Focus On One Thing

I've been reading this book, 10 Things Every Minister Needs To Know, my good friend Tim gave me last year for a Pastor Appreciation gift. It is a quick read that I would suggest to anyone, especially if you are a worker in a church.
The first chapter is what I would like to highlight today. It's called "The Power of One Hour." Here are a few quotes and then I will give my retrospection on the subject:

• "When you focus for a set amount of time, this difference elevates into becoming an impact. When discipline joins focus, you can change your world..."
• "I cannot expect to change 'the world' until I let God have more than ample opportunity to 'change my world by changing me first.'"
• "As your walk with God goes, so goes the rest of your life."
• "If you want to see what God will do through you, it all begins with what God is doing in you."
• "If you give yourself to doing anything for one hour a day consistently, you have the potential to become an expert. You have the potential to become proficient in something that you may know little about today."

I lead a small Bible study group of people in their 20's and 30's on Sunday mornings. This last couple of weeks we have been discussing growing in our relationship with God. One of the exercises that the book we're using asks us to do is to have a time of "solitude" for at least an hour, but preferably a half of a day. How many people do you think accomplished this task? Zero! Not even me and I lead the group. Now given, it is the Holidays and it's been really busy, but not even an hour... I did have one person who tried to cram it in on Sunday morning right before they came, but even then they were only able to spend fifty minutes instead of the minimal hour. How negligent is that on my part. If the statement indeed be true that "I cannot expect to change 'the world' until I let God have more than ample opportunity to 'change my world by changing me first,'" I'm not doing a very good job at being a world changer. (Jesus help me to be better!)

How true it is though that one hour of focused tenacity can make a big difference. Why do we let ourselves get so distracted by the menial things of life. The things we really want and desire get put to the side, because they actually take a little work. In this microwave world of "now mentalities," if something takes much time and effort we abhor it. For instance, I would like to become a better musician, but it seems I can spend a maximum of 30 minutes playing before I feel I need to be doing something else, even then it's probably only once a week.

Therefore, with all that is in me, I am going to strive to spend a focused hour daily this new year on things I truly want to accomplish. Here's my list:

1. My relationship with my Creator and Lord Jesus Christ.
2. My relationship with my family.
3. Being a better youth pastor.
   
4. Becoming proficient in playing the guitar and bass.
5. Getting into shape. (Of course I can't leave this one out!)

May God give you a blessed 2009!

System of Governement

I'm not a huge Richard Dreyfuss fan, but I found this interview with Mike Huckabee pretty thought provoking. What are your thoughts?

I was just thinking about the different historical figures in the Bible that we've been talking about lately, how God was with them and he blessed them even though they occasionally made mistakes because they put their faith in Him. I've made many mistakes in my lifetime, but looking back I can see that God has never left my side. He's been guiding my steps all along the way and He's blessed me with much more than I deserve because I've put my life in His hands.

One of those blessings is you! You are what makes me want to do what I do. This youth ministry wouldn't be the same without you. Your bright young faces full of life, filled with hopes and dreams still scratching at the surface of genuine existence further endorse the pivotal role we as youth leaders of High-Way 62 Youth play in your road trip called life. Thank you for letting me (as well as the rest of the youth staff) be a part of your journey.

Love ya, mean it!

Wes

Stuff you don't want to miss:

• Hayride/Bonfire - This Saturday, October 25th - We will leave the church at 4:30 P.M. and return at 9 P.M. Dinner will be provided.
• 5th Wednesday Game Night - Wednesday, October 29th - Get your game face on for a night of crazy games and friendly competition.

See/Saw You At The Pole Report

Hey everyone,

So Wednesday was the big day for SYATP! We had 80 students and 26 adults show up at 7 A.M. for a total of 106. (Yeah, I can add!) The number was a little down from last year, but great none the less. The FCA officers did a wonderful job getting everything together. Aubree, Jessie, Chelsea and Mallory, you gals are amazing!!!

Saw YATP went good as well. I believe we had close to 200 people. Several churches came together. Southern Heights, Freeman Heights, Towering Oaks, Valley View, and Church On The Hill (a.k.a. First Assembly) were all a part of the celebration. Thanks to all of you for being a part. It's awesome when we can all come together as "The Body" to lift up the name of Jesus. Ricky Sowell, youth pastor at SH and a great man of God who I am growing to love more and more every time I'm around him, was the MC for the night. The band, Dash-3, led the praise and worship and did fantastic. Eric Diez from VV shared his powerful testimony and challenged the students to trust God even in the hard times. There were six students who rededicated their lives to Christ and one who did for the first time! (Whoo-hoo!!! God is good!)

I guess that'll do. If you would like to see pictures of either event, here are a couple of links:

• SYATP


• SawYATP

Have a great weekend everyone and "Go Bobcats!"

Wes

High-Way 62 Youth Weekly Update

Hey everybody,

Wow, what a night we had Wednesday. I think my cell phone bill is going to be about $50 more than normal with all the text messages I received from you guys. I guess I should of thought of that before I decided to play that little game. I suppose I'll finally have to break down and come into the 21st century by adding text messaging to my account.

Here's something to thing about: The big idea of the message was that "When God calls you, it's best to obey." We discovered through the life of Abraham that faith in God and obedience to God are inseparable. One of the important lessons we learned was that faith and obedience always involve separation. My question to you is, "What are some things you might need to separate yourself from in order to be obedient to God's will?" God gave Abraham many great promises, but they required his obedience and personal commitment to Him as Lord in order to receive those promises. In the same way those promises in God's Word are for us today, but they require our obedience and personal commitment to follow Christ, allowing Him to be the leader of our lives. (If you have questions about any of this stuff, or just want to talk about it, please feel free to email or call me anytime.)

Here's what coming up:

• Ultimate Frisbee - This Saturday at 1 P.M. at the Berryville practice field across from the new choir and band building. Anyone is welcome, so invite your friends and come hang out with us for an hour or two.


• See You At The Pole - Next Wednesday at 7 A.M. at your school's flag pole. Don't miss it!


