One shot...

This morning as I've been praying and reading some Scripture in the the 4th chapter of the book of Nehemiah, I was drawn to the keyboard. The story picks up as Nehemiah is in the process of rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem and is facing opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah and others who have an intense hatred for the Jewish people and for Nehemiah in particular. What I love about the story is that Nehemiah chooses to be proactive and meet the threat head on instead of trying to negotiate or stop his work. His vision and mission drives him to press on in the face of great opposition. We can read some incredibly inspiring words that feel like they would fit before the climactic battle scene of any recent Hollywood movie..."Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah understod that this was his one shot at greatness. He wasn't about to allow anyone to back him off of his dream.

I beleive that my life and any Christian's life, for that matter, should be lived with that same tenacious spirit. We all are given an assignment from God for our lives. Certainly, we will face opposition and confusion. But, we must fight through it. There is not a day to waste! Let nothing derail your dream. Don't let your guard down for a second. One of my favorite movies is The Natural. In this classic from the early eighties, Robert Redford plays a middle aged rookie, Roy Hobbs, who storms on to the baseball scene as a phenomonal hitter and all around player. The story is about redemption because earlier in the movie, we learn that Hobbs was drafted as a teenage prodigy. Before he departs for his first spring training, he tells his sweetheart, " I want to be the best - the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be." He understood that he was put on the earth to play ball. The tragedy occurs a short time later when he allows himself to be seduced by a "black widow" type character who critically injures him by shooting him in the chest. The next time we see Hobbs is twenty years later during his rookie season with the Knights. Twenty years down the drain because he allowed himself to be sidetracked. He let his guard down... The story is redeemed of course in the climactic scene - I won't spoil it - go rent it.

The point is this - if you know what you were meant to do with your life then waste no time. Go do it! You've made enough plans. You've spent enough time preparing strategies. You've reconciled your dream over and over in your mind. Now move...whether that dream is rebuilding a wall or inventing a longer burning fuel for a motor vehicle. Even in ministry, there are risks that we are sometimes afraid to take...where have all of the evangelists gone? Has it become too hard to make it? I look at the few that I know with a new respect and admiration. They are on the wall working with one hand and fighting off the enemy with the other.

Friends, we have one shot - just one. Nehemiah understood this and it led him to pick up his sword and keep on mission. Don't stop. Don't give up. Don't be distracted. Don't forfeit eternal glory for temporal safety.

Jerry Maguire memo moment...over.

The Eyes...

Yesterday, in the mail, I received my new digital camera. Now this is not just some rinky dink little pea shooter - this is a top of the line 10.2 megapixel Sony SLR. I've always wanted a good camera and felt like now was the time to splurge. I have been realizing that I am missing the opportunity to capture a really precious time in my boys' lives by not taking pictures of them as often as humanly possible. So, obviously when I pulled this new toy out of the box I was elated. I spent the afternoon charging up the battery and reading the manual to figure out how to work the thing. Finally, I the charger gave me the green light and it was time to take her for a spin. My wife is out of town this weekend directing a girls ministries campout, so I am home with my 3 year old, Pauley, all weekend. He was my first subject yesterday afternoon. Somehow, he has learned that when someone points a camera at him he is supposed to smile as big as he can and yell at the top of his lungs, "Cheese!!!" We had a blast for over an hour - me snapping dozens of photos and him yelling "Cheese!!!" every single time. We had a blast. The best of the photos are now on my Facebook page in my family photo album. Well now here I am a day later. All I have been able to do in the office today it seems is to stare at these photos of my son. They're magnificant - such clarity, color and detail. That moment of time is captured forever and is now a part of our family scrapbook. The pics have been e-mailed to grandparents and aunts and uncles in the flash of a computer screen. But, what draws me over and over again to each one is not the quality of my photographic skills, but it is the gift that God has given me in the picture of what I see when I look into the eyes of my son. I see a destiny...I see passion...I see hope... it's all rght there in the eyes of a three year old. He hasn't yet come face to face with a world that wants to beat him down with stress or an enemy who wants to trap him in the various bondages of sin. He's free! He just smiles and yells "Cheese!" That's all he knows and he's all the happier for it. Yesterday, the camera, my son and Jesus reminded me that there is a joy to be found in the journey. There is still that carefree spirit somewhere in my own heart and mind. Where has he gone? Certainly he is still there. It's time to rediscover it once again. What do people see when they look into your eyes? I pray it is that devine spark of passion that let's all know that there is a real and loving God and that He is working in your life.

Another Church New Year...

Last night, SPIN student ministries hosted our annual Back to School Bash. I have had the privilege to be the Youth Pastor at New River Assembly of God for the past three years. I am always amazed every Fall when students that I have never seen before seem to come from out of the woodwork and begin to plug in to the ministry. Last night was no exception. It has taken a long time, but we finally broke 100 on a Wednesday night. I love this time of year. Just when I was beginning to feel like all hope was lost over the course of a busy and bring summer, the students just came rushing back. It was awesome! I am excited to see what God will do over the course of this "Church New Year". Red Wing is a tough place to do real youth ministry, but I feel like God is stirring something up and wants to do something great this school term. I find it ironic that over the course of the past few years many students have left because we were not hip enough or big enough for them. In fact some have left just in the last few weeks and have tried to take others with them. Now all I can do is look at a win like last night and shake my head in amazement. God always brings students through our doors who are hungry for a new challenge. They believe that God can use them to do great things this year. As for those that left, maybe they"ll come back or maybe they won't. But regardless, there are still many who are hungry to hear the Word of God. I will be happy to preach hard every single week.