Sermon: The Faithfulness of Elijah's God (1 Kings 19:1-8)

This sermon is from December 29th 2013 at Western Hills Church in San Mateo, California.

Easter, Here We Go Again

Today is Saturday, it's actually the day squeezed between Good Friday and Easter. And tomorrow, Christians will gather all around the world and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after his death and burial. Christians will celebrate in a number of ways tomorrow. Some might have pageants, some might take communion, and some might decorate crosses with freshly cut flowers. But to be completely honest, the last few years have been a bit hard for me to celebrate.

 So with me saying that, let me explain myself. First off, the reason I've had a hard time celebrating has nothing to do with the resurrection itself. I one-hundred percent believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I also fully believe that Jesus died to appease the wrath of God for all those who believe and put their faith in Him.

 Now that we have that clear, let's move on. The problem that I have been working through the last few years is how we as Christians celebrate Easter. I feel like it has become more of a show than anything thing else. We have to have finely manicured church lawns. We have to have big elaborate music productions. Sermons have to be spot on with the right illustrations because it might be "our one chance". We have to dress ourselves and our kids to the nines. There also always seem to be a bit more energy in worship as well. A lot more than "just another Sunday". You may now see where I am heading.

 As Christians, this is the day we celebrate what is at the heart of Christianity, Jesus and his resurrection. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have just been another man that walked the earth that came and died, just like everyone else. But instead, he led a life we can not lead and died a death we could not fulfill. He bore the wrath of God upon a cross. That is what we as Christians celebrate on Easter.

 But, Easter happens every Sunday. Yep, you read that correctly. Easter happens every Sunday. Matter of fact, Easter happens every single day. Every single day there are people around the world that recognize for the first time that though Jesus they have eternal life. They recognize what the love of God actually means. It is their Easter. It is the day they believe in the resurrection. The day they are welcomed in to the Kingdom.

 So what I'm saying is this. When we worship, let's worship, fully worship. Let's not half ass it. Whether you're on a kayak in the middle of some river admiring God's glory in the middle of the week. Whether you're in your car on a long or short drive. Whether you're in the middle of horrible circumstances. Whether you are gathered among a group of friends in community with one another. Or whether you are in worship as a body of believers, fully worship Christ and remember the resurrection and celebrate what He has done, every single day.

Faith - Remove the Braces

Well, it's been a while since my last post. I apologize, wait, no I don't. I said a while back I don't want to turn out blog post like they are going out of style and write useless garbage. Anyways, here we go....

This past Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to speak the Gospel to the youth and college groups of Alberta Baptist in Tuscaloosa. While doing my introduction on who I am, I told the kids that around the age of twenty-five, God took the braces off my legs and told me it's time to stand on your own, and make your faith your own. You may be asking yourself, make your faith your own? Yes, make your faith your own.

See a lot of times we let the people who are around us, shape our faith. Whether it's parents, grandparents, brother, sisters, or friends, our faith is attached to them, not the Being that makes us whole. Now, I'm not sitting here writing this preaching to you, because this was me.

The reason this is fresh on my mind is this, the past months I have interviewed at several different churches regarding open youth minister positions. One thing that I've said at all the interviews is I hope while in the youth group, I hope the kids go through a process of making their faith, their own. Why am I stressing this?

Well, working with youth and being the son of a youth minister and music minister, I've seen kids come in, look like they are doing all the right things, taking their faith by the horns and really realizing a true relationship with Christ. Then, they roll off to college and they get consumed in society and their so called faith is left hanging in the closet. They may show all the outward motions of what a Christian looks like, but on the inside they are in dire torment. Then later in life, we have something happen to us, then we go crawling back to our faith. Yep, this was me too.

See, I don't care how many people really read this. But what I do care about is for those that do and may be struggling with this, take your faith by the horns. Stand on your own two legs and truly see God. If that means leaving a church you've been at since a kid, or worshiping with your parents, plugging into a small group with no one you know, or not going to the popular church on your campus, do what YOU need to do to fully realize what a relationship with Christ looks like. If you really don't know what to do, go to a minister you have a close relationship with. That's what they are there for...guidance and ministering.

