It’s been a tough and amazing season all at once, but one thing is for sure, the sense of God’s amazing love and grace is overwhelming. The truth of Philippians 4 has become a living, breathing reality for me recently…
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Verse 13 is probably one of the most misquoted verses in Scripture, so often taken completely out of context. I can’t go out an bench press 325lbs this morning because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But I can learn to live in a way that is independent of my circumstances, I can learn to not be controlled by the situations and challenges that I might face, but rather live in a place of absolute dependence up the One who is in control. In this passage Paul is borrowing language from the Stoic Philosophers of the day to show us how Christ uses the circumstances and situations we face each and every day to initiate us into this path and life of complete dependence upon Him. I can only face life, and do the things that are in front of me, through His strength, by drawing upon Him, my source of strength. It’s a life of dependence, not divorced from circumstances, but recognizing that those circumstance are being used by God as an opportunity to engage with His way of viewing and walking through life. It’s why Paul said this in Philippians 3:
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
So back to God’s love… that’s where we started. Read this from Prodigal John last week and I think it sums it up well. “God doesn’t need me. He loves me.” You see He is God. He is complete. He doesn’t need my additions. Because of His passionate love for each one of us He welcomes us into this partnership, better said a relationship, of dependence upon Him.
So click on the video below, close your eyes and make a commitment today to allow yourself to depend upon Him. It’s His love.
My wife often accuses me this time of the year of getting philosophical and reflective… and maybe I do (after all its the end of the year and I get one year older). As I was looking back on 2008 I was struck by God’s incredible faithfulness and blessings on our life. Some highlights from 08:
An incredible week of prayer and fasting in January and so many promises both personally and corporately to our church
10 days in Ireland in February with my family.
An awesome trip to Kansas to serve a church there.
The opportunity to visit many wonderful friends and family in Portland.
A great staff retreat in June… I work on one incredible team.
A first ever visit and game in the right field bleachers of Yankee Stadium.
One unbelievable week in Disney winning an evening in the castle. Can’t tell you how much we felt God love and pleasure as a family.
Riding Big Thunder Mountain with Aidan, Sophie and Madeline (Mads was just crazy funny).
The opportunity to meet Mark Batterson (his book is part of the reason we ended up here in Albany).
The opportunity to spend a couple of days with my wife in Montreal to celebrate our 13th anniversary. I can’t tell you how much I couldn’t do life without her.
Having the opportunity to go to the Catalyst Conference (a dream came true).
50 Thanksgiving food boxes to families in our community
The opportunity to go to Soldier Field and watch the Packers play the Bears in the coldest game ever played there (-12).
An incredible Christmas season… in a little over two weeks across all three campuses we gave over $60,000 to local and global charities. Incredible generosity!
I’m filled with gratitude when I look back at 2008. This year has not been without its disappointmentsand failures, but I can’t tell you how blessed I feel. God is good all the time. I don’t know what 2009 has in store my I know that I’m going after God with everything I’ve got.
It’s been a whirlwind since getting back from Disney. This past weekend was amazing. It’s simply incredible the people that God is bring to the Albany campus, they’re finding Jesus, friendships and small groups. The Connect event was incredible… people hanging around, connecting, finding a small group and some incredible Mediterranean themed food (major props to Jill and team!).
Love having my father-in-law in town… lots of little things getting fixed around the house.
Monday night is a highlight for me personally… MNS… that’s right Monday Night Soccer! Two goals last night. Loved playing under the lights!
Love my kids! Just got some pictures back and was reminded how blessed I am!
Jennie and the kids are going applepicking this afternoon… hopefully there’s an apple pie in the deal.
Married 13 years next Tuesday. Wow! So blessed to have the wife God gave me. Definitely married up.
There’s a whole lot I learned from my week on Disney (I realize it was a vacation but there’s always something to learn no matter where you go)… anyhow rounding out the week here’s a fifth thing Disney taught me…
People matter and they deserve our passionate, wholehearted attention.
The picture above is of Jeff (one of our hosts when we were staying in the castle). Jeff has a pretty important role at Disney. He’s one of a select few that takes care of VIP guests and celebrities. As I understand it (based on some conversations with fellow employees who seem to highly regard Jeff) he’s been offered multiple promotions to upper management and has turned them down because he loves what he does. He’s passionate about people and making sure they have the time of their life. I believe just ten days prior to sword fighting with my four year old he was taking care of Michael Phelps. I can’t tell you how much Jeff made our Disney experience.
