Thursday, April 30, 2009

I May Have Committed a Parenting Flop

It seemed like a good enough idea. I negotiated a deal with my son, get your haircut, get an mp3 player.

I'm not sure when it started, but he just kept letting his hair grow longer and longer. I guess I figured that sooner or later he would get tired of it and want to cut it. But it never happened. It just kept getting longer and longer.

I realize there aren't many areas of self expression that kids have, so I didn't want to take it from him by force, so last week when he kept pressuring me to buy him an mp3 player, I thought I may have found a way to get his haircut.

The deal went down yesterday, and sadly to say, not that well. He wasn't pleased with how short his hair was. We bought him the player and this morning, he was really concerned about going to school with the new 'do'.

But that's not the worst part I'm finding out. I know, I may have erred in making a deal on something I could have just done. I'm the parent, I could have sheared the kid with no explanation. its a father's prerogative. Here's the worst part. My six year old daughter started working me this morning about her getting an mp3 player.

My son is sitting at the table eating his Fruity Pebbles, and is watching me back pedal with my daughter about how she is not going to get any deal like he did. Gabe pipes up and says "Act sadder Faith, then he'll do it".

I'm not sure how this is going to end up. But one thing has become amazingly clear to me this morning. My 8 year old son has graduated to full manipulation capabilities. Its sad to admit, but he has realized a truth that many already know- I can manipulate people with my emotions.

We had a talk, and I'm sure we'll have more, but the bottom line is this- manipulating people with emotions is wrong. Its not a good way to get what you want in this world. In the long run, its going to backfire, because people do not like to be manipulated.

Have you advanced past my son? Better yet, have we advanced past my son? Manipulation is not love, coercion is not love. Don't take advantage of those you love.

I may have flopped yesterday as a parent with this whole mp3 hair thing, but the good news is this. God can repair whatever was broken. It wasn't a huge deal. I guess its just one of those things you learn as a parent.

Gabe's hair does look good though!

blessings
Matt

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Swine Flu? Let's Blame Porky Pig!

If you've been watching the news or reading it as I do, I'm sure you're aware of the 'swine flu' thing that seems to be moving around a bit.

Let me start by saying this- I am not a medical doctor. This blog does not take the place of medical advice.

I've been thinking about how I can send out a message of encouragement about this flu, without making it seem as though I am asking you to put your head in the sand. They way I see it, we have two choices- stay home and stockpile canned beans, or live our lives and pray for the best. The point being, I think there are some precautions we could take, like not traveling to Mexico and kissing someone we don't know. But, we also can't live our lives in the grip of fear from something that we can't really control or understand.

I think its that way with most things in our life. Cancer, death, the lottery. There are certain things that we cannot control and for some reason those things that we cannot control seem to be the things that we spend a lot of time thinking and praying about.

What's the saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment? Something like that, basically, that being prepared is good. I think that's important, but I also think that its important to always leave God in the equation. He knows what we're dealing with. He knows what is going on. We don't have to live our lives in fear.

Keep prayed up. Wash your hands. No kissing people you don't know. I think we'll be fine.

Blessings
matt

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Power of a Phone Call From Doug

I had a great phone call coming out of church on Sunday. As I was leaving and locking up, I got in my truck and noticed that my friend Doug had called me. As I usually do, I called him right back and asked what was up.

It was great. He had just called to encourage me. He said that He felt like the Lord wanted him to call me and encourage Crystal and I in our ministry. He encouraged us to stay the course, to realize that the work that we were doing was good and to know that we were supported. It felt great to get a call like that. Who doesn't love encouragement?

Here's the kicker. Doug is the Pastor of Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn. We're not the same denomination. We have no professional affiliations other than we both pastor in the same city. He's the "competition" to most pastors. To me, He's a fantastic guy who has the right mindset when it comes to helping people- we're all in this together.

Pastor Doug has the mindset that its not about him, and its not about me. Its about doing the right thing for God and the people of our city.

Sure, you may not be a pastor or even go to church, but I would assume that there is someone in your sphere of influence that is trying to accomplish the same things that you are.

