The Funny Thing About Grass

Friends,

It's been a long time since I've posted here. Too long. Despite this fact, God is still on the throne, and continues to love us very much! I'm thankful that He's never too busy to care, and never mentally checks out.

I was waiting for the bus to commute to the office last week, and stared at a hillside adjacent the stop. It was an ordinary chunk of yard, but God opened my eyes to much more this day. Mixed in this lot were thin spots of dirt where foliage barely covered, and laced amongst the lush grass blades were varying weeds, heads of dandelions and clover. The yard wasn't necessary unkempt; it just looks like a normal front yard that you or I would stroll past without a second thought. It was here that God met me. 

"Do you see the weeds among the blades of grass?" I felt Him ask in my spirit. "Yes, Lord. I see them." I said. "These inperfect weeds are normal to you, but they don't belong there." God said even more: "weeds among the grass is common to you, because you live in an imperfect world. They weren't a part of my perfect plan for grass, any more than for sin was to enter into this world".

Of course, this wasn't audible to me. I'm sure God didn't actually speak in the literal sense. However, I felt it deep in my being. A resonating truth. Friends, if we simply accept the pain and trouble of this world as 'normal', it can encroach on any hope we might have for a brighter future; here on earth, or in eternity. Understand this: sin is not normal. It wasn't part of God's plan for our lives. Yet, God sent His son to die on a cross for us, to reunite us with God, abolish sin and make a way for us to live with Him one day. And no, I firmly believe there are no weeds in Heaven.

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Love you,

Good night

Truly a Daily Walk

Hi friends,

It's been forever and a day since I've posted- much too long, really. I've missed talking to you, and hope that you've missed hearing about the antics from around these parts, too. It feels wonderful to be back. There's so much life that's unfolding around us, and much to share! But, how do you catch up with old friends, when all you have is a cup of coffee and a few minutes?

We'll begin with the basics.

My wife and I each turn/turned 40 this year, and our four amazing kids are no longer 'babies'. Our youngest is currently headed into the 5th grade, and our eldest is a graduating Senior (gasp). Both middle children are transitioning into the 8th and 9th grades. Both are already challenging their father in terms of vertical stature; they seem to get bigger, while I simply grow older. Only the Lord knows where that precious time has gone, because it seems only yesterday that we were slogging home from Wal-Mart with 14 packages of diapers in tow.

My wife still works for the local church we attend, and by the grace of God I've remained employed by the Government throughout the recession. I'm also working hard to get a start-up company off the ground, on the evenings and weekends. If anything is constant, it's change.

Now that we've caught up a little bit, I'd like to share something amazing that happened this past Saturday night. As you know, over the years I've listened to (and plugged) the Daily Audio Bible podcast. It's personally been the easiest, and most effective method for consuming the word of God; making the stories and characters truly come alive in a way I've not experienced before. I've not been successful in tuning in each and every day, but more often than not, the voice of Brian Hardin has been playing through my ear-buds each morning since 2008. I can't express enough the importance of spending time in Bible on a regular basis. It truly does change you from the inside out; allowing you take the challenges of life each day, and apply a filter of biblical knowledge, learned from countless examples of triumph and tribulation. Once you marinate on scripture, your thought processes begin to change, and you can't help but fall in love with the epic love story of God and mankind. And, you'll find that Jesus Christ is insanely cool.
 
The DAB team arrived in Portland for a "family gathering" last night! You see, on a semi-regular basis, Brian, Jill and kids travel throughout the world, meeting people who subscribe to their podcast, and participate as part of the DAB community. They've been all over the place, and it was finally Oregon's turn this weekend! I was simply thrilled at the chance to meet Brian, and listen to his story in person. What unfolded was an evening of worship, sharing with other local believers, waving to Internet viewers from around the globe, and ending in an intimate communion with Brian and family. It was one of those "pure gold" moments, that I'll never forget.

