Today's Big Idea

Comments on Praising God with all my gut

2007-12-11T08:57:00.000-06:00

I personally am going through a lot of change as well as in my work place. I'm having a hard time realizing that everything about my life is in flux. Normally a person in this type of situation probably wouldn't have a clear head.

Here's what I'm talking about:
-I'm rethinking what my faith is all about.
-I'm believing that God is my source of self-worth, not my performance.
-I'm realizing that the organized church and God are not always synonymous.
-I can't do all the tasks that are asked of me at work.
-I can faithfully serve God as a Called Worker and husband/father at the same time.
-I must not let my work/role as a Called Worker come before my wife and family.
-It doesn't matter what other people (inside or outside the church/workplace) think about me because I have extreme value because of who I am, God's special son.
-I'm rethinking what my role at work is.
-I'm changing how I am at home.

In summary, I'm completely changing my foundations of life: personally, at home and at work. At the same time, so is my wonderful wife. At the same time so is my church.

If my person, family, work and church are all changing at the same time, where do you think my stress level should be?

But how do I feel? I'm for the first time, trying to praise God with all of my gut.

Praise God with my gut?

2007-12-11T08:56:00.000-06:00

Jon's Version of Psalm 103:

Lord I praise you with all my heart.

All you members of my body and everything deep inside me, praise the Lord.

(I can't believe I'm saying this.)

My soul praise the Lord!

My body, mind and emotions, let us all remember who God is:
- He forgives all of our (that's you, my body, mind and emotions) sins.
- He heals all of our illnesses.
- He pulls us out of Hell.
- He covers us with love and compassion.
- He gives us good things for our desires so that our energy is restored.

Do all of you, my body, my mind, my emotions, praise God and remember who God is?

(I've never thought about praising God this way, with all my gut.)

God Hiding

2007-11-22T17:48:00.000-06:00

"I'm not right." That's something I say when emotionally I'm all mixed up. That pretty much describes me these days.

I'm hurting. I'm happy. I'm alternating between the two.

I'm hurting because stuff going on a work and missing dad.

I'm happy because for the first time in my life I'm realizing why God loves me, me!

I'm kinda happy because Prof. Wendland from the seminary said at the WELS Prayer Conference that when someone's hurting, don't always bring out the passage that all things work for the good because it hurts. Admit it. "It hurts!" The answer to pain is looking at Jesus. He was hurting on the cross. He cried out in pain, "God why?!" And in the midst of pain there God was hiding. He was there making salvation for all possible. He was there working hard with lots and lots of pain to save me. to save dad. to save my family.

Prayer within a busy week

2007-07-30T22:08:00.000-05:00

It's a busy week. More than usual. (Directing VBS, coordinating a joint school food service program, fixing phone system and computer problems, calling the repair man for the broken garage door, preparing for a funeral, making worship DVDs, preparing for a wedding, and making adjustments to the payroll system, etc.)

Is your week busy?

As I was preparing for this week's prayer group, God confronted me personally.
Even in my extremely stressful time, God talked via John 16:23 John 16:23 and Martin Luther.

Jesus said in John 16:23, "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

Luther said, in his explanation of this verse, "You are to look closely at this command to pray and stress it. You should not consider prayer an optional work and act as if it were no sin for you not to pray-- as if it were enough that others pray. You should know God earnestly commands us to pray with the threat of his supreme displeasure and punishment if it is neglected. His command to pray is the same as his command to have no other gods, not to blaspheme, not to abuse God's name, and to confess preach, laud and praise his name. He who does not do this should know that he is not Christian and does not belong in the kingdom of God."

I realized that I have sinned.
Maybe you too?

As I looked back in my life, I see that my prayer life has fallen.
I used to pray more and with more people. In fact, I used to lead prayer groups.
While I'm still praying, it's not like I used to.

For me, God has given me today's reminder and the opportunity to be part of St. Matthew's prayer ministry, to bring me closer to him and to rekindle my desire to pray.

In my day and week that is so full, God spoke and I prayed.

How is God working in your life?
How has God spoken to you via John 16:23?

One Way Conversations

2007-05-01T10:32:00.000-05:00

How do you feel about one way conversations?
It's where one person does all the talking and you can't say a word and participate in the conversation.

I don't like it. In fact I get pretty annoyed. To the point of trying the leave the conversation and person as soon as possible.

Isn't this what we do with God by only praying and not hearing?

ouch.

Better than a Devotional Bible

2007-04-23T18:57:00.000-05:00

Another bit of wisdom from my insightful wife.

After we talked about "Who's the Boss?" she said something like
"I'm not sure I should be reading the devotional Bible."

I'm thinking, reading a devotional Bible is great. So I ask, "Why do you say that?"

She replies, "Because I end up reading the devotionals, gaining insight but not really reading the Bible itself."

I'm thinking, Yeah, I understand that. I find my self reading just pretty much the devotionals in a devotional Bible. And why not, they are full of insight and sometimes bring to light a truth from God that I hadn't thought about.

My sweety continues, "If I really want to get closer to God, I need to be reading more directly from Him."

I'm thinking, Wow, you're right.

Who's the Boss?

2007-04-22T21:17:00.000-05:00

Luke 16:13 (New International Version)
13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

My wonderful wife, pointed this passage and the corresponding devotional to me from the Mom's Devotional Bible.

The devo reads:

"The next time we go to the grocery store, stop at the amll or go out to eat, we need to consider: What's our money motto? Jesus draws a harder line than most of us imagine. Either we'll use God and serve money or we'll serve God and use money. We can't have it both ways. Who's the boss?"

Either we'll use God and serve money
or
we'll serve God and use money.

Kid's perspective on the 6th Commandment

2006-12-08T14:12:00.000-06:00

Our kids are larning the Ten Commandments.

One of them said the 6th Commandment this way:

You shall not admit adultery.

:-)

Of Mice and Men, part 6

2006-12-03T21:15:00.000-06:00

Traps caught 2 more mice.

And 2 traps had their peanut butter eaten but no mouse!
So much for the great traps made by Victor.

Went to Fleet Farm and got:

Pro-Ketch

Home of the Ketch-All

“World's Best Mousetrap”

That caught 2 more mice.

Mouse total now 16!

Of Mice and Men, part 5

2006-11-27T22:41:00.000-06:00

Reset the traps.

Catch 1 in the kitchen, 1 in the drop ceiling by basement bathroom, 2 in the drop ceiling above the train table.

Mouse total now 12!

By this time, I am so grossed out with mice.

The big draw back to live traps is cleaning them. Mouse pop smells awful when confinded to a small space such as a trap.

Remember a while back I mention our traps are semi-humane. If one doesn't take the mice to an appropriately far way park for release promptly, the mice soon get hungry again. I guess a glop of Skippy Extra Chunk doesn't last very long. With no more peanut butter they go after other things. Cramed in the Victor M313 the mice don't have many choices. I found two that they've tried. 1 each other and 2 a plastic bump inside the trap. Option 1 is very ugly to clean.

Combine that with finding the traps in the begining with dead mice and the one who tried to swim, what do you get?

