This side of Christmas...

Welp, Christmas has come and gone. It was here with a flurry as a blizzard blasted Ada with almost a foot of snow. This blizzard did shut the church down for our Christmas Eve Experience but it did not phase us for our Christmas Dinner for the Hungry. It was awesome seeing so many volunteers show up to help serve those in need in the Ada area. I believe the final number of deliveries and walk ins was around 400-500 people. It was awesome to be able to serve as the hands and feet of Christ on this day when we remember His birth. I am amazed to think that this idea was birthed in the heart of a child around 5 years old. It is amazing to think that God probably tried to pour this vision into so many leaders and adults in our area but we were too busy/distracted to listen to the calling of God but a child heard and ACTED on what God spoke. Thanks Dave...

Blessings,

Zac

Week in preview...

I am looking forward to the next few days... Yes Christmas is around the corner and I will see family and friends that I have not seen in a while but this year I am excited about the possibility of doing something different. On Christmas day I am working, not with other church's or as H2OChurch but simply with other believers as me and my family serve the needy on Christmas day. We will be feeding and delivering food to those in need on this day. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the rush and business of Christmas and forget what it is all about. I want to raise my kids in a mindset that Christmas is about giving back just like God gave His only son Jesus for me and you we should find ways to give to others in the hope that we can possibly share with them the greatest gift of all... JESUS...

12/10/09

Okay, I have shopped for 0 Christmas presents at this point and just got the Christmas tree up last night but I did do 3 miles of cardio today so that is a good thing:) December is flying by so fast that I am not sure what to think... We are less than a week away from our OPERATION CHRISTMAS where we are providing presents and care packs for 100 kids in need in the Ada area another week away from a party we are throwing for our little kids to celebrate Jesus's birth then Christmas eve Experience, then Christmas and all the craziness that goes with that plus serving food to the hungry Christmas day with DAVE-O and somewhere in all of this managing my mom walking through stomach cancer:( Even with all of this going on I am going to make sure to make time and pull away each day so that I don't just let the craziness control me but I find time with God in the day so that He can control me... Have an awesome Christmas season and don't be controlled by the things that don't need to be controlling you give the reins over to the one who can see what is coming down the road...

Blessings,

Zac

Blogging time...

Okay I have been out for a bit but hey it is just a blog:) Here are some highlights... My dad was diagnosed with cancer about 5 weeks ago and we were taken aback by that but we took it in stride and they removed his kidney and in turn the cancerous tumor, two weeks later my mom went in for stomach surgery and they found a tennis ball sized tumor in her stomach and they cut out 50% of her stomach. The tumor came back as cancer and now we are having to look at chemo and radiation. I am not really sure how I take this news because it is really scary but I am really bad about mentally checking out of tough situations and just walking through them and I kinda feel that I am doing this here and just taking it day by day. My wife has even asked me "Aren't you sad, and my response is yes but I just am taking it as it comes". I guess this is just a survival mode that we go into when things get tough... Today I have started my fight. By fight I mean my battle against what has happened to most of my family and that is putting on the weight and just settling. I have put on too much weight and now I am fighting back I have a target of being 185 by summer. I am doing this the old fashioned way of running, lifting weights, drinking water and eating better. I am really pushing myself to do this so I am laying off of most fast food and going to bed earlier so I can wake up at 6:00am to work out. I am excited about the next phase of my life, I graduate from EMT school in two weeks and will be doing that part time for a bit but I think I have a nack for it and really enjoy the this field. My wife and kids are healthy and I Praise God for that daily and I am part of a growing vibrant ministry that is about seeing lives changed for Christ, I don't think it gets much better than this.

God is good:)

Mountain Biking by Doug Fields:)

For years I’ve had buddies tell me, “You’ve got to get into mountain biking…it’s amazing! You’d love it! A lot of ex-athletes wind up doing it.” My usual first response is, “Who you calling an EX-athlete?” But my second response was always, “I’m too busy with my own kids’ sports to have one of my own.” That would usually shut them down for another year or two before they’d come back with that maniacal look and say once again, “Dude, you’ve got to try it.”


A couple months ago my doctor didn’t tell me to begin mountain biking, but he did say, “You’ve better find some type of exercise program that you like or you’re going to die.” (I’m not sure those were his exact words, but they’re close.) Then, I was dumb enough to tell my wife what my doctor said and she told me, “If you don’t find an exercise program you like, I’m going to kill you before you have a chance to die.” So with that external motivation I sent an email to some mountain-bike friends and asked if anyone had a spare bike I could borrow to get me started—they all replied in similar language, “Dude, yeah…awesome!”


So as I sit at the keyboard, I have less than one month under my belt into the “world of mountain biking.” I now own a bike (bought it from a friend); I also have a helmet, shoes, clothes, gloves, and most of the gear “required” for this sport. Basically, I have everything needed except for the cardiovascular condition, the needed skills, and the coaching.


After my first ride I realized mountain biking is not like the bike riding I did as a kid. It’s not “jump on your bike and ride all day.” It’s much different! In addition to the extreme terrain there are so many moving parts that add to the confusion: 3 front sprockets, 5 or 6 back sprockets (I can’t remember), 2 brake levers, and 4 shifting systems

My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.
I can already feel my cardio condition changing, but I desperately need the coaching to get answers to my questions.


You may be thinking, “Does this have anything to do with youth ministry or has Doug lost all blood to his brain?” Well, here comes the youth ministry connection. On this morning’s ride I began to think about how little I know about this new sport/hobby. I really need a coach. I have so many questions. I’m not sure when to shift on the hills. I apparently have a tubeless tire that I wouldn’t know how to fix if I got a flat. I have front shocks that need to be adjusted based on the terrain and I don’t have the slightest idea what to do. I fell off my bike today because I couldn’t unclip my shoes from the peddles when my chain came off the sprocket. My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.


As I was riding and wishing for a safe and caring riding partner/coach I began to think about the teenagers in our ministries. What are we doing with all their questions? Do we even know the questions they’re asking? Or do we assume they’ll catch everything about Jesus as they begin their ride with him?