Of the many things I took away from our encounter with the DAB, there were two key things; 1., Jesus is our portion. And 2., Regardless of past hurts, by the church, or other Christians, there's always a chance to step out of bitterness, and isolation, and back into loving community.

Lamentations 3:24, "I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

I've heard this before, and intellectually understood the message growing up, but I never really fathomed the heart posture behind it at that point in life. As a flawed man, father, and husband, I literally imposed my own attitudes and limitations on God's words. What I was really saying to myself after reading them was "Be thankful you have a part of God's favor, no matter how big or small, and stop whining." Now a little older and wiser, I've learned that simply isn't God's heart, and his love is far more personal and beautiful than we can imagine.

Jill explained that "portion" is very important. It's not just a random amount of something doled out to the masses. It's an important unit of measure. Her example of using proper portions of ingredients for baking and preparing meals, literally ensures the success or failure of the meal. The portions need to be "just right". That got me thinking. Although "portion" is the operating word, I'm certain "precision" could be used as well. And friends, when someone takes the time to precisely measure something, it means there's a whole lot of thought, and investment in the going concern. Whether baking cookies, or helping us with "just enough" favor to build our character, or blessings to keep us moving forward, but not so much as to train-wreck our lives, God will give us exactly what we need, because he loves us deeply.

Although we assembled in a local church, the DAB family gathering literally had nothing to do with the building itself. The DAB's DNA is centered on the unfettered word of God, and fellow believers can find solace in plugging in to the community, it's various missions, and most importantly through walking through the Bible each day. We are the body of Christ. We are the Church.


Good Night.

Please Help

The recent snow, followed by rising temperatures and an abundance of rain, have caused all of us in the Salem/Keizer area to experience inconveniences of varying scale. Some of us were barely affected; watching the weather and its effects from the comfort of our television sets. Others had to process alternate routes to their destinations while driving, as many a road was closed due to high water marks. Still other communities were fully evacuated in the face of flooding. Some unfortunate souls found themselves caught up in the midst of the waters, as their whole world washed away.

It's this latter group I'm focusing on tonight.

When you look at the picture above, chances are pretty good that you'll see a road, terminating into what appears to be a pond. This area, ironically named Wallace Marine Park, completely flooded a couple of days ago, and the waters are only just beginning to recede. What you may not think about, is that this park is home to several "urban campers"- homeless people who are just like you and me in every way, except for being "address challenged".

Droves of campers were literally pulled from chest high waters; some were hospotalized with hypothermia, while some suffered other forms of shock. Almost all of them lost what little clothing or worldly possessions they had. Thankfully, some of the folks from WSFC's City Vibe outreach were ready, willing and able to help in any way they could. Local churches, such as Soma, and others have offered up what precious resources they had, so that the flood victims could have a warm, dry place to rest (and perhaps even receive a meal and pair of warm socks). It's far from over, and they could use your help and resources. Please, get in touch with WSFC, Soma, or any other local church that's supporting these broken, hurt and hungry brothers and sisters in Christ.

We're supposed to "Love them until they ask why", right? Let me tell you, they're already asking 'Why'. "Why is this happening to me?" "Why did God allow this tragedy?" Let's love on them together, and reflect God's love for each one of them.



Good Night

Happy 2012!

Good Evening, and Happy New Year!

2012 will be a year of lasting change- the chance to live intentionally. To plan. To achieve, instead of simply thinking about it. Whatever your goals are for the new year, please consider making a relationship with God a real priority.

If you haven't committed to making the journey through the Bible, it's never too late to begin. You can begin with today- you don't have to worry about making up, or catching up. Just dive into the Bible in printed form, read it online, or listen to it each day, like I do.

God bless you,

Good Night

Let There Be Light

Genesis 1:3-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

"And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it; and God separated the light from the darkness."

God is the ultimate creative genius. He literally thought about what our world would be; with all of the plants, animals, humans, mountains and plains, and every facet of every technological advance we enjoy today, long before there was a physical universe. When there was once a only void, God had an idea, and spoke that idea into action.

