Knowing Him better

When I started getting to know Karen I didn’t just want to know about her, I wanted to know her.  I wanted to know what made her laugh, cry, smile, dream, grow, blush etc …  It wasn’t enough for me to know the basics; where she lived, what was the colour of her eyes, her birthday - I wanted to know what made her “tick”.  By knowing her personally and finding out the juicy details about all aspects in her life - it made me (and continually makes me) love her more and more.   Even after almost 9 years of marriage I am still getting to know more and more about her.

For much of my Christain life I have mistakenly taken reading the Bible as knowing about God.  I would read scripture and try to get all the fact straight so that I could look smart when a guy with the laptop and/or suitcase would ask me questions with big words.   Unfortunately this process of reading caused me to see reading the Bible as a chore, much like homework, and became something I had to do rather than wanted to do.  

Fortunately God has taught me that reading His word is not just to learn about Him … it’s about knowing Him.  There’s a huge difference between the two.  When I approach scripture with the attitude of knowing God (talking, finding out the juicy details, laughing, crying, being challenged by Him) it makes the chore out of the equation.  The more I spend time in His word (with Him) I find that it’s been a joy to actually get to know how He “ticks”.

In Ephesians 1:16,17 Paul told the believers in Ephesus

         I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

This is my prayer this morning (for myself and for you) that we might have wisdom and revelation when we dig into the Bible and get to know God better and better and better.  

A funny start to a short week

My friend MIKE had this on his blog this morning - COMEDY!

Togs … would be speedos in our language.  You’ll get it once you watch it.

Golfing

One of my dream days would consist of two rounds of golf with good friends followed by a good steak and/or lobster.  

It’s Friday and now you know where my minds is at.

Have a good weekend

 

A little taste of refreshing

A while back I mentioned to you that I felt a little dry when it comes to my spiritual vibrancy.   A verse that I found that God has been using powerfully in my life is Proverbs 11:25

      A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed

My initial reaction to “dryness” is to slow down, quiet my heart, spend some quality time with God and relax.    While these are probably exactly what one should do - I never thought that taking my resources (time, money, skills and more) and being more generous with them would help in filling my faith tank.   A friend of mine calls this refreshing “gatorade for your soul”.  

If you are feeling “dry” or “unmotivated” take this verse and let is sink in for a couple of days - you’d be surprised how God can direct you to ways of generousity that will refresh you … and refresh others. 

Parenting at home

I’m slowly realizing that good parenting rarely happens by mistake - it is strategic and thought out.   Everything from discipline to making life-long memories happens with a plan of attack and a goal in mind with the hope that what you are doing will shape your child right.  I don’t ever claim to be a leader in parenting (*see this post and this post to prove this point) but I’m learning

One of the aspect of parenting that Karen and I have been talking about lately is the idea that we want our house to be the house that kids play at.  When the neighourhood children ring our doorbell (which is alot) and ask to play with our kids, we want our house to be the place where they want to spend time.  There are a number of different reasons why we want this;

• We can control what our kids do and who’s influencing them.   When they are at our house we can make sure that what we’ve been pouring into our children (good manners, good character, sharing, caring, gentleness etc…) are being encouraged rather than being discouraged
• We know where our kids are and that they are staying out of trouble.  
• We can be an encouragement to children (and families) in the neighbourhood.  It never hurts any child to have adults who care for them.  It’s amazing how kids respond to you when you give them a minute of your time.   It’s a great way to show Christ’s love to the neighbours around us.

There are many more reasons - but those three would be the priority.  

With this goal in mind this summer (and all year) we’re trying to decide how to make this really happen.  What do we need at our house to make it a place where children want to come to (apart from the loving atmosphere)?   Do we invest in a really good play structure for our backyard so that the kids always have a place to play?  It costs a lot of money - but would it be worth it?   Do we buy a Wii (or another gaming system) with stragetic group games so that the kids can play it only when their friends are over? 

This kind of sounds like we’re trying to justify buying big ticket items … but our kids are content without these things.  Where trying to figure out what a house of ministry looks like.

Those are the questions that we’ve been talking about.  Any wisdom?

Encouragement

What brings you the most encouragement in life?  What is it that fills your tank and keeps you “keeping on”?  

Encouragement comes in so many different forms; a kind word, a kind gesture, a gift, a smile, a kiss, a touch.   But there’s a funny thing about encouragement that I’ve been learning about lately; what encourages me today might not encourage me tommorrow.  I’m finding that I go through different stages and phases in life where I need different types of encouragement.  There are times where I am desperate for someone to tell me that I’m good at what I do, then there are times where it doesn’t really matter.  There are times where I would love a tap on the knee from my dad (something little he did when I was growing up - it was his quiet way of saying “I’m proud of you” without having to say words) and then there are days where I would rather hear a kind word from my boss.   Different days and different needs.

I write this for two reasons today. 

