Thanksgiving 2009

        …also my 28th birthday.  Mom has told me that EXACTLY 28 years ago from RIGHT NOW (12:00 Central Time) Mark Aronowitz entered the world…AHHHHHHHHH!  Here is hoping that your Thanksgiving Day is filled with the Holy Spirit and the blessings of the hope that we have in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I pray that you would have the opportunity to respond to what God has for you and your family on this Thanksgiving 2009.  Don’t let the day go by without audibly speaking what is on your heart.  Here’s to a memorable Thanksgiving Day!  I’m thankful to have you all as a part of my life!

My family is where my heart is

I’m sitting in my parents kitchen typing to you all this morning.  It is a beautiful Thanksgiving Eve in Northwest Houston.  It is made even more wonderful because of who I am with.  My Dad picked Becca and I up at the airport and we returned to their home on Green Tree Drive in Tomball, TX to an incredible dinner prepared by my mom…homemade pizza!   I’m so excited about spending the next four days with 3 incredible people….Becca, Mom, and Dad!  Rarely do Holiday get-togethers allow this type of one on one visiting!  It is going to be quiet, memorable, intimate, tasty, and relaxing!  My parents are still sleeping on this the first day of their break, my wife is out for a short run (I’m still on my post-marathon break from running), and I’m just hanging out with you feeling giddy about life.  Tomorrow I’ll turn 28, and I’ve realized that I still experience many of the emotions that I did as a young person around the holidays.  The only difference is that now the emotions are completely centered around the people in my life (although Thanksgiving dinner is worth a little bit of emotion!).  I’m so thankful to be in Texas right now with some very special people.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that the will of God is for us to give Thanks to him always!  I don’t have to wonder and worry about what is next in my life, I just have to Praise Him….today….NOW!  

                  I want to give a special shout out this morning to the McGuire family back in scenic Knoxville, Tennessee.  Sharon, Aubry, Halle, and Carly….who are allowing our miniature Schnauzer Ellie to spend Thanksgiving with their family!  There have been a few times when we have had to leave Ellie at the puppy hotel (The Pup Tent) and those times have been difficult.  Yesterday, however, was not so difficult as Ellie drove away from our home on Dixie Meadows Drive with Sharon and Aubry.  Ellie is such a precious member of our family and if we could have smuggled her onto the plane we would have.  McGuires, you guys are amazing!  Becca and I are so blessed to have you all in our lives.  You are dear friends who we cherish.  This thanksgiving we are thankful for you!  

               Whatever you do today, keep worry and fear out of it.  Just praise HIM and give thanks to HIM.  Have a great Thanksgiving eve!  I’ll talk to you all on Turkey Day! 

A week to give thanks…

                 I can already feel life beginning to slow down here at the start of Thanksgiving week.  My office schedule is greatly reduced as we have no Wednesday night activities and no Youth Group over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Today has been a pleasant day of organizing and e-mails along with a great birthday lunch with our lead pastor and our administrative assistant (we had breakfast at Cracker Barrell!….amazing).  Tomorrow Becca and I will hop on a plane and head for Northwest Houston to hang with my parents for a few days!  It will be just the four of us, which is highly unusual with four kids and four significant others in the family!  There will be plenty of eating, game playing, football and parade watching, golfing, and shopping to go around!  We’ll also celebrate my 28th birthday on Thanksgiving Day!  Time away, time to stop and give Thanks, time with family and with my Savior…not much could be better!  I’m thankful that God has given us the opportunity to spend the beginning of the Holiday season with my parents.  Fill up the pantry with cereal mom because Mark’s coming home!

Ellie and her Dad.

                Today is a fantastic day.  Today I am home with Ellie all day.  Just the 2 of us rocking the party on the couch all day long.  One tired youth pastor and one miniature schnauzer who is capable of sleeping at any point in time.  My office days are filled with prioritized to do lists…so I’m going to make my to do list really quickly with you all this morning….hope you don’t mind watching me.

