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Big, long, frustrating paper clip chain…

I just finished a project at my office and went to get a paper clip out of my desk organizer thingy that holds all the pens, clips, mints, change, and other miscellaneous junk. I grabbed the first paper clip in the pile only to find out that someone had connected ALL of my paper clips together in one big, long, frustrating chain.  I sat there holding this long chain for several long moments before I put them all back and just stapled the papers together.

Who would take the time to link all the clips together?  WHY would someone do this?  I think I know the who.  My guess is that she's 11 years old, blonde, in 6th grade, and shares some of my DNA.  I love her, but was frustrated with her in that moment.  But it's the "why" that gets me.  I'm sure she was sitting in my office after church one Sunday waiting for mom and dad to FINALLY get done talking, and she just casually pulled out the drawer and mindlessly started linking the clips together.

I started thinking about all the times I mindlessly or thoughtlessly do things that make life harder for someone else.  I don't normally think this deep over paper clips, but today… who knows why.  

How often do I leave dishes in the sink without thinking that SOMEONE has to clean that up?  How often do I let my shopping cart at Home Depot just drift away and not give a thought to the fact that someone has to chase it down?  How often have I let a careless word, or comment, or remark, slip out without much consideration to how it could affect the listener?  I guess the answer to those questions is… pretty often.

1Corinthians 13 is an amazing look at what love is really all about.  It calls us to realize that our actions, both intentional and unintentional, have consequences, often deep consequences.  Thoughtfulness… kindness… love… they all begin when I get my eyes off myself and begin to value and consider others. 

How many ways can you say it?

Psalm 119 was my reading today from the Old Testament.  It's the longest chapter in the ENTIRE Bible, and the chapter immediately following the middle chapter of the Bible.  It has 176 verses and in EVERY SINGLE VERSE King David references God's Word.  He's pretty creative in that he uses different terms for God's Word:  promises, commands, precepts, decrees, statutes, principles, word, law, testimonies, etc.  As if that's not enough, if you were to look at this chapter in the original Hebrew you'd discover that the whole thing is an acrostic using the entire alphabet one letter at a time.

It's an amazingly complex and creative effort on King David's part.  I wonder how long it took him?  I wonder what gave him the idea?  But as I step back from all of that I see what he really wanted us to grasp.  In all shapes and forms, in complexity and simplicity, in creativity and in every aspect of life… God's Word is central and vital and lifegiving to us.

Feeling like an idiot…

This isn't me in the picture, but it's how I felt yesterday.  Jon and I had ridden our bikes to the church yesterday and it was a beautiful morning.  On our way home in the afternoon, we cut through the parking lot of the Auto Plaza and had to hop a curb to get back on the road.  I had slowed down almost to a stop so that I could do this controlled up and over, and to my credit I did get the "up" part.  It was the "over" part that did me in.  Part of my brain was realizing (in slow motion) that the bike was going down and I was going over.  I managed to get my left leg out, but then I came down hard and my right quad hit the top bar of the bike.

Needless to say, I have a HUGE charlie horse and a bump about the size of a half softball on my thigh, and WOW it hurts like crazy.  No bruising yet.  I think my body is trying to figure out what to do with it, but I'm sure the bruising is on its way.  Fun times… I feel like an idiot.  Good thing it happened too fast for Jon to pull out his camera and capture the video.  Otherwise, I'd have a youtube link to post.

The Final Swap -- Calvary Baptist Church

It was the final week, the final Sunday, of our 3 week "on the road" swap, and it was a great Sunday.  The people at Calvary Baptist were friendly and inviting, and we were able to see a few friends that we know from around town (including a guy that I've seen working at the Turlock Library for years!).  I even got to see my name up on the sign.  I don't know if that's ever happened before. 

Calvary Baptist just finished a renovation of their auditorium about 2 weeks ago, and they really did a great job.  New paint, new backdrop, new stage lighting and projection -- all were excellent and created a great environment for worship.  Their worship team did an excellent job of leading us into worship and pointing us to our Heavenly Father -- way to go guys!

A BIG thanks to Jim Schultz, Ken Freeby, Nathan Dabulewicz, and Craig Tornquist for your gracious help and for making the morning go so smoothly.  Thanks also to Pastor Rusty Lyon for coming and sharing and challenging the family at New Life to reach out to our community and make a difference.

