Knowing Your Surroundings

Growing up, getting together was always a small event. My family of five, with the occasional addition, but not much more than that. I've seen that other some families do it similar and some do it quite differently. 

For holidays, Marissa will often have three family gatherings across two days with each gathering being larger than my entire immediate family. These past two years have been a lot of Marissa and I "finding our new normal" as we combine our family gatherings and holidays.

All of the family that I married into has been overwhelmingly welcoming and have made me feel wanted and loved. They are warm and inviting and I could not ask for more!

Family is wonderful, but so are friends! 

If you know me at all, you know that I love getting together with people. As I continue to move through life, this has become increasingly true. When friends or family come to visit, my wife and I try to take care of all the needs our guests may have. We even have a "soda menu" that we have created to showcase the options that we have. 

We get excited when soda is on sale so we can get
the different favorites of our friends! 

There is something about gathering with those who care about you bringing laughter, joy and life!

As warm and tingly as a friend or family can make us feel the reality is that most of us are not surrounded by love and joy on the average day.

Working in a corporate environment teaches you about the good, bad and ugly of people and interpersonal communication. Managing a team of 15 people, I've learned that everyone communicates just different enough that you need to be constantly thinking about what you might be saying without saying it.

I have worked hard to build an all star team that communicates well and I have tried to build a good relationship with my employees to ensure we're understanding each other as clearly as possible. Clarity, it seems, is something that you have to work for. And sometimes no matter how hard you try, you will never understand people clearly regardless of the depth of relationship you build.

At work everyone has an agenda, but not necessarily in a bad way. Each person has a business to run with certain objectives and key-performance goals to meet. Many times meetings are compromises of those different objectives, figuring out how to partner with another business to both meet your goals without losing too much efficiency in the process. 

I recall a work meeting a year ago that had a major communication break down causing me to have an very upsetting and emotional day. I was so shaken up after this meeting that my manager had to pull me aside to be sure I was actually going to make it through the rest of the day. Through his patience and understanding, I was able to finish the day and set myself up to avoid "break downs" with this particular person in the future.

It wasn't until several days later that I realized I needed to always be taking an inventory of my surroundings, specifically at work.

So why does having friends over make me feel one way while work meetings bring out completely different set emotions?

An obvious observation, but hear me out.

Anyone in Minnesota can tell you that your physical surroundings make a vast difference on your attitude. The weather can make your day or make it feel like it the day is going to drag on forever. But what it truly comes down to is the people that we are surrounded with. 

Friends and family don't have agendas. They're not looking to push their business goals or meet some sort of friend quota for the month. Hopefully, they are with me because they enjoy what I have to bring and I enjoy their uniqueness as well. Getting along is easy because everyone is enjoying everyone else in a positive, life-giving way.

Obviously, not everyone we interact with is life giving. People who we clash with are draining and can ruin your day way more than a cloudy day. It could have completely destroyed a business relationship that I rely on in my role. 

This is why it is so important to know who in your life is going to be an encouragement and lift you up in love:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 10

Are we being intentional with who we have around us on a daily basis? Do you have people at work or at home that are encouraging you, not falsely building some false confidence by agreeing with everything you say, but someone who cares about your well being as a person? Do you know someone who will listen when you need it but will also provide some tough love when you need to be corrected.

This is NOT an excuse to only surround yourself with people are are exactly like you.

I have a good friend who wrote it this way on his Facebook:

If you do not feel challenged, intellectually or emotionally by your friends, you are probably hanging around people a lot like you. While comfortable, this does not allow you to challenge or expand what you know and makes you vulnerable to rule 1 by making you think that "because everyone you know believes X" it must be true. It is up to you to decide on your council of friends, make the right choices.

He articulates well that we should be looking to push ourselves and often times that is going to take some conflict. But do you have someone in your life that is an encouragement to you? I don't think that everyone is lucky enough to have it. 

These are the people that help you process a rough interaction, or help you reflect on that poor business meeting to make sure you still have a job the next day. 

Take the time to thank those people in your life who give you uplifting encouragement. Do you know if that person understands your appreciation for them and the way they support you? 

Have you told them recently?

Don't be afraid of conflict and hard conversations, it helps you grow drastically. But be sure to find people in your life to balance out the muk of agendas and high emotions.

Find people who you like to be around and who like to be around you. Find reason to laugh during your day and don't let other people's actions or words ruin the goodness that you carry yourself with. They don't have power over you, don't give it to them. 

