I would forget about doing things my way and spend my life doing things Your way, the way of the Spirit. My new prayer is that I would seek hard after You and seek to be obedient breath by breath. Forgive me for making this about me instead of You. Jesus thank You for knowing that I needed your blood applied to make up for the sin in my life. Thank You for sacrificing Your life for my sin. I am after the freedom that only You can provide. Freedom.

2008-01-04T01:25:00.000-05:00

Jesus, I am here. Please be the big, huge God that you are. I need you to take over in my life. I am through trying to control it and make it work out the way I see it should. I am unhappy doing things my way. I have tried and tried. My plans fall apart at the seams and nothing works as I want it to. Rather than proving to everyone how big of a Christian I am I think I am proving to myself how selfish and sinful I can be. Jesus thank you for always being within reach of my rescue. I believe you will catch me when I stumble. I believe you are faithful. Thank you for being true to your word. I need your help. Show me your way so that I may follow. I desire to be in your will Father. Thank you for humbling me and teaching me to rely on you instead of myself. You are everything that I will ever need and more. You are sustenance. You are life-blood. Jesus, only you can free me forever from the sin of this life. Take control and make me pure in your eyes. I pray that you would look on me and see your precious, pure blood applied to my heart. Father, I need you. Please take me and use me up until there is nothing left. You are. You are. You are. I am not, Lord, but You Are.

Given the Chance

2007-03-06T21:51:00.000-05:00

Perhaps one of the biggest problems with Christian people is that we rarely give God a chance to do His thing in our lives. I believe that God would love for us to trust Him more with the choices that we make in our lives. Also, I think that we should give Him a chance to conquer sin in our lives. It's been my experience that most people seek to deal with temptation individually. We think that we have the ability to outwit, outmaneuver, and outperform temptation with self-control, willpower, and knowledge. The truth is, Jesus is the only one to conquer temptation and defeat Satan. That's why it's foolish for us to attempt to battle temptation with our own strength. We must realize, humbly, that we are fleshly creatures with a tendency to live for ourselves - not God. He is the only one who can provide the holiness we need in order to effectively combat our spiritual enemy. We must give Him a chance. Until then we will continue to run on the treadmill of defeat and shame. Jesus proved His power on the Cross and offers His help to us in order that, like Him, we can be victors against the Evil one. We must give God a chance. We must give prayer a chance. We must give His Word a chance. He will prove Himself in His way and in His time if we allow Him. Give up on yourself and give in to Him.

It's Up To Me

2007-02-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

It's real tough, sometimes, to realize the smell of your own stinch. When you finally come to the realization that the awful smell you've complained about so long is actually your own fault. There is no one to blame but yourself. I feel that way now about myself. I have long prayed and prayed and prayed about the lack of spiritual maturity present in my life. I sincerely doubt that God would withhold growth in my life. It's my understanding that He actually desires for us to grow closer to Him and that we are the ones so resistant. Paul explained that he was frustrated as a result of doing the things that he didn't want to do. That nearly sums up my feelings. I definitely have a desire inside my heart to honor the Lord with the character of my life. The problem is that there are many instances (that occur regularly) that I find myself ashamed, frustrated, and regretful because I acted in an unGodly manner. Sin is horrible. No matter the person, the form, or the degree - sin is an awful thing to deal with. God is faithful to free us from the grip of sin so I know that it is not His fault that I wrestle with it so. It's up to me to determine what action I am not taking and then take it. I desire to honor God and live in His Will. In order to do that I must develop a pure hatred of all sin and strip it from my life. Jesus died and rose for this very thing. I must understand the power that I possess through His death and, with the Holy Spirit, overcome this awful stinch in my life. Please give me the boldness to stare temptation in the face and overcome. I pray for courage to fight when its overwhelming and to never give in or give up. Help me to be brave for You - my King, my Jesus.

