Matt's Blog

The other night my youngest daughter Kara and I had spent some quality time reading out loud with each other.  Afterward,  she was reminded by mom that it was time for her to work on memorizing her multiplication facts.

Her response was classic.

She came to me with multiplication table in hand and big “crocodile tears” in her eyes.  She said, “Daddy, I hate doing math facts.  Why do I have to do them.  I’d much rather read with you.” Like all good fathers, I folded – no just kidding :  )

Then it came to me…I responded to Kara and said, “I can understand you might not enjoy learning your multiplication facts.  However, it’s important for your education. Mom and dad aren’t asking you to learn them because it helps us, we’ve already gone to school.  Believe us, hounding you to learn your math facts is no fun for us, but we’re doing it for your good. Learning you times table will help YOU.”

Like all nine year-olds she did it because she had to – so together we worked on it.

The next morning during the time when I read my bible and journal some…it hit me.  When it comes to READING THE BIBLE, most followers of Jesus are like my daughter.  I know I once was.  We often see reading the Bible has something our Heavenly Father requires us to do, and we do it because we’re supposed to.

But what if somewhere along the line we misunderstood why we should read the Bible. Does reading the bible help God? Is God some how benefited by our time in the scriptures?

Much like multiplication facts…reading the bible isn’t because our Heavenly Father needs a refresher, it’s to help US!

For reflection: Psalm 119:5-6

Popularity: 18%

Wooohoo…did I enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.  It was a good but tiring 7 week run with out a break.  So Steph, the girls and I went to visit her sister and brother-in-law in Rixyville VA.

It was a beautiful drive where Stephanie and I got to connect on the way. Upon arrival we had a delicious Thanksgiving lunch filled with laughter and chatter.  Then as a group we walked the dogs – our ulterior motive was to make room for left overs and pumpkin pie!  My brother-in-law and father-in-law built a bonfire and Leah and Kara got to make ’smores – yummy!  Then we almost went to the ER has the girls were taken on a hay-ride driven by a four wheeler.

A couple of highlights of the Thanksgiving weekend

• I got to sleep in 2 days in a row- hurray!
• We followed our Thanksgiving feasting the following morning with a visit to IHOP.
• I wrestled with both my girls
• I got to catch up with a friend and we went to see the movie 2012
• Apparently, I broke some “man-date” rule by not inviting another friend.  So the next night a group of us went to see the movie Nija Assassin.  BTW – yes, I do love Jesus even though I saw that movie.
• Did I mention I got to sleep in
• Got to go to church as a family and we all sat together
• Enjoyed hearing Elwood preach

I’m so thankful for all the kindness and generosity God has shown me and my family. It is undeserved and is only possible because of the grace found in Jesus!

I hope you and yours had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Popularity: 12%

Thanksgiving…

-A day off

-Good food

-Time with family

- Black Friday

All of these can be good things, but sometimes it hard for us to celebrate because “life-happens” and we may not experience Thanksgiving the way we had hoped.

I was talking with a friend the other day on the phone.  He has some serious health issues with his heart that he was telling me about.  Then he said something that shocked me.  He said, “I’m grateful it because it could be much worse.”  He went on to share how he’s run into other people whose pain and affliction is much more severe than his.

This got me thinking…instead of focusing on what isn’t going the way I want maybe I could be thankful for what blessings I do have.

So I wanted to share a couple things I’m thankful for:

1. God didn’t leave me the way He found me (and if you know me, you should be grateful too)

2. My stunningly beautiful and amazing wife and daughters – all who make my heart smile.

3. For the friends that like me even when I’m unlikeable

4. I have a job I love

5. My basic need are met – food, shelter, and clothing

I’d love to know what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Popularity: 11%

“So, what do you do for a living?” is a common question that we get asked.  What people really want to know is, what gets the majority of your time, attention, thoughts, and energies?  Are you a full-time engineer working for the government?  Are you a full-time military person serving a specific branch of the armed forces?  Are you a full-time mom who manages the home and cares for the children (btw-one of the hardest and most important jobs that is both under appreciated and under valued).

You see – whether we realize it or not all of us are a “full-time” something and then “part-time” every where else.  All of us either intentionally or unintentionally have chosen where to invest the best of ourselves.

Yesterday I was so fortunate to be able to attend a conference called “Catalyst One-Day”.  It’s lead by two amazing church leaders who are heroes of mine; Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley.  During one of the talks Craig Groeschel made an unforgettable statement. He said, “I realized I had become a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Jesus.” Basically he was saying that his occupation had some how became his first priority, even over Christ.

As a fellow pastor I too have fallen into that trap of allowing my job in the church to become my full-time passion rather than Christ.  I believe that first and foremost that I should be a full-time follower of Jesus Christ (He should get the best of me)! It got me thinking. I wonder if other people may struggle with that as well?