Mice night mares.

Of Mice and Men, part 4

2006-11-27T22:37:00.000-06:00

2 days after installing the Hi-Tech anti-mouse weapontry, we go back to Fleet Farm for 3 more traps.

Catch one.

Mouse total now 8.

Of Mice and Men, part 3

2006-11-27T22:28:00.000-06:00

At Fleet Farm, instead of more traps we purchased Victor® Mini PestChaser® 4- Pack. Placed one in the kitchen, one in the Dinning Room, one in the Living Room and one upstairs. We're getting Hi-Tech now with the ultrasonic guns.

We find new mice evidence and set the traps.

Caught 3 in the 2 traps and...

found 2 dead in the furnace.
That's what happens when one runs around in the cold air returns. Eventually you end up in the furnace next to the air filter.

Mouse total now 7.

Of Mice and Men, part 2

2006-11-27T22:20:00.000-06:00

Traps are clean and set out.
Next day I check on them.

Trap 1 has one mouse. Trap 2 is empty but...

I notice that in the bucket under the basement facet there is a dead mouse floating in about 2 inches of water!

Mouse total now 4.

More mouse evidence all over the basement and now in the kitchen as well.

Off to Fleet Farm to buy more traps.

BTW we are semi-humane mice catchers because we use live traps from Victor. Model M313 works much better than M007.
Visit Victor for more details.

Of Mice and Men, part 1

2006-11-27T22:14:00.000-06:00

We've discovered the evidence of mice!
Mice turds, cumbs of shreded paper, a napkin with frosting dragged accross the room and into the cold air return, etc.

So I search for the traps.

Over the summer we had mice and I left one trap outside because I needed to clean it up and the other trap was in the basment.

So I go down the basement and find the trap in the storage room, with a dead mouse in it! Couple of days dead kinda mouse. So cleaned that trap out. On to the one outside.

I open it to clean it out and it has a bunch of fur in it. Taking a second look, there is a skelton of a mouse there!

So between mid-summer and mid-November I caught 2 mice without even trying. Pretty good for my first day of mouse catching.

Trick or Treat!

2006-11-01T08:49:00.000-06:00

Becky: Princess dress with red sweater
Josh: Groovy Ghost from Scooby Doo
James: Spider Man in a coat turned into a crayon (bucket on head)
Daniel: Karate Man
Ben: Knight with armor breat plate, sword and shield
Pumkins on the steps carved by the kids themselves.

Baby!

2006-10-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

Timothy David
7 lbs. 11 oz.
20 1/4 inches

Carolann and Tim are both healthy and doing fine.

And the Answer is...

2006-10-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

No Baby.

That's right.
When the phone rings the first thing we say is "No Baby."
When the email comes in asking what's up, the answer is ...

Don't worry, we will not forget to call or email or post on this blog when Baby does arrive.

Believe me, we want this Baby out as bad as you want to know if it happend.

Feeling Old

2006-09-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

Just got back from the doc. I've probably got a virus. Rest, lots of fluids and veggies if hungry. Here's the story:

Thursday, I feel a cold/flu coming on. The back of my nose is starting to flem up and my throat feels hot.

Friday, it continues but by the afternoon, my tummy's not doing well, ache all over, etc.
Friday night fever kicks in with chills and headache.

Saturday it continues with my arms and legs realy feeling it and fever deminishing.

Sunday it continues with fever gone but arms and legs have lost their strength.

Monday (today), it continues and I see the doc.

I feel old because I can't walk like normal, I climb stairs with soreness and unconfortably, when I signed in at the doc's it was painful to write. Even to type this is slightly painful.

Humans?

2006-09-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

Early Saturday morning we went shopping for the Labor Day sales specials.
As we drove in the empty parking lot of Office Depot, Josh says, "Where are all the humans?"
:-)

My first Podcast

2006-09-09T19:42:00.000-05:00

I'm using my new MacBookPro and it is so cool and easy to use.
I set up a podcast feed http://stmatthewlutheran.com/podcasts/podcasts.xml

Just end that link in your podcast grabber, like iTunes, and your linked!

$4 for a slice of pizza

2006-09-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

I just finished volunteering at Lambeau Field to benefit our school.
I worked in the club level pizza stand where a slice (1/6 of a pizza) of cheese, pepperoni or Packer brat pizza costs $4 (brat pizza is the best! it's a cheese pizza with Johnsonville brats choped as a topping);
a bottle of water $3.50 (non-bottled water is free but amazingly no one asks for it);
a bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Lemonade, or PowerAid cost $3.50;
a prezle with or without cheese is $3.75;
a one size fits all bucket of popcorn is $4;
Beer is $6 a cup, $7 if you want the souvenier cup but less beer (BTW your choice of beer in our stand is Miller Light, MGD, Bud, and Fosters.);
a cup of coffee or hot chocolate is $2.50;
and ice is free but only in very small cups.
Voluntering at Lambeau is hard work but a fun experience and a bit amazing seeing how much people dish out to eat there.

hurry up and wait

2006-08-30T21:27:00.000-05:00

For the past week (Aug. 21 - Aug 30) I've been working with our new IT professional on fixing our church/school network and Windows SBS 2003 Premium Edition.

It's about equal time researching and working as it is waiting for a download patch or waiting for a service pack to install or uninstall or uninstall and then install again or waiting for the server to reboot.

It's very fusterating, especially when it consumes so much time.
Time waiting. Time not being able to do my normal work.
Time not being home. Time not sleeping.

Long story short: our server was plagued with slowness, conflicts and problems.
We partnered with striketeamtech.com
Our tech, Pat, has been a tremendous blessing.
He knows Windows and he's fast.
Unfortunately, windows plays the waiting game, as mentioned above.

Pat and I were working on fixing the server and network.
We fixed the DNS, original installation configuration problems, NIC, a failed backup tape drive (still under warrantee), DHCP and finally MS SBS 2003 SP1. It seemed just as we fixed each one of these issues something else would go wrong. Finally we had GPO problems and then the GPO editor crashed and DHCP and DNS didn't work.

If you're thinking, "What did he just say?" you're not alone.
I'm not sure myself but I do know that all those things need to be working to have a healthy server.

The only thing left was to wipe the hard drive and start over.
So that's where we are tonight.

The server is running much faster and things are cleaner.
Overall, it really pays to pay a person who knows what they're doing.

I've learned that there are a lot of tech people and business out there.
Some are just guys who know enough to be dangerous.
Some are certified MS engineers.
Some are smart enough to be MS certified but aren't.
Some think they know enough to be a tech but souldn't be.

For those of us who are outside looking in, it's hard to determine which of the above mentioned group a particular tech belongs in. But you can see it in their work.

Unfortunately for me, I experienced guys who know a little and where dangerous and now, with Pat, I'm experiencing a guy who is great, knows computers/networks and is a certified MS engineer.

Settlers

2006-07-10T23:05:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to teach Mom & Curt "Settlers of Catan." I can't believe it.

Seemed like they actually enjoyed it but they did comment how there is so much too remember while playing. I didn't think of that before.

