Two years blogging

Well, it's official. Today I have been blogging for two years. It's been great fun, and I have really enjoyed the fellowship, comments and the opportunity to be creative. I hope I have been creative at times and hopefully interesting, but that will be for someone else to decide. Thank you for taking your precious time to read my thoughts. I hope they have been helpful. I welcome your suggestions for future posts. Thanks for reading....

High adventure

I found Scott's blog while looking for another one. I was amazed! Scott is an adventurer pushing the limits of his fears and dreams. Fears and dreams are part of our lives, but few are brave enough to live out their dreams or deal with their fears. What did you dream of doing when you were young that you haven't done yet?

Inspiring

Last night we watched the ABC News special about the life of Randy Pausch. In the last week he died of cancer. He is the professor who wrote the book "The Last Lecture" and impacted thousands with his views of life and death. It's inspiring to watch someone as they finish this life and how they view their life. I hope to fit his book into my growing pile of books I must read. I loved his "Tigger" way of viewing things. He chose to be an "up" person, and he really did touch the lives of many people. If you have time to read more or simply watch the videos at ABC News I encourage you to do so. It's well worth the time. And, I will be praying for Randy's family.

Silly quote of the day

"I'm trying to save the planet." -Nancy Pelosi

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I read a number of papers each day to keep up with world events and once in a while I see a headline that makes me smile. So, in honor of this quote I am adding a NEW category to this blog- 'Silly quote of the day." Here's the first silly quote of the day. Good luck, Nancy!

Important things.....

(photo by: Bob Kurt)

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What's really important to you? What do you value? You show others what's most important to you by the choices you make, the things you buy, the places you go, the way you dress, what you watch and what you listen to. Everything about us tells others what's important to us. I've heard one pastor say, "people will give you their money, but don't ask for their time!" and another said, "show me your checkbook and I will tell you what's most important to you." We show the world around us what we value in a hundred different ways. And sometimes, honestly, what we value makes us look funny. Why would anyone want a laptop rather than a roof over his head? Why would another put more importance on their own happiness rather than obedience to God? Why do we do what we do, buy what we buy and spend our time the way we do? It's because of what we value (worship). When I put the Lord first, as most important, then my life lines up in a wonderful way, but when I don't it just looks funny. It doesn't seem right. That is often the story of the Jewish people in the Old Testament- they didn't put the most important things first. Instead they would choose their own ways and find that their lives were miserable failures (read the end of Jeremiah). How often do we do the same thing. I wonder how we look to those around us? More important than that how do we look to God? What are your important things?

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Mat 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you............"

Music recommendation

I don't recommend music often, but here is a recent acquisition that I really like- it's the soundtrack from a recent Cirque Du Soleil show. It's a fun, upbeat jazz soundtrack. If you are looking for good music I think you would enjoy this album.

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I must warn you that our teaching pastor tells me that I have strange music taste, but I think you would really enjoy this album.

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Music is an amazing thing. We use it to worship God, to relax, to stimulate, to calm us down, and a hundred other things. Music is one of the great blessings God has given us and I'm glad he made it.

Thanks, Nathan

One of our pastors is leaving us. Nathan and his wife, Kim, are taking a position at a church in Pennsylvania. We hate to see you go, but will be praying for you and Kim.

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Nathan grew up in our church, literally! He and his family came to CBC when he was just entering his teen years. He's been here as long as I have, and that's a long time.

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I'm excited for Nathan. This is a new adventure, and a chance for him to carve out his own path, identity and ministry. But we will continue to see him often....his brother is married to our daughter so he's family! Thanks for all you have given to our church family, Nathan, we will miss you.

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Monday's cartoon

Having just taught the book of Jude this cartoon caught my attention. In a time when the wolves have stopped trying to imitate sheep and are trying to imitate the shepherd it's very important to know who you are following. I know the bible says that in the last days false prophets would come, but who could have imagined that they would be so good at looking like the real thing?

Torture

Ok, isn't chess hard enough? Why would anyone want to make a difficult game even more difficult? I have trouble planning two moves ahead....but to add another player would just feel like torture.....

Humbled

This morning at church one of our men introduced me to a young visitor. He told me this young man had just gotten out of the marines. I shook his hand and said "thank you." I then asked, "did you serve in Iraq?" He smiled and said yes, and I once more told him thank you. What a humble experience to have young men like this serving our country. I'm honored to have met him. So once more for him and all the others serving our country, "thank you for serving us and protecting our country." I'm so grateful for your service.

