Plateau

pla·teau

plaˈtō/

noun

1. 1.

   an area of relatively level high ground.
2. 2.

   a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress.

verb

1. 1.

   reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress.

Some of you who know me closely know that I've been in the process of getting healthier and losing weight for a while now (about 2 years).  Over this time I've taken off approximately 70 lbs.  I'm not trying to brag, but I'm pretty proud of where I've come from, not to mention I've put on a decent amount of muscle in the process.  After losing 70 lbs, my arms are actually an inch bigger!

Anyway, it seems that I have hit a plateau. And, man, it is so frustrating. I have put on and lost the same 5 lbs since august. This week I was back up those 5 lbs again. This can be one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a person when they are in the process of losing weight.  I'm still not sure what I need to do to get past it. But I have a feeling that it will be a matter of eliminating something (wholly or partially) from my diet or adding some new physical activity to my routine.

But plateaus can happen in so many areas of life. Sometimes they happen in relationships. Other times they occur in our professional lives. Yet other times plateaus occur in our spiritual lives.

Breaking through a spiritual plateau is similar to taking on a plateau in weight loss. Chances are you'll need to either cut something unhealthy from your life or add a new physical expression of faith.

If you are feeling stuck spiritually, maybe you'll need to get rid of something you've been holding onto.  It might be something obviously sinful, like an addiction, but it might be something less apparent like spending too much time watching Netflix., too much time tracking your fantasy football team, or checking Facebook on your brand new iPhone.

Other times instead of eliminating something that is hurting your relationship with God, you need to add something new. Have you been reading your bible? If not, do it. If you are, try going a little deeper and doing a topical study on how great men and women of the bible prayed. It will not only give you some interesting reading, but it will also likely change the way you pray.  Maybe you need to find new places that you can pray. It could be that you need to be giving to your local church financially (yes, this really is important). Or maybe, just maybe, you should actually share what God is doing in your life with someone else! Tell them why it matters that you love Jesus and Jesus loves you (and I'm talking more than just fire insurance here).

Are you feeling stuck spiritually? Do something about it! Start by talking about it. Leave a comment expressing what you are going to change and how you are going to do it, then do it!

Loving Your Job

I know it's been too long since my last post.  And I swear that while this post won't cover all of the details of what I've been doing and what's new at Shiloh, it does have a lot to do with it.  Also, more post should be coming in the near future.  So here we go:

Yup, that's right.  For the first time in my life I can honestly say that!  And it is a great feeling.  While I wouldn't say I'm a work-a-holic by any means, I really like being at work and I really like doing my job.

There's a huge "but" though.

It seems that I have been so enthralled by my job and its busy schedule that I've forgotten about other parts of my life. I've made a point to stay close with my wife, and I honestly think that our marriage is probably the best that it has ever been.  Amanda and I have found a new church home that we are extremely excited to be a part of and we are really looking forward to getting involved more there.

So what is the part of my life that I've been ignoring?  My friends.

Men often live life like they are an island...

It's easier to just talk about sports and beer...

Relationships are like bank accounts...

No, I guess I will go with the last one.  Relationships ARE like bank accounts.  You can only withdraw as much as you are willing to put in.  It seems that over the summer I failed to make just about any deposits into my "friend" bank accounts. Now my bank accounts seem all but depleted and I'm wondering why my friends seem distant and upset.

For anyone else who is dealing with this (and I really hope that is no one because this is a miserable corner to work yourself into) the most important thing I'm learning is to start fixing things now.  Don't wait until you have more time.  If you think your friendships are worth having, start investing into that savings account now!

Most of my posts end with a question to my reader, so here goes?  Have you ever alienated a friend (or group of friends)? And what did you do to help remedy it?

Knots In The Wood

This past week I spent a full day staining wood planks for trim work in the new gym. It isn't particularly glamorous work, but finishing work is important and it needed to be done. While I was staining plank after plank after plank I began to appreciate exactly what I was working with. These planks came from trees.

Somewhere 50 to 100 years ago a seed sprouted.  That seed grew into something magnificent and majestic that towered over lesser plants and shrubs. That housed innumerable birds, squirrels, and other animals. That tree may have provided shade for a weary traveler on a hot summer day. That tree, I'm sure, has countless stories that it could tell!  That is if it could speak. And had a mouth. And was sentient in some way.

Regardless of the fact that Ents remain a fictional species found only in Middle Earth, I found the idea of what this wood had become to be intriguing. It was being used for art (an industrial art, but definitely art none the less). And I began to think about knots.


Knots in the wood are found when branches sprout from the trunk of the main tree or when smaller branches sprout from large limbs. When the wood is hewn into planks, these knots are actually a structural weakness. Sometimes when doing wood working knots will actually fall out of pieces of wood. And yet, it is those weaknesses that make the wood so beautiful. Those weaknesses help define the wood and help the wood to take on a character of it's own.  A skilled artisan will take those weaknesses and use them to show off his strength and skill.

In much the same way, God uses our weaknesses, when we are willing to let God shape us into what he desires, to create incredible beauty. A friend of mine got married about a year ago. His bride can sometimes be... "passionate". Here's the deal with passion though.

Passion tends to boil over.

Things that boil over get messy.

Most people don't like "messy".

Her "passion" sometimes makes her laugh when others are silent. Her "passion" sometimes makes her cry when others are laughing. Her "passion" sometimes makes her scream when others are crying. Her "passion" sometimes makes her throw things when others are screaming. And you probably don't want to see her when others are at the point of throwing things.

But there is one more thing.


God has transformed this weakness - this knot - into something amazing, something beautiful. She loves harder than just about anyone else I know. She laughs more. She will be the first person to cry with you when you've had a terrible day. She will also be right next to you screaming in your defense when you've been wronged.

Her emotional side is her greatest weakness and yet her most endearing characteristic. God uses her weakness to create beauty. God is awesome that way!


