Men, are YOU prepared?

REGISTER HERE to be a part of this 10 week study happening on Second's North campus

Stating February 4th - April 15th / 6-7am / Tuesday mornings

"There comes into the life of every man a task for which he and he alone is uniquely suited.  What a shame if that moment finds him either unwilling or unprepared for that which would become his finest hour."  - Winston Churchill

I keep a pair of old shoes under my desk at all times here in my office at church, and yesterday I was glad that I do.  After heading home for dinner with Erin and the kids I rushed out of the door, kissing all of them on the way out, jumped in the jeep and raced back to church for a pre-marriage counseling session with one of our young engaged couples and a service afterwards.  As pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of the car, it hit me - I failed to put on my shoes before leaving home! Seriously? After commenting to myself how great my socks must be to have overlooked something like that on a cold day, the horror hit me - "I can't walk around all night in only my socks!" Then I remembered the shoes I had placed under my desk six or more months ago. I raced upstairs, laced them up, laughed at myself, and pressed on with the night! Was I lucky or Prepared?

Are you prepared to be the man has called upon you to be at home, at work, in your community? Preparation is key because we never know when the moment will come for us to man up, step out, and be who we must. What small investments are you making to be prepared when you are called upon to lead your family through a rough patch?

I challenge you men to make an investment this spring in your preparation. Join me as we walk through this 10 week study on what it means to "step up" as a man.  Learn more at www.mensteppingup.com

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Practical ways we can prepare today for tomorrow:

- Be in God's Word

- Be around God's people

- Be connected to God's church

6 things every Christian should do on Super Bowl Weekend

One of America’s biggest cultural events will occur on Sunday evening, drawing more than 100 million people to their televisions for the final matchup of the NFL season. But what does it mean to watch this game as a Christian?

“The Super Bowl, at the end of the day, is mainly entertainment – and of course it's a livelihood and a job for those people, and it can bring communities together," says Jeff Kemp, former NFL quarterback. "But it doesn't change lives; it doesn't heal a marriage; it doesn't pass on a legacy inside of a son or a daughter."

So what can you do this weekend to strengthen your faith, or encourage faith conversations with those around you?

Here’s a quick list of 6 things every Christian should do sometime this weekend.

1. Say a prayer.

Despite helmets and padding, football can still be very dangerous. Pray against injuries. Pray for the fans, both those traveling to the game in New Jersey and those traveling to viewing parties. Pray that they would be safe and make wise decisions. Also pray against any human trafficking that could happen during the weekend.
 

2. Watch the Super Bowl Breakfast.

The breakfast was an NFL-sanctioned event hosted by Athletes in Action this Friday morning. Aaron Rogers recieved the Bart Starr award for leadership and character.

 You can purchase the webcast of the breakfast to view anytime during the weekend. Consider watching it with friends before the game.
 

3. Watch “The Making of a Champion.”

This 15-minute film highlights Seattle Seahawks players explaining what it means to be a champion.

Bonus: Watch this interview with several Seahawk’s players.
 

4. Men: Resolve to attend our Stepping Up Study.

(Women, tell the men in your life about this.)

70,000 men have gone through Stepping Up in its first year of release. The program is based on principles found in the bookStepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood by Dennis Rainey. It includes group interaction and personal reflections from top Christian leaders such as Dennis Rainey, Tony Dungy, Robert Lewis and Matt Chandler to help men strengthen their courage, character, love and leadership skills.

(Note: Here at Second we are hosting The Men Steppin Up Study starting THIS Tuesday February 4th and ongoing for 10 weeks: Register or get more info here!)
 

5. Share these Super Bowl players' testimonies.

• Short radio interview with Broncos’ Peyton Manning
• Seahawks’ Chris Maragos
• Seahawks’ Clinton McDonald

6. Remember that it’s just a game.

Don’t get too caught up in the hype that you act poorly or hurt a friendship. This is a great entertaining event, but it’s not your whole life. And remember that you don’t have to watch it if you don’t want to.  

