Living Debt Free

Shaina and I made a decision awhile back that debt would not be something we would have lingering over us for a lifetime.

It's a funny thing that people use the government as their primary model for financial management. They spend money they don't have to live in ways that they don't need to.

I've brought 7 years of school loans into our marriage, but I love that we are 100 percent on the same page about eliminating this debt. This means that we are not currently focusing anything on savings, investments or retirement...We are on pace to attempt to be debt free by September of 2010. We have an emergency fund established in case something unexpected happens, but we believe the Bible when Jesus tells the people that there is no way to serve two masters.

So the order of financial budget for us is to budget our tithe and the budget our loan payments then budget everything else for the month.

I read an article the other day about house payments and that someone who has a mortgage of $200,000 and pays it off over 30 years will end up paying almost 400,000 when its all said and done. Nobody in their right mind should want to blow almost a quarter of a million dollars like that.

Similarly, people live their whole lives with a car payment. Shaina and I paid off our cavalier and are planning to never have a car payment again in our lives. If we can't pay cash for it, then we won't get it. This may mean that while we're digging ourselves out of debt, we have to get a junker to hold us over...but we will never spend outside of our means...and we will always get a better price for a car because we will pay cash.

I don't say this too boast or anything like that...I just want to challenge that the way you manage your finances matters and you will never be much of a blessing to others around you if you're stuck paying a huge house payment, a huge car payment, etc. etc.

It gets more challenging when children are in the picture, but intelligent money managers tell their money where to go rather than wondering where their money went.

What is the greatest lesson or conviction you have about money?

Livin' on the Edge

Had a good morning in Church today. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is "Edge Sunday" where our Young Adults come together to lead the people into worship. The theme was adoption and at one point we had all the kids of the church come in wearing Save 1 Now t-shirts and I talked about how they represented 5 million kids just like them except those kids didn't have a family...didn't have anyone claiming them. After pleading for the church to be the church, the young adults prayed a powerful prayer in a round (where five of them prayed the same prayer at the same time and ended with the words "Save One Now"). When we said amen, all the kids had exited but one. Powerful image of Church and the message of adoption.

It was a good Sunday. www.save1now.org

There are 143 million orphans in the world...500 million churches in the world. If one family from 1/3 of the world's churches would adopt one orphan, the crisis would be solved. Call it idealistic, but God forbid we do nothing!

Alien Bowl VI

Well, for the 6th year in a row, I got up early with about 35-40 others to participate in the Alien Bowl, a football tourney in honor of my cousin, Nate Dilyard who died in a car accident back in 2004.

I had been part of 4 of the 5 championship teams entering this year. But a 5th ring was not in the works, as we lost our first game 5 scores to 3.

The winning team was the team that beat us in the 1st round game. They won the championship game 5-4 on a great endzone grab.

It was a lot of fun even though we didn't pull off the victory. The best part of the whole thing was that another cousin of mine, Steve kept his streak of patheticness intact by not making it past the first round for the 6th consecutive year.

Time to begin training for next year.

remember me?

It's been a while. I needed a hiatus. Not to mention I've had some ridiculous stomach issues over the last 3 days that have left me without appetite for food...for blogging...for anything really. I have an appetite now...but everytime I eat something my body punishes me for it haha.

Anyways, Chuck Swindoll's talk at Catalyst was definitely the surprise of the conference. Here are his 10 Ministry Lessons from his lifetime in ministry:

1. It’s lonely to lead.
Leadership involves tough decisions.
2. It’s dangerous to succeed.
Very gifted, Very competent, Very young…= Very Dangerous. It takes crushing/failure/disappointment.
3. It’s hardest at home.
Nobody at home is applauding you.
4. It’s essential to be real.
If there is one realm that phoniness is the norm…its among church leaders.
Stay Real!
5. It’s painful to obey.
God will ask you to do things that are not your choice.
6. Brokenness and Failure are Necessary
”Contrary to what might be expected, I look at experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything that I have learned, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence has been through affliction and not through happiness…” (Leads us to the cross.)
7. My Attitude is More Important than My Actions
”Some of you are getting hard to be around.”
Whining/Complaining overshadow actions.
8. Integrity Eclipses Image
What we do behind the scenes matters most.
9. God’s way is better than my way
We are just too capable. Sometimes we pull it off in our flesh…That’s when the crushing begins.
Empty your hands so you can receive God’s blessing
10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with Humility
He is meek and lowly at heart. Come to Him. And you will find rest.

