What if you could do life over?  Would you do anything different?  REALLY?  If you could stop today, for a few minutes and tell the rest of the blogging world, what matters to you?  What will be your legacy?

If you had to write your own epitaph, what would it say?  For real?  If I talked to people that know you, what would THEY say mattered to you?   

We never stop to ask questions like these because they bring a bit of stress to our already maxed out lives, but WHAT IF we could see what we can't see?  What if we could take our eyes off of what seems to matter and from God's vantage point see what DOES matter?  Just wondering?

Because of the series we are in, I have been asking the question in my own life, what really matters?  It seems that if you can fundamentally get some clarity with what matters, then by default you can intentionally pass on something that will outlast your life.  For me, I see my 13 year old daughter Hannah and think, what would matter to her about me?  Not what I tell her what should matter, but if I were gone, what WOULD matter? 

I love a series about generations.  I love thinking about the connections, the investments, the passions. 

Wondering about faith?  Check this out.  In a Christian home if mom and dad go to church, statistically based on that reality then 72% of children in a home like that would follow their parents and go to church.   In other words their faith would be passed on to a new generation. 

IF ONLY THE MOM goes to church....NOT SO GOOD.  The statistic is in the neighborhood of 15%.

Check this out.  IF ONLY DAD goes to church the statistic shows that there is a 55% chance that the children will go to church.

Our faith matters.  We (whether we like it or not) will deposit faith into the generations behind us, less by what we say and more by what we do.   

We may not think it matters but faith being translated from one generation to the next matters.  What we do matters.  How we love matters.  What we say, or don't say matters.  If, as dads we can realize the powerful role we play, we can be more aware and be more intentional and see our faith passed to the next generation IN OUR FAMILIES.   

As I am asking these questions, I am excited about what God is showing me for the weekend message.    

I am excited to close out the series this weekend.  I love the teaching team that God continues to develop at Living Hope. 

Thanks to Danny and Mike.  Amazing guys and so gifted to speak.   I have heard so many encouraging things about the last two weekends.

SO, what would you do different?  I mean really?  If you had to do it all over again...Be honest.  Be real.  Risk for the sake of all of our spiritual lives.

Pass it on,

JOHN

This post is mostly to Church leaders.  I wanted to share a few thoughts about church leadership. Been thinking about leaders lately.  Praying for different pastors in our area and others (around the world) who I follow and respect.  AND, I wanted to share a few random thoughts.... about the journey and the God we serve together.

I love the amazing beauty of a church when it works the way God originally designed it to work.  I love to read stories of the early church and absolutely love seeing those Acts 2 churches become the reality in our day. I hope to someday see churches that prevail as the normal course of the church world.  Honestly, I feel like when one church does well, we all do well.  In the same breath, I feel like when a church struggles, we all struggle. Being unified is still Jesus' prayer (John 17).  We are ONE Body, representing Jesus and telling His story to a broken and messed up world.

I love seeing churches who risk, who stretch, who are real and who are crazy (and weird) about Jesus. I have so many friends, who are pastors, who are serving in different capacities. As my friends down under would say, "good on ya."

When I look back and think that in less than four years, Living Hope has grown for God's glory, has failed with forward movement, has done some stuff that honors God (or...at least I hope and believe) I have been thinking about trying to unpack a few thoughts. 

First about me.  I graduated with a business degree from a catholic college (St Martins, Olympia Washington). I really had every intention of pursuing a degree in law.  I had my "plans". And that is why I am so passionate about Proverbs 19:21 that says, "many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

When I came to Christ, I was amazingly and profoundly blown away by the simple thought that someone would die for me.  I really, and honestly couldn't really believe it. I NEVER grew up going to church, thinking about God or about church, and always thought I evolved from a monkey.  Never thought much about it, just accepted it.  (pretty discouraging...  I know....)

Really I am an accidental pastor.   When I came to Christ, I  decided to give up the law school dream (sorry Perry Mason) and decided to pursue Seminary.  I desperately wanted to be fully devoted to the person, mission and cause of Christ.  It became and still is my obsession.

