It's Just A Thought

Blog Free

2009-09-17T13:51:00.002-07:00

I have not been blogging for a while simply because I have been extreemly busy and life does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. Therefore I have decided to go blog free for the next month. If you want to find out what's going on in my life, just give me a call!

Extremely Busy

2009-08-13T10:07:00.002-07:00

This summer has been extremely busy as it relates to ministry. Normally the months of June and July are a little slower for me in regards to ministry because most of the adult ministries take a break and these months are used for planning and getting ready for the fall. However this June and July have been packed! I have jumped in with both feet in helping our college ministry transition with new leadership and new direction.

I have taken on the challenge of helping the transition within the college ministry and taking it to a new level. I am invested in this ministry because both of my "kids" are now in college and I know that God has given me this opportunity to help. Along with all my other ministry responsibilities, I am just going "wall to wall"! I am blessed because I have the opportunity to do things that I enjoy and do it with my kids and wife.

Ted Dekker

2009-07-02T13:17:00.003-07:00

I have not taken the time to read a book that is fiction in at least 10 years. All of the reading I do is usually for ministry, unless it is reading the sports page, Sports Illustrated or things on the web. Two months ago I was taking my daughters car in for an oil change and she had a book in her car. It looked interesting, I had nothing to read, and she has told me how good Ted Dekker was but I had never made the time to read his books. I picked up the book and I could not put it down.

I will confess, I am a Ted Dekker fan because his books take you through incredible adventures that are hard to put into words. I have read his three books- "Black", "Red", "White", and the 6 books in the series "The Lost Books" all in the last two months. I will admit, I would rather read his books than watch TV this summer. If you are looking for an adventure that will take your breath away then let me suggest starting with "Black" and be ready to be captivated. Enjoy the adventure!

Truth

2009-06-25T15:42:00.002-07:00

My favorite line from the movie A Few Good Men is "You can't handle the truth!" The sad reality of that statement is many people can't handle the truth- especially the truth of God's Word. It is the one thing that will remain constant and never change, and therefore we need to teach the Word and let it impact the hearers ears.

Jesus is the truth and the only way to heaven and yet that is not the popular "truth" that people want to hear. It is imperative that we drive home this fact every time we have the opportunity to open the Word. When we speak the truth in love it will have long lasting consequences, even though it is not what people want to hear! Can you handle the truth?

Last Summer

2009-05-28T09:45:00.002-07:00

This is the last summer that all of us will be together as a family. This time next year Justine will be married, Brannen will be doing his great adventure in life, and Pepper and I will be adjusting to life as almost empty Nester's. Honestly, I don't like the idea of change within my family and it would be great to turn back the clock on time but no matter how much I fight against it the change is coming. I want to make the most of each day the Lord gives us and I am praying that we will be able to spend some quality time together this summer just enjoying each other because before you know it, life as I now know it will be gone.

Happy Graduation Brannen!

2009-05-21T10:43:00.003-07:00

Today, my son Brannen is graduating from high school! It is a great accomplishment, and Pepper and I are so proud of him. He is about to start a new adventure of his life, but it is just so hard to believe that the time has flown by so fast. I remember when Brannen started high school and now, in just a blink of an eye he is done.

The Lord has provided us the funds to send him to Northwest Christian since he was in the 3rd grade and that investment is something we are so thankful for. He is a blessing and I thank the Lord for his life and I can't wait to see what the next steps of his journey are!

B-day!

2009-05-14T08:43:00.003-07:00

Happy Birthday Pepper! I love you and I am so blessed to be able to celebrate this special day with you! You are a gift from the Lord and each year you grow more beautiful inside and out!

Star Trek

2009-05-07T11:00:00.003-07:00

Tonight I am going to to see the movie Star Trek! I know what you are thinking- "Is Mark a Trekkie?" The answer is no, but I have enjoyed Star Trek for the last 25 years and would not think of missing opening night.

I was not a big Star Wars fan, but when it came to Star Trek, I have always been fascinated by this show and all the movies that were made from the series. Tonight should be a great night because I get to share it with some of the guys from my small group but also because my son is going. This is actually the first movie he asked me if he could go and see with me. It helps that I'm paying his way! So tonight, I am going boldly where no man has gone before! See ya at the movies.

Cinderella

2009-04-30T10:21:00.003-07:00

I heard a song on the radio by Steven Curtis Chapman yesterday called "Dancing With Cinderella" and it brought tears to my eyes. I was not expecting it to happen but it did. If you have never heard this song and your daughter is getting married, I want to warn you- "DON'T LISTEN TO IT!" If you do, it will make you cry.

It seems that it doesn't take much for me to get a little misty eyed these days. When I think about my oldest getting married next year and my son graduating from high school next month it just brings to my heart the realization that my kids are moving on in the next phase of their lives and leaving Pepper and me behind. I am not normally the emotional type but when it comes to my family I am. I love my kids and I look forward to what God has in store for them in the future, but I am in the process of letting go and I am finding out that it is harder than I thought!

Life

2009-04-23T11:15:00.002-07:00

Life can change in an instant. Our friends from church had their oldest daughter in a terrible auto crash, and as I write this she is in intensive care with life altering injuries. My heart and prayers go out to her, her parents, and her family.

This has impacted everyone who knows them and many people are praying for the recovery of Savannah, will you join me?

As I reflect on this, I can't help but think about my own kids or wife. When they leave home in the morning I assume I will see them again, but life is short and who knows the future except our Lord. It makes me realize that I should not be in such a hurry, but take everyday as one more gift from the Lord with my family.

My heart hurts for Lee and Tami but I know they have a deep faith in the Lord and that He will sustain them through this difficult time. I am praying for you guys!

Canada

2009-04-16T10:32:00.003-07:00

I love talking about small groups! This weekend I have the opportunity to share with people from the Canadian National Baptist Convention in Vancouver Canada about small group ministry! The conference I am doing is an all day event and then I will be teaching twice at Towers Baptist Church on Sunday. I look forward to meeting people who are passionate about building the kingdom through small groups. It's Acts 2:41-47 in motion and I am thankful to the Lord for using me in a small way. I am also blessed to be partnered with Serendipity by Lifeway and the opportunity to share my passion!

Opportunity Knocks

2009-04-02T10:17:00.004-07:00

The old phrase "opportunity knocks" means different things to different people. For me, the opportunity to go forward through the "door of opportunity" has at times not turned out like I anticipated. Sometimes I fell flat on my face as I was going through the door and other times it has felt like the door slammed on my fingers. But through it all, God has always been with me and has opened opportunitys for things that I could never have imagined.

I love the unexpected but it can be a challenge. I am a person who like to know "what comes next" but it never seems to work that way. I am resigned to live day by day, trusting in Him, who knows the future and just keep walking and falling forward, and I can do this because I know Jesus is their to lift me up!

WOW!

2009-03-27T09:20:00.002-07:00

This is the best word to describe my trip to Israel and Jordan! If you have never been to the Holy Land, it is hard for me to articulate and give you the best picture of what I experienced. It's like trying to describe the Grand Canyon to someone who has only seen it in pictures how awesome it is, but it just doesn't do it justice.

I will admit it, I have a love for Israel. It draws me in like no place I have ever been before. I realize that this region of the world is filled with challenges but I truly understand why this part of the world has been coveted by nations for thousands of years.

It was a blessing and privilege to be able to go again to Israel and I can't wait until the next time I take a group! If you come to church this Sunday I will be speaking in all the services and sharing some of our experiences on this journey to the Holy Land.

Aren't You Afraid?

2009-03-10T14:55:00.002-07:00

I am leaving for Israel in less than 48 hours. Some people have asked me "Aren't you afraid of going?" I can honestly say that I am more at peace going to Israel than I am walking around downtown Phoenix! You see the only perspective that most people have of Israel is what they see on the news. Just think of it this way, if you lived somewhere and had never visited Phoenix and all you knew about Phoenix was what you saw on the news, would you still come for a visit? You would probably have the same question for me if I told you I was going to Phoenix for a visit, "Aren't you afraid of going?"

