I Love The 80's: Annoyingly Fantastic Cheesy Songs...

You know what I'm talking about...those songs that you may hear every once in a while, but bring back a flood of good memories from your younger days. You know, the ones you crank up to 11 and jam out to...the ones you dance crazily around the house to if no one's home...I know you have one....and I do, too.

My annoyingly fantastic cheesy song is "Girls With Guns" by Tommy Shaw. Tommy was a member of the supergroups Styx and Damn Yankees, but had a very brief solo career, too. This song was his first solo hit back in 1984, which was my freshman year in high school. This song is so 80's, from the heavy keyboards to the mullets to the really nonsensical lyrics:

I'll tell you now
And I won't tell you twice
Where when and how
I got some bad advice (Huh?)

Stand tall, don't think small
Don't get your back against the wall
Shoot straight, I can't wait
Aim for the heart and fire away (What?)

Believe me, I still don't get how the "girls with guns" like even works in the song...but man, does it stick in my head. I had the cassette tape when I came out in '84, but I wore that sucker out. I know it's been re-issued on CD since, but I can't seem to find it. ITunes doesn't have it, and all I can find online are used copies, which are buyer-beware as to the quality, and I need a flawless copy of this fine song to crank up whenever I need a "pick me up"...and really, what's one more song that I can sing loudly to embarrass myself in a public place? (If you don't remember those stories, you can click here and here.)

So, now that I've come clean, it's your turn: what is your annoying fantastic cheesy song from your youth? Come on, you know you've got one...

(Ladies and Gentlemen: May I present my annoyingly fantastic cheesy song, courtesy of YouTube...)



(Yep, now you'll be humming this one all day....just like me.)

Brains vs. Brawn: Who Wins?

I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:

There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.”
But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

(Ecclesiastes 9:13-17, NIV)

You know, I'm really getting a ton out of Ecclesiastes this time through the Bible. (I'm doing the daily reading program from Youversion, if you're interested in following along...) As I've said before, this book was written by Solomon, considered to be one of the wisest men to have ever lived, and this book talks about what he deems to be important, and what he thinks is meaningless.

The theme of this passage is not only about the value of wisdom...it holds something that I didn't see on first glance. Let's read part of the passage again:

"He saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.”
But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded."

Remember, this small city was besieged by the huge armies of the king. There was no conceivable way that they could survive...but the poor, wise man figured out a way not only to survive, but to win. You would think the wise man would be a hero forever, but it seems he was soon forgotten by the people once the danger had passed and things got back to normal. Solomon ever told the people that "wisdom is better than strength", but they did still didn't heed his advice, choosing instead to live the same way that got them into the problems in the first place.

When I read it, I thought "Boy, they're stupid. Wisdom is obviously better than strength. Just look at how it delivered them, saved them from certain death, and they despise his words? What fools they are!"

Then it hit me....how different am I than those "fools"? When I'm in a jam, I'll pray like anything for God to show me the way out and save me from my mistakes...but when things are OK again, I'll pretend not to hear His still, small voice and go my own way, leaving Him in the closet until I get in trouble again.

I can't speak for you reading this, but I have a hard time admitting I don't know it all. I tend not to delegate because I don't think anyone will do it the "right" way, which means how I want it done. It's hard for me to take advice contrary to what I want and truly consider it without just shouting it down with my own defense of my point of view.

I need to remember that God puts people in my life to speak His wisdom to me, especially when it's not what I want to hear. Here's hoping I listen to their wisdom today.

Simply Brilliant..

Jon Acuff started a little blog just like mine a few years ago called Stuff Christians Like. Unlike my blog, though, his was well-written, funny, and often thought provoking. From person to person, word spread and his blog blew up. He's just turned in a manuscript based on his musings, but continues to keep on doing what he started with daily.

Today's post is called "Arguing about why bad things happen to good people". That sounds like something we've all heard before, but Jon frames it around a question that stopped me in my tracks today:

"Does God have the right to crack the vessel if breaking it is the fastest way to share what He poured into us?"

I don't know about you...but this one really hit home and I've been wrestling with it all day. Jon does a wonderful job of unpacking this idea in his post. Click here to read it....it's simply brilliant.

Update on Prayer Requests...

While reading some updates on CaringBridge yesterday, I realized I've been remiss in not sharing with you the updates on how those I've asked you to be in prayer with me for are doing:



First up is Kayla Courtney. Kayla was involved in a really bad car accident in January. She had multiple internal injuries and was really touch-and-go for days. She spent lots of time at Riley's, but is now recovering well, as you can see. She's back at school in a limited schedule, and she continues to heal day by day. Here's a bit from her dad's entry on Kayla's CaringBridge site:

Yesterday, Kayla sat in the back seat of my Ford Escape as we drove on Old US-30 Hwy, 3/4-mile east of SR-13, to Ft. Wayne for her cousin's first communion celebration. This was the first time she traveled this route and got to see the crash site since Jan. 3. We have been avoiding it, but I asked her on the drive if she was ready and willing and she seemed okay with it.

Well, that was some closure for Kayla. She's has been hoping to jump back into life with both feet running and this week she seems to have done so. She's been going out with friends quite a bit and she seems ready to re-assert her independence.

So many people have very graciously helped us in so many ways. I am still feeling inadequate that I have not expressed our gratitude sufficiently. Please know that every Guestbook entry on this site, every greeting card, email, personal visit, gift (from racecar toys to letter jacket and financial help), gestures, inquiries, and every encouraging word spoken or written will never be forgotten. Jeanette and I are humbled by it all. Kayla is still not fully cognizant of everything, but she will in time as she reads her story some day.

On to our next one, Maggie Jernas:



Maggie is a lovely 3 year old diagnosed with neuroblastoma in February. Since then, she's been recieved treatments and been in and out of hospitals. Her status changes day to day and she's still very susceptible to airborne illness as the treatments have ravaged her immune system. Here's the latest on Maggie's CaringBridge page from her mom, Rachel:

We finally have the ok to go home. When I came in and told Maggie she just looked at me. I said "we're going home for real this time!" She said "Yippee" with arms raised.

When we were told yesterday that we were staying another day I was in tears and she was fine. Of course she does have a much more comfortable place to sleep.

Everyone says that I am strong and what I have recently realized is that Maggie is VERY strong. When she vomits, she rarely cries. She may whimper but not cry. I know that she is miserable but she doesn't complain. She wants to get home and play Chutes and Ladders and "babies".

Thank you for praying for Maggie b/c to me it is evident that her strength comes from our God.

Parents like Rodney & Rachel blow me away. I can't imagine dealing with all this with a child of mine, and the way they stay focused on God and cling to him, even when their lives are in turmoil is an amazing testimony to me and anyone else that has followed their journey. Maggie's not out of the woods yet, so please keep the whole Jernas family in your prayers.