In all reality, I wanted to start a church that I would invite people to.  There are so many incredible churches out there. Churches better than Living Hope (for real).  I think sometimes the best churches are amazing, but then I ask the question through the grid, "Would I invite my unchurched friends?"    

I just had a dream to do church with people I really loved.  I wanted to be part of a church that would prevail, that would risk and that would love people the way Jesus did. 

The big idea about how we began and who we became is this... 

When we first started, we tried to be like every church we could.  We looked at Saddleback, Willow Creek, and other churches that "seemed" to be doing what we hoped to someday do.  I watched people preach and tried to emulate them.  Those aren't bad things, but for us, it took a sort of next step to get us on the road toward God's destiny.

We (in the early years) copied everything we could from every church we liked.  We did good things and followed amazing churches.

The problem was an issue of authenticity.  If I could talk to church leaders I would say....

BE REAL.   BE YOU.  THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU.   

God created you, has allowed unique stuff in your life and has a plan for YOU that can only be ONLY GOD and really ONLY YOU.  In the end, God revealed to me that I could learn from other amazing leaders and churches but that I had to be real with who GOD made me to be.  I wasn't a carbon copy.  I had to develop a culture of authenticity. 

Leaders.  Dream big.  If churches are the hope of the world, then you are the leaders that are the messengers of that hope.  Simply risk being vulnerable. Risk with the people who God has entrusted you to and whom you love.  Be real about you and God.  Be real about how you are wired.  Be real about how you are doing.  Get it?  BE REAL.  This is one of the core values of Living Hope.  Be real about God's UNIQUE purpose for your life.  Simply be real. 

When I stopped trying to be everyone else and started to be me and when we as a church began to allow God to show us what HIS plan was for our lives, it seems things began to change.

We are certainly not better than any other church, just in fact the opposite.  I love learning and feel like every leader needs to never stop learning.   

We just began to uncover who we were and in the process discovered who God was calling us to be.

Over time, when we took the self-imposed lid off, God began to show up in ways we would have never planned.  We have plans, but God's purpose HAS to prevail (it will anyway, with or without us). 

Learning to risk listening to the voice of God and looking up to Heaven, we began to see things we never could have ever imagined.  Things that over time coined the phrase ONLY GOD. 

Believe that God wants to do things you haven't imagined.   

ONLY GOD.

John

Because so many people are asking, I thought I'd better give an update on Michelle.

Michelle (cool name isn't it?).  I hesitate to share, because I have SO appreciated the prayers for her.  Please continue to pray for God's healing in her life.

She is doing better, has had probably the best week so far.  She has gained weight (a good thing) and has had really good days, and although she hasn't slept well, it is better.  Michelle is feeling good, and there are still tests we are waiting on.   

What we know is the tests we have so far are revealing extreme food allergies.  She is still anemic, and as she adjusts to different things, we are hoping for, and believing God for a total and complete recovery.  His will.

Bottom line....  God is in control, completely, totally and for real. We (honestly) still aren't sure what is wrong.  We, together wanted to thank you for praying for her (and our family). It is what will change things the most.

Thanks.  I think so often we underestimate the unseen world. So many times we think we can't see all that God is doing.   

Prayer is what is needed. 

My back is better.  Still can't believe I got a free ride in an ambulance.  So weird.   

Excited about the new series.  Connecting the generations.

John

Last night there were 80 students who received Christ and were spontaneously baptized at LSM.  Pretty good for a soft launch.  All together for the weekend, there were close to 300 people spontaneously baptized in 9 services.  ALL TO THE GLORY OF ONLY GOD. 

One of the things I love most is seeing students who "GET" it and who with such passion change their world.  They (I think) haven't had the dreams of their life stomped out of them, so they have a tendency to risk more and release more because they have less to lose.  Or so it seems.

LSM is in soft launch mode for a couple more weeks.  Wednesdays 7:00 PM at our Brush Prairie campus.  Invite students (all ages).  I am so excited for this new season we are in. 

