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I’m glad Delaware has a YMCA.  I remember when our family moved here in 2004.  I said it about four times a month – “the only thing I’d change about Delaware, besides moving all of our friends here, would be to give it a YMCA.”

You see, I loved working out at the Warsaw/Winona Lake (Indiana) YMCA when I was at Grace Seminary in the late 1990′s.

You see, I loved working out at the Benton Harbor/St. Joe (Michigan) YMCA when I was a youth pastor in Southwest Michigan in 1996-97.

You see, I loved working out at the Green YMCA when I was at The Chapel back in the day.

I also enjoy starting sentences with “You see,” you see?

Hey, I even worked at the Milwaukee Metro YMCA in 2000 when Jennie and I were first married and living in Milwaukee off of the infamous Brown Deer avenue.  As if Deer came in other colors!

Now that Delaware has a YMCA, I’m down.   Thanks to Paul Weber for directing more than one YMCA but giving a lot of time and energy to this community right here.  Thanks to people like Jeremy Byers and Roger Hanafin, who oversee huge programs and community initiatives to help us all get healthy and make more out of our lives.  Thanks to Kathleen Maynard and everyone else there who loves working with kids.

I’m glad we have a YMCA, that’s all I’m saying.  In fact, in March, I was there more than ever, pushing into the “Body of Iron” challenge.  I had to run 26.2 miles, bike 112 miles, and swim 2.5 miles – over the course of the entire month.  It wasn’t hard, but it did push me to get back at the routines and discover my love for running.

I love to run.  Shut out the world.  Turn on the iPod jams.  Push myself.  Think.  Sing.  Pray.  Work it out.

Yes, it’s Friday, and it’s time to go to the YMCA.  Glad we have one here!

Christmas is not about giving. 

Did I just type that – on purpose?

I suppose it’s a matter of how you view Christmas, and how you view God.

At Christmas, we do recognize an awesome Giver.

God in Heaven, who “so loved” all of us that He “gave” Jesus Christ to the world, is the Giver of every good and perfect gift!  His generous, compassionate gifts are blessings we should never take for granted.

True Christmas begins and ends with Jesus Christ.  He’s the Son of God (John 3).  He’s the “Word became flesh” (John 1).  He’s the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 14).  He’s truly the “Light of the World” (John 8).

Starting with Jesus Christ, God’s gifts are for us, for our good, and for His glory.

God gives… we receive…

He is the ultimate giver.  He gives generously to all without finding fault.  He provides, protects, and forgives.  He also graciously brings to justice (in His time) those who do evil and rebel against Him.

In response to God’s gifts, we are to position our hearts and our lives to actually receive these gifts!

Consider how God Himself refers to Jesus Christ, the indescribable gift – “Yet as many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called children of God” (John 1:12).

God gives… we receive…

In life, it is hard for most of us to simply receive a gift.  We aren’t very good at “receiving” a gift, and we wrestle with various attitudes in response to gifts.

Some of us wrestle with entitlement surrounding gifts, and fail to appreciate the giver.  “I deserved this,” we think, and it’s just part of Christmas.  Thoughts creep in like, “I wanted something else… something better… more gifts, please!”

Others feel burdened to repay someone for a gift.  A distant relative brings a gift for you, and you didn’t bring one for them.  Before you know it, you’re in the next room on Amazon.com buying their “payback” gift to ease your conscience.  We want to trade even or earn a gift.

But God gives… we receive.

God gives you time, talent, treasure, personality, friendships, and life!  God gives us resources, opportunities, thoughts, directions, comfort, and hope!

Without God, I have nothing.  You have nothing.

Before I have anything to give, I must first receive what God has given.

I must admit my personal need for everything God has already given.

I must express thanks and acknowledge the countless blessings I’ve received.

I must believe that I don’t deserve these and couldn’t earn these things.

I must walk humbly, knowing that (without God) my life has nothing worthwhile to contribute to anyone else’s.

God gives… we receive.

God gives each one of us life and breath, and we are all made in His image (Genesis 1).  Every day is a privilege, full of opportunity to grow and experience God’s world!

Receive these gifts.  This Christmas, thank Him and seek His wisdom and guidance to pursue a God-honoring life.  As we follow Him, we have hope and faith and love to give to others!

God gives us an awareness of right and wrong, whether in our consciences or in Scripture.

Receive these gifts!  Learn to admit your mistakes, confess sins, and seek His righteousness for better decisions and lifestyles.  As we learn from Him, we have insights and experiences and empathy to give to others!

