SonRise!

These are some pictures I took with Jake Gwinn (check him out at www.jakegwinnphotoblog,blogspot.com )last summer. We got up early and found a nice little spot next to a nasty, stinky hospital bedding cleaning place... but it had a fantastic view of the Easten sky and the Kansas City skyline. I am thankful for the blessings in my life and am mindful, particularly this year of those who struggle so much with the holidays for one reason or another. I am thankful for the birth of Christ. Had it not been for his birth, he would not have walked the earth and been crucified for my sin. Had it not been for the birth of Christ, we would not have had an opportunity to see the Son rise from the dead. I hope that amid all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we may be mindful of the ultimate Christmas gift - the one that matters more than toys, clothes, jewelry or tools - the gift of a Son, an advocate, One who would go before the Father on our behalf

Merry Christmas!

On Track

SO, this last semester has been an unbelievably difficult challenge for me. There is so much I have learned and at the same time so much left to learn. I have been blessed to study under doctrinally sound, Godly, and challenging professors. I have been stretched beyond limits I didn't imagine possible. I have questioned my beliefs, my foundations and my faith and often came out with answers that are uncomfortable and life changing. I am encouraged and my faith is strengthened by the fact that many of my thoughts, processes, and understanding may change drastically, but a few things remain. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. He gave himself up to be crucified on a cross and sacrificed himself for my forgiveness. On Sunday morning, the tomb where he was laid was empty. He is coming back to take me home.


There have been many times when things get tight that I wonder if we are doing the right thing. The future seems foggy and uncertain. The present is often times even less clear. Late nights, long days, crossed eyes and headaches - and I have never been more sure. God is working on me like a potter and clay. Even though it hurts and is difficult, I see what he is doing in my life.


I have never been closer to my kids or more involved with every aspect of their lives. Even under the circumstances, there is a peace about our house and in my relationship with my wife that I haven't known for years. God has promised to provide for those who are faithful to him, but being faithful to him means selling out, going all in, or putting it all on the line. Lukewarm doesn't cut it.


I pray that I may remain on track, and keep the derailments away (however minor they may be). I pray that my focus may remain solely on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of my faith and that every decision in my life is made with his purpose and his will in mind. I pray that I may constantly make my way toward living a life that is free from sin and the bondage it bring.


We are all called to live our lives in this way in whatever we are doing. it doesn't make a difference who we work for or with, we are called to be the incarnation of the love of Christ to all people. Stay on track. Avoid the pride, materialism and greed that our affluent culture drives us toward. Live for him each day, each hour, each moment.

Homeless

As They were walking along the road a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Luke 9:57-58

This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me to Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

All too often, we do feel quite comfortable and at home in this world. We talk of Heaven and speak of readiness for the Day of the Lord to come but, truth be told, we would just as soon he hold off for a little while. We feel we are owed a little more in this life. We have more to accomplish, more to experience. May we live in this place as visitors who are here for a while only to be called home to bow in worship at the feet of the Almighty God. And may we live each day, each moment, each breath in purposeful service to the Kingdom

Finishing off Chicago

Here are the last of the pics from Chicago. Hopefully time for more reflective thoughts will be coming soon. I need it.

Chicago Skyline

It has been way too long. Life has been crazy. but here are a few more pictures from Chicago.

Millenium Park

We took a trip to Chicago this summer thanks to the USAG (I think). We were able to tag along with Heather while she was there for a gymnastics judges symposium. After landing at Midway we went downtown and hung out in Millenium Park. There is a reflecting stream below as well as the "Cloud Gate" also known as the Bean. It is a large chrome "kidney bean" looking structure. Very pretty!

There was also a garden with very unique views of a portion of the skyline. Bottom left is a fountain and sprayground. The fountains were video boards with faces on them. Also a very cool place. I wish we would have been able to see it at night...
This was day one of Chicago. There was so much to photograph, I felt overwhelmed.

