I recently opened a profile on facebook.com. WOW it has been amazing to discover all those people I sometimes think about but haven't seen for many years. In some cases I have connected with people I haven't talked to in over 12 years. It is always interesting to see what people are doing nowadays...where they live, what they do, if they have a family now, and so forth. I also think we forget that there are people out there thinking about us that we didn't even realize. Think about it. There are people from our past that we think about that may not remember us that well. Then there are people out there that are wondering what is going on in our life and we don't really think about them that much at all. That's confusing isn't it. The value for me is to realize that we all impact people differently. What we say or do is going to be more meaningful for some and less meaningful for others. Some people are going to feel more important to us then we do to them. It has been an interesting experience. One thing I do recognize is that when you share Jesus Christ with others you always stay connected. There is a bond there that can't be broken no matter how long it has been.
It has been a real encouragement for me to reconnect with so many people. One thing it does for me is to really think about where I am at and how I got here. When 12 years passes we forget so much of what God has done. We are often quick to wonder where God is or wonder what he has done when the truth is He has moved mountains in our life. In the last few days I have grown a new appreciation for the journey that has been my life. I am discovering more and more of the things I have taken for granted and I have spent a lot of time in pray thanking God for that work. I wonder...what has God done in your life in the last 12 years? When was the last time you sat down and thought about it like that? I would encourage you to take an inventory and see where He has been working. Trust me, it will give you a whole new appreciation for where you are at now.
So if you are on facebook and haven't connected with me yet, just do a search for me and send me a poke and we will let the good-times role. Or maybe you should check it out. Setting up a profile is free and it is a great way to connect with people you haven't seen for years. Anyway...see you out there in cyberspace somewhere! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Gotcha SEC!!!
Well the hunt is over...the baiting...the chasing...the loud shrills from the women in my family...SEC has been killed. He has been put out to pasture. Wow what an adventure! You might be wondering what the heck I am talking about?!?
Well it all started on a calm cool evening much like the one today. I was minding my own business down in the basement playing MotorStorm on the PS3 when all of a sudden the floor next to me seemingly moved. For an instant I thought I saw a little brown flash dart across the floor and then it was gone. Only moments later I saw a small brown object running along the edge of the floor and in behind my TV set. I saw the cords move and then this little brown nose pop out and just sat there. It was like he was watching me or something...it was a mouse.
A few days later I heard a scream from down in the basement (which is not too uncommon when my kids are down there). It was Tawna. The mouse had just run between her feet and then under the door. In that instance I knew it was time to move into action. So I found an old trap left over from hunts long ago. I loaded it up with peanut butter and I set it. Oh yeah it was on!!! The following day I went to check the trap and to my amazement the peanut butter was gone and the trap had not even been triggered. Round one to the mouse. At this moment I new I had a tough opponent. It was a terrible defeat on my part. It was an embarrassing loss, so I named him SEC.
I scooped up my trap and I went upstairs with my head bowed in shame unsure if how I would respond to such humiliation. But I went to the refrigerator to see what I could find, and there it was, a slice of sharp cheddar. This time I took it and I crammed it into all of the pours of the trap. Making sure he would defeat me again. SEC was about to go down! I set the trap and waited. This morning I woke up put my Buckeye shirt on and I moved to the basement with hesitation not wanting to lose to SEC again. I gabbed the flashlight and there he was. Caught in the jaws of my trap. SEC had been defeated!!! He may have won the first time. But I learned I adapted and in the end victory was mine. He is now in my garage awaiting his final resting place...the garbage! I only wish Jim Tressel was able to do what I had done. Make the necessary adjustments to not lose to SEC twice in a row. But alas catching mice is not as complicated as running a football program. Not sure there is any value to this post. Just was on my mind and gives you a glimpse into the silliness that is the Alice household. Blessings, Your Weird Dreaming Pastor
Well it all started on a calm cool evening much like the one today. I was minding my own business down in the basement playing MotorStorm on the PS3 when all of a sudden the floor next to me seemingly moved. For an instant I thought I saw a little brown flash dart across the floor and then it was gone. Only moments later I saw a small brown object running along the edge of the floor and in behind my TV set. I saw the cords move and then this little brown nose pop out and just sat there. It was like he was watching me or something...it was a mouse.
