Has it ever struck you as almost odd that Jesus prayed? I mean HE IS JESUS! Right. He shouldn't need to pray. But yet, He did. At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed. On the Cross, Jesus prayed. All very well known passages. Right.
I like finding the lesser known times when Jesus prayed. In Matthew 14 there are some amazing stories and miracles. The chapter starts with the death of John the Baptist, then Jesus feeds the five thousand, then Jesus walks on water, and the chapter ends with Jesus healing people at Gennesaret. All incredible stories and worthy of many, many sermons and blogs, but almost hidden amongst all that great stuff are two powerful verses. Powerful to me anyway.
Matthew 14:13b says-"Jesus left in a boat to a remote area to be alone" Later in verse 23 it says " Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray" WOW!
Jesus would purposefully go to be alone and pray! I mean, He already knew what was going to happen next and yet, He prayed. Talk about leading by example.
I know there have been many times I have viewed prayer as a duty or a right and it is NOT. Prayer IS a priviledge and an honor! You are talking to the God of the universe.
I can't tell you how many times I've written in my journal (yes I said it -"my journal") that I need to pray more. Do I mean it or not? As a man and a husband and a father and a leader I need to find my "cave" and be alone and PRAY more.
Listening to God, Grant
P.S. Those of you that are praying for us, and I know that there are many of you, THANK YOU! Your prayers are much needed and much appreciated!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Random Thoughts II
Some random thoughts from the week....
--I miss my Dad. I was watching the U.S Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets perform on Wed. from the deck of our house. It was a perfect spot. They flew directly over my head several times. About half way through the show, I thought, my Dad would have LOVED this. He loved anything to do with aviation, from a single engine cessna to the space shuttle, he loved to talk about it. As far as I know he never got to see anything close to what I saw Wed. I think he would have liked Cheyenne , there is always aircraft in the air, be it commercial private or military.
--I need to call my Mom more!
--I love Cheyenne! Especially the "southside". Of all the staff members from Element Church, we are the only ones living in the southern part of the city. Trust me when I say this is NOT by accident. This is excatly where God wants us. I love it here. We love our house and KNOW this is where we are supposed to be.
--I just called my Mom.
--My wife is AWESOME!
--I LOVE being in the ministry.
Grant
--I miss my Dad. I was watching the U.S Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets perform on Wed. from the deck of our house. It was a perfect spot. They flew directly over my head several times. About half way through the show, I thought, my Dad would have LOVED this. He loved anything to do with aviation, from a single engine cessna to the space shuttle, he loved to talk about it. As far as I know he never got to see anything close to what I saw Wed. I think he would have liked Cheyenne , there is always aircraft in the air, be it commercial private or military.
--I need to call my Mom more!
--I love Cheyenne! Especially the "southside". Of all the staff members from Element Church, we are the only ones living in the southern part of the city. Trust me when I say this is NOT by accident. This is excatly where God wants us. I love it here. We love our house and KNOW this is where we are supposed to be.
--I just called my Mom.
--My wife is AWESOME!
--I LOVE being in the ministry.
Grant
Monday, July 23, 2007
Ted Nugent and The Gospel
Ok, stay with me here. This blog made sense in my head so hopefully it makes sense on paper.
God can use ordinary everyday occurrences to teach profound truths about Himself, at least He does with me. As most of you know, I work for Frito-Lay which means I see hundreds of people on a normal day. If I'm paying attention, usually I can learn something from just watching people and listening to what they say.
Anyway, it's Frontier Day's here in Cheyenne, and that means that there are several concerts scheduled throughout the timeframe. The first one was last Friday and it was Bon Jovi. All day people were talking about it ( a pretty big-name act for Cheyenne), some were excited others weren't. Almost everyone had an opinion and, as is normal, were more than willing to share said opinion. As people were discussing it in the back of a grocery store, one dude piped up and basically yelled out "I ain't going, I ain't never going to another concert out there. Ted Nugent ruined it for me!" Then he went on to explain that last year Ted used the platform of a rock concert to strongly share his politcal views on gun-control and all that goes along with that.
(Personal Discalimer: I was not there, so I don't know if that is really what happened. I'm merely sharing one guys opinion of the events. Nor am I going to use this blog to discuss how I feel about Mr. Nugent, except to eventually get to my whole point for this blog.)
Just moments before that I had witnessed a VERY BAD example of someone's attempt to tell people about Jesus. The best way I could describe it would be that it was almost like a drive-by shooting: four people in a car, stalking people in a grocery store parking lot, drive up to an unsupsecting "victim", jump out and shove a tract in their hand, jump back in and drive away. This particular "victim" was a mother with three young kids who was trying to wrestle the kids and the groceries into the car all at the same time. What do you think she did with the tract?
