Rick Nier...Woo!

Since God is for us, who cares who is against us? I'd heard this worded in this way a long time ago, but thoughts of Easter week brought it back once more. Plus, the irony of this day and its' title always makes me pause. Good Friday. Think about the last time you came home or met up with a friend somewhere. They probably ask how your day has been. Now think about all the many, eternally insignificant, things that you consider when giving your answer. I got to sleep in, the weather is nice, it's a good hair day, my cat didn't cough up a hair ball, so on and so forth.  I'm not saying I don't have better days than others. But when we consider what was done on this one particular Friday, all our days got that much better.  It was this line of thinking that clearly got the Apostle Paul fired up. Whenever someone asks questions and provides their own answers, they are either horrible conversationalists or they are ramped up about the topic at ha...

I read part of a book not too long ago that talked about rhythm versus balance. In a nutshell, it said balance should not be our goal. Balance, in this person's opinion, was not even the prize we should be after, as it wasn't realistic. It talked of seasons in life where focus had to be given more towards one area rather than evenly divided, even amongst other things that were deserving of our attention.  I hope that's right, because that is how Easter week feels. The schedule is full as we throttle forward to the big Sunday of celebration. After all, Easter egg hunts don't just plan themselves.  And while I am in no way comparing how I am spending this week with how Jesus spent His final week, I do look forward to the rest which will come...next week. I imagine, in spite of the impending pain Jesus no doubt new was coming, there had to be a part of Him that was forging ahead, knowing victory...and rest, would soon come afterward.  Thinking about t...

I wasn't sure about this one. I had this book, Altar Ego  by Craig Groeschel sent to me by my good friends at YouthWorker Journal. Since they are a youth ministry group, most of the stuff I see come from them has a direct correlation to youth ministry. And, not to be judging a book by its' cover, this book seemed more generally suited for becoming a better Christian. This, of course, is good and is needed. But in the context of youth ministry, I was imagining trying to get my teens to read a book. Maybe a series of tweets. Perhaps a longer Facebook post. But a book? Well, I stand corrected. Not only does Craig write in a manner that is both page-turning and convicting, this book is perfectly designed for those who preach and teach in monthly series. This is something I do, so halfway through this book I was imagining series names and small group discussions. Divided into three parts, Craig adeptly deals with removing worldly labels and accepting the image God has give...

Have you ever been in one of those setting where ghost stories run rampant? Perhaps you're at a campfire or maybe it's an old abandoned house. Either way, it's creepy. Chances are there's some punk kid who is going around, sneaking up on people and screaming. There's always at least one of that kid. Well, as much as I hate to admit this, that place where ghost stories exist is also a place I walk in every single day. I work at a church and there have been rumors. I had heard stories from the past. But that's all they were. Just fun stories. However, recently, more stories have surfaced, some even told by people I wouldn't expect to hear ghost stories from. What makes our stories unique? Our ghost whistles. Yes. We apparently have a whistling ghost. Why does he whistle? He hasn't told me, but I assume it's because he doesn't know the words. I digress. People have heard the whistling from different areas of our building, a large 2-story...

What better way to begin a week than to take the focus off of me and to point you towards the good thoughts of another blogger, this time Rachel Held Evans. Even better than that is the topic at hand is how the focus shouldn't be placed squarely on any of us as individuals. In this post, Rachel tackles her thoughts on a new version of the Bible, one I agree shouldn't be printed .

If you've been wondering what has happened to my God First, Man Second series, I have an explanation. My blogging is subject to my whimsy. For some of my readers, you had no idea that I even had a blogging plan, much less enough focus to provide series. For others, I lost you when I mentioned whimsy . Either way, the God First, Man Second  series is where I point out scriptures that clearly put God first and man second. Yes, I'm a wizard when it comes to naming things. But the absence of this series has not been due to any lack of my reading scripture. It's just been due to.... Whimsy. Nevertheless, here's what I read recently. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They ...

I'm going to go ahead and put this idea out there, knowing it will make someone else rich. I have no protection or patent on this idea. I just want to help people. That's what I do. Allow me to paint you a picture. You're in your vehicle and you have a reason to get somebody's attention. Wouldn't it be nice if you had some way of doing so? Before you mock and assume your superiority, please know I am not talking of simply a car horn. I am talking about a Vehicle Voice Magnifying System. Think about this...we have thousands of words in the English language to display our thoughts and emotions. One does not have to settle for saying they feel good or sad or ' grunt '.  So why limit ourselves to a mere honk while on the road? We're not geese and, aside from that whole teamwork-flying-V thing they have going, there's nothing about geese for us to be jealous. It's annoying when people honk their car horns. You have no idea who they are hon...