AND NOW… we get to come HOME!  I can't tell you how excited Gena and I are to finally be back at NLCC this coming Sunday.  It's like going on a long vacation, and as good as it is, you are ready to simply come home.  Well we're ready, and this Sunday is going to be incredible -- don't miss it!

Hey! We made the paper!

OK, it's only the Turlock Journal, but we made the paper! (The article is here).  I received a call last week with a reporter asking about the "Pastor Swap."  I'm still not sure how she found out, but I think a friend of the editor just mentioned it in conversation and it got picked up from there. 

It's been a great "on the road" experience, but Gena and I are really ready to be HOME.  There are some great churches in this town, and we've been welcomed so warmly and treated so well.  But… we really love NLCC, which is a good thing since we absolutely know that God has called us there. 

One more week to go.  Pastor Rusty Lyon from Calvary Baptist will be at NLCC tomorrow and we'll be at his church.  He's going to be great so don't miss it.

The TCC Swap

There were a lot of reasons I was looking forward to today.  One reason was the chance to be a part of Turlock Covenant Church this morning in my "swap" journey with Pastor Steve Carlson.  Another reason was that my entire family (minus Hannah who is working at Mt. Hermon) came to church with me and then we had planned to go out to breakfast together.  I know that sounds pretty mundane but I NEVER get to have Sunday breakfast with the fam.  

Let me just tell you that the people at TCC were welcoming, friendly, and serve a pretty mean cup of coffee.  Bill DeHart ran the service today, and he was so good to me and to my entire family.  He met us at the door, answered any questions I had, had my mic ready to go, and talked to each of my kids.  It was neat to see him ask them questions and really interact with them.  I love it when people truly care and honor kids.  He did a great job leading the service today and you could tell that he loves this church.

One quick note on the worship.  TCC's bass player, Rebecca Squires, was awesome.  You know how you can tell when someone doesn't just enjoy music, but they FEEL it, and LIVE it?  That was Rebecca.  She threw herself into every song, every riff, and it just radiated from her.

After a great service, the fam went to Grizzly Rock cafe' in north Turlock.  Kind of a rustic and sparse interior, but the biscuits and gravy were incredible.  They took up almost the whole plate.  Peter's french toast looked pretty good too.  We had fun, and ate, and laughed -- I love my family.

Next Sunday I'm off to Calvary Baptist Church for the final leg of my "pulpit swap" tour.  Pastor Rusty Lyon is a good friend and I'm praying that NLCC will be challenged in new ways, and that God would speak something powerful through me.

The MVC Swap

I did something today that I've never done before… I swapped places with Pastor Ken VanVliet from Monte Vista Chapel.  He came to NLCC and spoke in all the services, and I had the chance to speak at MVC for the day.  What a great experience!  To connect with a church that is doing everything it can to build the Kingdom of God, to help people reconcile to God and to each other, and to grow deep disciples. They were so welcoming and encouraging.  A BIG THANKS  to Mark, Matt, Steve, and all the rest of the staff that made everything so smooth for the day.  I also called Ken after the service (he was eating a hotdog at the NLCC fellowship hall, otherwise known as Costco).  He said the services went great and the NLCC gang was awesome (way to go guys!).

Here's the cool thing…I get to do this for the next 2 weeks as well.  Next week I'll be swapping with Steve Carlson at Turlock Covenant, and the following week I'll be exchanging with Rusty Lyon from Calvary Baptist.  I think this speaks something to our community about being on the same team as churches.  There has been so much competition among churches, it's awesome to do something uniting us together.

I can already tell that the big takeaway for me over these next weeks is going to be seeing how God is alive and well and at work ALL OVER TURLOCK.  I know we have different styles, different methods, and different personalities in our churches, but God is moving in unique ways none the less.

I'm looking forward to the adventure.  But I have to admit, I do miss the family at NLCC.  

The best I can do…

I'm working on a message that's coming up in a couple of weeks and I ran across a great quote. It was so good though, I didn't want to wait 2 weeks, I wanted to share it with you now.  It's by Mark Batterson and it's from the book "Wild Goose Chase."

"…when I pray, the best I can do is no longer the best I can do.  

The best I can do is the best God can do."

I sometimes feel like Bob in "What about Bob?" -- "I'm doing the work, I'm babystepping!"  But all too often my best is not enough.  I'm not smart enough, good enough, wise enough, strong enough, talented enough, visionary enough, bold enough, and on and on.  But… when I pray, it's not MY best anymore, it's the best God can do.

