Independence Day…and Life!

Friday is the 4th of July.  I don’t know about you, but I tend to take this holiday for granted for what it REALLY represents. 

It seems like there is a lot to complain about these days living in America… gas, war, taxes, politics, economy and our jobs.  If we REALLY take a moment and stop to look at life in America, we are TRULY FREE AND BLESSED!  

Where else in the world can we enjoy the benefits of a free economic society, the freedom to worship as we please, freedom to choose our own education and profession, freedom from persecution, free choice (in areas that are moral and ethical) and the list goes on and on.  We have so MUCH to be thankful for.  Shame on us for allowing our complaints to drown out our gratitude. 

So, join me not for just this Friday, but for the rest of our lives in embracing all of the freedoms we have living in the United States of America! 

Even greater, is the freedom found in Jesus… the sweetest life of all.  Are you FREE? 

Leadership Friction Principle

Great post on Swerve!  Click and check it out!

Ride 4 Love

A couple of months ago I posted about the Ride 4 Love. 

So, Saturday morning we rode 28 miles and had a great time participating in the Ride 4 Love to benefit Love 146.  There were over 60 riders and we all raised close to a total of $20,000 for the event!  For a first annual event, this was AWESOME!  Thanks to all of you who prayerfully and/or financially supported us (Rob, Moly and Sally Peck) as The Well Team!   We raised $996!  We couldn’t have done it without you!  

To you, “please, forgive me.”

I have said and done hundreds of stupid things in my life.  Unfortunately, many of these things have hurt indirectly (and directly) the people around me.  The only difference between the idiotic damage I did as a youth vs. adult, is the time for which I come to the realization.  Today, I’ll say or do something and know instantly or within days/weeks that I am an idiot.  As for when I was a youth, it can and has taken decades. 

So what do I do about this?  I want forgiveness.  NOT because I want to release the burden on my heart (although this is a secondary factor), but because it is the RIGHT thing to do.  So, how do I do this?  I can’t call or write everyone… in fact, it’s not appropriate in many cases (if you don’t agree, think about who you have wronged) to contact someone directly.  I think this is what I’ll do:

• Where appropriate, I will contact them
• Where inappropriate, or for those I am unaware I have hurt, I will pray today asking for their forgivenss (I have faith that God will work out the necessary details).
• To you (reading this blog), “please, forgive me.  I was a stupid idiot (or maybe worse).”

Thankfully, the frequency for which I hurt people has drastically decreased (especially in the past few years).  The fact that Jesus forgave me of ALL of the crap in my life, makes it nearly impossible not to ask for forgiveness or to forgive everything that everyone has done to hurt me over my life.  In that humility and without self righteous justification…

To you,“please, forgive me.”

Matthew 18:21,22  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Too Much…

One of the downsides of taking a break from the blog thing is that a lot of thoughts and experiences tend to pile up (which I otherwise would have blogged about).  This may be the lazy way out, however, I want to share with you the highs of the past few weeks…almost too much:

1. Started reading a cool book!  My wife is reading it with a good firend of hers (I don’t always read the books my wife reads).  Here’s a quick take-away:  Attitude is a choice and can lead you to the wilderness or the “land of milk and honey.”
2. At The Well, we are viweing the One Prayer series.  It’s been incredibly encouraging and motivating.  In addition, we have moved The Well to our home for the summer.  It’s been sweet to connect and be intimate (in an appropriate way :-)) with everyone in a way we weren’t in our other location.
3. Madison finished up her soccer season (she is 6).  So cool and crazy that she’s of an age that she can play organized sports!  We (Molly, Madi and I) have also been fishing, catching frogs, landscaping, having “camp outs,” toasting smores, losing teeth (Madison, not me), and rooting for the Red Sox and Celtics!  How sweet it is to have a family!  Thank you, God!
4. Fulfilled a dream that I have had since age 10!  Ask me about it or I’ll save it for a future post.
5. Meeting with some great guys Thursday mornings and discussing life and Solo.  I highly recommend this book (devotional)!!!
6. Connecting with God in some new and exciting ways!
7. Worked on my boat then fished with my dad-in-law and connected with him in a way I haven’t in years. 
8. Molly and I are doing great!  I could always show my love for her better, but MAN, HOW GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH AN INCREDIBLE WIFE!!!  Thank you!!!
9. Molly is doing a great job preparing for Summer Camp (she is the director), co-organizing our Town’s parade, running our Town’s soccer, little league and tee ball, leading our church’s praise band, leading our VBS (The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything)… as well as being a mom and wife!
10. I have been fly fishing with my good friend Scott and my Dad on the West Canada Creek and I caught my first fish (a brook trout)!  The beauty, challenge and serenity is awesome!
11. So COOL to be a Boston Fan this year!  Go Sox, Pats and Celts!

Ok, I think those are enough for now… Hope everyone is doing great, too!   God is great!…in the highs and the lows!