Anyway, I had all these thoughts going through my head about what I had seen and heard in the last ten minutes and I silently asked myself one huge question-- "Is that me?" When I'm trying to show or tell someone about how much God loves them, how am I doing?
Am I handing out invite card just for the sake of handing them out? Do people sense that I believe in what I'm doing and that I really do love Jesus and want them to also. Or do they feel like the lastest "victim" of a drive-by. Am I showing them what God can do in someone's life more than I'm telling them. (Actions speak louder than words.)
OR, am I viewed as one of those radicals like some people view Ted. Now I'm sure that he made some very good points that night and most of what he said was true BUT he probably did more damage than good. Like my friend said "I went there to listen to him play his hit songs, not get a lecture on how people are trying to steal our freedom". Is that me? Even if what I say to someone is true and Biblically sound, if it's done wrong it does more harm than good. If I use my "platform" or my "stage" or even my "title" as some form of power-trip to show how much I know or how much better I am than you, then even if I'm right, I'm wrong.
I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a friend of mine back in Gillette. He was struggling, had sin in his life, his marriage was falling apart, etc. He came to me for advice and that is not what he got. What he got was a lecture. What I said was true and even Biblical BUT it did more harm than good. It was a moment to shine, instead I tarnished the name of Jesus.
Learning & Growing,
Grant
God can use ordinary everyday occurrences to teach profound truths about Himself, at least He does with me. As most of you know, I work for Frito-Lay which means I see hundreds of people on a normal day. If I'm paying attention, usually I can learn something from just watching people and listening to what they say.
Anyway, it's Frontier Day's here in Cheyenne, and that means that there are several concerts scheduled throughout the timeframe. The first one was last Friday and it was Bon Jovi. All day people were talking about it ( a pretty big-name act for Cheyenne), some were excited others weren't. Almost everyone had an opinion and, as is normal, were more than willing to share said opinion. As people were discussing it in the back of a grocery store, one dude piped up and basically yelled out "I ain't going, I ain't never going to another concert out there. Ted Nugent ruined it for me!" Then he went on to explain that last year Ted used the platform of a rock concert to strongly share his politcal views on gun-control and all that goes along with that.
(Personal Discalimer: I was not there, so I don't know if that is really what happened. I'm merely sharing one guys opinion of the events. Nor am I going to use this blog to discuss how I feel about Mr. Nugent, except to eventually get to my whole point for this blog.)
Just moments before that I had witnessed a VERY BAD example of someone's attempt to tell people about Jesus. The best way I could describe it would be that it was almost like a drive-by shooting: four people in a car, stalking people in a grocery store parking lot, drive up to an unsupsecting "victim", jump out and shove a tract in their hand, jump back in and drive away. This particular "victim" was a mother with three young kids who was trying to wrestle the kids and the groceries into the car all at the same time. What do you think she did with the tract?
Anyway, I had all these thoughts going through my head about what I had seen and heard in the last ten minutes and I silently asked myself one huge question-- "Is that me?" When I'm trying to show or tell someone about how much God loves them, how am I doing?
Am I handing out invite card just for the sake of handing them out? Do people sense that I believe in what I'm doing and that I really do love Jesus and want them to also. Or do they feel like the lastest "victim" of a drive-by. Am I showing them what God can do in someone's life more than I'm telling them. (Actions speak louder than words.)
OR, am I viewed as one of those radicals like some people view Ted. Now I'm sure that he made some very good points that night and most of what he said was true BUT he probably did more damage than good. Like my friend said "I went there to listen to him play his hit songs, not get a lecture on how people are trying to steal our freedom". Is that me? Even if what I say to someone is true and Biblically sound, if it's done wrong it does more harm than good. If I use my "platform" or my "stage" or even my "title" as some form of power-trip to show how much I know or how much better I am than you, then even if I'm right, I'm wrong.
I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a friend of mine back in Gillette. He was struggling, had sin in his life, his marriage was falling apart, etc. He came to me for advice and that is not what he got. What he got was a lecture. What I said was true and even Biblical BUT it did more harm than good. It was a moment to shine, instead I tarnished the name of Jesus.
Learning & Growing,
Grant
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Great Day
Today was a great day at Element Church. Jeff is gone to a youth camp in Montana so he asked me to "pinch-hit" today. It's been a while since I've preached. And the last times were to the youth group back in Gillette. This time I was going to be in front of adults, and like all previous "Unplugged" Sundays I expected new faces. There were!
