The World Is Not Coming to An End Because of Health Care

Are you lost in the "woods"?

Remember that one time that you were out hiking in the wilderness and you got lost? Yeah, you know that feeling. "Oh! I have no idea where I am." This can happen easy, with even the novice backpackers and explorers of the outdoors.

The simple tool of a map and a compass is essential to have when one goes on a multi-day backpacking trip into unknown territory. Simple tools can be the difference of being lost in the woods, which could lead to death, or having the right tools which lead one safely home.

(Image: onkel_wart)

Seems like everyone has something to say about Tiger Woods. The press has an opportunity to cash in on various speculations, while the consumers says something to this effect...

"Did you hear what Tiger did?"

"Yeah, I cannot believe he was with that many women."

"Why would he do that?"

"He has a great family, a beautiful wife and a great career."

Well, there are many reasons to try to explain his behavior. There are even mental health diagnosis one could give him to describe his behavior. However, don't be misled into the den of the media and the distortion of self. The media has led us to believe that as long as we look at the other person and his or her short comings then we never have to face the reality of our own. This can blind us to the fact that we may actually be the one who is lost in the woods.

So you remember that time you got lost in the woods? Maybe you don't. It happens to everyone at some point if you explore the outdoors enough.

Be careful when you adventure out. Make sure you know your compass is synced with "true north" and make sure you have a map that will guide you home.

Tiger Woods is not the only one who got lost in the woods recently.

Don't assume it cannot happen to you.

Do you have your compass and map?

You Could Sit There All Day

The triathlon season is virtually over which brings about a natural attitude and tendency to get complacent and lazy. After a period of focused training with goals in mind it is easy to fall off track due to not having any events for another 6 months. This happens throughout our life, that we get laser focused on completing a goal or task and then once it is complete we find ourselves absorbing the joy of satisfaction, but the desire to take a break is around the corner.

(Image by Werner Schnell)

Recently I have spent some time in 2 Peter 1 thinking about what it means to build or make every effort to grow in my faith. To often I get complacent and only get in God's word when it is time to prepare for a class lesson or reading my chronological Bible. These are noble steps, but I find my self "doing" the process and therefore not growing because of a burning desire.

I have made a commitment and battle plan with a few guys to encourage one another to add to our faith. This is the foundation of what I am going to focus on to add to my faith.

• Goodness
• Knowledge
• Self-Control
• Perseverance
• Godliness
• Brotherly Kindness
• Love

I make a plan to workout and I do not wonder aimlessly in the gym trying to figure out what I am going to do. The same applies for making every effort to add these to my faith (v. 5). They do not happen aimlessly. I have to be intentional about adding these into my life.

I must add them "in increasing measure" so I will not be "ineffective and unproductive."

The cool thing about adding these into my life, verse 10 says if I do them then I will "not fall."

If you are aimless in your workouts you will not have results. If you are aimless in your relationship with Christ you will be ineffective and unproductive.

Write these 7 things down to add to your life to keep you from falling off track. There is a season for everything, including a season not to train at a high intensity for a triathlon, but a triathlete would not stop working out, he or she would change focus and alter goals(ie. strength training). This is one way for me to change spiritual focus and examine my life in light of 2 Peter 1.

What works for you when you "add" spiritual focus to your life?

Restore What?

As I mentioned earlier about my parents restoring a 1906 house and the lessons I have learned to this day have helped shape me in my personal beliefs about a number of issues.

Without going headlong into misunderstanding we need to be careful and ask ourselves what are we restoring?

My parents are good at having multiple jobs or projects on the house that they start with intentions of finishing sooner rather than later, but after they start a restoration process on the bathroom, kitchen, and dining room one has to wonder were they are spending their time and energy. The sooner aspect quickly becomes the later when one has many projects. To this day I do the same thing, I am good at starting projects, but terrible at finishing and this has been a personal goal and intention of mine over the last two years or so.

The Churches of Christ are known as the ones who are Restoring the New Testament church and this has caused a great deal of fury, church splits, and arrogance among many. The intentions may be good, but intentions are not what following Christ is about.

What are we restoring? We have focused much of our energy and attention on many particular areas of what defines a church, but last time I checked Christ is in the business of restoring people to Him.

I wonder if we have lost our focus and spent much of our time and energy on restoring external matters and not focused energy on the one thing of restoring people to Christ about internal matters of his or her soul.

What is my daily dozen?

This is what I wish my daily dozen was, but that would be a complete lack of discipline, not to mention heart failure.

There are a few different spins on a daily dozen and how one can use a daily dose of the same dozen routines throughout the day one will become more successful in his or her endeavors.

Some, use a daily dozen for their workouts. Others may use a daily dozen for keeping them on task and organized at work.

