Changing Lives for Good

A faith proclaimed in all the world

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
Romans 1:8 (ESV)

I can not count the number of times I have read through Romans in my Christian life. It is one of my favorite books in the Bible and I turn to it often to be reminded of the greatness of the Gospel, the graciousness of God, and how that should work its way in my day to day life. So imagine my surprise this morning when I could not escape this one verse, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world."(Romans 1:8 ESV)

Yeah, yeah God that's cool and all but let me get on to the good stuff.

"Because your faith is proclaimed in all the world"

Yeah I read that yesterday. It just so happens to be at the top of the page.

"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed in all the world"

What God? ... I get it. God was using their faith to impact the world. Now let me move ahead. I'm thinking of a sermon series here and need to get going.

"Because your faith is proclaimed in all the world."

OUCH. ... ouch. I get it. And God I ask you to work this into my life.

What followed was some sweet time of prayer and soul searching. All too often I get so busy with the things of God that I forget God's primary concern isn't the "success" of the church He's called me to pastor... His primary concern is His work on me. And this morning this one verse cut me to the core.

Rome was the center of life at the time Paul's letter to the Romans was penned. The phrase "all roads lead to Rome" wasn't just a nice saying, it was the literal truth. And here, in the center of a city that worshiped the Caesar and proliferated evil and excess were a group of Christians whose faith was proclaimed in all the world.

They didn't lead lives of veiled spirituality. Their faith was so central to their being that it naturally carried influence. Influence because their faith defined them as a church and as individuals. Influence because the people who encountered this church didn't only meet nice people, likable people, socially concerned people, or even spiritual people. Those who encountered the church in Rome encountered God.

I want that life. I want people to know God because of the way I live my life. All too often I feel I'm making an apology with my life rather than a statement. The reason for who I am is Jesus Christ and Him alone but its almost as if I want people to discover that without me having to say it. Sure I want to be a nice guy, a likable guy, a socially concerned guy, and even a spiritual guy, but if that's all people get from their encounter with me then I'm leaving the most important aspect of who I am hidden from sight. I want people whom I encounter to know the glories of Jesus Christ, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the gift of Jesus Christ. But how will they hear unless I proclaim Him to them? (Romans 10:14)

I'm not talking about standing on the street corner and preaching through a megaphone. I'm talking about people seeing Jesus and not me. I'm talking about my faith being proclaimed in all the world because of whose I am and not who I am. I'm talking about Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

These Romans Christians lived in a city that stood against nearly everything they stood for. They were surrounded by evil and temptation and idolatry and sin every day. But those who knew them, knew of their faithfulness to God and not their capitulation to culture. And because of their commitment to Jesus Christ their faith is proclaimed in all the world. 

You and I may not live at the center of society as the Romans did, but we have a world around us as well. It's the sphere of influence we inhabit. Our neighborhoods, our work relationships, our travels, our friends and families, our kids, and the area where we encounter people on a regular basis. Is your faith proclaimed in these areas? Not just by you, but by those who inhabit your world? 

Might you and I live the type of faithful lives that elicit others to say that our faith is proclaimed in all the office, all the neighborhood, or even all the world.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)

My wife ROCKS

There are times in life when God uses your spouse to slap you in the face (figuratively of course) and this morning was one of those times.

I returned from a good but abbreviated Pastoral Assist Team meeting to find myself confronted with a to do list that is simply not doable in a week but has to be done this week (you know the drill right??). I got busy working, stress mounted upon stress as I discovered still other things which needed to be added to my to do list.

Then my wife, Jennifer, let me know that she'd just posted a blog. She didn't ask me to read it (knowing my frantic week all too well), but I wanted to read it. She is honestly one of the people I enjoy reading. I anticipate the day when God gives her the inspiration and opportunity to write what is sure to be a great book but until that time I'll enjoy the morsels of her talent in her blog Whispers of Grace.

Her post today, A Broken Resolution... and a Faithful God, slapped me in the face and I can't encourage you enough to read it ... now ... go ahead, I'll wait.

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...

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I had run quickly into the urgent before focusing on the important. Her post was a gentle reminder for me to stop... busy myself with God ... and then busy myself for God. Thank you God for using my helpmeet to help me focus once again on You!

I am now a full-fledged Texan

I am a full-fledged Texan now. I cannot deny it any longer. Monday night as the threat of icy weather descended on the metroplex, I insisted on going to the store to stock up on food and firewood. Never mind that ice in Texas doesn’t last any longer than the bag you buy for your Super Bowl party, but I had to go and so I trekked out with my traction control turned on and got necessities. Yes, I admit it… I am now a full-fledged Texan. I only hope my snow driving skills have not been so maligned by this exploit that, should I ever need them again, they would decide to betray me.

 

The icy weather has maligned many weeks I’m sure. Teachers with lesson plans and off days that have to rescheduled, activities canceled and rescheduled, and even my own appointment full week crashed to a halt Tuesday morning. I have firmly concluded… it’s next to impossible to get any productive study and message work done when all my kids are in the house with unfettered access to me in my open room office… something must be done. And soon… Southern Customs to the rescue… sometime in April most likely… when an open room becomes an office with insulated walls … (insulated, not padded for those of you trying to concoct a joke).

 

Although the icy weather hasn’t been a complete waste. I got to start and burn a fire in our fireplace for almost two complete days. Nothing… ok, well very few things… smell as good as a fire burning in the house. And then Jen and the girls fixed cookies on top of it. Talk about a pleasing aroma. WOW. I miss fires. It rarely gets cold enough for long enough to actually enjoy a fire here in Fort Worth, Texas but the past two days were the perfect storm in that regard. And we’ve had some fun as a family as well. I’m thankful for the time together. I’m also stressed about the amount of work I have to fit into a very small window now.

 

Speaking of… there’s an update on the church to write with a new date for our move (courtesy of the icy weather and regular delays), meetings to reschedule, a phone issue to work out with Verizon, design elements to finalize, signs to print, brochures to design and print, interior signs to design and print, nametags to design and print, pictures to be taken, a worship folder to design and print, a website and calendar to update, small group dates to finalize, a long list of needs to pray for God to provide, emails, phone calls, IRS donation reports to mail, children’s curriculum to deliver, a message to research and develop, a handout to design and print, small group questions to think through, layout, and print, children’s stuff to print, volunteers to be recruited, volunteers to be appreciated, a map sheet to design and print, a projector lamp to research and possibly replace, and speaker stand to get replaced, and did I mention the message to finish by Sunday. Phew… I’m tired even thinking about it.. and that’s just off the top of my head.

 

No actually I’m enthused by it. I absolutely love my job and obviously not because of the list above. I love my job because of the people I get to serve God alongside and the people’s whose lives are going to be changed for good by Jesus Christ because I’m doing all I can to do what He’s called me to do well. It’s an absolute honor to pastor The Church at Sendera Ranch. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in and through our church in the coming months. And I hope you’ll come and join us.

