Day 29: Game Over

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Corrie Ten Boom

Two paragraphs best summarize this chapter...

As I've emphasized throughout this book, embracing our mortality can liberate us to live as fully as possible. In Ecclesiastes, we're told, "A wise person thinks much about death, while the fool thinks only about having a good time now." (7:4). It's wise to approach life with an end in mind. It's foolish to ignore the inevitable. Thinking about wha't's going to happen when the final buzzer sounds brings a sharpness of focus to life. It helps us to live a more intentional life anto make every moment count. page 216

[Many of us] act as if we are going to live forever. We concentrate on things that seem really important to us at the moment but ultimately don't last. Our focus needs to be redirected to the things that will pass the test of time, and really there are only two; God's Word and people. The Bible says the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). So when you spend time in God's Word - building your character, becoming more like Christ, learning the values from God's Word, and applying them - that lasts forever. You take that with you into eternity. The other eternal investment you make is in people. People live forever in eternity. So anytime you make a difference in the lives of others, it will last forever. That's why relationships are the most important thing in life. page 219

How much time do you invest in eternal things and how much time do you invest in things that last only now? What can you do this week to put more time into things that last?

Day 28: Footprint

We make a living by what we get;
We make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill

Kerry Shook starts today by noting that when we leave this earth we want to leave a small environmental imprint but a large spiritual imprint. Let me quote two of his paragraphs that look at God's power to change us so we can leave this kind of imprint.

God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way. Phillipians 2:13 puts it this way; For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. Our Father empowers us to live transformed lives when we admit our mistakes and their consequences. The Bible says God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the proud (Proverbs 3:34). So when we humble ourselves and say, "God, I need You to give me the power to change; I need You to give me the power to love; I need You to give me the power to do the things You ask me to do,: then he fills us with his strength.

Grace accepts me where I am, but grace also gives me the power to change. Titus 2:11-12 says, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. When we're in the atmosphere of God's grace and feel totally accepted, we crave change. We want to know him and be more like him. page 212, 213

Do you crave change? Why or why not? What area of your life have you chosen not to change or thought you didn't have the power to change? Bring it to God and tell him that you are not only asking for the power but willing to receive it and act on it by faith.

Day 27: Making a World of Difference

Today Kerry Shook looks at our willingness to get involved in helping others even when our impact seems insignificant. He retells the "Starfish" story...about the boy who came across a beach full of starfish. Even though there were hundreds of them stranded there, he threw back in as many as he could because he knew that everyone that he helped was at least one saved.

Kerry suggests three things we can do to create a world-conscious heart:

1. Pray for the needs of others. The more you pray about them the more your heart becomes soft to the issue and opens you to how you might actually be of help.

2. Invest your time, talent and treasure (money). Proverbs says, "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." 21:13. It's the old "golden rule". If you were in financial need, wouldn't you want others who had a surplus to help you? To those who have been given much, much is required. The Bible is full of commands to share our plenty with those who have less.

3. Work in community. No one is called to tackle the world problems alone. Join with others; your small group, your church, your neighborhood association, a non-profit organization, etc. to become a force of good in this world.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

Day 26: Preventing Life's Crashes

When was the last time you experienced a life collision, a season or experience in which you found yourself coming apart at the seams? How did you respond to it? How will you respond to the next collision differently based on what you learned from that experience?

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. Psalm 37:3-5

Kerry Shook uses Psalm 37 to suggest threes ways to avoid future crashes by staying in God's will.

1. Obey God. Kerry compares it to submitting to God driving your car while you ride in the passenger seat. We think we know better than he does. But you have to let him go where he wants to go. You need to trust that he knows what he's doing and obey him.

2. Delight yourself in the Lord. God wants us to long to be with him in the car more than we want to get to our destination.

3. Commit your way to the Lord. God's will isn't one option among many for us to consider. God wants us to commit ourself to his will BEFORE he reveals it to us. He expects that kind of trust.

Our time in this life is limited. If we truly want to ensure that we've fulfilled our purpose when it's our time to go then we must stay squarely in God's will, trusting, delighting, and committing to His path. He's the only One who can rebuild our lives and redirect us when our will collides with His.

If you only had one month to live, what three actions would you want to take to align your remaining time with God's will?

Day 25: Eternal Building Materials

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. Henry David Thoreau

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:12-14 that our work on earth will be judged as having been built with gold, silver or straw, etc. This isn't judging between heaven and hell as our destination. This is merely judging the eternal vs. temporary worth of our labor on earth. To those that build with gold and silver will be given great reward.

Kerry Shook tells us that... We're designed by our Creator to fulfill a vital purpose that no one else can accomplish but us. We're hard-wired with the longing to have an impact, to make a difference that will echo throughout eternity long after our bodies have turned to dust. p. 188

In order to make that lasting impact Kerry suggests three building materials:

1. Convictions. These are more than beliefs. A belief is something you hold on to but a conviction is something that holds you. A conviction is a core value from God's Word that anchors us, shapes us, permeates our lives, and becomes such a part of us that it's who we are. p. 189. Convictions are what drive you to want to leave a legacy.

2. Character. This is the only thing that goes with us when we die. God is more concerned about your character than any achievement or possession you might have on earth. And that's why God uses problems, pressures and people in your life to shape your character to be more like Jesus. Character is what guides the formation of your legacy.

3. Community. Without fellow believers who share your convictions and character it's pretty hard to leave a legacy. But together - filled with God's Spirit - you are a force. Community is where the encouragement, innovation and celebration come from that are so necessary to creating a legacy. Are you flowing with a community of fellow believers to create a legacy?

If we build our lives on convictions, character and community then we will have established an eternal memorial that will benefit countless lives for untold generations. We will have spent our lives creating a bridge that ultimately leads others to God, and there's no more satisfying legacy than that. p. 192

Day 24: Planting Seeds

The metaphor today is planting seeds. My summary is primarily two long quotes from Kerry Shook in his book One Month to Live.

When people look at your life from the outside, they may be impressed because you're planting "big things"; a hefty bank account, major achievements, lofty goals, a weighty reputation. From all appearances, you're a successful farmer, but what fruit will these "big things" yield? It doesn't matter how significant your portfolio is or how ambitious your plans are. If all you're doing is accumulating things and trying to impress people, then the moment you die, your influence ends. The size of the rock doesn't matter. Whether it's a pebble or a boulder, [if it's not a seed and...] you plant it in the ground, it will beve be seen again. Zero Impact. p. 183

If you plant temporary things, you are going to harvest temporary things. If you plant eternal seeds, you are going to harvest eternal fruit. If you plant generosity, you are going to harvest generosity. If you give grace and compassion, you are going to get grace and compassion. Whatever you give out in life, you are going to get back. Accoording to the law of harvest, we reap what we sow, but we also reap much more than we sow. If I plant one seed, I don't get one seed or even one apple in return but a tree full of apples, season after season. A bushel of blessing comes from a tiny seed of faith. p. 185

So the question for today is...are you planting temporary things that reap a temporary one time harvest? Or are you planting eternal things that keep giving and giving?

Day 23: Creating a Legacy

Today marks the beginning of the last section of One Month to Live. You are on the home stretch!

Today we look at a number of ways to evaluate the kind of legacy we are leaving behind.

