I wonder how many times we think about what Jesus said in Luke 14:28. Do we truly count the costs before we begin something new, or do we tend to jump in saying "it's God's will so He'll provide." Of course, if it is God's will, He will be faithful to provide for your needs. However, there is a cost. A cost for getting saved, a cost for winning the lost, and a cost for living righteously. Do we count those costs?? Furthermore, do we ever actually pay those prices?? In our physical world we are conditioned to find the cheapest, easiest way from point A to point B, but I don't see that as being God's plan. Look at the very means by which we have salvation. Jesus came, lived a PERFECT life, died on a cross, rose again, and lives today at the right hand of the Father. That was not cheap or easy...in fact, nothing has ever cost more, or been more difficult. He lived a perfect life - how incredible is that alone?? Then, He willingly died on a cross so that you and I could spend eternity with Him. The thing that we forget so much is that in His death, He had to go get the keys to death - and we are worried about what our co-workers may think of us if we share the gospel with them...that's embarrassing.
I wonder, too, if we allow others to count the costs. When we witness to people, are we so eager to put that notch on our belt that we discount the need to count those costs for themselves. I had a good friend a few years ago, who I have fallen out of communication with, who wanted to count the costs. As far as I know he has yet to turn his life over to God, but he knows. He knows what it means when he does - and I am fully confident that he will. You see, when people get the full picture, it may look daunting at first, but they've got the full picture. sooner or later the costs seem to dim, and the prize grows. Take for example a teenager who starts taking marijuana. In that time the cost of giving up drugs is too great for him. When he gets older, however, the cost may be giving up joblessness, hopelessness, and despair - to gain eternal life. Once the luster of the sin wears off, then Jesus looks that much brighter. Encourage your unsaved loved ones to count the cost. Weigh out what they will be giving up to follow Christ, and decide if it is worth it. As long as we as Christians are doing what we are instructed to do, I am confident that they will see that the cost is minute compared to the gain.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Desolate days
This past Sunday we talked about Paul again, and some times he faced through the early years of his ministry. It was particularly applicable to me because I feel like I am going through some desolate days right now. The things that desperate days may bring are: isolation, humiliation, subordination, rejection, and demotion.
It is amazing how impatient I can be with my desolate days. Looking at Paul, he spent 3 years in isolation in Arabia...3 years. Looking further back, it was 13 years from the time Joseph was sold into slavery and the time when he became second in command of the known educated world. How long was the time between David's anointing as king, and when he actually took the throne. Moses spent 40 years after leaving Egypt before he went back...and another 40 wondering in the wilderness. I have been dealing with some of this stuff for about 1 year...1 stinkin' measly year of my probably 70+ year life. Even in that one year I am not going through what any of those examples endured. I didn't even really think about it until Sunday morning. As my dad was speaking and hitting his points I just kept thinking "wow, I am dealing with that one too...". Isolation can be a difficult one today...especially because Father's House is such a relational church. I have found that I can be surrounded by my best friends, and still feel like nobody really gets me...that they don't understand, and most likely never will understand. As far as humiliation is concerned, I have experienced the humbling side of that term, more than the embarrassing part. I have been embarrassed, but even that led to being humbled. Completely broken down in front of God and some of my peers. Of course, there will always be those who reject us. That one may be the least of those for me. Either I don't feel like anyone has rejected me, or I am just so used to it, it doesn't faze me anymore. As far as subordination and demotion go, those are another topic for another post. By the grace of God, and the love of my family and friends, I have been able to be more open about the way I am feeling. I have dealt with these feelings like I have so much to offer a church in the facet of my calling, but here I am, with a secular job, not living up to what I thought I would be doing by this time in my life. Sometimes I want so badly to be on staff at a church that I think I would move anywhere, and work for anyone. Other times, I think that I won't ever be a full-time minister, and I basically give up on what I KNOW God as called me to. I guess it truly is all in God's time...after all, God didn't part the Red Sea to leave His children out of the Promised Land.