It all began with light. It's funny (and not coincidental) that the light bulb has become associated with one of humankind's greatest ideas. The invention itself was spawned by a creative human mind, and the illumination it yields mirrors God's initial radiant gift.

Being created in God's image, many of us also have great ideas. The issue is that most of us have no clue how to make the idea grow into the thing we've envisioned. We may have creative prowess, but lack the discipline to develop it. Fear may be holding us back, or any number of other obstacles may be keeping us from sharing our great idea with others, and bridging the gap between concept and reality.

I've decided to share an idea with you, that I've been noodling on for a couple of years now. It's a business that I'm in the very early stages of forming, therefore in these early days, I will have to speak in abstracts. However, the goal is to share the progress of this business with you as it unfolds; the good, bad and ugly. You'll get inside "fly on the wall" access to this "reality show" business process, and hopefully it will serve as inspiration for you to cultivate your own brilliant ideas, and take action!

Please join me over at http://itbeginswithanidea.blogspot.com as this process begins over the next couple of months.

Take care!

Goodbye, Friend

Instead of going to church this evening, my family gathered together at a local pizza parlor for a tasty supper and fellowship with a truly remarkable human being. This man was one of the very first people to warmly welcome us into the church family. He's fostered positive development of our children over the past few years, and has developed deep and meaningful relationships with my wife and me.

He also happens to be moving out of state in the morning.

It's extremely difficult to say goodbye. I mean, it's not as if the person who moves away is dead. God forbid! However, there is a palpable, tangible, grief that accompanies a major relational change, or physical departure. While things will undoubtedly never be the same again, we are extremely excited for, and in support of our friend. A new journey is unfolding, and his whole life is about to receive a well-deserved restoration. While we won't be with him to experience the metamorphosis firsthand, we pray for covering over his life, and wish him all the best.

Godspeed, EJ!

Good Night

500 Days Of Walking

Tonight marks the 500th consecutive journal entry for The Daily Christian Walk! It's time to kick back, and celebrate the achievement of realizing a worthy goal- something I've admitted to having trouble with in the past. Perhaps, some of these memories of failure can finally be replaced with success- we've made it! I'm so thankful for this process; it's been tremendously rewarding sharing many of life's experiences with you over the past year and a half. I pray that reading each evening's entry was a worthwhile investment of your time, as well. A lot can change in 500 days...

This week, we will begin the next phase of the online journal. I envision more of a free-form entry schedule for the foreseeable future. This new approach will allow for me to set some new goals to accomplish in the scope of my evenings, and relieves some of the pressure to post something each night, even when I'm completely spent. I believe that by yielding to the Holy Spirit, and posting only when prompted to do so, that resultant blog entries will be more meaningful, and of higher quality in the days, weeks and months ahead.

God Bless You,

Good Night

We Must Train Our Children

We've been virtually walking through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University together over the past couple of months. While I've shared some of the experiences and insights derived from attending the classes, one of the great treasures that accompanies the program is the book Financial Peace Revisited.

In Chapter Seventeen: Family, Friends and Money, Dave unknowingly sucker-punched me in the gut. He explained how he and his wife raised their children to adopt a strong work ethic, and how to properly manage their money. By the time they were teenagers, they were able to seek out and earn commissions on various jobs, run a household budget and make adult-like financial decisions.

And then, I thought about the things I have (and haven't) taught my own children. Our kids are "normal", having grown up in a lower middle-class neighborhood. While they do not receive everything they want, they aren't in need. Often, they have things given to them (such as portable electronics) on holidays, instead of working towards reaching a particular goal themselves. On all accounts they're on par with the average American- which is sad. What have I done to teach my children about money? What about hard work?