Moving into

2006-06-27T22:48:00.000-05:00

We are moving into or rather we are in the beginning of
"a future that we can not clearly describe" says David Warlick at the WELS EduTech conference.

In a nut shell he redefines literacy as...

First what literacy was: reading, riting, rithmatic.
Now literacy is: Exposing Truth, Employing information; Express ideas compellingly and over all we need Ethics.

More detail on his redefinition can be found on his website.

I see a tremendous opportunity for our churches and schools to embrace this trend and use it to reach out and reach in for bringing and strengthening people to Jesus.

David Warlick

2006-06-27T22:39:00.000-05:00

I'm attending the WELS EduTech conference this week.
On day #1, I learned the most impacting info from David Warlick.
He's got some incredible insights into the current situation and future of communicating and redefines literacy.
Check out his page at davidwarlick.com

Boys will be Boys

2006-05-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, James (1 and half years old) and I were in the basement.
Of all the toys in the toy room,
Imaginext, toy kitchen, cars, trucks, roller blades...
James picks out
a fire breathing dragon.

God works no matter what

2006-05-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

Had an interesting conversation with Missionary Tim Flunker.

In our visit he said,
"I have a saying that applies to us Called Workers:
The Holy Spirit works dispite us."

Blah Blah Blah

2006-05-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

I just realized something today.

James was drawing and talking. He would make a few scribbles and then point to it and "talk" in his own way. To us it sounds like baby talk or "Blah Blah Blah..."

But from James perspective he is doing what he sees and hears us do.

He doesn't understand our language.
So what he hears when we talk is "Blah Blah Blah..."
Therefore, being the smart kid that he is,
he just repeats what we grownups do.

Huge downtown

2006-04-23T11:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening in San Fransisco.
What struck me was how big the down town area is and how many people there are.

I've been in big cities before. Chicago, Tokoyo, Phenoix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Seattle.
But San Fransisco is different. I wish I could have taken pictures to show but I was trying to navagate the 3 lane street that was packed on a Saturday night from the Golden Gate Bridge to the freeway. One major difference for the driver is that very rarely can a car make a left turn on the major streets down town. It make sense with all the people and traffic but it causes a stress for a new driver in town to find his way around. Especially when he makes a wrong turn.

Another thing that surprized me was how many people eat late.
It was about 8:45 PM when I stoped at In-N-Out Burger fast food restuarant. The place was packed! I had to await in line to order and then wait to recieve my order. The waiting didn't bother me. I was just suprized that the line never died down and the seating was always full and it was 9PM.

In-N-Out Burger has the best fries I've ever tasted at a fast food place. Maybe it's because I saw them take whole fresh potatoes and cut them as needed to make the fries. The burger was excellent too. They only use fresh meat, not frozen.

PGR2

2006-04-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

Project Gothem Racing 2 for Xbox came alive for me while in northern California.

I remember a track in PGR2 called Nurburgring (BTW it's actually a real place). It's a really long track that winds around all over.

When playing PGR2 I recall the engine sound effects, the braking around corners, the acelerating on the straight aways, the sometimes wide Russian tracks, the other cars leaving me in the dust :-), etc.

I experienced all that while driving all over San Jose and San Fransisco these past 2 days.

The narrow road leading me to the big Redwood trees that I was constantly braking around the curves and hairpin turns. My foot and knee were actually sore by time I got back to the hotel from all the braking and accelerating I did.

The wide freeways were very nice. My little Ford Focus rental car would roar it's engine to get up to speed.

I was surprised how nice the people out here drive. Sure some left me in their dust when they passed me with their black Porsche sport cars but overall the majority of drivers where pleasant. Which was different than when I play PGR2.

CHiPs

2006-04-20T22:41:00.000-05:00

Remember CHiPs TV police show?
I had that theme song running through my head.
Why?

Because I was driving on the highways of California.
That's right! I'm in San Jose, California for the WELS Staff Ministers Conference.

I arrived early so I drove around today.
I visited the great big, I mean really big, redwood trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Then I drove to the cost near Santa Cruz. I saw the sun setting at Natural Bridges State Beach and called Carolann so we could share the moment.

Diapers

2006-04-16T19:43:00.000-05:00

I remember back to our first Lamze days when Carolann was pregnant with our first child.
They taught us how to wrap the newborn, wash the babe and change the diaper. We even got to practise on life size offical Lamze baby dolls. "Not to bad" I thought when learning how to change a diaper.

My expectations of how diaper changing goes was radically changed once Daniel was born.
Babies and Toddlers do not lay still when you, the parent, are in the process of changing their diaper.

So my new rule on diaper changing is that it is normal and should be expected and one should be prepared for just about anything because kids are not still during a diaper change.

This rule has never disappointed me. It has always held true.

Until today.

5 kids latter.

I changed James' diaper this evening with...

no fuss
no wiggling
no giggling
no fingers reaching down to where the pop was while I'm trying to clean it up
no unexpected fountains
no trying to crawl away

So I encountered my first exception to the Diaper Rule.

The Diaper Rule does not apply to children who, after a great day of playing, are in a deep sleep.

Pay Day, The Game

2006-04-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

My brother and sister will appreciate this one.

Daniel for his birthday received the new updated version of Pay Day.
So I played with him and the kids the day he got it.

It's got some new twists.
For example a Lottery. And there is only ONE Sweet Sunday in the whole month.
The prices are higher to reflect a more current value of things.

But overall the game has the same feel as it did 15 years ago.

For me it's just one step above Careers.

PS. This is not a high rating.
For those who may not know Careers, in my book, is the worst game ever.
Sorry Rach.
:-)

Big Toe

2006-04-13T13:01:00.000-05:00

Ya know how you don't realize how important sometime is until you don't have it any more?

My big toe on my left foot doesn't have a toenail any more. I'm used to it now but it took a few weeks. It's taken me that long to get to the point where I can talk about it without getting shivers up and down my spine.

I had a baterial infection under my toenail. Don't know how it got there. But there it was.
I could tell something was up because the color of the skin under the nail turned a white-yellow and was spreding. Also it was getting more and more painful each day.

Went to the foot doc and he didn't know what it was but saw that something was up.

When he asked, "On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most painful, what's the pain at?"

Remembering the quote of my good friend Bob Fischer, when ever he was asked that question he always answers 10 becuase then you get the best care asap. So I said, "7"

Well then we better get at this right away. So he gave me my options and recomended that he remove the nail, then we'll see what's going on and it will fix the problem.

Great I thought. I'll come back in a few days and it will be taken care of.
Doc says, "I'll be back in 5 minutes and we'll do the procedure. If that's alright with you."
"OK." I say thinking, "I wasn't expecting it this soon but now we'll get it over with."

Everything went fine. Yep I had a baterial infection. In about a week the toe will heal up nicely.

Oh, by the way, it takes 6 months to grow the nail back.

So here I am today. Toenail-less but in no pain, except when the kids step on it.

