imuncovered

2008-01-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

I'm moving to a new space at http://daedaljocosity.wordpress.com/.

2007-11-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

2007-05-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

They say that "soon" is in the eye of the beholder. So this is a repeat of my last message posted. Obviously, my inconsistency has remained untransformed. More will come...

2007-03-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

So I've had a lull in my blogging for the past month. I suppose this is evidence of my short attention span and ever-present struggle with consistency. But I'm back. It's been a good, but busy month. I'll have some thoughts on everyday stuff soon.

2007-02-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

Hey folks. I recently read this reaction to former NBA player John Amaechi's coming out by Chris Broussard of ESPN. Excellent read. Tell me what you think.

I think the NBA is ready for an openly gay player.

By "ready" I don't mean that everyone on the guy's team or in his organization will like the fact that he's a homosexual, or that the guy might not get called names by opponents on the court, or even that his own teammates might not chuckle behind his back.

But by "ready" I mean that players will tolerate a homosexual teammate or opponent. Like Charles Barkley said, some have been doing that already.

Just look at the comments made by players, coaches and Commissioner David Stern when asked about former player John Amaechi's recent disclosure that he is gay.

The overwhelming majority of comments have been politically correct, even the ones that were considered homophobic by Philadelphia's Shavlik Randolph and Steven Hunter.

Go talk to guys at an open gym in your neighborhood, and lots of the comments won't be so polite.

But America has become so politically correct -- not to mention that, in my opinion, much of the media and Hollywood are promoting the idea that homosexuality is a normal lifestyle -- that many players are afraid to voice their true feelings publicly.

Thus, whenever a current player comes out as gay, you will hear overwhelming support for the guy. And while I think Mark Cuban went overboard in saying the guy would be "an American hero," I do believe he would be embraced by a sizeable segment of the population.
He would definitely get marketing/endorsement opportunities, and some folks in the media would champion him and the gay cause.

Well, anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I'm not concerned with being politically correct. So here's where I stand:

I'm a born-again, Bible-believing Christian (no, I'm not a member of the Religious Right). And I'm against homosexuality (I believe it's a sin) and same-sex marriage.

But before you label me "homophobic," know that I'm against any type of sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. That includes heterosexual fornication (premarital sex).

Some cats in the NBA run around, sleeping with different women in every city -- I don't agree with their lifestyles.

Some players run around, cheating on their wives -- I don't agree with their lifestyles.It's all wrong to me and against the biblical teachings I believe in.

I'm saying all that to say that if I can play basketball with a homosexual, just about anyone can.

I've played in several rec leagues with LZ Granderson, who is an openly gay writer at ESPN The Magazine.

I consider LZ a friend. I've gone out to lunch with him, talked music, sports, politics and lots of other things with him. I greet him with a handshake and a hug, just like I greet lots of other guys.

By the way, LZ can ball. In a league in New York City that features several former college players, we both made the All-Star team. He was kind of like our Shawn Marion minus the dunks (though he claims he can still slam!) and I was like our Gilbert Arenas (high game of 39, thank you).

Anyway, when we play in our rec league games, I give him high fives and hugs. Same with one of his friends who is on the team and also gay. When we're on the court trying to get a win -- or in the office talking about a story, for that matter -- his sexuality is not an issue.Granted, I don't shower with LZ after games like NBA teammates do, and I'll admit that if I had to, it might be a little uncomfortable at first.

But if a gay player just goes about his business in the shower, showing that he has no sexual interest in his teammates and that he's not "checking them out," I think the awkwardness would wear off fairly quickly.

LZ and I know where each other stand and we respect each other's right to believe as he does.

I know he's gay, and he knows I believe that's a sin. I know he thinks I get my moral standards from an outdated, mistranslated book, and he knows I believe he needs to change his lifestyle. Still, we can laugh together, and play ball together.

That's real diversity. Disagreeing but not being disagreeable.For the record, I covered Amaechi as a beat writer for the Akron Beacon Journal when he was a rookie playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I like John. He's intelligent, nice and you can have a good conversation with him. I haven't seen him in several years but if I saw him today, I'd smile and give him a hug. I think dinner with him would be a blast, with lots of great discussion/debate about race, politics, religion, Africa and yes, sexuality.

Since Amaechi came out, I've read lots of columns about being "progressive." The implication -- or outright assertion -- is that anyone who believes homosexuality is wrong is not progressive or enlightened.

That's where this thing becomes problematic, because those who hold to that view are saying I must change my entire belief system/religion because of your belief system.Where's the diversity in that?

Those folks don't want diversity. They want everyone to agree with their "enlightened" opinion.Look, I'll accept your right to have your own belief system and to live as you please, but I'm not changing mine. Diversity is not just accepting alternatives to what has long been perceived as normal, but it's accepting the significant number of people who hold to long-standing "traditional" beliefs as well.

Millions of Christians who follow the Bible -- and Muslims who follow the Koran and Jews who follow the Torah, as well as many nonreligious Americans -- believe homosexuality is wrong.
That doesn't mean they're unenlightened. That just means their moral code doesn't fluctuate based on society's ever-changing standards. As long as we're not being violent toward one another, as long as we can be civil, everything should be fine. We don't have to agree.

And please don't compare being homosexual to being black. I consider that insulting to blacks for a number of reasons. The fact that some blacks make the comparison themselves only shows how crushed our racial esteem has become because of America's oppression (witness our insistence on calling ourselves the n-word).

You can't hide your skin color, choose your skin color, change your skin color or switch your skin color back and forth. Some argue that you can't do that with your sexuality either, but there are many scientists on both sides of the genetic debate, and I believe a truly objective person would admit the biological evidence for homosexuality is far from definitive.

Nor has the Bible, the Koran or the Torah ever associated a particular skin color with sin (it was only racist whites who twisted the Scriptures 400 years ago who did that, never the Bible itself).

I'm not trying to get into a religious or scientific discussion here, I'm just saying that some people will accept homosexuality as fine and others will not.

Some will write me off as a bigot for this article, but folks, this is real talk. Unfortunately, we can't have real talk in America nowadays.

