Happy New Year to everyone!  2015 hasn't been without its challenges, but also has been a good year for me and my family.  I am praying for 2016.  I don't pray for it to be easy or give me all of my desires, but that in this coming year my family and I can be true servants of Jesus.

I'm not perfect and don't always say or do the right thing.  However, I have learned some lessons from being a follower of God this year and hope to learn much more from God and others that serve in His name.  I'm praying for Conway and UCC that we will be able to glorify God in extraordinary ways.  God's extraordinary may not look like we think it should, but when God is in the lead it cannot be wrong.

Honestly, I'm not sad to see 2015 go.  I hardly ever live in the past and try to recreate or regret what could've been.  I'm reading to welcome this new year with its challenges and victories.  The only regret that I could have at the end of 2016 is if I don't change at all.  Jesus lives inside me and is constantly shaping me more into the image of the Father.

May He shape and mold you just the same!  Blessings on your new year!

A Song to explode the box we sometimes put God in; enjoy!

It is only 3 days before 2016.  Soon people will be posting all of their new year's resolutions or their disdain for those who make resolutions.  I have never been a "New Year's Resolution" kind of guy.  I would rather make goals, especially career goals, and go after those things.  Like I blogged a couple weeks back I'm about to run out of time for my goals for 2015.  I blew one from the very beginning.  Two are in jeopardy, including making my blog post goal.  I think I'll get that one, but not sure about my book goal of reading 15 books.  It matters and yet it's not the end of the world if I fail.  As I prepare for 2016 I'm praying about my goals for the year and the word that will direct my year.  2015 was follow and I'm curious what God will lay in my heart for 2016.  I have a couple swirling around right now and I am confident that God will direct me clearly to one word for 2016.  As far as goals I will include going through the Bible in a year (usually I do this by listening to it through my Bible app).  I will go for a number of books to read and blog posts to share.  And I'm praying for what else I might add to the list.

I hope you too will make some goals, resolutions, or have a vision for your 2016.  God loves it when we ask Him for these things and loves watching His children accomplish or even just attempt these goals, resolutions, and visions.
Blessings on your 2016.

​My last few posts have been some random thoughts and somewhat ramblings.  Usually I like to post things on this blog that are well thought out and have hit me in a deep way.  But I will say it has been quite refreshing to just let loose and write some things I was thinking about at the moment.  This was kind of freeing for me and uncomfortable at the same time.  My career is built upon taking things thought about, researched, pondered once again, written down, edited, and then presented orally to a crowd.  Words and thoughts are important to me.  Honestly, some of my best working through tough subjects and thoughts is by talking it out with safe people.  So it has been a bit stretching for me to hit post on these last blogs when I haven't let them simmer in me for some time.

One thing I've learned is that some times we need to just share our thoughts and then work through them.  However, you must be smart and do this in safe places where you aren't being offensive and destructive by reckless words and thoughts.  I think that is why I haven't shared these posts on social media like I would normally.  I'm not sure anyone has seen these...and really I'm okay with that.

So tonight I'm rambling about rambling.  I chuckle at myself and am thankful that I feel safe with myself and with my God.  And I'm thankful for friends who listen to me and read these thoughts and are a safe place as well.. Thanks for 2015 and I'm looking forward to 2016.

Performed by a friend at Leah's grandmother's funeral.  We will rise and I cannot wait.

Santa and Jesus
or
Santa vs. Jesus
or
Santa < Jesus



​Why is it always a battle or competition?

This is a question Christians need to ponder.  Because we think we know why and we go full throttle after an end, that maybe Jesus wouldn't.  Somewhere in our history and most likely form reading and pondering scripture, we decided that if Christianity is going to be pure then it must be extracted from the culture.  And some even thought in their day that if Christianity could change and lead the culture to a progressively better world, then we could actually usher in Jesus a 2nd time and end this merry-go-round of life.

I believe there is evidence that in order to live like the Messiah we should be careful about our actions.  However, I'm not sure that equals our surroundings.  I don't think that Jesus came into the world as a baby and taught as a young man and died on a cross and rise again only for us to isolate ourselves from every hint of evil in the world.  When we do, we end up working on the ideal that Christians should create their own utopia and wait for the world's end so that they can claim heaven due to their exactness of the law and perfect motivation towards the right actions.  