Profound simplicity strikes again

There are times in life when the profound truth of the gospel hits you fresh again. Times when the depth of God's forgiveness presses deep into your soul and the gift of grace reveals yet another facet that causes you to stop and give glory to God. Tonight, I had one of those moments and I didn't realize how deeply I needed it. Thank you Jesus for helping me once again experience the freeing cleansing of your grace in the profound simplicity of your gospel.

Fall Fest Tomorrow - 6:30-9:30 pm

It's shaping up to be a great Fall Fest this Friday! We're partnering with the HOA and a few other organizations to provide a HUGE Fall Fest for our community and I hope you will come and be part of what we're doing.

The Church at Sendera Ranch is providing:
SeaCreature Crawl
Pirate Ship
70' Obstacle Course
Toddlers Combo
Air Bots
Bounce House
along with 6 carnival games. And there's candy available for everything.

Plus there will be hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, trunk-or-treaters, a DJ, and lots of fun activities.

And we'd love for you to be our guest at The Church at Sendera Ranch! We meet at Haslet Elementary at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. Dress is casual and if you have any questions feel free to check our website, TheChurchAtSenderaRanch.com,
or email me.

The Captivating Power of Extended Prayer

My prayer life just took a big step forward by reclaiming a practice I had left uncultivated. Years ago in college it was a common practice of mine to spend focused, concentrated time in prayer and some of my most powerful encounters with God came from those times.

Then I began to practice prayer more as the "without ceasing" practice that Paul talks about 1 Thessalonians. I would pray for people and things as they came to my mind. It was a necessary development in my life because it helped me to understand that the Christian life was to be lived second by second and not just as planned periods of extended time. Practicing prayer in this manner helped me immensely and increased both my awareness and practice of prayer. And slowly this practice replaced my former extended periods of prayer. My time in prayer was now broken into minute, 3o second, and even 10 second intervals.

Last week God, through C.H. Spurgeon, called me back to the closet of prayer for those extended times, not as a replacement for the "without ceasing" practice but as the fuel and supply for it. I am now purposed to spend 30 minutes in prayer for at least 30 days.

It hasn't been easy to reclaim the practice of extended prayer. I have a lot more to do than when I was in college. The demands of a new church plant and a family of five are a little greater than a 15 hour college schedule and part time job. There is always something that needs to be done and needs to be done now. But what I've found is that 30 minutes sets the tone for my day and makes me more aware of God and His direction for me. It gives depth and passion to even my 10 second times of prayer for others. It infuses me with faith knowing that my Father in heaven has heard my prayer and is answering according to His will. And it has helped me connect more deeply with God.

As for answers to prayer... I am already beginning to see them. There's no doubt that God wants to show His power to those whose heart is completely His (2 Chronicles 16:9). And I have to admit that I longingly look forward to the extended time I am spending with God in prayer.  

So let me encourage you to set aside time for extended prayer. If 30 minutes seems like a long time then start with 10 or 15 minutes. If 30 minutes seems too short then go for an hour or two. It's not how much time you spend as much as it is the time you spend in focused, concentrated, uninterrupted prayer.

And with that... I'm off to my closet to pray because with two preschoolers running around the house trying to scare one another by yelling at the top of their lungs and then laughing incessantly at each other... it's the quietest place in the house.

Death Up Close

Tonight was the viewing for my grandmother who passed away on Saturday, October 11 at 3:30 am. I thought I had prepared myself to see my Ma in her coffin but I was mistaken. I wasn't as prepared for the onslaught of conflicting emotions as I thought. I didn't lose it or anything, but I did see death up close.

The first thing that hit me was the reality that my Ma had passed away. There was no denying that she was the one laying motionless in her casket at the front of the church. And while the reality seems obvious it is also why I didn't want to go to sleep last night because I didn't want her passing to be reality. But there she was... gone... only the shell of her body remaining... which gave rise to another feeling... sadness.

I'm going to miss my Ma... in fact I already do. And to think that I was looking at her for one of the last times in my life made me sad for good reason. I was also sad because I wasn't able to see her before she went to be with Jesus. I talked to her and prayed for her on Friday afternoon but I wish I could've been there for/with her.

Then the truth of God began to break through to me and I felt hope. As I touched her hand and looked at her face I realized that I wasn't touching my Ma. I was touching and looking at the shell of who she was. Ma was with Jesus, and the body that was lying in that casket would one day be raised, transformed, and made like Christ's resurrection body. She was in a much better place free from the sin and stain of this world. Our loss was heaven's gain.

And that hope gave way to excitement because Ma had been ultimately healed. She was happy, healthy, and whole in heaven. Free from pain and in the presence of Jesus. She was there with Pa and Loren, the two men she loved and cared for on this earth. How could I not be excited for her.

It seems almost calloused to say I'm excited but I know she is exactly where she's wanted to be for the past three years. It doesn't diminish my grief but it frees me to view her death as her liberation rather than her ending. I do grieve, but not as one who has no hope. My Ma is in heaven and her death up close has given me reason to rejoice through my tears and to glorify God for His grace.

The Passing of a Great Woman

You won't see her name etched across the headlines or hear the pundits extol her passing but this morning around 3:30 one of the greatest women I know went home to be with Jesus.

Her passing was peaceful which is befitting the person she was. She was always happy to be the one taking care of others and blessing them and perhaps her one fault was struggling to allow others to help and bless her in return. She was a great woman. The kind of woman who impacted those around her by the strength of her care and the depth of her love. The kind of woman who saw the best in you and helped you see it as well. The kind of woman who found her joy in the joy of others. She was truly a Godsend to me.

My oldest turns 7

My oldest turns 7 today. It's taking a while for that sentence to really register in my brain because the flood of thoughts and feelings it evokes are numbing:

"where did the last 7 years go" ... "oh no. Have I done a good enough job preparing her for what she's going to face" ... "I remember when she fit between my elbow and hand"... "I must be getting old"... "Wow, she really is growing up"... "Uh oh... better put more away for college" ... "Wow, my little girl is turning seven."

And those are just in the first few nanoseconds. And then I see her smile and she comes and gives me a hug and says, "You're the best daddy ever" in such a tone that I think she actually believes it. I think about all she's been through with the eye surgeries and dealing with glaucoma and I see the little girl that she is and I'm amazed. I watch as she enthusiastically wants to help start the church and hands my business cards out to friends like they're candy and I'm proud. And I listened tonight as she played with all the friends she invited to her sleepover and I'm happy because she's happy.

And all of this makes me think of my Father. My oldest isn't perfect at all, but nothing changes my love for her or my desire for her unbridled happiness. God is the same way. He loves us in spite of all that isn't perfect about us and He desires our unbridled happiness as well. He wants us to experience the best life has to offer... Himself. But all too often we settle for what's good enough for us when God wants to give us what is great enough for Him.