A few days later I heard a scream from down in the basement (which is not too uncommon when my kids are down there). It was Tawna. The mouse had just run between her feet and then under the door. In that instance I knew it was time to move into action. So I found an old trap left over from hunts long ago. I loaded it up with peanut butter and I set it. Oh yeah it was on!!! The following day I went to check the trap and to my amazement the peanut butter was gone and the trap had not even been triggered. Round one to the mouse. At this moment I new I had a tough opponent. It was a terrible defeat on my part. It was an embarrassing loss, so I named him SEC.
I scooped up my trap and I went upstairs with my head bowed in shame unsure if how I would respond to such humiliation. But I went to the refrigerator to see what I could find, and there it was, a slice of sharp cheddar. This time I took it and I crammed it into all of the pours of the trap. Making sure he would defeat me again. SEC was about to go down! I set the trap and waited. This morning I woke up put my Buckeye shirt on and I moved to the basement with hesitation not wanting to lose to SEC again. I gabbed the flashlight and there he was. Caught in the jaws of my trap. SEC had been defeated!!! He may have won the first time. But I learned I adapted and in the end victory was mine. He is now in my garage awaiting his final resting place...the garbage! I only wish Jim Tressel was able to do what I had done. Make the necessary adjustments to not lose to SEC twice in a row. But alas catching mice is not as complicated as running a football program. Not sure there is any value to this post. Just was on my mind and gives you a glimpse into the silliness that is the Alice household. Blessings, Your Weird Dreaming Pastor
Monday, February 25, 2008
Just another surgery for Isabel
Many of you know that my daughter Isabel was born with a rare genetic disorder called Apert's Syndrome. She has many issues resulting from this...Mainly with her skull, hands, & feet. Wanted to keep you updated on her so that you can continue praying for her.
The first Tuesday in April she will be having double hand surgery. The purpose of this is to reposition her thumbs so she can have a better grip. This means they will be inserting two pins. She will also have the wells deepened between her other fingers. (She was born with her fingers fused). She will be in casts on both arms that go all the way up to her arm pits. It amazing how routine and normal this feels to us because she has been through so much.
She has always been a warrior and has never once complained about her difficulties. She is such a source of strength for our entire household. I hope if you have difficulty in your life or in one of your loved ones lives that she can serve as an inspiration for you. Keep our family in your prayers, especially Isabel. May God Bless you today, Your Dreaming Pastor
The first Tuesday in April she will be having double hand surgery. The purpose of this is to reposition her thumbs so she can have a better grip. This means they will be inserting two pins. She will also have the wells deepened between her other fingers. (She was born with her fingers fused). She will be in casts on both arms that go all the way up to her arm pits. It amazing how routine and normal this feels to us because she has been through so much.
She has always been a warrior and has never once complained about her difficulties. She is such a source of strength for our entire household. I hope if you have difficulty in your life or in one of your loved ones lives that she can serve as an inspiration for you. Keep our family in your prayers, especially Isabel. May God Bless you today, Your Dreaming Pastor
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Those long winter months
What a crazy winter it has been weather wise. One day it is 10 degrees and snowing the next day it is 50 degrees and raining. We have experienced ice, sleet, slush, and freezing rain all in a few months. For me I tend to get a little cabin fever and the walls feel like they are coming in on me. Our family really thrives outdoors and there are times where we get to feeling a little stir crazy this time of year. It is really difficult on the kids because there is so much for them to do outside and it also doesn't really ever give Erin and I a break because we can't say, "hey go outside and play". If we didn't have a basement for them to go play in I am not sure we could keep our sanity.
I have heard studies that the gloominess of winter is a real phenomenon in our lives. With all of these dark gray days, with the lousy weather, and low temperatures it can wear on a persons soul. Depression is a bigger issue in the winter months just because of the climate. I have to confess there are times where I just feel dreary and blah because I haven't seen the sun in a few weeks. I also think it is this time of year in late February where it feels like the lousy weather is never going to end. Very soon however it will start warming up, the farmers will hit the fields, and everything will be in bloom. I don't know about you but I am looking forward to those days.
