Spiritual Wrestling Match

Today is Halloween ... a day that many despise for different reasons. For some of us, it is a rip off. Last night my wife and I were in a local grocery store purchasing candy for tonight's onslaught of costume clad munchkins filling the streets of our community. As I looked at the prices for a bag of pure sugar I told her that this is a racket, plan and simple. They know you are going to buy candy and so they frighten the money right out of your wallet. But on a more serious note, many struggle with this day because for them it represents a spiritual wrestling match in which the winner's prize is the heart and soul of a child, a family, or even a community.

This morning I was S.O.A.P.ing up in Ephesians 6:12-13. It reads "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground ..."

Precious children filling the streets, they're not the enemy! Mom's and dads dressing up their darling young ones, they're not the enemy! The enemy is a spiritual one, the deceiver, the liar, the devil. We take our battle to the spiritual realm where we wrestle with the forces of darkness. Whether you agree or not, I believe that we must engage the enemy on his own turf. The bible says that the gates of Hell will not stand up against the attacks of God's people. This is a night to be light! This is a night to engage with love and truth! This is a night to bless and not curse!

Tonight I am hoping that a large number of parents and kids will experience a different side of this haunted eve of all that is spooky and scary. We are inviting our kids and the community to come to The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch for a fun time on the "Lighter" side. Here are the details:

• For Ages Toddler – 4th grade (older siblings welcome)
• Great Station Activities with Games, Candy and Prizes
• 5:45 – 6:15 Hot Dogs, Chips & beverage (as supplies last)
• 6:00 – 7:00 All Activity Stations Open for Children (enter Raffle Prize at each station!)
• 7:15 – 8:00 The Hallelujah Show (Puppet Show) and 13+ Raffle Prizes!

Bring your kids tonight, bring your neighbors kids, rent some kids! Forward this invitation to a friend and I'll see you tonight! Let your light shine in the darkness of this Halloween!

I'm NUTS about YOU!

This morning I was S.O.A.P.ing up in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. It says "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." Paul's prayer or blessing leaped right off the page and into the present as yesterday my Lord Jesus encouraged and strengthened me through a group of dear friends called The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch. What a surprise to be handed almost 200 pieces of paper all with gracious words and thoughts that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I spent yesterday afternoon in my office savoring each written word as a if they were drops of rain falling on a parched desert floor. With each stroke of the pen it was as if God was so graciously expressing words through his people that touched deep within my soul. I am indeed a blessed man, a rich man and a humbled man.

I only hope that I can continue to live a life worthy of such friendship, respect and honor. I leave you with these words of affirmation and encouragement ... "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Ring Survey

Last Friday I did a little survey about rings ... here are the results.

My ring is "Hello MoTo"....because it sounds like "Hello MoJo"...and that is my nick name. Mauri A.

My rings are not at all spiritual. My ring tones are music from rock groups: RUSH’s song titled “Tom Sawyer” and Motely Crue’s “She Got The Looks That Kill.” I love music man. I was raised in the heavy metal era. Andy S.

Just “vibrate” for everyone. I know it is boring, but at least I am not embarrassed in church by my phone ringing . Doug K.

I have a Jamaican sounding ring. It makes me laugh!!! My husband just has a regular telephone sound on his. Anonymous

I downloaded the song “Better is One Day in Your House” (I think that’s the name of it.) Anyway, every time I hear my phone ring I’m reminded of what the Father has waiting for me. Carol H.

My ring is a cat meow-ing!!! Penny T.

The ring on my phone is called…Dancing Puppets…it just sounded like Children’s Ministry so I chose it…incase you were serious about knowing ring tones… Debbie D.

My ring for Steve is called fanfare, it sounds like the announcing trumpets of a King - since he his king of our castle and my heart! Diane W.

When Glenn calls it plays Hallelujah!!! Karen L.

Let your life ring out the truth of God's love and grace!

Two Sided Posters!

