Randumblog

What Does it Mean When a Pastor Falls?

2012-02-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

A pastor doesn't find himself in hot water from making one mistake, he finds himself in hot water because he climbed into the wrong pot. There are small things, a few compromises, a lack of accountability, and a lack of transparency in his life. Its a slow boil.

What happens when a ministry leader falls? I have seen so many pastors, youth pastors, and worship leaders fall in my lifetime. It’s a wonder that I am still involved in ministry circles; much less do what I do for a living. After all, the fall of leaders has been a huge talking point for skeptics over the past few years.

From Baker and Swaggart to Ted Haggard and the catholic priest scandal, it is certainly in the public eye. But its not just televangelists and prominent people who are falling, I have friends and peers who have succumbed to temptation and fallen by the way side.

Why does it shake us to the core when someone we admire falls? After all they are sinful humans like the rest of us. Is it because we made an idol out of them and should only look to Jesus? Maybe, but I don't think that is necessarily always the case. You see, John the Baptist had disciples (followers) and Jesus did not rebuke him. In fact Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Cor 11:1).

What did Paul mean? We are to follow and emulate those that follow Jesus as long as they are following Him. All of the work of God that a person does is through Christ's power, and all of the sin he does is in his own power.

Think of the first ministry leader to fall. It was Satan! Through his fall 1/3 of those closest to God called it quits. I believe our enemy took notice of how easy it was to tear apart God's congregation, and he employs the same tactic today. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter!

As the sheep we need to follow our shepherds as they follow The Good Shepherd. If we see our shepherds fail and fall (and we will), lets recognize the enemies attacks, restore them gently (Gal 6:1) and keep our eyes fixed on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The Next Big Thing

2012-01-30T11:28:00.000-08:00

A few years ago: Twinkie creator Jimmy Dewar said: “Twinkies was the best darn-tootin’ idea I ever had.”
Now: Hostess is filing for bankruptcy.

A few years ago: Small video stores were closing because they could not compete with the large chains during the VHS to DVD conversion.
Now: Blockbuster videos have "For Lease" instead of "New Release" in their window.

A few years ago: Mom and pop book stores were folding up when book mega stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders came to town.
Now: A tablet reading device like Kindle or Nook can hold thousands of books and the large stores are disappearing.

A few years ago: Families looked through the Sears or J.C. Penny catalogues so they could shop from home.
Now: We can use Ebay, Craigslist, or Half.com to find items from anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

A few years ago: The answering machine made it possible to find out who called when someone was not AT their house.
Now: The number of cell phones in the United States exceeds the number of people.

What has changed: Methods
What is the same: We are still; eating snacks, watching movies, reading, buying, and communicating

A few years from now: We will be doing the same things using new and improved methods. How will we get there? Well, that depends on some innovative people out there or maybe it depends on you.

What other changes can you think of in the past few years?

Are You Mentoring Unaware?

2012-01-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about my mentors this morning. I have several people who speak into my life on a regular basis (whether I want them to are not). There are those who call, check on me, and ask me engaging questions. Then there are those that I have asked to hold me accountable. I value there input greatly.

As I look back over my life I realize that I have had mentors who did not even realize they were mentoring me. I was learning, gleaning from, and endeavoring to be like them. Today, I have mentors who do not even know I exist. People like Michael Hyatt (blogger) & Craig Groeschel (LifeChurch.TV) who mentor me through their; books, blogs, videos and tweets. I learn from their passion, have similar vision, but most of all respect who they are as men.

Who are you purposefully mentoring? Who is watching you? Is your life worth following? Can you say follow me as I follow Christ?

How Serving Has Impacted My Life

2012-01-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

I asked Laura Milner, the blog author of Strengthening the Chain to guest post on serving. You see, I have been on staff in the church world for 11 years and I needed fresh eyes on the subject. Laura is also a volunteer youth worker in California and an avid Twitter user. Thanks for reading and feel free to join the conversation.

_________________________________________________________________________________

I started volunteering in my high school youth group when I was 16 years old. I felt God's call on my life to serve and jumped in, I started leading games and being a part of the planning of our weekly meetings. It was one of the most life changing choices I ever made in my life and would set the tone for who I would become as an adult. And now 12 years, a marriage, 2 kids and 3 ministries later I can say that being a volunteer is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

Now I could write a whole blog post on how volunteering can be hard and how I've been broken by God, how I've spent many sleepless nights thinking and praying for the teens I minister to, I could go on and on about how many times I've almost walked away from serving. But if you've been serving for any period of time you already know the struggles, I want to tell you is that serving made me who I am today and I wouldn't change that for anything.

Making the choice to serve as a life style has filled my life with adventure, friends, mentors and opportunities that I would have never had, had I not been a volunteer. Choosing at a young age to be a part of a ministry helped me survive my teens. If I wasn't plugged in and discipled by some amazing leaders I would have walked down the wrong path and could have completely walked away from my faith. Serving is also how I have made life long friends and most importantly where I met and fell in love with my husband. My children have been raised in service, helping wrap gifts for underprivileged kids, to helping me fold youth event fliers to sitting in awe as they watch dear friends preach their hearts out on stage. I wouldn't be me if I wasn't a volunteer.

If I didn't volunteer in church my life would look completely different. I know I wouldn't have married my husband, and I know I would have made choices that I may not have been able to recover from. Volunteering is a life style for me, not a weekly commitment. I take the call on my life seriously. I have a deeper intimacy with my Savior because I serve, I am constantly growing in my walk with Christ, I am encouraged and challenged by the people I serve with and most of all I get to watch Gods church grow.

I know too many Christians who are simply content with attending church on Sunday morning and living their life without giving back. And to be honest it makes me really sad. Not only are they robbing others of their God given talent, not only are they robbing themselves of friends and growth, they are robbing God. Yes, I said that! Choosing not to serve when God has called you to, is robbing God. You are robbing Him of using you, robbing Him of stretching you and making you grow. And most of all you are robbing God of the opportunity to work miracles in the lives of others through you. We are ALL called by God to seek and save the lost, we are ALL called to give unconditional love as Christ did! It is shameful how many Christians forget or don't care to give as God gave.

You might think, the church really doesn't need another person. But that's a lie. God only created one YOU, and He wants to use YOU. Being a volunteer will change your life, it will stretch you further then you have ever been stretched. Being a volunteer allows God to move in you and through you. Don't rob the world of Gods gift, YOU!

Camouflage Christianity

2012-01-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

A teen in my youth group has a camouflage Bible cover and I like to tease him about not seeing a Bible.

Camouflage looks good on hats, jackets, and even Bibles. But the one place it does not look good is on a Believer's life.

What about you? Do you stand out or are you camouflaged.

Good vs Great Customer Service

2012-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

I get my haircut at a popular hair cutting chain. At first I tried them just because of a coupon. Why did I go back? Because they offered something that my old place did not.

It wasn't the scalp massages and steamed towels that did the trick. After all those cost extra so they can only detract from the experience if the towel gets cold to soon or the hair wash is rushed so they can get to more customers.

What did it was the fact that they keep track of what haircut I get. They know the length of the guard and the way they thin it out so it will stand up better. And everyone there has access to the same information so it doesn't matter who I get.

Or does it? You can't replace great customer service. Good customer service is personalized, but the great is personal.

After getting the same girl three times in a row and having the same conversations (what I do etc), I wasn't known. In fact on the fourth visit she asked if I had ever been there before. Despite the fact that I am 6'7 and always have my son with me.

The person who cuts my hair now asks about my family, remembers my kids names and that I opt out of the massage chair during the hair wash because it makes itchy.

There is no substitute for great customer service. Is your church, business, or website personalized to the type of audience or customer you have or is it personal. The good will attract but the great will connect.

Back to the Future

2012-01-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

My wife and I have been watching the Back to the Future trilogy this week. I had almost forgotten how good they were (especially for their time).

Marty and the Doc constantly hurl themselves through time in an attempt to right wrongs, avoid mistakes, and even cheat death.

Unfortunately, we do not get this luxury. Even if you had a flux capacitor and installed in your Delorian, you would still be stuck with the natural consequences (good or bad) for every decision you make.

Every choice is a fork in the road, a turning point with an alternate destination. Choose each step carefully, because there is no going back.

Angry Birds for Life

2012-01-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

I could resist this picture

On Christmas day the mega-popular app based game, Angry Birds did what it has been doing for over 2 years now--it took one more step towards taking over the world. The hit game was downloaded 6.5 million times on a day when even Walmart was closed. Many people were making Angry Birds one of their first apps on their new smartphone or tablet device.

I have it on my IPhone and have to avoid it for its ability to suck the minutes and hours from my day. My whole family enjoys it down to my 4 year old. But is it the game alone or are we struck by the story of the birds who have been wronged so badly by evil pigs that they will stop at nothing to see that they pay, even if it means dying in the process.

What noble cause makes you want to see justice so badly that you would give your life in the process? What about human trafficking, slave labor, starvation, genocide, or abortion? Would you give your life to share Christ in a hostile country where His name is not allowed?

This is the way the world is and at times it should anger us and even propel us into the fray on behalf of the hopeless and helpless. Are you going to be an Angry Bird or a Timid Bird in 2012?

Spring Cleaning or Spring Clinging

2012-01-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

For the last couple of days I have been struck with the fact that it is really easy to accumulate a whole lot of junk.

I have been cleaning in my office, my closet at home, and in the church shed. As a youth pastor with a low budget (and a pretty frugal person), I am always hopeful that I will be able to use something again.

I have located used spray paint cans from 7 years ago, props that have only been used once, and promotional items for old events. They are never used again, but are somehow hard to part with. We remember their usefulness and yearn for the time when they helped us.

In a way we are always comfortable in the past. There is rest in memories, because the outcome is already decided. It is the future that is uncertain. In this new year as we move toward spring cleaning lets remember to shed the things that hold us captive to the past and boldly move towards a future has yet to be written.

Change will be the catalyst to new victories, only imagined by those who are willing to let go of the relics of past accomplishments.

Mission Impossible for Dads

2012-01-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

The new Mission Impossible was easily the best of the franchise. It has one of the highest marks from critics of the movies that are currently out. The action and gadgetry involved is enough to keep any guy interested.

Sometimes I feel like fatherhood is Mission Impossible. Getting the whole family on-time to any one event is like herding cats. Just when you think everyone is ready you find that your daughter has become engrossed in playtime (complete with every toy she owns) rather than finding her shoes. There are also uncontrollable cowlicks that ravage little boys hair, and always a 20% chance of your wife going back to the drawing board with her outfits because, "there is never anything to wear".

Yes sir, you have to have some special skills, the newest arsenal, and state of the art training to manage being a father and husband nowadays. Or do you? Are our kids going to remember their childhood for how tight a ship we ran or for the amount of time we spent with them.

Man of the house: Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to love your family and to show them this love tangibly by the time you spend with them. This is Mission Possible and you can do it!

This message will not self-destruct, but your family will if you choose to ignore it.

New Year's Resolution Ideas!

2012-01-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it is a new year and you know what that means? New Year's resolutions (empty promises that we half pretend to keep this time, just like last year). They are empty because we have no strategy. We try to lose weight, but with no plan. We want to go to church more often, but with no accountability. We want to watch TV less, but it never seems to take. Here are some ideas with the means to accomplish them.

1. Lose weight-- Actually go to a gym and get a membership tomorrow. Pack a lunch for work each day so you will not eat out and crock pot on Sunday's to avoid the temptation to eat out. Restaurant portions are HUGE!

2. Go to church more-- Pick a friend or a family to keep each other accountable and get together once a month for lunch on Sunday. The one who has missed the most church that month picks up the tab (perfect attendance for both = dutch).

3. Watch TV less--Put your TV on a timer switch and program it to only come on for a certain amount of time a day and do something else when it cuts off. You can also invest in some card games like Uno, Blink, or Monopoly Deal.

4. Use Facebook less-- It will initially take some time to use Facebook less. Organize all of your friends into lists and only check the news feed of your close friends and family lists. Aimlessly scrolling through the news feed is a serious time waster.

5. Read your Bible more-- If you have a smartphone you can get the YouVersion app fom LifeChurch.TV and use there reading plans or listen to the Bible on the go. If you do not have a smartphone you can bookmark Crosswalk.com on your computer and use one of their plans or simply leave your Bible in the bathroom or in a prominent place.

6. Spend more time with your family-- If you want to be a better husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter then please see the suggestions for numbers two through five (one through five if you want to be around for your family when you are older).

What will you do differently this year?

The Top Ten Christmas Movies Ever Made!

2011-12-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

It has been two years since my Top Ten Christmas Movies of All Time blog. Some of my opinions have changed. Several movies received high marks for being classics, but I no longer go out of my way to see them. Others were newer and are starting to be time tested favorites. So here is the new list:

10. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Yes, this was only a television special. It was not on my previous list for that very reason. However, this just seems wrong. It is time tested and great. You can even buy inflatables and Charlie Brown Christmas trees years after its release. What other Christmas movie had a song that is so readily played on Christmas radio stations? It is classic and is here to stay.

9. A Christmas Carol (2009)

The best of the Christmas Carols by far. I had not seen this when I made my first list. Although, if we could make a perfect version it would have Kermit as Bob Cratchit, George C Scott as Scrooge, Goofy as Jacob Marley, and be done in the style of the Jim Carrey version.

8. Die Hard (1988)

Yes, it is a Christmas movie. And I will be watching it again this year!

7. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Great! and unlike other Christmas movies, it is surprisingly original in its storytelling.

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

It is worth watching simply for the back story of the Grinch's descent into obscurity. A back story that seems to have been copied in part by MegaMind.

5. Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

Definitely the Superior of the two "Miracle" movies.

4. The Santa Clause (1994)

Tim Allen's best work by far. It is too bad that they kept making these, because one was perfect. It would serve better as a stand alone movie than in an sub-par trilogy.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

I LOVE this movie! Last time I had it as number one, but it is a little long. It also seems to be slipping in popularity. It must be the modern attention span. I still think it is Jimmy Stewart's best role.

2. Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone was the best Christmas movie that came out when I was a kid. Perhaps that is why it has stuck with me all of this time. The hijinks of Stern and Pesci as the inept wet bandits never gets old.

1. Elf (2003)

Elf is HUGELY funny and highly quotable.

"Smiling is my favorite"

"You sit on a thrown of lies!"

Need I say more? Elf has become my favorite Christmas movie, simply because it is one that constantly makes me laugh. It is an added plus that my wife and kids love it as well.

Didn't see your favorite? Comment below.

Christmas Already?!

2011-11-17T14:34:00.001-08:00

Christmas is upon us!!! Or at least the department stores would have us think so. With only a week before Thanksgiving one would never know that it wasn't the middle of December.

A few weeks ago I was at a store that had Halloween decorations on one aisle and Christmas decorations on the next. Really? I mean come on. Why not throw some fireworks and chocolate bunnies into the mix?

I even came home the other day and my wife had Christmas carols blaring as she cleaned. What in the world?

As Christmas really gets closer it will probably monopolize a good chunk of my posts as well. What can I say? I actually love Christmas, just not so early.

How to Get a FREE Texting Service for your Ministry

2011-11-16T14:42:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wanted to text your entire student or children's ministry all at once. If you are anything like me you have looked into it. I found out that the price was more than my church could afford to budget.