Finally, the one closest to my heart and the one I call "Breadstick", Keri Rohr:



Keri's still undergoing treatment after having a cancerous tumor removed from her head in January. She's doing OK, but is still struggling with all the side effects of the treatment. This post on Keri's CaringBridge page by her mom, Tonya, broke my heart:

As a Mom I feel very proud of all that Keri has accomplished so far. I can't really imagine how she feels physically or emotionallly going through all of this. We had a moment at school when I took her in for her tutoring where she had a meltdown. We walked into the school and it was at a time when there shouldn't have been too many kids left in the building. She had decided not to wear a hat or wig because it was a really nice warm day. Unfortunately there were about 10 boys (all in her grade) that were going home together and they were still waiting on their ride. They saw her and she was mortified. They didn't say anything but of course they stared at her and after we walked down the hall and turned the corner she just stopped and started sobbing. Which made me cry too! She is so worried that all those boys were going to be talking about how ridiculous she looked and that they wouldn't think of her in the same way. My heart was breaking for her.

I know we'll have more moments like this but it is very difficult to watch her go through it. I want to tell her that everything is going to be fine but kids can be cruel and unforgiving sometimes. I'm praying that these boys will still see the Keri that they used to know and that this new image of her won't keep them from treating her like they always used to. I know that she will get her hair back and that she will eventually be back in school but as a girl I also know how important it to believe that your attractive, and right now Keri thinks that she is the ugliest girl alive.

We will get past this......but I'm going to keep praying that she gains more confidence in herself!

For what it's worth, no matter if she's got a hair on her head or not, Keri is still the same girl with the bubbly personality and attitude that got her the nickname "Breadstick" a few years ago. Please keep Keri, Don, Tonya, and Katie in your prayers as she continues to heal, and I dare you to look at her picture above and not say "AWWWW!" because of how darn cute she is!

That's it for now....thanks for praying, and don't stop!!

"All We Have Under Us Is The Boat..."

Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?

No man has power over the wind to contain it;
so no one has power over the day of his death.

(Ecclesiastes 8:7-8, NIV)

While flipping around the channels on my satellite last night, I came upon a favorite show of mine, "Deadliest Catch". For those of you unfamiliar with it, it follows a group of crab fisherman through a season in Northern Alaska. The conditions are bitter: sub-zero temperature, wind, waves, storms, and all the while they have to be on deck, raising and lowering the "pots", hoping to catch their fill of crab before they have to return to port. It's one of the toughest professions on record, with a history of men lost at sea, thus the name for the series. Quite often, the show focuses on the success and/or failure of several of the boats as far as how they are crabbing, but last night's show was different.

There was a new boat, unfamiliar to me, called the Katmai. They were fishing for cod instead of crab, and had caught their fill and were motoring back to port to unload when they were caught in a terrible windstorm. The rudder of the ship broke, and the boat, with no control, was battered by the waves and began taking on water. Of the crew of eleven, ten put on their wetsuits and deployed life rafts. One, desperate to fix the pumps and save the ship, disappeared into the engine room and was never seen again.

The rest jumped into the rafts: six in one and four in the other. The two rafts floated away from each other almost immediately, with the four never to be seen again. The six struggled desperately to secure a canopy that would protect them from the freezing water and wind. While trying to tie it down, a wave flipped the raft, throwing all six into the sea. Only four made it back on. Once the canopy was in place, the waves continued to tumble them all night. The captain lost count of how many times they flipped over and over at 50. The next morning, after 18 hours in the Bering Sea, the remaining four, dying of hypothermia, were found by the Coast Guard and brought in to safety.

This story is harrowing enough, but the interviews with the survivors were really hard to watch. As they spoke about the heroics of those who died, along with the helplessness of knowing, at times, they couldn't do anything to help, was very evident in their eyes. You know they struggle with why they survived and others didn't. Two of the survivors and one of the dead were on their very first trip a fishing boat. All of the fisherman knew the risk, but they do it anyway to provide for their families.

One quote in particular struck me: The captain said "All we have under us is the boat.", meaning it is the only thing standing between them and a probable watery grave. Out in the Bering Sea, it's a thin line between life and death, and no one ever knows if they'll come back safely, but they go away. Solomon understood this fear, too. Some of us are afraid to leave the house because of the state of the world today. With the economy and terrorism, we wonder if we should have even had children in the mess we're in today. We don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. We don't know when our final days will be, but if we have a relationship with Christ, we do know with all certainty that it will not be the end. If we believe and put our trust in Him and his love, acceptance, and forgiveness, He will protect us no matter what the storms of life bring our way...and if it's our time, then He'll bring us home to Him, which is way better than life down here anyway.

To paraphrase the captain of that doomed ship, all you and I have between us and the depths of hell is Jesus. Here's hoping we hang on to Him in the midst of the storm today.

"You're Beautiful!"

I've been following FlowerDust, the blog of Anne Jackson for a while now. She's currently on a trip to India with Compassion International to meet the children in their project and to raise awareness of the many children who still need sponsorship there, and around the world. You can click on the yellow box on the upper right corner of my blog page to read the accounts of all five bloggers that went on the trip.

Anne, though, has a way with words. She can express her thoughts about a situation perfectly, and her encounter with a young girl named Lakshmi. The simple words they shared and the gift she gave touched my heart, and reminded me of all the blessings I have, and that I need to be more generous to those in need.

Click here to read Anne's entry...but beware, it'll break your heart, too.

Lost Hope...

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

(Acts 3:1-7, NIV)

In this passage, the disciples have started out on their own missions. Many people are already coming back to God in great numbers, and their reputations are growing in stature. They were drawing crowds in massive numbers...but that's not what stood out to me in this passage.

Think about life for that crippled beggar by the pool. His condition was so bad that he could even get himself around and had to be carried out to the pool each day to beg for enough money to live. In the next chapter we find that he had been this way for over 40 years. I'd imagine it was very hard for him....watching those with good legs walk by day after day, most doing their best to ignore him and the others. It would be easy to feel defeated and to lose all hope in life and in people. It would be a dreary existence, wouldn't it?

But then Peter and John arrived. He may have heard of them, but all he was concerned about was getting a little bit of money for food. The two disciples stopped in front of him, but didn't do anything. After a moment, Peter said "Look at us!". The man, feeling shame at having to beg but needing every bit of money, looked up at Peter, thinking the only thing that may be coming is a few cents of charity...

Then Peter's words changed his life: "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" Instead of handing him some cash, Peter extended his hand and gave him a gift far greater...the gift of his health. For the first time in 40 years he was able to stand, walk, run, and dance for joy. What an amazing sight that must have been!

Just like that beggar, I think far too often we set our sights on the little stuff in life. We lose hope and begin to think that God can't do what we really need, and start to settle into a life of sadness and despair. God is so much bigger than we ever give Him credit for, and wants so much more for us than we can see or believe.

Here's hoping we don't lose hope...because you never know when He'll reach out His hand to you.

Zip It & Listen...

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

(Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, NIV)

OK, this one hits me hard. If you know me at all, you know that I have a hard time keeping quiet. If I know the answer to something, I'll share it...even if it's wrong. If you have a problem, I'm the first to have a solution...whether you wanted one or not. Sometimes, I have a hard time just hearing silence at all, especially in a group of people. I'll fill that space with a story or a joke, just to break it up.

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, widely regarded to be the wisest man ever. Knowing that, read the verses above again. The wisest man understood just how little he knew in the face of God, and knew enough to just be still and listen to His still, small voice.

Speaking for myself, I'm great at telling you how big and awesome God is, and that you need to listen for His voice and follow His lead....I just stink at doing it. It's hard for me to be that still and clear-minded...and frankly, sometimes, I'm afraid that what He may want me to do is contrary to what I want to do, so if I don't hear it, I can't disobey it, right?

