Soakin' Up Life . . . at a 100 MPH!

My youngest brother, Jerry, has taught me that life is about choices. And those choices have consequences, some are good and some are bad depending on our choice. This lesson came to mind as I was reading Romans 7:4-6. 4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. It's about whether I choose, as a Christian, to live for God or to live for my old self. I've been released to serve and bear fruit for the living, life-raising God and not my sinful desires. Just as God has released me from my marriage to Karen, through her de...

Last night Cindy and I watched the movie Faith Like Potatoes . It's a true life story about Angus Buchan, a South-African farmer who gives his whole life to God - even his business (a.k.a., his farm). It's kinda slow, being filmed in what I would call typical foreign-film fashion - it's more about the scenery, music, and overall story than in moment to moment action like we Americans are more accustomed to. Anyway. . .there was a point where Angus says something like, " As I grew in my faith I had more questions ." Did you get that? He had more questions. Is that good or bad? I think it's good. . .it's healthy. When was the last time you had questions about God, your faith in Him, what He wants you to do? Somewhere, I think we bought into the idea that Christians have all the answers. I mean, if we have all the answers then why do I need God? To tell you the truth we. . .I. . .don't have all the answers. And as soon as we admit that we don...

Reading Romans 7:7-25 (go read it, this will make much more sense) this morning and couldn't help think how much I relate to Paul. What wretched men we are . As I read I kept thinking how we both struggle with sin, how we both want to do what God wants us to do, yet are sabotaged by our sinful nature. Man, am I glad there was someone honest enough to say that they are not perfect . I am so glad there's someone as messed up as me. At least I don't feel alone. Do you ever feel like you're the only one who messes up, sometimes? Thank you, God, for someone like Paul. . .someone we would consider a "super saint". . . who struggles just like the rest of us. Thank you for someone who is willing to say, " Hey! No matter how hard I try, I'm messed up! " Thank you for not leaving us to our own sinful masters - ourselves. Thank you for rescuing us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you for loving me enough to pull me out of the the depth o...

This morning as I was reading the birth story of Jesus fro Luke 2 I thought - Did God smile? I mean, when baby Jesus took his first breath of alien air and let out his first cry did God, like a first time parent, smile a grateful, appreciative, proud-to-be-a-pappa smile? Think about it! Here's the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in the presence of humanity as humanity. THAT had never happened before! It's Immanuel - God with us . All of heaven is rejoicing! God's plan to pursue us and have a relationship with us is in motion and. . . and. . .it's a baby! Everybody gets excited about a baby! Through time God would finally have the opportunity to have a relationship with His greatest creation. . .you and me. Or did he sigh, like one who knew this was only the beginning? Was God's heart burden, even just a little, because He has had sent His only son into a sinful world to rescue an unappreciative creation like us? God knew why Jesus was there. Yes, i...

Don't miss our Christmas Eve Services at 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 pm . This year's theme is, " Nativity Scenes ." The services will be interactive and you won't want to miss the important role the kids will play. GGBCers, please invite your friends to attend one of the services. Since we had to cancel our services last year, I'm especially looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with you. Please take a few minutes and ask the Lord to work in the lives of people during these services. Mike

I was thinking about this earlier, but how do you open gifts? I'm an Methodical . A methodical is someone who takes their time to unwrap gifts. We open gifts at the taped spots first, then slowly and methodically remove the outer coverings or lift the gift from the bag. We savor the moments of the opening. To us it like crossing the finish line of a long race in slow motion and music from Chariots of Fire playing in the background. This makes the gift even more satisfying when we finally do get to it. It also drives shredders crazy ! Driving shredders crazy may also contribute to why we open gifts as we do. Cindy is a Shredder . Shredders tear into gifts with no thought about the exterior coverings. Their entire goal is to get to the gift as quickly as possible. The outer layers are just in their way. I love watching shredders open gifts. They have a blast. It's like a treasure hunt and when they find the "gold" they explode in laughter, surprise, or a...

