Some times you get what you deserve

Since I have been bragging about the nice weather we have had since January, here is a video from a local weather station of this weekend's snow festivities. We just had mid sixties and sunshine last week. Enjoy and laugh at us. Actually, we are looking forward to playing outside!  We'll be back in the fifties and sixties next week.

In coming blizzard

We are forcasted to have blizzard like conditions throughout the day.  Maybe a bunch of snow.  I guess it is about time:)

Lenten Intentions

I have been giving up all extra internet access during lent.  I give it up Monday through Saturday and then use it a bunch on Sunday.  It has been going pretty well.  I cheated yesterday evening.  Suzanne and I were doing some planning for the future.  My intention has been to replace the time spent on the computer with time to connect with God.  I have had some great success and some great failure.  I think what I have found is that this is a good practice for year round.  To give up frivolous entertainment and trade it for time with God and my family.  This should be a continuous evaluation that we do on our lives.

Intentional living.  When we don't live intentionally, we end up wasting a lot of the good moments of life.  So, I must practice what I preach.  I am going to post this blog, make some popcorn and watch America's funniest videos with three of my four favorite girls.

God bless you and yours.

We miss you all, wherever you may be.

Still here

We're still here, in Kansas.  It is just about windy enough today to blow us down the street.  Suzanne worked one of her two last weekends today, so I took the girls to church this morning by myself.  They matched mostly, except for Emberlynn's socks.  Their hair was combed, but I didn't worry about it too much.  I knew the wind would remove all evidence of combing by the time we got there.

I attended the youth sunday school class.  I will be teaching their class the next two weeks.  

The sermon was another hard hitting one by John Murray.  I have appreciated all the learning that has been provided by everyone at Hesston Mennonite church.  John has been an especially diligent teacher who seems to ask the right questions and provide some answers when they are needed.

Weather and Candidating

Let me just say this.  Kansas weather is awesome!  Yes, this is this weeks forecast.  For those of you who may want us to move closer to Ohio after Kansas.  It's gonna take a miracle:)  We have sunshine literally everyday.  The temperatures are lovely.  The wind isn't really that bad.  It hardly ever rains or snows.  I've gone soft.  I can understand Stan Miller's sentiments of Ohio weather.  Your weather stinks:)

So, it's gonna take a miracle, but we have a God of miracles.  Anything is possible.

(For those of you who like to read into cryptic messages.  This blog post is not one of those.  I am not announcing or hinting at anything.  I know very little more about our future after Hesston than you do.  End of comment.)

How is everybody?

Hello, it has been a few days since I have used the internet for reasons of lent other than school or candidating.  That means no facebook, no blogs, no google reader, no email just for fun, etc.  That has actually been going very well.  I have had more time with my family, and gotten more sleep.  Now for the harder part of creating a rhythm that connects with God.  That is the challenge that I have been giving to the chapel at Hesston College and a local church here this morning.  I am going to be selfish, this message is for me first, then for you.

Lent Chapel video

I was given the opportunity to speak in Chapel and I choose to speak on Lent, of which I knew little about.  I had some trouble with my powerpoint presentation (I learned some important things from that experience for the future)  The speaking time went very well, and was well received.  I received a lot of feedback, especially people thanking me for presenting Lent in a fresh way for them, and helping them to consider using lent as a way to prepare for Easter and connect deeper with God, just like it is intended.  I also had a number of people tell me that they were mad at me for making them give up something.  Take that one up with God.  My prayer is that your walk with God will be deeper after this, and that resurrection will have fuller meaning.  The end result is lives changed and more Glory for God.

If you happen to be mentioned in this presentation, I thank you for your important part in my life.  I apologize if I offend you with my portrayal of you.  Please understand that you were a part of making this speaking opportunity hit home for the listeners.  God's blessing on you!

What are you giving up for Lent?

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Lent is 40 days, for Christians it is calculated by counting Monday-Saturday.  Sunday is not counted because we celebrate Resurrection on Sundays.  Lent is a time to postpone celebration of resurrection until Easter.  By postponing resurrection celebration, we mourn, and repent.  This causes us to yearn for Easter, and when it arrives, it is celebrated with renewed vigor!

I am giving up all extra internet and computer access on Mondays through Saturdays during lent.  This includes facebook, this blog, checking rss feeds with Google Reader, and anything other than school work, candidating for a pastorate position, or other important business.  I am doing this so that I can redeem the time for connecting with God.  Some people give up chocolate or desserts for lent.  This is a good way to practice self discipline, which when learned, can be applied to our spiritual disciplines as well.

I like the direct aspect of trading time.  If I give up something that uses time, than I now have some extra time.  I then choose to spend some of that time connecting with God through prayer, Bible reading, journaling, singing, resting, etc.

More of my thoughts on this in a next post.

Hello

I just wanted to say Hi.

Sermon at Hesston Mennonite January 25th

For a few of you that have asked.  I broke it into 3 parts, it was too large to upload all at once here.  Hopefully it is small enough to watch.

Sermon part 1 of 3

Sermon part 2 of 3

Sermon part 3 of 3