The Gabe Jenkins Blog

Lift Your Eyes...

2012-01-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you felt overwhelmed? Do you ever have those mornings where you wake up early, lay in bed staring at the ceiling, and wonder how you are going to get everything done? I know the feeling. I have experienced far too many days where I offer but a passing glance at God in the morning, hit the ground running, and leave him in the dust. Those are the days where I typically end up frustrated, confused, or disappointed with the results.

I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I have learned that there is a better way to live. God has consistently challenged me in the area of living day to day and moment to moment with more of an awareness of him. Stop and think about how amazing it is that the God who paints the sunset in the western sky is with you—even better, within you.

It’s so easy to forget this simple truth. How quickly I am tempted to treat God as if he’s really sleeping on the job. I act as if I am a cave in which he hibernates rather than a temple in which he lives. And because he is alive—within us as believers of Christ—isn’t it foolish to ignore him or to neglect to seek his counsel with the details of life?

It’s been humorous lately to see how many times I’ve “randomly” opened my Bible to the exact same page, 341. In my Bible, page 341 is the home of Psalm 121, a beautiful and comforting promise of God.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

We can get buried in the pressures of life if we’re not careful. At the same time, God is encouraging us to lift our eyes and shift our attention to him. In doing so, we’ll open the door for the most powerful being in the Universe to act on our behalf. He will take up our cause and prove himself capable and faithful.

I have the privilege of living in one of the most beautiful places on the planet, Colorado Springs. We’re planted at the base of Pikes Peak with the Rocky Mountains in our backyard. Shortly after moving to Colorado, I took advantage of the geographic blessing by going for a hike at Garden of the Gods. I eventually ended up perched on a rock with a stunning view of the sun setting behind Pikes Peak. It was unlike anything I had seen before (we didn’t have views like this in Western Kansas). A few minutes later, a pesky little fly started to buzz around my head. I started paying attention to this fly, and as it landed next to me, the Lord spoke something that I still think about often, “This is what you do, son. You take your eyes off the amazing view I’m giving you and you focus on things that don’t really matter.” He nailed me. It was true. Not only was I missing the sunset over the mountains because I was watching a fly sit on a rock, but I was doing this in life as well. I was giving my attention to the wrong things—caught up in anxiety and worry, thus missing everything God wanted to show me. It was his way of saying, “Lift your eyes to the mountains.” Literally.

The view has been much better.

Minivans, Chipotle Napkins, and God's Goodness

2012-01-24T21:53:00.003-07:00

I am a minivan owner.

That still sounds weird, although I’ve been told it will grow on me. Ashley has been working diligently for several months to soften me to the idea, and I finally gave in two weeks ago—under one condition: That she participate in the bartering process.

The last time we bought a vehicle, I began working the salesman to have the price lowered when Ashley became incredibly embarrassed. To say she didn’t like that part of the process is an understatement. She actually ducked out and hid in the car. She later apologized, and agreed to stand by me the next time I began to negotiate the price of a vehicle.

As excited as she was about getting a new van, I could tell she was nervous about the back and forth price negotiation that was inevitably coming. At the same time, she realized that she didn’t really have a choice. If she wanted this van, she had to stick it out and watch me engage in this important but painful process.

As we pulled up to the dealership, I offered some last minute coaching, “Ash, these people are not our friends. They are going to play the nice card, but don’t let them soften us. We have to be firm on our price.” She hesitantly agreed, took a deep breath, and followed me inside. It didn’t take long for a man with a seemingly genuine smile to approach us and offer a handshake. I gave him a reserved greeting and communicated what we were looking for. He did his job well, found the right van, and after some negotiation accepted our offer. It was actually pretty painless. Ashley looked giddy that the bartering was over and the van was about to be turned over to us.

I walked with the salesman to his office in order to fill out some paperwork when the conversation took an interesting turn. It turns out that this man and his wife had recently moved to Colorado from the east coast to attend a local Bible college. They moved here without jobs, friends, or anything else—except the confidence that God was leading them.

He sat back in his chair, dropped his pen, and his eyes filled with tears as he recounted God’s faithfulness. Story after story spilled out of him as he explained that God has provided for them in every way.

“That sounds just like God,” I said with a smile as I looked across the table at my new friend. “He is so good like that.”

We signed the papers, said our goodbyes, and loaded up in the minivan. I was still thinking about his stories as we arrived home, so I went to the kitchen to locate some old Chipotle napkins that we had written on from a few years prior. As odd as it may seem, Ashley and I have occasional Chipotle dates where we dream, set goals, and write out prayer requests to God on Chipotle napkins. I found the napkins, read the prayer requests, and smiled as I realized God had faithfully granted each one. In fact, he had gone above and beyond and gave us more than we asked for. It was good to be reminded.

Sensing I was on a roll, I flipped one over and had Ashley agree to one more thing:

Amen. Let it be.

Baptized In Pink and Blue

2011-12-29T13:35:00.002-07:00

God has not given me a shortage of testosterone. I’ve lost count of the number of times Ashley has told me—in the last month—“You’re such a guy.” I can’t help it. I like manly activities. I’m a sports nut, wrestling coach, war movie fan, and I like to hunt—especially prairie dogs. If you shoot them in the right place they will do a complete flip and land flat on their backs…

…And I’m pretty sure I just heard a few ladies gasp.

I’m also a man who has been baptized in the world of girl over the past few years as God has given me Avery and Sophie as daughters. This is foreign territory to me. I didn’t grow up with sisters. Pink was not a color that ever appeared at the Jenkins’ house when I was a young boy. And princesses? I thought “Snow White” was a flavor of snow cone served at the State wrestling tournament.

My head sank deeper into the pink and blue waters on Christmas morning as my daughters opened present after present. The theme was pretty consistent—Cinderella. I guess I was unaware of how many products could be produced from one character. Disney must be making a fortune….from us. Never the less, you can imagine what I have spent a good portion of my Christmas break doing. And I love it.

It’s amazing how long Avery can sit there and play with those plastic figurines. Sometimes I get a little antsy after a long stretch of making up dialogue between the princess dolls. I think it’s similar to a coffee drinker going without coffee, you start getting the shakes. One minute Cinderella is complimenting Ariel’s beautiful dancing, and the next has her giving a head fake and shooting a beautiful double leg takedown. Ariel always seems caught off guard; Avery always looks at me like I’m crazy.

I do know that I’m crazy about my daughters. I love spending time with them. If it means being submersed in a world that’s completely new to me, well, bring it on. God has actually used my passion for my daughters to teach me some important lessons recently. I was giving Sophie a bear hug the other day and telling her how much I love her when I sensed God speak something to my own heart.

“I wish you would let me love you like that.”

He had a point. I’m an intense guy, so I’m usually going from one thing to the next. I don’t pause and simply let the Father love me like he wants to. I guess I fail to use common sense: If I’m passionate about spending time with my girls, and God’s heart is so much better than mine, how much more passionate must he be about spending time with his children?

He is a brilliant communicator. He waits for the most opportune time to communicate his truth, and then BAM….He drops it out of the blue—and it penetrates. At the exact time when I was thinking, “Sophie, I wish you knew how much I loved you”, he whispers, “I know what you mean.”

All I can do is laugh. I don’t know how else to respond.

Except maybe to sit back and let him give me a bear hug.

Will You Marry...

2011-12-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

I was nervous. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, and I’m sure I was acting a little strange. Ashley and I had just finished a nice meal at a Broadmoor restaurant, and now we were circling the lake out back. I had the ring in my pocket, and I was waiting for the right time to stop our romantic stroll, get down on a knee, and ask her to spend the rest of her life with me.

I think she could tell I was nervous. We continued to walk around the lake in the blistering cold as I tried to locate the courage to ask the most important question of my life. At the same time, I realized I better get on with it because it was freezing and Ashley’s lips were about to turn blue. If I hadn’t dropped to my knee quick, she may not have been able to understand my proposal through the chattering of my teeth. I’m convinced she thought I was crazy as I asked her, “You up for one more lap?” She miraculously agreed.

We had nearly finished another lap when I finally paused and got down on my knee. There was no turning back now. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes, confessed my deep love for her, and said, “Ashley, WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

Pure giddiness. That’s what we experienced as we stood by an old fashioned lamp post which had been beautifully decorated with Christmas lights. I had actually picked a good spot after all of the stalling. We hugged, kissed, and did the happy dance as we celebrated our new status: engaged. The only time we could take our eyes off each other is when we stopped long enough to admire the ring. We spent the next several months planning the wedding and dreaming about the days ahead.

It’s been 5 years and 17 days since that snowy December night. Our lives have significantly changed, but I’m still crazy about her. God has since blessed us with two wonderful daughters, Avery and Sophie. Words can’t describe the joy they bring us, but, as all parents know, raising young children requires hard work.

We dressed them up last night in matching dresses—ok, Ashley dressed them up in matching dresses—and we headed for the Broadmoor to meet my parents for a Christmas dinner. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Tavern, grabbed some warm coffee to go, and once again headed for the romantic lake behind the main building. It was just as romantic as I remembered it being. Soft music playing over the speakers, hundreds of trees precisely decorated with lights, and geese on the lake. I decided it would be a good idea to show the girls the exact spot where I had proposed to their momma. Avery initially thought it was a good idea as she said, “Alright!”

We had walked about a hundred yards in the cold air before Sophie started screaming. Shortly after, Avery tripped on the sidewalk, spilled her hot chocolate, and started crying as well. They both wanted to turn around, but I was a man on a mission. We were going to make it to the proposal spot whether we all turned to icicles or not.

I continued to push ahead, and I found myself smiling as I thought about the vast difference between the two December nights at the Broadmoor Lake. The romantic music had given way to crying babies. We weren’t walking hand in hand with Ashley’s head on my shoulder; I was speed walking twenty yards in front of her grunting as I carried Sophie in her car seat. Ashley wasn’t making googley eyes at me; she was wiping the tears from Avery’s cheeks and covering them with kisses.

I arrived at the proposal spot first, nearly out of breath, and I glanced back to make sure Ashley and Avery hadn’t bailed on my idea. I watched them slowly make their way towards the infamous lamp post, and I thought, “Oooh how her life has changed!”

I was watching Ashley do something that I have seen countless times over the past few years. She was thriving in her role as a mom. She was patiently caring for her daughter. This is who she is, and this is what she does. Little did she know it five years prior, but she wasn’t just saying “YES” to a life of romance with this hunk of a man (work with me here), but she was also saying “YES” to a selfless life of being a momma—sleepless nights, changing diapers, cleaning up throw up, comforting, teaching, correcting, and loving unconditionally. It’s exhausting work. It’s challenged her at the deepest level, but she’s met the challenge with astounding grace.

Ashley eventually arrived at the infamous spot, and I noticed that she still had those captivating eyes and almost blue lips that I had seen on the proposal night. I grabbed Avery and Sophie and got down on a knee in order to reenact the big event. Sophie’s screams were beginning to intensify, and Avery made it clear that the last thing she wanted to do was take a picture. Romantic? Hardly. Realistic? Absolutely.

“Will you marry…US?”

That would have been a truer question to ask.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T14:24:00.001-07:00

It’s quiet. This is rare at 14167 Albatross Drive.

I’m sitting in my home office looking out the window over the snow covered landscape. Pikes Peak is looming large. I can barely see a cloud in the sky. Our street is typically full of kids playing football, but it’s currently as quiet as I’ve ever seen it.

If I were to walk downstairs right now I would see the effects of a Christmas morning with two little girls. It looks like a category 5 tornado descended on our living room. There are princesses, tea cups, puzzles, and bears scattered everywhere. It’s a beautiful sight, and we’re not in any hurry to clean it up.

This is good for the soul. Our hearts need some room to breathe. I hope you are finding the same today, my friends.

Merry Christmas!

Extraordinarily Ordinary

2011-12-22T21:15:00.001-07:00

There are certain things we’re simply not ready for.

Case in point...
Avery: “I want to wear this.”
Me: “No, honey.”
Avery: “Why?”
Me: “Oooh boy…”

It’s easy for me to recognize when Avery isn’t ready for something (she’s also asked me several times if she can drive the car!). It’s much harder to recognize when I’m not ready for the things I ask God for. I’m a visionary. I am a dreamer. I want to see my big-picture plans come to pass…NOW! God has spent the last several years teaching me to relax, embrace the growth process, and thrive in the here and now, ordinary aspects of life. It can be a tough pill to swallow, unless we discover the joy of inviting God into the common and sometimes boring details of life.

I’ve spent a good chunk of time reflecting on the Christmas story over the past month. There’s so much to marvel at, but I’ve especially been drawn to the reality that an indescribable, unprecedented, and exceptional God invaded our normal, banausic, humdrum lives. The creator of all things and for whom all things were created became like us. The extraordinary God placed himself in a surprisingly ordinary position, born as a helpless baby.

When we think of Jesus’ life, don’t we typically think of the supernatural? He was conceived in the womb of a virgin, he walked on water, fed the five thousand, healed the lame, opened the eyes of the blind, raised the dead, and was raised from the dead. These are all true and wonderful aspects of the supernatural life of Jesus. He was 100% God in the flesh.

At the same time we tend to overlook that he was also fully human. There were aspects of his life that were quite normal. I can’t help but think that he went through the same growth and development process that we experience. As John Eldredge pointed out, “Baby Jesus had poopy diapers.” Somewhere along the way he had to learn to walk. I doubt he jumped to his feet at 10 months and started break dancing. I picture him as a toddler taking a few steps and face planting. What about as a teenager? Was he awkward and gangly with periods of embarrassing acne, or was he perfectly unblemished and ready to grace the cover of a magazine at any moment? Did he have to learn how to navigate the Jewish social cliques as a teenager without selling his soul to popularity? I guess we don’t really know. The Bible doesn’t mention it. It just states that he was fully human, and so we can assume he experienced many of the same challenges we have.

I think one of the hardest stages for him must have been in his early to mid-twenties --at least it would have been for me. He’s a man by now. He’s seemingly ready to start his mission. Why wait any longer? Let the miracles begin! Let’s get this party started. The quicker he gets to the cross, the quicker he can return to his glory in the presence of the Father. But, that’s not what we see in the Scriptures. He doesn’t take a short-cut. He refuses to force himself onto stage before his scene. He patiently waits for the Father’s perfect timing. He gets a job as a carpenter and he works. He pays bills. He embraces the process. It must have been an incredibly ordinary season of life. Father, you called me to save the world and here I am building chairs. What is happening?!?!

Why is this important? Because we must remember that Jesus understands the ordinary seasons of life. He’s been there, and he can relate. He also desires to inject himself into the ordinary details of our day to day grind. This is a game changer we when we truly understand it. There is not a single detail of your life that Jesus is disinterested in. We make a mistake when we compartmentalize the things that we ask God to help us with and the things we try and do ourselves. Jesus said, “You can do nothing apart from me.” (John 15)

Avery wanted to go swimming last week. I broke the bad news to her that we weren’t going, and she certainly let me know what she thought of that “nonsense”. The bottom-lip came out, the tears started rolling down her cheeks, and her cry—which turned into a scream—became increasingly piercing. I tried calming her down, but she wasn’t having it. Then, in passing, I said, “Jesus will help you wait. He’ll help you be patient.” I didn’t initially think she really heard me through the screaming and gasping for air, but something must have registered. It worked. She started to calm down, and we made it through the rest of the day without another mention of the pool.

I soon forgot about this little episode, and we eventually made it to the pool a few days later. As soon as her eyes saw the familiar waterfall, she jumped up and down in sheer excitement and said, “Yay! Jesus helped me wait! Thank you, Jesus!” Ashley and I looked at each other in utter amazement. It was obvious to us that Avery really did allow Jesus to help her. It was a learning moment for me. I began to wonder what my life would look like if I allowed Jesus to help me with the common challenges I try and take on myself.

Isn’t it easy to pray when we have an emergency? What do you do when you have bills to pay and not enough money in the bank? You pray. What about when your marriage is hanging on by a thread, or when the doctor looks at you with a concerned face after reading your reports? We cry out to God and plead for his help. God surely wants to help with all of these scenarios, but he also wants to help you with the ordinary things of life.

Speaking of ordinary, I just went upstairs to change a diaper. Then, I started typing again only to pause and help my wife unload the groceries. When I’m writing, I don’t like to be interrupted. I was irritated and frustrated. To add to it, she told me that I was putting the groceries in the wrong place (apparently the biscuits don’t go in the pantry…Who knew?). As I searched for the strength to respond graciously, I was reminded of my own counsel. I turned to Jesus and asked for his help. I sensed him smiling, and sure enough, he gave me the patience I needed.

Isn’t this how many “World War III” marriage fights begin? It starts with something small that somehow balloons into something quite serious. What if we would develop a habit of turning to Jesus each time we sense the aggravation stirring within us? Marriages could be restored and transformed. Imagine the transformation that could happen in every area of life if we simply engaged God in ongoing conversation. (“Pray continually”—1 Thessalonians 5:17)

It’s really a win-win. Not only will we increasingly discover the richness of who he is, but we’ll also access the same power that breathed the stars into existence and raised Christ from the dead as we tackle our daily challenges.

I think this was his plan the entire time: for us to live an extraordinarily ordinary life.

BOOK SAMPLE

2011-12-17T12:03:00.003-07:00

I have recently started a new journey...writing a book. My goal is to simply share what I've discovered over the past several years as God has drawn me near. Below is a sample of one of the chapters. I'd love your feedback.

Jesus is funny. He’s quite enjoyable to be with. I grew up going to church and I had a decent relationship with God when I was younger, but I didn’t know how deep and rich his personality was until much later.

Many people never taste of God’s goodness because he’s either just an intellectual idea to them, or they think he is boring as all get out and they don’t have time for him. If your impression of Jesus is based on pictures that are hung on the walls of many churches, I can’t say that I necessarily blame you. Many portraits of Jesus make him look ghost-like. Frankly, he looks miserable; and miserable to be around.

I’m convinced that the real Jesus is someone you would actually enjoy sitting down and having a cup of coffee with. I’m guessing he prefers his coffee dark and bold—perhaps even Folgers! I can picture him looking across the table and smiling as he surveys your fluffy Starbucks drink.

