God's Been Getting Me Up Early...

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.

(Isaiah 55:6, NIV)

God's been getting me up early quite a bit lately.

Over the last week, my sleep schedule has been all over the place, but one that that's consistently happened is that I'm waking up early. It could be 3, 4, or 5 am and I'm wide awake. Sometimes it was because of pain, but mostly I'm just awake and can't go back to sleep. Instead of laying there trying to will myself back to dreamland, I've been using that time to pray, and it's been making quite a difference in my day.

Here's what I prayed for this morning:

-for my wife, who's handling this change in our lives with a grace and strength she never knew she had...but I did.

-for my kids, who are taking the news of my health very well and seem to be secure and confident in God and the doctors, which is a real blessing.

- for my extended families, who are supporting me and my family in any way they can during this time. I pray for patience and peace for them, also, so they won't worry about me.

- for my friends:
for my best friend I prayed for patience and strength as he walks through a dark valley in his life...
for a college roommate who's about to lose his grandmother...
for a friend from work who's got an unspoken request...
for a good friend who's struggling quite a bit physically and emotionally...
for the sick children of people I know...
and for anyone else I could think of...

- for my church, my pastors and elders, my neighbors, and others...

- then I thanked God that I was alive, I can move, walk, talk, eat, tickle my daughter, wrestle with my son, see His creation, and be able to feel well enough to go to work today.

When I got done with that, my alarm went off, and it was time to get in the shower. It's hard to feel sorry for yourself after spending time in prayer for those in need and being thankful for the blessings you have instead of focusing on what is wrong or what you don't have.

Here's hoping God keeps waking me up tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day.

Update On Me...

I got word this afternoon that my biopsy on my kidneys will be Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. Thanks in advance for your prayers...and thanks for the ones offered already!

The Power Of Being Prayed For...

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?

(I Samuel 10:1, NIV)

I got anointed yesterday.

I've been part of a few anointing ceremonies, and it's always a moving thing to be around. For those of you unfamiliar with the practice set forth in James 5:14, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." I was going to try to write exactly what I think anointing is, but Josh Gelatt beat me to it in this wonderfully written post that I'm excerpting below:

The best understanding of this passage is that the anointing of oil upon a sick individual is a symbolic declaration that this person has been set apart to God. Medicine has failed. Human ability has failed. The leaders of the church gather together, and in the name of the Lord, symbolically pronounce their submission to and faith in the almighty God. Such an anointing in not a guarantee of healing; rather, it is a declaration of faith. If the person recovers, God is glorified because He was the agent of healing. If the person does not recover, God is glorified because the person was set apart for Him as His special treasure.
In the end, anointing with oil is never simply about healing the sick. It is chiefly about God getting the glory for being God.

I couldn't have said it better myself. As I was surrounded yesterday by my pastors, elders, and friends, I have to say the overwhelming feeling was of humbleness. I knew around me stood friends that have lost spouses, parents, or children. I felt the hands on me of those whom I've prayed with for problems of theirs before. I felt the burden of my current health and situation being lifted and shared by those who surrounded me. I felt God just whispering in my ear, "Remember, you're not alone."

Like the pastor above said, I know the anointing service isn't a "magical" way for me to be miraculously healed. I know God can do it, but as those around me prayed for that, I silently just prayed the same thing Jesus did in the garden: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Whether I get better or not, I want people to see Him in me, in the way I act and react, and it what I say and do. If I look at it from that perspective, nothing bad can come from this.

Here's hoping you can find Him in the midst of your troubles today.

PS: Here's something else God threw my way in my reading in Youversion's Bible in a Year reading program...I thought it may encourage some of you, too:

Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

(Isaiah 54:10, NIV)

Thanks, I Needed That...

As you can imagine the last 4 days have been quite interesting for me. From just thinking I had a bad cold or flu to finding out I'm in the later stages of kidney failure has been quite a leap. This news could have broken me, but it hasn't, because God has showed Himself to me in so many ways in the past 96 hours.

From calls, emails, and visits from concerned friends and family, to peace about my situation, God's hand is so apparent to me when I actually slow down enough to see it. I've already had many offers to help with the kids during appointments, for dinners to be brought in, and just offers to talk or just sit with me if I need it. I've always tried my best to be there for others, but it's hard for me to accept help when I need it. Maybe that's one of the things God's trying to teach me through this whole deal. So, to all of you that have been praying, calling, or stopping by, thank you - you have no idea how much that means to me and my family.

Last night I was sitting with Cade on his bed doing his devotional book with him. As I opened it to that day's page, I saw the Bible verse reference was from Habakkuk. As I read the story from the devotional, I wondered how there would be anything relevant to Cade in that book. When I finished, he began to read the passage, as is our routine at night. Cade read this:

"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

Wow.

I told Cade, "Buddy, sometimes your devotions are just for me."

Thanks, God....I needed that.

Update On Me...

I just got back from the nephrologist (kidney specialist) a few hours ago. Long story short, they've isolated the issue to my kidneys. Based on my testing, they are just barely functioning at all. They are scheduling me for a biopsy as soon as possible to nail down exactly what the problem is and how we can proceed. Our hope is that it can be found and cured medically to avoid dialysis or transplant. I'd much appreciate your prayers for my family and the doctors if you have the time.

