Be the Tree

Wow. I just came across this and I thought I would share it. I like the metaphor of being a tree- you'll see- but it just didn't quite flush out like I hoped... I preached this sermon in 2007 and it's kinda long... sorry. There are snippets that aren't mine, I think they're from Max Lucado. I'll search around to see if I can find the exact work cited. I don't know why but half of the ZACCHAEUS are all in caps... weird.
Anyway, there are a couple of decent thoughts in this loooong piece, so enjoy, I guess...

Luke 19
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Grace and Peace are yours now and forever in the name of the one who died and lives again- in the name of God’s one and only son who paid the price for all of our sins. in the name of Jesus
My fellow Redeemed.

My friend who lived behind me had a tree that was awesome
a big ole Maple with low hanging limbs that made for easy accesses to it’s many branches that could hold literally dozens of kids.
What’s more is my friend and his dad built an awesome tree fort with the ladder and the whole nine yards... we loved that tree.
Hundreds of plans made, deals hatched, and conversations were had sitting amongst the bark and leaves of that maple tree
we could see every backyard on the block.
It was so much fun!

My backyard had trees too
it had 3 big ole pine trees that were good for nothing other than annoying ground cover that I had to mow around
we had a gigantic maple tree with the annoying helicopter seeds that would get everywhere
the limbs were like 15 feet off the ground so no one climbed it
it provided shade,
but as a youngster I wanted a wide open baseball field
not a shady yard with a behemoth tree in the way

We also had a row of Poplars along our fence line
Poplars that grew straight up like skinny posts
they had 2 big limbs that you could get up on, but no place to go after that
IN FACT, my friend shawn’s sister once tried to climb higher than we had before-
she slipped and fell off the tree hitting her shoulder on a fence breaking her collarbone
we never climbed it again.

So trees played a big part in my childhood- both trees that were great for climbing
and others that were not

We are called as redeemed Children of God to sometimes go out of our comfort zone to share the Word of God with those who don’t know what Jesus has done for them.
It isn’t always easy or comfortable telling others about their Salvation, and today we’re focusing on the familiar story of Zaccheaus.

It’s a Sunday School favorite- I’ve taught it in countless VBS’s everyone knows about the little man who climbed a sycamore to see Jesus.

The players in this episode are obvious:
We have Jesus who is in his 3rd and final year of ministry here on earth-
He’s well known with a pretty strong following
Everywhere he went was a 1st-century media circus with people lining the streets just to see him pass through

Zaccheaus who will be forever known as short, poor guy.
He wasn't just a tax collector,
But the HEAD tax collector
IF he lived today, he’s got tons of money, investments, healthy retirement fund - new house on the lake 2 new cars and a SUV - big boat
millionaire by age 30 -
tax collector - not just A tax collector – he's the CEO of tax collectors- all the others answer to him
Tax Collectors were of course hated men by the masses
Zaccheaus was a Hebrew, but he worked for Rome
Not only that but he stole from his own people to pay Rome
Most likely didn’t have too many friends
Had to be shrewd and scrupulous to advance as far in the tax collecting world as he did
The setting is Jericho
Located on a very important trade route where the healing Balsam was produced and distributed
Certainly there were a lot of ruthless tax collectors in the area,
And Zaccheaus was the head honcho

So we know Zaccheaus, Jericho was a major city, got that. We of course know Jesus. He was mere days away from his Passion and soon his saving work would be complete
So what am I forgetting?
What do we have in this text that encourages us to go our of our comfort zone and share the Good News with our neighbor?

Well, we have the little guy, the BIG guy- and we have the tree!
It’s the tree that to me gives us the encouragement to branch out and share our faith in ways we’ve never done before
It’s the tree that gives me hope and confidence to boldly and unashamedly profess the name of God
It’s the tree!!
You see ladies and gentlemen
It was the tree that allowed Zacchaeus to see his Lord
w/o it he would have been a small guy in a huge crowd
he would have seen heads and shoulders but no Savior

The Lord used that tree to change Zacchaeus’ life forever,
So, today Lady’s and Gentlemen I charge you all to be a tree!


There are lots of different types of trees-
The mighty oak which stand tall and firm
The huge sequoias and redwoods which grow to such large a scale that is mind blowing
There’s the multiple types of pines which smell delicious and are used so nicely at Christmas time
(not a big fan of pines)
They make good baseball bats…

So the question is- How can we be a tree? why?

First of all our roots are deeply rooted in the living water that is Jesus Christ and the infallible living Word of God.
We can proudly, boldly, fearlessly be trees so that others see Christ through us
because we, ourselves, were forever changed by a tree 2000 years ago
When Jesus died on the tree, that is the cross on Calvary
He took away once and for all the sins of the world- all the guilt, all the shame- all of it is gone because of Jesus’ death and triumphant resurrection
Then, At our baptisms we were given the free gift of faith.
We went from lost and condemned wanderers
to sanctified and redeemed Children of the living God
The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts and we have the hope that cannot be shaken
Our roots are in the fertile soil of grace and we drink deeply from the refreshing water of life.
WE HAVE LIFE!
Jesus says I am the vine you are the branches he who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit
The fruit we bear as redeemed children of God are lives of service, words of love, and thoughts of compassion
The fruit we bear because we are attached to the vine that is our savior Jesus is letting the His light shine through us-
By being trees!
By allowing others to see Him through us
We have the Savior of the WORLD living within us
And our roots are deep
Storms come and huff and puff- we might loose some leaves, some sticks might fall, but we have nothing to fear- HE is strong.


The next part of being a tree is having limbs that are easy to climb
The sycamore fig tree that Zacchaeus was up is like nothing we have here in MN. This was a fruit tree that still grows abundantly in the Middle East and more resembles an apple tree then it does the American Sycamore that you might have in your yards.
It has low lying and plentiful limbs that are absolutely perfect for climbing
They are close enough to the ground to get a good grip on, and they are strong enough to hold several people’s weight

When it comes to us going out of our comfort zone to share our faith- are we a sycamore fig tree or a pine?
Do we have our faith limbs out and easy to climb, or are we prickly and guarded?
I am really good at packing up my limbs when I know they need to be out and ready to climb
In order for people to see Jesus through us we need to think, act, and live as He wants us to.
Being a tree can be found in the small things-
Our Christ-light can shine through us with things as easy as a smile when passing someone by
Or a quick hello to a co-worker
A “hey, how you doin’?” to a neighbor as you pass on the sidewalk
Have your limbs down
Be approachable
We are sometimes so guarded here in metropolis America
We give cold shoulders to strangers
We quickly judge by appearances
Rather than allowing people to see the love of God through us
We are much more comfortable with 15 foot trunks- impossible to climb
If they want to know, they’ll ask us…. we tell ourselves
It’s like saying- if they want to climb, they’ll bring their own ladder
Fellow redeemed be like the sycamore fig that Zacchaeus used to see Jesus-
We’re well rooted in the Living Word
Don’t be afraid to let your light shine
To let your limbs down
To let others see the Jesus that’s living within you
Remember we have the power and the commission of the most high God to go and tell
We have marching orders for the creator and sustainer!
If God is for us, who can be against us?
We are not alone
Don’t be afraid.
We have the promise that the holy Spirit will give us the words- we just need to have our limbs down.

