Kyle Gray

The Middle

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:14:01 -0400

3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

I’ve always loved this portion of scripture. The extremes of these people is laughable. Picture it. They’re all gathered around watching Paul get worked over by a deadly, venomous snake. You can almost hear them shouting “This man MUST be a murderer! He’s obviously getting what he deserves! DEATH!” Then Paul proceeds to chuck the snake into the fire, probably WWE style because that’s what I would do. Once they see Paul isn’t suffering any problems the people IMMEDIATELY decide he’s a god?

Really? Just because something bad happens to someone they’re assumed a murderer? Then when they end up okay they’re now a GOD?

I don’t know about you but that seems a little extreme. Either murderer or god. Nothing in the middle.

We get like this, I get like this. God is either bringing me to the mountaintop of awesomeness or He’s completely turned His back on me and is punishing me for something I obviously did. (in my mind)

Or how about this: we either go ALL IN with our devotional time, scripture reading, church serving, blah blah blah or we back off and use the excuse that if we can’t go ALL IN God understands that we just hold off for a while. Like, for years. I could really go on forever with analogies about the extreme’s….but what about THE MIDDLE? Could it be sometimes that it’s not either or? Murderer or god, mountaintop or death valley, ALL IN or ALL OUT? I’ve been in seasons where God just wants some balance. You know, grind it out. Figure some things out for yourself, lean on Him of course but stay busy balancing everything. You’re not so bad that you’re a murderer, you’re not so awesome that you’re a god. You’re not having awe inspiring moments with God nor are you fallen on your knees screaming at Him shaking your fists because He’s nowhere to be found. You’re reading His word somewhat regularly though some days are more revealing and convicting than others. You’re in a tough season where you don’t have much time to give but the time you have is a healthy balance of God, Church, family and friends. IS THIS OK??

I think so. GASP from the super-christian.

Maybe you’re in that season? So what? The important thing is that you’re talking to God consistently. Not talking to Him just to rationalize your being in the middle…but talking to Him so that He knows you are working through things and you need His help, no matter how long it takes. In the meantime you’re just going to grind it out. Honestly, some of the greatest seasons of my life have come from a long period of being in THE MIDDLE. I’m not killing anyone but I’m also not lighting the world on fire for God. I’m just growing. I’m allowing myself to be grown without all the extremes. After all, you can’t sustain the extremes for long anyway. I’m convinced, if you learn how to grow in these times…it makes the mountaintop experiences 1,000 times better and the tough times in the valley so much easier to handle.

God's not laughing

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:23:08 -0400

I’ve touched on this before but since it was in my daily reading let’s do it again. We’ve all laughed at ourselves at some point. Laughing at yourself is good (I’ve made a living out of it), what’s not good is laughing at God when He talks to you about your potential. Have you done that? Have you shrugged off big responsibility and thought: God can’t be talking about ME, I’m an idiot.

Yes, you are an idiot, for laughing at God. He hears it, He knows it, He doesn’t like it.

If you haven’t figured it out, comedy, levity, even self-deprivation are my strong points. If laughing at yourself makes you stronger than I’m The Incredible Hulk. I don’t always know how to turn it off though, or how to direct it once I realize God is trying to stretch and grow me.

You’ve seen this on The Bible on The History Channel. Check it:

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13And theLord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14Is any thing too hard for theLord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

Okay then.

God knows the difference between laughing at yourself in a healthy way and laughing at HIM in a spiritually UNHEALTHY way.

I bet He’s nudging you right now. I bet you know ONE THING that you should be doing but you’re NOT because you would rather sit there and laugh about how YOU could never be used by God.

Sooner or later you’ll figure out……God’s not laughing.

Done Waiting.

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:21:39 -0400

If there’s one thing I’ve been disappointed with in The Bible series on the History channel….It’s the special effects when supernatural things happen. I admit, my disappointment probably comes from watching too many Hollywood movies. When Jesus heals someone I want the slow mo Matrix vibe that shows our dimension we’re living in rumble and flicker.

When the angel came to Mary I didn’t want them meeting quickly in a back alley, I didn’t want him to have surfer hair, I didn’t want him to be from New Zealand, I wanted her to be awakened and her eyelids to flicker as she is teleported to 60,000 feet in the air like superman would have done to relay the most important news any human has ever received. I probably wanted another bass drop at that point as well.

I could go on but you get the point. Like a girl who ends her wedding night disappointed that all her lifelong dreams, expectations and planning of her wedding day was over….and the day went WAY too fast….and there weren’t any Hollywood movie moments like she had always hoped. Just like that I sit after each The Bible episode and think, dang….I could have made that supernatural moment WAY cooler.

Here’s the reality: I’m coming to grips with the fact that maybe, just maybe, these moments were actually plainer and more human than I have always built them up to be? You know? After all, these people were human just like me, even Jesus of Nazareth. Human. No super slow bass drops or flickering realities or lightning shooting out of someones hands.

Real people. Real problems. Real solutions.

Lets put this thought into scripture. How about Acts chapter 1. Read this, go there. Picture yourself actually there. Human.

