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BlogPost: Adversity & Better

Adversity... is a common theme in life.  It's part of the human existence.  It's universal and comes in any variety of form.  I'm learning that adversity doesn't just make you stronger, but that when embraced, it can make you BETTER.  Adversity isn't just about endurance and survival... testing or trials don't necessarily need to just leave you with a thicker skin, or broken and in despair... if you embrace it for good, it will leave you, well... BETTER...   

A good friend called today as he wrestles through a difficult time of transition.  I could hear the hurt and pain of broken relationships lying between the lines of optimism.  Another friend called who is battling a different demon and even in winning... I could hear fear and anxiousness about what lurks around the corner... to my friends I say... REJOICE... your God is making you BETTER.  He is emptying you of yourself and your self-dependence.   He is preparing you for the next hill He knows you will climb.  He is... making you BETTER for His glory.  He is humbling you and emptying you of you to make more room for more of Him in you.  His kind of BETTER. 

How about you and adversity?  Are you fighting it, hating it or embracing it?  As odd as it sounds and as difficult as it can be...  I say...  Rejoice in the pain, celebrate the adversity, soak in the trial, learn your lessons well... God is making you BETTER.  The kind of BETTER he likes to use.  The kind of BETTER that world-changers become.  The kind of BETTER that is best described as complete humble trust and dependance on Him.  Learn your lessons well my friend and... DON'T BLINK, YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.

 

PS... as I re-read this names and faces race through my mind and tears well up in my eyes.  I know your stories... I know you are hurting.  I know it is difficult.  I know... I know... I know... like I said... I'm learning these lessons myself... so we will get BETTER... together.  I'm praying for you right now.

Chelsey & Josh

My little girl is getting married.  He is a lucky man.  She is in love.  They will leave a mark on the world together.  WOW... I'm getting a new son... and Chelsey is getting married... that's taking some time to sink in!  It's going to be a busy summer.  

Cool

I love it when the life and the church collide.  I know it's not for everyone but for me church-life is at the core of my entire life.  This couple is a living example of what the church looks like in action.  This video is just cool.  Thanks to Scott Williams for posting it.  Scott is leading a great team at the LC Northwest Campus.

24 Years Ago Today

I married the love of my life.  She was then and is today the most beautiful, loving, kind, generous, amazing person I have ever known.  Words cannot express my love and appreciation for this woman.  I am the luckiest husband in history.  She doesn't simply compliment me... she completes me.  I am more in love with her today than the day we married.  I have "known" no other woman.  I have loved no other woman.  I am the luckiest man in history...

Creative Marriage Conference

It's been a great two days just hanging with Allison and spending time together "unplugged".  Of course Craig brought down the house tonight as the keynote speaker.  This is a crummy phone camera shot from the hip.  Trying to be discreet so he didn't think I'm texting while he speaks... but I had to get a shot for the blog.  I love being your pastor.  I loved being able to say after he spoke...."that's what we get every week".  God is good.

Creative Marriage Retreat

This is our second marriage retreat in one year!  Certainly a record for us considering this is our second marriage retreat since we've been married.... Some of you may be nervous... wondering... "is there trouble in paradise?"  Far from it.  Our marriage has never been stronger and we intend to keep it that way.  We've been running at a crazy pace and this will be a great time for us to STOP and just spend some time together.  So if you don't get an answer on the cell phone for the next couple of days, I'm probably in the middle of some silly couples role playing exercise trying to figure out why Allison should get the remote more often. 

As a side note.... Craig and Amy Groeschel are guest speakers, along with Ed and Lisa Young.  NO... there are not ulterior motives... Allison gets my full attention...... I think.....   so the question is... What have you done lately to invest in your marriage?  Sitting at the ball field together doesn't count!  DON'T BLINK! 

Love God, Love Others....

Carlos shares an incredible Easter story with us.... I have experienced the same feelings as I prepare to lead worship and have often been stopped dead in my tracks as God does what he does so well....  nice....

He writes:

Easter.
So much going on. So much to do.
I was leading worship today yet couldn’t take the executive producer hat off so I was thinking about tons. Cut this song? Redo lights there? Pull the painting? Have Jeff do the invitation? Blah Blah Blah Blah.
I was exhausted. We picked a fairly high energy worship set and did 5 fairly taxing songs.
So I walked in this evening. I was tanked. We rehearsed and ate and I was honestly kind of waiting for the night to get going so we could lead and go home.
Then it hit me like it does every week that these people at the 6 pm service are coming to church for the first time today. Gut check. Time to sing.
Walked out. Salvation Is Here…LALALALALA.
I’m in verse 2 and I look to my left and am hit like a blind side pick and roll.
Swaying on the front row was a guy I later learned was named Matt.
Standing in front of him was another guy named Jefferson.
It was a moment that stands out above all else in my 11 years of leading worship.
You see Matt and Jefferson were worshipping God, together.
Literally.
Jefferson has severe cerebral palsy. He has little, if any control over his body.
Matt was standing behind Jefferson.
Holding Jefferson.
20 minutes.
Dancing with Jefferson and singing at the top of his lungs.
Jefferson was singing too. I think could hear him.
And it was the most beautiful song I have ever heard.

Love ya Baby...

What else needs to be said?  Let's see....

• You are amazing.
• You are beautiful.
• You are giving.
• You are HOT!
• You are mine.
• You are gifted.
• You are HOT!
• You are disciplined.
• You are passionate.
• You are pleasant.
• You are HOT!

You are the most incredible person I have ever known and you will hold my heart always.....  I love you baby... and we've only just begun....

What a babe...

Yesterday the love of my life had a birthday... so tonight I reflect....

• She's hot.
• She's giving.
• She's passionate about her relationship with Christ.
• She's hot.....
• She's an incredible mother.
• She's faithful.
• She's a relentless worker.  She never stops.
• She's fun.
• She's bright.
• She's hot.
• She's a wise manager.
• She's thoughtful.
• She's very good at memorizing God's Word.
• She's and amazing cook... have you seen my waistline????
• She's hot....

Baby I love you and cannot imagine life without you.  I know I married up.... Just one more thing to thank God for.... now and I'm thinking that deserves a big high-five when I hit the streets of gold... Nice job on this one God.  She's.... hot.  She's the one on the left in case you couldn't tell.... She's hot and I love her.