King Solomon and a new park?!?!

The Minden Park Crew did it.  The new park equipment is in!  A big congratulations goes out to the committee for all their hard work: having the vision, raising the money, and seeing the project through until completion.  Also, a big thank you to all who helped with the construction.  Pretty neat to see all the effort pay off.  Now, how in the world am I going to tie Solomon into this?  Read on my friends read on.
Last Sunday I gave a sermon and the subject was about King Solomon and his request for wisdom.  I talked a little bit about the warts that Solomon had, and the fact that God could work around those warts.  I also reminded us that King Solomon's faults also lead to his downfall so God may work around warts but that doesn't mean wrong actions don't have consequences.  I pointed out some of King Solomon's faults to remind us that God doesn't call super saints to do God's work.  God calls everyone, even those who aren't perfect.  I also reminded us that through the power of the Spirit God can accomplish amazing things if we are willing to follow. 
I preach a lot on the fact that God is waiting and more than willing to work through us, but we short circuit that power because we are afraid, we are lazy, we don't think we're qualified, etc.  There are numerous examples of God using normal, everyday, even seriously flawed people to further God's work in the world.  Those people God worked through, including King Solomon who was called the wisest king every, were far from perfect, but God did amazing things through them because they had a relationship with God and opened themselves up to the Spirit.
The Minden Park Crew started out with a goal in mind.  They wanted new park equipment for the kids.  The cost seemed insurmountable, and I imagine more than once they heard, and maybe even felt, that there was no way a town like Minden could raise that kind of money.  That same attitude, we can't do this or that because...(fill in the excuse) keeps us from experiencing the full blessings God wants us to have.  King David, King Solomon, Moses, the Disciples are all pillars of Christianity.  They have one thing in common with all of us...they were far from perfect.  Yet, God called them, as God calls us today.  They had the courage to listen and open themselves up to God.  Can we do the same?  Can we put aside our doubts, our fears, and our laziness to see what God wants to accomplish through us?  If we can then amazing things are ahead of us...just like the Park Crew who persevered and accomplished their goal.  But, if we close ourselves off and/or give up then we miss out on an amazing journey and some special blessings. 

Moment of silence please..

Thank you for that moment of silence.  We are mourning the passing of summer.  School starts in a couple days and football games are on TV.  I don't care what the calendar says summer is kaput!  It does amaze me the stark contrast in the past 2 summers in western Iowa.  Last year we were waiting for the levees to fail and Council Bluffs and other towns to be washed away by the mighty Missouri River.  This year we couldn't get rain out of a hurricane it is so dry around here.  Like someone said, "we survived the summer of the flood and we'll survive the summer of the drought."
I know it is cliche, but where does the time really go?  We just completed a very successful Vacation Bible School program here with the help of First Presbyterian in Neola.  We had about 80 kids attend and I think they enjoyed themselves and they might have even learned something along the way.  It always amazes me how much enthusiasm and joy the kids bring.  They are so excited to come to church and play, eat, make crafts, see friends, and learn a little something about God.  I've heard from more than one parent about how excited their child was to come to VBS.  I've also heard from more than one kid how much fun they had too.  Thank you to everyone who helped in any way!!  We could not have put on such a super program without all the volunteers.
Back to the kids' joy, at what point do we lose that enthusiasm to learn about God?  At what point does it become a chore to come to church...just another check mark to click off your list?  If that hasn't happened to you then super, but how many people come to church bouncing off the walls with excited energy?  Ok, maybe I'm being a little silly with my comparisons to young elementary kids energy and our adult energy.  We'd frown upon a "seasoned" church member running up and down the aisles or crying because mom forgot the fruit snacks.  My point is why do we lose that pure unbridled joy?  I suppose we could blame it on our grown up sensibilities, but we should never lose that excitement to learn about the One who created and sustains us should we?  Think about all that we owe to our Maker...I know all of our lives haven't been a walk in the park, but I bet we have a tremendous amount to be thankful for.  Yet, we tend to reluctantly volunteer to help, we view going to church and worshiping the God who gave us life as any other chore, and oh please don't ask me to change anything about my life...am I right?  Instead of being excited to worship and be able to serve our ever loving and forgiving God we turn it into a job almost.  Let's hope the spark of those VBS kids reminds us to bring a lot of joy to our worship and lives lived for God.