Thanks!

God's Power...

When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

(I Samuel 6:1-2, NIV)

Now, just reading this verse alone seems kind of pointless. To get the whole story, you need to read I Samuel 5 & 6, and I'd encourage you to do just that...but if you won't, here's a very brief synopsis:

The Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle, and took the Ark of the Covenant as their "spoils of war". To really stick it to them, the Philistines placed it in the temple of Dagon, the "cheif god" of the people. The next morning, people arrived at the temple to find the statue of Dagon laying on the ground. Not thinking anything, they set the statue back up and went home again. The next day, not only was Dagon lying on the floor again, but it's head and arms were missing, leaving only the torso of the statue.

This really freaked the Philistines out...but instead of getting rid of it, they took it to another town. As soon as the Ark arrived, the people of that city broke out in painful tumors and pleaded to have it removed from there. Three other cities took the Ark, and each one suffered for it. Finally, to end the pain, they sent the Ark back to Israel to make it all stop. The Israelites were overjoyed, and the Philstines were relived. All was as it should be again.

Still wondering why I picked this passage today? I chose it because of the awesome power God displayed. If God would do all that just to return a box of artifacts back to His people, how much more has He, and will He, do for you and me? I tend to put God in a box, only letting Him be as big as I think He can be....but stories like this let me know that He's in control and is way bigger than anything I'm facing today.

Here's hoping you remember how "big" He is today...

That's How I Want To Be Remembered...

While reading about the fatal shooting of Ed Thomas, head football coach at Arlington-Parkersburg High School yesterday, I could appreciate his accomplishments. He won two state titles, had a .750 winning percentage, and has 4 former players currently in the NFL. What really struck me, though, were the comments of Aaron Kampman, one of Thomas's former players now a linebacker with Green Bay:

"His legacy for many will be associated with his tremendous success as a football coach. However, I believe his greatest legacy comes not in how many football games he won or lost but in the fact that he was a committed follower of Jesus Christ."

After reading "Season of Life" and this, I've decided this will be my goal for my 17th and final season coaching football.

That's how I want to be remembered.

Trusting Him, No Matter What...

Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.

(Isaiah 50:10, NIV)

I got some unsettling news yesterday.

I haven't been feeling well lately, and I took a trip to my doctor to get checked out. After a whole afternoon of testing both there and at the hospital, I've been told that I have acute anemia and that my kidneys are failing. We're not sure why and how long it's been going on, and we've been referred to a specialist to whom I'm waiting to call in and schedule further testing. As you can imagine, I've ran through all the scenarios in my mind: from diet and lifestyle changes, to medication, to dialysis, or possibly even a transplant down the line. It would be easy to be overwhelmed by this news, but I'm not.

Am I concerned? Yes.
Am I a little bit scared? Yes.
Will it consume me? No.

See, as I've blogged about before, I've been in the depths feeling sorry for myself and wondering why God isn't there. It was a long, hard road to find that He was there all along, just waiting for me to give my burden over to Him and let Him carry it for me. It wasn't an easy time or lesson to learn, but it changed my life. So when I got the news yesterday, instead of struggling and fighting it myself, I immediately gave it to Him, and I feel so much better.

Sure, God could heal me miraculously. Sure, God could guide the doctors to find a cure. His plan may just be for me to live with it, too....but what I do know is this: He is in control, and I'm still here, and I'll be looking for ways to use this for his glory. I think the timing of going to hear Joni Earickson Tada last week was God's timing. When she spoke about how even though her quadriplegia gets her down, she prays every morning for God to show her someone she can touch that day. She also prays for God to give her His smile when she doesn't have one of her own. It changed my whole perspective, and it's an outlook I'm taking on myself in spite of the current news I've received. If you think about it, you can pray for my wife and kids...they're all a little bit scared right now.

Thanks for reading...and thanks for praying. I appreciate it.

Learn To Listen...

Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

(I Samuel 3:4-10,NIV)

Sometimes God speaks in a roar: something that cannot be missed, no matter what you believe. Leading the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, parting the Red Sea, and many other instances show us God's presence in an amazing and undeniable way...but more often than not, God chooses to talk to us in a whisper.

Like Samuel, we too often credit His still, small voice to be someone else, our own thoughts, or "bad pizza". It's not as bold and forward, and it often asks for us to step out of our comfort zone, which makes it even easier to ignore. If it's not that, other times we are so caught up in ourselves that we miss the chance to hear Him speak to us. That's one of the reasons I write about what I read...it gives me a chance to think about and process His word, and to put those lessons I've learned down in type so that I don't forget them. My problem is just slowing down and paying enough attention to what He's got to say. Some people say they never hear from God...I used to think that, too, but I just wasn't listening hard enough.

Here's hoping you can answer like Samuel did when He tries to speak to you today.

"Season Of Life" - A Review

I received this book from Derry a few weeks ago with this inscription: "May you find the thoughts that follow both challenging and inspiring." Well, Derry, I was both challenged and inspired, and moved and touched.