Just to put your mind at ease, any disturbance in the Gaza Strip is in the opposite direction of where we will be going. When people make jokes about "ducking for cover" when we are in Israel, they just don't get it. What they are really doing is stirring up emotions from others who are concerned about us going. I would ask them and you to pray for our group and for me personally as I lead this group of 21. I look forward to sharing some great stories about our journey in a few weeks! Shalom!

Blessed Beyond Belief!

2009-02-25T14:01:00.003-07:00

I love my wife with all my heart! I am blessed with two wonderful young adult kids! Justine turned 20 on January 31st and Brannen will be turning 18 next week! After almost 25 years of marriage I cannot believe the blessings the Lord has given me. I am doing what God has shaped me for in the ministry of our church, working with small groups and helping others grow in their faith through the WORD. To top it off I have the privilege of leading groups on biblical journeys all over the world.

I do struggle with life's challenges like everyone else, but the one thing I have always realized is that nothing takes my Heavenly Father by surprise. I am to trust Him daily, and when I do, then I know I am in His perfect will for my life. I am blessed beyond belief!

Israel or Bust!

2009-02-12T14:34:00.002-07:00

I am looking forward to my second trip to Israel in just a few weeks! It has become my favorite place on earth to travel to. I am drawn to Israel in a way that is hard to describe. My prayer is that I will be able to lead many groups on this pilgrimage to the Holy Land over the coming years.

It is a land that is filled with so much history, and to realize that as a Christian, we will see Christ set up His thrown in Jerusalem in the future is overwhelming to comprehend. My hope is that this trip will be an incredible adventure for the 21 people who are going and that God will draw us closer to Himself in the very place that Jesus walked!

Tears of Joy

2009-02-05T13:18:00.003-07:00

Justine is engaged to Dusty! It is hard for me to believe that my little girl will be leaving our home and starting her own home in about a year. For the past 20 years we have protected, provided, and have watched her grow into an incredible young women.

Pepper and I are blessed to have a young man who loves her, join our family. As a dad it is hard for me to let go, but I have come to realize that it is not about what I want but what is best for Justine and Dusty. I look forward to the journey ahead but please forgive me when I talk to you about this joyful event, because I will have a few tears in my eyes- it's a dad thing!

Future Control

2009-01-29T11:45:00.003-07:00

I can't control the future but I still try. I want things to work out as I see them, and I have to remind myself daily that what I want is not always what God wants for me. His will for my life is sometimes not my will because I only see what is in front of me. I have to remind myself that my relationship with Him is all about trust and knowing that He sees tomorrow and no matter what happens, it is all about His will and not mine. My nature is to control. God wants me to let go of my control and give Him total control daily. This is what I am trying to do today, and yet tomorrow I will battle with this again. I'm glad God is patient with me!

What A Great Day!

2009-01-22T14:06:00.002-07:00

Unexpected blessings come in all sizes and shapes. We just have to know where to look for them. I am reminded each day how blessed I am. It is easy to focus in on the things that don't go our way, but the Lord has a way of showing me His blessings when I need them the most. The most recent blessing I am experiencing is how the Lord has provide to meet our families daily needs through opportunities that are truly incredible. If you want to know what those are, please contact me and I will share the entire story!

Hamster Wheel

2009-01-15T13:57:00.002-07:00

Have you ever felt like a hamster on a spinning wheel? If so, then you can relate to what what it feels like to be extremely busy. I have to admit that the spinning wheel is better than the alternative, but sometimes life can seem so overwhelming that if feels as if you are, at any moment, going to be launched off of that spinning wheel.

I have to admit that sometime I put myself into positions of being too busy and it is in those times that I have to ask myself what I am doing, and is this what the Lord wants for me.
I am looking forward to my spinning wheel in 2009 but I don't want to get to the point that I miss the blessings the Lord has for me because I am too focused on what is before me.

This year has started off with a bang and I am so excited to see where the Lord takes me. I am blessed with wonderful family, ministry I enjoy, and friends who stick with me through thick or thin. I am expanding my adventures to new challenges and opportunities that the Lord has opened and as long as I keep my eyes on Him and not the spinning wheel in front of me, I know this will a year to remember!

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-07T13:56:00.002-07:00

I don't make New Year's resolutions. It's not that I find it bad to make resolutions, but it seems that by the second or third week of the new year, those who have made any kind of promises to themselves have broken with their resolution.

I look at the opportunity of a new year and see what might be and ask myself if I am willing to do what it takes in order to make sure that this year is better than the last year. 2008 was a challenge in all areas of my life. Those challenges have not changed going into 2009 but I am working on improvements and I am grateful to those who walk with me and encourage me each step of the way, not just at the beginning of a new year.

I have those who encourage me personally, spiritually, and professionally. These are people who I will be forever grateful to and they have made huge impacts on my life. I welcome the challenges of 2009 because I have family and friends who walk beside me and cheer me on!

If I have one resolution I would like to see happen more in my life, it would be that I become more of an encourager to others and show them Jesus' love through my actions. That is a tall order to live up to, but one I strive to see happen daily in 2009!

Missing Christmas?

2008-12-18T11:03:00.002-07:00

I came across this article about Christmas and thought it would be good to share on my blog.

Why do so many people miss the real meaning of Christmas? The majority of people in the world will miss the next Christmas. But how can that be? How can anyone miss Christmas, given the amount of advertising, publicity, and promotion the holiday receives each year? Because although many celebrate Christmas every year, most don't know what it's about. In spite of all the media promotion of Christmas, the majority of people will miss it because it has become so obscured.

For those of us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas is a time to focus on His birth. But even we can get caught up in the swirl of activity around Christmastime and can miss it in a practical sense. Satan has so cluttered the Christian concept of Christmas with such needless paraphernalia that its true meaning is easily lost.

A Brief History of Christmas

Most scholars doubt that December 25th is the true date of Christ's birth. There is no biblical support for it, and some against it. That date was decided upon by the church in Rome in the fourth century. They had a specific reason for doing so.

Many of the earth's earliest inhabitants were sun worshipers because they depended on the sun's yearly course in the heavens. Most people held feasts at the time of the winter solstice (mid-December), a time when the days were shortest. They built bonfires to give the sun god strength and bring him back to life again. When it became apparent that the days were growing longer, there was great rejoicing.

The fathers of the church in Rome decided to celebrate Christ's birth on the winter solstice. It was their attempt to Christianize the popular pagan celebrations. But they failed to make the people conform. Instead the heathen festivities continued, and we are left with a bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that characterizes our modern celebration of Christmas.

The following examples will give you some idea of how much pagan customs make up what we know as Christmas.

To the Romans the month of December marked the Festival of Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24). One of their most common customs during that festival was giving gifts to one another. As far as we know that is where the idea of exchanging presents came from. The evergreen wreath also derives from the Saturnalia festival, during which homes were decorated with evergreen boughs.
The Druids of England gathered sacred mistletoe for their ceremonies and decorated their homes with it. It is believed that the first Christmas tree was instituted by Boniface, an English missionary to Germany in the eighth century. He supposedly replaced sacrifices to the god Odin's sacred oak with a fir tree adorned in tribute to Christ. Certain accounts claim that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree lighted with candles.

"Santa Claus" is a contraction of St. Nicholas, a bishop in Asia Minor during the fourth century known for his extraordinary generosity. He was later associated with giving presents at the end of the year. St. Nicholas was adopted by the Netherlands as the patron saint of children. On St. Nicholas eve, the children would leave their shoes filled with hay for the saint's white horse.

No wonder so many people miss Christmas. The simplicity of the birth of Christ is drowned in a sea of traditions, many being pagan in origin. Even worse than that, when Christ was born in Bethlehem, most people of that day missed it.

Luke 2:7 says, "[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." The first person who missed Christmas was the innkeeper. He was unable to take in Mary and Joseph because he had no room for them. Apparently he was indifferent to their plight--there is no indication from Scripture that he called for any help.

Notice that verse 7 says, "She gave birth to her first-born son." Mary herself gave birth to Jesus. By herself she wrapped Him in cloths. Joseph was there to help, but if he was anything like most young fathers, he would have been of little help.

Middle-eastern people are hospitable, kind, and caring. They are not barbaric. They are not the kind of people who would leave a woman alone to have her baby. But in this case, they did. Where were the midwives? You'd think the innkeeper would have known someone who could have helped.

