Oh yeah . . . take that!

A couple of weeks ago a NFL player, Odell Beckham of the New York Giants had an interesting and almost toxic game.  As a wide receiver he clearly lost control.  From spearing corner back Josh Norman to slapping him across his helmet.  Norman wasn't completely innocent either.  Beckham's action cost him a one game suspension; Norman was fined $26,000 for his part.

We've all experienced situations - young and old alike - moments when frustration gets the better of us and we suddenly feel like we're losing our minds.

Temper tantrums
Eating the entire jar of jellybeans.
Fighting on the playground
Throwing a video game controller across the room.
Yelling at the kids in frustration.

I wish I could say that I am always in complete control of my emotions and actions.  But none of us are.

Throughout the Bible, God talks about a lot about self-control.  As a fruit of the Spirit, self-control is a response to the change that God is making in our lives.  With our own willpower we are helpless to control anything, but with God's power we have strength.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us and are able to do what we should do even when it's not what we want to do.

The book of Proverbs includes several verses where God gives us wisdom to practice for those moments when we'd rather do anything but show self-control.  Proverbs are not merely wise sayings.  Rather, they are part of God's story where He whispers to us: "here's how you should live."  Over the next few weeks in Inspire Kids, we'll look at self-control through God's lens and explore four truths that Solomon captured in the book of Proverbs.

Let’s all learn together this month to pause, select the right words and actions, and most importantly tap into God’s power to show some self-control.

It's Not for Me!

There are some things in life that are not for me.  Beans and Rice. Skydiving.  Being a Seahwaks Fan.  Playing any musical instrument. Dunking a basketball.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Prayer and Fasting, many of us say the same thing.

It's not for me.  

You might be thinking . . . the only thing good about fasting is it will help me to lose some weight.  You might be asking . . . isn't fasting only for emergencies or for the really holy people?  No, fasting is for every follower of Jesus.

You can pray.  You can fast.  But it's more than that.  It's about making God a priority.

Here's the truth. God must be first. He cannot not be first. When God is first in every area of your life, the rest of your life will be filled with order. If God isn't first in any area of your life, I would argue that your life will be full of disorder.

In the book, "Awakening," pastor and author Stovaal Weems says "This will be your best year ever, if it is your best year spiritually."  

Fasting can jump start your year towards being spiritually consumed.  It can set the tone for your entire year.

I'm looking forward to this Sunday as I'll be teaching on prayer and fasting as we prepare for our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting at Inspire Church starting on January 3rd.

If you have never fasted before, I want to challenge you to try it this January.  If you want what you've always had, do what you've always done.  But if you are tired of being spiritually apathetic or inconsistent, then do something you haven't done.

Be sure to check out the Inspire Church blog during those 21 days in January for daily devotionals from the gospel of John and for a daily prayer emphasis.

You may also want to prepare you heart early for this Sunday by reading Joel 1:14 and Matthew 6:16-18.

Ugh! So many choices!

Choices!  Life is full of choices.  I am always overwhelmed when my wife asks me to go to the drug store for some cold medicine.  It takes me forever to choose what I think is the right one.  I'm ra . . . 

Read more

Just do something!

  

I recently read a story about the late Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken.  He was on an airplane when an infant screamed and would not stop even though the women and flight attendant tried every trick they could think of.

Finally the Colonel asked if he could hold the baby. he gently rocked it to sleep.  

Later a passenger said, "We all appreciated what you did for us." Colonel Sanders replies, "I didn't do it for you, I did it for the baby."  He was demonstrating compassion towards the baby.

December is a great time of the year to talk about Compasssion. Compassion is that feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

For the month of December, we will be teaching about Compassion in Inspire Kids.  The main idea is that compassion is caring enough to do something about someone else's need.

God saw our greatest and did something about it.  He became one of us. Humbling Himself to be born as a tiny baby in a remote town in the dwelling place of animals. His birth announcement was sent first to a lowly group of shepherds and later to kings from a distant land. He lived as one of us, so that eventually He could die as atonement for our sin and be raised again on the third day so that we could one day live eternally with God in Heaven.

So as leaders and as parents let's take time as we approach Christmas to teach and live out compassion in our lives.  Seek out teachable moments where you can instill compassion in the lives of your kids.

As these teachable moments occur keep in mind that this is the time of the year when kids (and adults) suddenly NEED a lot of things.  

