Who Should You Listen To

GREAT post from another pastor I often read & listen to. This was something I needed to read today & just thought maybe some of you need to read it as well, enjoy!

Just Click Here ---http://www.perrynoble.com/2011/11/17/who-are-the-people-i-should-listen-to-eight-qualities-to-look-for/

250/150/50

This last week I met a guy at Paradox that reminds me of a lot of the stories I've heard lately.

"I started coming recently because _________ invited me. I've never been a church person but I really like what you guys do here so I keep coming."

Two things stick out here.

1. God seems to keep giving us favor with the people we started this church for.

2. Invites are powerful! When we have the courage to ask a friend to come with us to check out our church statistics say they are more likely to say yes than to say no.

This is why we have committed to fast together every Wednesday. We are acting in faith that God will continue to use our church to reach the people we already know with His love, and to do it through our lives.

Simple prayer today as you fast until dinner is -- God please use me and use Paradox to reach the 250!

Becoming Less - 250/150/50

Ever had that experience of sitting on a plane, sandwiched into the middle seat? You can only sit straight up with your feet in front of you, and your hands in your lap for so long before you’re just ready to open a door, and jump out into the wide, open, expanse of the blue sky you’re flying in.

Or course, that would be a flight that wouldn’t end well, at least not for you!

The last time I was in that situation I can remember pulling in my arms so they didn’t touch the guys next to me. I can remember pulling in my legs so I didn’t accidentally end up playing footsies with my new neighbors. I can remember the strain in my neck from trying to keep it upright while I tried to sleep. Although these were big guys, with big shoulders that were probably pretty comfortable!

I can remember thinking, “the only thing left to do is to literally shrink the size of my body”.

That was not an enjoyable flight.

We sometimes think of what Jesus is trying to do in our lives as a similar experience. We tend to think that what God is up to is squeezing the life out of us. With His expectations, & lists, & stuff He requires. It can all seem like He is just trying to take the enjoyment of life away from us. So, we tend to hold back & hold out for fear that if we give into Him too much we’ll be miserable. So, it’s easier to then hold onto life than to let it fully go into His hands.

The Paradox though, is that life done with God is the one pursuit where the more you lose your life the more you not only find life, but you gain more of God in the process. More encounter, more experience, more understanding, more…

In the Bible, in a book called John there is a verse that talks about us shrinking that He may grow.

John 3:30

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

Part of the reason we’re spending every Wednesday fasting together is to embrace the practice of becoming less by denying ourselves SO THAT we may gain more of Him and all that He has in store.

Let’s be in prayer together all day today for all that God has planned in each other’s lives & in our church. Praying for the 250 yet to find their life in God!!

250/150/50

If you weren't at church on September 25th then you HAVE TO catch up with us!

We shared the vision God has given us for this next 2 years and it was one of the most exciting Sundays we've had in a long time! If you missed it you can listen HERE - just click on the week of 9/25/2011, the title is "250/150/50".

After that Sunday we decided that we would pray and fast together each Wednesday as a way of asking God to do the miraculous among us & through us.
Today we kick off that fast & today as I pray with you, my prayer all day will be for God to freak us out as He leads us to greater impact than our church has ever known.

To fast, you simply need to give up food for the entire day or at least for one or more meals. I know many people that will give up eating until dinner for a day long fast. However you do it, remember to pray throughout the day for the vision and dream of 250/150/50.

Here's a verse that challenges me even when I feel hungry enough to eat my computer!

I Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

October Series At Paradox

Starting this October we'll be spending an entire month on Sunday mornings dedicated to work, and the mixed feelings we have about it!

Some of us love what we do, some of us hate what we do, many of us wonder if we're doing what we should be doing.

What do we do if we're in the wrong job, how do we make a change, how to we stay in a job we can' stand, does God care about how I feel about my job? If I break the copy machine how do I make it look like another employee did it?

Are all just some of the questions we'll be tackling. It's going to be a fun series with a lot of good advice from people learning to apply their faith to their work.

