Need Directions?

Are you the kinda guy like me that hates to ask someone for directions?  Let me tell you, I was so thankful last November for my Android Smartphone.  I could hit my GPS button, and speak where I want to go and it finds where I want to go and gives me precise turn by turn direction.  It eliminated my need to ask others for directions.  Even if I take a wrong turn it modifies my directions to help me get to my destination the fastest way possible.  I love it. 

The Holy Spirit is like a spiritual GPS.  He is our guide.  We wait upon him for turn by turn directions.  Sometimes we don't know why he wants us to turn to the right or the left but later when we look back we can see how His hand guided us through. Sometimes we make our decisions and make a turn without waiting on Him.  But He waits for us and gets us back on track when we need it.

Why do we wait until we are almost in an accident to cry out to God for help?  Why do we leave the spiritual GPS off unless we are in trouble?  It's simple.  Just like me not liking to ask for directions when I'm on a trip, we don't like to ask God for direction because we simply want to be in control of our lives.  Today, I feel like God is speaking to us and wants us to know He desires to give us direction before we think we need it.

Here's a simple prayer that I pray every morning before my feet hit the floor.

God, today is the day that you have made.  Order my steps.  Let me be a light wherever I go and whoever I talk to.  I am your vessel. A jar of clay that is imperfect.  Make me more like you.   Fill me up to overflowing and use me today!  

There is so much that God wants to do in your life.  He has plans for you.  He has a place for you.  He knows your circumstance and he's waiting for you to ask him for directions.

10 Things I Like About Christmas

Woke up this morning.  Hit the Christmas play list and started on my day.  This Christmas is going to be an awesome one!  This is a video I shot of Christmas morning not too long ago.  Here are just a few things I'm thankful for:

• Thankful to God for His Son Jesus who came on this earth in the flesh so we might have eternal hope 
• My wife and kids.  You guys are so awesome!
• My Mom and Dad and family who have helped so much during 2010
• Reading Luke 2 "The Christmas Story" on Christmas Eve (Family Tradition)
• Getting a Christmas Eve kiss under the mistletoe from Missy
• Snuggling with Missy after all the presents have been assembled
• Gathering around the Christmas Tree with the kids searching for their gifts on Christmas morning
• Smell of Starbucks and Cinnamon Buns on Christmas morning
• Hugs and Kisses from the kids after they open their gifts
• Thankful that 2010 is coming to a close and that 2011 is almost here full of hope and wonder

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season. 

2:45AM

This evening I was recovering from the flu, I was eating my saltines and drinking gatorade and hot tea to try and settle my messed up stomach.  I tried watching Monday Night Football which has always been a real sleep aid especially when it's the forty niners vs. the cardinals.  Well, I watched the whole game. Missy came in to see how I was doing and then went to go sleep in the guest bedroom.  She's so good to me letting me have the bed!  I watched the late late news and that only made me more awake.  My Facebook was calling so I answered a few messages and tried to communicate with my daughter downstairs but she was busy with homework.

Finally everyone trudged upstairs and drifted off to sleep.  The house was dead.  I walked back downstairs to get some more hot tea.  No sound in the house.  I turned on the stove and you could hear the electricity pulsating when the range top came on it was so quiet.  I waited, waited, for the tea pot to boil.  It seemed like it took forever.  I waited some more but still it hadn't come to a boil.  I almost grabbed some water from the tap and put in my mug and set the microwave then all of a sudden the tea pot came to boil.  It roared to life and I ran across the room so it wouldn't whistle and wake up the house.

Someone tonight emailed me and reminded me that I still had something in my possession. (thanks Karen)  It's called Hope.  And it dawned on me.  That kettle is like hope.  I wait and wait and wait and it looks like nothing is happening, yet inside there are little bubbles forming on the bottom of it's surface, yet I can't see them.  I can't hear them, I am still waiting.  But, just when I think that all Hope is lost, that tea kettle roars to life. Hope has always been there it just needs the right ingredients to show itself strong.  God is my hope and my strength and He can be yours today as well.  Just ask, and he will come.  Relinquish the reigns of your life that you hold on so dearly and let him gently lead you.  Call Him Father, call Him Master.  He will not let you down, He will never stop loving you.   He is our Hope.

