Living in the Pace of Grace

I Don't Need to Defend My Doctrine to Everyone, All the Time

2012-01-29T21:31:00.000-06:00

I like this statement from Pastor James MacDonald. It is the statement of a pastor who is secure in his beliefs and who has grown over many years having come to an understanding that you'll always have critics, and that you don't always need to be defending yourself or picking fights.

I have been preaching the Word of God verse-by-verse for almost 30 years, and my teaching has gone further in every form than I ever dreamed. I don’t need to prove my orthodoxy in every conversation or press every dialogue to the breaking point, in fear of failing to evidence my own fidelity to Scripture.

I've been around people who haven't learned this. I've probably been the guy who always has to frame things around his own theology. These are dumb battles to fight. In college I saw many relationships go south when people felt that they had to defend their doctrinal stances.

Be who you are. Belief what God puts into your heart (as long as it is your most faithful interpretation to the breadth of Scripture). Trust that you are justified in Christ alone, and not in someone else's impression of you.

I Don't Just Sell Stuff

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-06:00

God has gifted you and placed you where you are for a reason; minister right where you are.

I work in the retail environment. Some days I get caught thinking that my job is a drag. Each day brings the same drama and challenges of working with people and 'selling stuff.' I need to remember that God has placed me where I am for a purpose, and that there are people all around me who need the love of Jesus in their lives.

Here's a brief list of some of the pain the people around me are facing:

- single mom who son is often sick
- mother whose daughter has an incurable skin disease that causes intense pain
- parents whose daughter is teen suicidal and on many medications
- multiple women whose spouse/boyfriend abuses them
- 18 year old raising her sister's 4 year old
- more than one person with "serious" problems at home
- mom of 2 whose boyfriend won't help care for the kids
- a guy with heart problems

And the list goes on and on. My job isn't just selling stuff. My job is showing the love and compassion of Jesus to the people around me, in the hope that I will be afforded the opportunity to tell of my faith in Him.

The Cathedrals of the Underground Church

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

Is the Underground Church really a church? Where do they meet? Who is in charge? Do they have the funds, building, education, training necessary to be a church?

In his book Tortured for Christ Richard Wurmbrand writes,

Men with such ordination [men who said they were ordained by the Holy Spirit], who have never had any theological training and who very often know little of the Bible, carry on the work of Christ.

It is like the Church in the first centuries. What seminaries did those who turned the world upside-down for Christ attend? Did they all know how to read? And from where did they receive Bibles? God spoke to them.

We of the Underground Church have no cathedrals. But is any cathedral more beautiful than the sky of heaven to which we looked when we gathered secretly in forests? The chirping of the birds took the place of the organ. The fragrance of the flowers was our incense. And the shabby suit of the martyr recently freed from prison was much more impressive than priestly robes. We had the moon and stars as candles. The angels were our acolytes who lit them.

I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church, and in prison.

* For more resources and information about persecuted Christians and the Underground Church visit Voice of the Martyrs (persecution.com).

When One Part of the Body Suffers - the Whole Body Suffers

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

Strive to be, only, a Christlike Christian

2012-01-23T22:48:00.001-06:00

Words from a letter smuggled out of the Underground Church quoted in Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand.

We don't pray to be better Christians, but that we may be the only kind of Christians God means us to be: Christlike Christians, that is, Christians who bear willingly the cross for God's glory.

* For more resources and information about persecuted Christians and the Underground Church visit Voice of the Martyrs (persecution.com).

The Void in the Human Heart is Filled by Christ Alone

2012-01-23T13:50:00.002-06:00

I'm reading the book Tortured for Christ. It is the autobiography of Richard Wurmbrand, a Christian of Jewish descent who suffered horrifically in Romania prisons under a Communist regime in the 50 and 60's.

Wurmbrand was released after 14 years of imprisonment for refusing to stop declaring the Word of God and preaching the love and salvation found in Christ alone. Wurmbrand tells of terrible suffering in Communist prisons, more importantly, he writes to open the eyes of Western Christians to the torture and perseverance in the faith of those under severe persecution around the world.

I found this quotation compelling. Wurmbrand writes about the great opportunity to preach the Gospel to those who have not yet encountered Christ, and yet maintain an emptiness in their hearts.

There is a void in the hearts of the Communists. This void can be filled by Christ alone. The human heart by nature seeks after God. There is a spiritual vacuum in every man until it is filled by Christ. This is true also for the Communists and those in other captive nations. In the Gospel there is a power of love that can appeal to them, too. I have seen it happen. I know it can be done.

Christians - mocked and tortured by Communists - have forgotten and forgiven what has been done to them personally and to their families. They do their best to help the Communists pass through the crisis and find teh way to Christ. For this work they need our help.

More from this great book. These words are from a letter written by a young Christian girl regarding the witness she has shared with another 19 year old Communist girl.

When you listen to those who loudly deny God, it seems that they really mean it. But life shows that many of them, although they curse God with their lips, in their hearts have a great longing. And you hear the groaning of the heart....They seek something and wish to cover their inner emptiness with their godlessness.

* For more resources and information about persecuted Christians and the Underground Church visit Voice of the Martyrs (persecution.com).

2012 Goals

2012-01-19T09:18:00.000-06:00

I haven't finalized my list of goals for 2012, but here are some things that I hope to accomplish this year.

Activities:

1. Read 24 books
2. Take Jacob to Red Sox game in Kansas City, MO
3. Take the kids on a camping trip
4. Hike up Pike's Peak
5. Run another marathon
6. Something special for my 10 year wedding anniversary
7. Pay off 3 debts
8. Get down to 190 lbs (current weight 210)
9. Paint some rooms in our house
10. Shoot my first pheasant

Some general behavioral things I'm working on:

1. More patient
2. More generous
3. More friendly

As a parent:

1. Teaching my kids the Bible
2. Meal times more intentional as a family
3. No yelling
4. Praying with the kids
5. Volunteer event as a family
6. Involved in their activities

As a husband:

1. More generous
2. More gracious
3. More gentleness
4. More dates
5. More listening
6. More serving
7. More fun

As a Christian:

1. Be devoted to Jesus
2. Be authentic with others
3. Pursue holiness in all things
4. Serve my church and my community
5. Base all things on the Bible

Reflection After Preaching at Quarry Church

2012-01-18T10:32:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday I had the privilege of preaching the sermon at Quarry Community Church in Monticello, MN. The Quarry is the church that Stephanie and I helped plant in 2001 when I served as the Youth Pastor. This was just the second time we have been back since we left 6 years ago, and the first time I have preached there since leaving. It felt so good to be back, see the growth the church has experienced, and to reconnect with old friends.

The reason preaching at the Quarry meant so much to me is that it represented the closing of one chapter of my life and the opening of a new one. That's because the last time I stood on stage at the Quarry was when I told the church I was resigning my position as Associate Pastor in order to focus on healing my marriage and my soul. For the last six years I have been working hard to eliminate sinful patterns of thought and behavior from my life. By God's grace I can say that I have walked in more freedom during the past year than I have since 8th grade. My wife and I are serving and loving one another and God is leading our family to an awesome future.

Since leaving the Quarry I have had to face down some very tough things. It has taken years of counseling, painful confessions, copious amounts of love, grace, and forgiveness from others, accountability from friends, and determination to change from within myself. Standing up in front of the people of the Quarry and preaching from a place of integrity and authenticity was a confirming act of God's blessing and goodness in my life. I don't know if I'll be asked to return again to preach there (or if God will ever call be back to full-time ministry) but I am so grateful to all who have invested in me and played a part in bringing me to where I am today. And I am most grateful on earth to Stephanie my beautiful wife, and foremost grateful to Jesus Christ who was not content to leave me the way I was, but who broke so that he could reform me into something even more useful and glorifying to God.

His Kingdom, not Your Thingdom

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

Your time, talent, and treasure have been entrusted to you by God, not to dead end on you and your Thingdom, but rather to be invested in the building of God’s Kingdom. A kingdom that grows through every act of kindness, through servant-hearted men and women who serve in all kinds of capacities, through people who give away their wealth proportionately to what they earn, through individuals who see small needs in the people around them and meet those needs without expectation of return, through people who build businesses to fund ministries, through people who open their homes in acts of hospitality, through people who serve on non-profit boards, who invest in the next generations as teachers and small groups leaders, through people who work to make their city great, through people who serve in armed forces and public services. Through all sorts of men and women who lives have been captivated by Christ and who are committed to lives of generosity.

Driscoll and the Generosity of Jesus

2012-01-13T23:02:00.001-06:00

Pastor Mark Driscoll put it like this,

Jesus was generous. He was generous to become a human being. He was generous to go to the cross and suffer and die to pay our debt of sin to God. Three days later, he rose, conquering Satan’s sin and death, to give us the generous gift of God the Holy Spirit, to give us the generous gift of salvation, to give us the generous gift of eternal life. Jesus is the greatest, most generous giver who has ever given. And his greatest gift was himself as a substitute and sacrifice on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. Our Jesus is generous. Our Jesus is gracious. Our Jesus is a giver.

Are You Robbing God?

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000-06:00

*more info cut from the sermon I'm writing for Jan 15

Imagine with me that you invested some of your money with an investment company hoping for a gainful return and after a few months you found out that the broker you were dealing with took your both your invest and your earnings and started using them like they were his own. Instead of putting it in high performing stocks, he was using the money for betting on the Vikings (which of course was like giving it away), eating at Manny’s Steakhouse and all kinds of other self-serving pleasures.

Wouldn’t you be indignant? Wouldn’t you say, “I need a lawyer. I’ve been duped. I trusted that guy to be wise with the resources I gave him, and he’s squandering it all. I’m getting robbed!” Wouldn’t you say that?

That, in fact, is what God says about you and I. In Malachi 3:8-9 the Lords says through the prophet Malachi, “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.”

Tim Keller points out that the word ‘rob’ in this text isn’t just like taking candy from the Kwik Trip. This word ‘rob’ is used to describe what would happen when one nation would invade, pillage, oppress and rape the people and resources of another nation. And in this text God speaks through Malachi with the message saying, “I gave you so much and I trusted you to be generous and get a good return on my investment. And instead you’ve invaded and pillaged me! You stolen what doesn’t belong to you and used it all for yourself”

Most of you probably don’t think Malachi is talking to you this morning. Like the nation of Israel you’re probably thinking, “Me? How do I rob God? I’m middle class Monticello? I only have two cars, two game systems, and two bathrooms in my house.”

Well here’s the insidious thing about generosity’s evil brother greed - almost no one thinks they are greedy. It is the the sin no one confesses, because it is the sin know one thinks they’re guilty of. People know what lust is. They know what pride is. They know what gossip is. They know what adultery is. But very, very few people would ever say, “Greediness is my biggest sin.” And do you know why? Because we can always find someone around us who has more than us and we can say, “Look at them. They’re greedy. My boat - its only 14 feet, that guy’s is 20 ft. He’s the greedy one. Look at that lady - so what if I have 10 pairs of shoes - she’s got a whole closet full. Man she is really greedy.”

We get so caught up in our own little “thingdom” that we neglect being generous to God’s “kingdom.” King David spoke to the assembly of all the nations greatest leaders - the richest, most powerful men in the land - and he reminded them - “ITS NOT YOURS! IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY GOD. IT IS FROM GOD AND IT IS FOR GOD.”

And this morning I stand in a room with some of the richest men and women in the entire world. Did you know the average American, according to Pastor David Platt, lives on $90/day while, by conservative estimates, 75% of the rest of the world lives in less than a $1? That makes you and I some of the richest, most powerful people in the world, and we are reminded today in God’s Word “It is not yours. You own nothing, and you manage everything.”

Book Review - The Ledge

2012-01-12T10:01:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I finished book #1 of 2012. It is a mountaineering book called The Ledge, written by Jim Davidson and Ken Vaughan. The Ledge tells the story of Jim Davidson's climb of Mt. Rainer, June 1992. The glory of the summit was soon tarnished by the death of Davidson's friend Mike Price after both men plummeted through a soft snow bridge down into the depths of an ice crevasse during the descent. The high point of the book is the detail of Davidson's amazing climb for survival 80 feet up nearly vertical ice with minimal equipment.

In the beginning of the book Davidson details some of his experience's working for his father's painting company, and how those times shaped and influenced him as a man. He also shares the story of who Mike Price was and how the two of them became such great climbing friends. The end of the book contains a brief section explaining how he has since coped with survivor's guilt, the lessons he's learned since the climb, and how he has worked to honor the legacy and memory of his friend Mike.

Despite the tragedy involved, the book includes some great insights about pursuing your dreams, reaching to unimaginable heights, persevering through trouble, and pushing yourself to accomplish more than you ever thought you could. Davidson shares some thoughts about how being level headed, analyzing your resources, and determining what you can and cannot control are not only skills that enabled him to survive his climb out of the crevasse, but are also skills anyone can use to overcome crisis and trouble situations they may find themselves in.

