Funny Picture Friday....

Off we go...

First, that lady's just lazy...



You know, getting "splattered" with anything usually isn't good...but I don't like the looks of what that sign is saying...(I think I'll stand over there...)



Now, this sign is for the concession stand in AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Check out what kind of cheese is on the San Fran dog, and tell me that isn't either a Freudian slip, or one of the funniest things ever to be slipped past the sign company...(some of these may only be funny to me...)



"Think you had a bad day at work? I think I can top your story..."



Finally, to quote Jeff Foxworthy, you might be a redneck if you utter this quote:



Hope you are secure enough to wear your spandex while shopping, and have a great weekend!!

"Uncommon" - Tony Dungy

The newly retired coach of my Indianapolis Colts was the final speaker of the day at the "Uncommon" conference. I must confess that his presence was the reason I wanted to go to this in the first place, but I was blessed by all of the speakers that day.

Even before Tony spoke, he had already impressed me. Normally, at events like this, the "headliner" stays backstage, relaxing in a room and waiting until it's his turn to speak. About 5 minutes before it started, I noticed a side door in the sanctuary opening, and in walked Coach Dungy. He not only listened to the other speakers and took notes, he also worshipped right along with everyone else. It's a small thing, probably unnoticed by most, but I thought it conferred great honor on all those that were a part of this conference, and spoke volumes of the humility that the coach seems to have in buckets.

Tony spoke about being "uncommon" in our lives. He led with a quote from his college football coach:

"Success (or significance) is uncommon, therefore not to be found by the common man."

Simple, yet so powerful. He shared two ways to be uncommon. One is to have a talent that very, very few have like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and many others. Problem is, that is so rare and you can't count on it. The other way to be uncommon is to have a desire that helps you do things others could do, but won't do.

Did you catch that last part? "What others COULD do, but WON'T do." Now, we're all capable of doing that....it just comes down to will, drive, and perseverance. He also spoke about the life of Jesus and how he modeled the "uncommon" life. Along the way he had many great, thought-provoking quotes I found worth writing down. Here's a few of them:

"Sometimes we listen to the loudest advice and ignore the best advice."

"Sometimes we're afraid to stand out."

"What does following God look like in your life?"

"The right thing to do isn't always the most popular thing to do."

"Following Jesus may not bring you success in the world's eyes, but will give you great significance in God's eyes."

Following his speech, Bill Dallas interviewed him for a few minutes. One question he asked is why he left coaching. His answer was this:

"It was time to find a new way to be significant for Him."

Wow. How may of us could walk away from the prestige, power, and money of a position like that to follow God's lead. I'd hope I could...but honestly, that would be really, REALLY hard to give up. This man just exudes class...

Finally, my favorite part of his time. Bill asked Tony what the most significant moment in his coaching career was. To respond, Tony talked about being asked to film a PSA for foster parenting before a huge game against the Patriots. He didn't think much of it at the time, but he did it, then went on about his business. A year later, he got a letter from a family. They saw the ad on TV, were moved to find out more, and now were in the process of finalizing the adoption of their foster son. They just wanted to write Coach Dungy and thank him, in their words, "for helping them to complete their family".

Just so you don't miss it, remember this: Coach Dungy won a Super Bowl. He had the best winning percentage of any coach in NFL history. He's had plenty of amazing wins and devastating losses...and his most significant moment in coaching was shooting a commercial that found a child a permanent home with parents that will love him forever.

I thought pretty highly of Tony Dungy before I heard him speak...but afterward, I can see how his players would run through walls for him. He's the kind of guy you'd grow to love and respect, and would hate to disappoint. As a Colts fan, I'll miss him terribly...but as a God fan, he's got a whole new team to work with.

That's It, That's All, And That's Enough...

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve,
or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,he remembers that we are dust.

(Psalms 103:8-14, NIV)

Sometimes it's good for me to be reminded just how great and big God is.

That's it, that's all.....and that's enough for me.

"Uncommon" - Stephen Arterburn

Stephen Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries and co-author of the popular "Every Man's Battle" series of books, was my favorite speaker of the day. Not only have his books impacted me very personally, but he was a perfect mix of humor and content. He kept my attention and had me alternating between furious note-taking and laughter.

Stephen spoke about being "uncommon" in the midst of painful circumstances. He shared a lot from the personal experiences of his own divorce. Having gone through that myself, much of what he talked about resonated with me deeply. He talked about our tendency, in the midst of pain, we tend to do three things:

1. Clam up
2. Disconnect from everyone
3. Pray that God removes it

(On a personal note, I'd have to say check, check, and check in how I handled it in my life...) He them shared an honest feeling that if we pray for the pain to go away and it doesn't, we use it as an excuse to keep feeling bad and to blame God for it. He then spoke something that I not only wrote down, but underlined and starred also:

"Is is possible that we're spending all that time waiting for God to do it when, in reality, He's waiting for us to do it? It's easier to pray for a miracle than to become that miracle."

Wow....and ouch. How often have I been guilty of that very thing? Too often we wait for God to dramatically sweep us out of pain and trouble, missing the many doors and windows He's open for us to climb out of that hole.

He told us about what he called 3 "stepping stones" to dealing with grief and tragedy:

1. We need to connect with people. Sharing the reality of what happened in our lives, no matter how hard it is, helps us to deal with the feelings and to find our way through the mess of thoughts. I know, for me, internalizing my pain just made it worse, to the point I couldn't even sleep. Sharing my broken heart with family and friends that loved me, along with wise counsel from a couple of pastors, really helped me through that difficult time.

2. We need to grieve. Experiencing the pain of loss is very important. Arterburn even referenced Jesus, known as a "man of sorrow", even to the point of sweating blood while praying in the garden. We have to grieve before we can move on. As Stephen said, "If we can't get it out, we can't let it go". I can also attest to that on a personal level.

3. We need to embrace our situation. That doesn't mean to be happy about it, but it does mean to make the best of it and go on growing and changing with the rest of your life. For me? I'm not happy I got divorced, but God has been able to allow me to use that experience to share and counsel with couples thinking about separation and divorce and to share candidly about it, while encouraging reconciliation. My friend who recently lost his wife has found a common bond with a local lady I respect very much who lost a husband 5 years ago. To be able to share those common feelings and experiences has been of great value to my friend, and I'm thankful for her willingness to share her pain and how she worked through it. She's embraced her hardship and is turning it to good.

I loved Stephen's final quote, as it summed up how we all deal with adversity:

"Sometimes you don't know you need help until you get help."

Here's hoping we can let those who love us help us when we're in need, and be there for those others when they need us.

"Heed The Warnings.."

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did–and in one day twenty‑three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did–and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

(I Corinthians 10:1-11, NIV)

I'm using the Youversion Bible-In-A-Year Program as I read through the Bible, and today I finished up the book of Exodus, along with my reading here and in Psalms. The timing was perfect, as this passage really sums up the 40 years in the wilderness for the Israelites. Paul, in his letter, shares the examples from the lives of those people, both good and bad, to encourage, teach, and warn the new Christians. He shared the incredible miracles that happened when they followed, and the dire consequences that happened when they didn't. Paul knew that there was value in shared experience and in telling the story of the Israelites, he hoped to help the Corinthians avoid the same fate.

