jesus on my side

don’t you ever have those moments when it seems everyone and everything is against you?  it’s those self-pity mountain tops which cause me to realize i’m already living the life of a martyr, having divinely been given a wisdom that no other person has received and realizing it’s my cross to carry… (sarcasm)

luke 10 gives us a glimpse of jesus’ feelings for his disciples.  if you’ve ever wondered if anyone is on your side, check out jesus’ display of emotion.  it’s verse 21.

at that time jesus, full of joy through the holy spirit, said, i praise you, father, lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  yes, father, for this was your good pleasure.

jesus had sent out 72 disciples to do ministry.  and they had just returned and were telling him things like, “lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!”  they were pumped.  and jesus was pumped that they were pumped.  it says that he was “full of joy through the holy spirit”.  that’s not just happiness; that’s a god-given, tear-filled, overwhelming “god-is-great!” kinda feeling.  and it wasn’t because of anything jesus did.  it was because of what his disciples had done.

not just is jesus present with you in every time of trouble, but he’s also your biggest cheerleader when you’re doing great!  i think that’s the beautiful thing about giving your life to christ.  jesus cheers for you.  no one wants you to excel more; no one cares as much about you as the one who laid down his life for you and me.

loch ness

towards the end of ungrad, i had the opportunity to study abroad in england for a semester.  during that time, as broke as i was, i did my best to travel some parts of europe.  one long weekend (can’t remember if it was truly a ‘long weekend’ by the school’s design, or if several of us just decided to make it that) several of us traveled to scotland.  it was b-b-beautiful!!  i can’t do it justice with words.  simply amazing scenery.  as part of that, we traveled to the world’s first golf course, st. andrews (didn’t play, but did trounce all over the course) and spent time in the hills.

one of our stops was an afternoon at loch ness.  i believe ‘loch’ in their english means ‘lake’ in our english.  we got on a dirty, shaky old boat and got a tour of loch ness.  it was remarkable and will live in my memories forever.  two things i remember vividly:  1.  the water seemed black.  thought it would more aptly be named ‘loch guinness’; 2. the tour guide’s 100% conviction that nessie (the loch ness monster) existed.  he had seen him/her twice in his lifetime.

our tour guide took the issue of nessie’s existence very personal.  i probably would too if my livlihood depended on the tourists’ belief that he exists.  1/4 of the boat ride was spent pointing out interesting scenery; 3/4 of the ride was spent listening to our guide ‘prove’ nessie’s existence.  it was a treat.

one of the u.k.’s prominent media outposts recently posted an article that showed proof that nessie is still alive.  i love following stories on nessie just because i was blessed to experience the mystique of the loch.

my question:  does the world today treat satan as if he’s the loch ness monster?  some adamently believe in his existence; some adamently claim he’s a man-created myth; many don’t know and are comfortable with not knowing.  as a christ-lover, i believe he exists.  since i believe all evil on this earth originates from satan (see previous blog commenter’s comment and my agreement), i don’t question his existence.  the bible says your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lon looking for someone to devour. (1 peter 5:8)

i feel a need to caution the world (church and non-church) about being lackadaisical about the existence of satan.  a line in a movie once claimed the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.  he loves when we treat him like a cartoon character with a little pitchfork.  somebody funny and non-threatening.  let’s beware and be on the lookout for someone different than the comic, and someone who has foresaken god to bring the world (church and non-church) into confusion, withdrawal, and contentment.

despite this evil one, we have the assured hope we find in our savior.  as peter ended his letter, peace to all of you who are in christ.

‘coincidence’ or wrath of god?

i’ll be honest.  i don’t believe in coincidences.  if i run into you while picking up diapers at the store, i’ve learned to automatically assume our paths were supposed to cross.  does god plan everything like that out in detail?  i’d say yep.

so i came across this news event.  as the elca (a major christian denomination) was hosting their national convention (chuch talk for a gazillion pastors drinking 10 gazillion cups of coffee together) in minneapolis this week, something interesting happened.  in interesting timing.

as the elca was working on adopting a statement that would allow for ‘practicing’ homosexuals to be pastors, a tornado waltzed down the interstate to the place they were meeting and severly damaged the building (first building hit by the on-the-ground tornado).  this happened at exactly 2pm.  elca’s agenda stated 2pm as the time of the consideration of the pronouncement.

instead of repeating his words (i think that’s called stealing, anyway), i want to refer you to john piper’s blog to read his brief response to this.  i don’t align myself with piper’s core understanding of theology.  but i appreciate his approach for teaching biblically on this event.  please click here to read his short post.

my favorite part of his blog is his 6th and final point.  my blog today isn’t a blog about homosexuality.  it’s a blog about the acceptance of sin (see romans 1:32).  we’re always to love the sinner (me, then you); we’re always to hate the sin (mine, then yours).  god loves his church.  but to believe that his church can’t be touched by his wrath is to be ignorant of history and how our god works.  god does not tolerate acceptance of sin.

catching yourself

my son took a spill today.  if you know nate, he’s a fun kid.  he’s 3 years old, smiles a lot, and asks a whole lotta questions.  a couple months ago he started wearing glasses.  and while he doesn’t always like them, he admits he sees a lot more things when they’re on.  but then, not everything.

my wife and kids were out walking today in a busy place.  they were all tired and on the way back to the car.  and evidently nate didn’t see the 1/2″ rise in the sidewalk.  and he took a hard crash landing on the cement.  the worst part is he didn’t get his hands out in front of him before he landed (is that natural or learned behavior?)  so his face went splat on the cement.  his glasses are all scraped up; his nose is swollen and red; he’s got a ‘raspberry’ on his forehead the size of a baseball… you get the point.  and all because he didn’t see it coming.

