My Christmas Blog.

(I know this seems long, but It’s what God put on my heart, and maybe it’s for all of us?)

I stood last night with Aaron at a local retailer debating about what to get Deanna for Christmas.  It sounds really petty…and I can’t believe I was even debating what I was debating.  Two, twelve-dollar gifts that (either one) would take my total Christmas investment for her to the $20 limit that we agreed upon.  (o.k., I stretched mine to the twenty-three“ish” range).  Later, Aaron and I paroozed the toy aisle just to “look around”.  Three year olds do not know what that means.  We spent ten minutes there and nine of them were splattered with the phrase, “I want this…pleeeeease”.  After my firm, “No, I’m sorry.  We are not getting that”, he followed up with the now ever-common, “but I LOVE it.”  There really was no debate in my mind…we were not getting it…any of it.  Not because I couldn’t get it for him…but because I was choosing not to.  

I must say that I was very surprised by the internal rumblings that followed Aaron’s requests.  I wanted to give him all of it.  I wanted to start throwing stuff in the cart and screaming to him, “daddy loves you so much…I’ll get it all for you.”   I found myself walking and fighting back tears, because I actually could not get him everything he wanted. (because he wanted everything.) We all live with a limited supply of resources…and that holds us back at times.  I was sad because I couldn’t get him everything in the store.  But there was something else that I couldn’t put my finger on.  
(In no way am I complaining about my compensation!  I love where I work, and they take care of me just fine.  Thank you!)

Then today (20 minutes ago) I finished ordering my Tenderloin Combo at Penguin point.  It’s the best tenderloin sandwich in Warsaw. (Especially when combined with Penguin Point fries and a Cherry Coke)  After I got my drink, I sat down and noticed the lady behind me had just completed her order.  She laid a couple of crumpled dollar bills on the counter and was searching her coin purse to fulfill the balance of her purchase.  Because of the wear on her shoes, the condition of her clothing and obvious body language she was broadcasting, I concluded in my mind that this lady had probably been through this before…and from the way the cashier was looking at her…the outcome did not look good.  Hundreds of thoughts rushed through my mind and I realized that this woman was debating revising her order…and possibly not even satisfying her hunger.  I sat there stunned.  Her debate was over food.  Here debate was what to put back.  Her debate…almost brought me to tears for the second time in two days.  I did take action, but it’s not important how.  What is important is what God did to me next.

I sat there eating my tenderloin realizing (through the revelation of the Holy Spirit) that at that moment, there were people debating:
Whether to get the cell phone with the camera, or the cell phone with the MP3 player.  
Which pair of $90 pants to get.
What would go better with ham…red or white wine?
When they should surprise the kids with the trip to the Caribbean?
Which lot they should put their $372,000 house on…the one on the hill, or the one in the woods.
…but at the very same time, there are people right here in my own community debating:
Should I break the law to make sure my kids have something under the tree for Christmas?
Should I set the thermostat on 55 or 58?
Should I call the landlord before or after Christmas?
Should we really spend money on gas to drive to the family Christmas?
Should this be the year we tell the kids there is no Santa so they understand why there are no presents?
Should I ask for help?
Should I put back the fries or the sandwich?

I’m realizing that my debates that I have in my mind on most days are very petty!  I’ve not had any of the (above listed) debates in my mind in the past week.  God has supplied all of my needs.  I wonder too if he has protected me from some of the more “positive” debates to keep me dependant on him?  All I know is this.  It’s three days before Christmas.  My debates are pretty simple and I need to be thankful (and convicted)  that I am having these pretty petty debates in my mind.  
I have a beautiful, loving wife, an incredible son, a child on the way, a terrific job at an amazing church, a warm house, two cars that run…and my hunger today has been fulfilled by the Penguin Point Tenderloin combo that I couldn’t bring myself to finish because of my disappointment in myself, and my petty debates.  Thank you God for being my savior, my Lord, my provider and my sustainer.  Please forgive me for the debates I’ve had in my mind that have dismissed you from all of those roles!

Merry Christmas everyone!

(If you are debating any of the “positives” listed above, it’s completely coincidental!  Keep debating...it’s nothing personal!)

Assignment:

Jesus points out in the New Testament:
“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
John 17:4

This verse is packed with stuff.  God, I want to do the work that you want me to do.  I want to bring you glory.  Help me to not do the wrong assignment.  I know that there is lots of work out there…but I want to do the thing that you want me working on.  Merry Christmas everyone.  

