Saturday was great wasn't it?! At least here in my neck of the woods.
You might think that I'm a little crazy, but part of my great morning was spent changing the oil in our car. There is something satisfying about accomplishing something with my hands...especially something that I've been paying people to do for years. The great weather, along with no surprises made for a great little project. Thanks Dad for teaching me the how-to's long ago!
My great Saturday continued on to a wonderful time with my ladies (Heidi and Olivia) and some friends. We hopped over to our friends' pool and had a great time hanging out and introducing Olivia to the fun of a pool. I really don't think that I could have had a better time. Good times with people you love...you just can't beat it! Oh, and during the process, I found out that I'm just a little protective of Olivia...imagine that (I love being a dad!).
Sunday continued my great weekend as Stu kicked off a great new series called "House". You're going to miss out if you don't attend or listen to the talk online. Practical preaching! I also had the opportunity to talk to several guests that have just recently started attending Waters Edge. I can't believe how Christ is working to bring crazy amounts of people to experience Himself. One girl that I talked to today, said that she loves the experiences so much that she tells everyone about it (And hearing this from people at Waters Edge is not abnormal!). I say this to celebrate what God is doing. To stake a sign in the ground and praise my God who transformed lives in the past, AND is continuing to change lives in the present. How awesome is it that God is healing marriages, bringing people out of addiction and depression, and giving life to those that he has created? It is wonderful and humbling to think about and meditate on the things that God is accomplishing!....ok, I'm getting fired up and long-winded so let me wrap this up for you.
I take note of the wonderful experiences that I have been given, so that I can enjoy them all the more! I'm living in the land of hope (you've gotta listen to Sunday's talk online!)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
What a Blessing!
Have you ever been blessed by someone secretly? It's difficult to not know the person that you need to thank, or try to repay them for their kindness. The book that I just read, The Spirit of the Disciplines, talks about a spiritual discipline of "secrecy". In this discipline you hide your acts of kindness/service to take on the role of serving others and to learn to be motivated by God's approval alone.
Well, I didn't really want to talk about that discipline that much, but, today I was blessed so much by somebody practicing this discipline that I couldn't keep quiet. Today I recieved two gift cards worth $500, to bless my wife Heidi in some specific ways and to bless us as a family in some specific ways. All day today I have just been on the verge of joyous tears for the blessing that we have been given.
Dear blessor of mine, if you are reading, thank you! Your blessing is far more valuable than the $500 worth of "stuff" that we will soon purchase. Thank you!
God, I pray that you would protect my blessor. Please hear their prayers and very tangibly meet a prayer request that they have been talking to you about. Amen.
Well, I didn't really want to talk about that discipline that much, but, today I was blessed so much by somebody practicing this discipline that I couldn't keep quiet. Today I recieved two gift cards worth $500, to bless my wife Heidi in some specific ways and to bless us as a family in some specific ways. All day today I have just been on the verge of joyous tears for the blessing that we have been given.
Dear blessor of mine, if you are reading, thank you! Your blessing is far more valuable than the $500 worth of "stuff" that we will soon purchase. Thank you!
God, I pray that you would protect my blessor. Please hear their prayers and very tangibly meet a prayer request that they have been talking to you about. Amen.
Showing Honor Where Honor is Due
Yesterday, Stu Hodges brought a great talk about honor. It was so good that I listened to it twice!
A quick summary of the message is that God calls us to honor others. He specifically calls us to honor people in authority over us like parents, government authorities, and the spiritual teachers in our lives.
Please allow me to take a moment to honor a couple that have had an immeasurable impact on me.
Dad - I will never forget the ways you poured out your life to provide me with opportunities and blessings you did not have. Your ability to overcome the electrical accident and the loss of your arm is, and will always be, an unparalled example of courage and determination to me. I am grateful for the many memories that illustrate these qualities being lived out as a man and father. Dad, I am so proud to be your son and especially to have the privilege of carrying on your name!
Mom - You have been a constant source of encouragement. I cannot count the times that you have encouraged me through words and gifts and quality time and acts of service. Constant really does accurately describe the encouragement that you have given to me. Your ability to push your own wants and needs aside to care for and encourage me has been, and will continue to be, a humbling example of what an attitude of service looks like in life. Mom, I am so grateful for the blessing of being your son!
A quick summary of the message is that God calls us to honor others. He specifically calls us to honor people in authority over us like parents, government authorities, and the spiritual teachers in our lives.
Please allow me to take a moment to honor a couple that have had an immeasurable impact on me.
Dad - I will never forget the ways you poured out your life to provide me with opportunities and blessings you did not have. Your ability to overcome the electrical accident and the loss of your arm is, and will always be, an unparalled example of courage and determination to me. I am grateful for the many memories that illustrate these qualities being lived out as a man and father. Dad, I am so proud to be your son and especially to have the privilege of carrying on your name!
