Say What?

The End of an Amazing Week

2011-07-03T05:10:00.000-04:00

We were up early to collect the second half of the group from the airport in Managua this morning since we could only fly half yesterday. We were picked up by a large yellow school bus and driven to Grenada for lunch. Dustin & Lisa Holliday met us for lunch since they are just finishing week one of a two week Spanish immersion program there. Then we were off to a discount market in Messiah, Nicaragua for some final deals before making our way home.

We departed from Nicaragua almost one hour late and ran through the El Salvador airport to make our final flight back to Dulles. All made it on safely and Ben Cooper was upgraded to first class for the entire ride home. He was kind enough to let Toni Schwarting have his ticket and enjoy his seat since she worked hard to organize the details of our trip. We arrived at Dulles close to 2:30AM and of course, faithful Tye Stone was on call to collect us from the airport and drive us back to church. I am writing this final blog before drifting off to sleep at 5AM. It was an amazing trip and the group made plans to rendezvous at the 11:30AM service in the morning. Hope I wake for it. Thanks once again to all of you who prayed for our trip - we felt the support!

Winding Down

2011-07-01T15:44:00.000-04:00

We were up early and took the second half of group to the prison for a visit after breakfast. We took a birthday present to one of the teen boys in jail who said that he didn't know his birthdate and has never celebrated a birthday. One student donated him a soccer jersey as a gift. The prison visit was meaningful although the atmosphere there is extremely oppressive with a very bad stench and poor lighting. The other half of the group stayed behind to complete our construction projects.

We are packing up for half of our group to return on the last flight to Managua tonight. This will help ensure every group member making it to Managua in time for our flight home tomorrow night. We are due into Dulles airport around 2AM on Sunday morning.

We received a few emails inquiring about sickness. We had two female students both run a temperature for about 12 hours, but both had their fevers break and they are up and around with no problem now. No other students have been sick so please don't panic. All is well and spirits are high - thanks again for all the prayer support!

It Just Keeps Getting Better!

2011-07-01T01:19:00.000-04:00

Today began with 21 from our group heading off to the local prison straight after breakfast. The group divided in two, with our girls and 2 of our males going to visit the part of the prison with teenage boys and women. The rest of our group visited the 2 cell blocks with men. Ben Cooper preached with a translator and the entire group was moved. The other half of our group did construction while the prison ministry took place. We plan to repeat the visit tomorrow morning with the other half of our group, so please pray for the prison ministry.

After lunch our entire group packed onto three buses with the orphans for a trip to the beach. We were praying for the rain to let up and while it did rain for a short time, it was perfect beach weather to keep everyone from burning. We had a short baptism service in the ocean with 3 students getting baptized: Heather & Parker Hough, as well as my son Murphy. It was an amazing experience.

Tonight we attended church with the locals and orphans and are about to call it a night so that we have some energy left for tomorrow. This week just keeps getting better!

Students Leading the Charge

2011-06-30T01:17:00.001-04:00

Today we had a group of students take a trip to the local hospital. We had heard of the deplorable conditions; understaffed and poorly supplied, with a monthly government budget of $2,000 for supplies for hundreds of patients. The stench and feel of the place was one of sickness and depression. The ten students delivered a number of supplies that they had personally solicited while back in the states.

After delivering materials, they wondered the hallways looking for people to pray with. The students prayed for a large number of adults, children and elderly who asked for prayer. Then they heard loud cries of a person in excruciating pain. They followed the noise and ended up in a room with a mother and her 12 year old daughter. The daughter was bleeding out and was in serious need of care, beyond what this hospital could provide. When one of our students asked the nurse about the situation, they said, "If this girl does not get to Managua for treatment, she will not survive. The problem is that she does not have the money for a flight there." Grace Bramblett asked, "How much will that cost?" The nurse answered, "$250." The students were so moved that they literally got on the floor and asked God for provision and healing for the girl.

The 10 students arrived back around lunch time and shared the concern with our entire group. I watched in amazement as students ran back to their rooms and returned with as much money as they could scrounge. Some gave all that they had. Together they raised close to $600, which they brought to the family after lunch to cover flight and other medical needs. As you can imagine, they were overjoyed and grateful. I listened this evening as students processed the days events. This group is clearly moved by the way the living God is at work in their lives. It has been a blessing to be a part of this trip!

The Sun Showed Up Today

2011-06-29T01:53:00.000-04:00

While we did still wake to a thunderous downpour, the sun poked through and made this our nicest day weather-wise. Attitudes were positive as we headed out to work post breakfast and picked up where we left off yesterday. The only difference today was that the group understood the task at hand so people dove into jobs with renewed energy and determination.

The cooks spoiled us this evening with scalloped potatoes and a lobster dish (Amazing!) We finished a wonderful porch time and called it a night at 11PM. We will be up as a group tomorrow at 7:20AM for group quiet times/devotions. Thanks again for your prayers!

And the Work begins!

2011-06-28T00:51:00.001-04:00

Today we were up very early to begin the day right with a quiet time. Just as we were getting started at 7:20AM, someone from Pastor Earl's house came out to let us know that we had the time wrong and that it was actually 6:20AM. Students stood up in a hurry to rush back to bed for one more hour of sleep. Oops, my mistake.

We started again an hour later with pancakes, got our work assignments and it was time to go. Some worked on setting up the orphan crafts for the week, others helped mix and pour a concrete floor for a new room at the school, another group hammered up boards, while the final group of students helped build the roof of the new school rooms.

Attitudes were amazing,lunch was appreciated and the group was right back to work. This has been the rainiest of my three years here,with periodic heavy downpours throughout each day. In addition, the power seems to go on and off in similar fashion. Once again, the students age maintained flexible spirits and outstanding attitudes given the constant change in circumstances. We had a wonderful group porch time tonight and sent the group off to bed at 10PM since there were a lot of exhausted looking faces. Tomorrow we will be back up for day two of work. Thanks again for your prayers!

Sunday at a Close

2011-06-27T00:10:00.000-04:00

Today ran smoothly: we were able to get everyone to our destination of Puerto Cabezas on 3 separate planes, we had some free time. Those on the first flight made it in time for church. The rest were here in time to get settled into room assignments, enjoy playing with the orphans, some took naps, all had a great first day.

After savoring the amazing dinner, we took a brief break and then had what we refer to as "porch time.". This is an opportunity at the end of each day to share what we are learning, encourage one another, sing, share and get a debrief of what is to come the following day. Let me just say tha everyone's attitudes have been extremely positive despite travel delays, a short power outage and a couple of missing bags. I sat and listened as every student shared a different thing that they were thankful for in processing our first day at the orphanage. It was very encouraging and the group is now of to bed on their rooms. We are set to meet again at 7:20 in the morning for quiet times before breakfast (5:20 EST) and then we will get our work assignments for construction. Special thanks ro those of you who are praying for the trip, we can tell! More tomorrow.

Flexibility

2011-06-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

Although yesterday did not go as planned, we had a great first day! We ordered pizza to our Best Western Managua and rented a large group room for dinner, worship and a chance to get to know the group. Every student shared their expectations, we prayed together and got a good night of sleep. The first group of 18 departed at 6AM and we are waiting at the airport to get the next 24 on our flight. Thanks for prayers!

Hammer Time?

2011-06-25T19:56:00.000-04:00

And so we are safe and sound in Nicaragua. Although our flight was delayed out of Dulles almost two hours, we made a second connection in El Salvador and were in Managua by 2 in the afternoon. Seventeen members of our group waited for the first small flight across Nicaragua while the rest checked in at the Best Western across the street to fly out on the first flight tomorrow morning. After two hours of waiting our 17 potential passengers made their way to our hotel after being told that there would be no more flights today due to rain. That completes today's travel adventures.

The group spirits are high despite minor travel setbacks and everyone is booked into rooms here at the hotel. We must be back at the airport at 5AM to make our next flight attempt and are hoping to get the group rolling. I just ordered 12 large pizzas for dinner and booked the hotels group room for an evening of food, music and time for the group to get to know each other.

One exciting event happened today when two of our well meaning students, anxious to get some construction going and packed their hammers in their carry on bags. TSA agents were swift to make sure that this did not happen. Timmy Mulgrew and Laurel Hattix were simply glad not to be taken away by TSA.

Please pray for good weather, safe travel and positive attitudes for tomorrow as we will make another run at reaching out destination. Also, as a group, we came up about $1,200 dollars short of our budget as a team, so please pray for provision. Thanks for the prayers and support. More tomorrow!

What's to Come?

2011-06-21T09:28:00.000-04:00

It has been quite some time since I have blogged, but it is time again. I received an email today asking me if I might blog about our anticipated mission trip to Nicaragua. We depart this Saturday morning at 5AM and have 42 participants on board to serve the orphans, do construction and work hard, regardless of the challenge. I am looking forward to an amazing trip and am working anxiously to complete my to-do list before leaving town. Countdown - 4 Days!