“you think i look rough, you oughta see my glasses!”

he was walking.  his eyes were open.  he saw a lot of stuff, but missed the one thing that took him down.  that seems to be the story of his old man’s life, as well.  i have no problem staying awake during the day – actually, my body doesn’t ’shut down’ for naps like most peoples’.  but i must go into cruise control often.  and while i suffer from selective hearing, this is something different.  i simply ignore a lot of stuff around me.  some stuff i assume it’s good to ignore (although how would i truly know?); but certainly some stuff i wish i didn’t ignore.

i always check out of conversations when someone starts talking about a funny tv commercial.  why?  because i always zone out during commericals and think about what just happened in the show, or what play coach watson needs to call next… commercials just don’t interest me.  i’ve got no patience for trivial stuff.

but that can be a problem.  god seems to show up so often in the trivial stuff.  elijah could tell us all about that!  so here’s to a new me.  a new me who will attempt to stay more alert – more engaged – in what’s happening in the world around him.  except commericals – they’d just waste my few remaining brain cells.  but people and conversations.  i just don’t want to miss out on the people that matter.

what does it mean?

what does this mean?

it’s pretty exciting to see how far society has come and to imagine the possibilities of the future.  in fact there’s no limit.  dreams have no ceilings.  when i predict our capabilities in years to come, i feel excitement.  but there’s also wonder and fear.  will a typical household computer really be that powerful/intelligent?  it’s pretty intense to imagine the possibilities.

of course there is the x-factor.  the wisdom writer once wrote, to man belong the plans of the heart, but from the lord comes the reply of the tongue.  while i find this video fascinating – it’s more about current reality than future prediction – there’s also a check in me that questions man’s power.

i enjoy seeing what’s coming out next.  what’s the future of gaming?  i hope to see a cure for cancer soon.  and what about the car that flies over traffic jams?  but i firmly believe not all of man’s great plans for the future will come to fruition here.  i can’t help but become more and more convinced that jesus is coming back in my lifetime.  and talk about impressive – can you imagine his return?  and i know what that one means…

hot momma

i love mother’s day.

i have a great relationship with my mom.  and it was always fun to char or undercook or drop on the floor or add too much salt… to whatever i tried to cook her on this day.  she taught me to read when we moved between kindergarten & first grade, and all my new classmates were a year ahead of me.  she disciplined me in love when i got caught washing my hands in the toilet later that year.  great memories.

it’s even more fun for me now.  i love being married to andrea and seeing how she exemplifies the proverbs 31 wife.  she’s a stay-at-home mom, which officially makes her the most underpaid employee in the universe.  but she never complains about that.  she loves me, and i know it.

she also loves our kids.  and they know it.  we asked andrea what her dream mother’s day would be like.  her answer?  just be together.  don’t go out to eat; don’t send me out shopping; don’t give me peace & quiet in the house alone.  just be together as a family.  the very thing that drains others is the very thing andrea craves on ‘her day’.  family.  community.  love.  togetherness.

mother’s are amazing.  they give; they pour themselves out for others; they nurture their children; and they keep their husband’s grounded.

love or dodge?

{sorry for the long delay between posts – no good excuses, aside from the typical i’ve been working 30-hour days and haven’t had the chance…)

today was a tremendous day – 6 hours worth of fundraisers (mission trip & mission for all nations) and then preached.  plus a bit of play at home.  but there was one extremely low moment that i’m still struggling with:

after worship i had the privelege to meet a wonderful man.  to be as vague as possible, he was new to the states and fairly new to his faith in christ.  and he is completely lost in the states.  he has a [legitimate] problem with his i.d. and has no money.  desperate for food and a place to stay, he is ready to turn back to his former religion for assistance.  his view of america is shock at how nobody cares who is homeless or hungry.  in his former country, people help ‘their brothers’.  here, they look at you in disgust.

i had just given the last $9 in my wallet away earlier today, plus he insisted on not receiving any assistance from me.  but his voice & urgency pleaded for answers.  my struggle was this:  my whole heart wanted to invite him to our home to eat, shower, and sleep.  something inside me (voice of god?) kept telling me to do so.  but common sense prevailed.  it would go against logic to bring a stranger to my home when i am called to protect my family.  our culture dictates that we don’t trust strangers enough to bring them to our home.