Edge Sunday

I cannot begin to tell you all how excited I am for November 29. God has been stirring and I think there is a neat message developing for Edge Sunday, which is the Sunday where all young adults in our church participate in leading the service. I actually couldn't go to bed because the message is beginning to crystallize in my mind and I want to shape it before the clarity is gone.

If you're in the Wadsworth area, you should come check out one of the young adult services that Sunday!

RE:treat!

I am not called to youth ministry. There is just something about the way I am wired and the way the mind of a 15 year old is wired that just does not mesh. That being said, I love high school age folks and some of the most life shaping moments for me happened in the halls of senior high.

God has sort've appointed me to share at our Church's youth retreat this weekend. So I get to step back from small group ministry stuff, college age young adult stuff, etc. and I get to have some fun with the next generation of church.

Even though I am not called to youth ministry, I think everyone needs to venture into high school ministry in some capacity because this is where passion is often ignited, hearts are most desperately crying out, and the gospel can most deeply penetrate.

So I'm off to Camp Asbury with about 30 of my soon to be closest friends for the weekend. I will be speaking on some intriguing topics and the Lord is starting to stir this weekend in my heart. So be praying for the senior high at Wadsworth UMC and pray also for me and other leaders on this retreat who will be sharing the Word with them!

I heart Ochocinco

There are few egos in sports that I tolerate. TO has never been as big as he's perceived himself to be. Allen Iverson brought a Uhaul full of dysfunction everywhere he's been. Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson were too over the top and marginally psychotic.

But there is one exception to this rule and that is Chad Ochocinco...the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson.

He is one who just always is up to something, but not in a way that is detrimental to his team. And this year he has had a resurgence as a premier wideout in the NFL. And I just read on ESPN that he intended to send the Steelers' mustard before their huge clash next weekend.

When I read the headline, I had no clue what the mustard was supposed to symbolize, but then I read the article and it dawned on me that the Steelers play at Heinz Field. I love this guy. He's successfully jumped in the dawg pound (which was not ok.), made the lambeau leap, Here's just a glimpse:

RIP Church

2 Samuel 15:32 "When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head."

Read this chapter in my prayer time this morning and one line leapt off the page at me..."where people used to worship"

A lot of churches are closing down or dying slow deaths. More and more buildings are being left with the epitaph, "This is where people used to worship."

The old adage that the Church is one generation away from extinction is very true.

But, there's hope!

We simply need to reconsider how we are being church! If you spend more time in programs, events, and studies for your own people than you do in opportunities with the community, your church probably won't last.

If your peoples' pants don't have the knees worn out of them because of desperate pleading to God, your church probably won't last.

If your Church Budget is more building maintenance, renovation and upkeep than community maintenance, renovation and upkeep, your church probably won't last.

If your Church looks to the Bible to get more information about God rather than to get transformation from God, you probably won't last.

If your worship service is more about getting butts in the seats than it is about getting butts to the throne of grace, your church probably won't last.

But if we can begin to corporately reclaim Mission, Service, Prayer, Bible and Worship, God will breathe new life into our old and dried out bones.

Muskrats, turkeys and bucks oh my

I love Indian Summer in Ohio...it is one last blast of false hope before the weather turns for the worse. In the span of one week, Shaina and I have seen some pretty crazy things.

We take Shadow down to the canal to walk whenever the weather is good. We see turtles and ducks and squirrels galore, but last week we saw two beaver like creatures swimming in the stream. They didn't have beaver tails so we're calling them muskrats even though I don't even know what those are.

Then last Sunday, pulling out of our driveway to head to church, we look to the right and out of the cornfield pops a wild turkey...then another...then another, crossing the road single file until 10 turkeys were marching to some new land. I tried to get near them and take a pic with my cell phone, but lesson number one about turkeys...they are stinkin' fast! Granted I've lost a step since my basketball days, but these guys could boogie.

The following day we walked Shadow back to the back of our property for some exercise. We stopped at the edge of the woods/field that were out there. All of a sudden, a bunch of leaves rustled about 15 yards to our left and out burst a young buck with about 6 points. He bolted away from us to another area of woods.

Welcome to the land of Oz.

check your self...

The household of David is a messed up one, especially after his affair with Bathsheba. His family will rape, murder, lie, stage coups against each other, etc.

Here's something I'm learning. Ungodly motives will sabotage the movement of the Spirit.