If you’ve ever visited Disney, have you ever noticed how any of their cast members answers your question? You might be the twentieth person to ask them that question that day. They may have been asked that question a million times… but they answer you as if its the first time they’ve ever been asked that question.
As an organization, and I would say even at a personal level for each cast member, they are passionately committed to people and making sure they have a great experience. Jeff exemplified this for the Gilpin family. Michael Phelps to Madeline Gilpin… doesn’t matter, his focus and passion was engaged in making sure that whomever he was taking care of felt important and valued (based on what matter to the person they where serving, which happened to be sword fighting for my four yearl old) and make that person was having the time of their life. I forget who said it, but “the most important person is the one right in front of you at any given time.” They deserve our passionate, wholehearted attention.
In life, and in church life, there’s are lots of things that need to get done, tons of people to talk and engage with… but when we’re talking with people are we fully engaged or looking around for the next person or thinking about what’s next. Jeff reminded me that the people in front of us are the most important. Thanks Jeff!
I was going to write an article about Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers opening performance on Monday Night Football (btw I think the Packers are going to do alright, they’re in good hands with Rodgers) but over the past two evenings I’ve spent a couple of hours on the phone with two of my best friends.
Life is filled with challenges, it’s not a straight road without highs or lows. It twists and turns, it rises and falls, sometimes its a five lane highway (with toll booths) and other times is a single lane dirt road with potholes that even New York couldn’t compete with. As I’ve traveled through this life over the past 35 years, and in particular over the past five I’ve been so honored to have people in my life that help me see more clearly and graciously and lovingly challenge me, challenge my perspective and help me to get out of bed and face another day. They rejoice with me when we’re winning, and they throw the proverbial arm around me when we’re not (most often kicking my butt to tell me to get up and go after it one more time).
I’m humbled that I have a 30 something friend who will talk with me into the wee hours of the morning or the middle of a busy day. We think alike and wrestle with many of the same issues, but his wisdom and ability to see clearly and ask me questions helps me see with a clearer perspective. I have a 50 something brother (and that’s what it feels like) who will listen to me and will 100% of the time reply with, “let’s pray together.” And will then have this conversation with God as if we were sitting having coffee with God. I have a (age not being mentioned to protect the innocent) sister who sees me online and breaks into my day through Google Talk to tell me that she’s praying for Jennie and I and she loves us. She does it because she loves us and thinks of us, she probably doesn’t realize how often I stop what I’m doing and put my head in my hands and thank God for her and the fact that she’s such a valuable part of my life.
I can’t tell you what an incredible joy it is to go through life with people who love one another, serve one another and give themselves for one another. I can’t imagine it any other way and fear grips my heart at even the thought of losing these kinds of relationships. The most amazing thing about it is that these are relationships that are thousands of miles away in terms of the proximity, but right next to me in terms of our connection. May everyone of us be blessed with people that we can trust and walk through life with. The challenge to me and to all of us is will we be those kinds of people to someone else?
Yesterday was an awesome day… had lunch with Brian Howe and spent some time with Josh Brower. I love making new friends and I have to tell you that these two guys are incredible men. They pastor at two of the most incredible churches here in the Capital Region. Brian over at Northway and Josh at Lifechurch.tv. I love the fact that God’s doing incredible things in many fantastic churches around the region and we’re in this thing together. These are genuine friends, sincere in their support and encouragement and committed in their prayers for one another. If you live in the Capital District and you’re looking to discover and experience God there are some incredible churches. I want to encourage you check out Northway, check out Lifechurch.tv, check out Cornerstone. Check out one of the many incredible churches in the area. These two guys are my friends! I know at Northway and Lifechurch.tv (and I’m sure at many others) you’ll find incredible people with a passion to serve and help you. I’m thanking God for these kinds of friendships and the opportunity to serve this region together.
We say it all the time at Cornerstone – God hasn’t designed us to go through life alone, it’s about partnering one with another. I’m honored that I get to partner with some incredible people in our church, both here in Albany and Utica, and with some fantastic and genuine people at some great churches here in town. It’s not just the partnership, it’s the friendship that means so much!
I serve as the campus pastor at Cornerstone in Albany, NY. While I'm the campus pastor, I'm not immune to an occasional "oops should I have said that?". Cornerstone doesn't pay for or approve this message. My thoughts are my thoughts, but don't let that scare you.
