Gag me with seafood!

We are vacationing in wonderful New England.  Today, the Macs, Huggards, & Aunt Amy drove from Alton, NH to York Beach in Maine.  Awesome!  It is so beautiful.  Had a lobster roll snack and an ice cream with gigantic chunks (way better than Ben & Jerry's) before heading back to NH for dinner.  At dinner, we had lobster, scallops, and a pasta dish.  The combination was incredible.  I suspect that's what we'll eat at the marriage feast in heaven.  Without a doubt - wicked delicious.  "There is no love more sincere, than the love of food." - Hanaford Bag 

16 Wonderful Years

Yesterday was my 16th wedding anniversary to my bride.  I can honestly say that I love Heather more today than I ever have.  One thing that I've learned over the last 16 years is that God has given me the perfect match.  Heather is fun, adventurous, dedicated, wise and many other wonderful things.  The best thing is that she loves and follows Jesus Christ!  Some of the areas that I am not good at, she is great at.  And some of the areas that she isn't great at tend to be my stronger areas - what a match!  But truth be told, there are way more areas that she is great at!  I am very thankful for the last 16 years.  I have learned a lot.  I wish I hadn't been so slow to learn some of the things, but I am simply evidence of God's grace and Heather's love.  So, Happy Anniversary Lynsky!  I love you with all of my heart!

Idol Gives Back

I'm sitting here watching Idol Gives Back being reminded how blessed we are to have clean water, medicine, food, shelter, hope, opportunity . . .

Your God is Too Safe

I've begun reading a book titled "Your God is Too Safe - Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Can't Control" written by Pastor Mark Buchanan. This book has been on my shelf for a couple of years, and I even read about half the book when I first purchased it. However, I believe it's a result of God's providence that I picked it up now (especially since I recently bought Mark Driscoll's new book "Vintage Jesus" and I'm anxious to read it). Anyway, Buchanan is simply hitting extra base hits with every chapter. Some chapters have been home runs. Buchanan describes living life in borderland - a place between Christ's domain and the world's domain that feels safe to christians. We have Christ but we've not crossed the border into the holy wild - rather we're worshipping God from a safe distance. I'm not gifted to write as my sister-in-law Amy (check out her blog in my links section), so I'm not going to be long-winded. However, these are some of the questions that have come to my mind.

1. Am I living in borderland serving God in a way that is safe?
2. What does it look like to live in the holy wild?
3. What are the fears that cause me to keep God at a "safe" distance?
4. Have I always lived in borderland or have I experienced life in the holy wild?
5. Why am I following Jesus anyway?
6. Am I even really FOLLOWING Jesus or am I wanting Him to follow me and bless the safe life that I choose?
7. What will my relationships - especially with Heather and the kids - look like if I take up residence in the holy wild?
8. Is it possible to take up residence in the holy wild and stay there or do I need to keep a rental contract for a spiritual U-Haul?
9. Is it possible to live in the holy wild and be comfortable or is comfort a sign that I'm in borderland?

There are many more questions, but this list hopefully offers a little insight. I look forward to the rest of the book and how God uses it in my life.

Various Ramblings

I hope that the federal government bails me out if my business fails like they've done to all of the big Wall Street firms. Sure Bear Sterns might affect a few more people than Katahdin Peak Consulting, but it doesn't by my book. Capitalism works. Businesses succeed and businesses fail. Leave it alone.

What's up with Jacoby Ellsbury? Will his bat come alive again during the regular season? I say yes. And I don't think there is room for Coco and Jacoby both.

Is the presidential race over yet? I can only wish. How about a candidate that cares about limiting the federal government's powers to what the Constitution grants to it! When a person steps up who is ready to act like a constitutionalist instead of a populist, I will vote for him/her.

Did you hear that this is the earliest Easter since 1913 and there won't be another this early for 220 years or something like that? White shoes the third week of March - wow!

Greenville Drive baseball begins at home on April 3. Can't wait!

Our God Reigns

Our God reigns! That's the Chris Tomlin song playing on iTunes right now while I sit in my study reading. I just felt like I had to get up and tell someone that, so I'm telling all of you people who read my blog (all one of you - you know who you are). Our God reigns! I am blessed! I am thankful that God is moving in my life, in my family. His reign is so much bigger than the never-ending lame presidential race. His reign is bigger than my life! I wonder if people who know how to play music in life will play instruments in heaven. I wonder if those of us who don't know how to play will be able to play in heaven. You know, the trumpet is a heavenly instrument. It's in the Bible. Hmmmm?

Alex's New Business

I'm sitting here right now just chatting with Alexandra about her fiery entrepreneurial spirit. She is actually reading an article from one of my favorite websites, entrepreneur.com, about teens who have started their own businesses. I think she could be a "Luner Eclipse Commentator." She's giving me the play-by-play of the eclipse tonight, and she's even used the term "waxing cresent" which means it's cresent but growing . . . or something like that. Stay tuned to find out what terrific, money-making idea she comes up with.

Communion

Today was a really awesome time of worship for me. We had the Lord's Supper at NewSpring today. I absolutely love having communion! It always makes me slow down, evaluate my heart (which is not always a fun thing to do), and offer praise to Jesus for His purchasing my life on the cross. I was reminded again today that I murdered the Son of God, and He was willing to do it for my redemption and for His glory. I think today's time of communion was one of the more special times of communion I've had. I prayed aloud, as did thousands of other forgiven children of God, "not my will, but Your will be done" as I took the bread and cup at the front of the auditorium. I would try to describe the time in greater detail, but I know I can't do it justice. So I'll end by simply saying I want God's will to be done in my life this week. I want to pray that same prayer as continuously as I breath air. It's all that matters in life!

I'd like to give a shout out to . . .

my wonderful sister-in-law, Amy! What's up Aimster! You're the first person who was not with me when I posted my first blog to actually read what I wrote and respond to it. I have to tell you that night was not as it appeared from the wording of my post. I am glad that you found my blog, and I hope to put it to good use more frequently than I have over the last few weeks. So thanks, Amy, for taking the time to read my rants and I look forward to reading your blog as well. Which by the way, I expect you'll be hunting with us next year now that you've bagged your first deer. If we could only get Sam to join in . . .

Unreached People Groups

Did you know that the good people at the Joshua Project estimate that approximate 42% of the world's population has never been reached with the good news of Jesus Christ? That's a lot of people. Check it out at the Joshua Project link on the right side of this page.