Real Life

Symbols mean something!

2012-01-31T13:47:00.000-05:00

In last week’s message, my challenge was to find (or create and adopt) a symbol or reminder that would jog your memory to “Think 3” things about God.

In the same message, I confessed that I often get frustrated at the drivers that never seem to understand my urgency in getting someplace and that they always seem to be in front of me!

Well, I realized on Monday morning that I needed to practice what I preach. First thing… I was taking my daughter to school and we were behind someone that was just creeping along. Now it was icy and they were simply being safe while I wanted to keep moving. So, it dawned on me that I could work at correcting a poor behavior of my own while praising God!

So, I adopted a symbol and reminder to “Think 3”.

Now (and it has already happened several times this week) whenever someone is in front of me or pulls out in front of me and my sinful nature wants to dominate – I start first by praying for God’s blessing upon them and thanking God for the chance to reflect my thoughts upon Him. Then, I think about what 3 important concepts of God do I need to remember and give Him praise.

It is strange how quickly that has changed my tension level in driving! It is also somewhat humorous to me how many times this week I have had this opportunity.

Choose a symbol - impress it in your mind and even share it with someone that may hold you accountable!

Staying in Step

2011-11-09T11:30:00.000-05:00

When that walking drum beats differently than the rhythm of the people and media input around us - we have a choice to make. To which drum rhythm will I listen? To which rhythm do I walk?

We can walk according to the rhythm to which everyone else walks - and see the results that everyone else sees - or we can walk to the rhythm of a drum that beats differently than the rest. It may mean that we look different, too. It may mean that we do not fit with those that walk the same as everyone else. But in the end - we are rewarded by the Eternal God of Heaven according to whose rhythm we followed? To whose drum beat did we listen?

They sound very different from each other. One is comfortable and fits well with our natural gait -the other, we have to get used to because it causes us to change the pattern of walk. We discover that the direction that drum takes us does not head down an easy path.

One path may seem more fun and filled with more adventure and the other may seem like it is the safe and secure and (dare I say it?) boring! But what is incredible is when we follow the rhythm that God sets out there is more adventure, excitement and risk than one could ever imagine because in God's hands you NEVER know where He may take you next but you CAN know that He is there with you and waiting for you at the end!
Galatians 5 tells us about this... it says that our normal nature (our sin nature with which we are born) is constantly in a battle of rhythms with the Holy Spirit that lives in the heart of every believer (which we receive permanently when we yield our lives to Jesus' lordship).

The NIV describes it in terms that are understandable and yet distant enough to not feel personal to me:

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But The Message (paraphrase) brings it home to my heart...

Galatians 5:19-21 (MSG)
¹⁹It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
²⁰trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
²¹the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

So what do I do with this? Read on (I love it when bad and negative information in Scripture is followed with the word "but"):

Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Even better - look at The Message for verse 25

Galatians 5:25 (MSG)
²⁵Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

The drum beat of the drum to which you walk may sound different than your friend's drum beat but if you follow the drum beat that keeps you in step with the Holy Spirit of God - you are on the right rhythm. Choose your rhythm carefully and courageously. Staying in step with the Spirit is not for the faint of heart.

Marching to a Different Drum

2011-11-03T11:58:00.001-04:00

Why is it that the principles of life as we see them through human lenses and logic work so differently than the principles of life as God desires through His lens and logic? God calls us to march to the beat of a different drum than the world in EVERY area of life. Do it!

We say, "Stand up for yourself"

God says, "Wait upon Me and let Me make it clear" (Psalm 37:1-9)

We say, "Take control of your life"

God says, "Stop it - You keep messing things up when you are in control. Trust me to lead in My time." (2 Corinthians 11:30 and 12:7-10)

We say, "Be responsible. Pay your bills, put money in savings, plan ahead. Then give back to God from a generous heart from the extra that He has given you. Around 10% or so - if you can."

God says, "Trust me first, stop trusting in your own understanding of life. Willingly and joyfully give to Me first, then watch - JUST WATCH - what I can do with the rest. I will supply." (Proverbs 3:1-10)

We say, "Put your family first and invest in them above all else because they are your legacy."

God says, "Invest time in your relationship with Me first. Set your heart on Me and my Word first. Build this relationship first and all the other things will follow." (Psalm 119; Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 3:7-14)

We say, "Don't worry - your confidence will grow."

God says, "YOUR confidence in yourself and your abilities is a deterrent from My work in your life. Self Confidence is not a good thing. Your confidence should be in Me and Me alone." (Phil. 3:1-6)

God's plan, His economy, His logic, His empowerment... It is based so completely in our absolute, unquestioning and unabashed trust in Him that it looks completely ridiculous in the eyes of our friends and families and the world around us. We literally will look STUPID in the eyes of others when we live in an ALL out trust relationship with the God of the universe!

But - there is no better place to be than right smack dab in the middle of the palm of the Hand of God. No better place. Get there. Start marching today to the beat that is in your heart.

My Kind of Church

2011-08-11T13:13:00.002-04:00

I recently heard a challenging message that I borrowed the main points from to encourage my church family. You see, I love my church family. We have been through so much together and God has seen us through and strengthened us as a result! So when I heard this message about the kind of church this man wanted to be able to look back and say that his church was... I thought - wow... that is my church! And that is what I want to see it continue to be! ( I think that he felt the same about his church, too!)
You see - I grew up here. When I was 13 or so, I came here because of a girlfriend and then ended up marrying her best friend 9 years later! I went to youth group here, I was engaged while attending here, I got married here, our family has expanded through four kids here, we have raised them here (although I still have a high schooler - we are nearing the Empty Nest stage), I served here for over 16 years as an elder and now I have been on staff for 9 years! I do not want to go anywhere else but I also have a burning desire for our church to be what God wants it to be!

But - what I love is that my church is a place that:

has a love for lost people - we pray for, welcome, share with and serve lost people so that they may come to know Jesus as Savior!
has a pioneer spirit - we just hosted a "Back to School Bash" that team us with B100 country music station to see hundreds of people that need to see the love of Jesus - and they CAME! Was it a stretch? oh YES! Did they play some music that was offensive - a little, yes. But they worked with us and we worked with them and we all had a great chance to see God work!
love and grace flourish in abundance - we are not without our problems - oh no! But we have a spirit from our leadership on down that is smothered in the grace and love of God. When we let God move - He covers over so many of our imperfections and shapes us through His love and grace into the church family that He desires us to be.
has the WOW! Factor burning bright! - God has done some amazing things in the past days of our church but the truly incredible thing is that HE IS STILL AT WORK! We see Him continuing to use Osceola Grace to His glory and we are riding the momentum and trying new things all the time to connect people to God, people to people and to show the love of Christ to the people in our community!

This is MY kind of church - Fist Bump to Osceola Grace!

Rescue 2011 - Our Mission: Saving Lives

2011-06-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

I love the fact that one of our most successful ministries in reaching kids for Jesus is amazingly fun, uniquely creative, intensely driven by volunteers and highly organized and effective. (and - I am responsible for nothing more than eating the daily delicious snacks and enjoying the fun with the kids)

in the kitchen sneaking snacks and getting caught...

Rescue 2011 is all about sharing our faith in the work of Jesus Christ with the kids of our community - we do it differently than most (and we have for almost 20 years)... we choose our own themes, we write our own material, we move the kids from station to station instead of keeping them in one room the whole day - and - we have the best story tellers in the world! We also see amazing results in kids making decisions for Jesus - Barna Studies says that 43% of all believers in Jesus Christ made their decision before the age of 13! We are intentional about our desire to reach kids. We do not boast but we have seen hundreds - literally hundreds of kids that have accepted Christ as their Savior over the years and we see them come back again and again to our VBS and our church. Many end up bringing their families!

Many of our volunteers are our own Driven Student Ministries teens - serving God with joy!

Yesterday and today - we saw over 90 different kids come in on our two buses! These people are true heroes! They are the first team out each day and the last team back each day and they touch the lives of so many kids that are overlooked and need Jesus! what a ministry of seed planting this is!

Pray for us - pray for strength, energy, passion, unity, protection and continued creativity as the week progresses! Pray also for open hearts and we'll see God do miracles upon miracles!

A Lament for Joplin

2011-06-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

On May 22, 2011, Joplin, MO was hit by an F6 tornado straight through the heart of the city. Volunteers from all over the country flocked to their aid. There were 142 killed and countless injured and thousands lost their homes. We have seen the devastation through photos and videos but this week 16 people from Osceola Grace in Osceola, IN are headed to Joplin to assist in the relief effort. This lament is framed in the anticipation of what we will see and hear, then it will explain the real images that enter my eyes and the real sounds that enter my ears firsthand. Finally it will close with a statement of trust in the sovereignty and mercy of God. Joplin is the fourth largest city in Missouri, population 50,000 according to the 2010 census; however, in a 40 mile radius the population swells to 400,000. The daily commuter count in Joplin raises its population during the daytime hours to 270,000.

O Joplin, we mourn for you

Even though it may be few, we mourn for your motherless

And for your lost children.

We mourn for lost love-

Of the newlywed woman whose husband protected her at the loss of his own life.

Of the father, whose baby was swept from his arms in the gale winds.

Of the baby rabbits whose mother left them in the protective hole while she perished.

O Joplin, who saw the tragedy of the destructive winds of gale forces

Who ran to hide from the mighty power of the winds of God.

Isn’t it enough? Why do the winds come and tornados pillage day after day?

I see you from afar, via the news broadcasts and the internet videos, but soon I‘ll see you in person.

When that time comes, what will I think?

Will I ask God why? Would I question the Almighty?

Who can inquire of the Lord regarding His decisions and His purposes to build up or to destroy?

Will we take the good from the Lord and not accept the bad as well?

Could this be the birth pains that Jesus spoke of? As these tragedies get closer and closer, are we seeing the signs of the end coming? Does this provoke in my heart a sense of urgency toward the lost?

Joplin, O Joplin, will you turn your heart toward God or turn your back upon Him? He stands with arms opened wide.

Church, O Church, will you rise to be the hands, feet and voice of the Living God? His Spirit prompts you to act, to begin the job as ambassador which you have been given. His Spirit gives courage to speak, to move to act and to live out the love of Christ.

O Joplin, O My Lord in Heaven, the videos, the footage, the photos – they do not begin to tell the story.

Now I see with mine own eyes, I mourn deeply where I stand amidst the tragedy.

Now I hear with my own ears – the noise of machinery removing debris and the silence of the night – no animal sounds, no breeze in the trees, no sounds of cars moving. The silence is eerie and unnatural to my ears – in a neighborhood which once bustled with activity around the clock.

Now I hear with my own ears the sadness and shock in your voices as you tell the story of your experience. I hear the hope in your voice as you explain how you protected your daughter with your body and she saw angels holding you down.

Now I smell the stench of rotting debris – it sticks in my nostrils, sickens my stomach – in the midst of this place where thousands of homes once stood.

Where people bought and sold services and goods.

At this broken down fence where neighbors met,

At this decimated deck where friends gathered,

At this windowless and wall-less IHOP where workers once served.

At this shell of a gas station where people filled their vehicles.

And now – it will not happen again – for months – maybe years – maybe never in some areas.

And now what once bustled with life and laughter is a mound after mound of debris and waste. Thousands of lives and millions of dollars reduced to a pile at the curb of their street.

Three miles wide and seven miles long of destruction,

A bomb blast could not have been worse.

A war zone without burned out buildings,

Trees swept of their bark and foliage,

Eight thousand homes – condemned as dwellings,

Stores, places of business, a livelihood ended for many.

How were so many saved and so few killed?

Yet there is hope in Joplin, each morning the streets come alive with people helping people,

Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers caring for strangers.

New people from all around the country arriving daily to dig out,

to sort through people’s lives on display through their possessions,

to serve food and water in the streets to work crews and volunteers,

to impart hope and to pray and uplift.

I now see hope infused into hearts that are broken but not destroyed.

I see a new passion for life in eyes where once I saw lifelessness and a downtrodden spirit.

I see a fresh desire to rebuild on a newly cleaned up site that hours before screamed utter despair

I hear hope in those who have yielded to Christ amidst the hopelessness as a result of this tragedy.

I hear the story of one who recognizes now the truth of God.

I see the church coming alive to be what it was meant to be as the bride and ambassador of Christ.

There is hope

There is a future

There is a healing beginning through prayers to the Almighty.

As the Lord moves in hearts in the aftermath of tragedy and the quiet after the storm – we see life eternal.

The Perfect Parent

2011-05-09T13:52:00.006-04:00

In the Mother's Day message – the first point was that "There are no perfect mom's" – that was not intended to be a slam on mothers around the world but more of a relief… We can stop expecting our mom's to BE perfect and every mom can stop comparing herself to others or feeling like she should be perfect.

In light of that – I just want to say that I love my mom and she has been the greatest mom for me. I also have learned that there are no PERFECT PARENTS…Mom or Dad.
Because we know this (deep down) it might cause us to question God as our Father. I want you to see just a few of the promises that God makes to us in Scripture and a few descriptive terms about Him that comfort me. Jesus said this:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. --- Matt 7:7-11 (NIV)

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. --- John 14:23-27 (NIV)

The apostle Paul described God as someone that cares for us and thus we can be encouraged in our spiritual lives:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. --- 2 Thess 2:16-17 (NIV)

The apostle John wrote:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him --- 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." --- John 10:25-30 (NIV)

In this passage there are a couple of things to note – first, Jesus claims to give us eternal life and to offer us the promise of security that NO ONE can remove us from HIS hands and then He includes God the Father in that same picture – NO ONE can remove them from the hand of His Father. In light of the verse before – 1 John 3:1 – God loves us SO much that He lavishes us with His love and offers us the title "children of God"! Then reflect back on the Matthew 7 passage above, also, where God loves us so much that He offers us good things and seeks to give us good gifts. God never forgets and never neglects and never forsakes us. This is a different picture than many people have of God. He is not a God that is out to get us or punish us He is a God that loves us so much that He looks out for us. It does not mean that we are promised wealth or security or a "safe" and healthy life but it DOES mean that when things are not quite right in life and it looks like things are falling apart – that HE is always right there helping us through it.

I love how Isaiah 40 describes Him…

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. {11} He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. {12}Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? --- Isaiah 40:10-12 (NIV)

Look at verse 11! This is the same God that is so immense in verse 12 that we could not fathom it and yet he holds a tender lamb like you and me close to His chest to comfort us.

I hope that your view of God is clearer than what you may see here on earth because there are no perfect parents on earth but God is the perfect parent who knows just what is right for every situation.

Counting the Cost-Comparing the Choices

2011-04-28T09:15:00.004-04:00

So many want to just say a prayer and "BOOM!" you are in... Jesus said, "... anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." -Luke 14:27-33 (NIV)OR 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)AND Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6 (NIV)I love Johnny Hart's BC comic strips. Recently someone gave me a book to look through called "I Did It His Way". It is a compilation of Johnny Hart's comics that are spiritual in nature. I find them humorous and yet pointed. It made me realize that this was a man that counted the cost and willingly laid the truth out there for all to see - knowing that he may get ousted from the local papers but in all actuality, it solidified his career and showed his integrity to stand by what he believed - He did not worry about the consequences since He trusted in His God to use his talents to make the Word of God known in an attractive manner. It is good stuff. "Prayer is allowing God to have His will in your life on HIS terms." - Johnny Hart (1931-2007)

The Best Easter Ever!

2011-04-25T09:39:00.003-04:00

I don't know enough about the Catholic beliefs and, honestly, I am not one for a lot of ritual type behavior but this year I was curious about why? Why Ash Wednesday? Why Lent? Why give up something during Lent? Part of this was driven by the need in my heart to make sure that the Resurrection Celebration on Easter Sunday carried meaning for me this year. It seems like sometimes I have gotten lost in the routine of Good Friday Communion and Easter services being really spectacular and forgotten that I need to reflect on what Christ accomplished in the spiritual battle we all face.

Therefore, I decided to give something up for Lent – but I felt like instead of just giving it up Monday to Saturday and enjoying it on each Sunday until Easter, that I would give it up completely. It was interesting to cause myself to reflect on Christ, His journey, His sacrifice and His victory every time that I thought of having a hot delicious cup of coffee. I reflected more upon Christ throughout these last 46 days than I normally do and it really changed how I was thinking about Resurrection Sunday.

Additionally, we hosted a Journey to the Cross during what the Catholic Church would call Holy Week or Passion Week (that week between Palm Sunday and Easter).
This allowed me to reflect upon the events that filled Jesus' last days. I was fascinated by the choices that Jesus made during that last week to ingrain some events into the minds of His disciples. I remembered that Jesus knew, all along, what was coming and when. In fact, John 13:1 says, "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father." If you KNEW that you had less than a week to live – how would you spend it?
Then came Communion – mind you – two months ago when we started talking about this week and Communion, I was bummed. It did not excite me. So I paused and asked myself, "Why?" and the answer was that it seemed to have lost some of the meaning. So, we simplified, shortened and created a service for Communion that was designed to keep us focused on remembering what Christ accomplished…and it worked!

Then yesterday – WOW! Looking at what the Word of God says about the extravagant love of God! Extravagant - "going beyond what is deserved or justified." The perfect word to describe God's love for man in sending Christ. He loved the whole world sooooooooo much (John 3:16) that He showed it to us by the sacrifice of His Son (Romans 5:8) and purchased us at a very expensive, personal and demanding price (Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 7:23). Now that is extravagant AND that is why my Easter was the best ever! Plus – one of the people that I prayed for to yield their life to Jesus Christ did – at the end of the service yesterday! New life on a day that we celebrate new life!

How could it be any better?

God Sees Behind the Mask!

2011-04-13T10:50:00.002-04:00

I love this story of the believing townsfolk in this small Swiss town:

"In Basel, Switzerland each year the good protestant townspeople have a festival in which they all don masks and go through the city doing things and going placed they would never consider doing/going under normal circumstances. The mask, which veiled their identity, emboldened them to do these things. One year, the Salvation Army, concerned about the abandonment of moral standards, put up signs all over the city, which read, "God sees behind the mask." -- Dr. Kenneth Gangel, Scofield Memorial Church, May 22, 1983."