Molly, One Great Dog

In 1998, my parents bought a new house. Shortly after buying the house, my dad bought my mother an early Christmas present. That present, a dog. My father went by the pet-smart off vallydale and found this Bassett/golden retriever mix named Molly. So, the family needed to approve and we all loaded up on that Friday night and we went down to check this year old pup out. There was no doubt we fell in love and there was no doubt she did either. As my mom walked Molly around the store, Molly put her nose to the floor, sniffed around, and found my brother and myself. She had secured herself a home. She then squatted down and left her mark in pet-smart.

However, Molly was already house trained from her previous owner and had no problem finding the back door to our home once she joined our family. She was a short dog with a long body and floppy ears due to her Bassett traits but she had the heart of a golden. She loved to run around the backyard in circles and yes, even chased her tail from time to time.

Molly was the first dog we had ever owned that was primarily an inside dog. She loved to be pet. She'd walk over to you, find your forearm or hand and throw that cold nose to it until you would pet her. If she could, she would have sat there for days like that. The only bad habit she had was she loved to dig through the trash. She did it a quite bit more when she was younger, but that's something very easy to let slide. The one thing I could tell Molly hated most of all, was overnight stays at the vet. When the family would go on vacation, she'd end up there for a few days. But, we always tried to make it back in time to grab her so she would always be at home when we were. However, she did get to go to Destin with us one year and I'm pretty sure she loved it. Well maybe all except the travel part.

Molly was a loyal dog. A story that always sticks out to me was in 2000, my parents came home one night after a football game and guess who greeted them in the front yard, yep, Molly! Someone had opened the gate to our fence and Molly had wondered out, but just to explore our front yard. So after that, she earned the privilege of going into the front yard with no leash. Molly loved going just to the left of the house and rolling around on her back in the Bermuda grass. Then we'd have to bribe her in with treats. Her little game with us I think.

Molly had three favorite spots in the house. One, her bed. She loved laying on it and laying her head flat on the hardwood floor. Second would be the rug at the end of my parents bed. And lastly would be in the den right beside the couch. Now outside she had about the same number of spots. One was over on the left side of the deck in the sun, second was by the house next to the den window, and lastly the front corner of the backyard under a blueberry tree. Yes, she would sometimes have a bluish tint because of this. I always loved when I came home and she was outside in the backyard. She would be at the gate barking and I'd look around the corner of the house throw my head to the left and she'd take off. Where would she take off to? Well she'd be waiting for me at the backdoor for me to let her in, and I always would.

I'm pretty sure I could go for days telling stories about her. And Molly was a great dog, really the perfect dog in my opinion. She slowed down in her latter years but all she wanted to do was be loved and that was not hard to do. I'm glad my pops found her back in 1998. I truly love her and will miss her everyday.

Next Moves...

Over the past few years, I've been noticing a a change. A change in me. Yet at times, I kept running from this change I was feeling. To be honest, I have no idea why I was running because the very thing I was running from was something that I knew since 6th grade.

For the past 4 years, I have wanted to pursue a career in MLB. Mainly somewhere in the front office and at some point be in a position to call the shots. Well if you notice, I wrote I have wanted. So I went back to school at Alabama pursuing a degree in Economics and a minor in Computer Science. But during the past year, I was feeling that this track was not where I would end up. However, during the spring I applied for many internships with-in MLB and also one with the PGA. Nothing developed from those applications. To be honest, I'm glad they didn't. I didn't need another distraction.

See, over the past few years, God has been working on me. He has slowly been revealing his plan for me. But to be honest, his plan was revealed to me in 6th grade, but I attached myself to things that were shinier to me. But the thing that was revealed to me in 6th grade and re-revealed to me the past few years was a calling in to ministry, specifically student ministry.

I've had issues of making decisions off the hip a lot in life. So, while making this one, I stayed focused on His word and also sought advice from many who had made this decision before me. I walked away from all those conversations with a lot to think about, yet so much confirmation of this calling. I'm really really excited to see what's next and continue this journey. I have decided to stay on the track I'm on at school and then head to seminary. Which one? I'm not sure. Currently starting to look and see where God is leading.

What I ask of you. Pray that I will continue to seek God's will and He will lead me in each decision along the way.

Out Of Whack

In life, we have this picture of what our life is supposed to look like. We have these ideas of what we should own, what we should do for a living, and the order it should all take place. We're supposed to set up priorities to keep us in check, and in my life, that was the one thing I over looked. I over looked the placement of these priorities.