Luke tells us she laid Him in a manger, which is an animal feeding trough. The cloths she wrapped Jesus in were long strips of cloth. Whenever an infant was born, immediately the baby was cleaned. Then the baby's limbs and body would be wrapped in these swaddling cloths and then wrapped in an outer blanket. That was a duty normally carried out by a midwife. But Mary had to do it all herself.

We don't know anything about the innkeeper because the Bible doesn't say anything about him. Some commentators speculate that Jesus was born in a stable some think He was born in a cave, and others believe he was born in an open courtyard at the inn. One thing we do know: whatever hospitality Mary and Joseph hoped to find, they found none--they were turned away.

Why did the innkeeper miss Christmas? I think the simple answer is preoccupation. He was busy. His inn was full because a census was being held in Bethlehem. The city was bulging with people whose ancestors came from there. Since Bethlehem was the city of David, all those who were in the line of David were there, including Joseph and Mary. The innkeeper wasn't necessarily hostile and unsympathetic; he was just busy.

Many people are like the innkeeper. The chambers of their souls are filled with needless things--with stuff that doesn't matter. As a result, they miss the Christ of God. Our society is filled with the unnecessary, the insignificant, and the meaningless. We spend a fortune to amass things so we can let our children fight over them when we die. And our time is eaten away by the demands our things place on us.

People miss Christ at Christmastime because He is crowded out by a world that dictates what they should think, do, and buy. Like the innkeeper, people today are preoccupied. The innkeeper didn't know anything about the baby Mary gave birth to, and neither do they. They don't know who Christ is and they don't know why He came. Instead, they're ignorantly preoccupied with the mundane and the meaningless. How sad it is that so many people live their lives in pursuit of such, only to wake up one day in eternity without God.
Adapted from John MacArthur, "Six Ways Satan is Stealing Christmas."

My prayer is that we will help others NOT miss the true mean of Christmas!

Waiting

2008-12-11T14:07:00.002-07:00

Waiting on the Lord is difficult at times. When was the last time you really waited on the Lord? I have been waiting on the Lord for answers in different areas of my life, and in some of those areas the Lord has spoken loud an clear. Yet in others areas of my life I am still waiting. By nature I am not a patient man, but when I fully yield to the Lord and wait for His answer I am always blown away by His answer. I have learned to be patient on the Lord for supplying my needs during the past few months and He always has!

Car Problems

2008-12-04T13:17:00.002-07:00

Car problems can drive me crazy! Last week I had to get my water pump fixed on my Ford Taurus because water was streaming out from underneath the car. Over three hundred dollars later it was fixed. The day after it was fixed, Pepper was driving the car and it stalled on Union Hills. She had to get it pushed off the street and I had to have it towed back to my house. We got it fixed from a mechanic who comes to your house, but it cost additional funds to get it fixed. I discovered that it died due to a faulty wire that had corroded due to leaking water.

A few days later the breaks went out and I had to have a full break job done and again, more money into that car. I have given the car a new name- Job. If you have had car problems you can relate. I'm just praying now that the engine doesn't fall out!

Truly Thankful

2008-11-26T14:39:00.002-07:00

The first official Thanksgiving meal was an oasis of peace in the midst of a tumultuous relationship between the Pilgrims from England and the Wampanoag Indians. Stress levels were high, and everyone was guarded. Captain Miles Standish, the leader of the Pilgrims, invited Squanto, Samoset, Chief Massasoit, and their families to join them for a time of celebration and thanksgiving. For three days, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags feasted together and a special event between two very different groups of people started. It was a moment where differences were overlooked and similarities were celebrated. During this time, Miles Standish and Massasoit made a friendship pact and a peace agreement, where land was given to the Pilgrims to develop the new town of Plymouth. Although peace did not always prevail between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags, the memory of their Thanksgiving celebration did.

As we remember and celebrate Thanksgiving, our focus should also be on our relationship with Christ and thanking Him for our salvation. Each day can be Thanksgiving Day when we celebrate what Christ has done for us. I am so thankful for my salvation and the blessings the Lord has given me. My prayer is that I will never forget the blessings God has bestowed upon my family. I am truly thankful!

Facebook

2008-11-20T14:21:00.002-07:00

I have just discovered Facebook! I know it has been around and I have heard people talking about it, but I never took the time to check it out. Yesterday I decided to see what the big deal was and now I know! I am blown away about connecting with people from college, high school and from my past churches. Just connecting with them and seeing where they are, what they are doing and how time has changed us all is mind blowing.

The challenge I have will be to limit myself to checking my account only once a day because I can see how people can spend hours talking with each other over the computer. As great as Facebook is, it is not as great as talking to people one on one, in person. It is a great tool for connecting with lost relationships and keeping tabs on each other. If you have not joined my friends list on Facebook, send me an e-mail today, but remember you can always call first!

Head Cold

2008-11-18T09:24:00.002-07:00

Have you ever got up in the morning, so tired that the first thing to cross your mind was that you were looking forward to going back to bed that night? This was my mind set over the past few days. I have been sick since Thursday, not sick enough to stay home or sick enough to warrant my isolation from others. What I have is just a head cold, but it makes me plugged up and sounding like a frog when I talk.

I find that when I am feeling under the weather it effects my whole day. It's like I'm driving a stick shift car and cannot get out of third gear. If you have ever felt this way then I know you can relate. If you have some great home remedies for getting over head colds, please send them my way. While I'm waiting, I think I'll go back to bed!

God Picked Obama

2008-11-06T14:35:00.002-07:00

This was a text I received on Tuesday night after the elections were called. I was not in a very good mood when I received it and I was not in the best of mood the rest of the night. I could, and still do not understand how those who call themselves Christians could align themselves with a candidate who has views that are opposed to God's Word.

When I received the message that God picked Obama I fired off an angry e-mail to my friend with my frustration looking ahead to the next four years. A reply came back to me in the form of a passage of scripture- Romans 13:1-7.

After reading it, and then reading it again a number of times, it made me realize that when the Apostle Paul wrote this he was writing about the leader of his day- Ceaser! Nothing takes God by surprise and trusting Him for our future is what Paul was trying to get those believers at Rome to realize.

God does pick our leaders, no matter how flawed they may be. I think I will be rereading Romans 13:1-7 a lot durning the next four years.

Arrows

2008-10-30T10:47:00.001-07:00

I was talking to a friend the other day, and they expressed how they were being attacked spiritually in all aspects of their life. They said they were consumed with the arrows of the evil one, and they realized that they had gotten away from keeping focused on the Lord and what He had called them to do in ministering to others.
It got me to thinking how easy it is for me to get sidetracked with all the "stuff" that comes my way both at home and at church. I have a tendency of dwelling on the challenging things of life, when instead I should be dwelling on the blessings from the Lord that I see all around me. Those blessings include my families health, a wonderful, supportive, and beautiful wife, two young adult children who love Jesus, great friends who support me, and knowing that God is always in control.
When I reflect on the blessings of the Lord it makes the challenging "stuff" seem insignificant. My prayer is that I will dwell on the blessings daily!

Galatians 6:9-10

2008-10-23T15:30:00.002-07:00

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

These two verses are just what I needed for this week!

My Choice for President

2008-10-16T14:31:00.004-07:00

When I look at the two candidates running for president, I realize they are both extremely different in their views. If you watched the past three debates you heard the many differences they had on how they would fix the economy, what they would do regarding the war on terror, how they would change what is going on in Washington and so much more, if only they are elected.

I am basing my vote this election on the candidate that holds closest to my values, and who I think would be best for the country. My vote has nothing to do with party affiliation, age, race, or how eloquent they speak, but rather who has expressed their views and plans for leading us the next four years. Also, My vote is going to the man who I believe would best be able in helping us through this challenging time in America.

My vote is for _________. I believe that he has prepared his entire life for this mission, and he has the record, experience, and wisdom to lead our nation! This is my choice! (Ask me in person if you can't figure it out)

Crazy

2008-10-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

"Crazy," that is the only word I can think of when it comes to what is going on in the world today. It's crazy to see what is happening to the financial markets, the election process, the loss of jobs and world events. It seems that every time you turn on the news, it's all bad. I have even caught myself at times not watching or reading the paper because of how it impacts me.

