Gratitude is Essential for Happiness

Stuck

Have you ever been stuck? I am not talking about being stuck in a ditch or at an airport. I am talking about being stuck in what to do next...how to proceed with a project or a vision. I have been stuck for a little bit. I have been asking myself, "How can I take this to the next level?"

I have been racking my brain with questions, attempting to figure it out. Questions like: Why am I stuck? (which was not helpful); How can I get unstuck? (that didn't help either); When am I gonna get unstuck? (even worse yet...made it more painful); Who can help me get unstuck? (I couldn't think of anyone.)

Then it happened... and now I am unstuck.

How did this happen? When did this happen? Who helped me get unstuck? Here are my answers; they might just help you.

1. I needed the time to think through why I was stuck. This required some time away from the every day routine and busyness of life. I needed time to gather information, talk to others, and think through the stuckness.
2. I needed to remember key factors that played into my stuckness. My usual surroundings and routine weren't providing solutions. I reflected on my passions, gifts and abilities. I surveyed how I was using them, and the ways that I was not. Others shaped and affirmed my thinking through general conversations, without even knowing that they where helping me move forward.
3. I began to dream again. It is sometimes hard to dream when you are too busy and the next thing is on top of you. To sit and plan...to prepare and work at something that "could be"...is refreshing. 
4. Beginning the process of what-is-next takes a first step. For me, it required others to dream with. I realized a long time ago that "we" can do more. Taking the first step has already begun with an action plan, and with a goal (vision) in mind.

Are you stuck? If so, you may find a starting point to becoming unstuck by looking over these four steps. 

Parody Of Our Modern Church Service .....Too Funny

Why We Do What We Do and How to Change It

I read a lot...I mean a lot. I try not to read only books about church stuff and theology. If you have ever noticed my Shelfari bookshelf, you'll see that I am all over the map with my interests. Most of the time, a book will capture my interest in the first three or four chapters, but by the time chapter five rolls around, I'm ready to put it down.

I recently have been reading a book that a friend recommended (thanks Stephen). It is entitled The Power of Habit. It is subtitled "Why We Do What We Do and How to Change It". I have not been able to put this book down. I find myself wanting to get back to the next page each time I put the silly thing down. It has amazing stories interwoven into the premious of the book. The stories are the cords that pull the book together neatly and logically.

I am not going to tell you the details of  book, nor am I going to give a review. I would simply say that this book is for those who have bad habits or habitually find themselves in the same place they don't like over and over again. I continually hear people say, "I don't like my... body, job, school, relationships, church, husband, wife, life, kids, spiritual journey..."

If you find yourself on the crazy wheel time and time again, you may want check this book out.

Take Time for Friends

If you want to know why there are two smiling fellows in the picture, it won't take much to figure it out. Mike Roux has taught me more about fishing and hunting in a short nine years than most learn in a lifetime. I would be the first to say that any success that I have in the sport would be to his credit.

We had an opportunity to get together last Thursday evening for a quick fishing trip. Mike moved to Springfield last winter and our time together has been limited. I couldn't wait to catch up on his life. From the minute I got into the truck until I got out, we were talking, making plans, and catching up.

I've missed Mike and wanted to make the most of the evening. Mike can flat out get it done in the field and on the water, but I have a way of making each time interesting for him. We like competing, yet I am the one who sets the rules. I find a way of winning every time no matter how well he does. Tonight was not an exception.

I decided that the first to hook a fish would be the winner tonight. I had no idea what was about to happen. As soon as we got into the water I cast, and bammmm!!! I hit a monster. She came out of the water and shook off my lure. We knew that the night had some amazing potential.We tend to have amazing success together and this was the start of a night to remember.

Two casts later, I got the first fish into the boat. I won!! And couple of minutes later I got the second one in the boat. Mike started to catch a few fish. We proceeded to catch twenty-five small mouth bass in a short two hours. It averaged out to catching a fish every six minutes. That is a great time for anyone on the water! Mike ended up destroying me with the size of his fish. He ended up catching three four-pound-plus bass for the night.

We were so excited to be together, having a blast blowing up lines with fish. Hunting and fishing is fun, but there is nothing like experiencing life with someone else. Make sure you take the time to spend quality time with your friends, living life together.

Ecclesiastes 4:21 says,"And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."

Does Your Paycheck Have A Purpose?

We have been talking a lot about work at Columbus Road over the last few weeks.  The scriptures have taught us that we are created by God for work. Genesis 1:28 states, God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 

We receive a reward for work. Sometimes it comes in affirmation or a sense of accomplishment.  I find work to be rewarding when it matches my passions and gifts. Most of the time, we look for the paycheck as the reward for our labor. Money empowers us to leverage resources for the priorities of our life. 

When you receive your next paycheck, challenge your thinking with these five simple principles and then take a moment to evaluate how you meet up.

