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Today we finally got our taxes started and will finish them up in the next day or so. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. Everyone has to do taxes, even though people hate it. Nothing is free, and everything comes at a cost. In fact, even Jesus has something to say about taxes - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Well...what is God's? I would suggest it's the same criteria for what belonged to Caesar - it is whatever bears his image. As we were made in the image of God, that means that what belongs to God is you & me. Not just some of us, or 10% of us, but all of us. 

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Today as I was getting the dishes unloaded and loaded, I asked the kids to leave the kitchen. Dane left, but Ava lingered and told me "just a minute". I said now, and she proceeded to return with a "gift" for me - and that is why she couldn't leave yet. It was a great teaching moment to show her if she wants to make me happy, she needs to do what I ask the first time, not what she thinks I might want. Well...we need to learn the same lesson with the Lord. God is not interested in us doing what we think might please him, he is interested in us simply doing what he says. Even the best of intentions are no substitute, to obey is better than a gift of our own creation. 

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Today was filled with anticipation. We are eager to have Kylie feeling better from the flu, and the kids kept asking about her. I am eager for baseball to start tomorrow, as it's opening day! In the world of golf, people were anxious to hear if after 14 months Tiger would feel well enough to compete in the Master's tournament again. In the music industry, highly awaited albums are getting ready to drop anyday. We anticipate the things we love - we think and talk about them frequently. Well...do I anticipate the Lord's return? Is the second comming of Christ and the resurrection something that I think about or talk about often? Regularly? My prayer is that it is, and that if it's not, that it's something that we put on into our minds every single day. 

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Well, we're back to an abnormal schedule again (hence the late drop for the episode). My wife somehow contracted the flu, and prayers on her behalf are appreciated, especially while pregnant. Poor thing is miserable, so I'm back doing full time dad & work duty for this week. Today just wasn't going well, all the small things just weren't going right. That's when the kids came up to me with a toy that records their voices and told me to press the button. "I love you daddy" it played back. I was touched. In addition to some kind words from my wife, my whole day turned around on account of their kindness. Well...as Christians, kindness is an important quality for us to practice, especially with our words. With our words we have the power to tear down or to build up. You can change someones day, life, or even their eternity through your words. How will you choose to use them? 

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April Fool's Day. A day that I both love and hate. A day that I love because I enjoy a great practical joke. A day that I hate because you never know what to take seriously. No matter what you read or hear, it takes extra work to do some digging to discover whether or not it's actually true. Nothing can be taken at face value. Well...maybe that's not such a bad thing, and maybe we need to be doing that more, especially spiritually. We tend to take the words of others that we respect as truth, especially pastors & evangelists, but that can be dangerous when it doesn't aline with God's Word. That is why we must be noble minded, test the spirits, and search the Scriptures daily to determine the validity of the things that we are told. 

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Since our family is expanding, we've done a little bit of snooping into the market to see if we could get some more space for our growing family. When purchasing a house, it's important to look at the seller's disclosure, where the owner of a home is obligated to list current or potential problems with the property. If there are extensive fixes and needs, most buyers will back out. Only those who really love the property will purchase it "as is" and make the renovations themselves. Well...what would your seller's disclosure say for your spiritual life? I don't know about you, but I'm the definition of a fixer upper. And yet, despite all of this, Jesus loved me enough to purchase me with his blood and restore me himself. What about you?

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My son did not like the idea that it was naptime today. He kept getting out of bed and we kept having to put him back in. At one point, he ran to his sisters room and got on her bed. As I walked down the hall, Ava yells "Oh, quick, hide!" and they ducked under the covers, as though I wouldn't see them there. After putting him back in bed, this continued, but each time we were aware because we were watching on the monitor. Well...we might laugh at this, but we are just like this with the Lord. We think that we can get away with things, that as though because we've fooled others that we'll fool God. But here is no fooling God, he knows and understands who we truly are, no matter how good we are at trying to hide it. 

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Welcome back after an extended absence! We are so glad to have the podcast up and rolling again. Today, our podcast is inspired by a show I have recently gotten into called, "The Crafstman" centered around a master woodworker named Eric. In an episode, Eric was challenged as to how he could cut a tree down and make something out of it. He responded, "Because we have to. For us to live, something has to die, and we need to make the best of it." Well...if that doens't apply to our spiritual nature, I don't know what else could. We are alive because Christ died. The question that remains is this: do we honor that sacrifice? 

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As you all now know, we are expecting our third child! We also expected Kylie to be sick again as she has been with her past pregancies, but this one has been harder than we had hoped. As a result, I find myself stretched too thin trying to care for my kids, my wife, and all my other normal responsibilities as I juggle playing full time mom, dad, and evangelist.  As a result, we're going to take a temporary break with this podcast to help free up some of my time. Hopefully in the next 2-4 weeks my wife will be through the worst of it and we will be able to resume! Until then, just hang tight and we'll be back before you know it. Thank you all so much for your understanding! I'll see you soon. Know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above. 

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This weekend is an estate sale at the home of my ailing grandmother back in Salem, Oregon. What has generated so much interest is her incredible paintings, as my grandmother is an extraordinarily gifted artist. While at first it made me sad to think of them being dispersed, they are not inteded to be put into storage. They belong displayed in the homes of others, touching the hearts of many she'll never even know. Well...we are God's paintings. He did not transform us from darkness to light to be hidden, but to display Jesus to the world. And when we shine the light of Christ, you may never know the hearts and homes you will touch in the years to come. 

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