It is interesting to me that God has always used students to effect or catalyze change in the world.  Mary, as a teenager, was used to bring Jesus into the world as a baby.  When Jesus began His public ministry, at age 30 He used mostly teenagers to begin a revolution called "THE CHURCH". Peter may have been the only one who was not a teenager, because he was old enough to pay the temple tax. 

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."   

The Greek word for "deny" is better translated as to disown.  It is almost as if you see this transfer of ownership from you to God.  The NLT says, you must put aside your selfish ambition.

When we deny ourself, we die to self, and in doing so we humble ourselves before God.  Pride is the most natural and destructive thing.  The Bible says in James 4 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Becoming a God follower begins with humility.  It is the most reasonable and logical response to God.   

The Greek word for "daily" is translated daily daily.   As if there is more emphasis on the process of each day.

So often we overcomplicate the process of becoming a disciple of Jesus (as churches) and we understate the cost of following Jesus (as leaders).

It is so not a Sunday thing, or an escape from eternal fire thing.  It is choosing to give up my one and only life so I can experience life the way God designed it, like I can only imagine.  Paul says to the church at Corinth, those who become Christians are NEW PEOPLE.  It is a new and different life. 

Students that are passionately consumed by God change their world.  Not to say all of us don't.  In my experience, it just is somehow they have less to lose, so giving up their life is easier than most adults.   

"Take up his cross..."   Sometimes I think we avoid the cross part of the process.   When you follow Jesus, crosses are inevitable.  They make us tired, they are sometimes unexplainable, but always inevitable.  They are part of the process. 

Truth is what we call the process and what God calls the goal.  In other words God's goal IS THE PROCESS.  We quit too soon, and in quitting we miss what God was trying to do.

So often we avoid the pain of the cross, when it is the very thing that draws me closer to the heart of God and the purpose for our lives.  It is the cross that makes the difference. 

If I avoid or refuse crosses, I, by default avoid and refuse Jesus.  Sounds harsh, but SO true.  Jesus never lowered the bar.  Just in fact the opposite.

I think most all people are one of two categories.  People who have died in order to really LIVE or people who are still waiting to live.    

Students. I am so proud of you.  So excited for the future.  So ready to see God's dream be birthed for your lives. Danny and the leadership team for LSM, thanks for loving students and risking and changing plans to follow what God has.  The best days are in front of us.

Receiving Christ, and being baptized publicly isn't the finish line, but rather the start of something you can only imagine.  Stay close to Jesus. As the first century rabbis would say to each other, "may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi". 

Philippians 1:6 says, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.." 

D.L. Moody said it best, "The world has yet to see what God can do through one person who is wholly committed to Him."

I hope in my lifetime to see that one person.  Heck better yet let's all strive to be that one person who is completely surrendered and fully devoted to the cause and person of Christ.

Excited about the new series.  THREADS. Connecting the generations.   

RISK EVERYTHING FOR JESUS. STAY CLOSE TO JESUS.  TELL EVERYONE ABOUT JESUS.

John

I am sitting in a chair at my house thinking about the weekend.   

Saturday after the 3:00 service, I tweaked, twisted, wrecked and strained my back.  I was able to speak at the 5:00 service and help with the baptisms.  After the service I ended up sort of down for the count. Weirdest and worst pain of my life.  Found out that I tore muscles in my lower back.  Might be because there are so many muscles, they were crowded? 

Seriously, I tried to get up, sit up, move sideways for over an hour.  I couldn't move and Pastor Dave and my wife made the decision to call an ambulance. I still can't even believe it happened, even as I type these words. 

During the 7:00 service I was taken to Southwest WA Hospital. Stupid thing is when they asked what happened, all I could tell them was I don't know and I can't move.  Talk about a Forrest Gump moment.   