Check out HERE to read more.

Go HERE to watch out promo video.

Don't Miss It

This Sunday just might be one of the best experiences you'll have had yet at Paradox.

Seriously!

Especially if Paradox is your church, then you don't want to miss this Sunday.

Whatever you have to do, be there & be there on time. The whole morning is going to be powerful as we share & dream about the future of our church.

I can't wait for it, see you Sunday!

Another Man's Wife

Have you ever had the nerve or the audacity to criticize another man's wife? I know, it's a weird question.

Part of what makes it such a weird question is that the answer should be a resounding, and obvious NO!

There are just some things you know you should never do, some boundaries just don't need to be explained; they're understood. This, well, this is one of those things, one of those boundaries. Whether the husband is 80 pounds when all wet or Hulk Hogan, you just don't dog another man's wife; his treasure.

So let me ask you -- what does God call the church, it's His what???

Say it louder! His BRIDE!!!!!!

So let me ask you again, you ever criticized another man's wife?

I have been a follower of Jesus for 30 years, and a pastor for nearly 15 years. So, I know as good as anyone what struggles and shortcomings the church has, but let me be clear in case I haven't been yet.

The Church is the BRIDE of the LIVING GOD!

I heard someone, no not just "someone", but another PASTOR recently say, "I am a Christian despite the church not because of it"

What kind of CRAP is that!

I'm not at all unfamiliar with people criticizing the church, and screaming out loud about every flaw the bride has. Frankly it's a lot easier to criticize than to create. Shamefully, too many Christians will always chose to criticize more than they help guard, build and develop the church. I also realize that many of these Christians will consider their viperous tongue to be "helpful" and to be their "building contribution" to the church instead of seeing their behavior for as shameful as it truly is. However, when the criticism moves beyond, "you're ugly" to "you're insignificant", man you just moved from crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed to picking a fight with God.

Unless you've never read the Bible, you can't deny the IMPORTANCE that God places on the presence, purpose & power of His bride in this world. She is the tool that He is using to be His body, and announce His kingdom until there are no more days left to announce it.

To my misguided, poison tongued, pastor peer, and to all others who call themselves "Christian" and yet share his sentiment, or just simply love to talk about the ugliness of Jesus Bride, let me be clear.

If you are truly a Christian then you ARE one BECAUSE OF the church. If you're a follower of Jesus then you can not deny that He has used some part of His bride in the process that has turned you so. From the martyrs on whose blood we stand, to the relationships you have had that loved you, shared with you, and have been the body of Jesus to you. How dare we, with the flip of a tongue, how dare we turn insignificant the very thing that Jesus created, died for, and is coming again to make blameless.

If my wife and I are fighting & even if she says or does something horrible to me. It makes no sense if in my anger & hurt I say to her, "I am a husband despite this marriage not because of it". Yet, this is exactly the reaction many Christians have in response to their hurt and disappointment with the church.

Some of you are probably thinking that I've just never been truly hurt by the church so what do I know. Actually, I have been hurt so deeply by the church that I will walk with a limp until Jesus return. BUT, I am also aware of the living God, and have met Him, and continue to experience Him BECAUSE OF His bride, the church.

Some of you are thinking, "man you're really angry", and my response to you is, YES!

Others of you might be cheering right now, well let's allow our cheer be clear. WE LOVE THE CHURCH, the bride of Christ, warts and all!! And we will guard her, love her, cherish her, and speak well of her from now to eternity.

In the bible in the book of Ezra, King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the temple of God being rebuilt in Jerusalem. At the end of his decree he makes clear just how serious he is about building and protecting the temple by signing off with this...

Ezra 6:11

Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. ¹² May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem.

Sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it? I know that the temple is now the Christian and no longer a building, but the collection of us make up the church; the bride, the place where God now resides. Can we PLEASE stop tearing her apart by tearing her down! Yes, she still needs to be made perfect (because WE still need to be made perfect), and one day she will be. One day she will be dressed in white and presented to the Father by the Son. In the meantime, please choose to create over criticize.