Problem is, that's not right. I need to be disciplined enough to just shut my mouth and listen to Him for some time each day instead of filling each waking moment with something else, be it good or bad. Here's hoping I can "let my words be few" today.

Funny Picture Friday...Now With Video!!

Off we go...

...working on what, exactly?



My car is bigger than your car...



I know the economy is bad...but I'm not sure this is how you want to get more business...



Now, for your bonus video. Going along with this rant from a few weeks ago, here's another Christian themed thing that's funny because it's so absolutely terrible...What's the worst? I can't decide...is it the dollar sign sunglasses and the pink hat on the monkey?....the awful voice for the monkey you can't understand?....or the fact that she seems to totally disregard the rhythm and the ability to find any words that rhyme? You decide....Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you "The Ribbons Rap!"


Ribbons Rap Music Video - Watch more Funny Videos

(Yes, that was terrible, and I'm sorry...but I bet you're humming it the rest of the day...)

Hope you can rap better than that and have a great weekend!

This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You...

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

(Deuteronomy 8:5, NIV)

I had to discipline my son last night. He's been struggling with issues with self-control, and we had another meltdown yesterday. We took away some things that are very dear to him until such a time that he shows us that he is making progress. I could see his heart breaking as we did it. I know he's sorry and wants to make a change, but right now, in the moment, he's not making the right decisions.

My daughter, well, she's even harder to discipline. She's so full of energy and life she's smiling most of the time, wearing her emotions on her sleeve. When she gets in trouble, though, you can see her heart actually crack and and sadness enter her face. It nearly kills me every time I see it...which, lately, has been more often.

It would be easier on me not to discipline at all. I could leave it all on my wife's shoulders and just be the "fun dad". That way, they wouldn't be mad at me, and I wouldn't hurt for them as much. Problem is, that would be bad for the kids.

As much as I hated getting disciplined as a child, it was one of the best things they could have done for me. I learned self-control, limits, and developed a social and moral compass that would help to guide me throughout the rest of my life. My mom and dad used to say "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you" before spanking me. I used to think that was a bunch of bull...then I had my own kids.

It breaks my heart to discipline them, but I know, in the long run, it will help to make them into the man and woman God and I want them to be. They don't see it now, but these moments of sadness, disappointment, and pain will make life so much better for them down the road.

Why, then, when God disciplines us, do we feel that He's picking on us? Don't we realize that His heart breaks when we disappoint Him by making the wrong decisions, and in His discipline, He's just trying to get us back on track? Like our kids, we don't always see the future good in current pain...but that doesn't mean it's not there. Like I've said before, I've learned the most and grown closest to God through the hardest times in my life, and that's not a coincidence.

Here's hoping I remember when I fall, it hurts Him more than it hurts me, and to be thankful that He loves me enough to discipline me when I need it.

Don't Throw Away Your Love....

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

(Deuteronomy 6:5-7, NIV)

Love.

What does it really mean?

Today, we tend to throw around the word "love" for just about anything, right?

"I love my wife!"
"I love peanut butter pie!"
"I'd love it if you just shut up!"

In Greek, love had three different words to describe it. The first is "eros". This is used for the physical feeling of love, the romance of it, or really liking something, like that peanut butter pie. It strictly is used to gauge our feelings about something, but that's it....no commitment necessary.

The next word is "philia". This is used to describe friendship and loyalty, the bond between friends. Most of us are very capable of this kind of love. It's a little more work than "eros", but we're still not in all the way. If we aren't getting what we want from that friendship or relationship, then we're outta there.

The last work is "agape". This is the one used in this passage and is defined as a self-sacrificing love, given freely to both friends and enemies. This is tough. It's easy to love when we're getting something in return or when it feels good...the true test of love is to keep loving even when we've got nothing to gain. Children are a great teacher of this kind of love. Though they test us, disappoint and frustrate us, we still love them, no matter what. This kind of love takes hard work and commitment, and isn't to be entered into lightly.

Now, back to the passage. We know what kind of love we're called to, but how much effort do we have to put in? Can I just do it some of the time, when I feel like it?
Let's see:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Wow...you want ALL of me? I'll just give you most of me, and that should be enough. I'm sure that's still much more than most the people I know. That is all I'm willing to give, and that's enough for You.

Have you ever thought that? In studying for my lesson I taught yesterday, I came across this quote from Anne Jackson, in regards to her trip to Uganda to meet a child she sponsored through Compassion:

I had seen poverty before, but from my 32″ TV inside my trendy little house.

i read about it online, saw books and magazines dedicated to photodocumenting those who have the least, but i had never touched poverty until i took a seat on that bed in annette’s house.

i had never smelled poverty until we walked through the slums where she lived.

i had never tasted poverty until the combined smells of sewage, cooking, and poor hygiene combined and entered my mouth as i inhaled deeply.

before my trip to uganda, i cared about the poor, but i didn’t love them.

if i loved them, i would have done something, plain and simple.

and i hadn’t.

in crazy love, francis chan writes
lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling guilty. they want to do the bare minimum to be “good enough” without it requiring much of them…they ask, “how much do i have to give?” instead of “how much can i give?”

it took about a month of struggling through my emotions (which i had shut down because denial is easier to handle than the pain of reality) and i finally realized if i am truly a follower of christ, truly a believer, i must change.

i must act.

there is no excuse for us not to love - and therefore act - on behalf of those without. without food, water, healthcare, or freedom. the bible does not give us an option. we are told over and over again what we need to do, but we get lost in our burden of wealth and we forget.

Watching this video and seeing how thankful people were for the scraps of food I throw away every day really shook me up. Like Anne, I realized that I am blessed, and am called to do more, to show love to those less fortunate....not because I feel bad for them, but because I'm called to do it. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus quoted this very verse, adding "love your neighbor as yourself", meaning take care of others the way you take care of yourself.

Like the people digging through the trash at the restaurant to find food for their families, many people are digging through the lives of you and I just searching for a little bit of Jesus's love to fill their empty hearts...God's given us this amazing gift, living water and the bread of life that lasts forever, and each day we throw it away without sharing it with those who need it the most. That's a shame...and something we all can change.

Like I told the kids last night, you may be the only Jesus your friends, family, and community ever sees. When they look at you, do they see His love? I hope so, but the reality is with me that more often than not, they see someone acting no different than those without His love.

Here's hoping I can love all God's people a little better today.

This Messed Me Up....

I was reading the blog of Rob Wegner, Pastor of Life Mission at Granger Community Church, today and saw this video there:

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

I don't know about you, but this really messed me up. I had a lesson planned to teach tonight at church, and I've thrown it out the window after watching this. I don't know how I'm going to do it yet, but I feel that God wants me to share this with the kids, and I'm going to follow His lead and do it.

I hope it messed you up, too.

"Protect Them..."

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one.

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

(John 17:11-16, NIV)

These are the words Jesus prayed at Gethsemane for his disciples. It was His last recorded time in prayer before the events start that led to his crucifixion. In reading it this morning, I was struck by the emotion that Jesus had. We often portray Jesus as a very serious man, always calm and even keeled, but the truth is that being fully man and fully God, He felt all the emotions we do. Knowing full well what is to come, His heart broke for these young men who He had chosen and had come to love like brothers. They had been through much together, and He had poured Himself into them, preparing them to spread the Gospel for these 3 1/2 years.