First is the influence test. Our greatest investment in life is in people. So who are the people that you have committed to invest your life in? Who are you influencing for good? To whom are you passing on what has been given to you?

Second is the affluence test. Passing this test is not as dependent on the amount of money you have so much as what you do with it. The only way to pass this test is by giving. We must learn to be givers rather than takers so we can make a difference while we are on this earth. God wants us to be channels of his blessings. As long as we are good channels, he will continue to send affluence to us and through us.

Third is the obedience test. Obedience to God should be your first priority because he gives you just enough time on earth to do everything he's called you to do. Don't waste a second. Listen for his direction so you can walk in his ways.

In regard to these three tests, how are you doing? At which one are you most/least successful? What do you need to do to turn things around?

Day 22: Road Signs

Today Kerry Shook looks at what needs to happen for God to move in your life. He refers to the story of Elisha and the poor widow in 2 Kings chapter 4.

One way signs: The first thing this woman did was admit her need. She was almost broke, only having a little oil. Second, she turned to God (or at least to God's prophet) for help. These are two streets you have to go down to see God move in your life.

Stop sign; Stop and see what you already have that God might want to use. In this case, the woman had a little bit of oil. So, rather than looking at what you don't have, look at what you do have.

U-Turns: The woman didn't see that she had anything at first but then saw the oil. Kerry says this is her U-turn, she went from being negative to being positive...showing a little hope that God might do something.

Yield sign; Elisha told the woman to pour out what little oil she had left into another jar. As she poured, the oil kept coming and coming, filling as many jars as she could find to fill. The point? You need to be willing to give first if you want to receive. You need to be willing to risk pouring out your life if you want to be filled.

What are some ways that you are holding back right now for fear that you won't have enough for yourself? How might God be asking you to step out in faith to bless others rather than just focusing on your own need?

Day 21: Developing Integrity

What's the difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson. Tom Bodett

In this chapter Kerry Shook looks at integrity. He defines it as living a whole integrated life rather one that is fragmented, fractured and inconsistent. One who lacks integrity acts differently with different people. But a person with integrity is the same person no matter who they are with. You can count on them to be the same. Does that describe you?

Proverbs says that it is better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing. 28:6

Some people can be fully honest in one area of their life while being dishonest in another. For example, they might never cheat on their taxes but cheat on their spouse or vice versa. These people lack integrity...wholeness. In what areas of your life are you most likely to cut corners or put aside your values? Relational? Financial? Spiritual? What part of your life is most challenging to integrate with the other parts?

Day 20: Surviving the Storms

Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid joy. Tim Hansel

Kerry Shook says that one of the most difficult lessons in life is how to accept loss. He compares it to being shaken by a storm. And so, how do you prepare for the storms of life?

First you need a strong foundation and he said that's God, of course. The Bible says, "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:6. You can tell if God is your foundation by the amount you worry. Whenever you worry you are revealing that God doesn't have your full trust. God says in Psalm 50:15, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you."

What is your life resting on now? Your family? Your job? Make sure that you are resting fully on God.

Second, in order to survive the storms of life you need a strong support system and for that God has given us the church. You need a group of people around you who will walk into your life when everyone else walks out. Do you have those people? If not, what can you do to find those people?

Day 19: Antidotes to Soul-Sickness

Kerry Shook says that we all suffer from a dis-ease of the soul and offers four antidotes:

The Sickness: An over busy life.
The Antidote: Silence. The Bible tells us to "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. When was the last time you sat before God in silence? When was the last time you spent an evening at home without the television or stereo filling the sound space? When was the last vacation that you didn't check email or bring your cell phone?

The Sickness: A need to control
The Antidote: Solitude. The Bible says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15. If we stop trying to control everything in our life, quietness will fill our soul with strength.

The Sickness: Comparing ourselves to others. This causes us to focus on the outside...our appearance and what we have.
The Antidote: Service. When we focus on what others don't have and how we can meet their needs we find true joy and fulfillment.

The Sickness: A craving for comfort and a continual dissatisfaction with what we have.
The Antidote: Suffering. You don't have to go looking for this. Suffering will find you. But the question is; How do you respond to it? The Bible tells us... "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " James 1:2-4

Silence, Solitude, Service and Suffering - not exactly what people in the 21st century are crying out for. But if your soul is sick you might want to consider the value that each of these have in your life.

Day 18: Facing Reality

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain. Maya Angelou

Too many people are devastated by change. The unexpected blows them out of the water and leaves them beached on dry land. How can you prevent that from happening?

It doesn’t come by avoiding change because change is everywhere. The solution to change is learning to adapt to it - learning to make mid-course corrections rather than sticking to a course no matter what. It might even involve throwing cargo overboard to lighten the load (like the ship that the apostle Paul rode in the book of Acts).

As painful as change is God uses it to develop your character. The immature person demands reality to change to meet their needs. But the mature person changes to meet the demands of reality. The immature person thinks to themselves… “If reality goes my way, I’m happy. But if reality works against me, I’m miserable and will let the world know about it.”

If you only had one month to live what reality do you need to recognize and face? What are some situations that you need to stop complaining about and start resolving? What are some things in your life that you need to “throw overboard” to help lighten your load so you can focus on the important things in life? God is looking for you to rise above your reality and show people how to overcome with God’s power. Are you willing to live that life?

Day 17: Finding God's Purpose

The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. Frederick Buechner

Kerry Shook compares a GPS (global positioning system) guiding our every move to God’s desire to do the same thing. He says… “In life we need a clear signal from God so we can discover our place and position in this world. Until we discover our place, our niche, our purpose in life, we’ll always feel lost, even when surrounded by a crowd.” (page 128)

He goes onto further explain…”If we’re going to find our way through the many circumstances and choices in life, we must be willing to use three crucial resources; our Gifts, our Passions and our Struggles”.

Gifts: Ask your friends and family to tell you those areas in which your talents seem to stand out. We often minimize our strengths but those with an objective eye can see what we can’t.

Passions: God gave you these passions. Don't think that he wants to ignore them. Like the Buechner quote says above God wants to wed your deepest passion with some need in this world. Our goal should be to find that “match” made in heaven.

Struggles: These cause us to learn our limits and remind us to look to God for strength.

God wants to guide you to be his agent on earth. But you must be willing to learn from your Creator how he crafted you and how he wants to use you.

Day 16: Remember Who You Are

Today begins the third section of the book One Month to Live talking about Learning Humbly. Learning humbly begins by understanding who you are. And to do that you have to look to your Creator. He alone knows your purpose because he alone designed you.

We so often forget where we came from. We know intrinsically that God is the Source of all things but we tend to see ourselves as being separate from God. Shook quotes The Lion King to give us some insight. Mufasa speaks to his wayward son from the grave reminding him of who he is. “Remember who you are.” In so many words he reminds him that because he is the son of the king that makes HIM the king and so he needs to start living like that.

Do you remember who you are? So many of us merely “get by” in life, content to leave this world having had no impact because we think of life in terms of survival. But if you grasp who you are – God’s gifted child - you realize that whether you have 30 days to live or 30 years you can make an impact before you leave this world. You can leave a legacy. You can make a mark on this world by pouring yourself out to the benefit of others. For some it will be in big noticeable ways. For others, it will be quietly behind the scenes. But either way you’ll leave your footprint in this life.

