Britches Thinks Out Loud

Moving

2009-05-20T17:53:00.001-04:00

For anyone still left checking this from time to time, I have moved my blog (starting today, so you have not missed much!!) to this new site audiblethinking.wordpress.com

Come check it out and my goal is to be better at consistency. (It is good to have a goal right!)

2008-11-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I am pretty sure that by now there is no one left checking this. It has not been my intent to not write for so long, but I have not been motivated to write when I have had time. We spent a lot of time this summer "renovating" the basement of the church where we hold our youth ministry. I will try to post some pictures at another time.

Ministry-wise we are being considered for one position, so we are waiting on the Lord for direction there.

Last Friday night we held an all-nighter for the youth at church. We were blessed to have 25 teens and probably 8 of them were unbelievers.

An Open Door?

2008-06-02T22:18:00.001-04:00

I am sorry I have not written in a while, but I have not really known what I could share. Now I have a better idea.

As some of you may already know, we had an interview at a church this weekend. The church is a smaller church in a rural Maine community that is looking for a Senior Pastor. This is an opportunity that we were not looking for, but the Lord opened to us and we have pursed. We came away from the interview still intrigued by the opportunity and time will tell whether this is God's will for us. IN some ways we feel overwhelmed by the responsibility, but know that if this is God's will, we will be up to the task in His strength.

Please from for wisdom and a peace in God's timing.

2008-05-03T22:17:00.001-04:00

So, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, but just not taken the time to write.

Someone asked me recently how we were doing seeing I have not written in so long. My answer was "stuck." We have had no progress at all as far as ministry is concerned. We are still completely waiting on God to work out His perfect will for us, but our human nature is very impatient. Work is getting more frustrating and it would be nice to move on from it, but evidently God desires otherwise.

This section of a song hit me the other day.

"Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly"

From Sanctus Real's "Whatever You're Doing"

This really sums up where I am right now. I will right more soon…but you've never heard that before!

How soon we forget

2008-03-14T23:02:00.001-04:00

I am going to continue with the story in Exodus. When the Egyptians were coming after the Israelites quickly began what would be a regular routine of complaining. They had just seen God systematically "destroy" all the gods of the Egyptians and they were feared so much that the Egyptians gave them whatever they wanted as they left. It is easy to criticize, but we do the same so often. We look past the great things that God has done in and through us, and view the circumstances He allows. Did He become any less great? Why do we act as if He did?

Still there?

2008-03-10T21:09:00.001-04:00

When I wrote that title I meant it as a statement as I am still here. After thinking about it for a minute, I realized that maybe there isn't anyone left out there as I haven't written in so long. Anyway…

Life has been interesting to say the least. I took a group of 13 teenagers to NBBI last month and managed to not break anyone this year. (Last year my pastor's daughter broke her ankle on the tubing hill)

I have been suffering with a cold for the last couple of weeks and the kids have had fevers at different times.

I am picking up a new hobby in that I am learning to play the guitar. I am currently able to make intelligible sounds that slowly sound like the songs that they should be.

As far a ministry, we are still in consideration at one of the places we applied to and will know more in the next week or so.

"Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, 'Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.'" Exodus 13:17

I was really challenged by this verse this morning. When I look at the call God has for me to full time ministry, I know that there has to be an easier way to get to it then the way that we are on. However, God knows that the direct way is not always the best way for us and is protecting us in the way. He does that with all of us. We all know the phrase that He knows what is best for us, but do we really trust that and rely on it, or are we second guessing Him, even if only to ourselves. Very convicting.

Been Busy

2008-02-13T21:14:00.001-05:00

Life has been very interesting lately. Last week I filled out a 7 page survey that a church had sent me to fill out.

Pastor then asked me on Saturday to preach on Sunday due to a family situation. I had been already working on a sermon for two weeks, but put it on the fast track and it seemed to come across well. Ultimately it is God's message not mine and he knew the short notice all along so it was on Him.

Now we are getting ready to go to NBBI Teen Retreat this weekend and today a leader had to back out so we scrambled to find a replacement.

We are having a great time and just rollin' with the flow right now.

This and That

2008-01-31T21:16:00.001-05:00

I have had every intent on putting more into this of late, but it just has not happened. I will just give some brief bits on my thinking.