1.  Blog to my friends….CHECK

2.  Time in the Word with my Savior.

3.  Journal (with a G-2 pen…NOTHING better to write with…I’ve even got some of my youth group kids addicted to the magic of a G-2)

4.  Pray (special prayers today for a couple of my best friends and their awesome family, the Shahans…they have been thrown a lot of stuff lately and could use some extra folks to lift their family up in prayer…so if you’ve got a minute shout them out!)

5.  Eat Cereal…2 bowls!  The first bowl will be multi-grain cheerios, the second will be alpha-bits!

6.  Read the Sports page of the Knox News Sentinel.  Its not a sports page from Eastern Iowa…but on my day off it feels pretty good!  I’ll spread it out all over the coffee table and do some serious reading!

7.  Drink coffee.  Yep…on my day off, especially in the week following my marathon in Rutledge, I’ll be drinking somewhere between 3 and 4 cups…and it will be amazing.  I’ll be French Pressing it, the way that God intended coffee to be brewed, because I have the time today!

8.  Decorate the house for Christmas.  Last  night my wife and I put away the fall decorations and put up our Christmas tree while we watched ELF!  It was a fun night!  IF…keyword…IF….I’m feeling inspired I might start putting some ornaments on the tree. 

9.  Sleep.  It is difficult to not sleep when you have a warm dog curled up next to you….I hope to do a little dozing today!

**************At the end of this GLORIOUS day off Becca and I are hanging with the Hudson’s…2 of our newest friends in the area.  We are going to dinner, then we’re driving through the light show off of watt road, and we will finish the night off at their apartment playing Apples to Apples.  What could be better than that!?? 

                  So there it is…….my day off’s to do list….and within that list there is VERY LITTLE stress….ok, none!  Hope that you all have a great Friday!  Here is to an incredible weekend!  But, before the incredible weekend, here is to a great day for Ellie and her Dad!

A response to Thanksgiving

              Last night at First Farragut we had a special Thanksgiving service.  John and I put the service together last week and it came together beautifully!  We had a great turn-out for Thanksgiving dinner and an even better response to the Thanksgiving holiday.  The service included a short charge from scripture and then four stations to work through for the rest of the evening.  One station offered Communion while another offered prayer.  The other two stations had a places to write hand-written thank you letters and also what you were thankful for this Thanksgiving.  They wrote with multi-colored sharpie markers on white spray painted puzzle pieces.  This morning we put the 150 puzzle pieces together to form one huge poster of Thanksgiving blessings!  We are going to dispaly it on Sunday morning.  I think that we sometimes allow Thanksgiving to get swallowed up by the upcoming Christmas season and all that really happens is Turkey and football.  Last night allowed the church body from FFUMC to respond with more than their family and food as they stepped out with their faith!  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to, “give thanks in all circumstances…”  Such a challenge for us as we often give Thanks only during special occassions.  We need to be giving thanks when we are hurting, when we are confused, and also when we are struggling.  This Thanksgiving please take some time to give Thanks to God…not because it is Thanksgiving…but because all over HIS WORD we are commanded to do so.  Have a great Thursday.  1 week until Turkey day!

MARATHON FINISHER!!!

            It is over.  It is finished!  No running for the next two weeks!  Yesterday, with God’s help, I did something that I never dreamed I would do.  I finished a marathon, running 26.2 miles ahead of my training pace, in 5 hours 11 minutes and 40 seconds!  Just days before the race a friend of mine said, “enjoy the journey Mark.”  I would say that for at least half of the race I really enjoyed the journey.  I remember looking around at the foothills of East Tennessee praising God for his creation.  I remember singing praise songs in my head to pass the time during the first 13.1 mile loop of the 2 loop course.  I remember having conversations with a handful of people as we ran along Rutledge Pike.  The second half of the race became much more challenging.  The majority of the people running were doing only a half marathon, which meant running the last 13.1 miles by myself.  People talk about hitting walls in Marathons usually around mile 20.  My wall happened at around mile 16 where mentally I began to struggle.  Miles 17 and 18 are both UPHILL miles, at times extreme, and it was brutal.  Miles 19-26 were all about survival.  Drink water, run as far as I can, walk for a few seconds.  Drink water, run as far as I can, walk for a few seconds.  I was WELL ahead of my training pace at the half-marathon, actually was on pace to break 5 hours!  I finished the first half in 2 hours and 23 minutes!  The second half I quit worrying about breaking five and my focus switched to becoming a marathon finisher.  Crossing the finish line was everything I hoped it would be.  I took off my hat as I approached the line and pointed upwards, offering praise to God for giving me the strength to finish. 

