"The Dawning"
The dawn of a new day
brings the praise
of things to come
and dreams to be achieved.
The sun peeks
over the far horizon
and welcomes the world
to start anew.
The dew in the fields
awakens the earth
and refreshes life into
the land around us.
The breeze blowing
through the trees
awakens the skies
as birds begin to sing.
The air is crisp
as a deep breath
seems to cleanse the spirit
and refresh the soul.
The waters begin
their daily cycles
of dancing with
the winds and the sun.
The more you see
of the new day
the easier it is
to welcome it in.
There are twenty-four
hours in each day
but only one instance
of it's dawning.
The dawn of a new day
brings the promise
of things to come
and dreams to be achieved.
October 11, 2006
October 8, 2006
Husband, Father, Me
4 weeks from today I turn 35. 35 years and by the worlds standards I still have a lot to accomplish. Based on todays measurement of success I am nowhere near it.
What does that mean? It means that the world is screwed up in how it measures success.
How does that affect what I change from here on? It doesn't!
I measure my success based on the call God has placed on my life and the responsibilities placed in front of me.
Between now and my birthday my wife is due to have our 7th child. That's right 7!!! We are way past the 2.5 kids we are supposed to have. We are getting ready to have our 7th child and yes, we do know what causes it. My wife and I have spent the last 13 years perfecting the process. We have fulfilled the call God placed on our heart to have a large family and made the tough choices and sacrifices to be the best parents we can be. I call that success.
My wife, Kara (myspace.com/karalynns), and I will be married 14 years come next February. A few years into our marriage we had 2 kids and major financial stress. We seperated and spent the next 3 years seperated on and off. My wife and I each took turns filing divorce papers only to stop the process the week before they were to be final (both times). We had every reason to end our relationship and go our seperate ways. But we didn't. Luckily we had a church that gave us the support and direction we needed to work things out. We joined a home group that saved our marriage. Thank you. We worked out our differences and have spent the last 9 years in a relationship that neither one of us thought was possible. I call that success.
Last June I graduated from college and earlier this year I became licensed as a Pastor within the Vineyard Church. 12 years earlier I had applied to a college north of Seattle and received a full scholarship to attend and become a youth pastor. Through some good intentioned advice my wife and I were cautioned that maybe it was not the right time for us to go into the ministry and so I never attended a single class. 10 years later we are in a church in Marysville, Ohio where I finally get the opportunity to follow that call again. Through 2 years of hard work and tons of support and encouragement from family and friends I reached a goal I had started for many years prior. Another success.
What does all this mean. I have acheived more success in my life than I could have ever imagined and I know there is much more in store. The challenge is to be cautious of the standard you use to measure your success. I will never stop striving to accomplish everything I can with the gifts that God has given me.
Till next time: "Measure your success by how much you achieve, not by how much you don't."
What does that mean? It means that the world is screwed up in how it measures success.
How does that affect what I change from here on? It doesn't!
I measure my success based on the call God has placed on my life and the responsibilities placed in front of me.
Between now and my birthday my wife is due to have our 7th child. That's right 7!!! We are way past the 2.5 kids we are supposed to have. We are getting ready to have our 7th child and yes, we do know what causes it. My wife and I have spent the last 13 years perfecting the process. We have fulfilled the call God placed on our heart to have a large family and made the tough choices and sacrifices to be the best parents we can be. I call that success.
My wife, Kara (myspace.com/karalynns), and I will be married 14 years come next February. A few years into our marriage we had 2 kids and major financial stress. We seperated and spent the next 3 years seperated on and off. My wife and I each took turns filing divorce papers only to stop the process the week before they were to be final (both times). We had every reason to end our relationship and go our seperate ways. But we didn't. Luckily we had a church that gave us the support and direction we needed to work things out. We joined a home group that saved our marriage. Thank you. We worked out our differences and have spent the last 9 years in a relationship that neither one of us thought was possible. I call that success.
Last June I graduated from college and earlier this year I became licensed as a Pastor within the Vineyard Church. 12 years earlier I had applied to a college north of Seattle and received a full scholarship to attend and become a youth pastor. Through some good intentioned advice my wife and I were cautioned that maybe it was not the right time for us to go into the ministry and so I never attended a single class. 10 years later we are in a church in Marysville, Ohio where I finally get the opportunity to follow that call again. Through 2 years of hard work and tons of support and encouragement from family and friends I reached a goal I had started for many years prior. Another success.
What does all this mean. I have acheived more success in my life than I could have ever imagined and I know there is much more in store. The challenge is to be cautious of the standard you use to measure your success. I will never stop striving to accomplish everything I can with the gifts that God has given me.
Till next time: "Measure your success by how much you achieve, not by how much you don't."
September 10, 2006
Church Is Where Church Happens
I am sitting here this morning when I would normally be in church. My wife is 8 months pregnant she had a rough night of sleep because of some back pain she is having. We have a Pee-Wee football game this afternoon that our oldest son is playing in and our daughters are cheerleading at. So we decided to stay home from church this morning so that my wife could rest. My wife and I are both coaches for the team.
So, getting to the point. As I sit here this morning worshiping with my family and discussing our week I am debating through the discussion of home church versus traditional church. I am vividly reminded that church is not defined by the building it meets in but rather the people who make it up and the relationships they share.
I am not seeking to de-value the concept of either traditional or home church. I believe they both have a place and serve a great purpose within the greater body of christ. I believe that if those who are in home churches and traditional churches will seek to find ways to work together rather than against each other they will be far more effective than either could be on their own.
I am called to be a Pastor but my ability to pastor is not confined or defined by a building that I serve in. My ability to pastor is defined by living a life that reflects that calling and being available to serve whenever and wherever the opportunity arrises. We are all pastors in one way or another as members of the body of Christ. The challenge for us is will we step up and serve no matter when or where the opportunity presents itself.
Till next time . . . "If you are not sure about what or who God has called you to be, at least be relevant where you are."
So, getting to the point. As I sit here this morning worshiping with my family and discussing our week I am debating through the discussion of home church versus traditional church. I am vividly reminded that church is not defined by the building it meets in but rather the people who make it up and the relationships they share.
I am not seeking to de-value the concept of either traditional or home church. I believe they both have a place and serve a great purpose within the greater body of christ. I believe that if those who are in home churches and traditional churches will seek to find ways to work together rather than against each other they will be far more effective than either could be on their own.
I am called to be a Pastor but my ability to pastor is not confined or defined by a building that I serve in. My ability to pastor is defined by living a life that reflects that calling and being available to serve whenever and wherever the opportunity arrises. We are all pastors in one way or another as members of the body of Christ. The challenge for us is will we step up and serve no matter when or where the opportunity presents itself.
Till next time . . . "If you are not sure about what or who God has called you to be, at least be relevant where you are."
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