I doubt that Zacchaeus was the only guy who had the idea to climb into a tree to get better view - trees along the route may have been filled with people
but this was ZACCHAEUS's day - he didn't know it yet,
but Jesus did
it was all planned
Jesus came right to the spot - looked up and said
Hey, ZACCHAEUS - come down –
HURRY - don't hesitate, don't delay, don't think twice - just come down cause I'm going to make myself a guest in your home

people all upset
They knew what kind of man ZACCHAEUS was
what he did for living –
called him a "sinner" ouch!
They said he was lost- that is beyond anyone’s help
But little ZACCHAEUS never felt taller!
came down as fast as he could, gladly welcomed Jesus into his home
When people saw that Jesus was going to ZACCHAEUS’s house that day, they scoffed-
Zacchaeus was the head honcho tax collector- he stole and embezzled a lot of money. Everyone hated him
and yet he was the one Jesus chose to talk to, to dine with, to change forever

I tell you- I know me- and I know that if I were to meet a man with a reputation like Zacchaeus today, I wouldn’t have my limbs out- I would want to be like one of those poplars on my fence line-
not a Maple with a tree fort-
I’d be hesitant to talk to him, let alone share the good news of Jesus-
He’d be one I’d chalk up to as lost- beyond help,
Certainly beyond MY help
Someone else can share their faith with him…
Fellow redeemed We have PERMISSION- in fact we are invited to branch out, to reach out, to share our faith- even if it’s against public approval
Especially if it’s someone whom others have written off
Jesus no doubt passed by hundreds of “good folks”
And went to the bottom of the barrel
And gave him everlasting life
The word of God is powerful and living
Don’t underestimate the awesome power it has to change hearts and minds- even those who are written off as “lost”
Jesus forever changed Zacchaeus’ life that day in Jericho- and Zacchaeus was able to see him because of the tree.


So, we as trees deeply rooted in the Word, limbs strong and ready to climb, and finally we live with leaves out waiting for the wind to blow them

The Holy Spirit is commonly referred to as a wind- At the Pentecost the disciples heard a mighty wind as the Spirit descended upon them

We as trees should have our leaves out and waiting for those opportunities to share our love of Jesus.

I can think back to so many times that I could have so very easily shared my faith in conversations or interactions but didn’t because I just wasn’t thinking- I wasn’t looking for the opportunity so the opportunity was lost.
I’m not saying the Lord is going to speak to us in a vision or transport us like he did Philip
But the holy spirit DOES direct our steps and guides our paths
Have you seen those Arby’s commercials with the people who are distracted and it turns out that they’re “thinkin’ Arbys” and you see the Arby’s hat on top of their heads

Wouldn’t it be nice if God could put the something like the Arbys thing on top of people’s heads- THOSE are the ones that we’re supposed to talk to-
But if God did do that-
If we could see those people who are hurting
Empty
Searching
In need of the Savior
would we like what we saw?
There would be a lot of arrows that we would say,
REALLY? THAT person?
We must never forget who we are rooted in-
Jesus gave us the Great Commission- go and make disciples of all nations
1Tim 2:4 says that our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth
We as redeemed Children are called to be ambassadors of Christ.
Called to give a reason for the hope that we have in Christ
We are equipped with the powerful, living word
And he who saved us lives within us!

Jesus tells ZACCHAEUS and all others who were at his house that His mission was to seek and save the lost.

That really sums it all up and at same time brings focus back to you and me
we are the lost, unable to save ourselves
without Jesus in our lives we are restless, looking for something or someone to fill space in hearts meant only for Jesus - and nothing works
but Jesus came into the world and died in our place for our sins
doesn't care where we've been
- just like it didn't concern Him that the people in Jericho despised Zacchaeus

It's not where we've been but where we're going that concerns Him

He stands ready and willing to forgive - to pick us up and set us on the right track
He assures us that He cares, that He will provide
Because He came to seek and save what was lost
That is the message-
The powerful awesome mind-blowing message that we as Christians believe
And we as trees are to share
Look for opportunities to share that message that has changed our lives for all eternity
Intentionally engage your neighbors, schoolmates and co-workers with a kind word or smile
Dig deep into the Word that we are so deeply rooted in and put your guard down
and allow the Lord to use you in powerful, powerful ways
Pray that we would be receptive-
recognizing the Lords direction and call for us to share our faith with others

After Jesus called ZACCHAEUS and says he’s going to his house
A lot happens not recorded in text
The scene changes from tree on side of road to ZACCHAEUS's house
we can assume that meal has been served and there has been much conversation
don't know what was discussed but we do know the impact it had on ZACCHAEUS
He STOOD UP –
Don’t pass that by too quickly-
It must be recorded for purpose –
all Scripture recorded for purpose
what the significance? –
Zacchaeus is saying, “I've got an announcement to make - a public announcement”
not something I take lightly - but very seriously
He said it to the Lord but was public - for all to hear:
Half his possessions he was giving to the poor –
4 times back to those he’s cheated
wait a minute the people must have thought what's this all about?
is he trying to buy happiness?
trying to bribe Jesus?
not at all
rather, ZACCHAEUS found what He was looking for
found happiness- and the answer is not getting more money - not even in keeping the money he had
the answer is in Jesus
can you appreciate how radically his thinking had changed from the time he got up in the morning til the time he had Jesus as guest in his house?
his thinking changed from getting money to giving money away
from serving his own needs to caring for the poor
from getting as much as he could any way he could to giving back 4 times as much as he had taken wrongfully
that's a radical change
know what? I don't see him making this statement grudgingly - I see freedom, willingness, eagerness to get into the new life Jesus has called him to

We don't hear anymore about ZACCHAEUS except these all important words
Jesus says of ZACCHAEUS: SALVATION HAS COME TO HIS HOUSE –
implying that not only ZACCHAEUS but his family too came to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord

ZACCHAEUS is in heaven – and the tree played a major role!
His savior found him that day because of the tree
his life took on whole new meaning and purpose -
Jesus filled the emptiness -
but that's only part of the whole picture - life with God in heaven for eternity the other part -
part we can't yet see but ZACCHAEUS is experiencing

Don’t be afraid to be a tree-
the water that gives us life has conquered death for us
the one who gives us strength and the words to speak is almighty
the one who moves us and guides us is living within us-

Stand firm and know that our God is with you, His son has saved you, and the Holy Spirit is guiding you.

don’t let anyone cut you down
because you have the creator, sustainer, and savior of the word as your guide
God be praised!

It is in his name we live and in His arms we rest

Ha! My latests posts have been thrilling... it's memorial day weekend, as such I have taken a vaycay from bla(h)ging. Deal with it. :)
Today Steve Jobs won my heart. Don't let me down, big guy!

Fight night.

red as... something that is very red.