Gazelle Intensity!

2010-10-22T00:26:00.000-04:00

This past spring, my wife Sandra and I took a course by Dave Ramsey. We heard people at church talk about him and knew of his program on Fox News (http://www.daveramsey.com). I confess being a bit skeptical, but we had a lot of debt and I was discouraged so I figured it wouldn't hurt to check it out. We finally decided to dive in and take the course (Truth be know, Sandra dove in and I took my time because I was stubborn).

Dave has people in the class begin by starting an Emergency Saving Account (ESA). This is your parachute if you should hit a financial crash during the course. We followed the steps, got on a budget and started to see improvement. However, we had a good amount of debt (I am not proud to say) and we wanted to every possible to eliminate it.

When you hit this stage of being fed up with your current financial status, Dave challenges participants to take on the intensity of a Gazelle. If you have ever seen footage on the Discovery Channel of a Gazelle springing into action at the sight of danger, then you know what I am talking about. This is the sort of commitment to action that is suggested if you really mean business and want to be done with debt once and for all.

Sandra and I began to discuss what this sort of commitment would look like in our situation. We were coming to the end of our lease agreement and our owner/landlord asked us to move out so that he could put the property on the market. It was then that we asked the question, "What would it look like if we were to become 'Gazelle Intense' about our financial situation?" We began to ask people we knew if they needed house sitters over the summer while on vacation. Before we knew it, word had spread and we had many people calling us and asking us to watch their homes and pets while they were away. In fact, it worked out in such a way that we had homes to stay in for the entire summer. Sure, it meant moving every week or two, but that allowed us to pay off unwanted debt and save more money.

We have currently continued the "Gazelle Intensity" challenge, living in a short-term situation for the fall which has allowed us to become debt free, and has made it possible to save for a house. We are thrilled to be moving into our new home early in December and would encourage any one in financial trouble to check out Dave's course. His teaching is not rocket science, but it is simple and straight forward, practical financial advice that is consistent with the Bible. Yes, I realize that I sound like an infomercial, but it did work in our situation once we meant business and became "Gazelle Intense."

Looking Back

2010-07-10T19:40:00.008-04:00

We have been back from Nicaragua for one week. As I think about our trip just one week ago, the life that we lived for a week seems like another world: Waking early, doing devotions, sharing meals together, constructing homes, playing with orphans, visiting prisoners, singing, laughing, swimming, and serving others... were all a regular part of our life in Puerto Cabezas. So when images of the orphans and the trip come to mind (such as the one that I have posted today - Thanks Noel), I wonder what did we learned from the experience?

Many kids and adults promised that life would be different when they returned home, based upon the experiences there. I have seen numerous trip photos shared on Facebook as well as hearing stories and encouraging words. We had a post Nica get-together this last week at IHOP in Ashburn and it was great to see people from the team. I have been thinking back this week to lessons learned in Nicaragua, which I believe were many. However, I have also been considering how life might be different for those who participated. In other words, which lessons may have impacted the way that we live each day now that we are back at home?

Many of the kids that went on the trip have been to Nicaragua more than once. They made comments like, "I love the way I feel when I am serving at the orphanage." You might ask "why?" I believe it has to do with the way that God created each of us to live. We were made to live in community with God and with others - serving and paying close attention to the needs of others. When we go to a place that helps us connect with God each day, serve those in need, put aside selfishness and distractions that are so prevalent back home, I think people feel a sense of purpose that can be missed in the "same ole" life of Northern Virginia.

The big question for me is, "How can we apply what we learned now that we are back here at home?" Does it really take us a mission trip in another country to get priorities right? I would love to say "no" and profess that I am above this tendency, but that wouldn't be true. I have been considering what elements can be replicated and how to make that possible. For me it has been a commitment of daily devotion to God, meeting with friends - sharing openly and honestly with them, and lastly, serving others. Although none of these sound like rocket-science practices, they all seem to come much easier when carried out in an environment where everyone shares the same desire of living in this manner. I am not so sure we were meant to live this way on our own, though that does not mean we are off the hook when surrounded by those who do not share the same view of life. It is however, my hope to do my best to apply these practices now that we are home, and to create ministries at church which are conducive to this simple yet challenging way of living.

(For more on this topic see Daniel chapter 6 and Hebrews chapter 11)

Day 8: Nicaragua (Final Day)

2010-07-03T12:49:00.002-04:00

It was sad to say our final goodbyes to the orphans on Thursday evening. We had to wake at 6AM and then get to breakfast with bags packed and rooms cleaned out. We made our way to the local airport and took the 3 small planes back to Managua. We arrived before 10AM and had two vans waiting to take us on a tour of Grenada and Messiah, two cities near Managua. Let's just say that there was not quite enough room for bags and people, so we played a game of sardines for the trip.

We arrived in Grenada around noon and split up into three groups for lunch. The food was great. We then did our best to squeeze back into the vans (which they called buses - not so much) and made our way to Messiah. They dropped us off at a local market with loads of tourist bargains and persistent beggars. We gave the group 30 minutes to shop and then we returned to the "buses" and drove an hour back to the airport in Managua.

It was sad to know this was our final trip time together. The travel back to Dulles via El Salvador went smoothly and everyone enjoyed the final time together playing Ninja and swapping stories of the week. We arrived back to CFC on the bus around 3AM with no lost bags. The group exchanged final hugs and spoke of the year ahead and all that God has in store. This is my final trip blog so I want to thank again all of those who supported our trip with prayers and finances. I believe that God did a work in and through our group this past week. Waking this morning, my 8 year old (Hailey) said, "Dad, it's sad without everyone here to have breakfast and spend the day with." I couldn't help but feel the same way. We have some truly amazing kids at CFC. Thank you God for giving us this opportunity to serve!

Day 7: Nicaragua

2010-07-02T02:50:00.000-04:00

Today we decided to try something new. After having breakfast and doing group devotions, we headed to the building site in shifts. It has been so hot that we thought it would be wise to send have the group to work hard for a 2-hour shift and then change out the team with a fresh group of teens and leaders who played with the orphans back at Verbo. It seemed to work very well. All in all, we finished building two homes and then laid foundations and floor boards for an additional two homes.

Once again, attitudes were positive and we had a great day. After lunch we had one team go to the prison to do ministry and feed the 119 inmates. A second team stayed to lead the orphans with crafts and games, and a final group went back to the construction site. We cleaned up, met back together for dinner. Dinner was followed up with a brief break, a midweek church service and then a final farewell with the orphans. There were lots of hugs and tears, but it was clear that the group did a tremendous job demonstrating the love of Christ with the orphans.

We had a great final "porch time" in which kids shared once again what God has been teaching them. We spent time together as a group and then sent the kids back to their rooms to pack up for an early departure. We need to be meet for breakfast at 6:30AM packed and ready to go. We will eat breakfast and then be on the first flight out of town. We plan to do some sightseeing in Managua with a tour guide and then back to the airport for our flights back to Dulles. We are due in before 2AM and then have a bus taking us back to CFC. This has been an amazing week to serve and witness God's faithfulness firsthand. Thanks again for those of you who have been praying for our trip.

Day 6: Nicaragua

2010-07-01T01:22:00.000-04:00

Today's photo is for all the parents who have thought, "I'd like to see a photo of my teenager." Good luck picking them out of the crowd. If it is not obvious from the picture, the kids and leaders are having an amazing week. Sure, some of them may look a bit odd in this photo, but that is to be expected after working hours in the hot sun.

Even on day 6, I must say that the attitudes of individuals on this trip have been outstanding. We were up early once again for breakfast and a time to read our Bibles. We split into two groups, with both groups working at the construction sites. We completely finished one home and then made a major dent in the second. We came back for a lunch break and a chance for kids to rest after this morning's hard work.

After lunch we broke into three work details. One went to Betania to play with the children in a town about 18 miles from Puerto Cabezas (where we rebuilt hurricane damaged homes on previous trips). The second group stayed at the Verbo Orphanage and led crafts and games with the kids on site. The final group returned to put some finishing touches on the second home.

This evening we had dinner and then gave the kids some free time. My wife (Mi esposa) Sandra, was asked to speak tonight at the women's church service and I am told that she did an incredible job leading the bible study. I was unable to hear it myself since men are not allowed to attend and due to the fact that she is fluent in Spanish and I sadly am not. Later in the evening we had a wonderful time together sharing what God has been teaching the group and how we plan to live it out when we return home. We were sad to say goodbye to one of our teammates this morning, as he had to fly back early to return to his job. Jim was one of our adult leaders and he did a tremendous job while he was here serving. He was missed today.

This has been an incredible week and tomorrow is our last full workday here. We are breaking ground on a third home in the morning after breakfast and plan to spend more time with the orphans. Please continue to pray for our group as people are growing tired and we are hoping to finish strong.

