This week I have been blogging about familiarity. We can become so familiar with our world that we stop noticing its beauty. Also, we can become so familiar with the work of God that we take his work for granted. As I was thinking about being very familiar with items, I realized there was an assumption I have about people who are very familiar with an area of life. I assume that a person who is very familiar with an area of life will have mastered it in their own world.

This idea came to me while sitting in a doctor’s office. My boys had to have their sports physical and last Saturday there was an open time at the clinic for all teens to come. They had stations set-up and kept us moving along until I reached a place to sit and wait for my boys to have their private screenings. While I was sitting there I began to notice the nurses. Now I know this is not polite to say, but several were obese. One I would classify as morbidly obese. In fact, I could only find one healthy looking nurse of the dozen that were working. That reminded me of a lady I knew in Iowa who was a life-long nurse who smoked. She eventually died of lung cancer, and I always thought that she should have known better. Those heavy-set ladies should have known the health problems that their weight was causing. They should have made changes and improved their lives because they see the negative side effects everyday in the people who come into the doctor’s office. I would even assume that in nursing school there is a section on obesity and its health related problems, and yet it didn’t stop them from becoming this way.

I hope this doesn’t sound judgmental. I am writing this as an overweight person myself. This scene just reminded me of my assumption that because someone is very familiar with information doesn’t mean it will all be reflected in their life.

Now for the Christian tie in – Just because someone is familiar with God, his word and even his work does not mean they have figured it all out in their life. There is an assumption in our world that if you are a Christian, especially a Christian leader, then your life will reflect all that you know. That is simply not true.

I, personally, have dozens of struggles in my life. I am not going to detail those here, but know that it is true. In fact, the other I told a man that every time I begin to conquer another area of my life for God that I immediately get filled with pride. Then I remember that pride is a sin and I realize I have another area to work on.

Please remember this, I am a minister of God’s grace because I am first a recipient of God’s grace. Just because I know about God doesn’t mean my life is perfect. Christian leaders need second chances just like everyone else.

I have been thinking that there is another lesson wrapped up in my thoughts from my previous post. My last post was about how we can become so familiar with our surroundings that we stop appreciating their beauty. I have to remind myself to stop and look and thank God for the wonders of this world.

Here is my spin-of thought. This same reality is true for all Christians and especially Christian leaders. You see, everyday I get to approach God in prayer, read God’s word for instruction and speak on behalf of God in teaching. I am immersed in the work of the Lord. As a sad result, I can begin to take God for granted. I can stop appreciating the grace that has been given to me. I can stop being amazed by God’s work in people’s lives. I can become blind or even calloused to God’s work in my world.

For example; last week a guy was describing to me a sermon he had heard on this amazing Bible story. He told me about how Elijah had once encountered the prophets of Baal. It was a a story I have read a hundred times and preached about another ten times. I found myself quickly loosing interest in this guy’s story. I had to keep reminding myself that God was doing something in this guy’s life through his word even if it felt boring to me.

It is very possible that each one of us could become insensitive to the work of God around us, not because we are evil, but because we are too familiar.

So today I am challenging myself to be amazed by something God is doing or has done. I want to stop and thank him for his work in my life and my world. Would you do the same?

I have now lived in Alaska for 5 summers and each summer I am have noticed something happening to me. The first summer I was in awe of the mountains, the glaciers and the ocean that are outside my widow everyday. I stopped to see every moose and watch every eagle. With each passing summer I have noticed myself stopping less and noticing less and feeling less of a sense of awe at my surroundings. The beauty of my area has grown very commonplace for me.

The flip side of this is seen every summer. I encounter people who have literally traveled from all over the world to visit this place. They come with wide-eyed wonder at everything. People are seen stopping and taking pictures everywhere. I often slow down to see what they are gawking at usually to find it is a common thing for me, like a moose with calves walking behind her. Every summer I have to remind myself that I am blessed to lived in a place that most people pay thousands of dollars to visit for one week.

All that is for me to say that I learn and relearn this same lesson every year – Appreciate your World.

God has blessed me tremendously to live in Alaska. I see things everyday that other people only dream about. I have opportunities to do things regularly that other people see as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Here is what I would bet on – no matter where you live – you are surrounded by wonderful and beautiful things and you just take them for granted. Everyday we need to stop and look around and be amazed at the wonders of this world and the beauty all around us.

For Example; Last night on the car ride home after football practice my boys were talking about how they missed seeing squirrels. We only have little bitty squirrels you rarely see up here and they miss big old red squirrels of Indiana and Iowa. I told them I miss seeing deer and raccoon and turkeys. You may think that is crazy, but those are rare sites for Alaskans just as moose, eagles and bears are to you.

So take time today, this summer, this year to enjoy and appreciate the world around you. You are truly blessed.

This will be my final lesson of this week. This is not all I have learned this summer, but these have been the themes that are continually recurring in my life

Summer Lesson #5 – There is no one like family

I know this is an obvious statement to most of you, but living in Alaska we are a long ways from family. Michelle’s mom had to fly about 9 hours to get here (not counting layovers and boarding). My parents drove up, because my dad refuses to fly, and it took them 6 days of driving. With this distance I only get to see my parents about every other year or so. This time it had been just over 16 months. It was great to see my parents and reconnect with them. It was far greater to see my kids reconnect with their “Pappy and Mammy.”

Last night I was driving with the boys and asked them the highlight of their summer so far. Now you need to know that we have done some cool things this summer like deep-sea fishing, catching salmon, four-wheeler riding and more. When I asked this question they responded that the favorite part of summer so far was time with their family.

No one cares for you like family. No one can annoy you like family. No one is closer than family. I have been reminded of the great love in my life through my family.

So this weekend, whether you live close or far away, make a call or make a visit and share in that wonderful connection that only a family has together. And then thank God for the blessing that your family has been in your life.