WOW! I am sunburned...
like majorly.
It is late... but stay tuned for my post will be about what it's like to be me...
facinating, I'm sure...
till then...
tata

ammendment

OK so my seats weren't 5th row, but they were still awesome. Sitting in the park at night... it was awesome. I am liking the Targ more and more... but the hot dogs are still horrible.
OH and they DO sing "We're gonna win Twins"!!! AWESOME!
'twas a good day.

prompt:4

My lovely writing prompters gave me four topics this fine evening: 1- something that I would redo in my life, 2- really bad baby names, 3- summertime, and 4- phat beats.
3 and 4 are synonymous terms, so I will tackle them tomorrow. Really bad baby names… I just don’t know about that… Much like when you get a tattoo people say, “hey what will that look like when you’re 80”? I think the same goes for your kid’s name. Can you imagine a Grandpa Jordan or a Grandma Brittany? What about President Reece or Senator Latasha? I just don’t see it. I’m all for bringing back the old time names. I like Walter, Henry, Bette, Pearl, Edna, Rutherford… Bring those back and lose the Brittany’s and Cody’s… ick.

But my real topic will be something that I would redo in my life. What a wonderful thought! I have few regrets, honestly, so it wouldn’t be something that I would do the opposite of, per say, just something I would redo in a different manner. I could get all sappy and talk about a couple of relationships that I should have fought harder for… but that’s just lame and really uninteresting to you, my devoted reader(s). I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I stayed for my final year of school rather than took the call to BLC. I really have no idea what I’d be doing right now… probably dreaming about being a youth minister… I think if I could go back and redo buying my house I would. I don’t like the leash that homeownership really is. Or, I would buy a single family home, not a townhome… I probably wouldn’t have bought my car- I should have gone cheaper and older (yes, dad, you were right…)… but those things are easy to say now that the housing bubble burst and gas went mando expensivo. I think would have avoided one person in high school that cause much heartache and silly drama…

I was just talking to the 8th graders today about my sophomore year of high school. It was a year that my parents were in Africa and I stayed home with a vicar and his wife and kid. It was a crazy year- a time that I have really largely blocked out, but something I should probably write about sometime. To say it was life-changing would be an understatement. Honestly, it sucked, but as I told my class, I wouldn’t change it. I was a really annoying, really immature, really selfish brat until I had to grow up my sophomore year. The things I learned were priceless, and I wouldn’t ever take them back. So even that I wouldn’t redo. There are a couple of auditions that I passed on because I was too chicken, maybe that would be worth redoing… I dunno.

The fact of the matter is, I am sitting on my couch with Holmes on Homes (great show in HGTV) at 11:34 pm on a Wednesday night in the townhome that I own as an employee of BLC for a reason… and truly every little decision and choice that has been made in my life resulted in where I am right now. The whole idea of he butterfly effect- that all actions have a ripple effect and reaction- I believe that is true. Even if I could pick one little tiny thing to redo, it could totally change everything… unless that was part of who I am, future me going back and correcting past me’s mistakes… but that would forever alter the space-time continuum. Great Scott!
Woah… just had a Back to the Future spasm there.

I guess my answer is I wouldn’t go back and redo anything, because everything has turned out pretty awesome thus far and I honestly can’t wait to see what’s next.


OK fine, I would redo buying my house. renting is my preferred mode of living.
There. Happy? :)

things i think i think about dudes who are married but pretend like their don't want to be... or, Real Men Love Their Wives.

So I spend more time with married people than I do single, so I am often subject to the banter and rhetoric of the betrothed male. We’ve all heard it, stuff like, “how’s the ole’ ball and chain?” or “gotta call the warden” or “dude you’re so whipped”… etcetera.
The fact is, and I don’t know where or when this started, but in today’s society gender roles mandate that a wife should be controlling and untrusting, while the husband should be ambivalent, oblivious, detached, and in a constant state of regret over his wedding vows. Correct me if I’m wrong about this.

I can't say much about the womanly side of things. I'm not a female, and never will be... but I am a dude, and i hear dudes talk smack about their wives all the time, and quite frankly, I think its crap. In fact, I’m sick of my man friends bemoaning their wives publically while, no doubt, caring and nurturing for them privately. That’s the thing- these guys all love their wives, and if you corner them, they’ll fully admit they enjoy being needed and having someone to check in with. They like being told when to come home and they enjoy coming home to her. So why is it taboo to let those feelings come across when they are with their fellow men? I know some awesome guys, men who have been married for decades, guys who are loving and caring and not afraid to show it… until they're around “the guys”... then it’s the same old groaning and moaning about being married to their mothers. What gives?
And those guys who are respectful to their wives, grow a pair and defend yourself! You have the self-confidence and TRUE manliness to actually be proud of the love that lets you share a last name; something that I find commendable and admirable. Keep it up and tell your buddies to stop sipping the Haterade.

Granted, I’m not married. But man I hope that someday… whilst the devil ice skates, no doubt, I don’t fall into that trap. It really does sicken me to hear how these guys disrespect and objectify their wives. If anything it’s sickening because I know that they don’t mean it. They feel the need to be “manly men”, and "manly men" don’t speak kindly about their womenfolk, they demoralize them and commiserate with the other happily married (but don’t tell their buddies) because it’s what “MEN” do. Not cool. Anyway, if someday you hear me complaining about my ball-and-chain, slap me. Thanks.

"The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win."
-Bobby Knight

things i think i think about Target Field

OK it’s Monday. 'twas a good day. A hot day, but good nonetheless. This past weekend was action packed and pretty fun. My brother and 2 of his buddies came up and stayed at my house so that we could all go to the Twins games against the Brewers. Not only was it the big Brewer weekend, but more importantly, it was my first time at Target Field. Over the past 10 years I probably sent at least 50 E-mails and postcards to my legislators asking them to vote for a stadium. I don’t think any of them actually did, but for a second I felt like an activist… anyway being that I have a deep love affair with the Twins, to see them playing under the blue skies of downtown Minneapolis is surely a dream come true.

The approach down 6th street is ridiculous. So awesome. Past the bars of 1st Ave is the Kasota Stone façade of this Coliseum erected to the honor of Minnesota’s only sport that has won a championship. It is truly an asethetic spectacle to behold. Almost brought a tear to my eye. Overall, however, I’m a bit disappointed with Target Field. The truth of the matter is it could be the greatest stadium in the universe and I would still not quite love it to the max. I think every Minnesotan is a cynic deep down. I think it comes from the way that the seasons taunt us. We get 5 days above 60 degrees in April, get out the shorts and dust off the golf clubs, only to have it snow 2 feet in May. Its in our blood to be cautiously optimistic in al facets of life. So that’s how I’m playing my cards when it comes Target Field: glad, but not too glad. By the way, we need a good nickname for it. The House that Mauer Built? The Targ? TField? TarFi? I think "The Targ" will suffice for now.
I’ve been to 16 MLB stadiums in my life. My rakings are as follows:
1- Wrigley- can’t beat the classic
2- SafeCo in Seattle.
3- Coors in Denver
4- Everything else

Ha. Seriously, though. SafeCo. And Coors are head and shoulders above every other park I’ve visited. I can’t really say why, they are just wonderful places to watch baseball... ANYWAY

The Targ is SUCH a huge improvement from the Dome you can’t help but get giddy walking through its caste iron gates, but is it a great place for baseball? Well, the wind has reeked havoc on our HR numbers. We’re down something like 25 this year compared to last as a team. Left field is obstructed view. The “home run porch” is in the second deck at 420+ feet, not exactly hitter-friendly. From the 3rd deck corners you can’t see ¾th of the outfield. They dumped Hormel and picked up Schweigert hot dogs (ick). No more "We're Gonna Win Twins" song! You can’t see the scoreboard from any of the outfield seats, tickets are out of reach for any family on a budget, and you can’t make a complete lap around the park on any level but the first. Those are just some things off the top of my head… Also, why no fireworks after a win or after a home run? That seems odd to me...

