I’m going to give away a book by Pete Wilson along with some great music by John Mark McMillan.

I figured you might like to listen to some music while you read.  I received both of these recently and I already have copies of both of them, so instead of hoarding I’ve decided it would be better to share. The music is great and book is incredibly challenging and encouraging.

PlanB Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

Here is how you enter to win. You must go to my blog (hopefully you are already here) and comment. On Monday morning, September 13, 2010, (you will only be entered once) I’ll number all that have commented and let Random.org pick the winner.

Alright enough explanation.. if you want them, comment! GO!!

I love patience. God has given me some trying times and has also been very gracious to me. Several years ago Kristi was in the hospital for three weeks. I remember (after we had gotten through the “will she live?” moments) sitting by her side waiting daily for the doctor to come in and say “She is all better! Go home.” That is what I wanted everyday, but instead we got an assortment of doctors telling us about levels of proteins and blood counts and all sorts of things that you pay doctors big bucks to look at. I learned a lot during that very uncomfortable time for our family, so much that in a follow-up doctor’s visit several weeks later I was asked what med school I attended and what I practiced.

Kristi endured the hardest part of the ordeal, but I definitely learned a whole bunch. God puts you through hard things to teach you something!

BEING AN IDEALIST IN MINISTRY

I’ve learned not everything works out the way I have planned or how I think God intended for it to work. I’ve also learned that I can only control the things that I’m in control of and that I’m not really in control of anything. As a ministry leader there is a place for idealism partnered with a great amount of humility, patience, resolve, flexibility, hard work, prayer, fasting… I’m hoping you’re getting my point.

EXPECTING GOD FOR BIG THINGS

God still does big stuff? Right?? I struggle with this. I’ve learned that if you don’t expect God to do BIG things you’re probably happy with the small things. I think that is fine for some people, but it’s not what I want for me or my family. When I read Hebrews 11 something stirs inside of me and wakes me up. I want to take huge steps of faith not for my name to be added to the book, but for His name to be made famous.

PATIENTLY WAIT AND LEARN ALONG THE WAY

God will move in His own time. I don’t think that you can get ahead of Him, but I have tried. When we try to get ahead of Him or become complacent and let Him pass us up we are being disobedient. Sometimes it’s is good to wait, work hard at where he has you and learn all you can.

Several weeks ago I stuck walked outside and saw a black mass in a tree.  I thought that some trash or something had gotten stuck in the tree but on closer examination (I wish I wasn’t so curious) it was a mass of bees. I’M TERRIFIED OF BEES, really anything with stingers. I got close enough to see that they were bees, but our high school pastor Ben took the pictures with my phone.

I have this crazy reaction to flying bugs. (you never know which one has a stinger) I have been known to scream like a girl, but I always run and jerk suddenly to get away from them. I have been told it is quite funny.  I also know that one of their favorite places to hang is around outdoor trashcans and avoid even being near them. The fear I have of bees makes me do weird things and has kept me from doing things that I need to do.

Great night last night at *MERGE.  You can check out some other pics of the night here.

We had a fun back to school night there were over 230 there and it was a blast. I got to share the Gospel and had a student give their life to Christ.

People were pelted with cupcakes, we saw a kitten stand on it two legs, had an awesome toilet paper launch and topped it off with the game “bobbing for turds.”  A real proud moment. (or have we sunk to a new low?)