Remember that it is the knots- the weakest points in the wood- that make it beautiful. And God wants to use your weak points to show off his beautiful creation too. Do you know anyone who's weakness shows God's great idea of beauty?

Useless Hands

I've been out of commission for two days.  After a bout with poison ivy (which was itchy, but not that bad) I have some other type of horrible rash that is on my hands.  Just about anywhere else on my body and I would still be at work, but yesterday I could barely make a fist.  How am I supposed to work with my hands when my hands don't work?

Please take a few minutes to pray that God would heal my hands (and legs that have the same rash) so that I can get back to work.  We have a quickly approaching deadline for the gym and I really need to be there getting things done.

Please pray that financial support will come in so that my wife and I can buy insurance.  I have yet to visit a doctor about this condition and have been using over the counter medicines to treat the problem.

Lastly, please pray that God will give us the ability to get the gym finished on time and that God would be glorified through it's use this summer and going forward.

UPDATE: My hands and legs are pretty much rash free now.  They no longer itch, though if I am very active and get my temperature warmed up a bit, you can still clearly see read splotches where the rash was.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Finishing Touches

At the camp we've been extremely busy putting the finishing touches on the new gymnasium.  Walls are being painted, the drop ceiling is almost complete in the meeting room, flooring is just about finished.  This is an exciting time.  God has taught me so many different things during this season of my life, but the thing I'd like to focus on today is...

Finishing Touches

When you are building something as massive as this gym (an ordeal that has taken us more than two years), it is easy to start strong.  You have an excitement that is naturally brought about by new experiences. We rise to the challenge. But as the work continues (especially over a long time) passion can wane. Finishing work such as spackle, paint, and trim may become sloppy. This is a shame, because it is, in the end, the thing that most people see and notice. Few people walk into a new building and appreciate the lumber used for the studs in the wall. Few people appreciate the quality of the concrete used in the foundation. I'm certainly not trying to diminish the importance of framing or foundations; the building couldn't stand without them. But it is the crown molding, the shade of blue on the wall, the soft carpet beneath one's feet that most people take note of when they enter a building.

Finishing Well Matters!

Finishing touches done well (or not) are the difference between a beautiful welcoming environment or a noticeably shoddy job. The same is true in life. 

Life is full of transitions. Are you almost done with high school or college? Finish well. Having a 4.0 GPA your last semester will be the icing on the cake along with your diploma (and it will help out your overall GPA as well). Have you given two weeks notice at your job? Giving an extra heave-ho at those last two weeks will really make your recommendations shine in the future. Are you a performer of some sort? Always end with something big, because that is what the audience remembers.

So I encourage you in whatever you are wrapping up right now to end it well. Give that project at work that extra little touch! In your workout, go for an extra two reps! If you are building a gymnasium, make sure those finishing touches are all done right!

It is never too late to give your all.

Top 10 Things To Love About Camp

10. Awesome hikes:

At Shiloh we get to enjoy a beautiful hike to a mountaintop (hilltop for all you west coast/rocky mtn. folks) that overlooks one of the most beautiful reservoir views I've ever seen. Sunrise, sunset, or anywhere in between you won't regret this sort of mountaintop experience.

9. Challenge courses:

How often do you get to rock climb up 50 feet in the air? How many zip lines have you been on? How about some team building or problem solving 20 feet above the ground? Looking for a rush? This is where it's at!

8. Camp food

Many people think that camp food is unhealthy and tastes terrible. You can blame Hollywood for that one. But the truth is, most camps try to offer healthy options for their campers. Not to mention that I can't remember ever walking away from a camp meal still hungry.  Also, s'mores. 'Nuff said.

7. Bows & Arrows:

That's right! Bows & arrows! In NJ it is pretty unusual to have regular access to this stuff. Boys can finally do more than pretend to be Robin Hood and Girls can more than pretend to be Katniss Everdeen. At camp you can learn exactly what it takes to be an archer like the best of them! 

6. Late night conversations:

Sleepover conversations are one of the best things about growing up. But that is only good for one night. At camp, you get to do this for a whole week! Often the hilarity that ensues during these conversations is beyond mention. But I would guarantee that at least one night during your week at camp, something serious worked its way into the discussion and you created a real connection with someone.

5. Music

Most people don't get opportunities to sing out loud other than alone in their own car. But at camp, you can sing loud and proud regardless of the quality your voice. Music helps connect people to a degree that other mediums could never even come close to.

4. Camp fires

I think that my favorite smell in the entire world is that of a camp fire. The smell that lingers on your clothing is earthy and warm and brings back so many great memories. Some music and some time to share about your week make this a special time for a lot of folks. Also, s'mores. Again, 'Nuff said.

3. The Staff

I still remember camp counselors from when I was a little kid. Most specifically I remember a guy named Shane and his brother Tim. They always ran the clinic for R.C. cars. One of the best things about the staff is that you can eventually be a part of it! Some of my co-workers became best friends (and vice versa). That brings me to my next point

2. New friends

I don't think that I could list all of the wonderful people that I met at camp. Those late night conversations help to add depth to a connection that is made while picking teams for dodgeball, singing camp songs, or fighting over that last piece of bacon at breakfast.

1. It can change your life:

A single weekend away at camp can change your life forever. Imagine what a whole week, month, or even a summer at camp can do! During the school year, many kids eat for free at school, but in the summer, for some families they have trouble scrounging up money for the extra meal. For these campers, a scholarshiped week at camp is the only week all summer that they don't go hungry. That can help change a life. Some kid's don't have anyone at home who will listen to them - a "seen but not heard" mentality. Having a camp counselor who will listen to them, encourage them, and believe in them can change a life. Thousands of campers also choose to have a relationship with a God who loves them deeply. Now that is a changed life!

Did I forget anything? Feel like I left something out? Feel free to share some of your memories in the comment section!

Spring Cleaning

I've officially finished my first full week at Shiloh and I can 100% honestly say that I have never felt as sore as I have this past week. The gym construction site was pretty messy and disorganized. It needed some serious TLC and that was what I was tasked to this week. It was time for some spring cleaning (nice since spring has finally decided to arrive this week).

I moved large piles of sheetrock. Sometimes it was moving it only a matter of 10 feet, but if you've never moved a 14'x4' piece of sheetrock I can tell you that it weighs 100.8 lbs and sheets come attached in pairs.
- Now instead of these sheets taking up 56 sq. ft. of floor space they are leaning up against a wall.

I moved all of the yet unattached doors. Most doors in a person's house are hollow so that they are light weight and easy to open. But in a commercial building, all of the doors have to be fire rated and they are heavy and solid.
-Now these doors are set up by size and swinging direction ready to be grabbed when they are needed.

I swept up (and vacuumed up) more dust than I could possibly express.
-Now workers can move around without trudging through (and kicking up) a layer of dust.

I organized all of the tools by type and by task. All of the tools for sheetrocking and spackling are on one table.  All of the power tools (drills, grinders, saws, etc...) are on another table.  All of the fasteners (screws, nails, tape, zipties, etc...) are on yet another.
-Now when someone is looking for an item for a specific task, they don't have to take 30 minutes looking for what they need.

Why am I saying these things? While I do think I am awesome for doing all of these things, that isn't why I'm telling you about it. I want you to know that when you keep your life organized, keep your life clean, you enable yourself and others to better serve those around you.

If your life is crazy and you never know where you are going to be three weeks from now (none the less three hours from now), you are less able to help others. If your car is messy (and I'm speaking directly to myself on this one) you are unable to pick up that old lady walking in the rain with her groceries. If you don't take care of your house it is hard to invite people over for a bible study or a youth group's "night out/in".

What I'm driving at is if you keep a schedule and live a life with less clutter you will be more able to live the life to which God is calling you. Have you ever missed and opportunity to help someone because of disorganization or being messy in some way? What parts of your life might require some spring cleaning?

Errors - or - What Not To Do with Grout.

Error 417: Expectation Failed -

You see, two Saturday's ago at Shiloh I tried to grout a shower stall for the first time ever.  I thought I was doing great.  I got that grout between the tiles.  And I did it pretty fast too!  The problem was that I didn't realize how fast it dried.  Nobody told me that if I waited more than about 30 minutes I wouldn't be able to get the grout cleaned up.  You see, you are supposed to take a damp sponge and wipe the tiles down to clean up excess grout.  I expected to be able to grout the room, then wipe it down.  I was wrong.  You only have about 30 minutes before it has to be wiped down.

Error 449: Retry With -

I tried valiantly with the sponge to correct my first error.  But honestly I was mostly just tearing holes through the sponge because of the amount of pressure that I was adding.  I called my good friend Pete over to help me out (and God bless him he spent a few hours scrubbing with me).  We scrubbed the walls together. It still wasn't enough though. So I decided that we would retry with kitchen sink sponges (the yellow ones with the scratchy green side). It worked a little bit better. But the grout was hardening faster than we could scrub.

Error 462: Destination Unreachable -

This is really what it felt like. I had been scrubbing for hours and had to leave for my nieces first birthday party. I skipped lunch to try to get this done, but I still couldn't finish. I knew that it was over. By the time I could come back a few days later this would be as hard as it would get.

Error 405: Method Not Allowed - 

By this point my arms were kinda sore. The repetitive motion of scrubbing the tiles was pretty tedious. This is when I decided to work smarter - not harder.  I hopped in my car and went to the nearest hardware store where I picked up a brush that attaches to a drill. This was my ticket to the finish line!

All I can say is that it is a good thing I tested it out on an inconspicuous area because it really kinda messed up one of the tiles. The grout was gone, but so was the finish on part of the tile. I knew that this was not an acceptable solution

Error 424: Method Failure -

One of the guys I worked with suggested steel wool. Again though it was exhausting on the arms after two hours or so of hard scrubbing.I took some zip ties and attached the steel wool to the drill in an effort to once again alleviate my arms. It worked for quite a while, but after about 30 minutes it looked like a steel sheep had shed all over the floor. The steel wool just didn't hold up.

By this time our foreman at the gym had heard about my predicament and bought some heavy duty scouring pads. Of everything I have used, so far these work the best. I attached them to the drill and they took the grout off fast, with no negative side affects, but the pads just don't hold up.  Over the course of about 2 hours I went through the three industrial grade scouring pads that I had.

Error 406: Not Acceptable -

Later this week I still have to finish scrubbing this down (I have to find more of those scouring pads first). I know that leaving this long term is not acceptable.  However, I'm trying to clean up my mess. Hopefully I'm finished with this by the end of the week.  

I guess the points I'm driving at are:

1) When you mess something up, you should try to do something about it.

2) Fixing an error can take FAR longer than making one, and
3) Learn all you can about something new before you jump in head first.

Your turn:

When have you ever had to spend time cleaning up after a mess that you've made?  How much longer did it take than making the mess?  Tell us about it in the comments. Also, for those of you who have no idea what all these numbers mean, check out Wikipedia.

The Last Words of Jesus Revisited

Months ago, I had a discussion with a friend about the topic of Jesus last words on the cross and he brought up some interesting points.  However I can't remember who I was talking with, so if you read this post and say, "Hey that was me!", please let me know so that I can give you credit where credit is due.

Tonight I'm not going to tell any exciting stories from camp or go into detail about how a major furniture retailer could be a model for the modern church.  Tonight, on this Good Friday, I'd like you to consider something about Jesus' last words that He said while on the cross.  When I read His words, "It is finished" I always thought that it meant that forgiveness was finally here.  

But does it?

What was finished?  He wasn't dead (or He wouldn't have been talking).  So His life wasn't quite finished.  Were we forgiven already?  Then why did he have to die and rise again?  No, that can't be it.

I'd like to put forth the idea that Jesus was referring to the Father turning his back on Him.  The process would seem to have begun when Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" and that the process ends when he says, "It is finished."

This is important, because as the Father turns his face away, Jesus feels the pain of living without the Father.  He understands the mortal condition in a new way.  Growing up, my mother always described Hell as not so much the fire and brimstone (though that too), but as a place with the absence of God.  Jesus experienced Hell on that cross when His Father looked away.  He experienced that Hell so that we don't have to experience that Hell for eternity.

Think about this as we head into this Easter weekend.  Be blessed by Jesus' sacrifice.  Glorify the Father for his boundless forgiveness.  And pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you with Joy to the point of overflowing.

More On Confession

This is PART II of my discussion on confession.  For the PART I, click here.

I sometimes feel like the modern protestant church has abandoned confession almost all together because they feel the Catholics took it to an extreme.  But let me tell you, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal  or any other denomination, you can take this principle to heart and it will improve the relationships in your life. How do I know that confession is good for us regardless of where we are or who we affiliate ourselves with on any given Sunday?

The bible says so.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16 (NIV) 

When we confess our sin, we do a few things:

1. We heal relationships and break down walls between each other.

2. We remind each other (and ourselves) that we all have our own faults.

3. We create real bonds through our transparency.

4. We can pray for each other better when we really know each other.

Let me tell you though, the best thing about confessing is the freedom that it creates. When you are in a relationship with someone and you can admit imperfections (and I mean specific imperfections) it allows them to see who you really are. When someone knows your faults and weaknesses they can also help you with them. The thing is you have to stick with it. Be open and honest with each other. If you hurt someone, fess up, even if they didn't realize it was you who hurt them.

My wife and I are reading through author Gary Chapman's book, The Five Languages of Apology. First off, I highly recommend the book. And while not dealing directly with the idea of confession, it really makes the aftermath of confession make more sense. Let's face it, if you have been living in a marriage or friendship that hasn't been built on honesty, at first, living more openly will be pretty challenging. Feelings might get hurt, battles might ensue, and white flags might need to be raised. But gaining a deeper understanding of how to apologize and why people need a real apology can only help you.

The picture on the right hand side is the sort of attitude that allows real transparency and genuine confession in a relationship. When you love unconditionally it allows for open expression.  I've seen the first part of the saying many times on the internet, but it really is the second sentence that sums it up for me. "I'll stand by you."
It is simple and yet, beautiful.

So I encourage you, give confession a chance. Let someone that you trust in on your weaknesses and they can help build you up in Christ. You'll be amazed at what can happen. Who knows your willingness to open up might allow the other person to receive the gift of going second.

Let's Start This One With A Riddle!

What looks like blueberry yogurt, gets spread with a paint brush, and tastes nothing like blueberry yogurt?

Of course! It's HydraFlex™ Waterproofing Crack Isolation Membrane!  Why didn't I think of that!  I should have known right away seeing as I was using this stuff at Shiloh today!

So anyway, this stuff, it really does look just like blueberry yogurt.  It has the same color and the same unnerving semi-gelatinous consistency.  Here's the deal though, if I were to give you a yogurt cup filled with this stuff you wouldn't know until it was too late.  Supposedly this stuff shouldn't kill you if you eat it, but I wouldn't recommend it anyway. And if you are looking to improve your digestive system this just isn't the way to do it.

Lesson #1: Just because something looks the same, doesn't mean that it is.

When my container of HydraFlex ran out, I had to open a new container from some other brand. Much to my surprise, it wasn't purple!  It was green! I really wondered if I had the right thing here. In the world of construction, different colors often indicate different quality, function, or usage. I didn't want to mess this up and quickly called our head engineer to make sure we had the right product. After walking me through the process of reading the labels to him on the phone, he proved to me (without actually saying or implying anything of the sort) that I am an idiot.  Both packages said, "Waterproofing Crack-Isolation Membrane". I probably could have checked that without calling him and bothering him.

Alas, I was foiled by looks once again.

Lesson #2: Just because something looks different, doesn't mean that it is.

God looks at the world so differently than I do. And I'd love to see things from his perspective a little more often.

But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (MSG)

One of the other guys who was working at the camp told me a story today that fit this whole idea so perfectly that I'd call it a gift from God.

When he first started attending a bible study it was in the winter. Naturally it was quite cold out and he, like most folks, wore long sleeves each week. He really got to know the people in the group and connected well with them. When spring came, he ended up wearing a t-shirt to the bible study one week. His friend's jaws hit the floor. His arms are covered in tattoos. He doesn't look like your stereotypical biker, so no one expected this. But he loves his ink and there was far more to him than met the eye.

We need to be careful to look at others the way that God looks at them. My question to you is, how do you think we can look at the hearts of others rather than taking them at face value?

Two Weeks Notice

On Monday, March 18th or the year 2013, I tendered my letter of resignation (with the courtesy two weeks notice) at the Sears Hardware that I have been working at for about three years. During my time there God has taught me some incredible things, given me some great opportunities, and allowed me to develop some amazing relationships. But it is time to move on now.

Starting in April I will be working at Shiloh Bible Camp full time! I will be spending four days each week at the camp and one day each week raising support. Currently most of my time at the camp will be spent working on the construction of the gym (We are about 85% done!), but come the summer I'll be teaching archery, running kids through challenge courses, and giving camp fire talks.  I can hardly wait!

It has been a really long journey getting to this point. Quite frankly, sometimes it felt like it would never happen, and other times I thought I was so close, only to have the rug pulled out from under me. What is important though, is that I continued. I really couldn't have done it without my wife. My wife, Amanda, one of the wisest people I know, was by my side the entire time. On days when I would come home discouraged by another day in retail (if you've ever worked in retail you know exactly what I mean) she would tell me that she loved me and that she was proud of me for doing my part to support us as a family.

So, while one chapter of my life is ending, it really feels like the adventure is just beginning! And I hope that you, my faithful readers will continue to join me along the way

God Loves Dirty, Horrible Sinners.

God loves dirty, horrible sinners.  Yep.  How do I know?  I'm one of them.

The other day I did something stupid.  I, thinking I was being really funny, made a rude and sarcastic comment on a picture someone else put up on Facebook.  It only took a few words to cause harm but those few words were careless.

The Bible tells us that our tongue - the words we use - it's like fire.  One little spark used the wrong way can set an entire forest into a blaze!

Unfortunately I often forget the power of my words.


 All I wanted was to get a laugh... 

... unfortunately at the expense of another person.

It wasn't worth it.

After I realized what I had said, I deleted the comment and sent a private message to the person I had offended offering my sincerest apology.  I never received a response.
This doesn't even begin to touch on the idea that those words are out there somewhere on the vast internet forever.  Somewhere there is still record of what I said.  This brings me to my main point.  Even if I had deleted the post before anyone saw it, someone would have known what I did (and I don't mean that the original poster would receive and e-mail).

God sees all of our worst moments.  He sees us at our lowest.  He looks at us when we are filthy.

And yet...

... that is when he first loved us.

God still loves me when I am most depraved.  When I am most corrupt.  When I deserve it least.  He looks on me with love when I am so ashamed I can barely crawl to Him to ask beg for my forgiveness.

It is when I look at all of the horrible and most sinful things that I have ever done (or even thought... I mean really thought about doing) that I am most thankful for God's unbounded love and miraculous forgiveness.

In the grand scheme of things, is a hurtful word the worst thing I've done in my life?  Nah.  But, I know that I need to be more careful with what I say.

I'm going to write another post on this topic soon - this idea of confession.  But for now, what I want to know is if you have ever said something you regretted on Facebook (or in real life)?  Also, how did you go about trying to fix it?

A Spiritual Sucker Punch

I kinda feel like this guy looks...

Sucker Punch - Noun - A punch that takes you by surprise, possibly knocking you out or otherwise incapacitating you. Could be an unexpected blow to the stomach or a strike from behind that you, the victim, did not see coming.

A few weekends ago I was the victim of what I'll call a "Holy Sucker Punch".  One of my long time teachers/mentors preached a sermon that went something along the lines of "God should be the author of our life, because he knows what is best for you" but I took it as something along the lines of "Write down all of the hopes, dreams and goals that you have for your life and then tear up that piece of paper because God's plan isn't your plan."

My jaw still aches.

Seriously though, he's right.  And I knew he was right before he said it.  But there is a difference between knowing and believing.

I didn't want to believe it.

I really liked my plans.  I thought they were pretty good.  I even thought my plans were Godly.  But God has been showing me a lot lately, that his plans are far more different from my own than I previously thought.

So I had to ask myself, "How can I get myself back into God's plan?"

Whenever I get off track and can't seem to find my the "Spiritual North" on my life-compass, I break things back down to basics.  For those of you who like me can't remember the definitions of words like like hermeneutics, exegesis, or propitiation, I'm going to break this down real simple like.

God's will is awesome.
There are two parts of God's will.
Those two parts are "specific" and "general".

Specific Will is when God says, "I want you to go to Africa and speak to that tribe with the name you haven't learned how to pronounce yet, because they have no idea who I am."

General Will covers things like, "Don't lie", "Love your neighbor", and "Don't lie about loving your neighbor".

God's general will is our "Spiritual North".  If you feel lost, start by getting your bearings.  Once you know where north is and you start heading in the correct general direction it is much easier to hear God calling out specific instructions to you.

I can also assure you of this.  When you are walking toward's God you can be sure that he's got your back.  He says He will never leave us nor forsake us, but when we leave Him, try to tell Him what to do, and/or tell Him not to be involved in our life He is a gentleman and will not push His way in.  Stay on His path and the number of sucker punches that you will have to deal with will be significantly lessened.

Have you ever had a sermon, a youth group talk, or maybe just a friend give you a talking to that felt like a spiritual sucker punch?  What was it that caught you by surprise?

The Big Lie Many Not-So-Big Churches Tell

!!!WARNING: SERIOUS POST AHEAD!!!

EDIT: I think it should be stated that I attend (and have attended) a small church my entire life.  This post is in no way intended to "bash" or "put down" small churches.  I point this issue out in hopes of bringing about healthy dialogue and creating positive change.

Don't lie...



Love your neighbor...



Don't lie about loving your neighbor...


People often discredit large churches because they are cliquey.  But I'd argue that small churches are just as cliquey.  The difference?  They are so small they only have one or two cliques.

On one hand, cliques are part of american culture (arguably even a part of human nature), on the other hand, they can very quickly become destructive.

I would make the argument that many small churches stay small (and even have decreasing numbers), because they are unwelcoming to newcomers.  Most of the time I don't think this is intentional, but I do believe that the opposite is also true.  They aren't intentionally trying to be welcoming to people who are different either.

The church touts loving their neighbor, but often they don't even know their neighbors!  Sure, the pastor might know the neighbors, but the pastor is only a small part of the church.  How many people of the congregation know the churches neighbors?  How many times have the parishioners spoken to their unsaved neighbors just to say "Hi, how are you today"?

Notice I'm not asking the church members to say, "I'd like to talk to you about our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ."

I am certainly guilty of ignoring the new guy.  The difference?  I see the problem and want to change.

I see too many Christians who sit comfortably in their pews without any spiritual growth in their life.  It's time for them to grow up or get out of the way.  Christianity isn't about comfort.  Jesus didn't live a life of comfort.  He lived a life loving His neighbors for real.  None of this, I love my neighbor because I give to the food pantry a few times a year.  His life was more like feeding the homeless guy on the train a hot meal even though he was a little bit crazy.

