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.

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!

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.

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.