They told me I couldn't live in the ER.  I said I was good, bring in a TV.  The nurse asked me my name, I told her Jack Sparrow.  She wrote it down, Katie my daughter laughed.  Got to divinely meet some good people, but they still insisted that I stand up so I could go home.  Felt a bit like the 12:00 PM check out time at a hotel. 

So I tried to stand up with the help of a guy that looked like a lineman for the Seahawks.  When I started to stand I almost passed out, so they allowed me to stay for a late check-out.

Stayed in ER from 8:00 PM to after 1:00 AM.  Ended up getting four injections of pain medicine stronger than morphine. When I got home, even with all the medicine I couldn't sleep until around 4:00 AM.   

Interestingly it was Michelle's best day so far (until she had to sit with me in the ER).

I only spoke live to around 500 people, but the message was shown on video to close to 5000 people this weekend.  You gotta love technology.

Danny and George (two of our pastors) closed out between them three of the seven services.  They had my back. 

When I woke up Sunday morning, I felt a strong leading to be at the 11:00 AM service.  ONLY GOD, for sure.  We had 1100 people in the building for that one service.  If you aren't around Living Hope, you have to know for perspective that there are only 500 seats (less when the pool is there) so needless to say it was standing room only, people seated in the lobby, overflow and around the walls.   

I didn't NEED to be there, really.  So many gifted people could have, and in fact did, step in when I was rolled out.  I WANTED to be there.  I wanted to see what ONLY GOD can do.  I love seeing people spontaneously receive Christ, get out of their seat and get baptized.

One of the best stories of how God meets you where you are at, feeds you lunch (remember Elijah) and tells you to go back, was Shane. 

Shane was homeless in Florida, 5 days ago got on a bus, rode it all the way to Vancouver and felt like he needed to get off.  When he got off the bus, he spontaneously (randomly and I would add Divinely) met one of the leaders from our Bend, Oregon campus.  DJ took Shane to lunch.  Then took him to our 3:00 PM service.

It was there God spoke to his heart.  Shane received Christ, surrendered his life to the leadership of Jesus and was baptized (first I might add) at the 5:00 PM service. 

Interesting to me how God meets us in places we can't always plan.  He always has a Divine appointment for us.  Thanks DJ for listening.  Thanks Shane for following.  Thanks Living Hope for being a place where Shane felt accepted, loved and valued.  Thank you Jesus for doing what only you can do in the life and heart of a human being.  SHANE IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. 

Spontaneous baptisms have been going on around Living Hope for 4 years.  Really, for 2000 years, if you look at the book of Acts.  Plans can sometimes get in the way of what God wants to do in our lives.

Two more baptisms this week.  One Tuesday night at Living Free, and one Wednesday night at LSM.  Can't wait to hear the stories.

UPDATE:  Michelle has been having good days, better days.  She feels better today than she has in 7 months since she got sick.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING.

My back.  Better today.  Thanks for your prayers.  Glad I was able to see the 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM service.  Trying to rest.  Not good at it.

The best days are ahead of us.  I believe it so much.

Leadership Network has been here for a few days trying to understand what God is doing at Living Hope.  We keep telling them ONLY GOD.  Maybe they will be able to help us understand it all.

Thanks for not giving up, for those of you that call Living Hope your home. The new series will be great.  THREADS.  Connecting the generations. Children, youth, adults.  It will be good.

Rest friends.

John

Change. I think it was Mark Twain who said, "The only one who likes change is a baby."

Change happens. At Starbucks, at fast food restaurants (quick side note...  Have you ever noticed it isn't called "good" food restaurants chains?  Fast food.  Has nothing to do with this blog...)

Change. By definition it means "to make or become different."

WHEN... Change happens, we mostly don't like it, but it is only through change and changing, and eventually "becoming" different that we get a different result.

One example is in Romans 12:2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

It is only in changing how we think that we learn what God's will is for our lives?  I love that verse.