Ups and Downs

What does it look like for someone looking for employment?  It comes in waves.  One month ago there was a flurry of activity.  I was on an emotional high.  I attended a motivational speaking conference at the Verizon Center in D.C. with a good friend and his church staff.  We listened to Zig Zigler and he gave one of his famous quotes, "Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street."  I walked out of there pumped.  On the metro ride home I got an email from a church saying that I was one of the top three candidates for job search for them that started out with 95.  I was one of the top three.  I was excited, full of expectancy hoping that this finally will be the one. I walking on air!

So what's next?  I recently watched a skit done by Conan O'brien and in the skit his wife is yelling at him to find a job and he replies, "I don't know how!"  The rest of the skit is Conan trying to work at a fast food place and working as a birthday clown and not being very successful as either.  It was pretty funny.   Conan was meant to be a talk show host.  I was meant to speak life to the next generation.  Maybe I should stop looking for a job in network TV and look for a basic cable company to hire me. I could relate. I needed a good laugh!  

Fast forward one month later.  The interview went well.  But last week I got the email I was dreading.  They picked one of the other two candidates.  The church leaders will meet with him next month for an on site interview.  If for some reason he doesn't work out I'd be back in the running.

I was telling someone yesterday that this time of my life has been the lowest of lows.  But even in this low place, I know that God is with me.  Even when I feel forsaken, I know that I am not, because God's word promises that I'm not.  Today you may be in a tough spot as a leader.  Maybe you feel all alone and no one understands your situation, but God does.  He loves you and will never forsake you.  Reach out to Him in your time of need and He will comfort you with the Holy Spirit.   Stand on His promises today.  Redemption and restoration is right around the corner.  And keep that sense of humor, it's critical!

Satisfied?

Today I was getting a message together that deals with knowing who God is. As I was preparing I thought of a song that seems to be ageless. It's a song by the Rolling Stones called Satisfaction.  Of course we all know the chorus, "I can't get no...satisfaction."  It's a catchy tune.  I heard it when I was a little kid and when I hear the first few notes from the lead guitar I know exactly what song it is.

Knowing God.  Who is He?  Is there a verse or a chorus of a song that makes you say, "That's who God is"? As my thoughts turned towards Him this morning I thought of a song.  A simple song with simple lyrics.  "There is no one like you.  No one like you.  No one like you, Jesus."  Just a few words but very meaningful.  If I believe the words of this song, then I should truly be satisfied.  Satisfaction comes from knowing Him.  So, if you aren't getting any satisfaction, then maybe you are looking for it in the wrong place.

There is a saying, "Know God, Know Peace, No God, No Peace.  Satisfied?"

Hope Springs Eternal

This is an excerpt from my journal a couple of weeks ago.  I tell you, this job hunt thing is so unbelievable.  I spend many hours of searching and then sending out resume's and then waiting, waiting, waiting.  Last week I interviewed for a position that literally had 95 applicants.  They whittled it down to three and I ended up being one of the three.  I'm praying for God's patience and wisdom.  I've been at that interview stage about three times now where I make it to the top three and then they pick one of the other two.  Anyhow, to all of you out there looking for work in their field, I am with you and am praying that today you will receive the Word from God that will encourage you to keep plugging away.