I have been very thankful for the wonderful wife that God has given me. At work I have been around 2 people whose marriages have dissolved or are close to it. Our marriage has its moments like all others, but at the end of the day we know that we are both committed and in it for life.
Our ministry has been really effective of late, at least from our perspective. We have been given great opportunities to mentor and disciple the young people we have come to love and have really enjoyed the process.
A couple of doors for full-time ministry seem to be creaking open a bit. One appears at first glance to be a great opportunity while both are out of our initial comfort zone (So what else is new!). We are prayerfully taking steps forward and would appreciate your prayers as well.
As I look to fill out the questionnaire that I received from one of these opportunities, I kind of began approaching it like a test and wondering what the teacher was really looking for. I then remembered that it is not a test and all worry needs to be left at His feet. It is up to Him where we serve, not our answers.

Still Here

2008-01-23T23:03:00.001-05:00

So I have not disappeared, or run out of thoughts, just not gotten around to posting much. I will write some of my own thoughts, but heard this read on a podcast yesterday and thought it was pretty pointed. Understand, I don't know anything about the author, Craig R. Smith, but liked what he had to say. This was written just before Thanksgiving and the full quote can be read here.

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

… I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.

Hanging Around

2008-01-09T20:34:00.001-05:00

So, the ministry search has seemingly come to a grinding halt. We really heard nothing for about 2 weeks, maybe more. Granted, I'm sure a lot of the processes slow down for the holidays. Thankfully, I am not discouraged by this, though it seems odd to me that it would be true. Thank you to all of you who are praying for us in this process and for God's will to be accomplished. The only thing that has crossed my mind is that you always hear of the need for people to be in full time ministry. Here we are willing and ready (at least in our minds) and God has chosen to keep the doors closed. As I said, I am not discouraged, just find it funny.

Heat Wave

2008-01-08T21:43:00.000-05:00

As much as I hated shoveling the 2 feet of snow we had last week, I love the fact that it has been 40 out for the past 4 days. Not bad for January.

So, I decided that I have done really bad lately in memorizing Scripture. I don't remember doing it regularly since High School. It is something that I think we find it easy to take for granted. While it is a great idea for young people to do, it is just as great for us to do as well. So, if you are thinking of me in your prayer time, pray that I will follow through and retain the verses. I have also challenged a couple of others to do the program with me.

I have also been thinking about forgiveness and how often we need it. The word of a song the other day really hit me. It was talking about the Israelites and how they had followed the cloud and fire, seen the Red Sea part, and still grumbled and disobeyed. The line said, "Have we forgotten who we are? Did we forget whose trip we are on?" We fall into the same problem. We have not seen the same things that they did, but still have seen amazing and wonderful things, and yet get our eyes of Him and end up wandering around in the "desert" of life.

Lord, teach us to remember that this is all about you and the journey is Your's.

Random Thoughts

2008-01-03T20:14:00.000-05:00

Well, it is a new year, so I am going to get back at this. Holidays and responsibility have taken a ton of time, but here we go.

I love how that God works. At our last Detour, John and I each did our own lessons. Normally, we each teach the same thing. The amazing thing was that we both ended up speaking about Joseph. We hadn't even spoken about what we were going to speak about.

Christmas was good. I was able to have 2 consecutive 4-day weekends which went by way to fast. Tomorrow is Friday already and it will be different having only 2 days off.

Get with the Flow!

2007-12-19T21:19:00.000-05:00

Tyler woke up while I was getting ready for work the other day and was reading books on the floor. The first one was about Jonah and he told me that it was raining. He then moved on to another book on Noah. He then proclaimed, "Dad, it's raining here too!" I responded that it rains a lot in the Bible.

Going to back to my thoughts the other day, it "rains" a lot in the lives of people in the Bible. Their responses to the rain can teach us a lot. Joseph, for instance, faced a lot of things that were bad, but in being faithful to God, was able to bring fame to God. Others, not so much.

I was listening to a sermon by Ed Young the other day and he was talking about a river. In a river you have eddies. The water will hold up behind these and, if you are travelling on the river, you want to avoid these as you will just go around in circles. To make progress you have to stay out where the water is flowing. He taught that we need to do the same in our walk with God. We need to stay where the water is moving. It is too easy to get comfortable in the circles of life and not push on. God wants us to stay with Him no matter what the circumstances of life my be. May we not be caught up with life that is so often "rainy", but stay with the flow and bring praise and fame to HIS name.

Do we want to serve a small God?

