.Free Fun.

How does a couple keep their marriage fresh and alive! I've been married for almost 7 years and although we love each other more today than we did 7 years ago, 4 kids later (and #5 coming!) it's hard to get in time for just the two of us that fit into the budget! :) I'd love to hear creative ways of getting Husband and Wife time on a budget.

Wow. How to have fun on a budget. There are so many things that come to mind for me, but I think they all come back to one fundamental question: Do you have to be alone?

In our marriage, the most fun times come as a family. There is nothing more fun and romantic than strolling down the path lagging behind the kids, whether because they are in the stroller or running up ahead, and enjoying life with each other. It's those moments of watching our kiddos do all the fun and crazy things that 1, 2, and 5 year olds do that drive conversations of who I was as a boy, or who Tiffany was as a little five year old.

This can only happen is a few things are true:

1. Mom and Dad have to love spending time as a family.

2. Going to the zoo, for a family walk, or out for ice cream cannot be about endurance.... it must be about enjoyment.

3. Both Mom and Dad have to want to see it as fun and romantic.

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away." — Ann Voskamp

The biggest lesson I have been learning in marriage and in life is that only rookies hurry. I don't want to be that rookie any more. To be who I desire, I must surrender many things-including the illusion that I am a perfect parent or husband... but in so doing, I gain moments that forever change and shape my relationships.

Bottom line: There is no secret to free 5 star restaurants and trips to the Bahamas... but there are an abundance of free moments, that when grasped and treasured can do far more that a $100 steak or a 10 thousand dollar second honeymoon!

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.Someday, you'll know.

We visited the postal district, on appointment. It was the day we were to dine with H. I had promised the other boys on the street that I would bring them something to eat. It was a reality they reminded me of often.

After walking around the postal district for about an hour or two, our van arrived and I began distributing the food... much to the dismay of our driver. But before I did, I told H, don't worry I have many things for you... As I began to give out the food, H frantically tried to get his share. I told him, be patient I have much better things in store for you, but still he grasped for the insignificant treats.

I thought to myself, someday you will get it.

H, I would move heaven and earth to help you. I would uproot my whole family if I had to, just for you. You are special to me. Not because of who you are-you are certainly not a dignitary, you aren't going to bring me wealth, fame or renown... nope. You are insignificant.

BOOM! CRASH! BANG! {and various other batman effects}

In the same way that I am nothing, there is One who is desperate to captivate me and gift me with good things {Matt 7:11; Luke 11:13; James 1:17; 1 Peter 4:10}, that One has seeded H in my heart. So why am I expecting him to understand something I don't.
Every day I hear of some new trinket I desire. Some other device, machine, tool, car, job, etc. and I think to myself... If I had that... Meanwhile God is saying, "you just don't get it." I abandoned everything of value for you. I have grand plans for you. I am going to gift you with things your mind's eye can only now imagine. When all that junk fades away... You will have Me.

H, I am not God-not even close. But I know what I would do for you, and knowing that makes me shutter at how shallow my perspective has been on what God has to offer me.

Someday you'll know... and hopefully, someday I'll get it.

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.It's been forever.

I know, it has been forever since I last posted. To say the least I have been busy. Redoing missions, bringing a dog into the home, and trying my hand at being "artsy." I have yet to feel successful in anything.

The good news is that God is working in my heart and that well much of it I am not ready to share, I think it will be time really soon. to pacify you in the mean time, I will let you see my not-so-good Africa...


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.The Princess and the Toad.

This marks my official first "mommy blog" moment.

I honestly have no intention of this place becoming an avenue for my gushing about my wonderful kids. Not because I don't want to gush about them, but because this place is about something else.

Today, those two worlds collide. Recently, I have been having some struggles being a good Daddy. I have been frustrated, torn, and bothered. I cannot express to you how badly I want my son home. And, somehow in the midst of my journey to bring my son into his forever family, I allowed the frustration of paperwork, the tare of a missing family member, and the bothersome nature of waiting to seep into the time I have been given with my two beautiful children that are already living in their forever families.

I have been listening to Steven Curtis Chapman, and was struck by these lyrics and what they mean in regards to my two kids:

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms'
Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song'
Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

It won't be long, and this season will be gone...

To my princess:
You are beautiful... The special little one that taught me what it first meant to want to hurt for someone else. You are the one that showed me how sacrifice can be something to treasure!

To my toad (b/c he looks so much like Toadstool from Mario):
Your compassion for others will never leave my mind... May I never forget that no matter how valued the prize, you would not take without making sure there was enough for Sissy!

