My Last Swing!

I’m going to give this online mode of communication one last try.  My plan is to blog at least three times a week through September.  These posts will include a mix of my personal quiet time notes (WCC’s summer reading plan), info about what is happening at Wallula Christian Church and stuff you are far less interested in concerning my family and our daily happenings.  

I want to be consistent in blogging to improve my writing skills, communicate better as a leader at Wallula Christian Church and hopefully have a little bit of an online record for my kids concerning my thoughts on their lives.

If by the end of September, I have not been faithful to this mode of communication I think I’ll hang ‘em up for good – - or at least for Michael Jordan good!

Bridezilla!

This Sunday we’ll be starting a new sermon series at Wallula Christian Church.  Bridezilla!  will examine six couples in scripture to see what we can learn about Godly marriages, living all out for God and more!  I hope you’ll try hard to join us this Sunday at 9:00 am or 10:30 am as we begin this series with the very first married couple, Adam and Eve.

Coach Bill Self’s 3 Keys to Leadership

Okay, for all you silly Jayhawk fans, I heard Bill Self talk about his 3 keys to leadership on the radio today. I really think Coach Self is onto something with these three simple principles.

1. Get along with people – - This is sometimes an overlooked idea, especially with leadership types. People drawn to leadership positions tend to be very driven, task oriented people which is great, leaders need to have a motor that doesn’t stop. The problem is that leaders also need followers. In fact with out anyone to follow to serve alongside of leaders, leaders aren’t well, leaders! In order to mobolize the forces leaders have to get along with others. I thought this was a tremendous first key!

2. Surround yourself with people strong in your areas of weakness. I really like Bill Self. He seems to be a guy who has balanced a great sense of confidence in himself with a strong dose of humility. He acknowledged that a great deal of his success as a basketball coach is due to others picking up his areas of weakness. We all have weaknesses and one of the keys to leadership is finding folks to help in those areas!

3. Get people to buy into the vision – I’m a huge big picture guy. I love to think about what God wants to do through us, so I thought it really interesting that vision buy in was #3. I can’t say I disagree with Coach Self. If people are turned away by the way you treat them or if you never allow them any meaningful way to contribute folks will never be around long enough to catch the vision!

Running (and biking and swimming) the Race

Last Sunday while most dad’s grilled a few burgers and enjoyed a cool drink, one dad we know was running and biking and swimming his way through the first ever Kansas Ironman competition. Here is how our own George Hodge describes it in his own words:

“Yesterday (Sun – yes Father’s Day) I competed in the inaugural Ford IRONMAN Kansas 70.3 Triathlon out west of Lawrence, Kansas at Clinton Lake. This race consisted of a 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike race, and ended with a 13.1 mi half marathon run. The bike ride was very hilly and the run was 13.1 miles of loops, twists, and figure 8’s thru several campgrounds out by the lake. It was like running thru a cornfield maze with all those turns. Here are my stats:

Swim – 45:05 (average)
Bike – 3:06:47 (about what I expected for a hilly course)
Run – 2:02:03 (5 min faster than what I ran in Oklahoma City)”

I’m just super impressed with the discipline, determination and I’m sure a few other “d” words that allowed George to finish this race. Way to go George!

God’s Big Backyard

Tomorrow is a big day at Wallula Christian Church! We’ll be dealing with a big topic in scripture – Fatherhood! and we’ll be starting a week filled with big fun for all the kids we know! God’s Big Backyard is our theme for Vacation Bible School this year! Kids in preschool through 5th grade will have a big, big time and it all starts tomorrow evening! 6:00 – 8:30 pm are the times for this exciting week long event!

Severe Weather

Wow! What a crazy season so far! We need to be sure to be praying for folks dealing with loss of property, homes and even loved ones due to severe weather this season. The midwest has been hit pretty hard. I don’t remember a season with so many different events i.e. floods, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Although, I’m sure people say that same thought every year.

