My prayer to you is this:

that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

so that you may approve what is excellent,

and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God. (Phi 1:9-11)

It's been such a long time . . .

I think I should be bloggin', yeah
And time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on rollin’
Sail on, on a distant highway
I’ve got to keep on chasin’ a dream
I’ve gotta be on my way
Wish there was something I could say.

That is how I am feeling today. I have so much going on, it has been hard to write anything for the blog, I search for words to say amidst all that is going on.

(the words above sound familiar? I changed a word in the opening verses to Boston's "Foreplay / Long Time" song - a very excellent song!)

Among other tiny details, I am currently in the throws of…

- the process of buying a new home,
- starting a new semester in school,
- designing the JSF / F-35 Jet for our military and working 10 - 20 hours OT / week
- training almost nightly for a sprint triathlon,
- trying to be home enough so that the neglect on my wife and home isn’t too severe.

Praise God my wife is exteremely patient, understanding, supportive and exceptionally loving during this busy season.

My prayer today is simply for conitnued strength and endurance during this season of sowing, and clarity not to lose focus on what is important in the short and long run, my God, my wife, my health, and my friends. In Jesus' name, amen.

Close friend

Sean and I at a party celebrating his birthday.

My wife Tori and I met Sean and his wife Stacie about one year ago at E2 at Fellowship Chruch. Later they joined our HT and we have grown as friends since.

Howard Hendricks said the true test of a close friend is someone who
...knows everything about you, yet totally accepts you;
...will listen to your most heretical ideas without rejecting you;
...and knows how to criticize you in a way you'll listen.

I believe Sean has these qualities, and more than that, I think Sean and his wife have been intentional in getting to know Tori and I better. That really makes us feel the love and we look to be the same to them even more as our friendships deepen.

Sean is a solid man and husband and is the coolest and most generous guy I have ever been close to. I am truly blessed to have met Sean and I really look forward to our continued friendship, growing in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May God bless you richly Sean!!!!

'It's a painful process'

"They are paying a really painful price," Gideon Meir, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said, referring to those who are refusing to leave. "It's a painful process."

About 1,000 demonstrators entered a Neveh Dekalim synagogue and threatened to resist evacuation. But Israeli troops diffused the potential confrontation by entering the synagogue and joining them in song and prayer. Soldiers then escorted rabbis outside, who were followed by the protesters.

I really do not know the whole story. Nevethless, it breaks my heart to see people hurting. In one part of the story, it is reported that soldiers and protestors wept and prayed together. Read full story here

Got a minute?

Have you ever realized that the L-O-N-G-E-S-T minute you ever experience is when someone asks you, "Hey, got a minute?" (this may be one of them) ;o)

As I am reading through the chapter "Appropriate Smallness" in The Life You've Always Wanted, by John Ortberg (see sidebar), he mentions the ministry of being interrupted. The whole chapter is about the disicpline of humility in serving others, and I think this section causes us to try and be cheerfully approachable when those (unavoidable, really), times pop up where we are pulled out of our routine to do something, or help someone when you least expect it.

Grace,

Worlds biggest snooze button

Speaking of being interrupted, (see prior post), our new puppy Zacch is teaching me a serious lesson in interruptions.

He may not look like a snooze button, but rest assured, when Zacch thinks it is time for me to wake up in the morning, he uses all 12.5 lbs of his God-given muscle to jump on me over, and over, and over, every 5 - 10 minutes to wake me (and my wife, and the cats...).

Among the many things I have learned since being blessed that Zacch joined our household, like learning to deal cheerfully with getting interrupted, Zacch is teaching me to get up at the time I set my alarm in the morning, instead of just ignoring the snooze button (he may have to go outside for you know what!). Grace,

New Header

Take a moment and check out my new header at the top of this page!

I love it.

First, BIG THANKS goes out to Daniel Molina, graphics designer extraordinaire for the artistic vision and the hard work. Daniel has done graphic work for Power FM, and Fellowship Church, among many others, and works full time as a graphic designer. Daniel is a great guy overflowing with passion , as my friend Steve Dilla posted about recently, with the love of Christ.

I also have to extend a BIG THANKS to Steve for helping me figure out how to get my new header to show correctly (it took some of what you suggested Steve, and some things I had to do differently - as you said Steve, trial and error, though much more of the latter).

I am really blessed to know such talented, generous, Godly men.

Thank You Jesus for shining your light into their lives as they bless others!

Books!

"Whenever I have some money, I buy books. If there is any money left over, I buy food and clothes" -- Erasmus

Well, I can sympathize with Erasmus' dilemna. I love books. Well specifically, I love reading and learning, and getting my information through books is #1 for me.

It is also my preference to read through the 'printed' book. I have tried e-books, and books on CD, but I can only read on a computer screen for a short time, and listening to someone reading for me is not the best. I need to grab hold of the book, take it to all sorts of places (gym, the couch, poolside, etc.), make notes in it, etc. Most books I read look rather mangled even after just the first read (unless I am borrowing yours, then of 'course, that isn't true). :O)

The small stack of books pictured above represents my next set of reading assignments for fall semester at Criswell. Only 2 classes, but 10 books! I have a feeling there is going to be plenty of writing assignments coming....

My classes start 8/23 so I have to finish the books I am still getting through now.

What I need

"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
(Pro 30:7-9)

Our problem is that we come to a point in our Christian life where we become comfortable and we stop surrendering all things to Christ. Surrender means that I have given God permission to change, mold or to rid my life of anything that hinders me from becoming all that He wants me to be. We need to surrender our anger to God and allow Him to change us. -- Jeff Simms

After coming through some ordeal, or coming to a point of personal growth, it is far too easy for me to forget God's presence and sovereignty over my life, and how much He really pulls me along, and guides my steps. I don't consciously do it, it just happens sometimes that I default to being independent of my own abilities. I forget how dependent God wants me to be of Him. This happened recently without me noticing, and I am glad that I have God's word written in the Proverbs to remind me to seek Him once again.

Through Jesus Christ, I have a personal relationship with the God of the Universe who is pouring out his abundant, over-the-top, gushing love for me, and there are days when I don't appreciate it.

I pray today that I am more sensitive to the Holy Spirits leading and God's will for me and His presence in all things.
In Jesus' name, Amen

Are you a pencil neck?

As a Christian walking in the life God has willed for you, are you a pencil, and God the author and writer of your life?

As the pencil, you get the honor of being used by God. As the author, God gets the glory of impressing the world even more of His amazing creativity, beauty and sovereignty.

Let go pencil. Rest in God's hand as He holds you firmly, writing, creating, and unfolding your life through His Son, Jesus. Let The Holy Spirit guide you and influence you as you grow in your trust in Him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matt 11:28 - 30

King, or slave?

I heard a great song listening to Power FM this morning.

Meaningless Things, by Adam Watts challenges us to think about how we will live our lives. Here are some of the words of the chorus:

But if you can stay in the light / And let flesh be lonely / Cries become praise for the Lord

We can be kings of meaningless things / Or we can be slaves of love.

What meaningless things have become king of your life?