regional young adult event

i would love to see something like this in austin. what do you think????

funny faces

this is a bit old, but i love it. it's short. it's luke eating a lime. i love him.....

feeling safe...

i know i mentioned a blog or two ago about Luke (my 2 year old) running outside and swinging the bat. i was curious about whether he felt safe enough by his home life to adventure into dangerous areas?

well last night my wife and i had dinner with some friends in our church. they are a tad bit older than us, not much, but they feel like a mother and father in the faith. i told them that every time we are around them we always feel safe, protected and loved. it's a great feeling. i can not describe what it is like to be in a church environment where vulnerability is valued and guarded. sure, sure, i know, you can't be vulnerable with everyone. but there are times when it feels as if you have to be guarded, particularly as a leader in vocational ministry.

relationships are key in this new culture of the supernatural and revival. relational infrastructure is the key. how do you do that organically? how do you be intentional about it, yet let it happen at the same time? how do we get our people to a place where we mutually encourage each other, love on each other and most importantly create relationships that are attractive to God and the presence of God?

This seems important. I know that these principles have been discussed for years. they certainly are not new. but like a marriage, there are things you know, but you still must address them again and see that they do not become stale. i feel that way about some of our church. no, it's not stale, but we can't afford to be stale. these simple concepts of relationships, trust, love, vulnerability, etc. are important and need the freshness of God on them.

that's what i am thinking about today.

until next time.....

the adventure of a two year old

a couple of days ago i was sitting at this computer in my home. i was typing up a blog (i think) and my oldest son was sitting next to me playing some computer game. we were waiting to go somewhere. my wife was finishing up her last minute get-ready-details and my daughter was looking at books. while matt and i were at the computer, matt looked up and saw my youngest, luke, running down the sidewalk in front of my home. he had found matt's old aluminum baseball bat. it was scratched, dinged and scuffed from the many baseball games in our neighborhood. luke did not care, nor do i think he even noticed. he's only 2. i asked matt to go chase him down. as matt approached him, luke stopped and began to swing the bat. not at matthew, but at the imaginary pitch that was coming his way. i think he hit a home run. at least that's what i choose to believe.

the larger point to this story, beyond the happy memory, is this: does luke feel so safe with his home environment that he feels comfortable living our home, without supervision or permission and swing the baseball bat? is there a place of private security and safety in him that actually releases to him the vision of going alone and swinging the bat? i wonder if at times, i am missing the intimacy with God that i have and so i never adventure to swing the spiritual bat. have i lost the ability to imagine because my mind is soiled with fears, doubt and what-ifs? how do we as adults and followers of jesus live in the reality of God's safety and security so that when we adventure from home (the place of hiddenness and comfort) we go swing the bat with boldness and courage.

i laughed when i saw him outside. i was also immediately aware of the dangers. as a parent the potential dangers never leave your mind. but how do i help him be free? how do i help encourage the imagination that will lead him to dangerous places and risky adventures?

i know....he's only 2. but at that age, i feel it important to keep him safe, secure, protected and loved. but i also want him to risk and confront his fears (such as the stuffed mickey mouse, larger than him that we saw at the mall christmas shopping.) mom and dad are always there to catch him, just as God is always there to catch us.

i had another observation about my oldest, matt. i found it particularly interesting how he noticed luke outside. matt knows the danger "out there." he knows the risks. yet, he willingly and joyfully went to get him. i think matt is very pastoral and sensitive. i think God was letting me see a bigger picture of what is the destiny of my two sons. adventure, love, community, safety, risk and courage. my two sons are fantastic. i love them deeply. may God help me raise them to a place where they are bold enough to leave home and tackle the imaginary pitches in life.

Swing the bat Sons! Never go down looking at life's pitches, but swing. too many people strike out because they are afraid of striking out. swing....always swing!

until next time....

fear, risk, courage, vision.....

today we had our "bane" family christmas. it was at my uncle's home. my dad and stepmom were there. my sister and her family. my brother and his wife. it was the usual family members. i was particularly interested in seeing one person, my cousin Brian. Brian is a tall, slender and handsome young guy. He is 27 and married to a beautiful young woman. Brian is a graduate from UH with a political science degree. Well 2 days ago, while playing golf with my bro, dad and uncle (brian's dad) my uncle told us that brian had joined the army. i was shocked and pleased all at one time. i was wondering, "why do I feel such pride in this decision? he is not my son. we are close, but not that close."