I am not sure if I would consider myself a customer as part of Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. But since that is what I technically am, let me say they know how to treat their customers.  Imagine walking into a store and being told that, without asking for it, they were giving you something they knew you would like. That's exactly what my friends at Waterbrook have done.  As with most things in life, I have filled out a profile. Now I know they have read that profile. How do I know? They surprised me with a book that I didn't ask for, but one I have enjoyed reading. It's called The Customer Rules  by Lee Cockerell.  Even if you don't recognize Lee by name, you'll know the places he has helped improve. He is a former Excutive VP at some little operation in Orlando, Florida starring one Mickey Mouse. Before that, Lee also held positions at Hilton Hotels and Mariott, hotel chains that seem to do well.  What he has done here i...

The challenge has been set. The gauntlet has been laid. And the chances are against me going anywhere but McDonald's when the game is over. March brings Madness for any fan of college basketball. Madness is nothing new for my household, so let the insanity commence! I print out a bracket for each of my family members. This includes my children, ages 6, 9 and 11. We've done this for years now, each member selecting their winners. Then, as the tournament progresses, I keep track of points. The person with the most points gets to select the next restaurant we eat at. It's harmless. After all, we're going to eat out some time. Someone has to choose. We might as well make it fun. What's fun for me is putting my college basketball knowledge, based on ESPN analysts, against the whims of my family members. There's my wife, who choose teams based on who was good back in the 90's, when she last paid attention to college ball. There's the 11-year old w...

I was reminded this weekend about joy versus happiness. I was with my youth group at an over nighter. We were being entertained by the comedic styles of 3-2-1 Improv . Mike, Tim and Carl were hilarious and kept our attention for over an hour. Towards the end they shared the very important message that teens need to hear. Actually, everybody needs to hear it. Not only does the pursuit of pleasure lead to fading happiness, but God designed us for more than that. We are made to live with joy, something that can't be taken away by circumstances. The guys from 3-2-1 Improv showed by their unique ministry that God has gifted us all and we can pursue that. Each one of us has a unique gifting and calling from God. I'd probably say more about this, but I believe I mentioned that this was an all nighter. I'm still catching up on sleep. While it may be a temporary pleasure to take a nap, it brings me great joy knowing that I can take one.

I know the danger of listening to music simply because it has a good beat. Would it help if, in this case, the song was humorous as well? I'm speaking of Train's 50 Ways to Say You Died . Here's a sample: That's cool, but if my friends ask where you are I'm gonna say She went down in an airplane Fried getting suntanned Fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand Help me, help me, I'm no good at goodbyes! She met a shark under water Fell and no one caught her I returned everything I ever bought her Help me, help me, I'm all out of lies And ways to say you died I'm not condoning lying. I like creativity, but dishonesty drives me crazy. The lead singer, Pat Monahan, has some fun ways of avoiding the truth. But in the end, he knows the truth. I think people who say they love Jesus know the truth as well.  Christians give a lot of reasons why they don't share Jesus Christ with others. They may ask something I can't ans...

The 4-14 Window If you can't see it, click the link... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtj_R0Chyc8   10  After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the  Lord  nor what he had done for Israel.   11  Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the  Lord  and served the Baals.   12  They forsook the  Lord , the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the  Lord ’s anger   13  because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.  ~Judges 2:10-13 How is it possible for an entire generation to not know God? How is it possible for an entire generation to be lost? How can we return our focus to where it needs to be? One of the biggest fears I have is that I might come to the end of a long life of hard minist...

8  Lead me in the right path, O   Lord ,      or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow. 9  My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.      Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.      Their tongues are filled with flattery. [ a ] 10  O God, declare them guilty.      Let them be caught in their own traps. Drive them away because of their many sins,      for they have rebelled against you. Pictured here is a trophy. Yes, it’s one of mine. Yes, it’s for a spelling bee. Yes, my mom is very proud.   Trophies are something we pursue, be they trophies from contests, higher salaries, trophy wives. Our trophies take different forms, but I would suggest we need to watch what it is we pursue. The idea we often keep in a box is that when the evil ones profit, they have won. But who s...

How do you handle life when it gets real and life-like? Life has a tendency to do that, you know, to become more real than Reality TV. How do you handle the changes to your schedule, the stresses from work and home, the bitterness and discouragement that can come when dreams are dashed and hopes are shattered? When loved ones are lost while the wild world just keeps spinning on, seemingly out of control? I think Psalm 5 can help us out. The fact that this is a morning prayer reveals that sometimes life’s troubles will follow us, even after we’ve had a night’s sleep. But notice that David began his day by crying out to God. 1  O   Lord , hear me as I pray;      pay attention to my groaning. 2  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,      for I pray to no one but you. It sounds like David knows his audience. I’m not talking to anybody else here, but you God. And addressing God as King was to appeal to the covenant relat...

