Gold is refined in the fire.

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. -Mark 10:29-30

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Things don't always go as planned... it could be in your relationships, in your finances, with your job, etc. These problems and trials come with being human and living in an imperfect world with imperfect people.

I just never expected it to be so hard at times.

• Diann and I are watching our parents and friends parents wrestle with aging and health problems.

• I miss our kids when they leave for weeks and months at a time.

• I watch money come and go and wonder where it went.

• I know close friends who have been searching for work for months.

In the midst of foggy times, painful situations and days I face problems... I want my life to respond with ...

FIRST... a prayer of thanks to God that helps me remember how GOOD GOD HAS BEEN TO ME... HOW HE HAS FAITHFULLY HELPED ME AND HOW HE NEVER CHANGES... my circumstances may change but I desire to focus on who Jesus is right now... that He has not changed and that Jesus already has "overcome" the world.

SECOND... a prayer of trust that helps me remember that God will provide in the future all the relationships and stuff that I need (more than I need) to grow day to day.

Lord, thank you that through the pain of the cross you overcame the world... you overcame my mistakes and gave new life to all who follow you. Now You live in me to help refine and grow me into all that is planned for me as your child. Help me trust in the truth that you provide brothers, sisters and all that I need now and in the future. Let my life, my faith in you, my story to others be refined.

Family Vacation

We took time off... always a challenge for me:)... and yet I love it when I get away. We drove to Missouri to meet Coby and Cory following their staff training for working at Kanakuk - K2 this summer.
They had a great time... tons of training and hard work... they were tired, but very excited about working with Joe White and the Kanakuk team. This camp has truly helped thousands of kids and served as a turning point for many students who were heading in bad directions.
I am very thankful to God for raising up such a powerful change agent like Kanakuk Kamps. I am also grateful that my sons get to be a part of this team and learn from them. I pray that God will use this summer to make a lasting impression on Coby and Cory and those they serve this summer.

Resources for graduates

Podcasts to subscribe...
Search iTunes for:
Matt Chandler
Marcus Buckingham
Andy Stanley

The Bible online (various translations)
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Story of Daniel

Speaking at John Cooper Baccalaureate

I had the opportunity to address the John Cooper Class of 2008 along with their parents, friends and faculty of the school. What a thrill for me. This is a great class and my challenge to them was to
1. Build on their strengths
2. Guard their passions
3. Invest their influence

There are lots of resources available on the web to help graduates and students pursue their God-given purposes.
Keep checking this blog as I plan to update and build this resource list.

Improving at Golf

My golf game is really improving. I guess some would say... "so what else do you have to do as pastor, but practice your golf game."
The golf journey for me has been a slow one... overcoming the negative attitudes I frequently heard about the game. My dad sold golf cars, and yet did not "take the time" to play. Now my brother Steve and I both are beginner golfers.
I decided to get some real help and take some lessons with my daughter Catherine last year. We have enjoyed going to the driving range together and learning together.
The lessons and practice are paying off. My score is getting consistently better. I know the suspence is eating at you... my break through score was getting below 100! That's right, I scored 98 last week... legit... real score... no mulligans... no fudging! Then today I scored 95, sank some long puts and beat other players in our foursome! WOW!
Not ready to quit the ministry and go on tour, but it was very satisfying.

Like Spring Flowers

I love planting flowers, seeds and young plants and watching them grow. I am sure it is because I did this with my mom and dad on the farm in North Carolina... Dad in the garden, Mom in the yard. We had a very large garden with corn, peas, potatoes, green beans, cabbage, squash, onions... We had even larger yard with azaleas, camellias, geraniums, daffodils, roses, dogwoods...

I watched and learned and now I get to try my hand at this in Texas. My favorite planting at this point is to do lots of pots on our porch, patio and around the yard. The plants respond quickly. When moved from their little plastic containers into fresh, rich soil in a much larger pot, they stand up alert after the first day. Then new sprouts and blooms begin to show. Soon the pots are full and overflowing with growth.

This winter we planted two Live Oaks in our front yard along with some new bushes and roses. These have been a joy to watch. New leaves and blooms cover them now.

Ephesians 3 talks about plants taking root and growing.

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I also love to use and read the prayers of Paul when I pray for my wife and children, friends, and partners in ministry and for myself. The love of Christ is very deep and rich soil. We can grow in it forever. When we tap into and become grounded in that love, the fullness of God fills us and blooms over around us.

Lord, like the flowers in my yard that people have noticed and commented on... cause people to notice the love of Christ in me, my family and friends. Allow us to do far more than we could every ask or think by your power and love.