Over the last few weeks I have been studying the book of Hebrews with some awesome guys.
I’ll be honest, it’s a tough book. It’s tough enough that most scholars aren’t even really sure who wrote it, but they are confident that it lines up with Scripture and is a valuable part of our Bible.
As the name implies, it was written to Hebrews, so even though it’s a New Testament book it reflects back on much of what happened in the Hebrew nation of the Old Testament. In the first quarter of the book, there is a warning that basically goes like this: “Do not make the same mistakes you saw those who came before you make.” (Hebrews 3:16-4:2)
Pretty easy advice, eh?
Not so much.
Have you ever seen somebody run into a car because they were watching a wreck on the other side of the road?
Have you ever seen someone fail a test because they cheated off someone dumber than they were?
Have you ever told your children not to do something and explained a specific consequence, only to walk out of the room and have them do exactly what you told them not to do?
We humans are difficult that way. Kind of slow, a little rebellious and continually irritating. (Resist the urge to put these labels on someone else… if you’re human, this applies to us all)
Every time I think, or hear, the phrase “You’ve got to pray,” I envision MC Hammerpants. That can’t be healthy.
But, here we go… You’ve got to pray (just to make it today… wow, it is an illness).
Communication is essential to any relationship, and without it the relationship will wither and die. Or, at least go into a period of hibernation until the spring thaw. Continue reading “Just to make it today…”
If I have to go on one more extended hunt for the TV remote, I am gonna lose it!
Seriously, if I come into the living room one more time and that remote is not in the little basket where all the remotes go, even the ones that control things we’re pretty sure we don’t own anymore, I am going to ground everyone in the family.
Even Kathy.
OK… I’m not that stupid, but it seriously does tick me off.
I have watched my boys argue, fight, whine and wrestle for the remote. Usually, I can understand why they want to score that prize, but sometimes they really throw me for a loop.
Sometimes they will battle and steal the remote in the midst of a program only to… do nothing.
No channel change.
No volume change.
No menu guide check to see what we’re watching, when its over or what else is on.
They just pry it out of the other’s hand, and hold it! What good is that?
After musing this puzzle on several occasions it finally hit me: “They don’t want the remote, they just want to be in control.” Continue reading “So What?”
For those who are not geographically aware of this bloggers location, the following statement won’t mean much:
It’s State Fair time!
Living three blocks from the fairgrounds is a good or bad thing depending upon what you think of the fair.
The Addis from high atop the Weenie Wheel.
I get most of my fair jollies just sitting on the front porch. Watching the parade of happy people walking to the fair early in the day as they park somewhere beyond my house.
And, then, I am blessed with the occasional treasure of seeing the exact same people coming back later that night… transformed.
Tired, broke, sun burnt or freezing (it’s Kansas, you know) and almost always “less happy.”
This people watching is a little thing I have learned to enjoy in the last seven years of living here in Hutch. I do it every year as I listen to the concerts from the comfort of my porch swing.
You know what else doesn’t change?
The Fair!
That’s amazing to me.
They set up the rides in the exact same place that they did in previous years (although some of the rides change).
They do the concerts in the exact same venues as every year gone by (although some of the artists change).
They have the same vendors in the same booths making the same claims as they did in every year past (although some of the prices change).
Exactly 15 days after brain surgery… it’s time to blog. Thanks God for answered prayers, His love and compassion and my faith community’s support.
I decided to write this blog for three reasons:
Many people have been asking for an update on the physical well-being of this blogger
God has given me some new insight into a familiar passage through this experience, and personally I feel that being productive is healing
My medical authorities have given me permission to write despite the fact that I am well inside the “DO NOT WORK” time parameters, or more simply put Kathy said it was OK
So, lets cover the reasons for this blog. First, what’s the physical update. For those who are feeling a tad clueless about all this and didn’t know anything had happened… please subscribe to the blog. Its quick, easy and free, because obvisouly you haven’t been checking in enough and there are some questions as to whether or not you are really going to heaven.
Alright, that was a joke. The last part of it at least, but I still would love for you to subscribe to the blog… please. Just out of pity for the sick guy… pretty please. Continue reading “Deal With It…”
In every human life there are turning points, cross roads and transitions. Some are relational, some are financial, all are spiritual. This is a Biblical look at the CrossPoints of a human life
First, for a happily ever after relationship, you have to know what God has already said is blessable and what is not. Second, what needs to be done to affair proof your marriage.
