The Turning

Last day of 2008. I appreciate the new year for it is a chance to revisit priorities and determine what matters most and what will matter most this coming year. And yet where to start in this re-evaluation and re-determined approach to life is a challenge.

We were in Grand Junction for Christmas (Dec. 24th - Dec. 29th). It was a great time together. Great fellowship. Great food. It's always nice to retreat from life and reaffirm those things that matter most. I'm very grateful for in-laws that open their home and don't mind taking care of us all. And let us just take it easy to re-energize our lives.

December 28th we went to Redlands Community Church there in Grand Junction. This is my wife's parents church. I always enjoy going because the worship is intimate (Piano, 2 guitars, Drums) and three singers. The song selection is familiar to me and yet I can tell it is somewhat new to those attending, at least a few of the songs. It's familiar often because I'm up on the latest tunes. I always love singing new songs (Psalm 40). The size is quaint. Just enough for the regular attender to still meet new people and yet not so big that you feel like you could get lost. The pastor--Joe Gross--is very conversational in his delivery as he exposits the Word (verse by verse).

On Sunday, he spoke from Hebrews 5:11-14. A familiar passage and yet one, I'm guessing, I hadn't read in several years. He didn't read the text, though he covered every line and word. The giest of the message was, "Are you still an infant in your faith or have you moved onto meat of God's teaching and words?" That's the high level look at the text. Along the way, he mentioned some interesting thoughts, one was whether or not we find ourselves living on milk still. He made the remark that milk is a pre-digested food which he meant to say that many disciples are still in the mode of milk-learning or learning from another (i.e. sitting and listening to someone else's quiet time observations from their study of the Bible, like in a sunday school lesson or a sermon). Thus, the challenge is how many of us are actually involved in bible reading on our own and experiencing God through the reading of His word? Or are we conditioned now to just listen to the reading of the word?

Since September 15th, I've started a Bible reading plan. Initially, I followed the rote read the Bible in a year plan. However, recently, as I've started through I Samuel I've started seeing that my reading has become a ritual versus a quest for engaging with My savior and understanding His Words. So, I've started taking notes and in that process, I'm currently way behind on the yearly plan. And yet I sense my understanding of it has expanded.

This moves me to my second observation which is found in verse 14. My favorite verse over the past several years has been I Timothy 4:7-8, "Train yourself for Godliness. For physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things." Verse 14 of Hebrews 5 has the same sentiment, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Once again, the reminder is Read the Book.

As I turn the year, my prayer is that the new year will include time training myself in God's word so that I can more clearly distinguish good and evil. There are so many choices available for how I spend my time. In addition, as I train myself, I want to train my family. And yet my confidence in carrying this out is not real high. Changing myself is easier that affecting change in others.

No money...no really

I'm a little behind on my news. Its what I get for not watching the news nor do I read the paper. But, I do get some emails about various news articles. I'm just behind.

This is a good article. Governors Against State Bailouts

A couple of noteworthy lines:

Take for example the proposed Big Three auto-maker bailout. We think it's very telling that each of the three CEO's flew on their own private jets to Washington to ask for a taxpayer handout. No amount of taxpayer largess could fix a business culture so fundamentally flawed.

To an unprecedented degree, government is currently picking winners and losers in the private marketplace, and throwing good money after bad. A prudent investor takes money from low-yield investments and puts them in those that yield better returns. Recent government intervention is doing the opposite -- taking capital generated from productive activities and throwing it at enterprises that in many cases need to reorganize their business model.

Borrowing money to "solve" a problem created by too much debt seems odd.

That last one is just a good principle to live by.

Looking out

Since it is called "we are family" I thought I'd post one of our latest family pics. This is on top of Sandia Mountains in August. You can see Albuquerque there in the background. Note: We had been walking in the rain up on top of the mountain for over a mile so you can understand why someone's hair might not be as full as it normally is.

Science

We started going to a new church about 18 months ago and I've been waiting to see where God would have me serve. A couple of months ago, a need came up in the Youth Sunday school hour to help out with 7th grade boys. I thought this would be a good time to get involved. We have 12 boys in our class. Me and another gentleman tag team in working with these boys for about 25 minutes per week.

Its been a crazy transition as these boys are quite unruly. There is a mix of educational backgrounds: about 1/3rd are home schooled, 1/3rd go to Christian schools, and 1/3rd go to public schools. For the most part, behaviorally, I don't see any difference between the home schooled, Christian school, and public school kids. Many of the kids have been church-ified most of their life, so they know most answers to the questions. But, my challenge with them and with anyone is to go beyond the text and doctrine and get into application. They all struggle seeing the big picture, so I understand it is going to be a process of re-training them (I Timothy 4:7-8).

Prior to getting to our time, they have gone to a worship time lasting about 10 minutes with all the other youth and then had a short devotional by the middle school pastor which last about 20 minutes. They get to us thinking it should last about 15-20 minutes.

However, our sessions have been lasting 25-30 minutes. Now, I'm sure those reading this are thinking, "Wow, that is awesome. You must be getting into some great conversations with them."

Well actually, to be honest, at this point in the training process, I'm just trying to see them get through the basic information I have to present. And that info comprises about 5 minutes of talking. The problem is that I spend another 30 minutes with them because most of the time is spent on crowd control.

I've gotten all of them Bibles. The first class I think 2 had a Bible. So, we now have everyone with a Bible and we read several verses and passages in class. We go over ground rules of "Only one person speaks at a time" and disruptive kids sit on the outer edge of our big room. Naturally, they see isolation as a reward and completely ignore the 1 person at a time speaking, so it continues to be a challenge to selectively discipline.

This past week we were talking about the surrendering your life; that you can't truly live until you surrender. The mid school pastor did a nice presentation. I then asked them in our small group time, what was the one key word that was said in the large group presentation? It starts with an "S."

