Positive
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Albert Einstein
It seems lately that I’m surrounded by people with negative attitudes. Maybe, it’s just me. Maybe, I’m seeing the glass as half empty when I should be looking for it to be half full. I’m not sure.
Choosing to be positive each day seems hard at first. But when you think about it some more, doesn’t it seem like it might actually be easier to have a positive attitude than to walk around grumpy all the time. It’s much more uplifting and encouraging. I’ve actually heard that it takes more work to frown than to smile.
Until the next post, I chose to be more positive…
Exercise Daily In God
This week as part of my time with God, I’ve been reading I Timothy. Here’s an excerpt from my reading today from I Timothy 4:7-16 (The Message):
Exercise daily in God–no spiritual flabbiness, please! 8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 9 You can count on this. Take it to heart. 10 This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. 11 Get the word out. Teach all these things. 12 And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. 13 Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. 14 And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed–keep that dusted off and in use. 15 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! 16 Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
I take this passage as an encouragement to keep on keeping on. We need to keep a well balanced life. If we eat well and exercise often yet fail to take care of our spiritual bodies, we are not living as good stewards or leaders. Also, we need to share the things that we are learning with those around us. The passage also points to living a life with character. This doesn’t mean living apart from people who are far from God. It means living a life with integrity and honesty in the mix with non-believers. Our words and more so our actions will speak volumes. And as Paul states in this letter to Timothy, our actions, our words, our character may allow others to experience salvation. What an honor and privilege to be in this position.
Until the next post…
Heroes
Yesterday morning, I attended a men’s breakfast at our church. Besides the great fellowship with other men, I especially appreciated what Matt Silver had to share about heroes in our lives. When thinking about heroes in my own live, I immediately think about my parents. They have always been great role models for me through each stage of my life, and I’m extremely thankful for them.
During Matt’s time of sharing, he shared a passage from Titus 2:1-8 that came to me at a great time. Here’s what it has to say:
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
This is a challenging passage. As a leader (at home, at church, at work, in life), I need to be above approach. This is where I will wrestle the next few days (or forever long it takes).
Until the next post…
Pay It Forward
Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Eastern PA. I used a good portion of the day to “pay it forward” to one of my neighbors. I haven’t seen the movie (Pay It Forward), but my understanding is that the movie expresses how good will towards others can be contagious.
A good friend of mine (Dave Freed) and I decided to help out an older gentlemen up the street. He recently received an electronic wheel chair that allows him to get around quite a bit easier. The problem for him is that he couldn’t get the chair up to his deck and main living floor do to four steps. So Dave and I built George a ramp yesterday.
I hesitate slightly to share this story here, because I don’t want my actions yesterday to be self promoting; however, I’m convinced that good will really is contagious. I hope that it will spur me on towards more love and good deeds, and maybe you’ll be challenged as well to perform a “random act of kindness” today. When was the last time you did something expecting nothing in return?
This morning, I am refreshed knowing that I helped to brighten the day of someone else.
Until the next post, let’s look for ways to pay it forward…
Week In Review
This has been a busy week which probably helps to explain why I haven’t posted for almost a week. Monday, I spent preparing for our Tuesday night parenting group. Tuesday, I went downtown for the day to work on some finishing touches to one of my projects. Tuesday night, we had a great discussion about the differences in our children. I was especially reminded how “fearfully and wonderfully made” we have been constructed by God (see Psalm 139). Wednesday I was a little bit later at the office which made for a compressed evening. Leanne and I have been watching Kid Nation on Wednesday nights. This week the town of ~40 kids seemed to be focusing on their “religions.” This show seems to push the limits of the whole reality TV thing. I can’t imagine sending my 9 and 7 year old kids away for a month and a half (especially without any adult supervision). Thursday, I was back in the city for an exciting day of meetings. In the evening, I had a diner meeting with the other coaches from our Home Team (small group) ministry. One of the highlights of this evening was a great driveway conversation with my friend Sean Healy. I was able to squeeze the movie Eragon and Facing the Giants into the week. Eragon (the movie) was not as good as the book in my opinion, but I still enjoyed the theatrical take on the story. Facing the Giants was a great movie – not for it’s acting, but for it’s messages and inspiration. The movie provided a healthy reminder of the importance of praising God when things go well and when things don’t go so well. I would recommend this one. Friday after a busy day at the office, Leanne and I watched the neighbors four boys. We enjoyed getting to know them better – they are great kids. And we finally collapsed in bed around 11PM. Exhausted.
This morning, I’ve been taking care of a few things around the house. I’m getting ready to take the kids to the YMCA, and I just learned some big news for our extended family – there’s going to be an addition. More to follow, once I make sure everything is clear to share.
One more thing, just to help me keep track, I’ve been reading through the Bible this year. It’s October, and I’m still on pace. I’m currently reading in Esther, Revelation, and Psalms (today I read Psalm 106). This has been a great discipline, and it has helped to keep my priorities in check despite a crazy schedule.
