On minor prophets and their prostitute wives*

Sometimes you read through Scripture and it totally messes with you. Enter Hosea. God basically told him to marry a prostitute as an illustration for how Israel was treating God. What's more, she left him and found another "lover" and then God told Hosea to go and get her back just like He had done with Israel.

What is going on here?

First, I think it messes with us because we have this working assumption that God always acts in ways that we perceive as good. So, when something we perceive as bad happens, we ask, "Where is God?" Our perception is not always God's reality. And our perception of what is good is not always what is actually good.

Second, God's greatest goal in our life is not to make us happy. In a beautiful analogy to marriage, God said it this way in Hosea 2:9:

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.

Those are God's ultimate goals for our life; Righteousness, justice, love and compassion.

Third, He doesn't call everyone to be a minor prophet. It's true that many of God's servants in Scripture had it rough. Isaiah had to walk around naked. Paul had a "thorn in his flesh" that he couldn't get rid of. Some of the things these men and women had to endure seemed very cruel. And yet, however unfair we might think it was, they seemed to think that God had a greater plan and that everything would turn out for their good in the end.

Most of us will not be called to bear the weight of something like Hosea. Yet we face our own challenges everyday. Maybe the most important thing we can learn from Hosea is not "why" they had to go through something tough, but "how" they made it through.

*Thanks to David Bazan for writing a song with that title. One of the best titles I've ever seen.

How are you growing as a father?

I have to ask myself that question today. It's an appropriate time to pause and consider how I've grown as a dad. I've noticed something interesting with each child being born. My love for my children has grown exponentially over the years. When my first was born I did love him, but it seems I love him even more today. Along with that my desire to grow as a dad has grown.

I've had to give up some things along the way to be a great dad. I'm not going to be a good golfer. I'm not going to have a lot of hobbies. I'm not going to travel a lot.

And yet, despite all the things I'm not going to be or have, the one thing that I get to be that more than makes up for any sacrifice is dad. The one and only dad to Ethan, Daisy, Grace and Ben.

Ethan's gonna Know Sweat

My son headed off with the Student Ministry for Know Sweat, a CIY sponsored mission trip. I love it that he gets this opportunity because mission trips are the most life changing thing anyone can do. Kid or adult, they can change your life. I've seen it with teens in youth ministry. I've seen it with adults. God does something unique when we get away and serve. Maybe I should say, we are open to God doing something unique when we get away.

It was hard for Sheila to let her "little boy" go, but we both know it will be a great trip for him.

What does this mean?

You go on a trip to see your extended family but you can't stop thinking about the new Suncrest-East campus.

It either means I really need a vacation or I'm stinkin' excited about Suncrest-East. I'll think the latter even though the first may still be true.

3 things I love about Oklahoma...

3 things I love about Oklahoma...

1. Less traffic;
2. QT gas stations...the best in the country
3. Friendly people EVERYWHERE.

3 things I could live without...

1. People who drive UNDER the speed limit (okay, not limited to OK, but there does seem to be an inordinate amount of drivers like that here);
2. Wranglers everywhere!!!!
3. Living 10 hours from it.

On delayed gratification

"The next time there's something that you just can't live without, wait for a week and then see if you're still alive."

Guy Kawasaki
Art of the Start

On taking risks

"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

-Oscar Wilde

"Ignorance is not only bliss, it's empowering."

-Guy Kawasaki
Art of the Start