Water

I was reminded recently of the severe amounts of water that we waste in this country. There are many in countries around the world who will walk for miles for a jar full of clean water. There are many who will drink from pools of water that I would not consider walking in for fear of getting my shoes dirty. I am grateful to live in a country where water is plentiful, but I pray for the wisdom and clarity to live with even the simplest of things, like clean water, at the forefront of my thankfulness. May I not take for granted the luxuries of life that I have. Even more importantly, may I resist the tendency to grow dependent on these things and procure an attitude of ownership for them as if they were owed to me. May my reliance be on my God for providence and my trust be in Him alone.

Living Water; a difficult thought to comprehend. Let us drink from His water and we will thirst no more. Give me water from the well, that never runs dry. Give me water from the well that gives me hope when I die.

Peace.

Majesty

O Lord, Our Lord,

How majestic is your name in all the Earth.

You have set you glory

Above the Heavens

From the lips of children and infants

You have ordained praise

Because of your enemies,

To silence the foe and the avenger

When I consider your Heavens

The work of your fingers,

The moon and stars

Which you have set in place

What is man that you are mindful of him,

The son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the Heavenly beings,

And crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

You put everything under his feet:

All flocks and herds,

And beasts of the field,

The birds of the air,

The fish of the sea,

All that swim the paths of the sea

O Lord, Our Lord

How majestic is your name in all the Earth.

Bring on the Rain

We spent some time in the arboretum in Overland Park at the beginning of the summer. Of course, as soon as we started through the gardens, it started to rain -- and it rained pretty hard. It did make for a beautiful scene once it all cleared. The flowers were wet and refreshed. The dragon flies were buzzing around with new life, and the sky was as blue as I have ever seen.

I continue to be reminded of my Father's care for me, that he watches over me, and that he sends me refreshment. If I will allow him access, He will refresh my soul. Like a storm, the process is not always pleasant, desired or welcomed but achieves its purpose in the end. If we will be attentive during the storms of life and be purposefully mindful of God's presence especially in these times, we can find beauty and majesty, grace and mercy, love and healing.

For 6 hours one Friday, the followers of Christ experienced a demoralizing loss that threatened everything they had hoped and lived for. But those that stayed near to the cross and the Savior during that troublesome time were present to see the victory and elation that prevailed on Sunday. Remember that in these times in our lives, if the cross is our anchor, we will share in His victory.

Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Worry

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do

not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or

'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

iChristian

Reflecting on the weekend and the messages received at the youth rally from Eric Lyons, I am much more aware of the input that goes in to the minds of myself and those around me. My awareness is renewed to the importance our vigilance against the moral filth and virtue void propaganda that bombards our lives if we will allow it. Technology is a wonderful thing when used properly. I hope that I can be a better filter for myself and my kids. I will do a better job of flooding our minds with the things that are focused heavenward as opposed to inward. I will also do a better job of combating the lies that Satan places in my life that distract

from the beauty and majesty of God and the fulfillment that comes from doing His will. He softens the language of sinful behaviors and ever so slightly nudges us toward acceptance. He often even fools us into thinking that this kind of tolerance is in accordance with the will of God. I will not allow the deceiver to twist tales of material luxury and finite happiness that slowly draw infinite joy and eternal salvation from my clutches.

"Create in me a clean heart, o God, and renew a right spirit in me. Cat me not away from your presence, o Lord. Take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the Joy of Thy salvation in me, and renew a right spirit within me."

Help me to see your beauty in all the things around me.

Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Posts of Life

Am I on fire for the Lord? There are times when I am passionate and burning to share the gospel. Visions of grandeur float around in my mind and thoughts... Africa, China, South America or Russia... but the flame is quickly extinguished. I think about all the things I could do closer to home in my neighborhood and town only to plan great things that remain on the planning table. I even think about things that I could do to help me stay more focused on spiritual growth like meditation, fasting, meaningful and purposeful daily prayer and study. These things like a campfire quickly fade away. Maybe there is something to the analogy of fire as compared with our spiritual lives. If a fire is not stoked it dies out and becomes a pile of red hot embers with great potential to share warmth and light but lies complacent to simply smolder. Are we on fire for the Lord or just smoldering? Are we actively living the good news of Salvation through Christ Jesus or are we just making it through? Is my potential even beginning to be recognized by bearing light and love, or am I simply a heap of potential? Stoke the embers, put another log on the fire, throw kerosene on the dying flame (this is unacceptable practice in camping or bbqing circles but is perfectly accepted in this instance)-- do whatever it takes to fan the flame of spiritual fervor. Be active in your Christianity today. Live each day, each moment with a voice that says, "Make me a servant, God. Make me into a tool that is able and willing to be used often to grow Your Kingdom."

Reflection

It has occurred to me only recently how important reflection is to the spiritual growth and maturation process. To look back and take time to learn from yourself what has been done properly and what needs to be modified. It is often hard to find the stillness which is of utmost importance to gain a true reflection. Too many times we do not take pause and make the attempt to reflect on the fly. This only results in choppy, incomplete. and distorted images from which to gain perspective. The impossibility of success in this kind of act is absurdly obvious from this vantage point but somehow absent in the heat of battle. May God grant me peace, moments of serenity, and the wisdom to reflect on my life and honestly assess where growth may be obtained.

The Sights of Summer

Kids in the park, the sun high overhead, popsicles, ice cream cones, swimming pools and sprinklers; signs of summertime in full swing. Summertime brings on a wave of assorted emotions like happiness, joy, freedom, exhaustion, exhilaration and renewal. It is a time when many stop and take time to get away from the grind of every day life and restore themselves; even if only for a short period of time. It is a time of inventory and preparation for what lies ahead.

The summer sun can be draining. It can suck the life out of the greenery in our lawns and flower beds. They need the refreshment and nutrition of water to

maintain life. But it has to be done over and over again on a daily basis to accomplish its purpose. Christ offers us something more; Living Water. "Whoever drinks of the water I am giving will never thirst." Fulfillment and nourishment that lasts. That is something to write home about. He will bear your burden, He will carry your load, and He will sustain and provide. All we have to do is let Him in and accept His gift of grace. May the Peace of God; the peace that can only come from a saving knowledge of the Son of God; grant us respite today and every day to come.

Summer Time

Sparrows in a Hurricane

So maybe they aren't sparrows and maybe they aren't in a hurricane, but they are sleeping peacefully among a mass of screaming kids (and some adults) in the Explorikeet exhibit in the OKC Zoo. A hurricane may well be preferred to them. My life has seemed like something of a hurricane lately. The roof is coming off and the winds are howling at the door and I am trying with all of my might to hang on to the things that are so dear to me. My strength has been fading recently and I feel I am at the brink of being swept away. I know God has a plan for each of us. Letting go, not in the sense of ceasing to go out but in the sense of relinquishing total control and trusting that His Spirit will not lead me anywhere that I cannot endure. It might also require me to trust that I may be closest to my God in the eye of the storm. This picture reminded me of my wife and my Savior -- both of whom stand beside me and promise to hold me up when I feel my strength fade. I pray God give me the strength, courage, wisdom and humility to submit to each of them.

Discipline

I am so proud of my kiddos and the hard work they put in to their athletics. Looking at our lives and the amount of time we spend preparing, learning, practicing and training for these sports is a little alarming and I know that we fall on the conservative side of the spectrum. Make no mistake, we have fun together in that time of preparation and play and appreciate the discipline and fitness our children receive from these activities.

I can't help but wonder, though, if I am doing enough to translate that discipline and fitness over into the spiritual lives of my children. I hope and pray that I can do a better job of putting as much or more emphasis on this aspect of our lives and the discipline and commitment required to be spiritually secure.