                     The support that I had yesterday was amazing.  My wife had made t-shirts with a picture of me running ON THE SHIRTS.  She had one on and her parents came with them on too!  Afterwards she gave me one.  She had an incredible banner that she held up throughout the race that matched the t-shirts, saying, “run, Mark, run!”  I had youth group kids and parents come as well.  Sharon McGuire, Carly McGuire, Aubry McGuire, Amanda Cleveland, Jacob Aywlard, and Bill Aywlard!  It was so great to see familiar faces, especially as I began to struggle during the last loop of the race.  They held up signs of encouragement and laughter which always made me smile.  My favorite was one that said, “A-RUN-OWITZ!!!”  When the race was over we sat by the Ritter farms barn in fold out chairs visiting and eating.  It was truly a day I will never forget.  The journey from July to November, although extremely challenging, was one that I will always remember.  And now, I can always say, that I am a MARATHON FINISHER!  Have a great Sunday!

Marathon day has arrived!!

             When I started training for my first marathon back in July it seemed like it would be forever until I would take to the road in the middle of November.  To say that the training went by quickly would be an understatement!  Nonetheless, the day of the marathon has arrived.  24 hours from right now I should be finished with about 15 miles, 2 hours and 11 miles to the finish line!  I’m ready to get it started and I’m ready to get it finished!  Please pray for me as I make my final preparations today.  My diet has been especially strict this week and my time in the Word has been lengthened.  On my office door is the chart that shows the 400 miles I have run in training along with a verse, “I can do all things…”  Tomorrow I begin the 26.2 mile journey with hopes of becoming a marathon finisher and with the sure plan of giving ALL GLORY TO GOD when its over.   If you live in the Central time Zone I’ll be running from 7:00am until 12:00pm.  If you are with me in the East I’ll be running from 8:00am until 1:00pm.   Thanks in advance for your prayers for my safety and endurance tomorrow.  Talk to you all from the finish line!

59 for 59

Today my father turns 59 years old!  Next year is going to be a lot of fun as we break my father into the 60’s!  But, today he is still in his 50’s…and I wanted to do something fun to help him celebrate via MARK’S BLOG!  So, here it is.  59 things that represent my dad, everything is fair game, for his 59th birthday.  We’ll call it 59 for 59!

59.  Loves his Savior!  Faith has always been #1 for my dad!  His personal relationship with Christ is second to none!

58.  Family!  He’s a family man…as good as they come!

57. The Church!  He has committed his life in service to the Kingdom through the church!  FBC/CBC/ and TBC!

56. The Longhorns!  He’s a University of Texas Grad and he bleeds burnt orange!  Hook em’ Horns!

55. Texas!  His home state.  People from Texas take a lot of pride in their state!  My Dad is one of them!

54. Iowa!  Spent more than 20 years in the state of Iowa.  Raised a family & did ministry there.  Still feels like home!

53.  Good food!  Like all men, especially men born in the state of Texas, Dad loves good food.  A good steakhouse or some good Mexican food and he’s happy!  Steak doesn’t need to be the size of your head…just a good tasting 6 or 8 oz. blessing!

52.  People!  My dad loves people.  He has given his entire life to being in relationship with people.  He cares for and walks through life with God’s people better than anyone I know! 

51.  Encouragement!  My Dad dishes out encouragement better than anyone I know.  He is an encourager through and through!  If somebody is in need of a little blessing you can count on Steve Aronowitz to provide it authentically and with a smile!  There is nothing he would rather do than make other people’s lives better!