Have you become a full-time _______________ (fill in the blank) and a part-time follower? Are you and I really better pastors, engineers, soldiers, and parents when our occupations get our full-time passions instead of Christ? Or is it possible that when we MAKE Jesus our full-time devotion that we actually become better as parents, workers, friends, and spouses?  How will we know unless we try.

So are you full-time or part-time….?

Popularity: 15%

No one likes a bad deal because it leaves us feeling cheated.  A bad deal means you paid more than you should have and got less than what you wanted.  When we get cheated we don’t like the people who took advantage of us.

Confession time – sometimes I cheat others.  You see the Bible says, God despises unfair scales (not weighing fairly or a double standard).

Here’s the bad deal I give, I judge others by what they do and judge myself by my intentions.  It’s not a fair measuring scale.  If I was honest it’s a double standard.  I’ve realized that I’m not alone, that most of  the human race struggles with this.

I wonder how different we would treat each other if we gave the same slack to others that we give ourselves.    What would happen to our anger issues if we put ourselves in the “other persons shoes” and gave them the same grace we’d want?

The saddest part of this truth is that I often cheat the people I love the most and who are the closest to me.  I’ve discovered GREAT NEWS…it doesn’t have to be that way.  It’s so simple, I just copy what God did.  Instead of giving me what I deserve He has poured out His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

What if those who followed Jesus didn’t cheat?  What if we gave to others what we give ourselves and what God so graciously gave us – GRACE!

Popularity: 7%

Do you have any God sized dreams or desires?  Maybe it’s to someday work with aids orphans.  It could be working with senior adults who are lonely.  It might be tutoring under-privileged children.  There’s a saying I saw and I don’t know who said it but it was profound.  It goes something like this; “Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what sets you on fire?  What the world needs is people burning brightly!”

If you could do something you knew wouldn’t fail, what would it be?  Are you moving towards “it” or away from it, because you can’t be neutral.  No action is an action in the opposite direction.

I know I often settle for less than God’s best.  Tame dreams and shallow wishes.  Why, because it’s safe.  God sized dreams require more than I bring to the table.  And that’s usually the problem for most of us…it’s a trust issue.  Everyone wants to see a miracle, yet if we were honest none of us want to be in a place where we have to depend on one.  Or more accurately we don’t want to have to depend on the ONE.

One of the heroes of the bible, Moses told God roughly 5x’s in a row why he was the wrong guy for the job.  From the outside, we say how stupid could he be.  Yet how often do I tell God (not wise by-the-way) all the reasons why I can’t do whatever “it” is He may want me to do.

What’s on your list of reasons why God couldn’t use you?  Is making a difference in this world about ability or availability?  Will we let our list of excuses or God’s character drive how we live?  For me, I know it’s a daily choice and sometimes I win and sometimes I lose.

Jesus answered a temptation this way, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.”  You see food allows us to exist – but existing isn’t the same as living.  Living comes from God speaking into our lives and us responding.

Are you existing or living?  What if…

Popularity: 7%

I’ll never forget what the Taekwondo master instructor said that day.  It was a Saturday morning lesson, which Leah and I never take due to my schedule.

It just so happened that the founder of the Black Belt Academy was teaching that morning.  Leah and I had been learning something new called “form”.  “Form” is basically practicing specific Taekwondo moves and motions in a precise and slow rhythmical manner (think of a rehearsing a dance move by yourself).  To be honest I was thinking, “What a waste of my time.”  Then as the master instructor was showing us the proper way to do “forms” he made this comment, “Practicing form is not how you would fight.  It’s purpose is to help you learn balance and power.”

Then it hit me.  I’m and idiot (something some of you already know).  I wasn’t into practicing “form” because I proudly thought I know better than my instructor.  Me thinking that I knew better wasn’t hurting my instructor at all.  My attitude caused me to miss out on the benefit “form” is intended to provide.

How often do I miss out because I do life my way instead of God’s?  Why would you or I ever do that?  Well, if we’re honest it’s because sometimes we think, “God, I know better than you.”  We rationalize in our minds that God doesn’t understand.  He doesn’t know what real life down here on this messy Earth is like.  For me, I’ve discovered whenever I think I know better than God – I always lose out.

So today it maybe worth asking…what has the Master Instructor told us to do that we’ve blow off because we think we know better?  We might just be missing out.

