I have to admit I'm having a brain cramp. Save the jokes...I know it's a small cramp! I can't think of anything inspiring to write this morning...Again I know when have I ever come up with anything inspiring. I'll keep setting you guys up and you can keep knocking them out of the park. I did have an awesome weekend though. My dad, Isaac and I went to Kansas City Friday night and attended at KC Royals vs. MN Twins game. We stayed over night and then had some Jack Stack's BBQ for lunch on Saturday. How cool was it to take Isaac to his first MLB baseball game. He was amazed at the stadium for awhile. Then he was concerned with what he was going eat. Then he wanted them to hit him a ball. We had great seats just off home plate towards the first base side. A foul ball did land about 10 feet from us so that satisfied him for awhile. Isaac did good. We left after the 5th inning because we had been there about 3 hours already and there was a threat of rain.
As the boys grow up I can't wait to experience a whole bunch of firsts with them, and it was extra special to be able to have my dad there too. I've already caught myself a couple times when Isaac and I are doing something thinking about when my dad and I did that too. I'm hoping Isaac, and eventually Alex I'm not forgetting him, will have as good a childhood as I did. Alex's main concern now is when is his next meal and how tough is the next poop so he isn't too concerned about hanging out yet.
I've heard it a million times, and I'm sure all of us have, but kids do grow up fast. Heck, we all grow up fast. Life continues to move faster and faster and if we don't slow down and look around once in awhile we're going to miss something. Is there a Ferris Bueller quote in there? If we have kids or not. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Of course there is work to be done, but we can't be so concerned with work or ourselves that we forget to experience life with friends and family. I'm glad that I can be around my family so much. I'm also grateful that our extended family is close even though they live a ways away. I have to remind myself sometimes how good I truly have it, and make sure that the boys get a chance at a great childhood too. Yes, Yes Tracy is involved in this too, probably more than me, but this is my blog dang it!
I ask you: Are you stopping to smell the roses? Or are you moving so fast, involved in so much stuff, and missing life? You only get one chance to experience a lot of stuff...don't be so busy that you miss it.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Diet or Life Style Change
What do you suppose works better? A diet or a life style change? I know for sure that diets don't work. Oh they work for awhile, but eventually one falls off the wagon and you're right back where you've started. Oprah is a living example. It must be hard to lose and keep the weight off if she can't do it. She's worth over a BILLION dollars. She can afford a personal chef, trainer, doctor, you name it, and she can't even make a diet stick. If the queen of daytime TV can't do it how in the world can an ordinary Joe like me do it. I'm not calling it a diet. I'm calling it a life style change. I'm still going to eat the foods I like, but I'm not going to eat nearly as much of them or eat them nearly as often. For a week it's worked pretty good, but I'm not here to keep you informed how my di...I mean life style change is going. What I am interested in discussing is the discipline it takes to stick to a life style change and how our spiritual lives need the same discipline.
I'm going to admit to you something right now. Being a pastor maybe I shouldn't say this, but I do struggle with my own personal spiritual life. I struggle to consistently find the time to pray and be alone with the Spirit. I've committed to reading through the Bible cover to cover and take notes on the subject, but I even find myself forgetting to do that from time to time. Try it sometime and see how difficult it can be to slog through some of the Old Testament. On the other hand, it reads better than any movie or novel in a lot of places. Hard to believe some of that stuff happened and it was recorded in the Bible. Even harder to believe that God still cares enough for us after all the trouble we cause, but that's a post for another day. Being disciplined on a di...I mean life style change, is just as important as being disciplined in your daily devotional time. Each one has a profound influence on our lives and quality of life.
It is easy for me to realize when I've neglected my spiritual life. I become agitated easily and I can become a real grouch. My patience level is not very high and I just become discouraged very easily. I've learned to recognize these symptoms, if you will, and take steps to alleviate them. I make the time to be alone and just let the Spirit fill me and guide me. I know reading that sentence kind of sounds hokie..."let the Spirit fill me." But, it is what happens. I don't have some magic formula for how we can open ourselves to the Spirit. My devotions can be as simple as 5 minutes sitting quietly and trying hard not to let my mind race with the list of things to do. Sometimes my devotional time is 30 to 45 minutes reading the Bible and taking notes on what I've read. No matter what I do I make sure I'm concentrating on God and the Spirit. Each time I come away feeling refreshed. It really is that simple. The tough part is sticking to it.