If I take an honest look at my children, it's obvious we've done them a great disservice. Currently, none of them will work unless poked, prodded or nagged to do so. And, I'm certain that the word "budget" isn't a part of their young vocabulary. While they vary in age, they're what Dave would call "financial four year olds". If left unchanged, I worry about what kind of adults they'll become. They're great kids, mind you. But are they prepared for the real world? No.

It's definitely time to change all of that. In the days to come, I hope to teach basic budgeting skills, and the power found in working hard and saving money. Most importantly, we'll keep taking steps to model Godly, responsible adult lives for them to mirror.

Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)

Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.

Good night

Winning Through Simplification

The other day, while I was synchronizing Daily Audio Bible podcasts between my computer and phone, I noticed that the transfer rates were extremely slow. I waited for a couple of minutes, but because I was running late for work, I ended up having to choose which of the audio programs was most important to me, and stop the remaining streams which were parasitically utilizing bandwidth. There simply wasn't enough time, or resources to waste while waiting for everything I wanted to download.







As a result of focusing on the important download, all of the time and compute resources were focused on the accomplishment of the goal. Had I not simplified my experience, I would have likely been late for work, without any of the desired audio programs on tap.







The more I thought about it, I noted some interesting parallels between this simple transaction and life. As we live our lives, we can often choose to attach ourselves to several things, important or not. Often times, we spend so much time focused on things that aren't important, that we can become "bogged" down. If we've never developed discipline, or adjust our habits, we can spend years in this condition. It's important to remember that we only have so much available bandwidth (time) and resources- they're finite. I think it's best to simplify, and focus on our priorities. Priorities in our relationships. Priorities in our finances. Priorities in our spirituality.

Good Night

Happy Mothers Day

I'd like to take a minute to wish all of the mothers in my life a very Happy Mother's Day. God bless you.

Good Night

Tired Saturday

Today was hectic. We were up at 6:00 AM, and driving to Walker Middle School by 7:20. After helping with light duty volunteering (guest check-in), it was off to our youngest son's final bowling league game of the season. Afterward, we made a B-line to the gas station to fill up the tank and then headed home for a quick sub-sandwich buffet lunch. After cleaning up from the meal, we hosted a family "laundry party" where everyone was recruited to fold the various clothes and blankets and put them away.

After catching our breath from the busy morning, everyone piled back into the car for a trip across town to a graduation reception for a dear family friend. We were only able to stay a bit shy of an hour, because I was on tap to run slides for the church services this evening. (By the way, the church service was good, however I completely botched a series of slides). Once rehearsal and services concluded, it was home for a quick bite to eat with my wife, before preparing for sleep.

I'm going to bed now. Thank God!

Good Night

Slow And Steady Wins The Race (FPU - Part 8)

Last night's Financial Peace University training was wonderful. We were able to break down (through use of clever analogies and demonstrations) and digest what a 'mutual fund' really is. We talked about what it means to diversify, what stocks, bonds and annuities are, and when to utilize (or avoid) each. These were things that even a 'smart guy' like me historically had trouble grasping at times. The financial vernacular is totally different than what I'm accustomed to using, so I can think of situations in my past where I would simply be quiet, nod and sign myself up for things I never truly understood. However, Dave Ramsey made it fun and easy to understand. Knowledge is power!

Oh, how I wish I'd been taught about how money really works when I was young! God bless my parents. They did the best they could to equip me for the real financial world. However, they were only able to give me the best (and worst) knowledge they possessed at the time. Sadly, we've had to learn a lot on our own- and suffered some pretty hard knocks before enrolling in the FPU classes. If there were an inappropriate way to approach finance, my wife and I have done it. We've paid our fair share of 'stupid tax'.

Towards the end of the video lesson, Dave spoke of his encounter with an elderly billionaire over lunch. It would seem that Mr. Ramsey had gleaned all he could from other millionaires (he'd become one himself), and was looking forward to the next level of financial success. The man indicated two simple things that were tenets to becoming wealthy. First was to continue to practice generosity; giving of one's time, talents and resources. Secondly, was to read "The Tortoise and the Hare", and take it to heart. It would seem that there is no genuine method to getting rich quickly (contrary to some late-night infomercials). However, investing slowly and consistently over time, and in the correct ways, will generate wealth.

