Wednesday, September 23, 2009

a real life miracle story!

This is a message from someone who prayed for healing at our church last week. Miracles are real and still happen very often!

"I wanted to let you know that after 3 years of bad test results, Lydia went to the Dr today to set up an appointment to have a hysterectomy due to the cancer. The cancer is gone. GONE!! The Dr is probably still standing in his office scratching his head. The cancer causing virus that they told her she would live with forever is also gone. Our God is an AWESOME GOD!!! Thank you for praying with her and anointing her on Sunday. I am a relieved and thankful mother. Hallelujah!!!"

sitting in the mess

I went home for breakfast this morning after the gym and while I was eating my wife was sweeping the kitchen floor. Having 4 little boys eating their meals there, you can imagine how big of a mess gets generated. So, Sara had quite a pile of dirt, cheerios, bread and a few other assorted goodies, when our little guy Jude toddled over and sat right in the middle of the pile!

I was about to banish him to the living room so Sara could finish her task when she shared an insight with me that rocked me a bit. She recalled how our middle son, Ethan, used to do the same thing when he was younger and how she used to get very frustrated, but God used that to teach her a lesson.

God taught her (and me today) that we do the same thing these babies do. We sit right in the middle of the mess while God is trying to clean it up! If we would just keep our hands out of it and stop trying to solve problems that God would be happy to solve for us, we would be less frustrated and have fewer problems. Great lesson. Thanks Sara. Thanks God.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Happy Birthday My Sons




My twin boys, Colin and Liam, are six years old today. They were born prematurely and spent the first month of their lives in the hospital in York, PA hooked up to all kinds of machines and wires 24/7. When I look at their smiles and their healthy bodies and minds today, I feel so blessed. I believe that those little boys were almost stolen away from us six years ago. I also believe that those little boys will grow up to be great men of faith and great leaders in this world. Happy Birthday Colin and Liam. Your daddy loves you and feels so blessed to know you.

Monday, September 14, 2009

church planting story

I just saw that the story of God calling me to plant the church in Tulsa was featured on CMN's blog a few days ago. Check it out here

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

too many thoughts

As I get closer to the move to Tulsa, I find my head full, with no less than one thousand thoughts per second. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on anything lately. I just finished reading in my one-year bible this morning, but I struggled the whole time to focus. I read in the books of Isaiah, 2 Corinthians and Psalms, but in addition to those books I was thinking about opening bank accounts, budgets, setting up offices, renting meeting space, how to meet and connect with people in Tulsa, work-week structure, future staff, structures to integrate interns . . . it goes on and on. I only scratched the surface.

I would guess this is normal for a church planter. Perhaps it's normal for anyone who's in the midst of selling one home, buying another and moving their family across the country. It just feels heavy and tiresome as of late. I would greatly appreciate your prayers.

I still feel like the luckiest man on earth to be called to such a great thing as this life I live!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

a little wisdom

Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

I collapsed onto the couch last night at about 9pm. The kids were all in bed, I had all my stuff ready for the morning, I could finally stop moving in fast forward. It was great . . . a few minutes all to myself.

Then out c0mes Ethan, with his chewed up, stinkin elephant blanket and his crooked little Mohawk haircut. "Daddy, can I sleep inside your bed?" He didn't sleep inside my bed, but he did lay on the couch with me for about a half hour and he was happy as could be. So was I.

Life is short. I feel like I grew in wisdom just a little last night with my 3-year-old son.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

what a great day

Had an awesome day today. Tough meetings this morning as we worked to change some deep down ideology at our church, but I know we're going in the right direction.

I had lunch with a few great friends today and I can't believe the plan that is developing to help get Freedom Valley Tulsa up and running. I just feel so blessed and so grateful for all God is doing right now.

Best of all. I'm taking my boys to the pool at the Y tonight and they are going to love it! That also gives Sara the night off. I love my fam!