tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46517231322256762372024-03-05T12:08:17.524-06:00thoughts from a student ministerI consider it all rubbish...Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-78886261993574547552011-10-04T10:52:00.000-05:002011-10-04T10:52:24.440-05:00Love One Another<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wg401mQyax8fdboMJ1DIyrz42gbCk9jqxUOwAf_hetWO0DmIkjkU2s-D8fzGIJ9q2Vhg1VkymXvcDhpfpciBkAjLSRFIF5RSFgqAKmxYmciD2pt5e3F8oL5s5Lk9nBxu6uXliE-d_Jo/s1600/love+one+another.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wg401mQyax8fdboMJ1DIyrz42gbCk9jqxUOwAf_hetWO0DmIkjkU2s-D8fzGIJ9q2Vhg1VkymXvcDhpfpciBkAjLSRFIF5RSFgqAKmxYmciD2pt5e3F8oL5s5Lk9nBxu6uXliE-d_Jo/s200/love+one+another.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">This past week I was hospitalized with what turned out to be viral meningitis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very painful 4 days that I was in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a constant headache and backache that kept me in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to that the spinal tap I had and you can imagine that my stay was not the most pleasant.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But during my stay I was incredibly humbled by the response of my church family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a million text messages, cards, meals, Facebook messages and I even got a Dallas Cowboy snuggie (I’m a huge fan)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had people call and stop by just to see that we were ok and everything was taken care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love through God’s people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But what does that have to do with your teenager?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the main complaints of the church are that it is irrelevant, cold, and that it’s full of hypocrites or fakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that may be true of some churches in America today but it’s not true of all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many churches today doing amazing things to help save people from disease, starvation, slavery, and to bring them to a point of empowerment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people have been freed from Satan’s grip and are now able to care for themselves and their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many churches today that live out the community seen in Acts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believers that lived together in harmony, taking care of one another’s needs, followers that could not bear to see another human in chains and did whatever they could to help, disciples that lived the words of Christ to such an extreme that they laid down their very lives for those in this spiritual family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That is the Bride of Christ and the example we should be living out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the church that Generation Y desperately needs to experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In John 13 we see Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The King of kings lowering himself to the lowest position, a job so low that the master of the house would not allow a Jewish servant to perform, but would make a gentile slave do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus is done he talks about the betrayal that is about to occur and predicts Peter’s denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that prediction he says something so profound it should cause us to stop in our tracks and examine everything we do as followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you hear that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this everyone will know that you are my disciples…IF you love one another!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this how we are known today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this the first thing that pops into someone’s mind when they hear the term “Christian”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this what the church does?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many who live this out daily, but the sad truth is that more than not, this is not the typical church experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve grown up in the church and been a part of two crippling church splits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen brothers and sisters in Christ argue and yell at each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tempers flared and accusation thrown, I’ve see Christianity get very ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because of the fact that many others have shared that experience, millennials have walked away from the church.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">My prayer for your church, for my church, for the American church is that we start loving one another.<span> </span>I pray that we would no longer allow Satan to sidetrack us and that we start loving people the way Christ called us to.<span> </span>I pray that what God did through them (the early church), He would do through us.</span></span>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-84843630705047701562011-09-20T11:22:00.000-05:002011-09-20T11:22:20.969-05:00Counting the Cost<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXX2XiT7E23XSR_J3rNykDh15UXIJYxuDagI-j92f4HF2wfOR003JoxjuDm1nIqdc3B5AMUFtTQYOmzmK1ljKFHm7Y-VTJ0-bTt0GbpbA5iRd7Op44jtk8WYIVMbcNVoYcbR-tME9bhQ/s1600/disciple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXX2XiT7E23XSR_J3rNykDh15UXIJYxuDagI-j92f4HF2wfOR003JoxjuDm1nIqdc3B5AMUFtTQYOmzmK1ljKFHm7Y-VTJ0-bTt0GbpbA5iRd7Op44jtk8WYIVMbcNVoYcbR-tME9bhQ/s200/disciple.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question—we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard."</div><div class="MsoNormal">Acts 4:18-20</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Peter and John had been arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of that culture).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been required to give testimony as to why they had healed a crippled man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no questions about how it happened but just why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under what name have you done this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their response did them no favors.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the very utterance of Jesus the Sanhedrin (which means “The Gathering”) went into an uproar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hated Jesus and had conspired to have him murdered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They thought the problem was over and now His followers were showing up with His teachings and doing miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to silence this before they lost all control and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they told them to shut up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told Peter and John they could no longer speak the name of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do so would bring a punishment of death.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is where it gets interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do Peter and John do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may think it’s an outlandish question but it’s a question you face every day of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the answers are lived out minute by minute.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The real question that is being asked of Peter and John and ultimately to us as well is this, “Will you disobey what you know to be right, what God is asking of you for creature comforts?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Will you go against God’s word so that you can feel happy?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And let’s be real honest; most of us choose our own happiness over the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t believe me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then how is it that the divorce rate in the church is the same of those outside the church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it that there are 1.75 billion people living in extreme poverty today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it be that 2 million children are exploited in the global sex trade industry every year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it possible that 14.1 million children have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it thinkable that every 5 minutes almost 90 children die of sicknesses such as diarrhea, malaria, and measles?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m just as guilty as the person standing next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I see that poor child on the TV screen I feel a twinge of horror and sadness in my gut but then forget as my fingers rapidly click the remote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I’m good at placating my feelings by wearing TOMS shoes and buying fair trade coffee but if I get right down to it, my greed overwhelms the Holy Spirit in my life quite often.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The amazing thing here is not necessarily solving all the world’s problems by ourselves, no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amazing thing is that God uses us individually to do a global job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we have to play our small part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of us has a part to play in the telling of God’s story of redemption to a broken world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we don’t participate in the telling of that story- it doesn’t get told right.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Think about it this way; if Peter and John had decided to choose the easy way, to stop preaching in Jesus name and chose an easy life, would you be reading this right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you have a faith that pushes you outside your comfort zone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you be trying to pass on that faith to your family and children?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would there even be a faith to pass on?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When faced with the question of whether it is right do what we want to do or what God needs us to do is something we all face every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter and John knew what Christ was asking of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew His words and had counted the cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter and John were carrying their cross daily and understood that being a disciple/follower of Jesus meant sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because they were willing to sacrifice, we sit here today discussing these questions and ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because they did sacrifice you and I had the opportunity to know Christ on an intimate level.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I wonder if my answer to that question will have the same impact.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-91333092809193626982011-09-06T12:19:00.000-05:002011-09-06T12:19:58.475-05:00Ten Years Ago<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4mptPAE6OGJbwDvdHiyCA8oa0WKNP2i25IoU0h3luWlmDulvPRivEGA-BP6-opIPMnQ2a9v18UC_2GqCC16b8Kiqlc25b1YPC8X9g_1ofoE_Oxv8SLSATzMoiJ7TbY4Rv9C7Z0a5Km0/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4mptPAE6OGJbwDvdHiyCA8oa0WKNP2i25IoU0h3luWlmDulvPRivEGA-BP6-opIPMnQ2a9v18UC_2GqCC16b8Kiqlc25b1YPC8X9g_1ofoE_Oxv8SLSATzMoiJ7TbY4Rv9C7Z0a5Km0/s200/sunrise.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ten years ago this past Sunday my wife and I were sitting in a doctors’ office waiting to hear if our world was really being turned upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came back in the room and said, “Congratulations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re going to be parents!