Christmas Cactus Cologne

My dad has been gone almost fourteen years now.  I wish I could sum him up in a few sentences for you, but there is so much that could be said.  A single blog just isn't enough.  He was loud, stubborn, funny, and strong; the life of the party and a man who loved to laugh (His nickname was “Smiley” for goodness sake).  He had a number of odd friends and loyal companions.  Yes, friends, TLC would have salivated at the sight of that motley crew.  A “reality show” before reality shows existed!

A man of eccentric ways and strange ideas, my father was generally convinced he was on the verge of some great new discovery or life changing invention.  There were times as a kid when I would be fortunate enough to be part of these schemes – or either I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.  But nevertheless, I was thrown into the mix. 

A large part of my involvement generally consisted of me being sent to “find” certain items.  Many hours of my young life were spent scavenging dumpsters, combing through scrapyards, and basically loading and unloading truckloads of…well…junk.  As I got older, my dad thought there was nothing I couldn't find for him if I tried.  Whether it was a part for a lawn mower that no longer existed, or a very specifically shaped piece of scrap metal for the new “engine” he was creating – if it was at all possible, he expected me to find it. 

Towards the end of his life, he told me about this cactus cologne he wanted.  He had seen it on some late night infomercial, and he wanted me to find it.  Of course, he remembered absolutely no details at all about the product – only that it existed.  And for once, I tried.  Not like when I was a kid, I mean I REALLY tried to find it.  For almost I year I searched, Googled, asked around.  But I never found it.

It suppose it shouldn't have bothered me so much, but it did.  It bothered me that he died before I was able to find it.  For fourteen years, whenever I thought about it I’d do a search for it.  Fourteen years!  And this year, guess what.  I found it!  And I ordered it!  I am now the proud owner of a small cheap bottle of cactus cologne.  And when it arrives, in honor of my father, I will wear it.  At least for one day ;)   Merry Christmas, Nobles.  

Update on Book 2: Chaser, from the Hunter's Oath Series

Hunter’s Oath Book Two: Chaser is coming along, although maybe not as fast as I’d originally hoped!  (Then again, that may be true of all creative endeavors).  However, I am very excited about this second installment in Callie’s story.  It is a fast paced read with lots of hairpin turns, and I have had a lot of fun writing it.  Chaser is in its first round of editing now which can be a slow, arduous process but necessary nonetheless.    

The story picks up right where we left it at the end of book one with Callie having returned to base after her frightful encounter upon the mountain summit in Alaska.  Though she survived the confrontation with the deadly Neo, she finds that her troubles are far from over.     

The main difference between Rook and Chaser for me has to be pacing and intensity.  As I said earlier, the story moves along quickly.  There are more hunts, more powerful Neos, and the level of danger Callie must face has increased.  On top of that, the structures and safety precautions O.R.I.O.N. spent decades developing begins to fracture, and the veil between the Neo and human worlds is showing signs of crumbling.  Callie’s role in the story changes from being an unwilling participant to becoming the last hope for both Neos and humans alike.  The decisions Callie must face have more dire consequences and the threat from her enemy grows more and more intense.    

Hunter’s Oath Book Two: Chaser is coming soon!  

Christian Beers

I was in the car, making my way towards a distant Redbox kiosk tonight when I thought of my old friend, Micky.  Just M-I-C-K-Y…no E.  “I’m not a mouse,” he’d say.  The memory could have been sparked when I passed by a Schlotzsky's since Micky has always been pretty much incapable of pronouncing it properly.  When he says it, it comes out more like, Sha-lossh-kees.

Anyway, Micky and I went to college together, and later to seminary.  He was/is one of those few people in life I can be completely honest with, and one that will be completely honest with me in return.  I specifically remember times when we’d both be down or in a bad mood and he’d come by and we’d go for a ride.  That ride always included two things…us venting about whatever was bugging us and Christian Beers. 

Relax.  We weren’t really driving and drinking beers.  They were usually 20oz Arizona flavored teas or some similar beverage we could pick up at 7-Eleven.  I’m not really sure why we called them that.  Maybe it’s because we used them to drown our sorrows, but nonetheless, that was the routine. 