A couple of weeks ago:

"Today was an amazing roller coaster ride of emotions.  A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about something I was so sure of that was lost.  Well, there was an email that showed up in my inbox that gave me a 2nd chance at a hope.  It resurrected the possibility of something I thought was already gone.  And then, just like that there was another email that came in my inbox just a few hours later and dashed that bit of hope regarding this particular job opportunity.  I really questioned why God allowed this to happen.  Why would he get my hopes up and then "boom!" I'm back where I was a few hours later.  But after much thought and contemplation over this, I realize that Hope Springs Eternal.  In this life "in between" there will be things I will be able to look back on and see the lessons learned.  I also see how God is preparing me for that next big thing that he wants me to do.

Hope Springs Eternal.  My hope isn't in a job, a ministry, or a person place or thing.  My hope is in Him, period.  My hope is in you, Lord.  Today I realized my hope was in the position, not in Him.  I had to do an adjustment on how I am looking at this process.  This is indeed an amazing journey of trust.  My life truly is a crazy adventure but all along the way God is giving us what we need to sustain us."

Jeremiah 29:11

Follow Up To This Morning's Post

A year ago I blogged some ideas for parents as they enter into the purposeful world of designing time into their busy schedule to get one on one with their kids.  "Just Do It"!

One of the things I shared with my parents on Sunday night was the fact that we need to spend priority time with our kids, but a lot of us are asking ourselves, "what does that look like?" Here's some rules for priority time with your children that will help you get started.
1. Find common ground
2. Make sure there is no agenda
3. Keep it outside of your home
4. Do it without friends
5. Put it on the calendar
6. Stay flexible
7. Remember your goal is not to CHANGE them.
8. Keep working on it (even when it doesn't seem to be going well)
9. Use it as an opportunity to give your teenager one thing...

What is that one thing? "the gift of approval" You as a parent are the only one that can give them this! You know your child better than anyone. You've seen them at their best and at their worst. If you believe in them after all that, they know "your approval" is REAL!

A Weekend Away, Can Make All The Difference

Our family is our treasure.  What we pour into them will be what's passed on to their children and their children's children.

Not too long ago I took Zach to VA Beach to participate in a football tournament.  We packed up the camper and headed south.  It was a long drive so we spent a lot of time talking about dreaming of being a pro football player, the trials of elementary school, the love of God, fear of thunderstorms, girls (yes, girls!)and well, life.  These are the things you won't find out from your kids unless you spend some quality time with them.

Each day we have with our kids is a gift.  Be purposeful with your kids this week.  Schedule a time with each of your kids just to "be" with them.  Make them feel special.  Let them know how much you love them.  Show them what God's love looks like.  Show them the Father heart of God.  What does that look like? Just remember what love is.

 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  (I Corinthians 13:4-7)

Lift your eyes up to the heavens

Have you ever had that sick feeling in your stomach when you receive news about something that was less than favorable?  This past week I had some news come into my inbox and it literally made me feel like I was going to get sick.  How could I be so sure of something just one week before?

I know when I call on Jesus name my life changes.  My attitude changes.  When I lift my eyes to the heavens my perspective changes.  A friend of mine went to Williamsburg recently and went through one of those hedge mazes.  Our lives are like that. We can only see from the ground level.  We can't see what's around the corner.  But God sees from a heavenly perspective.  He sees the "maze" of our lives and we can trust him when he leads us to the left or right.  When we receive news that seems less than favorable we can look to the heavens and know that God sees the big picture.  Lift your eyes up and you'll catch a glimpse of the one who can see our lives and can order our steps.  Thanks God, for ordering my steps this week.  I trust in you that you are going to lead me on....

A Night on the Town

Last night we went to downtown D.C. We hopped on the Metro, took a walk in Chinatown and then ate at Five Guys.  After that we headed across town to the Mall and watched the Army Band play and then walked to the Lincoln Memorial. We had a blast!  Who would have thought that such a simple thing an impromptu dinner, a free concert, and a walk to a memorial would get so many "thank you's" at the end of the night!  Thanks Zach for wanting to go to the Mall tonight!