God gives us a Baby in a manger who would grow up to be King of the Universe… who died on the Cross to rescue us from sin and death.

Receive this gift!  Believe in Him and live His way and grow closer to Jesus through prayer and His Word.  As we come alive in Him, we have life and salvation and truth to share with others!

But let’s make no mistake about it.  If we aren’t receiving God’s gifts and work in our lives, then we have nothing of real value to give.  Before we set out to give, to love, or to serve others, we must learn to receive what God has given us.

God gives… do you receive?

- Sunday’s sermon, entitled “Live by the Book,” was really intended to be an introduction to the Bible… including “Why do we believe the Bible is from God?”… “What can we find in the Bible?”… and… “How should we handle the Bible.”

- Psalm 119 gives us the chance to listen in to the thoughts and prayers of a man who really loves the Bible.  We focused on the first sixteen verses and found so many benefits and so many powerful descriptions of God’s Word in this man’s life.

- Of course churchgoers and Christians know we’re “supposed to” read the Bible, but few can actually explain why we trust it or how we should use it in everyday life.

- I’ve heard (and given) every excuse in the book about why we don’t read the Bible.  Everything from “I don’t understand it,” to “It’s outdated,” to “I’m too busy” – there’s an excuse for every time and season.  Somehow, when I read Psalm 119, I see the heart of one who has no regrets when it comes to pursuing God.  He has an insatiable hunger for more of God’s truth, God’s presence, God’s blessing, God’s wisdom, and God’s movement in his life.

- I’ve said it regularly to our people at Delaware Grace… don’t let Sunday morning be the only time you open your Bible this week.  Take the responsibility and initiative to read on your own.  A little bit each day.  If you need a place to start, I usually recommend John (about Jesus’ life and mission), Psalms (about prayer and knowing God), or James (very practical and direct about our faith).

- I’d love to hear any comments about excuses or questions or barriers you’ve had when it comes to reading the Bible.  Feel free to post them here at the end of the blog!

- Sunday afternoon, I had a great time with Luke (our 6.5 year old son) at his first football practice.  Over 80 kids and many adults showed up for “training day” with some local football players and coaches from the YMCA.  I’m proud to be a part of a community like Delaware, Ohio!

- Sunday night, I was able to meet with a group of people who are heading to the Central African Republic next month, including Dave Martin and Zach Younkin from our church.  Others on the team are from Iowa or Missouri.

- Somewhere during the day, word got to me that the Browns had scored 27 points.  Must be a 10-year record.  But they still lost.  #nosurprise.  #lol

“The only difference between the person you are right now, and the person you will be five years from now, will come from the people you spend time with and the books that you read.”  This quote (author unknown) came to me a few years back, and makes complete sense.

Clearly, the people we spend time with have an impact on our thoughts, habits, and growth.  Certainly, the things we read and ponder have the chance to teach or direct us in unique ways.

Whether you agree or disagree with this quote, it’s worth looking at your life and thinking about the influences around you.  You can choose to develop or learn or grow or become someone better than you are today.

Psalm 119 is a chapter of the Bible that is written by a lifelong learner.  By one who realizes that God himself is the most important person we could spend time with and be influenced by.  When you read the Bible, you not only expose your mind to great truths and thoughts, you encounter an amazing Person who is speaking – in some sense – directly to your heart and life.

Consider these words:

“I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws” (Psalm 119:7).

“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches” (Psalm 119:14).

“My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times” (Psalm 119:20).

“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

This man, this writer, reads the Bible and loves it.  He eats it up.  He finds his heart is not only right and pure, it is “set free.”  He reads the Bible because he knows Someone is speaking to him here.  Someone worth knowing.  Worth reading about.  Worthy of praise, loyalty, and honor.

All 168 verses of Psalm 119 reflect the heart of a person who isn’t cynical.  He isn’t avoiding the deep issues.  He hasn’t shut God out or gotten bored with reading the Bible.

For sure, this “lifelong learner” knows the value of putting in the effort to read the Bible and to know God more and more each day.  In just the first eight verses, look how this man treats the Bible… He “walks according to” it (1).  He seeks God with all his heart (2).  He walks in his ways (3).  He considers God’s commands (6).  He praises God (7).  He learns God’s righteous laws (7).  He obeys (8).

If you dare to read the whole chapter, you see this man’s commitment to the Bible, no question.  But you also can feel his heart, fully in love with God, fully alive and growing, fully humbled to learn and be whatever God wants him to learn and be.

