Mob Mentality...

"That day Herod and Pilate became friends–before this they had been enemies.
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will."

(Luke 23:12-25, NIV)

Not many of us like to really stand out in a crowd. I mean, we all like accolades, but none of us strive to be the only ones standing on a side in a tough situation. When the chips are down, we like to be surrounded with friends and family to support us and encourage us through that difficult situation. It's a different ballgames if we're the only one standing up for what we believe, isn't it? It's lonely and scary, and the temptation is to crumble.

Herod and Pilate crumbled. After spending much time talking with Jesus, they both realized that He was innocent of all charges and there was no reason to kill Him. Instead of doing the right thing and releasing Him outright, they saw that public opinion was against Jesus, so he offered to punish Him severely and then let Him go. That wasn't enough for the people...they wanted Jesus dead. The two men offered them a choice: free this innocent man or free Barabbas, a known murderer quite probably despised by the crowd.

The mob, inexplicably, choose Barabbas. Out of options, Herod and Pilate had two choices: stand up for what they knew was right, or go along with the crowd and condemn Jesus to die. The symbolic "washing of the hands" didn't absolve them at all...they still blew it.

"Mob mentality" is tough to avoid. It's easy to get caught up in a bad situation just because everyone else is doing it. None of us want to be the one person defending someone when all others are against it. It won't make us popular, and it might make us hated...but that's what Jesus did.

Jesus sought out those the "mob" wished to destroy or minimize. He loved the unlovable, and defended the defenseless. He saved a guilty woman from a horrible death by stoning not too long before that. He wasn't afraid to stand up to the "mob" for what was right. He counted the cost and was still willing to pay it, even with His life.

I call myself a "Christ-Follower", but, really, how am I doing in this area? Am I willing to stand up and stand out for Him, or do I fade back into the "mob", and hope I do better the next time? I think I've done the latter far more often than the former...

Here's hoping the next time I'll stand, no matter the cost.

Bracketology Challenge....Final Four Edition!!

Well, Sparty and his Michigan State Spartans just destroyed my bracket this weekend, blowing up any shot I had at winning this thing....oh well, here's your leaders heading into the Final Four:

In first place...it's still Matt Schwartz....(*sigh*). Matt has 46 picks correct and a score of 239 points. He's still got UConn and NC left and both in the championship game...and he'll probably win it. (*double sigh*)

In second, out of nowhere...Seth Baron! He's got 41 right and 233 points with 2 of the final 4 and UConn winning. Nice job Seth!

In third, Mark Slabaugh with 43 right and 232 points, but all he's got left is his beloved Tar Heels...

In fourth, Denny Owens with 45 right, but with 230 points due to bonus for upsets. He's still got Uconn and NC all the way to the finals, giving him a shot to move all the way up to 2nd if it goes his way.

In fifth....Me, but with only NC left, I don't have a prayer at all. (Stupid Spartans....)

In last, Macey...but she does have the Spartans winning it all, and no one else picked them to make the Final Four, so let's give the little gal some props for that pick....and her uncle Terry Bley is still sitting down at the bottom with her...

I'll have the final results up next Tuesday after the final game...thanks for playing!

"We Can't!!"

They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.

(Numbers 13:26-32, NIV)

In this passage, Moses sends out twelve scouts, or "spies", to check out Canaan before they head into "The Promised Land". It was great, as God has promised: "flowing with milk and honey" and fruit so big two people had to carry one bunch of grapes. It was everything that they hoped for...except for one thing.

The people were big...and strong...and big...did I mention they were huge? Once most of the spies saw them, it didn't matter what all else was there, they knew at that point that they would never enter that land. When they reported back to Moses, they all talked about how great the land was, but ten of them insisted that there was no way to fight the "giants" and win. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, believed that what God had called them to He would deliver to them. These men knew that the people were huge, but they trusted God to take care of them.

The other ten, not content to leave the decision to go or stay up to Moses, started telling stories to the people to sway public opinion not to enter the promised land. They said "We can't!", and it was easier to believe that than to think "We could!"

I've got two little ones, and I hear the words "I can't!" all the time. Normally it means either "I won't be patient enough to do this right!" or "I don't know how to do this!". When I hear that, it's hard for me not to step in and do it myself, but I try to take the time to work through the problem with them so that they know they can do it on their own.

I think too often I'm just like my kids and the Israelites. When God asks me to do something, I'll tell Him "I can't" when what I really mean is "I won't". God gives us the power to do anything He asks us to do...we just have to do it.

Here's hoping "I can" today.

Greatest. Ballpark. Promotion....EVER!!

Clear your calendars for Tuesdays this summer and plan a trip to Lake Elsinore, California because you don't want to miss out on this one!

As is befitting a team with a mascot named Thunder, the Lake Elsinore Storm (Class A, California League) is giving out free samples of Subtle Butt anti-fart shields at their weekly all-you-can-eat Tuesday home games.

See, this is what Al Gore has been preaching all along. From the Lake Elsinore press release:

"You can probably deduce that All-You-Can-Eat ballpark food might lead to substantial gas subtle emissions, which is where corporate sponsor, Subtle Butt, enters the picture. Made of activated carbon fabric, each disposable 3.25" square shield is held onto the inside of the underwear with two self-adhesive strips. Subtle Butt effectively filters flatulence, absorbing and neutralizing its odor."

Therefore, the first 250 fans in attendance at every "Fat Tuesday" ballgame (the first is on April 14) , will receive a free product sample of Subtle Butt.

Subtle Butt is produced by a company called Garment Guard, whose founder, Kim Olenicoff, grew up with Storm assistant general manager Allan Benavides. "Our office is full of girls, and all we do all day long is talk about farting and sweat," Olenicoff told Ben's Business Blog. "We've never partnered with anyone before, but in Minor League Baseball we might have found the perfect niche."

Now available in four sizes: Small, medium, large and burrito.

(This product is very real...here's it's website....and thanks to the boys at Deadspin for the great story....and for showing me what I'll get my brother in law Matt for Christmas this year!)

Funny Picture Friday - FAIL Edition...

I thought I'd share some pics today from one of my new favorite funny picture blogs, FAILBlog. It's a collection of things that are done wrong, don't make sense, or just plain dumb. Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but most of them make me giggle...here's a few I liked:

I guess that "well-balanced" breakfast I've been doing for years is all wrong...



This is not good church marketing...



Not a great spot for a playground...



I wonder how many parents leave here disappointed....(darn those pesky conditions!)



Finally, my favorite: If you're going to defend cruelty to animals, this is NOT how to do it...you bonehead.



Here's hoping you don't "FAIL" today and have a great weekend!

He Died For Them Anyway...

As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.”

(Luke 19:41-44, NIV)

These are the words of Jesus as He looked out over Jerusalem following His "triumphal entry". I love the pictures of that day....the palm fronds waving, coats thrown down in front of Him, and the crowds cheering His name. That had to be a great day for Jesus. Though fully God, He was fully man, and that kind of reception had to really please Him...but He also knew what was yet to come.

As he looked out over the city, it broke his heart to think that the people wouldn't see Him for what He really was. They are looking for a warrior, and they found a peacemaker. They were looking for someone willing to fight, and they found someone willing to die for them. He knew they wouldn't get it...but He died for them anyway.

We need to remember that He knows sometimes we won't get it, either...but He died for us anyway. Sometimes we'll fail and break His heart...but He died for us anyway. Sometimes we fall far short of being worthy of his love, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness...but He died for us anyway. Sometimes we don't even claim to know Him at all...but He died for us anyway.