My Final Horizons Church Sunday night @ H20

Last night reminded me how blessed I am to have been a part of Horizons for these past four years.  I don't want it to end but I know we need to move on.  First of all, thanks to all my Horizons church friends and family that have totally blessed us last night.  The surprise birthday cake and flowers and gifts were awesome! And, yes, Keiko thanks for adding some Hawaiian flavor to the night!  You all are truly a blessing 

I pray that God has used me in some small way to help each of you at Horizons to fall in love with Jesus and to understand his enormous love for all of us.  In worship and in youth, my prayer is that all of you will Go for God with all that you have and share that passion with as many people as possible in this generation. 

I am hopeful that the next time you read this blog it will be full of the fresh ideas that God has been laying on my heart for the next generation and the place where Missy and I will be serving next.  Tune in!  It's gonna be awesome!

-andy

Messiah 2010 Update

Messiah Camp 2010

Just a quick note.  We went to Messiah Camp 2010 with high expectations and guess what?  God met or exceeded every expectation.  God is a great God.  He's a supernatural God that does supernatural things.  This morning I was reading an email from one of our parents and he was marveling at the fact that the feedback from camp wasn't how great all the cool the amazing activities were (and they were off the charts!) but how awesome worship was, how amazing devotional time was and how God was transforming their lives and the lives of their friends during ministry time.  God is a great God.  We met our creator this weekend and He loves us, O how He loves us.  Thanks, God!

It's Summer Time!

I'm a summer time kinda person!  It's my favorite time of year.  I love the sunshine, I love the beach, days at King's Dominion and I can't wait to get to camp this year!  Messiah 2010 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable ever.  It is definitely the highlight of my summer! 

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic as you can imagine.  There are emotions, memories of the amazing things that have taken place in the past four years of being here at Horizons Church.  There's a part of me that wishes it never had to end.  Yet, there is a part of me that can't wait to put my hand to a new project that God has for me.  One of Maggie's friends from school came over tonight and we were reminiscing about the first year she came to camp.  We were laughing about some things but also recognized that it was one of the most life changing weeks that any of us had ever experienced.  The presence of the Lord was there.  It was amazing and many people that had no interest in God, acknowledged Him and walked through the steps of salvation and surrendered their lives to Christ by the end of that week.  Every year has it's stories.  Every year has it's amazing testimonies of what the Lord did.  

Pray for our kids this year that they would have an expectation of what camp can be if they turn their gaze upon Jesus Christ.  Pray that their hearts will be open as the Lord speaks.

Ecclesiastical Thoughts

I have been going through Ecclesiastes in my daily Bible reading, and no I'm not contemplating the meaninglessness of life!  In the midst of this book, there's a lot of wisdom to be gleaned.  In Ecc. 6:10 it says that "Everything has already been decided.  It was known long ago what each person would be.  So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny".


I believe that!  I witnessed history yesterday when the U.S. National Team pulled out a last minute goal to get them to the next level of the World Cup.  Landon Donovan's goal was something that was amazing!  God reminded me as I was watching that he knows our destiny.  He spoke it before we were even born!  There is a promise that God has given each of us.  We were born for a purpose.  And that purpose is to glorify Him in everything we do.  You have destiny! 

Monday Morning Ramblings...

I looked at myself in the mirror last night.  I looked old and I looked very tired!  I had just come off of a 30 hour famine Friday and Saturday with some of my awesome H20 friends and then lead worship for two services on Sunday morning and then did H20 youth service Sunday evening! The whole weekend was such a blessing!  So many lives were touched and changed by God because a few people decided to go and be like Jesus. But man, am I tired! 

So, after all of the busyness of the weekend wears off, here I am at the Beautiful letdown of Monday.  After searching high and low for four months for new employment I have come up empty.  I am feeling like I am back to square one.  Several opportunities in which I had high expectations simply just didn't pan out.  The timing wasn't right.  I am trusting in God 100%, but so far I don't see what God can see.  My heart is still pumping.  My eyes are squinting to see past the horizon (no pun intended) but I can't.  I'm not supposed to. It is difficult but I am to trust Him explicitly!  Do I?  Do I really believe that God is going to provide all my needs according to His riches and glory or am I going to start carrying a burden that was not meant for me to carry.