Know your surroundings to keep yourself on track, but know them all the more to help other navigate through their hard day. Be a good friend, challenge each other to be better in loving ways that live in a spirit of growth and fellowship. 

Long Overdue Update: Picture Edition

Holy cow! I cannot believe that it's been so long since I've updated. I'll be posting less lengthy posts more frequently, but I think I need to get you caught up...

So much has happened since June where do I even begin?

It's probably best to do with pictures around the events; this might hold your attention better.

Playing FootGolf with Devin and Kyle! 

My first time playing Blue Ribbon Pines in East Bethel.

Teaching the coworkers all about disc golf.

Being outside brings me so much joy and June weather is the absolute best! Over the summer I went FootGolfing for the first time. Precisely what it sounds like, you bring a soccer ball onto a golf course and you kick it around counting your "strokes" until you get close to the pin that is unique for the FootGolf players. 

Putting is actually the hardest part of FootGolf.

This sport is awesome. It's a great way to be outside, get some great exercise. Part of being an official FootGolf course is being on an official PGA golf course, which is getting young people into clubs and courses which should really help those establishments. I'll be going frequently this spring and summer, I cannot wait! 

As expected, much disc golf and mini golf was played. It would seem that I'm really into golf, except that I don't play real golf — so I'm not sure what's up with that.

On June 10th, I started officially dating the beautiful Marissa Schrader! I finally mustered up the gusto to ask her out after being setup by some mutual friends of ours. 

One of our first dates as "an item" at a movie in the park! 

I also went camping for the first time in my adult life over the summer. While hanging out in a tent in the back yard is exciting, it's nothing like the real thing. I moved into a house with some friends from high school whom are all very outdoorsy. Needless to say, I've now been camping correctly.

For my first camping trip, some friends and I went to Gooseberry Falls up North. We stayed at a state campground and hiked a good portion of the falls. So much fun to be in a new place, enjoying God's beautiful creation! 

It was also the first time that I've been to Duluth and we were able to visit the pier for the 4th of July!  

Marissa making me look good on the pier, at Lake Superior.

The second camping trip of the year was with those outdoorsy men that I live with. We drove out to Glacier National Park and stayed there (Avalanche Park) around a week. What an adventure! I've never been in the middle of such beauty before. I felt small and insignificant at times, and unique and wonderfully made at others. I felt God's protection was over us as the fire that destroyed 4,000-acres of forest could have swallowed us up had the wind been the other direction! Needless to say, I absolutely loved the trip and adventures and will remember it the rest of my life. No question about it!

The "seven ill-prepared young people" that were hiking to the falls!

A view of the fire just starting, very close to our trail.

In August, I turned 25 and had a fabulous cake made in my honor.

I have an obsession with pugs, it's a real thing.

And I loved going to the zoo with some of my very best friends!

Myself with Stephen and Courtney at the Minnesota Zoo.

Marissa and me with Nate and Haley, good friends from NWC.

I think this speaks for itself.

The fun that I had changed drastically during the winter. I don't like being cold, and I had a bad experience on some snow skis, so I don't enjoy doing that by any means. But I cannot stop having fun, where's the excitement in that?

I love hosting board game nights! 

Giant "snoctopus" near our church in New Brighton by the Bartz

All bundled up for sledding in the cold!

At the Michael W Smith and Amy Grant Christmas Concert

And I cannot get away from the golfing. There is an indoor minigolf course near my house that I have been a frequent customer at during these cold months. 

     

I am a huge advocate for having fun, and work is no exception. Why would I want to hate going to the same place day after day if I can make it something that is enjoyable?

Our team recently got approval for a RAM upgrade.

As if I wasn't having enough excitement in my life by this time...

I decided to surprise Marissa by bringing her to the Ice Castles in Eden Prairie. She loves forts and castles, and loves when adventures happen. 

Stopping a movie halfway through, something that I don't do, I told her to get her boots on and that "we were going to be late." I absolutely surprised her with the trip and we walked around in an icy, LED lit, ice fortress! 

Thinking that wasn't good enough, I wanted needed to do more...

Trying to find a cool part of the ice castles, I found a random banner that looked like it advertised the Frozen heroines (logically taking advantage of the "Frozen" arena that we were in) and wanted to know more. Having Marissa read it to me, I realized the situation I had put myself in.