Because I know Christ, I can talk to Him about my feelings of uncertainty durning these difficult times. What a joy and privilege it is to be able to share my burdens with the Lord. I really don't understand how those who do not have a relationship with Jesus can face the the future.

I realize that because I do have the hope of Christ, I have the responsibility to share my faith and hope with the hopeless. My prayer is that the Lord will allow me and all those who call themselves disciples of Jesus, to be a light in this dark, crazy world of uncertainty.

Philippians 4:10-13

2008-09-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

I read this passage last night and was reminded how relevant the Word is today, as it was 2000 years ago when Paul penned it. Paul is sharing with those people he loved that he had seen the highs and lows that life brings, but he was content. When reading this it reminded me of the uncertain economic times we face. It has impacted many people I know and in part it has impacted my family. It might be a "low" time for many people, but we can take Paul's example of trusting in Christ for everything.
He states that we can do all things through Jesus because only He is the one can give us the strength to face these uncertain times. What a great lesson for me to be reminded of today!

It Come's In Three or Four's!

2008-09-18T13:54:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks when everything breaks down? Well, this was my world this past week. In one week my dryer died, my computer had a meltdown, and the garbage disposal is on the blink. To top it off I got a bill from animal control for not having my dog registered! I look at all these things and want to go running screaming into the night, but if I did that they would still be there in the morning.

When I think about my problems I am brought back to reality when I hear about the difficulties that others that I know are facing, real problems- physical, life altering problems, then my "problems" look small and insignificant. Lord, thank you for my health and the health of my family- I am truly blessed!

Football Begins!

2008-09-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

I love this time of the year! School is in full swing, the nights are cooling off, and football begins! I am not a big college football fan (except for U of A) but I enjoy watching the NFL and playing fantasy football with friends. This year I am predicting that the Dallas Cowboys go 12-4 in the regular season and make it to the Super Bowl! This is the hope I have every year but it has been over a decade since they last won a playoff game, but hey, it's fun to dream! Who do you pick?

Olympics

2008-08-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have watched more Olympics over the past week than I care to admit. However, they only happen once every four years, and it is incredible to watch and cheer the U.S. on as they compete against the world.

I was in awe of the U.S. swim team the other night that beat the French swim team in the 4 x 4 relay. To see the U.S. come from behind and win at the last moment was truly a remarkable feat.

It reminds me that no matter how things look, we should never give up, and always strive to do the best with what God has enabled us to do. When we do our best and let the Lord do the rest through us, we might be surprise by the results!

Running on Purpose

2008-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

Are you running your life on purpose? This is the question I have been mulling over in my mind the past few weeks as I have been preparing to teach in the services this Sunday. It never fails to amaze me that preparing for teaching is really an extended time of reviewing my life's purpose, and reviewing on how I am doing.

The entire message is built on the final words of the apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:7 when he said that he was at the end of his life but that he had fought the good fight and had kept the faith and finished the course God had laid out for him. I don't know when the end of my life's race will be, but my prayer is that I will be able to look back and say that I did fight a good fight and that I did kept the faith.

I am still learning that after all these years of following Christ, that it is a new race each and every day. So how are you doing in your race today?

Trust

2008-07-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Trust. A simple word, but one that takes a life time to fully achieve. Just this week I was thinking and worrying about things, people, and events in my life. It came to the point that I was not thinking about my life verse- Proverbs 3:5-6, but rather I was focused on the "things" in my life that sidetracked me from trusting in the Lord for wisdom.

Trust is not a one time event, but rather a day by day and sometime minute by minute adventure that I am still learning. When I trust in the Lord, He is ready to do incredible things- but before He can work, I have to trust.

I am a person who likes to plan, prepare, and anticipate what will happen, and over the years I have discovered that when life hits hard, all that planning, preparing, and anticipating does not always work. It's a life of daily trust that we are called to, and I am reminded that He, and not me, wants to direct my path!

Enjoy the Moments

2008-07-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

Vacations can be hectic and filled with non stop activities. This year we did some unusual things in California:
*We went to the taping of Deal or No Deal TV show. We sat through 5- one half our episodes that will air in the fall during the daytime. We sat 5 feet from Howie Mandel for all the shows! Be on the lookout for "Twins Week".
*We spent time at Santa Monica, Laguna, and Seal Beaches
*We went to the Ronald Reagan Library
*We had dinner at Medieval Times Dinner Theater
*I sprained my ankle at the beach and had to buy crutches
*We spent from 8:30 am to 1:30 am at Disneyland- yes 17 hours! (I rode around the park on a electric scooter)
*We watched Brannen take surfing lessons
*We went jet skiing in the ocean
*Had a blast just hanging out as a family
*We went to see Hancock

Spending 24 hours a day for 7 days with your family can be stressful, but I loved every minute of it (except for hurting my foot) and I can't wait to go again!

Toes In The Sand

2008-06-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

One of the great experiences of life is sitting on the beach, watching the waves crash on the shore, and digging your toes in the sand. This is what I look forward to doing with my family while on vacation. It will be a relaxing change from the normal heat and business of that life that summer brings. Our family is looking forward getting away and I will fill you in on all the great adventures we have when I return.........

Tomorrow's Trouble

2008-06-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

The future looks unsure at times in all of our lives. You don't have to watch the news or read the paper to realize that people are hurting, money is tight, the economy is in a recession and the prognosticators are predicting things will get even worse before they get better.
As a Christian, it is easy to get discouraged especially when we are hurting, money becomes tight and life seems like it will not get any better. What do we cling on to during difficult times in our own life, or those of our loved ones?
This answers I have found to life's difficult challenges are found in the promises of God's Word. The Bible gives us the promise that we need to up us and assure us that He will be with us through all our difficult times!
Someone once said that you are either in a difficult situation now, just coming out of a difficult situation or about to head into a difficult situation- that's life!
Where are you, at and what are you holding on too? As for me, I have held on to Proverbs 3:5-7 during the most difficult times of my life and I know that has sustained me when things seemed hopeless, with no way out. I am glad to be reminded that God is directing my path when I trust in Him!

Priceline.com

2008-06-12T11:39:00.001-07:00

I have never tried to get a hotel room through Priceline.com, but I was encouraged to do so because I was having a hard time finding a nice, but inexpensive hotel for vacation. Priceline.com is designed for you to pick an area you want to in, then give them a bid price for the room that you are willing to pay, and then submit all of this info without knowing the exact hotel you are bidding on. Since I am a planner by nature, this is out of my comfort zone, but if I could save a lot of money and get a nice place near the beach, I was willing to try it.

I picked a four-star hotel as my category, picked a place near the beach, and then threw out a ridiculous low bid price. It was not accepted on my first bid try, but on my second bid (I increased my bid by $15) they accepted my offer! I going to stay at a great hotel for only a 1/3 of the normal price for a room! It pays to listen to friends- Thanks Fred!

I can't wait to put my toes in the sand!

Rock Your World

2008-06-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

My daughter asked me the other day about reading. She wanted to know what novel I read last. I told her that I don't read many fiction books. Most of the books I read are ones that have been suggested by friends or colleagues, and they usually revolve around ministry or go along with what I am studying at the moment.

I am reading a book that has been in print since 1988 and has had two revisions. It is called The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur. I have heard about this book over the years, but never read it. It seems that everyone who has read it has had some sort of strong opinion about it. I am half way through it, and I am discovering that it is the type of book that can rock your world if you don't have a sound Biblical foundation.

I would be extremely interested in finding out what you think about this book (if you have read it). The one thing this book is doing for me at the moment is to challenge and re-examining my faith and how I became a Christian. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Summer of Trust

2008-05-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

Trusting God is a everyday process. I am still learning that the trust I experience today does not necessarily mean that I will trust God tomorrow. It seems that it is so easy to trust in our self, our friends, our work, our ministry, our spouse, or a number of people or things. However, when life gets difficult and things don't go the way we planned or expected, where do we place our trust?
Proverbs 3:5-6 is my life verse because it reminds me that my trust needs to be in the Lord on a continual basis, not just when I can't do it on my own. What are you trusting in to see you through life's uncertainty?
Nothing is more sure, than putting our trust and faith in the Word. My prayer is that I will trust the Lord today, and not look to my own strength or ingenuity to get through the day or the rest of the summer.

