Blocking Dummy-Ministry

We live in a society that recognizes achievement. We get credit for doing things right. It starts early with gold stars, report cards, and the coveted “classroom prize box” that my children get to raid if they have good behavior for a month. Who knew that a .75 cent orange-plastic yo-yo would be such a great motivator?! This continues on in life as you get paid for your expertise in a particular field, or in other ways such as having good relationships when you treat others well.

When I write my tithe check at church I am recognized as well…by the IRS!! I have the ability to write off the amount at the end of the year, the same as if I was giving to any other “non-profit” entity. There are obvious tax advantages to having many write-offs, so I pay my tithe with a check and add the total amount to my taxes as a deduction.


A few months ago, I had a day off of work. I decided to stop in and see my pastor, which I rarely get to do during the week. Pastor Andrew asked if I could help count the tithes from the weekend, and one of the staff members gave me the rundown on how our church receives the money. If it’s cash in the plate, it’s tracked as cash, all the checks are counted together, and cash in an envelope has its own category. I remember opening a blank envelope containing a large amount of cash. I said “Hey, this person just lost the tax advantage of paying with a check. They could have at least put their name on the envelope so we could have tracked their tax deductions this year.” My pastor replied, “Well, they must not be concerned about getting credit for their contribution. For that individual, giving is about their relationship with God and not about gaining approval from anyone.”

My pastor says things like that from time to time, in a matter-of-fact way, that stick in my head like super glue.

I was reminded of that discussion the other morning while talking with a friend. During the last several weeks he has been let down by several “Bible Toting Christians” (his term). My friend has been financially blessed. Not rich like some, but comfortable. His kids are involved in a successful, private school football program, and he wanted to bless them. He spent several thousand dollars on some new equipment for their team and was asked to go to lunch by the Dean of the school. My friend thought for sure that the Dean was going to thank him for his generosity, and what he got instead was a lecture on how “NOW the soccer and tennis parents want new equipment too.” Apparently the Dean received some angry phone calls from a handful of parents. The Dean suggested my friend should pay for some additional equipment for these other programs also. My friend pictured himself using the “church going” Dean as a Blocking Dummy.

He said “Jason, I’m going to get a tee shirt printed that says Jesus, protect me from your followers”. (He is one). He talked about how this situation left such a bad taste in his mouth that he was considering not giving anything to anyone ever again.


In this instance, my friend wasn’t seeking unjust recognition. He was hoping for a simple “thank you”, and felt like he had been slighted. We talked about the spiritual aspect of giving, and much like I am tied to the tax advantages of my tithe, he is tied to the recognition and approval of doing a good deed for his community and his kids. We talked about how much more satisfying it would be if we gave without expectations.

Gave for the sake of showing Christ to others.

Instead, many times the act of giving is tied to the idea of getting something in return. Even the expectation of “thank you” that was not received can cause significant frustration.

Recently our LifeGroup was challenged to do a micro-mission to give our time or money to someone that couldn’t pay us back. This could be something that we do for someone anonymously, or doing something for someone with no means of repayment. This task has proven a bit more difficult than we all imagined. Our LifeGroup has a tendancy to want to help each other, and there are certainly some people in our group that could use some help.

As we move forward with our micro-mission, my challenge to you would be to do the same. As Pastor Andrew challenged my thinking, I would challenge you to not be concerned about getting credit for your contribution. This week, give to simply strengthen your relationship with God, and not to seek approval or credit from anyone.

Have a great week!
Love,
Jason

Neighbor Lady

One of my favorite authors (speaker, pastor) is Rob Bell. I finished his book Velvet Elvis the other day, and was discussing one of the concepts with a friend of mine last night. He said “Rob Bell is unique because his messages are so simple, and yet they are very deep--all at the same time.” The concept we were discussing deals with evangelism and getting the true message of Jesus out into the world. Rob talks about how as Christians, many times we are taught that our greatest achievement will be to get someone else to become a Christian. However, Rob states that not all people will become Christians no matter how hard we try, and if we love people with the sole agenda of “leading them to Christ”, then it isn’t really true love…it’s love with OUR agenda attached, which somehow cheapens that love. He then uses an analogy of a Christian living on a street with a Hindi neighbor to the left, an atheist on his right and an agnostic across the street. He says that if the Christian simply loves their neighbors the way Jesus did, that Jesus and Love win regardless of the beliefs of the recipients of that love. When I think about what that looks like, I see it as; a cup of sugar here, a mowed lawn there, a kind word, an ear, a fixed deck, a prayer or getting the stray cat down from a tree…You get the idea. Just simply loving your neighbors like Jesus loved. Forgive quickly, be more available, be encouraging, and help those who need it. Rob says “and anyone can be your neighbor”.


