Guilt and the Blood

I get it. I completely understand. There is a specific sin that has troubled you. An issue in your life that has repeatedly reared its ugly head, and caused you to stumble. Maybe it's a number of these issues, maybe it's just one. Guilt has set in and now you are crippled with remorse, sadness, and regret.

Here's what you need to know: You are forgiven. How do I know, because Christ has made it so. 1 Peter 1:18-19 is poignant in this fact. The blood from a sinless Lamb was given to cover you. But just so you are aware, the Blood is not for you.

The righteousness of God is what demands that we be right in order to stand before God. Being we cannot be "right" on our own, Christ died in order to shed his blood, so it could be applied to you and I upon our conversion. Now that we are covered in the sinless blood of Christ, we are put into "right"ness, allowing God to commune with us. You see the Blood is not for us, rather it is to satisfy God. 

But because of our repeated sin, we feel that the blood is of little value in comparison to the sins we commit, so we guilt our way into feeling as though the Blood of Christ is not valuable enough to be used in the redemption process of our souls. However, we, on this side of Glory, are unable to place a true value on the Blood of Christ. If the Blood of Christ is for God first, then we must accept the value that God places on it. It is a matter of faith in the Word of God. The reason the blood is of utmost value is simple because God says it is of utmost value. Case Closed.

If God says that Blood is valuable enough to cover our sins in order to stand in righteousness along side him, the the Blood is that valuable. If God says the Blood is valuable enough to be the redemption of mankind, then the Blood is that valuable. By holding onto guilt, you are in essence devaluing the blood based on feelings. Instead, look to God knowing that he as put you in right standing through the Blood of Christ.

Jesus is not First

Often I hear people talk about how they but God first. They put him first in:

• Giving
• Prayer
• Finances
• Effort
• Blah
• Blah

The problem is, Christ becomes like a task on a to do list. As soon as you "check" him off, it allows you to move on to the next item on your list. Jesus becomes a check box in your daily routine. "Well I prayed first thing this morning... now I can move on from Jesus to the rest of my day." 

Instead of putting Christ first, we should put him right in the middle. It should look something like this...

This puts Christ right in the center of everything we do. When we make a "To-Do" for work, we look at it through the eyes of Christ. 

Paul puts it very clearly in Galatians 2:20 "no longer me, but Christ!" This is really the premise when we make the decision to put God right in the middle of everything. It becomes what is normal to be a Christian. Putting God first is awesome, putting God right in the middle, putting him in my heart, is what is the normal. 

By taking away the "me" in lifes situations, it allows Christ to reign, and what better of a place to reign than right in the middle of everything. Not just in my decisions, not just in my daily doings, not just in my relationships, rather in the middle of everything. This puts Jesus in the middle. 

The 5 Concentric Cirlces

A few months ago my world was rocked by an amazing Professor. Bill Temple has since become a guide and mentor for me. His enormous amounts of world evangelism and travel has given him the well rounded view of a righteous walk with God. Not liberal, but not a fundamentalist.

After one of our classes we were witting around chatting about doctrinal concepts, when we began to talk about the "Essentials". What were in fact the essentials to salvation. Bill took that as a cue to pick up a marker and walk over to the dry erase board.

He drew 5 concentric circles. He labeled them from inner to outer 1. Essentials 2. Orthodoxy 3. Important 4. Unimportant 5. Speculative.

He asked by friend and I to rattle off a few Christian doctrines and to place them in their appropriate circle. For the most part we agreed, but there other we couldn't agree on. I felt that tithing was Orthodox, while my buddy felt it was important. We began to discuss the doctrine of tithing and where it should go in the chart. All the while, Bill looked on. He knew he had us right where he wanted us.

"You 2 are acting like the rest of the church! Take a look at the circles again. Notice that 95% of items you placed, you agreed on. But that pesky 5% has you all hung up over each other. Why not glory in the fact that you have a 95% agreement, instead of bickering over the other 5%?"

Why? Why do you ask? Because thats the way our forefathers did it! They argued and bickered and backbit and got all hot under the collar over the 5% and so am I!