Continuing in my series –

Summer Lesson #4 – “There are a lot of great, well-intentioned people in the world”

It is easy to remember that one bad person who you had that one bad experience with. It is easy to see the bad in people everywhere you turn. But I have started seeing so much good in people lately. I have had people volunteer to take me fishing, I have had people help my family, I have had so many people do so many things for me and my family.

But this is not just about me. I have watched people do an act of service for another member of the church. I have seen grown men donate loads of time to teach kids a game they love. I have watched kids help one another with a difficult situation. About everywhere you look there is someone doing something good, kind and selfless. Too often these types of events get lost behind the daily headlines of pain, evil and selfishness.

So here is my simple challenge for myself and for you. Take the time today and notice those who are doing good things in our world. Make a list (physically or mentally) of all the ways people are giving of themselves to others and making this world a better place. And while you are at it, try and get on someone else’s list yourself.

I am continuing my blogs this week about the lessons I have learned or am learning this summer.

Summer Lesson #3 – “We constantly need to be thinking about our perspective in life”

I am not sure that statement is as clear as I might like, so here is what I mean. This past week I went fishing a couple of times. One time I went with my boys and we caught 9 halibut. We were 3 shy of a limit and most were not very big. Not a great day, or so I thought, until I talked to a friend of mine who went out all day and caught nothing. On another trip I caught two salmon, that is 4 shy of a limit. Not a great day, or so I thought, until in the parking lot I was talking with 3 guys who caught nothing. In each of those cases my original perspective was that I had failed in my overall goal, then after one conversation my perspective changed and I thought of myself as a huge success.

This simple truth can apply to the Christian life and to Church. I sometimes get down on myself because it takes me 18 months to get through the entire Bible. Then I have to change my perspective and remind myself that just a few years ago I was not getting through the entire Bible regularly at all. Sometimes in Church I feel like we are not growing very fast and I get discouraged. Then I need to remind myself that we have had two conversions this year and that is reason to celebrate.

Here is a simple challenge. Take whatever negative thoughts you are currently thinking and try looking at them from a different perspective. Try to flip that negative into a positive. Sometimes our perspective on life can be the difference between having joy and being heartbroken.

I am writing about all of the things I have noticed this summer.

Summer Lesson #2 – Do your job well, no matter what you do.

While my parents were here Michelle and I had the chance to take a day away by ourselves. We took the day and drove up to Kenai and Soldotna for a day of shopping and sightseeing. When we arrived in Kenai we decided to stop at the Pizza Hut because they had a buffet. The place only had a few other tables and most of it was self-serve, but there was one waitress. She was a larger lady who worked here way from table to table trying to be helpful. When she came to our table we were very pleasantly surprised. She was happy without being giddy and was helpful without being pushy. She cleared our plates, she refilled our drinks and she smiled the whole time.

Now, I do not usually tip a waitress at a buffet since I serve myself, but I left her a tip. In a summer where I have received lousy service, my wife has been insulted and my family has been shocked at the way they were treated at times this lady came as a wonderful surprise. I am sure she doesn’t receive much pay to do what she does, but she does it in a way that is a blessing to all.

I wonder how much better place the world would be if we all just did our jobs well and without complaining. She sure made my lunch much better and maybe your life could make someone else’s day better too.

This week I want to post a series of lessons that I am learning this summer.

Summer Lesson #1 – Life is vastly different for locals than for guests

I was recently in the Fred Meyer store in Soldotna. I sat for a few minutes waiting on my family and noticed all of the visitors to Alaska. They were pretty easy to spot. Most of them had on T-shirts or sweatshirts from known local places like the “Salty Dog” or from the “Time Bandit” or one of a couple dozen other places. Most of them were drinking large Starbucks drinks. They need the caffeine to stay awake 18 hours a day. They also had this wide-eyed wonder about everything. They were talking about Alaska’s high prices on everything. They were pointing out items we sell in our stores that they do not have down below like stacks and stacks of fish shipping boxes.

Locals, on the other hand, have a different look about them. Some of it is the clothes, like xtratuff boots instead of Cabela’s brand. Mostly it is the overall demeanor of the people. Locals are getting fish for the freezer to cut the local high cost of living. Locals are in the store to get things done and get out. Locals are trying to conduct life without the chaos of all the guests getting in their way. There is a determined look about them.

Anyway, all of this got me thinking about Church. In Church there is a vast difference between members and guests. Guests come each week and take it all in with wide-eyed wonder. Members do the work on the stage, in the sound booth and in the classroom. Guests biggest concerns are about themselves. Members are concerned about others. Guests may or may not be back next week. Members will be here week after week.

Here is the problem that I see happening in many Churches. Too many people want to live their lives like guests and not like members. They want the thrill of being on vacation every week without the responsibility of ever being a local. Churches need people willing to put roots down and live their lives in community with others, just like towns. Churches are just like communities in that they need people whose hands are calloused from hard work and not soft from an endless vacation from responsibility.

That has me wondering – In your Church, do you act more like a local or a guest?

It has been quite a summer here in Alaska. The weather has been unbelievable. Each day has been sunny and clear with little rain any day. That alone has made for a great summer, but add in that Michelle’s mom came for a visit and then my parents came for over two weeks, and it has been awesome.

In the process of all of the visiting and sightseeing I was able to get a little needed rest along with time with the family. Now I am back in the office and trying to resume life as normal. This is extremely hard with another beautiful day outside. Oh well, I will be outside tonight as football is in high gear.

I guess I’ll sleep in the winter.

My parents are currently here from Indiana. I will be taking most of this week off and back to blogging again next week. I will be preaching a sermon on Sunday called “Cat & Dog Theology.” Have a great week and I will have lots to write later.