Are bearing fruit like never before. Are yielding a harvest beyond what I could’ve imagined. Are returning a joy that far exceeds the anguish that was experienced in sowing them.
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Galatians 6:9 (MSG)
I’m so thankful I didn’t quit. The harvest is worth it.
I didn’t run the half-marathon super well. I didn’t do it at the 10:30 min/mile pace I was hoping to do it in. The last three miles were brutal. I’m sore as hell, but…
I FINISHED.
I completed what I set out to do. I kept my word. I trained (not as much as I should have). I ran. And, I finished.
The last half-marathon that I ran before this one was in August of 2018. In September of 2018, I got a bacterial infection in my eye that would radically impact the next several years of my life. In March of 2021, I had a cornea replacement surgery.
To run a half-marathon nearly a year after my surgery is a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness in my life. I am so thankful.
I wasn’t fast. I still have a long way to go to get into the type of shape that I need to be in. But, I finished.
Only God.
(Next race…another half-marathon on Saturday, April 2!)
Tonight, my wife flew out of town for work.
So, in preparation for tomorrow’s half-marathon, I went out to an Italian restaurant and ate a delicious pasta dinner (angel hair pomodoro to be exact).
By myself. With a book (Preaching by Tim Keller).
The food was great. The book was better. The time alone was best.
I sleep in…
and don’t feel guilty about it.
I disconnect completely from work…
and don’t feel guilty about it.
I spend time with my pup…
and love it.
I engage in other activities that I enjoy…
Reading. Writing. Running.
I give my wife more of my undivided attention…
because I don’t do it enough.
I praise and thank God for His goodness in my life…
because He’s worthy of my praise!
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)
Tonight, Rebekah and I spontaneously went to dinner, after our evening worship service, with my co-worker and his wife and two kids.
It was a great time out.
In ‘N’ Out.
Great conversation.
Getting to know the kids.
Finding out we both have a love for classic R&B and soul!
Laughs.
Growing in relationship.
One of the hardest things about moving to Las Vegas after living in the Bay Area for all of my life is developing a new, local, circle of friends.
Friends I can be my unfiltered self around. Friends my wife and I can share in the ups and downs of life and ministry with. Friends we can trust.
Tonight was a great step in that direction.
God is FAITHFUL.
Gives me the opportunity to think more clearly. Provides me the space to create more freely. Affords me the luxury of being interrupted less frequently.
Today, I had the privilege of working from home, and I am thankful. (It is a privilege. Not a right.)
But, with that said, after years of not having an office to go to (as a church planter), I am also thankful for the blessing of being able to return to the office to re-join my co-workers tomorrow!
It takes to develop trust.
It takes to rebuild trust.
It takes to deepen relationships.
YOU CAN’T RUSH THE TIME.
It takes to gain credibility.
It takes to prove yourself.
It takes to be taken seriously.
YOU CAN’T RUSH THE TIME.
It takes for ideas to be absorbed.
It takes for principles to be understood.
It takes for culture to be shifted.
YOU CAN’T RUSH THE TIME.
It takes for God to reveal His will to you.
It takes for God to do His will in you.
It takes for God to accomplish His will through you.
YOU CAN’T RUSH THE TIME.
So…RELAX.
You’ve worked hard. Multiple drafts. Multiple iterations. Time. Energy. Emotion. Finances.
Then, the time comes to present. To share. To get approval. To get affirmation. To get the thumbs up to move forward with your idea.
What is the posture you should have in this critical moment?
CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS. Be confident in what you have created. Be confident in the meaning of what you’ve created. Be confident in the message of what you’ve created. Be confident in the value that what you’ve created can provide for who you’ve created it for. Be confident.
HUMILITY FOR WHAT ISN’T. Be humble to acknowledge that what you have created isn’t perfect. Be humble to receive feedback. Be humble to implement input. Be so humble that you are able to admit that, if who you are presenting your creativity to decides to go in a different direction, they have good reasons for doing so. Be humble.
Eager to be told, “Yes.” Ready to be told, “No.” Aware you could be told, “Adjust.”
If you are a creative, and you are not prepared to graciously receive each of those three potential statements in response to a desire for your creativity to be received, you need to grow in…
Confidence in what is. Humility for what isn’t.
Confidence in what is. Humility for what isn’t.
Confidence in what is. Humility for what isn’t.
After a terrible training run a couple of days ago, I finished the week strong with my longest training run yet (10 miles) at my fastest pace (10:30/mile)!
Didn’t quite reach my goal of 4 runs 23 miles in under 11 minutes. This week’s goal (a taper down week): 3 runs 10 miles. Then…the half-marathon on Sunday!
I was supposed to run 5 miles at an 11 minute/mile pace. Instead, I “ran” 3 miles at a 13 mile pace.
I felt super lethargic. Legs felt heavy. Breathing was rough. I had to walk more in this run than in any previous run.
Training had been going so good. Why did this run go so bad? Unfortunately, the answer is super clear.
I ate fast food the night before.
I did not get enough sleep.
I ate pizza for lunch.
I did not drink enough water during the day.
I haven’t been stretching.
I overdressed. The temperature was too high at the time of my run for sweats and a long-sleeved shirt.
The above is a recipe for disaster. As I walked the rest of the way home, after completing the 3 miles, I was reminded of a very sobering principle, I hope stays at the forefront of my mind for the foreseeable future…
PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE.
This is how your ambition can be your worst enemy…
When it blinds you from the miracles in the present. When it steals your enjoyment of the moment. When it takes your attention away from the beauty of what you already possess. When it prevents you from expressing deep gratitude for what is. When it makes contentment an impossibility.
Does ambition always have this negative impact? No. Can ambition be a good thing? Of course.