Take time to reflect on what it means to be a child of the God of the universe. How should that impact your life today? Over the next 30 days?

Day 15: Revealing Your Heart

Kerry Shook looks to the book of John to make his point today.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

God went out of his way to reveal his heart to us so we would understand him. In the same way, we need to open up our hearts to those we love if we want to experience a communication breakthrough. We have to risk vulnerability – exposing our heart – to the point of possible rejection.

Kerry says that one simple way to open your heart is to share your time with those you love. Love is not efficient. Love “wastes” time on those you love...simply being with them and not necessarily accomplishing any tasks or even having significant conversations.

Opening your heart also involves sharing your trouble and your needs. This kind of vulnerability exposes your humanity - your weakness - and everyone can relate to that. Sharing your need invites people into your world and says, "I'm not an island. I need you. Please share with me your strengths."

And third, opening your heart involves being honest, not holding back but sharing what’s on your mind. Too often we carefully screen and package our thoughts in ways that are safe but will never lead to intimacy in relationship.

Revealing your heart is a risk. But God will help you if you ask him to. Take time to be with those you love this week and open your heart.

Cafe Reconcile Update

Our first of two teams just returned from Center City New Orleans where they are helping to build a dormitory for a Drug Addiction facility based in Living Witness Church. Down the street is Cafe Reconcile that our crew had the benefit of sitting in on a staff meeting to learn more of what this business/ministry is all about. Read our New Orleans team blog here.

Here's a recent article about Craig Cuccia and Cafe Reconcile. And another one with even more detail about their various programs.

Why care about a small restaurant in the armpit of New Orleans? Well, I love the vision that Craig Cuccia has for restoring both a neighborhood and lives wholistically. I want Cedarbrook to help in their vision and then bring that vision back to Menomonie to do some similar things.

So, let's keep our eye on what Craig is doing down there and become his students! I'd love to see a Cafe Reconcile North!

Day 14: Be Thankful

Remember: If you want these posts emailed to you, just send me an email with your address.

Now, this quote is worth the chapter alone…

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
Chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,
a stranger into a friend. Melody Beattie

Kerry says that’ it’s hard to be thankful in a consumer culture that is always telling us that we need more. So we have to actively work against that temptation by developing our sense of gratitude. Gratitude has the power to change us completely. It has the ability to expand our capacity to enjoy life.

Don’t take your gratitude to the grave. It won't encourage anyone there. If you had one month to live make sure that the people who blessed your life receive your thanks and appreciation. Fire off an email or note soon and make their day!

Day 13: Sandpaper People

Kerry brings us into the workshop today and talks about negative people being like sandpaper against our skin. But he carries the analogy further by comparing them to different tools. There’s …

1. The Measuring Tape; these are people that are always showing you how you don’t measure up.
2. The Hammer; they push their agenda by being loud and demanding, even manipulative.
3. The Skill Saw; these are super blunt people whose words cut deep and leave you bleeding emotionally.
4. Vise Grips; These are people that lock on to you and suck the life out of you because they are so needy.
5. The Grinder; these are the people that have explosive personalities and feel it’s their personal responsibility to cut people down to size.
6. The Hatchet; is the person who holds on to past hurts and grudges, using them against you.
7. Putty People; are those that have no backbone. They are people pleasers who blow with the wind.

How do you respond to these people? Or, maybe a better question is; are you one or more of these people? It’s easy to criticize others but Jesus told us to not worry about the speck in our friends eye when we’ve got a 2x4 in our own (Matthew 7:1). And besides, finding perfect people shouldn’t be our goal. God wants to use imperfect people to develop character in our lives. Our goal should be to respond well – revealing the character and love of Christ – in every relationship.

Day Twelve: Fighting Well

Today Kerry has us in the boxing ring learning how to fight well because he says that most of us have no idea how to resolve conflict.

His first piece of advice is to stay in the ring and off the ropes. Too many people either run from the ring or choose to not engage in the fight by resting on the ropes. Men are especially good at this slipping into the garage or the basement or the boat, etc. to withdraw from their wife.

Kerry gives us five styles of fights:

1. The Rope-a-Dope fighter. They avoid conflict, refuse to engage, and retreat when emotions arise, avoiding conflict whenever it surfaces in a relationship.
2. The Knock-Out Artist. The people insist on winning and will do whatever it takes to conquer their opponent.
3. The Take-the-Fall fighter. They throw in the towel early looking for a false peace. But they often stuff their anger and develop severe cases of resentment.
4. The One-Two Puncher is the fighter who is committed to give and take. This style is a bit more healthy because this fighter is willing to stay in the ring an exchange blows until they establish a clear winner.
5. The Sparring Partner. This fight is not "to win" but to make both people better. No one is looking for a knock out. Both fighters see themselves as team mates.

Kerry also suggests a few ground rules for fighting;

1. Affirm your commitment to the relationship...that you are not out to hurt the person.
2. Wear a "mouthguard" - be careful that you don't use words that inflame or wound.
3. Don't attack, causing the other person to go on the defensive and shutting down.
4. Own your own feelings. Acknowledge them and seek to express them in contructive ways.
5. Don't bring up past history but focus on the present issue at hand.
6. Bring the Prince of Peace (Jesus) into the ring to make sure it's a good fight.

As you think about your last 30 days on earth what are some unresolved fights that need resolving? What are some unfair fights that you need to apologize for?

Day 11: Obstacles to Unity

Kerry Shook is obviously an action oriented man! Yesterday he had us scuba diving and today we are mountain climbing as we consider how to love completely. He says...


If we are counting the days before we left this earth, we would be looking for ways to build bridges, to bring about healing, and to enjoy our most important relationships. No one wants to leave this earth with unfinished business. We want to leave our loved ones having experienced the summit of our relationships as the result of our courage to love. (page 82)


He says that every relationship has mountains to climb to achieve unity:

1. The mountain of misunderstanding
2. The mountain of "me first" attitude
3. The mountain of mistakes and relational missteps.

To really love the people in our lives, we have to overcome these relational alps and learn to work through the mistakes and push beyond our self-interests. We have to grow in our willingness and ability to pour ourselves into those we love, motivating them to stay on the trail with us and empowering them to persevere after we're no longer with them. (page 84)

Kerry said that some of the best things we can do to overcome these mountains are the small consistent things that we do everyday...eating together, talking about the day, taking a walk together, praying together, surprising the people you love with something special, etc. Think of just one small thing you can do today for someone you love...and then do it!

Day Ten: The Depths of Forgiveness

Kerry Shook uses the analogy of scuba diving to help us consider the depths of love. He said that most of life is spent on the beach or skimming the surface. But few of us risk going deep in our relationships. But those who do are rewarded. How do you "go deep"? ..

1. By confessing your faults. So often we live in denial, hiding what others already know about us. Why not come clean by confessing your faults and asking forgiveness of the people that you've offended?
2. By forgiving those who have hurt you. Shook says that forgiveness in life is like an air tank in diving...you can't live without it.

Make a list of those closest to you. Who do you need to forgive? What do you need to confess? Come clean over these next few weeks and feel the weight lift and your relationships go deep.

