LifeChurch.tv Albany

On Sunday, Madison and I went down to LifeChurch.tv’s Albany campus to see my friend Josh (Pastor Josh) in action leading his church/campus.  For over three years I have been either a weekly podcast listener, online message watcher, Internet Campus attender or Network Church leader.  However, I had yet to actually attend a physical LifeChurch.tv experience…until now.  It was killer! 

From A to Z, the first impression, personal greeting/service, child/youth experience, quality of musical worship, pastoral greeting/closing, message content (the message was gut checking - ”Practical Atheist”) and overall vibe were ROCKIN’!  They have “IT.”  The only thing that is lacking are the thousands of area lives that don’t know about Jesus or LifeChurch.tv. 

It’s cool to know that there are two churches in Albany that are rocking it for Jesus!  My buddy Brian Howe leads a church right up the street doing the very same thing (Northway Church)!  Keep it rolling guys… God is clearly on the move in Albany!

Wake up! (Part 1 of ? – Things I Know I Should Do, But Don’t)

I was listening to a Focus on the Family episode yesterday where they had a woman on who helps women get organized.  She said that 70% of women’s stress comes from not being organized (I don’t know about that…).  Anyway, one of the many tips she gave on the program was to wake up earlier each day.  In doing so, one can gain 1 to 14 hours each week!  In that time, she emphasized making time for God (if that is important to you) then doing whatever needs to be done around the house or in your life that hasn’t been getting done. 

Ok, this is common sense, right?  If so, why don’t we do it?  I would gladly trade stress for peace.  I would love to trade my rushed time with God for intimate time with God.  If this IS true (I have just said it is), then why am I valuing one additional hour of sleep above stress and Godly disconnection (Note: I go to bed at 10ish, so I do get plenty of sleep)?  I am an idiot.

So, what did I do this morning?  I woke up at 5 instead of 6.  I’ll spare you the details of what I have done already, but in a nutshell I feel like… WOOHOO-YEAH! this morning.

Try it.  I double dog dare you.

Prepared or unprepared?

I don’t know where you live, but here in NY we were supposed to get a wicked amount of snow yesterday into today (like, 8-16 inches).  I woke up this morning to see… nuthin’.  Some areas did get a few inches and the mountains received close to a foot.  Is anyone with me when I say, “it is TOO early for snow!” 

Part of the reason I don’t want snow, is I am not ready for it.  A few of the reasons I know this are:

• I haven’t fired up the snowblower
• I don’t know where my shovels are
• I haven’t raked my leaves
• I still have summer clothes in the closet
• It is October
• I want to play more golf
• I want to ride my Harley for another month+
• (the list goes on)

Anyone with me? 

It is ironically strange that we exist in a world where most of us are unprepared for what we KNOW is coming.  Whether it is a poor economy, personal tragedy, stress, political chaos, death, financial struggle, the end of the world, etc…these are not “maybe’s,” but “someday’s.”  So what are most of us doing?  Nuthin’!  We complain and deny while not being prepared.  

Check out Northway Church’s current series on this topic called, Unprecedented Times.  I believe that if I can get my butt in gear and be prepared for WHATEVER is to come, I will have contagious peace. 

Jesus = Preparation.  Preparation = Peace.

Weak week.

If you know anything about the Bible, then you are familiar with Job.  God loved who Job was so much that he allowed Satan to mess with his (Job’s) life.  Through the tragedy that Satan put Job through, his love and devotion of God did not falter (it is important to note that his spirit did…which is more than understandable).  Job, through loss and devastation commited his life and love to God.  Because of this life and love devoted to God, he had an incredibly blessed ending (read it, yourself)!

This week, Molly (and I, indirectly) had her second miscarriage in two years.   Arghhh!  NOTE:  Please understand that this is an incredibly personal topic and we are sharing it to help others, not to invite help for ourselves - thank you.  1 out of 4 pregnancies end this way.  Yes, it’s common but… that doesn’t take away the pain, sadness, anger, confusion, etc.  The past 5 years we have felt like Job (with this and other losses in our life).  Job had pain, sadness, anger, confusion, etc., yet he did not love God any less.  There are few revealed answers to all of the questions we have.  It has been an incredibly difficult place to be.  Thankfully, we have hope and love…all we need. 

This is where we are at this week.  It has been a weak week. 

Here are the lyrics of a Sanctus Real song that has brought us comfort in this time:

Whatever You’re doing inside of me, it feels like chaos, but I believe You’re up to something bigger than me.  Larger than life, something Heavenly.  Something Heavenly.

A Psalm a Day

I know many of you who read this post don’t read the Bible.  Then there are those of us who don’t read as much as we should.  Might you be interested in an August challenge to read a Psalm and/or a Proverb a day?  I am in… how about you?  Be prepared to be filled with amazing truth and life altering wisdom!

Psalm 19 

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge.

 3 There is no speech or language
       where their voice is not heard.

 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
       their words to the ends of the world.
       In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
       like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

 6 It rises at one end of the heavens
       and makes its circuit to the other;
       nothing is hidden from its heat.

 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

 8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

 9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

 10 They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 11 By them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.

 12 Who can discern his errors?
       Forgive my hidden faults.

 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
       be pleasing in your sight,
       O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The Best Question Ever

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The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley is at the top of the short list of books that has changed and transformed my life (Note: The Bible is in a league all its own). 

WARNING:  For those of you who don’t want to know what the “best question ever” is because you want to buy the book, stop reading right here.

Solomon is considered to be the wisest man who ever lived.  He sought and lived out the wisdom of God for most of his life.  As a result of his wisdom seeking, God gave him great favor.  Yet his life started to self destruct when he stopped living a wisdom led life.

The Best Question Ever is, “What is the Wise Thing to do?”  Yes, this is the best question ever.  This question is not the same as, “what is the right thing to do.”  I was blessed to have parents who taught me right from wrong (I am SO thankful for this).   However, I am sorry to say knowing right from wrong didn’t prevent me from making wrong decisions.  In fact, many of my wrong decisions came from my effort to make right ones. 

So, how do we know what the wise thing to do is?  Excellent question!  This is what Solomon asked too.  Knowing what the wise thing to do comes when we seek wisdom from something wiser than us.  If we rely on ourselves for wisdom, we will always by limited by what we know…which in my case, is not a heck of a lot.

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega…the beginning and the end.  Through Him ALL widom can be obtained (obtaining and following are two different things).  It is an indescribable feeling to know there is someone who loves me and lived for me in control of all wisdom.  I can’t imagine my life apart from this source of wisdom.  Asking God, “what is the wise thing to do” in my every day situations is incredible!  Read the book to absorb the life application of this. 

Until that time, try asking God, “what it the wise thing to do?” today.

Rid the Yard of Sticks

I’ll let this speak for itself when you read it.  Rid the Yard of Sticks  This article by David Crowder definitely met me where I am today.

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? 

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.

Wonderfully Made!

Watch the WHOLE video.