I Got Robbed

For those of that follow me on twitter, you read about how my car was broken into yesterday…not a good day.

I really struggled with the whole thing. There’s something about getting in your car after someone else has just rummaged through it that makes you feel…uncomfortable. My golf clubs were the only thing taken (which we’re not cheap to replace!), but I found myself really clinging to James 1 in thanking God through this trial and praising Him for His faithfulness (no one was hurt, no damage to the car, etc.)

As I looked back on the whole incident, I was struck with a parallel in my own relationship with God.

God calls us to live blamelessly before Him, pursuing holiness. As I drove in my car, I couldn’t help but feel like I was riding in a ‘sin-bin.’ There were a few minutes during the night before, where thieves had been where I was now sitting with the sole purpose of stealing from me.

Sort of reminds me of my sin. Everything I have and am is because God has ordained it and allowed it. My health and possessions are His alone. So I guess when I don’t take care of my body, or blow money on foolish things…or worse…take pride in something that isn’t mine to begin with…I look pretty silly.

It would be like the guy that stole my golf clubs…would he feel a greater sense of accomplishment having worked and saved to buy them (like me) or from just stealing them…?

I know the example isn’t perfect, but it does put things in perspective. I feel ripped off because someone stole my golf clubs. How much more is God ripped off when we misuse the life that we have in Him.

Just some food for thought.

I’m PRETTY SURE that God doesn’t want that…

||| NOTE: Outlandish Sarcasm ahead…proceed with caution |||

I saw this on a friends facebook. I guess he found it in a bookstore or something. Makes you wonder…is it really that easy to get something published? I’m contemplating ripping some bark off a tree in my backyard and seeing if someone will publish it for me…I’ll write my name on it and maybe “God wants us all to be like tree bark.” Think of the potential!

Click HERE and HERE or HERE for other great ideas…

(okay, the 3rd one is a joke)

Technology Fast

Next week I am “out of the office.”  Since I started working, I have never really “turned-off” for any extended period of time.  SO, after a challenge from my wife, my parents and my token-Aussie friend (who doesn’t read my blog anyway) I am committing to fast from cell phone/email/twitter/blogging/etc. for one week.  It does not sound like a lot (and for some people it isn’t, but for me its huge).  I guess its like anything we’re “addicted” too…for me to give up alcohol for a week would not be even the slightest of a challenge…but for an alcholic…it would be a momentous accomlishment.

The Internet, and technology are such a huge part of my life…for business, for social networking, for everything…SO, for this week, it all comes down.  I am handing my  iphone and macbook pro to my wife and will replace the time with family time, reading and prayer…it’s exciting.  THIS GUY did this for a month and seemed to have a breakthrough…here’s hoping I don’t quit my job when I come back like he did :S

See you in a week!

Farewell Michael Jackson

“Where were you when you heard the news..?”

A question I’ve heard over the years to describe “important” events in history.  9/11, JFK Shooting, the most recent Tsunami and now…the death of Michael Jackson. For me, not quite as big as big a deal a catastrophe like those other events, but still…the dude was a legend.

I was golfing yesterday afternoon, and within minutes of the story breaking, the Cart-Girl told us that he had died…

As I thought about it (and all the worship of a man that was about to ensue) I thought about how crazy it was that the “King of Pop” was now about to meet the “King of Glory.” Even as I write this blog, with the T.V on in the background, I hear a old woman crying about how she is heartbroken and doesn’t “know how she can move on…” as Michael was “everything to her…”

How Sad.

We so quickly exalt these sinful men and women to iconic levels. My dad and I were talking yesterday and he said something that really made me think. As we discussed the TRAIN-WRECK that is Michael Jackson (“Wacko Jacko“), my dad said that MJ was really the perfect picture of the TOTAL “depravity of man. From icon to nut-job, the guy was worshiped in spite of his sin and was held in a place that is reserved for the God of the Universe ALONE.

So where does that leave us?  Well, I am left saddened that this pop-legend has now MET the living God and SEEN how his life was such a waste!

Why We Love to Hate

It’s really unfortunate…but isn’t it true. Admit it…don’t admit it…doesn’t matter to me.

We love to hate.

No one rants ON AND ON about what they love. Even look at my blog, your friends blog, your favorite speakers blog…controversy and disagreement is what turns the wheels.

Now I’m sure your already on the “disagreement and controversy are not bad…” and I agree. BUT. How often to we go a little to far? How often does a disagreement (theologically, politically, etc.) go from “agree to disagree” to “you’re an idiot…”

As I sit back and look at this a little more, we all know that the culture sets the trends for the market. MEANING: The reason why all of these dumb Reality T.V Shows exist…is because (secretly or not) we all watch them. The reason why McDonald’s is changing their menu to Green-friendly…healthy choices is because that’s what the market wants.

