God's Presence

Who can stand in Your presence?

Only one who is blameless and true

It melts the walls of our heart

Like wax from a candle

The riches of Your lovingkindness

To know Your favor oh Lord

To sit in Your seat of love

And rejoice in only a moment of anger

Your presence calls us

Your presence allows us

Your presence sustains us

Your presence makes a way

Leaders & Followers

"I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught"
Winston Churchill

I am getting excited. Why? Because it is getting close to the beginning of a new season. I have a 6 year old starting primary, a 4 year old going to 3rd maternelle, and a 2 year old who will join his big brothers in school, but not until next February.

The summer in Belgium is a very slow part of the year. If you are a minister who places a high value in momentum then Belgium would eat you alive. Seriously, everything from restaurants to churches will take a holiday break and go on vacation for a month or so. It certainly grinds my American-church-mentality gears. Nevertheless, I press on because flexibility is essential for ministry here as well.

As we enter into 4 years of being over here in Europe one of the things I have been realizing is the gap between passionate young people who are really wanting to grow in ministry and the reality of them being able to exercise that passion. Please be in prayer concerning these issues. The hardship of leaders releasing more and more to the next generation of leaders is somewhat alarming. Leaders face the challenge of trusting this upcoming passion. It is difficult to see a fruition of young potential leaders who are so easily given to temporary pleasure. It makes it incredibly difficult for leaders to give "control" and take a step back. Everyone is wanting the same thing but the waters become muddy when agendas are placed in the forefront. Dissension grows because the visions become blurry due to these agendas. If doors are shut too early potential leaders, troubled by obstacles, become defeated before they are even given a chance. They either will give up, or worse leave the calling all together, thus, confirming for established leadership that the passion is a divisive one or it is not capable of handling the burdens of spiritual matters.

Pray for leaders to trust that God's hand is on up-and-coming, passionate, young people.
Pray for leaders to believe that God's desire is to expand His influence and kingdom which means more pastors, evangelists, and churches will be needed.
Pray for leaders to trust God is not closing the door on them being used for his kingdom when they open the door for opportunity to a younger less skilled individual.
Pray for leaders to find a value in taking a risk, more than protecting their reputation, even when the idea is challenging to their very reputation.

Pray for potential leaders to recognize how to honor their leaders.
Pray for potential leaders to not give up when season after season the doors seem to stay shut on them.
Pray for potential leaders to boldly walk in when the door of opportunity proves to be open for them.
Pray for potential leaders to trust God is using godly men and women to give wisdom and maturity.
Pray for potential leaders to remain faithful and that they will continue to grow in their work ethic.

Pray for Belgium to change the reputation of being a graveyard for ministers.

2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad

Last night my wife had over a colleague from her work. He came over for dinner partly because we invited him but also because a guy staying with us for this month, Wian-David, is training to be a professional cyclist and Liz's colleague knows the biz.

When people come over for dinner my wife can't go half way. She must have top notch cooking and dessert every time. It really doesn't bother me, as I benefit from this wonderful spread of gourmet cuisine. All that to say, last night she made fajitas with home made salsa. It is difficult enough to narrow down a good Tex-Mex style of flavor in these here European parts (partly because there isn't any), but Liz seems to nail it EVERYTIME. 

This got me thinking...

Being a Texan I've tasted good salsa so many times and remember the greats. When I have traveled out of the great state of Texas, chips and salsa is more of an afterthought. They don't take the care that Texans do for some reason.

Because of this care and concern for good salsa, Liz has claimed her status as a Texan. Even though she was born in another state, and lived most of her life in Alaska, she has earned her right to Texan citizenship. 

There are 3 ways you can become a Texas citizen:

1. Be born in Texas (although I do think that this should be able to be revoked if upon further analysis you are found to suffer from "Esau-syndrome")

2. Marry a Texan (there should be further clarification of this, but for the sake of time, I won't go into detail here)

3. Make good salsa (it should be noted that good salsa is not, nor can it be, relative)

And there you go, that would be my list of criteria that would grant you status as a Texas citizen. As you can see my wife has accomplished 2 out of 3 but if we have learned anything from Meatloaf 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Who's Keeping Count

In Denmark our first European ministry trip

Just this morning Liz and I had a conversation about her personality. I asked her if there was any particular part of her personality that she thought would be more appealing. We talked about different personalities and things she feels more drawn to in style. This came about because we had a parent teacher introduction into the 3rd maternelle (for Titus next year at school). When I woke up she was already ready to go and looking really, REALLY GOOD. She's got a style going on that is really hot.

Today happens to be our 10 year anniversary and after I picked my kids up from school (Wednesdays are a half day) I took them to eat lunch at a special kid friendly establishment. During our meal I texted Liz about our plans and estimated time of arrival back home.

It went like this:
Me: Everything good? (I left Finn home for his nap while Liz was working from home)

Liz: I'm married to you for a whole decade. All is well. ;)

Me: That's sweet. Are you looking for a Facebook declaration?

Liz: No, are you?

Me: It means more to my cheerleader (one of the many personalities we discussed earlier) wife. (I was certainly being sarcastic)

Liz: Don't you mean your slightly edgy, nerdish, tattooed, cute, big boobed wife? As long as you tell ME, I don't need you to tell the 200+ friends, acquaintances & friends of friends on FB. It means more to me to hear the words, not to read them on a wall.

Now I think, for the most part, Liz and I do a good job communicating to everyone we know that we are in a loving, committed, and long-lasting relationship.  She certainly is not one who looks for special attention even on memorable anniversaries (birthday, mothers day, valentines, etc). However, I as a husband, could always do better.

Despite my shortcomings in honoring her publicly on the socially accepted sites, I want everyone to know how much I love her. One day, when I have a perfect French accent, I am going to take her to Grand Place in Brussels, and shout it out at the top of my lungs in French.

So Liz, you better be ready for attention one cool and romantic evening whilst strolling through our residential capital, needing to do absolutely nothing but get lost between the moon and pita street.

I love this woman who has done more for me than I have for her. But who's keeping count...certainly not her.

What To Do

I love being a parent to 3 boys. They are so much fun to be around, especially when they get-a-long with each other. Some of the most amusing moments in life, right now, are hearing them talk about cars, sing songs to their favorite movies, and comment on how Jesus is the best bike rider. It is the greatest.

I have somewhat of a hard time deciding which is better for me in the mornings. When they don't get enough sleep they wake up with a disdain for life. Everything I ask of them is the equivalency of giving them the task of solving Schrodingers Equation of quantum physics. The glasses are passed out as the whine flows. "Want any cheese with that whine?"

However, when they get there sleep they are wide awake and ready to build a house in the morning. They run circles around me and it is a chore to keep them sitting still. There is no whine but there is certainly more noises in general. You know those kid noises that are loud and "jungle-istic" when you are just barely waking up? I am not a loud kind of person at home in the mornings.

Either way someone will be sacrificing their own desires...may the most humble win.