One of the things I'm learning, especially in my 2nd walk through the Bible this year, is how applicable and relevant ALL of the Bible is. I used to forget the Old Testament, thinking all it contained was the stories I heard in "junior church". I would focus on the gospels and dismiss much of the rest of the New Testament as "bunch of letters". I couldn't have been more wrong. The more I get into it, the more I see that I'm no different than those people thousands of years ago. They struggled with the same things I do, and they all made different choices, some good and some bad. I can read these and help to share my own thoughts and responses, hopefully avoiding having to learn so much "the hard way", as I tend to do.

As the passage says, we need to read the Bible not only to get closer to God, but to read and heed "the warnings that were written down for us". Think of it as an instruction manual and life's a box of a million parts, or that it's a playbook and life's the Super Bowl. Are you telling me that you wouldn't use it if it was that important to your success?

Here's hoping we all find the Bible a little more relevant today....and if you don't, it's your fault, not His. (Just being honest, my friends....)

On The Bubble....

I know my Irish have struggled lately in Big East play, but until I saw this graphic captured from an ESPN broadcast by Deadspin, I thought we still had a chance:



111 losses and still on the "bubble" for the NCAA's? I know they say the Big East is tough this year....but that's ridiculous....

(ND plays Rutgers at home tonight at 7 pm.....Go Irish!!)

"My Heart WILL CHOOSE To Say..."

When I was at the "Uncommon" conference this past weekend, the band "Connorsvine" opened the day with some worship songs. One of their selections was the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman. I've always loved singing this one, but on this day it struck me in a whole different way.

I sang through the first verse fine, but the lyrics of the second shut me up and got me thinking:

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

As this part of the song played, I looked down the row of men that joined me at this event. Two of them have lost their jobs due to the bad economy. Another was off over two months because of lack of orders. Even harder, I was standing next to a man who's wife unexpectedly passed away recently. For a moment, I wondered how they could even sing that song, knowing a little bit of what they were going through. If anyone has reason to blame God for something, it would be them. How can you still "bless" God in the midst of those circumstances? I think it would be so hard to do....then the next part of the song played:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Wow. God kicked me in the shorts with that one. Praising God in the midst of hard times is a choice. People think that once you become a Christ-Follower, everything gets easy. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible never says the road is easy and full of great things...in fact, it talks often about how hard following Him will be.

I'm going to be honest here...though I believe in God, sometimes I don't get His plan at all. I don't understand why my friend's wife was called home to heaven. I don't get why a 3 year old girl gets bone marrow cancer. I've heard all kinds of things like God's trying to get our attention, teach us something, or punish us for something. I've also heard that He's just giving Himself an opportunity to do a "God-thing", a miracle that we can only credit to Him.

I can't say if any or all of that is true or not...but I can tell you for sure that I've seen that choice to praise and continue to follow God in the midst of great pain and sorrow in many of those friends. I've seen a peace despite the circumstances in their faces that would be impossible without that relationship. Their hearts have CHOSEN to say, even though things aren't going their way, that they will stick with God and count on Him, no matter what happens.

That's commitment....and the same commitment that God had sending his only Son to Earth to live among us and die for our sins.

I've often heard the old quote: "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."...but with all that's happened around me the past year, I've got to grab hold of that belief more than ever before. Fortunately, I have the examples of those men and others to guide me should I face those trials.

Here's hoping my heart will always choose to praise him, even in the middle of the storms of life.

"Uncommon" - Bill Dallas

Next up during the "Uncommon" conference was Bill Dallas, founder of CCN, the company that put together and broadcast this event around the nation. Bill shared his testimony and I'll condense it for you here...

After college, Bill moved out west to seek his fortune. He got involved in the real estate development business and was initially very successful at it. He and his partner were great at selling concepts and getting projects started, but they got too many things going with not enough money to support it all. As the economy started to turn south, they took money from investors in one project to pay off others, hoping that eventually they'd make enough pay everyone back. They couldn't do it, and lost it all.

Bill accepted Christ in July of 1991. Shortly after that, he was arrested for embezzlement and fraud in connection with those projects and sentenced to 5 years in prison. As he entered the penal system, he told people this: "I'll be alright...I have God with me." He did...but things didn't go how he planned at all.

He was sent to a white-collar low security place with the hopes of being placed in a "fire camp" - which means he would be outside, able to roam some and see the sky, and serve out his time working there. Right before the transfer was to happen, Bill's girlfriend visited the fire camp he was going to be assigned to and pray for him there. Guards saw her there, took down the plate number, and assumed she was scoping the place to break him out. Instead of going to low-security "fire camp", Bill was deemed an escape risk and sent to hardcore prison - San Quentin.

Early on, Bill was defeated and nearly going crazy being in that small cell nearly all day. During time out in the yard, he'd curl up in a ball on the grass and just cry and pray to God to let him die. God had other plans in mind for Bill...and He sent a "lifer" (a prisoner with no hope of parole) to befriend him and find him a job and a purpose to stay alive.

This man connected Bill to SQTV, an small in-house studio that they used to prepare the inmates with skills they can use to communicate and possibly get a job when they get out. Bill started sweeping floors, moved up to lighting, camera operation, and eventually hosting a show for the inmates. Once he got out, he had a new skill set to begin a new career...one that led to the conference today.

You want to talk about an "uncommon" path to finding your place in the body? I hope God doesn't need to send me to prison to bring me to my path! Bill cried out to God to deliver him and God did...just not in the way that Bill had planned. Looking back on it now, Bill realizes that God used the mess that was his life before to bring him to the point he was today, and he's grateful for the lessons he's learned.

Bill shared a couple of quotes he heard from God during his quiet time that stuck in my heart:

"You thought your life was miserable then - I thought it was magnificent. You thought you were broken and done - but I was just getting started with you."

In these days of a bad economy, lost jobs, broken families, and so much other pain and hurt, we need to remember that God is always with us, no matter the circumstances and that He's in control, even when we don't see His hand.

Pray For Maggie...

(I had a post on today's reading the Bible all set and ready to publish, and somehow I lost the entire thing. Rather than trying to recall it all and type it back in, I decided to post about a family that's been on my heart this past week...)



This is the Jernas family: Rod is the dad, Rachel is the mom, Jared is the brother, and the beautiful little three year old girl in the pink is Maggie.

This picture was taken last Monday before they headed down to Indianapolis to have some tests done on Maggie. Yesterday they got some news that would shake any parent to the core. Please read this from Maggie's CaringBridge page:

Hebrews 11:40 'God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.'

She has cancer in her bone marrow.

She will start chemo tomorrow. It is an aggressive cancer and the road will not be easy. We do not have a 'specific treatment plan' however, we do know that for the next 6 months she will have chemo treatments every 3 weeks as long as she stays 'healthy'. Sometime during that time, they will 'extract' her bone marrow stem cells. After the 6 months of chemo they will give her radiation spot treatment and then 'transplant' those stem cells back into her. As of right now, all of these chemo treatments will be at Riley as South Bend Memorial doesn't have enough certified Chemo nurses for the inpatient stay that it would take.