Most of these needs are just WANTS. Their greatest need is for a Savior - and God met that need on Christmas Day.  Jesus is the ultimate example of compassion.

Unknown Conditions Ahead

This month on Social Media there's this 30 Day of Thankfulness challenge.  I'm not very good at keeping up on that and posting each day, but there is something to be said for taking the time to reflect on what you're thankful for.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

In all circumstances.  Did you catch that?  It's easy to be thankful for good health, for a job promotion, for a Cowboy's victory, for the purchase of a new home, for the accomplishments that happened in the lives of our children. 

But what about those non Social Media moments?  Those things you don't neccesarily share publicly.  The death of a loved one, a cut in pay, when the Cowboys lose 7 games in a row, defaulting on your dream home.

In all circumstances.

Last weekend I was at a conference and we sang the song, "Your Promises" by Elevation Worship.  One of the lines in the song stood out to me.

When the weight of life begins to fall on the name of Jesus I will call.  For I know my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

I'm thankful for my wife, Jalita, who makes me a better person.  I'm thankful for my son, Isaac.  There's is no doubt that Isaac is my son. He's so much like me.  Every year we hear from his teachers or coaches that Isaac is a really nice and polite young man with a great smile.  Love hearing that.  I'm thankful for my son, Austin.  I appreciate Austin's sense of humor, He is so stinking smart and talented musically.  I can't wait to see what Austin does with all his talents. I'm thankful for my daughter, Emma.  She brings a  lot of joy into our lives.  I appreciate Emma's love for life. 

I'm thankful for the little things in life like Netflix, sports, fantasy football, Social Media, Pepsi, Wood's Coffee, licorice, and even cereal.

But even more than all those things, I am thankful that no matter the circumstance, my God is in control and His purpose is unshakeable.

So I choose to give thanks in all circumstances.

SInk or Swim

When my kids were younger, we signed them up for swimming lessons with a lady who was known for being able to teach anyone to swim in just a couple of weeks.  In fact, most kids would be jumping off the diving board and swimming like a pro by the end of the swimming lessons.

So many things in life are a sink or swim situation.   Parenting can feel like that at times.  As a parent to three great kids I was never fully prepared to disciple, train,teach, and cultivate them spiritually.  I certainly didn’t take that class at Bible College!  

Parenting is the hardest job that I have ever had.  There’s that pressure to be proficient in so many areas:  math, sports, braiding hair. For many parents, myself included, it’s easier to go play catch with their son than to tell them a story from the Bible.  I enjoy both of those things but the latter is more challenging.  I don’t think I’m alone in this. 

Many parents struggle with being the spiritual leader in their home.  Most parents want to spend time with their kids.  They have good intentions about talking to their kids on a deeper level.  They want to share their faith.  The problem is – they don’t know how.  

While church is important, God designed the family to be the primary place where discipleship happens.  So the church’s job is to come alongside families and help them fulfill the instructions given in Deuteronomy.  

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Bible clearly teaches that parents are to spiritually train their children or to lead in the provision of spiritual development for their children:  “Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on door frames of your houses and on your gates.” 

I want to invite you to the Inspire Kids Parent Cue Event that’s happening on November 8, right after church in the Youth Center.  We believe that parents can leverage the moments that exist in the rhythm of their daily lives to raise a generation that has an everyday faith.  

Our Parent Cue Event is primarily about providing tools for you as parents that cue you to start a conversation, capture a moment, or instill truth in your kids.  We will also be giving you a calendar of events, sharing about ways that you can get involved, and also be opening up for a Q and A time.  Lunch is provided.  During the Parent Cue, your kids will be having lunch up in Howard Hall along with doing some fun activities.  Parents, I hope you can make it.

I just wanted coffee . . .

Customer service seems to be a dying art.  If you ever needed support with your cable, Internet, or cell phone provider, you probably can relate. 

I recently was at a local store for a meeting.  I arrived early so I was planning on grabbing a coffee.  But since there was only one employee working I never was waited on or even acknowledged that I was in the store.  It might be awhile before I return there.

For us, we often think of service in terms of our experience with a waiter at a restaurant or the phone call we make for technical support or in my case the lack of service at the local store.

But as we lean into God’s heart and discover what it means to reflect His character to the world around us, we soon discover something more about service. It’s not what people do for us or don't do for us, but rather what we need to be doing for the people around us.

This month's Life App in Inspire Kids is SERVICE.  We define it as lending a hand to help someone else. There’s something pretty great that happens when we decide to take the focus off of ourselves and lend a hand to help someone who needs it.

