Kevina's Corner

The Caveman!

2011-09-27T07:01:00.001-07:00

I finished Andrew's little caveman outfit for Halloween :). Caleb is going as a dinosaur. Now that I got the sewing machine out, I might just make some curtains for Anna's bedroom! I am feeling inspired :).

9-11 Video for Church

2011-09-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of videos that I had the privilege to participate in with our church Good Shepherd.

This is for Mom! :) She's been asking to see them - thanks Mom :).

I hope you all enjoy the stories!

Summer Slackness

2011-06-28T09:55:00.001-07:00

Well, the summer has taken off and I have left this blog in the dust - so sorry! I truly appreciate those of you who have been on board with me reading it.

Although it seems Mommy duties are taking over, I want to thank you for sharing your time with me and reading. Here are a few pictures of my little ones this summer - I hope you enjoy. God's blessings to you always!

I just love Caleb's expression! Big sister has other plans.

That's my boy Andrew! He's a Daddy's boy if you've ever seen one!

My girl and her new room!

Here we are at Calabash, NC - near North Myrtle Beach.

Fulfilling Destiny

2011-06-02T03:48:00.000-07:00

We can protect ourselves right out of our calling. (B. Moore)

Have you ever thought about what a catastrophy it would be to look back on the different seasons of your life and realize what you could have done, where you could have been, how God could have moved you - but didn't? We can be so paralyzed with fear that we don't move at all or we just do what is comfortable - afraid of change.

I think we often pray very simple "conditional trust" prayers like "God, please help this (bad thing) not to happen and please help me to get this or that (good thing)." And how often do you hear someone say - when we get what we want - "God is so good." It is so disturbing how conditional that is and I have said it myself.

God is good all the time - joyful and painful seasons alike. God blesses us and protects us more than we could ever grasp. Think of all the times you could have died but didn't - probably more than you and I will ever know. There truly is an invisible hand - and angels - that hault evil in it's place.

But sometimes it's about our response to a bad situation and how it brings out character that looks like Him. I like the quote "Are you headed in the direction where you want this thing to end up?" (B. Moore) Am I making choices today that are bringing about the results tomorrow that are most important? Am I fulfilling God's choices for me?

Satan often uses our fears psychologically to inhibit, taunt and distract us from facing the unknown that God is calling us to. God gives us "the heart that is convinced it is loved" (courage) and the wisdom to know that where He wants us to end up is so much more important than the fear we face. The truth is that God will fulfill His plan - the bigger picture - with or without us. How much better and life-breathing it is when we chose to overcome our fears and fulfill our destiny.

I love the analogy that the struggles we face are not walls, they are simply doors. Doors that lead to the next level in our relationship with God. (S. Furtick) The Bible is full of people walking through difficult doors - David and Goliath, Joseph and his brothers, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thank God for all those flesh and blood examples.

It isn't that the bad won't happen - what a small, "detached from reality" prayer that is - but that when the bad does happen in our lives, we choose to look at it face to face and allow it to change us into people that reflect a little more of heaven's light on earth. No one says that it is easy, but it is God-breathed, life-changing. And who knows? One decision that we make could be the most important step in fulfilling our destiny. Choices today create our tomorrows.

Go Fish Guys and a Trip to Greenville

2011-05-31T08:45:00.001-07:00

I first discovered the Go Fish Guys on a youtube video last year (see below) and we had the "toddler mosh pit experience" of seeing them live last year when Anna was a wee - one year old. I think she had a fun time even though it was (and still is) a truck-load of stimulus for a toddler.

Lately we can't seem to get enough of them - glad I bought those two CDs last year - and they have been reeling through my head so I thought I would share - in case your little ones haven't had the fun of listening to their music. I just love Anna's creative toddler dance moves in the kitchen.

Another fun discovery lately has been Greenville, SC. We visited this weekend and I love how clean, family friendly and Southern it is. It is very relaxing just walking downtown at Falls Park on the Reedy and shopping in the little boutique shops. Great dining too.

Hope you have a super week - it already feels like Summer! :)

Blogs, Facebook and Caring Bridge

2011-05-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Someone at church last night told me she had read my blog and found out about it through someone else's blog. Turns out she has a blog too - so I checked it out. How Cool - a bunch of nerdy bloggers :).

I love how technology allows us to keep up with each other's thoughts and happenings. This works especially well when I am getting ready to go to some social get-together and I need a quick briefing for conversation starters. How easy it is to find out the latest. Definitely the cheat sheet of our day to keep in the loop when we might otherwise be clueless.

I also love getting blog devotionals from local churches or big nation-wide ministries. Remember when you had to buy a devotional book by one author from the Christian bookstore? How time-saving and blessed that blogs can make us better people - both spiritually and socially.

