After a recent conversation with someone I had this thought,

“There is a flaw in my theology if God answers all my prayers the way I want.”

Monday was my father’s birthday and next Monday is my Mother’s birthday too. They are both 79 years old and still very much a part of my life. While traveling I was thinking about them and all the influences that have shaped my life. There are books you read, sermons you hear, and people you encounter that leave and indelible mark on your life. So – I started to list some of the biggest influences in my life of faith.

People
– My Parents, Fred and Janet Harris
– My youth sponsor, Dan Booth
– Sunday School Teacher, Virginia Vannice
– Church elder, Barry Bowyer

Professors
– Mark Scott
– JK Jones
– Mark Moore
– George Faull
– Robert Lowery (Whom God has now called home)

Preachers
– Dr. Fred Craddock
– Will Willimon
– Andy Stanley
– The above mentioned professors

There are also people whose lives I have learned from as a bad example, but I will not mention those here in order to protect the guilty.

Our lives are a product of all the people and voices we come in contact with. I thank God for sending people into my life to mold and shape me. I thank Him for guiding me to connect to others from a distance.

Occasionally I like to stop and think about all my influences. In some cases, I contact them and thank them for their life and ministry. In every case I thank God for the privileged of learning from these people. I suggest you do the same.

Monday night and Tuesday I spent traveling back to my home in Alaska. I had to take a ride in a car, travel on two planes and I had a 12 hour layover in Chicago. As a result I slept in a chair, on the hard floor and in an airplane seat. I ate some lousy packaged food and listened to my iPod continually. I finally arrived in Alaska yesterday and then drove 4 more hours from Anchorage to Homer. I was finally back in my house with my family at about 8:30 pm last night. Home sweet home!

I know that part of the joy in life is the journey we take. Apparently whoever said that, did not live in Alaska 🙂

Have you had any fun or interesting journeys? I would love to hear your stories. Comments are open.

He is my friend. He is my mentor. He is my hunting buddy. He is the fishing master. He is also my father.
I was blessed to spend the week with him.

Happy Birthday Pop. I love you!

I am spending the week out of the office with my family. Down time is a necessary part of life. Take some yourself.

I will begin writing again next week – After May 5. Until then, Lord Bless

Next week I am flying down to spend a week with my parents in Indiana. They have lived in the same house all of my life. I haven’t been to their house in over 2 years and I have not seen them in almost a year. Even though I am now 42 years old I am still excited about going home.

Coincidentally this Sunday I am preaching on Jesus return. Last week’s sermon and this weeks both focus on the hope of eternity that we will see after death or when Jesus returns – whichever comes first. So today I am reflecting on this journey to my hometown but also to my eternal home.

There are several reasons I am excited about going to either of my homes – the one in Indiana or the one beyond the blue.

1. I am excited to see what my parents have done with the place. They are always making little improvements and buying new things. I love to see what home looks like.

2. I am excited to see my family. I have an older brother and sister that I have not seen in over 2 years. It will be nice to have a family reunion with loved ones.

3. I am excited because it will be a break from my work. I am spending the week just enjoying life. No pressure, no stress, and no clock to punch.

4. I am excited to “feel” like I am home. I have now lived in 4 states and numerous houses. In some ways they have felt like home and in other ways they have not. My father’s house satisfies something in my soul that no place else can.

There are other reasons I love going home, but these times remind me of the journey I am making in life to my eternal home. I am so excited to see home both now and forever.

This has been a crazy busy week. This morning I am packing and preparing for a teen program called “Feed the Kids.” Several local Churches take turns providing a meal for High School students once a week through the school year. We took a day in the fall and now a day in the spring. It is a great experience but it takes a lot of work. While I was running around this morning I have received a couple emails and a phone call that I will need to handle later.

This is what I have learned about myself in 20 plus years of ministry. I am not very pastoral before any big event, including Sundays. Let me be 100% honest – I do not handle people well before Church.

It happens almost every week. Someone comes in before Church and they have had a rough week and they want to talk. Or maybe they have even had a great week and they want to share. I am sad and I am happy for them … but I am a terrible pastor at that time. I listen halfheartedly. I give awful advice.

The reason is obvious, I am focused on what I have to say, what is going on at the sound booth, and how everything is flowing. I am distracted by the immediately event.

The flip side to this. I am a much better pastor after an event. Most weeks I stay at the Church for an hour to an hour and a half after the program is over. I talk, listen and share with great joy. Personally, I feel like I can be a pastor because the event it over and my mind is clear (usually).

I do not know if this is true for every pastor, but I know it is true for me. People seem to get frustrated with me because they have had something big happen through the week so they show up early to talk to me about it. Then I don’t have the time, so they leave right after worship when I do have the time. I am not sure if this happens to every pastor, but my guess is that it does.

So my advice for any Church member today is to remember that pastoral timing is everything. If you choose the right time to open up, I bet your pastor will handle it well. Don’t know what that time is? Then ask him, I bet he knows. Honestly, we all want to help each other … when the time is right.

Recently I have had two experiences with movies that have me thinking about context.

First – I recommended a movie that I really like to a couple. They watched it and did not enjoy it. I knew he would not be crazy about it, but she surprised me. As she explained her dislike of the movie I realized it had more to do with her training and occupational background than the story line.

Second – A movie was recommended to my wife and I. Last night we watched it. It was okay in my eyes. Then I thought about the guy who recommended it. It touched on a part of his life journey that I did not have in common with him or the movie.

This experience has me thinking about what I enjoy in life. Maybe the movies and books that I enjoy say far more about me than I would like to admit. I am attracted to stories that touch my life experience.

So I was thinking last night:

1. What do your entertainment choices say about you?

2. What could I learn about other people from the entertainment they choose?

Just some food for thought.

Jon Acuff over at Stuff Christians Like wrote a great article about second chances entitled “The Comma of Grace.”
Check it out HERE

Another blog posted this great link to a story of a 70 year marriage.

Read the whole story HERE