Are you reaching out to them? Are you encouraging them? Or are you so wrapped up in competing with them that pride has a hold of you? I would guess that Coke isn't calling Pepsi every week and encouraging them to keep selling soda, but that's not the point. The point is that when we encourage other people to accomplish what God has called them to do (even if its the exact same thing we're supposed to do) we increase the likelihood of our own personal success.

Thanks for the encouragement Doug. I want to encourage you in your work also. You're a great guy, and a great Pastor. Your church is blessed to have a guy like you at the tip of the spear.

Be blessed today, and pick up that phone and encourage someone!

matt

Friday, April 24, 2009

A First Trip To Krispy Kreme Donuts

If you know me, you know I love donuts. Always have. I'd probably weigh about 40 pounds less if they didn't exist, because I probably eat too much of them.

Its beyond comprehension actually. I could eat a donut everyday. Really, if I were honest, I could eat two, sometimes three a day. I would say that there are more days than not that I would think about having a donut. Fritters, raised, cake, crullers, holes, old fashioned, it doesn't matter. They all have a place in my heart.

I know great donut places too. I've been to a bunch of them in the Puget Sound area. I know which places have the best, and which don't.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take some missionaries from Holland, whom I met in Ghana on a driving tour of Seattle. Of course, as part of our trip, I figured it would be best to include a few stops at some of the best donut shops in the area. Maybe its just me, but when I think about the best that Seattle has to offer, I usually start with the donut stops.

So throughout the day I was dropping subtle hints about donuts. As in, "would you guys like some donuts" and "hey, there's a great donut place" and "Do they have donuts in the Netherlands"?

We were down at Pike Place Market and I tried to get them to join me in a donut at the stand next to the flying fish. I only got one, a small raised (they have dinner plate sized fritters for 8 dollars) and they seemed uninterested.

We were on our way home, driving south on the viaduct, and I took the exit to get to Interstate 90, and as luck (or natural desire) would have it, we drove by Krispy Kreme Donuts, the donut mecca of the universe. I couldn't help it. I asked them if they had ever a Krispy Kreme, and of course they hadn't.

They finally gave in. After all of my hints, my encouragements, my talking, after about a dozen comments, they agreed to try a Krispy Kreme.

Do you know what? They loved them. Best donut they ever had they said. I could tell in their voice that wished they would have grabbed a few more when they had the chance. I told them to get three or four, but they settled with one for each and one to share. My job was done.

What's the point to this dribble? If I had never encouraged my guests to experience something that I loved, they would be lost and devoid of the Krispy Kreme experience.

What are you keeping to yourself that you should be sharing? What has God blessed you with that you could encourage someone else with? God didn't bless you so you could keep it to yourself and be happy. He did it so you could be a blessing.

Sure, it may not be a donut, but the point is easy- be a person that shares, and watch how it blesses other people.

Happy Friday!
Matt

Thursday, April 23, 2009

What Are You Doing Tonight?

What are you doing tonight? Are you concerned with the financial situation of our country? I am going to a free nation-wide live streaming event tonight that I want to share with you. I have never plugged a product or an event on my blog, but today, I want to encourage you to check out this FREE event tonight. I am not getting any financial kickback for this shameless plug. I just think its going to be awesome.

In January, Crystal and I attended Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and it changed our marriage. We've been married almost 11 years and we've never been on the same page financially, and since attended Dave's course, our finances and our financial outlook are different than they have ever been. Its been great. We are spending our money differently, saving more, and getting out of debt. The best part? we're in this together.

Well this guy Dave Ramsey has a nationally syndicated talk show, and runs this Financial Peace University, and now, tonight he is going to have a national live streaming event that he is calling Town Hall For Hope. Its aim is to encourage Americans to realize that during the current economic times that we are in, that we can still have hope about the future. He's not charging one dime to anyone anywhere to attend this event.

You can go to www.townhallforhope.com and look for a venue that is streaming the event near you. Currently there are about 6100 venues that have over one million people registered to attend this event in all 50 states.

I really want to encourage you to find a way to attend this event today. Its going to be a blessing to you, your family and your finances.