Having said that, it is really cool from the 100 level. Great lines, great approach, great bars and restaurants peppered within the sections. The concourses are bigger than the Dome, which isn’t saying much, but are tiny compared to Miller Park or even Cellular One and Comerica. There is a buzz of excitement that is really cool. People are walking around all wide-eyed and its always cool to be at a sold out event. So that's awesome. I’m going to be sitting 5th row behind home plate on Thursday, so that will give me a much different view of the game and of the park, so perhaps my feelings toward The Targ will change, but after my inaugural visit, I give it a B-. If only we had more space and a retractable dome… then it could be the crown jewel of modern sporting venues (like the Excel Energy center is for the NHL- even at 10 years old it’s in the top 5 for hockey arenas). As it is, The Targ is a stadium that will be totally dated in 30 years and no doubt the clamor for a replacement will begin before that… people are fickle. Remember the Metrodome isn’t even 30 years old yet, and when it was built it was absolutely super-modern, applauded, and lauded- Now it’s a relic.

Again, watching a baseball game without a Teflon baggie over my head is absolutely amazing. The warmth of the sun, the smell of the gross hot dogs grilling, and the cool breeze keeping balls in the park is awesome, I’ll take it anyday. But will I be taking my grandkid to ye olde Target Field one day? Doubtful. Heck, the way I’m going, it’ll be torn down before I even get married… :)

This is to start off the week right.
Next time you read me, I'll be talking about Target Field, real men, and LIVING HOPE's BIG WINS tongiht!!!
bet you can't hardly wait!

hey, ya, we left early...

well... we left a close game early and paid the price... missed a 12 inning nail-biter... oh well good times spent with the bro and his bros. brotastic.
We are going to go out. So my musical selection of the evening will be this super sweet cover of Hey Ya by Obediah Parker. enjoy.

friday

The hometown boys, your Minnesota Twins are putting a beating down on them Brewers… I feel their pain… its like watching on of our softball games, and we’re NOT the Twins.
My broseph is coming tomorrow with some buddies and we’re going to head out to the new stadium to see some good ole baseball tomorrow and Sunday. It will certainly be good times. I like hanging out with him and I am really pumped to see this gorgeous stadium that I wrote so many of my state legislators about. AND, I will finally be outside to get some sun! Speaking of which, I haven’t golfed at all this year, and I fear what will happen when I finally do… it’s going to be ugly.
Gah. I was going to write about how unmotivated I am right now in general… but that would be like the 12 thousandth post about that very topic… COME ON MAN! Get busy. How DOES one find motivation? What do I need to do to stop being a lazy pile? I’m the king of excuses and internal justification for non-activity… blah. If I spent half as much time actually doing as I do talking about what I’m going to do or thinking about ways to get a task done, I would be a powerhouse. Its upsetting.
And yet I sit here semi0enraged at my lack of action, and my laundry remains unfolded and my kitchen floor sits unwashed. Lame. Lame. Lame.
This habit must be broken. Lord give me strength

SWAGGER WAGON

This makes me laugh... lots and lots of laughter.

like on the Shark Tank... for lutherans?

Necessity is the mother of invention. How often do you look at something and say, “WOW! That’s so clever! Why didn’t I think of that?” I do all the time. Just yesterday I was using my Swiffer Dust Wand and I marveled at the simplicity of the design and the fact that that little neon yellow wand has made the dreaded task of dusting actually kind of fun. We are consumers of fantastic invention and ingenuity, but there’s a part of me that hopes to be the ingenuitor (I made that word up) and inventor sometime. For the most part, however I- like most consumers lack the resources and time to invent and change the world, as it were.

WELL, for me that has changed a bit lately. You see, one of the first things I did as a youth minister was create a unique identity in the church and called it “Connect Youth Ministries”. It started as just the name of our little youth groups, but I soon realized there was potential for something bigger. For the past several years I’ve sort of fantasized about the ways that Connect Youth could serve the greater Kingdom; acting as a clearinghouse of ideas, curriculum, and resources for conservative Lutheran youth groups around the world. I really believe that the Lord has put me where He has for a specific reason, and I think part of it is to be a voice for youth ministry in the youth ministry void that is orthodox Lutheranism.
(To be fair, I fully realize why we Lutherans have historically not had a big emphasis on youth- because our schools were our youth ministries, but with more and more schools closing and more and more of our kids going to public school, a different paradigm is necessary.)

So how can Connect Youth accomplish this greater goal? Well, to start, it needs to provide some cutting edge materials for youth groups. For the past couple of years I’ve been knocking around this idea of creating a curriculum that is decidedly Lutheran and user-friendly so any lay-leader can run it. But it also is interesting, attention-getting, and most importantly relevant. I’ve been through a ton of materials in my tenure, and there is a lot of time-wasting fluff out there, but people go bonkers over it… ick. So I know what I don’t want it to be… Anyway, I needed a senior project, so I made this little curriculum endeavor my ticket to a degree. Long story short, people heard about this and now it has the potential to be HUGE… well, as huge as some DVD’s in the WELS, ELS, and maybe LCMS can be… regardless it is a HUGE amount of work, but jeepers the payoff could be something really special. Every person I talk to about this 1-get’s excited 2- has two or three GREAT ideas about it, and 3- offers their help and support. That’s the tell-tale sign of a need. Necessity is the mother of invention, and I’m on the cusp of at least one tiny step to starting to be a part of a beginning of a possible solution. I have no delusions of grandeur, only sheer giddy excitement over the possibility that I can get a bunch of our kids involved in making some fun and impactful movies and lessons based on the crown jewel of youth education in all of Christendom: the Catechism. (Luther’s Catechism, to be specific… none of that Agricola heresy :) ) It’s a pretty cool thing, and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

Currently I’m on a mission to surround myself with as much support and as many perspectives as I possibly can. I need to assemble a team of people of which are like minded and have a shared vision. Finding such folks might be the hardest part of the whole project- finding people willing to give up their time is a feat, to be sure. The thing is, however, and what gives me confidence that it will work out is I am passionate about this and I know the need and understand the potential impact it could have… so if I can be passionate about it, can someone else can too… right? (that doesn’t really translate well on paper… it makes sense in my head, though, so don’t worry…)
Regardless, God is good, and I see Him opening a really big door in my life and career right now. I’m exhausted just thinking about beginning the task before me, but I’m super excited to see how it will all come together. I’m not sure where it’ll take me, but man oh man it’s going to be a fun ride!

words from yack

I came across a blog post from author Mark Yaconelli called “Letter to a Young Graduate”
(read it here: http://tinyurl.com/23fnvl9 ) In it he writes:

“In the 1960s, Abraham Heschel, a Jewish rabbi and holocaust survivor was asked if he had a word for the youth of America, here’s what he said, ‘Live your life like it’s a work of art.’ I like that. So live your life like it’s a novel. Pay attention when you’re getting bored with the main character. Don’t be afraid to walk out on your own movie. When it gets stifling create a new plot line. Quit your job. Leave school. Ask the girl across the hall to elope. Fast for three days in the desert. Try to be a saint. Volunteer to care for meth babies. Learn to tango. In other words, let life loose in you….

