He Holds Everything Together

Christ is the exact likeness of God, who can't be seen. He is first, and he is over all of creation. All things were created by him. He created everything in heaven and on earth. He created everything that can be seen and everything that can't be seen. He created kings, powers, rulers and authorities. Everything was created by him and for him. Before anything was created, he was already there. He holds everything together.
Colossians 1: 15-17

I love this passage for 2 reasons. I love that Paul points out that we were not just made by God but also made for God. I love making a sandwich just for me. I know what I want. I know that I like a certain amount of mayo. I know that I like the ham and cheese heated up in the microwave 35 seconds. I know I like to wait and put the lettuce and pickle on after the rest is heated up. That sandwich was made just for me. In the same way God made us for him. He knows how he likes to be praised. He knows how many loud worshipers he likes. He knows how many introverted quiet worshippers he likes. Marge and I were blessed to be able to serve at a church that was not AG when she was in grad school. For 2 years it was an amazing experience. I saw people come into this community church that were from Methodist and Baptist backgrounds. I loved it. I always found it interesting listening to people pray because they would pray one at a time. I grew up in a church where everybody prayed at the same time. You didn't just sit and listen as others prayed, you prayed out loud and were lucky to ever hear what anyone else said. Praying one at a time just took a long time and it was very reverent but I could remember going back to SAGU the fall after we left there. I remember sitting in chapel and hearing the entire student body praying as someone was praying on the stage. Even being spurred on by the person leading the prayer to "Reach out to God". The way everyone worshiped together was peaceful to me. To many, that would be disruptive. To many, it would be rude to pray aloud as someone on the platform was praying. What is cool, God made everyone different and he knows how many aloud worshipers he wants. He knows how many of everything we need and he wants. We were all made for him.

The other thing that I love about this passage is the way it ends. The simple statement, "He holds everything together". We try and juggle so many things. Last saturday, we had basketball at 10, JBQ at 10:30, a baby shower at 11 and I don't remember what else. Marge and I sometimes have to literally strategize with each other and even some of our friends on how we are going to get everything done. I look forward to Monday because it is my day off and everyone has a place they have to be. It is a ton of things to juggle. I am sure parents everywhere deal with this. isn't it great that the Bible points out that God doesn't juggle everything. He holds it all together. He has enough hands to keep it in place. He has enough ears to hear our problems. He has enough eyes to be able see every little thing going on in our lives. He is fast enough to be where ever we need him to be. He truly holds it together.

Come on Man? Go Get a room!

I came to Starbucks today in search of a place outside of my house to write and still be warm. I thought about riding my mountain bike today, but I must admit that the cold weather makes me a little lethargic. I went to the garage and began pulling my bike out then I thought to myself, hey you are never gonna finish any writing project if during your times where you can write you just go ride your bike. (At least that is what I am going to claim.) So, I ran one errand for my wife and then I drove to the local Starbucks around the corner from the house.

I got out of my car and was greeted with two people sucking face. Two very large people sucking face. When I say sucking, I mean they didn't come up for air, ever. If mouth to mouth was still part of doing CPR I would think that he was trying to revive the poor girl. She was sitting in the front seat of the car and he was on one knee in full on make out mode. They continued while I walked across the parking lot and passed the car. I was sitting there thinking, "Really, at least the back of your head looks like that of an adult." I walked in ordered my hot chocolate looked out the window and saw the car was still there and they were still there in going at it. I began to think I should probably get my watch out and put a timer on it. Or, I could pull my iPhone out and discreetly take a picture or even better a video of the event going down in the Starbucks parking lot. Then, I looked and saw he was a pretty good sized dude so I better keep the iPhone put away. Well, I got my Hot Chocolate and realized as I was going to find a place to sit down that the car was gone. I was kinda disappointed. I wanted to see the super kissers in person.

It reminded me of the first young couples even Marge and I attended after we got married. I don't think anyone who reads this blog was attending that event but I could be wrong. If it brings back memories that are not so, I apologize in advance. We were attending this church that had an amazing young couples group. You could tell they all cared about each other and had real community amongst them. We showed up and enjoyed the food. (Which by the way is probably the second most important part of any good church event, first being the presence of God, and yes that is a pastor answer.) Then they began to play some games that were fun but geared at couples. I really don't remember most of them. I just remember one, The Kissing Contest. I am sorry, but as important as food is to as church event, kissing is probably just as important a church event killer. I don't care if you are married. Trust me, it isn't because I don't enjoy kissing my wife. In fact, I hope everyone enjoys kissing their spouse as much as I enjoy kissing mine. I just don't want to see people kissing others for a prolonged period of time. Well, that was the game. They lined up all the couples and said, "On your mark, get set, go!" Everyone except my wife and I commenced kissing. We just kind of stood there in awe of the situation in disbelief. I knew we had no chance at winning this game because my wife just starts laughing when she has to give me a peck when we are in front of people. Then, we got to the last couples, lets just say none of us wanted to see them kissing. It is a picture scarred in my brain forever. I just believe anything longer than two seconds belongs in private. Here is a list of times it is appropriate for prolonged kissing in public:

1. End of your Wedding (I think it may even be considered cuter if it is just a peck in this case.)
2. When a spouse comes home from a long time gone (i.e. soldiers coming home from war, coming home from a missions trip, etc.)
3. If you are an Aggie, then after they score a touchdown, but only if you are an Aggie.
4. When you win millions in the lottery. If you kiss more than a peck in public after you win a $2 on a scratch off you need to be punched in the face.

