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Love this thing! Let's me load my workouts and keeps me on track. Being that I'm not a seasons runner yet, it's the next best thing to having a running coach! #road2disney #iwillfit

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Departing Wisdom from a Short Youth Pastor.

Thins I’ve learned so far in life...

Education - “Imagination is more valuable than knowledge.” - Albert Einstein 

TV Shows - All new sci-fi shows will die within a season, yet all the old ones will remain timeless and classics. Crime shows are a good bet. The best ones every written are Seinfeld and 24.  

Food - Food is beautiful. Your life will be full if you learn to put lots of love into your food. Cooking it and eating it. If you have any problem in this area just talk to Phillip Kaltenbach, he will guide you right. 

Books - “Leaders are readers.” Read biographies of inspiring, inspirational, wealthy, and powerful people. You can learn from them and then become what they were. 

Michael Jordan - The greatest athlete that will ever grace the face of this earth

Walt Disney - The greatest visionary that ever graced the face of this earth.

Laughter - Most of the time it solves problems, and when it doesn’t it makes them significantly worse. If your stressed, afraid, or depressed... just laugh for like 5 minutes and see what happens. Guilty Confession: Most of the time I was laughing at Steve Backlund and not with him, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t care. We all were happy in the end. LOL. 

Music - There is nothing wrong with confessing you like One Direction, Taylor Swift, or Justin Bieber now, because in 10 years you’re going to want to be able to say you were a fan at the beginning. All music has beauty in it... even country.... even though it sucks. There is a spirit behind every person, thus every song. Use the supernatural power in music to bring you up, not down. 

The Dallas Cowboys - Hang in there. Just like Taylor Swift, you’re going to want to say you were fan from the beginning. To the death. 

Pets - Never buy a cat, always buy a dog (beagle un-suggested), and exotic animals are encouraged. (I mean who doesn’t like the guy that owns a koala bear?)

High School - Much stock is placed in a social structure that violently attacks your self-esteem every waking moment. It can make you or break you. The best thing to do, is do you, ignore the pressure, and do your homework. The second you walk the stage and grab your diploma, that delusional social structure vanishes and you’ll never see it again. Make sure it’s not what made you who you are, or you will vanish with it. 

Taking To Yourself - HIGHLY suggested.

Career - Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. But, if you can’t do what you love, do what you have to do so one day you can do what you love. Own your life.

Marriage - It’s not what you think it’s like, but it’s better than you can imagine.

Maggie - I won. The end. 

Hope - Hope is your strength and your influence. The more you posses for yourself is the stronger you will be. The more you give away is the more influence you will have. 

Honesty - Never compromise it. Never be afraid of it. Take it head on, and learn how to make decisions with it. Honesty can be aggressive, so be sure to calculate how to communicate it with honor and respect yet with integrity and truth. Honesty is who you truly are. Guard it, and be humble and willing enough to have it challenged. You don’t know everything, and never will. 

Pain - Let it hurt, and don’t hurt alone. Let those who love you hold you when you cry, and slap you when you’ve cried long enough. 

Fear - Nothing is every as scary as you think it will be. Ever. Talking about your fears out lout help. Talking about your fears out loud with someone help more. Which brings us to our next one. 

People - You were never meant to do life alone, let people in. You do not have everything you need to be fully self sufficient, fulfilled, and successful. You never will. You require people, so learn to love and trust people.

Trust - A journey is guaranteed to bring you pain. We are all imperfect, and it shines through from time to time. Trust is a courageous journey. Sometimes we give more trust away to those we shouldn’t, and not as much to those we should. 

Loyalty - Hard to gain, easy to loose. It’s a rare commodity in the world, if you posses it with someone guard it in the good times and the bad. Do not let offense render you silent, but honorably communicate with that person to guard that loyalty. 

Health - Your health is more valuable than money. Be intentional in being healthy. You will spend money on your health one of two ways. In the grocery store eating good food and working out, or in the doctors office or hospital and needing to take medicine. 

Sex - Sex is excellent... when you are married. Sex, almost sex, not really sex but we-fooled-around-kind-of sex is a prison of guilt and shame out side of marriage. It exposes an intimate, vulnerable side of you without the requirement of the other person to honor it responsibly. If someone won’t say yes forever, and/or won’t wait until it’s official, they don’t possess the character you deserve. 

Money - It’s not as big of a deal as we think. We think that money attaches value to something. That is simply not true. Millionaires are millionaires because they acted like millionaires before they were millionaires. They’re wealth was in the idea of who they were already, not what they could become one day. 

Wealth - Different than money. If you consider them synonymous, just plan on being poor. Wealth is found in relationships. The depth, intimacy, vulnerability, respect, honesty, honor, joy, and peace you posses with people is what determines your wealth.

Life - It is lived right now. Not then, not later, but now. Don’t let it slip away because you we’re wrapped up in a time frame that doesn’t even exist. 