Here is how Romans 12:2 reads in the Arabic Bible.  I love the options from Biblegateway.com

2 وَلاَ تَتَكَيَّفُوا مَعَ هَذَا الْعَالَمِ، بَلْ تَغَيَّرُوا بِتَجْدِيدِ الذِّهْنِ، لِتُمَيِّزُوا مَا هِيَ إِرَادَةُ اللهِ الصَّالِحَةُ الْمَقْبُولَةُ الْكَامِلَةُ.

I have no idea what it says.  Looks cool though.

Change Happens.  Always has, always does, always will.  Question?  Why NOT embrace it?  Why not thank God for it?  Why not make it your friend? When we change how we think, we change how we feel, when we change how we feel, we change how we act, when we change how we act, we change the outcome of a job, relationship, financial situation, business decision or spiritual decision.

I suggest we become more like our precious diaper wearing friends.  We cry for it.  We appreciate it.  We thank those in our lives who allow it or in some cases.....catalyze it.

All that to say that we changed the weekend at Living Hope.  Can't say anymore except thanks to the hundreds of people who ALWAYS do whatever to follow what God is doing.  P.S. Great staff meeting. 

See you Saturday. Or Sunday?  Change up, come Saturday.  Go to a campus, bring a friend, give your cat a hug?  (a little stretch, but hey)

Promise.  No better way to end a series called LIFE SUCKS....

Cheers.

JOHN

Still thinking about Elijah.  His life, his story and his eventual impact on the next generation.  I guess in some ways I identify with his story and love his heart and passion.   

I was thinking about the value of the REST OF THE STORY...  The part that we miss so much, because we can't see it YET.   

When Elijah got to the end of himself and prayed I have had enough, he was about to learn the most valuable lesson of his life, GOD IS ENOUGH.

1 Kings 19
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
      Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
     Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Such an important question for all of us.  What am I doing here?  If we don't stop to know where HERE is, how can we answer the question?  God used Elijah's exhaustion to speak into his life in a way that would change history. 

So often we focus on the failure of Elijah.  On questions like why would you leave, what were you thinking, etc.  I am learning that instead of always Monday quarterbacking everything (see, I am getting into the football thing), we need to see God in the middle of the mess WITH US and FOR US. 

For Elijah, it was THROUGH the failure, disappointment and exhaustion that he stopped long enough to listen.  It was while he ran that God provided his lunch (knowing that he wasn't done running).  God always makes our lunch.  I love this about the nature of God.  Knows the future, knows our hearts, is in total control.  He is always, has always and will always do what is BEST for us.  Bread for journey.  Lunch to go.  A meal delivered.  Seems that during tired times or seasons it can be difficult to see the bread God is offering us.  A word of encouragement, a message, an e-mail.  Always what we need, always on time.  I think this is one of those things about God I value the most and am learning over time.  He always provides the nourishment we need, to give us the strength for the journey.  Even while we are not necessarily going in the right direction.  That is how much we are loved.  He is all about it.

So, Elijah answers God with all the reasons he left.  Problem is he didn't know the REST OF THE STORY. 

14 ...He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too..."

Aren't we good at making excuses?  Here is Elijah who had experienced the power of God and the promises of God in such powerful ways, and after he runs over 300 miles to get away from God, to run away from his purpose in life, praying I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.  One threat causes him to bolt.

Seems that I meet more and more people who get so excited about God, and through criticism, exhaustion, wrong choices or whatever we leave a church, or a family or a friendship.  We sometimes can't see what God is doing or allowing, so we (in my opinion) always quit too soon. 

Elijah quit on the people, his calling, his faith and ultimately his God.  Instead of a lecture, or punishment, God gently in such a loving and parental way says, go back the way you came.

15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came...

I heard so many stories of people going back the way they came.  I met a woman from Tacoma, who pulled into our church parking lot and verbally said the words about her marriage I AM DONE.  At the end of the message she hugged me, tears in her eyes, resolve in her heart said I AM GOING BACK THE WAY I CAME.  I know what the right thing to do is.  I am going home.   
She said the message was so for her, I told her that really it is God feeding her for the journey and that I am glad she listened to His gentle whisper. 