• Saw You At The Pole - Next Wednesday night at 6:30 P.M. at First Assembly. (Many great churches are coming together to celebrate the goodness of God.)

I think that's it for now. Don't forget to check out the youth website www.hwy62youth.com. We've been adding pictures just about every week, so jump on there and see if you can find your beautiful face.

Love ya, mean it!

Wes

P.S. If you're a Guitar Hero fan, you'll like this video:
Guitar Hero - David Crowder

High-Way 62 Youth Weekly Update

Hey everybody,

I sincerely hope you learned a lot at "Video Night." I've watched these videos two or three times now and every time I learn something new. For those of you that were not here, we are going through a series of videos on the first Wednesday of every month called "Demolishing Strongholds." The first session established the authority of the Scriptures and helped us to understand that what the Bible says about creation is true and the scientific evidence all points to that conclusion. I realize that's pretty fundamental and that most of you believe that already, but it has to be set as the foundation of our faith in order for us to fully understand what God has done and will do in the future. Being a follower of Christ at this time in history brings us the most extraordinary journey.

Here's what's around the corner:

• Ultimate Frisbee - Saturday September 20th at the Berryville practice field


• See You At The Pole - 7 A.M. Wednesday September 24th at your school's flagpole


• Saw You At The Pole - Wednesday evening September 24th (location TBA

I guess that will do for now. Don't forget to bring someone with you next week as we dig into God's Word and begin our series on "RUNNING WITH GIANTS!" As each of us deals with the reality that life has up and downs we can be encouraged that we're not alone in this race of life. You won't want to miss it.

Love ya, mean it!

Wes

"Don't Let Life Pass You By!"

High-Way 62 Youth Weekly Update

Hello,

Hope you all are having a fine day today. We have cause to celebrate. We had four people become followers of Christ last night!!! (Whoo-Hoo!!!) Heaven is rejoicing and Jesus is celebrating you today before God. We are so proud of you for making this decision. Maybe you're wondering, "What's next?" Well, first and foremost, you should begin to pray and read the Bible every day. This is how you can connect and grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Secondly, be in church every chance you get. This is where you can learn from other believers on what it means to truly follow Christ. Third, connect with other students that can encourage you along the road. If you don't have a Christian friend, then get one. They can also help you and keep you accountable when the temptations you face all the time come your way. If you need help finding one, let us know and we'll get you the hook-ups.

On another note, I want to welcome all the newbies that last night was your first night back with us at our youth gatherings this year. I believe there was about 18 of you who were either here for the first time ever or for the first time this year, so I want you to know, we're glad you're here. Keep coming back because we have some great things in store this year and you won't want to miss a single week. Don't forget to check out the youth website www.hwy62youth.com for upcoming events, downloads and maybe even find yourself in some pictures. New stuff get added all the time, so check back often.

Here's some stuff to remember:

• The New Great Passion Play - We're going to be going Sunday night if you would like to go. It will be free for everyone who goes with us. We will meet at the church at 7 p.m.
• After School gatherings start next week - Girl Friends (7th-9th Grade girls), P.I.N.K.S. (10th-12th Grade girls), Thrive (7th-12th Grade Guys) - The vans will be at the school in the circle drive by the band room if you need a ride.
• Next week is also "Video Night" - The videos this year are going to awesomely entertaining and amazingly informative. Bring a friend and enjoy.

That's it for now. Love ya' mean it!

Wes

Fishing

Well, I was on vacation last week and went fishing at a "secret" pond built by some in-laws of mine two years ago. It is a large horseshoe shaped pond with trees sticking up on both ends of the horseshoe and 25 feet deep at it deepest point.
Anyway, my dad and I went fishing there last Thursday morning and caught 193 fish in about six hours and that's no fish tale. We were using a bate that attracts all kinds of fish. We caught perch bigger than my hand (and my hands are pretty big), crappie and bass. These weren't just any fish either. It has been stocked with hybrid perch that can get up to three pounds, while the bass are also Florida strain. None of the fish we caught are full grown yet, but it was a lot of fun catching them on ultra-lite reels. We put them all back to caught another day, but I'm not sure I will ever catch that many fish in such a short amount of time again.

How To Be Wise (Part 18)

(Written Tues. June 10)
Today I'm sitting with my smokin-hot-wife on an overstuffed leather couch peering out a wall of windows from an amazing log cabin overlooking a small lake. It is located just outside of Chandler, OK and is the future campground of the Oklahoma District of the Assemblies of God. It will be awesome when it is finished. The cabin we're staying in is free to ministers; they just ask that you leave it clean. It is such a blessing to be able to stay at a nice place and get away from all the stresses of life.
My family is on vacation this week so Malinda and I decided to drop of James at the grandparents and come here for a couple of days. It's been nice to just sit and talk about life and our relationship, as well as, church and youth ministry without having to stop every two or three minutes to tell James to "get down," or "put that back."
So, here we sit in the peace and quiet of the morning reading. Mo's reading Gone With The Wind and I'm reading the Bible. As I read chapter 18, sitting here, once again, with my smokin-hot-wife, a couple of verses really jump out at me.

• Verse 22 "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD." I have to give a shout out to my wife here. I have definitely found a good thing. Even though she is about to turn "25+" she gets more and more beautiful every day. She is the best mom to our son James and I'm glad we're doing life together.


• Verse 21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." This verse has realms of meaning far beyond my comprehension or understanding. The proverbs are packed with wise sayings about how we use our words, none more prominent than this. "The power of life and death," what a thought provoking statement. The idea that I can bring life to a person who is dying spiritually or emotionally distraught by what this fallen world has brought into their life. The concept that I can kill a person's hopes and dreams by mere words makes me look back at the words I've used; moreover, it makes me want to choose my future words carefully. Verse 10 of this same chapter states, "the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Names are meant to be spoken. It's in the spoken name of Jesus that Peter and Paul healed the sick, opened blind eyes, and raised the dead. Jesus himself said, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (Jn. 14:13) Revelation 19:13 proclaims, "...his name is the Word of God." The Word, Jesus, was with God in the beginning and by the Word the worlds were formed. Life came into existence. It wasn't until man messed it up that death began. God's Word brings life!