Jesus prayed for one thing more than anything else: protection. He prayed that God would protect his friends from the "evil one". He could have just saved them all any pain and suffering by taking them with Him when He ascended into heaven. He knew that all but one of them would die horrible deaths for their beliefs. He could have avoided all that...but He knew the impact they would have spreading God's love, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness, so He prayed that their hearts would be protected, even when their bodies couldn't be.

As a parent, I can understand this kind of prayer. Sure, I'd like to shelter my children from any sort of pain at all, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual....but I know that wouldn't teach them anything. I would hate to see them fail or get knocked down and discouraged, but in moments like those are where I grew closest to God. I just need to pray for their hearts to be protected, to know enough to hold on tightly to God when nothing else is there to grab hold of. Above all, I pray that I have taught them well enough that when their backs are against the wall, they will make the right decisions that will honor God, even when it hurts.

That's what Jesus wanted for his disciples....and that's what He wants for you and me. Here's hoping we can live up to that today.

Learning From Our Past To Better Their Futures...

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

(Deuteronomy 4:9, NIV)

"Daddy?"

This is the question I hear more often than any other from my kids lately. Even if I'm sitting right next to them, they always call my name and make sure I respond before they go on. If I don't right away, they will continue to call me until I do....so here's my response:

"Yes?"

(Very profound, I know.) This signifies to my kids that I'm listening, thus giving them free rein to go forward with what they have to say. For my daughter right now, it's followed with "Guess what?", I'll say "What?", and she'll say "Chicken butt!" and laugh to herself for the next 10 minutes.

For my son, though, it's different. When he calls me, it's normally to ask me a question about something. Sometimes they're good questions, about science or math, schoolwork or morality...but sometimes they make no sense at all, like asking me what superpower I'd like to have and why. I try to answer his questions as best I can, because he's still young enough that he thinks I know it all. He takes my response as fact and stores it away inside his growing head.

Now, sometimes I don't know the answers and for a while, I'd fake it and make something up. Now, I realize that he'll accept whatever I tell him without question, so if I don't know, I'll tell him that, or we'll Google it together and find out. I do this because I want to teach him well, so that when he's questioned later in life, he will have the answers he needs for someone else.

Moses got this, too. The whole chapter of Deuteronomy 4 talks about the lessons and miracles God has shown to the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. Moses reminds them of God's provision, protection, and guidance and implores them not to forget, but to pass these stories and lessons on to their children. Just like my son, those kids would ask their parents questions like "Why are we wandering?", "Where did we come from?", and "Tell me the story of the Red Sea again!" Moses knew over time they would be tempted to forget God's hand as they got more comfortable in their own lives, and he warned them not to forget those lessons, lest their children grow up and make the same mistakes.

That's another reason why I try my best to answer all my kids' questions. Even when I think they're silly, I answer for one simple reason: I never want them to stop asking. Sure, it's superpowers now, but in a few years, it could be about peer pressure, dating, following God, career path, and spouse and family. I always want my kids to know they can talk to me about anything, and I want to be transparent with them about not only the good things in my life, but also my failures. Just like the Israelites, I've learned some of my most important life lessons through problems and hard times, mostly caused by myself. God brought me through those times, and if I can use them to help my kids or others, I'll share it in a heartbeat.

There's a famous quote that goes like this: "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." Moses wanted better than that for the Israelites, even though he wouldn't be allowed to enter the Promised Land with them. I want better for my kids, too.

Here's hoping we don't forget God's lessons in our own life, and that we are willing to share that with those we care about, no matter what light it portrays us in.

Columbine, Ten Years Later...

In going through my Bloglines reader this morning, I came upon this post by Walt Mueller. It talks about his experience at Columbine when he was asked to visit the community shortly after the shootings, which happened 10 years ago today. In reading the post, it brought back memories of that day, following it on the news, and my heart breaking as more and more bodies were found. Walt made some brilliant observations I'm going to repost here for us all to think about:

On Sunday morning I shared my little summary of how the world of teens has changed since we were kids. If we didn't believe these things about youth culture prior to Columbine, April 20, 1999 served as a wake-up call that couldn't be ignored. And since Columbine, the volume on each has only intensified.

First, there's more brokenness and suffering. Kids are hurting. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold didn't just simultaneously snap one April morning. Their hurt and pain had simmered and grown over the course of a long, long time. Then, the only way out they could find was the way they chose.

Second, the stuff that kids should never have to deal with is having to be dealt with by kids at younger and younger ages. It's called age compression. What the Columbine student body witnessed was horrible. It would have been horrible for an adult. It's even worse for kids.

Third, nobody is immune. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. It doesn't matter where you live, where you go to school, where you go to church, if you go to church. . . . nobody is immune. Youth culture's issues, pressure, problems, challenges, and choices exist without borders.

And finally, sooner or later. All of our kids will have to deal with difficult stuff and make difficult decisions.

Not only is this their world, but it's the world in which they live and grow as we've been called to nurture, love, guide, and lead them. So don't turn your eyes away from the ten-year old images that are sure to be all over the papers and TV today. Let them serve as reminders of what we've all been called to do. Let them serve as reminders that all creation is crying out for redemption. Let them serve as reminders of our calling as signposts pointing to the Cross. Let them serve as reminders of our need to pray for all kids and their families. . . . families and kids represented by people with last names like Scott, Bernall, Mauser, and Rohrbough. And families and kids represented by people with last names like Klebold and Harris.

Every year I keep coming back to coach junior high football and to work with the youth at my church. Every week I keep coming back to serve at The Compass, our church's after-school program. Every year I'm reminded about how hard it can be...the kids don't always listen, they don't seem to respect adults or each other, and sometimes the amount of work that needs to be done is overwhelming...but the feelings Walt summarized in his post are why I do what I do. God has called me to reach out and extend a hand to those who are sinking, struggling to keep their heads above water, in desperate need of a Savior. Do I save them all? No....I may never know if my efforts help to save anyone at all, but I can plant the seeds of God's unconditional love, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness in those kids that may never see it anywhere else. That's all I can do, and God can do the rest.

To those of you in ministry with children or teens, thank you for your willingness to serve "in the trenches". It's not easy, but you never know when God will put a young person in your life that could end up being like those victims, or those shooters, be it not for the time and love you invest in them. For those you that aren't, think hard about being a part of this vital ministry, and if nothing else, pray your guts out for those of us that are.

(*stepping down off my soapbox*)

"Trust Also In Me..."

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

(John 14:1-4, NIV)

This is a very well known passage of the Bible. I know I've heard it many times, starting in Sunday School as a little kid. It's normally used to reassure us that God is in control and has a plan for us, but if you take it in context of the rest of the passage, I think it says much more...

If you go backward and read John 13 first, you'll see the washing of the disciples' feet, the acknowledgement that Judas will betray Him, and His prediction of Peter's denials of him. That's a pretty heavy agenda for dinner, don't you think?

This group of young men, this band of brothers, has been through much together. They started out as uneducated fisherman, tax collectors, and such, and have grown in maturity and spirituality over the last few years with Jesus. They've seen amazing miracles and unexplainable healings. I'm sure it hasn't all been perfect, but it's been a pretty good run. Now, Jesus drops the bomb that one of the twelve will sell him out to be crucified, and the most outspoken defender of His would deny ever knowing Him at all. Can you imagine how your spirit would be crushed, hearing Jesus say that you all would leave Him when He needed you the most?