How ridiculous does that sound? Bill was ultimately right. Jordan and I had our essentials listed exactly alike. We had all but one listed alike in the Orthodox category. Why was that 5 % so important? Well... it really isn't. Essentially what is important is that we maintain personal convictions over these matters, and that we leave them as such... PERSONAL CONVICTIONS!

I encourage you to do the same. Break out the dry erase board and draw your circles. Put your thoughts down into those categories. Not because your Pastor said that's where it belongs, but because you yourself have been convinced by the Word of God and the workings of the Holy Ghost.

Emotionalism

Some say Pentecostalism is full of emotionalism. They contend that dancing before the Lord, exuberant worship, leaping, and just plain "gettin wit it" is all based on emotion, and not the leading of the Holy Spirit. To be quite honest, I would say they are mostly right.

Let me build a bit of a foundation.

A story is told  of a wife coming down the stairs with her suitcase in hand. Her husband of almost 30 years is sitting in his Lazy-Boy watching the game. "I'm leaving you Bruce!" Bruce barely turns his head towards her. "Why's that Linda?" "Because you never tell me you love me any more!" Bruce straightened his chair to the upright position, looked toward Linda and said, "30 years ago, at our wedding, I looked at you and told you I loved you! If I had changed my mind, I'm sure I woulda let you know!"

So let me ask you; how would your wife act if you stopped telling her I love you? How would she act if the passion was dimmed, and the emotions ran dry? According to psychologists' women need to be touched 20 times a day. How would your lovely wife react if you never touched her? How would your bride respond if you decided to leave the emotions at the proverbial door?

We, as the church are also, the Bride of Christ. He surely has proven his love for us daily through the death of Christ. Daily, he allows us new breath and new opportunities. If he didn't do any of these things, I would say he deserves no reward of emotion. However, he did! He deserves us to love on him.

Do you think it was the Spirit of God possessing King David when he danced? Do you think it was the Holy Spirit taking control of him? I see no proof of that. Rather he proved himself to be exuberant in spite of his internal struggles. He understood that if you do the deed, the feelings will follow.

Luke 6:26 does not implore us to Leap because of joy, rather to leap in order to receive joy. Do the deed and the feeling will follow. 

Does the Bible ask us to dance for joy, no. However, it seems to me David gave us a strong example, and when you couple that with Luke 6, we can now build upon it.

You may call me an emotionalist, and to that I say... Yep! I am so terribly emotional about what God has done, and is doing in and through me, that I can't help but leap, dance, and run. You may call me an emotionalist,  but that's ok with me.

What do you do, when you dont know what to do?

I lost my job in December for reasons unknown to me. It was 2 weeks before Christmas, and although it was rough to see my kids only get a few things under the tree (which we didn't have), there was an unusual peace about it. Thankfully, I qualified for unemployment, had some other little money coming in to ensure the bills were paid, and even decided on 12/31 at noon to drive to OKC to see my in-laws. An unusual peace.

One of the reasons for this peace was I had applied for a position, I knew I was PERFECT for, and I had a few insiders helping me along with the process. The position would have been amazing. It was with a local university, which after a year they would pay for my Masters degree. Good pay, good benefits, good  environment. It was the perfect job for me.

I found out 2 days ago, after 3 separate interviews, I didn't get the job. And they wouldn't tell me why. They gave me a canned answer of "All I can tell you is, the position posted was very competitive." However, they reposted the position yesterday, telling me no one else has been offered the position as of yet.

Honestly, I was stunned unto numbness. I thought I had this one in the bag. I had inside help, the process went smooth, the interviews went great. The environment was Christian, the people have similar values, the school is solid in Christian standards, but it didn't happen.

So, I had to ask myself, what do you do, when you dont know what to do?

I may say that it is impossible, but God says All things are possible! Luke 18:27
I may say I want to forget it all, but God says His grace is sufficient! 2 Cor 12:9
I often can't figure things out, but God will direct my steps! Proverbs 3:5-6
No matter how hard I try, I just can't do it, but God can do ALL things! Phillipians 4:13
With a family I am worried about tomorrow, but God asks for all my baggage and cares! 1 Peter 5:7
With all the stress I can't manage it all, but God says all my needs will be supplied! Phillipians 4:19

I was perfect for this job. But God has something else in store. I dont know what it is, to be honest, but I have already seen God supply, order, and direct. I think you might be wise to trust in him for your situation as well. He CAN and WILL do it!

