Running for a reason

As some of you may know already, I am planning to run in the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 30, 2011…just over a month from now. I have been training for this specific event since September and it has been a personal goal of mine to run a marathon for several years. When I found out that I would be able to run in the Houston Marathon back in August, I wanted to make it count for something more than a personal goal, so I joined Team Living Water.

Living Water International (http://www.water.cc/) is a non-profit organization striving to provide clean water throughout the world. Unclean drinking water claims more lives every year than any war, and more people die each year from drinking dirty water than from the world's hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes combined. LWI provides clean water through training, equipping, and consulting local communities in a way that provides clean water now and for generations to come.

LWI is a Christian organization which works to fulfill the great commission by "providing a cup of water in Jesus' name" to those who otherwise would not have clean water.

I urge you to go to their website and explore – you will be shocked…both at the magnitude of the global water crisis, and at the fact that just a small gift can go so far toward improving peoples' quality of life.

I am asking you to join with me in supporting this cause 1) by praying for encouragement and success in completing the run and 2) by way of a small gift. I have set a fundraising goal of $524. This is based on just 20 of my friends and family giving $1 for every mile I will run on Jan 30^th (26.2 miles). I get NOTHING from this fundraising effort. I have already paid my own marathon registration fee, and I am covering all expenses associated with my participation in the Marathon. 100% of every donation made will go directly to Living Water International.

Visit my fundraising page at

http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=6199&CRID=29&CID=245

to learn more and to make your contribution…thanks, Merry Christmas, and God Bless.

Josh

Week 1 of 20

Just finished week one of training for the Houston marathon today. 19 weeks to go. So many parallels between the Christian life and running...so many.

Here's one...a quote from a former commander of mine on running a marathon..."you don't have to run fast, you just have to keep running." Really speaks to perseverance. Sometimes we think as Christians we are not as good at some part of life as someone else. Sometimes we think we need to be more skilled, educated, intelligent, eloquent, etc...for God to use us, so we either give up or don't try.

Truth is, God is the one that gives us any of those traits, and don't think for a minute He needs any of your goodness to do His work. Just remember we serve by His power alone...if we're trying to go it alone, we won't make it very far before failure or burnout. So, just keep taking risks, serving, living for Jesus Christ, and He will make you as fast as you need to be. Just keep running.

Author of Salvation

God is the Author of Salvation…The author writes a story, from beginning to end. The author knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in the future - all the way to the end of the story…the author is in control of the story, not the characters. The author starts, and finishes the story.

2 Cor 5:18-19 - Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

John 3:16 - "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Thank God for Good Neighbors

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Proverbs 17:17

Yesterday we spent the day eating, playing, and hanging out with our neighbors. Tonight we saw three different neighbors - one was asking us for a favor, we were discussing plans for the week with another, and we "begged" some food off yet another. We have been truly blessed in the past 14+ years with good neighbors, and this neighborhood is no exception. Sometimes I really dread the day we have to move again (or the day one of our neighbors moves) because we know that they will be sorely missed. It is great when you can fellowship with some of your best friends by simply wandering down the street.

But I'm sure not everyone in the world feels the way I am describing here. Not everyone feels like their neighborhood is the best...so here's a thought...try going out in the next few days and talking to one of your neighbors, just to see what life is like for them. Share a meal sometime in the driveway. Maybe you can be a blessing to them like so many of our neighbors have been to us throughout the years.

Whew

Wow, it has been a month+ since my last post. Doesn't seem like it. Since then, we have gone through two birthdays (mine & Monica's), had a mini-vacation to San Antonio and Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Joshua and I have both started school again, and now we are settling into the fall routine before the first fall holiday rolls around next week! Anyway, my point is, it has been a busy month. I'll try to be better about keeping up at least a post a week, but no promises there. As we begin our 5th year here in the Houston area, I can't hardly believe we have been here that long. We have been here now twice as long as anywhere else in our almost 15 year Air Force journey. What a blessing to be somewhat settled for awhile...but it will be even harder to leave when that day finally comes. Hope all is well and I pray a blessing for everyone.

Be Ready

Q: "Are you ready?"

A: "I was born ready."

Really? I don't think so. This used to be my scripted response when the question was posed. In part a smart-aleck crack and in part an ignorant rant. It's really all about the question anyway. Am I ready for what...to go to the mall; ...to go to church; ...for work today; ...to take the final exam; …for the washer and dryer to go out; …for an unexpected illness; …for eternity?

We are never ready for the unexpected. We always like to know what's happening next. After all, we have plans to make…when to set the DVR, how much food to buy for the party, when to take an umbrella.