This idea got me thinking. Don't these principles spill over into other areas of our lives as well? Take a minute and play a little game with me, won't you? I'm going to ask that you be honest and speak the following phrases out loud. Don't worry if your spouse, your kids, or the family dog stares at you. Answer each question with either 'slowly', or 'quickly'. Remember to say them out loud, and pause in between questions to allow ample time for the answers to penetrate your noggin.

1. True wealth is built ___

2. The most meaningful of relationships are grown ___

3. Our bodies become fit ___ through regular exercise

4. An education, or well established career is established ___

5. A person's reputation is built ___

6. Lasting personal change generally occurs very ___

Slow and steady wins the race. We've got to work for it. If you're struggling in any of these areas (as we are), it's never too late to start rebuilding. All you need is a plan, a good old-fashioned helping of honesty, and the determination to make a permanent change for the better.

Good Night

Tactari II Is Coming

What do you get when you cross this



with this?



Tactari, baby!

That's right. In the next couple of weeks, several of our friends and family will gather together at our house for an evening of laughter, a bounty of delicious all-you-can-eat taco goodness, and gaming on the big screen.

Friends: consider yourself warned. The second semi-annual Tactari is on.

Good Night

Faithful In Little Things

As I've shared several times before, my wife and I are really enjoying the life lessons that are being unearthed in each of the Financial Peace University classes we attend each week. Dave Ramsey imparts so much wisdom that [one would think would be commonplace, but] largely flies in the face of conventional thinking- and much of the good advice conflicts with the standard American way of life we were taught (or observed from our parents) as children.

Budgeting, saving, intensely attacking debt, developing an 'emergency fund', giving and investing instead of relying on plastic, are the real keys to financial peace. This paradigm shift in knowledge is affecting the way we look at money- and what we're willing to pay for the goods and services used by our family.

We haven't even gotten to large purchases yet. We aren't masters of any technique, nor are we fully on track. We simply aren't willing to pay $4 for a bag of potato chips at the local grocery store any longer! Rather than mindlessly opting for convenience as we've done many times in the past, we now buy larger, more affordable brands of chips in bulk from an outlet store while we're picking up other grocery items. The snack is perfectly acceptable, costs much less, and is often much larger in quantity than the convenient (yet highly priced) local alternatives. Perfect for a family with children who like to eat!

Evey little bit counts, and our monthly grocery expenses are happily showing signs of falling from the stratosphere. We're learning to be disciplined in the little things, with the hope that one day, we'll be consistently faithful in the big things.

Matthew 25:21 (Amplified Bible)

21His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.

Mother Teresa
Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Good Night

Opening Prayer

I was blessed with the honor of seeing our very own pastor of West Salem Foursquare lead the opening prayer to the Legislative Session in the House of Representatives this morning in the Capitol building.

This is one tradition I'm grateful hasn't fallen by the wayside, in the subject of 'Separation of Church and State'. We're very blessed to be able to publicly worship the Lord in this great country.

Good Night

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Never Forget.

Good Night

Little Victories

Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Our little bathroom adjacent the laundry room has been rejuvenated; there is bright yellow paint on the walls (it's called 'Aruba' and it's far prettier than what you see in the picture). New Italia-stone 'Bianco' tiles were laid on the floor, and a completely rebuilt toilet was successfully installed and tested.



Although the picture shows the project at 90% complete (and not yet cleaned), I'm ready to celebrate. The remaining odds-and-ends will be picked off in the evenings to come; trim and baseboard will be pained and installed. Artwork will be hung up, and a little bit of silicone will be applied to various places.

It's a small victory, but one that I'm proud of. I'm thankful for all of the learning opportunities and guidance that helped to get the job done.

