Had a blast

Yesterday, I spent the day shooting . . . literally. I was at an all day fundraiser that was built around trap-shooting. Had a blast(so to speak).

Several months ago I began practicing for this event and quickly became enthralled with the idea of shooting clay pigeons(sporting clays, if you want to be politically correct). As the gentleman who put the event together said, "Guns, cigars, alcohol and raising money for young people . . . it doesn't get any better than this." Ummm, I'll skip the alcohol (as should most of the other guys--at least until they finish shooting), but I have to agree with him.

Despite the single digit temperature(we were outside for about 6 hours) more than $30,000 was raised to help college campus ministries.

What happened in Cleveland?

I had dinner with Rich and Dori Gorman this week. They're a young couple who is praying through leading our next church plant in Cleveland, Ohio. Really amazing couple.

I am convinced that Cleveland is going to become a great light for Jesus. That a few years from now people will ask the question, "What happened in Cleveland?" And that the only answer that will be able to be given is, "Jesus."

It's great to have Lebron, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we all know that "Cleveland rocks!" But at the end of it all, Jesus--through the local church--is what will make the difference.

Why children?

We had a really good weekend with the 14 year old girl who came to stay with us. I have to admit that it was a little strange . . . at 14 she is really a young woman.

It didn't take long for her to warm up to us and for us to warm up to her. I pray she may have experienced God's love through our family.

On Sunday evening, after she returned to her permanent foster family, I asked Tabitha (11) if she knew why we brought children into our home? She responded, "It's what Jesus would do." Mmmm, it's all worthwhile.

Divine appointment

This weekend Julie and I are providing a home for a 14 year old girl in foster/respite care.

Wess Stafford has encouraged me to view every interaction with a child as a "divine appointment." My prayer is that this little girl will experience the love of God through our family.

One of the things that is so good about all of this is that God's heart in our family is growing . . .

Daddy, daughter, Disney

Last night I took my daughter, Tabitha, to Cleveland to see Disney On Ice. Actually, three of the dads from my Thrive Group took their daughters.

The show was horrible (the skating was even low quality). BUT, I would do it all again in a heartbeat to spend a memorable night with my 11 year old daughter.

When I was in Ecuador with Fernando Puga (the Compassion Director of the country) last week, he made the statement to me that 80% of the problems in the Ecuadorian families could be solved if dads would start being fathers. I'm not sure it's so different here in the U.S.A.

It's easy for me to come up with excuses . . . I'm too busy, work is too demanding, I just want to chill at the end of a long day . . .

I suppose that if I don't make the time to be a "father," I'll find my relationship with my daughter is skating on very thin ice.

Haiti every day

I think we're all horrified at the images coming to us from the devastation in Haiti. And we should be. We are called to respond with prayer and sharing our resources.

The thing that has struck me as I return from amidst the devastating effects of poverty in Ecuador is this . . .

28,000 children under the age of 5 die from poverty or preventable poverty related diseases EVERY SINGLE DAY around the globe. In other words, the horror of Haiti, in reality, is being repeated every moment of our lives.

What will we do? How will we live? When will we respond?

Like Albita

Spent the day at a Compassion project yesterday. The highlight for me was the in-home visit. We walked through the dust up a hillside to a one room, dirt-floor home, where 7 year old Jonathon and his family live. (Jonathon is enrolled in the Compassion Project.)

One of Compassion's Leadership Development Program students, Albita, was with us and told her story. She has been in Compassion since she was five years old. She is now in her second year of university studying electrical engineering. She is completely sold out to Jesus and transforming her local community for God's Kingdom.

Jason Lantz was in the home with me. His daughter is five years old-the same age Albita began the Compassion program. Jason looked at her and said, "I hope my daughter grows up to be like you." I fell apart. I want my daughter, Tabitha, to grow up with a deep commitment to Jesus like Albita as well.

So here we are in the midst of poverty watching God transform lives. In this world there is both material poverty and spiritual poverty. In Ecuador we are working with material poverty but seeing people rich in spirit. In America we are rich in material things but so often living in spiritual poverty.

Guyaquil to Quito

We traveled from Quyaquil to Quito yesterday. Cities where millions of people make their home and 60% of the children live in extreme poverty. Wess Stafford, the CEO of Compassion International, was traveling with us. As a result of the horrific earthquake in Haiti he had to immediately fly back to the States.

Last evening, Fernando Pugo, the Ecuador country director of Compassion told us that the South American Compassion projects will be sending 1 million dollars to Haitian relief efforts. There are more than 45,000 Compassion sponsored children in Haiti--most of them in Port-Au-Prince. For more info and how to help, go to www.compassion.com.

Guyaquil

I flew to Guyaquil, Ecuador yesterday. Long day. Left the house at 8:45 A.M. and got to our hotel at close to midnight.

I'm with about 30 other Pastors who are largely church planters. We're hoping to implant the DNA for caring for children at risk in the early stages of their new churches.

We visited a Compassion Project this morning and then visited in the homes of some of the Compassion children this afternoon. Heart-breaking. The home I visited was the size of my walk-in closet only it's a family of eight living there. They spend $30 a week on groceries for 8--ummm, I often spend that on a single meal.

It is good to have my heart wrecked.

In spite of the poverty . . . there is hope. Hope for the families here and hope for my ailing heart.

A Million Miles In A Thousand Years

"A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" is Donald Miller's most recent book release. You might remember him from "Blue Like Jazz" and "Searching For God Knows What," among others.

I have to tell you that I did not have high hopes for this book. A friend recommended it and so I picked it up. And much to my pleasant surprise . . .

I don't remember the last time . . . Actually, I don't ever remember this happening before . . . but when I finished "Miles," I wanted to start reading it again immediately. It affected me that deeply.

Miller's premise is simple but profound: We are all living a story--will it be a boring story, a good story, a great story?

I WANT TO LIVE AN EPIC STORY!!!

Miller's authenticity, word-smithing and downright great story-telling make this a must read.

Live Your Life For Half The Price

Mary Hunt's book, "Live Your Life For Half The Price," is full of helpful, practical tips on how to save money.

It seemed appropriate at the close of a year and the start of a new one to take a look at our financial standing. A friend gave me this book so I picked it up.

Mary lists numerous web-sites that can help us all cut costs.

If you're interested in being frugal but not cheap, this is a good resource.

Happy New Year!

2009 has come and gone. In fact, an entire decade has now come to a close . . .

2010, with all of its hopes, new beginnings, fresh starts, do-overs--you've got to love a new year.

My one prayer for this coming new year? I want to know Jesus.

"Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." --Philippians 3:8

In the coming year we'll be teaching straight through the book of Matthew at RiverTree ("a record of Jesus" --Matthew 1:1). We'll take as long as it takes. Each week we want people to ask three questions:

1. What is God saying in this text?

2. What is God saying to me personally?

3. What am I going to do about it?

Start reading Matthew chapter one today. Read it once a day all this week. Ask the three questions. Life changing!

Each month we'll have a verse to memorize from Matthew. So here's January's: “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” --Matthew 5:16 Memorize with family, with friends, with your children, grandchildren . . . just memorize. Internalizing Scripture will transform our lives.

Join me on the journey. Make it your number one priority in 2010: I WANT TO KNOW JESUS!