Thursday, July 21, 2011

Renewed Appetite

This year my devotional time has consisted of heavy doses of the Old Testament. I've read some in the epistles (mostly in Greek!), but purposefully took a break from the Gospels. I wanted to take a break from them for a short time before coming back to them later in the year. During this break I've noticed a yearning in my soul for Jesus. I've loved my time of reading in the Old Testament and the principles and nuggets of God's grace I've found in those books, but I longed for the person of Christ. Jen and I are starting to read through the gospel of Mark together. As I read the 1st chapter recently, I didn't look at it through stale lenses of recalling what he does next and having my mind wander, but excitedly considered what this all must have been like for the Son of God to come to earth? Why on earth He called men to be his apostles (when rocks or clouds would have done the trick just fine)? Impressed by His compassion and His sense of purpose as the Light that would shine in a dark and desperate place. The break was healthy as it reminded me what drew me to Jesus in the first place.

This isn't the first time I've purposefully taken a break from a portion of Scripture, I've done it with the Law or Psalms before, but it is the first time I've done it with the Gospels. Sometimes as Christians we get too routine in reading a chapter in the Old Testament, one in the gospels, one in the epistles, and a psalm everyday or some other "system" that we or others have manufactured. In doing so I've experienced a lack of enthusiasm and excitement for God's Word as it just becomes a habit and not about the discovery of God. If this is where you are, just reading because that's what you do, day in and day out, then I would encourage you to take a "Sabbath" or rest from a section of God's Word. Don't put it aside altogether! I think what you'll find is a longing for the truths from that section of Scripture and an excitement as your return to rediscover those truths and find new truths you've never seen before.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Feelings vs. Faithfulness


Over the years, I've had the pleasure to get to work with a number of college students who have volunteered in the student ministry where I served as youth pastor. During that time I like to think I was able to impart sound Biblical advice to them and took a small role in their continual growth with the Lord. It never failed that sometime in our times of talking that they would open up to me about where they were with the Lord.

Many of them confessed with concern that they were not feeling the way they had when they first got to college, or got involved with our church. In some ways what they wanted was to know how to get "it" back, or reassurance that they were okay. I identified with their feelings and worries because years before they went through this feeling of a spiritual valley, I also had the same experience with the same concerns that they expressed to me. My hunch is that this is something that is much more broad among Christians than what I've witnessed, but is a truth of many of our stories with the Lord.

Sadly, too often in Christian circles weight is put on how we "feel" in our relationship with the Lord. Buzzwords like passion, experience, and zeal lead people to think that spiritual maturity is reflected mostly by excitement and enthusiasm. To say it another way, Christians begin to think that their walk with the Lord must be characterized by these feelings otherwise it isn't being lived out completely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't have a passion for Jesus Christ, that our emotions shouldn't be displaying our love and gratitude to Him, or that there shouldn't be excitement as we learn more about Him. The Great Commandment teaches that we are to love the Lord with all of our being, including our emotions. What I am saying is that we need to think logically about our feelings being a barometer for our spiritual state.

Its logical that we will experience times when we are growing, learning, and maturing at a quick rate that causes us to feel more close and in step with the Lord. But as with anything you can't keep that pace up. When you begin a new book often its easy to read quickly through the first few chapters, but it becomes slow moving as you continue through that same book. Why? Because you've heard some of these points now, its not as cutting edge or exciting the fourth time the authors referenced the same point. In the same way, our relationship with the Lord is a walk and a process. There will be periods where we feel close to the Lord, others where we don't.

This is where faithfulness comes in. Paul states, "It is required of stewards that one be found faithful," in 1 Cor. 4:2. In other words, a person who desires to be a servant of Christ, or a minister of the gospel they have to be faithful or trustworthy. Notice the requirement is not to have that passion for Christ, that feeling in your gut, or anything else related to emotion. Instead the requirement is very tangible, its something that can be seen, practiced, even measured, its faithfulness. Faithfulness is remaining true to the Lord Jesus and walking in obedience to God's Word. Faithfulness is determined not in days or weeks, but in years and decades. Faithfulness pushes through difficulties and dry periods, and flourishes at times of growth and development. Faithfulness isn't determined by passion, feelings, but is based on obedience and discipline.

For many of us its easy to love the Lord and be obedient to His Word when we feel close to Him, when we are learning and growing. The challenge we face as followers of Christ is to love Christ by obeying His Word in the dry seasons when we don't feel like we are growing or learning like we did before. That is the test of faithfulness and the example that Jesus has shown to us. Find comfort in these words, "even when we are faithless, He remains faithful."


Friday, June 10, 2011

Step #1-Big Worries Small Feats

Over the next few weeks I'll be documenting this move to Fort Worth and all of the ways the Lord has provided and met our needs in ways that left us speechless. The purpose is twofold, first its a way for me to remember God's goodness in the midst of a stressful time with so much unknown. Second, I hope it serves as an encouragement to others as they face challenges or concerns in their own lives.

