Had to go into the office for a little while today to take care of some Fine Arts stuff, even though it was my day off. As I was sitting at my desk Meg called and told me how she was bumbed! Some friends forgot to call when they were going sledding and she was really looking forward to it. Needless to say she was really disappointed!
So as I was talking to Meg I had a priority check. I could either continue working or I could go home and take my daughter out in the backyard and play in the snow...I went home!
I took Kyrsten out in the backyard and for over an hour we played in the snow! She made a couple snow angels, we made a retarded looking snowman, and we even dug a tunnel through a big snow drift on the back patio! It was really cool! And to see the look on her face as she played was so worth it!
I want my kids to know that ministry is important...but NOT more important than them! I pray that I always keep my priorities in check... God -#1; Family - #2; and Ministry - #3.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Attitude is Everything
Today I woke up early (7:30am) which totally stunk. I was anticipating an incredible morning of getting to sleep in, but for some reason I just woke up...wide awake! So I got up and decided to do some reading. I was reading "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day," this book has really been challenging to me, it has really challenged me to ask some questions to myself.
This morning I was challenged with this statement: "the most important choice that you make everyday is your attitude." So many times we allow ourselves to get discouraged by the small things of life. Not saying that they are insignificant, but when we step back and look at them through the scope of our lives or eternity for that matter, they are really insignificant.
The book talked about two different types of people: complainers and worshippers. Complainers find things to complain about and worshippers find things to praise God about. I have a choice. Am I going to be a complainer or am I going to be a worshipper? Am I going to spend more time complaining about things that I can't change or worshipping the God who never changes!
This morning I was challenged with this statement: "the most important choice that you make everyday is your attitude." So many times we allow ourselves to get discouraged by the small things of life. Not saying that they are insignificant, but when we step back and look at them through the scope of our lives or eternity for that matter, they are really insignificant.
The book talked about two different types of people: complainers and worshippers. Complainers find things to complain about and worshippers find things to praise God about. I have a choice. Am I going to be a complainer or am I going to be a worshipper? Am I going to spend more time complaining about things that I can't change or worshipping the God who never changes!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Funerals
Today we had the funeral for Bob Martin at the church. It was cool to hear all the awesome things that his wife and kids had to say about him as they reflected upon their time together.
That is one of the things that I appreciate about funerals. It causes you to stop and reflect upon your own life. I caught myself listening to the things that they were saying about their dad and thinking, I want to make sure that I keep my life balanced between my work and my family. I always want my wife and kids to know that they are the most important things in my life! Ministry is very important to me, however, I spend a lot more time being a dad and a husband than I do being a pastor.
That is one of the things that I appreciate about funerals. It causes you to stop and reflect upon your own life. I caught myself listening to the things that they were saying about their dad and thinking, I want to make sure that I keep my life balanced between my work and my family. I always want my wife and kids to know that they are the most important things in my life! Ministry is very important to me, however, I spend a lot more time being a dad and a husband than I do being a pastor.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Axiom Cancelled
Well unfortunately Axiom is CANCELLED for tonight. Kind of bumbed! We had a really cool service set up for tonight, but no worries, we will just do it next week.
Hope you have fun with your valentine's (those of you who have one...hahaha)! Be safe if you are going out...the roads are still a little tricky!
Just an FYI! I got Meg 3 cards and 6 beautiful red roses...Also got her a combined valentine's and wedding anniversary present as well...one night suite at kalahari! She loved it!!
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Hope you have fun with your valentine's (those of you who have one...hahaha)! Be safe if you are going out...the roads are still a little tricky!
Just an FYI! I got Meg 3 cards and 6 beautiful red roses...Also got her a combined valentine's and wedding anniversary present as well...one night suite at kalahari! She loved it!!
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Valentine's Snow Storm
Well were are digging out! I really don't know how much snow we got because it was blowing around so much, but I would be comfortable in saying at least 12 inches.
I have such an awesome neighbor! His grandkids came over and used his snowblower to do his driveway and he evidently told them to do mine as well...so three or four swipes and they were done and I didn't have to shovel...except for the sidewalk.
Here are a few pics of all the mess: This is the 3 foot snow drift along the back of the house...if you look at the end of it you will see our 5 foot snow mountain...naturally made by the blowing snow!
I have such an awesome neighbor! His grandkids came over and used his snowblower to do his driveway and he evidently told them to do mine as well...so three or four swipes and they were done and I didn't have to shovel...except for the sidewalk.
Here are a few pics of all the mess: This is the 3 foot snow drift along the back of the house...if you look at the end of it you will see our 5 foot snow mountain...naturally made by the blowing snow!
This is the 2 foot snow drift along the front of the house...after I shoveled...
Another shot of the front of the house...
Me standing next to the big drift in the back yard...
This is the shot out of our living room window...
Monday, February 12, 2007
Frustrated
Just spent the last hour or so working on trying to get some sermon audio uploaded to our website, but to no avail! I am really looking forward to figuring this out so that you will have the ability to listen to messages from Axiom!