The last 5 weeks have been intense times of prayer, seeking God, wanting to understand his will and his way for my life and my church. Then Sunday came, "Celebration Sunday", one service, all together, to celebrate all that God has done. There was a tremendous amount of spiritual electricity in the gym at the YMCA. I confess, the emotions were difficult for me to suppress. I found myself overwhelmed by the realization of God's faithfulness in the face of my betrayals. My mind seemed to fill with flashbulb moments from the past as if God was pointing out the defining markers in my life, family, ministry of which this Sunday was about to be added to the album.

Then it happened ... the first person walked to the front of the stage, their facial expressions sad and solemn; they held up a poster expressing brokenness, lostness, pain; then they turned the poster over revealing a changed heart, a transformed life and a smile filled their face communicating beyond words the work of God in their lives. One by one they came, poster after poster turned over, two sided posters representing healing, wholeness, redemption, life, hope, meaning and purpose. I couldn't hold back the tears. I thought I would share with each of you the changed life expressed on each two sided poster ...

Bound by fear ... Freed by truth

Worldy focused ... Heavenly focused

Broken pieces ... He is the glue that holds me together

Broken hearted ... Healed & loving heart

Angry ... At peace

Withdrawn ... Came Alive

Blind heart ... Walking by faith, not by sight

Could not have children ... Was given 4 blessings

Suicidal, Lost, Broken ... Full of life, Found, Whole

Spiritually dead ... Alive In Christ

Hungry for more ... Filled by the Spirit

Believed in reason ... Believe God is the reason

Outcast ... Accepted

Empty Worship ... Singing Authentic Praises

Broken family ... Family restored

Intellectual believer ... Personal relationship

Status quo life ... Overjoyed with life

Defeated by the enemy's lies ... Living in Christ's Victory

Divided ... United

Thought I had NO gifts to offer ... Found my TRUE gifts

Had lots of life questions ... Found the Answer

Winning for myself ... Winning for God's Team

Seeking love & acceptance ... Found Grace & Mercy

Parentless ... Amazing parents

I was in bondage ... Now I'm set free

I was barren ... God doubly blessed me

Low self-esteem ... Glowing in God's love

Never wanted children ... Love my girls

Burdened by guilt and shame ... FREE! FREE! FREE!

Unable to commit ... Fully committed

Shattered ... Complete in Christ

I was #1 ... Helping others is the GREATEST reward

Served to protect our country ... A Marine in God's Army

Unclear Mission ... Divine Purpose

Last in line ... 1st at Heaven's Gate!


Sunday was such a high it took a day just to come down! What a celebration!

Thank you Lord for changing our lives!

What does your ring say about you?

I love a good run on a cool morning! My friend and I pushed each other along a 5.4 mile course with a little conversation and a lot of enjoyment! Our last mile was a heart pumping 7:54, for an old slow guy like me that was finishing strong. I'm sitting here on my day off enjoying the quiet and S.O.A.P.ing up on 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 when a thought just came to me ... "What does your ring say about you?"

It's amazing how many different phone rings you hear these days. My wife has "say you'll love me" from the Phantom of Opera play every time my number rings on her phone. When my oldest daughter calls from college, her ring is a siren, we call her the "siren girl", because during her first year at college, every call was a crisis. The rings we choose for people say something about the strength or randomness of the relationship. Let's do a survey ... email me the rings you have or post them on my blog and I will make a list and send then out on Monday with the next Sacred Journey.

So when your name pops up on the mental LCD of someone's thoughts what song is playing? For Paul every time the Thessalonian church rang he heard a song that reminded him of their "work produced by faith ... labor prompted by love ... endurance inspired by hope." He goes on say that they were the original "Live Out Loud" church ... "The Lord's message rang out from you ... your faith in God has become known everywhere." I pray that my life will ring of my faith, love and hope in God.

In case you're wondering what ring I have on my phone when you call me ... actually I don't use the ring, I have a blackberry and all it does it vibrate! Think about that for a minute! :-)

Chip In

Have you ever wanted or needed something so bad you could taste it, but you knew you didn't have the resources to get it, to make it happen? Maybe as a kid, like me, you got your friends together and you all chipped in to buy a skate board or a bike or even a lawn mower. You did that so you could enjoy, experience or even earn what one could person could not by themselves. As I was S.O.A.P.ing up this morning in Acts 2:41-47 it just hit me! Why would people sell their stuff and collectively "chip in" to the pot except that they wanted, needed, desired something so bad that they were willing to cooperate and collaborate with others to make the impossible happen.