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We love our daughter very much but at the time we were not trying or even thinking about having kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were 22 and 23 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were just barely able to take care of ourselves and hadn’t been married very long at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we found out we were pregnant, it wasn’t the happy moment we thought it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There was crying, but the tears indicated fear instead of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife cried so hard I asked the doctor to give us some privacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We held each other and wondered how we would move on from this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to take a breather, go get some lunch, and gain some perspective on what just happened.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As we drove to grab a bite to eat, everything started to look as if it were on waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at that point that something gripped my chest and started squeezing the air out of my lungs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart decided to join in the fun and began to pound as if it were trying to escape!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled over and almost fell out of the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put head between my knees and tried not to pass out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once we finally made it to lunch, we were able to calm down and realize what a blessing this would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That was September 4, 2001.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One week later I was standing in a room of 4<sup>th</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup> grade students teaching a Bible class at Tri-County Christian School in Macon, MO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My cell phone started buzzing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just let it go because I was teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked the message during the morning recess and heard some garbled voice talking about planes and buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t quite make it out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was September 11, 2001</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After class I went into my office and heard on the radio horrified voices describe what was indescribable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two commercial flights had crashed into the World Trade Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t totally understand what was taking place until I left work and turned on my television at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The images I saw immediately sickened my stomach.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I raced to the phone to call my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was able to finally talk to her, relief flooded me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know if this was an isolated incident or if we were under attack as country or something much worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just needed to hear her voice.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My cell then started ringing and ringing, it was my mom calling to make sure we were safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cried the moment I said “Hello”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could hear the terror in her voice as we talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let her know we were all ok and that I had talked to my wife.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can remember the panic in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People flooded the grocery stores and gas stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got in line to get gas because everyone else did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried that it might be awhile before we could get gas again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran into a store and grabbed a bunch of water and non-perishable food items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what was going on.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I still remember the first conversation my wife and I had after she got home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started like this,</div><div class="MsoNormal">“What kind of world are we bringing our child into?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We had no way of answering this question. How do you begin to process something this horrendous when it comes to your kids? We were totally lost.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The joy that we had begun to experience had now been shattered and morphed into complete horror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor people that died on the planes, in the Towers, in the Pentagon and on that barren field crushed our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The anger that we felt at the men who planned and executed something so evil burned and morphed into hatred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our words were dripping with revenge and retaliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our thoughts turned black and cold to those responsible for these atrocious acts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think back to this time in our country's history and I am very conflicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do feel shame now for that initial response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path my heart took did not reflect the love of Christ, the sacrifice of the cross or the Spirit that dwelled within me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart took a very human path and that response tried to crush my Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, my response has changed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I’ve grown closer to Christ and seen the depravity that exists in my own heart I’ve come to realize that His love reaches out for the ones I hate, the ones I won’t see or think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the love of Christ is not for them, it’s not for anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the sacrifice of the cross doesn’t extend to those blind men who piloted those planes, then it cannot pardon my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the Spirit that dwells in me is not allowed to guide my thoughts and actions then essentially I call Christ a liar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart’s desire was not the love Christ calls me to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart’s desire was to a morbid sense of satisfaction found in revenge.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mathew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus stands up and tells this large gathering that if you’re down and out, if you’re at the end of your rope, if you have no one that loves you, if you are rejected and loathed, if you are the lowest of the low then My kingdom is for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Think about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If His kingdom isn’t for them, it can’t be for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His kingdom is for the men who killed 3000+ on that morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His kingdom is for the men and women that continue to murder and cause chaos around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His kingdom is for them because if it’s not, then it’s not for anyone.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So as all the TV programs and news article focus around the events of that great and terrible morning, we have found answers for those questions that we asked ten years ago. And because of them we will teach our daughter a different way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will show her the heart of Jesus for these men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will pray for His love to conquer their fear, we will ask for His light to expose their darkness, and we will pray that we may be bearers of His good news to those that are without.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings </div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-6216317036258735442011-08-31T14:54:00.001-05:002011-08-31T15:01:45.991-05:00What would happen?Peter and John stood in front of a group of men they knew could kill them with one word and told them too bad. Peter and John told them they couldn't help talking about what they'd seen and heard. Peter and John told them they wouldn't shut up, not even if they died because of it.<br />
<br />
In student ministry I deal with families from all walks and backgrounds. I serve families that couldn't care less that we're here, families that thrive because we are here, and everywhere in between. And I'm seeing something that truly breaks my heart.<br />
<br />
I see a disintegration taking place in the family unit.<br />
<br />
Parents making choices based on feelings and happiness, teens flat out ignoring what Jesus calls them to, churches that are flat and lifeless, and a gospel that is so watered down it can hardly be recognized as the "Good News".<br />
<br />
I see in my own life a resistance to do things that are uncomfortable. Would I be willing to give up my lifestyle if Christ called me to Haiti or Africa or downtown St. Louis? Would I be willing to give up my social standing if Christ called me to a neighbor's house?<br />
<br />
In the passage paraphrase above found in Acts 4:19-20 I see people, families willing to give up everything for His sake. And what Acts 4:19-20 really gets to is this: Am I really going to go against God's word for personal comfort? Am I willing to do what He asks even (especially) when it gets hard? Will we do the hard things when and where He needs us to? Individually? As a local body?<br />
<br />
But I also see people living this out daily. I see and know people that have given up everything to serve and love the lowest of the low. I see the costs of living this way and how God blesses and lifts up those who follow His path.<br />
<br />
I see how local churches are thinking outside the box and doing things differently, without agendas. I see an entire generation of young people thirsting and hungering for righteousness. And these break my hearts as well.<br />
<br />
What would happen if His bride, all of it, acted like His bride? What would happen if we tore down walls that we've built up in the name of Jesus and were of one heart and mind? What would happen if we decided that our brothers well being was more important than our cable? <br />
<br />
What would happen?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-36651092785303565302011-08-10T11:36:00.000-05:002011-08-10T11:36:40.453-05:00The Family Crisis pt. 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwzqt4uvumnA8VegvKwGR7IYRvXpWiYiB8ur1PZp-agi7Vq0DL3peA_gCwZYBFhTQabC9E8Wwc28csxQkHlIyxk-ajodBH0pKGHjP7gdwgmLl-tDkHVzz6WFCoqu2weLMQ9m07XWy1CE/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwzqt4uvumnA8VegvKwGR7IYRvXpWiYiB8ur1PZp-agi7Vq0DL3peA_gCwZYBFhTQabC9E8Wwc28csxQkHlIyxk-ajodBH0pKGHjP7gdwgmLl-tDkHVzz6WFCoqu2weLMQ9m07XWy1CE/s200/hope.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> I sat there in shock at what I had just heard. Our two closest friends had just come to our house (several years ago) and told us that their marriage was in shambles and that the husband had been caught in an affair.<br />
<br />
I remember my wife getting up and walking away in tears. I sat there numbed by the words just hanging in the air. I don't remember thinking much. I remember anger and then love for my friends. They were in so much turmoil, so much agony it was etched on their faces. I could do nothing but hug and love them.<br />
<br />