But really, there isn't much planning needed for eternity, because we don't know when it starts. Our pastor's message today dealt with Christ's return. If you weren't there, then you didn't hear when that will be (see, you should go to church). The important part was that it will happen and truth is, nobody knows when except God the Father. The Bible says Jesus will return like "a thief in the night." So what are you doing right now (reading this, obviously) - but seriously, are your actions those of someone who is expecting the return of Christ at any second? More times than not, I act as if His return is neatly written in ink on my calendar and that I will be able to clean up my messy life just in time to be ready about 15 minutes before it happens. But as the pastor pointed out, the Bible does not tell us to get ready, but to be ready. Oops. The good news is we're still here and the opportunity hasn't expired. No time like the present to turn around and walk in readiness. First step: repentance, second step: vigilance. "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13). Living a life displeasing to God may occur in a slow fade, but repentance only takes an instant. The second you look to God in desperation and say, "Help me!" is when He can clean you from the inside out. I'm not saying your life suddenly goes from pitiful to perfect, but the condition of your spirit does. Salvation is instantaneous…what follows is the long, painful process of working out our messed up lives (church word = sanctification) with our hope set "fully on the grace" of God and the reward of everlasting life with God that is ours in the end (church word = glorification). A marathon runner does not glory in each painful step as the miles add up. He certainly does not run with no end in sight. He has his mind set on the finish line and the accompanying glory and reward of running the race to completion. So goes it with the Christian life. So be ready, but not idle. Run toward the finish line…it may be another 26.2 miles, and it may be less than a step away.

Good Advice

Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God's needy people and welcome strangers into your home.

Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don't mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone. Dear friends, don't try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says,

"I am the one to take revenge

and pay them back."

The Scriptures also say,

"If your enemies are hungry,

give them something to eat.

And if they are thirsty,

give them something

to drink.

This will be the same

as piling burning coals

on their heads."

Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

Keith Green - check this out

I don't take criticism well

What is your reaction to criticism? Does it depend on who it is coming from? For me, I think criticism is harder to take from people close to me. I wonder why? It must be because:

1) I am most vulnerable to them and

2) The comments hit a nerve because I know they are right on

Most of the time, the size of my reaction to criticism is directly proportional to how closely I know the person giving it. Sometimes the smallest, most insignificant comment can create a firestorm inside me, depending on who it comes from and when it is delivered.

So what does this mean? Does it have any spiritual significance?

After studying the book of James, I can tell you it has tremendous spiritual significance. Some themes running throughout James are:

• Growth through trials
  
• Patience
  
• Enduring temptations
  
• Withholding rash speech
  

  …which I think all lead us to what we refer to as spiritual warfare. If you look at the opposite of each of the traits listed above (cursing God during trials, impatience, giving in to temptation, speaking without restraint) you see what it is like to live and walk in the flesh, which is precisely what Satan desires for us, because when we are walking in the flesh, we cannot produce spiritual fruit (ref Galatians 5:16-26) - and when we are not producing spiritual fruit, we are working against God's will (Matthew 12:30 and Luke 6:43-45). So it seems from Jesus' words that neutrality in spiritual warfare is impossible, and therefore cannot be ignored. What then can we do about it in everyday life? By what means can we take up the full armor of God when dealing with criticism (Ephesians 6:10-17)? Not so much that the criticism itself is a Satanic attack, but the temptation to react to it in a fleshly way is (for in fact, our reaction to the "attack" of criticism is either a win for Satan the attacker or for God our redeemer).
  

  The Bible says spiritual warfare (at least in part) is in the realm of our mind and will (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). So this "discipline" in concert with being prepared and ready for action at all times (having our "feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace") prepares us to react with grace rather than hostility; love rather than anger; restraint rather than fury…ideally, at least.
  

  Maybe my reaction to criticism is actually a pretty good gauge of my "real" spiritual walk.
  

  Scary - yes
  

  Eye opening - yes…Thankfully, God can use realizations like this to direct us toward Him…even when we don't think we are too far off the path, He sees what is really going on and He always, always wants us to come closer to Him.
  

  So thank God for criticism (yikes) and take the time to analyze your reaction…spiritual diagnosis is the first step in the healing process.
  

Low on Energy

Happy Father's Day!

It seems like I have been a little low on energy lately…trying to keep up with school, church, and life in general just seems to be wearing me down a little. So this morning, after waking up late and rushing to get ready for church on time, I was thinking how nice it would be just to have a retreat or a vacation where we could just recharge…after all, isn't that what we need when we are running low? Then I thought about how I have the opportunity to do that each and every time I go to church, and to take it one step further, I have the opportunity to do that each day with God.

