Time Away

Some of my high schooler’s may have noticed my absence at school on Monday, and probably an equal number didn’t give a single thought (that’s alright, guys, I love you anyway). I got word to some folks on Sunday pm but not everyone was there to hear. Anyways, this week is fall break at LCCS and I have a couple more vacation days to use up so I used one and spent a couple days with Laura over in Athens. We went shopping, baby sat for a friend, and ate with her parents on Monday, and spent most of Tuesday preparing for her Mary Kay party that evening (she did very well, btw). It was time well spent. I just wish I had more of it!

Proverbs 27:4 says, “Anger is cruel and fury is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” Three powerful forces. Numbers of people enslaved to each. However, as bad and dangerous as the first two are, the focus here is on the third. Anger can be destructive if it is not dealt with properly. It isn’t a sin to be angry, but for most people it is an open door to it. Fury would seem to be the progression of anger. Anger multiplied, like to the power of ten! Someone in a fury doesn’t think, can’t reason, and really can’t stop. That said, the Bible says jealousy is more controlling than the others. A jealous person is driven by that jealousy. Just like anger or fury, jealousy demands a person’s attention, causes pain, consumes a person’s thoughts, and causes the person to act on it. Jealousy isn’t just a kid problem, although we see it many times in adolescents and teens, but affects adults as well. Most of the time its just on a bigger level, over bigger toys or older boys/girls (or what they do/have/get paid/live in). When David was in the service of King Saul, Saul was jealous of David to the point that he tried to kill him several times (I Samuel 18-30). The Pharisees took Jesus before Pilate because of jealousy (Matt. 2718). This is the extent to which jealousy can be carried when it has someone it its grasp. “Who can stand before jealousy” indeed! What do we do about this destructive force that seems to affect everyone at some point in their lives? Galatians 5:22-23 teaches that we should practice love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If these things are practices to their natural ends, there will be no room in our lives for jealousy.

Remember:
Rake-N-Run, Saturday @ 3 (WEATHER PERMITTING)
People of Prayer @ 6 (and Pizza @ 5:30) (RAIN OR SHINE)
Youth Sunday is this weekend

Later…

Humbled

I was talking to Laura on the phone last night and realized something very humbling. She knows I’m not perfect. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, she knows that I have faults. And it’s not just that I make bad driving decisions from time to time or that I like sauerkraut, but she knows some things about me that only those closest to me know. No, I’m not a serial killer, but she’s seen glimpses of me at my worst. Although, I don’t really like the fact that she knows these things, it’s better for her to find them out now than, say, 6 months into marriage, or worse, after having kids. What’s great about Laura is that she’s willing to help me overcome these things. She’s an inspiration to me to be the man I want to be but am just too lazy to strive to become. I’m glad she’s around. The Lord truly knew what he was doing in getting us together by that strange chain of events (We’ve got a cool story, and it’s getting better every day). So what do we learn by all this? First of all, I have learned that I can’t hide! I have to face up to my shortcomings if I’m going to be able to succeed in life, ministry, and with Laura. I think, secondly, and for all you out there looking for that special someone, good things happen in God’s time. Neither you nor I can rush God in keeping his plans. Laura and I haven’t known each other all that long, but we didn’t learn all that we have about one another in the first week, either. I had to wait almost 24 years to meet a girl this good (and I wasn’t all that good at waiting, either). She’s a little more patient than me, but even when we started dating “officially”, she still didn’t jump in with both feet. She took her time and let God work things out. I don’t want to make this into a sermon, nor do I want to set myself or Laura, for that matter, up as examples of how to do things right or how to date God’s way. But I think, especially on her part, that this is a good example of how important it is for us not to get too ahead of God in our plans and to let him determine our steps, because, after all, it’s his plan being worked out.

Proverbs 22:4 says, “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.” My ramblings above go well to supplement this point here about humility. There are a great many examples and verses in the Bible about the importance of humility before God and in life. Compared to God, we have no choice but to be humble. I know my faults and weaknesses and I’m sure if you’re very honest with yourselves you’ll see your own as well. Proverbs says a handful of times that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This fear, as I think we’ve discussed here before, is reverence and respect for God out of a heart that understands its own weakness and God’s greatness. Wealth, honor, and life are what we gain by our humility and service to God. I don’t think Scripture indicates that these things will be in excess, but that we will be provided with all that we need (Matthew 6:8, Philippians 4:19). God will give us an abundant life (John 10:10) if we live in this way. These good, old words are true throughout Scripture, as James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up”.

