Children

My devotions today had me in Deuteronomy 6:1-9. It hit me hard when I considered the Lord’s words to impress his commands upon the hearts of our children. Continuing, we are to talk about the Lord’s commands with our children at home, when traveling, when we wake, and we go to sleep. Pretty much all the time. What am I doing to make God a part of my children’s lives? What am I doing to give them the best opportunity to accept and follow God all the days of their life?

I am very grateful for one thing. My children are young. I have time to intentionally bring God more into their lives.

Anyone out there got any good ideas for making God a greater part of young children’s lives without shoving God down their throats in a way that chokes them? If you do, leave a comment.

Hearing the Call

Just another thought from the missions trip. While we were in Toledo, some of the pastors prayed some pretty incredible things over some of my youth. Now, before any one gets excited, we instructed our youth to pray about what the pastors felt God leading them to say. If God really wants it to happen, he will begin speaking it to the hearts of the youth. The amazing thing, for many of the youth the pastors were praying as if each individual youth’s life was laid open before them. They were praying some specific things that made Kelly and my eyes almost pop out. Dead on accurate. And really, why not? The Holy Spirit is with us and guiding us.

Why all the preface? One of our youth was told that God was calling them to the ministry. It’s one that I believe God has been doing some great things in. Then, later that day, someone else told that youth that they really felt that they would wind up in China some day to save a girl. Maybe missions, maybe adoption, but being used by God. We’ve strongly instructed that youth to pray and wait for God to make it real, but I can really see it in them.

Another one of my youth was told that they were going to be bold. Later that day, the same youth was told that they were going to be the second greatest preacher that the person had ever heard.

What’s it mean? I think God hasn’t given up on this generation. God is still working and calling people to be his own.

We’ll all keep praying and seeking the Lord. I’m excited to see what might happen.

The Diet

It’s been a long time since I recorded about my diet. Well, I sort of quit before Novemeber, but I just picked it up again. Good news, my recorded low on this blog was 230. As you can see, my weight as of yesterday is 231.4. At least I haven’t gained it all back. That would be a little depressing. I’m hitting hard though. First major goal is to hit below 220. Then, down below 200. The saddest part? I had the flu about two months ago and when it was over I was around 223. So close. Anyway, I’ll get there.

Oh, we bought a new digital scale. No more “interpreting” the dial to make yourself feel better.

UPDATE: Looking back, I saw a tiny entry that said 228. Oops.

I'm Back

To say it’s been awhile since I wrote is an understatement. I do have an excuse though. I was busy. Poor excuse I know, but it’s all I’ve got. In my defense, I did spend last week away on a missions trip with my youth. The week before that was largely spent in preparation for the trip, and let’s not forget that I also preached the day before we left. Time was spent getting ready frt that. So, my reason for being lazy in my writing is the fact that I was busy. Now, on to better things.

The missions trip was incredible. Hands down I think it was a lot better than last year. Once again we ventured to Solid Rock Ministries in Toledo. Our schedule for the week was divided among many things. We helped someone that desperately needed help move to a new house, we sorted and passed out clothes, we helped in a Vacation Bible School, we fed children, we talked with people, we went door to door, we helped a pastor of another church clean and scrub his building in preparation for what he believes God is going to do, we carried tables, speakers, chairs, and used them to minister to people at a block party.

I plan on writing some more details over the next few days. But, I want to at least give a quick overview. Several of my youth had the opportunity to lead someone to the Lord. One of our young ladies led a lady (not a child) at the block party to Jesus. One of my youth believes he was healed of cancer (I’m agreeing with him, but more importantly his spirit was healed). One of my young men said that he had been suffering from depression and that after we prayed it was gone. I believe at least two of my students are being called into the ministry. They need to wrestle with the Lord about it, but it really appears that way.

So enough for now. I’ll shoot for more in depth as the week continues.

Oh, there are a bunch of photos and even videos over at our youth website. Why not check them out.

Goodbye Depression

I wanted to relate some if the powerful things that happened in the lives of my youth on the missions trip here. Hopefully, I’ll be getting them to write out what God did for them so I can post those on the youth site. So, until that I’ll try to keep my testimonies here anonymous.

One of my youth struggled a little during the week. A lot a time heading off alone and not always diving into the work. On Friday during the fire tunnel prayer time, this youth declared that they had been depressed and that God had taken it away. I thought it was great, but you never can tell on things like that. Well, the student’s mom told us that since we’ve been back her youth is completely different at home. Respectful, doing what is asked, and simply pleasing to be around. A major change that both her and her husband noticed.