Let this be the start of a great work of art. Live something beautiful. Live the life you’ve admired in others. Live the life that you’d be proud to live, because believe me, there’s enough people playing it safe. Go out and try and then fail and try and fail and then forgive yourself (and receive God’s forgiveness) and then try a different angle. Go out in the glacier waters, out in the churning river, out where the middle-aged men sit taunting you to stay back on the shore. Go out into that river and sit and wait and trust and then you’ll see. There’s real strength in you. There’s real hope in you, too. You carry a kind of humor, and compassion and lightness of spirit that can warm even the most frigid of rivers. I’ve seen it. And it makes me feel good to know you’re out there in the world.”

Good stuff. As you can imagine, I have spent lots of time being all retrospective and sentimental thinking about the past… I roll my eyes as I think about the time wasted doing such things. But overall I have very few regrets, and the few I have are mainly because of missed opportunities because I was too afraid (or thickheaded) to jump. However, I feel as if I’ve been playing it a little safe over the past couple of years- not that there’s anything wrong with that- but I think I’m ready for some new adventures. I have a feeling this summer will indeed be adventurous. There’s nothing planned, per say, but I am going to make a consorted effort to be a captain courageous. I used to be a little more free wielding with life, if that makes sense, but I think I’ve grown a bit fuddy duddyish in my old age. Not anymore! I’m going to life live like it’s a work of art and I’m going to walk out on my own movie… that just sounds fun!

monday

I think I need to carry around a little digital recorder because there are no less than a dozen things of which I would like to bl(a)gh. As it stands they are all mumbled together in my brain as a hillock of goo with no discernable ending or beginning… only snippets of ideas. I don’t know if you would call it writer’s block, per say, but it certainly is a sort of constipation in my stream of consciousness. There are times, however, in which ideas flow freely and I make sense… but I am typically not near a computer or notebook when these times occur, hence the need for a digital recorder…
As it stands, I am a bit weary from a long day, so I will bid you all adieu.

blaghing

oh man i feel blagh. i ache from a combination of go-karting last night (it is HARD work) and softball tonight. I went 1-3 w/ 2 RBI's... we lost by 1 in the first game and 4 in the second... improvement!! but now i am just blagh. need advil. i want to sleep but i'm almost anxious... blagh.
oh well.
tomorrow is monday and i have no drive to mankato... life is good!

Triple Crown of Quotes

Today was the running of the second leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing. In that regard, I will bestow upon you my triple crown of quotations. I will quote three classic authors whom have a spiritual insight that I respect and find greatly helpful in my own walk.

I'm kind of a fan of Thomas Merton. He got a little too Eastern in thought for me, so its not like I'd go too far out of my way to read him, but I certainly respect his insight.

Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward.
-Thomas Merton

Brennan Manning, however, is a guy whom I love to read. He has an amazing passion for his Savior and is able to put into words his understanding of Him in amazing ways. Here's a little quote that might be a bit controversial, but one that I think is very true:
"The litmus test of our love for God is our love of neighbor."
— Brennan Manning
I need to remind myself of that often... I honor God by loving those who (in my mind) least deserve it...

I cannot understate the impact that reading GK Chesterton has had on my life. He is absolutely amazing. I got into him because Jason Gray often quoted him on his website, so a decade or so ago I bought his classic book "Orthodoxy". The man was beyond brilliant, and his writing was thick and not at all easily digestible, which is why I love it. You have to read chapters two or three times over before you begin understand what he's trying to get at. Truly he was a man of great wisdom, humor, and most importantly, great faith. Here's a witty one:

"Reason is always a kind of brute force; those who appeal to the head rather than the heart, however pallid and polite, are necessarily men of violence. We speak of 'touching' a man's heart, but we can do nothing to his head but hit it."
- G.K. Chesterton

robin hood is terrible. the end.

The Best is Yet to Come

I have Chapel at West Lutheran High School next week, and being that this weekend is pretty packed, I worked ahead a little...
so...
enjoy.

When I was 21 I spent a summer in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and as an employee of YNP, it was the custom to go on hikes and climb mountains and whatnot in our free time…
I wasn’t a huge fan.
BUT one day, a girl- Annie was her name, I believe, convinced me to climb Avalanche Peak with her.
Avalanche peak is a mere 2.5 mile hike.
Not a big deal. But it is very vertical, and thus pretty challenging- especially for a man of girth like myself.
But, alas, I gave in… and I climbed Avalanche with Annie…
It was a series of switchbacks and spirals as we ascended the peak in the middle of a huge range of picturesque mountains.
After a couple hours of climbing, however, I realized that every turn gave the same views… and there wasn’t anything really blocking my view- so going higher wasn’t going to do a whole lot- so I started to complain…
But Annie insisted- no, no, no the best is yet to come…
so we’d hike and hike and I’d complain again, and say, wow, this is REALLY beautiful. I could just stop right here and be totally happy- but Annie insisted, NO- the best is yet to come- just wait, you’ll see…
this pattern continued for several hours until we FINALLY reached the peak.
And we could stand upon it and see 360 degrees of mountain tops.
It was very pretty.
Annie tried to rub it in and said SEE? THIS is the best- totally worth it, right?
In hindsight, it was pretty cool.
BUT In the moment, I was not as clear minded,
I was hot and sweaty and hungry…
so I let Annie know that I was quite dissatisfied with the fact that we had to climb ALLL the way to the top when the view an hour ago was just as pretty.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, Annie and I didn’t climb another mountain together…
The best is yet to come, she’d say… I would have rather bought a post card…

So. Here we are at the close of another school year.
WOW.
In 10 days the class of 2010 will exit those doors for the last time as students of West Lutheran High School!
That’s crazy to think about!
This year has seemingly flown by.
At our grade school- Bloomington Lutheran, I was talking to the 8th graders.
Their grade school campaign coming to close soon as well.
And they are convinced. Absolutely certain that these past couple of weeks have been the best times they will ever have.
And the friendships they made in 8th grade will be friendships that last forever, and the memories they’ve made in their time as grade schoolers will be the fondest they will ever make. From their perspective, 8th grade is the pinnacle of awesome. They cannot fathom anything cooler.
All I could do was listen and smile and all I said was, guys… trust me. the best is yet to come.

OH and then there’s you seniors.
I see your facebook statuses and your comments on pictures… last sporting events, final performances in plays, last spring formal, now on to class trip... the end is near, and you have a sentimental feeling.
Wanting to get a time machine and live in these moments forever.
Blagh.

But I understand- you have Mixed emotions of wanting to move on to the next step, but still a bit nostalgic of the times you’ve had thus far.
HOPEFULLY some of the silly drama has subsided a bit so you can enjoy each other’s company… at least until graduation…
and you can cherish these memories- all the emotions and pomp and circumstance that is high school graduation.
But when you say that these are the best times you’ll ever have, all I can do is smile and say, the best is yet to come.