Jesus - He’s real. He really lived, died, and is living again. In the moment you try and find Him, He’s there. In the moment you’re not trying to find Him, He’s there. He really is coming back. He entrusted you to give love away to people with your life, and there will be an account taken about your faithfulness to that gift one day.

Love - It is the only thing that counts. If you make your whole life (the one lived in the now) about giving and receiving love, you will succeed at everything. 

Maggie and Me - We are better for knowing you. So much of who we are, and who will will be forever, is because you allowed us to be a part of your lives. Your victories, your struggles, your years, your trust. You helped to teach us what it means to hope, to fight, to stand for what you believe in, and most of all what it means to love. Maggie and I have you tattooed on our hearts. You were there at our beginning... and I promise will be there to the end. 

You - The best group of people I have ever known. I would say I hope no one ever tells you that you can’t. But, I hope they do. If they never did, you were never living big enough. And we need you, people like you, to live as big as you can and then a little bigger. You are the ones that can handle the discouragement, fear, and failure to make hope, dreams, and love win on this earth. You will accomplish whatever you want to... so be selective in which course that is. I no longer will ever entertain the thought of loosing faith in humanity, because I know you exist. You are not going to make peoples lives better one day, you already do. You are not going to be the hope the world needs one day, you already are. You are not going change the world one day, you already have. You are our hope, and I couldn’t be more secure. 

 Y’all are my favorite, this has been my favorite. 

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Megalodon... the answer to taking a city.

 “We’re gonna take a city!” 

Yeah, I’ve said that. Still do, and believe it. However lately I’ve been questioning the “how”. I feel like as a youth pastor it’s supposed to be through explosive services with bright lights, motivational messages, and moving moments with music. 90 minuets, or less than 1%, of your week. Then it’s… “K bye! See you next week, go save the world in the process, I’ll be right here when you get back.” What are you supposed to do with the other 99% of your life?! I believe captivating a city with the love of God is a realistic obtainable goal for us. I also know that way more than a service is required for that to happen.

What is the answer? Megalodon. If we could capture one, then we could hold a city captive. “Love God, or we will release the Megalodoooooooooon!” Just kidding. However, a lot of times fear is actually the motive behind our Christianity, so maybe I wasn’t so far off… I digress.

What is the answer? How can we take a city? Simply go live life in the city. We need to gather, have services, it is crucial if we are going to succeed. The encouragement that we get from one another in a gathering is necessary. Worshiping God is different when we gather, and we need that experience. There is a synergy,  power, and fire released deep in us when we gather that we need. But, the ultimate goal is to live life to the fullest in your immediate community. What do you like to do? What do you like to eat? Where do you go to school? Where do you work? Where do you hang out? This is your community, your 99%. This is where our purpose, significance, and value comes to life. 

So what should we do? How about ask the name of that barista that always gives you your coffee, then greet them with their name. Then, when you sit down drinking your coffee, strike up a conversation with the person next to you. Before you know it, you’re influencing lives and your coffee is still hot. 

Your community is your normal. When you pour your life, hope, and love into your normal routine you are living out your purpose. Everyone wants to have a sense of purpose. The call of “taking a city” can leave us starry-eyed only looking at the end goal and big picture. If it’s not big and monumental it’s not important. That is simply not true. You have no idea how monumental that conversation is you just had with that guy drinking the latte next to you! I’ve been inspired enough in our gatherings to go take a city, now I just want to do it.

This month we launch a new aspect of our new youth group, The Bridge... groups. When I say groups, I feel as if the perception is groups = bible study. When we launch groups in 2 weeks I don’t want to launch bible studies. I want to launch people. People willing to go develop community, giving away what they have to others. Essentially being a bridge, heaven to earth, soul to soul. 

Would you be willing to open your life up to develop a community? Sacrifice time, money, comfort, and the entitlement to your opinion for the opportunity to affect the lives of those around you? Would you be willing to dig deep into a life, deeper than anyone maybe has? Willing to take what you’ve experienced with God, and give it away? Risk being hurt or “fail” in the process? If we could collect a few people that would be radical enough to do this we would in fact... take a city. 

The way I see it we have 2 options. Capture a Megalodon, or risk developing meaningful relationships with the people in our immediate community. They both have a few things in common: Fear of the unknown, something we may not be able to control, and the chance to see something that few, if any, have ever seen. The treasure that is in a single life, or a prehistoric monster shark eat an entire city.

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The Greatest Revivalist

I like revivalist. Their stories, their legacy’s, what they plowed through so I could so easily posses it. People are amazing. I think the thing I admire the most about all of them is their extremes. They didn’t all share the same extremes, but they were all extreme none the less.  The things they were willing to do to get what they wanted. Top 3 favorites:

1) John Wesley - The guy knew discipline! Something that is a rare commodity these days. He was also one of those who was who he was until the end. I’ve read a few of his sermons, and intense is an understatement. He knew God. He was the one who famously stated, “I set my self on fire and others come and watch me burn.”