But what I remember most is something that she said while talking to just my wife and I. She looked at us with tear reddened eyes and said, "He is my husband and I am not divorcing him." I looked at my wife stunned at the staggering strength coming from her. The decision that was made that night still leaves an impression on me to this day.<br />
<br />
In the weeks, months and years that followed that conversation there were ups and downs. I remember seeing the husband at the lowest point in his life and watching the wife right there loving him. She was literally Jesus in those moments, Jesus kneeling before Judas, wet feet in His hands, serving far beyond human understanding. I can recall seeing him begin to awaken from his slumber and really appreciate his wife for the first time. And the way she reacted was perfect- "I love you but you have a lot of making up to do". And he did.<br />
<br />
Starting from scratch they courted once again, counseling took place, and the Holy Spirit grabbed two broken hearts and began the healing process.<br />
<br />
I just spoke with the husband and he told me of the marriage they have now. He talked of the amazing love they share and how Christ is working in them to serve the other. He spoke of how their story encourages other couples going through rough times and how his wife is a hero of the faith worthy of being mentioned in Hebrews 11.<br />
<br />
What looked like an impossible situation has turned out to be one of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i></b> great love stories. All starting with one woman who refused to go back on her vows of marriage. She would not relent in her love and in that became a picture of Christ's love for us. By not listening to conventional wisdom she showed her husband what agape love looks like and in turn allowed him to see what he must do as well.<br />
<br />
When followers begin to live His word in their lives, strange things will happen. Old wounds will heal, walls will be torn down, dying love will be rekindled, and broken marriages will be made whole. The witness to the outside world would show the reality of Christ's love and in turn create environments where people can be forever changed.<br />
<br />
So for everyone struggling in marriage, for everyone who feels like all is lost- look at my good friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See what can and does happen when two people lay everything at the feet of a loving Creator. <br />
<br />
Blessings<br />
Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-45377022223610507242011-08-09T11:10:00.000-05:002011-08-09T11:10:51.404-05:00The Family Crisis<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwzqt4uvumnA8VegvKwGR7IYRvXpWiYiB8ur1PZp-agi7Vq0DL3peA_gCwZYBFhTQabC9E8Wwc28csxQkHlIyxk-ajodBH0pKGHjP7gdwgmLl-tDkHVzz6WFCoqu2weLMQ9m07XWy1CE/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwzqt4uvumnA8VegvKwGR7IYRvXpWiYiB8ur1PZp-agi7Vq0DL3peA_gCwZYBFhTQabC9E8Wwc28csxQkHlIyxk-ajodBH0pKGHjP7gdwgmLl-tDkHVzz6WFCoqu2weLMQ9m07XWy1CE/s200/hope.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">She sat in my office and cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cried tears of rage, disappointment, and a broken heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her family was falling apart all around her and there was nothing she could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t the problem or the reason for this but felt like she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She bore the brunt of emotional outbursts from parents who were struggling to keep it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad decisions on their part had brought this family to its grave and the kids were the ones that paid the price.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is not an unfamiliar story in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Estimations are as high as 50% of all marriages end in divorce and that number is virtually no different for Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a student minister I deal with this issue on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it be a family that has divorced, headed for one or that is just dysfunctional, I counsel teens and tweens on this weekly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family is under attack and we are failing to address it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God created two institutions to tell His story to the world; the family and the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two cannot exist without the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for far too long we have allowed the church to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">take away </i>the role of the parents as the primary source of Biblical teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For far too long parents have sat back and watched the church teach their kids and not been involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for us to partner together and really engage families’ right where they are.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There is a common thread that runs through many of these families that are falling apart in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That thread is a lack of Biblical understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t know God’s word therefore they don’t really follow God’s word.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Matthew 19:4-6 clearly states that no man should separate what God has joined together and Mark 10: 2-12 are some of the harder teachings about what happens when there is a divorce and remarriage for the wrong reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying that ALL divorce is wrong, but I am repeating and rephrasing Christ’s words when I say that almost all divorce is wrong.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How many people would be willing to really trust in Christ and follow His words when the entire world says to run?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many Christian understand what Jesus is saying about life and how we are called to live?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us really put our life in Christ’s hands and let go of everything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As followers we have to ask ourselves some tough questions and then apply those tough answers to our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to partner with these families in crisis to show them Christ’s healing love and power.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either we believe that or we don’t.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">His words are hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His teachings grate and irritate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls us to more than we can do on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for us to really begin to disciple people in His word and then live it- even when it’s hard.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-72667726245134690602011-08-04T10:13:00.002-05:002011-08-04T10:23:19.365-05:00Transitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp6-otnpAz8PfsdNzjJtSM7hAjZcxp95RnWbTsmmKhAVbuIudH1ys-3BAAmx4xWawYLue_0CJfGaFmeANoaTyK1YCt_4QxbmhJoE6x3AGhBJUbHMDzN6i0LkvUSqFChG87lrRWGOvnUM/s1600/change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTp6-otnpAz8PfsdNzjJtSM7hAjZcxp95RnWbTsmmKhAVbuIudH1ys-3BAAmx4xWawYLue_0CJfGaFmeANoaTyK1YCt_4QxbmhJoE6x3AGhBJUbHMDzN6i0LkvUSqFChG87lrRWGOvnUM/s200/change.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>School starts in just a little over a week. 5th graders heading off to middle school, 8th graders moving up into high school, and graduated Seniors moving off to college. It's a lot for a family to take. The emotional stress can take a toll on the relationship.<br />
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So here are a few things taken from a recent article USA Today's Family & Parenting (link to entire article is found below):<br />
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<div class="inside-copy"><b>Loosen your grip.</b> Kids will come home at Thanksgiving expecting more freedom. So lighten up now and see how it feels. The Wingates say they have dropped Sara's curfew and set fewer rules this summer. Tiffany says she is getting used to the idea that "I'm not going to know where she is or what she's doing" all the time.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>But take time to get close.</b> If there's still time, take a weekend trip with your child. Or set time aside for a trip to a ballpark, spa or somewhere else where you can have a good talk and a laugh.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>Talk about talking.</b> Discuss how and how often you will communicate after school starts. That can prevent hurt feelings and needless worry, Cohen says. Sara Wingate says she's glad her parents have agreed that she will be the first to call or text them after move-in day: "They understand that I'm not going to call every day."</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>Learn to text.</b> If you somehow got through your child's high school years without learning how to send text messages, learn now. Today's college students don't use e-mail much and don't always pick up calls, but most of them read and answer texts, Cohen says.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>Chill out.</b> Campus crimes happen, but "99.9999% of students are going to be fine," Cohen says. Don't sweat mildly alarming Facebook posts from your child's future roommate, either, Rode urges. "For the most part, we encourage students to get to know their roommates, in person," before requesting any changes, she says.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>But don't be cold.</b> Some parents tune out their departing kids as a preemptive coping strategy, Cohen says. You'll know you've overdone the chilling thing when you find yourself redecorating their bedroom while they are still sleeping in it, he says.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>Get your calendar for next month.</b> Fill it. "That way you won't be sitting at home wondering what your kid is doing," Cohen says.</div><div class="inside-copy"><b>Master moving day.</b> Most colleges have "a finely tuned move-in plan," Rode says. Follow it. Then leave. "If you are the only parent left, you've stayed too long," Cohen says. Depart with a smile and without tears, if you can. (<a href="http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/parenting-part/story/2011/08/Kids-bound-for-college-whats-a-parent-to-do/49759756/1">Kids bound for college; what's a parent to do?</a>)</div><div class="inside-copy"><br />
</div><div class="inside-copy">What are some things that you are doing to help with school transitions? </div><div class="inside-copy"><br />
</div><div class="inside-copy">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-40033025640153954842011-08-03T15:58:00.000-05:002011-08-03T15:58:05.044-05:00Just a Game?I didn't get to see the Cardinal game last night, so this morning after my run I put it on SportsCenter to see the outcome. I was happy to see the Cards pull out the win in overtime but became absolutely disgusted when I saw what happened with Yadier Molina!<br />
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If you missed it here's a link to the video:<br />
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6829196">Yadi's strike out</a><br />
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What I saw was a grown man playing a child's game acting like a spoiled brat! I understand him wanting to win and that it's his profession but as a parent I'm more concerned with how this looks to my kids. What lesson did they learn for Molina's antics? What can be drawn from watching a grown man throw a tantrum?<br />
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James 1:19-20 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."<br />
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As a parent I would use this incident to talk about our reaction to circumstances outside our control. I would point out that God's way is much more productive than letting our emotions run wild. I would show my kids that because Yadi acted the way he did, he'll probably be riding the bench during the most important stretch of the season so far.<br />
