Loving Life…

We are going to the willow creek conference tomorrow.  One might be excited if they were going to Chicago for the weekend.  However, we are not.  We are going to watch the conference at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, TX.  Instead of being in beautiful Chicago exploring the city, meeting new people there, and having a weekend away from the Big D, we are going to be fighting rush hour traffic to make it to Rockwall by 9am, and then rush hour back home.  We will probably take the church van form 1982 with its window broken as we open the door to throw in toll money.  All us staffers rolling together in the glorious church van, this is not cool in anyway shape or form.   And what are Jimmy Carter or Collin Powell going to teach me about church problems or issues???  At least I will be out of the office for 2 and half days….which reminds me we will be there half a day on Saturday which is usually my only real day off.  Awesome?!?!?!

Out of Weariness…into Standing Firm

         This week has been a tough one.  I really don’t know why; there was nothing particularly challenging, or tough just an average week.  I find the average weeks are the ones where I feel weary the most because on a busy week or a challenging week, you have obstacles to overcome and really have to lean on God to pull you through even though most times I try to lean on my ability and understanding turning to God at the last second.  On the average week, it is easy for the enemy to creep in and deceive or discourage me.  I don’t even see it coming, but before I know it I am questioning everything in my life and I am depressed.  The enemy I am referring to is Satan.  He is looking to destroy what is good and of God in this world including you and I.  Anything he can do to distract you, pull you into sin, indulging in your selfish desires, and make you question what you are doing in life.  Why do I even give him an ear?  Why don’t I listen to God’s voice and his calling on my life?  However, I listen. 

        This week the enemy had me wondering if what I was doing in this life is good, is it advancing the kingdom of God, are you making an impact in your students’ lives, are you being a good husband, does my life matter.  All lies that I deal with on a regular basis, and struggle with.  I know I don’t need people’s approval to be validated, but I crave it.  I have to fight this craving, and look to God’s word to see who he is, who it says I am, and what I need to be doing in my life.  The fight was intense this week, but I finally battled back instead of rolling over in defeat or depression.  I am weary…but not giving up. I really took today to connect with God, listen to his voice through looking at the bible, and listening to an encouraging message from Francis Chan www.francischan.org .  This is what hit me:  “Do not grow weary in doing good, but in due time, you will reap a harvest.” Gal. 6:9 I have heard this verse over and over in my life, but today had fresh meaning and encouragement.  It was just what I needed to hear.  I needed to be reminded that God is watching, he knows my deeds good and bad, and in due time I will reap what I sow.  I want desperately to reap a harvest of good for God, to impact his kingdom eternally.  I can’t due this if I give in, I can’t do this if I listen to the enemy.  I was encouraged to continue fighting for good, for God through being a student minister, and in due time God will bring a harvest of young people who love him more than anything who are turning their schools upside down. 

         I need to be faithful in the here and now, following God, and loving others while God works out the details and how things will play out.  I need to focus on my role, and let God do his. I need to have long obedience in the same direction, I need not grow weary but fight for good, and God will work it out in his timing.  I need to trust, I need to believe, and I need to live out what I believe while claiming the promises of God.

Starbucks…not a real coffee shop

Many people think Starbucks is the best thing in the world when in actuality the only great thing about them is…they are everywhere.    People flock there becasue it is the only place to go, having frequented many Starbucks this is what I see:  People meeting for business, grabbing a coffee to go, or just sitting at their computer with headphones in ear.  Starbucks has the corporate feel and you know what to expect when walking in the same colors on the walls, same displays, same coffee none of which stand out above the other, and same over priced cup of joe or frappacino.  They are uniform, and you see the same people at all of them no matter where you are:  business man on the cell phone and lattop waiting for his next client, socceer mom stops in on the way to take the kids to their never ending list of events for the day (this is the only stop that keeps her sane…oh and she gets a frap for the kids), pretencious apple guy doing who knows what, over zealous baritsta, and the occasional high school girls swaping gossip.  There is nothing unique about Starbucks except they are all over and slowly taking over.

If you are so luck in you community there may still be the local coffee shop to rescue you from this comformity…oh yeah and free wi-fi.  I am talking about the places where the people know you not just your name, they know your drink (which is their specialty becasue it doesn’t all taste the same), people who are having conversations about changing or saving the world, people who are there to be known not alone but together, with unique decor which makes you feel at home, and has the vibe compelling you to come back again and again.  I envy those people with this option.  Where I live it is all uniformed conformity with Starbucks plus all our brick buildings even taco bell is brick.  I miss the local coffee shop…the real coffee shop with people smoking out front grubbling about the government or school, people playing chess inside, people with nothing better to do than congregate.  I love it.   I am forunante today to be at a great local coffee house formerly Standard & Pours now Opening Bell Coffee here in Dallas www.myspace.com/openingbellcoffee .  I drove 25 mintues to come to this place for the above mentioned things.  As I sit here writting and listening to the people, I feel at home, relaxed.  I want to hangout in this foever…if my wife was with me.  These are the dying gems we need to support and hold onto.  If you are so blessed to have a place like this next time you go in let them know how much you appreciate them. 

Hanging out and envious,

HERE I AM

I have given in to the world of blogging.  I can see this to be either very good, or highly addictive.  I would like to thank those who have brought me here:  Aaron Ivey and Bush.  I was so engaged by their post and thoughts that I did what anyone would do… start their own thing for people to read.  Hoping to be embraced by the blogging community,

Clay