We must not overlook this aspect of Jesus—not the choice of coffee (I obviously made that part up)—but his desire to interact with you, his friend, on an intimate level.

We see this truth clearly presented in John 21. Peter and the rest of the guys had just been skunked on an all night fishing trip. Little did they know but the creator of those stars they were fishing under-yes, the resurrected Lord—was about to make an appearance on the beach.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^[^c^] ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. John 21: 4-9

I smile every time I read the story. Think of the joy in Jesus’ heart as he gathered firewood to build a fire. I imagine he was saying to himself, “I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they recognize me. Ooh, how I’ve missed these fellas.”

It would have been enough for Jesus to simply appear on the beach without breakfast. We are talking about a man who had just been raised from the dead. He went above and beyond. He wanted this to be extra special. I’m sure it was extra special.

I would have loved to be sitting on a log around that fire listening to the conversation. I wonder if their stomachs hurt afterwards because they were laughing so hard as they retold stories. I’m curious how many times their eyes filled with tears as they realized he was back. It’s a beautiful picture of who Jesus really is. He loves being with people. He thoroughly enjoys people.

He’s still like this. The Bible says that he’s the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) What does this mean for you? Well, you can know him like Peter and John did. This is the good news of the Gospel. This is the invitation to you and to me.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20

I wanted nothing to do with Jesus when I was in college. I sensed him knocking, but I wasn’t about to open the door. I was happy to attend church monthly in order to ease my conscience—as long as the sermon didn’t hit too close to home.

Meanwhile I was living in darkness. Jesus continued to knock, and I continued to treat him like he was standing on my front porch trying to sell me vacuums. Thanks, but no thanks! I love him deeply now for his persistence. I also love him for the way he protected me.

On one particular night, I was partying with friends when my cell phone pocket-called my parents (this was before I figured out the keyguard function). What I didn’t realize was that our conversation for several minutes was being recorded on my parent’s answering machine. Imagine their surprise as they clicked the little blinking button on the answering machine. I was also surprised as my mom called the next day. “Son…”

This is one example of how Jesus protected me. He forced me to bring things into the light. I love that about him—although I wasn’t appreciative at the time. He was forcing me to face my ugly disobedience. His love for me was too strong to allow me to slip further into darkness. He wasn’t going to watch me drive the wrong way down the interstate.

It wasn’t long before I hit my knees and told Jesus that I needed him. I thanked him for his love and patience. I asked him to enter and have his way in my heart. Since that incredible night, I have tasted of the Lord’s goodness. I have learned that it’s much more than following a bunch of rules. It’s about being loved by him, loving him, and knowing the richness of who he is. There is nothing that compares to him.

I buried my nose in the Scriptures, and I started writing in a journal. One of the first verses that nearly jumped off the page was Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” I took him up on his offer and started asking him questions. I discovered that he likes to talk, and he has plenty to say worth listening to.

The dialogue has continued for several years. I’ll sit down in front of my computer and start typing. I’ll share what’s on my heart, thank him for different things, and ask him what’s on his heart. Then, I’ll pause and give him time to speak.

I realize that by simply stating you can learn to hear God's voice, I have landed myself in the "crazy camp" to some. You see people all the time doing bizarre and harmful things because, in their words, "God told them to." I see how some people have arrived at their "any normal person doesn't believe God speaks" theory. But, do the actions of a few flaky or truly disturbed people really disqualify God from being a deeply personal God? Isn't this the same God who was nailed to a wooden cross and endured excruciating pain to demonstrate his desire for personal relationship? What is personal relationship without personal communication?

² But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”John 10:2-5

If you sat down with me day after day, it wouldn’t take long for you to recognize the sound of my voice. It’s the same with Jesus. The challenge is taking the time to be still and listen. The first time I tried this, I made it about 4.5 seconds before my mind began to wander. This is especially challenging for men. It’s almost like we need a bull riding buzzer to beep after the eight second mark so we can celebrate our accomplishment.

The more I stayed with it, the more I began to fall in love with him. Often times, he would simply say, “I love you.” I would respond by saying, “I know you do. What else do you want to say?” He would say it again, “I love you.” I must have been a slow learner because this would go on for months at a time. He wanted those three words to be far more than head knowledge. He didn’t stop until they were deeply planted in my heart. He still starts many of our conversations with those three beautiful words.

I’m currently writing this chapter in December, and I’ve been reflecting lately on some of the things Jesus spoke this year. I recorded well over four hundred pages of dialogue, and one of the themes he emphasized was, “Come closer. I have more to share with you."

I didn’t always feel like listening. There were other times I didn’t sense he wanted to speak. That was, of course, a lie. Below is a sample of our dialogue recorded on July 24^th:

ME: God, you are the same today, yesterday, and forever. You never change. Sometimes I think that you are less interested in communicating with me on certain days. This is just a lie. You never change. Each day you are ready to communicate with your son. Thank you. Thank you for being a good Father. I praise you, LORD.

God, what are you saying today?

HIM: Son, you hit the nail on the head. I am the same. I am looking forward to talking to you, even tonight. I have a lot to share with you. Gabe, a lot happens in a day. I am not sleeping. I am not like a bear that hibernates while your life carries on. Rather, I am the one who is directing your steps. I want to share with you things that are coming on an everyday basis. You can’t afford to ignore me. Your heart will grow hard if you fail to hear my voice. Gabe, stay steady and draw near to me. I have much to share with you.

There are many good things coming. There are also challenges that I want you to thrive in. Gabe, there is no reason to fear or to worry. I hold your life in my hands. I am with you. Trust in me. Trust in my goodness. Write about the goodness of my heart. I will give you ideas that I want you to communicate. Speak the truth. Let the truth go forth plainly. Let all arrows point to me. I am the author and finisher of your faith. I am telling a good story through you. Find time to get away and write.

I took him up on his offer. I have spent increasingly more time away with him, listening, writing, and talking to him. I’m learning more and more to recognize his sweet voice.

His words penetrate. He doesn’t talk for the sake of talking. It’s not like he’s as lonely as a teenage girl who’s just been dumped and is waiting to unload on whoever will pause to listen. His words are intriguing and compelling. Like an excellent story teller, I’m usually waiting on the edge of my seat to find out what he’ll say next. Sometimes I’m bent over laughing and other times tears will roll off my face and land on my well-used keyboard. His words are rich, flavored, and personal.

I haven’t always heard him correctly. There have been times when I thought he was saying something, but it turned out to be wrong. Those are frustrating moments. The enemy is quick to accuse, “You’re making this all up. You are one weird duck.”

There have been other times when he has spoken something specific, and his words were confirmed. Those are the best. I could insert many different stories here, but one of the first that comes to mind happened after I had saved enough money to buy my wife, Ashley, an engagement ring. I had worked for months to gather enough money to buy a diamond that she would be proud of. My roommate at the time was also saving money to buy an engagement ring. I was busy making proposal plans when I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “You should give the money you have saved to your roommate so he can buy a ring.” These are the moments where it’s easy to think, “I’m making this up. You see, I am one weird duck. This isn’t God!” He went on to say, “If you want my best, you’ll trust me with this.” I couldn’t deny it. I recognized his voice, and it was him.

My phone rang a few days later and a voice on the other end said, “Gabe, I was putting laundry away and the Lord impressed on my heart to send you a check so you can buy Ashley a ring.” Wow. First of all, I had just met this man one time. Secondly, he had no idea I was planning on proposing. Third, nobody knew of the words God had spoken to my heart about giving my savings to my friend.

The check arrived a few days later. It was much more than I had saved.

Yes, he’s like that.

The Old Tree

2011-11-19T19:44:00.008-07:00

Sing it with me…

Oh Christmas tree
Oh Christmas tree
How beautiful are your branches

Our poor tree needs therapy. We concede that it’s not the prettiest tree on the block (we’ll eventually decorate it), but it sure has a story to tell.

Nearly three years ago, Ashley and I set out for what was supposed to be a relaxing walk around our neighborhood. As we rounded the corner and headed for a nearby park, Ashley spotted something in the distance. I saw a smile flash across her face, and I quickly realized we were in for a detour. Dumped on the side of the road was quite possibly the ugliest Christmas tree I had ever seen. A crumpled sign was taped to it that read, “Please Take”.

As we got closer, I realized why nobody had taken the owners up on their free offer. This tree had serious issues. To say that it was mangled would be putting it nicely. I wanted to walk on by, but Ashley had different plans. You could see the wheels turning. She saw something that I didn’t see. In her mind she pictured the finished product, but I just saw a giant hassle.

A few minutes later I was pushing this big, ugly tree into the back of our explorer. It didn’t fit, so I tried convincing her that it wasn’t meant to be. She didn’t buy it. So, I got behind the tree, assumed a football stance, and rammed this poor tree into the back of our car. The door finally closed, and I let out a loud groan. Ashley laughed with excitement.

I don’t know what she did to that tree, but by the time the sun set it actually looked quite nice. I apologized for my lack of belief in her tree restoration skills and committed to being more open to her ideas in the future.

We made our annual trip to the basement today to fetch the once abandoned tree. It’s the same process every year. We pick up the tree and start up the stairs only to realize that it doesn’t fit. And each year you can hear me—face buried in pokey fake tree branches—belt out, “PUSH HARDER!” We force our way to the top of the stairs, and Ashley spends the next few hours fixing the damaged branches and crushed lights.

Why do we still have this old tree? Why don’t we go out and buy a prettier one? Surely it would be a good idea to buy a smaller tree, one that actually fits up the stairs. But, we can’t. We must not. Even with all its aesthetic flaws, it serves as a continual reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Christmas is a season to celebrate restoration. Our broken and mangled lives restored by the most unthinkable plan; our once severed relationship with the Almighty restored by the giving of a Son.

Is God really that good? Would he really do that? Does he really care that much? Indeed. He’s making all things new. He’s restoring today. He’s rebuilding lives. There’s nothing in your life that’s too dark or ugly for God’s redemptive hand to touch. There’s not a relationship that’s too cold for God to restore.

I’m filled with anticipation for this to be a special Christmas season. At the Jenkins house, we refuse to believe this is just another busy Holiday season that requires us to bust out the credit card and buy a bunch of presents. This is a season to slow down, reflect, and recapture a sense of awe towards God. That won’t come naturally; we’ll have to intentionally fight for it.

Why shouldn't we view Christmas from a different angle this year? Let's believe for great things. Let's expect restoration--restoration of hearts, relationships, and joy. Consider the response of the angel Gabriel as Mary questioned his virgin-birth announcement: “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Make it a special season.

Farmer God

2011-11-14T10:40:00.006-07:00

I went back to Kansas this summer to help a family friend with wheat harvest. For a man who drives a four cylinder car, it was therapeutic to hear the engine roar of a sixteen cylinder tractor as I pressed down on the throttle. I still smile as I think about it. It was also a learning experience. I grew up in a farming community, but I didn't realize all of the work and detail that a successful wheat harvest requires.

I’ll admit that I came in late and participated in the best part of the entire process—harvesting the finished product. The real work started many months before with the preparation of the land and planting of the seed. Tilling the land is probably far less exciting than harvesting the wheat, but it’s a crucial part of the process. The soil must be prepared in the fall in order for there to be a great summer harvest.

It wasn’t simply a learning experience in regards to farming, but it was also a good opportunity for God to teach me about the importance of the condition of my heart. You don’t have to dig very deep in Scripture before you see a correlation between soil and the heart. Pause and read Matthew 13. God likes to use farmer language to teach about the heart.

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:23

God is a good farmer. He is committed to preparing your heart for the great seed that he desires to plant. He wants to see a harvest appear in your life. He wants to see the desires of your heart come to pass. Do you believe me when I say that God wants to give you the desires of your heart more than you want them? Perhaps he’s waiting for you instead of you waiting for him. Maybe he’s already planted the seed but the current condition of your heart is not fostering growth.

Several months ago I was frustrated by God’s timing. I reminded him of his promises and questioned the slow pace that I felt like he was moving at. He responded by challenging and encouraging me with a concise statement, “Clear your heart. Clear your mind. What I am going to write on your heart will be so fresh that it can’t grow and develop in the current conditions.”

He had my attention. And, yet again, he was right. I was the one who was slowing down the process. The soil of my heart was not prepared for the very thing I was asking for. He was not about to pour new wine into old wineskins. I prayed the most dangerous but also the safest prayer one can pray: “God, prepare the soil of my heart.” It’s dangerous because he will rearrange some things we may cling tightly to. It’s safe because we’re probably headed down a dangerous path without his intervention.

As we are authentic with God about the condition of our heart, we take a giant leap forward in the process of seeing him do incredible things through us. In fact, we’ll see the truth of Ephesians 3:20 manifest before our very eyes, “God is able to do immeasurably more than all you can think of or imagine according to his power within you.” This is what God wants to demonstrate through you. He is searching for faithful hearts. He is searching for wineskins that can hold the overflow that is coming. He is good. He is deeply good. He is not holding out on me, and he’s certainly not holding out on you. Cooperate with him as he prepares you for the great things that are coming.

What a blessing she is...

2011-11-09T08:21:00.006-07:00

The following two videos were taken while watching the Air Force/Army football game last weekend. They were taken within five minutes of each other.

A few minutes later...

I thought the weather in Colorado was the only thing that changed that fast...

Deep to Deep

2011-11-08T09:45:00.003-07:00

God has gotten a bad rap. Many people believe that the only thing God is concerned with is their behavior. Subconsciously we think that God is millions of miles away holding a telescope in one hand and a paddle in the other just waiting to whack us when we mess up. You didn’t go to church today. Whack. You really looked at that again? Whack. You said what? Whack.

God does care about our actions, but I don’t believe that’s what he thinks about the most. I am convinced that what he really wants is for our hearts to be drawn to him. He wants intimacy. He wants our genuine love and affection. As this happens there is a noticeable shift in how we behave and how we treat people. Our hearts will grow cold if we simply focus on behavior modification.

I was reading the Psalms yesterday when something caught my eye. Actually, it was more like something within me was stirred.

”My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.” Psalm 42:6-7

Did you see it? It was the simple statement that, “Deep calls to deep”. It’s the invitation coming from the deep places in the heart of God to the deep places of your heart. It’s the invitation for you to know his heart and to live from the deeper places of yours. The Bible is not simply a book of rules that you are obligated to follow in order to feel good about yourself. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Bible is an invitation into something extremely good—the heart of God.

Isaiah 55 captures the invitation beautifully.

“Come, all who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.” Isaiah 55:1-3

Those three verses are intriguing. Doesn’t something within you hunger for this? God is inviting us to experience true satisfaction. He’s encouraging us to drink from a different well. He’s calling us to explore and discover. As I sipped on coffee yesterday at a local coffee shop, the whisper of the Holy Spirit was clear, “Gabe, your deepest desire is my deepest desire.” God was stirring the waters of my heart and inviting me to explore what has been planted there. He's challenging me to trade my snorkel gear for scuba gear. I was reminded of one of my favorite verses in Scripture, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” (Proverbs 20:5)

I sat back in my chair, smiled, and recited something I heard Ray Lewis exclaim on national television the night before, “God is amazing". I invite you to pray the simple prayer that I found myself praying moments later.

God, open my eyes to see the depth of your heart for me, and I ask you to stir the deeper waters of my heart.

Brace yourself.

Beware of...

2011-10-18T10:11:00.020-06:00

There are defining moments in every person's life. Those moments that make you smile or cry each time you replay them in your mind’s eye. Perhaps it is a song that triggers the memory, or a picture, a smell, or a movie. Whatever it is, I'm confident that each person has experienced defining moments that have strongly influenced who you are today.

I grew up around the sport of wrestling. Some of my earliest memories are from spending Saturday mornings in a gymnasium watching my "heroes" wrestle. Many people who hear "wrestling" and "heroes" probably think of Hulk Hogan, Sting, Andre the Giant, and the rest of the crazed men who once sported a Speedo and face paint. I am actually talking about names like Degood, VanDyke, Lampe, and the other young men who endured the excruciating work needed to become great high school wrestlers. I was young, but I took notice.

As I watched these guys wrestle, I began dreaming of the day I would compete and wrestle in front of a packed Gross Memorial Coliseum at the state tournament. My ten year old squirrely body would often—in the privacy of my own bedroom—rehearse my response to hearing the final buzzer sound in my imaginary state championship match. I would get up, throw my arms in the air, and thank God for the victory. I had no idea if I would actually ever experience this in real life, but it was a dream.

The small spark that was initially lit from watching great high school wrestlers compete when I was a young boy was "fanned into flame" by my dad. He spent countless hours helping young men become great wrestlers—over thirty years coaching the sport. He saw my dream, and he was equally committed to helping me attain it.

When I was in sixth grade, I attended a wrestling camp at the University of Iowa. In addition to driving me to the camp—it must have seemed like eternal distances driving across the Midwestern plains--my parents shelled out hundreds of dollars to pay for the camp. I walked around the campus amazed at the men I was encountering. “Wow”, I thought to myself, “There is Dan Gable!” I was star struck. Similar to a teenage girl at a Taylor Swift concert, I was in awe of seeing these people whose pictures appeared on posters that were hung all over my bedroom wall. In the midst of collecting autographs, I also managed to learn a few new moves. Most importantly, I jotted something down in a little notebook that would serve to motivate me for the next ten years. In messy sixth grade hand writing, I wrote, "My goal is to be an All-American."

I had a lot of dreams as a kid. Many of them were a little "out there". I proudly announced at my sixth grade graduation that my life goal was to become the middle linebacker for the Denver Broncos. That dream didn't quite pan out. Apparently, the scouts weren't looking for a 150 pound professional football player. But, the dream of becoming an All-American never faded.

Being an All-American is attained by placing in the top eight at a national tournament. My mom and dad were faithful to drive me all over the country during my high school years to give me the opportunity to accomplish my goal. In fact, it was common for them to drive seventeen hours only to watch me lose two matches and come home. Lord, bless them.

I had success in high school at the state level and eventually became a state champion. As sweet as the victory was, I couldn’t forget about my sixth grade goal of placing at a national tournament. I took the plunge and decided to wrestle in college. It didn't take long for me to realize that college wrestling is a different animal.