Day 5: Nicaragua

2010-06-30T01:14:00.001-04:00

Today marked the point in the week when fatigue sets in and many kids and leaders grew tired. We began the day as usual with breakfast and a devotional time. This was followed by a trip with the orphans to the beach. We swam, made sand sculptures, kicked soccer balls, threw footballs and cared for the orphans - all the while trying not to let the sun get the better of us. Despite coating and re-coating suntan lotion, many (like myself) ended up with red marks which revealed small places that we had unknowingly neglected when applying SPF cream. Regardless, it was an amazing morning with the orphans at the beach.

We headed from the beach straight back to the orphanage along the pothole covered dirt road. We were packed into 3 buses and one Toyota Land Cruiser, which managed to get stuck in a deep mudhole. It became a team challenge, as teens and adults filed off the bus to help push our vehicle out of the slop. On our fourth attempt of rocking it back and forth and becoming coated in red mud during the process, we finally managed to free the tires and get back on the road.

Lunch was ready for the group when we arrived. We ate as you would imagine a group would after a long morning of swimming at the beach. We then had a short break and divided into two groups. One group worked with the orphans, entertaining the kids with sports and crafts and demonstrating the love of Christ. The other group of 21 people, went to the prison. We shared the gospel in the three different cell blocks, delivered hot meals and cold drinks and prayed with many of the prisoners. The conditions were deplorable but the ministry experience was priceless. Several surrendered their lives to Christ and were moved by the way in which our group modeled the love of Christ to them.

This evening our entire group of ladies offered a "Girl's Night" to the young ladies of the orphanage, complete with crafts, make-overs and all sorts of things to make the girls fell special. Just about a football field away in the church building, the males on our trip led a "Guy's Night". We brought along a Tivo player with saved World Cup games. We watched soccer (football) and played some competitive games with the young men.

We concluded our evening with a "front porch" group time, but it was clear that the group was exhausted by this time. We called it a night and told them to get their rest since we will be up at 7AM tomorrow to get an early jump on our next work day. We plan to do devotions, eat breakfast and then have everyone head to the construction sites to carry on the work that we begun a few days earlier. Thanks once again for your prayers!

Day 4: Nicaragua

2010-06-28T16:39:00.001-04:00

God gave us amazing weather today, although the sun is a bit on the caliente side as we have been working outside this morning on the construction projects. This morning we broke ground on our second home. Literally we broke ground, in that we were digging holes for foundation posts to get the next house started. We laid the floor beams as well as the floor to get ready for the framing tomorrow. On the first home, we began putting the siding up on the finished framework. The team has been working hard in the hot sun and is enjoying the sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing what is coming together as the result of their hard work.

This afternoon, we have had one group back on the house projects, one group leading crafts with the kids and another group leading them in games. It is exciting to see the coordination of it all and to witness the response of the orphans to all of the needed love and attention. The food is good, the sun is hot and the group has been a blessing to lead. Once again, thanks for your prayers.

Day 3: Nicaragua

2010-06-28T00:25:00.000-04:00

Sunday - We spent time doing devotions, had breakfast and then got ready for church. At some point during the morning the power went out. I remembered the words of Phil Holliday which he spoke to me this past week before I left, "Beware, sometimes the power goes out." I started drinking a lot of water to get ready to speak loudly so that all would hear me preaching without a sound system. We went to church which carried on without a problem. A little more cooperation was required by the people to be quiet each time the worship leader spoke, but I was impressed by the positive attitudes of the leadership and the people. During one of the final worship songs the power was restored so I was able to preach with the help of Pastor Earl's translation skills and the booming sound system.

We enjoyed our sabbath with some free time, lunch and then a bus ride with the orphans to the river. We swam, jumped off the cliff and played with the orphans for a couple of hours before returning to the Verbo Orphanage to prepare for supper. We were fed well as usual and then had our porch time, which was led by Todd Waggoner. He did a tremendous job leading our group through a discussion about 1 Corinthians 12 (the body of Christ) and Matthew 25 (the parable of the talents). The group is having an amazing time and I have not heard one teenager complain or fuss about serving in any capacity. This has been a wonderful trip thus far. Thanks for your prayers!

Day 2: Nicaragua

2010-06-26T21:25:00.001-04:00

We started early today after a full night of sleep. The day began with group devotions, a wonderful pancake breakfast and then we were off to work. Some of the teens organized the crafts for the week, others organized the athletic games, some unpacked clothing donations, while the last group got started on the building project.

Everyone had amazing attitudes today and worked well as a team. The work time was productive and the building team actually laid an entire floor and got the walls of the first house framed out. We will do a lot more building come Monday, but tomorrow is the sabbath, so no work for the team.

This evening we helped participate in their teenage service for orphans and local teens. Todd Waggoner did a fantastic job delivering the message with the help of a translator, two of our kids shared testimonies and we led a group game for the entire youth group. We have just finished dinner and are enjoying free time before our evening group share time, also known as "porch time." Please continue praying for our group. We start early tomorrow with devotional time, breakfast and then church. Feel free also to pray that God might use me to bring God's Word tomorrow morning since I have been given the privilege of preaching at the service.

On a personal and separate note, I was sad today to hear the news of a long time friend of mine by the name of Joan Gepford, who went home to be with the Lord today. She had been suffering with cancer and so it is comforting to know that she no longer has to suffer, but many of us will miss her. She had the gift of hospitality and opened her home to me and hundreds of teenagers for years while I was working with the ministry of Young Life & Truro Church. Joan will be missed by many, especially her amazing family. Please join me in praying for her husband Steve and the rest of the family that she has left behind as they walk through this difficult time of mourning.

Day 1: Nicaragua

2010-06-25T22:11:00.001-04:00

Sleep depriavtion is not always the best catalyst for leading a group of 35 people on a mission's trip to Nicaragua. However, everyone showed up on time to the church at 2AM, we distributed bags and went over final details and then we were off to Dulles Airport. After negotiating the entire group through check-in and security, it was off to our gate to catch our 5AM flight to El Salvador via Taca Airlines. We had an uneventful one hour layover and then we were off to Managua, Nicaragua.

We dialed our wacthes back by 2 hours and then found a place to eat at the airport during our 4 hour layover. Our group was split into 3 so that we could board the small airplanes to fly across country to Puerto Cabezas. We were reunited at the Verbo Orphanage after all of the groups arrived safely. In totality, the travel occured with no glitches other than about 10 of our bags being left on the plane back in Mangua (they are scheduled to arrive early tomorrow morning).

The group seems to be ready for bed after we were fed, went over a brief orientation and had some time for worship and sharing. The group is now off to bed so that they can be well rested for an early rise for breakfast. Tomorrow morning we begin working on building two homes, so pray for good weather and positive attitudes! My heart was moved to se my 15 year old son Connor, sitting in the midst of a table full of teens boys from the orphanage who were waiting turns to arm wrestle him. I was thrilled to see that he and the other kids from our group wasted no time before diving in and loving these kids as God intended!

Thanks for praying for the group and for keeping up with us on this blog. For those of you who usually read my blog, the next week will be simple updates from our mission trip to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. I believe the risks that we take that cause us to step out of our comfort zones to trust God can be life changing (Hebrews 11:6). (If you find any spelling errors I apologize in advance - I have not had much sleep and the spell check is in Spanish so it basically said my entire blog is misspelled - oops!)

The First Five Minutes

2010-05-26T19:22:00.000-04:00

When I hear people say, "I love to exercise" or "I can't wait to spend time praying and studying the Bible," I usually think to myself, "I wish I felt that way." I understand that many could be reading this thinking to themselves, "Doesn't Will work at a church, how can he say that?" Well the truth is that for many areas of my life, such as exercise or spending time reading the Bible, I have to discipline myself to do it. In other words, if left to myself I would procrastinate both and simply wait until it was so late in the day that I would be too tired to make it happen. At that point, it is simply easier to tell yourself the age old lie, "I will do it tomorrow."

I truly wish I was the type of person who naturally dove into these practices with full enthusiasm. Instead, I have to be intentional to carve out time necessary for physical and spiritual exercise so that I can become the man who God created me to be. When you see a human in perfect physical shape or a man or woman who is a mature and humble follower of Christ, there tends to be a noticeable difference. They did not get that way by accident; it took time and sacrifice to realize those results.

My challenge is to discipline myself to exercise physically or spiritually and to make myself simply get started. The battle for me is then won or lost by the decision to get through the first five minutes. When I begin a run, my body screams, "Slow down and go back!" When I get ready to spend time connecting with God, I begin to feel as though I have a homework assignment. Despite my initial internal battle, if I stay the course and do it anyway, at about the five minute mark I begin to enjoy the time. The truth is, I have never finished a run or spending time with God and regretted it. On the flip side, there have been far too many days that I have neglected to make the time and have missed out on God's best for me. Let's make the time today to become the people God created us to be. It only hurts during the first five minutes.

