Why are you breathing so hard…..SO I CAN LIVE

Stand up comedy cracks me up. Hailee and I used to go to a comedy club about once or twice every couple of months. We didn’t care who was there; one out of three comedians were often great. Soon after we started doing this a show came on called Last Comic Standing. It was dynamite. One of my favorite summer shows. A larger man came on stage. He had some size to him. He was talking and told about someone coming up to him and asking him, “Why do you breathe so hard?” He quickly responded, “SO I CAN LIVE!” It was genius and we loved it.

Life is full of challenges. I am trying to get in shape. Today while at a hotel, I thought it would be a great idea to spend 30 minutes running on the elliptical. I was wrong. After about five minutes I realized that swimming 2-5 days a week is completely different then running. After five minutes struggling to breathe, I thought about the comedian from the story above. Getting in shape is not easy. It takes a lot of sacrifice to succeed. Faith is a different challenge. Faith can be watching someone else take the pain for you, it’s not easy and people can struggle with this aspect.

Paul ends talking to the Galatians with a tough lesson, Galatians 6:13-14…

“Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Christianity is based off living for Jesus the one who was crucified, suffered a painful death so we wouldn’t have too. A group of people kept trying to keep new Christians from living and talking about Jesus by telling them in the past you showed you had faith in God by being circumcised. They wanted to show the sacrifice they made to show faith. Paul is telling these people loudly (There is a theory and a good chance Paul wrote this entire section of scripture in ALL CAPS TO HIT THE MARK). Faith in Jesus is about him not us. There is nothing we can do to trump what Christ did on the cross. Yet people kept trying and convince other people to do these good works to show they had faith. They led people astray.

There are challenges in life, but nothing compares to Christ. Trying to get healthy is a lot about us. What we eat, what we do to workout, making little meal sacrifices for a greater good. There is no little sacrifice that can compare to what Jesus did on the cross for me, for you. Paul shares that he doesn’t boast about himself but rather about what Jesus did for him. Jesus is why I am here, Jesus is why I do what I do. While I am not perfect and I cannot understand why Jesus thought I was worth dying for, he did. So in my life is less about me a sinner and more about knowing throughout all my imperfections there was Jesus. Jesus died this horrible painful death for all of us. All we have to do is share not what we do, but what he did.

Jesus thought I was worth dying for. Jesus thought you were worth dying for too. There is no action on this earth that can compare to what Jesus did for you. Starting your journey in faith isn’t about doing the good deeds but rather admitting you aren’t perfect, you are a sinner. It’s about accepting that Jesus did truly die for you and you making him your personal Lord and savior. People can work so hard to try to earn their right for salvation when Jesus is looking for something completely different. Are you willing to make the greatest act by submitting to Jesus? Today could be the start to a new life and it’s all because of Jesus and what he did. Recognize the greatest sacrifice in the world was made for you.

Have a great day.

Marriage Debates: Store Brand vs. Name Brand

Even a trip to the grocery store can be a debate in a marriage. Hailee and I were young in our relationship when it came time to go grocery shopping. We went to the store and started to grab things to buy, except there was one main difference. I would grab the store brand and Hailee would grab the name brand. Soon we stop the cart and it was on.

As a kid, our mom was a thrift shopper. She either had a coupon or we bought store brand for everything we bought. Hailee grew up if there was something she wanted, she would just throw it in the cart, therefore she was used to getting name brand on everything. While we were extremely new to this relationship, this was one of our first conflicts. Who would win?

I started my case based off being cheap and better tasting. The price was so much cheaper for the store brand and basically was better. I grew up on Meijer’s Mac and Cheese to the point when I was in middle and high school my Mom bought a case or two of it because we went through it so quickly. Hailee on the other hand loved Kraft Mac and Cheese, she said that it was worth the extra money and tasted so much better. So we ended up compromising, we went half and half. We would either mix the two boxes together or we would split times having Kraft or Store Brand. Marriage is when two worlds collide.

There is a reason the phrase For richer, for poorer is in the wedding vows. Everyone would like to say we are going to make an abundance of money and we will live happily ever after, but often that is not the case. There is no easy button in life or marriage. Money is still the number 1 reason for divorce in this country. This isn’t because you have it or you don’t but how you handle your money. Are you willing to give up money for marriage? How much is love worth to you?