A broken home?

This may sound a little trivial, but I don't like the term, broken home. What's so broken about it? The fact that your mom and dad's marriage didn't survive doesn't mean your home is broken. Why is this terminology so problematic? Because people who come from broken homes, sometimes take on the idea that being they came form a home that was "broken", they must also be broken.

I prefer to say, that you came from a home that was built differently. Why take on such a negative connotation? I was speaking with a mentor and Pastor a few days ago about this subject. He mentioned he works with a number of young men at church who come from "broken homes". And now the majority of them, who are 25-28, are unwilling to fully commit to marriage. Anytime their family or girlfriend mentions getting hitched, they flee for the hills. They often ditch the girl that is actually perfect for them because they are afraid to end up like their parents. They are afraid of breaking someone else.

Avoiding situations that could cause harm, is like avoiding water for fear of drowning. One must take the chance of getting hurt if one wants to further themselves and their family. I look at it this way, if you have nothing to lose in a relationship, then you're really not in it.

So, don't think of your home as broken. Think of it as built differently, or maybe having 2 different homes. You're not broken. You are exactly as God wants you to be, forgiven, saved, and validated.

What to do with the Dream

I have always had a bit of a "entrepreneurial spirit" about me. Ok it's more than a bit. I have been attempting to start and run a thriving business since I was a kid. It might have been a service, but typically it was some type of witty invention.

When I was about 8 I spilt an entire jug of sweet tea in the fridge. It was everywhere! All over every leftover tupperware, all over every bag of fruit or veggie. It was sticky, and I was frustrated to no end having to clean it before my mom got home to see the mess. The answer: a small thin shelf that slid underneath the fridge shelf that if any liquid or crumb fell into, it could be remedied easily and without much mess.  The idea seemed almost stupid it was so good.

Now I dont know about you, but when I was 8, I didn't know any venture capitalist, or investors, so my idea just sat on my mind waiting for the right person to come along to pitch it to to bring it to homes in every city! 3 years later, I saw an ad for the same idea in a Kenmore fridge. I was devastated! But did I learn my lesson?

I was 20 something and a buddy of mine and myself decided we wanted to shoot extreme sports videos backed up by Christian rock music, and then have people give their testimonies to cover the gap left open by Christian media. We shot the footage, and then I went on vacation. 2 weeks after I got back, one of the Baldwin Brothers had released and entire series of Christian Extreme Sports videos online, and the servers couldn't keep up.

When God gives you an idea, you have to run with it. If you dont, he is liable to give it to someone else. When God tells you to do something, you better just go ahead and do it. He's a patient guy, but he won't let your laziness,/stubbornness/procrastination/ be what keeps work going forward.

If he called you to a distant land... Go!
If he sent you the right man/woman to marry and you're getting cold feet... Commit!
If he gave you a crappy job... Work it!
If he called you to ministry... Minister!

If you are waiting on the right person to come along to make all your dreams come true then you will be waiting a really long time.

If he doesn't pass it off to someone else, he might just redirect your journey to make you look at it again. Look at Jonah! Don't end up in the belly of a whale to find the nerve to get your act going! Let God be your strength and wisdom and get to work!!!

Do you dream any more?

When I was a kid, I used to anticipate a dream. It was re-occurring. It started with me going to the living room and there sat my grandfather, who had recently died. He would ask me to crawl up into his lap and he would tell me a story. I don't remember the story. I don't even know if I just thought he was telling me a story. All I remember is looking at him. Examining every pit in his worn face. Every wrinkle in the corner of his eyes. I would run my hand across his cheek feeling the stubble from a day old shave. I could see the skin beneath his hair as his stark white hair thinned from old age. He was always wearing a thread worn white dress shirt along with a pair of grey slacks.