"Season Of Life" follows the Gilman high school football team for a season. Though the team has had great success, the philosophy of the program is the real reason to read. The main theme in everything they teach the kids is that they are built for each other, built to serve and to love, regardless of social status, finances, color, or creed. It's a unique approach, and quite contrary to how most programs are run these days, but the coaches of this team are in the business of making men, not wins and losses.

The image that sticks with me the most is in a passage after Gilman had lost a particularly close and hard-fought game. Two of the captains met at midfield, heartbroken at the loss. Here's what happened:

"Sweaty and spent, they embraced the best they could while still wearing bulky shoulder pads. There was nothing extraordinary about that alone. They were the best of friends, and they'd just been through one heck of a battle together. But then I saw the tears rolling down their cheeks, and I heard what they were saying.

"I'm so proud of you, man," Mike told Ambrose.
"So proud of you, too," Ambrose said.

It was unimaginable to think that two high school boys would ever employ such language on their own. What teenage boy tells another boy that he's proud of him? But hearing Biff (the head coach) put such emphasis on that word, and having both the feeling and communication of it modeled for them, had clearly given then license to express themselves that way."

This book changed the way I will parent, coach, and serve. The principles taught in "Season Of Life" are something all of us can us daily, especially those that have a chance to pour into the lives of young men. It addresses what true, authentic manhood should really be like, and how to have a real relationship with other men, especially fathers and sons. (Yes, I cried reading the final chapter....and unless you're made of stone, you will, too.) It should be required reading for any father, coach, youth worker...it's great stuff!

Thanks for giving me this book, Derry, it's impacted me deeply and I'm grateful you brought it to me. I look forward to sharing it with others, just like you shared it with me. Thanks!

A Promise Kept...

And she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

(I Samuel 1:26-28, NIV)

This the the end of the story of a lady named Hannah. Hannah wanted nothing more in her life than to be a mother. It was bad enough she was barren, but she was also torn down by the other wife who was able to have children. It got so bad she was too upset to eat, so she just went to the temple to pray. She was praying for a son so furiously that Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk and tried to take her away. She shared her plight with Eli and her prayer that if God would give her a son, she would give him back to God. Eli told her to "go in peace, and my God grant you what you have asked of Him."

Hannah became pregnant and had a son, who she named Samuel. Now, we've all been in Hannah's shoes. I'm willing to bet most of us, at some point in our life, promised God that we'd be missionaries to the deepest and darkest jungles of Africa if only He would get us out of the mess we were in. Now, if we all followed through on that, there would be so many of us there we'd run out of things to witness to, right? No, when you and I ask God for something, we fully expect and plan to not follow through with our part of the promise, though we'll be upset if the prayers are not answered exactly how we want them to be.

You really need to read I Samuel 1. You need to see and feel Hannah's despair and anguish as she cries out to God for a child. You need to see the joy I'm sure she felt as she held that tiny baby in her arms...and you need to see the strength it takes to give that wonderful gift of life back to God. I'd imagine Hannah's heart was breaking and tears were streaming down her face, but she gave to God the most precious thing she had: her son.

That got me thinking: What would I give? Sure, I ask God for many things, but what am I willing to give Him? My time? My job? My wife? My children? Myself? I'd like to think that I would give Him anything, but in Hannah's shoes, I'm betting I would have never made it to the tabernacle that day. I hold onto everything so tightly, forgetting it was all a gift from Him in the first place.

Here's hoping I'll be willing to give like Hannah did today.

Wrestling With My Son...

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

(3 John 1:4, NIV)

My wife and I had a great talk with my son last night.

I'm not exactly sure what spurred it, but I guess something at VBS this week did. He and his friend spent some time talking with their leader, who's one of our pastors, about how they can know God is real if they can't ever see or touch Him. It's a deep question, and one I wasn't sure how to approach. We talked about oxygen and gravity, about how you can't see, touch, taste, or feel it, but it keeps us alive and on the ground everyday. We also talked about the love Kris and I have for him, and how he has faith that we will be there no matter what and will love him unconditionally. That seemed to sink in a little, but then he asked how we know if the Bible is true, and not just made up stories. I talked about how many people have tried for thousands of years to prove that it's all a story, and no one can because it really happened. Even the enemies of Jesus can't refute the miracles He performed. We've been doing a devotional he got for Christmas, but he wants to dig deeper, so we're going to just read and study the Bible together. He decided he wants to do 1st & 2nd Peter first of all, so we'll start that soon.

As I went to leave his room after tucking him in, he said "Thanks for talking to me, Dad. I hope Jesus isn't mad I have all these questions." I assured him that Jesus wasn't mad, in fact I was sure that God was happy that he was questioning his faith. Cade didn't understand this, so, standing across the room from him, I said "Buddy, can we wrestle, right now, right where we're standing?"

"No, Dad, you're too far away.", he said.

I moved to the edge of the bed and sat down. "How about now...can we wrestle?"

"No, Dad, we can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're not close enough."

Exactly. To wrestle with someone we have to be close enough to reach them, and wrestling with God is the same way. I think God loves it when we wrestle because, by the nature of the act, we must be close to Him to do it. Before I left his room, I listened to him pray. He prayed for his family, his friends, Keri & Maggie, and for God to keep helping him with his self-control. When he finished I asked if he felt like he was praying to the ceiling or if he thought God really heard him. He smiled, and said that he thought God heard him, and that's a way he could know that Jesus is really there.

