Real Life

Every week around this time I begin to prepare myself to write this blog. What I didn't see coming when I signed on to do this was and is the pressure I would feel to write something "inspiring". The problem with that? I am not always inspired. If you want to know the truth I am probably more consistently uninspired than I am its opposite. That's real life. At least that's my real life.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, down or discouraged. While the Bible does promise that we can expect to go from strength to strength and glory to glory, I have found that life tends to be rather routine, even mundane in those in-between glories. And that's OK. That's real life.

I think one of the problems we have created in the Kingdom of God is this "lights, camera, action" mentality and we sit around in wardrobe waiting for our photo shoot. But that's not how real life works. That's not how real faith works. Real faith believes that in spite of doing the same thing today as you did yesterday and possibly doing the same thing tomorrow as you did today, that at the end of the day you are still walking with God. And that's REAL LIFE.

Any Given Monday

I got up this morning and went to the gym. That's part of my Monday morning routine. It jump starts my week in more ways than one. Today I went to do cardio. After running 4 miles on the treadmill I was ready to pack it in. I was tired, exhausted, spent. I was done or so I thought but then something surprising happened... I caught my second wind and ran for another 3 miles. I thought I had gone as far and as long as I could go when I hit the wall but I was wrong. That's the power of the second wind.

Have you ever "hit the wall". Have you thought to yourself, OK I'm done. I've got nothing left. I'm not even running on empty, I'm just empty.

Ever been there? Have you ever caught your second wind?

It hit me today as I caught mine that one of the most powerful word pictures used for the Holy Spirit is that of a 'Mighty Rushing Wind.' The thought that caught me off guard is that I know there have been times when instead of waiting to catch the second wind of the Spirit, I have given up, gone home, quit running the race. How about you?

I'm a pastor. I'm a leader of people. For the most part I love what I do. On any given Monday Pastors all over the world contemplate quitting. I know I have. And guess what... it's Monday.

Thank God for His second wind.

Without a doubt there will be times in this life when you and I will hit the wall and it will feel like it's over. There's a second wind for those who wait upon the Lord. Sometimes I believe the Lord will even allow us to continue running on empty just to get us to a place where we can experience the second wind. A place where we come to realize, it's God and God alone that empowers, sustains and supports us in this race. It's not a bad place to be.

Are You Hard Of Hearing?

I just got back from a hospital visit. A couple in our church experienced the birth of their first child. Cute kid. I'm so glad I went to visit them because not only did I get to see their baby but I got to connect with this couple on a whole new level. This visit gave me a glimpse into their lives, their hopes and their dreams, how they met and what really matters to them.

As I left the hospital I was thinking, that was so cool. Here's the thing that I tend to forget as a pastor, leader, whatever... is that everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has something to say about where they've been, what they've done, what they dream and the hopes they have. Everyone has lived some kind of life to this moment. Those lives are meant to be shared, those stories are meant to be told. Is anyone listening?

25 years ago I worked in a nightclub. That experience caused some permanent damage to my hearing but there is another kind of hearing loss that comes from a self-centered obsession. That kind of hearing loss can be corrected but not without showing a genuine interest in others. I know many people, myself included, who want to be great leaders but I'm realizing more and more that leading starts with listening. So, how's your hearing?

First Blog: Remix

Last Saturday I sat down at my desk and wrote my first blog. Overall I thought it was good. But then at 2:00 a.m. that same night (really Sunday morning) a guy in our church passed away. His name was Dave. He was a husband. He was a father. He was involved in our outreach ministry with Pastor Barry. He was so many things. He was only 44.

Two months ago he was doing relatively fine. No one knew then that this day would come. No one really knows anything about their future do they? No, they don't. I don't. You don't. All we really have is this - right now.

Life is short. Some live shorter than others. There's no time to waste.

There's no promise of tomorrow.