Like I need a riding coach, teenagers need a Jesus coach. While mountain biking is much more complex than “jump on a bike”…so is following Jesus much more complex than a simple “come to church.” For a month I’ve been riding every day, tinkering around at the local bike shop, reading magazines and Web sites to try to find coaching tips, downloading trail guides to my iPhone, and asking a lot of questions… And I’m still confused, frustrated, and wanting someone to coach me. I want someone else to care enough to care about me.


Could it be that our youth ministries have become good at getting teenagers to come to church… but we’re not so good at coaching them on how to walk with Jesus? Then, if they don’t know how to walk with Jesus, they graduate from our ministry and graduate away from church. Do the kids entrusted to your care (as a youth pastor over several or as a volunteer over a few) know that you want to coach them in the ways of Jesus? Do they leave your youth ministry knowing that there is a caring, loving and available adult who wants the best for them? Who won’t laugh at their questions? Who will walk beside them as they struggle and fall? If so…great! Way to go! Those teenagers are blessed. But if not, what might need to change within your youth ministry and your personal leadership style so teenagers will know that they’re not a number to be counted or a seat-filler, but rather a young follower of Jesus who needs a little help with the call of Jesus to “follow me”?


Jesus spent most of his time with the few. Yes, he spoke to and fed the masses, but his most common audience was the few. Who are the few that need you right now? They don’t need to be invited to church, they need you…coaching, listening, loving, and caring you. Walking with Jesus is an adventure… but it’s one that requires more help and coaching than we’re probably aware of.

New Series...

I am pumped about the new series that will be kicking off in 1 week at H2OChurch called "GHOST". Lifechurch.tv will be diving into a 4 week series on the Holy Ghost... We will also be doing some awesome life changing messages with our H2OKids. I am looking forward to see what God is going to do in this next series.

Zac

H2OChurch Fallapalooza!!!

I am pumped about what God is doing at H2OChurch and how He is moving in awesome ways. November 8th we are kicking off the Fall with a blast out at Cornerstone Kids Ranch. Everyone is welcome and there are so many things geared towards our H2OKids that it is going to be incredible. H2OChurch will also be having a meet and greet with our new pastor that has just joined our team Gary Lukens and his wife Lanita Lukens. We look forward to this awesome evening of fun and fellowship. Don't forget we are taking our Engage ministry students to the nightmare October 30th as well...

Have an awesome day,

Zac

Mastering time and Influencing the World- 5 Things I’ve learned about time, focus and eating frogs

Here are some awesome thoughts from a workshop I attended this past week...

It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? Henry David Thoreau Before you begin scrambling up the ladder of success, make sure it is leaning up against the right building.Steven Covey

A. Find your focus. You are designed such that you will enjoy doing the very things that you can be the very best at. Successful people are those who have taken the time to identify what they do well and most enjoy. What are you uniquely gifted in and passionate about doing that will affect the success of your organization? What can only you do?

B. Eat that frog!

Mark twain once said “If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing it is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day.”

1. 1st rule of frog eating- Eat the ugliest frog first. You should always focus your best energies and abilities on starting and completing those key tasks that your unique talents and abilities enable you to do well. These are the task that will make the most significant contribution to your organization. Your ability to select your most important task at each moment, then to get started on that task and to get it done both quickly and well, will probably have more impact on your success than any other quality or skill you can develop.
2. Apply the 85/15 rule.
3. Delegate the tasks that someone else can do.

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. Carl Sandburg

C. Be a master Planner (and Calendar user)

1. Prioritize time with God, family and friends ahead of time, never letting people take that time.
2. Schedule large blocks of time
3. Discovering the time of day your mind works the best
4. Building space in your schedule- When your ambition ends with you, your ambition will end you. Ed Young
5. Plan to plan your week. (Every 10 minutes of planning will save you an hour of time)

D. Master email, don’t let it master you. 85/15 rule- 85% of constraints for you to achieve your goals are internal, within yourself. 15% are external.

1. Work offline, don’t lose your mind
2. Set times to check your email, etc.
3. Apply the 2 minute rulSet up folders, making sense of email
4. Train those around you and above you to give you space
5. Keep priorities straight with a task list

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time…. Being able to split up tasks and execute on them separates the men from the boys.

E. Keep priorities straight with a task list

1. http://www.todoist.com- 3 minute demo of todist at http://todoist.com/#start
2. One Note- for jotting random things

LOVE...

Wow, I have been hit in the face by this scripture:
John 13:35 "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
I look around and so many times I see us missing this. We are known that we are Christians because of our t-shirts or because people see us going to a certain church but our actions just don't line up with this. We walk out the door and talk about other people, are rude to our waitress where we eat, speak down to people and so on and so on... This saddens me because I see it in scripture very plainly that we will be known as His disciple by "HAVING LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER". This week my goal is that I will live this verse to the fullest. I will have love for my brother whether he is the guy that is homeless and I know hasn't bathed in a while or if he is a well known person in town and "POPULAR:as they put it in high school". They will get the same embrace from me because I am tired of being "CASUAL" about my Faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior... God is Good...

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T LIKE SOCIAL NETWORKS THEN DON'T WATCH THIS!!!

Sitting down for a bit.

Okay it has been a crazy September with college starting back, high schools and junior highs kicking into high gear once again and the big daddy of them all Pastor search team "we don't like the word committee". I am slowing down a bit today to sit at my computer and write a about what is going on. We have been searching for a new pastor to bring onto the team for a while now and PRAISE GOD we found him. I will give more details next week after we have done a formal announcement at H2O but man am I pumped about what God is going to do as we move forward in this next installment of this Amazing ministry. It is funny because we brought guys in from Chicago and Atlanta to interview and the guy God had for us was right here the whole time. I will give no more details until next week so stop trying to get me to leak it. STOP IT... Yesterday I had an awesome opportunity to play in a golf scramble with some fun guys and we pulled in 2nd place with 12 under par, that is right I said 12 under par. This was the funnest game of golf I have ever played and I was playing with some amazing guys. We only used one of my hits the entire game and it was a putt. Honestly it was a really close putt but the fellas let me try first and by the grace of God I actually sunk it. This was a fundraiser to raise money for the United Campus Ministry "UCM" a collegiate ministry at ECU that does some awesome stuff to reach out to the college students. Soon I am going to be pouring a ton of focus on our college campus to start having a strong presence on the campus. I am pumped about what God is doing in our ministry. One more thing, this Sunday we are launching 14 Lifegroups and they are going to be AWESOME!!!

