Forgive me Heavenly Father & friends, I have sinned.  It has been 51 days since my last public confession.  

On this day, I humbly confess:

I don't mean to be crass - but there's no way around it.  There's no "dressing it up" and making it "appropriate".  Because it's not.

At times, I am a crap factory.

I recently came across a talk that "Sun Stand Still" author and Elevation Church pastor - Steven Furtick - gave to a bunch of church leaders at a conference.  I've watched it over and over since then, have shared it with many others - and many of the comments resonate the same.  "Wow.  I needed this." 

Frankly, live this way - and it will revolutionize your life.  It's seemingly simple - but contains such truth.  All glory to God for the maturity and growth that I've gained over the years in my spiritual journey.  Whew - He's rolled up His sleeves and done some amazing work (some of you realize this!  No comments, thanks.).  :) But, I so desire to embrace what this video & scripture presents.

• Do you want to sustain blessings in your life?
• Do you desire to find a blessing, enlarge a blessing, or create a blessing in almost any situation?
• Do you want to increase your favor and opportunities?
• How bout just having the "right" perspective???

That - and much more is presented here.  (click on video clip below...)

I wholeheartedly encourage you to check it out.
You'll be glad you did. :)

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Forgive me Heavenly Father & friends, I have sinned. 

It has been 14 days since my last public confession and yet, I bravely choose to throw myself into the pit of public opinion.  I choose not to stand straddling the painted sideline of indecision (and wait for the referee review)  but to vehemently proclaim before all. 

I publicly confess:

There's no way God is influencing Tim Tebow's exposure.

The Washington Post is talking about it.  ESPN, MSNBC, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Fox Sports, The Lunatic Outpost,... and yes - even The Divaxchange  (Hold up Brittany, Lindsay, & Snooki - Tebow is the Bow-izzle.).  Every time that Tebow scores, does a gold brick get placed in heaven's path?  Is he divinely protected by a Ndamukong Suh-sized angel on the football field? 

The controversy is stirring.  The viewers are forming sides. 

But to say that God is involved?

To say that he has any real care whether or not Tim Tebow wins a football game ...or more specifically - that John 3:16 is a factor?

Really??
  

Rather than speculate - let's look at the facts:

• On Jan. 8, 2009, in the BCS Championship Game, then Florida quarterback Tim Tebow wore eye black with the inscription John 3:16

• Five days ago - on Jan. 8, 2012, three years to the date that he caused millions of football fans to Google the meaning of John 3:16, Tebow played his first playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers...
  
  • Quarterback Tebow threw for 316 yards.
  • Tebow averaged 31.6 yards per completion, the highest single-game postseason completion average in NFL history.
  • Ben Roethlisberger's second-quarter interception, which led to a Matt Prater field goal and a 17-6 Broncos lead, came on a third-and-16.
  • The Steelers finished the game with a time of possession of 31:06.
  • At the time Tebow threw the game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas -- the NFL's longest postseason pass in overtime history -- CBS' final quarter-hour overnight ratings were, yes, a 31.6.

Certainly, this is just coincidence.  Or more probable, a part of some grand scheme ORCHESTRATED BY TEBOW HIMSELF!

Even I can do that!  Has anyone noticed that in this blog, every time you read the word "God" - you can hear David's harp strumming subconsciously? (listen real hard.)  Or have you caught on that I spell PSALMS - every 37 words and have 23 letters that amazingly only appear following the Greek word for "divinity"?  Look up from reading this article, glance at the north wall and you will see "Psalm 37:23" written in the drywall of your home.  HELLO!!!  O-b-v-i-o-u-s.  Very easy to do!  Just wait for "coincidence" to happen!

Yes - I know scripture says...

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."  [Psalm 37:23]

and...

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." [Phil. 2:13]

and...

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [Eph. 2:10]

...but c'mon.