2) John G. Lake - The stories of this guy are truly unbelievable. From supernatural provision to insane miracles. I feel like he understood God in the fullness of He is. We so easily can tap into the world of healing today, and largely in part because this guy showed us we could have it now. 

The third one is the greatest revivalist of them all. Revival by definition means, “To bring back to life”. So a revivalist would be someone who brings something or someone back to life. John Wesley brought back to life aspects of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, John G. Lake revived areas of healing and faith. Something that was dormant, or dying they brought back to life. However, if you never let something die…. that would make you truly great. My third revivalist is my favorite because she never allowed something to die... my dream.

3) My Mom - The stories of this woman are untold. The sacrifice, the struggles, and the perseverance to never let the dreams of her 3 children's heart die. All were violently opposed and nearly lost, and even when we had no hope and had given up, one did not. That is why we are living our dreams. My sister is the mother of a beautiful girl, my brother is an EMT and on the road to becoming a fireman, and I love my youth group with my whole heart. These were our dreams, until a woman pushed them into our realities. 

How exciting it is to call my favorite revivalist my mother! I don’t have to wait to die and go to heaven to meet her! I probably don’t call her as much as a should, or answer her text messages in a timely manner so she doesn’t think I’m dead… But, I had a revelation this week that hands down, she’s my favorite. She fought for us when we couldn’t fight for ourselves, and the 3 of us are better people today because of it. Just like the others, she is extreme. Nothing done subtly or casually. Something to be admired, something to strive to be like. So, to all the times I didn’t say thank you, appreciate the small things, or hear the prayers you prayed over me I want to publicly say, “Thank you.” 

It paid off... I’m awesome. 

(Somethings may never change)

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I'm No Average Youth Pastor.

This Wednesday is a very significant week in my life. It marks the beginning of my fith year as a Youth Pastor. I read an article this year that said the average life span of a full time Youth Pastor is four years. That’s why this week is such a big deal to me. I became a Youth Pastor hearing doomsday statistics like this one and said, “I’m no average Youth Pastor! I’m going to beat those statistics!” And the journey began. Over the last four years I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t pushed to the point of breaking several times. My boss is incredible, my co-workers are incredible, my church is incredible. Even with all that there were days where I was ready to throw in the towel. There are lessons in life that can only be taught by experience.Things you can’t really know until you know. The last four years have been the best of my life. The joy, excitement, and experiences I’ve had have been great. I regret nothing, and wouldn’t change anything. What I’m saying is I’m not Superman, and quickly found that out. I start year five this week, but before I do I feel compelled to let you know what I’ve learned…

I’ve learned I truly am no average Youth Pastor… that’s really the only thing I’ve learned. The end.

  Just kidding. But, seriously. It really is the only thing I’ve learned. The “Why?” to that statement is what has changed over the last 4 years. 

Day 1: “Why?” 

Well because of my call, my personality, my ideas, my vision, the work I know I will put into it, I’m a world changer, I can relate to there pain, I’m humble, funny, kind, me, me, I, me, I. My idea of success, my idea of significance, and my idea of what it means to be a Youth Pastor. Let’s just say I didn't always get what I set out to accomplish, and discouragement became a friend of mine. I know what he sounds like, feels like, when he comes and when he goes. Always questioning why I didn’t accomplish my goals; so condescending yet so convincing at the same time. I’ve learned that today, discouragement is enemy number 1. And in the last 4 years there are a few times he came close to winning. It is the grace of God, encouragement of my wife, and the company of good friends that carried me through these discouraging spells.  Every time I came out, I learned a little more. Most of these lessons have brought me to this understanding: A single moment, with a single person, in which you have the opportunity to give love away is why we exist. I realized discouragement tried to get me to look past these moments, making me concerned with the “bigger picture.” There is no bigger picture than giving love away to a soul that needs it. Not only that, it will change you as much as it changes them. It is the only real way to change the world. So, let’s jump ahead to today...

Day 1,461: “Why? Why are you no average Youth Pastor?”

Because of them. They are no average people, they are incredible. They are intelligent, world changers, and are people that have amazing ideas. They are honest, authentic, and searching. They taught me that no one really needs someone with the title “Youth Pastor”, but simply someone who cares enough to notice and care about them. I’m no average Youth Pastor because they’ve pushed me there, they’ve changed me forever. 

I love them. So, I promise you I will never be average. They deserve the best. 

My vision and passion is stronger than it was the first year. It’s because this time my vision isn’t fueled by a pursuit of successes or significance, but by love for them. I guess you could say “statistically” I’ve graduated. “Congrats, Jeremy! You beat the system! Take that four years!” Maybe that was one of several ambitious motivators when I began but approaching year five I only have one… 

Y’all are my favorite, this is my favorite.  

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Don't Touch That!