What are your Super Bowl plans? How would you suggest letting Christ shine through the event?
Let me know your ideas

"_______ & ________ wins the race"

"Most young couples spend the first 4-5 years of marriage trying to achieve the same standard of living as their parents. Only, it took their parents 30 years to get there." -Dave Ramsey

Contentment. It's good message for us as young adults to hear, and an even better one for us to live. Whether you're just getting out of college, a single professional, newly married, DINKS (Double Income No Kids), or young and married with kids, you know it's easy to look at the previous generation and think, "I deserve the same things they have - today." It's easy to find discontentment and call it ambition at the cost of contentment.  I was reminded the other day that working hard, saving, being diligent, and fighting the temptation to want now what others in their mid-fifties took 25+ years to obtain is a recipie not only for long term success, but also a contented heart.  

(Plus it's good motivation to sacrifice now to have and give more later)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV)

Work hard, save, give, and chase contentment

Dealing with disappointment...

Disappointment can be a tough emotion to wrangle!

Unmet expectations. Something you were hoping for unrealized. Dealing with life's disappointments is a part of the deal.  Erin and I had an anniversary getaway (a good one too!) planned for this weekend, but as it were the brief freeze here in Houston (rare, I know) kept us from traveling. As we were pouting over the whole thing I think a lesson that I needed to learn/be reminded of is that it's not just the disappointments that are inevitable at times, but in marriage & in life it's how you deal with those disappointments.

A health report that comes back poorly, the untimely loss of a loved one, the job you were overlooked for, the job you we're let go from, or an anniversary weekend that flopped. All tough to walk through with genuine joy and perspective.

The cure for disappointment 

Count your blessings. I walked into our kitchen and (somewhat reluctantly) told Erin the best way to combat our disappointment is to count our blessings. We decided to go though the entire ABC's for good measure, and here is what we jotted down today:

A- Anniversary: just that we have one to celebrate.

B- Benjamin: some people don't have such a fun kid to get away from- he's a blessing 

C- Church Family

D- Dates: we get these often, big blessing

E- Erin: hey, I wouldn't be so let down if I didn't have such a wonderful wife

F- Financial Peace: not tons of $, just peace in that area

G- Grandparents: our kids have the best grandparents which means we have great parents. Rare

H- Home: not just shelter but a place our kids can feel secure and safe

I- Intentionality: God is intentional w/ me an teaches me to be with others

J- Jobs: just to have them and live ours

K- Kingwood: a great community to raise kids and minister

L- Lucy Joy: she is just as cute and fun as her name

M- Met needs: The Lord has provided 

N- Nieces & Nephews: it's a new blessing for us

O- Olivia: our oldest and very creative daughter

P- Purpose: even in our letdowns God has purpose, He never waste a hurt

Q- Quiet times: @ night, before kids wake up, to hear from the Lord

R- Real friends

S- Sex: no elaboration

T- Time Together: family time and us time

U- Unmerited/Underserved Grace: that God has shown to us in Christ and we can show to each other in our marriage

V- Valued People: friends, mentor, those who help

W- Witness: we have a great opportunity, always

X- eXited about the future: it's a blessing to have a vision for tomorrow

Y- Young love: Erin an I found each other early 

Z- zzz zzz, seriously as young parents sleep is a blessing 

making memories

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, if that is true do your pictures reflect the memories you want to be making? Making memories or creating a memorable moment doesn't just happen.

As a dad and husband I'm constantly looking for ways to be intentional with my family and my time. One of those ways is to look for "memory making moments" and capture them. In story, in memory, and in pictures. As a husband I'm always looking for ways to create couple memories between Erin and I. This weekend we are getting away for a kid-free weekend to a fancy resort here in Texas -- memories. Taking time.

This weekend at Second all of our Bible Studies are going to pause and take a class picture - create a memory. We are also posting up photo booths around the church lobby to give couples, singles, siblings, and friends a chance to remember the times they had a blast - and it was in church!

Dad, and Moms - how are you capturing those "memory making moments" in your family's life that you kids will pass on to their kids? Couples how are you stopping to celebrate, remember, and create in your relationships.

Be intentional. Live upstream.