I have a busy week ahead of me and even though the lawn didn’t have to be mowed yet, I decided I should mow it now since it would too long by the time I could get to it again.  So, after lunch and getting the boys down for their naps, I went out to to give the grass a flat-top.

Before I was finished, Braden woke up from his nap; Heidi brought him out to the backyard to swing since we didn’t want to wake up Caleb.  My parents bought us a swing-set for the backyard, so that Heidi wouldn’t have to always go somewhere for the boys to swing; the boys LOVE swinging.

So, as I mowed, I watched the joy on my 3-year-old’s face as he soared through the air on his yellow belt-seat swing.  Heidi pushed and pushed to his delight and his squeals of “Higher Mama, Higher!”

I can’t tell you how long it was, but eventually Caleb woke up.  I heard Heidi say that she needed to go get him and told Braden to just keep swinging by himself until she came back outside with Caleb.

Well…Braden doesn’t know how to “pump” on a swing yet; he needs someone to push him in order to go.  So, once the momentum from Heidi’s last push died down, Braden was done swinging.  On my one pass with the mower, I looked over to see Braden patiently waiting on the sedentary swing.  He just sat there with his feet dangling, waiting for someone to push him.

And that got me thinking…how many people are simply waiting for a “push” into a relationship with Jesus?  Granted, living the Christian life is not always as fun as floating through the air on a swing, but there are some that are waiting.  There are some that are looking for the answer; there are some that simply need that introduction to the Lord.

All too often, Christians go on with their daily routines never thinking about our responsibility to tell others about Jesus.  You don’t need to have a degree in theology; you don’t need to be a mature Christian…simply share the hope within you [1 Peter 3:15].  All you need to do is share who Jesus is in your life.

Ultimately, YOU don’t have to “save” anyone—that’s God’s job.  But don’t overlook how the Lord wants to use you in that process.  Come alongside someone…and give a little “push”.

Okay…fair warning before I even begin:

Today’s subject may not be the most pleasant, but I believe the spiritual lesson is worth it. 

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

Last night, Heidi went around picking up the dog poop in the backyard.  It’s nice having the fenced-in yard so we can simply let the dogs out when it’s time for a backyard break.  However, the problem with that is having to go around the entire yard and find the little gifts at other times.  When we lived in Pennsylvania, we didn’t have a backyard for the dogs’ use, so we had to take them on walks on a leash and pick up after every deposit.  I haven’t necessarily figured out which I prefer as of yet.

Anyway, Heidi found some little white worms on some of Squirt’s dog doo.  She said that it wasn’t just this batch but in most of them.  I suggested we wait until we got a fresh calling card to check it for the worms.  It wasn’t long before Squirt was leaving another pile of good luck so we checked it; sure enough, there were tiny white worms in it.

When the vet’s office opened this morning, Heidi called to ask if we needed to bring Squirt in prior to her already-scheduled appointment on Friday for her yearly exam.  When Heidi shared our concern about the worms, she was returned with a question that about triggered her gag reflex: “Do the worms look like rice, or spaghetti?”  I could tell that Heidi was thankful that we only had the rice.  And when she told me about the question, I too was praising the Lord that we only had rice.  And yet…rice is still bad.

And that got me thinking…we are constantly comparing ourselves and our worms—sins—to the sins of others.  “Yeah, I may be doing this…but I’m not doing that like so-and-so.”  “My sin is only rice, not spaghetti.”

It is still bad!!!  We need to compare ourselves to the One we are to be following and trying to be like—Jesus.  Jesus doesn’t have any worms; we need to be determined to get rid of our worms.  Each and every day we need to be striving toward holiness.  Comparing ourselves to others doesn’t make us holy; being like Jesus makes us holy.

We have been called to be worm-free.  Squirt had to take a couple of pills; we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him.

Today was a great day for me…Father’s Day.  I enjoyed the day immensely.

But this isn’t going to be about me.  Over the last couple of days we’ve gotten to know our “over the back fence” neighbors.  They seem very nice.  We’ve seen them many times and have exchanged quick “hellos” and such, but yesterday was the first time we’ve gathered at the fence to really meet each other.