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Join the conversation and let me know what you think.<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-20414506479890567562011-08-01T13:22:00.004-05:002011-08-01T15:07:30.810-05:00My WifeTomorrow is my wife's birthday. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day that God blessed me before I knew it. Tomorrow is a celebration of the day that changed the course of my life before it needed changing.<br />
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Most people don't know this about my wife, but she saved my life. Well, I don't mean "pulled me out of a burning building" saved my life but rather she showed up and loved me at a time when very few did.<br />
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I had a rough couple of years after I was out of college. It was bad enough that almost all of my friends turned their backs on me. I even had one tell me that I was going to hell (he told me this sitting in the cafeteria of my Christian college). If you've ever felt rejected by the church then you understand where I'm coming from. These followers' words and attitudes so poisoned my spirit that I walked away from it all; the church, God, and anyone that had anything to do with Him. It was not pretty to be a part of and my life was a wreck.<br />
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It was about the same time that Tori came into my life in a very unexpected way. We were both dating people we thought we would marry. My girlfriend was off at another school and her boyfriend was a good friend at our college. To make a long story short, we both ended up heartbroken and single at the same time. Initially our friendship was just that, a good friendship. We were struggling through similar situations and turned to one another for guidance and comfort. Nothing more. <br />
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I had known her for a couple of years and never saw her as anything other than my friend. But as our conversations went longer and longer into the evenings my eyes opened to this stunning young woman sitting on the other end of a phone. I started getting excited when I knew I was going to see her, and I began coming up with reasons and excuses to make sure that happened as often as possible. <br />
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Our dating relationship started when she asked me if I was ever going to ask her on a date. I didn't know if she was just kidding but I took the chance and our first date was to the Applebee's in Joplin, MO and to see the movie "Good Will Hunting".<br />
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Afterwards we went to a friends house where she told me she had a great time but wouldn't see me again until I severed all ties with my old girlfriend. Ummmm...DONE!<br />
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Our first kiss was in the middle of Oklahoma somewhere at 12:05 on February 15, 1998. I remember the time and date because it was at that moment I knew that she was to be my wife. I loved her from the start and haven't stopped since.<br />
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She rescued me from all the of the mess I had made of my life and stood by me when most chose to walk away. She loved me at my worst and so I know she loves me now.<br />
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She has given me the two most beautiful children and blessed my life more than I can count or imagine. Other than God's gift of grace she is the single greatest blessing in my life. I would not be here were it not for her.<br />
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So when the clock strikes midnight tonight and rolls into tomorrow, it will not just be another birthday to celebrate for me. It is the day that saved my life, it is the day that brought me here, it is the day that my honeybunny came into this world and rocked mine! <br />
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<div style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6t78OW-yhM"><span style="color: red;">You & Me Together</span></a><span style="color: red;"> Link to our song </span> </div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-23724024752865365452011-07-26T11:37:00.004-05:002011-07-26T11:38:33.179-05:00LegacyThe church I serve at, Wentzville Christian Church, is celebrating its 50th year of ministry on Aug. 7. We’re making a big deal of it by bringing back our very first preacher Lee Erwin and then having Thomas and Sharon Rudebeck perform their Illusionist act that night. All of that will be a great deal of fun but the part that really strikes me is a video I watched yesterday of our longest standing members- Carl and Wanda Vestal.<br />
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Some of you may actually know them. They’ve been a part of this church since the mid 60’s. In the video they talked about the struggle of the early days, about not being able to meet financial obligations and how sister churches helped them. They talked about the prayers for the church and how difficult things got sometimes. But they also spoke about God leading them here and how much they loved WCC. They spoke of never imagining what would happen over the years and how it moves them to see so many people here now.<br />
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As I watched the video I was struck with the paradox that is our faith. We all play such a small role in the overall life of His church but each little part is integral to His story being told in our communities. The fact that our Creator choses to speak through us at all is amazing to me, but then to see what He will truly do when we surrender everything is awesome.<br />
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Their words stirred my spirit and challenged my walk in Christ. I have been challenged to think about my legacy. To begin thinking about what am I doing now that will leave a lasting impression on my children and my community.<br />
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When we look at the life of Christ and those that followed him we are challenged by the singular focus of spreading God’s Kingdom on this earth. They did that in actions (Paul’s missionary journeys) and with words. We can look all around us and see the legacy they left us. I’m writing to you only because the early church withstood horrors I pray I never see.<br />
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In Acts 4 we see that in the first recorded prayer of the 1st century church was not for safety (no one would have blamed them) but for boldness to proclaim His word. In the midst of arrests and killings they prayed that God would make them bolder. And because of this faith millions have heard about the name of Christ.<br />
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As I play my little part in His story, I pray that those I influence and particularly my children look back on my life and see that singular focus as well. I pray that my life is worthy of the legacy given to me by this great cloud of witnesses before me. I pray that my ministry, along with all those serving Christ in this community, lives up to the prayers of Carl and Wanda Vestal.Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-80226417853046120102011-07-24T13:52:00.000-05:002011-07-24T13:52:45.732-05:00Baby boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIV4qQmpQP3OxeB242fJIWEL3w0Ro_QCDuD7bZGiHMmBhdISj7BMummZFSSYajRtIbuJvwiZwDryuRC3S7MXzeZRk5bfvnt7-XeF1gJIWIslvT8yxBKtjXS7nWjLMTee-DjnBON9feEc/s1600/Smith+%2528100%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIV4qQmpQP3OxeB242fJIWEL3w0Ro_QCDuD7bZGiHMmBhdISj7BMummZFSSYajRtIbuJvwiZwDryuRC3S7MXzeZRk5bfvnt7-XeF1gJIWIslvT8yxBKtjXS7nWjLMTee-DjnBON9feEc/s200/Smith+%2528100%2529.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>Two years ago today we were blessed with a bundle of chaotic joy. We named him Brock because we like the strength of the old English name but didn't realize that it would fit him so well. Just this past week he gave me a black eye with a well placed headbutt!<br />
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But we are very thankful and blessed to have him with us. See we never thought we were going to have another biological child after our first one. We experienced secondary infertility. (<a href="http://www.parenting.com/article/why-cant-we-have-another-baby"> Parenting Magazine</a>) We tried for years to have another and with each failed pregnancy test we began to give up hope. We knew several people that had used different medications and medical procedures but we had decided that wasn't right for us. We reasoned that if God was going to bless us with another child, He would in His time.<br />
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But I'll admit it became very discouraging. We resigned ourselves that Jenna would be it. Not that we were saddened by this, she is an amazing young woman who makes our lives richer everyday. But we wanted so desperately to add to our little family.<br />
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Tori and I sat at Steak n Shake eating dinner while Jenna was with my parents and her cousin. Tori stopped eating and looked at me for a moment. I wasn't sure what she was going to say, so I just said "What?"<br />
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She said that she was "late" and asked if we should get a pregnancy test. Hope rose deep within my heart, but I tempered that and said it couldn't hurt just to check. It was only a little bit of money, and we would know for sure we weren't, then just move on like all the other times. So we hit Wal Mart and bought the test, took it home and the result was the same as all the others- negative. <br />
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After so many negatives you just get used to it, so it was no shock or big deal and we went on with our night.<br />
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The next morning was Thanksgiving day and we all sat on the couch watching the Thanksgiving day parades on TV. For some reason Tori quickly got up and left the room. She came back a few moments later holding something in her hand and looking like she had just seen a ghost.<br />
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"I wanted to go back and check the test one more time. Here, look."<br />
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I reached out and took the stick. I didn't understand what I was looking at because it now showed positive. My heart started beating faster and tears came to my eyes. We stared at each other in disbelief and Jenna was so confused she just kept asking "What? What? What is it?"<br />
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We started to cry and explained to Jenna that she was going to have a little brother or sister soon. We jumped in some clothes and quickly got several more tests that all came out positive! We still don't know why that first test initially showed negative only to show positive the next morning.<br />
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These last two years have gone by in a blink of an eye. But Tori and I are so blessed with the children God entrusted to us that we can't imagine life any other way.<br />
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Brock is our baby boy. He lives up to his name's meaning of badger. He's fearless, stubborn, energetic, sweet, rotten all at the same time. And as he blew out his birthday candles for the millionth time, I couldn't help but think back to that day and the joy we have on this day.<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-67056454022084769252011-07-15T00:22:00.000-05:002011-07-15T00:22:53.287-05:00Day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5oVZdYY2SBPZSyHn07WR_QbbDnT1ExgQRHVm6tVmDCJmD5m7altwr5R9bx7_YQcJ7jxUAx3vL_Y6C2A0BD0CGr5phi_n5Va804ZtFbvzhAWplAbhuS9i7Gm7dU7LasdWUQTAcLxXIDs/s1600/CIMG1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5oVZdYY2SBPZSyHn07WR_QbbDnT1ExgQRHVm6tVmDCJmD5m7altwr5R9bx7_YQcJ7jxUAx3vL_Y6C2A0BD0CGr5phi_n5Va804ZtFbvzhAWplAbhuS9i7Gm7dU7LasdWUQTAcLxXIDs/s320/CIMG1963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I am so tired. It's after midnight and I am ready for bed. The drive ahead calls out to me, as does my bed and shower!!!<br />