As I said good night and walked away, my heart was full of joy just like the verse above. For Cade to have this conversation meant that he just isn't going through the motions of church and faith, but wants to make it personal and meaningful to himself. As a parent, I'm not sure if there's any better feeling than that.

Here's hoping you get a chance to talk about Jesus with someone you love today.

(ht to Jon Acuff and his amazing "wrestling with God" post that gave me that example I used with Cade.)

Touched...

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

(I John 5:1-4, NIV)

I spent yesterday up north in Muskegon, Michigan shadowing my friend Becky as she directed the annual family retreat that Joni & Friends puts on. For those of you unfamiliar with the name of this group, let me give you a little background....

Joni Eareckson Tada was involved in a diving accident in 1967 that left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands or legs. Rather than cursing her situation and God, she spent two years of rehab learning to paint by holding a brush in her teeth. Her amazing artwork opened the door to her autobiography first, then to many other books and speaking engagements around the world. Her influence led to the formation of this charitable organization which, among it's many outreaches, holds family retreats specifically for families with disabilities. 57 families were attending the camp I went to yesterday, with many other camps across the USA and expanding worldwide.

When I was driving up to the camp yesterday, I took some time to pray. I prayed that God would use me to touch someone that day. Maybe I wasn't clear enough, because I'm not sure I really touched anyone's life, but I wonder if maybe God had plans for me to be touched instead...

As Becky made her rounds, it seemed she knew everyone there. Each family member who has a disability is paired up with a STM, or Short Term Missionary, for the week to basically be that person's helper, friend, and caregiver to allow the parents and siblings to take advantage of the break and great programming offered at the camp. As we walked together, Becky would greet each child by name and every time, no matter what she needed to get done, she would stop, grab their hand or touch them, look them directly in the eye, and talk. It didn't matter how well that child could communicate, Becky made each one feel special and personal just by taking the time to really be there for them, if only for a few minutes. Her personal touch made a difference, and challenged me to not be so wrapped up in my own life and priorities to miss opportunities like that.

As we observed the different areas, I was blown away by the STMs and how much they connected with the children. Two in particular stood out to me. One was a young boy who seemed to be about my son's age. He couldn't seem to keep his hands off his STM, always smiling and wanting to hug or just hang on to the young man who he was paired with. For some, this could be very uncomfortable, but this teenager hugged that boy right back with all he had, making him smile even bigger. Seeing that unconditional love just blew me away...but God wasn't done yet. As we watched a group in the craft room, my eyes were drawn to a teenage girl sitting at one of the tables. Her disability seems to affect her ability to interact and communicate much, but I was really watching the lady with her. As the girl sat and tried to work on her basket, this lady just kept squeezing her shoulders, rubbing her back, and stroking her hair, much like I remember my mom doing for me as a child when I was sick or sad. As we left the room, I asked Becky if that was her mom. Becky smiled and said "No, that's her STM." Wow...talk about living God's love like the verse above...as a parent, I can see that kind of look of love a parent has for a child, no matter how tired they are or how hard it is, and I saw that look in that woman's eye, in someone who's come to love and care for a child that much in such a short time of knowing them. That's a God thing, and it was an amazing thing to see.

After lunch, we went to the tabernacle as Joni was going to talk with the parents about marriage. I was fortunate to meet her during lunch, and I was looking forward to hearing her speak. As she did, I was rocked by her honesty about her faults in her marriage and how she prayed to God to help her fix them. I was moved by the insight and love she has for the man she married and all that he does to make life better for her. I was broken by her candidness in sharing how some morning she's so overwhelmed by all she's not physically able to do, but instead of breaking down, she prays for God to bring her to someone she can touch and help that day. She shared a prayer about asking God to borrow His smile when she didn't have one of her own. As she talked, I was convicted about how often I tend to just walk by people that are hurting, either too wrapped up in myself to notice them, or unwilling to put in the time or effort it takes to sit down and be there for them. If anyone had a reason to give up and quit, it was Joni...but she turned her disabilities into something that blesses and changes lives everyday...including mine.

There were many other things that touched me, too. From the many STMs and families that spend all of their vacation time that you and I hold so tightly to on being "Jesus with skin on" to these families that need it and need Him, to the wonderful Maranatha camp and staff who made everyone feel at home, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. As I left, the camp was preparing for "Date Night", when the parents had a few hours to enjoy dinner and each other's company while the children were taken care of. I heard that for some, this was their first night alone with their spouse in over 10 years. Wow...it's amazing how a little perspective really changes the way you look your life and your "problems", doesn't it?

Like I said, I went to the Joni & Friends Family Retreat yesterday hoping to touch someone, but God used them to touch me instead. Here's hoping He finds a way to touch each of you reading this today.

Sometimes....

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

(Isaiah 41:9-10, NIV)

Sometimes life is tough.

Sometimes life is scary.

Sometimes life seems to be overwhelming, with pressures piling on us to the point of leaving us feeling suffocated.

Sometimes life just doesn't go how we had planned.

Sometimes we need hope.

Sometimes we need to know that we are loved, even when we don't deserve it.