Here's a quote from page 249,

In time, I recognize that the most important things I learned were not about scaling overhanging ice walls but about what allowed me to climb out of that crevasse. Life is full of scary crevasses. Illness, accidents, and financial disasters can appear without warning. Seemingly secure institutions like banks, businesses, and marriages collapse, lust like snow bridges weakened by the sun. At some time, everyone will fall into a one of life's crevasses; mine juts happened to be a crack in the ice. Crawling out of these crevasses, overcoming life's challenges, is something each of us must face. Finding resilience for surviving and thriving through adversary is part of the climb.

Generosity is an Idol Killing Act of Worship

2012-01-10T13:05:00.002-06:00

*from the Generosity sermon cutting room floor....

What is worship? Worship is ascribing worth to something and giving yourself to it. It is proclaiming that something is to be valued, treasured. Worship is taking something - and there are many different things that can be worshipped -and putting that “something” in the place of primary importance in your affections.

In his book, The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren says of worship,

“If (your worship) is not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You were designed to worship God and if you fail to worship Him, you will create other things (idols) to give your life to.”

Tim Keller points out that the great challenge of Christian living is to recognize and eliminate idols from our lives. Now, very few people now days worship idols they way individuals did in the times of the Old Testament. However, the practice of idol worship still abounds. You see, idols are anything that we look to besides God for meaning, security, assurance, and value. Our idols are the things we put in the primary place of our affections. Idols, are anything outside of Jesus Christ that we worship, that we can’t imagine living without, things that define us, and give us meaning.

John Calvin once said that the heart is an idol factory. This is a great observation because we make idols of all sorts of things - boyfriends, girlfriends, careers, reputations, sexual fulfillment, intellectualism, financial security, individuality, capitalism, even our children can become our idols when we orient out lives around them, and worship them rather than God. This is the whole point of Romans 1. Idolatry happens when we worship created things instead of the one who created everything.

One way to identify what you worship is to look at what you do with your time, talent, treasure - or rather, to look at your calender, your striving in the world, and your bank statements and possessions.

When you look at your calendar what ‘god’ does it say you worship? Has the pleasure and entertainment of your children become an idol? My kids are still young and not that much into sports now, but through the years I’ve seen plenty of parents who actually make their children’s sports success into an idol. They feed all their time, talent, and treasure into their child - trying to turn them into the next Joe Maurer or Ricky Rubio.

What ‘god’ are your worshipping when you consider your career? Has the desire to impress a boss or colleague, to climb the proverbial ladder, to strike it rich become an idol? You know the use of your talent at work has become and idol when you’re absolutely devastated after a bad day at the office or after a deal going bad.

And ‘god’ does your bank statement say you worship? Our bank statements reveal all kinds of idols - health club dues, weight loss fad related purchased, Botox injection payments all point to the idol of public beauty. Massive IRA accounts, large stock purchases, winter homes in retirement communities all point to the idol of comfort and easy living. Even a bank statement with no expenditures besides the basics can point to the fact that financial security has become an idol. This is the one that I have to watch out for the most. If I’m not careful I will worship a false sense of financial security, rather than trusting in God to meet all my needs in Christ Jesus.

When we live generously we strangle idols and we put our worship in the Lord.

It is like the story in Mark 12 of the poor widow who gave just a penny to the offering plate. While the religious folks scoffed at the tiny amount of her offering, Jesus praised the widow for showing her love and worship and affection for God by giving out of her poverty. When we give generously of our time, money and resources what we are proclaiming to the world is that Jesus Christ is of supreme importance and worth to us.

strive to be thought well of by others

2012-01-07T08:14:00.000-06:00

Be wise in what you say, and in what you do, because you never know how the image you are crafting of yourself may benefit/harm you in the future.

I had coffee this morning with a nice guy from Northfield and we were talking about blogs and engaging conversation through blog posts and comments, and he had a really insightful idea. He said that his local hometown blog gets hundreds to thousands of visits each day and that while many people don't leave comments, lots of people read the comments left by others. So, he said, make sure that when you leave comments you do so in such a way that even if people don't agree with all your opinions they can still feel comfortable working with you on issues and matters where you do agree.

I really liked that and it reminded me of one of the qualifications listed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:7 which says that a church elder should be someone who is well-thought of by people outside the faith community. That is the end I try to work towards in my engagement with others in the realm of social media. I know I will not always agree with others, and they will not agree with me, but hopefully at the end of the day there is the kind of mutual respect and kindness that could lead to possible partnership in some other venture.

Reaching the Summits of Life

2012-01-06T15:50:00.000-06:00

I read this today in the book The Ledge, by Jim Davidson. I think it has all kinds of applications to situations we find ourselves in life.

One day I would look back on this moment and realize that it encapsulated all that it means to climb, to push yourself in a way you might not normally imagine is possible. That if your stamina, skill, and luck were sound, you would get to stand on top. That if you weakened, your resolve faltered, or conditions worsened the summit would elude you. I came to understand that respecting the landscape around me and knowing the landscape within me were both key. If I was to wisely balance desire, risk, and self-preservation, I would have to expand my external skills and deepen my knowledge. I would have to learn who I was, who my companions were, and what we were cable of achieving. The challenge was harsh, the outcome uncertain, and the growth potential unlimited.

My Sermon from 1/1/2012

2012-01-04T23:44:00.001-06:00

This is the sermon I preached last week at 1st Congregation Church in Waseca, MN. The sermon is about holding God's Word near and dear in 2012. The fuzziness goes away after the first 90 seconds.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://vimeo.com/34443032"&amp;gt;Sermon - Brenton Balvin - 2 Timothy 3:14-17 - Hold the Word Near and Dear this Year&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; from &amp;lt;a href="http://vimeo.com/cmeirose"&amp;gt;C Meirose&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; on &amp;lt;a href="http://vimeo.com"&amp;gt;Vimeo&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

My Beautiful Kids!

2011-12-31T10:01:00.000-06:00

15 Highlights from 2011

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

I am likely missing many, but here are 15 highlights from the last year. They are NOT in any order of ranking:

1. Trip with Stephanie to Guatemala for my sister's wedding

2. The Mystery Trip with the kids to a hotel in St. Louis Park, MN

3. Riding a Greyhound to meet up with the family for summer vacation in Benton Harbor, MI

4. Playing in a FCA hockey league with my brother Jeff

5. Getting a new job as an Assistant Manager at Walmart

6. Completing a 6 years restoration journey with a group from the BGC and some good friends

7. Cheering Stephanie on at the Iron Girl Dualthon in Bloomington, MI

8. Going to three consecutive Twins v. Red Sox games

9. Preaching at churches in Waseca, Northfield, Blaine, International Falls, and Emily (all in MN)

10. Attending the Elephant Room conference with my friend Chris

11. Coaching Jacob's baseball team

12. Spending January through May as a SAHD with my youngest son Andrew

13. Going to Wild games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens

14. Two day pheasant hunting trip with my neighbor Brian in Edgerton, MN

15. YMCA Daddy/Daughter Dance, followed by Saints Night Out with the neighbors

What is More Offensive: Pornography or A Woman Breastfeeding in Public?

2011-12-29T13:53:00.001-06:00

WCCO News recently aired a Good Question segment about breastfeeding in public as a result of a Texas woman's nationwide call to for a "nurse-in" at Target stores after she said she was humiliated by Target employees.

The segment reminded me of a blog post I wrote in July 2006 (Pornography yes - Breastfeeding no - Are We Serious?) on the hypocrisy and idiocy of the fact that our nation accepts and promotes the normalcy and legitimacy of pornography, and yet demands nursing mothers sit in dirty bathrooms and closet spaces to feed their infants just so passerby's aren't exposed to the slightest embarrassment of having to see a sliver of a breast performing its most natural function. Here's a quote:

Get this, the August 2006 edition of Baby Talk magazine recently raised some eyebrows by putting a close-up picture of a nursing baby on its cover (no nipple and some breast could be seen). Inside the magazine one article reported:

A national survey of public beliefs about breastfeeding published in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that 57 percent of those polled said that women should not have a right to breastfeed in public. And a whopping 72 percent said that it's inappropriate to show a woman breastfeeding on TV programs.

Are we as a nation serious? We have no problem with sexually laced language and sexual behavior displayed on television, but we can't handle it if a mother needs to fed her infant in public? 57% polled say a woman doesn't have the right to breastfeed in public - I wonder how many men think that it should be a woman's right to walk around with no shirt or bra on if she wants to?

It is infuriating that no one is smart enough, or willing to say, "Leave nursing mothers alone and STOP sending Victoria Secret catalogs in the mail for my first grader to find."

I think with Maxim and Playboy on magazine racks at the Holiday gas station, Abercrombie selling push-up swim suits for tween girls, and sexual violence and crime rampant, our businesses and government leaders should be concerns about different things than breastfeeding in public.

In the words of the MNF crew - "Come on man!"

What Would You Say If....

2011-12-28T09:48:00.000-06:00

Tonight I spoke with a woman who told me she is seriously considering leaving her husband. She identifies herself as a Christian and says her husband is not. There is no physical abuse but from what I can tell there is some level of emotional abuse/ emotional abandonment. They have been married over ten years and the husband is not interested in attending any counseling.

I will share my response in a later post but I am curious about what you would say if you were in my shoes?

10 Favorite Books of 2011

2011-12-27T08:54:00.000-06:00

1. Radical (David Platt)
Rethinking the American dream in relationship to the implications and commands of the Gospel. Platt calls American Christians to look beyond material comforts and take the Great Commission more seriously.

2. Think (John Piper)
Piper encourages believers to think hard and interact with the Biblical text on a more intellectual level, not to beef up the brain but with the understanding that greater knowledge of God's Word and truth leads to greater worship.

3. Money, Greed, and God (Jay Richards)
Debunks the idea that capitalism, wealth creation, and money is inherently evil. Clearly illustrate the inconstancies found in communist ideology, a hatred for money, and the idea that poverty equals godliness.

4. Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission (Darrin Patrick)
Pastors are called to be men who have a firm hold on doctrinal truth, a focus on the calling of God on their lives, and the ability to lead themselves, their families, and others.

5. American Assassin (Vince Flynn)
Another Vince Flynn classic fictional novel based on secret agents, criminals, and a man who is simply unstoppable (Mitch Rapp). This is the story of Rapp's recruitment and development as an undercover government agent.

6. Sam Walton: Made in America (Sam Walton)
Autobiography of the Walmart story. Very interesting read and insightful look into the man who started the world's largest public company.

7. Always True: God's 5 Promises When Life is Hard (James MacDonald)
This book meant a lot to me during some hard times in 2011. Focused on 5 promises from God's Word that can sustain all believers who build their lives on them.

8. The Cross and the Switchblade (David Wilkerson)
Amazing story of a man who followed the Holy Spirit's leading. Some really inspiring story's of God working miracles in the life of a man who trusted him for provision in all things. Chronicles the development of Teen Challenge.

9. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Tim Keller)
Everything Keller writes is thought provoking, intellectually challenging yet readable, and insightful. This book challenges believers to analyze themselves to try and determine what we may be relying on for salvation besides Christ.

10. Prince Caspian (C. S. Lewis)
I was blown away with the deep symbolism and the ability off Lewis to incite worship of Christ in the heart of the reader while reading a fictional story. This book reads quickly and is laced with metaphor illustrating doctrine and truth.

Honorable Mention
High Exposure (Breashears); When Life's Not Working: 7 Choices for a Better Tomorrow (Merritt); The Wal-Mart Effect (Fishman); The 100 Thing Challenge (Bruno); The Checklist Manifesto (Gawande); Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't (Sullivan); The Art of Racing in the Rain (Stein)

Financial Peace Tip

2011-12-26T10:43:00.000-06:00

Need to remember this...

Everything with a payment attached to it (other than your house) is draining your financial peace. Stop that from happening, and you'll sleep much better at night and have a bigger smile during the day. We promise.

What I'm Looking Forward to This Christmas

2011-12-23T09:58:00.000-06:00

One more day of work until my two day Christmas break. I can't wait to -

...laugh with family
...watch football
...eat too much
...watch my kids rip through presents
...find pleasure in getting a few new things
...ice skate on Christmas Eve (maybe a new tradition?)
...play board/card games
...spend time with Stephanie
...take a Christmas lights drive w/ the family

What are you looking forward to?

16 Christmas Tips for Dads (Mark Driscoll)

2011-12-22T10:16:00.000-06:00

All these tips are from Pastor Mark Driscoll.

Dad needs...

a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family. In Seattle it’s here.
to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditionsthat are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready?
to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this Christmas?
to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless? One great way to do this is to serve and love a hungry family through Food for the Hungry.
to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?
to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?
to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?
to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?
to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?
to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?
to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

5 Ways Wives can Encourage Their Husbands (Jared Wilson)

2011-12-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

Pastor Jared Wilson shares 5 ways wives can encourage their husbands*.

1. Praise him verbally
2. Submit to his leadership
3. Reject relational legalism
4. Take an interest
5. Make love to him

Put together these 5 tips paint the picture of a man who wants to be a leader, be encouraged and praised, feel secure in his faults, and have a wife who supports his interests and satisfies him physically/sexually. I have never met a man who did not fit these characteristics.

I don't know how many wives/hope-to-be wives read my blog but I can assure you that if you want to attract and keep a man, read Jared's post and put these 5 things into play in your marriage consistently and for an extended time.

