25 random thoughts about me
1. I am a servant of Christ - I am not ashamed of what I do or who I am in Christ!
2. I love my family more than words can express - Susan is a true blessing and the children we have make me so proud to have the title DADDY!
3. I love cheese! on just about everything... My doctor is not happy about this one!
4. I love to read maps
5. I love dark chocolate and hate milk chocolate!
6. I love Coffee!!! need I say more? Bring it on.... Venti Americano.... that's good livin'
7. I love to read a good book!
8. I love the outdoors, I wish I could go "out there" more.
9. I enjoy being around people who make me laugh! I need more of that...
10. I am not as good on the computer as I wish to be...
11. I love to lead worship.
12. I love to channel surf... This drives Susan crazy!
13. I love to eat things that are not healthy for me... God placed me in the cheese, brat and frozen custard state... No wonder I live at the YMCA
14. I love to watch football.... I have moved so much I am trying to find my loyalties again... KC and GB...
15. I am not much of a movie watcher... prefer channel surfing
16. I love going to good conference.. the travel, hearing good teaching, and of course, the free stuff... I like that!
17. I love to play basketball with my two older boys; Joshua and Timothy... they are wild and they love the game.
18. I love to just hang-out with my son Tyler, that boy makes me laugh harder than any other human I know....
19. I love to go on dates with my daughter... she likes Red Lobster.. and shopping...
20. I love to snuggle with Caleb... what a little peanut!
21. I wish I had more time to just be one on one with Susan... but we both understand that we have young kids and we are really enjoying this season of our life...
22. I love pizza... too much!
23. I am a horrible golfer.... I love to play golf with horrible golfers... no really horrible golfers.. the kind that does not keep score and you get to tee off as many times as you want... We write the rules...
24. I love warm weather more than cold weather.
25. I love the fact that I can write, read, walk, talk and reason things out! I love the fact that I am fearlessly and wonderfully made. I love the fact that my DNA is the same DNA that is in the blood of Christ. I love my life and all that is in it... I love the fact that I am blessed!!!
Unity
Unity is one of those words many of us have heard preached in churches for years. A word that we always seem to say "amen" too, but Unity is more than a word, it is a life-style that is not bearing a harvest full of fruit in our churches today.
With so much at stake, like lives being born again, receiving Christ as their savior, churches continue on with their petty differences and are more concerned about getting their way on the color of the walls, types of seating, location, carpet, and a say so in how to spend the "church" money - than we are concerned about those that Jesus came and died for.
Terms like worship wars, pastor vs. board, church fights and so on ... I was once told this "our church is known to chew up and spit out pastors!" Wow! I thought - Was that Jesus' intent for the purpose of the church? NO WAY!!!
A matter of fact if you look at John 17, Jesus prays his longest prayer, he prays for believers of his present day and for future believers. He prays a prayer, if you listen, you can hear the agony, the pain and the passion! He prays that we become one as He and his father are one. He mentions this about 4 times.. His passion for the church was that we would become ONE and do great things as the spirit came upon us.
All of us have are differences! We are not called to be the same, we are called to be ONE!!! Pastors need freedom to simply pastor, boards need to understand the passion and vision of the great commission and the great commandment and simply serve, teachers need to disciple, worship leaders need to get "self" out of the way and simply worship and congregations should desire that their church is a church that is ONE with the Christ and our Holy Father!
Unity is diversity with cooperation...
If you are part of a church body, you should:
1. Grow daily
2. Become a unifier
3. Forgive someone today
4. Work hard at becoming ONE
Have a great day, call someone and tell them how much you appreciate them!!!
Exit 99
About an hour into the trip I had a decision to make.... (a chunk of ice had fallen off a semi) I could hit the ice, swerve right and possibly hit a patch of ice and roll my van, or swerve left and hit a semi. Hitting the ice chunk seemed to be my safest choice. The sun was shining and the temperature was a balmy 6 degrees. So, I straddled the ice chunk.... It made the types of noise you are imagining.... Everything seemed fine and we kept driving for more than one hour.
After two hours of being on the road, 5 kids, and a pot of coffee gone... Well it was time to stop.. Our normal, usual stopping place on the road to the Grandparents....