(For more on this subject, read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Raising the Bar

2010-05-11T19:33:00.000-04:00

I was a sprinter in high school and college, which basically meant that I grew tired after running one lap around the track. I envied the distance runners who could pace themselves and demonstrate the stamina needed to persevere over a great distance. In addition to the inspiration that gripped me when I watched our distance runners, I was also fascinated by my teammates who could jump straight up and over a high bar. The men and women who participated in the high jump did so in a way that appeared deceivingly effortless, as they would gracefully clear the bar and plunge into the mattress below.

Both the distance runners and the high jumpers seemed to continually push each other for a faster pace or a higher bar. I recall one friend of mine by the name of Tony, who was driven each week to "raise the bar." He loved to show up at practice and announce that he planned to "raise the bar" that day. We would gather to cheer him on and witness the attempts, which usually had an inspiring affect on the rest of our team. This phrase is commonly heard in business circles today, as well as in many other arenas, all stressing the desire for improvement. Although having the potential for becoming contagious, this attitude did not resonate throughout our entire track team. However, it was noticeable in the few who did possess it. When you see this rare trait in an individual, regardless of the area of life, it is not only noticeable, but it can be inspiring as well.

I have noticed two common responses by people when witnessing a man or woman who steps up with a "raise the bar" attitude. Some are sadly threatened by such people. You will often hear those who feel threatened acting in such a way as to: make excuses for their own performance, put the others down, or attempt to shame the person who is working hard. They may use phrases like, "Stop, you are making us all look bad" or "What are you trying to prove?" Another common response (although less common in my opinion), is to be motivated or inspired when we observe someone who is striving to do their best. When we watch a human give it their all, it can create an inner stirring which cries out, "You were meant to live life in such a way - to the fullest extent!"

I recently witnessed one of my co-workers serving in such a capacity. He was given a task and did an amazing job with what he had been entrusted with. His actions demonstrated an above and beyond approach to his work. I had the privilege of sitting through a presentation that he gave regarding what he had learned and applied to his area of ministry and quite honestly I was filled with conviction. I left the meeting feeling motivated to exercise the same type of "raise the bar" thinking, in my own area of ministry. Thank you Dustin Holliday for raising the bar. I was reminded today of the way in which Jesus called us all to serve. If we are honest, don't we all desire to approach life in this manner?

(For more on this topic, read Matthew 25:14-30, John 10:10 & Colossians 3:23-24)

Living Faith

2010-04-03T00:57:00.001-04:00

Having a difficult day? Have you ever felt that things were not really going your way and then in the middle of your pity party an incident or person crashes the party? I mean you thought life was difficult a few moments before until you were interrupted by another human’s plight, which by comparison put life back into proper perspective.

A few weeks ago I experienced such an incident that I have not been able to shake from my mind. In fact, it went well beyond simply curbing my attitude, causing me to examine the depth of my faith. I heard the story of an 8-year old girl from my church who has been battling cancer. I was told that from the moment she was told she had cancer when she was 6 years of age, she had a positive attitude.

How is that possible you wonder, she had not been raised in an average family setting. Her father had struggled with a different form of cancer from the time she was 3 years of age. In he process of facing a potentially terminal illness, her parents decided to communicate the reality of faith in Christ and life after death. They talked openly about God as their heavenly Father and the fact that death is nothing to be feared.

I was told that this was the reason that their daughter faced her cancer with a courageous spirit, having a crystal clarity about what really matters in life: her relationship with God and her family. After wrestling with her cancer for 2 years, the doctors at a local hospital let her family know that she only had at the most, 24 hours to live. When she was told, she said to her parents, “Jesus is not going to take me home today, I have another week.” Regardless of the doctor’s prognosis, she lived one more week.

During that week, she had pushed her call button several times during the middle of the night. When nurses entered her room to find out if she needed food, medicine or something else, she simply responded, “I need a hug.” Nurses working the night shift said that when she would hug them, she would reach her tiny arms around their neck and whisper in their ear, “Jesus loves you.” Nurses were moved with emotion by this young girl’s thriving faith.

During one visit that final week, she asked her mom if she could see her daddy. Her mom replied, “You may not be able to go back home but he can come by after work.” Her daughter replied, “No mommy, not that daddy, our heavenly Dad.” She was asking her mother’s permission to go Home. Her mom replied, “Sure, if that’s what you want,” and remarked, “I honestly believe that if she had asked Jesus if she could live longer, he would have granted her request.” On Friday of that week she told her family that it was time to go home and she did with a peace that goes far beyond anything this world would associate with death and dying.

She had a few requests for her funeral, which will take place later this month at our church. Her 8-year old twin brother communicated these requests to one of our pastors: First, that the guests not wear black, since this is a happy occasion, celebrating the fact that she was going to be with Jesus; Secondly, that all of the girls wear pink, since it is her favorite color, and thirdly, that the preacher and her father wear Hawaiian shirts on the day of the funeral celebration, so that everyone knows about the love of Jesus – it is anything but sad.

I pray that God allows me to keep this little girl’s living faith in the forefront of my mind as I seek to follow Christ each day. Her courage and joy seem to put life in proper perspective when facing trials of any kind. Jesus is alive and well, as we are reminded this Easter. He is waiting to have the same sort of close relationship with each and every one of us. Is there anything standing in your way?

It's a Matter of Perspective

2010-02-22T09:45:00.000-05:00

Do you presently feel overwhelmed or discouraged? Have you ever gone through a phase when you were frustrated by an obstacle or trial that seemed to suck all of the wind out of your sail? I believe that life is full of challenges and situations that can catch us by surprise. A financial crisis, substantial debt, a relational breakdown, the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, an internal struggle with self worth or depression, conflict with a family member or co-worker... The list goes on and the question I am asking is, "Are you presently feeling overwhelmed by something like this?"

If you answered 'yes' or know someone who is wrestling with a major trial in life, how do we move forward and keep that situation from robbing us of the abundant life that Jesus promised? I understand that there are several factors that can influence our ability to survive and even thrive in the midst of difficult circumstances. The significant element which I am referring to is our perspective. More specifically: how we view a trial in relation to the way in which we view God.

You might be wondering what perspective has to do with our ability to handle the storms of life. I am not proposing some positive, blind-faith optimism that merely allows us to walk through a tough situation without a clue. I am speaking about a certain perspective which I read about in the Bible, although it seems rare even in Scripture. More specifically, the illustrations which come to my mind are: A nation of people sitting on the brink of entering a land full of promise, 12 men are sent to spy out the land - 10 see giants and feel the obstacles are too great to overcome, 2 men share a different perspective. A nation is stuck in a stand-off with foreigners who are mocking them daily and defying them to step up and fight. Paralyzed by fear at the sight of a man who is over 9 feet tall, the obstacle seems insurmountable. A teenage boy has a different perspective. A nation is held captive by oppressors who demand they recant their allegience to God or else lose their lives - 3 young men share a unique perspective which allows them to remain faithful despite the cost. People witness a suffering paralytic and view him as a man with no chance for hope or healing. A Roman centurion has a different perspective. The situations and trials are numerous, and yet those who share a differing perspective seem to be rare.

It seems to be the expection and not the rule for people to view major obstacles as trials that God is more than capable to guide them through. Again, I am by no means trying to trivialize the difficult storms of life. I am merely suggesting that no trial is too big for God to help us through. The common denominator in the accounts from Scripture that I mentioned, would appear to be each person's perspective of God. In other words, the majority of us get fixed on the trials and obstacles, viewing them as insurmountable. At times we can wrestle with the idea of God's ability, or perhaps His willingness, to act on our behalf and be present with us in life storms. A rare group of men and women in the Bible, as well as throughout human history, have shared the belief that God is always bigger than any storm that can threaten us in life. For the majority, serious problems in life obscure our ability to see God as capable for the task. For the minority, God eclipses the storms no matter how large they seem, because He is always able and willing to be present with us and to guide us through.

How about you? How big are the trials in your life - too big for God? Are you part of the minority who believes that God can meet any challenge. The truth about me is that somedays I share the perspective that God is with me and will walk with me through any trial, while other days I fall prey to the lie that I am alone in the midst of difficulties and wonder how I might find my way through. We can all wrestle with these opposing perspectives and yet I know in my heart that God loves me and you. He desires to meet us each day, no matter what challenges we face. The choice is mine and yours and it will demonstrate our own perspective based on our beliefs. I want to be known as one of the rare individuals, who acknolwedges each and every day with my actions, that God is larger than any challenge that this world or the enemy can through my way. How about you?

(Bible verses referenced: John 10:10, Numbers 13, 1 Samuel 17, Daniel 3 & Matthew 8:5-13)

Top 10 Things To Do When You Are Snowed In

2010-02-06T23:55:00.000-05:00

10. Take a walk through the neighborhood and meet a few strangers

9. Shovel your driveway

8. Build a fire in your fireplace

7. Watch a movie

6. Read (extra points if it's your Bible)

5. Make cookies or something sweet

4. Do your taxes early this year

3. Shovel your driveway again (so much snow!)

2. Play board games or cards

1. Quality time with your spouse & kids just hanging out

Time for a Blog?

