A few years ago while at a conference I heard a pastor say that “Christians don’t speak lies nearly as often as they sing them” For most people in the room that statement probably flew right by them drowned out by the religious AMEN’S (Not that all AMEN’s are religious but I just think there is a problem with a shout and no application, I’m just saying!). However, it’s a powerful statement when you think about it. All those times I sang of giving it all to Him when in reality I was withholding pieces or rather chunks of my heart. Trying to pretend that I had given into the idea of complete surrender and abandonment. Ever since then the lyrics to the songs that I’m singing whether in my heart or at the top of my lungs have taken on a whole new meaning.

Today was no exception! I got to the office early this morning to just spend some time in prayer and straighten up the office. I turned on the computer logged in, & went to newspring.cc to view this past weeks message and enjoy some worship. A couple of songs in they began singing How He Loves Us. I’ve sang this song over and over again but today something hit me when we got to this line

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

I can honestly say it was more than just the lyrics, it was the passion in which they were sung as well. The concept of not “having time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way He loves us…” moved me. It moved me deep within. It moved me to desire to make it more than a concept but a reality. We all have regrets, we all have things that we wish we wouldn’t have done, but we don’t have to live with those regrets fueling our lives. I think alot of times the things that hold us back are far smaller than we make them out to be. The lyrics suggest that when I’m thinking about the way he loves me I no longer have the time to maintain these regrets. I love that! The very definition of “maintaining” is to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; or retain. I don’t want to preserve these regrets or retain the guilt, shame or condemnation that is associated with keeping these things alive. When were consumed with the reality of His love for us it will motivate us to see more, do more and ultimately be more, thus leaving us empty of the spare time it takes to focus on or breathe life into our regrets. Consider this statement that Paul makes to the Ephesian Elders:

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24 (ESV)

Of all people, Paul could have some regrets. Some theologians believe that it was him that those that martyred Stephen looked to for the go ahead. A person whose life prior to meeting Christ was lived to destroy those that professed Christ. Now he’s saying look nothing else in my life matters as long as I get to finish the course that the Lord has given me. I don’t have time to put value or breathe life into these things any longer. I believe when we truly capture the reality of His love for us we will have no choice but to be absolutely consumed with His mission for our lives.

Lord I want to be completely consumed with you’re love for me. I’ve leaned on my love for you for far to long. I’ve tried to love you through my regrets and today I no longer want to spend the time or energy “maintaining” these regrets keeping these things alive. Help me to be consumed with the mission you’ve given me for my life & family to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

What’s New?

• Well Thanksgiving came and went.
• My wife’s as hot as ever.
• The red cups at starbucks brought the normal smile on my face. While the folgers in my office let me down once again.
• Christmas is just around the corner and things are as busy or busier than ever.
• Coaching Soccer for some cool 1st & 2nd graders.
• Can’t wait to finally meet these cool people next month in Seattle.
• Did I mention I know nothing about soccer.
• Starting to get a little more settled in the new digs.
• I’ve never dreamed more about the future than I have as of late. Can’t wait to see what this brings.
• Monday’s have become my favorite day of the week.
• Just about finished with my reading list for next year. (of course this is always open for suggestions)
• I got to looking the other day and have about 14 unpublished posts sitting in my drafts folder. Need to get this place cranking there are so many things zipping through my head.
• Loving how God’s breaking stupid things off of my life.
• Got our family pictures done for the 1st time in 10 years & love them.
• On that note! Just wanted to say thanks to our friends Phil & Jessica over at StoneCastle Photography for shooting our family pics a couple of weeks ago.

That’s it for now! So click on the image above and go take a look at our new family photo’s.

First of all let me start off by saying that by no means am I making fun of or making light of this situation (okay maybe part of me is) but I always knew it was bound to happen. Let me offer you a little background my wife consistently sends me those email forwards like many of you get. When she gets home and I’m cooking dinner she’ll come in and ask me if I read that cute little email she sent me. It’s always followed by a long pause and then “NOPE!” she then asks “Well, why not?” to which I reply “Because, I deleted it” Now before you get all feisty on me just hear me out. Call me stupid if you like but I’m not buying the fact that if I see someone driving down the road with there lights off and I flash my lights at them that they are going to shoot me. Nor do I believe that Bill Gates, Microsoft or anyone is going to send me $5 for every person I send this email to in order to test there new email tracking system. I have plenty of other time killing things i can do on the internet that are so much more fun than the million other things out there. But after reading this this morning I just had to post it:

Oregon Woman Loses $400,000 to Nigerian E-Mail Scam

The worst part of the whole deal is she kept sending money & her poor husband.

Like I said there are two bits of “PURE” Randomness today! Thanks to Randy who also posted this video this morning. I just had to follow suit and place it here for your viewing pleasure. So here it is!

Just sitting here in the office before church browsing through some photos we took yesterday at a wedding we were at. Anyways I thought I would throw these up there as I here the sound of my wife leading a congregation into worship and our kids are getting set in there classrooms. Man I love my family!

Just following suit in the absence of my good friend. Who decided to spend a few months in the frozen frontier of Alaska but upon his return has yet to pick this back up. I’ve decided to own it & pick up the baton so to speak.  I’ve decided to add a new feature here at a caffeinated life. “Random Pet Peeves” (A particular or recurring source of irritation). You can see that Patrick started off with a few good ones that make this a challenge to keep up with but feel free to chime in!

Pet Peeve #1

We’ll start along the same line as the Pat’s first “Pet Peeve”. And let me say this loud and clear, “The gym is not the place that you fill your best friend in on the latest gossip!” Seriously! Please, during this time of financial crisis in America save the $35.00 a month you spend on a 24hr Gym membership if your only goal is to sit on the machines for an hour and bash those that you are going to smile to and say “Girl!” you know I love you” to later on the same day. For the love of all that’s Holy please put the earbuds in and get to sweatin’. Can I get an AMEN!