I Love…
The last couple days I have heard one word thrown out for everything. It’s a powerful word love and although it has so many meetings I think that it can be cheapened if not used in the right context. Here are a few ways that I have heard it used in and I may have used it myself.
- I love this weather.
- I love this song.
- I love pizza.
- I love March Madness.
- I love Starbucks.
- I love the Sweet Lord Baby Jesus.
- I love you.
- I love those shoes.
- I love to ________________…
I think you get my point that we use that word love without realizing the power of that word. I was taught in college that to love in it’s proper context is to provide, promote & protect. Something to think about when we are throwing out our words to not say it unless we really mean it.
What’s your thoughts on the word love and how it is used?
Underdog’s & Zyrtec
There is something about the seasons changing that gets me all excited. Maybe it’s because I love change. I know some people hate it and even fear it but I love change. I love the adventure and the challenge that it brings. I love mixing things up and flying by the seat of my pants, which I have no idea what that means and it honestly does not sound very comfortable. So Spring is coming and with that a fresh start and a chance to maybe even renew some goals that fell apart by January 6th. Here are a few reasons why I like spring.
- Yes it’s getting warmer which is nice until the humidity is at 80%. Then I’m ready for fall.
- Yes I don’t have to shovel, de-ice, defrost or layer up.
- Yes I will spend my weekly allowance on products like Clariton and Zyrtec.
- Yes I will have an extra hour a day to convince my children to go to bed even though the sun is still up.
- Yes my car will have a fuzz grow on it for weeks no matter how many times I wash it because of a little thing I like to call pollen.
Ok so maybe those don’t sound like a whole lot of great reasons to celebrate Spring but what about these?
- March Madness is here! Honestly Thursday and Friday should be a national holiday. Christmas is great but there is nothing like picking the underdog to win and seeing it happen on your bracket. This is the happiest season of all.
- Spring Training is nearing completion and baseball is about to start. Which means road trips to ball games with a friend as I get challenged with presidential trivia.
- I get to put the top down on my Jeep…oh crap, scratch that, I had to sell it…Yes I’m BITTER, back off.
- BBQ…pretty sure that is enough said right there but in case you missed it…BBQ, there it is again for you.
- I love the mountains but I really like the beach. I’m just not a fan of the sand. Love the boardwalk or maybe it’s just all the food on the boardwalk. Either way its a ton of fun for us and the boys.
So those are just a few things. What are some of your favorite parts of Spring? What is your favorite season?
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Charity Water
charity: water promo featuring “Time Bomb” by Beck from charity: water on Vimeo.
Relationally Widowed
I understand that this post may be controversial and at the very least some will be upset that it is not theologically correct but I wonder if is still a needed debate? Maybe our interpretation needs to change a bit due to the cultural changes around us.
James 1:27 says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means
caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
There are some who will get caught up in that word “religion”, and although there are many people who have been hurt by religion and so therefore disassociate themselves from it, I do believe that it is crucial to honor the past and honor the religious moments, heroes and institutions that give us the freedom to pursue a true relationship with Christ today. With that being said I wonder if the definition of “Widow and Orphan” has culturally changed?
When my mom was divorced when I was in college she was basically alienated from the church out of fear that her “divorce disease” would contaminate others in the church. They didn’t want those types of people in the church. They treated her as an outcast until the point she felt uncomfortable enough to leave. I have seen this over and over again in a various churches. I wonder though that because of the change in our culture does the widow and orphan term not only apply to those who have lost a family member to death, but does it apply to those who have lost a family member to divorce? Are they not left alone without a spouse or a parent? Is it any different?
What’s your thoughts on this?
Be Silent Be Still
Maybe you’ve noticed I have not posted in nearly a week. I have been trying to slow down and listen. Sometimes we think we have something important to say but it is only important to us because we like to hear ourselves. I have slowed down to listen to God and to others. There are seasons that you find yourself running hard and fast but make no time to hear from others and most importantly from God. It’s not always about what your doing but it’s about who are you becoming. Here are a couple things that I feel at liberty to share that I am learning from others and God.
- We have to go back to the foot of the cross and the empty tomb to hear God speak sometimes.
- The weakest area in your personal life will be the weakest area in your public ministry.
- A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.
- Don’t let your estimate of what can’t be done keep you from taking on a task that can be done through God.