Service is such an important virtue for all of us to develop.  Today's culture is more about us than others.  Some of us take more selfies of ourselves than pictures of others.  Our kids need to move from receiving l the time to experiencing the joy of serving.

This month join me in praying that our kids are inspired to use what they have to engage in the work God is doing and make a difference in the world.

Secret Battles

There’s a story of a young woman who had been working on her two preschoolers’ scrapbooks during their nap times.  She finally decided that the project was complete.  She decided to search through her parents’ photographs and begin to document her family history for her children.

She quickly noticed that the photographs taken during the early years of her childhood were creatively arranged in the albums.  But there were no snapshots representing the two years of her parents’ separation.

Many of us have gaps in our photo albums that represent dark periods in our personal history.  They may even bring to mind a habit, or a hurt, or a hang up that you have.  

None of us ever wakes up one day and says today I’m going to be an alcoholic or I’m going to have a sexual addiction or I’m going to choose for gambling to ruin my personal finances.  Instead, it often starts with a slow drift towards destruction. 

This Sunday I'm looking forward to speaking from a passage in the New Testament that demonstrates the idea of freedom from the battle.  In John 8 it’s the narrative of the women who was caught in the act of adultery.  

Overcoming the past, overcoming our secret battles, experiencing freedom from the battle . . . takes faith . . . and something more . . . Courage.  Courage is what it takes to shed the problems and mistakes and secret battles of the past and dream again.

The best news ever is that hope remains.  No matter where you have been or what you have done, hope remains.  

"You are more than the choices that you've made.  You are more than the sum of your past mistakes.  You are more than the problems you create."

#UCC #iamchristian

Last week our days were interrupted by yet another mass shooting. A young man went to Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon and begin to shoot students and staff.

Multiple reports say that the shooter was asking them what religion they were.  The shooter may have been a Muslim that was specifically targeting Christians.  I wonder if the media would be reporting differently if the targets were Muslims or people of a certain Sexual Orientation.

These events are getting way too close to me.  I lived just an hour or so from Roseburg for about 10 years.  You might remember the shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School last year.  Back in the the mid to late 90's I lived in Marysville and served on staff at a local church.

President Obama was quoted last week as saying, "We don't take the basic, common-sense actions to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people.  what's different in America is it's easy to get our hands on (guns)." 

I have several friends that carry a gun.  Many of them would argue that if more people had a concealed gun than we wouldn't have as many as these shootings or at least there would be less casualties.

Each year more laws are added in this country but crime continues to rise and our prisons are overpopulated.  Some of the friends I have that carry a gun would act responsibly during a shooting.  Others I could see them causing more damage than good.

Others point out that we need to do a better job of meeting the needs of those that suffer a mental illness.  There's no doubt that we can improve in that area.

So what's the solution or what's the root cause?  I love what a friend of mine posted on facebook.

"I keep hearing 'guns are the problem' or 'mental illness' is the problem' and while there may a bit of truth to "all" the different excuses, I think that we are really seeing is simply the results of a nation that keeps turning further and further away from God."

Unfortunately there are no easy answers.  We live in a fallen world. There are so many hurting people.  Many of these hurting people hurt others wether its with their words or their actions. But hope does remain.  Check out this verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

The root cause of these mass shootings aren't weak gun laws or not having enough people with concealed gun permits.  The root cause is a fallen world.  So how would the Lord have us respond?


Be ready to give an answer.  2 Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."

Pray for our children, for our schools, for our nation, and for those affected by this most recent tragedy.  In praying circles around your children, author Mark Batterson states that "Our most powerful prayers are hyperlinked to the promises of God.  One of my favorite is found in Philippians 4:6-7.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Don't live in fear - but rather put our trust in God.  In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul writes, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

We can work for a more just society.  Isaiah 1:17 teaches us to "learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."

Yes, #iamchristian.  

Discovery

Have you ever had someone tell you that you are unique?  If that's happened to you, you may have wondered if that's a compliment or an insult.  I've decided that I will just take it as a compliment even if that wasn't the intention of my unique friend.

If you have younger kids, you have maybe noticed their uniqueness or individuality with their art projects.  You may want them to tell you what it is before you make that mistake of trying to make an artistic interpretation.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

God made each person one of a kind—even identical twins have unique fingerprints! Every person that ever was or ever will be is an original.