Wonderfully Made!

Watch the WHOLE video. 

Spring/Summer Break…

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve taken a blog break.  It’s been nice.  (this is not a pic of me, but thought it was funny.  Just wait until his ash drops off his stogie, burns through his shirt and smokes his chest hair!) 

I’ll be back soon…

Cruise Control

The last two days’ Swerve talks about “disrupting” the comfortable patterns we find ourselves in.  This has resonated with me in a big way!  There are areas of my life where I feel like I am on cruise control.  For me this means I am too comfortable.  Now comfort is fine, but not if I am “cruising” with regard to these main areas:

• My relationship with family and friends
• My prayer, worship, Bible study and obedience of God
• My leadership and love as a husband and father

Cruise control is fine if you’re on the highway and want efficient travel from point A to point B.  However, we should never “cruise” through life (and our relationship with God and others).  I want/need to be sharp, passionate, loving, wise, selfless (not selfish) and growing! 

Are you “cruising”?

 

Love My Enemies?!

Yesterday, our Pastor gave this great message on Loving Our Enemies.  It was taken from Luke 6 where Jesus commanded us to “love our enemies.”  This has always been a difficult passage for me to comprehend and practice.  The first difficulty I have is recognizing that I have enemies.  Unfortunately, there are three people who immediately come to mind when I think about this.  Think for a moment…who are your enemies?  Through a gross misunderstanding and miscommunication (there’s more to this, of course), I am quite sure these individuals are my enemies. 

For most, the natural response to those who hate (hurt) you, is to hate (hurt) back.  Jesus commands something against our natural instinct, “love your enemy.”  “Love” is not necessarily the hugs and kisses kind of love, but one that means to do the “right” thing.  The “right” thing is to, “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Jesus reminds us later in the passage, that it is easy to love those who love you (no credit is given).  BUT, to love those who hate you… wow! 

When we hate or hurt our enemy we:

1. We rob ourselves of our ability to heal.
2. We are not forgiving as we were forgiven (by Jesus).
3. We are missing out on the opportunity to restore a relationship.
4. We aren’t “loving our neighbor” (the second greatest commandment).
5. We are sinning.      

I think about my enemies all of the time.  It’s consuming at times.  I forgive them.  I pray for their forgiveness.  Honestly, I don’t know how to communicate with them effectively and appropriately.  I am afraid of rejection and further pain and suffering.  I am being selfish, I know.  I would love to restore our relationship…  It’s so hard. 

God loved me when I was His enemy.  How can I NOT love mine?  Are you loving your enemies?

 

Tattooed

Tattoos are everywhere!  It seems like in the last fifteen years, our culture has totally embraced the tattoo.  What was once for the biker or rock star, is now for the grandmother, the white collar professional (hidden from the boss’s view of course), college students and almost every pro athlete.  Who would have thought there would be tv reality shows designed around them (Miami Ink, Ink’d, London Ink and L.A. Ink)? 

As a high school youth group leader, we have Biblically debated, studied and prayed about this topic with our students consistently over the years.  Tattoos are clearly here to stay (literally, if you have one) within our culture.  In a world where we feel it is important to tell others about who we are and stand for with what we drive, where we live, the music we listen to, politics, etc….what better way to permanently differentiate ourselves than with a tattoo?  A tattoo is the ultimate way to stand alone and be “yourself,” right or wrong? 

In my opinion, here are the right and wrong reasons:  (NOTE:  The rightfor me is what is Biblically right.)

“Right” - When it is done in a place (on your body) and way that will stand the test of time.  It must be a tattoo that honors God (there is much to discuss on this opinion).  It must improve your Christian testimony, not degrade it.  Obviously, a cross tattoo on your arm is completely different from a cross tattoo on your forehead.  What about a wedding band (Brian)?  Or a “Jesus” tattoo?  Or a design or artwork that compliments your personality and values? 

“Wrong” - When it is done in a place and way that does not stand the test of time.  I knew a guy in college, who went as a “tag-along” to watch his friends get tattoos.  He decided last minute to get one himself.  It turned out the tattoo artist misunderstood the image he pointed to and gave him a tattoo of a worm in a top hat singing a song.  It was funny for us as college guys when he came home with stupid worm on his leg…but not for him.  His tattoo will not stand the test of time.

A year ago, I received this tattoo.  My commitment to Jesus has been life changing and saving.  It is part of my legacy.  As a result, I wanted to privately remind myself and publicly proclaim this dedication.  Hence, I tattooed the name of Jesus in Old English (the font you would see at the bottom of a family crest) underneath my watch band.  This tattoo will stand the test of time.  Although, most know of my commitment to Jesus…most do not know about my tattoo (they now do)…this was by design.  For me, this tattoo was right.  

What do you think about tattos?  Do you have any?  Do you have an opinion on what is “right” and what is “wrong”?