Pole Barns, Softball and the Marines

I'm very grateful that nearly everyone speaks with one voice to my son about joining the Marines. Almost everyone has said, "Don't do it!" There are a few who think he should join, most of them are recruiters.

But it's been fascinating the watch people with many good intentions totally miss the mark in their desire to help. He's been told, instead of joining the Marines, to work at summer camp...to help build a pole barn...to join a softball league... to not go into debt to the government, except in the case of student loans...to join the Air Force instead so he can sit in front a computer screen....

As nice as these things are, they don't understand my son. He's looking for down the road towards a life-time decisions. He is certainly able to build a pole barn or play softball, but those aren't life-answering decisions. They are very short term. It's like telling someone to go take a cold shower until the feeling goes away.

My son is looking for long-term direction and in an area that looks intriguing to him. Now, I'll admit, he's not in much of a listening mode right now. He's nearly made up his mind and he's not hearing things. But telling him to make a short term decisions based on things others are interested in, when he is looking for long-term stability based on things that he finds cool and exciting, doesn't make sense.

For example, we watched a DVD seeking to encourage kids to not join the military if they are Christians and Sabbath-keepers. It's just too hard. I watched it, thought it was well done and was relatively convincing. My son watched it twice and wasn't convinced. As I pondered it, I realized that the DVD was answering the questions of a 25-35 year old. How do you answer the questions of a young, intelligent, "invincible" and strong young man who has no frontal lobe yet? I'm not sure you can. He's thinking of excitement, fun, adventure and stability.

It's like the bumper sticker I saw years ago - when I was 18-19. It said, "Join the Marines! Visit exotic lands, meet exciting people...and kill them." I was young and thought it was funny. My son is young and thinks it's funny now too... But I'm not as young anymore don't think it's quite so funny anymore. No wonder they get kids to join the military, because once someone becomes 25+ they get a little smarter about life and realize they aren't invincible anymore.

So, although I think people are seeking to do good by giving my son all kinds of options, I think they are missing some things. I'm not sure they could hit the nail on the head anyway. I'm not sure my son will let them even if they came close.

It's creating a lot of really good conversation around here right now. And it's creating a lot of really good bonding too. There's been a lot of openness about the good and bad points from all of us. I'm praying he doesn't join. He's not totally convinced he should yet, but he's leaning that direction. I'm not going to stop trying to influence him away from it, but he's almost 19 and can do it if he wishes. I cannot take that freedom away from him. God doesn't take it away from me. I wouldn't do that to my son.

I find the process he's going through to be a pretty healthy one. I find he's asking the questions, seeking to find alternatives (although he's not hearing any that he finds appealing) and he's praying about it. All those are healthy in regards to making decisions.

I'm just waiting for the day he takes the "Semper Fi" sticker off his computer.... I just pray that through it all, he will remain "Always Faithful" to the Lord in the process.


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You Can't Save Yourself!

March 31, 2010 6:14 AM
Title: YOU CAN'T SAVE YOURSELF
Scripture: Psalm 49:7 No man can by any means redeem his brother
Or give to God a ransom for him--
8 For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever--

Observation: What I see this passage saying is this - You can't save yourself, so stop trying. It's too costly and you'll never be able to afford it. The ransom is too great. In fact, it cost God his life....

Application: I, like nearly everyone, need to be continually reminded of God's grace. I cannot win my own salvation by somehow doing enough evangelism, giving enough money to the church, seeking even to read my Bible every day (that should be about building a relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit I cannot win salvation by doing enough good deeds. I can never be good enough to get to heaven.

I can't pay my own ransom, I must let it be paid by Jesus.


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Self Control is Hard, but Good!

March 24, 2010 5:57 am
Title: SELF CONTROL - AH! THE HARD ONE!!!
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Observation: Paul has just made the case, seeming to defend his own actions, that he is an apostle, he deserves to be paid, have a wife, and be treated like all the rest of the apostles. It's almost as if he's looking for affirmation from people who aren't giving it. Then he goes on to state, that is NOT what he's looking for, but rather that he's seeking to be self-controlled in ALL things.

Application: Self-Control is one of the hardest things. It is not played out well in our society except in the area of sports. PEople aren't self-controlled in the area of food, work, time spent with people/friends/family. They aren't self-controlled or disciplined in their direction in life. We tend to operate under the line: "If it feels good, do it."

Of course these leads to obesity, sexual promiscuity, STDs, and simply put, pure, unadulterated selfishness and greed.