Day Nine: The Price of Love

Today starts the second section of the book "One Month to Live" focusing on how to Love Completely.

Kerry Shook says that "Our investment in the people we care about is the only legacy that has the power to endure beyond our lifetime." When you think about it, Jesus invested in people, not the stock market. Not that the stock market is bad but you have to ask...where's my focus? Where's my primary investment in life? In people? My job? My finances? Or...? I hope your answer is people.

So, if you only had one month to live...who are those people that you would want to spend time with? Who would you need to apologize to or express your love to in tangible ways? What's standing in the way of that?

Kerry tells us that "Love can't be bought, but it definitely carries a price, and it's called sacrifice." Yes, expressing your love is going to cost you something...some time, maybe some money, some emotion, some pride... But as with any investment the wise investor doesn't focus on the expense but the return. The expense is always worth a healthy ROI (return on investment). Think about the return of investing in the lives of those you love and then spend freely.

Day Eight: Full Throttle

Note: If you'd like these recaps emailed to you every day please let me know.

Do you have trouble changing? Many people resist change because they feel that the sum total of their life's circumstances is insurmountable. It just takes too much energy for too long of a time to turn their ship around. So they give up before they start. Does that describe you?

God understands this problem and that's exactly why he gave us his Spirit to power our changes. He understands that left to ourselves we are powerless. But with his Spirit we can do the impossible. That's why Paul prayed for us...

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 1:19,20

What are those areas of your life where you feel like a complete failure? Kerry Shook tells us to do three things.

1. Admit your weakness.
2. Release your guilt.
3. Receive God's strength to change.

Write out what's keeping you from each one of these steps and then meet with someone to help you start the process.

Day Seven: Pursuing Dreams

We've all got dreams but how many of us pursue them with passion? Before you die don't you want the satisfaction of knowing that you pursued your dreams?

Kerry Shook says that God has put us here for a reason and planted dreams within us so we can do our part in seeing them realized. He says that "if-onlys" and "what-ifs" will haunt us unless we know that we poured ourselves into bringing our unique dreams to life.

How can we tell if our dreams are from God and not just our own idea?

1. God's dreams won't contradict what He tells us in the Bible.
2. It will be so big that you'll know that without God you can't accomplish it.
3. It will make a difference in the lives of others and not just benefit you.

Be aware that wherever God's dream exist the devil will seek to thwart it by wounding your heart and causing you to doubt. But patience, passion and persistence will overcome these things and enable you to achieve God's dreams for your life.

What are those dreams that God has placed on your heart? How might God use you to be a blessing to others?

Day Six: Risky Business

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller

Kerry Shook tells us that the only way to risk finding greatness is to trust God with all the areas of your life. We tend to control every detail of our lives but in holding on so tight we actually restrict our ability to succeed. God wants us to trust him to accomplish incredible things through us that we could never achieve on our own.

Look at all that God has given you; your talent, your finances, your knowledge. How are you investing these to benefit God's kingdom on earth? (And by "God's Kingdom" I mean whatever promotes the knowledge of God or the work of God...reconciliation, hope, forgiveness, restoration, righteousness, healing, etc.) Or are you clinging to what your have for fear that if you give them away that you'll have nothing left for yourself? Are you like the person in Jesus' story who was given money by his boss but instead of investing it he buried it for safe keeping? That kind of "play-it-safe" living only gets you in trouble with the boss.

Jesus said...From everyone who has been given much much will be demanded and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked. Luke 12:48

You have been given much. What are you giving back?

Day Five: Oxygen Mask

The idea here is that on a plane, when cabin pressure is lost, you make sure you get oxygen before helping others. Makes sense. The same holds true for us in life. Before we can help others we have to make sure we are healthy ourselves. I've seen too many people try to pour themselves out to serve others, draining themselves completely out of a sense of duty, and feeling guilty about ever taking care of themselves.

This chapter challenges us to take care of ourselves in two ways;
1. Physically. The temptations are to worship our bodies and spend all our time in the gym or trash our bodies by not eating right, sleeping right, drinking too much, etc. But there is a balance.
2. Emotionally. Emotions are a good thing. The trick is to express our emotions without letting our emotions control us.

Given these two areas, what are some things you need to do to improve your physical and emotional health? How have you been ignoring them? When you bring them under control can you see how you will be better able to help others?

Day Four: Making Connection

Kerry Shook asks an interesting question on Day Four of his book: If you only had one month left before your physical body collapsed, wouldn't you want the part of you that's going to live forever to be as healthy as possible?

Good point. How's your spiritual health? It's an old question but if you were to die today...are you ready to meet God?

When you've got time to waste you might want to be religious. But with 30 days to live you need to get down to business. Your faith needs to get personal. It's easy to know a lot about God but do you know him like you know a good friend? Do you talk? Do get a sense of hearing from him? That might seem irrational but that's why Jesus came into history...to make an invisible distant God visible and approachable.

When you move from a friendship relationship to a dating relationship it starts with an invitation...would you like to go out tonight? Moving to intimacy with God starts with a simple invitation as well. Here's a simple prayer to move you in that direction;

Jesus I want to know you - not just know about you. I want a relationship not religion. So I'm inviting you to come into my life. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for forgiving me. But I need more than forgiveness I need you in my life. Come now and fill every part of me. Help me to follow you completely. Give me eyes to see you in my life and ears to hear your voice. Help me to follow you every day and fulfill my purpose in life. Amen.

Now, once you make this connection...keep it!

Day Three: Energy Management

If you only had one month to live would you stay awake the whole time to make the most of your days? It makes sense at one level, the problem is your body won't let you. You were created for rest. You'll make the most of your time by using some of that time to sleep. You just can't keep going and going.

A recent Sixty Minutes broadcast (The Science of Sleep) shared some interesting research on sleep. They said that if you only get 4-5 hours of sleep for one night, it will impact your mental functioning the next day. The more nights you deprive yourself of sleep the greater the mental impact. On the other hand if you get a good night of sleep your memory is actually better than if you stayed up studying all night. So it pays to sleep. It pays to rest.

As you look at your habits do you factor in down time to recharge your batteries? Do make a day your sabbath? Do you get eight hours of sleep? Do you take time to visit with friends, talk to God, read, take vacations? These are the "useless" things that actually make you more productive in the long run.

To get the most out of your last 30 days be sure and rest!

Day Two: Some Day is Today

On Day One Kerry Shook asked if we were living the dashing or dashing to live. The point is that most of us are so busy that we don't have time to truly live. We convince ourselves that some day we'll do what we want...but you know how that goes...some day never comes.


I'd imagine that some people chose not to read the book (One Month to Live) or join a small group because they are "too busy". Just like we don't go out with friends or spend time with our family or spend time with God for the same reason...too busy.


But if you only had one month to live... Someday is Today! So the next time you catch yourself using the excuse... I'm too busy... stop and say... I'm busy but this is important to me. I'll make the time - which means that you will reprioritze your life and cut out some of the time wasters you do (tv, surf the net, etc.) so you can do the really important things. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Day One: Living the Dash

Today begins our One Month to Live readings. I'll write BRIEF summary reflections for each day. If you'd like this e-mailed to you each day, send me an email and let me know.

Day One: Living the Dash

The "dash" refers to the the line on a tombstone between the dates you were born and died. We have no control over those dates but we have a lot to say about the dash in between the two.