2007-02-16T23:08:00.000-05:00

Where do I begin? It's been a very long time since I last expressed my thoughts on this journal. I've been very busy with school, church, BCM, and everything else life can throw at me. Confusion is only the tip of the iceberg. I have tons of questions that I wish I had answers. Perhaps the only thing to do is the one thing that I should have been busy doing all along - seeking the Lord. If I seriously took Him at His word then I would be able to put my doubts, questions, and worries in His control. Ultimately there is absolutely nothing I can do apart from Him. I have to believe, according to my faith and His promises, that He has my best interest at hand. His heart longs for the very best in my life. Anything less, would be out of His character. I suppose I should refocus my life, my being, my purpose to figuring out Him, His being, and His purpose in my life. I believe I will never be joyful, content, or fully alive unless I completely give myself over to Him.

GREATNESS

2007-01-09T18:13:00.001-05:00

It's never easy accomplishing something worthwhile. I suppose if great accomplishments were achieved easily more people would be great and greatness would be less, well, great. What constitutes greatness? Who fits the profile? Are great people born, made, or do they simply find themselves in the right place at the right time? Greatness is defined as ususual or considerable in degree; remarkable; and of noble or lofty character. Synonymns include words like eminent, renowned, and illustrious. When thinking of people who fit these characteristics names that come to mind include Gandhi, Cal Ripken Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Lance Armstrong, and the like. Jesus outshines them all. All these names, and all others, must tip their caps in His direction. He was revolutionary, passionate, determined, humble, selfless, and courageous. He is the definition of greatness. His life is the living example of the ultimate human life. For sure, He is beyond compare. No other person will ever be able to hold a candle to the flame of a life that He lived. The craziest thing about His life is that I believe He never lived a single moment of it for Himself. Every breath He took was devoted to the God the Father. He committed His Being to the holy purpose of glorifying God. Most all people struggle with the thought of living their only life in devotion to another. People assume that life is about making themselves as happy, content, successful, loved, and rich as possible. But not Jesus. He understood that the greatest purpose for any person is to be wholly devoted to God. Our world is starving for people to grab on to this truth. The time for selfless devotion is now. God has called His people to be just that - His people. Not their own people interested and consumed with their own things. God longs for hearts sold out to Him. The world needs to see this devotion lived out among them. Many people are too stubborn to read His Word and give His Truth a chance. Those same people should see Christians as living examples. When will this happen? When we decide that He is worth it. The time is now.

2007-01-08T00:10:00.002-05:00

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness; light; and where there is sadness; joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

~Francis of Assisi

2007-01-03T14:55:00.000-05:00

This is my one life - my only chance, so to speak. Here there are no second chances. I am unable to turn back time and relive any events. I must take full advantage of every breath and live to my fullest potential. It's now January 3, 2007. Life seems to fly. I am 23 years old and as I reflect on the decisions I have made it's clear that I can be more like Christ. Every moment Christ lived He was focused on the BIG PICTURE. He was able to forget Himself and live a life of complete devotion to God. I desire in my heart to be as devoted to my Maker.

God's Grace is more precious and valuable than anything I could ever ask for. I realize the inability for man to save himself and how salvation comes only from the priceless blood of Jesus. Without His love I would be hopeless. He choose to love me in spite of all the horrible decisions I have made. Regardless of my insufficiencies Jesus lived and died because He realized that His sacrifice was the only way to atone for my sin. Thank You - Savior.

This year I plan to be more devoted to the cause for Christ than I have ever been before in my life. I yearn to become an intimate friend with Jesus. I want to have a faith that is unshakeable in any and every circumstance. I desire to have a contagious commitment to the Lord of Glory. I long to know Jesus better than I ever have.

Proverbs 16:3 reads: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed". The aim of my soul is to love God. I commit this to You - My Father, My Savior, My Friend. Thank You for loving me.

Barriers

2006-12-10T00:58:00.000-05:00

Barriers are commonplace in my life. They disrupt my unity with Christ. I become fixated on anything other than God and the results are disturbing. Perhaps the distraction doesn't cause me to outright stumble or sin, but I suppose anything causing me to loose sight of God is not holy. How does one break through the barriers? Perhaps recognizing the particular barriers is key. For instance I know that I have severe issues with patience, especially the lack thereof. Self-control also is a discipline that I have lacked for quite some time. I desire to loose my self of any envy by replacing it with contentment and praise. Lastly, I suppose I possess a certain unhealthy amount of selfishness which completely destroys any love I could have for God's people. There are four key recognitions: patience, self-control, envy, and selfishness. But recognizing these alone will do nothing to grow me. I must develop a strategy for overcoming these stepping-stones. First and foremost I must humble myself of any pride and realize that without placing God in the pilot's seat of reformation no permanent change will occur. God, please lead me in this personal revolution against my flesh. Grant me the humility to rely on You for strength. I desire to destroy the barriers that separate me from You.

