what if i missed you?

As 2007 closed I had my last workout of the year.  I wanted to make sure it was a great one.  My goal in 2007 was to Bench Press 400 lbs!  I missed it.  I came up 35 lbs. short.  I feel great about my efforts so I’m looking forward to trying again in 2008. 

That got me thinking about missing it.  There are so many times I believe that God has goals for me accomplish and I simply miss it.  Maybe I’m not tuned in or my life is too busy to slow down and hear His voice. 

My bench press is important to ME and I worked hard to accomplish somethig huge and I’ll try again this year. 

But My Life goal is not to miss God’s voice this year and I never want to have to ask the question:  God, what if I missed you?

Today’s walk-away – listen closely when God speaks.  It may be through His word or a friend or a song – He still speaks.

Why the BUCKEYES will beat LSU

Buckeye fans – less than one week till OHIO STATE gets to play for it all again!  I’m excited and I believe Ohio State is much more prepared to win it all this year.

They are NOT over confident and the 50 day rest won’t be a factor this year.  They’ve been here before and know what to expect.

So saying all that:  Here’s my Top 7 reasons why OHIO STATE will beat LSU.

#7  Malcom Jenkins (a 2008 first round draft pick) and his speed, will be covering Early Doucet.

#6  I’m not impressed with how LSU’s QB, Matt Flynn, plays in Big Games. This is a big game.

#5  Brian!  Brian Harline (who gives hope to guys like me) & Brian Robiskie.  Who do you cover?  If you cover both look for the TE, Jake Ballard or Brandon Saine or Ray Small to be WIDE OPEN all the time.

#4  Vernon Gholston’s biceps – enough said!

#3  James Laurinatis – he’s an animal – oh wait that’s his dad…but seriously this future Top 10 pick (hopefully the Bengals draft him) is incredible which leads me to my #2 reason why the Buckeyes will win…

#2  Glenn Dorsey (may be a rumor) is hurt.  I’m sorry but LSU needs Dorsey to be 100% to be effective.

#1  Jim Tressel – wow what a head coach.  In an era where it’s all about ME, $$$, and FAME Coach Tressel is all about the TEAM.  Thank Coach Tressel for being such a great example.

Other reason why OHIO STATE will win…

In random order (except the first one) 

*Because I want them to…

*Beanie Wells is really BIG and runs really FAST

*They learned a BIG lesson from last year’s loss

*I already said it BUT I really want them to!

My prediction – later this week!

Feel free to send me your thoughts on the game- Andy

Go Buckeyes!

Happy New Year (DAY)!

Happy New Year!

It seems like every year people make these resolutions…these choices to do better…the average resolution lasts about 21 days. For those who make it 21 days (which is less than 50%) their resolution last about another 10 days.

Making New YEAR’S resolutions are tough. But I think that they are tough for a different reason than the obvious.

I think they are tough because they are resolutions for a YEAR. A YEAR that has a lot of variables and unknowns.

My choices this year is to wake up each morning and say Happy New DAY!

Now – each day I choose to give God my:

Faith
Family
Future
Frustrations

And that by giving Him these things I am confident that I will have the FREEDOM to know that I can have God’s FAVOR in my life!

So Happy New DAY 2008!

next level

First off, I hope you had a great Christmas!  I have had such a great Holiday.  I am in the middle of a 10 day break and outside of my daily prayer time my schedule has consisted of eating, relaxing, playing football with Gabriel, napping, playing a few new board games with Brooklyn and appreciating my family.

One of the gifts Gabriel (my 7 year old) got was a new football.  He got a ‘college-size’ football and it’s a step up in size for him.  So he put on his new Cincinnati Bengals helmet and we went outside to try out this new ball.

I talked to him about how this ball is a little bigger than his flag football and it might be a little bit harder but if he keeps trying and doesn’t get frustrated he’ll do great.

Guess what:  He did great!

My point:  In life we all need to be challenged to go the next level – staying in neutral or refusing to advance causes us to get stagnant.  Whether it’s how much you encourage, or the amount of money you save or the convictions you have I believe that we should always be striving to go the next level.

Gabriel dropped a few passes but his Father was there to encourage Him the whole time.  As you attempt to get to that next level be confident that God will be there with you.

How about you?  What new level do you need to get to?

Shoot me a line back and let me know!

Lessons from Tom Hanks

I’m serving right now as the Senior High Pastor at Christian Life Center in Dayton, OH.  One of my main goals is to see the big picture of how my job plays into the success/failure of the church. 