2010-01-30T02:36:00.000-05:00

Wow, has it been over a month? The answer is 'yes'. I am sorry to say that while I had added blogging and Twittering to my regular routine, they both have seemed to elude me in 2010. There is so much that takes place in a given week (especially when you consider the pace of the surrounding D.C. vicinity), that it is far too easy to let certain things slip. For me, it was blogging and Twittering this past month that seemed to take a backseat to other things in my life.

How do you decide what is time worthy in your life? I mean with so much on our plates and potential chaos looming if we are not careful, how do you decide what takes priority? We can stop and make value judgements about what deserves our time or we can allow the tyranny of the urgent to dictate our schedules, dealing with the pressing present issues which crash in our daily paths.

I recall years ago in a ministry training group that I was a part of, we were required to memorize Bible verses each week. I vividly remember a particular session when each trainee had to share their verses with the group. When one of the young women was suppose to recite her verses she said, "I didn't have time to memorize verses this week." Our trainer and ministry veteran of 30+ years (Chuck Reinhold) asked the group, "Who knows how many hours are in a given week?" Some math whiz rattled off the mental equation (24 X 7) and blurted out "168!" He then asked this same women, "How many hours did you have this week?" She avoided his question and proceeded to offer excuses of a busy schedule and a few unplanned occurrences. Chuck simply responded, "You had the same amount of time as each person here and yet you chose to do something else rather than your commitment." Chuck was not trying to badger this young woman who failed to see his point, instead I believe he was trying to help the entire group recognize that we are not the victims of our schedules. Life doesn't merely happen to us, we have an active participatory role.

It is true that life can become overwhelming at times and that there simply aren't enough hours in a given day to do everything that we may want or be required to do. What do you give priority to in your life? The things we give our time to communicate what we truly value. Many people say, for example, that they love God or their spouse or their children or a myriad of other things (surfing the internet, blogging and Twittering) and yet what we make time for demonstrates what we truly value. How about you? When you consider where you spend your precious time, is it where you would like it to be and is it helping you to become the type of individual that you believe God created you to be? If not, what do you plan to do about it and when will you make the time for action? I am asking myself the same questions, especially when I become frustrated with poor choices that I've made. God speed. (Matthew 6:21)

Unbelievable Restoration

2009-11-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

Imagine someone giving away a 55 foot sailboat. It would have to be in pretty bad shape to go for free. Well that cost should give you an idea of the sort of condition that the TinTin was in when my friend Greg acquired it from a stranger in San Francisco. He then had to pay a hefty sum of $10K just to have this dilapidated vessel towed all the way to a dry dock in Seattle, Washington so that he might begin a drastic renovation.

Greg has committed all of his spare time and an additional $190,000 to restoring this 1985 sloop from Hong Kong. He nearly lost his life after slipping head first off of the front of the boat while making repairs in dry dock during the first year. Greg suffered brain trauma and was blessed to find himself mentally capable and alive after the incident which landed him in a Seattle hospital for a month.

Why would someone commit so much to a broken down boat? The answer is that when Greg saw the boat, he could look passed the scrapes and damages and see what it would be one day with the proper care, as opposed to what it was. Although Greg has invested $200K, the restored sailboat is beautiful and valued at $365K. More importantly, this has been a dream of Greg's to captain a boat such as this to run team building trips when he is not counseling in his office. Greg has renamed the boat the "Epilogue" and you can check it out on his website: www.epiloguesailing.com.

So what's the point? There are days when I don't feel very valuable. In fact, there are moments when I feel I am worthless after making repeated mistakes in my life. The reminder for me that rings loud in clear with regard to my friend's boat restoration is the way in which God sees you and me. To the majority of people who viewed the broken down TinTin, they saw nothing but a liability. However, to a man with a different perspective, he saw opportunity and something worth investing in that would one day have significant purpose. Greg was able to look beyond what was, to what could be.

I believe that this is the way God sees you and me. People may not see our potential and we may even be confused about our unique purpose, but God is always able to look past our imperfections and see what we could be if we were willing to live the sort of lives that He created us to live. Bill Hybels once said, "You have never looked into the eyes of an individual who doesn't completely matter to God." Do you believe that to be true with regard to yourself and the countless people who you pass on the street each day? It is a thought worth considering in my opinion, because if we believe it to be true, then it could impact the way we treat others and the way we respond to God. Is there any area of your life that could use God's touch as you consider His ability to bring restoration? I'm so glad He sees potential when I miss it.

Now That's Power!

2009-11-12T22:57:00.000-05:00

While I was on my way to work this morning, I grew extremely frustrated with the increased traffic due to inclement weather. My usual 30 minute commute close to 75 minutes. On one particular stretch of road containing about 5 back-to-back traffic lights, I found myself growing more and more impatient.

At about the third traffic light, my bulldozer driving fantasies were interrupted by the sound of a loud noise. I did what every driver does when you first hear that unmistakeable sound, I searched every direction to see where the siren was coming from. The sound grew louder by the second, and then I spotted the large, red firetruck moving quickly toward me in my rearview mirror. I did my best to negotiate my Silver CR-V off of the road. Every car around me did the same and we watched as the driver passed directly through traffic that had just moments before been impenetrable.

I looked ahead in amazement as cars which had only moments earlier clogged the streets, had now moved quickly right and left to clear a wide path straight up the middle. I was reminded of the movie "Bruce Almighty" when Jim Carey is given God's power and he uses it to do the very same thing in traffic. I sat and thought about how handy that trick would be on mornings such as this.

Alright, back to reality. The firetruck was out of sight and the cars slowed again to a crawl. As I had more time to think during the remainder of my drive, I pondered the power that I had just witnessed. In the midst of a plethora of obstacles, a large vehicle moved straight on through the very heart of congestion with ease. This vehicle was not only uninhibited by cars, it also had the authority to roll through red lights without concern. It was a thought provoking display of power.

My life is often cluttered with obstacles that tend to overwhelm me. I look at a financial burden or a trial that arises and wonder, "How will I ever get through this situation?" At times there are even difficulties which seem insurmountable. When I took more time to consider the concept of traffic as the clutter that can slow me down in life, it was not difficult to see God as the large firetruck the turns almost every head. He possesses the ability to cause situations and people to move this way or that, just when we think that to be impossible. Even when the possibility of moving certain obstacles seems to defy logic, God can sail through the middle in a miraculous way.

How often do I fail to remember this truth? How often is my focus on the traffic, rather than the God who transcends it? The truth is that more often than not, I allow frustrations from daily life to eclipse my view of the All-Capable God who loves me and knows what is best for me even when I fail to see it. This truth made the rest of my drive enjoyable, despite the rain and the traffic. It's funny how our view of God can do that. (Mark 10:27)

What Were You Thinking?

2009-10-19T12:11:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had someone do something nice only to find out later that they did it with selfish motives? Have you ever done something to help others and then been falsely accused of wrongful motives? I once had a woman volunteer to help run our youth ministry committee, only to find out later that she was motivated by a desire to overhaul our programs to better suit her own daughter. Not really the way she couched her desire to serve when she volunteered her time on the committee.

After walking through several experiences like the one I mentioned, you can begin to second guess people's motives. If you have had this sort of thing happen often in your life then the situations can begin to impair your ability to trust the people who you do life with at work and at home. An old friend of mine use to constantly use the phrase, "It takes a thief to know a thief." In other words, we understand when people carry selfish motives because if we are honest, we all struggle with keeping our motives 100% pure. The truth is that we as humans can be a mixed bag of motives.

This not only makes trusting others difficult, but it can also cause us to fall prey to assuming a superiority complex. This happens when we begin to assume that we know why people act the way they do. Maybe we claim to be gifted when it comes to discernment and perhaps there are times that we may be right. However, the truth of the matter is that we do not know the heart, mind and motives of another human. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure all things are pure..." In other words, if we keep our owns motives honorable in Christ then we are less apt to assign wrongful motives to others.

Perhaps the story that really spoke to me with regard to this issue was in Steven Covey's book,"7 Habits of Highly Effective People." He opens one chapter by talking about a man on a train who let his kids run amuck. The kids were making noises, running back and forth and really bothering the passengers on the train. One particular man who was watching the situation unfold finally decided to do something about it. He was convinced that this father clearly had no clue how to discipline children and was unaware of their current annoyance to the passengers around him. He mustered the courage to confront the oblivious father. In response to his rebuke the father turned to him and quickly apologized. He went on to say, "I'm so sorry, their mother just died and we have come from the funeral. I wasn't sure if I should discipline them for this since they don't usually behave this way, given the circumstances." Of course the man who assumed the father was an awful parent realized that he had misjudged the situation entirely.