I Hope you are planning on attending this wednesday as we continue Love Month! We will continue looking at the Signs on Relational Interstate!
See ya on Wednesday!
I Hope you are planning on attending this wednesday as we continue Love Month! We will continue looking at the Signs on Relational Interstate!
See ya on Wednesday!
A Monday Motivator
Every Monday Doug Clay (our district superintendent) sends out an email with different thoughts and this one really spoke to me, so I thought I would share it with you:
Coffee anyone? I recently read the following:
"A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups-porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite-telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
"When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, 'If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. 'Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. 'What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cup.
'Now consider this:
'Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.'" Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups....enjoy your coffee!
"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."
Make a great week! Doug
We all have a tendency to look at other people's lives and compare them to ours. But it is important for us to be content in what God has given us and to do the best we can with what we have been given!
Coffee anyone? I recently read the following:
"A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups-porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite-telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
"When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, 'If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. 'Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. 'What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cup.
'Now consider this:
'Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.'" Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups....enjoy your coffee!
"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."
Make a great week! Doug
We all have a tendency to look at other people's lives and compare them to ours. But it is important for us to be content in what God has given us and to do the best we can with what we have been given!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Becoming a Lion Chaser
Had to take a short trip to Bellevue today, and on the way I got to catch up on some podcasts. There is a pastor that I listen to alot a from Washington D.C., his name is Mark Batterson. Along with listening to his podcasts I also read his blog (www.evotional.com) on a regular basis. I really admire this guys thinking and approach to ministry. He has written a book that I am in the process of reading called "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day." The podcast I listened to today was about the book.
He was talking about how we have a tendancy as christians to run from challenges, and in his book he describes these challenges as lions. As humans we are born with only two inherit fears, the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All the other fears that we have are learned from experiences in our lives.
I know that one of my greatest fears is the fear of failure. I have a tendency to shy away from big things, because I don't want to fail. One of the things that God has been and is showing me is that I have to trust and rely on Him in those situations. Failure is my 500lb lion, and I have a choice, I can either run from it or chase it!
I don't know about you...but I want to become a lion chaser!
He was talking about how we have a tendancy as christians to run from challenges, and in his book he describes these challenges as lions. As humans we are born with only two inherit fears, the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All the other fears that we have are learned from experiences in our lives.
I know that one of my greatest fears is the fear of failure. I have a tendency to shy away from big things, because I don't want to fail. One of the things that God has been and is showing me is that I have to trust and rely on Him in those situations. Failure is my 500lb lion, and I have a choice, I can either run from it or chase it!
I don't know about you...but I want to become a lion chaser!
Break from the norm!
Been feeling a little overwhelmed/burned out the past week, so I decided to take a somewhat of an unconventional break for me...I went to the Home and Garden Show at the IX center with my inlaws! I am not a garden or flower person, but the stuff they had for homes were awesome! I constantly drueled over the hot tubs! Meg and I really want to get one of these some day, but it is extremely low on the priority list...but man would I love to have one!
Personally it was a great time to just get out of Sandusky and break the normal routine! I like routine, but I have to have a BREAK from time to time. Over the past few weeks I have put in so many hours, rarely taking a break from working (even at home). So I was due for an escape! Would of been nice to get away overnight, but the few hours away was nice!
It's saturday and it back in the routine!
Personally it was a great time to just get out of Sandusky and break the normal routine! I like routine, but I have to have a BREAK from time to time. Over the past few weeks I have put in so many hours, rarely taking a break from working (even at home). So I was due for an escape! Would of been nice to get away overnight, but the few hours away was nice!
It's saturday and it back in the routine!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Super Bowl...
Last night was our Axiom Super Bowl Party! We had a pretty good turnout, between 20 and 30. All I know is that the purchase of the DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) game was a good thing! Everytime I walked in there the girls were having fun and dancing their hearts out! Then of course the Halo2 room was busy! The 10 of us that were in the gym actually watching the super bowl enjoyed a great game!! Congrats to the Colts and Payton Manning! I think next year we will rename the event...to the DDR and Halo2 game night! Oh then there is this thing called the super bowl if you want to watch it, it will be available! hahaha
Can't wait for Wednesday! Start love month! February is always one of those months that I look forward to...speaking to students about relationships is one of my favorite topics! I believe that relationships are one of the biggest reasons students get "off track" in their relationship with God...because lets face it...choosing your mate is the second most important decision (following Christ is the first!) that you will ever make, because it is supposed to me for a lifetime!
Hope you enjoyed your day off from school because of the cold! Praying that you might get tomorrow off as well!!
Can't wait for Wednesday! Start love month! February is always one of those months that I look forward to...speaking to students about relationships is one of my favorite topics! I believe that relationships are one of the biggest reasons students get "off track" in their relationship with God...because lets face it...choosing your mate is the second most important decision (following Christ is the first!) that you will ever make, because it is supposed to me for a lifetime!
Hope you enjoyed your day off from school because of the cold! Praying that you might get tomorrow off as well!!
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