I am so excited about what God is doing in my life, my community, my church. As we have been going through our Live Out Loud campaign my feelings have only intensified. Like most of you reading this blog who are members of The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch, there are somethings that I want so desperately that I am willing to sacrifice to see them happen. I want so desperately for our teenagers to have place to bring their friends, a place for them grow in their relationship with Christ, a place they can call their own. I want so desperately to make room for the many families in our community who need hope in their lives, marriages and families, who need to know that they matter to God. I want so desperately to make room for children who are beginning their spiritual journey with that child like faith that Jesus spoke of, to expand our capacity to reach them at the earliest age. I want so desperately for the men and women, boys and girls of our community to know the eternal love of Jesus Christ, to know that they matter to God ... but we can't do it by ourselves, we need each other. That's why God made the church and gave her the message of reconciliation. That's why God knits our hearts together in a compelling and shared vision of transforming lives, families, communities and even countries.

When we all desire to see the same thing happen, when we all want our neighbors, friends, family members to experience what we have experienced in and through Christ, then we are ready to "chip in" time, talents and yes, even treasures to make an eternal difference.

These last few weeks I have seen just that, an uncommon unity, an uncommon generosity! A people who desire to give what they have to make a difference by building a Community center as a tool for meeting needs, sharing love and reaching out to families throughout our city. As we "chip in" the impossible becomes possible and God's people are Living Out Loud lives that shout his love.

Until tomorrow ... Live Out Loud

Pit Bulls and Poodles

Who do you think would win a fight between a pit bull and a poodle? Before you pick the aggressive pit bull and say the docile poodle doesn't have a chance, you might want to consider a news report coming out of the Sweden. They reported that a poodle attacked a pit bull in Southern Sweden and wounded the dog and its owner.

The poodle's owner defended the action of the dog saying the poodle was friendly until the pit bull showed signs that it disliked the poodle. The pit bull felt the wrath of the poodle when it went on the offensive. Trying to rescue the pit bull, its owner stepped in between the dogs and got bit on her leg by the poodle. You have to admire the Napoleonic courage of the poodle. The reputation of the pit bull didn't keep it from standing its ground and fighting.

Too often I let Satan's reputation precede him and paralyze me. I have heard stories of demonic possessions and Satanic power and at times I have timidly choose to ignore the enemies attacks. At times I am afraid to confront injustice or to speak a positive word about my faith for fear of reprisal or rejection. I find myself afraid that if I act boldly that I will draw attention to myself and the enemy will intensity his attack.

Under my own power, I might face defeat, but I am not fighting Satan with poodle power (though don't underestimate the power of the poodle), I am fighting him with the power of the Holy Spirit. In my S.O.A.P. today I saw the courage that comes from a life lived in the presence of God through the power of his Spirit. In Acts 4:1-14 Peter and John stand face to face with a pack of pit bulls called Pharisees and they didn't back down. May my courage confound and my message profess that Jesus alone is the hope of mankind. Satan had better watch out for the bite of God's people ... there's not bark here, it's all bite when it comes to a pit bull named Satan!

Until tomorrow ... Live Out Loud the Sacred Journey!

Indescribable

Friday I wrote my blog about 3 indescribable moments having to do with my family all together to celebrate Wesley's birthday, a call from a friend, Patrick Richardson, to say Faith had been born and a birthday celebration with a fellow laborer in the vineyard, Robert Jackman who turned 47 and looks great! :-) As I finished writing out my thoughts on the indescribable feelings I had experience in moments of laughter, life and friendship ... I posted Friday's blog into cyberspace and that is where it stayed! The moment I realized that all I had written had vanished into some black hole never to be seen or heard from again, the feeling was indescribable! It has taken me a few days to recover from that nauseous experience, but I'm back.