Here are some tidbits I've learned from blogs today:

Steven Furtick's blog (http://www.stevenfurtick.com/): Don’t let the limited perspective of a moment dictate your life. Think about the END RESULT not the moment that you are in and you are less likely to overeat, say something that you shouldn't or have a negative attitude.

The Beth Chronicles: Here's a 26 year old Christian friend of mine who has made me think today about the struggles of T1 diabetes, how it is managed and how to be a positive encouragement despite the circumstances. Real people overcoming real situations.

Caring Bridge: I have a friend who's elementary age son is undergoing heart surgery today and she has posted about how they are able to stay at a Ronald McDonald house (a financial blessing) and how God is giving them courage as they face this part of their journey. What a great circle of praying friends this creates too.

April Geiger's Blog - a little of this and that: This girl's blog is so fashionable and cool - I think I need to do a little polishing on my own blog every time I check it out :). Today she inspired me to think positively about myself - to say a few affirmative things that I do well. Great advice especially for when you're feeling in a funk.

Talbot's Blog - The Heart of the Matter (www.talbotdavis.blogspot.com): Always a great read - the pastor of Good Shepherd UMC. Today he encouraged me to think of all the problems we would avoid if self-control became characteristic of the way we live. I need to be encouraged like that every day.

Kudos to all the Bloggers, Facebook status updaters and Caring Bridge informers out there. So happy to be living in 2011 :).

The Perils of Rock-n-Roll

2011-05-13T11:36:00.001-07:00

For most of my 39 years, I have seen music as black and white, good and bad - basically in absolutes. For those of you who love all types of music, this must seem child-like and naive, but until the last eight years or so, I have discovered probably what you have taken for granted.

I was taught from an early age that "rock music" (as one big genre) was bad, not Christian, even Satanic. The last church service I attended on this topic was years ago in college when a very conservative minister preached on the evils of rock music, gave examples of "backward masking" and told us that to listen to it was a sin.

Obviously SOME of what this minister said is right. There are some evil groups out there with evil intentions and agendas and yep, probably some backward masking too.

But in 2003, I started listening to country music, some oldies, soft rock, even a few Def Leppard songs and a couple of rap songs. Pathetic I know. My knowledge base is so limited.

What I have discovered over the years - as I was listening to Cyndi Lauper yesterday - is that all this stuff is just human expression of life. That's it.

For me, this is not so elementary, it's amazing. And although I still listen to a lot of Christian music and worship music, I have allowed myself to accept other people's expressions of humanity through music. There is such freedom when we don't live in fear and judgment of hearing someone's expression of life that is different from ours - or maybe one's expression that isn't necessarily heavenward. It is to be unbias and open-minded and it helps me understand other people around me.

So for what it's worth, it's a blessing to be aware of other people's views of life through music and like so many others, I enjoy it too.

Below is Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time. The makeup and hair are outrageously '80's, but the words and music are timeless.

My Aunt Tammy

2011-05-09T04:38:00.001-07:00

On Friday, my Aunt Tammy Denny McCollum – a very kind, Christian and generous person - unexpectedly passed away. She was only 51.

And although I have shed a lot of tears this weekend, I can only imagine the pain
her husband, two grown children and her mother must be experiencing.

My Aunt Tammy was a great mom and homemaker (she was my mother’s younger sister). I can remember her homemade spaghetti sauce, casseroles and desserts. There were times I stayed at their house and babysat my younger cousins. I remember going with Tammy to choir practice where we stayed afterward for what seemed like hours because she enjoyed socializing with friends. I loved that about her.

Tammy originally had juvenile diabetes and a weight problem that led to Gastric Bypass surgery about 7 or 8 years ago and that is when the health troubles started. Although she lost all the weight and at times appeared too thin, she was overwhelmingly happy with her looks and wore a smile that was contagious. She loved fashion and being able to shop for a size 6 or 8 for the first time had to be exhilarating. She loved shoes and bought the cutest ones – and we both wore the same size. I loved the hand-me downs.

But last week however, she struggled with stomach pain that was unexplainable and ultimately it was concluded that it was a digestive medical problem that caused her death.

The last conversation I had with my Aunt was a few weeks ago and interestingly we talked mainly about Faith. She was “healthy” at the time, but she told me about her “alone” time with God, singing worship music in her kitchen and her prayer life. This was not our usual conversation.

A Scripture that comes to mind today is Philippians 3:20, 21 (The Message). It says But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around Him.

I can just imagine how glorious and beautiful the surroundings – Jesus, the throne and loved ones gone before - for my Aunt now and her glorious new body. The Bible clearly states over and over in different words that “to live is Christ but to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21)

Another thought is that nothing touches us without it first touching Him. Nothing bites us without if first biting Him. God knows, sees, hears everything and like Daniel in the Lion’s Den who should have been eaten, it wasn’t God’s timing or plan. And like Friday, when every one in my family thought my Aunt would live another day, “another day” wasn’t God’s timing and plan.