From age 19-25 my priorities were very much out of whack. My ambitions were in my socioeconomic status and not based in my faith. I've been a Christian since the age of 7. I knew where I should place my priorities, but due to a lack of positive Christian influences and my own discipline, I placed my priorities else where. So during the years I mentioned above, I accumulated money, stuff, and friends that fueled these worldly desires. In my mind I had everything, I had the money, I had the truck, I had the lifestyle, but really I had nothing other than stuff that didn't matter.

After a long 2005, I decided to examine my life and where I stood. It wasn't until late 2009 that I realized my faith was not as strong as it needed to be and I had let worldly ambitions trump my faith. Even though I was going to church, volunteering, and in Bible study, I was still just going through the motions. This journey that I have been on over the past few years continues as I write this. I now know what is of most important to me, and where my priorities should be placed.

Looking back, those years where I was chasing worldly desires were some of the most empty times of my life. And now I might not have all the things that this world seems to judge us by, but I know where my desires are fueled from and very happy that my priorities are in place.

Just in case your wondering my priorities:
1. God(church)
2. Family and Friends
3. School
4. Work

Beautiful Disaster

Well over the next 12 or so hours, tropical depression Bonnie is suppose to roll over the Florida Keys. Why do I care that it's rolling over the keys? Well mainly because, that's where I am right now. Is it a big deal, no. I've been through storms much worse than what I'll see the next few hours. However, it's sad to watch mother nature tear something a part. Something someone took time to make, or build is destroyed in a matter of minutes. But at the same time, it's beautiful to watch something fight to stay together. At times it may look like it won't make it, but it does. It comes out of the storm beaten up, but it made it. It can be made new again because it weathered the storm...

Blood, Sweat,....

Well Sunday I ended up being tempted to hit the water, by myself. I've done it many times and never really had any thought about getting hurt or anything of the sort. Well five minutes into my run down the lake on the sea-doo, I took a huge wave throwing me into the steering controls upon the so called landing. Luckily I didn't slam my face in to the controls, instead I hit around my collar bone area. After riding the sea-doo sideways for a few seconds, I righted the XP and kept going. Then a few minutes later after rubbing upper chest and neck area, my hand felt like it was covered with a warm substance...yep, blood! Looking in my mirrors, I could see the cut and blood running down my chest. So I stopped and jumped in the water to wash it off. Well after about 20 minutes the bleeding stopped and I continued on for the rest of the day, however being a little timid for a good little while.

Any ways, being alone on Sunday and empty house this week, has led me to do a lot of thinking. For me that's usually not a good thing. So have you ever wanted something and then when that moment came, the excitement wasn't there? That's something I'm going through right now and I don't know why? You would think something that has been in the making for over two years would excite you. But right now I'm not.

Catching my breath....I think.

No post in a while due to finishing up the semester. So now it's summer time, or close to it at least and it's my favorite time of year no doubt. So now that school is out of the way until fall what's on tap? First off, work but that's a given. So what's the fun stuff? Well Friday heading to a concert with some friends, which should be fun. Of course many trips to the lake which is a summer staple for me. Also I've planned trip to Jacksonville, in which we will also hit up Orlando and hopefully be able to get over to St. Pete to catch a Rays game. A friend and myself are tying to get a trip planned to St. Louis to visit some friends and yes, catch a Cards game, but we have a little inside connection there and would be the reason to go. And lastly, a trip to Chicago for a trade show in July for a week. Really looking forward to getting up to Chicago and seeing what it has to offer. Oh yeah, catching a Cubs/Phils game while in town. So that's really what's on tap for the summer so not looking like I'm catching my breath, but that's okay.

Beat...

After a weekend, I think you're supposed to feel refreshed and ready for the week. But I'll tell you, right now I wish I had a few more days before beginning this week. This is the last week before dead week at school which means a few test and working on my final paper for IBA which I've been doing all afternoon. To be honest, I'm ready to get this week out of the way and heading in to it feeling beat is not the way I wanted to start it. Hopefully it ends up being better than expected.

