I can do all things...

Its amazing how things can change... How things you once thought were impossible, no seem like no big deal... how things that use to strike fear, pain, anger, sorrow, now can actually rise little emotion, or positive emotions...
I came across a recollection on my past few runs. I use to run cross country. In high school our races were 5K or 3.1 Miles. Quite a distance for your average runner. Once or twice a week, we would do long training runs. Usually 45 minutes to an hour. In those runs we would try to get about 7-8 miles in. We would take our time, run at a comfortable pace for the entire time. I was not always fond of those runs. They were boring, long, and there was no real reason for any person to run that far. I remember on one Saturday we were running at Zorinsky and we met two runners who were running three laps around the lake... over 22 miles. That seemed impossible!
Fast forward a few years. In the spring of 2005, I restarted my running career. I signed up for a half marathon. My training runs went from 3-4 miles to 8-10. A number that was once to huge and boring, now was a weekly occurrence. Then a year and a half after that, I was signed up for a marathon. My 8-10 miles came a few times a week, I even got into running 15 miles on Saturdays. Last night, I finished an 18.5 mile run, and could still jog afterwards.
Just a few years ago, running immense distances was terrifying, boring, something that I had no desire to do... now, a run isn't a run unless its a long one.
How things change. I remember being fearful of the idea of the Waters Edge. Now, I volunteer there, I have preached there a few times (that's probably scarier for the congregation), and its a place that brings great joy.
I hated reading just a few years ago, hated spending time doing that, when there was so much else to be done. Now, I love reading. It excites me, it makes me think.
Take time to think about things in your life that has changed. What use to seem dreadful, that now may bring joy? Kids? Marriage? Job? Growing up?
Its amazing the things we can accomplish when we put our minds to it... and of course, with a little help from God :)

because it reflects the sun...

Normally i like to begin with a scriptural reference to guide my blog, but all i have is a song lyric. I am nearly positive that it comes from scripture, but my tired mind and impatience is inhibiting my ability to find it...
Anyway, the song comes from the Paul Coleman Trio. A great band, seen them in concert twice, amazing both times. Unfortunately they broke up.
But that's neither here nor their. One of their songs, which i actually don't care for much, shows the desire to be like the moon.
I want to be the moon, it reflects the sun; don't want to be the stars and shine on everyone.
The moons purpose at night is to illuminate the sky by reflecting the light from the sun.
So Tuesday night, tonight, I was running around Zorinsky lake. I felt pretty good after an 8.65 mile run Sunday, skipped Monday, and set off to do about 10 miles or so. I pulled into the lake around 7:45. I have met a friend here many a time at 7:30, but never had it been that dark. It past the sunset as I set off. Zorinsky is very poorly lit. Except for the parking lots, the only real light you ever have is the moon.
Luckily for me, it was shining brighter than i have seen in a while. Just by reflecting the light of the sun, i could see the path during my entire run. It was amazing. I have never had such a peaceful jaunt. I started to think of that song. The importance of reflecting God's light and what not... pretty cheesy connection i know...
As I rounded mile number nine or so, i biker was riding towards me. Not an uncommon thing on a trail... yet he had a headlight on his bike. His own light blinded me. It made it so i could not see even a foot in front of me. Think about driving on a dark highway... if the person driving towards you, has their brights on, you cannot see much else...
As they passed, i slowly regained vision, focusing on the reflected light from the moon. Back to peace, back to safety, back to comfort.
So often I like to be the problem solver, the person you can trust, the person who will bring joy to situations and what not. Not because I want to be the best or because it think I am better than others, I just like to bring a light into people's eyes.
Is my light more like that annoying bikers? or is it actually God's light reflecting through me? As I look back, very often it is not God, it is me. I want to be a star and shine my light on everyone. God's light is perfect, it is much bigger and better than mine...
Who's light are you shining?
Lets focus on being like the moon, and not the stars... God is a better light, than all of us put together...
PS... i actually ran about 14.5 miles tonight... go me. more than i have run since January when i was running my marathon! Hope to keep it up!

Where I find my heaven...