Tooth care and self care

One of my favorite post cards came in the mail the other day.  "You're overdue for your dental checkup/cleaning."  Those post cards look so nice and innocuous, but I think I'd rather get audited by the IRS then go to a dental checkup.  The scraping, x-rays, awful tasting polish, and the wonderful news you need something done...there isn't much I would put below these visits.  I'm not degrading dentists at all.  I love to eat, and I'm sure food tastes much better if I'm able to chew it with healthy teeth instead of sucking it through a straw or gumming it to death.  Dentists provide a much needed service, but man I hate getting that service.  Anyone else feel the same way?
I've been lucky.  I haven't had many cavities or any trouble with my teeth throughout my life.  I'm not sure I should divulge this tidbit or not, but I've had such good teeth that I've never flossed much in my life.  At all of my dental checkups, and I promise you this, they've always told me to keep doing what I've been doing.  Well, what I had been doing was brushing my teeth once or twice a day and not flossing.  So, for years, and I mean probably 30 some years of my life, that's what I kept hearing, "You have great teeth, keep doing what you're doing."  So I did, until about a year ago.  I had my first cavities, and they were two flossing cavities.  Flossing cavities are the ones that form between your teeth because you don't floss and get the food out.  So, you figure I'd learned my lesson and after those cavities were filled I started flossing to keep that from happening again.  Nope...I'm going to the dentist today for my checkup and I know I have a couple more flossing cavities.  Some habits are hard to break and some habits are even harder to start!
I was reflecting on my lack of dental hygiene and it occurred to me how this might relate to our spiritual lives.  When things are going good do we tend to forget a little bit about God, and building our relationship, and continuing our daily devotions?  Sometimes when things are swimming along nicely we tend to neglect somethings...as I did with my flossing all those years.  But, when things get tough we immediately turn back to God and want/desire that close relationship and to feel the Spirit's presence in our lives.  The kicker is...if we'd continued to build that relationship before the tough times hit then we'd have that connection built in more quickly.  Just like if I'd learn to keep flossing now I could avoid these wonderful checkups where I know something is amiss with my teeth.
It is not that God won't be with us and comfort us when times get tough if we've kind of fallen away from God for awhile while times were good.  It is just that like any relationship the more time we spend at the relationship the better the connection will be.  The reception doesn't improve from God's end...the reception improves on our end because we've been in the habit of connecting with God already so it is easier for us to feel God's presence.  When we only seek God's presence when we feel we need help then we won't be as practiced in recognizing the Spirit in our lives and it may take some time before we recognize/feel God at work.  So, the moral of the story...floss and make sure you continually build your relationship with God.  That way, when the checkups, and life's difficulties come you'll be more prepared to handle them.

PS-anyone's teeth hurt while reading this?  Mine did while I was writing it!

Quiet weekend...

