So, a couple of weeks ago I performed this monologue at church. . . . but that was really the icing on the cake because God had already done His work in me over the previous 2 weeks. You see, that’s how long it took me to memorize the 2 pages worth of material, and digest the depth of the character. The script, written by Greg, was absolutely incredible! As an actor, it was one of those deals that you know right away – the limit of this piece is not the script, but me – and it deserved my dedication.

This story stikes a common chord with me and my family (immediate and extended) at times, and even now, we are taking strides to modify our life in order to fit our priorities – including rest and relationships!

I hope this speaks to you as it did so strongly to me over the past few weeks. Thanks again Greg and Kristen for the opportunity!

Shambles from Granger Community on Vimeo.

So, this video has been floating around facebook quite a bit, and so you might have already seen it, but I thought it was very worthwhile, and I hope that you get something out of it today. Today is our 9th anniversary!!! I am so thankful that God let me take care of Ang until “death do us part.” On this very special day in our lives, we want to make sure that everyone knows that we have a long way to go before becoming God’s perfect masterpieces – both together and individually – and this video relates to that.

You know, at the end of my wedding vows that I wrote to Ang, I said, “Angela Marie, you are a masterpiece, and together, we will bring peace to the Master.” – We are pushing forward with that mission. . . . it will not be easy. . . but it WILL BE WORTH IT! - we can’t wait for the adventure that God has in store for us in the next 9 years!!!!

Here are a few things that I really love about this video:

1. chiseling is painful

2. “most of My children just want to talk”

3. “Can you just chisel where I want?” – “that is control”

4. Who do you see in the mirror in the morning?, at noon?, at night?

5. “Can we take a time-out?” . . . . “control or chisel?”

6. “you go to these empty wells whenever you are _______, but they do not work!”

7. “I made you good”

8. My favorite . . .at 4:50

9. “you have listened to so many voices for too long that are not of ME.”

10. “It’s more than a name. . . . it’s a name above all names.”

11. “you bought into the lie thinking that everything was going to be easy when you said yes to ME. . . that’s not how it works”

I know that I will not ever fully understand how God can love us all so much, even though we mess up over and over again. . . . but I accept that grace – and I am determined to live in that renewal today.

As a teacher, I just love this video, . . . as a mentor, I just love this video, . . . as someone who has a passion for teenagers, I just love this video, . . . . as a parent, I just love this video. . . as a singer, I just love this video, . . . as a Christ-follower, I just love this video because I can hear God, just like Simon Cowell, looking at every single person in the eye and telling them “you are better than what you think you are. . . . go out now with confidence!!”

Ang and I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time out of their busy schedule to show us love. We could never say thank you enough!! Here are some of the pictures that we have taken with family and friends over the past two weeks. . . . Dane has already changed so much!

Click on the pictures to see it bigger

These first two are videos

[flickr]photo:3368651025[/flickr]

This was like a breath of fresh air to me today! – enjoy this version of Amazing Grace!

There are so many things to say about how appreciative I am for my wife, and all that she does for me. BUT, it doesn’t stop there – with her being at home with the kids, she is also the foundational element of how are family is being raised. . . . . . and I couldn’t be more proud!

I ran across this video that is a tribute to Ruth Graham (Billy Graham’s wife), but I wanted to show it as a tribute to all of the women, wives, and mothers out there that CHOOSE to do amazing things in their relationships and circles of influence. Those who CHOOSE to put others’ first, love well, have patience, model integrity, persevere through double standards, forgive your loved ones, and give – though you are rarely thanked for it. . .

Though I shouldn’t speak for all the men. . . I will anyways, and say – THANK YOU!!!!

Wow – what a crazy few weeks – sorry for the lapse in posts; I should be getting back on track soon .

These words and song by Brandon Heath really have come alive to me these past two weeks as I have thought/experienced a few things:

- a valentines weekend with three little miracles, and my wonderful bride

- the pain of revisiting the tragedies of bonded slave labor, infanticide, and seti in India as I prepared and gave a Colloquium on my Justice trip to India with Jack Magruder (more of that coming BTW – later post)

- as I contemplate the value of greenLockers to impoverished people here. . . and around the world

- hearing about the trajedgy of a family member’s death in my student’s prayer requests this week. . . in 3 different families

- that God truly loving others through me - requires my sacrifice . . . of something – time, money, resources, convenience, comfort, etc…. but, it is worth it!

- as thousands of people lose their jobs

- watching the ultrasound of my next child. . . Dane Justice. . . and being so proud of my wife!

- as I revisit the revolutionary idea of loving other people first. . . before judging them

God’s love NEVER fails. . . it is a promise. . . and one that I desperately need to be reminded of sometimes.