Even Jesus Himself, throughout His ministry, took time to recharge and be alone…from the time of His temptation when He was fasting forty days in the wilderness and was "full of the Holy Spirit" to the time just before His betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane where He prayed to His Father, He knew when to take time to recharge. But His recharging was more than just kicking back and relaxing…His recharging was always in prayer and submission to His Father.

So, just as I begin to think that daily events are too much, and as I am tempted to take time away from God in order to "get more done," I am reminded that time with God is time to recharge.

So if you are feeling a little low on energy, take some time, drop what you are doing, and spend some time in prayer…just acknowledging God as the source of life (and energy). Go to church if you haven't been in awhile…you will be surprised how a little time with God will recharge your batteries.

Inspiration, part 2

The last time I was thinking about inspiration, I was inspired! This, however, has been a tough week as far as inspiration goes. Although I don't always feel inspired to pray or read the Bible, I have come to realize that God simply wants obedience in those areas. The purpose of prayer and Bible study is not self-gratification…it is to Glorify God. Sometimes, I "feel" like I have a direct connection to God's control room when I am praying, and sometimes I just feel like the prayers are hitting the ceiling and falling back on the floor. When I feel this way I have to stop and remind myself it is my obedience to God in praying, studying, and ultimately in worship, that helps me to stay close to God…it is not a matter of feeling.

Paul says:

In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 )

This tells me that no matter how I feel today, God is listening. Actually, He is doing more than listening, the Holy Spirit is interceding for me when I do not even know what to pray for.

So, pray when you're inspired…pray when you're not. God is gracious, hears us, and even carries us in times of weakness.

Taming the Tongue

If I could only keep my mouth shut. That thought usually enters my mind after I have opened mouth and inserted foot…happens way too often. Since I can't add to the wisdom of the Word, I thought I'd just share a few nuggets of that wisdom for you to ponder…

…be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger… James 1:19

A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. Proverbs 15:1

A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating. Proverbs 18:6

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips. Proverbs 17:28

I had a history teacher, Mr. Benson, who would always say "silence is a virtue." I don't think I understood the depth of his words. I just thought he was telling a group of rowdy 9th graders to be quiet.

So, where is that virtue in our world today? When you see a person who is able to keep quiet in the face of trials and strife, isn't it a blessing? I think how I could be a blessing to others by passing this "virtue" forward. There is a time to speak, but I believe it is rarely out of anger. Once the angry words spill out it is like a cracked dam…more will follow.

You only have a split second to decide when the anger wells up inside you…will you blurt or will you bless?

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in many forms. Hope in a prayer, God's Word, and the words and actions of others, just to name a few.

When I think of recent moments of inspiration in my life, I think of when my nephew posted First Corinthians chapter 13 on Facebook, when I see husbands acting in true love toward their wives, when my three year old runs to meet his 13 year old brother getting off the school bus, and when my 13 year old says I'm cool :-) I am inspired by my wife acting in love toward me even when I am not being "loveable."

Inspiration even comes in hardships and trials - in fact, sometimes that is when it is the strongest.

James 1: 2-4 says "consider it a great joy" when you face all kinds of trials, for the trials build endurance, with the end result being maturity and completeness.

Further, Philippians 1: 6 says "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

So, when times are tough and the "feel good" inspiration is hard to come by, meditate on the good things you have seen and heard, and more importantly on the Word of God. Take heart that tough times are a part of Christian growth. God has not forgotten you, He is perfecting you.

What is your inspiration? Have you allowed God to start His good work in you by accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior? Are you living today with the peace that comes from knowing trials are leading to endurance and completion?

The Joy of the Lord is my strength

Some days it is easy to praise God.

This morning was the first meeting of our new Bible study class. It went well. We began studying the book of James, which opens with a passage about trials and enduring them as part of Christian growth and ultimately spiritual maturity.

After Bible study, Monica, Joshua, and I were in the worship service while Joseph was in the nursery as usual. Just as Pastor Steve was starting the sermon for the morning, Ms. Janet, one of the nursery caregivers, came into the sanctuary and tapped me on the shoulder with a worried look on her face - not something a parent wants to see! As I walked out of the sanctuary and followed her back to the gym where the kids were, she explained to me how he had managed to flip off a skateboard and hit his face on the floor of the gym, creating a pretty nasty gash in his lower lip. When I got to him, he was pretty calm (more so than I was). He was not bleeding too badly and the injury could have been worse, but we decided to leave church and take him in to get it checked out and make sure he didn't need stitches. He was able to explain in detail (In 3 year old parlance) what had happened, telling us the story of the entire morning leading up to the fall in the process. What a trooper.