This is about Dave. It isn't about me. Its about you and your finances. You'll be blessed. Find a way and go. Our church here in Auburn will stream the event at 7pm and will have free childcare if you're in the area.

I hope you understand why I spent the time writing the blog about this event. I feel that strongly about it for you and your finances.

Be blessed. If you're going, please comment to the blog so others can be encouraged.

matt

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Faith Learned To Ride Her Bike (Picture included)

Yesterday was awesome. My little angel Faith took the plunge and was riding her bike without training wheels. It was awesome.

It was a beautiful day yesterday in Seattle. Probably about 75 degrees. We were out in the front of the house watching the kids play, and I was watching Faith on her scooter, and noticed that she was riding it with great balance. I asked her if she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels today, and to my surprise, she said yes!

I'm in the garage, cranking on the bolts that kept the wheels on, and Faith starts talking to me. "Daddy, I can try it today" and "I think today I can do it" and "Its going to be hard, but I can do it". She is so positive!

Out on the street she gets on the bike, I'm holding the seat running behind her and off she goes! She got it right away! Sure, it was bit wobbly, but off she went, up and down the street riding her bike. It was awesome. I was so proud of her.

Its hard to try something new. It takes a lot of courage when you've seen others fail, or get hurt. But the feeling you get when you get out there and start doing it, it is awesome. Like Faith, it makes your confidence soar.

The bike analogies here are ample-

If you don't know how to do something on your own, maybe you're keeping the training wheels on too long and you just need to take them off get going.

You can't be afraid to do something even though you may get hurt in the process.

Sooner or later you need to try or you'll never know.

Think of the bike as your life with God, and training wheels as our need to be in 'control' and feel 'safe'. At some point, you need to take off your training wheels (perceived control) and allow faith (not Faith) to keep you from falling over.

God has created us all with the innate ability of balance, but if we don't use it, we'll never know what it feels like to ride a bike.

Faith is the same way- we have to use it to experience the fullness of it in our lives. We can stay in control, or let go and give it over to faith.

Take off the training wheels
matt

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A Specific Blog For Specific Person.. is it you?

I am writing this blog for one person, but I think you can probably get something out of it also. I wont say who it is, lets just call him "Bryan". I wont say much about him, except he's a musician, who works in the mortgage industry, who was in the Army, who recently got engaged this weekend.

Yesterday, he brought it to my attention via facebook and a personal phone call that he didn't like ol' Pastor Matt taking the day off from writing the blog, because he didn't get his daily encouragement, so his day sitting in the office on the nicest day Seattle has seen in the last nine months apparently didn't equate to accomplishing much because of the lack of encouragement.

So here it is for you today my friend "Bryan":

Be encouraged. Today as you're deciding weather or not to make that phone call, make it. When you're challenged on whether to fill out that paper work, you dig in deep and get that pen movin'. When that phone rings, you answer it. And if you call someone and they don't pick up. Call them back. You keep calling them back until you get them.

Be encouraged that interest rates are at historic lows and that you are in an industry that is booming because everyone wants to refinance and save. Use this as a tool of encouragement. When everyone else is running away from other businesses, they are running towards yours. Welcome them. Help them. Refinance them. Do your God give duty to provide the best customer service in the world. Remember, when God created you he gave you the innate ability to get things done. You rock.

I believe in you friend. I am sorry that yesterday I let you down and took a day off. I will promise I will do it again, but here's what you can do- print this blog post out, fold it up, stick it in your pocket, and whenever you don't feel like you're getting it done. Read this blog. Read it over and over. Make it the center of your motivational universe and work harder than you've ever worked before.

There. Its not often that I write the blog for one person, but I figured I owed it to him. I don't to be the reason that the economic wheels of America stop turning!

be blessed today- and laugh a bit.
matt

ps. I love you "Bryan"- watch... he won't even read this today.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Gabe Chose the Blog Topic

So I'm sitting here for the last hour trying to figure out what write for the blog. My son, Gabriel is about to go to school, and I ask him what I should write about. His reply was "Tell them I'm going to two parties this weekend!". I'm sure you're excited about this blog topic, but consider the other options- "I have mud on my shoes!" or "Faith hit her head". I'm going with the two parties option.