Halfway into my freshman year, I called my dad to announce to him that I was going to quit the team. His response was something that I can still hear ringing in my ears. "Son", he said, "You need to finish what you started." Being in college put me in a position where I didn’t technically have to listen to my dad’s advice. However, he had earned my respect as a man and as a coach. I listened to him and continued grinding along. I managed to barely qualify for the national tournament, and sure enough, my parents endured the marathon drive to Minnesota to support me. The result was the same as previous years. I found myself beat up, discouraged, and quickly out of the tournament after losing two matches.

It wasn't looking good for me to attain my goal, but I decided to give it one more shot. I decided that I would wrestle one more year in college. I had mediocre success during the regular season, and (again!) just barely qualified for the national tournament. I wasn't ranked. I was largely unnoticed and certainly not expected to do much at the national tournament. To be honest, as bad as I wanted it, I really didn't expect it to happen either.

I remember distinctly how that tournament felt different than all the others. It wasn’t because I fully expected to attain my goal of placing in the top eight. It was simply because I realized that this would be my final tournament of what had been a seventeen year wrestling career. No matter the outcome, I was just thankful that my parents had made the long drive to experience the final chapter with me.

I always got nervous when I heard my name announced indicating that it was time to head to my mat assignment. “Let my final tournament begin”, I thought to myself as I heard my name come across the booming loud speakers. When I arrived at my assigned mat, I looked over and evaluated my competition. He appeared to be bigger, stronger, and more confident than I. He was nationally ranked and expected to be an All-American. Most people who knew the sport expected him to cruise through his first match--yes, against me. Lacking confidence, I looked across the coliseum and spotted my dad who had worked his way into a front row seat. Seeing him gave me confidence. The look on his face communicated that he really expected me to win. What was wrong with him?! Had he already forgotten about all of the other years? Did he really expect that this year would be different?

I walked on the mat, shook my opponent’s hand, and within the first minute found myself flying through the air only to experience an abrumpt thump as my head bounced off the mat. Worse than the pain was the reality that I was on the verge of being pinned--and humiliated. I half-heartedly fought off my back and considered giving up. My mind instantly began to think that the final chapter would be the same as the rest of the book--a lot of work with little to show for it.

I can't explain it, but something inside me came alive. Something clicked deep within me. Similar to Rocky when he punched Drago (work with me here) for the first time, I managed to get off my back, escape, and turn around to score a quick takedown. We went out of bounds, and I glanced at the scoreboard as we walked back to the center of the mat to see that I was losing 5-3. I looked at my opponent who was visibly surprised by my flurry of activity. As I neared the center of the mat, I heard something that caught my attention from across the coliseum. It was a sound that I’ll never forget as long as I live. It was my dad’s voice, and he yelled, “Come on, son. Fight.”

I was taken aback by his boldness. I think the entire section of the coliseum heard him. How embarrassing it would have been for him to boldly support me only to watch me come up short again. He believed in me, and it did something in me. The words that carried across the floor of the coliseum and overpowered the voices of hundreds of other fans ignited something that needed to be lit.

This was about more than a simple wrestling match or a childhood goal—this was about being a man. My dad was speaking courage into the deepest places of my soul. Filled with a new sense of confidence, I fought back from the initial deficit and pulled out an upset win, 8-7. This was a defining moment in my life. My eyes were opened to see that the story doesn’t always have to end the same way as before.

I won my next match 10-8, and I was surprised to realize that I was one win away from becoming an All-American. I was even more surprised when I looked at the bracket to see that I was wrestling a kid that I had already beaten earlier in the year. I got away by myself and prepared for the most important match of my career.

I walked on the mat nervous but optimistic. I didn't have a chance to see where my mom and dad were seated, but I was confident I would soon hear my dad—and so would the rest of the fans in the arena!

The match was close as I found myself losing by one point with ten seconds left. My opponent simply had to defend for ten seconds to be crowned All-American. In what felt like a miraculous moment, I snapped him to the mat, and shucked him by to score a last second takedown. My coach went crazy. I went crazy. But the thing I remember the most, was the speed in which my dad sprinted down from the upper seats, picked me up, and gave me the greatest bear hug of my life. He was crying. I was crying. It finally happened--and it was surreal.

It has been ten years, and I still think about that moment often. As much as I wanted to become an All-American, that’s not what I remember about that day. I remember the joy I felt from making my dad proud. He was delighted, and because of it, so was I.

I am convinced that it would not have happened if I hadn’t heard his words during my first match. I was defeated. I was on the verge of giving up. But, my dad was resilient in his belief of me. He spoke courage to me when I needed it the most. In reality, he demonstrated the nature of our Heavenly Father.

I have since learned that this is how God operates. He believes in you whether you believe in yourself or not. He doesn’t subscribe to the belief that you will always fall short. He sees endless possibility when his eyes behold you. And if you listen carefully, you may hear him yell, “Rise up. Fight, son…Fight.”

Beware; something within you may come alive.

Crossing the Threshold...A Story of Hope, Healing, and Purpose

2011-10-15T15:23:00.008-06:00

Meet Kris Munsch.

Kris has quite a story. And he's traveling great distances telling his story, learning more about his story, and meeting people with a story of their own. Oh, and I must not forget, he's changing lives and leaving a wake of hope wherever he goes.

Nearly seven years ago, I sat across a table from Kris in a relatively dark sports bar in Hays, Kansas as we enjoyed lunch together. I was a radio show host, and Kris was a successful businessman who sponsored the show.

All of the outward signs pointed to the fact that Kris was on top of his game. He had two successful liquor stores, a wife and a family, and popularity within every circle of the community. He was a likeable person. That's why I wanted to grab a hamburger with him. I enjoyed being around the guy.

As we sat in the sports bar, I looked at him and made a comment that seemed very random at the time. I said, "Kris, I can't explain it but I believe God is going to do something very powerful through your life." It was random because it didn't quite fit into the tone of the rest of the conversation (or any of our previous conversations), but I felt compelled to say it. Little did I know, but Kris's journey was about to take a dramatic turn.

In December of 2005, Kris's son, Blake, was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Shortly after, he experienced the failure of his marriage. His life was collapsing around him. This heartbreaking loss propelled him on a journey which he describes on his website (http://www.thebirdhouseproject.com/):

"I vividly remember the numbness I felt hearing Blake’s mother’s screams when I picked up the phone, seeing the police officers at my door, standing right inside the tire marks at the accident site. None of these came close to preparing me to walk into that room where my son would lay lifeless. I didn’t want to accept that he was gone – that everything I knew no longer mattered! But I took that step. I crossed the threshold because there was no more denying it; this was part of my life.

This year, after five years struggling and searching, I look behind me to the loss of my son, another failed marriage, and an unfulfilling career and accept that this isn’t the life I wanted, but this is the life I got. Once more I’m going across the threshold to face my fears and to find out what it will take to make some sense out of all of this, find my faith in God, and hopefully restore a little faith in myself."

In the midst of his pain and loss, Kris began to see things differently. He also began to recognize that he had a gift to help others heal in their own grieving process. So, he developed "The Birdhouse Project", and began a cross country journey--to be exact, visiting 48 states in 365 days. Armed with a distinct message and project that brought hope, he set out to experience healing--for himself and others.

I sat across a table this morning from Kris and enjoyed his company once again. It was the first time I had seen him in years. I listened to his story. I marveled at how God was using him. I was inspired by his boldness and courage.

Saying that Kris has courage is an overly simplistic statement. He sold all that he had spent years building, bought a little car that he had fixed up to communicate his message of hope, and took the first few steps of a mysterious and unknown journey...A journey that would challenge him at the deepest level of his soul.

While I sipped on cold coffee (I was so interested in his story that I lacked the initiative to continue to leave the table to warm it up) I listened to him describe the challenges of his mission. He sleeps in his car most nights. Many of his meals consist of a simple peanut butter bagel or a bag of ramen noodles. But, he assured me that he is having the time of his life. He spends his days speaking at workshops, support groups, churches, counseling perfect strangers in McDonalds, and continuously learning more about himself, God, and the story that is unfolding each and every day.

In addition to the physical challenges, he has also experienced rejection from some of the people that he loves the most. Many people have tried to convince him that he's "lost it". After he had sold everything and prepared to "cross the threshold", he had a loved one say, "Oh My God. You are going out to kill yourself." Kris responded by saying, "No, I am going out to live. Truly live. " I guess the two are connected. The only thing Kris was planning on killing was his old nature.

It dawned on me that I was sitting across from a man who was living the words of Jesus found in Matthew 16, "To find your life, you must lose it." Kris gave up all that he had in order to walk the narrow path that God was leading him down.

I left Panera Bread inspired and encouraged. I pulled out of the parking lot, looked in my rear view mirror and spotted his "hope mobile" behind me, and began smiling as I thought back to our sports bar conversation from seven years prior. To say that God had big plans for Kris Munsch may have been an understatement the size of this coast to coast journey he's on.

And I believe he's just beginning.

You can follow his journey at http://www.thebirdhouseproject.com/.

2011-10-11T14:20:00.004-06:00

Four weeks ago, I asked Jeff Mayhugh if he ever runs. His response was, "No way!" What happened over the next thirty days is nothing short of miraculous. I asked him to share his inspiring story.

Running for your life - what God taught me in 26.2 miles
By Jeff Mayhugh

I have been an unashamed couch potato for the last couple of decades. Up until very recently, my heart was beating just well enough to allow me to sit in front of my home office computer screen by day, and my TV screen by night. My two constant companions were my mouse and remote control. Walking my dog was the extent of my cardiovascular exercise regimen.

Surprisingly, about six weeks ago, my wife told me about her goal to conquer the Manitou Incline; an intimidating, steep, mile-long staircase of railroad ties cut into and up the side of a mountain near Colorado Springs. On a whim, I decided to “do the incline” so I could tell her what to expect. What was I thinking?! Half-way up the face of the mountain, I was intimidated, gasping, aching, and wishing that I had never heard of the “incline.” But, the thought of returning home to my wife in defeat kept me moaning and groaning ever so slowly to the top.

The following day, I limped into church where I was volunteering to assist at my daughter’s youth service. I informed the Youth Pastor, Gabe Jenkins, of my previous day’s exploit. Rather than sympathizing, much to my horror, he suggested that we do the “incline” together. He told me about his intention to run a half marathon coming up soon in Denver, and that the “incline” would be good training for the event. I said, “Sure, let’s do it!” Again, what was I thinking?!

The fact is, I was both inspired and motivated by the thought of joining him on the incline. After all, I would be climbing that tower of stairs with someone who was accustomed to running several miles on a regular basis and training for a big race. I would be proud to be in his company. But, I thought, “I’d better do something to get ready for this, and quick!” So, the next day I managed to jog a whole mile on a relatively flat trail before my legs betrayed me. More than a little discouraged, and after a few days of recovery, I really pushed myself to jog almost two miles. It was more than painful, but I survived.

A few days later, the sequel to my “incline” nightmare had arrived. As we drove to the base of my impending doom, Gabe told me about his training program. He described how he started running 3 miles a couple of times per week, then 4 miles, then 5 miles, etc. At this point, I was becoming accustomed to feeling inferior.

As we scaled the “incline,” I managed to keep from embarrassing myself. As we reached the summit, between gasps for air, we talked about people and movies that inspired us. On the long stretch of Barr Trail that snaked down another side of the mountain back to the parking lot far below, Gabe listened to my dream of starting a non-profit organization called “A Greater Purpose.” My general plan for this charity fundraising organization, I explained, would allow me to do something more meaningful and fulfilling with my life, and encourage others to do the same. Although he raised some important questions and offered some valuable insights to the non-profit world (an alien planet to me), most importantly, he listened as I began solidifying in my mind the reasons for pursuing my lofty goal.

That walk and talk left me searching for guidance, direction, and especially, courage to pursue something larger than I would have ever allowed myself too seriously consider. I prayed. I prayed some more. And then I listened.

The response I got was not an audible voice, rather, I received a sense that God wanted to teach me something before I fully committed to “A Greater Purpose.” Or, maybe He was putting my conviction to the test. Either way, I received a tiny spark of a thought that at the time, I had no idea would later burst into a white-hot desire. The thought was this: “What if you proved to yourself that what you think is impossible, is in fact possible, if you have faith in Me?” With that cryptic question, I wondered, what impossible thing could I attempt to do to test my faith in Him? Then, just as suddenly as the question was raised, the answer came to me…run in and complete the upcoming Denver marathon! The thought seemed so ridiculous that I quickly dismissed it. After all, it almost killed me to jog two miles! Just the thought of running 26.2 consecutive miles was, well, unthinkable.

I quickly rejected the challenge and buried the notion. But as I continued praying about “A Greater Purpose,” the thought resurfaced. Although I resisted what I thought I was being called to do, something inside compelled me to see how far I could push my ever softening middle-age body. The next day, after climbing the incline with Gabe, I ran an unheard of five miles! At first, I questioned how I had done it, but deep down, I knew that I had been energized by the power of God to do what just a few days earlier was, in my mind, impossible.

I told Gabe that I would be interested in going with him on one of his training runs. The first run with him led to another longer run by myself the next day. Gabe asked if I was considering running in the marathon. Still, I resisted what God was doing in me, and responded that I would try running a few more times to see how my legs held out. Clearly, I was still hesitating to commit to what I was being called to do.

I found myself searching the internet for proof that there was no way someone who was a 49- year-old, self-proclaimed couch potato could run a marathon with only a month of training. Sure enough, I went online and found everything I needed. There were scores of 6-month training programs. Digging further, I found a few 4-month crash courses, and even a 3-month training plan for those who were willing to brutally punish their bodies. But, according to more than one expert on the subject, nobody should attempt a marathon without a minimum of 3 months of training. The human body, they stated authoritatively, is just not designed to take the abuse of a marathon without at least 3 months of training. What a relief. I was off the hook.

Even as I prayed and told God that I must have misunderstood Him, I knew that I was not being honest with Him. I could feel Him smiling, patiently waiting for me to do His will.

Still, I let my intellect override my spirit. After only a couple of miles running, I was having some major pains in my lower calves that appeared to be a tendon problem. Not only did I have expert advice, but physical deficiencies to justify not fulfilling what I felt God was expecting of me. But, I have since learned that He has an unwavering belief in me. When I told Gabe about my calf problem, he told me about a place that I could go to have my running gate analyzed and get fitted for shoes that might help. So I did. And what do you know? The new shoes solved the problem.

Finally, I gave in to what I was convinced God was directing me to do. I filled out the marathon registration form online, prayed once more for courage and His supernatural strength, held my breath, looked at my completed registration form in utter disbelief, and clicked “submit.” Let the fear of pain and failure begin.

With less than four weeks until the marathon, I sought advice and encouragement from every friend and credible source I could find. I started training runs of 6 – 14 miles, beginning by moonlight at 5:00 A.M. so I could whip my legs, heart, and lungs into shape before work each day. I needed to reach a peak 20-mile run within two weeks. This would allow time to taper down the length of my runs for the following couple of weeks and give my body time to recover before the race day.

Almost over night, ice packs and Advil became my new best friends. I would run several miles for two days and rest the next day. Of course, my “rest days” were actually “hobble around with aching joints & muscles and try to heal the entire lower half of my body days.” I could share with you the physical problems I experienced, trying to cram 3 – 6 months of training into four weeks, but suffice it to say, it was something I won’t be able to forget fast enough.

The 20-mile run I mentioned was designed to teach me to push past the pain that was sure to seem overwhelming after about 10 – 12 miles. Although it might have worked (somewhat) for my body, at mile 14 of my 20-miler, I found myself limping along at a snail’s pace in agony for the remaining six miles. This did little to boost my confidence that my body could endure an additional 6.2 miles that a marathon required, regardless of what my brain commanded it to do.

That was the point where I could decide to hang it up and resign myself to the fact that I just didn’t have enough time to transform my body for the Denver marathon, or have faith that it would not be by my own strength that I would finish the race. Although I didn’t think it was physically possible for me to do it alone, I accepted that where my strength in the natural ended, my faith in God’s supernatural strength would hold me up and carry me to the finish line.

The enemy worked me over the next two weeks. Self-doubt was now my virtually constant companion. What did I think I was doing? “You’ve never been a runner. How are you going to feel when you have to face your two young daughters and tell them that Daddy didn’t make it?” I asked myself. How would I feel when my aging and unconditioned body simply couldn’t withstand the beating of over 26 miles of hard pavement? How could I actually be attempting this? Again, what was I thinking?

But every time my fears were getting the best of me, my ever faithful friend and guardian stepped in. He reminded me that it is not by my own strength, but by His strength that anything is possible. As Jesus did, I commanded Satan to get behind me. I called on God to temper me and guide my steps, all 207,540 of them that I estimated would be needed to complete the marathon.

As the race day approached, I actually started to believe that I might be able to do it. An idea that seemed laughable to me just a few weeks earlier, was now within the realm of remote possibility. As I prayed and received confidence from Him, my desire to do the impossible saturated me. Sure, fear of failure still invaded my thoughts, but I began to dismiss the fears and insecurities that I knew were being sent by the enemy. I concentrated on my growing passion to test my faith by doing something impossible with His strength supporting me.

Sooner than I needed, but slower than I wanted, the day of the marathon arrived. I felt strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As I stood waiting with over 15,000 anxious would-be marathon runners at the starting corrals, I felt more alive than I could remember. The sensation brought to mind a quote from St. Iranaeus that Gabe had imparted to me; “The glory of God is in man fully alive…” Yes, that was it. I was at that moment fully alive, and God was rejoicing in me. It became clear to me that of course it’s important to do your best and finish what you start, but what God really wanted for me was to feel fully alive. He didn’t just want me to train and finish a race. He wanted me to experience something new and exciting with great expectation and joy. I realized it was time for one last prayer before I became a marathon runner.

Moments before the start of the race, I prayed that I would feel His presence throughout the race. I told him that I was not going to concentrate on finishing for the sake of my ego, to travel the distance in a certain amount of time, to beat another runner, or even concern myself with finishing the race at all. Instead, I committed to enjoying every aspect of what I was about to experience. For the next 5 or more hours, I would HAVE FUN running in a marathon! I would revel in the fact that He had brought me to this place that just a few weeks ago, seemed like a preposterous idea.

