One Thing is all that Matters!

Hockey Season is in full swing. Well at least pre-season and the CAPS are 4-0. Always good to see the guys play well. Looking forward to this Friday, Oct 3 2008 – They take on the Flyers. Also it is a good friend of mine – Trip – birthday. Happy Birthday, Trip.

I just finished reading a great book, Heavenly Man. It is about Brother Yun, a Chinese Christian who endures a glorious persecuted life for Jesus. He is a true Jesus person. I call him a Jesus person because they had no affiliation. Matter a fact he writes in his book that the Chinese house churches were unified until westerners came with our agendas and interpretations. This caused a division in the house churches. Brother Yun was able to reunite many of the networks and at one time counted for 58 million Christians. The stories of God’s grace and the in breaking power of the kingdom our mind stretching.

As I read it – it made me think about my worldview and what I really hold as important. What defines my life? What gives me meaning? Personal meaning can be defined as the degree which people’s lives make emotional sense and to which demands confronted by them are perceived as being worthy of energy and commitment. Worthy of energy and commitment? Emotionally healthy or balanced.

Even though Brother Yun spent long years in prison, he was abused, tortured, and broken, but he held a personal sense of purpose and direction. His family went long periods of times with the same clothes and very little or nothing to eat. All his families’ belongings were taken by the Chinese police. They spent most of their time moving around to avoid being arrested. He slept during the day and ministered all night long.

Very chaotic life yet he found personal meaning. I think had this centered life even in the midst of chaos because of one love. He loved One greater then anything else. As I said above, a true Jesus person, he prayed, fasted and cried out only to be closer to God and for God to have mercy on China. Simple payers.

I think I need to simplify my prayer life. Focus my life on One thing. To desire One more then anything else. Brother Yun’s book is very challenging but I highly recommend it to everyone. Especially if you are looking for the One thing to give you hope, peace, joy – true salvation.

Rev 2:2-5
2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Hello all – I am jumping out of the penalty box and taking another slap shot at the blog. Maybe I will score? A little over a month away and the Capitals will be hitting the ice. LET’S GO CAPS!

My daughter is heading back to Arizona today. It is a weird feeling when you have to say goodbye – for an extended period of time. I know each time will be a little longer then the last. She is sharing a place with some friends and will be possibly landing another Vet assistant job. So a good start for her second year at Arizona.

I have been studying through the Gospel of Mark. The parable of the “sower” and How Jesus explains His parable has been on my mind (Mark chapter 4).

Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

So do we understand the parable? well here is one thought -

I want to challenge parents today. See my daughter is heading off to Arizona and I have a peace because of this parable. Because I did not leave to chance that one day back when she raised he hand in Sunday school and offered a prayer.You see I believe the warnings that Jesus makes in the parable about wealth, desires, and troubles are true. Life will get the opportunity to “cross check” my daughter. This is why Angel and I discipled my daughter. We are now doing the same with the other two.

This weekend there is an event in DC. This is highlighted my need to take this discipleship to a new level. The event is the “CALL DC”. Some Christian leaders are inviting people especially young people to come out – seek the Lord and pray for our nation. There should be several thousands teenagers from all over the US. The event is not what I want to highlight here. It was the indifferent attitude that my teenagers had; “Dad, whatever if you want to go – we will go with you.” Nothing wrong with that – I appreciate their trust in wanting to follow and go with me. Maybe they know I will stop at Starbucks. Yet these words hit me as luke warm – neither hot or cold.

So today on the train ride into work I aksed myself - Am I creating good soil in my children? Are you? Are we asking questions – "Do you understand" as Jesus did with his disciples? Have we created a safe environment in our homes for our young people to share “I don’t understand that or right now I don’t believe that? Do we ask on Sunday - What did you get from the message today? I hope we are not trusting in Sunday school, youth group meetings to carry the burden of discipleship of our young people. My son or daughter is saved because when they were 5 years old they raised their hand in Sunday school and invited Jesus into their heart. I hope you have not left everything there in that moment and thanking Jesus for spiritual fire insurance?