To say that we are devastated would be accurate. Rod and I just cried and cried out to God. We still need a miracle. She has no clue what she is facing and honestly, neither do we.

We will be here until at least Monday.

As I read this post this morning, it broke my heart. I can't imagine having to deal with something like that with my own kids, let alone one small enough and not able to fully understand what's going on. Since I heard about this family from my friend, Terry, I've been praying daily for a miracle healing, and though that still may happen, that's not what they're dealing with now.

Please add the Jernas family to your prayer list, and thanks.

"Uncommon" - Bill Butterworth

(Last Saturday I traveled down to Indy with a group of friends to hear Tony Dungy speak at a church there. He was part of a conference called "Uncommon" and the stuff they shared was so good, I thought it merited sharing here...)

Bill spoke from I Corinthians 12. He read the part about "we are all part of the body" that most of us have heard a thousand times, but he made some really great points:

1. We are all diverse (vs. 12). This gives us a broader base to work from. If we were all alike and acted alike, there would be many gaps that needed plugged and many roles that would go unfilled. God made us different for a reason.

2. We all have a specialty. This gives us what Bill called "a quality approach". Essentially, what he meant was that we all have something unique to bring to the table, regardless of how insignificant we think our gifts are. If each and every person attending a church was plugged into an area that suited their gifts, the impact on our community would be amazing.

3. We complement each other. Our gifts and talents help us to fit together like puzzle pieces, therefore making it essential that each of us is a part of the body. No one person is more important than another, regardless of what anyone may say or think.



The most impactful thing Bill shared, in my opinion was this quote:

"You need the body, and the body needs you."

What a simple, yet profound statement. Just as God intended for the community of a body of believers to help you out in your daily walk, He also planned and gifted each of us to give something back to the body of great value that only we can offer.

I truly believe we are called to serve, and not doing so is a great disservice to the gift that God has given us...but I also believe we are called to be served by others, which for some is much harder. Admitting others can do things and fill gaps that we can't is hard, but getting over that pride and accepting their help, support, and teaching will make us better and more well-rounded in the end.

Tomorrow: The amazing story of Bill Dallas...

"I Love Him Because He's More Like You..."

Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing!

Sing to God—worship God!

Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea, take the news of His glory to the lost, news of His wonders to one and all!

(Psalms 96:1-3, MSG)

Jeremy Tice spoke in my church this past Sunday. He and his wife, Mindie, and their family are missionaries to Guinea, West Africa. They work and live among the Yalunka tribe. He has spent the last few years learning the language and working among the people there. Jeremy is teaching them how to plant better and more effective cash crops, and Mindie is providing medical care with her training as a RN. He shared that the Yalunka tribe is 99% Muslim with also some "black magic" thrown in there, too. Most there are illiterate, so Jeremy must teach about God with picture books and tell the stories of the Bible. He's also working to translate the "Jesus" film into the Yalunka language. A good year for them bring one soul to the Kingdom, but an average of 2 or 3 fall away back into their old lives. God has opened the door lately to Jeremy and many have come to Christ....but the numbers he shared at the end of his talk were this: 60 Christians that he knows of in a people numbering over 80,000.

I share this not only to make you aware of the great work Jeremy's doing, but to share with you the impact he had on my daughter. You see, she normally spends the sermon time coloring or drawing, but for some reason, Jeremy's talk and picture really drew her in. Tonight as she prayed in her bed, she shared something so worth repeating I ran downstairs to commit it to paper before I forgot it:

"Jesus, thank you for Jeremy and that he will tell stories about you to the people with the hurt feet and for the girl that makes them better.(she's referencing pictures she saw of natives with snakebites on their feet that Mindie treated). Maybe someday I will go and tell them stories, too, because you love them and I love them, too. I love my family, and I love their family, because you love them, too. I love him (Jeremy) because he's more like you, God, than other people."

Now, that's pretty deep thinking for a six year old girl...but she is right now the money. As Jeremy talked, I thought about how I couldn't do what he did. I couldn't leave my life behind, go to a group that I don't fit in to, and spend the next couple of years just trying to learn their language and culture...but the Tices did.

They gave it all up for the sake of the call. They followed Him, no matter what he asked, just for the chance to help people halfway around the world to learn about Jesus. What they did....what they are doing is just like what Jesus did.

God spoke to me last night through the prayer of a little girl. Here's hoping I can be "more like Him" today.

Livin' On The Edge...

“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial.
“Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.

(I Corinthians 6:12, NIV)

I have two kids and love them dearly...but sometimes, they test me. They like to see how far they can go and still not get in trouble. Obviously, this means that they will get punished from time to time, but as they do, they find the limits and do their best to push it right to the edge.

I wish I could say I was different as a kid...but I was just as bad. Remember that imaginary line your parents drew between you and your siblings in the car? We all knew that if we crossed it, the car would stop, and that wouldn't be good for anyone....so what I would do is just lay one finger as close as I possibly could to the line, sometimes even on it, until my little sister would scream to tattle on me, and I would defend myself vigorously. Normally, we'd both still get in trouble...even though I didn't cross the line, our arguing, I'm sure, pushed us over the top.

I wish I was different in my walk with God. From the time we're little and know God, we try to find the line that God has drawn. We want to walk as closely with the world as we can and still call ourselves "Christ-Followers". Remember the most asked questions in high school youth group: "How far can I go?"..."Can I dance?"..."Can I drink?"..."What can I listen to?"..."How should I talk?"...all of them relating back not to how can I be closer to God, but how can I keep Him as far away as possible, yet still in my heart.

Paul tackled this very topic with the verse above. Though many things are "permissible" or OK to do and not sin, it doesn't mean that they are beneficial. This I've learned over my years as an adult, but I wish I understood it as a young person. Just because it's not listed in the ten commandments specifically doesn't mean it's something we should be doing.

The real questions we should be asking are these: "Is it helping me grow closer to God?" and "Is it pushing others away from Him?" If we can answer those correctly, then I think what we do is honoring Him...but if not, no matter what the legalists may say, it's not honoring to Him and often a sin.

Here's hoping we stay closer to Him and away from the edge today.

Funny Picture Friday!!

...because we can use a little laugh today, right? Off we go...

First, a clever way to recruit...and to ensure a dolt like me won't take one...



This is quite possibly the worst police sketch of a criminal ever...



There's so many things wrong with this picture, I don't know where to start...but the "turdle" sign is still making me laugh...



And finally, my favorite: I hope this one's real...because how funny would it be to be driving along and read this?



Hope you're having a better day than that guy, and have a great weekend!!

"Think Of What You Were..."

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

(I Corinthians 1:25-30, NIV)

As much as I try to come across as humble....I love to take the credit and be recognized. Really, who doesn't? We all appreciate when people notice something we've put hard work into and poured out our heart in. I may say, "Aw, shucks, it was nothing, really..." but what I really mean is "Finally! You noticed the magnificent thing I did...and it's about time!!" Am I the only one who ever feels this way? Probably not, I'm guessing.

