Blog My Sojourn Live

I have spent some nights watching some great Olympic hockey.  Great teams, great individuals, great games for sure.  Always interesting for me to watch the puck drop in hockey and see—literally see who wants the puck more—who wants the games.  I can easily tell from the first minute who wants it more—it is usually the first to the puck.

I watched the Women’s USA team lose tonight—and I could tell—the women were struggling.  They had the passion, they had the will, but the Canadian girls had more want, more, more, and more—and the Canadian girls won!

How bout my relationship with Christ?  How bad do I want it?  How much is it worth to me to go for Gold in my relationship with Christ?  Is that possible?  Is it possible for me to chase after Christ like that?  If so, is it possible for me to talk to students about that kind of desire?  Is that fair?  Is that right?

I think so.  I really think that it is good to Seek after the Lord with all I have. I think that the generation I work with struggles with “passion” towards their God, their relationship with Christ, their passion for making their relationship Everything period.

Have I always chased after God?  Have I always made Him the center of my life?  Have I treated Him as a kind of “no big deal”?  Absolutely yes!  I have learned from my apathy.  I have seen first hand the destruction it caused me—the bottom line—just making Him a thing to do—not a relationship—just what you do—all be it half hearted. 

So, what to do?  I say in order for me to talk to students about “being the first to the puck” that I must be the first to the puck.  If I want students to chase after God with all their heart—then I must lead the way.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” 

Psalm 42.1

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”   Matt. 6.33

Help me Father to run after you with all I have got.

Help me to be the first to the Puck!  So that students can see the benefit of seeking after you.

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“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”   Jer. 29.11-13

I will be missing a weekend I along with the Next Gen staff have awaited for a few months.  I was supposed to be headed to Chicago to a “Simply Youth” Conference.  Due to the fact that I have missed several of Cooper’s hockey games in his team’s quest for a State playoff—I felt it was best to stay back—let the team go to Chicago so that I could go watch Coop play hockey.

I thought about it for sometime.  Plans were made, reservations made, opportunity to take my staff around my great city.  Should I stay or should I go?  What are my priorities?  What does God say about this?  I felt in my heart that it was important for me to stay and for the team to go. 

So?  Well, I am kind of bumming, but just last night I heard that my next door neighbor from West Chester had lost his father last night and that the viewing would be this Saturday before we head to Columbus for the hockey game.

Now, we love our old neighbors—we shared many years together (8 years).  My wife would sleep over at their house 1 time per week during the first few months when the triplets were born.  We laughed, we cried when we left, we trusted one another, we shared food, shared tools, shared help.  Could this be?   Could it really be that important to have agreed not to go to Chicago just to stay back and go to a viewing?  

Well—Yes!  Absolutely yes.  I live a supernatural life in a relationship with a supernatural God that has a plan for my life.  I believe that this is one of those times where God is saying—“Continue to live out My Son.  Continue to love your friends.” 

So, as I continue to seek God—daily… I have learned to seek Him even when it means I am connected to Him just by my words of Help, show me, lead me—I am seeking Him.  He is leading and I am staying back for the right reasons—this I know.

Thank you Father,

Thank you for your leading.

Thank you’re your plan.

I will seek you more and more—

Because I need you everyday.

Big time

Amen

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O.k., so I didn’t blog about all the nights in the MAC— I ran out of time.  It was absolutely an awesome week—every night was absolutely HUGE. 

Then the Revolt 4 day weekend with the High School ministry—was sensational—God visited us that weekend—Benny and the Jetts rocked, studied John 17, had a couple of seminars for students to grab—and had so much fun in the snow—amazing.

Then I spoke at Fairhaven this past weekend—It was fun—It was important, I am honored to be part of such a great church and staff.

During all that—Cooper was playing hockey to get to the state finals— traveling back and forth to Columbus—being able to see some of the games—and others—well I was too busy—hmmm—too busy?  Is that o.k.?

For me—the fact that I missed some of Cooper’s games, the fact that I didn’t take a few of my Friday’s off—the fact that I can’t remember a parts of the past few weeks—is that too busy?  I don’t think so.  I really feel blessed to be able to enjoy my job, my family, the ministry, all the stuff do—I love doing period.  I live this life with everything out there—why?  Because I believe that I must put everything on the line everyday—oh sure—when I need down time—my body, my mind tells me to go get it!  So I do!

How bout my relationship with God?   I actually feel that He is empowering me to run full bore—I am not doing it in the flesh—I really sense God moving me—it is an awesome time right now—so much to do—so much to accomplish—so much to trust God in, and with and for. 

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Thank you Father

Thank you Father for pushing me—

Thank you for guiding me—

Thank you for giving me passion for the right things

Thank you—

Please speak into my heart and mind when I need to back it down.

Amen

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1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
       I was found by those who did not seek me.
       To a nation that did not call on my name,
       I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

 2 All day long I have held out my hands
       to an obstinate people,
       who walk in ways not good,
       pursuing their own imaginations-

 3 a people who continually provoke me
       to my very face,
       offering sacrifices in gardens
       and burning incense on altars of brick;
Is.65.1-3

Hmmmmmm-- does our God really pursue?  Does God really reveal himself?  Who are the people that did not ask for Him?  Can people really find Him if they do not seek Him?  Is that still true today?

 Yes!  But, if I listen to the 'ones" that know so much about God, they have said-- "it's about the way we pursue Him that He reveals himself.  They say there are certain things-- by way to seek Him.

But that is not what He says-- 

I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

All day long I have held out my hands

to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good,

I find this portion to be very interesting-- even more filled with hope-- for in this life, this world, this universe-- He is continuing to say-- Here am I, here am I"

to all peoples, to all those that don't know, that don't care, that are seeking everything else-- there is hope.

Thank you God for caring

When people don't.

Thank you God for stretching out your hand to continually

Thank you God for finding me.

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