2006-12-09T01:08:00.001-05:00

Finals are over. Another semester come and gone. In reflection I am not sure how excited I am that it is over. I set a few mental goals for myself as the semester began and now I can see that I didn't do too well. I actually didn't do well at all. I severely lack discipline. How is discipline gained? I desire to develop discipline desperately. Christ possessed, developed, and maintained discipline throughout his life. Gandhi demonstrated discipline. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived a disciplined life. How did they do it? Their lives echo greatness and passion. Perseverence is key. Focus is a must. Optimism is perhaps too underestimated. In order for me to become the man I want to become I must learn discipline. I believe that God can work in my life in a way that can glorify Him and impact others for His kingdom, but I must surrender daily to His ways. To do that I must be disciplined in every aspect of my character. It is not easy, for sure. I am convinced that mediocrity is not for and will never bring contentment or peace to my life. I may not know for sure exactly which path in life to take, but whichever one is for me I plan to travel it with all of my heart. Jesus was not mediocre. He did not do things only half-way. Instead He defied the concept of normality and broke free from the confinement of typical. He lived His life with passion and zeal from one breath to the next. He wasted no words or any action. He made the most of every moment. He is my leader and my example. He knows the best way to live, the only way to live. He did more than survive, more than get bye. Jesus glorified the Father with His life. This is my goal and ambition. Jesus, become real to me. I desire to embrace You and Your ways in a radical way. I don't care if society or culture consider me abnormal or freakish. The only concern I have is what you think of me. Make me Your own. Transform my life, my habits, my ways and make them life Your own. Make me an image that You can be proud of. Help me to defy the concept of modern Christianity and become real for Your Name's sake. Give me the wisdom to understand the intricacies of Your Word so that I can apply it to the way that I live my life for you. I shun hypocrisy - especially that of the private type. Character is made in the solitary intimacy shared with You alone. Lord, work on me. Change my character and my heart to make You smile. Make me better day by day.

2006-12-06T12:26:00.000-05:00

God's sovereignty need not be questioned by me. I should accept it without any hindrance. I do however wonder on ocassion how His sovereignty is so sovereign. Horrible things happen to amazing people and while that should be no newsflash it certainly is not easy to swallow. How can I wrap my mind around grace and true justice in a world where the wrong go unpunished and right become the tormented. God's grace is indescribably wonderful - for me. But what about the people living in abusive households? What about the millions of people born into disease, starvation, homelessness, war, and the like? What about the people who seldom, if ever, see the gracious angle of my Lord? How does one explain grace or accept it as a reality when considering such circumstances. I am blessed. For me to claim anything less is a slap in the face of the Almighty God. Thank You, Jesus, for making it possible for me to have such an amazing life. I have more possessions in my refrigorator than many people will have in a lifetime. Yet I am a complainer. I pray regularly for things to "get better" and for You to work miracles in particular situations. How dare I? You've done so much for me already. Your life given on the cross is enough for me to be eternally in debt to You. You, however, refuse to rub that in my face. You alone have the right to own me and force me to live the way You desire because You bought me. Instead you offer freedom. You are sovereign. I may never fully understand exactly what that entails. I pray for my friend - Doug - and seek wisdom on his behalf. He has proven to me to be a man after Your own heart. Perhaps I need to look at Your miracles. You saved his life from the stroke. You saved his life from the fire. Who knows what else you've done for him that we will never know. Instead of questioning why these terrible things can happen to such amazing people I will bow my head in reverance and thank You for the unseen. Thank You, Father, for being in control of details and events that are too great for me to fathom. Thank You, Father, for not letting a single detail of any person's life pass you bye without Your permission. Lord, Thank You. Life is good and I honored to be called Your son.