Whites can't voice their real opinions -- no matter how legitimate -- about race for fear of being called racist, and everyone's afraid of offending anyone. It seems the only person who can be openly criticized, or disagreed with, is the President.

How crazy is that?

Until we can honestly hear each other out -- and be civil while doing so -- we won't get anywhere. One thing I hope this article does is encourage people to have frank discussions about sensitive issues such as this one.

Here's the bottom line: If I can accept working side-by-side with a homosexual, then he/she can accept working side-by-side with someone who believes homosexuality is wrong.

If an NBA player can accept playing with a homosexual, then the homosexual must accept playing with guys who don't agree with his lifestyle.

Believe me, when the ball goes up, his sexual preference isn't going to matter.

2007-02-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I spent an afternoon in San Luis, Mexico. It was great. I had the opportunity to meet the family of a pastor of a mission congregation that was persevering nearly 10 months after the pastor had died. They don't have much. About 10 people including 5 children live in the confines of a 1000 sq. ft. apartment with a small backyard area. They don't have much of anything other than their God.

We spent about an hour at their apartment. I got to meet all of the sons and daughters and all of the grandchildren. It was interesting to share about our lives and I had a chance to work on my Spanish...I'm trying to learn it.

Then the son, Job, took us to the church building that they had and he told us how God had allowed them to be a blessing to the people of the surrounding community for nearly 20 years. He shared some of his favorite memories from his childhood and cast a vision for the church for the future there.

I've heard church leaders talk about vision for the future before, but this was different. In the middle of his speaking I had to remind myself that this son was 17 years old. He was 17, about to graduate high school, and at the same time was leading a church of 50 people and preaching twice a month. He wasn't just surviving, he was thriving.

He was where most American men are at 25. The most impressive thing about this experience is that he didn't have a strategy or elaborate plan, but he was fully relying on God to carry the church. I think that sometimes we forget this. We get so caught up in our great programs and creative messages and what we can do that we forget what God has done and what he has promised and asked of us.

Do you ever forget what God has done? Do you ever try to compartmentalize Jesus? In my humanness, there is the temptation to exalt and expose what I have done rather than what Christ has done. And it's not because I think I do things apart from Christ. It's because sometimes I think that others have already heard it. They know what Jesus has done, but not necessarily what I have done. Do you ever assume so much about the faith of others that you shy away from talking about it?

Job didn't do this. He constantly reminds others of God's great love. He saw his weaknesses as evidence of God's strength, not a source of meaninglessness of himself. Job is simply following Christ and not being derailed by fear. After all that's what Jesus desires for us. Jesus simply told his disciples "Follow me."

So how do the words "Follow me" penetrate your heart, mind, and soul? Is an accepted command or just a nice answer for Sunday school questions? It's not just about your knowledge or actions...it's about the condition of your heart. The condition that drives you in whatever you do.

2007-02-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

There is something great happening in Yuma! There is a playground being built at a local park. While this might not be groundbreaking news in many places, it is here where parks and rec is not the thriving endeavour as in some other places. Something really cool about this is that it is not just being built, but it is being built almost completely by volunteer labor.

So yesterday I went down there for the afternoon. It was awesome! It was a nice afternoon of drilling, measuring, and hammering...what's not to love about playing with power tools? It's amazing when you are there to see roughly 75 people working together to achieve a common goal. I even saw one of my youth leaving as I was arriving.

So great experience. Check it out.

There isn't much Bible reading that goes on at the site, but there is a spiritual realm of the experience. It's rare to get a group of 75 people together from all walks of life to team together to do something because of love. I think these are the types of community that God enjoys. Not those that want to be right, but those that are rooted in love.

2007-02-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a book called a Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren. I'm just over 100 pages into it, but I am finding it to be great so far. I'm sure some of you (especially in church work circles) have probably heard McLaren's name somewhere associated with a movement towards the postmodern church and a many of you may have read his writing before.

I really enjoy his writing. It's not because I agree with everything that he says. I don't. It's not because it gives me something interesting to talk about with others. It doesn't unless you like theology. I like his writing because it challenges my thinking and my beliefs. I know what I believe as a Lutheran and really don't think it would be beneficial to read more works that just reinforce my thinking and pat me on the back.

While I love to be told I'm doing a great job and thinking the "right" thoughts, I don't really think it is helpful for me personally. I really believe that we grow the most when we are challenged and everything isn't always easy. If we are going to mature and grow and strengthen and deepen our faith we will need to be challenged and tested. I didn't understand the stove was hot by listening to my mom and I'm surely not going to understand the message of Christ by just hearing it.

So if you like challenging books that make you think, pick up something by Brian McLaren. You will probably rejoice with one paragraph and want to scream at the following, but the most important thing about his writing is that it forces you to think about your faith on levels bigger than you and your church and your town and the year your living now. So proceed with caution...you may be offended and repulsed, but you will definitely be challenged.

2007-02-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

Reason number 532 why not to become a televangelist.

2007-02-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting book that I heard about this morning called Not For Sale. This is one man's investigation of modern slavery. The author, a San Franciscan, was spurred for this concept when he found out that a local restaurant he frequented was using slaves from India for their daily operations. I haven't read it yet, but I hope to soon.

This past October I had the opportunity to hear a woman speak on behalf of International Justice Mission at a conference I was attending. While she was not the most charismatic speaker, she was very effective at communicating. Quite frankly, I don't think she would have been as effective if she was charismatic. However, I learning some incredible things.

Did you know that nearly 1,000,000 people are trafficked (taken against their will) across international borders every year? Did you know that there are 27,000,000 people who are enslaved in the world today? While this accounts for less than one-half percent of humanity, it is still a staggering number.

The more I learn about the social and physical oppression that occurs in our world, the more I have trouble with the ways we spend money here in America. Beyond our needs, we throw money into all sorts of junk that fades. I'm not saying that America should be more like another country. I don't really want to go to another country to live. There is nowhere else in this world that is a better platform to help humanity. In a land where free speech and opinion abounds, we should use such an opportunity, which does have its price, to impact the world for the better. Instead of trying to save 25 cents on our $4.53 coffee, let's allocate that money back to the grower and the harvesters.