This morning as our executive staff met in my office I had another indescribable moment. I heard some sad news, our dear friend and attorney, Stu Levin, had suffered a tragic loss, his son was killed 3 weeks ago by a drunk driver. I had no idea what had transpired and was grieved to hear of his loss ... his pain is indescribable. I talked with Stu this morning to let him know that I was praying for him and was so sorry that I was not there to journey with him during these last few weeks.

The truth is that much of life is indescribable, the highs and the lows, but what I have experienced over these last few days as indescribable as it has been, the love which Christ has shown to me in the midst of those moments as indescribable as the moment itself, a love demonstrated by his prayer for me in the garden. As he faced death, his thoughts were for me and my eternity. I am amazed at God's love, generosity, grace, power, patience and so much more. Whether in my moments of greatest joy or the pain of the valley of the shadow of death ... God is there and he is truly is indescribable!

An Equation for Rich Generosity

... (overflowing joy) + (extreme poverty) = rich generosity ... It doesn't add up! How do you have joy and poverty together? And then, where does generosity come from when there is nothing to give? I am befuddled when I read Paul's experience in 2 Corinthians 8 where you see a kingdom equation written on the hearts of a people who aren't equating their joy to circumstances nor their capacity for generosity to their impoverished state.

I wonder, would I have joy if I were living in extreme poverty? Would I live generously, giving beyond my means to bless others? I guess it all depends on my understanding of joy, poverty and generosity!

Joy is not happiness ... which tends to oscillate with our every changing circumstances. No, joy is the confidence I have in God's promises and presence regardless of my circumstances ... it is my steadfast assurance that God will always be there and that he will never change! My capacity for generous living is never tied to how much I have or don't have but rather my joy! Joy in any economic state results in generosity! Take away my joy and no amount of money can lead to generous living!

Until tomorrow ... Live Out Loud ... joyfully and generously for they are not dependent upon your riches!

Revolution

I am in a revolution, being called to bear arms against a regime that stands against all I believe in. Scripture says that this enemy's gates cannot stand the pounding of the collective onslaught of God's people. There is too much at stake for me not to commit all I am and all I have to the battle. Yet, my commitment is often challenged. The earnestness of my devotion and trust in God's plans and purposes are questioned. My hand of faith is forced and must be laid on the table for all to see.

Do you ever step out in faith, make a decision to commit it all and then watch as seemingly everything starts to unravel? I think to myself, "Did I make the right decision?" "God, what are you doing, I thought you were going to be with me and bless me?" "I thought you had a plan to defeat the enemy not let him attack me with such force." Disappointment enters the picture or is it dissatisfaction?
On Monday a friend of mine sent me a quote that a friend of hers had written:

"But it is more earnest then even that, revolution is impossible without an ingredient every one of us hates and avoids with all the cunning of understandable self-protection. Disappointment is the despised essential of authentic change. Disappointment is a catalyst. Yet, 'disappointment' isn't exactly the word; it languishes a little too long in the atmosphere of defeat. 'Dissatisfaction', on the other hand, has a tang of energetic hope and carries the idea more accurately. For the dissatisfied are likely to try again, and then...try again if need be; they are the ones who give a good attempt...trip...lie there to catch their breath; still sprawled, the pain of failure dissipates and they slowly recall the beauty of their original hope, realizing that though the attempt to attain it may have resulted in an undignified face-plant, hope, never the less remains utterly beautiful. Renewed love inspires belief and soon enough, the Dissatisfied are filled with fresh hope; they get up, dust off and give another effort. The Dissatisfied are dogged because they love well, almost too well. "

Circumstances have a way of causing me to take my eyes off the reality of the big picture, the meta narrative, the grander theme, the reason for my hope! And yet as I stop and ponder God's work in light of my struggle, I am inspired like Paul to say "I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength!" Yet I am not in the fight alone for I have an army of brothers and sisters who are equally committed to the fight and whose sacrifice and generosity are a fragrant offering to God. I am renewed, inspired, strengthened and motivated to press on and prepare for all that God has for me. My prayer for all is that we trust in the God who is able to meet all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. May our holy dissatisfaction cause us to Live Out Loud, again and again and again!

