I've just returned home from prayer at the church... tonight was our night of prayer. I had a very positive experience during this time. The first hour was prayer for those who are lost in their sins (who do not know Jesus as their Savior). I reflected again on the book of Luke (chapter 15) and was drawn to the rejoicing that occurs when someone who was lost and now is found (forgiven of their sins). More emphasis is spent on the rejoicing of one's salvation, rather than focusing on their lostness (is this a word?). After reading the Bible, a time was spent in listening to songs of worship, and then a time of prayer.
The next hours were spent praying for each person and family of the Crossroads Congregation. This took a while, but I enjoyed it! I was blessed to call by name each person and to pray for their needs, and to spend time thanking God for each person. I am encouraged by the time spent this evening in prayer and I am excited for what God is doing in our midst. I am grateful for Devin W. for following God's prompting to lead this night of prayer.

I really hate ending a good day in a bad mood (this probably helps explain why I'm up so early in the morning). Thursday was a great day... Duane S. and I made our way around to the homes of several in our Crossroads congregation to help them shovel out from the recent winter storm. Duane even let me drive his four-wheeler to plow the snow instead of just using my powered snow shovel (all the power I could put into it). On our way to one of the homes we helped an individual get his tractor unstuck from a ditch. Not only did we do some good hard labor, but we also had the opportunity to do a little visiting with some of the peole we helped. I had a lot of fun! I got home and Angela and the kids had a good day and had enjoyed the company of friends most of the afternoon. Life was good! But then the evening came.
I began to feel really tired... physically. I was ready to checkout for the evening, but I was still needed as a husband, father, and pastor. I allowed my own self-interest to over-ride my attitude, and my service toward others became obligation and a chore. You can only imagine how I behaved toward those I love the most... it sure was not lovely. I was a GROUCH!
My reading this morning took me to Acts 26 where the apostle Paul shares his testimony with a king. In verse one the king tells Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Paul was very aware of who his audience was and spoke to them accordingly. Even though he was a prisoner at the time (in chains as he spoke) his words were of God's grace and mercy.
O God, may I be aware of how precious the audience of my family really is, and may I treat them as royalty when I speak and act in their presence. Forgive me where I have fallen short and failed. Give me wisdom to make the most of my next opportunity and demonstrate Your grace and mercy... please, allow me to have a next opportunity. Amen!

Have you ever planned to do something, go somewhere, and not quite understand the reason why until afterward? Sure... I've had this happen on multiple occassions. Well, this happened to me again on Wednesday of this week. The previous week I received an email from a new company in Brighton, MI inviting me to come to a presentation they were giving and to also network with business owners and leaders in the community. I was not particularly interested in going, but I sent in my electronic RSVP in case I decided to go. Wednesday of this week rolled around and I debated in my head about going... especialy with the snow storm that was hitting the area. But I was encouraged to attend within my spirit. I went not knowing what to expect.
While I was sitting there I was asking God why I was there, and it was as if He were saying "Just listen." The presenter shared about becoming a better 'you', succeeding in life, chasing after my happiness, and motivating myself. During his presentation he asked a rhetorical question of 'why are we here in the first place' (speaking of life). The heart of what he was saying was why else are we alive if not to live a better life and attain our goals. It was at that point that I realized the reason I was there. Everyone in that room was in search for something to make their life better... more business for their company, setting goals or finding ways to attain the goals they had set for their company, and even greater still to succeed in life.
I was made aware of the significance of the message of the Gospel of Christ and the hope of eternal life. This hope gives worth for living life now. Imagine having a greater purpose for your life and all that you do that would not end whenever you leave this earth. Imagine having such a confidence and peace about who you are and what you experince in life that no matter what happened you knew that everything would be alright. Imagine having such a trust that everything in your life would, somehow, be okay. What would that trust be in?
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through [Christ] who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:12-13)

As I reflect over the day I guess I can summarize it with the word "reconnect." I was able to make several 're-connections' with people either by face to face contact or by phone. Other than the really good conversations that I enjoyed, I would not consider the day very exciting, but a day that I got several things knocked off my 'to-do-list.' I'm reminded that God is the God of the ordinary... as well as the supernatural.
My reading today took me to the Book of John (chapter 10). At the end of the chapter the people recall what had been taught by John the Baptist concerning Jesus which I believe testisfies to the importance of faithfulness in the ordianary, day to day, times of life. The people state that John never did any miraclous signs, but that everything he had said about Jesus was true.
John's ministry might not have been very flashy... with the wild man look going on, wearing camel hair and eating wild locusts and honey. But what John the Baptist did do was remain faithful to the message God had called him to deliver. When the people had heard from John about Jesus, and then experienced Jesus for themselves, their faith and belief in the Lord increased even more.
May what we say about Jesus through our words and actions in the ordinary days of life's journey reflect the true nature of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My reading today took me to the book of John (chapter 3) where Jesus explains to Nicodemus about being born again. As I read this account once again my focus was on Nichodemus' repeated question of "How?" I'm reminded of the importance of wrestling with the hard and difficult questions of life and faith. There was a time in my life that I chose to ignor those things that I just could not wrap my head around... concerning matters of faith I would say that I simply accepted it and went on.
I learned later on in life, however, that by NOT continuing to wrestle with these issues that I really didn't solve anything. In fact, if I were challenged on these issues in any way my response (often inside my head) was a fanatical 'how dare you question what I believe'... and then retreat to more comfortable surroundings with those that believed the same as I.
As I mature in my relationship with God I find that I don't have to have full understanding before my faith is substaniated. God gives me knowledge of the mysteries of my life as I can handle them; peace to accept the things that I can not understand; and the confidence to say "I don't know."
Yesterday, just one song before I was to preach, a young boy (about 7 years old) sitting beside me whispered, "Where did God come from?" My immediate response was, "That's a very good question." I told him that God has no beginning or ending that we know of... and that God has always been present and will be present forever. The little boy looked at me and said, "That's hard to believe." To which I replied, "Yes... it is hard to understand."
Now... what do you think you would've told this young boy?