Mornings

I am not a morning person, I like mornings but I am still not a morning person. This morning I woke up at 6am, which wouldn't be that early but I am in Arkansas today and it according to my body it was 4am. It takes a couple of cups of coffee to get me going but once I pipe some precious caffeine down my veins I enjoy an early morning. The quietness of getting alone is a very and rare commodity. I was able to spend some time in God's word without being interrupted and received some great benefit for the day. Jesus made it a habit of getting away for some solitude and i think that we all could use more of that.
Hope you have a happy New year-- God bless

Joel

ps: here's what Jackson and I look like in the morning

2008 almost here.

Looking forward to a great new year...
This year promises to be a great new year. Here a a few things I am excited about.

-Visiting my parents for new years day
-Elevate moving into the 210 building in mid-February
-One of my best friends in the world moving back to visalia
-Moving into our new house
-My sons first year of actual pitch baseball
-An amazing year of ministry at Crossroads
-My wife and I taking our first vacation (without the kids)

Hope you all are looking forward to an exciting year as well. Jeremiah puts it well in chapter 29 verse 11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." God has great plans for all of us, the closer we stay to God, the easier it is to hear his plans.

happy new year everybody!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope you all are having an amazing Christmas, we are having a quiet Christmas with just the 4 of us. Watching the kids open presents is truly a joy. I often say I learn so much about Gods love through my children. As crazy and mischievous as they can get I still have an unexplainable unconditional love for them. I get a great deal of satisfaction of making them happy and hearing them say "just what I've always wanted." Sometimes we get the misconception of God as being the angry schoolmaster keeping a record of how we do and waiting with sadistic pleasure to smack the back of our hands with his yardstick when we mess up. Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 11 that God enjoys giving us good gifts, he makes reference to how we give gifts to our children despite our proneness to be selfish, he says if we can do that, how much more does our heavenly father enjoy bringing us the things that we need and desire.
As you open gifts and give gifts this year, make it a habit to slow down and remember you have a heavenly father who loves you so deeply and is constantly looking out for your best interest. When you slow down enough to appreciate who he is and what he is doing, you will see the amazing gifts that he is always handing out.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

SLOW MOTION- GOD WITH US

When we are moving so fast in life we often lose sight of who is with us. Jesus made a promise after he rose from the dead that he would never leave us- ever! When life gets tough we often feel abandoned by God or we get so caught up trying to fix things we make them worse. Jesus often asked his disciples- "who do you say that I am?" I think another way that could be phrased to us is "do you realize who you have with you." there is a great commercial on tv currently that shows a guys getting ready to perform surgery on himself with a butter knife, and it says "you wouldn't do surgery on yourself" and goes on to say something like why would you not let a professional handle your finances. This would be an excellent commercial for us to say why not look to see who we have next to us when we go through the dark times in life. The maker of the universe has said, I will never, i mean ever, leave you. Slowing down long enough to realize that God is with us the entire way would help save us a lot of stress and heartbreak in life. So put down the butter knife and let God do what he does better than we do- everything!

SLOW MOTION 5

One of the best things about living life with a slow motion awareness is that you are much more thankful for the things you have. It is easy to get caught up in life trying to always get what we don't have. The secret to fulfillment in life is found in the book of Philippians chapter 4. Paul is talking about how he has achieved basically the highest status in his profession, only to find it left him empty (he actually calls it a pile of poop.) He says that in good times and bad times, in richness or in extreme poverty he found the secret to contentment, that is the coming to the understanding that God is faithful in all things. Philippians 3-4 is a great guide to understand what it really means to live outside of our circumstances and experience the fullness of a life lead by thankfulness for who God is and what he has done (and better yet what he is going to do.)

I am so thankful for my family, for his protection from a near accident today, for the fact that he loves me even though he knows all about me. The list goes on and on.

Thanks for slowing me down long enough to say thank you!!!!

