Ramblings from a Hoodlum Pastor

What We Can Learn From Jon & Kate

"Who is to blame for Jon and Kate Gosselin's marriage woes? TV? Viewers? Themselves? Some combination of all three?"  I read this quote this morning in the Life section of the USAToday & couldn't just let it slide without a word.  I would normally never write about someone's marriage problems.  But, since they have chosen to publicly air their dirty laundry in front of the world, I feel there are some things that we can & should address.  

Amy & I were two of the almost 10 million viewers who watched the season premier last Monday night.  As a pastor, I deal with situations like this on a regular basis behind closed doors.  But, it was so sad to watch this marital train wreck on national television with millions of viewers.

The quote from the USAToday reveals a major problem plaguing our world, shifting blame & making excuses.  Many have said they can understand why Jon would want out because he has been berated & basically emasculated by his wife.  I've watched the show for a season or two with Amy & I don't entirely disagree.  Many probably feel that Kate is excused because of the stress of being the mom to eight young kids.  (I can't imagine)  This is the problem; Jon is excused...Kate is excused...someone or something else is always to blame.

Listen to these words from James 1:13-14, "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Adam & Eve blamed God for their sin.  Read Genesis 3.  Adam said, "It wasn't my fault; it was the woman you gave me."  It sounds like he is blaming Eve, but he's really blaming God.  It was the woman "YOU" gave me.  Eve said, "It wasn't my fault; it was the serpent."  It sounds like she's blaming the serpent, but she's really blaming God.  Who made the serpent?  Rather than taking responsibility for their sin, they blamed God & that's been our MO ever since.

It's not my fault, I was born that way...my dad left when I was young & never had anything to do with me...it's just my personality...my mom allowed me to watch Barney & the Teletubbies when I was young...on and on and on.  We excuse & shift blame & responsibility to someone or something else.  And, since God is sovereign & the one who gave us our parents, circumstances, personality, etc, we're really blaming God when we make these excuses.

Back to the USAToday quote, "Who is to blame for Jon and Kate Gosselin's marriage woes? TV? Viewers? Themselves? Some combination of all three?"  Only one of these is the real answer, themselves.  There are no excuses for sin.  There is no one else to blame.  We must look in the mirror & own our sin & mistakes & then confess & repent & receive forgiveness & restoration.  Until we fully own it, we can't be fully restored. 

Please pray for Jon & Kate.  I have no idea why, but they've chosen to go through this very private problem in a very public way.  And, yes, they did have a choice.  I know what God wants to do & can do in their marriage.  I always tell people who come to see me with marriage problems that if God can raise a dead man, He can definitely raise a dead marriage.  But, both partners must be willing to own their stuff & not try to shift blame or responsibility.

Please pray for John & Kate Gosselin to allow God to what only He can do in their marriage.     

       

Bad News/Good News

Bad News  -  Aly Kate didn't pass court today.  The judge wanted a document that was written in one language translated into the language of Aly Kate's region. 

Good News  -  Most cases that don't pass court are rescheduled for about a month later.  Our social worker told us that most cases that didn't pass today were rescheduled for June 20 or 22.  But, because everything else was good with AK, the judge rescheduled to hear her case on June 1, which is only 1 week from Monday.  Our social worker actually told us their in country representative would probably meet with the judge next week & get the matter all cleared up, but it still wouldn't be officially approved until she rules on it June 1. 

We'll probably travel a couple of weeks after she's approved, which means we'll probably travel somewhere between June 14 & 21.  This means we could possibly receive our daughter on or around Father's Day, which is amazing because we received Jadyn on Mother's Day two years ago. 

So, even though we're very sad & disappointed that AK didn't pass court today, we're extremely thankful that her case was reschedules so soon & it appears should pass without problem on June 1st.  God is in total control & we trust Him completely & know we'll travel on the exact date & receive our new daughter on the exact date that He ordained before He created the world.  We praise God for His sovereignty & that He has everything worked out in a way that will bring Him the most glory. 