50.  Blue Bell Ice-Cream.  These things that represent my dad come in no particular order.  You want to make my father happy.  Bring a carton of blue-bell ice-cream over to the house and ask if you can share a bowl over a little visit and catch up.  He’s got all he needs in that moment….a little fellowship, and some cold glory!

49.  Husband!  Dad is a husband…to my mom….obviously!  He’s a darn good one too!  I’ve had a great model and even my wife knows that one of the reasons I care for her so well is because of how I watched my dad care for my mom!

48.  Golf!  Dad and I love to golf…neither of us do it all that well…but it provides four hours of fellowship in God’s creation…and more often than not we each will hit that one shot that brings us back to invest more of our hard earned money on the links!  If I was offered a 4-some to any golf course in the country I would have myself (obviously), my Dad, my brother, and Tiger Woods at Pebble beach!  I’m excited to golf with Dad over Thanksgiving in Tomball!

47.  Altima!  That’s right, Altima!  Dad has driven a Nissan Altima for the last 11 years…and being that most of that 11 years has spanned my adult life…when I see the Altima it usually means we are getting some time together.  He is picking me up the airport or we are going to golf or the family is going out to dinner.  When I see Altima’s around town, I think of my dad!

46.  Dad!  My father has been an incredible dad for his entire life! He has pursued each of his 4 children as the individuals that they are for the last 30 years!  He understands girls (as good as any man can understand) and what their needs are (he just finished being the father of the bride 2 x’s over in July and November).  He also understands guys and what their needs are.  Having sons and daughters must still be a unique opportunity and challenge.  My dad embraces what God has for him as a Dad every single day!  I love him for that!

45.  Goofy!  Dad is goofy…simply put.  He gets hassled by his kids on a regular basis for cheesy jokes, goofy faces, funny hats, and just about everything else.  We love him for it though…seriously, we do.  I believe that to this day we still come home to experience dad being goofy!

44.  Jolly Ranchers!  Dad has kept jolly ranchers in his car and in his office for as long as I can remember.  I understand now as a person in ministry why he does that.  First, it keeps your mouth from going dry as you talk to people all day.  Second, it gives kids a reason to stop in and say hello in the church.  I’ve got a jar of jolly ranchers on my desk!  Love it!

43.  Christian Music!  My Dad got me hooked on Christian music as a young person.  Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman were a couple of them.  We still share a love for Christian music today.  Dad even has an IPOD now!  When we are driving in our cars we love to worship the Lord as we do his work!  His birthday gift this year was a couple of new Christian CD’s (Steven Curtis Chapman, Beauty Will Rise & Phillips Craig and Dean!).

42.  Strawberry Bars!  Dad still eats them!  A great cold treat at the end of a long work day.  Becca and I keep them in our freezer now.  Watching Dad eat a strawberry bar is like watching a painter at work.  He’s got it down as one of his spiritual gifts

41.  The Astros!  Dad got me hooked on the Houston Astros as soon as they moved from Iowa to Houston.  We’ve shared this love together for the last 10 years!  We’ve watched them win a bunch of division titles and even go to their first world series in 2005!  Minute Maid park is definitely one of our favorite places to hang out together!  Go Stros!

40.  Pastor!  Being a preacher kid is a unique opportunity.  I have loved that my father fills multiple roles in my life.  He is my father, my friend, my brother in Christ, my partner in ministry….but my dad has always and will FOREVER BE my pastor!  He performed my wedding ceremony, proclaiming the Gospel to those in attendance.  I’ve heard countless sermons from him (guilty of napping through them as a young person) and been inspired countless times.  I’m proud to be carrying on the legacy that he continues to leave as a Pastor for the Kingdom, a Pastor of the People, a pastor to the World, and a Pastor to his FAMILY!

**If you are still reading this you are probably either a member of my family or you are REALLY interested in my blog.  So, I’ll shorten things up for the final 40.  (I obviously didn’t know what I was getting into )

39.  Fun.  Nobody more fun (other than my wife) to hang out with than my dad!

38.  Loyal.  In need of somebody you can trust, somebody you can confide in, somebody you can talk to?  Look no further than Steve Aronowitz!