A friend posted an update to pray for him to find a job a few months ago.  Some "not so friendly" friend replied back sarcastically that he needed to quit praying and get off his "behind" and find a job.  As I read the reply I felt angry and disappointed that the person didn't get it.  There is a balance.  I have to do all I know to do.  I have to bang on doors, make phone calls, email people I've never even met to let people know I'm looking for a job.  But, the rest is up to God!  Prayers work, and prayers get answered.  It may not be as quickly or exactly the way we envision things working out but God is faithful.

I'm waiting for my Father.  I am waiting...

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
  and he turned to me and heard my cry.2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
  out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
  and steadied me as I walked along.3 He has given me a new song to sing,
  a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
  They will put their trust in the Lord 
Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

What Kind of Inheritance Are You Leaving?

Yesterday I was checking my facebook and I was noticing that there was a lot of profanity in a number of posts.  It really bothered me.  When I started thinking about it, I realized how many lives are touched in positive and negative ways on Facebook.   In Proverbs there is a great verse that says, "A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.  Some fathers may look at that verse and call up their investment broker and start a fund for college.  I want to challenge you to leave a legacy of eternal value.  What kind of inheritance are you leaving for your child?  Your grandchild? The words you speak, and the way you live your life is a legacy.  Everything that flows out of your mouth or typed on a Facebook page is a part of that Legacy.  What kind of legacy are you leaving today? One that is poisonous and hurtful or one that speaks life to other people.

Finding Your Voice

Everyone has something burning inside of them.  What is your passion?  God's given each of us a dream and a voice.  As a youth pastor I see a lot of Juniors and Seniors start to wonder "What am I going to do with my life"?  Here's five easy steps that we can do to find that thing that God wants you to do.


 How to find your voice:

• What is it that God wants you to do?  Eric Liddell in the movie "Chariots of Fire" was asked the question, "Why do you run?"  He answered, "I believe God made me for a purpose but he also made me fast.  And when I run I feel God's pleasure."  What is it that gives you that sense that when you do it you feel God's pleasure?
• You need to be talented at it.  We've all seen American Idol and people that thought they could sing.  Are others affirming that you are good at it?
• Start to find out everything about it.  When you are passionate about something it drives you to be the student of that thing and learn as much as you can about it. 
• It probably scares you a little bit.  If you think it's in you, go for it!  Why can't we as Christians be the best at it, fulfilling our purpose for this generation?
• You need to find people that believe in you.  At 16 God spoke to me about my purpose to work with Youth.  After that encounter with God I spent a lot of time with my youth pastor asking questions and wanting to know as much as possible about how to be an effective leader.

Let's not wait until tomorrow but identify that place that God wants me to be right now.  That is the place where I can start to hone the skills of what my call is going to be.

Dreams

Have you ever had a dream that is so big that it makes you shudder whenever you think about it?  Maybe it even makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up whenever you think about it?

In Genesis, Joseph is a guy that I admire. Early on in his life he was given a dream.  A dream that took years to see fulfilled.   He had to go through so much before He really understood the big picture, but he never gave up and believed, and ultimately, "Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Joseph had to endure years of setbacks but all the while he trusted God, and eventually he saw the dream come to pass.

I have never been more confident that God is ordering our steps as we follow His lead.  Sometimes it's easy to question whether God is in something or not.  I believe that the best is yet to come!  If you are a child of God you can have every confidence that He is going to lead you and care for you and love you into that next big thing that He wants you to do.  So dream big!  Don't shy away from it!  Embrace God's will for you life today!

All Of God's Promises Are True

I'm reading through Bible in a year and I read Joshua 23:14 this morning.  http://read.ly/Josh23.14.NLT   14 "Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!"  God is faithful.  Period.  Not a single promise he makes has failed.  


