Most Important

We have had a lot of change in life in the last week or so.  I've left my job, my life really, for the last eight years of being a youth pastor.  We sold our pop-up and our minivan.  We got a car.
Of course in the long run all of these are minute things.  None of them meet the importance of which we often put them.  Not one.
No, when real life stuff happens, the previous list becomes much less...intense.  Dull really.
My brother's wife passed away yesterday.  That's about as much as I really feel like saying about it right now.
I got to spend the last two nights hanging out with my parents.  I should do that more often.
I watched as my mom saw her first sunsent ever that she could remember over Lake Michigan.

And with all of this going on tonight my son spoke to me for the first time ever the words, "I love you."

It's a wonder how both the most saddest and joyous times are what makes us remember the really important stuff in life.

I heard that if you fill a glass jar full of sand all the way up, you'll never be able to put any rocks in it.  But if you first put in the rocks, you can easily fill the sand in around them.  When will I learn that filling my life with sandy ambitions and rusting treasures will never be the same as first filling it with the rocks of God, love, relationships, friendships, and of course family.

Jesus please forgive of my selfish ways.  You also speak of rocks and sand and following after you.  Always be my rock.  And please Lord help me fill my life with the rocks in which you have so richly blessed me.

Jumping Off

Well here we go.  This is crazy.  I'm about three days away from jumping out of a good, stable job as a full time youth pastor (in the midst of this wonderful economy) to jump into the unknown expanse of starting a new church.  I feel like Jesus jumped of a cliff and all I heard as he disappeared over the lip was "what are you waiting for?"

Yeah.  That sums up my story.  But I guess better to jump and get hurt instead of just standing there or walking away and wondering the rest of my life what I missed out on.

Oh and then there's this other thing.  As much as my mind calls me crazy, my soul is drawn like a magnet to what lies over the edge.  I'm sure there's pain, heartache, temptation, hurt, failure, and a battle.  But there will also be joy, excitement, love, obedience, hope, and faith.

And there will be people.

Jesus is always with people.

People who live in hurt and without hope.

I'm at a point of tension and it's time to let go of the safety rope and jump. To my knowledge comfort never has been equated with those saints of our past who have mightily followed in Jesus' footsteps.

Great love oozes great sacrifice. 

Jesus here I come.