Thinking Man's Quotes

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Discipline of Unplugging

Every year at this time we start to make resolutions. Usually we do so knowing full well we will never keep them. We sign up at a gym, we buy healthy food, or we attempt to spend more time with our family. In most cases we fall flat on our faces because we never really put a plan together.

This year I'm going to spend more time offline. While at first glance this seems like a difficult proposition (I am starting a blog and running a Facebook page for ministry donations), however with the right plan I believe this is something that can bring about some blessing.

Here are a few things I plan to do less of in 2014:

1. iPhone

Like most people I take my phone with me everywhere I go. It's my alarm, calendar, and newspaper. It's also the place where I primarily used Twitter and Facebook and how I communicate with friends when not face to face with them. But maybe you've noticed, as I have, that the phone interrupts real communication with family and friends. You're having a good conversation and suddenly you hear the beep indicating a new text/tweet/email has arrived. Without even thinking you pick up your phone to check and in doing so it shuts down the conversation immediately. Starting now whenever I'm spending time with family or a friend I'm shutting off my phone completely. I have voicemail  so leave me a message if it is important.

2. Computer

Similar to the item above, I spend far too much time on a computer. Part of this is necessary as that is primarily how I earn my pay, but it spills over into home time as well. And if I'm honest I know much of this time is spent just 'surfing' from site to site. My goal is to give myself a block of time of 30 minutes for just surfing. I tried it out this last week and it seemed to work out quite well.

3. Sports

In today's world you can literally consume sports in its various formats 24/7. There came a point a few years ago where everything I did was wrapped up in my favorite teams. Now a guy has to know how his Steelers/Red Sox are doing, but I began to pray at the end of 2012 for a lessening of my sports obsession. God obliged and a hockey lockout occurred (sorry NHL). This year I want more of my time to be spent pursing things of an eternal value, and while sports has a place in the Kingdom, my time will be better spent not watching every single football and baseball game that comes on TV. This may be more difficult than the first two items above combined.

4. Tech Free Days

There are times when completely unplugging is a necessity. Our brains works better when not encumbered by every whistle, tweet, and buzz of our electronic devices. Our souls are also better off as it allows us to focus exclusively on God. This year, each week, I'm going to 'fast' from technology (electronic devices to be specific). I'm going to shut off my phone, not open my laptop at night, and stay away from TV. Board games, books, prayer, Bible reading, and perhaps some outdoor activities will fill that day.

I see these less as resolutions and more as focused changes in how my life is lived. May God receive all the glory for small steps that will be taking place in 2014.

The Beauty of Silence

Saturdays are my Sabbath. I know, I know, Sunday is the Sabbath as far as a Christian is concerned, but for someone like myself Sunday is full of church activities that leave me exhausted by the end of the day. Perhaps this is why I do everything I can to keep Saturday off the schedule. I rarely plan anything other than to sleep in and then enjoy the morning. It keeps me sane and offers clarity.

Saturday mornings are a bit unique in my viewpoint. Most people are sleeping in after a long week of work. Some have stayed up quite late enjoying a myriad of entertainment choices. This means that when I wake up around 7am most Saturdays there is a beautiful sound that hovers over the start of the day: silence. It seems to permeate everything around our little home and gives a person time to really think about life. A good cup of coffee and an hour of silence are one of those blessings  I try not to take for granted.

Perhaps this is something we miss out on in our culture. In attempting to go from one distraction to the next, or filling up our schedules from morning until night (assuming busyness is some kind of godly virtue) we start to miss out on some important aspects of being human. We need time away from distractions so we can actually focus on things that really matter. It's almost as if God gives us silence at the start of our day so we can get our heart and mind in order before we start our daily journey.

So before you wash those dishes, get the laundry started, or even take your shower, it might be best to give thanks to God for giving you this sliver of time that has no agenda and no 'to-do' list. Use it wisely.

From the Ruins

You may recall that back in 2010 a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti. Already the most impoverished country in the world, the earthquake devastated the nation and left it in shambles. However the largest casualties in this event were the millions of children left without parents, families, or anywhere that they could call home. Left on the streets to fend for themselves, to beg for what food they could get their hands on, many of these children faced a bleak future in which death was imminent.