Let’s look at a few facts: (http://www.barnagroup.org/)

One out of every five teens(21%) said they did not learn anything of value during their time attending Christian churches. When asked about specific religious beliefs, though, many teenagers embraced views that are inconsistent with the Bible. For instance, two-thirds stated that Satan is not a living being but merely a symbol of evil. Six out of ten argued that a good person can earn eternal salvation through good deeds. A majority (53%) said that Jesus committed sins while He was on earth. The view that Jesus committed sins was endorsed by four out of ten born again teens (40%) and half of all teenagers(52%)who attend a Protestant church. Only 3 out of 10 twentysomethings (31%)attend church in a typical week.

In our secular – post-Christian – society do we think it will get better?

I am not saying turn off your TV, take away the video games, or keep them out of public school. I am saying - do your best to make them salt and light! I am saying “Parents we need to wake up to the call and mandate to disciple the world!” A good place to start may be at home with our kids – don’t you agree. You know the old saying – the fruit does not fall to far from the tree! Just think about it!

Are we discipling our children? Maybe the first question is: Am I a disciple? Take an inventory ask your kids the questions – see what is the result of your discipleship. They are your first fruits. I am not saying this to condemn anyone or to put anyone in the penalty box, but parents we need to take this role seriously. We need to be bold and not leave it to chance. Be certain of this - The world is not leaving it to chance.

What can we do? Get genuinely involved in the small groups or families in your church. Get prayer and ask other parents what they have been talking about. Bring the relationship into the light and stop hiding our mistakes. Trust me – I have made a lot of mistakes as a parent and I have had to ask my kids to forgive me. Stop building the wall - Maybe we need to stop trying to protect them so much from the world and start introducing them to heaven. Could it be possible that Jesus would be come their first love?

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done HERE ON EARTH as it is in heaven.
I know this one was long but I hope worth it –

sean

let’s go caps!!!

Let's do Something -

Ok! Ok! I have been slacking off. I am trying to keep up with everything. Learning and touching base with people on Facebook is just a continual thing. I can get lost in looking over people’s pages – I mean complete strangers. Looking at pictures and reading comments. I do want thank Nicole Marr for getting me started. She actually setup the page and we were going to use it to post information for the church. I think we may still do that – but in a different format or something. But anyways – thanks Nicole.

We just got back from the Vineyard Eastern Region (www.vineyardeast.com) conference. It was a good time. Good seeing a lot friends and just relaxing. Just more encouragement for our efforts in Prince William County to be involved in our community, Rich Nathan made a challenging but truthful statement; “Christians should run to pain and not from it!” In similar words today in the news, I read Pope Benedict XVI words that all faiths must unite against violence.

"In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity," ~ Pope Benedict XVI

The kingdom of God calls us to stand for justice and help those who can not face the evils of our world. Angel and I drove around Manassas last Saturday night. There are so many people hurting and in despair. So many people who have been forgotten or lost in poverty and brokenness, we don’t have the answers yet – but we have started asking questions: How can I help? What do you need? Are you hungry/thirsty? Where do you hurt?

I have talked with God and waited for some answer or guidance to reveal something for us to do – to get involved to help in our community. Up to now I have not heard anything clear.

Then I remember the words of Jesus in John 14:12:

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

He will do......What greater things? I am not sure. One thing I know I can see the pain, hurt, and despair in the world. By His love imparted to me - My eyes have been open. Now I just have to do something – anything. I want get to the greater things by waiting -

Start doing something – will you join me? Free bottle of water, pick up some trash, pray for the sick, mow your neighbors grass, invite a stranger to church, ….

People of faith reveal their faith way more by our daily actions and attitudes then on our Sunday morning attendance.

be blessed
sean


LET’S GO CAPS – 08/09 SCHEDULE IS POSTED

I am back again - I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer time.