You see, a couple months earlier, I had a "friend in the diamond business" give me some help. While Marissa was reading this sign, which I had legitimate interest in, her back was turned to me. I saw this as an ample opportunity to lighten the immense weight that was burning in my pocket.

The weight was completely lifted and turned into a euphoria of sorts after a simple question.

SHE SAID YES!

And now I'm an engaged man, who calls the most stunning woman alive his fiancée. Marissa is beautiful inside and out. She loves God passionately, and serves Him with her many talents. She is an incredibly hard worker but loves to have fun and loves to do it with me. Her positive attitude and bubbly personality are a constant source of joy in my life and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with her! I pray that I can bring her the same exhilaration that she brings me. 

While these details and images are just a glimpse of the past year, I think that gets caught up with the major details and life events! 

If you made it this far, you are a true champion and I appreciate your time. 

Thanks for being interested in my life, it's never short of adventure.

Here's to so much more!

God's Very Good Creation

Recently I've been amazed at the people around me.

God's glory is most often recognized in the creation around us but so often I skip over the beauty that is with me every single day.

My friends are such gifts. People that I can rely on, that I know have my back. Real, genuine relationships with people who care deeply for me, and have an innate desire to be relational.

I've seen people come out of such darkness.

Friends who have experienced the traumatic loss of loved ones. Even when it's not their direct family, that weight is so heavy that it often effects people in ways that even they cannot understand. A good friend recently went through a time of real trial and alone-ness. He has also been unemployed for some time. It is amazing to hear how God used that time as solitude with Him and not loneliness from others. He's grown to better understand how God is working in his life, and to trust in His timing and provision.

This year I lead college students and young adults in a Sunday morning class at church. I saw God's character in our passionate desire to know more about our heavenly Father. Doing life with 20 other critical thinkers, hearing what God was doing in their lives and diving into the Word was so refreshing and honoring. What a blessing to grow closer together and to becoming true disciples of Christ by fearing him in reverence!

The people around us have been through so very much. I have heard from several friends within the past few weeks, and I am weighed down with how much people have been through; how we don't support our friends very well in those trials. Do we really know what is going on in each other's lives? Not that we need to express our deepest struggles on every "how you doing?" in the hallways, but those people who you do identify as close friends have you really heard how they're doing? Have you asked what they are really struggling with, and how you can help support them through it being a helping hand and listening ear?

How loved do you feel when someone listens to what you are saying? They put down their technology, they ignore other distractions -- lock in and give you the time of day that you deserve. How can we better love one another?

I am so thankful for God's mercy in bringing me, bringing all of us, out of dark pasts. Leaving the darkness and becoming light. Jesus' shed blood washed away any and all of the past. We are new creations, we are not what were were, but are made new -- I need to be constantly reminded of that. 

"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light."
Ephesians 5:7b-8

I hope and pray that I continue to see God in the beautiful sunsets and amazing creation, but I also pray that I can see God's character in each person that he has beautifully and wonderfully made. 

Make it a great day, or not! The choice is yours.

Thank you for stopping by! This post is adapted from a sermon that I taught, it's long but worth the read. I would appreciate it greatly if you read the entirety and even posted some dialogue about it in the comments.

In highschool—who did you look up to? Who did you want to be like?

For me it was the star quarterback. Not because he played football, but because he was also because he was the lead in the musical. This guy was able to cross a stereotype of high school with such grace that he was well liked by almost the entire school. He understood how to relate to the people around him, and wasn't afraid to do what he wanted to do.  

My principal even spoke very highly of him; he too was someone that I greatly looked up to.  I had an oddly good relationship with my principal. He was very well liked and respected by teachers and students alike. Conn McCartan was a support to me and the Bible Study that met, understanding my view and willing to work with me on potentially disrupting events (such as SYATP) and didn't exasperate our meeting even though pubic high school isn't the most friendly place for Christian gatherings. 

I ran into Conn once in the hallway close to my class graduation. I asked him how he was doing, expecting the normal Minnesota 'Oh Good' and to continue walking. But he stopped me and looked me straight in the eye, unexpectedly. With his eyes welling up, he explained to me that he didn't have a feel for our class. That every other class had graduated had an overarching feeling of what they were about, and he couldn't figure our what ours was. He was clearly upset. It wasn't until then that I realized how much he cared about the students at his school. What an example of servant leadership, to be open and honest with a student. 