If you're not getting the most out of your husband here's some questions you can ask yourself.

- Does he feel belittled or nitpicked?
- Is he being allowed to lead his family?
- Does he feel like he needs to be perfect to be celebrated?
- Is past failure eating away his joy?
- Does he feel supported in his interests/dreams?
- Are his sexual needs met regularly? No strings attached? (Don't forget men also get pleasure and have a need to "give" sexually and not just "receive.") Without guilt?
- Does he feel like a hero or a zero?

* Jared also shares 5 ways husbands can sanctify their wives which every guy should read and put it into practice.

God's Word is Alive and Active

2011-12-20T11:03:00.000-06:00

I was at Caribou yesterday morning dwelling on a few things that were bothering me and I opened up my Bible to read what God's Word might have to say about my situation. When I did this I learned something very important There is a remarkable power in the Bible to speak into the issues of your heart and reveal the foolishness of your thoughts. Hebrews 4:12 says that the "Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Boy did I experience the truth of this text yesterday. Reading God's Word forced me into a corner and left me with only two options: 1) Live and behave God's way, 2) Disbelieve / disobey and keep doing things my own way. The truth of God's Word is so clear and penetrating. When I sit in my own little thoughts I think I have answers, but when I open up the Bible the Holy Spirit is given access to my heart and mind and he does his convicting and liberating work. It is convicting because I see my faults, failures and errors; it is also liberating because I don't have to try and figure things out on my own when God's truth is right before my eyes.

What I'm left with is the challenge to "Go and do!" The Apostle James writes about the tendency people have to read God's Word and then forget it when they close the book (James 1:23). The Bible can be like that. We open it up, read it, and are convicted by its truths, so we close it and act like we never read anything. This is a dangerous game. The Word of God is not like any other book. We mustn't read it and forget it. We have to read it, allow it to shape us and dwell in us. And we have to practice what the Spirit is leading us into so that a new paradigm for living takes root in our hearts and our actions.

Dear Santa

2011-12-19T10:44:00.004-06:00

Dear Santa,

It has been another long year. You know that I spent the first six months without a job, and the second six months trying to get everything back in order. You also know I took a little pay cut as a result of the transition. I know you're pretty busy with taking care of the wishes and wants of children around the world, but if you could just look through my list I'd appreciate it.

- new brakes for the van
- new brakes, passenger side mirror, and driver's side rear door handle for the car
- a new garage door
- paint for the inside walls of the house
- a front side walk that isn't cracked and sinking
- a finished basement the kids can play in
- payment on any number of debts (school loan, credit card, hospital bill)
- a little vacation time for my wife and I
- a riding lawn mower
*Forgot to mention a laptop or netbook so I can work at coffee shops.

I know its kind of an expensive list but nothing on it is real greedy, mostly just stuff that needs to be fixed, paid off, and to make life a little more enjoyable for my wife. I've done my best to be good this year - much better than I was last year.

I don't know if you read blogs, but if you do, maybe you'll have something at the bottom of your bag Christmas night that you can drop down my chimney.

Thanks,
Brenton

PS - Sorry for telling my kids you are not real.

10 Parenting Frustrations

2011-12-12T17:28:00.001-06:00

My wife Stephanie created this list almost two years ago, and ironically it is still relevant to where we find ourselves today.

10. Repeating my directions 3 or more times, while elevating my voice levels before any action takes place.
9. Asking for something to eat, then eating 2 bites and wasting the rest.
8. Constant need to be entertained by me or something electronic
7. Pile up of coats, boots, shoes, hats and mittens all in the middle of my entry way.
6. Lack of cleaning up after their messes of toys, clothes, crafts, ANYTHING!
5. Always wanting what the other sibling has even if they haven't touched the thing for weeks
4. Random walk-by hit and runs with the hands or objects.
3. "What? what? what? I can't hear you, what? what?"
2. Always expecting everything to be "fair" between them. If one person has a friend over, they all want a friend over. If one person gets to choose a cartoon, then they all want to choose a cartoon, etc, etc, etc.
1. "I'm hungry, what's for dinner? "______". "Yuk, that's disgusting, I don't like that!"

I'm interested to hear what frustrations you have as a parent in your house.

The 3 Paths Man Has to Choose From

2011-12-12T11:18:00.003-06:00

I came across this graphic today and it hit me that it is a great picture of the paths people choose to walk in life.

This individual is at a point in his journey where he can choose to go one of three directions. The first direction he can go is to the left. This is the path that leads to the destruction of life. If this man goes down this path he will likely encounter addiction, violence, financial ruin, strained relationships, and great despair. Those who go left usually end up unmarried, in jail, addicted, poor, or dead.

The second direction the man can go is straight ahead. If he goes straight ahead he will be among the presence of many others traveling on the road. He will likely go to college, build a career, try but avoid getting hooked on substances, marry, have some children, work for the weekend, accumulate many things he doesn't need and can't pay for, think going to church is a good idea but never devote much of his life to it, have friends but none that truly know him, and think that retirement will be when real life begins.

Finally the man can choose to go right. Going right is the path to righteousness. This is a path that few walk down because it requires obedience to God, submission to the authority of Scripture and the leadership of a local church, transparency among brothers, integrity, faith and love. The path of the righteous is a great adventure because it involves being led by the Holy Spirit. There is joy, intimacy in marriage, warmth in the home, and love for the world. Though it guarantees no material success on earth, this is a path that ends in eternal rejoicing with Jesus.

Family Christmas Photo 2011

2011-12-11T21:16:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas from the Balvin's 2011.

Why I Use X3 Accountability Software

2011-12-10T10:44:00.001-06:00

Today I had the chance to tell someone about the free X3 software that I have on my mobile phone and home computer. X3 is software that tracks your internet searches, YouTube key phrases, and web browser activity to help put up a fence around personal sexual purity. The software then emails a list of questionable finds to a friend, spouse or accountability partner of your choice.

The person I was talking to wondered why I would want something like that. I was happy to share that X3 helps me remain pure in how I use my phone and the internet, and it fights against the temptation to create a habit of secret sin in my life. X3 makes it easier to invite another person into my life to pray for me and help keep me on track.

It is without question that sexual sin is one of the most prominent and destructive sins that the enemy of God uses to ruin people's lives. Recently I have read about the horrors of sexual sin among sports coaches and leaders, politicians, local cases in my town, and sex trafficking around the world. I want NO PART of that kind of evil.

All sexual sin begins with just "one look" before progressing into complete darkness, and I am honest enough to acknowledge that I am no better a man than those who have fallen before me. That's a road I don't even want to think about going down. God has done some amazing things to free me from sexual sin and temptation and to get me on track to live for purity, His glory, a wonderful marriage, and a good life. I absolutely refuse to throw it all away on a You Tube video or internet website. X3 is a tool to keep me on track.

Let me clear - X3 is not the answer to all sexual sin and addiction problems, and like anything, it can be manipulated to avoid detection, but it is great start for anyone who has a desire in their heart to live in purity.

Recovering Advent

2011-12-07T12:15:00.001-06:00

My wife sent me a link to a website talking about the background and meaning of Advent. I just scanned the page, but this section popped out to me.

Advent has fallen on hard times. For most people, it's become a time to get ready for whatever you're doing with family and friends on Christmas, and not a time to get ready for the Christ child. The bigger Christmas became, the more it swallowed up Advent. In fact, whatever Christmas-y thing we think of as being done before Christmas Day is actually done in Advent. In the US, everything after Thanksgiving is now seen as a part of Christmas. The main problem is not that Christmas intrudes on Advent or the other way around. The meaning of Advent is found in Christmas.

The real problem is that people no longer keep their Christmas focus on Christ, and then the Christless Christmas saps Christ from Advent. Practicing Advent as a religious season may help recover Christmas, but it can't do it by itself. If you don't look to Jesus every day in every season, you'll lose Advent, Christmas, Lent, and even Easter. It becomes a tiring drudge, not a loving celebration, full of hurrying not anticipation. It becomes about family or money or image or spending and not our loving Maker. There are even some who openly advocate letting the world have its Christmas, and then Christians can do their own separate thing on Epiphany. (That would bring them nearly in synch with the old-calendar Orthodox.) But that, of course, chucks Advent as well as Christmas.

Source: Spirit Home

Faith Conversations With My Kids

2011-12-07T10:43:00.001-06:00

Last night the kids and I drove down to Albert Lea, MN to watch Stephanie coach the Northfield Girls Basketball team. Stephanie has been a coach with the team for the last five years and the kids and I absolutely love going to games, cheering on Stephanie and the girls, and playing around in the different schools. Some of the girls have been playing on Stephanie's teams for all five years now and it has been really cool to watch them grow.

However, the real highlight last night (along with a 61-40 NHS win) was the conversation I had with the kids during the hour long drive home. I had a cool opportunity to talk about Christian faith things with my kids. They were asking me questions about Christmas, Jesus, Satan, heaven, hell, angels, and all other sorts of topics. I was grateful to God that his Holy Spirit was stirring the hearts and minds of my kids. I was challenged to answer their questions in words they could understand and I pray that I planted seeds of faith (1 Cor. 3:6) in their hearts that will continue to grow and sprout into a love and commitment to Jesus Christ.

6 Ways to Help Your Boys Become Men

2011-12-06T08:44:00.000-06:00

Desiring God shared a list of 6 components for helping boys become men.

1. Knowledge of the contents of the Bible.
2. Memorization of selected verses and passages of the Bible.
3. Knowledge of the major teachings of the Bible (doctrine).
4. Personal piety.
5. Projects of service and mercy. Serving the church; serving the needy.
6. Wisdom in dealing with various spheres of life

This list comes from an article written by Vern Poythress. You can read the entire article for additional clarification and insight. I have read the article, forwarded it to my wife, and hope to put some of the practices into place in our home.

Raising my boys to be men is an area of life where I never feel like I am doing enough. Guilty feelings never seem far from me regarding the time and effort I put into raising my boys. I know what I want to do, but I feel like I am never doing enough.

This is why it is so crucial that when I get down about my parenting that I focus and preach the Gospel to myself. I must confess and repent of my idolatry (worshiping the idea of being a perfect parent with perfect kids) and acknowledge that I will never be a perfect Father to my boys.

However, there is one who always will be. My boys have a Father in heaven who is in control of all that befalls them. He is never tired, never caught off guard, never without involvement in my kids lives. "Let the little children come to me," he says. There is grace for me in my failure, and there is encouragement for me as I push forward.

30 Ways to Be a Marketplace Minister

2011-12-05T12:35:00.001-06:00

A common theme in the teaching at Rejoice Church is that the people of the church are called by God to transform this world for His glory by becoming marketplace ministers.

This post has 30 ways you can be a marketplace minister. Some of my favorites include,

1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.
3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.
11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.
24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.
29. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

Contentment Poem

2011-12-04T15:00:00.000-06:00

J.C. Ryle: "Contentment is one of the rarest graces."

By his grace,
May I never have need nor want.
Sure in faith,
That he will provide all I need.
For my joy,
His gifts I will consume.
Resting assured,
That my true treasure is in him.

What If Tim Tebow Was a Muslim?

2011-11-30T22:21:00.001-06:00

This is a great article pointing out the hypocrisy of people who rip Tim Tebow for his faith and public profession of it. I really like the way the journalist points out that Tebow's displays of faith make non-Christians uncomfortable, and how badly people want Tebow to screw up so they can put away the idea that there really is a God who is with his people.

What if Tim Tebow were a Muslim?

Imagine for a second, the Denver Broncos quarterback is a devout follower of Islam, sincere and principled in his beliefs and thus bowed toward Mecca to celebrate touchdowns. Now imagine if Detroit Lions players Stephen Tulloch and Tony Scheffler mockingly bowed toward Mecca, too, after tackling him for a loss or scoring a touchdown, just like what happened Sunday. I know what would happen. All hell would break loose.

.....

I could not figure out what was causing this onslaught of venom for a guy almost everybody claims to like, and I finally decided it is more about us. He makes us uncomfortable. He is a reminder that the blue-red, liberal-conservative fight over taking God out of everyday life is intellectually dishonest. He is too good.

Tebow is proof that God goes comfortably into whatever arena of your life you wish to take Him.

Read the whole article.

Does the Walmart Employee Really Need to Say Merry Christmas?

2011-11-30T10:08:00.000-06:00

People have strong feelings about others inserting "Happy holidays" for the words "Merry Christmas." Many Christians believe the move towards holidays instead of Christmas is just another sign that our country (which they believe is Christian) is headed into deeper sinfulness and atheistic thought. There is some connection in people's mind about the usage of term "Merry Christmas" in secular school and businesses, and the spiritual state of our country.

I think Pastor Jared Wilson has some insight that should be considered on this topic. Here's a snippet of his thoughts. Read his whole post for greater understanding.

I submit that "Merry Christmas" as an empty cliche is equally Christless to "Happy Holidays." And in fact we ought to reckon the perfunctory "Merry Christmas" as more offensive than a cheerful "Happy Holidays," not less.

Why? Because God commands us to revere his name and keep it holy. I don't think getting irked that the clerk at Target didn't Jesusify his mandated holiday greeting meets what this law demands.

