"You have to trust me."  Many of us have heard someone tell us these words.  Many of us have often said these words to someone else.  Many of us have experienced a great deal of hurt because of trusting someone else.  The point is this - there are some who may find it increasingly difficult to truly trust another person.  After all, why do so? All they've ever done is hurt us, right? I get it.  I really do get it.  

This past week, we had a situation with our oldest son.  Let's just say he is at the age when we expect to begin to deal with issues.  Yes, the pre-teen years.  I looked online on Amazon, as well as visited Barnes & Noble, but it appears there is no resource good enough to prepare you to deal with these teenage hissy-fits.  By the way, that was sarcasm.  I didn't go shopping for self-help products.  I have the best resource always at my reach.  It's called the Bible.  And I have easy access to its Author.  

Anyways, last night our son came to both my wife and I to express his apology.  The challenge is always in overcoming the temptation to handle it in an earthly manner - yelling, expressing anger, etc.  I try to always find a moment when I can ask God how to properly address these situations in a Godly manner.  As expected, God always reminds me of His unconditional love towards me.  I mess up regularly, and always come before His throne of grace expressing my apology.  He never beats me with condemnation.  He never reminds me of all my mess-ups.  Instead, He reminds me that His grace is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

After a discussion with my lovely wife, my son asked both her and I to forgive him and to help him do better.  That was the most crucial statement he made - "Will you help me do better?" I answered and said, "Absolutely, that's our job.  But you have to trust us."  Almost immediately, I sensed more thoughts and words coming to my mind.  I knew I had a connection with my Father right then.  I immediately realized just how difficult that (trusting us) would be for him, or any of his brothers for that matter.  Throughout their lives, all they had known is hurt.  The very ones they trusted hurt them in such ugly ways.  

Interestingly, we all have lived through hurts in our lives.  Maybe this is why some of us have some difficulty in truly trusting God to be God in our lives.  Just as He often reminds me, He wants you to also be reminded - His grace is sufficient for me...and for you.  

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What I was learning in studying business was that my passion was indeed the church, but what always frustrated me about the church was the great number of effective pastors, but shortage of true leaders.  What do I mean by that? I simply mean this - I know some excellent pastors.  I consider them excellent based on how good a job they do at equipping their congregations through sound Biblical teaching.  On the aspect of leadership, though, it is about working effectively with people.  And this is where some pastors lack.  As I studied business and leadership, I started learning the excellence with which the business world approaches...business.  Yet, the church on the other hand, sometimes settles for mediocrity.  Some churches are still stuck in the mentality of "this is how we've always done it".  I believe the church must be just as excellent in its mission, especially if it is to impact today's world.

Late last year, after spending two quarters of study in post graduate (doctoral) studies in management (leadership and organizational change), I once again had a clear sense of direction that I was to go back to a path of study I had taken way back in the late 90s.  I enrolled into my current Worship Leadership & Theological Studies program.  I did so because I felt that I have built a good foundation of business principles and leadership, and now I need to develop the church-related studies.  Somehow I believe that my place of purpose is to integrate these two concepts.  What I'm finding is that as I relate to my current studies and get asked to discuss topics, I have a completely different perspective - one I believe can make a difference.  But I know my place - I am about my Father's plan.  Stay posted...this is a journey in progress.

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I recently started a new job closer to home.  For the past few weeks, I've been driving past this sign on my way in to work and couldn't help but find humor in it.  The placement of the sign and a certain boulder have provided daily laughs.  I finally decided I needed to just capture it and share it with friends and family...for whatever it may be worth.  The sign I'm referring to is a "Speed Bump" sign.  There is actually a normal speed bump across the street right by the sign, but the placement of the sign and the boulder seem more "catchy".  Here's what I'm talking about.