I am developing my personal daily dozen that I gleaned from one of John C. Maxwell's book back in November. In fact I think he mentions developing a daily dozen in several of his books. I originally copied these down in my Moleskin with intentions of coming back to them sooner than now. Well, now has arrived. Here are my daily dozens that I will develop into memory and discipline.

1. To live in faith by loving mercy, seeking justice, and walking humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
2. To love and sacrifice myself for Jessica because of Christ. (Eph. 5:25)
3. To have the right attitude because of being a new creation. (Eph 4:23,24)
4. To make decisions now based upon concrete values. (Luke 16:15)
5. To initiate and invest in relationships. (John 15:13)
6. To know and follow a healthy lifestyle through discipline of eating and working out. (I Tim4:8)
7. To have a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. (Mark 14:42)
8. To develop deep and wide thinking. (Heb. 5:13, Phil 4:8)
9. To have priorities in the right context. (Luke 6:12)
10. To properly manage and make money to provide for family and giving. (Ecc. 5:18-20)
11. To make and keep boundaries around commitments. (James 5:12)
12. To have personal improvement goals that push me to excel. (Prov. 1:3)

This is not a unique list, but it is my list to hold myself accountable to growth as God's child. The verses may or may not be a direct reflection of each one, but possibly another meaning within one of the daily dozen. In the future I may break each one down into a deeper context. Like #12, the personal improvement goals for myself in this current year is to play the guitar and do a sprint triathlon .

May this encourage you to pursue developing your own daily dozen. Let me know how your list comes together.

What would you add to your daily dozen?

What crown matters?

This news story is getting crazy.

Father, help me to strive towards you and not towards the world. Help me to walk out Christ teaching and look towards the only crown that matters. Amen

The Secret to Living the Authenticate Life

"What the world calls life (a desirable self-indulgence) leads to alienation from God which in reality is death, whereas the putting to death of all perceived evil within us, which the world sees as an undesirable self-abnegation, is in reality the way to authenticate life."

John R. Stott "The Message of Romans"

Is Facebook changing our theological views of Jesus?

This image was suggested to me this morning on Facebook to join the "Friends of Jesus" group. Now I realize that many things on Facebook and in general are intended to have fun and not necessarily have deep theological meaning.

However, I desire more than being a "fan" of my Lord and Savior the true Messiah.

I want to be an intimately connected disciple of Christ.

I am not cheering Christ on for a victory because that victory was won at the cross and through the empty tomb.

When I become a fan of Christ I reduce what has already happened at the cross down to a mere one time event like last years Super Bowl which we quickly forget.

What do you think?

Attacking Sexual Immorality

After living in Las Vegas for nearly four years I have learned that God's grace is bigger than Sin City, but God wants us to take a 180 degree turn when we start walking with Him.

We must take appropriate steps to confront sins in our life and especially sins of the flesh.

Especially in Las Vegas we must attack the enemy of sexual idolatry. However, don't be fooled sexual idolatry is in every town, on any TV, on the Internet, magazine racks, convenience stores, and any other medium Satan can use to get a foot hold on sexual idolatry.

The story in Numbers 25 about sexual idolatry entering into the eyes and hearts of the Israelite's is our story today. Men and women everywhere are being confronted with sexual images and messages everyday.

The Midianites were destroyed because their lack of sexual purity. The Israelite man was also killed because he walked straight into the tent with a woman and was killed during their sexual activity.

One by one men must rise up and take the "spear" and drive out the sexual impurity in our lives and the lives around us before we are destroyed either literally or emotionally.

Move Beyond Understanding

Christ came proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching the truth about God's love for you and me.

The Pharisee's were often slow to understand what Jesus was saying. In fact, the Pharisee were concerned about having the rituals the right way and they were missing have the right relationship with Christ when he was on earth.

Matthew 16:11 Jesus said the the Pharisee's, "How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread?"

I wonder what Jesus would say to us today. "How is that you don't understand ____________." I wonder how much we really do not understand.

This I understand, Christ love for you and me is undeniable and we will not ever be able to do or be good enough.

A Backpack Brings Out A Desire

Saturday I got a great deal on a internal frame backpack from REI that was about 60% off the original value. The pack will be used primarily for our adventure in Europe this summer.
Internal frame backpacks are designed for primarily an outdoor hiking experience. This particular pack is designed to be used on airline travel (trips to Europe) and/or ones hiking adventure in the mountains. I have purposely left the backpack out in plain sight because the sight of the pack stirs a longing of every man to live an adventure outdoors. I desire to live an adventure everyday and the backpack is calling to be used before this summer. (Now taking trip recommendations.)

What desires do you have?

What stirs those desires?

How are you living your desires?

If you have never read Wild at Heart you must read this book as you find your desire. (I started my third read of the book since 2001.)

God Redeems those Who Cry Out

God is longing for us to remove our idols from our lives so we can live in intimacy with Him. Hosea paints a picture of one who is trying to follow Christ but deep down thy have a desire for his or her idols more than they have a desire for God.