210 Update

I had the privilege of walking through 210 yesterday. It is coming along awesome. We are blessed to partner with an great church like First Pres. who truly demonstrates a kingdom perspective. Looks like the opening date is going to be around mid to late Feb. Hope all are well, i have a touch of the flu. Will try to write a little more later today.

god bless
Joel

SLOW MOTION 4

"I can't believe I just said that." "I wish I wouldn't have said that." Have you ever thought that? I have on multiple occasions. Why does that question seem to make a frequent appearance in my life? One of the first things that goes out the window when we get caught up in the fast paced life is our ability to make logical decisions. When things are going on so fast around us, we (or should I say "I") tend to make decisions based on the here and now. One of the disciplines of being a Follower of Jesus is that we base our decisions based on what the future holds not based on how I feel at the moment. (that is living life in slow-motion) If we really think about it some of the worst things we say are when we get caught up in a situation and say something stupid without thinking about the consequences of our words. Solomon says it well when he says " There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. Proverbs 29:20." I am making an effort to live life in slow motion which means not making quick decisions based on feelings and not responding quickly with my words. I hope this is something that will stick beyond just a seasonal effort, but rather become a habit in my life. The one thing you find in the word of God that we are supposed to do quickly and without thinking, is to obey God. I hope I am quick to obedience and slow. James chapter 1 has some amazing advice, the whole chapter is awesome nut specifically verses 19-20 "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."

SLO MOTION 3

Sometimes being still and waiting pays off. I shared last night that I was trying to beat the crowds and find that hard to get toy for my son the Christmas. After playing the game and not being very successful I decided I would just wait it out and wait for it to come to me or even past the Christmas season. I got a text from a friend who told me where I could get one this morning. So I went and stood in line for a few minutes and got it this morning. Psalm 46:10 says "be still and know that I am God." I am not saying that God was behind me getting the Christmas item I have been searching for (although he loves to bless his children) but the principle of waiting and listening applies well in lifewe can run around and search for things all we want. By true spiritual growth and blessings I believe are fond in the time we sit still and acknowledge that God is in charge and we are not. So my challenge this week is to start operating in slow motion a little each day to truly appreciate God and see his hand at work- because he is always at work.

SLOW MOTION 2

SLOW MOTION

I cant believe we are less than two weeks away from Christmas, didn't we just finish taking down the lights from last year. This year is going to be an extremely busy Christmas, we are going to be trying to move into a different home 3 days before Christmas and still try to have a somewhat normal Christmas. Things could get a little crazy, but i am trying as I do each year to remember why we celebrate and also make sure my kids understand the meaning. I am going to start teaching a new series through December at elevate called "slow motion," based on Psalm 46:10 "be still and know that I am God." This verse is a challenge to us to slow down and focus our attention on God long enough to see that he is in charge and that his way is so much better than ours. When I am going in fast motion I miss out on the best things in life and begin to think that I am in charge of life.
Here is a challenge, the video posted below is 10 minute long, 10 minutes goes by quickly except when you are still. Take the time of this slow-motion video and Listen to God. (if your at work you may want to wait till you get home.) Listening doesn't necessarily mean hearing a loud booming voice, but just listening to what he spirit is telling you. 10 minutes seems an eternity when you are still.

Friends

Would you say something to a friend who had something stuck in his or her teeth? or had their fly open? I am very privileged to have some great friends in life. I have a amazing group of people who I am on staff with and we are not just co-workers we are friends and we have fun together. It is amazing to serve God together with people you actually enjoy being around. I am also blessed to have people in my life that tell me what they feel, not what they think I want to hear. That is a fine line to walk sometime, if we are going to be a good friend we might want to help them with something we see may be hurting them and that they are not aware of, yet we don't want to hurt they feelings or we are unsure of how they will respond. I am beginning to learn that honesty is always the best policy, even if someone responds unlike I would hope in the end, you earn respect. In proverbs 27:17 it says "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." All friendships be involve building each other up which requires honesty based on love. Next time a friend points out something that hurts your feelings remember another great proverb: "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." proverbs 27:6.

Worship Concert

Last night was an amazing worship concert. It was awesome to see a full house of people reaching out to God in worship. The night was all kind of based on the fact that God is pursuing us. We often think that we have to work harder, be better or do more in order to get God to notice us and to offer us the things that we need. The truth is that God is the one who is constantly pursuing us. We just seem to have a way of looking for him in the things that the world has to offer instead of taking the greatest gift ever, which is a relationship with him. That is more than just praying a prayer and expecting life to be perfect. It is the process of growing in relationship with him, and realizing that the greatest gift he has to offer is intimacy with him. I need to stop looking for the material or emotional things that i am expecting from God and look to him directly and enjoy his presence.
A challenge today: knowing that God is pursuing you, look around you for opportunities to see him at work in your life and the blessings he might be giving you that you might miss if you are looking elsewhere.