Acts 1:6-11

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Ascension

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Ok. What you don’t see here is the very next verse that says “So the disciples went back to Jerusalem….”

What I want to know is how long did they stand there staring up at the clouds? Obviously Jesus was coming back. He said He was anyway. Usually when someone tells me that I just sit there and wait for them to come back and finish their thought, you know? Looking up into the Heavens they were probably still smiling, still in awe that a dude just went up in a cloud and said I’ll be right back…they were probably doing that nervous laughter you hear in movies that keeps tapering off slowly until it becomes only throat clearing.

So…we’ll just wait here then? *cough

And that’s when they finally looked somewhere other than the sky where some cloud had a man in it. They came back to reality on Mount Olivet.

They looked around and noticed there are two more guys standing with them than they started with. Well, actually one more since they lost one to a cloud but you get it.

These two men were clearly from God. I mean, even God knows the stereotype. When you want someone to look like they’re angels you need to follow protocol. So white robes it is. They were more than likely glowing to add to the awesomeness.

Could you imagine? These angels, or Moses and Elijah, or whoever they were, they spoke on God’s behalf. Everyone knew it, you couldn’t mistake it. I’m sure their voices were low and authoritative. And probably British.

They said, hey! What’s everyone looking at? C’mon guys. That’s Jesus up there in that cloud, no big deal. He’s coming back in the same way he left. Carry on.

Poof, they were probably instantly gone as quickly as they came. That’s the way I see it anyway. I don’t think these two angelic heavenly beings hung around for Q&A time. They knew how to make an entrance and an exit for maximum shock value.

So here’s my question: how long did the disciples sit there after the news that their friend up in the cloud was coming back? You know…looking at their watches, shuffling their feet, yawning. Remember they eventually went back to Jerusalem. How long until they decided to abandon post? 5 minutes? An hour? A couple days?

I’m guessing that if the heavenly beings would have been a little more specific that might have helped. You know, like maybe throw in “Oh hey, He’s coming back IN A FEW THOUSAND YEARS just like He left, so go change the world.”

That might have been nice. Regardless, I’m sure there was a moment as they eventually walked away when they just assumed Jesus would be back some time soon and join up with them in their adventures.

He never did. They went to their graves wondering if He’d return any second.

It didn’t stop them from doing God’s work. It actually motivated them to die for Him.

Here we sit, thousands of years later. We’ve gotten soft.

Thousands of years makes us feel it’s less urgent. You do know what a thousand years is like to God, right? Snap your fingers, it’s probably less than that to Him.

The disciples worked tirelessly for Jesus Christ because they didn’t want Him to return and find them sleeping. They were inspired by His teachings and miracles. They saw them. They even performed some in His name, with His power. They would stop at nothing to tell the world about the love of Jesus. They would never be intimidated. They would never back down. They ran to the front lines, stared death and persecution in the face and attacked Satan head on, with the full force of the power of the Holy Spirit. They did it tirelessly. They were laser focused. They were human.

Just like you and me.

My guess is from time to time, they still looked up at the night sky when no one was around, when it was quiet, when they had time to just worship. I’m sure they wondered when Jesus would return. Obviously it motivated them to have things in order so when the Savior did come back, He wouldn’t find them selfishly tripping through life.

Like maybe you are right now.

Like I’ve been from time to time in my life.

The time is now friends. Don’t waste another day wondering when Jesus is going to rescue you. Don’t use that as an excuse as to why you can’t change.

Stop waiting on God because He’s already right next to you waiting on YOU.

Waiting for you to say yes.

Waiting for you to pull it together.

Waiting for you to get your hands dirty telling the world about His love.

Waiting for you to use His name, the name of Jesus to forgive yourself, forgive others and turn your eyes out of the clouds and onto the front lines.

Jump in. Serve, invite, use your gifts He’s given you to show love unconditionally.

No more excuses. No more complaining. No more staring at your watch for Him to work. He’s already working and He’s waiting for you to join Him.

Remembering Newtown

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:39:15 -0500

One week ago today, exactly at this time I started hearing reports of a shooting in Connecticut. At first it seemed like just another random story. When in fact, over the course of a day you and I felt something reverberate through every heart that broke upon hearing the news. While our lives go on, families are devastated this Christmas. Those scars will never heal. I hope you join me in praying for them all. Those precious babies are absolutely safe in the arms of Almighty Jesus. While we don’t always understand, there is no better ‘forever friend’ than we have in the Lamb of God. The LION of Judah.

Pray for Newtown

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:37:17 -0500

Friends. Sometimes there are no answers. We are never promised that from God. We are only offered peace, from God. This tragedy is unspeakable. In our mostly tragedy free society, we forget atrocities like these happen weekly around the world. Governments killing their own people/women and children, regimes doing unspeakable things to the innocent. We just don’t think twice about it until it happens in our own back yard. God is not absent. God is not asleep. He has given us the hope of the return of His Son. Every time something like this happens I promise you with all that I am…that He is watching with laser focus. Not one prayer goes unheard. Not one tear falls to the ground that He doesn’t catch. He sent His Son into the human race not to abandon it…but to redeem it. In times like these, it is sin and the corrupt nature of its ugliness that is to blame. Turn your prayers to the families and know, we serve a God that not only hears each one…but He stands poised and ready…each day closer to returning for what is His.