I still look up to Conn as an example of a great leader; unless he was walking down some stairs, then he was always Conn descending! 

We all have people that we look up to, even want to emulate in certain ways. These are just two examples from my life during high school.

But there's an even better example to emulate.

In Ephesians chapter 5, the apostle Paul urges us to walk in God's example, to look up and desire to emulate the life that we saw in Jesus as the ultimate role model. 

Ephesians 5:1-20
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:“Wake up, sleeper,   rise from the dead,   and Christ will shine on you.”15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Someone who is filled with the Spirit (v18-21) is someone with temperance, self-control and joy. 

How does Paul call us to be imitators of God?
As children, as seen in Ephesians 1:5:

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Do children imitate their parents? I look and often act just like my father. People make comments all of the time. But often times, he can speak into my life in a more impact-full way, because I can be so similar to him. He understands me, because I think similar to him.

Yes, of course! Children act like their parents, that's natural.

We were called into adoption by God, called to be his child. But unlike an earthly understanding of that. God’s love is beyond anything! If you are familiar with Ephesians be reminded of to God’s love for us should be overwhelming! (Here is a really good book if you want to know even more about God's Crazy Love for us."

There are a lot of passages that talk about God’s love and our response. Ultimately, if our Love for God is genuine, we should have the desire to walk in Love. Paul wants to move us to the cross, looking at the equally overwhelming love that Jesus had for the world.

We obviously fail to “love people like Jesus.” That’s not an easy thing to do, especially not to maintain as an attitude. Sometimes I'm really good at it for five minutes. But we have amazing grace from God to pick up and carry on when we fail miserably. Not to excuse that behavior, but to remember that in a pattern of love even when we do mess up - grace abounds. Love yourself, and then we can export that love in everything we do.

Jesus loved all the time. Think about every time Jesus is doing anything in the Bible; how much he sacrificed because of his love - Time and resources, even his own blood and body.

We should react with the utmost desire to mirror that love in more then just a material way.

• Loving one another (Jn 13:34)
• Forgiving each other (Eph 4:32)
• Giving financially (2 Cor 8:9)
• Spreading the gospel (2 Cor 5:14-21)
• Being patient (1 Cor 13:4; Eph 4:2)
• Loving those who really annoy you (Eph 2:11-22)
• Repent of judgement and hostility (Eph 4:29)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Galations 2:20

In verse 8 of Ephesians, Paul does not say that “you were once in darkness” but instead says “you once were darkness, but now you are light.” 

The things that Paul mentions here are describing the “dark” love: sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and filthy speech. In fact, they are not suitable (v4) and should not be found among you.

How long ago was this written? How much of this list still applies?  Paul. Nailed it.

Here the impurity is kinda generic. It’s just filth. “Any impurity” moves it away from just being sexual and is making the point that we need to be holy as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:16) We need to kill sin (Col 3:5) and flee from it (1 Cor 6:18)! 
Greed is desiring anything more than God. I cannot lie, this is something that I struggle with, moreso when it is put this way. It’s a heart condition that I am pretty confident that we all struggle with in some way or another.

Corrupt Speech is pretty straight. I think you understand this. We should be known for giving thanks, it is impossible to give thanks and to sin at the same time. Like the rudder of a ship, let’s be turned the right way in our speech. 

Paul says in 5-6 that those who persist in the kingdom of darkness will not inherit the kingdom of God. So this stuff is pretty important! Verse 7 says that we must not become partners with those in darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14 is a further explanation of this idea. 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Yes, we need to be salt and light, we need to be friends with people who think and believe different than us — but that doesn't mean that we encourage and partake in sin to do so. We need to “walk as Children of light” by having an identity of a deep rooted, Christ change.

The last verses (15-20) explain how to pay attention to how it is that you are walking [emphasis mine].

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Toughest part of this passage? The word always.

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything.

That can be pretty tough. Health issues, friendships that have gone yucky or awry, deaths, global disasters are all things that we cannot explain this side of heaven. 

That’s one of the hardest things about Faith, is that belief that God is doing everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — but I know personally coming out of seemingly impossible situations that God can work through every situation no matter how dark it may seem at the time. I promise!

If we profess belief and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us, we are the light of God. This week, I am challenged to pray for growth in one area to be better filled with the spirit. Where do I, where do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to truly take control?

