It's been awhile...

I haven't blogged in a long time and I am sorry. Probably it isn't that disappointing to any of you that are occaisional readers of the fridge. I got sick last week and the rest of the week was just crazy. So I plan on making an actual post sometime very soon, just wanted you to know that I haven't forgot about it and I am gonna get back to blogging this week.

The Best Gift Ever

This month I am preaching a series called "The Gift". Shocking and original sermon title for the month of December I know, but it has been something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. Here's why. I pretty much love this book that I'm reading, "The Pressure's Off" by Larry Crabb. It has challenged me entirely in my view of God and how I treat my relationship with Him. Am I really searching after Him (Which Larry suggests is The New Way of Living), or am I searching after His blessing (The Old Way of Living)? Larry says "We approach Him (God) the way a child approaches a weary Santa Claus in the mall, who for the hundredth time asks, "What do you want for Christmas?" I wager no child has ever pressed close to Santa's chest, looked up into his eyes and said, "You! I want only you." No Child believes having Santa join him for dinner could bring more joy than watching Santa stack presents beneath the tree." To me that is such a piercing thought. Do I really, from the bottom of my heart, desire Him and only Him, no matter what type of blessed or desperate state my life is in? I don't think that I can say that at all. When things are good, I forget His presence, and when things are bad, I just want Him to fix the things that are broken. Looking back, I can see that some of the most difficult things that I have gone through have made it possible to experience the presence of God in my life that I had never encountered before. It wasn't that He made the way out easier, but I knew that He was there. It was His presence that made the difference in the situation. I came face to face with Him.

He is The Gift, not His blessing. It's Him.

"Perhaps the greatest mistake in the modern church is its unrecognized tendency to encourage Old Way living. Books, sermons, and seminars present an appealing blessing, then tell us how to get it. "God longs to bless you," we hear. "Live in such a way that His blessings are released into your lives." We're living under deception. The supreme blessing He longs to give us is Himself. No other blessing is guaranteed until heaven. The blessings we now claim are so often something less than an empowering, enlivening, pride-destroying, self-effacing, joy-giving encounter with God." - Larry Crabb "The Pressure's Off"

Tu-be or not Tu-be

So I like to watch TV(and movies). A lot. I'm not proud of it but I can watch TV or movies for hours without even thinking about it (which is why we did not and will not get cable at our house, plus it costs money). However it has come to my attention that there is hardly anything worth watching on TV (after spending some time watching it). At least not enough to occupy my time for as long as I sometimes let it. So as of yesterday I have created a new rule for me in ("in" not "and")my house. I am only allowed to watch TV after I have read for at least 1 hour (this includes watching movies and playing video games also). The idea is that if I start my night by reading I might not even get to the watching. There is so much that I could be and should be reading and I always seem to put it off. I have officially made it a priority. All of you who think that it is pretty sad that I have to make this rule for myself...I think you are probably right. Last night was my first attempt at reading before watching and it was a success. I actually read for more than an hour and am on my way to finishing a book that I have been sporadically reading and starting over but never finishing for the last year. It's so embarassing to admit that. However, I cannot go back and change my mistakes and failures of the past, but I can make the effort to correct them for the future.

Great Week

So this last week I have not blogged because I have been outta town and busy seein family. Lots of family. Especially since the size of my family doubled when I got maried 3 months ago. The picture above is from the Tien Family Thanksgiving (that would be my mother-in-law's side) and is, of course, the obligatory "crazy face" picture as opposed to the "normal" picture of all of us. We ate a lot of delicious food and watched the Lions get destroyed by the Tennessee Titans. After spending time at the Tiens, Emily and I went with her parents and siblings to visit with her Dad's side of the family and managed to eat a little bit more before dozing off for a nap at 7pm. Nice. Anyway, it was a busy Thanksgiving filled with love, thanks and family. I am truly blessed to have TWO amazing, close, extended families. I got to see my family (minus my brother Nick who is going to school in Minneapolis, MN) on Saturday when they got home from Wisconsin to cap off the end of a great week. I have so much to be thankful for!

Super Family!

So a couple of big things have happened in our family over the weekend. My sister-in-law Alison Manning and her Volleyball team at Schoolcraft High School in Schoolcraft MI became the schools first V-Ball State Champs!!! They beat Calumet in three strait games in a best out of five match to win the title. Alison served the last serve of the season for the win! (The above picture was taken from the Detroit Free Press after the semi-final victory. It's my brother Mike giving Alison a hug...pretty sweet)

My brother-in-law finished up his college football career at Hope College as the starting Quarterback. They ended the season on a high note with a 45-27 victory over Alma. Jake holds the second all time passing yards record at Hope as of this year. Jake has done an awesome job as a leader on and off the field. Way to go man!

Finally. My cousin Kurt (second from the left with the sweet mohawk) won the Division 1 State Championship in Wisconsin with his team the Homestead Highlanders. Way to go Kurt!!

Lots of awesome athletes in the fam but they are even better people. Love you guys!!

