I ave praying a lot lately about trusting God. With my future. With my family. With the current day’s issues. I have been led to pray for God’s Spirit to help me lean on Him more…to trust Him no matter what happens.

Jesus commanded this very thing…

Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God, and trust also in me.
John 14:1, NLT

As I was praying this morning I got a sense of how ridiculous is is for me not to trust God. Why wouldn’t I trust the God who spoke the worlds into existence? How could I not trust a God who has never once ( not ever, ever, ever) failed to come through for His children?

The prayer itself seems a little ridiculous…but I know my prayer is not about His faithfulness, but about my lack of trust. Or to put it more directly, it’s about my own self-dependence and self-reliance.

So I am learning to trust in Him instead of trusting in my own strength (or weakness). It’s a process…and it’s in process…

Over the past few weeks I have been reading through 1 and 2 Timothy. There is some great instruction there from a seasoned veteran of the faith to relative newcomer to the hardship (and rewards) of ministry. Given my current station in life and wait awaits me in the near future, much of Paul’s words to Timothy are encouraging and instructive.

This morning…instructive, not so encouraging…

Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News,
and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
2 Timothy 4:5, NLT

I don’t think Paul understands how we American Christians function. Suffer? I don’t think so…just need to pray harder or figure out what we’re doing wrong. If we’re suffering…something must be wrong. And we don’t really suffer much anyway…can’t remember the last time I really suffered for God (especially within the context of what Paul considers suffering).

This whole idea of suffering…and not being afraid to suffer for His Kingdom…has me thinking about how I pray. I pray too much for my own comfort. I search for it…I strive for it. Frankly, I’m afraid of being uncomfortable, much less suffer. But there it is, in black and white: Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

And I can make no mistake…He was talking to me this morning. Who knows what He has around the corner…what He’s trying to prepare me for…but I’m in His hands and I will continue to work and carry out the ministry He has given me.

That’s in black and white too.

These people were left to test the Israelites—
to see whether they would obey the commands
the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.
Judges 3:4, NLT

I don’t know about you, but I have people in my life that serve this very purpose. All they seem to do is cause conflict in my life…perhaps God has placed them in my life as a test, to see if I’ll obey His commands to love others more than myself?

It’s a test.

I’m not sure that I always pass the test (actually, I know I don’t). I may need to go back and do some more preparation for this test. The Israelites failed the test…miserably (Judges 3:5-6).

What do you think? Does God put people in our lives as a test of our obedience? How about circumstances? Can you think of examples in your life right now that fit this pattern?

Are you passing the test…?

Football is officially back (great game last night…gonna see both of those teams in the playoffs). Yesterday, Grant beat me to the punch by posting his 2009 Broncos prediction. The schedule this year is not kind to my beloved Donkeys…not exactly what McD and Company needs, but you play the cards you’re dealt. I think they will be a better team than their records indicates at the end of the year…but you never really know this early (I’ve never been right so this entire blog is an effort in futility…but it makes me feel better). So here goes…

1. @ Cincinnati – W: I put the W here, but I’m not sure I believe it. This team is still learning, but Cincy sucks so I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt.
2. Cleveland – W: If you can’t beat this team…
3. @ Oakland – W: See Cleveland above
4. Dallas – W: I know most are predicting a Dallas win here, but it’s at home, the Broncs will be riding a winning streak and I just don’t think Dallas is that good (which is why Shanny will be coaching there next year).
5. New England – L: I want to put the W here, but just can’t do it. I have to give the edge to the Master. I will say the NE doesn’t usually play well here…so the Broncos might be able to steal this one.
6. @ San Diego – L: I’m not as high on SD as some are (read…Norv Turner), but I’m not naive either.
7. @ Baltimore – L: The schedule just keeps getting worse.
8. Pittsburgh – L: And worse.
9. @ Washington – L: I want to put the W here to help stop the November slide, but it’s hard to win on the road after four straight loses.
10. San Diego – W: I think we split with San Diego, but what do I know??
11. NY Giants – L: This team is good.
12. @ Kansas City – W: This is more an indictment on KC than anything else. It’s tough to win at Arrowhead, but I think we get it done this year (they may have a new coach by then).
13. @ Indianapolis – L: This one could be ugly, you might not want to let the little ones watch it…but can it get much worse than it was under Shanny?
14. Oakland – W: Oakland, the perfect cure for what ails you.
15. @ Philadelphia – L: I don’t think it will be a blow-out, but tough to win here.
16. Kansas City – W: Come on…this one could be ugly in a good way.

After totaling up the W’s and the L’s…my prediction for 2009 is that the Broncos will go: 8-8.

There is a lot of unknown here and I think there are a few games that can make this number go up a little or way down: Cincinnati, Dallas, San Diego, and Washington specifically. Can they steal one more win? Will they lose a few more? I can’t see anything more than 9-7 (and that would be a miracle) and could see them slide to 5-11 if they don’t get their act together at the start of the year.

Gonna be fun to watch! I think the DEF is much improved over last year…meaning they will be average with some upside for the future. The schedule is brutal in November…so buckle up. Football is back!

On the floor. Dead center. 18 rows back.

I’m no concert expert, but we have been to a few this year and the Foreigner concert last night was hands down the best concert I have ever been to…ever! I’m typically fairly reserved when it comes to an event like this, but I couldn’t help but clap…shout…raise a fist…and sing along at the top of my lungs.

It certainly helps that I knew all but maybe two of the songs (and one of them was brand new), including: Feels Like the first Time; Cold as Ice; Hot Blooded; Double Vision; Blue Morning, Blue Day; Dirty White Boy; Urgent; I Want to Know What Love Is; and the best rendition of Juke Box Hero I’ve ever heard.