We talked about work, the neighborhood, family, and the normal surface stuff.  While we were talking about the boys, they mentioned that they also had a grown son who lived in North Carolina.

Well, today when we woke up, there was a young man in their backyard—we figured that it had to be their son from North Carolina.  It was; we talked with them later in the day.  He drove through the night from North Carolina to surprise them for Father’s Day and her birthday (which was also today).  The amazing part of the story is that he is heading back on Monday.  He drove all the way from North Carolina Saturday night to spend Sunday with them, only to have to drive back Monday.

And that got me thinking…what are we willing to do for our parents, whom we are commanded to honor in Exodus 20:12?  But, more importantly, what are we willing to do for our Heavenly Father?

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  I’ve always appreciated what the Father did by giving His Son to die for my sins; I’ve accepted that gift and have made Jesus my Lord.  But I never could truly understand what the Father must have gone through—what He must have felt—until I had my own son.

There are many people that I would give my life for…but not either of my sons’ lives.  What the Father did is unquestionably the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me.  And He did it for you too.

This should cause us to go to great lengths to do amazing things for the Father.  And not just on Father’s Day…but every day.

Today was a busy day for me at Steve’s.  I guess that I can figure that Saturdays in the summer months will usually be busy because of all the weddings.  Yesterday, we had six weddings.  I really don’t have to worry about the weddings—I’m the new guy—but that does mean that more of the “regular” deliveries fall on me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love this job and I’m really not complaining.  I don’t mind working hard, particularly for Steve.  But, I was running all day long and wasn’t even able to take my lunch.  I could have stopped for the half-hour to eat my lunch, but that would have gotten me home thirty minutes later for supper.

As I said, I’m not complaining and it’s really not a big deal.  All I had to do was eat the lunch that I brought as I was driving to make my deliveries.  I didn’t need the “break” and I was able to eat what my body needed.

And that got me thinking…how often do we not take the break that we need to be with the Lord.  All too often we run around from here to there and back without even thinking about the Lord.  But the reality is that each and every day, we need to set aside time to sit in the presence of the Lord—speaking and listening; praying and reading the Word.

If you find yourself on occasion not being able to take the time, quickly read a Proverb or Psalm.  That is better than nothing, but it’s not going to give us the spiritual nutrition and sustenance that we need to make it for the long haul.  We need to have that break where we can be alone and commune with the Father and “be filled” with what we need.  To do this, some of us may have to get up a half-hour earlier; some may have to reschedule some things in their life.  Whatever it is that needs to be done…do it.

You cannot make it through this life with the “nutrition” you need by snacking on the way.  Take a break, sit down, and have lunch.

Check out one of my first posts for more information on this.

I’m back!!  Not that I’ve really gone anywhere…but I’ve been away from my blog for quite some time.  Thank you to those of you who kept encouraging me to write again–that means a lot.

I missed writing these blogs but at the end of each day…I didn’t have it in me to write.  The Lord has been taking me on quite a journey over the last two months (that’s how long it’s been since I’ve written).

I’ve hopefully picked up my “survival job” to help us make it through financially, while starting the new church.  I’ve been working a couple of days a week for Steve’s Flowers and Gifts.  Hopefully that will turn into something a little more as time goes on.  But it’s the perfect job.  They aren’t open on Sundays, I love driving (their van and their gas), I get to listen to my own music (I’m praising the Lord all day long), and I get to make people’s day by delivering some of the most beautiful arrangements and floral pieces I’ve ever seen (Steve and his designers do amazing work).  Not to mention, I used to write my best stories and sermons riding the lawn mower; I’m hoping that riding in the van will have the same benefits when I start preaching again.

I worked quite a bit on Resurrected Life and the process of getting started.  I am almost finished with the process of writing and will be soon announcing a meeting time for anyone interested in hearing who Resurrected Life Church will be.  As you can see, Jessica Mack did a phenomenal job with our logo.  Not only is she talented, but she put up with me and my “not-as-talented artistic” opinions.  Thank you Jessica!!