I love the lyrics to Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall – a song we sang in church yesterday. It says:

Chorus:

Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating, My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs. Now I'm free. now I'm free!

How beautiful that we have this hope. And contrary to everyday thinking - our death day is probably our best day yet.

Thoughts, Quotes and Small Exerpts

2011-05-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some thoughts, quotes and small exerpts that have been inspiring to me lately. I hope they will be a blessing for you today too.

1. The idea of a Soul Mate came from the Greek philosopher Plato who surmised that human beings are spiritually split in two, resulting in creatures sentenced to spend the rest of their lives searching for that missing other.

The notion of a soul mate is deeply rooted in our culture inspiring countless movies and Top 40 songs but the true love of a spouse is characterized by our willingness to admit being wrong, to learn from each other and not rely on our feelings.

Successful marriages are based on sacrifical love and commitment, not a notion that we have found "the one". But it does make an entertaining story :).

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

2. May we be able to hold the tension between gratitude at the ending of a particular evil in the world and sadness at the Sin that warped a person made in God’s Image to engage in it so fervently. - James Michael Smith

3. Stop trying to be a success and start trying to be a blessing. You could spend a lifetime trying to achieve success that will always be just beyond you. Or you could spend it trying to bless everyone around you. Success is a moving target. - Steven Furtick

4. An inspirational young Afghan woman named Kamila Sidiqi who despite the heavy rules of the Taliban, the bombing of Kabul by American forces and the Taliban removing education from women was able to rise above her circumstances and become an enterpreneur and support her family. After the Taliban lifted, she began educating other Afghan women about business leadership and multiplying her efforts for the freedom of women in her country. In 2005 Condoleezza Rice asked her to speak at a Washington gathering. WOW! (The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon)

5. After Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus said "Do not be afraid. Go and tell MY BROTHERS to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

The people that Jesus is referring to just denyed him three days earlier, they fled the scene, they doubted and they questioned, maybe they thought about drinking again, maybe they started to wonder if they had been brainwashed, maybe they were in a depressed, negative funk.

How awesome is it that Jesus did not think of them as scum-bags or hold a grudge but instead called them brothers - immediately after rising again.

God's love for us is infinitely great, today and always.

The Disease to Please

2011-05-02T03:55:00.001-07:00

What are some expectations that you had when you were growing up? What about expectations from our society?

I've been thinking a lot lately about the "Disease to Please" (cool title penned by Harriet B. Braiker) and what it means to follow Jesus and how being like Jesus influences my People Pleasing 101.

Matthew 8:21-22 has been one of the most difficult Scriptures for me ever. I must admit that I have excused this one before as Jesus couldn't have really said this - it had to be a typo or something.

It says: Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

We tend to think of Jesus as more gentle, kind and understanding and in this Scripture He comes across harsh - since in our view the disciple has a reasonable request.

But what I take from this Scripture - thanks to church yesterday ;) - is that we should pursue what matters, not people's expectations. Although we do not know the details of that disciple's situation, Jesus understood that this man would have lost it all (his soul) had he put other things ahead of God - even his own father's burial.

We need to stream-line focus our thinking on why God put us here. He didn't put us here so we can just please others. Calvary never would have happened had Jesus been a people pleaser. Even from the age of twelve, Jesus was in the temple, teaching the leaders - certainly not the normal middle schooler.

For me people pleasing goes pretty deep. I have at times found myself in a flawed mindset that if I go along and not contradict others then I can protect myself from rejection, anger, conflict, criticism and disapproval. But in reality some people are going to be difficult for their own hateful, irrational reasons - and that is not really about me at all.

Healthy people realize that everyone has a freewill and they respect other people's views without personally attacking that individual. So with critics who are healthy or unhealthy, I am free to stand for my own views, even if I get disapproval.

From a Christian standpoint, it is helpful to know that Jesus is not about agreeing with others for the sake of keeping the peace. Who could be a better example?

I will close with a cool video for Good Shepherd's new sermon series about following Jesus. May we follow Him and be God pleasers.

Baby Whales and Bumble Bees

2011-04-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about how many gallons of milk a baby whale drinks? Or how a bumble bee flies?

Anna, our daughter, has had a keen interest in Bumble Bees lately and it has me thinking like a two year old at God’s power and handiwork everywhere.

Here are a few “nature thoughts” of God’s power and presence:

Baby Whales: A baby whale drinks approximately 130 gallons of milk per day! In contrast, a baby human drinks anywhere from 2 and ½ cups to 4 cups per day.

Bumble Bees: Although science claims to have caught up with the mystery of the Bumble Bee, those big furry bodies and tiny wings hovering and flying around is still evidence of God's creativity and power.

Caterpillars and Butterflies: How cool is it when you figure this one out as a kid?