Carnival Mirror

2008-05-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

"Our self perception is as accurate as a carnival mirror. If we are to see ourselves clearly, it must be through the Word of God." What a great quote! A friend of mine sent this to me and when I think about it, I truly cannot see myself clearly unless I am spending time in the Bible.

I find most people don't know the Word because they are lazy- myself included! When I am in the Word on a consistent basis (and not just on Sunday) then I am ready for the spiritual warfare I face on a daily basis. When I am not, I tend to rely on my feelings or my own strength and that is the sure way of spiritual failure.

Do you look into God's mirror daily? If not, get into the Word and you will stop looking so funny in that carnival mirror!

Justice and Only Justice

2008-05-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am reading an interesting book that our tour guide in Israel gave me. It is called Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation by Naim Stifan Ateek. It is a interesting and challenging study of what a Christian, who is a Palestinian thinks of what is going on in Israel.

I am 75% done reading this book and I can say that it has challenged my thinking. I believe it is good for us to be challenged with what we believe because most of us get our thinking and beliefs from the main stream media. I would challenge you to read this as well because it gives the other side of what we hear about Israel from a different perspective.

I had preconceived notions about what to expect when I went to Israel and what to expect from the people, and since being back I now look at that part of the world in a different light. I am looking forward to going back to Israel in March of 2009 and being challenged again.

The End of the World

2008-04-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

When will it end! I'm not refering to the end of the world, but to the rising cost of gas. I just filled my car and Jeep up and it cost almost $100. I vizulize that every time I get in one of my autos to run to the store or someplace else that money is just pouring out of the tail pipe. The high cost of fuel effects everything we do.

When thinking of the fuel cost that it takes to go on vactaion this summer I had a bright idea. I decided to have a yard sale and make a little extra spending money that could go toward gas. We had 5 tables full of stuff to sell. We did pretty good and made a few hundred dollars at the yard sale.
After calulating how much it will cost for fuel to travel this summer, I have come up with numbers- we have enough gas money to make it to Yuma! I don't want to spend the summer in Yuma, so I am praying for enough fuel money to make it to San Diego and back. I guess we could always hitch-hike!

Question?

2008-04-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

If you could change one thing about yourself, your family, your job, or your church what would it be? If you come up with an answer for any of these questions, please send me your response and I will share my response with you!

The Fifth Gospel

2008-03-30T11:49:00.001-07:00

FRIDAY, MARCH 07, 2008
We arrived in Tel Aviv before sunset after a long flight from Atlanta via Phoenix. We left on Thursday at 2:10 pm Phoenix time and arrived Friday at 5:30 pm. All 27 people in our group are excited about the upcoming week. Our tour guide is a believer! He says the Holy Land is called "The Fifth Gospel" - the first four you read, the fifth you experience. This would become a true statement!

(Side note: His term for restrooms... "Coffee Out.")

SATURDAY, MARCH 08, 2008
We went to four places today: Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, and Nazareth.

There isn't a whole lot left to see in the site of Caesarea anymore, though its history is fascinating. Herod the Great, so named not because he was a wonderful leader but because he built an awful lot, built it up from a relatively nondescript outpost to a large city complete with a large outdoor theater and circus. Herod built the palace out into the bay, using essentially cement to build on.
Caesarea is where the first recorded Gentile convert lived: Cornelius. See Acts 10:1.

Our next stop was Mt. Carmel, where Elijah put 450 prophets of Baal to the test. This was a beautiful mountain with a great view of the Valley of Megiddo.
Megiddo is a location of immense archeological importance as well. In the 1920's, the University of Chicago instituted a dig so effective that to this day, the results of other digs in Israel are compared to the artifacts and structures of Megiddo. Megiddo appears to have been a place of Canaanite worship as far back as 3000-4000 B.C.

One of the most remarkable features of Megiddo is a tunnel underneath the bedrock. Built to get water in event of a siege, it was actually dug from both ends and met in the middle.

Our last stop of the day was Nazareth... for lunch, Nazareth Village, and to go see the Church of the Annunciation.
We went to the Nazareth Village. It was a recreation of what Nazareth would have looked like at the time of Jesus. It was interesting to see the houses, synagogue, wine press, along with people in period costumes acting as backdrops for this experience.

After our tour we headed to our hotel in Tiberias on the Lake of Galilee. We would be at Tiberias for two nights.

SUNDAY, MARCH 09, 2008
Today was an extremely full day. The following are the different places we went:
Mount of the Beatitudes. This is where Jesus delivered His most famous sermon in Matthew 5-7. Our guide pointed out that the way the hills and valleys are situated, it is possible for a speaker, without the aid of any technology whatever, to speak loudly enough for thousands to hear him. There's a church now on the top of the mountain. We had a short reading of some of the passages from Matthew 5-7 and then we had time to go off by ourselves to read the words of Jesus from the same place where it was originally spoken!
Capernaum. Jesus also did some 75% of His ministry in and around Capernaum. He called all of His disciples from this area. The synagogue in Capernaum in which Jesus taught no longer exists, but a synagogue built in the 4th Century over the site of the old one is still partially standing. The best feature of Capernaum is the remains of St. Peter's house. An octagonal church was built over the site to help preserve it from any further decay, though it is not completely sealed off. But the plaster with which it was covered is still visible in places. It was the first house church or Journey Group!

Sea of Galilee. We went out on a boat to the middle of the lake and had a short service. We also watched one of the boat operators demonstrate how they fished in Jesus' day. They hoisted the American flag since we were from America, and played The Star Spangled Banner.
Jesus Boat. After getting back on shore we went to see The Jesus Boat. This boat was found in the Sea of Galilee far beneath the mud. It has been dated to about 2,000 years ago. The wood would apparently turn to dust as soon as it dried out, so they had to wet it constantly on the way out. It was sealed in foam until it could be preserved later.

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. This was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Scripture doesn't say exactly where Jesus had his conversation with Peter but this church commemorates Jesus' conversation with Peter in John 21.

Golan Heights. We then drove by fields cordoned off with signs saying "DANGER: MINES", tanks actually on the move, abandoned villages (from the 6-Day War), and pulverized bunkers. We stopped in a Druze village in the Golan Heights for lunch. We went this way in order to go to Ceasarea Philippi.

Ceasarea Philippi - Temple of Pan. Ceasarea Philippi is situated at one of the three sources of the Jordan River, and the ancient Temple of Pan (a pagan temple) was situated here as well. The spring used to come from the mouth of a cave there, but when Herod the Great built a temple to Caesar Augustus, the construction rerouted the flow to where the water comes out from a different location. Very little of the Temple of Pan remains, but it is still possible to see where the different statues were placed in the side of the cliff.

Jordan River. Our last stop in a very full day was the Jordan River. Several people from our group decided to get baptized in what was very cold water. The Jordan River experience was a great celebration for those who had the desire to be baptized in a cold and somewhat dirty river.

We closed the day by having a St. Peter’s Fish dinner (including the head and tail) at a local restaurant.

MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2008
Bet Shea'an. This is one of the biggest archeological finds in all of Israel. It was level ground before archeologists started digging. Bet Shea'an was the capital of the decapolis, and had an estimated population at its peak of some 50,000 people. An earthquake destroyed the city during the Byzantine era.

West Bank. This is occupied by Palestinians. We went this was so we could see the place where the oldest city was located- Jericho. We also saw the Mountain of Temptation. This was a stop that people could buy fruit and local glass from an Arab shop.
After lunch we headed for the Dead Sea for our hotel on the south end of the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea. This is the lowest place on earth! The salinity of the sea is about 33% and you don’t want to stay in the water more than 15 minutes at a time because it can start to burn your skin, but it is also what keeps you from sinking. It was awesome to be able to float without trying. You would expect the water to be really salty and gritty, but it was not. After being in the water we took advantage of the great spa at the hotel to relax and rejuvenate after a busy few days.

