Ben's random thoughts

What one year has taught me.

2007-09-10T13:33:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday, we celebrated our 1 year anniversary for Providence church. Starting a church is like sailing those one man sailboats across the ocean. There's much fanfare when you cast off from shore hoping to make it to the other side, but few make it. The highs and lows of church planting are extreme. There's nothing like the feeling of seeing that first person come to know the Lord, but there's also nothing like losing a family or seeing someone walk away from God. Both feelings are on the opposite ends of the spectrum, but they will be experienced by all church planters and pastors.

As I've ridden the waves this year God has taught me some important lessons. First, His timing is perfect. We've developed a saying at Providence: "Our Plan B is God's Plan A". To me that sums up a lot of life. We have our expectations and dreams of how God should do things and when He doesn't meet up to our plans we start having a crisis of faith. But I've learned and continue to learn that when God rearranges my expectations, the end results are always better. Secondly, the need is great. Even in the southern-gospel singin', church goin', religious talkin' bible-belt, there are a whole lot of people that have no idea what the gospel means and how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's driven me to be more passionate in my commitment to the Great Commission of Jesus.

I'm humbled that God has called me. To God alone be the glory and honor and praise!!!!! I love you Jesus.

FYI

2007-07-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from my former pastor and friend, Dan Burrell. He would sometimes just put quips and ideas of what he thought about life, so here are some of mine.

There's nothing like coming home from work and having my kids run up to greet me.

I think Cinnamon Life is WAY better than original Life.

Children's cartoons are pathetic now a days. Nothing like when I was growing up.

I usually love following politics, but there isn't one candidate that I really like in '08. Their all too choreographed.

Fenway Park has got to be one of the greatest places to watch a game, no matter what the sport.

When competitive eating becomes an Olympic sport (and I'm sure it will), I'm sure Jesus will come back very shortly?

I love my hammock.

There's nothing like a 15 hour van ride with teenagers on a missions trip. It's one of the highlights of my year.

I'm ready for football season to start.

When consumerism goes too far

2007-06-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

I wrote this a couple of months ago, but just decided to put it up here. Enjoy!

We live in a consumer’s world. Whether it’s the all-day shopping trips to the mall, selecting out of a myriad of dining choices, or picking a channel to watch that meets our specific entertainment taste, we have been conditioned to believe that life is all about “me”. Forget the ignorance of the Middle Ages when the prominent scientific perspective believed that the sun revolved around our planet. We have reached a whole new level of ignorance because most of us believe that the whole universe revolves around me, myself and I. Think about it. The “what can you do for me” mentality permeates all that we do. We’ve been sold an idea that the most important needs that are met should be mine.

And this attitude is not just a by-product of our society; it’s born into all of us naturally. Put one toy in a room with two children and you know what will happen. Me-first thinking is expected. When was the last time one of your children said, “Mom (or Dad) how can I help you?” I don’t know about you, but I have to constantly teach my children that they are not the center of the universe.

What’s most disturbing to me is how we’ve brought this “me-first” type of thinking into our places of worship. How do you know if you have been guilty of this type of Christian-consumerism? Here’s a quick quiz. Is the quality of your church experience dependant on how good the sermon was, or how good the music made YOU feel? Do you feel blessed only when YOUR prayer request was acknowledged and prayed for? Do you keep track of how many people said “hi” to YOU before and after the service? If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you might have a problem.

Jesus stated in Matthew 20:28, “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Let me ask you a question, when you walk into church on Sunday morning, do you exhibit a servant mindset or a consumer one? Sadly, I’ve seen too many churches drown by the deadening weight of consumerism, and I’ve seen too many Christians start giving in to a McChurch diet of fast, easy, and affordable Christianity. Jesus always seemed to discourage that type of discipleship (see Matthew 8:18-22). If the church is to be a place of Christ-followers, then let’s replace the consumer mentality. You will revolutionize your church experience and your church as well.

my religious affections

2007-06-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading one of the great Christian classics "The Religious Affections" by Jonathan Edwards. It's deep, but truly refreshing. Here are some questions I came up with to check my own religious affections:

Fear – do I have a healthy fear of God (prov. 1:7)? Am I in awe of His majesty and holiness?

