Running Towards Him

I've recently split my personal blog from our youth group blog, if you're looking for parent insight visit sbcyouthparents.blogspot.com.  I was training to run the Babcock Gristmill Grinder 13.1 mile trail race (wow, that was hard, I can't wait til next year to do it again!) when all these thoughts rushed into my head and I had no place to put them.  I decided that running and doing triathlons has become a steady part of my life, meaning large chunks of time alone running, riding, or swimming, which means me, God, and my thoughts get lots of time together.  I find that there are so many parallels between racing and living the Christian life that I could put my thoughts on training, racing, faith, and life as a father and husband in one place.  So here goes my journey into blogging, chasing the finish line of life toward eternity with God as I make every step here on earth count.

A few weeks ago I finished my second triathlon, the Stonewall Jackson Triathlon, for the second year.  I had to repeat because my first experience was miserable.  I have ridden bikes most of my life and thought that would be the easiest leg.  Needless to say as Carmen, my wife, was on bed rest and making multiple doctors visits each week preparing for our second child(more on that from my awesome blogging wife), I pushed the bulk of training aside.  I began cramping with 8 miles left on the bike leg and waddled like a duck through the 4 mile run.  There were people watching from their cabins as this crazy guy in spandex beat his legs mercilessly trying to get the cramps to subside.  I finished, but it hurt, and I was not happy.

Well this year I wanted vengeance on a triathlon, so I trained using Chris Carmichael's "Time Crunched Triathlete" training plan.
 
It's amazing how training specifically for a race, and putting in the effort before the starting line can change an entire experience.  I discovered pickle juice helps alleviate cramping and brick workouts help you get used to the feel of transitioning between disciplines.  I finished 10 minutes faster than last year, 2:30:55, and much happier with my performance.

I love a challenge and look forward to trying new styles of racing in upcoming years.  My motto since I was a teenager has been "that which does not kill you makes you stronger" in Romans 5 Paul says "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because Gods' love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,who has been given to us." All of the struggles, hard times, and pain is not a waste, but makes us stronger, whether it be physically or spiritually, God doesn't waste opportunities to train us for our future with him.
I run and hurt in training, I drink pickle juice (I HATE PICKLES!!!!), and endure the work and pain, because there is something great about crossing the finish line.  In the same way I live my life, enduring the good, the bad, the easy, and the painful looking forward to my reward, the hope of eternity with God.  But for now, I'll just keep running towards Him.

Heartache

Next week will mark 4 years since my trip to Nigeria.  What began as a trip to study theology and experience another culture became an illustration of what so many people on the African continent deal with regularly.  Our trip to study the persecuted Church turned upside down when a Muslim attack on a Christian seminary student moved the city of Jos into an uproar.  Many of my first hand observations are recorded in posts from 2010, but the heartache of that experience hasn't gone away. 

This morning we jumped back into our normal weekday routine.  My alarm went off at 5am, I sat and drank a cup of coffee while reading Ezekiel (I don't always read Ezekiel, just happens to be where I am in my journey through scripture right now), then at 6am I headed down for a treadmill run as part of training for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon next month, then after a quick shower I refill my coffee and watch the Today Show while getting Nina ready and eating breakfast.  Except this morning a story hit me and stopped me dead in my tracks.  Ann Curry reports that in the Central African Republic "Christians and Muslims are targeting each other, their fury fueled by old tribal rivalries and politics."

This report transported me back to the morning we fled Jos to take refuge at a missionary retreat center in nearby Miango.  The reality that my faith could put me in the middle of a conflict I did nothing to start weighed heavy on me.  In the same way, today, there are people being killed and children being orphaned in the Central African Republic because of long standing disputes over tribal differences and political disputes which in many cases are much older than those fighting.  I know little and understand little about the cultural background and politics of this situation, but I do know one thing: my heart is breaking.  I cannot imagine a child watching their family being killed before their eyes.  I cannot imagine having to flee from my home because my faith places my family in danger.  I cannot imagine the fear day after day.