God, give me the eyes to see the life you have granted me to live now.

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.My Son, My Journey {Part 3}.

"Do you believe I can be your everything?"

I can still remember the clear sound of His whisper in my ear.

"Am I really sufficient?"

Somehow, unwittingly, I uncovered the reality that my journey is mostly a reflection on how people have impacted me. So, I am going to continue in that way... until things change or until I run out of people.

With that said, meet Jo. A sweet, gentle woman that God placed in our path. She and her husband are seeking adoption via ET as well. In fact, it was her blog that led to our watching Lucy. The part of her journey that found its way into my story came after we chose to adopt.

Honestly, I thought it would be the most fantastical news anyone would want to hear. I thought that when I told people our plans, they would run up and down the streets. They would say things like "I am so proud of you." or "God is so awesome to have put this on your heart." Instead, our story was kind of... "so, we have been accepted to adopt via Ethiopia!" {cue the crickets.}

That's when Jo spoke the words into my life that I needed to hear. I wish I could say them all to you, but honestly, they are hers not mine. When it all is said and done, of all the things she said... the words I will never forget were: "I am doing this because I love God and I believe HE is in this. I want to be in His will and I want to be like Jesus for this little life." {me too, Jo}

{Part 3, Truth 3} Jim, it is about God, a little life in ET, and your obedience... not anything or anyone else.

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.My Son, My Journey {Part 1}.

"Do you believe I can be your everything?"

I can still remember the clear sound of His whisper in my ear.

"Am I really sufficient?"

God has been tearing me down for quite some time now. I am only now at the place where I can look backward and begin to see just how pathetic I truly am in light of Him. Honestly, I am a very selfish person. I am extremely prideful, and I have a huge propensity for seeing the grass as greener on the "other side." Most of my life I have spent dreaming about how good it would/could be if only... Never once considering how good it is. I remember in my past ministry, relating to people how content I was, how I was "living my dream", all the while knowing that it was words I should say, not words I wanted to say. Not because I wasn't living my dream, but because I couldn't ever find true contentment.

Now, before I digress too far, let's just leave it at a reality that I have long since worked to attain full control of my world and a death grip on my circumstance.

In walks Gerlie... my family's Compassion child. Thank you Gerlie for opening my eyes to the Truth that I have it sooo good!

It was in reading the realities of Gerlie's circumstance that God began to rub a salve on the eyes of one selfish, prideful, pathetic soul and begin the process of removing the blinders of my life.

{Part 1, Truth 1} Jim, you lack nothing.

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.Sheep or Goat?.

Matthew 25 has this incredible account of Jesus describing His own judgment on the nations... Now, for those of us who get caught up in some of the details... the question arises, "When does this happen, and who is Jesus judging?" While I recognize there could be a variety of answers to that question, one thing is clear:

The standard is NOT exclusive to this one judgement!

A person only needs to look up the themes of poverty and justice in the Bible to find that we are called over and over to care for the poor and the needy... the orphan and widow. But back to Matthew, Jesus describes this scene where He is separating the sheep (true followers) from the goats (those who claim Christ, but do nothing for the "least of these"). Jesus gives us the gold standard when He says,

"I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

It makes e think of the book of James... "...be doers of the Word and not hearers only..." or "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble..." or "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" or "...even the demons believe-and tremble..."

It looks to me like James got it... What good is head knowledge if our hearts aren't broken? What good is a broken heart if it doesn't move our hands?

According to Matthew 25, "...inasmuch as you did {or not} it to one of the least of these, you did {or not} it to me..."

Jesus, give me your eyes...

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.C'mon Jesus... just this one thing.

I used to joke that Jesus' favorite football team was the New York Giants.

Why?

Because I gave in "to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist Him into a version of Jesus [I was] more comfortable with." [Platt]

I wanted "A Jesus Who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on [my] comforts." [Platt]

I wanted to "gather in [my] church building and sing and lift up [my] hands in worship..." [Platt] to me.

This may not make a lot of sense to anyone who reads this, but if you knew my heart... it did not ache for Africa, it ached for the Meadowlands... it was not desperate for the Scriptures, it was desperate for giants.com... it did not yearn to find followers of Christ, it yearned to make converts to my beloved royal blue NY. In fact, my daughter recognized a Giants logo long before she recognized the cross.
Friends, I have been crying out to God, what can I sacrifice that I have not already given... so today, I will go home and gather my Eli Manning football, my Lawrence Taylor Jersey, my Tiki Barber prints, my Harry Carson hat, and my Jeremy Shockey helmet... the symbols of my former allegiance... and I... [without exaggeration I paused here to think... I wish it were not true] give it all away. Our school is putting on an auction to support Christian education... may God bless the sale of my idolatry.