Scott


YEAR IN REVIEW:  June was a great month.  After a good Memorial Day weekend, we got to take off for a week and go to Myrtle Beach, SC for a week (Thanks to Dennis and Linda).  What a cool time.  (Cool as in “neat”.  The temperature went below 98 twice I think.)  I played golf more in that week than I played all summer.  It was a great time with family.  Then came Big Stuf.  Seventy students and 10 adults in Panama City Beach, Florida.  Two students accepted Christ for the first time.  That’s the whole reason I do this ministry thing.  Our bus broke down and we spent 8 hours in a truck stop parking lot…but the rest of the week was amazing.  Deanna got to go this year too.  It was really cool to share that experience with her.  

“Doing what you…”

“Why do you do the things you do, do…when you don’t do the things you should do?”
  --Bishop Ken Ulmer

I heard that quote recently and it reminded me of the Ephesians 2:10 passage that says that God has prepared in advance things for us to do.  
Often I find myself working on other stuff.  God is in the people business.  I am thankful that he is.  That is why I am here today.  Jesus went to the cross because he is in the people business.   And he wants me to be also.  Help me with that today God.

YEAR IN REVIEW:  May was nuts.  We found ourselves traveling to Phoenix for a wedding (Drew and Lisa…you rock.) that I got to officiate.  Two weeks later we visited friends in New Jersey,  and then I did another wedding in Michigan later in the month.   It was a great month visiting with friends and seeing the country.  (I would give my right arm to be in Phoenix this morning…It’s zero outside.)

What really matters.

This is the stuff that really matters. Thank you God!

A three year old and the history of Corn Flakes

I have already told many of you this, but I’ll repeat it anyway.  If you would have told me three years ago that I would enjoy hanging out with a three year old, I would have told you, you were nuts.  But regularly I find myself spending time with Aaron and genuinely experiencing joy.  I have told him often lately that he makes my heart smile.  This morning when I told him that, he looked at me and said, “No, you make MY heart smile.”  I hope that is the case.  

Looking back on the year is leading to some interesting feelings.  Some of joy, some of sorrow and some of frustration.  But I  really think the outcome of this year is massive “forward progress” in my walk with God.  Many times during this year I would have traded the information, situation, or circumstances for just about anything else.  But, now that I am here, today looking backwards, I can see God’s protection, teaching and presence throughout the year.  Hindsight is 20/20.  Maybe I’ll look for him “in the situation” next year.  

Year in review: April was a great month.  We got the opportunity to head to Orlando for Spring Break.  Aaron had an awesome time at Disney World.  It was a great time with the whole Burch family.  On our trip home, we stopped in Atlanta and attended 7:22…a Bible study for College aged people hosted at Northpoint Community Church.  It was an amazing night of worship and teaching.  Oh ya, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman led worship that night.  AMAZING for Deanna and I to be able to worship together in that environment.  Later in the month I got to spend a weekend in Battle Creek, MI with some students on a retreat.  We toured the Kellogg’s factory and got to see how they make Corn Flakes.  We read the Bible too.  

Pace...again.

Today is one of those days I am confident could get away from me if I let it.  Looking at the schedule, the pace could very easily root out the acknowledgement of the presence of God.  I don’t want that.  I want to acknowledge that He is here beside me everywhere I go today…especially over lunch with Aaron. (we have lunch every Tuesday together)  I realized that for years I have prayed and asked God to bless me with his presence.  I wonder if he was standing there beside me screaming, “Hello, I am right here.”   God, help me to not “miss it” today.

Year in Review:  March was a crazy month.  We moved into our new church facility.  I got to be a part of providing and hanging all the “signage” in the building and help with the “bug room” for two year olds.  God totally hit a home run with the facility.  We have grown by about 600 people a week and student ministry now has a new home too.  This building has stretched Deanna and I in many ways, but we have seen very tangible evidence of God’s grace and provision.  

"...from their sins."

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21

I read this verse this week and as I first read it, I simply remembered that I have read it and have probably heard it more than a hundred times in my life. The something jumped off the page. The last three words…”from their sins.” Christ came to save us…from our sins. I don’t know how many times I have told God…”I’ll never do that again if you get me out of this.” When actually Christ came to Earth to keep me from doing those things again, and again, and again. He came to save me from my sins. Not just the consequences of my sins.

Year in Review: In January Deanna, Aaron and I found ourselves in Connecticut. We were there so I could perform a funeral for Ryan (Lakin’s) mom Linda. Linda was a friend and fellow believer. Two weeks later I was in West Palm Beach, Florida at a Conference with my former pastor Steve (Helm). A month of both highs and lows.


Here's a view from the skies during our trip to Connecticut.

Sponsor Needed!