Preacher Andy Stanley gives us a great place to start.  "Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone."  So I'll say it again...

Don't lie...

Love your neighbor...

Don't lie about loving your neighbor...

What do you think?  How can you start loving your neighbor better?  How can your church love their neighbors better?  Let us all know in the comment section!

Creative Places for Prayer

People often complain that they don't have time to pray.  I say PISH-TOSH!!!  Everyone has time to pray.  People who say that they don't are lazy...

     ...and I'm often one of them.

So I've been trying to come up with some other creative times to make it a habit to pray.  While creating this list I found that there were a few criteria that needed to be met.

1. It must be a place or situation where I am alone (or not actively engaged with other people around me).
2. It must be somewhere that isn't considered inherently religious (I already pray at church even when it isn't time to pray... "Lord please let there be more chili at the pot-luck!")
3. It must be at a time and place where I can be focused on God not on what I'm doing.

Of course we can pray anywhere at any time, but if we can make a habit out of just ONE of these ideas, your prayer life could be enhanced a great deal.

So, without further ado, "10 Creative Times to Pray that You May or May Not Have Thought of"!

10.  While you walk the dog:  I'll admit this isn't my idea; I don't even have a dog.  However, I LOVE the idea.  Your prayer partner is your dog.  And on top of it dog is God spelled backwards!

9.  Stop lights:  You have a real opportunity here.  When you are heading down Rt 23 in North Jersey and you hit one red light, you likely have hit them all.  Instead of getting mad, think about how much time you are going to get to spend with the creator of the universe!

8.  Commercial breaks:  This one is awesome.  Commercials are so irritating anyway.  A lot of people even mute their T.V.'s because they get so tired of them.  Though, if you are like me and use Netflix there are no commercials.  But, you could still use the time between episodes of Psych or Parenthood to speak to the Lord.

7.  Elevator rides:  Seriously, what else is there to do on an elevator.  A lot of people will even wait to finish a conversation with a friend in an elevator because their might be a stranger on the elevator (though I don't know why that matters).  As an added bonus if you start praying aloud, you could seriously freak out that stuffy guy in the suit who always seems to get on the elevator at the same time you do.

6.  Waiting in line:  If you are shopping by yourself this one works... if you have three screaming kids with you, or a chatty spouse, not so much.  Seriously though, in stead of checking out the candy bars or the tabloids just talk to God.  Thank him that you aren't being photographed in a bikini and being gawked at by tons of people on grocery lines and pray that he gives you strength to lay off those darned Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

5.  While doing chores.  Doing dishes is one of my least favorite things to do.  However, doing the dishes is one of my wife's favorite things for me to do (then she doesn't have to do them).  So while I'm doing dishes I crank up my worship music to 11 and sing worship and pray to my heavenly father.  It's sometimes a little awkward if someone walks in, but maybe, just maybe, they will pretend they didn't see you dancing around with your eyes closed using that giant mixing spoonula as an air guitar.

4.  When you are exercising:  This is not to be confused with exorcising during which you better darn be praying!  But really, what better time to worship the Holy God, than when you are doing a little maintenance on his temple?  Again I'll say it, put on some worship music, and lose yourself in his presence.  Just keep your eyes on your footing... I won't be blamed for anyone falling off of a treadmill during a holy high.

3.  In the shower:  You're all alone for anywhere between 5 and 45 minutes depending on your cleaning regimen.  Instead of arguing with your self about whether shampoo or conditioner is better, use this time to thank God for things like hot water or running water and pray for those who have neither.

2.  While brushing your teeth:   Now you might be saying another bathroom idea, really?  Really though, think about it, what else can you do while brushing your teeth?  You can't have a conversation.  You can't very well be typing on a computer.  You can't cook your breakfast or pack up your lunch for the next day. You are effectively left to the use of your non-dominant hand (I don't brush with my non-dominant hand for fear of injuring myself) which means that you are pretty much useless for anything except praying.  So do it!

1.  On the toilet:  Yep... I went there!  Some people spend more time that others on the can.  But if you are like my one roommate in college, you'd be spending at least 30-40 minutes with God each time!

Take a moment to answer the poll.  Can you think of any other unique places or times to pray?  If so, leave a comment, I'd love to hear about them!

Which is your favorite creative place to pray?
	While walking the dog
	At stop lights
	During commercial breaks
	Elevator rides
	Waiting in line
	While doing chores
	When exercising
	When in the shower
	While brushing your teeth
	On the toilet
	Other
pollcode.com free polls

Spackle (and Love) Cover a Multitude of Sins...

Sheetrock.  It is a wonderful, lightweight, easy to use construction material.  At Shiloh we are in the "sheetrock and spackle" stage of construction.  The problem with sheetrock is that it is somewhat fragile.  It is the rigidity of the wall studs and ceiling joists that give it structural integrity.  But if you were to, say, punch a wall because you are angry at your older brother (as I did when I was in jr. high) and hit a spot in between studs, it pretty much crumbles under the pressure.  In fact, when you screw or nail sheetrock to the studs, you have to be careful not to damage the sheetrock as well.

But wait... there is really good news!  Spackle!

Spackle is fantastic.  There is so much it can do.  It covers unsightly seams between pieces of sheetrock, it fills nail holes, it doctors damage from angry fists.  But, it isn't that the damage isn't there.  The damage still exists.  If you punch through a wall and patch it, there are still scars underneath the spackle.  The beauty of it, though, is that the damage is negated, covered...

...forgiven.

1 Peter 4:8 tells us that, "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."  People often confuse what this means.  In their mind they twist it so that if you have sinned, you can love to cover it up and fix it.  This verse is not talking about penance.  You can't earn forgiveness (in fact, the very nature of forgiveness is that you don't deserve it).  In reality this verse means that when you love someone you are willing to forgive them for a lot.  They may sin against you, but your love covers it.  I can tell you personally that this love/spackle thing is one of the MOST important aspects of marriage (or any important relationship).