We have become so busy that we don't think we have time for ourselves. We neglect our own well being because we're so busy doing something for someone else. Whether we harm ourselves by stopping at McD's instead of taking the extra 5 minutes to pack a lunch, or whether we harm our spiritual life by neglecting our time alone with the Spirit each time we take away from our quality of life. Di...I mean beginning a life style change is hard because the easy way is the fast food and the sugar and all the bad stuff. Having a fulfilling spiritual life is tough too because it asks us to take some time for ourselves. Taking time for ourselves is not selfish. In fact it is necessary and an important part in making sure we're the best we can be for those who need us. I know when I'm neglecting my spiritual life Tracy and the boys are suffering right along with me 'cause I'm not too fun to be around. Is it selfish for me to make sure I have at least some time to be alone and connect with God? NO it is absolutely necessary. I am challenging myself to at least once a day to connect with God. It doesn't have to be an elaborate devotional time, but it has to be an intentional slowing down and purposeful connection to the Spirit. Will you take the challenge with me? Will you help hold me accountable? Let's see how our lives can be influenced for the better. And who knows...maybe, just maybe by being connected to the Spirit it'll make my life style change easier!
I'm going to admit to you something right now. Being a pastor maybe I shouldn't say this, but I do struggle with my own personal spiritual life. I struggle to consistently find the time to pray and be alone with the Spirit. I've committed to reading through the Bible cover to cover and take notes on the subject, but I even find myself forgetting to do that from time to time. Try it sometime and see how difficult it can be to slog through some of the Old Testament. On the other hand, it reads better than any movie or novel in a lot of places. Hard to believe some of that stuff happened and it was recorded in the Bible. Even harder to believe that God still cares enough for us after all the trouble we cause, but that's a post for another day. Being disciplined on a di...I mean life style change, is just as important as being disciplined in your daily devotional time. Each one has a profound influence on our lives and quality of life.
It is easy for me to realize when I've neglected my spiritual life. I become agitated easily and I can become a real grouch. My patience level is not very high and I just become discouraged very easily. I've learned to recognize these symptoms, if you will, and take steps to alleviate them. I make the time to be alone and just let the Spirit fill me and guide me. I know reading that sentence kind of sounds hokie..."let the Spirit fill me." But, it is what happens. I don't have some magic formula for how we can open ourselves to the Spirit. My devotions can be as simple as 5 minutes sitting quietly and trying hard not to let my mind race with the list of things to do. Sometimes my devotional time is 30 to 45 minutes reading the Bible and taking notes on what I've read. No matter what I do I make sure I'm concentrating on God and the Spirit. Each time I come away feeling refreshed. It really is that simple. The tough part is sticking to it.
We have become so busy that we don't think we have time for ourselves. We neglect our own well being because we're so busy doing something for someone else. Whether we harm ourselves by stopping at McD's instead of taking the extra 5 minutes to pack a lunch, or whether we harm our spiritual life by neglecting our time alone with the Spirit each time we take away from our quality of life. Di...I mean beginning a life style change is hard because the easy way is the fast food and the sugar and all the bad stuff. Having a fulfilling spiritual life is tough too because it asks us to take some time for ourselves. Taking time for ourselves is not selfish. In fact it is necessary and an important part in making sure we're the best we can be for those who need us. I know when I'm neglecting my spiritual life Tracy and the boys are suffering right along with me 'cause I'm not too fun to be around. Is it selfish for me to make sure I have at least some time to be alone and connect with God? NO it is absolutely necessary. I am challenging myself to at least once a day to connect with God. It doesn't have to be an elaborate devotional time, but it has to be an intentional slowing down and purposeful connection to the Spirit. Will you take the challenge with me? Will you help hold me accountable? Let's see how our lives can be influenced for the better. And who knows...maybe, just maybe by being connected to the Spirit it'll make my life style change easier!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Do we really have to dislike each other so much?
I'm sitting at my desk wondering what I've gotten myself into with this blog thing. What am I going to say? What should I say? What if I say something that makes someone mad? What if people make fun of me because I set the English language, spelling, and grammar rules back 50 years? Then I thought to myself..."If I'm being honest and talking about important stuff then some people aren't going to agree, and hopefully we can all look past my lack of grammar skills. Mr. Struck (junior high English teacher) may not be too proud, but that's okay I suppose.
I think I'm going to use this forum as a way for me to put out there what's been running through my head lately. I'm hoping for some feedback both negative and positive. I had a pastor tell me once that if you always agree with the pastor of your church then you're not thinking. So please feel free to say I'm nuts or agree with me, it'll be a fun exchange.
