Connect

A good friend of mine recently said: ”God is the loving Father who lavishes good things on us.”

I want to wholeheartedly embrace that reality every second of every day.  It’s an overwhelming thought when we realize that not only does “God so love the world” but he actually LIKES the people in it!  It’s not just a heroic swoop in to save the day.  He gets a kick out of us!  We bring unspeakable joy to God’s heart.

So often it’s easy to go overboard in our mental exercises about God that we miss out on the first hand experience of these realities.  Being cut off from the emotional connection with God for the sake of theology is at best an exercise in critical thinking.  But when we taste and see that God is good, we’re not just smarter for it–we’re changed, renewed, transformed. 

Thanks friend, for that encouraging word!

Normalcy

Yesterday I came home from work around 5:30pm to find Kristi cooking dinner and Alethia in her high chair.  We had Mason over for dinner.  Chicken parmesan with whole wheat thin spaghetti.  After dinner we threw around a football in the backyard while Kristi put a tray of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in the oven.  While the cookies were cooling we started the first disc of the Planet Earth series.  Now that Kristi’s graduated and we actually get to have meals together life has started to balance out.  I haven’t felt this normal in a really long time.  Feels good.

Talking back to the devil

Sometimes I feel like Samwise from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I’m sure you remember at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, Samwise overhears Gandalf and Frodo frantically discussing “a ring of power and some dark lord who wants to take over the world.”  Not knowing what he got himself into, Samwise was volunteered to  protect Frodo on the journey.  He began as cautious and timid.  As the story progresses, he gets more courageous, bold and even daring–all in the spirit of defending Frodo.  Sam was gutsy.  He put himself out there with his life on the line.  He could have stood idly by, but he knew he had a specific purpose in destroying the ring of power.  By joining forces with good, he automatically became a target.   

Just recently, in the past week I’ve sensed God strongly at work in my life—which in turn promises spiritual adversity (and not the bad karma kind) for those who dangerously resist darkness.  Any lead worshippers are automatically made targets.  It shouldn’t be a surprise.

In response to the crud the devil has tried throwing my way, God turned me to Ephesians and 1^st John.  But I read it in an urgent, “I-need-this-like-I-need-to-get-out-of-a-building-that’s-on-fire-and-about-to-come-crashing-down” kind of way. 

Once I heard Gordon Fee speak at a theology conference.  He co-wrote “How to read the Bible for all it’s worth.”  His main point was to read a book of the bible 1) in it’s entirety, 2) in one sitting and 3) out loud as it’s original hearers received it.

“We may approach God with freedom and confidence through faith in him.” - Eph 3:12

So I naturally took it one step further.  I read God’s word in my outside voice at…what must have been 12:30pm.  Nothing instills more confidence in spiritual warfare than to take God’s actual words and shout them.  Check it out:

Ephesians 6

“10 BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER! 11 PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE devil’s SCHEMES!  13 THEREFORE PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD!  14  STAND FIRM THEN!  18  BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING!”

So now I try to read my Bible outloud.  And when necessary, I read it in my OUTSIDE VOICE!

Dating my wife

I had the best time dating my wife yesterday.  For her birthday we went out on a date.  Just the two of us.  It’s easy to forget how important conversation is to a meaningful relationship.  We poured out our hearts to each other.  Rather than sharing about all the daily activities (of our seemingly separate lives), we pressed into how certain things really make us feel. I can talk about work pretty much non-stop.  It annoys even me.   But my wife asked me how certain things play out in my heart and suddenly I wasn’t talking about work anymore.  We’d go into stories about growing up, dreams and hopes for the future, and we looked at some major obstacles that tend to deflate our marriage.  Wow.   We realized that I can obsess about building a strong ministry while remain selfishly-passive to investing in our marriage.  What a gluehead. God, forgive my passivity towards my wife.   She deserves to be cherished, treasured and adored.  I want to pursue her with pure, undivided affection.  

CSI: Jerusalem

 

Our staff at PV has been gearing up for this upcoming series for the past two months and we are psyched!  CSI: Jerusalem investigates the scene of the crime (Calvary), takes you into the lab to examine the physical evidence, gives you eyewitness accounts of the crime and on Easter Sunday we’ll hear the verdict.  The suspense is killing me.  Okay not literally.  But the creative design from Shelli Daniels, the awesome stage sets from Gary Roddel, the mysterious dramas co-produced by Ann MacDonald and Dave Henderson all make this current series a lot of fun to work on.  We’re in for a treat these next few weeks. 

The truth of the matter is that many of the people joining us for our worship services will be investigating the claims of Christ.  Did he really claim to be the Son of God?  Did he prophesy his death and resurrection?  The cross is the focal point of all history.  We set our calendars by it.  We celebrate it on monthly basis by “remembering his death until he comes” in communion.

We’re praying for those people who will be pouring into PV on Easter Sunday, that they would have a true God-encounter, some of them for the very first time!  Countless people have committed to pray for hearts to be opened to the Gospel on March 22^nd and 23^rd when we celebrate that Christ beat the grave.  He’s championed our freedom!