250/150/50

250 / 150 / 50

Just start asking around...

15 Amazing Years!

Today I celebrate 15 years of marriage to my wonderful wife Nicole.

When I walked down stairs this morning & said to my son, "do you know that 15 years ago, on THIS day, mom & I got married". My son looked at me & said, "dad". Expecting a profound response from his eight year old brain I said, "yes son", to which He replied, "did we catch that skunk in the cage last night, oh yeah, & do we have any more cocoa puffs left!"

Although my son doesn't share my level of enthusiasm,

I would do it all over again with NO HESITATION.

So in love & so thankful to Jesus for the way my wife has been used by Him to change me more into the man He is making me to be.

Happy Anniversary Nicole!

Rules For Texting

With all the amazing ways technology has improved our lives in both the social and professional world, those same technologies have bring new evolution to human weirdness. I read a stat the other day that said that 70% of people now prefer to text a person rather than to call them.

Being an avid texter myself, I wasn't too surprised by this. But it did make me want to lay down some rules for texting. So, here you go, suggestions to improve your life by improving your texting - your welcome!

1. Be brief. Seriously, the whole point of a text is QUICK MESSAGE. When one text has to come in 6 different boxes you broke rule numero uno! If your text looks like the first draft of a book you're writing then it's time to dial numbers not type letters.

2. Stop sending cute and / or dirty images made out of your creative arrangement of letters & numbers. To be that intimately aware of the abilities of your keyboard only proves you have way too much time on your hands.

3. Just because you have the ability to instantly message someone doesn't mean they MUST instantly message you back. As a kid I learned that I could eat the caulk off the house just after we had new siding put on, it's doesn't mean I should have.

If it takes a few hours to get a reply then that's OK, if it takes more than a day it means that they may actually be busy and not have their phone glued to their hand. If it takes more than a week they either don't know who you are or they don't like you so stop stalking them.

4. The use of more than one exclamation mark is both unnecessary and proves you drink way too many energy drinks, lay off the sauce!!!!!!!!

5. Remember that texting carries no emotion. For example, if you ended your text with 20 exclamation marks (please see rule #5) and they end with a period, you don't need to go jump of a bridge. Don't insert YOUR emotion into THEIR text.

6. If you’ve both passed 7-10 texts, either someone needs to make an actual phone call, or stop texting. Join the other 30%.

7. Never drunk text, end of story. For that matter don't drunk twitter, facebook post or any other form of social networking update. We don't think it's as funny as you do, we actually think it's sad.

8. Turn off auto correct. While the text, "I just want to scream with the monkey's pants" is funny it makes no sense and thus requires additional texting bringing you dangerously close to breaking rule number 6.

9. Never text someone that is in earshot of you. If this is you then trust me, you have a problem & admitting it is the first step to getting help.

10. Don't stop calling your spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend, just because now you can text them instead. Your voice is a harmony of strength & beauty and it will never come through a text message. Say it, don't just type it.

Breaks In The Wall

Ezekiel 13:5

"You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD."

I've been reading through this part of the Bible recently and this verse has been ringing in my ears ever since I first read it.
These words are from God to the leaders of Israel. For reasons of selfishness & sin, the leadership of Israel has severely neglected the outer-wall defenses of the city and has left the people dangerously exposed to outside attack.

Now, realizing that it's not likely that anyone reading this is in charge of an entire city's safety due to a giant stone wall that you're responsible for, I think the message to take away here is either...

1. You need to stop being lazy and go fix that front door of your house that doesn't open and close correctly.

OR

2. We all need to pay better attention to what gets in & out of our hearts and the defenses that guard it.

Your heart, according to God, is the spring that produces the experience of life you're living in right now.

Proverbs 4:23

"Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life."

Maybe you're telling yourself that the condition of your life right now is the result of...

• your job
• a struggling marriage
• a broken friendship
• financial stress
• temptation

There's always something or someone else to blame for the conditions of our life.