Psalm 139 tells us several truths about God that makes us see how true it is that God sees behind the mask… It tells us that He knows us inside and out. He knows our actions and observes them. He knows our thoughts and our words we are about to speak! Not the ones that we are speaking but the ones that we are thinking about letting come out of our mouths!

He is familiar with all of our ways – This Hebrew word –sakan- means to be acquainted with or to be so well known as to be useful. In this context, it is a more intense understanding and it means to be "intimately acquainted with". God is not just familiar with us like he recognizes us in passing… He is intimately aware of the details of our ways and our thinking patterns.

Verses 7-12 describe our passion to hide from God compared to our complete inability to even sneak away from Him for a millisecond. It isn't going to happen!

This both comforts me and scares me – I am comforted because of the phrase in verse 10 – "even there your hand will guide me and your right hand will hold me fast." There is security in God intimately being aware of your life and knowing that you are in His hands at all times. It scares me because He knows my thoughts – even when I can hide behind my mask with you. He knows my words – what I want to say – even if I do not say them and He knows my heart. I know what is there but you may not because I hide behind a mask.

When I remember that God sees behind the mask, I have the comfort of knowing that He still loves me and forgives me and desires to be in a right relationship with me anyway.

This enables me to be more transparent with you and to take off the mask and learn to trust that I can be who I am, with my struggles, insecurities and problems while still knowing that I am a work in progress just like you! We should be doing this together and growing and pushing each other to conform to the image of the Savior! Join me! Take off the mask and be who God made you to be!

"April Fool's" Lol!

2011-04-04T14:39:00.013-04:00

So, just like every Sunday, I came into the office early yesterday to pray, meet with a couple of friends and work through any final service prep that may need to be done and here is what I find staring in my face -

And attached to his neck...

The meeting table and chairs - topsy turvy... Streamers everywhere along with many many balloons! The vandals even left their balloon trash and streamer trash behind?

Toilet Paper adorning my lamp and across my desk.

Notice the picture askew on the wall along with many other ones that were either upside-down on the walls or bookshelves.

The desk itself is wrapped in cellophane!

Every book on the desk - upside down.

Chairs - turned over.

Worst offense- they touched my M & M container and could have spilled them on the floor! In fact, it is now upside down.

On the white board were a bunch of google eyes with a face drawn around it!

Additionally, a bush was moved in to the room along with Vaseline on my door handle. Multiple other violations... fake bugs hovering all around and my phone and chair "vandalized". However, the cool thing was that I know that someone was thinking about something special for me over the weekend! I feel loved!

PS - only a few people have access to my office - still thinking Chris may be in on it somehow.

It is Happening!

2011-03-31T09:01:00.002-04:00

So, our theme for the year is it's Time to Act. In light of recent messages, I have heard several stories of people "acting" out their faith.

One man from church shared about walking out of his office building and encountering a man that needed a buck for bus fare. He did not have anything to give in his pocket so he apologized and moved on. As he was walking to his car, played over in his mind the words of the message, "maybe I don't have any money but what I have I'll give to you" so he thought – "How can I help, what DO I Have?" HE realized that he could not offer this man a ride because he was on a tight schedule so he quickly dug through the seats and cup-holders of his car and found enough change to buy the man bus fare. He ran back in and gave it to the man and helped him on his way!

I love that… someone that remembered to ask themselves "What CAN I do?"

I just heard another story last night, a couple from Osceola Grace has spent the last several years being part of a club where they know they will rub shoulders with some people that need Christ. The husband of one of the couples from this group has pancreatic cancer and just recently found that he has a year to live. The wife of the Osceola Grace couple delivered a meal there and then sat down and asked if she could share the "Life's Most Important Question" tract with them. They listened and then asked if they could keep the tract. She planted a seed! Let's pray that God will use that to draw them to a saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.

With all of the tragedy in the world around us, I cannot help but think that the time is closer and closer when Jesus returns. Remember: It is not about ME getting across the finish line but it is about how many others can I bring with me!

It is Time to Act! Here are four things to pray specifically about today:

A love for lost people like God has
Courage to speak when the time is right
Opportunities to speak – people to talk with
Eyes to see the people that God brings to you.

Excerpt from Jesus Freak Devotional

2011-03-24T09:31:00.001-04:00

I was searching on line today for some ideas for illustrations for my upcoming message and discovered www.JesusFreaks.net with some great stories. I own the Jesus Freaks V1 and have read some of the other stories. I also get the "Voice of the Martyrs" magazine and hurt over those believers in other countries that are oppressed. At the same time – I am impressed with the zeal, fervor and passion with which these brothers and sisters in Christ faithfully serve and share Christ even when it is not safe. Read this excerpt from the Jesus Freak Devotional – think it through today with YOUR life situations.

The Good Life

Everybody wants a good life. We even joke about living "the good life." But Jesus promised His followers not necessarily a good life, but an abundant life. Webster's defines abundant as "more than enough; amply sufficient; bountiful."15 Translated into Jesus Freak terminology, that means God promises to give us not only everything we truly need but also an endless well of peace and joy to draw from. If you are a Jesus Freak, the life God has planned for you goes beyond even your wildest dreams. He wants to take you on a wild ride that centers on trusting Him, obeying Him, and following His lead. What will it cost you? Everything—your heart, your time, your willingness, your money, your reputation, maybe even your life. But remember: In exchange for "losing your life," you get a major upgrade. You gain His peace, His joy, His supernatural power, His perfect plan here and now, and a never-ending future with Him in heaven.

Jesus knew when the time had come for Him to die. During one of His last conversations on earth, He told His disciples:

I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught . . .

I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.

— John 14:25-27,15:9-13, The Message

Excerpted from:

Live Like a Jesus Freak by dc Talk

ISBN 157782089

With what are you willing to trust Jesus? All of it – or just the convenient parts of your lfe?

Six Ideas to Try to Apply

2011-03-21T09:43:00.001-04:00

I love Proverbs – it is always full of timely and face-slapping advice. Here are a few of the thoughts that I collided with today.

Trust God for today and today alone – even though I need to plan ahead, I cannot live for tomorrow! (Prov. 27:1)
Just do the right thing – if others notice… fine. If not, know that God saw it. (Prov. 27:2)
Only a friend can burst a friend's prideful bubbles when they need to and still do it in love. (Prov. 27:5,6 and 17)
Taking advice can help you avoid painful consequences of poor choices. (Prov. 27:9,12)
Sometimes you just can't help – it takes someone taking responsibility for themselves to change. (Prov. 27:22)
Pay careful attention to what God has given you of His treasure to manage and you will have enough, just enough! (Prov. 27:23-27)

When you read the Word of God – do you take the time to reflect upon how you should respond to it?

My mom once told me "Gregory, stay on our block until you learn to ride your bike better." I road down the into the next block and saw someone weaving their bike from side to side and thought how fun and cool that looked. The next thing I remember is being carried home with the side of my face covered in road rash because I tried it.

Once again, my mom knew what she was talking about. She could talk until she was blue in the face but unless I chose to take her advice – I would continue to make poor choices with painful consequences. Often – those who have been around the block know the right choices to make. You do not always have to experience the pain to know it is worth avoiding.

A Walk in Love

2011-03-10T15:09:00.001-05:00

Last weekend I was invited to a retreat by a friend that was being run by his rather large church. In retrospect, I had a preconceived notion of what was going to happen because he said, "Greg, I think this would be great for you because you could really use this time to be refreshed and renewed in your ministry." I thought it sounded good because I could be gone a few days and take a couple of books to catch up on and refresh my mind some.

Little did I know that this would be one of the most amazing weekends of feeling the extreme and extravagant love of Jesus Christ through His body that I have ever known. This was amazing. Although, I admit, when we arrived and the guy opened up a notebook to read the intro I wondered what I was in for but I soon learned that, read it or not – this was for real and these people were for real! We had an uproariously great time in parts of the weekend and a challenging soul-searching time for parts of the weekend but the entire weekend except for a few short intervals, was completely designed to walk me through a process of introspection, challenge and soul-searching all under the umbrella of over 30 men committed to showing the love of Christ in real and tangible ways. I made some friends so quickly that it almost broke my heart to leave on Sunday knowing that many of them I may not see again this side of heaven – but they impacted me and helped me grow and change in just a few short hours together.

It was funny (an unbelievable) that the leader would say that "Today is good, tomorrow will be better and the next day will be even better and by Sunday, you will not want to go home." I thought, "No, dude, by Saturday I am pretty sure I am gonna be refreshed enough to want to leave. By Sunday I'll be chomping at the bit."

So – seriously, come Saturday morning, I was thinking, "What is next. How far can this go? What is the next talk going to be? What in the world are these Kleenex for?" Well in the next twelve hours or so I found out the answer to all of those questions and more. And, no, I was certainly not ready to leave yet. What was Sunday going to be?

True enough, I was anxious to see my wife and family on Sunday when I left but I really did not want to leave – He was right.

God challenged me. One BIG thought that I walked away with: "There is NOTHING in this life that compares in any way to living sold out for Jesus."

Ministry may be hard – but my reward is not here, not now. Living in the moment of my mission, doing what I am called by God to do and discharging the duties to which I have been called is hard. I have never, never done anything harder or more frustrating or more discouraging. BUT, I also have never done anything more uplifting (by my brothers and sisters), more simple (keep it that way), or more rewarding and encouraging (living life day in and day out with this body of believers that I love) as we see God glorified together through His work in us.

I will walk in love and remember how I was loved completely and selflessly last weekend and for eternity through Christ.

My All for His Glory

2011-03-07T12:09:00.001-05:00

Everyone always quotes Paul saying in Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ but to die is gain." I fully believe that Paul meant that – but I ask myself time and time again – do I believe that? Do I live like every waking moment is about Jesus? Is living MY life really about living for Christ?

And the second part of that – do I really feel like physically DYING would be advantageous to me?

I had someone ask me recently why we do not teach more about heaven at our church. I thought about it some and realized we really do not teach specifically on that topic very often at all. In fact, when we do talk about it it is because it is in the text and we give it an "honorable mention" at best. It made me start thinking, "do I really feel like heaven would be a better place for me than earth?" and when I honestly answer that question, I find myself thinking – "I don't want to go there yet but I do want to end up there". So how do I get to the point where I can say…"to die is gain."?

I consider the verse before that in Philippians:

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." -Phil 1:20 (NIV)

Paul expected and hoped (with anticipation that it would happen) that he would not be ashamed by his life on earth as he stood before the Judge of the universe and his actions in life were considered. How could he say that? Because for Paul – he lived with the motto that "NOW as ALWAYS Christ would be exalted" in his body whether it was while he was living or through his death. It causes me to reflect upon me… can I say that right now – in this moment – I am living, responding, acting in a manner that exalts Jesus?

Paul could.

He was so passionately in love with his Savior that he lived every day in order to please Him! To exalt Him! To promote Him! To enjoy Him! When I live that way then I cannot wait to be in heaven together with Him. There is no fear in death when life is lived with a white hot passion for the One with Whom we desire to spend the rest of our lives (in heaven). It so changes my perspective when I think about it that way. (however, when I am neglecting my love relationship with Jesus – I sometimes am not excited about being with Him in heaven because I am afraid of being embarrassed, even though there is no need for that feeling – it still nags at me).

So – live all out for Him. Bring Him honor through your life actions.

I pray that God will give me "sufficient courage" to live "now as always" to exalt Jesus Christ. Will you pray with me?

The Real Result of Grace

2011-02-22T11:53:00.001-05:00

I recently read David Platt's book, Radical, regarding the way that American church has been affected by our "me first" culture. It was eye-opening and very challenging to me. However, what really struck me most was the way he explained God's grace and its ultimate purpose.

A couple of thoughts stood out to me…

Grace for salvation is not the end – Salvation is NOT the complete purpose of God's grace.
If the purpose of God's grace is simply to bring an otherwise unreachable reconciliation of God and man – then it is actually about "ME" and not really about God.
Grace is not the end – Grace to glorify God with the rest of my life IS!
God's ultimate purpose for extending His grace to mankind is so that we can live the transformed, Spirit-filled life He intended and thus, return glory and honor to Him.

So here is a good question to ask yourself:

How can I live my life and lead my family and others that I influence for God's glory in Osceola, Mishawaka, Elkhart or wherever I find myself?

If we seek to answer that question through the lens of God's Word and His commands for us then we begin to realize that we serve Him as our Master and Savior instead of serving ourselves.

Isaiah seemed to get it straight from the Lord:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Isaiah 6:1-3 (NIV)

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)

For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. 10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another. Isaiah 48:9-11 (NIV)

I’m Adopted

2011-02-14T12:24:00.001-05:00

I do not think that it is any secret to those that know me but I am adopted. When I was born, my biological mom (possibly a teenager in the early sixties) gave me up for adoption. This was known before I was born and at just a few days old I was officially given to my adoptive mom and dad (the only parents that I have ever really known). Even though the official adoption papers were not signed by the courts for another 7 months – I was officially theirs to raise as their own.

For as long as I can remember, I have known that I was adopted.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved my adoptive mom and dad and never ever, ever thought of myself as someone else's child – only theirs.
For as long as I can remember, I have not wanted to ever know who my biological mom was (or dad for that matter) because for some reason they were not prepared to raise me and thus the only parents I have known and loved have been those who raised me.
For as long as I can remember, I have felt loved, cherished and cared for by my mom and dad. They have done extraordinary things to care for me, provide for me, love me and teach me.
I have always known I was theirs. In fact, many people who have no idea I was adopted tell me that I resemble my dad who raised me. They tell me that we have similar characteristics in both physical features and mannerisms, even in patterns of speech!

I cannot help but think of a second adoption that took place in my life. One that was even more precious to me than the first one. God willingly adopted me as His son. He paid an enormous price to adopt me through the blood and suffering of His own Son, Jesus Christ. And just like my physical adoption – He is the only spiritual Father that I have ever had that cared for me unconditionally.

Since I have been adopted by God, the Father, and I am now part of a universal adopted family of brothers and sisters who have yielded their lives to Jesus, I have been changing and becoming more and more like my heavenly Father every year. It is my goal to resemble Him and to begin to have those mannerisms and speech traits that reflect Him.

In the same way as my physical adoption – my spiritual adoption leaves me with some striking similarities:

I am so content in being adopted my heavenly Father
I am glad that after this adoption I have never felt as though I am someone else's child – Only God's.
I do not ever want to know the master that I served in slavery before I was adopted by God as His child.
I feel loved, cherished, cared for, provided for and comforted by God at every turn in my life.
I have learned so much of what He wants me to be as I have had a chance to be taught by His written Word.
I want people to look at me and realize that I must be a child of God because of how I act, speak and live. I want to be associated with my adoptive heavenly Father in every way!

Adoption is such a great picture of how God accepts us with all of our flaws, problems, baggage and imperfections but willingly helps to "raise" us under His strong, protective and lovingly gentle hand. I am so glad I was adopted – both here on earth and into heaven.

A Day in the Life

2011-02-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

Since I became employed by a church ministry, I have had to learn some new approaches to gift giving and gift receiving. ( first, I say "since I became employed by a church ministry" because many say "Since I was called into ministry" as though they were not called to do ministry before even though other employment demands do not excuse us from being "called into ministry" in everyday life already.) So, what did I have to learn?

First, I had to learn that as much as I wanted to help people financially when I saw a need, I was no longer able to do it so freely. (Not that I don't do this but my income changed enough that I could not be as "generous" as I used to think I was.) Instead, we had to think creatively. I learned to consider how a time investment instead of monetary investment might help. Networking with those that had the means to give and did not know of the need while I knew of the need and did not have the means. This has been good for us. It has broadened my scope of what it means to give gifts and share with others in need.

Second, I had to learn how to receive gifts graciously ( I am still learning this one because I tend to make jokes or try to be funny when I feel like I am in an awkward place of receiving a gift) and simply thank the giver. It is uncomfortable for a person who has enjoyed giving to others in need to become the recipient and to handle that with grace. I have found that many people are blessed to be a giver and some are blessed to be able to receive.

I think that God has challenged us (me and my family) to learn to be good givers and to learn to be good receivers, too. God has blessed us in so many ways as we have found ourselves in need these last 8 years. Through God's prompting, through prayer, through His working in the hearts of godly people and through some incredible circumstances – God has allowed us to be recipients of two vehicles (used yet reliable), three computers over the years, many special little gifts and many events that have blessed our lives tremendously. For those things and those events – we are most grateful.

But what amazes me the most is in noticing how He has blessed us in ways that we normally never even consider. Example, 18 years ago, God allowed us to build a home that we have enjoyed raising our children in and hosting many people in their times of need. When we built this home we purchased new appliances for it (all from Sears) and this was the first time in our lives that we owned new appliances. It was a pretty exciting time and yet here we are 18 years later and we still have those same appliances. Yes, we have had to repair a couple of them from time to time but they have lasted. My wife just let me know today that the dryer was not working properly and it may be something that we have another repair on but it still works!

Take the time today to thank God for the blessings that we never really consider – the blessing of appliances or things that do not wear out! How many times do you thank Him for the fact that you DO NOT have to replace and appliance? It makes me think of Nehemiah 9:19-21 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen." (also testified to in Deut. 8:4; 29:5)

Surprisingly, this care by God for His people was not a result of a reward for them. In fact, it was in spite of their hearts, their stubbornness and their horrible attitudes that He sustained them. Why? For His glory! To show HIS might and power! To bring attention to what He has done!

So… to God be the glory that the appliances and furnace in my home are still going strong (8 items in all)! He is truly a God who is worthy to be praised!

It Changes Everything

2011-02-08T11:06:00.002-05:00

What changes everything? Well, think about it, there are events in our lives that become "watershed" moments that completely change the course of our lives. When we decide where to go to college, when we decide we are REALLY getting married, when we decide to have kids or buy a house or change jobs. Those are the types of things that are usually within our control. Real "watershed" moments are those events that are unexpected that change or alter us from that moment on and we have no control over what just happened.

Like what? A car accident, a war injury or a choice to help someone in danger and you are hurt in the process, a death in your family, a bad doctor's report, a fire, a robbery or a disaster (natural or man-made). Think about it… depending on how old you are you probably remember right where you were and what you were doing when JFK was assassinated, when the space shuttle, Challenger, exploded, when President Reagan was shot, when the Berlin Wall came down, when the World Trade Center Towers fell, when New Orleans flooded. Those are watershed moments – they probably changed your world forever. What if…

What if, instead of waiting for those moments to occur, you could do something to spark "watershed" moments in your own life? Or in the life of your family? Or in the life of your friends? Or your co-workers? What would you do?