The Way of the Heart

I’ve been going through Henri Nouwen’s book “The Way of The Heart.” On the surface, it sounds like another obtuse Christian book that might attempt to give us all the answers to life. None could be further from the truth. Nouwen sets the stage for followers of Christ to wrestle in solitude with what it means to be disciples steeped in God’s wisdom. Nouwen uses the Desert Fathers from the 3rd century, especially the life of St. Anothony, to give some perspective on a few essential spiritual disciplines: solitude, silence, and prayer. This has been a great book to share with my worship teams as we lean into God’s wisdom and understand some of the pitfalls of society.

Right now I’m exploring the second principle: Silence.  A key thought is that silence gives us space to exist apart from our doing.  This thought coupled with Swenson’s “Margin” has impressed on me how unimportant my large quantities of busyness are.  

This portion on Silence I half expected to advocate “nothingness” as is popular in eastern religions such as Buddhism and New Age.  Rather, Nouwen prepares the Christ-centered pilgrim to tune in to God’s voice via meditation on Scripture.  What a thought!  This mode of coupling prayer and study of Scripture is nothing new, but a way to restore, renew and sustain an intimate relationship with an untamable force, the Word became flesh: Jesus, the Christ. 

For a fresh look at something very ancient, check out Nouwen’s “The Way of the Heart.”

http://www.amazon.com/Way-Heart-Henri-J-Nouwen/dp/0345463358/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201728499&sr=1-1

 

 

The road to Winona

A few weeks ago my wife and I were cat-sitting for some good friends of ours.  We made ourselves at home by doing some laundry and watching the 2nd most depressing movie known to man (the 1st being Amistad, recounting the Atlantic Slave Trade).  “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith, portrays the true story of Chris Gardner, a homeless, single dad participating in a competitive 6 month unpaid internship. 

As a child, Chris Gardner was brilliant.  He wondered what he would become.  He mastered the rubiks cube, a puzzle with its own nerdy subculture.  Gardner traveled all over San Fransisco as a salesman of a costly device with no demand.  He invested his entire life savings into purchasing a fleet of bone-density scanners, which didn’t even sell on a good day. 

Gardner’s story resonated with me.  Not too long ago I worked at a printshop for 9 months, a call center for 6 months and served part-time as worship pastor at Hope Church in Apple Valley, MN for 18 months.  Kristi and I cherish our time spent at Hope Church.  In each setting we made deep connections with people.  Friends that we maintain to this day.  But there was a rub.  God called me to be a pastor.  God has wired every single person uniquely.  No one is a generic copy.  I was convinced that He wanted me in full-time ministry.  I loved some of the conversations that I had with co-workers.  We hardly ever agreed.  But we genuinely appreciated each other.  Even though he used me to sow seeds in people’s lives, I wasn’t living up to my potential.   

I was exhausted on all levels.  I understood what Gardner felt as a man who couldn’t provide for his family.  I’m sure most young families know what it’s like to live pay check to pay check.  I am grateful that God allowed me to learn and grow through that season but there were some pretty desperate times.  Soon, my wife, Kristi could expect a call every Monday at 10:15am.  I was on my first break, depressed from the daily grind and feeling like there was some kind of glass ceiling I couldn’t break through.  I came to understand what it meant to detest my job.  I felt defeated as a human being every time I walked into that 24 story building.  I was a peon.  A number.

Then something snapped (figuratively speaking).  I quit throwing myself a pity party.  During my breaks I went on prayer walks twice a day.  I prayed for yieldedness, strength and compassion.  Whether that meant working in the secular world for the rest of my life or if he wanted me in full-time ministry, I needed Him to sustain me.  During my time at Hope Church, I wrestled with my loyalty to them.  I never shopped my resume.  Early last summer a guest musician noted my situation and emailed me with a list of 3 churches he knew needed a full-time worship pastor.  After prayerfully considering each of these churches, I sent my resume only to one–Pleasant Valley Church in Winona, MN.  Eventually, I was asked to candidate and a short time later was offered the position.    

At the conclusion of Chris Gardner’s internship, he was summoned into the conference room with 3 of his supervisors.  Only 1 out of the 20 interns would be hired.  Chris was faithful.  Chris was diligent.  Chris was a broken man.  This was his only shot.  He emerged from the room as one who had persevered through adversity.  He landed his dream job as a stock broker.  He and his son Christopher could have 3 meals a day and a roof over their heads.  Gardner went on to become a successful business man and start multiple charitable funds.  Its more than a rags to riches story.  Its a story with two characters: adversity and perseverance. 

When I was offered the job at Pleasant Valley Church, I felt like Chris Gardner.  I would be able to provide for my family.  I would be serving in the role God called me to as a young boy.  I landed my dream job.  Nearly three months have gone by since I started at PV.  I remember the adversity.  I remember the hopelessness.  I remember God’s faithfulness and provision.  I remember His quiet strength that sustained me.  I am grateful to be serving at Pleasant Valley Church as Pastor of Worship Arts.  I’m humbled to do so.  I’m grateful for my wife who believed in me enough to move our family to Winona while she commutes 3 hours twice a week to finish her 4 year RN.  I’m grateful to my daughter for being the light of my life–the apple of my eye.  Most of all I’m thankful for the road that led us to Winona.  It has made me stronger.  It has made me who I am today.