I suppose I’m writing about this because I realized tonight that it was something I missed.  One of those little things in life you don’t think about at the time but one that you later wish you could revisit.  It was a “thankful moment” – a moment when you realize how blessed you are to have certain people in your life.  Now, Micky and I live far apart, but I hope one day we’ll be able to get together, go for a ride, and down a few Christian Beers.  Tonight would have been perfect for it, my friend.          

Where There’s Smoke There's…Wait! There’s Smoke?

Sometimes I think I sound like those old people I grew up knowing.  The ones in the small town Baptist Church I attended as a teenager.  You know – the ones who complained that the music was too loud, or that drums are from the devil.  Sometimes I think it’s just me.

Maybe I’m the one with the problem.  See, I've been looking for a church since I moved to a new city about three months ago.  It’s a chore I find about as enjoyable as wallowing like a pig on a bed of burning embers.  It shouldn't be, I suppose.  But it is what it is. 

Anyway, I went to one of those big, flashy, seeker-friendly, light show, rock star, too cool to wear anything but V-neck, type churches, fully knowing what to expect.  Or so I thought.  This church had a feature during worship I've never seen before. 

They had fog. 

Fog coming from a real, on the stage, Phantom of the Opera-esque, theater style fog machine, pumping out the hazy, symbolic presence of the Holy Spirit.  It was awesome and weird at the same time, like a full production concert put on by some lame cheesy rockers.    

I don’t know why it surprised me so much, but it did.  I stood there with my face twisted up in a mixture of disgust and shock, very much like the old men at my little Baptist church looked on youth Sunday when we broke out the drum kit.  The truth is, I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, weird or not, good or bad.  I wonder what God thinks about all of our production in church.  I wonder if loves it or thinks it’s odd.  I wonder if all of it is completely normal and I’m the one with the problem.   

An Honest Look at Why I Pray

When I was a kid I once heard someone say that no man would ever know the hour or the day that Christ would return.  And I was told that if I ever heard anyone say that they knew when Christ would return, then I could be certain it wasn't true.  I took this information to heart.

I was terrified by the stories about how the world would end, about how the sky would turn dark, the moon would turn blood red, there would be earthquakes and natural disasters and that God would destroy this earth out of His great anger.  But I found a loophole!  Every morning when I’d wake up, I’d say a prayer.  It went something like, “God…I know that the world is going to end today.  I know it.  I’m sure of it, God.”  Then afterwards, I would go outside and enjoy my day because, in my young mind, I had just tied God’s hands.  He couldn’t end the world that day.  I had already informed Him that I knew it would happen.   

I prayed out of fear. 

As I got older, I began to wonder what I was going to do with my life.  I begged God to make it clear to me – to show me what He wanted.  As time went on and I felt like I didn’t have a clear answer, I began to up the ante in hopes of urging God to reveal His plan for me.  I begged Him, promised Him, made deals with Him and offered up everything I could think of to get Him on my side.  “I’ll do whatever You want, go wherever You want, and be whatever You need me to be God.  Just show me what You want,” was a common prayer of mine.  And truthfully it seemed like a great thing to pray.  And it is.  Depending on your motive.  If I would’ve had a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I probably wouldn’t have prayed the way I did.

I prayed out of selfishness. 

After I was out of college and started working, my priorities changed a bit.  I wasn’t looking for my purpose, I was looking to be influential.  I wanted to be the best at what I did.  I wanted to be known for being good at my work.  My prayers reflected that.  “Lord, help me to reach as many people as possible for You.  Help me expand my reach and my influence so that I can be a greater blessing to You.”  Once again, all good things.  But if I’m being completely honest, my actual goal was to be known.  To be recognized for the good work I did. 

I prayed because I wanted the glory.    