I have learned about some extraordinary organizations over the past few years that might know be as well-known as Compassion Int'l. International Justice Mission, Blood:Water Mission, and Hagar International are just a few. Another interesting one is Jedidiah clothing company that is driven to make the world a better place through avenues of love.

I love these types of organizations and companies because they have the main goal of show people Jesus through love. There isn't an indoctrination of beliefs. There is a confidence that the human heart and spirit will respond to actions and love and want to know more about it. Isn't this what Jesus was about? He wasn't about just giving answers. He was about the response to love and the discovery of how deep that loves goes.

2007-02-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Tonight I watched a few things on television. First, I watched the Super Bowl and it as refreshing to listen to the Colts management speak humbly about their thankfulness for what God has given them. Interesting how sometimes we hear athletes say that it's about God, but you don't always believe them. However, this was a different impression I got tonight.

The second program I watched was a documentary from Fox News about radical Islam. I always find this type of stuff intriguing. The program simply examined different television programs found on Arab television ranging from speeches to newscasts to children's cartoons. While it was an interesting topic, I can't describe the images and video as anything less than disturbing.

So how do you respond to people who declare that they want to kill you because you don't possess the same beliefs as they do? How should America confront this? What about the rest of the world? Let's get some answers to tough questions...

2007-02-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

Have you seen An Inconvenient Truth? I'd be really interested to see what your take is on the documentary. Regardless of whether or not you subscribe to the theory of global warning, it is a discussion that needs participation.

While I'm still thinking over my own opinion of the issue, I do have some critiques of the movie. I thought the movie did a great job of presenting visual aids and comparative photography. I think that Al Gore did a great job with presenting this as best as possible while sparing us the scientific jargon that we all understand all so well.

I am a bit bothered by the shots that he takes at the current White House administration. While the majority of the jabs are subtle, they are jabs nonetheless. I think it's tacky to take subtle shots at people in an educational documentary. Rather than pointing out where you have a problem with the way you see other people doing their job, simply propose what you think is the better plan. The fact you are presenting a different plan already insinuates that you disagree with the current plans and policies.

I was also disappointed that he didn't identify the sources of his statistics and findings beyond the generalities. I gotta know from where these numbers and graphs are coming. When people don't identify their sources it reeks of manipulation.

So there you go. That's a couple of my thoughts. Feel free to share your own. I would encourage that everyone sees the movie regardless of opinion. It's a quite thought-provoking 93 minutes that makes you think...and as you know, I'm a big fan of thinking.

2007-02-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

This morning as I got out of the shower I had a fresh thought. Perhaps it was the scent of clean that brought this on...I'm not sure. I was thinking about Paul's writing in Galatians 5. Do you ever think of your faith as a checklist of things to do and things to avoid? It's hard to completely avoid this in some form.

My temptation to do this is usually driven by my desire to measure myself. I want to know how I'm doing, how I compare to others, and if I'm being "good enough" for God. It really boils down to that I want to be accepted and I feel that way when I meet a certain standard. So what's your standard for "godliness"?

The people in Galatia struggled with this same question. We read in 5:18 that "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." In this chapter we learn that there isn't a standard that we have to meet...if so, we're screwed and I'm the bus driver. Paul tells that people to stop living up to a certain standard and start living by the Spirit. Basically he's telling them to throw the first grade star chart away and stop counting all the good things you do.

Okay, so just love. Jesus had the same message when he was asked about following the rules. He said it's simple...love God and love others in every way of your life. While it's not easy, the Holy Spirit will guides.

So where are you at with this? In a world that keeps score, are you willing to lose track to live? Tell me what you think.

2007-01-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

This one is for all of you Lego fans out there. I was sent these by my father-in-law.

2007-01-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

The other day Meredith and I were at Starbucks. During our wait, which is a period of its own, we noticed they were selling bottled water by the name of Ethos. I was most intrigued not with the fact they were selling water for $1.80, but that the display featured a group of children from Africa happy because they had clean water. The display said that part of your purchase of that water goes to help provide clean water in Africa. Good cause. Sounds like a good idea.

So with 10 minutes to go till getting our coffee, I picked up a bottle and began to read it. Soon after I did this, a sickening feeling took over my stomach as I read on the label that they will donate 5 cents of each bottle sold to this humanitarian effort. 5 cents! That's a whopping 2.5%! That's not a humanitarian effort. That's a tax write off.

I'm not opposed to selling water for $1.80. You can sell water for whatever price you want. That's capitalism. What's most uncomfortable about this product isn't the price, it's the marketing of the product.

The display and the label sell the water as a humanitarian effort. I was disgusted to read that 2.5% of of the sale goes to the ensuring clean water around the world. While I acknowledge the cause as a great need, I can't help but think that it is being used as a tax write-off with great publicity.

I'm not saying that I disagree with the concept of this product. I think it's a great concept. But I do think you need to be honest about what the product really is. It's about redirecting some money the company would pay for taxes, not giving up profits...there's a big difference between the two.

I think this is the type of stuff that angered Jesus the most. He talks about this in Luke 11:42. Jesus tells the Pharisees that it's their donations are done to gain fame and noteriety for themselves. They are using a good cause for personal gain.

I feel this is what Starbucks is doing with Ethos water. If you want your voice to be heard, you can be heard by clicking here -> http://www.starbucks.com/customer/contact_forms.asp?nav=3f.

2007-01-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened on my way to work this morning. As I started my car and got on the road, the sun was starting to come up over the horizon...it was beautiful. In fact, this is my favorite part of going to work early during the winter months. So here's the funny thing. I went to Starbucks (because I was given a giftcard) to get a drink on the way and it was dark outside. Three minutes later when I came out it was significantly brighter.

So I have a couple theories. Maybe I noticed it was dark when I first left my apartment and I never took a moment to reevaluate in the midst of my drive...I was either ignorant or became numb to the status of the sun. Perhaps the moments I was in Starbucks was the exact time that the sun peaked over the horizon. Regardless of which theory you choose to subscribe, I still missed it.