I think that is about it. I hope you french kiss your spouse daily, but just do it where we can't see it. I know the Bible says greet em with a Holy kiss. Just keep your spit to yourself. I understand this entry today is probably not my most pastoral but, every once and a while some of us just need to be reminded. Come on man? Get a Room!

Wait, I still didn't get any book writing done and I need to go pick up the kids. Should have rode my bike.

Brussels (Part 2)

The building projects are coming along. We have only one full day of work left before we go to Paris for our final day of fun. Let's see, we have completely gutted an apartment that is for visiting pastors when they come and visit. We began putting all of the stuff back in. I feel sometimes working on it like I am on a HGTV show trying to get the stuff done for the big reveal. Tomorrow, we still need to put floors in, plum the bathroom, put in Kitchen cabinets and paint. We have taken apart and rebuilt over 2/3 of the fire escape to the building (this is kind of worrisome since we are staying on the 3rd floor). We have taken 6 layers of old roofing off of the warehouse part of the building and prepped it for the new roof still to be put on. It has been a busy 6 days here in Belgium. The team is in good spirits but like any missions trip things don't go your way the entire time.

The roofing material didn't show up until today at 4 pm. It is only daylight here until 5 pm. So, the guys didn't get to work on it long. Even though it has been ready for that roof since Saturday. Someone, I don't want to mention any names but he is a youth pastor, measured wrong and caused some mistakes on the fire escape. Different things happened in the apartment to put us up against the wall from finishing. All this creates some team tension. Our team leader, Dave Sekula, looked at me and shared something we should all remember, not just in Brussels but everywhere.

He told me, "It will all work out and God has placed everyone on our trip". I think we forget that in life so often. God placed everyone we know in our lives for a reason. It may be for you to be stretched. It might be because that person needs to see you be real as a Christian. It may be because that person needs to hear your story. God has a purpose for putting everyone on this trip and in our lives. We just need to remember that, when someone or some situation wears on our last nerve. God has a reason for you to be in that relationship.

Brussels: Part 1

I left last Tuesday to fly to Brussels Belgium on a missions trip. I know Europe is not a usual missions trip place for many. It certainly isn't a place that many of us think of as a place that we need to go do building projects on. Well, my pastor decided it seemed like a great opportunity for us to bless the people that bless others. Convoy of Hope Europe is a pretty new ministry and yet they are based out of a 40 year old building. I went in one room that had a plaque which said it was dedicated in 1975, I promise that room has hardly changed since they dedicated it.

When we arrived we talked to the director of Convoy of Hope Europe, Michael Mcnamee. He is a hilarious little Irish man that when he talks it is like you are listening to the Lucky Charms leprechaun. He told us about the problems they have run into here in Brussels and really throughout Europe. It has broken my heart that a place so rich in church history and that has seen such great moves of God in History is so spiritually lifeless. I believe it is a God thing that we have come to Brussels because I never really understood when people say, "If you look at Europe that is how America will look in 30 years". I have heard that so many times before I just haven't seen what it was like here.

4 of us went out on the first night to find some place that served coffee. We thought it would just be a nice trip to meet some of the people since most of our time here is going to be spent working on a building and not really intermingling. We would look at people and smile no one ever really looked back and smiled at us. I didn't really know what to think of that but we have learned that the people are very private here. I find myself with real struggles about this place. I hurt for these leaders because they are here fighting what seems like an impossible fight. I also know the struggles that we will one day have if we continue down the path that we are on as a nation.

It is a blessing to come here and help this team that is beginning to make an impact on this continent. I hope they stay with it because God is going to bless them for carrying a torch in this part of the world. I don't know how but I believe there is coming a day when they will see revival in this land again. It wouldn't surprise me if it started at a convoy event.

Some thoughts about Halloween, Boo!

My wife went at the beginning of October with my kids and spent 60 bucks on Halloween costumes. In my head, I am thinking, "you did what!?!" And then I begin to realize we would have bought them any how. I know they would dress up for Halloween and last year because we waited so late Cooper had to wear the old school cheesy TV Batman costume. It was bad. So, I moved on. I think part of my problem though is this contradiction I have to Halloween.