Decisions

Many of you may not know but I'm finishing up school at Alabama. I must say, I've enjoyed my time on campus thus far. I had some thoughts about maybe leaving to cut out the driving between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. However, I've felt at home being on campus at Alabama. It might be because I've spent the first few years of my life here and it's always kinda been home in a sense. I've got a little more time here and then it will be time for a new chapter. The funny part is, the people I'm surrounded by right now could not be more perfect. And it's a little scary knowing I what will be next and where it takes me. Sure, I've got some places only target list but nothing is 100%. All I can say is, what a ride it's been and damn, I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Trying...

Over the past few days I've been trying to write a new post but every time I read it back to myself it sounds.... well depressing. The people in my last two blogs were extremely important to me but at the same time the writing's can come off depressing, but I'm not depressed. I guess it just has to do with everything that's been going on the past few weeks. Although it's been rough, there have been some very good parts lately as well. I'll get a good one out...

My Nanny

In some ways, this is the easiest post I've written, but it is no doubt the hardest I've ever written. On Wednesday March 24th around 2am, my Nanny passed away. She had been sick and in the nursing home for a little over four years. She had been battling dementia during those years. It might have taken her mind, but it never took her spirit. As always, she was a fighter to the end.

But I won't remember her for just these last four years or so. I'll remember all the times that she stayed with us growing up. I'll remember the trips to visit her. I'll remember breaking away during the day to go have lunch with her. I'll remember sitting with her and watching our favorite past time, baseball. I'll remember family Christmases. I'll remember her loving us no matter how we acted and goofed off while with our cousins.

I'm not really sure there are enough kind words to say about my Nanny. I know I miss her so much and will never forget her. I will always remember the love and kindness she showed to others. She had and will continue to have a lasting impact on my life. She was truly a remarkable lady, but most of all she was my Nanny.

I'll Never Forget You

Today is one of those days in my life that I'll never forget. Not today to be exact but March 21 instead. Today marks 5 years since my cousin who was 2 years younger than me passed away. I remember that day just like it was yesterday. Shortly after 7am getting the phone from my Grandmother. Then my mom came and met me and we drove to my dad's office where we pulled him outside to tell him. After that I had to call my brother as well. It's one of those days and weeks that I never want to relive. But, this is life and you'll have those moments.

Matt and I were always close growing up. He was my only male cousin so I think that's one of the reasons we were so close. As we got older, no matter how long it was between when we talked, we always seemed to pick up where we left off. I still think about him all the time and miss him everyday. I loved that kid.

It was kinda ironic that we talked about over coming difficulties in Sunday school this am. Anything is possible with God. Prayer must be a staple in life as well as action to go along with those prayers. You just can't pray and do nothing expecting to over come difficulties in life. Fellowship and study must also be included as well.

It was a difficult time in my life dealing with his death as I am sure it was for the rest of the family. I miss Matt everyday and I am very thankful for the time I had with him and know I will see him again someday.

"I Believe In Me"

The title to this post is from my favorite quote from Steve McQueen. Also, just to let you know, I am a huge Steve McQueen fan but in no way do I hold him up as a role model. The quote is:

"I believe in me. I'm a little screwed up but I'm beautiful." - Steve McQueen

When reading this, if you have questions about this post, just ask me. Now, on to the quote. I ran across this quote a few months ago. When I read it, I pretty much adopted it as my life motto. I think about this quote on a weekly basis. The reason I like this quote so much because I know that I am not perfect and will not be perfect. That reason might be why I do not believe in role models. I know I have imperfections, but at the end of the day as long as I please God first, I am good with that. I know that I can not please everyone in life. No matter what I do, I know someone will always question me about my actions or reasoning for doing something. If I tried to please everyone, I would end up getting pulled in so many directions that I would not know who I am. End the end, I believe in me and I'm beautiful in God's eyes.

Caught Up In The World of Now

Well if you are friends with me on facebook, follow me on twitter, or linked with me on Linkedin, you might have asked the question like many others did this past week. Where is Patrick Finley? Well let me answer that question for you. I was here. No not here on-line but at work, school, church, and many other places just as I always am. I just wanted to take a break from social media.

When this this little break started I intended for it to be just for the weekend. Well the weekend turned into 3 days, 4 days, and so on leading up to a 9 day break. Then I had this great idea for a social media blog. Then yesterday my thoughts on how to approach this blog started to change.