The topic Jeff asked me to preach on was the core-value of "family" and the essential- ministery of "Lifegroups".(that's what we are calling our small group ministry-LIFEGROUPS) A couple of weeks ago I had a rough-draft for my sermon written out and a direction I wanted to go. THEN... well then God gave me a verse that totally fit both topics. (Romans 12:9-16) I love the book of Romans, and have read it several times. So obviously I have read that passage before. BUT... well this time was one of those powerfull moments when the words just leap of the page. I actually sat there almost stunned. I really felt it fit perfectly. The very next morning I read in my devotions- "when called to preach, preach what God wants not what you want"! OK! Got it! Back to square one.
Now my sermon was going to focus on the concept of "unconditional love"and how that should look and be lived out in the family, in a Lifegroup, in our church, in the church, and in Cheyenne-"Don't just pretend to love someone, really love them."
This morning I felt prepared, confident in what God had given me, and totally pumped. (Terri Lynn and I were joking last night that we needed to rig some sort of seat-belt on the the "preaching stool" to keep me in one place-I pace when I talk-especially when I'm pumped)
I felt the sermon went well. Hopefully it helped someone. I know I learn a ton and I am ALWAYS challenged in my own walk when I'm preparing a message. I'll never forget what I learned this time around.
Anyway, as much as I enjoyed this experience, Pastor Jeff is MORE than welcome to have the stool back next week. And I'll sit and listen and grow and serve and look forward to my next time to "pinch-hit". I'm excited to see what Element Church will look like then!
The topic Jeff asked me to preach on was the core-value of "family" and the essential- ministery of "Lifegroups".(that's what we are calling our small group ministry-LIFEGROUPS) A couple of weeks ago I had a rough-draft for my sermon written out and a direction I wanted to go. THEN... well then God gave me a verse that totally fit both topics. (Romans 12:9-16) I love the book of Romans, and have read it several times. So obviously I have read that passage before. BUT... well this time was one of those powerfull moments when the words just leap of the page. I actually sat there almost stunned. I really felt it fit perfectly. The very next morning I read in my devotions- "when called to preach, preach what God wants not what you want"! OK! Got it! Back to square one.
Now my sermon was going to focus on the concept of "unconditional love"and how that should look and be lived out in the family, in a Lifegroup, in our church, in the church, and in Cheyenne-"Don't just pretend to love someone, really love them."
This morning I felt prepared, confident in what God had given me, and totally pumped. (Terri Lynn and I were joking last night that we needed to rig some sort of seat-belt on the the "preaching stool" to keep me in one place-I pace when I talk-especially when I'm pumped)
I felt the sermon went well. Hopefully it helped someone. I know I learn a ton and I am ALWAYS challenged in my own walk when I'm preparing a message. I'll never forget what I learned this time around.
Anyway, as much as I enjoyed this experience, Pastor Jeff is MORE than welcome to have the stool back next week. And I'll sit and listen and grow and serve and look forward to my next time to "pinch-hit". I'm excited to see what Element Church will look like then!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
I Can't Help It
Maybe I just want my own blog or maybe it's just a phase I'm going through, but I can't help but write this awesome story. In case you haven't guessed, this isn't Grant writing, but his wife Terri Lynn. He said I could be his "guest blogger" tonight.
Anyway, Grant went over to our neighbors house to invite Brian to go golfing this Friday. While he was there, they had some company-one of Brian's co-workers. They introduced them to Grant and the conversation turned to Element Church and how much Brian and Jennifer are liking it. The gal looked at Grant and said, "Element Church? That sounds so familiar. Oh, I know! You guys did the gas buy down!" She said she still has our connections card that we handed out that day and will now plan to come check out our church! Do you think she would come had Grant not gone over to visit? I doubt it. I guess that's why Grant is the Connections Pastor!
Now here's what I find amazing.... God orchestrated that meeting long ago. He has had Element Church in His mind long before we ever even thought about it. There have been so many "chance" happenings since the moment we moved to Cheyenne. But we know it's not chance or coincidence- but rather all part of God's perfect plan! All I can say is God is amazing and Grant, you're the man! and I'm so proud of my husband!
Anyway, Grant went over to our neighbors house to invite Brian to go golfing this Friday. While he was there, they had some company-one of Brian's co-workers. They introduced them to Grant and the conversation turned to Element Church and how much Brian and Jennifer are liking it. The gal looked at Grant and said, "Element Church? That sounds so familiar. Oh, I know! You guys did the gas buy down!" She said she still has our connections card that we handed out that day and will now plan to come check out our church! Do you think she would come had Grant not gone over to visit? I doubt it. I guess that's why Grant is the Connections Pastor!
Now here's what I find amazing.... God orchestrated that meeting long ago. He has had Element Church in His mind long before we ever even thought about it. There have been so many "chance" happenings since the moment we moved to Cheyenne. But we know it's not chance or coincidence- but rather all part of God's perfect plan! All I can say is God is amazing and Grant, you're the man! and I'm so proud of my husband!
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