Here are the words by Brandon Heath:

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

Here is him singing it

We have a saying in our house that we often repeat to our children . . . “be grateful, not greedy”. . . and “we share in this family”. . . . can’t quite be sure of how well they are working, but we want the principles to ring true in their lives — Especially, . . . as we are living in such an affluent society. There are other ways that we try and teach our children about giving, serving, appreciation, and sacrifice – - like serving at the rescue mission tomorrow morning, or reading through the World Vision  catalog that we got in the mail a month ago. . . over and over. . . – it is one of the kids’ favorite “books”.

There are many other ways to instill these principles. . . . my point is. . . . it IS worth it to do these things. . . to rehearse these statements to your children, . . .  and to yourself.

I have a former adult student/friend of mine that I have such respect for because of how genuinely he engaged not only my class, but his ownfaith journey. He commented to me one time that through my class he was finding his way back to church. . . .something he had not diligently considered for years – - I never told him, but that might have been one of the best compliments I have EVER received. . . . well, he sent me this video yesterday, and I just think his timing is great . . . . I personally. . . . . can NEVER be reminded enough. . . . .

It is thanksgiving week, and I was touched so much by this video. . . .I have such a mixture of emotions from gratefullness, to joy, to heartache, to some guilt, . . . . most of all though, I am soooo glad that there are parents out there that love their children this much!!! This inspires me to be the man that God wants me to be – the husband – the father – the friend. . . .

It truly is amazing what Love can accomplish. . . . . be open, willing, patient enough, and ready to be used by God today to love someone else. . . . . . .there is plenty of suffering right now. . . . . and not nearly enough care, compassion, encouragement, selflessness, and empathy. . . .

- as we go into another CRAZY holiday season. . . . . let us not forget to LOVE FIRST. . . . . it truly is better than any other gift you could ever buy. . .

For more on this amazing duo – go HERE

I have sensed from the moment that I stepped foot on this campus that I was called here. . . . . in part. . . . to stretch these students into becoming more than they every thought was possible. . . . to start a few fires in their hearts and minds that they cannot ignore, – - – you know, I often believe in my students so much more than they believe in themeselves. . . . . and one wish that I have for them. . . . is that they live out this radical love of Jesus. . . . . without feeling destroyed when others don’t approve.

This is a video that we used in our identity series last year or so at Lifeline (GSM now). . . . and it is a wonderful reminder to me today that God loves you and me so much. . . . . enough that. . . . we don’t have to play the comparison game anymore. . . . that your worth is NOT CONNECTED to others’ dissaproval or. . .  conditional love. . . . .The truth of God’s grace has set you free from those chains of being obsessed with other’s approval. . . . Praise God for that freedom. . . . and live like you are free. . . . because you are!

This song has really gotten to me recently. . .and a friend of mine Don Reynolds recently did a much better post than this one on this song (which he will be singing at Church soon) – you should check it out.

I think this song has had such an impact on me because I have always thought that I was so good at keeping my eyes open to what God has around me. . . . instead, my pride has blinded me to a whole different level of compassion that I was not aware of. . . . a new vision of pain and suffering around me. . . I earnestly seek to be aware of this. . . to be able to genuinely enter into their pain with hope – 3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3) . . .though I know this will cost more of my heart. . .

Hebrews 13:11 says
11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

So, right now. . . I am wanting to go “outside the city gates” – and so I am going to India in 37 days – where in one city yesterday 60,000 Christians were forced out of their homes to refugee camps, with many dying. . . being burned alive, buried alive, shot, hung, beheaded. . . horrible persecution. . . . . . . . . . pray for them please. . . . . . . . . . .

but what is often more difficult for me . . . is going down my street . . . to those that I risk losing face to . . . where I really risk “bearing disgrace” . . . I pray that God will give me the eyes to see it . . . and the heart to care enough . . . . . . that I ACTUALLY do something about it. . . . . please Father. . .

Brandon Heath – Give Me Your Eyes from Brandon Heath on Vimeo.

I am fascinated with just the last few days in my life. . . not because I have done anything magnificent, but because. . . God seems to be showing so much of what this life is about. . . good and bad. . . all at once.

• I saw the love, courage, and passion of engaged couples as my wife and I taught the pre-marital workshop at our Church
• I was at a funeral luncheon in honor of my neighbor who passed away during election night. . . this world’s loss
• God allowed me to help someone come to know Christ through a 40 minute facebook chat. . . and a prayer with a friend afterwards
• Through advising some of my students – I have heard some of their dreams coming to fruition, but. . . others . . . are completely lost in the mystery of their life’s vocation
• I have had the joy of tossing my kids high up into the autumn air, . . . hearing their joyous screams. . . and then. . . . . . More Daddy. . .
• I witnessed History meeting its match . . . in the wonderful reactions of my brother’s and sister’s as their dream came true on election night
• A friend had a baby. . . 1-month early. . . . and everything is ok:)
• I received news of a student’s life suddenly brought to a screeching halt as she desperately holds onto life. . .
• I felt . . . for the first time. . . my fourth gift from God kick. . . and I smiled.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (New International Version)

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

We really have no idea. . . . . about the adventure that this life will bring. . . . . I for one. . . . want to commit to being fully alive, fully present, and fully grateful for each and every season:. . . . . join me. . . .