It is amazing how impatient I can be with my desolate days. Looking at Paul, he spent 3 years in isolation in Arabia...3 years. Looking further back, it was 13 years from the time Joseph was sold into slavery and the time when he became second in command of the known educated world. How long was the time between David's anointing as king, and when he actually took the throne. Moses spent 40 years after leaving Egypt before he went back...and another 40 wondering in the wilderness. I have been dealing with some of this stuff for about 1 year...1 stinkin' measly year of my probably 70+ year life. Even in that one year I am not going through what any of those examples endured. I didn't even really think about it until Sunday morning. As my dad was speaking and hitting his points I just kept thinking "wow, I am dealing with that one too...". Isolation can be a difficult one today...especially because Father's House is such a relational church. I have found that I can be surrounded by my best friends, and still feel like nobody really gets me...that they don't understand, and most likely never will understand. As far as humiliation is concerned, I have experienced the humbling side of that term, more than the embarrassing part. I have been embarrassed, but even that led to being humbled. Completely broken down in front of God and some of my peers. Of course, there will always be those who reject us. That one may be the least of those for me. Either I don't feel like anyone has rejected me, or I am just so used to it, it doesn't faze me anymore. As far as subordination and demotion go, those are another topic for another post. By the grace of God, and the love of my family and friends, I have been able to be more open about the way I am feeling. I have dealt with these feelings like I have so much to offer a church in the facet of my calling, but here I am, with a secular job, not living up to what I thought I would be doing by this time in my life. Sometimes I want so badly to be on staff at a church that I think I would move anywhere, and work for anyone. Other times, I think that I won't ever be a full-time minister, and I basically give up on what I KNOW God as called me to. I guess it truly is all in God's time...after all, God didn't part the Red Sea to leave His children out of the Promised Land.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I'm getting old...
Well, yesterday I turned 29...yes, only one year left until 30. Birthdays have never really bothered me before, and I am doing my best to not let this one bother me either. However, when I graduated high school I set some goals for myself, and some of the biggest were goals I wanted to have complete by the time I was 30. This is either going to be a VERY busy year, or I'm just going to have to re-evaluate my goal timeline. My biggest goal was to become efficient (if not proficient) at 5 instruments by the time I am 30. I've got the guitar, bass, trumpet, and african hand drums (congas, bongos, djembe, etc.). That would be 4, but I only count the bass and guitar as 1/2 to 3/4 each since they go so well together. So, this year I would really like to focus on piano more than anything. If I can get a decent handle on that with some time left, I will focus some time on the violin also. Piano is my top priority, though, for sure. I would love to learn to play a regular trap set drums, but getting both hands and both feet going at the same time it super tricky for me.
let's see, what else has been going on?? Well, the new year is going pretty well still. I have taken up drinking a glass of V-8 every morning. That has got to be the biggest glass I have ever seen...V-8 tastes horrible, but it's just so stinkin' good for you.
I had a thought that I wanted to share. At church we are going through a sermon series on the life of Paul. WOW, what a dynamic transformation of a man. God really turned his life upside down. At any rate, before the church became 'the church' it was known as 'the Way'. Something I REALLy liked when I stopped to think about that, was that 'the Way' symbolizes a journey for me, whereas 'the church' symbolizes a place. I know that the church is not a place, but the people, but in my mind's eye, I see a place. As the church we need to be on our way - as in a journey. We haven't arrived, and we will certainly kno when we have...we won't be in our earthly bodies anymore for starters. Not to mention, we'll be at a feast that makes any Thanksgiving look trivial. So, lets not sit back, or settle down. Let us always be moving forward, taking ground that isn't ours right now, but is ours through Christ. A few years ago the prayer of Jabez was a trendy thing in the church - especially with the publication of a book about it. It has come and gone now, like so many other fads, but one thing that should not pass away is us praying that God expands our boundries of influence.
I've got more about Paul to share, but I'll save that so I have something to post next time.
let's see, what else has been going on?? Well, the new year is going pretty well still. I have taken up drinking a glass of V-8 every morning. That has got to be the biggest glass I have ever seen...V-8 tastes horrible, but it's just so stinkin' good for you.
