a snapshot of my life and ministry

legacy.

I think that we love to celebrate graduation because it is the culmination of years of hard work and determination.  A lot goes in to the “finish line” that graduation represents. And a word that is usually tossed around a lot in this season of finishing high school is LEGACY.

Over the last few weeks in fpStudents we’ve been discovering that when it comes to our priorities, what we do reveals what is important to us.  We can talk a big game about being healthy or loving God, but until we hit the gym or spend time in God’s Word, those things really aren’t a priority for us.  The things that make it to our “To Do List” are the things that we really care about and what truly has value in our lives.

When it comes to legacy it’s easy to only look at the finish line.  Seniors become focused on the legacy that they will leave, and can quickly hyper-focus on how they will be remembered at their school, church, team, or family.  I have learned two things about legacy.  First, if what we do reveals what is important to us, then how we do those things will determine what legacy we will leave.  Legacy is less about our actions and more about our attitudes.  We all leave a legacy in the form of a story, and how that story is told is connected to the way handle our decisions, relationships, etc.

The second thing I’ve learned about legacy is that nobody creates a legacy on the last lap.  A legacy is built like a house, brick by brick, until it is complete.  You can’t walk up to a vacant lot, toss some shingles on a concrete slab and call it a home.  It takes time.  Each day of your life, of high school, middle school, your job, parenting…you are creating your legacy.  You determine how you will be remembered not just at the finish line, but each step along the way.

bucket list.

Last week I had a chance to cross off something from my Bucket List.  We all have experiences or accomplishments that we want to see happen before we die…a big item on my list has been to complete a Half Marathon.  And this past Saturday I did just that!  It was a huge relief to cross that finish line and be handed a heavy medal that signified the completion of my journey.

Tonight fpStudents at all campuses will begin a new series called “To Do List.”  There are so many things that battle for our priorities…school, jobs, relationships, family, etc…that we can often lose sight of what should be preeminent in our lives. In this series we’ll discover what’s most important and how we can order our lives accordingly.

There is a huge connection between our daily To Do Lists and our long-term Bucket Lists.  If your Bucket List items never show up on your weekly To Do List, chances are that they will never get done.  For me to accomplish a Half Marathon required me to get up several times a week and actually run!  It was painful and exhausting, but in the end it was absolutely worth it.

Let’s think for a second about what Jesus has command us in regard to our To Do Lists. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Throughout the Bible we see the importance of loving God and loving others, but in Jesus’ final words to the disciples He challenged them to seek out the lost and tell them about Him.

As I think back to the moment I crossed the finish line, I realize that in that millisecond my race was over.  I was no longer making progress to the goal.  I was done.  That moment will come for each of us when we die.  As our life expires, we will potentially leave Bucket List items unfinished, but there’s really nothing we can do about it.  We’ve “kicked the bucket” and moved on to eternity.

I believe that the same is true of our responsibility to Christ’s command.  We only have a few years on earth to represent Jesus to a world that doesn’t know Him.  If you’re Bucket List included the names of your friends, family, co-workers and teammates that are separated from Christ, how are you responding to Jesus?

stuff colt says.

I love my family.  They are truly the greatest blessing in my life.  While I love them with all my heart, parenting Colt, my 3 year old son, has become a unique experience for Holly and I.  He says some of the funniest and most bizarre things ever!  So, a few months ago we started “tracking” his quotes on Twitter by making a hashtag called #StuffColtSays, 1/2 of which you can enjoy here.  The other 1/2 will be posted tomorrow, along with what I have learned by posting my son’s humorous one-liners.