That's right folks, it's only Wednesday! You could take that statement a couple of ways: If you're a guy, you're probably thinking that you still have a couple of days left before you start your Christmas shopping. So to you, the statement would read something like this. . . "it's only Wednesday!" And just so that you'll know - I'm just about done with my shopping! If you're anything like me, you may be thinking that it's only Wednesday and you still have another couple of busy days ahead. So you would read the statement like this. . . "it's only WEDNESDAY !?" And for me it's not just that there's a couple of busy days ahead, it's that I love Christmas morning. . .always have, always will. In a couple of days we'll wake up on the day we celebrate the Savior's birth and have a great morning with family and friends. I love the getting up, the looks on everyone's face as they open gifts, the smi...

I'm taking a break from Romans to look at the birth of Jesus. Having groups look up a piece of the birth story, answer some questions & discuss it, then share with the rest of the class. Groups will look at. . . Jesus's Heritage - lots of good stuff in there Joseph - why Joseph, could he have decided not to be used by God, His response Mary - why Mary, could/would we have responded the same way she did Announcement, Shepherds, & Wise Men - why the shepherds, what was it like for them to see the Christ child for the first time? I love the birth story and have been reading and re-reading it for the last week and a half. This year God has been focusing my attention on the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' birth - where, how, and to whom. It's caused me to appreciate God's faithfulness more than I have in past years. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness! Mike

The day we moved into our house in Troutdale two of our neighbors dropped by to say " Welcome to the neighborhood " and give us a lemon pound cake. And I said, " It is good! " (the pound cake and the neighbors). Yesterday, Cindy and I gave some of Cindy's homemade apple butter to a few of our neighbors to introduce ourselves and wish them a Merry Christmas . As we were finishing up, one of them met us at our door with a gift for us. . . a 5 pound bag of whole-bean coffee! Oh holy moly!! And I said " It is good! " Come to find out, her husband works for a coffee company. Man, am I gonna like this place!!! Good thing, too. I just used the last of the coffee that we did have this morning. Gotta go find the coffee grinder. . . Mike

Most people who know me know I like to read. I like to read biographies, books on spiritual formation/discipleship/life change (yes, Grant, I read your post :) ) and I'm a better reader than doer sometimes. I also like books about leadership, and books that challenge me. I do like to read fiction - John Grisham, Robert Ludlum, and the like - but I have to make myself read for "fun". This past year I didn't read as many books as I have in the past, but I did read some that I would definitely recommend. My favorite books of 2009 - these are book that I would recommend for one reason or another: Servolution by Dino Rizzo Church Unique by Will Mancini Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion by Wayne Cordiero Crazy Love by Francis Chan The books I really want to read in 2010? Simple Life by Thom & Art Rainer Primal by Mark Batterson Killing Cockroaches by Tony Morgan What was/were your favorite book(s) of 2009? And what are looking for...

Ever have one of those days where you fall into bed, but feel good about it? Yesterday was that for me. I don't think I was in my office more than an hour yesterday, but what was accomplished wouldn't and couldn't get done sitting behind my desk. That's a bit of my quirkiness. I have to work, sometimes, to get out from behind my desk. And, at times, I need days like yesterday to do just that. The cool thing was that I didn't do them alone. I got to hang out with Lance, Rick, Roger, Dale, Debbie, Kerry & Jim, Tim & Kim, Dan, and Dave. I got to meet two young men who are not only football players, but leaders. I got to see Chris in action, and hear how his players love and respect him. I got to hear a brother in Christ's story of how, through a series of unbelievable events, his children were taken from him, the hear the the pain in his heart and had an opportunity to pray for him. I met a man who has a great attitude and a 2010 Harley Davidson ...

Got a notice this morning that on December 7, Starbucks is hosting a worldwide sing-a-long to continue to raise awareness and funds for (RED) - a movement started to help fight AIDS in Africa. They will be singing the song All You Need is Love . And you and I could join them. I was thinking about that song this morning, sort of singing it in my best Beatles-esque. Okay, so it didn't sound so much like the Beatles, but it did get me to thinking. . . what kind of love is all we need? Is it the others-focused kind of love that doesn't require or expect anything in return? Because, to be honest, that doesn't seem to be humanity's forte. How does a world do that when it's not our nature to express that kind of love? Now stay with me. . . On Tuesday I woke up with the story of the Good Samaritan on mind. Don't know why, but I did. And I, like a lot of teachers of this passage, focused on the story what it means to love your neighbor. But this morning I s...