Friendships

This past summer I've several hard talks with long time friends. Talks over why it's gotten so much harder to stay connected like we used to. In every conversation it was agreed that part of the struggle is families grow, change and actual take over at times.
Jobs have changed and responsibilities have increased with the job changes. That is a blessing a a curse at times me and my friends have found out.

We all know that friends change over the course of a life time, it just doesn't make it any easier to see once strong relationships die a slow death. No one is to blame and yet everything is to blame. Life moves at mach 5 and relationships suffer. Each of the friendships agreed that each of us have said "no" to possible get togethers or have had stuff just pop up.

On the other hand I have reconnected with several old friends through Facebook and our website. It's been fun and exciting to reconnect, hear how life is and dream of actually seeing some of these "old friends" face to face again. But to do that, I'll have to say no to other friends.

Finally, I love meeting new people making new friends. But as each new person comes into my life, there is less and less for other friends. Not all friends need to be "deep friends." But those "deep friendships" must be protected.

I rant on this, because I have no easy solutions. Maybe you do.
I am a people person... for better or whose that will always create a blessing and a curse.
If you read this and see yourself as one of those "lost" friends or "weaken friendships"... understand it's nothing personal.
You are still loved, needed and valued.

Crisis of the heart

We often create our own CRISIS OF THE HEART.
Not a happy thought, but often a true one. I find it especially true for those that follow Jesus Christ and really embrace the heart change that comes from living life with him. The more our heart changes, the more our life will change and the more we'll set ourselves apart from those that we love the most... and there is the crisis of the heart.
We love to know God more and we love to avoid crisis and conflict so what do we do?

I learned something very cool this last week as I was preparing my outline for our Sunday morning discussion at Journey.
The Chinese symbols for CRISIS are identical to those that are for the word OPPORTUNITY. In fact it's literally translated , "Crisis is an opportunity riding on dangerous winds."

Is that how you see the crisis in your life? Are the opportunities are land-mines to avoid?

God can take anything, even crisis to help us grow, mature, and even be more effective in this world.
Now I'm not saying, let's go try and make crisis situations pop up for the sake of making more drama. Rather, as crisis come to our lives, embrace them and learn from them. Actually step into them. With each crisis you have choices to make. As Jesus followers often the choice that wants us to take will create more crisis between family, friends, co-workers. You have a choice, a tough choice. Follow God no matter the cost. Or side step it and avoid it all together.

My heart wants to beat with the things of God so badly. Therefore I am a person of crisis and conflict.
Crisis and conflict, because I have chosen paths different that very good friends and bosses.

Sometimes our heart lead to make bad choices and we have a heart crisis that requires us to go backwards, repent, fix relationships and return more committed to God.
Sometimes our heart is so in tune with God we make new heart crisis develop.

So how do you handle crisis of the heart? Do you feel the winds of opportunity approaching or are you wanting the winds to fade away and not require you to make a heart choice.

Jesus said count the cost.

Child of God - Narnia style

This Sunday I had the privilege to sit in the crowd (with my wife) and hear Rachel Strouf speak before our Journey family.
I knew that with all her hard work and prep. With her natural love for the story and her love for God she would do well on the platform. But wow... she did outstanding! Two services, one morning, first-time giving a message!!!!

Rachel shared about how a believers, Jesus followers we are "sons of Adam and daughters of Eve".
Sons and daughter of the most high sovereign God.
As she spoke on the deeper truth of how we can really live a life as Children of God, the Prince Caspian film helped her paint a clear picture of the life in Christ that can be ours.

As I heard her speak, I felt sad by how few of us... that call ourselves Christians stand tall and live as a son or daughter of Royalty. Not snobbish, but as chosen, gifted and willing to reclaim this world with God.
Far to many us, crawl through life and our faith.... rather than stand tall in Christ... a member of the eternal family.

Rachel was right, we live in a world full of all the great things that make great movies and stories. Love, adventure, drama, pain, hardship, battles and surprising victories. The adventure is now... it is real.... the question is are we willing to jump into the adventure, stand tall and show how being a child of the "King of Kings" makes all the difference.

Today could be the beginning of your adventure. Are you ready?

Olympic games

The 2008 Olympic games in China have been very exciting to watch.
Records are being not just re-written... but smashed.
Can we really see Mark Spitz swimming/ medal count record go by the way side. Yes.
Can we see Volleyball history be reset in the sand. Yes.
Can we see american gymnastics go in as the underdog, missing two key leaders, rise to the challenge. Yes.

Yet as amazing as these games are, something is missing.
There is a charm, a spark, a glow that certain athletes give off when Olympics come around.
I have not seen that spark yet. There is no "darling of the games" yet.
I'm not saying that haven't been special moments or amazing athletes. Because their have been.

Maybe it's partly because of where these games are being held. China has done a super job creating venues and acting as a host it would seem. But there is also a air of seriousness that seems to hanging in the air. It's like something is stopping the lid from popping of and blowing us away.

Maybe I'm just frustrated by how one of the all time olympic sports (gymnastics) has been turned into a video review conference call setting, rather than seeing what the naked eye and heart can see. Living under a microscope is no fun... having sport under a microscope is even worse.

I have to admit, I have had a blast watching the games live each night with my kids, taking about the judging, the history of the events and how much talent there is. It's been a fun family time if nothing else.

Farve

I have been a Green Bay Packer fan all of my life and have been fortunate to see the greatest NFL QB play the game and play it for one team and with a great amount of class. The last few months it has been extremely hard to see and hear how Brett Farve is behaving. I can understand his passion and drive for the game. Personally I think he never should have retired. I thought he had a least one or two more good years in him.

But once he retired... stay retired... stay a man of class.

Today his actions continue hurt the lasting image we all have of him. I wish Reggie White were alive, I believe Brett would listen to the wise counsel of Reggie and stay retired. The Packers are have done the right thing in this case. Farve retired, they drafted for Rodgers skills and moved on. You can't second guess yourself in August, in the NFL. Farve in his head knows this, but his heart and passions are over riding common sense. It's so hard to hear and watch.

I really hope he doesn't get traded, become a hired gun and go out looking ugly!
I really hope he wakes up tomorrow, realizes what a mess he making completely comes down to reality.

I have really enjoyed seeing Farve play the game with the freedom, love and passion of a kid. But now it's time to grow up and leave the field like a man... as he first said he was doing.

Brett thanks for the memories..... please don't tarnish them anymore.... please.