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It's so late because God moves when He moves and there's not a thing we can do about it. After serving the Alexander family today and clearing a massive amount of debris, we ate some pizza and headed out to worship. There we sang of His amazing goodness and faithfulness. When we sang the words "If God is for us then who can stand against?" it sounded different. How does one reconcile the tragedy we worked in with the goodness of a holy Creator? The redemptive power of the cross is how. That work of reconciliation that is constantly working in and through us is how. The hope that we find in Christ's resurrection and the call to live that hope and restoration in our lives is how.<br />
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After a time of stories and fountain drinks we headed back to the college where something truly awesome happened; God moved. And as is His want to, He moved small at first. I talked about how this trip has the power to change us if we let it, then Brian spoke of Paul's call to serve in urgent need (in his letter to Titus) and then that small voice started speaking to one of the students. <br />
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Coleman raised his hand and asked to say something. He asked if the kids had fun and then if they were heartbroken. He then asked how awesome would it be to bring down another group, but instead of just 30- what would happen if we had 100 or 150 followers answering the call? What would happen if we did this back home? And the flood gates opened. Student after student talking of love and family, tears came and confessions made. One of our students is answering the call to baptism and yet another to changing the course of his life. Conversations started happening and well, here I am. Posting after midnight when this old man should be fast asleep.<br />
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This is the best trip I've ever had with a group of students and adults. I have been honored to play my little part in the discipleship of these young followers. My prayer is that when we return home that we don't leave the lessons learned in Joplin, in Joplin. But that they come home changed, renewed, focused on the call to our community. We have been called to Engage and I plan on doing just that. <br />
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Whose with me?<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-13918696041261631562011-07-13T22:46:00.000-05:002011-07-13T22:46:03.549-05:00Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbSTNquaPDM0OvPtAwNpzLyPBMDcMCWaEf9aCyF1s3jLQ8WasuaqtgqQtQaSmyZWr-ePjjurRUxq_CVZ7h_OOEiQXFuBLS5VB_mT4_wS80iX1hIF7tDraAxa9ouw4zoRSt_R-pFh-4NQ/s1600/IMGA0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbSTNquaPDM0OvPtAwNpzLyPBMDcMCWaEf9aCyF1s3jLQ8WasuaqtgqQtQaSmyZWr-ePjjurRUxq_CVZ7h_OOEiQXFuBLS5VB_mT4_wS80iX1hIF7tDraAxa9ouw4zoRSt_R-pFh-4NQ/s320/IMGA0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>These teens are incredible. They worked and served like crazy and we were able to clear out 99% of the Poe's family property. They did a fantastic job.<br />
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We've heard several survivor stories that have chilled us and challenged us. One couple made it through the tornado lying on the pavement of the Dillon's grocery story. Another woman survived in her bath tub. She pushed the wall that had fallen on top of her and looked out to see that she could look into her yard. This afternoon we went to the home of one of the CIY directors. He was out of town and his wife and 4 week old baby rode out the storm in the basement. We were able to look through it and see what people had been writing on the walls. Messages of hope and love sprawled all through the remaining structure.<br />
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We stopped by what's being called the "Joplin Hope Wall" and took pictures. It's a mural on the side of an abandoned building that just sprouted up. People coming together to restore their city.<br />
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It has truly been an honor to engage this community and to be able to play our little part of this unfolding story.<br />
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Please continue to keep us and all the other teams here in your thoughts and prayers. As they wear down physically, emotions can run high. We want to make sure that we are able to stay focused on what we are here to do- rebuild.<br />
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Yesterday, Dorothy Poe (the home owner) reminded us of that as she held my hand and looked me in the eye. She looked up and said that in the learning of her new faith, the Bible says that there are angels among us and that we just don't recognize them. She looked at as and said "You are all our angels".<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-29923466426392381532011-07-12T22:48:00.000-05:002011-07-12T22:48:27.138-05:00Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTFQW1jja91ozvi6VVWzARv1r0ULPMHpD80Ght5Dn4vXTidRVG6V9KKLLKeQBfD0vZJMpYdVKLRRe-4kVQT_BvFrZaWGu_BbOSzmPTG4OJ0tB4qefQhVOHClyFMGGqRIJ2caZRukai6U/s1600/IMGA0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTFQW1jja91ozvi6VVWzARv1r0ULPMHpD80Ght5Dn4vXTidRVG6V9KKLLKeQBfD0vZJMpYdVKLRRe-4kVQT_BvFrZaWGu_BbOSzmPTG4OJ0tB4qefQhVOHClyFMGGqRIJ2caZRukai6U/s320/IMGA0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I am exhausted as I write this. It's late and I'm beat down by this weather we are having. My emotions are on edge because of what happened today.<br />
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We met the Poe's. That is the family we are serving this week. It's a single 50+ mom of 2 grown boys and a soon to be daughter in law. She had been working with AmericaCorp and was waiting on them to clear her property. 4 weeks later here we are, doing what needs to be done.<br />
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There was and still is a ton to be done here but we've gotten this one house. We are able to change things for one family and be Jesus to just them. <br />
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We cleared huge mounds of debris and broke down some felled logs. Tomorrow we'll finish up on the debris and start in on the back deck. <br />
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Our other group worked in a distribution center breaking down packets and sorting through mountains of clothes. They will be working with us in the front yard tomorrow as we race to get the Poe family's yard done.<br />
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I literally can't put into words what we are seeing/ feeling/ experiencing here. It is beyond comprehension. <br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-5563772294866692162011-07-11T23:25:00.000-05:002011-07-11T23:25:42.171-05:00Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjaAY6L6OWo4yGdCcR3qRJ55AzVTfhlHlK0HDAKlp-oNn_8Rix9tmMkJTbuV67e8FZr_DE_ZIOPV9fx1i0p3EXV57T3QujlKAqTHN5sFyE6bnPOwK5BYa7DGCgpBCADU4DhfGATEqfuU/s1600/IMGA0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjaAY6L6OWo4yGdCcR3qRJ55AzVTfhlHlK0HDAKlp-oNn_8Rix9tmMkJTbuV67e8FZr_DE_ZIOPV9fx1i0p3EXV57T3QujlKAqTHN5sFyE6bnPOwK5BYa7DGCgpBCADU4DhfGATEqfuU/s320/IMGA0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">We stood looking across the street at Joplin high school.<span> </span>It was a tomb.<span> </span>A cold, dark presence in the middle of what was once a thriving neighborhood.<span> </span>It was quiet as we huddle together and prayed for all the students, and staff of this large high school.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The students in the group began to come to terms with the massive destruction that took place here a few months ago.<span> </span>Tears began to fall as they placed themselves in the shoes of those that had lost so much.<span> </span>Prayers became a little more urgent and heartfelt, conversations took a turn for the serious, and the seeds of what God is doing here began to take root.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m with a group of 26 teens and 10 adults.<span> </span>We’ve come with Christ in Youth and Operation Blessing to be a part of the ongoing restoration of Joplin.<span> </span>I hold no comfort or glory in that statement.<span> </span>I will say this, I HATE why we are here.<span> </span>I love this city.<span> </span>Joplin has given me so much in my life and I loathe what has happened here.<span> </span>The storm has changed so many lives and taken so much.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But it is in that tension, that contradiction where we live as followers.<span> </span>The world is broken, but Christ’s message is one of restoration.<span> </span>We are called to be Kingdom workers and to restore earth to back to its original design.<span> </span>In the Gospels, when you see the phrase “Kingdom of God” or “Kingdom of heaven” Jesus or the writers weren’t talking of a far of paradise, they were referring to the here and now.<span> </span>To what God was doing in and through His people.<span> </span>We are called to restore.</div><div class="MsoNormal">So that’s what we are here to do.<span> </span>Like so many before us, and so many after us, we will do His bidding and restore what we can.<span> </span>We will leave this place better than it was before we got here.<span> </span>Just like all the others.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Colossians 1:20 says that everything is being restored back to Jesus through his work on the cross.<span> </span>If that is the case then our job as followers is to proclaim his truth in word and in our actions.<span> </span>And our actions are to be about being a part of restoring our communities and places like Joplin back to Him.</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I go to bed on this day, I’m challenged to begin thinking about what do in our community.<span> </span>What would happen if the church woke up and started serving?<span> </span>What would Wentzville and the surrounding areas look like in a year if we stopped fighting with each other and started working together?<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to find out.</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-29441146904995679002011-05-16T22:15:00.000-05:002011-05-16T22:15:58.796-05:00Members Only<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">He walked into the church in full on Gothic mode.<span> </span>His hair was spiked to kill and it stood a good 6 inches off the top of his head.<span> </span>His long, black trench coat covered his heavily chained pants.<span> </span>His military style boots clomped into the church foyer and his pentagram necklace glinted eerily in the light.<span> </span>His black eye make-up was merely an afterthought in the ensemble.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the first time that I met Shawn.<span> </span>He was a student in a ministry of mine.<span> </span>He was one of the most challenging kids in my time of student ministry.<span> </span>And not because of reasons you might think.<span> </span>Shawn and I became close friends and I actually spent a year teaching and mentoring him in the Scriptures.<span> </span>The challenging part was the rest of the church.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can recall the senior minister at that time calling me to a meeting where he asked me to tell Shawn not to come back because he could be a bad influence on the other teens.<span> </span>I was shocked.<span> </span>Was Shawn not the reason that Christ came?<span> </span>Wouldn’t Shawn be the very person that Jesus would sit down to eat with, to spend time with?<span> </span>Shawn was a teen on the margin and acted accordingly.<span> </span>His get-up was nothing but shock value and underneath was a kid looking for acceptance and love.<span> </span>Fortunately, I didn’t have to push back too hard because the other students in my ministry did that for me.