There is a great phrase, “Love Costs Everything.” Love and Marriage requires us not to care about winning the fight but winning the relationship. Most fights are over stupid and pointless things. What are you willing to give up in order to have a successful marriage? How important is money?

When we look at relationships, Jesus was willing to give up everything for us. 2 Corinthians 8:9…

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he become poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

Jesus didn’t have to come to earth and take the burdens of our sin yet he did. Jesus took our sins on the cross for us. He became poor. Jesus took on our debt so that we could be rich in life. Jesus thought we were so worth the cost, he died for us. We are rich in life because he came to earth as a humble servant and died for us like the Secret Service is putting their life on the line for the President.

Great sacrifices have great rewards. Sacrifice and compromise is key for any marriage to survive. What sacrifices have you made for your spouse and expected nothing in return? The more we do this, the better the marriage will be. I read a line, “You have to invest in a marriage for it to be worth the investment.” It’s the same way with faith.

Jesus died and rose on the cross for us. Investing your life into Christ is the single biggest decision you can ever make (Choosing the right spouse is second to me). You can have eternal life. Jesus became a servant who took your sins for you. All you have to do is accept him as your personal Lord and Savior. This week is Easter, the time to learn about the greatest sacrifice ever made. Find a church, find out about the greatest sacrifice that was made for you.

Have a great day.

10 years with the ball and chain

Ready for the good ole ball and chain.

I feel bad for whoever described being married to the analogy the ball and chain.

That would just suck.

Seeing marriages struggle is never an easy thing.

As a minister and coming from a multiple divorce family, I have seen where marriage can be like a prison and struggle.

Where selfish desires can take over and people just think of themselves over the other or the family.

I am proud to say I am on the other side of the spectrum.

No matter the fact that someone once told Hailee and I to our faces our marriage would only last 3 months, I am here 10 years later to say I love my marriage and my wife even more than I did 10 years ago.

I didn’t think that was possible.

Marriage is not always easy.

It takes love and sacrifice beyond just saying I love you.

Love is not a word it’s an action.

You show you love someone with what you do with your life for that other person.

A good marriage is about sacrifice for a greater cause.

Yet I am a screw up.

I have messed up plenty of times in my marriage.

I am not perfect.

Yet I have a loving wife who is graceful and forgiving.

She honestly has made me a better person and I cherish her for that.

As I sit here writing this from a dorm room at CIY with my wife 100 miles away, I can honestly say I miss her and wish I were there but there is a greater purpose then just our marriage.

When Hailee and I got married, we said God would be first in our relationship.

He has been.

Part of the reason Hailee and I can move forward together has been our ability to forgive one another.

I wouldn’t have that forgiveness without knowing that no matter what Christ forgave us and we need to forgive each other.

I am gone taking students on an amazing trip where they grow closer to God.

It has been a great week watching these amazing individuals grow closer to God and that takes precedence over my own selfish desires.

I look forward to tonight when I get to spend time with my wife.

Hailee is the most amazing women I have even met (Sorry mom).

She is beautiful on the inside and the outside.

She has always made me laugh.

There was a Facebook post about marriage and be like having a sleep over every night with your best friend, I can honestly say that is correct.

Hailee is my best friend.

My Jason’s are a close second, but Hailee trumps them.

She knows my insecurities and strengthens me rather than tearing me apart.

She lifts me up when I am down.

She is smoking hot!

She has given me three wonderful children and a soon to be fourth.

She has dealt with where I felt I was called.

“I married a sports writer not a minister, I didn’t sign up for this,” she would say while joking.

Hailee never stood in my way.

She always wanted me to pursue my goals and help me accomplish them.

I don’t know if I would have a college degree more or less a master’s degree without Hailee.

She is truly my better half and I believe that everyday.

I have done many stupid things and Hailee has put up with me.

Before we were dating Hailee was dating someone else and we were just friends.

She broke up with him and I tried to take our friendship to the next level.

Soon she invited me to dinner.

At this dinner she was going to tell me that she was going to get back with her ex.

We were talking and having a good conversation but soon she told me her plan.

People, I have never done this before and still can’t believe I said this then…

I said that’s ok, because I think we are meant to be together and I know it’s not going to workout out between you guys.

Then sticking my foot into my mouth further…

I said, “I think God wants us to be together and I will wait for your relationship to end because I know we are supposed to be together.”

I couldn’t believe the words that just came from my mouth.

I knew I found my wife, she thought I was crazy (Little did she know I was crazy J).

Weeks later, we start dating.

We started dating on Super Bowl Sunday.

Three weeks later in the most romantic way, I asked Hailee to marry me while watching a commercial to Ally McBeal.

She said yes and we haven’t been apart since.

Hailee is the most amazing person I have met.

I cherish all our time together through the good and the bad, til death do us part, I still to love you with every piece of my heart (God bless you All 4 One for coming up with the song I Swear).

I thank God for him putting you in my life and can’t wait to see my wife later on today!

Have a great day (I know I will!)

Circumcision as an adult???

There are some areas of faith I am glad that progressed.

In the past it was the mothers whose faith you took after.

Paul ran into an issue when he met Timothy.

Timothy was a very godly man and Paul wanted him to take him on his mission trip.

There was a problem; his mother was Jewish while his father was Greek.

Why was this problem?

Circumcision.

While in the previous chapter we see where circumcision was not required for salvation (At this time a whole bunch of guys yelled Amen, jk).

Yet with Paul going and ministering to a group of Jewish people, they would always question Timothy because his mom was Jewish, but didn’t raise him in in faithful practices.

Paul had to do something in order to take Timothy with him.

Acts 16:3…

“Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was Greek.”

He had the faith of his mother and if he didn’t do this, it could severely affect their ministry.

Timothy made a huge sacrifice.

Looking up how long the process would take today, it says you aren’t able to do much for about three days and it slowly gets better but you are limited from certain activities for up to a month.

Ouch.

Timothy did that because he believed in this message and wanted to go on this trip.

It was a sacrifice.

What are some sacrifices you make your life?

Is it worth the cost?

Timothy did some amazing things in the Church and this was the start of his journey.

He did this for the gospel message and to go on this amazing trip.

I wonder where the Church would be today without this faithful person willing to make a sacrifice.

Anything worth doing is worth making sacrifices for.

Timothy went through some pain for the greater good.

What pain are you willing to go through for the greater good?

Have a great day.

Helping a pregnant women with morning sickness

We have the ability to help others out.

It could just be a simple as listening to someone else, some could be a physical act you could do for someone like raking leaves for an elderly neighbor.

Helping others is so amazing for you and for them.

This past weekend I was gone to a youth conference while Hailee battled morning sickness and was out of commission to chase around three crazy and  awesome kids.

Our friend Nathalie helped us out by picking Connor up on Friday night and taking him for the night.

It’s the little things that can be such a big help and really means a lot esp. when there was nothing I could do to help my wife.

Some of the smallest things we can do can be the biggest blessings to other people.

We can help people but not like Peter helped people.

In Act 9: 32-43 there is a story about Peter helping a couple of people out.

The first was Aeneas.

Aeneas couldn’t walk and Peter came by, healed him and instantly Aeneas got up and started walking.

The second was a lovely lady named Tabitha (Also known as Dorcas).

She was known for doing good and helping the poor.

She got sick and died.

Peter was in town and they called for him.

People were in tears crying over the loss of an amazing person.

Peter sent all of the people out and this is what happened in verses 40-41…

“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.”

Through God, Peter was able to perform two amazing miracles.

God did amazing things then and he does amazing things today.

Matthew 19:26…

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

He was telling the disciples about a man who couldn’t give up all his possessions and follow Jesus.

He had a discussion about sacrificing for God.

In your life, what do you sacrifice for?

Is it worth sacrificing for?

I think one of the hardest and easiest things is to adjust your time to help someone out.

What can you do to help someone out?

You might now be able to help someone raise from the dead, but you can help in many other ways.

What can you do to help someone else out today?

Have a great day.

Sacrifice

A not for me, but for you.

Sacrifice is always an interesting thought.

What we give up for the benefit of others.

Life is full of these moments.

Do we give up studying for going out and having fun?

I remember being in college and my friend Jason and I had a hard exam that we were doing some final studying for.

After a while and our brains being mushed, we called it, realize we weren’t looking that good and started to play video games.