Going into the move, the biggest worry I had was selling our home. It was a wonderful house that we loved and had put multiple hours of labor into improving. Despite those improvements it was going to remain a 2 bedroom house, which is not ideal. It worked for us but as I found, was an immediate turnoff for a number of potential buyers.

We decided to try to sell it ourselves, or at least try for a few weeks and see if we could do it without a realtor. We weren't going to make much on it and knew that going in, but my biggest nightmare was having a mortgage in June, about to leave a perfectly good job, for a time when I'll be going back to being a student with no salary. I remember going to a seminar during this process where a guy talked about selling his house in a day. I sat in the corner and thought to myself, "That's great that the Lord did that for you, but what about the rest of us?" That night Jen and I started nightly praying for this move and the sale of our home primarily. The monday of Spring Break, three weeks after putting our house on the market, we signed with a realtor. It was a friend of ours from church who had helped us buy the house. The next day I left on our youth ski trip and Jen went to Tulsa to stay with her parents. On that day our realtor showed our house. On Thursday, while we were both still gone, that couple made an offer and we accepted. Did I mention they wanted to pay cash and let us pick the closing date?

What I learned from this experience was just how goofy I look when I question or doubt the Lord. It wasn't a day, but selling our house in three weeks in this market is the hand of God at work. The Lord used this experience as a reminder of just how easy he can answer my biggest worries and concerns. I'm reminded of Nahum 1:3, "His way is in the whirlwind and the storms and the clouds are the dust of His feet". That which we view as so great and powerful is dust before the Lord. The God we worship is much more powerful than we can imagine, much wiser than we can comprehend and is working in a way that is good for us. Secondly, I learned just how sweet communal prayer is when its for specific requests. Through this entire experience Jen and I have prayed specifically and been amazed as the Lord has answered swiftly and abundantly.

Next I'll look at Step #2-Hospitality at its Finest

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Experiencing Life Together

There's a great line towards the end of the movie, Hook after Peter Pan and the Lost Boys had defeated Captain Hook and the Pirates, and saved Peter's children. Peter is heading back to the real world and is flying up in the air as the Lost Boys are watching him leave likely for the last time, yet they smile as they watch their leader and friend leave and one boy simply says, "Now that was a great adventure." I'm sure the Lost Boys were sad to see him leave, but at the same time they weren't thinking about their loss, they were considering instead what they had just experienced together.

The past two weeks have been a bitter sweet time for my family and I. We are in the process of relocating to Dallas and leaving a church where I have been for over ten years. I've been the Youth Pastor for the last six years and have thoroughly enjoyed this time in our lives. People have asked if I was sad, I think some of the students may have been disappointed that I haven't cried about them, but certainly this doesn't mean that we haven't been sad to go. Some time ago, before I announced to the kids that we would be leaving I prayed that the Lord would allow me to enjoy the time I have with them, that instead of focusing on how difficult it would be to leave, we would be able to remember with fondness the great adventure we have just experienced together.

It would be impossible to mention every student or every memory that has made an impact in my life. The truth is in so many ways I have been effected, challenged, and encouraged by their testimony and by their ministry to me. I will always remember the times we witnessed God's marvelous creation on a ski trip, or served alongside each other on a mission trip. I will cherish the times we delved into the depths of God's Word to seek answers to some of life's most difficult questions or played volleyball well past our bed time (or at least mine!) Students often get a bad wrap, as if you just babysit them and can't deal with the meat of Scripture with them. In my experience our students were always open about their questions, and quick to look for answers. They visited us at the hospital for the birth of our sons, they wept with us when we lost Eliot. We have rejoiced with them as they won games, made homecoming, or graduated, and wept with them as they lost loved ones, or faced other disappointments in life.

My prayer for them as they move forward is much like what I've always wanted for them, that they would take ownership of their faith, not coming or believing simply because they feel they were expected, but because they are pursuing a relationship with the Lord on their own. Secondly, I've prayed for unity among the group. Unity stands in contrast to what we see throughout culture, I've always wanted the youth to be a united group of students who treated each other as family. Finally, I pray that they move forward in their faith and in their lives now that we have left to experience new and exciting adventures with the Lord as their guide, and others as their partners and leaders.

What's different about the Peter Pan/Lost Boy connection is that the only thing that united them was their friendship and the experiences they shared together. As time went by their experiences and friendship would wain because it had been so long since they had been united by their experiences. For us as Christians, we have far more in common, or in union with each other than just friendship and experiences. Jen and I will always be connected to those students who came through the "Youth House" between 2005-2011 because we are members of one body (1 Cor. 12), indwelt by one Spirit, following one Lord (Eph. 4:4-6). In God's sovereign plan He brought Jen and I to that place and has now led us away and it was a time we will never forget. We will always love those students and the time we shared with them because we experienced a great adventure together and that's something we'll never forget...