A week ago I was back-to-school shopping for my 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son on a Monday morning. I had taken the day off and under normal circumstances, wouldn’t be caught dead in mall, especially on a ‘vacation day’… but alas, the kids needed clothes for school and my wife’s mother who was in town, wanted to contribute to our shopping expedition. She blesses us in this way from time to time, and as always the timing was perfect.

I was in the boys section, and after finally finding a pair of pants that fit Logan (not an easy task) I decided to go back to the rack, and get one of each color. I was pulling five pairs of pants off of a rack and I heard a voice I didn’t recognize, hurriedly talking to Shelli. I looked over and saw a very anxious, tall and very pregnant woman. She had a panicked tone and was obviously upset about something. She was wearing a pretty blue maternity dress and was saying “I just don’t know where it is, have YOU seen it!?” I asked Shelli what she was missing and apparently she had lost a ‘gift card’. I found out later that it was worth $65. I ignored the lady in blue, and walked away from the situation. Over my shoulder I heard Shelli say to the woman “oh, honey what color is it? What aisle were you in, when was the last time you saw it?” I made a quick decision to not get involved and made a hasty exit over to the boy’s shirt section to round out Logan’s outfits.

That’s when I felt that voice. I say “felt” because I did not audibly hear anything, but I had an immediate and STRONG feeling that I was supposed to help out. I had this quick argument with myself about this not being MY deal, and that I didn’t need to waste my time for someone I didn’t even know, and that maybe this was a scam or someone looking for attention.

And then the feeling/voice got more intense. I reluctantly turned around, walked back to where I was standing, quickly walked 10 steps down an aisle and made a random left hand turn and it was right there.

On the floor.

Upside down.

The lady-in-blue’s gift card.

I smiled, bent over and picked it up and walked back to the area where Shelli, the lady and our kids were standing and Shelli said “did you find it Jay?” I said “yup, here ya go” as I handed it to a very happy women. The next minute of time is a blur, I think she thanked me, but what I remember is that she seemed VERY relieved. As I walked away, I was reminded what our obedience means to others. Prior to turning around and helping out, I was so wrapped up in what I was doing, that I almost missed the opportunity to bless someone. This small gesture of kindness took me all-of-about 11 seconds.

There are passages in the bible that say we do not get into heaven through our actions. We get there through developing a relationship with Jesus. I am learning that as our relationship with Jesus grows, we can’t help but act different!


Your neighbors are waiting!

Jason

Out of the Mouths

Ever have a day that you felt far away from God, and something happens and you feel close...Like REALLY close?



I'm having one of those days today. I have been frustrated that my wife Shelli isn't healing faster. I don't know why I've been so anxious exactly...it's not like I had surgery myself or anything, I just want her better. There must be an inflamed nerve that is causing some pain that reaches around her side. It's not the same "cracked rib" feeling that she had before, but still hurts like crazy.

We ended up calling the doc and getting some more pain meds for her this week. It's been getting a LITTLE better over the last couple days but still has this shooting pain-feeling. I heard her cry out in her sleep last night "stop stabbing me!!"


So, I was sitting here this morning, overtired for the 5th day in a row, feeling a little sorry for myself. My office manager/partner/boss Teresa came upstairs and said "I don't want this day to happen". I asked her what she meant and she said she was going to a funeral of her son's baseball coach today. She said that he was 45 years old, healthy and had a heartattack over the weekend and died. 3 kids, loving wife. He ran for a hobby. VERY healthy guy.