Where I find myself now is a little different.  I still pray out of fear, I still pray out of selfishness, and I still pray seeking my own glory.  But now I’m trying to be honest.  Honest with myself and honest with God.  I’ve never been one of those “prayer warriors” I hear about.  I’m not sure even sure what would qualify me for such a title.  I’ve never even been one who prays a whole lot for others – something that has caused me a bit of guilt throughout the years.  But now I find myself simply thanking God more than anything else.  I’m not perfect and I don’t expect anyone else to be, and I don’t claim to have all the answers.  But I can be honest.  And I can be thankful.  And I can be willing to learn.  We all can.   

“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.

Matthew 6: 5-9 MSG

Chapter 1 of Hunter’s Oath Book 2

I first want to say, “thank you” to all of you who have bought my book and especially those of you who took the time to leave a positive review!  It has been a lot of fun going through the process and having great friends to share it with has made it all the better.  In the next couple of weeks, the paperback version of Hunter’s Oath Book One: Rook will be available to purchase online.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00C7911S2
iBook: http://goo.gl/5Q0kM
Nook: http://goo.gl/IgGN2

Many of you have asked about the sequel, so I thought I’d give you a sneak peek.  I’m well into the second book now and hope to have it available sometime before the holidays. 

Take a look at Chapter One below and tell me what you think!

Hunter's Oath Book 2: Chapter 1

Leaving Louisiana

I have moved quite a few times over the years, and I have found that it never gets easier to say goodbye to people you care about.  Next week, Gretchen and I will move to Willow Park, TX, just west of Fort Worth, where I will be serving as Secondary Principal of Trinity Christian Academy. 

I don’t have much of a purpose for this post other than to say thank you to all of my Louisiana friends that have had a positive influence on my life.  There have been times of struggle, times of laughter, frustration, joy, heartache, and happiness during the last 9 years I've lived in South Louisiana.  But above all, God has used each and every one of those times to help grow me and hopefully use me as a blessing to others. 

For my Louisiana students…you are the main reason I look back over the last 9 years and smile.  I will miss each and every one of you and I pray you will stay in touch.  I have dedicated my life to working with young people and those of you I leave behind in LA are a lively, talented bunch with great potential in life.  Part of my heart will remain with the current students at Northlake Christian School and those alumni who made their way through my classes over the years. 

So it is with mixed emotions that I sit here in my empty classroom, pulled up to a desk at which I've spent countless hours grading papers and counseling students, and type the word…“goodbye.”  I’m excited for the life God is calling me towards, and I am saddened by the one I’m leaving behind.  I may be leaving Louisiana, but I can never leave behind the impact it’s had on me.  Thank you all.  

Thank you: Hunter’s Oath has a Great Debut

Hunter’s Oath Book 1 came out last week and it feels great to finally have all of that hard work in a form that I can share with others!  -- (It makes it even better if they enjoy it) -- It’s a lot of fun when you get to publically share a project you’ve been working on in private for over a year.  But honestly, the thing I’ve appreciated more than anything is all of the support I’ve gotten.  A lot of you have shared the link to my book on Facebook and Instagram, said some really great things about it, and sent some very encouraging messages.  You guys even helped it end up at #14 on Amazon’s “Hot New Releases.”

So I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you all for everything you’ve done.  I appreciate it more than you know!

http://goo.gl/tO5ez

The Church for Christians Who Don’t Care About Stupid Things Part 2: Worship

I have led worship ever since I was a teenager.  I've played on countless worship teams, been urged to “hype up” the congregation for our charismatic members, strummed laid back tunes in jeans for the more introspective crowd, and even waved my arm like a conductor in 4/4 time for a few Baptist churches. I've done all of this…for years.

And it bugs me. 

It’s not the act itself.  I absolutely love leading worship and I've enjoyed myself in each of the settings I've been a part of.  So what’s the problem?  That’s a tough question, but the main problem I have is simply that we have made the act of cooperate worship too much about “us.”  If the Monday morning question was, “What would God enjoy this coming Sunday?” the answer would be simple.  He would enjoy His people gathering together to praise Him, giving Him the glory.  And it saddens me, as well as angers me, that it’s not quite that simple.          

I don’t necessarily blame worship leaders for this.  They have a tremendously difficult role.  On any given week they must…

1. Make sure the pastor is on board with how they choose to lead worship.

2. Be ready and overly-willing to change their song set at any given time based on the direction of the Pastor's message.  (On a side note…I've never asked a pastor to change his sermon based on the song choice God placed on my heart.  That would be totally arrogant, right?) 