I'll share more about this move and God's great goodness manifested through His servants in the upcoming weeks, but for now I have to get back to getting ready!


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Love does not seek its own

I'm planning to do some more posting on how the Lord has gone before us (as I had mentioned in my previous post) in about 2 weeks, I want to finish the move before I reflect in this format about God's blessings and answers to prayer during this time of transition. Until then I've got another reflection for you that is a late Mother's Day reflection...

Recently, as I've been reading through 1 Kings I stumbled across a familiar story. I can remember hearing a story of Solomon's great wisdom as a kid in Sunday School and even as a small child you recognize that he was extraordinarily wise. The story goes that two women shared a home, both had children days apart, but sadly one woman had rolled over on her baby in the night. She awoke and found her child dead, and in a moment of panic quietly switched her dead baby with the other woman's live child. The two women came before Solomon both claiming the live child as their own. Solomon asked for a sword and stated that each woman would get half. The true mother quickly cried out, "Give the son to the other woman," while the other woman swept away in grief liked that the living son would be divided for I'm sure she thought, "if I can't have my son, neither should she have hers." Solomon quickly identifies the woman who sought to preserve the child's life as the true mother.

Even a casual reader has to recognize wisdom in the young King Solomon, but as I read it this time I asked the question, why? What is so wise about Solomon's response? What does he recognize in the mother's response?

Solomon recognizes that a mother, the one who selflessly cares, provides, and nurtures their child will seek the best for their child even if the situation demands that the best is not with them. A mother's love was put to the test in Solomon's response, does the mother love her child enough to let the child go so that he can live, or will the mother demand that the child must stay with her even if its to the child's detriment?

Love does not seek its own (1 Cor. 13:5), but seeks the best for the object of its love. Solomon's response impresses us because he recognized that a mother's love is so great and selfless that she will want the very best for her child even when that's at great cost to herself.

I'm blessed to have both received such love as a son from my mother, and to witness such selflessness by my wife for my sons.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Lord goes before us...

I apologize for the long silent period on this blog. We are in the process of moving which has taken a lot of my time as we searched for jobs, sold our house, found a temporary living arrangement, and then find a place to live in the Metroplex. I'm thinking limiting moves in life can probably increase one's life expectancy by a couple of months! I moved a lot as a child as my Dad took a job in Arkansas, or Oklahoma, or Mississippi. It became pretty common, but this move is the first one I've had in ten years!

I've been reading through 1 and 2 Samuel in my devotional time over the past several weeks. I came to 2 Sam. 5 where the Lord gives David directions concerning his battle strategy. The Lord tells David to wait to attack until he hears the sound of marching in the tops of the trees (5:24), that's the sign that the Lord has gone before him to strike down David's enemies. By this point David had distinguished himself as a great warrior, winning many victories over a host of different individuals and armies. Despite the status he had achieved, his faith will still resting on the Lord for the victory. Praise the Lord that in this time of change and uncertainty that the Lord has gone before us in this move. We can rest our trust and hope on Him to provide and meet the needs that we have. I'll explain in the upcoming days...

Friday, April 8, 2011

Distractions

I'm an honest enough OSU fan to realize that most of us as OSU fans have a serious complex about the other school in the state (I won't mention them here, but its not OBU). Its as if our version of success is always measured in comparison with how well they did that year. If we win 10 games but lose to them and they win 11 there's disappointment because we still didn't measure up to them. In sports rivalries thats normal and accepted, but within the church comparing ourselves to others is just a distraction from the focus we should keep upon Jesus alone.

In many cases I think we all could agree that often times we find ourselves comparing what we've done, etc. to someone else. It's as if we aren't comfortable allowing ourselves or our own growth or accomplishments to stand on their own. I can constantly compare myself to another, rather than simply serving Christ and remaining fixed upon Him.

As we walk by faith our attention should not be consumed with other traditions within Christianity, with other individuals, but our full attention and service should be done as we focus on Christ.

I'm often reminded of the last chapter of John's gospel as Jesus is commissioning Peter to shepherd the church (21:15-25). Peter begins to question and get concerned with John's life and ministry. Peter wants to know what John will be doing, and what Jesus' plans are for John, and Jesus' response is perfect, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" You see Jesus is reminding Peter, "stop worrying about John and his ministry, focus on your own walk with me." Its not that Peter didn't have a right to know what Jesus would do through John, or that it wouldn't have been beneficial, but Peter's attention was divided and Jesus wants him to snap out of it.

Sometimes our attention can become divided, we get too interested in comparing our theology or ministry or faithfulness to someone else's. When we do this we are, like Peter, a divided person. Isn't it interesting that Peter is asking about a brother in Christ and their ministry and yet that even that takes his attention away from following Christ. We can't follow Jesus to the utmost if we have one eye focused on someone else.