Being around kids is quite interesting. If you watch close enough, you usually see yourself in them. The insecurities, the wonderment. The attempts to make ourselves look better than we actually are. I'm not sure if we mirror them, or they mirror us, but they live in the same world we do, with the same hopes and fears, I think they just deal with them differently.

Yes, Gabriel has two birthday parties to go to this weekend. One tonight, and one tomorrow. He is very excited about them. Lots of junk food, lots of laughs, real 3rd grade type of stuff.

But do you know what I think he is most excited about? In the third grade, birthday parties equal likability. Meaning, I think that to Gabe, the fact that he is going to 2 parties means that the other kids in his class like him. Sure, it might seem kind of shallow, but for a 3rd grader, its the ultimate validation of value.

Are we much different? Do we not look for external things and people to validate our self worth and value? Have you ever looked towards another person for validation or approval? I don't think that makes us weak, I think it makes us human. We all depend on each other for some sort of encouragement or love.

I understand that as Christian that I get the ultimate validation from above, but the reality is that we are here on this earth with other humans. There must be some reason that God made us social creatures that have the ability to interact. When I read the New Testament, I notice that Paul wrote a lot of encouragement to people. God used him to encourage people.

This is the goal for you today- think of someone within your sphere of influence that you can encourage or validate. Maybe its with a phone call or a note. Perhaps an invite for coffee, a meal or a giving a small gift.

Get outside of yourself today and think about someone else and be that encouragement and validation for them.

God always uses people, and today, He's going to use YOU!

be blessed
matt

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

I'm not sure if you've all seen the video yet, but its sort of Internet phenomenon right now. In Britain, there is a lady named Susan Boyle who tried out for "Britain's Got Talent" and completely wowed the judges and the audience.

She's a regular looking gal. Over 40. Not the typical person that you would expect to be singing on a television show. If you've seen any of these singing shows, they usually showcase these types so they can put them down when they embarrass themselves.

Well, as of today, this lady has about 11 million hits of her videos on YouTube. She can sing! Its amazing. You can check the video out here its amazing to watch. I don't know the song. I don't know the lady. But watching her, it impacts me.

Why is that? I think its because most people look at someone and make huge assumptions on who they are based on what they look like. It wrong, but I think that most people do it all the time.

Watching this video, one of the judges (who happens to be quite beautiful) declares that we've all been taught a lesson on why we shouldn't judge. For some reason we have some need to put someone up or down because of our perception of them.

I like what King David said in the psalms "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made". That's a statement that we can all say about ourselves, and in turn say about other people. God doesn't create any junk. He made all people different, and we have our own preconceived perceptions of who or what someone is entirely on their looks, we can miss out on something beautiful.

Watch the video. Don't judge a book by its cover.

Matt

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Walking Question Machine

I live with someone who is stretching the limits of my patience this morning. I have someone in my home who has become a walking question machine. My son Gabriel asks more questions that anyone that has ever lived on the face of the earth.

Its like I'm living with Ken Jennings. Do you remember who that is? The most winningest Jeopardy player ever. Ken made millions by asking a ton of questions on that game show. What do I get? QUESTIONS QUESTIONS AND MORE QUESTIONS.

Its been going on for a quite a while, months actually, but it seems as if its increasing in recent weeks. This Sunday on the way to church, I decided that I should keep a running tally of how many questions that I'm getting daily.

Sunday morning, on the 15 min. drive to church we got about 20 or so questions in. Crystal was trying to write them all down, but we couldn't keep up.

Here's a sample of the questions we get-

1. What's a sense of humor?
2. What year did the Sound of Music come out?
3. Who ran against George Washington for president?
4. What's the fastest animal?
5. How fast can humans run?
6. What does Federal Way mean?
7. Who ran against George Bush for president? not his son, the dad.

And the list goes on and on and on. It never stops. Its constant and daily the barrage of questions.

As a parent, I appreciate that my son wants to learn. As a person, it gets to be a bit much. But do you know what occurred to me today? Questions are a way that Gabriel and I get to interact and build our relationship. It opens up lines of communication for us to be able to talk and get to know each other better.