I’m at the age when the majority of my friends are married and every once in a while they kind of complain to me about having to visit the in-laws or you know mow the lawn or whatever and I say-
HA! See? Being single is the BEST!
And they smile and say, nah, the best is yet to come.

And now their having kids and they have their little infants all cute and cuddly and they say, this is the BEST!
And the older parents smile and say, NO the best is yet to come.
I’m starting to sound like a country song I think…

I think you’re getting my point…
As middle class American folks we have some pretty awesome privileges and are blessed to have some pretty amazing opportunities.
And as such we as a culture are very future-orientated and we are always looking for that next best thing, knowing that “the best is yet to come!”

I was just reminded of the one year anniversary of some of my student’s friend’s death. Maybe you remember-
2 MLC freshmen named Zach and Mark were killed a year ago on their way home for summer break.
Zach was driving in rural Wisconsin way too fast apparently; he lost control around a curve and hit a tree.
He died on impact; Mark was kept alive a little longer, but died soon thereafter.
Terrible tragedy to be sure. So sad. So avoidable.
They were so young, their best years were yet to come.

But then it struck me, friends.
We as Christians- our lives, the good times and bad.
The struggles and the successes-
The happiness and the sadness- this is not it.

The best is yet to come, and that is eternal perfection in Heaven.
When this student was telling me about the car accident and I looked at the memorials and the tributes made I saw the comfort and the peace that was there even in the face of terrible tragedy.
you see, Zach and Mark were Christians.
They were going to school to be in full time ministry.
They knew Jesus as their savior from sin.
And because of that they are now with their Lord in paradise.
After the shock of their death subsided a bit, one of Zach’s professors at MLC sent out an excerpt of a paper Zach wrote just 2 days before he died. It reads:

"The most important thing to remember about faith is that it takes a direct object. Faith in and of itself is not what the focus is. Faith is a trust in something else. That something else is where the power of faith is derived from, and me, that something else is Jesus Christ. Using this approach to faith helps us avoid focusing on ourselves. We can get caught up in the philosphical questions of faith. Do I really believe strongly enough, etc.? The point is that the strength isn't in us. The strength of faith is in Jesus. As long as we have the smallest fingernail hold on Jesus, we have the power of Jesus and all the blessings of faith in Him. The Bible says that a faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. That's because the mustard seed doesn't have to do the moving; Jesus does it."

It is because of that faith that Zach professed that he is now with His Lord in Heaven.
That’s what it’s all about- that is why we are Christians.
Its not about out best life now, it’s about the life to come.
Friends- Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins.
We deserved nothing.
But He gave us everything.
He took upon Himself all of our weakness and all of our insecurities
He placed upon His shoulders all our sin, all our troubles-
And he washed them all away in his perfect blood.
Because of that we can look at this world not as the end all-
Not as the most important thing
Not as a home, but rather a mere stop on to something much much greater-
The best is yet to come- and that is our home in Heaven!
What an awesome truth that is
Jesus died for you.
Trust in Him and know that the best is yet to come.
Wow.

SO what does that have to do with you- now- on May 17, 2010-

WELL-
The fact that we know that this world is fleeting and sinful and not our home- the fact that we KNOW thru Jesus, the best is yet to come-
How can that NOT change our lives forever?
How can that not change the way we look at relationships?
Every friend is a gift from God.
BUT, in life friends come and go. The 5 people I was closest to in high school I haven’t spoken to in probably 5 years. Change is part of life-
But the best is yet to come!

What about dating?
Break ups? Or being single when it seems EVERYONE is dating someone?
Not a worry- the best is yet to come!

Uncertainty about the future?
Rest in the arms of our Lord, know fully well that He has a plan and purpose for each and everyone of you and know that best is yet to come.

Or silly fights or financial problems… the best is yet to come!

Now I know I sound like a lunatic. An old man who is out of touch-
I realize that the practicality of saying to a girlfriend, well we’ve dated for 3 years and now we’re breaking up, but it’s OK, because I know the best is yet to come.
I know that sounds completely unreasonable.
And maybe it is-
God created us to be in the moment to enjoy and experience this life to the fullest.
But what I hope and what I pray you maintain as you go about your lives is the perspective that being a follower of Christ gives.
We know that the best is yet to come-
we also know that all things work together for the good to those who love God.
God in His Word tells us that it’s going to be OK, we’re going to make it- He is still in charge.
If He is for us, who can be against us??!?!
It’s all a matter of perspective, my dear friends.
it’s- An Eternal Almighty All-knowing God compared to the sinful, trifle, simple human condition.

And so my friends, as another school year draws to a close
May the Lord bless you as you go about your lives beyond the walls of this high school
May you always keep your eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfector of your faith
never forget that our perfect father in heaven has a unique and special plan and purpose for each and every one of you.
I pray that the Lord would instill in you a passion and fervor for His word
That the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection would be real to you-
Not just a comprehension of Jesus death on the cross-
But heart knowledge- a true understanding of the fact that we are God’s own dear children and HEAVEN is OURS through the love and blood of Jesus.
I hope that you always turn to our Lord on the day of trouble
I pray you always cast your anxieties on Him
That you leave your burdens at the Cross
And you always remember- IN Christ, the best is yet to come!
A-men
May the peace the transcends all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

song of the week

Gregory Alan Isakov... the new hotness.

Why Rick?

Today I went to one of my favorite places to waste time- Half Price Books in Apple Valley. I love not only perusing the religion section, but also scouring the clearance CD rack and rare and 1st edition collection…. It’s just a lovely place to spend an hour. Today I remained restrained in that I only bought 4 or 5 books. Among them was a NCV Study Bible with commentaries and devotional thoughts by Max Lucado. If you were to read my work and then read Max’s, you’d see how profoundly he has influenced me. At only $8 I thought a Max Lucado Study Bible would be a nice addition to the ‘ole library.

SIDE BAR: I had 4 or 5 books- including Chapman’s “5 Love Languages for the Single Person”, which was intriguing if only to give a ministry perspective- I really like the original 5 Languages, so I figured what the heck, might as well check out the single version. The thing is, though, when you buy any sort of book about being single you open yourself up to all sorts of scrutiny by the employee at the cash register. I think that would be a fun job to have- I would totally judge every person’s book choices… (I just played out all sorts of hilarious scenarios of books and judgments in my head… ha!) SO here I am with the book that screams lonely plus some heady work by Henry Nouwen, a youth ministry book, and the Lucado Bible. The person behind the counter is very attractive with a very pleasant smile. She grabs the Chapman book first which I kind of shiver over, I was hoping she’d just skip past it quick… but she kind of goes through my choices and says, “you have some good stuff here- I read that Chapman book and really enjoyed it” I kind of smiled shocked and embarrassed at the same time. Then she grabs the Lucado Bible and was like, “wow this looks really great!” I was just taken aback at her genuine interest in my purchases… but I couldn’t get any words out… I finally sort of loudly mumbled, “I love Lucado, so…. Heh heh…” smooth…. She smiled kindly and said, “Me too! Everyone does! Well… everyone should… you know?” I was totally out of my element. If I didn’t know any better I would say she was flirting with me. I just totally froze. All I could say was, “for sure.” And then I turned around and walked out of the store. I really have little else to say about the whole episode… other than MAN I am awkward….