How Does a Christian Respond to the Financial Crisis? Part 3

In the past two blogs we explored how a Christian should respond to the financial crisis with faith and with good stewardship and a lot of people will probably stop there. But I want to go a step further because it's entirely Biblical and not only a way to help one another but also a way to cultivate Christian community. First let's look at Acts 2:44-47:

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44-47 ESV)

A Christian should respond to the financial crisis in community. As Christians we should respond with a commitment to one another. We should help those in our churches even if it means giving them things, selling stuff to help them, or even welcoming them into our homes.

This past month I've been preaching on community through the book of Acts. It's been a great study but little did I know I'd have to experience it as well.

Our AC went out last week. (Now if you're reading this from a place where it's not still in the 90's then you're probably thinking it's no big deal. But I'm in Texas and it's still in the 90's during the days and often into the evenings. Air conditioning is a fact of life here usually until late October and even November.) Back to our broken air conditioner... the good news was that the part that broke was under warranty. The bad news was that it would take 2 weeks to get here. All of a sudden that rainy day fund was looking like a great reason to upgrade the whole system on Monday rather than waiting a week and then paying for the labor and puron. ... Enter the community.

How Does a Christian Respond to the Financial Crisis? Part 2

A second way a Christian should respond to the financial crisis is with good stewardship.

We covered tithing in part one so I'm not going to touch it other than to say that tithing is an important part of good stewardship because its a constant reminder that everything we have has been given to us by God. We're stewards not owners. Everything we have, God has given to us. He is the owner, we're not.

But outside of that what is good stewardship? Good stewardship means that you bring no offense against the owner of the resources you are managing and that you manage those resources well.

Essentially good stewardship means bring glory to God as you tithe, plan, save, live within your means, and pay your bills on time. It also means that you understand debt and avoid it when possible. As mentioned tithing was already covered so let's look at these other elements.

How Does a Christian Respond to the Financial Crisis? Part 1

All the talk about the financial crisis that we are in seems to be pervaded with a sense of hopelessness which feeds the stress and uncertainty of the situation. As a pastor, it got me thinking about the individuals in my church and in my community and the pressures of paying the mortgage and the car loan and the HOA dues and the grocery bill and everything else that accompanies life these days. And while most all of us are cutting back on expenses as much as possible, it got me thinking about how we can avoid the hopelessness and the stress of the situation. How is a Christian to respond to the financial crisis?

First of all a Christian must respond with faith. Not a faith in government or politicians or plans, but a firm trust in God who tells us in Matthew 6:25-33:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

And He also tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:8: And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.(NLT)

Now this verse follows a series of verses talking about giving generously and not reluctantly or under pressure. As a Christian begins looking at their finances and the areas to cut back let me say that the last thing they need to look at is their tithe.

I know what you're thinking... that 10% is a lot and could go a long way to helping you maintain a certain level of comfort. But it's not about the amount, it's about your faith and who you are trusting. If you want to declare to God, "You know God, I think I can do a better job providing for my family with the resources I have than what You can do with the resources You have." Then go ahead and cut the tithe. Forget about the fact that the tithe is "Holy to the Lord" (Lev 27:30). Miss out on God's power to provide for your family through the wealth of resources He has at His disposal. Tithing isn't an issue of amount or what you can afford. Tithing is an issue of trust.

Trust God. Don't stop, suspend, or cut your tithe. Consider the story of Luke 21:1-4

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (ESV)

It's easy to give out of abundance. Sure there are other things you could do with the money, but giving out of your abundance doesn't require large amounts of faith to trust God either. But to give out of your poverty... whoa... now that requires faith.

And I can tell you from personal experience that God rewards that kind of faith. Don't expect a new BMW in the driveway, a million dollar check in your mailbox, or the rich uncle to finally be discovered and decide you're his favorite nephew or niece. But you can know that God will take care of you.

So respond to this financial crisis with faith. Trust God to provide and obey Him by giving at least 10% of your income to your local church to enable your church to effectively reach your community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the next blog we'll look at the second way a Christian should respond to the financial crisis.

Reconnecting

Tonight was a great night. I reconnected with a very good friend. When I think of best friends I think of Wes Mode. Now I only went to school with Wes from 6th grade to 9th grade at Nettleton Middle and High School in Jonesboro but those were probably the best years I ever had friends wise while I was growing up. It was also the longest that I ever stayed in one school district.

I have a ton of great memories from basketball against Bart and Brandon... Wes and I always seemed to know where the other person was going... to dreaming in Joe Montana football... scary I tell you... to driving from Conway to Jonesboro and back on a Friday night/Saturday morning just to hang out with him and other friends again... to lots of other things that I really can't go into here. 

I saw Wes and met his wife a few years back but had lost connection. I'm glad to reconnect and I look forward to talking with him soon.

A FABULOUS day

Today was my middle daughters 5th birthday and we celebrated with a daddy/daughter date. I can't put in to words how special today was for me. I have a stress-ball of a week ahead, and to be honest one of the thoughts I had early on was how much time I was "losing" by taking my daughter on a date for her birthday. But when that thought germinated for a few minutes, I realized that I couldn't afford not to take my little girl out on this hugely special day. She had been looking forward to it all week. She even woke up early this morning and started getting ready. The real loss today would've been losing my daughter's trust, love, and admiration if I had chosen work over her. Not to mention the blow it would've been to her self-confidence and self-worth. I'm so glad I made the right decision today. The glow on her face all day is a picture I won't soon forget.

Ten years from now I'll want to take her out for her birthday. At 15 will she want to "lose" time with her friends to go out with her dad? I hope so! And I have the feeling that if I can build into her for the next nine birthdays and make sure the day is a special day with dad, then maybe, just maybe, she'll reluctantly agree to be seen in public with me. I've made my share of mistakes and bad decisions as a dad, but today I got one extremely right and I'm so grateful that I did!!

I can't stand being sick

I had great plans for this week. I had mapped out what I was going to accomplish and in what order. I was prepared for a fantastic week on Sunday evening. Then midway Monday I got hit by a bug that has all but ruined my week. Now I'm simply trying to recover. I can't stand being sick. It's mostly because I don't like falling behind and feeling like I am playing catch up.

One good thing however, is that it reminds me just how helpless I am on my own and how completely reliant I am upon God. Now if I can only remember that to begin with, maybe I can avoid getting sick.

The Stress (relief) test

I experienced my first stress test today after a funky episode last week. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be like and there's good news but the context became a little amusing.
I was listening to Driscoll talk about the church and there's a part where he begins talking about the health problems many church planters experience. Well, I was listening to this all while hooked up to the EKG and then the doctor walked in to start the stress test. So as I started I was bracing myself for some horrific diagnosis.
But praise God everything is fine. My heartrate got up to where it needed to with nothing irregular etc. Now...my diet needs some work to lower the dreaded cholesterol and the insane amounts of triglycerides coursing through my body but besides those things I'm a fairly healthy 34 year old pastor, husband, and father of three.