Ok, you're right.  Tim Tebow IS receiving exposure on a MAJOR scale - millions of people. And those millions of people ARE then being exposed to a life-saving truth - John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  

But, the next thing you'll likely to say

...is that God would use a murderer to part the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross safely, and then have it come crashing back against their enemies. [Exodus 14]

...or that God would use a little boy, with 5 loaves and 2 fish, to feed five thousand people. [Matt.14]

...or that God would hear the prayer of a tribe leader in battle, and hold the sun for a full 24 hours until the battle was finished. [Joshua 10]

...or that God would use some old dude to bring fire down from heaven and burn up stones, people, etc. - as a nation stands in witness.  [1 Kings 18]

That's crazy.  You really think a creative God uses men to influence others for His glory?  You really think He desires to bring awareness to the world - that He loves them and sent His Son to save us??  Certainly, He's too busy with other "stuff" (like counting the galaxies and raining down disasters on the earth...)

Blah. Blah.  Blah.  Whatever.   I'll believe it - WHEN DONKEYS START TALKING!  :)

[Numbers 22:21]

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Forgive me Heavenly Father & friends,

it's been 23 days since my last confession.

I know the stockings are put away, presents all unwrapped, and I should be focused on getting rid of the 82 lbs. of "organic" desserts and cookies that have taken residence around my mid-section.  (Ok - there were a FEW packages of oreos & nutterbutters... and yes - that entire gingerbread house.. uh, mansion... that I sat in the dark corner of my closet, scarfing ferociously in fear that my "all natural" wife would catch me... but that's another blog.)

On this day, I humbly confess:

I still have the Spirit of Christmas.  I can't stop giving.

Many of you are aware that we recently had a 17 piece i-band perform Toby Mac's "Christmas This Year" - complete with kid's & adult choirs, orchestra, etc. and well... it ROCKED.  Very cool.  (I believe our Creator God is delighted in many aspects of worship - including the innovative!) 

So, to commemorate this nationwide, unprecedented in scale (at least to our knowledge) creative accomplishment...

...I'VE DECIDED TO GIVE AWAY 17 IPADS.

Yep - you read it correctly. 
These are legal, not off the back of a truck.

They are from a canceled hospital contract due to the government cutbacks.

The numbers are limited - and from what I read recently, in HUGE demand.  (I think I read recently in USA Today that 8 million ipads were sold last quarter alone!) 

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

PLEASE NOTE:  I have already given away one to a gentlemen in need (see picture below so you can see EXACTLY what you would be getting.  I don't want any issues regarding size or color, etc.).

If you want one - probably best not to post comment here, or on facebook, etc.,

but contact me @ (616) EYE-PADS.  :)

And seriously - even though CHRISTmas is over, let's continue to be givers.

Live boldly. 

Give generously. 

Love others in a way that goes beyond a "season" or tradition.

This is the life we are called to live.

"Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." [Luke 6:8]

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Forgive me Heavenly Father & friends, I have sinned. 

It has been 28 days since my last public confession and here is my sin:

Christmas is a blur.

Here it is... only 17 days away and I have been buried with:

• putting brand new LED Christmas lights on the house,
• planning and implementing ipad orchestras and worship services,
• driving to my father-in-law's house to get the Toys R Us newspaper ads,
• getting Santa to send a personalized video message to my boys (http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home),
• trying to keep them from ripping apart their dress clothes and delightfully transforming their new hats into mangled sling shots just moments after the annual Christmas photo,
• trying to pastor alot of people - encourage, love, lift up and empower,
• taking down the Christmas LED lights because my wife sweetly tells me I purchased and installed the "cool" LED lights (and have brightened our residence in the likes of a Wal-Mart parking lot) - instead of the "warm" lights,
•  983 emails daily,
• ...almost as many cups of coffee weekly (don't worry - I don't do caffeine.  U.S. Homeland Security would put the entire country on threat level "orange" if I did.),
• ...and hours upon hours of doing seemingly GOOD THINGS that are giving, generous, and not self-serving. (Ok - the 2 hr. "American Chopper - Christmas Edition" tv special was probably self serving... but who could avoid seeing an extreme motorcycle sleigh!!???)

All done in the very "essence of Christmas"!

Yesterday morning, I looked in the mirror as I was brushing my teeth (Why do we do that?  Does this function really require us watching??)

 ...and I saw her.

Martha.

Not Martha Stewart.
Not Martha - the vineyard owner.

But rather, the Martha mentioned in the Bible.  Luke - chapter 10.

Jesus goes to have dinner in the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha.

