15 key points

1. Make the time you have with relationships last in that moment, because you never know when it will be gone.

2. People come and go, so be as influential as you can with everyone you meet.

3. KILL people with KINDNESS.

4. Forgive and forget your past............ Don't let it haunt you, it will rob your future.

5. Be quick to forgive those that screw you over, because you need the same grace on the flip side.

6. Don't let tradition grip you. You miss out on the risk of adventure.

7. Don't stick in your man cave for to long. Nobody will come and visit.

8. Thank God you made it through another day

9. Sometimes you just need a little foghat

10. Never let your mom destroy your Stryper mixed tape

11. Never squish your children's dreams, even if they do not live up to your standards. 

12. Always make love to your wife. Because God told you too.......Thanks man, I will thank you in person with a fist bump and fireworks.

13. Don't forget to pray for those who have influenced your life. 

14. Wake up at 3am in the morning to help someone in need........GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED.

15. Always be nice to redheads..........We have an in with the man upstairs. :0)

The Christian Club

The Christian Club. That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? A place where a bunch of Christians can get together and share about their faith in a safe environment. Schools, churches, college campuses and work places, wherever we can get a group of people together we can call it a club. 

Are these clubs open or closed? Is it designed for only Christians or can non believers come too. 

Example: 

I was asked to speak at a christian club at a high school in the desert valley. Before it started I sat outside and greeted people that were walking by and or coming into the club. As I was introducing myself to people I asked several students walking by if they were coming into the club. They went on to say, "I am not a christian" I thought to myself that OK this might be how one person feels but I am sure she doesn't speak for the majority. So, I asked a few more students. They gave me the same response. "I am not a christian"  At his point my heart was saddened. I asked some of the students who were in charge of christian club,  "is there anyone that stands outside and invites people in? They went on to say no, if they are not a christian they cant come in." I thought to myself this cant surely be happening. But, it was a reality for this specific club. 

As I reflected on how backwards from Christianity and may I add the bibles commands. I thought to myself that there are so many other clubs that are exclusive as this particular christian club. The church!

Growing up in the church for me was like being a part of a secluded club. A club that the password to get into this club was "Christian" If you were a christian you were welcomed into the club (the church) If you were not, like a lot of my friends, you just wouldn't show up. Being in a youth group of 30 students in a church the size of 3000 was fun for me, because I called myself a christian, but for those they may want to come check it out and possibly be a part of the group, you would need to use the secret password or else you would be lost and never come back.

Is this what God wanted to happen to his people? pardon my language but this pisses me off. 

As I was speaking to that christian club, I couldn't help but be royally mad and upset at how a group of professed Christians can sit in a disclosed room and swap christian stories about how they witnessed to someone that month and have someone pat them on the back and yet outside those shallow walls was a huge Harvest waiting to be picked for the harvester. Needless to say once I was done sharing about witnessing, I left and turned down all other speaking engagements at the particular club. 

When I look at myself in the mirror I have to tell myself that I am a Pharisee. I was and am at times everything that Jesus could not stand. If the name Christian is to be like Christ then why the heck would I exclude everyone that Christ would try to reach and go after.

I think that if the church in America is not careful we will become such a stuffy room filled with people who play the typical church game of "Who can hide their sin the best" and missed out on what God has asked us to do. "GO" He gave us a command with one word. "GO" 

I do not want to be a part of a christian club, and I am sure I speak for millions of others, I want to be a part of a movement of people who call themselves Christians, to go out and be Christians to ALL we come in contact with.

the 1980's church I grew up with is dying a fast paced death. I do not want to be another deadly statistic. I want to be a new statistic of authentic followers of Jesus striving to become a true meaning of what the word "Christian" started out to be. I want to be like Christ........So father, send me and I will go.........

Happy Mothers Day ( Free babysitting)

Why do we have mothers??? Is it just because they gave us life? Is it just because they are far better at sympathy then dads? Or is it because they can juggle a few different tasks at once? Or is it because they pray for their children??

I have 3 redheaded boys who are a bundle of energy. They love to laugh, play, fart and fight, and sometimes all at the same time.....They can tend to be a little crazy. So when it comes to watching them on a weekend, or even for an evening so that Amanda can go out and have a break. I sometimes get that feeling that starts in the back of your neck and then moves to your ears getting hot and that sudden headache that emerges. I ask myself the question, "Am I going to be ALONE in this endeavor?" 

