Have we lost the child like anticipation?

Have you ever opened a Christmas gift early and rewrapped it? I love surprises now, especially when it is a great gift. However, when I was younger I wasn’t nearly as patient. I struggled with the anticipation of the unknown gift.

Well, one time when I was in grade school, my brother and I couldn’t handle the 14 day wait until Christmas. In a surreptious manner, we hid under our pool table and started opening some of our gifts. It was great! We were playing with our gifts 2 weeks early. I especially enjoyed the Rock em Sock em robots. We also had a football player that you would pound his head and he would kick the ball. We were clearly out of sight from my mom but she had sensational hearing and senses (Don’t all Moms?) We were caught in the act and forced to rewrap the gifts.

Within each of us is a desire to receive our gift early. I would assume that the Israelites were no different. They were waiting for the messiah. They knew a little from God’s word on what He would be like but didn’t know much. They also didn’t know when Christmas was, they had an indefinite wait. We go nuts, waiting 28 days for Christmas. The irony- we really want that _________ that will eventually be in the garage sale. They were waiting for the MESSIAH. I wonder if they dwelt on the words of Isaiah 9:6? I wonder if they had countdowns to Christmas? (probably not since they didn’t know the time)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

A child has been born, He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. We have an opportunity to celebrate His birth in a few weeks. Are you anxiously unwrapping the greatest gift ever?

Have we lost our focus? Are we caught up in the things that don’t really matter? God sent the most amazing and most needed gift. May God restore in us again a longing to unwrap the gift of Jesus Christ. May we never forget our condition without Christ.

What is your Africa?

Sunday Morning I asked the asked the question, "What is your Africa?" (the place, life circumstance or role that you fear) Everybody has an AFRICA prayer, "I will follow you please don't let it look like this.

What I am starting to discover in my life is that it is easy to follow God, as long as it doesn't change my plans.

Abram allowed God to radically change his plans. Maybe allowed is the wrong word, but God changed ABRAMS circumstances but blessed his socks off. OK Abram probably didn't wear socks. THE POINT--Following God to unknown has its priveledges. They may not be experienced on this side, but God's plan is the only plan worth living.

My prayer is that God would continue to reshape my heart to be completely open to His leadings, which are intended for HIS glory. May God continue to call us to unknown and may we respond with obedience and worship!!

Men's Fraternity

We started a ministry at our church called Men's Fraternity. It started on September 11, 2007 at 6 am. What a horrible time to meet, especially for someone who enjoys sleep. I wake up at 4 am every Tuesday and I love it. WHY? B/C God is doing some significant work in the men of West Wichita.

If you read this, please pray that God would continue to use this ministry to challenge, but more importantly change MEN. I believe that there is a significant wave of God moving through our church.

Please pray

Make your days count

Recently Pastor Ken preached a message from Psalm 84 in which the main point was "Count your days and make your days count."

I generally think I do a great job of the not getting caught up in the temporal. But, I was exposed for the selfish and worldly thinker that I am this week.My dad invited me to the PGA championship golf round for this weekend (August 9-12) 2 weeks ago. I was excited to go and watch TIGER and guys that golf like me. Alrighty-maybe they are a bit better. Anyways-I wanted to go, but I had a conflict. I was scheduled to go to a Christian leadership conference that will equip me to lead better. I quickly let me dad know that I could not attend. However, I wrestled with this.

It seems that my dad always invites to me the greatest sporting events ever (US OPEN in '00, MLB All-star game and George Brett's hall of fam induction), while I have something scheduled to will build the kingdom of God. Obviously the best use of my time is to make an eternal impact. I received a call 3 hours ago inviting me to watch a Yankees game in NY. My dad was going to cover all cost. It would have required me to miss our 2nd Men's Fraternity meeting (I believe that God is going to use Men's Fraternity to transform the Men of Western Sedgwick County.)

I said "No." It was easier, but still chaffed the temporal sports fanatic within me.I am human and wrestle too much with the temporal.

Energizer Bunny versus God. . .

Who would win this epic battle?

Yesterday I had one of those days where I burned the candle at both ends. I started at 6:30 AM with work and finished working at 11 PM. I WAS EXHAUSTED!! I know that both the energizer bunny and God would dominate me when it comes to perseverance. I was dragging about 7:30 PM. But God and the energizer bunny were still going.

At least I think that the energizer bunny was going . . .

and going. . .

and still going.

But I know for sure that God was still going.

At 8:30 last night, God did some of His best work when I was the weakest and most incapable. Hmm. . . that kinds of sounds Biblical. That because it is.

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10

I met with two people at 8:30 PM who needed a mediator. I let them know up front that the goal was bringing God glory by being at peace with one another (Romans 12:18). I let them know that it would take work.

(reader's digest version) As I listened, I realized that this would take a miracle from God. They were on two completely different pages and a significant amount of money was at stake. I listened for a while and God made it clear to me. I proposed the plan and it was accepted. This was truly unbelievable to me. This could have gone to court on gone on forever. It could have driven a wedge of separation between these 2 friends.

I was incapable of resolving these 2 men's issues. God stepped in at a late hour when I was tired and showed himself to be powerful and life transforming, even at a late hour.

My money is on GOD not the energizer bunny.(disclaimer-I am not a betting man, more to come on this) GOD YOU ROCK!!

dissappointed

Yesterday a team of people left for Thailand from our church. 24 hours later, they are still in transit. Most people are thankful they are not personally on the trip at this point. If you want to follow their trip go to http://wefcmissions.org/



My issue-I am addicted to short-term mission trips. I was dissappointed that I could not go. I love getting on the front row and watching God work. Obviously God works outside of short-term trips, but HIS work seems more obvious on short-term trips. I love the community that is built with the team. etc. I love the faith adventure of a short-term mission trip.



The truth-I can have that same adventure here in Wichita Kansas. We don't have to leave to see God work or have him work through us.



"Mission exist because worship doesn't" John Piper

My first blog. . .

Am I now the same as all of the other losers that have copious amount of time and nothing better to do. I hope not. Please take no offense to my loser comment.

I am simply trying this as a way to become more transparent to people. Also, more importantly as an opportunity to glorify God and draw people to deeper places in Him.

I suspect that I will let my blog die a painful slow death in the first month, but here we go.