What's interesting is this: normally, the things I'm most proud of doing myself aren't what people have noticed or recognized. The ones they notice, for the most part, are the times when God takes over and does something through me I could never do on my own. There have been times when teaching that I thought I knocked it out of the park, and there was no response at all. Other times I felt like I just stumbled through it, and God used it to reach some one's heart.

I love the passage above because God understands our pride and human nature. That's why He choose people and situations that we wouldn't, so He can show to everyone that it was Him, instead of us. I can hear stories about personal accomplishment all day...but one witness to a "God-thing" can change my heart in a second.

It still amazes me on a daily basis that God can choose to work through a messed-up dummy like me, no matter how many times I fall short and fail Him. His grace, love, acceptance, and forgiveness still blow me away every time.

Here's hoping I can get out of His way and let Him do a "God-thing" in me today.

The Perfect Sacrifice...

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he's calling Elijah.” One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

(Mark 15:33-37, NIV)

Last night while helping to teach the 4th and 5th graders at my church, part of our lesson involved getting into groups and thinking of some tough questions they wanted answers to. Some were silly, as you'd expect with this age, but some really made me think how I would answer them. One asked this question:

"Why did Jesus have to come and die on the cross? Why didn't God just kill us instead?"

What a great question. We started by talking about how sacrifices needed to be made in the Old Testament to atone for sins. If you read through Exodus, you'll see all over that book the different kinds of sacrifices needed for different sins. Jesus was the one sacrifice to atone for the sins of all of us: past, present, and future.

To answer their question about why Jesus: Simply put, because He's the only one who could. He was the only one blameless and sinless who could be the perfect sacrifice. For any of us to do it wouldn't have worked, because we have all fallen far short of that measuring stick. God sent Jesus because He knew that was the only way to save us, once for all. He gave His only Son to save everyone, even those that put Him to death.

Growing up in church, it's easy to get to passages like this while reading the Bible and just gloss over them. We've heard the story so many times that we just go quickly over it without pondering the meaning. Every time we hear and read the story of the crucifixion, we need to take time to remember the amazing gift of love, acceptance, grace, and forgiveness that God gave us when Jesus died on that cross.

Here's hoping we remember that today.

That's Just Nasty....

If you're worrying about your gray hairs or spare tires around your midsection, checking out this guy's grooming should make you feel a little bit better about yourself...take a look:



One word: Ewwwwwwwwwww....

(ht to Best Week Ever for the pic...)

Movie Review: "Coraline" in 3D

I took the kiddos to see this film last Saturday. They had both been asking to go to it, and I've always loved animation, especially stop-motion stuff. The time and detail that go into something like this has always amazed me. The director of the film also did "Nightmare Before Christmas", one of my favorites. The capper? It was shown in 3D at one of our local theaters...so off we went.

"Coraline" is the story of a little girl that's just moved into a new house. Her parents are too busy to find time for her, and send her out to explore the house instead. While looking, she finds a door that leads to her "other" house: a place with everything just as she's always wanted it. Her "other" parents are attentive, fun, and fully focused on her...but not all is as it seems, and soon Coraline will have to make a decision about which world to stay in.

This film had a very interesting story. It was written by Neil Gaiman, and is bascially a modern-day fable about the choices we make and how it impacts our lives. The voice acting is very good, and the animation and 3D effects were probably among the best I've seen outside of the 3D attraction at Walt Disney World. I enjoyed the film quite a bit.

The only drawback I had is that it may be too much for younger kids. My son loved it, and my six-year-old daughter said she did, too, but there were some parts that scared her. The second half of the movie is pretty dark for a PG movie aimed at kids, so if you take yours, keep this in mind. If I would have seen it first, I probably would have left my little girl at home...but she told me that even though the "other" mother scared her a little, she loved the movie.

Overall, I'd say "Coraline" is "Rob-approved", especially if you're a fan of this kind of story and animation. I would also say finding a theater showing it in 3D is worth it if you're going to see it.

"What A Waste!!" - A Lesson In Judging Others

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

(Mark 14:3-9, NIV)

Judgment.

Why are we so good at handing this out randomly, yet so bad at accepting it ourselves?

This passage talks about the poor woman pouring out perfume on Jesus's head. Those present, including the disciples, were shocked at what they saw as a complete waste of money. Why, this woman could have fed and clothed herself and many others for a long time with the money it cost for that jar of perfume...and she went and blew it on the jar, then poured it on Jesus? What a dumb decision!!

The problem was the disciples couldn't see her heart. They didn't know that this woman wasn't being wasteful...she was just trying to honor Jesus the best way she knew how. She was willing to give everything she had to honor Him. The disciples? Well, these "high and mighty men of God" would fall asleep and leave Jesus alone later that night in the garden and ultimately deny Him and run when He is arrested, leading to his crucifixion.

Knowing all this, how would they judge her now? Do you think their perspective changed after these events? I think the restoration of Peter with the "feed my sheep" passage changed the way he preached and ministered.

The thing is, we're not any better today. How often have I sat in the sanctuary and judged someone based on just what I saw and the way I interpreted it. How often do I judge someone's walk with God by the way they act, talk, and even dress? How quick am I to dismiss a form of service that I don't like or understand as useless for God, completely disallowing the chance that God's been waiting for that person to step out in that way all along?

As I read about the life of Jesus, one thing that stands out to me is his lack of pre-judging anyone. He called a thieving tax collector to be one of his disciples. His best friends in ministry were just simple fishermen. He ate with the ones society spit on as they walked by. He defended those who deserved death, and with a few words, made them realize they were no better or worse than she.

Honesty time? I stink at this. I "snap-judge" people and things all the time, and it needs to change. Here's hoping I judge less and love more today.

Updates on Kayla and Keri...

I know some of you have still been praying for Kayla Courtney and Keri Rohr, so I wanted to give you a little update on both of them:



Here's a post from January 6th on Kayla's CaringBridge page:

Kayla completed surgery successfully after about 4-1/2 hours. The first words of the surgeon to Mom & Dad were - "It is a miracle she was not paralyzed".

Kayla suffered injuries to her spine, hips, and very deep abdominal cuts during her accident. She's worked hard despite many setbacks and this morning her dad posted some great news:

Maybe this will be my last journal entry while Kayla is an inpatient here at Riley. The word from Kayla's primary doctor - her GI surgeon, Dr. Engum, is that she should be released tomorrow. Whereas some of his fellow doctors on his team weren't quite so certain about the release, due to Kayla's extreme nausea, upset stomach, pain, and non-stop duodenum leak, Dr. Engum believes that Kayla will recover better at home with a home health care nurse and her own familiar environment.

For those of you that have followed Kayla's journey over the last 6 weeks, there's much to be thankful for, but even when she comes home, she's still got a lot of healing and physical therapy to do. The exciting part for me, as a dad, is that their family will be whole and back together at home again soon.




Keri, though tumor-free now, is going through weekly chemotherapy treatments. Remember, she's still a little girl, and this is still tough on her. Here's some snippets from her CaringBridge entries:

Today has been pretty good. We had treatment this morning and since the port was already accessed from yesterday there wasn't too much drama! It's always a little rough coming out of the anesthesia but we've got a pretty good routine down now so I at least know what to expect. We found out today that Thursday will be the last day of treatment with anesthetic! Yeah!! It will be nice to go back to a 15-20 minute treatment without having to put Keri under.