This month's Life App in Inspire Kids is Individuality. Individuality is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

Most of us remember Timothy because of what Paul wrote to him while he was a young leader in the church at Ephesus.  But if you do a little digging in the book of Acts, and look at what we know about the journeys of Paul, you can piece together a pretty remarkable story about a young man who discovered his unique God-given potential and did some amazing things.

Our key verse this month is taken directly from instructions that Paul gave Timothy:  "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young.  Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live." - 1 Timothy 4:12a

Timothy was probably around 38 or 40 years old when Paul sent him the letters that are know as 1 and 2 Timothy.  Timothy was young for what he was doing.  Most people in his position were 20 or more years older. But Timothy didn't have to wait to make a difference.

Check out our main points or bottom lines this month in Inspire Kids.

• Jesus wants to use your story to make a difference.
• When you discover your gifts, you can make a difference.
• When we use our gifts together, we can make a greater difference.
• You can make a difference right now.

As parents and leaders we can help our kids this month discover how to tap into their God-given potential and start doing something significant right now.

I'm lost?

I don't know about you, but some days are just ordinary.  There are even weeks that I feel like I'm just going through the motions.  It's easy for life to feel like a rut at times.  But I believe that God has more for us than that.

You were created for a unique purpose.

I'm looking forward to facilitating a new Life Group next week called "S.H.A.P.E."  It's about finding your unique purpose for life.

I remember as a student in high school deciding I wanted to learn to play the keyboard.  After a few lessons it became apparent that it was not my unique purpose for my life.  I'm just not musically incline.  I have to follow someone very closely to even clap on beat.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

You have a special assignment from God that only you can accomplish.  Your abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences should not be wasted.  So what's your next step. Below are a couple of suggestions.

1. Identify your S.H.A.P.E.  Click here for a great assessment tool.
2. Start Serving.  If you are serving in an area that does not bring joy or delight, then perhaps you need to consider a switch.

There's this tendency for many of to feel like that you are not good enough.  We even like to compare ourselves to others.  

• "If only I could lead worship he does."  
• "I wish I had his outgoing personality."  
• "I'm just organized enough to do that."
• "I would serve but what if I fail?"

God doesn't ask us to have it all together before we begin serving Him.  He uses us despite our feelings of being inadequate.  God doesn't make junk.  You are his masterpiece.  You were created for a unique purpose!  

From Exhausted to Energized

My wife and I recently came back from a 7 day Alaskan cruise.  It was a great week to relax, to spend time with my beautiful bride, and to be unplugged from the routine of life.

In Genesis 2:2 we read about what God rested after creating the world in 6 days. "On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work."

Resting does not come easy to me.  I'm the guy in the office that doesn't use all his vacation time.  I have been accused of being a work aholic from time to time.  My wife would tell you that I have hard time sitting still for long periods of time.  There's always something to be done.  My mind is always turning.

But rest isn't just a suggestion or a good idea; it's essential for healthy living.  Rest energizes us.  It' was so important that it's listed it as one of the ten commandments in Exodus 20:8-11.

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner in your towns.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day." 

I recently finished reading 'Simplify" by Bill Hybels.  Hybels identifies core issues that drive lives that are over scheduled, exhausted, and overwhelmed.  Can you relate?  I know I can. It's a great read, especially if you're life seems to be out of balance.

We only get one life to live here on earth.  Enjoy life, protect your calendar, be there for your family, honor the Lord, and take some time to rest and exercise so you can be energized.  

Dirty Jobs

There are some jobs that no one really wants to do.  Like at Kids Camp at 10pm when a camper decides to vomit in his cabin. He had a really good dinner!  It was dirty, gross, and it really stunk.

But sometimes you just have to take the initiative, even when the job is dirty.  Initiative isn’t just some practical principle; it’s really a spiritual principle that starts with God.  God took initiative on our behalf. When God saw our broken relationship with Him, He sent Jesus to make it right. And because we are made in God’s image, we are wired to be able to take initiative and get things done.

Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it. 

All month long in Inspire Kids, we're heading to the Old Testament to talk more about one of the greatest examples of someone taking initiative: a man by the name of Nehemiah.  

Nehemiah worked for the King of Persia but he was Jewish. Some of his people had moved back from Persia to Jerusalem, the capital of the land God had given them, and Nehemiah got word that Jerusalem was in trouble. Back then, cities were surrounded by thick, high walls. These walls protected and guarded the city. But the walls around Jerusalem were broken down. It was a big mess. 

