Do we get it or not?

I am constantly struggling with the distinction between religion and discipleship. I know that the two are related but at the same time they are separate. Which makes my struggle even more difficult.

I am more convinced each day that we don't quite get it. Jesus called us to such a radical lifestyle that is counter to the world, that we don't want it or we just don't get it. Most churches and church people are religious without being disciples. Now, I know that is a generalization, but I get caught up in the religious practice instead of disciple practice myself so I am indicting myself. I don't feel guilty, I just know that I am covered by the grace of God and strive to understand the lifestyle that Jesus called me to. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. Just a constant battle with myself to be aligned with the mission of Jesus.

Where are you in this? Do you struggle? Am I in this alone? If you are reading this blog, let me know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

The Right Idea

I have been taking the WVSSAC coaching certification class. And I have to say that I am suprised. With all of the focus on winning or be fired from the middle school level to the college level, the focus of ASEP (American Sports Education Program) is still "Athletes first, winning second." ASEP is the national organization for certification of coaches for all levels of amateur competition. I have been very impressed with the idea of developing the athlete for life and not just the sport you are coaching. The statistics say that less that 1% of high school athletes will compete after high school. So the idea of developing the kids for life is right on.

With all of that being said, I wish that we would really use that philosophy. Too often coaches put kids in an unfair situation when putting their own ambition ahead of developing their athletes into responsible, confident adults.
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Thought for the day:

Security is not the meaning of life;
Great opportunity is worth the risk.

Shirley Hufstedler

One of those Days!

Do you ever just get up in a bad mood? And no matter what you do to change it, it just doesn't seem to make any difference. Today I am in a "funk" or something. I just can't seem to shake the mood. I have tried praying, singing, meditating, reading, etc. and nothing seems to work.

I know I have no excuse. But today is just "one of those days."

It's now lunch and I thought reading some e-mail and blogs might brighten my day. But nothing worked until I came across the following e-mail forward. I think you will enjoy it. It really made my day better.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself, adds no quality to the coffee in most cases, just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups..........enjoy your coffee.

Have a great week. And if there is anyone who reads this blog, please give me your thoughts on "Community in Christ."

Community in Christ

I am currently preaching a series of sermons called "Community in Christ." I would like for anyone who reads this blog to please send me a response.

I would like to know what "Community in Christ" means to you. How do we implement it in churches and communities? What does it look like?

I look forward to your response.

Remember this from Larry James in Dallas, TX. "Reflecting earlier this week on what it would be like to wake up as Mayor of Dallas, Texas got me to thinking about the importance of looking at life as a people through the lense of 'us' or 'we'. 'I' or 'me' or 'my' or 'mine' just doesn't get it. I hope we wake up soon to the truth that when all are cared for more adequately, all of us do better."

Catching Up!

It has been over a month since I wrote here. I have really missed it. But it seems like everytime I start to write, something more urgent comes to my plate. So today is a hodgepodge of things over the past 6 weeks.

My sister-in-law is in great shape. Her surgery was very successful and she is able to get back to some semblance of normal life -- whatever that is. She was even able to go on vacation with us the last week of July. Praise God for watching over her so well.

Vacation was fantastic. We spent the last part of July and first part of August at Myrtle Beach. For the first time in a long time I didn't do anything on vacation. I was just there with Kerry and the kids to have a relaxing time. We swam in the pool, rode the lazy river, sat at the beach, ate, ate, ate, and ate. It was the best vacation in a while.

In August the final hill climb to school starts. Sports are in full swing, school shopping begins and the days at the pool become less and less. I am helping coach the Nitro High soccer team, so it feels a little like I am back to school.

My son Max, 8 years old, fell off the trampoline and broke his tibia straight across the top. He is in a full leg cast up to his hip until September 21. What a way to start school. In all of that, he walks around on his crutches with a big smile. He has a great attitude about the whole thing. Thank you, God, for Max.

August 20-22 Jim Gardner was in Cross Lanes and Hurricane. That was the best meeting I have ever attended. Jim was able to speak to the exact things we talked about and built the perfect transition for our plans in the next year. He was so good, we had him come back to our Thursday Bible study. It was especially great for me to talk with Jim and get his perspective on ministry and other things. If you haven't had Jim Gardner for a time of study, I highly recommend it.

Now we are into school full time. It is nice to get back into a routine and know the daily schedules. But that also means homework, 4 soccer games per week, early rising, and cold weather on the way.

I also want to share the wonderful progress of the Cross Lanes Church. Internally we are growing so much. We are really focusing on God's will and how to live as Kingdom minded disciples. We had 17 visitors last Sunday. That is 17 first time visitors to our worship. Now some of that was family of regulars, but at the same time 17 first timers. In case you can't tell, I am extremely excited about that. A comment from Thursday night Bible study, "this Church is going to grow, I just know it."

In all of this I am reminded of my favorite passage of scripture.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV) Proverbs 3:5-6