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008
Our first stop today was Masada. We rode a cable car to the top of the mountain. It was a great view. This is the location where zealots held off a Roman attack for over three years in this mountain top fortress. When it became plain that the Romans would breach the fortress the 963 people committed mass suicide rather than submit to slavery. We were told that the Israeli children are taught a phrase about Masada- “Never forget, never forgive”.

Our second stop was at Qumran. This is the location of finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea scrolls were first written and found some 1900 years later. They found all the books of the Old Testament except Ruth.
Bethlehem. We entered Palestinian territory again since Bethlehem is now in their control, and they don't allow Israeli citizens to cross the boundary. In fact, there are signs that say so. Our guide, who is actually an Israeli, had to go sit back with us in the bus so as not to draw needless attention to him self.
Our first stop was at a shop is owned by a Palestinian Christian; while we were gathered around to meet him, he asked us a favor, and then had instructions for shopping. He said that he realizes there will be no peace in this region until the Prince of Peace returns, but the U.S. and others were getting ready to try to hammer out a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel... and he asked us to pray that God would give wisdom to those involved in that process. Then he went on with a welcome to his store and give instructions for shopping.
The other stop we made in Bethlehem was the Church of the Nativity. It is the oldest Christian church in the world. It's a beautiful church but very different than what you would picture. We also saw the church that they hold the Christmas Eve mass that is live from Bethlehem.
Shepherd’s Field. This was the place the angles came to the shepherd’s to announce the birth of Christ. We explored the caves that were around this place. It was great to use our imagination as we explored the fields and caves to think of the shepherd’s receiving the news of the birth of Jesus.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
Our first stop was the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book. The Shrine of the Book is dedicated to the Qumran scrolls. This was also the location of a great display of what Jerusalem would have looked like in the time of Christ. The model is huge and gives you a great overview of where things are at.

Gethsemane, Church of All Nations. The Church of All Nations adjoins the Garden of Gethsemane. Originally a Franciscan monastery, the church was funded by many different nations. The official seals of several nations appear on the ceiling on the inside of the church. We had a short devotion and spent time in a private part of the garden for reflection and prayer. This was a good time to reflect and pray at the place that Jesus prayed before his betrayal. After the garden we went to an overlook of the city of Jerusalem with the golden dome in the background. There was a guy with a camel who showed up to take pictures on his camel. This is also where we took a group photo with the Old City in the background. The Jerusalem Archaeological Park. This is at the southwestern Corner of the Wall and we entered through the Dung Gate. We explored the wall and some of the stones used to build the wall weigh up to 400 tons. The coolest thing about this place was we stood on the bedrock by a gate that is now closed, but Jesus would have walked through. This is the one place we know that Jesus walked!

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
The museum was very difficult to go through because of the horrible history of the death of over six million Jews. This museum goes through in detail the accounts of how this happened starting from the end of World War I and the rise of Hitler. It was not something I would want to view again but it was something everyone who visits should see.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
This was the a walking tour day. We were dropped off in the old city at 8:30 am and then picked up at 3:30 pm. The following are the places that we went:

Dome of the Rock. This is the blue, golden-domed mosque of the Jerusalem skyline. It was very beautiful up close to view this. Until about eight years ago, anyone could go in. After the clash between Arabs and Israelis when Sharon showed up at the mosque with a bunch of armed men, it is now open only to Arabs or Muslims. This is the exact spot that the Jews plan to build the third temple sometime in the future. This will cause a few problems!
St. Anne's Church. This church was all about Mary but it is named after Mary's mother Hannah. It was built in the 12th Century (1131-1138 A.D.) to replace an even older Byzantine church. The church has two particular characteristics: 1) It is adjacent to the Pool of Bethesda, and 2) its windows are made of translucent alabaster. Jesus healing the paralytic without him going down into the water is significant. There was a Roman temple to the god of healing there, and Jesus wanted to make it clear that it was He Who healed the man, not the pool or the god of healing that the Romans worshiped.
We sang Amazing Grace in this church and the acoustics were amazing!

Via Dolorosa. Yes, we walked it. And it probably looks much the same as it did when Jesus was carrying His cross to Golgotha. Church of the Condemnation. This chapel is Station 1 of the Cross. It was presumably built over the place where Jesus was first officially condemned.

Church of the Flagellation. This chapel is Station 2 of the Cross. Just across the way from Station 1 on the same property, this is built over where Jesus was scourged.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre. One word: amazing. For a couple of reasons. 1) The church, though a bit on the gaudy side as Orthodox churches are prone to be, the church is nonetheless impressive both because of its size and the complexity of its design, being built around two natural formations of significance. 2) This church houses what apparently even some Protestant scholars are coming to believe what is most likely the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial both. I personally don’t believe this is the site.
St. Mark's Church (Syrian Orthodox). This is the church our guide attends. It is built over what there is apparently strong archaeological evidence for is the room where the Holy Spirit came on the disciples at Pentecost. A lady who worked there sang the Lord's Prayer for us in Aramaic.
Upper Room. This is the room that is believed that the disciples had the last supper together.

Wailing Wall or Western Wall & Tunnels. This was our last stop of the day. They are so busy that our scheduled tour was at 12:00 midnight! There were several interesting things about this visit. Number one, men and women had to go in different entrances. Number two, women could pray at the western wall, but only separated by a partition from the men. Number three, in one of the tunnels, an orthodox Jew shielded his eyes on our side as he passed. At first I had half a mind to get offended on behalf of our group until I realized what he was doing... shielding his eyes from the women in our group!

The tunnels themselves are archaeological digs under the Old City, in part to learn more about the city in the time of Herod (much of which is still available under ground level). They had a solid stone more than 40 feet in length, and weighing over 400 tons. It is the largest and heaviest single stone ever moved by man as far as anyone knows. They are digging everywhere under the wall. I think they are looking for the Ark of the Covenant.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2008
Temple Institute. This is a place designed to show all the implements that are being made in getting ready for the Third Temple. The guide explained how they don't know yet exactly how they're going to get the Temple but they want to have everything ready for when construction starts.
All of the things made out of gold, silver, gold-covered acacia wood, etc. as instructed in the Torah are all being done the same way now. They have already made 74 of the 96 things for the temple.

House of Caiaphas. This is the place Jesus underwent the first of several courts. Underneath the site is a place believed to be the remains of a prison, where Jesus was probably held at some point in their deliberations. The place was dry and dark. We read Psalm 88 because this could have been the prayer of Jesus. It was powerful.

Garden Tomb. This is the other site besides the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where there is archaeological evidence suggesting where Jesus was buried. We viewed the skull of the rock and the empty tomb. With all the evidence found, including a water cistern to supply water, I believe this is the correct location for Christ’s death and resurrection.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2008
Today we checked out of our hotel in the late morning. For those wanting one last shopping spree they were able to go to the Old City. The rest of the group hung around the hotel and relaxed. I was up all night with food poisoning. It was not a pretty sight.
After checking out of the hotel we headed to Jaffa for a look at that city and for our going-away dinner at Abu-Nassar Hinnawi, an apparently famous restaurant. After dinner we headed to Tel Aviv to fly out.
On the way to the airport, Nader our guide shared his hope that he has helped make the Gospel come alive for us in a new way and hoped that we would be different people going back than when we first arrived.
The trip home was a long one. 13 hours from Tel Aviv to Atlanta and then another 4 hours to Phoenix. From the time we arrived at the airport in Tel Aviv to when we touched down in Phoenix it was almost a 24 hour journey.
It is good to be back in the US, but I look forward to the day when I can return and take Pepper with me because I missed her so much! I can truly say that I did experience the “fifth gospel”!

Israel

2008-03-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

This week I am going to Israel. It has been a life long dream of mine to go to the places I have read about in the Bible throughout my entire life. This trip is a pilgrimage and not a vacation! I view this trip as a calling from God and I have a driving desire to see God's word come alive through the places we visit in Israel. I will be leading a group of 27 adults of all ages on this journey and I ask for your prayers for health and safety of all on the trip.

The only thing that would make this trip more enjoyable for me is if my family were able to join me, but because of the kids being in school, they along with Pepper will not be able to come this time. I am hopeful that the next trip I take they will be able to come.