Some of you have already seen this . . . .but I was reminded again last night of how much one video can change a person’s life. . . . and enable them to understand God in a completely new way. . . God is Love

Talk to me. . . . what is your reaction to this?

Ang told me about this video yesterday, and it really affected me. . . . so, I wanted to share it with you and then have you write your 1 or 2 sentence first response in the comments. . . what did you get out of it?

I was reminded today of freedom. . . . of the good news. . . . of not being held to the bondage of this world.  What do I mean? – - some of you might have seen this video (as I did) a few years ago when it came out, but I encourage you to watch again, . . . and. . . . read all of the cards

2 things:

God already knows. . . . and. . . . He loves you 100%. . . . seriously. . . it almost makes me sick to think of how carelessly and outrageously God loves us – - it makes NO sense to me, but I believe it to be true – - I will boast in nothing. . . but Him! . . . . . . and I will live today in Freedom,. . . I refuse to be be held back by what God has already taken away from me. . . that is the truth. . . and that is setting me free . . . . right now!

So, I did this exercise in class the other day for my devotion (thanks for the idea Josh ). . . . I showed students this video, and then had them write a blog post about it.

Here are snipets of responses from those that allowed me to publish them:

We all watch these videos and feel bad, and then go on with our lives and do nothing about it. We have people here in America that need help too and we don’t help them

The American culture is so blind to the neccesities of poverty and sickness, why aren’t we doing anything. . . . Are we helping?

I feel guilty for not being an active part� . . am I supposed to feel this way because it is God’s calling, or because I live in a wealthy society?

If we could fast, so to speak, of extra entertainment, food, and clothing, we could literally, as a nation, feed and clothe all of our people

It is so easy to forget about the needs of the world. . . to get so caught up in my world that I miss the bigger picture

Seriously. . . how much did I spend eating out this week?

There is far too much “me” and not enough “us“

Isn’t enough . . . enough?? If you have what you need to take care of your family isn’t that enough?

How about caring more about a human being than how much money your company makes?

Alot of us assume someone else is going to do it, but I ask. . . . if not me, who?  . . . if not now, when?. . .

I feel so guilty that I don’t have more of a heart for poverty and pain across our world

We’ve all seen videos similar to this one we just watched, but rarely have they spurred us into action. What will it take for us to step up and take that first step?

What I noticed the most in this video. . . the people who have nothing – NOTHING- are still smiling. . . here even the richest of the rich cannot grasp that genuine love for .  . . just life. . . how much longer can we go without true happiness

Well, I am off to the Men’s retreat this weekend – should be amazing. . . . I am off to seek truth – further in . . . deeper. . . and higher than ever before. I am not going to relax, but to engage. . . I can’t wait to hang with men and young men from our church – it is always one of the highlights of the year for me.

May God receive tremendous glory from all that we do in the next 2 days !!!

Some of you have already seen this, but still. . . . here is some truth to hang onto today and this weekend:

Peace be with you –

Breathe in . . . . . Breathe out. . . . . . now watch:

Thank you Corey for the video -

Every now and then I get emails from a student wanting to show a youtube video of this or that. . . . a lot of the time they are just funny, or silly, etc….., but I was surprised to find this one the other day from one of my freshman. . . . for a moment I had forgotten the era that I was in. . . I was not a huge fan of this show, but I watched every now and then, and this is something that I needed to see and hear today

A long time ago I watched this really good episode on Touched by an Angel, I’m sure you remember the show.  Well I found the ending to it and it is a really touching story.  The episode is about this little boy named Petey that finds out that he has cystic fibrosis and has only a short time to live.  Petey told his parents that he wants to die at home, and that he also made a list of things to do before he dies. His items include:

Learn to play the piano,  find a home for Fluffy (his pet iguana), find someone to sing with Mom,  find someone to shovel the snow.   Celine Dion tells Petey and his mom that she will sing a song for Petey.  Peteys mom finished writing the song and told Petey to cross it off the list. 

There were two items on the list.  The second to last was that he wanted a flag put up that said Petey Lives Here.  There was only one item left on the list then, Go to Heaven.  This video shows the last part of the episode when Petey dies and they cross off the last item on the list for him.  I knew you were into youtube videos and such so i thought you would be interested in this one because it had a really powerful story and it was really touching how all Petey’s neighbors gathered at his house to sing the song to him before God took him to heaven…

This just reminded me. . . . . . . . anything on my childhood list of dreams that I have not gotten to yet?. . . . why not?. . . . . . . . what am I waiting for?. . . . Maybe it can’t happen tomorrow or the next day, but maybe I should re-open the dreams God placed on me when I was little. . . .

Two of my colleagues here at Bethel have recently passed on. . . . One in particular that I knew fairly well. Though I am not grieving like her family, it is strange not seeing her around, and I miss the example of love, strength, and humility that she came to embody. I am posting this video in the honor of those who have lost someone close to them recently: