The Weather is Changing

This time of year is always an adventure here in northeastern Ohio. The weather seems like it is heaving and lurching toward Sping. Two weeks ago it was 70 degrees and sunny. Two days ago it was sleeting and gray. But even then, I could here the birds and they are a dead giveaway that Spring is coming. Sometimes I think this is the way it feels with my spiritual life. I am heaving and lurching my way to new life. Some days I can really sense the change that Christ has made in me and I think everyone else can see it too. My actions are filled with life and love and it is really very cool. Then other days I am gray and sleeting and I don't think anyone can tell that Christ is alive inside of me. But even then I think the birds are singing. There is something inside of me even on the spiritually gray days that tells me there is life in me somewhere. God is never too far away and he is always ready to break out. Today, I will look for the signs of Spring outside and inside. Today I will pray that you see Spring in me.

The Math of God

Figuring out God can be like doing algrebra for me. I look at different variables and then try to see where the formula leads. For instance, take the Faith Promise. We recently spent 4 weeks casting the vision for the future in a series called, Beyond Our Dreams-The Next 25 Years. Part of that vision was finishing off this campus. The 4 weeks concluded with a night of celebration and worship. Here are the variables. The initial vote to pursue the vision was 685-4. The one time offering taken on Celebration Sunday was a whopping 700k. The general offering taken up the same day was up 22% over last year's giving. Right around 1000 people showed up Sunday night to worship and this place just rocked for an hour and 15 minutes. It was awesome!! If someone gave me all those variables and then asked what I thought the faith promise would be, I would have said 10 Million. We were hoping for 7 million so we could do the whole project. The Faith Promise came in at a little less than 4 million. Now 4 million is a lot of money but it made me think. The question is, what is God doing? Have all of our people been obedient? If we have and we have given what God wanted us to give then God is really up to something interesting and I am looking forward to finding out what. God's math is always different than mine.

March Madness

March Madness is upon us. I go through an annual ritual of filling out my brackets then I experience a wierd phenomenon. I like all my individual choices. I like the choice of a #5 seed upsetting an #11 seed. But I can't bring myself to having the same #5 seed get lucky twice in a row and knock off a #2. Anyway, I like all my individual choices but when I get to the final four I am always bummed. I like the little choices but I don't like where they lead me in the end. It makes me wonder if that is not one of Satan's plans with me. I make choices every day. Many of them are selfish choices. I may feel good about them when I make them. I need to make sure all my little choices are taking me where I really want to go. That is my thought for the day. I still like the Buckeyes to win it all.

Praying blind

Two nights ago I went on my second prayer walk around my neighborhood. It was interesting. Since I didn't know a lot of my neighbors I felt like I was praying blind. I tried to let the Holy Spirit lead me in what I should pray for people I do not know living in the houses that surround me. I ended up praying for health for some, marital harmony for others, kids who might be struggling in school, financial difficulties for another. It struck me how many problems there can be in a neighborhood like mine. I wondered as I prayed if the people in these houses would feel a little differently that night. I thanked God that He cared not just for me but for all of them. I also apologized to God that I take prayer for granted. I never feel like I have to struggle with any problems alone. I prayed that my neighbors would realize they don't have to be alone either. It is nice to take a walk with Jesus every once in a while and ask him what he sees as he walks. Maybe one day I will be able to walk around my block and sing the phrase of Amazing Grace..."I once was blind but now I see."