Right. Right?

I heard a statement today that I know I will be pondering for many days ahead. It was simply this... "we've been trained to do things right, but not enough time is spent simply doing the right things."

I can think of countless times that I've worked so hard to do whatever I do, completely right. I know that is good. It is noble when I'm mowing the lawn, finishing a project, editing a document, or whatever. But I sometimes wonder if my focus is off. Am I doing things right but neglecting the right things.

I think the hard part about this statement will be the obvious frustration that we experience in not knowing what the right things are. SO... we simply just do what's in front of us... in the rightest way possible. I guess there is nothing wrong with that... unless I neglect doing what is right.

The scripture is filled with people who did things right and somehow missed the kingdom. Pharisees, rich young rulers, and 3rd Kings of Israel. But I think that when my focus is on how right I am doing things... my focus is really on me. "seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness" -- maybe it's about priority.. maybe its about getting my attention on Jesus' priorities.

still thinking about this.
VAN

Hours of Miles... the stuff of life!

I've driven thousands of miles with Erica. We started doing long car trips early on in our relationship. Our first long trip was to Southern California to go to my brother's wedding. I still remember her feet perched up on the dash of the car, magazine open on her lap with that beautiful look of contentment on her face.

Over the years and hours of miles the scene has been very similar to that first journey. Except, in 1991 we added a passenger. Then again in 1995. And another in 1999. And our final addition to the car trip crew came in 2002. (incidentally the car seems smaller now... for some reason?)

Today, we made our yearly sojourn from Eugene to the central coast of California to be with my family for Thanksgiving. A 12-hour journey we have made at least 30 or 40 times in the last 16 years. But this afternoon I was overcome with gratitude for my best friend over in the passenger seat. Feet perched up on the dash, magazine open on her lap, and that beautiful look of contentment on her face.

We have listened to thousands of songs, read dozens of books, munched on good snacks, hashed out many of life's problems and watched our family grow. As I looked in my rear view mirror this afternoon at my two teenage daughters and my the other two munchkins watching Hairspray on the DVD, I was reminded that its not 1988 anymore. And... can I tell you how glad I am about that. Because in "life's rear view mirror" I see thousands of memories, moments and miles that I am honored to have lived and traveled with best friend... and our kids.

more thankful than before,
VAN

Working 5 to 8

We are so often concerned with our work and what we do from 8 to 5. I suppose we should be way more concerned about what we do from 5 to 8... at night. This is especially true for me. Those three hours are really precious in the grand scheme of my life. Those 180 minutes are the time after work when my kids are home and awake. Those are the moments we spend around the dinner table, readying lunches for the next day, baths, and just general getting ready for bed activities.

Yet, there is so much that I allow to vy for that time. Work that must get done before tomorrow, phone calls that I've put off until the end of the day, or worse yet, a little time watching Mike Rowe investigate yet another of America's "Dirty Jobs".

I attended a talk by Wayne Cordeiro this past summer. He was talking about how we spend our time. But Cordeiro shared some thoughts gave me some significant insight.

He said that:

• 80% of what I do anybody can do.


• 15% of what I do anybody with training can do.


• and only 5% of what I do only I can do.

WHAT? I guess it's true that anybody can sleep, eat, drive, answer the phone, etc. And anybody can be trained to do the work I do. And it's even more true that only I can be a husband to my wife, a father to my children, only I can grow in Christ (I can't delegate that one), only I can discover and use my spiritual gifts, and only I can encourage myself in the Lord (as David did) and present an inspired me to the world, my family and to God.

How I invest those 72 minutes (5% of 24 hours) a day is of utmost importance to these incredible people and to my spiritual growth. This thought is extremely challenging but it is also clarifying. It just makes the real priority really clear.

I guess Jesus said it best when He said to "seek first the kingdom of God (His ways and His purposes) and His righteousness then all these things (the 95%) will be added."

How might we change the way we think about the 72-180 minutes that we invest from 5 -8? What are your thoughts?