Paul talks a great deal about praying and requests prayer for himself a few times but they are interesting prayers. Paul does not ask for prayer for his safety or his protection (although in Romans 15 he does ask to have them pray that he is rescued from the unbelievers so that he can continue his mission trip). He doesn't ask that God remove the oppression or that God would give him all that he needs. You see, Paul knows and trusts God enough already to know that He will provide for the needs and that His will is accomplished in His time, but look at what Paul asks people to pray about:

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel," - Eph 6:19 (NIV)

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." - Col 4:3-4 (NIV)

He wants to boldly and fearlessly speak about Jesus. So do I! He wants to see an opportunity develop for him to share the message of hope in Christ. So do I! So let's pray that way. Let's make these prayers our prayers. Write them down. Memorize them and use them as reminders. Pray them aloud back to God. In addition to these two prayers – here is another one that Paul prayed to ask God to pave the way.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." - Eph 1:18-19 (NIV)

Do you want to see a watershed moment happen in your life? Begin praying like Paul prayed and expect God to do something great! When you pray these prayers and begin to see people as God sees them – your watershed moments will happen again and again! When you pray like this – your heart will begin to break for the same things that break God's heart and it will change you forever!

What's next – pray and pray and pray - (P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens) then click here and tell me about it – anonymously, if you want.

One person can make a difference

2011-01-06T16:52:00.001-05:00

I like inspirational stories. They inspire me. I guess that is what they are intended to do but I long to be an inspirational story someday and I think that watching the real ones really gets to me.

What I begin to realize is that I actually may be an inspirational story to someone and I do not even know it. Watch this and realize that making a difference happens one person at a time. Boom.

This is what makes "good" movies great and what makes an "average" novel superior. The idea that one person can inspire change, momentum, a movement or a ground swell is the idea that YOU could be that catalyst.

Think about it – Spartacus, Troy, Gladiator, Invictus. Great movies that revolve around a key character motivating legions or teams to act. Lord of the Rings and the humility of Frodo Baggins changed the course of Middle Earth. John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan – all people that were wildly popular regardless of your political preferences and changed the course of the known world through their leadership.

But what about you? What about me? What can we do to make a difference in this world. Well, it starts with a commitment to a cause and then, secondly, by choosing to act. Choosing to do it even if all the details are not final, even if the outcome is not certain, even if failure is too real of an option but by not acting you KNOW you are doing wrong.

Does it have to have a huge impact? No – as long as it has an impact it will be huge in the one person that it impacts. YOU can make a difference – read about this man that did with almost no budget – Click Here.

It's Time to Act. Whom will you serve? Whom will you obey? When will you take the chance? For me it is Jesus Christ and NOW! Will you join me?

My Field Trip this Week

2011-01-05T09:41:00.001-05:00

I know that I do not write often so if no one reads this – I will live on still!

On Monday, January 3, Jay Bell, a friend of mine in ministry in Winona Lake, and I went to lunch together and then to visit a new local Sikh temple. What? A LOCAL Sikh Temple? Wait a minute…. What's a "Sikh" Temple?

I know… I had all of those same questions so here are a couple of places to find out more about what in the world this is. (www.sikh.org and www.gurunanakdarbarsahib.com ) First, Sikh (said "seek") is a religion that has some very unique beliefs (they worship a "Holy Book" and treat it as though it is alive physically). Second, when I say local I mean that is less than six miles from our church located on Day road just west of Bittersweet (12800 Day Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544). Third, we went in and spoke with the priest that leads this congregation of thirty families in our area. He was dressed in traditional garb with a turban, the appropriate metal wrist band and a long beard. You can search out the "articles of the Sikh faith" and learn more.

The Sikh faith seems to be a combination of the monotheism and Hinduism and is the 5^th largest world religion today. There is a Sikh temple in Merrillville, Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Chicago. Now there is one that is almost complete, after a $1,000,000 renovation, here in Michiana. Jay and I were invited from the entry hall into the main temple worship area and were allowed to see their holy book. We were even invited to come back this Sunday to worship with them.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because they will arrange a "field trip" for up to 30 of us to come and hear about the Sikh religion and to ask questions that we may want to know about their religion. Let me give you ten great reason why this is a great thing for us to do.

It's one thing to listen to a lecture on world religions, it's quite another to be able to ask questions of one who practices the religion.
It's one thing to try to wade through a world religion textbook, it's quite another to talk to a devotee in person.
It's one thing to study the "official" or "orthodox" version of a world religion, it's quite another to experience it at the popular level.
It's one thing to read in the Bible "Love your neighbor," it's quite another to practice love to those who hold to such vast religious differences.
It's one thing to try to strike up an initial conversation with an adherent of one of the world religions, it's quite another to say, "I've visited your place of worship (temple, center, mosque), can we talk?"
It's one thing to read the statistics about the number of adherents in a world religion, it's quite another to engage them personally.
It's one thing to read about idolatry in the Bible (like Isa. 44: 9-20 or Psalm 115:1-8), it's quite another to see it up close in person.
It's one thing to visit a religious establishment while on an overseas short-term missions trip, it's quite another to be able to drive to one. No plane fare necessary! No U.S. passport necessary! No inoculation shots necessary!
It's one thing to hear about the number of unreached people groups "over there" (41% of the 16,000 nations), it's quite another to meet them here.
It's one thing to know they are lost in their darkness, it's quite another to walk into their lives as light.

Are you in?

Little Nuggets to Ponder

2010-10-11T15:37:00.002-04:00

I have recently been hearing these thought provoking little sayings or bits of knowledge that I have written down to consider. Let me share them with you and then you can think about them, too.

Regarding LOVE:

Action changes our thinking.

Motion results in emotion.

I found this to be an interesting bit of truth. We say that love is an action not an emotion. So if we do not have a love in our heart for someone than what do we do to change that? Do we just keep on "not loving" them? Or do we do something to change our thinking? I was challenged to action – to begin to say loving and kind things and do loving, selfless acts for someone that I do not love. If I do, I think that it may begin to change my thinking toward them. By doing this – it takes my eyes off of myself and forces me to look at others and see intentional ways to love or be loving toward them. When I do – I have to begin thinking about them and just by the act of thinking about them it will change how I think.

The second phrase above makes me realize that by the simple phrase "not loving someone" – I am trying to make hate sound less bad. If there is an absence of love then the options are limited as to what fills that void. If I just don't care – is that acceptable in the eyes of God? If I don't care, do I hate? I feel like - If I am not willing to love someone then I am disobedient to God. If I am not willing to love someone than that void must be filled with some feeling – it really can't just be apathy, can it?

Motion – moving in a direction away from something and toward something else. There has to be a goal. There has to be something that we move toward. LOVE – not the emotion – but the manner of life. Choosing to move in the direction of love says that I am going to act out lovingly toward those around me – regardless of the emotion involved and the feelings.

What did Jesus say?

Luke 6:27-36

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, {28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. {29} If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. {30} Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. {31} Do to others as you would have them do to you. {32} "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. {33} And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. {34} And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. {35} But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. {36} Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Matthew 5:44

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Action?

Pray for them – ask God to give you a love for those you do not love.

Be kind to them – look for ways.

Treat them how you would treat those that you easily love.

Do it with no expectation in return except to see your thinking changed and your emotions replaced with the "motion of love". Eventually the emotional connection will follow.

6 Benefits of Sunday School for Big People

2010-10-07T09:12:00.001-04:00

In July of this year, while I was on vacation, one of our elders taught the morning message regarding "Why ABF's?" First of all what is an ABF? ABF is an acronym that stands for Adult Bible Fellowship – which in its simplest terms is Sunday School for Big People. As Rich Smith shared his heart about the way to connect with people he made it clear that there are many ways for us to do this but one of the most convenient ones for families is the Sunday morning Adult Bible Fellowship classes. Some of our other small group possibilities are: XII:X groups (based on Romans 12:10 – be devoted to one another), G-force ( a men's discipleship group that meets every Thursday morning at the church), Golden Gracers ( a Wednesday morning group of people age 50 or more) and ministry groups that serve together in our church.

As I listened to this message I was struck by the clear benefits of why you should be a part of this opportunity. Here are those six benefits:

They provide a critical structure for teaching God's Word in a deeper manner. The teaching that we get on Sunday from 10:30 to noon is not sufficient to promote our spiritual growth. We need the interactive environment of learning together.
They can gear a Bible teaching to a specific group. In this smaller group setting of similar stage of life, gender, like interests, etc. you can be more specific in the teaching and practical application for that group.
They help train new leaders in our church. Rich shared that he had served in many ways in our church but was scared when asked to teach an ABF. When he did it caused him to grow even more spiritually since he had to study deeper in order to accurately teach.
This is the "Next Step" in connecting to people. In this smaller group environment we have a chance to know people more intimately than we can in a worship service setting and to learn more about the Word of God because it is a safer environment to open up and ask questions.
It is convenient – you are already committed to be out for the morning to come to church and you only have to come one hour early. We are all busy – work, school and extra-curricular things. But this is a way to grow deeper in a setting that you are already committed to planning into your schedule. Additionally, while you are learning, so are your children (if you have them) and this is critical in today's world. Our kids need to learn the Bible safely and accurately from teachers we love and trust.
They give us opportunity to care for each other like we should. You get to know people and spend time with them and understand their needs then take the time to care for them. Write a note, give them a call, make a meal when they are in need, visit them in the hospital or at home. It is easier to volunteer to meet the needs of people that you know.

This was a great message and it gave us several ways for us to get involved in an ABF and make them successful. Would you consider making that extra step of commitment this week to join an ABF? If you have missed that Sunday or forgot what Rich taught – can I encourage you to go to our website and listen to it again? www.ogbc.net or http://www.sermon.net/rss/ogbc (the date was 7.25.2010)

Count Your Blessings…

2010-09-29T10:33:00.001-04:00

I read through my journal this morning. This one that I am on goes back to October 2009. It documents some of my thoughts about a decision that our church leadership team made that deeply wounded our church family. (a bad call that we are still recovering from) It has a series of prayers written out to God that reminded me of how our confidence should come from God and not from our own strength or skill. ( an AH HA moment for our leaders as we recognized how God had worked) As I read through all of my thoughts during that time and even some of my prayers and thoughts early this year and throughout the summer – I was reminded how inadequate I am but how blessed I am. (But I have learned to trust Him more and more)

I have so much to be thankful for – my inadequacies are not of chief concern! I have been blessed with a great family that loves each other. I have been blessed with extended family that is generous and kind and loving and we enjoy getting together! I have been blessed with countless friends and church family that constantly lift me up in prayer and seek to encourage me and my family.

I have been blessed with health (more or less) throughout my family. I have seen God provide our physical needs at just the right time in amazing ways. Of course I am inadequate! We all are! God designs us to be dependent upon Him and if we never recognize our faults, shortcomings or needs than we will never be humble enough to understand how to depend upon Him. I am learning continually about how truly blessed I am to be allowed to speak to the God of the universe and to realize that He enjoys my humble ramblings to Him.

I am blessed to be included as His child and there is never a better place to be.

Loosen Up

2010-02-13T08:05:00.001-05:00

This short little four part series help us see the need to a broken heart before God. Step one towards "If It Ain't Broken Than Fix It" was the willingness to destroy our self-will. Step two was to stop being self-reliant, self-confidant and independent. This last step is one that only God can perform for us but we have to be willing to ask.

Scripture is full of illustrations about seed planting. Even Jesus used the illustration of the planting of the seed of the gospel and how it would respond based on the place it landed when sown. In fact, that is a critical part of reaping what you sow…paying attention to the soil in which something is planted. More so, we need to pay attention to the condition of the soil in which something is planted! The principle of reaping what you sow is nothing new:

Galatians 6:7-9 tells us "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. {8} The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. {9} Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

According to this verse – what we sow is exactly what we will reap. Seed choice is critical when it comes to wanting to reap a great harvest of good fruit! We have to sow the proper seeds. Hosea prophesied to Israel about something similar:

In Hosea 10:12-13 we see this principle: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. {13} But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,"

When you want a good harvest that represents Godly traits and character – you must sow into your life seeds that will produce that as a harvest. Careful seed choice is important. But I want to tell you something equally as important – sow into soil that is prepared to receive what is sown! You can see this instruction by Hosea when he says "break up your unplowed ground".

Isn't it true that if the ground or soil is hard then the seed will fall there and never sprout roots that dig deep and grow. The seed will fail. Principle Three for "If It Ain't Broken Than Fix It" is to ask God to till up the soil of your heart. We need to ask God to give us an attitude (the softened soil of our heart) that will welcome the seed truths of righteousness, holiness, love, grace, mercy, truth and other Godly character traits that produce the right kinds of fruit. It is my pray and commitment to ask God to continually plow through my heart and break up the clods of hardened earth that are there. I want Him to remove the pockets of pride, self-will and self- confidence that exist and break through so that when new and fresh seed from the Word of God is planted in my heart it takes root, grows and produces fruit in my life that will honor God.

If It Ain't Broken – then Fix It. Get broken before God and live broken before God.

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Use God as a Crutch

2010-02-10T10:39:00.003-05:00

This short little four part series helps us see the need to a broken heart before God. Step one towards "If It Ain't Broken Than Fix It" was the willingness to destroy our self-will. Deciding that I will obey God over my own will – every time without question is a step toward becoming broken before God. Step two is even worse!

We live in this world of self-help and self-confidence books, seminars, conferences and motivational speakers. We have been told since before Billy Joel came out with his 1978 hit single "My Life" that we do not need to rely on anyone or anything else. In fact, the chorus was:

I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright, I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home,

I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life, Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone.

Then it ends repeating a constant refrain:

Keep it to yourself, it's my life

Even the phrase "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" is an indication of a self made man who did it all without the help of anyone else and overcame his dire circumstances all on his own strength.

I met this principle a number of months back when I felt as though I could not make a decision for direction for Osceola Grace with any sort of confidence. It was then that 2 Corinthians 12:10 became very real to me.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

I was feeling weak and I felt like I was being attacked and criticized on every front (and often behind my back J). Life was difficult and discouraging. Then I read this verse and all of the surrounding passage. I began to realize that I relied much on my own intelligence, wisdom, leadership skills and self confidence.

As God stripped that away, he replaced it with something so much greater:

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 told me "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. {5} Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."

I shared with someone that I had no confidence in myself left and they patted my shoulder and said, "Don't worry, you'll get it back." Because of how God was working in me – I realized that I didn't want SELF-confidence back. What I needed and wanted was "GOD-confidence". This is all that is will work. That word "competent" means "sufficiency, security or adequacy".

Step Two: Stop being self-reliant, self-confidant and independent.

Ask God to remove, demolish and dismantle your self-confidence. That is scary but it is SO freeing when you realize that it will make you weak. It will make you vulnerable. It will make you question every "next step". BUT… it will cause you to rely on the only One that can sustain you, the only One who can give you strength, the only One that supplies the competence and security that never fails!

Replace your worthless SELF-confidence with the only worthy "confidence" that comes through total reliance on the grace and sufficiency of God Almighty! What better "crutch" to support and sustain us than the one who holds it all together anyway!

Break the Unbreakable

2010-02-09T14:08:00.002-05:00

Part two this short little four part series help us see our individual need for broken heart before God. Part One was the ntroduction "If It Ain't Broken Than Fix It". Follow along as we look at three steps toward brokenness before God.

Psalms 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

I recently watched a documentary on the wild horses on the plains of the west that are being rounded up and placed in pens because there are so many growing herds of wild horses that there is not enough vegetation to sustain them. Sad as that is, it was even worse to see where they were kept. Wild horses kept in small pens where they ran in circles desiring to be free to roam wherever they pleased. It made me remember the stories I have seen of the breaking of wild stallions into manageable horses that can be ridden. It takes time to properly break a horse's free will to trust the rider. There are two ways it can be done – the cowboy can forcefully break the will of the horse or the cowboy can spend time caring, caressing, coercing and patiently building trust between horse and rider.

In the former, the horse fears the rider and punishment for not conforming. In the latter, the horse builds positive feelings of trust and security to be taught and trained by the one whom he has grown to trust.

In that same way – so often we see God as this eternal being that desires to break our spirit and will to forcibly, through fear, bring us to obedience. However, I want to submit that when we see God in this way, we begin to behave as though our actions are the primary means of pleasing God. NOT SO! God is more interested in our heart, will and devotion to Him rather than the outward actions. Oh wait, though – don't misunderstand: the outward actions come but they come as a result of proper motives – from a heart that is in a right place of security and trust in the hands of an Almighty God.

As Psalm 51 indicates – the real pleasure for God comes in a broken spirit and heart. Not one that He has to break but one that is presented to Him willingly broken. Step ONE of fixing something that is not broken: Destroy your self will.

Stop saying "I can't" or "I won't". Take Isaiah's approach in Isaiah 6:8 after he saw God and knew that he was ruined as a result of seeing the holy God. When the seraphim touched his lips with a coal and made him clean God spoke to him… "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Look at Isaiah's response:

No stubbornness

No self-will

No anger or frustration.

Simple submission to what God wanted. Immediate obedience regardless of what he wanted.

What have you read or heard from the Word of God recently? Did you let it change you? Did you obey it without question?

What has the spirit been prompting you to do lately? Have you submitted? Have you responded with obedience regardless of your will?

We can destroy our own will as we choose to immediately obey the will of God as we see it and as the Spirit prompts us. Ask God to help pulverize and demolish your own will and replace it with obedience to His will!

If It Ain’t Broken then Fix It

2010-02-08T09:31:00.001-05:00

Isaiah 66:2 says "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

In the last few months, I have come to realize that I am not "all that". I am not really sure that I ever thought that I was "all that" in a conscious sort of way but I have learned through a series of circumstances and spiritual growth opportunities that God has a special place in His heart for those who willingly choose humility before Him. As I have read and searched the Word of God, I find more and more verses that indicate that God does not have any desire for the "self confident" believer. What He desires and whom He chooses to use are those that humbly come to Him recognizing their worth and value come only through God and not through any of their own accomplishments.

