charlieDEAN’S Blog

Remember the story of Gideon from the Bible (Judges 6)? God tells him to do something, but Gideon lacks confidence, or clarity and so he tests God.

I was listening to this in the car the other day on the way to work and it struck me…no where does it record that God gets upset. Gideon asks the LORD not to get angry (v. 39), but it never tells us that God was in fact upset.

(Funny how I’ve always gotten the impression that Gideon was in the wrong here. It seems to me, the people that have taught this passage to me have always emphasized that Gideon had little faith — but the TEXT doesn’t demand that we be scornful of Gideon.)

Frankly, there have been times in my life where I’ve felt like Gideon — I lack confidence, I’m not real clear on a course of action — and I’d like to put out a test for God — just to make sure that we’re on the same page. But I’ve always thought that it was wrong. I’m changing my mind.

What do you think?
Can I test God?
Who makes up the tests? Me? God?

What if I’m like Gideon and after one test, I decide that I need another…at what point have I gone too far. (by my count, God had to prove himself to Gideon 3 times).

Remember the story of Gideon from the Bible (Judges 6)? God tells him to do something, but Gideon lacks confidence, or clarity and so he tests God.

I was listening to this in the car the other day on the way to work and it struck me…no where does it record that God gets upset. Gideon asks the LORD not to get angry (v. 39), but it never tells us that God was in fact upset.

(Funny how I’ve always gotten the impression that Gideon was in the wrong here. It seems to me, the people that have taught this passage to me have always emphasized that Gideon had little faith — but the TEXT doesn’t demand that we be scornful of Gideon.)

Frankly, there have been times in my life where I’ve felt like Gideon — I lack confidence, I’m not real clear on a course of action — and I’d like to put out a test for God — just to make sure that we’re on the same page. But I’ve always thought that it was wrong. I’m changing my mind.

What do you think?
Can I test God?
Who makes up the tests? Me? God?

What if I’m like Gideon and after one test, I decide that I need another…at what point have I gone too far. (by my count, God had to prove himself to Gideon 3 times).

In my ministry experience thus far, the moments are rare where you can just sit back and laugh at what God is doing. (I’m not complaining…I’m just saying that often ministry feels hard…like you’re running uphill in a freezing rain.)

Tonight we laughed…a lot. God is blessing us. We’re doing the same things…maybe we’ve gotten a little better, but not this much. Tonight it seemed to me like we set up way too many chairs (105?)…we had too get out more (92 people). What?!

It’s so good to stand in a place where I can only laugh at myself and say…”Only God can do this — it really, really, really has nothing to do with me.”

[Thank you God, for this moment in my life. Thank you for your blessing on this ministry. Please don't stop. Help us to be faithful to what you've given.]

In my ministry experience thus far, the moments are rare where you can just sit back and laugh at what God is doing. (I’m not complaining…I’m just saying that often ministry feels hard…like you’re running uphill in a freezing rain.)

Tonight we laughed…a lot. God is blessing us. We’re doing the same things…maybe we’ve gotten a little better, but not this much. Tonight it seemed to me like we set up way too many chairs (105?)…we had too get out more (92 people). What?!

It’s so good to stand in a place where I can only laugh at myself and say…”Only God can do this — it really, really, really has nothing to do with me.”

[Thank you God, for this moment in my life. Thank you for your blessing on this ministry. Please don't stop. Help us to be faithful to what you've given.]

Recently, God has been blessing our ministry — throughout the fall we’ve seen crazy growth both in terms of the number of people that attend our weekly gathering and also in the amount of energy and buzz about Nexus (I know that the second one isn’t really quantifiable…sue me.)

I told some friends, it really is some of the most exciting times I’ve had in ministry.

But there’s always a price. And the price tag for this is that my schedule is filling up faster than it ever has and I’m learning that I need to block out chunks of study and message prep time well in advance or they fill up quickly. And I’m learning that I can’t be everything to everyone (not an easy lesson for a people-pleaser!)

Good lessons, all!

On top of all that in my “professional world,” as we near the end of Jen’s pregnancy, I find myself doing more and more at home — kids need rough-housed, dinner needs cooked, kids to put to bed, etc. — and I’m fat because I don’t have time to excercise (and I love baked goods & chocolate) — and I’m just plain worn out!

Recently, God has been blessing our ministry — throughout the fall we’ve seen crazy growth both in terms of the number of people that attend our weekly gathering and also in the amount of energy and buzz about Nexus (I know that the second one isn’t really quantifiable…sue me.)

I told some friends, it really is some of the most exciting times I’ve had in ministry.