Now, Nehemiah wasn’t an engineer. He didn’t have any construction experience. He didn’t even live in Jerusalem. And he had a pretty cushy job, working as a cupbearer to a king. But Nehemiah knew that he could help. He knew he had to help. And he figured that he might be the only person willing to get the job done. So he did. The Bible tells us that because of Nehemiah, the wall around Jerusalem was completely rebuilt in 52 days. Isn’t that amazing? Nehemiah saw the job that needed to be done. He didn’t wait for someone else to do it.

To help your kids understand initiative, this month read the following Scriptures with your kids and ask these questions:

• Week 1:  Nehemiah 1, Ask God for the energy to get all the little jobs done and for courage to face even the biggest jobs.
• Week 2:  Nehemiah 2:1-18, Take turns praying for each other to have initiative this week - at home, at school, or at work - even if the task isn't "your job."
• Week 3:  Nehemiah 5:1-12, Pray for each other to have open eyes to see the needs of those around you, a heart that hurts for other's needs, and hands willing to jump in and do the work to help them.
• Week 4: Nehemiah 4;6:15-16, Talk about a big job ahead of you in the coming weeks.  Ask God for wisdom and strength to complete the task.

Life is Better Together!

There are certain things in life that are better together:

Chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk.
Lock and keys.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Netflix and your couch.
Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Table and chairs.
Fish and Chips.
Football and the Dallas Cowboys!

Last week during our Back to School Party as was reminded that Life is Better Together as 70 volunteers served together to give back to our community in a tangible way.  A church of 150 could not have accomplished what we did with out the support of the great people of Inspire Church but also our great community sponsors as well.

When life get difficult as it does at times, there can be a tendency to isolate yourself'; to hide out; to become an introvert.

But when life is at a breaking point that's the best time to do life together.  To live in community with other believers.

As we approach fall this is a great opportunity to commit to living life in community.  That doesn't mean you have to join a monastery or live in a house with 4 other families.

For you it may mean joining a Life Group or serving on a ministry team. You are not really living in community just sitting in rows on a Sunday morning.  Community takes place in circles and in the trenches.

There is unlimited potential when we choose to do life together.

What I Learned at Camp!

Last week I had an opportunity to spend a week with over 300 campers.  Kids Camp is a place where kids can be kids.  A place where they can play, develop friendships, and experience God in a life changing way.  Last week I was reminded of a few lessons that go beyond Kids Camp.

1. Things don't always go as planned.
No one planned to get a broken arm, but one boy left camp early with one.  We didn't ask for it rain on Wednesday causing the pool and other activities to be closed for an hour.  

Life has many surprises.  Some are good and others are unpleasant. How we respond is the key.  We can respond with anger and impatiently or we can respond with understanding and with God's love.

2. Life is better together.
Or leadership team was effective because we worked well together (even the Canadians). The Teal Team was the winning team becasue they worked well together too.  Well, it did help that they had more campers than the other teams.  Kids could only experience the Giant Swing as a group.  It simply couldn't be done alone.

We weren't created to live in isolation but rather we are to do life in community.  That's why circles are better than rows.  Together we can accomplish far more than we could ever dream of doing as individuals.

3. Choose your battles carefully.
I have a type A personality.  I have definetely been accused of being OCD and being a perfectionist and being over analytical.  There are some things that happened at camp that I didn't like.  I certainly got anxious when morning chapel ended late or when Cabin18 was always late for meal times.

But I had to choose my battles.  Many of the things that bugged me were just my own personal preference and didn't have any lasting effect on anyone's overall camp experience.

You may have some circumstances in your life that you need to let go of and others that you may need to fight for.  God can give you the wisdom to discern which is which.

What We Can Learn from Baseball - Even the Mariners!

I have lot of positive baseball memories.  I remember back in 1995 being in Bellevue Square watching from a Foot Locker when Edgar Martinez hit the double to score Cora and Griffey, sending the Mariners to the ALCS.

Just a few weeks later I was in my apartment listening on radio as the Braves won the World Series.  I like the Mariners but I love the Braves!

As a child I can look back to when I was eleven years old and our majors team won the championship.

I love baseball.  It's not boring or too slow.  There's so much strategy involved.  In fact, there are some great life principles that we can take from it.

Bottom of the ninth.  There's no time clock in a baseball game.  Even if you're down by 10 runs in the bottom of the ninth there still is hope.  I'm thankful that at our lowest point there is still hope.  Anything is possible for God.