Here’s what I love about the logo:

• The logo simply emphasizes exactly who the church is.
• Right at the center is the cross of Christ, created by the tail of the dove crossing the “I” of LIFE.
• The dove, itself, is a sign of new life.  It was the dove that brought back the olive branch to Noah after the flood.
• The dove is soaring toward the sky in the logo.  After a “death” following my previous ministry, I am ready to come alive again in my new calling and ministry.  We are all called to be resurrected to a new life after dying to self in order to follow Christ.
• The dove is the color of “new life”–very fresh and spring-like.

I am ready to fulfill the Lord’s calling in my life.  I pray each day for the ministry and people to whom I will be entrusted.  It’s a great calling and I am humbled by it.  I am in no way big enough to do it on my own.  I praise God for walking the journey with me.  I pray for those that the Lord will put in my path to help with the vision and mission of Resurrected Life.  The best part of all of this is that the Lord has it all figured out already…I simply need to follow through with His plan.

And that got me thinking…I am truly blessed.

Heidi attends a Bible study at Grace on Tuesdays.  She has truly enjoyed her time there with the ladies and the boys have enjoyed their time playing with the other kids.  Some weeks, Heidi comes home for lunch and other weeks she packs a lunch and stays there to eat with everyone.

Today was one of those days that she stayed to eat.  She packed a fabulous lunch: BBQ pork sandwiches, Cheerios snack mix, apples, grapes, and carrots.  So I was surprised to hear that Caleb had banana on his clothes when they got home.  But what really surprised me was how Heidi said it…she said that Caleb was “drenched in banana.”  My response was, of course, “What?”—somewhat in disbelief and very confused.  How can someone be “drenched” in banana?  And yet, when I saw Caleb…he was drenched in banana.  It was all over him; there was no question that he had somewhere crossed paths with a banana…and the banana lost.

And that got me thinking…are we as obvious with our Christian walks?  And I’m not talking about being like the Pharisees and showing how “religious” we are; I’m talking about simply being so submerged in everything about God that it overflows from you just being you.  We should be someone who “thinks Kingdom, talks Kingdom, and acts Kingdom.”  That’s how we should live—as described in a book written by a good friend of mine.

So how do you walk your Christian walk?  Delicately with a fork and knife?  Carefully with a few fingers, so as to not get too much on you?  Or do you dive in with all that you have and become drenched?

Dive in!  You won’t get messy…but you will become drenched in the Holy Spirit.

We went to the zoo today.  It was absolutely beautiful outside.  There was still a little chill in the air with the breeze, but the sun was out and it was warm.  We arrived early in the morning, so as to get as much time there as possible before the boys needed to go down for their naps.

When we got there, we were some of the few that were there.  We parked fairly close to the front and were able to walk freely around the zoo without many people in the way…until the end of our stay.  The way the zoo is set up, you walk almost in a circle so you can see everything.  But at the end of the circle, you wind up walking against the beginning of it, and therefore the people.  And let me tell you…the zoo was packed.  The crowd had come in behind us and we didn’t realize how many were there until we came out of the “The Plains” area.

And then it hit me…it was a beautiful day; one of the first really nice days this year.  Why not come out to the zoo when it’s nice.  We just weren’t used to that many people.  We have a membership to the zoo and have been going…even when it isn’t that great outside.  I guess most people don’t like going to the zoo when it’s cold.

And that got me thinking…the zoo on a beautiful day is like church on Christmas or Easter.  Churches are always packed on those two “holy” days.  But isn’t every day holy if we give the day to Him and seek the Lord’s Will for that day?  I’m not naive enough to not understand that those days are special…but why is it that we only see certain people (the CEOs—Christmas Easter Only) on those two days?  Is Jesus not worth celebrating on other Sundays?  Doesn’t He deserve more than that?

As always, there is no “perfect” analogy and they all fall apart somewhere; this is simply where my thought went today.  I don’t expect people to go to the zoo when it’s freezing cold, especially when you don’t have a membership and have to pay every time.  But the animals are always there…waiting for you.

In the same line of thinking: Jesus is always there…waiting for you.  And your membership has already been paid for; you just need to pick it up at the ticket window.

One of the things that Heidi and I really struggled with in the parsonage was that we didn’t have any “neighbors”.  Living at the back of the five-acre property didn’t allow us to sit on the front steps and talk to people as they walked by on the sidewalk (we didn’t have a sidewalk there either).  So, moving here, that was something that we had talked about often.  Unfortunately, we haven’t done that enough (please hold me accountable by asking if I’m reaching out to our neighbors every once in a while).