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It's been no secret that I really have come to enjoy photography.  I have no delusions of grandeur.  My love for photography does not go so far as having ambitions of having fancy portfolios.  I consider myself simply an enthusiast.  Yes, I have a handful of cameras and even lenses, but all that means is I have invested into perhaps my favorite hobby.  Over the years, the iPhone has led to so-called iPhoneography.  I figured, I own an iPhone and I enjoy photography...why not take on this "trend" and offer my own interpretation of it.  What I discovered is that iPhoneography is not just simply using the iPhone's own camera to capture photos.  While it may certainly include that, it goes so far as to incorporate various photography apps, and then manipulating a photograph using one or more of these apps.  One only need search the iTunes App Store to find myriad photography applications.  For someone who considers himself just an enthusiast and does not quite yet understand some of the intricacies of some of the many applications out there, I figured I'd list some of my favorites.  As this new year started, I decided I would try and make use of my iPhone's camera and use some of the apps I've downloaded.  Here are some of my faves:

• Instagram: This app is very simple to use.  It really is just about taking a photograph and applying one of several filters such as the Kelvin, Nashville, Hudson, Lomo-fi, and others. Once you've applied the filter of your choice, you add a caption and maybe your geotag and share it via your Instagram account.  Instagram is a photo-based social network.  Think of it as sharing your work for others to see your art.
• Hipstamatic: This, by far, is my favorite.  I like the idea of paying homage to the old plastic cameras where the user had to wind and unwind a roll of film.  This is Hipstamatic.  The folks at Synthetic have provided us with several photo-paks.  Recently they even brought back some limited-edition favorites.  The idea of this app is to take a roll of film of your choosing - and there are several to choose from - and combine it with one of several lenses, flashes, and maybe even a camera case.  The results are awesome! I truly have come to love, love, love my Hipstamatic app.
• Snapseed:  This app was named the iPad App of the Year for 2011.  I have to say the "award" is well-deserved.  With Snapseed, I have been able to either take a photo or upload one from the iPhone's library, run it through several editing features.  Some of these include making adjustments to exposure, saturation, and even applying tilt-shift effects.  There are also some vintage effects available, but I have found that other apps have a bit of an edge when it comes to some of the vintage filters.  Nonetheless, I would highly recommend Snapseed as a must-have on your iDevice.
  
• Pixlr-o-matic: If you like retro, lighting, vintage, and frame effects, then Pixlr-o-matic is an app that will not disappoint.  While I enjoy the various filters, lighting effects, and frames that are available through this little app, the one complaint I have about it is that you have to spend quite a bit to have many of these.  Granted, the app itself is a free one.  But there are several filters available, and each comes at a price.  I read somewhere that Pixlr-o-matic is the most expensive free app out there.  This drawback aside, though, I really like this one and you might too.
• FX Photo Studio: I didn't start using this app until recently.  But the more I use it, the more I like it.  FX Photo Studio has some features allowing you to add text labels to your photos that add a nice element of pizzazz.  There is also the ability to manipulate color without having to really use another app...if you want to do so in this same app.  There are also quite a few filters as well.  Some of these include the "frosted window", and even some bubbly-looking effects.  Of course, there are also some frames to choose from.
• HDR Fusion:  Then there's HDR.  What does HDR mean? The acronym itself stands for High Dynamic Range.  The results are stunning.  A good place to start is with Trey Ratcliff's work.  The images can truly be amazing.  HDR, as best as I understand it, is about manipulating the light and dark areas of a series of images to obtain a greater "dynamic range" than you could possibly get with just the original image.  Nope! I'm nowhere even close to pontificate on HDR photography, but this app is decent in rendering some HDR-ish photographs.  I don't use it often, but for now, it remains in my library.

There are several other photoraphy apps on my iPhone.  Some include BlendMaster that I occasionally use to do some blending and masking of images.  I also like the Diptic and Picture Frames app that allows me to put together some collage-like combinations.  The ones I highlighted above are some of my favorites.  Yes, I've hopped aboard the iPhoneography train.  I am having quite a blast with it.  Feel free to offer other helpful resources that showcase iPhoneography.  I'm always looking to appreciate other people's art. Cheers!

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The story of Lazarus, as found in John's narrative, has always been one of my favorites.  I have often come to this passage of Scripture and meditated on these verses, contemplating the significance of this event.  This narrative features the shortest of all Bible verses - John 11:35.  Bible scholars have suggested that this short verse points to a close friendship between Jesus and Lazarus, as well as his family.  But my point is not to exegete these verses.  Nonetheless, what if these men (Jesus and Lazarus) were indeed friends? That seems to lend credence to the reason for a sense of wonder that Jesus did not speak the word to heal Lazarus.  Instead what we find is this: John 11:21 (NKJV), "Now Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.'"  It's okay now.  You can admit that you may have echoed similar thoughts.  I can think of some:

• "Lord, if You had intervened, my son (or daughter) would not have gotten messed up with drugs."
• "Lord, if You had provided, my house would not have foreclosed."
• "Lord, if You really love me, why did You allow this abuse?"