I am not sure why it is that I feel this way. It may be because I sense that the volume level may increase, that maybe I am out numbered, or just maybe all things that can go wrong will happen  at one time.  

STORY

PART 1

It was a Christmas holiday last year, and Amanda wanted to go out with some of her family for a ladies night. I thought I would do the good husband thing and say "Sure baby, you go on out with the girls. Everything will be ok." She looked at me with the one eyebrow up and the little smirkish grin and said, "Are you sure?" I said go and have fun........Honestly how hard could it be, right?????

I started by feeding the boys my interpretation of spaghetti and then watching a manly movie together as men in the house. I do recall the movie was "Beauty and the Beast" then it was time for baths and story time. I placed my little son Jadon in the bathtub with his 1500 bath toys and then placed the other two boys in bed and began to tell them a story. As I was in the beginning stages of "Goldilocks and the three bears"  I heard a sound similar to a submarine coming up to the surface of the ocean. Or the kind of sound that when you are alone in the hot tub and you have to fart and the bubble reaches the surface.......Immediately after the noise, I hear Jadon yelling "Dad I POOPED". I am not sure if you have seen someone poop in the tub before with water in it, but it has infected all of the tub and toys. Before I got to the bathroom, Jadon tried to do what every man in this predicament would do, he tried to fix the situation. He got out of tub and tried to make that last little Hershey squirt to the toilet......Therefore he had a little watery trail leading from the tub to ALL OVER THE TOILET AND BEYOND......

Several phrases come to mind at this moment in time and it would sound pretty Ironic to state them. But, I had no idea what to do. Do I get newspaper? Do I drain the water and let it sit there till mom gets home? Do I try to do a man way of clean up and smear it around in circles? 

PART 2

As I was still trying to come up with a plan, I hear another noise coming from the room that I had left the cliff hanger of pourage being eaten by 3 bears, a sound that was similar to a fraternity party at around 3am. Lakai felt that the Spaghetti was not to his liking and felt the urge to bring it back up for everyone else to see. ALL OVER THE WHITE SHEETS!!!!

I now officially have to MAJOR issues going on. 

I finally placed two towels on the floor in the family room in front of the TV and told the oldest to watch the younger two while I attempted to resolve some of the problems. I went back to where the "Browns" went to the "Super Bowl" and picked up the 1500 pooped filled toys and threw them all away......I grabbed 3 full rolls of paper towel and gave it my all.  I then proceeded to the bathroom, and I strictly remember the "Comet" song and realized that was my weapon of choice, "Comet, it makes your mouth turn green, Comet it tastes like gasoline, Comet, it makes You Vomit......" So I began to strip the bed and pour the Comet cleaner all over the bed. 

After it was all said and done, I thought, "Why God, Why me" 

Do the woman out there sometimes feel the same way when us husbands are at work and these things happen?

I LOVE MOMS! 

What was Jesus' mom like?

Here is a gentle woman who had all the same issues with children as other moms. This might come as a surprise to you all because the bible doesn't get into much detail on raising kids that vomit and poop........Jesus had all the same things happen to him as it did to us. Jesus had some HOLY poop. I am sure Jesus vommited when it came down to eating certain foods, I am sure Jesus woke up in the middle of the night with a cold and flu and needed his mom their by his side. I am sure that he even left some holy tracks in his underwear too. 

But, one thing is for sure. Jesus LOVED and NEEDED his mom. 

Who  loved Jesus when he was 12 and he didn't come home on time because he was at the temple talking scripture with men 2 to 3 times his age???     HIS MOM

Who loved Jesus so much that when he constructed something out of wood, that maybe wasn't the best, and he needed some encouragement?   HIS MOM

Who was there when Jesus was being rebuked by his own people?   HIS MOM

Who was there when Jesus was being beaten and and crucified?    HIS MOM

Who was at the tomb when Jesus died?  HIS MOM

Who was there for Jesus life?  HIS MOM

Moms, you do so much for your children that we can not even thank you for, we don't even have enough room on a thank you card to write all the wonderful things that you have done......But, you deserve ALL the credit for our lives. 