But HOW you experience any situation is up to you. How you experience life is a partial result of what's coming out of your heart, and what comes out from your heart is a product of what gets into your heart. And the door to the heart is the way we think, this is why scripture tells us in Proverbs that as we think so we are.

Maybe that's why Paul tells us so clearly in Philippines 4:8 to be so selective with what thoughts we allow to consume our thinking.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

For some of us, the guard around our heart; the healthy protection and awareness of what gets in and what gets out is being severely neglected.

It's no wonder that at times we so quickly go emotionally towards anger, doubt, insecurity, fear, hate, blame, and all sorts of other places that will suck life from us & from the people around us.

The gate to our heart, which is our mind, either has a wide open door or breaks in the wall.

I think this is why Paul once talked about transformation being in the mind.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This transformation isn't a one time act, it's an ongoing decision of guarding what gets in and what goes out. We have to make the regular decision to approve or deny what walks through the door of our thinking. Paul explained this best when he tells us that his way of doing this was to make all of his thoughts obedient to Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:5

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we takecaptive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

I think there are several ways we could apply the challenge to "repair the breaks in the wall". The way I'm being challenged by God is to repair the wall of my thoughts & thinking. There are some holes in that wall; thoughts & ways of thinking that are finding their way down into my heart. Once in my heart they shape the way I'm experiencing life, God & the people around me that is not producing the LIFE I want to be experiencing. In other words, there's tainted water coming from my well.

With God's help, I'm repairing some of those breaks.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Father's Day

I know father's day was Sunday but I read this today & thought it was worth passing on so enjoy.

This is an article from our friends at Mars Jill Church in Seattle called, "10 practical ways to be a good dad".

1. Get involved with your child from the beginning.

Remember, there is only one thing a father can’t do for his baby. And even then, you can still establish a role for yourself bathing, burping, comforting, and taking the baby out for a walk.

2. Prioritize fatherhood.

Some dads worry that by emphasizing family so much they will lose their edge at the workplace and not be as competitive for positions as those who lack family ties or neglect them. Research doesn’t support that fear. Plan your work around your family. Decide that father-child time is not negotiable, but work time is. With calendar or planner in hand, schedule first the activities of your children, the school events, the games, then write in your work obligations.

3. Make yourself available always.

Interrupt your meetings when anyone in the family calls. Learn to text and respond quickly. Don’t be busy all of the time. Build in opportunities for spontaneous conversations. (Cf: “Spending Quantity Time with Your Kids“)

4. Have regular one-on-one time with each child.

Sometimes it’s fun to talk while you’re doing errands or making home repairs, but be sure there are times that you turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and give your kids your undivided attention. Arrange solo time with your kids. Go out to eat a favorite meal or to do an activity the child enjoys or just go on an errand together.

5. Connect with your child at all levels.

Make sure you have some contact with every aspect of your child’s life. Visit the school, meet the teacher and kids and have at least a bit of contact with an after-school activity. If you have seen where your children are and met their friends, you will have more to talk about and more interesting conversations. Parent involvement during children’s schooling is critical to their school success. Work with your employer to see that your work schedule doesn’t preclude your involvement in your child’s schooling.

6. Become an expert dad.

Keep up with the language of child rearing. Talk to other dads informally, in groups, or in parenting classes. Read articles and books about good fathering. In too many families, Mom becomes the “expert” and Dad relegates his responsibilities to her. Don’t let that happen to you.

7. Teach them.

No dad has every gift or skill. Kids may learn certain things from other males in their lives. Use opportunities to share your talents. In my family, I lack auto mechanical ability, but I have passed on the gift and love of sports by personally coaching their teams.

8. Take kids to work.

This is a great way to teach them about the world of work that you are a part of. Take kids with you on business trips when possible. (Cf: “Froggy Boots and a Bible“)

9. Stay connected when you have to be away.

Sometimes work takes dads out of town. Set up a routine to stay connected. Some families schedule a specific time Dad will call that is convenient for all members of the family. When you return, bring home something special for the kids. It doesn’t have to be extravagant.

