Are you prepared for Easter?

We're about to be bombarded again with another commercialized holiday season.  Easter is approaching, and the shopping centers promise not to disappoint.  Already the other day I saw a big banner announcing a store's emphasis, "Bunnylicious" (sounded like a really cheesy Fergie knock-off on an already cheesy song).  There's sure to be mounds of chocolate bunnies, gooey peeps, egg-coloring kits (everything from camouflage to tie dye to stickers), baskets and every kind of trinket they know we'll stuff in them.  The disappointment is that it's all consumer driven.  That means me.  I buy this stuff.  I add to the spring buzz that's no doubt meant to drown out the religious overtones of Easter.  What's crazy is that it doesn't just stop with Target or Wal-Mart.  I'm sure Christian bookstores make a killing during this season.

But just hold on...

I'm not saying that any of this is inherently wrong (other than the Fergie reference).  It's difficult to make a legitimate argument that the Easter bunny is the spawn of Satan, and it's perfectly fine for you to build your child an Easter basket and hunt for eggs.  And who's not looking forward to ripping into a pack of peeps?!

All this commercialized hype can be a lot of fun and add positive memories to an already celebratory season with friends and family.  So color your eggs, down some chocolate, take family pictures in your dresses and ties...but sanctify the real reason for celebration.  Set it apart.  Don't cheapen the cross and the empty tomb by mixing it in with superfluous holiday consumption.

I know you've heard this kind of message a thousand times before (at least every time Christmas & Easter come rolling around again), but let's talk some strategy here.  Go ahead, huddle up!  Lean in and listen up!  I realize that as Christians we should be celebrating the Resurrection every Sunday, but do you recognize the opportunities this holiday season can provide for us?  At some point this Easter season, the people in our communities are going to hear or see some reference to Jesus.  Religious people, religious sub-cultures and churches thrive on the exposure they receive around this holiday, and our culture may be more sensitive, more inquisitive or at least more aware of what happens in churches and what's being taught.

But the question is, Will they hear the gospel?


So here's where I have to ask you, Are you prepared for Easter?  Are you prepared to take advantage of opportunities that may come up in casual conversation that would allow you to speak the truth about our Creator and Redeemer? (1 Peter 3:15)

Here's a hint: if you know and delight in Christ then you can confidently answer, Yes!  Easter Sunday is not the reason we celebrate.  We celebrate because we know Jesus.  Our joy is in Him alone.  We can marvel in the truth that Jesus + nothing = everything.  Jesus knew how bad our condition was, and He fixed it with a bloody cross and a resurrected body.  We are free from sin and alive to God.  We have a personal relationship with the Almighty Creator...all because of Jesus!  Praise God!  Hallelujah, all I have is Christ!

And we think on these glorious truths everyday...not just once a year...but all the more when given an opportunity to share it with any who might pause to listen.

So instead of worrying about when you're going to color your eggs, what you're going to wear for Easter Sunday, or how many peeps you can cram into your mouth at the same time, let's prepare our hearts to worship Christ and share His name with others.  Write the name of an unsaved friend, family member or coworker down on a sheet of paper and ask God to give you boldness for sharing the gospel with them in the next week (I didn't say invite them to our Easter service...although that's fine...).  Tell them about Jesus!  His name should flow out of the hearts and mouths of those who know and delight in Him.

shadows and dust

Psalm 42:1, 2
"As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?"


God is my foundational need for all of life (both for my time here on earth and in all eternity), but do I live with this realization?  Do I live like I need God?  Or have I so confused my needs and desires that God just becomes another item to pack in my suitcase for the journey of life?

How easily I've become preoccupied with the delicacies this world tantalizingly offers me every waking hour!  I have tasted of this world's food.  For a moment it was sweet and filling, and then in a horrifying realization it turned to dust and made me sick.  And like a deranged dog I've found myself returning to my vomit, hoping that this time I'll at last find satisfaction.  And again I prove to myself that sin is insanity.

I don't think I'm alone in this struggle.

This world I'm passing through is the Shadowland, mere shadows of what is to come, and I am too easily seduced by its charms to recognize reality.  I snatch at its offers in order to please myself and become pathetically inebriated by vanity.

