God and Gump

Daily Devotional Tool on God and Gump

Since the beginnning of Epiphany, I have been using the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office Lectionary in my morning devotional time. I've found it to be a great way to start my day with God.

If you would like to use this devotional/study tool, just click on the date in the right margin of the blog and you will be directed to today's reading. Also in that margin, You can still do the "bible in a year" study as well. These tools use the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Virtual Art Gallery

About a year ago, I started a new hobby - painting. Yes, on a canvas. I know, I know...most of you that have known me for a long time would have a hard time picturing me as the artsy type. I'm right there with ya. Who'd a thunk it?

Well, I could never even draw a stick man. Just ask Mr. Ludy, my art teacher in school. But I've always been intrigued by painting. But was always afraid to try. So one day I finally asked my friend Jackie at church if she could give me some tips on how to get started. What to buy, what to look for, etc. Well, being the kind hearted (an apparent gluten for punishment) she is, she went one step further and offered to give me a lesson. Well that day opened a whole new world to me. Painting is both easy and difficult. It's liberating and captivating at the same time. It's an opportunity for someone to take a thought, an image an emotion - anything- and translate that subject onto a blank canvas.

I'll never forget Jackie's encouragement. She'd say, "It's your painting...so you can't get it wrong." She'd emphasize that it didn't matter if I messed up. You can always correct it, and if you can't - so what?! It's just a canvas. Just paint over it all and start over. What freedom! Anyone that has spent any time with me knows that I can't sit still. I usually find it difficult to focus. But not when I'm painting. I can paint for hours upon hours. Not even stopping to eat or use the restroom. I have only finished a handful of completed projects. Most of the time, I practice technique on a canvas pad.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this opened a new world to me. Jean and I go to art museums. I'm always looking for opportunities for inspiration. And it is one more way that I can worship my Creator.

If you are interested in seeing any of my paintings, you can go to the left margin of my blog and scroll down a bit and click on my "Virtual Gallery". Each slide has a short description of the painting.

Bless you for indulging me in this.

Peace!

Meeting God

I'm often reminded of my sins and how in my depravity I really have nothing offer my Creator. When struck by this reality, I have two choices - I can continue in mortification over my sin nature, or I can lift my eyes and hands to heaven and thank my God for His grace and His mercy and receive His strength to move ahead in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I believe there is a time for us to be in agony over our sin. It should mortify us. Today, I choose to move from the former to the latter and have "Christ reign supreme within me, in every thought, word, and deed in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to thee, and ever clings to the cross."

I read this puritan prayer this morning, so I thought I'd share it with  you today. The theology in this prayer stirred my soul. I hope you find it edifying as well.

Meeting God

Great God,

In public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need, invited by thy promises, called by thy Spirit, I enter thy presence, worshiping thee with godly fear, awed by thy majesty, greatness, glory but encouraged by thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay thee.

But I bring Jesus to thee in the arms of faith, pleading his righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that he will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice.

I bless thee that great sin draws out of grace, that although the least sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.

Bless me by revealing to me more of his saving merits, by causing thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart.

Strengthen me to give thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme within me, in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to thee, and ever clings to the cross.

-A puritan prayer from the book, Valley of Vision

New Direction

I know I haven't posted in a long time, my life has been crazy since the new year began. As many of you know, my life has gone in a different direction. As of the first of the year, I resigned from my job as the political grassroots manager for Nationwide Insurance to go to work in full-time ministry for my church as the small groups pastor. I have felt God leading me in this direction for quite some time now.

It was very difficult leaving some very close friends at Nationwide, Farm Bureau and others in government relations circles and I already miss them. But I must say that the transition has been incredibly smooth. Even though I have been very busy (too busy to post), I am enjoying the work more than I could have ever imagined.

My responsibility is to manage the small group ministry at Crossroads Community Church. That involves training leaders, organizing groups and making sure that anyone looking for a small group finds one. Crossroads is a large church and it is easy to get lost in the crowd here if we aren't intentional in providing avenues for people to find community.

My entire professional career has been in working with and training volunteers. How awesome it is to look back and see how God has been preparing me for this ministry through the 10 years of grassroots political experience with  Farm Bureau and Nationwide.

As things settle down, I hope that my posting can be more regular (at least twice a week). Thank you to all of you that have been praying for Jean and I during this transition and we appreciate your continued prayers.

Thank Goodness Spring Training is Just Around the Corner...

41-14....Ouch. I suspected the Buckeyes could lose to Florida, but goodness gracious. I surely was not expecting the GOFBW (good ole fashioned behind whippin') the Gators handed Buckeye Nation. Jean and I nearly lost all control when Teddy Ginn ran the opening kick off for a TD. Then that was pretty much it. No more cheering for the rest of the night as we watched the Florida defensive line and linebackers make easy work of the Buckeyes offensive line and Troy Smith. Apparently the 50 days off did have an impact along with Florida being motivated as an underdog. And there must be something to this notion of the SEC being faster, because the Gators made the Bucks look like they were running in mud all night.

But hey, there's good news. The Buckeyes have a pretty decent basketball team, so there will be more opportunities to cheer for the Scarlet and Gray this year.

But best of all....pitchers and catchers report in mid February and it will soon be time to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". 

Go Bucks!