Hope – What are my hopes and dreams placed in? Is there any “storm” stealing my hope? (1 Pet. 1:3)

Love – Do I love God w/ my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do I love others like God loves them?

Hate – Do I hate sin? Do I hate the sin in my own life? Do I hate the evil in the world w/out hating the person committing the evil? (Ps. 101:3; Prov. 8:13)

Desire – Do I hunger and thirst after God’s holiness? Is He the most satisfying thing to my soul? (Ps. 42:1-2; 63:1-2; Matt. 5:6)

Joy – Do I choose joy over pity in my circumstances? Have I learned to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS? (Ps. 37:4; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16)

Sorrow – Is my heart broken over the sin and suffering in the world? Am I not moved that souls enter into an eternal hell every second? (Ps. 51:17; Is. 57:15)

Gratitude – Am I thankful to God for all He has given me? Do I praise Him for all His goodness every moment of my life?

Compassion – Have I shown mercy and forgiven those who have wronged me? Do I look to the needs of others and try to find a way to meet them?

Zeal – Have I become lukewarm and tepid in my faith? Am I passionate about seeing God’s Kingdom lived out through me to others?

Feel free to use this to list of questions on a daily basis. It's a spiritual EKG.

my thoughts on immigration

2007-06-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

The whole immigration thing seems to be a hot topic amongst the general populace these days. Even though the immigration bill died last night in the senate, the debate will continue to go on and on. There is no easy way to deal with this current crisis in our country.

My mind thinks of this issue on two different levels. My American mindset says that the people here illegally should be sent back and go through the process of becoming a citizen the lawful way. My great, great grandparents did it the legal way, why should we lower our standards of citizenship now. I'm also afraid of the government welfare state that will expand or be created if we give 20 million illegals amnesty. I don't want my children's tax burden to be 3 times the size of mine because of choices we make today. It's a sell-out to our future.

On the other hand, I'm a Christian. My heavenly citizenship is far more precious to me than my earthly one. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, not a follower of any political party. Of the 20 million or so illegal immigrants that are here, how many Christians have reached out to them with the gospel? How many of us have offered to provide help and assistance to those in need? My Heavenly Father tells me to love my neighbor whether they are here illegally or not.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that every believer should have the conviction and priority to share the gospel with the world. So now that the world is coming to us, shouldn't we be energized about the opportunities that lay at our doorstep?

The next time you see someone whom you know is here illegally, what will you do? Will you look at them as an illegal alien or someone who needs to hear about the love of Jesus.

Great parenting resources

2007-06-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

If you were at Providence this past week, I talked about 3 ways to keep your children off the Jerry Springer show. Here are the resources that I recommend every parent read:

The Book of Proverbs
The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo, John Mac Arthur, and Jay E. Adams
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
It Takes a Parent: How the Culture of Pushover Parenting Is Hurting Our Kids--and What to Do AboutIt by Betsy Hart
The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
Raising a Modern-day Knight by Robert Lewis

This by far is not an exhaustive list, but this is a start if you are looking for parenting resources. I also want to convey that I don't agree 100% with everything in these books. Make sure you compare everything with Scripture, but most of these authors have years of experience and advice I hold valuable. By the way, we are planning to do a Lifegroup in the fall entitled: Kids who stand out by Chip Ingram. It's a wonderful study on parenting. Keep parenting!

One thing I love about summer

2007-05-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to post at least one new entry every week for the rest of the summer. That's my resolution. I know I need to keep this thing updated.

One thing I love about summer is the long days. I love waking up at 5:30 am and seeing light approaching. I also love sitting in my hammock in my back yard after my kids are tucked in and having a few moments with Jesus before the sun sets. I love summer.