The CAPS got 2 out of 3 at the NHL awards – Ovechkin was the MVP (like any doubts), Boudreau was the Coach of the Year, and Backstorm --- well he is our Rookie of the Year. The finishing touch on a great season and I am looking forward to next season. Let’s Go Caps….

I was doing some reading during my time off from school and came across this prayer:

From cowardice that shrinks from new truth,
For laziness that is content with half-truth,
From arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
O God of truth, deliver us.

For those of you who are not apart of the faithful flock of the Washington Capitals – I hope your conversion is coming soon! But you may not know about Coach Boudreau’s journey. Boudreau became the 14th head coach in Washington history when he was named to the position on an interim basis on Nov. 22, 2007. The interim tag was removed on Dec. 26. The Capitals were in 30th place when he accepted the job, but Boudreau quickly turned things around starting with a stirring overtime victory in Philadelphia on Nov. 23. In his 61 games behind the bench the Capitals posted a 37-17-7 record and ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak to win the Southeast Division. Washington became the first team in NHL history to come back from 14th or 15th place at midseason and make the playoffs and became only the second team in NHL history to finish a season in first place in its division immediately after three or more consecutive last-place finishes.

He had never coached in the NHL before and took over a last place team. What a job? The talent was always there – He just helped them see it.

Coach Boudreau took over the Capitals with confidence and humility. He did not shrink from new truths; he was not content on his old ways of coaching. Now he was in the NHL – a whole new level. He choose instead the path of humility and trusting his players then the road of arrogance. Each game changes were made. Each new situation needed to be evaluated in the moment. Boudreau in one interview stated that he had to remain “A student of the game.”

This brings to my question: Are you still a student of life or your faith? I can not think of anything that frustrates me more then running into “know it all” or unteachable people. What is it that makes us always have to be right? Fearful of new ideas?

In the Gospel’s that provide a record of the life and ministry of Jesus, we see the results of cowardice, laziness, and arrogance to the truth. It placed my Savior on the cross. The words of the prophet Isaiah were true:

The Lord said to Isaiah, "Go and tell this people: " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.”

This unteachable and hard heart leads to a false spiritual maturity and legal religious spirit. It leaves us unfulfilled. In many cases missing the very thing God is doing or even denying it. This condition will stay unless you ask “O God of truth delivery me!” The problem is that most people, who have this type heart rarely, even after it being pointed out to them, will admit to it.

C.S Lewis writes, “We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

Another way to evaluate yourself is to self evaluate the way you approach or respond when here something new or asked to participate in something new. Have a close friend share with you their thoughts about the way you respond to others. I have several good friends that I would not consider very open minded. They still are my friends and will be.

Maybe we just need to be reminded of the child like faith and security that the kingdom of God offers us. Maybe evaluate our lives against the words of Jesus – most in the world at least consider him a great moral teacher – So the next time compare our hearts and reactions to these words:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Pray and ask God to open your Heart and become a student of life again.
Blessings
sean

Lets go CAPS

20th Anniversary !!!

Well, Angel and I just celebrated 20 wonderful years together. I want to thank everyone who has helped or given to our family through the years. We have been truly blessed.

Looking back at the weekend May 23-24 in light of Phil Strout’s closing words for the leaders in our Mid-Atlantic Area, I have really been thinking about stewardship. Most people think about finances when they hear the word stewardship. But I want to look at this topic from a biblical view. When the bible talks about a person, it usually references or refers to the whole person. Every aspect of your life! Unlike our western view, we have our church life, home life, business life, and so on. We try to categorize, divide, or define every little detail. Taking a kingdom view – a God view – He sees our whole life – actions, feelings, words, deeds, body, soul – as a whole and Jesus of course wants to be the center of that life.

