what I think I thought…

• It has been a long week.  Got roped into helping with VBS.  I know this may sound odd to those who don’t know me well…but I am an introvert by nature…so being that energetic for 5 days, well that really takes it out of me.

• I have also had a close up view of this week of a man preparing to meet the Lord.  I can’t yet put into words what I have seen.  Suffice it to say…I have been left speechless.  Often.

• Today’s message was a blast to preach.  Living like Love in a verb isn’t always easy…but it is always worth it.

• Dr. and Mrs. Rodgers interview was fantastic.  I am in awe of people who truly live what they say they believe. Their marriage is an example to us all.

• Mark and the team did a great job filling in for Tom.  Thanks for being flexible guys.

• Keep your eye out for the “Great Dates.”  If you are married you aren’t going to want to miss being a part of these.

• We are going to continue to talk about staying in love for the next few weeks.  I pray if you are married (or ever hope to be) you make it a priority to be a part.

Numbers 32:23 says…”you may be sure, your sins will find you out.”  So often we convince ourselves that we won’t get caught…but everyone does.  As the governor says…it started “innocently enough”.  That is why we have to set our boundries so far back from the edge so that even if we cross our own boundry there will be no great consquences.  Or said simply…RUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!!

So yesterday we talked about what an important role Father’s play in the life of their kids.

Kids need their Dad…that means two things.  First, dads, you have to make being a parent a priority.  This may mean working less hours, living in a smaller house…or moving to the town where your kids live.  They need you.  I know it is always said that kids are resilient…they will survive….but they will never become what they could become if you were there.

Secondly…this means moms you have to let dad be dad.  So many moms took the reigns of the household early and never let go.  And dads words or actions carries little weight in the home.  I know he may do it different and maybe not as well…but you must encourage…better yet insist that he leads because the kids will follow him…for good or for ill.

And for you mothers who are divorced…don’t cut dad out.  It is so easy to do when the new man comes…or as a way to punish dad for what he did to you.  But in the end it is the kids who lose  BIG TIME!!  You may think you are hurting him…and you are.  But it is the kids whose lives will turn out drastically different because you have built a wall around your kids to keep dad out.

Here is a great article documenting what an important role dad plays…and what the consequences are if dad or mom limit a fathers involvement.

• Today was the longest day of the year…I think it is only appropriate it fell on Fathers Day.

• My Bride set me up on a golf date to try out the new clubs I got for Fathers day.  Turns out the new clubs work about well as the old ones.  Maybe I need new golf balls…

• I hope all the father’s let church today encouraged.  Father’s often get beat up at church…I think all the Fathers who make church a priority on Father’s Day need to be celebrated.

• Again…can’t overstate the influence of a Father.  If you would like to see some of the research I shared this morning check out Josh McDowells site for yourself.  Once there search “fathers”.

• “But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord”  Yes, it really is 12 words.
• Can’t put into words what an honor it was to do the child dedications today.  To see those families stand up and commit in front of God and everyone that there home is going to strive to live out those powerful 12 words…AMAZING.

• We should have ordered more hats.  Just so you know that was completely my call.  I honestly didn’t think we would have that many fathers make it church today.  I underestimated your faithfulness.  And for that I am sorry.

• Really excited about the next sermon series…we are going to spend a few weeks celebrating marriages.  You aren’t going to want to miss this.

• Did you know we have about a half dozen couples in our church who have been married for over 60 years!  WOW.  What a testimony!

• Parting shot…Fathers you are the leaders…That is the way God designed it.  There is no changing it.  My prayer is that following you means following Christ.

Thoughts from Sunday

• Nothing easy about preaching on being Judgmental.  As one friend put it this morning, “not going to to get a lot of fan mail from the church people on this one.”

• But as I told him…I didn’t write it, I only get to preach it.

• This has been a challenging series for me…both as a preacher and as a man.  A lot to try and live out.

• Preaching today reminded me of the need for relational accountability.  Paul had an expectation that sending someone out of fellowship would wreck them to repentance.  I think a big part of that is based on the fact that to them the severed relationships would be too high a price for someone to pay.  I wonder…are you experiencing relationships like that in the body of Christ?  If not why not?

