Priorities

Hey guys,

This is just a quick note to say I am, indeed, still alive.  I started school back up in August and am now in the process of writing my Master's Thesis - so auxiliary writing is just not happening, but I thought I would send out a quick "Big Question" for you.  Here you go...

What is the one thing that you tell yourself is a priority, but you are not motivated enough to actually do it?

Big Questions - Time Machine

This is maybe my favorite big question yet. Thanks to my wife and Back to the Future for the inspiration.  Remember to answer honestly!

If you had a time machine that could go either back in time or into the future, but you could only choose one way, which would you choose and why?

Big Questions Part 2: E.T.

Here is our second time looking at big questions.  Remember I want you to take a minute to answer honestly to yourself and if you're brave in a comment.

Warning:  Today will make you think a bit outside of the box (well for some of you).

Question: If you found out today that aliens (extra terrestrials, outer space creatures, extras in Will Smith movies) truly existed, how would that affect your faith? 

I'm really looking forward to hearing your responses, feel free to take a few minutes or hours to think about it before throwing down a response.  

How take transition head on.

Moving to a small town has been an adjustment.  Some things are hard to get used to.  For example, why in a store called Dollar General are tortilla chips $3.50?  Any change that we experience creates unpredictable consequences and sometimes we simply cannot be prepared.  But here are a few things I've learned to make change easier.

1.  Pray

I'm a pastor and although it seems obvious I refuse to downplay the importance and necessity of prayer through change, it can literally be and has been what has gotten me and countless others through transition.

2.  Decide ahead of time that your expectations are only expectations.

False expectations are hope killers.  Sometimes we expect things that we don't deserve/ are impossible/ shouldn't be expected.  Don't let false expectations lead to early burnout.

Ex:  I thought playing golf in small town would be inexpensive and that I would do it often.  Turns out it is just as expensive and I haven't played once.  Although disappointed, I have decided it's no reason to pack back up and move.  (Ok, poor example... to some.)


3.  Enter the transition asking: "What can I do to serve this change?"  Not: "How can this change serve me?"

If Alissa and I moved to Nebraska asking how this move will make our lives better than we have missed God's intention completely.  Yes God wants to bless us - but change will lead to failure and/or sadness if born from selfish desire.

Phil 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves"

Ever since we arrived here I have noticed this transition has been different and better than most previous big changes and after a few weeks I realized why.  In the past every time big change has happened in my life I've been looking out for my own interests; getting my degree, getting my first job, etc.  Not all of these were intentionally selfish, but to some degree they were.  During this transition, however, I have been careful to ask God not what's in it for me, but how can I serve this community as best I can.  Not "what do I get" but "what can I give," and somehow having an outward focused attitude makes all the inward difficulties seem like less of a big deal.   That doesn't mean it's always fun or easy - but it is all worth it.

 What are some things that have helped you make it through transitions?

Big Questions

I'm starting a new blog segment today.  These will be quick and either thought provoking, challenging, or neither (I don't like to get too tied down by things I have said that I later realize were dumb). 

As I said these blog posts will be short - but I do want you to honestly answer to yourself, or if you're really brave - in a comment.  so... HERE WE GO.

Question 1:  If you went to church today... were you more excited to go to it or get through it?

The great mysteries of summer

This time of year several things happen that I don't really understand...

1. Old men let go of their inhibitions and mow their lawns in blue jean cut-off shorts, tennis shoes, and nothing else.
2. People spend hundreds of dollars to watch lights explode in the sky.
3. Entire towns crowd on to a couple of city blocks to see poorly decorated hay wagons.

Now when you take each of these things down to the basic truths about them they don't make sense, however I believe that each has a redeeming factor.


1. The old man gets a no tan lines, so when he hits the bingo hall later he's ready to go.
2. Fireworks provides a way for whole families and even communities to do something together - in America we choose something that involved blowing things up.
3.  Parades have free candy...  that's it.


When we don't understand things its easy to judge them.  Since we have moved to a new culture we constantly see new things, things that we don't understand.  It's our choice whether we embrace them or make fun of them.  (Honestly, I have been known to do both simultaneously.)   The moral of this blog is not to judge a book by it's cover - or an old man by the length of his daisy dukes.

6 Benefits to living in a small (nearly non-existant) town.

Hi everyone, it has been a while!  We are getting settled into our new home in Nebraska and so I thought I would share some of the highlights of moving to a small town.  Here they are...

1.  I can walk to work without sweating

2. I'm easily one of the coolest guys here (of slightly balding married 28 years olds with two kids who was born in Wisconsin).

3. We've already saved half a years salary by being 30 miles from the nearest Starbucks.

4.  People wave to you and it's not because they mistook you for someone else.

5.  There is zero guilt for not working out at the gym because there is no gym.

6.  I can finally buy a pair of denim overalls without being judged. (I won't, but I like the option.)


  Can you think of any I missed?