My Father

Happy Father’s Day!

One of my biggest joys in life is in being a child to the greatest Father imaginable. A Father who loves me in spite of myself, who forgives me, and who always has time for me when I come to Him. A Father who deserves my every day and not simply one of my days. A Father who inspires me to work hard, believe that the impossible is possible, and to keep going forward when I feel like falling back. He’s a Father who always helps me see the value I have as a person and to embrace the hope He has for my future. He has always provided what I needed and has consistently blessed me beyond what I could imagine. Be sure that He has disciplined me out of love, told me “no” many times, and made me be content with what He has already given me on more than one occasion.

But what He has given is immense! When I take a moment to realize all He has done and all He has given it blows me away. He has literally given His one and only Son for me.

Thank you Father. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit.

I'm Baaack

It's been a while since my last blog and it's not for lack of things to talk about, but rather lack of time to report everything that is happening. God is doing some amazing things at The Church at Sendera Ranch and those things are keeping me really busy. I'll update you on all the happenings and what's going on in my life as well over the next few days. And drop me an email just to say hey if you'd like.

Sendera Ranch Elementary and Principal Suzie McNeese

First of all I want to welcome Principal Suzie McNeese as our principal at the newly named and yet to be completed Sendera Ranch Elementary. She is currently the principal at J. Lyndal Hughes Elementary in Roanoke (also in Northwest ISD) and one district employee had some extremely encouraging things to say about her both as a person and a principal. I'm very encouraged and look forward to working closely with her for the good of our kids and our community.

And I want us to begin praying for her. So stop reading for just a moment and ask God to give her wisdom and discernment as she takes on the challenge of starting this new school. I am going to begin praying for her daily and as often as I think of her. I'd ask you to make the same commitment.

The school board meeting was very informative and I think they did a great job on managing the meeting, giving pertinent information, the board seemed to genuinely have a good time. Dr. Rue is top notch and that could really be said for everyone on the board and in district leadership. I was very impressed and felt that my tax dollars were being put to good, responsible use. I look forward to attending more in the future and getting to know our school district leadership. If my impressions from this one meeting are any indication, our community and students are in very capable and good hands when it comes to education in Northwest ISD.

Casualty of snow

Yesterday had a slight casualty of snow at our home. Our mailbox suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a small truck. The truck won so convincingly that it wasn't even scratched. I'm little disappointed my mailbox didn't put up a tougher fight. But then again it's only a brick box and not a solid tower so I guess the result is to be expected.

So what do we do in the meantime? Well... we have to submit it to the Architectural Control Committee but here's a look at our temporary replacement:

The girls and I had a great time building it and 'Freezy' in the back yard. Freezy earned a purple heart for surviving a decapitation and having his arms used for chew toys by the dog.

Which is it?

Don't you love it when you speak a little too soon. Here I've changed my definition of snow to fit Texas and what happens just two days later? It actually snows fairly heavily and more is expected throughout today. There are two ways you could look at this from a jokingly spiritual angle.

You could say to me, "Oh ye of little faith." I had changed my definition of snow because I didn't have enough faith that it would snow enough to fit my previous definition. This is God showing me not to ever doubt His power... especially with something as easy for Him as snow.

Or you could say, "Ask and you will receive." after all I did wish that my kid would experience the same snow I had experienced and low and behold two days later... wish fulfilled. This is God showing me He's listening and is ready to answer if I'll just ask.

Well, I went to pick up my kindergartner early today since it was snowing, the temperature was dropping, and the roads were getting slick. At first she was disappointed because she didn't want to go home from school early... until she realized it was snowing. And what's the first thing she did when we stepped outside of the school's front doors... she nailed me with a snowball. I couldn't have been happier to get hit by that snowball especially seeing the look of glee covering her face. I guess I deserved that one too. ... But the next one... well then it's fight on!

Some pics:

Changing my definition of snow

For the majority of my life (22 years before I moved to Texas) I always understood snow to be a fun break from normal. It was a refreshing and welcome event that created picturesque scenes and lots of fun for a day or maybe two before it all melted.

Early on it meant no school, snow ball fights, hot chocolate, more snowball fights, no school, and yes... more snowball fights. Snow was defined as at least enough to cancel school and fuel multiple snowball fights. Even though it was usually gone in a day or two, those few times a year when it snowed, it was the best thing that could happen.

Then I got my license and snow took on a different meaning. Snow was still a fun break from normal with no school and at least a short snowball fight. But it also meant driving carefully to find the few places where you could drive a little less carefully. Basically snow was defined as at least enough to cancel school and make driving a slight adventure.

I should've known moving to Texas would alter my definition of snow a little more radically than getting my license. Perhaps my first hint should've been my wife's reaction to very paltry flurries when we were dating. There wasn't a flake of snow on the ground and she insisted on having a snowball fight. I laughed at her for thinking such a thing because it was "spitting snow"... it wasn't "really snowing". (For the record she did manage to gather a couple of small snowballs from some cars in a parking lot).

Now I understand her excitement that day. Last night it was going to snow in Dallas-Fort Worth and I was ready. I couldn't wait to get up this morning and see the fresh blanket of white. I was genuinely excited. Unfortunately... this morning there was nothing but the same brown grass covering my lawn. It didn't snow very much (or any) in Sendera Ranch. But I did see some snow as I took my Kindergartner to school which got her extremly excited and made me realize that I had to change my definition of snow. How I wish she could have the same snowballfightsandnoschool snow I had as a kid! But a little white here and a little white there will have to do for now.

What do you do when...

What do you do when your sick kid wants you to watch a movie with her. You're busy trying to get a little work done but she just wants you to hang out with her. After all she's missing her aunt's birthday party and is stuck at home with you. But haven't you done enough already... I mean you've cooked her exactly what she wanted for dinner, drawn her a surprise bubble bath, made out the hide-a-bed and gotten it ready just for her. You even have a movie she hasn't seen primed and ready in the DVD player. And besides its close to her bedtime anyway... you're being nice to even let her watch a movie, not to mention getting her something to drink and popping her popcorn.

Hmmm.... I wonder what God thinks some times. Think about it... the Creator, Lord of the Universe... the God who has given you everything you have in life... the roof over your head, the means of transportation you have, the food you just ate and what you're about to eat. He's surrounded you with people who care about you whether you take it as caring or not. He's giving you every opportunity to have a good day even when the circumstances make you want to have a bad one. He does all these things for us. Not because He wants to be noticed or fawned over, but simply because He loves us. We could choose to simply go about life and not "bother" Him. After all... there a lot more pressing things in the world for Him to worry about than spending time with us right? No... not really. He's an infinite God so handling a finite world doesn't exactly tap His resources out. I think He rather appreciates the times when we appreciate Him for who He is and what He means to us.

