Our Beautiful Girls

These two girls are just so amazingly precious to me. I caught them reading together in Alexi's bed ... I just can't imagine them growing up, there has to be some rules against that. Alyssa (our youngest - 2 1/2) said they were having a sleep over. They have me so wrapped around their finger that they almost got away with it, but logic pulled through and I obviously put an end to that silly idea. Yes, it took some wisdom from Katie to prove to be "logic," what can I say ... I love our little girls!

Regardless of the Cost!

I'm challenged by a message I heard this week from Andy Stanley (Northpoint Community Church, Atlanta, GA). I've listened to it before and every time it seems more challenging and convicting than the last. I would like to think of myself as a man of character - which Stanley defines as the ability to do what is right, as God defines what is right, regardless of the cost. I am what many would call a rule follower, sometimes to a fault. I can be so rigid on following rules and I like to think that it is because of my character ... that is partially true, but as Stanley points out, some do what is right because they are afraid of the consequences, others because they are doing what is right. There are times I am convicted to do what is right because I don't like to get in trouble, not at all because of my "character." The hardest part of Stanley's definition of character is the last part, "regardless of the cost." There are many times in life where we know what is right, what God expects is right, but the cost of doing right makes it difficult to display God-Honoring character. That is the person I want to be known as ... not the guy who doesn't want to get caught, but the guy who does what is right, as God defines right, regardless of the cost.

Unrealistic Anticipation

These were the first words I saw that enticed me to a contest through TSN ... "Sign up today for your chance to win the 2012 Chevrolet Volt and $1,000,000!" Okay, so I am realistic enough to know that my odds of winning the random draw of thousands upon thousands of contestants is, well, nearly impossible! So, why is that on the morning of the random draw (today at 10:00 am) I find myself hoping to hear my phone ring with that exciting news that I have won the contest and will shoot pucks into an empty net on December 31st? I guess one can always hope. I know I wouldn't mind a new car.

Well, it all has me thinking ... all this unrealistic anticipation for a prize that I will almost assuredly never see, and yet how consistently does my anticipation match up to realistic possibilities? For example, do I eagerly hope and long for the day when my neighbor will surrender his life to Jesus? Do I long for the sure reality of heaven and eternity? Am I waiting by the phone for the call from a youth who wants to talk about life? Sometimes, I can say Yes! My hope and anticipation is in the right spot! Sometimes, however, I find myself distracted by hopes and dreams that don't match up with the actual reality of life! Just something to think about ... especially poignant as we prepare to celebrate one of the greatest anticipations in the history of mankind, the birth of Jesus Christ!

December Prayer Update

What am I saying?

Well its time to fess up. There are times in life where ... well, I just have no idea what I am saying. It's true. I was reminded this week that I speak with such confidence that it appears I believe I know it all. Ouch. Well the truth is I don't always know what I am saying. Yes I realize that is not news to some as they have known for years that is the case :) With this thought in mind I was challenged this week by the idea that we are always broadcasting something. Particularly, when life hurts most and we face trouble ... we inevitably make some declaration to the world. Suffering in life actually becomes a megaphone, whether we like it or not we broadcast ourselves. So the question is ... "What am I broadcasting?" What do people hear from me when I face life's obstacles? Do I sound like I have it all together? Do I sound over confident and full of knowledge? I hope that whether times are great or difficult that people hear from me that God is good, and worthy of Glory! Psalm 13:6, "I will sing the Lord's praise, for he has been good to me."

Hope When Life Hurts Most

Every Tuesday Katie and I get to connect with our Bible study group ... which typically involves some sort of delicious snack (this week, thanks to Steve's Birthday ... we had cheesecake!), connecting with our friends, and typically an Andy Stanley video. This week, was different. We viewed an excellent resource from Louie Giglio titled "Hope When Life Hurts Most." We listened to his talk and then discussed our ability to process hard times and continue to trust in God. The talk made sense ... we can go through the hard times in life, and as Jesus said "Take Heart," because we can look to the message of the cross and see that there is Hope! It makes sense, and I get it. The cross shows us that the canvas God paints on is so much bigger than we can see and understand. The reason we can have hope in the midst of pain, is because we believe we can trust in God. Yet, somehow, understanding and believing it all ... it still seems so hard to trust in the tough times of life. The tragic irony was that a very special couple in our group was away as they prepare for the passing of her father. It is hard to grasp the pain of our friends as the process life and death. Still we press on, trusting in the only true hope that we can have when life hurts most ... the hope that we find at the cross.

