Day 2 of 30

I've been reading The Shack by William P. Young. I'm not a huge fiction reader. I may read one fiction book every two years. I make like details in real life but the amount of time a good author takes to describe scenery, environment or mood is too much for me. Just give me the facts.

However, this book came highly recommended by several people. A few of them said it has challenged them more than most other books have. So I figured I would give it a chance. I read chapter three and part of four today. I don't have any profound thoughts so I thought I would share some quotes from the forward that I love.

I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing, and I know that grace rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside. (page 11)

Of course, God might be there even if you don't believe in Him. That would be just like Him. He hasn't been called the Grand Interferer for nothing. (page 12)

I'm actually going to go finish chapter four right now. That right there should tell you something about the book.

Fear of Failure

I posted last night about my greatest fear being the fear of failure. I just finished watching Rob's message from this week. He did an incredible job. Here are a few things I walked away with.

• Rob used my favorite Chronicles of Narnia quote, which was a good reminder. Aslan tells Lucy, "The older you get, the bigger I become." I love that!
  
• The tension between God's vision and plan for our lives and where we are now is called failure. That tension cries out for release.
• When we sit in the boat we don't build authentic relationships. We compare ourselves to others who are worse than us and avoid self-examination. We get distracted by things on the boat so we don't have to be reminded we are still on the boat.
  
• We have to redefine failure. Failure isn't falling down it is not getting up. The greatest failure is not even trying. I need to work on my definition.
• The fear behind every fear: I can't handle it. There is nothing my Abba can't handle.

Just like I anticipated Rob referred to the book If You Want to Walk on the Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. I've read the book a couple times and have been challenged every time. I plan on looking over my notes from the book over the next week. May be I'll share some thoughts on them later.

Workout Party

I just got back a little bit ago from my first workout party with Brooke Curry. She is the greatest! I've been talking to her for a long time about the benefits of working out and my hatred for the traditional "work out at the gym" plans. After hurting my ankle this spring, I realized just how much I needed to work out. That injury slowed me down immensely and the recovery has been slow.

Finally, I decided I needed to just get a plan and do it. She came up with a perfect solution. She became my personal trainer. Once a week I meet her at the gym and we work out for about an hour. The workout she developed for me is perfect. It focuses on strengthening my weak ankle, improving my balance, building my arm strength for conducting and staying flexible. The hour flew by.

I was so nervous about being able to keep up with her. She is phenominal coach. If you live in this area and are struggling to get moving, you should stop by Anytime Fitness and talk to her. It is worth it. Seriously, if I can do this...anyone can!

Biggest Fear

My biggest fear in life is failing. Today is September 1st. The first day of the 30 day challenge and I already forgot! This is not good.

I looked at my series postcard for our current series at church and noticed this weekend wa on fear. I also noticed in the Grange Notes online they recommended the book "If You Want to Walk on Water, You got to get Out of the Boat." That book and I have gone to war.

I'm going to watch the service online tomorrow night. May be I'll pull that book out too.

Great Road Trip

It was a short road trip but a fantastic one. There is so much I can write about so I'll do a quick bullet list to prevent this from becoming a novel.

• Sitting in the drivers seat makes the ride a lot easier, especially when you have your iPod playing Rich Mullins
  
• We spent a lot of time near the Mississippi River. There are still several places that have sandbags piled up. I knew Anna was close to the river but she was a lot closer than I thought. The road that goes by her apartment was flooded in places just a few short months ago.
  
• Despite a major flood, downtown Hannibal looked great. There were no signs of having had a flood in the park by the river. I would like to go back to Hannibal when there was more time to see different things and climb Cardiff Hill.
  
• Worshiping at The Crossing, where Anna and Ryan attend, was a lot of fun. It was exciting to listen to their pastor challenge their congregation with a vision that is so similar to what SMT has been challenging us with at Granger. The story of their congregation is awesome. It is evident God is doing some amazing things there.
• My family is hilarious...crazy, but hilarious. So many funny moments this weekend. However, some of them still need to develop a love for Tyler Perry. Anna, Lois and I seem to be the only ones that understand his films.
• Aggie and Logan thank God for me and tell him they love me every time I pray. Taylor is growing up too quickly. Gwen thinks I'm crazy. She is too smart for her own good.
  
• Lois is having a baby...this can't be happening. She is so young, at least in my mind. She is a very cute pregnant women. Anna has gotten better at Apples to Apples, since she bought the game. Great, another game she can demolish me in!
  
• Saying goodbye was harder than it has ever been before. There were tears.