You may be going through a job loss, grief of losing a loved one, an addiction, or materialism, but allow the One who longs to redeem set you free from everything else that hinders us from following Him.

Hosea 7:13-14

Woe to them,
because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them,
because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
but they speak lies against me.

They do not cry out to me from their hearts
but wail upon their beds.
They gather together for grain and new wine
but turn away from me.

Sin Problem

I have been struggling with several different aspects and theories of counseling as my MFT program comes to a close over the next 11 weeks. The DSM IV TR is a book used in the mental health field to diagnose anything ranging from depression to sexual function disorders and we have to use this book regulary as a professional.

One aspect I have been wrestling with is the nature to diagnose someone with a particular disorder and then travel a particular path for treatment for the diagnosed disorder. As a professional I will use my needed resources to give someone the best treatment he or she deserves. However, as a Christian (I cannot really separate professional from Christian, but to understand my perspective and clarify where I am coming from hopefully you understand.) I am on journey to be Christ like and in love with God and be free of a sinful life or anything that would separate me from God.

The struggle comes because the Bible teaches that our relational problems here on earth is really about an eternal relationship with God. To have this kind of relationship we must face our sins and our idols that keep us separated from having an intimate relationship with God.

For example if someone is diagnosed with an addiction I believe the real issue they are dealing with is sin and their separation from God. If someone is struggling in their marriage for intimacy there probably is a deeper problem of a sin issue and intimacy with God.

The therapeutic relationship for me is becoming more about how I can be intimate with Christ and reflect His glory in our counseling session. Since the Spirit of God is dwelling in me as one who has obeyed Christ and is walking with Him, then I must walk as he would walk in a therapy session, which means to lead people on a path towards His redemption and their sin and separation from the Creator.

Spit it Out

There has been some back stabbing and a lack of understanding that our freedom is only in Christ.

"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:15

May we grow up and move on to take hold of the grace God has given us through His son and spit out the mean spirited backstabbing that leads to destruction.

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
Galatians 5:4

May we realize that righteousness is not found in the rules of men but in the righteousness of the Spirit.

Game Worth Cheering For

Although the Longhorns won the Fiesta Bowl in the final seconds last night, I am not sure if any lives were changed by the outcome.

Here is a quote from an article at ESPN that will inspire all.

"Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

Read the entire story at ESPN.

Becoming a Heretic

Here are a few more quotes from Seth Godin's "Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us."

"When you fall in love with the system you lose the ability to grow."

"The reason it's so difficult to have a considered conversation about religion is that people feel threatened."

Think of recent heretics who have challenged the status quo. Their organizations are no longer on the status quo or they became a heretic and got burned at the stake and moved on to something they believed in and their tribe followed. (Get the book for more information on becoming a leader.)

What percentage of people volunteer?

Last night I got a call from a friend about 6pm to go and help build a volleyball court at Boys Town. Needless to say this was not your average backyard volleyball court. There was over 50 volunteers who had no idea that they would be building a volleyball court on a Tuesday night. I know I did not plan on shoveling sand for a volleyball court on a Tuesday night.

Last night and today I have been thinking about why people volunteer and how many people volunteer in percentages in your average town. Through some quick research on the net I found that roughly 26% of the population volunteered from 2006 to 2007.

What do you think the percentage is within church? How many people serve or volunteer who claim to walk as Christ walked?

Spirit of Power

Our President elect Barack Obama gave an outstanding acceptance speech Tuesday night.

Many of us have been intrigued by his orator abilities and the way he and his speech writer are able to piece words together that have now moved the emotions of the world.

One of my favorite lines from the speech is the following:

"Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power..."

What if people looked at Christ followers and said, "We are moving closer to the strength God has given us, not by the might of our attendance or the scale of our buildings, but from the enduring power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us."

Last night I was going to bed I asked Jessica and a question, "Do we believe in the power of God?"

We can do and say all the right things and look like good little Christ followers, but I fear I may have the appearance of godliness and deny its power.

"Having the appearance of godliness but denying its power."
II Timothy 3:5

My prayer today is that God will provide us with a sense of power that comes only from Him.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self control." (ESV Study Bible)
II Timothy 1:7

One Child

There are children all over the world waiting for a good home.

My heart is torn.

Jessica and I desire to adopt, but it seems to be in the future.

The future may not come.

In the meantime I can humbly serve the kids that come through the doors at West Care.

I have a friend who is going through the Nevada Foster Care to adopt. My prayers and heart go out to them today.

To see pictures of the kids waiting for a home.

Paralyzed by Fear

Have you ever been paralyzed by fear?

Currently I feel like two paradigms are colliding in my head and heart.

There are a few relationship who understand this fear and we have had many conversations.

I desire more open and honest conversation with those in my tribe, but fear has me stopped.

Fear stops someone when he or she has been rejected several times and is not sure how to move forward with two paradigms colliding.