As a 7 year old, I was scared of forgetting what he looked like after his death. I am luck to have had this dream, as sometimes I can recall in my mind just how he looked. Both happy, and sad. I can recall the sound of his voice, and even his smell. It was all because of this dream. Even 25 years later, I can tell you details about my grandpa's appearance.

As believers we are asked to dream as well. We are told to hope for Christ return, and to hold close to a vision, lest we perish. However, in out maturity as adults, and as religious people, we begin to lose the art of dreaming. my mom used to always say, It's free to dream!" It still is.

What was it 5, 10, 20 years ago that you dreamt of for the Kingdom? Were you to be a pastor, worship leader, writer, or missionary? Were you going to be the one who traveled to unknown lands and delivered the Gospel to fresh hungry ears? Were you going to take up the role of teacher to those who needed direction and education to take u thier own cross? Were you going to be the mentor at the local "Y" in order to be a Godly influence in some young persons life? Were you going to travel around the world just lending a hand in impoverished 3rd world countries, all to the glory of God?

Take a look at John the Revelator. He was 92 when he wrote the book of Revelation. What if John had let his dream of doing something great for God die? If John can do it at 92, you can do it today!

Time to start again...

Its been almost a year since I blogged. I went through some tough times that made me retreat from the world, but now things are getting to a place where I not only need to write about it, but also keep account of what God is doing, where he is doing it, and how he does it.

In October we moved out of Denver to Greeley, CO. Its about an hour north of Denver, and i can't be happier about the move. We live in a beautiful house for the money, we found a great church where we are sitting on staff, and recently due to a promotion, I no longer travel 3 hours round trip to work, just 30 minutes. God has been so good to us, I can't believe it. My prayer is I never lose sight of his blessings.

Over the next few days, weeks, months, and years, I am going to start new.., again. With the help of a dear friend of mine, and fellow blogger,  Aaron Stimpson,  I will be dual posting on my personal blog, as well as his blog tapvine.com.  The main premise of the peice will be the development, the planning, and the execution of developing a Missional/Gospel Community in my home. The hope is to articulate my experience not only for my own good, but also to those who also desire to see God move like he has always wanted to: in our lives.

Recently I have found myself very frustrated with my life in ministry. It all seems very mundane. For me, it seems it all become very well packaged, and presented in a form that the church was never supposed to look like. The church as we know it today, was never hoped for by our Lord Jesus, rather it was institutionalized by Constatine.

My sincere hope is that through this journey I take, my church, as well as those I influence will begin to look at their homes as a place for the Gospel to be lived, experienced, and loved. And that through this Missional Transition, we will see the world changed, for the Glory of Christ.

The Things I’m Tired of!

Over the last few weeks and months I've come to a pretty startling revelation… I'm tired! I mean c'mon! I'm only 29! Should I really be this tired? Should I feel the weight of work, family, and church so heavily that I am physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually wore out??? Probably not, so here are the things I'm tired of dealing with.

1. Bills – Why is it that every day I go to the mailbox, theres another one there? Don't these people know that a) I don't want their bill and b) I don't have any money?
   
2. Being overweight – Sure it took me some time to start looking this good, but the sight of my toes is slowly starting to diminish.
   
3. Not being sold out – I want to do GREAT things for God. I want to be listed as one of God men of faith and action. I want to have an assurance that God is doing great things through me. I sincerely want all these things. So why don't I really feel that I am there yet?
   
4. School – I love to learn, but this school stuff is for the birds. Can't I just get a "buy your degree online" degree and call it quits?
   
5. Work – My job is pretty cool, but I find it hard to do some of the things I really like to do because of it, like writing. Cant it just go away, yet still send me a check every 2 weeks?
   

The basic answer to all of these questions, whether I like it or not, is no, or don't be stupid!

Is it time for a radical change in my life? Is it time for a change that will impact me and my family in such a drastic way, I will look back on this day for years to come as the day it all changed? The basic answer to this question is yes!

Are you in need of some change yourself? Need some time to really make a difference in your life. Why not try this. Write down all the things that need some change and change them. We can do it together. We could be accountable to each other. Let's get it done and make an impact on our eternity.