May God's Word bring life to you. May God, through your words, bring life to those around you.

How To Be Wise (Part 17)

I'll get to the Proverb in a minute, but I have to share this with you first. The last couple of weeks I've been reading Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill. I can't say that I've enjoyed it, but I can say that I've been convicted deep in my soul. It was written in 1959, however, it is as relevant today as it was then. The entire book is centered around prayer and the desire to see souls saved. Ravenhill states one of the reasons revival tarries is because we lack urgency in prayer. "We have not yet resisted unto blood in prayer; nay, we 'do not even get a sweat on our souls,' as Luther put it. We pray with a 'take-it-or-leave-it' attitude; we pray chance prayers; we offer that which costs us nothing! We have not even 'strong desire.' The only power that God yields to is that of prayer. We will write about prayer-power, but not fight while in prayer. A title, undeniably true of the Church today, would be 'We Wrestle Not!'" He goes on to ask, "Who will storm hell's stronghold?...Who will deny himself...that hell may gaze upon him wrestling, embarrassing demons, liberating captives, depopulating hell, and leaving, in answer to his travail, a stream of blood-washed souls?" CONVICTED YET??? That's just a small portion of what I've been dealing with as I read it. If you prefer the status quo or life as usual, don't read this book, but if you are hungry for something more, I encourage you to read this entire book and let it prick your heart to prayer and a freshly broken heart for people dying without God.

Okay, so enough of that for now, I may do a set of blogs on each chapter of that book in the future, but for now, on to Proverb 17. What I would like to do with this chapter is quote John Maxwell's comentary on verse 2 from The Maxwell Leadership Bible:

Our influence has less to do with our position or title that it does with the life we live. It's not about position, but production. It is not the education we get, but the empowerment we give, that makes a difference to others.

The key word is credibility. We gain credibility when our life matches our talk and when both add value to others. In the words of Proverbs 17:2, It's better to be a wise slave than a foolish son. Answer the following questions:

1. Consistency: Are you the same person no matter who's with you?


2. Choices: Do you make decisions based on how they benefit you or others?


3. Credit: Are you quick to recognize others for their efforts when you succeed?


4. Character: Do you work harder at your image or your integrity?


5. Credibility: Have you recognized that credibility is a victory, not a gift?

We all influence the people we're around every day, whether for the good or for the bad. May you be a positive influence that people may see Jesus through you.

How To Be Wise (Part 16)

Today I am really excited about going to see Prince Caspian. I have been a huge fan of The Chronicles of Narnia ever since I was a kid. We are taking 28 people to Branson Meadows to see it, which should be fun.

Okay, so on to chapter 16. Three verses capture my attention: verse 3, 9 and 20. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed...In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps...Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord." (NIV) Growing up in church all my life, I have heard these verses over and over again, so much so, that I could probably quote them in three different versions of the Bible. However, truth be told, I have failed to put them into practice more times in my life than I care to count. It never fails, after the fact, that I look back on my mistakes and think, "If only I had prayed or sought council and then trusted God to work it out, the outcome would have been much better."

Now, the older and hopefully wiser I get (with slightly less hair), I tend to lean on God more for guidance and trust Him to bless what He has called me to do. I encourage all of you to start doing that now. Don't make the same mistakes I made as a young man wanting my own way. I'm still paying for some of those mistakes ten years later. Trust God now knowing that He orders your steps and will bless and prosper you if you will simply listen to Him and follow the path He has laid out before you.

May you commit to the Lord everything you do and allow Him to bring you success.

How To Be Wise (Part 15)

At the prompting of my good friend and fellow youth pastor Ricky Sowell, I'm finally getting around to chapter 15. I'm horrible at doing these things on a regular basis. I guess it stems from feeling like I don't have anything worth while to say or that you, the reader, would be interested in. Nevertheless, here we go.

The first several verses of chapter 15 give great advice on wise communication principles. Verse 1 states, "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." (MSG) When I sit and meditate on this verse I imagine a scene from one of those spy movies where there is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode while the hero of the story calmly tries to defuse it. There's always the antagonist looking over his shoulder spouting the obvious, "Hurry there's not much time." or "Are you sure sure you know what you're doing?" The response is generally a calm, "You're not helping!" So, with the seconds counting down to annihilation: 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - and then the hero cuts the red wire, no, I mean the blue wire and all is well. Since everyone wants to be a hero at some point in their life, think of it this way, every time you "defuse anger" by giving a "gentle response" consider yourself as an Indiana Jones like character or maybe even the master 007 Sean Connery saving the planet from destruction! Okay, so maybe not the planet, but at least a relationship.

The other verse I would like to stress is verse 4, "Kind words heal and help, cutting words wound and maim." (MSG) I have to ask myself, "Do I speak words that bring healing or words that only wound?" I would like to think mostly the first, but as I reflect on my words over the last week, I can see that both are true. Words that wound come easy to most people disguised as jests or jokes. The New International Version says they, "crush the spirit." Has your spirit ever been crushed by someone demeaning your dreams or abilities? It's not much fun. If I have ever done that to any of you reading this, please forgive me. God, help us all to remember what that feels like so that we don't do the same to others. Words that heal and help, on the other hand, are harder to come by and take perceptive thought and sincere sentiment. One encouraging thing is that the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

May you be the hero in volatile situations. May you always speak with kindness words that give life to the soul.

How To Be Wise (Part 14)

I can't believe it's Friday already. I've decided that I blog about as well as I do exercise regiments; I start strong; however, it's not long before I begin to get a little lackadaisical and my motivation wavers. Why is that? I guess it's like a lot of different things that you try to do on a regular basis, such as, praying or reading your Bible or even going to church. The effects are gradual instead of instantaneous. It takes time to see what affect you're having. Only after a couple of months of steady discipline do you realize the change.