It's not your fight

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:26:21 -0500

We all go through seasons in life where we feel like it’s ME against the world. You know, when it seems your enemies are rising up against you in record numbers! I’ve been there. I bet you do what I usually do…we have 3 choices when we feel like this:

1) Wall ourselves off from everyone, including God and feel sorry for ourselves.

2) Grab your sword of self righteousness and start slaughtering everyone who rises against you with spiteful words and/or embarrassing Facebook posts. (yes, we’re all looking at your status, laughing)

Or you can do what I’m learning to do, thanks to the Psalmist needing a little backup with heavy artillery from time to time.

Check out Psalm 3

5I lay down and slept;

I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

6I will not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

7Arise, O Lord!

Save me, O my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

8Salvation belongs to the Lord;

your blessing be on your people! Selah

Oh Yeah! Just when you thought Jesus wasn’t into the business of opening up a can.

So….if you find yourself in this place right now…and you truly are in the ‘right’, hand it off to Him and walk away. It’s not your fight.

HIS love endures FOREVER!

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:37:17 -0500

I don’t know about you but I like rare things. I don’t want the breed of dog everyone else has, I don’t want the shirt 10 other guys are walking around with from the rack at Kohl’s. I usually take the unexpected path to get to a joke…or go the opposite way in my preaching than I’ve heard other pastors go. Rare steak has the best flavor after all. I named my kids weird, rare names like Kasen, Adia and Alston.

I know you’re a lot like me. That’s why we watch shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers. We love to find that diamond in the rough. When something is rare it speaks louder.

And so it goes in the Bible. I like rare verses with weird Greek or Hebrew that make it stand out…like my Blue Great Dane (Bear Gray) walking at the park surrounded by 1,000 labs and 2,000 golden retrievers…and 3,000 unidentifiable dogs the size of a football being carried by their owners as I pass with looks of horror…like my dog is the AntiChrist.

Rare Bible verses catch my attention. Psalm 136 is EXACTLY that. There’s nothing like it in the entire Bible.

Very little is known about this passage. Even the author is unknown. The way the verses are crafted…they are written for a special service at the temple. Perhaps a soloist reading the first line of every verse and the congregation singing back the second line.

What stands out to you here?

Psalm 136

¹Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
²Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

⁴to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
⁵who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

¹⁰to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
¹¹and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
¹²with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

¹³to him who divided the Red Sea^[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
¹⁴and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
¹⁵but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

¹⁶to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

¹⁷to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
¹⁸and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
¹⁹Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
²⁰and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
²¹and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
²²an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

²³He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
²⁴and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
²⁵He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

²⁶Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Well obviously a certain line has caught your attention. This Hallel Psalm was read at the beginning of Passover. This scripture is so rare. One people would recite the first line…always about something GOD has done, the second group of people would sing “His love endures forever” or “His steadfast love endures forever” or “His kind love endures forever” or “His Mercy endures forever” depending on what version you are reading.

There is no known translation for the Hebrew word used here: Hesed.

Kind love is as close as we can get.

We do know this…it has something to do with the following: 1) God does not have to love us but He loves us anyway. 2) God will always love us!

Look again: There are 5 parts in this psalm:

• verses 1-3 and 26 tell us to thank the *LORD;

• verses 4-9 tell us that God made earth, sky, sun, moon and stars;

• verses 10-16 tell us how God saved the *Jews from Egypt;

• verses 17-22 tell us how God took his people from Egypt to Canaan;

• verses 23-25 tell us that God gives us all that we need.

I love when things are ‘rare’. Think about it…it’s immeasurably rare that a GOD would do all of these things FOR US. Protect us, Redeem us, Save us, Die for us, Provide for us…the list goes on and on. What seems impossibly rare is that while He’s doing all of this for us…we realize that it’s not just a one or two time deal.

Say it over and over and over and over: His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.

His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.His RARE love for ME endures FOREVER.

Lesson learned. Never stop saying it. Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

GOD will not stop providing for you. No matter who you are. No matter where you are right now, no matter what you’re going through.

Let your MIND and heart recite all the things GOD has and is doing for you…let your LIFE show your unwavering trust that it will never cease!

What a lesson learned, in one of the most obscure, rare corners of the Bible. I am always amazed at what the Word of GOD reveals.

Are you being deceived?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:01:44 -0500

Deception. The word alone irritates us. It makes our skin crawl. What words come to mind when you hear the word DECEPTION? Fake. Liar. Untrue. Broken Trust. Deliberate.

The word deception, or deceived always means there was a deceiver somewhere close by. Someone, some THING that messed with you. That betrayed you. You were taken down a road by the enemy dressed in a friends clothing.

Was it a friend? Spouse? Child? Pastor? Politician? Co-worker? Celebrity of influence?

Sometimes it’s not any of these things. Sometimes, it’s you. You know, the times you have convinced yourself about something, or someone and you formulate an entire scenario in your mind that hasn’t even happened…yet it festers. You convince yourself of something that actually isn’t even true of that person.