I had a thought that I wanted to share. At church we are going through a sermon series on the life of Paul. WOW, what a dynamic transformation of a man. God really turned his life upside down. At any rate, before the church became 'the church' it was known as 'the Way'. Something I REALLy liked when I stopped to think about that, was that 'the Way' symbolizes a journey for me, whereas 'the church' symbolizes a place. I know that the church is not a place, but the people, but in my mind's eye, I see a place. As the church we need to be on our way - as in a journey. We haven't arrived, and we will certainly kno when we have...we won't be in our earthly bodies anymore for starters. Not to mention, we'll be at a feast that makes any Thanksgiving look trivial. So, lets not sit back, or settle down. Let us always be moving forward, taking ground that isn't ours right now, but is ours through Christ. A few years ago the prayer of Jabez was a trendy thing in the church - especially with the publication of a book about it. It has come and gone now, like so many other fads, but one thing that should not pass away is us praying that God expands our boundries of influence.
I've got more about Paul to share, but I'll save that so I have something to post next time.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Second Sunday...
Well, we had our second week in the new sanctuary yesterday, and this week I made sure I ad battery for my camera so I could show off the new building here. Here are the pictures in the order you might see them if you were walking into the building.
I have several more pictures, but these are the basics. We are so stinkin' excited to be in this building. For those that don't know the back story, 3 1/2 years ago we decided to seel our building that the church had been in since 1927, but we had outgrown. We sold it within 6 months, but rented it back for 1 year while we got our new place built, well, that year came and went without anything tangible getting done. So, we moved out congregation of about 100 into a tiny room that would uncomfortably seat 55 people. Instead of having the kids with us through worship - as was our tradition - we released them to their classes at the beginning of service. We did that from March of 2006 through July of 2006. Then, in August a local Baptist church loaned us a canopy type tent (no walls) to use, but they needed it back for Labor Day weekend. By the time Labor Day rolled around we had secured another tent from a friend of my dad's that had two walls, but we only had that one through the first week of October. At that point, we were faced with moving back into the tiny room, and risking losing all the growth we had experience in our tents. So, dad had settled on renting a school, but at about $1000 a week, hat was going to be tough. the finance committee, however, had other plans. They decided to buy a tent. Even if we only needed the school for 6 months, that 26 weeks, and $26,000 - we could get a decent used tent for that. At the same time in Washington, a man who had held tent revivals was retiring, and he knew my grandparents. We were able to buy a tent, roughly 150 nice folding chairs, a great heater, stage, and projection screen all for well under our budget for just the tent. We were in that tent for 14 months - almost to the day. the fire department informed us that it had to come down, and at that point, we were forced to have services in the tiny room for 3 weeks, then we got into our new building on January 6, 2008 with a 60 day temporary permit. It's been a long, someimtes rough, road, but through Christ, we made it through.
I have several more pictures, but these are the basics. We are so stinkin' excited to be in this building. For those that don't know the back story, 3 1/2 years ago we decided to seel our building that the church had been in since 1927, but we had outgrown. We sold it within 6 months, but rented it back for 1 year while we got our new place built, well, that year came and went without anything tangible getting done. So, we moved out congregation of about 100 into a tiny room that would uncomfortably seat 55 people. Instead of having the kids with us through worship - as was our tradition - we released them to their classes at the beginning of service. We did that from March of 2006 through July of 2006. Then, in August a local Baptist church loaned us a canopy type tent (no walls) to use, but they needed it back for Labor Day weekend. By the time Labor Day rolled around we had secured another tent from a friend of my dad's that had two walls, but we only had that one through the first week of October. At that point, we were faced with moving back into the tiny room, and risking losing all the growth we had experience in our tents. So, dad had settled on renting a school, but at about $1000 a week, hat was going to be tough. the finance committee, however, had other plans. They decided to buy a tent. Even if we only needed the school for 6 months, that 26 weeks, and $26,000 - we could get a decent used tent for that. At the same time in Washington, a man who had held tent revivals was retiring, and he knew my grandparents. We were able to buy a tent, roughly 150 nice folding chairs, a great heater, stage, and projection screen all for well under our budget for just the tent. We were in that tent for 14 months - almost to the day. the fire department informed us that it had to come down, and at that point, we were forced to have services in the tiny room for 3 weeks, then we got into our new building on January 6, 2008 with a 60 day temporary permit. It's been a long, someimtes rough, road, but through Christ, we made it through.Wednesday, January 9, 2008
It's hump day...