The V-day rip-off

2007-02-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

I think Valentine's day is a rip off for guys, especially those of us who are married. I love my wife. I try my best to show her I love her every day. Why do we need a "holiday" to show our spouses or significant others that we love and appreciate them. If we're doing our job, then we don't need a Valentine's day.

Even the origin of the day is marred in obscurity. I think the greeting card companies and the restaurants got together one day, and conjured up a way to milk us out of more of our hard earned cash. I hope I don't sound bitter. I love showing my wife how much I love her. I just hate it when someone else tells me that if I don't do something special on this day, then I'm a lousy guy.

Valentines day is even worse for dating couples. It can put added stress and anxiety on a relationship. Think about a couple that just started dating in January. How big a deal should you make of V-day. If you overd0 it, then the other person thinks that the relationship is moving too fast, therefore making one of the parties involved start to over analyze every call, note, and conversation. If you don't do enough for V-day, then the other person in the relationship thinks that you are not as committed as they are and start to have doubts about whether there is a future together as a couple.

Like Frank Costanza's boycott of Christmas, which led to Festivus ("a festivus for the rest of us"), I'm going to boycott the comercialistic holiday known as Valentine's Day.

Now, all I need to do is convince my wife...

opposition

2007-02-14T04:47:00.000-08:00

I'm training for a race. I've never been in a race before, so I'm kind of excited. It's a duathlon, which is a run-bike-run race. I wish it was called a biathlon, but the winter Olympics people stole that name already. By the way, who came up with that sport? Can you imagine someone sitting around one day and saying, "Ya know what 2 sports we need to combine, Cross-country skiing and shooting!"

Anyway, I've decided to do this duathlon because I'm 30 and I need something to keep me motivated to exercise and stay in shape. If you saw me you might argue that I have no problem staying in shape since I have the same size waist (32) as I did when I was in high school, but my heart was in dire need of some exercise. That realization came when I was walking up a flight of stairs and could hardly breathe. I knew I had to do something, so I signed up for this race in January.

The training was going splendidly until last week. My knee started hurting. It's happened before, and I know what it is. It's ITB syndrom, which is a condition where my IT band gets inflamed by rubbing against one of the bones in my knee. The pain is excruciating. I was really bummed because I had been doing some stretches for it and it hadn't hurt in over 6 weeks of training.

So after I ran yesterday and felt the pain start up again, I became really angry. In my heart, I'm like, "God, why are you letting this happen to me! I'm trying to take care of my body and this has to happen!" Of course, my natural inclination is to blame God, which was completely ignorant, but that's a whole other issue. As I was having this pity party for myself, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me some thoughts. First, that what I'm going through is a microcosm of life. When I try to do what's right, and live godly, I will face opposition.

Check out the book of Nehemiah sometime. Nehemiah's bummed that the wall of Jerusalem lie in ruins. He mourns and prays for over 3 months for God to do something, and lo and behold, He does. The king gives Nehemiah time off, money, men, protection, and supplies. Nehemiah couldn't have even written it up better. God answers Nehemiah's prayers and that's great, but in verse 10 of chapter of the story the antagonists are introduced into the story, two guys named Sanballat and Tobiah. These guys were ticked off that Nehemiah was going to rebuild the walls and they were going to do whatever it took to stop the work. There it is opposition.

I'm not trying to be fatalistic here, because we can overcome any opposition we face with the power of God working in us (Ephesians 1:18-20), but we will face opposition when we try to do what is right. The question I'd like to ask you is, "How do you handle the opposition in your life?" Do you give up easily? Do you get angry? Do you lean on God, or do you try to overcome on your own? These are important questions that we all need to answer.

I don't know what kind of opposition you might be facing in your life right now, but remember this. Number one, it's natural, so don't lose your perspective. And number two, rest on God and watch what He does to enable you to overcome. It will be a faith builder in your life.

What place I finish in during the race means little to me compared to the personal victories I know I can achieve overcoming the opposition.