The key as Christians is to remain fixated on Jesus, being changed into His image, not to begin to look around at others and where they are at, but to maintain focus upon Him.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Hymn of the Month of April-When I survey the Wondrous Cross

With Easter coming at the end of the month the hymn for April had to be one that looked to the death and resurrection of Christ. For Hudson to get it and begin singing it I think the tune has to be something that sticks with him and I love this song's message and the tune is catchy so I'm hopeful we can teach it to Hudson. I'll be sure and update though!

Here are the lyrics;

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Staying connected to the Lifegiver

I have this tree in my backyard that is essentially dead. Hudson picks at it, I could probably kick it over as its rotting out, and despite how bad its trunk looks there are a number of branches that have these beautiful pink blooms. I've often scratched my head about these branches and how its even possible that they are blooming when they are connected to a trunk that looks as if it died years ago.

What I've often had to remember is the blooms on those branches don't come from the connection to the base, but the connection to the roots. If the branches were connected just to the base they would rot just as it has. You see its the roots that provide the life and blooms of the branches. The branches are alive because they are connected to something that provides life.

That old tree is a wonderful picture of Jesus' point in John 15 and the idea of abiding in Christ.

Often times I may attempt to be good, or do things that are righteous, but the truth of the matter is that "apart from Him I can do nothing," on my own I'm like that old tree trunk that is slowly dying, but having come to Christ and being connected to Him, as I maintain that union and connection with Him fruit is produced in my life.

Some branches on that old tree have more blooms than others, because their connection to the root is stronger than others. In the same way sometimes I'm truly abiding in Christ, sometimes I kind of am, and at other times I'm not. Jesus' heart in that passage is that all of his followers would enjoy the sweetness of abiding in Him fully and bear the fruits that others may see.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Ski Trip Memories

Last week we went on my final ski trip as Youth Pastor here at Countryside. That's six I led along with a 7th I went on as a youth leader. For fun, I thought I would list my 5 favorite things about our ski trips. Some are specific while others are just broad. Hope you enjoy!

5. Dinner-I don't know how other groups do dinner on these sorts of trips, but it was essential to me that we do dinner all together as a big group. I don't like the idea of clicks within a youth group and felt that we needed to be together to avoid falling into those small clicks that are so easy to do. With a group of 25 that sometimes meant we were nearly sitting on top of each other in one condo. That was okay because it meant we developed unity and camaraderie. I think it was always enjoyable as a group cooked and served their friends and contemporaries. The next night another group did the same so that every student had the opportunity to serve everyone else. It was a time when I think we truly experienced fellowship.

4. Skiing with my wife-Its been three years since she was able to ski with me (pregnancy and kids did that to her), but it was one of my favorite things to do with her. She was an excellent skier and better yet she liked to go on blues and to go fast!

3. The Stories- Every year students return home with a host of stories to share with their parents, friends, and teachers. They talk about jumps they went on and landed, how out of control they were, or how they wiped out before hitting a tree. I could share stories about a student tackling a person because the student couldn't stop and the person skied out in front of them, stories about being "cheese-slapped", or a beginner thinking he could land a jump who ended up losing skis and poles. I always enjoy reflecting on those stories with students years later, thankful that the Lord allowed me to experience that trip with them.
2. Skiing with Hudson- I don't know when I'll go on a ski trip again, but next time I'm taking my family and we all four will ski together. Last year Hudson came out and I taught him to ski the final day. Skiing with students is fun, but skiing with your son is by far the best!

1. Fresh Perspective- It wouldn't matter how often I went on a ski trip, I think I would always come away with a fresh perspective about who I am, and about who God is. I can't help but feel small as I stand before these large mounts that God merely spoke into existence. I'm humbled and feel pretty insignificant. I also come away in awe that God spoke and these large mountains were formed. Back home I have a tendency to think I'm pretty special, to think I'm something or that I'm really important. When I spend time in the mountains I am reminded just how small I am before the Lord. I find comfort knowing that my problems are really pretty small in comparison with the God I worship. From that stand point, I love these trips because I need this reminder, especially during this time in our lives.

Oh and by the way I skied with Matt Anson, so cross that off the New Year's Resolution List!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Living is Teaching


Perhaps one of the funniest things Hudson does is scrunch his nose up when he prays. It's as if he thinks if he opens his eyes his fate will be like those Nazis on Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Jen recently started something where each week at dinner we take time to talk about a missionary we are supporting and take time to pray for them. It's crucial to begin to pray together as a family while he is young. As parents that is our responsibility to begin to instruct him in the home, long before he enters a youth group or even children's ministry (Deut. 6:5-7).

