For the past couple of years I've used some of my spare time in the summer for brainstorming, praying, and dreaming over the various ministries that I'm involved in and for myself personally. This summer has been no different.
It was Plato who said "The unexamined life is the wasted life." And since I don't want to waste a moment, I figure that I have better keep examining. Some questions that I've been asking myself include:
-what is the purpose behind this?
-where do I see this going?
-is this area of my life or ministry producing fruit?
-do I still feel called to serve here?
-how can I get others on board?
-is there anything I can or should be doing differently?
Through this time of examining, I've seen the hand of God. Both through looking back, feeling His leading and seeing Him answer prayers. Some of these answers have come in unexpected ways, but that's what makes life interesting, isn't it?
The road hasn't been easy to get to this point, but I can honestly say that I am very excited about where God is directing both my life and the ministries that I have a privilege of being involved in. Changes are coming yes, but I'm convinced that change truly is a good thing!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Wisdom from Dickens
"Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." (Charles Dickens)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Pumped Up
I'm so pumped up right now. This week I found out that the MAD Christian Radio Show is going to be aired weekly on a secular radio station in Indiana!
This is exciting to me for four reasons:
1. This is the first secular station to start airing the show.
2. I just was in Indiana and while driving through the state thought "Wouldn't it be nice if MAD was aired somewhere here too?" Then two weeks later I get an email in my inbox- sweet.
3. The show is being aired right before Ryan Seacrests show, which professionally means a lot.
4. And most importantly, this is a huge opportunity for people who might otherwise not hear the Gospel get a chance to do so!
So please pray that God continues to give me the words and that He uses the words and the music to touch the lives of whoever tunes in!
This is exciting to me for four reasons:
1. This is the first secular station to start airing the show.
2. I just was in Indiana and while driving through the state thought "Wouldn't it be nice if MAD was aired somewhere here too?" Then two weeks later I get an email in my inbox- sweet.
3. The show is being aired right before Ryan Seacrests show, which professionally means a lot.
4. And most importantly, this is a huge opportunity for people who might otherwise not hear the Gospel get a chance to do so!
So please pray that God continues to give me the words and that He uses the words and the music to touch the lives of whoever tunes in!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Football
When I was in Green Bay I picked up a small Green Bay Packers football. I've kept the ball in my office and it's replaced my mini-basketball as something I toss around while I'm brainstorming or just bored.Last night I had the opportunity to toss a real football around as some friends and I played a game in the park. When I was younger we used to play football all the time, but it had been a while.
We made some really good plays and some really bad ones. But better than that, it was great to be in the outdoors getting some fresh air and exercise and good to be in the company of friends.
I think I'll be planning another game soon :)
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Lovin' It
For the the past couple of weeks I've consistently fallen asleep before 1:30 am! For someone with a normal sleep pattern that's no big deal, but I've been struggling with insomnia and sleep problems for years and falling asleep between 4 and 5 am had become the norm.
In order to correct my sleep pattern I have tried numerous natural and pharmaceutical remedies and much experimental treatments, but nothing had worked, until now. At the beginning of July I started a new medication and it's doing the trick!
Needless to say I'm loving being able to fall asleep at a more normal hour. With the more normal hours I've also had more time and energy to do some reading, which has been great. Over the past couple of weeks I've finished the following books:
-The Shack by William Young
-Flashbang by Mark Steele
-Wrong Way: The Fall of Conrad Black by Jacquie McNish and Stewart Sinclair
All great books. All highly recommended!
In order to correct my sleep pattern I have tried numerous natural and pharmaceutical remedies and much experimental treatments, but nothing had worked, until now. At the beginning of July I started a new medication and it's doing the trick!
Needless to say I'm loving being able to fall asleep at a more normal hour. With the more normal hours I've also had more time and energy to do some reading, which has been great. Over the past couple of weeks I've finished the following books:
-The Shack by William Young
-Flashbang by Mark Steele
-Wrong Way: The Fall of Conrad Black by Jacquie McNish and Stewart Sinclair
All great books. All highly recommended!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Rain
The other week I sat listening to the rain fall and it sounded like drops of tears were hitting my roof. Crying for me over the loss of time, health, opportunities and relationships.
But somewhere in hearing those rain drops hit the roof, I also heard hope. Because rain doesn’t just darken the sky and make the outlook bleak. Rain soaks a thirsty ground. It brings life to what is dying. And it washes away impurities.
Rain can be depressing. But even the darkest storm brings life to that which would have otherwise died. Maybe that’s the same for you and I.
In John chapter 12, Jesus teaches us that a kernel of wheat that is planted and grows remains alone. But a kernel of wheat that is planted and dies produces a harvest of many new lives.
That’s contradictory. After all, what person would go through the effort of planting something, only to hope that it would die? But that’s the teaching of Christ. That sometimes it’s only in death that true life is found.
For some, death is a physical separation. For others it’s emotional. For others it’s the loss of something so profound that it paralyzes them. But in that death, we can hope, because we know that in the Kingdom of God death makes way for new life.
So now when I hear the rain, I no longer feel like crying. Because I can see that each one of my losses have fallen to the fertile ground of God’s kingdom. And it’s only there that they can spawn to produce new life, better life.
But somewhere in hearing those rain drops hit the roof, I also heard hope. Because rain doesn’t just darken the sky and make the outlook bleak. Rain soaks a thirsty ground. It brings life to what is dying. And it washes away impurities.
Rain can be depressing. But even the darkest storm brings life to that which would have otherwise died. Maybe that’s the same for you and I.
In John chapter 12, Jesus teaches us that a kernel of wheat that is planted and grows remains alone. But a kernel of wheat that is planted and dies produces a harvest of many new lives.
That’s contradictory. After all, what person would go through the effort of planting something, only to hope that it would die? But that’s the teaching of Christ. That sometimes it’s only in death that true life is found.
For some, death is a physical separation. For others it’s emotional. For others it’s the loss of something so profound that it paralyzes them. But in that death, we can hope, because we know that in the Kingdom of God death makes way for new life.
So now when I hear the rain, I no longer feel like crying. Because I can see that each one of my losses have fallen to the fertile ground of God’s kingdom. And it’s only there that they can spawn to produce new life, better life.
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