Worship Concert at Elevate

Are you Thirsty? Not for water to quench a dry throat. Is your soul thirsty for God's presence to fill your life? This Sunday might we have an opportunity to gather together and let God minister to our hearts through some amazing musicians, but more importantly some amazing people who have a passion to get close the heart of God. If you are dry spiritually or just in a rut, come join a group of people who are Thirsty for God's presence. Hope to see you Sunday night at 6pm.

I am not in control!!!!!

I woke up today having a productive day planned out, everything was set up nicely... until the phone rang. My day is now upside down and I am having a reminder in the version of a two by four across the forehead that I am not in control of my surroundings, much less my own life. I wouldn't consider myself a control freak but today I am realizing that at my core I am trying to be the "boss of me" and not surrendering myself to God. The phone rang again and I am having to deal with the fact that my stuff is not really my stuff... or at least its not supposed to be. (ever have a high dollar item stolen? not fun.)
As a pastor I must admit that it is easier to preach about something than it is to actually live it out through experience. There is a passage that I am being convicted to apply in my own life, which to tell you the truth I don't feel applying right now, but if I am gonna be submitted to the God that I serve I must apply it and live it even though I don't feel like it. It comes from the book of Philippians chapter 4 starting with verse 4 it goes like this:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I don't feel like showing Joy right now, I feel like banging my head into the wall, I don't want to be gentle I want to scream. I am anxious, I want it fixed right now.

"Lord, thank you for what you have given me, and what I have, thank you for turning my schedule upside down. Thank you that you will bring peace to my craziness when I slow down long enough to accept what you have for me. You are amazing thank you for all you have done."

Could you hear my teeth grinding together as I forced that out? Time to practice what I preach. don't live your life by your feelings- live by the truth of who God is and what he says about you. God's peace is on the way... Hope your day is going better than mine.

Pursuit

Take some time and look at the Lyrics from the song Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall.


I once was fatherless
A stranger with no hope
Your kindness wakened me
Wakened me from my sleep now
Your love it beckons deeply
A call to come and die
By grace now I will come
And take this life take Your life

Sin has lost its power
Death has lost its sting
From the grave You've risen,
Victoriously

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness out of shame
Through the cross You are the Truth
You are the Life You are the Way

My dead heart now is beating
My deepest stains now clean
Your breath fills up my lungs
Now I'm free now I'm free
My dead heart now is beating
My deepest stains now clean
Your breath fills up my lungs
Now I'm free now I'm free

There's no more shame
No more shame
And now we show the world
Christ in you

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness out of shame
Through the cross You are the Truth
You are the Life You are the Way

We have been given an amazing thing in the person of Jesus. He desires to take away our blindness and move us into light. Take some time to show your thankfulness, and look at the light that Jesus moves us into rather than the Darkness we once lived in.

Persistence is a rare quality. It can be annoying when other people are persistent in getting something from you. There was a lady at a church I went to a couple of years ago she was one of natural health dealers. One winter I came down with the flu. She gave me all kinds of natural remedies, I never will forget these garlic things that she swore by, I smelt like a Arabian kitchen for a week. The funny thing I eventually got better, not sure if the remedies had anything to do with that, but she saw me and asked how I was feeling, I told her, "fine." She said I told you it would work and then proceeded to hand me a bill for all the items she had given me. I was nice and paid the bill, she then started bringing me refills and making all sorts of other suggestions. I had to fight her off every week from giving me new bottles of turtle livers, or hippopotamus belly lint, or whatever was the new thing. Even after I moved hundreds of miles away, she got a hold of my number and wanted my address so she could send me more items. I now know why she was driving the pink Cadillac given to the highest grossing sellers in the country. I will have to hand it to her, she was persistent. If we could show that kind of persistence and faith in seeking God for what we desire him to do in our life, i believe we would begin to experience a whole new realm of Gods grace. God appreciates persistence and says in his word that we will have some amazing blessings in store if we practice this quality. In the book of Luke chapter 11 Jesus challenges those around to be aggressive in seeking what we need from God, and that God rewarded persistence- Check it out (Luke 11 especially verses 5-10). I am challenged today to be persistent in seeking God for the Miracle I am praying for this season.