but jesus (granted, speaking to another culture) said, ‘for i was hungry and you gave me something to eat, i was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, i was a stranger and you invited me in, i needed clothes and you clothed me, i was sick and you looked after me, i was in prison and you came to visit me.’  this was deemed evidence of being a follower of christ.

what’s wrong with this picture?  i feel like i did what i was supposed to for my family… and like i completely hypcrited-out on the man i met tonight.

under construction

recently, our main road is being prepped for expansion.  we’ll be going from a 2-lane drag strip to a sophisticated 4-lane super-highway (or such).  regardless, we’re getting double the cement.  and it’s exciting.  they’ve leveled a ton of trees already (not a good thing), but already done a lot of underground and electrical work (who cares).

ok, stock photo, but you get the point...

here’s the truth of the matter:  i love anticipation more than the actual event.  doesn’t really matter what it is.  when my huskers are gearing up for a national title, i get more satisfaction out of the pregame practices/interviews and back-and-forth game than i do with the championship itself.

now that we’re getting a new main road i couldn’t be more excited.  sure i’ll still have to battle the slower traffic for a few months (wait, this is omaha – couple years?).  but this is the type of thing that leaves me thinking of the future and how much better off civilization will be.

a couple musical dudes (joe cocker, and more importantly chris ledoux) once crooned that life is a highway.  if life is indeed a highway and full of construction projects – problems now with happy times coming – how can we not look with anticipation with what’s to come?

i get a big kick out of life here.  seriously, there are days i think i’m already in heaven.  i love my family; i love my job; i love the people i spend most of my time with… but i know i’m not in heaven.  and i like the fact that something better is on the way.  for someone who loves anticipation more than the real thing, something tells me that when i am received into heaven, i’ll have a change of mind.  when i’m in the throne room of heaven, i’ll understand that there’s no anticipation that can ready someone for the moment.

 keep dreaming about the future.  the future here, and the future there.  but anticipation is such a small glimpse of what’s to come.

me! me! me!

my son nate will be 3 in a month.  one of his things is that he feels the need to be the one who does everything.  everything?  flush the toilet; turn the light on; turn it off; get dressed; get in the car; feed the dog (some of these aren’t bad!); shut the door; decide what’s for lunch; hold his baby sister… and it just goes on and on.

perhaps that doesn’t sound crazy, but it goes like this:  if he & i walk into a room and i turn the light on, he will now yell ‘no!’ and walk over to the light switch, turn it off, then turn it back on.  only at that point does he smile and get on with what he was going to do.  he seems to believe in the importance of him being the chief do-er.  if someone else beats him to it, it’s not going to be good enough.  (i happen to be an above-average light-turner-onner!)

at confirmation class tonight, our lesson was on ‘materialism & fashion’.  we had a fashion show.  most of the models strutted their stuff and showed their moves, including one very impressive booty shake.  but a couple of the models tried hard to not draw attention to themselves.  instead, they walked the catwalk and helped others – picked up some papers on the floor, complimented students, and even fixed a cow-lick (unfortunately not mine).  the point was that it’s truly greater to assist someone else rather than be the ‘it’ person.

when our worlds focus on ‘me’, we lose perspective of much greater things.  jesus came as a servant first.  a servant doesn’t care for attention.  rather, he wants the best for the person he is serving.  a successful marriage occurs when a husband wills his wife to succeed without receiving any credit, and vice-versa.  it comes down to wanting the best for others that god has put in our vacinity.

so it’s lent now.  many people give up things during these 6 weeks so that a void is created that can only be filled by jesus.  what if we gave up ourselves this lent?  what happens when for 6 weeks i decide that i don’t need the attention, credit, or recognition that could easily come my way?  instead, what if i reflect all glory given to me right back at jesus?

prayin’ 4 u

i’ve been on a very deep prayer journey over the past couple weeks.  i think if i crave anything in life, it’s having depth with god.  i so badly want to become one with christ.  a good core of the teens and i are fans of lecrae – check this out:

do you ever feel as if you’re fighting thru the motions and achieving nothing?  (i don’t fight as one who beats the air… 1 corinthians 9)  are you longing to get beyond learning about jesus, and begin to feel him and the power of his presence?  i believe that god desires so much  more than seeing his children ‘go to church’.  no matter how great the experience is, an hour-and-a-half on a sunday can’t charge you to live for christ for the next 6 days.  and hey, what happens when the teacher has an off day (haha – oh yeah that happens!)  it takes more to find passion for christ.

if you’re feeling buried in a world deep with guilt, stress, loneliness, frustration, hopelessness… i want to share a word with you:

this is the confidence we have in approaching god:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  and if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we already have what we asked of him.  1 john 5:14-15

god hears us when we call to him.  and when our intentions are holy and pure, not selfish and short-cutting, he honors our requests.  we pray in faith for god’s rescuing deliverance, and he saves us from the destruction we’re in.  if you’ve been in a spiritual drought, i’d encourage you to pray the scripture above.  trust in his cleansing rain to pour over you.