Mom - You have been a constant source of encouragement. I cannot count the times that you have encouraged me through words and gifts and quality time and acts of service. Constant really does accurately describe the encouragement that you have given to me. Your ability to push your own wants and needs aside to care for and encourage me has been, and will continue to be, a humbling example of what an attitude of service looks like in life. Mom, I am so grateful for the blessing of being your son!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy 4th of July!
I've had a great 4th of July! My folks are in town, I had dinner and a great evening with some friends of ours, and I ran (1.5 miles) for the first time since August.
I can't wait to continue the celebration at Waters Edge on Sunday. If you are in town on Sunday you need to change your plans to make sure you attend one of our services. It's going to be incredible!
I can't wait to continue the celebration at Waters Edge on Sunday. If you are in town on Sunday you need to change your plans to make sure you attend one of our services. It's going to be incredible!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Daydreaming or Living in the Moment
I continue to realize patterns in my life. One such pattern is daydreaming, spacing out, fantasizing...whatever you would like to call it. Certainly you have experienced this as well. Whether it is dreaming about the bright future that you have, wondering about how the difficult conversation you're about to have will go, or dreaming about how you would defend your family from an army of ninjas that descend upon your home...you know normal things ;-)
Recently, I've been noticing the impact of this time spent away from reality, from the now, the present. I continue to see a huge impact on my life from years of fantasizing about women during my addiction. Those hours upon hours spent away from reality warped my thoughts about sexuality, women, myself and affected my interaction with reality. It is as if I lost some of my ability to deal with and interact in real situations. I much preferred the haven of a fantasy, where I had the control, and the power.
For me, I can see the most impact from the years that I invested in sexual fantasies. But, not everyone loses track of reality through sexual fantasies. Maybe it is spending time worrying about what would happen if a loved one died, or your job was terminated. Others may spend too much time thinking about what might happen in the future, or too much time thinking about the past and what should have been.
I'm convinced that I must learn to live in the moment and choose to make a real difference instead of gaining pleasure from a fake victory, conversation, or adventure.
Recently, I've been noticing the impact of this time spent away from reality, from the now, the present. I continue to see a huge impact on my life from years of fantasizing about women during my addiction. Those hours upon hours spent away from reality warped my thoughts about sexuality, women, myself and affected my interaction with reality. It is as if I lost some of my ability to deal with and interact in real situations. I much preferred the haven of a fantasy, where I had the control, and the power.
For me, I can see the most impact from the years that I invested in sexual fantasies. But, not everyone loses track of reality through sexual fantasies. Maybe it is spending time worrying about what would happen if a loved one died, or your job was terminated. Others may spend too much time thinking about what might happen in the future, or too much time thinking about the past and what should have been.
I'm convinced that I must learn to live in the moment and choose to make a real difference instead of gaining pleasure from a fake victory, conversation, or adventure.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Stop and Celebrate
I just finished a tough read. Spirit of the Disciplines by Willard was a challenging look at spiritual exercises that Jesus modeled, and the disciples put into practice to grow spiritually. I'm sure I'll talk more about this in the future.One of the excercises discussed is the act of celebrating the great things in your life as gifts from God. This past Monday night we tried to practice this at my CG...it was a little rough, but we had some fun with it.
I never want to overlook the great things about my life and focus on the hardships. So, let's celebrate...yes, right now, let's celebrate!
I celebrate...
Olivia's smiles when she sees me
A kiss from my wife Heidi
The peace I experienced during my prayer time at lunch
The great weather today
The ability to laugh
Having no more back pain!
How about you? What can you celebrate?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
I love my CG
Last night at our Community Group meeting we listened to a talk by Andy Stanley. It was about our need for relationships, for community, in our spiritual progress.
This year I am being more and more challenged by the truth that community brings blessing...but also a cost. Community is not something that will just find you, or me. It is not something that is flying around like a butterfly and might land on you. No, it is something that we must pay in initiative, time, and energy. Maybe you are a social butterfly and this comes natural to you, but me, I'm a home-body. I'm really comfortable in my own home, keeping myself busy with the things that I think need to be accomplished there. However, community will never find me, I must pursue it.
The group that I'm in has been perfectly placed in this time in my life. I just feel like we are bursting with potential in wrestling through the development of relationships, our spiritual walks, and life in general. I am so thankful for my group. If you guys are reading, "I love ya! I'll see ya next week!"
This year I am being more and more challenged by the truth that community brings blessing...but also a cost. Community is not something that will just find you, or me. It is not something that is flying around like a butterfly and might land on you. No, it is something that we must pay in initiative, time, and energy. Maybe you are a social butterfly and this comes natural to you, but me, I'm a home-body. I'm really comfortable in my own home, keeping myself busy with the things that I think need to be accomplished there. However, community will never find me, I must pursue it.
The group that I'm in has been perfectly placed in this time in my life. I just feel like we are bursting with potential in wrestling through the development of relationships, our spiritual walks, and life in general. I am so thankful for my group. If you guys are reading, "I love ya! I'll see ya next week!"
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