Unfinished Projects

This past week has been an experience. I’ve always been good at getting myself caught up in projects that are over my head. I don’t know if it’s a desire to learn, or just plain stupidity (most likely the latter). I decided a week and a half ago that I was going to fully remodel my bathroom. I figured it would be a 3 day project...and after 2 days of demolition I was pretty frustrated.

People keep telling me it will be worth it when it’s over, and I agree but I hate the current status of my bathroom. A pet peeve of mine is unfinished projects. I hate seeing something that I’ve started, and live with the fact that it’s not finished. Too many times I've wanted to abandon this project, as the results are worth it so far.

I think God sometimes views us as projects. Paul wrote in Philippians, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” I’m glad God doesn’t get as frustrated as me with projects. If He did, I would’ve been abandoned a long time ago. I'm glad my God is tenacious about completing his projects, no matter how much we get in the way.

Antiques and Stories

Last weekend I was privileged to speak at Phantom Ranch’s high school winter retreat. Nicole and I looked up the weather for that weekend, and according to TWC it was suppose to be in the 40’s with no snow. I don’t know what it is about meteorologists, but I could probably predict with better accuracy by just throwing random numbers around. Nevertheless, Nicole and I bought into the idea that it would be spring jacket and sweatshirt weather.

Saturday we woke up to a few inches of fresh snow, and quite a nasty wind chill. After I preached in the am, we decided to head off campus and see what indoor activities there were in SE Wisconsin. We found a large barn (go figure) with the word “antiques” painted on the side. Though I rarely purchase antiques (unless it’s a suit of armor for my fireplace) I still love walking through these stores. Almost all of these stores have WWII, antique toys, and odd gadget isles. There’s something about walking past rows of items that all have a story behind them.

Too often I think we forget this about people. If you’re anything like me, within the first 10 minutes of talking to someone you think you’ve already figured them out. Everyone has a story. I hope my interest grows in people the more I’m around them, even though human nature is to do the opposite.

Ran Across This

I'm eating some left over pizza for lunch in my office (last night's pizza from a life group bowling night). I had pandora playing, and this song popped up. I wanted share these lyrics. (From "Times" by Tenth Avenue North)

and when your heart breaks
the times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
the times you're hurting the times that you heal
the times you go hungry and attempted to steal
in times of confusion and chaos and pain
I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
I'm there through your heartache I'm there in the storm
My love I will keep you by My power alone
I dont care where you've fallen, where you have been
I'll never forsake you
My love never ends

God's First Priority Is NOT Your Happiness

Very dogmatic title, I agree. Yet, I'm quite frustrated at this point with people who use "God's Will" as a free ticket to live responsibility free.

Let me explain... I've seen people duck out of church responsibility by using the "I feel like God is leading me elsewhere" excuse. I've watched ministries hurt (including my own) because of people who jump from one new church to the other, depending on their mood, thinking that must be how God leads them. It's not, simply because God would never lead someone to hurt the ministry of His Church. I'm thankful that the church I work at isn't a revolving door, but I feel for those churches who are hurt by flash in the pan people.

I feel the same frustration when I hear people talk about divorce and they'll use the excuse "but God wants me to be happy." Really? Show me where it says that anywhere in the Bible. They're willing to go against God's structure of marriage, and handicap their children's view of family by attempting to justify it.

God's first priority is the Church, not your happiness. However, I've seen people gain true happiness by working with integrity even when ministry is grueling and marriage becomes a project. Don't cop out like a coward, and if you do don't pass the blame to God's leading.

Mayberry Church?

Two weeks ago I found that I could stream “The Andy Griffith Show” through my wii. I grew up loving this show, and still do today. I’ll admit, I even wake up an hour earlier just so I can enjoy breakfast and watch an episode while reading the comics (who doesn’t want to start their day with Hagar The Horrible).

I think I’d like to live in Mayberry. Could you Imagine having a town with feisty deputy, one odd barber, one goofy mechanic, and a town drunk who’s polite enough to turn himself in? A place where everyone not only knew but cared for their neighbors, and nobody was in too big of a rush for personal conversation.

Silly as this may sound, I see similarities between the Church and Mayberry. The Church can often have some odd people who give character to it’s ministries. Every church has those people who mess up, yet turn themselves in because they know they can’t do this on their own.

I thank God I’m in a community where everyone not only knows but cares for each other. We may not call it Mayberry, but I’m glad I’m at The Bridge.

Lesson Learned In Public

Growing up, I’ve had many humbling experiences (I’ll have to post more to this blog in the future). One experience still haunts me to this day. Like every cocky 17 year old, I thought of myself as indestructible...especially in the area of public speaking. I was always confident in front of larger crowds, that was until my dad asked me to speak at one of our Saturday night services in Wisconsin.

I was suppose to get up and talk about my experience in 3rd world countries. After reminding my dad that I did not need to practice or prepare what I was going to say, I found myself walking up on stage clueless as to what I had to offer to this topic. I was handed the mic before getting lost in the audience’s blank stares. All I can remember is fumbling over sentences that made no coherent thought and then sheepishly handing the microphone back.

As I walked off the stage, I headed straight for my car to hide like a turtle in its shell. Since then I’ve always gotten nervous before speaking. Don’t get me wrong, I take every opportunity I can get to teach but I’ll never forget the blank stares that seemed to whisper “you don’t need to prepare do you?”

Eye Contact

This Easter weekend was packed full of work. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, but it was exhausting. A few staff became my temporary roommates this week, and the auditorium turned into our luxurious apartment. There were numerous rehearsals; lighting, audio, video, and stage equipment to be set up, videos to be shot, music to be fine tuned, costumes adjustments, and props critiqued. I had it better than Brian, but this week was insane.

After falling into my couch Sunday afternoon, I thought to myself “all of that work for a few 1 hour worship sets.” After getting some much needed sleep, I came into the office to tear down and get a start on the check-list for this week. I ran across a timely quote by Driscoll in my sermon prep, “keep your Bible open, your eyes focused, your hands ready, and your heart broken, and fight in such a way that when you stand before Jesus in the end, you can look him in the eye.”

I too often I lose focus of the end goal in what I do at The Bridge. To be able to stand before Jesus, completely worn out, yet able to look Him in the eye because I gave His work all I had in me. The Christian life may be exhausting at times, but I’d have it no other way.