2017 Life-a-thon

We are organizing the first Madison area Life-a-thon this Friday, May 12. The life-a-thon is a 5k run/walk that supports Associated Pregnancy Services in the Milwaukee area (where most abortions in Wisconsin occur). 

Come run/walk off your work week frustrations!  😁 And help provide support to families facing unplanned pregnancies.

The run/walk will be on the Military Ridge Trail between Old County Rd PB and Fitchburg Rd. Please meet in the Verona park and ride at 6 pm, then we will all walk across the street to the starting line.

Fire, pizza, and drinks at Hermansons after the run/walk.

Don't know who the Hermansons are? You should, they are cool people!

For more details or to sign up for this event, go to https://secure.ministrysync.com/ministrysync/event/website/?m=3285482&tab=3

You can select "RCRC - Verona" for the team name. Then under Walk Location select Virtual Walker

Please note: This sign up is through FundEasy. You automatically get a fundraising page with your sign up, but no fundraising is required to participate in the event.  Just your entry fee automatically helps also.

Saved my Marriage

These books saved my marriage:

Created to be His Help Meet, Becoming a Woman of His Dreams, Power of a Woman's Words, The Power of a Praying Wife, Beautiful in God's Eyes...

If you'll notice, these books do not necessarily have a male target audience...that's because my wife read them. She's been saving our marriage for a long time. Although if you ask her, she might give you a different answer.

So, it's not about what I do, it's what she does. She chooses to love me every day - not with conditional love that's looking to change me. But she takes me where I'm at, and sees me for who I can become in Christ.

No, it's really God who has saved our marriage, but I like to think that He's done it through her. Of course the whole time she's been reading these books, she's also been searching God's Word, diligently going to church, earnestly praying, and learning from other mentor women about how to be a good wife and mother.

I'm amazed at what God accomplishes through her...which includes keeping me on track!

These are the top 3 books my wife listed off the top of her head this morning:
1. Bible
2. Created to be His Helpmeet
3. Becoming a Woman of His Dreams

Some other books we've both read:
Night Light (devotional)
DNA of Relationships
4 Days to a Forever Marriage
Love and Respect
The Five Love Languages
Personality Plus
For Men Only/For Women Only (we each read our respective book)

He Anointed Us

If you have been baptized, or are thinking about being baptized, watch this:

Better quality video here: https://vimeo.com/199593195

This sermon really speaks to me because I want to be a man of purpose. That's why I go to Men of His Word. That's why I read devotions to my children. That's why I do "crazy" things.

We're built for kingdom work. Whether you're a Peter, a John, a Thomas, a Mary, a Martha, a Dorcus...whatever you're currently labeling yourself as, the list extends to all those who are baptized in Christ, anointed by God.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit and work

Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

Dad's work.

The Son's work allows me to reference the Father as "Dad".

The Holy Spirit guides my thoughts into alignment with the Father's thoughts.

The Father is the complete source of knowledge and power, and He will give whatever level of knowledge and power for me to carry out His will. Jesus had this resource while He physically walked this earth and He used it in perfect lockstep with the Father's will. Jesus was never looking to use God's power for His own benefit, but for the Father's benefit.

The Son was always working to carry out the Father's will. So now I get to follow in His footsteps to carry out the Father's will. I fail every day, but Jesus keeps me right with God. The Son allows me to work for the Father.

Each day that I look back on my life, I feel like I finally just started believing. When I look at my past, I'm horrified by my way of life, the sins that so easily entangled me. I doubt if I could even have been saved. But I am certain that I am saved now.

This sounds like madness, and inconsistent logic. But then again, I'm describing a moving target. My perspective is changing throughout my sanctification process. Knowing this, I can extend grace to others that have different weaknesses. I can see that God also calls them. Even if the world labels them "unbelievers", God still loves them and is calling them. As long as they are alive on this earth (except in rare cases of hardened hearts) they are looking for rest in God's grace. And God has equipped each and every believer to share His grace, because it is the same grace He gave to them. Every Christian knows this grace. Don't over complicate it, share it.

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

Give as you have been given.

Serve as you have been served.

Love as you have been loved.

Even tell the truth in the same manner that the truth was revealed to you...with grace.

Be patient as God has been patient with you.

Be confident in God's timing. He rarely works all of a sudden. He is not slow as some understand slowness, but He waits for the proper time.

Be looking for the proper time. Be diligent in prayer. I have newly discovered the power of prayer again in my life. The Holy Spirit is filling me, and I love it! It brings such deep joy, comfort, peace. I'm happy to be me. I'm satisfied to be God's child, and I love my Dad's work.

Why Peter?

Lord, why Peter?

A 3rd shift fisherman.