I liked the quote that began this chapter. It talks about the fear ... "that as far as the world is concerned we might as well never have lived." Harold Kushner

Ouch. He's talking about the fear that we will have no impact on this world. We only consumed during our lifetime. We offered nothing in return. Is that the legacy that you want to leave - that when people stand around your grave they say things like "What a wasted life. He/she never lived up to their potential." And instead of a legacy all you left is regrets, excuses and I.O.U.'s. All you left was your kingdom of pursuits and possessions that benefitted no one but yourself and will merely rot in your absence.

If you want to do something about this fear...join me for a 30 day journey of turning things around. Over these next 30 days we will work to turn your "ship" around so when you leave this world you have left a legacy and you will be missed.

Download the Sunday Sermons here.

Craig Cuccia & Cafe Reconcile

Cedarbrook is sending off our 10th and 11th teams to Central City, New Orleans to help build a dormitory for a treatment center at Living Witness Church. But right down the block is Cafe Reconcile which has some of the best food on the planet. What's really cool is that this cafe is a ministry in disguise. The owner, Craig Cuccia, started it out of a sense that he had to give back after being so blessed in his own life. The intention of the cafe is to revitalize the area and get people off the streets and into a productive lifestyle.

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Craig while I was in New Orleans last year. He treats everyone like a long-lost friend, sitting down to join you for a meal if you ask him and telling his story. I've never met anyone like him. He is the quintescent entrepreneur only he's not working to build his kingdom. He's doing it all to help others. I'd love to catch whatever he's got and help him spread it! Very inspiring.

I hope you'll read the article in the Catholic Digest about Craig but it closes out with his outlook on ministry...

I truly believe it’s the grace of God, like everything is. I try to stay tuned to the right way to go. The diving board of faith gets higher and the dark hole you’ve got to dive into gets deeper, but you’ve just got to dive off and trust that God catches you along the way. ... God can use anybody anywhere anyhow, and it’s up to us to open the door and let him use us.

May God give us more Craig Cuccia's. Maybe you are the next one!

By the way, try the Catfish and the bread pudding when you're there. I'm pretty sure they'll be serving the same recipe in heaven.

What if You Had One Month to Live?

It's an interesting question, isn't it? What if you had one month to live? How would you change your life...if at all? It reminds me of the recent movie, The Bucket List... the list that we create before we "kick the bucket".

Did you know that Jesus had a Bucket List? That's what I'll be talking about on Easter... the things that Jesus did before he died.

And then in the month of April Christine and I will be preaching on how we might change our lives as individuals and as a church if we knew that we had one month to live.

So, I invite you to take the challenge;

• Listen to the six sermons (at church or on-line)
• Read the book (30 short chapters in 30 days)
• Join a small group to discuss the book (six weeks)
• And let God change your life!

You can keep living like you are living. What will people say at your funeral?

Or, you can choose to finish strong by changing your life now -while there is still time. How might the stories change at your funeral if you did?

I hope you'll seize this opportunity. We've got everything in place to help you make a profound difference in your life. Don't pass it up!

The Wellumson's "Cry" cd... review

I thought I should take a minute and review the Wellumson's cd "Cry". I've been listening to it in the car for a few months but finally sat down to carefully read the words and listen to each track.

Jane Wellumson has been the worship leader at Cedarbrook Church from the beginning. In the early days, when we barely had a band, her daughters Katie and Emily WERE the band. That's where I grew to love their great vocals and tight harmonies that only a family can pull off. Now that five years have passed, the youngest Wellumson has had time to grow up and join the group (Marta).

I highly recommend their work! If you are expecting the high energy rock from the Cedarbrook Band, you'll probably be disappointed. But if you are looking for great vocals with a contemporary sound and thoughtful lyrics with spiritual insights you'll want to pick this up. They don't play as a band. Each song features a different person and usually a song that they wrote. (But there still are great harmonies!).

Jane wrote five of the 12 songs, giving two of them away to be sung by Katie and Emily. Jane is a troubador by nature. I asked her to be a bit of a rocker on Sundays, but that's not her natural style. She loves to tell a story. No simple repetitive choruses here. She's deep - reflecting on the evil in this world (Peace), the risk of faith (What Would You Do) and the pain of God's refining fire (Refine Me). Here's a woman that has walked with God and gives us glimpses of him through her songs. Her words have a way of transporting you into what she was feeling as she wrote each song.

Katie, Emily and Marta have definite Top 40 leanings, although they too refuse to settle for Christian cliche and simplistic answers. Each one of them, in their own way, talk about experiencing God in the midst of hardship. Marta sings two songs (Cry, Sound of a Whisper) that reference her cry to God, hence the cd title "Cry". In a similar way Katie asks God to hold her in the middle of shattered dreams (Hold Me) while Emily sings a modern day psalm as she looks to God to show his kindness (Majesty). One song I'd love to hear hit the radio waves is Emily's "Satisfied". It's got it all.

Jane is well networked with musicians backing up her fam. Local musicians Randy Sinz (bass), Sue Orfield (sax), Mike Viahaki (keys) and Mike Schelenker (lead guitar) are musicians of note that I'm familiar with. They add a nice full and professional sound.

I think this is a great cd, escpecially for their first one. Produced at SoundWorks in Eau Claire, you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you hear. You'll be proud to give it as a gift... especially for someone struggling through a hard time. You'll enjoy it in the car but it's also something you'll want to sit down and give a serious listen to the words.

Check out their MySpace site to hear some tracks. Pick up the cd at Cedarbrook for $11.

Sex God... book review

In preparation for my current sermon series (Victorious Secret...embracing the biblical view of sex) I listened to a few sermons by other pastors and skimmed a few books. In general, I was disappointed at their approach. At one extreme it was too negative. At the other extreme it was too cutesy...as in, Three Steps to a Great Sex Life! I just don't think that's what the writers of the Bible had in mind.

So I have been pleased in my current reading of the new book Sex God by Rob Bell. Rob takes a very non-linear approach to the topic. That might drive you crazy but I appreciate his indirect approach, especially regarding sex, because it prevents him from falling into some of the typical ruts I mentioned above. When people start to anticipate your next word it tends to shut them down and say, "Oh...I know where he's going here. Yeah, been there, done that."

But you never really know where Rob is headed! He meanders around the topic exploring thoughts regarding lust, dignity, freedom, spirituality, Genesis chapter one, pornography, 1 Corinthians, etc. etc. And then just when you think that he has no intention of making a point, he'll drop in a truth that is profound, but it is so understated that if you aren't paying attention you will drift right past it.

For example, after reflecting on how lust takes us down paths we never intended on going he makes this statement... "Freedom isn't being able to have whatever we crave. Freedom is going without whatever we crave and being fine with it." And then he keeps going. If I was smart enough to have that thought I'd put it at the beginnning of a chapter and then take the rest of the chapter to unpack it so people get every ounce of what that means. But, that's the difference between Rob and Remy! And his church is 10,000 +++ so he must be doing something right!

If you want to move beyond the "just say no" phase of your sexuality I recommend this book. It will make you think deeply about what sexuality truly is and how it is central to our spirituality. I'm not done with the book yet, so I may report back with a few more of Bell's nuggets.