John 11:4 answers these self-centered questions.  Here's the bottom line - it is NOT about you...or me.  Jesus said it best.  He simply said, "...but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Let me repeat it again - it is NOT about you.  It is...for His glory! We waste so much time bogged down with asking "why".  This is really what Martha did.  She could easily have said, "Why Lord? Why did You let my brother die?" Think of how much farther ahead we can get when we move past the asking of "why" to asking instead "what now".  That simply means acknowledging that something happened, but move on.  What now? This mindset moves you to action...or at least it should.  Remember, it is for His glory.

Watch this though.  There's a place in the story of Lazarus that bring me great joy.  It is not always talked about...most will pay more attention to the death and resurrection of Lazarus.  But watch John 12:2 (NKJV), "There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him."  Yes, that's the same Lazarus that was raised from the dead a few days earlier.  He's now sitting by Jesus, the Messiah.  I can think of a parallel.  Revelation 19:9 (NKJV), "Then He said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" There is a day coming when all the sufering of this age will end.  Maybe this is why Paul wrote, in 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV), "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."  The affliction of the death of Lazarus was momentary AND light when compared to the glory of his resurrection.  Later he was sitting with Jesus at a supper prepared FOR Jesus.  One day we will trade these afflictions for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  Interestingly, we will also be sitting with Jesus at a supper He is preparing for us.

I'm not trying to minimize the agony of what you may be experiencing in your own circumztances, but be encouraged with an eternal promise.  This may not be what you want to hear, but it is NOT about you.  It is for His glory.  Here is what that eternal promise can look like for you, my friend.  Remember the words in John 12:2 and think of the significance of Revelation 19:9.  Now, try to re-write your own paraphrase to John 12:2.  It may look something like this - "...but (insert your name here) was one of those who sat at the table with Him."  Be blessed!

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One Psalm that I have been speaking during my prayer time is Psalm 139.  I particularly like how the New Living Translation puts these verses.  For example, Psalm 139:1 - "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me."  Or how about Psalm 139:5 - "You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head."  Maybe Psalm 139:7 - "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence."  But my favorite verses are Psalm 139:13,14 - "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex.  Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it."

Make praise a foundation in your prayer life in 2012.  By the way, consider this - the way you pray tells a great deal of how you view God.  Be blessed!

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As last year was coming to a close, the idea of intentional living started to consume my mind.  I felt compelled to begin studying this concept.  What I found was Dr. Randy Carlson's website on The Intentional Life.  I took away the simplest of lessons - set a goal and make a list of "one things" that I can do well to help achieve that goal.  I figured I'd put this into practice throughout this new year.  However, I didn't expect to read a brilliant post from Michael Hyatt on how to make one's new year's resolutions stick.  Between Hyatt and Carlson, I felt empowered and equipped to take on 2012 with purpose.

Hyatt offers four very insightful strategies on setting resolutions.  These are as follows: (1) have just a few of them, (2) make them S.M.A.R.T. goals, (3) write them down, and (4) make them public.  I figured I'd start with the latter two, and through this medium, knock those out right away.  My hope is that those of you who might choose to follow me will help to keep me accountable in accomplishing these goals.  I thank you, in advance, for being that proverbial accountability partner.

That said, here are my New Year Resolutions for 2012:

• Read (and study) through the entire Bible by December 31, 2012.  I run an amazing Bible program on my MacBook Pro called Logos Bible Software, and it has some Bible reading plan tools available.  However, I really like the reading plan options available via YouVersion.
• Lose 50 pounds by June 30, 2012.  This is equivalent to losing just over 8 pounds per month.  That's pretty doable, right? A healthy diet and regular exercise will see me through.
• Write 104 blog posts by December 31, 2012.  Yes, I've tried my hand at blogging several times before.  My goal is to follow through this time.  My goal is two blog posts each week...maybe more.

So there you have it.  I am extremely excited about what God will do in me and through me this new year.  I hope you'll join me in this adventure.

Happy New Year!

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