I will not be blogging for a few weeks, but I look forward to sharing my adventures with you on this space! Shalom

Car Shopping

2008-02-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

When you mention car shopping to most people they go running and screaming into the night. Just the thought of having to haggle with a car dealer over the price of a car can bring about nightmares. For me, I find it a challenge and a little fun. I know the tricks of the trade because one time in my past I sold cars. Although it was only for three months I learned some key insight on how dealers work.
I am having to put to the test my knowledge of car buying because I am helping my daughter buy her first car. I have stressed patience with her when looking for the right car, but patience is not something a college freshman has. I have looked at more cars in the past month for her than I can count, but still we have not found "the one" that will work for her. If by chance you are reading this and have a car to sell, let me know! I don't go running and screaming into the night shopping for cars, but I might if I don't find one soon!

I Love You!

2008-02-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day is designated as the day we show our love and apprieciation to those we love. I can say that I have experienced Valentine's Day with the love of my life for over 25 years! I am greatful for the wonderful life that God has given me with Pepper. She is the one I call my friend, my partner, my supporter, my encourager, and the love of my life!

I know that marraige can be a full of blessings and challenges, but I would not want to journey through this life without my Valentine at my side! I love you Pepper!

Can You Breath Through Your Nose?

2008-01-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

It is great to breath! For the past two weeks I have had a cold and a cough and had a terrible time beathing through my nose. I am at the point where I am 98% over this cold and it is great to be able to breath without being all stuffed up. The simple act of breathing in and out is something I take for granted all the time, that is until I can't do it without breathing through my mouth. I don't know about you, but it is these simple things that we forget to thank the Lord for and when they are temporarily taken away it can cause for big problems in our life. I am learning to be thankful for the little things in 08 such as breathing through my nose!

2008

2008-01-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

2008 is the year of new adventure and change. I know that every new year brings about the possibility of adventure and change, but for some reason I believe that the best is yet to come in my personal, family, and ministry life. The journey of life is always exciting, as long as I keep my eyes focused on Jesus. He will lead me through incredible opportunities and circumstances in this new year! I hope to keep you updated and share all the adventures of 2008.

The Nativity

2007-12-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

I love Christmas! I love the decorations, the music, the parties, the celebration of Christ's birth, but one thing I wish I could change- all the Christmas nativity sets! This might be something small, but do you realize that the "three wise men" were not at the birth of Christ? That's right, they did not see Jesus for almost a period of two years. Just read the story in Matthew chapter 2 and break it down.

In our house we put the wise men on the other side of the room so it takes them along time to find Jesus, and when they do, he is a small child! I believe that many people are not aware of the details revolving around the birth of Jesus, they just take for granted that what they see in nativity sets under the Christmas tree is accurate. As far as Christ's birth being on December 25, that's for another blog!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving! It is a great time to reflect on the blessings we have been given. I am thankful to the Lord for the beautiful wife of 23 years He has given me and the two awesome kids who are really young adults. It seems that the older I get the more I reflect on the blessings the Lord has bestowed on me and my family. We are all healthy and the future is promising as we trust the Lord daily to meet our needs.
I always enjoy the food and watching the Dallas Cowboys football game on Thanksgiving, has but this year I am truly thankful for the wonderful friends and church the Lord has given us. Take some time this week to thank those who have been a blessing to you!

The Blur

2007-10-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been a blur. I had the opportunity to travel with the college young adults to Magic Mountain and the beach for a great weekend get-a-way. We had 35 people go to Magic Mountain for a great day filled with rides and beautiful weather. The best part of the day was that the park was not very crowded and we did not have to wait more than an hour for any of the big rides and most of the other rides we just walked on.
On Sunday we had a service at the beach! It was a great time of worship with one of our college young ladies leading, and then I brought a short message. After our service it was time to hit the waves, shop, stick your feet in the sand or just relax. We had lunch at Bubba Gumps and then headed back to Glendale.
It was a great weekend with little sleep, but I was blessed to be a part of the weekend with our great young adults. I had no time when I returened because the final plans and details for our Convergence Seminar had to be put into place.
The conference was a great day of music, breakouts and challenging messages from our key note speaker- Fred Williams. I love being in a blur of activity!

Getting Out of the Boat

2007-09-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Getting out of the boat is the theme we will are talking about at our church over the next couple of months. The scary thing about getting out of the boat we are in is the very thought of sinking straight to the bottom!

As I was thinking about what could happen when we get out of the boat two images come to mind. The first is from the movie- "The Perfect Storm" and the second is from the movie- "Blue Crush". Both of these involve water and waves but the outcome is completely different. I have a tendency to think that if I get out of the boat in my life then I will be swallowed up by the giant wave, but rather if I get out of my boat and learn to keep my eyes on Jesus I will be able to ride the perfect wave!

Both involve water and getting wet, both involve giant waves, yet what makes the difference is our position to the water and waves once we step out of the boat. I need to remember that Jesus is calling me to get out of my comfort and go for it.

Getting wet will happen when you get on the water and the ride will be challenging, but the end result of getting out of the boat will be an experience that we will never regret. Are you ready to get out of the boat with me?

Failing Forward

2007-09-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

Failing is the last thing we want to have happen to us. I hate it when I fail at anything because I am competitive by nature. No matter what I am doing I want to succeed, but in reality I don't always achieve what I am aiming at. If truth be told, I fail often.

They say that if you can hit a baseball 1 out of 3 times then you are a great hitter! What about the times they fail 2 out of 3 times at bat? Any good player knows that in order to be considered a great hitter they will fail, and if they learn from their failures then they will become a good baseball player. They learn to "fail forward".

Failing is not bad, it is the direction we go after the fall that counts. Do we learn from our setbacks and challenges or do we get mired in the fall? This life is full of "falling" down, the questions is are you falling forward in order to grow or are you falling down and not getting up?

Dallas Cowboys Rule!

2007-09-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

I enjoy this time of the year because summer is over (which includes pre-season football) and football is underway. I am a fan of high school and college football, but my real enjoyment is watching the NFL. I am a Dallas Cowboy fan going all the way back to the early 70's and I have stuck with my team through the great Super Bowl winning years and the disappointment years of missing the playoffs and everything in between. I am a true fan, not a bandwagon fan who enjoys his team only when they are winning, but a true fan. I also like the Arizona Cardinals and will root for them to win every time, except when they play the Cowboys. Sticking with one team through thick and thin is great because no matter where I go, I will always find one other person who is a Cowboy fan. The best part of football is that no matter how bad my team is, I still stay involved thanks to fantasy football, but that is for another blog. My prediction for the Cowboys this year is 11-5, and they make the playoffs!

110 Degrees

2007-08-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

When will it end? I am referring to the record setting 110 plus degrees we have endured this summer! We are at 29 days and counting and it seems that with all the growth in the valley we can expect the temperature to keep rising each summer. Growth is not a bad thing, in fact we as a church are adding to the growth of buildings, with a new building for our youth! After this is built we will be building two more buildings! I guess I am willing to put up with the hot temperatures as long as we are able to continue in reaching people for Jesus- but I long for the cooler days of mid October!

New Beginnings

2007-08-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

It seems like this time every year is a new beginning. It's a new school year and with the kids back in school, schedules start to change. For our family, Justine is off to college at GCC as a freshman and Brannen is starting his junior year of high school. It's a new beginning for them and us. Justine no longer will drive her brother to and from school so that in itself makes for a new schedule for Pepper and I. We will all be going our different directions as we start this new school year, and in a way it is like this each and every year. We get to experience a new beginning each August no matter if we are ready or not!

Extreme Makeover

2007-08-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

If you have ever watched a home show in which they do a makeover on a house it seems rather simple, that is until you do a makeover on your own home. Over the past two weeks we have lived out of our bedroom because the rest of the house has been torn up for a makeover. We are redoing all our floors (except the bedrooms), painting, fixing and remodeling walls. For those of you who have experienced this, I have one word for you- DUST. It's everywhere and just when you think you have it cleaned up- you find more!