And I listened to her talk about how he would be missed.
And I listened to her tell how yesterday at the showing, her 7 year old walked up to the casket and proclaimed "Is THAT coach Jeff? He's DEAD!!".
And I listeded to her tell me that her son then said "Where did he go mom?" To which she replied "He was a Christian so he is in heaven". Jason (the son's name) said "HE GOT TO GO MEET JESUS AND GOD!?? COOL! What a LUCKY GUY". And he whispered under his breath again "Lucky Guy".

I stopped listening to her, and I realized I need to be listening to HIM. We are lucky people folks. Even when we don't feel like it. Even when life deals us a blow or two. Didn't get the raise, family members hurting, divorce, jerky employers, crazy sisters-in-law, spouse travels too much, stumble and fall sometimes, have trouble with our ex-spouse...We're Lucky that we know Jesus.

This isn't a lesson about 45 year olds having a heart attack and we didn't so we're better off. The lesson that I got today was that our lives are so simple, that a 7 year old got it. We KNOW Jesus, so we're lucky. He's been here the whole time I've been frustrated and I could have given that to him on Sunday...


Jason

Fear or Faith?

Fearless? Sometimes...
We've had a great series at church over the last few weeks about fear www.lifechurch.tv . Actually the series has been about being Fearless. 2 Timothy 1:7 (King James Version) 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I have a tendency to be afraid. Afraid of financial trouble, health issues, the perceptions of others, that I'm not a good enough {FILL IN THE BLANK} (Friend, husband, father, Christ Follower, brother, son, employee)…I've found that the stronger my faith, the less my fear. I sometimes forget how much fear has been a part of my life since I was young, and was reminded of that this morning:

Logan (my 7 year old son) watched a movie this week...Spirited Away and was frightened by a character called "No-Face". He did NOT want to go to bed by himself last night. It reminded me of myself when I was that age(ish). I was scared many times at night. I was one of those kids that would pull the covers up over my head and not get up to go to the bathroom until it was light out. I KNEW something was under the bed just waiting to grab me. When I walked into his room this morning at 4:00 am to turn off his light, which I have done a hundred times before without a peep from him, I heard "dad, is that you?" I said "yes Logan"…and he turned and watched me walk down the hall, and back into my room. I noticed that his eyes were like saucers...I wasn't in bed for 25 seconds when I heard the muffled scuffing of feet and a soft voice say "can I sleep with you the rest of the night?"

I remember a house that we lived in when I was young, it was the second home we lived in when we moved to northern Michigan…My parents never had any extra money, so we rented. They rented a house off of Algonquin Trail http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=wl in a tiny city named Mio. The house was redwood sided, and was really meant to be more of a retirement/summer home. I remember many great days there, and at that time my parents were still married.

The yard seemed big to me then, and was well wooded. There were mature oaks that were spaced apart and the back yard had a nice natural canopy of trees, and a fence of bushes and shrubs. There were no houses behind us, and if you walked a straight line, about 100 feet, you would run into water! Jeff and I spent much of that summer playing in Wolf Creek. He would walk across fallen trees and I would wade through the sand-covered bottom looking for frogs and fish. One time, Uncle Oscar came "up" to visit from Sterling Heights (near Detroit) we went exploring for some flowers that he heard grew along creek banks. I still remember all of us taking a bite of a "Jack in the Pulpit" flower http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H46.htm and how it burned our tongues. My mother was so mad that we ate something wild like that, but I felt like a great explorer that day.

I remember my dad burning a black plastic bag that he wound into a tight rope-like thing with knots and hung from a clothes line. The plastic would drip into a kid swimming pool. Every drip made this "ZZZZSSSSEEEEEP" sound. "ZZZZSSSSEEEEEP!" "ZZZZSSSSEEEEEP!!" and ended with a fizz as it hit the water. I have told many people that there are more rednecks in Michigan than in Tennessee and my dad certainly was one of the reddest THAT day! I loved every molten drop.

I shared a bedroom with my older brother Jeff. The bedroom was small, and it was off of a short hallway, diagonal from our bathroom. Immediately to the left of our room was THE DOOR! This was the locked doorway to the garage. The garage was off limits to us as renters and I'm sure the padlock was just a reassurance to the homeowner that it would stay "off limits". The door was brown, a little meatier than all of the other doors in the house and had obviously been an aftermarket addition. I was scared to death of the door. I never told my family, but I would walk by it quickly and tried to never look at it. To my 5 year old mind, this door was the only thing that separated me from goblins, ghouls and monsters. And I had this belief that the door had some characteristics that made it side with those nasty beings instead of me.