Amanda, I know that the Lord has blessed you with three wonderful young men, and that even though they may go through life with ups and downs, one thing remains.....YOU LOVE THEM AND THEY WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT......

I love you baby and all that you do...........................It is an honor to be a part of your life in this next journey of sports, friends, school and possibly girlfriends. May God grant you the power of a praying mother.........

The "Orange Mocha Frappicino" ministry

 AWWWW! The sweet nectar of the God's "Frappicinos" I myself am a sucker for the Venti Carmel Frappicinos. Whenever I had to meet with staff or other people from the church, instead of meeting in my office, we would meet at my other office, "Starbucks" Whats funny is I would have 2 to 3 meetings at that office a day. Which left me with a predicament....... I couldn't just meet at Starbucks and not use up their tables and not buy anything. So I was left to purchasing 2 to 3 Fraps a day, for a solid 2 years.........As you can tell I felt like a "Shakira song" called "MY HIPS DONT LIE."   Towards the end of the first year I was huffing and puffing just lifting the straw to my mouth. Goodness knows that when it came time for the Sheriff Dept training I was done for. I strictly remember having the, "I have to stop this" convo with myself after my first defensive tactics class and immediately running to hug porcelain and blowing chunks. I also remember walking back into class with all my other deputies staring at me and asking me if I was alright. I then had to face the tough reality that I couldn't drink fraps anymore or at least cut back. Instead of telling the others in the class why I threw up I had to let them know that I had the flu. I had to keep my manhood. What would it be like if I told them that I Frap. Some of them chew tobacco, some of them smoke and others drink coffee and energy drinks. If I would have told them that I "Frap" I would have had to raise my pinky finger at the same time and have them laugh at me. 

But, although my weight increased, so did my spiritual life. I found myself having my prayer times in the middle of the Starbucks on Sunnyside and having wonderful encounters with all kinds of people. I have had the BEST conversations with believers and un-believers. For example, people sharing what it is about church that turns them off from Christianity. Why people have cheated on their spouses. Why some have went on to sell drugs to make a living. To having in-depth bible discussions. 

I truly believe Starbucks makes their money not because their coffee tastes the best, but the atmosphere it offers for community. Community is a big key in peoples lives. Some people would never enter into a conversation like that in a church. Because, some people would never walk into a church. People need a stage to communicate their heart and sometimes we need to get them in an atmosphere that is non-threatening and available for them to open up and share their feelings, hopes, and dreams. 

My coolest conversation was with one of the Baristas as we discussed church and passions in life. She went on to tell me that she grew up in a legalistic church and it has turned her off to all of what church has to offer. The more I came into Starbucks, the more in depth our church convo went on. I told her we had a great church......Needless to say she showed up to College that next weekend and made a commitment to the pastor that she was going to become involved in the ministry........God and Starbucks can heal lives....hahaha.  Do not quote me on that Starbucks bit....

I know Starbucks already makes a killing off their drinks, but one more thing I would like to ask those who read this and feel the same way I do, by using Starbucks as our offices.....TIP the baristas before you leave. Cause I know looking back that I have been so busy having a great time with others that I forget my drink on the table, or I laugh to hard, or I accidentally spill my frap on the ground. They need some love from us too. Tips show that you respect them......Oh, and it also says it in the bible to bless others.....BINGO

Co-Dependant girls of today

Most of you know the poster child of  the perfect Co-dependant girl of today........All I have to do is say a few words and she will come to your mind. "Umbrella" "Disturbia" and or "Chris Brown" 

Still nothing, OK how about. "Punched" "Kicked" or "Bitten"

I am talking about a talented and beautiful young lady named "Rhianna........ This young lady has had a great life so far. An amazing career filled with Platinum records and commercial adds with Covergirl and all the money a 21 year old needs to set her bank account for life. But, one thing remains, she seems to be a person that still doesn't have enough. A person that is still searching for something. What bugs me the most is that she has run into a person that has disrespected her as a young woman and now has opened the doors to a un-healthy co-dependant relationship. 

