God's Grace

one of the things that I have been trying to come to terms with is a biblical understanding of God's grace. And when I read the Bible I can clearly see implied messages of God's ultimate sovereignty and authortity, and whoever comes to grace in Christ is secure in that grace. And I love that and I welcome it because I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and I would personally never leave his grace. I can understand that eternality of salvation. But I guess I get caught up in questions is when I see people who were active in the church, and would say that they loved God, when I see these people turn away from God, it is hard for me to say that they were probably never really saved. I was talking to my wife last night about these issues and she made a really good point that they were around God, but they were never really in God. They felt the effects of God's presence, but they never dwelled in God's presence. They heard the right things for them to do, but they didn't fully "Buy into" the beliefs. That helped me understand how they could have possible never really been saved.

I just heard that a very influential person in my life just had a heart attack of some sort. I don't know all the details, but man this really hits home. As far as I know he is still alive but man mortality sucks. I wish we didn't have to go through these hardships in life. I wish I could say with confidence that I would see you tomorrow, but I can't do that.

It reminds me about what James says about don't live in tomorrow making all your plans and stuff. Rather you should live right now in God's grace, doing what God would have you do.

Help me Lord to make the most of the right now!

Confrontation What is it about people, that we don't like being told how we are messing up. I am under the same curse. I hate being corrected, but yet I need it, at times I crave it. Sometimes I need a good butt kicking to get me going in the right direction. At our youth ministry there are some kids who are rebelling, trying to "find their own way". And the problem is their own way is destructive and dangerous, and it is scary for me to see them going through this. When I talk to them about this, they seem to not care and just keep doing what they are doing. Now they are saying that they need space and time away from the ministry, which is good and bad, but ultimately very frustrating. It's days like this that I just want to quit and do something different, less stressful. But I have to rely on God and remember that I'm here becuase he has called me, and I need to trust him, that as long as I do what he wants me to do I'm in a pretty good place. God Help me. Comfort me. Direct me. I want to build this ministry for you and not for my own glory. Thank you for all you've done and I pray that you would continue you great and awesome work. I want to see lives changed by your power, and I want to be used by you. Amen

Ministry Proteges Today I met with the leaders of our churches new Bible School. Part of this new program is an internship/masters commission, program, where the different branches of our church receive assistance in the form of people who are called to ministry and need practical application for that. I am really excited for this program. In my part time position at the church I need all the help I can get scheduling and planning, and actually getting the things done that need to get done. Now, I just have to figure out what I am going to get these two guys to do. I think the most exciting thing about this new program is that the branch churches are finally getting something more that just financial support, but actual people who are willing to do the work that needs to get done. I think this is going to be outstanding, and I hope that this program flourishes. On another note, two of my long time friends are getting married today and I am really happy for them and I will be heading off to the wedding shortly. :o)

today was a long day, but it's over. No major events but I thought I would post the words to a great song that I've been thinking about a lot lately.

Faith Enough – Jars of Clay the ice is thin enough for walkin'

the rope is worn enough to climb

throat is dry enough for talkin'

world is crumblin', but i know why

world is crumblin', but i know why

storm is wild enough for sailing

bridge is weak enough to cross

this body frail enough for fighting

i'm home enough to know i'm lost

home enough to know i'm lost

Chorus:

it's just enough to be strong

in the broken places, in the broken places

it's just enough to be strongshould the world

rely on faith tonight

land unfit enough for planting

barren enough to conceive

poor enough to gain the treasure

enough a cynic to believe

enough a cynic to believe

[CHORUS]

confused enough to know direction

sun eclipsed enough to shine

be still enough to finally tremble

see enough to know i'm blind

see enough to know i'm blind

[CHORUS x 2]

should the world rely on faith tonight

should the world rely on faith tonight

tonight

tonight

tonight

tonight

tonight

good stuff

thinking in victoria

Today our church staff met after service. It was probably the first staff meeting in a long time that I didn't leave feeling like I wasted my time. I feel like I voiced my thoughts clearly and accurately. My youth ministry is struggling in the traditional sense, we have low numbers and there are kids who are starting to flake out on God. But at the same time we are scucceeding with the new leaders that are coming on board, and their are students that are being transformed and that's really exciting. I am trying to grow this youth ministry naturally, and not based on events and hype. We grew last spring on hype and that only lasted so long. I want to see this thing succeed based on the natural growth that comes from lives being transformed. I want to see students take the responsiblity to grow the ministry numerically, while I facilitate their growth spiritually. I think that is what an organic ministry looks like. We will still do events and get people excited and fired up but it's really not about the hype, it's about the foundation. People look at the walls, but they don't always inspect the foundation. Those are my thoughts for today, and I pray that I am heading in the right direction

Well I'm back. two posts in one day, that's quite an accomplishment for me. It does feel good to write these things down. I have been dealing with two students lately who have been doing some pretty stupid and wreckless things. It's beginning to feel like they don't care about it, and all the time that I'm putting into this is for nothing. Why can't people see that I'm not judging them when I ask questions based on their past history? Why do people always want to turn around and place the blame for their struggles on other people? What's the point of working with people like that? Anyway. I feel like there is something happening that is so sublte but so monumental that I'm both afraid and excited. I don't know what it is but I'm excited about it. We'll see

Here's me with my Nephew Kai He's a cute little kid, he was born with very impressives side burns

Jason and his lovely, amazing wife Kathy 

I should really spend more time updating this thing. Or maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I should only write when I feel the need to write. Maybe I should adopt that mindset on preaching and teaching. Maybe I should only participate in those activities when everything thing within me is crying out a clear and concise message. Maybe that's the problem with the church in America. We have a tendency to preach out of obligation, but not always out of full bodied passion for whatever God has placed on our hearts. Maybe the preachers who yell and scream and get fired up for Jesus have something going. They clearly have the passion, maybe we can work on the substance with some of them. I have been working my way through the book of James this past summer with the youth group. Trying to teach on having authentic faith. I feel like it has been a struggle trying to get the students to engage this subject matter. My desire is to build a safe place for teenagers to gather and grow in their faith. And I think the first step is that authenticity. Maybe I'll just preach this whole series over again to get the point across. I doubt it but maybe that would get the job done. :o) Who knows. God is really shaking up my spirit lately. Some things have been going on that have frustrated me and I would like to get to the heart of it. I have shared my frustrations with the frustrations and I have not seen any major results. We'll see what happens. The fact that I voiced my frustrations is a major victory for me. Usually I have a tendency to hold everything in and let it build beyond the point of meltdown, but I am learning from my lovely wife that that doesn't actually solve anything. So I am taking risks in these relationships and not just being a pushover. I have no problems helping people but I don't want to always make up for their negligence or (sometimes) incompetence. But like I said, we'll see what happens. Writing things down helps my stress levels a lot though so I think I'll be posting a lot more often now.