2007-12-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

Today I listened to 2 sermons by Andy Stanley. They are the first 2 in a 4 part series where he was challenging those on the outside looking in of a relationship with Christ to begin that relationship. At first thought, you might think that there really wouldn't be a whole lot in a sermon like that for the believer, and though he never spoke to believers directly, I took so much from it.

His premise in the first sermon was that many people have a list of questions that they need answered to believe. This never happens as getting the answers doesn't cause you to believe. Answers just make you a smarter unbeliever. It takes life making the need personal to overlook the questions. In the second, he speaks of how we want to come to God on our own terms. He simply just wants us to believe.

For me this just hit home in the daily aspects of my life. "Lord, if you answer this and this, I will trust you." or "Lord, take care of this, and I will do that." Why do we put so much into giving God conditions. Maybe they are even subconscious. How much better would it be for us to subconsciously just shut up, trust and do.

Then he posed the question I titled this post with. Would we really want to believe and serve a God who was so small that He followed our whims? Why should the God who made this vast creation from nothing need to follow our guidelines for us to trust and obey.

Matthew 18:3-4 (in the NIV 'cause that's what I can reach) says:
"And He said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever takes a humble place---becoming like this child--is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

So, do we approach Him humbly? Do we realize our position in the universe. We have the amazing and awesome privilege of serving the God who is above all. Nothing can be greater. Now it is time to be humble, get ourselves out of the way and trust Him.

Declaration

2007-12-11T20:46:00.000-05:00

Before I get to my main thought, I just want to let you know that there are some possibilities of full-time ministry for us that may be opening to us. Nothing definite for sure, but maybe God beginning to open some doors. Please just pray that the right opportunity will be clear to us.

I was reading in Psalm 8 for my devos yesterday. Verse one says:

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory about the heavens."

My thoughts go to a couple of videos that we watched just before Katelyn was born. They were sermons given by Louie Giglio that used images from space to drive home his point. He showed some images of galaxies that were billions of light years away and we had just recently found. To myself I think about what these stars have been doing since Creation. They have been right there for what, 6 thousand years? All that time we didn't even know they were there. Yet, even unnoticed on Earth they did exactly what God created them to do...praise HIM. (The heavens DECLARE the Glory of God!) Humanly speaking, how many of us would be willing to continue giving Him the glory for 6 weeks, let alone that long?

It also show just how big God is. To think that He created a universe that HUGE. We are always finding something else out there. It is not like He sits up there and says, "Well, they made a better telescope, I had better create for universe for the to see." This has always been there. Makes me wonder just how much is out there that we will never even know about this side of glory.

Then I realize just how small I am. In a universe so extravagant, we take up very little space. We think so highly of ourselves and God must laugh. Yet, despite our insignificance, He loves us. Verses 3-4 read:

"When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him."

To think that the God that was powerful enough to create the greatness that is the universe, cares enough that He wants a relationship with me. How amazing is that? The real question is how does it effect our everyday lives? Are we different knowing that we serve such a great and powerful God? Do we trust Him more? Do you love Him more? Are we faithful in taking time for our personal and corporate times of worship?

Thoughts on a rainy day...

2007-12-08T20:13:00.000-05:00

No it isn't raining outside. It actually snowed more last night. The title will make sense eventually.

So, I had planned on writing the last few days, but I have been fighting with getting my laptop online at home. After a very unhelpful, but humorous, call to tech support, and more fun, I am finally up and running - if dial-up can be considered running.

Maybe some of you have read on our Family Blog (see link on the left) our thoughts concerning the song below. We first heard this song this summer and with all our family has been through in the past couple of years it has really meant a lot. I have been thinking about it again this week. I will let you read it and then I will share my thoughts.

Bring The Rain - by MercyMe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above
Because you are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
Suffering your destiny
So tell me whats a little rain

Yesterday was a really annoying day for me at work. My monotonous job got worse. I am a results oriented person and would rather do a lot of small jobs that move along and get done than something that I sit at forever. Well, my assignment at work turned into the later. I realized that project could not be sped up and, no exaggeration, will take me 4 weeks minimum. A month of brainless activity, pulling the lever on a drill press, doesn't excite me at all. The process gives me lots of time to think and if I am not careful it turns into how much I dislike this job. Why does God want a family that is so willing to serve Him more than we are currently able to wait any longer? Doesn't He need us somewhere now (that is another whole song)?

So my thoughts come back to this song. What is a little rain. God obviously wants us in ministry but in His time, which evidently is not now. In light of all that He has done for me, what is a month of shear boredom.