Here's hoping we can fathom that kind of selfless love and strive to be more like Him today.

And Another One...

(To read all the posts in this thread, click here.)

Becky Branch, a good blogger and a great musician, had another question for me, putting me to 5...halfway to 10! Here it is:

"Hey Rob - as usual, I was too late to join in on the fun, but had I been on top of things, I would have asked you what the most influential book you've read to date is, besides the Bible. :)"

Becky, that's a tough one to narrow to just one...so I'll give you a few:

"The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning - This one rocked my world and explained God's grace to me in a way I could completely understand for the first time. As a fan of Rich Mullins, he spoke often of this book's influence on him, and I was blessed to hear Manning speak for a week while at TU. It's an amazingly honest book, and worthy of any one's time.

"Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn - This one is what every man needs, but doesn't want to admit he does. A small group of men and I studied this together and shared our struggles and victories. It taught me the importance of accountability and helped me to take some very tough areas.

"Waking The Dead" by John Eldredge - John's a great author and has written many good books, but this one blew me away. His "call to action" for Christians too comfortable sleeping on the sidelines grabbed my heart and hasn't let go since. When I read it for the first time, I had recently left the leadership at my church and I was going through a time of not wanting anything to do with organized religion at all. This book reawakened my heart, led me to restoration with God and those I was in conflict with in the church, and stoked my fire to do my best to reach others for Him, one person at a time. I dare you to read it and not be moved!

"God On Mute" by Pete Greig - This is a great one for anyone trying to understand why God hasn't answered their prayers the way that they hoped for. Pete's honesty about his struggle and unanswered prayers for healing for his wife are moving, and his search to find God in the midst of the pain and confusion is something many of us can relate to.

I love to read and am always on the lookout for great books, so if you know of any, please share them with me...thanks to all of you for the questions...and keep them coming!

One More Question...

Shelley had one more question to answer that I missed, so I guess that makes it 10 (-6) Questions now....

"What career path would you have chosen if the family business never existed?"

During my time in college, I wanted to get into advertising. The creative work seemed very intriging to me. Thinking up scripts and tag lines, putting together ideas for packaging, and planning campaigns across all kinds of media would be a very cool job, I thought. At Taylor we had to do an intership during our junior summer in our intended field of work. I sent out over 40 resumes and letters and only recieved one offer for a small firm in Michigan. I interviewed and it seems like a great opportunity to get in the ground floor. Unfortunately, my first day of work there they handed me a bag of "ad specialties" (you know, all the junk companies give away with their names on them...) and told me to go "cold call" on all of the people I know. That wasn't what I had in mind.

Fortuneately, a neighbor to our lake cottage owned an advertising firm in Fort Wayne and heard about my plight. He didn't have any openings, but instead steered me to WPTA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne. There, I got the opportunity to work in marketing and promotions, which was basically an in-house ad agency for the station. I really enjoyed my time there, and really got an appitite for that kind of work and staying in TV in general. They offered me a job after graduation and I accepted. I did love the work, but I hated the politics. In talking with my boss, it also takes an average of 3-4 market moves before you can really be where you want to be. At that time, ready to be married, the stability of the family business, combined with the relationships of those I'd be working with, brought be back to the family business.

Long story short? I have no idea, but if I had the choice, it would be doing something creative, like advertising or promotion, quite possibly with my own agency and the ability to freelance for whoever I chose. (While I'm dreaming, throw in a Ferarri and houses on both coasts....) Don't get me wrong, though...I love my job, and I'm thankful for the chance to work for and learn from my parents. I am a better worker, boss, father, and friend because of this experience, and I love raising my kids in this small town I love in. There's no place I'd rather be.

Your 10 (-7) Questions Answered:

I guess I was a little full of myself thinking I'd get 10 questions from you that read this mess daily...but I did get three I'm ready and willing to answer so here we go:

The first one comes from Steve Gall:

"What are your top 10 favorite 80's songs?"

Well, in no particular order, here goes:

"And We Danced" - The Hooters
"Addicted To Love" - Robert Palmer
"Your Love" - The Outfield
"The Reflex" - Duran Duran
"Heart Of Rock and Roll" - Huey Lewis & The News
"Eye Of The Tiger" - Survivor
"Livin' On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi
"Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel
"Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" - Glass Tiger
"Hold On To The Nights" - Richard Marx
...and anything at all by Sawyer Brown....

(Wow....does that make me feel old...but brings back some great memories...)

Next question comes from the Bennett family:

"What brings you the most joy?"

Well, it's tough to narrow it down to one....so here's a few....

-seeing my daughter's face when she runs to greet me when I come home from work
-playing any type of games with my son
-watching my wife's eyes crinkle almost shut when she really, truly smiles
-singing incredibly loud and off key in the car by myself
-being at the cottage on Lake Wawasee
-walking the beach at sunrise on Siesta Key in Florida
-seeing, once in a while, the KFCers get God in a whole new way when I'm teaching
-writing on my blog
-watching my kids make the right decisions....occasionally...

To answer this, there's so much bad stuff in this world, I try to find at least a little joy in something every day. It's just so much better than always being depressed. Now, I'm not saying I never have those days...but I don't have very many.

The final question comes from my "blogfather", Derry Prenkert:

"Did you/Have you ever considered full-time vocational ministry?"

Growing up, thinking about going into the ministry was the furthest thing from my mind. I wanted a "big-time" job in a big city, and that didn't include the church. Once I was out of school and on my own, I began to remember what an impact those youth leaders and pastors had in my life, and decided I wanted to give back to that, so I became at senior high youth sponsor at NMC. I really enjoyed my time there, but when the divorce happened, I dropped out of ministry for a time, and never got back into it. Once I had kids, I realized the importance of ministry again, and ended up joining the 4th and 5th graders for the past few years. I enjoy building relationships with the kids and seeing them, on occasion, really lock in and "get" it in a whole new way. I try to make it fun to be there, but I do my best to teach them something about Him as well.

That covers the "did you" portion of the question. Have I considered it? Well, I don't really think I'm gifted to be a teacher/preacher. I'm not the best public speaker in the world, and I tend to get very emotional talking about things that touch me...I love getting the opportunity to share with people, I just don't think I'm very good at it. I think God's given me a gift to write, and I try to use that as my outreach also. It's been on my heart lately to start thinking about writing some sort of book...though I don't know what it is yet. To answer your question, I don't think it's something I'd be good at, but all through the Bible God's done amazing things with poorly-qualified people. If 12 teenage fishermen can build the modern-day church, I think I could do a decent job of serving Him if called to do so...but I don't think that's where He's calling me to right now...but I'm always trying to listen more to His still, small voice.

Thanks for the questions...it was alot of fun to answer them. I look forward to doing this again sometime!

You Gotta Play Some Defense!!

Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life.

Put away perversity from your mouth;keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead,fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

Do not swerve to the right or the left;keep your foot from evil.

(Proverbs 4:23-27, NIV)

I love the word pictures Solomon paints in the book of Proverbs. Like I've said before, it's mainly a collection of instruction to his sons. Solomon hopes they will take this wisdom and grow into men of God with it. His heart and love for those boys is very clear in the language of these verses. Take the first one for instance:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Now, those of you that know me know how much I love football. I played for many years and have been coaching it for many more. I've played on the offensive line my whole career, mostly as a tackle, but my last two years in college they moved me to guard.