Have you just ever had one of those days?
Man, today was one of those. Nothing seemed to go well. I was in a meeting for half of the day, I missed my plan time, which means, the time I normally spend making adjustments in class, grade, relax and prepare was gone. So I came back in the middle of my class... and nothing went well. The only good part was that I was able to get a run in with my x-country kiddos. But still now, I sit in my room with so much to do, I don't even want to start. Do you ever feel that way?
See this was supposed to end with our new youth director starting. Chad officially took the reigns of my job on Sunday. So I should have more time! Yet, it seems, there is even less.
Plus, I am growing cynical... I see the negatives in a lot of things. I find things to complain about. I am not normally this way, but for some reason, I have just been in that funk for a few days now.
Maybe its the loss of a job I really loved. Yeah, it was a lot of work, and yeah, I will be around just as much... but for some reason I feel empty, I feel alone, I feel distant...
All I seem to be hearing recently is bad news... failing health from close friends and their family... death of friends loved ones... surgery needed... other bad incidences...
Maybe, it takes me back to when I lost my dad last year. Things just seem to be not going well... they are not terrible, but you know... just not good.
Many of us can relate... we all go through parts of our life where things just kinda stink. Work is bothering you, kids demand every ounce of energy, friends and family offer attempts for solace, but everything seems to fall short....
I was listening to iTunes on my computer after practice... this song came on from the movie Dumb and Dumber... [thinking of the movie makes me smile :)]. The song plays as the guys travel to Aspen on the motor scooter. Its a song called Where I find my heaven by the Gigolo Aunts... yeah, weird I know...
The song has the underlying story that a guy is seeking his heaven, or his peace, through his daily life... the quiet desk lamp before a busy day, whispers and random silliness... all places where he find his peace, his Heaven.
It got me thinking, where is my Heaven? Where do I go for peace? Where do I go when the burden of life seems too much?
It took me over to another song of possibly my favorite band, Big Daddy Weave (in fact, one of their songs is the title of my blog site "Audience of One"). The song quotes a couple verses in Matthew 11: 28-30
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(Weird God sighting... We are supposed to read Matthew 11, if you are following Craig's one chapter a day reading plan! Holy Cow! God is awesome :))
Where is your heaven? Your true heaven should be laying your burdens at the alter. Yeah, spending time with family and friends is a short cure... I love hanging with my friends, in fact i am going to a concert with them tonight, and I love spending time with my mom and my family, but my issues are always waiting for me when i get back. The only way to find my true peace, my true heaven, is in the grace of God, and through his son, Jesus.
That's Where I find MY heaven... where do you find yours?
May blessings come upon your life and through your struggles. God is good, and God Loves You.

Blessed is She

Matthew 5: 1-10 (NIV)
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Fridays are usually very joyfilled for teachers. Usually lighter material for me, kids are pretty well behaved, and infact today I had a quiz, so it was quiter and easier than normal. Today was a good day, a refreshing day, a peaceful day. Except for one part.
We had a meeting with a parent today. I have had this parent now three times (well, three of her kids in a row). The first year was rough. Last year was alright. This year, I didn't know what to expect. We had a discussion earlier in the year about her son's struggles. You see, her son has extremely poor reading and comprehension abilities, because of poor choices that his birth mother made. This mother, was a foster mom. A foster mom of nine actually. All kids with varied needs. Some with high abilities, some with poor abilities, some who just need a safer and more stable environment.
In this meeting, we discussed the best possible options for her son. He was struggling, and she feared that he was not learning anything. She was also worried that frustration and bad behavior would come due to his growing struggles. She did not attack us, she wanted our input on how he was doing. Throughout the meeting I focused on her as she interated with my peers in the meeting. Several times she was near tears. She was so focused on how to help this child, doing whatever she could to teach, to ensure success. Her emotion nearly brought me to tears a few times.
Nothing truly came out of the meeting, except for a new understanding and some learning on my part. I have a greater respect for this woman. The time and effort she has devoted to her kids is nothing short of amazing. The conflicts we had in previous years were not out of anger at the teachers, but a drive to help her kids be as successful in our classes as they could be. She wants the best for her kiddos.
I wish all parents had that drive. Its something my parents had too, and I am forever grateful for it. I cannot think but how lucky those nine children are to have an advocate like she has.
She may not know it, but she models a biblical parenthood. An unconditional love that crosses all gaps.
I hope I remember her actions and the actions of my parents when I am with my future children, or my nieces or nephews, or even when I am at school.
Do I model biblical values? Do you? We should.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Today... As long as its still Today...