It. Was. Awesome.

And best of all, I got to share it with my best friend in the whole world. Only thing that might have made it better is if we’d had some friends to share it with. If you like Foreigner and ever get the chance…go to the concert. You won’t be disappointed.

There’s an old joke by Steven Wright that goes something like this: “Why do people drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?” While this is largely a question for English majors, it does beg a question that came up last night as we drove up to some friends’ house for dinner.

Why don’t people park in driveways? Why is it socially “taboo”?

Anita and I got in a little “discussion” about this as she parked on the street while there was a perfectly good parking spot on the driveway. And we have people over all the time…with a huge driveway…and they park on the street about 90% of the time.

Now, I can understand it if your car leaks oil like a sieve, but not many of the people I know anymore have cars that do that (we aren’t driving clunkers like we used to). I know our car doesn’t leak, but there we were parked on the street.

What gives? I don’t get it. Please…shed the light on my perplexity…and for goodness sakes, park on my driveway…

Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and
pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick,
and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins,
you will be forgiven.  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed.  The earnest prayer of a righteous person has
great power and produces wonderful results.
James 5:14-16. NLT

As most of you know, my sister-in-law Kim has cancer. She has been doing pretty well over the last year until just recently. And last night we got a call to let us know that she had been taken to the hospital. She had some abdominal pain that got bad enough they took her in. They did a scan in the ER and found two new tumors…on in her abdomen and a new on in her lungs (where the other tumors are).

It’s frustrating! We thought she was healed…at one point the tumors were gone and she was feeling well. Then over the past few months her cancer score has gone up and now this. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not fair. She has four beautiful kids…two of them are still babies. They need their mom. We need her.

So I have been praying. I confess that I am not much of a “healing prayer” kind of guy. I know God can and does heal…I’m just always wrestling with the fact that I don’t know His plans for our lives. Sometimes He heals. Sometimes He doesn’t. So I pray for healing, but I’m not always sure if I have the right faith. I know we’re commanded to pray and that prayer is powerful. So I pray and trust God.

I do know that God loves Kim more than I can imagine…more than anyone else does. I know He has a plan for her. I know she loves and trusts Him. Beyond that…doesn’t seem like I know much, but that’s enough. I am asking God to heal Kim once again…and trusting His heart and His plan even though it doesn’t make a bit of sense to me. I’m rambling a bit…but that’s okay…it’s cathartic and it’s how I’ve been praying. It’s how I think my prayers will go all day.

Will you pray too? Maybe you have the gift of healing prayer? Maybe you have the right kind of faith?

We can trust Him together…

Listening and reading about the QB comparison between Orton and Cutler this past weekend made me wonder how the two compared in their respective games. Mainly because Broncos fans have a “the sky is falling” attitude about Orton while the Bears fans have a “second coming of Montana” attitude about Cutler. I know that the circumstances over the off-season are leading to the comparisons…but wanted to take a look at the actual stats from the last game.

Here they are:

It’s not hard to figure out which player is which just based on the passing attempts, but take a look at some of the others numbers and they aren’t that different. The completion percentage is very close and they both threw one TD. Yes, Orton threw the interception but it was bogus…and should have been a TD on the play before (which would make the numbers look that much better for Orton).

Am I saying Orton is better than Cutler? No. I’m just saying the numbers are not really that much different and Orton is playing in a different kind of offense. Also, the Giants had over half of their DEF players out of the game…so it wasn’t exactly like Cutler was playing the SB Champs of last year.And Orton plays in a style of offense that is going to yield lower passing averages than Cutler will…not better or worse, just different.

Just an interesting observation on the perspectives for each of these two players. Similar numbers with two VERY different reactions. I for one am not freaking out yet…and I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday.

Yesterday I got some sleep and was back into the mode of listening to God’s voice. It’s still not an “easy” process (I wonder if it ever will be…and maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be). This morning God led me to a curious verse in James:

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church,
for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
(James 3:1, NLT)

This verse has always been a little bit curious to me for a couple of reasons:

1. I am called to be a teacher…so there is a certain level of direct, personal warning here. God is saying that I am walking right into the frying pan…that I am one of the few who will be “judged more strictly”.That’s serious business…but it’s also my calling and my passion.
2. I never really fully understood how this verse fits into the third chapter of James which is focused on the power (and destructive nature) of the tongue. Yes, teachers speak so it applies, but the chapter isn’t focused solely on teachers. It just never quite seem to fit…but it still speaks to me directly.

Now, why did God take me to this verse? Not sure. Still meditating on that one. Is it an admonition or a warning (or both)? Simply a reminder that the path He has me on is serious business? He and I are talking about that…probably will be for a long time.

Do you have a verse or passage of Scripture that stands out…makes you nervous or curious? Something that you wrestle with often? Let’s hear it…

This morning was Day 3 of my journey in listening to God this week…and it proved once again that I have a long way to go. I got a call at around 2 in the morning for a work issue and had a tough time getting back to sleep. I also have a funeral to prepare for on Friday. I was tired and my mind was racing in a thousand directions…except towards God.

Plain and simple…I just couldn’t quiet my spirit long enough to hear God. There was too much noise…too much distraction. I decided not to push it too hard. And I know that God isn’t going to hammer for it. Because I know he loves me. And I know He was with me all day…at work…at the home of a family that has just lost their dad…at home after it all. He was with me as I started putting together the memorial service.

It’s comforting to know that God is always there, even when we aren’t at our best. So, I plan to get some sleep tonight and get right back into the saddle tomorrow…I know He’ll be there waiting for me with the right word(s). And at least I’m learning not to feel so guilty when I don’t live up to my own expectations…guilt is not fruit from God (it’s from that other dude!).

More to come…