Unity...

Last night I was blessed with the opportunity to walk into a church with several hundred others from churches all around Ada, Oklahoma and Worship God and at the same time break down "Denominational walls and church Pride" at the same time. We were not a bunch of churches coming together we were "THE CHURCH" coming together to worship God last night. I want to thank all of the pastors that I am blessed to work with in One Ministry, each one of them have a heart to promote GOD not their church and I love that about them and this ministry.

God is good...

A study on the "Good Samaritan" conducted at a Seminary... Thanks Paul E.

Darley, J. M., and Batson, C.D., "From Jerusalem to Jericho": A study of Situational and Dispositional Variables in Helping Behavior". JPSP, 1973, 27, 100-108.
This is the famous seminary experiment about the Good Samaritans.

Previous studies have failed to find a link between personality traits and the likelihood of helping others in an emergency. However, changes in the # of people present did have a big effect on behavior.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is an interesting example. What possessed the priest and the Levite to pass by the injured man by the side of the road? Possibly they were in a hurry and were filled with busy, important thoughts. Maybe the Samaritan was in less of a hurry. Or maybe the virtues that the religious leaders espoused were not something they followed themselves (unlike the Samaritan).

The researchers had three hypotheses:
1. People thinking religious, "helping" thoughts would still be no more likely than others to offer assistance.
2. People in a hurry will be less likely to offer aid than others.
3. People who are religions in a Samaritan fashion will be more likely to help than those of a priest or Levite fashion. In other words, people who are religious for what it will gain them will be less likely than those who value religion for it's own value or are searching for meaning in life.

Procedure
The recruited seminary students for a study on religious education. First they completed personality questionnaires about their religion (to help evaluate hypothesis #3). Later they began experimental procedures in one building and then told to go to another building to continue. On the way they encountered a man slumped in an alleyway (the victims condition is unknown -- hurt, or drunk?).

They varied the amount of urgency they told the subjects before sending them to the other building, and the task they would do when they got there. One task was to prepare a talk about seminary jobs, and the other about the story of the Good Samaritan. In one condition they told the subject they were late for the next task, in the other they said they had a few minutes but they should head on over anyway.

In an alleyway they passed a man sitting slumped in doorway, who moaned and coughed twice as they walked by. They set up a scale of helping:
0=failed to notice victim as in need
1=perceived need but did not offer aid
2=did not stop but helped indirectly (told the aide on their arrival)
3=stopped and asked if victim needed help
4=after stopping, insisted on taking victim inside and then left him.
5=refused to leave victim, or insisted on taking him somewhere

After arrival at the 2nd research site, they had the subject give the talk and then answer a helping behavior questionnaire.

Results
The amount of "hurriness" induced in the subject had a major effect on helping behavior, but the task variable did not (even when the talk was about the Good Samaritan).

Overall 40% offered some help to the victim. In low hurry situations, 63% helped, medium hurry 45% and high hurry 10%. For helping-relevant message 53%, task relevant message 29%. There was no correlation between "religious types" and helping behavior. The only variable that showed some effect was "relgion as a quest". Of the people who helped, those who saw religion as a quest were less likely to offer substantial help than those who scored low on this statement. But later analysis revealed this may not be caused be real religious differences.

Conclusions
Ironically, a person in a hurry is less likely to help people, even if he is going to speak on the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Some literally stepped over the victim on their way to the next building!). The results seem to show that thinking about norms does not imply that one will act on them. Maybe that "ethics become a luxury as the speed of our daily lives increases". Or maybe peoples cognition was narrowed by the hurriedness and they failed to make the immediate connection of an emergency.

Many subjects who did not stop did appear aroused and anxious when the arrived at the second site. They were in a conflict between helping the victim and meeting the needs of the experimenter. Conflict rather than callousness can explain the failure to stop.

Howdy Fair...

Today we did the Howdy Fair at East Central University and it was a blast. H2OChurch.cc handed out a package of Ramen Noodles wrapped in a flier that had the top 5 recipes for Ramen Noodles and on the other side there was information about our church. We handed out over 400 of these bundles and connected with tons of College students, it was an awesome time. I look forward to this semester and spending more time on campus connecting with students. God is good...

One of my favorite verses...

I received this verse from YOUVERSION.COM if you have not downloaded it to your computer and/or smart phone yet do so today.

Blessings,

Psalm 15
A psalm of David.

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Last night & This morning...

LAST NIGHT:
Last night was Awesome taking the 4th - 6th grade kiddos at H2OChurch.cc to a Redhawks game in bricktown. I am a little confused I thought the Redhawks were the Rangers minor league team but it appeared they are the Red Sox minor league team... We all had a blast watching the game, eating ball park hot dogs and soo much more. Don't miss signing up your kiddo's for our next trip as we get geared up to go to the OKC ZOO and SPEND THE NIGHT... That is right I said spend the night at the OKC Zoo and take a MIDNIGHT TOUR of the Zoo. It is guaranteed to be AWESOME...

THIS MORNING:
Okay I have gotten out of shape physically and this morning I spent 1 1/2 hours in the gym lifting, running and dry heaving. This is no fun but unless I want to continue to grow until I cannot walk I have to make a choice. The same is true in our spiritual walks as well. A few months ago I was noticing that my daily time with God was feeling empty so I shifted gears and started writing the bible which I have found takes WAY longer than reading it but I retain more and get more out of it. For me this has been a big encouragement during my time in the word. I also encourage you to find ways to serve, the funny thing about serving is that no matter what you are doing the one who is impacted the most is YOU!!! SERVE...

The Moments...