Boy, does it feel like a hump day. My recently started exercise regimen is killing me. I am not only having to get used to working out - I swam 1,000 meters this morning by the way - but I am also having to get used to getting up at 5:30 in the morning. I think that the getting up is much worse than the swimming. I love swimming. It is so calming and relaxing, but at the same time, such a rigorous work out. I know that sounds weird, but it's the truth. This summer I plan to do a BRICK as many Saturdays as possible. A brick is a traditionally a bike then run workout. I think I would modify it a little to get dropped off at the pool with my bike, then swim a few hundred meters, ride my bike a few miles ending up at my house, then run 3-5 miles. That's my goal, and it sounds completely ridiculous right now, but if I can continue to swim 3 days a week, and spend 45 minutes to an hour on my trainer on an off day, it will be much more reasonable in a few months. The swimming is going to be easier to stay on top of because I can do it at 6 am, but riding my bike will be tougher because it is at home, and I can't do it early in the morning because of the noise. Crystal might kill me if I woke Levi up at 5:30 or 6. Another major goal of mine is to swim a mile in the pool. At 1000 meters right now, I think I can get up to 1600 in a month or so.
Fitness is becoming so much more important to me with knowing what God has called me to do. I will need the energy to sustain myself through hours of draining ministry. Not to mention, whether I end up ministering in Boise or Bend, they are both active towns, and I feel like my best chance to win the lost will be to become more active myself. Maybe next year we will be able to afford some X-country skis, boots and poles for me. I have wanted them for some time now, but it is true that I will have to force myself to use them. I will probably try to convince my brother-in-law to get them also, and I can get him to go out with me.
Ministry is going as well as to be expected. I took one year off last April - after being on the platform every Sunday for over 7 years. I want to be able to look at my calling from a distance - see the forest AND the trees. My year started on April 17th, so I am only about 3 months from that being over technically, but I think it may end up being longer. I am still not 100% about what God wants me to do with my immediate future. I feel like I know the more long term picture, but as with running, you need to take the first step in order to run a mile. The first step is a crucial one for me. If you take the first step in the wrong direction you may never find the correct path.
Fitness is becoming so much more important to me with knowing what God has called me to do. I will need the energy to sustain myself through hours of draining ministry. Not to mention, whether I end up ministering in Boise or Bend, they are both active towns, and I feel like my best chance to win the lost will be to become more active myself. Maybe next year we will be able to afford some X-country skis, boots and poles for me. I have wanted them for some time now, but it is true that I will have to force myself to use them. I will probably try to convince my brother-in-law to get them also, and I can get him to go out with me.
Ministry is going as well as to be expected. I took one year off last April - after being on the platform every Sunday for over 7 years. I want to be able to look at my calling from a distance - see the forest AND the trees. My year started on April 17th, so I am only about 3 months from that being over technically, but I think it may end up being longer. I am still not 100% about what God wants me to do with my immediate future. I feel like I know the more long term picture, but as with running, you need to take the first step in order to run a mile. The first step is a crucial one for me. If you take the first step in the wrong direction you may never find the correct path.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Starting off the new year...
It's the first full week of 2008. Isn't that crazy?? I mean, it seems like it wasn't too long ago that movies based in the future were 2000. I have started in on my New Years REVOLUTION. I hate the term resolution because too many people fail at those. I am not resolving to do something, I am changing the way I live. I am reading more, exercising more, and eating less - or at least less junk food. I have a couple of friends that just keep telling me about good books to read, so I am currently into two of them at the same time, and have The Barbarian Way, Chasing Daylight, and a couple church planting books all waiting to be read. Once i am finished with "The Way of the Wild Heart" I will be free to read more. That book has become like homework for me...which reminds me, speaking of reading, I start classes again tonight. Only 6 credits this term, but one is Business Administration which I am sure will entail it's fair share of reading as well. And, last but certainly not least, I am keeping up on my Bible reading. So, two 'extra' books, several text books, and the Bible. I have never had so much to read at once. If it weren't for sports, I might as well disconnect the cable.