37.  Leader!  I’ve watched my Dad be a leader for his entire life.  I model my style of relational leadership after my Dad. 

36.  Truth!  My dad is a man who loves the Truth.  He loves seeking after it and living in it!

35.  Respectful!  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen dis-respect come from Dad.  I’m sure he has shown it at some point (and that my mom could testify to it) but I rarely see it and I know that my father continues to model for me what it means to be a respectful human being!

34.  Humor!  I do a lot of laughing when I’m with my Dad.  He’s funny.  Not funny looking….funny!

33.  Blessed with a beautiful wife!  I’m not sure how guys in ministry do it….but my Dad and I are blessed with beautiful wives! 

32.  Positive!  Dad sees the positive in everything…he is a realist and an optimist at the same time.  He IS that way because of the hope that he has in Jesus Christ.  I’m the positive goof ball that I AM because of my Dad.

31.  Emotional!  Dad and I are both guilty of being emotional guys.  We more often than not wear our emotions on our sleeves.  Although it occasionally gets us into trouble, more often than not it allows us to show people who we really are.  I love that my dad is emotional!

30.  Texans!  We are Houston sports fans!  The Texans continue to improve and Dad and I are hopeful that this is our year to make the playoffs!

29.  Newspaper Clippings!  Dad sends me newspaper clippings (more often than not it is Houston sports clippings) at least 0nce a month.  I have BINS filled up with notes and clippings from my Dad over the last 10 years.  I will treasure those clippings forever!

28.  Grace University!  Dad was very influential in helping me pick the college I would further my education at!  He helped me pick not based on surface level things but on the quality of the people that i would be spending my time with (professors and students).  Grace University was and is an outstanding Bible institution.  I’m blessed to hold a degree from GU!  Thanks Dad!

27.  I’m 27 right now…have spent 27 years being a son to my father.  My father has spent 27 years being MY DAD.  I hope we get at least 27 more together…they have been amazing!

26.  The only Hawkeye left!  If you know my family you know that we are an IOWA FAMILY DIVIDED!  My brother went to Northern Iowa, where he continues to work today, and no longer supports the Iowa Hawkeyes.  My sisters went to the ultimate rival, Iowa State, and were brain washed very quickly to ignore and taunt everything that is black and gold.  My father, however, continues to cheer for the Iowa Hawkeyes with me.  I’m grateful for that…it would be really lonely without a hawkeye supporter left in the family!  Thanks dad!

25.  The Rockets!  Our other Houston sports team!  Have had a lot of fun at Rockets games and watching them on TV.  Although we both enjoy college sports more, it is fun to have pro sports teams that you enjoy supporting!  We love our Rockets!

24.  Time!  I always had my Dad’s time and attention.  I still have it until this day.  We would go to sporting events, play basketball in the driveway, play catch in the front yard, go eat some food together…just hang out!  I love that Dad still makes time for me!

23.  Confident!  My Dad is confident….but not in an arrogant way.  His confidence comes from who he is in Christ.  It is contagious and it is fun to watch him live his life! 

22.  Considerate!  Always thinking of others!

21.  Authentic!  With Steve Aronowitz you get the real thing.  Genuine and real.  I love that!

20.  “Where did I put that?”  I’ve got to throw one negative thing on the list.  My dad misplaces things all the time…his keys, his wallet, his cell-phone….and I’ve inherited it from him.  I’m not quite the professional misplacer that he is yet, but I fear that it is coming.  Thanks for that Dad

19.  Intelligent!  Dad is a smart man.  Graduated #1 in his HS class (I definitely didn’t get that from him), graduated from the Unviversity of Texas, and went on to Dallas Theological Seminary!  He has used his intelligence to glorify God his entire life! 

18.  Creative!  My Dad is extremely creative!  Gets the most out of just about anything!  Much of what I do in ministry comes from watching things that he did in ministry growing up!  He has also done COUNTLESS creative things for our family in celebrations of various events in our lives!  I love it!