It reminds me of what happens in our lives. We have a spiritual makeover that begins to happen in our life, and this makeover is a process rather than a one time event. It's not pretty going through the process of a makeover but the end result is beautiful. Many people are in need of a spiritual makeover. Are you willing to allow the Lord to make you into the person He desires?

The end result of our home makeover will be awesome, but someday it will need to be redone again (hopefully by another person).

Dog Days of Summer

2007-07-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

I know why people call this time of the year the "Dog days of summer". It's because it seems like it will be forever before the cool weather is back, and all most people want to do is stay inside or go someplace that is cooler. Not a lot of activity goes on this time of the year but before you know it the weather will start to drop below the century mark and we will become more active. But until that time comes we need to just push through the desire to lay around, avoid the heat and do nothing but lay around like a dog. However the work that is before us needs to be done and life just doesn't stop. It reminds me of Phil. 4:13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." What a great verse to hold on to when we don't feel like we can go another step. Don't let the dogs of summer keep you from doing what God has called you to do!

When World's Collide

2007-06-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Two things that don't go together are cell phones and washing machines. However, I had the unfortunate experience of seeing these two worlds collide. After going through a complete wash and dry cycle, my phone was the cleanest it had ever been, but unfortunatly it was ruined in the process. After realizing that the life of my phone had ended, it caused me to think about all of the people that I would be out of touch with for a few days. Some of those people will not be able to get a hold of me, and thats not a bad thing, but the people I do want to talk with, thats where it gets hard. I am in the process of waiting for a replacement phone, but the knowledge of not having instant access to anyone no matter where ever I am is an odd feeling. What did I do before cell phones? I can't remember, and it's hard to believe that in an instant I can be separated (via the phone) from my security. I guess I will just have to carry a quarter around with me- just in case I need to make a call!

Are You In The Right Place?

2007-06-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked yourself the question, "Am I in the right place, doing what the Lord has called me to do?" That is a question we should ask ourselves often, or better yet have someone we trust ask us that question. If we are honest with our self, we might find out that we need to move forward. The problem with asking this question is that we might find out the answer and most of us would rather stay in one place than move forward. Life is a journey and if we get stuck in a rut, we may never realize it because we are comfortable and satisfied. Let's be honest, it's safer in a rut than on a highway with the challenging unknowns. The great thing about the path the Lord has put before us is that He goes before us! It's all about trusting Him for the road map of our life. This is why Proverbs 3:5-6 has become my life verse. Are you in the right place or do you need to move forward?

Beach or Bust!

2007-05-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

What are your plans for the summer? Well, my goal is to stay cool and that means heading to the beach! It seems like every summer the goal is to find a place where you can unwind and enjoy your family. This will more than likely be the last summer we can vacation together as a family because of work and school. Before you know it, Pepper and I will be empty nesters. It will be so strange not to have our kids with us on trips, but those who have become empty nesters say vacations get better because they get cheaper. I guess I will have to take their word for it. No matter where you go, don't forget to wear sunscreen and drive the speed limit!

Graduation

2007-05-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our daughter is graduating tonight! We are taking her to high school for the last time. I can remember, as if it were yesterday taking her to her first day of kindergarten. Where does the time go? It is hard for me to think about it without getting too emotional, but hey, I'm her dad and I can cry if I want to! The journey our children are on seems slow, when they are little but the older they become the faster it goes. Justine is a blessing from the Lord and this night is her night to shine and begin the next steps on her journey to becoming the young women God planned. Justine, mom and dad loves you!

Death of My Pastor

2007-05-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

My pastor died this past week. I am referring to Jerry Falwell. He was my pastor for one year while I attended Liberty Baptist College (now known as Liberty University). I know that he impacted my life when I was just a freshmen in college for the way that he lived his life for the Lord. The thing that I will always remember him for was the way he loved the Lord, the way he loved college kids, and the way that he stood up for biblical morality. Yes, he was a person who had a passion for sharing Jesus with the world no matter what people thought. He could disagree with you, and yet smile and show God's love at the same time. He was a man that impacted my generation for Jesus- I only hope that at my life's end that I will make a difference in other people's lives, like he did for mine.

Underwear

2007-05-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to go to Buena Vista, Colorado for a training seminar with Serendipity House. I was excited to spend the week in the mountains of Colorado, but something happened to me that I will never forget. The plan was to fly into Denver and then drive 3 hours to our destination. I arrived in Denver on time but my clothes didn't. I had packed everything for the trip in my suitcase and when I found myself standing at the baggage claim all alone the thought came to me, "Why didn't I pack an extra pair of cloths in my carry on baggage?" I have flown many times and heard the horror stories but never thought it would happen to me! I went for two days with only the cloths on my back. It was frustrating and at times I didn't know if I would ever get my suitcase returned, but after two days they delivered my clothes. I was the happiest person at the retreat! The thought crossed my mind how much we can plan the outcome of our adventures, but you never know what can happen. The lesson I learned- always carry an extra pair of underwear in your carry-on bags!

Summer Heat

2007-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

It's always hard for me this time of the year. I love living in the Valley of the Sun, for most of the year. When the heat comes, I think of how great it would be to live in San Diego! I know I should be thankful for the weather we have most of the year because all we have to put up with is the heat. We don't have to deal with the crazy weather that the other part of the U.S. puts up with; earthquakes, hurricanes, tornado's, humidity, and snow. All we have to endure is the "dry heat" for a few months each year. I know the heat is coming this week, and I'm already looking forward to cooler weather, but unfortunatly it won't come until the end of October!

Life is Short

2007-04-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

After the tragic killings at Virgina Tech last week it got me to think (once again) about how brief life is, and that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. I get so consumed with the daily business of "life" and planning for the future, that when a tragedy strikes it causes me to pause and reflect on my today. I am driven with the thought, "Am I giving my best for the Lord in all areas of my life?" We should all strive to take each day as if it were a gift from the Lord and give Him our best, because He gave us His best- Jesus!

Imus

2007-04-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

It was hard not to notice what has happened this past week to Imus in the Morning. I was no fan of his radio show. What he said was wrong and repulsive and his words cost him his job and his reputation in radio that he has had for 40 years. It reminded me again that words really do matter, even if they are said in private. I Timothy 4:12 states that we, as Christians, should be the ones to set an example with our speech. How has your speech been this week? I bet Imus wishes he would have thought before he spoke, but then again he will have plenty of time off to think about the power of words.

Three to Thrive

2007-04-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

I believe that every Christian needs to do three things in a week in order to thrive in their Christian walk. First, worship the Lord in a weekend service. This will allow us hearing from God's Word and the ability to praise Him corporatly as a church. Second, involvement in a ministry within the life of the church, this allows you to minister and serve others. Third, attending a small group. A small group will keep you accountable to others and help you grow closer to God, while at the same time allowing you the ability to share the joys and challenges with others who care about you. Are you doing all three? If not, your not thriving- your just surviving!

Who's Plan?

2007-04-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

We can plan for tomorrow, we can look to the future in fulfilling our hopes and dreams, but what happens when we arrive at tomorrow and it is different than what we had planned? The problem with our dreams and our hopes is the word "our". What place do we allow the Lord to direct our plans? My life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. No matter what the future holds, I am trusting in the future maker. Trusting in Him to know what is best for me. It might not make sense at the moment, but when I put my whole life into the Lord's hands I can rest assured that my future is just the way he planned!

March Madness

2007-03-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks for me, being a college basketball fan have been great! If you consider the fact that the team I was pulling for (Arizona) got knocked out in the first round, it still has been a great tournament! Every year I fill out my brackets and try to pick the final four teams. I have been doing this as long as I can remember. I even have those in my family filling in the brackets. For the first time I picked 10 out of 16 winners for the sweet sixteen and three out of the four teams who are playing in the final four this weekend! Go Ohio State!

Blog, Blog, Blog!

2007-03-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever listened to someone talk and your mind started to wander? You watched their lips move, but all you could hear was "Blah, blah, blah?" Well hopefully my blog won't have the same effect!

My unanswered question for today is, "Why do I have to check my order every time I go through a fast food drive-thru?" Can someone please give me an answer? I don't ponder questions such as why we have global warming, or who will win the presidential nomination for the Republican Party. I just want to know why I can't get what I ordered!