The times I would get up the courage to look at the door, I made SURE it was still LOCKED. Thankfully we lived there for only about a year, but I remember that feeling of fear, and being short of breath some nights because of it.

"Yes Logan, you can sleep here until morning". I threw my arm around him and the next thing I knew, it was light outside.

Jason

It's Been 13 Years Since She Said "I Will"

Marriage Memories and Observations

Happy Anniversary to me! I remember that day well..May 21st 1994. Actually my father sort of picked the date. Shelli and I had just moved in together at the time and my dad said "well, are you getting married?" We said emphatically "Yes!" He said "when?" And wes aid "this spring".

We were getting some heartburn from Shelli's mom and dad who did NOT want us living together before we got married. Looking back on that now, and being a parent and a Christ Follower…and a LOT smarter…I would have felt the exact same way. I didn't understand what a "God-Centered Marriage" looked like back then. (Craig Groeschel has agreat sermon on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7nWyzs67I0 )

We had every reason in the book to live together first. Although we never went into our relationship, much less marriage being able to even pronounce the "D" word. That's what we called divorce, even back then. It was the worst swear word that could be uttered. Dad said "well, why don't you tell Shelli's folks that it's the third weekend in May. At least then you have a date and it's official".

The 21st of May was SOOOO hot in 1994. It was the hottest day of the year at the time, and yes, even in northern Michigan a church without air conditioning can reach well over 90 degrees. It was uncharacteristically warm that day and I felt it. Add a beautiful long white dress, a black tuxedo and a candle on every pew (and there was also a lit candle IN the decorative fans that the 6 bridesmaidswere carrying) and you can only imagine the heat. (I would have been sweating if it would have been 30 below though!) 3 hours before the5:30 time, I was with my best friend Dennis at his house getting ready. He had to stop by the salon where Shelli was getting her hair done to drop something off, and came out of the hair salon grinning ear to ear. He said "ummm…Jay, Shelli looks GOOD! REALLY GOOD!"

We had lots of friends and family attend the wedding and reception, live music from family members. What sticks out in my mind other than how striking Shelli looked, is Shelli's grandfather Henry reading 1 Corinthians 13:4 4"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Then, Henry stopped, looked at Shelli and I and said "I am giving you this bible. I want you to read it EVERY DAY. This is my gift to you and if you do that one simple thing, you will have a great marriage". That comment didn't make much of an impact on me at the time.

Henry was one of the strongest (literally and figuratively) men I have ever met. He had a love for God and his family. Even after his wife got diabetes and lost a leg and part of her mind during her last few years, he went to the facility where she lived EVERY day for lunch and prayer. There's a whole book to be written about Henry. Henry was very frugal and had plenty of money. I now understand that frugality and the abundance of money are not diametric opposites, but interlinked. It was that frugality that compelled him to take the roses off of his wife's casket and hand them to the daughters and granddaughters that were at Grandma's funeral, before they lowered the casket in the ground…"It just didn't make any sense to bury those roses, I just bought them!!" he said.

I remember another time with Henry; I was helping Shelli's sister's husband sand drywall on a ceiling with an electric sander. We were on a ladder and my arms were killing me. "Fatiguing". Henry told meto get off the ladder, and he finished the job…he was 76 at the time!

It only took me about 10 years after Shelli and I got married toactually listen to the words in the passage that Henry read…and about 11 years of marriage to start REALLY applying them. A year or so ago, I remember saying to Shelli, "wow, you have been so much more submissive lately." Her response was "well, you've been a much better leader". It's amazing what happens when you start walking together in a God-Centered relationship. We have been through some tough stuff since we said "I Will". Sickness, money trouble, past hurts resurfacing, frustration, addiction and many other cracks and bends. Our marriage is stronger now, and I love my wife more today than ever before. Knowing what I know now, I would have done 2 things differently: 1) Get to know Jesus sooner, and 2) Applied the passage that Henry read on May 21, 1994 sooner.