Anyway, so I have this Lucado Bible and it does look really cool. But there’s something about it that makes me very sad. You see this Bible is like new. The binding is unbroken, pages crisp and clean- it even has a new smell even though its over a decade old. The saddest part is on the first page this is written:
Presented to
Rick Meyers
by
Ruth and Maynard Mahler
on the day of your Baptism
12 October, 1997

I would think that this was an adult baptism… I can’t imagine giving a baby a Bible… I can’t help but wonder what happened. I mean I don’t care how hard up you are for money, if you’re a Christian, you don’t sell a Bible to a used book store, especially not one from Ruth and Maynard. It was given to him on his baptism, so it is conceivable that it was his first Study Bible (like the CPH Study Bible I received on my confirmation), so certainly you wouldn’t sell that if you were still a believer, right? As far as I can tell one of two things happened. Either Rick was called home to eternity or he is no longer a believer in Jesus. NOT ONLY does he not believe in Jesus, but he has such distain for Him that he would rather have $2 from Half Price Book than allow His Word to sit on his shelves. It breaks my heart. Why didn’t you stay in the faith, Rick? What went wrong? What didn’t click? Why didn’t you break the Bible in? Why didn’t you dirty its pages and pour over its truths? You make me sad, Rick, because I work with dozens of kids that could end up just like you. What do we have to do to keep the Rick’s of our church in the pews, and more importantly in the Word? What makes someone discard a Bible as easily as any other paperback that is no longer wanted? What do Ruth and Maynard think about it? So many questions…
Perhaps I’m making too much of this, but it is sad nonetheless…

uh oh

hmmm... the BLC network is totally down on the eve of finals... this is a bad thing.
In the meantime, watch this:

On Mother's Day Eve

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

and, for good humor:
Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle

Easter.

So I'm in the middle of writing one of my last finals and I'm trying to procrastinate... but I know I shouldn't, so I will share with you thoughts that I meant to share on Easter but forgot... I'm pretty sure the idea came from one of my dad's old sermons...

There are all sorts of Surprises in life- both good and bad-
Good ones like:
The surprise of an engagement ring
The surprise of a new baby on the way
The surprise of a raise or promotion at work
The surprise of an unexpected A on a test
The surprise of a tax refund
A surprise birthday party-
All good surprises that bring joy and happiness to the hearts of the participants and reason for celebration!

But there’s also the surprises in life we don’t look forward to-
Unexpected sickness of a loved one
Layoff’s at work
IRS audit
Car doesn’t start on the busiest morning of the month
Or the shock of going into your car or home and find that it’s been broken into and your precious possessions are no longer in their place…

A couple of Christmases ago, that very surprise hit me like a ton of bricks-
We were at my brother’s house in Sioux Falls- my parent’s van parked in front of my brother’s house- he's a cop, by the way, so I thought it was safe; well guarded.
I went outside to get something from the van found that my iPod had been stolen-
And with it a piece of my heart.
iPods are replaceable, but it certainly was a surprise that I’ll never forget, and never want to happen again!

I doubt the soldiers working guard duty 2000 years ago ever forgot what they saw as right before their eyes Jesus went from Christ crucified to Christ arisen and Christ victorious. Allow me to set the scene:

After Jesus had breathed his last, with a wealthy believer from Aramathea named Joseph got permission to bury Jesus, which they did in a tomb that Joseph owned.
The Pharisees knowing that Jesus had said he’d arise 3 days after dying wanted to make sure there was no fraudulent activity going on amongst Jesus’ believers, so they went to Pilate and got some soldiers to guard the tomb from grave robbers- even going so far as rolling a large stone in front of the tomb and sealing it with a wax seal- nothing was going in, and as far as they knew nothing was coming out.

Imagine the surprise that filled the guards’ hearts when they saw the stone being rolled away. Imagine the terror as the looked into the now empty tomb only to see that Christ had risen triumphantly from the grave- Can you picture the shock they must have experienced?


Matthew 28:2 -4 reads:
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

I love that- they shook and became like dead men.- they passed out! THAT, my friends is terror! Imagine the look on their face! Imagine the thoughts going through their minds. Talk about the surprise of a lifetime! They saw for themselves that the tomb was empty- not because the disciples stole it, but because God Himself was on that cross and God Himself conquered once and for all sin, Satan, and death! And no tomb, no grave can contain to Lord! That was a surprise to the guards!!

Friends, is it a surprise to us to see the empty tomb? We know the cross, we see it everyday in our culture- we can comprehend and probably even vividly picture Jesus broken and hanging on the tree- we can see the blood we can picture the wounds. I don’t think the cross surprises us anymore-
But does the empty tomb sometimes take us by surprise? Do we loose sight of the fact that death is not the end? That this world is fleeting? Do we forget where our home really is- in heaven and not on this dust and dirt? Does it sometimes bring trembling to our hearts to see that all Christ said and did is true? Does Easter sometimes sneak up on us? Does the fact that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again- does that cause us to shake a little?

Brothers and sisters, trembling and fear should not be on our hearts on this most joyous morning! Jesus Christ- true God and true man born of virgin lived a perfect life. He, as the sacrificial lamb, suffered a cruel, criminal’s death -fulfilling his purpose to take away all the sins of the world- past, present and future- all sins of all time washed clean in His blood. Our guilt, Our shame, Our sins- all of it was died for on Calvary.
But he didn’t stop there- he didn’t stay in the tomb, but he ROSE AGAIN! All so that WE would have eternal life! We know through faith that Christ’s death and resurrection was once and for all, and that He is coming again. We also know that we can stand in front of the almighty God on the day of judgment with the full confidence that our sins are GONE and our place in Heaven is secured. Sin, death, and the devil have all been defeated by the one who lives- by the one who is in our hearts- by our Lord and Savior Jesus! Fear not, for the battle was won on the cross, and our victory was sealed when the tomb became empty!

The guards at the tomb trembled for several reasons- the sight they saw was a total shock to the system. I can’t help but wonder if any of them trembled because they realized that everything that Jesus said was actually true! Certainly the soldiers knew why they were there- to guard the tomb because Jesus claimed he was going to rise again-
And even though the official response out of the Sanhedrin was that Jesus’ body was stolen, I wonder if at least one of the eye witnesses to the resurrection believed what he saw, believed that Christ rose from the dead. It would be hard to think that anyone could see what they saw and still not believed…

Whether or not any guards came to faith, I don’t know- but I do know that the same event that caused such tremendous terror in the hearts and minds of the guards causes tremendous joy and comfort in our hearts. Because we know full well that all Jesus said is true! We know full well our sins are gone, our souls set free, and our eternal salvation in Heaven is secure.
The empty tomb is the single most comforting place in all of time and history, because it is in the empty tomb that we as believers in Jesus Christ have life!

Praise be to God!
He is Risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia

teaser

well today has been a day of procrastination... which is fine, i suppose... we all need them from time to time. I am, however, working on some thoughts about secrets. The Frank Warren talk I went to last night really got me thinking... but I think i need more time to "tease it out" as one of my lit. profs used to say all the time.
So tease i shall...
I made a big decision today. this summer is going to be all about routine and regiment. I plan on organizing my life into maturity. I really have nothing to lose... I'll keep you posted.
Until then...

