T.E.A.M Players

Teams permeate our society. We see them in sports, in business and even social events. But there is a team of people around you that is a little closer to home. Ever looked at you family as a team? A family functions best as a team. They function best when each person of the family T.rusts, E.mpathizes, and A.ppreciates each other.

Husbands does your wife trust you? Is she appreciated, do you raise the value of who she is? Are the feelings she expresses validated? Sometimes we men get too caught up in the facts and forget that feelings are more important to our kids and wife.

Wives are you believing in your husbands? Do you seek to understand the pressure they are under constantly? When was the last time you did something for him that was unique to his personality?

Parents do you trust your teen? If not what would it take to put the “T” in your family TEAM? When was the last time you got out of your world and got into theirs? Do you parent based on seeing external behavior change or do you know that from the heart (inside out) your children are growing and knowing eternal truths and lasting character?

I hope you noticed I mis-spelled team. A team is not a team unless you are on a M.ission. See if you are not on a mission with your spouse or children you are not doing all God intended. What mission should you and your spouse work towards? What mission should you and your teen align to? What mission are you on; Yours or God’s? Here is a good scripture for mission to keep in mind:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Back to School

I was driving to pickup my dad the other day and I saw a common sight this time of year. A school bus stopped in front of me to drop off a child after a day of school. The boy that came off the 10 wheeled yellow box and immediately started running down a dirt road, towards home. He did not stop, but continued to run until I could not see him anymore. I thought “I wonder if he is running towards a home that encourages him, that tells him God uniquely created him or beats him down and destroys the beauty of God in an innocent child.” “I wonder if he hates his dad or loves his dad, I wonder if the home he has nurtures him or constantly tells him he will never be good enough.” “I wonder if the report card he is carrying will mark his self-image?”

As I wondered many more thoughts in these few seconds I also prayed for him and his family. I ask you today, “What can make a difference in that boy’s home?” “What can reach deep into the inner rooms of his house and infuse life-giving love?” Can a reduction in taxes do this? Can no child left behind accomplish this? Can a new house change it? Can a new president descend this?

I am convinced that only God can and He has established the church (you and me) to herald His good news. It is us (the church) that can make that difference! It is us and only us reaching out to that boy and the many others in our communities that will bring the life of God to homes across America! Do we surrender this challenge under the thought of, “Surely Pastor Paul God will still touch that family if I don’t, God does not rely on me alone to be the voice.” Are you sure? Do you take that chance? It is not our position to determine this; it is our position to simply serve all those we can.

May God return to earth always find us serving each other and those around us, not for any agenda, but only to show the love of Christ.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…” (1 Peter 4:10)

If you are not serving, start serving for it will change a young boys home so when he runs home next week it’s a safe, Godly place. Until next week….

Broken Bottles

Ever broken something in your life, like a glass or a plate? During college I had my far share “golf clap” breakages as a buffet waiter. One particular moment still sticks in my memory like epoxy. I don’t remember what we were doing or why we were going into the local supermarket, but for some reason my dad and I walked in a Safeway that fateful day. He sent me, a 6 year old boy, down the pop isle (Soda isle for your eastern’s). 30 years ago plastic was not as widely used in society as it is today and so 2 liters came in glass bottles. (Aging myself—I know)

So, I am searching for the bargain Coke and once I find it I reach out and grab 2 liters of something that was too heavy for me to carry. Trying my hardest to carry a slippery and heavy bottle of pop (errr…soda) I got about 10 feet down the isle before it slipped through my hands and shattered on the floor. I was frightened, terrorized and frozen because my parents always told me “you break it you buy it!” I looked and no one saw, yes FREE! All I have to do is walk away from the mess. As I made my way to the end of the isle there was my dad coming back from the other side of the store. BUSTED or so I thought; in the end the famous “Clean up on isle 10” was heard over the loud speaker and somebody else cleaned up my mess. Somebody else paid for the pop and I was saved from punishment.

Our relationships in life are much like that bottle, often too heavy to carry, yet we still try to do it alone. And when they shatter and break all over the floor our first reaction is to hide. The mess is so big often we don’t know what to do in order to clean up our own relationship isles. So the Holy Spirit calls over the loud speaker, “Clean up in Pastor Paul’s life” and Jesus rolls around the corner with his mop bucket and cleans up the shattered mess.

By the way, my dad asked me “Son why did you try to carry that bottle?” And that is what your heavenly Father asks you today, “Why are you trying to carry something you can’t carry, let me handle it.”

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)

What are you carrying today that is too heavy, release them to the Father before you drop them and cause a big mess!