Hebrews 3: 12-13 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."(NIV)

Sorry for the sporadic postings... no excuses. I hope to make more regular postings from here on out.

This morning at Bible study, Stacy and I came across this verse. Its a passage in Hebrews that has never stuck out to me before... but today it hit me a little stonger than normal.
Its the idea of today. Encourage one another daily, as long as its called Today, so that none of you... I am going to use this a little out of context.
Daily, so that Today... doesn't make a lot of sense even as I look at it now.
I will refer back to a few days ago. I was sitting at Cross Country practice (ok, i was actually standing). It was a more difficult one, trying to build leg strength and cardio so that running will get easier, and the kiddos will continue to get better. There was a lot of whining and moaning and more than enough walking to make the old folks at the malls jealous.
The other coach and I had some growing frustrations. Afterwards we talked to the kids about getting better each day. That in order to get better at running, and make it easier, you have to actually try it. And after each day, it will get easier, you will be more comfortable and so on. It takes one day at a time...
Fast forward.
There have been things in my life that I struggle with lately. With the start of school, I've been busy, and I have neglected running, and my quiet devotional time. I have all these plans of how I am going to get better. That by next week, my long runs will be 15 miles, I will be reading so many chapters a day and I will spend time in deep prayer everyday...
Weeks later, and guess what, its not true.
See, there is a problem... the more I focus on the future... the less I am taking things as they are today. The same advice I gave my runners. What i need to do instead is focus on the here and now. I dont need to worry about my long runs in the week. Or doing a few strait weeks of my devo's. What i need to focus on is getting better today. If I focus on the todays... those weeks will fall into place.
May God focus your todays, that your tomorrows will wait for tomorrow.

Invisible Children

Psalm 82: 2-4:
2 "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. "

Two Sundays ago, our youth group and church were blessed with wonderful presentation by a former member of the group, Danielle Naven. She and a friend Madyson Lenihan (probably misspelled that name...) had gotten involved with program called Invisible Children. It is based on a video that three guys made as they traveled to Sudan (and eventually Uganda) with the desire to video tape the tragic war in North Central (well, Eastern-North-Central Africa). They were led to Northern Uganda. What they found was a terrible scene of thousands of homeless children, living in hiding from the rebel army (LRA- Lord's Resistance Army). The leader would kidnap children and train them to be child soldiers.
You can check out more information at invisiblechildren.com
The atrocities that occur in that country are far worse than I have seen in my life, and besides those who witnessed the Holocaust, I am sure the same would be true. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have lost their lives in the genocide that is going in in Sudan and Uganda.
How can we as a civilized nation sit idly by as this occurs. Many of us probably have not heard, or do not know the extent of the crisis that is going on. Why have we as a nation, as a people gone silent for so long. How can the most tragic event of our times gone unknown to the majority of the population?
I don't say this as an accusation. I have the same problem. It is far away, it doesn't affect me, and what can I do anyway? I have said all those things.
But, what if it was us? What if we weren't lucky enough to be born in this country, in our city and neighborhood? What if you had to sleep in a bus station for fear that you would be kidnapped and trained to be a child soldier? What if?
Yeah, its a pretty big what if... but we have become accustomed to the mentality that if it doesn't affect us or involve us, then who cares? Its not just a national thing, or a racial thing, or a economic thing, its a personal thing. We as a people, do not seek out for the welfare of others. We don't. I see it every day between school and church. Yeah, once a month I will get down and dirty, but we do it for the good feeling.
I am just as guilty. Yeah, you may get mad at me for saying this, maybe you do help others... but, is it a lifestyle of yours? Or just once a week, or maybe just to get the good name, or maybe it helps you in other ways.
What can we do as a people to improve the lives of others? I must challenge you, me and us to this. It cannot be a school thing, it cannot be a church thing, it cannot be a government thing. It has to start with you. It has to start with me. Global change, from our neighborhoods, to the cities in Africa, to all across the world, must start with in us. That's the only way anything will ever change.
Its an uphill battle, but hey, its one with an eternal reward. May God bless your journey and whatever that entails.

Trip of a Lifetime??? With some biblical inspiration...

Five months of planning could not have prepared us for what would come...

Greetings! Sorry for the delay since my last post... I was out of town on a trip that I will soon explain.