Forgive me for my sin, I am so foolish to see it as anything valuable in light of You.

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.Ashamed.

I have begun reading The Hole in Our Gospel. Let's just say, I didn't make it through the introduction without crying and running to the office next to mine reading quotes. How have been a Believer this long and just now realize I have been missing the point?

Honestly, I am pretty ashamed of myself. Who grows up in a Christan home, receives a Christian eduction, grows up in a church that cares only about Truth, attends a great Bible college, serves in ministry for years and somehow misses the point? Who? Me.

One of the huge recurring themes in my life is my pride... I grew up in a world where meeting external standards were most of what matters. People say don't drink, don't chew, don't go with girls that do... it was more like "don't show evidence of sin (even if you need help), dress right and sing hymns, judge all by what you can see."

Yesterday, in the midst of a conversation with a woman who is watching her grandchildren grow up, desperately desiring their salvation, while dealing with the reality that the Truth is not coming from her children, tell me, "My children rejected church because I gave them legalism." I didn't know what to say, ummm, gulp. Yeah you're right... or it'll all be okay? Nope. The answer? Be changed, and tell them all about what God is doing in you. Then, trust Him. Ouch. I know, not the promise it'll all be okay. Tough words to hear... but the Truth is, God is the only One sufficient to make all the wrongs right again. His transformation is all that matters.

So back to my shame... Today, I cling to the reality that I am so foolish, so limited, and I need to be transparent and transformed by Him. Because, while I am ashamed of me... "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." ~Romans 1:16

God, change me... You, not rules is what this world needs.

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.Count the Cost.

My family is in the process of adopting, and one of the funny nuances of adoption is money. It is so akward for me to look at a dollar figure and say: "Can I afford to adopt?"

I have always felt that you do not chose to expand your family based on your budget... but is that biblical?

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to
them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own
life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear
his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which
of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and
count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after
he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it
begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not
able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another
king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able
with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with
twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way
off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So
likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot
be My disciple. ~Luke 14

Now, here Christ says that in order to be a disciple (follower) of Christ [not some extra-special-super-Christian], a person must count the cost of following Him.

So here is my question: Does that mean we should constantly be asking ourselves"Is it worth it?" or does it mean that at a point in time we ask, then live our life with the answer "yes, God"?

Here's the thing: The answer is not simple. We grow, things change. Life happens. Choices get complex.

Here's where I am at: I want my life to count for His glory. So, with eyes wide open to the reality that life is hard and clinging to the Truth that life is short, I want to blindly say, "Yes God."

Why? Because I trust You, God. You will never leave me or forsake me, You will never give me anything I can't handle, and You are sufficient!

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.Counter-Culture Club.

I'll tell you what's wrong with our culture...

We need men to rise up and build great homes. Men need to get back to being the protector of the home. If men would just work a little harder... you know get up a little earlier, got to bed a little later... make just a little bit more money.

If women would just cling to their husbands for security... If ladies could just be content with a few children, and nice little home. If they would just find their security in their loving husband...

We would all be OK... {You with me?}

Ahh the voice of the American Christian... {me.} Meet Psalm 127.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Five quick Truths for this Tuesday:

1. God is the builder and protector of the home... all other options are vain {wicked}
2. God provides work and grants rest... to constantly pursue more is wicked.
3. God's rewards with {money, fame, fancy cars, nice clothes, etc.} Nope. Children.
4. Parents role is {Builder, provider, protector} Nope. Warrior.
5. The path to contentment is: {having the best stuff} Nope. Lots of kids!

Father, may I, today, be a warrior, willing to point my kids into dangerous circumstances, for Your glory, understanding that You are the builder of my home, You are the protector of my home, You are the one who rewarded me with my children... and You asked me to be a warrior willing to use my arrows in battle! Your glory, nothing else!!


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.Is It True?.

Truth... ahh Truth. Is it really true? You know the Bible... is it really True?
Among my circle I had always thought that this was a rhetorical question.

You know:

• Do we believe the Bible is true? {Yes.}


• Does it really change lives? {Yes.}


• If it exposes a deficiency will I change? {Yes.}

Whoops... I was W-R-O-N-G.

I recently learned the real answer to these questions.

Are You ready? Really? Because I was NOT.

