A few things that hit me lately...

Here are some things that are spinning around in my mind. By the way, my mind can be a very weird place. Also, these are not in any particular order!

One - Today when I was leaving my daughters school I called my friend Matt. During our conversation he shared a verse that really hit me. It's from Matthew 5:48, "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." I've had conversation with individuals the last few weeks that have left me frustrated. These individuals say they have given their lives to Jesus, but they are NOT living like it. Some have left their wives, others are stuck in habitual sin, and what I want to say to them is exactly what is said in Matthew 5:8, "Grow up!!! Stop acting like a child!" I so want to be a person whose living like a follower of Jesus. At the end of my life I want it to be said of me that I loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul. I want to live a life fully devoted to God!

Two - This week I was told that I could not speak at my high school because I was not a pastor at a Reformed Church. I was invited to speak at my high school in December. At that time I told them where I was working (Lakeshore Vineyard Church). At the time they were fine with that. The principal was fine with it. The man who organizes the chapel experiences was fine with it. However, the board wasn't. The board wasn't cool with it because I was not a reformed pastor. In fact, the president of the board was the one who had the problem. He didn't take into consideration I was there 5 years ago, and the students AND parents responed well to what I had to say. He didn't take into consideration what I was bgoing to be speaking on - yes I did send him the outline of my talks. Instead, he was more concerned about the Reformed tradition than he was about Jesus! Yes, that's right, he was more concerned about religion than he was about Jesus!!!

Honestly, this has made me very upset lately. Why? Because I felt like I was suppose to speak out there. I had some very specific things I wanted to say to the student body. Also, I wanted to speak there because I believe in the week-long event they do. Why? Because I encountered Jesus in 1992 during that event. But I won't be speaking at it this year because of an ugly thing called religion! yuk!

But there is a good side of this -- I will be going out to California for a vacation. The school already bought my ticket, and I'm going to use it. I'm going to lay in the sun, relax, and re-fuel. It's going to be a blast. And the best part of it -- my wife is coming with me!

So, those are a few things I'm thinking about lately. I have some other thoughts, but I'll save those for another time.