What is so cool is that suddenly this takes the pressure off! I now realize that, while I am valued as a creature in the image of God, my good traits and my bad traits are not what make me! My mistakes do not ruin my and my "spectacular" (and rare) good choices do not make me!

The word "esteem" above in Isaiah means "to look intently upon" or "to regard with pleasure". WOW! God will intently look upon some men. God regards some men with pleasure!

Who? What does it take to get God's attention? Not great exploits. Not engaging and practical sermons. Not exceptional leadership skills. Not great parenting skills. Not generous giving practices. Nor is it my horrible sin. Or my despicable past. Or my shamefulness in ongoing wrong choices. Or my constant doubt or faithlessness.

What gets God's attention and brings great pleasure to Him are the character traits of a contrite heart and humble spirit. Contrite – "broken, crushed, pulverized". Humble – "to be poor, needy".

God receives amazing pleasure when He sees a willingly broken person. A person that He can "reshape and mold" as He desires in order to create something that He alone will use for His glory alone.

You know how some people say "if it ain't broke then don't fix it" – Well, I firmly believe that a greater principle is at work here in admitting that if I am not broken then I need to fix it before God chooses to through His power.

God looks upon those who are broken and humbled before Him with great pleasure! What does that look like? There are three things that I want to share with you this week that characterize a broken believer. Stay tuned and ask God to begin breaking through to you.

Help for Haiti

2010-01-19T13:20:00.004-05:00

I have had many people ask about how we can help those in Haiti right now...
There several things that we can do -
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First, pray - I know many of you already are but we certainly cannot under estimate the power of simply pleading with God on behalf of the people of Haiti and the rescue and relief workers. God loves to hear our hearts and when we feel the most helpless in OUR ability to DO SOMETHING - that is when we are in a right place to realize that God is acting as we ask.
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Second, I would love to send a team to Haiti very soon - I contacted Samaritan's Purse - a relief organization led by Franklin Graham - and I am waiting to hear back. Right now the biggest needs are oriented around food, water and medical personnel. Soon they will be organizing and scheduling teams to clear and rebuild. I hope to be able to send a team and be a part of this effort.
How can you be a part of this?

Give through OGBC mark the line on your envelope "Haiti" and help with expenses.
From the Samaritan's Purse Website:
Anyone interested in volunteering when we start our rebuilding work can submit their information by clicking the button to the right and filling out the form. We will send out an e-mail when we are ready to accept applications. In the meantime, prospective volunteers can make sure their passport and shot records are up to date.

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Third, let me know if you want to go. I have no idea of the cost at this time but i know that we will have to foot the bill ourselves - I hope that as a church we will be able to get 10 -12 people to go and that the rest of our church family will pray and financially support us as we do this.
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Last, you can give money now to help with the supply needs - Click here to give through Samaritan's Purse
One more thing - Our Student Ministry, Driven, financially supports a 15 yr old orphan from Haiti through Compassion INternational and so please begin praying specifically for Edzer. We have supported him for a number of years and hear regularly from him and how he is growing. We do not know if he is safe or not after all of this - please pray for God to watch over him and for how we can help.

Signing on the Dotted Line

2009-12-29T14:11:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, we began a series called "Six Steps to a New Me". Ephesians 4 explains that we should stop living like the unsaved and begin looking like and acting like Christ. In fact, we are called to be the ambassadors of Christ and thus we represent Him here on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. What comes next is truly amazing – Paul explains that since we are supposed to live in the "new self" and live righteously and holy then here are some things we can do to show it.

Step 1: Watch My Mouth – Ephesians 4:25, 29 5:4 and 19,20

What we say is a reflection of what is in our hearts (Luke 6:45) and thus if Christ is in our hearts then we should say things that reflect His character. These verses tell us what NOT to say and then what TO say! Check it out.

Also, Psalm 141:3 says "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord and keep watch over the doors of my lips"

How are you doing?

Are you speaking words that HONOR others?

Are you saying words that are HEALING?

Are you using words in ways that HELP?

Ephesians 4:29 commands us to do just that.

Step 2: Clean my Heart – Ephesians 4:26,27; 4:30-32 and 5:18

To make sure that my mouth is behaving properly – I have to clean out my heart. "Of what?" You ask… Of anger – because by harboring anger we give permission to the devil to derail our lives. Verses 30-32 explain that anger brings bitterness and rage that eventually pour out in slanderous words, physical fights and acts that are intended to hurt others. Instead… INSTEAD…

forgive.

Let it go and forgive – clean it out. Move on. Never bring it back up. Look forward to the future. Renew relationships. Be compassionate to each other.

Live filled with the Spirit.

Stop burying things and then stacking other things on top of them… You cannot let time heal something you have not forgiven. Time does not heal it only build up scar tissue or a big huge scab – then something happens and RIPS it wide open again. Forgiveness allows us to move on and become family again.

THIS is the step to cleaning out our hearts – THEN, we fill it with the Holy Spirit and listen to His voice. Joy comes through forgiveness.

Proverbs 4:23-24 says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. {24} Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

It is a battle BUT the Spirit in us gives us strength and the encouragement of others in our family gives us hope.

65 people signed a paper on Sunday to commit to working on these steps – (and 4 more to follow) – they also signed to say they are willing to be accountable to others who have signed the same page. It's a start.

Christmas "Sunday" Morning Excitement

2009-12-20T07:36:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite Sundays of the year is the Sunday before Christmas! It always seems like there is a buzz of excitement, an extra portion of good cheer and special greeting and hugs. It seems like there are kids that are REALLY over the top excited about the next week! Christmass break for the school age kids has begun. Everyone is asking "What are you doing over Christmas?" and the service is usually just right!
I am grateful for a church full of love, mercy, grace and compassion. It seems this way almost always and yet right now even moreso.
Yesterday, good friends of ours, Dave and Sue Knight, and my wife and I were able to get together and sort out all of the "Have a Heart" food items for the six families (five from Osceola Grace and one we are connecting with through Awana) for which we collected food and gifts for the holidays. We had a ball and this morning and one night this week we all get to deliver these special gifts thanks to the generosity of MY church family.
I love my church family - I really do. Even when we behave just like family and have squabbles. It is always good to know that forgiveness is there. A quick smile or hug to heal the wounds that we cause each other. A special note or card.
God has placed us together in this body to work side by side to expand His kingdom for His glory. There is no other place I would rather be!
Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Tree “Hunting”

2009-12-17T11:50:00.003-05:00

I think it is funny, or weird, or at least - there must be a better explanation for it than I know - BUT... isn't it funny that we spend money to go out in the cold and snow to find the perfect looking Christmas Tree and then - instead of admiring it - we KILL it and bring it home. We even go to a "Tree Haven" to hunt and kill. Does that even seem fair?

I know, it isn't like we are hunting for food - we aren't going to eat it or freeze it for later. We are going to bring it home, put it in our house in a pot of water for four or five weeks, decorate it with lights and meaningful ornaments and admire it! We are going to place Christmas presents under it and all around it. But did the tree really have a chance?

But all for what? To throw it out a week or two after Christmas. However, we have a blast with the experience! As pointless as I make it seem, for our family - it is an experience.
We pose in front of the "perfect tree". We take turns cutting the tree trunk!

We enjoy the "hunt" – we even posed with Santa!When it is all said and done – why? Because as a family, we get to make memories and write a new chapter in the story of our lives. And that, my friends, makes our lives more complete!

What do you do to make the holidays special or happily memorable?

Christmas Sacrifices

2009-12-16T14:35:00.001-05:00

It is so cool to be able to see the way our church body comes alive when called to help those that are less fortunate this time of the year. Just two weeks ago we started a quick drive to Christmas by putting together a Christmas tree with hearts on it that had various needs of six different families. God has made these needs apparent and it was exciting to see the hearts leave the tree that first Sunday! We have seen people sign up to bring in food for those families, too!

James says "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. {16} 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? {17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. {18} 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."

Sometimes, you have to give up some of what you have in mind for yourself to meet the needs of others – Jesus taught it. Jesus modeled it. Jesus challenges us to do it. The real question is… are you sacrificing to meet the needs or simply doing it from out of your abundance?

Christ sacrificed.

Christ walked away from the privilege of heaven.

Christ set aside His rights.

Am I like Christ? Or do I hang on to what I deserve or have earned for myself through hard work?

We are instructed to think, live and respond in a manner that is different than the world. DO WE? Do YOU?

Do you forgive like God has?

Do you love like God does?

Do you think with the mind of Christ? Are you sure? Have you examined yourself lately in light of the Word of God?

I love seeing my church family behave like a Christ – but is it only for a season? Is it a lifestyle? Are we LIVING the part every day?

I think we are striving to live the part – From what I see and hear, people are letting the Word of God change them – I know it's changing me. I think there is a new and fresh feeling around Osceola Grace. Let's connect to the body and to the Head. Let's BE Christ all year long!

Anticipating Christmas

2009-12-14T17:03:00.002-05:00

I have loved Christmas since I was a little kid – even if my Christmases were not filled with all kinds of toys – I still loved all that came with it! I remember one year – I don't know how old I was exactly – around 7 – 9 years old… and I was sick, soooo sick and missed a lot of school leading up to Christmas. It seems like no one was home but me – I am not sure how that worked since I was so young but I remember waking up in the early evening to a darkened house and hearing sleigh bells!

I was sure that it was Santa and then as I thought about it I knew it was too early for Santa by at least a week. So what was it? I raced around the house, sure that I was going to see a sleigh settle in our yard from above – or something special anyway! I looked out the back window and yet the sound seemed fainter there so I ran out into the living room and looked out our picture window up into the sky so sure that I was going to see Santa and his sleigh coming to OUR house – WAY EARLY!

Suddenly there were voices! What? Where? I slowly turned and realized that the stereo was left on and a Christmas song was playing on the radio. WOW – he wasn't early and I wasn't completely crazy. But I still have that same anticipation for Christmas morning. I look so forward to the joy on everyone's faces and the fun we have as a family. This is a cool season and the greatest part is the anticipation for me that it is really ALL about Jesus. Not me – not my gifts – but about the gift that God gave to us in His only Son.
I anticipate seeing God do great things this holiday season and look forward to a wonderfully blessed 2010!

What Were We Thinking?

2009-11-19T16:29:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah 10:3-5 says,

"…For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. {4} They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. {5} Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

Are we not just like these pagan idol worshippers sometimes? It seems like we work so hard to create something that we think has such incredible value and then we let it run our lives. What is that? Why do we do that? We create a business that becomes something that occupies all of our time and energy and mental power. We create a program that requires everything we have to maintain it and we are consumed by the program needs. We work hard, save money, buy something really nice like a condo, timeshare, massive vacation, a boat, a lake cottage or a camper! Then we spend all of our time and energy planning around how to make the best use of IT! Certainly, we do not worship those things. Certainly, we do not let them power over us. Certainly, we don't spend everything that we have to maintain, preserve or improve our "idol" so that it will not topple over. And yet – often there is something that seems to draw us in like that.

What is it for you?

Jeremiah 10:6-7 says there is only One who is worthy of that type of worship. Only One who we can honor or revere that actually deserves it!

"No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. {7} Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you."

There is no one like our God. There is no THING like our God! I am ascribing honor and glory to the only one worthy of worship – The Lord God Almighty is His name (vs 16)!

I Will Praise You …

2009-11-03T14:45:00.001-05:00

There are so many days that I get up and begin my day with a time of reading the Bible and praying. It is a habit and yet it is sometimes so "routine" that I forget what I am doing and why. I read through a few passages and make a few notes and sometimes write in my journal – those are some of the most meaningful times because I have to intentionally think about what I am writing – and then I pray…God thanks for …Help me with…Help so and so… Bless the missionaries… I know, it is not always that routine or mundane and it is normally very specific rather than vague generalities but some days it sounds so repetitive and, yes, selfish.

Psalm 138 – whoa… no attention on me here! In fact – the focus is all on praising God! how? "with all my heart". I realize that there are so many times that I do not praise Him enough but even when I do – I am not doing it with ALL my heart (usually) because of the other distractions that go on. This Psalm teaches me to focus my attention on praising Him and being a testimony before others about Him.

Bowing down – is my heart submitted to my heart's Creator?

Do I exalt the name and word of God above all other things?

God deserves our praise and worship. God does not NEED it but He is the only one WORTHY of it. When we praise Him, when we submit to Him, when we acknowledge Him before all men, when we call out to Him because we know that He is all we need and He is the only supplier of that which we need…then we find ourselves being under His care, protection, His salvation.

Verse 8 – "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever, do not abandon the works of your hands."

I will praise you because that is all I really can do.

Not Too Creative

2009-08-30T18:15:00.002-04:00

So, I'm not that great at titles for blogs so forget the title and just read...
Ryan is doing well physically. He was able to play on Friday which was a big concern for him. He had a blast, helped convert a 3rd and long into a first down at a critical time of the game, he helped his team win the game against John Glenn.
We took Tim back to Malone yesterday - what a great trip. 5 hours of singing worship songs together with Cari and Tim was great. We left him after a few short hours there and drove the five hours home. I miss him this time. Last year, we were not the best of friends but this summer he grew so much spiritually that I truly believe he is seeking God's best for his life now. It's still a battle for him just as it is for me and I admire him for sticking with it.
I saw Clint at church today - it is strange to see him and not spend so much time together. He and his lovely wife are making their lives together and I am proud of the man that he has become. Still, i pray for him daily because I know how hard it can be.
Friday, Tim and I called Pulse FM at the same time trying to win tickets to ND Women's Volleyball (4 tickets)...trying to be caller #6 or #7. I got answered as #6 and he got in as #7 - technically we both won but they only gave it to won of us since we are related. Anyway, we took our volleyball player, Jenna, today after church to see them. Not so exciting but it was actually cool to find that we won SEASON TICKETS not just for the one game. I guess we'll be back!
I love my wife - she is the greatest person in my life and my support when I am down.
So that is it - I love my family - God is good.
I know I have shared a lot of the struggles of my family lately - thank you for praying. I know we are not out of the woods with Ryan yet but things have been looking good and your prayers are cherished - keep up the battle!

Surprise Surprise

2009-08-27T16:35:00.003-04:00

So I went for another round of blood work this morning with Ryan. We waited for the least amount of time so far - maybe 15 minutes - to get the results. The nurse opens the door and says come on back. Then right in the door way she says - "It's 32,000 - sorry..." On Monday his platelet count was 31,000 so we were hoping it was going to double or come close at least. He has been on steriods for 8 days and we anticipated a huge jump but it did not happen.
She offered to let us stay and talk to the doc but we all know that he set the bar at 100,000 for playing football and for getting off the drugs so what can he tell us that will help?
He comes in and looks at the numbers and smiles and say "Very good, very good" (in his chinese accent :) - i have not yet found out where he is from in China...my goal for next weeek). I was wondering why that was very good...it did not seem like we were getting anywhere.
"So Doc, is there another test that should be done to see if there is something more going on here?" He tells me that there is nothing else to really do except wait - they will go up in the coming weeks. Next question: "Should we change his diet or give him supplements? Maybe a tranfusion to get him more platelets?"
Again - he tells me that the platelets are good andthen he goes into this long explanation that he had to do two times for me to get but it was about how the platelets are winning and the antibodies are dying at a faster rate then the platelets so we are on the right track. And " oh...just come back once next week for tests and you can play tomorrow night. ok?"
What?
Play football? "But I thought you said 100,000 or at least 65,000?"
The answer, "No, He can play...you are stable now. 30,000 is very healthy but we need to monitor you weekly over the next couple of months til they get to 100,000 then we back down the steriods. you can play"
Needless to say - I am puzzled but Ryan is elated - along with Tim, who gets to see his brother play before he heads to Ohio for the first semester of his sophomore year at Malone Univ.
God is crazy...and great... and mighty...He turns hearts (and medical decisions and conditions) as He wishes and we are just asked to obey Him, love Him and praise Him.
So, I do.
I love you God. I will praise you wherever I go. I wil strive to obey your precepts so that I can honor you more each day. Thanks. thanks. You are so good.

Longer Ordeal Than We Want

2009-08-20T21:26:00.001-04:00

Ryan's platelets are STILL at 14,000...He is starting a daily steroid treatment today and will maintain this until the levels are up to an acceptable measure. The doctor decided to skip the bone marrow test because everything else in his blood work is perfect and the blood smear looks normal and clear (except for lack of platelets). This is the best news so far. Everything that we have learned about this disorder shows that it takes a while to recover from but if it is an "acute" form of ITP then 90% of the people recover completely within 6 months. The steroids should be able to cause the platelets to increase quicker and stronger so that they will be up to acceptable levels before real long (I still don't know what time frame to put on that.

Next up: More blood work (a full panel) on Monday and Thursday of next week.

Side Note: He cannot play football until his platelets are up to 75,000 to 100,000.

Ryan is learning what it means to try to maintain a positive attitude and trust God to accomplish His plans even when they are not in line with his plans! It is hard but he is trying. Pray that he grows through all of this.

God is Overall

2009-08-18T12:52:00.001-04:00

Last week began a challenge to our depth of trust and faith in the God whom we serve….My wife posted this note on her Facebook account last week (August 11)

"I took Ryan to the doctor today to check out a huge bruise on his arm from a football injury. The doctor ordered an x-ray and some routine blood work. The arm is not broken, so we were sent on our way.

I left the Elkhart Clinic, drove to Twin Branch to meet friends for ice cream and my phone rang. The nurse insisted that we return to the clinic right away for a repeat of the blood work - Ryan's platelet count is way to low. So we grabbed our ice cream, I left Jenna with the other family, and we headed straight back to the lab. When we arrived at the lab, the receptionist told me that the nurse left specific instructions to NOT leave the clinic, but to head directly to the doctor's office to wait for results. (She said, "We are running this again, STAT.") That didn't sound good.

We waited about 20 min., and the doctor called us back to an exam room to inform us that Ryan's platelets ARE too low, the doctor had already called the hematologist/oncologist next door to see Ryan NOW. (Normal range is 130,000 to 300,000 and Ryan's count was 10,000.)

SO- by this time I'm getting freaked out. Ryan texted Greg to let him know what's going on, Greg immediately came to the clinic. We met with the specialist, he questioned us about cancer in the family, bruises, fevers, rashes, tiredness, etc.....nothing is really going on with Ryan that gave the doctor any huge red flags. He really has no other symptoms.