After this tragic experience, I did what I normally do...I thought about what God might be teaching me about our relationship in that moment. So what did I learn?

I learned that sometimes I see the good things that God has prepared for me to in a day, but as the day goes on I get sidetracked and lose focus. Sometimes I just miss the opportunities because I'm not paying attention and preoccupied. I get lost in the moment and miss the next moment. It's not so much a conscious choice that I make, but it just tends to happen.

Another thing I learned from this is sometimes I get conditioned to my first evaluation. It was getting lighter with every minute as I was driving, but I didn't necessarily notice because I didn't take the time to reevaluate the situation. This can be dangerous because then when we do reevaluate, we are broadsided by the fact that things have changed, but we aren't quite sure how we got to this change. All we know is that it was sudden and lacked warning.

Something else to learn from this is that even though I missed the sunrise today, I will be able to see it tomorrow. There will be a new sunrise tomorrow morning for me to watch and ponder. God knows our condition. He knows that we don't have it all together. He's patient with us. He doesn't give up on us. Tomorrow will bring new opportunities, joys, and challenges. But this is today and it's not even half over yet...there is so much still to come!

2007-01-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else taken the time to watch The Office? It's hysterical. It's simple, subtle, and isn't completely obsessed with being oversexed. Meredith and I have just finished watching the 2nd season and are hoping to catch up on the third and get up to date...big shout out to iTunes for the help with that one.

So the show is exquisite. Have you ever had a job where your boss was way in over their head and everyone knew it? I have. It was in high school...I worked at a Six Flags park in a eatery and my boss was clueless and sinking fast. I'm sure you have probably had a similar experience if you have had a job.

Anyway, it's one of the best and funniest shows I've seen in a long time. That's all I have to say about that.

2007-01-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting week. 24 began. I broke down and finally got an Ipod Nano. There is also another source of excitement.

I've been dreaming about this movie since I was 6. Optimus Prime cannot be stopped.

2007-01-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know what's going on in the world today? If you were to watch the news, you would think that the only things happening are politics, Iraq War, and terrorism plots being busted up. But is that it?

Do you know how many wars are going on at this moment? According to Wikipedia, there are currently 21 wars taking place today in the world...may of which I haven't even heard about. When I found out about this I was shocked, but not suprised. I just didn't know.

While I'm saddened to read about this stuff, I understand why we don't know more about it. Quite frankly, we don't want to know. It's distirbing enough to watch the "clean" war in Iraq on the TV. There's nothing about war that is clean, but with just over 3,000 dead American soldiers, the Iraq war is nothing, comparatively speaking.

I'm on this because watched this slideshow from a photographer of the war in the Congo. You can watch it here -> http://www.marcusbleasdale.com/podcast/congo-the-forgotten-war-large.html. Did you know that since 1998, 4 million people have died from this war? 4 million!!! That's like the entire city of Phoenix. Most of that number died from lack of medical care...from diseases that we have vaccinations and cures.

When we hear about this stuff, we ask a few questions. Why and How? All of these conflicts occur because of selfishness and a lust of abundance beyond our need. But why would God allow this? I think we have exhausted this question. We know that God cares. We know that there are consequences for sin.

The question I think we should all be asking is "what now?" What will we do in light of this? How can we help? How can we help a country of people that is helpless? So here's a list:

1. Realize that those people are our neighbor...the same neighbor God tells us to care for.
2. Learn more. This isn't just the Congo. Check out organizations such as the Blood Water Mission, International Justice Mission, International Rescue Committee, and the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
3. Offer your time, money, and talents.
4. Be with God and pray. Pray for your heart to be broken by such images and stories.

You may have just read that and thought "that's a nice idea, but..."

Satan loves the power of "but..." Don't be overtaken by doubt or feelings of not being able to make a difference. The body of Christ, with all it's parts working together, is capable of incredible things by the Holy Spirit. It says "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Eph. 4:20).

We can make a difference because Christ makes a difference in us.

What about this doesn't scream for the need of God?

2007-01-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

This is my usual Sunday morning. Get to my office around 8. Get my coffee started. Do a few things I need to do to prep for Sunday morning classes. Then I have the time that I'm enjoying right now. It's a time of stillness. I can hear slight echos of the hymns of the early service, but no one else is around right now. It's very peaceful. Just me, my coffee, and God.

To the right of my computer screen there is a cross made out of nails. My father-in-law gave it too me for college graduation. I love this cross. It's abstract, but detailed. It doesn't just remind me that my Savior died on a cross or that he is now risen. What I love most about this cross is that it is raw.

There is something incredibly appealing about a Jesus that is raw and not well packaged. It makes him seem believable. I love how Jesus laughed, made jokes, and got ticked off and yelled. It's not because I think those are honorable things to do. It's because it makes him believable. I can relate to that Jesus, because I laugh, make jokes, get ticked off and yell. I can understand how he might be thinking or feeling. But most of all, I resonate with this Jesus because this Jesus understands me, my feelings, and my life.

So here is my prayer for today. Lord, may I reflect you today. Help me. I can't do it alone. May your goals be accomplished. Change hearts starting with my own. Let all people see your goodness.

So here we go. The day is starting. Let's do it. I'm ready.

2007-01-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Seen The Pursuit of Happiness yet? I have. Meredith and I went to see it before Christmas and we both enjoyed it quite a bit. Will Smith breaks out of playing himself in roles this time around. While he has a couple smooth and funny lines, he takes a serious role which is a nice change for him. I really enjoy his roles where he isn't chummy and womanizing because I think he's a great actor and it shows in this movie. By the way, his son also co-stars as his son in the movie.

While the story of the movie is quite inspirational and heart-warming, there is a clip that stood out for me above the rest. At the beginning of the movie, there is an examination of the Jefferson's famous phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The narrator notes that while life and liberty are given to all Americans, happiness requires constant pursuit. How wise (or fortunate) of Mr. Jefferson to understand happiness is not something that is held onto in our lives.