Happy Anniversary Shelli! I'm looking forward to the next 13 years!

Jason

I'll Take Beer Kegs and Legacy for 1000 Alex!

This Father’s Day had me thinking about Legacy. My dad has some great qualities and characteristics. He is very smart in multiple ways; he can use a slide rule faster than I can use a digital calculator, write VERY well, play guitar, speak in public, temporarily fix most things or tell you how. He’s got the mind of an engineer and he’s also a creative problem solver. He knows how to be a friend to the friendless. Yesterday I was reminded of one of the problems that he ‘solved’ creatively in 1988. It was at the annual Sturgeon Bay Biker Campout on the North West tip of Michigan .

Summers are absolutely beautiful in Michigan , with no humidity and temperatures in the upper 70’s and 80’s during the day and 60’s in the evenings. (Don’t wait around though because summer only lasts about 90 days!) Dad's Motorcycle Club (the Loyal Riders MC) took a camping trip every year. He was one of the founding members of the club, and at that time he had hair down to his middle back. They called him Sarge. Dad had acquired a used black Kawasaki 1000 and although I knew he would have rather had a Harley, the KZ was well manufactured and had enough room for him and my step-mom Jody. The bike club had their own clubhouse with a pool table, bar and a large outside ‘courtyard’ equipped with running water, a LARGE barbeque pit and ‘outdoor dining area’ that easily seated several dozen people. They held meetings, parties, and actually spent most of their time planning day trips and donating items to local charities. There were the occasional scuffles and rowdiness, but my dad had the respect of the guys and would quickly deflate these issues.

The problem that he solved involved a cold keg of beer that was transported by van to the remote camp site about 18 miles away from where it was purchased. After fiddling with the tap, dad realized that the seal was broken. There was obviously no ‘keg tap seals’ laying around, and with a group of restless and thirsty bikers getting antsy, dad decided to take charge of the situation.“Filthy Phil, grab those 3 pitchers over there and get ready! Jody, get all these kids back out of the way”. He took out his Smith and Wesson .38 snub nosed revolver pistol that he bought from a neighbor 2 years prior and carefully aimed at the top of the keg. The bullet pierced the top corner with an ear splitting BANG and foam and beer started spewing everywhere. Filthy Phil captured about 3 pitchers worth and placed it on the picnic table nearby. The weight of the keg kept it from moving too much. The spewing stopped and there was a nicely torn hole at the top of the keg that was now the exit wound for the keg beer. “Well Sarge, I guess we won’t be getting the deposit back!”

The reason I was reminded of that story yesterday is that for Father’s Day, my 7 year old son Logan wanted to go shooting. I haven’t fired a weapon in about 2 years and Logan has never shot anything except spitballs. He’s seen the Ruger .22Mag Blackhawk revolver that I keep in the closet, and the 20 gauge shotgun. In my family, guns were a rite-of-passage. BB gun at 8 years old, .22 rifle at 10, 20 gage at 14, and the pistol was a Christmas gift when I was 17.

Yesterday, Logan and I went to a friend’s house in the afternoon and hung some white end-pieces of downspout from a tree with a couple of wire coat hangers. Logan listened to my diatribe about gun safety and watched me run 6 rounds through the pistol. He obviously was listening because his 4th shot, HIT THE TARGET. Target shooting with a pistol is an art form in a way, and I’ve shot with many adults that couldn’t hit the south side of a barn if they were standing in it. I was very proud of him. He also wanted to shoot the shotgun, and I was hesitant because it is a ‘bolt action’ and kicks like a mule. On his first shot however, he annihilated a paint can, and any pain he had in his shoulder was quickly diminished by the glee of seeing twisted metal and a bull’s-eye shot. It was a day neither one of us will forget.

My dad had some bad qualities and characteristics too. We all do. I’ve tried to glean the positive attributes from my parents and utilize them for my life and my parenting. Ultimately, my legacy will be what I glean from my “heavenly Father”. That is good news for everyone. Some of you didn’t have a dad that ever took you shooting. Some of you, like me, are a product of a divorce. Some of you don’t know your dad or wish you didn’t and Father’s Day is an annual frustration. Even though yesterday was “Biological Father’s Day” I would encourage everyone to focus on their Heavenly Father today. Listen for HIS leading, teaching and sometimes HIS diatribes…He’s full of patience, and is VERY proud when we HIT THE TARGET!

