What Am I Passing Down?

As I listened to a sermon today at Elevation Church, pastor Steven Furtik said a powerful statement about what we pass down to our children (and more) with our hatred, racism, un-Biblical views, etc. He said:

What doesn't get healed, gets handed down.

What "baggage" am I passing down to my children with my wounds? Am I passing down dishonoring beliefs, actions, philosophies, views, etc due to my unwillingness to let God transform my mind and heart?

I pray that I seek Christ with my WHOLE heart and not just parts of it. I want FULL healing and redemption and restoration, not partial healing.

My new goal in life: END ADULTERY. Not just with me, but in my children and their children and any other person who is willing. God is the hero of our story. He is longing for His people to surrender to His goodness, to His will, to His heart and ways.

The 40 Year Old Ninja

This video (see below) was a random, spur of the moment incident at camp last week that we happened to catch on video. Before we decided to video it, I attempted to kick the fan pull cord numerous times without success. Please don't ask me why I had such a thought. Who knows?!

Like I said, it was random. I was in a crazy mood that day no doubt. Well, we decided to video it, and boy are we glad we did. On the first attempt, I kicked the cord. Strangely enough, I turned off the light with my foot!! One video take! It's real, I promise. I doubt I could have done it a second time for sure! It's quite hilarious. One for the memory book!

Click the link below: 
The 40 Year Old Ninja!

You don't get to see me falling to the ground and the endless laughter that followed! Enjoy. :)

Camp "Version" of Me

Just got back from a week of Centri-Kid camp with our church. There were 6 boys, including my son Collin, and 11 or so girls, and 5 or 6 adults in our group. There were nearly 400 total kids and adults at the camp I believe. It was at Timber Creek in Pulaski, MS. Awesome venue. Awesome camp. Lots of fun.

Being outdoors in the heat at camp brings a whole new appreciation in life. Our culture of kids in most places here have to be forced to go outside and play, unplugging from electronics. My generation had to be told to come in the house. What a change. It's not all bad, since both extremes can create issues, but I believe places like Timber Creek do a great job giving kids an outdoor experience in a fun, God-focused way. Centri-Kid camps bring a Jesus focused message that brings it all together.


As what usually happens at camp, I had a blast and came out of my "shell." Hence the "40 year old ninja" video and other crazy stuff Jason, Alex and myself came up with. We laughed so hard. Maybe I will post the video later. Anyways, I am grateful that I can still have fun at camp and be goofy with kids and adults. The Lord knew I needed that after the past four years, AND especially the last few difficult months. I have been a lot of things over the past few months, but fun and goofy not so much.

My goal at camp is usually to make kids smile, laugh, and lighten up. The only way I can do that is to lighten up myself. At work, I am usually up tight. At home I can get too focused on my to do list and trying to figure out how to lead my family well. Honestly, as I think about it, the kids HELP ME lighten up and have fun. They are great. It is such a fun place to be and enjoy life, even if for only a week. It is a memory to treasure for sure.

There are two lingering questions that always come up with me while at camp and vacation:


1. WHY CAN'T I BE MORE LIKE THIS WHEN I AM NOT AT CAMP (or vacation)?

2. WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT POINTS THEM TO CHRIST? AM I FULFILLING THE PURPOSE AND MINISTRY THAT GOD IS CALLING ME TO (or just working to pay bills)?


At camp, I feel like I am my "best self," or at least a whole lot closer to it. I sometimes feel like a different person when at camp. I loosen up, act silly, encourage others, have fun, and stress a whole lot less. I want to be more like this while at home and work. Well, I may need to tone it down a bit since I will mostly be around adults. :) However, I want my kids to see a lighter side of me more often. I still have to lead, discipline, etc, but it can be balanced better for sure.

I don't want to be too hard on myself, though. I am grateful that after four years of struggle, healing, restoration, and re-focusing, God still has given me a desire to go to camp, do ministry and help couples find hope for their marriage. After what I did, it is a miracle I still get the chance to make a positive difference in other people's lives, even if it is only at camp once a year.

The truth is, I have had lots of chances to share a message of failure, hope, loss, sin, and redemption. I pray that God uses our story to help someone else run to Christ and not give in to the lies of the evil one. Our church has been very gracious in allowing us to share with others, so Amy and I are praying that we will be faithful to share whenever God allows. I want our message to be Christ focused, clear, effective, and helpful to others. With some focused effort, I can be more like the "camp version of me,"rather than just once a year at camp or while on vacation. 

I believe there are a few practical ways I and maybe you can do this:

1. Re live the experience often. Look at pictures. Watch the videos, etc. Be reminded of God's faithfulness to show up and speak to us all.

2. Stop focusing on me, my failure, etc. Instead, I want to focus on ways to help others, pursue Christ, serve others, encourage others, etc. God is at work. He can enable me to make a positive difference if I will allow Him.


