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Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he SAW THE WIND, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

The movie “Pretty Woman” opens with a guy walking around the streets yelling “Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream?”. We all have dreams and visions of what we will be “when we grow up”. For some there is a calling on our life that is crystal clear as well. We know from an early age that we were created for (insert your gift here). But somewhere along the way, we got distracted. On Sunday morning. we looked at Acts 6:1-7 where an attempt was made to distract the Apostles. Last night at small group, we took a different approach by looking at Matthew 14:30.

Here we find Peter walking on water. In verse 30 we find those three words that are so odd, but telling of our story too. He “Saw The Wind”. Somewhere along the way to our goals, plans, dreams and visions, many of us “saw the wind” too. We got distracted and “life happened”. As I prepared the lesson I wondered what wind I have seen in my life. When are those moments when something took my eye off of my dreams and caused me to sink.

The good news is that we’re not left alone in those times. When life happens and we become distracted we see and hear what Peter heard. “IMMEDIATELY Jesus reached out his hand”. When those roads turn in a direction we never thought they would, Jesus is there to reach out his hand. When we see the wind and our plans and dreams change course, Jesus is there to reach out his hand. Our challenge is to not become distracted, but to keep our eyes on Jesus. Keep the faith and don’t “see the wind”.

In the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, Richard Dreyfuss sets out to compose a symphony. Yet along the way, he “saw the wind” and got distracted. What started out as a way to earn some money became a career spent teaching children music in the local school district. The symphony sat on his piano and never gets finished. On his final day of school, he is surprised to find an entire auditorium filled with the lives and students he has impacted over the years. They are his “symphony”. They became the “music of his life”. He got distracted from his dream, but along the way he influenced lives and others dreams.

How about you? Was there a time when you “saw the wind”? Have you allowed distractions to get in the way? Have those distractions become Gods way of using your life to influence others and build their dreams? Maybe you’re writing your symphony and you don’t even know it.

I spent the day with Steven Curtis Chapman today….

Well, okay so I didn’t actually sit down with a man I have an ultimate respect for, but I sure feel like I did. One of the first things I did this morning was download his new CD called “Beauty Will Rise“. On that tragic day in May of 2008, all who are familiar with the Chapman family were stunned by the news. Our hearts broke with theirs and I don’t know that most of us can begin to imagine the pain. I would guess that many have watched from a distance wondering how such a Godly family would deal with such tragedy. We saw the interviews. We read the stories. But I don’t know that we could grasp their pain.

The CD “Beauty Will Rise” is one of the most powerful CD’s I have ever heard. I hate to compare it to reading the book of Job, but there are elements of it that feel that way. After listening to it today, I honestly feel like I have sat with Steven Curtis Chapman and just listened to him share his heart, his pain, his faith and his healing. Song after song, we are pulled into their story and draw hope from their strength. This is not a CD that will get you up and dancing, but in a way, it shouldn’t be. Each of us has dealt with loss, pain, fear, discouragement and questions we feel we cannot answer. Yet from our pain comes a trust in our creator and the maker of this universe.

You will want to download the entire CD. Each song tells a story. I honestly cannot highlight just one. All 12 are worthy of a post all their own. For example, the song “February 20th” tells the story of the day his daughter excepted Jesus into her heart. From the joy of knowing she is in heaven to the reality that she is there all too soon.

The point of this post is to HIGHLY recommend this CD. If you are hurting. If you know someone that is hurting. If you have lost someone or know those that have lost someone and are wrestling with understanding it all. “Beauty Will Rise” will bring a healing. It will give pause to openly state what our human side can only feel. It is a reminder to trust in God through all times and that through it all, beauty will rise.

]]> http://armswideopen.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/beauty-will-rise/feed/ 3 Admin steven-curtis-chapman-family-photo http://armswideopen.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/where-ill-be-on-saturday/ http://armswideopen.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/where-ill-be-on-saturday/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:32:03 +0000 Aaron http://armswideopen.wordpress.com/?p=159879059 ]]>

On Saturday morning, my good friend Brian and I are headed back to Indianapolis. In what is becoming an annual tradition, we are taking our 2 oldest children to the All Pro Dad Colts Father and Kids Experience. Last year we took them to the same event but visited the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a great time of connection, affirmation and fun with our little ones. On several occasions over the past year, my son and oldest daughter have both asked when the next All Pro Dad days is. Being that Brian is a diehard Colts fan and I am what you would call a “frontrunner” fan (they are 7-0!!), we were first in line to sign up for this location. While I don’t claim to be an All Pro Dad, here are the 10 ways to strive for that:

1. Love Your Wife

2. Spend time with your children

3. Be a Role Model

4. Understand Your Children

5. Show Affection

6. Enjoy Your Children

7. Eat Together As A Family

8. Discipline With a Gentle Spirit

9. Pray and Worship Together

10. Realize You’re a Father Forever

Dad’s – If you think you don’t have time for something like this…I would argue that we don’t have ENOUGH times like this. This is the best investment you can ever make. “It won’t be like this for long…..”

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent” -Psalm 30:11-12

Yesterday morning I witnessed what it means to be “clothed in joy”. Our church held what was called “Tailgate Sunday” and it was great fun. Everyone came to church wearing the jerseys of their favorite team (wonder what color I wore) and stayed around after the service for a potluck that would make any tailgate at OSU look small. Good eats. Great fellowship. The jerseys and colors are not what I am referring to when I speak of being clothed in joy though.

Hours before the festivities took place and the worship songs were played, there was a host of duties which needed to be accomplished. “The Boy” and I got our gear on and headed out early to the church. We were the first to arrive and began to move chairs and set up tables. As the morning progressed, I noted something that stuck with me all day.

People came in waves.

They came with smiles and joy.

They came to serve.

One by one, little by little, the building became occupied with people coming to serve and set up for what was going to be another great day. There was laughter, conversation, music and working side by side to accomplish a goal. At one point I thought to myself that, while the task was not as large as an old fashion “barn raising”, I can see how valuable community is. When people are connected and serving in their God given”sweet spot”, tasks are accomplished and they find great joy in making it all come together. They didn’t have to tell me, I could see it on their face. They set up chairs, strategically placed decorations, set up the sound, video, coffee, donuts, note cards, lit the grills, and prepared the children’s area. One by one, task by task and by the time the clock turned 10am, we were ready to worship.

Clothed in joy….