To me that’s awesome. May it continue.

God loves to minister to and bless His people, but even more so when his people are willing to head out and serve others.

Thanks to the Lady

Spending the morning at Caribou Coffee. Gas prices are making me limit my visits to every other week or so, but today I have the pleasure of drinking coffee and reading. Working through Andy Stanley's "Communicating For a Change." Good read so far. Nothing like a book that forces self-examination and makes you question your current methods. Anyway, I just wanted to relate that there are still kind people in this world. I have a Caribou gift card that I refill periodically and use to get my coffee. Today, I ordered my coffee and after swiping my gift card, I was informed I owed 65¢. I don't carry cash and sheepishly pulled out my debit card to pay for that large amount of money. A lady behind me slapped down a five and told the worker to just take it out of that. So, thanks to that lady for covering part of my coffee.

Of course, now that I think about it, maybe she just didn't want to wait for the time it would take for them to run my card. Anyway, she saved me some change which I can put to other good use like lunch.

One Idea & Repitition

Last night, I sat in the church basement with "The Brotherhood." No, it's not some crazy version of a board meeting. The brotherhood is the high school age guys in our youth group. Not all of them, but a few at least. We relax, play pool, and try to get into God's Word. Usually, I have a lesson that we loosely work our way through. This time though, I allowed it to be free question and discussion. Always an interesting time. Questions about why we do certain things in church like raising our hands to is it required to pray over our food before we eat. The coolest part was when one of my guys repeated the main point from the previous night's sermon. I included it yesterday. "Every choice is an opportunity to please God." I made the conscience effort on Tuesday to repeat that phrase at least a dozen or more times. I had the youth repeat it with me. I even yelled it as some youth were leaving for home. It was my main point and I wanted them to remember it. So it was really great when one of my guys repeated it and shared that it was burned into his brain and he kept hearing it all day at school. Of course, my desire is that they actually start putting it into practice, but at least I branded it onto their brains a little.

This was my attempt to do something a little different in one of my messages. So far so good.

Choices

Just wanted to pass along the main point of my message from last night's youth group.

"Every choice is an opportunity to please God."

Being Innovative

Our youth just finished up a pepperoni roll sale. I walked away really amazed at how much money could be made by selling some simple food. As I was pouring over the numbers in preparation for placing the order, one of our young ladies stood out. She sold thirty more than the next closest seller, and that next one was really a tag team of two sisters. Here's how it happened. Everyone basically sold to their families and the people in the church. A few had parents that took in order from into work. All fine ways of selling. This young lady though, took it upon herself to go to various businesses in her community and sold to the workers. From what I understood, her method of selling was to tell them that she would deliver them on the set day for lunch. People have to eat lunch. Why not drop a couple bucks if it means that you don't have to worry about bringing lunch that day. She was creative and the sales showed it. How are we doing being creative? Are we examining our teaching, preaching, serving, giving, and a host of other things to see if there just might be a better way? Maybe it's time to try something new again. My goal, in the next couple weeks, is to do something completely different in youth. It might work or it might not, but at least we will try.

Peaceful Friday

This has been an insane week. From Monday on we have had something going on every night. Tonight and tomorrow are no different. At least, for a moment, I am sitting in a quiet place of peace. My wife and children are at the store and I'm sitting in my house waiting for them to return the car to me. It's quiet. Well, relatively quiet I guess. The birds outside are chirping away. Cars are driving by. So, it's not really quiet, but it does feel very peaceful. With the events of the past week I appreciate this moment from God.

The Empty Room Blog

The blog has been silent for about two weeks. Some major things were happening in our lives that were a little unpleasant for us. The title of this post lets those who know what's going on exactly what I'm talking about. Beyond that, I won't discuss the situation itself. It's been very hard though. Yet, we're still alive and moving forward. Looking to get back in the rhythm of things real soon. For now though, that's about it.

Hurting Teens

If there is one common denominator between a lot of the youth that I have contact with is pain. The students in my youth group are hurting. Their friends are hurting. Broken friendships, broken homes, uncaring parents, and the pain of sin are a heavy weight that many can't seem to shake. Is this just a guess on my part? No. I know this because within the past month or so I've had more students wanting to talk to me or Kelly than ever before. I've had more students than I can remember bursting into tears as they do talk with me. Even stranger, I've found myself more compelled than ever to hug and hug and hug. If you know me at all you realize that I'm not really a huggy person. Not my personality. Yet, it's as if the Lord is directing me to hug and love these students in a tangible way. I hug with caution as we do live in a litigious society, yet I think students are craving this. They want to know that someone cares. Now a hug can't solve all of a student's problems, but hopefully it can at least let them know that there is a safe place where they are cared for and loved. Not just in the arms of a youth worker, but in the arms of the Lord.