• Stephanie Trombley did a great job leading today.  I am continually amazed at the amount of talented people we have as a part of our community.

• Glad to hear our Grand Canyon rafting guys made it back safe and sound…look forward hearing their stories in the coming days.

• Next Sunday is Father’s day.  And although it may seem like the best way to spend your day would be watching the race or hitting the links…use the DVR and make your tee time for 1:40 not 10:40.  The greatest lesson a father teaches his children is what’s most important.  And you are teaching them…not by what you so but what you do.

• Mandy had a great post dealing with last weeks message…you need to check it out.  Thanks Mandy…couldn’t have said it better myself.

• Spent a couple hours out with my bride tonight.  Have heard too many stories in the last few months of marriages crumbling.  After Fathers day we are going to share some thoughts on marriage.  Whether you are married or not…I hope you make plans to be a part.  I truly believe this can be a catalyst for change in marriages throughout our community.

Love being a part of Prescott Christian Church.  Thanks for giving my family a place to belong.

As I was preaching a sermon on putting bondaries so far back from the edge that if you break your own standards there will b no great consequences…another minister was forced to offer up his resignation.

God knew what he was saying when he told us to RUN!  This is nothing to play around with.  If you missed out on the sermon yesterday I pray you will listen to it here and do whatever you have to, to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

Today’s topic always makes a people a little uncomfortable.  Who likes talking about sexual immorality?

But as uncomfortable as it is it is a HUGE issue that affects all of us.  You may be thinking…not me.  I don’t deal with that at all.  Even if that were true (and I sincerely doubt it) you are still affected be it.  There are at least 4 couples I know of in our congregation who’s families have/are/did live the nightmare scenario of an extra marital affair.  And when in happens to any of us…it happens to all of us.

And the pornography issue is no isolated incident either.  There are both men and women in our congregation that struggle daily with this temptation.  For many it started during childhood…sometimes with something they chose…often times because what they were exposed to by others but no matter where it began…it seems as if there is no end.

But there is hope.  If this is an issue you are struggling with let me share these thoughts…

• First…let me say you are not alone.  And the quicker you stop believing the lie, that you are the only one who has this problem, the quicker you can find healing.  If you are a man…find some men you trust and tell them.  Women…find some women you trust and tell them.  Sin lives in the darkness…but it loses all its power when it is brought into the light. So tell somebody.

• Second…you are going to have to make tough choices to change your behavior.  You are keenly aware of the places, people, channels, times, circumstances, environments that feed into your addiction.  And you can keep on convincing yourself that this time will be different, or you can make the hard choice now to reset the boundaries…before it costs you your job, your marriage, your children, your dignity…etc. etc. etc.

• Third …there are people who want to help.  www.xxxchurch.com is a wonderful ministry dedicated to helping people held captive by this issue.  They have great resources on their site.  They have everything from online workshops…claiming 30 days to purity…to articles…to testimonies…to a great free downloadable software (called 3x watch) that sends all the questionable websites you visit to an accountability partner.  I have it on my computer right now…because I want to set my boundary far back from the edge.

Remember the command from today 1 Cor. 3:16…run scared.  Don’t try to stand up and fight it…dont’ be a hero…flee.  To do anything less is disobedience.
There is hope…and there is help.  The question is are you willing to suffer a little humiliation now and get some help…to keep you from experience total devastation later.

So last night was the inguaral “First Steps” class since my time at PCC.

It was amazing.  People just kept on coming.  We ended up with 36 adults in attendence…and poor Mandy was inundated with nearly a dozen kids. It was great.  I got to share the Gospel and share our vision…and ask people to commit to both.  And we had 15 respond to one or the other on the spot.

I am sitting in my office…it is June 1st.  Exactly one year ago today I officially became the Lead Pastor of the Prescott Christian Church.  And Last night for me was a culmanation of a years worth of work.  We still have a long way to go…but being able to invite people on the journey with us through this First Steps Class was a big step for me.

I hope those of you out there who have yet to commit to Christ…or his church will consider doing it today.  There is no time like the present.  I would love to take you out to lunch and share my heart on the subject.

For my PCC family…thanks for bringing me along for the ride.