One of my life core values is: "Discipline will get me where I want to go." But that has been a hard journey. I'm not naturally inclined towards self-discipline. Both of my parents taught me to treat myself in different areas - which meant I was out of control in every area, not just some. And through the sports mentality, Tae Kwon Do, I learned self-control and discipline. I've been able to apply it to my own life in the spiritual quest and over the last 20+ years have seen some amazing growth patterns in me. PTL!

There have been times that I don't want to be that way - disciplined. There have been times when I am not that way - self-controlled. I'm usually sorry for not following through later. My stomach hurts, I feel fat and lazy, or I'm just not getting anything done.

Today's reading in the LIFE Journal is simply a reminder that I need to stay the course. Run in such a way as to get the prize! Don't run aimlessly, don't run without a goal, don't run for fifth place - run with self-control to get the prize.

Yes, that's me - and Paul's closing statement is so apropos to me - you would hate to win the world for Jesus Christ and yet lost your own soul because you couldn't control your whims.

Prayer: Lord, lead me on this journey, please. Continue to lead me down the path of self-control. I should not, cannot not go down the road of self-indulgence in any way shape or form - in sugar, lust, sexuality, anger, leadership, rebellion, etc. Please continue to lead me.

I submit to you, Lord. I submit to you and pray you will keep leading me and keep directing me. I pray for the Holy Spirit. I pray you will lead me down that journey with the Holy Spirit. I ask you to fill me and change me and make me like you. Please come into my heart, Lord. Please come and make me like you.

I went back to using the Pareto Principle last night. And I know that you are leading me now. Please give me some direction, Lord. Please help me to stick to my tasks. I ask you to guide me each step of the way. Please fill me.


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Hello, I'm a Mac!

(We'll see if I finally have an internet connection today - Monday)

Last night we had our first orientation to the Dmin class - brief.  Gail thought I should wear my nice jeans rather than the shorts I had on, I listened to her.  When I got there, I felt like I was in the Mac commercials.  I'm the mac in a roomful of PCs.  Not only did I have the only computer there (a mac, of course), but everyone else was in slacks, dress (1 lady) or khakis, and I was in jeans.  When it came time to hand in our papers, Everyone handed in a stack of 6 papers, and I gave him a CD-ROM with the .doc versions as well as the .PDF of the papers.  Wait till I do show up in shorts....  I didn't even bring any khakis with me - I mean, it's 94 outside with about 85% humidity.   It's Tennessee in the Summer....

But God did tell me to deal differently with this program than I have traditionally <have I ever been traditional?> gone through school.  In case you haven't noticed, I'm a non-conformist.  I believe that's probably okay, but above and beyond that, it's played into my attitude about authority, bucking the system, etc.  God may be trying to say to me - what you wear may not be that important, but don't buck the system anymore, get along, and do your best.  Don't argue with them, don't do "just enough" to get by - do your best and do what you came to do!

Hello, I'm a Mac....

Hungry? Feed Yourself!  Break the Famine (Amos 8:11)

roger walter

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Lead Pastor of The Adventure

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Crucial Conversations

What is a Crucial Conversation?

After having several conversations turn bad recently, and then coming to the point of not getting over the hurdles, I stopped, picked up the book, "Crucial Conversations" by Patteson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler.  I read a year ago or so, but it seemed obvious to me that I simply hadn't taken the time to really get through the principles and have them applied to my life.

Wow!  What a book.  I read 3-4 chapters in one sitting.  I was so impressed with it, that I wanted Gail to read it too - and my older kids.  So, I downloaded the audible version of it, and have been adding to my knowledge by listening too.  Whew!  

So, it's not my wife's fault.  It's not my son's fault.  It's not my brother's fault.  We are just having crucial conversations.  And in doing so, we are learning to communicate without the emotion, without the danger, without the angst.  

And the truth is in the book - I need to work on my own attitudes and actions and not seek to control anyone else.  Ouch!

The Journey Begins Again

Make a Difference begins again...

I'm restarting this blog right now.  In the past it has been a few random details, and mainly my prayer journal.  Today I begin the journey again, seeking to make a difference.  I'm not 45 years old!  Sheesh!  I don't know how that happened so quickly.  And of course, as soon as I say that, I'm starting to sound even older in my mind because I'm sounding like all the old people who I grew up around.  But as I enter this phase of life, I truly want to seek to make a difference in life - in someone's life.  