The job of a guard in football is just what it sounds like: to protect, or guard the ball carrier every play. Whether it's the quarterback dropping back to pass or the running backs looking for a hole, it was my job to ensure that no one from the other team laid a hand on them. If it was a screen pass, I needed to leave my normal place on the line and run out to lead the way down the sidelines. The "pulling" plays were my favorites. On those plays everyone else on the offense blocks normally, I would stay low and run the opposite way to lead block for the back. If you did it right, the defender wouldn't know you were there until you knocked him off his feet. I loved that play....but I digress...

Coaches know how important the protection of the ball is in football. That's why, no matter what you think, more people are tasked to guard the ball than to advance it on any play you'll ever see. The best back is nothing without his line, and it's tough to throw touchdowns when you're on your back.

Solomon knew that the best offense starts with a good defense. He deemed it so important that he started the verse with the words "Above all else". He knew that no matter what we did for the kingdom, it wouldn't matter unless we took care of our own heart. It's easy to put on your "church face" and make everyone think you're the perfect Christian while your heart's a mess...but that's not what God's interested in. He knows that your heart is the key to your ability to reach others with His love, acceptance and forgiveness, and is the pathway to strengthening your relationship with Him.

So before we get wrapped up in music, teaching, serving, and preaching, we need to be sure that we're protecting our heart. The quickest way to damage your witness is to leave it unprotected, giving the enemy a clear shot at taking it down. Daily time in prayer and His Word will help to build a defense that can withstand the daily beatings your heart will take.

Here's hoping we remember to play a little "defense" with our hearts today.

You've Got To Be Kidding Me....

In the category of "News Just Too Weird To Be Made Up" comes this story from The Lakeland Ledger:

LAKELAND | This whole situation stinks for Jonathan Locke Jr.

An eighth-grader at the Bill Duncan Excel Center in South Lakeland, Locke, 15, has been suspended from riding the school bus for three days after being accused of passing gas.

"Jonathan passes gas on the bus to make the other children laugh and it is so stink [sic] that you can't breathe after he does it," the bus driver wrote on a misbehavior form.

Locke said he wasn't the culprit.

"It wasn't even me," Locke said. "It was a kid who sits in front of me."

Jerome Corbett, senior director of specialized services for the Polk County School District, said there is no specific rule that prohibits students from passing gas on the bus.

"There's a rule against disturbing the bus," Corbett said.

If the flatulence becomes excessive, then Corbett said the bus driver has the responsibility to report it to the school administrator.

Are you kidding me? This kid got kicked off the bus for passing gas that was just too stinky for the bus driver to handle?! Now, I've been around kids in coaching and in my own family, and I've even been known to clear a room at times, but I don't think I, or anyone I know, has ever tried to take legal action based on it. This kid has got to be a celebrity at his school now, and now every kid there wants to see (or smell) what was so bad that he got kicked out for it. I'd guarantee nearly every eighth grade boy at that school is going to try the same thing now, fouling the air of every bus in that system...and probably soiling some pants in the process.

My opinion? Just open your window and squirt some air freshener. If you let the kid know he got the best of you, it will just snowball from there.

(On a completely unrelated note, I've only got 1 question to answer so far....unless you want more pointless drivel like this, click here and leave me something to answer in the comment section...)

If You Want To Trust, You've Got To Lean...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

This is a very familiar verse to me. From little on up, I've memorized this passage over and over again throughout my days growing up in the church. It's a very famous proverb...but I never really gave it much thought until this morning. Here's a couple of definitions I looked up to help with it:

Trust:
1. Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.
2. Custody; care.
3. Something committed into the care of another; charge.
4. Reliance on something in the future; hope.

Lean:
1. To bend or slant away from the vertical.
2. To incline the weight of the body so as to be supported:
3. To rely for assistance or support:
4. To have a tendency or preference:
5. To exert pressure:

Now, knowing this, let's look at these verse again. When Solomon says "Trust in the lord with all your heart", he means this: "Rely completely on God. He will take care of you. He has committed to looking out for your best interests if you'll only follow Him, and there is hope for your future in Him."

"Lean not on your own understanding" becomes "Don't bend yourself away from God and back to your own selfishness. Relying on your own strength to get you through life will always let you down. You need assistance and support than no one other than God can provide you, and the world will pressure you to follow it instead of Him."

Now, knowing this, it's easy to trust. I can say that I trust this wall in my office to hold the roof up and be sturdy and stable...but only when I lean on that wall am I really putting my trust into action and counting on that wall to do what I believed it would do.

It's the same way with God. We can say we trust Him, but to fully realize our relationship, we need to "lean" into Him and let him be our support and guide in every situation, relying on Him and His guidance and will instead of our own. Only then can we truly be what He's called us to be.

Here's hoping I can "lean" a little more on Him today.

10 Questions...

(Yes, I am blantantly ripping this off of other blogs....)

The well is pretty dry about things to blog on lately, so I'm opening it up for your questions. I've seen a couple of others do this and I've found both the questions and answers very interesting...so we'll give it a try.

If you want to ask me a question, just post it in the comments area or on my Facebook page and I'll do my best to give it an answer. You could also email your questions if you wish.

Looking forward to answering them!

Don't Wait....

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’”

‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

(Luke 16:19-31, NIV)

In this passage, Jesus tells the story of Lazarus, a beggar, and a rich man, who is nameless. The story is pretty self-explanatory just by reading it. What stood out to me was the final few verses.

In them the rich man pleads with "Father Abraham" to send someone from the dead to tell his family about God to avoid his eternal prison. Abraham answers that if they haven't listened to Moses or the prophets, then sending someone raised from the dead wouldn't do it either.

Too many people say "Well, I'll get saved later" or "I'll get saved when..." and add some sort of time or event way in the future. They don't want to be bothered with it now. Some don't want the life change that accompanies that decision. Others don't believe it changes anything. Some just wait for "a sign" to be the reason to come to Jesus.

Problem is, Jesus is all around them all the time. You can see his handiwork in the sky, grass, and water. They can see Him in those that are living according to His will. Just like the rich man, many have chance after chance to do the right thing and accept Him, but instead walk by and ignore Him, just like they did with Lazarus.

Maybe you're finally ready to hear God's call to you today, or maybe you need to be that one that reaches out to those that need to hear about Jesus...either way, here's hoping you don't need a visit from the dead to get motivated today.

Bracketology Challenge - Down To The Sweet Sixteen!

Well, the first week of the tournament is in the books...how's your bracket looking?

Here's the top 3 from the challenge as of today:

#1 - Though it pains me to say it, Matt Schwartz is leading the pack with 40 correct and 213 points so far. He also has 14 of the 16 remaining teams correct...and that will be tough to beat.

#2 - Mark Slabaugh came in here with 38 correct and 209 points. Though his little girl slid from 7th to 19th, Mark stayed strong through the weekend, though his choice of Wake Forest to make the Final Four could be his downfall...

#3 - We have a three way tie here with 202 points once the upset bonus is in effect. Based on the tiebreaker of correct picks, it would be Steve Gall with 38, me with 37, and Seth Baron/Kindra with 34.

Still holding down last place behind his 4 year old niece is Terry Bley. Nice job, Terry!

(Don't feel too bad. I'm pulling last in my family's brackets, even behind my son who did it for the first time and my daughter that picked Arizona to meet Syracuse in the finals because Troy Bolton plays for the Wildcats in HSM and because she likes the color "orange". *sigh*)

Daddy's Wisdom...