Exit 99... The moment I exited.... My power steering was gone.... I had no idea how I was going to get my van into a parking lot.... I worked hard to turn the van... I did it... and yes, safely..... A hose was hanging and hitting the pavement.... I had no power steering... So, "this must be a power steering hose," I thought.... Stranded... on Christmas Day... 5 kids, my wife, and 7 degrees. What should I do? Have you ever been there? Stranded.... No where to go, no funds...
STRANDED!!!
I am reminded of another man named John... He was stranded... He was exiled... He was banished from all other culture... John was banished to a barren, rocky island set up by the Roman government and was left there to die! The Isle of Patmos. A couple of Scriptures I would like for you to read... Revelation 1:9-10 and Revelation 4 John was stranded on an island...
But even in his situation the Bible says in verse 10 "On the Lord's Day, I was in the Spirit." He was banished, exiled, and stranded... But He chose to be in the presence of the Lord. His choice... John doesn't seem to have any self pity, panic, anger, regrets, or hesitation... While on the Isle of Patmos, he carried on with his normal daily habits. I do not want to make light of your current situation.. I know it is tough.. It is hard... You wonder, can I even make it today?
In my situation... as bad as it was, or it could have been... My safety was at exit 99... It was warm, plenty to eat, I could have shopped if I wanted too.... Look around.... What if I would have went one mile further... I would have been stranded in a van on the side of highway with 5 kids, a wife, and miles to walk to get to safety. As uncomfortable as your Isle of Patmos experience is today..
Ask yourself.. "Could it be worse?" If you are honest... It probably could.. So, now flip over to Revelation 4.... While you are on your Island of Patmos... Maye Jesus himself is trying to get your attention.... Maybe he is saying... "I have your attention, now listen." He told John... "Come up Higher" He wanted to show John things that would blow his mind....
Instead of praying for God to release us from the Island of Patmos... Ask him to take you higher... Being stranded is no fun and it is hard.... But maybe, just maybe God is just trying to say... "Come up Higher."
Have a Blessed day!!!
And yes, my van was repaired the next day and it was just a hose!
Are you in a tree?
Today I was challenged by the Word from Pastor Keshore Daroga from India...
As he was sharing the story a Zaccheaus....
Jesus came to town, Zaccheaus a sinner, wanted to see Jesus.... He was a short man, so he climbed a tree to see Jesus...
Jesus recognized him and called him by name... He said, "get out of that tree" Jesus said, "I am coming to your house today."
They story speaks to us in this way... We must desire to see Jesus... But are we stuck in our trees...?
The trees are a variety of things in our life... The tree of BOOZE, The tree of GREED, The tree of WHATEVER...
What is your tree? Get down...
He wants to be with you today!
Let God Arise
Have you ever noticed that Christians behave as if God is dead or helpless?
David writes in Psalm 68 "Let God Arise"
This Psalm says we must have faith, we must "Let God Arise..." So many times we put God in our little boxes, or we limit God to what is in our checking or savings account. We limit God and we limit what He wants to do in our lives.
We need to "Let God Arise!" The Psalm goes on to say, "and let our enemies be scattered." Our enemies come in many different shapes and sizes... Our enemy might be health issues, financial issues, a relationship problem, but whatever the enemy, when we "Let God Arise... our enemies are scattered" Our enemies melt like wax in the presence of the Lord... Our enemies blow away like smoke in the wind...
Today..... Who is your enemy? Stress, greed, health, money.... "LET GOD ARISE!"
Emily McHaffie
To look at her, you would never know that there was anything wrong. Emily is a typical girl who loves pink and purple, princesses, sunflowers, cooking and anything that involves mud in the great outdoors (in a dress, of course!). She has a zest for life and is a social butterfly among her friends.
At age 4, Emily was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of cancer that is very rare in children her age. We had gone in to have a mole removed on her inner knee. When the biopsy came back "atypical", it sent us on an unexpected journey. The next step was to do a lymph node biopsy to see if those same "atypical" cells had spread to other areas in her body. If not, we were done. There would be no other worries.
But the words we heard from the Oncologist were the words that no parent wants to hear... "Your daughter has cancer - melanoma." So after three surgeries (and lots of prayer), a PICC line was inserted and a year long series of treatments began. She would receive interferon five days a week through the PICC line the first month and then shots 3 days per week for the remaining 48 weeks.