17.  Happy!  I know, I’m moving from stories to traits…but hey, this list is getting long!  Dad is a happy person…and like other traits that he holds, it is contagious!  I love being around him…it causes my quality of life to improve!

16.  Thoughtful!  Dad has always made sure that I know that he is thinking about me.  Phone calls, encouragement notes, and small intentional gifts.  Many of the books in my library have come from him.  One particlar book that I just pulled off of my shelf was given to me in 2003 during my Senior year at Grace University as I returned home from Thanksgiving break.  Inside the book it says, “I’m praying for you mark as you finish your Senior year at Grace University.  Continue your ‘faith adventure’  and keep going strong!  I love you.  Proverbs 3:5-6.  Love, Dad”  There are thoughtful notes like that ALL OVER my life!  I treasure EVERY SINGLE ONE!

15.  A reader!  Dad is an avid reader and has helped me to enjoy reading more.  He is always telling me about the latest book that would inspire and encourage!  I am blessed because of that!

14.  A runner!  Believe it or not, my Dad use to enjoy running a lot!….then his knees wouldn’t allow it!  I have always felt like watching dad jog as a young boy inspired me to run in High School and even now as I prepare to run my FIRST MARATHON on Saturday!

13.  A biker!  Now that Dad can’t run he hits the bike!  He loves time on the stationary bike at the Tomball Sports Center with some sports on the tv or some Christian music in his IPOD!  Dad and I both know how our physical health is tied to our spiritual health!

12.  Calendar!  Let me explain.  Dad and I function in ministry the same way.  Seasons of ministry are busier than others…and we are able to push through difficult and busy times when we have things on our calendar that we are looking forward to.  Maybe a day off, maybe a trip to a sporting event or a round of golf…but most of the time it is about family time!  The upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, a summer vacation, or a family get together!  We love seeing those things on our calendars!

11.  Affectionate!  There is always a big hug waiting for me when I see my Dad.  I love that.

10.  Hopeful!  When we talk and when we spend time together I catch the hope that lives inside of my Dad.  I’m thankful for that.

9.  Prayerful!  My Dad is constantly praying…for his faith, for his family, for his church, and much of the time we pray together!  I love praying with my Dad! 

8.  Powerful!  I think that many kids see their Dads as the authority figures that they are.  Some of that isn’t good…but I’ve always seen my dad as strong and powerful in a good way.  I see him as one of my ROCKS in life.  Somebody I can lean on and who is there for me!

7.  Lucky and Fortunate!  I’m his son….enough said!

6.  T-shirts!  Dad and I always save t-shirts and polos from ministry events to share with one another!  I’ve got a fall retreat t-shirt that I’m taking to him at thanksgiving!

5.  Strict!  Dad was definitely strict…but in a good way…and it payed off!  The boundaries which as a young person I thought were too strong, were just right for me.  I love him for how he and mom raised me and will model much of what I experienced in the family that I will have one day!

4.  Apologetic.  Dad’s not perfect…and he has always been humble in admitting when he was wrong.  Its a model that I’m trying hard to bring into my own life. 

3.  Humble.  Dad has walked the walk for 59 years and he has done that with a lot of humility.  Even when people and the world has wronged him he has loved and continued to walk the straight and narrow with Jesus Christ!

2.  Energetic!  My energy for life, for ministry, for family, for people, and for faith has come from my Dad!  He is full of energy and spirit!

1.  PERFECT!  Sorry, its true.  My Dad, to me, can do very little wrong.  He is my father and my hero, my best friend and my biggest supporter.  He loves me unconditionally the way that I need to be loved.  He has been there my entire life and he has changed my life.  He has shown me what life is about and I am the man I am today because of who Jesus Christ is in me and who my father was alongside of me! 

Happy 59th Birthday Dad.  I love you more than anything.  Becca and I can’t wait to be with you for Thanksgiving!  Have an incredible day celebrating!  Eat some cake for me! 

 

 

 

It is my privaledge to introduce to you for the very first time, Mr & Mrs Kyle Johnson!