From the ruins, from the devastation, arose a glimmer of hope. Started by a pastor in the United States and local Haitians, Alex's House began as a place that offered the hope of a home to the children living on the streets. While food, clothing, shelter, and education is freely given, it is also a place where children are taught how to be disciples of Christ in the hopes that they will one day rise up to be the future leaders of Haiti. Working with other churches in Haiti they are creating a network of orphanages across the country that strive to create a safe place for the kids to live, to give them a family that loves them, and to give them opportunities few in this country could dream of having.

 Hub City Church proudly partners with Alex's House to assist them in this mission. This is our orphanage and these are our children and it is an honor for us to be used by God to give these kids a bright future. If you'd like to learn more about his amazing ministry, or would like to donate financially, please visit the link below. You'll be glad you did.



http://alexshouse-haiti.blogspot.com/

'Big' Changes

There are moments when a person simply has to take a leap of faith. Much like Indiana Jones stepping from the ledge into what appeared to be oblivion in 'The Last Crusade', we all face situations that appear daunting at first glance. By human standards they are impossible.

Such a moment took place just one week ago when Hub City Church moved from one to two services. We were starting to run low on space, and since we are unable to expand in the normal fashion  (we meet in a movie theater), the only option was to start another service. Doubts started to creep in as we wondered if anyone would show up to the early service, would Jonathan's voice hold out (our lead pastor), and what if we don't have enough volunteers to make this work???? This is not a simple endeavor and it appeared to be something that our church family might want to ignore, or at least find a different solution.

So we did the most simple thing we could come up with: we prayed. 

We prayed as a family, we prayed as individuals, we prayed until it seemed every waking hour was consumed with just one single request. What we wanted above all else was that we would honor Jesus. Our desire was to make sure the gospel could be heard by even more people so we could watch God mend the broken and make people whole again. In doing so we hoped our community could be a place where the widow and orphan could find a lasting home.

We've now had two Sundays pass with the 2 service format. People have shown up to the early service (and they are even on time!), Jonathan's voice has easily held up, and we've had people volunteer that just walked through the doors. 

It's amazing what a little faith will do.

The Purpose of the Work

Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ— “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19). - Oswald Chambers

For the Love of the Game - Part 2

Let's be honest shall we? Baseball just isn't for everyone. In a world that is fast paced and where attention spans are measured in seconds, not minutes, the game of baseball can be difficult to follow, maybe even tedious. That being said, millions of people still watch the game of baseball (live and in person) and attendance records appear to be broken each season. However there is rarely any drama until the last part of the season as teams are jostling for playoff positions.

Pro football on the other hand gives people a sense of drama throughout the season. With only 16 games to be played every game really matters, and a 3 game losing streak can spell the end of a season. With only 1 game each week it is easy for talking heads and sports experts to build up the game and various match ups. By the time the game rolls around on Thursday, Sunday, or Monday the fans are frothing at the mouth. Not only this but football has done an amazing job of making its product one of the best things on TV. In fact it could be said more people prefer to watch the game on TV than in person, and the ratings appear to back this up.

Even something lacking in pure action, such as the NFL draft, is a major event that millions tune into. Here is where you get to see the building of dynasties, or another 5 years of mediocre play. As names are read and bios flash across the TV screen fans flock to their computers to learn more about each and every player. The dreams of young men become reality as they have made it the highest level of play in the world.

Of course we cannot speak about football without touching on fantasy football. A simple game where you become the GM and draft the players you believe will help you outscore your opponent. Each team earns points depending on how the real player performs on the field in a real game. Billions of dollars are spent on a game that is just as fleeting as the NFL season.

All in all what the NFL, and football in general, does well is turn the year into a series of events. We look forward to them, plan for them, even celebrate them with cookouts and gatherings. Each event is promoted and marketed in a very slick and focused way. You almost feel like you're missing out if you happen to not watch!

