I don't want my kids happy. I want them devoted.

So many Facebook memes, bumper stickers, and such tout the 'no matter what' commitment people proclaim that they will be sure their kids are 'happy.'

Don't get me wrong.  I am not against happiness for my family.  But I strongly believe that aiming at 'happy' as your target seldom yields happiness.

Devotion is the correct target.  Whether you are devoted to a hobby, person, or God... that devotion leads to solid and regular steps INVESTING in that relationship or pursuit WHICH YIELDS results.
And results (what the Bible often calls 'fruit') are the source and foundation for positive feelings.

My devotion to my savior, Jesus Christ, leads to daily times in the Bible to learn and grow AND to times of prayer and worship AND those stoke a heart that desires to LIVE like Christ.  So I end up serving others with a heart to serve them, rather than out of obligation.  I end up talking excitedly about Jesus because I know Him, rather than because someone told me I'd 'better' do so.

McClure kids - be devoted...  to Jesus.. to each other... to your mother and I... to your close friends and future families.  When we are devoted, our hearts are filled up.  When you choose devotion instead of happiness as your target, you will find both.
Aiming at 'feeling happy' can direct your steps to a lot of empty or harmful choices.
Aiming at devotion to right relationships can direct your steps to loving actions, positive attitudes, and selfless choices because that person is worth your efforts.

Be devoted.  Then you'll be happy.

Why would someone follow me?

So I am a leader.  Must be 'built it' because it happens always.  I am present... I lead.

Lots of times I've led myself or others very... poorly, harshly, controllingly.  Yet at other times, with God's grace and help, I've led myself and others... lovingly, wisely, and joyfully.

Why would anyone follow me?

"...follow me AS I follow Christ..."  You'll find this in Corinthians.  (go looking - see what else you discover)

'As I...'
When I am on track following Jesus...
At moments that He is clearly leading...
As I... follow Christ.

That's someone worth following - someone that is following Christ.
And that's the only way it's worth following me too.  'As I follow Christ.'

NOTE: I haven't blogged in a long time.  Not sure I'll upgrade to any more often.  But I hope each time I do, it's an encouragement and a challenge to you as you seek to follow Christ with greater devotion.

Pastor Phillip

"Oh... This old thing?!"

So blogging is fun for me.
So are jigsaw puzzles, disc golf, etc. - none of which has been 'on my radar' for quite a while.

The church God let's me pastor is growing and my family is growing and I'm trying to grow. So... blogging is definitively back burner for now.

I have no delusions of grandeur about crowds reading it. But for friends who might have come here recently (or today/...night), sorry. Hope to come back to it sometime. Just not a priority at this juncture of life.

Later. (probably much later),
Phillip

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perseverance

So I'm typing this from home.

Next to me on a stool is a notebook one of the kids uses for school.

It says 'carnivarious vulgarious' next to a pic of Wile E. Coyote.

Dude never gives up.

He's been blown up, beat up, shot up, outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and pummeled so many times.

And he tries again.

So many times starting over.

New plans, methods, and inspiration cartoon episode after episode.

I wanna be like Wile E.

Not so much the blow myself up or 'look like a fool' part!

The part where he gets up off the ground, no matter how ugly things get - and tries again.

I hope you'll do the same with your 'quiet time.'

I pray, literally right now, that our church can be a beacon of hope to all the wiley people around us - showing them that no matter how many times we 'fail,' we will NOT give up the fight.

I pray that we will keep picking up the Bible to read and keep praying for self and church and others.

To His honor.

For ministry to those around us.

Amen.

re-hab-it

So the new teaching series I'm preaching is another angle on the 'habits' any believer must practice to truly experience and enjoy authentic relationship with Christ.
There's tons of books on 'spiritual disciplines.'
I've even read some or part of several.
I benefited. Greatly.
This series doesn't seek to lay down the 'end-all-be-all' of spiritual disciplines.
But...
If you DON'T do these 'habits,' you won't be close with Christ.
Our first week, yesterday, we said that the 'h' is 'hang time with God' (credit to Saddleback for the framework).
We defined it as 'an intentional DAILY time of Bible reading and prayer.'
A real relationship involves time spent together and communication.
Hang time is the 'time spent together.'
The Bible reading is giving God the shot to speak to you.
The prayer is you speaking with Him.
Time together.
Conversation.
Without those, you don't have a real relationship. Anywhere. For anyone.
And with them...
You can have authentic relationship with the living Christ.
Read the Bible.
Pray.
Enjoy the conversation.

music!

Yeah, so I'm a big proponent of music.
I love to sing. To play guitar (as much as I'm able). To teach others. To listen to various genres (mostly)
And I love even more to take some of that music and worship Jesus Christ with it. Voices only, or full band rockin' out, or with a huge ensemble - I enjoy worshiping in music.
That's what was on my mind today.
hmm...