I guess what I'm saying is, why do we want to force people to claim our Christ? Let's not foist Christ at Christmastime. We ought to take care we aren't campaigning for Christ's name to be taken in vain! But I fear this is what we're doing.

Boycotting or petitioning to make store salespeople confess Christ to us does nothing to truly honor Jesus. It just puts our preferred religious gauze on what is very often (though not always) moralistic or consumeristic idolatry. It might make us feel better but it does not truly adorn Christ's gospel.

Driscoll on Abortion

2011-11-29T09:05:00.000-06:00

"Now, here's why we are a pro-life church: because God is a pro-life God. I'll make this as clean as I can. See, the main reason why you would be pro-choice is, you want to have sex outside of marriage, not be obligated to that child, and so you would rather murder them than repent. It's really not that complicated. Some people say, “Oh, there's minority cases for rape and incest.” Let's just talk about the vast majority of cases. Let's deal with all of that and maybe we can quibble over some of the complicated details and other scenarios.

But that's life, life nonetheless, and we're pro-life, I'm prolife nonetheless.What we see here is, God says there's a baby in Elizabeth's womb. You're going to read this coming up in the next few weeks, that the baby leapt in the womb of a mother. That same word for “baby” is the same word for “children” who gather around Jesus later and sing “Hosanna, Hosanna!” So, the baby in the womb is the same as a five-year-old kid who sings songs to Jesus. They're all children.

And here, we find that this child in Elizabeth's womb has a name. His name is John. Not only is his name John, he's filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. I don't know how you could get a stronger argument for personhood than: named by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, set apart for ministry, still in the belly. That, to me, seems like a pretty good case for personhood. And the holocaust of abortion is completely unacceptable. And as many as 25 percent of all abortions are performed by professing evangelical Christian women, completely unacceptable sin, it's murder. It's murder. Jesus died for all sin. And he can and will forgive you.

But rather than arguing over the political point, repent of the action.And I love the fact that God can save a baby and fill them with the Holy Spirit from their mother's womb. I'll tell you why. The holocaust of abortion, roughly one out of five pregnancies end in miscarriage, some of you are struggling with infertility, you keep having miscarriages. My wife and I have five beautiful healthy kids. We had one that was miscarried. It was devastating. And I find so much comfort that God knows the baby from the womb. God names the baby from the womb. God can even sovereignly elect, predestine the baby from the womb, can put the Holy Spirit in the baby, and regenerate the baby in the womb."

- This is all from Mark Driscoll's sermon on Luke 1:5-24

Monday Mind Dump

2011-11-28T20:56:00.001-06:00

- I have a sermon to give on Sunday and I can't get any leading where to go or how to get the thing started.
- The church I preach at is 40 people tops and yet every Sunday feels like the World Series for me.
- Weeks when I'm preaching are an emotional roller-coaster. Spiritual attacks? I feel so mentally drained.
- Worst part is...I can't turn down preaching ops. Feel like it is central to my gifts, passion, calling.
- Got an email last Tuesday encouraging me to turn in an app for a pastor position in OR. Been wrestling with that all week.
- Drives you crazy looking for signs from God about what path to take. You find contradictory stuff everywhere. The mind games you play with yourself are intense.
- Have to focus forward but some weeks its hard not to dwell on everything wrong decisions in the past have cost.
- Instead I need to praise Jesus for the growth and the development. My concern needs to be on my own journey, not the journey of others.
- It is hard not to be discouraged by the progress, lives, of others when you see yourself in their shoes.
- Found some encouragement today in a sermon from C.H. Spurgeon I read today, based on 1 Peter 1:13. I have a quote to blog later.
- Looking forward to my hockey game tomorrow night.

Trust and Submit to the Lord

2011-11-27T22:56:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I attended Eagle Brook Church with my brothers. It was fun to go to church with them, and I enjoyed the vibe and buzz at the Blaine Eagle Brook Campus. The verse that the sermon (sermon series called Inked: Direction) was centered on was Proverbs 3:5-6,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The pastor shared some insightful word about this text, and I left with a lot on my mind about trusting the Lord, submitting to him, and allowing him to direct my steps in the face of my fears.

Amazingly, the very same verse was mentioned during church this morning at Rejoice Church. I really don't know what God is trying to teach me right now, but I am doing my best to discern it. If you read this and would't mind saying a prayer for me that'd be awesome.

Consumerism v. Generosity at Christmas

2011-11-26T23:36:00.001-06:00

Great thoughts on consumerism v. generosity at Christmas.

One of my concerns is that programs like Advent Conspiracy or even rhetoric meant to shame Black Friday shoppers become ways materialistic Christian suburbanites do penance for their year-long accumulation. But year-end rebuke of consumerism doesn't mitigate consumerism the rest of the year. Instead -- and how's this for a novel concept? -- let's just be generous people, year-round.

There's nothing wrong with giving gifts to friends and family. There's nothing wrong with even buying those gifts, rather than making them. And there's nothing wrong with trying to save money when buying those gifts. Gift-giving is good, and so is saving money on gifts you were going to buy anyway.

Flee consumerism this holiday season. But flee also smug abstention. (HT: Jared Wilson)

The Work of a Pastor is Difficult

2011-11-18T09:47:00.000-06:00

A good word from Jared Wilson, posted by Justin Buzzard,

The work of a pastor is difficult. Very few Christians lose sleep over the state of their church, the spiritual health of the body, the collective faithfulness or unfaithfulness of the congregation. But pastors do. This is something very few people who aren’t pastors can understand, isn’t it? While pastors carry the weight of their own struggles, and likely the weight of the struggles of their friends and family, they also carry the weight of the struggles of an entire church. They are responsible for more; they are accountable for much. -Jared Wilson, Gospel Wakefulness, p. 192.

A Good Word About the Role Youth Pastors

2011-11-17T21:44:00.001-06:00

I love these words about Youth Pastors from Mark Batterson,

Just so we’re clear: It’s not your job to disciple my kids. That’s my job as a parent. But I’m so grateful that I have someone to tag-team with. There are times that my kids need a “third-party” to say what I’ve been saying their entire life. They won’t hear me, but they might hear you.

So go ahead and dress cool and act cool. Pull the all-night events and pull crazy stunts. Laugh with the kids like crazy! But don’t forget that you are first and foremost a prophet in the life of my child. That’s what matters. Don’t cower before a politically-correct culture. Speak the truth boldly, lovingly, prophetically. Get in their face. Get in their life. Challenge them to dream big and pray hard. They are capable of far more than we can imagine!

Parents: Time is Short with Your Kids So Don't Waste It

2011-11-16T12:43:00.001-06:00

How do I maximize the time I have with my kids?

This is a question I think I will need to revisit over and over again now that all three of my kids are in school full-time. Between school, my job, and all our other family commitments I have a pretty small window of opportunity to invest in the development of my kids. I think this means I have to be all the more intentional in the spaces I still have. And I have to work extremely hard at making sure I don't waste precious time by being angry, anxious, distracted, exhausted, or into other things.

Here's a few things I can do to invest in my kids:

- help with their homework
- read with them
- let them help prepare meals
- occasional Daddy dates
- turn down the radio and talk in the car
- coach their team
- volunteer at their school
- play sports with them instead of watching on TV
- put away the smart phone
- do chores together: room pick-up, clothes put away
- bring them with me on errands

The window of time I have as the primary influencer of my children is shrinking fast. I am being forced to hand them over to classmates, teachers, coaches, and neighborhood kids. But I am determined to not go away without a fight. I have to fight for the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical development of my kids. The stakes are too high, and Satan is to real for me to be passive.

However, I rest in the sovereignty of God and the truth that ultimately my kids are his kids, and I am just a temporary caregiver and teacher. He holds them in his hands, he has written their days in his book, and he is more loving and powerful and perfect a parent than I can even dream of being.

The Word of the Lord Remains Forever

2011-11-15T12:08:00.001-06:00

For the past couple weeks I have been completed infatuated with the Bible. I mean to say - I’ve been like a kid who just secured his first date, who for the next week can think of nothing else than the girl he’s going to the movies with on Friday. I’ve been thinking of verses during the day, reading books about the Bible, sharing Scriptures with me wife, listening to Bible saturated preaching on my iPod - I’ve just been completely enamored by the greatness of God’s Word.

One book I read last week is called “Our Bible: How We Got It.” (Charles Leach, copyright 1898) In the book the story is told of William Tyndale, the man responsible for some of the very fist English translations of the Bible. Tyndale gave almost his entire life in the pursuit of translating Scripture so that the English commoners could read and love the Book he so greatly loved.

However, not everyone liked the idea of expanding access to the Bible, and so enemies of Tyndale chastised him, rounded up his Bibles and burned them. For many of us that would be discouraging, but so in love with Christ and Scripture was Tyndale that he responded with these words,

“I am glad [that they were bought up and burned], for these two benefits shall come thereof: I shall get money to bring myself out of debt and the whole world will cry out against the burning of God’s Word, and the overplus of the money that shall remain with me shall make me more anxious to correct the said NT, and so newly to imprint the same once again, and I trust the second will be much better than ever was the first.”

Tyndale, like so many others, ultimately gave up his life (in 1536) and was burned alive at the stake because of his deep love for the Book, the Word of God. Do you treasure God’s Word like this? I pray you do because I believe the time is coming when those who call themselves Christians will be faced with very hard choices regarding the Word of God and whether they believe it truly to be breathed out by God.

The authority of the Bible over our lives, our churches, and our country is constantly under attack by those who would like to reinterpret Scripture, revise it to make it more pleasing to them or remove it from public life all together. In addition, there movements under way around the world to make parts of Scripture hate speech - which in essence would force Christians to shut up the Word of God, or to risk persecution and possible imprisonment.

Praise be to God that the Bible will never go away, despite the greatest efforts of man. Leach has an insight and encouraging quote when he writes, “The more men have tried to eradicate the Bible the more deeply it has struck the roots; and the more they have tried to blot out the name of Christ, the more legible and glorious it has become.”

Or in the words of 1 Peter 1:25, “the word of the Lord remains forever.”

Things the Bible says About Itself

2011-11-14T11:24:00.001-06:00

The Bible is.....
- sweeter like honey (Ps 119:03)
- everlasting (1 Peter 1:25)
- upright (Ps 33:4)
- truth (Ps 119:160)
- fruitful (Is 55:11)
- living and active (Heb 4:12)
- reliable (2 Sam 22:31; Pr 30:5)

What is the role of the Bible...

- teach (2 Tim 3:16)
- reprove (2 Tim 3:16)
- correct (2 Tim 3:16)
- train (2 Tim 3:16)
- rebuke (2 Tim 4:2)
- exhort (2 Tim 4:2)
- save (Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 15:2; Jn 5:24)
- give life (Deut 8:3, Mt 4:4)
- guards our purity (Ps 119:9)
- protects from sin (Ps 119:11)
- strengthens (Ps 119:28)
- guides our steps (Ps 119:105)
- points direction (Ps 119:105)
- reveals God’s will (Is 55:11)
- sanctifies (Jn 17:17)
- cleanses us (Eph 5:26)
- protects (Eph 6:17)
- discerns and exposes (Heb 4:12)
- brings blessing (Jn 1:25; Deut 11:26-28)

The Sacrifice of the Lift-Bridge Operator

2011-11-14T09:07:00.000-06:00

I grew up in a Christian home. My parents both love Jesus and they did there very best to obey his commands and to raise my siblings and I up in the church and in the ways of God. They did a great job and I owe them so much for building a faith foundation in my life.

But despite my upbringing I approached high school I was weak to the temptations of the world and the yearning for popularity and fame through athletics. And so, for a season, I set my faith aside and I ran after the things that I thought I was missing out on, girls/parties/crude humor/and the like. For two years I chased these things despite the fact that I knew deep inside they weren’t giving me the joy I was looking for, and it wasn’t until late October of my senior year that the Lord broke me trough a serious of circumstances that involved a pig, alcohol, driving, and an extension cord.

The night I was pulled over by police and my Dad came to pick-up me and my car at 2:30AM was one of the worst nights of my life. I sat in a dimly lit living room staring at the blood shot eyes of my mother, who could say nothing through her silent tears but the words, “I am so disappointed in you.” The godly guilt I felt for crushing my mother crushed me, and I promised to do whatever it took to earn back the respect of my parents.

One part of my consequences from that night was that I had to meet with my high school youth pastor. Our church had hired a new youth pastor since I quit going so I didn’t know the new guy very well, and as I sat in a chair across from him at a Barnes and Noble store in Maple Grove I was unsure what to expect. We talked for awhile and I started to connect with him. He was a former high school athlete who seemed to understand the pressures high school kids faced. I was really enjoying our conversation until he turned the corner and asked me a few questions that made me really uncomfortable.

First he told me a story. He told me a story about a man who operated a life bridge. You know, one of those bridges that stays down for trains to drive across over a river, but then when a boat comes the bridge lifts straight up into the air so the boat can pass underneath. Well this guy had worked as the bridge operator for many, many years. And one year his son asked if he could go to work with his father for a day and see what his dad’s job was like. The father was overjoyed at the thought of spending a special day with his one and only son, and so they got up early one morning, packed identical lunches, packed in identical brown bags, and walked hand in hand along the mile long path to the bridge station.