Today, as I am waiting on Him, I hear Joshua's words echoing in my ears this afternoon.  Every promise that He has for me will come to pass.  It's been passed on from Moses to Joshua to the next generation. 


As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Sunday, remember that He is a faithful God. He died and then rose from the dead just for you!  All of His promises won't let go of you!

What's Important

About a week ago, my dad encouraged me to start being more proactive in my kids spiritual life.  I was humbled by that.  I didn't say anything out loud but I was like, "Hey, I'm a pastor and I'm living a spiritual life as an example to my kids!"  I don't know if it was the Lord (Okay, yes it was!) or not but all of a sudden I started noticing little things about my kids.  Things that had been left unchecked and I had "put up with" as a parent.  It wasn't their fault.  I had gotten a little lax in my parenting.  Call it being tired at the end of the day and expecting Missy to "handle" some of those kinda things.  It happens to all of us. 

So, the Rogers' family is starting a new habit of reading a passage in God's Word and seeing how it applies to our lives.  I know, elementary, right?  But, how many of us have gotten out of the habit of being in His Word as a family?  I was kinda wondering whether or not whether my kids would see this as just a chore rather than a privilege.  I have to admit there was a rolling of the eyes at the beginning and at first they were just listening but then my High School daughter started observing literary devices that the author used in Proverbs. (yes!)  My middle school son sighted how Proverbs wisdom can be applied to everyday life.  My youngest son on finding out that we'd be reading the Bible at dinner brought his bright orange New Testament that a Gideon gave him at a Baccalaureate service last year and opened up to the passage I was reading.

So, I will check in a month when spring sports are in full swing to update how things are going! 

Seasons

There have been a lot of emails and questions about my departure from Horizons.  I just wanted to get this out so that there isn't any confusion.  After being given all the details of the direction change for staffing at Horizons, I agree that there needs to be changes.  There is no animosity between Pastors Rich, or Jay nor the leadership of the church.  We all recognized there needs to be a change.

Horizons is growing and with growth comes some decisions.  Decisions are never easy especially when it comes to church staffing.  We feel that the past four years have been amazing here at Horizons.  I know that God has used this experience here to help me grow as a leader.  I've watched two ministries grow and flourish and feel privileged to have been a part of it!  A wise pastor once told me that I always need to take into account that all things are seasonal.  My hope and trust is in Jesus and I know that when one season ends, another season begins. 

Currently God is already showing himself faithful.  Some opportunities are opening up and I'm excited to see where God plants us next.  Life is an adventure and the best is yet to come, for Horizons and the Rogers' family.

Thanks again for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for my family as we seek God for what the next step is for us.

See you on Sunday!

-Andy

Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?

 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, `Can an old woman like me have a baby?'14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Genesis 18:13-14


Have you ever been in a situation that looks so big or so out of the ordinary that you didn't think that it was possible that it would come to pass?  Sarah was in that situation.  God spoke to her regarding his plans for her to have a baby and her immediate reaction was to laugh because it sounded so impossible.  I understand her situation.  There have been many times where I have had a crisis of belief and my first reaction is to laugh.



I love God's reply.  Before Abraham could even answer the question, "why", God said, "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?"  It all points back to how we view God.  Do we believe that God can do something that seems impossible?  Seek God for your life and trust him.  Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Dream Big, The Best Is Yet To Come

Here we are, almost a month into 2010 and God is at work.  As I have been praying I get the hairs on the back of my neck sticking up and a sense of anticipation that the best is yet to come.  Our days are numbered.  I know that's a little morbid thinking that we only have a certain amount of time on the earth to make an impact for Christ.  I feel that God is going to give us opportunities to be Jesus in 2010.  What are you doing to be  Jesus today?  Dream Big!  Don't let a day go by that you don't ask God to be used by Him!  And watch out, if you ask, He will answer!