1. I’m noticing lately how much God has been encouraging me and my family through different ways.  One day it could be through a special gift someone gives us “out of the blue” and another day it could be through a verse that smacks me right where I need it.   Reflecting on this … he brings forth these encouragements just at the right time.  Different days and different needs.
2. If I go through different stages in life - I have to be aware that the people around me probably go through the same stages.  I have to make a conscious effort to change up the way that I encourage my wife, children, colleagues and friends.  Instead of a note, replace it with a small gift.  Instead of a kind word replace it with an act of service.  Whatever I do in regards to encouragement - a change could make more of an impact.

If you’re not encouraging anyone - start!  If you are proactively encouraging others - change it up a little bit.  Maybe it’s exactly what they need right now. 

Good-bye Kindergarten

Today is the last day of kindergarten for Caleb. ( * Above you’ll see the first day picture and his last day picture.)  He’s grown taller, he’s grown longer hair. A whole year has gone by and he has changed. 

Where does the time go?

Another song in her heart

Thanks to the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, the song in Abby’s heart lately has been …

“Don’t you wish your girlfriend was Hot like me!” 

That’s the only line she knows (thank goodness) but try to explain to people why the pastors daughter is running around the sanctuary singing a PussyCat Doll song?

I’m not as excited as you think I should be part 2

If I were to encourage all speaking pastors with some Mo’fat wisdom (whatever that is?) I would say in no particular order:

1. Your sermon should encourage obedience to God and His word … not just knowledge
2. God created creativity!  Don’t be afraid to ask Him for some new ideas on how to present His word to your congregation.  It doesn’t hurt to go to Starbucks or the mall and see the latest advertising ideas or just to get a “feel” of how companies try to communicate with an unknown audience - it might give you some fresh thoughts.  (for more creative ideas - go here)
3. Be HONEST!  People, especially the “un-tucked” generation (35 and under), will really appreciate this.  Share your authentic side and be who God wants you to be.  
4. Pray about what God wants you to say.  Pray before you prepare, pray during your preparation, pray after and get people to pray too. 
5. Two heads are better than one.  Don’t be afraid to work on your sermon with other people.  Share different thoughts, ideas and brainstorm.  Let them critique your sermon before you share it … then the final product will be even better. 
6. Stay in God’s word.  You might think this is a dumb thing to give advice to pastors … but there is a tendency to talk about everything else BUT God’s word.  If you’re congregation isn’t looking at scripture … GET OFF THE STAGE.  If you’re congregation doesn’t know where they are in the passage - Let them know.   Your sermon should help motivate people to keep reading rather than to continue to listen to you.  You are a tool for God, not God. 
7. Change it up.  Don’t be afraid to try new things;  Have a dialogue on stage with another person, share from your heart once in a while, do a narrative, take the pulpit away (or put one in),  sing a song, write a poem … something different.
8. STOP PREPARING YOUR SERMONS ON FRIDAY.  If you’re constantly “throwing together” your sermon on Friday for Sunday … stop it.  I know this happens once in a while - but if it’s a constant then you need to look at what is taking you away from proper preperation.  Planning in advance helps you digest what you want to say, helps your worship leader develop his/her songs, helps your creative team (usually you) develop something creative … and it helps you become less stressed.
9. You are NOT the best preacher you can be.  Too many speaking pastors have stopped growing as speakers and have plateaued in their skills (or lack of them) thus making them fairly ineffective.   Regularly ask people to critique (positively and negatively) your sermons.  Ask them to answer very specific questions in regards to content, clarity, and anything that comes to your head.  Don’t stop learning and improving as a speaker.

* For transparency - some of these points are directed toward myself.  Don’t worry - I’m looking at the FAT PLANK in my own eye.

I’m not as excited as you think I should be

Have you ever gone to a church where the guy on stage is as boring as your grade 10 biology teacher?  Two minutes into the sermon you are either lost, confused, sleeping and/or checking your watch.  Once he’s done and you run into him after the service you really want to say “Pastor - you made no sense at all this morning … but I’m having problem sleeping at night so can I get a copy of that sermon” … instead you tell him “thank-you pastor” and then you fumble for a cliche statement “you really hit the nail on the head!”. 

If you’re a church going person … I know you’ve been through an experience like this.  I know I’ve been to one or two of these in my life (50 or 60 would be more honest).  Sometimes I’m the one speaking … and I’m bored! (just joking … kinda).

The “mature” side of me wants to say in instances like this “it’s because my heart wasn’t right and I wasn’t paying attention enough” which would be true 5% - 10% of the time.  Reality is … I’ve listened to too many sermons that were “yawners”.  

Should I expect more from a sermon?  Should I have no expectations at all?  Is it bad to tell the pastor that he made no sense to me?   Is it bad for me to even think that a sermon is “boring”?  

I’ll give you my answers later this week - they might surprise you. What are you’re thoughts?