Only 50% of emails are actually read, but 96% of texts are opened and read. This means that not only are texting services the best way to communicate with large groups, but they are also a necessity.

How did I get a text service for absolutely free? I let Twitter pick up the tab. I recently learned how to do this at a breakout session of the Orange Conference. Now I want to share this with you.

Here are the simple steps to make this work.

1. Start a Twitter account for your group. Example: @kwazykids

2. Plan to tweet no more than 3 times a week so as not to annoy the receiver enough to where they drop out.

3. Communicate the new communication method (you do not even need to mention Twitter)

4. Have everyone in your group text to 40404 the following: follow kwazykids

It is imperative that there is a space between follow and your Twitter name.
You do not need to include the @ sign.

5. Tweet to Text to your group

Good luck with your New FREE texting service. May God bless your ministry

Halloween and Spirit World

2011-10-31T12:43:00.001-07:00

It's Halloween! The time when the ancient Druids incorrectly believed that the veil between the physical and spiritual world was the thinnest. Costumes and the use of pumpkins both date back to their times.

There was however a time when there was a veil between the spiritual and physical. It was a time when people needed to go through a priest to ask God for forgiveness of sins.

Jesus came to remove that veil. He was God in the form of man. This closeness is what He wants for all of us by indwelling us with His Spirit. It was not possible before Jesus because of our sins.

When Jesus died on the cross God tore the veil in the temple in two. Now anyone may come to Him and experience His unconditional love.

Honey, I Shrunk the Car!

2011-10-26T19:25:00.001-07:00

I only remember going trick or treating once as a small child. The rest of my childhood was spent hiding in the dark on Halloween with sheets over the windows so that children would not know we were home. We would take our stand against the evils of Halloween in the silence of the family room.

Several years later we begin going to a kids carnival put on by our church. Unbeknownst to my family, I was slowly developing a deep appreciation for Halloween. It wasn't necessarily the candy or scariness as much as fun of dressing up.

I grew up reading comics and the thought of becoming a different character still excites me. If it were socially acceptable I would where a cape every day.

Now that I have kids Halloween has become one of my favorite times of year. Yes, I know the origins, but I do not care. If it was once meant for evil, I definitely mean it for good.

The annual Trunk or Treat for our church is coming up and I am preparing a shrink ray for "Honey I Shrunk the Car". We will be scientists (except my wife who will decked out in curlers as my wife) There is something about getting into character as someone else that is awesome fun for my whole family.

I am not done with the ray yet, but here is a pic of it so far:

Pizza Imperfections

2011-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Is it a little strange that my six year old will literally flip out if he does not get the slice of pizza with the largest cheese blister on it. When I think about it, I never see him eager to put anything burnt into his mouth. I should know because I have used a knife to transform toast back to a less than charcoal color so I could save my ears from hearing that old familiar "yuck".

Although Pizza may be the most perfect food we will enjoy prior to the pizza bearing trees of Heaven (my translation) it is still imperfect. In a fallen creation even the pizza suffers. As the cheese melts to coat the pizza in a warm gooey thick spread, the heat from the oven is more than it can take. Bubbles pop up, pulling the cheese tight then singeing the blister like a crusty wart.

When I think about my son reaching for the bumpiest slice available, I think of God seeking relationship with messed up people. I was one of those people with the marks and scars of my sinful actions. He still called me and He still wants us--warts and all.

My Lawn Wants to Eat Me

2011-09-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

   I could almost hear my lawn licking its lips as I walked though it last night. Long blades of grass grasped for my ankles. Getting back inside did not come quick enough. It is official: My lawn wants to eat me. It has rained here in North Carolina on every possible mowing day for the last few weeks.

   Generally I try to keep my lawn at bay. You know, just so everyone knows who is really in charge. It is different now. There is mutiny brewing. The once tame fescue I called my friends has teamed up with the wire grass and kudzu to put an end to me. This may be my last post.