Interesting side note, Bob's idea doesn't always work.
Doc said, "Well if you're at a 7 now then after the nail is removed it will be at a 3 for about a week." It hurt A LOT MORE during that week, like a real 7.

11 Days

2006-04-12T18:33:00.000-05:00

Eleven days ago, I attended a workshop at Fox Valley Lutheran High School about time management and technology for the parish Pastor. The presentor was Martin Spriggs the chief technology officer of the WELS. He was terrific and showed how to effectively use technology as a tool. Also he showed and warned us of the danagers. Here's what I remember 11 days after the seminar:

The computer allows us to do in 30 minutes what we didn't need to do before.
Mind Mapping is an awesome method of organizing one's thoughts. He even showed us how he uses it to prepare sermons. I've been using it (MindJet Mind Manager) during these 11 days and oh my oh my the creativity and my creativity is booming.
Daivd Allen's "Getting Things Done" methods for time management and productivity really work. I've been trying them for the past 11 days and wow what a difference. I've got his book, downloaded the GTD add in for Outlook, and downloaded the guide to how to use Outlook more effectively.

Heaven Shattered

2006-03-26T21:23:00.000-06:00

How do you think heaven will be like?

I was thinking something along the lines that the dictionary defines.
"Heaven: An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss."
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

Then I studied Matthew 25:14-30.
Jesus gives a parable in which 3 servants are given talents, Greek money (where 1 talent = 6,000 days wages), to manage. The first is given 5 talents ($1,000,000). The second is given 2 talents ($500,000). The third is given 1 talent($200,000). Each according to their ability. Each given an incredible amount.

Servant One and servant Two are faithful managers. The master says, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

What's that?

On Earth, faithful with a FEW things (like a half a million to a million dollars).

In Heaven, responsible for MANY things (what could that be?) and a heavenly party.

Carolann's Star Trek Personality

2006-03-11T21:23:00.000-06:00

Your results:
You are An Expendable Character (Redshirt)

An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		65%
Jean-Luc Picard		60%
Data		57%
Beverly Crusher		55%
Geordi LaForge		55%
Deanna Troi		55%
James T. Kirk (Captain)		45%
Chekov		45%
Uhura		45%
Mr. Scott		40%
Will Riker		40%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		25%
Worf		25%
Spock		24%
Mr. Sulu		20%

Since your accomplishments are seldom noticed, and you are rarely thought of, you are expendable. That doesn't mean your job isn't important but if you were in Star Trek you would be killed off in the first episode you appeared in.

Click here to take the "Which Star Trek character am I?" quiz...

While a Red Shirt might not be glamorous for Carolann.
Look what personality was in second place.

"Unexpected" after-thoughts

2006-03-11T20:47:00.000-06:00

it was really scary for me holding him during a seizure
then the 911 person telling me there is nothing I can do but hold him

we had a house full at the time. Two classmates from Becky's call were over playing.
The boys had just finished playing with legos in the living room. And they all were in the middle of a treasure hunt game that Carolann and I had made for them with clues all over the house.

So he we are
a house full of kids running all over,
a police officer, 2 firemen, 3 paramedics in our living room
working on James while navigating thru a sea of legos
:-)
kinda comical

All the emergency personnel were so nice and understanding,
a little awkward working 0n such a little boy but
they knew exactly what needed to be done and how best to help.

while James and I were in the ambulance and in the hospital, Carolann was home with our kids and Becky's 2 classmates Asja and Shaina. Asja's mom and Shaina's dad were of great support to Carolann.
It's amazing how God works through people you'd never guess.

in the ER, the staff was great.
there is one ironic thing that just amazed me then and still does.
James' ER nurse was very overweight and had trouble walking.
That just didn't fit in the ER setting.
She was a wonderful nurse and was very sympathetic with James during the times they had to draw blood and swab his nose.

James and I did a lot of waiting there in the ER.
Waiting for test results. Waiting for the temp to go down.
So we got to watch TV.
Star Trek the Next Generation, my favorite and it kept James happy
Maybe one day he'll be a Trekkie like daddy.
We also watched:
- a documentary on Iwa Jima
- One Man's Wilderness, An Alaskan Odyssey
- a documentary on Teotihuacan: city of gods
all amazing shows, I learned a lot.
We, the USA, lost a lot of men at Iwa Jima and the Japanese fought valiantly.
One man, Dick Proenneke, built a cabin alone and lived in the wilderness.

Unexpected

2006-03-11T17:54:00.000-06:00

I never dreamed that I would actually need to dial 911 for an emergency affecting my family.

Yesterday, afternoon from 3 PM to 7 PM James wasn't feeling well and just wanted to be held.
He has been battling a cold but nothing serious.
He ate supper just fine. Seemed a little tired.
So after supper I held him to make him feel better.
He was a little warm but not hot like he was last week when he had a temperature.

Then around 7 PM he started to shake.
Then his eyes opened and looked up and his lips started quivering.
His jaw closed tight. I said, "Carolann, Look at this."
Then I realized he was having a seizure.

I got up. Prayed while walking to the phone to dial 911.

Within minutes a police officer arrived and a minute or two later a fire truck and an ambulance.

James had a temp of 103.8 They cooled him down a bit and explained most likely his seizure was caused by the high temp.

James and I went to the hospital in the ambulance.

7:30 PM They checked him over, took blood and xrays.
Gave him tylenol and motrin to bring down the fever fast.

The doc examined him and found he had an ear infection.
Gave him antibiotics for it.

After about an hour he was coming around to be himself.
Sick but a lot more responsive than the coma/seizure he was in.

They did some tests to make sure he was ok.
Everything came back fine. We were free to go home at 10:45 PM
James was so glad to be home and fell right asleep and slept til 9 AM this morn.

Today he was sick battling his cold and ear infection but other wise normal.

Carolann was telling me that earlier today James was "talking" to her about the ordeal by
pointing to all the things they did to him. Like, the toe heart beat monitor, the spots on his arms where they pulled blood and the hospital bracelet on his leg.

Life is precious and God was with us through the whole event.
Now we're exhausted and thankful.

The day in the life of a Staff Minister

2006-03-01T18:59:00.000-06:00

Today's agenda:

meet with electrician for the installation of a chair lift.
contact the chair lift contractor to find out why he did not show.
work with the server/network tech on fixing our VPN and setting up our new DSL.
show the phone tech where the phone lines enter the building so he can set up our new DSL service.
answer the phone, only to be harassed by the same person that has been doing it on and off for the past month.
contact the police and talk with the sergeant in regards to the harassing phone calls.
call the phone company and follow up on why only 2 of our 4 lines have been switched to the new phone service.
talk with a competitor who stopped in to give us a better price on our floor mats.
call the milk distributor because they didn't deliver enough milk for hot lunch.

While that happens I'm:

Approving bills to be paid
Emailing web site designer, Foundation board chairman, and the pastors
Processing facilities requests for confirmation party
Preparing for meeting with Property Elder
Balancing the checkbook
Reviewing VBS materials
Reviewing a sunday school curriculum

Star Trek Personality Test Results

2006-02-09T16:32:00.000-06:00

I am Geordi LaForge.