Anyway, there's just a couple of verses I want to point out from this chapter:

• Verse 4, "An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable." Have you ever been to a church that is spotless, but has very little people, specifically young people. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for organization and keeping things clean, but not at the extreme where we turn people away because they are messy. Let's face it, kids are messy: they mess up walls; they poke holes in chairs (which drives me insane); they think the floor of the church van is their personal trash can. My son James makes messes all the time, but there's no way I would trade him for a perfectly clean house. I love him too much. Maybe that's what it boils down to. Maybe some people love their building more than they love souls. (OUCH! Did I just say that?) Thank the Lord that's not the case at my church. Even though our students can be "messy" at times, I love them too much to turn them away. (Our students are the best in the world by the way! I'm not trying to put them down by any means. ) Moreover, God loves them just as they are and has sent them here to be shown His love. I just pray He finds us reliable stewards of all He has given us.
• Verse 12, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Not only are there obvious eternal implications in this verse, but I believe there is also temporal significance. How many of us make choices regularly based on our personal feelings. Generally it's the path of least resistance we decide must be the right one. So often, however, it's the struggle or the uphill climb of a different direction that brings the most reward and satisfaction. How many times have we settled for "good enough" when "great" was just over the next mountain?

May you choose the mess over an empty house. May you never settle for "good enough." May you never choose the path of least resistance just so you don't have get your hands dirty. Why not be great!? Why not go all the way to the top? It's at the top we have the best view of what God has brought us through and accomplished because we were willing do all He has asked of us.

Great Quote

I had to write about this quote. It comes from the movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

"Life is an occasion, rise to it!"

How many of us get so busy with the mundane and monotonous aspects of life that we forget to truly seize the moments we're given. Erwin McManus, in his book, Chasing Daylight, states, "I am convinced the great tragedy is not the sins we commit, but the life that we fail to live...There are few things more inspiring than a life lived with passionate clarity." Am I rising to the occasion or am I satisfied with the mundane? I want my life to count for something. I want to live passionately instead of passively.

So much of life is wasted on repetitious reactions to societies suggestion of what it means to be truly alive. All the while, we remain passive to the true purpose for which we were put here on the earth. God wants to interrupt our average everyday existence longing for something more and give us a life we could only dream of: a life of passion, a life of purpose, a life of meaning. It's time for me to stop sleepwalking through life. It's time to wake up! It's time for me to rise to the occasion of life before I miss the God-given opportunities set before me.

How To Be Wise (Part 13)

This last week has been pretty hectic. I've gotten pretty far behind on doing this daily blog on the Proverbs, but instead of trying to cram all the chapters from the 13-18 into one day, I'm just going to pick up where I left off.

(At the expense that this may sound self-loathing, here goes nothing.)

Chapter 13 has several verses that I would like to highlight. Verse 7, "One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." verse 11, "...he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." and verse 22, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children." are all verses dealing with finances. The wisdom in these verses seem simple, yet are so profound. I think it is amazing how God deals with every aspect of life in His Word. He not only tells us of His wonderful plan of salvation from sin and living an eternal life with Him, but he also shows us how we are to live abundantly while we are temporal beings. It's laid out plain and simple if we will just follow it, however, there in lies most people's problem. We simply fail to stick to the plan. Why is that? If I'm brutally honest with you and myself, this is one of the areas of life where I struggle most. I could make excuse after excuse, but what it all boils down to is that I, over and over again, fail to do what God's Word advises. I want my own way no matter what the cost. All the while, I'm not only affecting my life, but also the lives of my children and their children. How selfish am I? I have to ask myself, "When will I wake up? When will I step up and be the man God desires for me to be? How much more could I do for God's kingdom if I wasn't in bondage to debt? When will I begin to lead by example?," or, will I continue to make excuses to the detriment of those I love?

GOD HELP ME!!! Help me make wise decisions and follow what your word teaches. Don't let my desires for earthly pleasures keep me from fulfilling your will and calling upon my life. Help me be content in all things.

How To Be Wise (Part 12)

When I was a kid I loved to get a "spankin.'" It was probably the most enjoyable part of young life. I received one just about every other day, if not every day. I would do anything I could to get them because I loved them so much...YEAH RIGHT!

No kid likes to be disciplined, but it's a natural part of life that teaches us right from wrong. If I had not got a spankin' for some of the things I did I would have probably burned the house down three or four times over. Discipline and correction showed me there was consequences for my actions, as well as, the right way to go about life. They must go together. To be disciplined without knowing what I did wrong and what I should do in the future is like a test without questions; how am I supposed to provide the answer if I can't even perceive the question. Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid." Now given, correction isn't always fun, in fact I will go as far to say, it never is, but it is necessary if we are to grow and mature. So, I say, "BRING IT ON!!!" I want to grow. I want to know when what I am doing is not in God's plan for my life.

One other verse I want to examine is verse 11 which declares, "The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense." God has given each one of us a work to do. We need to be satisfied with what we have. Don't get me wrong, I believe we should strive to better ourselves and prosper in all areas of life, but too many want the quick fix. We have a microwave mentality; we want it and we want it now. However, it's the journey that brings joy and meaning to life. God will supply for all our needs. We need to trust Him, being diligent to "bloom where we've been planted," not always looking for greener pastures.

May you learn to love discipline and correction so you can grow and mature. May you learn to be content in all situations realizing God is in control of them all and He will help you.

Acuire the Fire Report

(From Saturday, April 12)
I have been at Acquire the Fire all day today. It's been awesome!!! The theme this year was "Let Your Voice Be Heard."
They were encouraging everyone to speak out and shape the culture in which they live. A startling statistic was given that 98% of people are culture followers. 2% are culture shapers. How many of us allow the culture to tell us what we should wear, what we should eat, how we should talk, and even what to think? "The world has an agenda to shape our values. We need to, not only, defend our faith, but creatively compel others!" John 12:49 affirms, "For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it." There was also a powerful drama presentation called "The Bema." It compelled us all to remember the impact we make on those around us. We will all give account one day for what we chose to do with this one life we were given on this earth. Through the lives of seven high school students, we were able to see pieces of ourselves. Our eyes were opened to their failures and successes and we were challenged to live differently. My sincere hope is that the drama along with the messages of the speakers and the intimate times of unreserved worship impacted our students in such a way that they were forever changed.