well brian was at the gathering today. i enjoyed talking to him. i began to pepper him with questions about his decision to join the army. what were his motivations? what did he want to do? how did his wife feel about this? was this for a career or just for a time? the questions continued. i guess the biggest reason for this post today had to do with the question that i never asked him...."how are you managing your fears?" I am not sure if that's even the right question. as followers of Jesus we do not manage fears, but overcome them. so i was not interested in his management skills as much as i was how he found courage and hope in the midst of danger and risk.

see brian is joining special forces. he is doing basic in georgia. then airborne school and many other challenges. he actually has to go through some torture treatment as part of his development. i am not suggesting that i approve or disapprove of these tactics, but simply to say that i was thinking of the many fears, risks and challenges that he will face. he knows they are there. he admitted as much. he also said, "you only live once." he also said, which i find powerful, "i know that this is going to be difficult, but it's what i need to do to get where i want to be." awesome! i love it when people mount up on the stallion of courage, perseverance and vision and ride through challenge. his development will be amazing to watch.

i am very proud of Brian. again, i am not sure where this measure of pride comes from. we did not really grow up together, but we know each other. he is a solid, christian young man.

his long term goal is to work in some sort of governmental security agency. maybe CIA or NSA. i pray that Brian advances the kingdom of God while serving our country and the global cause for freedom.

blogging, journalling, digital diary, etc......

sometimes i'm not sure of the purpose for blogging. is it my journal? am i to dispense information and thoughts? do i ask questions about other things?

part of my misunderstanding of the blogging world is because of how many blogs i read and how different they are. i know, i know, there is not absolute law as to how one blogs or what they write about. just confessing my misunderstanding. part of this comes up because i was wanting to know.....

does anyone have a "kindle?" it's the new reader by amazon. it will hold a couple of hundred books, download articles, etc. it seems very cool and handy. pricey, but pretty cool. i was just wondering if there was any buzz out there.

anyone have a thought about the "kindle" they would like to share?

if you are not familiar with the kindle here is a link for you: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/sr=53-1/qid=1196134603/

until next time....

light vs. darknenss

You know, as i do, that when we turn on a light there is not great argument or wrestling match between the two forces. the power switch is turned on, the filament in the bulb begins to glow and light displaces darkness. i am grateful for that. how many of you have stubbed a toe while walking in a dark room?

even in the midst of darkness though, God has created the human eye to grab any light that may be in the room to help us see. we may see dimly in a darkened room, but we see. somehow there is a discernment that we must live with. that even in the midst of a dark environment, my workplace, my family, my personal condition, etc. i can still discern light and therefore i begin to "see" more clearly. it may be a dim perspective, but it is one. i do not propose that this idea of seeing dimly is the apex of spiritual intimacy and purpose, but simply to state that when life is dark around us, what speck of light is there that is wanting to help us see?

jesus is the light of the world. he helps people see while they are in dark places. he helps me see when i am in a dark place. part of what i see is the need to confess. sometimes what is i see is the need to love. sometimes what i see is the need to be still and be quiet. sometimes what i see is the need to encourage. sometimes what i see......you get the point. jesus wants us to be able to see in dark places. it's obviously not the same as walking in the light, but i think it's dangerous to discount any light, because it's not the fullness of light.

how often have we judged someone, when what they really needed was love and forgiveness? how often have we ridiculed when we needed to just listen and care? to judge and ridicule is to discount the fact that some light may exist. all people have treasure. it may be hidden deep beneath lies, deception, wounds or self-promotion, but they have it. God created everyone with treasure. HE is the light of the world.

But let me ask you this question. Are we not also the light of the world? How are we displaying the light of the world so that others in dark situations have enough light to see in the midst of their darkness? I think it's possible that you are the letter of God that is being written to humanity and to your world. Paul uses this illustration in some of his letters.

I guess this thought comes up to me, because i know that the enemy loves to live in darkness. i know the dark areas of my heart that need exposure to light. rather than feeling discouraged and the believing that no light exists, i need to look more closely and allow myself to see more dimly. if i see dimly, it will propel me to see more fully. where is the light switch? hard to see in utter darkness, but findable if light is present.

we are powerful people, who need a powerful gospel. we need powerful friends and a powerful community. powerless people look for excuses as to not be powerful. powerful people, who at this may moment may not be strong, are strong because they recognize they need God's power. let us embrace the activity of light in our life. stay encouraged and even if you are only seeing dimly, you are still able to see. let it lead you to a source of great intimacy with God and see the light get brighter.

until next time....