Five Really Good Questions

In a lunch with Scott Himes long, long ago, he listed several questions we should be asking ourselves and others as we draw near to God. I wrote these down thinking then as I do now...do I have answers to these? Are they questions I want answers to...YES! How about you?

I get so distracted by life that sometimes I feel like there is not enough time to talk to God, let along answer all these questions. I spend so much time fighting fires that I never prepare, like real firemen do.

1. How is your walk with God? (regular, responsive, rewarding?)
2. What is the biggest challenge in your relationship with God?
3. What have you been studying in the Bible? What are you learning?
4. What are you reading?
5. What has God been saying to you and showing you lately?

Fireproof: Get ready to be blown away

A tale of a failed marriage built on a contract (mutual demands), restored to a marriage built on a covenant(mutual promise).

Some of the reviews were less than supportive...but they don't get it. If you get the message, it has the potential to blow you away. It's the story of journey, trust broken, sacrificial love, faith.

It's the way not just back to "successful" marriage, but a real faith. Anyone who thinks that's cheesy...well sorry, they just don't "get" the most important part of Life, and marriage.

It moved me to be a husband who loves from Christ's ocean of love, who gives without demanding, dies to self, and yet lives from the heart. It reminded me about the role of spiritual fathers, and the power of humility and true forgiveness. You will not be disappointed.

FireproofMyMarriage.com

LifeChange Blog Entry (Scott Himes)

Band of Brothers: Faith, Fellowship and Fullness in Christ

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Psalm 127:1

Saturday a few of the the guys in the men's group (The Band of Brothers) carpooled over to the east side of Indy to work on a Habitat for Humanity. I couldn't help but think about the weeks before where we talked about surrender as one of the supervisors insisted that we split up, and yet we were able to come back together and really help the guy out. They were really appreciative.

I think we each learned a little more about each other than we might just sitting around a table talking, and we definitely learned each others strengths and weaknesses. Tim and I talked about how much easier it it to work when your on a team that has "rhythm", that inner sense of not just WHAT to do, but WHEN and WHO should do it. We each have different strengths, and finding them is part of the fun.

We also realized that most of us are perfectionists (excerpt Tim, who is a professional!). I remembered back on the week when my boss and I talked about the Army's policy of 70/30. If you think you are 70% right, then go for it. (Bill laughed and said he hoped the military didn't have that policy when they dropped bombs). Seriously, we can quench the Spirit when we over-analyze, Garry and laughed about how much fun it was to cut the board quickly, with abandon.

We finished off with wings. Maybe my last visit to this loud restaurant, but I did enjoy the conversation. We reminisced what it was like to be 24 (Tim is 25 so it was easy for him!) We thought about the mistakes we had made, mostly about not trusting God like we should have. I think we are all far better off now, despite our little problems.

Actually, it had been a gravely serious week for several reasons, for many of the brothers, and it was just the medicine we needed to get things a little more back in perspective...it all belongs to God. We are His too.