How To Be Wise (Part 11)

(From Friday, April 10)
There are two verses I want to drawl from this chapter. The first is verse 14, "Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is victory." As I thought about this verse, I had to ask myself, "How many times have I plunged ahead without counsel only to fail in my endeavors?" If I had only paused long enough to seek advise from those who have gone before, what a difference it would have made. Instead of defeat, I would have found triumph. Instead of failure, I would have achieved success. Instead of floundering in frustration, I would have the ability to thrive. But, because of my impetuous abandonment of astute admonishment the dreams implanted in me are forced to miscarry.

Why is this? I think it's hard to admit sometimes that I need help. Maybe I'm afraid it will expose to everyone my weaknesses. However, the truth of the matter is, we all need help. We all have weaknesses. It's when we are able to acknowledge those weaknesses and work together that we find success. I'm so thankful for the people God has brought into my life to assist in the birthing of God's dreams. Lord, help me to utilize those whom you brought along side me to bring dreams into reality.

The second verse I would like to single out is verse 30, particularly the second half. "...And he who is wise wins souls." This implies, if your not winning souls, you are not wise. How many people have you or I led into a relationship with Jesus this month, this year, in the last five years? I could very easily let myself off the hook and say, "Well, I'm a youth pastor. I speak to lots of teenagers on a weekly basis in our youth gatherings. I've seen several come to know Jesus through that." That would be an easy out for me, but the truth is, I haven't personally shared Christ with a non-believer outside the church walls very often. All my friends are Christians. Most of the places I go are with Christians. However, as I look at Jesus example, that's not at all what He did. Every place He went was to hang out with sinners, to show them God's love wasn't only for the "good," but for all people willing to believe. Lord, help me to abandon my comfort zone and reach out to people with a sense of urgency not taking one day for granted. Give me wisdom to know how to meet them at their point of need.

May you seek counsel in every aspect of life to achieve success. May God open your eyes to see everyone as a soul in need of knowing Christ and the wisdom to know how to reach them.

How To Be Wise (Part 10)

(This is from Thursday, April 10th)
We had some friends stay the night with us last night due to the severe weather in the area. Where they live is not exactly ideal for weathering severe storms. The Weston's are great! They have become some of our closest friends here in Berryville. James loves their son Isaac and wants to play with him all the time. It's hilarious to watch them interact with one another. It gives me a good idea of what having two boys will be like.

I bring this up because this morning James and I were sitting on the couch and I was reading the Bible the Proverb of the day to him. He's usually very cuddly in the mornings and will be still enough for me to read to him. So, there we were sitting there reading when Isaac comes out of the guest bedroom. My time with James was over. James was so excited to see his friend. He looked at me with a huge grin on his face and then darted from my lap to play. It was nice while it lasted.

I began thinking about how much I love those times with my son. He seems to fit perfectly in my arms all snug and warm. It's there he feels safe and I am able keep him warm and protected. I soon began to reflect on the fact that this won't last forever. Before I know it, he will want to do other things besides hang out with his dear old dad. I think that's why God says to come to Him as a child, looking to Him for peace and protection. So often, however, we choose to do our own thing and go our own way.

The very first verse of chapter 10 is the one I want to focus on. It states, "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother." I hope to train up my children in such a way that there wisdom of right and wrong bring me joy. I am so thankful for parents who raised me to know right from wrong, who exemplified what loving and Godly parents should be. I sincerely hope, when they think of me, I bring them joy instead of grief.

May you bring joy to your heavenly Father as you live a life of character and integrity.

How To Be Wise (Part 9)

(This is from Wednesday, April 9th)
Wednesdays are the days that I am super busy. There is so much to do to prepare for our youth gathering: setting up the room, getting the song list ready, power point, food, the list goes on and on. Moreover, I go to schools for there lunches on Wednesday to be with the students in A.C.T.S. and Youth Alive (these are Christian clubs on campus). We also have an after school program that picks the students up from school and brings them here for the rest of the evening leading up to the time for our youth gathering. It's pretty hectic! However, right in the middle of the day, between A.C.T.S. and Youth Alive, I take a breather. Mo, James and I along with a great youth pastor friend of mine, Ricky, go eat together. Most of the time we end up at a Chinese buffet called Hong Kong Inn. The food is good and the waitress, Gale, has our drinks memorized. It never fails, when she brings out the check, she always says, "Here's the fun part!" And, like most Chinese restaurants, sitting on top of the check is the world famous fortune cookie. I always enjoy reading my "fortune" just for kicks, but today's fortune cookie pertains to my recent topic of discussion. Here's what it said, "Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise."

That brings me to the chapter of today. At the start of this one, I must give a shout out to my former mentor and pastor Mike Sanders. The first verse was the central verse for our church's statement of purpose. I still remember it, "Our purpose at Lakeview is to build the house of the Lord. Proverbs 9:1 'Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars.' The seven pillars of purpose that we are building this house with are worship, fellowship, discipleship, relationship, stewardship, Spirit infilling, ministry and evangelism." Pastor Mike was and is one of the greatest preachers I know. He and his wife, Andrea make a great team.

Okay, that being said, chapter 9 is the final contrast between wisdom and foolishness. Both of them are personified as someone throwing a party, one leading to life (vs 1-6) and one leading to death (verse 13-18). The commentary from the Nelson Study Bible explains verse 1 this way, "The number seven represents completeness, as it often does in Semitic (Jewish) poetry. That is, it is not that there were precisely seven pillars so much as that the house of wisdom was solidly built and substantial in character." A life built on the foundations of God's Word and upon His son Jesus is the only way to be strong against all the storms that come our way. Otherwise, we constantly live in "damage control" mode hoping to make it from day to day. A life built on God's Word is a life of peace. Sure the storms are still going to come, but you can rest assured that God will help you through and bring you out on the other side.