It reminds me how much we relay on our feelings. That our feelings tend to dictate our attitudes, our actions, and even our inactions. It is so hard for us to make sure we continue to do those things in life that are important and a priority even when we don't feel like it. What I am learning is sometimes I have to act my way into a feeling. In other words if I wait to do something that I feel like doing it may never get done. However if I take right action even if I don't' feel like it eventually the awkwardness wears off and the feelings come. These days it's so easy to allow the blah or dreariness of the day affect our life actions. We may not always feel like it and then again there are times where we just need to act it and the feelings come. So for now I am going to watch some TV while the kids play in the basement and Erin rests (until I feel like doing something else...hah, hah). I pray that you are making it through these trying months and that God continues to shed light on your soul even on these gray days. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
I have heard studies that the gloominess of winter is a real phenomenon in our lives. With all of these dark gray days, with the lousy weather, and low temperatures it can wear on a persons soul. Depression is a bigger issue in the winter months just because of the climate. I have to confess there are times where I just feel dreary and blah because I haven't seen the sun in a few weeks. I also think it is this time of year in late February where it feels like the lousy weather is never going to end. Very soon however it will start warming up, the farmers will hit the fields, and everything will be in bloom. I don't know about you but I am looking forward to those days.
It reminds me how much we relay on our feelings. That our feelings tend to dictate our attitudes, our actions, and even our inactions. It is so hard for us to make sure we continue to do those things in life that are important and a priority even when we don't feel like it. What I am learning is sometimes I have to act my way into a feeling. In other words if I wait to do something that I feel like doing it may never get done. However if I take right action even if I don't' feel like it eventually the awkwardness wears off and the feelings come. These days it's so easy to allow the blah or dreariness of the day affect our life actions. We may not always feel like it and then again there are times where we just need to act it and the feelings come. So for now I am going to watch some TV while the kids play in the basement and Erin rests (until I feel like doing something else...hah, hah). I pray that you are making it through these trying months and that God continues to shed light on your soul even on these gray days. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Torn between two loves...
I have two major loves in my life right now. One is my devotion to my family and the other is my commitment to the local church that I serve. One of the greatest struggles in my life is how to handle situations when those two things collide. There are often times where my family is going in one direction with a commitment or activity and my responsibilities at the church are going in another direction. For instance last summer we had this awesome sermon series called "Facing the Giants". Well the Friday night that we had movie night my son Austin was playing in his first tournament game with his baseball team. I was the assistant coach. I missed that game and probably will always regret it. But what should a person do. I know for a fact that if I missed our movie night here at OFC and gone to the game I would have regretted missing that event as well. I always heard it described by other pastors like this..."when I'm at home I feel like I should be at church and when I am at church I feel like I should be at home." I can certainly relate to that. Life is filled with choices and commitments. How do we decide in these tough circumstances. I always try to put myself in my kids shoes in these cases. When I was a child at least one of my parents made it to every one of my basketball games, awards ceremonies, concerts, or banquets. In fact through my basketball career I never once remember my parents not being there even at some of our far away road games. When I think of that it brings me back to today and my commitment to my kids and my family. How can I make sure I create those memories for them?
Like for instance my dilemma with my daughter Tawna and her Baton/twirling team. Their major competition for the year just happens to be the same morning of one of our biggest events of the year at OFC, our Easter outreach to the community. My entire family will be going to see Tawna's performance, even my folks are coming up from Dayton to go see her. This is one of the only competitions she will participate in all year. How could I miss that? Tawna will remember that day for the rest of her life and I won't be there.
But then again we are putting on a major ministry outreach here at the church. I will be asking and recruiting people to come and to serve. I will be expecting our leaders to show up and do a great job as they put on an excellent party for the community. How could I miss that? People will want to know, well where is the pastor? How could he miss such an important event? These moments for me are some of the most difficult times when it comes to being a parent and a pastor. I can handle the crisis, the back biting, people's frustration, the ugly parts of being in the ministry. But when it comes to things like this I feel lost and lonely. You might think that it isn't that big of a deal but for me I just get torn. I show up to one place while my heart is somewhere else. I am sure all of you can relate to these circumstances.