Moving Forward

I know I know... It's been way long since posting my last post, but life has been super wierd as of late. Since my last post we moved, have an additional kid, and I have taken 3 classes at Colorado Christian University. All 3 of which I passed with flying colors. So dont give me nay guff!!! Other things have also happened, some not so great, but I wont dwell on craziness of such ridiculousness.

So where was I... Oh yeah... Moving Forward.

I am amazed by the amount of people in my life who refuse to move forward! It could be a system they have been in, or a type of lifestyle they have accepted. A lot of people decide that just because it's been done that wat for centuries upon centuries, or even the last 10 years it is supposed to be that way, and theres no escaping it. I for one, refuse to accept that notion.

Sure, innovation often leads to utter failure. Whatever it is that you innovated can many times leave you looking like you really had no clue at all, but without innovation you are sure to lose your ability to relate to the modern day world.

Lets look at how the communication realm has changed over the last 80 years.



So really??? Do you? You think the way we communicate today is just going to be this was for a few years then go back to hand written letters, and snail mail??? Of course your dont. Youre way to smart to think that... right???

This is innovation at its finest!!! Problem is in the religious circle I find myself in, they have NO IDEA how to integrate effective, relevant, modern day communication into their lives. They went from radio straight to internet thinking, and still thinking, television was sinful and caused too much sin in peoples lives.

HELLO!!! Seen the internet lately???

Here is what has really happened. Radio was great!!! Did a good job of delivering an effective message. Then TV was shunned as a way to promote sin, thus made diabolical and removed from the home. Then internet came along and people went crazy. Why did they go crazy? Because they had no learned temperance and self control by allowing television into their homes. So when the interwebs came about, there they were, up late in their sanctified offices Googling "XXX", and "Porn", hoping to satisfy their new found uncontrollable urge.

What woulda happened if we coulda just Moved Forward? No wonder record amounts of ministers are falling to the temptation of internet porn. They never learned how to Move Forward without Moving towards sin.

Steel and Rope

I tell ya, over these last 4 weeks, I have encountered more demons than I care to talk about. It seems like every area of my life is being tested. My finances, my friendships, my relationship with God, and even my relationship with Rebecca.

But here is the good news. Its as if these last 4 weeks have caused my Relationship with Rebecca to become even stronger. I find myself thinking of her more, and me less. I have noticed more about her needs and forgotten about my own. I feel like the pressure that has been evident in our lives, have pressed us together. It has made us one even more than the past.

Steel is produced by intertwining iron and typically carbon. Steel can, and is made using other alloying elements like tungsten, and chromium, but carbon is the most prominent. Carbon is basically melded together with the iron to stop the molecular structure of the iron from shifting, thus making it extremely hard.

I feel as if Rebecca and I have also gone through this melding process as of recent. My relationship with her feels even stronger. The things we go through have melded us together and as we encounter problems and trials, there isnt any shifting. In essence, we are solid.

The Bible speaks of a 3 stranded cord and how its strength is unmatched. This is easily related to marriage. But most people find themself grasping at straws when it comes to the 3rd strand. Obviously, the first 2 are the husband and wife. But many people make the third strand money or success, imagining the security it holds to be of great value. Others make the 3rd strand excitement, hoping that a marriage that never gets boring will never get old. Countless people replace the 3rd strand with children. This is in hopes a child will fill the hole thier partner has failed to fill on thier own.

The true 3rd strand is only fulfilled through a relationship with Christ. He is the only one who can create true oneness with you and your spouse. Without this third strand your marriage and relationship will have permanent God shaped hole, which nothing else but him can fit.

The only reason I feel Rebecca and I have been able to draw closer is due to the fact, Jesus is our third strand and the one leading us through the melding process.

She's my one and only.

Let the Learning Begin!!!

Today I was privileged to sit and listen to someone I have kind of adopted as a spiritual father, during our midweek service. His lesson on Generational Curses really opened my mind. One of the themes of the entire lesson was "Unless you can come to an understanding that what matters is who you are, not what you are, you will never find your way out of the curses in your life."

