Last weekend, Tiffany and I were asked to lead a Student Ministry Team Training event in Virginia Beach at Kempsville Baptist Church. The Student Pastor and wife are Tim (pictured with me below) and Jen Zittle. We first became friends while attending Southwestern Seminary, and have continued in that relationship together over the past 9 years. While I served at Foothllis Baptist in Phoenix and at Westside Church in Omaha, they traveled on many occasions to serve as Disciple Now leaders with our students, and we were able to coordinate our dates for church camp with our student ministries twice. They are great friends, and it was a joy to see all that God has done in their lives, and in the lives of their leadership team over the past year and one-half.

On Saturday, the leadership team discussed the following quote from Doug Fields (from his book What Matters Most): "In the end, busyness makes us look important but cripples our relationships. Busyness feeds our egos but ultimately starves our souls. Busyness fills our calendars but fractures our families. And busyness props up our image but shrinks our hearts."

All in the room expressed the busyness of our driven culture. One couple shared of the importance their family places on spending time together, and how more often than not they prioritize eating dinner together at home. In addition to dinner, each member of the family has to talk about one good and one bad that takes place in their day at the table. They even went to the extent of saying that all guests during dinner are asked to share as well. WOW! That is impressive, especially in the midst of our "busyness". In our moments together on Saturday in particular, we were able to verbally lift each other up and challenge each other to love God and people more. Here is the encouragement for the week: Don't allow your "busyness" to eliminate relationship over the next seven days. Carve out moments with those closest to you to ask how they are doing (really) and to share some encouragement. In so doing, you will be a blessing beyond measure.

One of the ways I often like to start out the day when driving to work is by shuffling all of Hillsong United's music on my IPod. The first song is always "Point of Difference", which has rapidly become one of my favorites.  For the blog today (post the 30th Anniversary celebration of BVBC), I pray that God continues to fill our hearts with His fire!

Lyrics to Point Of Difference :
The tide is turning, this is redemptions hour
in the midst of a world lost for love, You are all we have now
the lost returning, salvation is all around
in the midst of the world broken down, You are all we have now
for You are God and this hope is ours

So Father open the skies
flood the earth with Your light
this is love, to break the world indifferent, say

Our hearts are burning, a fire that won't burn out
in the midst of a world that's grown cold, You are all we have now
the earth resounding, the anthem of your reknown
as we lift up our eyes, and look to Your glory

Call us out, let the world see
You are God, and this hope is ours
so call us out, let the world see
You are God, as we sing

So Father open the skies, flood the earth with Your light
this is love, to break the world indifferent
as we lift up our eyes, fill our hearts with Your fire
in a world of sin, we'll be different, the difference

Our eyes are open, every chain now broken
in this world, we are different
let Your love become us, as we live to make You famous
in this world, we are different
so call us out, let the world see
You are God, as we sing

So call us out, let the world see
You are God, one and only
in this world, You are all we have now

Our kids love to draw. While any artistic bend did not come from me (definitely from Tiffany), Tirin and Ethan both love all forms, whether it be drawing, coloring, painting, attaching stickers, etc. Their favorite part comes not in the doing, however, but in the giving away their work. A couple of weeks ago, they both woke up on a Saturday ready to break out the markers and crayons. They began in a coloring book, working on pictures for my parents, then Tiff's parents, then Aunt Gale, and so on. We spent a good part of the morning together at the kitchen table, and the kids had a blast. We mailed those to my parents a few days later, and on Friday of last week received a couple of pictures drawn by my dad (a truck for Ethan and a forest for Tirin) and a note from my mom in response. They both enjoyed the pictures, and wanted to sit down and color something else for them and send it right away. Ethan liked his so much that he had to sleep with the picture from "gapa"!

Yesterday we launched into Genesis in Sunday School. "In the beginning, God created..." (Gen. 1:1). It is easy to walk through the day without taking notice of the beauty of God's creation. Flowers. Trees. The sky. The sun. The clouds. And so on. It is also easy to walk through the day, so consumed with our own lives, that we can forget to take time to say an encouraging word, or send a "I caught your child doing something good yesterday" email, or (like my kids and dad) draw a picture for someone and pop it in the mail. After all, they joy should come in the giving. I encourage you to take a least one moment this week to see something you haven't in a while (or ever before), thanking God for the beauty of His creation, and to create something for someone else-Picasso or not (at the least a kind phrase we would not have normally said in our normal course of the day). In so doing, watch how your life and the lives of others will be enriched and driven more to a heart of gratitude towards our Creator, the lover of our souls.