Nick-Names are always an interesting thing to me. I call both my sons by names other than their given name. For some reason I have attached a little name to them that expresses my love and affection for them. My 7 year however does not allow me to use his nickname in public, and if I write it in this blog I will be in trouble. I wonder what God calls us. His love goes deeper than any parent can love their child and he knows all of our little quirks. One time he expresses a name to young gal caught in adultery and thrown naked into public, he calls her daughter. Jesus called two of his disciples Sons of Thunder, he called Simon Peter. I think that if we were to listen closely we would hear that Jesus has some names for us, that would help us understand the depths of his love.

Miracles Part 3

The Last couple of weeks we have been covering miracles that Jesus performed as both a help to those in need and a sign of his power to those looking on. There were times when people asked for a miracle and he chose not to do it, mainly due to the lack of peoples faith or the motives of the people who were asking. That gets me to my thought today. What is my motive in desiring God to do something great in my life? Is it so that I can be lifted up or be made more comfortable or is it so that I can be in a better position to experience who he is and to make him known to those around me? There are a lot of things I would love to see God do, I am beginning to look at my "list" I am presenting and see if these are "needs" or "wants." I believe that God does give us blessings, which are things we don't deserve, I do know that God does not usually give us something that will take our attention away form him.
What is your motive for seeking something great from God? If we will learn to look at the things that will bring glory to God rather than ourselves I believe we will begin to see that he is constantly doing something great. Your miracle may be closer than you think.

Dallas Cowboys

Just a quick note to brag about my Dallas Cowboys
who are now 11-1.
See ya in the Super Bowl.

Getting back on the horse

There is a passage in Romans chapter 7 where Paul, who is probably the influential Christian of all time shares that he has a problem with doing the right thing. He says the things I want to do, I don't do; and things that I don't want to do, I end up doing." He also says what a miserable person he felt like because of this flaw. I think many times those who have a relationship with Christ think they have to be perfect and that is a stressful burden to carry. In fact sometimes we may even feel like if I can't do it right I mights as well not even try. Well there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that we can't do it we can't measure up to God's standard. The good news: He doesn't expect us to. Relationship with Christ is not about "guilting" our selves into right behavior. Paul comes to the conclusion in chapter 8, that the only way to succeed in his Christian life is to "give up." Giving up not in the sense of hopelessness but in the way of not trying so hard to be perfect and spend more time simply listening to Gods voice. So instead of moping about his bad decisions, Paul says "I press on and turn my life over to God's hands and let his spirit begin to live through me." The thing that should set Christians apart from the rest of the world is not that they are perfect, but rather, that when we do mess up our confidence is not shattered because it rests in Jesus not in ourselves. So when you mess up, get back on the horse and learn to let Christ's grace and mercy become a part of your life.

I tend to be a procrastinator. I think when I was younger I started to think if I just waited a little longer the trash would take itself out, or the lawn would cut itself. Sounds like some extremely stupid logic, but here I am years later living out that philosophy in various areas of my life- as a adult (at least thats what they tell me). I used to watch the Andy Griffith show when I was a kid, and Deputy Barney used to have a saying about arresting suspicious people prematurely: "you gotta nip it in the bud! You just got to nip it." when I say I am a procrastinator I am admitting that there are some areas in life where I need to grow up and just take care of things, instead of just letting them sit, hoping they will just go away or work themselves out. It is amazing how some little things can quickly turn into terrible habits or into a big huge mess when left unattended. I want to be a little more like Barney. No, not an bumbling idiot with a high pitched voice, but rather someone who is willing to take action when it is necessary, even if it isn't comfortable or popular. Solomon says in Proverbs 20:4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. So today, my challenge to myself and anyone who reads this is: What am I putting off today that would be beneficial to take care immediately? As Barney says "You just got to nip it!"