So what did I do when my daughter came and asked me to watch the movie with her? I relished in the fact that she wanted to spend a little time with me. I put the keyboard down, closed my Bible, and I went and I appreciated the time we got to spend together. And then I thanked God for all He'd done for me and I spent a little time enjoying the company of my Father.

There's nothing quite like it

This past Monday I ventured out to get one of my Christmas presents. Yes, I realize that December 25th has come and gone already, but I had a gift card to one of my favorite stores and it was high time I used it. So I packed up my 4 year old and my 18 month old and I headed out to Mardel.

Unfortunately, "packed up" and "headed out" are quite literal since the three closest Mardel stores are roughly 30-45 minutes away. But, being the adventurous dad I am, I was not going to faint from the challenge.

I headed to the Fort Worth store since I am fairly certain that I hadn't visited it since seminary. I already knew the clearance section (my favorite section) at Lewisville was great and Denton's was lacking (from my only visit shortly after they opened... perhaps they have more stuff to "clearance" now). So I wanted to see what the bargains could be discovered in Fort Worth... I was disappointed. But alas I wasn't merely there to unearth literary raw diamonds. I was there to get my Christmas present.

As we entered the store I was careful to usher my four year old's eyes away from the kids section... we'd get there soon enough but I knew if she saw it first my hopes of finding my Christmas present and Jennifer's valentine's gift would face serious challenges. Success!

I went straight for the Bibles section. My Christmas present was waiting for me on those shelves. I was there to get a Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Why? Well, I like to try a new version out for size every once in a while and what I had read of the HCSB on my Bible software had intrigued me. It seemed more literal than the New International Version and more readable than the New American Standard Bible. I picked the one I wanted, got Jen's valentine's gift, and spent a lot of time in the kids section before checking out and going to pick up my Kindergartner from school.

As I was waiting for dismissal I opened my Christmas present up, looked it over, and started reading. There's nothing quite like reading a new Bible for the first time. The notes you've written in aren't there, the verses aren't all underlined, circled, and boxed, and the language with a new version is fresh enough to help you engage with the text again. I love new Bibles. They hearken me back to the freshness of my faith when I had first trusted Christ and remind me of so many times when God has used His word to speak into my present circumstance. New Bibles compel me to read them and to underline, circle, box, and comment.

And this time I'm compelled once again to read through the Bible in a year. I'm off to a good start in a slightly different approach. When I was in college I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in about 8 months and it was extremely rewarding. Recently I read through the Bible over the course of three years. This time I'm looking to read it in a year again but I'm going to read the Old Testament and the New Testament side by side. I've started with Genesis and Hebrews reading five chapters OT and two chapters NT. I thought it would be neat to read Hebrews before I get into Exodus and Leviticus because Hebrews uses so much of Israels history and Jewish religious practice to show God's plan of Jesus and how He fulfills the law. It's very refreshing thus far. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Thank You God!

Our oldest daughter went to see her pediatric ophthalmologist yesterday and we got GREAT news.

Three years ago she was diagnosed with glaucoma and has gone through multiple surgeries on each eye, including a lens replacement in her left eye. She's done great but vision in her left eyes has been fairly steady at 20/200 for a long time. We've done a lot of patching trying to get her to use that eye and she recently had her prescription changed.

Yesterday she shocked me and everyone in the office. Her left eye vision was 20/60!! PRAISE GOD!! I can't tell you how much that improvement means to me. It's yet another sign of God's grace to me and I couldn't be more excited.

On top of that I saw a girl from my youth group (FBC Iowa Park) in the doctor's office as well. She had brought her 2 month old and her family. It was great to see her and to visit her family again. (Nothing like seeing one of the youth all grown up with her son to make e realize my age yet again... lol)

My take away on the day: God is good!

Role Reversal

As we are starting the church, Jennifer and I reversed roles for a short period of time. She usually works part-time as a freelance book editor and writer, but she is now working full-time to support the family while I raise funds and get the church off the ground. I work on the church when our younger kids are in Mother's Day Out and after they are asleep at night. We will gradually transition back to Jennifer staying home with the kids and working part-time and me supporting the family full-time as the church can eventually afford a pastor's salary through growth and outside funding.

For the past few months, it's been quite humorous as the stay-at-home dad who only works during Mother's Day Out. I've learned a lot about how unrealistic getting things done around the house can be on some days with the kids at home... much less getting any work accomplished. It's been eye-opening, and I have a much deeper respect for Jen because of it.

There have been days when all I can do is watch the kids and try to keep them from demolishing the house. I fold a little laundry, and my 18-month old decides the stacks of t-shirts and towels are towers he must knock down. I clean up a bunch of toys in the game room while my 4 year old is playing with something else, and the next thing I know she's back to playing with the toys I just cleaned up. It can get maddening. But the worst is when I actually get some cleaning done during nap time and it's all undone by dinner... actually while I'm trying to fix dinner. Then Jen comes out of her office and thinks, "What did he do all day?" She doesn't say that, but I know she's thinking it because I've thought the same thing on a similar day when the roles weren't reversed. It's humbling and eye-opening.

Living this way--with Jen working full-time and me staying home with the kids--is not how Jen and I are rigged. In our family, the way it works best for us is the other way around, with me supporting the family full-time and Jen watching the kids and editing part-time. We're both looking forward to the day when we are able to go back to those roles, so we will be nearer to our personal sweet spots. But in the meantime, I know this current experience is helping me to be a better husband and a better dad. 

After the wrapping paper

This Christmas was really special to me. I've already mentioned how God reminded me of just how awesome Christmas really is, so there's not a need to revisit it (although I'm still blown away). This was our first Christmas is Sendera Ranch and we were never really "prepared" for it. I didn't get any lights up and we didn't even get our tree decorated until school was out for the Christmas break. But somehow on this side of the wrapping paper, it's a Christmas I will always remember.

Maybe its because my girls are growing up. They're moving from my little girls to my big girls and it's frightening and exciting all at the same time. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and becoming more sentimental.... nope can't be that. Maybe it's because it's our first Christmas in our hopeful last place. There's significance to this. Jen and I want this to be our last stop. We love Sendera Ranch and really feel at home here. We're surrounded by wonderful people who are simply honest, good people. There's not a lot of pretense here and its refreshing. I feel extremely privileged that God would allow me to start a church among such great people. Now all we have to do is actually get started... I can't wait until Jan 13!

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I sincerely hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Have a wonderful day of family, food, and gifts as God reminds us of His love and the hope we have because of the baby laid in a manger some 2,000 years ago. God bless you and Merry Christmas.

Blown away

As we sat down to eat breakfast and I thanked God for the food He had given us and for sending Jesus, I broke down a little bit. My 4 year old asked me why I was talking that way and the simplified response was that I was really happy Jesus was born.