What's really been eating at me the past couple of days is all this division in the country. Most of the division can be seen in the political arena, but one can't help but notice it in churches too. I believe we've become so concerned with being right, that we have lost our compassion for the other. We've become so concerned with who's in and who's out that we have lost our calling to care for the less fortunate. We've become so concerned with getting ours that we've completely ignored those who can't get enough. We've become so concerned with ourselves that we don't have time for others. What was one of Jesus' mantras throughout most of his ministry? Care for the poor and the less fortunate; treat others as you want to be treated. Why doesn't that permeate all that we do? It doesn't because it's hard.
It makes me sad to see politicians forgo working for the good of the country to make sure the other side loses or to enhance their political stance. And I'm talking about all politicians because it happens on both sides of the aisle and it doesn't matter which party is in control. It seems running the country and looking out for the good of everyone takes a back seat to making sure a certain party looks good and the other looks bad. We're share the blame too because we hold the power, but we choose to be lazy and not exercise it...maybe another topic for another post.
It makes me more sad to see church going people worry so much about rules and perceptions and who's in and who's out instead of spreading the radical love that Jesus so brilliantly portrayed. I think we can all think of examples where we shook our head either reading about such an instance or experiencing one ourselves. I think we are very good about talking a good game, but when it comes to being loving, forgiving, and open, living that game is a different story. I know for myself that's true. A lot of times the sermons I give are more for my benefit. I find myself preaching and talking a lot about things I wish I did better. I don't want to sound sanctimonious here. I struggle just like everyone else.
So what do we do? There seems to be all this division and the more things change the more they stay the same. Well Jesus said it best I believe when he told us that we need to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. (Mark 8:34). We have to stop putting ourselves first all the time. Yes there are certain times we need to be selfish in order to take care of ourselves, but if we always look out for number one then we've failed to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. People don't do as Jesus did because they misunderstand him, we don't follow well because the path is hard. It involves sacrifice. If we're going to help others then we need to give up some of what we think is ours. If we're going to be examples of God's love and forgiveness then we have to live a little differently. If we want to experience true love, true peace, and true forgiveness then we need to let go and let God be our guide. Study how Jesus welcomed everyone, and determine ways in which you can help others in your life. The change can't happen unless we make it. Let's begin making our own corner of the world a better place and see how small steps can lead to big changes.
I think I'm going to use this forum as a way for me to put out there what's been running through my head lately. I'm hoping for some feedback both negative and positive. I had a pastor tell me once that if you always agree with the pastor of your church then you're not thinking. So please feel free to say I'm nuts or agree with me, it'll be a fun exchange.
What's really been eating at me the past couple of days is all this division in the country. Most of the division can be seen in the political arena, but one can't help but notice it in churches too. I believe we've become so concerned with being right, that we have lost our compassion for the other. We've become so concerned with who's in and who's out that we have lost our calling to care for the less fortunate. We've become so concerned with getting ours that we've completely ignored those who can't get enough. We've become so concerned with ourselves that we don't have time for others. What was one of Jesus' mantras throughout most of his ministry? Care for the poor and the less fortunate; treat others as you want to be treated. Why doesn't that permeate all that we do? It doesn't because it's hard.
It makes me sad to see politicians forgo working for the good of the country to make sure the other side loses or to enhance their political stance. And I'm talking about all politicians because it happens on both sides of the aisle and it doesn't matter which party is in control. It seems running the country and looking out for the good of everyone takes a back seat to making sure a certain party looks good and the other looks bad. We're share the blame too because we hold the power, but we choose to be lazy and not exercise it...maybe another topic for another post.
It makes me more sad to see church going people worry so much about rules and perceptions and who's in and who's out instead of spreading the radical love that Jesus so brilliantly portrayed. I think we can all think of examples where we shook our head either reading about such an instance or experiencing one ourselves. I think we are very good about talking a good game, but when it comes to being loving, forgiving, and open, living that game is a different story. I know for myself that's true. A lot of times the sermons I give are more for my benefit. I find myself preaching and talking a lot about things I wish I did better. I don't want to sound sanctimonious here. I struggle just like everyone else.
So what do we do? There seems to be all this division and the more things change the more they stay the same. Well Jesus said it best I believe when he told us that we need to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. (Mark 8:34). We have to stop putting ourselves first all the time. Yes there are certain times we need to be selfish in order to take care of ourselves, but if we always look out for number one then we've failed to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. People don't do as Jesus did because they misunderstand him, we don't follow well because the path is hard. It involves sacrifice. If we're going to help others then we need to give up some of what we think is ours. If we're going to be examples of God's love and forgiveness then we have to live a little differently. If we want to experience true love, true peace, and true forgiveness then we need to let go and let God be our guide. Study how Jesus welcomed everyone, and determine ways in which you can help others in your life. The change can't happen unless we make it. Let's begin making our own corner of the world a better place and see how small steps can lead to big changes.
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