This study of the first three chapters of Revelation will bring confidence to the believer that no matter what, we are fine if we are in God’s hand… even if the world comes to an end!
Studying the Great Commandment and its foundational teaching about what it means to be a Christian. Follows the model of Mark Batterson’s book called PRIMAL
This symbol was used by the first believers to identify each other and what they believed about their Lord. This Christmas we look at this symbol to help us remember what the real meaning of Christmas is.
We will never move from the status quo if we aren’t willing to be stretched and intentional about finding stretching opportunities. In this series we explore the basics of Christian maturity, seeking the Biblical direction of stretching UP, OUT and IN. So, put on your jogging suit and get ready to feel the burn. Let’s stretch into more than we’ve ever been before!
A series looking at the Super Villains of our lives that creep out in dysfunction, difficulty and dilemma. Approval Junkie, The Fabricator, Master Manipulator, Doctor Downer & Captain Cranium.
What does it mean to be apart of the Family of God…. roles, rights and responsibilities? What does the Bible say about the traditional family? About those outside the family?
Explore The “How To’s” of Family life together through a fun look at popular board games like Sorry, Monopoly, Battleship, Scrabble, Connect, etc. A family should play together!
It often gets lost in the elements of religion and cloudied in the chronicles of debate, but the heart of the Gospel is Good News! With a look at what the Gospel is and isn’t, and a look at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, take a journey into the Good News that is… The Gospel.
A chapter by chapter look at the Gospel of Mark. With the repeated use of “immediately” and “at once”, the writer clearly communicates a sense of urgency!
Where People Find Purpose is a series that focuses on the Biblically-based purposes of the church and the believer: Connect, Grow, Serve, Reach & Worship.
I am totally excited about you stopping by the CrossEyedLife. I am the pastor of a multisite church that currently has campuses and partner churches throughout the state of Kansas (church website). I get to preach all the time and have so many of my messages reproduced on video that I wanted to get back to the basics and write out a few thoughts. Before I was in ministry I have a background in journalism and reporting. I have really missed writing, so, this blog is a joy for me.
While I love pastoring and leading this ever-growing organization, my favorite job in the world is being a family man. I have a beautiful wife of more than 20 years named Kathy and two awesome boys named Noah and Nathan.We all love Jesus, camping, the Dallas Mavericks and anything that goes good with ranch dressing.
Family is a priority for me, and not just in word but in deed. You’ll see that echoed in the articles on this blog, and I challenge you, if you know who I am, to hold me accountable to that statement. I’d rather write a really cruddy blog and raise great children, I’d rather pastor a tiny diminishing church and have a loving, adoring wife, I’d rather give up on career than sacrifice my family on the altar of ministry.
They say that a good preacher will only offer about 10 to 20% of what they actually know. I agree, preachers need to talk less, and I be one of those! So, an outlet for the other 80 to 90% of what I have prayed through, studied and journaled will often come spilling out through the pages of this blog. I hope you will enjoy some of the theological questions that are posed, the practical spiritual steps suggested and some of the gradeschool humor that I still think is funnier than anything else! My wife says I’m 11, but I prefer 13.
The title of this blog indicates that my goal for myself and all our readers is that the cross of Jesus Christ would be the focus of our eyes, the change agent of our lives, and the purpose for all that we strive. Cool, that kind of rhymed… I’ll bet I could fit that in sermon.
I post new articles regularly, sometimes as full written content and other times as a video usually shot from the end of my arm on an iPhone. We won’t solve any of the world’s problems, but we can scratch the itch on some of the deeper religious questions that seekers and new believers have. I want this blog to be more than just a place of information, I desire discussion. That’s why I allow open comments on every single article. I hope you’ll join the discussion!
I really, really want to encourage you to not just read this blog today, but click to the button on the side and subscribe to the regular feed. Of course there is no cost, and you’ll make me feel special… isn’t that alone worth the time and effort?
Finally, I hope you’ll join me in the social revolution as well and add me as a friend on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter and we could be cyber buddies! You’ll find those connections at the bottom of this page.
I hope you spend a lot of time here, and I hope you’ll invite some friends and family to check it out as well. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch, I would love to know more about the readers who are part of the CrossEyedLife community. My e-mail is Andy@crosseyedlife.com. Hope to hear from you soon and many blessings.