I remember growing up and not having a lot, okay this is not going to be one of THOSE I walked to school 8 miles barefoot stories just hang in there. One summer my mom, aunt, brother, sister and myself went on a vacation in a truck with a bed cover. We threw a mattress in the bed and the three kids rode back there and the only air conditioning came from the front of the truck through a sliding back glass. If at any time we got caught fighting or getting too loud they would shut that glass. This would actually be similar to how they transport illegals across the boarder of Mexico. I remember getting spanked every single day for my mouth, my sister telling complete strangers that there was no adult male with us and my mom and aunt freaking out, myself jumping into a hotel pool and not knowing how to swim and sinking to the bottom where a complete stranger jumped in and saved me "I then got a spanking, my sister throwing up at Carl's Bad Caverns in the elevator "I made fun of her and got spanked", driving within 5 miles of Billy the Kids grave and my sister crying about feeling sick and TURNING AROUND AND HEADING HOME "YES I am still bitter", and so many more memories that will forever be etched in my mind. This was the most gehto vacation I have ever been on but it was the most memorable as well. So many times we get so consumed with doing what everyone else is doing no matter the cost or the amount of debt it puts us in. I know that was me and praise God he is changing that mentality in me and through the teachings of Dave Ramsey I am heading towards that moment when I scream out "I AM DEBT FREE". Memories are not determined by how much money you spend or how nice the car you took was they are made by the moments. Moments that etch into you and your child's mind forever. If you have not looked into the teachings of Dave Ramsey you have to check it out and find out where his classes are being held locally and SIGN UP. If you are in the Ada area we have three classes going and will be starting a new one in a month or so. My wife and I just finished up our 13 week class and within that time we saved and payed off above our normal payments $12,000.00. Before this class started we were living PAY CHECK to PAY CHECK and because we applied these principles, started living on a budget and sold everything including our dog we were able to something that I would have said was impossible. I am setting up a future for my kids where they start out their lives with these principles as a base for them instead of them having to try to learn it after they have been consumed by debt. If you don't do this for yourself then do it for those around you so you can be a difference maker in their lives. Don't miss out... God is Good... Peace Out...

z

Weekend Top Ten!

Okay here are the top ten things from this weekend...

1) A hand went up this weekend from someone saying Yes to invite Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.
2) We had and Amazing wrap up to at the Movies as Pastor Craig challenged us in an awesome way to step up in our marriages.
3) 305 people walked through our doors this weekend and there were many visitors.
4) We wrapped our Financial Peace University class that we were doing on Sunday nights and between 8 families we paid off extra and saved a total of $53,010 which is life changing. God is good...
5) We had awesome volunteers stick around to do tear down and clean up of At The Movies decorations.
6) This weekend I worked with a couple that were really struggling and they came to church for the first time in a while and the message was life changing for both of them.
7) We had Awesome volunteers show up to serve and give. I would like to give a special shout out to our Worship guys who are so STINKIN awesome. I would put them up there with my favorite worship bands and these guys have volunteered in amazing ways over the past 3 years. God is good!!!
8) My mom and dad were at church Together which may not sound like a big deal but trust me it is and I praise God for answered prayers.
9) I started a new fast from something that I feel has too big of a role in my life this weekend that will be for 40 days. I don't say that to brag I say that because I praise God for what He is doing through the ministry of LifeChurch.tv and H2OChurch.cc and if you let it sink in it will challenge you and I to do things that are bigger than just us.
10) I got to worship my Lord and Savior this weekend....

Chicken Burritos...

Last night was Awesome and today I am simply sharing how good God is. For youth we went door to door as a street mission to connect to the unconnected. I was so stinkin proud of my students as I watched them go up to perfect strangers and with passion tell them about our church and invite them to come and check it out. I know for those students this was a memorable night and was a faith builder for them. We got back to the church around 9:00pm to eat chicken burritos "$.89 at Taco Bell" and share about Experiences. Right then a new couple from the church showed up and I was blessed to talk with them for a bit but then I received a call about a family in the church that their kid was in a bad 4 wheeler wreck. I shut down my convo with the new couple and sent the youth home and then I headed straight for the hospital. I was broken inside for this family and prayed soooo hard as I broke the speed limit getting to the hospital. I was so glad to hear the the scans came back good and it was just surface injuries. Still going to be over 50 stitches but he was OKAY and talking and smiling with me. This was a great night of ministry and nights like this remind me of why I do what I do. GOD IS GOOD!!!

Z

FOUR!!!

Okay last week I pulled out my golf clubs and dusted them off, no literally I had to take a towel and dust off my clubs and I even had to Clorox my bag. It has been a couple of years since I played golf, maybe because I avoid it like the southern Malaysia bubonic plague. Myself and a friend decided to play a round after work at Lakewood here in Ada last week. The course was perfect for me but those that don't like water hoses going across the fairways and above ground sprinklers moving in your direction may want to stick to the more pricey places but I HEART Lakewood. I was very quickly reminded of how bad at golf I am, literally I stood at the first woman's tee box and I was practice swinging and lining up and then I looked back at my friend Michael and laughed and said I have no idea what I am doing so I just walked up to the ball and WHACKED it. I was PUMPED the ball went in the air, it very quickly made a right and then went directly into the woods and I mean WAY into the woods. Some may have seen that shot and thought "how sad" but for me I was pumped that the ball did not bounce along the ground like every other shot I have ever hit. You know for some my shot was UGLY but for me it was what made my day. Don't get me wrong by the 9th hole it was game Zac again as I hit 5 consecutive balls into the water but that ONE moment is what I remember the most. For me I look back over my walk with God and there have been many times that I have not made par but truly what I remember the most are the MOMENTS. The moments where God did something really cool like "break me" during a worship song, heal a young girl that the doctors gave a grim report about, restore a marriage that was broken, give me strength to serve when I am sapped, and SOOO much more. I praise God for the moments because for me I can sit back and remember them and praise God for them as I go along this journey of Life...

Peace,

Z

Running on Empty...