The Christmas letdown

2006-12-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not a "bah humbug" type of guy. I really do love Christmas. In fact, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The lights, the parties, the gifts, the wonderful food, and of course the out of town family all make Christmas time truly enjoyable. Of all the trimmings around Christmas though, it's the anticipation that sets it apart from every other holiday. Do you know what I mean? That anticipation we all carry around with us during the month of December. We wonder how our spouse and kids will like their gifts. We're excited to see family that we haven't seen in a year or two. We hope that the Christmas program at church is good this year because your neighbors finally agreed to go to church with you.

I feel this anticipation every year, and you know what? I'm let down every time. I'm not saying everything usually goes wrong. It may, but you could make the greatest Christmas feast that they'll talk about for years to come. You could hear those words from your usually less than grateful children, "Mom and Dad, it's just what I wanted! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" You could even have 5 fun-filled days in a cramped house with more people than beds, and no major blow-ups. But when all is said and done, What are you left with?

Please don't think I'm trying to throw a wet blanket on your holiday season. In fact by the time you read this it will be after Christmas, which is why I think there is something deeper we have to investigate. Why this letdown? Why do we have this build up every year coming toward Christmas, and then the burning question afterwards, "Is that it?"

You see we have this tendancy as mankind to always look to fill our soul up with something. I search and strive to bring joy and hope to our lives, so we pour our time and energy into things like holidays, and recitals, and sporting events, and vacations, and work, and family, and sometimes even religion. But in the end we are left trying to cling onto the satisfaction we hoped that all of our activity would bring our life, and it slips through the fingers of our sould every time.

I've been doing a lot of reading and study in the book of John in the Bible. It's a fascinating book where Jesus talks a lot about what's real. In chapter 15 in the book of John, Jesus says something to this degree, "I've said these things that your joy would be complete." I picked up on that phrase and thought, "you mean Jesus is telling me how I can finally find joy, and not just partial joy, but joy all the time?" I searched and studied what Jesus had said previous to that phrase, and you know what I found? Something very simple, yet extremely profound.

I found that the letdown I experience so much in life doesn't have to happen. If I find my identity, not in what I do, but who I am in Jesus, then that's satisfying. If I understand how I'm loved by the God of this universe, and in turn show that love to others, that's where I'll find joy. I want to encourage you to read the words of Jesus in John 15. I hope that they penetrate your soul as they did to mine.

This year, I'm not anticipating the letdown. Whether all my Christmas expectations are met or not, this year there's something bigger and more eternal I'm anticipating.

walking a mile in another's shoes

2006-12-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

For the past week I've dabbled in the domestic engineer business. For the lay person that means that I stayed home with my 3 children, all under the age of 5, while my wife flew across the country for a funeral. I have often made the mistake of saying that I'm the only one in the family that works. I wil never say that again. Usually when I would utter such nonsense about me being the only one who works, my wife would respond by either giving me a look that said, "you have know idea what you're talking about," or she would gently remind me that she works just as hard as I do except she doesn't get paid. Of course I would acknowledge the corrections, but I never completely realized how hard that JOB really was until I experienced it for myself. The cooking, the cleaning, the never ending loads of laundry, plus the constant arbitration between toddlers is more than enough to send me into early retirement. I hate to say this, but it's the hardest, most thankless job I've ever had. One thing that has changed though is the increased admiration and empathy I have for my wife and her job.

Through that experience I was reminded how self-centered we can tend to be. Maybe you are the type that believes that nobody has it worse than you. You have the hardest job, the toughest relationship, the worst kids, the ugliest house or the lousiest DNA. I believe we all have the tendancy to exagerate our circumstances whether good or bad. That's why I believe we all need to do a little bit better at listening more and talking less, and empathizing more and complaining less.

The Bible says in Philippians 2 that we should, "look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." The verses around this verse are talking about how to think and live more like Jesus. Of course Jesus was the greatest example of looking to others needs above His own. Walking in another man's shoes will allow your compassion for others to grow. It's easy to complain. I can always find something to complain about in my life, but to truly be a blessing to others I need to look at others' needs before my own.