The Pain of Pornei

We learned on Sunday that the Greek word for sexual immorality is "porneia". Surrounding this whole topic of sex is so much pain, confusion and disillusionment. It makes things very complex.

I've already had a few conversations with people involved in the pain of pornei and I'm so thankful to hear from them. I just wrote to one thanking them for having the courage to talk to me. I wrote...

....what so often happens in Bible teaching is that we lay out "the truth" and everyone who doesn't fit with the truth lays there bleeding and feeling like no one understands their situation. But Paul talked about "truth and grace". As a biblical community we have to find the balance of the two...I need to preach with an awareness of the pain that people endure around this topic.

I mention this as a bit of a caution to us to tread lightly around sensitive issues like sex. I find it very difficult to teach on what the Bible says because many of the biblical texts regarding sexual immorality are addressing extreme cases of orgy and temple prostitution prevalent in ancient Greek culture. The passions that drive people into these settings are more obviously rooted in pure greed and selfishness. So the Bible attacks the people engaged in this lifestyle aggressively and understandably so.

But if we apply those scriptures with equal weight to people in our culture today, it might not be fair. In fact, people today often push back on biblical teaching about sexual immorality because they don't like being thrown in the same camp as these people. I can't blame them.

So we need to carefully tease the underlying principles of sexual purity from the Bible that we can apply today without embracing the full condemnation that was targeted at people steeped in carnal idol worship.

It's the complexity of this topic that causes the wide range of teaching on sex throughout all churches. If you apply the texts to all people without taking into consideration the cultural differences, you'll wound a lot of people, implying that their relationships are all about selfish sex and devoid of any self sacrificing love. But if you throw up your hands and say, "The biblical text has nothing to say to our culture today" then I think you lose sight of a very central theme throughout the Bible and that is holiness; the idea that as God's people we are set apart to live a life for God and not ourselves. And holiness requires that we sacrifice our desires at times to please God.

All this to say that, as with any sermon I preach, let's wrestle with these things together and not polarize into camps. We can learn from each other as we all share from each other's perspective. I want to stimulate thought and discussion, not only with each other but with God. We may not all agree but we'll be better for having had the conversation. So, let's be careful with one another, understanding that for some the topic of sex is very sensitive and painful. I don't want to drive anyone away or "into the closet" because they don't feel like anyone wants to hear their side.

I invite your input, here or directly through email or one on one conversation.

When Judging isn't Loving

We are in the midst of a series called "Loving Judgment" at Cedarbrook. It's my attempt to bring some balance to the many Bible texts that I've preached on that tell us not to judge. The truth is, there are times when we need to judge...not a person but their behavior. The church at large seems to have adopted the army's "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy. That might work for them but the Bible tells us that love doesn't hide problems from each other. Love brings them into the open so they can be resolved in a safe environment.

The topic is a dicey one though because the church has so often abused the idea of judgment. Someone sent me a link from the Wallstreet Journal called "Banned from Church". This tells a number of scary stories about how churches misapplied the verses in 1 Corinthians 5 about throwing out the "immoral brother".

Last week I attempted to address the true meaning of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 5. Read or listen to what I had to say by clicking the link. Our goal should always be reconciliation and not punishment. It's surprising to me how church folk so quickly forget that and seemingly relish in the opportunity to harm others.

Going Deeper looks like...what?

I started talking about going deeper with God in the last post. It's an interesting topic because as I think about it now, as compared to 25 years ago, there's a big difference. Going deeper 25 years ago meant changing my lifestyle, my habits, the way I spent my money, the way I spent my time, etc. etc.


Then going deeper had to do with responding to loss and crisises. Instead of reacting in anger or depression it meant responding with wisdom and grace-learning to take positive steps rather than negative, self-destructive ones. This was huge for me and still continutes today.


But what does going deeper look like now? I've been asking myself that because at first I had no idea. The idea is still forming but here's what I came up with so far. Going deeper now looks like:

1. Being more self-aware. I don't think you can ever stop growing in this area. Everyone is much less aware than they think they are. We are much more self-conscious than we can imagine. I think what is especially deceiving is that the older you get (and I'm getting old at 51!) the more you tend to dial down all the "voices" that you don't want to hear and "dial up" the ones that affirm you. We all do this but I think after years of life you tend to just accept who you are and stop listening to people who would like you to change. So I think "going deeper" means to ask God to turn up the volume on the knobs that I've suppressed for too long...to hear afresh what people want me to hear and really listen and respond vs. saying, "I've been this way for 51 years, I'm not changing now!"


2. Asking God for more. I have a tendency to just take what comes my way and call it "good". Maybe it's the Midwestern in me but I don't feel right asking God for much. I figure he's going to give me what I need and allow the pain that he will allow and my job is to humbly take what is given. But the Bible doesn't say that. The Bible says that God wants us to ask...ask for big things...unbelieveable things, for two reasons; one, to bless others and two, so he gets the credit. I believe God wants me to ask for bigger impact both personally and as a church. And when those things happen, I believe God that I will have met God in a deeper way.

3. Serving more. Our first step is always self-preservation. I think you can never stop learning to be generous. And so this is the most obvious way that I can grow deeper; giving more, serving more, helping more. I'm not talking about burning myself out but looking for the opportunities to be used by God to bless others.

I'd be interested in hearing what "going deeper" looks like to you if you care to post. If the post feature doesn't work, email me and I'll post it for you.

What does it mean to go "deeper" spiritually?

I went to a T.D. Jakes revival in Washington, D.C. last week. I had never seen him before. Interesting guy. It was a supercharged, quasi-pentecostal setting...not my preferred ministry environment but I still was challenged...not always because of the message. (Sometimes in spite of it!).

One thing that struck me was my need to go to another level spiritually. To be honest, and I don't mean this in an arrogant way, I'm very comfortable where I'm at spiritually. I've come a long way over the years. I feel like God has chipped a lot of pride and selfishness away from me. He's moved me from a self-centered life to one that is focused on helping/serving others. And I feel like I understand the ways of God pretty well.

I'm not saying that I'm perfect by any means...I've just come a long way and it feels good to be where I'm at. In many ways I've surpassed where I thought I'd be when I first decided to follow Jesus at 19. I would never say that I've "arrived" spiritually, but I am comfortable. But as I reflected on that...it seemed wrong.

I got to thinking about God and how infinite he is. No matter how close to God you are, no matter how refined you've become, there is always another level to go. The "well" of Jesus is infinintely deep. So really, being comfortable is not a good place to be...at least, if that means that you aren't seeking to move on. It's like saying that you've invested well financially all your life and now you are just going to live off the interest. Or, you've invested in people all your life and now you are going to stop investing in people and just live on the relationships that you've formed. Somehow it seems self-serving. I think as long as we have breath we are to be investing ourselves in this life in every way; financially, relationally, spiritually, and in serving others.

I have more thoughts to share but I'll save them for the next post. I just wanted to get you thinking about going deeper this year. Maybe you have grown comfortable too. Or is "comfortable" just another word for "stagnant"?

More Movie Reviews

Well, after being sick for a week Lisa and I had a chance to watch a few movies! My last posts were so popular I thought I'd pass on my thoughts on four movies.