Obviously, this song means more in relation to the loss that we have experienced over the past year and a half. Not that anyone came out an asked us directly how we could still praise Him, but many have said that they never could go through what we have. My answer to that is simply, in God you would if you needed to. Not that any of you need a reminder of this, but we are nothing special. God just allowed us a great opportunity to bring glory to Him.

Did it hurt? Of course. It has changed who we are forever, and I think that He intended that. We have more of an understanding about "life is but a vapor." Ultimately, through the pain, we realistically only had one option...Trust Him. Though things didn't go as we had hoped, it didn't make Him any less faithful. We know that many people saw Him who may not ever have otherwise.

So, all of that to say, we are willing to do whatever God has for us, whenever, where ever. If His desire for us is to bring Him glory, everything we encounter is an opportunity to do so. Our circumstances will not change our reliance on Him. We are forever in Him. How could we give in under any little rain...

So...Now What?

2007-12-04T22:19:00.000-05:00

That question by itself pretty much sums up my life lately in so many ways. As many of you know we are seeking God's direction as a family concerning full-time ministry in a church. God allowed a recent door of opportunity for us to be closed and we were left with that very question. The short answer is to see what else is out there, but with that comes the fear/concern that "Does this church fit with us in this or that area?", "Where will we have to move to?", "What type of ministry will He lead us to?"

Well, my current job sort of took a twist that, at first, I didn't like, but God has really used for me right now. I have been assigned a very mind-numbing task that is repetative, boring and solitary. I have been able to use my iPod and listen to music which my normal tasks do not allow. So, yesterday I just started the music and let it go. Normally I let is shuffle, but I didn't this time. After lunch sometime it made it to an artist named John Waller. He is relatively new, but his music has really been encouraging to me.

As I was pondering the above questions the song came on "While I'm Waiting." Here are some of the lyrics.

I'm waiting,
I'm waiting on You, Lord, And I'm hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord, Though it is painful
But, Patiently, I will wait

I WILL MOVE AHEAD, BOLD AND CONFIDENT
TAKING EVERY STEP IN OBEDIENCE
WHILE I'M WAITING, I WILL SERVE YO
WHILE I'M WAITING, I WILL WORSHIP
WHILE I'M WAITING, I WILL NOT FAINT
I WILL BE RUNNING THE RACE

That perfectly fits up my thinking. We are waiting. Many times we feel stuck in a job that I don't like and feel God making us discontent about it, but having no way out yet. On the other hand our response needs to be and has been - serve and worship. We are going to continue to be faithful to all that he has currently called us to do until HE calls us elsewhere. As Pastor has said so often lately, we don't want to rush ahead or fall behind. We want to take each step in obedience.

The very next song on that John Waller CD is "Something Big"

I wanna see something I've not seen
Something so big
I wanna be a part of something great,
Greater than me
It's time to dream big dreams
To see Your vision become reality
'Cause it's for You, by You, those love you want to do

SOMETHING SO BIG
IT'S DESTINED TO FAIL WITHOUT YOU, LORD
IT'S GONNA FAIL WITHOUT YOU, LORD
SOMETHING SO GREAT
IT TAKES A MIRACLE TO DO
WE, YOUR CHILDREN
WANNA DO SOMETHING SO BIG FOR YOU.

I know that God smiled when He allowed those two songs to go together on that CD knowing that I would need them yesterday. That song is my prayer, not because of wanting to be a part of something big for recognition. I want God to be able to use me for something great because I was fearless enough to just trust Him with everything and let Him use me.

So.. now what? Wanna join me and let God do something great...and willing just to be faithful while we wait?

So what's in a name?

2007-12-04T00:04:00.000-05:00

First of all, let me thank you for taking the time to check this out. I understand that you have a lot of things to do and your time is very valuable. My goal is to share with you what God is teaching and challenging me with in what I read, hear, and experience. Lord-willing it will be of some help to you (even if you are just humored). It will also be a place where you can see where God is leading us in relation to full-time ministry.

So, you may ask where did "Britches" come from? Well, as many of you know, Amy and I have been working with the teens in our church for almost 5 years now. Last year, they started calling me "Britches" and it just stuck. It definately would not have been my first choice for a nickname, but I love my teens and it became to me a term of respect and acceptance.

Thanks again for your time. I will have more to post tomorrow and will try to post every few days. If you ever have any comment or question, feel free to e-mail me. There is a link to the left.