I’ve been married 3 and half years. Sometimes it feels like so much more, and then other times it feels like just yesterday we were getting married. About a year into our marriage we played the question game. “What annoys you about me?  What is your favorite personality trait about me? Whats your favorite memory?”  My answers to her in order… “You have to know every detail of every moment of my day, and I honestly don’t remember them all…. sheesh. Next, you are the most genuine person I have ever met, there is nothing fake about you. And last… when you said yes to our first date by using a "The Office" quote.” Truly a woman after my own heart. You can ask Maggie the answers to her questions, but basically all you need to know is I’m perfect. Anyway, we then tried to answer the question, “What is your favorite thing about me?” That one was harder to answer! One single thing about my wife that is my favorite. I mean I love that girl to death, it was hard to pick out one thing. We thought about it for a few minutes then both had our answers. To our amazement we both came to the same conclusion. Our favorite thing about one another other is each others presence. The 2 will become one is not a symbolic thing, it really happens. When she’s absent, part of me is missing. Maggie’s presence is my favorite thing about her. It’s the exact same with Jesus. In Luke 8 there is a cool story. A woman that had a disease her whole life wanted to get healed. One day, Jesus came into her town and a huge crowd began to follow Him. “If I can just touch him, maybe I can get healed.” This was culturally and religiously unacceptable to say the least. She would get in a lot of trouble if she got caught, but she had to try. So she went for it, touched Him, and was healed instantly! All of a sudden Jesus stopped, and said, “Who touched me!?” Now lets stop and evaluate what could possibly be going through this woman’s head. “Oh no! How did He know it was me? Maybe He’s not talking about me.” But, Jesus was persistent, He wanted to know because, “I felt power leave me.” A little more time went by. The woman realized she couldn’t hide and confessed, “It was me.” I'm sure she shrank back at that point and prepared to receive her due punishment. But, Jesus didn’t want to punish, He wanted to validate. This is how The Message portrays Jesus’ response, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!” I’m sure this response came as a complete shock to her. Her culture and religious rules of the time made Jesus untouchable. However, this woman's desperation was stronger than those restrictions. Her risk was found in breaking “appropriate behavior” for the chance of a healing. This is what was discovered… Jesus validated her reach and her touch. You want to know Jesus' favorite thing about you? Your presence. This woman gave Jesus His favorite thing, the presence of a soul that would trust Him with her life. The affects were a new life for the woman, free of pain and desase, and the validation of her actions by the King of all. That's pretty cool in my opinion. It may be 2000 some years later, but make no mistake, the story is the same today. When you are away from Him, part of Him is missing, and He feels it. Sometimes we make Jesus untouchable, sometimes culture does or the messages of men do. Often it’s done in the name of reverence, and that is well meaning. But, that also makes it easier on us. If we keep Him at a controllable distance then we don’t have to be vulnerable, allowing Him to touch those places we never want touched. You are being “reverent”, when really you’re just afraid of what His touch may feel like. Afraid to let go of control, and possibly your idea of who you think He is. You should value the holiness of Jesus, and live a life of awe and wonder of who He is. But, never make Him untouchable! I believe it’s said we are to, “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” There is a song by Will Reagan & United Pursuit called “Reach for Me” that is a beautiful illustration of this. You should listen to it, probably like 37 times in a row. Today, everyone of us can make Him more attainable in our lives than He currently is. He died on a cross so He could be touched by you. Plain and simple. Reach out and touch Him, your presence is His favorite.

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The Jesus Scandal

Would Jesus support gay marriage?  Would He rally for traditional marriage?  Depending upon what side of the pond you sit on I may have just offended you with 1 of those 2 questions. I watched from a distance this whole human rights thing unfold. Yes in the courts, but mainly over social media. It got crazy! People taking a stand for what they believe in, all the while cutting down and attacking those who stand opposed. It’s not the first time this has happened. It seems these days that when something happens in our current culture, instantly, there are lines drawn in the sand.  “Are you with us or against us!?” Everyone’s always got something to say, sometimes with conviction, and sometimes just to argue. There is something about the “battle” that gets a rise out of us. Anyway, I watched this latest battle unfold, the equality/human rights one. The facebook status’ were all like, “Going to the movies with my friends!! :D” and then the next day it was a human rights war. The worst thing about it… everyones profile pictures turned into this awful red and pink color scheme. When has red and pink ever been good together?!?!? It probably represented something but there had to be a way around that, right? Anyway... that is not the point. I began to think about what I would say if someone asked where I stood. I mean, I’m a Christian, so by default I’m placed in the non-equality side (or so it seems). But, something was just not rubbing me the right way. I try to live my life in such a way that reflects how I think Jesus would live, not necessarily how Christian tradition tells me I should. Sometimes the 2 line up... most of the time they don’t. So I had this thought, “If Jesus lived a few months ago what would He have done? What would His profile picture be? An equal sign, a cross, or a man and woman holding hands?” Of course we don’t know exactly, but I bet it would have looked something like this… He would have healed a blind homosexual, healed a blind heterosexual, then He would walk away and let us argue about it. While we were arguing, He’d go home with couple of prostitutes, have dinner with them and then let us argue about that as well. Finally, while we are all still arguing He would go die, for us all. That’s just how He seemed to do things. Always something shocking, often drawing offense out of someone. He wasn’t out to offend, it just seemed to be what happened when love had no regard for tradition. The Jesus Scandal is this… We’ve made Christian traditions synonymous to who Jesus is. The person of Jesus being automatically associated with everything the church has ever done or said. The funny thing is the only time Jesus had something harsh to say to anyone was when people valued their traditions more than souls. He didn’t like that. That makes you a crusader. Jesus died to make love known and available to all men. He didn’t die so we could take a stand on certain social issues. Have convictions and be righteous, Jesus’ kingdom has a standard and He lived by it while He was with us. What I’m saying is we need to simply remember that, “the greatest of these is love.” Love people like Jesus loves you. Chances are at times that may even look a little… scandalous. Would Jesus rally for equality?  Would He rally for traditional marriage? Are these really the questions we should be asking? 