Two Left Feet

Well six weeks of intriguing and exciting dance lesson discovery has come and gone ... that's right, over the past couple of months I have taken Katie to dance lessons every Sunday afternoon. We learned the Fox Trot, the Jive, Polka, Waltz, and far too many more dances to share. Remarkable, we actually learned to dance. It was ridiculously fun, and incredibly valuable. I thought I would never be able to learn to dance, I've always thought I had two left feet, and the world's worst sense of rhythm! While we were finishing up our final lesson and going over some of what we learned ... I was reminded that in order for dance to work, our timing has to be the right. We have to be listening to the same music, following the same beat - otherwise we won't keep in step with each other. Sounds really familiar to a similar concept ... "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." If I stop "listening to the music" ... Reading the Word of God, praying, and following after Him, I will not be in step with the Spirit. As important as it is to keep in step in dance ... it is critical to keep in step with the Spirit of the Living God!

A Thought on Prayer

I follow the writings and thoughts of a Youth Guru named Walt Mueller. Yesterday Walt "blogged" about a portion of a book written by Scotty Smith titled, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith. Scotty invites us to pour our hearts out to God each morning in ways that are truly transforming. I enjoyed this thought and have added the book to my list of books to buy ... I just have to wait until I finish another book on prayer titled "A Heart Exposed" by Steven James ... a great book from my Aunt Mari!

"A Prayer About Beloved Thornbushes". . .

"I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’" Hosea 2:6-7

Lord Jesus, I’ve praised you for the fall foliage of western North Carolina, the panoramic wonder of Cape Town, SA, everything about Switzerland, the Eden-like echoes in Butchart Gardens on Victoria Island, and the azure-blue waters kissing the sugar-white beaches of Destin, Florida. But today, I praise you for the gift of thornbushes. Lord Jesus, you love me so much that when I love you less you come after me with tenacious uncomfortable providence. You are unrelenting in your commitment to rescue my heart from all illusions, mirages, broken cisterns, idols and wanna-be lovers. I so wish you didn’t have to be, but I am so grateful that you are so doggedly committed to us.

Oh blessed and beloved thornbushes, ever block my path when I begin chasing after lesser gods and other lovers. Hedge me in like a formidable fortress. Cause me to lose my bearings and my way when I set my GPS for an affair of any kind. Frustrate my every attempt to look for more or settle for less than Jesus… That you are jealous for me and the affection of my heart is the greatest compliment you could ever give me, Lord Jesus. Who am I that the Lord of glory would make me a part of his bride for eternity? Who am I that you would rejoice over me with the festive joy, the impassioned delight, and the desire-filled gaze of a bridegroom? How I long for the Day when I will never again have to say, “I will go back to my husband as at first…” Until that Day, Lord Jesus, that consummate wedding day, keep me sane, centered and settled through the gospel. So very Amen, I pray in your holy and loving name.

"Is this thing on?"

Have you have ever seen someone pick up a microphone and tap on it asking the question, "Is this thing on?" The past couple of weeks it has seemed to be an ominous silence in from the "Out of the Blue" blog! Not much point in checking in to see what is written, what is going on, and what is happening out of the blue ... because apparently nothing is happening :)

Somewhere between my desire to share the nearly overwhelming quantity of daily memory verses and my loss of direction with the blog I gave up putting out any posts. Well, after some thoughts I have decided that I will not put a regular verse up on the blog - let me know if you disagree with my plan. Instead I plan to write more candidly and share what is going on in the jumbled mess in my brain. I seem to need that. In a lot of ways, it is therapy to share my life adventures in this blog ... regardless of whether anybody reads it or not. So unless the objections of the masses fly ... the verses will only make the blog when it is part of my out of the blue, craziness of life.

Day 20 - 26: Key Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

These are my memory verses for the week of October 31 - November 6

Monday: 2 Samuel 22:31

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Tuesday: 1 Kings 9:4-5

As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.

Wednesday: 1 Kings 18:36

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.

Thursday: 2 Kings 5:15

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.

Friday: 1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Saturday: 1 Chronicles 22:13

Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Sunday: 2 Chronicles 20:9

If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.

Day 18 & 19: 2 Samuel 22:7 & 2 Samual 22:17

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days
Day 18: 2 Samuel 22:7

In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God.

Day 19: 2 Samuel 22:17

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

Day 17: 2 Samuel 22:4

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies."

Day 16: 1 Samuel 16:7

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Day 15: 1 Samuel 2:3

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed."

Day 14: Ruth 1:16-17

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me."

Day 13: Joshua 24:15

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Day 12: Joshua 1:9

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Working Hard ... Mopping Up!

