Lessons From a Chicken...
Okay...so not a chicken with feathers and stuff. More like in someone who is lacking in courage.
This week at the Weds Men's AM group at Panera we started taking a look Gideon to see what we can learn from his life. He definitlely wasn't the bravest of men. When he is first mentioned in the Bible, he is found hiding, doing his farm work in the confines of a winepress. And he was not a man of great faith...at least at the beginning of the story.
Yet as we read about Gideon we see that he grew in his knowledge of God and grew to trust God as he stepped out in obedience to the things that God was telling him.
Did you catch that? Gideon learned to trust God by obeying God. And as a result some amazing things took place. Things that were beyond Gideon's wildest dreams. He went from being a coward hiding in a winepress to being a mighty warrior and leader of a nation as he learned to simply obey God and trust Him with the outcome.
Through it all he learned that God sees the big picture, that God knows the beginning from the end. God had a game plan for Gideon's life and He has a game plan for your life. Will you trust Him?
Are you "hiding"? Are you fearful to step out and do that which God has called you to do? The adventure of a lifetime begins with one step. Take a lesson from a "chicken" and take that first step of faith. You will be glad you did. And come join us at Panera, 6AM next Weds to learn more of what it can mean to take God at His Word!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
This Saturday at The Garage
Do you have a handle on your schedule or is your schedule handling you?
If we are honest for just a moment, most of us guys would have to admit that our schedules are as out of control as a car with no brakes speeding down a narrow mountain road. We are driven by the tyranny of the urgent.
If this description hits home for you, then make plans to join us this Saturday, 8AM for The Garage. Topic for the day will be "Getting a Grip on Your Schedule" and we will be looking at how we can restore balance to our lives.
For more info on The Garage, a group for men, contact me at dave@meadowonline.org
Do you have a handle on your schedule or is your schedule handling you?
If we are honest for just a moment, most of us guys would have to admit that our schedules are as out of control as a car with no brakes speeding down a narrow mountain road. We are driven by the tyranny of the urgent.
If this description hits home for you, then make plans to join us this Saturday, 8AM for The Garage. Topic for the day will be "Getting a Grip on Your Schedule" and we will be looking at how we can restore balance to our lives.
For more info on The Garage, a group for men, contact me at dave@meadowonline.org
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Numbers...ARRRRGGGGH!
Not the crime drama Numbers. I actually like that one! No, I am talking about line by line analysis of information we need as we refine our vision and strategy for multi-venue services. And there is a boatload of info to go over. And over. And over.
After the brain-drain today has been, I am looking forward to spending time with my Tuesday Community Group tonight and just relax hanging out with friends.
By the way, the Weds AM Men's Group is still meeting at 6AM at Panera and we are going to be tackling a series by Men of Integrity. If you happen to be up before breakfast, come and join us!
Not the crime drama Numbers. I actually like that one! No, I am talking about line by line analysis of information we need as we refine our vision and strategy for multi-venue services. And there is a boatload of info to go over. And over. And over.
After the brain-drain today has been, I am looking forward to spending time with my Tuesday Community Group tonight and just relax hanging out with friends.
By the way, the Weds AM Men's Group is still meeting at 6AM at Panera and we are going to be tackling a series by Men of Integrity. If you happen to be up before breakfast, come and join us!
Monday, January 15, 2007
To Those Who Wait...
We have all heard the old adage, "good things come to those who wait". This is certainly about to come true for a good friend of mine, Dave Koen.
I first met Dave about 16 years ago when he was a student at the Bethany College of Missions and he was on a practicum team that was serving at the church I was attending. We hit it off right away. And since that time Dave has been a tremendous influence in my life. His example of faithfulness and reliance upon the Bible, his commitment to prayer, his daily walking out the things that he believes without compromise, and his commitment to wait upon God's timing for the purposes that God has for him have served as a huge challenge and encouragement to me.
Dave is a guy that has been good at waiting. As a single man in the culture in which we live, he has committed himself to God's standard and has not given in to the cultural pressure to disregard God's standards and "go for the gusto". Dave has patiently waited for God's timing and provision for a life-mate.
Well...good things do come to those who wait. Dave is getting married this weekend to a wonderful woman and I could not be happier for him! I am looking forward to celebrating with the future Mr and Mrs Koen this weekend.