Man… I needed to read that today!

Bring on the HEAT!

Pastor Jon called me up last night and said, "Hey, I've got my bike up and running.  You want to ride to the office together tomorrow."  I only had 1 meeting early on, so I agreed EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 102 DEGREES TODAY!  That's just the kind of tough, gritty, throw caution to the wind, kind of cyclists we are.  Bring it on!

I know the picture doesn't quite look like Jon and I, but those bike helmets do funny things to your face.  We were pretty intense too.  I think that's why we look like Lance and Levi.

Thoughts from all over…

Haven't blogged in a while, but I just have to tell myself that it's OK.  I'm not trying to be an author.  I"m not trying to make Technorati.  I'm just processing thoughts, not marketing myself.  So whatever comes to mind is fair game.

• Had some cool conversations between services yesterday.  Most of them (in fact I think all of them) were from guys who really felt they needed to step up and be the man God is calling them to be.  I felt the message was as much for me as for anyone… but I love it when God takes it further.

• Daniel Rhinehart joined with Eli to lead worship.  They did a great job, and I always love seeing new leaders emerge.  Thanks to Eli for having a big heart and a great vision to see other leaders step up.  I also loved it when Daniel introduced himself and said, "Hi my name is Daniel" and in all three services you heard people say, "Hi Daniel."  It was like a 12-step meeting!  I love it.

• My family had a picnic for me in the backyard for Father's Day.  They put out blankets, made lunch, and gave me a couple of gifts, including a new black Giants jersey!  Remember G for Giants, G for God.  D for Dodgers, D for the dev…  I didn't make it up, it's just the way it is.

• Had a BBQ for my dad and I in the evening.  I'm finally getting the hang of BBQ'ing tri-tip and london broil.  I'm pretty good with chicken, burgers, etc.  But it seems like I always carbonize the steaks.  Ron Crayton gave me some great tips a week ago and it worked great.  He also gave me the flu, but I forgive him because of the tri-tip tips.

• My laptop monitor has been acting up the last few days (no Mac jokes please).  I ran up to the Apple Store in Modesto to have the guys at the Genius Bar look at it.  I can't get an appointment until tomorrow at 11:40am -- bummer.  But the store was packed with people.  Even in a down market the Macs and new iPhones are selling like crazy.  Oh…by the way… I want an iPhone.  No coveting going on here--- just envy.

• We leave this weekend for some vacation with the fam, so of course I'm getting more done at the office than I ever do.  I have to have a message and notesheet done for July, but I'm looking forward to it.  Read Philippians 4:4-8.  There is A LOT to digest there.

• Gena posted her last blog entry for the summer.  I love my wife, and she is so wise, I thank God for her every day.  You can read it here, but scroll down and see the pictures at the bottom.  THAT is life in our home!

Allergies!!!

The last couple of days my allergies have been wiping me out.  My eyes are itchy.  I feel like I've been hit by a truck (I'm not sure of that one exactly since I've never actually been hit by a truck).  My nose is running and running and running OR I'm all plugged up and can hardly breathe. And SOMETIMES I get to sneeze one after another for awhile.   "It's just fantastic" he said with heavy sarcasm.

If anyone has the "cure-all" please let me know.  I"ve tried (and continue to use) Claritin, Zyrtec, NasalCrom, Nasonex, Zicam, and most off-brand stuff.  I used to get a steroid shot every year and that was like a miracle.  I could do everything and not have a trace of sneezing or anything.  But I think the Doctor thought the steroid shot was making me a little too buff and ripped;)  Actually there's some concern over the long term effects with the steroids, but I'm sticking with the "too ripped" excuse.

So… anyone have an allergy remedy?

Eric gets his license!

I was so proud of my son today.  He got his driver's license and did a GREAT job on his exam (here he is holding his "hot off the press" ticket to freedom.  Except I think he has to buy his OWN car before he's really free). 

Driving with an examiner is one of the more "stress-out" events in a young person's life, but he only had a couple of points taken off and was pretty cool and calm.  We had a chance to pray beforehand and it was good to put even something like this into God's hands.

I have to say, I not only love my son, I really like him.  I'm proud of the man that he is becoming.  He's got a great personality, I see Him growing in Christ, and he truly does care about people.

Good job Eric!  

Sunday Night Thoughts… again!