Phil mentioned the parable on ‘talents’ and as he did – I don’t wish to give a bible lesson. Yet, he mentioned that at the heart of the parable was the issue of stewardship. How God was teaching him how to steward his ‘pain’. He shared a story that conveyed his point.

After 20 years of marriage I just want to encourage everyone to steward your marriage. I can not tell you how many times Angel and I have had counseling or went to a seminar or conference when times were great and good. So many couples wait for rocky times to go in for a ‘tune up’ when they really need some real engine work. Angel and I have done the hard work through the hard times. But what kept us strong and going is really reaping the fruit during the great times.

Furthermore, I have recognized a serious man fault within myself. This fault or short coming - I have good attentions. I have good attentions to setup regular date nights with my wife and daughters. Girls, if you’re reading this – I hope you can forgive me…. I am confident you will but that is not my point today. I have good attentions to sit with my wife and pray regularly. I have good attentions to spend quality family time. I have good attention to take the trash out each week and cut the grass. I have good attentions for….. Maybe you don’t have this problem but I have. Father’s – Husbands – Our words really bring a kingdom presence to the direction or stewardship of our marriages and families.

Let’s not mix words or attentions. If you go back and read the parable of the talents, I think the one man who buried his – he had good attentions. Good attentions do not reap kingdom truth, blessings, and promises in our lives or marriages. Good attentions – really are just lost potential or lost moments that could be turning into rotten fruit … We need to be men of good deeds with hearts full of healing words and compassion.

So after 20 years of marriage I can tell you my wife could care less about my good attentions, but she truly cherishes every moment that I am present and connected with her. Touch, words that communicate more then a grunt of affirmation and love. And you know – I have to admit when I do make that kind of effort (sometimes it is just a little effort)--- Life is Good!! Really Good!!

Be blessed
sean hart

Let’s Go Caps!!!!

So we are already in May – which means hockey season is closing in…. well still 5 months off.

This week I had the wonderful experience to be a part of our legal system. I had received a citation for breaking the speed limitations on RT 28. WARNING: anyone travelling on RT 28 between the Prince William Parkway and Litton Hall Rd – the speed limit is 45 MPH. Anyways I had to go to court. I received the full measure of the law. No driving course for me.

Anyways I was watching people in the courthouse and I was wondering how far I was from falling into this same life path when I was 18. So many young people – so many young people with so much anger visibly displayed. I just was overwhelmed with compassion for their apparent hopelessness. One young girl was excited about getting 30 days in jail and the reset suspended for probation. 30 days in jail! It reminded of the movie, Colors, it was released I think in the early 90’s with Sean Penn and Robert Duval??? Anyways a young man was sentenced and he said “I have more time then money!” More time ----

How much time do we have? How much time do we have to make a difference? How much time do we have to enjoy family and friends? The theme song from the Broadway show, Rent – 525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear, 525,600 minutes how do you measure - measure a year. (you can check out the lyrics at http://www.links2love.com/lyrics-rent-seasons-love.htm) We can never get time back – More time then money. Moments so dear -

Our time is running out – my kids get older each day. My oldest is coming back from her first year of college at the University of Arizona. Angel and I are very proud of her. The next one is driving and soon the other will be in High School. More time ----Moments so dear

It seems I am always needing or wanting more time. There are so many things I would like to be a part of or to do… What are we doing with our time? What am I doing with my time? What am I choosing --- More time --- Moments so dear

One thing I found true in the rat race of life. God does not change or I am not asked to perform anything special to receive His blessings. His Sabbath rest is for me. Anytime and every time I reach for it! God is truly good - Not that His goodness was anything extra for me - But He is good in the sense that I never deserved all that He has given me - matter a fact quite the opposite – 15 years ago He still met me that night and welcomed me home - not necessarily looking past all my stuff - but reaching and pulling me into the life He has for me.... I am starting to understand that God is not one to be taken for granted - He holds those moments so dear...