Psalm 94:11 says that "The Lord knows the thoughts of man..." Every time I begin to assign motives to others based on what I think they are thinking, I seem to get myself into trouble. I certainly don't want others doing the same to me. I believe that this territory is God's department. He alone knows the thoughts and intents of a man's heart. Let's try as we may to assume the best about others in the same way that we would want them to assume the best about us. Isn't it enough to worry about ourselves and focus on keeping our own hearts pure before God? God is surely able to take care of the rest. (For more thoughts concerning this subject read Matthew 7:1-5).

Open Your Hand

2009-09-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to speak this past week at a men's breakfast event. We sat at round tables and spent time eating some tasty, yet unhealthy food, sucking down coffee and catching up on life. After about 20 minutes of social feasting, we took some time to discuss the process of becoming the men who God has created us to become. What are the catalysts to that process? What, if anything, might be impeding the process? I couldn't help but notice that some of the responses I was hearing seemed to incorporate an old fashion mentality. That is, the concept that people can advance with God the old fashion way - by earning it. Perhaps it takes more time studying the bible, or going to church, joining a small group, memorizing bible verses or going on a short-term mission trip? Even though all of these practices can help us to connect with God, they do not guarantee a closer walk with God or a transformed life.

As I pondered the process of God transforming our lives, the memory of a short-term mission trip to Nicaragua last spring came to mind. Our church was working with a large group of children from Verbo Orphanage in Puerto Cabezas. On about the fifth day of our trip, we set out to watch the orphans play a baseball game. We tried to squeeze the majority of our 30+ screaming gringos into the home team stands of the stadium in downtown Puerto Cabezas, where our orphans were playing another local team of teenagers. We attempted to cheer as though this was a season finale, championship game. You could see the impact that this type of encouragement was having on the orphans. They were clearly doing everything in their power to beat the opposing team. When the orphans hit the game winning run in the final inning, this sent the team and fans into a full-scale celebration. The team spilled into the streets, and many of the players began to pile into the bed of a staff member's pick-up truck. Jeff, who was driving the truck, motioned for me to climb into the front seat. As I opened the passenger door, I noticed a young orphan boy sitting in the middle of the front seat. His name was Bismarc and I said hello as we sped away, honking the horn and milking this momentous victory.

As we made our way back toward the orphanage, I noticed that Bismarc hadn't really spoken. He looked to be about 9 years of age and his eyes seemed to shift in one direction. He turned toward me and stared at my face for a good minute. Then, as though he had just sized me up, he reached for my hand. I opened my hand to receive his, although I must confess being caught off guard and feeling a bit uncomfortable. Bismarc then stretched his hand out as if to regroup, so that we could interlock fingers. I sat there processing my discomfort and what had just taken place. He seemed quite comfortable with this posture as he then leaned into me, like a lost child who had just found his parent. That was when my heart warmed toward Bismarc. It wasn't until we reached the orphanage that he finally let go. He simply smiled in my direction and then sprang out of the truck and bolted for his dorm.

As I stepped out of the vehicle, I was still processing the exchange. I came to find out that Bismarc had been abandoned by his parents and physically abused by his grandmother before ending up in this living arrangement. He had no real reason on earth to trust a complete stranger like myself after being rejected by the very people in his life who were suppose to love him. And yet it seemed that his desire to be loved was strong enough to cause him to risk rejection and abuse yet one more time. He merely sized me up and then opened his hand to me. As I pondered the experience, I am not so sure who was ministering to who.

The more I think back on that occasion, the more I am convinced that this is precisely the sort of relationship that God desires to have with us. We are the wounded orphan that makes our way through life, wondering who we can trust. Some of us carry more scars than Bismarc, while others of us may be confused enough to think that we don't need a loving father like God. Meanwhile, our heavenly Father sits and waits with his hand stretched open in our direction, fingers poised to interlock with our own. He is not looking for people to perform "spiritual" acts that may somehow curry his favor. Rather, He waits patiently for us to look to Him and realize that He can be trusted completely. He waits for us to reach out and take His hand so that He might guide us in life and bring us comfort when we struggle. It is only in the context of this loving relationship with our Father that we are truly transformed into the individuals who He created us to become.

Not the Way I Planned My Day, But...

2009-09-09T01:02:00.000-04:00

Tuesdays are meeting days for me at my job. I was getting ready to head into my second meeting this morning when I received an unexpected call from my eldest son. He began, "Dad, I was in a car accident and I'm not sure what to do." Of course I began by asking if he was alright and then as the conversation unfolded I realized that I most likely wouldn't make my next Meeting. I grabbed my car keys and drove toward the scene of the accident. Although I was extremely relieved to hear that he was unharmed, I couldn't seem to shake the anxious feelings that filled my mind as I drove to meet him.

Do you ever make a mental check-lists with regard to what you desire to accomplish on a given day? Some times I don't even grasp how much is on the list until my day takes an unexpected turn and I realize that I may not be able to complete every task. As I searched my mind and emotions to understand the anxiety I was feeling, it became clear to me that regardless of my mental check-list, I would not be able to complete the work that I had intended to do. The source of my stress, in other words, came from my sense of feeling behind in the office due to this unforeseen accident, as well as the weight of the accident itself and all that it entailed.

My day seemed to unfold from there. I went from speaking with a police officer to guiding my son to a garage, dropping his car with a mechanic, calling the insurance company to file a claim, then grabbing lunch before giving him a ride to his classes at the community college. Hardly the day I had planned. As I waited in line at the salsa bar, I had a quiet moment to collect my thoughts. The thought that came to mind was, "God, not one event has occurred today that was a shock to you." In fact, there is not an event in the universe that can escape God's mental check-list. What an awe-inspiring concept to ponder while waiting for salsa.

I returned to the table with more salsa but surprisingly, much less of the anxiety which had accompanied me to the bar. What changed? I had decided to let go of my agenda for the day and ask God how I might make the most of this occasion. It occurred to me that I had been given a window of uninterrupted time to connect with my son. It could be so easy to miss a moment like this one, but not today. In fact, I would guess that there are many parents with kids who have long since gone, that would cherish an opportunity like this. I decided to savor the conversation and enjoy the time God had given me today with my son. I do love him despite his accident-prone driving habits. Where does he get that anyway? Oh yeah...

The reminder for me today was a simple truth that I can all too easily forget. That is, while I may have my own agenda or mental-list with regard to a given day, God can see what is yet to come that isn't on my list. The trials or turns which may seem as annoyances or cause for anxiety, could be the very things that God desires to use to do His best work in and through our lives. So simple and yet so easy to miss. I sure am thankful that God is not only all-knowing, but He also loves us and has the ability to transform a trial into a blessing. (James 1:2-4)

Me & Grandma Pam

2009-09-05T19:02:00.000-04:00

The picture above was taken of me and my grandma around Christmas time my freshman year of high school. I have nothing but amazing memories of my grandmother and the role that she played in my life. She has wrestled with Alzheimers over the past 10 years, and our family and those who loved her have been pained to watch this horrible disease take it's tole on her mind and body. That reality made her passing this week bitter-sweet; bitter in that she will be missed by so many and sweet in the sense that she will no longer live with the fear and pain that accompanied her disease. It is also sweet to know that she will be much happier in heaven. I was fortunate, along with my brother Rick, to be by her side when she breathed her last. She was the best grandma ever!

Pam was actually a step-grandmother to me and my siblings, although she loved us like her own. She had grown up in Scotland and enlisted in the service as a young single woman. She married my grandfather after World War II when she came to travel America. She was one of the highest decorated women during the war, serving as the Head of the Women's Royal Air Force. She had been invited by Bob Hope, whom she had met during one of his USO tours, to stay at his home in California. Bob asked my grandfather, a retired Rear Admiral, if he would take Pam out to entertain her with golf. That was the beginning of their relationship and the two were inseparable after that time. They never had children of their own, but she treated her grandchildren as family, even after our grand father passed away in 1967.

I have fond memories of my mother dropping me off at my grandma's home in Potomac, Maryland. I would stay for great periods of time and she loved me as her own. We would go exploring on trails, fishing on the Potomac, she would help me read, encourage me as I climbed trees, teach me about the outdoors, and simply helped me live life as an adventure. She possessed a loving spirit, even though I tested any and every adult in my company during those years, I never saw her lose her patience. We spent time with her every Christmas and two weeks every summer at Bethany Beach, Delaware from 1969-1991. Great memories!

In the summer of 2003, when Pam's disease was quite advanced, I spent a week painting her home. She had a live-in nurse by the name of Fatima, who cared for her needs. During that week, I ate my meals with Pam when I wasn't outside slinging paint. I saw that she was responding to our daily conversations, even though she had lost most of her memory at that point. I asked Fatima how long it had been since my grandma had been out of the house to do something adventurous. Fatima responded, "It's been years." I said, "Well get her ready, we are going to the movies." We got Pam dolled up and took her to see the movie Seabiscuit. Pam seemed excited about the outing and was completely enthralled with the movie, as she helped me polish off our popcorn. It thrilled me to hear her laugh and see the smile that I knew so well back when she was leading the adventures. What a memorable evening!