Sometimes we need to be reminded that He is still in control, no matter how out of control things may seem to be.

Sometimes, we just need to crawl up in His mighty arms and just let Him hold us like a child until our fears, doubts, and tears go away.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just need to remember that He's always right there when I need Him...and all I have to do is just reach out.

Comfortable Vs. Comforting...

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

(Isaiah 40:1-2, NIV)

Comfort.

We tend to equate this word with comfortable, which is a state of contentment and familiarity that we all seem to enjoy being in...but that's not at all what this verse is talking about. To comfort someone means being there in some one's time of need to support and carry them when they can't carry on. Going through my divorce, many of those I expected to comfort me seemed to turn away from me instead. I don't know whether they didn't know what to say or just didn't care, but the result was the same: leaving me on the outside by myself to deal with it. On the positive side, some that I least expected became my greatest comforters. My brother in law Matt used to just come over to watch sports or play video games at least once a week during that time. I don't know if my sister made him come, or he just did it on his own, but more often than not, he arrived just at those times I felt the loneliest. My friend John and I got together for lunches, but I usually did most of the talking, often just venting my feelings and frustrations. John just listened, which comforted me greatly. I had other family and a few friends that knew just when to be there with a visit, call, or even a little note that comforted me during that difficult time.

We all love to be comforted, but to do the comforting, we often have to step out of our own "comfort zone". In doing so, we may have to give up some of our time, bear some of their burdens, and open ourselves up to sharing our past hurts and failures with someone else. There's always a cost involved in getting involved...but the payoff for the one that's hurting is always worth it.

Here's hoping you get the chance to comfort someone today...and here's hoping someone can be there for you if you need to be comforted.

A Night I'll Never Forget..

Last Friday I brought my folding chair next to the 3rd base dugout at our local little league field and sat down to watch my son play baseball. I've done this many times already this year, and it's been hard to watch at times. To that point, we hadn't won a game, and actually, hadn't even been within 10 runs at the end with any of the teams we played. His team is a great group of kids, but most are like my son: not particularly skilled or practiced players. In this league, kids pitch to each other for the first time, and it's hard to find ones that can throw strikes consistently. In fact, his team has given up a ton of runs on walks and wild pitches alone. Through it all, though, Cade and his teammates have had good attitudes, but just couldn't get it together for a win, and I know it was wearing on him and his teammates.

On this day, we played one of the better teams in the league. They were trying out a new pitcher that night, and my son was the first one up to face him. Did he hit the first pitch out of the park for a home run? No...but the pitch hit him...right in the ear-hole of his helmet. A little shook up, he took his base and I got ready to pick up my book I brought for when the blow-out began...but a funny thing happened...it never came.

We actually hit the ball well that night. Kids that normally struggled to get on base were getting hits and walks, and we were manufacturing some really good offense. We took a lead into the bottom of the inning, and this is where I expected the wheels to fall off. We have struggled all year to find a consistent pitcher to no avail. A little guy a big heart, Brandon, took the mound. He faced their first four hitters in this fashion: strikeout, hit, strikeout, pop fly out. The inning was over, and they hadn't scored!

Brandon was pumped, and so was the rest of the team. From that point on, they played as well as I've seen them play all year. They played good defense, got timely hits, and our little pitcher continued to control the game. We went into the bottom of the final inning with a 6 run lead, but it didn't feel safe. I was so into it, I think I stood and paced that whole last half hour. The first batter popped up, a few got on base, and I got worried...but Brandon never got rattled. In fact, after striking out another one, he jumped for joy and ran to the dugout...only to make the "walk of shame" back to the mound after realizing it was only the second out.

One out to go. By this point, I can hardly stand it. I'm praying the umpire will have a strike zone as big as a house right now. I think I'm more nervous than the kids. Brandon gets the last hitter down in the count, and he chases a low and outside pitch for strike three to end the game and give them their first win of the year. They celebrated like they had just won the World Series, and that's fine with me.

You see, seeing Brandon fall to his knees after recording the final out, watching our catcher run to the mound to hug him, and seeing my son and the others yelling and jumping on each other made all those blowout losses disappear from my memory. In that moment you remember the days when you played sports just because you loved it. Wins and losses were kept, but the sheer enjoyment of the game is what brought you back year after year. Far too soon, these boys will know the pain of being cut from a roster, being berated by parents and fans, and quitting altogether, but on that night, they walked out on top. That's what it's all about.

You may say it's just one win, and maybe their only win of the season...but I'd say it was a night I'll never forget.

God's Timing...

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

(2 Peter 3:9-12,NIV)

Timing.

As I spoke of a few posts ago, I'm not very patient. I want things to happen right now, and I don't like to wait for them. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that getting want I want and getting it right away isn't always the best thing for me.

I think if God just gave us whatever we wanted when we wanted it we would treat Him like the genie from "Aladdin". We'd just rub the lamp, make our request, and send Him back again. There would be no need for relationship, it would just be us using Him. By God's timing, we find that there are those times when we need to lean on and into God. In my life, for example, the times I really want God to swoop down and deliver me from whatever mess I've gotten into, He usually doesn't do it right away. He leaves me there until I can finally learn what He's trying to tell me, whether it's to depend on Him, get out of His way, or share Him with others. His timing has made all the difference in my life.