Four men, on a sports trip... grunt grunt grunt...

Our plan: Four baseball parks, amusement park, and two historical sites all in one week's time.

Saturday, July 28th, roughly Nine AM, we depart. We are headed for our first game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Go Cards! Drive down was pretty uneventful... except we imposed a rule that any time there was a gaseous exodus, the window needed to be rolled down... for everyone's safety (Gross you say? hey, we are men!)

The real events of the day happened after the trip (Cards won by the way, 5-2 I think...).

It was my turn to drive, sadly enough because I has all of 3 hours of sleep the night before... and it was 9:30 pm and I had about three hours of driving ahead of me. Our next game was in Cincinnati the next day... a day game. We had roughly 15 hours to drive 5 and a half hours. But o wait, time zone change... so take an hour off of our time. Our goal was to drive three hours that night, check into a hotel, and then drive two more in the morning. That was the plan. So back to the car. We got in the car at 9:30, we were a mile away from the interstate... no sweat... well I guess 40,000 other people must have been trying to get on the same interstate on ramp, because it took over an hour to make it a mile (ave. speed: less than a mile an hour for you math whizzes out there!) So, now we are cruising. Heading through Illinois, now Indiana. We wanted to crash around Indianapolis, because it was roughly half way. 1:30 rolls around, with two guys snoring in the back seat, I figure it is time to find a hotel. We are close to Indianapolis so we made it halfway. We stop at an exit that has four or five hotels. Figure we'd find a room... yeah, sure didn't. Four hotels checked, zero rooms. We head back on the interstate... next exit, three more hotels... seven hotels total, zero rooms... Then Eric, one of the guys on the trip, realizes... hey, isn't the brickyard 400 this weekend? I am not a big NASCAR fan, but I know there are two really big races a year. Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard. Both by chance are in Indianapolis... and where are we... yup, Indianapolis...

We ended up checking about 12 hotels... zero rooms. We decide to drive all the way to Cinci. As we approach Cinci we begin checking hotels again... we are miles away from the race... so we figure we'd be safe. Nope... no rooms. On a hunch, I ask, is it because of the race? "Yeah," was the response "and the Jazz Festival". Oh, so not only do we have one of the biggest NASCAR races against us, but there's a jazz festival... great... So we slept, in a car, in a Home Depot/Walmart parking lot. We arrived at about 6 as the sun was rising... I didn't sleep at all. I quickly had to get out of the car, because I cannot sit still to save my life... And I think the best thing for me to do is get some coffee and to collect all the shopping carts that are all over the lot... well, I woke up two of the other guys who were actually able to sleep for 20 minutes... whoops!

We brushed our teeth in the parking lot, with bottled flavored water as our rinse (which was disgusting...), and went to a Burger King for breakfast. We stayed there about two hours, killing time until we could go to the game. Two of the guys tried to sleep, I brought in a book and my laptop, JR tried to read also. We go to the game... gross, smelly, wearing the same clothes as the day before... and great, it was 95 degrees in Cinci. Cubs win, 6-1. I wish I could say that the rest of the trip was as exciting... but nothing tops the first 30 hours of the trip.