Today we made a trip to the local mall to see what stores were there. Keri has been saving some of the money that she's received in cards from people and she got a little more from some people that go to church with her Grandma Hershberger. She decided to get a Build-A-Bear. She picked a light pink bear and named her Haley. She had me do a voice recording that we put in the bear's paw. She told me that she wanted me to do the message and that when she got scared she would press it's paw and hear my voice. She even made me go into the back room at the store so she wouldn't hear what I was going to say. She still hasn't pressed the paw yet to hear it.

This is from Friday:

Last night we had a good cry together. She is losing her hair at a pretty rapid pace now and it will be obvious to people. She's embarrassed and thinks that she looks ugly. We are going to get some hats on the way home and tomorrrow we are going to a local wig place. She's determined to get a wig tomorrow. I thought that she was doing so well with the idea of losing her hair but last night she just broke down. It's going to be harder than I thought to get her to accept what's happening.

I know these two families have appreciated your prayers more than you can ever know or fathom, and I know that they would covet your prayers as they continue to heal in both of their situations. God has been so good and amazing to both so far, but in the hard days ahead, it will be easy to lose sight of that.

I ask that you not only pray for Keri & Kayla, but for their parents and families as they surround those girls with the love, grace, patience, strength, and support they need to get through this. If you've been praying and want to leave a note of encouragement or support, just click on their CaringBridge page links above and sign their guestbooks.

Thanks...

"Hurry Up...They're Coming!"

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back–whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

(Mark 13:32-37, NIV)

Admit it. As kids, we've all been there....

You know what I'm talking about: your parents leave you alone for an evening or for longer while they go out or go on vacation. You know the expectations they have for the house when they return, and you know it would be easier to do a little bit every day to keep things up, but instead you let it all go until the very end. When you know they are about an hour away from being back home, it turns into a cleaning frenzy. You're doing loads of laundry, finally starting the dishwasher, making the beds, and cleaning up the floors while frantically trying to remember if you've done everything they asked, not wanting to jeopardize the chance to be on your own again.

Problem is, sometimes they surprised us. Sometimes, they came home early. Sometimes, the plane made up some time, and they didn't call ahead. On those times, they came home and saw how we were really living, instead of what we did when we knew they were coming home.

This passage is all about the same thing. Jesus talks about the need to have a consistent walk with God every day, not just at the very end right before you die. He was saying that you never know when your time here on earth will come to an end, so you need to live each day as if it were your last. Instead of trying to "clean" yourself up at the last minute before He comes, we need to live each day for Him.

I love the words from this old song by the late Rich Mullins:

"Live like you'll die tomorrow-
Die knowin' you'll live forever- live right!"

Good advice, indeed. Let's quit waiting and watching until the last minute and keep our "houses" clean for when He comes home today.

Movie Review: "Slumdog Millionaire"

My wife and I saw this movie on our "date night" last Friday based in great part off of glowing reviews by Derry and Nic. I've got to say, they were right on the money: it's one of the best movies I've seen in quite a while.

The whole film takes place in India, and begins with an uneducated, poor young man, called a "slumdog", standing just one question away from winning it all on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". He's being interrogated by the police, as no one thinks that this kid can know the answers he's gotten right so far. While being questioned, the story of his life is told in a flashback format. You see how he learned the answer to each question through his life experiences, and also see the romance of chasing a girl he's always wanted but never was able to catch.

It's got action, suspense, drama, and some funny parts, too. Danny Boyle did a wonderful job directing the movie, and all the kids playing the main roles of Jamal, Salim, and Latika did amazing jobs of really immersing themselves into the roles.

It's rated R for some violent scenes, and is not fit for young children, but "Slumdog Millionaire" is definitely "Rob-approved". Go see this one.

"Love Them Like Jesus"...

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:28-31, NIV)

When I read this passage this morning, God confirmed something that happened to me last week, so I'm going to share it now, in the context of the verses above.

With all that's been going on in my church lately, I've been struggling with wondering if I'm doing enough. There are so many people that need help, comfort, prayer, and support that I know, and I felt like I just couldn't reach them all. Even the ones I could reach, I didn't know what to do for them. It's like I want to help, but I just can't figure out a way to do it right.

Last Friday I was working out at my local gym. I almost always take my IPod along with me to keep my mind busy while my body is sweating it out. Normally I listen to podcasts about sports or sermons, or I'll dial up my "work out" playlist, full of upbeat music that gets my heart rate going.

That day, though, I decided to just hit the "shuffle" button on my IPod. I've got over 1500 songs on it, and occasionally I'll do this just for something new and different. Quite often I'll come back across songs I haven't listened to for years...or sometimes I'll hear a song, really hear it, for the first time.

So the workout began, and the songs played. As I started to do my sets on the lat machine, a song came on that rocked my soul to the core. It's called "Love Them Like Jesus" by Casting Crowns:

The love of her life is drifting away
They’re losing the fight for another day
The life that she’s known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child’s broken heart

You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She’s desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She’s looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to grey
As the little one slips away

You’re holding their hand, you’re straining for words
You’re trying to make sense of it all
They’re desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They’re looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus

Wow. I had to leave the workout area and go to the locker room to compose myself. It was like a message straight from God saying "Rob, this is all I need you to do. Love them like I would, and I'll take it from there. Don't try to do it all yourself...just love them, and I'll do to the rest." It's exactly what I needed to hear, and a great encouragement to me.

The words of that song are nothing new...the gospel of Mark has the same message straight from the mouth of Jesus. So simple to say, yet so hard to do...here's hoping I can love them a little more like Jesus today.

If you'd like to hear the song, you can click the link below:


(Postscript: After this song was done, the IPod shuffled next to "What Time Is It" from High School Musical 2...which I can only assume was God saying "That's it for now...back to your regularly scheduled programming...)

Real Heroes...

I went to the Notre Dame-Louisville basketball game last night. The Cardinals came into the ACC ranked #7 in the nation and the Irish were sitting on a seven game losing streak. Much to my surprise, my boys blew the doors of of the top ten team, winning the game 90-57. The place was rockin', and Louisville brought some fans, so the cheering was loud and intense.

The game has many great players: Luke Harangody had 32 points and 17 rebounds, Kyle McAlarney had 21 with 5 three-pointers, and Ryan Ayers chipped in with 19 and 5 threes. You could say they were the heroes on the floor last night...but you'd be wrong.

At halftime, they showed a video chronicling Coach Mike Brey's trip to the Middle East to coach teams of the Armed Forces for a week in something called "Operation Hardwood". This touched Brey so much that when his team visited Georgetown to play, he took them all to Walter Reed Hospital in DC, where many wounded soldiers heal and learn to live again despite missing limbs and devastating injuries. They also had some interviews with the players talking about how much it impacted them.

