The train was one time and we begin our 3 hour trip to strart our ride. There is something so nostalgic and peaceful about a train ride. The scenary is beautiful as the fall colors at coming into their peak.
I’ll admit there a some butterflies about the length of rides each day and the forecasted storms, but today is great and that is all I want to focus on.

Had a great start to our trip. Got to St. Louis with Adam and enjoyed the beautiful weather and Ted Drewes frozen custard.
Had dinner with my mom and now we’re back at the hotel and packing our gear for the first leg of our trip a 3 hour train ride to the bike trailhead.
We then travel 50 miles to our first overnight stop in Rocheport.

Between Twitter, Facebook, emails, Sunday messages, and counseling and coaching sessions each week it isn’t very relaxing to sit down and try to write something fresh.  I am working on this though.

Next week I embark on a 250 mile bike ride across Missouri’s Katy Trail.  It will be a great adventure and we are hoping for good weather and a smooth ride. Adam Moore and I have been riding together for a few months.  Each day we will post photos and update readers on our progress. Should be a blast.

I’ve begun noticing that most Fireworks stands are usually in the more economically depressed parts of town. It seems like the people purchasing the fireworks have the least disposible income. Maybe there is connection between wasting money on something that lasts for a second versus investing in something that will last.
I see in too many people this hopelessness that keeps them living for the moment and instant gratification. One of the worst things it seems that can happen in life is to be bored. This need for continual stimulus and entertainment is the result of our disatisfaction with life.
Maybe the answer is appreciate quiet and cultivate times of finding inner peace.
Many of the spiritual disciplines Jesus practiced such as solitude, prayer, and fasting model a life on mission with contentment.
We desperately need the perspective that comes from times of being alone and unrushed in God’s presence. That is where our minds become stilled and renewed and we sense the love of God. We are reminded of our purpose in life and go out with a fresh awareness of God with us. That is when the fireworks begin.

“We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us.” – Romans 5:1 Message Bible

God walked into the inner parts of my life when I opened the door and invited Him in. Parts of my life I never wanted anyone to see. He came into my dirty, messed up, impoverished shack of a life not because it was anything impressive, but because of love.

In exchange, God invites me into His kingdom. Not some day when I die, but the moment I invited Him into my world he adopted me and let mr dwell with Him. What an amazing one-sided deal.

This thought alone changes my outlook and perspective on life.

As the vision of Life Church expands God is sending more leaders who have backgrounds as full-time pastors. Four such people have come the church in the past year. Some of them have had great ministry experiences others not.

We have decided to take an approach which differs from traditional church hiring which I think is more aligned with scripture.

Most churches hire someone because of their personality and skills alone. They never really know the person, they are a heirling, which Jesus was opposed to. It is like a mail-order bride.

I think dating before marriage is a better approach. Proverbs 18:16 says, “a mans gift makes room for him…”
I want people I can know. People who are leaders because others are willing to follow then not because they have been given a title.

I am grateful that as we have prayed God has sent incredible people who are willing to serve and let God make a place for them.

In reading Psalm 119 this morning I am reminded this is the primer to understanding scripture. It is the counterpart to Jesus teaching on the parable of the soils. He said that of we don’t understand this teaching we can’t understand any if the parables or His teachings. Both Bible passages focus on how we receive, acknowledge, and put into practice truth we receive.

The psalmist cries out..
“let me understand your precepts…”
“teach me O Lord…”
“give me understanding…”
“direct me in your path…”
“turn my heart…”

He cries out to understand Gods word so that he can meditate on it and fully follow it.

So many people lack direction and have no clue where they going, yet they refuse to let God lead them or apply themselves to learning His word. I think of how much time I waste trying to figure thinks out instead of seeking God’s wisdom and the revelation that comes through reading the Bible.

My prayer is for God to reveal His truth more and more that I may really understand and take to heart all He is wanting me to know and direction in which He is leading me.

Starting the year off in my Bible reading I’m at the beginning, Genesis. It just seems right, new year, I haven’t done anything to screw it up by 8AM.
I was struck today as I read at how God works with us.
We see a pattern develop in the second chapter of Genesis. God creates Eden and places Adam there to “work it and take care of it”. God creates the animals and then let’s Adam name them. When there is something that Adam needs (a Mrs. Adam) God steps in again to create.
Here’s what I am getting. We cannot create or place ourselves or even find our mate on our own. These are God’s plans and ways that are too big for us. In planning and all we do we must first take the raw material of what God has created and where He has placed us and start from there. We can then work and take care of our lives and families and ministries.
I see too many people trying to create or place or choose for themselves and do God’s job.
I want to enjoy the place I’m at, work and cultivate with the resources God has provided with the people God has placed in my life.
Oh yeah, and if you see me talking to any slithering characters or eating from the wrong tree please stop me.

Axiom by Bill Hybels

Complete Book of Discipleship by Bill Hull

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Jesus Brand Spirituality by Ken Wilson