A moment to blog

So what's on my mind today..... well a lot.

#1. I still have to go into the bank to talk to someone about my mortgage/escrow. (In a nut shell the bank REALLY screwed up on last years "estimation" of my taxes... so much so that they want me to pay $2,300 this month and then the actual tax amount per month (which is an extra $120 a month).... I have to try and work something out so that I don't get screwed. Money is frustrating... owning a home is nice but frustrating.) I need to learn to actually give this to God because in reality I haven't. Catie was asking me "How much more cheap can we be?" (which would be possible but hard cause on most stuff we are SUPER cheap.) But I told her I think it may not be about how much "cheaper" we can be but to make us actually rely on God and his power. I think we need to put this in His hands... which neither of us do so well.

#2. Teenagers..... what the heck... super drama. I like being a youth leader but I couldn't do what Dave does... kids are tough. And crazy... I just wish that teenagers could think without their raging hormones/with the correct head. It is just rare you find a teenager that isn't self focused... that is why when you find them you think... this guy/girl is rare and really easy to talk to.

#3. Kids... I love my kids but I like time away from them. I hope I never get to the point where I can not let them go and do what they need to do. I pray that I parent lovingly enough that I trust my kids and believe that they will make the right choices. And if they do something stupid, I hope that they know enough not to do it again.

#4. The Church (as usual). I just pray that people see the Church as it was really intended. I pray that I see (and help to create) the church the way that Jesus intended it to be. I just pray that no matter what happens that I know the Church is about Jesus and the reality of living a life IN Jesus. It is not about the cool worship (although I do like worship), the slick videos (which can be helpful too), or how many people you get in on a Sunday morning. It is not about one person or a great speaker.... The Church is a place for YOUR Christian community to meet together to pray and learn and listen to one another. No more "big show" concept.... frankly I think that is dumb. (Although I think God will use whatever he can) The people who are not Christian you can bring to church but that shouldn't be the main goal..... I idea of a church is that what you get from others on Sunday and/or in your small group/kinship you need to take to others who don't know Jesus. It is that simple. Church is not about anyone thing or person and if it is take a good long look at yourself and the Church in the New Testament ( we aren't so different today... if fact we are almost no different).