Its time to clear up a bit of a misconception about the roles and responsibilities of my “job.” As a Wolf Creek Youth Unlimited staff member I take my position very seriously - being a part of shaping the spiritual course of a generation of young people. Of course there are all the games, one-on-one coffee appointments, special events, sports, and just hanging out with teens. I mean, its not exactly one of those jobs that you wake up in the morning dreading to leave home for. Its more fun than it is work … so what is the misconception that I am talking about? Well, as far as I can tell, even though I may be tangibly investing time in young people in our community, I believe it is fair to say that the hardest work, most vital to this ministry to youth, happens not in the programs we run or the games we play; its not in the special events, coffee times, or Bible Studies. The most significant work in reaching youth happens … in prayer. It has been said, “Prayer is the real work, and evangelism is the mopping up (anonymous).” I have come to find that this is absolutely true. We can work and toil and consume ourselves in programs, events, and connections with teens that are truly valuable, but the real work, the real investment in our youth, happens through our Sovereign and Almighty God. It happens in prayer. Misconception number two, you have to work for Youth Unlimited to reach the youth in our communities. If prayer is the real work, which I believe it is, then we have a staff team that could make major corporations look small. The success of our mission to see the hope and potential in every young person hinges on the work of prayer, both as staff, and with our vast and powerful team of volunteers who have committed to pray on our behalf and for our youth. As a note of gratitude, I want to thank those that have tirelessly and faithfully committed to pray for our youth, and to pray for our staff. Without the generous prayer support we truly could not successfully do the work of evangelism and discipleship with youth. So what do you say, want to put in some overtime? Let’s all go get to “work!”

Day 11: Deuteronomy 31:6

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Day 10: Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Day 9: Numbers 23:19

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

 "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

Day 8: Numbers 6:24-25

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;"

Day 7: Leviticus 19:8

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

Day 6: Exodus 34:6-7

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Day 4:Exodus 15:26 & Day 5: Exodus 20:3

Top Verses to Memorize - 443 Days

Day 4: Exodus 15:26

"He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

 Day 5: Exodus 20:3

"You shall have no other gods before me."

Day 3: Genesis 3:23

So the "Top Verses to Memorize" from youversion.com has chosen a verse for today that is a little unusual ... Genesis 4:23 which says;

 Lamech said to his wives, 

   “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; 

   wives of Lamech, hear my words. 

I have killed a man for wounding me, 

   a young man for injuring me.

Not to doubt the value of this special verse for memory ... but I have decided that it may have been a typo and gone with Genesis 3:23:

"So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken." 

So there we have it - 2 for 1! What a deal.

Feel free to comment your thoughts on this verse, share it with others, or join me in committing it to memory!

 I've been reading the Top Verses to Memorize (http://bible.us/r/e) Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out.

Day 2 - Genesis 1:28

Well, this is day 2 of my adventure and challenge ...

"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"

Feel free to comment your thoughts on this verse, share it with others, or join me in committing it to memory!

I've been reading the Top Verses to Memorize (http://bible.us/r/e) Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out.

Day 1 - Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Feel free to comment your thoughts on this verse, share it with others, or join me in committing it to memory!

I've been reading the Top Verses to Memorize (http://bible.us/r/e) Reading Plan at YouVersion.com. You might enjoy it, or one of the many other plans that are available. Check it out.

An Apple a Day ... 443 Days

I have heard it said, "An apple a day keeps the Doctor away." There is also this version, a Pembrokeshire proverb, "Eat an apple on going to bed, And you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." I'm not sure how true the statement is ... sure apples contain Vitamin C for our immune system and phynol's to help reduce cholesterol, but will it really keep the Doctor away? Since I'm not much for Doctors anyway, I've decided to deviate on this "recommended" dosage. I've decided on a prescription based on a completely unique diet. To be clear, my prescription is not based on the oddly title Facebook page: "A Bible Verse a Day Keeps the Evil Thoughts Away" - which by the way has a surprising 580 "likes"; Nor is it based on the old adage, "Averse a day keeps the Devil away." Yes that too is now a Facebook page ... however, it is struggling with only 13 "likes." No, it has nothing to do with any of that, I simply believe that committing to memory one verse of Scripture every day would have to be one of the healthiest, and equipping things I can do. So with that I begin ... the problem with this public declaration of my intention is that it would seem I have set the bar rather high. Why not simply wait to announce my intentions? Give it a test shot and prove I have the endurance ... the fortitude. Well, I'm the kind of guy that goes all in, and I suppose this as good a thing as any to go all in on. So based on "Top Verses to Memorize" from youversion.com (as well as the makers of www.globible.com) I intend to memorize a verse a day for the next ... 443 Days. Yup that's right. Stay tuned daily to the blog and you can join me in this ambitious and life enhancing pursuit! Here we go!