It's kind of funny... I'm the one always throwing advice out to you guys. Now I need a little encouragement from you. How do you handle and deal with these kinds of circumstances? I would love to hear any of your feedback on this one. I know you can't decide for me and I don't expect you to. Just looking for any insights you might have or what you might do. Look forward to your comments. Blessings, Your Dreaming & Torn Pastor
Like for instance my dilemma with my daughter Tawna and her Baton/twirling team. Their major competition for the year just happens to be the same morning of one of our biggest events of the year at OFC, our Easter outreach to the community. My entire family will be going to see Tawna's performance, even my folks are coming up from Dayton to go see her. This is one of the only competitions she will participate in all year. How could I miss that? Tawna will remember that day for the rest of her life and I won't be there.
But then again we are putting on a major ministry outreach here at the church. I will be asking and recruiting people to come and to serve. I will be expecting our leaders to show up and do a great job as they put on an excellent party for the community. How could I miss that? People will want to know, well where is the pastor? How could he miss such an important event? These moments for me are some of the most difficult times when it comes to being a parent and a pastor. I can handle the crisis, the back biting, people's frustration, the ugly parts of being in the ministry. But when it comes to things like this I feel lost and lonely. You might think that it isn't that big of a deal but for me I just get torn. I show up to one place while my heart is somewhere else. I am sure all of you can relate to these circumstances.
It's kind of funny... I'm the one always throwing advice out to you guys. Now I need a little encouragement from you. How do you handle and deal with these kinds of circumstances? I would love to hear any of your feedback on this one. I know you can't decide for me and I don't expect you to. Just looking for any insights you might have or what you might do. Look forward to your comments. Blessings, Your Dreaming & Torn Pastor
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Skating with the fam
Today we had an Ice skating event with our church. Our whole family went and everyone except E-Beth and Erin went out on the ice. It is kind of an odd feeling for me being on skates. We skated once last year and before that it hadn't been since I was a teen in youth group since I had last gone skating. Once my skates hit the ice I felt really wobbly and off balance. It is a very awkward experience. However, very quickly I would gain my confidence and I go faster and faster and faster until by the end of our time I was as confident as I can be. It just amazes me that after all these years it just takes a few minutes to remember all over again how to ice skate.
I think life is lot like what I experienced today. It takes us time in certain things to gain our balance and our confidence with what we are doing or for that matter with what God is doing in us. So we gingerly move forward trusting at some moment we are going to get it. Sometimes we stumble sometimes we fall but in the end after time goes by and many struggles later there we are skating through life with God guiding the way. I think the point is it is so easy to get discouraged when things feel unfamiliar or awkward. Anything new or that we haven't tried in a long time will seem awkward at first. But the reward of working through those moments far outweighs our stumbles along the way in getting there. I can picture God coaxing us out onto the ice of life, to trust Him as we grow with Him, that things will become familiar.
Like when Isabel joined me out on the ice and she couldn't even stand on her own. I propped her up and held her and once she looked comfortable I started letting go more and more. Until for a few seconds I wasn't holding her at all I was just there to support her and guide her. If we can look at our faith like that we would better understand how God is there for us through our life development. There are times where His grip on us is tighter than at other times. There are times where we are moving forward and he is there to make sure we are all right. There are times where He has to pick us up after we fall. The point is he never leaves our side no matter how well it is going. There are just different levels of our development with Him. I pray that you have the courage to be out on the ice of life with God and are trusting him through the stumbling and bumbling moments...believing that he will be there to guide you along the way and that eventually you will get it, feel confident, and be moving along. Another thing. maybe it ahs been awhile since you tried skating out on the ice with God in life. Don't worry as soon as you step out there and try it again you will pick it up as quickly as I did. You can never be to far away from God to try and pick up your relationship with Him. Hey let's go skating together...see you out on the ice! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
I think life is lot like what I experienced today. It takes us time in certain things to gain our balance and our confidence with what we are doing or for that matter with what God is doing in us. So we gingerly move forward trusting at some moment we are going to get it. Sometimes we stumble sometimes we fall but in the end after time goes by and many struggles later there we are skating through life with God guiding the way. I think the point is it is so easy to get discouraged when things feel unfamiliar or awkward. Anything new or that we haven't tried in a long time will seem awkward at first. But the reward of working through those moments far outweighs our stumbles along the way in getting there. I can picture God coaxing us out onto the ice of life, to trust Him as we grow with Him, that things will become familiar.