2006-12-04T00:38:00.000-05:00

Mountains can be breathtaking. They can also become deadly. Mt. St. Helens provides an adequate example. She blew her top killing everything in her path and leaving rippling effects for months and years. It's always a good thing to be on top of the mountain. It feels great - I'm sure. But what about coming down? Coming back to the "real world"? I think that it probably sucks. Much like spiritual mountains. I hate being on top for a spell only to find myself unexpectedly tumbling toward the pits. I have felt this so many times that instead of it being unexpected it feels like a natural turn of events. But its not. It can't be. Jesus stayed strong. He stayed on top. There was not a time in the physical life of Jesus where anyone can say, "Man, why couldn't Jesus have done better?" because He always did the absolute best. He ruled the mountain. Me? I am but a tourist. Sure I vacation to the slopes from time to time, but only for a season. Soon enough the vacation ends. I inevitably discover a way to loose sight of the meaning of the pinnacle. What does it take to make the apex a home instead of a resort? For Jesus it took discipline. It required a life of obedience and sacrifice. He defined commitment. Jesus proved that high-rise living is indeed possible by devoting to the Father. He refused selfishness and shunned prideful living. For me this means becoming devoted in my personal time. If dwelling with the Father on a regular basis is to become a reality then I must reprioritize my words, thoughts, and life. God has got to become more than just a religion. He must become more than an acquaintance. God must be my heart's desire.

Jesus you know more than anyone else the requirments for holy living. You know that pleasing God or "staying on top is more than simply setting your mind to obeying the Word. It takes relationship. More than anything, God, this is my desire. I you to be the sole focus of my life. I hate living for myself and the world. I willingly and graciously choose to serve You out of love. Love is an action - not an emotion. So for me to make such a claim means, in my mind, that I must commit to doing more than just saying words. I must live. Perhaps my biggest barrier is self. I am torn trying to please myself. Fear drives me to think that I will not be happy without a substantial amount of income. Pride drives me to think that I deserve a substantial amount of income. I rationalize by telling myself that when I do strike it rich I will be generous with the money and make large contributions. I have trouble, however, tithing with what I make now. I know that I must forsake myself and somehow tap into Your desire for me to achieve true contentment. God, only You can provide true Life. Help me to see and focus on this Truth. Help me not to loose sight of You.

Lord, I commit to this week. I know that battles are in store for me. I can visualize the enemies asttacks. Satan seeks to destroy and form of friendship that we may share and I believe that he will stop at nothing to seperate us. Remind me to turn to You, instead of myself, for the ability to overcome any temptation that comes my way. Sanctify me by your Holy Spirit and grow me to be a man who desires true communion with You. Only You have the ability to defeat sin - the power that disconnects me from you - and only You can show me the way. Please, Jesus, hear my heart on this and light the path. Be my Guide. Amen.

