Category: Spiritual Growth

Posted on

You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?

Dealing with conflict.

Everyone deals with it, but the question is how do you deal. There are constructive and destructive ways to deal with almost anything including conflict, criticism and stupidity.

Hmm… that last descriptor is less from my Bible Study and more from the movie I just caught last night: GI JOE.

andy as GI JOE

I so loved it. I was 11 again.

If one of the JOEs ran into conflict they’d blow it up, punch it in the face, or just kill it.

And, as machismo and testosterone driven as that is (and, oh so appealing for so many situations), I don’t think it’s the answer for the Christ follower in conflict.

I just can’t imagine Jesus strapping on a fully automatic machine gun with rocket launcher attachment and sneering at his 12-man commando posse as He jumps on the back of camel yelling, “Mount up”. Continue reading “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?”

Posted on

Growing up, Graduating & Chuck

  

I write this blog to you from the corner of the snack shop at YouthFront Camp in Edgerton, Ks. I’ve had the privilege of being the camp pastor here for the last four years and it’s starting to feel like a second home.

 

They have great facilities, an excellent staff and some of the most unique programs I have every seen. But, probably the most ringing endorsement comes from my boys Noah and Nathan who say this is their “most favorite camp ever”, which is a huge statement because my boys… they’ve seen lot of camp.

 

When I ask what their favorite part is, it’s hard for them to decide:

  • Is it the paramilitary game NIGHTSTRIKE played late at night when they cut all the lights at camp
  • Is it the grossly enormous free standing water slide that has a 30 second drop
  • Is it the 50s Pool Party, the Renaissance fair, the camp-wide shaving cream war, the daily HYPE sessions of dancing, goofy games and indoor dodgeball
  • Is it the all access free pass they get to the snack shop as the camp pastor’s kids (I think this might be it, but that’s just me)

 

Whatever it is, I love doing this camp, because my kids love it so much. And, this camp is really unusual because of its facilities and programming.

 

However, there is one thing that makes this camp identical to the hundreds of other camps I have been to over the years… the kiddos. Continue reading “Growing up, Graduating & Chuck”

Posted on

Get ready, get ready, get ready

 

img_0471Just got back from an incredible trip overseas and I have more to communicate than I could ever hope to pour out in a single sermon, blog or conversation. So, whoever shows up at church this weekend… God help them.

One of the great parts of this recent road trip was the opportunity to visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus and actually stand where the Apostle Paul stood. You know, to not guess, but to whip out the old Holy Bible and read the chapter and verse and quote what he said standing on the very spot he said it.

Kinda cool. Felt a little like a time machine with the flux capacitor kicked into high gear.

So, here I am this morning trying to reintegrate/catch up on the week we missed and I decided to reread some of the passages connected to the places I’d just seen.

Right out of Acts 19 while Paul was visiting Ephesus is this crazy, funny story: Continue reading “Get ready, get ready, get ready”

Posted on

Mixed Messages?

 

I have a love hate relationship with my IPOD.

More than 8000 songs from classical, to 80s, to Bluegrass, to Heavy Metal (Christian, of course), to audiobooks, to podcasts/sermons, to some stuff I can’t even begin to apply genre too.

Then there are days worth of video (seasons of Dr Who for me and Spongebob for the kiddos), games, pictures and even text files. drwho

I have the 160 GB Classic monster… that’s the part I love.

The part I hate… trying to listen to it in my car.

I have tried nearly a dozen of those little wireless FM transmitters only to be dismally disappointed every stinking time!

I plug it in, turn it on and tune it up expecting to hear that crystal clear digital joy. But, what I get would make a leisure suit wearing, El Camino driving, eight track aficionado smirk at me with disgust (sorry to all your dads). Continue reading “Mixed Messages?”

Posted on

Contentment is so frustrating

Last night I had the privilege of speaking to Christian Challenge, the college aged ministry meeting here in the Hutchinson area.

I spoke on the issue of contentment, and as weird as it sounds… I have been totally fired up about contentment! This spring I have spoken at half a dozen schools and colleges and have talked about contentment almost every time (even at our own SURGE Bible Study once). But, last night I finally got it on video.

Hope you enjoy! (BTW… if you ‘right click’ the video you can ZOOM and watch it full screen if you’d like. A new feature on our new site!)

PS- Don’f forget to subscribe to CrossEyedLife if you haven’t already done it. It’s free, easy and no hassle. See the widget on the top right of this page!

Continue reading “Contentment is so frustrating”

Posted on

It’s tempting to be corny

I just spent the last week working with the students of Corn Bible Academy  in Corn, Ok… okay, let’s get this out of our system… yes, they were the children of the corn.

Corny, eh?

I was completely impressed with the students and staff of this small Christian school and had a great time with them as a teacher/pastor for their spiritual emphasis week.

During the week we had a Q&A time which lead to this video on dealing with temptation. The focus verse is 1 Corinthians 10:13:
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Co 10:12-13). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Also, stay tuned to the bitter end for the bloopers. I got real bored on the trip home. Four hours of, well, Oklahoma and Kansas. There’s a mind-numbing afternoon. Enjoy!

Continue reading “It’s tempting to be corny”

Posted on

Back Stage Pass

 
A double blessing this week:   
  • One, I get to travel with our student ministry to their 1,200 member winter conference in Topeka, Ks.
  • Two, I get to speak at the same conference.
While I was hanging out backstage meeting the band and getting tech stuff set up, I was struck by this teaching. I hope it is encouraging to you.
Posted on

A Brand New World


THIS IS A MONUMENTAL DAY!

I am awestruck at the significance and importance of a day like today. As the calendar page slipped from this past Tuesday to this present Wednesday, our world has forever changed.

This once in a lifetime experience has come upon us and now we must seize the opportunity for all it is worth. We must not hold back, for we have been destined for such a time as this.

Without any hesitation we must not deny the reality of what this day means. Yes, today… this very day… my blog is one year old!

What? Were you expecting something else? Continue reading “A Brand New World”

Posted on

Beat Sin or Beaten By Sin

Back to some serious Q & A. Now that Easter is behind us, this pastor can get back to normal life and start pursuing his real calling… blogging. Just kidding, but it is fun.

I’ve had quite a few emails and the questions are starting to mount up, so, I have developed a strategy. Real-life issue questions with heart-wrenching, life-altering consequences get answered first. (ie. Andy, is sacrificing a cat to Satan really all that bad?… guess it depends on what you think of cats… just kidding).

Theology junk for fellow spiritual nerds (NERDS UNITE!) get answered later (Andy, when Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, what was Greek root word for ‘seek’?… seriously… too much time on your hands… get a job, or at least an XBOX).

So, here is a great question posed via email:

What advice would you have for a Christian guy who is really struggling with some certain sins they can never seem to overcome? I try so hard, and continually ask God for help, yet I always fall to the same temptations.
Talk about your universal concern. Every one of us deal with pervasive and continual sin, and even those who espouse levels of spiritual maturity that allude to near sinlessness are either liars (sinners, and they know it) or mistaken (sinners and they don’t know it). Continue reading “Beat Sin or Beaten By Sin”