In the car, as we began to drive away from the church to a minor emergency clinic, he looked at his brother and said, "Do you like it?" "What?" Joshua replied. "My cut," Joseph said with a fair amount of pride in his voice and a smile on his face, as if it were a championship trophy he had earned. That's our son. Instant Joy and laughter followed.

Visited the doctor...no stitches...just an antibiotic…praise God.

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10

Bible Study Details

As promised, here are the details on the new Bible study starting this Sunday.

Time: 9:45 AM
Place: Room 121
Topic: the book of James

The purpose of this study is to give us all a chance to look more closely at our own faith, and develop a practical way of thinking about applying that faith to our daily lives.

The goal is to help us tear down the wall that exists between our Sunday morning focus on God, and our Monday through Saturday focus on (fill in the blank).

If you have never been a part of Bible study at Spring Creek, this is the perfect opportunity to start fresh. Hope to see you there.

Easter 2010

Well, another Easter is here. What will we do today? Go to church, eat a HUGE meal with family and friends, hunt some Easter eggs, and then break out the Cascarones. Last year, we ended the day by watching The Passion of the Christ. It is a film I recommend to everyone, regardless of your faith. If you don't know Jesus, you cannot watch this film without wondering who He really was. If you do know Jesus, you cannot watch this film without falling to your knees (in your heart, at least) and crying - first out of sadness for what happened to our Lord, but ultimately out of joy for realizing once again that He is risen! He has defeated death and offers to share His victory with you.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3

New Beginnings: How did we ever get here?

We will be starting a new Bible Study Sunday, April 11 at Spring Creek Baptist Church (details in a later post). I invite you to come and "get plugged in." I want to take a few minutes and share the story of how God brought me and my family to where we are today...

After attending Spring Creek Baptist Church for a little over two years now, I have seen it grow tremendously. Evidently, I arrived at Spring Creek at the turning point - I mean, the point at which the growth was exploding upward. I have been involved with a Bible study, or "Sunday School" class since almost the start of my attending the Church. As a side note, this notion of going to church regularly and attending Sunday School was not foreign to me, just distant. My wife Monica and I were both active members of (separate) churches in San Angelo, TX. about 14-15 years ago (before we were married). Several things happened to drastically change our habits. 1) We got married, and needed to reconcile which one, if either of our individual churches would be our family church, but before that could happen 2) I joined the US Air Force and went away for boot camp, technical training and what turned out to be a 1 year assignment to South Korea (wonderful assignment by the way, but a story for another time). 3) Our relatively stable lives and habits were turned upside down by 6 successive moves (Korea, San Antonio, South Carolina, Turkey, Kansas, and Houston) in 10 years. We always said we needed to find a local church - and even joined one briefly during one of the assignments, which turned out to hold a theological surprise we thought flew in the face of God's Word. Needless to say, we never found a "family" church home.

Fast forward to 2007. In Houston for 1 year, now with two wonderful boys, ages 4 months and 10 years. I deployed to Baghdad in the summer, and would be gone for 7 months. We both knew, whether we discussed it or not, that the separation was a chance to grow closer to God for the both of us, and thankfully, we both took advantage of the opportunity. I attended chapel regularly for the duration of my tour. As I relayed the spiritual strengthening effect that a body of believers was having on me to Monica, she started to visit a couple of local churches, ending up at Spring Creek just about the time I was coming home. We both agreed there would never be a better time to find a home church - so we put aside all the excuses we had (consciously or subconsciously) used for the past 12 years and committed to get plugged-in at Spring Creek at the beginning of 2008.

What a sense of timing God has! We continue to be human…in other words, we have faced many blessings and some hardships (some [ok, most!] of our own doing) in the past two years. We never expected to still be in Houston, and to be honest, I don't know where we'll be in a few years…but that matters so much less now than it did several years ago. We are part of a family at Spring Creek. I know, through God's grace, and through the Biblical teaching and genuine caring that we have experienced at Spring Creek, that life's uncertainties must be dealt with day to day - and with a faith that MY uncertainties are certainly NOT God's.

I hope to be able to pass along a mere fraction of the learning I have experienced and am experiencing through teaching a new Bible study class. A little nervous, I am. A little uncertain, God is not. I hope and pray, if you have never plugged into a Bible study group, or if it has been awhile, that you take this opportunity for a new beginning, and commit to plugging in, commit to growth, and ultimately commit to God. No matter where you are in life, your uncertainties are not His.

He promises His people this:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11