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It's In Your Hands

Bill Johnson says, “You can tell how much someone trust you by what they entrust to you.  Jesus gave you the whole earth.”  Or something along those lines, point is... that’s a good point!  As Christians we tend to waste too much time not doing things because we haven’t heard God tell us to do it, some crazy sign from heaven to lead the way, or wait for Him to move on our behalf. He’s waiting on you to move on His behalf. One of my favorite things about God is He is simple, yet is fascinated with details. It’s an interesting paradox. His emphasis is found in simplicity, and yet the awe, wonder, and joy He has is discovered in the detail. You are the detail. What you like, dislike, dreams, aspirations, ideas, favorite color, and the way you like your eggs fascinates Him. He loves to come along side you and empower… YOU. If you read the end of the bible you will see His goal, “I will walk among them, they will be my people, and I will be their God.” The ability to be felt, heard, and understood as much as we do any other man. That’s really all He wants. He doesn’t want you to be right or correct but, to know Him. 

The bible also says that the hope that men will know God’s glory, this incredible love He has for them, is found in us. It’s in your hands. The ability to have God introduced to someone who has never known Him has been solely entrusted to you! “To love another person is to see the face of God.”, a quote from Les Miserables. Understanding this is the simple part, the part God emphasizes. The part the part He is excitably waiting to jump on is, “How will they do it!?” By starting a bakery? By running for political office? By using a supernatural way to solve someones problem? By moving to another state to live your dream? By talking to that person that nobody wants to talk to? By buying someones lunch without them knowing? Will they do it in love, logic, or hate?  Will they do it to be right, or will they to it to make me known? Hmmmm... I guess there is no need for trust if there is no risk.

You’ve been entrusted the world, and He wants to endorse your “details.” Some of these details will require more risk than others, but most of them will require some risk. And all of them will require you to do something, and all will require love for them to have the greatest power. Have fun, be creative, take a risk, but know this… a God of love who wants to know all men is excitably waiting to have the opportunity to meet them. Not only that, but the method He has chosen to get to them… YOU.  It’s in your hands, what will you do?

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FELLOW REDHEAD :D

Yes indeed! We are a magical people :)

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Enchiladas & Jesus

I had an awesome time with my Mags this weekend.  We escaped the world for 24 hours and just hung out with each other.  We went to dinner at Mi Cocina, best sour cream chicken enchiladas in the world! It was nice to get away and just talk. We talked about our days, buying a house, dreams, and Jesus. The conversation turned into talking about things have always been true, but have not always believed. It’s so funny that if you just take the the time to slow down every once in a while and look at things with some common sense, so many things we value can seem so ridiculous. We were talking about living for God, and what that looks like versus what we’ve always thought it was “supposed” to look like. We spent a lot of the time laughing at stuff we used to do, and how dumb we felt while doing them. We were well meaning, but looking back we couldn’t help but laugh. They were all things that we now know are unnecessary to live for God. Things we did for “God” that were actually done for religion. It’s easy to mistake the two. God created you, not religion. He wants you, and religion only complicates that. As the conversation died down, I took a deep breath from all the laughing. Then I said something along the lines of, “I used to think that the Holy Spirit was sent to transform me into a super God person to carry out His will. Now, I think all the Holy Spirit wants to do is turn me up. My thoughts, my ideas, my dreams, my emotions, and all my weird idiosyncrasies. All He does is turn up the volume of my life. Basically, He’s my megaphone.”  It was such a comforting and encouraging thought that made me love God just a little bit more in that moment.  He valued me when I didn’t care about Him, and values me just the same now.  All He wants is me, and the Holy Spirit is my megaphone. I’m not a puppet, I’m the solution. I’m not a robot, I’m the one who gets the ideas to create things that solves problems. I’m not a tool, I’m a son. When I gave my life to God, all that I am became brighter and louder, quirkiness and all. And that is what made me love Him just a little bit more in that moment. He didn’t want me to be better or different, He wanted me to have the freedom to be who I am, as loud as I want. That ultimately is His will… me. We talked about a few more things, ate way too many chips, tipped our waiter, and left with fuller and happier hearts.