Hangin With Friends Is Cool

Well if you were wondering what I was doing last weekend (which I'm sure you weren't), I think the bottom picture explains it all. SCARY! Anyway... Emily and I were visiting some friends (Matt and Kelly Ray) in Caro, MI last weekend and we took a trip to Frankenmuth. Oh ya! Frankenmuth is the location of Bronners which is like the Mecca of Christmas stores. If you want to find an ornament, or a nativity set, or a Christmas tree, or a stocking, or a ...you get the picture...that's where you go. Lots of Christmas stuff! We had a great time. Now I can hardly wait till Christmas (it's so magical) and Thanksgiving isn't even here yet! Matt and Kelly are some of the very best people in the world and I am so grateful to have them as friends. Matt and Kelly, you guys rock!

His Love is So Deep

I'm diggin this band...thinkin about Jesus and what He's done for me. I want to live for Him and not for me. It's funny how the Bible gives such clear and easy instructions how to do that and yet they are SO challenging. My young adult leader, Charlie showed me this verse last week and it challenged me..."He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (also a good Charlie Hall song) When I think about Jesus I am overwhelmed...

Lyrics to Forever Holy :

God, You stand when all has fallen
You embrace the long forgotten
I guess it's just hard to believe
The Grace You've poured out on me
I guess I'm just starting to see
How You're working in me

This is what makes my head spin
You're forever Holy
God of all creationPour Your life into me
This is so overwhelming
You're forever Holy
God of my Salvation
Clothe me in Your Glory, yeah

God, You hold when all is breaking
You restore the tired and aching
I guess it's just hard to believe
The Love You've poured out on me
I guess I'm just starting to see
How You're working in me, whoa Lord

Clothe me in Your Glory
Clothe me in Your Glory

Here They Are

I'm sure all of you have been dying to see pictures from Youth Convention! Check them out in the slideshow or click on the pics to see bigger images. Had a great time with my group. We ate a lot of fast food (ahhh memories of Master's Commission) and had a lot of "are we almost there" (ahhh more memories of Master's Commission). But Pastor Konan Stephens delivered a great challenge to be ready and available when God needs us. "Start where you are, Use what you have(God can use anything), and Do what you can." So I am praying that we also had a lot of spiritual fruit. Oh ya, and my heart almost stopped while I was in a "bouncey boxing" fight. I wanted to hurl after I got done. Hooray for Youth Convention!

Youth Convention!

Well, first night of Youth Convention and it's almost two in the morning. Just finished a game of euchre...and lost. Not cool! Having a great time. Pastor Konan Stephens spoke tonight and there were about 5 students who gave their heart to the Lord. Good stuff. Pictures to come soon, but for now...bedtime.

Jam the Vote!

A lil shout out to the Andy Samberg fans in the audience...anyway just got back from voting. Good times. It really is an amazing country that we live in. Everyone can vote! Well everyone that's of voting age obviously. That's pretty impressive when you look around the world and see what goes on in other countries during an election. The voter discrimination, the violence, the scandals and fear that are involved. It's kinda crazy! Sooooooooo... No matter what the outcome is tomorrow, let us all remember that God is still God and He is the one who we can put our trust in. It isn't the government or the president or the congress. It isn't the wisdom and social programs of man that change the world, it is the saving power of Jesus Christ! It is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths strait. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8

I'm Only 26!

Ok, so this last Friday(Holloween) I went to an Underoath concert (Underoath is a christian heavy metal band)with one of my youth leaders. I thought that with my age aproaching 27 this next year, and myself not feeling as hip as I used to be, I should do something to "fit in" with the heavy metal crowd. So a carved a mohawk into my head for the night. Hopefully you can get a decent look at this from the pictures. It wasn't the most pronounced mohawk in the world but it was indeed still a mohawk from the front of my head all the way to the base of my scull. So what better way to celebrate my new do than by sporting the mohawk man himself on my T-shirt...MR. T!...only to be asked at the show by a girl from my youth group.."who's Mr. T?" I then realized that I had no idea how to tell her who he was. Attempting to describe his role on the A-Team and Rocky III was met with another blank stare and the sudden realization that in all of my attempts to present myself as young and "with it" I had in fact dated myself very blatently. So I shaved the mohawk the next day(even though my wife Emily thought it looked good, or so she said) and embraced the fact that I am "me" and that I can still go to concerts, but I am indeed getting older.

I love being a pastor!

There are a lot of things that I like to do. At least that's MY perception of myself, perhaps I am actually more of a stick in the mud...but anyway one of the things that I love to do is my job. I just moved to Troy, MI and started my new job as the Student Ministries Pastor. I cannot even believe how amazing the students are here. Each one of them has so many talents and gifts and hurts and insecurities and so much potential. I want nothing more than for them to see that potential and see the limitlessness of God. I love watching God change lives. I love to see hearts changed and brokenness restored. I love to communicate God's love to others. I love being a pastor.

So I'm a blogger...

soon anyway. more to come!