Amazing Week

Sorry that I have not posted for several days. I was given the opportunity to speak at a high school camp for a church. It was an amazing week. God blessed us with great weather as we tubed on the lake and played at the beach. My many thanks to the staff and leaders who welcomed me into their group and allowed me this opportunity. Thanks Steve. Along with the great weather, I was surrounded by an amazing group of youth. These students genuinely cared for one another, their leaders, and most of all God. Their hearts are open to God's leading in their lives. As I sat in the small group discussions, these youth boldly stated their desires for God's growth in their lives. They also shared with one another their struggles and asked that their friends would help keep them accountable. I have been working in churches for the last fourteen years and I have never seen adults be so open with one another. It truly blew my mind. These youth grasped and lived out the concept of fellowship and growing together in the Lord. They really looked out for one another. As I think about the writings of Paul to the church of Thessalonica, Paul urges them to encourage and uplift one another. He charges them to keep each other from stumbling. As I watched these youth live this out, I was filled with hope. In the world that we live in, everyone is looking out for number one, themselves. It was encouraging to see that these youth were looking out for number one, God, and letting that dictate how they treated one another. I am a better man for having witnessed these students living out the gospel. It was truly a blessing.
In Him,
Paul

Since I have returned from San Francisco, I have been dealt a dramatic change in my life. The circumstances are still in motion, but no matter what the outcome, my life will not be the same. I am in the midst of adversity. Where can I turn? To whom can I seek refuge and guidance? Where is my peace? There is a story in the Bible of a king named Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20). King Jehoshaphat was faced with a mighty army coming to defeat him. Jehoshaphat had a mighty army of his own (2 Chronicles 17), but he chose to not rely upon his own strength. Instead, he called upon the Lord. He had all of his men fast and called all of the people, men, women and children, to pray. He asked for God to deliver the people. Jehoshaphat had so many resources at his disposal, but he put them aside and sought of the Lord. In the midst of my adversity, I have tried to solve the problems with my own abilities. I need to seek God first and see what he would have me to do. God told Jehoshaphat to take up position, stand firm and watch the Lord's deliverance. Too often, I do not have the discipline to take position, stand firm, and trust in the Lord. I want to lead the charge. God has a plan though, and he can do immeasurably more than I can imagine. I just need to give him the chance. Today, I will take position, stand firm, and watch the Lord's deliverance.
In Him,
Paul

Peace in the midst of Uncertainty

I have been home for a couple of days now. It is great to be home. When I returned though, I learned that there were areas of my life that had moved forward without me being around. Being someone who always likes to be in the mix, this has been very unnerving. It seems like there could be many changes on store for my life, and much of this has taken place in my absence. In these times of uncertainty, I must turn to the Lord to find peace. The psalmist writes that the Lord is my rock and my fortress. He is my foundation upon which I stand. As the world moves underneath me and the situations change around me, I can keep heart because I know that he is in control. He is in control of all things especially in times of difficulty and distress. I do not know where you are at in your walk with life, but always remember, in both good times and bad times, God is in control. I am not sure yet what he has in store for me, but I am waiting patiently to hear his call. My stomach is a bundle of nerves, but I know that he will help me push on.
In Him,
Paul

Home Coming!

So, I am returning home today. I am so excited to see my family. In my ten years of marriage, my wife and I have never been apart for this long. I have butterflies in my stomach fluttering around for joy at the thought of seeing my family again. As I ponder this further, my mind moves to the Father God waiting to see his children. There is so much to gain when we come to meet the Father. There is great joy and I can see why. The relationship with my wife and children has given me insight into this. My heart yearns for them. Every time the phone rings while I am gone, my face smiles at the possibility of hearing their voices at the other end. My day is incomplete until I hear from them. I think in some ways, God is the same. He is joyous when his children call upon him. He waits for them to come to him. He is so patient, but he longs for them to call to him. Call upon the Lord today. Spend time with him because he longs to hear from you. When we are far away, he waits for us to come back home. He is waiting with open arms for you to return, are you ready to go home? I know that I am.
In Him,
Paul

Ding, Ding, Ding Goes the Trolley

So, I decided to brave the mass transit system of San Francisco the other day. I went online and carefully mapped out the route that I was going to have to take to get to my destination. As I got into downtown San Francisco, I found that there was a wonderful trolley system. It was so exciting to see all of the classic trolleys that looked just like they do in the movies. I stood by the intersection as the trolley got on a circular plate that spun it around on the track. The trolleys were controlled by a giant hand lever. It was amazing to see this timeless technology in action. The problem was that there was no trolley tracks that gave me a direct route to where I wanted to go. I had to get transfer tickets to board other forms of mass transit to navigate the streets of the city. The trolleys were bound by their tracks.
I thought about life and how we are often limited by the tracks in our life that have been laid before us. Our choices and decisions direct which avenues we will go down and it is seems impossible to get off that track and head down a different route. When we travel through life without a plan of which directions we should go, we can easily get stuck on a route that leads away from our desired destination. I praise God that he has given me directions in the Bible. I know my destination and through careful navigation in his Word, I can find the route that I need to take. We do not have to follow blindly in life. We can know the way to our destination. We just need to know where to find the map.
In Him,
Paul

Grace Cathedral

Sunday, I decided to take the bus into town and wonder the streets of downtown San Francisco. I wondered past the Asian Art Museum and the giant "Shiva" style statue with three heads and six arms. I wondered up and down the hills until arrived at Grace Cathedral. (On a side note, the block leading up to Grace was brutal. It was so steep that there was a staircase built into the middle of the sidewalk. My calves burned when I reached the top.) I don't know what it was about the giant golden doors that greeted me, but I had the sense of reverence for God that overcame me. I wondered through the cathedral and I felt that I was in the presence of God. I felt enveloped in his presence and that I was in worship of him from the moment that I entered. I was captured by the environment and swept away by the feelings that it created. Why does this building have such a profound impact on me? Maybe I have a romanticized idea of these old churches. In some sense, I wish that I felt this way walking into my church. The building itself exuded the Lord in a way. At the same time, I am glad that my church does not feel like this because the dependence upon the building is removed. I am not sure what it is, but when the light from God's creation shines down through those stain glass windows, I know God is with me. Praise God for the beauty and splendor that he has allowed to fill Grace Cathedral. (In another side note, there was a lady and a gentleman practicing their Tai Chi in the courtyard of the cathedral. It just did not seem to fit. I laugh pretty hard when I saw it.)

The Thought of the Day

I have been in San Francisco for a week now. The view looking out over the bay is breathe taking at times, but too often, the fog makes the view, well, foggy. The picturesque seen of the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz are left in a haze by the fog that surrounds them. As I look out over the bay, all I can think about is the picture of Christ that we portray to others. Does my life display a picture of Christ that is crisp and clear? Or does my life only show Christ in small glimmers that pierce through the fog? Paul calls those to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ(1 Cor. 11:1). As I walk as a leader in my church and a leader to those who seek the truth, am I being a clear example of Christ? I pray that just as the sun burns off the fog over the bay, God will help me burn off the haze of life that diminished the clear view of him in my life. It is not an easy journey, but I have a clear picture of what my goal should be. Let's see how God shapes me to be his example.
In Him,
Paul