Like the verses say, I'm glad He's patient, and like a parent, I'm glad He knows what's best for me, even when I can't see it myself. Here's hoping we can be patient waiting for His timing today.

Some Fun With The Family...

My lovely wife takes some great pictures...here's some from a get-together we had a few weeks ago...

Do It Yourself Today....

...because I have a splitting headache...sorry.

If you want to play along, here are the links to YouVersion's Daily Reading program that I use for today:

Judges 10 & 11, Isaiah 36, and I Peter 2.

I know many of you reading have mucher greater insight than me, so have at it...for me, I'll catch up this weekend. Have a good one.

"All Men Are Like Grass"...

For all men are like grass,and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

(I Peter 1:24-25, NIV)

Grass has been my enemy lately.

With all the rain and warm weather we've had here lately, it seems that I'm mowing at least twice a week now. Actually, I can go out and look at the lawn the next day and it nearly always looks like it needs it again. My plans this morning were to mow the lawns of our business properties, but the rain is coming down hard, so I'll have to wait.

The weeds that grow up all through the stone lots, though, that's the worst. They're not supposed to be there at all, and seeing them just looks bad. I went out and moved and chopped them all down, and spent nearly a whole day spraying weed-killer on them. When I came in this morning, I had a small smile of satisfaction seeing the brown where the green weeds once were...and hopefully, they'll stay brown until winter.

Now, back to the verse. Grass really isn't that hard to kill. Not only can you use "Round Up" or stuff like that, you can just deprive it of sun or water, and it dies just as easy. As quickly as it grows and thrives, it can just as quickly be mowed down or destroyed. That's why grass is such a great metaphor for our lives. We work so hard to be recognized, to make money, and to gain power and prestige, but all of that can be gone in seconds. The only thing that will remain is our relationship with Him and what we do to advance His kingdom. That's what we should be spending our time and effort on.

Here's hoping we remember what's really important today.

Be There...

In reading my blog reader this morning, I came across this post by Mark Batterson, the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. It's short, but has much truth in it, and I wanted to make sure you read it:

Last week John Crosby told me a story about about James Dobson and Pete Maravich that really impacted me. Maravich is considered one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. Toward the end of his life he found Christ and it changed his life. Dobson invited him to do a radio interview and afterward they were playing basketball together. Maravich said, "I feel just great." Those were his last words. He collapsed on the court and died in Dobson's arms.

Afterward, James Dobson told his son, Ryan, "It will happen to me someday." And then he shared what amounted to a living will, if you will. He said, "Pete Maravich didn't have an opportunity to speak with his family one last time. But I want to tell you, be there. On resurrection morning, be there. I will be looking for you then. Nothing else matters. Be there."

Good stuff, Dr. Dobson....

Be Patient...

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

(James 5:7-8, NIV)

Honesty time: I am probably the least patient person in the whole world.

Seriously, I hate to wait. Be it the checkout line at the supermarket or in stacked-up traffic going to a ballgame, I can hardly stand waiting. I can deal with it for a few minutes, but after that I'm ready to start throwing people out of my way to get to the front. It's not necessarily that I need to be first, I just don't want to be stuck in line anymore.

James talks about being patient for the return of Christ. I'll admit, that's another area I struggle with. Quite often I just wish that He'd come back soon, saving me the temptations, trials, and mistakes I will make in the future. The thing is, He wants me to be here longer for a reason. For as long as I'm here and breathing, He wants me to reach as many as I can with His love, acceptance, and forgiveness....simple as that.

I also think He wants me to learn patience in waiting on Him so I can be patient with others....but that's another flaw of mine for another post...

Here's hoping we can all be a little more patient today.

Don't Just Pray...Talk...

O Lord, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.

(Isaiah 33:2, NIV)

Sometimes, I think we completely miss the boat on what prayer should be like.

Growing up, whenever I would hear a prayer in church, it was formal, full of "thees" and "thous" with flowing language that I thought I'd never be able to master. As I got older, I started hearing all kinds of prayers from people from all different backgrounds. I still heard some very formal prayers, but also found friends comfortable enough to start it with "Hi God!" and end it with "Bye, God!". Though that was a little out of my comfort zone, I loved that she did that. It signified to me that I could speak to God just like I do to my friends and family.

As I read through the Bible, I see that same closeness in those writing these books like Isaiah. What I'm really drawn to, though, is his honesty. Isaiah's not afraid to tell God that his life stinks right now. He's not embarrassed to say that he needs God and will be lost without Him. He's not too proud to ask for God's grace and blessing, and he fiercely prays for the deliverance and salvation of those he loves. In short, Isaiah's prayers are just a conversation with a friend, following the ups and downs of our lives.

I'm not saying God doesn't like a formal prayer...I'm sure that He loves anytime that we pray...but I'm sure God likes it more when we just talk with Him like He's sitting here next to us. I know He loves it when we just tell Him about our day, how we're feeling, what we're struggling with, and what we're thankful for. He made us with free will because He wanted to be chosen, to be wanted, and when we pray, we build that relationship with Him.

Here's hoping we all take some time not just to pray, but to talk to Him today.

Faith & Deeds...