3. Have a sense of when the congregation is bored with a song.

4. Keep things fresh for the congregation by introducing new songs.

5. Not frustrate the congregation with too many of those new songs.

6. Include songs the congregation enjoys.  (Oh, and throw in a hymn every now and then for those who love hymns.) 

7. Attempt to remain genuine while “entertaining” a congregation made up of some who would swear that worship isn't about entertainment at all but are among the first to complain when they don’t hear their favorite songs often enough.    

8. Expect a great amount of skill, dedication, and hours of practice from musicians and singers – most of whom are volunteers with full time jobs outside the church. 

9. Take the blame when the Spirit doesn't move people during worship.  (Obviously there is some sin in the worship leader’s life that hinders God’s movement, right?)

10. Do ALL of these things while attempting to hear from God concerning the direction He wants to take the church in worship. 

How about we unplug every now and then, turn off the part of our brain that critiques the worship set and simply sing songs of praise to a God who loves us?  What if we just…sang?  From the heart with no concern of what we wished would happen?  What if we somehow managed to remove our selfishness from the equation?  How would that look?  I’m not sure because I don’t know if I've ever seen it.  But I have hope that one day I will. 

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” ~ John 4:23-24 MSG

Shout Out to Big Jim!

I first started going to church when I was 14 years old.  I had no church background or understanding of what it was – or was supposed to be.  But I went.  As far as I was concerned, the church was a brick building full of a lot of smiling people who seemed to genuinely care about me.   

It was weird.  But it was enough for me at the time. 

I was a good kid, didn’t get in trouble, and didn’t talk much.  And as a result I was often overlooked at school, so I enjoyed the fact that there was a place where people took an interest in me.  As I grew up, so did my understanding of church and God and what it was all about.  I had great Sunday School teachers.  “Big Jim” was one of those – the first Sunday School teacher I ever had.  Jim is a large man with an even larger heart, and I can still remember how he patiently answered all of my questions and never treated me like I was dumb for asking.  Week in and week out he was there, always smiling and always happy to see me.  He was a constant, something I could depend on.      

And this is what he did for me…

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  John 13:35 msg

Big Jim accepted me as I was, with the limited amount of understanding I had, and helped me see what being a Christian was all about.  And the thing is…I don’t remember a word of anything he ever said about the Bible, Jesus or God.  But I remember that he cared.  He taught me what it meant to be a disciple of Christ not only through words, but in the way that he loved others...namely me.

So this is my shout out to Big Jim!  I pray that I have been able to do for others what you did for me!  Because the truth is, the world could use a few more Big Jims!

"Bring it On" 2013

My wife and I just got back from a trip to New York!  We had a lot of fun even though we left the city on New Year’s Eve.  We didn’t get to mark “New Year’s Eve in Times Square” off the bucket list, but we did save a lot of money by leaving early ;)

Gretchen and I love going to Broadway shows whenever we get the chance.  On this trip we went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular as well as Bring it On the Musical.  We’re obviously not snobs when it comes to our theater choices – we enjoy all of them, whether they are epic masterpieces or stories of spoiled little rich cheerleaders! 

One of the highlights of our trip was meeting 2008 tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) in the lobby during intermission!  He was the co-composer and lyricist for Bring it On and was there to see the final performance.  Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to convince him he should hire me to help write his next project ;)  Oh well, maybe next time.     

One of the things we enjoy most about shows is simply seeing people living out their dreams.  It’s inspiring to see such talented performers who’ve worked years honing their craft, endured countless auditions and rejections, and persevered until their dream was realized.  They made it to the Broadway stage!  They are doing what they love to do!

My New Year’s wish and prayer for all of us is that we could be so blessed.  That we could work hard doing what we love to do, enjoying the process as well as any reward that comes from it.  

My current project, young adult novel Hunter’s Oath, is in reader reviews now.  Soon I’ll have some cover art to show and hopefully a release this spring.