One of the boys said, "Science?"

I tell you, I busted up laughing at that and had trouble getting serious after that. Another kid said "Solomon." I was trying to get them to say "Surrender."

There was another boy who in the middle of me talking, interrupts and says, "Is it time to leave?" I said, "Let me give you a clue. At the end is a prayer, when you hear me talk about 'closing in prayer,' then you can be ready to leave." Just amazing to me these kids. I know they can be a good. They are just not trained to be good in this setting, I believe.

Overall, though, it is a fun time with them. There are 2 or 3 that are totally uninterested and are constantly searching for ways to distract themselves or the class. At the end of October, we are having a "disciple now" weekend where I will spend a whole weekend with them at someone's house teaching them.

I hope we can have some individual time. I can't help but think that many of them are partly uninterested because they don't have a relationship with Jesus. And so are just being sent "through the motions." So, I guess they are representative of the church as a whole.

Good times.

Marching on.

Lord, You choose for me

Within the last 3 months, 2 rather popular christian leaders have experienced the death of a child.

Greg Laurie's son, Christopher, 34, died in a car crash this past week, July 24, 2008. Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter, Maria Sue Chapman, 5, died in May from an incident at their home also involving an automobile. I watched the Maria Chapman family memorial service and was greatly encouraged and inspired by the manner in which the family laughed, smiled, and continued to sing praises to God, in spite of this loss.

I just heard Greg Laurie give a speech at his church this past Sunday, just 3 days after the loss of his son, and he offered these words regarding the loss of his son. He started off by saying, "I couldn't think of any place I'd rather be today than at church, worshiping the Lord."

Then later said "I've said, 'Lord, you choose for me' and He made this choice. And I say, "He does all things well. And I give glory to God. If I could, I'd have him (my son) back in a moment. I want to put my arms around him; there are things I want to say to him, but I'll see him again."

Lord, You choose for me.

Every one we see, He has made. His timing is always perfect. He is to praised...no matter what.

Cool Covers

I don't think it is a surprise to anyone that I love music and have probably way too much music to my name.

Lately, I've been listening to White Heart's 1986 release, "Don't Wait for the Movie" when I noticed what a great cover this album had. {I understand album is an archaic term and my kids, if they read this, are wondering what I'm talking about; album is the same as CD cover.) Here is a sample of a few covers I have always admired.



Here is another White Heart, "Vital Signs." Sure, they put themselves on the cover, but at least its clever and they still tied the title into the shot.



Petra generally had great album covers. My favorites are here: "Never Say Die" and "More Power to Ya."



Isn't this better than just some cool shot of the band.



Steve Taylor did some nice covers and these are two I like. "I Want to Be a Clone" and "Meltdown."



The Meltdown cover is obviously very simple and yet I'm drawn to the colors.



Michael Roe and the 77s are showcased below. 77s are one of my favorite bands, though I tend to primarily like their 1st 3 albums.

That said, Here is "Drowning with Land in Sight"



The highly controversial (at the time) "Pray Naked." Interesting choice on the naked representatives for the cover shot.



And "Sticks and Stones" although the album title and the cover have nothing to do with one another.



Prodigal had some good covers in their short 3 album history. Here is Self-titled, Electric Eye, and Just Like Real Life.





I wish this would have been the whole album cover rather than just an inset picture.



Of course, there are times when a cover is good simply because that particular album is just great music.



Chris Tomlin, "Arriving." Again, simple tie-in to the project title.



Caedmon's Call, "Back Home."



Skillet, "Comatose." By the way, if you don't have this CD, run, don't walk to get it.



Here is probably my favorite cover so far. Thousand Foot Krutch, "Phenomenom."



Well, I'll have to revisit this at another time. As a plethora of covers have been left out. Where is a nice pic of Sweet Comfort Band's "Cutting Edge?"

Also, if anyone is confused on WHAT I THINK A BAD COVER is. Here is a prime example.



Actually, bad is too kind of a word to describe this cover.

3 Year History

(Above/Below) 40th Birthday Party - Chris 2007.09.04; Above is Tyson with Fred & Mac and Jesse Turley; Below is Eddie Collins with T. Payton (My 38 year old brother).  

Above:  Jeff Rose and Nobody Special; Below - Tyson's 12th Birthday with Hunter looking on

Above - Balloon Fiesta 2007 or at least one balloon; Below - The fam' in Colorado - Summer 2007

Above - Tyson, Megan, Derek with Janice and Walt; Below - Tyson's first day of 6th grade

Above - Walking to the bus; The 40th Cake is below that Pamela designed and made

Above - Another cake wonder by Pamela, this time Derek's 7th Birthday - 2008.2.18 and me and the mrs on Easter 2008

Above - The Proud Son; Below - Derek starts swinging with Little League - Around May 2008

Derek the catcher; And one of Derek's friends

Another friend and four more (Austin, Cameron, Derek, Noah)

Derek and Noah at Putt-Putt (derek's 7th birthday bash); Below is Christmas 2007 at T's with my Dad, Brooke and T --- (Don't you love how these pictures are in no order at all; Just be happy you are seeing anything at all.)

Christmas Party (Above) - T's Brooke and Andrew; Karla and Rick Metz; Below- My other rib

(Above) - Fred is practicing patience; (Below) T.

(Above) - Tyson at a Band Concert - Winter 2007; (Below) - Christmas 2007 - MJ, D, Ty-Guy

(above) - Megan shows off a gift; (Below) Megan and Grammy (Becky)

(Above) - Noah and Tyson; (Below) - Derek and a school pageant

(Above) Derek as ... Turkey Lurkey; (Below) Megan's 7th Birthday Party 2007.07.15