Psalms 78

I did something the other day that I have very seldom ever done. I was sitting in the driveway of my new pastors house and I decided to randomly pick a passage out of the Bible and begin reading. I opened and started reading Psalm 78. The chapter seemed to be talking about how God would show his miracles and they (Isreal) would forget and have to be reassured with more miracles. God would get angry and then remember they were stupid humans.
Background Story:

Last weekend Deb and I had to spend the whole weekend in Benton Harbor. We enjoy spending our weekends there, but financially it's getting pretty rough. Even with discount coupons we had to get creative to afford the hotel for two nights.
Sunday I told Cindy (pastors wife) that I wouldn't be able to help out with a kids event in a couple of Friday nights. I had mentioned that we were going to have to watch our spending and I had promised to shoot fooball on Friday nights. She understood and said no problem. She asked me to buy her some popcorn before service and she would pay me back.
After service she gave me some money and said thanks for the popcorn. When I looked at the bill it was a $100 dollar bill. When I tried to give it back she would have no part of it and said God laid it on her heart to give it to me.
Sunday night I lay in bed feeling guilty knowing they couldn't afford a gift like that. They haven't sold their house yet and will have take a loss when they do sell it. I prayed for the sale of there home and the sale of our home. I have been trying to understand the delay in allowing our houses to sell.
Monday morning I arrived at work to find out that I needed to do some work in Battle Creek. One of the generators was a rooftop unit and I needed to bring a ladder. As I started for Battle Creek I remembered that this is where Brain and Cindy's house was located. I later called Brian and asked him for the address. I intended to pray there.
As I pulled into the driveway I noticed a couple of things right away. It was a cute little house and I saw a model airplane on the roof and some mold above the side door roof. I pulled into the driveway and that's when I pulled out my Bible. I read and then realized that I was being used by God for some reason. I got the idea to bless them and pull down the airplane and clean the mold off the siding. (hopefully to help sell!) As I was cleaning I was on the roof on my hands and knees. I remember looking at my knees and realizing I could be on my knees praying and no one will think I'm a nut case. So that's what I did. On the roof, On my knees, Praying for the sale of their home.
Here is the cool part that got me smiling. We were willing to spend the weekend even though we couldn't afford it, we were blessed with a gift.That caused me to pray Sunday night, got assinged to Battle Creek Monday. Needed a ladder for the job, needed a ladder to clean siding. (don't usually carry a ladder) Got on my knees and prayed and nobody knew it!
Psalm 78....God shows up and we keep forgetting!
Blessings
Randy

Love God.....Why?

On Sunday our Community Pastor, Todd presented the teaching for the week. Todd did a wonderful job helping us realize what our mission in life is really all about. He split it up into the three following parts.
1. Loving God (Our worship upwards)
2. Loving One another (within the Church body)
3. Loving our Neighbor. (the rest of the world)

Right off the bat he presented a challenging question. "Why do we love God"
I actually caught myself coming up with all the Cliche answers I've always heard from the Church community.

1. He died for my sins.
2. I'll get to go to heaven
3. He first loved me
4. Get to live a life of blessing (if I follow Jesus teaching)

Later talking to Brian (lead Pastor) I told him that I was challenged by that question and it has really caused me to pause and really think about my answer. I can see now that some of my answers are because I was taught them and some were just plain selfish. Brian said something interesting. He said "if we don't figure out the answer to that, we're just doing religion".

So as I wrestle with the question I thought I'd throw it out to anyone who wants to help me out with their thoughts on the subject. Maybe I've caused some of you to pause.....?

Had a Blast

It was a rough week last week. Had a couple of showings on the house, but no interest. On Thursday I was working on my last generator of the day and the battery blew up in my face. It sounded like an M80 blowing up. I had to make my way back to my van and start dowsing my face with Saline solution that I had in my van. I was frustrated trying to call 911 and kept losing signal. I finally got through and gave them my address. By this time my eyes and face were burning pretty good. I remembered there were some guys doing lawn work at the house I was at when I pulled in. I saw there truck and started to yell to them. They got out of the truck and came over. They were Mexican and didn't speak English. I was yelling to them that I needed a hose with water. They just stood there. I finally remembered the word for water is agua, they finally helped and found a hose.
I went by ambulance to the hospital and spent the next two hours flushing my eyes. Deb had to drive to South Haven and pick me up. I still couldn't see very well Friday night so I didn't shoot football. We visited my mom in the hospital. She just had a total knee replacement.
I took away a couple of nuggets from my week.
1. I'm glad I know more Spanish than Ken Depeal. (He only knows Taco Bell!)
2. I remember thinking while rinsing my eyes that if I loose my eyesight I wouldn't get to shoot photos anymore. I wasn't worried about not getting to repair generators anymore. Hmmm
Well God Bless
Randy

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Deb and I just completed our first complete hour of prayer togehter. Well almost an hour. We cut it short because if we did a complete hour that would be lagalistic! Ha! Ha! I will have to admit the hour went by quite fast. Deb read John 8 and we spent time dicussing it. I cracked a funny once and we both laughed then Deb caught herself and said we weren't allowed to laugh during the hour of prayer. Of course we both laughed.
Our new church is having a 24hr. prayer time today. We all signed up for hours to pray for our church, and community. We were also encouraged to read our bible and journal our thoughts as we did. We journaled some thoughts about Jesus and the adultress woman. And what that looks like in our culture and generation.
I finished the hour praying and thanking God for our new family at Overflow. We have been enjoying getting to know the people and listening to their hearts and passion. We have been seeing real life change in people and that's been such a blessing. To witness the radical change that Jesus can do in lives of people and then their families is just a humbling experience.
I have been seeing a real life change in my own wife! She told me today that she escaped and went to the park and read her Bible and prayed on her lunch hour. I don't know if I've ever heard of her doing that. She also is considering a home with me far deeper into the city of Benton Harbor than I would have ever imagined a year ago. I will have to post pictures when I get some. We are praying this is the house for us. But we have come to the point where we are letting go and letting God. I prayed during the hour tonight that I would bust my ass and the rest was to up to God. Deb said I couldn't say ass during our sweet hour of prayer. We both laughed!
Please take time to go to our Overflow Blog site. You will see some recent postings of some people's stories that will bless your heart and fire you up! I am amazed at what God can do through a movie theater and a mall office!
http://overflowcommunity.blogspot.com/
God Bless and stay (or get) radical for Jesus
Randy