I haven't blogged in a while and it's been a good thing for me.  I realize I may just be writing this for myself as most have probably given up checking this blog for new content.  Writing a blog sounds fun and challenging to begin with, and then it becomes like a little dog yapping and yapping and biting at your ankle.  It's like you can't get away from it -- "What am I going to blog about?  Did I blog today?"  Everything you see, feel, and experience makes you think, "Hmmm… could I blog about this?"  It simply got tiring.  I want to experience life, not just think about how I'll blog about it.

So, I've decided that rather than run away from the blog, I'll just embrace it -- but in a new way for me.  This will not be a devotional.  I'm not going to try making a spiritual point with every entry, and yet maybe that makes it all the more spiritual.  Maybe it's seeing God and finding joy in the daily things of life, without trying to slap a Jesus sticker on it.  

So anyway, I'm going to relax with this blog and just post what strikes me.  Maybe I'll see the pattern and purpose in the moment, and maybe I'll discover it later, or maybe I won't at all.  We'll just have to see.  

Here are a few thoughts from today…

• I truly do LOVE NLCC!  As I said today, even though I work here, I'd go here even if I didn't.  Best people in the world -- hands down!

• I got a chance to pray with about 5 or 6 people today who are each going through some tough stuff right now.  As much as I love the celebration and the energy of worshipping together, it still comes down to the individuals.  Church is definitely NOT the program, it's the people.

• Thanks to Ron Crayton and all the awesome people working hard to put Servolution on this year.  Tons of people signed up today, new leaders volunteers, and over 70 kids signed up to serve.  Go here to find out more about Servolution.  Are you on Facebook?  Go here and join the event.  Don't miss this!

• Contentment is hard!  Studying this week for the final message in the Ten Commandment series "X", really drove this deep in me.  Here's my main thought: "Contentment is about who you know, not what you have."

• It was good to see Nick Payne just home from Iraq.  Nick is a marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and calls NLCC home.  

Thanks God for all you've given me!

• 

Happy 23rd Anniversary

Yesterday was our 23rd Wedding Anniversary.  It's amazing to think that we've been married that long.  I think we're WAY too young to have that many married years under our belt… but it's true.  We're still learning, still growing, still figuring some things out, but hopefully wiser as we continue to build our lives together.

I do know this… I am more in love with Gena every single day.  She is an amazing woman of wisdom, grace, kindness, strength, fun, and beauty.  I truly am blessed!

Thoughts from Sunday

• The three services are going really well, even though by the afternoon I definitely need a nap.  I love seeing people connect and grow, and that 11:30 crowd -- they LOVE the later service.  I've had more comments from that crowd than from any other about how they love having a relaxing Sunday morning and then heading off to church.

• If you've been finding the 2nd service still a little too crowded -- sleep in, have a nice breakfast, read the paper, and then join the crowd at the 11:30 service.  It makes for a great day.

• Parking is still pretty crazy and people are parking over at Pedretti Park and walking in.  Don't forget that there is a lot of overflow parking out behind the church on the grass.  That's where I park every week and it's a pretty easy in and out.  Try it!

• Thanks to Jim Hampton for the shovel.  My hope and prayer is that we'd all start using THE SHOVEL.  If that doesn't make any sense, listen to yesterday's (1/18/09)  message.

• Gena and I both talked to a number of people yesterday, and God is doing some deep, transforming work in them.  Some of them have faced (and are currently facing) some difficult situations, but God is giving them strength and hope and life.  You might be hearing some of these stories soon.

• Lori Dougherty and Ben Lindskoog did a GREAT job leading us in worship yesterday.  Their hearts of worship yesterday was infectious.

• THANKS AGAIN to Frank Grubbs for sharing with us about World Vision and how making a difference in even ONE child changes the world.  Frank was amazed yesterday that 41 kids were sponsored during the three services.  Thank you NLCC for being willing to invest in life change!

• All of our kids ended up heading off to different sleepovers last night, so Gena and I were able to have a mini date night and went out to dinner and a little shopping.  What a treat!  I have such a great wife that I get to spend my life with!!

Happy 2009!

2008 has been a great year, and I'm looking forward to an even better year in 2009.  God has truly blessed our family and I'm so grateful for His direction, provision, and care.  We have faced some unique challenges and also taken some brand new steps this year, but through it all the Lord has had His hand on us.

I hope and pray for each of us, that this New Year will be a time when we live out this "crazy love" for our Heavenly Father in bold new ways.

