Tuesday

I like Tuesdays.
Tuesdays are relaxing and usually a study day for me...simply, I like Tuesdays.

In case some of you wanted to know, I'm sleeping a little better the last couple of nights.  Thanks for your prayers.

Reading through headlines today, I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal of my brother in Christ Lee Strobel and his journey from atheism into Christianity.  The article is aptly titled, "How Easter Killed My Faith in Atheism".  You can read it here http://on.wsj.com/foGSSn

Many of us know Lee's story: his wife came to Christ and being an atheist this greatly bothered him.  So, while working for the Chicago Tribune with his legal training and journalist tools in hand, he set out to disprove Christianity.  But the evidence for the existence of God, the hope of the Gospel, and the validity of the resurrection struck Lee with such an overwhelming intensity that he placed his trust in Christ.  Oh, the irony.

What a glorious picture of redemption!  What an incredilbe picture of what Satan meant for evil, God meant for good.  When His providence unfolds it reveals such wonder that can't be fathomed this side of Heaven.  I'm praying that when people enter our doors for Easter they'll be meant with such wonder, such grace, and such love.  I'm praying that as our people worship the God over all creation they can't help but be stricken with his matchless Glory and presence.  I'm praying that those who come to ou services out of an annual duty, will leave with a personal knowledge of God that will wreck their flesh and make room for His Spirit to bring them back week after week.  Lord, make your glory known to the lost this Resurrection Day and may our people be positioning themselves this week to be used by your mighty hand to help bring those face to face with the wonder of the gospel.

Sleep

The last several weeks my mind isn't resting and neither is my body.  I seem to fall asleep for about an hour and wake up unexpectedly.  This cycle happens 3-4 times a night and like I mentioned on facebook, insomnia is hard for the soul.

I've drastically reduced my daily caffeine intake (1 cup of regular joe in the morning) and am trying to make my workouts more consistent, but it seems like the more tired I am, the less I seem to sleep.  Weird.

I've begun to pray when I wake up and that seems to help, but selfishly I'd rather go back to bed!  I'm praying that when I do wake up I'll use that time as a divine appointment to seek God irregardless of how I'm feeling or how frustrated I am by waking up once again. 

I've never had problems sleeping before and I'd rather not reduce myself to medicating this issue.  Pray with me that as God interrupts my day (even when I'm sleeping) that I'll be obediently praying, responding, and listening to Him.

Man Crisis

In light of leading our men's retreat last weekend...the value of older men pouring into younger men can't be underestimated...


"Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick from Crossway on Vimeo.

My Legacy

Yep, it's been a while.  No excuses...just lazy.

I grew up in a single parent home.  My mother was an incredible lady who did well to care for and keep up with three kids.  Her willingness to sacrifice her need for the needs of her children is something that I'll never forget and hope to implement as I parent my own.  Growing up spiritual things were not that important.  Sundays were spent going out to brunch and Easter always included a picnic but not much was said about God, the Bible, or church.


Yesterday, I got the great privilege of baptizing my oldest son Gavin.  Words can really put into perspective how I felt yesterday seeing my son follow Christ in obedience through baptism. He received Christ almost over 2 years ago, but I wanted him in his time and his way choose baptism.  I wanted him, without the pressure of the preacher dad, to follow Christ on his terms.  I have been praying about this moment for many years (since before he was born) and to see it fulfilled was absolutely amazing.

I was standing in worship following his baptism and was overwhelmed with emotion.  The same God that am growing to love and serve my son is knowing growing to love and serve.  I am seeing my legacy of faith being lived out in my family.  As I was holding my wife's hand and as our kids were next to us in worship, I began to think back to my childhood...a scrawny boy on a bike roaming my neighborhood with no direction or real influence...and 25 years later I've gained an eternal perspective, I'm serving God, and my family is worshiping together having just baptized my oldest son.  There have been moments in my life where I have felt so complete and yesterday was one of them.