May you build your life of God's firm foundation.

How To Be Wise (Part 8)

Happy Tuesday everyone! I've got to acknowledge Kansas for winning the NCAA basketball championship last night. It was a very exciting game. Memphis had the lead toward the end of regulation, but choked when it came to shooting free throws. (OUCH!) Kansas took advantage of the opportunity and tied the game to force it into overtime. They then profited from their momentum in overtime and won the game.

It's raining again. Imagine that! This has been one of the wettest years I can ever remember. It will make for some good floating in a couple of weeks. Although, right now I could float down the ditch and have a pretty fun trip.

Alright, to chapter 8. These 36 verses speak again of wisdom and our need for it to truly live a life worth living. Verse 4 declares that wisdom "calls out" and "raises her voice to all mankind." That means wisdom is available to anyone who will seek after it. Verse 32-35 discloses the promise of blessing to those who find it, "whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord." What a position to be in, in the favor of God.

Another verse worth noting is verse 13. "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate." The "fear of the Lord" was previously mentioned in chapter 1 and this verse continues the thought what that means. The Full Life Study Bible comments on this verse this way, "A deep sense of awe and reverence for God and his right judgements should cause us not only to avoid evil, but to hate whatever displeases God and destroys people's lives."

May you live your life in the favor of God seeking after wisdom. May you hate the evils of this world that seek to consume the compromising and dispel the dreamers.

How To Be Wise (Part 7)

Chapter 7 continues the theme of overcoming temptation. The Message Bible states plainly, "Do what I say and you'll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight--guard it!" Sight is a precious gift, but how many people walk around spiritually blind to the truth of God's Word? God gives us directives to live by so that we may live a life worth living, yet the world tells us life is better without rules. Ask the teenage mom who's had her dreams crushed by unwed pregnancy if life without rules is best. Ask the promising young athlete who's future hopes of becoming a star has been dashed by a night of drunken pleasure culminating in a career ending automobile accident if it was worth the moment of "freedom."

Verse 20 is a prominent portrayal of what the deceiver tries to get us to believe. "My husband's not home, he's away on business, and he won't be back for a month." This reminds me of a passage of scripture I spoke about last Wednesday in our youth gathering. II Peter 3:3,4 says of our final days on earth, "...In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following there own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is the 'coming' he promised?...Everything goes on as it has since the beginning..." We're persuaded to believe there is no harm in "sin for a season." We can always ask for forgiveness later. Besides, you're young, you can get serious about life when you get older. But, before we know it, we're ensnared in sin's grasp and what we thought was freedom really becomes imprisonment.

May you have eyes to see the truth, as well as, the wisdom and insight to flee from the path of destructive behavior.

How To Be Wise (Part 6)

Chapter 6 has much to add to my previous ponderings on chapter 5. I encourage you to read through verses 20-35 and let them really sink in. However, what I wish to reflect on in this chapter comes from the first 11 verses. Proverbs has a lot of wise teachings about financial matters. Even someone who does not believe in God would do well to follow the advice of the financial model laid out in this book of wisdom. These verses are the first of many on the subject.

Verses 1-5 implores us to stay away from debt. In a society where a very large percentage of people, including Christian people, are in debt up to their eyeballs, these words are relevant, if not critical, to our futures. How many people fall prey to the "I want it now" mentality? We want the latest and greatest in an atmosphere where keeping up with the Jones' reigns supreme. With this microwave mentality, we're willing to become slaves to creditors in order to get what we want. Yet, what are the results? The things that we think we can't live without are soon faded into antiquity and we're left struggling with overwhelming mounds of debt resulting in fear and regret. It then effects everything you do.

Verse 6-10 contrasts the previous verses by considering the wisdom of working hard and saving for the future. What a concept! It seems simple, but how many of us put it into practice? I have to ask myself, "What would I be able to do if I had no debt? How much more would I be able to give to help those in need? In what areas could I sacrifice now to make sure my children's children are successful and free from worry of financial matters?" These are the real questions we all need to be asking ourselves.

May you consider for yourselves the wisdom in living a debt free life.

How To Be Wise (Part 5)

I must say before I get started, "Go Kansas!!!" I was really hoping it would be Kansas and Texas in the championship to show the strength of the Big 12, but I believe that is evident, none the less.

Okay, it's been a couple of days and I'm a little behind. Malinda's sister had my nephew, Markus, dedicated yesterday and we were down there all weekend. However, I did spend some time reading over chapters 5 and 6 while I was away. Hopefully you read them as well. So here we go with chapter 5.

I believe this whole chapter can be summed up by verses 18-20. I like the way The Message Bible articulates the point. It's pretty "in your face," none the less, it speaks volumes to anyone who will listen. "Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose--don't ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted! Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore?..."

Not only can we apply this at face value to our marriage relationship, but we can also apply this to our relationship with Jesus. The New Testament refers to Christ followers (the Church) as His bride. He is forever faithful to us and loves us completely. He demonstrated His love for us by dying for us, even while we were separated from Him by our sin, so that our original designed love affair could be restored. We should "enjoy" that relationship and "take delight" in Him; however, many times we "take His love for granted" and "trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills" with what the world has to offer.

Verse 3-6 tell of the temptation and seduction, of how they seem enticing for a moment, but, in the end, lead to bitterness, pain and ultimately in destruction. How many precious years have been wasted in foolish pursuits? How many dreams have been crushed by bad choices? How many relationships have been destroyed because of cheap thrills? How many Christians have turned there back on Christ because of flirtation with the world? How many young people have squandered their vitality in search of popularity and pleasure?

May you be so in love with Jesus that nothing else turns you away from Him!

How To Be Wise (Part 4)

Have you ever known someone that knew everything there was to know but was dumber than an door? There are a lot of people who can spout out so much information on so many different topics, but when it comes to actually living life, they are clueless. I think that's what verse 5 talks about when it says, "Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding." We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we aren't able to apply it to how we live and react with other people, what good is it?