When we get our hearts stilled, we can listen.  When we listen, we can hear God.  When we hear Him it will always be about coming home to His arms, going home to our friendships.  Choosing forgiveness, perseverance, love, patience or joy.  The next right thing, right?  Always going back the way we came will have a bigger result and reward than staying alone.  Going home is about THE REST OF THE STORY.

When Elijah heard, he immediately responded and his greatest contributions weren't in what he did, but in the destiny of others.  The REST OF THE STORY was about to be told.  This is the part I didn't have time to teach about this weekend.

Fascinating thing is that as good as Elijah was, he wasn't good enough to understand the future.  He had to walk through the journey to get to the end of his story. 

...and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

He was to annoint a new king (sucks to be Ahab), a new prophet, and remember Elijah thought he was all by himself?  That he was the only one?  God knew that in the rest of the story there were 7000 people who had not bowed to Baal.  7000 of his fellow countrymen who would stand with him.   

Elisha became his disciple.  Eventually accomplishes more than Elijah, and without the investment who knows how the story would have turned out.  Guess that is the point of following what God wants.  We can't know the end of the story if we choose our our way. 

AND, isn't it true that when we experience discouragement or depression we have a tendency to think we are all alone?  No one cares, no one knows and no one will help?  God (interestingly) didn't tell Elijah about the 7000 until he was ready to go back the way he came.

Better days for Elijah.  It is always better to hang on until THE REST OF THE STORY is told.

I think the rest of the story is so much about resting IN the story.  The story is about God.  How cool is that?   Our story is really about Him.  He isn't done with you by a long shot, so trust Him.

So, if you are thinking about quitting, can I ask you to not?  If you have quit can I ask you to go back the way you came?  Really isn't me doing the asking...  You may never know until you trust God for the next season.  Risky.  It always is.  Truth is... I think it is riskier not to trust God.  Proverbs 3 talks about trusting God with all your heart  It talks about not leaning on our understanding.  Might not make sense, but  I think it works.  Just ask Elijah.   

John

PS
Sorry this is a bit of a longer post.  Just thinking about the rest of our story....

I love the story of Elijah (1 Kings 16-20). I love his courage.  I love his faith.  I love his willingness to risk everything to see devotion to God restored in a nation that had in 55 or 60 years completely walked away from God.  His name ELIJAH is taken from two of God's names.  ELOHIM and YAHWEH.  His passion was rooted in his name.  Yahweh (LORD) is God (Elohim). 

As we continue in a series called LIFE SUCKS, I am pretty excited about Elijah. It is a great story of a guy who had so many "mountain top" experiences where God's power shows up in such an incredible and miraculous way that people say Yahweh is God.  How is it that Elijah walked in and lived in the power of God, and yet because of one statement or threat (Jezebel promises to have him killed) became depressed, discouraged and defeated to the point he quit?  He ran away from his purpose.  So much like us.  We feel like we give and we give and we give.  We allow fear to come into our hearts and the rest is history. Ahab's wife, Jezebel, threatens the life of Elijah.  He, at that point is done.

He runs to the point of exhaustion.  He runs as far as he can both geographically and physically. He can't get it together.  Have you ever been there?  Where all you could see was hopelessness?  Those places where things "seem" like there is no way out? 

God does for us what he did for Elijah.  He is the God that makes our lunch.  God baked him bread and gave him a jug of water.  And after he rests some more, he runs some more. 

Interestingly it was in his humanness and his running that he discovered God's plan.  So often when we quit we feel like that is it.  The end of the story, the end of the book, all there is, and YET God always has the last word.  He always steps in when we step away.  God always directs us and provides for us and takes care of us even when we stop doing the right thing.  God makes our lunch.  Think about it.  He did for Elijah, he will for you.  The bread or food he brings to us is exactly what we need when we need it.

God asks Elijah, "What are you doing here?"  I would have expected a lecture, or at least to be grounded.  But God gives him life and a forgiven platform to begin a new work.

I think it is only when we genuinely get to the end of ourselves that we can answer that question with integrity and honesty.  What am I doing here? 