But I'm not simply happy that Jesus was born... I'm amazed that God sent His only Son. I'm greatly humbled that God took on flesh for the express purposes of saving His people from their sins. I'm astounded that He counts me among His people. I'm flabbergasted by His simplest of arrivals. I'm astonished by the love of God toward us. I'm blown away that Jesus would be born and live a sinless life so He could die in my place... exchange His perfection for my imperfection... exchange His righteousness for my unrighteousness. What a gift from our loving, powerful God!

Shaking presents

As a kid I could hardly contain myself during this time of year. There were presents under the tree with my name on them and I had no clue what they were. I would jiggle and shake my presents because I had to know what was in them. I couldn't wait until Christmas morning. At least until one year when I didn't wait until Christmas morning.

I remember it vividly. In my investigation of presents I noticed one that was ripped ever so slightly. It was an innocent rip... the kind you don't really see unless you're really looking... and I was really looking. I tried as hard as i could to see through the tiny hole but it only brought more intrigue. I couldn't take it anymore and I carefully peeled the tape from the sides of the gift ... and then the back... and as I slowly unwrapped the gift I discovered a brand new pair of Nike shoes. I couldn't wait to wear them... but I had to... ugh.

And for all my careful effort (even re-wrapping the gift) I had to endure endless days of waiting with the exhilaration of surprise long passed. And on that fateful Christmas morning there was one gift I had to feign surprise upon opening. The joy just wasn't there.

I'd learned an important lesson that Christmas. Now don't think it's kept me from wondering what's sitting under the tree with my name on it. And it's only tempered the jiggling and shaking. The initial lesson was to be patient and enjoy the present at the proper time. But thinking back on it in the past few days has helped me realize another lesson.

The past few days I've realized that the tension between not knowing what's under that wrapping paper and trusting that it's a good gift is a lot like life. God has some great things for each of us... it's all under wraps for the moment but when He reveals it we'll find exhilarating joy. It's the tension of faith.

And it's the tension of church planting... I can't wait to see what God is going to do in and through The Church at Sendera Ranch between now and this time next year. The anticipation is great! I'm wondering and jiggling and shaking this gift with all I've got... and it's sounding wonderful right now!!

There's a lot to be thankful for!

It's been a fantastic (and busy) Thanksgiving week and here are the highlights:

Celebrated Jen's maternal grandparents 70th wedding anniversary! That's right 70 years of marriage. We had a great time with the family as we celebrated two wonderful people!

Thanksgiving... turkey, cranberry sauce... nuff said!

A great week with the kiddos out of school. We have some great kids... yes I'm biased but if you were around them this past week you would agree.

Razorbacks beat #1 LSU.... wooooooooooo pig sooie!! And Darren McFadden proves to be Heisman worthy. WOW.

Texas A&M saws varsity's horns off for a second year in a row. (Jen says, "Whoooop") I would say it... but I'm a Razorback, and Aggies are kind of... well... protective. :-) ... Can I say "Gig' em Ags!"

Cowboys win on Thanksgiving. (This Thursday vs. the other Brett (Favre) and his Packers.)

On the church front:

Our first big outreach is planned for Dec 8. We've designed a door hanger to put on every door in Sendera Ranch and would love it if you could help us get them out! Email me if you'd like to help.

We've opened a bank account and received our first donation. Praise God!

Center Point Church in North Richland Hills has agreed to sponsor us as a church start. Pastor Jay Bruner will also be coaching me throughout the church planting process.

Stepping Stones Church Planting Ministry has also agreed to help sponsor us as a church start. We're Glad to be partnering with this ministry yet again and being the first church started by Stepping Stones Church of McKinney.

Southern Baptist of Texas Convention will also be partnering to help us change lives for good.

Lots of great things happening and lots of other churches to contact about The Church at Sendera Ranch.

Don't forget these dates:
Sunday, December 9 at 5:00 p.m. - informational Meeting at Nonna's House Preschool
Beginning Sunday, January 13 at 10:30 a.m. - Fresh Start Bible Study at Nonna's House Preschool
You can register for both or either by going to the website - www.TheChurchatSenderaRanch.com

A Power of Clothes

Our kindergartner was very excited about school today because she got to dress up in a costume from a fairy tale. Now last night we were scrambling to find something that would actually fit her and we finally stumbled on a Belle princess dress (Beauty and the Beast) that would work.

Brittany was so excited about being Belle. Jennifer spent time this morning putting her hair up "just like Belle's" and even topped it off with a small tiara. Brittany looked like a princess. And more than that, she felt like a princess. You could see it on her face and in her eyes. Dressing like a princess helped her see herself as a beautiful princess as she embarked on another day of school. Today was a very special day for her!

As i picked her up this afternoon I couldn't help but notice that her face and eyes still glowed over the fact that she was a princess. Her hair had become a little disheveled. Her dress looked a little worn and dirty. But her face and eyes exuded the pride and exhilaration of being a princess. And that's when it hit me.

Driving home from Brittany's school, I was reminded that we who belong to Jesus Christ have also been clothed with Christ. (Gal 3:27) And just as Brittany's whole countenance changed over dressing up as a princess, how much more should my countenance change having been clothed with Christ.

All too often I fail to realize the truly amazing grace that surrounds me daily. I get busy or distracted or both. In a reversal of The Emperor's New Clothes I forget the glory of Christ that clothes me. And having forgotten, I fail to truly allow others the opportunity to see the difference being clothed with Christ really makes in life.

Might both you and I remember as we step into our clothes for the coming days that we have been clothed with Christ. And might our actions and attitudes reflect those of Jesus Christ Himself.

Sendera Ranch Fall Festival

Yesterday I helped with the sack races at the HOA's Fall Festival and I had a blast meeting people. Sendera Ranch is a great place to live! Yeah the neighborhood and the amenity center are nice, but it's the people who live here that make it great.

Thanks to Kandi Oates and the Social Committee for organizing a great 1st annual fall festival! Scott for his hard work in setting up and breaking down. And all the volunteers who helped out. I know my family had a wonderful time and I imagine many other families had a great time as well.

Christened for the Journey

Today we made it official. With a little help from our fourteen-month-old son, we’ve “christened” our new home.

In the weekday hurry-scurry of getting our oldest child to kindergarten and our two younger kids up, fed, dressed, and ready for Mother’s Day Out—while simultaneously trying to get ourselves dressed and ready, since I (Jennifer) had a meeting this morning—Brett and I somehow overlooked a very important fact.

My coffee mug, filled with the dark brew, was sitting unattended on the bathroom counter.

(Have you already figured out how this story ends?)

I’m in the closet, putting on my shoes, when our son comes toddling into the closet to see me, his pudgy little baby arms fully extended and proudly bearing a gift that, judging from his “Da! Da! Da!” of glee, he apparently considers to be a priceless treasure:

My coffee mug.

I shriek. I look in the mug. Then I sigh with relief, realizing it’s almost empty. Whew! I must have drunk more coffee than I thought. That was a close one.

Shoes tied and baby scooped up in my arms, I make my way through the bedroom to go find daughter #2 and make sure she has put her shoes on by now.