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YOU.

Last week was Easter and it was a little different for me.  I was listening to Phil Wickham’s song “True Love.”  While listening I was so emotionally overcome in a very personal way.  I’ve heard the message of the cross a thousand times.  I’ve told it myself countless times.  However this year, I felt it in powerful way.  It was individualized, as if I was caught in a bubble while my soul was taken back to the event.  Of course I’ve always known He died for me, took care of my sin, saved me from hell, and gave me the keys of life.  But, this year it was felt deep in my heart.  I felt the love, passion, and emotion that He had.  I felt and realized that it was the thing that gave Him the ability to go to the cross.  It’s a misconception that the cross was worth it.  The cross was necessary, it was endured.  I was worth it.  I was adored by a man who wanted nothing to separate me from Him.  This year I feel like I saw the cross through His perspective.  Plain and simple, His singular perspective was me. He saw my face, my heart, my soul, and it was all He needed. Through all of the details that filled the day of the crucifixion; the betrayal, the trials, the mocking, the torture, the crucifixion, the humiliation, the pain... I was at the front of His mind.  It wasn’t beating the devil that gave Him His strength. It wasn’t a desire to  destroy evil, darkness, and sin that gave Him the ability to see the job through. It was me. I feel that I have spent so much time devaluing myself, “for His namesake.”  I feel as if I’ve found myself receiving the gift of the cross as a lowly, unworthy human.  When in reality it was for me the whole time! He willing to go to great lengths to allow me to be with Him forever.  He did it all to allow me to live out who I am with all my dreams without anything holding me back. His love for me is why He won. He did it for you. It was all for you. You were worth it all. Your face is what He saw, and it was all He needed.  All He wants you to do, is take it and then turn around it give that same love away. He changed to world because He fell in love. We can change the world, if we do the same! You are the one we need to bring hope to the hopeless, peace to the fearful, healing to the broken, and joy to the distraught. We need to simply realize one thing... "IT WAS ALL FOR ME." Read the story again knowing it was all for you.  Just like His love blew through the cross so He could have you, you can let His love blow right through in all it's beauty, passion and pleasure.  You are significant.  He wanted you, and He got you! All that is left is to shout out from the rooftops what our hearts have found, and invite everyone and anyone who wants to come and know the man who is desperately wanting to know them. 

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"Are you being willfully stupid?"

So one thing I’ve been doing lately is reading The Message version of the Bible.  It’s pretty inspiring.  It puts things in such an interesting language, and has opened my eyes on things I’ve read a hundred times before.  Any way, I came across this story today and it made me laugh.  In Mark 7 Jesus was talking with some religious people about something.  After, His disciples asked Him what He was talking about and Jesus’ response was, “Are you being willfully stupid?”  I think I literally laughed out loud.  But, then I began to think abut it and came to some interesting conclusions.  Why would a guy who was humble enough to die on a cross be arrogant enough to say something like that?  “He just called Jesus arrogant!  How dare you!”  Calm down there, it’s gonna be okay.  Just go with me for a second.  Either Jesus’ personality was completely different on the day He died or I have miss interpreted the tone of His statement.  I’m going with it’s my bad.  So then what did I miss?  I think Jesus was genuinely asking the question, “Are you being willfully stupid?”

We all have the tendency to be willfully stupid.  This is what it looks like: You know the right thing, but you don’t want it to be the right thing, so you some how convince yourself it’s okay for it not to be.  Also vise versa.  Willful stupidity.  Tricking our intelligence to get the outcome we know is incorrect, inappropriate, or something of that sort.  You can even use scripture to do this.  It’s actually quite impressive how we can do that.  Stupid, but impressive none the less.  There will always be this thing inside you unwilling to agree with this new form of “intelligence”.  The more you trick yourself, the quieter it gets.  But, it will always be there asking, “Are you being willfully stupid?”  

I believe all people are good, and that everyone is intelligent.  I also believe life happens and can make people look like they are innately bad or idiots.  But, they didn’t start that way, and it’s not who they ultimately are.  I believe that we all grow and learn and our minds expound to greater revelations of life everyday.  My view on Santa today is different then it was when I was 5.  Elves on the other hand… I’m kidding... sort of.  My point, we learn things and those things change the way we live.  This is good.  However, the matter of right and wrong (or morality) doesn’t belong to intellectual reasoning.  It is birthed in the heart.  There are times you just “know” what should be done, without and previous “knowledge” of the situation.  This is because He created your heart to be able to respond like He would; knowledge not required.  Sometimes we want to do it, other times we don’t.  But, we know.  Our heart knows.  Sometimes we would just rather be stupid.  

