Today I get to see a horse. It's not just any horse. It's Amanda's horse. Amanda is a 7th grader who trains horses and shows them at rodeos. I get to spend time with her learning how she does this and why she does it. I get to video her and interview her about the things she loves. I'm looking forward to spending some time in her world.

I've only been on a horse one time. I was in 5th grade and the owner led us around, so I'm not sure that really counts.

This morning in Bible class we will be in Acts 13. One of the themes in all of Acts is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who follow Christ. So many times Luke mentions the work of the Holy Spirit. It comes over all the followers like wind and fire. Jesus promises the Spirit. The Spirit catches Phillip up, it speaks to Peter, Paul and others. It prevents them Paul from going places to do ministry and leads him to other places. It gives Paul insight as he shares the Gospel with people.

People say it's a feeling or a hunch. Others say it's something in their head, a clear conviction after much prayer and search of Scripture. Some argue that it's a more physical manifestation. It seems to me, that whatever it is (how the Spirit guides us) it is almost always in connection with the good news of Jesus Christ, directed toward others, and glorifying Maybe I'm too busy to listen to the Holy Spirit. Maybe I don't know how. The more deeply I read Acts the more I become aware of the limitations I have placed on my faith. It's as if I have placed God in a box with walls determined by my epxerience of him. Maybe it's time to remove those walls and begin to search with new eyes, a new mind, and a new heart.

"It is finished." - Jesus

Jesus had done all he had come to do. There was nothing more. He had fulfilled his purpose. Accomplished his mission. Carried out his task. Jesus had lived the life, taught his people, loved them, healed them, showed them the way, trained them, and gave his life for them. He exhausted himself for the sake of God's mission. He could do no more. His work was complete, his mission finished. The rest now lied in the hands of the Father. The rest would be up to him. Jesus has done the possible, now God would do the possible. Jesus had been faithful; now God would show himself faithful. So, Jesus closed his eyes, breathed his last breath, and gave up his spirit.

At the end of a day, have you given it all you could? Have you done all you can do? Have you spent your life for the sake of the mission of God? Maybe that's not a fair question. But if we're called to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him, then maybe we should consider whether or not we are doing all that we can. When we reach that point, God does the rest. As a friend of mine often says "God just asks us to do the possible; he will take care of the impossible." One of the goals for my life is to be able to lay my head on my pillow at night to sleep knowing for that day I did all I could for the mission of God.

On Wednesday nights we have been looking at the ways God shapes our lives and how we can know he is shaping us. Last week week we began a section of this series called "You know you're a Christian if..." The idea is that we know God is shaping us into what he sees best if we begin to see fruits of his work in our lives. So for the next 8 weeks we are going to take a look at the fruits of the spirit. Last week, we looked at the fruit of love in our lives.

This week, we are going to talk about joy. So many people seem to make joy a goal in life. In Life on the Vine, Kennison suggests that joy is a product of living, not a goal. It is an outflow of a life rooted in Christ in which we see the bigger picture. Let me know your thoughts.

Dear Sharon,

I don't know if I ever expressed adequately how thankful I have been for you. I don't know if I could ever put into words what you have meant to me and my family. When I consider the impact you have had on my life I don't even know where to begin. You took me in as your own and loved me like a son. From the chicken pox to our family's great loss you walked this journey with me. You were there at my graduation. You were there when my mother was sick. You were there when we needed a hand. You taught me more about how to live than you ever knew. From you, I saw what compassion, gentleness and mercy looked like lived out. Always unassuming, you never wanted the spotlight. You simply wanted to make this world a better place. You wanted us all to live for Christ.

Your life has been an inspiration to me. As you faced this disease that finally took you, your faith remained. You embraced what was ahead knowing the Lord would be there. You challenged me to be a better son. I remember when I walked into your home last June for the first time in over 11 years. Though many things were different that day, one thing was not -- I knew I was with family. It was as if I had been doing the same thing every day.

Though not famous from a worldly perspective, your faith will always be remembered for you are among those of faith who I will look to for inspiration. As far as I'm concerned you're up there with Moses and Abraham, Elijah and Ruth. Though you never met my children they know of you.

The Bible tells me we don't mourn as those who have no hope. I miss you. So, today a cry, I hurt, but I know you are in a better place. I can't say much except this -- thank you, I love you and look forward to coming home one day.

Yesterday I posted a quote for a book I have just begun reading. I have been thinking about how I can spend my energies getting to people rather than figuring out how to get them to church. What about you? Any thoughts on what it's like to take your everyday life and seap into the cracks and crevices of this world sharing the Gospel?

"The church disassembles itself and seeps into the cracks and crevices of a society in order to be Christ to those who don't even know him." from Michael Frost and Alan Hirsh's The Shaping of Things to Come

A woman and daughter need help moving on with their lives. We invite them to church. But what they really need is someone to help them pack their things and move. A girl facing an unplanned pregnancy which brings an uncertain future. We invite her to church, even throw a shower. What she needs is someone to go with her to the doctor. To go to her home and listen to her, to sit with her late at night as she expresses her fears and anxieties. A man arrives at the pantry for food. The food given will last he and his three children for 3-5 days. What he needs even more is someone willing to enter his home, listen to his heart as he talks about working and trying to support three children on his own.

I'm faced with the reality of my life that I spend most my time expecting people to come to me for help. These past 40 days as I've absorbed the Gospels during our church-wide reading project it has become even clearer to me that Jesus didn't wait for people to come to him. He sought them out. Maybe I should spend less time figuring out how to get people in my church doors and more time considering how to get out to the people.

