It’s Here

Football that is…local high school football and college football get started this week.  I really enjoy football season and cheering on my favorite teams. 

I have to admit that a lot of people including me at times can be a little over the top when it comes to supporting their favorite team (like tricking people into saying things right in the middle of their sermon).  I’ve watched and been a part of it as over 100,000 people stream into a stadium and wildly cheer for their team. 

I have often thought what could happen if that same kind of energy and passion poured out of people for God.  Wouldn’t it be cool to see thousands of people pouring into church every week wildly (with decency and order) cheering God on?

What if we were as passionate about setting time aside each week for God as many of us are about setting time aside to watch the game(s)?  I’m not suggesting that we all need to give up football.  Believe me I’ll be in front of the TV tommorrow night cheering on the Buckeyes and I’ll be at Cape Friday night watching Mariner.  What I am suggesting is a little more passion, energy and commitment to the things of God would be a good thing in our lives.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Elections

I watched with interest the election results locally and in our state.  They send a lot of mixed signals but in many cases it seems people are very anxious for change.  We don’t like the way things are going and so we want somebody different in office who promises to do things better.

I’m all for the election process.  I voted yesterday.  It’s is my privilege and my duty.  However it seems maybe we put far too much stock in the ability of other people to be able to change the direction of our country or our county or our cities.  We think that other people can make our lives better.  Certainly our government officials have a huge influence on life in America, but are they really the answer to what ails us?

Isn’t the answer really God.  Isn’t He the one that ultimately can change our lives?  Isn’t He the one true source of hope?  Isn’t He the powerful one?

Go vote because it is important but keep your faith in God who is far more powerful and definitely more trustworthy!

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

To College?!?

Tomorrow we leave to take our oldest, Michael to college.  Can it really be time?  Honestly it seems like it was only a few years ago that we moved to Florida with a kindergartner and a 1st grader.  Now Michael is headed off to college and Matt is a Senior in High School. 

So Thursday we’ll start the long drive to Iowa (Waldorf College).  Many people have asked me how I feel about taking him so far away.  Sure it is hard to think about him being away from us, but at the same time when he was born we knew the goal was to someday set him free.  That day has come.  We’ll miss him but it’s exciting to think about what will happen in his life in the next few years.

I am very proud of both my sons.  Michael’s life has taken him through some tough valleys that a lot of us adults would have struggled to deal with.  But repeatedly he has risen above those trials.  He isn’t perfect by any means and neither am I.  He continues to make good choices, he loves God, he has a great reputation among teachers and staff at Mariner, he serves God and I am honored to be his dad.

I don’t know exactly what emotions we’ll feel these next few days.  I suppose there will be laughter, some pride and joy and some tears as well.  It’s all part of life.

So away we go into the next chapter of life, waiting to see what God does.  As long as God’s involved I am confident.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Team

College football teams are reporting to camp starting today and the NFL teams are in training camp.  These teams will spend a significant amount of energy on being just that a “team.”  Teamwork is vital to the success of any group. 

I am so fortunate to be part of a great team.  Our staff has great teamwork.  I am surrounded by a very talented, very dedicated, very smart group of people.  Each of them is a winner on their own, but together we are even better.  I am so glad that they all have a team mentality.  No one is looking out for #1.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to make the team successful.

I am so thankful for everyone of them.  I don’t say it nearly often enough.  They are a special group and I hope each of them will be part of the Crosspoint team for many, many years to come.

Thanks team!

Jeff.

Friends

Peg and I had dinner last night with some friends from Ohio.  We spent more than two hours in a restuarant talking and laughing.  It was great to catch up on family, ministry and life.  Our friendship has lasted over many years and we value every opportunity we are given to spend with them.

Sunday, a couple from our Life Group mentioned how much they have missed getting together this summer and how much they were looking forward to catching up with everyone when we have dinner together this week.  We’ve missed being with our group, too.  I know there will be so much conversation over dinner as we all try to catch up.

Sunday night I spent the evening with some friends.  We shared dinner and a lot of stories from our pasts.  I went home encouraged and feeling cared for.

I am so thankful for the many friendships God has given me.  People he has placed in my life that I truly value.  People that have poured themselves into my life.  I am so blessed!

Jeff.

Victory Again

The boys and I have been watching the Big Ten Network a lot this week.  It is Ohio State week and they have been playing some of the great Ohio State football and basketball games from the past.  (Next week is Michigan week I think and the Big Ten Network won’t get much air time at our house.)