Do you know what else I thought of? My relationship with God. He welcomes my questions. Any thing I can think up or that I'm worried about, I can ask him questions. He never turns me away. He never tells me enough. He always allows me to ask him the most difficult questions that I can think up.

Remember that today. You may have some questions about your life, and your circumstance that you may not understand. Its okay to ask God questions. He welcomes them, and so should we.

Blessings
matt

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What To Do With The Pirates?

I'm sure you've been hearing the news lately about the pirates off the coast of eastern Africa that keep hijacking ships. If you haven't, let me give you the run-down. There are some Somali Pirates that have been boarding huge shipping vessels, taking control of the ship, and demanding ransom to let the ship and crew go. They have been getting ransoms in the millions, so they continue to do do it.

This week, they took over a ship with some Americans on it, and found out that the United States of America doesn't like piracy. They met some of our Navy Seals that were able to convince them to give up the ship and the hostages.

I've been having some conversations with people about the best way to deal with these pirates. Most of the ideas seem to include some sort of bomb, rocket, or firepower to either destroy or highly discourage the pirates to stay away from the ships.

Its interesting that when faced with mortal danger, the lengths that people will go to defend themselves. I'm sure some of the crews on those ships have rethought ways to be able to defend themselves against the attacks of these pirates. Why? because more than likely, the crew doesn't want to die, and they have a mission to accomplish.

What pirates are you allowing on your ship? Is there some pirates that are continually trying to board your ship and take over your life? Are there some pirates that you've allowed on your ship too long?

I'm sure you're getting my point. We all let 'pirates' into our lives that seem to take control, hold us hostage, and demand ransoms that we cannot pay. What are you going to do about it? How long are you going to allow these pirates in your life?

Its your life. Kick the uninvited guests off your ship and declare that you're going to come up with some defenses to keep them off your ship.

Here's the kicker- If you don't have what it takes to repel or remove the pirates, ask the Lord to help you. Better yet, ask Him to remove them, and He will.

Be blessed
Matt

Friday, April 10, 2009

I Have Funeral Today

Its what pastors do. Its not my favorite part of my calling, but its one of those things that I do periodcially.

There's always a lot of things that go into my mind as I am preparing for a funeral or memorial service. Most importantly, the thing that is going through my mind the most is- how can I honor the deceased, while providing meaning to the event.

Its difficult to say the least. When you're standing there with a bunch of sets of eyes looking at you, asking you to tell them what it all means.

Scripture has quite a bit to say about life and death. There's comfort, encouragement and some insight.

This is what I remember most in the midst of these times- We may not know why. We may not understand. But God knows. He understands. Our feeble attempts to ascribe meaning and understanding fail when decide to forget that it is God who is truly in control, who has created us all.

We all one day will die. Its a fact. And when that happens, we'll know the answers to all those questions that we've always wanted to know.

Today is Good Friday. The day that Christians set aside to remember the day that Jesus was Crucified. Even as the disciples watched Jesus die on the cross, I am sure that they too wondered what it all meant.

God showed them what it meant. And it changed their lives forever.

Remember- you may not understand, but He does.

blessings
matt

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Chopping Wood At Midnight

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter...When, what to my wondering eyes should appear....But a man in his front yard chopping wood with great cheer.

Seriously. This morning just after midnight, I'm laying in bed, and I keep hearing this 'thunk'. Then a pause, 'thunk'. I'm thinking to myself, what is going on? So I look out the window, and sure enough, there goes my neighbor chopping some wood right in his front yard.

It didn't surprise me that much. I mean, after the brand new muffler on his V10 truck that fills the neighborhood with joyful glee, the circa 1984 weight equipment that sits in his driveway like a monument to Joe Weider, and the radio left on in his open garage at 1am a few weeks ago, it wasn't THAT surprising.

So with my cheetah print pajama bottoms, black socks, flip flops and a t-shirt, I walk across the street and ask "Do you think its at all odd that you're out here chopping wood after midnight on a Wednesday night?"

The look in eyes said a thousand words.

He had no idea what I was talking about.

