Family and Responsibilities

Growing up in my family we all had responsibilities. Take out the trash, do the dishes, set the table, feed the cat, etc… If everyone did their part the family was kept healthy (and my parents kept their sanity) but more than that we began to understand that we worked better together and we enjoyed each other. As I grew older my personality and gifts/talents became more evident. My roles and responsibilities began to change. I still did the dishes when they needed to be done, but I didn’t have to be asked. I also realized I was getting better at specialized things such as helping my dad replace cabinets, putting in a new sump pump, or installing a bathroom fan.

In God’s family it works the same way. We all have a role to play. If we diligently work together we find that the church grows, becomes healthy, and glorifies God. As we grow in our faith and understanding, we begin to find our specialties. We don’t neglect the other responsibilities but we begin to find responsibilities that only we can fulfill because of who God made us to be with our specific gifts and talents.  Some might find that they are teachers, elders, small group leaders. Maybe you work best with youth, children, young families, or the elderly.

I find myself wondering, “what would it look like if everyone in the church took their role as a member of God’s family seriously. What if everyone chipped in and began to explore why God made them and called them into His family.” I find it almost freeing to know that God created me with purpose , and created me to be part of His family. I don’t have to be everything but I’m part of a family that is working together.

too early…

Sometimes I find myself getting up early. Getting up at like 4am early. Most of the time I can roll back over and just drift back to sleep, but some mornings as soon as my eyes open I am flooded with thoughts. It might be a Monday morning but my brain is already into next month thinking about all the things I need to get done. What ends up happening is as my brain starts racing so does my heart and pretty soon I’m in full blown overload.

My early morning brain is great at quickly drawing together all the tasks that need to get done in the next week or two, but it’s terrible at processing the strategy and time line in which they need to get done. Everything is important and needs to be thought about and taken care of right now!

The truth is, I don’t need to make a phone call at 4:31am. That can wait. I don’t need to schedule a meeting with my team at 4:32am. That can wait. In fact the only things that needs to happen at 4:32am is sleep.

Because of this my wife and I have an understanding. First thing in the morning we talk about how we slept, what the weather was going to be like, or why you kicked me in the middle of the night. Questions like “so when are you planning that leaders meeting?” are important but first thing in the morning… not good.

So the other morning my wife said to me, “Chad I have something I want to say but I don’t want to overwhelm you.” Great way to start  =)

Much of what has been waking me up early has to do with what I’m passionate about. I really believe some of it is God drawing my attention to something. But my wife pointed out that I talk a lot about it but I never really take serious action. It’s not that I don’t want them to happen its just that I allow other areas of my life to pre-occupy my mind so those dreams get pushed to the back burner until 4:00am rolls around then they are free to play.

She reminded me that things shouldn’t pre-occupy us. If that happens you end up just doing what needs to get done now. We need to allow God to occupy us. Let the Spirit occupy us and let us dream of who God created us to be. If we allow God to occupy us we will be the best he created us to be. We can be free to dream about the future. (She had recently read a sample chapter for John Ortberg’s new book “The Me I want to Be.”)

But if we allow things to pre-occupy us we won’t reach that mark and we’ll struggle for meaning and purpose. It made sense. It’s really easy to let life and busy stuff take the reins. But that’s not how we were meant to live. My life was created to be focused on God.

The next night and every night since I’ve slept like a baby.

Back to school

Over the rumble and wave I saw flashes of color like a waterfall of exotic flowers or maybe more like the roar of sponsor marked race cars coming off the first turn. Some were taking their time clustered and giggling busy with the latest news. Others kept their own pace frantically pouring over dates and names from the early twentieth century. A group of guys in shirts and ties borrowed from dads or older brothers talking about tonight’s game.

For 5 minutes this glorious freedom induced chaos continues before the halls are open and only the faint voices of future knowledge echo. In these few precious moments of barely suppressed childhood the young leaders and thinkers, doctors and parents, enter into an alternative reality that is unique only in that moment. They are soldiers in a foreign land gathered around coffee and a make shift fire between shellings. A glimpse of what life would be. These conversations leapfrog every hour. The subjects change but the characters grow.

In those moments of release, relationships begin and die. Heros are made and spirits are broken. Hearts are warmed and halls grow cold. These spaces are filled with a unique kind of magic.

25 tidbits

1. I’m so big and strong cuz my sister Sarah and I used to hide behind the fridge and sneak flintstone vitamins.

2. I really enjoy the history of the American Revolution. When I was younger I loved a book called April Morning about April 19, 1775.

3. Recently I have been so inspired by Tim Tebow.

4. My front teeth are fake because of a ‘freak student ministry lacrosse accident” ~ honestly no hard feelings, miss you bro!

5. I intercepted a lateral pass and returned it for a touch down in football.

6. I’m scared of what might try to bite my feet when swimming in lakes.

7. I really like going fast… skydiving, snowboarding, running, etc… =)

8. I get “emotional” when hear or watch something about someone overcoming the odds and succeeding, MTV made…

9. When I was young I was trying to help out and rake some leave but I accidentally raked the back of my sister’s leg when she jumped in front of a pile of leaves. At least that’s what I like to remember.

10. I hate my over active mind on Monday mornings.

11. I find it really hard to concentrate when I have to sit for long periods of time.

12. I hate stories or movies where a kid is getting hurt or abused.  It makes it really hard for me to enjoy anything else that happens after that.

13. I’m super competitive when I play sports.

14. When I was in grade school in middle school I was in at least 3 musicals, and 8 plays. but it definitely wasn’t “cool” when I got into high school.

15. I have to journal things I want to remember long term.  Otherwise, I loose them to the immediate happenings of life.

16. If I take something apart I have to put it back together in the exact same sequence, or if I enter a building by one door I have to exit by that same door when I leave.

17. I was terrified of roller coasters until I took a semester off in college and worked down in Atlanta and went to 6 Flags whenever we had a free day.

18. I worked for a industrial conveyor company for 8+ years through college and the years afterward.

19. I love olives, pecan pie, and dr. pepper.

20. I’ve been married for over 2 years and am looking forward to the rest of our lives. I’m not convinced the first year is the hardest because I really enjoyed it, but I won’t complain if it only gets better…  awwwww ;-P

21. There is something that I love about ministry. I think I love ministry for the same reason I get “emotional.” I love to see others succeed.

22. I have a secret dream to coach a sports team some day.

23. I am super close with my family and the more I do ministry the more I realize how rare and special that really is.

24. I love the time of year (early spring) when there is still icy snowy patches on the ground but the sun is warm and melting it away. I hate that everything is a soggy messh but it brings back really great memories.

25. I am so overwhelmed that God has placed me in situation after situation in life to be used by Him to impact those around me. I used to be worried that I would somehow mess that up but I’ve come to realized that He chose me and I will always do my best to do that work He puts before me.

Middle School In PA

I had a glimpse of eternity.  1000 plus middle school students singing praises at the top of their voices to God.  How many concerts are there where students sing praises to the Jonas Brothers or Hannah Montana, but that moment was for God. I was away from my wife, my comfy bed, missing the Olympic Opening Ceremony but it was all worth it for those moments when I can see these students connecting with God.

 

My wife and close friends know that I can get emotional, I cry at moments in movies that aren’t even sad  =)  but I cried as I sat there and listened to these children go hoarse lifting their voices to their Heavenly Father. 

 

 

I was mid conversation with some students when one of the girls started crying.  When I asked her what was on her mind she said she was crying for her friends that didn’t have a relationship with Christ… wow.  In that moment I saw my savior in the tears of a 7^th grader. I saw Jesus’ tears for the lost.