 It’s fun to watch and re-live those great sports moments.   There is still a thrill to winning.  There is still a sense of joy over a positive outcome. 

Everyone who follows Jesus has some great spiritual victories in our lives.  When was the last time you took some time to re-run those moments through your mind?  It’s a healthy exercise to remember the thrill of spiritual victory, to remember the sense of joy.  It’s healthy because it reminds us of the greatness of God and His power at work in our lives. 

The same power that brought spiritual victory the last time is the same power you can trust the next time you find yourself facing a difficult struggle.  God is the same today as he was the last time he gave you victory.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Refreshing

A plunge into a cool pool, a tall glass of lemonade, rain falling on parched ground, words of encouragement…all of these are refreshing.

I spent last week at the North American Christian Convention and a couple of weeks prior to that our family was on vacation.  I find myself spiritually and emotionally refreshed.  I needed both.

The interesting thing is that I didn’t realize how much I needed them until I was in Indy for the convention.  It struck me that in many ways I was dry spiritually and didn’t even realize it.  I needed a time of refreshing.

I wasn’t dry because I had been skipping reading my Bible or praying.  I wasn’t dry because I hadn’t been in church lately.  I wasn’t dry because I wasn’t investing relationally.  In fact I’m not sure I can tell you WHY I was dry, but I was.

Like diving in a pool or rain falling on dry ground the Holy Spirit brought a wonderful time of refreshing into my life for which I am so thankful. 

Are you spiritually dry and don’t even realize it?  Do you need the Holy Spirit to bring a time of refreshing?  I realize your situation probably doesn’t allow you to get away to a christian gathering, but could you take a day to go sit quietly somewhere with your Bible or a book like Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love” and just ask the Holy Spirit to wash over you?

We take time for so many other things of far less importance.  Why wouldn’t we take time to let God refresh us?  Schedule the time, make the effort and ask God to refresh you and I am confident He will.

Believe me, it’s a great feeling. 

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Disappointment

I realized this morning how easily and quickly feelings of disappointment can jump into my life.  I have been planning to make a couple of trips this fall to Iowa to watch Michael (my son) play (I hope) in his first season of college football.  There is a discount airline that flies locally to Des Moines.  However I learned this morning that they don’t fly that route in September and October.   Other airlines, etc. are a lot more expensive making it questionnable whether or not we can afford those trips.

Suddenly I found myself hugely disappointed.  What if I can’t go?  What if I don’t get to see his games in person?  I also found myself wanting to blame the airline and the nice lady on the phone who broke the news to me.  How dare they not fly when I want them to.

Disappointment can be a dark path.  We can easily let our disappointment control us and take us places we don’t want to go. 

I had to put the brakes on and determine I’m not going to let this ruin my day or take me places that make my heart ugly.  Yes, I still want to go.  So, I’ll look for other options but most importantly I’ll remember God is in control.  He is far bigger and more powerful than an airline schedule that doesn’t match mine.

I choose (and that’s a key word) to trust God and to find joy in him.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Proud or Pride?

Where is the line between a healthy pride and pride that becomes sinful?  When someone at Crosspoint does something that honors God I am proud of that.  When my children earn an award or recognition I am proud of that.  I think that is healthy pride.

If I earn an award or recognition and feel a desire to let everyone know, that probably crosses the line into a sinful pride.  Pride becomes a problem for us when we put too much value or emphasis on me, my abilities, my strength, my capacity.  Instead of remembering just how dependent I am on God.

If I take my boys accomplishments as a sign that I have personally accomplished something and I leave God of the equation that is a sinful pride.  If I realize that what my boys have done is only possible because of the work of God, that is a healthy pride because it keeps God in the right perspective.

Maybe I am the only one who struggles with personal pride, but I really doubt it.  I think a lot of us easily lose sight of God’s work in our lives and just how much credit He deserves.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff

God’s Whisper

I had the opportunity to hear Bill Hybels speak in person last night right here in Cape Coral.  It was a great event.  Bill reminded us to listen for the whisper of God in our lives.  John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice;  I know them, and they follow me.”

God still speaks today.  Probably not in a loud audible voice, but rather in quiet but clear whispers in our lives.  To hear those whispers we have to be listening and paying attention to the shepherd.  The noise of life can easily drown out the whisper of God.

I need time in my life, a few minutes each day and longer periods when I can to quiet my life and ask God to speak to me.  He may not speak to me every morning, but there will be times that he speaks or impresses things on my heart and mind.

I want to hear God and when I do I need to be ready to listen and obey.  How about you?

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.