Good Night

Not Your Typical Church Service

Tonight's church service was definitely not run-of-the-mill. After some pretty touching worship music, pastor John let loose with a new ministry series called "Modern Family" (yes, the styling theme was patterned after this Modern Family). It was funny! Well, the content wasn't necessarily funny, but some of the video "props" and comments that he employed were hysterical.



It was refreshing to begin to shift our focus back to the family, where it belongs. Our generation (I'm speaking to Gen X'ers, specifically) is largely responsible for the dis-integration of the modern family, through the advent of technology. Think about it; have you ever sent a text message to your child to come downstairs for dinner? Imagine being in the same house- not more than 50 linear feet away, yet we're willing to broadcast a string of bits to space and back, before we actually make the effort to walk down the hall and speak to them (guilty).

A study conducted by Nielsen a few years ago indicated that there are now more television screens in the average American home, than there are people. Add in arcade quality gaming consoles, ubiquitous Internet connectivity and an interactive touch screen on everything from your phone, to your refrigerator, and it's no surprise that humanity is becoming trapped in a series of tubes (RIP, Sen. Ted Stevens). Very sad.

Let's make it a point to bring back family dinners, game night and watching movies together. Let's go for walks and have talks about the things that really matter.



Prior to delivering the message, a couple of people who are heavily invested in City Vibe, joined pastor John on stage. As the congregation was instructed to prepare their tithes and offerings, the men began to talk a little bit about City Vibe, and the programs that were under way to tangibly reach out to the homeless. One of the ingenious ways of doing this was through the creativity of a simple aluminum burner. For only a few cents' worth of denatured alcohol, or methanol, the recipient is able to boil water in the single serving "pot", or heat up the beverage or meal of their choice. In fact, a cup of coffee was prepared within a couple of minutes on stage, as part of the demonstration.

After services were over, I simply had to get a closer look at these primitive "stoves". I'm a techie by nature, so I wanted to "kick the tires" and see how they worked. The recycled aluminum burner (similar to this design) was crafted with a special pressure-jig, allowing for rapid, relative mass-production. In fact, I was told by one of the men, that he had built over 800 such burners, targeted at helping the homeless in our local communities. I was impressed. This is truly family helping family, in the name of Jesus Christ.



The kits displayed are useful for hiking, fishing and camping trips, and of course for giving someone less fortunate a source of heat, a simple meal, or warm cup of coffee. Each kit sells for $15, and includes the following items:

1 - alcohol stove
1 - 4 oz. fuel bottle
1 - 1 oz. measuring cup (1 oz. yields approximately 10 minutes' burn time)
1 - wind screen
1 - cook pot
1 - pot holder
1 - twist lock plastic container

All proceeds from these kits are reinvested into the City Vibe project. To find out more information about these kits, or to donate items and render your services, contact Craig (craig.oviatt AT wsfc.org), Dennis, or Linda (cityvibe AT wsfc.org).

Good Night

Please Pray For My Wife's Arm

It's been four days since my wife visited the doctor's office for a glucose blood test. As a result of a flubbed blood sampling, her arm has been in excruciating pain, and rendered unusable for days. After an ultrasound and additional visits to the doctor's office, the root cause of her pain is believed to be an infection.

How did they manage that?

At least she's begun the process of taking some pretty strong antibiotics tonight. I pray they begin to help her through the healing process. "Lord, please bless my wife. Please touch her arm with your healing power and make her whole once again. Amen"

Luke 10:33-35 (The Message)

33-35"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'

Good Night

My Patriotic Sweetheart

My daughter took part in a school play this evening. The topic: The United States of America. These elementary school children were singing and reciting lines they'd memorized, to the tune of Yankee Doodle and our National Anthem. George Washington, Betsy Ross, Francis Scott Key, the Bald Eagle, the Statue of Libery, the American Flag and our Constitution were accounted for among the actors and their props. It was great- we are so proud!

Good Bless America,

Good Night