Well it is time. Tonight at 8:00 EST on FOX the BCS National Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Florida Gators will get underway. This game makes me very nervous. But heck...I'm nervous when they play Indiana. But this game feels different than the last time the Buckeyes played for the National Championship. In 2002, the Buckeyes were the underdog - this year, people are predicting a blowout by OSU. A recent internet poll on ESPN shows that nearly 70% of those responded expect OSU to win big. "Not so fast, my friend" as Lee Corso is famous for saying. I think there's motivation for an under-dog. Just ask Boise State. There is definitely more pressure on the Buckeyes to prevail. One thing in which Buckeye Nation can take comfort - Jim Tressel. Coach Tressel will have this team ready to play. He has a proven record in bowl games and of course that state up north.

I believe this will be a very close game and the Bucks pull out a squeaker and win 34-27 in regulation. I will guarantee one thing....I will be a nervous wreck!

"I resolve to...well more or less"

Happy New Year everyone! With 2006 behind us, 2007 offers something that most of us kind of like...a fresh start. To help facilitate that fresh start, today millions of people have made at least one New Years resolution. Last night we rang in the new year with other friends and we played a game where we had to write down two New Years resolutions. One was to be real and the other was not. And we went around trying to guess who wrote what resolutions. When I went to write mine, it occurred to me that I had not even thought of any. Now to those of you that actually know me, you won't be surprised when I confess that I don't do well with New Years resolutions given my general lack of attention to detail.  So to keep from feeling like a failure, I generally don't make them. Well this year I'm going to try something a little different.

I'm going to approach my resolutions from a perspective of "I'm going to do more...and I'm going to do less." I mean there is so much time in one day. If I resolve to do more of something I'm going to have to do less of something else. To help in this process, I am not going to assign specific quantities to give me a better shot at being successful. As Al Gore once said, "I've always benefited from low expectations."

So here goes:

Things I resolve to do more...

Pray, worship, love, listen, serve, listen, show gratitude, paint, read, save, exercise, plan, organize, be punctual, blog, study and write.

Things I resolve to do less...

Talk, boast, be selfish, eat, buy stuff I don't need (especially books), be tardy, watch TV, be lazy (specifically when I need to be on the treadmill) and procrastinate.

If you made resolutions for 2007, I wish you the best in your endeavor. If you've not yet made your resolution(s), I invite you to consider what Paul said, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Philippians 4:8, The Message)

Blessings to you on this New Years Day and every day to come.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Rest In Peace, President Ford

Gerald Ford, our 38th President will be laid to rest on Wednesday. Yesterday he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol for memorial services. Ford, 93, was our oldest living former President. President Ford was president in the same way he lived his life - humble and unpretentious. HIs wife and best friend Betty said this about her late husband, "His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country."

President Ford's greatest accomplishment was he helped to heal a hurting nation. A nation that had lost confidence in its leaders. President Ford was able to do that, because of his modest and humble approach to his work. You see, President Ford never aspired to be President. As you know, history intervened in a way that placed him in the oval office. And I believe that history will judge him well, because of the kind of man he was.

My wife, Jean, made the observation that once again, President Ford was upstaged. This time by the wall to wall coverage of Saddam Hussein's execution. It's sad that we seem so much more enamored by the execution of a man that personified evil, instead of a good man that served this country honorably for decades. I'm hopeful that since Hussein is now gone, we won't have to bear watching him walk to the gallows and having the noose affixed to his neck anymore. But I'm not holding my breath.

President Ford deserves this time of national mourning. President Ford, God bless you and may you rest in peace.

O Holy Night (Part 2)

As you know from my post a few days ago, my favorite Christmas hymn is "O Holy Night". Not only is the music simply beautiful, but I think that because it focuses on the Kingship of Jesus is what draws me to meditating on the lyrics. The choruses in this hymn make me tremble and literally take my breath away as I'm reminded of His Kingship.

But sometimes I forget about His Kingship. We often think about Him as Redeemer, Teacher, Friend - and we are absolutely right to attribute those titles to Him. But He is also our King. Paul, in Philippians 2:9-11, says "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Sometimes the very sound of His name should make us quake and tremble. Not so much in fear, but just in the realization of who He is - a Mighty King that gave His life for the subjects He loves.

Praise to our King, Jesus!

Gathering For Government Christmas Service

On the heels of probably the nastiest election I've ever witnessed, the Gathering for Government (G2)will be hosting their 5th Annual Christmas service on Wednesday, December 13 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church which is located at the corner of Third and Broad Streets in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. I can think of no better way to put the rancor of the last election behind us than for believers and seekers to come together this time of the year and worship the King who shoulders all of government (Isaiah 9:6).

The Gathering for Government is an interdenominational Statehouse ministry working in and around Ohio government to strengthen our faith in God through service and life-witness. Our statement of faith is contained in the Apostles' Creed (see comment below for the text of the creed). Although set in a government context, we are non-partisan, non-profit, and apolitical. Our goal is not to change government with our actions directly, but indirectly by being willing vessels of the Holy Spirit to help transform lives and bring the Good News to those who affect public policy.

This year's program will include three members of the Ohio General Assembly. Senate President Bill Harris will open the service in prayer and read from the book of Micah. State Representative Jon Peterson will deliver our message titled "Politics as a Christian Vocation" and State Representative (Senator-elect) Lance Mason will provide our special music by singing "O Holy Night".

If you live/work in the Columbus area and would like to come to this, please feel free. If you have any questions, just post a comment or drop me an email at GodandGump@hotmail.com.