Only to discover that there is a reason my coffee mug was empty.

Because the coffee in that mug has been splashed all over the floor and is now deviously spreading and seeping into the carpet fibers.

Arrrgh!

My first thought—after At least he spilled the coffee on the floor and not himself and Thank God he didn’t spill it on my laptop!—was this: Well, now our house in Sendera Ranch has officially been christened for this journey.

The word christen means “to baptize and give a Christian name to.” In some churches, infants are christened, usually in a gleaming white gown, in a ceremony during which the priest or pastor announces the baby’s christened name and then pours water over (or, in a sense, “baptizes”) the infant.

Similarly, it is customary for a ship to be christened on the day of its launch. During a formal service that closely resembles a baptismal ceremony, the ship’s name becomes official that day, and “christening fluid” (usually wine or champagne) is poured over the bow—a kind of “baptism” for the vessel before she heads out into the vast ocean for her maiden voyage.

So I suppose it’s not much of a stretch to say that today, in a sense, our family was officially “christened” for this journey to start The Church at Sendera Ranch. Okay, so the “christening fluid” wasn’t champagne; it was lukewarm Pura Vida Kilimanjaro coffee. And we’re not sailing into the ocean, but we are heading into the sea of people who live in and around Sendera Ranch.

And just like that tell-tale dark brown spot on our bedroom carpet, Brett and I are not perfect. Like everyone, we sometimes make mistakes and do things we regret. But we love and serve an amazing God, who hears our prayers, cleanses our sin-stained hearts, and daily transforms us with His boundless grace and unfathomable love.

Don’t you want to know a God like that?

Brett and I are convinced that He has called us here, to Sendera Ranch, to build relationships and to share this message of hope with our neighbors—people who, like us, aren’t perfect, but they’re eager to be part of a community that celebrates the great news that God is changing lives for good.

Won’t you join us in this journey?

The infamous 1st pumpkin

As promised .... pictures of the first pumpkin I've ever carved:

And here's Jennifer's:

Too bad they only lasted a couple of days.

All in all it was a rather fun evening. Happy birthday again Aunt Joan.

What's that in the sky?

It's a bird... no it's a plane... and we didn't have to go with the last line. (Veiled reference to Superman if you didn't catch it)

As we were coming home yesterday we were amazed to see six fighter jets flying in formation over I-35W only to see them break off and begin "writing" in the sky. It was extremely cool for everyone. We even pulled off at Alliance Airport to see what was going on. It turns out that the Alliance Air Show is this weekend and we had seen none other than the famed Blue Angels practicing for the show. We're going to try to see some of the show tomorrow but we're not quite brave enough to take three kids out amongst the crowd yet. We'll whet their appetite for it and see how we feel (and how they feel about it) next year.

A major part of that decision is that they will be on very little sleep. We celebrated "Aunt" Joan's birthday tonight (er last night... I just looked at the clock) complete with pumpkin carving. Yes I carved my very first pumpkin Friday, October 19th... mark it down. Pictures coming in the next blog post.

Boxes and Bubble Wrap: Jennifer's Reflections on Moving

Since Brett has been busy with the kids this weekend, I thought I’d chime in today.

As you know if you’ve been reading this blog, the Stair family moved from Austin to Sendera Ranch just over two weeks ago. Now, Brett and I are no strangers to moving. (I guess that goes with the territory when you’re in ministry!) This move marks the sixth time Brett and I have packed our bags and headed to a new place. So let’s face it: we’re pretty much veterans when it comes to relocation.

Our adventures with the moving company aside, the move to Sendera Ranch has been the hardest for me so far. No, not because of the place (I love Sendera Ranch!). And no, not because of the house (it’s right next to the pool and playground!). And no, not even because of the people (I’ve already met several wonderful neighbors here).

The hardest part about this move is how S-L-O-W-L-Y the process of unpacking is going. Argh!

Those of you who don’t know me yet probably think I should just chill out and not let the clutter bother me. And believe me, I’ve tried! But I just can’t do it. I’m the kind of gal who likes everything to be clean and orderly. Granted, with three children ages six and under, “orderly” has never been the first word that comes to mind when you visit our home. But, honestly, I try!

That’s why I’m losing my sanity amid all the boxes and bubble wrap. It seems every day I trip over something that’s not where it’s supposed to be. And when I decide that I just can’t take it anymore and take a break to organize a room—say, the study—then I get frustrated when the process of unpacking just stirs up the clutter, like sweeping out a dusty garage. It’s like taking one step forward and five steps back. I’ll start opening boxes and spreading out books and office supplies all over the floor . . . but then I have to stop and chase our toddler, who just snatched a computer cord and is gleefully sprinting down the hall with his contraband. Then I’m back to work trying to figure out which paperwork to keep (which bills are due?) and sorting our books (by topic, then author’s last name) . . . only to realize that the girls have been taking stuff out of my pile marked “garage sale,” so I have to go get it back. Sigh.

This afternoon, I arranged the pantry after our much-needed trip to the grocery store (side note to any of you who may be real estate investors: we need a grocery store in Haslet!). As I was sorting and re-sorting our food (nonbreakable items on the bottom where the kids can reach, baking goods and glass jars up higher, party supplies on the tip-top shelf . . . but where on earth to keep my cookbooks?), it hit me.

When was the last time I cleared out the clutter in my own life?

I’ve been intent on organizing our house because the clutter is driving me crazy. Yet I haven’t been bothered by all the junk cluttering my spiritual life—the frustrations, the times I snap at the kids, the mornings I head straight to the coffeepot instead of to my Bible . . . things I trip over almost every day. And some days, it feels like my relationship with God is one step forward, five steps back. I’ll be reading the Word and learning something awesome . . . and then I hear the girls upstairs fighting about something or the baby wakes up from his nap. And just when I finally get things calmed down enough to start to pray, it’s not long before I realize that I’ve been sneaking into some of those sins tucked away in my pile marked “under control,” and now I have to deal with them all over again. Sigh.

Coming clean to God isn’t always—perhaps ever?—an easy process. Like sweeping out a dusty garage, examining your inner life can stir up a gritty swirl of memories and fears and frustrations. But as we allow God to illuminate the dark corners of our hearts (2 Cor. 5:6) and cleanse us with the water of His Word (Eph. 5:26), our inner “house” will become the kind of warm, peaceful, inviting place that our families will enjoy and others will be drawn to.

After all, isn’t that why we’re here, planting The Church at Sendera Ranch?

Very great day

The Sendera Ranch community garage sale was this morning and God gave us some beautiful weather to enjoy. We got to meet some of our neighbors which was great. We have a great community here and I can't wait to start meeting more people.

