Renewed

I am with Cliff. He says that he has felt like he is running behind this week. Let me tell you what - I have felt sluggish and run down and behind since I got to the office on Tuesday. The reality is that I am actually ahead of schedule - but I have felt way behind. Physically and mentally I have been struggling.

Yesterday - the first thing that Robin said to me was that “You look hungover. What did you do last night?”

I wasn’t hungover - but I just felt beat down. God has a way of speaking to you even when you feel at your lowest. I sat in my office and I couldn’t even read a blog. I couldn’t put the effort or energy into reading blogs that I normally love to read. For some reason - I really felt tired and exhausted.

So - I picked up my Bible. And what came to my mind was Romans 12:2. I needed to renew my mind. The only way to do that (that I know of) is to spend time with Jesus. I felt like crap when I came in - but I also feel like God renewed me after we hung out.

Real Men Play Slow-Pitch Hardball

Last night - we had our first real softball game.  I mean - we have played several teams, but it can’t really count as a game if you the score is 30-3 or 24-10.  We have gotten beat down time after time.  Last night - we finally had a good run at it.  We went us by about 15 in the second inning only to give it up and lose by 1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.  I hate losing - but it was fun just competing for once.

I hit the ball further than I have ever hit a softball or baseball in my life.  I hit the fence on the fly - it was probably just a few feet from being a home run.  At that point - I was feeling good.  I was feeling proud.  I think I let it go to my head.  My next at bat - I grounded to the shortstop.  He gunned me down - but that wasn’t the end of the play.  I proceeded to trip over the first base bag.  I tumbled into the dirt and was brought back to my lowly state of mind.

How embarrassing!  I guess Proverbs 16:18 is right.  Pride came before my fall.

Wednesday Recap

Last night was a great night. Here are my thoughts.

• Last night was the first time I “talked” to the students in three weeks. I really was excited about “talking” again.
• God woke me up last week and gave me last night’s message. I really felt like he worked it all out.
• I used cups overflowing into other cups to talk about our lives overflowing into lives around - discipleship.
• Tyler helped me with the illustration one night two years ago.
• One day - if i do this message again. This is what I want my illustration to look like.
• Kent led worship for us. He did a really good job.
• David Cook won American Idol.
• I wasn’t as excited as I thought I was going to be.
• I had prepared myself for being upset. I had prepared myself to complain. I was ready to talk about how it wasn’t fair. And then he won. I don’t know. What does that say about me?
• Laura Beth figured out why David Cook won. All of David Archuleta’s fans have a 10:00 bedtime. David Cook’s fans can stay up and vote until the poll’s close.

Last night went really well. Thank you God. I can’t take credit. God did it. If it weren’t for God - it would have completely sucked.

Stupid…

I am having trouble with my Gmail today.  I can’t access the standard view.  I can still check my email - but when I try to load the standard (and cool) view I get a loading screen.  I have to use the not so sleek, not so cool, super boring basic view.  I hate it.

Check These Out.

This video was amazing. Check it out on Tyler’s or B-Coop’s blogs. Seriously - read their blogs. They are a) in love with Jesus and b) working with students at NewSpring Church.

I randomly ran across this post today. Interesting perspective.

Fall Out Boy redid a Michael Jackson song. What do you think?

Check out what Tyler has to say about prayer.

Brad asks a question that has plagued my mind for years.

I want to try one of these.

I think I like this band a lot.

My wonderful wife bought me this t-shirt.

3:45 am

That is what time it is when I started this here post.  Relay for Life was tonight and I just got home.  I had never experienced one of these.  Very interesting.  Ben and I had the sweetest costumes ever.  He was Indiana Jones and I was the boulder from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”  Don’t complain.  I know I didn’t wear it long.  But it was so hard to get around in.

Anyway - two reasons for this late night (or early morning) post.

First off - check out this band.  I was thoroughly impressed.  They are playing in Spartanburg on the 31st.  Check them out.  Give them some love.

Secondly - several people have alluded to me in public that they read this blog.  Leave me a comment to let me know that you are reading (comments are what fuel bloggers).

goodnight.

Published…

Well - sort of.  A friend of mine told me about this website about a month ago.  I posted about it.

Basically - the website is a place where people can send in prayers to whoever they feel like praying to.  As I read the prayers - my heart broke for the people.  So many people in this world are searching and searching for fulfillment and purpose in so many places.  The only place that they could possibly find purpose is in Jesus.

My prayer got published.  I know this isn’t a magazine or newspaper or anything like that.  It isn’t really even a completely legit website.  But I did get published.  If nothing else - read some of the prayers and have your eyes opened.  Step outside of the sheltered and largely Christian bubble that we all live in.

Lament

Lamentations is one of those books that you don’t hear many sermons from.  As a matter of fact - I am fairly certain that I never have.  I started reading the book yesterday.  And the first two chapters were exactly what I expected.  Israel and Judah are in exile or just in ruins.  The people are upset.  The writer is expressing the sorrow and the regret that he feels.  Chapters one and two are full of - “God we messed up.”

I started wondering where all of this was going.  Then chapter three happened.  The honesty of the writer is inspiring.  He is lamenting to God and he isn’t holding back.  He is telling God exactly how he feels.  But somehow - he finds hope.  His hope is in the faithful love of the Lord.  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness - his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I literally choked back tears as I read this passage.  God is completely faithful.  In the midst of our unfaithfulness and running from God - there is hope.  That hope is his love.

Read this chapter.  I dare you not to be moved.