Like when Isabel joined me out on the ice and she couldn't even stand on her own. I propped her up and held her and once she looked comfortable I started letting go more and more. Until for a few seconds I wasn't holding her at all I was just there to support her and guide her. If we can look at our faith like that we would better understand how God is there for us through our life development. There are times where His grip on us is tighter than at other times. There are times where we are moving forward and he is there to make sure we are all right. There are times where He has to pick us up after we fall. The point is he never leaves our side no matter how well it is going. There are just different levels of our development with Him. I pray that you have the courage to be out on the ice of life with God and are trusting him through the stumbling and bumbling moments...believing that he will be there to guide you along the way and that eventually you will get it, feel confident, and be moving along. Another thing. maybe it ahs been awhile since you tried skating out on the ice with God in life. Don't worry as soon as you step out there and try it again you will pick it up as quickly as I did. You can never be to far away from God to try and pick up your relationship with Him. Hey let's go skating together...see you out on the ice! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Its been a long year already
I can't beleive it is only the middle of February. Our family sure has had a crazy year so far. I think we have been fully healthy for a total of 1 week so far. We have had upper chest infections, ear infections, strep throat, stomach viruses, procedures, colds, you name it we have had it. Isabel and Erin went to Cincy Children's Hospital for her latest check up on how she is doing and they determined that she will be having double hand suregery in April. Last week we got water in our basement...again. Two weeks ago Erin and I got away for a few days in Columbus. The kids have had 2 hr delays it seems almost every morning for school. Three of our girls have already finished an entire session of ice skating and will be starting another this weekend. It has just been nutty. At the church we have had countless people in the hospital with their own struggles with surgeies, emergenices, and other illnesses. We had to cancel My Place last week & cancelled our lead team last night all because of weather. It has been quit a year.
Do you ever just have those seasons of life that are so hectic and chaotic? You wonder how you have made it through them? Or in some cases it is so crazy that it just seems to be a blur...you feel like you have been doing nothing but catching up or just keeping your head afloat. That is what this year has felt like. I am sure some of you can relate to this and some of you have had even crazier years. I am always amazed that no matter how wild our seasons of life are that God never changes. He stays constant and true in His character and His qualities. I wish I could say the same for me during these times. Sometimes I just seem to be (or at least feel like I am) out of balance. I get irritable, more selfish and self-focused. It is easy to lose touch when life is going a million miles an hour. I am sure things will slow down here pretty soon...yeah right. Does life ever slow down? Well maybe sometimes but it is not a guarentee. How do you cope with a crazy life full of the expected and the unexpected? It's not easy but that is life isn't it. I pray that I continue to take on the characteristics and qualities of Jesus as I walk through life with Him together. I pray that you do the same as well. Blessings,
Do you ever just have those seasons of life that are so hectic and chaotic? You wonder how you have made it through them? Or in some cases it is so crazy that it just seems to be a blur...you feel like you have been doing nothing but catching up or just keeping your head afloat. That is what this year has felt like. I am sure some of you can relate to this and some of you have had even crazier years. I am always amazed that no matter how wild our seasons of life are that God never changes. He stays constant and true in His character and His qualities. I wish I could say the same for me during these times. Sometimes I just seem to be (or at least feel like I am) out of balance. I get irritable, more selfish and self-focused. It is easy to lose touch when life is going a million miles an hour. I am sure things will slow down here pretty soon...yeah right. Does life ever slow down? Well maybe sometimes but it is not a guarentee. How do you cope with a crazy life full of the expected and the unexpected? It's not easy but that is life isn't it. I pray that I continue to take on the characteristics and qualities of Jesus as I walk through life with Him together. I pray that you do the same as well. Blessings,
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