Somehow, I pray that God would give me (and you) that same kind of heart.  Forever learning from God.  Forever committed to His Word and to what He wants us to be.

Dr. Dave Rumbalski also showed us how to check our heart rates and sounds, even if we don’t have a stethoscope at home.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

On Sunday morning, I really wanted us to savor three concepts in this verse…

(1) Your “heart” – the real you, what is on the inside.  The Bible uses “heart” in the Old and New Testaments to talk about one’s life, emotions, intellect, will, personality – so many different aspects.  We spent time thinking specifically about our intellect (thoughts), emotions (feelings), and will (decisions) and how they all flow out of our hearts.

(2) The heart as a “wellspring” (source/director) of everything else you do.  Your mouth, eyes, ears, hands, feet – every other body part depends on the heart for blood and circulation.  Likewise, all of your words, senses, actions, intentions – everything you do flows out of what is happening on the inside.

(3) You are responsible to guard (defend/protect/manage/evaluate) your own heart.  Nobody else can do this for you.  You can’t blame your “heart” as if you’re the innocent bystander just following your feelings.  No, you are given a tremendous gift and responsibility with this life, and you must pay “dogged attention” to the thoughts, feelings, and decisions floating around on the inside.  Guard your heart with all diligence, effort, and urgency.

Seriously, what a great passage from a father to his son, ultimately from God to us!  A few additional thoughts to chew on this week from Proverbs 4 and beyond…

- In Proverbs 5, the father gives his son specific guidance about guarding his heart amid the flurry of sexual temptation that so easily ensnares the hearts and minds of young men.  If you read it, notice how the father not only gives very explicit warnings about the “lips of an adulteress” (5:3), but also points out the tremendous rewards of saving his mind and body physically for the day when he can “rejoice in the wife of your youth” (5:18).

- Our worship services ended with a song we haven’t sung in a while – “Heart of Worship.”  The lyrics are worth reflecting on, especially with the reminder that God searches “much deeper within, than the way things appear, You’re looking into my heart.”  Right on.  God reads our hearts and sees through any facade or weak intentions.

- In second service, I mentioned how the emotions in our hearts are NOT worth trusting.  We should seek to understand and express our emotions in appropriate ways.  God himself is an emotional being!  He’s created us as emotional beings!  However, I think it’s too easy to let your emotions dictate your attitude, your actions, or your decisions.  As Jeremiah said, “the heart is deceitful above all things.  Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Dr. Neal Smith (1958-2012) was a tremendous husband, father, and friend who let God use his life in incredible ways.

This past week, Jennie and I attended the memorial services for Dr. Neal Smith in Bridgman, Michigan.

By all accounts, Neal lived an extraordinary life, embracing God’s great love in a way that transformed Neal’s actions, words, relationships, and priorities.  As a husband, father, grandfather, friend, dentist, and missionary, Neal was an encourager and example to thousands of people.

In 1996, as a fresh graduate of Grace College, I was invited to be a “Summer Youth Pastor” at Neal’s church in Southwest Michigan.  For four months, I had the privilege and blessing of living with Neal and Trish and their five children – Grant, Britton, Whitney, Karsten, and Collin.  I had grown up as an only child.  Now I was living with a family of seven!

I got to see Neal’s faith, his family, and his lifestyle up close for a number of months and then years as a friend.

Neal’s death is tragic and premature on so many levels, having lost a battle with illness at age 54.  Our hearts are broken but  grateful for Neal’s life and love.

As one pastor shared at Neal’s memorial service, Neal had recently been wrestling with a specific encounter in the Bible.  On the surface, it’s a “chance meeting” between a man with a strong, growing faith in God and a man whose heart is full of questions about God.

Acts 8:26-40 describes how Philip was so committed to following God’s Spirit and being available at a moment’s notice, as if to ask, “What’s next, God?”  “What are you doing right here and right now that I can be a part of?”  “Would you help me see what is happening so that I can seize your divine moments?”

Click here to read the passage if you like.  The point is that Philip responded to God and went “near the chariot” – he got close enough to hear the questions and concerns of the other man who did not know Christ.  He was intentional about engaging a not-yet-believer in thoughtful conversation about faith.  He was prepared to share the answers he had found in Jesus Christ.

Neal Smith did this ALL the time.  He seized the moment.  He valued people.  He brought joy and truth to the room.  He got close enough to people to hear what was going on in their lives.

