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A lot to learn from yesterday

This past week I had a chance to spend some time in Indianapolis. I just started a 3-year term serving on a mission board (Christian Missionary Fellowship International) whose headquarters are located there. I have some fond memories of my days in Indy. It was the first "big move" for my wife and me on our journey in ministry. We made the move there from North Carolina when I was only 23 years old.

I invited my wife along on this trip because I wanted to take the opportunity to see some old sites and visit some life-long friends. I think it's a good thing to take an occasional trip down memory lane because there are some great lessons to be learned. So before leaving Indy we took advantage of the time to visit the two churches we served there.

Here are just a few thoughts, impression, and lessons from going back to these two ministries:

• Regardless of the number of miles or years that separate, good friends can pick up where they left off. We're so grateful for the life-long friends we have in Indy.
• Sometimes we forget how much God has worked in our lives until we are reminded of where we've come from. There's nothing like a look back to see what God has been doing in your life through the years.
• Some churches never change. They look the same, smell the same, and do things the way they've always done them. It's kind of sad!
• Some people never change and some change a lot! It reminds me that I want to keep changing and growing.
• In order for God to take us to new places and develop new things in us, He may need to take us through and eventually remove us from painful situations or stir up discomfort in comfortable situations. Either way, it's so good to know that He is the one in control and nothing takes Him by surprise.
• Sometimes it takes a look to the past, as good or bad as it may have been, to be reminded of how blessed you are today. I'm so thankful for my ministry at Abundant Life. What great leaders I get to serve with and what a great church!

Butt-kickin’ Spiritual Lessons

A couple of week's ago I met a guy in the coffee shop where I hang out. He was telling me about his involvement in the IFL (International Fight League) and how he is hanging out with some of these guys and influencing them toward Christ. He invited me and a couple of other guys on my staff to come over to where they train and learn some fighting techniques (these could actually come in quite handy in church work) and grappling moves (these could come in handy in staff meetings.)

Tough stuff! Man, were all of us sore the next couple of days! if you want to check a couple of the guys we got to spend the afternoon with, go to YouTube and type in Ryan Schultz and Chris Wilson.

Anyway, my new friend's goal, is to connect this "fight community" with some of us who walk with Christ and together learn some lessons about the spiritual fight we all find ourselves in.

Here are some spiritual lessons I learned:

• There is a real enemy out there in the spiritual world who is determined to defeat us
• We have to be prepared to fight this enemy or he will have his way with us
• We need someone to train us – someone who knows more than we do – if we are going to develop the skills we need to fight
• The times we are being defeated are the times we have to fight the hardest
• Don't relax or put down your guard when you are on top. If you do you will end up on the bottom real fast
• When everything in you wants to tap out, don't give up – don't quit