When the starting horn blew, I launched into a confident, comfortable stride. The time had come. I was actually doing it. And, it felt great! The course was lined with cheering fans as the huge herd of runners started on the long trek through the city streets. I reminded myself to contain my excitement and settle into a pace that would allow me to savor this once in a lifetime moment; my first and possibly only marathon!

With each passing mile marker, the mob of runners began to thin out, as did many of the enthusiastic screaming spectactors that marked the beginning of the race. In my mind, I heard all the voices of friends who had encouraged and advised me over the last several days. The prayers they offered filled me and made me smile while I noticed other runners were starting to look strained.

As the race wore on, rather than focusing on the pain in the various parts of my legs, I kept my attention on the beautiful city skyline, the gorgeous parks, and small groups of supporters who were around almost every corner. As I saw children eagerly holding up their hands to offer “high fives,” I sacrificed slightly quicker routes on the course to move closer to them and slap their hands, calling out, “All right! Thanks for the help!”

A few hours into the race, not only did many of the runners start looking down at the pavement with fatigue, but even the occasional lines of high-school cheerleaders ahead of me were losing their original high-powered enthusiasm. As I drew closer to them, I held out my hand to offer “high fives” and thank them. I noticed that this simple acknowledgement of what they were doing seemed to rejuvenate them. They would start screaming and jumping up and down again. We were feeding off of each other! I could still hear them cheering with exuberance well after I was several yards down the course.

There were characters wearing wild costumes and waving a variety of signs along the way. There were plenty of the traditional, “You can do it!” and “Don’t stop now!” signs. Others included, “Chuck Norris never ran a marathon!” and “Bike Rides - $50/mile!” that kept me encouraged and laughing along the way.

That was something I never expected. I was actually smiling, laughing, and having fun with people as I was in the middle of the most physically demanding challenge of my life. As it was happening, I knew that was what God really wanted for me. He didn’t want me to grind through the day in pain and agony so that I could say I’d finished a marathon. He wanted me to be fully alive and truly enjoying everything that this special day had to offer.

During the final miles of the race, I had an undeniable confidence that I was going to finish the race. There was no doubt. There was no fear. I had finally arrived at the place God had been planning for me. I imagined Jesus running beside me, proudly sporting his new Nike running shoes, smiling at me as I finally got the lesson. Yes, what I thought was impossible, was not only possible with Him, but it was a blast!

I searched for my wife and daughters in the crowd that lined the last few blocks prior to the finish line. I was anxious to finish, but even more excited about seeing them as I did it. And there they were, just a few yards from the finish line, screaming, and jumping up and down. What a feeling! Words can’t really describe it, but if you’re a husband or wife with children, you can imagine what a moment that was for me. I blew them several kisses as I ran the last few yards.

When I saw the finish line a few strides away, I put my hand over my heart and raised my other hand with two fingers pointing as far as I could reach over my head to Him. With my last breath as I crossed the finish line, I called out, “Glory be to you!”

I was physically spent, but emotionally and spiritually overflowing! God had done his work in me and taught me lessons that I will use in every aspect of this life He has given me. Yes, what I think is impossible, really is possible when I have faith in Him. And as I reach, stretch, grow, and travel, God is glorified as I truly enjoy every step, fully alive!

The Victory Lap

2011-09-29T10:57:00.011-06:00

I found myself smiling as I drove home from work yesterday because I knew that my family would greet me on the front porch, and once again, I would have the privilege of watching Avery take the "victory lap". The "victory lap" is what we have termed Avery's reaction to spotting my little white car approaching the house. She jumps off the porch and starts making laps around our front yard yelling, "Daddy!"

Yesterday's "victory lap" didn't disappoint. Avery made her usual laps around the yard, and then she quickly greeted me as I stepped out of the car. She lifted her arms and said, "Fly me, daddy!" I picked her up and proceeded to launch her into the air while she erupted with a cackle of a laugh. When she finally stopped laughing she said, "Fly me higher!" So, I happily agreed.

Our next door neighbors witnessed Avery's passionate greeting as they stood on their driveway watching. They smiled and said, "Enjoy it now. They don't do that when they are teenagers!" Sad but true...

Perhaps that's one of the reasons Jesus pointed to children and boldly exclaimed, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) Children don't care what people think about them. Avery didn't temper her enthusiasm for daddy because there were people watching. I don't think she even realized they were there. Her focus was entirely on the fact that daddy was home, and it was time to play!

I am not the sharpest, but I do know when God is teaching me something. In that moment, God revealed his desire to be engaged in real relationship the way that Avery engages me. It's his passion. It's his heartbeat. Romans 8 says, "...The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) The word "Abba" means "daddy". That one word gives us a window into the heart of God, and it provides revelation into how personal God is.

I am convinced this is what we were created for. God is not an idea, concept, topic to debate, or a passive spectator to your life. He is the perfect Father who longs to be engaged on an intimate level. His posture towards you has never changed, nor will it ever.

The question is has our posture towards God changed? Has our passion for the Father dwindled because of the expectations of others? Are we fearful to engage him on a deeper level because of the opinions of others? Are we humble and courageous enough to possess the attitude of a child in our relationship to God?

The risk is that you may lose respect in the eyes of others. The gain is that you'll experience true life. Maybe you'll even experience your own cackle of a laugh as you discover his personality. He's been known to do that.

Gone Loco

2011-09-15T15:24:00.008-06:00

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Here's a quick challenge for you... Try and sit still without thinking about or doing anything for 60 seconds. Go.

The first time I attempted this, I think I made it 4.5 seconds before my mind began thinking about other things. I am now up to 9.5 seconds before I'm distracted. I am making serious progress, my friends.

This challenge is a result of an interesting question God recently asked me. I was pondering God's long term plans for my life when my thoughts were suddenly interrupted. The heavens didn't part, nor did I hear a booming voice from heaven, but the question was clear. He asked, "Gabe, have you noticed that most of your questions for me deal with 'doing'?"

That simple question had me thinking for days. As usual, he was right. Most of my interaction with God had been centered around the idea of doing work for him and asking about his future plans (work) for me. I am convinced that we should ask these questions often, but I am also confident that he wants more than just our actions and our work. He wants us to stop all the "doing" and "be".

In response to this revelation, I have started practicing a new habit. I sit before God with a clear heart and a clear mind and make myself available for him to speak. I don't think about anything. I don't do anything. I force myself to sit there and be fully present. Most men know how challenging this seemingly simple task is. It's almost as if we need a bull riding buzzer to beep after the 8 second mark to celebrate our accomplishment.

The voice of the Holy Spirit speaks in very personal ways, but he is always presenting truth. This is the identifier we should look for. Again, I've never heard anything audible. It's more of an impression on my heart, or a thought or train of thoughts that enter my mind. The common denominator is that I recognize it as being from God based on the undeniable amount of truth that the statement contains. How do I know it's truth? I recognize it from the Scriptures. I tell people that it's extremely important to spend plenty of time reading the Scriptures in order to easily recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, they are revealing the exact same thing--truth.

I realize that by simply stating you can learn to hear God's voice, I have landed myself in the "crazy camp" to some. You see people all the time doing bizarre and harmful things because, in their words, "God told them to." I see how some people have arrived at their "any normal person doesn't believe God speaks" theory. But, do the actions of a few flaky or truly disturbed people really disqualify God from being a deeply personal God? Isn't this the same God who was nailed to a wooden cross and endured excruciating pain to demonstrate his desire for personal relationship? What is personal relationship without personal communication?

I am currently pursuing my master's degree in counseling at a local university, and part of the degree program is to study mental health disorders. During our last class, my professor stated that some perfectly sane Christians can be diagnosed with "schizophrenia" because they claim to hear the voice of God. Interesting.

I wonder what Adam and Eve would have been diagnosed with; they claimed they were tricked by a talking snake. Moses surely would have been diagnosed with some kind of disorder; he claimed God spoke to him from a burning bush. Noah may have been the person tagged with the most mental disorders as he built a large ark in the middle of the desert announcing that God was going to save the world through him. Oh, and don't forget about Mary. She claimed that she was pregnant--but that she was still a virgin. Huh?

Maybe learning to hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit isn't that strange after all. But, even if it is, it's quite alright. We "crazies" are in good company. I can picture the look on their faces as they mockingly asked, "Aren't you really Joseph's son? Crazy man."

60 seconds...Go.

Mysterious Journey, Mysterious Guide

2011-08-24T15:06:00.026-06:00

I have been reflecting lately about how life is hardly a straight and clear path. The journey we all find ourselves on is unique to us, but it's similar in the aspect that it's relatively mysterious. I suppose that's because God has a mysterious side. Sure, God wants to be known. He invites us to discover who he is. His heartbeat is for us to experience his goodness and enjoy the blessing of relationship with him. One of the greatest invitations in the Bible is to, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 37:4) But, he's mysterious in the sense that we can't fully understand him or his ways. After all, "his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts." (Isaiah 55).

I am trying to become more organized so I recently did something that I have never done before...I bought a planner. As I went to Wal Mart to survey their selection, I was surprised to find that every single planner was either pink or had bright colored flowers on the cover. I thought to myself, "Guys must not buy planners." I eventually found a "manly planner", and I've actually enjoyed the planning process.

Now I'm quick to put my future appointments and plans on paper, but do I really know what is "around the corner" in life? Do I really know what God has planned for the days ahead? I believe God is doing so much more on a daily basis than will ever show up on a calendar. He is secretly aligning things for my benefit, and for his.

As I look at my calendar, my days look pretty ordinary. It's easy for me to fall into the pattern of grouping days together and losing my sense of anticipation for God to do something unexpected. We must not forget that God is an extraordinary God, and he is often working behind the scenes. Similar to a submarine being repositioned below the surface of the waters, God is positioning himself for what he knows is coming--and he wants to show you what he's doing. I have been "leaning in" recently to find out what he is really up to on a daily basis, and now I'm hooked...And intrigued...And excited.

Psalm 127 states, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." My prayer lately has been, "God, what are you building today and how can I cooperate?" He loves to answer that simple prayer. He delights when we lift our eyes from the ordinary work before us and find out what he's up to. His passion is to be involved in the details of our lives. Seriously. Try and think of one detail in your life that God is not interested in. He cares about what you care about, and he wants you to care about what he cares about. Eventually, his desire is to merge the two so you share the same heartbeat. Isn't that a beautiful process?

This certainly doesn't happen overnight. It's a daily process of being "alert and aware" (1 Peter 5) of God. Fight the urge to look at today as just another ordinary day. Ask God to surprise you. Actively look for his fingerprints today. Ask him to open your eyes to truly see. Invite him to open your ears so you begin to hear beyond the rackety noise of this world. Trust me, it's good.

Days will continue to come and go. The sun will rise and the sun will set. The path that we all find ourselves on will continue to twist and turn and disappear around the corner. But, aren't you glad? Aren't you thankful that life is not a boring "stroll in the park"? If it were, who would need a guide? If we didn't need a guide we would miss out on our greatest purpose in life--knowing the guide.

"He (Jesus) calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:3-4

Bad Idea?

2011-08-06T20:55:00.015-06:00

I had a flashback to 1996 tonight. No, I wasn't listening to Vanilla Ice. I was actually on a walk with my wonderful family at a nearby park. It started out like hundreds of other walks we have enjoyed together. Avery was smiling from ear to ear as she ran and played. Ashley was looking as beautiful as ever as the setting sun danced across her face. Sophie was in milk "la-la land" as her two month-old mind tried to take everything in. It was a perfect start to our walk. I didn't think it could get any better...Then, I noticed a wooden structure strategically placed across the pond. Friends, you must understand. I am a man who is constantly outnumbered 3-1 in the female/male ratio at the Jenkins house. I don't even have the luxury of owning a male dog. I wake up to Barney and Dora followed by a play time session with princesses. My wife is literally watching The Notebook for the hundredth time as I type this. I wouldn't trade my life for anything, but perhaps that will help you understand why my man heart smiled at what happened next. We happened to catch it on video.

I couldn't help but to yell across the pond and applaud the "courage" of the kid who just reminded me of the hundreds of bad ideas I entertained when I was his age. I stood there on the bank of that pond and smiled as the memories came rushing back. My mind instantly rewinded to the day I built my own bike ramp and tried to ramp across a large mud pool that my friends helped me dig. It didn't end well.

I had other bad ideas that didn't hurt as bad--at least, not physically. Somehow the idea popped (and stuck) into my head that I would look cool in shorts, high ankle Doc Martin boots, and tall socks for one of my senior picture poses. Ashley still reminds me that my "bowl" hair cut from my senior year in high school was also a bad idea. Ouch.

I thank God for protecting me from many of those testosterone and adventure filled bad ideas. I look back and smile on most of them. I also thank God for protecting me from the bad ideas that carried much heavier consequences. In fact, it was many of those bad ideas that led me to my knees on a January night many years ago as I made a good decision for once, to turn whole-heartedly and follow Jesus Christ. I think it's safe to say that my life took a dramatic turn at that moment. Jesus has a way of doing that.

I have recently been thinking about how the apostle Paul's life took a drastic turn on that dusty road to Damascus nearly two thousand years ago. Up until that moment, Paul (Saul at the time) had been a well-known and well-respected religious leader. He was set up perfectly to live a good life--until Jesus interrupted his plans.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6

At face value it would appear that Paul's life started moving in the wrong direction directly after that brief conversation. Not only was Paul now blind as he struggled back to his feet, but a few verses later Jesus announces, "I will show him (Paul) how much he must suffer for my name."

Wow. Who would want to sign up for that? Paul confirmed in 2 Corinthians 11 that Jesus wasn't lying about the whole suffering thing:

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 2 Corinthians 11:24-27

A person could easily look at Paul's life and come to the conclusion that it must have been a BAD IDEA for him to follow Jesus! Perhaps he should have returned to Jerusalem and lived the remainder of his life as a blind religious teacher. He would have skipped the lashing sessions. He could have been studying the Old Testament Scriptures instead of being pelted with rocks. He could have been safe and warm in a temple rather than lost at sea. But, he would have missed knowing Jesus. He would have completely missed the true purpose of his life. The greatest day of Paul's life was probably the day he met Jesus on that dirty old road.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...Philippians 3:7-8

The only thing that could have possibly kept Paul from becoming bitter and disillusioned in those dark and cold prison cells was a real relationship with a real Jesus. Paul knew he was in for a long ride, but all that mattered to him was completing the race that God had set out for him. If he hadn't discovered the real Jesus, he would have never ended well. The joy of Paul's relationship with Jesus drove away the fear of death, and compelled him to endure torture so that others could experience this same Jesus. Paul tasted the goodness of God through Jesus, and it consumed everything in his life. Jesus desires the same for you and for me. That's the good news of the Gospel. We get to participate in the plans of God and experience Him on a deeply personal basis.

Six years ago I left a broadcasting career to pursue a church internship. I remember people looking me in the eye and asking, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" They reminded me that I was leaving a full-time, respectable job for a part-time internship that I was going to have to pay thousands of dollars to participate in. I smiled and reassured them it was a good idea...A much better idea than trying to clear a 12 foot mud hole with the aid of only a two foot ramp. I guess I had been trained well to take risks.

I'm sure it won't be the last time Jesus will lead me into a situation that will cause people to question my logic. I probably won't get any better at convincing them it's a good idea either. All I know is that Jesus is far better than I ever imagined, and following him is better than anything else I've ever known.

What a great idea it was to say "yes" to him. This is actually an idea that will end well.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Sing Hallelulah

2011-05-30T23:03:00.008-06:00

Our second daughter, Sophie Elizabeth Jenkins, was born last Thursday afternoon. Words can't describe the joy I experienced the moment I first saw her. I may be biased, but she is so beautiful!

As I held my new daughter for the first time, and my eyes surveyed her newborn skin and dark hair, I began to think about God's wonderful plans for her. Sophie's life is a story that is just beginning. God is holding the pen, and I'm confident He will tell one grand story through her. That's one of my favorite aspects of God--He's an amazing author. He always has been and always will be.

My prayer for Sophie is that she'll be aware of the story that is unfolding around her on a daily basis. It truly is a love story--a passionate love story between the Creator of the Universe and this 6 lb 14 ounce beauty. How fun it will be to watch this play out. I think she's off to a good start...

Here's a video of Sophie's story so far.

Not As It Appears

2011-05-22T14:28:00.013-06:00

I made a call this week to have the yard aerated. To be honest, I had no idea what benefit aerating the grass had, but I still made the call and wrote the check. I have since done some research and have learned that it's incredibly healthy for the soil. In a nutshell, it's the removal of soil plugs in order to increase the water, nutrient, and oxygen movement into the soil. Something had to be removed, so that something much needed could enter...More on that later.

A recently aerated lawn is an interesting sight. It looks like a person has neglected to clean up after their dog since the late 1990's. When I was a young boy, one of my weekly chores included going on "poop patrol". I believe I became quite proficient at searching the yard--while watching my steps very closely--scooping, and disposing of the "treasure" in record time. I was good...Maybe that's why I never got fired from the job.

Very early on in my scooping career, I remember picking up a shovel and walking to the back yard only to see a sight that no eight year old pooper scooper wants to see. My parents had just had the lawn aerated, but to me it looked like every dog in a five mile radius had met on our yard and left me a present. I stood there in disbelief. I glanced at the neighbor's yard to see if they were also the recipients of the dog party, but their yard was "poopless". How could this be? Was this some sort of bad joke? I was discouraged.

Now that I'm thirty, I look back and smile on that day. My lack of understanding of lawn aeration led me to believe that my eight year old life just got a lot worse. In reality, what I thought was a horrible sight was actually quite healthy for the yard--and good for me. I believe I dismissed myself of my duties that day claiming that I couldn't tell the difference between the dog's mess and the aeration. My initial reaction was clearly misguided.

That wasn't the last time my initial response to something has been off. I've noticed how easy it is to make an initial judgment on something thinking it's bad, and then placing the blame on God for causing it. When this happens it's just a matter of time before your heart grows hard towards the God who is crazy about you.