The garage sale also afforded us the opportunity to sell a few of our things, including the Corolla. The Corolla failed inspection and needed more in repairs than it was worth so we had to sell it. A mechanic came by and asked me what work it needed and I told him everything Christian Brothers Automotive had told me. He said he could fix that and bought it. It relives us immensely because we felt bad about putting a car that failed inspection up for sale. But knowing that he knows everything I know and more importantly, that he can fix it is definitely a good thing. He got a good deal on a car he can fix and we got a little savings toward the next one. Obviously it raises a challenge for us to be a one car family at the moment but its not impossible.

And all of this brings up the urgent need of adding to our prayer team for The Church at Sendera Ranch. If you'd be interested in praying for the launch of this new church please visit the Help Us Launch page at The Church at Sendera Ranch web site to sign up and begin receiving weekly prayer updates.

The biggee prayer requests right now:
- More people committed to praying for The Church at Sendera Ranch
- God to begin drawing people toward The Church at Sendera Ranch
- A second vehicle
- Sponsoring churches and individuals for The Church at Sendera Ranch.

Life and Lemonade

We've been making a lot of lemonade lately... not just the Raspberry Lemonade from Crystal Light... but the kind you have to make when life hands you lemons.

Now I'm not going to drag you through the mire of our past month but let's just say we've faced a lot of challenges. The highlights would be unscrupulous movers and a move that cost almost twice what we were guaranteed along with some very important and valuable items that never arrived, delays in phone service that are still dragging out, and today... a car that has reached the end of the line. Highlights.

The funny thing is that I've been trying to help our oldest daughter the importance of being a good-finder. Essentially trying to help her understand that no one can make her have a bad day. She chooses her attitude and how she is going to react to different situations. And I realized tonight that I sure am having to model it for her too.

It makes me glad that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I honestly don't know how I would've handled all our recent challenges if I didn't know that God cares about and for me and that I can trust Him to supply all our needs. He is truly amazing. And He has given us so much to be thankful for that it's hard to sweat the stuff that has happened recently.

Now back to the garage... people keep assuring me that we will be unpacked soon. I'm clinging to that light down a fairly distant tunnel... and hoping it's not a train full of lemons.

Initial adventures and Go Dads!!

We're here... finally in Sendera Ranch... and we couldn't be happier or more excited. We've met a lot of great people who live in Sendera Ranch through Brittany's school activities and other exciting adventures... snake killing with Denny and his kids, swimming with Ginger and her oldest son, moving in with Officer Black, trying to coax a stray dog with Jake, and Dad's Club meeting at Prairie View Elementary.

I was impressed with the presence of a Dad's Club at Brittany's elementary school. A group of men who want to be positive male role models for kids and take an active role in their children's education is encouraging to say the least. I joined at the last meeting on October 2 and we've got a Pancake Breakfast on October 13th from 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. at the school. Every penny raised goes to help send sponsors to camp Grady Spruce.

The importance of positive male role models can't be overstated. In a day when seemingly every dad on TV is the bumbling idiot and masculine heros in movies have gone from Sly Stallone to Ben Stiller and Jack Black... recovering the dignity of manhood is important. And it's extremly important for the church.

The urgency for the church is captured in David Morrow's Why Men Hate Going to Church. Basically, church is not viewed as a very masculine environment... in fact it has become an institution largely customized to women. His message isn't that the church needs a radical swing to being man-centric but only that it needs to be balanced (which to many will feel like a radical swing).

At The Church at Sendera Ranch we will be a church where masculine and feminine values harmonize to create an environment where both men and women can thrive in every aspect of church life. We're going to embrace challenge, adventure, boldness, competition, fun, and productivity.

For more information on what we're talking about read the book or check out churchformen.com.

Flu shots, the hurts of life, and sin

This past week my whole family loaded the van for the ever exciting excursion to get our flu shots and the experience got me thinking on a lot of levels about flu shots and how they relate to life and spirituality.

Level one - The whole concept seems a little odd in itself. You inject a little of something dead into me so I can build up resistance to it and not get sick in the future. Odd... but it triggers level two.

Level two - Wow our bodies are cool. God did an amazing job didn't He? The whole immune system blows me away. The fact that I can get a shot today so I don't get sick tomorrow is pretty amazing.

Level three - Have you ever noticed how we can take little hurts and blow them out of proportion? My kids had varying reactions before and after their respective shots.
     One of them cried when the needle went in and a little after it but was pretty ok afterward... cuddly but ok.
     One of them cried all the way back to the room, wailed when they got the shot, and then cried more after the shot and then in various intervals for the next couple of hours after the shot.
     And one of them began resisting even walking back to the room, began crying in the room and had to be held tightly and coaxed to actually not fight (about 5 minutes of coaxing), wailed for the shot, and cried a little after the shot but was only slightly puny for the next couple of hours.

When the drama died down a little in the car I asked the girls if the shot hurt and, more importantly, how long the shot hurt. They both said it hurt but for a very little about of time. Then I asked what hurt more; the shot or all the crying and fighting they did. They both realized that they had gotten very worked up over something that was just a little hurt.

We all do the same thing don't we? I know I do... a little hurt in life get blown out of proportion and my reaction to it causes me more pain, anguish, and energy than the hurt could've ever caused on its own. We'd be better off if we could just deal with each hurt for what it is, react appropriately to it, and move on with life.

Level four - Man I wish sin had a vaccine that would cause my body prevent it harming me or those around me.
When we come to Christ we are to die to sin... meaning our desire toward sin dies and is replaced by a desire toward God. Unfortunately sin doesn't understand this all too well. Sin is always alive for us. It competes for our attention and coaxes us away from God with alarming success.
Fortunately however, there is coming a day when not only will we be dead to sin but when sin will be dead to us. This body of death will be done away with and the full righteousness of Jesus Christ will engulf us. I can't wait for that day.
But we aren't there yet. We walk in this world where sin surrounds us and entices us to its table. And how often our eyes are diverted from the feast of righteousness which Jesus offers only to settle for the rotting fare of sin. To echo C.S.Lewis in The Weight of Glory (as reported by John Piper in Desiring God and in his Passion 97 address found here), we settle for maggoty meat found in dumpsters because we don't understand the offer of a steak dinner at a fine restaurant.

And that is what will help us find the resistance our body, soul, and mind needs against sin. A compelling vision of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. Shot taken.

Off and running

To say things are a little crazy in life at the moment is only a slight understatement. Here's what we have going on in the next week:

Pack boxes (a constant until Wednesday)
Flu Shots
Hogs uphend the Wildcats on ESPN2
Last Sunday as Executive Pastor at The Fellowship at Plum Creek
Birthday/going away party for Brittany
Closing on sale of our house in Kyle
Moving
Closing on purchase of house in Sendera Ranch

It's a lot... and stress levels in the house are rising... but nothing damps the excitement of starting The Church at Sendera Ranch. We can't wait to get there, begin meeting people, and see what God is doing already to change lives for good. It's exciting, fear-inducing, faith-bolstering, and definitely a God thing that we are making this move. I look forward to sharing the journey over the next several posts... but for now... I'm off and running.