Right now Ryan is being treated for ITP- it's a big long medical word that means "low platelet count." He is on steroids to try to bring the count up. He will have blood work on Thursday and Monday, and see the doctor next Wednesday to see if there is any sign of improvement. If there is not, Ryan must undergo a bone marrow test. That's not good. Typically, people with ITP get the steroids and they are fine the rest of their lives.

Ryan is temporarily benched from football. VERY upset kid. He feels fine. This is his third season of missing the opening games due to illnesses. But if he plays and gets hurt, he could bleed to death or if he has a head injury it could be life-threatening.

So, please pray. We are already so thankful that Ryan hasn't been hurt seriously on the field! We could've found out about this in the middle of a game, and the end result would be devastating. We are putting our trust in the God we serve."

Then on Thursday, August 13:

Cari wrote: "Lab work results: Ryan's platelets are up to 28,000. That's progress! Thanks for all the encouraging words and especially your prayers."

Then back to the doctor on Monday, August 17 (two times):

Part ONE:

Cari wrote: "More blood work this morning: Ryan's platelets have dropped from 28,000 to 14,000 and the doctor wants to see him this afternoon. Please pray."

Part TWO:

Cari wrote: "Waiting is so frustrating. We have spent much of today waiting. Waiting for blood to be drawn, waiting for the results for an hour to no avail, came home and waited for the nurse to call with those results, waited for an hour to see the doctor this afternoon. I guess that room just past the receptionist is named accurately: "Waiting Room" The sign on the door should read: "Welcome to our freezing cold waiting room." :)

Nothing new to report. We have to just WAIT and see if his platelets increase. Ryan has more bloodwork on Thursday morning. If there is no improvement, Ryan will have a bone marrow procedure in the office. We are praising God that all his other levels are normal. The doctor has not seen any pre-cancer cells in the blood smear under a microscope. That's all great news! We are going to wait on the Lord now.

Many thanks to all of you who are praying. We know we are surrounded by people who love us and who trust our God. Your thoughts, prayers, encouraging words and verses are greatly appreciated."

Thanks for praying – ask God to help us to be able to live out HIS purpose to HIS glory through all of this!

Crazy Love

2009-07-21T21:59:00.003-04:00

I am so excited about the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. In fact, it is the one book (other than the Bible) that I have referred with excitement to my church as recommended reading material. I love the simplicity with which Chan writes and yet the heartfelt challenges that he lays out there to help us reframe our thinking and attitude toward a magnificent and almighty God!
Jesus said that the greatest commandment for us to fulfill was "to love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul and mind." Am I even capable of that kind of love? i know that I am but only through my life with God at the helm.
Then...Jesus adds the cherry on top... "and the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself." Whoa...ok. I can strive to love God with all that I have but then what's left for my neighbor, whom I may not especially get along with or even know at all?
The only thing left is actually what God grants us - an outpouring of love from a heart that is filled with love toward God. I cannot do it alone or even in my own power or desire - because when left to myself - I would rahter love myself. So the only alternative is to love God and leave it all on the field and then - God returns to me what I need to love - truly love - those that are my community, my neighbor.
God, help me to love you like I never have before and in doing so to learn to love others as I love myself.

Steamboat Springs CO for Vacation

2009-07-15T16:22:00.004-04:00

What a vacation! We took three weeks at one time (at the direction of the Elder Board) and we able to just have a fun time relaxing and refreshing without a huge amount of pressure. We had received a gift of a timeshare package that we redeemed to go to Steamboat Springs CO (why? because we love Colorado and had not been there since college) so we spent seven nights and eight days at an amazing resort condo in the mountains. It was beautiful and so was the weather. The nice part was we planned the vacation so we had three to four days before we left to prepare for vacation and three or four days afterward to refresh instead of rushing back to work right away. That is the way to do it!

In Steamboat we:

Rode horses in the mountains
Rode Alpine Slides down a mountainside

Watched a Ski Jump competition (with no snow!) pretty cool
Watched a rodeo

Saw the most amazing fireworks display from three different mountaintops simultaneously!

Watched a couple of little league Triple Crown Series baseball games
Enjoyed the Strawberry Park Hot Springs – hot hot hot…
Relaxed by a pool and enjoyed a hot tub most every night
Grilled out and ate out!
And we stayed up late and slept in almost every day! What a blast!

Let’s Fight the Real Battle

2009-05-04T13:59:00.001-04:00

Why do we struggle and argue and have conflict in the church body? How about… because we are focusing our energy in the wrong place. We argue with each other, we get frustrated when things are not how we like them, we don't participate in worshipping God because something may not be how we want it. The ironic thing is that the real battle is elsewhere – in the unseen world; behind the scenes; spirit driven; angels and demons fighting around us, demonic forces that are planting ideas and stirring up bad feelings or memories and even driving wedges of distrust among believers. The battle is not between you and me – it is with the minions of Satan who want to distract and discourage in a way that prevents us from our earthly mission.

Ephesians 6:12

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

So, what is my earthly mission – first and foremost - that I would live a life of love toward God , my Father, each and every day and strive to do His will to honor Him. Second – to spread that love through loving people enough to tell them about my God. He has changed my life. He has given me hope. He has given me a future and a family of believers that love me and support me. This is why we live - to share that with others and help plant the seeds of hope and life in their lives.

Look how Paul challenged those believers in Ephesus….Ephesians 6:18-20

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. {19} Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, {20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Do I pray enough? Do I pray for the right things? Am I boldly and confidently telling others what God has done in my life? Paul asked for some to pray that he would share fearlessly – meaning, he had fear and wanted to overcome it. I never think of Paul experiencing fear – fear is a tool of Satan that causes us to doubt. Paul had it and wanted to overcome it and knew that PRAYER was the solution. Do I pray enough? Do I pray for the right things? Do I pray always and in all ways and for all people and for those that are preaching, teaching and discipling others with the truth of the word of God? Do it – alone or together – just do it.

Every second Saturday of the month there are about 15-20 believers that get together to pray for the ministries of Osceola Grace – real people praying for real needs expecting a real God to give real hope. That is real life – come on out to Osceola Grace this Saturday at 8 AM. Real battle takes place on our knees!

Be a True Fan of Jesus

2009-04-28T11:36:00.001-04:00

I have been reading a book by Seth Godin called "Tribes" and have found it to be very insightful about what a church leader should look for. There is one place (p33) where he says,

"Too many organizations care about numbers, not fans. They care about hits or turnstile clicks or media mentions. What they are missing is the depth of commitment and interconnection that true fans deliver. Instead of always being on the hunt for one more set of eyeballs, true leaders have figured out that the real win is in turning a casual fan into a true one.

Fans, true fans, are hard to find and precious. Just a few can change everything."

So if we change the word fan to "committed disciples of Jesus Christ" then suddenly it gives you a real vision for true church growth and impact. My focus, my passion, my drive in the last five years has been developing around this very idea and yet Mr Godin (not even follower of Christ as far as I know) has nailed it in just two paragraphs.

Oh what kind of "tribe" we could have if there we had 300 people that were so sold out to God that their passion was to do exactly what Jesus said, "Love God with all your heart soul and mind and then love people." If we truly love God we will truly love people and if 300 of us were wholeheartedly committed to it then 300 of us would share it and 300 of us we disciple 300 others and we would soon have 600 true fans of Jesus. And so on, and so on, and so on.

But we are not there yet. So how many true fans of Jesus do we have at Osceola Grace? How many are commending to others what they cherish most in God? Do you believe in the "product" you are pushing? Do you believe it enough to live it out boldly?

The Fear Factor

2009-04-23T10:40:00.001-04:00

I read this today and was awakened to a truth in my life.

I have fear. Fear of what people think of me. Fear of not having friends. Fear of bad things happening. Fear of people not approving of my decisions. Fear of people that do not believe like I believe. Fear of making people mad. Fear of not having enough money to pay the bills. Fear of doing this leadership thing wrong. Fear of teaching something wrong to 275 people. Fear of not accomplishing the purpose for which I am here.

Yet, I do not seem to grasp in my heart of hearts that these fears are all trivial. I read this Psalm and begin to see that my greatest fear needs to be a fear of God. When I act out of my fear of a great and fearsome God – all of the other fears seem to pale. What can man do to me that could be worse than what God could bring upon me?

By the way – I love verses 7 and 8. Security – that is the bottom line.

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,

who conducts his affairs with justice.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;

a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;

his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;

in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,

he will gnash his teeth and waste away;

the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

The Laundry Man

2009-04-17T12:46:00.001-04:00

It's Friday and sometimes (only sometimes) I try to do a little laundry on my day off. My wife does it best and I try to help out with out messing it up or ruining some item of clothing. I'll admit - I am not good at it. You would think that it is a simple thing – just time consuming – but nevertheless I seem to mess something up every time I try to help.

I forget to pre-treat something

I forget to put the "delicates" in a bag that somehow has super powers to protect them?

I dry something too long (which may be happening right now as I stubbornly type while knowing I should go check)

I don't lay out the right things and I mix the wrong items together

I do it in the wrong order so that the towels are drying forever which holds up the rest of the process with everything else.

Anyway, one thing I notice is that even when things go right – over time – our clothes are not as brilliant or bright. The whites are a little dingier and the colors are a little more faded and my jeans look more and more like I should stop wearing the min public (although, I could make a case for them now being in style based on what I see out there).

Funny, huh? We try and try and try t get things clean and even though we get the dirt out we still have stains or spots. Our precious whites are not so white even though they have the appearance of clean. When laid next to new things, the contrast is obvious.

Sort of like trying to clean up my life – spiritually speaking – on my own. I can make things look good or "better" but never quite right. If I compare myself to other "dirty" things or people – I may look fine – just fine – but when I begin to lay my heart next to the Word of God as my standard… No comparison. The dirt seems to come alive and the cleanliness of the Word makes the contrast outstanding and obvious. So what do I do?

The beautiful solution? The blood of Jesus Christ. He died and shed His blood – red - in order to wash me clean of ALL my sins. Accept it – God's Word says that the blood of Jesus makes me whiter (WHITER) than snow. Wow…forgiveness of sins that cleans my heart as clean as it can ever get and makes it look new again – "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation". All my stains are gone – I don't get dingier and faded as I walk this walk of daily forgiveness. Instead, I can become as pure white through the red blood of Christ can make me. And friends that is getting rid of some dirty laundry.

Ahhh, Consequences

2009-04-14T09:09:00.001-04:00

I remember growing up, that I was often called upon to confess my wrong doing. Not in a church setting or in a spiritual setting - just in my "everyday kid life" – I was doing things I should not have done and thought I could get away with it. When I got caught, I was sorry. Well, sorry that I got caught, anyway. So I behaved sorry; I said "I'm sorry"; I even tried to make amends sometimes (when I was made to).

But did I really think about what my disobedience was costing me? Time away from friends – for sure. Missed events – that hurt. Sometimes penalties that cost me money – no fun. But I don't think that I usually allowed the enormity of my behavior to sink in regarding how it affected others.

You see, I thought that if "I" chose to do wrong (to sin) that it was "MY" decision and that IF "I" got caught then it was "ME" that had to pay the consequences. If I was willing to risk that to have a little "fun" then I would go for it. After all, it was only me anyway – not anyone else.

I don't know when I realized how wrong that self-centered concept was. MY sin, MY risks, MY behavior, MY disobedience – all MY choices because I can. But almost all of those choices had an effect on others, too. I broke my mom's heart the day I got caught egging a house and some cars. I hurt my sister when I called her horrible names because I was mad at her. I hurt a girlfriend by saying something about her that was unfair and did not need to be shared. I hurt a friend by spreading something he shared without thinking that he trusted me to keep it quiet. I hurt a teacher by spreading things that were not true about her. All in all, I was a little sneaky and wherever possible I would deny it or at least deny it was intentional. Deep down – I was selfish – I thought that my actions only affected me and I discovered (and cared) way too late in life that the consequences of my sin affected more people than just me. My sin caused deep hurts and when I realized that it made me think a little more before I made those bad choices.

There are other consequences that are far deeper, too. Sometimes we think that we can just walk away if we "confess" and "say we are sorry" without having to pay the price. However, sometimes – even when we are truly sorry and intend to repent and walk away from our sin and stop behaving that way – there are still consequences that cannot be avoided or averted. Things like an unexpected teen pregnancy, an arrest that leads to a permanent record, an injury that changes the course of a life, a death that rocks your world or even a friendship that is destroyed because trust was broken. Sometimes there is no going back.

Two things to remember – most consequences are deeper than you think and EVERY act of disobedience to God has consequences that affect more than JUST YOU. It is not all about you – it IS ALL about God! Sometimes the consequences help bring us back to reality and we are compelled to change our focus off of ourselves.

Worship – Not what it used to be

2009-03-17T13:40:00.002-04:00

I have been reading a lot on worship lately. This is not exactly what I was expecting. I seriously have never spent a great deal of time contemplating what true worship is or what true worship entails. But as I have studied some and read some other authors thoughts on the idea of true worship, I have come to question many things about my own spiritual life.
First, look up any references to "worship" or any combination of the word in the New Testament. You see the Magi search for and find the Christ child and immediately fall down and worship. You see Peter and the disciples watching Jesus walking on water and then Peter jumps up to join Him. Whoa! Watch that first step, dude, it is a doozey. They both climb back in the boat and then Jesus turns, addresses the storm and it all instantly stops. The disciples' response? They worshiped him – in fear! How about Mary and the others as they approach the empty tomb of Jesus and then encounter him in the garden? Fall down and worship at His feet. As people encountered Jesus, their response was worship.

I wondered…who brought the piano along or the organ? Where was the guitar? Did someone bring an amp along just in case there would be a chance to "worship"? How about that poor drummer boy carrying his set everywhere just in case?

Why do we call the singing portion of the service on Sunday – "worship" – what are we doing the rest of the time?

A bigger question…why do we call it a "Worship Service"? Is it our one time throughout the week that we have set aside to worship God? Oh, well…harrumph… I do my devotions each day, too, though.

Worship – a commitment in my heart to live and breathe and act every moment in such a way as to let God get glory from something I say, do or think.

60/60/24/7/52/36 – seconds in a minute/minutes in an hour/ hours in a day/ days in a week/weeks in a year/ probable years left in my life (Psalm 90:10)

How will I spend my next 36 years? How will I spend the next week? How will I use the next hour? How will I use the next minute or second?

When I encounter Jesus, God the Father or His Holy Spirit, which is permanently embedded within my being since I have believed on Christ, what response will I have? Worship? Or resistance? Will I bow, obey and glorify or stand tall and proud, disobey and rebel thus dishonoring the very God I pledged to serve.

Oh God…help me to bow my knee to you – even while I yet live.

What am I aiming for…

2009-01-29T16:09:00.002-05:00

Excellence

Is the result of caring more than others think is wise

Risking more than others think is safe

Dreaming more than others think is practical

And expecting more than others think is possible

Why…

2009-01-23T10:52:00.001-05:00

There are some things that are so hard to figure out. There are those things that are obvious. And then, there are those things that we'll never know until eternity – if we actually get to know then or not – I am not sure. But regardless of the theology behind that statement, some things happen with apparent randomness and they cause major frustration. (possibly the personal response and the handling of those events is the real answer to "why…")

Let's go back a bit.

In June 2008, Tim wanted a car. We found a car – 1990 Toyota Corolla with some hot tires and a cool stereo and a sound engine. Not to pretty but reliable.

Within a month – it had been broken into and the stereo was stolen. Broken dash plates and such with no insurance on this since it was such an old car. We get a window and replace it on our own: $35. Soon, someone traded Tim time and sweat for a stereo. A really nice one.

Then – the exhaust system gets a major hole ($135), the tie rods fall apart ($200) and the rear strut needs replaced ($100) al just to get Tim back to school in Ohio. The car remains parked because there is no gas money to run around now (reference above $$$) and so it is only used on Sunday to go to church and back.

Today – 8:00 AM – Tim calls and says the driver side window is smashed in and the stereo is gone (again). His question – "Why? I have been good. I didn't do anything." My answer… you know – the dad perfect and right answer that covers all the questions your child asks… you know, the "pastoral" answer that suddenly makes the situation perfectly clear in the plan of God…you know, the manly answer that allows the friend to find the resolve to continue since there really is a plan…

My answer… "I don't know, Tim. I just don't know."

I wish I did. I wish I could help. I wish I could fix it. I wish I could protect him from having to experience the lessons of life. I wish I could hug him right now.

He is frustrated, discouraged and five hours away. And he is my son.

Why?

Get Out…

2009-01-16T13:11:00.001-05:00

I wish I wasn't so mean.

Several years back, when the kids were little, we were driving along with all four of them in the van and having one of those moments that parents have. One of my sons (age 6 or so) was mad about something and would not listen to reason or advice. As the argument between a 30 year old dad and his 6 year old kid escalated – my son muttered, "I wish I wasn't even part of this family anymore." Well, after a couple more exchanges, he shouted it at me.

Wrong thing to do… I yanked the car over to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes at the same time. As we came to a skidding stop alongside the shoulder of the road, I reached back behind my wife's seat to the sliding door handle, yanked the handle and slammed the door back. There he sat at the open door looking from that to me with a questioning look.

"Fine, if you don't want to be part of this family then you don't have to. Get out. Go ahead. Get out right now! If you don't want to listen to me when I talk then we can end this right here. Get out of MY car and find a family that you DO want to be a part of," says the loving and caring father of a suddenly terrified six year old boy.

His face froze. He looked to the door, looked back at me and then at the door again. When he looked back at me the last time, he broke into tears and begged me not to make him get out.

You would think at that point that a loving father would melt. Oh no. Not me. I just continued to drill him and let him know that as long as he was part of this family (if he chose to stay) that he would listen, honor and obey me. "Do you understand?"

As he cried and nodded, I told him to close the door. So he stayed. I looked over to my wife as we pulled back on the road. She was looking straight ahead. I looked to the other kids in the car. Stone faces. No expressions. Hmmmm.

I wish I wasn't so mean.