Extra Note: Just so it is clear, I use extreme caution when hugging any of our female students. I will not hug them unless there are others around and preferably, if possible, I let my wife be the one that hugs them. It's a balancing act that involves knowing each student's past as best as we can and trying to make the best decision on a moment's notice. Still, hurting teens need to know they're loved. Comments or thoughts on this subject appreciated.

A Crack in the Wall

This past Sunday we had some incredible services. I think a lot of people had the feeling that we are beginning to see the breakthrough that we desperately need. The walls that have been holding many down may be getting ready to crumble and fall. Much more prayer is needed, but I think we have been encouraged to keep pressing in.

Quote of the Day

"Tragically, in most churches, the pain of change is greater than the pain of ineffectiveness." -Simple Church by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger.

Going to be chewing on this one for awhile.

My Name is Matthew, and I'm a Mac Addict

I realized yesterday that I had an addiction. I was working on my laptop with the television on. A commercial came on for a school of trades. I was typing and not really paying attention. I glanced over, and I stopped in my tracks. They were offering some sort of course of study for a Mac Hinist. What on earth is a Mac Hiinist? I know computers, especially my beloved Mac, extremely well. For a split second my mind raced and I tried to solve this cryptic computer related occupation.

Thankfully, the pitchman explained that anyone could become a qualified MacHinist. That's a machinist. Yes, my computer has even changed the way I read.

Help me!

Another Monday

Mondays are just blah. Since I didn't know the definition of the word blah, I thought I would look it up and let you all see for yourself.

Blah - used to refer to something that is boring or without meaningful content.

Doesn't that just seem to describe Mondays to you?

Speed

Yesterday was the day. We were finally able to move from dial up internet to high speed. How on earth did we ever live without it? That said, this blog should be able to receive more attention since I will be able to upload it whenever I want.

Going Home

I was sitting at my desk yesterday when I got the call from a local funeral director. One of our older members in the church had passed away. He had been a man of strong faith and love for his Lord. Due to illness he just wasn't able to make it out anymore. Age takes it toll on all of us. Death is sad. It weighs on the heart. Yet, this man has found his reward. His time on earth while long by our standards, was really just a miniscule drop when compared to the eternal life that he has now found himself. Life forever with the Lord. Enjoy it friend. Some day I'll see you there.

Software Review - Budget

My number one software choice that I would recommend to anyone is Budget from Snowmint Creative Solutions. Not something I’m proud to admit, but before I found this software my financials were a mess. I used Quicken as a computer checkbook program, but it never helped us have enough money for our various bills. It had budget capabilities, but I never could wrap my head around how to set it up. I look back now and I am eternally grateful to God that He kept us afloat. I honestly have no clue how we made it. Thankfully, we found this software. It is a budget program that I can understand.

The concept is simple and has been around forever. They even promote it as the way your grandparents handled budgets. When a paycheck is cashed, the money is broken out and placed in envelopes that represent the various bills that you will have. Poor explanation, but a little money every week is placed in the envelope so that there will be enough when the next bill comes. Budget just takes this envelope concept and places it on the computer. When I record a pay, it automatically disperses my paycheck into the various bill envelopes that we have.

I put it this way, we went living from paycheck to paycheck to actually building some extra money over the course of the year. It really has been incredible. Okay, I think you get the idea.

Out of all the programs I love, this one has made the greatest impact in my life. Now to be fair, I use it on my Mac. However, they do make a version fro Windows too. So, if you are still trapped on that platform you can use it.

The link is following. The software has a trial period so that you can play around with and get a feel for it. It’s a great time of the year to start getting your finances in order.

www.snowmintcs.com

The Focused Journey

This blog of mine is a lot of things. I call it Focused Journey because it is a blog about the journey we are all on towards eternity. It's focused because I believe in only one way to the Father, that is through Christ Jesus. However, it's also about the journey itself. Life isn't about simply making it to eternity, it's about realizing eternity is already at work in us. It's about life and the things that are a part of it. That's why I'm going to start adding things that seem to have nothing to do with faith, but are a part of the journey. Anyone that knows me knows that I love Apple computers. So I decided to start adding some entries concerning Apple. Be on the lookout for not only thoughts on faith, but reviews of Apple products and software that I think make the journey more enjoyable. That and anything else that I can think of.