By walking as Children of Light, by walking in God's ways, by trying to emulate Christ — we not only overcome our shortcomings through Christ but we can shine brightly into the darkness and make Him known! If you lived your life in the love of Christ so that it gushed out of you, if you lived your Christian life before your work life, or sports life — what would the results be? 

Let the Spirit show you how to better emulate Christ this week, love in a way that can only be explained by your chasing after Jesus in a full sprint. People will notice you are different, if you're willing to be different. 

Communicating Without Words

I have two parts to to my job at work. Usually I am working on the eighth floor responding to a list of issues from top to bottom. I see names and incident numbers on the daily, but rarely see the people I help face to face, outside of the occasional drop of or pickup for a hardware issue.

Typically I will communicate with people that I am helping over instant messenger. By contacting people over IM, I am able to help multiple people seamlessly without losing track of the information that they have already provided. I have the ability to send them to certain network locations, and even send direct URLs to the webpages that I need them to go to.

Until you have worked a HelpDesk type of job, you do not understand how difficult it is to get someone to a website. Telling them to go to Google could mean open Google Chrome, go to your default search page, or even Google search "Google" using the Google toolbar. 

I am okay with phoning people and do it frequently, however I am limited to helping a single person at a time and cannot look back at our conversation for more detail. Email is a close second to IM, but doesn't have the same urgency to respond as an instant message can have.

Recently, however I have been doing the other part of my job by working the walk-up helpdesk on the corporate campus. This is  anything from employees who need to turn in their laptops for their last day, to a mass of technical and know-how issues. Working at this desk is very different from working a list of names and numbers through digital means. These people walk up with their laptops and sit directly in front of me.

The conversations that I have had are most interesting and are a learning piece every single day. I've learned that being attentive to what is going on around you will make a huge difference. I will work at the desk with several people, and by not being glued to my screen in the down time, people will typically approach me first. This is obvious as I am most approachable, but it is important to mention for where I am going.

I almost always shoot out a quick "Hello! How can I help you today?" as they are sitting down pulling out their laptop. Nine times out of ten they start explaining their issue, but something happened this last week that initially frustrated me until I really started thinking about it.

Certain people wouldn't reply to my question until their computer was open and showing me the issue that they were having. Sometimes this took a couple minutes to login and get to the message. I felt that we were wasting time. Time that  I could be taking in information to get to a resolution. However they didn't want to waste time talking about it when they can just show me.

This got me thinking about the ways that we communicate with one another and how we often times get frustrated when people don't do it our way or in our time.

Here is an example:
I grew up with a very quick family both in wit and speed. We all talk very quickly and very often interrupt each other while talking. This is rude. I totally understand that. But our family communicates that way and doesn't take it as inherently rude.

When talking with another friend, I would naturally interrupt a lot because that is how I am used to communicating. One time I was asked, "Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?"  This stopped me dead in my tracks, was I being rude? I was trying to show that I was actively listening, but that's not what I was communicating with my actions.

Talking with another friend, he cannot multitask conversation. If he is sending a text or doing something else and is asked a question, he will simply not respond. Not because he didn't hear you, or doesn't want to answer you, he just cannot do it. I was upset when we first lived together thinking it was very disrespectful, but later realized it's a different way of communicating.

So what am I getting at here?

Ultimately how much we actually talk doesn't speak volumes when put next to how it is that we are communicating. We should be constantly evaluating how it is that we speak with other people. What are you communicating without using words?

Eye Contact.

When I am with someone talking and they won't make or maintain eye contact I get frustrated. I was brought up to always make eye contact when talking with someone as a sign of respect and to engage them into what you are saying. Obviously there are times that you don't maintained eye contact (driving, watching a movie or sport, ect) but it is much easier to talk with someone who will look back at you when you are talking.

Posture (Body Language)

What is your posture when compared to the other person? Are you sitting down, and leaning back when they are trying to talk about something important? If you are meeting someone for the fist time, what kind of impression are you leaving? I will almost always stand to talk with someone if they walk up to speak with me. I want to communicate to them that I am listening and respect them enough to do so. Square up, look at them straight on. Don't give the Minnesota 90, but look at the person and engage. 

Frequency

 How often do you talk with your best friend? I cannot imagine that you would go months without talking. Because you value that person, you want to maintain the relationship though frequent conversation and time together. But even so, who is doing the contacting? Do you have equal attempts at  making contact or is your friend in the dark until they contact you? What is your lack of communication actually communicate to your friend? 