The morning went by quickly and the father and son had a wonderful time waving at the train that passed by and enjoying one anothers company. After lunch the boy was restless and asked if he could explore around by the river for awhile. The father said Ok and off the boy went.

Soon after the boy left the father got a message over the intercom that an unexpected train was headed his way and he needed to lower the bridge. The man quickly flipped the bridge switch into the descending position, pressed a button and stepped out of his station as he watched as the large gears and pulleys began to lower the bridge.Not long after he did this was the man shaken by the noise of a horrific scream. The scream came from the lungs of his precious son who had somehow become stuck in the gears. The man ran back towards his station to stop the bridge from descending, but as he did he saw a fully loaded passenger train carrying hundreds of men, women, and children come down the track. He was faced with a horrible choice: either he could stop the bridge to save his son and hundreds would die in a train crash, or he could sacrifice his son in order to save the lives of people on the passenger train.

It is a terrible decision no one should have to bear, but here is what he did - the father gave the life of his one and only son, so that the people on the train might have a chance to life.

Then that youth pastor looked me in the eye and he said this, “There are 4 kinds of people on that train. Those who were too busy reading their Kindles and iPads to notice what happened. Those who think they saw something, but they don’t get worked up about it, and they quickly forget. Those who are broken for what they saw but later, after the feeling goes away, they move on. And finally there are those people who see the sacrifice the father made, are broken by it, and who change the way they live from that point on out of a deep, deep gratitude to the father and the sacrifice of the son. Now Brenton - which person are you?”

And I ask you - which person are you? You see the story of the father and the son at the lift bridge is really the story of God in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to earth, to pay the penalty for yours and my sin by dying a horrific death on a cross, and raising up in victory from the grave. And you and I have a choice to make about our response to God. We can be busy and ignore what Christ did for us. We can think it over and then go on living like nothing happened. We can be moved by it, for a time, but eventually we return to our old ways of living. Or we can bow in gratitude and thankfulness to God, be broken by him because of the great grace shown to us despite our filthy sinfulness, and reorient our entire lives to life for him.

You must make that choice. I must make that choice.

Audio of Penn State/Nebraska pre-game prayer

2011-11-13T22:57:00.000-06:00

My friend Chris shared this on his blog.

Thoughts?

Labor, Scatter, and Sow in Service to Others

2011-11-11T08:12:00.000-06:00

Charles Leach, in his 1898 book "Our Bible: How We Got It," talking about the great work of William Tyndale, who devoted his life to translating the Bible into common English, and who was burned at the stake just three years before an authorized version gained accepted circulation among the people in 1539AD.

It was his lot to labor while others enjoyed, to scatter what others should gather, and to sow what others should reap. In it all, however, God's Word was honored, the salvation of many men furthered, and the glory of God secured.

Tyndale lived the bulk of his life in poverty, danger, and scorn. He experienced little earthly success and was viewed in poor terms through the eyes of the world. Yet the riches that were laid up for him in heaven for his great work and perseverance to God in the face of trial are vast.

Thank you Lord for William Tyndale and the way he gave his life so that I could read your Word!

One Person's Sexual Sin has Tentacles that Ruin Many LIves

2011-11-10T12:36:00.001-06:00

As I have watched the events unfold at Penn State University over the last three days I cannot help but reflect on the destruction that comes with sexual sin. While it is true that all sin is sin, and whenever we sin we act in defiance of a holy God, there is something uniquely powerful and devastating about sexual sin.

Sexual sin is not a solo sin. The shame, guilt, secrecy, addictive tendency, and rippling consequences of sexual sin are like tentacles that stretch out and stealthy latch on to the lives of many people who are often not involved with the sexual sin at all.

Look at the damage that Jerry Sandusky's sexual sin and perversion has done at Penn State.

- Little boys have been emotionally scarred, some whose lives are harmed forever.
- A university President has been fired. And now his family must work through that.
- One of the greatest college football coaches of all time has been fired and his legacy tarnished by scandal.
- Sandusky's wife, children and grandchildren must all now life with their name tied to a pedophile.
- Current Penn State students have this event stamped on their college experience.

The list could go on and on.

Yes, Jerry Sandusky's specific sexual sin was horrific, but the same principle applies for all sexual sin. Imagine a man who has given over his life to a relationship with his computer and an addiction to pornography late at night. Every night he stares at the screen and feels shame in his soul, but he rationalizes that he isn't hurting anyone else with his sins. But that's not true. His wife is being cheated and he is not the "one woman" husband he pledged to be. His kids are being harmed because their father is in the grip of sin and is not free to love them fully. His daughter is harmed because her father is participating in the cultural exploration and objectification of woman, and someday some other sexually addicted man is going to want to use her as the object of his fantasies. If the man does finally admit his sin and get help than there will be many more consequences, all involving the lives of other people - family, friends, possibly a job.

Sexual sin is a deeply serious issue. The Bible speaks against sexual sin again and again, in all its forms (fornication, homosexuality, perversion, lust, improper desire, incest, adultery), and the Bible warns about the devastation caused by sexual behavior that is outside of the plan of God. Satan has used sexuality to pull many men and women away from God, and he masks his evil work by highlighting the enjoyment and pleasure that sex gives a person, while blinding them to the consequences sexual immorality has.

People rightly should grieve for the situation at Penn State University, but they must also look at their own lives and examine their own temptations and proximity to sexual sin. If nothing else Coach Joe Paterno was guilty of omission, of not acting when he had the power to do so. As Christians we are also guilty of omission when we don't stand on the Word of God as the source of rightly ordered sexuality and when we don't speak against the work of Satan in the myriad of ways he has perverted sex and noramlized sexually deviant desires and behaviors in our world.

So Much Richness in 1 Peter 2:9-12

2011-11-09T20:25:00.001-06:00

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:9-12 ESV)

Penn State, Pedophilia, Sex, and Morality Questions

2011-11-09T00:52:00.000-06:00

I have been saddened and sickened by the news today coming out of Penn State University about former Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky and the allegations of his molestation of children over a fifteen year period. It is disgusting and depraved, and I pray that Jesus would do a mighty healing the lives of the people affected.

What I find curious is the multitudes of reporters and commentators who are shouting about the moral responsibility of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno to report and ensure follow-up action about the information he received regarding Sandusky's actions. As a Christian I believe that Paterno (or anyone for that matter) who knew about the behavior of Sandusky should have done everything they could to help the victims involved. Pedophilia and molestation are shameful, sinful, evil actions and lusts.

However, for those people who are not Christians I have to ask, "Where does your moral guidebook come from? Who gets to decide what is moral or immoral behavior?" I have always wondered about this. My standard of morality is what God tells me in Scripture is his standard. But for those that don't take the Bible as the authoritative standard of their lives, what standard do you use to condemn pedophilia as an immoral sexual behavior?

I don't understand how people don't see the inconsistency of saying, "homosexuality, pornography, three-somes, fornication with random partners and other sexually deviant behavior is normal and OK, but pedophilia, polygamy, and bestiality are not OK." Who gets to draw that line in the atheist world?

Secret Church Learnings

2011-11-06T22:24:00.002-06:00

On Friday night nearly 20 brave people gathered at my house to participate in Secret Church, a 6+ hour simulcast Bible teaching from David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills Church. The topic of the night was Marriage, Family, Sex and the Gospel. It was a tremendous amount of material but a great night of Biblical teaching and relationship building with people from my church.

Some of the things that have stuck with me are:

- fathers must assume the leadership role in teaching their wives and children about Jesus
- don't exasperate your children
- that your children know and love God is the most valuable thing you pass along as a parent
- the Gospel is the hope and power for everything
- dead people don't come back to life on their own power
- the Bible is meant to be learned and lived
- be taught and then go and teach
- pray for people groups around the world who are being persecuted for their faith
- abortion is all about God, not about politics/women/society/free choice
- don't focus on the sins of the minority and ignore the sins of the majority

I have almost 10 pages of notes so those are just a few things off the top of my head.

It is About HIS Story, not Yours

2011-11-05T23:32:00.001-05:00

Today I took a call at work about a piece of merchandise that someone wanted to return. After I explained that we could not return the merchandise the man very kindly said, "No problem. Let's set that little thing aside and deal with the bigger issue."

He then proceeded to start telling me about Jesus Christ. I stopped him to let him know I was already a Christian and he didn't have to convince me. "Why do you think you're a Christian?," he asked. I explained that I have been saved by Christ and that Jesus has transformed my life, and that I share my story with people who may be interested. He replied, "Evangelism is not about your story, it is about God's story." Ouch. Blunt. But true...

I'm not very outwardly evangelistic. Sharing my faith isn't something that comes super easy to me (unless I am preaching from the pulpit). My default mode is to try and relate or impress another person by extolling the ways in which Jesus has changed my life. But what the man on the phone was reminding me of is the fact that all kinds of people get their lives 'cleaned up' (drunk get sober, the poor get jobs, mean people become nicer) but only Jesus saves, and he does so out of his great love for us while we are yet sinners.

This is what needs to be proclaimed. Not how I have changed, but the means by which Jesus changes me. And this is intimidating, scary work for me. But it is also freeing because it puts the onus for salvation on a supernatural work of God in someone else's heart, not on my ability to convince or persuade my fellow man.

What's the Size of Your Leadership Plate

2011-11-03T22:06:00.001-05:00

I heard Mark Driscoll talk once about the concept of leaders having different size leadership plates. Here's what he said in a nutshell. Different leaders can only handle certain amounts of responsibility and pressure before things start to go array.

Some leaders have large plates and can handle lots of things. Other leaders have medium size plates. And some leaders can only handle a small number of things. No leadership plate size is better than any other. The key is to acknowledge the size of your plate, fill it, but don't take on more than you can handle.

I have always wanted to be a large plate leader. However, the fact is that I am not and will not be. I am a medium to small sized plate leader. When I get many projects going at once, I start feeling all kinds of anxiety and I start to miss details and drop balls. I am much more adapt to focus on completing a few things, than to balance many things at once. When I have lots of things happening I start to get really stressed and frustrated.

I'm learning to be content with the person God made me to be and to seek his will in my life based on who I am, not who I wish I was. This is not always easy. The accolades on earth go to the large plate guys (and gals), but I have to remember that my father in heaven does not show partiality to the famous or the wealthy, but rather to the faithful and the weak.

What Do You Watch?

2011-11-02T02:03:00.001-05:00

A couple weeks ago I preached a sermon about The Impact of our Tongues (from James 3:1-12 - you can watch it here). I have continued thinking about the topic ever since. I have also been thinking a lot about the impact of watch we watch. Stephanie and I have an on-going discussion about the things we watch and the responsibility we have as Christians in determining what we are entertained by. I think it is a healthy discussion for us to have.

I am moving more and more towards drawing a harder line in the things I watch. This is difficult because so many television shows and movies now are laced with all sorts of sinful behavior. That is the main point for me. I don't think it is appropriate for Christians to be entertained by sin. The problem is determining how this plays out. Do I watch a show that balances clean humor and code humor? Do I watch a show that has violence and killing? Do I watch a show that has characters normalize behaviors out of sync with Scripture?

I have never really identified what standards I will have for myself regarding what I watch (outside of some pretty common ones involving more blatant sinfulness). I think part of the fear I have in determining a standard is the fact that I know how much I will be tempted to ease that standard or compromise it when there is something that I really want to watch and be entertained by. The cravings for entertainment and 'vegging out' can be very hard to set aside. I continue to rely on the words or Scripture and the conviction of the Holy Spirit to guide me (you need to have both to be safe because the conscious can be easily manipulated and fooled). And I rest in the promise of grace to cover my unintended errors in judgment.

I'm curious if anyone reading this would share their feelings about a Christian's responsibility with regard to what they watch.

Family Movie Night - Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn TreaderF

2011-10-29T23:21:00.001-05:00

We had a great family night this evening. We kicked off the night with breakfast for dinner (pancakes, bacon, and eggs). Then we carved pumpkins. The kids were asking about it all day, but Stephanie spend more time working on the pumpkins than anyone else. Then we cuddled up on the coach and watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I was very impressed with the movie. I continue to be amazed at the skill in which C.S. Lewis was able to weave Biblical truth into creative story-telling. Multiple times during the movie I was forced to contemplate temptations to idolatry and sin. Other times I was moved to tears thinking of the character Aslan as a representation of Jesus Christ. So cool. I know the kids didn't comprehend the depth of the themes in the film, but as we watched I tried to talk through some things with them and explain what Lewis was trying to teach through his writing.

Thanks Dad!

2011-10-22T21:58:00.003-05:00

I had a great time with my dad today cutting down some dead trees behind my house.

It brought back lots of memories of working with my dad at our 5 acre farm when I was growing up. My dad is a tireless worker who spent his weekday driving semi-truck, and his weeks trying to upkeep our property, enjoy time with his family, and cart use round to the many activities my siblings and I were in.

I am grateful for my dad who taught me the value of handwork, returning things you borrow in better condition that you got them, executing a plan and staying with it until complete, loving your wife, and most importantly, trusting in Jesus and putting your faith in him.