So when I look at the kind of hate-driven crap that’s on T.V (and this is coming from a guy that watches it) I need to ask myself…is it becoming more common on T.V because we simply LOVE TO HATE?

Shows like; Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, Inside Edition are all driven by finding people’s flaws and mistakes and raking them over national (sometimes International) television.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen an episode of TMZ when Harvey stands up there with his lame thermos mug telling his staff that he’s really impressed with the conduct of some young-gun celebrity.

As Christians, it is so easy to look at culture and be like “What is this world coming too?”

As Christians, we VERY quickly grab our blame-game stick and point it right in the face of the “church across town” or the preacher with just a little to much charisma for our liking…

We LOVE to see others stumble. Very few would verbalize that, but it’s true! Over-zealous Joe Worship-Leader drops his guitar…we’re glad he was “humbled.” High-flying Business Exec gets caught in a fraud scandal…”I knew he was up to no good!” Or how about a close friend gets promoted above you and then gets laid off a few months later…”Sucks to be him!”

All of these are internalized thoughts that we would NEVER say…(Luke 12:34…Acts 1:24…James 5:8)

I write this blog primarily for myself. I need to Rejoice in the successes of others and pray for them when they stumble and fall. Lord give me the faith to trust, the will to follow through and the grace to offer others, just as you have done for me!

Amen.

Mac Geeks Unite

Thus far, I have never seen 1 online event that is as widely followed as today’s big Apple Meeting.  Here’s a picture I snapped on my twitter to demonstrate how Apple owned the day…
Below is a snapshot of what the “pre-chat” on Apple Insider dot com looked like.

Pretty brutal in terms of what people get excited for.  Check out the bottom one…the guy “couldn’t sleep” the night before. Joking or not, it’s pretty sad when people idolize technology like this.  But here’s the thing…I’m just as bad!  Am I stoked about the new “copy/paste” feature on the new operating system (OS)…YES!  I was convicted today via Apple.  I had a sweet chat with my buddy @CaptainCool about tech stuff, ministry and everything in between. It is refreshing to talk about tech stuff in the context of our faith (i.e how can I use technology as a resource to spread the gospel), BUT the bridge between resource and idol is not large.
I get excited about technology sometimes…

I need to get JUST as excited about stuff that matters! At the end of my life…no iphone app, new car or cool tie will be there, just me and my Saviour…I need something more to say than…”my itunes library was SUPER up-to-date and I had great hair…”

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance. Psalm 37:16-19

Today is the Day

2 years ago…

I married my best friend
I married a woman that loves God…loves life…and for some reason…loves me!
I married a role model, a (what I am now finding out more and more) a great mother
I married the love of my life

This morning, a mentor of mine emailed me this…

I prayed for you and Hailey this morning.
Big changes since you got married just a few years ago.
Wow – God is so good.

Genesis 2:24 – says “hold fast to your wife” – God has given you a gift in Hailey – HOLD FAST TO HER

Proverbs 5:18 – “rejoice in the wife of your youth” – God is to be praised because of Hailey in your life.

——-

God,

Thank-you for a wife that prays for me…that loves me…that respects me…that is faithful to me. Let God be praised for the things only HE could accomplish!

It’s Been Too Long.

It has been a good week or so since last posted, and even longer since I last posted anything of substance.

Stuff has gone from crazy busy (tax season) to really relaxed to crazy busy again.  Here’s a quick rundown on what’s been going on…

Well, first off, tax season is over (praise the Lord).  I really appreciate the prayers and encouragement from many of you to press on!  Once May 1st came, I took a day off, hung out with Hailey, did some yard work, and in general loved coming home @ 6pm rather than 11pm.

This past Thursday we had our final Dr.’s appointment to find out if Hailey needs a C-Section (the baby is full blown frank-breech). So, the C-Section is scheduled for May 21st (roughly 10 days from now)….VERY exciting!

This weekend my whole family and a bunch of friends are coming over for a pre-baby, new-house, my-birthday celebration. It will be good to have everyone together.

Other than that…things are good. The new house is great! Hailey’s “present” for my b-day this year is to set-up a sweet home office. We had a desk and all the essentials, but we went out a bought a cool couch, side table, etc. to make the room a really sweet space.

Well, that is it for this update…more to come soon on many other cool things in the works right now!

It’s Moving Day

The packing is done…
The lines are signed…
The agents and lawyers are paid…

Time to get our move on!

It’s Prenatal Time

Tomorrow and Sunday, Hailey and I will be doing a “crash” Prenatal course. It is all-day Saturday and Sunday…fun…

I love my wife. That is why I am going.

I also have a really good attitude about the whole thing.

I will be twittering from my Iphone throughout the weekend…maybe even with pictures.

Check it out HERE