Ever had one of those days, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? So you pushed the snooze alarm a couple of more times... Maybe you know what's coming and you don't want to face it at all. (Do I have an example?) Anyone felt that way this morning? (Pause) Nope, just me?!? Well, I have come across a simple exercise that usually helps. It is a stress management technique recommended in the latest psychological texts. 1. Picture yourself near a stream. 2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air. 3. No one but you knows your secret place. 4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "the world". 5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity. 6. The water is crystal clear. 7. You can easily make out the face of the person you're holding underwater. Sometimes we feel that way. You're not alone. Listen to Psalm 5. 1  O   Lord , hear me as I pray;      pay attentio...

Okay, this isn't a man-crush, but here's why I like MarkO. He's good at what he does (youth ministry), a great thinker and writer (it sounds like I am gushing), and most of all, he still does junior high ministry. You may have never heard of him, but he's a name in youth ministry. Along other things on his blog, he has this series of posts of things he hears in his 7th grade boy's small group. Good stuff! Go here to check out the latest.  Woo!

Each week I give time for my teens to write down things for which they would like prayer. It keeps me from having to write them all down when I ask if there are any special prayer requests, plus I don't have to rely on my memory, which is clearly storing much-needed information about my wife; birthday, anniversary, credit card usage (Yikes!). So the teens write them down and put them in a Baggage Check box we made. We do this at the beginning and then they can focus on the discussion, knowing they have been heard. (By the way, I stole this idea, a practice I highly recommend...stealing ideas, and praying.) Now perhaps it was a weak moment the next day at the office when I was reading through the list of prayer requests. But while praying for certain requests from my youth, I sighed, because it seemed that I had seen several of these requests before. I was discouraged that they haven't moved on from that need. After all, didn't we pray for that just last week? It's ...

I walk in. I get what I want. I pay for what I want. I walk out. That is the ideal order of things for me. When I'm not shopping with my wife, that is a possibility. But there's been something new going on that has prevented my solo shopping trips from being so swift and succinct. Apparently I am so desired that ladies at the check out counters ask me for my phone number and email address. I guess that's why they call it the check out counter. Alas, since I am a happily married guy, I'm not sure I need to be giving out all this information just so I can purchase a tube of toothpaste. Maybe I don't want all your emails telling me of another made-up female holiday for which my wife would be extremely grateful if I bought her tubs of lotion. I'm looking at you, Bath & Body Works! Just like in every other area of life, I would appreciate jumping through less hoops and just give me the good price. I shouldn't need a card or a code or a swirling blu...

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath ~Psalm 2:4-5 It could seem at first that God has multiple-personality disorder. Or perhaps just an emotional version of ADD, where He's not sure how He wants to feel. Or He could simply be a moody teenage girl, changing moods faster than Clark Kent changes clothes in a telephone booth. (Does he still do that?)  But God is not suffering from any of the above.  God laughs... then rebukes... In my head, this is  a funny picture. As my pastor preached on this recently, I had to stifle my own laughter as I pictured God laughing a big, mocking laugh. Then, in my head, God stopped laughing abruptly and got serious.  Why are we given this picture of God anyway? Why does He seem to change more often than the women in my family when deciding what to wear in the morning? The first 3 verses of Psalm 2 will clear this up. 1  ...

So as I was telling my kids about this book, it struck me very quickly that reading the Bible should do this for each one of us. Yes, God's Word alone should be enough to convince us all. But let's be honest... Now allow me to back up a step.  I had a long distance meeting, one in which I'd be driving for more time than I'd be in a meeting. For me, this means redeeming the time with an audio-book. This meeting's selection was Todd Burpo's Heaven is for Real .  Yes, I know I am woefully behind when this came out, as well as any controversy that came with it. I think this book is worth your time, so I will avoid giving away any of the juicy details. But I will tell you some... Since this book is older, it is beyond what is worthy of needing a spoiler alert . Suffice it to say that Colton Burpo, the 3 year old boy (at the time), needed some emergency surgeries. During this time, he was allowed a view of Heaven that many have wanted.  The st...

I haven't read much from The Robert D. just yet, but I liked this. In fact, the only part of the American Idol season I even watch anymore is the beginning when tone-deaf people walk in (and out) with all the overconfidence in the world. Woo! Question: How do 100,000 people who can’t carry a tune in a bucket show up to audition for  American Idol ? Answer: Somebody lied to them. At some point in their lives, somebody told them that they could  sing. Somebody wanted to make them  feel good.  Somebody didn’t want to rock the boat. Somebody might have even thought they were helping. Somebody justified it, thinking it would build self-esteem. We all have had that somebody in our lives. And most of us have listened to him. But success is built on a foundation of wisdom and truth. And if we’re going to find it, we have to get good at catching our own delusions. Another Question: How do you spot the person around you who has been telling you lies? ...