We are never always happy. When we read about happiness in the Bible, it is always talked about as a moment or single experience. It never refers to a period of considerable length. Happiness is confined to a moment and has little effect on those following. This could explain why when we watch TV, play video games and surf the net we are left feeling rather unfulfilled.

But what makes us fulfilled? We are fulfilled when we learn and grow. It happens when we spend time building a relationship. It happens we have hope in our future. This fulfillment that we know is joy. While happiness comes and goes, joy goes on because joy has hope for the future.

2007-01-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm back after a hiatus during the holiday season of crazy life and lack of time for anything. I had a good vacation to Texas with Meredith. I accomplished my 2 goals of playing golf and getting a massage. It was nice to be home in that we had the opportunity to just relax and have no agenda to accomplish each day as usual.

So now it's "back to life". You get that feeling after every vacation or trip you ever take. You get back to normal. Sometimes you dread it and sometimes you can't wait. I usually experience a little bit of both in my "back to life" moments. On one hand, I hate for it to end because it's different and new, but on the other hand, I am often ready for it to end because I can't handle the lack of predictability.

So I would challenge that this whole "back to life" dilemma really rests with the issue of control. How important is it for us to have control over our lives? When I look at the bad and illogical decisions I have made in my life, they all seem to hinge on the issue of control. There are many things decisions I've made, feelings I've harbored, and actions I've regretting for the power of control.

Control manifests itself in many forms, most commonly selfishness. We start thinking about ourselves and what's good for us without considering the context of other people. The problem with this is that what's good for us is often determined by the context of the people with whom we are surrounded. What's best for us is determined not always by what we want, but by those people around us. We as the "body of Christ" needs to work together for the common good, not just our own.

So here is another day with the same dilemma of "us" vs. "we".

Let me encourage you to take some encouragement from Scripture. Paul says to do nothing out of selfish ambition or gain, but to consider others better than ourselves. We need to look to not just our own interests, but the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4) Be patient with each other for we are all sinners and imperfect. Forgive one another any grievances you have against each other. (Colossians 3:13)

2006-12-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not into the dumb criminals caught on tape stuff, but this is too ridiculous. Learn from this folks. Graduate from high school, get your degree, and get a job. Whatever you, don't rob a liquor store.

2006-12-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever asked someone what they wanted to do? Most of you have...if you haven't, be more considerate of others. The most common response I get when I ask this question has some form and use of the word "fun". This always perplexes me, because fun really doesn't tell me anything. All it says is that you want to enjoy yourself, which we should all hope for our lives. So I'm posing the question to you today: What is fun?

For myself I have fun when I'm reading a book, watching football, and cooking a nice meal for my wife. However, I doubt that's how everyone else defines "fun". With so many different conceptions of fun, there is bound to be many people disappointed when it's your purpose for a group of people.

I ask the initial question of this post quite often to get the input of others and I most often get the typical response of something "fun". Although not always, but many times I sense that what people are really trying to tell me is that they want to be entertained in some way. Herein lies a problem. I'm not an entertainer, I'm a youth pastor. I'm not that good at entertaining people. That's why we have movies, television, and video games...so you won't be tortured by people like me with abnormal senses of humor. Hence, why you will probably never see my mug on YouTube.

So does anyone think we are little entertainment-obsessed? I do. Why is an Ipod or cell phone necessary at school again? Oh, it's not required for any class. Why must everything be entertaining? It doesn't need to be, but we perceive it as a necessity.

The funny thing about all of this is that I've never seen a group of friends that didn't have fun together. "Fun" happens anytime that you get together with a group of friends regardless of the activity. The problem that we have with entertainment is that it's fleeting. It's great for the 2 hours it lasts, but then it's over and gone. You have a memory, but you didn't learn anything or grow in any way.

This is where I lose most people. I love "fun" and it will happen at every youth event because youth are surrounded with friends. I do not see the need to entertain. If you want to go to Disneyland or the beach, go with your family or a friend. I haven't found in the Bible yet where the disciples and apostles use entertainment as a core value of sharing the gospel with people. Instead they focus their energy on teaching the truth and sharing experiences with other people. It's all about relationships and truth. And yes, they all had "fun" doing it.

Okay, fire away with the comments.

2006-12-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

War is a popular topic today. It's the headline nearly everyday on the evening news and dons the front page of nearly every magazine and newspaper once a month. It doesn't stop there. It's the basis for multiple movies and even finds its way into the monologues of late-night comics.

So we are bombarded by the coverage of the "war against terror" and the "jihad" holy war. It's a reality that we have settled for even though "jihad" doesn't even translate into war...it actually means to strive or to struggle, although it is understandable how it's mean can be twisted to declare a holy war. I think the excess of discussion and information regarding the war is more detrimental as opposed to helpful. We are so overloaded with information from the past month that we forget what actually occurred a 6 months ago.

Another thing that happens with this excess of information is that we are allowed to focus on minute points and build them up while ignoring the most important aspects of the war. We have seen this happen many times during this war in Iraq with instances such as Abu Grab, Guantanamo Bay, and torture/questioning of enemies. While these issues shouldn't be hidden, they are not most important when it comes to war. Not to sound redundant, but isn't it a bit absurd to expect full civil rights for people trying to kill us in a war zone?

War is not pretty, fair, and there are no rules. Regardless of the Geneva Convention, war is still about killing more of the other guys and winning. People die in war and not all of them are soldiers. Atrocities happen in all of these situations. There is no congeniality award in war, just a winner. I'm not saying that this is wonderful or that it's the way war should be, but it is. It's the way that war always has been and always will.

I've never served in the military and have never had to fight in a battle for my life and hopefully I won't ever have that experience. However, I do think our troops believe in what they are trying to accomplish. I think they deserve our respect, care, and encouragement of all Americans. They are doing a job that I don't want to do...and for that I'm thankful and will encourage them to the end.

2006-12-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I sent out an email with a link to www.freederekwebb.com. If you haven't been there yet, you can get a free CD. This guy used to be part of a band called Caedmon's Call. He has some good music with some incredible lyrics...they will definitely make you take a different view of life. Go check it out!