1. Colt “I don’t need grapes Mommy. I just already got these from the trash & they’re just yummy”
2. Holly: “Colt and Emmy, it’s time for nap.” Colt: “You’re serious, aren’t u!?!”
3. The rain woke Colt so he asked “When Jesus comes back will He turn on lights so I can see Him & tell Him why I’m scared?”
4. Colt: “Mommy no matter what Emmy says I did NOT run past, push her & take her toy!” Holly: “U know Emmy CAN’T say that right?”
5. Colt to the CVS clerk: “We were just at church. You wanna go too? It’s fun!”
6. Colt’s bed prayers tonight started w/: “Dear Lord Jesus thank u for ALL the Mommies, ALL the Daddies, ALL the Emmys & ALL the bikes…no, just fast bikes!”
7. Colt: “I’m David and Emmy is Goliath. Mommy, u can be Batman!”
8. Colt: “We are a band! Emmy, u sing, I’ll play drums & Mommy u play guitar. But we can’t just play anything, we have to play MUSIC…Hit it!”
9. Colt stubbed his toe and thru the tears he cried “Mommy, can I have a new toe? This one hurts too very bad to keep!”
10. Colt: “Mommy, u remember Daddy? He’s my favorite!”
11. Holly: “Colt, who r u going to meet tonight?” Colt: “Baby Waterfountain Ervin!” Holly: “U mean Baby West?” Colt: “That’s what I said!”
12. Colt recaps a book read at school: “2 guys were playing, 1 took away a toy & the other cried. The first guy said sorry & we turned the page”
13. Colt:”Can I watch TV?” Holly:”No it’s naptime” Colt: “We not say no 2 each other, we r family, we luv each other!”
14. Colt explains snow to Emmy “It covers houses like milk but it’s cold!”
15. Colt: “I bit my tongue!” Michael: “That’s why you need to eat your chicken, your teeth are hungry!”

easter monday.

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20

On Thursday, Jesus prepared His disciples for His death.  On Friday, Jesus died on a cross and the veil was torn.  On Saturday, the disciples were shell-shocked.  On Sunday, Jesus came back to life.  On Monday, Jesus wrapped up the remainder of humanity’s focus in one paragraph that we can sum up in two letters: GO.

Thank God that we live in Easter Monday every single day of our lives.  There’s none of Thursday’s nerves, Friday’s despair or Saturday’s panic.  We don’t even have to wait until Sunday afternoon to know that Jesus defeated death.  On Easter Monday, the truth was OUT, and our role is CLEAR….therefore, GO!

Because of what Jesus did, we have the chance to live out Easter Monday each day…. not unlike Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”… every day is a glorious repeat of the emotions of the weekend wrapped up in the adventure Jesus gave us for the coming week.

Go.

a day without makeup.

Today there are over 1,200 girls that have chosen not to wear makeup…all because of one girl.

A few weeks ago fpStudents hosted a girls-only event called “Girl Talk.” The purpose was to help high school girls recognize that God created them, sees them as beautiful, and loves them more than anyone else ever could. The girls had a blast, and for days afterwards continued to write in their journals and talk to each other about what they had learned. One girl, however, took it a step further.

Bailey, a freshman at Hardin Valley Academy, decided that she wanted to do something to help even more girls see themselves the way God sees them. So, as many students do, she turned to Facebook and created an event called ” A Day Without Makeup 2011.” Her intent was to simply give her friends a chance to stand together and show the world that they are God’s creation, and therefore He sees them as beautiful even with no makeup on. What began as a simple “Facebook Event” targeting a few dozen friends turned into a movement among well over a thousand people.

I wanted to tell you this story for 2 reasons.

1. These high school girls are being impacted by a simple truth: God loves us. He’s not a giant bully looking for ways to rain on our parade. He created us and wants the best for us. Knowing this has affected the way these girls are choosing to live their lives. How about you?
2. This “Day Without Makeup” started because one freshman girl decided to do something. There was no guarantee of success. She could have failed miserably and been embarrassed on the internet and at school. But Bailey chose to step out in faith and courage that what she was doing was RIGHT and NEEDED TO BE DONE. Do you have that same faith? That courage?

I’m so proud of Bailey and the impact she is having on her peers. Although, to be fair, there are quite a few adults participating today as well…