Tag: christianity

“A new way to read”

Posted on by Fireproof

Put yourself into the story, that was the message years ago that change my life and how I learned to read Scripture.  You see up until that point I would fumble my way through the Bible, understanding bits and pieces here and there.  It was a struggle if I am being open about it.  Here I was a student at Liberty University, going for ministry yet not truly understanding how a book written so long ago could pertain to me.  I would start at the beginning and do my best, making commitment after commitment to read through it in a year only to make it a few months.  (Let’s be honest, how many of you have quit when you get to about Leviticus.)  As a new believer of only a few years I kept finding myself discouraged crying out to God, “You have called me to ministry, yet I can’t even understand your word, how am I supposed to teach it?”  Anyone else ever feel that way?  Then one day in one of our youth classes one of our professors started sharing about the best way to teach youth is to encourage them to put themself into the scene.    If the story from Scripture is talking about Jesus in the mountains, allow yourself to go to the mountains, look at your surroundings, dream of the snowcaps, the trees, the smells.  If the passage is about being by the lakeside, let yourself mind wander to taking a kayak out on the lake engaging all your senses.  Doc Vandegriff, our youth ministry professor, may have meant this lesson to be about how we teach others but it was a game changer for me.  I started to get a new passion for reading the Gospels once again, placing myself into the stories and then from there learning to take on the roles of the characters described in the story. 

Now that we have kids, reading Scripture in this way puts a whole new adventure to this idea.  Especially as we were working through the Easter story with our kids, I really tried to focus on giving our kids roles, letting them see all their personalities shine through.  Let me give you a glimpse into that to hopefully encourage you to do the same thing.  

So I started with Eli our 9 year old.  He is definitely a compassionate child, with a heart of empathy.  In school he got the “rescuer” award as the one always looking out for others.  Going through the disciples, the one I equated him best to was John, the one whom Jesus loved.  The one leaning on Jesus side during the last supper.  Originally one of the “Sons of thunder,” makes me think of someone who is calm until pressed, then stands up to protect when needed to.

Next was Silas, he was pretty easy to figure out.  If there is a word the kid lives by it is, “why.”  Can somebody say doubting Thomas?  It really has given me a new perspective on Thomas though.  We give him this description because of saying he wouldn’t believe himself without proof.  That is how I see SIlas, questioning everything, deeper thinking.  Whether it is the questions at night of “How old is God?” Then without missing a breath, “do I wear shoes in heaven?”  His questions are nonstop, that is just part of who he is.  Maybe that is what Thomas truly was like.  

Third we have Evans, one of our 4 year old twins girls.  She is without a doubt, no brainer like Peter.  I can imagine her on the boat as the storms are raging, Jesus walking on the water calling out, “Lord if it is you, I want to come on the water with you.”  Who thinks that way, she does.  If there is a risk to be taken, she is in.  And He simply responds, “Come on.”  The rest of us may be sitting in the boat looking at the risk and the circumstances going no way.  Before we know it, I can picture her in my mind, diving in without a fear in the world.  It is how she lives.  She Is our snowboarding, go cart drifting, zip lining wild child.  Getting messy and bloody doesn’t scare her at all.  (We are going to have our hands full)

Finally is Elliston.  Totally opposite of her sister, she was a tricky one to figure out.  After some reading though, I came up with the character of Mary, just sitting at Jesus feet.  Taking in every word that Jesus spoke.  When we are reading Elli wants to be right in my lap, repeating every word.  If she is awake she is our clinger, always wanting to be right with me or Lindsey, holding on to one of us, never out of sight.  Think about Mary.  Almost every story you read in the Gospels, Mary is close by.  

This may have been a bit of a different column this month but it is just a glimpse into our family.  Hopefully it brought a smile to your face or made you laugh a bit, but the main goal with it is to encourage you to read Scripture differently.  Maybe it is something new for you to try, to engulf yourself, allowing your senses to run wild.  Hopefully it will make the Bible personal to you understanding it isn’t Just a book written years ago.  It is the word of God.  

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active.”  

Do you read it that way?

“Time with daddy”

Posted on by Fireproof

“What is it?” 3 simple words that have now changed my life in ways many will never understand. You see I just spent the last 3 days at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virgina with my buddy, my 9 year old Eli. He was invited to take part in a CrossTrailOutfitters (CTO) Snowboard camp. Going into the time I wasn’t really sure what to expect, I just knew I was looking forward to some one on one time with my lil man. (In a home with 4 kids, the one on one moments are rare, but so valuable for all of them.) He was the youngest kid there, but he took it like a champ getting to play the role of the younger brother for once.