Ants: Probably won’t be extinct anytime soon. I’m sure you’ve seen them carrying food, but did you know they can make an ant bridge if needed so the job gets done? Kind of gross, but they are determined little workers.

Life unto Life – the birth of a child: This has to be one of the most personal God encounters people will ever experience. Statistics show that after giving birth, women are often more open to faith and going to church. Truly a “God powerful” experience.

My goal is to stop and smell the roses today, even if it is reflecting on a childhood discovery. The work of God’s hands are everywhere.

Romans 1:20 says For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Character vs. Comfort

2011-04-26T03:47:00.000-07:00

God has the power to help us in everything we face and we have incredible, potential greatness if we access it.

This doesn't of course happen by accident, we have to be very deliberate about it. We have to make choices that value our character more than our comfort. Something we are not so used to in our culture.

Some parents today demonstrate comfort over character by doing almost anything to protect their child from "risk, challenge and possible rejection." Jim Schmotzer, a college minister in the Pacific Northwest, states "In this generation, we parents have gone out of our way to protect our children from pain and to see that they succeed. The problem with this approach is that the kids don't learn wisdom, and they don't learn decision-making skills." Granted I don't have a lot of experience in this area yet, it is undeniable. In our culture, we are inundated with comfort and self-oriented pursuits.

Steven Furtick in a recent sermon stated that "God's power is only potential until you convert it into strength by faith and action." God's power lies dormant in our lives until we purposefully and intentionally pray, seek Him, learn from others and apply His power to our own situations, fears and relationships. Our strength today is not in our ability, but in God's authority - like a police officer motivates us by his or her badge and what it represents. So with God, His authority is what enables us to overcome our problems and rise above what seems insurmountable.

A couple of Scripture verses that relate to this thought:

Daniel 6:4 says that Daniel was living in a selfish, blatantly sin-infested environment and he did it without corruption, without negligent and all the while he gained people's trust. Daniel is proof that living in an environment that is vying for our congruence with it's philosophy is not compulsory. Even with past sins and wrongs, thanks to the power and grace of Jesus, we can live our lives with integrity.

Deuteronomy 7:22 says "The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once. . . " Just like the Israelites, God builds His character in us little by little. That is how we achieve anything great.

My prayer today is that we access the power of God in our lives by striving for true character and not mere comfort. How pitiful to be a safe, compliant people with an empty core.

Good Friday Around the World

2011-04-22T04:47:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos proclaiming Jesus on Good Friday in a variety of beautiful displays. May it encourage us that there are Christian believers everywhere.

Photo #1: Jerusalem
(David Furst / AFP / Getty Images)

Eastern European Orthodox Christians hold wooden crosses as they walk through the doors of the Holy Sepulcher Church.

Photo #2: Pampanga, Philippines
(EPA / April 2, 2010)

Christian believers watch an actor reenact the Good Friday Crucifixion procession north of Manila.

Photo #3 Mumbai, India
(Photo by Divyakant Solanki)

An Indian actor dressed as Jesus Christ takes part in a reenactment of the Stations of the Cross.

Photo #4: Jerusalem
(Photo by David Silverman)

Palestinian Christians carry their large wooden cross along the Via Dolorosa.

Photo #5: Valencia, Spain
(Juan Carlos Cardenas / EPA)

Two women lie on the beach as the Good Friday procession of the Christ of the Cabanyal brotherhood passes by on Malvarrosa beach.

Heart Like Mine

2011-04-21T04:40:00.001-07:00

I enjoy country music and one of the reasons I like it is that it tells a story - often a journey of someone's life or spiritual walk, how they got from A to B.

A recent song release by Miranda Lambert (Heart Like Mine) perked up my ears as to how we sometimes jump to judging someone when Jesus has grace instead.

There are two ways of looking at this song. One is Revelation 3, the church of Laodicea and how God would spew them from His mouth since they acknowledged Him but had nothing to do with Him. God is also talking about an entire city here and not an individual life.

Then there are all those chapters and verses on grace. Acts 15:7-11 where Paul says "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved. . ."

Or the woman at the well (John 4:39) - probably the best example of someone who did not have it together but got it together that day when she embraced Jesus and chose to change. What if we had met the woman at the well the day before her encounter with Jesus? Would we judge her?

The Holy Spirit is working in this world - in the hearts and minds of people that we have no idea He would chose to work in. We truly do not know what goes on behind the scenes. While we should use wisdom in what we feed our minds and spirit, it is God's place to judge people and our place to love people.

That is why I like this song. No, it isn't Christian. She talks about drinking too much and smoking cigarettes. But it is humble and it is where this woman is right now in her journey. Who am I to say God doesn't look at her heart with love and compassion? Who is to say ten years from now or even a day from now she will have grown closer in her journey with Him?

One Bad Habit

2011-04-20T04:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever listened to talk about celebrities - like Charlie Sheen or Britney Spears - and think, "well, I'm not as bad as them?" Or have you ever thought "well, my husband has it pretty good or my kids sure have it better than I did - even though I just yelled at them?"