Yesterday I got a little frustrated when I got into my wife's car. Once again her gas light was on and the gauge was BELOW "E". I called her and asked her if she ever actually puts gas in her car or if she just trades me vehicles every time it is low so I will fill it up. I quickly apologized for the phone call and wrote in my little book of things I should never say or speak of again. Well I think she would not mind if I include this in this blogpost but I may be writting in my little book again after she reads this. I do hate that feeling though of getting in a car, having to be somewhere soon and know that you may or may not make it on what you have in the gas tank. I believe that MANY Christians live this way. I know I have many times in my spiritual journey tried to live this way. The feeling of Knowing you are on "E" but pretending you filled up you tank this morning. Knowing that spiritually I may break down on the side of the road and be unable to function at any moment but smiling like everything is perfect. In my wife's car I have to put my big boy pants on and pull into a gas station, get out of the car, pay for the gas, and PUMP IT. Just like my wife's car we HAVE to do the same with our spiritual lives. We have to put our big boy pants on and OPEN THE WORD OF GOD and let it pour into our lives. The funny thing about the Word of God is that the more you get of it the more you want it. So if you are "Hungering" for God then begin just diving into his word and let Him fill you. If you don't know how then find a good devotional or someone that can mentor you on how to get in the Word.

Z

Why Mormons Do Better Youth Ministry Than We Do

I came across this article and had to post it...

By Greg Stier


Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date. Although they are kind and well spoken young men, when they knock on our doors we either don't answer or tell them we are already Christians who reject Mormonism and bid them good day

Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date.

We think to ourselves how "behind the times" these young people are forced to be when they are required to do door-to-door evangelism for their religion. We reflect on how grateful we are that we have the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. We may even think about how much more superior our youth ministry strategies are compared to theirs.

Or are they?

* Mormons expect a lot out of their teenagers. We don't.
* Mormons ordain their young men into the ministry at the age of twelve. We don't.
* Mormons require their teens to attend seminary every day of high school. We don't.
* Mormons ask for two years in the field of every graduating senior. We don't.


Maybe that's why we don't meet a lot of ex-Mormons, while there are hundreds of thousands of former church attendees in the true church of Jesus Christ (of everyday saints) who flee the church after graduating from high school.

Maybe that's why Mormons give more, work harder and are exploding as a religion. In 1985 there were 4.5 million Mormons and now there are over 12 million.

When many of our teens graduate from high school, they grab their books and a beer and go off to the college dorm (A.K.A. "The Party Zone"). When Mormon teens graduate from high school they grab a backpack and a bike pump and go off on a mission.

They know what they believe and why they believe it. They've hammered out their theology on our doorsteps. Their souls and minds have been steeled and sealed into Mormon orthodoxy through their fanatical commitment to the accomplishment of their version of the Great Commission.

Meanwhile we compress most of our mission work into one week in Mexico once every year or two. And even that is comprised mostly of building houses, not necessarily advancing the kingdom of God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There's a great line in the movie Braveheart where Robert the Bruce is commenting on William Wallace to his father. He says, "He believes. I want to believe like he believes."

When I look at the Mormons I think to myself, "They believe. I want to believe like they believe." Now don't get me wrong. I don't want to believe what they believe. Mormon theology is far from what the Bible says about Jesus, God, sin and salvation. It is, by no means, a truly Christian religion.

Having said that, Mormonism pushes their kids harder and takes them deeper and farther than even the most ardent of evangelical youth ministries would ever dare.

Can you imagine a youth group that challenged every teen in the youth ministry to meet at 6am every day of the school year for a class on Christianity? That's exactly what Mormons do with their high schoolers and their belief system!

We get excited if once a year at 7:15am, while Mormon teens are coming back from their daily seminary lesson on Mormonism, our teens gather around a pole and pray.

I'm not saying that we copy the Mormons specific strategy. I can't foresee our teenagers racing Mormons to the door in a battle of the bicycles. Nor do I believe the answer lies in a daily early morning class. We don't need to copy their strategy. We do, however, need to adopt their philosophy.

We need to push our teens. We need to turn them into active activists. We need to build consistent opportunities for service, outreach and training. We need to equip them to share their faith and then go with them, leading the way. After all, we are youth leaders.

Somebody may accuse me of looking at this as some sort of competition. It is. We are in a competition with Satan for the souls of our young people. And we are getting our rears kicked.

My problem is not with Mormons. It's with us. Let's learn from the Mormons and turn our kids into missionaries. Armed with the power of the true gospel (not some aberrant belief system) our teens could mount a comeback and help us win this thing.

Game on.

Childrens Ministry

I have been pouring a lot of time and energy into our Children's Ministry this summer and it has been a blast. This is one group that purely chases after Jesus. Last night I was talking with a couple of them, not really about anything important just having a conversation when one of them looked at me with one of the most serious faces ever and said "Mr. Zac you have hair in your nose, thats weird". I then pulled the hair out of my nose and put it on him but you have to love their honesty not only with things you don't like but with the things of God. Last night we talked about the forgiveness of Christ. A week ago we had 20 kids give their hearts to Christ and I shared with them about how sometimes even as Christ followers they may mess up and "Sin again" but the love of God is His Forgiveness through Christ. Praise God... This has been Zac Christian and I am signing out... PEACE

Back in the Saddle...

Okay excuse time... 2 weeks ago I had me a nice upper respiratory infection, a sinus infection and some mucus thingymabob, then last week was Childrens camp and they wore me smooth out. Okay I have used my excuses but still I just haven't taken the time to blog. Welp this weekend was week two of AT THE MOVIES and Lifechurch.tv and Pastor Craig are doing some amazing things through this series. This weekend we saw three hands go up from people signifying they wanted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. I know people wonder why a church would do a series where so many movie clips are used or why would a church use money to decorate their Experience room for a series or probably a lot of other complaints that I don't care to know about. All I know is before Sunday morning three lives in Ada Oklahoma were heading for a eternity of separation from God in Hell and today they are destined for a place eternally with their Savior. I love this phrase "ANYTHING SHORT OF SIN TO REACH THE LOST". This week is chopped full of planning for student ministry stuff, childrens ministry stuff, and ministry in general stuff. It is always chaos ending the summer and beginning the new school year but what a great time to connect with people.