2006-11-29T17:09:00.000-05:00

Measure up. Almost sounds like cowboy up. I can almost hear Christ saying those very words. Cowboy up. I seriously doubt Christ intended His church - His Bride - to be a bunch of pansies. Yet everytime I give into my flesh and commit sin I feel just like one. A pansy. Is that what the Lord of Lords sees when He looks at me? I know He is able to look past all of my insufficiencies, but where does one draw the line? Paul completely opposed the idea of giving into the power of sin even though God's grace is sufficient. He also said that he is a victim of "pansification". He did the things that he did not need to do. I am frustrated with myself for loosing sight. I lack discipline and focus. The Word notes that if we truly love our God then we must obey Him. No if's, and's, or but's. Do I lack a true love for Jesus? I think not. But I am a victim of selfishness. And of that I am ashamed. Sin is a very shameful thing. That's what I hate most about it. It makes me ashamed to call myself a Christian. To bare the name of the One who defeated sin once and for all. Why can't I? I have His power, His love, His name. I have His strength and courage to do battle against the enemy. Why do I make excuses? Do I further annoy the Lord by dwelling on mistakes? I feel as though I should let go of my inadequacies completely unto Him so that He can free me from the burden of sin. His love endures forever. Love is an action, not an emotion. I must focus on His grace and not my failure as a follower. True, I hate sin. I hate the results of it. I hate its ability to discourage. Nothing good can come from sin. Jesus I thank You for your victory over the power of sin. You fought brilliantly for an entire life to prove that by leaning on God the Father we can be set free. I pray that You would light an eternal flame inside my soul that can never be extinguished. Let this flame burn only for You for You are worthy of my praise. Only You can make atonement for my sin and only You can bridge the way from me to the Father. Thank You God for sending Jesus as a sacrifice. I may never understand how rich your love is for me. I can see Your love exemplified in the life of Jesus and I can never ask for anything more than the sacrifice you made for me. Thank You for offering me a chance to have abundant Life. I don't think I have even begun to tap into the wellspring of life that You promise to those that love You. I desire more than the oridinary, more than the status quo, more than just enough to get by. God, I desire to be like You. Not in the sense of power and majesty, but in the sense of holiness. You declared for us to be holy as You are holy. I suppose that holiness is only accessible through deep communion with You. That is the heart of my prayer. To be closer to you than I could possibly imagine at this moment. I don't have any idea of what a deep friendship with you is like. I want it so bad. God thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your love. I am very unworthy of all that you offer and I am sincerely grateful.

2006-11-27T11:25:00.000-05:00

Holiness is by no means something to be taken lightly. Purity is achieved through obedience to the Word. God calls us to be different, set apart, uncomformed to the world. Charles Stanley says that being a Christian in the world is like kind of like asking an elegant lady in a white dress to to work in the coal mines - the soot will stain her and leave its mark. For sure God's plan and role is to intervene for us and provide a way of escape from the habits and lifestyles that often surround us. The world screams for ungodliness. Selfishness, materialism, pride, ungratefulness, dishonesty, and lust are characteristics that seem to define our culture. Do these things rub off? Do they leave their mark on me? For sure. I hate conforming to the world. I hate being rubbed off onto by the world. I hate knowing in my heart that I made the wrong choice, ventured down the wrong path, said the wrong words - conformed. All conformity to world does in my life is create a barrier between Jesus and me. No doubt His forgiveness abounds and His love endures through my sin, but I want more. I will never "deserve" His love. I can never "earn" His acceptance. But what I desire is please my Lord. He has done so much for me that I desire for Him to look upon me with favor and peace. I want Him to see in me a faithful follower who will journey to the end without waivering to one side or the other. When Jesus sees me I want to bring a smile to His heart. Indeed, I may not understand His love. Perhaps His mercy is so great that He never stops smiling, never stops finding favor with me, never stops viewing me as a faithful servant. But I know I can do better. It is written in James that faith alone is dead. Faith should be accompanied with works. I want to show Jesus my faith in Him by what I do - by the life that I live. It can be hard. He came to serve and I often feel put out to serve others. He came to minister to the needy and I rarely stop for the homeless. He came to be a light and I feel like all I do sometimes is cast a shadow on the light of others. I'm fed up with being stained by the world. I have no excuse. I know the truth. For a man to know the way to live and live a contrary life is a shame. Shame no more. I am a fighter. I desire to fight the good fight. Satan, the world, and my flesh are on a mission to destroy, but I need only God to defeat all my enemies. As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us. He will empower to victory. He will comfort, protect, provide, shelter, and strengthen those whose hope is in Him. God knows no fear. He does not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power. Living for Him may not be the world's way, nor is it easy. Living for God may be stressful and frustrating. But living for God is the only real form of living - period. Everything else is dying early. He came to give life and give it more abundantly. I pray that I will fully grasp this concept. I need Jesus more than I need this life. Without Him life is an impossible misery. Forgive me, Jesus, for my shortsightedness and selfishness. Please help me keep my eyes and my heart fully focused on You. Give me the strength to follow Your example for life. Give me the ability to forsake myself. Bless me with a vision to see doorways to overcome temptation and the courage to walk through them. Remove any sin from my life so that I may be filled with righteousness. I truly want us to become closer. I want to know You. Yes, I want to know You.