To him, it was very clear that he didn't think that it was odd at all. If it was, I'm sure that he wouldn't have been chopping wood after midnight. From his perspective, I'm sure he thought "well, there's some wood that's been sitting in my driveway a few weeks, I should chop some of it".

Here's the point for today. In this world, you will always encounter people who have a total complete different view of the world than you do. Not everyone thinks the same. When you encounter those people, remember that God loves them just as much as He loves you. Just because someone thinks a certain way, or has odd behavior doesn't mean they are outside of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. At times like this, we, excuse me, I need to remember that.

Bless you
matt

ps. Luck would have it he broke his axe on the last swing as I was walking across the street. So, I didn't hear anymore chopping.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Oh.. my body is SO SORE.

I'm really sore today. My legs, my neck, my arms, are all so very sore. I have been doing a new 'work out' regimen that has been absolutely beating me up. In a good way. I have been doing these work outs for about a month, and even now, I am still sore after every work out. Its a change of pace, since usually in the past, when I was working out consistently, I would stop getting sore, but on this workout, its not stopping, its continuing.

I have one person to thank for this pain and abuse. My friend Chad. He coaxed me into doing this workout with him. I didn't want to do it at all. His friend in San Diego is a Navy Seal and he does this workout. Did I mention he's a NAVY SEAL? I'm sure that the workout for a 30-something Pastor should be a bit different than a US Military trained fighting machine, but in this case its not.

Well anyway, my point for today is this. I am doing this workout for one reason only-Chad forced me to do it. He wore me down. He made me feel like I was being a quitter for not getting back in the gym and getting back in shape. I told him that he couldn't convince me but a month later, here I am still doing it.

I remember back in school, they always told us "don't give into peer pressure". Its a good idea, when it comes to guns, drugs and illegal acts, but sometimes I think that peer pressure is a good thing. In this case, its been a great thing to allow my friend to force me to do something that was good for me, that I didn't want to do.

Is there someone in your life who is trying to get you to do something that you know you need to do? Are you upset with them for pushing, or frustrated because they wont leave you alone.

Here's a thought- give in. Maybe they have your best in mind. God uses people to get to people all the time. If what they're trying to get you to do is good for you, then do it.

give in.

matt

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

I Think John Denver May Have Got It Right

That song- Sunshine on my shoulders. You remember the next line, don't you? MAKES ME HAPPY!!! Here in Seattle, we're in a 4 day "heat-wave" of consistent temperatures above 65 degrees. I know, you Texas blog readers are going to say something about how that that's a winters day, but up here, its a big change. We've been having such cold dreary weather up here, its nice to get some sunshine.

The family went to the Woodland Park Zoo yesterday to enjoy some of sun together, and it was wonderful. Everyone we met seem to be in a great mood, people were laughing and having a great time. It was great to be out and about just enjoying the sunshine.

Of course, in good Victory Blog fashion, I reflect on those days and think, "what's the application?- How can I use this in the blog?"

It hit me this morning. Here in Seattle, on the first of April, it snowed. I know, that's just a week or so ago. Its a huge change to go from 32 to 72 in the course of a week. The temperature and feeling of the people changed in a week. We have been in a cold dreary season for about 6 months.

The point? Sometimes we forget that things can turn around quickly in our lives. Yes, sometimes it takes a while for them to come to fruition, but eventually, they will turn around and turn around fast. Just like the weather. Things may change, but eventually, they turn around for the better. I'm not sure why, but it seems that God made it that way.

Is there an area of your life that you have been waiting for Victory? Something that you've been waiting for that you haven't received yet. Be encouraged. You may not know why things are the way that they are, but they will improve if you give them time. God wants good for your life. Be patient, it will arrive.

bless you
Matt

ps. here's a picture of an orangutan under a burlap sack. I thought you would think it was a funny picture from yesterday.

Friday, April 3, 2009

The Blog With Cuss-Words

Am I the only one left in the world who's ears burn when I hear the F-word? I mean, I understand that we live in a 'progressive' culture that is 'inclusive' and 'tolerant' and all that, but for some reason, I just don't like to hear cuss words in casual conversation.

I was on my walk this morning trying to figure out a time when using a cuss word would be completely acceptable. I couldn't come up with many. This is the closest I could get.