*I'm also thankful for my neighbor who let me use his truck to haul all the brush to the dump.

Fatherhood Frustrations

2011-10-17T12:16:00.004-05:00

It is astonishing how easy it is to get stuck in a rut of negativity as a father.

Yesterday was one of those day where ever single thing my kids did bothered me. I was so blinded by the mistakes of my kids that I didn't enjoy almost any time with them. I don't get many weekends at home, and it makes me even more upset that during the time I did have, I wasted it all away yelling at them for their errors.

Much of my frustration with my kids comes from them interrupting what I am doing. They interrupt because they are fighting, or someone took something, or someone is hurt, or they want me to look at something or do something with them. Then, instead of entering into their world for a moment, I get upset and raise me voice to resolve the issue. It is a graceless, selfish form of parenting. I let my desires for quietness and personal pursuits of pleasure to override my God-given call to love and train up my children. It is a sin.

I wonder how many moments I will reflect on 10 years from now, and regret how I handled them. I wonder what kind of "word wounds" I am inflicting on the soul and psyche of my kids, and how deep the wounds will be. And I pray for more grace from God, and that my faults and failures as a parent will not get in the way of the work He wants to do in my children's lives.

My Big Sinful Mouth

2011-10-04T09:56:00.000-05:00

One of the graces of preaching is that you get the chance to do a serious self-reflection every week during your sermon preparation. This coming Sunday I am preaching at my friend Chris's church in Waseca, MN and my text is James 3:1-12, and I have studied I have had to acknowledge my own sins that arise from the text.

The passage is all about our tongues/speech and how the words that we use reflect what is going on in our hearts. James teaches that the power of the tongue for good and for evil is astounding, and as Christians we need to pay more attention to our words and speech. No doubt preparing for this sermon has give me plenty of opportunity to pay attention to my own tongue and I'm not especially satisfied with myself. My words 'tell' me that I have a long way to go in allowing the Holy Spirit to transform my heart into a heart like Jesus has.

One pastor wrote that sinning with our mouths is the most common sin of man. He joked, "..maybe that is why Jesus designed the tongue to be walled in behind our teeth." The tongue sins almost without restraint in slander, gossip, hate, put-downs, blasphemy, pride, judgment, anger, hypocrisy, lies, and curses. With little awareness we can use our tongues to sin all day long, and then without cognition of the inconsistency, say our praises and prayers before going to sleep.

I hope to speak about all this and more on Sunday morning. I'd love to have you join us. In the meantime I'd encourage you to tune-in to your words for the rest of the week and see what they 'tell' you about the health of your own heart.

Some Simple Christian Living Guidelines

2011-09-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

Psalm 15.

1Who may live on your holy mountain?
² The one whose walk is blameless,
   who does what is righteous,
   who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
   who does no wrong to a neighbor,
   and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
   but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
   and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
   who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

Andrew Brought Himself for "A" Day

2011-09-29T10:00:00.002-05:00

This week in preschool Andrew was supposed to bring in something from home that began with the corresponding letter of the day. Since we left Andrew's backpack in the car we were unaware of this.

On the first day, when the teacher asked the students to get their letter "A" items Andrew said he didn't have anything. His teacher was very quick and wise, and she responded, "Yes you do. What's your name start with?" And Andrew said, "Andrew starts with A. Oh yeah, I brought Andrew today!"

So, for letter "A" day Andrew brought himself!

What a great job by that teacher to turn a potentially negative, embarrassing situation into a positive one where my child felt good about himself. So glad to know that is the environment my son spends his day in. Way to go, and thanks to Ms. Hall!

I've Had It With Loneliness

2011-09-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

My brother Jeff sent me these notes. They were from a sermon series he heard at Eagle Brook Church. There is some great nuggets in here if you or a friend are dealing with feelings of loneliness. I especially like Q #3 because most people never go to that level of introspection in their lives but it is an important discipline to have from time to time. No one should ever believe they have arrived at the best version of themselves that they have to offer the world. Because of the damage of sin we all have things to work on until that day when Jesus makes us wholly complete.

Watch the sermon: I've Had It With Loneliness

3 Types of Loneliness:
-situational (eating alone in the lunchroom)
-seasonal (i.e kid leaves for college)
- chronic

4 Questions to Overcome Loneliness:
1. Are you trusting God? Really? Romans 15:13 "AS you TRUST in Him"
- continually know and trust God working in your life and honestly ask yourself how much you are truly trusting in God
Josh 1:5

2. Have you identified your "home team"?
-make a list--write down these people (bob had 18) in order-- i.e spouse, kids, in-laws, friends
-these are the people you call when you have a flat tire--the people who know everything that is wrong with you and still like you:), not just people who drift in and out of your life
-there is a certain oneness you have with other believers that you cannot have with non believers
-start investing in these people and let them know that--dont overlook the people God puts in front of you each day
-if your marriage is not your home team, something is wrong

3. Have you dealt with your relational barriers?
-these are habits you have that might be pushing people away and keeping you lonely (Col 3:5-11)
-the fastest way to loneliness if to lead an immoral, sexually careless life--you cannot build a family/marriage/home with these type of behaviors
"you just don't see people who are successful in life who are hotheads" - Henry Cloud
-Relational builders traits (Godly, genuine, generous, humor, energetic, depth, problem solvers)
-Relational barrier traits (needy, whiny, 1-issue people, lazy, pushy, jokesters, self absorbed)

4. Have you taken initiative? Honestly?
-if you are lonely, what ARE YOU DOING about it?
- start a group, service or volunteer- take a step
-make the call

My Wife is Racing in a Duathlon - She's Amazing!

2011-09-24T22:32:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow morning my wife is participating the MN Iron Girl Duathlon in Bloomington, MN. The race consists of 2 mi run, 22 mi bike, 2 mi run. I am so happy for Stephanie that she is taking on this challenge. Last summer Stephanie did a mini-triathlon in Northfield, but she didn't enjoy the swimming too much so this year's duathlon is perfect.

What impresses me the most is Stephanie's perseverance and commitment to training despite that the fact that she hates running and has felt sick. As part of her training she ran in the Jesse James Days 5K earlier this month. I can't wait to pack up the kids and head up to Bloomington tomorrow to cheer her on. It's going to be awesome!

Run Stephanie Run!

Life of the Beloved: A Reflection on Friendship and Being Known

2011-09-22T12:31:00.000-05:00

Stephanie and I have a meeting tonight with some friends who have invested much in our lives. This group of men and women cared for us as we recovered from my wrong choices years ago, and we have met with them periodically ever since for prayer, guidance, accountability, encouragement, and on-going care. They have given up time from their own families and colleagues, skipped potential vacations and trips, given financially, put their recommendation and word on the line, and they have done it all out of their love for us, and their love for Jesus Christ. The more I reflect the more grateful I am for them and the many Christians brothers and sisters like them.

I thought of my friends specifically today as I finished reading Henri Nouwen's book The Life of the Beloved. Nouwen was a Catholic priest whose books have always resonated with me. He writes about Christ meditatively based on his own emotions, struggles, insights, and reflections. I am touched by the vulnerability that comes out in his writing and inspired by his obvious love of Christ and desire to know Him more intimately.

The Life of the Beloved is a letter written to a close friend published as a book. Nouwen struggled for much of his life to find a lasting closeness and intimacy with his fellow man and woman. In many of his writings he reveals a yearning to love and be loved, know and be known, more deeply. As I read the book today I thought of my own friends and the way we spur one another on to life in this world, and life with Christ. It is much better to be well-known by a few (intimacy) than to be well-known by many (popularity). being popular was Nouwen's problem, and the desire for notoriety one of my greatest temptations.

The desire for notoriety because of some cosmic contribution to the world gets in the way of living vulnerably and contently with those around you. Facebook friends and Twitter followers give the illusion of popularity, but when the technology is turned off you are left with what is true. It is then you must look at yourself and ask, "Are you striving to be well-known, or to be well-known?" In one you will find satisfaction and joy, and in the other is an on-going struggle to be fulfilled and deeply loved not just for what you do, but for who you are.

Pat Robertson is Wrong

2011-09-16T11:24:00.000-05:00

For the record, I think Pat Robertson spoke very foolishly recently with his remarks about Alzheimer's and Divorce. The following is a great statement from Joni Eareckson Tada regarding the issue.

“Any marriage has its challenges, but add a serious disability and they can, at times, seem overwhelming. This is why God instituted marriage as a lifelong commitment – Heaven knows it requires vows, solemn and serious, to weather a couple through the demands of disability."

“I was dismayed when this week Pat Robertson said to a nationwide audience that Alzheimer's disease is a kind of death that makes divorce justifiable. When a Christian leader views marriage on a sliding scale, what does this say to the millions of couples who must deal daily with catastrophic injuries and illnesses?"

“At the Joni and Friends International Disability Center, we encounter thousands of couples who, despite living with serious disabling conditions, showcase the grace of God in their weakness every day. Marriage is designed to be a picture of God’s sacrificial love for us. Alzheimer’s disease is never an ‘accident’ in a marriage; it falls under the purview of God’s sovereignty. In the case of someone with Alzheimer's, this means God's unconditional and sacrificial love has an opportunity to be even more gloriously displayed in a life together!”

Russel Moore offers more helpful words on the error of Robertson's thinking and the reality that marriage is to reflect the relationship of Christ to his church.

Marriage, the Scripture tells us, is an icon of something deeper, more ancient, more mysterious. The marriage union is a sign, the Apostle Paul announces, of the mystery of Christ and his church (Eph. 5). The husband, then, is to love his wife “as Christ loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). This love is defined not as the hormonal surge of romance but as a self-sacrificial crucifixion of self. The husband pictures Christ when he loves his wife by giving himself up for her.

At the arrest of Christ, his Bride, the church, forgot who she was, and denied who he was. He didn’t divorce her. He didn’t leave.

The Bride of Christ fled his side, and went back to their old ways of life. When Jesus came to them after the resurrection, the church was about the very thing they were doing when Jesus found them in the first place: out on the boats with their nets. Jesus didn’t leave. He stood by his words, stood by his Bride, even to the Place of the Skull, and beyond.

A woman or a man with Alzheimer’s can’t do anything for you. There’s no romance, no sex, no partnership, not even companionship. That’s just the point. Because marriage is a Christ/church icon, a man loves his wife as his own flesh. He cannot sever her off from him simply because she isn’t “useful” anymore.

Blow It Up...Put It Back Together

2011-09-15T20:50:00.000-05:00

Blow it up, put it back together.

That's a phrase my wife Stephanie and I use to correspond with our celebration handshake. I know it annoys my neighbor which one reason we do it so much. However there is another, much more important reason - since we've started using this phrase we've come to realize it is actually a phrase that has a lot of meaning for us and the story of our life together.

We have gone through some pretty hard things during our 9 year run. Always the Lord has been faithful to meet our needs and sustain us through the darkest times. He is good.

I am usually the primary player in the 'blow it up' phase. I never have bad intentions, it is just that I have struggled for a long time acting like the rules that govern everyone else don't apply to me. I look for a way around the rule, or try to slide by on some technicality, foolishly thinking it will all work out in my favor.

I believe it is most often God's grace and not his wrath when hard times befall us. In his mercy God 'blows up' our lives in order that we might repent and turn to him. Trouble brings us to our knees and makes us refocus upwardly instead of inwardly. It is after things blow up, that they can then come back together.

Much needs to be said about the goodness of my wife in our marriage. More than once I have given her good reason to end our marital covenant, but by the strength of Jesus she has offered me forgiveness and the chance to rebuild trust and love. In Christ we have been able 'put it back together' - slowly.

I believe marriage is, by God's design, a picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ and his church. No matter how many times people sin and blow up their relationship with God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, they are offered forgiveness and a chance to put the relationship back together.

I wouldn't have picked out the path I've walked, but I wouldn't trade it in for a different one either. I thank my wife, and I thank my Savior for the love and grace offered to me in my errors, and I am confident that the same love and grace is available to you as well, if you will confess your sin and repent of your wrong doing.

9 Ways to Glorify God at Work

2011-09-09T06:56:00.000-05:00

Our church talks a lot about being ministers in the marketplace. Every believer should strive to be the pastor of their place of business. This post by John Piper is helpful on thinking about Glorifying God in the Workplace.

1. Dependance
2. Integrity
3. Skill
4. Corporate Shaping
5. Impact
6. Communication
7. Love
8. Money
9. Thanks

Islam & Christianity, 9/11 Reflection

2011-09-08T10:49:00.000-05:00

At church last Sunday we talked about some of the differences between Christians and Muslims. It was a good sermon and I was reminded of the freedom I have as a follower of Jesus. Unlike Islam, Christianity is not based on a set of divines directives that must be followed 'or else,' rather, Christianity is based on the love and forgiveness of God demonstrated by the giving of his Son Jesus to die on a cross for our sins.

I'm grateful that my salvation is not predicated on perfect behavior because I would fall far short of the holiness standards of God. My freedom as a Christian is not to do anything I please and expect forgiveness, but rather to live each day with an honest effort to please Christ, and to know assuredly that my failures will be forgiven. Thanks be to God for rescuing me because of his great love for me when I could not rescue myself.