But there’s always a price. And the price tag for this is that my schedule is filling up faster than it ever has and I’m learning that I need to block out chunks of study and message prep time well in advance or they fill up quickly. And I’m learning that I can’t be everything to everyone (not an easy lesson for a people-pleaser!)

Good lessons, all!

On top of all that in my “professional world,” as we near the end of Jen’s pregnancy, I find myself doing more and more at home — kids need rough-housed, dinner needs cooked, kids to put to bed, etc. — and I’m fat because I don’t have time to excercise (and I love baked goods & chocolate) — and I’m just plain worn out!

Don’t have much to say…
Except that yestderday was a rough day…

….for guys named Jake.

(although…so many things went wrong — but he’ll get the blame!)

Here’s what Bernie Lincicome from the Rocky Mountain News said, that really sums up the bitterness that I feel:

This one was worse than either of those bad surrenders to Indy, for it was a clear rout by a team no more fit for glory than the Broncos. The Steelers now become the favorite for the Super Bowl, like being the largest knuckle in a fist.
This one was worse because the Broncos played like the team that had never kept its breath or made a first down or left a quarterback in a cast. This one was worse because the team the Broncos lost to was facing its third road game in a row.
The Steelers, a collection of crude craftsmen, not an artist among them, were not particularly brutal or especially inspired. They were dogged and competent, as the Broncos were supposed to be, immune to altitude and calamity, grotesques in ghastly Halloween colors, while the Broncos played like a team full of fog and excuses.
Maybe the truth is this simple: The Broncos lost because they were not good enough to win.

For the whole article, follow this link.

Don’t have much to say…
Except that yestderday was a rough day…

….for guys named Jake.

(although…so many things went wrong — but he’ll get the blame!)

Here’s what Bernie Lincicome from the Rocky Mountain News said, that really sums up the bitterness that I feel:

This one was worse than either of those bad surrenders to Indy, for it was a clear rout by a team no more fit for glory than the Broncos. The Steelers now become the favorite for the Super Bowl, like being the largest knuckle in a fist.
This one was worse because the Broncos played like the team that had never kept its breath or made a first down or left a quarterback in a cast. This one was worse because the team the Broncos lost to was facing its third road game in a row.
The Steelers, a collection of crude craftsmen, not an artist among them, were not particularly brutal or especially inspired. They were dogged and competent, as the Broncos were supposed to be, immune to altitude and calamity, grotesques in ghastly Halloween colors, while the Broncos played like a team full of fog and excuses.
Maybe the truth is this simple: The Broncos lost because they were not good enough to win.

For the whole article, follow this link.

So here’s the thing. Jennifer and I are both pretty committed to getting out of all debt (except for our house of course, although if we get a windfall and can pay off our mortgage, that would be great!). Obviously, with my line of work, we’re not exactly rolling in extra money, and so we have to get creative here. Actually, the only things we owe on are our van and we owe back Jen’s dad who helped helped us out when our car went down in a bad way this summer.

Here’s our three strategies:
1. We went through the house last night ruthlessly eliminating clutter (actually we just worked through one closet) and we’re “ebaying” everything in site. A warning to friends: if you visit us, you better not leave anything behind, or it may get “ebayed.”
2. Living simply. For example — we don’t have internet at home. It KILLS us (you can’t even imagine)! But, we’re willing to suffer for a while to get things taken care of.
3. The “X” factor — I’m trying to come up with some ideas here, but what we’re talking about is ways to earn extra income. For example, I’ve built my kids a set of bunk beds and a heavy-duty play table, both of which I could probably sell for good $$, I’m just not sure where the market is.

Anyway…I’m talking about money @ Nexus Sunday night, so it’s on the mind right now so I thought I’d share!

So here’s the thing. Jennifer and I are both pretty committed to getting out of all debt (except for our house of course, although if we get a windfall and can pay off our mortgage, that would be great!). Obviously, with my line of work, we’re not exactly rolling in extra money, and so we have to get creative here. Actually, the only things we owe on are our van and we owe back Jen’s dad who helped helped us out when our car went down in a bad way this summer.

Here’s our three strategies:
1. We went through the house last night ruthlessly eliminating clutter (actually we just worked through one closet) and we’re “ebaying” everything in site. A warning to friends: if you visit us, you better not leave anything behind, or it may get “ebayed.”
2. Living simply. For example — we don’t have internet at home. It KILLS us (you can’t even imagine)! But, we’re willing to suffer for a while to get things taken care of.
3. The “X” factor — I’m trying to come up with some ideas here, but what we’re talking about is ways to earn extra income. For example, I’ve built my kids a set of bunk beds and a heavy-duty play table, both of which I could probably sell for good $$, I’m just not sure where the market is.

Anyway…I’m talking about money @ Nexus Sunday night, so it’s on the mind right now so I thought I’d share!