Once the video was over, 4 men took the floor, all recently injured defending our country:

Staff Sergeant Dillon Behr, a member of the Third Special Forces Group stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C., was injured by a gunshot wound last May while serving in Afghanistan. He is currently on track to make a full recovery and continue on active duty.

Staff Sergeant Freddie De Los Santos, also stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., was injured while in Afghanistan on October 20, 2008. He is serving as a member of the Alpha Company, 98th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Lance Corporal Anthony Villarreal, a 23-year-old Infantry Marine with Golf Company, Second Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment out of 29 Palms has served two full tours of duty in Iraq. On June 20, 2008 Villarreal was injured in Afghanistan while serving on his third tour.

Staff Sergeant Leroy Petry serves with the second battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was wounded last May in Afghanistan and is currently rehabbing along with Lance Corporal Anthony Villarreal at Brooke Army Medical Center.

As these men walked out on the floor, the signs of their sacrifices were very evident. One came out on crutches. Another with a prosthetic arm. Another had been badly burned over most of his body. As they walked to halfcourt, the arena rose as one and gave them an ovation louder and stronger than I had heard all night.

As I stood and cheered them with my son, I took a moment to realize how blessed I am that men and women volunteer to go out abroad to protect the freedoms I hold so dear, often at a very personal cost to themselves.

Those four men were the real heroes on the court last night...and I won't soon forget them.

Funny Picture Friday!!

Off we go...

The clever advertising award goes to...


When you don't know the answer to a problem, improvise....


Love this tag....


Finally, my favorite...redneck pacifier. ('nuff said)


Hope you feel as happy as this little guy looks, and have a great weekend!!

Remembering "My Song In The Night"...

(the original manuscript of "It Is Well" by Horatio Spafford)

I cried out to God for help;I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing;I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days,the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night.

(Psalms 77:1-6, NIV)

Psalms is really hitting home with me this time throughout the Bible....

As many of you reading know, I was married once before. We met in college, and I was sure she was the one, even though most that knew me well had their doubts. We had a long distance relationship for about a year, then I asked her to marry me. We were married, and to be honest, it wasn't at all what I had expected. She was distant quite often, and it honestly felt like we were two separate people just living in the same house. Things were never good, but I didn't think they were that bad, either...until I got a phone message that rocked my world.

The message asked for my wife by her maiden name and said that her apartment was ready for her to move in this weekend. I called her at work and she came home and we talked. She told me she wasn't sure if she really ever wanted to be married, and that she was leaving the next day to move to Indianapolis and start a new life. I was crushed. I didn't understand why she wanted to go. A few weeks later, while packing up some stuff for her, I found a box of letters she had saved, not from me, that shed some light on why she felt the way she did. Again, I was heartbroken, and I spent lots of time thinking about what I did wrong or didn't do that made her want to find it in others.

During those weeks and months, I couldn't sleep at all. I would lay down and my mind would race through all these thoughts and wouldn't stop. For the first week, I was lucky to get a hour or two. I tried everything: warm milk, counting sheep, reading, whatever you could think of, and I still couldn't turn off my head. I prayed, too, but though that helped, it didn't get me to sleep, either.

As I tossed and turned one night, an old hymn popped into my head. It was "It Is Well" by Horatio Spafford. As I sang it quietly to myself that night in bed, it calmed my mind and soothed my soul. Soon, I was asleep and rested well for the first time in over a month. The next night, when the anxiety and depression started to creep back it, I sang that song again, and again I was able to rest.

I kept this all to myself, feeling like a crazy person that I needed to essentially sing myself to sleep. A few weeks later, I shared about what was going on in my marriage with the group of men and women I worked with at my church. They gathered around me to pray, and I was touched by what they shared. The circle got to our worship leader, and instead of praying, Niel started to sing these words:

"When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrow like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul."

Again, remember I had never told anyone about the song. Hearing him sing it was like hearing it straight from God, and a clear conformation that he was with me all along. I finally realized I wasn't in this alone, and that He would be with me all the way. It made all the difference in the world to me and was the beginning of a new attitude and outlook for me.

I share this long story because I can identify with the author of this psalm. I understand being in distress and crying out to God in the midst of it. I remember being "faint in spirit" and "my soul refusing to be comforted"...but I also remember "my songs in the night", and how God met me in my pit of despair and sat and comforted me in a way that no one else could have.

If you're hurting today, here's hoping you can find God in the midst of it. Sometimes it's hard to see through the hurt, pain, guilt, and disappointment, but He's always right there, just waiting for us to jump into His arms.

Take the leap today.

Count Your Blessings...

We give thanks to you, O God,we give thanks, for your Name is near;
men tell of your wonderful deeds.

(Psalms 75:1, NIV)

I went a viewing for Derry's father, Kip, last night. The family was holding up very well, and there were some very cool tributes to him, especially the basket of books that was given by the faculty at NorthWood High school, where Kip taught for 37 years.

What really struck me, though, was a quilt that was hanging outside the sanctuary at the church. You see, Kip and his wife, Jeanette, own a fabric and sewing store in our little town. Quilting is one of the things they teach at the shop, and this particular quilt had a sign by it saying that it was designed by Kip.

The theme of the quilt was "Count Your Blessings". It had a lot of neat little things and a great variation of different blocks that made it up, but the border is what really stuck with me. All around the outside of the quilt were stitched different things that Kip and Jeanette were thankful for. It had ones you'd expect like "sons", "daughters-in-law", "salvation", "church", and so forth...but the other ones stood out to me.

"Ludington" is where they have a cottage that's become a cherished family retreat. "Books" is something you'd never see Kip without, and his love for reading has been passed down to his sons and grandchildren. "Hugs" and "ice cream" were also two favorites that I noticed on the quilt border.

As I waited in line and stared at the quilt, I started to think about how rarely I stop and count my blessings. It's so easy to get caught up in what's going wrong and problems you have and forget all about the many great things God given to me and provided for me.

I need to count my blessings: like seeing my wife's eyes crinkle almost shut when she really, truly smiles, playing board games with my son and hearing him gloat when he wins, having my little girl just crawl up on my lap and just cuddle with me for no apparent reason, and times spent with my parents,in-laws, and good friends just talking and hanging out.

When I take time to really "count my blessings", I realize that I'm pretty blessed, indeed. Here's hoping you take some time to count yours today.

Just Wanted To Let You Know I'm Praying For You...

I'm going to a viewing this afternoon.

It seems like I've been going to far too many of these lately. As a younger person, it always seemed like trips to the funeral home and churches were for what I called "old people"...but now it seems that I'm not only going to more for people the age of my own parents, but my age as well.

The viewing today is for a man named Kip Prenkert, a member of my church and father of Derry, who's become a friend of mine over the last few years even though we don't see each other too much.

Derry grew up in the church I call home. I was in school with his oldest brother Robby, but the age gap between Derry & I kept us in different social circles then. For a time I attended Nappanee Missionary Church and heard about a promising young intern that seemed to have some potential. When my good friend Terry Bley stepped into a new role at NMC, Derry picked up the reins and has done an incredible job at equipping the younger generation to be men and women God will be proud of.