However, the one area where we have been “great neighbors” is in the stereotypical way.  Our neighbor to the east has been to our house twice now looking for the proverbial “cup of sugar”.  The first time it was for a couple of eggs; today, it was for a couple of cups of flour.  Both times we gladly gave of what we had; both times were for her famous fried chicken.

When she borrowed the eggs, she said that she would pay us back with a fried chicken dinner sometime.  Today, it was: “Could I borrow a couple of cups of flour?  Dinner will be ready in an hour…don’t eat anything.”

Wow…it was more than just empty words.  I don’t want that to come across as untrusting or anything, but sometimes people say things just to say them or to be nice.

And that got me thinking…the Lord doesn’t just offer words to say them or to be nice.  When He says something, He means it.  He always follows through with what he says and He never breaks His promises.

Today’s dinner situation reminds me of one of those promises of God:  Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”

Heidi and I have long been convinced that we have been blessed financially because of our decision to give the first 10% of our income and more.  We have offered a little and the Lord has indeed thrown open the floodgates of blessing in our lives.  He never fails in His promises.

Our chicken dinner tonight was fabulous—fried chicken, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, and corn.  Oh baby…I can still taste it all.  It was an amazing meal and we have some left over for lunch tomorrow.  We offered a little—two eggs and a couple of cups of flour—and we were blessed with a feast.

The same holds true for the Lord.  Trust in Him and He will be faithful.

While we were practicing, his wife and little girl got together with Heidi and the boys and went downtown to the Central Library.  So, when we finished up with our practice, we had some time on our hands.  For both of us, it felt like a lazy morning, so we decided that it would be best to simply sit around in his living room and talk.  It was a great time just relaxing and reclining while we talked about life.

When he called his wife to see when they were planning on coming home, they decided that our family would stay for lunch…but we (the men) had to throw something together for when they got home.  And let me tell you…we threw it all together.  We had such a hodgepodge of stuff it was incredible.  We had frozen pizza, spaghetti, salad, tater tots, dill pickle slices, sweet pickles, and olives.  Now I know that doesn’t sound all that appealing, but it all worked well together…and we fancied it up.  We had toothpicks for the olives and pickles and we put the paper napkins in fancy cloth napkin rings.

 And that got me thinking…we all are as ordinary as a paper napkin.  None of us are any more special than the next.  The 12 disciples were chosen, not because they were special ones with amazing gifts and talents…they were chosen as ordinary men.  The apostle Paul was an ordinary man.  What made them special was their relationship with the Lord Jesus.  They were just ordinary paper napkins…with a fancy napkin ring.

We all are ordinary…and yet so special to the Lord.  None of us are cloth napkins…we’re all ordinary paper.  But that doesn’t mean that we can’t become better.  Allow Him to come into your life and fancy you up.

Today was my last day at my current survival job.  I knew that this job would be ending because it was only a temporary thing, helping out in the front office of the company.  Being that I was at the front desk, I needed to dress professionally—luckily, it only required business casual.  But even though today was my very last day, it was also my first Friday working there.  So…I didn’t realize that we could dress down and wear jeans on Friday.

When I got in the car this morning with my driving partner, she said, “Today is “jean day”…you can go back in and change if you want.”  She went on to explain that she didn’t want to call and wake the boys up since we leave so early in the morning.

And that got me thinking…do we not tell people about Jesus and the salvation He brings because we’re afraid that we will wake someone up?  If so, we have to change our thinking.  We NEED to wake some people up.  This news is too important to worry about how others “feel”; this news is too important to worry about offending someone.  Tell them about the love of Jesus whether they like it or not…because there will come a time when it’s too late.  When I stepped out that door this morning, it was too late—there was no turning back to change for “jean day”. 

As great of a day as it would have been wearing jeans…it wouldn’t have even come close to what it will be like on the Day of the Lord.  As saddened as I was to not get the news early enough for “jean day”, it pales in comparison to how those who don’t know Jesus will feel when He returns.

Don’t be afraid…wake them up!