If we would have been studying more, we might have done better on that test, but instead we got a triple double with Kabba in NCAA 2k8 on PlayStation.

Looking back, wasn’t the best decision.

What do we sacrifice for?

Is it worth sacrificing for?

In John 18:14, they talk about a different type of sacrificing…

“Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.”

This man was Jesus.

How often do we think of sacrifices outside of ourselves?

We make sacrifices and usually it’s self-centered.

We will sacrifice for what we like to do, but what about for others?

Caiaphas brought up sacrificing.

This is what Jesus did for us, gave up his life so we can have eternal life, when we just have faith in him.

Seems like a bad deal for Jesus.

This would be the worst trade in Fantasy Football history…..

You get…..

Eternal Life.

You give up….

Your sins and have to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus gets….

Death on the cross

Jesus gives up….

His life for all the sins of every person.

Jesus wants to see faith in him.

He gives up so much more than we are willing to give him.

What’s worth sacrificing for?

Sometimes we make small sacrifices or have a goal it will benefit us later.

Sacrifice is a part of life, are you happy with the sacrifices you make and what you get in return?

Have a great day.

Does a pregnant women going into labor show there is pleasure in pain?

Pleasure in pain.

Not exactly something I think about all the time.

Can you experience pain and pleasure at the same time?

I think about knee surgeries I have went through, the pain they have caused.

I did not think there was any pleasure in that.

Those who know me during that time, know that my surgery was not supposed to affect me that much.

My first knee surgery was supposed to be a scope and a lateral release, I would be out from playing hockey 4-6 weeks.

It ended up being a more extensive procedure and I was out 3 months from walking without a brace and six months before I touched the ice.

There was not pleasure in that pain.

Not often I think about this happening, pain in pleasure.

Jesus tells us this in John 16:21…

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”

I think about the joys of each of our kids.

Nevaeh – such a sweet girl and is so compassionate for other people.  She told me today that she wanted to use her birthday money to buy Connor a pillow pet because he wanted one.  Yesterday her teacher told Hailee that she had Nevaeh do an assignment first because she was a lock to do great on it and it made the teacher feel good about teaching.

Connor – Is such a funny kid.  He makes me laugh every single day.  He picks up on my saying and says them at the most random times.  The other day we were having a conversation and I told him he needed to clean up his room before he could have a snack.  He told me something like, “Chill out chill out, it will be done.”  So much laughter and love in that boy.

Ty – That is my buddy.  If I am laying on the ground with a pillow, he will come right up to be and do exactly what I am doing.  If I am unloading the dishwasher he comes right up beside me to help me out, such an awesome kid.

God has blessed Hailee and I with some great kids, better kids then we deserve.

I would love to have one more kid if that was in the cards, but there is one thing that is huge, I am not giving birth.

Through all this, all the joys my kids give me would be nothing without the sacrifice Hailee made by going through 10 months of pregnancy and giving birth.

Jesus mentions about this in the scripture above.

There is pain in having kids for women, but that joy when you can see your baby can be worth it.

Jeuss gives this analogy to tell his disciple that there is time of grief in the world but there will be a time of joy.

Jesus soon after this speech, will be arrested and taken to be put to death.

He did this for them.

He did this for you.

Jesus went through on of the most painful deaths humans could endure for you.

To die for your sins.

That no matter how big of an idiot and messed up you feel, Jesus did this for you.

He finishes this section of scripture in verse 33…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

People will tear you down, make fun of you, think less of you as a person.

Jesus does not.

He values you.

He loves you in a way nobody could.

Even when you feel like your whole world is coming down, take heart knowing he is still there for you and what you are going through.

There can be pleasure in pain.

I thank Hailee for all the pain and difficulty of going through pregnancy for some amazing kids.

Without her sacrifice, we wouldn’t have three amazing children.

Without the sacrifice of Jesus, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

I am still a sinner but I am accepted.

Because as a sinner I believe Jesus is the Christ, son of the living God and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and savior I will be in heaven.  I have eternal life.

The pain and the suffering Jesus did on the cross was for me (Even if I don’t feel worthy of it).

It was done for you too.

Jesus loves you and wants you to accept him to have eternal life.

Now’s a great time to make that decision.

There is pleasure in pain, pregnant women going the labor process show us this and so does Jesus.

Have a great day.