Monday we went to Ceder Point, a huge roller coaster park. Great rides, horrible lines... even on a Monday. Cleveland hosted the Texas Rangers. Cleveland won... don't remember the score though. Our hotel was only two blocks away from the field. Downtown Cleveland was awesome. Great restaurants, great scenery. Off to Pittsburgh. Nicest stadium. Great backdrop of downtown. Pirates won 15-1, over the Cards. Our hotel room, though, we ran into another problem. See, we booked all the hotels ahead of time (except for the first, obviously, and the last, because we didn't know where we would be on the road). We booked a hotel with two double beds, but they only had king sized rooms. Four guys do not fit well on a king sized bed, so I volunteered to sleep on a recliner... that was uncomfortable, so I ended up on the floor.
The next morning we start our journey home... with two stops on the way, Canton, OH, home of the NFL Hall of Fame, and Dyersville, IA, home of the Field of Dreams. Pittsburgh to Canton was a beautiful country drive through the Appalachian mountains. Unfortunately there was only a country highway, and that one seemed to drop to 25 mph every ten miles when we entered another town...
We arrived in East Canton (yeah, there is actually and East Canton) and that led us to Canton. No sweat right? Follow the signs, we will be there in no time. Well, there were no signs... We had no idea what highway to take, what exit... nothing. Finally, we figure it out and we arrive... just in time to see hundreds of kids, from a YMCA camp. The Hall of Fame isn't very big, so when we see 500 kids walk in, we knew it would be a long day.
The rest of the way was pretty easy. Found hotel, found the Field of Dreams, and despite my attempt to go the wrong way, and to get into an accident, we made it home safely on Friday afternoon. Praise God!
Our story was pretty hilarious... lots of fun memories. Maybe not for you, but for us. And we learned something from it. You see, we were going on our plans that things will just work out for the best of us. We relied on our own thoughts and desires instead of maybe finding a better way (better maps. better planning of the first night) and we ended up in some pretty uncomfortable situations.
It reminds me of many biblical figures. Jonah, Judas, the Israelites countless times, all had a higher calling to live with. They all had great plans set before them. Unfortunately, they wanted no part in God's plans. They wanted to live life their way. Well, one ended up in a whale, another hanged himself (yeah, its hanged, not hung) and the others found themselves in captivity several times. Our plans don't seem to work all that well. But the great news is that God had better plans. In the book of Jeremiah God declares His plans for us:
Jeremiah 29: 11-14: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." (NIV)
If you seek him with all your heart, he will be found by you, and he will deliver you from your captivity. Think about it. How is your captivity? Maybe some higher plans are a better choice.

Deferred Responsibility

See, I knew I couldn't keep up the pace!
On Tuesday I have the pleasure and the priviledge to spend the day with student leaders in the Millard School District. Although it is still my summer break, I was happy to spend the time with students who have a desire to improve the school, the city, and themselves.
Anyway, the reason for this conference was because Millard is adopting a new homeroom curriculum (for lack of a better explanation). Actually, its not reserved for only homeroom, but it will be used throughout all classes and all staff members... ok sorry to bore you.
Its actually pretty exciting. It is all about ways to improve students lives through 40 developmental assets. Basically, the more of these assets that are in a kids life, the more productive they are in life, and the less the probability they engage in dangerous behavior.
Although I am really excited to begin this new program, it opens up some discomfort.
It reminds me of the whole "One City, One School District" stuff from a few years ago. Through that legislation and the actions of our beloved Legislature, the social issues of Omaha, from racial segregation and social classes were then placed in the hands of the education system. The legislature basically decided that the school would be the best people to fix our social problems... now, its an honor to be thought of so highly, but it wasn't until recently that schools were required to do more than just teach, and get kids ready to become fully capable citizens. Now, schools are required to teach discipline (yet we get yelled at for punishing students), sexual education, drug and alcohol awareness, and many other things that well, I thought should come from parents and other groups.
The same things are being trickled into the youth ministry. We are starting to offer a lot more things that used to be discussed by parents... or so I thought...
I am more than happy to help. That is what our ministry is geared for, getting kids ready to be fully capable citizens that want to live with a love for God, in a way that is pleasing to God.
But, I am somewhat second guessing myself though... maybe what we should be doing is empowering parents... maybe then students will go to them, instead of friends or poor role models. Personally, I find it a success if a student would talk with a parent before me, thats how it should be.
This is kind of a ramble I know... thanks for putting up with it, but I am just worried about what other responsibilities will be placed into the hands of others, instead of from where they belong...

Psalm 23...