I have seen this time and time again with young ladies in our youth ministry. We have seen hundreds of girls come and go and have seen the statistics of co-dependency continue to rise. It has been a long time since I was in high school, but one thing I do remember is having to really work to get a girlfriend. Now, I know I am not the most attractive individual, but I have a cute side. No matter how much I had to work to get a girlfriend we have begun to see the times change. I was sitting and talking to one of my employees the other day about this very issue. I have noticed his cell phone just explode with text messages and phone calls all day long from dozens of girls wanting to see him again, or meet up at a party, or maybe have a little "Cuddle time." I sit there amazed at how many girls call him and how early they text him. They start at 4am and continue throughout the day. I asked him if it is easy for him to date girls. He went on to tell me that he doesn't even have to try or work. "THEY COME TO HIM" 

As I have reflected on what he told me I realized that we have some desperate times coming down the pike. Statistically speaking, 1 out of 3 girls under the age of 18 have been abused, such as, physical, emotional, and sexual. The main type of abuse with young ladies is physical. The sad part about this is, that once the physical happens, woman are 87% more likely to stay in their relationships. Now, we can speculate all we want at why those statistics are so high, but I will give you my personal opinion..........PARENTING!  Sorry to rat out the parents on this one, but, I to am a parent of young kids. Parents are not as involved as they used to be. With the economic crisis and trying to keep up with the Jones', parents are to busy trying to pay for all their toys and trips that they are over working themselves and not spending enough time with their children. One of the biggest things a girl needs is their relationship with their fathers. We have a lot of dead beat dads out there that do not care about what happens to their little girls. 

Out of the hundreds of girls we have seen come in and out of our ministry a large portion of them are starving for a father figure in their lives. The problem is that they find it through ANY male attention that they can find. If you thought the photos of Rhianna were bad, I could say that I have seen worse with some of our girls.  It breaks my heart when you have to call the Sheriff dept, or the Department of Human service to come and help the matter. Even after all those things some young ladies continue to run back to the culprit. 

I truly believe that girls become co-dependant because they honestly believe that it is as good as they are going to get......They have no idea that there are men out there that will cherish and care for them and that they would never let anything happen to them. 

My best friend has three daughters and I pray for him as their dad everyday that he remains invested in their lives. That he can show them love that they need and they will never have to search for a false sense of love.

Do not worry, I will write something in the future calling out the young man that are doing this, but for right now I want to speak to the ladies.

GIRLS: The good news is, you all want to feel love. That is a gift from God. The bad news is, not all guys out there want to show you the healthy version of it. If you have a relationship with your father that is good, please ask him to help keep you accountable on your choice and to protect you. I do not know about you, but having a father that is a little protective is less painful then being in a un-healthy relationship that will progressively get worse. To those of you ladies that have no support what so ever. Find a Pastor, or married couple that can help bring that covering over you as well. I do not know how many girls have asked me to check in on their boyfriends and see if they are legit. I have told several to run from their relationships and never look back.  I have also had the wonderful opportunity in performing the weddings on relationships that I knew the guy was a good guy....

I pray that the Lord will give you the strength to trust in him for the right direction, and that if you are lonely that the Lord will provide those relationships around you to protect you until its the right time......Guard yourself and do not allow yourself to fall into the co-dependant trap......And to Rhianna, I pray that you will no longer be a victim of co-dependency........Much love

"Let me in Coach"

"Let me in coach! Just give me a chance, I know there is a lot riding on it, but it is psychological." " I am going to execute a button hook pattern, supper slow mo"

That is my favorite seen from Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura......What a classic. 

I was hanging out with my oldest son after church playing football. I was trying to teach him the basics. Now, for those of you who know me I am originally from Canada so I should be teaching him about hockey, but for the 1st sunny day of the year I decided to use a little of my American side and teach him how to play football. It started with the basic catches of a football and by the end of the afternoon it turned into spin moves and sliding. It was a great reminder of the days when I grew up and my father played sports with me. After it was all said and done we both looked at each other and with one snort of our noses and one loogie from our throats we both spit on the grass and walked into the house like "MEN"

Amanda and I have been sitting back for the last year and trying to rest and get some prospective of life and church. We have been attending an amazing church called "Eastlake" It is all families in our age bracket with some amazing worship that I remember some my old school youth have the same caliber. As we have been attending now for the last little while we are reflecting on what it is like to be full time in ministry. Sometimes we take it for granted and do not realize how amazing it is when you are able to pour out your life for the lives of others. 