<span> </span>They truly loved, accepted, and befriended Shawn.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And this is an unfortunate reality in our church today.<span> </span>The hidden side-ways glance, the hushed whispering, the uncomfortable hand shake and the fake smile are a welcome that many people get in churches all over the country today.<span> </span>Many churches have the feel of a social club rather than a refuge for a broken people.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today’s culture looks at Christians as judgmental.<span> </span>I resent this label.<span> </span>I have walked in those shoes and it has caused me to sympathize and empathize with those on the outside looking in.<span> </span>But I do understand that there is truth in this generalization.<span> </span>I realize that the church has wounded many people with an unforgiving attitude or a carelessly used phrase.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We, traditionally, have been quick to judge those that think differently than us.<span> </span>You believe that this did or didn’t happen?<span> </span>Well guess what?<span> </span>You’re out of the club!<span> </span>Often times, we have represented the Bride of Christ as a sulking child; running home whining, ball in hand. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This unfortunate attitude has spurred thinking and phrases like, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”<span> </span>And we worry about validating someone’s lifestyle if we show them too much love.<span> </span>But is this the way Christ lived.<span> </span>Is this the way Christ intended His Bride to behave on His behalf?<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Look throughout Scripture and you see Jesus loving people regardless of station.<span> </span>He loved them right where they were, no reservation, no holding back, unconditional.<span> </span>He loved them recklessly and pursued them relentlessly.<span> </span>He loved them too much to leave them where they were.<span> </span>His love showed them a better way to live.<span> </span>They loved to be around him and him them.<span> </span>Can the same be said of us today?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s look at the church’s response to the gay community.<span> </span>When the aids epidemic hit in the 80’s, what was the church’s reaction (overall)?<span> </span>It was God’s judgment on the heathens and they deserved it (I remember this as a young boy).<span> </span>Whether or not it was something God was using to call people to repentance is not for me to decide.<span> </span>Nor was it the church’s responsibility to read our Lord’s mind.<span> </span>No- it was the church’s job to love these people whether they ever accepted Christ’s forgiveness or not.<span> </span>It was the church’s job to show compassion and mercy.<span> </span>It was the church’s job to show them, in love, a better way.<span> </span>Instead, the gay community was met with ridicule, hatred and judgment.<span> </span>It caused so many wounds that it has taken until just recently that we have been able to build back some of those bridges.<span> </span>And even then, there is still fear of being hurt.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The words that Jesus used to those on the outside were words of inclusion.<span> </span>The woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus, his own disciples, the demon possessed man, on down to the people that he chose to dine with.<span> </span>All were included in His group of friends.<span> </span>Even in the Sermon on the Mount- His inauguration speech if you will, He starts with “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.”<span> </span>A crowd of people had gathered to see if this was the man to lead them to dominance and His first words were of the despised, the broken, the downtrodden and how the Kingdom is for them?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Right here is where we have somehow gone astray.<span> </span>Right here is where we, at some point in time, forgot about God’s grace; if the Kingdom isn’t for the poor, the oppressed, those on the margins, then it isn’t for anybody.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And here’s where an amazing opportunity comes.<span> </span>I can’t tell you how many times I and others I know, have had people make remarks about how we didn’t fit their idea of what a Christian was.<span> </span>When we plug into the Vine (John 15) and allow Him to be our sustenance, people will stop seeing us and start seeing Jesus.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you and I can be a part of bringing Shalom to our neighborhoods, then we can begin to change this perception that the Bride is only for those with membership cards.<span> </span>And maybe, just maybe, people will begin to rediscover who Christ is and what His followers are all about.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-43562848857041436922011-05-03T14:17:00.000-05:002011-05-03T14:17:32.242-05:00UnChristian?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">I look at the state of the Church in the United States today and I see many things, some good and some bad.<span> </span>I’m encouraged by the passion of our church’s leaders today and the ability to mass communicate with each other and to the world.<span> </span>It pushes me towards good deeds when I read the blogs and posts from other men and woman around the country.<span> </span>I am stretched and taken outside my comfort zone when I’m able to converse with those who don’t share my personal take on theology and look at Scripture slightly different.<span> </span>I am a better person and pastor for having had these experiences.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But something I see deeply troubles my soul.<span> </span>It’s not new or unique to us or the Western church.<span> </span>But I do see it.<span> </span>The Church is dumb.<span> </span>I realize that this is a broad generalization, but just bear with me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I see an entire generation of people walking away from the church.<span> </span>They look at the institution that is His Bride and realize that there is nothing there that the world isn’t giving them.<span> </span>They see no difference.<span> </span>They see families divorcing, sexual sin running rampant, moms and dads stressed to the breaking point, they hear sermons and lessons teaching them to behave, and they are walking away.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They see a church that no longer has any fear of its Creator.<span> </span>We’ve lost our awe and reverence and the world can tell. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>I see it in the student who sits and listens year after year, and continues to drink and sleep around.<span> </span>I see it in the parent who bends over backwards for a RECREATIONAL sport but puts little importance on the coming together corporately to worship Christ.<span> </span>I see it in the family who can’t understand why their student doesn’t like coming to church even though there is no transformation in the life of the family.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How are we to tell people the good news, when on a large scale we can’t embody the good news?</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the book “UnChristian” a study was done with the help of Barna research.<span> </span>That study asked what were Christians known for.<span> </span>The answers were:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Against Gays</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Judgmental</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Hypocritical</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">OUCH!<span> </span>That has to hurt.<span> </span>At what point in our history did it become ok to be known as against?<span> </span>Wasn’t Jesus known for loving and reaching those on the margins?<span> </span>Didn’t He use words of forgiveness and inclusion when talking to those on the outside?<span> </span>Didn’t He call them to a better life after having shown them love?<span> </span>Didn’t he eat with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners?<span> </span>Didn’t he tell religious leaders that he came for the sick?<span> </span>So how is it that we have fallen so far from the mark that our reputation is more like Westboro Baptist and not that of Jesus Christ?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I believe it is because the church is dumb.<span> </span>There is an overall ignorance of Scripture that is crippling our influence in society and in the lives of our communities.<span> </span>Our people no longer read and meditate on God’s word.<span> </span>James 1 describes this as someone looking in a mirror and walking away, they immediately forget what they look like.<span> </span>That’s a ridiculous analogy.<span> </span>And I have to believe he made it ridiculous because in his mind it would be ridiculous for someone to say they are a follower and not read the Scriptures.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at how to reverse this trend in our lives and how to stop the mass exodus of mosaics and Gen Y from the church.<span> </span>Some of it will be difficult and require sacrifice.<span> </span>Some will be very hard for me because I’m guilty of it and I’m not looking forward to exposing my own shortcomings.<span> </span>But if we don’t ask the hard questions and really search for the answers, we risk becoming an afterthought in the collective mind of an entire generation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-55213537309963523262011-04-12T16:17:00.000-05:002011-04-12T16:17:20.130-05:00Jesus & SextingWhat would Jesus say about sexting? What would he do, if a parent had come up to him in the 1st century and said, "Lord! My daughter hast senteth out pictures of her nude form on her cell phone. If you are willing, make those pictures disappeareth." (King James added for effect.)<br />
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Would he have commended them for their faith and done what was asked? Would he have asked to talk with the young woman and young man involved?<br />
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And what would the reaction of the town's people be? Remember that people then were not as tolerant as they are now.<br />
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So when different issues pop up, I find that it's always best to go to the root of that particular issue. And the root of sexting is sex. Sex is a powerful thing. It can enhance a relationship in a Godly context but it can also literally destroy lives and tear families apart. How many of us know people who's lives have been altered or even ruined because of sexual sin? Most of us do.<br />
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Jesus' response to a woman caught in sexual sin is enlightening.<br />
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In John 8 we see a woman that was trapped in a sexual sin and caught by "religious" men in the community. They were ready to kill her. They actually threw her at Jesus feet and tried to trap him with the laws of the day. He didn't respond right away.<br />
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Jesus is a funny guy. I imagine that as he sat there playing in the dirt he was chuckling to himself as the "religious" men grew angrier. Then he spoke. And when he did, it changed everything. That's the thing about Jesus, he really never does what we expect but when he does act; it far exceeds any expectations we might have had.<br />
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He asked the men if they had never sinned. I believe there may have been a little sarcasm there, but I'm not totally sure. Then as the men walked away, he looked at that young woman and responded with love. He told her to get up and leave the life she was in. The implication being to live a better way.<br />