Commitment Hangover

Do you feel (or look) like this in the morning? I do, just ask my wife. I am in the process of learning that commitment is a lot more than simply making a decision. Commitment requires the daily choice to stick to your guns regardless of your feelings or the circumstances that surround you. It is easy to make a decision to experience life change after a amazing worship band plays, and hearing a message from God's word while we are sitting in a church. The real challenge starts the next morning when we roll out of bed and begin to face life for real. I often joke it would be awesome to have Jonathan sitting on a chair with his guitar when I wake up playing "Blessed be the Name" and have "Louie Giglio (my favorite speaker) give me a quick challenge from God's word. The truth is that life is different, when we are alone, and it is easy to say "I will start tomorrow", or to let ourselves be lied to- that we are no different than we were before. I was challenged by the story of the crippled man having to leave the security of his handicap and list of excuses. I want to be like him and immediately stand in faith when Jesus says get up. I have been reminding myself of that all day and it has been an encouraging day, and I feel like a different person. I may wake up tomorrow and feel different, so I will remind myself it is not about how I feel but rather the truth. Jesus says rise up and walk with him. so today I did, and I want to continue that daily. I am different not because I feel different, because I am choosing the life change offered in the person of Jesus.

Leaving it in the Pew.

Tonight at Elevate we talked about leaving behind the handicaps that hold us back from experiencing the miracles that God has in store for us. In John 5, Jesus tells a man crippled for 38 years to simply stand up and walk. The man had to leave behind his handicap (what had held him back) and do something he hadn't done before. We are all called to leave behind the things that tie us down, hurt us, and keep us away from experiencing Gods love. Its easier said than done. We have learned to live with these handicaps, in fact they sometimes become a part of who we are. It is easy to switch into auto pilot and just let life happen rather than take they step of faith when Jesus says to us "stand up and walk" which means leaving behind what we have been living with for a long time and stepping into the unknown.
So the journey starts now, leave it where you are, you are a new person. And remember that Jesus says "So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36"

Broken?

One of the things that often keeps us from getting close to God and getting all that he has in store for us is the fact that we feel broken or useless. Whether it is because of mistakes we have made or because of our inadequacies (real or felt), we often think God has something for the perfect people or the extremely talented people but not for us.

We need to realize that God set the standard for using broken people and for giving second chances. God views you and I not as we see ourselves but rather he sees what the finished project will look like if we will only submit to him. I am learning that that some of the greatest opportunities to experience miracles in life are in the areas where I feel the weakest. Because God has made a promise that he will not only make up for our weaknesses, but he will show his strength the greatest in our areas of weakness. So the challenge for you and I is to know that God can use us and can work in our lives right where we are, we dont have to wait till we have our act together. Paul shares in 2 Corinthians 12 about his conversation with God about his weakness that he was praying to have fixed. Gods response was No, because "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Your biggest detriment or perceived shortcoming may be the god most want to do a miracle in your life.

This Thanksgiving and Christmas season, let not only be thankful for our blessings but also for our weaknesses. That is when we will begin to see the miracles of life start to begin.

I Corinthians

Remembering God's Past

I have a bad habit of punishing myself for bad decisions I made in the past. The truth is the past can be a good thing to remember when we look back and see how God has provided for us in the past. I often think of all the things I should have done as well as the things I haven't done. When I look back and think of how God has treated me, he has really done a lot of awesome things for me. First I have been given life and assurance of eternity with him in heaven- pretty awesome deal if you ask me. 2 Cor 5:21 Says "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That means God said I will trade you all the garbage in your life for his righteousness or perfectness, I am glad I took him up on the deal. Sometimes I get lost in my immediate circumstances, and lose track of all the things he has done.

One of the best ways to get yourself in position to receive God's best for you, is to remember what he has already done and to be genuinely thankful.

Happy thanksgiving everybody!!!!

God bless.

Joel

The Mini Storms

Sometimes, it is easy to allow ourselves to blow up during the small storms of life. I think too often I personally don't consider what is best considering my relationship with Christ when I am in a tough time that is not considered a crisis. When someone treats me bad, when my kids misbehave, or when I things don't go my way. There is something to be said about handling your self in a a Godly manner when things are not "all that bad," I believe the better you handle yourself in smaller situations, the easier it is to truly trust and rely fully on God when the storms are bigger than we think we can handle. Read Phillipians 4 and see what it says about how we should handle ourselves in all situations.

If you haven't shared your prayer for a miracle in your life- you can do that by clicking the comments at the end of this paragraph.

God bless you all today.

What is the MIRACLE you are praying for?

Tonight at Elevate, I issued a challenge to all of us to think about the Miracle we would like to see God do. I would love for you to post the miracle that you are praying for on this Blog. One of the greatest things about blogging is that it is a great opportunity to journal and get our thoughts out on paper (or computer screen) as well as sharing them with others.