As I reflect upon my own upbringing, I can't help but be grateful for the way my Mom taught me to pray. I can remember taking time before bed to spend praising the Lord with both of my brothers and my mom. How she was able to do that on a nightly basis with my poor attitude towards the activity I'll never know, but I'll also never be able to express my gratitude for her perseverance. My mom taught me a method to pray. It begins with praise, looking at God's nature and character, then thanksgiving based on what God has done, followed by confession of my own sin, and finally intercession for others and myself. It's not just that Mom taught me a method, but she also taught me that any occasion was a reason to pray. We prayed for close parking spots at the grocery store, we prayed for health on the football field and B's in Spanish 2, and we prayed for the firemen on the fire truck and those they were going to help (this weekend she prayed with Hudson that the Cars DVD would work!). At the time I may have thought this was odd or not important enough to mention to the Lord. What I've come to realize is that she was living out Philippians 4:6-7, but she was also acting upon God's character that as our Good Father no problem or care is too small for Him, or too little for Him to answer.

Not to long ago an ambulance whizzed by my car as Hudson and I were going somewhere. I found myself explaining where they were going and telling Hudson that we needed to take a moment to pray for the ambulance workers and the people they were going to help. Thank you Mom for the method of prayer, but more than that thanks for the example.


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Hymn of the Month of March-How Great Thou Art

It was Jen's pick this month and she decided to go with another all time classic, "How Great Thou Art."

For those of you wondering if Hudson is picking them up, he absolutely loves to sing! We sing on the way home from church, around the house, and before he goes to bed. It took some time for him to get into "It is Well," but literally on one car ride I taught him the words and he grew to really enjoy it. We even heard him singing it while he was laying in bed falling asleep that same evening. Like praying, listening to your child sing these historic and Christ-centered songs can make a parent's heart melt. I pray regularly that the boys would grow to love worship, I'm so thankful for those who work with him at church like Heather Gosz, Abby Cantrell, Lisa Cummings (whom he loves to sing with), and countless others. They are planting seeds in his heart for the Lord and I am indebted to them for their investment.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Brotherly Love

The big change around our house of late is the sleeping arrangements. About 2 weeks ago Jen called upset with Athan's nap and said she was ready to move him into Hudson's room. This has been the plan for awhile and she was ready for the move, believing that since neither was sleeping well there was no harm in moving them now. We expected some rough nights to say the least. Hudson can easily lay in his bed till 10:00 p.m. singing and talking, while Athan is still waking up atleast 2 times in the middle of the night. The expectation was that both of them would wake each other up and we would never sleep. To our surprise they have done absolutely terrific with each other!

Last night, as I was going to bed I snuck in there and took these pictures of the boys.
Through this transition I've had plenty of time to reflect on my own childhood and the great fun I had sharing a room with my brother David. We shared more than a room, we shared a childhood. My memories with him center around GI Joe's, Nintendo, sports, and a whole host of other boyhood experiences. We became close friends and that friendship continues even to this day. Most nights as I pray for the boys I ask the Lord that He would grant them conviction to believe in His Son, but I pray for a host of other things for example that they would be lifelong friends united not by blood alone but also in Spirit.

I've often thought there could be no better life than the one Peter and Andrew, or James and John got to lead. They were each called to follow the Son of God on a life changing mission and they got to do so with their brother! What's amazing is that in John 1 when Andrew finds Jesus the first person he goes to find is his brother. That has to say something about the value he puts in that relationship! That's my prayer as well, that when Hudson learns something exciting about the Word, he would go to Athan to share that truth and visa-versa. Nothing could make their father more pleased!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Unity's Message

A little over a month ago the President presented his State of the Union address. This annual speech was presented to a unique crowd. Unlike most addresses where the members of Congress find their seat next to their buddies of their own political party, the members were intermingled as a display of unity and solidarity over the tragic events in Arizona. It was fun to listen to the experts after the speech who seemed at a loss for words over the display. This speech will standout in history not so much for what was said, or how well they come together to enact what the president presented, but because of the unity that was displayed between the two parties.

Unity stands out in our world. Its different, its unnatural for us as fallen human beings. Why? Because it requires humility. In Mark 10:45 we find Jesus acknowledging that His purpose in coming to Earth was to serve and die. But examine the context and you see His reasoning for making this claim is that among his disciples a disagreement had broken out with James and John making a request for prime seats in the kingdom. His statement not only rebukes them, but it provides the key to restoring unity among the group as a whole. Ironically, the disciples argued about this again at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24), likely before Jesus washed their feet to show them once again the example of humility they were to follow (John 13:1-15).

The state of the union this year was different because they were united. People will likely remember it and talk about it for years because Congress didn't sit by their friends, but were mixed up. We as the church should display unity as people who are one in Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6) so that when people walk in our doors they see people enjoying community and relationships with others despite our differences. The message of unity is that something unique and different is taking place, and certainly the church has a Savior and God that is different and unique, who unites rather than divides, and restores even those who have broken. This is a message that we live out when we humbly serve those within our church as Christ commands.