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

for attaining wisdom and discipline;for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,the sayings and riddles of the wise.

(Proverbs 1:1-6, NIV)

Solomon is widely claimed to be the wisest man in the Bible. When God asked Solomon what he wanted from Him, he asked for wisdom instead of riches and power. God blessed him with that, and for many years he used it wisely. The book of Proverbs, to me, seems like a textbook, mainly written for Solomon's sons. It's the story of a dad trying to share the things he's learned in his life with his boys. By forming them into little sayings, or "proverbs", he made them easy to remember and apply.

The thing is, though, if you've read the story of Solomon, his sons must not have paid too close of attention. They all met grisly demises, and all strayed from the path that God had laid out for them. Solomon not only told them the right things to do, he wrote them down in a book...but it didn't make any difference. They still chose the wrong road, and ultimately paid the price for it.

One thing I've learned the older I've gotten is how little I really know. As a teenager, I thought I knew everything, and that my parents were idiots. As a college student, I was still learning, and Mom and Dad seemed to have grown a little smarter. Once I started working and got married, I realized how much I didn't know, and how much of a help their wisdom and experience could be.

Thinking that we know it all is a huge problem for all of us, especially those in leadership. Building relationships with those who have been there before, whether in marriage, church, or work, is invaluable to our success in those ventures. I know how much I've learned from the mistakes I've made, and I know I can learn from the mistakes and successes of others, too.

Really, the Bible is full of wisdom based on other's experiences...here's hoping I take them to heart as I read through it this year.

Bracketology Challenge...1st Round Results!!

Well, I sure took a beating last night....the upsets that didn't happen on Thursday all happened yesterday. So, without further ado, here's the standings:

In first place, and it pains me to say it, is Mark Slabaugh. He got 27 of the first 32 games right and has a total of 165 points. Nice little run, my friend...but there's still a bunch more to be played....

Right behind Mark in 2nd is Seth Baron with 24 picks right and 152 points...though those of us in the know are aware that this is most likely just Kindra's other picks...Ha! (Seriously, nice job, Seth!)

Tied for 2nd with Seth is Steve Gall with 26 picks right and 152 points. Steve's got more right, but Seth pulls even with the bonus points given for picking upsets. Steve's quite the oddsmaker, so I'd keep an eye on him.

Macey Slabaugh, Mark's four year old daughter who chose her own bracket currently sits in 7th place, ahead of 13 of you adults....I won't shame you with names this early in the tournament, and you know who you are!

Dan and Todd....well, at least you're not last this year so far...that honor goes to Terry Bley! Mark, be sure to rub in the fact that he's getting completely waxed by his little niece.

More games today, and I'll give you the Sweet Sixteen update on Monday!

Funny Picture Friday - Star Wars Edition!

This combines two of my faves: Funny pictures, and Star Wars, the movie that captured my youth....so off we go:

(My apologies to the non-Star-Wars people...some of these just won't make sense if you don't know the movies...)

I don't think I had this one in my action figure collection...



Ewww....



I loved this one...



...and the bad economy has taken a tool on the Dark Side, apparently...




And, finally, my favorite...you would think Chewy would be housebroken by now...



May the force be with you, and have a great weekend!!

Just Ask...

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father,,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

(Luke 11:1-4, NIV)

This chapter gives us one of the most famous passages of scripture in the Bible, "The Lord's Prayer". It's used to teach us the framework of prayer, and it quoted around the world in many different instances. The prayer is great...but what stuck out to me this morning is the first part. The disciples were watching Jesus pray by Himself. They saw the connection He had with God, and they wanted to have the same thing. Did they try to mimic his prayer posture? Did they dress in the same clothes as Jesus and try to say the same words?

No. They just asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

Now, there are many instances in the Gospels where you can tell Jesus gets a little frustrated when the 12 just aren't getting what He's trying to share with them, but I can just imagine the smile on His face when the disciples ask Him to teach them to pray. Jesus was probably thinking "Yes!! Now you're getting it! This is what I came here to share with you!"

How does that apply to me today? Well, I think we all have issues in our life. We have problems that need answers. We have decisions that needs some wisdom. We have crossroads that need direction. We wonder what to do, forgetting that we have at our disposal the greatest source of answers, wisdom, and direction ever known.

....and all we have to do is ask.

Here's hoping I ask for His help today.

Barack-etology: My Opinion...

The President of the United States was on ESPN yesterday making his picks for the NCAA tournament that begins today. I watched the little piece they did on it, and was surprised to see that we had many similar picks.

Since that piece aired, there has been an explosion of condemnation against Obama for doing this. They say taking the time to pick brackets while the economy is in shambles was irresponsible. They say that joking around with interviewer Andy Katz was in poor taste while so much in going on all around him that needs his attention.

My take on this?

Yes, he is the President of the United States. Yes, he is very busy and has much on his plate to attend to. Yes, there are many more pressing issues for him to deal with than making picks...and yes, I don't agree with much of what he's done since he's taken the office.

What we need to remember is that though he's the President, he's still just a guy who loves college basketball. With the weight of the free world on his shoulders, Obama needs to have a "release" of some sort to keep himself grounded and to be able to escape the pressures of the job, if only for a few minutes. If filling out brackets and following scores of the NCAA's is how he does that, God bless him. He's still a man, a husband, a father, and a friend, and he needs to be given space to be those things in addition to all that we as a nation expect from our leaders. I think it's cool that he made his picks and shared them with the nation.

Personally, I look forward to beating him with my picks....Mr. President, game on!

(Don't forget....if you're playing in my NCAA pool, you need to lock your picks by 12:30 today!!! Click here for the information.)

"Let Him Rebuke Me...."

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;keep watch over the door of my lips.

Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it.

(Psalms 141:3-5, NIV)


"Let a righteous man strike me-let him rebuke me."

Just a guess, but I'm thinking this sentence wasn't on the top of your prayer list today, right? I know, for myself, praying to be hit and rebuked by a righteous man isn't exactly what I'm looking for...but sometimes, it's exactly what I need.

I've blogged before about my best friend John. We were polar opposites that became friends only through God's hand, but the more times we spent together, the deeper our friendship grew. We've had a lot of fun times together, but they're not what I remember the most.

What sticks with me are the times John has been there for me. I recall a time in college when I was headed out on a date with a girl I knew better than to be with. John felt so strongly about me not going we actually got in a real fight about it, complete with punching and wrestling as he tried to block the door. John was willing to risk our relationship to help guide me into the right decision. Not many friends are willing to do that. Over the passing years, John and I have spent many meals together picking each other's brains about decisions we need to make, and problems we need to solve. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes we argue, but I always know that whatever John answers with, he always has a Godly perspective and is always looking out for the best for me, too, regardless if I think that way or not. When my first wife left and I didn't know what to do, my first call was to John. He was there then, and through the hard times that followed, and he helped to keep me "in line" as I worked through all of that. I'm thankful every day that I have a friend like John in my life.

I also pray daily that my two kids will find a friend like that. I didn't become friends with John until, really, after my freshman year at Taylor, though we "knew" of each other for many years. I hope that they both find someone who accepts them just the way they are, and is loyal to them through thick and thin. I hope they find a friend that they can celebrate the good times with, and one that will be there for them in the bad times. I hope they find a friend that will be honest with them, and not be afraid to "rebuke" them when they need it.

Sometimes what we don't want is exactly what we need.

Here's hoping people love us enough to "rebuke" us when we need it today.

My Son, Master Photographer...