Greetings, it is a pleasure to have you stop by!
Now, this is the second post in two days, I am not sure if that will be a pace I can keep, but I will sure try!
This blog idea started on Wednesday. In Omaha, temps were pushing a nice 100 degrees, and pastor craig calls me into his office...
so i walk in, hoping to be fired, and he asks, want to go for a run at 3 today? Hmm... i have heard that the hottest part of the day is usually around 1-3 in the afternoon, so i was not too excited about the invite. but unfortunately, i had a 3 o'clock meeting. craig was busy until about 5:30 so he suggested a 6 pm run. why not, it wouldn't be too hot i figured.
So, at about 2 pm i was driving back to church after a workship project (see previous blog to hear about that fun experience) and notice that the temperature was only 90 degrees... pretty mild, so i figure 6 pm will be even nicer... (cue some nice foreshadowing music here)
So i role over to craig's house and i am chatting with his mother-in-law and his wife amber, and i see his laptop. so i log onto weather.com and come to the wonderful recollection that it is 99 degrees at 6 pm.
normally, most sane people would stay inside or choose a nice easy route, but no not craig. he takes me out to Schram park where we run a 4.5 mile course that only has one flat spot, and for some reason we always seemed to miss it. he took me on two of the biggest hills in omaha... the grade for one was 8% and the other was 12%. that may not seem like much, but i dont think my 1.8 litre nissan sentra could make it up with the air conditioner on... (note from the editor, after closer examination of my gps records, the hills had grades in the 20% range during part of each climb... yeah, thats steep)
I drove home exhausted, in pain, and with a new hatred for craig...
the next day i did my normal 5.75 mile loop around my neck of the woods (note, the steepest grade is only 6%). My legs still burning from the day before, i was still tired and hot and sweaty (gross!). As i was running, i just hated the hills, i hated running up 6% grade for a half mile... and the down hills seemed unusually flat... as i rounded the corner of 156th street (yeah, i ran from center to q street on 156th... the hill from f street to the south is a killer!) i noticed that the land was leveling off a little. Joy started to fill my body, my legs were becoming lighter, my heart slowed... or, thats what you think should happen.
The exact opposite happened. The flattest parts were the stretches that were the most painful, my body didn't work as well as it seemed to on the uphills. there was no sense of accomplishment, as i looked back on the flat road, i had little to be proud of.
The hills are nice because they are a challenge, they show perserverance, they show success, downhills are a time to relax a time to rejuevenate, a reward for beating a nice uphill. Its the flats that are boring, redundant, and yet still challenging.
Thats kind of how i feel about life too. we all have ups and downs in our lives. you may have down times due to a lost job, broken relationship, death, divorce, and many other reasons. Even though these things are bad, many times it gives us an opportunity to grow, a time to focus on God and those closest to us. After the death of my father, our family united, many of my siblings sought after spiritual guidance that had never interested them before. We surged up that hill, and had a time of glory and success.
The youth group just experienced a mountain top experience on our annual mission trip. We served God in the gulf coast. Rebuilding houses and relationships. We are now cruising, we are coasting on a downhill. Still close to God, celebrating our work through Him, and His work in our lives.
Its the flats in life that are the most challenging. The times when things are just going by. The times where things aren't great, but they aren't bad either. There are no real dangers coming up, no crises surrounding us, nor are there times of emmense joy or closeness to God. Just as running on flat ground was for me, living life on flat land is just hard, boring and well, empty.
unfortunately, these are the times that most of our life is made of. The flat land makes up the majority of your day, your week, and your life. Hey, its how life is.
because this flat land this "plain" living makes such a large part of our life, we need to use it as a time to still grow closer to God, to still serve others, and allow God to work in us. There is no sense to wait for the uphills our downhills to draw close to God and your family and friends.
if your life is currently in a "plain" state, seek something to thank God for; find something to celebrate with family and friends. Don't get stuck in the rut of a boring life, like that long side walk that i was on.
Life cannot be all uphills and downhills, its going to be the flat land most of the time. find time to praise, time to pray, time to love and time thank God for all the great things He has done, and for all the uphills and downhills that make life so interesting.
I named this blog entry Psalm 23 because of the commonly known verse four: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (NIV)
I want to amend that for the day Psalm 23:4 (BAV; brad's amended version)
"Even though i live in the plains of everyday life, i shall seek ways to praise you, for you are with me, though troubles and true joy are far, i will celebrate the comfort of your rod and staff." Yeah, it needs some work i know... May God be with you in all your flat land life opportunities!

Humble Pie...