Popularity: 6%

Some Monday morning thoughts…

• I’m blown away by the passion and excellence of our volunteers!  I believe we have some of the best volunteers in the world.  Yesterday had excellence and the love of Christ written over all we did
• One person came up to me after the message yesterday and said, “I wish someone would have told me all this 30yrs ago!”  So even though the material for this series is sensitive it’s worth the risk.  I’m tired of lives being damaged and destroyed because we lack the courage to talk about sex in the church.
• I’m both pumped and nervous about next weeks message addressing “same-sex-attraction”.  People matter deeply to God – so they matter deeply to us.  If you remember could you keep my in your prayers as I prep for this message.  Our hope and prayer is the SouthPoint will be a SAFE place for people to encounter Jesus.
• btw – just a reminder.  It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to change people not ours!
• Kudo’s to our children’s team…I continue to get rave reviews from parents and visitors whose kids love what happens on Sunday mornings.
• I excited that SouthPoint is about to take the next step in acquiring a potential piece of property and can’t wait to share the details as they get finalized.
• Amazing…in January we will CELEBRATE our 5 year anniversary as a church.
• Can’t wait to see how God will use the staff and creative team this week to prep for our Christmas Eve service – start inviting now, you won’t want to miss it!
• I’m really looking forward to spending some quality time with Stephanie today – just me and her.  Can’t believe I’m married to her – yeah :  )

Enjoy today…

Popularity: 7%

There’s an old saying, “Tell a lie often enough and people will believe it’s true.” However, believing a lie doesn’t make it true no matter how much we wish it did.  This has happened to me and I bet it’s happened to you.

Does the daily bombardment of images and messages on the web, the radio, on TV,  and in magazines reinforce truths or lies?  What might I believe to be true that may be a lie because I’ve heard and seen it so often?

I wonder how this reality applies to our thoughts about love, sexuality, and our image of the opposite sex?  When it comes to love, sex, and the opposite gender who should we go to for truth?  Who really has our best interest in mind?

For me, I’ve discovered that some things I thought were true that just aren’t.  I’ve learned and continued to learn that there’s a difference between being a male and being a man.  Is being man about our physical stature and endowment…is that what it means to be a real man?  Is man-ness summed up by the ability to get pleasure and please a female/s?  Is what happens in the bedroom the ultimate measuring stick for a guy or girl as a human-being (no pun intended)?

Is the portrayal of the modern female accurate?  Is she a strong intelligent woman by day – whose really a sultry sex-starved girl whose only desire is to be some guy’s toy?  Will she become like a puppy dog who will follow a man around and do what he wants as long as she gets satisfied?  Does she really deep down just want to be dominated and degraded by whatever actions a male decides makes him happy?

Is the picture of the modern male accurate?  The stress of life never bothers him.  He has time to be successful in his career and work out so he can sport that 6pack abs.  Not only does the stress of life and exercise not tire him, but he has boundless energy to be romantic at every turn with enough left over be an amazing father who helps with house work.  On top of that he doesn’t have to worry about the cultures picture of  “every guys a porn-star” image.  He’s not only patient, he’s a mind reader who can send his women into a physical bliss regularly.

Just wondering…does believing a lie help or hurt?  Does what we believe about ourselves and the opposite sex set us up to win in life?  Or do false expectations set us up for massive disappointment?

Find the truth…believe the truth…think on the truth.

Popularity: 8%

The other day a thought hit me.  Going to the gym and our relationship with God have something in common.  You’re probably asking yourself, “How does the gym have anything to do with God?”  I’ve been a gym rat on and off for the last 15yrs.  Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Matt we’ve seen you and you must be doing something wrong at the gym, because if the wind blew to hard you’d get knocked over.  Understand I just have bad genes and please no jokes about my “chicken legs”…OK, enough babbling for now.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that no matter how much activity or how hard you work in the gym there is a factor that plays a major part in how we look physically.  Any guesses on what that might be?  In my chase for looking like something I’ll never be (why are we never satisfied with how God made us, but that’s a question for another post) I discovered this amazing fact.   Did you know that 60% of the way we look in the mirror is based on our diet? So for all the energy we put into exercising can be offset and hindered by how we eat.

Then it hit me…this same principle is true of our spiritual lives!

I can do a lot of good or religious activities but how well I look will be based on how well I “eat” (genuinely connect with God).  Because if I do a lot of activities but I’m not connected to Christ I’m just wasting my time and efforts.  I mean life keeps us busy with many things that are both necessary and good like; work, parenting, cleaning, family, school, friends, and even church stuff.  However, if we’re not intentional about filling ourselves with God and His presence our lives may end up “looking” differently than we hoped for.

If you had to describe your spiritual eating habits, what would that description look like?  Do you know what things help you connect you with God?  Is it solitude, is it reading the Bible, is it a walk by yourself out in nature, is it serving the less fortunate with others?  If you kept count of your spiritual intake (like we often do for calories) what would discover?

When it comes to how we look both physically and spiritual we may have different goals.  Some of us like me who are thin are trying to add a little weight, others might be trying to lose weight.  Some train for strength while others train for endurance.   So while our “eating habits” may have different components the goal is the same – spiritual health.  Eat well!

Popularity: 9%