He had a wife and kids...he was busy.

And a sinful man...

Not sinful enough not to listen to a preacher; but when he recognizes that preacher to be connected to God's power, he knows he won't be able to hide his sins. They will be known. Then what? He shuddered to think of the disowning and estrangement that would result..the guilt and shame of bringing dark things into the light. He begs, "Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Peter was acutely aware of his sins. They were so big, so foolish, that he "knew" he never had a chance of being in God's inner circle. 

And yet, Jesus chose him. He tolerated his impulsive nature and his judgmental attitude - to teach him, so that he could teach others. 

How old was Peter? At least 30? He had a family, and he had part ownership in a fishing company.

When he was called, he dropped everything and followed. He left the windfall of profits lying in the boats. He left all his invested capital run up on the shore. He saw through all those things to what he really wanted. He wanted to be at peace with God. He wanted to feel God's presence. He wanted for God to be in his home, and for God to make His home in his heart - never to leave. 

He wanted to be something, not just in this world, but for God. And Jesus told him he was something...and that God could use him.

"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."

Lord, why me?

I'm just a fisherman.

I'm a sinful man. I've done foolish things. Things that a man of God ought not to do. 

Doesn't that disqualify me? 

Doesn't that make me unfit for service? 

How can you use me when my reputation is an impulsive jerk?

It doesn't make sense to me...but I feel called.

Have you fixed me enough for your service? Or can you use me with my current faults?

What about my responsibilities? What about my wife, my children, my plans...the other good works that I think I can accomplish? Should I do them first? Should I wait?

"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."

Thoughts on Luke 5:1-11

Back to the Basics

Our family has been blessed with being busy with many different things. One of these things is involvement in our church's preschool. We've had a lot of interaction with Mormon families recently, and it lead me to research the Truth in Love ministry.

After reading through the Basic Facts about Mormonism and Basic Witnessing Tools, I'm reflecting on how detailed and extensive is our catechism studies of biblical teachings. And yet this only scratches the service. I needed to dive into apologetics to satisfy my own nagging doubts. There is so much to learn about God that we can spend our whole lives as His student, companion, and beloved; and yet not fully grasp His love and faithfulness. I want to know Him more!

We can make this study very complicated and multifaceted - assign a whole array of technical terms...

And yet...

When it come right down to doing what Christ has called us to do - spread the gospel, we tend to forget the basics...and the basics make all the difference.

Way back in childhood, it was my first love. Forgiveness. I knew that I had screwed up bad...many times...I'd seen the hurt...but when I looked to the cross of Christ, I saw my debt paid, I saw His perfect life covering my failures, I saw His resurrection promising a new life free of screw ups. I saw new life. Undeserved love. Complete forgiveness. Another chance to be different.

Law and Gospel.

Why not focus on what I love to hear? That's what keeps me coming back Sunday after Sunday. Isn't that what they need to hear? Isn't that what we are all looking for?

I want to reach these Mormon families. Not sure how, not sure when, but I'm going to prepare. I'm going to try to know them better, and focus on the basics. It seems too simple, too easy - just speak God's word. I always want to get off track with appalling doctrinal errors - fix the immediate problem. But that's not what I was called to do. I was called to give the solution to the problem. I echo Paul's words, "I resolve to know nothing, but Christ, and him crucified."

Father, forgive me when I over-complicate your word. When I get emotionally frustrated. When I lose the love you have for my fellow human being. Grant me wisdom to use your law and gospel in proper proportion. Help me spread your saving word with each person you've placed in my life. Let my conversations be ever seasoned with the salt of your truth and love. Give me peace, that my past failures will not hinder your eternal purpose, that your good plan will work with whatever I am able to offer. Let me empty myself of sinful pride that your Holy Spirit may fill me completely for your purpose. In the Name I pray, amen.

Challenging Week

Our family is facing some challenges this week. We all signed up for soccer camp this week. The kids are participating; my wife and I are coaching 3k and 4k, respectively. I'm working as much as I can in the mornings, then meeting the group over at the soccer fields shortly after noon. I knew this would be a challenging week, and God has led me to Psalm 121 for strength. I hear a little of the song whenever I read these verses. I also hear a sermon based on these verses that reinforces their meaning in my life.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Two of our children were sick yesterday, so I read this out loud to them last night. We had kind of a crazy night of checking on the kids, but they are better this morning. We also faced a marriage challenge last night, but resolved it this morning. My wife is awesome, because she loves God. I am constantly amazed at what God does through her. She needed some building up this morning, and I was reminded of God's call to Gideon, "Go in the strength you have." We are already equipped to handle the challenges God has placed before us. God loves to do amazing things through His people. Press on, we've got an awesome God behind us and leading us.