Click the word "comments" at the end, this will open a text box for you to leave comments. Look back daily to see updates and hear what is going on in other peoples lives.

God bless you all and happy thanksgiving this week.

Don't forget to share what miracle you are praying for, I look forward to hearing from you this week.

Joel

Storms of Life

Tonight at Elevate, we are going to be talking about the tough times in life- sometimes referred to as stroms. when we have an understanding of God and how much he loves us, it makes it easier that the storms are an opportunity to let God show us that he is in control and we are not. The truth (although tough to swallow) is that what makes our struggles feel bigger than they are often is becasue we are not "in control" of the situation. At the core of each us we are all "control freaks" of some sort. If we are a Christian, it is easy to live the nice little life where we go to church and we say we have committed our lives to Jesus. But when opportunities arise to actually live it out we feel forsaken by God and everything that we say we believe is out the window and we begin to let our feelings and our circumstances determine what is truth, rather than what God says about himself, us, and our situations.
Our circumstances and even the outcomes of our situations will not always work out the way we want them to. When we trust in God and allow us to shape and mold us in the tough times, we will begin to see that everything that we turn over to God will work out for our best interest. God has our best interest in mind at all times, and he will always hold true to his word. So if you are in a storm, or going into one, hold fast to what is true, not to what may appear to be a reality when the storm is the loudest.

SAN DIEGO TRIP

Yesterday I shared how hard it was to leave my wife and boys behind, today I had to say goodbye. Jonah being a big grown up 61/2 year old (if you forget the ½ your in trouble) was fine, he was to big and grown up to let me know he would miss me, but I could feel his hug was a little tighter and I got an extra kiss on the cheek when I dropped him off at the bus. Then after a big poo-poo diaper change, I took my, one year old, Jackson to his day care. He loves day care and gets excited when we get to the door and runs in ,a starts playing the moment we arrive. Today he could sense something was different, he stayed close and for the first time began to cry when I left. Its amazing how he could sense something, and could pick up on my conversations that he wasn’t going to see dad for a while. Codie called me when she went to pick him up, she said that when she arrived at the door and knocked she heard him run to the door and started hollering “Hi Dad-da”
As the door opened he was full of excitement he could wait for Dad to scoop him up, he was confused for a second and then lit up, it was mom and that was just fine.

Do I long for conversations and time with my father, do I notice when I haven’t been in his presence for a while. Jesus several times in the gospel talks about becoming like children and having the faith of children. In our grown up faith sometimes we miss out on the joy of connecting with our heavenly father. As we get older we tend to get caught up in our own busy schedules we lose the awe of that immense staple in our life- Dad! I can only imagine what it looks like to look up at someone 10 times your size and throw your arms up and say take me and hold me. I need to reconnect we the awesomeness of the vast indescribable “hugeness” of God, who despite my weakness and humanness he loves me and calls me to know him, and speaks encouragement and hope to me.

Once again, I am already anticipating the reunion with my wife and boys, and the trip has just started. I really believe that God is anticipating the moment that we will stop our schedules and actually slow down log enough to enjoy each others presence and allow him to speak into our lives.

Getting Ready for Conference Getaway

I love going to conferences. There is something about getting away and hearing a new perspective on things. Its also nice when you don't have to worry about all the things you have to do on a particular day, just showing up and being able to sit back and learn.
So I am getting ready to leave tomorrow morning for San Diego to the National Outreach conference. The picture is of me and my boys, my wife is working tonight, so I get a quiet (much sarcasm) evening. I am going to miss
these guys. When I am away from my family I realize how much I really love them and how important they are in my life. I love the return from a trip, my boys are jumping up and down and run and hug me tight-truly one of the greatest feelings in the world. I am reminded of the parable Jesus told of the son who is away from his father, although he has made some extremely poor life choices, there his father is waiting for him each day looking out the window waiting for his return. I think many times we have a wrong perception of God, that we need to "clean our act up" before we can return to relationship with him. While the truth is that God through scripture and history loves to take us back and restore us to unconditional relationship with him. So as I leave tomorrow and go to all day meetings and sleeping in a strange hotel room, I will anticipate the reception Jonah and Jackson have waiting for me, as well as remind myself of Gods constant pursuit of my affection