I can't wait till this Sunday! Until tomorrow ... Live Out Loud on the Sacred Journey

Yesterday I said it was Yom Kippur, I was only a week off as my Jewish brother and fellow Christ follower, Alan Litvak chided me. :-) But Alan says thanks for stopping to pray for Israel anyway! This morning during my S.O.A.P, as I was reading in 1 Corinthians 29:1-20, I was inspired by the generosity of David and his son Solomon, but one thing I know about money, riches and giving it away (not that I have a lot) ... it can cause conflict in a marriage. Solomon had a whole lot of wives, so I wonder how they were taking this act of generosity?

The truth is with the divorce rate over 50% for first time marriages the number one reason given for marital conflict is ... you guessed it, "money". This is the third time in the last 8 years that Gail and I have had to come to an agreement about what God would have us to give in a capital campaign. It is no easy task! Like most couples, Gail and I are very different when it comes to money. She's stingy and I'm generous, she's frugal and I'm free living, she's budget- focused and I'm into blessing others, she's reading this and I'm in trouble. :-) So last week as we were arm wrestling to see whose number would be the one ... just when she was about to win ... God intervened and the words of David rang out, "Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." Ouch ... we find ourselves fighting over giving God his money to fulfill his purposes.

The truth is, that just like all of you who are reading this, money plays a huge part in my life and allows me to accomplish my goals and desires. The Live Out Loud campaign has been a reminder that it's not all about me, my goals, my desires and my agenda but rather God's goals, agenda, purposes and plans which are eternal. I have a choice, I can either join him by trusting in his generosity and love for me or I can tell him no thanks, I will take care of myself.

As you and your family prepare to make your commitments on Commitment Sunday this weekend I am praying for you. I hope that rather than dividing couples, this will be an opportunity for uniting couples. Really, Gail and I were pretty close this time and as we prayed and came together to seek God's direction it has brought comfort not conflict into our lives. Until tomorrow, Live Out Loud ...

Today is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. I am praying today for Israel, Jerusalem and all Jewish people, that they may know peace, forgiveness and God's eternal salvation through Jesus the Messiah of the world. Join me today in prayer for Israel. It is also the 16th day of Ramadan and I am reminded of the Muslim men, women and children in Aceh who have suffered so much and are desperate need of a good news. I am praying that during this season of Ramadan many kingdom workers in Aceh would have the opportunity to speak of the life that is found in Jesus.

Yesterday was an awesome Sunday! David Ruzicka, one of our Pastors, spoke powerfully about the church and the reality that the local church is the hope of the world! I was moved and inspired! I went during the second service over to experience our senior high Realife service. Daniel Willingham, our Interim Student Pastor, was awesome as he spoke of Jesus' healing of the blind man, he actually took dirt and poured water into and put it on the eyes of one of students acting as the blind beggar. I sat and listened as he spoke of different kinds of people in the story and challenged students to consider the truth of God's word. Probably the capstone of the morning was the announcement that 36 leadership families have made their Live Out Loud commitments totaling over 1.4 million. I am inspired by generosity, sacrifice and obedience of our leaders. Not all of our leadership were able to get their commitments in but wow! I can't wait till this Sunday to see the generosity of God's people as we move forward. My Sunday finished with my Life Group as we watched the Live Out Loud lesson on commitment. Great job Garth! I was challenged by the creative use of resources to accomplish the goal. That brings us right to today's S.O.A.P.

As I S.O.A.P. ed up this morning in Luke 16:1-15, I found myself asking why Jesus would commend a dishonest worker. But as I meditated upon the passage it became clear that Jesus was commending the worker for using money rather than serving money! Wow! How many times have I been caught up in the pursuit of money, wealth, riches, or prosperity for me? As a child of God I have earthly treasure that can be used to build my kingdom or God's Kingdom. The heart of this passage is about being wise and discerning in the use of my resources to serve God's agenda. I want to master money not have money as my master! There is only one God, one King, one Kingdom, one agenda and I want to commit everything to battle. Until tomorrow ...