To think of my earthly desires as needs will no doubt get me into trouble here in the Shadowlands because I forget to look up.  The moment I believe that I have a need that can be fulfilled in anything but Christ I have given up my manhood.  I've committed suicide, and I am reduced to self-inflicted emotional flagellation.  The practical out-working of this poison is seen around every bend in my journey.  It's in my need to be loved, to be right, to be first, to be noticed, to be entertained, to be the exception, to be excused, to be...well, to be worshiped.  Any so-called "need" will torment my idolatrous heart.  I have starved my belly and ripped out my chest, grasping at everything and eating nothing.  It's not that I have eaten too little or too much, it is that I have eaten nothingness.  I live as an animal and nothing more.

Unless I dine in the High Countries.

It is then the shadows taste sweet as they point me to the Bread of Life, and in Him I find satisfaction.  I embody true manliness as I reflect the Imago Dei for I have realized who God has created me to be.  I worship the LORD.  I am satisfied in my Creator.  I delight in Christ.  My soul pants for God.  My soul thirsts for the living God.

I am eager to accept His invitation:


"Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money, 
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food."
Isaiah 55:1, 2

the biggest year of our lives...and it's only july!

jolie sat content riding along in her brand new wagon as mommy pulled her along the street of our new neighborhood, judah could barely keep his eyes open (very typical!) as i cradled him in my arms, and carissa summed up life at the present with this statement: "2010 has been the biggest year of my life so far."

and that about says it all.

this has truly been an eventful year!  at the beginning of january our church moved into our new facility, and a few weeks later we lost our friend and pastor, kurt, very unexpectedly.  then we thought we were leaving for north carolina in february (with no job in sight), but our worship pastor resigned and we made the decision to stay and help for a few more months during the search process.  God then provided 2 jobs for us down in north carolina (leading worship at a small church and a shift supervisor position at starbucks).  then judah was born on june 4, and june 27 we said goodbye to our church family at rock point.

now we're embracing the adventure and this new chapter in our lives.  we left our little house on lincoln street in crawfordsville, indiana on june 30 driving the minivan as papa drove the rental truck filled with all our stuff.  and we arrived in wake forest, north carolina on july 1 to a welcoming group of friends from our new church ready to help us unpack the truck and provide us with a meal for the night (southern fried chicken...what a blessing!)  we enjoyed time with papa and dad sargent, and no sooner had they left then my parents arrived for a few days.  so we've had lots of help unpacking and setting up the new house (which carissa has already made feel like home)...and jolie's enjoyed all the attention from grandparents!  meanwhile, i started training at starbucks (which is a blast, but has felt a little like drinking from a fire hose), and this morning i led worship for the first time officially at our new church, union view baptist.  and in just a few weeks i'll begin my first classes in seminary.  whew...

what a blast!

following God's lead is so exciting.  ...crazy...but exciting!

and now i sit on a sunday afternoon and count all my amazing blessings...who are all sleeping soundly.  thank you, Jehovah-Jireh!

my little lion

ashamed it's taken me this long to post this exciting news, but i used all of last week to celebrate in relaxation (as much as possible)...but Judah is here!!!  he checked in right according to schedule on june 4 @ 2:00pm and weighed in @ 7lbs 8oz (and 20 and 1/2 inches long).  we went in for a scheduled c-section that friday which was sooo much easier (like it was really all that difficult for me!) than 26 hours of labor only to end up having a c-section (our experience with Jolie).  so the scheduled surgery was a nice, semi-relaxing change of pace...but i was still so pumped with adrenaline i probably brought comic relief to all the doctors and nurses around as i frantically paced back and forth waiting to be admitted to the operating room.  and in a matter of minutes upon arriving at the side of my heavily drugged wife...we heard his little cry.  well...it was more a scream...like a high-pitched screaming monkey...but it was wonderful!  and what a little miracle he is, and a huge answer to prayer!
he is a stud!  and he completely shocked us with his hair...a full head of dark brown hair...enough for a legit faux hawk (which he sported on his way home from the hospital!).  he's even got sideburns...trying to be like his daddy!  so much fun to hold him...he's so chill...just relaxed and peaceful...he's just awesome!  praise God!
just rereading this post makes me laugh...there's so much to say...but not the words to say it...

daddy's praising the LORD for you, Judah my scepter (Psalm 60:7)...my little lion!  i'm praying you become a mighty lion for the glory of God!