Zac

Great words from pasotr Perry Noble...

15. Am I Wanting A Nice, Quiet, Peaceful Life?

In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus clearly tells those He has called and gifted your life is not going to be one of relaxation and enjoyment on a consistent basis.

It amazes me the number of times Jesus clearly told people in the Gospels that following would cause controversies and divisions. If you want a nice, quiet, peaceful life, the ministry is not a place for that. We will experience family problems, we will experience emotional problems, we experience health problems, and we will experience spiritual warfare on a magnitude that most people cannot identify with.

When we begin to do effective ministry the target on our backs for every demon in Hell to take a shot at gets larger and larger so if peace, prosperity and niceness is something we achieve to, ministry should not be the road we go down. That is not meant to discourage anyone but to encourage you. When these things happen it probably means that God is doing something or getting ready to do something in your life that will blow your mind.

Jesus never promised us a peaceful life this side of eternity; in fact, He promised the opposite! We should not be surprised when all hell breaks loose…because it usually means the stage is being set for God to show just how AWESOME He really is!

16. Will I Trust God or Others for My Reward?

Jesus clearly says in Matthew 10:40-42 that there is some sort of reward for those in ministry. I believe there are rewards on both sides of eternity…the Bible speaks of this…however, rewards should NEVER be our motivation–JESUS SHOULD!

I would much rather hear the unfading applause of Heaven than the conditional applause of men. And…one of the dangers of ministry is that we can get so caught up in receiving attention and getting rewards from other people that we actually sell out Jesus (just like Judas) and turn our backs on the ministry that He has called us to.

One of the things that I want to hear from Jesus is “Well done my good and faithful servant.” And the way to insure that that happens is to not get caught up in what people are saying about me as a leader whether good or bad but keeping my eyes one Him and remembering He bought me, He called me and is THE very reason I am alive!

I am a servant of the MOST HIGH GOD…that is my reward…anything else is wood, hay and stubble!

The Dust...

After this weekends Experience I am thinking about how good God is. When I say that God is good and then list a bunch of good things I am not implying that He is good because all these great things happen because the reality is that even if these things did not happen He is still GOOD.

-> First it is truly amazing to see Him work through the volunteers here at H2OChurch.cc. 1. Worship: these guys are all volunteers that create an incredible Experience that I would put up against the top PAID worship teams in the nation, Love these guys, 2. Kids Workers: This is a VERY special group of people that walk through these doors every Sunday morning and SERVE SERVE and SERVE some more, THANKS GUYS. 3. Host Team: you never know what a warm greeting or a cold soda or a filling donut can do in someones life. I talked with a guy last week that sat with one of our Host Team and spoke with him for a while and after their visit he received $40 from this Host Team "stranger" and got prayed for. I was blessed with an opportunity to meet this guy who later that morning gave his heart to God and is bringing his family back with him "PRAISE GOD". 4. Experience team: Paid and volunteer guys, here EVERY Sunday to do an amazing job doing whatever it is you do behind that tall booth area. 5. H2Oers, you guys walk through these doors excited and ready and that makes ministry fun, I love to see you guys worship and talk to you about what God is doing in your lives... GOD IS GOOD...

-> Second, ONE PRAYER... We are hearing from the top communicators in the Nation and this weekend Andy Stanley brought it home as he reminded us the God is Certain. No matter what I am facing God has it in His hands... This series is seeing almost 2000 church's and over 1,000,000 people from around the world uniting for one cause and I am excited to see how God is going to move through this "movement"...

-> Third, My family, I love you Callie and thank you for being such an awesome and understanding wife. I believe that ministry is hardest on the family and I am blessed with an amazing one that walks this Journey beside me. I love you Callie, Ayden and Cate...

Now that the Dust has settled let us take what we received from the Word of God this weekend and live it out loud...

D-DAY

Sunday at 12:30 am I was awoken by my wife and son with a bag of Fathers Day gifts. Inside the bag was a shirt that my son painted and a dvd that my wife put together. I got out of bed went to the computer and played the dvd. It consisted of pictures of myself with the kids and at the very end my son Ayden singing me a song. He go a little confused and was singing happy birthday to you instead of fathers day but hey he is only 2 years old. It was honestly the coolest thing I have ever recieved. I was brought to tears seeing myself with my kiddos and realising how quickly time has already passed by. I pray that I don't waste a moment and enjoy every day with them. What can we do today to make sure we spend that time with those that matter the most?

Zac

This is the day...

I have to be very brief this morning I have a meeting in like 4 minutes. So I was thinking about a friend that has been having a really rough road lately and I was talking to him the other day and I asked him how his day was and he said, "THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE AND I AM GOING TO BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT". He inspired me in just those few words so no matter what you are going through or facing today let that phrase be the first thing that pops into your mind. BE BLESSED...

Peace Out,

Zac

FEAR FACTOR coming to H2O...

Okay maybe it wont be on NBC but it will be on "U MUST C" TV "Stolen from Jentsen Franklin". Okay I promise "NO MORE QUOTES IN THIS BLOG TODAY". Tonight at 6:00 pm H2OChurch.cc is kicking it at Wintersmith Park for the 3rd Monday night of H2O kids Summer Spectacular. See, I did not use quotes even though I wanted to. Tonight we will have tons going on, The FEAR FACTOR SCAVANGER HUNT is the focus but there will be put put golf, food and sooo much more. Come and hang with us tongiht as we fellowship together and bust open the Word of God.

Peace OuT...

Hut Hut...

Last night I had the most stressful dream ever and woke up very nervous. It started out with me and some friends just hanging out and then all of a sudden I got a call to come and quarterback the OU sooners in their big game against Texas. I was unable to make it to the game in time so they decided to hook up a device to their quarterback so that I could control him via my Xbox game. I proceeded with forgetting every controller action on the remote and I spiked the football like 5 times and could not kick a fieldgoal for the life of me "somehow I also controlled the kicker". I woke up very stressed out and also very thankful that it was only a dream. P.S. OU kicked Texas's tail. God is good.

