**Mustard Seed Distributed**

Today, as I sat in my park on the banks of the river, I saw the first time this winter a complete ice jam as far as my eyes could scan. Up until this point it has either not been completely frozen, or too dark to see if it was, not sure which. But as the sun rose today, I could see, and it was all ice. I associated my place in life right now with that of the ice chunks. I am seemingly frozen in this place for now, and I await the time when God will thaw the frozen chunks of home sales and time to move. I look to the shores and see where I am now, and see the beauty of the lands around me. I look behind me and start to see the elements of time and space that only God could lead me to understand and identify as building blocks to who I am, where I am going, and who God wants me to be. Best of all, I look downriver to where I will one day meet up with His plan and His love and grace for my life. I need not paddle before He thaws the ice chunks that stand in the way. Yet, it is ha...

2.5 miles without a break on Wednesday night. Again, proud of myself, but I continue to see the bridge between my physical development and my spiritual development. The more disciplined I am in building my spiritual integrity, the more I make wise decisions and do right. The more disciplined I am with my physical development, the easier it is to run for longer periods of time. This week should be interesting, as I am supposed to run 2.5 miles three seperate times this week.....

Today marks a day in history that will be in every history book for the rest of time. Today marks the inauguration of the first African American President of the United States. I felt honored to stand in a hallway with almost entirely young African Americans. I nearly started crying as President Obama was sworn in and gave his speech to America and the world. In our messed up world, too many years have passed and too many oppression has been inflicted on the black man as well as many other groups in America. Today, I saw a glimpse of what Jesus sees. Opportunity to live freely and pursue your dreams. I saw hope in the craziness that African Americans have endured for too many years, and I saw flash before me some of the comments and attitudes that are still prevalent today in our society. Sadness lurks over my shoulder as I see the injustices. Then Briggsy challenges me to read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail.’ New rule-everyone should read this on ML...

If you have never read the story in Judges 7, get you a cup of coffee and a blanket (since it is 1 outside) and sit down and read it. I am feeling like Gideon more and more recently. This theme of God reducing numbers of (fill in the blank) seems to be happening in a lot of different things that I have seen happen on this journey. I have seen the kallens have to reduce their everything. I have seen pastors family reduce everything, and heck, let's just say that about everyone that has been involved in this plant. But I recall sitting in an empty apartment with kallen while he was doing a temporary job in the city last year, and him drawing correlaries between the size of Gideon's army and his finances. I see that more and more each day now in my life. Our house was just reduced $20,000 in price in order to try to sell it so that we can move this summer. And that is now about $100,000 less than what the house across the street sold for two and a half years ago. There ar...

There are a few men in this world that speak new truths into my heart and my soul when they 'preach' if that is the correct term. One of course is pastor ( Communitasnyc ), who has by his own recognition, gotten much better at the public speaking. I remember the first time I heard him speak, his points hit me in the heart, but the delivery was not the best. Now he is in my top three, maybe even number one. I sure do miss hearing him each week because I know he spends time with God when he is preparing, and I know he has worked very hard to do that without notes. Another person that speaks to my heart is Tim Keller, paster of Redeemer in nyc. He just hits every note whenever I hear a message from him. The books are a little too much without his inflections, pauses, etc., but great nonetheless. Lastly is Greg Boyd, paster of Woodland Hills Church in the twin cities. His ADD puts me on track and keeps me engaged in the message he gives. His humor slays me. His passion for follow...

Why is it so difficult to trust God? I acknowledge He created the universe, which includes me. I know He sent His son to save us. Truth. So this stupid house is for sale, and I just want someone to come and buy it. I want it to be overwith. And so I am hit with scripture: 1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." 1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I know God has a plan for our house. My prayer is that whomever buys it is blessed to live there and share memories with their family as much as we have over the last 6+ years. I pray that God will continue to use that house for His glory, no mat...

This week has brought much to the plate, and superstar even told me she knew it was coming. I don't know if 'coasting' is the right word, but the pressure has definitely been turned down for us in our journey to nyc. How is that you ask? Well, we knew that I would be working in the D this school year. We knew it looked like with my new job, I would probably end up in nyc opening a school. But that was not reality. Reality was (and is for now) that we still live in our suburban house we love that I got to build with my dad. Reality is that the time line was open ended. Well the pressure got turned back up this week. The week back to school after new years is always a bit more stress. People aren't used to getting up, doing work, etc. at school. PS-Thank you God for a career that allows time to reflect, spend time with your family, and enjoy the Christmas season like no other! But Superstar and I felt we needed to come up with a plan for the house if we are to ...

Today's workout in my quest from Couch Potato to 5K was the toughest step up that I have had to make to date. The first time I looked at it was on Sunday, and I thought the increments would me moderate, as they have been to date. Not so much as my friend benzr likes to say. I have been modifying the first day of this week which is basically running for the maximum time of five minutes at a pop. Today, which was supposed to happen yesterday but I was illin like a megavillain, the workout was walk 5 minutes run for 8, walk five minutes, run for 8. I have not run for 8 minutes straight since I was in high school. I was thinking I would not be able to do it, and honestly, I thought if I did it on the treadmill I would have to stop, I wouldn't make it. So I went up to my old school, and ran the halls. And I did it. I did it. I did it. I am proud of myself, even if I don't deserve it. So what did I learn from this? I learned that even if you think something is not pos...

Trust is a difficult and challenging idea and/or concept. In human terms, trust is something that is gained in my opinion. You earn someone's trust, it is not something you automatically absorb. You give them small opportunities to see if you can trust them, and when they earn small nuggets of trust, you are willing to trust them more with bigger things. Continued success in this area leads to a deep level of trust that is rarely ever even talked about, it is just a part of life and relationships with deeply rooted trust. For the last year and a half, God has continually told me to "Trust". Never really specific in what that means to me, but continually I hear Him say to me "Trust". And that I try to do, sometimes with great success, sometimes with great failure. But when I do trust God with some area of my life, I see His glorious magnificence shining on me in this world. Which, in turn, makes me want to trust Him more not only in that certain area, bu...

I am not certain how people that live in the 'real world' survive. Christmas has traditions for each and every family, society, area, whatever. For the kkft, it means that I don't have to go to work for a couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong, much is accomplished during this time. I enjoyed so much spending quality time with my beautiful superstar, my loving children, and all kinds of friends and family. God has blessed me so much, it is really kind of sickening to ponder. Why do I deserve all His love? Anywho-tomorrow is back to the real world. Thanks to all the slippies of this world that continued to work and serve my family and me over the break while we shopped, bowled, ate, drank, and were merry. Thanks to all the folks that I got to spend quality time with this break and thank you, God, for a job to go back to to start this year off right.

Welcome to the new year. The old is gone and the new has come. This is a chance to reflect on a year of life no matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what you do or believe. As I reflect on 2008, it has been one of the best years of my life. As I push the ripe old age of 40 soon, my life is grand. 2008 meant a lot to me and to the kkft. I can honestly say that '08 meant the most spiritual growth I have experienced personally. Learning to know God, obey Him in what He asks me to do, and loving Him more is a pattern that warms my heart and my soul, revitalizes me in a world of darkness and doubt, and pushes me through things that I could never do on my own. If you are not sure how someone grows closer to God, don't fret. I didn't know either, and I would even say to people-"I wish I could tap into the power of the Holy Spirit." Well, if you don't put into it, you're not going to get out of it. Imagine any relationship you have. ...