Happy Thanksgiving

Good Enough

Well this was "Out of the Blue;" On Saturday, October 1 - I traveled to Edmonton with my wife and our friends Darryl & Erin Dirsten. We went to one of only a couple of movie theaters in Alberta that was playing the new movie "Courageous." To be honest, I went with hopeful expectations, but also realistic that it might not be as awesome as the trailers and hype surrounding it implied. Well, I was surprised, it totally amazed me! The story line is fantastic, the plot was not uncommon or unrealistic, and the drama combined with intensity and humor was excellent. I felt invigorated, motivated, and stirred by what I watched. It fostered within me a significant desire to be a better, more courageous, father!

The idea of being a "good enough" father just doesn't seem to cut it. What does it mean to be a great father? What do my children need to grow up filled with the love, resources, skills, and faith they so desperately need? Because, if I'm honest, it is so easy to set my target at being a good father that I am not striving to be truly great. I am not seeking to be significant in their lives, I am seeking primarily to meet their needs. Dairy Queen has a commercial that says, "Because good is not good enough." That is so true. Good is just not good enough, I want to be a great, courageous, loving example of Jesus Christ to my family. I want them to know that they are deeply and powerfully significant to me ... and that should reflect from my time and dedication to them. If you haven't done it yet, you need to go and see Courageous. Take a friend or two and check it out.

http://courageouscanada.ca/themovie

Sovereignty of God

It seems I have seriously underestimated God's Sovereignty over humanity. I am not sure that I have every really grappled with what it means to me that God is Sovereign.  understand authority … for example, as parents Katie and I are the authority in the lives of our children, but we are not sovereign. We would like to think we have sovereign control over our children , at least in our own home. But in reality there is no absoluteness, as we are not guaranteed the right to decide all of the matters in the lives of our children. Authority is not Sovereignty. 

Sovereignty means that God is in complete control – even when we think He may have gotten it wrong; or that something in life isn’t right; or its just not making sense. God is still God! 

Proverbs 16:1 says: “The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. "

The basic "umph" of this Scripture is that, man plans, but God rules. Man chooses the path, but God controls the outcome. So much so that I believe it is why we can say in the midst of dark and difficult circumstances: what Satan intended for evil, God used for Good! 

Check out Isaiah 43:10-13: 10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 “I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. 12 “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And I am God. 13 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”

Now that is Sovereign. That is supreme. No one calls the shots for God. No can change what God does. Mankind is constantly trying to rule in place of God. To control our environment, our circumstances … There was no god before Him, and there will be no god after Him. God declares, God saves, He proclaims. To some that is a fearful thought … we want to be in control … this reality requires that we Trust God. But God is Sovereign, whether we believe He is Sovereign or not. He will do all that He has determined to do.

The Sovereignty of God has been an incredible source of strength for Katie and I this past month as we wrestled through some challenging ministry moments. As Katie begins the Stepping Stones program for teen moms, the responsibility and the fear started to build up and it was easy for her to feel overwhelmed. But the moment we recognized the all powerful, in control, Sovereignty of God, it lifted that burden. If we can stop and see that God is not calling Katie to this ministry because He’s in heaven going, “I sure hope this works.” He has a plan and a purpose … He doesn’t have to use Katie, but has chosen to call her to this ministry, and we pray that His purpose is that many young, broken teen moms, would be made whole. That through this program God would bring redemption and healing. That is intimidating to think of if we depend on Katie to do it, but not if we trust God to do it. The Sovereignty of God gives us hope and strength no matter what we face in life, but we have to trust Him and focus on him!

 

Face the Music

The Cambridge Dictionary of American idioms defines "Facing the Music" - "to accept responsibility for something you have done." I had an "out of the blue" moment today as I sang along to a great song by Leeland called "The Great Awakening" - (check it out at youtube: http://youtu.be/-Mj8I1chdB0). As I was singing along to the catchy music I felt suddenly overwhelmed ... 

Leeland - "The Great Awakening" 
 One man wakes, awakens another 
 Second one wakes his next door brother
 Three awake can rouse a town
 And turn the whole place upside down
 Many awake will cause such a fuss
 It finally awakes all of us
 One man wakes with dawn in his eyes
 Surely then it multiplies
 Surely then it multiplies
   
It was this moment where I felt I had to "face the music."  It is time to accept responsibility for something I have done ... in fact, dare I say, we have done. In North America we have come to seriously take for granted all that we believe we deserve as well as all that we are called to do. My sense of urgency, or the lack thereof, humbles me. What will it take to wake up spiritually so that I can be a part of rousing the whole town to life?! I pray for God to multiply our work in the lives of youth ... It is time to wake up! It is time to turn the whole place upside down. 

Out of the blue ...

Out of the Blue ... Lots of life happens out of the blue ... rain storms, spontaneous adventures, random occurrences, and those unusual mental outbursts where you realize you just said out loud what you hoped you were only thinking ... so this blog is dedicated to just that, the stuff that happens in my mind whether it is out of the clear blue sky, life's chaotic storms, or the beautiful sunny days.