Most people experience fear and anxiety at the dentist’s office.  Neal brought them laughter, peace, and comfort – whether in southwest Michigan, the dusty streets of Russia, or the prisons of Zambia.

Like Philip, Neal paid attention to the people around him, getting close enough to hear, to ask, to listen, to consider, to understand what was going on on the inside.  His memorial service echoed the inspiration of his example – that true Christians should demonstrate love for people.  True Christians should be close enough to hear the people and the needs around them.  True Christians should care and pray and serve and give to others who are far from God.  True Christians should be filled with contagious joy, hope, and peace – even when the storms of life are raging.

Neal was close enough to God to hear and follow… and close enough to others to listen and love them in the name of Jesus Christ.  Thank you, Neal Smith, for your friendship, your faith, your family – and for your willingness to follow God into the moment and get close enough to hear the hearts of those God brought your way.

Without the “men of Hezekiah, king of Judah,” we would not have some of the most powerful Proverbs of all-time!

If something’s important to you, write it down.  Save it.  Make a note of it.

We are too quick to forget things.  Even though we have good intentions, memory can fail us.

This morning, I spent some time reading Proverbs 25.  This chapter includes twenty-eight tasty verses addressing topics such as conflict resolution, patience, the power of our words, and the value of self-control.  If you’ve read Proverbs before, these might sound familiar…

Proverbs 25:11 – “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

Proverbs 25:15 – “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

Proverbs 25:21-22 – “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”

Proverbs 25:24 – “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

These words give instruction, direction, and warnings that we should all consider.  Especially to pass them on to our children, as much of the Proverbs are written with a parent-to-child perspective.

These words were spoken and apparently written thousands of years ago by King Solomon of Israel, perhaps the wisest king of all-time.

These words would not be available to us unless someone took careful thought and effort to write them down.  To copy them.  To share them.  To savor them.

Which brings me back to the very first verse listed here.

Proverbs 25:1 – “These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah…”

Hey, there’s a verse nobody quotes or puts on a greeting card.  You’ve never heard a sermon about Proverbs 25:1.   But without those nameless “men of Hezekiah king of Judah,” and their efforts to diligently and accurately “copy” down the words of Solomon… much wisdom would have died with Solomon.

Proverbs 25:1 packs a punch that we usually skim over as if it doesn’t apply to us.  But there is beauty in noticing the details in Scripture.  Some of the “oh, by the way” comments like this are included for a reason.  Careful stewards like Solomon, like king Hezekiah, and like these “copying men” (Scribes) have made great effort and given careful thought to pass down the Scriptures.

If something is really important, keep track of it.  Write it down.  When I want to remember a Bible verse, a great quote, or a phone number, I write it down.  It’s a reminder of why I am enjoying blogging a little bit each day about the Bible, about life, and about things I’m processing internally.  On one level, it helps me remember and savor things that are important.  On another level, just like the leaders or believers or parents who have walked this journey before us, we should embrace the task of recording and passing down the wisdom and truths that must never be forgotten.

The Old Testament book of Proverbs is mostly written from a Father to His Son, imparting wisdom and truth and righteousness for how to live.  I’ve read through the Book of Proverbs many times in the past, and God seems to brings different truths to light every time I read.

Today, I find some of the “Parenting Proverbs” to be especially encouraging and convicting.

Parenting is no easy task.  Before I had kids, it was easy to misunderstand or evaluate other families and think about how I would do things differently.  I had no clue, no idea, and no frame of reference.  I certainly am learning, over time, to give people the benefit of the doubt because I don’t know what their story is or what they’ve been through.

That being said, the Proverbs bring to light God’s wisdom that is above all seasons, generations, cultures, and family histories.  Parenting is one of many “recurring themes” in the seem-to-be-random Proverbs chapters 10-31.  If you’re a parent or grandparent, you might find the following verses especially powerful or timely.  If you’re not a parent, you’ll just have to give me (and more importantly, God!) the benefit of the doubt – we need these words!

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” – Proverbs 22:15

“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.” – Proverbs 23:13-14

“Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.” – Proverbs 23:19

“Listen to your Father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” – Proverbs 23:22

In the midst of imparting all kinds of wisdom to his children, God is also preparing us to be parents.  Reminding us of our role to train (regularly, consistently, firmly, clearly, lovingly) our children in the way they should go.  Commanding us to discipline our children because it is best for them in the long run.  Warning us of the lifelong effects of a childhood without discipline, correction, and consequences.  Upholding the respect and order of a healthy home, where children obey their parents and respect them (Ephesians 6:1-4).