So what am I??? Although it doesn't matter as much as who I am, I am arrogant, egotistical, a dreamer, a procrastinator (I'll touch more on that some other time), overweight, a little immature, and not all that great with money. These are the whats in my life. These are what I would be defined as if I couldnt define the who...

Who am I? I am a Child of the Most High King... Yeah... Thats it! To many that doesnt seem all that grandiose, but to me, it means everything. It means I am free of the sins of my fathers. It means I am able to live a life free from condemnation from the "What's" in my life. It means I am able to move forward in a Kingdom I dont belong in. I have been ordained as a child of God.

There is nothing I can do to change that. I am a child of the King, even when I fail. Even when I make mistakes. Even when I lose sight of His amazing Grace. I am still a child of the king. I think so many times I lose sight of even that. But thats because the Love of God is so incomprehensible. It makes no sense. Until you become a father yourself.

My son is 2, and we have another on the way. Mikey got a head start on the "terrible 2's" about 3 months ago. He has begun to fight sleep, throw things, give me dirty looks, make scenes at store and other public places, and begun to be all out disrespectful to Rebecca and me both. Sometimes, I see him, and want beat the snot out of him!!! I mean who does he think he is??? Doesnt he realize it is me who clothes him, feeds, him, changes his diaper, buys more and more, and more diapers, and watches out for his well being as my wife looks at him in similar manners as me??? But come 5:20ish PM, I get home from work, and there he is. Typically playing in the middle of the floor in front of the fireplace. He looks up and smiles so brightly almost as if he knows I have been waiting for that moment since 5:20ish PM the previous day.

Why cant we understand God sees us in the same eyes, but even more compassionately. Why cant we realize that no matter how many mistakes we make, no matter how far we run from God, and no matter how often we sin, God is still ready for us to look up at him at 5:20ish and call on him. No matter what else happened that day, week, month, or lifetime, he's there to scoop us up, take us in his arms, and reaffirm he loves us.

I learned so much today.

Simplicity

Todays been a rough day. Tuesdays are typically this way at work. I work as a Financial Care Rep for T-Mobile and people generally on Tuesdays complain more than usual, nag more than usual, and just plain meaner. I mean come on... pay the bill and you get to use your phone!!! It's quite simple!!! I never understood why people expect something for nothing. You'd be floored at some of the people I speak to each day. Havent made a payment in 4 months but are out of control when we shut their phone off.

On my way home, the Christian Radio guy started talking about how we as "Christians" make so many things so much more complicated, and I couldnt help but start thinking about how difficult I make my own life. If I had to look into each circumstance I either found myself in, or currently am in, I can track probably 9 of 10 back to my own desicions.

Here's what I do...

I look at a situation, analyze the possible outcomes, and run with the most logical option. Sometimes the most logical option will lead me down a path that has never been traveled before, where other times, it leads me down the most commonly traveled. Both paths have led me to some strange places, and even successful places. Problem is, I find myself wasting the success' and trudging through the failures. It's as if I am looking to turn around each failure and make it into an opportunity. Problem is, I am like the captain of a ship... going down with it, and drowning a miserable death!

So why do I over complicate things? Here is the simple answer... it's because of me. Did you read my process of how to make decisions? It was all about logic and good feelings. It had nothing to do with relying on God, or trusting in his divine favor in my life. Rather, I always made decisions based on how it made the most sense to me and those I found counsel in.

Psalms 55:22 (NLT)
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
.
I love that last part... "He will not permit the godly to slip and fall". Bro Kelly Ventura once asked a group "What would you do for God if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt you would succeed?" To be honest with you, I have been rolling that questions through my mind since the question was asked of me about a month ago. What would I do? In like fashion I can apply that to the decisions I make as per the scripture in Psalms I alluded to earlier, God will not allow me to fail if I trust in him!!!

So what will I do, knowing full well God has my back? Trust in him.

"God help me change my thoughts to your thoughts. Help me change my actions to your actions. Lord help me make decisions based on your wisdom. Your word says that through the renewing of my mind will you transform me. So today Lord, renew me, transform me, and make me the person you'd have me to be."