Some fun for a Saturday

Flying Hamster competition-
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A pastor friend of mine, Kris, has been hosting a flying hamster competition with some great distances for the game. Let's compete with their church in Indiana and have some fun.

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You can play the game here, and then let me know your results. This should be fun.

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Thank you

I just wanted to take a moment to say "Thank you" to the guys from my small group who came to help me with my lawn. Since my accident in February I have not been able to work on the yard at all, and it looked bad! These wonderful men came to help me and I want to say thank you to them for their great kindness.


Here's Dave and his son, Matt, making my yard look good.














From left to right: Mark, Sheldon, me and Kent

A secure love

I was reading in Romans yesterday and came to Romans 8. It's one of the mountaintop chapters of the bible. What amazing truths this chapter holds, but what caught my mind was the end of the chapter....three little verses that I have read hundreds of times, but I don't think I yet fully understand or believe them. I honestly find myself as a Christian who often thinks and talks like an atheist! And then I come to a passage like this, and must stop to ask, "do I really believe this? And if I really did what would change in my heart and mind? How would I live differently? If I really believed this what would I look like?" And, so, without further delay here are the verses that have made me stop and think. If you don't mind I will add a few thoughts at the end...

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Rom 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Like a child totally dependent upon its parents for everything, completely trusting in the care and love of its parents we are told we have a much better relationship with God. One in which his love promises victory and a security that I cannot have on my own. When I read, "nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" I have to pause and ask, "do I really believe that?" And, sadly, I find that many times I don't live like this is true. In my theological mind, in my good orthodox biblical training I believe it, but in my life...where theology meets the world...I often live like this isn't true. My confession to you moves me to ask once more, "what would my life look like if I really did believe these verses?" I don't know yet, but I plan to find out......I'll keep you updated.

Decisions

Our lives are the result of a myriad of decisions we make each day. Decisions based on decisions we have made in the past. Each decision builds on the last one and charts a course for our lives that finds us where we are today. I'm fascinated with my own decisions and the fact that they are so different from those of others. We each chart our own course, and that course finds each of us at a different place in our lives. How did I get here? One choice at a time. It happens over a lifetime as we make little turns, small choices that make us who we are and move us to where we are. What do you base your decisions upon? What map are you using? How do you chart your course? All of those questions are important because they determine your direction and course. One man made a series of decisions, a series of course choices that affected his life. I like the choices he made. Here are one man's choices:

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Psa 101:1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
Psa 101:2 I will give heed to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
Psa 101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.
Psa 101:4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil.
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Where have you choices taken you? Are you where you want to be? If your map is the word of God then you have the perfect guide to steer your life to the right destination. If you follow this map you will never regret your course or the harbor at the end of your journey. All of our lives demand decisions and we are making them each day.....if you aren't where you want to be then change course, get the map that will guide you to the right port. Each day gives us the opportunity to make decisions that will change our course, that will change our lives. Each day our decisions are taking us somewhere. May I encourage you to chart a course that others have followed to a wonderful destination. It's all a matter of decisions.

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Anything for an illustration!

Pastor Injured in Dirt Bike Accident During Church Service
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

KOKOMO, Ind. — "A pastor brought out a dirt bike during a church service to demonstrate the concept of unity. Now he's demonstrating the concept of healing.
Jeff Harlow, the senior pastor at Crossroads Community Church, broke his wrist when he lost control of the motorcycle at the start of Sunday's second service, driving off a 5-foot platform and into the vacant first row of seats. He underwent surgery on the wrist Monday.
"Jeff has already laughed a lot, so he's OK. I think his pride was bruised," said his wife, Becky.
Becky Harlow said her husband had recently attended a motorcycle race in Buchanan, Mich.
"He had this idea that he would bring this bike out onstage and show people how the rider would become one with the bike," she told the Kokomo Tribune. "He was going to just sit on it and drive it out. He was just walking the dirt bike out onstage and somehow it got away from him. It was not intended."
No one else was hurt."

I hate to laugh at anyone, especially a fellow pastor, but may I say, "what was he thinking?" At least he didn't drive a tank on the stage like another pastor in our area. Illustrations for sermons are funny things. I've seen some amazing ones in my day, but I think this one is near the top. I hope they filmed it......
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