Jason

Want to grow? Just add Water.

In the summer of 1978, my family moved into a kids paradise. I was 7 years old and we moved from our rental home to a small house in Rose City, Michigan. The house was at the top of a hill that faced the shoreline of Loon Lake. There were about 100 old wooden steps that lead down to a dock on the water.

Behind the house was a shared parking area that faced a small cliff with a grassy top that kept the ground intact. The cliff had a steep drop of about 40 feet with an all-sand-landing. If you got a running start, you fell for what seemed like forever before you landed and slid on the warm soft sand. I wonder if I would let my kids jump off of it today, but times were different then and my brother and I spent many afternoons seeing who could cover the greatest distance without breaking any bones!

Loon Lake was spectacular. Quiet, kidney-bean shaped and probably 1/2 mile wide and 2 miles long. The perch fishing was good if you knew where to go, and there were wild animals everywhere.The house we lived in had one large room that housed 2 bunk beds, a couch, chair, sewing machine and a black and white TV. There was a tiny kitchen and a small bathroom. That was IT...I now understand that it was a cabin, not really designed for winter living, but it was the best we could find at the time, and we lived there for a summer and I loved it.

My parents were great friends to many people, and the cast of characters that I grew up around were interesting to say the least. Billy Bratton was a Honda Gold Wing aficionado, (a biker) and to this day has 4 bullets lodged in his body. Two from a drug deal gone bad and 2 from a smart-alec teen that wouldn’t leave his property one summer evening in Detroit. During the drug deal, he said he knew he was in trouble right away. When he picked up the buyers, one jumped in the front passenger side and one jumped right behind him in the back seat. When Billy heard the hammer cock of a pistol behind him he made a quick decision to drive his car INTO a police station--that just happened to be right in front of him. The robber shot Billy twice in the back before police arrested all three of them. Billy is fully healed, and a much different man now than he was before that incident.

Another friend, Steve Polgar was visiting on a memorable cool day in September. Steve was a nice guy, a Vietnam Vet like my dad and wanted to take a row boat ride around the lake with dad and I. I was ‘packing heat’ in the form of a squirt gun pistol, and at first I shot the water, and some imaginary boats. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get Steve wet though, and I emptied the lake-water filled squirt gun on him. He finally said “Jason, if you squirt me again, I’m going to throw you in the lake when we get back to shore”. I didn’t listen to him, and continued to squirt him all the way back to the dock. Surely, this 'nice guy' wouldn’t throw an innocent 7 year old in the water, especially with his father right there, I thought.When we got back to shore, I was “rear end over elbows” getting out of the boat and I felt Steve's hands grab me. I screamed and Steve tossed me into the shallow waters of the cool lake.I remember standing up, freezing cold and soaking wet in my freshly mucky jeans and a sweatshirt. My dad was not being overly comforting and I stomped and cried as I slowly made it up every one of the 100 steps hoping to find mom more understanding. She helped me get dried off, but didn’t offer much sympathy.

I was angry at her and my dad over that event for years.I have come to realize that the only person at fault was me. As much as I wouldn’t admit it, I needed that correction to help teach respect of others and to remind me that all of my actions have consequences. Whether something terrible happens that makes us consider our actions/behaviors, or a minor attitude adjustment is in store, I believe our “Heavenly Father” will allow us to go through painful experiences so we rely more on Him, and hopefully grow stronger. Prov 3:11-12 “But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this.

My father has admitted that it was difficult for him to see me go through that experience. I wonder what I would do in the same situation with my kids…Good thing they know how to swim!!

Jason

Halfway to 72

“Happy Birthday Honey.” Those were the first words I heard from my wife Shelli when I woke up last Thursday morning. I turned 36 on June 28th. Halfway to 72!

It was a great way to start a great day. I had so many blessings that it’s hard to remember them all. We had a houseful of family, and they all gave me a birthday wish… Shelli made me great breakfast, and I went to work.