Tiffany and I were talking on Saturday night about how quickly last week flew by. With preparing for the new schedule at church/the Fall getting in full-swing, school, and soccer-and trying to work through more boxes at home-the week came and went in what seemed like the blink of an eye. There were moments in the office and at home (Thursday and Saturday) outside of my regular quiet time where I intentionally took the opportunity to do as Psalm 46:10 instructs: "Be still, and know that I am God". In an ever-changing world, with cities that "never sleep", having the consistent discipline of stopping and being still before our King can be a challenge. To be honest, I believe it had been 3-4 weeks since I had intentionally stopped to simply be still and know that He is God and is in control-and to thank Him for that fact.

I encourage you this week to schedule time to do just that...to be still AND know that He is God. He loves you and wants you to engage Him in relationship on a moment-by-moment, day-by-day basis. If that takes place at home, in the office, on your back porch, or in your car for a short period of time before you begin driving, simply be still and know Him. In doing so, the Holy Spirit will refresh your heart, life, and vision for the moments that await.

The first week of school has come and gone. Tiffany and I did survive Tirin's entering Kindergarten, and yes, Tirin survived as well. When I entered the church office after "the family walk" to school on Monday morning, 5 boxes of Kleenex were waiting on my desk. The boxes came on the heels of my statement the week before: "My little girl is growing up", of which those on staff with older kids reassured that this is only the beginning-and then, they (we) laughed . :) Ok, (admittedly) I was a little emotional. But that is my little girl! Verses memorized from my childhood came to mind in that moment:

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Trusting Him with Tirin, with "all of my heart", for day 1 of a new phase of her life was the issue (along with just being a sappy dad). I know He is fully trustworthy, and does make our paths straight, even when our emotions may try to lean us in different directions. Knowing that our God is constant, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever is so comforting in the midst of our joyous and difficult days-and everywhere in between. Today, be encouraged. If you are struggling in the area of trust, go over those verses again, knowing that He will make your paths straight, even when you "feel" they are crooked. And remember: it is always good to have a new box of Puffs waiting in the wings when you need it.

Here we are at our third and final week of looking at a list of the 63 practical ideas children suggested to spend time with their parents, found in The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family by Jim Burns (pg. 29).  Keep responding, and let's here how the final week goes! Way to go parents!

43)Go on a hike.    44)Plant a garden together.    45)Play board games or card games.    46)Fish.    47)Sail.    48)Play tennis.    49)Play croquet.    50)Go river rafting or tubing.    51)Play badminton.    52)Build a tree house.    53)Go to a casual dinner but dress up.    54)Make homemade ice cream.    55)Bake cookies.    56)Attend a play.    57)Go to the movies.    58)Go to a sports event.    59)Visit a swap meet or garage sale.    60)Feed ducks.    61)Go to the circus.    62)Go to the county fair.    63)Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

We are in the second week of looking at a list of the 63 practical ideas children suggested to spend time with their parents, found in The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family by Jim Burns (pg. 29).  If you try these out, please respond to the blog and let us know how they went. Week 2 here we come!

22)Visit a museum.    23)Ride bikes.    24)Learn a hobby.    25)Wash a car.    26)Rollerblade.    27)Climb a tree.    28)Climb a mountain.    29)Eat creatively one whole day for $1.29.    30)Picnic.    31)Shop for cars.    32)Go to the airport and watch people.    33)Visit the beach or lake.    34)Ice skate.    35)Shop.    36)Play backgammon.    37)Go horseback riding.    38)Play pinball.    39)Hit golf balls or play miniature golf.    40)Bowl.    41)Play Water sports.    42)Fly a kite.