Until the next post…
Worth Celebrating
Sunday afternoon, I was hooting and hollering in the family room as I celebrated the Phillies game and National League Eastern Division Championship. Monday, I was reading in Psalms and I was reminded about what is really worth celebrating. Here’s the passage below.
Psalm 97:1-12
1 GOD rules: there’s something to shout over! On the double,
mainlands and islands–celebrate! 2 Bright clouds and storm
clouds circle ’round him; Right and justice anchor his rule. 3
Fire blazes out before him, Flaming high up the craggy
mountains. 4 His lightnings light up the world; Earth,
wide-eyed, trembles in fear. 5 The mountains take one look at
GOD And melt, melt like wax before earth’s Lord. 6 The heavens
announce that he’ll set everything right, And everyone will see
it happen–glorious! 7 All who serve handcrafted gods will be
sorry– And they were so proud of their ragamuffin gods! On your
knees, all you gods–worship him!
8 And Zion, you listen and take heart! Daughters of Zion, sing
your hearts out: GOD has done it all, has set everything right.
9 You, GOD, are High God of the cosmos, Far, far higher than any
of the gods. 10 GOD loves all who hate evil, And those who love
him he keeps safe, Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.
11 Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil. 12 So, God’s people,
shout praise to GOD, Give thanks to our Holy God!
Kind of puts things in perspective. Doesn’t it?
Until the next post…
Making Room for Life
I just finished reading some of the updates from my friend Frank who is at this year’s Willow Creek Small Groups Conference. Honestly, I’m a little bummed, because I’m not there this year. This conference is an awesome opportunity to be challenged and charged up for small group ministry and for personal growth.
A few year’s ago, Randy Frazee gave one of the talks during the conference. He spoke about the importance of Making Room for Life. His talk (and book) gave great thoughts on making and keeping priorities, doing life with those in your neighborhood, and keeping a reasonable and healthy schedule. I have given this book away to several friends and relatives, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who feels like life is getting away from them.
Next year, hopefully, I will be giving you updates from the conference.
Until the next post…
Small Group Help Website
I’ve been contributing some to a blog coordinated by our church’s small group team – http://www.smallgrouphelp.com/. Up until now, the site has just been a blog, but in the very near future, we will be turning it into a cool small group resource for your small group ministry. Check it out now to get an idea of some of the cool things that will me available. Also, feel free to pass the link along to people you know who are doing small groups. Stay tuned for further information.
Until the next post….
Words Are Like Toothpaste
Did you ever say something that you wish you hadn’t said? I’ve had that problem for years. It’s sometimes like I say something before the words fully form in my head, and I’m left with regret and the awful taste of shoe leather in my mouth.
If you think about it, our words are like a tube of toothpaste. Just for fun, try squeezing a whole tube of toothpaste onto a paper plate. Make sure you get it all out of the tube. Now, try to put the toothpaste – ALL of it – back into the tube. Good luck! It’s impossible to do it. It’s the same way with our words. As soon as they come out, try as we may we just can’t fit our words back into our mouths.
James wrote a verse that speaks pretty well to this subject.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19,20
Last night at our parenting discussion group social event, we did an exercise with toothpaste to show kids (and parents) the power of our words. What a great way to kickoff the group.
Until the next post…
Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out
My mom always says, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I think what she was says was you’ll get caught one way or the other if you do something wrong. Even if no one on earth finds out about it, God knows.
I was reminded out this quote today due to a humorous story from our house. And it also reminds me of a story from my past that I will share with you as well. First, today our family decided to celebrate Labor Day by spending the day at our local YMCA. Today was the last day for the outdoor pool, and the weather was spectacular. Upon our departure from our house, we left our dog (Iso) uncrated and left to roam the house. He is not permitted to go upstairs in the house, and he knows it. Well, here’s where the quote comes in. When we arrived five hours later, we couldn’t find Iso. We searched all over the place, calling for him, whistling for him, and starting to worry that he had somehow escaped. I frantically ran back upstairs to see if he had somehow locked himself in a closet or a room with the door closed, and guess where I found him? In the bathroom. Apparently, he went in there, and the door blew shut behind him. Leaving him stuck there until we arrived home. Shame. Shame. Shame. (We were relieved to find him.)
This reminds me of a story from my childhood in Wheaton, Illinois. Sometime around 1st or 2nd grade, I decided to head off with one of my friends on a bicycle adventure outside the boundaries that my parents had set for me. I was sure that I could make it back home without being missed. Unfortunately, my pant leg got stuck in my bicycle chain when I was way out of bounds. I was left to get a ride home from a stranger who had to cut my pant leg just to free me from my bicycle. I can still remember the disappointment in my parents eyes when I arrived home. I can still hear my mom saying, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I was caught! Being grounded for a week did a lot to teach me the importance of letting my parents know where I was going and of keeping within the boundaries that they had laid out.
I’m thankful that God gave me a few mild episodes like this to teach me important lessons that would valuable for the rest of my life.
Until the next post….