 Action and Inaction

Have you ever asked someone to do something, and they completely drop the ball? It's frustrating. Their actions (or inaction) can easily communicate something without words. Although they may not intentionally be saying, "I don't value you enough to do what you asked" it can often come off that way. Be intentional. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you forget, fix it. Show people that you value them, by valuing their time and requests. 

Punctuality

I have always been a punctual person. I like to be on time. Even when a party or gathering has a soft starting time, I am usually anxious if I am not on time. But what about meetings or gatherings with people that have specific times? Showing up fifteen minutes late to a lunch meeting with a friend doesn't communicate very well. It also communicates that you don't value their time as much as your own. If you know that you are habitually late, do something to help value others. Lay your clothes out or pack your lunch the night before. Don't start another Netflix episode if you won't be able to finish it with enough time to spare. Sacrifice a bit of your own time, to make time for someone else. It speaks volumes. 

Be attentive to the people around you. If you are going to say something, take a second and think it though. Give thought to the words that you are sharing with others, and how you are sharing those words. Instead of a text message, call them up—it's likely faster and significantly more personal. You make the plans with someone that always makes the plans, practically show them they are valued.

Communication is much more then words exchanged. Be aware of what you are saying to others without using any words.

Seaboard Moonwalk

Check out how cool this new evolution of the keyboard is.

A way to adapt a note as you play it, and not in post production or something else.

The Centurion of the Crucifixion

 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54 

I envision the centurion. 

I envision that the centurion was a big man, in both stature and in personality. Being in the Roman army would have required him to be physically strong, and I imagine him always having a demanding presence whenever he was around others. Leading up to 80 men, this centurion, was probably highly respected by most, or even feared by anyone who was not a Roman citizen! Commander of those 80 people, but he was accountable for all of his actions, he had to be calculated in his decisions, and stand behind each one regardless of it being right or wrong. His job was one of respect, but by no means would have been easy!

Before the cross the centurion knew of who Jesus was, but needed to be ruthless. 

The centurion was the hand of Rome, and enforcer of the law. He was in charge of maintaining order among the people, whether Roman or not. We see in Scripture that the Romans were aware
of who Jesus said that he is; even sending to Jesus for a miraculous healing of a servant because of the centurion's belief. However, the Roman Army was there for a reason. The centurion would have been in charge of keeping any person after he or she had been arrested. He also would have been in charge of the soldiers who conducted all of the beatings, imprisonment, and he would supervise the crucifixions of criminals and law breakers. He had a very wide range of emotions from day to day, from sorrow for his servant’s life and elation from him being healed on one day, and on the next needing to be numb and cold towards someone else’s life.

The Centurion was a man that lost track of who Jesus was until it was almost too late! 

The centurion had a job to perform, keeping order while progressing through the trial and death of Jesus. But He and the other soldiers did more than that. They mocked and spat on Jesus during his trails and beatings. They tore his clothes and gambled them away, while still mocking Jesus as he hung on the cross, helpless and bare. After Jesus’ last words and final breath, an earth quake shook the ground, a sudden darkness, rocks split and the dead are raised to life! Imagine the noise and confusion that would all be happening at once!

The centurion is astounded. He recognized that this man had suffered unjustly, and was truly innocent. In trembling reverence, only beginning to understand what had happened: He announces “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Often times, I feel that we can be like the centurion before his
realization. Not in a brutal way, but in our emotional weight and understanding of what tonight, of what this weekend is truly all about. What is our attitude towards the crucifixion? Is it
something that is recognized once every calendar year? We might go to church, eat lunch with our family, perhaps read some scripture and then go back to our lives and jobs unchanged?

Or.

Do we have a reverence of what it is that Jesus has done? The centurion’s eyes were opened on that hill, he realized that the Son of God was hanging there for HIM. The centurion believed.
He may have not understood it completely, but imagine what the next week was like? Or even the next few months!

I want tonight to be reminder of what Jesus came to do, yes. But I challenge to let it move you. Try to understand the weight and emotion the centurion may have felt, thinking back on everything he had done and permitted, he announced to everyone, "Surely he was the Son of God!” We may not have earthquakes and splitting rocks around us today, but the power of what Jesus did has not lost any of its amazing power or awe. Be renewed in your thankfulness and astonishment of Jesus.

He came to abolish your sin willingly. 

I am like the centurion; we are like the centurion when we ponder the love displayed on the cross; And believe.