Just Tired...

Our family has truly been through a bit of a whirlwind as of late...I'm just realizing how weary we have become.

• We had a new baby arrive 3 months ago
• We have just worked through a major decision to leave the staff of Athletes in Action to join with Fellowship Bible Church in Nashville, TN.
• We saw the Lord sell our house in one day
• We saw the Lord provide a new place in another day
• We are in the midst of a semester of ministry at VT
• We are transitioning all our responsibilities with AIA to other leaders
• We have a two and a half year old dynamo.
• We are just tired...

I am so thankful when I think that in the weariness and burdens of life we have the ever-present one to commune with. Jesus told us to come to him, all who are weary and heavy, and find rest for our souls. I need that today. Great hope in from the prophet Isaiah as well - that strength can be renewed, and the soul may soar on wings like eagles. Hope in the Lord - a great and wonderful thing. Out...

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A few quotes I came across today

Today I went for a jog and took a long an audio biographical sketch of the Puritan Theologian John Owen. Owen, who lived at the height of English Protetantism 1616-1683, and served as Oliver Cromwell's personal chaplain and theologian wrote close to 22 volumes which survive and are read today. Some of his life and doctrine I'm not sure if I fully can assent (certainly I cannot make a judgement either way without reading him in source) but some of the quotations I pulled out were astonishing and exhortive in my soul. Thought I would share:

On our friendship with Christ Christ is our best friend, and ere long will be our only friend. I pray God will all my heart that I may be weary of everything else but converse and communion with Him John Owen, God's Statesman, p. 153. Friendship is most maintained and kept up by visits; and these, the more free and less occasioned by urgent business ... John Owen, Works, VII, 197f. On Leadership of the Church I am leaving the ship of the Church in a storm, but while the great Pilot is in it, the loss of a poor under-rower will be inconsiderable The Correspondence of John Owen, p. 174. On Study and Insight into The Scriptures I must now say, that, after all my searching and reading, prayer and assiduous meditation have been my only resort, and by far the most useful means of light and assistance. By these have my thoughts been freed from many an entanglement. Works, I, p. lxxxv.

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So many airplanes…

The last few days I was in Xenia Ohio for some speaker’s training. AIA has recently rewritten its “Biblical Principles for Athletic Competition” and is rolling out the materials to all of its teachers around the US. It was a great few days with friends and especially rich as I was able to travel with Mike Echstenkamper, the man who led me to the Lord. We left from Raleigh, NC and flew through Washington on route to Ohio. It was so good to catch up with him, share what is going on in life and hear some wisdom from a friend. The speaker’s training was excellent and I had several meetings with people I serve with in AIA. It was a good time of connecting and also a time of prayer for me as I ponder the next stage of life and ministry. Mike and I also stayed together with a staff couple new to the ministry; their testimony of how God brought them to AIA, after coaching basketball for 17 years, was a powerful story of people following God into the unknown in the next step of their journey. After a packed 2.5 days (sorry for the decimal notation, my math/physics background lingers) Mike and I hopped two planes back to Raleigh – we arrived home weary at about 1 am. The next morning Kasey, Kayla, Kylene, and I engaged more airports on our way to visit with my Mom in Memphis, TN. We are excited to spend some of our spring break time here with my Mom and family.

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Saturday Morning Fun

This morning members of the VTAIA servant team came over the house for some fellowship and breakfast. It is such a blessing to "do life" with such a great group of young people. Kayla did her normal routine when the house is full - Running about, Jumping on every hapless person, giggling, giving and receiving love, and exuding her wonderful little personality...she liked munching some danish as well. Kasey and I will be on the road for the next 2 weeks in various venues so we need to have the local leaders up to spead with the ministry for the next week. It is always refreshing to think of where these young leaders will be in 10-15 years. I know I can be too optimistic at times, but I see a great work for each of them in the years to come...Thank God for James, Bryan, Bret, Mike, Danny, Steve, Meredith, Tara, Shane'a, Jackie, Erin, Blair, and Stacey! I understand the words of the old apostle a bit better these days... Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. -- 3 John 2-4 As to our travels...I will be at AIA Headquarters for a speaker's training conference, then spending some time with both of our parents over our spring break. It will be great to hug some necks :)

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A few things this past week

I am really thankful for a several things we were involved with in the past week.

1. vtONE - Prepare the Way It was a great joy to speak to and challenge several hundred believers from all over the VT campus on the topic of "Unity for our Fractured Souls in Distracting Days." There are many pictures on the web site from this evening of prayer, worship and spiritual challenge. The audio from my message that evening is also online at www.powerofchange.org/talks
2. Second, our 5th annual AIA pizza eating contest was a huge success. About 160 athletes came out to the event where Corwin Anthony, Chaplain for the NFL's Miami Dolphin's shared about the work of Grace God has wrought in his life and family. Corwin and I had a great time together as brothers, discussing life, our Lord, AIA issues, and the work of God at VT. We have many, many students to follow up with after the evening. Oh yes, Women's softball and Men's Wrestling were the victorious eaters of the night.
3. We equipped our students for person reflection and outreach surrounding the Passion Movie with Viewing Guides from Breakpoint and books by John Piper about the real reasons for the death of Jesus

Its been a great week. Soli Deo Gloria - All glory, honor and praise to Him alone.