As a kid, I knew this was the "Devil's Holiday". I dressed up with stuff we had around the house. A few times, we went to the neighbors and trick or treated. We went to the mall and walked around for candy maybe a couple of times. It was never a big deal enough for my parents to go get us costumes. Then on top of that in the 80's we had the big candy scares. People were putting razor blades in apples and poisoning tootsie rolls. I remember thinking why would anyone even think of doing stuff like that. Then, I was reminded. It was the Devil's Holiday. I knew kids that made a night out of it. Their parents took them to parties, then to trick or treat, and what seamed to be a night of great childhood adventure. It made me jealous to think of the fun they were having. I still always had the fact in the back of my mind, it's the Devil's Holiday. I know I sound like Bobby Boucher's mother in the Waterboy. I can't help it.

Today, we try to have a more balanced approach to this day. We don't glorify the holiday that is Halloween. We let our kids enjoy the fun stuff and not letting the Devil have an entire day to celebrate himself. We send our our kids to the church for Fall Festivals and with games and candy. We understand the joy of coming together and having a good time. We don't let the devil keep us from having a day. It reminds me of once as a young kid's pastor I wanted to have a Easter Egg hunt at my church. I had an adult Sunday school teacher tell his class the evils of this and talked his class into boycotting the event. He was raising a stink that was unbelievable. I didn't understand. I was trying to do an outreach in our community but I had people in our church saying what we were doing was pagan and once again of the Devil. I remember my pastor's response to all of this. He said, "If you believe that then you are not balanced in your thinking of life". I find myself wondering the same things about Halloween though.

I am glad we have events on halloween and we can sit and understand that even if this is a day of celebration for the Devil. It is the day the Lord has made. We need to rejoice and be glad in it. Not because it is Halloween but because it is a day that God made for us to worship him. It is a day we can have a good time and get pay our dentist's bills. It is a day we shouldn't worry about the devil because we know who wins.

Growing Up Pentecostal

Yesterday evening, I was leaving church with my family and bunch of our friends. We were talking about everyone's experiences at church that day. I was talking about how great Kid's church was. Talking about the plan for our Christmas production this year. A couple of the folks were talking about their experience in care cell that evening. Evidently they were asked to pray for the people next to them. A few of the spouses found it difficult to pray for their wives and really kind of said some awkward things. It was a funny story and everyone was cutting up about it. Someone asked me what I would pray for my wife? I looked at her standing there and said I would just start praying in tongues for her. Everyone kind of chuckled and laughed. I then proceeded to say, "you know it is like 'who stole the key to my honda' really fast". The lady who was telling the initial story came up to Margaret a little later and told her that from now on she will be skeptical any time she hears someone speak in tongues. I felt like a heal. The fact is growing up Pentecostal has made me some times take the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for granted.

I even know as a teenager we would listen to different church peoples prayers and mimic their cadences when talking about a church service. As a Bible college student when one of my friends would take a girl out. We would pick at him and ask if he spoke in tongues on his date. I will let you figure out what we were talking about. I can think of tons of different example of things where in our daily life we joked about something we believe so strongly in. Why would we do this? Why do I do this? I don't have a great reason other than I grew up Pentecostal.

I don't think what I did was right or wrong but many of us have thought about it. We have questioned not the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit's work in someone's life. Be honest. I know I need to repent from judging. Okay. Done. I always found it funny when in high school or even as a pastor when someone I thought I needed to witness to would give a message in tongues. It is that kind of thing that makes us cynical. I don't think growing up Pentecostal makes us cynical to the Holy Spirit but it does make us cynical to the people we see operating in the gifts. Why does God use knuckleheads? I have no idea. I ask myself all the time why God is using me in different things. I don't think I am worthy of. It just always confirms to me that God uses us in spite of us.

As a parent and a children's pastor, I have to remember what it is like to grow up Pentecostal. Make sure that kids see that when the Holy Spirit works in my life it is pure and true. I have to teach that the Holy Spirit and its gifts are powerful and holy. I also have to keep reverence toward the Holy Spirit is kept in priority. It is thing that makes us who we are. We should be proud of the gift that God left for us. I hope I remember this even when I feel a moment of sarcasm come upon me.

Lest We Forget

I wonder how much we forget? I had a friend this week say he didn't know what plagiarizing was. I asked. "Um, didn't you ever write a paper in high school?" HIs response was a simple, "Yeah, but I just didn't remember." He may even think that I am plagiarizing now that I didn't give his name. I don't think I am. I won't mention his name to protect his privacy. It also allows me to continue to make fun of him and not worry about every body else joining in and him getting offended like the time I made fun of his pink shirt(s). The question remains, how much do we forget? I do remember that a professor in college of mine used to always use the phrase, "Well that guy has forgotten more than I have learned". I know, I am not looking forward to either of my children taking algebra and trying to remember how to answer stuff and show work. Do we have this massive case of Alzheimer's? How is it that I can remember that Carlos Baerga is the only person in the history of baseball to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning, but I can not remember to take out the trash on Tuesday morning when all the houses on our street have trash cans on the curb? Do we mean to forget stuff? Is there some sub conscience affect that obtains our brain on things we don't want to remember? What was the point of this blog anyway?