Love my neighbor

Yesterday 6 different churches in our community got together and held block parties around our city. I live in the east end right accross the street from Pershing Court. It's pretty infamous in our community. I moved here because the apartment was nice and I could afford it. Five years later I think I'm starting to see that God has me in this neighborhood, my neighborhood for a reason.

Have you ever thought that maybe you are in a certain place for a reason?

Could it be that God's purpose is best accomplished in your life right where you are?

How do you honor that?

The Story of Christmas Milk

When my first born son, Lukas, was about 4 I tried to introduce him to eggnog. He would have nothing to do with the thick yellow liquid apparently made from raw eggs. So I told him it was "Christmas Milk" a very special drink only available at Christmas time. I knew that this idea of a "Special Christmas Milk" would get his attention because milk was his favorite drink. He decided to give the "Christmas Milk" a try, and soon asked for more "Christmas Milk".

A couple years later, Jake was of the eggnog drinking age. I poured 3 glasses of my favorite eggnog. When I offered it to Jake he was not interested until Lukas piped up with the whole story of "Special Christmas Milk". I had honestly forgotten about "Christmas Milk". The story had lived on. The experience had lived on, and taken its own meaning in the heart of Lukas.

Someday Lukas will find out that not everybody calls eggnog "Christmas Milk" This will most likely be a surprise. To me "Eggnog" represents beautiful memories with my two boys. To others "Eggnog" might represent Griswold family drunken disfunction.

Our personal definition of who God is and what he does is often skewed. It is a combination of what we've been told and what we've experienced. It is really easy to write God off.

We make a judgements based on our limited perspective, and limited experience. If you have walked away from God for any reason, I invite you to give God another chance this Christmas. I believe you will discover a beautiful story your life was always meant to tell.

My Walk Of Shame / Restoration

I failed my son today. It is my responsibility to pack my son's lunch, and send it to school with him. I just got a txt from my wife. This morning I forgot to pack lunch. . . I kinda have that sickening feeling in my stomach right now. I hate failing the people I love the most.

My fear is that I won't be forgiven. Or that exposing my failure will disqualify me from leading. Notice it's not the failure I fear disqualifies me, but the disclosure.

I will go home to my 6 yr old son, bend down to his level and apologize. No excuses. Just an apology, and ask for forgiveness. I'll then ask how I can make it up to him.

If you're a leader or parent and you fail. Own it, and model the correct response. Demonstrate your resolve to do the right thing even if it means you have to eat crow.

If you don't you will solidify the betrayal.

Have you let someone down? How did you deal with it?

UPDATE: Lukas forgave me. I asked him how I can make it up to him, and he said he was hungry  So we made dinner together. 

What is Church 2 (Sermon Audio)

This week we dive into the history of church. Church started as a messy movement of Jesus people. Church became a monolithic monument of institutionilized religion in many cases. What happened?? What was church suposed to be? Hit the link to hear the message.

What is Church Part 2 (Message starts at 16:45)

10 Things Wreck It Ralph Can Teach Us About Life

Disney's Wreck It Ralph dominated at the box office through its opening and became the most successful debut ever for a Walt Disney Animation production (not counting Pixar flicks).

My friend Clay Morgan saw it and enjoyed it as well. Clay asked if I'd like to collaborate on a post at his awesome site claywrites.com. Hit the link to see what we came up with.

10 Things Wreck It Ralph Can Teach Us About Life