10. Show affection often.

Even if older kids seem squeamish, kids enjoy a hug and always enjoy encouraging words from their dad. I get my sons t-shirts each time I go on a trip, and they wear them proudly, even when their friends ask why they have such a random collection of shirts from so many different cities.

Living In The Tension: Christians vs. Non-Christians

One of my friends is a guy that is planting a church in Vegas and in addition to secretly sleeping with a picture of him under my pillow I also regularly read his blog.

Vince Antonucci is possibly one of the best thinkers I know when it comes reasons & methods regarding the church being committed to reaching people far form God with the message of the Gospel.

Below is one of his recent blogs that I thought I'd share with you; great thoughts from a guy on the front lines of his faith.

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Living In The Tension: Christians vs. Non-Christians

When you do church for people who don't like church, joining Jesus on His mission of helping people who are far from God get close to Him, there are all kinds of tensions you live in and have to embrace.

One of those tensions is between Christians and non-Christians, and that sucks. Now I don't mean that there are tensions between the Christians and the non-Christians in the church. I mean that what each of those groups need is not always the same. And what each of those groups wants is rarely the same. Christians may want verse-by-verse teaching, non-Christians want you to give them answers for what they're struggling with. Christians might desire long times of heart-felt worship, non-Christians could think that gets a little weird. Often Christians want you to serve them, while non-Christians want to serve the community.

So what do you do? The easiest decision is to "side with" the Christians, or with the non-Christians. (99.99% of churches will give Christians what they want.) The right decision is to live in the tension. It's complicated, but you pray hard and talk a lot trying to figure out how to side with God, and to do what it takes to teach Christians AND reach non-Christians.

But, when you just absolutely can't figure it out and you have to choose one: Go with the non-Christians. Why? Because 99.9% of churches are doing the opposite, and someone has to do it. And, more importantly, because if Christians don't like what you're doing, they'll leave and go to a different church. But if non-Christians don't like what you're doing, they'll leave and possibly never go to

A Few Things I Want To Say To Our Church

1. Easter - WOW!
Easter was incredible gang, INCREDIBLE! Thanks to all of you who were a part of making the day so amazing. We really did feel the power & the presence of God that day. What a taste of the power that defines that day & created it 2000 years ago. During our last series preparing for E.A.C.H we have been clear that found people find people, and you all REALLY took that to heart & made it your mission this last Sunday. Keep it up Paradox!!

Whether you served in the journey, the 411, the security, brought a few friends, played in the band or WHATEVER you did, you were a significant part of making the day what it was. The stories are still coming in but here's what we know so far.

On Easter we saw about a 70% jump in attendance, we saw dozens of new people attending not just Paradox for the first time but any church in a LONG time and many for the first time every. We saw about 30 people make a decision to give their lives to Jesus that morning, we saw many people say they were taking the challenge to explore Christ further than Easter morning. People that have been praying for someone to meet Jesus saw some of those someones do so Sunday morning!!!! We saw Jesus bring dead people to life right in front of our eyes!

2. Don't ever fail to celebrate this.
I have a friend who once told me after hearing that several people gave their life to Christ in one of our services, "well, I guess that's fine but you better disciple them now". OK, certainly we do want to see people grow in their walk with Christ and begin to manifest the presence & the fruit of the Spirit of Christ through their life, but SERIOUSLY!

The "discipleship OR evangelism" debate has done a harm to the church that I don't believe has been intended but it's real none the less. It has created division of an issue that was never supposed to be TWO issues but ONE! In the divided focus it has also divided many churches & believers on the discussion as they argue over which is more important. What the HECK! THEY BOTH ARE PART OF THE SAME PROCESS! It's all a journey BUT it begins with BELIEF! And may I suggest that while we need to offer something intentional to assist people in their spiritual development beyond initial faith; discipleship is no more something we can MAKE HAPPEN than conversion is. I will never apologize for doing BACK FLIPS when someone decides for the first time to trust their life to the living God named Jesus. If that fails to completely excite us then we're missing the heart of God. Remember, He leaves the 99 found to rescue the 1 that is lost, finds the lost & then PARTIES!!! The lost take priority over the found.