In the coming days there will likely be much talk about Islam and Muslims. The acts of September 11, 2001 brought the Islamic faith to the forefront for many people and as we approach the 10 year anniversary of the Trade Center tragedies, Christians will have the opportunity to reflect on their own faith and the great salvation freely given to them through Christ. May we all thank God for his gift, and we may strive, albeit imperfectly, to live the life Christ calls us to life, a life marked with love, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness....even to our Muslim neighbors and colleagues.

Izzy's ABC Prayer of Salvation

2011-09-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

On Sunday night the daily devotional book I was reading to the kids told a story about a father who pulled his car over to the side of the road in a response to a warning light that was illuminated in the dashboard. His kids wanted to ignore the warning and get to grandma's house, but he reminded them of the importance to responding to warnings right away.

The story illustrated the concept of Hebrews 2:3 which says, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" The point was: if God is tugging at your heart don't ignore it because you don't know what will happen to you if you delay response to the warning light of the Holy Spirit.

After reading the story I asked the kids if any of them felt like God was telling them something. Izzy said yes and so we all read through the little guide on the back page of the booklet that outlines the ABCs of response to God.

A= Admit you are a sinner
B= Believe Jesus died for your sins and was raised again
C= Choose to accept Jesus forgiveness and obey His Word

I asked Izzy if she wanted to pray through those letters and she said yes! Stephanie joined us in the room and we prayed we Isabelle. I led her in a repeat after me type prayer and she admitted her sins, believed in Jesus, and said she was choosing to follow him! It was all pretty cool and I was so happy for her responding in that way. I pray that the Lord would continue to grow inside of her and draw her closer to himself each day.

This Fall Brings Many Transitions for Our Family

2011-09-05T09:59:00.000-05:00

Fall is absolutely my favorite season of the year. Some of things I enjoy during fall are the trees changing color, NFL and NCAA football beginning, lawn mowing coming to a halt, and perfect temperatures for being outside at orchards, bonfires, and playgrounds.

This fall is a unique one for our family. This fall is marked by major transitions. First, after two months of training I begin my new role as Operations Assistant Manager with Walmart. I have enjoyed being in multiple stores and meeting lots of great people, but I am ready to take on the challenge of being in position and being a leader in my own store.

Second, Stephanie begins her new position as a 6th grade teacher at St. Dominic's School in Northfield. Stephanie was a long term substitute at St. Dominic's last year and was offered a full-time position this year. She has spent a ton of time preparing her classroom and lesson plans for tomorrow when the students come back to school.

Speaking of students returning to school, the third major transition for our family is that starting tomorrow all three of our children will be in school full-time. Jacob is starting second grade, Isabelle first, and Andrew will be in all-day pre-K. I can not believe I have three kids in school. The phrase "time flies" is in a sense unknowable until you actually experience. To be 31 and at this phase of life is mind-boggling.

A fourth major transition this fall is the transfer of Jacob from the public elementary school to St. Dominic's. Stephanie and I prayed and sought a lot of counsel on this decision, and in the end it made more sense to have Jacob with his siblings and mother at the same school. The cost of private school was a prohibiting factor, but it was overcome with the benefits of religious instruction, time with family and mother, not having to balance competing school schedules, quality of educational environment, and the anecdotes offered by other people. Jacob will miss many friends from his old school but he is excited about the many new friends he will make. Jacob is gifted by the Lord at reaching out and meeting new friends and I am confident he will do well.

It seems life is always on the move for this Balvin tribe. I appreciate your prayers as we make this transitions. Please pray for confidence and courage for the kids, wisdom and patience for the parents, and togetherness and love for the whole family.

Deep Roots

2011-09-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a few quotes that have had me thinking recently...

Matt Chandler, in regards to intentionally spending time dealing with our 'junk' while we are still young,

"Deep roots almost never come up with the first pull."

Dr. James Dobson radio show guest _______,

"Obedience brings the breakthroughs."
"Our character carves out our future."

Book Review: Living in the Zone

2011-08-31T13:15:00.000-05:00

I received a review copy of Living Life in the Zone by Kyle Rote Jr., from BookSneeze. The book is a devotional book for men based around sports and sports themes. It calls itself 'a 40-day spiritual game plan for men.'

One thing I appreciate about the book is the effort to make spiritual truths accessible in a format that men will be interested in. Of course not all men are sports guys, but a majority of my friends are, and I know this devotional guide will interest them.

The format of each day includes a thought of the day, along with Scripture, and then a 'game plan' section that walks you through some ways to apply the spiritual truth being presented. The book is broken up into section involving your wife, your kids, your friends, your work, and your future. These sections are called "zones" and the book is designed to help me live in the zone. The idea of being in the zone as it relates to sports is the time when an athlete is focused, efficient, and successful. Players who are in the zone seem to be playing at their best.

Living Life in the Zone is an attempt to help men get focused and achieve the life God's desires for them by offering practical spiritual truths in short, easy to read, fun to read, sports analogies and daily devotions. I will be giving my review copy to a friend who is exploring God in the hopes that his interest in sports will intersect with the work the Holy Spirit is doing in his heart.

Charging Your Marriage Counseling On Mastercard: Priceless

2011-08-30T10:38:00.000-05:00

Warren and his wife, Kay, say they know the danger of divorce all too well. Married more than three decades, with three children and four children, their own marriage had a very rocky start.

Rick Warren: We'd be divorced today if it weren't for Jesus Christ in our lives. The first two years of our marriage were hell on earth. And finally, we just humbled ourselves and said, "Let's go get a good Christian counselor to help us, a marriage counselor." And I racked up a $1,500 counseling bill on my Mastercard. I always thought, "Mastercard, a saved marriage? Priceless." (laughter) When people say, "I can't afford counseling," I say, "You can't afford not to get it." Thirty-three years later, my wife is my best friend.

(HT: Dateline Interview Transcript)

C.S. Lewis on the Vulnerability of the Heart in Love

2011-08-30T05:15:00.000-05:00

Great quote from C.S. Lewis shared by Justin Buzzard.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. - C.S. Lewis

A Few Vacation Memories

2011-08-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

- bus ride out was a new experience, not quite what I expected but overall not a bad experience
- lots of swimming, can't believe how great my kids are at swimming and how much the love it
- the card game Canasta is fun, but it sets my emotions on an uncontrollable roller coaster that can't be healthy
- took Andrew on a riding lawnmower ride...I'd love to have my own riding lawnmower
- slept in a tent with my two boys, of course we ate smores around the campfire first
- Silver Beach Pizza and Lou Malnati's pizza is NEVER bad!!!!!
- love the feel of the Lake Michigan beach sand under my feet and watching the kids play in the waves
- honestly how many times can three kids ride around the Carousel?

Fantasy Football Draft 2011

2011-08-28T22:16:00.001-05:00

A long day of travel home from Michigan today. So long that I didn't even have time to stop at home before my fantasy football draft party. Despite the rush into town I had a great time, and I think I ended up with a pretty good team.

QB
Tony Romo

RB
Adrian Peterson - #1 pick overall
Ahmad Bradshaw
DeAngelo Williams
Knowshon Moreno
Mike Tolbert
Daniel Thomas

WR
Calvin Johnson
Vincent Jackson
Steve Johnson
Plaxico Burress
A.J. Green

TE
Rob Gronkowski

K
Stephen Gostkowski

D
Pittsburgh Steelers

End of the Softball Season

2011-08-14T21:19:00.001-05:00

Today was the end of the softball season. It was a fantastic season! My team went 9-2 in the regular season and won the #1 seed in the playoffs. In our first playoff game we beat St. Dominic White, a rival team whom we have never beaten before. We finally fell in the championship game.

I had a fabulous time playing softball this year. The team really bonded over the year and we had a lot of fun. I can't wait for next year.

Blogging Hiatus

2011-08-06T17:28:00.003-05:00

I am in training all month for my new leadership position in the retail industry so my blogging this month will be very light. The best way to stay up-to-date with me is to follow me on Twitter @brentonbalvin (or click the link to the left under my picture) or to subscribe to this blog through a blog reader like Google Reader. Thanks for reading my blog. I'll be back to regular blogging in September!

"I Hate Money", A Poem, Kinda

2011-07-26T22:03:00.000-05:00

Man I hate money.

I feel like I never have enough. Yet I feel strange about how much I actually have. I spend more time thinking about money (how much I have, need, want, have to pay-off, should save, etc.) than probably anything else.

I would like to buy many things. I would like to pay off many debts. I would like to give many things away.

I am stingy to the point over being over-bearing and a nitpick. On the other hand, I can drop a wad of cash at a chance to play golf. I can bear my own inconsistencies, but it must be hard on the people closest to me.

I don't want my kids to remember their dad being cheap. Yet I don't want them to think they deserve Dairy Queen after ever baseball game, or slushies from SA every time we get gas either. It is a difficult balance.

Marriage complicates money. Or is it vice versa? Who gets to spend what? How can I argue with a purchase my spouse makes when I make silly purchases myself? Tough calls.

And how does my faith effect my finances. I think Jesus wants me to be a wise steward of the money that is his. He also wants me to have joy in the things he has created for me to enjoy. I could find joy in a boat, but is that wise? Is sending my kids to private school wise? There is definitely a little joy in Chiptole and a fountain pop, but how wise is it to eat out once a week? Or twice?

Man I hate money.

An Experience of the Provision of God

2011-07-20T10:12:00.008-05:00

Wow Jesus Christ is so amazing!

Today I spent 15 minutes in my car on lunch break with my seat tilted back, my eyes closed, and my heart & mind in prayer. I was feeling stressed out. Due to a bit of a gap between my being hired and actually receiving my first couple paychecks, I didn't know how we were going to make it through July and August financially.

In my prayer I told Jesus how I was feeling and I asked him to provide for our needs. I thanked him for all he has given us during the last 6 months and I asked him to show up again. Then I declared that no matter what I was trusting in him. I claimed the words of David in the Psalms when he wrote, "I would have despaired if I did not believe that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." I stood up on those words and choose belief over despair.

When I got home today I was still feeling kind of down about this. However, as I started going through the stack of envelopes that had piled up on the counter I quickly found myself in the middle of God's grace and a miracle. I opened a letter from Stephanie's teaching retirement account people and discovered we were getting a refund check. Then I opened a letter from Wells Fargo and found another refund check from an escrow overage. To top it off, Stephanie had deposited a check today that she received for summer basketball coaching that was higher than we expected.

One 15 minute prayer at lunchtime was answered by 3 completely unexpected revenue streams. Praise God. "Knock and it will be opened, seek and you will find, ask and you will receive." Grab hold of that promise!

Choose Your Words Wisely

2011-07-19T21:51:00.001-05:00

This is a great reminder from Pastor James MacDonald that as parents we need to choose wisely what battles to fight and how to fight them. Too many nights I've laid down to sleep regretting my short temper and angry words trough-out the evening. I want to pour into my kids, not shut them out.

We only get so many words in our families. The older our kids get, the fewer words we have with them. What are you going to spend your words on? “Clean up your room!” “I asked you five times to take out the garbage!” “How many cookies have you had since lunch?” Is that how you’re going to spend your words? Like that’s going to have a big impact! I fear we’re wasting our words on issues of little value, and then we’re too exhausted to pour into our families the kind of truth that can be a fountain of life to them. Instead, let’s choose words of truth that build and guide and that establish a foundation of wisdom for our families that will last them a lifetime.

Click here to read the whole post.

Emily Days Weekend

2011-07-18T22:39:00.002-05:00

Last weekend the family and I went up North to spend some time at my parents cabin. We had a great time.

Here are some of the highlights:

- catching four fish with Jacob
- playing at the park with Andrew
- food and games at the Emily Days market
- touring the lake on a friend's pontoon
- watching the Twins and Women's World Cup
- grilling chicken and steaks with charcoal
- listening to the kids play pinball
- dinner at Happy's Cafe
- preaching at my parent's church Emily Wesleyan (listen to the sermon here)
- lighting sparklers on the back deck
- swimming and paddle-boating in the lake

Thanks Mom for hosting such a fun weekend!

- You can read my mom's recap here.

How to Effectively Engage Your Critics

2011-07-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking recently about how to build relationships with people who you disagree with, or people who disagree with you. I think how Christians effectively engage their critics is increasingly important as we move into a more and more hostile, and post-Christian culture.

That being said, here are some things I think you shouldn't do:
- insult them
- put them down
- call them names
- completely blow them off
- let them upset you
- fight online (blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

And now, some things you should do:
- seek to understand
- look for points of agreement to build on
- speak from a position of logic, not emotion
- get to know the person - as a person
- stand on your convictions found in Scripture
- live an exemplary life
- admit your hypocrisy
- trust Jesus as the victorious one

15 Behaviors to Make You a Better Dad

2011-07-06T10:59:00.000-05:00

Dads, I'm certain if your kids are older than an hour old you've begun to realize effective parenting can seem like the most challenging and frustrating thing you do in your life. Part of the difficulty in parenting comes because we value and love of children so much and we want the very best for them, so when they misbehavior or display poor character we get upset. But it is also this way because we are selfish and we have our own priorities that conflict with our children's wants and desires.