Comparing ourselves with others creates an excuse for our "less" offensive and less noticeable sinful vices.

When we talk negatively about people, when we eat one more bite of food when we are really full, when we choose to be lazy even though we need to get busy - all of it may seem small, but the principal goes much deeper. Little sins have a way of infecting our relationships - with God and others - that digress to a more significant and profound level.

The Bible does not give us permission to ignore that "one little vice". 2 Corinthians 7:1 says to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. If we say "I'm not as bad as some people and it's ok that I do this one little thing" we are not perfecting holiness; we're excusing wickedness.

Matthew 5:48 says Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. And while we can not be perfect this side of heaven, there is a truth here that even a small sin-filled step given time will lead to a big leap.

Some really great quotes that go along with this thought:

"We fail to see that one hole can sink a ship as effectively as ten holes; it may take a little longer, but the ship will still sink." (G. Thomas)

"The quickest way to fall from grace is to think there is an ounce of your life that isn't dependent on grace." (S. Furtick)

The old saying "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" is kind of applicable to sin as well.

Matthew 5:48 (The Message) concludes with this very straight-forward application:

In a word, what I'm saying is grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. The world is not a stage.

I need to hear this today as much as anybody. Show grace toward others and work toward changing that "one bad habit".

Heaven is For Real

2011-04-19T04:13:00.000-07:00

This is a true story of a four year old boy (son of a Nebraska small town pastor) who survives a ruptured appendix of five days and returns from the experience with amazing stories of heaven, Jesus, angels, and loved ones.

Colton begins talking about looking down, seeing the surgeon operating and his Dad praying in a small room, his mother talking on the phone in a separate room. Colton says he met his miscarried sister (of 2 months) that no one had told him about and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born.

He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us. The story is told by his father but interspersed with Colton's own words. The simple message is that heaven definitely exists, there are lots of children and people we recognize there and Jesus is glorious and powerful.

The Scripture that comes to mind as I read this book is Matthew 18:3 - "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

This book is a faith-stunning encouragement for every Christian.

Relating or Bragging?

2011-04-18T04:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been talking to someone and they start talking about how they achieved something and you are sitting there quietly thinking, so did I? I was listening to a lady yesterday tell me about her family, their education, how they sold their home to a millionaire - and of course you know him right?, he plays for the Panthers - how she worked for years as a teacher, her abilities to converse in another language, etc.

My first instinct was to open my mouth so I could "relate" but then I started thinking about how I feel after such an experience. I often feel regretful, a little sad and annoyed.

Yesterday I chose to smile and do alot of listening and I realized - maybe for the first time in a conversation like this - comparing bragging with bragging is to seek approval.

"Many people spend their whole lives trying to achieve the approval that can only be received." (S. Furtick) How often do we chase after people's approval when we need to be reminded that God approves and affirms us - and that is what truly matters. When you have been through a hurricane and a tornado, a Spring storm will not intimidate you. When we genuinely know the God of the universe, and how He feels about us, people's opinions will not hold us captive. Why worry about what others think?

A few Scriptures (The Message Bible) that support keeping our nose clean on both sides of the conversation are:

Proverbs 25:6-7 says Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence. 7. It is better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.

2 Timothy 2:16-17 says Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.

And as the receipent:

Proverbs 25:26 says A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.

Yes, it even matters how we respond, even if we never see that person again. Every day we teach others - at whatever place they are in their spiritual walk - either Godly character or the same old negative ways that embellish pride and selfishness.

Today, let's weigh the impact of our words even if it is just light conversation.

Thoughts, Quotes and Small Exerpts

2011-04-15T04:14:00.001-07:00

Here are some thoughts, quotes and small exerpts that were an encouragement to me this week. I hope they will inspire you.

5. "Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you." - Robert Fulghum

4. "Obedience that is active is way better than passive reflection. God's will is like small sparks that lead to a large fire. Doing what you should be doing and letting God continually move you forward into what He wants you to be doing." - Steven Furtick

3. I learned this week that mult-denominational, evangelical seminaries began in the early part of the 20th century to address the leftward turn many of the divinity schools at large universities (Yale, Harvard, Emory, Duke) had taken after they had separated their undergraduate studies and graduate theological studies. A seminary and a divinity school are not the same thing but there are benefits to both.

2. "You are an imperfect, very fallible, prone-to-mess-up sinner saved by mercy. You married a fallible sinner who needs the same remedy." - Gary Thomas

1. "The art of pleasing is the art of deceiving." -Old French Proverb (I take that to mean we should not "people please".)

Have a fun weekend!

Meditative Prayer

2011-04-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried Meditative prayer? Our Western way of thinking is that every prayer should be intellectual or cerebral - talking to God. Our talking is often prayer requests which lead to our focus on what is going on in our lives and getting an "insight from God today" rather than just focusing on Him and listening. Meditative prayer quiets our minds for a few minutes.