Luke 15:7 - "there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"

3. The best is still yet to come
Sometimes after a big "win" it's easy to sit back, fold our hands, & call it a day. But there is no greater time to press on then after a victory, otherwise we can so easily become complacent.

There is still so much to do because there are still SO MANY THAT HAVEN'T BELIEVED.

30 people giving their life to Jesus is incredible & needs to be celebrated, but not to the the neglect of the thousands around us that still need to. Sunday was indeed awesome, but it was small sample of the work that God is still calling us to and a sample of the sweet & beautiful product of that work. I am celebrating Sunday but am already asking God, "what's next, where are you moving now & how do we stay on your heels?" Press on Paradox, we labor & bleed for the greatest dream that has ever dared to be dreamt...

..."The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:9

4. I love this church
I really do! I am SO grateful for the chance to be your pastor. I'm humbled at the opportunity to be a part of what God is doing here, not because of us but DESPITE US!

We serve a GREAT and a RISEN God!!

I can't wait to see what's next & what our head pastor, Jesus, has in store for this next year to come!

The Walk Of A Lifetime!

If you haven't yet heard tomorrow is going to be a HUGE day for the church in the Metro Detroit area.

Tomorrow morning is the downtown walk that will kick of E.A.C.H (www.eachtoday.com).

The talk is numbers in the tens of thousands that are going to be there - it's going to be CRAZY!

There are things that in life are sad when we miss them, like...

• An exist on the freeway
  
• Ed McMahon showing up at your door with a fat check
  
• your kid, when you throw them up in the air

Then there are other things in life that if you miss, you just may regret it forever!
Things like, well, umm let me see.... the EACH walk TOMORROW MORNING!

Go to the website above for more details but DO plan to be there! It might be the closest taste of heaven this side of it that we'll get to be a part of.

Carry Out

Had breakfast with a friend the other day that told me about a sight that I think pretty much sums up the state of the State in which we live right now.

He said he saw this nice, newer, Cadillac SUV driving down the road with a Jimmy John's delivery sign attached to the roof.

Now, I love me some Jimmy John's -- #1 ez on the mayo -- could eat those all day long. And there is NO SHAME in being a fast food delivery driver. But this is a combination of sign and vehicle that isn't a normal sight.

Maybe it was a delivery guy that just really works hard & finally got the car of his dreams -- you go crazy delivery guy!!! But more likely it was a guy like so many of us that somehow in the last year or so found himself without a job, or without the income he had previously been living off of.

abc news just wrote an article about the decline of our Sate that is pretty startling. You can read it HERE

Maybe one of the reasons I'm most excited about this E.A.C.H movement is that there is a chance for the only thing that will really create change to actually happen.

What's that thing?

That the people of God would really begin getting serious about bringing the good news & good deeds of Jesus to the community around us. Even if the economy turns around, even if Metro Detroit becomes one of the largest Metropolis areas in the counrty, even if the state began to grow faster than any other state, even if everyone under 30 wasn't flocking to another place to live & work in our country, even if ___________ (feel free to insert your own).

Even if all this and more BUT we still were a people, a city, a state no closer to the living God who made us then do we really win, do we really gain anything other than hay and stubble that will one day burn off?

I pray that what marks a new day for our state is the state of our experience with the living & loving God whose name is Jesus. He is more concerned with our hearts & our souls than with our economy so may HE use this economy to get hold of the other.

Pieces

My lack of presence here at me blog (no that is not a typo, I'm just feeling very Irish this morning) is the result of a life that has just been crazy, nuts lately.

This morning there is a verse giving me comfort that may give you comfort too, especially if you're life feels as nuts as mine does right now. Actually it's not really a feeling of being nuts as much as being in pieces. Lately it just seems easier to be discouraged than hopeful, tired than energized, worried than certain.

If you can relate at all then maybe God will comfort you too with His words.