Since I'm awake...

Well... the paper is done. my finest work? not even close. a solid B. hope so...

Anyway... I've been thinking... When I was a kid in Sunday school- and even now I catch myself doing it once in a while, I would look at the children of Israel and see them in slavery and say with them-
WOW they have it rough, God needed to let them go.
They were in the desert, they got thirsty, but they were complaining about the quality of water.. that’s when they lost me...
But they were hungry and God gave them bread- manna- from heaven and they would eat that- but that wasn’t good enough- so God gave them quail to eat-and they got sick of that after a while-
I was like “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?”
Hello!!
Remember the plagues you just saw?
Remember the sea parting?
Remember?
Who are YOU to complain to God who has given you so much!?!?
Or when people were freaking about not having enough wine at the wedding, so Jesus goes over to the water and makes the best wine you’ve ever tasted-
And then I look at the disciples when they’re on that hill and all those people crowd around- over 5,000 of them, and they start freaking out… again…
And then the kid with the bread and fish comes up and they’re like, go away little boy we don’t need that- that’s a little solution to a big problem- but Jesus took it-
And can you imagine the butterflies in their stomach when the loaves and fish kept coming?!?! Each of them had their own basket of leftovers!
And, as a Sunday School student, I was baffled how anyone could POSSIBLY doubt God- how ANYONE could have the gall to tell God how his blessings aren’t good enough…
Then I grew up.
And I realized that I’m a million times worse than the Children of Israel
A million times worse than the disciples
Because I have something they don’t- the complete Word of God in the Holy Bible right in front of me-
I see how God provided for His children in the desert
He blessed Job after taking everything away,
I see Jesus promising to never leave us
And Paul in chains worshipping and praising the Lord for His providence,
But I still clamor,
I still doubt,
I still take matters into my own hands
And I still worry about the future.
I am a spoiled sinful child.

But God is Faithful.

I was a waiter for 5 years in many different restaurants- from rural Iowa diners to downtown Minneapolis white tablecloth wine bistros- but I’m always amazed at how some people get when they come to restaurants- they have this air of entitlement about them- I am their slave for 2 hours- I had one lady actually wipe her hands on me- she called me over and cleaned her hands on my shirt. We expected to be well taken care of by the people who serve us. And if we aren’t we complain… we feel we are entitled as “Paying customers” to demand the best out of those we will give 3 dollars…

My Roomate broke down and bought us cable again, and so i've TiVo'd alot of My Super Sweet 16. It's this show on MTV in which the richest, snobbiest, most conceded 16 year old’s in the country throw the most ridiculous sweet 16 parties you’ve ever seen. We’re talking $250,000 budgets at a minimum!
I saw one the other night- the invitations were worth over $200. As if the 6-digit parties aren’t enough- EVERY SINGLE KID is CONSUMED over what kind of car they’re going to get. One girl got a Benz, but it wasn’t a Benz convertible, and she was mad her daddy didn’t give her the car she wanted… but her mother consoled her, and after a while she was OK with it… for now. When she turned 18 she could get a better car.
And you look at these kids, and you can’t help but laugh at them and see how frivolous and pathetic they are- how ignorant and clueless they really are. Then it dawns on you- these kids are only 16, they have a lot of life to live still- AND there are so many of these spoiled brats around that they can make a TV show about them?!?! Wow.

But sadly I'm no better. In fact I'm worse.
We are the richest people on earth- because we have Jesus, the PRICELESS TREASURE in out hearts. We are LOADED because our salvation is sure in Jesus. But yet we grumble, we complain-

We continue to worry about the future even though we’re told in Matthew
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

We continue to take matters into our own hands, even though Philippians tells us Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

We continue to give ourselves the credit for our success even though James tells us: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

And it goes on and on and on…
We remain incredibly unfaithful to an unwaveringly faithful God.
In the middle of the book of Lamentations, we read these powerful words:
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him

The Lord’s compassion and faithfulness is not something that can grow stale, not something that can disappear- but they are new every morning- Just as the sun rose today and, lest Glory comes, will rise tomorrow, we know His Love and compassion will be renewed-
As Charles Spergon said, "The love of God is not water in a basin, growing stale, dirty and old, but rather the Love of our Savior is a spring- bringing forth the cool, clean waters of salvation."

Our changeless, merciful, loving Father knows us and loves us despite our frivolity
He sent His Son from Heaven
He bled for our doubting
He suffered for our worrying
He was bruised for our self-centeredness
He was crucified on the cross for our sins.
That is how faithful our God is- He looked at a creation and a people that were 1000 times more conceded, spoiled, and narcissistic than the kids on my Super Sweet 16- and He STILL gave His one and only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for all our wrongs.
He hears our rumblings, He listens to our pleas, and he faithfully answers them, and never fails to provide.


If I rise on wings of dawn
Or drift in seas of doubt
Even there Your strong right hand
Has never failed to guide me out

If I hide in dark and shadows
Fearful of each day
Even there Your blinding light
Illuminates my pathway

Great is Your faithfulness
To carry on with a sinner like me
Great is Your faithfulness
Turning shame into victory
Your grace has never let me be
Your mercy’s waited patiently
Oh, so great is Your faithfulness
To carry on with a sinner like me

"Great is your faithfulness"
By Newsboys

treat and retreat were in a boat...

methinks i need to learn the art of retreating. I suppose that could be taken a couple of ways, and I think they both are true… its not like I’m over-worked- but honestly I get emotionally drained often- too often, maybe… and so I take a morning off which is just COD and Full House until I feel guilty for not being in the office… I need to learn how to retreat, how to take the time to full my cup… our senior pastor takes painting classes and paints to retreat… he’s really very good. I kinda thought he was silly when I heard that he was painting… but now I see that it’s his way of retreating. Sadly, I’m terrible at art… But I’m good at watching Full House.
But I also need to learn how to retreat from situations. I hang in for too long- I’m not one to not give up- I don’t have a problem with that, but there’s just times when I know I should let it go but don’t… Sadly, its with people too- at some point I need to get to a point where I can no longer help the situation and withdraw from it.. but usually that point you have so much time and emotional currency invested, you really want to stick it out… confounding, I tell ya.

Tomorrow I preach. Its baccalaureate and its going to be good. I hate to be a Debby Downer tonight, but I realize nothing I say will stick with them… that’s just the facts… but we give it the old college try nonetheless… still good fun to have to privilege of sharing the Gospel…
I wonder, how effective is the way we do church? To me it’s all about the relationships- the one-on-one- I honestly cannot think of a single sermon in which I remember some shocking revelation was reveled. I can remember stories and illustrations, but not the application piece. BUT I DO remember conversations- countless conversations in which I learned amazing things about my Lord and my place in His amazing plan… it seems like the whole pack ‘em in and talk at ‘em for 20 minutes is silly… but how can you do it any differently? I’m not a fan of people who complain and do give practical solutions or alternatives… so I will do my best to not be that guy… regardless, I am glad that I GET to focus on relationships in my ministry and I will do everything I can to keep on fostering those relationships and growing them with the waters of grace and peace through my main man J.C.