Just something to think about....

Okay God, You've God my attention...now what?

2006-12-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Okay God, You have my attention. Now What?

Have you ever found yourself saying something to that affect? I know I have many times. We are routinely living our lives when all of a sudden a “bomb” goes off and, we have a ton more questions than answers about our life, our future, and even our God. It’s a different tragedy for all of us: you, or one of your loved ones was diagnosed with a terminal illness; your once profitable business seems to be more in the red than black; you just moved to a new area leaving behind your closest friends and all that is familiar; or your marriage is going down a road seems to be heading toward divorce. Does one of those situations sound familiar?

How we respond to such personal tribulations says a lot about whom we are and the direction of our life. If we choose to bury our head in the sand and just hope that everything will work out in the end, I guarantee we will not be happy with the results. I know when I’ve decided to go down that road in the past it leads to disillusionment and discouragement. I believe that there is a better way; one that will lead to peace and hope no matter what the misfortune.

The better way begins with an understanding that you and I are not the center of the world, but it is God. Most of us tend to see, or at least treat, God as an all-powerful cosmic butler. He is there to assist me, in order to make my life a whole lot easier. Tell me if you’ve ever found yourself saying this: “Hey God, I need a really close parking spot; It’s cold outside.” If our prayers to God are nothing more than trivial, selfish wants, then God is nothing more than a slot machine. A few prayers in the slot, pull the lever, and bingo, I’ve got my blessing.

The problem with treating God in that manner is that God never intends to play second fiddle to our dreams and expectations. He wants to be the object of our worship; the sole focus of our existence. God cannot be negotiated with. “Okay God, you can have my Sundays and Wednesdays, but I get the rest of the week.” God has a plan and it is not negotiable. Over and over in the pages we find that God does rescue people and help mankind with their problems, but He always says that He’s doing to show His glory.

If you’ve ever read the story of Job in the Bible, you might get a picture of what I’m talking about. Here is a guy who is the Bill Gates of the 21st century B.C., and in a matter of a few days loses his wealth, his health, and his family…everything gone. Things are so bad, his wife tells him to curse God and die, but how does Job respond. Here’s what he says, “I came into this world with nothing, and I will leave this world with nothing. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” And the next verse says that Job worshipped God. Wow. Do you think Job understood that life is all about God and not him?

Please don’t think I’m trying to say that going through trials and tribulations is easy. In fact it’s hard, very hard. But we must have faith in something bigger than ourselves. We must have faith in a God who according to Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. When we start seeing that God has a purpose and plan that are so much greater than ours, then we need to ask ourselves if we are living by His purpose and plan.

If God’s got your attention right now, choose faith. Choose hope. Allow God to write the story for your life He wants.

The Power (or lack thereof) of Politics

2006-10-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, I'll have an editorial in the local paper, Lincoln Times-News (lakeshore edition). Here's one I sent in, just in time for the political season:

There’s nothing like politics is there. Every 2 years we become overwhelmed by advertising, news, talk shows, road signs, and every other form of media telling us who to vote for and why. By the first week in November, many of us just stop picking up the phone or turning on the TV, so we don’t have to listen to the hot air being transmitted. As much as all the campaigning can get on my nerves, I have to admit that I’m a bit of a political nut. I love keeping up with what’s going on in the world of government, whether it’s local, state, or national. The reason why I do so is to make sure that I make the most informed decision as possible on Election Day.

One of the most intriguing aspects to me in politics is how people, from both major political parties, believe that it will be the end of civilization as we know it, if the other guys are voted into office. If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure it’s the same argument the Whigs used against the Know Nothing party back in 1854, yet here we are in 2006 still able to vote our convictions and our conscience.

One of the great benefits concerning the electoral freedom we enjoy in this country is that when we, the people, feel like someone or some group is about to take away our freedoms, we have the right and the privilege to vote for somebody else and move our country, or our county, in a different direction. It’s really a great system. One that billions (and I mean billions) of people across this globe would love to have.

