Shake It Like An Egg Shaker

Last night my beautiful wife and I met some friends of ours from church at a local coffee shop. We love to go to this place. It is a very nice, warm, inviting shop that has music every so often. So after dinner (and mowing the grass), we went to Tuscany's for desert and music. Our worship pastor plays there every other Tuesday night, so being a big fan of our worship pastor, we had to partake! It was great times... some sing-a-longs, laughs, and of course great conversation. My favorite part was being apart of the band for one brief moment in time... Shaking the Egg Shaker!! I think I will stick with my day job!

"The Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English evangelicals who abolished the slave trade, left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world, that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim at earth and you will get neither."
- C.S. Lewis

What a profound statement. This was atop the agenda for this morning's athletic department staff meeting. What a refreshing thought...to think of Heaven and all that we should be working towards for the Glory of His Name! For me this was very appropriate for my desire of leadership and the example that should be set by us all. I desire more than ever to be a leader that is focused more on the eternal implications rather than the bottom line of the daily grind. My attitude and demeanor will always set the stage for the way persons see the Jesus in my life.

I recently heard this story from one my assistants. Prior to their employment with us, this person's perception of me was very negative. "I would see you at a convention or a conference and think to myself, why would I ever want to work with that guy?!" This was confessed to me after this person's first year. Their impression of me was determined from an incident over 10 years ago, when we both were students at rival schools. Evidently, my actions dealing with student-athletes at a basketball tournament did not set very well. I have no recollection at all of the incident 10 years ago. But the only impression this person ever had for me was from this one incident. What hurts more than ever is that this person actually saw me as a person who did not bring Glory to the Kingdom.

After I learned this preconceived notion of myself from this assistant, we discussed in great detail how it was just a perception of who I was, and not who I really am. How many others have this perception of me? Sure this is a story of victory in the fact that we were able to discuss this incident and to work things out to where we actually laugh about the incident now.

Still it makes me think. I know that I fail to fully be joyful daily, but should I not always strive for the Joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Even on the days that I am not joyful. From this conversation I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2
"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (ESV)

We are surrounded daily by a great cloud of witnesses. We have the opportunity everyday to be light unto the darkness or to allow the darkness to overcome our light. Heaven...this is our desire, not Earth. Won't you dream of Heaven with me? Will you live for Christ daily? Will you play a pivotal role in reaching others to know Christ? Just some thoughts for the day...O What A Day!!!

Looking for Service Ideas?!

Two weeks ago, our church promoted a service message. This had a lasting impact on my life.

I'm Back!

I'm back... so to speak. The year of athletics as I know comes to an end today. This is the last day of off-season and it feels like forever since I stopped to take a long deserved breath. Little did I know when I we started nine months ago that this would have been the year that it had been.

School is out in two weeks, then it is a week of rest before I head to Outdoor Education camp, which will encompass the last two weeks of May. I am looking forward to OEC this year. I never know what exactly my responsibilities will be for OEC. Typically I am the man everyone loves to hate in the mornings, as I bring the "Rise and Shine" to the campers every morning in a very unique way! I then get to share the daily devotional and set the stage for the spiritual aspect of OEC. The rest of my days are spent taking pictures, helping with the different areas and healing the sick and injured. It is always a time for great fun!

I am hoping with the end of this crazy year, that my post will become more frequent. To all my loyal readers - I'm Back...so to speak!