The Bible says much of deception. None more revealing than the return of Christ. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a

1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way.

While this passage is obviously warning us NOT to buy into predictions about when Christ will return….it is very interesting that Paul (assuming he authored this book) knows this is a mind battle.

How many times have I had people asking me to help someone who isn’t using their mind clearly. Clear-thinking friends worried about a loved one who is so wrapped up in WHOEVER, WHATEVER they’re into…their mind is clouded and bad judgement resounds.

Just like when we let things grow in our minds, without talking to that person. Just like when we refuse to listen to trusted loved ones who are concerned about a habit or a pattern in your life.

It’s all about our minds. When we are ‘shaken in mind’ we lose our ability to rationalize…we lack sound judgement…and in the process, we inevitably hurt the very person or people that love us the most.

Romans 12:2 tells us: be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Maybe your mind needs renewed.

Like a herbal cleanse does our insides good…maybe it’s time you flush out the toxins in your mind? Deception digs his talons into the minds of those who are willing to allow it in.

Pray. Fast. Retreat. Ask God to reveal His will for these situations in your life. To reveal who is deceiving you. To stop you from deceiving yourself. To stop Satan from tempting you. To humble yourself to listen to loved ones warnings. To let go of situations you have made up in your own mind. To reach out to those we need to pull close.

Friends, we’re all deceived about something right now. I pray you invite God to renew your mind today.

Deception met its death at the cross. Leave it there.

You know you want to!

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:18:39 -0400

Oh 1984. You gave us unforgettable movies like Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, Gremlins, The Karate Kid, Police Academy, Purple Rain, The Natural and of course, Red Dawn.

Drama, Horror, Comedy, Adventure and Sci Fi. All popular categories that are a recipe for box office gold when coupled with a compelling story, good acting and A level cinematography.

Movies in the 80’s had a flare for overacting. Who gets THAT excited to swim in a pool like in CaddyShack, or THAT pumped to jump in a lake at night off a dock at a secluded cabin like in (pick your favorite horror movie) ?? The examples are endless, so I’ll just stop here.

Sure we were on the brink with inevitable nuclear war with Russia, Germany was cracking down the middle, Ethiopia was decimated by famine, AIDS was ripping through society and the Middle East threatened to tear itself apart and take Israel with it………………but that wasn’t important enough to keep us from our one, true goal: The pinnacle of fighting for our rights! Not social rights, not freedom of speech or equality of race….no way….

1984 showed us that although the world around us was on the verge of utter destruction, one thing remained as the focus of our Right ….to Fight!!!!!!! For, DANCING??

Watchyou-talkin-bout-Willis? Exactly.

Can I really quote every stupid line to a movie that told me nothing was more important that my right to dance, in a barn?

Oh yeah. LET’S DAAAAANNNNCCCEEE!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!! GLITTER!!!!!!!!!! CHEERING, ENDLESS CHEERING!!!!!! UNREALISTIC JOY!!!!!!! IS THAT THE DAD FROM HARRY AND THE HENDERSON’S???? WHO CARES!!! WE. CAN. DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1984, you gave us Footloose.

Yes, I’ve seen it 4,000 times and refuse to watch the modern remake. Why? Because while the news was painting a bleak portrait of the world nightly, while KISS was still misunderstood as a bunch of Satanists, while you had to go to the dark side of your cable switcher and flip it to **gasp** ‘B’ just to get to the evil MTV that was going to destroy every kids mind and ruin Christianity (insert sarcasm)……amidst all of this….

While the Beastie Boys were telling us to party…

Kevin Bacon showed us that we have a right, to fight, for…..dancing.

whoa.

I still laugh at the ridiculousness of the premise of this movie but I’ve come to realize one thing it taught me:

Don’t underestimate the power of joy and dancing, thankfulness and cheering. And glitter, by the truck load.

When is the last time you went over the top and overacted for God, just to show Him you really care? It’s only damaging if other people see you do it:)

And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 2 Samuel 6:14

I don’t know about you but I don’t own a priestly garment. Who cares.

The important thing is that you stop feeling stupid in front of a God who designed you to comunicate with HIM in a million different ways.

Express it however you want, be thankful, be grateful, smile and pump those fists like a bad 80’s movie…

After all, He’s worth it:)

Live WHILE you are dying

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:07:59 -0400

**WARNING** the following is longer and more in depth than normal, this is not for the skimmer. If you need to get in and get out quick to log in your Jesus hours, come back to this post later.

Once upon a time there was an old man who had lived a fairy tale life. He had been the recipient of wisdom and knowledge. Like a wish granted by a genie he was given the crown of the wisest man who ever lived. He had more wealth than any billionaires today could fathom. He had more power ruling his kingdom than any president could even imagine. He truly had it all.

Wisdom, Power, Women, Security, Health, Money and blessings that none since have even tasted the slightest portion of this mans awesomeness.

He made the most interesting man in the world look like the most boring loser you’ve ever met.

His name of course was Solomon. His dad was a pretty big deal too. This son of the giant-killer was blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

As Solomon grew older he was quite brash and forthcoming in his straight-to-the-point delivery of wisdom…in theological terms…he just said what sucks about life.