As important as our local, state, and national government is, I hope your joy and optimism are not reliant on the number of blue or red representatives we have in congress or the county commission. If we depend on our government officials to bring us happiness, we’ll end up being disappointed our whole lives. Such precious ideas like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should not rest upon mankind, but on a God who is infinitely bigger than the problems we face in this world.

I’m not trying to minimize the significance of government. Government has a place in this world. In fact, the Bible teaches that God is ultimately in control of who controls governments (Romans 13:1-7; Proverbs 21:1). But the truth is that no matter who controls the White House, Congress, or the local County Commission, they cannot touch your soul. Governments may have physical power, but they’ll never have spiritual power. Under the greatest totalitarian regime imaginable, the freedom of one’s soul can never be diminished. We have the ability to rejoice in all situations if Jesus has saved our soul from death (Romans 6:23).

This Election Day make sure you exercise your right and privilege to vote. But never forfeit the power to choose joy and peace no matter what the outcome.

Ordinary Day

2006-10-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how most of life is filled with ordinary days? Nothing too bad or too good ever happens on these ordinary days, just routine stuff. Yet it's in the routine stuff that we can't miss what God might be doing around us. I believe that God is always at work in and around us, whether we take notice of it or not. One of the things I'm praying for myself is to be constantly aware of the small opportunities God wants to use to make ordinary days, a little more extra-ordinary. Just a thought.

Why so downcast?

2006-09-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

I stayed up to watch my beloved Redskins on Monday night. I try to keep a realistic outlook on my team, but I think I got caught up in a little bit of fan delirium, believing that the Redskins would be good enough to thoroughly trounce the Vikings. I was wrong.

Flash to Tuesday morning...I'm depressed and down trodden because we lost. As I'm getting ready to go off to work, the Holy Spirit drops this little verse into my mind: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God..." (Psalm 42:5)

Don't you love that. I have a God who is constantly trying to keep me from living a natural and ordinary life, and wants me to live a supernatural, Spirit-filled life.

By the way, the 1st Sunday at our new church we had 70 in attendance. Praise the Lord.

Football and Church

2006-09-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting that the first Sunday for our church coincides with the opening of the NFL. Normally on the first Sunday of the season, church is kind of a second thought during that particular morning. I know that sounds pathetic, especially coming from a pastor, but it's true. Football seems to get bigger and bigger each year. In fact, with the addition of the fantasy football craze, more and more fans care more about other teams and players than they regularly would. I don't think that there is anything wrong with football, or getting excited about the first Sunday of the season. But this experience of planting a new church has put into perspective what is really exciting for me. To think that another church will be born almost 2,000 seasons since the first one began gives me chills. Church planting and pastoring is one of the most adventurous experiences one can experience.

Although I'm still pumped about football starting again. Nothing compares to the anticipation I feel about this Sunday.

Recharged

2006-08-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like vacation. My family and extended family (all 14 of us) just spent a week @ Bald Head Island. There really isn't anything to do but to golf and swim, two things I don't know how to do (I know, I'm weird). I spent a lot of time doing nothing but hanging out with my kids, reading some books, and playing spades with the guys. I feel totally recharged to do what God has called me to do. I really didn't do too much thinking about the church. I did do a lot of reflecting though about how far God has brought me and my family from a year ago. It's hard to imagine that 365 days ago planting a church was just a thought and a dream, and now in just 11 days it will be a reality.

I really have no idea what to expect, but if the next 365 days are like the last 365 days, I cannot wait. It will be an adventure.

God's providence

2006-08-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

When God led me to name our church, Providence Church, I had no idea how many time's His hand of providence would guide us and direct us as we've started this new church. From how we found a meeting place to the provision of all the chairs we needed (Thank you Northside!!), God keeps writing our story. Tonight I anticipate hanging over 5,000 doorhangers on homes all across the Denver area (Thank you again Northside!!!). It is my prayer that God will guide and direct just the right people to our church.