In The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family by Jim Burns (pg. 29), 63 practical ideas are listed for spending time with your children. Over the next three weeks, I will list out the ideas for you and your family to try. The list is specifically created by children aged 6-18 of activities they would like to do with their parent or parents. I realize that you may already be doing some of these, and others only happen during the school year. But I encourage you, if you try these out, please respond to the blog and let us know how they went. Enjoy!

1)Make daily phone calls.    2)Plan weekly dates.    3.Establish special traditions.    4)Attend their games and plays.    5)Drive them to school.    6)Put together puzzles.    7)Watch a special TV program and eat popcorn.    8)Write them notes.    9)Take them on a business trip.    10)Take photography lessons together.    11)Play tennis.    12)Skip rocks and have a contest.    13)Write a letter to God.    14)Walk the dog.    15)Read a good book together.    16)Go out for breakfast or doughnuts.    17)Take pictures.    18)Go to the park.    19)Visit the library and ask the librarian a bizarre question.    20)Develop a new laugh together.    21)Visit the zoo.

Things are finally settling in, and we are getting unpacked. By July of 2010, we should be good to go (at least, that is how it is feeling at this point)! We were able to make some good progress this weekend, and hope the coming weekends will prove to be the same. 

It has been a blast to work with such a talented and focused leadership team this summer. Two recent events were the student mission trip to the College World Series led by JWes Crockett, our Director of Students, and Vacation Bible School led by our Director of Children's Ministry, Harriet Bennett. Both were tremendous as many individuals deepened in their relationship with the Lord, and others came into a personal relationship with Christ. While I was unable to attend the mission trip, the stories of the ways God worked in Omaha as the students and adults passed out water bottles with the plan of salvation on them were amazing. I was able to see and be part of VBS daily. Four of us attempted to provide some "comic relief" during large group: JWes, Jonathan Lock, Jonathan Wiggins, and I as surfers (JWes, JWiggins and I are pictured below as snowboarders). We really enjoyed being with the kids, and look forward to seeing what our roles will be in 2009 (although Tiffany and I will probably still be unpacking boxes at home as mentioned earlier-garage sale to come-does anyone need a 1974 toaster oven?).

Three words come to mind when considering the above: service, evangelism, and ministry. When those are lived out, placing the needs of others above our own, sharing Christ with the lost, and utilizing the gifts and talents God has given us for His glory, astounding results occur. God is lifted up, and works and moves in the lives of those involved. In other words, an excellent picture of BVBC in July of 2008. Keep striving in the week ahead. 

I apologize for not having updated my blog over the past three weeks or so. We have been in the process of moving--and life has been as crazy and packed as our new garage. Things will calm down, and I will begin writing again soon--thank-you for bearing with me for now! Keep serving and following Christ hard, and if your life looks like our garage, hang tough--we feel your pain--and are trusting lighter days are ahead!

I hope you have taken some time since last week's blog to chew on the challenge from Dan Webster's book entitled, Increasing Your Personal Impact. Webster discussed in chapter 5 the concept of being a model for others. His challenges are strong, reminding us of the pressures associated with (in essence) "living in a fishbowl", and how very few (if any) individuals are comfortable in doing so. He challenges us to keep in mind if we are to make a deep and lasting impact, actions, attitudes, and other areas will be exposed to those who are looking. How humbling, realizing that left to ourselves, we will fail every time. Our only hope is for Christ to shine through us as we follow Him.

Webster concludes the writing portion of his chapter with the following on pg. 64:

"Living a life that speaks impacts people around us. Doing this is not about faking perfection or pretending to be better than we are. We are repelled by those who communicate a holier-than-thou attitude. The challenge before us is to live a life of integrity. Integrity is about living one life, not two. It's bringing how we live more and more in line with what we say and believe." 

In light of the above paragraph, Webster reminds us of the need to regularly investigate our lives, and to honestly assess if we are demonstrating integrity in the following four areas: family, at work or school, faith, and friendships.

We are all works in progress, and are continually being refined into the men/women God has called us to be. Not one of us can say that we are "there" yet, and none of us will reach that point on this planet. What a wonderful reminder of God's love, grace, and mercy toward us in spite of ourselves. May we all continually strive to live out Luke 9:23: "Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

Consider today the following excerpt is from Increasing Your Personal Impact  by Dan Webster, pp. 59-60.