Back to the arrogant Jesus thing.  Jesus isn’t arrogant.  He is kind, faithful, pursuing us, and very real.  Yet this statement remains.  Jesus believes in us, He believes we will make the right choice.  He thinks so highly of us that when we do something that is “willfully stupid”, to borrow the phrase,  He’s surprised.  It’s not what He was expecting.  So much so that He is in wonder, questioning if that is what we are actually doing… “Are you being willfully stupid?”  He doesn’t know we’re going to screw up, He knows we’re going to succeed.  Do you hand the family business to someone who you know is going to screw up?  That would be… stupid.  It’s encouraging to know this is how highly He thinks of us.  Even when we are in our lowest of lows, He is expecting us to succeed.  

I’m not against learning and being intelligent.  Please, go be a nerd at something.  Your life will be better for it.  What I’m saying is our brains we not designed to logically discover morality.  Morality is not logical, and at times flat out doesn’t make any sense to our minds.  Our hearts know things that our minds will never understand, yet in those moments we still know what must be done.  The real question isn’t knowing what should be done, but what will you do?  Ignorance is not bliss.  Don’t trick yourself into not knowing when you do.  I believe you’re smart, I believe you know.  That voice is still there, and that’s the only thing that really counts.  Even if it’s really quite right now, one day it will be the only one you hear.

I’m taking this statement out of context, but this is what Jesus was showing me today.  I’ve been guilty of this so many times.  Doing something I wanted to under the name of, “I didn’t know!”   I did.  I definitely did.  I just chose to find a way around it.  Willful stupidity.  Let’s be smart, do the right thing, and believe in elves.  

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My Journey To The Voting Booth

I remember the day very distinctly.  It was the eve of the birth of Jet and Jillian Flood.  We were hanging out with friends, excited to have 2 new beautiful lives with us in just the matter of hours.  Fox News was on in the background.  To me, it was all a foreign language.  The day I turned 18 I decided to be super American, I gave blood and voted.  I voted republican, simply because I was a Christian.  That is what Christians were “supposed” to do.  That night, as I was watching the TV, I decided I would never do that again. 

And so, the last 10 months I’ve gone on a journey of understanding the political arena.  I watched every debate, sat down with republicans and democrats, Christians and people with other beliefs, asking every and any question that popped into my head.  Honestly, I felt stupid most of the time.  It’s a very confusing world but, I did begin to get a grasp on the whole thing.  I watched the Republican Debates, the selection of Mitt, the GOP and Democratic National Conventions, Presidential and VP debates, and of course Facebook.  Who knew people so many people we’re so political!?  11 months ago I would have voted Republican because I am a Christian.  Today, my wife and I will proudly go vote, as Americans who love God.  Not as Christians with an agenda. 

In 10 months I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve learned one extremely valuable thing.  “The President of the United States of America is the Commander in Chief, not the Pastor in Chief”, a quote from a wise man.  Yet, so many people find their line in the sand on a moral issue.  I did, I voted for pro-life people.  Let me rephrase, I voted mindlessly for pro-life people.  It was my line in the sand.  In the last 10 months I’ve realized that if that is my basis for voting (or any single moral belief system), I might be voting for the wrong guy.  Because, what I’m doing is voting for an imperfect human who happens to believe in one thing I do, and he might be able to vaguely effect that area in 4 years.  He may not even share the conviction and passion I do for the issue!  Jesus said give to God what is God’s and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.  Prayer effects the heart, mind, and soul and voting effects legislation.  It’s not the other way around.  I will no longer vote hoping that my vote will change hearts, minds, and souls.  My prayers and my ability to love people will do that.  I want my President to have his sights on the things he was created to have his sights on, the protection and prosperity of our country.  It is my responsibility as an American to cast my vote for the individual who I think will do that the best.  Let’s give to Caesar what is Caesar’s; a vote that has the best interest of our country in mind.  Let’s give to God what is God’s; souls, hearts, and minds. 

The responsibility of morality falls on people.  Are we willing to touch and love other people? The responsibility of morality does not fall on a government that says, “Do this and Don’t to that.”  I believe that Jesus loves, and even likes, America.  So, let’s not separate the 2.  It’s not one or the other.  It’s both, married together, doing what they are intended to do.  We should respect and honor the structure of our government, and vote in such a way that enhances this country.  To do anything other than that is to avoid personal responsibility, in both arenas.  Jet and Jillian are now crawling and beginning to talk, they are no longer babies in a belly.  They are cute little suckers too!  Just like they’ve learned so much in the last 11 months, so have I.  I have a greater grasp on why I cast my vote.  Today, America gets my vote, and souls get my prayers.

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Unwinding with this dude (Taken with Instagram)

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The Perfect Game

A perfect game is a rare thing. It's an incredible accomplishment, and the news will be buzzing about it for weeks after it happens. Kevin Costner made a whole movie about it! It doesn't matter what team you root for, when it hits the 9th inning you are now rooting for an individual and not a team.  