I work well with others and often

fix problems quickly. My romantic

relationship is often bungled.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test

BTW: Carolann verified that this descibes me exactly.
:-)

Comments on Reformed Theology and its Threat

2006-02-09T11:52:00.000-06:00

Here are some points for discussion:

1) I agree with his points of caution on Calvinist and Arminianism teachings on how a person comes to faith:
Calvinist- God determined it so you can't do anything to change it.
Arminian- I have to invite Jesus; I have to decide to believe.

2) I agree that people are longing for and asking "What is the will of God for me in my life?"
I agree with his statement that "We can say nothing with certainty about the will of God apart from the revealed Word of God! If we want to know the will of God, let us marry the Scriptures! God gives us, not a code book of rules or a canon law that eliminates greedom and choice, but principles to guide us in the making of decisions and choices, which choices, motivated by the gospel, will be pleasing to God, whether we choose this or that." P.3

However...

3) He states on page 4, "But don't we pray from his guidance when we have to make choices? Of course we do. But we do not pray for him to make the decision for us. We do not ask him to reveal ot our innermost being his hidden will. Nor do we expect him to blow in our ear. We ask for his guidance and for his blessing our OUR decision, that it may be made and the work done to his glory and for the benefit of our neighbor."

Ooops. I've been praying asking God to show me which direction to go on a decision.

For example, I asked God to clearly communicate to me which call to take when I had 2 (at that time my one in Denver and a new one in Appleton). God did clearly communicate to me which call to accept.

Another example that my wife Carolann can testify to is that when I received the call to Pullman, WA God wispered in her heart that that was where I was to go. While at the time I was stubborn and refused to listen to God's voice. I was saying "No, this isn't right." God showed me through Carolann and other people, events and His own wispering in my ear that Pullman was the call for me.

4) The author refers to a recent WELS video where a woman discussing a pre-school program said "We had planned it for our members and expected it to be small. ...But sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks to us and leads us in an altogether different direction. We have to follow where his speaking lead us." The author continues, "Why couldn't she just have said: 'We decided to invite our neighbors. God blessed our efforts beyond our fondest expectations, so that now...' Why this speaking of the Holy Spirit a part from his Word?" p.14

Does God still speak outside of His Word?
I think so.
Look at what is recorded in Acts:
8:26 God speaking to Phillip;
9:4-9 ...to Saul/Paul;
9:10-16 ...to Ananias;
10:3-6 ...to Cornelius;
16:9-10 ...to Paul;
20:22 Paul is compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem
20:23 the Holy Spirit warned Paul that he would face hardships
27:23-24 ...to Paul

In all the above cases God made decisions and communicated them to his people.
And it was "outside" of His Word.

I supposed we should have a discussion on what the phrase "outside of God's Word" means.

The Case for Tithing

2006-02-09T11:40:00.000-06:00

By clicking on the title above it takes you to an article entitled, "The Case for Tithing" by Kirk Nowery in the winter 2006 StewarshipStrategies magazine, which is published by INJOY Stewardship Services.

He makes some strong statements about Tithing. What do you think?

A Very Cultural Meal

2006-02-06T11:45:00.000-06:00

The other night I had a very culturally diverse meal.

Cheese Noodles or Mac and Cheese or Cheese and Mac, however you want to call it.
So that reminded me of Wisconsin.

For a beverage I had some Alaskan brew. Their Winter Ale to be exact.
It was very good. And it of course reminded me of Alaska.

To give my Mac and Cheese some zip I added some Montana City BBQ sauce.
It's great stuff. And it's from Montana!

Reformed Theology and its Threat

2006-02-02T11:43:00.000-06:00

This link takes you to a paper reciently given at a pastors conference in Door County, WI by Pastor Deutschlander.

It is well worth the time to read it.

It made me think and wrestle with a few issues.

Pastor D. does an excellent job of descibing the errors of Calvinism and Arminianism.
Then he shows by recent examples of how those errors could be creaping into our churches and people today.

Questions about the Formal Church

2006-01-31T14:34:00.000-06:00

Has the WELS (or any other church body) over time in'ad·ver'tent·ly changed what was orginially designed and set up by God?

What does it mean to be a WELS Christian?
What is WELS?

The WELS.net ABOUT page says in it's first line:
"WELS, characterized as theologically conservative, is the third largest Lutheran church body in America." -wels.net

So what's Lutheran?

Lu·ther·an
"Of or relating to Luther or his religious teachings and especially to the doctrine of justification by faith alone." -The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

So what's a church body?

Church Body
"A church body is a Christian religious organization made up of congregations, members and clergy. They are organized more or less formally, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, sometimes seek non-profit corporate status in the United States and often have state or regional structures. Church bodies often belong to a broader tradition within the Christian religion, sharing in a broad sense a history, culture and doctrinal heritage with other church bodies of the same tradition." -"Church Body." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2005.

We call our selves Christian. What does that mean?

Chris·tian
"Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus." -The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

So what is a religious organization?

re·li·gious
"Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity." -The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

or·gan·i·za·tion
"1. The act or process of organizing."
"5.a. A structure through which individuals cooperate systematically to conduct business." -The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

Putting all together we might have WELS being...

the third largest Christian {Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus} Lutheran {relating to Luther or his religious teachings and especially to the doctrine of justification by faith alone} religious {Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity} organization {A structure through which individuals cooperate systematically to conduct business} in America.

It seems to me that WELS is a well institutionalized Lutheran religion.

in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize
"To make part of a structured and usually well-established system."
-The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

re·li·gion
"a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship."
- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004

I am not saying this is a bad thing.
We need organizational structure for a large group of people to effectively work together and encourage one another.

What I do feel is that sometimes the people in the institution (whether it is the local congregation or a larger organization, like an area of ministry directed by 2929) have lost some of the love, creativity and big picture purpose for being.

Revealing WELS studies part III

2005-11-30T18:23:00.000-06:00

Back in Oct. 2001, Wayne Mueller lead a leadership retreat in the great state of Washington. I video taped that retreat and just recently converted it to DVD.

At that time Rev. Mueller was the administrator for WELS Parish Services. As part of the retreat he shared synod wide statistics. While the data is a few years old, I'm sure the current trends would only be varied by a few percentage points. Here's what was presented:

64% of the babies that are baptized get confirmed.
34% of the confirmed attend worship at least once a month by age 20.
(38% of Lutheran Elementary School confirmed attend worship at least once a month by age 20)
17% of WELS baptized babies become regular attending WELS members by age 30.

Spiritual habits are formed in a person between birth and age 6.

Parents' spiritual habits are formed with their first child, regardless of the spiritual habits formed when growing up.

59% of all WELS children are Sunday School educated only.

Combine these stats with the "Why Youth are Leaving" study and the CHARIS study on our Lutheran Elementary Schools. What do you see?

To me this just shows the importance of ministry to families and their children and that the way it is being carried out today, as a whole across the synod, isn't very effective.

There are more effective means than what we are currently doing.
I am convinced one of them is Bible Song Sunday School.