Jesus knew full well the anguish and guilt these men would feel as He died for our sins. He also knew the persecution and opposition that they would face daily as they spread the word of His love, acceptance, and forgiveness throughout the world. He knew that there would be days when they felt they had nothing to hold on to, nothing to give them hope, and that's when they would remember His words:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Takes on a whole different meaning, now, doesn't it? In his darkest hours on this earth, Jesus took the time to plant the seeds of hope and encouragement, even though He knew they would disappoint Him in the short term. That's love, agape love, love no matter what.

In the mess this world is today, it's easy to lose our focus on God and see things crashing down all around us. The news gets more discouraging every day....but those words Jesus spoke to His disciples are as true to us today as they were back then: Trust in God, He's preparing a place, and someday He'll come back for us. I don't know about you, but being reminded of that just makes the day a little better, doesn't it?

Here's hoping we never lose the hope He's given us.

My Summer Movie List...

Here's what I want to see this summer, in order of release date...



X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May 1st



Star Trek - May 8th



Angels & Demons - May 15th



Up - May 29th (I love Pixar films...and it looks like May will be busy!)



Transformers - Revenge Of The Fallen - June 24th



My Sister's Keeper - June 26th



I Love You, Beth Cooper - July 10th



GI Joe: Rise Of Cobra - August 7th

What movie can't you wait to see?

Funny Picture Friday!!

Off we go...

This one's funnier if you know how I drive...I know of at least 5 people that would get this for my rear view mirror today!



Not sure which of these outcomes is the worst....



Here's a tip...if you want to sell a dog for $1200, pick a better picture...and a better name....like Cujo...



Finally, my favorite....and W., your heart is a little higher and to the right...



Hope you know where your heart is, and have a great weekend!

True Friendship...

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

(Proverbs 27:17, NIV)

Growing up, I had some friends, but I wouldn't classify that many of them as good friends. I don't mean that they treated me badly...just that they were more what I would call "surface" friends. We would hang out, occasionally do stuff together, talk at school, but if I had a problem and really needed to talk to someone, most of them wouldn't qualify. Even in high school, I thought I finally had made some great friends, but when the chips were down, they weren't there either. When I went off to college, one of the things I hoped to find was that true friendship I'd been searching for all that time. I did find some people there that showed me, for the first time in my life, what real friendship was all about.

We had a blast together. We joked, laughed, and played tricks on each other almost daily. We ate meals together, roomed together, and got together on summer vacation. Those times were great, but the times I remember were much more important:

- sitting all night in a donut shop with a friend who was struggling to quit drinking and was tempted that night. She needed someone to sit with her and "sit on her" until the feeling subsided. She called her friends, and we were right there and sat all night until it passed.

- starting a Bible Study group and being pushed way out of my comfort zone to pray and lead. Going into college, I hated to pray aloud and was afraid to share for fear of sounding like I was stupid. These friends loved me enough to push me through my fears and help me develop confidence in sharing God's love.

- getting me through a bad break-up. Though they all had told me, to a person, that I was making a bad decision going out with a certain girl, they supported me anyway, then got to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart when it, inevitably to everyone but me, blew up in my face.

I've also shared on here about my best friend John and his "road-block" move on me. John was such a good friend he was willing to risk those good feelings to stop me from making a decision that would end up hurting me. As mad as I was at him at the time, looking back later I saw that he only did it because he was looking out for me when I couldn't see for myself.

I made many great friends at Taylor University and we had alot of fun together....but to a person, they all cared enough about me to be honest with me, even when it hurt. They kept me accountable and focused on the right things, and called me out when I didn't do it. They loved me even in those times I was unlovable. They showed me what a real friend was so that I could be one, too.

God never meant for us to go it alone. Jesus, fully God yet fully man, still had the 12 disciples, and the 3 for His best friends. God made us to thrive in community with others, and to miss out on those friendships is to miss out on what we were made for.

Here's hoping you have a friend that sharpens you like iron sharpens iron, but I hope that friend is willing to cut you down to size when you need it, too.

Vacation Memories....

Flew in last night from Florida, and boy, are my arms tired! (Yes, I know...BOO!!)

We had another great week down south. The weather was wonderful for most of the time with sunny skies and temps in the 80s nearly everyday. Here's a few random memories that will stick with me from the vacation:

- Watching my little girl walk down the beach hand in hand with my dad. After his stroke last fall, I've learned not to take the time I have with my parents for granted. I'm glad not only for times like this when we get to be together, but for my kids to be able to have great memories like that with their grandparents. That's the stuff you don't forget, and I'm glad to have the chance to see moments like these...

- Seeing my wife sleep peacefully on a lounge chair in the sun. This may seem a little odd, but bear with me. I love my wife, and am sure on a daily basis that she lost a bet somewhere along the line and had to lower her standards to marry me. She works hard both at her job and at home, and I enjoy it when she finally gets a chance to slow down and enjoy herself. She loves laying out, and she got to do that on this trip. Seeing her happy makes me happy.

- Going to the Tampa Bay Rays - New York Yankees game with my son and my dad. Going to games with Dad was always a special time for me as a kid. Those days were times just for me and him to hang out, and I treasure those memories. Being able to still go with him and have my son enjoy it, too, is a rare treat that I'm happy to be able to enjoy. Especially after reading a recent post by my friend Derry, I know that at some point, we all won't be able to do things like this...so I'll enjoy them until then.

- Going to Easter Sunrise Service on Siesta Key Beach with the whole family. This is a pretty neat thing. Over 5000 people get up and walk or drive down to the public beach and worship together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. To hear those familiar passages while watching the sun break through is an amazing reminder of the new day that began when He rose from the tomb.

- Watching dolphins play and jump in the spray from a large frieghter. Seeing these animals frolic and swim, watching the birds fly and dive, and seeing the many fish and other animals as we spent time outdoors really affirmed the beauty and majesty of God's creation and love for me, and it's something I'm going to try to remember every day even when I'm back here at home.

- Having my baby girl curl up in my arms on the couch every morning. She's 6 1/2 years old, so I know this will come to an end soon...but I'm not ready for it. When I'm working, I'm out of the house when the kids get up, but on weekends and vacation, she loves to just sit on my lap and be held for the first 5 or 10 minutes she's awake. She doesn't know that I love it more than she does. The day will come soon enough when she won't let me hug her at all, so I'll relish these moments to love on her while she'll still let me.

- Seeing my mom play with the kids in the pool. My mom is awesome with my kids. She'll drop whatever she's doing to play a game in the pool, dig in the sand, or just sit and listen to them talk or read. She's very intentional about making time for them, and I know they appreciate that as much as I do.

There are many more memories, far too many to recount here...but we did have a great time with them. All that said, I'm also glad to be back home...as they say, there's no place like it!

I Pity The Fool!!

(With all the references to "fools" in Proverbs 26, I just HAD to use this one...gotta love Mr. T!!)

As a dog returns to its vomit,so a fool repeats his folly.

(Proverbs 26:11, NIV)

I must admit, as a young kid this verse used to crack me up. Talking about puppy puke was something I just thought seemed very odd to be in such a serious book as the Bible. As I got older, I realized what the author was talking about, though...