I believe that many people in Denver and all over the world are hungry for truth. They are hungry for the answers to life that will lead them to a real and living God, Jesus Christ. Pray with me tonight that we can spark some interest into people's minds to let God write their story, and may He always recieve the honor and glory for whatever happens.

Letting God write your story

2006-08-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Letting God write your story…

If you were to write your life story out, what would it look like? It’s an intriguing question because very few of us take time to reflect over the course of our existence and ask ourselves, “What have I accomplished?” or “What impact have I made in this world?” We all strive for significance whether it’s in our jobs, families, or hobbies, but who will remember you or your story once you’ve left this world? Our stories last, if we are fortunate, for a few decades and then it is ended.

At Providence Church, it is our desire to help you let God write your story. The great story of God and His love spans the generations of time. It is a story that was significant 2,000 years ago, and it is still meaningful today. The only way we can find true purpose and joy is when we join the great story of God.

Every life has a story. Who’s writing yours?

FEW

2006-07-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

I love eating at Carraba's. It's probably my favorite restaurant (at least for the moment). My favorite dish is Pollo Rosa Maria (thanks Chris for that suggestion). The first time I went to Carraba's was about 2 years ago. Until that time, I usually went to Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill if I was in the mood for some Italian food. I probably would have never gone to Carraba's except for the fact that everyone who went there kept telling me about it. Someone I know would eat there and rave for the next two minutes telling me how great the food was. So I went and I tasted, and I had to say it was good. So good in fact that now when I go to celebrate special occasions (ie. b-days, anniversaries, groundhog's day), I want to eat at Carraba's.

I believe in my heart that many people who do not attend church would like to (if you don't believe me, read the book "The Unchurched Next Door" by Thom Rainer). There are a host of reasons why people don't attend church, but the biggest one is the sad reality that people who do attend church do not invite their unchurched friends to come and taste the goodness of God. If we were as passionate about our Savior as our favorite restaurant, how aggressive would we be to invite the lost to our gatherings.

I've said this in the past, but I want to renew the challenge. I want to encourage you invite Five every week (FEW) to church. That's one person every weekday. Not to hard, but something that I want to make a habit in my life. If I love my church and I love my God so much, I need to be willing to invite others in to the joys I am experiencing.

Five Every Week...Can you do it?

For His Name
Ben

Spreading our wings

2006-05-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Well its finally here. We are leaving the friendly confines of Northside and meeting separately as a distinct community this Sunday, June 4th. There is always a little bit of the unknown when you are doing something for the first time, but I'm looking forward to it.

This Summer we will be doing a selective study in the Book of Acts as we look at "The Naked Church". Don't worry, it's rated G.

Here are directions to Phil and Pam's house for church this Sunday:

From 73 West take a right on Club Dr.
From 73 East take a left on Club Dr.
Once on Club, make a left onto Broadmoor Lane (right after the clubhouse on the left)
2nd house on the left.

God is Awesome!

2006-05-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Declaring that "God is Awesome" does not carry the weight that such a statement should because of the overuse of the word "awesome" in our society today. But this word truly encapsulates what Liz and I have experienced the past couple of days.

We signed the papers for our house yesterday and are just pumped about the prospect of moving soon to our target area. As we were seeking confirmation from God for this property we were about to purchase, Liz and I prayed a lot on Monday and Tuesday. After Liz prayed on Tuesday morning she was reading her devotional, that she's been going through, and it told her to look up this verse:

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord? 20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. 22 "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

If that's not a confirmation from God, I don't know what is. Anyway, thank you so much for praying for us during this time. God has been and will continue to be faithful. WE have reason to rejoice tonight!!!

Keep praying!

Ben

Don't miss it!

2006-05-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

I know I shared this with our core team this past Saturday, but I thought it is worth repeating.