With CTO they keep their retreats to 4-5 kids at a clip so that the deeper personal relationships can be built. Honestly going into it from an American Church mindset I kept thinking why not the more the merrier, why aren’t we opening it up to large groups. After being there I totally understand why as Eli now has made friends for life. The really impactful time with all these kids happens in what is known as the fireside chats. A question for the day to ponder throughout and come back to discuss at night. The question for the camp was simply 3 words, “What is it?’ I was kinda dumbfounded by how simple it was, but as the time went on, the question kept getting deeper and deeper in my mind. “What is it that brings me joy? Peace? Hope? Life? Fulfillment? What is it that get me up in the morning? Gets me agitated? What is it?”

So as we would sit around and discuss this question the answers would be all over the place with kids ranging from 16 to 9 years old. The final morning though as we were having our final chat they got to Eli and said, “Hey man, what is it?” Very boldy and proud he sad, “Time with Daddy.” I think the dust kicked up quite a bit in that moment, but at the same time and scream and shout, “Buddy that’s how I feel to.” Above the snowboarding, the mountains, the time with others, it was about our time together.

Now driving home that day I had 4 hours to think more upon this simple answer. I started wondering if God were to ask us the same question, would we have that answer. “Time with you Lord, time with Daddy.” You see I believe God is saying the same thing to us, just desiring our time. In a culture where we have made it about events, big services and let’s be blunt, busyness, how much is God craving our time? I know in life it happens and we take time together with others for granted, but I hope and pray my lil man will always have that memory of our time together and those 3 simple words.

Kinda makes you think of Mary and Martha right, Mary just sitting at Jesus feet, desiring His time. Is that us or are we so consumed with other things.

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

“LET THEM GO”

Posted on by Fireproof

Let them go.

This is the year where our twins are getting way more independent.  I know they are only 4 but it seems like they are teenagers already.  Forming their own personalities, and lets just say we are learning that we are going to be in for a crazy time, especially with Evans.  She is our Spiderman loving, wild child.  Our risk taker, push you to your limits child.  This includes sled riding.  Up until this year both girls either wanted us on the sled with them or were scared to do the “Big Hill.”  Not anymore.  Evans now is at the spot where she will yell at you, “I go by myself.”  That has been a challenge for me.  I can’t honestly tell you why, besides that these are my lil girls, and maybe I am just not ready for it yet.  (The boys on the other hand, go for it, the earlier they could get on a snowboard the better.)   With this reality I know it means that she will take some falls, she will get a bloody lip or two and tears will be shed.  I have also had to come to the grips that as she gets older Lindsey and I will have to entrust her to try things on her own.  We can hold the tube, we can point her in the right direction, but eventually we have to let her go.  So as I shout to her nervously, “You got this baby girl” I have to start believing it myself.  

The first few times watching her fly down the hill right towards the jump I was nervous.  Grabbing my board to be on the ready to chase down after her, I would wait anxiously at the top watching her fly though the air waiting to hear if she started crying.  Out of amazement though all I would hear would be wild laughter and smiling, “I DID IT, I DID IT.”  Now she is hooked, asking everyday, “Big Hill?  Big Hill?”  

Do I still get nervous, without a doubt.  Has she taken some falls, oh yeah, with tears to follow.  Follow by, “I go again.”  

I don’t know why this is hitting me so hard lately but is this how Jesus felt when sending out the disciples for the first time.  Taking that step from watching over them, teaching them, showing them how to do ministry.  To now entrusting them to do it on their own.  Would they fail at times, would they always do it the way he taught them?  Would he trust them?  

The Bible doesn’t give us a time frame for how long the disciples were with Him before sending them out, but we know it was under three years, most likely within a year of being with Him.  I can only imagine the thoughts going through His mind, are they ready?  “Well, maybe Peter is but Matthew how about a little more training.  John, you are good but Judas, yeah your personality doesn’t really line up.  We don’t get any of that, it just says He sent them out in groups of 2. 

In Mark 6: 7 it says, “He called the disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them power to cast out spirits.”  In Luke 10 we read of Him sending 72 more.  Entrusting them with the message.  Were they all ready?  Did they have all the proper training?  This information we do not know.  What we do know is that He empowered them and He entrusted them.  He is still entrusting us and empowering us to this day to carry His message. 

Just as we had to get to a spot in life of emtrusting Evans with that inner tube to go by herself.  Now the beauty in all of this is hearing her talk about it when she gets home, the joy in her voice telling Lindsey all about how far she flew through he air.  The testimony of what she just accomplished.  

This again is true of the disciples, in Luke 10: 17 it tells us how the disciples joyfully returned excited to share all they had seen God do.  So as I wrap this up today do you realize that God is still entrusting and empowering you with His message?  Do yo still get excited to share all that you are seeing God do in your life?  He is alive and at work all around you, will you be the one too say God I am ready, send me.   

That’s not fair

Posted on by Fireproof

That’s not fair.