Way to go Dave!
We have all heard the old adage, "good things come to those who wait". This is certainly about to come true for a good friend of mine, Dave Koen.
I first met Dave about 16 years ago when he was a student at the Bethany College of Missions and he was on a practicum team that was serving at the church I was attending. We hit it off right away. And since that time Dave has been a tremendous influence in my life. His example of faithfulness and reliance upon the Bible, his commitment to prayer, his daily walking out the things that he believes without compromise, and his commitment to wait upon God's timing for the purposes that God has for him have served as a huge challenge and encouragement to me.
Dave is a guy that has been good at waiting. As a single man in the culture in which we live, he has committed himself to God's standard and has not given in to the cultural pressure to disregard God's standards and "go for the gusto". Dave has patiently waited for God's timing and provision for a life-mate.
Well...good things do come to those who wait. Dave is getting married this weekend to a wonderful woman and I could not be happier for him! I am looking forward to celebrating with the future Mr and Mrs Koen this weekend.
Way to go Dave!
Friday, January 12, 2007
A Couple Days in The Woods
This last week has been pretty awesome. Last week Friday I get a call from my buddy Chad who says he is heading out to another friend's property on Saturday to cut down some trees and wanted to know if I was interested in joining the fun. Well...given my passion for power tools, the sound of high revving two-cycle engines and flying sawdust, of course I said "Yes"!
So Chad, John (the friend with the property), Joe and myself spent the day on Saturday clearing some of the dead fall and cutting down a huge old oak (it was dead for quite some time). This old oak was definitely huge. John's saw has a 36" bar and it wasn't even close to going all the way through the trunk of this woodland behemoth. It felt great to just be out in the woods, hanging out with friends and accomplising a mission together. It's important to clear out the dead wood so that the young trees have enough light and space to be able to grow.
Then a couple of days later, I packed my bags and headed for the woods of western Wisconson to spend some time clearing dead fall of another kind. I spent Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning in a prayer cabin at Wilderness Fellowship to be with God in solitude to clear out what has been "dead" in my own life. No sound of chainsaws, no smell of two-cycle exhaust. Just me in a cabin in the woods with my Bible and couple of good books to spend quality time alone with God without distraction.
You see, we occasionally have to take a look at our lives and clear out the "dead fall". We need to seek to remove from our lives whatever is impeding our truly living out God's purpose.
I learned alot from those days in the woods. The most important thing was how much I really need God and how easy it is to allow distraction and the busyness of life drive a wedge between God and myself.
So...if you ever get the chance, spend some time in the woods, get alone with God, let Him clear the dead fall from your life so you can know Him better.
This last week has been pretty awesome. Last week Friday I get a call from my buddy Chad who says he is heading out to another friend's property on Saturday to cut down some trees and wanted to know if I was interested in joining the fun. Well...given my passion for power tools, the sound of high revving two-cycle engines and flying sawdust, of course I said "Yes"!
So Chad, John (the friend with the property), Joe and myself spent the day on Saturday clearing some of the dead fall and cutting down a huge old oak (it was dead for quite some time). This old oak was definitely huge. John's saw has a 36" bar and it wasn't even close to going all the way through the trunk of this woodland behemoth. It felt great to just be out in the woods, hanging out with friends and accomplising a mission together. It's important to clear out the dead wood so that the young trees have enough light and space to be able to grow.
Then a couple of days later, I packed my bags and headed for the woods of western Wisconson to spend some time clearing dead fall of another kind. I spent Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning in a prayer cabin at Wilderness Fellowship to be with God in solitude to clear out what has been "dead" in my own life. No sound of chainsaws, no smell of two-cycle exhaust. Just me in a cabin in the woods with my Bible and couple of good books to spend quality time alone with God without distraction.
You see, we occasionally have to take a look at our lives and clear out the "dead fall". We need to seek to remove from our lives whatever is impeding our truly living out God's purpose.
I learned alot from those days in the woods. The most important thing was how much I really need God and how easy it is to allow distraction and the busyness of life drive a wedge between God and myself.
So...if you ever get the chance, spend some time in the woods, get alone with God, let Him clear the dead fall from your life so you can know Him better.
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