My stars are based on the entainment value it brought to me. It says nothing about the quality or value of the movie in general. So take them with a grain of salt!

Children of Men - * - I got this movie because I read that Matt Damon and George Clooney thought it was the best movie of the year. Maybe you have to be an actor to appreciate it. It was way too dark for me. It's an end time flick where the human race has been sterilized and one woman becomes pregnant and the goal of the movie is to get her to a safe haven amidst all kinds of anarchy. Too weird for me. Sorry Matt and George!

Premonition - * - A good friend of mine loved this and so I had to get it. I like Sandra Bullock. But I don't like this genre of movie. It's a semi (but not really)horror/semi suspense flick. Bullock gets a premonition of her husband's death and spends the movie trying to prevent it. The movie hops back and forth between before and after the premonition. Lisa enjoyed it. But I'm too linear of a thinker. I don't like bouncing around with time frames and the imminent death kinda creeps me out!

The Good Shepherd - ** - I rented this a second time by mistake. I forgot I had rented it before. I guess that tells you something. I like Matt Damon a lot but he plays a VERY melancholy secret agent. I'm not sure how factual it is but it "documents" the beginning of the CIA. I like historical stuff. It has a lot of suspense. But it's not uplifting by any stretch of the imagination. I'd have given it a third star if it was more action and less melancholy. The entire music track is a piano playing sadly (at least when I noticed it). The movie gives you a realistic view (I assume) of the undercover world of our government - a no win situation where ethics are blurred and people are killed on a regular basis to prevent greater losses. Plus, Damons family life starts off bad and gets progressively worse...totally fractured by the end of the show.

Reign Over Me - *** - This was a pleasant surprise. It is NOT an action flick at all. And don't rent it for pure comedy (Adam Sandler is one of the stars). But if you like great acting and good interplay of characters with the full range of emotion, then you'll like this. Sandler plays a former dentist whose family dies in the 911 Boston flight. He is emotionally devasted and turns into a recluse. Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda star) recognizes him on the street. They attended med school together as roommates. The story is how Cheadle seeks to rescue Sandler from his trauma and restore him to real life. I think it's a great story of love and friendship. It keeps you laughing and crying. But it's pretty serious with a happy ending. Two stars are for entertainment and the third star is for the good moral theme.

There you go! Enjoy the show.

A Politically Correct Christmas?

There's been a lot of concern expressed amongst Christians this year about the elimination of the word "Christmas" and substituting it with "Holiday". Help me out here...why do we as Christians need the world to validate our holy days? And why do we need stores... the same stores that have hijacked our holy days and made them greedy days...why do we need their validation especially? It seems to me that the Christian church would celebrate the separation of materialism from Christmas, not criticize it.

I just find it odd that Christians are the first to object to the need to be politically correct in other areas but here, at Christmas, they are retaliating with their own form of "PC". This is the kind of behavior that makes the world hate Christians and not want to be one. This is the kind of external religion that is about looking good on the outside instead of being good on the inside.

I just don't understand why Christians demand the world to dance to their tune. Why should they? They will do what seems right to them...and they should. Why would we want them to be phony - to talk about God, Jesus, and Christmas - as if they believe, when they don't? It would irritate me if Muslims imposed their festival on me and then got mad if I tried to neutralize the verbage.

I think we need to wake up and realize that we live in a pluralisitic society. Yes, Christianity dominated culture for a long time...for good and for bad. It's not that way anymore. Let's get over it and move on. Let's find better ways to influence culture than to berate stores and such for not using our terminology for a holiday that we let get away from us.

Our faith should highlight a transforming relationship with a living God, not petty nit-picking over words for a pseudo-Christian holiday. Is that really what we want to be known for?

Well...there you have my mild mannered opinion. Feel free to disagree!

More on Golden Compass

Well, I guess my blog still isn't allowing everyone to post. Sorry about that. So here's a post that was emailed to me about the movie "Golden Compass"...

I just finished the first two books in the "Golden Compass" series of books. I couldn't put them down, and that's an odd thing for fantasy fiction and me. Really captivating plot, solid writing, very advanced for children's fiction.

I'm putting the third one down and not sure I'll be picking it up again, no matter how good it is. Very clearly it is a story about the fallen angels and all their cohorts mounting war against God (no chance it isn't our God since the author calls him YAHWEH) claiming he's not really the Creator but the first created angel who pridefully led everyone to believe that since he came first, he was God.

The way I see it, it's a story about "the other side" and what they believe... however, the definition of good and evil has been switched around. Blurred at best. So this is no classic story of good and evil, which most fantasy fiction is. It takes a severe departure from the best of it in that way and questions everything. And worst of all, it leads the reader to question God.

I'm coming out, surprisingly, very strongly against these books because of exactly that. Children, whose theology is still forming, will be attacked even worse... at least those who get through the books for the difficulty of reading level. I am pro-Harry Potter and very opposed to Christians who won't read things before criticizing them... but I'm on this band wagon now. Dawn

Overcoming Faith Objections

I just got back from being gone for a week. One of the first things I did was to listen to Christine's message from Sunday. She took the second message in our Making Christmas Real series. You might want to give it a listen.

I like how she opened it by talking about a number of Christmas cards that she's received that simply said, "Believe" as if everyone knows what that is in reference to. But her questions were, "Believe what?" What does it mean to believe? What are we asking people to believe? And how does that belief come about? Good questions that she addressed.

One idea that she borrowed from Andy Stanley (www.northpoint.org/messages ) was that when you come to believe in Jesus you don't stop doubting, your doubts just get smaller. They are proportionately smaller than your faith. It's like all the doubts you have about marriage. You tell people all the reasons why you'll never get married. They are great reasons...until you meet someone you love. Your love doesn't eliminate your objections (you'll lose your independence, it will cost too much, etc.) the objections just don't carry as much weight as they once did.

And that's what happens when you take time to discover Jesus. At some point the balance shifts and your objections grow smaller in regard to your growing faith. But the doubt never goes away. Those questions about evolution or the suffering in India or how those miracles happened will remain. You see, doubt and faith is a tension that never fully disappears.

So, if you are waiting for ALL of your faith questions to be resolved before you take the step of faith, that's just not realistic. Life's not like that...it's not that neat and tidy! Sometimes we have to move forward even though everything isn't resolved for us. Listen or read what Christine has to say..

Who calls the shots?

Thanks to those that tested my link below. Seems to be working...at least for them! Now the rest of you can go back and add your movie comments!

I.T. K.? Sorry for no "in the know" comments this week. I guess I'm too busy working on my house in my free time to have my ear to the ground on much right now! I need to get a bedroom finished in time for Christmas!

Men and Women's roles: I never have enough time to talk about everything I'd like to talk about on Sunday's. One thing I'd like to have had time to address is how my teaching on "Putting Women in Their Place" shakes out in a marriage. There's a lot I could say about that but one thing I hear a lot of couples say is, "We are basically equal but we believe the husband should 'make the call' when we disagree."

Hmmmmm....I've got a problem with that. That doesn't sound very equal to me. My experience, in marriage and in church leadership, tells me that when two parties don't agree that's NOT the time for one person to pull rank on the other. That's the time for MORE discussion, more research, more input...maybe even counseling or some form of mediation. Whenever one person "calls the shot" they are opening themselves up to resentment. You can say, Well that's why God gives grace to the wife to submit to the decision. But I'd counter by asking why that isn't just as much the time for the man to humble himself and defer to his wife.