- Following Jesus means more than just acknowledging Him as Savior. We must leave our past behind and commit our future to Him.
- Everyone loves progress not everyone loves sacrifice.
- People will only follow to the depth that you are personally willing to sacrifice.
- Our tendency is to pray for miracles. But in most situations, it is more appropriate to pray for opportunities.
What is God saying to you?
Ice Water & Chicken
You’ve heard people say before, “He has ice water in his veins.” What they are saying is that guy (or girl) is not afraid of anything, they can handle the pressure. That sentence will not be said of me. I can handle pressure but I am afraid of a lot. I am more what you would call a chicken. I have fears. In fact I have a lot of fears.
- I have a fear of the dark. - I typically send my wife to check out the scary noises.
- I have a fear of being scared. -People I work with enjoy jumping out and screaming to get a reaction, that never gets old.
- I have a fear of Lego Wii. -My boys have an expectation of me beating the game. What if I can’t?
- I have a fear of tight places. -I am claustrophobic and yes I had to look up how to spell that word.
- I have a fear snakes. -I don’t even like the “reptile” exhibit at the zoo. While I am on the subject I don’t like any “reptiles” or bugs that fly, crawl, walk or live.
- I have a fear of bees. -Although I am overcoming my fear by eating all their honey. It’s my way of “sticking” it to them.
Then I have some more serious fears. Fears that keep me up at night. Fears that in some cases keep me from fully trusting on God and depending upon Him. Fears that keep me from taking that next step.
- I fear being a bad dad. An absent father that gets caught up in putting the church first. I fear them growing up with a resentment towards God or rebellious towards life to “stick” it to me.
- I fear being a bad husband. Similar reasons to being a bad dad. I fear not providing the emotional support that my wife needs because I’m drained from offering it to everybody else.
- I fear being a drain on friends. Being too needy. Dealing with junk was never meant to be alone but what if you have a lot of junk? I fear that my friends eventually just get tired of hearing about it.
- I fear failure. I fear that I won’t live up to my expectations or the unrealistic expectations of others.
- I fear being out of God’s will. I fear not knowing timing. I fear being too quick or to slow to stay in His will.
- I fear being lonely. I fear the superficial shallow relationships that keep me from the deep meaningful ones.
- I fear letting people down. Goes along with my fear of failure and disappointing others.
- I fear not handling criticisms properly. I fear that I can’t separate me from the situation. Take everything to personally.
- I fear failing morally. I have to work really hard at being sexually pure. Not giving into temptation.
- I fear compromising my integrity. To get a laugh. To get a applause. I fear that I will compromise who God has made me to be on the alter of success.
- I fear my pride. I fear that my pride will get in the way of the Holy Spirit using me.
I have a lot of fears. I would assume you do as well. I also know that were told in the Bible not to have a “spirit of fear” and to be honest that is difficult. This is a lifetime journey that I am on and don’t know if I will ever conquer my fears. What I do know is that daily I give them to God and push through. I continue to ask for direction and wisdom.
Waiting.
Listening.
Waiting.
Learning.
Waiting.
Dreaming.
Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
What I do know is that even in my waiting I don’t remain still. Waiting doesn’t mean to stop doing what your doing. Waiting simply means listening for the still small voice of God to act.
What are some of your fears? Fun or serious it doesn’t matter. Maybe you have a fear of leaving a comment because you wonder what people will think. Today is a great day to overcome that fear.
Goals Suck
Goals suck, but they are crucial to achieve success in life. They suck because you actually have to do something about it if you set a goal, at least I feel like I do. I continue to change my goals, redefine my goals and implement new goals as I grow and mature. What my goals were 5 years ago verses 1 year ago are completely different than they are even now. I’m amazed at what I felt was important enough to make a goal out of even a year ago. Here are just a few of my goals that I am working on:
- Coaching 3 guys who have enormous potential.
- Read 40 books this year, I have finished 22 so far so this may be a “redefine” goal.
- Practice the spiritual discipline of silence. Learn from everybody no matter their age.
- Continue to develop as leader, studying, preparing, reading and listening. Podcasts, blogs, sermons & interviews.
- Network, Network and Network some more. Best way to learn is from the mistakes of others.
I left off some personal goals and family goals but what are some of your goals? What motivates you? Are you preparing to become who God has made you to be? If so, what steps are you taking?