My nine year old son is taking photography as one of his 4-H projects this year, and has started learning how to use our camera. While working on focus, framing, lighting, and other stuff, he's found it much more fun just to shoot his sister and his dog in all types of silly poses...

Here's a collage of one day's worth of shots for him:



I love the "scary giant hand" shot in the upper left the most...good creativity by him, and she's such a ham!

(Mom, click on the picture to see it in full size...)

Nothing Is Beyond Him...

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

(Psalms 139:7-10, NIV)

As I read this chapter this morning, it reminded me of the lyrics of a song by one of my favorite artists. Rich Mullins was working on a project called "The Jesus Record" when he died in a car accident in 1997. I believe it was a collection of his most powerful and personal songs he ever wrote. Even though I've heard the songs hundreds of times, many of them still move me to tears when I listen. One of the songs of that CD was "Nothing Is Beyond You". Since Rich only had recorded demos of the songs when he passed, Amy Grant cut this one in the studio and did an amazing job with it. Whenever I feel far from God, I listen close to the words of this song and I'm reminded that no matter where I'm at, He's right there with me.

Where could I go, where could I run
Even if I found the strength to fly
And if I rose on the wings of the dawn
And crashed through the corner of the sky
If I sailed past the edge of the sea
Even if I made my bed in Hell
Still there You would find me

'Cause nothing is beyond You
You stand beyond the reach
Of our vain imaginations
Our misguided piety
The heavens stretch to hold You
And deep cries out to deep
Singing that nothing is beyond You
Nothing is beyond You

Time cannot contain You
You fill eternity
Sin can never stain You
Death has lost its sting
And I cannot explain the way You came to love me
Except to say that nothing is beyond You
Nothing is beyond You

If I should shrink back from the light
So I can sink into the dark
If I take cover and I close my eyes
Even then You would see my heart

And You'd cut through all my pain and rage
The darkness is not dark to You
And night's as bright as day

Nothing is beyond You

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that nothing we face is too big, or too small, to be beyond the reach of God....and that's pretty great, isn't it?

A Couple More Worth Looking Up To...

I blogged last week about a couple of boys I know and how they've been great role models for my son and others with the way they've handled sucess and adversity on the field...and as I read through a few magazines this past weekend, I found a few more worth looking up to:

"The Power To Believe" by Joe Posnanski in the lastest issue of Sports Illustrated. This article is on Albert Pujols, an All Star first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals. This guy seems to be the real deal, and I especially loved this quote about the issue of steroids:

"We're in this era where people want to judge other people," Pujols says. "And that's so sad." He would like to leave it with those three words—that's so sad—but then people might wonder.

So he continues: "But it's like I always say, 'Come and test me. Come and do whatever you want.' Because you know what? There is something more important to me—my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring about others. More than this baseball. This baseball is nothing to me."

Also, Rick Reilly of ESPN has been knocking it out of the park lately....first with his take on role models and now his newest piece headlined "Matt Steven can't see the hoop. But he'll still take the last shot.", a touching story about a young blind man who just wants desperately to be normal and how his friends helped him to do just that. It's definitely worth a click over to...even if you're not a sports fan....it'll still move you.

"His Love Endures Forever"...

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

(Psalms 136:1, NIV)

Endure.

This verse above comes from a psalm that's been turned into a fairly popular worship song. When I've head it in the past, I've just chalked up the meaning of "endure" to mean it lasts forever...which is pretty cool in itself.

But as I read this chapter today, I was struck by the fact that it not only said
His love endures forever in the first verse, but in each and every verse thereafter.

26 times, to be exact.

This got me thinking that maybe there's more to 'endure' than what I know right now, so I Googled on over to the Merriam-Webster site and got the official definition of this word:

Endure:
1 : to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in : suffer

2 : to regard with acceptance or tolerance

3 : to continue in the same state : last

4 : to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

After reading this, these verses took on new meaning for me. The fact that His love endures forever doesn't just mean it's everlasting, but that it's patient, full of grace and forgiveness, accepting of me even with my faults and issues, and will never go away, despite my lack of worthiness for it. His love will endure for me, no matter what.

I don't know about you...but I needed to hear that today.

Make Your Picks Now!!

The NCAA brackets are up and running....

If you got an invite by email, click the link and make your picks...

If you didn't but would like to play along, click this link and follow the instructions...remember, you need to pick ALL the games before tip-off of the first game on Thursday at noon!

Just A Little Faith...

When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

(Luke 7:1-10, NIV)

Faith.

Definition: Believing in something we cannot see, feel or touch.

We have faith in many things in our everyday life. I have faith that the sun will come up this morning. I have faith the atmosphere of this planet will provide breathable air to me as I leave the house. I have faith that if I throw something into the air, it will drop to the ground. All these things sound obvious, but all of them are controlled by things I cannot see, feel or touch. The sun comes up due to the rotation of the earth and our orbit around the sun. The breathable air comes from a supply of oxygen created by plants and trees. The force bringing things back to the ground is gravity. All of these things I cannot see, feel, or touch, but I believe they are there. I have faith that they are there.

Why, then, is faith in God so much harder to believe? The same God that created the things I talked about above makes miracles every day for us to see and notice his presence. Sometimes He shows himself through healings like the one spoke of in this passage, but often He's just there in the beauty of His creation. He's all around us, but most of us lack the faith to believe it.

I know, for me, when things are going well, it's easy to forget about God and think I'm doing it all myself. Everything is good because I have made it that way. I've got all the plates spinning, and it's a wonder to see....then one plate begins to wobble...and another....and another...then they all start crashing to the floor. With my life in shambles I cry out to God: "WHERE ARE YOU?!" and I hear His still, small voice say, "Right here next to you, where I've been all along."

See, in the story of the centurion, we need to look at the examples of the people. The crowd wanted Jesus to go to the centurion's home to heal his servant because he was a good man. Jesus began to walk that way, but met the centurion before he got there. The centurion said, "Hey, I know you're busy. I'm not even worthy for you to take the time for...but I do believe in you and what you are saying. I think you are who you say you are...and I know that if you only say that he's going to be OK, he will be."

This blew the minds of the people in the crowd. Sure, they've seen Jesus heal before, but the person has always been right there, in physical contact with Him. There's no way He can do it with just a word, right? The disciples probably even dismissed this thought, since they had no experience with it ever happening before.

The centurion had faith that just a word would heal his servant. He didn't need a sign in the sky or some big production...he just believed, even though he had no tangible reason to do so. For those of us claiming to be Christ-Followers, why do we make it so hard to do the same? It's easy to talk about Jesus, but when it comes time to put our faith into action, we often fail.

Here's hoping I have the faith of a centurion today.

It's Back: NCAA Bracketology Challenge!!

Well, it's just about time to make your picks again!

Each and every reader is invited to join my pool and make your tournament picks. We play for high stakes here...just the joy of winning, and a little free press on this blog. It's still free to enter and play, so even if you're not really into the NCAA's, it's fun to play anyway. If you played last year, you should be getting an email from the site and everything you used last year will still be in place. If you're new to the challenge, here's how to join:

1. Click this link to get to the league page.

2. Log in with your Sportsline ID, if you have one. If not, take a few minutes and create one (it's free).

3. If you need it, the password for the league is "irish".

Contact me by email if you have any problems or questions, and I look forward to kicking your collective tails in the 2nd Annual Bracketology Challenge!!