I over slept this morning ... missed my run ... and I think I'm more tired than if I would have got up at 4:45 and run! But hey ... Friday is my day off ... Gail and I call it "Fantastic Friday", a day to catch up on life, do chores, run errands, wash, dry and fold laundry, go to the grocery store, do a little yard work ... did I say day off? Actually, it's a day filled with all of that and a little rest and reflection. I like to look back over the week and reflect on God's goodness and blessings and this has been one of those weeks where God has been present in the storms and the stillness. We finished up our Live Out Loud Fellowships, (all though, if you were able to attend one, I am having a special Live Out Loud Fellowship just for you on Sunday noon right after the second service.)

I'm sitting here reading God's word and am so encouraged by the realness of God's people. Men and women just like you and me who were faithful in face of real life. Today's passage in Hebrews 11:17-40 speaks to the faith of our spiritual ancestors and how they walked even though they may have never seen the promises of God fulfilled they stayed the course of faith.

Bottom line, we all can grow weary and lose heart. In our world of immediate gratification, quick fixes and instant everything we can get impatient with God. We can be tempted to doubt, to strike out on our own to look for answers, solutions or something. But many have gone before you who have learned to walk by faith. Their collective experiences offer encouragement, hope and a reality that it is worth it all in the end!

• What kind of sacrifices have others made for me?
• What am I risking as a follower of Christ? What is the cost?
• How am I inspired, encouraged and empowered by the life and death of Christ?
• Will my legacy be about my fortune or my faith? How then must I live?

My Pray ... Lord, may I be included some day about that cloud of witnesses whose faith has lived on as an example for all. I need your strength to stay the course. You, Jesus, are the one that I look to in the midst of difficulties, disease, detours, distractions and even doubts. Thank you for not quitting, but for loving me enough to endure the cross for the forgiveness of my sin. I want my life to be filled with heart, passion, conviction and devotion to you. I love you Lord!

Until tomorrow ...

Faith is not trying to believe something irrespective the evidence, but rather faith is daring to do something regardless of the consequences. When I read Hebrews 11, the hall of fame for the faithful I can't help but see men and women who faced life with faith even when the consequences were potentially devastating! We all celebrate their obedience and trust in God because of what ultimately happened, but the reality is that they walked into an uncertain future filled with harsh, grime realities and yet they were sustained by their devotion and faith in the one who gave them the command, the one who made the promise, the one who gave the provision. Like Moses, I want to say loud and clear ... Lord, you lead the way, because if you don't go with me I'm not going!

Gail and I, like many of our friends at The Fellowship are wrestling to hear God's voice and to walk in obedience during this Live Out Loud season. There is too much at stake for us to do anything else but seek God and to be men and women of faith!

Succession plans are a necessary part of any journey. Whether it is Moses passing the baton to Joshua, a father handing down the family business to his children, or someone like Paul giving the missional torch to his protege, Timothy. If in my last hours, I had but a few words to speak into the lives of those who would come after me, those who would carry on the mission, the vision, the heart of my life ... "What would I say?" Maybe a better question is "What would my life have said?" There is a principle that says, we teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are. So ... what is my succession plan, who will carry on the mission of my life?

For me, I think it begins with my children. They are the legacy I will leave behind. Paul considered Timothy to be like a son and as such spoke in loving terms as a father would. For me, I want to live in a way that demonstrates and communicates with great clarity and conviction the cause of Christ, so that Emily, Allison and Wesley, might know and desire Christ and his kingdom, realizing that it's worth giving their lives to! I want to prepare them to live a life that shouts His love.

It's also the next generation of men and women who will be the voice proclaiming, with clarity and intensity, the message of God's love! They are those who will challenge, warn and urge people to follow, love, sacrifice, obey and live out loud this transformational truth of God's redeeming work on the cross.

Paul's words to young Timothy are words each generation of Christ followers should hear and repeat, words of wisdom and encouragement to be passed on to those who will carry the torch of the Christian faith. Until tomorrow ... Live Out Loud!

