To Spark a Bonfire

 

One Saturday about 2 years ago my dad asked me to help clear out some trees that had fallen and wood from the acre lot that sits beside my parents house.  I had no idea what was ahead of me.  At first glance I did not see to many trees in the woods, and so I went ahead and made plans for a late lunch with some friends (this was 10:00am).  So I put my gloves on and ventured into the woods for what i thought would be a couple of hours.  After all, I was helping my family!  Little did I know that what lay ahead of me was a two day meeting with fallen trees, briars, poison ivy, bark flying in my eyes, and just plain hard hard hard work! 

I missed my lunch appointment.

The question that came to mind as I began removing the trees from the woods was where do I put these?  What do I do with them?  Do I throw them into the woods across the street from the house just to take a mess from one place and make another mess in the other?  What I decided to do (with the help of my, then,14 year old brother) was to make a massive pile of wood in the middle of the lot beside the house to one day have a massive bon fire.  So that is what we did, we piled wood up until a day in the future where the wood would meet its end.

The wood sat there piled 10 ft high and a circumference of at least 20 ft for about 2 years.  This wood pile was MASSIVE!!  So we decided to have the bonfire.  Jenna and I worked extremely hard to dig a trench around the wood pile and filled it with water, got a fire permit, and drug a water hose to the bonfire area (just in case).  It was time to light it.  As i sat there looking at the pile of wood and the flame on the end of my lighter i asked myself “how can such a small flame ignite such a big pile of wood?” I kept saying over and over again “There is no way this little flame can light such a big pile of wood”.

However, a simple spark started this bonfire.

There is a spark inside of each one of that is capable of producing a bonfire.  The spark could be your ability to communicate passionately about something that you believe in, your artistic and creative ability, your ability to be a good mother or father, and this spark could start a bonfire around you that could bring about massive change.  

I am coming to realization that I have to let God have all of me —  to let Him ignite a spark that could start a bonfire.  The bonfire that we started that night was so massive and out of control that I began to freak out think that we were going to catch the woods on fire.  It was much bigger than I expected.  Let God do the unexpected and do something much bigger than you could ever dream of

Paralyzed for Creativity

I can go through a lot of days and not feel very creative or inventive. When I do feel creative good things happen. However, after watching the opening celebration of the Olympics I felt like anything that I have ever done creatively — especially with production– was put to shame. My interest was immediately sparked on who this guy was that could create such an amazing show. So this is the guy.

However, the past few days have unveiled somethings about the opening celebration that sorta made me mad.  The little girl who sang was lip-syncing and all because the girl who was originally supposed to sing had crooked teeth and so they went with the “cuter” little girl.  Then today a story leaked about the girl who fell during rehearsal and is now paralyzed for life!  

There are a couple things that have haunted me about this.
1) People will go to great lengths to pull-off their ideas and to push their ideas.  Even if it means bringing a bad name or even paralyzing someone.

2) There is a natural drive inside people to be a part of something much bigger than themselves. I guess that’s why over 15,000 people were involved in the opening celebrations. No person was a repeat that was a part of the opening celebration.

3) As humans we have  a way of always trying to make ourselves look better than we really are.  Even the fireworks were enhanced for television

A Turn to the Wise

My ability to analyze situations haunts me sometimes.  It seems that analyzing situations are good, but sometimes the danger comes when a situation is over-analyzed to the point of where it is never spoken of out loud.  There are very few people in my life who I let speak into my life, very few people who I listen to for direction and guidance, and very people who I think are ‘wise’.  So when I am faced with a problem or situation that I need to solve I have a habit of resorting to my own analytical ability to solve it.  This process involves some sleepless nights, quiet hours, and usually a loss of appetite (not a fast).  Sometimes I am victorious and other times…well…not so victorious.

Last week I hit a point in my life where I knew that my own analytical capability would not suffice.  After a day — that’s all i could make it — I needed a gear change.  I was listening to a message by Andy Stanley and while listening to him I knew what it was that I needed to do.

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

I knew that for me to have understanding I need to seek out wise counsel.  Throughout scripture God uses people to proclaim His word.  Even in the Old Testament where God sometimes spoke audibly to His people He used prophets, psalmist, Moses, and Noah to proclaim His message and speak to His people.  While I believe that God speaks to us and speaks to us when we meet Him in a quiet place, I also believe that He uses other people to speak into our lives.

So my pursuit for wise counsel began and here are a few things that you need to keep in mind as you seek counsel.

-Identify the problem/situation you need counsel on
-Ask clear, concise, and well thought through questions (examples:  ”I want to be where you are, tell me how to get there?”, “What would you do if you were me?”…)
-listen more than you talk

Pick the Wise 
-someone who is where you want to be – you don’t want to pick someone who is not as far along as you are.  It is important to pick someone who has been through what you are going through.

-someone who is older than you – this may be hard to swallow.  I believe God speaks through your friends as well, but if you want wisdom you must pick someone who is older than you.  Friends are good at being friends

-a few select people –  don’t go to everyone and their mom about your issue.  I have found the more people you let speak into your life the more clouded your mind can get.

-someone Christ-like – nothing is more amazing than to have someone speak into your life who is chasing hard after the heart of God and you can see it in their business or their ministry.

This process is not for the prideful.  It’s not for people who think they have it figured out.  It is very humbling to admit to someone, either in business or in ministry, that you are struggling and at a loss of direction.  At the same time God gives grace to the humble and opposes the prideful.

I am so grateful to have people in my life who I consider to be wise.  Men who are changing their communities and changing the world.

A Life Change

 One of the most amazing things that I have experienced in my life is seeing students experience Christ in a real and authentic way, and after the experience they take it to the next step (whatever that may be).  Cody Helms and Ian Richardson experienced Christ in a real and authentic way last week at BigStuf, and want to take their relationship with God to the next step.

So last week we met at Kristin Taylor’s house, gathered together, and rejoiced over Cody and Ian’s decision to make Christ the author and savior of their life and outwardly show that through Baptism.

This is a huge next step and with dozens of their friends and family gathered around them it made for a truly special moment in their life. This too is a symbol that the people surrounding them that will walk with them, encourage them, and support and love them.

It was truly an honor and privilege to play such a special role in their life.  They are wonderful young men who will do great things for the name of Jesus.

everything must change by: Brian D. McLaren

 I really am liking this book so far.  I picked this book up as a recommendation from Justin Thrasher.  This is the first book that I have read by McLaren.  The book revolves around two central questions:

1)  What are the world’s biggest problems today?
2)  What did/does Jesus have to say about them?

A Beautiful Day

On June 28,2008 I married my best friend and the most beautiful person in the world.  From September 7,2007 when I proposed to her to June 28, 2008 when we were married was an amazing time.  What was amazing was to see Jenna work really really hard to plan our special day.  To see it all come together was amazing!

It is hard to believe that we have been married six weeks already and it has been the best six weeks of my life.  I recommend marriage to anyone!!  

(i am going to try and do better about blogging)