One of my all time favorite portions of scripture happens at the hand of an old, wise, opinionated Solomon. Take a breath and read these verses from Ecclesiastes chapter 12. DON’T SKIM OVER THEM….SOAK IT IN.

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,t and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

What beauty in his words here. While somewhat depressing, fresh and certainly needed.

The allegory is what captures me. It’s what has drawn me to this scripture over the years. Solomon paints us a stunning and deflating picture of what it’s like to grow old…and why we should not waste time living, WHILE we’re dying.

Let’s break it down: ( a portion of this break down is from Keith Krell )

v2 talks of his fading capacity for joy and excitement as he grew older

v3 Solomon says that the “the watchmen of the house tremble.” This means that the arms and hands shake and become feeble. When he says that the “mighty men stoop,” he is referring to the shoulders, legs, and back slumping and becoming feeble. Your knees buckle when your belt won’t!

In 12:4 Solomon says, “and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low.” This refers to the loss of hearing. To make matters worse, Solomon writes, “and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.” These two phrases mean that as we age we will struggle to sleep and we will wake up early. Furthermore, our voices will quiver and weaken. We will be hard to hear.

In 12:5 Solomon says, “Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road.” This refers to fear of injury due to frailty. The following phrases are rather picturesque: “the almond tree blossoms”⁴⁸⁷refers to our hair turning white. The phrase “the grasshopper drags himself along” speaks of the halting walk of the elderly (“grasslimpers”).⁴⁸⁸ The phrase “the caperberry⁴⁸⁹[desire] is ineffective” refers to a decrease in the appetites of life (e.g., food and sex). In other words, you turn out the light for economic rather than romantic reasons. And tragically, even though you eat less and less you tend to gain more and more as you age. This begins in your twenties. The final phrase in 12:5 is, “For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.” The point being, man dies and life goes on.

In 12:6 Solomon writes, “Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl iscrushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed.” All of the items mentioned in 12:6 are associated with a well. Throughout Scripture, a well is a metaphor for life. But this one is no longer being used for drawing water. Someday your body is going to wear out. You will be nothing but a dry shell of your former self. The four verbs emphasize the finality of life. You and I are going to die! As bad as this sounds, remember, Art Linkletter once said that it’s better to be over the hill than under it. Whatever life is for us, wherever we find ourselves in age or stage, every moment is a gift of God—brightly wrapped, waiting to be opened, admired, and delighted in. The bittersweet nature of loss makes the present more precious; knowing that the silver cord will one day slip away, we cherish it all the more while it is in our hands.

What are you living for TODAY? God will call us each home…believe me, I absolutely cannot wait for that day. I welcome it. I desire it.

Until then I have a job to do. I have blessings of my own that I need to NOT look past. So do you. Death is coming like a freight train with a one way ticket to see Jesus.

Don’t waste another second.

Another amazing Ohio Sunset! Love it here in the fall! (Taken...

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:03:47 -0400

Another amazing Ohio Sunset! Love it here in the fall! (Taken with Instagram)

Tiny Violin

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:09:05 -0400

I wrote this on a friends wall today. Upon reading it to myself I have to laugh. Literally nothing is working right on my facebook. If you ever just stop hearing from me…it’s not that I’m dead, it’s that my final way to post has shut down. If this is the case I will destroy my current page and build a new one. I will have no pictures, videos or fun things archived for your enjoyment. I am not mad at facebook…how could I be….it’s a FREE service. It is frustrating when I wish I could communicate better on it…if it would let me. Let the following list be a lesson to us all…you get what you pay for.

I cannot post a status on the app, because no one sees it. I cannot post a status on facebook on the web, because no one sees it. I cannot Selective Tweet it from Twitter anymore because no one sees it. I cannot use Instagram because no one sees it. I cannot upload any pics via the app because no one sees it. I cannot email the pics in on my iPhone anymore because no one can see it. I just figured out I can upload through Camera+ and people see it…for now. I cannot ‘share’ any links because no one can see it. I cannot link anyone’s name in any status. The ONLY way I can update my status is by texting it in via my iPhone. Literally sending a text to facebook. This means I am limited on the length of my post AND I cannot link or share anything on a post because no one will see it. I cannot upload a video to facebook via my iPhone because facebook won’t let it show up anymore. I CAN email my video from my iPhone to myself, drag it to the desktop on my macbook, go to facebook on my web, upload that video and it posts to my wall. The problem is NO ONE SEES it so there are no comments. It literally doesn’t exist anywhere else but on my laptop screen. Last night I posted a status from twitter. I got 1 comment in 15 minutes. I decided to post the exact same thing via text (the only way FB lets me post) and had 45 comments and 90 likes in 10 minutes. I have to ‘tag’ myself in photos for them to appear anywhere on anyones newsfeed. If I want to ‘link’ or ‘share’ anything I need to first text my status in that says “hey, look at the comments on this post for me to link something”. Then I comment on my own post and link what I need to. Maybe I even ‘like’ my own post so someone….ANYONE can see it.

Island Vacation!