We have a dog named Mimzy. She's a pretty decent animal, and I think we've got her trained pretty well. Occasionally, she'll get a little too much to eat and end up throwing up on the floor. That's gross enough in and of itself, but watching your dog immediately start to eat what it threw up without a second thought is enough to make me a little queasy just writing about it now. She wouldn't even think twice about it. To her, it's food, and it's on the floor and available to her, so she better eat it up before someone takes it away from her.

Now, to us, we can't comprehend doing that. If our bodies threw it up, it must be for a reason. Maybe the food was bad, maybe we're sick, but we wouldn't think to grab a spoon and give it another shot, right?

Problem is, we often do this in other areas of our lives. Though it's not actual vomit, we often throw out or "throw up" those habits and lifestyles that we know aren't honoring to God, vowing never to return to them again. Sometimes we stay away for good, but often we're no smarter than the dogs, running back to gobble up that sin before it goes away for good. We know it's not good for us, but we just can't seem to stay away from it.

This chapter talks quite a bit about being a fool. We commonly think a fool is someone incapable of sound decisions, just a big dummy, but we are all "fools" at times in our lives with some of the dumb things we do.

Thankfully, we have a God that knows what's best for us, even when we don't see it for ourselves. I'm thankful for a God of second chances, even when I go back to the mess He's taken me out from.

Here's hoping I can be less foolish and leave the bad stuff alone today.

Funny Picture Friday....The Force Is NOT Strong In You Edition...

From the fun folks at Holy Taco comes the worst homemade Star Wars costumes ever....and let me tell you, they are terrible...here's just a few for ya:

Boba Fat (and nice khakis)...


Buckets do not make good helmets, no matter what you paste on them...



This one's so bad I don't know where to start....but if I had to choose, it would be the R2D2 as a trashcan....JUST a trashcan....no one in it, apparently...but I do love the face on Jabba the Trashbag!



Click here to visit Holy Taco and see all the messes...and remember, at some point, they all looked in the mirror and said, "Yep, that'll work...and I look great!"

Hope the Force is strong with you, and have a great weekend!

You Are What You Think...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Phillipians 4:8, NIV)

I think I've always loved music. Even though I can't carry a tune in a bucket, I love to hear a great song. Be it solid lyrics I can identify with or a just a great tune, my taste run from CCM to pop to jazz to classical to rock. I like a little bit of everything...and that's OK.

Growing up, I remember getting a new tape that came out. (Boy, just saying I bought a cassette tape dates me, doesn't it?) I brought it home and was all set to go and listen to it. I ran through the kitchen while Mom was making dinner hoping she wouldn't see and ask, because I knew she wouldn't approve of the group I liked. Of course, the "mom-radar" went off and she stopped me, took a look at the tape, and immediately confiscated it. I was ticked and pleaded with her to get it back. She said, "Garbage in, garbage out. This stuff influences the way you think, Rob." Of course, I thought was crazy....but then I grew up.

She's right, you know. What we choose to fill our mind with is what will come out of us. I'm not saying that you have to listen to hymns and preaching 100% of the time, but I am saying that filling your head with explicit lyrics, looking at stuff you shouldn't, and reading junk that's not edifying all the time will eventually work it's way out into your words and deeds. Like I said, I have every eclectic tastes in film, music, and literature, but I do my best to spend time each day in His word and in prayer, making His words a part of my life. By doing this, I hope my "filter" of what's appropriate and what's not has gotten better and in doing so, I hope I'm a better witness for Him.

Like the verse said, if we fill ourselves with whatever is true, noble, right, lovely, and admirable, what comes out will be the same, right?

You are what you think.

Here's hoping what I think honors Him today.

Taking It Easy...

We leave today for a family vacation on the beach you see above: Siesta Key in Sarasota!

My priorities for the next week are as follows:

-Spend time with God
-Spend time with my family and parents
-Relax and get some reading done

I'm not going to unplug completely, as this blog isn't work for me, it's an outlet that I enjoy doing. What I am letting you know is that the posts may be hit and miss, as I won't set aside time specifically to do it. If it happens, it happens, but if I've got to pick between building sand castles with my little girl or typing on this computer...well, I'll choose carrying infinite buckets of water for her to dump into her "moat" every time.

You Better Run...

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

(Proverbs 18;10, NIV)

Going through Proverbs is like sitting down with my dad or grandfather. It's listening to time-honored advice and traditions from those that have gone before you. I think this is exactly what Solomon intended, as he wrote this book for his sons, even though they didn't seem to follow much of it at all...

The verse I chose for today is a fairly famous one. Many songwriters have used the "strong tower" analogy in popular hymns and songs and I do love the image of God as our protection and our fortress....but something else struck me about this one.

If you look at the second half of the verse, what does it say?

Does it say "the righteous walk to it and are safe"?

Maybe it's "the righteous amble slowly to it and are safe"?

No, it clearly says "the righteous RUN to it and are safe". I think Solomon's word choice here was very intentional. Far too often we stand next to temptation thinking "Well, I'm a Christian. I can stand right here next to it and I still won't sin." If you can do that, that's great and I'm happy for you....but most of us aren't that strong. If I stand beside temptation for too long, I tend to give in more often than not.

That's why when I'm faced with the possibility of sinning, I do my best not to just walk away....but to run.

Running is intentional. We can all walk, but the act of running usually is accompanied by rushing toward a goal or running away from something else, both of which are accomplished when we run from sin and temptation. The enemy is not stupid...in fact, I think he's much, much smarter than we ever give him credit for. He'll wait and wait for just the right opening, wearing down our guard, and sneaking in the back door when we think the front door is locked. Some folks may think standing up to temptation is a great way to test themselves and their strength in their walk...but I'll take the running start over that anytime. When I find myself in a situation where chances are good temptation will find me, I try to do my best to distance myself from it as soon as possible. Why stick my head in the lion's mouth even if I don't think he'll bite? In my opinion, it's just not smart and irresponsible.

Here's hoping I know enough to "run" from temptation today.

One More Day Till Vacation...and I'm Taking Suggestions..

We leave tomorrow night for the sunny beaches of Siesta Key, Florida, and as always, I'm asking for some ideas from you all...

If you've got anything I should be reading/watching/listening to for the next week, leave me a note in the comments or via Facebook and I'll try to give it a shot while I'm gone. I've done this in the past and have been led to some great stuff, so please share some of your favorites with me...thanks!

Bracketolgy Challenge: One Shining Moment Edition...

Well, it's all over....and frankly, it was over about 5 minutes into the game last night. North Carolina put a whippin' on the Spartans of MSU and it was never even close...so here's the final results:

Going wire to wire for the win was Matt Schwartz with 47 right and 245 points. He credits his win to his "vast knowledge" and insisted that Macey Slabaugh wasn't the only 4 year old playing in this challenge. As much as it kills me to do it, I've got to congratulate Matt on the win!

In second place was Mark Slabaugh with 245 points also, but only 45 right. He did pick UNC to win, but that was a no-brainer as he loves the Heels...his daughter Macey did make a nice little run the first weekend, but slid as time went on. Just give her a few more years and she'll be fine...I know because I lost in our family pool to my 6 year old girl.