We survived the weekend without anything breaking, being permanently altered, torn apart or without anyone being electrocuted. I dreaded Hancock Fabrics with Jenna, but she walked around feeling all the fabric. She did walk right into a card board box, though. She cried, I laughed. She even took a 2 hr nap yesterday. So I would say it was a pretty good weekend. Jenna still rides in her relatively new forward-facing car seat going "Wee!!!" as she stares out the side window.

Ramblings for the weekend...

This weekend Deana's going to be at a ladies' retreat and I'll be home with the kids. Deana needs to be at our church building at 5ish, we will head to granny's at 5:15. Yes, I'm cheating. Isn't it great to have a granny who loves to lavish love (aka spoil) our children?


This Sunday is a homecoming of sorts for my family. It's kind of like the prodigal son. We are back in our original small group that began two years ago. In August, we stepped out to work with college-age students, but that has since ended. So, this Sunday night we are hosting our 24/7 group in our home. I'm excited. Great people to connect with.


Last night Julia took a bath. I had told her to dry off and get dressed for bed and she could have her bedtime snack. Well, she walked into the kitchen in her panties with bubble bath all over her declaring she was ready for bed. Apparently she has developed a distaste for towels.


Have a blessed weekend

Some more thoughts on the matter...

What if we took seriously the idea we are a new creation? What if we really believed that while there are some things about us that remain the same when we give our lives to Christ, there are many things that are different? What if we took seriously that we need to transform our minds? Develop new patterns, new habits, new modes of living?

I'm not sure this comes merely by sitting in Bible classes or church services. These things are part of it, but there's so much more. How do we learn to develop a heart for the who are hurting unless we spend time with them, listening and loving? How do we learn to share the Gospel unless we become involved in sharing the Gospel? How do we learn to pray as Christ does unless we spend hours on our knees in prayer? In other words, habits that transform our minds can only be forged if we actually commit do doing those things. Maybe this is too much like yesterday's post, but it's what's on my mind right now.

I want to be a doer of the word rather than simply a hearer of the word. I want to live the life of a Christ-follower rather than simply read about what it means to be a Christ-follower. I want a new mind rather than read about how to have a new mind.

Continuing some thoughts from yesterday...

The other day some chemistry students weren't getting what I was trying to teach them. It was some challenging material. While a few hung in there, most checked out and their minds went elsewhere. Come time for the exam, the majority of students cried that they just didn't get it. Truth is most weren't willing to put in the work needed to learn the material. If it didn't come easily they gave it up.

Could the same be side for our spiritual lives? Could it be that to grow spiritually requires work on our part? It requires studying Scripture, meditating and contemplating its meaning and signficance in our lives. It requires looking at the life of Christ for principles to embody in our own lives and then take them on as our own. This requires immersing ourselves in the community of faith, in ministry and service as well as in the word. It's not only academic. Much like an apprentice learning for the master by following the master and doing. This sounds like much work... It is, but oh what a reward for those willing to dive so deep. Let me know your thoughts.

If you know me well and talk to me for very long about my seminary experience you will hear me refer to David Wray. Mike Cope, in this morning's bloc entry interviews David. Check it out here.

I think I agree that in our particular heritage we have historically emphasized the need to collect information. The assumption seems to be that if the people receive the information that will be enough to produce the change(transformation). While this may be true for some, it is not true for others. I think our heritage in the past has attracted those who take in information and process it in this way. Therefore, they assume it's that way for everyone. We have historically emphasized the need for more biblical literacy with the assumption that more factual knowledge will lead to more integrated living. I may be wrong as I consider this thought, but I don't think this works to well with most of us.

Just the other day I received a call from someone concerned about what is being taught to our teenagers in Bible classes because of decisions being made by some. Just the very questions this individual asked indicated this view of spiritual formation. It's not enough to get the information out there. It takes more. Total spiritual formation is about more than head knowledge. It's a praxis. A lifestyle. It should include not only study of Scripture, especially the teachings of Christ but also include practices that encourage holiness, concern for others, and community. Any thoughts?

I'm looking forward to this weekend because on Sunday, the youth group is going to Houston Impact to host children's Bible hour. This has always been one of my favorite things to do each year. We'll spend the weekend focusing on how to love children that come from quite different backgrounds than most of us. We get to teach them a little of the Word and show them a lot of love. In the end, I think we are the ones changed. We're different because as we share God's love we experience it. It becomes more real to us.



Lyrics from Matt Brouwer's "I Shall Believe"

And not everything is gonna be the way you think it ought to
And it seems like every time I try to make it right it all comes down on me
Please say honestly you won't give up on me
And I shall believe.

I'm close to several who are feeling the weightiness of these lines.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
His love endures forever
Give thanks to the God of gods
His love endures forever
Give thanks to the Lord of lords
His love endures forever
who creates miracles every time a child is born
His love endures forever
who has brought forth two children
His love endures forever
who daily teach me to be a better man
His love endures forever
who have shown me what unconditional love means.
His love endures foever
He has given me a bride
His love endures forever
who shows me how to love you more deeply
His love endures forever
who has taught me how to be passionate
His love endures forever
and makes me laugh
His love endures forever
The Lord has given me friends
His love endures forever
who hold me accountable to you
His love endures forever
For others who are constantly there
His love endures forever
No matter what our family endures
His love endures forever
I am not alone
His love endures forever
I don't have to make this journey by myself
His love endures forever
For there are others right there
His love endures forever
For that, I am thankful today
Your love endures forever