Last week I heard Pastor Mat Garcia give a message on the difference between success and significance.  He used the analogy of having times when your kids are young and how fast the time goes until you look back and realize how fast your kids have grown up.  I really want to treasure the times I have with my daughter and cherish each moment.  I understand that there are diapers to change right now and temper tantrums that go unended, but even through those frustrations I want to spend as much time with her as possible before she is too old to hang out with dad.  Here is a shot of the two of us hanging out at home.  Both with crazy hair.

I am reading a book entitled, “This Beautiful Mess.”  It describes the idea that most Christians live with this idea that the kingdom of God is something to be looked forward to and not something that exists in the present.  But, when you look at scripture you see Christ’s words about the kingdom and realize that he was talking about something that is HERE and NOW.  This is not something far off and distant, but something that is close and tangible.  I love wrestling with these types of ideas and I hope that God would stir your heart as well.

So, I have ben really wrapped up in this idea of prayer.  Most of us sit in a chair of complacency when it comes to prayer and our prayers end up being some sort of rehearsed speech that we give.  Should our prayers be more of a conversation that we look forward to the next time we chat?  Should our chats with God ever end?(1 Thess. 5:17)  I would love for my prayers to be like breathing, something that always happens, but without me controlling and forcing it to be what I want it to be.  

Just thought I would post something today.  The clouds are out and I feel really sleepy.  Lots of stuff to do, but wanted to write a little about the day.  That’s all.

OK, I have to make a confession.  The other day I was flipping through my gazillion channels and came across a show entitled, High School Confidential. It is the dramatic 4 year story of 12 High School girls from Kansas.  The creator follows these girls for four years and interviews them along the way.  Then has combined each of the girls stories over the 4 years into a one hour show.  I was mesmerized by the pain and struggle that these teens go through.  I have been working in youth ministry since I was in high school and I have never seemed to fully grasp that this kind of life happens outside of the church.  My heart broke listening to the paths that these girls decided was best for them and the repercussions that happen.  

I love tivo because I was able to record most of the episodes and I have it set to record if the other episodes air, but I believe that even itunes has them for download if you want to get a glimpse into the lives of teens in our world today.  Prepare to be shocked, bewildered, and amazed at the situations these girls must go through between the ages of 14 and 18!

I have been thinking about this idea of LOVE.  It is such a huge idea, such a huge concept, my mind has a hard time grasping it.  I LOVE lasagna, but at the same time I LOVE my wife and daughter.  How is this possible?  I was reading through 1 Corinthians 13 and trying to understand what LOVE really is and isn’t.  If we actually LOVE God, are we patient and kind?  If we actually LOVE God, do we abstain from envy, boasting, pride, rudeness, selfishness, anger, holding grudges?  If we truly LOVE God, do we delight in the truth?  Because God says He is LOVE!  He always protects, always hopes, always perseveres!  He is awesome!  He is the true definition of LOVE and I have a long way to go to actually understand LOVE.

The American Dream is all about someone with little gaining a lot and being wealthy and secure in the work that they do.  The American Dream is owning a home and growing old in it with grandkids running around.  The American Dream is about bettering oneself and making more with what you have.This seems to be backwards from what Paul teaches about being led by the Spirit.  Do we really believe that God would want us to have more just so we can keep it to ourselves?  Do we really believe that He wants us to have homes that are too big for us to clean that we need to hire others to come in and clean it for us.  Does this seem backwards to anyone else?   

Got up this morning in Delaware to go fishing with my bro-in-law. Woke up to 38 degrees with a 20 knot sustained wind. After 5 casts, our hands were frozen and we called it quits. Maybe we will get out later today or tomorrow for more fun.

So, I was driving into Jamba Juice the other day and saw a guy outside asking the cars for help.  I have seen this guy throughout the Conejo at different restaurants asking for money.  I have been going through the book of James with my students and really felt like I could no longer just “walk on by.”  So, I rolled down my window and asked if I could buy him lunch.  We met up at the sandwich shop and were waiting in line together. The guy behind the counter asked if we wanted it for here or to go.  I let Richard decide and he said here.  When I said here as well he looked at me kind of strange.  We got our lunches and sat down.  I then asked him for his story and he went on for the next hour and a half sharing his life story of growing up in LA, being in the Air Force, and ending up on the streets in the Conejo Valley.

It was an awesome afternoon and it seemed like Richard had never been cared for or asked about his life.  I hope to have more lunches like this.

So, tomorrow I will be running in a 5k to raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.  My wife, daughter, and I will be in Pasadena for this even tomorrow.  Should be fun.