It's a long season:  A MLB season consists of 162 games.  You can almost guarantee that even the best team will lose at least 50 games.  There are only a few exceptions.  A baseball season is full of losses and bad days.  Kind of like our lives.  Think about your last week, or last month, or last year.  What comes to mind?  I imagine some really good things and maybe some difficult circumstances.  Hebrews 12: says . . . 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses in the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Baseball is a team sport.  Nine guys are on a field at a team.  Everyone has to contribute.  Nelson Cruz can be dominating from the plate.  But if the bullpen stinks (aka Rodney), and the defense is terrible (pick any appropriate Mariner) then the team will still lose games.  Life is simply better together.  That's why things like Life Groups are so important for believers.  They provide support and encouragement even during  a long season and especially in the bottom of the ninth.

So the next time you are enjoying a great baseball game remember that there is always hope, to keep running the race, and that life is better together,

Go Braves!  Go Mariners!

We provide leverage!

Did you ever watch the TV show, Leverage?  This drama series aired on TNT from 2008-2012.  It followed a five-person team: a thief, a drifter, a hacker, a retrieval specialist, and a former insurance investigator.  As a team they used their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens.

The famous line from the shows opening credits says, "We provide leverage.

The word leverage is defined as the ability to influence people. events, or decisions.  

This coming Sunday I'm looking forward to speaking about one of my favorite heroes from the Bible, the patriarch Joseph.  Joseph had the character to leverage his influence for the greater good.

You can read the narrative of Joseph's life in Genesis 37-50. Joseph lived a life of ups and downs.  He was chosen, betrayed, tempted, and imprisoned before he become second in command.

In Genesis 39:20b-21 we read that " . . . while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden."

As a prisoner Joseph could have seen his situation as hopeless, Instead, he did his best with each small task given him.

Sometimes we may feel like our situation is hopeless,  We may be unhappy in our job, in our marriage, with our sport's team (come on Mariners).  But how we respond in those situations is the key.

You see Joseph' s diligence and positive attitude were soon noticed by the warden.  

In Genesis 39:22-23 it says, "So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.  The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."

Prison isn't a place where you feel like you would want a promotion.  But while in prison Joseph was not only promoted but he was able to leverage the influence to interpret some dreams.

Events don't always turn out the way we planned.  Joseph didn't plan on being in prison.  

Life may not be going as you planned.  At home, or work, or school, follow Joseph's example by taking each small task and doing your best to leverage your influence for the greater good.  You can be a hero by just thriving in whatever task you have been given.

Best Week Ever

Best Week Ever!  What comes to mind?  A childhood memory?  A family vacation?  

I have had the opportunity to serve on leadership teams at summer camps for most of the last 15 years.  It is always one of the highlights of my entire year - maybe one of my Best Weeks Ever!

I have so many great memories of camp over these years. The birthday cake field activity (flour, water, and frosting), amazing worship and altar times, fun times hanging out with our cabin staff counselors playing German Uno.

• Camp takes kids and counselors out of their normal routine.  The TV is turned off, screen time is eliminated.  
• Camp provides an environment where kids slow down to play and have lots of fun.
• Camp also provides an environment where they can hear from God, can encounter God in a new way, and experience life change.
• Camp even provides an opportunity for kids o develop controlled independence while being surrounded by so many positive role models.

There are lots or ways you can invest in your kids.  Football Camp.  Horse Camp.  Summer School.  All of those things in themselves are wonderful.  I love that my kids are apart of sports.

But there is no greater investment than the investment you make into your child's spiritual life.  In the end that's all that really matters.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to get your kids to camp.  On August 10th-14th I'll be at SOAR Kids Camp in Cedar Springs with a great group of campers and cabin leaders from Inspire Church.  For more details, go to http://www.icskagitvalley.org/what-we-do/inspire-kids/soar-kids-camp---the-amazing-race

Holy Heroes Batman!

I'm just young enough and old enough to be a fan of the original Batman TV show starring Adam West.  It was one of my favorite shows.  Watching one of the shows now is kind of lame.  I mean it was kind of cheesy. 

The cool thing about Batman though is that he doesn't have any super powers, he just has really cool gadgets.

• Batmobile Bat-phone
• Shark Repellent Bat Spray
• Anti-Penguin Gas Pills
• Batcomputer Bat-Key

A great quote from Batman is: "The true crime fighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt."  You may not have Batman's utility built, but there's tremendous power in being a follower of Jesus.