   An unkempt lawn is no different than an unkempt relationship with God. If we do not confess our sin to God as it comes, we can easily be fertilizing the sinful nature within us that Jesus died to defeat. Before you know it we may be only feet from the house but it is completely out of sight. Be sensitive to the Spirit's conviction. God wants to do regular maintenance on our lives so that we do not become a weeded tangled mess.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

French Toast Gone Wrong

2011-09-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

   I have always loved breakfast foods. Any meal, any time. Among my favorites are pancakes and french toast. I even enjoy making them and add my own "special" ingredients.

   A few days ago I was making french toast for my family and had just used up my last egg in the mix. I reached into the spice cabinet and grabbed what I thought was cinnamon. It was the same color bottle, and I saw the 'C' at the beginning of the word as I reached for the bottle that was half way turned around.

     I shook in just the right amount, mixed it, and began dipping my bread. As I breathed in to smell the familiar smell of french toast on the griddle, I was greeted by another scent. A familiar one. I grabbed the bottle to discover that I had used chilli powder on nearly all of the bread. There were no eggs left and very little bread. We actually ate the french toast anyway (although I do NOT recommend this recipe).

   We all make mistakes, but I am reminded of what an older carpenter I know used to say. "Measure twice, cut once." What is done is done and although I could have gone back to the store or made something else, I chose to live with my mistake.

   The next time you are tempted to share something about someone else, measure twice and maybe you will not cut at all. James tells us "...the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark" (James 3:5).

Should We Offend People?

2011-09-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

   In 1 Corinthians 10:32 Paul says, "Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God". We tend to run with verses like this in churches today. We have become an ulta-tolerant society.

   Often we assume that we already know what the Bible means when it says words like offend. However, we should first ask what Paul meant by offense. Before we do that let's ask what 'we' mean today by offend. The definition of offend is: to Cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful. It can also mean: to transgress the moral or divine law.

   When we say we are offended it means that someone did something we did not like or that we do not think they should do. Occasionally we may use it to talk about how someone morally or ethically wronged us. When the Bible talks about us offending God it is talking about transgressing a moral law. We literally commit offenses against Him.

   However, when the Bible talks about us offending each other it means something entirely different. In the King James Bible we read, "But whoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). The New International Version captures the meaning of the word better for today. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6).

   Why does the NIV have to capture the meaning rather than say offend? It is because what we mean by offend has changed drastically over the years. Webster's Dictionary still shows an old definition for the word but has the word obsolete beside of it. That definition is to cause to sin or fall. This is usually not the case when we "offend" someone today.

   Jesus told us not to judge if we had a plank in our eye, but to first remove it so that we can help our brother. This means that we ARE to confront other believers who are falling into the trap of sin as long as we are not involved in the same things. It is our Christian duty to offend (in todays meaning of the word). And we all probably know some Christians who need to be "offended".

Truths From a Galaxy Far Far Away

2011-08-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

As I watched The Empire Strikes Back with my children (Luke and Leia) tonight, I was reminded of some classic truths that are core to my faith.

1. There is a darkness inside all of us that wants to take over. The Bible calls this darkness sin and Romans 3:23 tells us that we all have it.

2. Fear is a path to the Dark Side (or sin). Fear and worry are not from God. Jesus told us not to worry about the future and Yoda said that this was a major problem in Luke's life as well. God has not given us a spirit of fear. It is definetly from our sin nature (Dark Side).

3. Unbelief leads to failure. Luke tells Yoda that what he wants is impossible and that he does not believe he can lift his X-Wing from the swamp. Yoda tells him that is why he fails. In Philippians Paul tells us that we can do ALL things the Christ who strengthens us.

I am sure there are many other truths such as Tauntauns make great Hot Pockets, if a cave shakes when shot it may not be an actual cave, and if you are looking for someone you have never met he may in fact be the little green puppet rumaging through your things.

What truths have you noticed in Empire or the other Star Wars films?