Although I have a wicked cool job with the Government I am still having the itch to get back into the game..... I want the coach to let me back in. I feel like it is the 4th quarter in Basketball or football. Or I am in sudden death overtime in the middle of Vancouver Canucks vs. Detroit. I have the opportunity in handing out the biggest upset of the year by stuffing a goal on Detroit's goalie and watching them all whine and cry because they finally lost a championship. 

The Lord has given me a lot of passion and zeal for the lost. A heart that burns for the Lords worship. A desire to build a bridge between the church and unbelievers. To create an atmosphere for people who are not normally welcomed in the church. Or as Eastlake would call it "Church for the rest of us" 

The Joy I saw in my oldest eyes when I told him that I would love to play football with him, is the same kind of look that I am giving my heavenly father on a day in day out basis. My father wants to play with me. He wants to use me for his works. He wants to give me an opportunity to play on his team in ministry. I love my boys and I am honored that they still want to play for me or on my team. I have the wonderful opportunity to be their soccer coach this year and I am jazzed to be a apart of their lives. 

Our God wants to be in our lives. He wants to be our coach, our encouragement, our cheerleader. He wants us all to "Get in the Game" and play for him. I want to play. Let me in Lord, give me another opportunity. 

I AM READY!

Can't take that Uhaul to heaven

This is a perfect picture for those of us that have heard the expression " you can't take a Uhaul to heaven" 

Sometimes I feel like this pour traveller. Although it seems he is headed for Boise Id. I too feel like I am about to lose control of my car and crash sometimes. I think all of the United States and beyond are struggling with the same issue at hand. 

Back when Amanda and I got married, we made NO MONEY......We were the kind of couple that were told we were to young to get married. I was told by many that i would not be able to support my wife and in the future kids as well. When Amanda and I fell in love and I proposed to her, I was working at a Petro Canada station (Gas Station)I think for the grand total of $6 an hour. All I knew is that I wanted to marry this sweet thing. We took our new found love and marriage to So Cal. I worked 2 jobs. I was a waiter and a construction worker and we felt like we were on cloud nine. We had all the food in the world that we needed. We had a car and an apt to rent and we just found a great church. But, never once did we feel poor. Even when I did our taxes that next year I realized that we should have been on ffod stamps with the amount of money I made that year.......We didnt have a lot to show for it, but we felt rich..........Later on in the years we began to make more money, but for some strange reason we felt poorer and poorer. We went to a church where people were riding the wave of the housing market. As housing prices tripled, so did their lifestyles. boats, cars, quads, jetskis etc. We even had one street in our neighborhood that competed with eachother. If one house bought a boat, all the other bought a boat. When one house built in a pool, all the other houses built in pools. The real "keeping up with the Jones" scenerio. 

Now I have a ton of friends who have lost their jobs, their toys and some have lost their families through this. Even Amanda and I have had to down size our life in order to ride the wave of life right now. As I sit back and reflect on the last 10 years of my marriage, I have often wondered what we did differently when we made a alot less money then what we are making now and yet we felt so rich. 

A wise friend once told us that even when you get a raise in your job, do not increase your way of life. Save that money and you will continue to be successful. What amazes me about this great family friend is that even though the stock market has crashed, which he had a lot of his millions in, he still is richer than many others that have suffered. When you look at this man you wouldnt even think that he is wealthy, because he lives within his means. He doesnt waist his time or money on all other things. He has stayed true to his original budget.

I want to thank you Lloyd for being a great sense of reality to Amanda and I. You told us once that you cant take a Uhaul to heaven. You have taught us to get back to the basics in life and stay true to our family and make that a priority and not all the other material things that we have sometime fallen a victim too. 

I am reminded about the scripture when the rich young ruler went to Jesus and asked him how he could have eternal life. Jesus replied sell everything you have and follow him. The young man, went away sad because he had such wealth.  Jesus told his disciples that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He even went as far as to blow their minds with a picture of a camel trying to fit through the eye of a needle. 

Jesus was testing this young mans heart. He wanted to see how attached he was to his money. 

Alot of us if we were asked to give it all away we would probably feel the same as that young man. It is easy to say we want to follow Jesus in all his ways, but we have to see what the price is before we fully agree. He has asked us to leave all things to follow him. He is not asking us to pan handle and live in boxes for the rest of our lives. He wants our HEARTS.....Its a test friends. I do not know about you, but I want to pass this test and the many more to come......