HERE is the place of leaving, forgetting or doubting.  It is such an amazingly probing question that God asks Elijah.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I think it is a great question for us.  Truth is, when we answer that question, everything else changes.  I believe that Elijah was deeply distraught and depressed, but in reality he lost his perspective. He forgot what we must remember in 2008.  GOD IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY in our lives, our families, our churches. So easy to say, so difficult to apply but brings peace into our distressed situations the most. 

God told Elijah to go back the way he came.  He had bigger dreams than Elijah could have imagined for his own life.  He re-engaged a person whom he loved that was discouraged, fearful, exhausted and in essence really done. 

Problem is when we are in pain we can't see.  When we can't see, our belief levels have a tendency to trend downwards.

Ever feel like that?  LORD I have had enough, Take my life..... I AM DONE. 

I will never forget Leonard this weekend who was basically exhausted, caring for his aging and worsening wife who has Alzheimer's.  He was so tired and so confused and YET, as he left he said I am going back the way I came. 

You see God does that.  He calls us back the way we came.  To reach youth, homeless and whatever.

God would call us to a place of listening and then speak to our hearts to go back the way we came.  For all of us going back will be different.  But it is only in going back that we can experience God's best plans for our lives. 

Go back the way you came. Find the place you quit or the person you quit on and do as Elijah did.  Go back the way you came. 

John

As guest bloggers (Missy Hannon and Teresa Petker), we thought we would take over the blog and share a few of our favorite memories of 2007.  As always in Living Hope style, many opinions are welcome!  Tell us what you think, share your favorite and join in the fun:

Funniest:  Awkward moment in the Bathroom; Some One Always Watching; and Air Force one and Apples

Most Controversial:  In the news (again)  Any predictions for what this year will bring?  Sermon series title suggestions?

Our personal favorite teachings:  Rebirth, Drifting, My Space or God's Grace, Art Young, and Snow Faith to Snow Flakes

Only God moments of 2007:  We Will Always Remember, Salt Happens, Expect the Unexpected, Worth It,  and Lloyd.

Most encouraging commenter: Tony Carlson (where are you?).  Person who likes to give John the hardest time: Lisa (we love you!)  Incredible prayer warrior: Heidi 

Thanks to all of you who frequent and help encourage and poke fun at John: Marissa, Eric, Adrienne, Barbara, Sid, Staff...  I know we are leaving out so many.  Have a great 2008!

This blog is stupidly simple.  I am bored, and really just have a question. 

I never grew up watching football.  I know, most pastors are cool and they watch football and eat peanuts.  I don't. I am determined to grow up in my manhood and watch, cheer and spill chips on the carpet as touchdowns are made.  I really am working up to it.

Soooo, today, I slept in, got up, and on every channel was....ya.   A parade or a football game.  Why always on the first of the year? Millions of people watching 22 players beat up each other?

Anyway...

I think it is time I become an avid, cheering, face painting fan.  Time to become a football watcher guy, but not sure Michelle, Katie or Hannah are good with it.   

I finally gave in to the TV and the channel pressure and am watching the Allstate Sugar Bowl. I have to admit I like College Football better than pro. 

Georgia Bull Dogs vs. Hawaii Warriors. I love the underdog so am hoping Hawaii wins. Thousands of Hawaiian locals flew to New Orleans to support the team.  Pretty cool.

Still.  As Michelle is making dinner, and having a couple better days (thanks for your prayers), I am considering watching a movie.  Because we have never been too much into football, my girls aren't the happiest.  I told them it isn't about them, that a man has to do what a man has to do.  I am determined to be a football guy.  Determined.  I need a jersey and popcorn (do football guys eat popcorn?) 

Wouldn't it be more efficient to record the game and watch the last few minutes?  Imagine the efficiency? 10 games in under an hour.   

I am excited about the Blazers. Until last night, they were on quite the streak.   

Go Hawaii.   

Happy New Year.

John (football guy in training) Bishop