Just Bob Bouncing His Thoughts Around

Interesting How Life Changes

2010-06-14T06:40:00.001-07:00

I find it absolutely fascinating to pause and reflect on how differently I see life today than I did just 11 years ago. This past weekend I celebrated 11 years of marriage to the most wonderful lady I know. What an unbelievable blessing to live life with someone so terrific!

So, when I think back to 11 years ago (and remember the awesome side-swipe hairdo that accompanied that stage of life) my concerns were wrapped up in finishing my senior year of college (and getting to live off the salary that my new bride would be making) and living in a house other than the one I grew up in for the first time. In so many ways looking back, life seemed so simple and free of cares. My plan was to become a middle school math teacher, golf all summer, and someday think of having kids.

Well, I never became a teacher in the classroom, we've moved 4 times, now live 900 miles from where I grew up, have two great kids and my golf game has become very rusty. It's not how I drew it up or would have ever expected it to look today.

But...I wouldn't change it for any other life. It is the life God has blessed me with and I appreciate everything about it. And I am now amazed that I have come to the realization that I have no deep desire to attempt to figure out where I'll/we'll be 11 years from now. My desire is to take each day with my eyes focused on Jesus that I would be willing to go where he asks me to go and do what he wants me to do. And, even though on many levels there are many more cares of life now than 11 years ago, there is nothing more important than becoming a sold-out and obedient follower of Jesus Christ.

Weeds and Tomatoes

2010-05-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

I went into my garden last night to see if my plants were doing well and see if all the seeds that had been buried in the ground had decided to show themselves to the world yet. To my delight I saw all kinds of beans, peas, okra, cucumbers, pumpkins and squash having broken through the soil. The tomatoes and peppers seemed to be growing well, but I also noticed another phenomenon. I noticed there were things growing in the garden that I had not even planted, and didn't want growing in the garden. Those species of plants called weeds. It's amazing, they will grow no matter what.

As I looked around at the plants growing I started thinking about how much time and care it takes to get the plants that I want to grow to take off and become healthy. I have to make sure they get enough water, I have to make sure I don't plant them until after the last frost, they need to be in a place that gets enough sun. There are so many variables that must be fulfilled in order for the plants to get a good start and have every opportunity to grow and mature. But, what I notice about the weeds is they just grow. I don't have to do anything special for them, they just seem to go crazy.

As I noticed this reality I began to think about how similar this scenario is to our spiritual reality. It takes a lot of focus and intention to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I have to make sure that I spend time in his word, in prayer and reflection in order for his goodness to come alive in me. But, what I notice is that the weeds of my life, those things that I really don't want to be there, have a way of showing up. And if I'm not quick to address them and take care of them they begin to grow and get bigger and bigger. And soon what started out as just a little something that wasn't that big of a deal can overwhelm my life.

This reality has been real in my life as well as many that I have watched around me. The small and insignificant weeds, if allowed to grow along side my life in Christ will eventually take over. I will be captured by these sins and the life sucking habits, attitudes and character of a life overgrown with "weeds."

It amazes me the life lessons all around me, if I will just take the time to watch and listen to the voice of God. To think a garden full of plants and weeds could cause me to take account of my life...

Just Be a Blessing

2010-04-19T06:26:00.001-07:00

It has been a good practice this year to read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Reading through all the stories in the Old Testament has been a reminder that God's desire for Israel was to be a blessing to all the world, for them to be so faithful in their trust and obedience to God that others would know him as well. Rather than being ruthlessly obedient and fiercely faithful they allowed their allegiance to drift and were constantly wavering between seeking after God and serving themselves. Not so much different than what I have experienced in my own life, unfortunately.

I have been addressing in my thoughts recently the correct way to address sin issues in the lives of people who are very nominal when it comes to the faith. And I even categorize others' faith with caution because I understand very well that I have no insight into their heart. But it seems that there is to be fruit in our lives as well that gives evidence to what is going on inside. So, with that being said maybe a better explanation is how as a pastor and a friend of these individuals do I love them and support them and encourage them even in the midst of them making choices which are in opposition to God's plans. And how do I enter into the tough discussions of life that allow them to understand that we don't just live any way we desire and believe (falsely) that God doesn't mind when we don't really seek to honor him above all else.