That being said, football seems to lack the kind of historical understanding about its sport that baseball relishes. Think of names like Unitas, Brown, and Butkus. If you're a fan of football you know who these individuals are and their place in the pantheon of football; some of the founders of the game. Now compare those names to Ruth, DiMaggio, Williams. These are names known all over the world. Mention the name Ruth and people from New York to Tokyo will know exactly who you are talking about. Part of this is because the game of baseball  hasn't changed much over the last 100 years.  Stick Ruth into the roster of the 2013 Yankees and he wouldn't have an issues adapting (not to mention they wouldn't have missed the playoffs). Stick Unitas in the QB slot of the Baltimore Ravens and he most likely would be killed.

There is little doubt that the NFL and football is a much better product. It currently sells better and is pretty easy to market. With that in mind I wonder how long the NFL will last. Products eventually get replaced by something better, or fade away. Baseball on the other hand invests in legacies, and those legacies become the foundations for great memories. Memories can't be replaced and affect people in every sphere of their life.

Baseball and football. Two games heading in two different directions.

For the Love of the Game - Part 1

"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand" 

If you live in the United States one of the first things a person may ask when meeting you for the first time is "So, what team do you root for?". Sports is embedded in our culture much like religion. Legions turn in each and every Saturday and Sunday to watch their favorite football teams duke it out in stadiums across the land. There are certain dos and don't that one must attend to, rituals that have to be engaged in before, during, and after the game, not to mention the various foods we ingest while watching our sporting heroes.

Everyone has a sport that has a special place in their heart. For me it has always been baseball.

If you know me well enough this might come as a shock. At first glance you might think I'm a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan (I am) and that football is my sport of choice (I watch far too much football on the weekends). In my household growing up we watched football whenever it was on TV. However my best years as a child were spent playing America's pastime. It is a sport that I can say that I honestly love. 

My earliest sports memories are playing catch with my dad in the front yard, taking fielding practice on dusty fields behind the local elementary school, even dreaming about playing on my high school team. Baseball has been in my blood from the moment I could walk. I still remember going to the store with my dad right before my birthday to pick out a brand new baseball glove. The glove, the bat, the ball...they were all magical to me. 

Even today I become more excited about the start of the MLB season than any other sport. I even take off a day of work on Opening Day so I can watch hours upon hours of this amazing game. Some may say it is too slow, that the players make too much money (or cheat), but to this day I have never seen anything more beautiful in sports than the graceful arch of a home run as it makes its way over the outfield wall. And nothing else in sports compares to a crowd of 45,000 sitting in hushed silence as a pitcher gets closer and closer to a no-hitter. 

At 162 games baseball is a long, difficult grind. Most likely the team you root for is going to lose more often than not. And even if they do have a couple of successful seasons, your team is going to fail for long stretches at a time, sometimes for 20, 30, even 100 years (I'm looking at you Chicago Cubs). Baseball, they say, is a game you fall in love with even if it is designed to break your heart. 

Yet, every spring there is hope. Hope for something better. Free agents are signed to new contracts, young players are promoted, and the possibility exists that your team might just make the playoffs (most likely to lose in a wild card game because of the silly infield fly rule...even MLB isn't sure how to interpret the rule). Regardless of the outcome we still continue showing up at the parks to cheer on our teams.

Next time we'll look at how baseball differs from football...for the good and bad. 

Eyes Wide Open

When God moved Nikki and I down to Spartanburg, SC two years ago we never thought that THIS was where we would end up. Having grown up in Michigan and spending most of my life in the Great Lakes area, the south was about as foreign to us as any country overseas. Sweet tea? Never heard of it. College football? I didn't realize there was more than Michigan vs. Ohio State. Macaroni and Cheese? Who knew that down here it is considered a vegetable!

With beautiful sunshine and great weather most of the year (and no snow) we quickly fell in love with our new city and state.

A large part of why we fell in love with this area had to do with finding Hub City Church. While most would consider it just another church plant, what we found was a family of believers working hard to hear God and to do what He says. We've met some of the most amazing people who come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Best of all they've accepted these Yankees into their homes and hearts and we couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

I'd like to say that this blog will be about deep theological topics (and that will happen), but it will also be about life in general. Be prepared for copious amounts of God, sports, and highlights of what is happening in this area. Just like us I think you'll be amazed at what is happening here and how God is working.