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:29:07 -0400

Oh my, does even the word Island transport us to somewhere with …well….somewhere that looks like this…

Whoa. Shut up and just look at it.

Well, I took a 5 minute typing break right there…even if you’ve never been to a tropical island (you need to rethink some things in your life) you’ve seen endless pictures like this one. You know the drill:

slow down, don’t hurry, don’t worry, island music, bars that look like huts on the water, dinners outside under umbrellas of coconut trees, the sound of waves splashing, the smell of a warm salty ocean breeze, two people sitting in front of you in beach chairs facing the water that just appeared out of nowhere…oh wait, that was a Corona commercial….

Anywhooo…..we all get it.

I’ve been to many islands. Topical and northern. I grew up going to Mackinac Island, it’s the same principle. Any island will do.

There’s just a different feeling when you’re separated from all the other crazies, right? It’s like you’re not attached to anything and your brain knows it. It’s a feeling of security in a way. Like you’re on your own and what happens on the island stays on the island (unless it ends up on YouTube).

If you were sitting in that hammock up there ^^ go ahead, one more peak….

You’d have a great moment to reflect, to re-invent yourself maybe, to gain perspective on a hectic life, to wish some things away, to come to peace with some things you can’t wish away.

It’s a great place to be.

For a short time.

Stay there too long…and it becomes less special. You start to notice less detail. You get used to it. You get tired of, well…YOU.

Why? Because we aren’t supposed to listen to ourselves for extended periods of time.

Why?

Because we don’t always know what’s best for US. We think we do. God doesn’t think that, it’s why He gave us other people. It’s also why He gave us ears, so we could hear them. Why? Because too long on that island talking to yourself and you become disillusioned. Your reality of yourself gets WAY off. You start talking yourself into things that just aren’t true. About others. About YOU. About a situation that hasn’t been resolved, whatever the case may be.

Some of you won’t get off the island. You’re stubborn. You’re untrusting. You’re insecure. You’re afraid of getting hurt. You’re afraid of hurting someone because of who you are.

Listen to what Proverbs 18:1 says:

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement.

Yep, that island life that once recharged you will also be the thing that destroys you.

God has placed someone in your life. Someone with a boat. Someone with an extra seat. Someone who knows too long of a stay on the island can destroy a life.

Reach out today. Re-connect. Share your heart. Trust.

Don’t worry, those that really love you and understand you, will make you feel as safe as you were on the island. You can always go back to visit from time to time:)

Back Away from the Hammer!

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:12:14 -0400

Last night I had the daunting task of putting furniture together at my house. I can’t stand putting furniture together. Oh, I can do it…I’ve certainly done it enough…but any chance I get to buy the floor model, I take it. There’s never enough screws, the directions can make even a NASA engineer break down and somehow I always split the nice beautiful wood by accidentally using a hammer. Even though the directions never called for a hammer.

Well last night was par for the course and at one point I found myself in a bad situation.

Rachel left to get the kids from tennis and I had to get ready for my iChat show. Keep in mind, I can’t stand when something is NOT finished around my house. I can’t take knowing it’s sitting there, waiting for me.

So even though I didn’t have much time I proceeded to do something stupid.

I started ripping boxes open to put the boys bed together. This was going to have to go perfectly smooth in order for me to get it done and surprise the family when they got home. There could be NO mistakes, the directions needed to be perfectly clear, the hardware needed to be perfectly accounted for and my brain needed to stay relaxed and perfectly focused.

That’s a lot of ‘perfect’ that needed to happen even on the most perfect day. This was not the perfect day. As it turned out, this was the day that punched the perfect day in the face and locked it in the basement.

Things started to derail…and every time something went wrong, I looked at the clock and noticed how much closer I was to needing to leave for work. This was in no way shape or form a one man job…but I was making it one. I was also getting so frustrated and hurried I couldn’t think straight. It’s possible I said some things I probably shouldn’t write, this being a ‘nugget’ and all.

I got sloppy. Wood started chipping. Screws were going in at bad angles…I was like Mount Vesuvius and that poor bed was about to get Pompeii’d. The hammer was about to come out. Again, the directions NEVER call for a hammer. For a reason.

Oh You’ve been there. Like me last night, it’s usually over something stupid, that’s what we do after all. You get so angry you make bad choices. You think thoughts that drive that anger. You stop following directions. You aren’t much fun to be around.

It happens to us on home projects, it happens to us at work, it happens to us in our family relationships and it happens to us with God.

Those moments when anger gets the best of you, remember this from Proverbs 30:

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife.

Pressing anger really does produce strife. For everyone involved. Maybe next time you and I will do as this says and put our hand on our mouth.

This will shut us up ( which is never a bad thing when we’re angry ) but it will also do something else….

It will ensure the hammer doesn’t come out. It’s hard to hammer something AND hold it while one hand is covering your angry mouth.

The next time you’re losing it, stop TALKING…stop DOING, stop PRESSING your anger. You’ll be amazed how quickly God will get the situation back on track.

Are you ready to say YES?

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 13:14:26 -0400

As I am ready to preach this weekend, I am praying for YOU. I hope that you all understand the extent God is ready to change YOUR life by jumping all in for HIM!