SHAMELESS PROMOTION OF A GREAT CAUSE.
If you scroll down, you can read about the impact that a little girl in India has had on my life and the life of my family. I hope and believe that we also have been able to make an impact on her. The letters we receive from her and from Compassion are all the evidence that we need to keep sending $32 a month to sponsor Vetriselvi's clothing food and education needs...as well as her lifechange opportunities.

Deanna and I have decided again this year to try to help get another child sponsored. We have been able to find sponsor families over the last three years (Thank you Howies, Schmitt's and Burches) and three lives are being impacted for Christ because of these families. This year, we are looking for a sponsor for the Ingabire Ratifa from Rwanda. You can read more about her here...and more about the conditions in Rwanda here.

If you are interested in being Ingabire's sponsor...please let us know, we would love to share more with you. The cost is $32 a month. It will provide Ingabire with food, clothing, education and opportunities to be discipled. Your sponsorship could literally be the key to her survival...physically and spiritually.

If you already sponsor a child, please leave your comments and share at least the name of your child, where they are at, and how long you have been their sponsor.

God bless you.
Scott

My own street.

I took this photo while in Washington D.C. a few summers ago. If you are ever somewhere and see a street, drive, avenue, court, etc....that includes any of the names below...send me the photo and I'll put it up on the blog. Have a good one.

Desired street signs: Thomas, Scott, Greene, S. Greene, T. Greene, T. S. Greene, TSG, Pastor...or any combination.


Joke of the day: A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says to the horse, "You stole my screwdriver." And the horse says..."no I didn't...I don't even drink orange juice...I'm lactose intolerant."

Blog Titles

This should be fun. Send me a title for a blog (or leave it in the comments section here) and over the next few weeks, I will attempt to write my blogs to address the title you leave. Have fun!

p.s. Here are some pictures I love to look at.

Mary as a slave?

(Please read before you accuse me of being a pagan)

Then Mary said: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me
according to your word.” Luke 1:38 (New King James Version)

Mary sold out. When you read the paragraph before her declaration in vs. 38, she questions the angel. (NOTE:I’m not sure I would question a talking angel…but he did say she was going to have a baby --even though she was a virgin. Oh, and the baby would be the Messiah. Maybe grounds for questioning.) My point is this. After she clearly understood what God was asking…she said, “Yes, I will bow down and submit to God even though this is going to be painful. Very painful. I will submit to having God as my master.” (Translation provided by T. Scott Greene)

In many of Paul’s writings, he makes reference to us as humans being slaves. We are slaves to sin, before we accept Christ. Declaring Christ as our Lord frees us from our sin as we become slaves to Christ...bringing about a new birth of our spirit. Thanks to American History, we see the word “slave” as negative. But this is the kind of scary/ comforting submission to a master (therefore becoming a slave) that is both scary and loving at the same time. The kind of “scary” I see in Aaron when we are playing hide and seek and I jump out at him and scare him. He knows I can hurt him…yet he knows I won’t. That is why I think Mary said…”O.k. I will be a slave…to my master…my God!”

"God, help me to submit myself to you today, tomorrow and always. I want to be your slave."
Scott

What can I do?

What can I do?
  You and I have been created with a unique purpose.  

Ephesians 2:10 points out that we are all here for a reason…and that God has gone before us to pave the way.  

“No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”  (The Message)

I think that I spend too much of my time preparing work for me to do instead of doing the work HE has prepared me to do.  

The Christmas season reminds me of this fact every year.  Example:  The three wise men…they were created to be the ones that would welcome Jesus…and protect him from Herod.  The Shepherds…well, what would the story be without shepherds. (I think you get the point)  My prayer is that we would discover what HE wants us to do, and has prepared for us to do…and do it.    

Sheep

"Shepherd to lost sheep...come in lost sheep."
--Uncle Jessie (Original Dukes of Hazard television series)

"I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I
have not forgotten your commands."
Ps 119:176

Every day I stray. You shouldn’t be really surprised by that. But this next part isn’t real easy to admit. I think at times, I’ve not wanted God to come looking for me. The shame that Adam felt (probably) when God came walking through the garden looking for him is something that I often try too avoid. But how cool does this sound …I want to be the one that God throws a party for! I want to be the center of His attention. I’m not suggesting blatant sin for the purpose of being the one he looks for…I’m suggesting intentional repentance...to be the one he finds and rejoices over. God, help me not to forget to repent today…and to be found by you today.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Please leave your comments. I'm curious how many things we (you) can come up with that cost $32. (i.e. Nine Blockbuster new releases, one month of digital cable, dinner for two at Applebee's...with dessert, Thirty two items from the dollar store, admission to the zoo for a family of four to see the family of duck billed platypus...) You get the picture. Leave your comments...this will be fun.