Like I've been saying on Sundays...there is no wonder or mystery in one person taking control. That's the cowards way out in my opinion. The courageous person will seek to talk until a true compromise and true unity is reached. It will undoubtedly require more work and more time, but all good things do. It's worth the effort. Plus, it requires us to be more in-touch with God. Any one, on their own human effort, can call a shot. But to reach a compromise with another person requires the grace of God's Spirit working in you.

I'd love to field questions on this issue and others. Remember you can post your comments and questions anonymously. So ask/comment away!

Please test the "comment" link

Hey...I've heard a lot this week that people are having trouble commenting with the link in this blog. Bummer! No wonder you are all so quiet! I guess a lot of you had comments in regard to the movies.

Do me a favor...would you click on the "comment" link below and just run a test for me. You can just say "testing" or whatever. I 'd like to see if I can solve this. Thanks.

At the Movies...

I'm fairly limited on what kind of movies I like to watch. I'm hoping others will kick in their two cents by posting below. I like action and suspense. I also like movies that teach a moral well without being preachy. Humor is great but I like it subtle and not the yuck, yuck kind! I guess I'm kind of picky. I generally can handle bad language. It doesn't seem to phase me unless it doesn't fit the plot. I stay clear of the horror genre or anything blatantly sexual.

So, with that said, this is what I've been watching...

Shooter ** - I liked this movie as much as you could like a movie about an assassin. It got increasing bloody toward the end. I wouldn't recommend it for that reason. But the plot was interesting and it kept me guessing.

Breach *** - This was well acted and a fascinating story. It also gives insight into how people can compartmentalize their life separating out their faith from a life filled with lies. It's about the biggest security breach in US history involving one of our spies.

Fracture *** - Anthony Hopkins does a great job keeping people guessing about how he murdered his wife. There's a twist at the end that gives you a satisfying "aha" moment.

Amazing Grace ** - I was looking forward to this movie and was disappointed by it's pacing. It just seemed to drag for me...maybe because there was no suspense...I knew how it was going to turn out! Chuck Colson recently said this is one of his all time favorites. I'd definitely recommend it for the history lesson and for a great example of a man compelled by his faith to fight injustice. In case you haven't heard, it's about how slavery was outlawed in England.

Bourne Ultimatum *** - If this movie had a great moral to it I'd give it four stars. I suppose it is a story about fighting injustice and exposing lies. It's just no "Amazing Grace". I haven't seen a movie that kept me on the edge of my chair like this since "The Fugitive" years ago. I really like Matt Damon's understated character. Unlike "Shooter" he only uses force when he has too to save his life.

The Golden Compass ??? - This movie is raising a lot of concern in the Christian community. I generally don't like to criticize something before it hits the street. I don't like it when Christians are always dissing things in the media but this movie might be an exception. This is what one Cedarbrooker recently wrote me...

I was going to use [The Golden Compass] for my book club, but had some concerns, so I read the whole series and found that it is blantant anti-God. My thought is that some families may not be aware of how bad this series is concerning Christianity. My family has enjoyed the Harry Potter books. We see them as just fantasy. This movie and series is something very different.

Breakpoint.org gives their review of The Golden Compass here.

I'd love to hear back from anyone your thoughts on these movies or others you'd recommend!

In the Know...11/20/07

I can tell how many people click on this blog so as long as people are reading "I.T.K." I'll trust that means you want me to keep writing it!

Lisa and I enjoyed getting to know Jerry and Julie Burg a bit more last week. I first met Jerry when he was installing the room divider at the banquet center before the Cedarbrook band's first cd release concert. Jerry said that as he was installing the divider he sensed that God was going to use the banquet center but thought that was an odd thing to think. Then he heard about Cedarbrook and...well, I guess God IS using the banquet center! Jerry's dividers are the Cadillac of room dividers. He donated one to our Children's ministry. He said that before the internet they only sold in three states but now they sell worldwide!

I heard back from Diane Colson that we sent out 88 Christmas giftboxes last week for Operation Christmas Child. Good job! People seem to really like that. And now Darlene Huehn is helping to promote Angel Tree that distributes presents locally for Christmas. I appreciate people championing these various projects. By the way, did you know that Darlene is engaged to be married December 22nd?

Matt Deyo-Svendsen is getting his master's degree at the University of Minnesota but he is within striking distance of Cedarbrook and so we've invited him to share in January about his recent trip to Africa with Habitat for Humanity. Matt is also the guy who got us on iTunes!

I heard there was quite a crowd of soup-cookers at Janene Samples house on Sunday preparing for our Thanksgiving meal. Be sure to thank Janene, Suzie Ziebel, Lisa Diederich, Sandy Buckner, Jackie Williams, Jayne Rechtzigel, Elli Hunt, Jennifer Froseth, and Barb Prochnow.

I had a great discussion with Cherise Nielsen, Steve Jensen and Tiffany Ehlert tonight about how we can offer a variety of options for people to join one of our trips to New Orleans to work in our Center City Project. We are hoping to send off another team over Spring Break '08.

I'm curious about the success of our hunters. Tiffany told me that her husband Chris hunted with Andre Oldberg this past weekend in Medford where his Chris's brother took down a 17 point buck! Jon Spanger got an 11 point buck on Steve Jensen's farm. I think Diane Sinz said that Todd and their son Mitchell already got their tags by Sunday morning. Way to go guys. What about the rest of you? How about if you post your success below? Go on...don't be shy.

Cedarbrook Sermons Now on iTunes!

If you are an iTunes user you can now download and listen to Cedarbrook sermons for free through iTunes! You can listen to them on your computer or download them to your ipod or Mp3 player. You can also subscribe and get them automatically sent to you each week.

Hey, tell a friend who wants to check out Cedarbrook but never seems to make it. Or that relative in Sawdust, Wyoming who doesn't have a church nearby!

Go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/ then click on "podcasts" and do a search for "Cedarbrook Church podcasts". Enjoy.

Interpreting Parables Correctly

There's one thing I wish I would have taken the time to talk about in the parable series and that is that you have to be careful how to interpret them.

This was brought to my attention when I attended a small group discussion last week. Some people were expressing confusion at how they could love their children like the father in the parable of the Lost Sons (Prodigal). I said, "Whoa...don't go there. That parable wasn't given to teach parents how to parent. It was given to teach us about God's love. The only application Jesus wanted us to get from it was that we should rejoice when "sinners" respond to God's love and not be critical."

You see, God is able to love people unconditionally all the time because he is infinite and he can't be worn out by us. But we are not so fortunate. Our finiteness causes us to need to implement boundaries into our relationships to save us from being relationally burned and taken advantage of. There are indeed times when our love should be completely selfless and unconditional. But if we treated all people like that all the time we'd end up in a psych ward by the end of the week!

So, be careful with the parables in how you apply them. They have restricted application. The same can be said about judging. Jesus often taught through parables not to judge but he wasn't saying that we should NEVER judge. He was saying that we shouldn't judge sinners that show an interest in turning to God. I'll be preaching on appropriate times and ways to judge in January. Stay tuned.