human doings or human beings?

this is a well-spoken and thoughtful reminder for those on the journey to become like Christ:

the pressure to accomplish snuffs out the pleasure of being God's child.

rejoicing in God's provision!

it's time to just thank Jehovah-Jireh for how He has faithfully provided for us.  i went down on the weekend of may 23 to wake forest, north carolina to scope out the area in preparation of our big move.  well, really i went down to candidate at a small church in franklinton (just a few miles north of wake forest) for a worship pastor position.  but i also took advantage of the opportunity to see the campus of southeastern baptist theological seminary and our little duplex that we'll call home for the next short season of life.  and on top of that i also spent a few hours applying for jobs around the area.

to sum up the weekend...the church was amazing!  i loved the people, really enjoyed leading worship, felt like i got fed from God's Word, bonded with the pastors, and sensed God's leading the whole time.  i think it will be a great fit...a place where we can immediately plug in and start serving!  so we're excited about that opportunity!!

and then a HUGE added blessing were my interviews with starbucks.  i walked in on friday (fresh off the plane) just to see if i could talk to the manager.  we talked for just a couple minutes and she asked if i had applied for the shift manager position and how much customer experience i had.  well, i had to be honest that i had none (and so no, i did not apply for the shift manager position assuming that i would need the entry level position to get my feet wet), but i told her what i do as a pastor and how some of that could be transferrable.  so she called up another store manager and set up interviews for sat. and sun., telling me that by just talking to me she wanted to see if i would be a good fit for the shift manager position!  needless to say, on tuesday (back in indiana) i got the call from mitch (the other store manager) offering me the job!

i can't tell you how awesome that is....we've been praying for months and months for God's direction and provision...and in one weekend He took care of it all.  He is absolutely incredible!!

and now...the week we've been waiting for has arrived...

mom s. is here, our room is ready, carlee is coming tomorrow...and judah is due friday!!!  God is good...

book #9: the tombs of anak

this is just a little blast from the past, and i'm only slightly embarrassed to be including this book on my list...about as embarrassed as i was to read a children's book on a plane from north carolina.  but i couldn't help myself...i loved this book as a kid.  it's one of the few books that i vividly remember my dad reading to me before bed, and i remember the thrill of emotions it evoked as we sat in the dim light and entered into a world that (for a kid) was pretty scary.  so thank you, Frank Peretti...again!  it wasn't quite the same or terrifying reading it the second time (now that my taste buds have grown up...and having delved into the mind of ted dekker), but i have to admit it was thoroughly enjoyable!

think indiana jones who still goes to sunday school (...i'm proud of you if you picked up on the movie line reference)!  The Cooper Kids Adventure Series recounts the exploits of jay and lila cooper who tag along with their archeologist dad, dr. jake cooper, and The Tombs of Anak was certainly the most thrilling of the original 4 volumes included in this series.  dr. cooper is the equivalent of the spiritually steady, almost grandfatherly mr. whittaker (adventures in odyssey...another blast from the past) who lives on the edge and fears no evil...not even ancient tombs or the eerie songs that emanate from the surrounding darkness.  he's the well-studied, quick-thinking, wise and experienced seeker of knowledge who's ready to spring into action the moment danger threatens to strike (especially his kids).  so throw in the Biblically inspired ancient ruins of Gath, the mystery surrounding the tombs, the strange local hill-dwellers, and the disappearance of a crew member and you've got a fascinating thrill ride for kids (...ok, ok...and for me).

peretti tries to base this mystery around another mystery that's briefly detailed in the early books of the Bible: the descendants of anak.  while i'm sure there are great liberties taken with his interpretation (and never wanting to be the plot spoiler to a good thriller), i enjoyed the ties into some of the strange genealogical records of the Bible.  and the message of the the tombs of anak is really a strong warning against greed and the love of power...enough to scare the desire right out of ya!  and the more i read, the more i would caution parents.  peretti has no problem writing thrillers with a touch of horror, and death is dealt with right out in the open.  so you may want to preview this one to make sure your little one's ready to handle the suspense and the issues that may arise.

but it was fun to take a stroll down memory lane...and only a little tricky to hide the "kids series" label from the other passengers on the plane.