My first meeting was in Nashville, so my commute was half of the 60 minute norm. The meeting went well, and my client actually bought ME coffee and a muffin. (That never happens). It was a beautiful day and I was happily out of the office. I got several text messages, calls and e-mails from new and old friends, and I remember thinking about how thankful I was for the people that are in my life.

Shelli had a small dinner planned at a restaurant with some friends and family, and someone paid for my meal. Shelli always plans a ‘surprise’ diner party for me, and I always act surprised. I received some interesting Birthday Cards this year, that made comments about leadership, friendship and God centered living. It was a consistent theme, and I spent a moment reflecting at how much I have grown emotionally and spiritually in a year’s time. I took another moment to thank God for that growth.

The fact that we don’t seem to have any extra money didn’t seem to bother me that day. That fact that I am not further ahead career-wise, or living in a large home, wasn’t an issue. The fact that I am driving an hour to work one way, and that Shelli’s back is still not perfect after surgery, and the fact that I weigh too much were not on my mind at all. It was a great day and I felt great all day.

Three days later, I slipped into a down mood that lasted until recently. I spent too much time focusing on my negative “facts” in the above paragraph. How did that mood shift happen so dang fast? I have a friend that suggested that our relationship with God is like a boat tied to a dock, and when we are not developing that relationship we become untied and drift. For me, it’s subtle, especially at first, and then I realize that the shore seems like a long ways away. When my world goes into non-focus, it usually is triggered by a dwindling bank account or an unexpected financial strain. The bible is very specific about what I should spend time focusing on. The Message Version of this next passage is probably my favorite section of verses in the entire Bible (so far) Matthew 6: 30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

My hope for you is that you will not let your circumstances drive your emotions today. May you find little blessings in your surroundings. I know it's harder than it sounds--I lose focus regularly. As our relationship grows with God, and we learn to rely on Him, every day can feel like a great birthday!!


Jason

Hiking for Life Lessons

My wife Shelli and I have been blessed with some great friends. My mother will say “it’s because you are great friends to others”…but I know our friends are a gift from God.
Tim is the kind of friend that gives you a real hug when he sees you. He’s the kind of friend that plays with your kids because he’s happy to see them too. Tim will listen to you when you talk, ask the RIGHT questions and won’t just side with you because he’s your friend. He always has a word of encouragement and notices the little things. We look forward to his visits, and always end up with sore ribs from laughing so hard during our time together.

Tim is an ‘outside the box’ thinker. A naturalist, Christian, and definitely has different ideas than the ‘mainstream’. He left his high paying computer job a few years ago to go build handmade wooden boats in Maine. This has made him a type of not-being-held-down-by-the-man hero to my family. While he was there, he developed a love of hiking and made a decision to hike the Appalachian Trail. For the next year, he worked, paid off debt and saved up 6 months’ worth of income and hiked ALL 2,172 miles over a 6 month period. Wikipedia says “The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a 2000+-mile marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. Along the way, the trail also passes through the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.


http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=67533
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=67597

He visited us a week after he had been off the trail. His beard was still thick and his body was thin and chiseled. My daughter Kianna was 7 years old at the time, and after hearing us talk about the hike for awhile, chimed in with “why didn’t you just take a CAR?!”
This weekend, I was reminded of a story he told us when he was visiting. We had a great sermon Sunday at LifeChurch.Tv about Jonah that dealt with following the will of God and not leaving loose ends.

Tim told us that on a particularly tough hike through West Virginia he rubbed his left heel raw. He didn’t have the proper bandages (or had run out already) so he started overcompensating to take the pressure off his heel. This overcompensation wreaked havoc on his body. His right knee was sore, his hips ached and his back was so stiff after 2 days of hiking, he had to take an extended break and rest. He said it was a great lesson on dealing with issues as they come up, instead of ignoring them or covering them up with a temporary fix.

What are you ignoring? What is creating a limp or pain in your life that you need to address? I would encourage you to talk with someone today. Make that phone call that you have been putting off. Get some help for that unresolved issue. And….Pray. The Bible reminds us that we are not alone when we need some help. James 1:5 says: 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Jason