2006-12-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder what youth pastors do all day? Yay for YouTube!

2006-11-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you are lacking something? If you're like me, you probably think that quite often. There aren't many situations in life where we feel completely prepared and in control. Perhaps that is why so many of us freak out when everything isn't in order.

It's at times like these that I think of Eminem. He had a great song a few years ago entitled "Lose Yourself" that had a hook that was relevant to almost everyone.

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime.

When was the last time you let an opportunity pass you by because you weren't certain what they outcome would be? In our world where success receives high praise, we do everything we can to avoid failure out of fear. When we avoid failure we also avoid any type of worthy success.

My prayer for you is that you fail. That you fail badly when you become vulnerable and risk it all. We fail when we know that we are reaching for something beyond normal or what is just okay. We need to know what that feels like...the reaching part. No dream is acheived without some bit of failure. If you look in the Bible, nothing is accomplished through normal circumstances. Everything is achieved through great risk. If you look at all the great feats of people in the Bible, they all involve an element of risk that extended beyond the norm.

Noah risked his reputation on a boat. Moses risked his life of luxary. David picked a fight with a giant. No one listened to Jeremiah. Jonah had to let go of his pride. The disciples risked their lives because they believed Jesus was the Christ. Paul left a position of great honor and power to teach the truth.

This still happens today. A vet sells his practice to be a pastor. A brilliant mind fit as a CEO opts for a teaching position. A car dealer decides after 20 years to resign and seek the call of the Lord of which he still isn't sure. A high school graduate pursues a career that impacts the lives of others over whatever makes the most money.

All of these people made decisions that most would describe as risky and unimaginable. They are the type of people we congratulate for following their dreams. The truth is that these people don't want the recognition because they find the maker of their dreams undeniable. They stretched, risked, and trusted their Maker. They live to share a hope that isn't normal.

What's most incredible to me about these people is that they will tell you that they are normal people that God has given an extraordinary vision for their lives beyond normal. You weren't created for normal. It's not a mistake the gospel has been shared with you. The mistake is when we refuse to risk and trust in the hope that we know.

If you have a dream for your life, do it. Don't wait till you're older. Do it now. God isn't waiting. He's ready to have an amazing journey with you today. If you don't have a dream, pray for one. Ask God to give you a dream bigger than yourself. He will. He's been doing it since the beginning of time.

2006-11-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Jesus leads the Black Parade.

No, this isn't some lame attempt by a youth minister to form Jesus into a distorted image. For those of you not into pop music today, "Welcome to the Black Parade" is a song by My Chemical Romance. Personally, I enjoy the song. It is well orchestrated and projects that there's an important message unveiled in the lyrics.

So what's the Black Parade all about anyway? Sure it's the alter-ego of the band, but what's the message of it? The entire song revolves around death and living a life that is build on truth rather than hollow traditions. Paul agrees with this attitude towards life. Colossians 2:8 encourages us to not be deceived by empty philosophies and live a life captive to what is void of truth.

Look at this exert from the song:

Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part
I won't explain or say I'm sorry
I'm unashamed, I'm gonna show my scar
Give a cheer for all the broken
Listen here, because it's who we are
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
Just a boy, who had to sing this song
I'm just a man, I'm not a hero
I! don't! care!

The writer seems to be struggling with how to live life in light of an eventual death. In other words, we are all going to die someday...how can we make a difference in the meantime? There are some great elements of truth spoken in this verse. Being honest about our broken lives because of sin. Not taking the credit for the thoughts and ideas of many others. Using the gifts and opportunities you have been given to communicate truth. There are themes of Scripture apparent throughout this ballad.

While I don't know the members of My Chemical Romance or if they are Christian, they sure seem to be searching for something better in life beyond the next creation of man. There are cries in this song that living to serve yourself is meaningless. They realize that there has to be some sort of purpose for life. There must be some way that we can be a part of something that goes beyond our death. These are things we need to pursue. Jesus says in John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus didn't just come, die, and rise so that we could have a pulse. He came so that we could have a life that has meaning, purpose, and a future.

So if you haven't heard the song, head on over to iTunes and give it a download. Don't stop there. Go deeper. Go where the cries of this song are longing for. Go searching for the way of a broken, unashamed, and purposeful life that the writer is hoping and seeking. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Jesus told the people (Matt. 7:7-8).

The Black Parade is in search of a leader for a life of authenticity. If you ask, seek, and knock you will find Jesus embracing you in your brokenness, shame, and futility.

2006-11-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

This morning I was checking out a few websites that I frequent for news and information. I came across the following picture that was great. Who wants to go fishing?

2006-11-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

As a twenty-something Christian, I have some concerns about the church today, specifically the Lutheran church because I am one it's many members and workers. I really got started thinking about this in our staff Bible study the other day when we were in Acts and studying the absence of the Holy Spirit in the church in Samaria until the apostles came to visit. So it appeared to me that while the church in Samaria believed in Jesus, there might not have been a significant change in their actions and lifestyle.

So I wonder. If we all believe that our doctrine most accurately communicates the message of the Scriptures, then why aren't people running to the truth? Why would a church body proclaiming the truth be dying? That makes no sense if this is all about having the correct teachings. I would challenge that the way we proclaim what we believe has very little to do with what is said or written. I think it has everything to do with our actions or inactions and how we treat and interact with other people.

I think we get stuck in this idea that people will do what they want to do and there's nothing we can do about it, so we will just let them figure it out on their own. Let's not forget that the Bible compares people to sheep who will follow the herd regardless of the leader. It's when we get stuck in this idea that we tend to shut down. We convince ourselves that we can't make a difference in someone else's life. In this emotion of self-defeat, we decide to circle the wagons and focus on how we can keep ourselves safe from and uninfected by the "sinful" outside world.

Unfortunately, too many churches and Christians find themselves in this rut today. The Bible teaches that we are to be in the world, but not of the world. This means that we need to be friends with people who aren't Christians. If all of our friends are Christians, Satan is winning. He wants us to be comfortable because when we are comfortable we do everything to avoid discomfort. In other words, it's all about us and what we want. When it comes to our faith and our church, how many of our decisions are really about us and what we want?