Are you currently using the gifts God has given you? Are you contributing within the walls of the church? God is ready to make something big happen for YOU.

It’s my prayer that you show up this weekend with an open heart and a willingness to let go of yourself and let GOD take control.

It’s GO TIME!

Put the flute down!

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:23:39 -0400

How many people in your life have you written off as spiritually ‘dead’? Friends, family, loved ones that refuse to get to know Jesus and may even laugh at your efforts to even try? We know them. We love them. We try to stay patient with them.

Often through years of being patient we sometimes tend to throw our hands up and lose hope. After all, it’s on them, not YOU. You’ve done all you can. You’ve loved. You’ve forgiven. You’ve been an example. If they can’t see it then it’s their problem with God.

Here’s the thing to remember: God is in the business of raising the dead. He’s got this. Maybe all you need to do is rekindle the art of tugging on His robe, laying at His feet and just plain asking Him if He wouldn’t mind making that person undead:) I’ve seen it work, right here: Matthew 9:18-26

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantlyt the woman was made well.23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.26 And the report of this went through all that district.

So put the flute down. Nobody wants to hear that funeral music anyway. Your friend isn’t dead, they’re just sleeping. God is in the business of raising the dead. Bring it up to Him and watch.

Tumblr, I have neglected you!

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:37:07 -0400

Wow I haven’t posted something Jesus nuggety in a long time! I need to get back to it as the iChat show launches next week! That’s right, iChat people.

Thankful for the mud

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:46:44 -0400

If there’s one analogy we all get, it’s being stuck. In life. In a relationship. Emotionally. In a job. With a bad attitude. In debt. In a rut spiritually.

You’ve been there. You’ve also been literally stuck. In mud. In your car. In the snow. In a ditch. In that nasty sludge at the bottom of the pond. One way or another, we all get it.

It’s never where we want to be. We never get stuck on a beach in Cancun. It always happens at the worst times in life. Stuck. The wheels of our misfortunes spinning, sometimes it’s our own fault for getting stuck…sometimes it’s a bomb of bad news that sends us spiraling, sometimes it just happens for no reason.

If you’re not there, stuck, right now…you will be. It happens to all of us. It’s not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’. It’s not ‘why’ as much as it’s ‘how deep’.

David talks about being stuck, with no hope in sight. He was there a lot. He also figured how to get out, or at least what to do to start the process of getting unstuck.

Let’s look at Psalm 40. David starts out by giving us a picture of hope.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.

Okay…for starters the fact that David waited patiently…and is advising us to do the same…it’s not the answer we were hoping for. I know when I’m stuck I’ll stop at nothing to desperately get out. I’ll kick and scream, I’ll claw and fight to get unstuck…both in physical mud or emotional mud. It’s all the same, no one wants to be stuck.

Patience. Trust. Prayers. Over and over again. Don’t worry…He’s got solid ground waiting for you. He always does. Through hardships, through pain, through even the death of a loved one. He can use it all. There is no amount of stuck that bothers our God. You have got to believe that. It doesn’t even matter how deep you’re stuck or who’s fault it is that you’re there in the first place. David goes on to say:

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.

Did you catch that in verse 12? David was stuck so badly, so deep that he couldn’t even see. He couldn’t even count the number problems he had. It doesn’t matter if they’re self imposed problems (that only YOU struggle with…because, well…you’re YOU) or real problems that could bog anyone down. You’ve been there, you might be there right now. Here’s my advise: I WOULD SPEND MORE TIME BEING QUIET, PRAYING, WAITING PATIENTLY than I would kicking and screaming…don’t waste time and energy counting all your hardships, you need that energy for better things.

Try this: Keep telling God He’s great, no matter what…even if you don’t mean it at first. Say it until you actually mean it. David did.

16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

God WILL reach out His hand. He always does. We may be scarred forever by the wounds we suffered while being stuck…it’s ok, they won’t hurt for long.

Last step. Get humble, like now. Don’t wait. Stop clawing, stop forcing it. Listen:

17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

I am poor. I am weak. I am needy. I am hurt. I am quiet. I am listening. I am praying. I am trusting. I am reaching out my hand. I am being pulled out! I am on solid rock! I am praising YOU LORD! I am free from the mud!

Eventually you will read that last paragraph backwards and start the whole process over again with a whole new set circumstances, feelings, emotions and thoughts that get you stuck. It’s ok.

Be thankful for the mud. Without it we would NEVER understand the redemptive power of our Savior.

Worth Every Moment

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:35:48 -0500

Today I found my daily reading starting the book of Acts. God knows exactly what I need and when I need it and it’s no surprise I find myself here staring down Acts chapter 5. The surroundings take place at such a pivotal time. Jesus had ascended into Heaven after His resurrection and the apostles were wrecking the world for Christ, unapologetically. People were lining up in the streets, lepers just hoping they could be in Peters shadow as he passed them. This was a time like no other. God worked supernaturally in those times, to start His church. The Holy Spirit was working overtime.

