Words that make life worth living...

I am currently out of town on a business trip...

My 16 year old son sends me a text late last night... it reads...
"Hey, just outside shooting some...just wanted to say thanks for everything you do. I have 2 friends moving away this week because their parents don't want them. You pretty much do anything for me. Thanks for everything you've taught me like basketball and about God. You've helped make me who I am. I can't believe what it's like to not have parents that want you. I love you Dad! Hope you have a good night."

I read ... I cried... I read again... I thank God for the privilege I have to father four great kids! The influence I have on them I pray is governed by Christ's love and grace!

THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY LUKE! WORDS LIKE THESE MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING! I LOVE YOU SON!

Fan or Follower?

I'm reading the new book entitled "Not A Fan", and I am finding myself challenged with this question... "am I a fan of Jesus or am I a Christ follower?"... in other words... is it Jesus I want or am I more interested in what He can do for me?

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life." Is Jesus enough to satisfy or am I hungry for something more. I continue to realize daily that following Jesus is not always appealing, comfortable, or convenient.

A fan yells and cheers... nothing more is really expected or required... a fan has no sacrifice to make... his passion can easily wane with success and failures. A fan is simpley an enthusiastic admirer.

"Enthusiastic Admirer" is not an option in really following Jesus. To follow Jesus leads to a life painted with pain and sacrifice at some level. Do we know all about Jesus... or do we really know him?

As I think through my current experience along the journey of following Christ... what is happening at my church... the message of grace that has inspired me to give grace to others... as I think about raising four kids... as I strive to run a business with integrity and character... am I demonstrating the life of a fan or the life of a follower?

Sun Stand Still

I prayed some "sun stand still" prayers tonight over my kids. My one word for the year is "pray" and I've been doing some different things each day to find more times and ways to pray. I had been planning to have some more time with my family to pray and just decided this afternoon that I was going to make it happen tonight. It was a really powerful experience for me to pray out loud the "sun stand still" prayers I've been praying all month... where my kids could actually hear the prayers and respond. Each one had something special to share with me afterward... Luke even wanted to get the copy of the book "Sun Stand Still" I just finished reading.

I would encourage the read ... it is a really good book! It challenges us to pray with audacious faith... to agree with God that he has called us to a larger purpose that will bring Him glory.

I'm believing and praying God will change the world through my kids... using their talents, their giftings, their generosity, their personalities, their leadership... only He can do it!

Join with me... pray ridiculously - pray imaginatively - pray unstoppably - pray forcefully!

heart always follows money...

Today at True North Church we continued the "God's" series by taking a look at money truth #2... "heart always follows money". In other words... so goes your money, so goes your attention. We will always give attention to wherever we've invested something.

So this afternoon I took the challenge from this morning... and now I give it you... take a look at your checkbook or debit card receipts... you'll quickly see where your heart is... it will give you good idea of the things you really care about. Second challenge is to answer these questions:
1. Which bothers your more... to somehow discover there is no God or to realize there's no money in the bank?
2. Does the fear of not having enough interfere with your ability to be generous?

Hard questions about a fundamental truths... everything belongs to God, and my heart always follows my money...

Think about it!