1. You're in a firefight in a war and you really need some more ammo.

2. You're drowning, no one is taking you seriously and you need to get their attention (my old youth pastor had to do this once with his wife's parents).

That was about all I could come up with. I'm sure there is some more, but I'm not sure what they are.

I've at times struggled to keep my own mouth clean, I know its not easy. I was in the US Army for six years. They use cuss words like an art-form. Furthermore, Its acceptable, no one cares what you say.

Why am I bringing this up? Well, yesterday I was getting my oil changed, and I was sitting there conversing with this guy (its what I do), and was asking him about his line of work. He told me that he is in a food manufacturing business. He's the owner. He's in Costco. He's in Fred Meyer. And I quote, "@#$! business is %$#@ing good".

Nice. We didn't get to the part when He asked me what I did for a living, since they called me to come and get my car. As I was driving away, I was thinking, here's a real successful guy. 70+ employees, doing well. Recession proof business. Good for him. But what struck me is that He found no problems in describing his business to a stranger with an explicative. Am I off base here? Am I the only one who thinks this way?

Maybe manners and restraint have gone the way of the Do-Do bird. Maybe its just me. Perhaps I live in such a secluded bubble that I didn't learn that this is the new way to communicate.

I'm not buying it.

I'm not soapboxing here. I'm just stating- I don't think using an explicative has a place in common conversation, especially with someone with whom you do not know.

The Bible says "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Meaning, whatever is inside you, is what comes out of your mouth.

Maybe you don't see a problem with swearing. I think most people find it less than desirable.

Keep it clean.

Blessings
matt

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Big Click Day

Wow. Yesterday was an amazing day for the blog. We had double the amount of people who read it on a daily basis. I'm trying to figure out why that is. The last time that we had that kind of one day response was when we flipped the minivan. I'm curious what was so intriguing to the masses about me stating that I would quit the blog. Somehow, it was enough to get them to click the link, and spend some time reading it.

That's the most difficult part of writing this blog- relevance that people will read. I know, some of you will say that I should do this for myself and no one else, but I don't agree with that. I do this to bless other people, not myself.

In some ways though, I think you're a bit like me- we all want to think that what we're doing is making some sort of an impact. It takes a strong person to continue to do something that you feel is insignificant or pointless. I don't feel that way about the blog at all, although I do get encouraged when we have a day like we had yesterday, it shows that people care about this blog, and get something out of it. Thank you.

Here's the nugget for the day- stick with what God has called you to do for others regardless of the outcome. I know there is a human tendency to look for confirmation or affirmation, but the reality is that if what started you to do something was the prompting of the Lord to bless someone else, you should stick with it. Often the blessing of doing something is not in the outcome, it is in the process and commitment of the task.

Sure, you may not have a means to measure your impact as I do with the blog, but stick with whatever you're doing for others today. Don't give up. What you're doing matters and is making an impact. It has to, because He called you to it.

Bless you
matt

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I'm Not Going to Write The blog Anymore

This will be the last blog post I will write. Its been going well for about 3 months. I've averaged at least 4 posts a week consistently, but I think the time for writing it has come to an end.

I'm sure you're wondering why. I'll let you know. I just don't want to. Its a big commitment to come up with something to write everyday, and frankly, I'm getting bored with it.

No one reads this anyway. I rarely get comments or have anything poignant to say, so as they old, saying goes "what's the point"?

I'm probably going to spend more time sleeping, or eating breakfast earlier than usual. Its not going to be much of an impact since there aren't many people reading this anyway.

I'll leave you with one last nugget for the day- This morning my son called my mother on the phone. She loves to get phone calls from her grand children, especially in the morning, so this was a special day. Gabriel had something he wanted to tell her.

"Grandma"

"Yes, Gabriel" She replied.

"Grandma, its snowing in Covington, almost three inches of snow"

"WOW! How amazing is that!"

"Grandma.... APRIL FOOLS!!!!!"

So... there you have it... I'm sure you get the joke now.. of course I'm going to to continue the blog... APRIL FOOLS!!!!

have a funny day! Love you guys!

matt