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

(James 2:14-18, NIV)

Faith and deeds.

The two have been the cause of much debate over the years as to what the best way to get to heaven is. As Christ-Followers, we believe that faith in God will be our saving grace, but many other religions base your path to the golden gates on how "good" you are here on earth. Some even believe that there are only a limited amount of spots in heaven and you really must get to work to win one of them.

I think the two words aren't mutually exclusive, but a perfectly matched pair. If we truly believe and have that faith, then we should be living it out for everyone to see by our "deeds". Sadly, most of us tend to go to one extreme or the other. Either we get saved but don't change our lifestyle, or we do every good thing we can, hoping that it will erase our prior screw-ups. Many of us also tend to serve out of obligation or guilt, not out of wanting to share the amazing gift we've been given.

Some will drop large amounts of cash in the plate or build something for a church. That's great, but the "deeds" I really admire are these: the preschool teachers at church who keep watch over 25 kids at a time, the greeter with an eagle eye searching for someone who needs help, and the one who stays behind after class to tidy up the room so it's ready for the next users. These folks aren't serving to be seen, they're serving because of their faith, and that display of God's love speaks more loudly than any sermon I can remember.

Here's hoping we find a way to show our faith without words today.

He Loves Me Anyway...

Sitting at my computer this morning, I was overcome for a moment at how messed up I am. I don't know if you have those moments, but I do. I'm just sitting at my desk catching up on paperwork and doubt, guilt, and fear start walking the well worn path to my brain. They start to pound on me, trying to get me to focus on the times and areas I fall short in being a husband, a dad, a friend, a boss, and a Christ-Follower. They howl and carry on about how they can't believe that someone as screwed up as I am can actually think that I have any right to write on God's Word as I journal my devotions on this blog. I can hear them say, "Who do you think you are? You're so broken and flawed, He can't use you at all! Why don't you just drop the charade and move on to something else? You're not good enough for God!"

Truth be told, I know I'm not good enough for God. No matter how hard I try, I never could be. I could be the best person that ever lived, and it still wouldn't be enough. I'm just a guy with alot of baggage, many fears and doubts, that messes up often, disappointing Him daily...

...but He loves me anyway.

He loves me anyway. I don't think we can fully understand the meaning of unconditional love until we have children. Knowing that kind of love, not expecting anything in return, knowing they'll fail and disappoint us, and loveing them anyway is the best window I can find for the love of God.

He loves me anyway...

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

Who's In Your Cloud?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

Sometimes I can think up something random and relevant for the scripture I've chosen for the day. If I'm really lucky, you may read it all the way through and possibly gain a little insight or encouragement through it...but I know that's not often. When I read this chapter this morning, the only thing I could think of is the great song "Cloud Of Witnesses" by Mark Schultz. I can't find video of the song, so here's the lyrics:

We watched them runnin' down the aisles,
Children's time, Sunday morning.
The preacher asked them who they loved,
They all smiled and started pointing to their mom,
Their dad,
The teacher from their kindergarten class;
And each and every one
Had just come from

A cloud of witnesses
That would see them through the years
Cheer them with a smile
And pray them through the tears
A cloud of witnesses that would see them to the end,
And shower them with love that never ends
A cloud of witnesses.

They stuck together through the years,
The best of friends faith could foster
So when they found out one of them
Had heard the news
He'd lost his father,
They ran to him
And prayed and put their hands upon his head,
And slowly one by one
They'd all become

A cloud of witnesses
As they sent above a prayer
They took a hold of hands and
circled 'round a friend
A cloud of witnesses with a faith just like a rock,
They helped him give his father back to God
As a cloud of witnesses

So when it comes the time
That heaven calls
They'll come running to see the ones who've gone before,
And made the journey home to find waiting for them at the finish line,
Cheering happily they will run
and they will see

A could of witnesses
Lined up on a street of gold
As they run the final mile.
That leads them to a throne.
And through the cloud of witnesses
They see God upon the throne.
And as they fall into His arms,
They know they're home in
A cloud of witnesses,
Surrounded by a could of witnesses.

Beautiful song and lyrics, to be sure, but every time I hear it, it reminds me of those who've stood beside and with me during the hardest times of my life, and those I've loved that have gone on already to heaven. I love the visual of seeing the streets of gold just lined up with people cheering you into the Kingdom. What an amazing sight that will be! Seeing my Grandma Henschen, Lisa Lengacher, Kenny Myers, Keegan Weldy, and many others that have impacted my life and have already gone to be with Jesus fills my heart with happiness and anticipation. Though I love my life here, I look forward to that day, don't you?

Today, take a few minutes and think about who may be in your "cloud". Take some time to thank God for putting them in your life, and if they're still here, take a minute to send them a note of thanks for being there for you. If they've already gone home, here's hoping they're cheering the loudest for you when you finally come "home".

Walt Mueller's Take on "Jon & Kate"...

I've got to admit, I've watched a few shows of "Jon & Kate Plus 8". Dealing with my own two kids is sometimes overwhelming, so I can't imagine have twins AND sextuplets. As I watched, it's easy to get drawn in and wonder just what Jon & Kate are really like. Over the past few months, the Gosselin family has endured much scrutiny and criticism over the handling and "selling" of the kids, the marital issues, and alleged infidelity. As they, and Kate especially, claim to be Christ-Followers, I've struggled to figure out just exactly what to believe and what to discard...but not knowing them personally, it's virtually impossible to do.