Why this heeds some proverbs, tries to undo the good examples of bad examples in scripture and follows strict rules given by an apostle to specific people within a specific issues in specific contexts, it lacks the true heart of Paul and Jesus for that matter.  Jesus didn't come for the utopians.  He came for the lost (which we all resemble).  Jesus didn't isolate himself from evil, sinners, or even a wild party.  No, in fact, he entered it and through his mere presence changed that party's or those peoples' purposes.  He entered into the culture, not to change it, but rather to be a part of the people that he came to save in the first place.

We get upset about Santa over Christ in Christmas.  We get upset when Christmas is changed to Happy Holidays.  We try to protect our hearts from thinking too much about presents to think about presence.  None of these are necessarily bad intentions.  But really they miss the point of Jesus coming into the world.  We will spend an entire advent season begging people to understand the theology of anticipation, hope, joy, love, and peace and yet then we turn around and scold the world for their hearts toward Santa, presents, consumerism, and forgetting the Christ child.  Every situation needs has its own context and requires its own response.  However, overall Christ would have sat in the living room of folks with presents piled high, exceedingly absurd credit card debt, and gluttonous dinners.  He would have opened presents with them, ate with them, and laughed with them.  In the end they would have been changed, not because he made just the right statements or landed his theological ideals on the right plane, but because he was there and cared for them no matter what they were like.  

Once Christians realize that LOVE is better than being right, we might just start seeing change in the our world.  Because when we don't we set ourselves up as the opposition.  Every time we make what we don't believe the other side of the argument we have set someone up to be the opposition and if given that role, people will play it.  Don't give them an either/or Jesus.  Give them a both/and, I-love-you-no-matter-what Jesus!  And watch them come to Him!

As I said in my previous post, Leah and I have lived several hours away from our families for 10 years now.  I wish it weren't this way, but our children only see their grandparents a few times a year.  We try to make the most of it, but it is just the way it is.  We understood long ago that the career I chose could possibly move us away from our family.  The first move was still within the same state, but 6 hours away by car.  The second move was out of state and at least 9 hours away by car.  The nearest family members to us live 6 hours away.  Needless to say we have become an independent family of 5 that understands and appreciates the value of extended family and their place in our lives.  One of the good things that has happened since our second move is that all but 1 of our parents have retired.  This allows them to travel more often to see us and when they do come to visit, they are able to stay longer.

Soon we will go to see our families for the Christmas Holiday.  It won't be long enough, but we will do all we can to enjoy it!  We love our family and are grateful for all that they have done for us over the years.  But mostly it is our joy to witness how much love our children receive from them as well.  Blessings to the time you will be able to spend with your family this holiday season.  May you receive much joy and peace!

I love the holidays.  I love being with family, taking time away from work and simply not being on a schedule.  My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  Mainly because there are less worries and concerns over gifts or impressions.  We simply eat, talk, and give thanks.  Christmas must be my second favorite and is right around the corner.

Leah and I have lived away from our families for 10 years now.  Which means we travel for Christmas.  We made a slight change about four years ago and decided that we would only travel after Christmas day.  And while this has had its challenges, I think it has been a good decision.  We are able to take some time just our little family of 5 and then join in celebration with everyone else after Christmas.  We are able to see aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, nephews, nieces, and friends.  I'm looking forward to this year when we are able to see everyone again.  While traveling as much as we do is somewhat tiresome, I'm brought great joy and energy by being with our families.  It doesn't hurt either when we witness our kids enjoy their extended family too.

So we wish you all a happy holiday as you see friends, family, and loved ones this Christmas Season.

There are times in life when everyone needs a break.  Jesus often withdrew to lonely places for prayer and to be recharged by God. 

I feel that a lot!  There are many demands on a minister.  There will always be someone in need.  The building will always need something to be maintained.  You finish your sermon on Sunday and then you have six days to crank another one out.  The work never ends.

I would imagine this is like most jobs.  There is always something more that could be done.  And the reality is that the "more" will never be done.  Life keeps moving and we keep moving with it.

It is important for ministers to not only work hard, but be able to rest, reflect, and recharge so that they can be refreshed in the Lord for the work they are doing.  I've seen many ministers who recklessly worked themselves out of their marriage, parenting responsibilities, and even their ministry.

I am about to take a week and a half off of work.  It is part of my vacation time.  Even though we will be traveling for the holidays, it will be a time of refreshment and rest.  I will be renewed in the Lord.

My prayer is that all ministers and people of God will trust God enough to take time and rest in Him.