To this day, we laugh about that – in fact, every once and a while one of the kids will say in their deepest scariest voice "GET OUT". It provokes outbursts of laughter now – but it wasn't so funny then. Eventually, I felt horrible.

I am so glad that I will never, ever hear the words "GET OUT" from my Father in heaven.

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

I am a pretty bad example of a loving father sometimes but God is the perfect Father that receives us back – even when we are bad – as long as we return to Him.

Return to Him today – He will never reject you. (and never make you get out of the van)

Give Up On Defensive Behavior

2008-12-05T08:35:00.001-05:00

I have always been such a people pleaser that it is sometimes hard for me to be "clear" when confronting someone or giving them news that I fear is going to hurt their feelings. I don't like to hurt people - whether I like them or not and whether they like me or not – I just try not to hurt feelings. Therefore, when I do have to do it I feel like I am going to have to "defend" or justify my choice, my statements or my decision depending on the situation. I have learned that many times – when I am not perfectly clear that I leave room for confusion about what I really said. So – now I find myself picking up the pieces, suffering the consequences and even having hurt people even more because of that lack of clarity.

I have discovered that I am not fair or just with people when I do that. I also have found that I am not leaving room for God to work, even when it is something that I have prayed about and feel is the right direction. (as an aside, I am learning through Proverbs that I need to seek the counsel of a variety of godly, wise men and then follow my heart from there) Anyway, Psalms 37:4-7 addresses this for me…

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. {5} Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: {6} He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. {7} Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways.."

When God says that He will cause my righteousness to shine and justify my cause – I realize that this is only under the conditions of the promise in verse 4 - but it gives me comfort. It helps me to see that when I feel that I AM being led by the Spirit and that I am seeking to please God with decision and choices that I have to make, that I no longer have to feel defensive about these things when asked or even feel like I have to go around and explain them to others. I do what I believe to be right in God's eyes and even though it may be hard and cost a lot – I still believe that God's Word teaches me that I will be defended by Him and be justified in the end by Him and that I should "wait patiently for Him" to act.

I always say, "The right thing to do is often the hard thing to do but in the end it will bring the most blessing from God." So, I want to give up on defensive behavior. Today!

God’s Provision – So Weird

2008-12-02T10:02:00.001-05:00

There are some things I don't think I will ever understand this side of heaven. How a planted seed knows when to burst open and grow. How a baby goes from "breathing" in fluid for nine months (especially in the last few weeks as the lungs finish developing) and then emerges from the womb and then immediately breathes and processes oxygen instead of fluid. How fire mesmerizes me and I can't stop playing in it. And then how God works to bring about His purposes, at the request of His children, and yet seemingly He is acting long before the original prayers but yet He wants us to ask and trust Him.

Recently, God worked in my life in a way that I thought strange – I had the sermons planned and I even was ahead of the game a little and felt like I was on top of things and then… then I was reading in His Word and there were a bunch of seemingly unrelated news items, personal stories and movement in my heart. So – a few weeks ago I canned the "planned and finished sermon" that I had prayed over, studied for and organized and spoke from a changing heart that God was still molding. In fact – twice in a row that happened and we adjusted on the fly.

God wanted me to share about the importance of giving and the importance of doing it from a right heart, right motive and right actions. He showed me a variety of Scriptures that seemed to be spread out all over the Bible and yet they were all coming together into this, apparently, single purpose message opportunity. So I shared – from what God was teaching me. The next week, I had a chance to share again from same basic set of verses about how the church is supposed to act in order to BE the church.

It was weird – no notes – just a few Post-Its to keep me on track. No "Main Idea" other than "Give to God First and He will Supply ALL your needs" and "It is Time for the Church to be the Church". But – I guess that is enough. The funny thing – the giving has not gone up. In fact, it is a little worse! J However, I have seen and heard about our people offering to help those in need, handing money to those without jobs, buying Thanksgiving meals for those that are underemployed, taking EVERY LAST heart from the "Have a Heart" Tree in one Sunday. I guess that as I have said before – It is my job to speak the truth. It is my job to sound the warning. It is my job to plant the seed. It is my job to lead through example. It is God's job to change hearts. It is God's job to cause the growth of the seed. It is God's job to meet ALL the needs from His boundless resources.

We just act when the Spirit says "Act". Move when the Spirit says "Move". Speak when the Spirit says "Speak". And respond when the Spirit changes our heart. Listen to the Spirit – God will provide all the rest.

Like Zeke – I Speak

2008-11-06T08:26:00.001-05:00

It seems like I learn more and more what being a pastor is all about – lonely yet surrounded by people, rewarding yet frustrating, busy yet slow moving with change, promising yet heart-breaking. I like most of it but there are parts that I don't like.

I like people – but sometimes – people hurt me.

I like seeing God work through and in people; changed lives are incredible – but it frustrates me when most of my time is spent trying to help someone fix a problem that stems from not following advice that was given in the first place.

I like teaching about what God teaches me – I find, though, that when I teach and people don't like what they hear – then I am "wrong" or a "bad teacher".

I like encouraging people to live a life worthy of the call – I don't like having to be "the watchman" and the "warning bell" because then you say the "hard things" and people have to decide where they stand.

Ezekiel was warned by God – "I have called you to be my watchman for Israel. You will speak my words and they will not respond. Tell them that this is the Word of God and that you are speaking it whether they listen or not." Zeke was told that if he obeyed and they responded – everyone wins but if he obeyed and they did not respond then he was free from the guilt of their punishment. He was also told that if he DID NOT speak and they stayed in sin or fell into sin then their sin was on his shoulders! Yikes!

So - Like Zeke – I speak.

Teach and share the truth. Please God – not men. Say the hard things – live the hard choices – endure the harsh criticism – pray for strength – cherish the good moments.

Who wants a New Car?

2008-11-04T13:20:00.001-05:00

Have you ever prayed for something or even commented about praying for something and yet really was not too hopeful about it happening? My car situation has not been that great since going into ministry. Now don't get me wrong – we always have a means of getting around and we always get things fixed in ways that constantly amaze me. Recently, when my teens asked me "Dad, when are we getting a different car?" while we were driving in a vehicle that was overheating and had no air conditioning, I did not really know what to say so I just said, "Kids, we don't have anything saved up for a different car and I really do not have hope to get one anytime soon so why don't you just start praying and let's see what God can do?"

Honestly, that was just to get them to not ask anymore. Really, these kinds of things do not happen to me. So what happened? About three weeks later, a couple from church said they wanted to get together with us for dinner. They were real insistent about it and we were slammed with volleyball games and football games and Wednesday night church and whatever else you do with teens. So, they kept trying to "help us" find a date that week – I finally said, "OK, come to Jenna's volleyball game and then afterward we can go eat for a late quick dinner." Again, me being a bit of a jerk and not listening more to the Spirit in my heart. We left the game and went toward the parking lot and the guy steers us toward this blue Ford Taurus station wagon and hands me the keys. I asked politely about his new vehicle and thought "why did he get another car?" I asked a few questions and kept getting evasive answers so I finally quit. I figured he was letting me drive his new car so I could tell him what a great car he had picked up. Again, me = jerk.

We get to the restaurant, park and start to get out of the car. I hand him back the keys and compliment the great buy he got. He says "wait, there's one more thing before we go in to eat. Here are the keys to your car." He hands me back the keys and then hands me two more sets of spares. Pause – review my amazing ability to be a major jerk – get choked up and realize what God just showed me. Thank this couple profusely as my wife and I tear up at this amazing event of how God used two people who really could not afford it to meet a need that we could not afford to meet.

And all because I challenged two of my teens to pray about how God would meet the need of transportation for me, even though the challenge was from a wrong motive. How good is my God?

Why Two Service Styles?

2008-09-02T15:37:00.002-04:00

Over the last several years the leadership here at Osceola Grace has puzzled over, discussed, prayed about and planned for the occasion when we would need to go to two services and change the twenty year old paradigm of “how we do church”. This spring, it became evident that we were close to that point but the surprising twist was that the catalyst was not what we anticipated. We thought that we would reach a point where we would have a capacity crowd that would force us to change. Instead, we spent some time listening to the needs of some of our extended church family that were feeling like they were not able to connect to God in a meaningful way during the services. Part of it was due to the style of music (of course, that is always a reason for dissension), part of it was that we use illustrations that involve some fun yet crazy activities, part of it was the videos clips that we use and part of it was the dramas. Any one of those things is of little consequence to some (especially in today’s culture) and in and of themselves – there isn’t anything wrong with them. However, due to the broad age span and worship experience of our families, we were causing some to struggle with the ability to have their heart in a right place when it came time for the message.
I know, you say – this is absurd – you cannot let people gripe and complain and force you to change because of their heart condition. True, but also, I want to do ALL that I can to become whatever I need to be so that some may come to Jesus Christ. If they are part of the body of Christ and simpy adding a second traditional service with more traditional songs is a means of helping them to connect with our God and move a step closer to Jesus then isn't that worth doing? Therefore, we prayed a lot more and planned a lot more and decided to go ahead and start a second service – a traditional one! It starts at 8:00 AM and will end by 9:15 AM. It will not have childcare or children’s programs available nor will it be permanent if it does not grow and accomplish its’ purpose. This service will be more formal and will not use the lighting, power point, dramas, videos or activities that the contemporary service will have. However, it will have meaningful hymns and an identical message and challenge to its audience to live out our core values.
We want all of our families to move people closer to Jesus Christ through intentional relationships and friendships, we want to see each family expanded as they seek to meet and include new people in their families and we want to continue to do activities that will show our community that we care. Those are the core values that we live by at Osceola Grace.
Plus - I work hard on planning and presenting what God leads me to and through - why not have two shots to get it right! :)

i Live by Faith - but Faith in Whom?

2008-08-22T13:00:00.001-04:00

The latest verse that I have been working on memorizing is below – Galatians 2:20…
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
However, I just had a conversation with someone last night who said that while they are memorizing verses in their head, it is taking time for them to sink in to their life. Well, ME TOO! I can say this verse and I KNOW the first part is true…Christ lives in me. But I so often question the second part of this verse in my life. Can I really say that I live by faith in the Son of God? I sometimes sit and reflect on where my faith is placed and I am usually discouraged to find that I place a lot of faith in myself and my abilities. I think pretty highly of myself (contrary to Romans 12:3) and thus many times I should say, “…the life I live in the body, I live by faith in Greg Serafino, who loves himself and would not give himself up for another.” Wow. I actually wrote that out. It is there for the world to see. I struggle with living by faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior. I shouldn't be there, I am a pastor, after all, and we should be above all of that. Right?
Another passage I have also been working on is Colossians 3:1-3 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set you minds on the things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
If I died then I should not be living either FOR myself or IN my own strength. Hidden in Christ…am I willing to hide behind my Savior? To let Him get the glory? To point people toward Him and not ask them to follow me?
So…do I live by faith – Yes!
Do I live by faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior, who died and gave himself for me? Sometimes – more now than last week, last month and last year but not ALWAYS! I need to make it present tense – every day.

You’ve Got It All!

2008-07-22T12:45:00.002-04:00

I am amazed at the things that I see on TV or hear on the radio or EVEN hear from people in the church that appeals to my sense of greed vs. need. There are so many things that I do not have and so many ways that I "fall short" by the standards of the community in which I live and yet, I continue to find out that I am truly blessed with those things that I DO have and by the way that God meets my every need. I have learned so much as I try to depend on Him more and more and yet I also keep learning that I do not depend enough on Him. An interesting dilemma to be in as a disciple of Jesus.

I find that same principle at work in my spiritual life, too. I find that I want to be a mature Christ follower but I often don't think I have what it takes to accomplish it. There is always someone more "spiritual" than me or more" in tune with the Spirit" than I am. So what am I missing? There must be a trick, a secret, a special thing I have to have or do that makes this "spiritual life" thing work. Well, 2 Peter says it is not a secret and there is something involved that we have to do – I am trying to run through this 2 Peter chapter 1 cycle more and more and as I do I find my faith growing. So what is the secret?

2 Peter 1:3 says we have been given everything that we need for LIFE and GODLINESS – WOW! Then it goes on to say that as a believer in Jesus – one who has placed faith in Christ for eternal life – I should add to my faith. What do I add? Seven things:

Goodness - that action that follows our faith and moves us toward service and change
Knowledge – the expanding of what it means to be like Jesus by reading His word and gaining insight and understanding
Self-Control – UH OH – once I have knowledge of something I should do and have not OR something I should NOT do and yet I DO – it puts me in a place of decision. Will I or won't I obey? Discipline to choose the right path and step forward to follow through.
Perseverance – AHHH – once the right decision is made, inevitably, we are faced with a struggle – follow through on the hard path or give up. Here is where the rubber meets the road. Do you trust God to help you through or not? Stick with it when you know it is right!
Godliness – Whoa! At this stage your level of "godliness" is raised. How about that – "godliness" that attribute of being like God. Not that you are God – that ain't gonna happen, BUT you attain a level of that that includes humility in having persevered and succeeded. Give credit where credit is due – Who helped you through? The Holy Spirit.
Brotherly Kindness – you are on the track of realizing that this is not all about you and it is about serving those around in need. You begin to develop a love for those around and see their needs and look outside of your own person interests. Seek the good and well being of others and you are growing and stretching your faith.
LOVE – true "Agape" love. That love that gives itself freely for another without expecting anything in return. You are there! NOT QUITE!

The passage goes on to explain that we can make it through one cycle of that and become a little more productive and effective but we need to have these qualities in "increasing measure". Now that you faith has grown a little through one cycle – we walk through the cycle again and grow a little more. And then a little more. Again and again and your faith (and mine as I do this also) grows and stretches. The hardest part for me is 3 and 4 – deciding the right course and then sticking with it through the hardest of times. But when I have – I can point to those times as to when I have grown the most. Press on in Real Life – that is all we have!

A Journey of VAST proportions

2008-06-09T13:21:00.001-04:00

I love Vacation Bible Schools but I really LOVE ours! We revamped how we do it about 15 years ago and we have seen such amazing results with both volunteers and new people to our church along with a great reputation in our community! We divide all the kids up by grades and have line leaders for each grade and then have them go from station to station throughout the morning! Instead of having a story teller and a craft person and a game person and a verse person leading it for each grade we have one person in charge of each of those things and then the kids come to them. It is so smooth and works out well for everyone.

The impact for the kingdom that we have is also incredible. We have people that get to use their creative skills and their administrative skills to the point of excellence. Over the last 15 years we have literally had thousands of kids come through here that have heard about Jesus Christ. We have had hundreds of decisions for Jesus and have visited hundreds of homes to invite the parents to come to our church. We do not purchase a package because we found that when we did we only used a portion of it so we started using our own creative juices and putting themes together on our own - WOW have these people been creative.

Check out our website at www.ogbc.net and follow what happens this year through our "Jungle Journey – A Quest for Truth". Look under the Media tab for Jungle Journey 2008. We had 252 kids this year on day one – we'll see what the rest of the week holds! Pray for us as we strive to expand the kingdom for Jesus through reaching children and then their parents.

Do People Bug You?

2008-05-14T08:06:00.001-04:00

Do you ever get tired of being in a group or in a crowd? Do you ever just want to be alone and can't seem to find the way to make it happen? With Jesus it may have been the case because we see that the crowds just followed Him everywhere in the height of His popularity. He tried every now and then to get away and yet the crowds seemed to find out and follow Him.

What was His response to all of that attention? Did he grab His hair and just scream? Did He get mad and yell at them?

No. Two different times He recognized that the crowd had been around a long time and was probably hungry and instead of sending them off, Scripture says that He felt compassion on them and fed them.

In Matthew 9:36 (NIV) we see what Jesus felt as He looked out over the crowds, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Scripture records quite a few places describing the deep love that Jesus felt for the crowds. Do you know…these are some of the same crowds that lined the streets as He carried the cross, these are some of the same crowds that shouted "Crucify Him!" along with the Pharisees. Jesus loved those who admired him but He also loved those who hated Him. Jesus reached out to his community – the seekers of something spiritual and the "thrill seekers" - those who were just looking for a show or a miracle.

When you look out at your neighbor – what do you feel? A deep love for someone who may need Jesus or a disgust because they can't seem to keep their yard mowed or get the trash heap taken care of or the dead vehicle that never seems to move.

How would Jesus see them? As someone who needs a shepherd – a person that truly cares.

What an awesome Sunday! Free to Grow, Baby

2008-04-27T13:45:00.001-04:00

God is so amazing! For six months, we have been saving, scrimping, praying, planning and letting God move and in just ONE Sunday 441 OGBC'ers came together to worship and be used of God with the goal of removing ourselves from the bondage of debt! Our goal six months ago was $240,000 however, while we have been planning and preparing we have also been faithfully paying our debt down with regular payments – so today's target – Just shy of $232,000! At the start of the service, we prayed and took our offering – committing to God the gifts that we have been planning on for months now.

We sang songs of worship and praise throughout the rest of the service led by Grace College's Sound Investment and then at the very end I was handed an envelope with the numbers! DRUM ROLL, Please!

177 people or family units participated in the miracle! A record one day participation for giving!

Actual in hand gifts - $199,875! As I shared that with people someone handed me a $125 check to make it an even $200,000! Isn't God amazing! Indescribable? Unfathomable? Abundant?

"Yours, O Lord, is the GREATNESS and the POWER and the GLORY and the MAJESTY and the SPLENDOR, everything in heaven and earth are yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, You are exalted as head over all!

Wealth and honor come from You, you are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and honor to exalt and give strength to all.

NOW, our God, we give YOU thanks and PRAISE YOUR glorious name!" 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

God working through His obedient people willingly sacrificing as a family!

PS – General Fund was over $13,500, too !!

F. to GROW challenge and Cool Story #3

2008-04-24T08:59:00.001-04:00

Amazing and Divine Protection

I love the story of how the Old Testament prophet Elisha was informing the King of Israel of the ambushes and plans of the Aramean king and his army in order to prevent them from being trapped and captured. He does it several times because the Lord has given him the information and finally the king of Aram is so frustrated as he finds our Elisha keeps foiling his plans that he brings his forces and surrounds the city where Elisha and his servant live. Once again, God proves faithful in the protection of His servants.

2 Kings 6:14-17 (NIV)

Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. {15} When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. {16} "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." {17} And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Would you pray for that kind of protection for you and me in the coming few days!