3. Live with purpose.God has equipped me and you with certain gifts and abilities. I want to use them often. Through prayer, journal writing, scripture reading, etc. I can get more in tune to what God is leading me to. I need to trust His timing. I want to be ready for what He has for me, even if it takes longer than I prefer.

4. Surround myself with positive people. What makes camp so much fun is the people and focus while there. The leaders, campers, and chaperone's are there for the same reason: to study about Jesus and have fun. When I am not at camp, I need to find people who are living more like I need and want to live. I often find myself around people who are draining. I need to do a better job spending time with the people who are uplifting, seeking Christ, and living out a life of purpose and calling.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Jeremiah 29:10-14The Message (MSG)

^10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

¹² “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

^13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.
“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree.

“I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

One more thought on wishful thinking.

As I read Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, I am reminded that many of us struggle with hope vs wishful thinking because we don't realize OR we under estimate the significance of spiritual warfare  John 10:10 is Jesus saying that He came to give life but the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. It is a war. A battle. Jesus is not passive. He is fighting for us. The victory will come but ithe fight still going on. 

We may be struggling because we are hoping for things to be easy. Or easier. Well, we have no idea how many times Gd has intervened for us and how much harder it could be. Pain and suffering are real. I am not denying this fact. I am just reminded that we have a great high priest who is fighting for us. We are not alone. The battle is waging and out Savior is fighting with us and for us. 

As Jim Rohn said, "Don't wish things were easier, wish you were better, stronger."  

Get the book by John Eldredge. 

Go to the book of John in the Bible. 

Don't go solo. 

Hope or Wishful Thinking?

Do you ever wonder if you are living with a real hope and faith or just wishful thinking? I imagine many people do but don't like to admit it. It exposes things in each of us that is painful. 

When my emotions are negative and my circumstances are less than desirable, the question tends to arise. As a Christ follower, I have to battle against the lies of despair. Some days my faith is strong but other days it feels very weak. On weak days, I get a brief thought in my head that says, "You don't have faith. You are an imposter. You are just wishful thinking. All this hard work and spiritual/personal development is not doing any good."

It's a lie though. In Christ I can claim so many promises. In Him I am: Victorious. Free. A son. Adopted. Power in the spirit. Redeemed. Chosen. Forgiven. A purpose. A calling. A great high priest to run to. A intercession who prays for me. A future. A hope in the present. And much more. 

So how do you know if you are living in belief and true hope and not just wishful thinking? I don't know 100% but here's what I know. 

1. As a Christ follower the Bible is full of promises and truths. If you are reading them and being reminded of them then you can know if you are on track. The world has lots of false promises. The bible has proven the test of time. 

2. Your circumstances and emotions are not a good measure of hope and faith. Emotions are good indicators of a personal or spiritual process going on in you. Your situation can look very bleak and negative but that doesn't mean God is not at work. He  allows suffering. We don't always know why but He is unchanged by them. He is the same always. Trust His heart and goodness. Not circumstances - whether good or bad. Circumstances may be the result of your sin and neglect/drifting. Don't blame God for that. Ask Him and others to help you get back on track. Don't put yourself in a position to require a bail out or miracle. God may bail you out but He may not. He will, however, walk with you and never forsake you. Your sin doesn't void out His promises. It may take you on a detour of pruning but it is still a display of His grace. 

3. Keep showing up. Some things we need to give up, but many of us give up too soon On good things. We don't persevere. We quit when it gets hard. 

It is best to focus on daily obedience and faithfulness. Try not to focus just on results and "what ifs."  We can't always control the outcomes. We can control a lot of our actions, though. Our daily choices either move us closer to God or away. Our actions ether produce eventual success or more failure. We can fail forward and keep growing but it takes work and determination. 

4. Get a mentor. Someone you invite into your inner world to pray with and for you, listen to your situation and ask you critcal questions that help you work out issues that are hindering your growth. Call on them regularly so you don't drift toward isolation. They can help remind you of your goals, Gods promises and other wisdom. 

There are two phrases and prayers that have carried me through hard times: both are from the Bible. 

A. Daily Bread. 

B. "I believe. Help my unbelief."

Does this help? Have other suggestions? I would love to hear them. 

Happy Father's Day 2015

It's father's day. It has been a long time since I blogged. Amy started back blogging this week. I got inspired to do the same.

As I (we) look back over the past four years (come August 26, 2015), we have seen the hand of God and Christ's power in so many ways. I will admit that we have some days that tested us in a HUGE way. We nearly gave in to despair, hopelessness, and fear. God has continually given us restored hope through our friends, answered prayers, and powerful reminders of His promises that don't depend on our emotions or circumstances.

God is good. I am blessed with an amazing family. Happy Father's Day!

2 Timothy 2:13New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹³ If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.