See, I'm a laid back guy. My little twitter (I know, little twitter..haha) bio even says so, "laid back but on top of it." But here of late I've been struggling with something. I've got caught up in the "Now". Wanting things to happen now. Somethings I know I don't want to happen now, but for some reason I've pushed things. Why? Yesterday I really wasn't sure.

So, last night thinking about this I just decided to put my mind on other things. So I picked up my iPhone to catch up on some sermons from Francis Chan. There it was..."Slow Down and Show Grace" was the title to the next sermon. Here are a few of the points

1. Don't be quick to answer
2. Quick to speak, quick to anger
3. Take time to respond with love and grace
4. Slow down...the Lord has things in store for you

I think with all this social media and other conveniences in life, we have come to expect the "now" right now. Personally I tried to rush some things. Was social media the cause? No, personal insecurity and lack of faith was mainly the issue. So, I know I don't have to be quick to act on everything and waiting is ok. Sometimes it might even be a nice little present.

Refreshed

At times it's easy for us to get pulled in so many directions, it's easy for us to get worn down. It's also easy for us to forget what is truly important as well. This past weekend as you may have read from my prior blog, I spent it with about 85-100 high school kids at a fall youth retreat with my church. If you think about it, it sounds like a lot of work and always keeping your eyes open since I was serving in a volunteer role. So naturally I would be tired today and dragging. However this is not the case.

Yesterday I tweeted that my batteries were run all the way down but yet I am refreshed. I'm not sure if it was the people I was with, the time spent worshiping, or just laying everything going on at Gods feet, or maybe it was everything above. However, I feel refreshed for the first time in a long while.

"What Inspires Me"

I've thought about the question that Trey(@magnetsfast) posted on twitter the other night. He asked, "What inspires you?". I looked at the question and really thought about it. I know some will answer fame, money, and the other usual answers. Webster's definition of inspire is to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration. I think people can be inspired by a number of things, including: nature, great feats of work, and even love. Yes, I did say love. That word is not to often in my vocabulary but there it is.

As I look back over the past few years, I know what inspires me. It's people. Yes, people. I can look back as people have come and gone out of my life and see who pushed me, and I know the ones that also had a negative effect as well. Some may not even know they pushed me or are pushing me now. It just happens. I really don't know how to explain it. But that feeling of when someone inspires you is like none other. I've never done a good job at telling people who inspire they have done so. I'll start working on that. It may surprise you in who it is.

So now I ask you, what inspires you?

It's All About....

For the ones of you who only know me from reading my blog, I want to say that I am a big people watcher. I think this came from one of my favorite music videos, "Meant To Be" by Sammy Kershaw, as I was growing up. Everytime the video was on, I would watch it. Not really sure why, but I think about this video all the time as I people watch.

Anyway, this morning as I was stopped at a red light, I noticed a man walking with his son to school. However, the man was a good fifty feet in front of his son and smoking a cigarette. His son was struggling to keep up, and every now and then run for a few seconds then go back to walking. Now, I don't know the situation, or the relationship between the father and son so I'm not trying to judge.

What I gathered from this and thought about was, it's not all about us. I know we hear that all the time, but it's true. This can apply to business as well as our personal lives. Just a mid week thought...

By the way, here is a link to the video I was talking about. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzhe0uG6uiQ

The Merge Lane

It's funny where you get your ideas to blog about. Today as I was driving about, a young lady, maybe a college student, in a BMW was in a merge lane. As she was approaching the end of the merge lane she came to a stop. Being in the lane she needed to get in, I slowed down to let her in. She just sat there. So, I just passed her and went on. That little moment led to this blog.

My thoughts as I drove on down the road was how we need to jump in. However we must do our research in order to succeed. Example, say this girl came to the end of the merge lane, never looked, and just pulled out in traffic. I bet most of the time she slams into someone causing a wreck, hurting herself or someone else in the matter. That would be a fail. Now, the proper way would be to keep going at a slower rate, looking around to see when traffic is clear, and merging in slowing then hitting the gas.

Now, where am I going with this. We can look at business the same way. We have to do our research in order to succeed. If we jump in feet first with no research, there is a good chance we are going to fail. However, if we study and do our research about what we are getting into, we are not guarantied to succeed, but our chances are much much better.