Verse 14 and 15 is where a lot of people mess up. It urges, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Nevertheless, instead of avoiding and turning away, many take chances with it trying to get as close as they can without slipping in all together. The truth is, however, the closer we get, the easier it is to be trapped by it. Later scriptures tell us to run from it and stay as far away as you can. What the enemy, the devil, tries to get us to believe is the same as he did with Eve in the very beginning. He entices us by trying to get us to believe we're missing out on something. But, God knows that the path leads to destruction and harm. That's why he tells us to stay as far away as possible. He's looking out for us. (refer to Part 3)

Finally, verse 23, another great one to memorize, declares, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Whatever you let in to your heart is what is going to eventually come out. If you put in good things, good comes out. Likewise, if you put in bad things, bad comes out. It sounds simple I know, but do we put it into practice. Ask yourself:
What kind of music am I listening to?
What am I watching on TV?
What kind of relationships do I have?
What sites am I going to on the Internet?
Are these things helping you develop into the person God created you to be or are they, at the very least, distracting you from your purpose, if not leading you down the wrong path?

I try to ask these things of myself on a regular basis. Because, if I'm not careful, as I travel this journey through life, I let things slip in that get me closer and closer to the wrong path. It's a daily walk, a daily choice, that we make to live for or against God. I for one, do not want to be against God who loves me and has my best interest at heart.

Have a great weekend!

How To Be Wise (Part 3)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight...It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones." (vs 5-8)

"Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught." (vs 25-26)

What a promise from God! If we will just trust Him with our whole selves, with all our worries, fears, insecurities, etc. He will lead us down the path we are to follow. When bad things come along, He may or may not deliver us, but we can be confident that He will be with us every step of the way so that we will not be trapped by them.

Here in the Ozarks it's been storming like crazy the last couple of weeks. There have been nights when the thunder was so loud that the whole house shook on its foundations. During those times my young son, James has had moments of fear and insecurity. However, no matter how afraid he is, as soon as he gets into my arms he settles down and is no longer afraid. He feels safe with me and confident that I will not let anything bad happen to him. I think that's what our heavenly Father wants to and is willing to be for us if we will just come to Him with that childlike faith such as that of my son. Whenever I get afraid of what the future holds for me, I look to God and trust 10that He holds me secure and knows my tomorrows. He will not let me be ensnared by the troubles of this life.

Hopefully, this will help someone who reads this to understand what God wants to do and be for them. Have a blessed day!

How To Be Wise (Part 2)

The chapter again contrasts the ways of the wise with the ways of the wicked. The first few verses speak of a father teaching his son. He says things like, "receive my sayings, treasure my commandments, turn your ear, incline your heart, call out, lift your voice, seek, search." All of these seem to be a progressive process to me. It goes from receiving instruction and wisdom from the father to discovering truth for himself.
Verse 5 brings the promise of what will happen when we do these things. We "will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God.." The rest of the chapter goes on to tell us what wisdom will guard, deliver and protect us from.

Lord, help me to be desperate for you in such a way that nothing else will satisfy. Help me to incline my heart, to call out and search for you with everything that I am. I desire wisdom to discern what roads to take in life. Guard me and protect me from evil things. I love You, Lord.

How To Be Wise (Part 1)

Okay, for the next 31 days I am going to be taking you through the book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters which makes it great for daily reading. My Pastor's wife says, "A Proverb a day will keep the devil away!" In the Proverbs you will find godly wisdom and counsel concerning both practical and philosophical issues of life. According to the Full Life Study Bible, "Its wisdom is unique in that is based on respect for God and his righteous standards for his people." My plan is to just take a few of the "wise sayings" in each chapter and share my thoughts on them. If anyone wants to jump in and share something as well, please do. That being said, here we go.

The first chapter sets up the theme for the remainder of the book and the foundation from which wisdom comes.

• Verse 5 says, "A wise man will hear and increase in learning..." So many people hear, but few unearth its applications to life. I think we allow so much useless information to pass through our minds that what is useful has no place to take pause in us to be meditated upon, much less be put into sensible practice. Maybe it's time to step back and assess all the interruptions we allow into our lives that drag us away from what we were designed to be.
• Verse 7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." What does it mean to fear the Lord? I believe it is to have a deep respect for the awesomeness of God in all that He is. He is the creator of everything and has authority over all. Yet, He allows us the option to accept Him or reject Him. Both choices have eternal consequences.
• Finally, verse 33 instills in us, "...whoever listens to me (wisdom) will live securely, and be at ease, without fear of harm." What an assurance we have when we put our faith and trust in God. If we will listen God's voice spoken to us through the scriptures, we can be at peace knowing that He is in control and wisdom comes by exercising what we hear.

Good Day

Today has been a good day.

• We had an awesome worship service this morning; God's presence was all around. We sang a couple of songs that I love: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin and Here In Your Presence by Desperation Band. Both of them have a powerful message. Pastor Keith has been preaching on having a God centered life and it's been really good as well.
• My wife is the most amazing woman in the world. She didn't sleep very good last night and she still let me go play racket ball with Matty and Russell while she stayed home and watched James. I think I owe her a massage or something.
• While we're on the subject of racket ball, we won!
• I am a little disheartened by Texas' loss to Memphis. They definitely were not at the top of there game today. Nevertheless, they went farther than Arkansas or Oklahoma and that's what really matters. I would have liked to see them in at least the Final Four, but, oh well, there's always next year. TEXAS FOREVER!!!

Outdoor Bliss

So, the camping trip was amazing! The weather was perfect during the day, as well as, through the night. We had hotdogs for dinner over the open campfire and some amazing apple cobbler concoctions that Bryan made. After it got dark we had a little fun with Bryan's cool camara and took some pictures with extended exposures. That was fun!

However, I didn't sleep all that well because the ground was hard and I'm getting old. Not to mention, Boomer woke up every couple of hours and shook his head so that his ears made this kind of hellicoptor sound. Nevertheless, I finally did nessle into a groove in the ground and get a few hours of shut-eye.