Revealing WELS Studies - Part II

2005-11-29T11:09:00.000-06:00

Joel Nelson, the WELS administrator for Youth Discipleship has an interesting blog on why youth are leaving. The actual study is even more revealing.

These findings are another piece to add to the situation within the WELS. I found common themes amoung the School study and this Youth study.

The lack of Christian love in our many of our congregations, leaders, teachers and pastors.
More on this later.

Joyaversary

2005-11-23T10:05:00.000-06:00

Joyaversary, is what my family remembers on Nov. 22. Eight years ago my father died and went to be with Jesus. My brother made the term, Joyaversary, to remember dad's entrance into God's presence.

It seems that each November something happens that reminds me of dad. This year is was a program at the Appleton Public Library. Carolann and I took the kids to see Larry Penn, a folk singer and song writer. He told stories of life on the old rail road and sang old folk songs that were popular back when the railroad was in it's prime. His style of music and of course the railroad themes reminded me of dad. In fact, I think if dad would still be here he would have loved this music.

I bought 2 CD's: "The Whiskey's Gone" and "Railroad Queens of the Past" My kids favorite songs are: I'm a little cookie, I've been workin on the railroad, and Run Kate Shelley Run.

After Larry Penn's performance we checked out a book on Kate Shelley. That night in our bedtime routine we read about Kate Shelly and then listened to Larry Penn's railroad music.

All that brought back memories of dad. I remember "helping" him set up the model railroad in the basement. I loved that time. Since I was too little to actually run the train or build the track, dad gave me a little orange caboose and some train cars to play with on the parts of the track that were finished. Later when I was older he let me actually run the train sometime.

I remember vividly one Christmas where the 3 of us kids went shopping for a present for dad. Mom was along to help. We were in the model railroad store I think, and picked out a little motorized railroad hand cart with two little men on it. When you put it on the track the little men would actually move up and down as they traveled along. I remember that little gift communicated a lot of love from us kids to dad. We loved him and the time we had with him.

I look forward to the day when we'll see him again in Heaven.

Ancient Wisdom

2005-11-17T10:17:00.000-06:00

I was preparing for leading a Bible study and came across this passage: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Then it hit me. When Paul was writing this he only had the Old Testament scriptures.
So how much of the Old Testament do I use, or we as a church use, regularly to teach the principles and truths of God?

It seems to me that most adult instruction material quotes mainly New Testament passages.

At home we have been mostly using the Old Testament for our family Bible time. The kids get a lot out of the ancient stories. I'm amazed at how quickly they pick up on that ancient wisdom that is communicated through the narratives. And it's easier to teach.

Imagine the arts saving the church

2005-11-11T15:56:00.000-06:00

Imagine a Sunday School program where kids learn 30 key Scriptures each year.
Imagine the effects on stewardship, adult education, evangelism and marriages if the majority of families are together in worship the majority of the time.
Imagine the effects on family communication, Biblical literacy, and overall family ministry if the majority of families take the Sunday theme home to: remember and mark in their Bibles the verse studied, sing Scripture songs, talk about their days, pray, and bless one another seven nights a week.

You don't have to image it. It's already created.

Faith Inkubators' Bible Song Sunday School.

Pastor Coach?

2005-11-10T13:35:00.000-06:00

Interesting Article from WorshipFilms.com is below.
What do you think?

--
An Effective, Growing Church Has Team Leadership

A common church leadership model has been to have a pastor, hired by a board, paid to “do the work of the ministry.” Research has shown that this “enabler” model, whereby the pastor finds out what the people want him to do and then tries to carry that out doesn’t build healthy, growing churches. Church-growth expert Peter Wagner says that this model consistently keeps churches from breaking the 200 barrier.[i] Rather, healthy churches recognize that all Christians are to do the work of the ministry and that instead of just a “church employee,” the pastor must be a strong leader. The senior pastor prayerfully sets forth the vision for the church then helps build and train teams of people who carry out the day-to-day ministry. Barna says that in highly effective churches “ the leader/pastor has the final say on all major ministry decisions, but is literally uninvolved in the vast majority of decisions made in the ministry.” [ii] Some use the coach/team model to clarify the pastor’s role. “What does the coach do? The coach sets the game plan and deploys all available personnel for executing and winning the game. If everyone plays on the team, what positions do they play? Functionally, this is determined by the spiritual gifts God has given to each believer.” [iii] This principle of team leadership builds on principles 4 and 5 – the pastor leads his church in clarifying clear purposes, then people work together under his leadership in meaningful relationships and teamwork to carry out those purposes.

Go here for the whole article.

[i] Peter Wagner, Churchquake (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1999), p. 87.
[ii]George Barna, The Habits of Highly Effective Churches (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1999), p. 59.
[iii] Wagner, p. 215.

Jonathan needs...

2005-11-09T23:59:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I'm a little slow. But here is my "Google your name and needs” game:

Jonathan needs an experienced, skilled family
Jonathan needs to stay on top of the latest technologies
Jonathan needs to start drinking more beer
Jonathan needs to draw up a business plan
Jonathan needs to restructure his ...

Happy Haloeen

2005-10-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

Revealing WELS studies

2005-09-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

I've complied the CHARiS studies on decreasing enrollments in the WELS elementary schools at
todaysbigidea.com/CharisArticles

The stats are just the symptoms of a deeper problem. I believe I've discovered the root problem and some solutions. Stay tuned for details.

I Gotta Meet this Guy

2005-09-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

I found a great book. In it the author makes some amazing claims about himself.
So incredible that I gotta go meet this guy. Check it out.

For Granted

2005-09-08T21:57:00.000-05:00

I just returned from TIPS training. I'm not sure what TIPS stands for but I do know that if I've passed the test, I'll be able to get my license to serve beer at Lambeau Field.
In the training they expressed the seriousness of serving alcohol and we watched a video which showed an attorney telling his story.

It was a cold winter eve in a nice Italian section of town. A father was walking with his young son down the side walk. They had just finished their regular evening visit with Grandma and Grandpa down the street. It was around 6 PM as they walked home.

Suddenly a car crosses the line of traffic and jumps onto the side walk. Unfortunately there were no cars on the street to stop it. The car hit the little boy, hit the father (who flew in the air over a row of bushes), hit a telephone pole (that broke into three pieces) and then drove down the street a quarter of a mile. There the driver got out and went into a bar, not realizing what he had just done and not realizing that there was a big piece of telephone pole sticking out of his car.

The father went to his son. He was bleeding all over. Every time he moved, no matter which way, a little a bone stuck out of his mangled body. All he could do was ask daddy to help.

All daddy could do was love his dear son while his little life was fading away.

The point of the video for TIPS training was to show the seriousness of drunk driving and that we as servers of alcohol do everything possible to prevent it.

The point for my life was...
that could be me. That could be my son, lying and dying.
Life is so fragile.

That could have been my family stranded in a flooded city with no food and water for days.

At any time my life, my wife's life, my children's lives, could be gone.
Am I taking life for granted?
Am I forgetting what is most important?