(Note: The brackets won't be posted until Sunday night or Monday morning, and your picks must be in before the first game starts on Thursday at noon. Good luck!)

Funny Picture Friday....

Off we go...

I'm sure this price cut will really make some sales...



Some of these may only be funny to me...but this one had me giggling...



Because nothing says "PARTY!" like...



Finally, my favorite: You might be a redneck if you like to eat here:



Hope you have all your "teef" and have a great weekend!!

Thankful He's On My Side...

If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—
if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us,
when their anger flared against us,they would have swallowed us alive;
the flood would have engulfed us,the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord,who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare;
the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth.

(Psalms 124, NIV)

A 3 year old girl has had the attention of my heart during my prayer time lately. As I've shared before, Maggie Jernas is a little girl who's been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. She is undergoing treatments at Riley Hospital and back here at home also. I've been following Maggie's progress on her CaringBridge page for weeks now. Most of the updates are written by her mom, Rachel.

The last few days have been rough on the Jernas family. Finally home from Indianapolis, Maggie began to show a fever. Upon further testing, it was found that her white blood cell count was down to zero, leaving her open and defenseless to any type of infection or virus. They rushed her back down to Riley and have been medicating her there. She is also undergoing treatment, so she's lost most of her hair. The family has to be careful to stay as clean and healthy as they can around her to protect her. They've been living a mostly divided life as they have a young son who needs them, also.

I can't imagine how hard this must be for the parents, Rodney and Rachel. Maggie is probably too young to understand the full scope of what she's dealing with, and I know as a parent, I think it hurts us as much or more to see them hurting and not be able to do anything about it. As much as I'd like to believe I'd have a good attitude and be a "light in the darkness" for Him, I'm afraid I'd be angry at God and everyone else instead.

That's why Rachel's perspective touches my heart. In her post today, she shares about the struggles they've had lately and how completely worn out and emotionally spent she is...then she shares this:

"About 24-36 hours before we left Riley Hospital, a new family entered the Oncology floor. I had to walk past them to leave the unit to go to the bathroom/take a shower so I caught on that this was a brand new diagnosis for them. They constantly had lots of people around them and you could see the devastation on their faces.

It reminded me how blessed I am. I don’t know if that family knows Christ as their Personal Savior or not. For me, knowing Christ has given me more of a sense of peace. Am I scared? Yes. Do I worry? Yes. However, I know that no matter what God will heal Maggie – either here on earth or in heaven. I know that God is with me – sometimes empowering me when I feel like a zombie and could just crash. Worry and Fear are not so huge an obstacle because I know that I know that I know that GOD IS WITH ME AND MAGGIE. I also know that He gave me the body of Christ to be my Aaron when my arms are just to weak. We have felt the body of Christ from all over the world praying for us. That in itself is such a tremendous gift. We have felt love from strangers.
So I am going to ask, :) Do you know Jesus as your Personal Savior? Notice I said “Personal”? Is Jesus your Savior? If you don’t, find someone who will introduce you to him or call me. We would love to introduce you to our “lifeline”. We are still waiting on Maggie’s Miracle and would love to have you be part of it.

Wow...even as I read this again, it still touches my heart. As hard as it much be to be in Rachel's shoes, seeing the way she is still holding tightly to God as He holds her up is an amazing testimony to His power. I've often said, from my own experience and watching the experiences of others, I don't know how you make it through life's trials and valleys without a relationship with God. Even when everything else is crashing down around you, He's always there, right beside you, arms outstretched, ready for you to curl up in them like a child. For a parent with so much bad news like Rachel, that image may be the only thing that gets her through some days....and the way she's acting and reacting, I'm convinced, will bring others to a new or restored relationship with Him.

Like the Psalm says, I'm glad the Lord is on my side...and Maggie and Rachel's, too.

Sheep Need A Shepherd....

I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

(Psalms 119:176, NIV)

I'd like to clear up something today.

I think that sometimes in my writing I may come across as someone who's got it all together, is doing everything right, and never makes mistakes. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm just a simple guy with the same issues and problems that most all of you reading have. I fail. I sin. I fall far short of the expectations God has for me on a daily basis. No matter what you think of me while reading these posts, understand that I'm no saint, and not worthy of any praise.

That's why I love verses like the one above. It's the last verse from longest chapter in the Bible. It's short, but so powerful. I often stray like a sheep, forgetting the safety and comfort of the flock and the shepherd, and go out on my own to do it myself. Inevitably, the storms of life come and I'm lost and trapped, unable to get back to the shepherd on my own.

That's where the sheep analogy really gets good. A shepherd counts his sheep and realizes one is missing. Instead of saying "Oh well, I've got the rest. Too bad for that guy. I hope the wolves eat him fast!", He leaves the flock to seek and find the one lost sheep.

This is what I think we miss when reading verses like that. A sheep is pretty much helpless on its own. Predators can attack and pick off sheep easily when left on their own....but add a shepherd into the equation, and everything changes. The predators often just see the shepherd and flee. The shepherd also loves his sheep enough to go out and find that single lost sheep, no matter where it is or how many times it's walked away from him.

God's love isn't stationary. It pursues us with a reckless, raging fury. When we don't feel His presence, it isn't because He's too far away....it's because we're running away. God wants nothing more than for us to accept his love, acceptance, and forgiveness and He's so close all the time...just a prayer away, just like that shepherd.

I'm thankful that I've got a God that loves me despite my many faults and failings and still sees me as worthy to be pursued, regardless of how messed up I am. Here's hoping I don't forget that today.

Boxes Of Hope...

Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.

(Psalms 119:116, NIV)

Yesterday afternoon I was dead tired and sore...but I have never felt more blessed.

Feed The Children, an organization who's mission is a simple as its name, paid a visit to my home county yesterday. With an 18% unemployment rate as of last month, there are many families struggling to get by, and FTC brought 13 semi trailers filled with donated food and hygiene products to be delivered to families in need. Instead of sending people to a distribution hub, Feed The Children tried something new: They sent a semi to each of the cities in our county, and used churches as the hub for 400 packages each.

I went over to my church to help unload yesterday. Though we had floor jacks and a loader, it was still hard work. As we unloaded the last skid of boxes, I was getting tired and ready to pack it in and go back to work. God, however, was just getting started...

While we were unloaded, families already began lining up in the hallway of my church. The families then came in with a "shopper" from our church who helped them carry all of the loose items donated, then "bagboys" carried the two additional sealed boxes from FTC out to their cars. That's where I came in. I was actually walking by the table heading to get my coat when I heard someone say, "Rob will carry those boxes out to your car for you, right?" A bit ticked, I faked a big smile and said "Yes!" I picked up two boxes and carried them out, following a man out the door.

Of course, he was parked at the far side of the lot, and the boxes were heavy. I had a bad attitude the whole way to the car and didn't say much. We finally got there, and I loaded the boxes in his car. As I pulled my head out of the trunk, the man reached out his hand to shake mine and with tears in his eyes, he simply said "Thank you!" and got in his car and drove off.

As I walked back to the church, God worked me over pretty good. I was so caught up in what I wanted to do, I almost missed a chance to do what He wanted me to do. As I walked, I began to thank Him for all the blessing I do have: a family that loves me, a secure job, a house to live in, a car to get places, and food on our table. How easy is it to take that for granted on a day-to-day basis? My attitude was changed, and I quickly got back in line to carry more boxes.

