Being on a supply list...

So I am once again on the Supply List for the school board after someone else got the job I had been holding for 5 months. Stinks yes I know. I keep applying to positions when they come up in the board, with Honda, with... you get the point. I am on supply for LIFE 100.3 as well so you may hear me more again as time goes by. We'll see. In the meantime this day to day uncertainty is a test of faith. You are literally living by the grace of God day by day. Literally trusting in Him to provide work day by day. It's humbling to be like this every day after you once had full time work, then see the position reduced to part time from the board level, then see it go to someone else. In times like this I search God out more, lean on Him more. What else can I do right? Some training yes, but still, it's all in His hands.

I put this here to encourage anyone in a similar situation, that God is our only hope in all circumstances. Am I stretched right now? You bet. God's working on me for sure. 

God bless.

Super Bowl and other sports and believers...

So tomorrow is the Super Bowl. I have gotten excited at times for the big game, I'll admit that. It's great with friends for sure. But here's a unique perspective on things like this from the Skit Guys...

Cool keep it in perspective right? It's okay to have fun. Maybe use it as an outreach as some churches do, or have it in your home. So the big question now is, who am I routing for tomorrow in the Super Bowl? Hard to say, I like the friendly wager Chris Evans...

 ...and Chris Pratt...

Chris Evans is a Patriots fan and Chris Pratt a Seahawks fan. They have wagered that if the Patiots lose, Chris Evans will go to Chris Pratt's charity of choice, here's the Tweet... Seahawks win you fly yourself to Seattle, visit @seattlechildren hospital as Captain America, waving the 12th man flag. to which Chris Evans responded on Twitter... I accept. And when the Patriots humiliate your seachickens, I expect Star-Lord to arrive at @chris_haven in a Brady jersey. That's pretty cool. So no matter who wins or loses everyone's a winner here! That's class.

So be creative with your Super Bowl party for the Lord! Just a thought... :)

God's Chisel

God's Chisel - amazing piece from the Skit Guys that I love. You'd have to be hard to not cry with this...

They've done a remastered version, but this first original version got me and I think it's worth sharing. Share this with someone who doubts who they are in Christ, it'll be sure to change them today! Thanks Skit Guys!

Winter BLAHS

Okay, I'm not a winter guy. I used to be kind of, when I had time to go do things like tobogganing, skiing, and so on. But when your winter consist of shoveling snow off the car and driveway and battling those winter roads - the fun kind of leaves, except for maybe the occasional doughnut in an empty parking lot!

For me, the winter is finding great indoor activities until it's warm enough to go outside, and using our hot tub!

Netflix, reading, computer, hanging out with friends and family, using my small electric fireplace with a built in heater is great too! So yes, this weekend when we hit the positive temps? I'll be rejoicing! I'm counting the days until we see spring again! 

In the meantime...

First week in after Christmas Holidays

So the first full week of 2015 is in the books after the Christmas Holidays. Those New Year's Resolutions? How are they going? Still hard at it or have they already been broken? What about me? Well, I want to lose 30 lbs, be more the spiritual man I need to be for our family including doing devotions, worship and prayer time on a consistent basis with them, and ensuring I do my own devotions every day without fail. To find full time work again and have it pay well and last. Not much right? So how's it going first week in for me? Well, lost a little weight, have done devotions with the family almost every night, my own every night, worship time? Well haven't done it yet this week, there's still tonight!

Would LOVE to hear how YOUR resolutions are going so far! Drop me an email at andrew@lifeonline.fm! 

This year will hopefully be an improvement over this last one for me, yes, even us pastors have hard times and need prayer - go figure! Happy New Year and God bless!

New Years Resolutions lists... a good thing for Christians?

Here we are in 2015! Happy New Year! This time of year people make those resolutions lists. Is it Biblical for Christians to do this? I would say a resounding YES! Take stock of the past year to see if you grew closer to God or not and then make plans - definitive and achievable ones - to be closer to God by this time next year. Now I will caution that yes we need to constantly take stock of where we are in Christ, but at the same time, don't get stuck in the past - be it a good or bad one. Lots of us can get stuck there from either an abusive past or one where we made lots of mistakes. The trap there from the enemy is that BECAUSE of our past, God can't use us which is a lie! Look at this list...

So looking at this list we're in good company when it comes to past failures. Now what it you don't have a bad past or an abusive one? What if your past is a great one? What if you've done missions trips and served faithfully at your church for years? The trap here is we can get lost in the moments of the past - those high notes where we had a great experience at a camp or crusade or project and we cannot move past it. We become ineffective because we think we can never attain that kind of moment again. 

Really? God just wants us to be available. Look at the example of 1 Samuel 3:4 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” and then verse 10, 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

The example is that we need to be ready for when God calls us to do something and not make excuses like Moses or lie we all do at times, but be ready to serve in whatever capacity he has for us. The question is are we ready? I look at myself as much as anyone else when I ask this. I hope we can all say, "Yes."

Christmas Greeting!

Today (Dec 20) leaves only 5 days until Christmas Day!

I love this time of year. The lights, the music, the gifts too I will admit. But the best reason of all is that it reminds us that God broke through the spiritual realm to our physical realm and became a human being in Jesus. Emmanuel - God with us. So cool! 

If you haven't watched it yet, I would recommend watching "The Nativity Story" and that will help set the tone for Christmas. This BLOG won't be long today, but I just wanted to take time and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas filled with Jesus and a bright and prosperous New Year!

As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, everyone!"