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So then, as parents (who are first and foremost Followers of Christ) how are we to respond to something like sexting? I believe we respond out of love. We must be willing to do the uncomfortable to show our children that love. We have to initiate the conversation and be pro-active in monitoring what's on our student's cell phones. We respond out of love by teaching and showing our kids that they are not an object to be lusted over, but rather a person- a human being- to be respected and treated with kindness. We respond out of love by modeling Godly values in our own lives and running (1 Cor. 6) from sexual sin. We respond out of love by living Christ with our kids.<br />
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Oh...and to answer that question as to how Jesus would have responded to sexting. I think he would do much of the same. He probably would have done something we didn't expect; something that would throw us off our guard; something that communicated love. He would have done something that told those kids that He came to give them life, and that this wasn't it. <br />
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<i>And </i>I think he does that everyday through parents like you and me.<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-64106677318709909912011-04-11T09:23:00.000-05:002011-04-11T09:23:16.350-05:00Muffin drinkingThis morning I'm working from home because our littlest one is sick. At this very moment he's laying on his little bouncy seat watching Elmo. He even has his little hands behind his head! It's all very cute.<br />
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It got me to thinking when the last time I just stopped. It's been awhile.<br />
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Yesterday Kendall, our Senior Pastor, talked on living a life of gratitude. Luke 17 tells us that ten men with leprosy called out to a traveling Jesus for healing. When he told them what to do to be healed, they did it. But only one man came back to give praise. It's an all too familiar story. Not the healing, but the gratitude.<br />
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Just look around you right now. What do you have that you just forget to see? Your house? Your car? How about your job? Your kids? Your school? When was the last time you were thankful for your shoes or socks or underwear? Many go with out these things.<br />
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That's the problem with our blessings, after a while they can become common place. We would do well to remember that whether it's manna from heaven or the belt you use to hold your jeans up; all that we have comes from Him.<br />
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So today, my plan is to work from home. But it's also to stop and just be thankful. How can I not when my son is sitting next to me trying to drink his muffins!<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-49802614672712274512011-03-21T12:57:00.000-05:002011-03-21T12:57:11.480-05:00Honoring one another<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">During my freshman and sophomore years in high school, I played on the basketball team.<span> </span>I really enjoyed playing, but wasn’t the most talented of players.<span> </span>I had to really work hard, run hard, rebound, and play defense to have any shot of making the team.<span> </span>So that’s what I did; I worked hard.<span> </span>I went all out, all the time.<span> </span>I eventually played my way into a starting role, but it was short lived.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was never very good at creating scoring opportunities for myself.<span> </span>So I talked with our freshman and JV coaches and asked what I should work on over the off season for next year.<span> </span>The JV coach’s response surprised me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>He said, “Scoring is the name of the game.<span> </span>Work on your shot.”<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now maybe it was a clash of philosophies but I had always been taught that defense wins championships.<span> </span>So when he said this, I thought- “This guys has no clue!”<span> </span>But he was the coach, so that’s what I did.<span> </span>I practiced all summer.<span> </span>I shot hundreds of jump shots all over the court.<span> </span>I was in the gym at 6 am before work and went back after work.<span> </span>I shot until I literally couldn’t lift my arms.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Try outs for JV and varsity came quickly.<span> </span>I made the JV team and this time I had a nicer shot than the year before. <span> </span>My hard work was paying off.<span> </span>I remember one particular scrimmage where I drained six 3 pointers in a row, missed one, and then rattled off another three before the scrimmage was over.<span> </span>Yet, for some reason, it wasn’t enough.<span> </span>I couldn’t understand.<span> </span>And my response wasn’t very mature.<span> </span>I started bad mouthing the coach to other people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a particularly difficult lose (one in which I didn’t get a lot of playing time) I was mouthing off to one of the other players when I heard someone call out behind me,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Smith!<span> </span>What did you just say?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I turned around and there was the varsity coach, staring me down.<span> </span>I had a choice:<span> </span>Apologize and hope for the best or stand my ground.<span> </span>I chose the latter.<span> </span>So I looked right back at him and said,</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You heard me.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That game was the last game I would play in high school.<span> </span>Oh, I got slop time.<span> </span>But I never played in any real contest again.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The real problem wasn’t what the coach was or wasn’t doing, it was my disrespect.<span> </span>Whether I was justified or not is irrelevant.<span> </span>I was to <i>honor</i> my coach because he was my coach.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Take a look around; honor is not something that is a highly valued commodity in this culture.<span> </span>Getting mine is something that is held in high regard.<span> </span>If you disrespect me; I’m coming at you hard!<span> </span>You have to give respect to earn respect.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These are not concepts that should be in the life of a follower of Christ.<span> </span>We are called to honor.<span> </span>Regardless of the person, we are called to show respect and honor to all.<span> </span>We are called to treat others better than ourselves.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Romans 12:10 says “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”<span> </span>There is almost no better example of this than Samuel.<span> </span>In the book of 1 Samuel we see Samuel living with Eli and his sons.<span> </span>While Eli’s sons are off doing whatever they please (and Eli not really doing anything about it) Samuel chooses to honor his adoptive father and family above himself.<span> </span>If you look in chapter 2 and verse 26, it sums it up nicely.<span> </span>“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.”<span> </span>This is said after it talks about Eli's sons sleeping around and doing harm to God’s people.<span> </span>It was because Samuel honored God in his dealing with his family that God blessed him as he did.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s a real important lesson for us as parents/ grandparents/ aunts & uncles/ guardians to implement in our lives; to honor others.<span> </span>That takes a lot of humility to do though.<span> </span>Proverbs 15:33 says “…humility comes before honor.”<span> </span>We have to humble ourselves on a consistent basis to do this.<span> </span>It’s vital our children see this in our lives.<span> </span>How can we expect our children to develop this in their lives if we are not willing to live it out in front of them?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Think about it.<span> </span>What’s your response when someone cuts you off in traffic?<span> </span>How do you respond to some that’s being rude and inconsiderate?<span> </span>How do you talk about people you may not like, when they’re not around?<span> </span>What are the things you say about your boss, while you’re home? <span> </span>And what do you say about elected officials around your kids?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All of our behaviors leave lasting impressions on our kids.<span> </span>If we want our children to honor others (especially people in positions of authority) we must model it for them first.<span> </span>We cannot expect for our kids to just suddenly start doing this on their own.<span> </span>It starts in the home, and more directly- it starts with you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-74003894741203797922011-02-28T14:17:00.001-06:002011-02-28T16:01:17.243-06:00You are not the clothes you wear<div class="MsoNormal">I have a daughter that is at the end of her 3<sup>rd</sup> grade year. She is on the tail end of Gen Y. She’s also starting to turn into a young woman. There are moments when I look at her doing something, and it’s hard to see that little girl that used to not let me put her down, or that toddler that refused to sleep unless I was holding her. I look at her and see the woman that she is becoming- beautiful, strong, sympathetic, courageous, a deep follower of Christ. She is the best of my wife and me, and we are very proud and thankful God blessed us with her. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So it was with great sorrow, that walking down the aisle at a local store the other day, that I saw a woman on the front cover of a magazine, barely covering her breasts. The magazine had headlines <i>screaming</i> at my daughter (and others as well) how to please their man, how to do this and how to do that. They had articles on what clothes to wear to attract men, and tricks to keep him happy in bed. It horrified me to see the oversexualization of our little girls confront me standing in line to pay for my groceries. I did my best to make sure that she didn’t read the headlines, but I won’t always be there.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Having been in student ministry for over 10 years, my wife and I saw this trend a long time ago, and so we have been talking with our daughter for several years about what it means to be a woman in Christ. We have had conversations about what’s appropriate to wear, how boys will starting talking to her and looking at her, we even have talked about when it’s ok to kiss a boy. You may think that this is a little young to introduce these things, but it wasn’t because we initiated it. Most of our conversations started out of something that she had seen or heard her friends talk about.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">She knows that eventually boys will begin looking at body parts that right now really aren’t there. But she also knows NOW that she can’t wear certain things (i.e. pants w/ writing on the rear end, shirts that don’t cover her stomach, bikinis) and we have ingrained in her a sense that she’s worth more than what those clothes communicate. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here the guidelines we use when it comes to what she’s allowed to wear (these aren’t mine, but from a friend):</div>1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>If you have trouble getting into or out of it, it’s probably not modest<br />
2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>If you have to be careful sitting down or bending over, it’s probably not modest<br />
3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>If people look at any body part before your face, it’s probably not modest<br />
