blogging

It's been a long time since I've written anything here. It's been quite a month. As I reflect on the week of healing and life change and the week we lost Jocelyn Rife (same week), I can hardly believe I made it through. The last few days have been better - more normal. I've gotten some really wonderful time with my boys and wife and that is the most special thing of all for me.

I was reading in Judges 11 this morning about a Judge named Jepthah. He's the one who sacrificed his daughter to the Lord. I always hear people talk about Abraham's "almost" sacrifice of his son, but never about Jepthah's actual sacrifice of his daughter. I wonder why? Maybe because, like me, nobody can make sense of the story. If you can, leave me a comment. I'd love to understand it.

Please pray for Sara and Jude. He's coming in just a few weeks. We're nearly ready and I can't wait to meet my newest little man.

my brother

I'm in the middle of a visit with my brother, Abel. He flew in from Phoenix last night and we spent some time together last night and this morning. We're also having dinner tonight. It's been really enjoyable. I thank God for the healing that has happened and is continuing in my relationship with Abel.

By the way, if ever get to eat at a restaurant called PF Chang's, jump at the chance. It's fantastic!

It is finished (almost)

The last week has been a blur. In one week we (my father-in-law, sister-in-law, Sara, my dad and I) put a new floor in about half of our house, gutted the kitchen and replaced the cabinets, and completely remodeled the bathroom. I also went to work on an almost normal schedule and we had 4 kids under 5 years old in the house. This project was not for the faint of heart. It was tiring and frustrating, but now that it's finished (almost) a new sense of peace is settling on our home.

It's been some time since I've been on my regular schedule of early rising and spending some quite time with God and His Word, but today I'm back to that and He's reminding me right now that many seasons and issues in life and like my little home improvement project. They feel like the ultimate challenge in the midst of them, but as quickly as they began they are over and the peace that follows a job well done is like no other.

I love God and the things that he teaches me on these quiet mornings together. If you have a few minutes, leave me a comment talking about what God is teaching you lately.

prayer

I heard someone say lately that most people don't need to be taught new concepts, rather they need to be reminded of the things they already know. It sounds too simple. So simple it could not be true. But I've found it to be so true yet again.

My last blog was a vent, maybe even a rant. I was just mad. I guess I was making some pathetic attempt to be mad at God, but I know God so well now that I can't do that anymore. It's just illogical and I know it down to my core. I'm sure I was mad at myself because I did the same thing again. I put my head down and bulled forward with a "good idea" to build God's kingdom without asking for God's help. Sure I prayed some fleeting prayers for God's blessing on the 7 project, but did I make prayer the base of all that effort? Not even close.

So, I'm reminded again. When we work, we work . . . but when we pray, God works. I am again left staring in the face of my own arrogance and I feel peacefully shamed. I'm going outside on this peaceful morning to pray. I love my God and I know He loves me.

7 project

Last week I worked on a team that brought the 7-project to Gettysburg and Fairfield school districts. We did school assemblies at both schools (multiple ones at each) and they went fairly well. The whole idea behind it is to do the school assemblies so you can invite students to a night rally where the gospel is presented. I'm told the basic formula every community follows is this . . .

: half the students who you see in the assembly come to the night rally - half of those respond to the call to salvation:

Ours went like this . . .

: 2500 students in the assemblies - 350 at the night rally - 1 response to salvation

We've been working on this since September and have spent nearly $7000. I'm just sick about the whole thing. You can comment to me about how one salvation is worth it or how God's word never returns void or how Gettysburg is a spiritually dark area, but honestly I'm too mad to even take that in right now. More than anything I'd love your prayers. Thanks.

prayer

The last week has been interesting in my personal time with God and in my thoughts. God is using every example possible to remind me that I cannot lead, parent or even live without the guiding of His Spirit that comes through prayer. I spent some time praying yesterday and God is doing some things in me that I can't yet describe. I'd ask for your prayers today as God leads me on a new path of prayer. I know I'm only on the first step or so, but I can feel in my Spirit that it's something bigger than I've ever seen or known before.

I'm such a small thinker

I thought I was going to feel grown up by now. At least I'm staying humble . . . very much by default these days - haha. Will I ever feel equal to the tasks God has called me to? At least not if I try and do it by myself.