After I completed the training and completed the test, I had a few moments to myself as I waited for the rest of the group to finish. I was in awe of the huge, beautiful Lambeu Field.
And yet how does a great building, having all the bells and whistles possible, help that son, that father, or the people in New Orleans? Do I focus on having all the "bells and whistles" that I want so much that I forget what's most important?

Does my church?

Losing Love

2005-09-06T08:45:00.000-05:00

I read a blogg by Joel Nelson, Viewing Youth through a Two-way Mirror, which I believes show us the reason for the decline in membership in the WELS as well as being the reason for many of the struggles we have in our churches.

Positive Lessons from ChangePoint

2005-09-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

I came across an article about ChangePoint church in Anchorage, AK.
My sister's sister-in-law wrote about it at I'm Going on a Field Trip. While that post generated quite a few responses and points out some weaknesses, I challenge the readers to consider the positive things we can learn from Pastor Clauson and ChangePoint.

1) Look at how the renewal came to that group of believers. On page 3 in responsee to the question, "How did the renewal come?" Pastor Clauson mentions preaching, teaching and prayer. While his doctrine is weak in some areas, look at the prayer part. Their leaders spend 2 hours in prayer for every hour in meetings. What if our churches would spend even 30 minutes in prayer for every hour of meeting? What a profound impact that would have!

Since prayer is a one way communication with God, us talking to God, I propose that first we'd be focused on God's will and God's Word for first part of that time. That way we would hear from God. Then spend the remaining time for us talking to God. Some churches do this but in a lecture style format, the pastor reading, then giving a mini-sermonette or going through a written out agenda of Bible Study questions. What about reading a portion and letting it sink in, giving time for every one to respond for how God's message that day impacts their personal life as well as the life of the congregation at that time? Then what about having a prayer time where every one gives input to the pray leader or everyone takes turn praying what's on their heart?

2) Look at PastorClauson's responsee on page 3 to the question; "ChangePoint is new the largest church in Alaska, so it's obvious that youhave experiencedd significant numerical growth. Has that growth been strategic?" His responseee was, "The only reliable way to church growth is for God to grow His church. The numericalgrowtht is just a reflection of a more significant growth that's happening in individual lives."

3) On page 4, where they describe their building process, Pastor Clauson always gives credit to God's hand working. How often do you say that? How often do we hear it from our church leaders?

4) On page 5, Pastor Clauson talks about InJoy Stewardship Services (ISS), which is the purpose of the article since it is in an ISS publication, and yet keeps the focus on God. He says, "The way I see it ISS took a back seat because God was driving." And later he talks about a God-given vision for the congregation. How often do we say and hear those types of expressions?

BTW: saying those expressions isn't the key it's the attitude behind it. The attitude shown by Clauson is: this is God's church, we are doing God's ministry, using the method that God is directing us. Verses the attitude of we've made this ministry plan and are asking God's blessing, we've decided that this is the way we're going to carry out ministry.

Overall, I think Pastor Clauson and ChangePoint offers a lot for us to think about in a positive way.

No Naked Barbies

2005-08-24T13:58:00.000-05:00

The other day, I heard my kids playing in the living room. As I walked down the stairs it got real quiet. I knew something was up and Becky and Josh knew it too. They were hunched over their toys with their hands covering something up. I knew what they were hiding. I said, "Are you playing with naked barbies?" They smiled and started giving me excuses why they were. I told them where I saw some barbie clothes upstairs an up they went. Later that day they showed me their barbies nicely dressed.

See, we have a rule in our house that you can not play with naked barbies. (Unless of course they're taking a bath or shower.) Why? To instill in our children respect and modesty. It's just one small step in teaching our children correct morals in a world that constantly degrades the value of women.

A Vacation Riddle

2005-06-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

My kids love riddles and jokes. Here’s one that I learned while on vacation visiting my brother and his family in Montana: What is your most valuable possession that you can’t see, touch or smell? I’ll let you ponder that a moment.

I was reading the book of Job and a little phrase jumped out of the page. Remember Job. He had it all: 1) a great family: seven sons and three daughters 2) a great collection of wealth: 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large number of servants, 3) a great character: “he feared god and shunned evil” (Job 1:1) Then God agreed to allow Satan to take away just about every thing: all the flocks and herds, his children, and his health. After this, Job’s three friends came to give him comfort. How long do you think they visited Job, just for a few minutes or maybe they made a “day trip” out of it? Chapter 2:13 says, “They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights.” Seven 24 hour days! And that was just spending time being there. For seven days they didn’t speak a word. After those seven days, then the visiting and the attempts to comfort began.

Did you figure out the riddle? The gift of our time to our family and to our Lord is our most valuable possession that you can’t see, touch or smell.

During this summer some of us may take a little vacation, like an extended weekend, or maybe a longer one, like a week or two. But how often do we take time throughout the year to be with our family, just to sit, to be there and to visit? I know that I need to do that more and I’ve started to do that. How about taking it a step further? How often do we take time just to sit and be with God? Even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day?

Cowboys in Church

2005-06-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

Just got back from our family vacation. We visited my brother and his family in Terry, Montana.
We attended church there and got to experience real cowboys worshiping with us. It's awesome to worship and to have fellow Christians from all walks of life be in harmony.

Lost it all!

2005-05-20T13:05:00.000-05:00

King Solomon had it all. A country in prosperity. An extravagant palace with every household article made of gold. A good army with chariots and horses. It is summed up this way, "The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones" (1 Kings 10 :27).

Besides the wealth, Solomon had a beautiful Egyptian wife (1 Kings 3:1) and wisdom greater than all other countries who were known for their exceptional wisdom (1 Kings 4:30).

Then the tide turns with this statement, "Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command" (1 Kings 11:10). From that point on, things started to go down hill for Solomon. God said it this way, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates."

He had it all. He lost it all.

Why?

Because "his heart had turned away from the Lord" (1 Kings 11:9).

In my life, have I "had it all" and "lost it all" because of turning my back on God?

How Could You?!

2005-05-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

That's what I said after reading the account of King David's dealing with the Ammonites in 2 Samuel 10-12.

David isn't doing his job of King, leading the men into battle against the Ammonites and their allies, and gets board in the palace. He sees a young woman and wants her. His servant warns him, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah?" David ignors him and brings her in.

How could you, David? Are not you the one who wrote: "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth" (Psalm 8); "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want" (Psalm 23); and many many other great Psalms? Are not you the one who had a few beautiful wives already, like Michal (1 Samuel 18:26), Abigail (1 Samuel 25:42), and Ahinoam (1 Samuel 25:43)? How could you?

Then it hit me. How could I?

Haven't I done a similar thing? done something when I was warned not to and did it anyway? hurt my wife and/or family sometime? put myself first and done what I wanted?

How could I?

Now David and I say, "I have sinned against the Lord."

And the prophet Nathan says, "The Lord has taken away your sin."

Read the whole story in 2 Samuel 12.