4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>If you can see your most private parts or the outline of them under the fabric, it’s probably not modest <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">You might be thinking that she’ll be looked at as different when she’s older, or we’ll see what happens when she hits high school. And you may be right, but I can tell you that as we implant God’s word in her heart and life she will be like the tree growing beside a stream, a tree that produces fruit in season and always has leaves (Psalm 1:3). She will know that her identity doesn’t come from a man or her ability to please him. And it doesn’t come from what kind of clothes she wears; it comes from her being a child of the King.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-61120593605202826992011-02-21T14:08:00.000-06:002011-02-21T14:08:45.425-06:00Bigger Problems<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">A recent article in the Kansas City Star reported the findings of a recent study on millennial's attitudes towards sex and marriage.<span> </span>The findings of the study are very concerning <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/16/2660443/report-teens-ambivalent-about.html">(<span style="color: red;">Kansas City Star article</span></a>) on two levels:<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>* The amount of students who are experimenting in sexual touching and sexual intercourse</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>* The amount of students who approve of non-traditional families and divorce</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I read through this article, I was shocked at the numbers.<span> </span>I was shocked at the attitudes of this generation towards sex, marriage, and divorce.<span> </span>But something gnawed at my insides as I read and re-read it.<span> </span>Then it struck- it's not the numbers that really bothered me, it was the fact 65% of the teens surveyed believed that truth was relative.<span> </span>That what may be true for me, doesn't make it true for someone else.<span> </span>It's this statistic that terrifies me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you've ever heard the term "postmodern", this is what it means: <span> </span>The only truth is that there is no truth.<span> </span>To see an overwhelming majority of an entire generation believe this makes my blood run cold.<span> </span>This is a slippery slope that we're on.<span> </span>Once a generation is broken loose from the moorings of truth, then anything is truly possible.<span> </span>When people come to the conclusion that my reality is based on my perceptions and feelings, then whatever they choose is right/wrong.<span> </span>And who am I to judge?<span> </span>Who are you?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a follower of Christ, my job is not to argue the merits of Jesus, but to live out His love.<span> </span>Very few see Christ (though there are some) through a debate of facts.<span> </span>Most come to see Him, because of the way His followers act.<span> </span>The New Testament book of Acts (Ch. 2) shows us that the early church won over thousands of converts because of the way they lived in community with one another.<span> </span>They put flesh and bones on the words of Christ and it transformed the planet.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We, The Church, must once again begin living in community with one another and with the larger community around us.<span> </span>We must put flesh and bones on the words of Christ in a way that shows Gen Y what the Truth really is (and WHO He is!).<span> </span>We must love one another.<span> </span>We must serve the poor, the orphaned, and the widowed.<span> </span>We must be reading His words, imparting His thoughts to our sons and daughters, and <span> </span>praying the Scriptures deep into their souls.<span> </span>There is no argument more compelling, more staggering, more final- than the cross of Christ and the life altered by it.</div><br />
BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-77297624604916304262011-02-10T11:36:00.000-06:002011-02-10T11:36:02.113-06:00What in the world?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:ApplyBreakingRules/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Recently I posted two articles from Relevant magazine on the effects of pornography in relationships.<span> </span>I then had several conversations with students dealing with sexual sin in their lives.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today, I retweeted an article on the over sexualization of our young daughters.<span> </span>What is going on around here?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve never been more convinced as a student pastor and father, that the only answer is Jesus Christ.<span> </span>The real problem, as I see it, is that the church is failing in communicating that.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In recent studies done by Barna Research, Pew Research, and LifeWay Research, millenials are far more disconnected from faith than any other previous generation.<span> </span>Millenials have lived in a much more complex and saturated culture than past generations and this has led to 1 in 4 millenials not associating with any particular faith.<span> </span>This is more than GenX at the same point (20% in the late 90’s) and twice the amount as Boomers (13% in the late 70’s).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is manifesting itself in a myriad of ways.<span> </span>The biggest of which, is that most upper classman high school students no longer attend a church service. <span> </span>For those that do make it through high school, anywhere between 70-90% (depending on who you read) drop out of church during their freshman year of college. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s time we stopped worrying about pizza parties, and started teaching our children God’s word.<span> </span>Not only must we do this, as parents- we HAVE to live it out in front of our kids.<span> </span>Parents/ mentors/ pastors must begin to put flesh on the words of Christ.<span> </span>We can talk all we want, but the moment we starting living it out- that’s where the impact comes from.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re a parent, I’m going to highly encourage you to get involved in a local church with a thriving youth ministry. <span> </span>Here are some questions that you need to be asking your student pastor:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">What can I do at home to follow up w/ what is being taught?</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What scriptures do I need to research so that I can discuss and answer any questions they (my child) may have?</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">What topics are going to be discussed or taught in the ministry and how can I help?</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just start here and see where God takes you!<span> </span>Parents that are involved with the spiritual development are the very thing that will reverse this trend.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings</div>Joe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-84238078290228151212011-02-03T10:46:00.003-06:002011-02-03T10:50:16.082-06:00Sixth grade nothingAs a student in middle school, I was bullied non-stop. Sixth grade was the worst for me. There was a group of eighth graders that would harass me to the point of physical violence. It felt hopeless. My other friends (the few I had) we too little to do anything about it. I didn't/wouldn't tell my parents and bullying wasn't the issue in schools that it is now.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtcvoXrUWbI" style="color: white;">VIDEO LINK</a></b></span><br />
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This issue is close to my heart. It's one that affects our students at the deepest levels. To be torn down to a point were you feel that you are worthless is a terrible place for a child to be. No matter what the "problem" is, we should be treating others with respect and honor. Both of these are values that are lost on today's culture. We tell our kids (by our actions) that they are animals without self control, so here's some condoms. We tell them they are worthless, that's why we have aborted millions of their peers. We tell them that they are a cosmic accident, so there's no real reason for anything. We surround and desensitize them to violence and we wonder why they turn on themselves and each other.<br />
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To be devoted to each other and to honor others above ourselves (Romans 12:10) is to show respect: Respect for our selves and for others. We must teach our kids that they have worth, not based on others' opinions, not based on where they live/ the clothes they wear/ the car in the driveway. Their worth comes from being a child of the King. It comes from Him.<br />
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If you are being bullied, have a student being bullied, or are doing the bullying- get help right away. Get in touch with your school administrators, parents, student pastors to find the help you need. Do NOT wait.<br />
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As I struggled with my bullying problem, it was this very thing that carried me through. My parents had taught/showed me my worth wasn't based in anything here, that it came from my Creator and doesn't change. It's something that my wife and I have instilled in our children. And we pray that they will instill these characteristics in theirs.<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4651723132225676237.post-43530945395593711792011-01-31T10:35:00.000-06:002011-01-31T10:35:08.806-06:00Monkey See Monkey Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON_ovBUTwi_FloA5Vn4YdRHtcWXqTh8giYjoM3oZwVv8zW0lt-ZUvUq6vhsAd82c3sChlPopdTNZxaFc2cMWj6_oHtFSjPTJeP6NonGsSHik4sXY3KRHBoUwdq3uBjTTZLi9Qfqiej54/s1600/Monkey+See+Monkey+Do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON_ovBUTwi_FloA5Vn4YdRHtcWXqTh8giYjoM3oZwVv8zW0lt-ZUvUq6vhsAd82c3sChlPopdTNZxaFc2cMWj6_oHtFSjPTJeP6NonGsSHik4sXY3KRHBoUwdq3uBjTTZLi9Qfqiej54/s200/Monkey+See+Monkey+Do.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>One of my traits that I'm not proud of is my temper. I've always had it. Most of the time I hide/control it very well...but every now and then- it explodes to the surface and when it does it's very ugly. I also have a very good sense of humor, so more often than not, my temper manifests itself through that humor.<br />
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Just the other day, I was driving w/ my daughter and my niece in the car when a young man, driving recklessly, communicated to me using sign language. I saw red! Adrenaline poured into my veins and my heart rate went through the roof. But I could see the girls playing and giggling in my rear view mirror. I had a decision to make: Do I prove my manliness and show that punk who he's messing with or do I just let it go? It was difficult to be honest. I wanted to reach out and slap that kid. In the end, I just blew him some kisses and clapped at him. The girls laughed, and I realized how lame I could have looked.<br />
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I can't believe that I'm the only one who deals with anger. And I know I'm not alone when it comes to dealing w/ anger and my kids. I do not want to pass that along or allow myself to get so angry with my children that it damages my relationship with them. Ephesians 4:26-27 says:<br />
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<div style="color: red;"><b>“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. </b> </div><br />
Here is a great article with some very practical ideas on dealing with anger. <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anger-management/MH00102"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;">ANGER</b></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"> </b></span> Use these ideas to show your kids how to deal with anger now, before it becomes a problem later in their life.<br />
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I stopped to think about what might have happened if I had allowed my anger to boil over at that kid. I shudder to think about what my daughter would have seen in me that day. Monkey see, monkey do parents.<br />
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BlessingsJoe Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01167080185696366174noreply@blogger.com2