My grandmother will be sorely missed by the people who knew her best. I hope to be as selfless as Pam was in her life. She possessed a unique ability to care for people and make them feel special. Her love for God and for people was contagious. I believe that was the reason she was voted citizen of the year in Potomac, Maryland back in the 1990's. Her service wasn't only recognized by her family, but also by her church, her neighbors and all who were fortunate enough to know her. Pam was an amazing example of how to live life to the fullest, loving God and the individuals who came across her path.

Leaving a Legacy

2009-08-19T02:14:00.000-04:00

Attending my friend Pete's funeral this past Saturday left me with a bitter-sweet mix of emotions. I was so sad at the loss of this close friend and sadder still when I considered the loss experienced by his wife and kids. As I sat near the front of this church, I watched the large room fill to capacity. I reached for the box of tissues at my side, as the first speaker took the podium.

The first speaker was Pete's only brother. He did an amazing job holding it together emotionally as he worked his way through his well crafted chronicle of Pete's life. He shared humorous memories that helped the audience recall Pete for who he was, while at the same time relieving the emotional tension that was palpable. He then turned the microphone over to a mutual friend by the name of Shawn.

Shawn recalled Pete's ability make people laugh, as well as his love for his family, his friends and most importantly, his God. He mentioned Pete's commitment to Christ and the 10 years that he spent volunteering in youth ministry, impacting the lives of so many teenagers. People were moved by this man's selflessness, as they sat and listened. Why were people so inspired? Because Pete didn't have to do any of those things, however, to our benefit, he chose to serve others in his lifetime.

The events of this past weekend caused me to reflect and ask what kind of a man am I, when it comes to loving my own wife? How am I doing when it comes to loving my 4 kids? When I am faced with a person in need, am I quick to serve or do I think of excuses to keep myself from being too inconvenienced? What does my relationship with God look like? Do I make time for Him each day? If so, do I make enough time for God to speak into my life through the truth of the Bible and work of His Spirit? I want to answer 'yes' to every question, but the truth is, "sometimes I do and sometimes I don't."

I recently took my youngest daughter Hailey to the Air & Space Museum. I was trying to build some positive memories, but more than simply having a good time, I wanted to leave a legacy. I want my faith to influence my daily attitudes and actions. I believe that there is a correlation between the significance of my relationship with God and His ability to use me to love and serve others as I was intended. Without this relationship, I drift from selflessness to selfishness in a very brief time. I am not OK with this! I want my life to count.

I want to live with a crystal clarity each day about what really matters in life, so that when I am faced with decisions, I chose wisely. How about you? What kind of choices have you been making when it comes to your daily life? What kinds of choices are you making concerning God, your loved ones and the others who you come in contact with each day? It is the small daily choices that we make which later define our lives and possible legacies. Let's make them count!

Pete Hill Loved Jesus & Life

2009-08-12T16:54:00.000-04:00

I was an elementary school bully when I first met Pete. He was some years younger than me and we attended the same church in Vienna, VA. I didn't see him a lot, but when we did cross paths, I am embarrassed to admit that I was unkind and would have never imagined that one day Pete and I would be close friends.

My next connection with Pete came when I was a volunteer with the ministry of Young Life. I was doing ministry at Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, where Pete was a student. I ran into him in the hallway and he told me about his experience on the football team. We kept in touch from that time on, into his college years at Sewanee University in Tennessee.

Pete and I reconnected when he transferred back to George Mason University. He began volunteering with me at Truro Church while I was serving as the youth pastor there. For the next 6 years, Pete served faithfully in that ministry. He had an obvious love for Jesus Christ, as well as for people. It's hard not to smile when I recall Pete's boisterous and contagious laughter which caught the attention of everyone within an ear-shot (especially when you were in a movie theater).

We became close friends in those years, serving side-by-side in youth ministry; brainstorming new ideas for messages and skits, laughing a lot and trying to spur each other on in our faith. It was extremely upsetting to hear about his sudden death this past Saturday. Pete will be missed by so many people, none more than his wife and two children.

As much as I will miss Pete, I know that he possessed a knack for living life to the fullest and passing along to others what God had so freely given to him. I cannot help but picture Pete turning heads in heaven as his laughter flows more freely now than ever before. His life is a reminder to me to make the most of the days God has given me. I am sure he had that same sort of impact on all who knew him. Goodbye for now my friend.

Can I Get Your Autograph?

2009-08-05T16:33:00.000-04:00

I had the privilege of going to Redskin's Training Camp this morning with some friends and family members. We watched in the hot sun as the players worked out in 90 degree weather, wearing full gear. There was a good size crowd milling through the over priced merchandise tent, snapping photos, wearing team colors, and of course waiting and hoping for an autograph.

When the two hour practice came to an end, the sweaty players headed for the locker rooms. The fans pressed into the fence line, shouting out player's names and begging for signatures. They held up footballs, jerseys, photos and Sharpie pens, anticipating a player's autograph.

After a long wait, only one player walked up the path that brought him in touch with the fans. Antwaan Randle El tried to sign as many autographs as possible, while fans shouted his name and practically begged him to autograph their fan gear. I was watching his face as he seemed overwhelmed, knowing that he would never get to every fan. Some shouted in frustration while others turned to leave, realizing that they would not get close enough to contact him.

I couldn't help but think of the crowds that were mentioned by all four gospel writers whenever Jesus walked into or through a town. Far more than a professional athlete, who may entertain us with their abilities, Jesus possessed the power to heal. In a culture that lacked a national healthcare system, antibiotics and the marvels of modern medicine, His ability to heal those paralyzed with sickness and disease was enough to inspire the sick to walk for miles and wait for days, just to touch him. They were not people merely seeking entertainment and an autograph - they were desperate men and women who hung onto the hope that Jesus just might be the answer to their problems.

As I watched the crowd today and the way the fans flocked to one man, I was encouraged by the reality that Jesus makes Himself accessible to each and every one of us, if we are willing to reach out to Him. Through His death on the cross and work of the Holy Spirit, He can meet us where we are, without walking for days and fighting through a hot, sweaty mob. We have access to Him in prayer and through His Word - the Bible. I wonder if we seek Jesus today with the same desperate intensity as those men and women who were willing to do whatever it took to be near Him?

With so many things competing for first place in our lives, what can we do to make sure that we are connecting with Him? He is a gift that I am afraid, we can far too often take for granted, in this distraction filled culture of our day. I know how easily I can get distracted. How are you doing when it comes to connecting with Him? He waits for us to seek Him and you don't even have to wait in line.

Storms on the Horizon

2009-07-28T15:22:00.001-04:00

It is amazing to me how quickly the weather can change around here. I was driving home the other night after an extremely sunny day and within 20 minutes a new front was driving in with vengeance. I snapped a picture out of my car window, hoping to make it home before it began to pour. Traffic began to slow as the sky rumbled with thunder and flashed with with bolts of lightning. It was something to see!

It doesn't take long to realize that life is just like the weather. It can seem that everything is going our way and within an instant we can be struck with difficult news about a job, our finances, our health, a loved one, or some other instance in life that causes life as we know it to thunder beyond our control. You don't always see it coming, but you can be fairly certain that it will come your way at some point in the near to distant future.

Why do I mention storms - to make you paranoid and cause you to look over your shoulder with dreaded anticipation? No! I merely mention them because they are part of life. The tremendous news is that the God who is in complete control of our earth's weather system is also in control of our daily life situations. He is not only aware but He also possesses the power to meet us right in the middle of the storm if we so desire.

I am not sure how you cope when you are staring directly into an oncoming life storm, but I can say with confidence that God desires to be present with us no matter what we face and that He is more than competent to guide us through if we let Him. There are times when I go my own way and the storm seems to grow more fierce and other times that I am reminded that Jesus cares enough about me to actually bring peace in the midst of the storm. This reality never ceases to shock me because I know I don't deserve the kind of love and care from the God I have turned my back on so many times in life. Nevertheless, I am always so grateful for His presence in the storm. (See link:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw

One More Won't Hurt, Right?

2009-07-25T02:42:00.001-04:00

I was sitting in our staff meeting this week, when a colleague of mine carried in a container of Smores. She set them in the middle of the table and said, "Help yourself". We then launched our meeting and I was completely distracted. I really wanted to try one and after internally debating the merits of abstaining versus giving one a shot, I caved and asked the guy next to me to slide one my way. It was tasty!

This led to my next thought - "I want another." After another silent cerebral debate, once again I gestured to my friend to send another my way. It was equally as good as the first. It was at this time that I began to wonder if that was a good idea or not. I began wondering how much time I would need to add to my run to get rid of any evidence which could grow the sidebars. I was frustrated with myself for lacking self control, while at the same time thinking, "That second was great - how about a third?". "What's my deal?", I wondered.