As I carried, I was even more struck by how broadly this economic crisis has hit my little town. I saw young families with little kids and older folks whose jobs didn't quite take them to retirement yet. I saw friends I've known for years, and I met some wonderful people for the first time. I served alongside many from my own church who have lost their jobs and watched them smile as they served, knowing some of them needed those packages just as much. I saw others that took vacation days from work just to be there to help bless these families.

As I took all this in, I felt like God was saying "Do you finally get it, Rob? Do you understand how blessed you are in your life, and how blessed you are to be able to be My hands and feet today? And just think, you were ready to walk out of here and miss all of this completely. Good thing I got her to stop you..."

I know in the long term, the boxes of food, drink, and bath products won't last very long...but in the short term they can make a difference for these families and may even bring some to know Him from this simple act of service.

Yesterday I handed out boxes of hope....but I got a much bigger gift in return.

No Post This Morning....

Time to put words into action. A semi trailer arrives at my home church this morning from Feed The Children to bring a week's worth of food and other stuff for families hit by the recession in our area. Elkhart County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, and these packages will help a bunch of families.

Talk to you all about it later...

Sometimes, I'm Better With The "Thorn"....

Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

(2 Corinthians 12:6-9, NIV)

You gotta love Paul....

His honesty in the letters to the churches is so refreshing to read. Take the passage above. Basically, he's saying this:

"You know, I do know what I'm talking about. I know so much, it wouldn't be bragging for me to tell how much I do know...but I'm not going to, because it would change the truth of what's being said, but may turn you away if you think I'm getting "too big for my britches".

God knows that I have a tendency to puff myself up, so He made sure I didn't get too much of a swelled head by giving this "thorn in my flesh". I really don't like it...and it often hurts me. I've prayed for God to take it away...but He keeps it there, so I know in my weakness, He will make me strong."

Far as I know, it's never revealed what the "thorn" is, but it's clear it causes quite a bit of pain for Paul. You would think that a prophet and prayer warrior like Paul could just ask God for anything and it would happen, let alone healing him.

That's not God's plan, though. God knew that Paul would be far more useful to him with this "thorn" than without it. Without that reminder, Paul would be far more likely to think that he can do it all, and that he doesn't need God's help.

I know I've prayed in the past for God to heal and take away pain, both from myself and people I know and love. Sometimes He does...and sometimes He doesn't. This passage confirms, to me, that it's not that He doesn't care, but that He can use me much more in the state I'm in. That's not always what I want...but that is what's best for me, regardless of if I understand it or not.

I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future...and sometimes, that's got to be enough.

Amazing Perspective...

While reading through my emails, I got the notice there was an update to Maggie Jernas's CaringBridge page. I clicked over to it, and was blown away by the perspective of Rachel's writing. For those of you not familiar with their story, Maggie is a three year old girl diagnosed with bone marrow cancer a few weeks ago. She had been released from Riley and sent home, but a fever brought her right back to Indianapolis tonight. While getting a blood transfusion, Rachel wrote the following post that just rocked my world:

As I was driving to Memorial Hospital this morning, I got thinking about this miracle that I am asking from God. I know that many others are asking for the same miracle: Maggie’s complete healing. I remembered back to a time where I asked God for another miracle and God didn’t answer the way I wanted. At that time I realized that God won’t force Himself on people. I have written before that I KNOW that God has a purpose in this. God will NOT heal my little girl until this purpose is fulfilled. I know and see how God is working in my own family thru this, but as I have seen so many people sign the Guestbook from all over the world I know, too, that Maggie’s story is impacting so many others. God is using Maggie’s story to bring people into a relationship with Him. Maybe Maggie’s story is challenging your faith in God causing you to go deeper in Him. God will not force Himself on you. That isn’t what He does. He wants you to come to Him because you want to and need to. It’s kind of like any other relationship…what good is it if one person forces oneself on another. The affection isn’t genuine. God loves each and every one of us – including Maggie – more than we can even imagine. If God is using MY Maggie to get your attention and to start or deepen your relationship with Him then you are part of His purpose. Did you just get that?? God wants you and will use whatever it takes to get your attention. God won’t do His miracle until He has reached His purpose!! Are YOU His purpose? If so, I ask you, Ok I am begging you. Start that relationship with God. Deepen that relationship with God. Know that He loves you just like He does Maggie. He loves Maggie more than I do. I know that He hates seeing her hurt but He also hates knowing that there are people who don’t know him. Let God work His miracle in God AND YOU and ME!!!

Amazing...in the midst of a life change that would have most of us yelling at God, Rachel is choosing to use it to bring herself and others closer to Christ. Please add the Jernas family to your prayer list...but after reading that post, no matter her health, Maggie is one lucky little girl to have a mommy like that.

Thanks.

Funny Picture Friday!

Off we go...

I know you want to make signs that anyone can understand....but this is a little much, don't you think?



Two things....I'll be amazed if there's any water left in the pool after this, and he's a poster child for why guys shouldn't wear speedos....ick.



If you don't get this one, you're too young to remember the commercials....



And finally, my favorite....too bad this pic wasn't taken a few seconds later...I'm guessing that's a stain that won't come out of the seats of that convertible....



Hope you don't get "dumped" on, and have a great weekend!!

Being A Light In The Midst Of Your Darkness...

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

(2 Corinthians 6:4-10, NIV)

Talk about a hard life. Paul, the writer of this letter, is one of the few people who could write this letter and mean every word. Paul suffered greatly for preaching the word of God. I'm betting each and every trial listed above was experienced by him at some point in his ministry. What blows me away is his attitude. Basically, he's saying "You can beat me, you can push me down, but I'll never stop believing in the God who set me free." I'd guarantee you that before he was "punished" each and every time, Paul was given the opportunity to deny God and spare himself the pain. Each and every time, Paul chose the harder path, but the one that led many others to follow Christ by Paul's example.

Now, fortunately, we don't have to face those kind of challenges for our faith....but we still do face challenges, don't we? As I read the CaringBridge journals of the Jernas and the Rohr families, I'm reminded not just how blessed I am, but also I'm shown the example of how to handle adversity in a Christ-like way.

These families could have both renounced God when their little girls were diagnosed with cancer. I'm sure many wondered how God could let those girls get sick in the first place. The thing for me is, how do you get through something like that without a relationship with God? I know in my deepest valleys in life, God's been the one unchanging rock of consistency I can hold on to. If I didn't believe and think that there was a plan and that He cares for us, it would be unbearable, even more so that it is with that comfort.

Don't get me wrong...the Rohrs and the Jernases are still human. They still cry, get upset, miss their homes and families, and want nothing more than those little gals to be whole again...but the impact they are having on each other and the families they come in contact with during those treatments can be incredible. I've already seen the two mothers of these girls sharing and comforting back and forth, and reaching out to others in the same situation that need Him.

As Christ-Followers, we often talk about our witness and that no matter how much we talk, people really know who we are by what they see. I love this saying: "Real character is only shown when you are squeezed." You could be living a life honoring God when things are great and no one may ever notice....but live that same way when life is kicking you in the stomach? That's a powerful witness that no one can deny. Just like Paul, the Rohr and Jernas families may bring more people to Jesus through these trials than they ever could have without them.

Here's hoping people see Him when I'm squeezed....

Worth Looking Up To...

This is the story of two friends.

These two boys have been great friends for years. They had many common interests and really enjoyed spending time with each other. Sports has always been the "glue" of their relationship. They've played everything together and against each other since they were kids. When they reached junior high, though, things started to change....