Several years ago, I had a relationship crumble around me. I was deeply invested into this relationship and thought it would most likely end in marriage. In the depths of my heart, I knew the relationship wasn't what God wanted, but I chose to ignore the truth and continue plowing forward. I'll never forget the pain in my heart as the two of us came to grips with the reality of breaking up for good. I was heartbroken. I was devastated. I literally took my phone and threw it across the room as I blamed God for breaking my heart. I lacked understanding. My initial response was way off, again. In this case, the relationship needed to be removed so that God could enter and have His way.

I took Avery on a daddy-daughter date a few weeks ago, and we enjoyed some seriously delicious meatball sandwiches (this time it was my pick!). I sat across the table from her and was taken aback by how her blue eyes were shining so brightly in the light. As we talked, laughed, and made a mess, I noticed a song that happened to be playing on the radio in the background. It was a song that reminded me of my former relationship. It was quite evident to me that the pain was long gone, and instead of anger at God, I couldn't stop praising Him. God knew what He was doing after all. All I had to do is look across the table and into the eyes of my daughter to be reminded of His faithfulness. I drove home and embraced my wife with a hug and kiss, and thanked God for being so patient with me.

Living with a hard heart is a miserable way to live life. It will rob you of experiencing the joy God created you to experience. Life can be rough. Life can seem wildly unfair. But I pray that you'll fight with every ounce of strength within you to maintain a soft heart. The Scriptures clearly state the importance of this in Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

The next time you are tempted to blame God for causing something bad in your life, I encourage you to pause and ask Him to give you true understanding into the situation. Remind yourself of God's nature. He is the life giver, not the thief. Fight the urge to run from God, and cling to Him. You'll be in good hands.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Glorious and More Glorious

2011-05-21T12:59:00.008-06:00

There are few dull moments when you are married to a woman who is 9 months pregnant. I've been on high alert for the past several days. Just last week I was sitting in my comfortable brown recliner when I heard moaning and groaning coming from upstairs. I jumped to my feet and ran over to the stairs--fully expecting to load Ashley up, and like a 10 year old sitting behind a steering wheel in an arcade, drive 80 mph weaving my way in and out of traffic on our way to the hospital (the man clearly gets the better deal in this whole process). I got to the stairs and with deep concern and anticipation in my voice asked her what was happening. Her response was, "Ooh nothing honey. I just feel so large!" False alarm. The racecar driving would have to wait for another day.

I was recently driving (the speed limit) down the interstate when my eyes drifted over to enjoy the majestic and beautiful Colorado Rockies. I have surveyed these same mountains thousands of times over the past six years, but this time was different. I was drawn to the extraordinary detail that God used as He shaped this particular mountain range. As my eyes shifted back and forth between the road and the mountains, I began thinking about how God had placed every tree just where He wanted it. He shaped every nook and cranny on every mountain. Even today, He orders the water where to run as the snow melt turns into summer streams. Praise filled my heart as I thought about the good work God accomplished in creating the Rocky Mountains.

He responded by speaking the following statement to my heart: "I put more work into creating you than I did that mountain range." My initial response was to think that I must have eaten a bad pizza for lunch and am now hearing things. Surely God didn't put more detail into creating me than this spectacular mountain range my eyes were beholding. I'm confident I heard Him right, but it took my heart a minute to digest the truth of that statement.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

The development process that occurs inside the womb is fascinating. It reveals just how detailed and mysterious God is. He created the earth and everything in it in seven days, and yet He chooses to take nine months to form a baby inside the womb! We really are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

Pikes Peak is a glorious mountain. It's never uttered a word, but it speaks continually of the presence and glory of the Creator. This glorious God has placed more glory upon you than on any mountain, canyon, ocean, sunset, or anything else your eyes will see. He has made you in His image. It's true that you bear His name and His image. Let that sink into your heart. You are His primary plan to reveal His glory to a dark world. When we grasp the truth of this, life goes from being mundane, boring and ordinary to extraordinary, supernatural and purposeful.

Our second daughter will arrive any day now. As excited as we are, we're also aware that she really doesn't belong to us but rather to God. He knew her before the creation of the world, and He has spent the past nine months meticulously forming her. May I be a good steward of something that is so precious to Him.

God help me.

Messy Fingers and Clean Pages

2011-05-09T10:02:00.012-06:00

Avery and I recently embarked on another daddy-daughter date, and it was wonderful as usual. As we pulled into the parking lot at Chic-Fil-A, the smile on her face communicated that I had chosen correctly. She knew she was about to enjoy some quality chicken nuggets, play time on their slide, and some time with dad.

What she didn't realize was that there would be an added bonus to this particular date. As we sat there enjoying our meals and each other's company, I could tell Avery had spotted something interesting over my shoulder. In fact, her eyes about popped out of her head as soon as she saw "it". I turned to see what she was looking at, and sure enough, the Chic-Fil-A cow was officially in the building. She started bouncing in her seat and pointing at the large bovine. I was also happy to see the cow, even though I knew it would steal her attention for the rest of our meal. Stinking cow....

Avery spent the next several minutes waving at the cow from a distance, and making "moooo" noises. She laughed the whole time. I was still trying hopelessly to engage her in conversation, but it wasn't happening. I soon joined her in making "moooo" noises.

The cow slowly began to make its way in our direction, and I watched as Avery's look changed from fascination to uncertainty. The waving and "moooing" stopped, and it wasn't long before she was quite scared.

I stopped recording and quickly picked Avery up to comfort her (she gave me a big ketchup fingers hug--love it!), and I assured her that, "Daddy wouldn't let the cow hurt her." She eventually calmed down, and started waving at the cow again--from a safe distance.

The friendly Chic-Fil-A cow is quite harmless--especially when dad is present. I'm not going to let anything near Avery that will harm her. She is safe because she is with me. She is safe because of my great love for her. In the heat of the moment, she forgot that simple truth and allowed fear to grip her heart.

This happens to all of us from time to time. We forget who our Heavenly Father is, and we allow fear to grip our heart. The truth is that we have nothing to fear. You are safe because of the Father's great love for you. You are safe because of the Father's presence. You are safe because you are his son/daughter, and He has taken responsibility for your life.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16.

The Scriptures reveal to us that as we grow in our understanding of "sonship", fear will lose its place in our hearts. When we understand the true nature of God as our Father, nothing can scare or shake us. If God is for us, who can be against us? When we misunderstand the true nature of God, we give fear a place to abide. Simply put, fear is a result of a misunderstanding of the Father's nature.

I recently noticed that I had been allowing a fear of rejection to linger in my heart. It had affected my behavior and resulted in timidity in certain areas of my life. Armed with the understanding that fear is a result of believing a lie, I went to God and asked him to reveal the lie that had made a subtle home in my heart.

God is faithful. Not only did He reveal the lie, but he also revealed the truth. I didn't have to twist his arm to show me the truth; He had been waiting patiently for me to ask. I renounced the lie, and took hold of the truth. Before long, I experienced the welcomed arrival of freedom (John 8:32).

God's answer to my question surprised me. He gently revealed that I didn't fully trust Him. When I asked how I develop a deeper trust, He replied, "Start with a clean page and find out who I truly am." That was a bit of a shock. I could have responded in a prideful way. After all, I've been walking with Christ for many years. I am a pastor, and my job is to represent God--surely I know Him. I'm glad I accepted His offer, because it's been amazing to watch him re-reveal Himself. In some cases he simply reminded me of things I had forgotten, and in other cases He revealed amazing new revelation of His heart. As I grew in my understanding of His perfect love, fear was cast out (1 John 4:18).

I believe God wants to spend some quality time with you. Get away with Him and ask if you've allowed fear to entangle itself within your heart. Maybe you already know the answer, and you can simply skip to the next question--what lie have I believed, and what is the truth? Stay with the question until you get an answer. It will surely come. Then, take hold of the truth and meditate upon it. Write it down and place it where you can see it daily. Allow it to take root in your heart. As a good steak marinates in special sauce, let your heart marinate in the truth. You will like the result.

Looking back, the fear that I allowed to affect my heart was just as silly as Avery's fear of the "high-fiving" cow. When we see truth clearly, all fear is exposed and put in its proper place. Remember, you are not slaves of fear, but you are a son and daughter of the Most High God. God is calling you to live a fear-free, abundant life. Take Him up on the offer.

Start with a clean page.

Only 20,466 More Days

2011-04-29T21:03:00.009-06:00

Bill and June Sharp have been married for 22,046 days. For those of you who vowed to give up math after your last Algebra class in high school, that's over 60 years of bliss. I had the amazing privilege of leading my sweet grandparents in the renewing of their vows last summer as they celebrated their amazing accomplishment. It was a great day!

Ashley and I are quickly approaching our fourth anniversary. I have so much to learn about this marriage thing, but I do know that it's a good thing...a really good thing.

In fact, I believe marriage is one of God's greatest gifts to us. My life has become indescribably richer since the day Ashley walked down the aisle and met me at the altar. We were floating on cloud nine, and our faces could barely contain our smiles as we stood before God, family, and friends and declared our lifetime vows to one another. If that wasn't amazing enough, the next day we were on a flight to the Caribbean for our honeymoon.

I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn't a dream. Was I really going to one of the most beautiful places on the planet with the most beautiful woman on the planet? Was I really going to get to stare at this "hot blonde" in a bikini all week? Was this really legal now? Of course it was legal, we were married. God pronounced it all good. I could feel the sting of the pinch. This was a reality.

Speaking of reality, anybody who has been married for more than two weeks knows that reality sets in. Marriage is not a continual honeymoon that two people enjoy until death does them part. Far, far from it. The honeymoon beach bodies don't last forever; neither does the feeling of pure giddiness. Developing and enjoying a healthy marriage is one of the biggest challenges that a man and woman will face. It's certainly not for the faint of heart.

The honeymoon was certainly surreal. So was the first time I found myself sleeping on the couch--for all of about 2 hours--until we made things right. As those first days began to become a memory, I realized that marriage was indeed a blessing--sometimes a blessing in disguise. Disagreement happens. Fights happen. Hearts can grow hard. The walls can be quick to appear. Couples can find themselves in a rut that is hard to pull out of. However, as long as Christ is alive, there is hope.

Ashley and I went on a date tonight, and it was one of the most enjoyable dates I've ever had. It was extremely simple, but extremely rich. As we drove to Chipotle, I said a quick prayer and invited God into the evening. I simply acknowledged His presence and asked him to make it a rich evening. He's good at answering simple prayers.

We sat on barstool type chairs, looking out on a busy sidewalk in downtown Colorado Springs. When I was able to pry my eyes away from this "hot blonde" sitting next to me, I enjoyed the perfect view of the sun setting over Pikes Peak. We flirted, laughed, talked, people watched, and enjoyed being together. It was--well, a RICH date!

A few hours before the date, Ashley and I both agreed to ask God what He wanted to say to the other person. After all, God is a Father. What father doesn't like to speak to his children? As Ashley was doing her hair in the bathroom, she asked God what He wanted to say to me. Meanwhile, I sat at the kitchen table with a pen in hand and asked God what He wanted to say to His daughter. Later at Chipotle, we shared with each other what we believed God was saying. It was anything but ordinary. It was deeply refreshing. It was a result of simply inviting God into an ordinary date.

Don't get me wrong, we're not about to write a marriage book. I have more to learn than I have to offer. My grandparents should write a marriage book. My parents, who will be celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, should write a book. That's not where we're at right now. But, we have stumbled upon a few things that have really helped us thus far.

First of all, we try and remember who is on our side. It's easy to forget that the creator of the Universe is in your corner. God is the biggest fan of your marriage. He created romance--you should have seen the sun setting over the peak--and He wants you to experience abundant life in your marriage more than anyone, including you. When you turn to God, you are opening the door for Him to pour life into your marriage. It doesn't matter how far off track you may think you are. He is still as committed as ever to lead you and your spouse into the marriage He dreamt of when He brought you together. He has the road map. He has the ideas. Your responsibility is to open the door to Him, and then trust what He is telling you to do. It may seem impossible, but as one of my favorite verses states: "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can think of or imagine according to His power that is at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20). It requires faith, but then again, isn't it impossible to please God without faith? The more you are committed to pleasing Him, the more you will see the transformation happen in your marriage.

Secondly, we try and enjoy one another. It's easy to fall into a mundane and boring routine where we end up simply cohabitating together as we share a roof, a bed, and a toilet. It's easy to only relate to each other as the mom or dad of your children. We're learning the power and importance of intentionality. Marriage can be as boring or as enjoyable as Ashley and I choose to make it. God has given us a blank canvas and wants to help us create a masterpiece. His heart beats for us to create a marriage that reflects the love that Christ has for the church.

Lastly, we try and keep the "big picture" in front of us. Sure we're going to have many disagreements in the years to come. Sure we'll face temptations and accusations from the enemy. However, if we can be mindful of our "big picture" life goals--faithfulness to God and each other--it will be easier to forgive and easier to remain loyal in our marriage.

I think there's some truth to the old saying, "If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit your target." My target is clear. In 56 years, I want to be holding hands with my "hot gray" wife while my grandson leads us in the renewing of our vows.

That will be a great day.

That will be a rich life.

Fixing Glass....and relationships.

2011-04-20T15:30:00.011-06:00

Sometimes I have a tendency of procrastinating on certain projects that are going to cost hundreds of dollars. My old truck was nicknamed "Junior" (not exactly one of those trucks you see in television commercials pulling 737's behind it) and among other aesthetic flaws, it had a huge crack that ran the length of the windshield. It wasn't until the day of my first date with Ashley that I finally shelled out the money to get it replaced. Convincing her to date a man who drove a pick up named "Junior" was going to be a big enough challenge; the least I could do is pull up in a ride that had a window you could see out of.

Someday I believe I will drive a big ol' truck that I can be proud of. In the meantime, I am driving a four door Honda that is faithful in getting me from point A to point B. A crack started to appear on the windshield a few---ok, several months ago--and once again, I waited as long as I could to replace it. When I finally got around to calling the glass company, I was pleasantly suprised that they offered to come to my house to fix the glass. It was long overdue.

The technician showed up a few days ago, introduced himself with a smile and a warm handshake, and quickly began working. Thirty minutes into the project, I heard a knock at the door. I opened the door to see him standing there, smileless, and holding a copy of the initial agreement. "Is your car a '94 or '93?" he asked. I told him I thought it was a '94, and he quickly let me know I gave him the wrong information when we scheduled the appointment. He checked the VIN number to find out that the car was actually a '93. This minor blooper on my part meant he had the wrong windshield, and he was now going to have to drive all over town to find the correct one. Unfortunately, I just extended his workday by a few hours.

He was visibly frustrated, and I was embarassed. I knew I blew it. Typically, a particular windshield would fit consecutive years of vehicles, but in this instance, there happened to be a difference between the '93 and '94 windshields. We stood there staring at each other, in a bit of a showdown, and I found myself wrestling with whether or not I wanted to take responsibility. It's not hard to come up with excuses when you don't feel like apologizing. Did I really tell them the wrong year? Did they mess up by writing down the wrong year? No excuses. I messed up.

It was tough to look him in the eye and apologize for wasting so much of his time. It took some work, but I finally mustered the courage to take responsibility. The first part of the conversation was extremely awkward--until I apologized. As soon as he heard the words, "I'm sorry", his demeanor changed and it was as if I was talking to an entirely different person. He was very pleasant and gracious for the rest of the job--especially suprising considering that he was still working at 7pm (in the rain!) instead of being at home with his family.

"I'm sorry" is a powerful little phrase. Those two words have the capacity to pump life into a strained marriage, restore old friendships, and keep us in agreement with God. As a matter of fact, I can't think of a single negative result from saying "I'm sorry." Sure your pride takes a hit, but isn't that a good thing?

A cracked windshield usually starts with a simple chip. The more you ignore it, the more it grows and becomes increasingly visible. In my case, the chip turned into a major crack which spiderwebbed across the entire windshield leaving me little room to see. I put up with it for a long enough period of time that it eventually became the norm. Offence in relationships has a smiliar effect. Somebody will say something or do something that will serve as a "chip", and if it is not dealt with it will spread and eventually contaminate the entire relationship.

A few years ago, it became clear that God was asking me to make a phone call. I drug my feet and asked myself a few hundred times if it was really God. It was painfully obvious that God was in it, so I dialed the number. My heart was pounding as I waited for somebody to pick up on the other line. Just before I was about to bail and hang up, I heard a voice on the other end. Bummer. I was really going to have to go through with this after all. "Sorry, I have the wrong number" was not an option. I was calling to apologize for some hurtful things that I had written anonymously about another person from eight or nine years ago. God had not forgotten. He wanted me to make things right. I confessed to my wrong doing and apologized profusely. It was an incredibly healthy conversation where much grace was extended towards me. He even found time to encourage me in the midst of my apology.

I encourage you to take some time and reflect on your life and your relationships. Perhaps you've already been feeling uneasy as you've read this because you know what is coming! Is God asking you to apologize for anything? Is there something that you've done that God is wanting you to make right? Are there any friendships in your life that are currently strained? Have you been waiting for the other person to apologize? Are you caught in the cycle of replaying conversations over and over again in your mind? Have you allowed bitterness and unforgiveness to settle in your heart? I know the feeling; it's miserable.

There is a way out. There are greener pastures to enjoy. There is a better view. It starts with the courage and humility to speak a simple phrase from the heart. As you take this step, you'll see how God will meet you there. He'll help you. He'll be smiling the entire time. Your heart will breathe fresh life. The crack will disappear and you will be able to see clearly again.

I got in my car the following day, pulled away from the garage, and was suprised at how different the view was. I asked myself, "What took me so long to fix this?" I can actually see the road now.

Ashley Sandwich

2011-04-11T16:25:00.012-06:00

I was surprised Ashley agreed to the proposition of going for a four wheeler ride last weekend. I was shocked when she agreed to allow Libby to come with us. It's not that my wife is afraid of four wheelers or dislikes dogs, but she is 8 months pregnant, and we were headed for an extremely bumpy country road.

My wife likes adventure--as long as she still feels pretty in the midst of it. I have learned that she has a subconscious scale that connects how much she enjoys a particular activity to how pretty she feels while participating. True story.