Why is it that eating and gaining weight is so easy, but losing it is not? Why is it that spending money is a breeze, but saving for something you really value seems to take an eternity? Why is it that the things in life that seem to deliver a form a quick gratification often carry a higher price tag? This same sort of mental struggle can happen when we are tempted to sin and disobey God.

Self control is not always easy, but I never regret saying "no" to something I feel drawn to when I know that there will be a cost later. In the same regard, I never regret saying "yes" to exercise or some other form of discipline that I may not feel like doing at the time. Alternatively, when I give in to something that seems to contradict better judgement, like downing a few Smores after lunch, I pay a price for my decision.

How do we obey that inner voice that often screams, "No" when we are tempted? I've heard it said that God's love language is obedience. In fact, that is precisely the essence of John 14:21, when the writer speaks of the the person who obeys God's commands actually demonstrating their love for Him by doing so. The trick, I believe, is realizing that we are powerless to sin and temptation in and of ourselves. This recognition helps make us aware of the reality that God is waiting for us to lean into Him for His assistance in times of weakness. Sound easy? It's not - but it is possible with His help. God loves when we turn to Him demonstrate our love for Him in obedience. Yes - I know that this is easier said than done - I'm the guy pounding Smores, remember?

So next time you find yourself struggling with something that you want very badly and you find yourself facing an internal battle to resist, take note of how you handle it. Consider your alternatives and where you tend to turn in similar situations. Are you happy with your current way of dealing with these dynamics? If not, what will you do about it? (Romans 7 has more to say about this topic if you are interested.) It may seem like a small thing, but moment by moment decisions define who we are and who we are becoming.

Throw Away Time?

2009-07-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday we were sitting around the house making decisions about our day, when Hailey asked if we could go to the pool. Sandra and I let her know what we had to do that day and found some extra time - or "throw away time" which made the pool an option. It turned out to be one of those opportunities that helps to foster relationships and create memories. Hailey and Sandra and I made it up to the pool for swimming, diving, sun bathing, an extremely long game of Uno (urgh - although it helped to win) and a game of throw the goggles in the water and see if you can find them. All in all, what seemed to be "throw away time" became one of the highlights of our weekend as we laughed and enjoyed the time together. It seems strange to me that even though I am very aware of this reality, it can still be possible to miss so many potentially great moments when the time is simply misused or discarded. Go figure.

Not As They Seem

2009-07-15T09:11:00.000-04:00

I was reading this past week in Exodus 3 & 4 regarding God's call in the life of Moses. He invites Moses to trust Him and go confront the Pharaoh of Egypt to release his free labor force. Not what would have been a well received message. Moses looks for every excuse not to go. He questions God about his personal identity, God's identity, his ability to convince the people that he actually spoke with God and his lack of skill as a communicator. His final objection: "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (Exodus 4:13)

In Cecil B. Demille's "Ten Commandments," He paints Moses as a bold young man willing to follow God without relent. He is pictured as the young stud from Hollywood, Charleton Heston. He seems to miss Moses' actual response to God in Exodus 3 and 4, which was filled with fear and worry about all that could go wrong.

So what's my point? The danger of missing that detail makes Moses difficult to relate to. The truth is, Moses was a lot like you and me and that God chooses to use men and women just like us. It provides hope that God can use broken, ordinary, everyday people to accomplish His purposes when we are willing to step out and trust Him. I'm so glad that God can use a broken and marred man like myself. I desire to get the most out of this life and realize that this only really happens when I take the risk of trusting in Him, fears and all.

Stopping to Reflect

2009-07-09T01:26:00.000-04:00

This picture was taken recently at Courtney's graduation. It is a reminder to me that life never slows down. The kids are growing so fast and each day is an opportunity to get the most out of this life with the people we love.

I have been struck with a few challenges recently. What occurred to me was not the dynamic of the challenges themselves, but the ability they have to rob us of enjoyment in this life. Yes - cliche that God has given us each day as a gift, but it is true none-the-less.

For me, it has to do with focus. When I focus too much of my thought-time on the challenges or trials, they seem to take on a life of their own and drag me down. When I keep them in perspective and am also thankful for all that God has blessed me with, I have an entirely different demeanor. It seems hard however, to keep this balanced perspective. I am so much more content when I do. This just came to my mind when I considered the positive attitude of the orphans in Nicaragua, despite how little they have.

Saying Good Bye & Hello

2009-07-07T23:24:00.000-04:00

Saying farewell to the Verbo love bird. Back at home today hearing about my son Murphy's mission trip to Brazil. Excited to hear that God is teaching both of us some of the same things about contentment and His amazing faithfulness!

Finished Homes

2009-07-05T23:25:00.000-04:00

We completed the 2 homes, thank you God! I preached this morning in the local church and then we spent time in the local community. We had a party for the orphans this evening and are packing for an early departure back to the states. It is amazing to witness the contentment so many here who have so little. Please pray for our return travel.

Nicaragua - Day 4

2009-07-04T01:39:00.001-04:00

Days have been full. We had Thursday night service last night at the church. We rose early and went back to building the 2 homes that we started building Tuesday. There was a lot of progress. We ran a VBS for the orphans and then I went into a dangerous part of the city to meet with one of the converted drug dealers. He took us to Escobar's home so that we could pray with a teenager who was paralyzed 2 years ago while diving. Then we prayed with a 73 year old woman and shared our testimonies with some 12 teenagers who are still involved in drugs. We rushed back for dinner and then I was asked to share with a group of young married couples.

We have not lacked for ministry opportunities here and it has been a pleasure to feel so used by God here. I am praying that God will speak through me this Sunday morning since I have been asked to preach in church. What a privilege! Thanks for your prayers!

Day 2 Nicaragua

2009-07-01T23:29:00.000-04:00

We worked on two homes and then had lunch and took the orphans to the river to swim. We packed two bus loads of kids and adults and then braved the dirt road to the river, which was riddled with potholes. Everyone enjoyed the cliff diving and swimming. Good group bonding and foundational ministry work. Looking forward to what God has in store this week. Thanks for prayers!

Nicaragua - First Full Day

2009-07-01T00:31:00.000-04:00

This is the end of the first full day in Nicaragua. We did a tour of the mission compound known as Verbo led by Pastor Earl. We met some of the 102 orphans today. Then we had a tour of the town of Puerto Cabezas and laid out the plan for ministry this week. I had a long nap and am wide awake in bed now. It's pouring rain outside and we have a long day ahead tomorrow. I miss my wife and kids. Wish they were here.

Day 1 in Nicaragua

2009-07-01T00:21:00.001-04:00

In Nicaragua. It's pouring rain and I am held up in my room. This is day 1 of actually being here for a full day. We did a tour of the compound, met some of the 102 kids from the orphanage, got a tour of Puerta Cabezas and then came back to help around the compound. The second half of our group showed up this evening so we now have around 50 total people here. I am looking forward to all that God has in store this week for us!

2009-07-01T00:21:00.000-04:00

In Nicaragua. It's pouring rain and I am held up in my room. This is day 1 of actually being here for a full day. We did a tour of the compound, met some of the 102 kids from the orpha

Making the Most of My Time

2009-06-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

I am attempting my first blog. It's late. Thinking back over my day, I'm wondering why it seems impossible to finish everything that I want to accomplish in a day or even a weekend. The 'to-do' list grows while the 'done' list feels like it's shrinking. It can be frustrating if that pattern continues for long.

With so many choices each day and all that I would like to be involved in, the commodity of time increases in value by the moment. Throw in a few 'have to-do's' and a couple of unexpected situations that must be dealt immediately and you are left burning the candle at both ends just to keep up. Another option is simply letting things go and falling further and further behind.

As I have been thinking back over this past week, I believe that the third option is the wisest and yet seems to be the most difficult to pull of regularly . I believe the third option in this case is to have the discipline, courage and wisdom to say the word "no." It takes discipline to say 'no' to some of the more enjoyable things that I don't want to miss for fear that certain opportunities may not come around again. Other times I need to say 'no' when I know that my motives may be misunderstood or for fear that I may not be asked or invited again. Lastly, it takes wisdom to say 'no' because it is possible to say 'no' to the right things and 'yes' to the ones we should have denied. Whatever the issue, making these choices is not always easy.

The difficult part is knowing when to do which. What to say 'yes' to and what to say 'no' to. Those daily choices can be a bear, because the clock never slows down and there are times when we need to decide ASAP. I believe that most of my poor choices are made when I am simply running too fast. When my pace is moving at a quick clip, I am more prone to make a quick decision without fully thinking through in light of everything else. Slowing down seems to be part of the solution for me. I think some of us are more prone to struggle with the speed of our pace and I am in that category.

The other element that seems to serve me well when I am willing to slow down and take the time to invite God into the process. If I take time to include God and speak with Him when I feel clueless, I never regret it. The direction I take when I consult with God is not necessarily logical or popular if I consult with others, but is definitely doesn't leave me feeling frustrated and confused (Proverbs 3:5-6). I want to do my best to get the most out of each day and the good news is: tomorrow is a new day for a fresh start.