In your relationships spackling the seams is like ignoring inherent flaws in a persons personality.  Filling in the the nail or screw holes with spackle is like covering up or forgiving those hurts that sometimes define a person (they sometimes double as the things that hold that person together).  Using spackle to repair a damaged wall is like repairing damage via forgiveness in your relationships.

Are you willing to go through the messy process of spackling to learn how to repair and forgive?

Ralphing on the Roadside

Last night was awful.  My dinner just didn't agree with me.  I'm not sure what it was or why it bothered my stomach so much, but while driving home I had to pull over and relive my dinner all over again... in reverse.

I know of three types of people in this life.  There are people, we'll call them Type-1, who fight vomiting with all their might and can suppress the urge almost indefinitely.  Type-2 are those who lack any control and lose their lunch at the sight of a drop of blood from a paper cut.  Then there are those, Type-3, who realize that their body is trying to eliminate something that's not good for it.

These same people often react to life in the same way, when trouble or conflict arises.  Imagine, if you will, three landlords and their tenants.  

In our first situation the tenants have painted the walls black, let the bathroom mold over, have put holes in the floor, and never let their pets (which they aren't supposed to have in the first place) outside to do their business.  A Type-1 personality will continue to fight with the tenant.  Over and over again the waves of gut wrenching frustration overwhelm and hurt the landlord.  The tenant doesn't really care at all and continues be however they see fit.  Years later, the tenant finally decides to leave on their own.

Our second landlord is intolerable of any sort of infraction.  The tenant had their cousin stay over for the weekend?  Well the cousin didn't pay to live there!  The tenant cooked curry and the kitchen now smells like, well... curry?  This landlord isn't going to put up with that sort of noxious olfactory offense!  The Type-2 will kick out these tenants (and so many others over the years) ad nauseum (pardon the pun).

Our final situation involves landlord Type-3.  Their tenant has failed to pay rent for 3 months.  The landlord has tried reasoning with the tenant, but the new 60" T.V. and trip to Hawaii they were talking about, has the landlord convinced that they need to go.  Eviction notice served!

So, when you are struggling with an issue in life, maybe you need to examine your options.  You can fight through the pain.  You can purge every bit of pain from your life and never get to experience the benefits of long lasting relationships.  Or you can choose your battles wisely and eliminate the problems that are really hurting you while learning to work through minor/insignificant issues.

What in your life, right now, might you be able to apply this principle?  Is it time for you to pull over and yodel your groceries?  Would it behoove you to take a break and bark at the ants?  Would it help to hurl your hold-ups on the roadside?

Pray that God will give you wisdom and consider purging your problems.

What is Love?

When you hear the words, "What is love?", what is the first thing that comes to mind?

If you're anything like me, you have a nostalgic moment hearing that awesome 90's groove in your head and can't help but start bobbing your head in an unnatural fashion like Will Ferrell in "A Night at the Roxbury".

What is love,
Baby, don't hurt me,
Don't hurt me,

No more.

Let's take a little bit closer look at this though.  Love is normally (and especially on Valentine's Day) associated with good things like romance, flowers, chocolates, cute poems, and fancy dinners.  And when we were all kids we were told stories about princesses and heroes who fell in love and lived happily ever after.

Here's the problem though, that isn't how real life works.  We all know it too.  We keep hurting the people we love.  We can't help it.  When we live in close quarters with other people opinions will differ and disagreements will arise.  And to be frank, we are all selfish.

Ouch!  The truth hurts.

Yep, we live in a J.G. Wentworth society and we want what we want, and we want it now.

So here's my advice to all of the guys and gals out there who have a special someone (or would like to have a special someone) in their life.  Stop being so selfish.  When you stop focusing on yourself you "won't hurt them, won't hurt them, no more."

Ok, here's a real example of how things sometimes happen in my house:

Amanda and I often do the dishes together, she usually washes and I dry.  But, drying is much faster than washing, and after a long day I'm tired (and a bit lazy) and so I want to sit on the couch and wait for some clean dishes to build up before I go and dry them.  My wife on the other hand would love to talk about how our days went.  So instead of sitting on my backside watching Firefly for the umpteenth time on Netflix, I could go into the kitchen, connect with my wife, and make her happier than a cat rolling in catnip.

Challenge to you all, think of one way you can be less selfish to your loved one this Valentine's Day and post a comment letting us know what you're doing to not only make this day special, but to make your relationship a better one for the long haul.

Raising Support

Amanda and I are still in transition into this whole Shiloh thing.  Potential move in dates have come and gone (I'm hoping for maybe April now).  Seasons have changed.  But one thing that hasn't changed is that I really look forward to the day that I can be working at the camp full time, but right now, our financial support just isn't there.  We are still about $700 shy each month from our first financial goal.  Until we reach that first goal I still have to be working part time at the local hardware store to make ends meet.

So this is an official request.  If you are financially capable of supporting us and Shiloh Bible Camp in our mission to be a place of peace for kids, teens, and adults who live in a world full of chaos please do so.  If you can spare $10 a month, that would be awesome.  If you could spare $20 a month, that would make a great impact.  If you can find more than that, I will give you a huge hug the next time I see you!  At the same time I'll say that if you can only spare $1 each month, I would still be grateful. (Please note that all donations are fully tax deductible.)

Lastly, please support Amanda and I in your prayers.  Pray that not only will our financial needs be met, but that we will stay healthy (we have no health insurance right now), that we will be happy, and that we will be used for God's glory, not our own.

A copy of our donation form can be printed here.  If for some reason it doesn't work please e-mail us.

Lastly, if you are looking for more information about Shiloh, the work being done there, or you'd like to come by Shiloh for a visit or to help out, please let us know as well.

God Bless!