Recently Tom Hanks was on Regis and Kelly promoting his new movie.  They were talking about the director of this movie and Kelly asked him if–since he has directed movies before–if he tries to give the director his input.  His answer was “Absolutely not.”  He said on this film, his job was to be the actor.

Then he said that an actor has three jobs:  1. show up on time.  2.  know your lines.  3.  have a good idea of what you are accomplishing with the scene.

He said if you do these three things, you will make the director’s job much easier–which is what you need to do.

I think that relates to a staff pastor’s job in relation to his senior pastor or an employees role in a business.

It’s so important to serve the vision and serve it well!

When I (we) do that well our ministries & lives will be blessed and find sucess.

It’s Christmas…right?

Next week we’ll all take Tuesday, December 25th off and celebrate Christmas.  I think it’s still OK to say Merry Christmas right?  I thought you’d enjoy this Christmas Video.

By the way…I love my Mike Huckabee!

communication

How well do you communicate? 

I speak for a living – that is, as a pastor one of my main responsibilities is to speak. 

One of my goals of communicating is to do it well.  Occasionally I’ll channel surf and watch different speakers.  Some are motivational speakers, some are preachers, and some are just trying to sell a product. 

What I’ve noticed is there are some who are better than others – (insert the word – DUH here)

But why are they better?

I believe that great communicators take complicated things and make them simple and poor communicators take simple things and make them complicated.  You might want to re-read that statement.

Now I don’t believe that they do that on purpose BUT they are doing it. 

Maybe the reason is that NO ONE is telling them that they are communicating poorly. 

We all love to hear good things about ourselves but if that need to complimented is greater that the need to be better than we hurt ourselves.

Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.

My point:  ask people how you’re doing.

Ask a friend, your spouse, a co-worker to give you honest feedback on how you’re doing at work, with your attitude, or if you’re a pastor, like me, how did I really communicate this week.

It may sting a bit but you’ll get better.

must watch christmas movies

A friend of mine posted his favorite Christmas movies so here’s mine:

Home Alone – Good family fun.  You know you like it.

Jingle all the Way – just b/c my wife doesn’t like it doesn’t mean it’s bad – does it?

Santa Clause Trilogy – seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing (or visa versa)Frosty the

Snowman – It’s kind of scary – didn’t build a snowman till I was 12 b/c I was afraid Frosty would come to life!

The Nativity Story – Just being honest – could have been better – made the list b/c ‘Jesus is the reason for the Season.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – The underdog story – they should have a Rudolph Bowl Game

Polar Express – Wow!  I love this movie

Deck the Halls – just saw it!  Cool movie…

Nation Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – I’ve seen it 50 X and still laugh a lot!

1.  Elf – “you’re not Santa – you smell like beef & cheese…’ LOL!

All the others tied for #2 - the reason:  I have to watch them all during the Christmas season but if I didn’t watch ELF my kids wouldn’t know it’s Christmas – ahhh just kidding about that.

Have a great Christmas!

simple

 

I’m reading ’9 things you simply must do’ and it’s an amazing book.  One nugget I got today was that there are always action steps in a successful plan. 

The common thread in a plan is that the action steps are:  small, simple, and good.

Each of the steps in a great vision need to have small things that are simple to do but each small, simple thing is also a good idea for improvement.

For example:  If you want to save $5,000 and all you have is $500 don’t get frustrated. 

This success is built and sustained by saving $1 at a time.  I know that $1 seems so small but you can’t save the $5,000 without saving the $1.

This small, simple, good concept works for everything. 

If you want to get in better shape one 10 minute workout will get you toward your goal of being in better shape.

If you want to have a better marriage one date a week will get your toward your goal of having a better marriage.

Small, simple, good will always help you stay focused on the goal while acheiveing the ultimate big goal.  As you do this you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ve got a decent savings account, or are healthier or have a great marriage!

thanks

When was the last time you had a need and it got met and it was so apparent that God had a hand in it?

Cool question huh…

Yesterday I bought a new coat.  I needed a new coat.  I’m in Dayton and didn’t have a coat and it’s cold.  But buying a new coat for yourself at Christmas is tough when we are spending $$$ for Christmas.

Well, my beautful wife calls me and says a couple, who are friends of ours, sent us a card with $100 in it.  So Thank  You God.

My coat is warm!