In third place with a strong finish was Dennis Owens with 236 points and 46 right. Enjoy the limelight, Denny...fantasy baseball started last night, and so begins your slide into the bottom of the standings with your beloved Cubbies... (Oh yes, it's on like DONKEY KONG!)

Kindra Owens finished last in her family, but first among the ladies in the challenge, and Terry Bley pulled himself out of the bottom during the Final Four. The honor of only finishing ahead of a 4 year old goes to my other brother-in-law, Todd Hochstetler. Attaboy, Todd!

To all who joined in, thanks for playing and I look forward to breaking out the challenge again next year!!

I Hate Being Tested...

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

(Proverbs 17:3, NIV)

Tests.

Really, who likes them?

Has there ever been a kid who thought "Yay! A test! I've been waiting to show off how much I've learned!" Has there ever been a guy that crossed off the days on his calendar before a prostate exam, so happy that he's getting one? Has anyone ever asked for extra blood to be drawn for testing just because it's so fun?

No, testing is never something we look forward to. None of us like to be tested because we're put on the spot. We're asked to act, react, and remember stuff we've learned, normally under pressure. We'd all prefer to never be tested, to just live our happy, quiet lives without such strife...

The problem is, though, without testing, we'd never know what we truly have. Just as the crucible and the furnace burn away the impurities in silver and gold, a "test" of our heart shows what's really inside of it. We can play the part of a Christ-Follower pretty well and fool most everyone we know, but when life hits us hard, they will truly see if we trust in what we say we believe in.

For me, some of the most impactful witnessing I've ever seen is watching people when they're tested. I remember watching my grandfather take care of my grandma when Alzheimer's took away her mind. I remember being moved by a single tear of Janet Weaver, unable to speak because of her affliction. I remember "The Hug" from Ken Myers, a man dying of cancer that forgave and restored my spirit. Just recently, watching how the Jernas and Rohr families have handled the treatment of cancer in their little girls has blown me away with their patience, grace, and reliance on God for everything. I also remember those times when I was stuck in a pit and cried out to God to pull me up and out of the depths. He did, but sometimes He left me there for a while to teach me something important about Him, to "test" me, if you will.

They say true character is never shown until you're squeezed. I can say with full certainty I know this to be true in my life and watching the lives of others. I know it's hard, but the way you act, talk, and live through crisis may be the best way for others to see Jesus in you, and to draw them to Him.

Here's hoping I'm ready for His next "test"....

"If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

I just finished "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman. Let me preface this review by saying that this isn't in my normal wheelhouse of interest. I tend to lean toward non-fiction or procedural thrillers, but this book was amazing.

"If I Stay" is the story of a day in the life of a seventeen year old girl named Mia. It starts out much like any other day...until she and her family are involved in a horrific car accident. Severely injured, Mia spends the rest of the day outside of her body, fully concious of what's going on all around her. As loved ones rush to her side, her mind reels with memories of of her life so far and leaves her with a decision to make: to stay and fight for life, or to go in peace.

It's a short book, just under 200 pages, but it's a gripping read. Once you start the book, you're immersed in Mia's mind, and Forman keeps you there through the rest of the story. Her writing style is very conversational, almost in the "stream of conciousness" thoughts that we have on a daily basis. The prose is simple, yet so powerful it was impossible to set the book down. Though it's aimed at young adults, the story of being torn between life and death is something that all ages can understand. I would highly recommend "If I Stay" and is one of the best-written books I've read in a while.

(Keep in mind this, faithful readers, if you're giving this one to a young adult. There is some language and one mildly suggestive situation...but it portrays the way many teens like Mia live and talk like. If you have a reservation about that, read it yourself first before passing it on to someone younger...but I'd recommend high school age and up.)

"The Least Of God's People..."

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

(Ephesians 3:7-12, NIV)

You've gotta love Paul.

From his beginnings as a coat-holder for those who stoned prophets to death, to a hunter of disciples of Christ, to the first apostle sent to the Gentiles, Paul was nothing if not well-known. By this time, he had made many of his missionary journey all throughout the region, establishing other teachers like Silas, Timothy, and Barnabas. He could preach to anyone. He knew the Jewish faith inside and out, but having Roman citizenship, he was also afforded the chance to speak to the ruling parties of the time, which none of the original disciples could do. I would equate Paul to the Billy Graham of his time...and I mean that as the highest compliment for both of them.

So when Paul says "Although I am less than the least of all God's people", it's kind of hard to swallow. I look at Paul and wish I was half the man he was. I wish I was as bold with my faith and as well-versed in the Bible. I wish I was willing to leave it all for the cause of Christ and share His love, acceptance, and forgiveness, no matter the cost. When I compare myself to Paul, I find me to be the "least of all God's people".

I think that's the beauty of this passage when you dig a little deeper. Even though the Paul we see is an incredible witness for God, the Paul he sees in himself is just as broken and messed up as we think we are. I'm guessing he didn't feel any more suited to be called to that kind of life than we are. He's saying that without God, he would be nothing, and he knows it and relies on Him every single day. Paul understands that though God has given him an amazing gift to reach the lost, it's still all about Him, and what He can do through Paul. Considering his massive popularity in some circles, that's pretty cool.

I need to remember that no matter how messed up, useless, and non-talented I feel, God's got a plan and a way to use the gifts He's given me. No matter what I think of myself, I'm a perfect creation in His eyes and I can do amazing things for Him...if I just get out of His way and follow.

Here's hoping I let Him lead me today.

Why Do Most "Christian" Movies Stink? - A Rant...

I was reading through my subscriptions on Bloglines yesterday when I came across this post. It's about an upcoming movie release call "C Me Dance". This film is put out by a company called Uplifting Entertainment and is marketed to Christians. The tag line is "A Dance Through The Darkness"...and the plot synopsis is awful. Here's the basics: Girl loses mom in car accident. Girl is a dancer. Girl gets incurable blood disease. Dad and Girl pray for direction, and God tells them that her gift will be to bring people to Jesus with no effort on her part. (I'm not making this up...click here and then on "synopsis" to read it yourself...) Now, the Devil gets involved and he's mad at Girl. Devil and Dad fight it out hand to hand in the front yard. (Yep...it's as bad as it sounds...and the poor acting in the trailer is even worse.)

What really gets me what they wrote at the end of the synopsis on the film's website:

Marketing note: This is a chick flick with a manifested, menacing devil. This will attract a wide demo of men and women.

Seriously?! Because what people want to see is a "chick flick" with Satan involved? Honestly, how did this script ever see the light of day, let alone being made into a film? Who is going to watch this crud? I love movies...I always have. I enjoy the feeling of escaping into fantasy or other's lives for a couple hours. I like all kinds of films: ones that make me laugh, cry, and think...but I can't stand ones that are just dumb like this...especially when they want to call them "Christian". As Christ-followers we're called to be set apart and to do our best...and films like this aren't it. I only know of one company right now even trying to put out quality stuff, and that's Sherwood Pictures...basically a church that's working together to make movies. Sure, the acting and some dialogue can be a bit cheesy in "Fireproof" and "Facing The Giants", but they do a great job of involving you in the character's lives and problems and getting you emotionally invested in the outcome, which a good film should do. Junk like "C Me Dance" would just have me making fun of it from start to finish...I dare you to watch the trailer and not roll your eyes or shake your head in disbelief that this is a real movie.