A Christian writer in the late sixth century, John Climacus, wrote "Let there be no studied elegance in the words of your prayer. . . do not launch out into long discourses tht fritter away your mind in efforts for eloquence." The Pharisees were pretty good at that too. Our anxious and wordy prayers can often be distractions.

There have been times when I have struggled with knowing how to pray, how long was a good prayer and even wanting to spend time doing it. What helps me is that although the cognitive "talking to God" is very important, sometimes it can be just as effective to use our mind to focus our heart.

God created our minds and our emotions. Imagine if you never FELT God's presence, His peace, His love and it was all about thinking - how distressing and discomforting would that be.

A centered, meditative prayer on a single word or phrase can make us think more in tune with Him. Sometimes focusing on a few words can direct our actions and thoughts for the whole day.

So this is my prayer today. God is all knowing, He is all powerful and ever present. Just to focus on this phrase and worship Him with thankfulness.

Simple. But effective.

Generous Eyes

2011-04-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

Proverbs 22:9 says "He who has a generous eye will be blessed." We can have an eye for the best deal, an eye for color, maybe an eye for details but do we have a generous eye? What would the world look like if we see it through generous eyes? It would color our thinking beyond ourselves and focus our vision on how we can find out where the needs are and make a difference.

Giving is a big deal with God. He has mentioned it over 800 times in the Bible. It is a big deal because it changes our mind and spirit - it draws us to have more of His character. Here's a link to a list of several verses:

http://www.daveramsey.com/church/scriptures/

Craig Groeschel writes in his book Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working there are three types of givers - I just love this.

1. Spontaneous. You see a need, you immediately want to pounce on it and fill it. Not a deliberate lifestyle commitment and often an emotional reaction, but certainly not a bad thing.

2. Strategic. These people ask questions like "how can we be more generous?" They are tithers - giving God their first and best. It is not simply a reaction but "giving is who we are."

Isaiah 32:8 says "Generous people plan to do what is generous and they stand firm in their generosity."

3. Sacrifical. These givers recognize that material things are not what it's about and they see their possessions as mere tools that God provides for advancing His mercy, His Word, His patience, His love, etc.

I know a couple like #3 - incredible people. They are wealthy, but they don't live like that is their goal. They have so much and know they are God's stewards of it and they delight in sharing it. Truly Amazing.

This is so beyond the "prosperity gospel" - that you are going to get a bunch of money or fame if you give.

God gives important blessings that matter at the end of your life like: a spouse, kids, forgiveness, respect, a job you love, riches of the Spirit - peace, joy, patience, etc.

Definitely not an investment strategy for manipulating God.

I pray that God would deliver me from the "normal" thinking and make me "weird". Normal doesn't help me in my relationships with God and others. Being weird and giving generously brings heaven down to earth and is outright beautiful.

I'll end with this Scripture:

Jesus says "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts. 20:35)

Cultures and Leadership

2011-04-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Cultures rarely reflect a single leader. I've been studying how the Babylonian empire was conquored by the Medo-Persians in 539 BC and the Babylonian mentality did not make haste and move out even though the leadership had changed dramatically.

The Babylonian leaders who thought their city was indestructible had a false sense of security as the Medo-Persian soldiers slipped in through a water canal and took the city without a fight. "God shut it and opened it according to His sovereign will - not according to its self-sufficent strength." (Beth Moore)

This intrigues me as I think about the eight presidents - both with Godly characteristics and without - that I have lived under in my lifetime and the Babylonian type culture that surrounds us. The steady increase in godlessness and depravity regardless of Godly leadership is indicative of the power of culture.

Cultures are influenced by invisible principalities (both evil and good) and a strong leader would require an extraordinary following and a lengthy block of time to make any lasting changes to a culture.

The certainty that God has a plan and He is in charge became evident to me a few months ago when I read Daniel 2:21. It says "God changes times and seasons, He sets up Kings and deposes them." He sets up Kings - both Godly and unGodly.

God chose King Nebuchandnezzar to rule, even though he murdered countless innocent people and faltered back and forth between the one true God and his idols, yet he was in charge for that season of time.

What I take from this today is that God is cloaked in unapproachable light and sits high above every leader. God is more powerful than the "invisible principalities" of our culture and although hard times may come, God has called us to live here - to work and to herald and affirm His ways.

The Amazon Kindle

2011-04-11T04:52:00.001-07:00

I recently purchased an Amazon Kindle and the last few times I have taken it to church, I have become the most popular person on the row.

Here are a few things I love about it and a few things that aren't so great - in case you are thinking of buying one.

1. It is easy on the eyes. I find reading the Kindle much easier than reading the traditional book, partly because of the even lighting (they have made it black and white like a newspaper) and the ability to change font sizes.