Oct. 30-Rake-n-Run (3:00), People of Prayer (6:00)
Oct. 31-Youth Sunday
Nov. 5-Bowling Night @ Brazilian Lanes

Later...

Waking to the smell of bacon

That’s what my friends did this morning. Well, I guess they didn’t wake to the smell of it, but they sure did shower and get ready by it! It was a good breakfast. We had bacon, scrambled eggs, banana bread, juice and milk. Just so you know, I’m not bragging because I enjoyed it! I was glad to help my friends out. We had a good, although short, time talking last night when they got in. I took off right after Big Deal to get stuff ready and had time to start dishes, warm their sheets in the dryer, watch a little baseball (How ‘bout them Bo-Sox?!?) and talk to Laura. It was fun and they got on their way this morning.
Big Deal went well last night. I felt pretty good about my preparation going into it and we had a good turnout besides the band kids being elsewhere. We brought back an old fave last night with “Would you rather…?” It’s always fun and interesting getting their answers to the questions the book asks. They seem to be connecting with what we’re doing and thinking a lot about what we’re talking about. I hope it keeps up because they’re a good group and getting better. There’s my shameless plug for the youth group.

Proverbs 21:4 says, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” Let’s deal with this in two parts. The first part is about the eyes and the heart of the wicked. This is a pretty easy one to see. Both these have to do with pride, its actions and attitudes. Have you ever seen someone “look down their nose” at someone? I see this a lot in Jr. High and High school girls (sorry, ladies!). Someone with a pretty high view of themselves and the attention to go with it will look at a ‘lesser’ person, especially female, this way. They’ll flip their pretty hair, tilt their head back and a little to the side, look at them with piercing eyes and either smirk or glare, pending on the effect they are going for. Girls are brutal! In other translations, the “haughty eye” here is also rendered a “high look”, which I just described to you. The attitude is how that person feels about themselves compared to others. This isn’t just a girl thing, you see. It’s an everybody thing. Now the second part deals with the lamp of the wicked. “Huh?” Ok, the lamp is used to describe a man’s life, as in when someone is destroyed, his lamp is snuffed out. Ok? It also carries with it the connotation of prosperity in one’s life, which effects that person’s joy, ambition, and actions. It is these things that are sin as well! All this person’s actions, motives, and attitudes, whatever he/she does, are sin because they are done out of their wickedness. Living by God’s word keeps us away from wickedness, pride, and sin, and allows us to be the kind of people that are described as “wise”.

Oct. 30-Rake-n-Run 3:00, People of Prayer 6:00
Oct. 31-Youth Sunday

Later…

Kind of reminds you of a Mini, doesn't it? 

Lauren, Darcy, and Brailyn (as well as Hanna and Heather, not pictured) are pround of their ride. 

Eddy, Jordan, and Philip at the wheel. 

This is truck was second place. The word "Hot" comes to mind! 

Here's our winner! The chopper from Autumn, Taylor and Lizzie had some serious attitude. 

Pimped pics from the Lock-in

I promised you pictures...here are your pictures! Enjoy.

Joe

Would you like a mint on your pillow?

I get to play host to a couple of my college friends tonight. Andy and Elisha (pronounced “eh-LEESH-uh”, not like the prophet) and I went to Johnson together and now their also at LCS with me (I suppose I’m there with them, since they’ve been there longer). They are coming through on their way to Bloomington, IN for a psychological evaluation at IU. Why would my friends need such an evaluation you might ask? Because they claim me as their friend? Not hardly. Because their in ministry? Not directly (although, sometimes I wonder about guys like us) but yes. They’re being evaluated by a man who has developed a test that points out certain key character traits in successful church planters (which Andy and Elisha are). The test will not determine but give a probability of their future success in the field of church planting. Good luck, guys! So, since I’m relatively close to IU, they’re coming over for the night. I’m pretty excited about seeing both of them again. It’s good to be able to help a friend out, too.