Don't you love God? Sometimes He upsets me... now don't get me wrong, I am not mad at Him, I don't hate Him, but sometimes He humbles me, and well, I don't like it... (I deserve it, but I don't like it...)
It all started Wednesday afternoon. Fresh off our mission trip to the gulf coast, I was reenergized to do more work for God, you know how it is. Well, we started our summer youth Workship program, which is a short lunch and service project on Wed. afternoons. Anyway, I was excited, ready to work with some of my favorite people... Well, or so I thought. Looking for work to do a few weeks ago, I was informed by my Business Director that the churches parking lot was in dire need for a cleaning. You see, the church wants to repaint lines and clean it up a bit, but unfortunately, it needs to be swept first.
So, I am excited for any opportunity to give back to the church for all the support it has given me and the youth ministry. I had it down that if we could get 15 or so people, we could get the lot cleaned in two hours... Well, when 11:4o roles around, I had six. Six people. My optimism went right down hill. Oddly enough, one had to leave shortly after the meal too, so yeah, now five people. Still somewhat grateful that I wouldn't have to do it myself, I was ready to get to work. Little did I know, well, 90 degree heat and humidity awaited us outside, plus a breeze that would take half your swept pile and spread it back out... so progress was not coming very easily.
As the temperature rose, and my fatigue grew, I started getting a little bitter. I wondered, how in the world can I have just had 65 people travel for nine days to go to Mississippi and do hard work in even worse heat and humidity, yet I cannot get 15 people to take three hours to do a project. I was strating to get frustrated. Also, how come we get such accolades for doing that long mission trip, yet we get no recognition for mission work done for the church? That's not just the youth ministry, but for all the people who do repairs and gardening and other stuff for the church, how come we do not give them glory and honor for their work and dedication? Sorry for that tangent. Anyway, I don't write this to guilt trip those who weren't there (cause I am not sure I would have been there if it wasn't in my job description) but a general concern for this type of ministry. Why is it so difficult to do local stuff, things that may not get thank you's, yet traveling afar and doing hard, sweaty, and dirty work gets a lot of recognition? Why should I do local stuff, when well, no one even notices it was done...
Well, it took me until my run today to figure it out. It was a lovely dose of crow that God loves to give me!
I was listening to my iPod today, and a song came on. It was Trust and Obey, a classic hymn that is a personal favorite... The lyrics will be posted at the end of this blog for your own reading. But anyway, the first verse just struck me. When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way...
Man, I was guilted pretty hard core. You see, I realized, it does'nt matter what I do, or who I do it for, or who notices, that is not the reason I should be doing the week. No matter if I do the next four mission projects by myself, I need to do it joyfully for it is not for man, but for the Lord. It is not for me, or the youth group, it is for Jesus, because you know, he did things for me before I even wanted to thank Him.
Learn from my mistake. Its not about the Glory. Its nice to get the thanks, its nice to get the recognition, but, don't let that be your reasons, don't let that be all you get from your experience. Enjoy the glory of God that He will shed on you as you work. May God bless you in all your work you do for the Lord.

Trust and Obey: John H. Sammis

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Because He first loved us...

God is amazing isn't he? Everyday I do something that falls short of the glory of God; everyday I do something that disappoints God, and me; everyday I am a little unlovable...
Now, I won't bore you with the gory details... but, take my word on it, I make mistakes like everyone else, in fact, I think I make enough for a few people. Yet God loves me anyway. God loves me despite all the things I have done. God loves me.

Jesus talks about love over 20 times in the New Testament. Not just talks about it, but gives direct commands to love:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22: 27-29 paraphrased)

"Love as I have loved you" (John 13: 34-35 really paraphrased)

So, Jesus asks us to love as he has loved... love those who like me, can be unlovable. That is hard!! How do show love to someone who does not even like me? Or how do I show love to a person who can just get under your skin and make your bones shake? How do I love those who are unlovable? And why should I even try? What good is it to me?

Those are some pretty good questions. I find myself asking those questions at times... God, you know this person, they are difficult! They are hard to be around! I try to be nice, but they drive me crazy!!!

We have all said it, or at least thought it... come on now... I admitted it, you can too!

I found my encouragement in one of John's letters. Well, maybe not encouragement as much as justification...

Buried deep in the back of the bible is 1 John 4: 7-8. It reads as follows.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, for God is love." (NIV)

Whoever does not love, does not know God... Wow... Guilt trip! No matter how hard it is for me to love someone, I need to do it. Love is God. By loving we grow closer to God; by loving we learn more about God; by loving we become more like God. Remember, we were once unlovable. But God spared us while we were still sinners... while we were unlovable... God sent his one and only Son to die on our behalf. To take our sins away. To make us perfect in His eyes, all because he loved us.
Thank God! As you begin your week, pray for God to help you love the unlovable... help you mend those relationships hurt and strained for various reasons... to help you love others in the way that He first loved us.
May God's blessing be upon you all! May you grow closer to God in your journey of love!