And what have I done with my time – with this life He has provided for me? He is truly good and His good demands a change in my heart to receive all that He has for me... He is good because it has always been my choice... My choice to present and to seize the moments to cherish the many blessings in my life. More time --- moments so dear

More time or more money – which would we choose? Today, I think I would like more time. Even to go back in time. Not to change my life but to cherish those moments and take less for granted…To tell people good bye and to tell them how much they mean to me… Maybe just to be present in life that I missed!

So what will we do with the next 525,600 minutes - - I am not sure – but I am not taken moments, or people for granted. I desire to grip the courage to tell people that I love and cherish them. I look to experience more of the Life that God has blessed me to have.

Happy Mother's Day -----Mom

Let’s Go Caps

Sean
Psalm 8

End of April !

It has been an amazing month. I hope everyone is enjoying their Spring. We just had a great picnic with the church and it was such a beautiful day. I don’t think it could have gotten much better then it was. Thanks to everyone who pulled together and helped out.

Well, the Caps were eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers. Sad deal! But we won the division and made it to the playoffs. The Caps made history for the best turn around in one season. Let’s Go CAPS!!!! 5 months until the next season. I plan on going to watch them skate when they come back for summer training at Kettler – anyone interested???

The church has been experiencing a wonderful in breaking of the kingdom of God during our services. I have always felt his presence but it seems in the last couple weeks several people have been experiencing His presence in new and wonderful ways. This is always awesome.

Update on my fast: I ended up going for 7 days and it was great. I never experienced head aches or any other sick feelings after day 2. My hunger dropped off after day 2-3 and by the end I could have probably kept on going. My goal was 10 days but do to my schedule I had to cut it short. Again nothing huge to give testimony beyond the love and His wonderful presence I felt.

We must remember that fasting is not:

Physical Discipline -- We must remember that God never tells people to fast as purely for physical discipline. It is not a good diet plan. People have suggested that helps in resetting or possibly detoxing the body. We may gain discipline from fasting but this is not a good reason for fasting.
Manipulative -- Sometimes fasting is viewed as an attempt to twist God’s arm or to win His approval. In the book of Jeremiah people fasted with these wrong motives. “Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burn offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague” (Jeremiah 14:12).
A Hypocritical Religious Exercise -- By Jesus' time fasting had become a very important part of the Jewish life. Perhaps overly important would be a better way of saying it. Based on Luke 18:12a, we know the Pharisees fasted twice a week. The Talmud tells us that this was on the 2nd and 5th day (Monday and Thursday). Why those days? According to the Pharisees it was because Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to get the Law on the 5th day and returned on the 2nd. At least that's what they said. But if you look closely into Jewish history, you find another possible reason for the Pharisees fasting on Monday and Thursday. Market day in the city of Jerusalem was on the 2nd and 5th day! Everyone from the countryside came to town on those days. It was on these two days that the Pharisees chose to hold their fasts. They would walk through the streets with their hair disheveled; they would put on old clothes and cover themselves with dirt; they would cover their faces with white chalk in order to look pale; and they would dump ashes over their head as a sign of their humility!! Fasting had become a "look-at-how-spiritual-I-am" exercise. It was hypocrisy. Biblical fasting is not hypocrisy. It is not a manipulative tool. It is not a physical discipline.

What is Biblical Fasting? Biblical fasting is "not eating" with spiritual communication in mind. How do we know this? Because Biblical fasting always occurs together with prayer in the Bible - ALWAYS. You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast (Biblically speaking) without praying. Biblical fasting is deliberately abstaining from food for a spiritual reason: communication and relationship with the Father.

We willing submit ourselves to weakness in the natural and place ourselves in the posture of drawing close to Jesus for the simple purpose of relationship – intimacy.

This is enough for today – draw close to God. You don’t have to fast. Just begin your day with talking to God… He is always listening.

Blessings,
Sean
Let’s go CAPS!!!!

REFERENCE: http://www.new-life.net/fasting.htm