The float on Thursday was no less than spectacular. The water was crystal clear, the bluffs were awesome testimonies to God's splendor. The only negative thing about the whole trip was that the water was nearly ice cold. That fact being known, I took the plunge anyway, but it didn't take me long to get back out. Boomer (my black lab) enjoyed the trip as well. He was in the water more than he was out. It was fun to watch him.

For anyone who is ever considering coming to the Ozarks to do see the beauty of God's creation, I would highly suggest coming to the Buffalo River Valley. It is simply GORGEOUS!!!

Break Time!

Well, it's Spring Break for Berryville and we will not be having a youth service this week. We have a unique set-up here at our church; when school's out, we're out. It's different I know, but it works for us.

Anyway, since it is Spring Break, Pastor told the staff to take a little time off and to only come into the office to get done what needed to be done; otherwise, we were to take a break too. I am actually in the office today getting some necessities done, but I am looking forward to going camping and floating tomorrow and Thursday with some friends down on the Buffalo River for some relaxation in the great outdoors if the weather cooperates. We're planning of floating by the tallest waterfall between the Rockies and the Appalachians. It's nearly 200 feet tall. I'll load some more pictures on Friday so you can see how beautiful the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas really are.

Boredom or Laziness?

I sit here at my computer on a Saturday afternoon bored out of my mind, while the truth is, I'm really just being lazy. It is a beautiful day in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and there's a light breeze out of the north just strong enough to put a little chill in the air. It's the kind of day you can really breathe deeply and be energized to your very core. Nevertheless, I sit here at my computer apathetic to my dilemma.
My mind says that I should go and do something productive and vigorous, but my body says, "There will be plenty of nice spring days for that. Besides, it's too late in the day to really do anything now. It will be getting dark soon. You don't have enough time. Just sit here and relax. You work to hard anyway."
Who do I listen to, my mind or my body?
So far, my body has been winning this little tug of war. I've had a few spurts of animation here and there all afternoon, but they have lasted only a moment and then it's back to vacillating between my minds desires and my bodies rebuttals.
Have you ever been there? It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.
"I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it, I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time." (Rom. 7:17-20 The Message)
I think this applies even in areas of our lives that are not necessarily bad. We know what we should do when it comes to health, relationships, finances, etc. But, most times knowing what we should do and actually doing it are two different things entirely. It is a constant contest.
Today, as dusk approaches, it appears to be that my body has won the debate and I have decided to just be lackadaisical in my activities. However, tomorrow is a new day, not to mention Easter Sunday, and in race that God has marked out for me, that is the day I'm too busy to be bored or lazy.
Have a blessed Easter everybody!

Denying the Obvious

(This is something I wrote in my journal a while back after a service at a youth camp in 2005.)

I caught myself tonight being so caught up in the rythm and energy of the songs that I forgot to truly worship. I asked myself, "What is in my heart? What words come from my mouth so that I may truly glorify God without using someone else's words?
Too often we let ourselves get swept away with the emotion of the moment that we forget the reason why we are where we are. Tonight's message talked about the Isrealite noise of celebration. Sometimes songs are great because they help us express ourselves in ways we wouldn't be able to otherwise, but at the expense of learning for ourselves how to truly talk to God. If all I ever did was sing love songs to my wife and never just expressed in my own words how I felt about her, what would happen? It would be cool for a while, but then it would just be noise. My most intimate moments are when I sit with her in my arms telling her how much I love her, how beautiful she is and how she makes me feel when we are close together, so close we can touch one another. Whispering in the silence, I tell her how much she means to me, how she completes me, we hear each other's heart beat. It's then she knows our love is stong and she feels secure.
So the question remains, are we in "pursuit of God" or is just an expression that sounds poetic. In reality we are just in pursuit of the emotional experience, "the shout." It must truly be an expression of our heart. God talked to Elijah not in the whirlwind, the earthquake or the fire, but in the sound of a low whisper. Are we allowing the noise to leave us so we can hear God's heartbeat and listen to his voice?

Change

(Originally written in April of 2006)
The word change is a powerful word. It means to become different, to alter, and to pass from one phase to another. Change doesnt occur overnight but its a process that takes place daily in our lives. When the disciples began to follow Christ they didnt know that their lives were going to be totally different by following him. For 3 ½ years they experienced change like never before. Men who once were timid and shy about their faith had become men of courage and boldness. For change to take place in a persons life there has to be a step of faith. The disciples left their comfortable, ordinary lives to follow Christ. They did not know where they were going or what the future had in store for them, but the end result was changed lives. There is an old quote that you have heard that says, If you keep doing the same thing youve always done youll keep getting the same thing youve always gotten. If you are tired of an ordinary life and you want to change then maybe Christ is calling you to "Rise Up." If you are ready to step out of the ordinary and into a changed life take a step of faith. In Psalm 20:7-8, it basicly says, "Some trust in their own stregth; but we put our trust in God. Those who trust in themselves will fall, but we who trust in the Lord will rise up and stand firm." Let's rise up together.

First Starting Out

So, my first few posts are things that I have written previously, but I thought they would be good to start out with so you can get an idea of who I am and where I am at in this journey of life. I wrote this one when I was moving to my first youth pastor position in Van, TX. Looking back, it is amazing what God has done. These thoughts can be put into anyone's journey through life. Hope you enjoy!
"Today I embarked on a journey, a journey for the rest of my life. Through years of growing physically, mentally and spiritually, I now take the course that my ship has been designed to sail. Crafted by God, captained by Jesus Christ, sails filled by the wind of the Holy Spirit, I set out away from my port of safety to a new home port filled with the mystery of the unknown. I ask myself a question, 'Will this new land be as a barren waste land needing much sewing before a plentiful harvest can be reaped or are the fields ripe and ready to be brought in?' Despite the answer I have faith in the ship, because I am a friend of the craftsman; I trust the course, because I have teamed up with the Captain; I have confidence in the sails, because have a connection to what fills them. TODAY, LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!!!"
So that was seven years ago. The journey can still be a mystery at times, but I put my hope in God. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it..." (Phillipians 1:6)
Love you all!