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Young and full out for the gospel

I am working today quite a bit on Czech Project applications and I am just amazed at the young people applying for our summer adventure. It is so encouraging to see young people thirsting for the truth of the gospel, desiring to be effective and passionate witnesses in our world, and laying down their time, talents and treasures for him. I feel it such an enormous privilege to love, lead, teach and serve these students for 5 weeks this summer. It also is a bit satisfying to see what God is doing with some of our Czech Project alumni:

• One is currently in Czech doing missions
• Another heads over for a year there this spring
• Three on our AIA staff (Princeton, Ohio State, and AIA Headquarters
• One is studying at the Trinity Forum with Os Guinness
• One engaged in religious and philosophical studies at Princeton
• Another is starting new Bible studies at Harvard
• Another leading volunteer AIA ministry on her campus
• One more is a track coach and MDiv student at Liberty University

I am so thankful for the work of God in these young people and humbled to be a part of their lives... ...

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Retreat Blessings...

We had an awesome weekend at the AIA MidAtlantic Retreat. 206 athletes and staff gathered for a time of worship, fellowship, teaching, and encouragement. Our speaker for the weekend,Derwin Gray, encouraged us to understand who we are in Jesus so that we might be free to live for him fully. It was a blessing to hear from a brother who is passionate about the Lord. Several VT students made commitments to Jesus Christ for the first time - for that we thank the Lord. Derwin and I taught an "optional" apologetics session in which almost all of the students took the "option" to attend. What a refreshing time to teach an important discipline as well as to field questions from hearts eager for truth. All the messages from the weekend, mine and Derwin's sections, are available for download here - MP3 Messages Such a great opportunity to use our time, talents, and treasures for the Kingdom - may these young people be set aflame for the light of the gospel of the glory of God, revealed in the face of Christ Jesus...

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AIA MidAtlantic Reteat

AIA MidAtlantic Reteat is ramping up. Looks like we will be a bit larger than expected...around 215 athletes and staff will be in attendance this weekend. With our numbers swelling, we are sure to be a headache for the conf center - I pray they are patient with us. The Hokies look to bring about 70 athletes - a huge turnout for us if it holds. We had a good time creating a fun recruiting video this year at VT - my NonLinear Video Editing skills still have much to desire, but I am making slow progress with that arena. With the e-mails and phone calls a flyin, things around here will be on the slowdown until next week. I'm off to confirm the retreat commitments of some Hokie footballers. Out

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Great Meeting Tonight

Tonight's AIA meeting was a blessing...former VTAIAer and football standout Andre Davis blessed us with a message about the centrality of faith. It is good to see Andre, now married and playing with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, walking with the Lord and being an influence on these younger Hokies. We roll out Friday for the AIA MidAtlantic Retreat - we may take as many as 70 students from VT. We'll join others from schools all over VA for a time of encouragement, teaching, and fellowship. We are praying that many students will come to Christ this weekend. Thanking God for His Faithfulnes...hittin the rack.

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Be Thou My Vision...

Be Thou My Vision - a beautiful Irish hymn that causes the soul to shudder. O for the vision and comtemplation of God to be so grand in my heart. I struggle with longing for such a hymn to be true of my soul, yet ever aware of how short I fall. That He would dwell in my heart by faith, that He would supersede all thoughts of success, the praise of men, earthly comforts and prestige. The true joy that shakes us to the soul is found in none of these things, only in the one who will always be our best thought. Be in tears, or in triumph, in victory or in pause - may his presence be our light. Thinking about my prayer life this morning has me a bit malcontent. A few striking quote for those of us who are "working hard" in ministry: When we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend on education, we get what education can do; when we depend on man, we get what man can do; but when we depend on prayer, we get what God can do -- A.C. Dixon This perpetual hury of business and company ruins me in soul if not the body. More solitude and earlier hours! Isuspect I have been allotting habitually too little time to religious exercises, as private devotion and religious meditation, Scripture-reading, etc. Hence I am lean and cold and hard. I had better allot two hours or an hour and a half daily. I have been keeping too later hours, and hence have had but a hurried half-hour in the morining to myself. Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean. But all may be done through prayer -- almighty prayer, I am ready to say--and why not? For that it is almight is only through the gracious ordination of the God of loving truth. On then, pray, pray, pray!-- William Wilberforce - Early 19th century English Politician We need hearts that are captive to His Grace, enthralled by His Beauty, nourished by His Truth, overflowing with His Goodness, so that we might be a fragrance worthy of Christ in the World. Praying that I might pray today in the midst of my distracted world Out.