Peace,

Feeling Defeated...

Okay I have to admit last night we just lost our "" well I am not really sure how many softball games we have lost so far but it is equal to how many softball games we have played. I will say this, it is a ton of fun and is better than sitting in front of the television or computer screen. Last night I got home and went for a walk with the fam, but Ayden filled his diaper and was walking funny and started saying "I POOPOO" over and over. Callie took him inside but I wanted to keep walking. I ended up doing over two miles last night and it was actually pretty easy. If I was consistant with that man I would be in shape pretty quick. I need to just make it a habbit. Welp, no softball game this Thursday night but oh well I am looking forward to next Tuesday. God is good...

Peace Out,

Slip N Slide...

Last night we had our Super Summer Spectacular thingy with the kiddos at H2OChurch.cc. Here is a small list of a few things I got to do that I don't do everyday. Get spun on a marrigoround, Spin kids on a marrigoround, Had a water balloon fight, get pelted in the eyeball with a water balloon, get owned in the kidney over 5 times by water balloons that refused to bust, run really hard at a slip and slide and throw my body on it without care, slide farther than any kid on the slip and slide and be covered with mud, I am sure there is more but I am kinda getting sore thinking about all of this. It was an awesome night and we talked about when Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed 5000. Our scripture memory is John 6:3 Jesus went to the mountainside and spent time with His disciples.

God is good...

SUMMER DAZE...

This past Saturday we dropped our kids off at Callies moms and met some good friends at Lake Arbuckle for an awesome day on the boat just hanging out. I have to admit I felt more refreshed this past Sunday than I have in a LONG TIME. It was a great day, Pastor Perry Noble brought an amazing message where we looked at remembering the "Life of Jesus" the "Death of Jesus" and the "Victory of Jesus". A truly amazing message that inspired and challenged all. I am excited as we continue over the next several weeks with our "One Prayer" series. Right now there are over 1700 churches united and almost 1 million people. I believe by the time this is over these numbers will have grown in amazing ways. I continue to sit back in awe of what God is doing in the Global ministry of the "Church". God is good. All the time.

Peace Out...

Vacation...

Okay I will give you a breakdown of my vacation week. Of course I am a genius and decided to take vacation when I already had memorial day off. but the other 3 days were completely packed with me putting siding on the house, cleaning out rooms in the house, burning brush and junk, mowing, weedeating, landscaping, setting up for Ayden's 2nd birthday party, figuring out how the goats were getting out, and finally a little fishing. I am proud to say almost every bit of this was done with my boy Ayden by my side. This was an awesome father son week. He would wake up and say "daddy me work OUTSIDE" I am truly a blessed man and I thank God for that daily. Have an awesome day and be blessed.

Zac

Getting in the WORD. CREATIVELY

CREATIVELY, I have always wavered in my routine/time I spend in the Word of God. Though I try to open the Word daily I struggle not only to do that but to get the most out of it when I actually do. Over the past few weeks I have started a brand new process for me and that is writing the WORD of God or I should say copying the Word of God. This has been TREMENDOUSLY helpful in not only getting into the Word of God but getting the most out of it when I am in it. Over a period of time of doing this I will have Copied/hand written the entire word of God and how awesome will it be one day when I am able to hand my son a bible that I have hand written. This has helped me in an awesome way, what are some things you are doing to get into the word of God.

Blessings,

Zac

STUFF

Late night last night working with the youth and then a early morning today eating breakfast with several pastors in the Ada area. Last night we started our new series with the youth "Baggage", over the next 4 weeks we will be learning how to dump the crap that life piles on and this morning I discussed with local pastors about a Corporate Worship Experience in Ada Oklahoma. Please be praying that God will be in this not only in the evening but the planning and the details. Thanks for all you do.

Blessings,

Zac

Faith

Luke 5:4,5

4 And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.5 And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.


I pray for this kind of faith...

TACO BELL

Today I am meeting with some of our students at H2OChurch.cc for a Taco and bible study "LIFEGROUP". I am pumped about this and how God is going to use this outreach to connect to students, not only the student leaders at H2O but those that will be eating lunch at Taco Bell looking on. I want to continue to get outside these walls and into the environment where people are. I know it is comfortable in our safe places with our safe people but what if we mixed it up and had our neighbors over for dinner, brought lunch to some of our co-workers, or just did something that was outside of the normal for us. I will let you know how today goes. Have an awesome day...

Blessings,

Zac

Amazing Weekend...

It would just not be right of me not to post about what God did this weekend. We had two Amazing Experiences this weekend as we remembered why we do what we do "Jesus's Resurrection". People packed out H2OChurch as we celebrated Easter weekend with 4 Baby Dedications, Amazing Worship, and the best Easter message I have ever heard. We celebrate with those that gave their lives to Christ and those that rededicated their lives as well. How awesome it is to see God move in such amazing ways. To God be the Glory Forever and Ever...

Blessings,

Proverbs 15

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. 18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! 24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. 25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. 31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. 33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Cate Is Here...

Cate came last Thursday at 9:38 in the A.M. She weighed 7lbs 8ozs and has an amazingly awesome personality already. She has rocked my world and it is awesome to see her and Ayden hang out. I have loved taking Ayden and just spending tons of time with him this weekend going hiking, playing, working on the house and looking for mushrooms, it has been amazing. It is definately different having 2 kids, especially with one of them being an infant but I must say having gone through the infant process once already it is a lot easier to do it now. I will be blogging a lot this week as I am getting back to the routine and now that baby Cate is finally here. Thanks for all your prayers. Oh yeah this Sunday was AMAZING, I love all my H2Oers out there you are all amazing and you guys showed up in force this weekend. Lets crank our some more proverbs this week.

Peace Out,

Proverbs 14

1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. 2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. 3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. 5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. 9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. 16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. 17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. 21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. 22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. 23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. 25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. 26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. 29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. 30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. 32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

BABY...

Update, Callie is at a 3 I have to be honest that I have no idea what that means nor do I but I do know that things are getting closer to baby time. Please pray that all things go smoothly. Have an awesome day...