More on this later,

VAN

Sometimes things surprise you.. a lot!

I'm back. Romania was great. Very busy. Which is why I haven't blogged in a while. I appreciate many of you checking in with me letting me know that you're reading. Sorry for the gap in time since I wrote.

Anyways... the trip was full of surprises. An amazing change in the economy of Romania. The amazing opportunities that I had to preach. The amazing people that I had the privilege of working with. The amazing miracles that I see God doing in that wonderful land. AND the surprising recognition of how lucky I am to be doing what I'm doing right now among the church family in Eugene.

When I returned from Romania, Erica showed me a video from her cousin's blog. You may have seen it... but it is absolutely remarkable. I was just as surprised as Simon Cowell. It's a youtube clip from "Britain's Got Talent" about a contestant named Paul Potts. (not to be confused with Pol Pot the former communist leader of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia)

You should watch it. I think you'll like it. It made me think that I don't ever want to get to the place where I can't be surprised or amazed. God has many things ahead to show us, I want to be humble before God so much that I can truly be amazed by what He does. Whether it's in Romania, in Eugene, or even through a mobile phone salesman from Great Britain.

More later.
VAN

HERE'S THE VIDEO:

Helmet Head

We've arrived in Oradea, Romania after 30 hours of travel. I was here with a team from Willamette in 1996 and to say that things have changed would be an understatement. Things are radically different!

In many ways, what used to look like a post war depressed city, now looks like any average thriving valley town in the central valley of California. Construction galore, Romania's versions of Costco and Home Depot right next door to each other and … COLOR. Everywhere. Normal colors and bright colors. Bright lime green houses. Rich red/almost pink houses. Kids that look like kids. Cool clothes, cell phones, and freedom.

The freedom of Romania from communist oppression began in 1989 at Timisoara (that's where we landed today). In the past 18 years it has spread through the whole country. It appears that the mindset and thought processes of the nation of Romania are growing away from and out of the captivity that was broken off of them. There's a renewing of mind happening here.

In the same way the freedom from sin has already been purchased by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. What's happening in your life and mine is a renewal of our minds, thoughts, emotions and consequently our actions. Romans 12 says "do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of you mind."

Renewing of your mind is something that God is so interested in that he included this in your designer armor. The helmet of salvation is a protection from the lie that we earned our salvation. In the same way that it is foolish to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, it is foolish to think that we somehow earned this great gift of grace. Renewing your mind begins with the clear understanding that "it is by grace you have been, not of works unless anyone should boast."

So put it on today. It'll bring real life, freedom and vivid color to your thoughts, because you'll be free to know that He is the savior of your soul.
Van

Pillow or Shield

The alarm went off at 5:15 AM. I was packed and ready to go, so all it would take to get me to the airport was a quick shower, get dressed and a five minute drive to Eugene Municipal. I thought as I woke this morning that I would so much rather for the Lord to have given me (at least for this day) the "pillow of faith" rather than the shield of faith. Whereupon I could "rest on his unchanging love". But, it is in fact the shield of faith.

It was a rather large shield that Paul would have referenced in his picture of the soldier. Not only big enough for one soldier to be protected by but if coupled with another shield could provide a rather trusty wall of protection.

This protection is so necessary. The scripture says "take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Those attacks that pierce and burn are things like hopelessness, fear, lies, and accusations. All things that the enemy of our soul would want us to feel the pain of. Hopelessness feels real bad. Fear can be immobilizing. Lies are can be so believable and accusations can seem so founded. YET, because of Jesus we can see with eyes of faith. Hebrews 12 says "fix your eyes on Jesus the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR of your FAITH." He is the source of your faith and will remain the source forever.

So when you want to retreat to the "pillow of faith" and not face the day, instead take up the shield of faith, and stand firm. God is for you today.

AND one more cool thing. When you stand in faith where you are and I stand in faith where I am, we are actually standing together. Even though I'm on my way to Romania and my church family is home in Eugene, when we each take up the shield of faith it matters to all of us.
Taking up my shield,
VAN