Another Story Time

I received this the other day and was so encouraged by the miracle that God has already done through people's lives in stories like this and so many others!

"I've hesitated to pass along my Free to Grow experience with God to anyone until now.

Last August a former (now deceased) plumbing mentor's daughter asked me to remodel her kitchen in January of 2008. I was honored to be asked and agreed to do so. The income I was to receive would pay for Christmas gifts for the family. That was my plan! Then, the Free to Grow plan was revealed shortly afterwards. I prayed about it and felt led to give any additional income above and beyond my forty hour a week job at the printing company during the month of January to Free to Grow. My additional income sources are from; plumbing, music performance and private music lessons. January seemed like the right month to commit due to the promised kitchen remodel job.

A couple months passed and the kitchen remodel date changed! It was moved to the week before Christmas! I thought God wanted that money! My plan stunk! OR He had a better plan. The latter prevailed.

After I spent the kitchen remodel money on Christmas for the family, opportunities came knocking. January's additional income for music lessons increased by two new students. I performed with music groups every weekend, and started and finished two large remodel projects, along with several smaller plumbing repair projects. My phone continued to ring all month long and I did not want to say no to anyone. As a side note here; the older I get, the more I say no to when it has to do with plumbing. (i.e I don't work in crawl spaces, clean drains, work in Elkhart or any part of Michigan and about twenty other excuses for not getting dirty.)

After January both Shannon and I were able to commit some additional monies in spite of Satan's numerous attempts to derail us.

I had a plan. God had a better plan.

I believe with all my heart Free to Grow will succeed!

Dave Lee"

God is faithful and always comes through as we live out His will each day!

F.t.G. challenge and Cool Story #2

2008-04-24T08:57:00.001-04:00

I heard the other day of someone that said they had experienced the blessing of God in such a way over the last several months that just last week they decided to try to double their commitment to "Free to Grow" - as soon as they did that they had an appliance failure! Isn't that just like the evil one to foil a plan. God will still triumph though - guess what happened - the very next day they received a call from a family member who had an extra appliance of the kind that failed! a few hours of work later and the installation was complete! God loves faithfulness and rewards it in His own time!

Psalms 27:13-14 (NIV)

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. {14} Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

When God's People Respond...

I love this story of the preparation to build the tabernacle for worship...

Exodus 35:4-9 (NIV)

Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the LORD has commanded: {5} From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; {6} blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; {7} ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows ; acacia wood; {8} olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; {9} and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

So what happened?

Exodus 35:20-22 (NIV)

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, {21} and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. {22} All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

Did they reach their goal?

Exodus 36:3-7 (NIV)

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. {4} So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work {5} and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." {6} Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, {7} because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

What if we had to say "Stop giving so much?" Wouldn't that be a blast? What if the giving continues week after week – How will God bless that sort of commitment to His church on mission?

Free to G.R.O.W. Challenge and Story #1

2008-04-24T08:52:00.001-04:00

Pray for Protection!

The Final Message in Living Beyond Our Means was a great reminder that we are not ever supposed to be relying on ourselves - We must rely on God, through intense prayer, and as we do the ripple effect of changed lives will move so far beyond our own circles to the rest of the world that we may not realize the effect for many years to come! However, as we approach Free to Grow Sunday, we are going to need much protection and reliance upon God - spend some time this week praying for God to protect us as we hit the final 6 days before Free to Grow Celebration!

1 Corinthians 1:9-11(NIV)

"...this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Cool Story #1

Someone shared with me today that they had been a victim of bank fraud and thus, while all of this was getting straightened out, they were minimizing the writing of checks for fear of overdrawing their account. The bank was working with them and yet they were still a little hesitant. The reason for the call to me was that they wanted to put a commitment note in the offering this Sunday instead of a check because they wanted to be a part of the miracle and will write their check as soon as things settle for them.

Praise the Lord for changed lives - I believe that the real miracle here is that a large part of our church has experienced a greater dependance upon God as a result of this leap of faith! Changed lives are what it is all about!

Get up and Keep Running

2008-04-07T11:26:00.001-04:00

Sometimes life gets you down but it takes real strength – the kind that only God can give to keep you going. My son is an avid runner and competes on his high school cross country team along with quite a few other "competitive events" around our area. He loves to run – in fact, over the weekend he said, "I am going running… I don't know exactly where yet but I plan to be out for a while." When he returned 50 minutes and I asked where he had been he described this course to me…east down CR 22 to "Five Points" then east on CR 118 to CR 3 where he turned north to Mishawaka Road. Then east on Mishawaka Road to SR 19. He turned north on SR 19 to Lincolnway and then west on Lincolnway to the County Line. He came south across the tracks and then back east on Mishawaka Road to CR 100 and then home.

I google mapped the route and it is 9.1 miles! He loved it and I would have hated it!

It was not always so easy for him though…In his first competitive race in junior high school, he ran into a little trouble. You see, my son has a hereditary eye disease which prevents him from see in dimly lit places. The course he was running went from the open field into a wooded area and then back out again. On the first curve of the course, the crowd he was running in went into the woods and turned. He followed the white t-shirts in front in order to make it through and keep the pace. Suddenly the runners in front of him parted to the left and right and he, momentarily thought "how odd", and then crashed face first into the tree that they were running around. It knocked him flat. He pooped back up and apologized because at first he did not realize it was a tree – once he realized it – he felt stupid and embarrassed. He tried to make his way on a little further and eventually, despite the pain, made his way out of the woods.

He was ready to quit. In fact, he slowed to a walk and was ready to give it all up and then alongside came his CC coach who said "come on, I'll help you along". His coach ran alongside him for the rest of the race encouraging him, challenging him and giving him the desire to keep running. Since then, my son has won many races and been part of several winning teams. He learned to keep running – even when things get hard. He learned to push through the pain even when it wants to force him to quit. He now runs 9.1 miles just for fun!

Folks, we have it the same way – life can get hard but Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God are right there with us. They are not simply running alongside, though, they are actually giving strength to do it. They are encouraging you to never give up and never give in to the struggles that get you down. Jesus knows what it is like so he feels what you feel, he hurts when you hurt, he cries when you cry BUT He also pushes when you want to stop.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

He does not want you to quit – even when you crash face first into an unmoveable object – get up, pray more, decide to keep going and keep running!

Philippians 3:12 – 14 (NIV)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Parent's Theme verse – if there was one

2008-03-15T12:50:00.004-04:00

I have been reading in Psalms since last Sunday - reading and re-reading Psalm 145 – if there was ever a theme verse for the responsibility of parents to live out and express the mighty works of God to our kids, then Psalm 145 contains it (them, actually) – maybe I should call it a theme "passage". We talked through it last week at the Adult Bible Fellowship led by a couple of guys from the leadership here at Osceola Grace and then we prayed through it to give praise to God. That night at small group, we looked at it again and talked about these verses:
(Psalms 145:1-7 NIV)
This first part is the parent's commitment to God

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. {2} Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. {3} Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

This second part is the parent's commitment to pass on the results of their faith

{4} One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. {5} They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. {6} They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. {7} They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

I thought – how will our children know about what great things God has done – not only in biblical times but in my lifetime and, more specifically, in my life if I never share those things? My children need to know that the God of the Bible is working today in my life. I am not talking about only the huge things but even in the small things – A transformation of my mind and my thinking is something that my children should know is taking place.
"Hey kids – God showed me something in His word today that I have not really every let sink in before – here it is, let's read it and let me share with you how God opened my eyes a little wider today."
Real Life with Real People means relationships that are connected well enough that we are passing on more than just the truth of the Word in our mind but the deeds of God in our lives. How has God worked in your life lately? Have you shared that with your children? Let them see that God's mighty deeds are alive and well in you, too! Our kids need to see our need for God in everyday life – not simply in crisis.
Return to http://www.ogbc.net/

It’s Forbidden

2008-03-04T06:46:00.001-05:00

My oldest son used to love the Disney version of the animated "Beauty and the Beast" and had watched it so many times as a four year old that he could quote almost any part of the movie. As a matter of fact, he can quote large portions of almost any movies that he watches! As a college student today – he gets great joy out of quoting Disney movies with the right voices and inflections and everything (it's weird).

There was a time when my son would walk around the house making the umpire's "SAFE" motion with his arms and then say in a really deep four year old voice "It's FOR BENDING". We kept wondering why he was saying that and so we asked him and discovered this:

There is a place in "Beauty and the Beast" that Belle asks the Beast about a certain wing of the castle and he replies that it is the west wing and she want to go there and he shouts "No, it's FORBIDDEN". But the way that he said it, my son thought he was saying, "It's FOR BENDING". We still occasionally tease him a little about that because it was SO cute! He doesn't think that it is so funny anymore but we do!

The funny thing about that is that we sometimes get the wrong story or only part of the story because we are not really listening. It happens to all of us at times but the point is that it makes the other person feel more valued if you are present and attentive in the conversation. Ask questions, respond with clarifying statements and above all – look at them! People want to know that what they are telling you is important to you, too. When you are a good listener – you show people that you care. Jesus said, "People will know you are my disciples if you love one another." There is no better way for people to feel loved than when you are engaged in the story of their life and what is happening in their life at this moment.

Do you care? Then become a good listener. That way you don't go away and think you heard "It's FOR BENDING" when the person said "It's FORBIDDEN".

Here at the Osceola Grace you can find Real People living Real Lives and striving to find Real Answers.

A Falling Truck and a New Start for YOU

2008-02-28T10:40:00.001-05:00

I took my family on a vacation to Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. What a beautiful sight, compared to the flat corn fields of Indiana, as we traveled up one mountain and down the next. It was exciting to wind along the mountainside with the mountain dropping off on one side in a steep drop and then climbing straight up on the other side. As we wound our way through the slow moving traffic up one particular mountain road, we were talking about the beauty of the mountains with our kids, Suddenly, up in front of us the semi truck and trailer that we were two car lengths behind began to careen to the left and then to the right and then back again!

We watched in horror and helplessness as we saw the driver trying to regain control of tens of thousands of pounds of out of control machine! As he rounded one turn and then the next, the back of the trailer began to tilt wildly to the side. In just seconds our quiet drive through the mountains went from serene to surreal as we saw the trailer (in what seemed like super slow motion) tilt too far past center and then fall over on its side into the side of the mountain. As the trailer tipped it puller the massive semi truck over with it until both were sliding along the side of the mountain on their side.

We obviously stopped right away. My son and I got out and rushed up to see if we could help while the rest of the family immediately began to pray in the van. The driver was fine albeit, very shaken up, and we were soon back on the road realizing that you never know what may be around the next bend of life. Are you ready? Do you know where you would turn?

Jesus Christ loves you and gave His life for you to spend the rest of eternity with Him in heaven. He paid a penalty that only He could pay (since He lived a perfect life) and if you decide to start a relationship with him by putting all of your trust in Him rather than the things around you, you can be assured of living in heaven with Him someday.

This new relationship with Jesus can change your life. Speak to Jesus (just like you would a friend) and ask Him to start a work in your life today and to begin something new that will transform you and give you joy and hope beyond all imagination. Questions? Visit www.ogbc.net or email me at ogbc@ogbc.net. I hope to hear from you so that you can begin the next steps of this new relationship with Christ.

Here at the Osceola Grace Brethren Church you can find Real People living Real Lives and striving to find Real Answers.

Caught in a Lie

2008-02-26T16:12:00.001-05:00

As a young boy my mom used to take my older sister and I grocery shopping with her since we were a little young to be staying home alone. Not to mention that she couldn't trust my sister (just kidding Chris). But we really couldn't stand following mom around Wilts Grocery Store for what seemed like forever. My mom finally agreed to let us go to the variety store across the parking lot to hang out in the toy section until she came to find us. That was great for the first few times but, as usual, we got bored with the same old stuff at the variety store so we asked for something bigger and better. "Hey, mom," we asked, "Can we cross Jackson Boulevard and see the toy section at Clark's?" Well of course the Clark Store was much bigger and had so much more to offer than the variety store; they had bikes and wagons and all kinds of good stuff!

Not surprising, the answer came back "No, it is too dangerous for you to cross Jackson alone. Just go to G.L. Perry's or stay with me."

We thought that we were pretty smart though. We walked over to Perry's and then when my mom was safely in the grocery store, we ran across Jackson Boulevard and visited Clark's for a while and then came back to Perry's before mom picked us up. Pretty slick, huh? Or so we thought.

On the way home mom asked about Perry's and then asked if we stayed there like we said we would. Hmmm. That should have clued us in but we assured her that we had and so then she dropped the hammer on us by telling us that our neighbor had been in Clark's earlier and then proceeded to the grocery store. When she saw mom in the grocery store she mentioned to her that she had seen us at Clark's. As if we weren't in enough trouble, we even tried to tell her that the neighbor must have seen someone who looked like us.

Needless to say, we spent the next several trips following mom around the grocery store. What did I learn?

Obey your mom; she always finds out anyway
Stick with the truth; it is hard to mess it up and…
Never let your sister talk you into something.

Here at the Osceola Grace you can find Real People living Real Lives and striving to find Real Answers.

Staying Warm and Drying Out

2008-02-21T08:35:00.002-05:00

The final chapter of the Life on the Street series…

By 7 PM, I arrived at the church. I had no keys so I headed to the back of the property and began making my home for the night. I laid several branches down to rest upon while I made the fire since there was still a foot of snow on the ground. I soon had a fire going but had trouble keeping it burning (I started too small) and so I fought with it for an hour or two. I had one of the deacons concerned to the point where he texted me to say that there were hay bales near the church that I could use. I dragged one back to where I was (about a hundred and twenty yards or so) and then broke it up to make a makeshift bed. Once again I stoked the little fire and thought I would be ok. I put on a pair of my dry socks – when I left the mission that morning I only put on two pairs of socks and held back a pair just in case ( I am a pretty quick learner sometimes). So I was trying to dry things out and get to sleep and keep the fire going to stay warm. I was tucked under half a bale of hay while my boots were drying over the coals. I dozed. Suddenly – a bright light and a poof and I was awake – OH NO…The fire liked the flavor of my boots because it was suddenly licking major flames all around them – a foot and a half high!

What to do – without thinking I reached into the fire and grabbed my boots and tossed them aside – the smell of burning leather and rubber was awesome! They were not completely ruined but now I was awake again! And cold… Soon the fire died down and returned to its passive state and I was freezing and frustrated. A couple of options were before me: One: get up and call my wife and go home to a warm house, shower, food and a bed. Two: Get with it and make the biggest fire you can think of and drag that other bale of hay back here. It's 11:30 PM. I have to preach tomorrow. Dog gone it – this is crazy…

I marched back to where I left the other bale and then to the church dumpster – second time today that I went dumpster diving – I found another newspaper and a couple of little lightweight cardboard boxes that should burn ok. I stuffed the papers in the boxes and the boxes in my jacket and trudged back to the coals with my bale of hay. I then built a small semi-circular shelter with the pieces of the bale and laid a couple of branches over the top. I was shivering because I was so cold at this point and my feet were terribly sore and cold. I found several large logs and made a square "Lincoln log" type structure. I threw every last bit of wadded up paper and the little boxes in the middle of the log structure and stacked twigs over the paper. I then created a TeePee like structure of little branches that were about two to three feet long. If this did not create some real lasting fire then I was done.

I lit it with a couple of the matches I had left and within fifteen minutes had a four foot high roaring fire within a couple of feet of my little hay bale shelter. I then took off my coat and laid it over the top of the structure and crawled underneath. The fire sent heat right into my little shelter and within a few minutes I was toasty warm. After about a half hour, went and found much more wood to keep this thing going and by 1 AM I was stocked with wood and sleeping fitfully in my hay shelter. Every 90 to 120 minutes I awakened and reloaded the fire. My boots and pants and socks all dried as I slept.

At 11 AM the next morning – two apple pies later – I entered the church service, crawled out of a large appliance box on the stage and challenged our folks to "Cross the Line" into someone else's world to bring them to faith. Instead of just throwing a lifeline to them and expecting them to grasp it and pull themselves to safety – we should be willing to step over the line into their world and help them make it to the line of faith. What about you?

Have you ever been left out? Ignored? Have you ever left someone out because they were different than you? Or because they smelled? Or because they were not what you thought they should be?

Have you ever WITHHELD Jesus from someone? You can talk to your friends about school, jobs, families, sports, kids, vacations, colleges, dreams… but why is it so difficult to cross the social barrier of spirituality? I am not asking you to pick up everyone you see along the road or to spend life as a homeless person or to beg for food or dive in a dumpster – I am simply asking you, NO , I am begging you, to be willing to share with those around you about the Jesus that has transformed YOUR life…what could He do in your friend's life?

Stay tuned for more "Real Life, Real Stories and Real Answers" on this blog.

A Ride to the Dumpster

2008-02-20T09:07:00.001-05:00

Part 8 of the Life on the Street series…

So I jump in the car and thank the man profusely for helping me out with a ride only to discover that I am STILL very prejudiced in my thinking. After all of this, I get in a car that I expect to be driven by someone like me or something else than what I got…Not that it was bad – It was not what I had in my mind for the person picking me up (if anyone ever did stop).

Sitting in the driver's seat was a guy with piercings, tattoos, a bandana and a Marlboro cigarette in his hand. There was a Corona emblem dangling from his rear view mirror and his driver's seat was set way back and in the "almost laying down" position and his hand was fashionably draped over the steering wheel of which he was looking through not over! I was astonished and thus I thanked him again for picking me up. His response spoke VOLUMES to my heart… "Hey man, I have been where you are right now and would have loved for someone to pick me up. I am just trying to help. Where you headed?" As we drove and talked for the next two miles, he said that he hates seeing people in a tough spot and if there is someone in a "safer" area of town he will always offer them a ride. WOW!

He dropped me at the corner where there was a restaurant and two gas stations. I asked at the restaurant for some old newspapers and they had none but I used the bathroom and dug a few paper towels out of the waste basket. It was 5PM by now and I was hungry again and wondering about staying warm. I walked to the gas station and received a reality check again – one more level down in my pride. As I asked for newspapers and explained my predicament I was told that they had none but I could dig in the dumpster if I wanted to – "There are some cardboard boxes in there that may help."