Martha is running around, cooking her best dish (Falafel Veggie Burgers), serving dinner, preparing for an after dinner game of "Bible Trivia" in the hopes of finally beating Jesus ...all of which are "good" things.   (C'mon - if Jesus came to your house, I think you'd be picking up your underwear lying in the corner and tidying up a bit?  Putting your best hospitality gift into play?)

Meanwhile, Mary sits with Jesus.

Unbelievable.  Some people are so stinkin' lazy!  And disrespectful!  "Isn't that your Christmas sweater from four years ago, Mary?  Geez - you couldn't have knitted a new Mohair Goat Sweater in the last year?  Maybe sewn in a meaningful "W.W.J.D." across the front?  Given your best for a dinner with the King of Kings!!???"

Finally, Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to work too!
Then he drops the bomb.

 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." [Luke 10:41-42]

Mary chose - just to be with Jesus.

I know during this Christmas season, Satan would love to take things intended for good, and distort and tweak... bury us in them. In the hopes, that we would be distracted from "the one thing needed."

I'm sorry, Lord... for replacing you - with the many things of this season.
Help me to remember the simplicity, the peace and the joy... of just being with you,

my friend and Savior.
And may this be more than just a desire - but be EVIDENT. :)

Today, I looked in the mirror... and I saw her.

Not my wife, Mary.

Nor the Virgin Mary.  (Although it prompted you to read the blog, didn't it?)  

But rather, another Mary mentioned in the Bible
... that taught us a timeless truth.

Jesus is the only thing needed this season.

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Just a short update.  I want to publicly express my gratitude for the popularity of the blog (if it brings glory to God in some way - then we're on target!).  However - sometime in the last few days, it seems THE BLOG HAS BECOME VICTIM BY AN EXPERT COMPUTER HACKER!   I know many of you have asked for the identity of my "neighbor" posted in the Confession #1 blog.  Unfortunately, I can't give you specifics on who it is as I desire to protect the innocent.  I personally, would never post a photo of someone without their prior permission.

So, for the record, and to put everyone at ease... the individual in the photo to the left -  THAT WAS POSTED BY A RECENT HACKER - is NOT my neighbor that owns the John Deere PickerUpper.  He is a good friend (and obvious, nature lover), with an amazing sense of humor (and grace!)  Would he sacrificially give of himself in the hopes that through various creative outlets people would experience Christ?  I'm hoping so! (or else I might be leading worship next week at the church below...)

("H.N.L.R.F.B.H.C.O.G.O.T.A Church" for short.  The church name was obviously decided by a committee.) :)   

Again, to dispel any confusion - "leaf man" above - IS NOT THE MAN MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS BLOG.

Just doing what I can to dispel rumor - and speak "truth".

 "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;  gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 16:28

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Heavenly Father & friends, I confess... it's been, well... roughly 54 minutes since my last

confession where I sincerely prayed to "build up" with my mouth, and not tear down

others [1 Thess. 5:11], and then ONLY A FEW minutes later (Hokey Pete... I might be doing ALOT of confession blogging!) was "unnecessarily critiquing".  (translation:  throwing my wife under the bus) 

Truly sorry bout that, Lord - but nevertheless - THIS is the confession I was intending to communicate:

I have coveted.

PHOTO 1:  This is my yard.  In it lies 4,789,962,4116 leaves. (yes - I know that's not even a real number, but that's how REDONKULOUS the amount of leaves are!  I generously offered to pay my children one M&M for every 5,000 leaves but my 7 yr. old threatened me with Federal Child Labor statute 507.1 of section CF20.)

PHOTO 2:  This is my neighbor's yard.  Notice the gigantic, industrial grade piece of lawn machinery just INCHES from my leaf strewn landscape carpet?  It takes me 3 days to rake my yard and he does his in 2 minutes, 27 seconds!

Lord, your scripture says  “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey." [Exodus 20:17] ... so I'm assuming that includes all "animals" - even his "deere".

Please help me today, to find contentment in the many blessings you have given me. 

May my heart be not drawn to what I don't have, but the incredible gifts that I do.

Give me eyes to see beyond the surface of "temporary" trials, and see the beauty becoming.

As I pray, I remember that like a leaf that is separated from the tree in death - Jesus, Your Son, was separated from You in death ...but brought divine, beautifully radiant colors of life to all.

Thanks for the reminder, Lord.   :)