P.S.  If you notice on the left hand side, I finished one of my goals for 2008.  I completed reading 53 books this year, averaging out to 1 per week.  It ACTUALLY was more like 1 book in 3 weeks, and then 3 in 1 week!  Sometimes I felt that goal hanging over my head and other times it just flowed…kind of like most other things in life.  I think I'm going to ratchet that goal down to 36 books this year.

This is getting out of hand…

On Christmas Eve, my son Peter and I had dropped by RiteAid to pick up a couple of things.  NO, we weren't Christmas shopping, I was done WAY before that.  But while I was standing in line, Peter tugged my arm and said, "Dad, look at that."  It was a display in the aisle for Cadbury chocolate Easter Eggs and Reese's peanut butter Easter eggs.  These were NOT left over from last year.  These were the new displays for Easter candy and supplies, BEING PUT OUT ON CHRISTMAS EVE!

I think this is getting out of hand.

Sunday Night Thoughts

• It was "National Youth Pastor Preach in Big-Church" Sunday yesterday.  Pastor Jake did a great job bringing it!

• Here is a sample of Jake's message:

• "God made me just the way that I am…and He likes me."

• "I'm OK, because God says I'm OK!"

• "Even if no one else sees…Jesus sees us and notices our acts of kindness."

• "He's (Jesus) the only ONE we do things for ultimately.

• "God is with us even through the deepest hurts of life."

• "There are too many grumpy Christians!"

• "We should live every day with His joy!"

• "I peeked at the end of the Bible, and guess what?…we win!"

• "Eternal life…that's the promise we have in Jesus Christ."

• It was good to see Ben and Kim Kemper visiting here yesterday.  Kim was our receptionist for several years until she and her family moved to Colorado.  Poor them…they get to look out their windows and see the Rocky Mountains.  

• This was the LAST two-service Sunday.  Next week we go to three: 8:30, 10, & 11:30.  I am SO looking forward to what God is going to do!

• I spent late last night with the Gonzales family from Newman, CA that are a part of our NLCC family.  They had two chaplains from the Army show up at their door in the evening letting them know that their son T.J. was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq yesterday.  Be praying for them and their entire family as they walk through this terrible loss.  (Thanks to the two chaplains who were so tender and grace-filled towards Tony and Marlynn.  It's good to know that families who have to walk through such a tragedy are being cared for by Christ-loving chaplains).

wow!

Wow!

…that was my thought last night as I sat and watched rehearsal for "Behold the Lamb of God."  You may think that I'm just trying to hype the 4 concerts this weekend, but after you experience this you'll know it's not hype.  Get ready for one of the most moving, powerful Christmas concerts, and the quality level of the performance is incredible.  

When you come to see this (Saturday, Dec. 20 at 5 & 7 p.m., and Sunday Dec. 21 at 5 & 7 p.m.) you will walk out and kick yourself if you don't bring anyone with you.  

IT IS THAT GOOD.  Don't miss this, and invite all the people you talk with today and tomorrow.  Send out a few emails as well, post it on facebook, put it on your myspace, text some friends…whatever it takes.

Remember it's at the Turlock Community Theater (the Old Turlock High School at the corner of Canal & Colorado).

Click here to see more about "Behold the Lamb of God."

Send Me

Towards the end of my message Sunday I gave you a list of people from the Bible and how they fell short by most standards, and yet God used them.  I had a few people ask for that list, so I'm posting the end of my message here…

God uses all kinds of people – regardless of their past, their failures, or their weaknesses.  The Bible is FULL of real-life examples.

Moses stuttered. David was ill-eqipped and inexperienced. Hosea was married to a prostitute named Gomer. Jacob was a liar.  Gideon was a coward.  King David had an affair.  Solomon was too rich.  Abraham was too old.  Timothy was too young. Peter cussed.  Lazarus was DEAD.  John was self-righteous.  Naomi was too poor.  John Mark was rejected by Paul, and Paul was murderer – so who was HE to be rejecting anyone.  Jonah ran from God.  Miriam was a gossip.  Thomas doubted.  Jeremiah was depressed.  Martha was a worry-wart.  Samson had long hair.  Noah got a little too drunk.   The list goes on and on.

God isn’t looking for superstars…He’s looking for servants.  People who are willing to say, just like Isaiah…”Lord I’ll go, send me.”