Four years ago I got a taste of this fear, I experienced a glimpse of flight, and heard reports of violence, but I came home.  I came home to a wife, a safe home, and a comfortable life.  God has not let that heartache and the wrestling in my soul die.  I remember regularly the people I met, the faces I saw, and the missionaries who have chosen to serve God in a turbulent location.  I am reminded in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I don't know what to do next but my prayer is that "Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows.  You find families for those who are lonely.  You set prisoners free and let them prosper."  Psalm 68:5-6. 

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."  Hebrews 13:19-21

This month our focus is on valuing our teens in order to teach them how to take pride in who they are and what they can accomplish. Your teenager lives in a “today” world and doesn’t much think about the “tomorrow” world unless you are talking about senior prom or college. And those are just vague ideas that have rainbows and lollipops dancing all around them!

Our teens need to learn that so many of the decisions, efforts, and choices that they are making right now will directly affect their future. But if they don’t value who they are or take pride in what they do right now, how can we expect them to understand the importance of some far off distant future?

Please take a moment to watch this second video on how we can help our teens value themselves to the point of caring!

Does it seem like your teenager just doesn’t care about their grades or their attitude or even your opinion?

How can you help your teenager value themselves?

One way you can do that is to take some time to remind them where our ultimate value comes from.

As believers, our identity comes from who we are in Christ. I want to share with you a reading we use in our Manhood/Womanhood Rite of Passage for 12th graders. It was written by Dr. Ed Laymance and it is full of biblical truth that reminds us as believers we are a “Child of the King”

Because of who Jesus Christ is, and
because He is my Savior and my Lord:
I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. I am chosen, accepted,
and included – a citizen of heaven and a member of God’s household.
I am loved by God unconditionally and without reservation.
I belong to Him, having been bought by Him with the
precious blood of Jesus. I have eternal life and will be
saved from all of God’s wrath to come – guaranteed!
I am a Christian. I am not just different in what I do.
My identity has changed. Who I am has changed. Everything has
become brand new.
I am a dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit.
I have access to Him anytime, anywhere, for any reason.
I am God’s creation – His workmanship. I was created by Him
and for Him, so who I am and what I do matters.
I am spiritually alive. I have been set free from the fear of death
and have been given life to live and enjoy to the full.
I am forgiven – completely, totally, and absolutely.
I have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and
brought into the Kingdom of light – the Kingdom of the Son.
I have been set free from the penalty of sin and the power of sin.
I am an enemy of Satan and at war with spiritual forces of evil, but
greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.
If God is for me, it doesn’t matter who or what stands against me,
because nothing and no one can separate me from the love of Christ –
not hurt, pain, loss, problem, or brokenness;
not persecution, trouble, difficulty, or danger;
not abandonment, abuse, addictions, or appetites;
not desires, food, sexuality, or relationships;
not life or death, angels or demons;
not my past, the present, or the future;
no power, no person, no place, not anything in all creation;
not even Satan himself shall prevail.
I am in the hands of Jesus, in the hands of God, and nothing and
no one can snatch me out of God’s hands.
I will fear no evil because God is with me, and
He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me.
God’s presence is with me everywhere I go –
to the heights of heaven,
through the valley of the shadow,
to the ends of the earth – forever and always.
I am a child of the King and choose this day to live as one

Harnessing your spiritual influence

What is a baked potato without a steak? French fries without a juicy hamburger? Salad dressing without a salad (for those healthy eaters)? It is incomplete and somehow lacking. The same goes for the spiritual teaching in our teenager’s life if we as parents don’t become actively involved. The youth ministry was never intended to be the sole source of spiritual training.

Ask yourself this question. Who do I depend on to teach my teenager the precepts of God? This question is often easy to answer but very hard to admit. You don’t need a degree in theology to have confidence in teaching your teenager about who God is and what you believe. You just need His confidence. It’s called God-confidence.

I encourage you to watch this month’s video regarding your role vs. the role of your youth ministry in the spiritual education of your teen. It will give you a good idea on how to become involved: http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/62786302/51734c2974

I am excited as this new school year starts to work with you, resource you, and encourage you to lead your teens in this faith journey.  I am available any time you might need help, prayer, or a listening ear.  This is just the beginning of good resources we will be sending throughout the year.  