I consider Derry to be my "blogfather". Back in the summer of 2006, a friend told me I should check out Derry's blog. Having no idea what a blog was, I was curious. I went home, type the address into my browser, and started to read. As I read, it struck a chord in me. Derry, though a pastor, had no problem sharing the trials and struggles he was having in his life, and what God was teaching him on a daily basis. He was funny, well-written, and interesting, and his blog became a daily stop on the Internet for me. Every time I hear that Derry is teaching on Sundays, I try to visit NMC and listen to him, and always come away with something about Jesus I didn't know before. He's a great teacher and communicator.

After reading for a while I decided to try my hand at blogging. I love to write, and Derry's transparency and style greatly influenced the way I chose to share my life with anyone reading. As Derry shared about his life, I felt like I've gotten to know him better than many others I'd called "close friends". His series on unanswered prayers and the incredible story of the adoption of his daughter Katylynn have both broken my heart and filled me with joy for them. After many of his posts, I often thought, "I'm so glad someone else has those thoughts and feelings, too." If you've ever found anything of value from my random ramblings, you can thank Derry for blazing the trail I'm following him on.

When I got word on Sunday night that there was nothing they could do for Kip, my heart broke for Derry and his family. I started to think of what I could do for them. Jeanette's family is enormous, so they had plenty of support there. He's got a church full of people that love him and will probably fill his fridge and freezer with more meals than they can eat. I wanted to write a tribute for his dad, but as I read pieces written by people who knew him much better, I realized that idea wasn't it, either.

As I racked my brain to come up with something to do for Derry, the image of a little post-it note popped into my head. You can read the whole story in this post, but the words that the young girl wrote on the small paper touched my heart deeply and today I shared them with Derry on his Facebook page:

"Just wanted to let you know I'm praying for you."

It seems like nothing, really...just taking some extra time to pray for someone who's hurting, but I can tell you as one who's received this note in the past, it can be a great encouragement in times of trial. I think all too often we underestimate the power of prayer...and that's too bad, because all through the Bible and history, God has an amazing track record of great things happening when His people pray.

Now, here's your chance to come alongside of me. The viewing is today from 2 to 8 p.m. and the funeral tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:30 a.m. Please take some time to pray for Derry, his mom Jeanette, his brothers Robby and Jamie, and their extended families. If you want to, you can leave a note on Derry's blog to let him know you're praying for him.

Thanks....and never, ever underestimate the power of prayer, and of sharing that with others.

Clean It Up...

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ ”

After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)

He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

(Mark 7:14-23, NIV)

When Jesus came, He tossed established religion out on its ear. No longer did the old rules and customs apply...now everyone was able to have a personal relationship with God. This was hard not only on the Pharisees, but on the disciples, also. Though they weren't scholars, they grew up knowing the restrictions and laws that the Jews must follow. Not only did he throw those rules out....he threw them right back at the ones complaining about it.

"Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’"

Jesus didn't mess around, did He? Not only was nothing unclean to eat anymore, which shocked them all, but Jesus was saying that your words and actions, not your obedience to the law, will either bring you closer or take you away from God. It was a paradigm shift that rocked them to the core, and the beginning of Christianity as we know it.

Too often, we worry about things like the Pharisees did. We're concerned about style of music and type of preaching. As young people, we want to find out if we can drink, dance, and how far we can go without sinning, right? We worry about about the things "going in" to us, and forget all about what's coming out of us. We can talk a good game on Sundays and even Wednesdays all we want, but if we don't follow through with our mouths, hearts, and hands on Monday, then who actually believes us? How can we lead others to Him if we haven't made the journey ourselves?

I know I've shared the words of Grover Levy's song before, but it's still one of my favorites and one that pierces my heart every time I hear it:

"If you want to lead me to Jesus, you better find a better way,
'Cuz your life is speaking so loud I can't even hear a word you say."

Here's hoping I can "clean" up what comes out of me today.

Another Great Tribute For Kip...

For those of you close enough to attend, the arrangements for Kip Prenkert are as follows:

Viewing: 2-8 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) at Wakarusa Missionary Church
Funeral: 10:30 am Thursday at Wakarusa Missionary Church

In my reading today, I saw a post from Andrew Whitehead, one of my favorite writers. He shared some great thoughts about how Kip has impacted his life, his career, and his faith, even when Andrew himself didn't realize it. Not only is it a touching tribute to a great man, but an even greater testament to the value of a life lived for God.

Click here to read "A Life Well Lived".

"On Eagles' Wings..."

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

(Exodus 19:1-6, NIV)

"Remember how I carried you on eagles' wings..."

The Israelites should certainly remember that, seeing as they were just delivered from captivity. From the plagues to the parting the Red Sea, along with being provided food and water, God's presence was all around them, and they knew that He was with them, and had carried them through those difficult past few weeks.

Some people think the Old Testament is just that: old. The more time I spend in the Bible, though, the more I come to believe that those stories have just as much application to our daily lives as the rest of the Bible does.

These last six months have been very hard on a few of my friends. A friend from high school took her daughter in for an eye exam a few months ago and found that she had a cancerous brain tumor. My father had a stroke. A great servant of God and an incredible lady unexpectedly went home to be with Jesus last fall, and just last weekend, another friend lost his father in a car accident.

I don't know how you get through things like this without a relationship with Jesus. I can't imagine dealing with the pain, loss, grief, confusion, and anger without Him to hang on tightly to in the center of the storm. As I watched those same friends deal with the sharp turns life gave them, I was encouraged, in the midst of grieving with them, by how much they gave their situations over to God. It's our natural inclination to do it all ourselves, but to see these people just rely on God entirely has stretched my personal faith to a new level. It's like this: I think we all know God is there all the time, but sadly it's often not until we're at the end of our rope that we finally leave go and drop into His mighty arms.

As I watched Dad, Tonya, Jeff, and Derry as they handled their crises, I saw a peace, grace, and faith in them that was and is a strong witness to those in trouble all around them. In their pain, their actions and reactions are planting seeds with those in their circle of influence that desperately need His love, acceptance, forgiveness, and help.

I still don't understand why all of this has to happen, but I do know that God can use it for His good if we allow ourselves to keep our focus on Him no matter the circumstances.

To those friends that have suffered lately: thank you for allowing yourselves to "be carried on eagles' wings"...and for the testimony of your lives in the midst of your pain to all of those around you.

To those in the midst of troubles right now: In the words of the late Rich Mullins,

"There bound to come some trouble to your life,
but that ain't nothin' to be afraid of,
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes,
that ain't no reason to fear,
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life,
but reach out to Jesus, and hold on tight,
He's been there before, and He know's what it's like,
You'll find He's there."

Here's hoping we all let Him carry us when we can't carry on.

"...Keep A Hoop Open For Me..."

In reading my blog subscriptions this morning, I came across a tribute to Kip Prenkert written by Denny Owens, a former pastor of WMC and a friend of his and mine.

Denny knew Kip well, and had some wonderful things to say about the man that he was.

Click here to read his tribute...it's well worth the time.

You Don't Have To Do It Alone...

Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.”

Moses' father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you."