His Strength is Perfect in Our Weakness

2011-07-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

   I just returned from a mission trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We took 24 teens and adults to do ministry in the wake of the tornados that hit this year. I was challenged by our teens as I saw them continually resort to prayer in hard situations.
   The time in particular that I want to share with you was a block party that we threw for a neighborhood in a very low income area. We had pulled out all of the stops. We had bounce houses, hundred of hotdogs to grill, face painting, basketball and a host of other activities. We even had another church bringing coolers stocked full of ice water. I was sure we had planned it well enough to be a success.
   If my plans had gone right then I may have been able to boast in me rather than God alone, but my plans went horribly wrong. The propane grill would not work, the breakers for the bounce houses and sound system kept tripping, and we had no stakes to even hold the houses down. The worst however came when the other church came an hour and a half later than scheduled. It was a hundred and two degrees and when they finally arrived there were no coolers or ice just hot water..
   If anything good would happen it would have to be God. Our teens did a couple of skits, I preached the word, students counseled, and HIS Gospel which is the power unto salvation redeemed 22 people. I will boast in Christ ALONE because his strength is made perfect in my weakness.
   One older lady noted that churches come in every year and try to do something in the same pavilion. According to her there are never more than 20-30 residents in attendance. In total over 300 came to the block party.
   The day before God had given us the opportunity to spend the entire day there. We picked up trash, hauled debris, and cut down damaged trees. We also witnessed a drug deal and an arrest (separately). None of it scared us off. There was a police chopper overhead looking for someone, but we had a job to do. We knocked on every door to invite the neighborhood to the block party. I am convinced that people don't care how much you know until the know how much you care.
   It took God's love through us for that many people to show up, and then God took over and did the rest. Isn't He awesome? What stories do you have that can only be answered with, God stepping in?

Cars 2-My Official Review

2011-06-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

   "Cars 2" is one of those movies that I am divided on. On the one hand I see a movie that was not up to Pixar's usual high standards. However on the other hand I was thoroughly entertained as I sat there with my two kids laughing and enjoying the show. I do wish they had done more with Doc Hudson's death. They missed a chance to make a sad montage in the vein of "Up" and "Toy Story 3".

   This movie is more about Tow Mater than anything else and has a real clear message to be yourself. They go out of their way to show how a true friend doesn't try to change their friends, but loves them for who they are. As believers we should put this principle into practice. I am not saying that our friends should never change. I am saying that the thing that needs to change in all of us is our sin.

   Christ came to free us from our sin, not our personalities. As a believer I am to love my unbelieving friends even if they never choose to come to Christ. I cannot change them, only He can. It is my job to love them where they are.

Love is . . .

2011-06-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was created by Love. I opposed Love. Love pursued me anyway, in spite of my spurning. Love found a way back to me. Love met me where I was. Love gave me everything. I resisted Love and Love died. Love soon sprang to life again. I fell in Love with Love and Love changed me. Now Love is my purpose and the object of my affection. Love never fails me and Love enables me to love. Love knows me and brings out the best in me. After all, Love is who thought me up. God is love.

TOMS is Not Just a Shoe Company Anymore

2011-06-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

   TOMS founder and CEO Blake Mycoskie  just announced that they are expanding to eye-wear. They have already given away over one million pairs of shoes to underprivileged children. Now they are going to be a one-for-one company with every product that they make.

   Instead of giving sunglasses away when a pair is purchased they have opted to give the gift of sight instead. This could be as simple as glasses to as complex as cataract surgery. There are so many people going blind in this world that this will be a welcome change making program.

   This one-for-one movement could be huge if it catches on. Would you pay a couple of dollars more to see a movie if it meant that kids in a local children's home could attend for free? Would you be willing to pay a little more to get your oil changed if you knew that a garage would change a widow's oil at no cost? Would we as individuals be willing to buy an extra can of veggies for our local soup kitchen with every can we purchase for our family?

   What other ways could companies or individuals make a difference?