Those are just a few of the parenting-related Proverbs I found this week.  If you’re a mom or dad – even a future mom or dad – don’t miss God’s living and active words that can help strengthen your heart and mind for the blessing and responsibility of parenting.

Sunday is such a huge day for churches.  For believers.  For pastors and ministry leaders.

But I frequently wonder… “Does whatever happened Sunday morning ‘at church’ make any impact the rest of the week?”

It’s only Monday, but what do I hope people remember today or all week?

For me, yesterday was one of my favorite Sundays of the year.  “Back to School” commissioning service, where we invited any teachers, students, leaders, and volunteers from our community for a celebration and kickoff to the 2012-13 school year.

Here are some things I hope people “take away” from yesterday at our church…

(1) God’s love and faithfulness – the message and theme were from Proverbs 3:1-6, especially verses 3:3-4 – God’s love and faithfulness are available, life-changing, and empowering for anyone who fully trusts Jesus as Lord.

(2) The importance of your “Name” – God cares about your reputation more than you do.  We should seek to “find favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4) while we live in and for His love and faithfulness.

(3) God loves Delaware, Buckeye Valley, Marion, Olentangy, Ostrander – God loves all the people in our community and wants His people to love them too.  To let our love for God flow out into love for man (Acts 2:46-47; 1 Peter 2:12; Matthew 5:13-16).

(4) Every student… every teacher… every leader… is blessed, gifted, loved, and accountable to God for how we live.  IF we believe that God has “greater things yet to come” for us this school year, then we will live and pray and treat people accordingly.  I hope people were inspired and equipped toward these ends yesterday.

(5) I will always remember the leaders who took time to visit Delaware Grace yesterday and celebrate the new school year with us.  You are a blessing to us and to this community, and we thank God for you as you lead and invest in the next generation!

I won’t forget yesterday at Delaware Grace, and I thank God for how our time together has motivated me (and hopefully many others) to look ahead to the “greater things” God has in store for us this year!

A smallish dog attempting to corral a large-ish bone. Good luck with that!

On Sunday, I talked about how our nearly four-month-old puppy (not pictured at right – ours is different and much cuter)… our puppy now has a large, chewy bone we purchased at Tractor Supply.

As you might guess, any dog bone available at a store called “Tractor Supply” is going to be quite a load.  The store clerk said, “Your dog will chew on that thing for days, even weeks.”

Seemed like a fitting reward for our “Rocky,” so we brought home the bone.  In order to fully enjoy, experience, and taste the bone, we knew Rocky would have a lot of chewing to do.

We had no idea how much fun he’d have with that bone.

He growls at it.  Paws at it.  Picks it up in his mouth and throws it around.  Turns his head and stares at it.  Bites off the ends.  Oh, and he growls at random moments while chewing it.

While watching (and listening to) our dog playing with the bone, I was getting ready to read some more of the Proverbs.  In the Bible, the book of Proverbs is loaded with one-liners – words of wisdom and timeless truth – that casual readers fail to appreciate.

In order to fully grasp the meaning, the interpretation, the purposes, or the real-life principles found in some of these Proverbs, you actually have to “chew” on them.  The Biblical word for “meditate” or “reflect” actually comes from an ancient-Hebrew root word which means “to chew.”

So… here’s the Tractor-Supply-Sized Proverb we’ll be chewing on this weekend at Grace…

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.” — Proverbs 3:3-4

Read those verses a few times.  Think about them.  Question them and flip them over.  Say them out loud.

Here’s how I’m chewing this one today… with this question.

“What would it look like for me to have a ‘good name in the sight God and man’?”

- Consider what God already thinks of my life – Consider what other people may think of me – Consider what characteristics God intends in a “good name” and reputation – Consider the role of love and faithfulness as mentioned in verse 3 – Consider our tendency to seek people’s approval rather than the idea of setting a true example or “good name.” – Consider what others may say about you, including your enemies – Chew on other Proverbs that mention the value of a good name – Consider God first, as the verse does, and how His opinion, direction, and correction matters most.

When you read the Bible on your own, the “goal” isn’t to finish a chapter or book.  Our goal is to open our minds and hearts to God and really listen to what He has to day.  To think about it.  To put it into practice.

In addition to reading a chapter, why not pick one Proverb “bone” to chew on?