2. Huge selection of books. Amazon offers more selection than Barnes and Nobles (the Nook) and the Sony E reader - well, let's just say, Sony is about making electronic musical devices, not books. I wouldn't be suprised if Amazon is cheaper too since they don't have all the overhead of a brick and mortar store.

3. Memory. The Kindle has tons of memory (depending on which one you get)so you can keep downloading material for a long time. You can pull up information from different sources and discuss it in a group without having a gazillion books around.

The downside:

1. Not good as a workbook. I recently purchased a book that required some reflection at the end of each chapter. Although you can type notes in there, it's not as easy as a regular book.

2. Flipping back and forth. I have found it a little difficult to go to various Scripture references quickly. The Kindle is better suited for reading one passage or one section of a book at a time.

How cool is it that future students can carry all their term-paper resources or their school textbooks in one small device? Wow!

Holy Habits and Old Habits

2011-04-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, I have learned some habits from others and from Bible reading. Some "Holy Habits" that have resonated with me are:

1. Pray. I have to admit, this one has been a struggle for me in the past - now that I have kids, not so much :).

Daniel 6:10-16 says that Daniel was in the habit of praying and thanking God daily. Instead of panicking or becoming paralyzed, we seek God's power.

A genuine example of this is the day 9-11 happened and the President received the news in front of a group of school children. The president was in the habit of early morning prayer and as a result he responded with poise and strength.

2. Listen more than you speak. I learned this one from a teenage Pastor's daughter at a church years ago. I was amazed at how she did not immediately give her opinion but waited and listened to others first. In James it says to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger."

3. Be anxious for nothing. This is definitely a hard one because we naturally worry and try to fix things. Phil. 4:6-7 says to take it God. Sometimes I visualize laying the problem at the throne of God and letting it go. That habit relieves stress and gives clarity.

4. Be innocent. When Daniel was in the lion's den he said "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight." Certainly God has us walk through adversity and sometimes he takes us home, but when Satan is trying to destroy us, being innocent or striving to glorify God with our lives might be our rescue.

We can also resist old habits such as overeating, excess tv, computer, etc., rage, not paying attention to others, not praying, etc. that keeps us away from what God is wanting to teach us.

As Beth Moore says, "May we practice holy habits long enough that they become old patterns."

Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working

2011-04-07T04:35:00.000-07:00

There is a new book out by Craig Groeschel entitled Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working that promises to be a good read.

The introduction beings with this quote: "Know what's weird? Day by day, nothing seems to change. But pretty soon, everything's different." - Bill Watterson.

Groeschel goes on to describe how often times normal is living "stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted, choking with constant financial fear and tension, and allowing your marriage to drift into parallel lives or divorce by default." He explains how to have a "God kind of weird" - that brings fulfilling rest, financial peace and true intimacy with your spouse.

I first heard of this book on Steven Furtick's blog (pastor of Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC). Like Elevation Church that meets in at least four different locations, Craig Groeschel is the pastor of Life Church with thirteen locations in six states.

This may be old hat to some of you all, but I am amazed at the fairly new phenomenon of churches with different campuses. The stories behind the beginnings of these churches is truly incredible.

I realize this is a book promo, but it's a real winner :).

Satan - Literary or Real?

2011-04-06T04:14:00.000-07:00

Is Satan real? Is there such thing as a devil? I worked at Winthrop University a few years ago and I bet if you randomly asked that question (on any University campus) to professors and students alike you would get a large portion of people classifying him as metaphor or a literary concoction.

Previous generations of Christians probably paid too much attention to him, but our modern naiveness about spiritual realities is just as deploring. 1 Peter 5:8 says be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. The Message Bible puts it this way: keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce.

How easy is it to become careless and absent-minded about Satan's existence? Our relationships with one another - marriage, children, parents, employers - are cosmic spiritual battlegrounds and the way we handle ourselves - what we give into or guard ourselves against - not only affects us in the short-term but can have lasting influence on so many others.

In the Lord's prayer, I have found several Bible translations that say "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13) - not just from evil (KJV). Jesus knew who Satan was when tempted in the desert and Satan knew Jesus.

With so much at stake, may we not forget that a powerful, pernicious being is waiting to wreck what God is trying to build. May God give us a forgiving, loving and pure heart today. May we flush out the junk, be mindful of temptation and give Satan no place to enter.

Meaningful Quotes

2011-04-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

I have come across some thought-provoking quotes lately. Each one has made me think deeply about God's presence and how I can improve myself to influence the world around me.

Here they are:

5. "You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment." -Henry David Thoreau

4. "My goal in parenting is to raise my kids to have a boring testimony." -Steven Furtick

3. "God is most pleased when many worship the only." -Talbot Davis

2. "Life stops hurting so much when you give up believing it could be any different." - Richard Russo

1. "When you kill time remember that it has no resurrection." - A.W. Tozer

Must Everything Hurt to Help?