What I am currently reading

I was telling some dear friends of mine just the other day how it is tough for me to read more than one book at a time. I start getting the characters mixed up, story lines crossed, and themes are turned around. So I decided something tonight, Im going to read 3 books at a time, but they will all be different genres so even I can keep up with it all!

Obviously, the Bible will be one of the 4. But not just the KJV, Rather, I will be reading from the New American Standard. The NASB will be for daily reading and devotions, while I will continue to make my elders and the pioneers happy by studying the KJV to ensure continuity as I preach and teach.

Fasting by Janzten. I already started this book some time ago, and as fasting often as well goes, I stopped in the middle. I loved the book, and even would take it to work with me to readh between assignments, but for some weird reason I put it down. But not to worry, to ensure an effective read, I will start over from the begining.

7 Practices of Effective Ministry from North Point Resources. I was recommended this book by Pastor Salomon. I love the subtext "Rethink Your Ministry". This is the type of stuff I live for. Redeveloping the wheel. Taking a metho and beating the snot out of it, until you have exhausted every possible option, then taking one more stab at it! We will call it an obsesion at times, but I am infatuated with making things run smoother, more efficient, and with as little supervision as possible. I'm really looking forward to this book!!!

Black byTed Dekker I am about 7 chapters in. From what I can tell it's a Christian Fantasy meets real world time frame. It's actually set in Denver, which is strange as when the author begins to write about specific streets and landmarks, I can actually get this really good mental image, as I've actually seen that mall, or street! Its actually really good. An easy read, as long as you pay attention... time travel is deffinatly a God thing!!!

What are you reading???

So begins the Transition

I find it quite unusual how quickly God reminds me of how useless I am without him. I've tried my hardest to do it without him, but obviously, fail, fall, stumble, slide, and all out mess up time and time again.

I have a feeling you might have felt the same way at some point. I have a feeling I am not all alone on this one. So to you, and to me, I dedicate this blog.

"The Transition" will be a journal of my journey during the transition of several pivotal areas in my life.

• The Mind - I start back to school to finally finish my BA in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Christian Leadership this next week. "The Mind" segments will consist of my quest to expand my intellectual self and what changes I find my self making along the way.
• The Body - When I got married I was 150 pounds... today... not so much!!! About 65 pounds later I am completely tired of looking like a blob. My Dad died of Lung Disease, at 51, but only after suffering from heart disease, liver disease, back and hip problems, a a general lack of healthy habits. I will be the VERY FIRST to admit I am a novice when it comes to effective exercise, good eating, and all around healthy habits (I'm just a chip of the ol' block now aren't I???), but I plan on exploiting the resources I have and making this one a lasting change in my life!!!
  
• The Soul - I'll be honest, I am no where close to where I need to be spiritually. I constantly feel inadequate for the job God has called me to do. My prayer life is decent, but not strong. My study time is mediocre but far from effective. My overall spiritual health is somewhere right above average, and that will change today. You'll find in the segment prayers I have written, things I have studied, and even sermon notes I have compiled. But most of all it will be a sounding board for me as I travel deeper into God.
• The Checkbook - So, wanna know how to find yourself in debt, not make enough money to cover everything and live paycheck to paycheck??? Come pull up a chair and listen for a bit cuz I am a PRO!!! But no more. No more impulsive spending, unnecessary waste, or general lack of faith that God will take care of my financial needs. You might soon find a post about my spending on junk food... sounds like that might encapsulate more than 1 area here!!!
• The Relationship - My family deserve a better me. Through problems, arguments, and victories, here is the story of how my family does life, and what it teaches me everyday!
• The Vocation - God has called me to Pastor. Right now, I work a full time job for a national cellular phone service provider. I feel so out of place. Everyday I see people who are hurting and find it hard to know it is out of place, and against the law to begin a service around my desk. More than anything you will here about the people I work with and how God is working on them here. And hopefully how he is using me do help out!
  

So here we go!!! Feel free to comment, evaluate, ridicule, poke fun, encourage, or even give me a piece of your mind. I'm ready for a "Transition"!

Josh