We can often seek to submit God to our agenda. We can do that ministry better than they can. We can come up with the perfect formula to get butts in the seats. We can get the promotion at work. You can get the girl into bed by saying and doing things just right. Or you can get him to change into the guy you want him to be just by manipulating things just right.

Listen, if we can't exchange our "My will be dones" for "Thy will be dones" we will never go where God wants to take us, accomplish what God wants to accomplish, influence like God wants to influence. Manipulation and Coersion are not fruits of the Spirit!

So what ways do you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself?

Ace of Bass

I am playing bass at Church this Sunday...Its the second time in about 5 years that I will be playing bass. Its one of my many hidden mediocre talents. Heres 5 of 'em that you may not have known.

5. I play a little bit of bass and guitar.

4. I freestyle rap...alone in the car.

3. I have a rainman-esque ability to play Boggle. Not kidding...ask my mom. :-)

2. I am a two time Backyard Olympic Gold medalist in Croquet.

1. I see dead people.

Can you top any of these with your own mediocre hidden talents?

hmm

had this thought today while driving.

The time has come where we must stop trying to legislate Christianity and begin to demonstrate Christianity.

Buy or Sell this as true?

Shift

We are not in a Christian culture.

This might be shocking to you.

In Ohio, the big news is that casinos are coming to the state, and I shudder to think of how the church will respond.

I'm sure many will shake their heads and point their finger saying that the world is going to pot. They will become porcupines...so worried that their own lives will be polluted that they will curl up and release their quills at the world.

Others will rally against the bad. Picketing, with anti-gambling jargon, catchy chants, and anger at those who are involved in the process of building, opening and running casinos.

Others will blame the government, the Republicans, the Democrats, the Dan Browns, the apathetic conservative voting contingent...and put a bumper sticker on their car that says 'don't blame me, I voted against casinos'.

But I woke up this morning...still indifferent to bipartisan politics...but pretty interested when I heard that the issue passed. My thought was not about the guys I know who already have serious gambling addictions. It wasn't about how the world's going to hell in a handbasket (whatever that means). You know what I whispered? "God what are you up to?"

The Church has a great opportunity to creatively and powerfully bring light into darkness. What is God going to accomplish with his bride synergized with his Spirit?

My prayer and I hope yours too, is not, "oh God rid the world of evil" but instead, "Oh God, let me be a part of overcoming evil with good." Because we never win when we try to fight evil...you notice that? It usually makes the church stoop to new lows that do nothing to bring God fame, and do everything to damage His message of reconciliation and love.

So recognize evil for what it is...but don't point your finger at it, scold it, or curse at it for being evil. Don't make your life cause fighting evil, getting casinos or prostitution or drugs or violence out of your town...JUST ASK GOD HOW HE WANTS TO OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD AND THEN JOIN HIM IN THAT JOURNEY.

For God's sake, be the Church.

Give and Take

2 Samuel 11-12 is a well known section of scripture, David and Bathsheba, and Nathan's rebuke.

I spent some time this morning looking at three words that seem to permeate the chapters: GIVE, TAKE, SEND. They are used directly or implied countless times.

I encourage you to take some time and give this passage a look.

Here's 5 observations.

1. SEND...David does a lot of sending in this story...When we're living in ways contrary to God's standard, we will seek to pass the buck to someone else. He sends someone to lead the battles rather than go himself. He sends someone to go look into who the hot chick on the roof was. He sends them to "take" her. He sends others to get Uriah...tries to send Uriah home to cover up his sin. When that doesn't work, he sends Uriah with his own death sentence letter in hand.

2. SEND...But in the midst of David's attempts to hide and cover up his sin, God Sends Nathan. Nathan comes from the Hebrew word natan which means to give, or gift. Nathan calls David out. We had better be attentive when God SENDS a solution. (John 3:16)

3. TAKE...David takes Bathsheba just as the rich man took the poor man's ewe. Then David takes Uriah's life. And ironically at the end of the story in chapter 12, David finally mans up and goes and takes the city that he should have been out taking before any of this drama unfolded. If you do a study on people in scripture who "see something they want" and then "take it", you would be surprised how often that appears when referring to sin.

4. TAKE...But God redeems the language in Jesus..."This is my Body broken for you...Take and Eat."

5. We need to TAKE some time to think of areas where our heart and motives are impure and GIVE these things over to God who has SENT his son so that we could have our sins TAKEN away by a pure and righteous man who GAVE his live for us.