It has been a quiet few days around our house.  Friday the boys went to my parents place for a few days so Tracy and I had just ourselves to keep us company.  3 days without kids!  What were we going to do?!?  I was certainly looking forward to some time off from chasing the rugrats around.  We spent some time shopping and Tracy had the quote of the weekend.  We were in Target and she was just aimlessly wondering up and down the aisles and I asked her what she was doing.  Her reply, "I'm just looking.  I never get a chance to just look around."  I laughed.  She was right.  When you're toting around two boys you don't really have the luxury to just look around. 
As I said earlier I was looking forward to the peace and quiet, but honestly that lasted to about Saturday morning.  I already missed the little buggers jumping into bed and waking me up.  I even missed watching Mickey Mouse Club House and fixing the little guys break fast.  Funny how you think you are so looking forward to the time off , and then when it finally arrives you find yourself missing the noise and energy.  It wasn't nearly as fun waking up this morning without Alex climbing on the bed and making sure I was going to open his fruit snack and turn the TV on.  That's right...they get fruit snacks in the morning...its dad's little treat.
Contemplating this I was reminded of the saying that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone.  The sermon yesterday was on the 10th commandment which tells us not to covet stuff we don't have.  I talked about learning to be content with what you have and to count the blessings you already have without being consumed and preoccupied with stuff you want and think you need to be happy.  I know I take for granted my life and all the blessings I have.  How can I be thankful enough for a wonderful and healthy family, a church that I love to serve, a community we love to live in and rallies around one of its own, and the freedom to do what we want?  Is it possible to be thankful enough for all of that and not take it for granted?  I don't think so, but I'm going to try.  I do my best to thank God every day for all that I have, and I try to not take for granted the opportunities I and my family have.  While the hooligans were gone I was reminded how much I love them and how I can't take for granted the time we get to spend together.
I think the challenge for me is to be reminded in the daily grind how blessed I am.  I think that is a challenge for all of us.  I know some are struggling, but I bet if we thought about it we all could find something to be thankful for.  Let's take some time to thank God right now for all the blessings in our life.  Even if this might be a tough time in your life...think of the blessings you do have.  They are there, and you don't want to miss them!

Sweet Vacations

Aren't vacations wonderful?!  Although I don't think they ever last long enough.  And, wouldn't it be nice if we could ease back into the work week?  Maybe work 1/4 day the first day, 1/2 day the next, then 3/4 of a day and finally a full day on the week we return to work.  I think I'm going to talk to the boss and see if I can make that a policy here at church!  Seriously though...adjusting back into the real world after taking some time off can be jarring.  I believe vacations, time away from the rat race, are a vital part of our lives.  And maybe because starting that rat race up again when we return from vacation is so hard it is a sign that we need to get away.

Taking time off has almost become a four letter word.  We feel we have to put in the extra hour or 4 and maybe come in on Saturdays and Sundays because if we don't get the work done then they'll find someone who will.  I understand that there are times when you need to work extra hours, but we need to be aware when those extra hours start to hurt our productivity at work and our productivity at home.  I know I don't work as hard or efficiently when I feel like all I've been doing is working.  We need to find time to get away and relax and recharge. 

Relaxing and recharging is different for everyone.  And everyone has different schedules and demands in their lives and at work.  But the Lord created the Sabbath for a reason, and I believe that reason is because we need to get away from the daily grind to remind us there's more to life then the 8 to 5.  There is more to life then the pursuit of the that next promotion and raise.  Providing for the family is more than bringing home a paycheck.  Providing also means being there as a spouse and parent.  If I've said it once I've said it a million times...we need to find time to reconnect and recharge.  Reconnect and recharge with God, with our families, with our friends, and with our selves.  If we don't do that then we risk becoming over worked and stressed out.  I don't know about you but I am no fun to be around when I'm over worked and stressed out...ask my wife!  Find some time to take a walk with the family, take some of that vacation time you've been saving up and take a trip.  You'd be amazed at what just a little time away can do to one's well being.

Growing your faith

I don't usually do this on my blog, but I felt this passage from the book was too powerful to ignore.  This also comes out in our newsletter, but I think we could all read it more than once!  The italic portion is from John Ortberg's book  If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.  Enjoy!

Again a thought from our continuing look at the book: If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.  Want the secret to more faith?  Read on.

            I believe an important reason why God so often asks us to take a first step has to do with the nature of faith and how it grows.  Most people I know wish, at least at certain points in their lives, that they had more faith.  I know of people who torment themselves over having too little of it.  They are certain that their lack of faith is the reason for an unanswered prayer, for spiritual weakness, or for a sense of distance from God.

