From July...An unfinished blog

" If I can't impact the world, I don't want to live in it." -Francis Chan

"We're always praying God change things rather than God change me."

- Francis Chan

It's a typical (and somewhat depressing) summer occurrence for me. What happens is not depressing, but the fact that I see a cyclical pattern in my life. What is this summertime event? I find that during the summer I draw closer to God. I spend a "little" more time in God's Word, listen to more sermons, read more "spiritual" reading, and in the summer, I find that my reserve tank is refilled. I feel refreshed, and find that within the chasm that has grown in the past nine to ten months betweeen me and God, I am now closer. The distance is not so far.

This is depressing to me because I want this closeness, this peace, this passion all of the time. I think it is good to have a season of refreshment, but I want to further along in my faith.

No I'm Not An Extra For a Harry Potter Movie...

Last Sunday (June 1), I attended graduation ceremonies which mark the end of my ninth year as a teacher. It has been an interesting journey this year, where I find once again that I am not ending the year quite as I began it. I began with three children and now end with four. I began very pumped and excited about ministry potentials at Colonial Woods and now I'm uncertain. I'm in the midst of a spiritual and mental low and lull right now.

This really came out of nowhere but is not totally unexpected. I feel like I've been racing down the side of a mountain in the midst of an avalanche that just won't stop. I desire so much a long summer day with no responsibilities and no worries. I've also caught myself in a very bad web of just being negative.

Sunday, I really laid on the line with God, confessing that I'm trying to do way too much without His input and help. I'm certain I'm right where the devil wants me...feeling down and defeated...but that is NOT where I'll stay.

Thoughts....

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. This Wednesday (April 2) will mark four weeks since Sawyer Finn has arrived on planet Earth. Since then, I have played Pontius Pilate, began directing JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, spoke twice about SEX AND LOVE and LUST to our church's senior high youth group, and experienced the extreme rush of shopping with FOUR CHILDREN at both Target and Super Walmart....
It's been pretty hectic, not to mention that I'm preparing to begin Romeo and Juliet with my ninth graders.
I love my ride home. First, because I'm heading HOME!! But also it is a mental re-sorting time. A time for a little spiritual workshop. And I've been burdened by the attitudes of various people in my life. This was quickly attacked today when God reminded me that many of the sins and failures I point out in others reside within me. I'm quick to celebrate that downfalls of others but spend little time examining my own heart.

Micah 6 reads...
Verse 8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

May I too ACT JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, and WALK HUMBLY.

What Life Is All About....

Wednesday, March 5, 2008---7:13 p.m., weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces....

SAWYER FINN MCCULLOCH arrived in this world!

What an amazing blessing to see how God planned life to begin! It was an amazing day.

Ummm....Not Yet.

February 25, 2008

This was last night at about 1 in the morning. We thought THIS WAS IT. It wasn't. We were sent to Kmart at about 3:00 a.m. to walk the store. It is now 4:45 p.m. the next day. No baby. Tired wife. Tired kids. Grumpy dad.
This is life at its finest...you gotta love it.

A Little Rob Bell Love....

My lover is mine, and I am his.
Song of Solomon 2:16

I believe that this verse from Song of Solomon was the exact verse that was on Amber and my wedding invitations. I hope I'm not falling into the fate of so many men that forget things like...wedding anniversaries and birthdates and the date of the day that you became engaged...and....and....I'm in big trouble.
Today, for a Valentines Day visual prompt in my Creative Writing class, I'm showing one of Rob Bell's Nooma videos, FLAME. It may be a little risky for public high school, but I love the visual Bell gives on different types of love: "raya", "ahava", and "dod". It is sad that LUST has become more important than love. Many of my students, even my ninth graders, are very open about caving into the pressure to have sex before marriage. I love how Bell illustrates that there are different types of love that are vital upon each other in order to have a lasting, solid relationship. Jumpin to the intense level of physical love before establishing friendship and commitment (marriage) creates a relationship that has no foundation.
Pray for my class that God will use this visual lesson to challenge their ideas and views about the fullness and wonderment that we call LOVE.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

The True Self

Most of my weekend has been one that has reflecting on the TRUE SELF. Who am I? What has God created me for? I can look around and find the obvious answers...I'm a husband, a dad, a public school teacher, and it all makes sense. But within that life, where I claim to be a Christian, am I really a follower of Christ. I just watched Rob Bell's EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL dvd and love how he states that not just certain moments or certain aspects of our lives our "spiritual". Everything is spritual, but what is the quality of my spiritual life. Is it wasted on the "things of this world."

I thought about how I present myself, the Christian teacher, in my classroom, but I still manage to compromise the true relfection of Christ. I have myself convinced that I am the ULTIMATE, but I'm so far away from this. I am humbled by the revelations of God's spirit that I need to BE what I say I am.