Don't get me wrong, Ashley is a tough gal. A few years ago, she finished the Las Vegas marathon while running on an injured hip. She left me in the dust last summer when we were riding the 62 mile Elephant Rock Bicycle Tour "together". A few months later, she completed the Copper Triangle--an 80 mile bike ride that covered three mountain passes deep in the Rocky Mountains. She's tough--and competitive--and lucky. She also happened to beat me in our last two games of put-put golf.

When Ashley saddled up on the four wheeler, sandwiched between a hairy dog and myself, I couldn't help but be incredibly attracted to her. I always think she's pretty, but the "hottness meter" peaks when she does something like this. These are usually the times when she feels the least attractive. In this case, I couldn't stop looking at her, and she barely let me take a picture because she FELT gross. This is a small example of how our feelings can be deceptive.

How often are we all deceived by our feelings? It may be something as simple as not feeling attractive, or it may be something as serious as not feeling worthy of a relationship with God. Many people don't feel forgiven; nor do they feel like forgiving others. It's easy to not feel like engaging your family in meaningful conversation. Perhaps you didn't feel like apologizing last time you really blew it. The sweat that turned to blood as it dripped down his face while he agonized in the garden shows us that Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross. Out of obedience, he submitted and carried on with the greatest rescue mission in the history of time.

Not only are feelings deceptive, but if we pay enough attention to them, they will eventually create a frustrating rut in our lives. Too often, we create behavior patterns that are centered around feelings instead of the unchanging truth of the Scriptures. If you are lacking love, joy, and peace, there is a good chance you may fall into this category.

Feelings come and go. Feelings change. The word of God is designed to be an anchor for our soul. The Scriptures don't contain suggestions; they are full of commands that should impact our daily decisions. The more we dive into His word, the more it will change our thinking. The more our thinking changes, the more our feelings will change. We have to start by believing what the Bible says and acting upon it whether we feel like it or not. This will stretch and grow us all. It's certainly not easy; but it is worth it. The more we do this, the more the frustrating rut will disappear and love, joy, and peace will appear. I think that's a trade worth making.

Something Good is Brewing...

2011-04-06T23:34:00.007-06:00

I've stumbled upon a new hobby...It started with a fascination for heights as a young boy. I always made my mom nervous when Christmas rolled around because of my aggressive nature in hanging up Christmas lights on our steeply pitched roof. I liked the adrenaline rush that resulted from sprinting up a roof that I probably should not have been on in the first place. Not only did my mom endure the stress of having her son bounce around on the dangerous roof, but she also endured the ugly site of what the Christmas lights looked like after I had finished. Bless her.

I've always thought it would be amazing to rock climb, but I had never been intentional enough to make it happen-until a few weeks ago when my friend invited me to come climb at an indoor climbing gym. I thought it would be easy. After all, I have done thousands of pull ups during my wrestling career. How hard could it be to grab a rock and pull yourself up? I was wrong. And I was suprisingly nervous halfway up my first climb.

As I approached the top of the 80 foot wall, I began wondering if my harness was tight enough. For a man who enjoys heights, it was a strange feeling to be wrestling with fear at an indoor climbing gym. I eventually made it up the rest of the wall, and despite my sweaty palms and tired forearms, a love affair with climbing was starting to form in this heart of mine.

I did my first outdoor climb today at Garden of the Gods. It was amazing. I still wrestled some nerves while I was 110 feet above planet earth, but it's good for a man's soul to be challenged like that. Experienced climbers would probably smile as they understand I wasn't in grave danger, but this Kansas boy isn't used to this...We didn't go rock climbing for entertainment in Kansas; we went cow tipping. We didn't rapel; we played ding-dong-ditch em'. Despite the raw appearance of watching me scurry up the wall, I'm confident I will eventually become a decent climber.

I sat down at the end of the day, and I thanked God for allowing me to experience the thrill of rock climbing. I sensed the Father's delight. I realized that I didn't have to twist his arm to let me climb; instead, he was the one beckoning me. He spoke a sentence to my heart that reminded me of why I have a love affair with the God who created all this:

"I'll meet you on the rock. I have much to show you there."

This is going to be better than I thought.

American Heroes

2011-04-05T10:05:00.004-06:00

My dad and I recently traveled to Philadelphia to watch the NCAA wrestling tournament. In addition to watching some great wrestling, we had the opportunity to visit Independence Hall. I had goosebumps as I stood in the very room where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. As I surveyed the room, I tried to picture what it must have been like in the summer of 1775 as some of the most courageous men in our nation's history met and discussed a strategy to gain independence from the British.

The actual room is relatively small and simple. The floors are hardwood and the walls are white. But the work that was done inside the room was anything but small and simple. Men like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison were among those who participated in the Constitutional Convention during that hot summer of 1787. They prayed, debated, presented, argued, paced, and sweated (windows were closed to ensure privacy) in this now famous room. They poured themselves into the work of developing a framework for our country's government. They were passionate, hard working, committed, strong, intelligent, and humble men. They would never know the full impact of their lives until they got to heaven.

The same could be said about the man standing beside me as we toured this historic site. I looked over at my dad and saw a look of delight on his face. He was standing in the room that he had spent 35 years teaching high school students about as an American history teacher. I wondered how many lectures he had given that were centered around the events that took place here. How many countless hours had he spent telling stories of Franklin, Washington, and Hamilton? More importantly, how many lives had he impacted as they passed through room 208 at St. Francis Community High School?

The founding fathers were impressive men. What they stood for and what they accomplished are a couple of factors that landed them on my list of personal heroes; albeit, they're below another great hero of mine-my own father.

Never A Dull Moment...

2011-04-02T15:25:00.001-06:00

Brain Freeze and Hearts Ablaze

2011-03-30T12:15:00.013-06:00

Meet Libby. She is a 7 year old Golden Retriever who is living a good life. My parents treat her like royalty-or at least like a human. She goes on four wheeler rides, eats human food, runs on a daily basis, watches Fox News on my dad's lap, and sleeps next to my mom. Libby didn't realize it at the time, but the day she became a "Jenkins" was the day her future started looking real bright. For a dog, it's all about the family that adopts you. It's the difference between getting a brain freeze eating ice cream, and perhaps, not eating at all.

The day a person says "yes" to Jesus is the day their future starts looking real bright. It's the day God adopts you and places you into His family. This is a far more significant truth than most people give it credit for (including myself). It's easy to think, "Sure God has adopted me-that's great...What's for lunch?" But I challenge you to do what I've been doing lately and stop to really think about who it is that adopted you. Think about who has now taken responsibility for your life? The God who breathed the stars into existence is calling you His child. The God who holds the oceans in the palm of His hand is carrying you close to His heart.

Now, think about the best parent you know. What makes them stand out as a great parent? I assume they are deeply involved in their child's life. They probably shower their child with unconditional love and support, in addition to providing for all of their material needs. It's what good (or "evil") parents do.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

The point of this passage is not to say all parents are evil. Jesus is simply highlighting how amazing our Heavenly Father is! As a Father, He is in a league of His own. In the same way that a son/daughter has full access to their dad, you have been given full access towards God. All of His thoughts towards you are pure and loving, and He thinks about you all the time. He smiles at you constantly. He loves you.

I've been pondering lately whether I am receiving all that God has for me as His son. I've been asking for a deeper understanding of what it means that he has given me the "spirit of sonship" (Romans 8). I don't want to simply know in my mind that I am a son of God; I want the truth to burn daily in my heart. I want it to affect everything I do. After all, it's all about the family that a person is placed into. Take heart, my friends, your future is secure.

Curious Cows and Bucking Horses

2011-03-23T13:03:00.014-06:00

Ashley and her mom recently took Avery on her first trip to a dairy farm. The cows were quite interested in little Aves. One by one, they slowly waddled over to get a sniff of this tiny person standing before them. Before long, a large crowd had gathered and they soon began to jockey for position in order to get a better look at the blue-eyed beauty. Ashley showed me the picture and I realized that someday these won't be cows, they'll be testosterone-filled teenage boys. Being that Avery already looks like her momma, she is sure to eventually have boys jockeying for her attention. Some will have good intentions, and there will probably be others who have impure motives. In the meantime, I am doing everything in my power to prepare Avery for what I know will inevitably come. Our daddy-daughter dates must continue. She must know that she is adored, valued, and loved. If I do a good job now, I am confident she will be prepared to thrive during her teenage years. She will be steady as a rock in the midst of a temptation minefield. As a two year old, the last thing she thinks about are the challenges she'll face as a 17 year old. She's too busy admiring Barney. As a father, it is my responsibility to look down the road and prepare her for what is coming. It's a job I take seriously.

This is how our Father in heaven operates. He knows the challenges that we'll face this year, next year, and in ten years. He is committed to preparing us to thrive in the next season of life. He is preparing us to overcome future temptations. He is getting us ready to handle the responsibility that He desires to give us. It's a job He takes seriously.

One of my biggest personal challenges over the past five years has been discontentment. I have made huge strides in this area-which I believe now gives me the freedom to write about it publicly. But, it has been a battle. I have spent far too much time looking ahead and wishing the next season of life (assignment) would quickly arrive. I had convinced myself that I was bored and needed to move on. I wanted new adventure and new excitement. All the while, I was missing the incredible work that God had right in front of me. I was trying to move in a direction that I was not prepared or ready for. God reminded me time and time again that He knows what He is doing. He will not send me out before I am prepared. He is far too good of a Father to do that to us. I am now more content than I've been in a long time. I am grateful. I am full of vision and excitement for the task currently at hand. I am finally aware of the importance of my current season of life.

One of the "game changers" for me came on a day when I was watching the Kentucky Derby. The "Run for the Roses" is a fascinating sports event to behold. It's said to be the most exciting three minutes in sports. I get chills watching the horses run. They run with such passion and grace. It's what they were born to do. On this particular day, I watched some horses calmly walk into the starting gate and patiently wait for the doors to swing open; meanwhile, other horses bucked wildly and refused to enter the gate. Sure they all wanted to run the race, but some appeared to be claustrophobic about entering the small metal stall. I continued to watch as trainers became visibly frustrated as they tried valiantly to get the horses to calm down and enter the starting position. It dawned on me that I had been acting like one of the unsettled horses that refused to enter the gate. God gently taught me that if I wanted to run the race, I had to enter the starting gate. He showed me that I must come to a place of thankfulness and contentment in order to be positioned for the gate to swing open. Being in the starting gate is not necessarily comfortable or exciting, but it is necessary. It's all part of His preparation for us.

It's easy for us to officially decide we are ready for the next season of life, but we most likely have no idea what is really around the bend. I am so grateful that we serve a God who is intentional about preparing us to handle the unique challenges that will come. As a Father, only He knows how to get us ready. Instead of bucking and fighting, let's calm down and start enjoying where God has us. Allow the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for all that God has planned in your future. Ask Him to reveal what He is preparing you for. Ask Him how you can better cooperate with Him. Then, in time, the gate will swing open and you'll slobber with excitement over the freedom to run. The day is surely coming. He hasn't forgotten about you.

Dizzy Yet?

2011-03-15T18:37:00.016-06:00

"...He has also set eternity in the human heart;" Ecclesiastes 3:11

Deep within the human heart is a hunger to know God and spend eternity with Him. I've heard it referred to as a "God-shaped hole" that can only be filled by God. Another way to think about it is that God has placed a magnet in a person's heart that is designed to attract us to Him. The problem with magnets is that they can also be drawn and attached to most things made of iron, even things that aren't supposed to have magnets stuck to them.

Our hearts can also be drawn and attached to something other than God. Once the heart is attached to something apart from God, it's a painful separation process. God will be active in separating us from these things because of His great love. After all, these things we attach ourselves to are "sinking ships". Who would want to step foot on the Titanic if they knew it's fate? Why do we attach ourselves so tightly to things that we know will pass away?

I know the truth of this all too well. I have often allowed my heart to become attached to the wrong things (the magnet works-my aim isn't always the best). Once I became attached, I would fight against God to keep what I shouldn't have had in the first place. It always ended painfully. Have you ever watched a dog try desperately to catch it's own tail only to realize that chewing on it's own tail is not so glamorous after all? That's what we do. We spend so much time and energy chasing after things that will not satisfy us in the long term. The other night I was driving to the store to pick up a movie, and a random thought entered my mind:

"Everything I was created for can be found in Christ Jesus."

Paul states the following in Scripture: "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" Phillipians 3:8

The primary purpose of my life is to know and love God. He created, rescued, and redeemed me. All of life should flow out of that relationship. Things will still pull at my heart on a regular basis. I will continue to have to navigate through the lies telling me I'll be happier if...(fill in the blank). The task at hand for all of us is to learn how to walk closely with Jesus in a cluttered and deceptive world. Let us aim our hearts at Jesus and allow him to draw us closer. Then, and only then, will we be a fulfilled and satisfied generation. We'll stop chasing our tail and start enjoying true life.

THE POWER tool OF WORSHIP

2011-03-14T19:47:00.003-06:00

This was a grand slam of a night. I still remember what the main auditorium at New Life Church looked and sounded like as thousands of people lifted their hands and voices in praise to God. If you have ever been to a worship recording at New Life, you know how powerful they are. Some people have called it a concert or a fancy light show, but I couldn't disagree more. Nobody cares about the lights, or for that matter, who is even singing. The chief concern for this tribe of people called New Lifers, is honoring the God who has been so amazingly faithful to us. The presence of God was so tangible that night. People worshiped with extra "gusto". People didn't want to leave. Avery didn't want to leave. She danced, clapped, and twirled for well over an hour. My heart was so full of joy. We stayed until the final note sounded, and then she crashed. It was beautiful. God met us there.

Worship didn't come quite as easy today. I embarked on a house project that Ashley had asked me to finish before May. I thought I would score some serious points if I finished the project early. I had my power tool out, paint brush in hand, and quickly began making progress. It got off to a good start...and then headed south. Halfway through the project Ashley stopped by the room to say hi. It was great to see her smiling face. She was obviously impressed that I had taken initiative. In the midst of saying hi she also suggested a different way to do the project. Her suggestion did not rest on welcoming ears. When I am holding a power tool, I am not exactly looking for suggestions from my wife. I am slowly working on growing in this area, but on this particular day, I didn't want to hear it. Her suggestion turned into a full scale "debate" about how to finish the project (her pink lips were saying something completely different than what my blue ears heard-love and respect). In the middle of our disagreement Avery was busy getting into the paint and trying to play with the power tool. We quickly removed the dangerous tool from her surprisingly strong grip, and she loudly voiced her disagreement. She started screaming. I had to discipline her which made her scream turn into a cry. This was not exactly the way I thought this project would unfold. I took a break and walked downstairs to get some water and cool off. The sound of kids worship music greeted my ears the second I got downstairs. "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart..." happened to be playing quite loudly. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. I didn't exactly feel like worshiping God in that moment. The last thing I felt "down in my heart" was joy, joy, and more joy. I was still ticked. Despite how I was feeling I reminded myself that worship is not a choice. Worship is not a matter of feelings. Worship is a response to who God is, and God never changes. I chose to worship in that moment. It was beautiful. God met me there.

Ashley and I have since laughed about our petty disagreement. Looking back, I think she was right about her suggestion. I can admit it now. We both learned some valuable lessons. I learned that I need to be more patient and understanding. She learned that there are a couple of times when you provide input with caution. When a man is behind the wheel or holding power tools, just let him do his thing. He may get lost. He may fill the wall with holes. But he will eventually figure it out.

More importantly, I am learning that how I treat my family is how I ultimately treat God. God recently whispered the following statement to my heart: "How you handle your family is how you handle my heart." That statement arrested my attention. I'm confident I will always remember that simple phrase. As amazing as the big corporate worship experiences are, I think God is more interested in how we worship at home. The better we are at loving our families, the more powerful and rich the corporate worship settings will be.

Fly on the wall at Starbucks...

2011-03-10T15:04:00.015-07:00

I recently sat down at a Starbucks table across from a friend who told me a fascinating story of redemption. God restored and saved his life. I could see it with my own eyes. He was now a completely different man than he was three and a half years ago. I thought to myself, "God is good at changing lives."

We prayed together, exchanged a man hug (you know the hug with a couple of hard pats on the back), and then I switched tables and set up shop to get some work done. I was now strategically placed at a table that I was hoping would allow me some privacy. Shortly after I had made myself comfortable, a couple of ladies came and sat down at the table right next to me. I initially wanted to question their poor choice of a table. They were so close they could probably smell my coffee breath. Then, they began talking. And talking. And talking. These women loved to talk. Picture this with me...Two women on the edge of their seats, hanging on every word of the conversation, and maintaining perfect eye contact the whole time. I'm not sure they even blinked. They obviously were happy to be there.

A few minutes later, a couple of guys (probably mid-forties) sat down at a table in front of me. By now I had lost hope of getting work done. I was all-out people watching. The body language of these guys was completely different than the ladies to my left. They were leaned way back in their chairs, completely relaxed, with little to say. When they would exchange conversation the man who was talking would stare out the window while he spoke. He would occasionally glance over at the other man, who happened to be fiddling with his cup and staring out the window as well. As much as they were looking out the window I though maybe I was missing some incredible show that was taking place on the Starbucks balcony. I glanced over my shoulder to see what might possibly be so interesting outside--nothing but a parking lot full of cars. Despite the body language it was apparent that they were also quite happy to be there.

To my left were a couple of women who talked non-stop. In front of me were a couple of men who rarely looked at each other. Smiles were present at both tables. The conversations couldn't have been more different. The women were talking about what makes them cry, and the men were talking about restoring an old car or an old house (100% true story). As different as the two conversations were, the bottom line was that these people were intentional about the friendships in their lives. You don't accidentally end up at Starbucks and find yourself engaged in a riveting conversation about your emotions, and the things that trigger them. Neither do two men stumble upon the same table and begin an enjoyable conversation about restoring old cars. You have to get on the phone and extend the invitation. You have to make time. You have to adjust your busy schedule for the things that matter most. To enjoy the harvest of rich relationships, you have to plant and water the seeds. You have to pursue relationships. You have to step out of your comfort zone. You have to push through the fear of rejection barriers and simply go for it. You have to forgive and come back to seeing the best in people. It made me consider my own friendships and my level of intentionality towards them. It is something that I must get better at.