Walt Mueller, one of the foremost authorities on youth and culture from a Christian viewpoint, has a unique perspective on the Gosselins. You see, until Jon & Kate moved recently, they were Walt's neighbors. Walt's insight on this family is remarkable and, in my opinion, spot-on.

Click here to read his great post titled "Jon & Kate: Too Late?" Whether you're a fan of the show or not, it's a great look at how a relationship and family can suffer when fame and fortune take first place in our lives.

The Faith "Hall Of Fame"...

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because heconsidered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking
ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched
around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated–the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

(Hebrews 11:1-40, NIV)

Here's hoping you and I may be worthy of inclusion in this chapter someday.

Meeting For Lunch...

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(Hebrews 10:23-25, NIV)

I love meeting for lunch.

Seriously, talking and eating are two of my favorite things in the world to do, and when you combine the two? Well, let's just say it doesn't get much better than that.

When my best friend worked here in town, we used to get together once a week for lunch. It originally started as accountability time, but it grew into much more than that. Over our meals, we would laugh, cry, yell, and argue. It could be as meaningful as spiritual direction or as silly as debating the merits of video games, but it was time spent with a great friend who I knew I could count on to be there when I needed him, and I hope he feels the same way.

I found great encouragement many times in those lunches, particularly when I was struggling with my faith and relationship with God. He always seemed to have the right words to say, and I nearly always came away feeling better than I did before then. When he changed jobs, we weren't able to meet as often, and I still miss that time.

The writer felt the same way I do. He realizes that there is great strength in community and bearing each other's burden. He knows that it's much easier to fall to temptation alone than when being held accountable by people who love you. He understands that we are far stronger and better together than we could ever be on our own. Just look at the life of Christ here on earth. He had his 12 disciples, but He had 3 of them that were kind of His inner circle or best friends. Even Jesus, fully God yet fully man, understood what kind of a asset good friends are.

This doesn't apply just to lunches...it really anytime you get together with groups of friends. We hosted a Sunday School party last week and just hanging out with those brothers and sisters lifted my spirits. (...and seeing someone nearly get lobotomized by a bocce ball was funny, too...) Just last night, I shared a birthday dinner with my whole family and we just enjoyed being together, laughing and watching the kids play in the pool.

We are not meant to go it alone. No matter what situation you're in or where life finds you, you need someone. If you and your spouse are very close, that's great...but you still need some same-sex people you can count on to be there for you no matter what you face. If you've got them, thank God for them when you pray today. If you don't, I'll pray with you that God will lead you to someone.

Though I still don't get to see my best friend as often, I've recently started meeting with a new friend weekly for lunch and I'm enjoyed getting to know him better as we talk and eat...and you can't beat that!

Here's hoping you have someone to share lunch with...

Safe In Daddy's Arms...

He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces;
He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

(Isaiah 25:8, NIV)

Some days just stink.

Last night I woke up at 1 a.m. with a splitting headache. It was so bad I couldn't get back to sleep until 5 a.m. My alarm went off an hour later, so that started the day off rough. As I went to work, the headache continued, and it decided to bring along its friend, nausea. To compound things, while working on a pump meter this morning, I sprayed diesel fuel all over my arms and clothes, making me smell like a truck stop.

Yes, some days I wonder if I would have been better off just to stay in bed. Days like today make me cling even more to verses like the one above. It also helps me to put my small issues in perspective. I've got friends with cancer and ones who've lost children and spouses to death. I know many that are still unemployed, and I know some whose marriage and relationships with their children are falling apart. When the world seems to be spinning out of control, it's comforting to know that God has been, is and will always be there, ready to "wipe the tears from our faces", sweep us up in His almighty arms, and hold us until the pain goes away...just like a Father should.

Here's hoping we remember we've got a Daddy to run to when things get rough, knowing we'll be safe inside His arms.

Don't Be Lazy...

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

(Hebrews 6:11-12, NIV)

I'm really sore as I type this today.

I went and worked out at the gym over my lunch and I'm feeling it now. Do you know why? It's because I've missed most of the last ten days there. It started the Friday before Memorial Day. I had alot to do, and I didn't get there, so that's one day. We then had that three-day weekend, so now I'm up to four. Tuesday I had the flu, and Wednesday I still felt like junk, leaving me at six. I went in and did cardio and weights on Thursday, but missed again last Friday and all weekend, putting my total visits to the gym in the last 10 days at 1.

They say it only takes missing a few workouts for your muscles to start losing their strength and feeling sore and weak again. Let me tell you, after today, I know this for a fact to be true. It actually hurts to rest my arms on the desk to type this.

The same principle applies in our spiritual lives. If we don't remain in the Word and praying on a regular basis, we lose our spiritual muscle, and our ability to "be strong" in the fight against our enemy. Far too often, we don't realize how much our "laziness" has weakened us until it's too late.

Here's hoping we exercise our hearts, minds, and spirit every day....and here's hoping I don't miss too many more workouts....ouch.