Rather than looking at this from a large scale view of the church, I prefer to take individual churches and ask are we united? In my case, do I display the humility with my brothers and sisters in Christ at Countryside that is necessary for us to be succeeding in proclaiming the message of unity in Christ?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Origin of Green Bay Packer Fandom and Super Bowl Pick

I'm often asked about my love for the Green Bay Packers and I'll admit it is strange that someone whose only once been north of Missouri has such an obsession with a team from Wisconsin. I've done some reflecting and here's the story;

As a kid on the playground I was always a receiver when we played football. I enjoyed catching the ball, particularly after I ran passed someone and was able to score a touchdown. Sterling Sharpe (pictured on the right) was the receiver I loved. He was big, fast, and had terrific hands. It just so happened that he played for the Green Bay Packers. As I watched them I found myself not just cheering for Sharpe, but cheering for the team. Guys like Reggie White, who was an ordained minister and a hall of famer with Green Bay, Robert Brooks, who I met in person at an SEC legends dinner for my Dad, and of course Brett Favre won me over to the "Cheeseheads" permanently. In 6th Grade I got the Green Bay starter jacket which sealed the deal, I was a Packers' fan for life. In my seventeen years of rooting for the Packers I have bought more Packers gear than I'd care to admit, seen them play twice in person, and will now see them play in the Super Bowl for the third time (which seems like a lot when you consider that teams with great history like the Vikings haven't played in one since the seventies or the Lions ever).

The Packers give me no reason not to like them. They have no pre-madonna owner, but instead are publicly owned. They don't spend frivolously, but are good with money almost to the point of being frugal. They are located in a town around the size of Tulsa, rather than a Metropolis like New York or L.A. For all intents and purposes they would make more since in the Arena League than in the NFL. Even the way they handled the Favre situation left me, a boy who idolized Favre, siding with the team rather than the hero.

So much in our lives change. Our taste in music, vehicle we drive, even fashion sense change over the course of time. Its fun to have things that continue from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. That's the thing that makes me even more passionate about my love for the Packers now as an adult, because it reminds me of my childhood. It reminds me of those Junior High mornings waiting outside the school with my jacket and stocking cap, it reminds me of that high school night when they won the Super Bowl. Its also something I have loved sharing with others. That starter jacket wasn't tossed in the dump, but was given to my favorite AWANA kid who was also a Packers fan. He and I bonded over memorizing Scripture and cheering for the Packers. When given two tickets to a Cowboys-Packers game a few years ago I chose to take one of our students, a die hard Packers fan too. Now as a father its fun to watch the Packers with Hudson. I think I could even get Jen to wear Packers gear if I caught her on a good day!

Now for my Super Bowl Pick;
Keep in mind this is obviously biased. I think we are going to see a great game, not just because the teams are evenly matched, played a close game last year, and have solid defenses, but because both have a tendency to play to their competition. Both should have won their Championship games going away but instead made them much closer than they should have been.

As a Packers fan, I have felt that all playoffs long the defense has not gotten the publicity they deserve. Everyone wants to talk about Rogers, but the D has carried the team all year. I can't help but feel positive that their beat up o-line will struggle to run the ball or protect the passer and as a result Big Ben will seek to make too many plays against an experienced and aggressive Packers secondary. That should create turnovers.

On the other side of the ball the Steelers defense is scary good. They rush the passer, stop the run, and create turnovers like crazy. Two things make me feel better about this matchup; first, its in a dome on turf and the Packers offense is very quick. Green Bay will play with 3-4 receivers and pick on that 3rd and 4th corner. Second, the Patriots spread the Steelers out earlier in the year and torched them. Now Rodgers is no Brady, but neither are the Patriots receivers in the same category as the Packers receivers. If the offense can score some points early I'll feel very good.

I'm nervous because of the Steelers experience in big games and ability to create turnovers. But, if the Packers don't turn the ball over and can pressure Big Ben I think they win.

Final Score: 24-13 Go Pack Go

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Hymn of the Month of February-It is Well with My Soul

  1. Going back to my 26 goals for 2011, Jen and I said we would teach the boys 1 hymn every month with us alternating who got to pick the hymn. I got to choose the hymn for February and I chose...

  2. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.
    • Refrain:
      It is well, with my soul,
      It is well, it is well, with my soul.
  3. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
  4. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
  5. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
    If Jordan above me shall roll,
    No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
    Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
  6. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
    The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
    Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
    Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
  7. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.

Considering this will be for a 3 year old, we will probably only teach him the first and last verse. The hymn was written by Horatio Spafford, a close friend of D.L. Moody. The story of the hymn is inspiring and moving. In periods of great loss its incredible to see people whose faith stands firm and whose response echoes that of Job who said, "The Lord giveth and the the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

I'll give my Super Bowl synopsis later in the week!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Do you even care?

