1 more week and it will (or at least should) be over

For our regular readers, you know about the last year and all the court dates and what's been going on. There was another one this morning. When I didn't see the State's attorney assigned to the case or the person from Child Advocacy, I just assumed that this was going to be another continuance. I was wrong.
They set a date for next Thursday and all indications are that a deal of 25 years with a minimum of 85% served will be taken. This is an answer to prayer of many. Thanks for the prayers on our behalf. This chapter will be over. With much hope and prayer, this is where the entire story will end. Only time will tell ...

2 "S" words

I mentioned a while ago about the struggles the youth at church and I were experiencing, a basic lack of love. As I talked and prayed with Joe Thorn (Pastor and good friend) he handed me a book and said I should read it. The book is titled Compelled by Love by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation. My copy finally arrived this week and I started reading it. The first 2 chapters challenged me with concepts that I don't think the church in general doesn't spend enough time talking and thinking about. I've spent time yesterday journaling about and praying through these concepts. While I'm sure I'm done, I felt I had to share.
The concepts that the authors bring out are surrendering and submission in our relationship to God. Stetzer and Nation explain that we don't love the way God does or wants us to. That kind of love requires surrendering to God the areas of our lives that we are still trying to hold on to and submission to His will. Scary concepts to be sure. What will they both mean and why don't we do them is where God has directed my thoughts and prayers.
Why we don't
There are (at least) a couple of reasons we don't surrender and submit to God.
1. FEAR
We fear change. We fear the unknown. We fear losing what little control we think we have.
2. PRIDE
My pride tells me that I know what is best for me. My pride tells me that I am the most important person to me. My pride tells me I can handle what life throws at me on my own.
3. TRUST (or more importantly, the lack of)
We don't trust God. I don't trust God to do what He says He will. I don't trust that He has my best intentions in mind.
4. CAN'T BE DONE ONLY ONCE
If you're anything like me (and some of you are ... and that probably scares you) you like to get things done, the first time. I drives me nuts to have to do things again and again. Unfortunantly for me, surrendering and submitting to God is a process, I can't expect to do it once and have it be successful.
What they mean
If I were to truly do them, what would surrender and submission really mean? That's the good news! It means we truly experience God, at the very least in the following ways:
1. Joy
There is ultimate and eternal joy to be found as we deepen our relationship with God. This joy will override fear as we see who we really are and who God really is.
2. Hope
As we deepen our love with God, our love for others grow. As our love takes action we deliver a greater sense of hope in God's plan to oursleves and to those who don't know Him. This kind of hope is both God-focused and God-centered, both of which are pride destroyers.
The question is do I have what it takes to follow through on them? I need to get past my mistrust (which is totally illogical by the way). To use a baseball analogy, God bats 1000, hits a homerun everytime, and I use Him like a pinch hitter. God's promices never fail, His love for me is more than I can comprehend, my mistrust doesn't even make sense.
I also need to understand that like anything worth doing takes time and is a process. I need to get past myself and start down the process road.
That's my prayer. Do you dare join me in that prayer?
Thanks Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation for a great book. If you haven't picked it up I would encourage you to do so. It's good all believers.

Easter 2009

Today we celebrate the fact that Jesus raised from the dead and now provides redemption to those who repent and believe in Him!

How do you celebrate Easter? We are having family over enjoying a big meal together.

Whatever your plans, enjoy! Happy Easter. He has risen, He has risen indeed!

New Driveway and Front Walk

The above pictures are before, the below are after ... enjoy! Jeff and the crew (OK mostly the crew) of Apple Blossom Landscape did an AWESOME job, thanks guys!!