How can we forget one of the most poignant moments of Jesus' life where the Pharisees question Jesus about which is the greatest commandment? Jesus says "love God and love your neighbor". These are the two things that Jesus says we need to consider before any action or words. We often ask about how what we do loves God, but our neighbor is often the victim of our lack of consideration. Do we do certain things because it's our system/tradition or because of how it shows love to our neighbors? I think these are important questions we need to ask.

From the observation of a 25 year-old, it seems to me that we have a much harder time loving others than we do loving God. The Christian church is constantly grumbling against each other whether in the form of "cult-like" accusations or bitterness and jealousy of the success of another church body. Paul writes in Ephesians 4 that we need to rejoice in the similarities in what we believe, not nitpick about the smaller stuff. Is communion really more important than the fact we all believe that Jesus died for our sins, rose from the grave, and our belief of this will lead us to heaven? Not a chance.

This doesn't mean communion isn't important, but it's not most important. Neither is female pastors, styles of baptism, speaking in tongues, or style/format of worship. In 1 Peter 3:15, it is written to always be ready to give an answer for the belief you have, but to do so with gentleness and respect. Gentleness and respect usually occurs in conversations rather than stereotypes and hasty generalizations.

So the question from all this remains. Where's the love? Not the love for God...that is clearly evident with most churches. The love for others...where is that love? Why is there so much hate in Christians? The Christian church in America is dying across all denominations. Let's be the generation that changes that. Let's be the generation of all ages of people that starts to love people again.

Until we learn to love people, the church that we are a part of will continue to die. And non-Christians will continue to be perplexed by a message of love masked in hate.

2006-11-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

This morning I was scanning my Bible. Yes, scanning, not really reading. I was scanning looking for something that would give me light this morning for my life. I stumbled across Proverbs 27:23 which says, "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds."

While I don't work on a ranch and have very little experience when it comes livestock, this passage struck me hard this morning. In the Bible, people are often compared to sheep. If you have ever spent any time around sheep, they are ridiculous. They are stupid. They are disobedient. They forget. They are messy. They are high-maintenance. The point is they are far from perfect and in need of a shepherd. As a youth pastor, I have the call of a shepherd. In fact, the literal translation for pastor is shepherd.

The first is know the condition of your flock. I need to know how the people that I minister to are really doing. It's important to understand the context of a person's life before you can really serve to their needs. Every shepherd knows their flock well. They know which sheep will run away. They know which sheep need extra attention. They know which sheep need to be embraced. Every Christian needs to know about the lives of the people around them. Not for the purpose of gossip or personal gain, but to share the gospel in the most effective way.

The second part of this passage tells us how to know the condition of our flock. We need to give them careful attention. Giving attention means we need to spend time with them. We need to be with people. This means that we need to disengage from the video games, internet, and television and plug into real relationships. It's scary to get unplugged. But if we don't do it, we fail to know the people around us. God said that it was not good for man to be alone. We need community. We need the community that the Bible talks about that are filled with love, peace, and purpose.

2006-11-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wake up and feel adamant towards life? Do you ever wake up and lack joy and enthusiasm? Do you ever wake up and feel indifferent? I do. I think most people feel this way every so often in their lives. In our world of schedules and timetables, sometimes it's difficult to see beyond the regiment and the repetitiveness.

So what are we to do when we don't feel super and we don't feel like God has much of a plan for us that day? The answer we have all been trained to say is "Read our Bible". Too often I find that I take on the attitude of feeling defeated before I even start the day hoping that tomorrow will bring better attitudes. But the "read our Bible" line that we all know and think is too much of a cliche and not enough of a novel idea is exactly what we need to do.

The Bible is amazing. Not because of all the wonders and miracles recorded. It's amazing because it captures the real lives of people. Other than Jesus, every character in the Bible had times when they questioned the goodness and the love of God. One of these characters is David. I love the Psalms because they are so personal. They speak about thoughts and feelings that are so human...Even the ones we think we ought not have.

Psalms 140-143 all start out with the same plea. They all scream "God, where are you? I'm in need. Help!" I know I feel like this some mornings, probably more than I would care to for people to know. I find that my pleas tend to go like this: "God, I know you're there. I know you love me. I know these things, but why don't I feel you? Why don't I sense you in my midst right now? I believe in you. But I have my doubts sometimes."

What's great about all these Psalms is that by the end of each one David is praising God for his greatness, his love, his mercy, his power. Somewhere in the midst of him questioning God, he is reminded in his soul that he isn't alone, that he trusts God, and that God loves him. This is exactly what happens to me in these times when I start our down on myself and feeling purposeless. I start talk to God and plea for him. By the end, I know he's there and I know he cares.

This same thing happens when we read Scripture. The Word is alive. The speak truth to us. They give us assurance of God's infinite love and compassion. God longs for us to know him deeply. As the truth is spoken into our lives, the lies are unveiled and their true identity is revealed. Ephesians 5:13-14 says that light exposes everything for what it really is...Then it is easy to decipher between what is good and bad. God's Word gives light to our lives. It reveals what is good and right and allows us to make a wise choice.

Psalm 119 talks about the Word being a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. When we aren't sure about God's love or his existence, scripture is our light in the darkness. It shows us that God is there with every breath. He loves us. He cares for us. He has plans for us that are good. He's there.

2006-11-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I was reading from Romans 7:7-25. It's one of those passages that speaks in such depth and intimacy that it is difficult to understand due to my own lack of depth and contemplation. Paul is speaking about the struggle that Christians have with sin. If you are perfectionist, this passage kills your ego.

Most Christians I know are consumed with living a better life and being a better person. Although it is noble and biblical to try to improve, we reach a point of no improvement. We think we can do better, but we can't. We are faced the utter reality that we are still sinners and still very much in need of a Savior. We can try to do better, but we can't be perfect because we are full of sin...We are messed up.

A song that comes to mind when I read this verse is "From the Moment I Feel Faint" by Relient K.