It has been a minor war going on inside of me that has left me questioning what I am doing and how I'm going about it. The discussion goes something like this: "If I seek to show them grace and love in the midst of these choices them I'm going easy on the sin and giving them another reason to just continue to live in the life style they are living without knowing the truth of their sin. I don't want to come off easy on them and just pretend that any way they want to live is good enough, because God desires complete obedience. On the other hand there are concrete things that I can do, or intentionally not do which will really make them understand that I believe they are living in sin, and by doing them or not doing them will most likely cut off all relationship with me and with the church." And I know even as I think through this conversation I can think of very influential people in my life who would fall on both sides of those responses. People that I believe love God and follow him. When it's discussed in the theoretical it seems that the hard-line is the popular view, but I've found it's a whole lot different when there are actual faces and situations that enter those realities.

All of that is just background to what I believe was a terrific encounter with God this morning. When I got out of bed and was still in the "fog" of morning I had the most concrete "encounter" with the voice of God that I have had for some time. It was simple, but extremely real and pointed. It was simply this: "Be a blessing. Bless people." I know, that's not really profound is it? But for me, for this moment it was vital, it was an answer to prayer and a re-orienting of my heart. See I think I had fallen into that place of thinking that my place is to be the judge of sin and the keeper of God's grace. But I know that is not my place. My responsibility is to be a light and grace giver, and as I do so there will be time for me to speak truth into the lives of others, but unless they know I'm for them, those words will most likely defeat, offend and separate. But when they are spoken within the context of relationship and love, they still may offend, but they will be received out out of relationship, which I believe is significant.

I'm so thankful that God would be gracious enough with me to simply uncover something that I know in my head, but, unfortunately, forget to live in my heart; to simply bless others...to find ways in every moment of my day to uplift and engage people for the glory of God.

Thank you Father for this reminder today. Thank you for the freedom it brings to simply find ways to bless those you bring into my life. As I attempt to bless them I will depend deeply upon your Spirit to lead the way and empower the ability to do so. May you be glorified in this process.

Throwing this out there...

2010-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Is there anything that you would really like for me to address in a coming sermon? Something that you have questions about or concerns over? Anything that you are dealing with in life (topics, not necessarily specific examples) and know that others do as well that could be raised in a future sermon. There are many times that we each have real life issues that we need a place to discuss and throw out there. So, if there is anything that you are dealing with or wondering about, I would love to hear from you and maybe that topic will show up on a future Sunday morning!

Off to NM

2010-03-17T12:36:00.001-07:00

So it's time for our annual conference and we're heading to New Mexico. Looking forward to the time away with my wife and the interaction with the other pastors and leaders in our conference and denomination. These are always great times of learning, being refreshed and challenged.

As I think about preparing for the session I'm to give on Saturday that pertains to "Being all things to all people: partnering with families" I am really excited, but I have been extremely challenged to think through exactly how that should be done and how we need to revamp some of the ways we have been attempting to do that and become more strategic and intentional if we really want to see that happen well. It is nothing greater than introducing someone to Christ and then walking with them as we learn how to live out our love for him in a community of grace.

Look out NM, here we come!

Stopped in my tracks.

2010-03-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

There are just some statements that stop me in my tracks. Times when I read something that has such a profound nugget of truth that I just can't continue with "business as usual." This is one of those quotes:

"Here's the gospel: you're more sinful than you ever dared believe; you're more loved than you ever dared hope."

—Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian

If this is true, which I believe it is, it has the potential to shake me to such a degree that life as I have known it, cannot be the same! When I am confronted with the true holiness and perfection of God I am brought to my knees. I cannot stand in his presence. But, life as usual says: you may not be perfect, but you're really a pretty good guy. Look at those around you and read the news and you can feel pretty good about what you do and really good that at least you're not like "him." But reading the gospel gives me a different picture, a picture I am not comfortable with; a picture that I try to avoid whenever possible, and minimize at the least. It's this picture of how far I have fallen. And if that is where the story ended, life would be nothing but a hopeless mess.

Thank God that it doesn't end there! That is the reality of who I am in myself, but it is not who I must remain. Because of the ruthless love of God, the love that is so much deeper than I can describe or put into words, he came after us to defeat sin and death and give life.

Oh, if I were able to understand the depth of my sin, and the depth of God's love, life could not, and cannot go on as usual. I must lean hard into the forgiveness and love of my Father, as I realize the depth of my sin.

I'm thankful for those statements I read that stop me in my tracks. Those truths which don't allow me to keep going as normal.

Blogging Newbie

2010-03-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's taken until now for me to spend time writing a blog. But, after all the world clamoring for my addition to the blogospere, or at least my wife, I conceded. But my hope with the blog is not as much for me to type as it is for me to give people the oppotunity to help me think and to teach me what they have learned. So, I'll be writing questions and inviting you to help me think through scripture or an article or philosophy. I'm looking forward to this journey and believe it will be lots of fun. With that, I'm going to end my very first blog. Man, what a sense of accomplishment!