Once in a while, the apostles found themselves in prison:)

I love this portion in Acts 5…and I love God’s sense of humor. Check it out:

22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,23 ”We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

I LOVE when God magically helps you disappear from a bad situation. You know, when He steps in and rescues you from whatever prison is trying to keep you down. It could be depression, drugs, sex, lust, selfishness, pride, you name it. He’s really good about saving us miraculously when we commit to Him. Here’s what I learn from this portion of scripture: When God delivers you from whatever is holding you back from the life He desires you to live IN HIM, when He pulls through big time (and you know exactly what I mean) …He fully expects you to repay Him by telling the world about His love.

He didn’t jail break the apostles so that they could run and hide. How funny is it the guards were freaking that they ran away and someone just looked out the back window and said, “uhm…I found them”. Preaching. Healing. Counseling. Praying.

Just outside their prison.

I doubt they even took time to eat or high five, they just kept grinding it out. Eventually almost all of them would die a brutal death for it too. You better believe they knew it was coming.

Friends, take a moment to assess your level of commitment to God. This life isn’t all smiles and roses…but it’s not all gloom and rain either. God never promises our perfect happiness or to deliver us instantly from every single prison we create for ourselves. He merely wants to know we’ll stop at nothing to live for Him. No matter what bullets fly in your face or what hardships you endure along the way, He’ll continue to bless you in ways you could never imagine, He’ll continue to break you out of every prison you ever find yourself walled into….if you make a commitment to Him:

Stop at nothing to make your life, worth every single moment for Christ. Start today.

Picture your favorite vacation spot. Make sure it’s the one with the most dramatic, scenic...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:43:41 -0500

Picture your favorite vacation spot. Make sure it’s the one with the most dramatic, scenic landscape. In other words…not Gary, Indiana. I hope there’s an ocean there…or mountains. Maybe both? if you’re really smart I bet there’s palm trees and Jimmy Buffet there too, right now, as you’re picturing it.

You know that place where you’ve stood time and time again and probably said something like this, “I could wake up to this EVERY single day of my life and NEVER get tired of it”.

Well, I’m here to tell you…that’s a load of crap.

It may take longer than usual, but sooner or later that scenery wouldn’t trump your complaining. That breathtaking landscape wouldn’t be the escape it is right now in your mind. That’s why it’s so powerful. YOU AREN’T USED TO IT. When we get used to something that beautiful, our eyes become calloused. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the beauty, or even respect it and gaze upon it…but over time…we just plain expect it. We’re not surprised by it anymore. Your therapeutic, much needed retreat will slowly blend into the background of your everyday life.

I have friends that live up North where I go with the guys a few times a year. It’s absolutely stunning, the way the aqua clear, cold northern water lays up against the white rocks as pine trees jet magically from nowhere. Peace and quiet, not a soul in site. Man, I wish I was there right now, starring at it. Taking one of my patented naps in the middle of the woods while the sun is hitting me just enough to keep me warm and the wind that’s whipping around the tree tops makes a perfect sound to fall asleep to but never creeps down low enough to make me cold. WHOA! You lost me there for a second…

Anyway, about my friends that live up there and stare at that beauty every single day of their lives: They prove my point. They don’t even see it. They’re busy with life. My precious retreat of amazing, recharging, healing, tortellini soup for the busy pastors soul…is smack dab in the middle of their problems, their vocations, their busy family life, their running kids back and forth to school.

My oasis can literally be seen as they sit at their breakfast table, 30 feet from the waters edge.

Forget me, go back to your place.

You know the story of Lazarus. Read these verses from John Chapter 11.

11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”16 So Thomas, called the Twin,t said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

You totally just skimmed that, so go back and read verses 14-15.

Did you catch that? Jesus says FOR YOUR SAKE, I’m glad it worked out this way (that the Laz Man went ahead and died), so you can completely be amazed, surprised, inspired and renewed when we all head back there and I proceed to, you know…bring him back TO LIFE.

Think about it. Had they been around the Lazinator as he was dying it would have inevitably been a yawn fest as Jesus, the Son of God found yet another creative way to heal him. Sadly the only thing keeping the disciples awake apparently, when Jesus was healing someone of a terminal illness, was the guessing game on HOW he would do it. Spit in some dirt and rub it on them? Grab an olive branch and slap them in the face with it? Take off his Jesus sandals and dance around them 3 times while juggling 3 fish?

Just when you think I’m taking this too far in my speculation…RE-READ verse 15 up there ^^.

Apparently Jesus knew these guys were so used to seeing Him suck cancer and aids away from people that every once in a while, even the disciples needed a good ‘old fashioned death raising.

I bet there’s a lot of things Jesus has been doing in your life lately that you’re just plain used to. It’s ok, those blessings have just turned into my oasis up north, and you’re my friends that live there…innocently used to God.

Every once in a while GOD KNOWS He needs to give us something that will REALLY make us believe, or be inspired, or be healed, or be rejuvenated.

If you’re desperately needing that right now, get un-used to His blessings. Take a step back and be grateful. Let the part of you that EXPECTS things from God….die.

Just like vers 16 up there says…sometimes we have to ‘die’, to keep His retreat inside of us fresh and inspiring…every single morning the sun comes up.