Starting the first Sunday in July our church will be learning about different Heroes from the Bible. In Inspire Kids, the focus will be on how Big Heroes serve a Big God.  In our main service, the focus will be on how the Bible is more than just a manual, it is a story of history which comes alive when one studies the people involved.  These people are real and have a story of their own to tell.  A story that can apply to every follower of Jesus.

Most weeks the kids will be learning about the same Bible Hero as their parents will be.  We can all be a hero. We may not be able to fly like Superman, or walk through a wall like Green Lantern, or have super strength like the Incredible Hulk; but a real hero doesn't need those things.

We can be strong, we can be a hero if we trust in God and his strength. What is God asking you to do?  

Maybe you can be a hero by leveraging your influence to benefit others like the patriarch Joseph did.  Or maybe you're the hero that can never be counted out like King David was.   

Be strong.  Stand up for others.   Speak up for the weak.  Be the modern day hero that God is asking you to be! 

School's Out! Now what?

Summer is here.  School's Out!  Now what do I do with my kids all summer.  With our kids out of school it can be stressful and not relaxing.

There's that pressure to keep your kids busy so they don't get bored or to keep them out of trouble. Depending on the age of your kids, they need different things.

• Young children:  need their parents participating in quality play.
• Elementary Children:  Need interactive activities with peers and parents.
• Middle Schoolers:  Need peers involved in all summer activities and begin to need less parent involvement.
• High School Students:  Need to begin work while they have fun in the summer.

Summer is a great time to create positive memories as a family.  Look back at your past year.  What jumps out of you?  It could be a tragedy or it could be a great memory like a family vacation.  Our kids look forward to my wife's family reunion every year.  I probably drive her family crazy and they drive me crazy sometimes.  But I guess it adds to the memory.

There's an app available from Orange Leaders called "Legacy Countdown."  Here's how it works.

1. Enter a child's name and graduation date.
2. A countdown for the clock will begin.

Our oldest son, Isaac has his first summer job.  So he's living in Chelan with his grandparents as he works this summer.  The house is really quiet without him.  I'm excited for this growth opportunity for him but it's also a reminder that we only have about 200 weeks left before he graduates from high school.

Time is running out.  It can be depressing or exciting, depending on your perspective.  Value the time you have with your kids.  It won't last forever.

Hope

Hope is an interesting thing isn't it?  It is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  As I child I was hopeful that someday I would be a NBA star for the Los Angeles Lakers.  I only had a couple of challenges:  I was short, slow, and didn't have a great jump shot!

We hope for so many things.

• Money
• Love
• Peace
• Happiness
• Good Health
• For the kids to sleep in on Saturdays.

Although we hope for so many things, we don't find true hope in those things.  Real hope only comes through faith in God.

Joseph is one of my favorite characters from the Bible.  God spoke to Joseph through dreams.  Joseph didn't just have a feeling of expectation but he had a certainty of expectation.  He knew certain things were going to happen.  Despite that certainty, life wasn't easy for Joseph. His bothers threw him in a pit and left him for dead.  Pharoah's wife got him thrown into prison.

Yet God was faithful to Joseph in each of these circumstances.  God brought hope to what must have seemed to be a hopeless situation

"So Pharoah asked them, 'Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?"  

Genesis 41:38

That's what God does.  He brings hope where there seems to be no hope.

We see this a lot in sports.  The game seems to be over and yet a team makes an unbelievable comeback.  My favorite comeback of all time is the 1991 National league Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Braves were down to their final out, with the slowest runner on their team at second, and a seldom used guy up at the plate.

No matter what you are going through, No matter what you're desire or expectation for something to happen, God can bring hope.  Maybe its finances or relationships or a sickness.  Whatever your situation, hope remains.

He has not abandoned you.  He is there for you.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  Put your trust in Him.

Yes I really believe that!

Conviction!  A firmly held belief or opinion.  I don't know about you, but I sure do have a lot of firmly help opinions!

• The Dallas Cowboys can win the Super Bowl next year.
• The Seahawks would have won last year's Super Bowl if they would have ran that ball on the last play.
• Skagit Valley Burgers are the best burgers in the county.
• Pepsi is way better than Coke.
• Baseball is not boring.
• Nascar is not a sport.
• Captain America is the coolest Avenger!
• I am a horrible golfer.

This month in Inspire Kids we will be learning about the Life App, "Conviction."  We will define Conviction as standing for what's right even when other's don't.