My train of thought was interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. Ashley was calling to tell me that she and Avery were ready to meet me for breakfast. Now it was on to Einstein Bros. to enjoy coffee with my own family. As we enjoyed our breakfast, I couldn't help but notice the lady sitting at the table next to ours was listening to our conversation. I had to smile. I wouldn't be surprised to see her post a blog about us...Perhaps it would be about how Ashley and I failed to carry on a sustained conversation. We were too busy chasing our two year old around the restaurant.

Thank God for friendships. They make life rich.

Why I'll never be the same...

2011-03-07T14:53:00.013-07:00

My wife is currently watching the Bachelor. I'm trying to do anything besides watch the Bachelor. It's hard to admit, but sometimes I do enjoy watching that goofball show. I think more than anything, I just enjoy spending time with my wife. If that means watching a guy get a free ticket to the most beautiful places on the planet, and totally escape reality, so be it. I couldn't do it tonight though...For whatever reason, I didn't have the stomach to watch these girls fight for two hours. So, in an effort to do ANYTHING else, I turned to my wife and asked her what I should write a blog about. I told her I would write about the first thing that came to her mind. Looking back, that was a dangerous proposition. Was I going to be writing about why Brad didn't choose Ashley last week? Was I going to be writing about why Michele wasn't a good match for Brad? That would have been worse than actually watching the show. Ashley's answer was soothing to my ears. She said, "You should write about Avery's birth." What a fitting response being that tomorrow is Avery's 2nd birthday. Good call, Ash. Thank you for saving me.

Before Avery was born, I had several guys tell me that I would never be the same after my first child was born. They explained that there is something that happens in a man's heart the moment you get to hold your child for the first time. I found this to be true. It's hard to explain, but it is so true.

I think I was very prepared for the actual birthing process. After all, Ashley and I had spent the previous three months in strict training as we participated in a birthing class. Week after week we showed up to practice breathing techniques. It was pretty exciting...and expensive.

On the morning of March 7th, Ashley woke up feeling sick and was experiencing abnormal pain in her side. We decided to take her to the doctor to find out if everything was ok. After an ultrasound, the doctor made the decision to induce. That was a wild moment. It dawned on me that I was going to be a dad within 24 hours. It was "go" time! It was time to use these breathing skills that I worked so hard to perfect.

Fast forward to 11pm...Ashley is strapped down to a rock hard hospital bed huffing and puffing, still looking beautiful, but huffing and puffing none the less. I was a focused man. I took a few deep breaths and began doing what I was trained to do. I told her she looked beautiful every eight seconds, reminded her to relax her eyebrows, and held her right leg in the air.

As prepared as I thought I was, in the heat of battle, I couldn't remember a few of the minor details. Was it "hee hawww whoooo" or "whooo heee hawww"? I couldn't remember so I just resorted to telling her she looked beautiful. It's hard for a man to go wrong by simply telling his wife that she is attractive. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this simple truth-especially when she feels like a marshmallow and is trying to pass a bowling ball through a straw.

After a couple hours of continued labor (I know why they call it labor-it wasn't easy doing my job), I saw a sight that will forever be etched in my memory. I saw the top of Avery's head. I got so excited that Ashley had to "shhhh" me. After all my elite training, I was losing focus. I was blowing it. The sheer excitement of seeing the baby crown was throwing me off. Ashley's rebuke forced me to get my head back in the game, and once again, I went back to telling her to relax her eyebrows and breathe.

Ashley did a phenomenal job delivering Avery. She was born at 3:41am. After she was born, we quickly placed her on Ashley's chest and they shared an incredibly powerful momma-daughter moment. Ashley grew up dreaming about this moment. She has always wanted to be a momma. She's never had big dreams to appear on the cover of magazines, build a successful business empire, or take the world by storm. She's always just wanted to have kids and love them well. In that moment, her dream became a reality. She looked great as a new momma, seriously.

At about 6:30am, the three of us were squeezed into this tiny hospital bed enjoying time together as a new family. A nurse entered the room, scooped Avery up, commented on her color, and quickly left the room. That was a little unnerving. Apparently, Avery's lips were abnormally purple and they rushed her off for tests. I had already been through a roller coaster of emotions, and now the story was taking a horrible turn in the wrong direction.

I still feel a twinge of pain in my heart as I remember seeing Avery for the first time, through a glass window, hooked up to all those different machines. I entered the room, leaned down next to her sweet little ears, and whispered, "Avery, it's daddy." A faint smile appeared on her face. My heart melted. I was confident that she recognized my voice. From the time we found out we were expecting Avery, we were intentional about talking to her. We sang to her, prayed for her, and affirmed our great love for her while she was in the womb. To this day, I am still convinced that she recognized her dad's voice in the midst of the beeping and buzzing of the medical instruments that surrounded her.

If you've read any of my previous blog posts you know that Avery's story didn't abruptly end in that NICU room. God's grace was apparent as Avery quickly began to show improvement. Her lungs eventually adjusted to breathing the fresh, but thin, Colorado air and they transferred her back to our room. In a matter of two days we were back in the comfort of our own home, starting family life as a tribe of three.

Looking back over the previous two years brings a smile to my face. Avery has been an incredible blessing to our family. I have learned more about the heart of God in the past two years than in my previous 28 years combined. God has been teaching me about His love. He's been teaching me how to love others. It's been a beautiful and rich process to enter into. What better way to learn about the Father's love than to look into the eyes of your own child? It's hard to find words to describe my love for Avery. It's even harder to find words to describe God's love for me. The journey is sure to continue. The learning is sure to continue.

Happy Birthday, Avery. I sure love you.

Now, who is Brad going to pick next week-Emily or what's her face? Perhaps I'll be too busy to find out. After all, I think I have a daddy-daughter date planned. Should I take her to South Africa or Anguilla? I have six days to decide.

Dark Alleys and Dark Coffee

2011-03-02T15:41:00.001-07:00

I have to smile when I see some of the paintings of Jesus. Frankly, many of these pictures make him look like he is miserable. They make him look like he's spent too much time in the fields hanging out with those sheep. Now be honest, and take another glance at this pic...Does he really appear to be someone you would want on your side if you were stuck in a dark alley with your life on the line? I'm confident you would also pass on the invitation to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with this guy. Thankfully, this is not the picture the Scriptures paint of Jesus.

I actually think you would really enjoy having a cup of coffee with Jesus. I imagine he would take his coffee dark and bold (maybe even Folgers!). I could picture him giving you a funny look as he surveys your fluffy Starbucks drink. I also think that if you were really stuck in a dark alley scenario, you would be just fine with him in your corner. I'll start with the coffee explanation...

John 21 is one of my favorite chapters in Scripture. It paints such a wonderful picture of who Jesus is and how much he loves being with people. Just after Jesus was resurrected, he suprises (again) his friends by showing up on the shore as they are hard at work fishing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The first time Jesus performed a miraculous catch of fish, the disciples left everything and followed him. The second time he awed them with a miraculous catch of fish, they sat around a campfire, laughed together, ate together, and shared stories together. If you take a quick glance at the previous twenty chapters in John, you will see that they weren't lacking stories to share. I would have loved to be sitting on one of those logs listening to that conversation.

Secondly, I think Jesus could hold his own in a dark alley. One of my other favorite passages of Scripture comes from Revelation 19:

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

I get chills nearly every time I read those verses. It's such a mystery that the God who created the universe and leads Heaven's armies would delight in sitting around a campfire with his friends. You know, he hasn't changed. He's just as powerful today. He's just as personal today. And he's still inviting us to know him better. You gotta love it.

Honest Feedback!

2011-03-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

Avery recently gave me some honest feedback on my singing skills...or lack thereof.

Hand In Hand

2011-02-27T15:42:00.001-07:00

I broke up with a girl in 6th grade because she tried to hold my hand. It made me very uncomfortable. We weren't supposed to hold hands. 6th grade dating code states that you simply call each other boyfriend/girlfriend, but that you rarely talk to one another, much less hold hands. What was she thinking?!?! When I felt her hand reach over and grab mine, I decided to run for the hills (aka-send a friend to communicate that the relationship was now over). I just wanted to call her my girlfriend without having to really get to know her. When I was twenty, I found myself wanting to call Jesus my LORD without having to take his hand and walk where he was going. I wanted the Christian title without the actual relationship. When I felt him reaching for my hand, I ran for the hills (or to the bars).

Thankfully, I have gotten over my fear of holding hands with a female. One of my favorite things to do is walk hand in hand with my wife. I also love when Avery reaches up and grabs my hand. It's hard to find words that describe the joy of her little fingers reaching for mine. Most importantly, I have since developed a deep love for the God I once ran from. I have come to appreciate his reach as he takes hold of my hand to lead me. To comfort me. To simply remind me of his presence.

Sometimes it's hard for men to picture Jesus holding our hand and leading us. We like to think of ourselves as independent. We sometimes think we can handle everything ourselves. I know that thought process all too well. At the same time, I know that in order to follow where Jesus is leading, into deep and dangerous waters, I desperately need him to walk beside me. I need him to reassure me. The path will twist and turn and lead us to places we would never go alone. There will be set backs. There will be heart ache. There will be valleys and mountain tops. And when we think we can't take anymore, he'll whisper to us, "We're just beginning." There will be times when he says to speed up. There will be times when he says to slow down. And yet, there will be other times when he says to wait. The truth is that we were never meant to walk alone. Our hand was designed to fit into his. For if we walk alone, we will get eaten alive. We will turn back in fear or discouragement. Or even worse, we will never even set out on the journey. We will die in shallow waters with sun-burned backs without ever experiencing the Promise Land. You see, life is a wonderful and mysterious journey. It's a fierce battle. It's a grand story. Thankfully the God who formed Pikes Peak is walking beside us, holding our hand. Or better yet, carrying us close to his heart.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

God, The Wrestler

2011-02-24T22:50:00.001-07:00

It's a great time of year for the sport of wrestling. We just finished the Colorado state wrestling tournament last weekend. Many states are having their state wrestling tournament this weekend. College regional tournaments are less than 10 days away, and I've already booked my tickets to attend the NCAA national tournament in Philadelphia in March. I love this time of year. Because wrestling is on my brain, I thought I would repost one of my previous entries entitled "God, The Wrestler".

Originally posted on April 19, 2009

God's wrestling match with Jacob (Genesis 32) has to be one of the coolest stories in the Bible. I'll admit I might be biased. I was born and raised around the sport of wrestling. My dad was a high school wrestling coach for over 30 years. I now find myself coaching the same sport that I competed in for 18 years. I am not talking about the kind of wrestling you see on TBS or Pay Per View. I can proudly admit that I have never painted my face, worn a speedo, or hit someone on the back of the head with a folding chair. I am talking about the sport that is seen in high school and college gyms across the country-amateur wrestling-one of the greatest and oldest sports on earth. Being familiar with the sport, I have a great appreciation for what God did on that fateful night as he engaged Jacob in a wrestling match. The story would have been much less appealing to me if God would have challenged Jacob to a ping pong match. Or, even worse, chess. God wanted to see what Jacob was made of. My brother, who is currently flying helicopters in Iraq (one of the bravest men I know), made a good point in a recent email: "I picture the LORD as the day broke filled with delight and thinking, 'Yes, this is why I made man in my image.'" I think my brother is right. God wants to engage us on this kind of level. It's just like a father wanting to wrestle with his son. He wants us to roll up our sleeves and struggle with him. He wants to see what we're made of. At first, the religious side of me was quick to think, "Wrestle with God? No, he would rather have us lay on our face and worship him." Of course He wants us to worship Him. He also wants us to "step in the ring" and grapple with Him. How cool.

Sharks are better than minnows...

2011-02-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

We recently took Avery to the Denver Aquarium, and she had a blast! She was in awe of the diferent fish, colored coral, and best of all, the sharks. Right as we walked in there was a SMALL little aquarium with SMALL fish in it front and center. I was excited to hurry along and see the exciting things, like sharks, but Avery's eyes locked on to the small fish in the small aquarium and she was mesmerized. I couldn't get her to keep walking to see the really good stuff. I kept saying, "Avery there are much better and more exciting things around the corner", but she didn't want to leave the first tank. She didn't know what was around the corner waiting for her. She just knew that what she was looking at was pretty cool.

God is calling all of us to move out into deeper waters with Him. The kind of place where we have to trust Him on a daily basis. The place that's scary to us but perfect to Him. As we do this we may have to leave familiar things behind. Ouch. You know, the things that comfort us. The things that may even rival God's place in our hearts. Or, it may even be things that aren't necessarily bad, but He simply has better things planned for us. Why stare at the minnows when you can see the sharks? He has proved Himself faithful too many times for me to stand in ankle-deep water. Besides, it gets boring close to shore.

A beautiful ending...

2011-02-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

It's a sound that a man never wants to hear. It's worse than fingernails on a chalk board. Far worse than the intro song of What not to wear. It's the sound of a car smashing into another car, and it was one of the first things I heard yesterday morning. As I backed out of the garage, I drilled our explorer and spilled coffee all over myself. Not a good way to start the day. The rest of the day was a grind.

I finished my day with one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard. As I rocked Avery to sleep, I started singing "Amazing Grace", and she started singing with me. It was amazing. Her soft and gentle two year old voice would repeat the words after I would sing them (she already sounds better than me!). The events of the day were a distant memory. They were washed away by the sweet sound of Avery's song. God redeemed the day. It made me think about all of the different ways God works redemption into our lives.

My life story is a story of redemption. I haven't always walked with God. I am not proud of some of the choices that I have made. But, God's redemptive hand has been upon my life. He turned my bad choices into something good. This is His heartbeat. He loves to come into messy lives and create something beautiful. Just before I fell asleep, my mind drifted back to the words we were singing. I didn't think about it at the time, but we were singing the song of redemption.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see."

No wonder the word Gospel means "good news".

Abundant Life

2011-02-16T20:16:00.001-07:00

My wonderful family and I just took a family trip to Culvers to enjoy some quality desserts. On the way back, we stopped at Wal-Mart for a diaper refill. Instead of getting Avery out of her car seat and having all of us go in, I dropped Ashley off at the front door and waited in a nearby parking spot. As I was waiting, I began to think about the reality of God being with us. Now, if I were to ask nearly everyone reading this if they believe God is with them, they would most likely say "yes". However, when was the last time you took 10 minutes to simply think about what it means that God is right beside you-or better yet, inside of you? The God who placed the stars in the sky and knows each one by name is with you at this very moment. The God who can hold all of the oceans in the palm of his hand is smiling at you. The more I thought about this, the more amazed I became. As I was driving home, I couldn't stop thinking about how miraculous it is that God is always with us. I noticed that when I am aware of His presence, the little things that usually annoy me don't really matter (bad drivers!). As we got home, I put Avery in the bath tub and took my usual place perched on top of the bathroom sink watching her play in the water. The tradition has been that she plays with her toys, and I lazily sit there and watch her (sad, huh?). Again, I began thinking about how God was with us right there in the bathroom. As I was thinking about His presence, I heard him whisper to my heart that He was on his hands and knees playing with Avery. I instantly got up from my comfortable and lazy position and began playing with Avery's bath toys. She laughed the whole time. I laughed the whole time. It was a blast! It was a result of just being aware of God's presence and what He may be doing in a given situation. When we live with an awareness of the Holy Spirit, every day life turns into the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10. Try it. Pause and take a few moments to enjoy the presence of God. Talk to Him. Ask him questions. Listen for his sweet words.

Jesus, help us to be aware of your amazing presence. Open our eyes to see you and open our ears to hear you. Teach us to experience this abundant life you created us for.

Better than a gym membership...

2011-02-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Children, Arrows, and God's Strategy

2011-02-03T13:17:00.001-07:00

I am one of 2 men that work on a team with 16 women. No, I don't work at a nail salon. No, I don't work at great clips. I work as a children's pastor at New Life Church. When I first started in children's ministry, I began to ask God if he had the wrong person for the job. After all, I like manly activities. I like to go fly fishing. I enjoy prairie dog hunting (If you shoot them in the right spot, they will do a flip and land flat on their backs-pretty cool). One of my favorite movies is We Were Soldiers. I have coached High School football and wrestling for the past 6 years. Did I mention that I enjoy manly activities? So, why did God place me in children's ministry with a bunch of women?? God's answer to this question has changed my paradigm on children.

³ Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court. Psalm 127:3-6

God is comparing children to arrows. Arrows are an offensive weapon. That's right, the chief strategist (GOD) is calling children offensive weapons. The Message puts it like this:

^3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

Psalm 8:2 is another example of how God is correlating children with the advancement of His kingdom.

² Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

Most of us have read the end of the Bible and we realize that, in the end, God wins. What I think a lot of people miss is what role children play in God's grand strategy. I think too many people subconsciously think that children have received a Jr. Holy Spirit and can't do much until they grow up. This couldn't be further from the truth. God has placed the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead within the hearts and upon the lives of children. God wants to use them right now for ministry. As the body of Christ, we can't afford to ignore them or their role in the story. We must encourage them to find their God-given mission, and train them to be successful. If we do this well, we will see miraculous results. In fact, our enemies "don't stand a chance against us." We'll sweep them right off our doorstep.

A simple formula...Right?

2010-09-22T21:26:00.000-06:00

I think one of the biggest mistakes we make on a daily basis is trying to accomplish our work apart from God. Even in ministry, it's easy to fall into this trap. We have a lot to do and we're quick to leave God in the dust. I've been meditating on a simple formula lately. I think this is more along the lines of what God intended our work to look like.

1. God gives us an assignment (responsibility).
2. We lean into God to find out the best way to do it.
3. We walk with Jesus closely and allow Him to work through us to complete the vision.
4. God shines the spotlight on us and gives us recognition.
5. We give God the glory and credit.
6. Friendship with God is strengthened.

I think it's a pretty healthy cycle.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

The grass is not always greener...

2010-08-23T09:05:00.000-06:00

...On the other side!

2010-05-19T14:49:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 60:1-3
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn."