Am I at the point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?

Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you your wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.

I throw up my hands
"Oh, the impossibilities"
Frustrated and tired
Where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear

Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you your wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.

I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
Gather my insufficiencies and
place them in your hands, place them in your hands, place them in your hands.

Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you your wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.

This song speaks of the struggle with sin that all Christians have. We know Jesus died for our sins and that we are saved, but our lives don't seem to be all that different or better than before. And this is the part of Christianity that's so hard to understand. If we love Jesus and we want to do what the Scriptures teaches us, why do we still sin and do the things we don't want to do anymore?

This is the humbling part for every Christian. Paul reminds us that we are no better or more worthy than any other person. We aren't better than non-Christians. We are all the same. We are all sinners. We are all in need of a Savior. Jesus didn't died so that we could live a better life than our neighbor. He died because he knew that on our own we are hopeless. We are all in need of a savior. Everyone. None of us have it all together. That's why the message of Jesus is so powerful and billions of people proclaim his name. We can't do it on our own. We need Jesus to save us...He's our only hope.

2006-11-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

What an excellent Saturday. It started early today. I was eyes wide open at 6 in am. I got to play golf with a few friends. The weather was excellent and it was wonderful to spend some time with buddies. After that, we drove out to Picacho to do some hiking with some friends who were camping out there for the weekend. We hadn't been out there yet and it was a blast. We got some great pictures and it was good to spend some more time with friends this afternoon.

While we were hiking, I spent some time alone on top of one of the hilltops. There was an incredible view before me. The sun was setting on the desert and it was golden and in the middle of it was the Colorado River. It's incredble how water makes such a different in the landscape. I don't know if there is a more beautiful contrast in our world than a river meandering through a desert.

It's amazing how water makes so much different. You look out and see all this brown and then a river surrounded by 20 feet of heaving foliage on every side. We can learn alot about the power of Scripture in our lives from a river. Scripture is like the water of a river. In fact, Psalm 1 says that the man of the Lord is like a tree planted by a steam.

We are like the land. We are full of potential growth that isn't evident to a casual observer. There are gifts and passions planted deep in our soul that only God can release. He does this with his Word. This is why we see such a dramatic change in a person when they immerse themselves in Scripture. It's water to our soul. It causes thick vegetation to grow in the desert of our soul.

Maybe this is a message that you need hear. I know I need to hear it sometimes. Don't settle where you are. God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. Spend more time reading Scripture and see what is unleashed from your soul. God is not done with you. He wants to show you more. He has great plans for you to prosper in this life. David said in Psalms that his soul was like a parched land in need of God's mercy and love. He shows us this mercy and love in his Word.

2006-11-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Halloween came and went this year. Meredith gets super excited for this day. She loves seeing the little kids get dressed up. I personally get a kick out of watching her enjoy this annual experience. Needless to say, we stayed home and had a relaxing evening capped off by a nice walk through the neighborhood. Great day!

Wednesday was the longest day of the week as usual. However, it is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable days at the same time. I get to spend a ton of time with students...which is the best part of being a youth minister. I know that meetings and officework are needed and I understand it's value, but I'd gladly trade any meeting to get together with some students over a meal.

God has been teaching me so much this week. A man of God that I've grown quite fond of, told me the other day that he was leaving his job and selling his house. He knows that God is calling he to something outside of his box and he's trusting his Father. This man is someone who I admire very much and he's at the top of my call list when I need advice. I'm so excited to see where Christ is leading him and his family for the next chapter of their story.

I spent a lot of time reading Exodus yesterday because I was teaching on it for confirmation later that evening. Something that is so consistent in the Old Testament is how God continues to keep his promise to his children. Even crazier is that the promise was kept despite the oppression of the Egyptian kings.

Another thing that I learned from this was how the Israelites had no solid foundation in their faith. They were not mature. As Hebrews 6 says, because they were not mature in their faith, they were tossed back and forth by every sway. They forgot so easily of how God's power had been demonstrated in their lives. Christians are like this too often. We don't all have a firm foundation. We know the basic concepts of what Christ teaches, but do we know his words? We hit the big issues, but we miss the smaller ones that determine how we react to the big ones.

I so excited for Friday! First, I get to spend time with the 8th graders leading the religion period. This is one of my favorite times every week. I love it! Then I get to have a Friday evening with my wife. We get to eat dinner together then relax and watch a movie. I love spending time with that wonderful woman!

2006-10-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

I had a geat weekend. This is one of my favorite weekends every month. Not only did I get to spend time with students, but I got together with my Adult Youth Staff. It's awesome! We get to talk and dream about ministry. We get to see how our youth have grown over the past months and years. We get to lift each other up when we are down. We get to be in community.

We read through the life and ministry of Elijah last night. It was comforting to see how even the greatest ministries ever have ups and downs. I understand Elijah because I get really excited about what God is doing and then it gets shut down by someone who doesn't see it. A part of his life that really struck me was his relationship with the widow. He listened to God and went to her town. He asks her for a drink and a meal and the first response he hears from this community is "I'm gathering sticks to make a fire so I can cook one final meal before my son and I starve to death." There's no handshake or "I'm glad you're here". His first encounter is with a person who is hopeless. This happens a lot in ministry. You meet a lot of people lacking hope.

And it gets better. After God provides the water, flour, and oil so Elijah, this woman, and her son can survive, her son becomes ill and stops breathing. The first thing this woman does is curse Elijah because it must be God's fault that her son died and since Elijah is connected to God he's responsible also. This is one of the most difficult things about being a Christian. We still have to live life just like everyone else and bad stuff will happen. We aren't perfect. There's still suffering that we experience. And we dwell on hard times like there's nothing good that comes out of them. Everyone who has experienced suffering in whatever form has learned and grown from that experience. However, suffering is something we avoid at all costs.

God doesn't say that your life is going to be perfect here on earth...which turns alot of people off because it means it isn't a quick fix. Elijah's life shows that God doesn't just work through the people who are organized or have it all together. He works through all sorts of people, even those who live a rollercoaster life.