Dwelling on the things of God

Today was one of those days that just seemed to go on and on without anything happening you want. I stared at a computer for a long time filling out a grant. Worked and worked and worked on it. We got it done, faxed it off and we good to go. Or so I thought. I listened to my voice mail and had a call from a lady who we just faxed everything to and she told us that what we just finished is not what she needed. Argh. It was just one of those days. But just before I left, I returned a call and was able to help someone. So I am going to go to bed tonight thinking about the person that we were able to help. You have to do that. You have to remember what you are trying to do. I when it happens, think of those things.

Talk, talk, talk

Ok, I can admit, I talk to much. My name is Dan and I am a talk-a-holic. Now while this is true, I need to defend myself. I only talk about things that I am passionate about. If you get me on a subject that gets me fired up, I am sorry if you have to listen to me forever (is this an apology to my wife?).
So tonight when I had an opportunity to talk about some of the things we do at the Lighthouse, sure no problem. I was talking (and talking, and talking) when I realized that my time was up. Wow, I think I could have talked for like 2 more hours.
But when all said and done, I am glad that there is certain things in my life that I passionate about that do get me fired up. But man, do I talk a lot!

The 10%

Now I know you are thinking this is going to be about tithing, not quite. Let me explain.
10% of what we do takes up 90% of our time. This is definitely true in my life. I think back to putting together a service when I was at Bakerstown Alliance. It would be that 10% of service that I would spend 90% of the time.
Understand something here, if you were back in school a 90% on a test is not too bad. In fact there were many times I could only dream about a 90%. However, 90% is good, but not great.
The feeling you get when you invest that time and energy to get that 100% rather then 90% is amazing. I love being in that 10% zone.
When you see someone, or a group of people, operating at the full 100% you can tell. Much of the time you can't put it in words, but you can sense it.
Let me just encourage you to find something that you could do at 90% with no problem, but put in that extra effort, that 90% time for that extra 10% and remember that feeling. You going to like it, trust me!

Power

Once again our power went out. Argh. It went out most of last night came on this morning and went out again. Argh. Now this time I will admit, I can handle a couple of hours, unlike a couple of days back in September.
Now what if we had to suffer "brown outs" or "black outs" with God that would be really devastating. How long do you think you could go without the "power" or should I say the Holy Spirit in your life? One hour? 10 hours? 1 day?
Honestly, I don't know if I could survive. Then again, I don't want to find out.

My New Band!

Yeah that is right, I joined a new band today. And let me just tell you, it is pretty sweet! We already have a name for our new band: Richland Park! We had our first practice today and let me just tell you we had some sounds that you have never heard before. But were we ever rocking it hard.

And now for the rest of the story:

Isaiah decided that he wanted to play with his instruments, so we got them out of the closet and thought he would have a fun time. He then told us he was going to make a new band. We asked him the name and he said Richland Park Band (pretty sweet title huh?). Well somehow he decided that we needed to play, but we were only allowed to play upstairs. So I went upstairs with Isaiah, we break out the instruments, and I had to play like 7 at a time. There was no getting away from that one. So while I was doing the best I could to rock out on my 7 instruments (I have a hard time walking and chewing gum might I remind you) Isaiah would be singing. I definitely noticed some hard-core/rap influences on his vocal selections. Heather then came and joined the band to. Some of the lyrics that Isaiah was singing made you laugh and cry at the same time. All in all was just a really fun time. However, I am glad we don't live that close to our neighbors!

"The impact God has planned for us doesn't occur when we're pursuing impact. It occurs when we're pursuing God." Phil Vischer.

Stop, re-read that quote above. I will wait till you finish.

Most of us want a close deep relationship with God. In fact, in all my years of ministry I don't think I have ever met anyone who does not want a closer relationship with God. The end result or the impact of a close relationship with God is incredible. But to pursue that end result for the sake of the end result is not where it is at. The impact is in that pursuing.

Now I am no expert at marriage, I make many mistakes. In order to have that impact that we all want, the impact that God has planned for marriage, you have to be pursuing your spouse. It is in that pursuit that you will find the impact that you so desire.