What an awesome promise. God will shine His light upon us and reflect His glory over us. Because of His glory appearing over us, people will be drawn to us. They are the people who are needing the light of the Gospel. The light is designed to reveal the nature of the kingdom of heaven that is within us. The degree to which we allow people to see the kingdom within us is the degree to how brightly the light will shine. People are coming for Him, not to be impressed by us. When our focus is fixed on the glory of the LORD that is over us instead of ourselves, the insecurity will melt and confidence will appear. Soak in His presence and enjoy the blessing of His glory appearing over you. Then, watch Him draw people to you who need His light. It is indeed a great promise.

First Date!

2010-03-17T21:00:00.001-06:00

Avery and I had our first date tonight. I'm committed to winning her heart before the world does, so I decided to start taking her on a date every month. Plus, I know her blue eyes are going to be attracting boys before we know it. I don't have a choice but to set the bar extremely high!

Our first date went great. Although I honestly think she was more interested in the balloons by our table than she was me! We ate, laughed, played, and came home. It was simple but soo good.

First Birthday...

2010-03-14T20:13:00.000-06:00

Avery just turned one last week! Where does time go? She was being too polite as she was eating her cake so I gave her war paint stripes. Can you tell her dad is a football coach?

It was fun to celebrate Avery's birthday. Quite honestly, it's fun to celebrate anything. We were created to celebrate. This is what worship is. Worship is celebrating who God is. I have recently found myself to be so busy with details of different work projects, that I have not been celebrating life. I have been in survival mode going from one thing to the next trying to get things done and stay on top of a long to do list. I have not been truly celebrating God. I have not been celebrating my family. This is not what we were created for. There is something much deeper to be experienced. There is a much grander story being told. The author of the story is worth celebrating. Don't you sense something deeper taking place in your life? Don't you sense a deeper calling to your life? I think we agree that there is more to life than getting things done...When was the last time you truly celebrated life? When was the last time you celebrated the fact that you have a God who is passionate about you? Here's to celebrating life instead of simply surviving...Here's to seeking out the grander story being told in and around you. Cheers.

A Suprising Find...

2010-03-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

Jesus was right when he compared the kingdom of God to a hidden treasure that not everyone finds. I think there are many of us who have a wrong perception of who God truly is. He's better than we've ever imagined. He's better than we can even fathom. We don't even have the mental capacity to wrap our mind around the fullness and depth of His love and goodness. Being that we can't mentally comprehend it, all we're left to do is experience it. Bring it on.

The closer I get to God, the more amazed I am at the level of His goodness. I've also been pleasantly suprised to find out how personal He is. He wants to speak to us in ways that are deeply personal. In the same way that your thumbprint is special and unique to you, God's way of capturing your heart and communicating to you is equally as unique. He knows how he wired you. He knows the best way to communicate to you. Allow Him to speak to you on a deeper level. Allow Him to speak to some of the deeper, hidden issues of your heart. It is sure to bring much needed freedom.

I have spent the past seven months submersed in ministry and coaching. I didn't realize the toll it has taken on me until last week. I was finally honest and admitted that I felt like burnt toast. God is right about the whole Sabbath thing...Wow. I was sitting in a staff meeting this week with my fellow ministry staff members, and the most refreshing thing happened. God began to encourage me through others. Time after time, my friends approached me with encouraging words and verses from Scripture. It was deeply personal. The final thing I saw was a picture of Jesus standing in a wide open field holding a football...He said, "Come on, let's play." The God who created the stars in the sky was inviting me to enjoy Him. It's hard to find words that express my appreciation for a God like that.

Most people will not understand the freedom those simple words brought me. Again, He speaks to us in very unique ways. The common denominator is that His heart is perfectly good, and He is willing to give you a taste of it. Open your hearts and your ears today. Listen for His personal words. They will bring freedom to your heart. He wants to speak to you more than you want to listen. Even if you have never asked Him to personally speak to you, give it a try. You have nothing to lose. Nobody is going to make fun of you. Nobody has to know. Just pause and ask Him if there is anything He wants to tell you. It's a great day to start listening. Enjoy.

From radio host to pastor....

2010-02-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

If you would have seen me 10 years ago, you would never have thought I would end up as a pastor. If you would have asked me 5 years ago, I never would have thought I would end up in full-time ministry. God has a way of suprising us. I don't know if I will always be a pastor (I will always be a minister of the Gospel), but this is where He has me right now. It's been an interesting journey for me to transition from hosting a radio show to becoming a pastor. I can say that I am thankful to now be doing something that is much more fulfilling to me. For some reason, talking about where Terri Clark was going to be on tour next got old! I felt God stirring something new in my heart. I had a strong passion for God rising in my heart. I was, as the whipper-snappers say, "ON FIRE".

Then, I joined the professional ministry ranks and slowly watched my "fire" dwindle. At first, I fell into the trap of performance. I was too immature to realize that it really wasn't about me. I had quickly lost the vision that was once burning within me. Then, it got worse. Not only was I stuck on my own performance as a minister, but I found myself becoming a "professional information sharer." I was simply sharing information about God that I hadn't taken the time to cultivate in my own heart. I felt like a lion that had been declawed, tamed, and domesticated. It was frightening. It was miserable.

Thankfully, I began to snap out of it and realize that God did not call me to become a professional information sharer. Neither did God call me to be the center of the story. God did call me to know Him and enjoy Him. He has chosen me to be His son and His heir. He called me to live out of my relationship with Him and minister to other people out of the overflow of that relationship. This has changed the way I minister to people. The passion for God is back. Ministry is becoming fun again. I'm still amazed that my job is to draw closer to God and help others to do the same. Being a pastor is an honor, a privilege, and pretty amazing when you think about it. I praise God for the story He is telling in each of our lives and for the transformation that accompanies it. It's really a good life.

Ephesians 3:20

2010-02-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..."

There is nothing better than walking with God. Life would be boring if we served a God who was too busy to be involved in our daily lives. I praise the LORD that God loves us and cares about the details of our lives. I'm working at being more intentional about inviting him into the details of my life...When this happens, life becomes so rich.

Ephesians 3:20 is a verse that God has been highlighting to me lately. We serve an awesome God. I think He likes it when we pray the big prayers and believe that he'll come through for us. Not only will He come through, but he will do immeasurably more than we can even imagine if we'll simply believe! I recently experienced this reality. I have been looking forward to going on vacation and enjoying my beautiful wife and the beautiful beach. Recently, our vacations plans seemed to be slipping away. God reminded me of Ephesians 3:20 and how He can do far more than I was even thinking or planning. He cares about vacation. He cares about rest. He cares about the condition of marriages. The very night I began praying Ephesians 3:20 was the night a friend approached me and handed me an envelope. Inside the envelope was more cash than I had seen in a long time! Attached was a note that said to enjoy a vacation.

Wow, we serve a God who is interested in the details of our lives. I'm going to continue to pray Ephesians 3:20 over the details of my life. Join me...Let's watch God do the unthinkable.

Well Said...

2009-12-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

The following is a daily devotional from Bill Johnson's book, A Life of Miracles.

...We are out to destroy the works of the devil...

In what is known as the lords prayer, Jesus said clearly and concisely:

“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
(Matthew 6:9-10).

The will of God is simply this: “On earth as it is in Heaven.” Isn’t it refreshing? When we pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” we’re praying for the King’s dominion and will to be realized right here, right now. That is a life-transforming, paradigm-shattering way to “do” normal Christianity. What is free to operate in Heaven – Joy, peace, wisdom, health, wholeness, and all the other good promises we read about in the Bible – Should be free to operate here on this planet, in your home, your church, your business, and your school. What is not free to operate there – sickness, disease, spiritual bondage, and sin – should not be free to operate here, period. We are out to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). It’s an awesome way to live!

When we make this our primary understanding of God’s will, the other areas that trouble us so much will seem to sort themselves out (Matt. 6:33).

When we make this our mission, lives are set free, bodies are restored, darkness lifts from people’s minds, the rule of the enemy is pushed back in every way imaginable. Businesses grow healthy, relationships flower again, people re-connect with their calling and purpose in life, churches grow, and cities feel the effects of having the kingdom flourishing within them. Energy is freed up for Kingdom works in ways I have never seen before. Things happen regularly that are so extraordinary it’s like stepping into the pages of a good novel. But it’s not a made-up lifestyle; it’s the lifestyle for which we were made.
From Bill Johnson's book entitled, A Life of Miracles.

Where is the POWER?

2009-12-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

God is awesome. I love how he whispers to my heart and invites me to go to a deeper place with Him. The deeper I go, the more I realize that there is a richness to life that he desires for me to experience. Life can be rich. Life should be rich. The place to find it is hidden deep in the Holy Spirit.

I was recently challenged by a very simple question that came in the form of a randomn thought: "Am I experiencing all that God has for me?" The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I have been limiting God by my small thinking. It's so easy to get into the habit of life and establish a routine that doesn't require God to come through with miracles. This is where I had been living. Consumed with the cares of the world. Praise God that he doesn't leave us there.

The God who has "measured the waters in the hollow of his hand," (Isaiah 40:12)is living inside me. This is a big deal. He is a God of miracles. The more I dive into Scripture, the more I realize that He is not who He's been made out to be by most American believers. We have settled for a safe version of Christianity (myself included). Because we don't have all the answers, we stop seeking. We have fallen into the plan of the enemy. The greatest tool we have as believers is the power of God within us. Isn't this how Jesus evangelized? People can't argue with miracles.

Sadly, many people have stretched the truth and have given many Christians a bad taste when it comes to the charismatic movement. Many people have gotten wacky and weird and called it God. I will be the first to agree with that. However, there still remains a simple question that we must answer: where is the power? If the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus is in me (us), why are the results so different? Why aren't people being healed and set free? Did God change His mind and decide that he now wants people to live in bondage? Was Jesus joking when he said that we would do the same things that He did? We need to wake up and snap out of our daze.

I don't have all the answers, but I'm asking and searching. We have to get back to the place where we are walking in the love and power of God. Religion can't save us. Other people aren't drawn to religion. They are drawn to love and power. This is exactly what God has richly placed in us. As for me, I am going to continue to accept His gracious invitation to go to a deeper place of understanding regarding the Holy Spirit. One of the greatest promises in the Bible is that He will answer if we simply ask. It may not be comfortable, but I'm tired of comfortable. I am ready to experience all that God has for me. What a rich life it will be!

2009-12-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a wonderful snow day with my family today and it made me think about some of the finer things in life:

-The way my wife's eyes disappear when she really smiles
-Having Avery sit on my lap as we watch a cartoon
-Hearing God whisper truth to my heart
-Watching a good college football game
-Loyal people
-Family dates at Chipotle
-Watching athletes that I coach accomplish what they didn't think was possible
-Snow days
-Letting the Scriptures work in my heart
-Enjoying an ice cold Dr. Pepper
-Looking at Christmas lights on a snowy night
-Beef...(I'm from Kansas)

Praise the LORD for some of the "little things" that make life so rich...

Something to think about...

2009-11-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have a hard time releasing the details of your life to God? What is it about us as people that drives us to control our lives? I often find myself trying to control the details of my life. We want promotions, and so we control. We want good reputations, and so we control. We want respect, and so we control. We want (fill in the blank), and so we control. My list goes on and on. How beautiful it would be for us all to simply enjoy what God has prepared for us, and trust that His heart is good. God recently spoke the following statement to me and it brought a great deal of freedom to my life.

"You get the joy of discovering your destiny, not controlling it."

God has already prepared my destiny. He has planned the details of my life. I can trust that His plan is good. Even great! Let's be committed to walking with Him and simply enjoying His wonderful plan.

The Distraction Trap

2009-04-22T22:01:00.001-06:00

It's amazing how much we see God in our daily life when we're not distracted. In fact, this is what God created us for. He wants us to enjoy Him and walk with him day by day and moment by moment. He has far more to show us and speak to us than we give Him credit for. I can't speak for you, but I am easily distracted. Or I should say, I have been easily distracted in the past. I am making great progress with extreme intentionality toward this area of my life. It's a battle. It's a fight. It's a daily process for me to set my mind on Christ and enjoy Him.

A couple years ago I was sitting on a rock in the Garden of the Gods park overlooking the incredibly majestic Pikes Peak. The sun was setting behind the mountains, and the view was incredible. It was peaceful. It was serene. It was relaxing. It was...you get the point. As I sat there enjoying the view, a pesky little fly began to fly around my head. My eyes shifted from the glistening Peak to this dirty little fly. I watched this fly for quite some time. Eventually, it landed by my hand and I continued to stare at it. It was in that moment when God revealed that I live much of my life like that. I take my eyes off the incredible "view" that God has set before me, and I become distracted by things that don't matter. I had a choice to either enjoy the sun drenched rocks and the rugged mountains or watch a fly sit on a rock. For some odd reason, I chose the fly. I was missing what God had for me because I was simply distracted.

I truly believe that Jesus gives us abundant life on a daily basis, but that we often miss it. I believe that our joy is stolen because we allow our minds to wander and meditate on the worries of life. God is leading us to "taste and see that the LORD is good." We will all experience this in greater measure as we train ourselves to be alert. I want to invite you to join me in a daily challenge. As you wake up in the morning, commit to living with a clear mind and a clear heart. Give the details of your life to God. Trust him to work out the "little things" that we all spend too much time thinking about. And finally, be observant to all of the ways that God is communicating to you. Walk with Him day by day and moment by moment. The results will speak for themselves.

God, The Wrestler

2009-04-18T00:02:00.000-06:00

God's wrestling match with Jacob (Genesis 32) has to be one of the greatest stories in the Bible. Of course, I might be a little biased. I was born and raised around the sport of wrestling. My dad was a high school wrestling coach for over 30 years. Now, I find myself coaching the same sport that I competed in for 18 years. I am not talking about the kind of wrestling you see on TBS or Pay Per View. I can proudly admit that I never painted my face, wore a speedo, or hit someone in the back of the head with a folding chair. I AM talking about the sport of wrestling seen in high school and college gyms throughout the country. Amateur wrestling, the greatest and one of the oldest sports on earth. Being familiar with the sport, I have much more of an appreciation for what God did on that fateful night as he wrestled Jacob. The story would have been much less appealing to me if God had appeared to Jacob and challenged him to a game of ping pong. Or much worse, chess. God wanted to see what Jacob was made of. My brother (currently flying helicopters in Iraq and one of the bravest men I know) made a good point in a recent email: "I picture the LORD as the day broke filled with delight, exhausted and thinking, 'Yes, this is why I made man in my image.'" His point has challenged my thinking of God. I think my brother is right. God wants to wrestle with us. It's the same as a father wanting to wrestle with his son. He wants to engage us on that kind of level. He wants us to roll up our sleeves and struggle with Him. At first, the religious side of me was quick to think, "Wrestle with God? No, he would rather have me lay on my face and worship!" Of course he wants us to lay on our face and worship Him. He also wants us to "step into the ring" and grapple with Him. How cool.

Bored?

2009-04-17T23:41:00.000-06:00

Boredom and Christianity don't mix. Or, I guess I should say they shouldn't mix. As I minister to kids I am worried about the number of kids who are bored with God and church. I believe that the answer to this problem is not found in increasing the entertainment value found in a particular church service. Even if we held church at Disney World for the next year, I am confident that kids would eventually still be bored. They are bored because they lack vision, purpose and a mission. Following Christ is certainly not a spectator sport. I admit that I get bored with God sometimes. Over the course of my walk with Christ, I have had to admit numerous times that I was bored with Him. It was then that he gently corrected me and revealed that I was not following Him closely enough. I was missing out on the mission and vision that He has for me. When I am truly following Christ, the last thing on my mind is being bored. I am learning that boredom is a symptom that something is wrong and it's always an issue on MY end. God is patient. So, kids need far more than an entertaining church service. They need a mission. They need purpose. They need vision. They have been called to walk with an adventurous, wild and free God who cannot be tamed. Yes, the same God who wrestled Jacob, parted the Red Sea, and was nailed to a cross at Calvary. Let us all walk closer and hear His heartbeat. It is then that boredom will be a distant memory. I am sure of it.

The Danger of Honesty

2009-04-16T15:44:00.001-06:00

Being honest with God is a beautiful but dangerous thing. It's beautiful because it's the first step to finding freedom. It's dangerous because it usually leads to God asking you to leave your comfort zone. I have spent a good portion of the past several days searching my heart and asking God real questions. I'm learning that he likes it when we're honest with him. I have lived most of my life ignoring some of the key issues that God is wanting to fix in my heart. The longer I ignore these issues, the more I begin to experience symptoms that something is not right. The longer I live with the symptoms, the more I begin to think it's normal. This is the path that most people travel down when their freedom is stolen. Look around and watch people live. How many people do you know that are living in the freedom that is rightfully ours as children of God? Can you even think of anybody? Thankfully, the Gospel is full of good news. Jesus will rescue your heart. Jesus truly will set you free. It's a journey. It's a process that he will take you through. I believe the first step is simply being honest with God about your heart and your life. If you are lacking passion, tell him. If you are lacking vision for your life, tell him. He's not suprised. If you are tired of people, tell him. If you read the Bible because you feel like you have to, tell him. If your prayer life is monotanous, tell him. As you are honest with him, expect him to be honest back. It is indeed a beautiful but dangerous invitation.

Below are some verses that I have been meditating on lately:

Proverbs 20:5 "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Secrets Revealed

2009-03-26T11:10:00.000-06:00

I left the radio business for full time ministry approximately four years ago. What a wild ride it has been! There have been many suprises along the way (God has a sense of humor), but none bigger than my first assignment. When I first moved to Colorado, I had a passion for college and high school ministry. Honestly, the thought of doing children's ministry had never entered my mind. When I was first asked to be a children's pastor, I accepted with the thought that I would soon "move on" to something BIGGER. Sad but true...

Now, I am convinced that people who think this way are missing out on the secrets of the Kingdom of God. Jesus reveals this truth in Luke 10:21, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." Again, in Matthew 18, Jesus teaches his disciples that if they truly want to become great they should become like children. There is something about children that envoked incredible passion in Jesus. There are secrets about God hidden in the hearts of children. I thought I would be doing the teaching and the kids would do the learning, but they have actually taught me much about the kingdom of God. So, we shall all go on and truly listen to the hearts of children. I imagine God has many more secrets to reveal through them.