Children have the most amazing ways of pushing our buttons and driving us dads up the wall don't they? One of my kids always has to get in a last word, even if I've said 'stop talking right now' 99 times he will still try and make his point. Another one of my kids reasons and argues with me like a little lawyer and holds me legalistically accountable to every word I say. At times I almost need to plead the fifth when dealing with that child! My third kid walks around the house seemingly instinctively compelled to interrupt and/or ruin the calm, orderly behavior of any room he walks into.

I'm seriously considering building a small room in my basement with padded walls that I can go and sit in for an hour each night just to calm myself down!

And yet, there is nothing I'd rather do than be a dad. The smile of my son, time cuddling and tickling with my daughter, playing a game of catch with the oldest - all of these are moments that melt my heart. No matter how horrible the day is after they've been asleep just an hour I miss their faces and little hands hugging me.

It's important, Dads, that we continue to do our best to nurture and love our kids, without throwing in the towel during the tough moments. With that in mind, here's 15 things you and I can do to be better dads. And for the record, I have definitely not mastered these!

15 Behaviors to Make You a Better Dad
1. Pray for yourself and your kids DAILY
2. Chill out a little and don't sweat all the small stuff
3. Set your agenda aside and go with your kids' plans once and a while
4. Tell your kids you love them EVERYDAY, MULTIPLE TIMES
5. Discipline with consistency and out of calm concern, not anger
6. Be spontaneously generous
7. Love your wife well in front of your kids
8. Involve your kids in the things you do
9. Provide structure, clear expectations, consequences, and follow through
10. Be honest and keep your word
11. Admit your mistakes and sins, model repentance and ask your kids for forgiveness
12. Grass grows back & broken things are replaceable, don't ruin your relationship over 'things'
13. Take your kids on special dates, one kid at a time, and as a group
14. Don't gain compliance through yelling and physical intimidation
15. Finally, your kids behavior is basically your fault - they're built on your DNA

13 Do's (and Don't) for Giving an Engaging, Enjoyable Presentation

2011-07-05T10:51:00.000-05:00

I've been a part of many presentations, of all different size groups, and I've seen things that make the time go by quickly, as well as things that have made the time drag along.

Here are a few pointers to make your presentation to me more engaging, enjoyable and professional.

Do
1. Include some personal stories to supplement your content
2. Use different tones of voice
3. Give me a hand-out to follow along and fill in some blanks
4. Offer me meaningful chances to ask questions or give input
5. Emphasis why the material you're presenting is important

Don't
1. Talk with food, gum, or your fingers in your mouth
2. Over use the dramatic/ thinking pause
3. Whisper
4. Ask for input that is obvious or unnecessary
5. Continually repeat yourself, continually repeat your self
6. Talk, pause, Talk, pause, Talk, pause
7. Be completely robotic and monotone
8. Pretend something is more important or exciting than it really is

Notes from the Book: Clutch

2011-06-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be "clutch?" In his book, Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't New York Times columnist Paul Sullivan investigates the key characteristics that people who are clutch possess. He also shares three behaviors that prevent people from being clutch. Each chapter is filled with stories of individuals who demonstrate the characteristic Sullivan is describing. He finds his examples in the various fields of sports, military, legal, theater, and the automotive, financial, marketing and real estate business.

Clutch: the ability to do what you need to do under pressure just as you would do it in practice.

What Makes People Clutch
1. Focus
2. Discipline
3. Adapting
4. Being 'Present'
5. Fear of failure and Desire for Success

What Makes People Not Clutch
1. Not Taking Personal Responsibility
2. Over-thinking
3. Overconfidence

One of my favorite stories in the book is story of how Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price collegiate coach Tim Corbin (Vanderbuilt University) instilled a mindset of toughness into his players. Sullivan describes how Corbin brings a marshmallow, a jelly bean, and a rock before his players. He then holds each object over a flame. Under the flame the marshmallow burns right up. The jelly bean shell withstands the heat initially, but eventually melts. The rock however, remains and evens comes out looking a bit polished.

This Corbin tells his players is what will happen to them under pressure. The flame signifies the pressure of college baseball. Some of the players will melt instantly like the marshmallow, others will hold up for a while but eventually their cockiness and natural talent will give way. But there are some players, who have solidified their skills through practice and persistence, that will withstand the pressure and flourish despite it.

Money Management Advice

2011-06-24T10:21:00.000-05:00

Some solid money management advice from the book Clutch by Paul Sullivan:

If you only have enough money for less than twelve months of expenses and no income, you need to begin restructuring what you have.

Ultimately, being clutch in a personal financial crises means embracing thriftiness to keep yourself out of such crises in the first place. If that fails, you need to dispassionately sell off assets to keep from losing everything. People should live within their means, but they should also plan for the possibility that the present will not continue. (page 198)

Purging Materialism from My Life

2011-06-15T15:47:00.001-05:00

I have continued my journey in simplicity for the last few days looking through my things and trying to organize or eliminate as much as possible.

Here's what I have done thus far...

- tossed out 1/2 a garbage can full of junk in the garage (old caulk bottles, broken tools, etc.)
- reorganized and emptied an entire drawer in the kitchen that was filled with junk
- reorganized and emptied two of my dresser drawers
- reorganized and emptied one bathroom drawer (I have all my toiletries in 1 drawer now)
- threw away old hockey stick blades, rotten laces and straps, and misc. other junk
- donated 3 bags of clothes, toys, and books to a local school (who will give to a women's shelter if they are not sold in a fundraising garage sale)

It feels great getting rid of things that I don't want/need/use often. I am learning that the more I give away the less I want to accumulate. This is completely contrary to the way I often think, which is, the more I get the more I want.

Details of My New Job

2011-06-14T09:27:00.002-05:00

I want to start this post by praising the wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness of my Father in Heaven. The last six months while walking through trial, have been some of the very best months of my life. Jesus Christ is worth everything ever wagered for him and much, much more.

Yesterday I accepted a job offer from Wal-Mart for an Assistant Store Manager position. That acceptance ends six months of prayer, searching, dreaming, questioning, wrestling, refining, seeking, and learning. The lessons in faith, trust, and perseverance that I have learned trough my time of unemployment are lessons I doubt I could have learned any other way. The purification of my spirit and the deepening of my faith are gifts from the Lord that I am extremely grateful for. The healing and intimacy that has grown in my marriage is precious.

The circumstances of my gaining a position with Wal-Mart are amazing in and of themselves. God's sovereign hand is all over them, and looking backwards it is so wonderful to see God's gentle leading and guiding and protection from myself. No doubt, I had my days of doubt and fear, but more often I was filled with a peace and confidence that can only coming from the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

I want to thank the many people who prayed, fasted, and shared this journey with us. Stephanie and I couldn't have made it through this without the support of both our birth families and our church families. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Book Review: The 100 Thing Challenge

2011-06-12T22:41:00.000-05:00

Today I spent some of my Sabbath rest time finishing the book The 100 Thing Challenge by Dave Bruno (who blogs here). In the book Bruno describes his wrestling with American-style consumerism and his attempt to unwind himself from the grip 'things' formed on his life. In place of wild exploits about life without stuff, Bruno instead shares the lessons he learned during his time reevaluating what he needs and doesn't need to feel happy and engaged in his life.

The book (and the idea of living with 100 things) is intriguing to me. While I enjoy buying and having new things, I also get frustrated from time to time when I step back and look at all the things we have accumulated in our home. Inspired by what I was reading I emptied out an entire junk drawer on Saturday and filled half the garbage can with junk from the garage that I didn't need.

One thing I learned while doing all the cleaning was that I have bent toward keeping something because "I might need it someday." I think this is a mindset I inherited from my parents. I grew up on a farm and my dad had all kinds of stuff stored in coffee cans and bins all over the property. After reading The 100 Thing Challenge I am making a commitment to keep less stuff in case I need it, and to just go and buy something when I need it.

The Covenant of Marriage is the Soil Where Love Repeatedly Grows

2011-06-08T22:27:00.001-05:00

Great video of some wise men with many years of marriage discussing the beauty and strength of covenant keeping in marriage.

Piper, Carson, and Keller on Sustaining the Covenant of Marital Love from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

(Source: The Gospel Coalition blog)

What Would You Change About Me?

2011-06-07T08:16:00.002-05:00

I had a really cool conversation recently with my really cool wife that I want to share.

As we were laying next to each other she started the conversation with a simple, but knee-buckling question for any husband. She asked, "If you could change one thing about me, what would you change?" Thankfully she added a few qualifiers so I could stop sweating :) ! Then she reminded me of (and held me accountable to) a rule I have made for myself in 2011: I will share my feelings openly and honestly, in as loving way as possible, even if it causes me personal, emotional discomfort.

It took some courage but eventually I shared something with her that she had been doing that was kind of bugging me. And here's the really cool part: she didn't freak out in anger, or try to justify herself, or crawl into a ball crying. She said OK and we talked through. I was able to understand her better and where she was coming from. She was able to listen to my feedback and start thinking through adjustments that could be made. Then we switched places and I asked her what she would like to change about me, and we worked through the whole process again.

And we GREW STRONGER as a couple through the whole experience.

I want to brag for one second. Our marriage took a step forward that night because my awesome wife really wanted to know how she could make my life more pleasant and how she could grow as a person. And she was willing to be vulnerable and humble enough to talk through it with punk like me!

How BRAVE and GODLY is that!

Memorial Day

2011-05-29T22:17:00.000-05:00

I 'm not really from a military family, but both my Dad and Grandfather served the United States of America in the Army and Navy. I respect them both for their courageous decision to enlist and serve. My Dad and Grandfather are both strong men, who have convictions and stand by them no matter what the wind is blowing around them. I am grateful to God for them both and the influence they have had in my life.

The Church Is...

2011-05-26T22:42:00.001-05:00

A group of people who,

fear the Father,
follow the Son,
and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Taken and adapted from Francis Chan's talk in this video in the BASICS series.

Sustaining Faith, Surprise Emails, and Seeking to Honor

2011-05-26T07:06:00.001-05:00

I woke up last Monday morning expecting this to be a great week. I had a meeting Monday night I was really excited about, and I had a job interview with Walmart set-up for Thursday. I was expecting big things!

It was hard not to worry when I received a couple emails on Monday that threatened the necessity of cancelling my meeting. But, rather than being afraid or upset, I went to prayer and God sustained my faith. The meeting was not cancelled.

Monday afternoon I received an unexpected email about a possible job opportunity at a church in Woodbury that I would be really excited about. It was from a friend I haven't talked to since college. Later, on Wednesday, I got an email from a great Christian company called Youthworks who would like to talk next week about setting up an interview!

I'm not completely sure what God is up to, but I am going to continue seeking him, following his leading, and striving to honor him in everything I say and do.

How to Think About Tornadoes Biblically

2011-05-25T16:29:00.001-05:00

There has been a tremendous amount of damage done nationwide this spring due to tornadoes. The question that inevitably arises when natural disasters strike is, "Why would God allow this to happen." David Platt is a pastor in Birmingham, Alabama that I respect quite a bit. He recently preached a sermon to teach his church how to biblically think and work through the aftermath of this spring's storms. I found the following text and outline posted on the Gospel Coalition Blog.

This sermon by David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, is a good model of how basic biblical doctrine can and should inform our response to tragedy and equip us to trust in God’s good purposes.

Specifically, he explains how the tornadoes that recently ravaged their area can remind us of biblical truth.

Having Your Eyes Opened to See

2011-05-24T12:30:00.000-05:00

On Sunday my family and I were visiting some friends in Owatonna. At some point in the conversation my friend talked about a building that was being built along a familiar stretch of the interstate. I had never seen it, and I didn't even know the building was there before we talked.

As we were driving home I was looking out of the car window at a rainbow in the sky. Then, all of a sudden, I noticed the building my friend had referenced earlier that day. I've driven the road hundreds of time and never seen that building, and the same day I am told it exists, I see it.

Faith in Jesus is a lot like that. You don't always know how much Jesus is working in your life until someone else comes along and opens your eyes to his presence. It is quite easy to plod along thinking God is distant, or to feel confused about what He is doing. Then, all of a sudden, you read a Bible verse that hits your heart, or you hear a song on the radio and you can instantly see clearly that Jesus is near.

Let me be a help to you today. Jesus is alive and he is near to you. Look around and you will see him everywhere!

Show People What the Bible Says (and How You Can't Measure Up)

2011-05-22T22:06:00.002-05:00

As a pastor and preacher I've heard a lot of different opinions on how much a preacher should talk about himself and his life from the pulpit. I've heard many times that preachers need to be 'appropriately authentic and transparent' to show the congregation they are real people experiencing Christ just like the church attenders do.

Tim Keller posted about the preaching of English preacher Dr. Martin Llyod-Jones who spoke on this very subject. Dr. Llyod-Jones words go against much of the common practice of preaching today, but I really like what he says.

He also makes the case that, paradoxically, the preacher has greater credibility if he does not preach mainly out of his own experience, but shows that the message has come out of the Word itself. Instead of saying, "here's my experience, and this is how the Bible played a role in it," the preacher should say, "this is what the Bible says, and it actually contradicts my desires and intuitions, but I'm showing it to you because this message is from God, not from me."