           

            Martin Luther knew all about doubt: “In Torgau a wretched little woman once came to me and said, ‘Ah, dear Doctor, I have the idea that I’m lost and can’t be saved because I can’t believe.’  Then I replied, ‘Do you believe, dear lady, that what you pray in the Creed is true?’  She answered with clasped hands, ‘Oh yes, I believe it; it’s most certainly true!’  To which I replied, ‘Then go in God’s name, dear lady.  You believe more and better than I.’”

            “It’s the devil who puts such ideas into people’s heads and says, ‘Ah, you must believe better.  You must believe more.  Your faith is not very strong and is insufficient.’  In this way he drives them to despair.”

           

            When people wrestle with doubt, they may tell themselves that they will try harder to have more faith. But faith is not the sort of thing that can be acquired by trying harder.  Imagine if someone were to say to you, “I find myself doubting Old Faithful.  I’m just not sure it can be trusted.”  What would your advice be?  Not “Try harder to believe!”  The best advice for such a person would be, “Just hang around Old Faithful.  Get to know Old Faithful better.”  And because Old Faithful is faithful, the better you know it, the more you will trust it.

            It is the same with God.  Never try to have more faith-just get to know God better.  And because God is faithful, the better you know him the more you will trust him.  The way to get to know his trustworthiness is to risk obeying him.  Ole Hallesby writes about the father who comes to Jesus to ask him to help him “if you can.”

            “‘If?’ Jesus says.  ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’

            ‘I do believe,’ the man says, ‘help my unbelief.’  Like most of us, he was a mixture of trust and doubt.  How much faith did he have?

            ‘Enough to come to Jesus,’ Hallesby writes.  ‘And that was enough.’”

        How much faith do I need?  Not a feeling of certainty.  Just enough faith to take a step.

           

            I can’t add anything else to this.  I felt it was very powerful and certainly spoke to the way I feel a lot of the time.  Read it again…cut it out…pull it out when you’re feeling like your faith is lacking and you feel spiritually inadequate.  God is faithful!  Amen.

Uff Da!!

I knew that rain dance that Tracy was doing yesterday afternoon would work!  I had to convince the boys she wasn't having a seizure..."No Isaac and Alex ,that's just how mommy dances waiving her hands like that and moving around."  I haven't heard the rainfall amounts, but it was a substantial rain and the moisture was sorely needed!  I know we've been talking about the need for rain too much when in the middle of the shower Isaac tells grandma and grandpa on the phone, "It is raining, so the farmers should be happy now."  Well, the farmers will be happy for awhile at least! 
How refreshing it was to have a nice rain shower.  Everything always seems cleaner after a rain.  The anxiety of a failed crop is abated for awhile, and all can seem well with the world again.  It would be an easy transition here to talk about the forgiveness of God cleansing us like a much needed rain.  In order to keep you guessing I'm going to take a different track.  My sermon this past Sunday was on the 6th commandment, "Thou shalt not murder."  And while that is most definitely a commandment against murder Jesus expands it to the killing of each other with words.  What we say has immense power.  Sometimes we can't take back when we say something mean spirited, and no amount of washing and refreshing rain can completely wipe away the negative affects of hurtful speech.
Throughout the day Sunday after the sermon I found myself reflecting on times when my sarcasm and my words came across as mean spirited.  I found myself thinking about the times my words cut someone down, hurt someone, or even when someone else's words hurt me.  Many times each incident wasn't intentional and usually a result of miscommunication, but the damage was done.  I was reminded all day that words have tremendous power and we need to be reminded of that from time to time.  I also found myself wishing all the past mistakes could just be washed away like Tracy's car was cleaned off in that rain shower.
Take a minute and think before you speak.  You see, all we really needed to know about life we really did learn in kindergarten!  Also, in today's world take a minute and think before you type and hit "send."  Would you want that said about you?  What message is that going to send?  Is there a way you can reach out to that person instead of cutting them down with words?  Be mindful of the power that our words have to build up and to tear down.  We might be hurting someone and not even be aware of it.