Do we believe the Bible is true?
The Real Answer: If it affirms what I "know" to be true... If it speaks to a point that I want to make... If it points to ancient Truths that have no bearing on my current life... {Yes.}
If it steps on my toes... If what it says is uncomfortable... If it impedes on my goals... {No.}

Does it really change lives?
The Real Answer: If you mean do I smoke, chew, drink, or swear... If you mean I live differently than vulgar lower class citizens... {Yes.}
If you mean has my life changed because of something the Word exposed this week, month, or year... If your asking if it makes people different daily... {No.}

If it exposes a deficiency will I change?
The Real Answer: No qualifier necessary... Flatly {Yes.}
Oh that Truth, you must not understand the Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic. Your version can't be accurate... That wasn't written for me, you are looking at a pre-church passage... That was strictly apostolic... In other words... {No.}

Friends, I don't have a cute pithy statement... it is true, based on the way we live.

God, make it not true of me! Change me!!

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."I Want Meat".

This blog is primarily about me. But today, not as much me but my response. Recently my hand was forced on the issue of milk and meat. Someone who I have interacted with for a number of years listened to my message Sunday and responded with "I want meat."

Here's the problem: Yes, you are educated, yes, you grew up with Christianity, but, no... You are not ready for meat.

Handing you a new piece of Truth when you have yet to interact with the last one is like laying before a baby a nice NY Strip when they are having trouble processing formula.

I Corinthians 3:1-4 "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?"

Paul's measuring stick for whether a person was needing milk or meat is not how many years I have been attending church, or how many years I have spent in Christian education... In the context of this passage Paul uses behavior... "envy, strife, and divisions among you." Paul never refers to my level of education, but how I act. In the broader context of the passage, Paul address more specifics on how my actions will be tried by fire, etc., etc.

Hebrews 5:12-14 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Here the issue of maturity comes up again. However, once again, as I look into the context of this passage, it is not education that is the measure of maturity. It is life. The writer of Hebrews says that based on the education level of his audience, they should be teaching this Truth, but here they are having to be taught again... Why? Because those who need "meat" are the ones who "have their senses exercised." In other words, the ones who are practicing things like teaching (v. 12). The writer makes it clear-maturity is defined by actions, not understanding.

Even as the context continues in chapter 6, verses 10-12 say, " For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Again, reiterating the reality that it is not what I know, it is what I do.

So What? Why do I bring this all up?

The church is gaging on simple Truth while begging for the best cut of meat...

God help me to live my life in a way that I can process everything your Word has for my life!

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.Bask in Me.

Ever found yourself reading 4-5 books at a time and in the midst of doing so, one text of Scripture comes up over and over again... That's where I have been for the past 3-4 days. I have been reading Radical, The Barbarian Way, The Christian Atheist... and it seems like one or two more, but those for sure, and they all speak of this account in Matthew. {Screaming at me:} Time to figure it out.

In Matthew 11 John the Baptist has this incredible struggle. John is in prison, he has been in prison... and the likelihood of him getting out is slim... So, he send his followers to Jesus and asks the most bizarre question: "Are you the coming One or do we look for another?"

Crazy right? You mean John the Baptist was unsure of whether the One he had baptized... the One he knew since he was a boy and been exposing as the Messiah really was? Why?

Well, it seems from the context that he was shaken, scarred... afraid to endure what was coming, and in turn wondering: If He is Christ, would He allow this to happen?

Jesus' answer: "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

What?

Then Jesus cries loud enough for John's followers to hear: "What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet."

The Truth: Jesus knew that John was shaking in his jail cell. There were people who wanted his head on a silver platter (and they eventually got it). And he wanted to know what Jesus was going to do about it.

Jesus essentially told John, "you know who I am. You are scared, and I get it... but I will not "offend" you by taking away your greatest moment to shine for My glory."

Me: Jesus would you really sit back and let John die and bask in the glory of it all?

Jesus: Yes.

Why? Let's be Honest, that's none of my business.
God, whatever it takes for you to be glorified through me... Give me the strength to endure... TO THE END!

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.Have I offended you yet?.

Being a Pastor is a lot like being a politician... even though it shouldn't be!

Today I found myself teetering the line between how much I could say and how much I shouldn't... Why? Because I didn't want to offend... Whoops...

That's not what it's about...

If it's all about Truth, why should I worry about a person's response? Hold on. It's got to be gracious. My pride has to be taken out of the equation. I have to love you. God's glory manifest in you must be my end... but if I'm worried after that: I'm wrong.

Father, help me to love them just like you... help me not to hedge Your Truth against what I think their response will be. Change me... Make me more like You!