Overwhelmed by all of the prayer support and emails we received literally from all over the world, we would know that it is God who has sustained us during this time. His strength is always perfect. And for whatever reason God has allowed us to go through this situation, we have watched as God has used Emily's cancer to promote healing and bring unity in other situations. It is amazing the strength that God gives to children who go through childhood illnesses.
One walk through the cancer ward at Children's Hospital and that is clear. We don't always understand why. We don't always have an explanation. God sees the big picture and we can be confident that He is working all things for the good.
The past few years has not always been easy. Things haven't always went right. It is hard to watch your little girl who doen't understand why all this is happening to her, struggle.
The summer of 2007, Emily was able to "make her wish" through the Make a Wish Foundation of Wisconsin! Her wish was to meet Cinderella and to see her former preschool teacher, Mr. Steve, a vacation to Disney World to make her wish come true! It couldn't have come at a better time! But then, God's timing is always perfect.
Each day is a new day we give back to God. Each breath is a gift He gives us. And the people He places around us are extra blessings. To take the advice from a dear saint who went home to be with Jesus, "Slow down. Relax. Don't worry. Enjoy life." It is amazing how often we fail to appreciate all that God has given us.
Please continue to pray for Emily. If you are going through a tough situation or know someone who is, know that God's grace is sufficient; His peace does pass all understanding; and He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever hope for or even imagine.
Just think of the possibilities!
Caleb Ryan McHaffie
Life! So simple, yet so complex.
Life! Amazing, yet sometimes disheartening.
Life! Sacred, yet sometimes misunderstood.
I witnessed one of the most remarkable miracles today. It was not turning water into wine, however that would be exciting to see. It was not a one million dollar check in my mailbox, but I would love to experience that as well. It was Life in the purest form. A pregnant mother, laboring to bring life into this world. A pregnant mother with the strength of of team of horses. A pregnant mom with a will stronger than solid steal. I witnessed a miracle.
I, the father, helpless, nervous, anxious, searching, needing/wanting-to-fix-this (but can't). I stood over her and I prayed a selfish prayer, that I would receive the strength of a mother. I knew in my heart that I would never understand this kind of unbridled passion, her strength came from a passion so deep and so strong that it could only come from a strength deep within, a strength that only could be given by her creator.
You would think that after going through this 4 previous times, I would "get use to it." Today, I wept as if I was a dad for the first time. The tears of amazement, joy, hope, love and so many more emotions I just savored the moment. I experienced life in the purest form.
I watched this little guy take his first breath, I cut the cord that tied him to mom, as he latched on to his mommy for his first sip of life. I realized again how precious LIFE really is. It is so amazing! God gave us life. God gave us our first breath. God gave us purpose.
Today I hope you realize that your first breath had purpose, a plan and you were birthed from a passion that is only found in a God given strength. Y9ur life matters. You matter. You!
Have a great day and enjoy every breath God gives you today. Your life is a miracle.
Thanks for reading my ramblings. I am tired, worn out and ready to go to sleep, but fatherhood calls again - as I go to the side of another child who has been throwing up off and on all evening.... Hmmmm.... Life!!!!
I did it!!!
Towards the end of summer, I realized I had a problem and I needed to deal with it. I was a pound or two near 300... Not a good sign of health! I had to admit that I was overweight and deal with it and do something about it. I started going to the YMCA daily for about a month and lost 15 pounds in about 2 weeks. I thought this was going to be easy.
I joined a class at the YMCA called Biggest Loser Bootcamp. I knew all my problems would be over by joining this class. I figured that with my current weight loss, I would lose another 20 to 25 pounds during the 6 week session.
Not the case!!! I lost one pound in 6 weeks. But more importantly I lost 2 inches, and the ability to finish my workouts, and I lost the fear of going into the free weight room. Last night for the first time in 10-15 years I actually ran one mile and finished. (I know for some of you that is no big deal) I finished something I never thought I could do. I, John McHaffie, ran one mile without stopping. It is amazing what you can do if you discipline yourself - mind, body and spirit.
Today, If you have the wrong attitude and say "there is no way I can finish" I believe if you dig deep you will find the strength to finish what you started.
Go for it!!! Run the race - Don't worry about winning, just finish strong!
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