But, it can also be a thief that steals right from beneath your nose. BE AWARE.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
The tradition of reading the scripture.
The tradition of corporate fasting and prayer.
The tradition of gathering for worship.
The tradition of fellowshipping with one another.
The tradition of confession and repentance.
The tradition of baptism and communion.
The tradition of sending and commissioning.
Heavenly Father, please give me the resolve and courage to stand firm in these timeless traditions practiced by followers of Jesus for centuries. Help me to reject the lie that because these traditions are ancient they are powerless. As these things become more and more “out of style,” may I be found be found more and more faithful. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
There’s more blessing in giving than receiving. There’s more satisfaction in serving than in being served. There’s more joy in creating space for someone else to thrive with you than thriving alone. There’s more life in being curious about others than in seeking for others to be interested in you. There’s more fulfillment in dying to yourself for the sake of someone else than living to protect your comforts. There’s more pleasure in leveraging your privilege for someone else’s progress rather than using it only for your own.
In living selfishly there’s less.
In living selflessly there’s more.
Don’t settle for less by merely living for yourself. It’s way too small of a way to live.
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
When emotions are high. When information is lacking. When intentions aren’t clear. When motives aren’t pure. When it’s more personal than it is rational. When prayer hasn’t played a part.
WAIT.
Know this ahead of time…
The pain and regret of acting foolishly will far outweigh the satisfaction of acting quickly.
She humbly submits (even though it isn’t always easy) to Christ’s call for us to live/serve in Las Vegas.
She lovingly supports me as I fulfill my assignment of leading/preaching at Hope Church.
She patiently serves me, particularly around the house (even though I should be doing more to help), in ways that I do not deserve.
She passionately fulfills her role (with excellence) as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Acts 29; all the while being a co-worker that all of her colleagues love, enjoy, and highly value.
She consistently cares for our pup Merritt with a love and intention that any dog would be spoiled to have.
She hilariously disciplines herself to learn to speak Korean even though there is no specific reason for her doing so other than her overall love and fascination with Korean culture!
She sneakily saves money so that if we’re in a financial pinch, she can miraculously bail us out.
She sacrificially makes herself available to her family preferring their needs to her own.
She joyfully pursues her love relationship with Jesus Christ not letting the reality that she is surrounded by ministry (her work and mine) be an obstacle to true intimacy with her Savior.
She quietly lives her life in such a way that bringing attention to her progress and success is the very last thing on her mind. (Hence, the reason I’m doing it!)
Rebekah, you are the perfect wife for me.
You are awesome in more ways than these, and I am blessed to be your husband in more ways than a single blog post can cover.
I LOVE YOU.
Week 2 of my training. Ran more miles. Ran faster miles. Only God!
Two more weeks of training remain before the half-marathon two Sundays from today. This week’s goal: 4 runs. 23 miles. Prayerfully, with an average mile of under 11 minutes.
Because of my sinful nature, the only thing I actually deserve and the only thing I have actually earned is punishment, death, and eternal separation from a holy God.
Because this is true, anything that I receive above and beyond eternal separation from God is only a result of the grace, kindness, favor, mercy and love of God. (Everything that God allows to happen in our lives has been filtered through his loving hands. For him to act in any way towards us that is not loving would violate his character.)
Because that is true, every thing that I experience that is not eternal separation from God is an absolute gift from God, and the only proper response is awe and worship of God.
Because that is true, every disappointment I feel is only a revelation that I have began to believe that I have earned or deserve something more than what I am actually experiencing. But, I haven’t. (Disclaimer: just because we don’t deserve better doesn’t mean we should always willingly subject ourselves to worse. Ex. An abusive relationship.)
With all that in mind, entitlement to anything (opportunity, health, wealth, relationships, provision etc.) is most easily avoided when thoughts of having earned or deserved anything better are most quickly disregarded.
Here’s what I’m not saying: It’s ungodly to wholeheartedly pursue “more” or “better.”
Here’s what I am saying: It’s unwise to think you’re entitled to it.
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:20-21
Pick up on emotions.
Be sensitive to feelings.
Ask follow up questions to understand better.
Enter into their world.
See life through their eyes.
Take on the feelings you would feel if you were in their situation.
Use words to describe back to them how you are perceiving they feel.
Continue to ask questions to gain an even deeper understanding.
Encourage them with the type of encouragement they need to hear, not only the type you feel comfortable giving.
After 17+ years of marriage, 10+ years of pastoral ministry, and scores of counseling/shepherding conversations, I am convinced…
The more you approach a conversation with an intent to give rather than to get, the more the other person will receive.
To grow in your relationship with Jesus.
To obey Jesus like you’ve never obeyed him before.
To read/understand God’s Word in a deeper way.
Aware of your need for help.
Convinced you don’t have it all figured out.
Ready to invite someone in to lead you to understand the gospel and respond to its beauty.
About your past suffering.
About your present sin.
About your particular struggle.
Not perfect. Not sinless. Not holy.
Just hungry. Just humble. Just honest.
Being in a new state, in a new city, at a new job, at a new church, in a new role…hundreds of miles away from my closest family and friends is requiring me to form and foster new relationships.
Here are a few things I’m learning thus far:
Emotional effort and energy are essential. No investment. No return.
Authenticity and vulnerability are accelerators. The more I disclose the faster the relationship grows.
Need and desire are initiators. People who don’t want new friends aren’t great candidates as friends.
Pickiness and prejudgements are obstacles. I’d rather be in the process of making a friend in an imperfect situation than be friendless waiting for the perfect situation to present itself.
Humility and meekness are required. If you are convinced you can live this life void of several quality, loving relationships, that’s not preference, that’s pride.