A little over a week ago now, our boys had off from school on Thursday and Friday for parent teacher conferences.  Needless to say, even though they were off Silas still managed to be wide awake at 6 am.  Here we are still sold asleep with our alarms not going off for at least another half hour, only to find him staring over our bed, waiting for us to move.  Startled Lindsey rolls over with a small shriek telling him to go back to bed.  Instead he just keep standing there, then quietly asks if he can put a show on.  Then it got interesting, as my wife made a comment to the affect of, “Silas maybe you should go to work for me and I will stay home now that you are up already.”  Without missing a beat he looks around and then answered, “Mommy sometimes life isn’t fair.  You just have to do what you don’t always want to.”  Hearing all this I couldn’t help laugh but was also waiting for the thud to hit the floor if she threw him across the room.  Eventually we did get up, both of us head to work, as the kids got to stay home and hang out with their grandparents.  

Throughout the day that phrase “it’s not fair” kept running through my mind.  How many times have we all said that.  In a home with 4 kids we hear it all the time.  How many times as adults do we stay it though also.  Maybe when someone gets that promotion or has the nice house.  When someone gets the new car or what seems like the dream life.  That’s not fair.  Then we take it one step further and start compiling to God about it.  God why did you answer their prayer and not mine.  Why did you heal them and not me?  God why did you bless them with kids and not us… You get my point.  “It’s Not Fair,”  as we gripe and complain.  

Then of course my mind starts thinking about it in a biblical perspective.  The older son in the prodigal son story.   He has watched his younger brother pretty much betray the family, break his father’s heart, squander everything, and just up and leave.  Yet when he decided after years to come back home, this same heartbroken father is going to celebrate and throw him a party. Can you hear it with me now, the pity party of him chanting, “It’s not fair.”  

Against his son’s desire I can imagine the father sitting down with him, let’s call him Johnny for our story,  at that moment and saying let’s talk.  “Johnny, you have been with me the whole time.  Did you ever mess up?”  Reluctantly, Johnny tries to play it off, looking all over the room except at the father and saying, “Yes.”  Can you imagine the tension in the room at that moment, oh to be a fly on the wall.  “Johnny, have we shown you grace and love the whole time your brother was gone?”  Again in muttering… “Yes.”  The conversation then continues on for about 10 more minutes of questions back and forth, until the Father finally explains that grace looks different for every person.  But at the heart of grace is the Father’s love.  

To explain it one step further, I tried to put myself into the story as the older son, complaining to God saying it’s not fair.  At that point he led me out to a fire pit to have a talk.  (I don’t know why, but in my life it seems the most honest conversations happen around a fire). Then God started to speak as the Father, “Was it fair that my perfect child died on a cross for you?  Is that fair? Is it fair, that you deserve death in your sins, yet I am giving you the free gift of eternal life?”  Again the questioning goes on for a while only to make me realize that I am so grateful that grace isn’t fair or comprehendible, but it is amazing.  That’s what makes it grace.   It goes beyond reason the God himself desires a relationship with me, that he would sacrifice His son.  

So this Thanksgiving think about grace, all that God has done for you.  If you catch yourself griping or complaining about something not being fair, think of what Jesus did for you and let that transform your heart to a heart of gratitude.  

“JESUS, I BELIEVE IN YOU.”

Posted on by Fireproof

As I have shared previously, our family hot tub has turned into my prayer closet. Those moments of sitting out there at night once the kids have gone to sleep, have become invaluable. Even if it is just a couple minutes of silence from our world of chaos and noise. Recently that has changed a little bit though. With the temperatures changing and it getting colder out, all our kids have taken to it as their swimming pool. Now it seems a few nights a week, one of the girls will say as clear as can be, “hot tub, hot tub.” So who can turn down that family time right?

At first I was honestly frustrated, arguing with God, “but that is my time.” (Talk about being selfish). Honestly it turns into a comedy hour. Seriously, I encourage you now to picture yourself in this scene. All of us jammed into a 4 person inflatable hot tub, with not much room to spare. Eli trying to swim laps under everyone else’s legs, Silas acting like he is falling off the side to see how big of splash he can make. The twins learning to get their head under the water or to hold on the side while kicking their feet. Let’s just say a lot of laughter and joy takes places in these precious few moments.

Anyway, I share all that because last week I was explaining to them about it being my prayer closet; my moments to just sit and talk to Jesus. Silas then asked me if he could talk to Jesus like that. “Absolutely bud. What would you want to say to him?” His answer truly caught me off guard. “Dad, I think I would just say, Jesus I believe in you.” I really didn’t know how to respond. “Is that all you’d say or ask?” His eyes started looking around and you could tell his mind was searching, then simply, “yep, that’s all I’d say, I believe in you.”

So simple, yet so profound. What if our faith as adults was just that simple. Instead of overthinking or trying to explain everything. Instead of thinking we need magic words or long drawn out prayers. Just a simple, “Jesus, I believe in you.”

Moments like that make me truly grateful for little kids and their simple minds. I am learning to embrace the everyday conversations where God continues to teach me through my kids. Faith through the eyes of a child. Maybe that is what God will teach me more of in 2024, to have faith like a child, what about you?

“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4 NLT