One boy hit a growth spurt and filled out. His physical maturity came quickly, leaving him well ahead of his classmates. He excelled in every sport he played, and was quickly seen by many as the best athlete on the field. He could play any position in any sport, and was a natural leader who never missed a game.

The other boy hit his growth spurt, too, but his body didn't adjust as well. He grew fast enough that he always was leaner than most, but that never affected his spirit. He soon found out that he'd never have the raw talent of the first boy, but that never affected his drive. He worked harder and longer than most, and found his way on to the field and court despite his shortcomings.

When they reached high school, the athletic career of the first friend exploded. As a freshman, he led his team to the only state championship the school has ever won in football. He played on the varsity basketball team. All conference, all-area, all-state...the accolades started to roll in. At his age, it would be easy to be full of yourself and leave those "old" friends behind...yet he remained tight with the other boy.

The other young man, however, didn't have the storybook career of the first friend. He played well and hard, and had some great moments, but injuries were his nemesis throughout those four years. It seemed that every time things would start to turn positive for him, another injury would slow him down or knock him out, resetting the table for his success. Standing in street clothes to the side while watching his friend play could have been a great source of resentment and jealousy for this young man...but he was the first friend's biggest supporter, and was a great team player, regardless of whether he was playing or not.

Coming into the latter half of their senior season together in basketball, the young man who could never catch a break health-wise suffered another setback. Running up and down the court, he couldn't seem to catch his breath. He toughed it out for weeks until it became unbearable, then he went to a doctor. He was diagnosed with pleurisy, and would be out the rest of the season, unable to finish what will be his final athletic season.

On the night of their last home game, when the starting lineups were announced, the first friend tore off his warm ups to reveal a jersey not with his normal number "13", but the number "12" of his best friend. In his last game on his home court, he chose to honor this young man who was not able be on the court with him that one last time.

People talk about the lack of role models for today's kids. Though I know these two young men aren't perfect, the way they've handled themselves and each other through completely opposite circumstances gives me hope in the future for kids and gives me someone I can point my son toward. I hope if my son is successful that he has the grace and humility of the first friend, remembers who he really is, and remains grounded with those friends that that have been there for him all along. I also hope when my son encounters adversity, he doesn't complain and quit, but works through it with the strength and character of the second friend.

You wonder how I know so much about these friends? The first friend is Skyler Titus, and the second is Derek Loucks, the son of my cousin. Not only have I been around them as their coach in junior high, I've seen them at the lake cottage taking time to let my little girl and her cousins use them as "sea monsters" while they play. I've seen them play catch with my son and my nephew.

In a great article he wrote recently, Rick Reilly talked about how a chance encounter with a superstar turned a young boy's life around. The star could have just blown the kid off, or just said "Hi!" and walked away, but he took time to invest in that boy, and it changed his outlook and brought him out of depression. (Take the time to read the story...it's worth your time.) I love Rick's quote at the end:

"A lot of athletes don't want the burden that comes with being a role model. But what I want to tell them is: You don't get to choose. You don't get to tell 13-year-old boys with holes in their hearts who can help them heal.

I know it's a hassle, but it matters. Because you never know when you might just lead a kid out to where the light is better."

Skyler and Derek, thanks for being worth looking up to...and don't ever stop being worth that honor.

"Dinner With A Perfect Stranger" by David Gregory

I received a copy of this book to review the other week. It's a small book, just 100 pages long. The premise of the book is a man receives an invitation to dinner with Jesus. He thinks it's a sham, something his friends made up to mess with him, so he goes anyway. Over the course of dinner, though, he finds out that it's really Him and the rest of the book deals with what an actual dinner with Jesus would be like.

I really enjoyed the book. Once you get into the book, it's hard to put down. You get caught up in the conversation between someone who wants to believe, but isn't sure and a God who pursues us relentlessly. Many questions I've asked, both out loud and just to myself, were tackled in this small book. It really made me reflect on my own life and how I would be different if I ever had a "dinner" with Jesus.

What really convicted me is the casual conversation and questioning that went on in that dinner is something I could do every day in prayer if I'd just focus and commit the time to it. I'd recommend this book to anyone, especially to give to a friend that may be seeking answers, but not yet ready to commit and understand. Jesus lays out a pretty compelling case for Himself here.

They sent me two copies, so the first one to post a comment that would like the extra copy wins it. If you're not local, I'll get your address and mail it to you. This one's good enough to pass on, and I've already got someone in mind for my copy. Pick this one up today.

Sometimes, He Knows Just What To Say....

The news seems to keep getting worse.

The economy shows no signs of recovering anytime soon. Unemployment figures, especially where I live, seem to continue to climb almost daily. Just a few days ago, three mobile meth labs were busted in my county. More families are living in poverty than in many years. To many, there seems like there is no hope. Though I'm doing well, I still feel those fear and worries. I want to try to stay positive, but sometimes it's hard.

When I clicked on my Bible reading for this morning in Youversion "Bible In A Year" reading program", it was like God spoke to me, just to me about the way I was feeling in two seperate books:

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

(Psalms 112:4-8, NIV)

Here's the second:

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4;15-18, NIV)

Sometimes, He knows just what to say....

Here's hoping you hear Him speak to you today.

Unconditional Love, Even When They Fail....

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent–not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven–if there was anything to forgive–I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(2 Corinthians 2:5-11, NIV)

I got an email today from my son's teacher. He's been acting out at recess lately, and she wanted to make us aware of the problems he's having. My first reaction? Shock...I couldn't believe that he was acting that way. It's a side of him I don't see at home. Next? Anger...I was so upset that he was doing that, because I feel like I've taught him better than that. Finally? Sadness and disappointment...I felt sad and disappointed that I had failed him in some way by not teaching him better, that his acting out was my fault. Maybe I'm the only one who takes my kids shortcomings personally...but I bet I'm not.

It's probably good I got this email at work so I have time to process it before I go home and talk to him. If I would have gotten it and went to him right away, I bet I would have flown off the handle, upset about the problem, and would have punished him, but wouldn't have gotten to the root of the issue.

What I need to do is talk to him. Like the passage above, even before we talk, I need to forgive him for his actions, and let him know that he is loved. That doesn't mean there aren't consequences for his actions, and it doesn't mean there won't be expectations, plans, and follow-up to be sure this pattern of behavior changes...but it does mean that I want him to know that because I love him so much, I want him to be the best possible boy he can be. Sometimes that will run contrary to what he wants at the time, but hopefully, once he's grown, he'll see why we handled things the way we did.

The passage above talks about the very same thing in Paul's disappointment with the church, and with people being disappointed with each other. Paul encourages them not to hold grudges, but to forgive, work together, and move on. We tend to be really bad about this in church. We'll have issues, disagree and fight, and instead of forgiving and moving on, we'll wear that pain, hurt, and disappointment like a medal, letting it drag our attitude down and tear our focus away from God and reaching others for His kingdom. Like the last verse says, Satan knows that broken relationships can ruin parents and children, marriages, and churches. It's a great tool for the enemy, and one we far too often let him have a foothold in.

Just imagine how Jesus would handle that situation. Would He hold a grudge? Would He carry the hurt around as a reminder or a badge? No...He forgives, restores the relationship, and gives us another chance to make it right.

I'm going to try to get my work done quickly today and be home to meet my son when he gets off the bus. We're going to go out by ourselves, and we're going to spend some significant time talking about all these and how we can do better. He will know his actions have been unacceptable, but that I love him unconditionally, and we'll go on from there.

Here's hoping I can model His example today.