God's Word Jumping Out

2005-05-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

I read Colossians, the whole book, in one sitting with my wife.
There are some startling truths I did not realize were there.
I've posted my favorites below and highlighted the phrases that jumped at me.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too--the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Colossians 2:6-7; 3:1-4; 3:12-14 (The Message)

It is His to Avenge

2005-05-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

Usually some body at some time does some thing that either hurts, offends, ticks us off, or makes us angry. Once in a while or more frequently, it is so bad that we plot revenge and maybe even carry it out.

I had similar feelings this past week and then I came across this:

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

How I wish I could sit back and watch God take revenge on the person who hurt me right after the offence occurred. However, may not be the case.

Take for example a little tribe of annoying people in the middle east, the Amalekites. Around 1500 B.C. the Amalekites pounced on the Israelites. Then around 1100 B.C. God remembers this bothersome tribe and tells King Saul of the Israelites: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came us from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. (1 Samuel 15:2-3)

There was 300 years that lapsed!

God has an unusual and better way of dealing with offenses.

Read more about what God says about how to handle revenge in Romans 12:9-21.

My Rebellious Youth

2005-05-04T21:07:00.000-05:00

In preparing for the Achieving Financial Freedom seminar, I am reminded of my "rebellious youth." A time where I focused on me, myself and I and not on God. It was in the beginning of my marriage and ministry. My self centeredness got me into financial trouble with misusing credit cards. Through it God worked to teach me a ton of lessons. It's an extremely good feeling to know that God has forgiven my "sins of my youth."

Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you are good. O Lord.
Psalm 25:6-7

Give beer to...

2005-04-22T13:04:00.000-05:00

I was studying a couple of verses in Proverbs when I skimed ahead and saw a glimpse of God's humor.

"Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more."

Is God promoting drinking?

Not really.

To get the full picture of what God is communicated read Proverbs 31:4-9.

Time is Irrelevant

2005-04-20T20:24:00.000-05:00

From God's perspective, how important is time?

On Sunday, my kids in Sunday School learned about the Eil the High Priest and Hannah who was praying very hard for a son. The kids asked what the rest of the story was so at bed time in our usual routine we read about Eli and Samuel (Hannah's son).

Eli was not a good parent and not a very good High Priest. In fact God through a prophet told Eli, "Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? ...The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there willnot be an old man in your family line..." (1 Samuel 2 NIV)

God saw the evil that was going on. He was doing something about it. But not immediately at the time the evil was committed.

For my personal devotion I read Amos chapter 8 where God says, "The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. In that day the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies--flung everywhere! Silence!"

Did that happen right away? No.

So God sees all the wrong doing that happens and He does respond appropriately, just on His timetable. In the end evil is dealt with fairly. In the end Hannah's prayer for a son is answered. God answers and acts just not on my time table.

For God, justice and love are most important. He acts out of love and justice continuously through out all time.

For our culture that is so focused on today, the here and now.

The thought occured to me, could it be that from God's point of view the way we think and view time is irrelevant?

Pretend like you're immortal

2005-04-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks I've been listening to music by Switchfoot.

Through their songs they ask questions or make statements like...
"This is your life, are you who you want to be?" - This is Your Life
"Today never happened before" - Dare You to Move
"And we pretend like we're immortal" - Gone

They ask questions. Their lyrics make you think.
I end up asking myself, "What 1 or 2 things should I be doing differently?"
"Why am I doing this?"
"Is this worth it in the end?"
"What does God say about it?"
"What's really important?"

"Gone" is my favorite song.
You can hear a sampling of it.

Today will soon be
Gone, like yesterday is gone
Like history is gone
The world keeps on spinning on
You're gone, going
Gone, like summer break is gone,
Like Saturday is gone
Just try and prove me wrong and
pretend like your immortal.

We are not infinite
We are not permanent
Nothing is immediate
And we pretend like we're immortal.
We are so confident in our accomplishments
Look at our decadence.

Gone, like Frank Sinatra, like Elvis and his mom,
Like Al Pacino's cash, nothing lasts in this life...

...We've got information in the information age
but do we know what life is outside of our convenient Lexus cages?

2 clicks away

2005-04-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

Life is amazing sometimes. It's been a very busy week for me. It started to slow down when I realized that things are only 2 clicks away.

This week I installed Surf Control on our server for my church and school. (It's a web filtering service for networks.) After the controls on it were set to block any web site that has adult and inappropriate content, I tested it.

Within two clicks of my mouse I was at a porn site. I was stunned.
First of all I was surprised because the site wasn't blocked and second I was there so quickly.

I called Surf Control tech support and resolved the problem of not blocking.
But what had more of an impact on me was that with very little effort there I was, in a place I didn't want to be.

How true that is in the rest of life as well. In a short amount of time with little effort we can be in situations that we don't want to be in. Whether it be a car accident (which happened to me a few weeks ago), a feeling (like being angry for something someone did), an action (like hurting my son, when all I was trying to do was playfully wrestle), etc.

In all this, I think of what I read to my kids last night.
Jesus said, "Remember, I am always with you."
(Paraphrased from Matthew 28:20)

And lead us not into temptation...

2005-04-11T17:44:00.000-05:00

The Lord's prayer has this phrase "And lead us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13 NIV).

Leading and Tempting are the two main points.

I thought it was interesting that Jesus would have us ask that our Lord lead us not into temptation because we know God would never lead us into temptation.
"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." (James 1:13 NIV)

So therefore, there must be something more to the phrase.

Jesus continues "but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:13 NIV)

So we're asking God not to allow us to go where temptation leads us to do something evil or sinful.

It's not a matter of if temptation comes our way. It's a matter of when.

So how does God equip us or help us when temptation comes?

Check it out. God answers that for us in Luke 4:1-13.

Leaders must lead

2005-04-10T11:27:00.000-05:00

"Leaders must lead [a congregation or school] down the right road."
That's what Mr. Fred Uttech, principal at Bethany Lutheran School of Manitowoc, Wisconsin said at the congregation Workshops of the Northern Wisconsin District of the WELS.

He went on to say that leaders must lead the group (congregation and/or school) down the path that follows God's Word and is right for the organization. It may not be the easiest road. In fact it may be the hardest road. But if it follows God's principles then it will have God's blessings.

In his presentation, Mr. Uttech, made a number of very good points which made me think.
It made me ask, "Do I and the leaders I work with study God's Word in detail and pray intensely about a subject before studying it and making a recommendation or a decision?"

It was so refreshing to have Mr. Uttech share his experiences of standing 0n principles and decisions that were based on God's Word. They were hard decisions to make. They were questioned by other Christians. They had difficult consequence. But in the end they were the right decisions and God did bless the situation and the individuals.

Are we willing to trust God like that?

Maybe the more important question is are we able to?

If we're not spending time each day with God in prayer and listening to His Word, how are we ever going to be able to trust Him?

Stunned by God

2005-04-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

I was reading Luke 14 in preparation for our Stewarship program this month.

Here's what hits you between the eyes.

Jesus said, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33 NIV)

Read .Luke 14:25-35 to get the full story.

Welcome

2005-04-07T15:36:00.000-05:00

This is my first post in TodaysBigIdea blogger.
I plan on doing this as part of my daily routine.