For those of you who know me well you must be aware of my desire to read historical works, particularly the Church Fathers (I admit I'm a nerd who named his son after Athanasius). I've spent time on this blog challenging all who read to pick up something ancient rather than Christianbook.com's top seller, as it stands the tests of time. I believe that great men and women of the faith from other time periods in other parts of the world can contribute something to our walk with the Lord that Chuck Swindoll and John MacArthur simply cannot.

I've recently been reading The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll, a book describing the failure of evangelical churches in the United States from emphasizing the worship of the Lord with one's mind. Noll is a brilliant historian who chronicles the history of the church in America and the foundations that led to this problem. I came across a quote describing two revivalists in the early 19th Century and their response to;

When quotations from Calvin were used to argue against Robert Marshall and J. Thompson, they replied, "We are not personally acquainted with the writings of John Calvin, nor are we certain how nearly we agree with his views of divine truth; neither do we care."

Ouch. They don't even care? Now regardless of your perspective on Calvin I think we can agree that his writings and teachings can provide wonderful defense and explanation for so much of basic Christian beliefs.

The sad truth is that often times we emphasize the individual response of a person so much that they begin to feel that their own competence is all they need. In many ways American individualism contributes to the problem we have with people claiming to be Christians who see no point in attending church or gathering with other believers. Their opinion is that they have Christ and their Bible, what else is necessary?

Despite the fact that salvation is an individual response in faith, and that one is saved individually by Christ, what they are saved into is a corporate body. That's the beauty of the body of Christ, we each are lacking and made with a need for others to be complete (1 Cor. 12). But, we also are made and gifted with something to contribute to the rest of the Body of believers. This contribution can be in the form of encouragement, teaching, service, or a number of other possibilities. Calvin stated that the church was the body of believers from all time and although I may have some hesitancy saying the church includes believers before Christ, it stands to reason that even those who came before us can contribute to our growth in the Lord through their example and writings.

So, in conclusion, do you care what those brothers and sisters in Christ who came before studied, learned, and taught? There's a challenge for the weekend!

Go Pack Go!

J



Thursday, January 20, 2011

Warming Up Stillwater


Much of this week has been centered around an event we are calling "Warming Up Stillwater". The event is this Saturday at the Stillwater Community Center from 6-8. Its a chili feed along with coat distribution of nearly 400 coats that our church has collected in the past couple of weeks. The event was a collaboration of a number of different people thinking about ways that our church could become more involved within the community. We won't be promoting our church, handing out information about Countryside, or trying to tell people why they need to be with us instead of with someone else on Sunday mornings. Instead, we'll slip the "Gospel of John" into a pocket of each coat, along with setting up a prayer room down the hall for anyone who may need prayer or would like someone to talk to about spiritual issues. We're doing it this way because its not about us, its not about showing off Countryside, or our ministries, or facilities. This event is centered around helping the helpless and planting seeds not for Countryside, but for Jesus Christ. We are calling it "Warming Up Stillwater" because the goal is to keep them physically warm with coats and hot chili, but the reality is without the light of the world they are in spiritual darkness and in the cold (John 1:4). Jesus is the only one who can truly bring them light and hope and we long to display the love of Christ through our actions and to discuss the person and work of Jesus with many on Saturday evening.

I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the feedback and help I have received from people within the church. I have been impressed with the desire people have to serve others and truly show love and compassion to others as Christ has commanded. People have bought new coats, donated sacks of used coats, volunteered to make chili, brownies, serve, share a testimony, and do anything else to help make the night a success. My prayer is that this is the first in a long line of opportunities that our church takes to be a blessing to the people in the Stillwater community by helping those who are in need. If you know of someone in the community who may need a coat for themselves or their children be sure and tell them about the event.

To live is Christ,

Jay


Friday, January 14, 2011

Update to the 26 goals for 2011

January 12th- Jen stated that she was tired of her computer and wants me to sell it for her. She admitted that she may have trouble, but would transition to a Mac. I said I needed to accomplish one goal every two weeks. So far so good!

Also, instead of convincing Jen to lead us in a hymn every night we are going to have a hymn for every month that we teach Hudson and try to sing regularly together. We've taught him Great is Thy Faithfulness and Amazing Grace over the last two months (more so because they would calm Athan when we sang them). I get to pick the hymn for February...

Public Unity

Two weeks ago I finished Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. The book is written as a study of Christian Community and is a quick and easy read (its a little over 100 pages with size 14 font). One of the points that I particularly enjoyed was his emphasis on public worship.

He says, "Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak and pray the same Word at the same time; in other words, because here they can unite in the Word."

The church is united as One Body, yet this unity that we share is spiritual, unseen by the eye. We cannot see the unity we share, nor can the outside world. Only God truly knows who is united together in the body of Christ. Public worship is a way to visibly reveal this unity.