              Those were the words I proclaimed after a fantastic ceremony before my little sister Lisa and her husband Kyle kissed for the first time as a married couple!  It was such an honor to be the pastor standing in front of them in Ankeny, IA on Saturday.  It was a glorious day for the Aronowitz and Johnson families as we celebrated with Lisa and Kyle.  They are currently on their honeymoon in Kansas City, MO with an additional trip planned for December up to the Twin Cities.   The weekend could not have gone better and the weather was amazing.  Although I was slightly discouraged by the lack of freezing cold temperatures, I knew that my sister was excited to have 70 and sunny for her November wedding in the midwest!  Performing my first two weddings for my 2 younger sisters will always be one of greatest moments of my life!  It was a wow, plain and simple.  God is good, all the time!

                   Now that the wedding is behind me my focus turns to my marathon on Saturday!  I’m extremely nervous and extremely excited.  I want to cross that finish line!  After that my focus will turn to Thanksgiving in Texas with my parents!  Lots of Turkey, lots of birthday cake (my birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year), golf, football, family, and, and fun!  Have a fantastic Wednesday!  See you in church tonight!

Mother nature is taunting me

           Explain this to me.  I’m from Iowa and if there is one thing that I have come to miss more than anything else (other than being in Big 10 country) it is the seasons.  I miss living in the midwest where it is cold outside when it is SUPPOSE to be cold outside.  Although many people wish that they could go to the beach everyday, I love watching the seasons change.  I love watching the temperature drop.  I love purchasing new warm clothes to wear with a hot cup of coffee as the cold air blows and the snow falls outside!  So tell me something.  As I sit in the guest room at my sister and brother-in-laws condo in Ankeny, Iowa it is WARM outside.  The high temperature today is 70 degrees…..WARMER than KNOXVILLE today!  BAH!  I guess, considering the fact that we are here for my youngest sisters wedding, the warm weather is welcomed by most people.  I, on the other hand, was hoping for some dreary and blustery Iowa cold to hang out in!  Out of protest I will wear a sweater today anyway!  Its November, its the month when we celebrate Thanksgiving, and I could drive to Canada by nightfall!  It should be COLDER THAN THIS!  As we return home to East Tennessee on Sunday the temperature in Iowa is suppose to drop considerably and the temperature in Knoxville is suppose to go up.  Seriously Mother Nature, why must you torture me??

               Excited to get the party started today with family in Iowa.  Becca is with the girls decorating the church.  I had a run early this morning.  I’m about to head out to meet everybody for lunch.  Rehearsal dinner is tonight and the wedding is tomorrow at 4:00pm!  Every single time that I am in the state of Iowa I feel like I’m home.  The  familiar sights, the people, the hawkeye flags flying as I run through the neighborhoods….the midwest will always hold a special place in my heart. 

             When I finished my run this morning I read the “Our Daily Bread” that was on the bedside table in the guestroom.  Interesting that it was about Biblical History!  (My brother-in-law to be this weekend is a HISTORY FANATIC/ will be a history teacher soon!).  The challenge was a powerful one.  It talked about the movie, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, which shows history coming to life at a natural history museum.  The displays all come to life and everything that typically stands still as people just walk past it begins to live and breathe!  I believe the same MUST be true of God’s Word.  So many people are turned off because they think it is an outdated book of stories that doesn’t apply to them and is boring!  One of the reasons people feel this way is because those of us who believe the Bible to be the living and breathing Word of God aren’t doing a very good job of bringing the Bible to life for people, just like what happened in NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM.  One of the reasons I’m a youth pastor is because I love to make God’s word come alive and for young people!  It is a rush for me when I see kids excited to hear the stories, to learn more, and then to apply them to their lives at school, at home, and at church!  Whether it is Moses and the burning bush, the ten commandments, or meeting the person of Jesus Christ in the Gospels, we need to make sure that the Bible is coming alive for those who are experiencing it!  Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, made a profound statement that has stayed with me since the day I heard it.  He said, “It is a sin to bore a kid with the Gospel.”  I think that statement is the same for anyone!  Take some time today to dig into God’s Word.  Let it come alive in your heart…and then take that excitement and help it come alive for others!