Let's take one dimension of spirituality, prayer. There are a thousand different "techniques" that I have read about. So the one day you are doing it one way and it is giving you that impact, great. The next day you try the same thing nothing. So move on to another method, and then another. During those time of pursuing that relationship with God, you will have that impact that you are craving.

Not Burned Out

I have been thinking about this lately. Have I ever been burned out? Hmm...tough question to answer. So I thought about it for a while. Honestly I don't think I have. Well that might not be completely true. I think I might have got burned out when I worked for Shop-N-Save. I will admit, it was not exactly where I saw my self in say 5 years, nor was it a career goal for me. Plain and simple it was a job that paid me. But as far as the rest of my life goes, I don't know think I have been burned out. Now I will admit to being tired and needing a vacation. I know of a lot of times I needed a break. Burned out? I don't think so. I have a theory on why that it is. It is simply because I have been concentrating on doing what God has called me to do. I have been trying to follow his leading. That is not to say that I am perfect and I do everything right. It is just interesting to me to see the level of contentedness (is that a word?) of people who are trying to do what God is calling them to do. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Understand that these people who are not burned out following God's leading still suffer, still feel defeated, still feel spent. But they have that goal and purpose that God has given them. It is that goal and purpose that prevents burn out.

Stuck in the Driveway

I don't know if it really blog worthy, but I am going to anyways. This past week I have had 4 vehicles stuck in my driveway. Argh. Now let me tell you about them:

• This was our van. Heather was backing up and accidentally got it into the snow. Fortunately with the help of 4 pushers and 1 driver we were able to get it on the driveway again
• The 2nd one was the Prism and totally the result of me not paying attention. Some how I drove it off the driveway, then of course tried to fix my mistake and got it stuck worse. Called AAA but they would not come. They said our road was too scary. Wimps! So I called my dad, he tried and could not get it. Finally, Dave Martin brought the plow truck over and hooked up a chain to it and pulled right out.
• So today I was driving our little box truck (affectionately referred to as "Mini-Me"). I drove it right up our driveway with no problem. Got something from the house and started heading back down the driveway. I slid into the side of the hill. Stuck!
• So I called my dad again, hooked up a tow rope, pulled with his mini van, nothing! Then we could not get the rope off because we could not go forward with the mini van. That took a while but through a series of pushing and pulling we moved the mini van forward just barely enough to get the strap off. Then we had to push the mini van out. Finally we were able to get my dad's minivan moving again. I know what your are thinking, what about Mini-Me? Dave Martin to the rescue again. Tried the first time and no luck. Gave it a jerk and was to move it.

I am so done with all this snow, hopefully it all melts off my driveway this week. I don't want to get any more vehicles stuck.

How to make my wife happy

Being the kind loving supporting husband that I wish I was, I am always thinking that I should be trying to think of the perfect gift for my wife. You know what I am talking about, the gift that she will never forget. The type of gift that will leave her speechless.
With all of that in mind, I have gotten my wife just about everything you could imagine to try find that special gift. I have tried the spa gift card. I have tried the MP3 player. I have cooked a great meal. You name it, I tried it.
I think I have finally figured out what I should be getting her. Office supplies! That's right. You heard me. I am talking sticky notes, mechanical pencils with the refills, erasers that fit on top of the pencils, paper clips.
Next time you see me going to Staples, don't think I am picking up something for the Lighthouse. I am buying my wife a present she will love.

Tax Time

It is the time again. Time to start on the taxes. Now, some people get really worried about taxes. Some people at the mere mention of the word go into cardiac arrest. Some people "forget" to pay their taxes (was that a political reference?). Personally, I find it a game. I find it a challenge to find every possible legal way of paying the least amount of taxes possible. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. But the way the tax code is written, there is tons of loop holes, heck there is even loop holes for the loop holes. I still do my own taxes. And don't tell this to the IRS, but I have never been audited! You know you are proud of me! So as another tax season is upon us, happy deductions!