A little over a year ago I lost everything when my hard drive crashed. I was in Omaha, Nebraska in my hotel room writing a paper, when my computer groaned, gasped and ground to a halt. I know what you're thinking, "it'll be O.K. you had everything backed up ... didn't you?" Well, let's just say ... no! I had copies of most of my sermons and information from the first ten years of the church but everything over the last two years, well it was gone ... including all of my papers that I had been writing for a doctoral class. I was devastated and depressed ... until I found out what was going on in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina and then I got a sudden dose of perspective. We all lose things, but a hard drive doesn't even come close to losing a home, or a laptop to losing a life!

It's moments like these that bring new clarity and conviction to my life. Our S.O.A.P. passage today is Philippians 3:7-21. Paul is in prison, comparing his losses to his gains in Christ. When I look at everything I may have lost in life (or could lose) and compare it to what I have gained in Christ ... is there any comparison? I am challenged to live as Paul said, "considering everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ." He says that an attribute of a mature Christ follower is taking this view, because it sets us free to passionately pursue God rather than our appetites. I am thinking to myself, "absolutely, that is exactly how I feel! God you are the only thing that matters and I count everything else as loss by comparison."

It is at this moment, that God says to me, "Jerry, I love you and I want you know me. I want you to take a minute and go through an exercise ... let me stretch you and allow you to know Paul's heart and my heart for you." What if you were to lose the things that are most important to you? Most precious and loved? Would you trust me? Would you draw near to me? Would you want to know me more intimately? What if you were to lose your ...

car ... not the jeep ... alright, it's just a car ... knowing you as the one who can take me anywhere, no comparison!

money ... poverty is not my goal, but O.K. Lord, you own it all, take my money if in doing so I would learn to trust you every waking moment for you alone are my God and there is no comparison!

house ... Gail is really going to be upset, but knowing you as my fortress, the one who protects ... no comparison!

friends ... you made me relational, I love my friends ... but if it means my friendship with you could grow to a depth I could never reach otherwise, then there is no comparison!

ministry ... Lord, The Fellowship is one the greatest joys of my life, but to know you as my Master, to serve you and your kingdom, there is no comparison!

reputation ... I cringe to think that I might bring shame to you or your church, but if it means embarrassment and shame to know the suffering and humiliation of my Lord, there is no comparison!

health ... Age bears down upon this vessel of clay and I am reminded of my frailty, but with every heart beat and every passing breath, I would give my health to know you as healer of my life, there is no comparison!

children ... the shock of yesterday's school shooting brought deep pain to my heart. I can't imagine losing Emily, Allison or Wesley, but the loss of your son was great. To know the Father's love, the Father's loss, the sustaining life of the Spirit in my loss, there is no comparison!

spouse ... Gail is my best friend, apart from you Lord, she is my soul mate and I can't bear the thought of losing her. You're asking me to chose you, to love you more, to want you more, to believe that there is no comparison to the complete love and friendship which you can give and want to give ... there is no comparison!

life ... it is all I have left but without knowing you ... it is death. Your life or my life ... there is no comparison!

Nothing compares to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. May I know it in my life not in my loss! May it be so! Until tomorrow ...

Last night, at The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch we had a Concert of Prayer that was incredible. From the silent communion to roof raising prayer and praise, the night lifted my spirit and refreshed my soul. God filled the room with his presence and I was profoundly aware of his pleasure. One of my favorite movies is "Chariots of Fire" and it has a great quote. Eric Liddell is explaining to his sister, who is worried that his running is distracting him from his calling as a missionary to China, as he explains why he feels he has to run he says, "Jennie, I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure." I love that line, "When I run I feel his pleasure!" As I was running around the track this morning at 5 a.m. in the Houston heat and humidity it wasn’t pleasure that I was feeling. But today's passage in Luke 19:11-27 made me think deeply about what I do that does cause me to say, "I feel his pleasure."

Jesus tells a parable that speaks to how we live, steward and prepare for the return of our King. As I S.O.A.P.ed up this morning, I was reminded that God knows me, calls and gifts me for his purposes. He has entrusted to me his kingdom and commissioned me to use all his resources to further the mission. He has entrusted to me time, talents and treasures and I am called to steward, with great diligence, the journey before me. I am called to live in the knowledge of his pleasure, believing that some day I will stand before him and he will say, "Well done, my good servant!"