2011-04-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

I have been studying a Beth Moore series entitled "Daniel" with a group of friends and had an epiphany moment last Friday. The story is set in Daniel 5 when the ruler of Babylon (at that time was Belshazzar) was killed - along with the fall of Babylon that night and all this immediately after God's finger wrote on the wall. The problem was Belshazzar treated the living God with contempt by using the holy vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to toast the false gods of that region. He defied God and God allowed his demise.

But here is the kicker. Belshazzar knew about his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar. He undoubtedly and painfully heard of Neb's madness and later conversion to the one true God. He had heard the stories. He knew the consequences his grandfather had endured - in verse 22 it says " You. . . have not humbled yourself, though you knew all of this."

Is there an easier route to learning and overcoming problems than from the mistakes of others? It is like, if the lesson doesn't hurt us personally, somehow it doesn't teach us personally (B.Moore). Not that we are to be proud or judgmental in any way - God opposes the proud - pride sets us up against God (like Belshazzar) and God sets Himself up against us. Definitely don't want that.

What I am reading into all of this is to think about the choices others have made and why. Apply it to our lives - how could we be tempted or influenced in the same area, what choice do we think we would make and what choices would God want us to make?

Learn from adversity (adversity is an asset)- whether our own or some one else's and the lesson is not lost. We can gain wisdom, grace with others and ourselves and avoid alot of trouble if we don't have to learn it the hard way.

Phil Wickham and Christian Music

2011-04-01T05:01:00.001-07:00

I have heard some people recently say that Christian music since the 90's has become predictable and that many of the artists sound the same and I have to admit, I totally get what they are saying. If it has truly been in a funk, I think it may be coming out. I have listened to Christian music since Amy Grant was probably 19 and loved it as a child and youth. Like many others, I notice when an artist takes on a new style or quality where no one else seems to have a nitch and this may be the case with Phil Wickham. I recently heard "The Time is Now" at church and later checked out some utube videos and his website (www.philwickham.com). What an awesome inspiration! A young guy from Vista, CA, grew up at Calvary Christian School and has amazing talent including highly qualified muscians - not to mention his great pipes - on his latest CD. Definitely worth a look if you like Christian music.

Here's a clip of him talking about "The Time is Now" in his car. I hope you enjoy!

Living in Your Four Corners

2011-03-31T04:46:00.000-07:00

I recently read an interview with Israel Houghton - the worship leader at Lakewood church in Houston (think - Joel Osteen) and he spoke of his life experience - growing up, doing what he is doing now, etc. What is amazing about his story is that he was born to bi-racial parents in 1971 in Iowa, at a time when bi-racial relations where commonly unacceptable. His mother's family encouraged her to have an abortion, rejected her when she didn't and when he met his grandfather at age 7, his grandfather pushed him to the ground, rejecting him. Israel struggled for many years with "I feel like I am an accident" and "what is wrong with me, why?"

He speaks of how Psalm 139 throws out all the "I am an accident or here by mistake" thoughts when it says God knit us in our mother's womb.

I got to thinking about how, not only did God sovereignly place us here but has kept us here. So many times, you and I could have died, but God had other plans. I think God really is that personal and specific. How often does a rainy day feel so mundane and our efforts minimal and unimportant? Yet we are here today by a divine appointment with objectives to meet and goals to fulfill. What are your goals today? Where ever we are on the journey, know that it is not by accident, you and I are here to grow in mind, character and relationships - to show heaven's love here in our four corners today.

Here's Israel Houghton singing in action:

What is your Intent?

2011-03-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

I went to a Bible study recently and was introduced to the material of coach John Wooden (former UCLA head basketball coach) who outlined material on leadership in the form of a pyramid. One of the blocks on the pyramid is "intentness". He says "stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder, smarter. Persevere relentlessly." I take this to mean - know what your goal is and get up and try harder when you mess up. This encourages me today in that God gives us everything we need and empowers us to make the right choices, we just have to get busy doing it. And when we don't get it right, he gives us the ability to stand up and try harder. "It's the heart to, not the how to" (borrowed from author Gary Thomas) - to realize that we need to "fire up that will! Let God charge your motivation" so we will intend to persevere even when the glamour is gone. 2 Peter 1:10 (The Message) says "confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. don't put it off; do it now. Do this and you'll have your life on a firm footing." I want my life on a firm footing - moving and living in the character that God is developing in us and when we mess up - try harder, smarter.

Good Shepherd Church

2011-03-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Great church service yesterday. The sermon point was "You'll never know it all, but you do know enough. So step over the line." Cross the line - as in follow God. The whole series is on Lines. Good Friday is called "flatline" and Easter Sunday "Lifeline". Thought that was clever :). Yesterday's service concluded with this video.