"I believe that there is a huge difference between a mouth that speaks and a life that speaks. Modeling recognizes that to make an impact we must put on display the life we're inviting others to live. Behavioral scientists say that at least 60% of all we learn is caught by watching others. In church people talk, but in real life people watch. Major breaches of integrity between what we say and how we live only weaken our ability to impact another. So let me ask you...as people watch your life, what do they see? If they walked with you for one week--if they were 'with' you...what would they say matters to you? What truths are you illustrating by how you invest your time and resources? Is there a balance between your words and your life."

This week, a close family to many of us will be transitioning from BVBC. Dan, Lori, Daniel, and Grace Ulichnie will begin their trek to their new home in North Carolina. Tiffany and I were able to build a relationship with Dan and Lori before any children were born to either couple in Phoenix, Arizona. In fact, they were the first outside of the Foothills Baptist staff to befriend Tiffany and I after our move from Ft. Worth in 2000. We have greatly appreciated our relationship with them over the years, and now they are moving away for a second time. Of course we naturally ask the question...is it us? Of course that is not the case! How could it be? At least that is what we tell ourselves. We will miss them once again, but are excited for them, and are challenged by their commitment to follow the Lord in His calling for their family in the move. Recalling memories with the Ulichnie family today, Experiencing God came to mind. One section of Unit 2, Week 5 of the student version (pp. 36-37) entitled "God Speaks With A Purpose" reminds me of Dan and Lori. They are without a doubt responding to God's voice with obedience, and they challenge me to do the same, regardless of the size of the assignment. We will miss you, Dan and Lori, but look forward to vacationing where you are in the days ahead!

"I have known some people who would not interrupt a trip to the mall or a football game for anything in the world. In their mind they say they want to serve God, but they keep eliminating from their life anything that is going to interfere with their own plans. They are so self-centered that they do not recognize the times when God comes to them. If you are God-centered, you will adjust your circumstances to what God wants to do. God has a right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him the right to help Himself to your life anytime He wants. Suppose that five times out of ten when the Master had something for the servant to do the servant said, 'I am sorry. That is not on my schedule.' What do you suppose the Master would do? The Master would discipline the servant. If the servant did not respond to the discipline, sooner or later that servant would find that the Master is no longer coming to him with assignments. You may be saying, 'Oh, I wish I could experience God working through me the way John (or Sue) does.' But every time God comes to John, John adjusts his life to God and is obedient. When John has been faithful in  little assignments, God has given him more important assignments.  If you are not willing to be faithful in a little, God cannot give you a larger assignment. The smaller assignments of God are always used of God to develop character. God always develops character to match His assignment. If God has a great assignment for you, He has to develop a great character to match that assignment before He can give you the assignment."

Matthew 25:21 "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!"

This Sunday, May 11, we will celebrate Mother's Day. This holiday was first observed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1907, which was based on suggestions given by Julia Ward Howard in 1872 and Anna Jarvis in 1907. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official declaration, announcing Mother's Day would be observed on the second Sunday of May each year. If those three individuals were here today, I would pass along a giant high five, thanking them for their efforts to recognize ladies who pour out so much for so many.

I have numerous memories of my mom, and am grateful to this day for her never-ending sacrifices for my sisters and I. Though we have not had many opportunities over the past 17 years to spend this day together, 2008 will be different, as my parents will be in town for the weekend. An added bonus: my Dad's birthday is Saturday! So, not only will we have the opportunity to spend time with my mom for her special day, but with my dad as well! Along with celebrating Tiffany-year 4 of being a mom-will be a great weekend, filled with more memories!

I trust your Mother's Day is filled with the joy, love, and peace of Christ. For all moms: thank-you! The difference you are making is significant, whether the results are seen in the here-and-now, or will be in the years to come.

"M..is for the million things she gave me,

O...means only that she's growing old,

T...is for the tears she shed to save me,

H...is for her heart of purest gold,

E...is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

R..means right, and righ she'll always be.

Put them all together, they spell 'Mother', A word that means the world to me."

