Find the heart in it

Sorry for the long laps in blogs. Not posting regularly is the best way to run off my 3 followers! I "may" try to do better.

So reading through the Old Testament can be challenging especially going through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In these books there are a few redundant passages (just a few) and with all of the sacrifices and feast, it is easy to skip or browse through it. But this time around I am taking it slow and really looking for the heart of God in it. I personally believe that it wasn't just a bunch or rules to regulate Israel. I believe that this stuff is there for a reason and the reason often points to God's attributes, or as I am calling it here: God's heart.

Here is an example of what I feel God telling me through a passage in Leviticus 19:9-10

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.

Now in case you didn't know, I am not a farmer and have no land or crops, so what could this verse say to me? How can I learn to see God's heart in it? Simple, God is laying down a system to provide for those in need (the poor and alien in this case). God's grace and compassion is showing through this passage. He doesn't say to save it for those who deserve it, He just says to save it. In the case of this passage, I have recently fallen short, not with my fields but with my time. See I filled up every hour and every day with task that needed to be done. There was even a point where I felt pride in how much I was getting done. I looked at my calendar filled with all of the dates and appointments and thought about how organized I was with everything fitting into it's own little time slot.

Well guess what I didn't allot for? The needy, one of which was my wife and the other was some friends who needed some help moving. I reaped to the very edges of my time/calendar and left no room for compassion and grace. So I have made it a point to allow time in my schedule for the needy and the alien (oh and for my wife!). I will try not to fill up my calender and leave room for grace and compassion when it arises. This dose not mean that I will be saying yes to anyone who ask for anything, it just means that I will leave time open to see what God has in store for it. Maybe rest, maybe service, but only the extra time will tell.

That is my rant for now, hopefully I will see you all back here before next month!

2010 up and running

Ok this year is already way to packed! We are packing the calendar with a ton of stuff. From sermon series to conferences to summer camp and youth trips. Just looking at the calendar gets overwhelming. I am looking to revive my day of rest and my GTO (God Time Only). I haven't been missing too may GTO's but I have missed all of my days of rest. This will change!

I am looking forward to tomorrow night though: it is Sheila and my date night. We will go out to dinner and just hang out with each other for the evening. Sunday was Valentines day but with all of our church stuff, it wasn't the most romantic day of the year! So we had a wonderful dinner on Friday eve and Tuesday we will do the date.

Church is going well. We are doing a LONG series on listening to/for GOD and asking ourselves "Where Are You?" Children's Church is going through the Bible and talking about all of the different ways God spoke to His people. God gets really creative sometimes in the way He gets our attention.

Our Crosslink Teen ministry is going great! Theses kids have become so much a part of our lives that when one is out, we feel the lose. I love these guys so much and am honored to be a part of their lives. They always push hard to do the right thing.

Well that is a little update for now, I have to go make a few phone calls to some of our Children Church kids.

ok people, it's not that hard!!!

You guys are killing me! It's a blanket, it isn't hard to use! Get over it. If your feet come out form under it, it isn't the end of the world! People have been mastering blankets for thousands of years and now all of a sudden we have de-evolved to a point where a large square of cloth is not sufficient.

Ok men, time to crunch!

Hey all you men out there, guess what you are about to forget? Valentines Day! Now I know ALL of you haven't forgotten but some of you have. I personally remember but I have a small dilemma: We have church and youth on Sunday. So I guess I have to adjust my timing.

So remember guys, it isn't how much $ you spend, its how much time you spend. Give her your undivided attention and affection (from a distant to you unmarried out there!). Check back here to see how we spent our "altered Valentines day".

p.s. oh yeah, guys, doing a good job on this holiday IS A WIN WIN situation.

DIY Pastor kit

Now you too can be just like certain pastors I may or may not know. All you need is this kit a button up shirt and a little time.

Warning: even this much fake hair may cause your electronics to fail. Be careful and use at your own risk.

We are currently working on a Music Minster kit so that you too can have "brows of worship".