There are so many times in life that I feel like I missed out on something. My parents never let me watch He-man or Scooby Do because of the supposed witchcraft and monsters that could have influenced me to be a bad, rebellious child (they almost put the gauntlet down on the Smurfs as well, but we successfully argued our case that little blue people are really quite harmless, even if the male to female ratio is 150:1). So when my friends would talk about the latest He-man cartoon, I felt totally lost and would try as quickly as possible to change the subject to something that I felt knowledgeable about.

Sad to say, but many times I feel just as inept to talk about spiritual things as well, when the subject approaches. What's really just awful is the fact that I know enough Bible information to say some pretty spiritual things without really experiencing any of it. I read a passage of Scripture the other day that totally rocked my world. John 5 talks about the lame man that Jesus healed. This guy had been unable to walk for 38 years and hung out with the other "sick, blind, lame, and withered" people down at the pool called Bethesda (sounded like a pretty depressing place to visit). So Jesus asks this guy if he wants to be healed, and Jesus heals him. Now the last sentence in verse 9 says a lot. The verse states "Now it was the Sabbath on that day."

So this crippled man, who has been unable to walk, has been miraculously healed and takes up his mat and heads for home like Jesus told him to. What do you think the people did when they saw this guy walking? You would think they'd be going crazy with excitement over the miraculous event that has just taken place, but verse 10 is just astonishing. It says "Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet,'"

I was completely blown away by that verse because these people missed it. They missed what Jesus was doing and saw something completely different than they should have, and yet, I do the very same thing. How many times have you missed what God is doing around you, or even worse, in you? One of the things I've been praying lately, and I want to encourage you to do the same, is to ask God to let us see what He is doing, so we won't miss out on the blessings of life.

By the way...
Huge praise, we sold our house!!! Something we've been praying about for approximately 16 months. "Thank you God for teaching me patience."

Until next time

Bearing our burdens

2006-05-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

Psalm 68:19 - "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation."

I'm a dreamer. Always have been and probably always will be. I love thinking about the future and what it holds for me and my family. I got this trait from my dad for sure. I remember being a kid (probably around 7) and my dad would tell my brother and I that he was going to take us on a trip across the US when we were 15 and 13 respectively. Now I'm 30 and I'm still waiting to see Mt. Rushmore. Trust me, I'm not bitter that I never got to do that. I had an awesome dad who did a lot for us, but we dreamers have a problem.

The problem with being a dreamer/visionary is that we are awful at details. I can tell you what I want to see happen, but I'm not the best at the details leading up to making the dream come to fruition. That's why I know it's important to surround myself with detail-minded people who see the A-Z list that needs to get done. I hate lists. You know why? Because they bring me back to reality, and sometimes reality is more than we can bear ourselves.

I love this verse. I read it this morning. It's great to know that the God of the Universe, the Awesome Creator, our Sovereign Lord today, right now, at this very moment is bearing our burdens. Maybe that's why Jesus could say <

em>"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

It's great to know that the burdens we carry with starting Providence church are not just ours to bear, but God is daily concerned about this new church even more that we are. I don't know what kind of burdens you bear right now. They are probably different from mine a bit but let's remind our selves to let God be God in our lives. Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you.

Psalm 62

2006-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months, we, as a church, have been anxious to find a meeting place for us. Although, we prayed, God seemed to be silent. I believe that is one of the hardest things for a Christian to experience is the silence of God. We know He is there. We know He loves us and cares for us, and we know that His sovereign will cannot be thwarted. Yet when God does not move by our timetable, doubt and anxiety seem to creep into our thinking. I have to be honest to say that I would tell anyone that would listen that God will provide, but inside, I couldn't help but wonder if He really would, after such a long season of silence.

It was during this time of silence that God would refresh my faith over and over again through the Psalms. In particular, Psalm 46 and 62. What I love about Psalm 62 is how David ends the psalm by saying that there are basically 2 things that we can be sure of about God: He is powerful, and He is loving.

As a child that wrestled with His Father's will, it was these words of Scripture that fed my soul and helped propel me to a deeper faith that I will forever remember.

"Thank you Jesus for teaching us faith"