Off Balance

While driving yesterday, I told my wife that I have been feeling a little off balance lately. I had a hard time identifying the underlying reason for the last few weeks, but received an inspiration in the monotony of the road. My lack of equilibrium is because so many things are changing in my life that I feel as if everything is in a state of flux.

I recognize the need for change both personally and professionally and look forward to the growth that happens as a result. There just seems to be so many different things happening both personally and professionally that it feels as if everything is unstable. I can't predict how things will unfold in the next two months, but it is a reminder to me to hold onto the anchor of my relationship with Christ. The change itself will produce good things, but the stability I gain from relying on God alone is a lesson worth learning.

Peace & Tranquility

(I recognize it hasn't been that long since I have blogged on this topic, but apparently it is still flowing through my mind and needs to be shared.)

Are we ever truly content? Are we okay with this moment that God has given to us or are we so busy seeking the "next" thing that we are missing what is in front of us right now? I will admit that my personality always has me looking ahead & wondering if I am ignoring a sign about future direction. While I don't negate the importance of being attentive to my spiritual surroundings, I can also become guilty of allowing uneasiness to settle in. 

We should be at peace with where God has us & what He is doing. Our true source of discontent should be the lack of fulfillment of God's vision in our lives due to our own disobedience.

I See It

I have had vision problems most of my life. I remember when I got glasses for the first time and how everything suddenly became more clear. I saw things that I didn't even realize existed. Until I put the glasses on I didn't know what I was missing, but just believed that what I was experiencing was full reality. 

The same principle applies to us spiritually. We become convinced that the imperfect images we see and incomplete things we experience are the real life God intends for us. We settle for less than God's   reality by accepting a flawed perception of reality. 

The power of the Holy Spirit changes that vision if we are willing to submit to Him. He will lift the veil that we have built over our eyes and allow us to see how the potential of real life the way God intends it. The possibility of correcting our vision is a choice that is left up to us. We can either resolve to accept the clear vision of God or resign ourselves to seeing nothing clearly.

Radical Review

I recently read, "A Radical Idea" by David Platt after having read his books, "Radical" and "Radical Together." All three of them resonate with the same principle that Christians are called to live in a powerfully influential way that is outside of our normal definition of church. It is only when we commit to empowering each follower of Christ to live as a missionary outside of the church walls that we see true Biblical growth take place.

This particular book is a primer of sorts to engage people in the idea of what it means to be a radical follower and church. It is a simple, yet powerful call to resist settling for gathering in church buildings as the penultimate act of worship. It serves as a great launching pad for discussing a biblically radical life and hopefully stimulates the church to take action in new ways. This book could certainly be used as a way to stir up people's thoughts and emotions about radical service and lead them to read his other books for more practical challenges and applications.

I recommend it as a discussion facilitator, but would encourage people to read his other works for more in-depth rationale and discussion.


I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Safe Prayers

We develop patterns and routines of prayer in our lives. While there is tremendous value in establishing the discipline of regular prayer, we can fall victim to praying the same phrases and words each day and lose the depth of meaning of what we are seeking God for. Have we allowed ourselves to be content with asking for immediate physical needs, blessings, and safety? While there is nothing wrong in praying for safety & protection, it does necessarily lead to an increase in our faith.

We have neglected to pray bold prayers that seek the best & most of what God has to offer to us. If we have even a fundamental understanding of God's infinite power we should be seeking more of it. We have to move beyond the easy prayers for ourselves and the benefits to our lives and ask God to do miraculous things in our communities and in the Church. It is in this stretching of our safe-zone boundaries that we gain greater glimpses of God and see His Church's influence increase. This bold and desperate prayer reflects our desire to see more of the power of the Holy Spirit working in us even as it scares us to think what that might look like as God answers. 

Who Am I?

What kind of man do I want to be? I was in the habit of thinking this through quite often, but have set it aside recently as my agenda has become task driven instead of goal oriented. This is a fluid and incomplete description, but having the vision in front of me gives me something to work towards.

• Christ-lover above all things
• Dedicated husband who makes his wife feel like she is the best woman in the world
• Father who invests in his children with their God-ordained future in mind
• Generous with my resources of time, energy, and finances
• Patient when the natural response is impatience
• Compassionate for other people
• A good listener
• Well-read in many areas
• Visionary as a leader
• Developer of other leaders
• Encourager
• Friend who is dependable
• A man who is a pleasure to be around
• Authentic in recognizing my own shortcomings & admitting my need for God's help

In the busyness of what must be done I will focus on who I must become.

It's Over

The first community outreach camp between Vaughn Chapel & Northridge has finished. We fed the families tonight and had a closing program to encourage them and hand out school supplies. There is no doubt that we were able to have a positive impact, even in the short week that we shared together. We saw the fruit of our labors in the retention of the campers and the enthusiasm they brought back home with them. I can't begin to describe the satisfaction that I feel from our endeavors and months of planning together. The time that was served in the trenches with both churches has forged a bond of friendship & kinship that will only help to transform our community. I am grateful for the leadership that is willing to be obedient to God's vision for His Church. The rewards have only begun to be realized, but this investment will have a return that we won't fully realize this side of eternity.