1. God is not a fan of debt. Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.  If you have debt, what is your plan to retire the debt? It is no fun feeling like a slave. By choosing debt we often choose to place ourselves into slavery.

 2. Contentment is key. I find it hard to go to the mall and remain content. For you it may be the car lot or the furniture store. Some struggle going into a home improvement store without coming out with a cart full of "gems". 1 Timothy 6:8 says, If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. Now there is a verse that could use some consideration. So what stuff are you discontent with?

 3. Start saving. Proverbs 21:20 says, There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up. How much money did you save in July? I know that might be a strange question, but when I asked it at a recent men's group meeting, everyone looked at me like I just stepped off of a spaceship. The reality is this: saving money takes discipline. If you did not save anything last month, the chance that you will save something this month is slim to none. 

4. Create a budget and follow it. Luke 14:28-30 says, For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. A budget is simply a plan. Plans should be reviewed regularly. If God is the one who has the plan for our lives, it would only be logical that our budgets would reflect His plan.

 5. Work hard, really hard. Proverbs 6:6-8 says, Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. I love this verse for a couple of reasons. One is that I like visuals. To watch ants work is an incredible thing. They never stop and they work with such purpose. 

So, how is it for you?  Are you working hard with a plan and content with God's provision?

           

Columbus Road is now on Twitter

@ColumbusRoad

Welcoming the Donovan Family

Columbus Road Church called Tom Donovan to be the assistant pastor this evening at the church's semi-annual vision meeting. Tom has been a member at Columbus Road for eight years and has served as a deacon for the last six. Tom comes to the staff with a wide range of gifts and abilities that will serve the body well. He will be leading the discipleship ministries of the church.

Tom is married to Amy. They have four boys: Andrew, Benjamin, Jeremiah, and Samuel. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He also has a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Sioux Falls Seminary. 

We are excited to see how God will work in the coming days through Tom's ministry. He will come on board in the first week of August. 

Rocky Mountain Oysters

Home for a Week

My wife's family has always valued family vacations. Being a part of her family has taken me places that I could only have imagined going. Through the years, I have traveled with them both in the U.S. and abroad. Many memories have been made.

The Rafters

It is interesting to see how our family has grown. We now have three generations of travelers. Seeing my nephews with families reminds of when I was a young father. It brings to mind so many trips and stories.

This year we all ended up in Granby, Colorado. Our time was precious together. We made another chapter's worth of memories. It is so different traveling with three teenage daughters and a son who is an adult. We even had a special guest who joined us on the trip ("Hannah" - Matt's special friend).

Matt and Hannah

We experienced many new things together, as well as some of the staples that have bonded the group over the years.  I had the unique opportunity to order some rocky mountain oysters as an appetizer at the Sagebrush BBQ & Grill without telling my girls what they were. They all ate them before I was able to have the waitress explain what they were.

A Rocky Mountain Oyster

My girls went on their first whitewater rafting trip, and Madison made her first cliff jump off of a 25-foot ledge. We all experienced a ski lift and a natural sulfur spring. These new experiences provided great memories and many photo opportunities.

Right after the 25-foot jump

Some of the old staples included hosting a family meal for the other families. This year the Cowman's prepared a Mexican meal. We played many games as a group. The volleyball court was always being taken by the Hackenberger clan. My ten year old nephew, Cameron, organized a family tennis tournament that was one of my personal favorites.

The Champions

I am so blessed to have been able to experience the benefits of these family vacations over the years. As a young man, I did not see the value or the importance of going off the grid as a family to enjoy one another's company.

I encourage you to make plans to vacation with your family. Some of the best times as a family have been experienced on vacation.

At the Sagebrush

They accomplished their mission.

Wednesday Nights at Columbus Road

S.M.I.

Many Hands Make Light Work

Columbus Road just completed Vacation Bible School last week. Our VBS ministry is quite different from most in that our teens have a great deal to do with this program. Former pastor Jeff Westcott designed and implemented a program that we call S.M.I. (Student Missionary Internship). S.M.I. is a discipleship ministry that trains teens to serve in the local church. As part of the S.M.I curriculum, the teens plan and execute a VBS program. Each aspect of ministry is done, start to finish, by the teens.

They are responsible for planning, decorating, purchasing and implementing the VBS program. I am so impressed with the commitment and dedication shown by each of the young people involved. Our S.M.I. summer ministry takes place not only at C.R., but also at our church plant in Pittsfield, Illinois.  The students provide the same VBS there during the second week of July.

I came across some interesting pictures this week. Each one of the pictures is of young people who led some aspect of VBS this year, and who were also participants in my first VBS at Columbus Road eight years ago. God has moved these young people from being spectators, to participants, to servants in just eight years. Take a look:

Madison Now

Madison Then

Ben Now

Ben Then

Collin Now

Collin Then