Category Archives: Relationship w/ God

Feb 24 2012

finally a good night of bowling and Bible study…

For the past few weeks, I have been bowling pretty average.   A lot of people think because I work at the Rec Center I should be a good bowler, but unfortunately I usually only bowl once a week and keeping my 154 average is a battle.  However tonight, I finally had a really good night of bowling, even rolling a 218 my last game of the night.   Hopefully that trend will continue for me!

This afternoon we had our weekly after school Bible study at the high school.  Our numbers were down today, but the girls we had were new and really seemed to enjoy the study.   Please pray that what we studied will have a impact on their lives for Christ and that they will continue to come to Bible study.   It has been a long but very good day, I can’t wait to see what God has in store as we are back in the high school tomorrow for club day FCA huddles!

Feb 23 2012

seven checkpoints….

Today I had the opportunity to do some studying and get prepped for our after school Bible study at Lee County High School tomorrow.  We have slowly been going through Andy Stanley’s The Seven Checkpoints Every Teenager Should Know over this school year.  Currently, we are on the Sixth Checkpoint which is Ultimate Authority.   This section deals on how God is in control of all people with authority and how only through God’s ultimate authority do we have true freedom.   We have been looking at how most teens feel that God only is about rules and regulations and don’t realize He truly wants to make them free.

It’s been very interesting doing this study with teens and discussing how often our view of authority figures distorts for us seeing God as authority.  When discussing this with teens who have issues with parents and teachers and so on the discussions can be quite eye opening and intense.

Today as I prepared for this weeks lessons, I realized that it will be one that could be pretty intense as we talk about how our attitude towards those God has in authority over us is ultimately a reflection of our attitude to God and His ultimate authority.   So often we blame those in authority over us for all of our problems and give them little to no respect.  Yet, even if we disagree with them, they are who God has placed in those roles in our lives.   The example of teens being disrespectful when you are preparing a teen Bible study always pop into your mind, however, there is so much truth for myself as an adult too.

One of the great things about studying the Bible is no matter what age group you are preparing the study for you can always find convicting and challenging lessons for yourself.  As I have been working through the 7 Checkpoints that’s been the case in my life.  I highly recommend this study if you work with teens or if you just want a basic refresher on common truths that really will make a difference in your walk with Christ!

Feb 16 2012

christian celebrity idols…

Over the past week or so many people have heard the excitement coming out of New York City about Jeremy Lin who has came out of nowhere to lead the Knicks to seven straight wins.   For an undrafted free agent who had been cut by a couple of teams already to come in and play so amazingly has made the media go nuts.   Not only that but the twitter feeds that I have read have been going crazy too, especially those that belong to Christians.  You see Jeremy Lin, while not only an amazing basketball player and the first Asian American player at his position to make an impact in the NBA, is also a Christian.   If you go to His twitter page the first thing you do is read about how knowing God makes you want to know Him more.  and by many interviews I have heard over the past week Lin has a goal of using his new platform as a tool to share Christ and be a role model much like Tim Tebow.

As many can recall over the entire football season our nation was swept up in Tebowmania.  You couldn’t turn on the news without hearing something about Tim Tebow.   And one of the things that was awesome was that Tim was great about using every opportunity he received to share Christ and thank Christ.   Which was totally awesome and as a fellow believer and brother in Christ I applaud him for, just as I applaud and encourage Jeremy Lin to do.

So, as you read my subject for this blog and then my first two paragraphs you may wonder what any of what I have said has to do with idols.  First of all let me be clear, I am highly encouraged and excited to see these brothers in Christ share Christ and be bold for Him.   What concerns me is the way that I see many other Christians react to them.   We almost build them up in our minds to be idols thinking that they can do know wrong and just going on and on about them.  In some cases like a teenage girl would about Justin Bieber.   And this is the way that it has always been with Christian celebrity.   I can remember getting excited whenever my college, Moody Bible Institute, would bring in some of the more well know speakers thinking that they would automatically be more profound than some of the lesser known ministers.   I remember a story a friend of mine tells about seeing John MacArthur in an airport and getting all excited and then realizing that the secular world around him didn’t even notice.

My point is this, let’s not idolize Christian celebrity and build them up to impossible standards in our minds.  Just like you and I God has given them a platform to share His love with others.  While our platform may not be as large as theirs, we still have the exact same duty that they do to proclaim the Gospel.   So, instead of idolization let’s pray for them!   Instead of thinking that they are perfect, pray for them as they daily face temptations and pray that they will remain bold for Christ.  Especially with our athletes and people that aren’t in full time ministry let’s not idolize them.   Instead of praising them for sharing Christ, give thanks to God that he was shared!  Be a prayer warrior for these men and women, not a drooling groupie!

As I said earlier, God has given these people amazing platforms, so lets pray that they will continue to be bold in their opportunities, and I pray you will be bold in your opportunities to share the Gospel as well!

Feb 14 2012

anniversary number 3….

Three years ago today, I made the best decision ever when I said I do to my beautiful wife Erin.   I can’t believe it’s been three years and how how much has happened in such a short amount of time.  From kids, to moving, to all kinds of work and ministry changes.  However through it all these past three years I have had the best partner that I could have ever of dreamed of.  When I was growing up my mom used to say that when we get married we need to marry our best friend and confidant.   And that is exactly what I did and what God blessed me with.   I look forward to many more years to come!