I'm sure they are more Christians in film than I know of right now...and there are writers with stories worth filming that honor God...but stuff like "C Me Dance" just makes me want to avoid so-called "Christian" film altogether. I can find more relevant moral lessons in the "Lord Of The Rings" series or even "Superman", for Pete's sake. If you want people to find Jesus through the arts, you have to make something worth reading, hearing, or watching. For a good example of what this would be, go and watch some of Granger Community Church's vodcasts. They do an amazing job of taking music and drama and setting the stage for a powerful message from God. I'm a big believer that the arts can't take save us, but they can bring us to a place where our hearts are open to His still, small voice.

We can, and we must, do better in this area. Today's younger generation is more media driven and less apt to go to church than any time before now. We need to create media on film, in music, on line and other places where people are that need Jesus and raise their curiousity to find out more from family, friends, or their local church. We need Jesus more than ever, and Paul's call to be "all things to all people for the cause of Christ" has never been more relevant.

(*stepping down off my soapbox*)

Update: An independent filmmaker & Christian, Mikel Wisler, commented on this post and directed me to a post he'd written on this same subject...it's just like mine, except he did some research, thought it out, and really put it together well instead of just ranting... :^)

Seriously, click here to read Mikel's post...he really does a great job of exploring this issue and the marriage of Christianity and today's media really, really well.

Funny Picture Friday...

Off we go...

First, I don't think you'll get your waiver in Driver's Ed if you end up like this:



Next, ask yourself if you really would have looked at these guys and thought, "That's who I want to give my life savings to!" (Yep, me neither...)



Finally, thanks for the warning...but I think I knew that all on my own...



Hope you only drink the good stuff, and have a great weekend!!

"What Happend To All Your Joy?"

"I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me."

(Galatians 4:11-15, NIV)

Paul is still talking to the church in Galatia in this chapter. His disappointment at how they've fallen away from their walk with God and slipped back into old lifestyles and habits is very apparent. As I read chapters 3 and 4, it reminded me of when I was younger and I got the "I'm not mad at you, I'm just sad and disappointed" talk from my dad when I messed up. I don't know about you, but knowing I let my dad down pierced me deeper than any angry words he could have yelled, and they were effective, eventually, at helping me change those bad behaviors.

What stood out to me was the first sentence of verse 15:

"What happened to all your joy?"

As a kid, I think we feel joy all the time. It doesn't take much for my kids....an unexpected special snack, a surprise trip to the movies, or just having Dad take the time to play with them alone. My kids feel all emotions strongly and on their sleeves, so when they're happy, they are truly joyful, and it's an incredible thing for me to behold.

Do you remember what joy, true joy, feels like? You know what I mean...for me, it's moments like watching my wife walk down the aisle with her father to marry me, the birth of my two kids, and other goofy times like just before a huge roller coaster crests over the first big drop. I think joy is not happiness, but an excitement about being so happy you just can't contain it. When's the last time you felt that way? It's not that we don't have things to be joyful about....but as adults it's just easier to focus on the things that bring us down and make us worry.

This is a great tool for the enemy. I fully believe that we need to look for and find at least a little joy every day to avoid being overwhelmed by everything else. You may find it in your spouse, kids, grandkids, or even just in God's creation or those He puts in your path today. Find those moments, be truly joyful, and be sure to thank Him for them, too. God is our heavenly Father, and I know He enjoys seeing that joy in us as much as we do in our own children.

Here's hoping and praying you'll find some joy in your life today....

How Soon We Forget....

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."

(Galatians 1:6-7, NIV)

These are the words of Paul to the church at Galatia. Keep in mind that they are not even a generation past the time of Christ. The stories of Him and His disciples are still very well known, and some of them are still living. It's not like hundreds of years have passed....just a few. Paul seems astonished that they have so quickly forgotten the Christ they pledged to follow just a few years before.

This surprised me at first...but then I thought a little more about it. This has happened all throughout the Bible. I'm currently reading through the wanderings of the Israelites. They had a cloud by day, fire by night, manna from heaven, and they still strayed from God. In my chapter for today, a group rose up against Moses. The two camps faced off, and Moses said, "May God swallow up whoever's wrong here." The earth opened, and over 17,000 people died. You'd think that would make an impression...but just a few chapters later, they find the next new thing and God is forgotten again.

You know, we're not much different today. Whenever a new self-help book like "The Secret" or ones like it come out, they rocket to the top of the best seller list. We all want a new and easy way to be the best we can be. Problem is, the book that gives you all the answers isn't easy and not nearly as popular. We pray so hard for miracles and for God's direction, then so quickly forget we He does those things. We ask to be reminded of His precense daily when we're surrounded by His creation.

It's like we yell out for God to save us and when He does, we say "Thanks" and then walk away, hoping He's still there the next time we need Him. What kind of relationship is that?

Here's hoping I can do a little better than the Galatians did.

Brillant Stuff From Jon Acuff...

...and I'm a poet and didn't know it! (I know....*groan*)

Jon's the author of the popular site "Stuff Christians Like", a funny, tounge-in-cheek look at silly things we do...but occasionally, he plants a serious post that just blows me away.

Today's post was quite possibly one of the best he's ever written. This is one of the posts you read and, after brushing away that little tear that's formed in the corner of your eyes, you get a little depressed knowing that no matter how hard you try, you'll never be able to write as eloquent and honest as that...

Click here immediately and read it...then forward it to anyone you know who needs to be encouraged...then print it out and keep a copy handy when you need to be encouraged.

Click here to read his post for today RIGHT NOW!

Knight's Quest...

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

(Proverbs 22:6, NIV)

In KFC, the group of 4th and 5th graders I work with on Wednesday nights at our church, we've spent the last 5 weeks teaching through Raising A Modern Day Knight with the boys of our group. It's a very cool book by Robert Lewis that compares the journey of a boy to become a knight in medieval times with the journey to grow into a man of God today. This is something I've been going through with my own son, and it's been fun sharing it with the group.

To cap off this series, we've given the boys a chance to embark on what we call a "Knight's Quest". Basically, each boy that wants to participate will be given a shield. The front of the shield will have an emblem based on the principles we've taught in this series, and the back will be blank. The boys will then spend time over the next month getting signatures from a list of people we will give them tonight. On this list is our pastors, ministry leaders, elders, parents, and teachers. You would think that would be an easy task...but hold on...

To receive each of those signatures, the boys will have to perform a task. It may be scripture memory, sharing about what they've learned in this series, talking about what it means to be a man of God, and learning from the experiences of those who have gone before, and acts of service. My best friend and co-teacher, John, came up with this idea after doing something similar in the co-op he joined in college. I love it because it not only reinforces the teaching points we've spent time on, but it makes them put those principles into practice. As a bonus, they get to meet and spend some time with those in leadership, and those leaders get to know these boys, too.

This quest won't be easy, but it is attainable. To finish in the allotted time, the boys will have to make it a priority. It will be work, but we plan on really honoring the boys who can complete it and leaving them with a keepsake and reminder of what it will take to be a young man of God. I'm excited about this, and have been praying for the boys that have signed up. If you get a chance, pray for Josh, Ben, and Trevin...pray that God will touch their hearts as they journey on this quest and bring them closer to Him.