Project ‘Pay It Forward’

Thanks to all who participated in the jacket and coat collection for Project Pay It Forward.  I dropped everything off to Pastor Joe this morning for the final delivery.  It practically filled up the entire cab of my truck.  UpRising Church, thank you for giving and helping those who are in need!!  Let’s stay in the spirit of giving and loving one another especially at this time of year.

Also, thank you, Virginia Ricketts, for going the extra mile and collecting at your place of work.  You did a fantastic job!

A well deserved ‘pat on the back’

I just wanted to give a big pat on the back to the guys who show up so early on Sunday morning.  Thanks to Zach, Dave, Andy, Freddy, Lincoln, and The McCaffrey’s for being the early birds week after week.  You guys never complain and do a great job!

Welcome Dave Sims!

Although he is not new to the scene at UpRising Church, Dave is off to a great start as our new Worship Pastor.  Yesterday was the first service that I was actually able to participate in since his acceptance of this position just recently.  It was great!!  Dave and his wife, Bekah, are a couple of great characters and we love them dearly.  They have been an important part of this church since the beginning.  Please continue to show your support through prayer and make them feel welcomed in their new roll.

By the way, don’t let the fact that he’s a University of Michigan fan skew your opinion of him.  No one is perfect.

Pet Peeves

Traffic that does not maintain a consistent speed and shopping carts that are not returned the their respective places in the parking lot.  Those are two top pet peeves of mine.  I’ve had to deal with both today.  Like most people, I need some additional patience at times but I’m not the road rage type or anything.  Other than that, its been a great day.  Work is busy and fruitful.

Learning Lessons from Jacob

Anyone have kids? 

For those of you who don’t know, Jacob is my two year old son.  He is undoubtedly the greatest gift that God could have ever given to my wife and I.  But last week, God impressed upon me the significance of the details of my relationship with my child.  I felt as if He was really trying to get my attention with the parallel of ‘Jacob and I’ to ‘me and God’.  I have always noticed the fact that God does things consistently throughout creation.  Of course this includes the parent/child relationship and everything in it.  Below are very simple observations about my child and probably most children:

• Jacob can be most loving child in one instance and the most rebellious, fit throwing child just moments later.
• Sometimes he listens to my instruction, sometimes he doesn’t.
• Jacob loves the companionship of his Mom and Dad.
• He enjoys the shared meals at McDonald’s on a sunny, Saturday morning.
• He loves going to the park and feeding the ducks.
• Jacob looks like his Dad (unfortunately for him, maybe.)

Now a few facts and observations about being Jacob’s Dad:

• I love my son unconditionally.  He is the apple of my eye and I would give my life for him.
• There are rules and boundaries set up by Julie and I to protect Jacob and teach him the difference between right and wrong.
• It brings me so much joy to be in his company.
• I provide for him everything that he needs to stay happy and healthy.
• There is nothing better than to receive a genuine, unsolicited hug and a kiss from him.

As Joe so simply explained it in Sunday’s message, God is our ‘Daddy’.  And I think it is significant to think of him as ‘Daddy’ because it is so personal and it evokes a response of being even closer to Him.  I love to hear Jacob say “Da-da” and to want me to comfort him when he hurts.  I love to hear Jacob say “Da-da” with excitement when I get home from work each day.  Being a Dad has made more aware of God’s perspective in our relationship with Him.

As our Father, God desires and longs for us to genuinely reciprocate that same love to Him.  He wants our company and companionship.

I sometimes lose sight of the fact that the God of the Universe is the same God who wants to be so close to me.  The fact that He is so holy and perfect and powerful is what I use to create a barrier between myself and Him.  Ironically, I admit that my relationship with God sometimes becomes more focused on me than Him.  So in some ways, I need to become more like my son.  I need to love more like Jacob does.  This awareness or whatever you want to call it definitely helps to focus the perspective on my daily walk.  I still worship Him as Lord, fear Him as Father, but love Him a little better as ”Da-da.”