The Journey

A Long Time

It has been a long time since my last blog.  Tonight I am at home helping my wife with two sick kids (maybe three).  Sadly I missed LIFEgroup this evening.  Well, it is time to put the kids to bed and find a good book to read.

Granite City, Illinois

We just arrived in Granite CIty, Illinois.  It was an uneventful trip--everyone behaved!

Eve of the Journey

Well, I am about to crash.  The packing done, the kids are asleep (except for Matthew), and I think I got everything ready for the trip to Florida.  My goal is to have fun with the family and connect with old friends in the ministry.  I'm not sure how General Council will go.  There are some resolutions that I have concerns about, but nothing very serious.  Keep us in your prayers as we travel.  Our first stop is in Granite City, Illinois--and to be with friends from our last church.

Getting Ready

We're just three days away from our journey to Florida.  Angela has most of the packing finished and everyone has pitched in to get the house ready.  Today our focus is tying up all the loose ends, including finding my lost cell phone.  I was going to do the yard work tonight, but, "sadly" a storm is coming through.  Oh well. 

I am also working on my next sermon series that will begin on Sunday, August 16th.  Actually I am working two series, one for the morning and one for the evening services.  The morning series will center on the theme of "Doing Life Together."  We need one another--we need others to help us grow and become strong.  I want to show through Scripture God's plan for a community of believers, working together toward maturity and spiritual health.  In the evening, my thoughts center on how we can be an over-comer to the hang-ups in life--those big obstacles that invite defeat and frustration.  So, we will look at four big issues that overpower so many: anger, fear, doubt, and discouragement.

Family Time

Yesterday I took the wife and kids to the Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.  We had a wonderful time looking at all the animals.  The kids really enjoyed the opportunity to visit all the exhibits. Their favorite time was in the American Farm area.   

Taking the Trail

I decided to build some margins into my life today. Sometimes pastoring a church can be highly stressful.  This afternoon, I left the office to be with my kids and wife.  I wasn't interested in staying at home, and I had no desire to watch TV.  So I loaded the Suburban with the family and we went to Konza Prairie, a nature reserve south of Manhattan.

It was the perfect day for a hike.  No bugs, the temperature was in the mid-seventies, and the kids were ready to run free.  I was surprised at their stamina--we walked the short trail (about two-and-a-half miles) with few complaints.  Even my soon-to-be two year old was enthusiastic.  There were certain aspects of the trail that was difficult for the kids, but they all did great.  It was a wonderful experience to not worry about people, facilities, ministries, finances, missionaries--well, you get the picture.

Increase the Margins

Busy!  I keep thinking that next week or next month life will become simple and less hectic.  My thinking is wrong.  Every week life gets more complex and more stuff fills my day.  This week, there was staff meetings, Ravi Zacharias, more meetings, sermon prep, more sermon prep, family, and my wife's ministry conference in Wichita (that is where I am right now).  For two months now I have been looking for a few free days to take the family to Illinois to visit friends.  Impossible!

Is it really impossible or just poor planning?  Yes, life is crowded with stuff, but we have the ability to master the stuff rather than having the stuff master us.  I need to learn the discipline of building margins into my life--time for family, recreation, and fun.  I think all of us need to learn to increase margins into our daily and weekly activities.  As one over-used cliche reveals: "all work and no play makes for a very dull (and long) day."

What do you think?

Christmastime

Christmas is my favorite time of year.  Some would like to rebuke me for that statement.  I know that Jesus most likely was not born on December 25th.  I have been made aware that that date was connected with a Roman god.  I know that Christmas has been commercialized and much of "Christmas" has nothing to do with Christ.

So why is Christmas my favorite time of year?  First it is a convenient time to dwell on the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.  The fulfillment of God's promises of the Old Testament and the arrival of the Savior is an important part of the truth of hope and redemption.  And so, I will remind myself during these months of God's plan for me--His love, truth, and hope.  Another reason why I celebrate Christmas is to honor God's gift of marriage and family.  My wife and four children are a precious gift--I will give thanks and remind myself of responsibility and sacrifice.  Third, I like the Christmas songs.

Others may give a good reason why we should not celebrate Christmas.  I respect their views.  But, I must confess that I enjoy this time of year--lights, decorations, the tree, family--and most of all, the love of God through His Son, Jesus.

God bless us everyone!

Reasons to be Thankfull - Part Two

I am a blessed person.  I know that I do not deserve God's grace and mercy.  I've blown it often enough.  But, He stayed right next to me--thick or thin, in the valleys and on the mountain tops.  He always gently reminded that He loved me and cared for me.  There were times that I doubted--there were times where I felt alone.  But, He was always there.  One of my prayers--my requests of God, from the time I was a young teenager, was for a godly wife.  For much of my adult life I wondered if God would answer that prayer.  Then, in 1998, over a dinner at a German restaurant, I discovered God's answer.  Several months later Angela and I were engaged--to be married! 

I remember as if it was today when we exchanged our vows.  It has been nine years since that day--and I still consider myself most blessed. 

Ministry can be difficult and cruel.  My wife gives me stability and safety.  She is God's gift to me.  My love for her just continues to grow day by day.  Thanks God!

Reasons to be Thankful - Part One

In less that two weeks we will set around the dinner table and feast on turkey, mashed-potatoes, yams, corn, and other good stuff.  But, before the first morsel enters my mouth, I will offer a prayer of thanksgiving and worship to God for all His faithfulness.  In light of this American tradition, I began working on my Sunday messages about gratitude and joy.  This has caused me to think about thanking--thanking God for all his blessings in my life.

One of the points of gratitude in my life is my children.  Eleven years ago I was confident I would never marry or have children.  Today I am blessed with four beautiful, smart, entertaining children.  Amariah, Ethan, McKenna, and Matthew bring me so much joy, laughter, and occasionally the sleepless night.   Angela and I require patience, flexibility, and creativity to lead and guide these four bundles of joy.  Is it hard work?  YEP!  But, it is the kind of work that brings rich dividends.  Right now my kids are getting ready to watch a Christmas movie on TV.  Tonight we will weather the sibling rivalries, a fight or two, and the frustration of announcing bedtime.  But through it all God is so good to us.