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.My Best Friend.

Meet my best friend... As a part of a series at my church I was able to film my best friend and give a peek into his story.

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.You win, I lose.

Ever find yourself in the midst of one of those freshman-year-of-college debates... You know, the kind that both parties dramatically oppose one another. Both walk into the conversation "right," only to storm off angry two hours later all the more sure that they were right! (Of course, chased down with two days of awkward silence.)

If you can't tell: I am a recovering addict of verbal battles.
Today, I am ready to admit it, you win, I lose.

One of those perpetual battles I have engaged in for years finds its grounding in being "different from the world." So, you ask, which side were you on? It's complicated. Yes, we are to be different, but difference with the parties I was debating has always been defined as retroactive by ten years... We can do it as long as we are 10-20 years behind what the world sees as "en vogue." (by my count, that makes hair metal a viable option for praise and worship)

So Here's where I went wrong... In pursuing the truth that this argument is foolish, I missed the Truth. I should be different.

When I think about the fact that Christ calls us to a life that leads to persecution, it doesn't exactly inspire within me a "I can't wait" attitude. In fact, my lack of desire for trial and difficulty has left me willing to be satisfied by a life of doing... Nothing.

Platt puts it this way:

Maybe this is why we sit back and settle for a casual relationship with Christ and routine religion in the church. It is safe there, and the world likes us there. The world likes us when we are pursuing everything they are pursuing, even if we do put a Christian label on it. As long as Christianity looks like the American dream we will have few problems in the world.

Whoa... Wait a minute... The world doesn't take issue with me because I am not different.
Maybe the reason I don't see loads of converts to Christ by the way I live in front of them because we have the same religion... Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Jim Elliot said of America that, "their condemnation is written on their bank books and in the dust on their Bible covers."

I am not a political person... this is not an anti-American rant... This is about one thing:
As I stand before the God of all creation, I want Him to see something different... for HIS glory!

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I have been reading the David Platt book Radical... It is amazing how a person can pick up a book and be so transformed... It is almost as though God walks before and sets up every minute detail into our life before we are anywhere near it. (I am a bit sarcastic, so if you didn't catch it... HE DOES DO THAT!)

So here I am, reading the book when I find myself completely broken by a concept that is earth shattering, but not new! It is the reality that Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane cried to the point of sweating tears of the reality of the "cup."

And what is that cup?

It is the cup of God's wrath.

This is what Jesus is recoiling from in the Garden. All God's holy wrath and hatred toward sin and sinners, stored up since the beginning of the world, is about to be poured out on Him, and He is sweating blood at the thought of it.

What happened at the cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon His soul. In that holy moment, all the righteous wrath and justice of God due us came rushing down like a torrent on Christ Himself. Some say, "Good looked down and could not bear to see what the suffering that the soldiers were inflicting on Jesus, so He turned away." But this is not true. God turned away because He could not bear to see your sin and my sin on His Son.

(from Radical, by David Platt)

If that is not enough to rock your world little is... And to be honest, yesterday I was struggling with some real shame. I know that the shame was not of God, because that is not how He works... but sometimes an honest evaluation of yourself is hard to swallow.

So today I have rejected shame and embraced Romans 7:24-8:2.

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank
God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law
of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Thank You God... Thank You Jesus... I am FREE! Spirit, Lead me.

I am not a blogger... but God has been captivating my heart in ways that I cannot deny! So, I must put it out there.

For weeks my wife and I have been wrestling with Truth. Our conversations go back and forth. I realize time and again that we are talking in circles... because we are captivated! My wife and my eyes have been opened to the Truth that God cares for orphans and widows, and that He has called us (everyone who is adopted as a son or daughter of the Almighty Creator of the Universe) to nurture the fatherless and comfort the husband less.

Growing up, I remember time and again when my family would see images of starving kids in Africa. I remember the words, "those kids are already dead" and "that agency gives pennies on the dollar to starving children." Honestly, that meant: "I don't have to do anything." Recently it struck me... better that a starving child get pennies on the dollar than the nothing I gave.

I am not advocating that we support deceitful agencies that lie and steal... However, I am advocating that we do just a little research... Support Compassion International, or a local homeless shelter, or an adoptive family, or something ANYTHING.

I sit here weeping as I write this, because I did nothing for too long and I am ashamed... But here me: I AM CHANGED...

Here is a nugget of Truth that we should all embrace: True Religion never adds up to zero... zero money invested, zero time spent, zero prayers prayed, zero tears cried... If you add it up and you're at zero... you DON'T HAVE True Religion!