Sibling Rivalry

Have you ever heard that silence can be loud?  It’s that very loud, very obvious absence of sound after your teenager has just had another argument with their sibling and stomped off in the other direction.  Does it ever stop?  Do they really love each other?  We will be discussing sibling rivalry in this entry and what you, as the parent, can do to foster relationship between your teen and their sibling(s).

Please take a moment and watch this 3 minute and  47 second video that may help give you some idea as to what is going on in their heads.https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/60761630/c5128ceae7

This isn’t an easy issue by a stretch.  We are dealing with unique individuals with specific ideas that haven’t learned yet that the idea they are holding so tightly to very possibly could be flawed.  This might actually come as a surprise to your teen.  Teenagers react very passionately to perceived injustices.

It reminds me of Luke 9 when Jesus was speaking to His disciples after His transfiguration.  It should have been one of the most spiritually encouraging events for his disciples but somehow it ended up in an argument about who had more importance to Jesus among the Twelve.  Sibling rivalry.  All Jesus had to say was, “Whoever is least among you, this one is the greatest.”

We have to teach our teens that it’s about others.  But first our actions will be much louder than our words!

The Power of an Apology

Teenagers learn by watching their parent’s example more than anything else. There is no better way to teach your teenager important life skills than to model them each day.  One of the life skills that marks maturity the most is when your teenager learns to accept responsibility for what they have done.

Please take 3 minutes and 18 seconds and watch this video that gives a clear example of how you can help your teenager learn this important life skill. http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/58729615/5464b55bdd

In Jesus’ first public sermon recorded in Matthew 5 there is a hidden gem that might be easily missed.  It is nestled between two scandalous statements about murder and lawsuits. You might skim past it if you’re not looking for it.

In Matthew 5: 23-24 Jesus said that if you come to worship to leave an offering and are reminded of a conflict against a friend, go seek reconciliation with urgency. Then return to the altar and offer the gift of worship.

My question for you today is how could you live the truth of that Scripture today in your home?

Here are some thoughts to get you started answering that question:

• Forgiveness Matters- Jesus prioritized forgiveness and reconciliation in this passage. It is essential to healthy relationships and families.
• Don’t Wait- There is a sense of urgency in this passage. Jesus placed importance on pursuing reconciliation quickly.
• Forgiveness Unleashes Worship- After reconciliation takes place there is an invitation to return to worship God in freedom.

Here are some quick questions to end with today:

• Is there conflict in your home that you are concerned about right now?
• Are you seeking reconciliation with urgency?
• Are you prioritizing forgiveness in your relationships?
• Would your teenager say that your home is a place of grace?
• Let Jesus’ words inspire you today to experience peace in your home and pursue reconciliation in your family.

Feel free to share with me your thoughts about this online parenting class. I look forward to connecting with you next month.Our student ministry has your back in this parenting adventure. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or someone to just listen please let us know.

The Power of a Symbol

I want to talk to you today about symbols.  A symbol is an object that has meaning attached to it, but it is also a great tool in the parent’s tool belt.

Here are some examples of important symbols you may have in your life that carry important meaning:

·         a wedding ring

·         refrigerator art from when your teenager was a child

·         a family heirloom that was passed down to you

·         a moment in time that was captured in a photograph

·         an item from your childhood home that takes you back in time when you look at it

Symbols are powerful.  Today I would like to suggest that you harness the power of symbols to help pass down faith to your teenager.

Here is a 3 minute and 13 second video that helps you do that.  Just click on the link below:

https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/54562229/9a4e22dcc5

This online Parenting Class is my way to encourage you as a parent.  Your job is so important, and our student ministry is cheering you on as you pass down faith to your teenager. Some of you might not feel like you have faith to pass on to your teens, if you would like to talk about that with me, also if you have prayer requests, or just need to discuss something about your child, please send me an email. 

 Cheering you on!