(Exodus 18:16-22, NIV)

Moses was worn out. Now that he had led the Israelites out of Egypt, it seems they expected him to do everything for them. Lead them, find them food and water, settle disputes...and all this for thousands and thousands of people. I'm sure Moses was about at his wit's end, and probably not a very effective leader at that time.

His father-in-law came up with some sage advice: get some help. Seems simple, doesn't it? Just let some other people help you carry the load that's become too much for you. Wouldn't that make it easier? Wouldn't we all love to give away some of the responsibility?

Me? Not so much. See, I'm afraid if I give away any portion of a project that I control, it won't be done to my satisfaction. That doesn't mean I think people are incompetent...it just means it won't be done MY way....and that's pretty selfish. In allowing others to come alongside us and serve, we open the door for more people to use their gifts and talents for Him, and to be blessed by that. We also may find that someone else is much more suited for a particular area than even we are.

I also think it's important so we don't become too self-reliant. As a leader, it's easy to insulate yourself and think that you're the sole reason for success or failure of any group. That's wrong. We need to rely on God and on the band of brothers and sisters he's surrounded us with. God never met for us to go it alone.

I say all this to remind you to pray for your leaders, and pray that God surrounded them with other Godly men and women. This goes all the way from our President down to the leaders in your local church. These people willing offered to serve, knowing full well the personal price it would cost them. Show them the proper respect, pray for them, and do your best to work alongside them, instead of against them.

Homecoming For Kip...

Kip Prenkert went home to be with Jesus. Thanks for praying for him, but please continue to pray for his wife Jeanette, his sons Robby, Jamie, and Derry and their extended families.

Though I can't imagine the sadness and grief they're going through, I know there's a party going on in heaven....but that doesn't make it any easier here.

Derry has some words about his dad and the gifts his body will give to others in his latest post. You can read it by clicking here.

Thanks again for your prayers...I know the family appreciates them.

"Earnestly Praying..."

This morning, one of my church family laid in a hospital bed about 10 miles away. Kip was in a car accident on Friday night, and the prognosis wasn't good. Derry, Kip's son and my friend, shared via Twitter that all they could do was pray for a miracle...so that's just what we did.

Pastor Kent shared from Acts 12. He read the story of Peter and his amazing escape from prison and certain death. Herod had him under all kinds of guard and surveillance, but God delivered him. Why? Check out the scripture:

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
(Acts 12:5, NIV)

After sharing this, Kent invited those in the service to gather together in small groups and pray for the Prenkerts and any other needs that we had or knew of. We drew close together, and all over our sanctuary, voices and hearts were raised in prayer together.

For a few minutes, age didn't matter.
For a few minutes, musical preferences didn't make a difference.
For a few minutes, whether you were a new Christian or veteran prayer warrior, we were all of one mind and voice.

For those moments, were ceased to be a church. For that time, we weren't just a group of people gathered in a building on Sunday morning. Instead, we collectively met Him and cried out for the healing of someone we all care for.

For a few minutes, we weren't a church.

We were THE church.

We were His church....doing exactly what He's called us to do.

(The latest from Derry isn't good...here's what he posted earlier:

After some tough turns for the worse yesterday afternoon, We were were informed last night that all signs are outwardly pointed toward him being brain dead. The neurologist will be here this early afternoon to give us a more definitive assessment. We have taken the past 12-14 hours with the approach to be prepared to let go, but at the same time be praying for a miracle.

My brothers and their wives are here with my mom. There has been awesome support and prayer from extended family, friends and church.

Dad is a follower of Christ.
He's an awesome husband, father, and grandfather. We want him around and healthy. At the same time, we know that no matter the outcome, he will be restored.

Please keep praying...and thanks.)

Update on Kip...

Just checked in on Derry'sFacebook page, and he had simply updated it with this:

"Breaking some silence to simply state i believe we've been given 12 hours to pray for a miracle for my dad."

Please continue to pray for Kip, Jeanette, and the whole Prenkert family.

Thank you.

Prayer Request...

I just got a email from my church this afternoon telling me that Kip Prenkert, father of my friend Derry Prenkert, was in a car accident and is in ICU with head injuries. That's all I know for now, but I know the whole family would appreciate all the prayers they can get right now.

Thanks.

Funny Picture Friday!

Off we go...

First, I don't think I will sell...but at least he's honest....


(It's only been rolled once? That's not too bad, is it?)

I'd say they need to rethink the product placement in this store:



I think anyone that works in customer service would like to have this sign:



Redneck Limo. ('nuff said.)



Finally, my favorite:



(Yep, the instant death? Not too scary....but the $200 fine? Well, I'll stay away now...and how do you collect that? From next of kin?)

Stay away from the power lines and have a great weekend!

Good Enough To Share...

Moses said to the people,
“Always remember this day. This is the day when you came out of Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a powerful hand. Don’t eat any raised bread. “You are leaving in the spring month of Abib. When God brings you into the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he promised to your fathers to give you, a land lavish with milk and honey, you are to observe this service during this month: “You are to eat unraised bread for seven days; on the seventh day there is a festival celebration to God. “Only unraised bread is to be eaten for seven days. There is not to be a trace of anything fermented—no yeast anywhere. “Tell your child on that day: ‘This is because of what God did for me when I came out of Egypt.’

(Exodus 13:3-8, MSG)

I love telling stories to my kids.

They're still young enough to be intrigued by me and my life, so for right now, they'll listen when I start to tell them a story. My daughter loves it when I make up stories for her, especially about her babies or other toys while I'm playing with her. My son, though, is a little different. He's nine, and full of questions. At this point, I think that he still believes that dads know everything, and honestly, I'm not ready to let him know I don't most of the time. He's always asking about things he doesn't know or understand, and I do my best to help him with that. He also asks questions about life and the choices were presented with. The other night he was asking me what the "coolest" thing I've ever done. I shared with him about the month I spent in Bolivia on a mission trip working in the mountains. It was probably the first time I really felt in the center of God's will, and was so blessed by the opportunity to serve. He asked more questions about it, and I was able to share more of how God worked through me and to teach me on that trip.

A few nights ago after dinner, my daughter asked me if I missed my friend, Lisa, who passed away last fall. I assured her I still did, but I told her I didn't think she missed me at all. This puzzled her, and opened the door for my wife and I to share what the Bible says about heaven, our new bodies, and how there will be no more sadness, and that Lisa loved to sing, so she's probably doing that all day and night. While praying that night, she said this lovely thing:

"God, when I go to heaven, I want to sing and play with Lisa, if that's OK with you."

As a parent, moments like these are priceless. It's those few times you really see what you take the time to share with your children really connects and hits home. I think that's exactly what Moses was talking about in the passage above. We all have experiences and lessons we've learned in our lives where God has spoken to or taught us. Sometimes we hesitate to share it because it's too personal or casts us in a bad light. Sometimes we don't feel bold enough to share at all. Sometimes we just don't want to take the time away from whatever else is more important to us at the time.

I'm a big believer in sharing experiences to bring others closer to God. Nothing is more powerful of a witness than sharing what God's done in your life. I think God not only gives us those moments to teach others, but to remember what He has done for us....and that's just as important, don't you think?

Here's hoping we share with someone today.