There are so many other incredible things that happen in the sports world that are note worthy accomplishments, but none that carry the esteem of a perfect game. In baseball alone, someone hitting 4 home runs in one game is more rare, but doesn't gather the notoriety of a perfect game. So what is it about?  What's the big deal?  It's perfection. We all want it. We want to know its possible, so we will root for the guy who's about to pitch it. We want to know its possible, because we want it for our own lives. "Show me it can be done, because then I will have hope that I can do it!" It's this thing deep down in our hearts, a desire to see something happen without error. That's how we define perfection, the absence of error. The problem with that, is we are full of "error".  So when something comes along like a perfect game, we celebrate it. It makes sense, sort of. The problem is that our life will NEVER be perfect if we pursue a life with no error. Sorry, Charlie. Fortunately, God has a different definition of perfection. It's you saying, "YES!" to Him. That's perfection. In every realm of life, a YES to Him will make it perfect. The way it was supposed to be. There may be some "error" along the way, but so what. Who cares? He doesn't. He just wants your YES, and He will make it all good. Kevin may have pitched a perfect game, but you my friend can pitch a perfect life. He made a way, just say, "Yes."

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Defense vs Offense

I have a question to ask.  What is better, Defense or offense?  I'm torn.  I love the incredible touchdown pass and the dunk-it-in-your-face plays.  But, there is also a part of me that gets real jacked up when someone gets their layup rejected into the fifth row, or the QB is laid on his back by a lineman.  What's more important?  What wins games?  I'll cut to the chase.  When did christianity become more about defending morals and less about changing culture with power?  Think about it.  I feel like Christianity is more commonly associated with, "I don't do that because I'm a Christian." vs "Wow, did you just see that?"  Most controversy, if not all, found in the book of Acts surrounds what the apostles were doing, not what they weren't doing.  It almost seems the opposite today.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in morality.  I'm in love with the scriptures in Matthew: 5-7, and believe it should be the standard of our character.  You're vulnerable without godly character.  All I'm saying is there were 20 more chapters in that book of mind blowing miracles, counter culture actions, the greatest ACT of love we've ever seen, only to end with a charge to GO and DO the same.  I don't think Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to solely defend and protect our character.  So again, what's better?  Offense or defense?  Some say the best offense is a good defense.  There may be some truth to this statement, but know that a "good" defense never waits for the offense to approach them, they attack with intelligent force!  When you're on a good defense, you're the one being proactive, not maintaining.  Imagine a defensive football line.  They're ready to defend their field!  The Quarterback hikes the ball, and the defense just stands up.  They would all get run over!  Ridiculous, you never see that.  Or do you?   The cross set us free from the punishment we deserved because of our sin, and gave us the ability to become righteousness forever.  But, it's power didn't stop there.  It also gave us the ability to change a world.  Let's raise the standard of living from defending who we are to demonstrating who He is.  Let's return to the original questions.  What's better, Defense of Offense?  The only real answer is neither.  You need both to win, so make them both the best they can be.    

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Best Chirstmast Present Ever.

This year I gave my wife the greatest Christmas present I've ever given.  But, before I tell you what it is I have to set it up.  For her birthday the first year we were married I got her a puppy.  Our beloved Bauer. 

We love that dog but, he's a rascal.  He eats everything.  Here's a list: A penny, bobby pins, Maggie's glasses, a $20 bill, my hat, Blockbuster movies, my computer charger, Maggie's second pair of glasses, too many shoes to count, and the list goes on.  We also live in an apartment.  Which means we can't just let him out to go to the bathroom.  We have to go out 3-4 times a day, up and down stairs, and wait until our stubborn dog finds the right spot.  We fight over who has to, "Take the boy out."  I thought that Bauer was the best gift I ever got her, but I realized that wasn't true as an idea popped into my head this year around Christmas time.  Christmas morning came and we opened our presents, but I saved this one for last.  She grabbed the small bag, anticipating this awesome gift I'd been talking about.  Opened it up and found a little stuffed dog.  "Thanks?", she said as she looked at me with a little confusion.  "This dog isn't the gift, the gift is that you never have to take Bauer outside ever again."  She cried, and I was the man.  Best gift ever.  This is where the story gets cool.  She was so overcome with joy and appreciation that I would do such a thing.  This was the first thing she said, "Babe, you make breakfast and I'll take the dog out."  I wasn't expecting that.  That was kinda defeating the purpose of the gift wasn't it?  And then the Holy Spirit spoke to me so clear, "This is how people will respond to true grace, it's instinct."  Awesome.  I canceled all responsibility and debt, so to speak, of Maggie having to take the dog out.  The first thing she wanted to do, was take the dog out.  Jesus did the same thing.  He took away all debt and responsibility.  NOTHING is ever required of us again.  The natural, instinctual response to that type of mercy and grace, is doing.  Not out of obligation, but out of pure joy, love, and appreciation for the gift.  I don't have to, I want to!  And yes, in case you were wondering, Bauer ate that stuffed dog.