Driving in the Middle of Your Lane

When I was learning to drive with my learner's permit in High School I drove almost exclusively with my mother.  To my knowledge this was also the case with both of my brothers.  I've always found this strange because my mom is usually the more high strung of our parents.  My dad is just about the most mellow person I've ever met.  But not when we were in the car.  To this day I can count on my two hands the number of times that I've driven with my father in the car.  My dad was such a tense driving teacher that it was way easier to learn with my mom in the passenger seat.

But I clearly remember one piece of advice that my father gave me when we were driving together.  He said, "It's really easy to ride the lines.  You can hug the left, you can ride to the right, but a good driver stays in the middle of his lane."

I still think about this when driving, especially when I'm on a narrow patch of multi-lane highway.  I have to admit though, it wasn't until recently that I made a spiritual connection to the advice that my father gave me.

On the road if you drive off to the left, you are in for a serious rude awakening hitting another car head on.  If you veer off to the right you will likely hit a tree.  On a multi-lane highway you might hit a pylon or a mack truck if you don't stay in your lane.  The same principal applies to our spiritual lives.  The bible says in Matthew 7:13-14 that the road that leads to life is a narrow one and that straying on the wide road leads to destruction.

I'm not saying that staying in your lane prevents all accidents, because there might be debris in the road and sometimes someone else will swerve into your lane.  Both can cause a serious crash, but when you stay in your lane you are a lot better off.  Again, the same principal applies to our spiritual lives.  When you follow the narrow road that God directs all of us on you might encounter things that trip you up.  Sometimes issues from other people's lives will crash into your own.  But again, those things are less likely to happen when you follow the path on which God has directed you.

It is worth noting that it is harder to stay in the middle of your lane.  It's easy to hug the lines on the left or the right, but anything worth doing is worth doing well.  So I encourage you today to watch out for potholes and debris, keep an eye out for other drivers, and stay on the straight and narrow.

Too Legit to Quit

There are times in life when quitting just isn't an option.  If you're swimming in deep water and a shark is chasing you, quitting is not an option.  If you are a man rushing to the hospital in time to be with your wife as your first child is being born, quitting is not an option.  If you are down by 5 points while in the red zone during the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl, quitting is not an option.

But there are times in life when quitting is TOTALLY an option.  If you are in a horrible job that you hate and have hustled (TM Jon Acuff) to make your dream work for you, it's totally okay to quit.  If you have an addiction, it's time to quit.  If you are a volunteer who is burnt out and needs some time to recover and rediscover their passion for serving, it is definitely time to quit.

But let me tell you this, quitting isn't always the best option.  And just because it is an option, doesn't mean it is the right option.

So i'm here to tell you, MC Hammer style, that I'm just "too legit to quit".

I'm part of an organization that I've been involved in for years and quite frankly, they have dug themselves a hole.  They are in a tough spot financially and their membership has dwindled over the last decade.  But I'm not leaving...  why?  Because I want to be a part of the solution.  Plenty of people have taken the easy way out and left already.  I don't want to be a man known for taking the easy way out.  If the organization ends up shutting it's doors, I'll say that I was there and gave my all trying to do the right thing and fighting to save something that is worth saving.  If the group manages to change their current direction, start thinking forward, and develop a unified vision for their future, I'll be able to say that I was a part of God doing something amazing and miraculous.

As humans we have a sort of spark inside of us.  That spark is the fingerprint of God that shows we are made by God and in God's image.  Part of that spark is our penchant for stories of redemption.  Just as God loves to restore the broken, we love seeing it happen.  This is why we love characters like Rocky Balboa, Darth Vader, and Severus Snape.  We love to see the broken restored to greatness.

So rather than just watch movies and read books about it, I'd rather be a part of God's adventure.  I am resolved to be a part of God restoring this once great organization.

So I'll ask you to join in God's adventure.  What is there in your life that you could quit, but instead should be a part of?

Lacking Motivation

Hey guys!  I'm back from Christmas/New Years vacation.  Amanda and I visited her cousin out in northern California and had a great time!

Since we returned I've been having a serious problem though.  I've been having real morning motivation issues.  I've been turning off my alarm clock, sleeping in later than I want, and putting off important things that I need to do.  The weird thing is that it really only seems to be in the morning.  By the late afternoon I'm ready to do whatever it is that I have set for the day (too bad some things need to be started in the morning).  

I really feel stuck in a rut.

I'm not sure what is going on with me.  In the past when going through a time where I lack motivation I have written myself "To-Do" lists or review my goals, but this time I really feel like I need a jump start.

So what am I going to do about it?

1. I am going to move my alarm clock.  I will need to get out of bed to turn it off.  This will be the very first step (quite literally) to motivation in the morning.

2. I am going to set out my clothing the night before.  Everything will be ready for whatever task I have in the morning.  If I'll be doing construction at the camp in the morning, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.  If I am going to be spending the day cleaning the house, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.  If I am going to be starting my day at the gym, I'll be thinking about it the night before and be prepared.

3. I will be sure to keep healthy breakfast options available in the house at all times.

4. I'm going to create a checklist of things I need to do and mark it each day (the OCD part of Amanda will love this!).

5. I am committing publicly to do the things I'm saying I'll do.  I hope that you, my readers will hold me accountable.

I think these simple steps (in addition to me just talking about this here) will help.  If I somehow forget to update you in the coming weeks, please remind me so that I can let you know how things are going.

Thinking about how this relates to this time of year it's somewhat ironic - new years resolutions and all.  How have you stayed motivated to keep resolutions in the past?  Do any of you have any new years resolutions for this year?

One last thought:  For those of you who have become jaded with the idea of new years resolutions, I ask you to take a look at Lamentations 3:40.  God calls us to examine our lives regularly.  If it takes a new year for you to become convinced to evaluate your goals, motivations, or desires - your life - why not let God use that for your betterment and His glory?