Right! I am going to dig in a dumpster. Hmmmm, I wonder what is in there… I guess I can always look to see what I can reach. The lid was up so I walked over and looked in. Cardboard boxes alright. Ha! I would have been able to fit a foot in one – that was how big they were – wouldn't that have been a sight! But WAIT! Just beyond my reach was a couple of brand new newspapers that were both about an inch thick that someone had just tossed in there. Aww crud…Well, here goes, I jumped up and rested my belly on the edge and dangled my feet out the back and leaned in to get these things. Finally I reached them and quickly landed back on my feet with the agility of a cat! OK maybe not – but I didn't fall on my behind! Highly embarrassed, I quickly headed off down the road with my newspapers (and my only hope for warmth) under my arm. Night was soon to fall and I was still three or four miles from my intended destination.

Where was I headed – the only place I knew to go where I could safely have a fire all night and attempt to stay warm – The church has an area where a bunch of our guys had cut a bunch of trees down and they had stacked all of the brush up in an enormous pile. I had an endless supply of wood to burn and it was out in the woods so I would be unseen (for the most part). So now I was walking with a mission.

Last one tomorrow – "Staying Warm and Drying Out"

Walking, Begging, Hitchhiking...

2008-02-19T15:05:00.001-05:00

Part 7 of the Life on the Street series...

Sorry for the lull in chapters…I'm back.

After the visit at the high school where my daughter performed I had to find a place to head or a direction to go to find either a late breakfast or a lunch somewhere. I knew I still had just under $4 left so I thought I would head toward the mall. There was a talent show there that afternoon that one of my sons had registered for so I thought that I would go that direction. I set off walking, once again – the weather was ok but my feet and socks and boots were quickly drenched and cold. It was about two hours to get to the mall and I arrived just as the competition was getting underway. It was nice to sit down and to be warm again (even though I was wet). My son found me and was actually buying a 6" Subway sandwich and they had a buy one get one free sale. I thought – "surely, he will get me a sandwich." I waited. He texted his brother and asked if he wanted one – then decided that he would just eat it later. After a few moments of thought he offered it to me…"Hey, Dad, are you hungry?" YES! Thanks. I wolfed it down but it hardly touched the hunger at that point. It took the edge off.

I enjoyed the warmth for a couple of hours while I was watching the competition and then once it was over had to decide where to go and what to do. As of his point – I had really not outright asked anyone for help. I was wanting to see what people would initiate on their own from their own heart and found that it is just like me – look the other way or at least pretend you are not offended by the smelly guy and let it go at that. Well, it was time to swallow my pride and see how people reacted to an outright request (begging). I walked to the Taco Bell and waited until the counter cleared and then I told the cashier that I was on the streets for a couple of days and wondered if they had some sort of temporary work that I could do to earn a couple of tacos. He seemed sympathetic and so he went to ask his manager. He returned with a sad smile and said they could not help me BUT he then reached under the counter and handed me a cup and said "please get a drink before you go." He felt bad – I could tell. So, - I got a cup of water and then drank that and walked to the McDonalds down the street. There I asked the teenage cashier the same thing and he gave me to his supervisor. She said she was not sure what they could do but she would check with her manager. While she was gone the off shift supervisor was congratulating everyone on a record day! $10,000 between 7 AM and 3 PM! We have never done that before – great job – Rah Rah! I am thinking, well then, I should be able to get a free hamburger or something!

The supervisor came back and said they could not hire me to do anything today because of their hiring rules and procedures. "So sorry, sir. But my manager had this $4 and said she was going to trust you and give this to you to help you out."

I tried to refuse the money but she pushed it into my hand. I spent it right there and got two burgers and two apple pies ( I figured that I could eat cold apple pies later and that they would be better than a cold burger). I thanked them and then I walked.

I walked and began to try to hitchhike…no one…I arrived at a gas station and asked for newspapers (old, new whatever). No luck. So I kept walking. I was within two miles of my next begging point (SR 19 and CR 20) two Speedways and a restaurant, when a car stopped. I jumped and was surprised at my own prejudice even now!

Two more to wrap things up – "A Ride to the Dumpster", "Staying Warm and Drying Out" .

Some ‘Splaining to Do

2008-02-15T13:14:00.001-05:00

Part 6 of the Life on the Street series...

By the time I arrived at the school – I had a couple of ideas in mind. It turns out that by the time that I had arrived there, Frank had reached my wife – he finally did pick up the phone after I left of course – and she "reluctantly" agreed to pick me up there at the mission and return me since she verified that I really did have a commitment to my daughter that day. The problem was – I had texted her to tell her that I was at the school already. She called on my 'almost dead again' phone and asked why I was not at the mission like the guy said. I told her that I would explain when she got there but that I had escaped. Not really but it freaked her out that I was not where they thought I was. When she arrived at the school, I explained everything to her and she immediately wanted to know where I was sleeping that night. At that point, I had to honestly tell her the options but that I was not sure yet. I agreed to keep her posted since it looked like I was going to wing it.

It turns out – I also had some more explaining to do to a new friend of the family. As I stood in the auditorium while my daughter warmed up, a new friend to our family (my daughter and their's hang together) came up to me and asked if I was home from my trip. My mind raced… "Trip? What trip? What is he talking about? How could he know this?" I answered that I was sort of still on a trip. He looked very concerned and so – still not knowing what he was talking about – I thought that since he does not go to our church yet that I could share what I was doing and it would be safe and sound.

I gave him the nutshell version and why and he sighed with relief. He shared how glad he was that I explained that to him. It turns out that on Friday night, my daughter had gone out with their family and he had asked where I was because he had emailed me and I had not replied yet. My daughter shared that I was on a trip and the natural next question was "where?" She did not know so that was what she said – as they conversed and it became obvious that she was hiding something he backed off but was concerned. From all he had experienced – these kinds of conversations had the signs of family trouble and he was trying to figure out what he had to offer to a pastor whose family was falling apart! When he saw me looking like I was on Saturday – his concern grew and he approached me to start a conversation to see what he could learn about the situation and how he could offer some sort of help.

When I explained the truth – he told me all of that and was so relieved. We laughed but it turned out that when he went home and shared that with his wife – they came to church on Sunday because they had to know "the rest of the story"!

Check the next blog – "Walking, Begging, Hitchhiking and Dumpster-Diving" see what the rest of Saturday held for me before I finally warmed up.

Runnin’ from Frank

2008-02-14T07:43:00.001-05:00

Part 5 of the Life on the Street series

Decision time…I was afraid that if Frank showed no mercy that I was going to be there (and watched closely) for the next three days – I was scheduled to preach the next morning at church so I hoped he showed me some mercy here. After a bunch of bantering back and forth with me trying to be as meek and gentle (with a little begging) as I could, Frank said that even though the rules were three days with no free time and then on the fourth day "possibly" an HOUR of free time, that if he could verify with someone that I really was supposed to do this that he might make an exception.

I gave him Cari's name and the event and my daughter's name and where I was supposed to be and when. He then asked for a number and I mistakenly wrote down MY cell number. Within about five minutes he placed the call and I heard him leave a voice mail. That was unusual since Cari always has her phone on and especially with this happening – I knew that she wanted to be available anytime I may need her help. As I thought for a minute, I realized that I had given my number and not hers. I approached the desk and shared that with him and then was grilled over whether I had a cell phone or not and why I had not turned it in last night. I did not lie but told him that it was dead anyway (because it was) and he said it did not matter – turn it in to the other guy and he will lock it up for me until I leave after the end of the program. Uh OH!

He then said – he would call my wife and I should have a seat. I did not go right to the guy to turn my phone in… I waited a minute or two and then I sat down and watched. Frank was working on his computer and not making the phone call. Time was ticking away. I needed a decision or my walk to Central was going to cause me to be late to the performance. I waited a few more minutes – still no call. I knew that if I left without turning in my phone and without permission (and without breakfast) that I was not going to be able to just walk back in later and hope for a meal and a bed. Still more waiting as all of this played out in my head and finally – still no action from Frank – I slipped my hat on and my gloves and slowly zipped up my jacket. Decision time was upon me. I looked his way one more time and then slipped quietly out the front door and began my trek to Elkhart Central.
I knew that I could not return so I headed out trying to create plan B in my head as I walked – What was I going to tell Cari when I saw her at Central? I had some 'splaining to do and I needed to have a plan…Worst case – I would just give up. Best case – I would ask someone to stay with them if they would be willing to help a stranger out for the night. Something in the middle – I knew that if I could make it to the church that there was a huge brush pile. I did still have a bunch of matches and I could have a fire all night and sleep out under the stars…
Check the next blog – "Some 'splaining to do" to see how I was going to explain to my wife, Cari, that I really did not know where I was staying the night on Saturday!

A Night in the Mission

2008-02-12T09:54:00.001-05:00

Part 4 of Life on the Street series

I went to the front desk to find out what it took to stay overnight. Question #1 – Have I ever been convicted of a sex offense? NO! Ok then – go to the police station and have them do a search for open warrants. So I walked to the police station – who of course – sees this all the time. I was a non- person to them. Driver's License…Name…Here's is your paper. Bye.

I walked the twenty minutes back to the shelter and went through an application process. I asked the guy if it was possible to leave the next morning to go over to the nearby high school to see my daughter perform in a vocal competition. He said he was not sure but that I should check with the morning person. He did not know why not so it looked and sounded good. The chapel service was starting so I went in and sat down. The guy in front of me said to his buddy…"What are they burning? Smells like they are burning something." Well, that was me so I identified myself as the campfire guy and the just sniffed and looked at me and went back to talking to each other. I sat through the chapel service and then the front desk guy told me to look up Chester to see if he could help me dry out.

When I found "Chet" – he was the most helpful man I could imagine - he had me wash my socks in the sink and wring them out and then, when he realized that I had no clean ones to put on, he went away for a couple of minutes and then returned with a mismatched pair of socks. He showed me how I could possibly dry my boots in the bathroom under the hand dryer and then disappeared. Every half hour or so, he made his way from the laundry area (in another building) to the dorm. He stopped and checked in with me each time and eventually brought me my dry socks. He also made a special trip back to the front desk to get my box of linens since I was never given any. He checked in with me before going to bed to make sure that I had a mattress and a place to call my own for the night. What a guy.

I met several others that night and the next day one of them, named Greg, invited me to sit with him for a couple of minutes in the reading area. This guy was a professing Christian, although his language and choices of music had not been renewed yet! (Led Zeppelin is not the most wholesome group to listen to as a believer) Anyway, he said that they had me on a chore chart already so I must be on a fast track to getting a permanent bed. "Why?" I asked and he did not know but that I had some chores right after breakfast. Red flags went off in my head because I had promised my daughter that, even though I was doing this project, I would be there at Elkhart Central that Saturday for her vocal competition.

I proceeded to the front desk before breakfast to see what I could work out. That is where I met Frank. As I soon discovered, the people from the night before at the front desk were residents of the mission's program and were volunteering. Frank, whom I was about to meet, was on staff. I explained my predicament to Frank – that I was told last night I could leave to go to this program and that I promised my daughter I would be there. He proceeded to tell me that when you using in to the mission you are there for THREE days with chore duty and NO FREE TIME! I had to get permission from a staff member or a member of senior management. I asked if there was someone available to in that capacity to speak with and he informed me that he was "senior management". Uh OH! Decision time…

Check the next blog – "Runnin' from Frank" to see what decisions I had to make in the next ten minutes.

A Fire Under the Bridge

2008-02-11T09:54:00.001-05:00

Part THREE of Life on the Street series – Pastor Greg wanted to experience life as a homeless person so on February 1^st, 2008 he left home, walked to the mission and survived on the street for 3 days with the clothes on his back, $5 in his pocket along with some matches, gloves and a small hunting knife.

I found a break in the traffic and snuck down through the spot in the guard rail and bridge rail to a place under the bridge. It was only about ten feet from the river edge to the bridge end so I did not have much room to maneuver. I went to the end where the breeze blew toward me so that any smoke would travel under the bridge, out the other side and hopefully dissipate and not draw attention. Probably overkill but I have read too many novels and so I was being careful so as not to get in trouble. (my mind was full of the possibilities, mostly imagined, I am sure) I did not know for sure if it was legal but it seems like an open fire under a bridge in the city limits would be frowned upon. Especially when I looked like I did – I was worried I may end up safe and sound IN JAIL.

I gathered a number of rocks and made a two foot diameter fire ring – gotta be safe you know. I then gathered a bunch of wood from the dead tree that I saw on the way here. It was just out from under the bridge but below the roadway so I could not be seen very easily. I broke up the wood and whittled some shavings to get a fire started. I used my newspapers from the Martin's store trash receptacle and shortly had a small but warm fire going. I tried to make a comfy place among the rocks – not so easy but eventually found a way to sit on some of the wood pieces that were, as yet, unburned.

I removed my three pairs of socks and warmed my toes over the fire while trying to dry out my socks. They started steaming but never fully dried up. I realized after an hour of this that they may warm up but were not going to dry out at all. Good enough though. I sat there and warmed up while the time passed. As I ran short of wood supply, I had to get more wood or leave. I realized that it was close to dinner time at the mission so I suited up and put out the fire and headed up the bank. The walk to the mission was only 30 minutes or so and I arrived shortly after the doors opened.

Dinner was salad, spaghetti, bread and green beans. I ate until I could not eat any more. Then I went to find out what it took to stay overnight. Keep reading…I'll be back with more before too long.

Next – "A Night in the Mission", "Running from Frank" and "You've Got Some 'Splaining to Do"

Napping in a Grocery Store

2008-02-08T14:28:00.001-05:00

Part TWO of Life on the Street series – Pastor Greg wanted to experience life as a homeless person so on February 1^st, 2008 he left home, walked to the mission and survived on the street for 3 days with the clothes on his back, $5 in his pocket along with some matches, gloves and a small hunting knife.

After leaving the mission, I wanted to find somewhere that was warm and where I could hope to dry out a little. I walked toward the downtown area and ended up with no places to go in and sit down without being too obvious. I eventually arrived at Martin's Supermarket on Jackson Blvd. and wandered the store for a while. I wanted to sit but was sure that I needed some reason (like food) or they would ask me to leave. I used one of my dollars to buy a cup of coffee. I sat and ended up drinking that and another one before I fell asleep in the booth. My feet dangled from the booth and were finally warm even thought they were still soaking wet. I was not sure what to expect but I ended up there for two hours and no one bothered me or told me to leave. Eventually, I refilled my cup once more and headed for the door.

As I passed the trash can – I noticed a couple of the morning's newspapers on the top of the receptacle. Hmmmmm…. A warm fire sounded nice. So, I scooped up those and folded them quickly and headed for the door with fuel in my pocket! Next step – Find a place in the city limits to have an open fire burning and not get in big trouble. Was that possible? I am not sure but I thought it would be worth a try.

I had crossed a bridge earlier and noticed that there was room between the guardrail and the bridge railing to get through and go under the bridge. I also noticed on the one side of the water that there was a dead tree at my level and below the roadway level so I could harvest some more fire fuel if it was dry enough and without being seen. (funny, I was only a couple hundred yards from the police station and the fire department) So, I headed that way. I was not sure what to expect or if that would work but after walking that way it did not take long for my resolve to harden. My feet were freezing and I needed to do something. I was only 5 hours into this and already I was worried. Bridge… here I come.

Life on the Street

2008-02-07T13:25:00.000-05:00

As an illustration to an upcoming message about our inability to see past outward appearances, I opted, with my wife's consent, to spend three days and two nights in Elkhart as a homeless person with little money. Crazy, I know, but I felt like, in order to really speak from my heart, I needed to experience what someone who is homeless may experience.
Little did I know what to expect...
I called the Faith Mission in advance to be sure that I was not abusing a privilege or taking a bed that would be spoken for or eat food that would be for someone. The director assured me that I would not have a bed but could sleep on the floor and that the food supply was fine. In fact, he thought I would learn alot from the experience. So - with no barriers - I committed to it. I told only a few people so that there would not be any attention drawn to it. Today and the following posts are going to be dedicated to sharing my experiences - how I was treated, looked at, ignored and helped.
Day 1...
I bundled up with three pairs of socks, several layers of shirts a pair of gloves and a hat. I had a set of flannel lounge pants under my jeans and thought I would be ok. I had a pack of matches, $5, a driver's license for ID and small hunting knife. (my cell phone for emergencies and to keep the couple of people who knew from worry) Just two days before the temps were around -20 degrees - that's right negative 20! However, the night before I left we had an 8" snowfall and the temps wee back to low 30's. Not to bad I thought. I walked away from home around 10:00 am and began my trek to Elkhart's Faith Mission. Lunch was served between 12:30 and 1:00 so I could not dawdle. Snow was falling and the roads were not too well plowed yet.
As I walked along Mishawaka Road I was passed by cars, trucks, and semi's. No one stopped slowed down or honked. They drove by in their warm vehicles while I tromped along. It was interesting, I stopped counting cars after 200. It is only about two miles or so to State Road 19 but since the plows had only cleared the driving lanes - I had to walk in the 12" of plowed snow on the edge of the road until the traffice cleared. It took a long time. I walked along SR 19 - also in the snow when traffic came along - until I reached a side road where I turned toward the mission again. As I turned that corner - a truck driver stopped and asked me for directions - I gave him directions to his destination ( the same direction that I was walking) and he thanked me, rolled up his window and drove off. There I stood...I was now wet up to my knees and my three pairs of socks and my boots were soaked through and cold. I continued to walk - step by step.
As I neared the intersection that would bring me to the turn for the mission I felt an urgency to move faster. The time was growing short and I was getting hungry. I jogged a little ways until I reached the corner and then had two blocks to walk to the mission. As I neared the mission there were several people converging on the mission as I was. Two in front, tow from across the road and a van load of a family that wass just pulling in and unloading.
I walked in with no fanfare at all. No welcome. No instructions. Just empty stares at me as I stodd wondering what to do and where to go next.
I saw the food window and headed that way following the man in front of me. I just imitated what he did and received an huge sandwich and other various food items. I drank several glasses of water and then sat down to eat,. No one spoke. No one looked at me. No one wanted to talk.
I hoped to warm up and hang around for a while but as soon as the time was up every one had to leave. No hanging around here - meal time is over.
Come back again - "Napping in a Grocery Store" and "A Fire Under the Bridge" are next