The book of Acts is full of stories about Peter, Paul, and others standing up for what's right even when it was unpopular.  In Acts chapter 5 the apostles were arrested and put in jail.  But during the night they escaped through an angel of the Lord.  The next day the apostles went back to preaching in the temple courts.  As they were brought to stand before Sanhedrin and the High Priest they responded by saying:

"We must obey God rather than men!"  

Acts 5:29

There will be situations when you have an opportunity to stand up for what's right.  It won't necessarily be easy.  Sometimes you won't want to stand what is right.  Sometimes you'll be tired or even feel alone. As parents those opportunities can come at home or at work.  Your children face these opportunities every day at school or at their sports practice or just by hanging out with their friends.

"For kids, standing up for what's right is one of the most difficult lessons to learn.  But thankfully, as parents we have a unique opportunity to influence our kids and help them navigate the wise choice while the stakes aren't so high."
- Dan Scott

So how do we help our kids stand up for what's right?

1. Start with conversations about what you support and what you are opposed to.
2. Be an example on your own.

It won't be easy but we can trust God no matter what.  He'll give us and your kids the strength and courage we need to stand up for what is right..

My Top 5!

The #5.  The number of Super Bowl Championships that my Dallas Cowboys have.  Gary Chapman talks about and has written extensively about the 5 Love Languages.  The number 5 is mentioned 318 times in Scripture.  Who knows - I may have just helped you out in your next game of Trivia Crack!

I recently reread a blog by Carey Nieuwhof called "Why Your Kids Need Five Other Adults in Your Lives."  In this blog, Carey says . . .

"When your kids, need to talk, who do they talk to?  I mean beyond their friends and beyond you as a parent?  Friends are limited help; sometimes the last thing a 6-year-old needs is advice from another 16-year old.  And sometimes the last erson they want to talk to is a parent.  I'm sure there are parents who say, "my kid will talk to me." But let me ask you something, did you tell your parents everything?"

You can read the entire blog at http://theparentcue.org/why-your-kids-need-five-other-adults-in-their-lives.

I don't know about you but there are sometimes when my kids just seem to be tired of my voice.  I'm thankful that there are some adults in my kid's life that have similar values that I have.  Adults that I feel comfortable with my kids going to to discuss difficult questions with.

How can you help to develop these relationships?  I would suggest the following ideas to get you started.

1. Help them to connect in Small Group environments at church.  Does your church offer Small Group opportunities for your students?  If so, wow!  What a great opportunity.  Get them involved.
2. Cultivate the relationship with your Children's or Youth Pastor.  Sometimes this happens naturally but at other times you may need to actively develop this.  Invite your Children's or Youth Pastor over for lunch or invite them to one of your student's sports games.
3. Make your extended family a priority.  Does your student have an aunt, uncle, or grandparent who serves the Lord who also has a great relationship with your student.  Cultivate that relationship,

You also will want to involve your child in this process.  Your top 5 may not be their top 5.  Open up the lines of communication and talk about the top 5.

Who is your Top 5?

Disconnect to Reconnect

I really do love the technology age we live in.  It wasn't too long ago that I had to wait for the afternoon newspaper to be delivered so I could check the Major league Baseball box scores.  I remember when CNN news first became available and they had sports updates every 30 minutes. It was amazing.

We've come a long way, haven't we? Today's information is just a click away.

But sometimes we can be so connected to our smart phone and to social media that we neglect to connect to the people around us.

From time to time my family has a no media night. I am making a fresh commitment to do this every week.  What does this look like?  It's an evening without smart phones, without computers, without TV.  It's an evening to enjoy dinner together as a family, to play an old board game, to take a family walk and most importantly to disconnect to reconnect.  It ends up being like a 3 hour time slot.

Maybe a whole evening seems impossible for you.  You can always start with just an hour of family time, or making dinner time a no media zone.

Crag Jutila, who is a great author, blogger, and leader in family ministry suggests the following digital guidelines to protect your children online:

1. Keep computers, tablets and game consoles in an open space.
2. Set appropriate limits for daily screen time.
3. Children must not sign up for anything unless they get permission.
4. Charge mobile devices in an open location overnight.
5. When family time is on, all media is off.
6. Randomly check your child's texts.

Here are two great books that address some of the digital media challenges that we face.

• Craig Juitla, "Faith and the Modern Family"
• Brian Housman, "Tech Savvy Parenting"