Proverbs 20:4 says, “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” Hmmm…what to say…what to say??? Unfortunately, I can’t point too many fingers on this one because too often I find myself saying, “Man, if only I’d have done this or that back then…” This used to be my mantra, right next to “I’ll do it later”. A sluggard is just a fun Bible word for a lazy bum. It just sounds greasy and lazy! Sluggard! Anyway, this person doesn’t do anything when he needs to. He simply lets life pass by and takes it easy. Well, when he’s hungry and goes to the fridge for a snack, what does he find? Empty space and moldy leftovers! He even put off going to the grocery store. What do we learn from our lazy friend? Don’t be like him!!! I’m working harder not to be as I get deeper into school and I have more responsibilities at church. It’s hard work not to be lazy, but it really doesn’t take that much at all. If you have a five minute task to do, take five minutes and do it. I was talking to one of my profs at school yesterday and he was telling me of his Friday when he vowed not to leave his office until all his little 3-5 minute jobs were completed and he could see the top of his desk again! It doesn’t get any better as you get older, so learn now to keep up and keep ahead. In doing so, we free ourselves up to play and do the Lord’s work, both of which are much more fun than blowing an afternoon cleaning one’s office, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, garage…

10/30 @ 3:00 pm: Rake-n-Run. Meet at BCC & bring a rake.
Also @ 6:00 pm: People of Prayer
10/31 - Youth Sunday. Sign up to be a part of the action.

Later...

Feeling the heat

It’s amazing, but true! It seems that this little message that I put on here from time to time actually appeals to some people! People read my stuff! A couple of things clued me into this. One, some of my youth (Kellsy and Michael) have posted trying to get a hold of me or pass on info through the blog, meaning, they’ve been here recently. Two, I got a somewhat embarrassing (for me, anyways) post from a rabid fan of mine, or at least the blog, asking if it was broken since I’ve not posted in almost a month (If I were more up to date on my IM-ing, I’d type in the little “embarrassed, red-faced, icon guy right here. But since I’m not, I can’t. ;-( But I can do that! And this…;-)) Anyways, the youth group has been cruising right along this semester so far. I’m so glad I have the group that I do because they’re great for lock-ins. Let me give an example: Our yearly…er…second annual Hootenany/Lock-in was last weekend. At this event, we played games, ate food, and got together for a bit of solid teaching (thanks Ken and Laura [you’re so cute!] [Laura, not Ken]). After this, the majority of the group settled in for the remainder of the morning to watch movies in the auditorium. The few that were left spent their time being creative (and making themselves very tired!) turning a refrigerator box into a customized car (I’ll have pics up Wednesday). And that’s it! They pretty much are a low-maintenance group and I’m grateful for every one. (And I’m fine by the way!)

Proverbs 18:4 (NIV) says, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” (No one said anything about missing the Proverbs commentary, but you’re getting it anyway! It’s good for you and it’s good for me.) In studying this a bit, there’s two ways a person can look at this verse, and I think both are valuable for life. I’ll name them the Positive and the Negative. First, the Positive sees the man as wise and his words as deep and thoughtful, thus welling up life giving words from deep within his heart. The Negative sees the man as a man of the world. His words are “deep” because only he knows the motives for them. The “but” connecting the two parts then presents wise words as a bubbling brook that is clear and, again, life giving. So, regardless of translation, we still get the same out come: know the source. If the depth of wisdom and thoughtfulness is there to be drawn from, great. But be careful in getting advice from shady people because their words are less likely to be that life giving stream.

Take the Challenge: The One Minute Missions Challenge is still going on. Select a missionary and pray for them for one minute a day (that’s all?!?!?) for the rest of the month!
People of Prayer: It seems like forever that we’ve done this so let’s get back into it on Oct 30 at 6:00 pm. Right before this, we’ll do a Rake-n-Run for those older folks in our church. We’ll work till it’s dark, or we get hungry, or close to 6, or all three, then head back to church. We’re done at 7.
Youth Sunday: October 31. Sign up and take part.

Later…