Yesterday was the first service in the new sanctuary at the church - that's only been in the making for about 3 years. I would post pictures, but when I got to the church with my camera, I discovered I had let the battery get too low - which has never happened before. It was a great service - on the life of Paul. What a wonderful conversion that was - from our perspective. From his, he was probably upset that he had to be blind for a while. Oh well, I'm sure he feels like it was worth it now.
Anyway, about my exercise, I am swimming 3 days a week, and doing some other fitness stuff at least one or two other days - maybe riding my trainer at home. I need to be exercising at least 4 days a week, and 5 would be great. My end goal weight is 170, but maintaining it once I get there may be the tricky part.
Yesterday was the first service in the new sanctuary at the church - that's only been in the making for about 3 years. I would post pictures, but when I got to the church with my camera, I discovered I had let the battery get too low - which has never happened before. It was a great service - on the life of Paul. What a wonderful conversion that was - from our perspective. From his, he was probably upset that he had to be blind for a while. Oh well, I'm sure he feels like it was worth it now.
Anyway, about my exercise, I am swimming 3 days a week, and doing some other fitness stuff at least one or two other days - maybe riding my trainer at home. I need to be exercising at least 4 days a week, and 5 would be great. My end goal weight is 170, but maintaining it once I get there may be the tricky part.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
It's been a while...
Here's the deal...I sit in front of a computer 40 hours a week, 51 weeks a year, so my week off between Christmas and New Years, not spending much time on the computer. I did take some time to post a video of a dance that the kids from our church did. Here's the link. They did a great job, as always. Every time I watch these things I am more and more impressed with my wife - who choreographs all their dances.
We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas day spending all our time with family. For that matter, I think I spent some time with my extended family every day of the break. Between the holidays and helping my dad get the church building buttoned up, we saw quite a bit of each other. It was a great time for all of us - I think.
I have resolved to not make any New Years resolutions this year...I just want to make changes to my way of life. Maybe it would be better put to make a New Years Revolution. More specifically, I need to eat better, and exercise more - I've got about 25-30 pounds I'd like to knock off. I am also trying to commit to reading more. Until I finish school, a lot of that reading may be text books, but maybe that will help me look forward to books that I can read for entertainment.
OH...in other big news, we found out that we are expecting a baby girl this time around. It is exactly the way we had hoped, the boy first, then a little girl. I am already nervous for her teenage years, and I will begin praying for myself in that time as well as her very soon. Got some great stuff for Christmas: a fitness center membership, a book I have been wanting, some new board games, and some much needed pants. Not to mention the chai tea my wife's aunt got me - she has been keeping me well stocked with tea for a little while now - and I hope she keeps it coming. Crystal and i have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about our future recently too...it's been great for us, and a wonderful bonding thing between us.
Well, until next time....
We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas day spending all our time with family. For that matter, I think I spent some time with my extended family every day of the break. Between the holidays and helping my dad get the church building buttoned up, we saw quite a bit of each other. It was a great time for all of us - I think.
I have resolved to not make any New Years resolutions this year...I just want to make changes to my way of life. Maybe it would be better put to make a New Years Revolution. More specifically, I need to eat better, and exercise more - I've got about 25-30 pounds I'd like to knock off. I am also trying to commit to reading more. Until I finish school, a lot of that reading may be text books, but maybe that will help me look forward to books that I can read for entertainment.
OH...in other big news, we found out that we are expecting a baby girl this time around. It is exactly the way we had hoped, the boy first, then a little girl. I am already nervous for her teenage years, and I will begin praying for myself in that time as well as her very soon. Got some great stuff for Christmas: a fitness center membership, a book I have been wanting, some new board games, and some much needed pants. Not to mention the chai tea my wife's aunt got me - she has been keeping me well stocked with tea for a little while now - and I hope she keeps it coming. Crystal and i have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about our future recently too...it's been great for us, and a wonderful bonding thing between us.
Well, until next time....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)