Proverbs 13

1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. 3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. 6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. 7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. 9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. 11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 16 In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. 18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. 19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. 23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Bought and Sold...

Okay this past week our family went through quite the transition and when the dust settled all that was different was a goat. Of course I have already mentioned the goat thing in a previous post so all I am going to talk about now is the dog. A week ago my wife passed on the opportunity to get a free shih tzu registered puppy. I asked her what she was thinking and she said that we did not need a dog. I could not agree more I said but we could have sold that sucka. 1 day later I got word that the dog was still available and I snagged it up. Callie came and picked it up and I was going to post it on Craigslist that evening, unfortunatley by the time I got home Callie was already attached, Crap. After two short days of it craping and peeing all over the floor "THANK GOD FOR CONCRETE FLOORS" she was ready to give it away. So finally I got to put it on the "LIST" and it sold the next day for $200. Dave Ramsey is challenging me in so many ways financially and I will be debt free soon... Have an awesome day.

Blessings,


Proverbs 13

1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. 3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. 6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. 7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. 9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. 11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 16 In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. 18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. 19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. 23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Raquetball and beer.

The other day I was not feeling really good by any means but I was really craving a Root Beer and so I got one and downed it pretty quick. Right after that I played a hardcore game of cutthroat raquetball and immediatly afterwards I threw up all over the parking lot. I share that not for spiritual insight or anything like that I simply share that to let you know that root beer feels really weird coming out of the nose. Be Blessed.

Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. 7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. 9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. 12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. 13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. 14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. 15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. 16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. 17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. 19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. 20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. 21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. 22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. 27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. 31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

I bought a Goat...

Okay yesterday I bought a nice little Pygmy Goat. This may turn out to be one of the biggest mistakes of my life but I am hoping that it will keep me from mowing my back yard this summer. It was only twenty bucks and it feeds itself. Our dog in the backyard is lonely so hopefully this will also work out nicely for him. I just feel there is something that I am missing, something in the pit of my stomach tells me I am going to regret this purchase but I guess only time will tell.

Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. 7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. 9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. 12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. 13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. 14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. 15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. 16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. 17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. 19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. 20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. 21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. 22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. 27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. 31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

It is rainy...

It is rainy and I have a meeting in like 0 minutes so here is proverbs 3...

Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. 13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. 14 The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. 15 A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. 17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. 18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. 22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. 24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. 26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

DEBT FREE...

Okay not yet but I am working that way. I have been moved in awesome ways by Dave Ramsey and his challenge to be a great steward of what God has put in my hands. As of today I am restarting my posting of the daily Proverb, Dave says read one daily and I have gotten away from that in my blog but it is returning with vengeance today. My wife and I are selling our vehicles and I am Ebaying all of my junk "Bose sound system, guitar, video game systems, and maybe the dog I am not sure yet". I will keep you updated.....

Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! To him who lacks sense she says, 5 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Back in the saddle...

Hey guys I am back and ready to go... I actually am still a little under the weather "FLU" but I got stir crazy at home and had to get in the office. This past week I buried a friend of mine that graduated out of my youth ministry. He passed away at 22 years of age and will be sorely missed. He knew the Lord though and is in Heaven and that just simply ROCKS... This was my first official funeral and I have to admit it was tough but at the same time I was excited about it because he was a friend and I knew Jesus was his Lord and Savior. I also married a couple last Saturday, man this pastor thing is kinda surreal, I love it though. Well it is rainy and cloudy in Ada today but hopefully it clears up tomorrow because I am suppose to take the family to the Zoo... Have an awesome day.

Blessings,

NAME THE SHOW!!!

Okay a little trivia for all you... From what show did this phrase come?

eek a mouse yeah it was more like EEK A SEMI...

In The Blink Of An Eye...

This weekend the worship band was leading in the song "in the blink of an eye". This was an awesome song because I spent most of the weekend with a young man and his family as they went through surgery to repair his broken femur and his severly cut legs. I was thinking how it is just a moment away and I don't even have to have anything to do with it. It could be just someone going the wrong way in my lane of traffic and it is over. I asked myself am I doing what matters while I still have time here on this earth. I know this will be an ongoing thought with me this week but I just thought I would share. Also here is todays Proverbs, I am a little behind...

Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 4 To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9 They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, 21 granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

22 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

32 And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.

Dang Pride...

During this message series I have been trying to step up what I have been doing as a husband, attempting to be more intentional. This weekend I was working on the old house up to about 1:00am and I looked at my wife and was like "I AM DONE" I proceeded to walk away shower up and climb into bed. I knew this was not going to make her happy but I had been working on that house all day and at that moment did not care a whole lot. Later as I was laying there Callie leaned over and apologized for working me so hard. I AM A JERK, she did nothing wrong and yet was apologizing, me on the other hand. I was a jerk and rude and could not apologize, dang pride. We "hugged", seriously just hugged, I was stinkin tired and then we went to sleep. I encourage you, whoever you are, to heal a hurt today. If you need to go to someone that you have hurt and apologize then do it. It will honor that person but more importantly it will honor God.

Peace...

EEEEEEEK A CAT!

EEEEEEEEK a cat, that is what I just posted on some drawing to win a free trip to Chicago and attend a National Youth Conference. I find it funny because everyone was begging to win or quoting scripture about Jesus and stuff and that was what popped into my mind. What is wrong with me... Have an awesome day.

Zac

Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7

1 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.

10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 11 She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. 13 She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, 14 I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; 15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; 20 he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.

21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. 22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, 2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. 21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, 24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; 26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. 27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. 30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, 31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. 32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. 33 He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. 35 He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

Proverbs 5 and it is good to be back...

Zac is back and I am pumped... Sorry no posts last week I was in a hotel in TX and they had no WIFI... I do not understand... Anyhow I am back and here is Proverbs 5, You know what they say a Proverb a day keeps the ? away. Never mind here is Proverbs.

Proverbs 5

1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, 11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, 12 and you say, How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. 14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.

15 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. 20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? 21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4

1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.

10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it--when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.