Howard Johnson (c.1915)

The following is a section from The Doctrine of Prayer (pg. 12) by T.W. Hunt. It is a great reminder today of God's care for us. Be encouraged. He knows you so intimately: even the hairs on your head are numbered (Matt. 10:30).

"Prayer can have no meaning unless it takes into account God's total nature. He is holy; we come to Him on those grounds. He is love; we pray knowing that He is concerned about our needs. Because He is merciful, God understands and cares about human need. In most of the prayers of biblical characters, God took the initiative. It is that initiating God who tells us: 'Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened' (Matt. 7:7-8). The greatest saints have always known intuitively, from the depths of their spiritual nature, that God desires to provide for His own. Abraham assured Isaac as he was preparing to ascend Mount Moriah, 'God will provide HImself the lamb for the burnt offering' (Gen. 22:8). Only one who grasped the truth that God is concerned about human need could cry out, 'The Lord is my Shepherd' (Ps. 23:1) or 'The Lord is your keeper' (Ps. 121:5). Supremely, it Jesus who assures us with the most graphic pictures that God is deeply concerned for our needs. He asked, as though it were the most reasonable question imaginable, 'If God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much do so for you, O men of little faith?' (Matt. 6:30)"

Last week, we were in Branson for staff retreat. Much was accomplished as we worked through our ministry plans for the coming year. In the midst of meeting, joy and excitement filled the room many times over as a result of what God has been doing, and what we believe He will do in the coming year. We also laughed a ton, as is normally the case with people who enjoy being around each other--and that is definitely true of our staff and families!

One of my ministry heroes over the past decade has been Doug Fields. A common quote found in his books and when he speaks is as follows: "God never intended for you to do life alone, but to do life together in community." That statement is one of the hallmarks of not only our staff families, but of BVBC as a whole.

Matthew 22:37-40 states: "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

If you have not yet jumped in the journey with us, there is no better time to start. If you are already pouring your life out in this place, continually strive to deepen your relationships with the King and those around you. Loving God and loving people. Doing life together. What could be sweeter?

Last week, I met with a couple of friends for Bible Study at "810 The Sports Zone" in Leawood. The food was excellent, and the time of diving into the 1 Peter was phenomenal. One of the topics of discussion for the day was character, and where it can be seen in our lives. In 2006, J. Countryman published The Quest For Character by John MacArthur. The following is an excerpt from the first chapter, A Humble Spirit, referring to the Pharisees and the Sermon on the Mount. I trust the chiallenge will be as strong with you as it has been for me.

"In the minds of Jesus' listeners, the Pharisees epitomized the highest level of personal righteousness it was possible to attain on earth. Jesus must have stunned the whole crowd when He said all of that wasn't good enough. But the Pharisees' approach to seeking God's approval was all wrong. They were trying to manufacture their own brand of righteousness. In other words, everything they did was tainted with self-righteousness. Instead of making them humble, their religion made them proud and haughty. Jesus' sermon specifically condemned that kind of self-righteousness. He therefore starts with a blessing for broken people who recognize their own spiritual bankruptcy: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' (Matthew 15:3).

The virtue He is desribing is true spiritual humility. It is a recognition that we have nothing whatsoever that would commend us to God. We are not spiritually affluent. We are not fundamentally good. We are not in any way spiritually self-sufficient. We are fallen sinners in desperate need of a Savior. We are spiritual paupers.

Genuine character starts with that realization. It's a hard and humbling truth to face squarely. but if you try to divorce even the finest of human traits from basic spiritual humility, all the actual virtue is gone. The trait becomes a form of self-righteousness.

If you don't sense your own spiritual poverty, I want to encourage you to meditate on the majesty of God's law and the reality that even one broken commandment would be enough to condemn a person. Scripture says, 'Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all' (James 2:10).

Contemplate that truth while realizing that everyone one of us has transgressed God's law not once but countless times, and you will begin to grasp why humility before God is the first and most essential virtue. Our spiritual need is far greater than any of us truly realizes. But if you can begin to grasp the idea, it ought to impress on your heart a deep sense of spiritualual poverty. At our very best, we ar nothing more than spiritual beggars. And that, Jesus said, is the first step toward the kind of character God can bless."