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Thoughts while shoveling snow

Yesterday Blacksburg, VA witnessed almost a foot of snow. Kayla Joy had her first taste of snowcream (which I am convinced is made and eaten only by those with roots in the south, anyone know different, drop me a note) and was quite thrilled. Danny White and I rose early to lift weights only to find the weightroom locked tight. A long walk in the snow never hurt anyone. I spent about 30 min shoveling snow around my court, trying to get folks ready to try and pull the cars out...good replacement for weight lifting...During my shoveling session I was thinking about a bumper sticker which I always felt had something missing - you know it Practice Random acts of Kindness and Senseless acts of Beauty It seems kindness and beauty have always been stand up guys for me, but sensless and random always seemed out of place. Would it not be better to practice targeted and purposeful acts of kindness in order to help someone? And is beauty ever senseless? Its seems to me that if something is truly beautiful, aethestically valuable, then it will probably be united with the good and the true. A friend of mine who has read much from a 20th century theologian (Hans von Balthasar of Basel) would probably agree that where you find the beautiful you will find there also something good and in someway true. Anyway, enough of that. On to read what the Lord of Heaven and earth (the beautiful, good and true one - oops I did that again) has to say in 2 Samuel 18 Speaking to the Soccer team this morning as well, pray that goes well as we introduce the new guys to VTAIA I'm out...

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Track Meet, Tennis Match and thoughts on Chesterton

This morning I wanted to reference an author I have been reading in the last week or two...GK Chesterton. Chesterton, a devout Catholic Journalist in England who stradled the 19th and 20th centuries. Chesterton was known for his wit, creativity, and keen understanding of the issues confronting his day. In many ways he saw coming what has happened in the west. The web site of The American Chesterton Society has a good subtitle that represents Chesterton well "Common Sense for the World's Uncommon Nonsense". Chesterton's writing is full of playful and wonderfully creative prose. He was also known to have a laugh that was utterly captivating. Chesterton understood the place that God rightly occupied in ones intellectual life...that without God, man's reason was unguided and would not lead anywhere at all. Why should one trust their reason to come up with things like "truth" or "beauty" or "goodness" if all of life was a morbid bumping of materials together. He saw that the understanding of our world would quickly disintegrate into all sorts of madness and all manner of obscurity once man rejected belief in God. In his book Orthodoxy he compares God to the Sun...you cannot look directly at it, yet without it one cannot look at anything. In prayerful submission that God might help us to see...by the light of his grace, with reason set aflame by the revealed knowledge of Jesus Christ. Off to a track meet and tennis match with Kayla and my good ole AIA buddy Danny "D" White...

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On the road today

Heading up to James Madison University to address a student led AIA group this evening. Last night we had our VTAIA student leaders over and it was great to reconnect with them. This summer, from this group alone, we are sending out students to Alaska, Spain, Colorado, and one to work with inner city kids. We are excited that the Lord would raise up from our group, young people to reflect his glory in the earth. Lots of opportunities are being placed before Kasey and I so we are praying that the Lord give us wisdom as to which ones we should NOT be involved with. Prayer needed... Off to the library to study and prepare for tonight's message. Out..

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Wrestling is a great stress reliever

After a few long days, I finally got to return to a love I have had since 7th grade. Tonight, I did the PA announcing at the Va Tech wrestling match. Although I'm starting to get too old to go at it any more, it sure is fun to be around the sport. Tonight we even pulled out a W. Today, reminds me of why we are called to ministry - God's glory and his love for his people. I had a great time with our AIA staff at UVA - Chris Porter...such a good friend. I am blessed to serve with He and his family. Quote for Today "We live in a world that is soaked with secularity" Dallas Willard Longing for transcendent glory...satisfied in Christ

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Simple Pleasure

Having little girls brings back some of the simpler pleasures of childhood. Just this afternoon, someone had left out some peanut butter and vanilla wafers made into little sandwhiches...man, those are good. Sleep is overated...we will all rest in a real rest someday, today there is work to be accomplished and glory to shine forth. Second, simple pleasure - sleeply, bloodshot eyes, with good reasons behind them. A baby girl, a great mission (Matt 28:18-20, Matt 25), and a marvelous King. On to a conf call

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Busy day...

It is funny how much some days put before us...may His grace fill the soul with zeal for a long push in the office! Off to produce a video for our coming winter retreat - Mid Atlantic Retreat Quote for today - He who marries the spirit of the age, soon becomes a widower - Dean Inge Choose wisely...

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To blog or not to blog, that was the question

Well, I wondered if I would ever enter the blog universe after being a blog reader for soooo long...alas, that day has come. I guess my own musings will liter net space for some time to come. For those of you who are friends and supporters of Power of Change, please take this blog with a grain of thought. Most of it will probably be me thinking deep thoughts out loud in a very raw form. Hopefully it will also give insight into our day to day life and ministry with Athletes in Action at Virginia Tech and elsewhere...that said, I have 3 ladies (Kasey, Kayla, and baby Kylene Monaghan) I want to go get some fun play time with. Blessings - I'm out

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