Think about it, as we gather on Sunday mornings what do we do? Someone prays, then reads the Bible, then we sing, then one person sings, then someone gets up and teaches, and finally that person prays and its over. In every activity one person is doing the act of worship while everyone else is passive, except one. When we sing! Bonhoeffer's point is that our spiritual unity is made known publicly only when we sing because during that time our voices are united together in praise to our God. One of the reasons its important to sing together is that when we lift our voices together it is a testimony of the unity we have found with those around us in Christ.

Bonhoeffer also saw communion as accomplishing the same purpose. In communion we all take the bread and wine together, the bread symbolizing the body of Christ, which is now the church, the wine representing the blood which was spilt for each of our sins. The act of communion not only symbolizes the unity we share in Christ, but literally does unite us.

Some may question the importance of coming to the service on Sundays. The reasoning may be that they don't "do much" or contribute to the service. Bonhoeffer's quote not only shows the importance of coming to the service, but of taking part in the worship through song and communion as a testimony to unbelievers, and as an encouragement to brothers and sisters in Christ of the unity we have found in Jesus alone.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

26 Goals for 2011

I thought I'd start this year off right with setting 26 goals for the new year. As opposed to setting one big resolution that you either complete or fail, for example losing weight, I'm going to try a new philosophy of having 26 goals for the new year. With these numbers I should average accomplishing one every two weeks which really isn't too bad. That way at the end of the year its not an all or nothing, pass or fail situation, but rather its something where I can focus on the one's I did accomplish and re-think the one's I set that I failed to complete. Some are serious, some are not so much, some focus on my family, while others are individual goals. So here it is...

26. Teach Athan to say Momma before Daddy. The thinking here is this should earn me some points with Jen as what Dad selflessly teaches Momma before Daddy to his son:)
25. Survive another Lock-in. I'm getting older and get real grumpy after 3AM. Perhaps I should change this to "Have all the kids survive me during another lock-in".
24. Get my internet changed so I can get ESPN3. The cable company no longer gives us ESPN in black and white for free so I'm forced to explore other options.
23. Teach Matt Anson to ski well enough to not be a danger to himself or those around him. He's a great kid who has never skied before and I'm either going to teach him or die trying. Not really, but I love a good challenge on the slopes!
22. Give up Coke cold turkey for Lent. Harder than it sounds, did you see my bio?
21. Help Athan learn to walk before he turns 1 year. A sure sign of athletic greatness in his future.
20. Make an A in two of the three Greek classes I'll take this year. Easily the most difficult, perhaps impossible. I showed my Spanish 2 teacher though...
19. Convince Jen to lead us in a hymn at dinner regularly. Something we've done inconsistently and have agreed we should do more. The great part is Hudson loves to sing these old hymns with us.
18. Play a round of golf at Old Waverly with my dad and brothers. Dad can get us on no trouble, its just an issue of getting down there with my clubs at the same time that my brothers are there...
17. Get Athan to sleep through the night regularly. So very close. Sigh..
16. See a Water Buffalo in person.
15. Rid the yard of those pesky moles.
14. Convince Jen to get rid of her Dell and get a Mac for our home computer. Maybe the easiest on the list all I have to do is ask her to use the Dell daily and it will do the convincing with its stalling out and faulty operating system.
13. Memorize the book of Philemon. Its a great letter and it would be nice to knock out a whole book of the Bible "Book of Eli" style.
12. Tile something. Its my new favorite hobby that combines temptation to cuss and break something halfway through with a great amount of pride at the end of the job!
11. Take Jen to the Warren Theatre in Moore for a movie of her choice. I've got to kick up my "husband taking the reigns" on date night now that I have two kids and I've heard this is a really cool place to go.
10. Finish the Youth Ministry Curriculum at Countryside. So close...
9. Daily do 200 pushups. Its my first and only step at a regular workout.
8. See Cars 2 in the theatre with Hudson. Comes out in June.
7. Teach Job 1-2 in some capacity. Perhaps my favorite book in the Bible and a place we rarely here preached from.
6. Read Calvin's Institutes. I've read portions now its time to connect all of the dots and conquer that beast.
5. See the Packers play in person. They do play in Kansas City and if that didn't work I would count a preseason game.
4. Build up my Kindle Library. Shouldn't be difficult, most of the books I want are by dead guys which means I can get them extremely cheap. We're talking under $5 for everything Jonathan Edwards ever wrote.
3. Get a big idea for where certain parables and main passages are in the Gospel of Luke. I feel like I have much of the other three gospels down. For example if you asked me where Jesus washed the disciples feet, or fed the 5,000 in the Gospel of John, or what takes place in Matthew 20 or Mark 10 I could easily tell you with some level of comfort and authority. Luke I still need to think through...
2. Convince Hudson to have a Green Bay Packers Birthday party. The theory is that if I can convince him then he can work on his Mom.
1. Blog 52 times. Once a week shouldn't be too difficult, and I've already got one down, now only 51 to go!