I talked with some friends who work at Manhattan Christian College. MCC’s campus sustained no damage (MCC is directly across the street from KSU). We can be thankful for that. We should all pray that MCC and other churches will be a powerful witness in the community for Christ as students at KSU and other families and businesses deal with damage etc.

Summer Prayer Guide Day #4

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Observation: Jesus was a rebel. I mean that is what people always say. And it makes sense, Jesus said, “I came to seek and save the lost,” He ate with sinners and called tax collectors (the enemy) to follow Him. Jesus also taught in the synagogue and went to the temple. Jesus made every effort to interest the religious establishment in His ministry. They seemed to be interested, but really afraid at the same time. They were amazed by Jesus authority and the power He displayed over everything!

Application: Jesus’ authority came from the intimacy He enjoys with God (as one third of the trinity). While we can never enjoy this kind of intimacy, our relationship with God can be much deeper than it is presently. The authority our lives speak with will grow as our relationship with Jesus grows.

Prayer: Dear God, You are an amazing, awesome, powerful God! I am so amazed that You would desire a relationship with me. Thank you so much for loving me.

Summer Prayer Guide Day #3

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Observation: We actually don’t know a lot about the calling of Jesus’ disciples. We know that Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John were all fisherman. We know that Jesus calls these ordinary fisherman to something bigger. He promises to make them fishers of men. Jesus promises that He would change their lives forever and use them to change the lives of others. The story of calling the first disciples always makes me say, “Wow!” I mean, these guys seem to hear Jesus’ invitation and they drop everything to follow Him at that moment. Cool!

Application: Jesus calls these guys to follow Him and gradually increases the level of commitment. I think we experience the same call today. He calls us to investigate a life with Him. He calls us to give up our old life and begin a new life. He calls us to serve His church and the world. He calls us to focus on our relationships with Jesus.

Prayer: Father God, make me a fisher of men.

Summer Vacation Prayer Guide Day #2

Scripture: Mark 1:9-12

Observation: It is so cool that Jesus took this step to be baptized. Here was a guy living a perfect life. A life that was with out sin. He was the perfect man! Even more than that Jesus was God! Jesus decided to humble himself and be baptized by John (an amazing man of God, a great prophet and guy willing to give his life for his cause – but not perfect). Jesus wanted so desperately to maintain as intimate relationship with His heavenly Father as possible and I believe a big step in that relationship was this baptism. We read God’s response when Heaven opens up and the spirit descends on Jesus. This intimacy was essential as Jesus is tempted by Satan and recovers with the help of angels.

Application: Lets do what ever it takes to build a more intimate relationship with God. If that means taking a step we may feel is somewhat unnecessary (like baptism) lets take it! If that means spending a few minutes with our kids after their bed time to read their devotion, lets do it! If that means going out of our way to help somebody at work or in the neighborhood, lets do it! Lets do what ever it takes to take that next step in our relationship with Jesus!

Prayer: Father God, help me to understand what next step you want me to take in order to get closer to you!

Summer Prayer Guide Day #1

I thought I would post a few of my thoughts from each day of WCC’s Summer Prayer Guide.

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Observations: The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. These words begin the book of Mark. It really is a very cool sentance. It points back to the idea that Jesus was involved in creation, that He is God – the beginning and the end! Gospel is a word that literally means “good news.” The story of Jesus is very good news! It is such good news that John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized people in the wilderness. He dressed in camel hair clothing and ate locust and honey. John game up the comforts of a “normal” life to share the good news of the coming Savior!

Application: The good news of Jesus is worth sharing! It is worth giving up a “normal” life if that is what it means to lead the way for Jesus in the life of our friends or family.

Prayer: Father God, I pray that you would use me in a powerful way, just like you used John the Baptist, to tell others about Jesus. Help me to make my actions match my words so that the story of Jesus is communicated in everything I say and do. Thank you so much for the Holy Spirit!