Living What We Believe!

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't know how to live my beliefs!" Maybe you have never heard it, but... maybe you have thought it. You wonder.... How do I take the things I believe and apply them to my everyday life? How can I translate the things I've learned from church/Bible study into ordinary living?

In case you didn't know, Jesus never meant for our spiritual life to be complicated. He never meant for us to struggle from day to day with our belief system. If we believe something, it has become a value to us. If we value something to be true it affects our behavior. For example, if you read in the Bible lying is wrong... you internalize that principle... you believe that principle, it becomes a part of your spiritual DNA... it becomes a value which affects your behavior. How does that affect your behavior? You don't lie! Easy enough... right?

I said all that to say... if you have a hard time living your beliefs... do you believe? Your beliefs are truths you value. Truths you value affect your behavior. Let God speak to you and be challenged to step out this year. Let's live what we believe!

Winter Wild Update

I'm getting too old for lock-ins. Staying up all night is not a hard thing to do. It's getting up the next evening after a few hours of sleep. Even though I'm paying for a lack of sleep this evening, it was worth it all to see 32 young people step out to receive Christ as their personal Savior. PTL! What an amazing night! Kudos to Devin Williams, our worship leader, and Gus Garcia, who brought the Word! God is good. Keep these young people in your prayers. The battle has begun.

Winter Wild Countdown!

Winter Wild begins tonight at 9:00 PM. Up ALL night! Here we go! I'll give you more later.

Having A Bad Day?

I showed some pictures tonight in service of people who probably had a bad day. They were various pictures of car accidents, off the wall incidents that where captured on film. Most of them were humorous to look at but I would imagine for them... not so funny. We have all had bad days. We all go through trying times in life. The truth we must remember is... the day doesn't dictate your life. Don't let one moment sour your attitude or your spirit. God is at work to complete the task He has started in you (Philippians 1:6). Don't look at bad days as bad days. Look at them as opportunities of growth.

How can you turn your bad day into an opportunity?

Movie Review: The Game Plan

I just finished the movie, The Game Plan with Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson. This is a great family movie. Two thumbs up... my kids loved it. The feel good movie of 2007. I sound just like a movie critic don't I... not really. See it if you want! You make up your mind.

Super Bowl

Well... the Pats move on and the Packers go home! I was cheering for Favre yesterday, but he didn't pull it off. Manning did impress me with his determination and never give up attitude. My hat is off to the Bills and their win. How about you? Do you have a determination and a never give up attitude when it comes to the game of life? God wants to give you a win! Don't just settle to not lose... determine to play and win!

Start Your Day With A Song!

I had the privilege to be at FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) this morning at Hawkins Middle School. I make it a point to be there every Thursday morning just to hang out with the students and to be a help to the sponsor. The teacher/sponsor (Amy) asked me yesterday if I would lead a song for the meeting today. I agreed! Have you ever lead P/W at 7:00 AM? Interesting... for me anyway! I'm a bass singer at 7:00 AM. The kids, however, were up on their feet clapping and singing and they sang well. Amy e-mailed me later this morning letting me know the kids told her they had been singing the song since the meeting this morning. Cool! Sing unto the Lord a new song and sing all day! God is worthy to be praised! Have a great day.

Big Wednesday!

Tonight is Big Wednesday... our first official youth service for 2008! I'm excited about kicking everything off tonight! God has been good to us over the past year and we look forward to what this year holds. Learn to dream this year. Learn to risk! Peter would have never walked on water if he didn't risk getting out of the boat. What new thing is God calling you to in 2008? Whatever it is... it's worth your time and your energy to discover. Blessings!

No Disappointment Here

Disappointment has the ability to happen everyday. I have four children (all girls). Two are in school and two are home. This morning, after breakfast, my two youngest were arguing over markers and a coloring book. One became disappointed in the other because things were not working in her favor. The situation esculated to one crying and both yelling at each other.

How many can relate? We all have things we encounter in our day that can be disappointing, but how do we respond? Attitude is a choice. Some kick and scream, some hide and cry, some just allow themselves to be bitter, but life is meant to be more than disappointment. Life is meant to be more than a bad attitude. The Bible tells us God desires to give us an abundant life. Are we looking for that life? Or... are we looking to avoid disappointments and negative attitudes? Where we focus our attention has much to do with how we respond to our situations. So, focus on the life God wants you to have and when disappointments come they will pale in comparison to what your life actually is!

Starbucks and Ministry

We had our first Youth Council Meeting for the year this morning at Starbucks. I am very proud of our leadership and what they bring to the student ministry. They will have several new responsibilities this year which they welcomed this morning. It is a blessing to have a team of students around you who are willing to work for the sake of the Kingdom. Each one of them possess unique talents and abilities. I look forward to working with this new class this year.

Winter Wild '08

Winter Wild 2008 is coming on January 25th. The all-nighter is back! You can register at HSYM early or at the door on the 25th. Gus Garcia is our speaker, along with Devin Williams as our musical guest from Mouthpiece. We will be at the Family Fun Center this year. Bowling, Ice Skating , Laser Tag, Dream Motion Theater, Bumper Cars are a few things you can do throughout the night. Make your plans to be with us and let's have a chillin' good time.

Living In A Store?

Someone told me about this... way funny!

God Speaks

What is God saying to you in the New Year? The Week of Prayer has been an awesome time with God for me! I believe the Lord has been laying some things on my heart... a fresh wind is blowing.

God desires to speak to you. He wants to challenge you in new and fresh ways in 2008. Let me encourage you to step out in faith and become... do! You never know until you try. Don't worry about failure. Failure is not failure when you are moving forward. It becomes a place of learning to help you modify what to do now! Step out. Have faith in God and in your future. Allow the fresh wind of God to blow your way this year! God is giving me a fresh breath of air. He will do the same for you.

Looking For Blessings

My wife comes home today! Have you ever thought about small blessings? For most people, they don't care if my wife was gone for a few days and it was just me and four children. Many of us are consumed with our own lives. Well... let's focus on you for a minute. What do you have to be thankful for today? What small blessing is coming your way? Have you taken time to look for it? Many just look for the major stuff in their life, but God gives us little blessings everyday. Let me encourage you to be thankful for the little things. I'm looking forward to my wife coming home. It might be small to you, but it's grand for me.

Missing My Wife

I'm a bachelor for two days. My wife is going back to school. She is attending Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Texas. She is going through the distance education program offered by the school. She had to fly out this morning on the red eye to be there by this morning. I'm glad this is a one-time visit. It's required by all new students entering the program to go through an orientation. She will be home tomorrow and it can't come quick enough. She is missed when she is not here. She never ceases to amaze me... raising four kids, keeping our home, going to school, working part-time and helping me in the youth ministry. I have truly found a great woman. Thanks be to God.

Week of Prayer

I hope all is well this evening. I've had a great day with the family, plus... we went to the prayer meeting at church. We are kicking off the week of prayer that begins tomorrow morning, 6 PM on Sunday night and 7 PM each night, Monday through Friday. Come out and let's begin the year with a week of prayer... praying for our families, our church, our friends and our community. God desires to do much this year. Let's tune in and believe for great things.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Another year has passed. 2008 is here! What are your goals and dreams for this year? Many of us make resolutions and never keep them. Let me encourage you to set some goals for the New Year and work hard at making them a reality. It could be one goal... one dream... one accomplishment... put something before you and go after it in 2008. Remember, God is your Source. Let Him be the centerpiece of your life.

Once again... from my family to yours... Have a Happy New Year!