Luke 20:18
"everyone who falls on that stone [Jesus] will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

There it is, "PIECES", the work of God is to break us to pieces. Can't you feel the comfort flowing now (yes, sarcasm is my native language).

Why in the world would God break us!! I mean I guess we can be thankful, on one level I could say, "well, hey, I guess being broken is better than being crushed!!" but the question still remains, WHY THE HECK ARE YOU BREAKING ME JESUS!!!!!!!

I can't answer that any better than the apostle Paul already has...

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

^"8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Something crushed is just gone, destroyed, done, that's' all folks!

But something broken can be repaired or even BETTER, it can be completely rebuilt into something new! Paul reminds us like Jesus that the work of God is not to crush us, and though breaking is painful -- IT HAS PURPOSE, eternal purpose that gives life to us and glory to our beautiful savior. But this also means that the work of breaking is not punishment it's the work of sanctification!

How horrible of a life this would be if God just left us alone and refused to sanctify what He has redeemed.

How great it is that Jesus loves us enough to break us an rebuild us. May we trust His work & be patience with His process in our lives.

He Taught Me To Love Jesus

Judges 2:10

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel"

For several weeks now my dad has been in the ICU at a downtown hospital. What started as a cold grew to pneumonia then an infection then began to spread to his vital organs and even shut down his kidneys.

We thought we were going to loose him.

Just a few days ago my dad began to improve. While he still has a LONG way to go he is out of the ICU and there are good sign of a full recovery to come.

The last three weeks have been such a whirlwind of activity and commotion that I don't think the emotion of it all caught up to me until this past Saturday night.

When he first woke up his voice was very raspy and hard to understand but in his half awake state he only needed to be awake for a few minutes before he began requesting a Dr. pepper, milk duds and something called a blimpy burger!

It wasn't long before he asked how long he had been asleep and it was emotional for him and the rest of us when he found out he had been unconscious for two weeks. Then he began to get some of his memory back, slowly. As thoughts returned he started telling us how he was so scared when they put him on the ventilator. He said he was scared because he thought he might die.

My dad is not usually one for a lot of emotion or details of what's going on in his head but for the next few minutes he poured them out to us.

This last Saturday night, almost 24 hours after that hospital room conversation I kept replaying one particular thing over and over again in my head. My dad told us how he was angry at himself that he was scared to die, when my mom tried to console him with "but you didn't, you're here now", he explained more.

He said in that moment he had to ask himself, "ok, do I REALLY trust Jesus and trust that I matter to him no matter what happens", he went on to say that he finally answered the question "yes, yes I trust the Lord Jesus Christ with my life". It was at that point that he said he relaxed and that was the last thing he remembered until waking up the other night.

I've always known that my dad loved the Lord but until the other night I never understood that it is BECAUSE he so deeply loves the that I do too.

Depending on your relationship with your parents growing up, it may be difficult to figure out what to put in the, "I am who I am because my parents______________" blank.

After the other night I know what to put there now. I am who I am because my dad has always so deeply and authentically loved the Lord Jesus Christ!

The only reason I am not as ignorant to the love & existence of God as the generation of children in Judges, a generation that needed the judges to come and painfully remind them, is because of my dad & the ways his love for Jesus was modeled to me & passed on to me.

If we fail to love Jesus in front of our children then we fail as parents. No matter what things you will do wrong as a parent, if you teach your kids to love Jesus by how you love Him, so will they. If you give them EVERYTHING else but not this, you've given them NOTHING.

Thanks for all your prayers & concern. Please keep praying, he has a long way to go still.

And, thank you dad for loving Jesus, I do because you did.

Please Pray

Late last night my dad was admitted to the hospital with sever pneumonia, I would appreciate your prayers for his health.

This Sunday at Paradox we will continue our series "f-bomb". My dad was going to be coming in to share on stage with me how we took steps years ago to mend our relationship through forgiveness.

I'm praying his health return quickly & fully and that you'll still be able to meet him on Sunday.

Thanks for your prayers.