Certainly I am.  I have 5.5 kids (the 6th one is due December 24, 2007).  Gail and I have been married nearly 20 years now.  Certainly those lives I am touching and continuing to contribute to - in positive and negative ways.  It's my constant goal, to grow in the positives and minimize the negatives - as it is with probably anyone.  

So, welcome on this journey through my thoughts and my adventure in a world gone crazy.  As I seek to talk about making a difference.

Make a Difference!

roger walter

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Lead Pastor of The Adventure

www.theadventure.org 

Purity

11/7/2006 5:24 AM

Title: MY EYES, MY THOUGHTS, MY MIND

S: Job 31:1 NKJV  "I have made a covenant with my eyes;

      Why then should I look upon a young woman?

O: Job made a covenant to not look at a young woman.  He was saying that he wanted to be pure and only pure.

A: In light of the whole story that came out about Ted Haggard, it’s apparent that that covenant needs to be renewed on a regular basis – by me and by all people who are trying to follow God with their whole heart and their whole mind. 

Recently, my family has been reading Barry Black’s book, “From the Hood to the Hill.”  It’s his autobiography, but it’s really a leadership book.  And in there he quotes a philosopher – don’t remember his name – who says, You don’t live your life in the breaths you take (as in the stuff you do, or the moments that tick by), but you live your life in your thoughts.  The reality of who you are is found in the secret thoughts of your mind.

I wouldn’t condemn Ted Haggard, because I realize that he’s on a journey with God as well as others.  I could I condemn another sinner.  No sin is greater than another – although some are more noticeable and some have larger consequences.  But I would say that we all need to make a covenant with our eyes, with our mind, with our thoughts to stay away from lust, to stay close to God, to get involved with God on a daily basis.

P: Lord, I ask you to come close to me and close to my family.  I ask you to come close to my church.  Please fill us with the Holy Spirit.  Please come in and change us to live with you and be filled with you. 

I pray you will protect me from any impurity or impropriety.  Please help me to live my life with healthy boundaries.  I pray for the Holy Spirit to fill me.  I pray for the Holy Spirit to change me.  I pray for the grace that saves and the grace that changes to affect me.  In other words, I want to be forgiven by you, Lord, and I want to be changed by you, Lord.  I want to be clean from the sins that plague me and I want to be changed to be like God.

E: I feel awesome.  Yesterday’s talk went exceptionally well.  Jim and I did a great job in our presentation style and then in the end, Jim brought the house down.  His (our) conclusion was – do you remember Dwight Clarks catch in the end zone from Joe Montana – ever after known as the catch.  It vaulted the SF 49ers into their first superbowl.  Before that play was ever run, it was crafted in a playbook.  Do you remember the final shot that put the Chicago Bulls into their first championship.  Michael Jordan double pumped and put it in the basket – that was first crafted into a playbook. 

At this point in time, about 50 people got to their feet and the crowd was amening and hallelujahing.  Then Jim held out his arms in the shape of Jesus on the cross and nearly everyone got on their feet and was hollering, yelling and jumping up and down and clapping.  It was thunderous.  And Jim said in a powerful voice – when he was on that cross buying your freedom and mine, dying for us – that was crafted in a playbook!  And the crowd went even more wild and jim was unconscious – he just kept going and bringing them along.  It was totally an awesome moment.  A mainly African American crowd is a good thing to preach to….

People came up and asked to see the playbook.  We had 4 copies – one in a notebook.  Jim immediately gave away the three stapled copies.  Then he took the files I had used and created PDF files.  The people at Miracle Temple uploaded them onto the web site and people can now get them easily.

It was an awesome moment.  It was great to be a part of it.  When Freddy first asked us to speak about playbooks, we kept thinking – it’s such a technical thing, how can you make it interesting.  But we were able to make our transitions go well and we were able to connect with the audience, and we were able to present in a style that kept our audience coming along with us. 

One guy said to me afterwards – I wasn’t sure of the need for a playbook when you started, but I am totally convinced now. 

D: The accolades are good, but dangerous.  I need to stay humble giving the credit to God where it belongs.  I need to enjoy the moment.  I think I did okay with this.  We both got the audience going at times, but in the end, I was just so proud of Jim, and I kept pointing to him when people came to talk with us. 

Thank you, Lord, for the time we have been able to be here.  Thank you, Lord, for the heart to do what you are calling me to do.  Please come into my life.  Please come into my heart.  Please help me to realize that today is the day I go back to work and that I cannot live on the accolades. 

Lord, I love you and I want to serve you.  Please fill me with the Holy Spirit.