 

Friday is a Big Day

This Friday is a big day for the Hood family...that's the day Alyza Kate, our beautiful Ethiopian daughter, goes to court.  In the Ethiopian Adoption process, each child has to pass court & be approved by a judge.  Aly Kate goes before the judge this Friday & if she passes, we'll travel to pick her up in 2-3 weeks.  So, as you can imagine, we're a little distracted, tense, excited and a lot of other things.  Please pray hard that AK passes court with flying colors.  If she does, we'll get our travel dates immediately.  I'll let you know as soon as we get the news.      

The Latest on Teams Belgium & Bangkok

Great things keep happening at LifePoint.  The interest in our International Church Planting Teams continues to blow our minds.  Kyle & Tim are still meeting with people interested in making the move to an international city to proclaim the glory of God.  There are a couple of things you need to know about this process. 

First, Brett & Suzie Cox, our missionaries in Brazil, feel that God is leading them to make the transition from Brazil to Bangkok.  They will be moving back to Smyrna at the end of June to begin preparations with Team Bangkok.  I'm pumped about the move & grateful that Brett & Suzie are a great example of what it means to have your YES on the table to whatever it is God is calling you to do.

Second, I know many of you are interested in joining either Team Bangkok or Team Belgium, but the timing isn't right.  Remember, these teams are permanent teams & we even have plans of sending more International Teams to places like China, India, Africa, The Middle East & who knows where else.  So, if you're interesting in going, be praying about the future because the opportunity is always on the table.

By the way, if you're not a member of LifePoint, you can still be a part of these teams.  If you're interested, email me & I will tell you how you can begin the process of joining the team.  We would ask you to move to Smyrna for at least a year to be a part of LifePoint so you can become immersed in our culture & learn our DNA before we send you to be a member of an international team.  So, if that sounds interesting to you, let me know & we'll start a conversation. 

 

   

"GOTCHA"

This is the two year anniversary of one of the happiest moments of my life.  It was two years ago today that we stood in an orphanage in Fuling China & was united with the daughter that God created specifically for us.  I really can't put the emotions of that day into words, but if you go to my FaceBook page, you can watch for yourself thanks to our dear friends, Jeff & Amy Priborsky.

We love you Jadyn & thank God for creating you for our family. 

"What the Heck is Going On?"

Yesterday was an amazing day at LifePoint.  Not only did we dedicate a boat load of children & celebrate the wonder of MOM, we also celebrated the baptism of two exchange students who obviously came to America for more than an educational experience; Igor from the Czech Republic & Bin Lee from South Korea.

Both Video's were incredible.  Igor's video speaks to why we feel compelled to send an international church planting team to Brussels to start a church planting movement that will hopefully ignite a movement that will spread across Europe.  His convicting phrase was, "There are no Christians where I'm from and that he noticed a difference in Christians."

Bin Lee said he wasn't a Christian when he came to America.  As he stated hanging out with Christians he thought, "What the heck is going on?"  I love that statement.  I can already see a sermon titled, "What the Heck is Going on?"  That's exactly what people should ask when they hang around people who follow Christ.  They should notice such a positive difference in their life that they want to know, "What the heck is Going on?"  "What the Heck is different about you?"

Take a look at their videos.  You don't have to go to another country to have in incredible impact on the nations.  Consider hosting an exchange student so that you can spread the fame of God around the world by having the world come to you.  I'll get more info in a couple of days on how you can start the process. 

   

Everything Changes...I Mean EVERYTHING!

For many, Christianity in America can be described as Cheap at best & shallow at least.  Many people claim to follow Jesus but live no different than anyone else.  Nothing really changes, except maybe what they do for an hour on Sunday when it's convenient. 

This is far from the Christianity Jesus died for.  It's far from the Christianity the first Christians knew & lived.  When people in the New Testament became Christ Followers, they knew that nothing remained the same; everything changed. 

This past Sunday, in our Discover LifePoint class, a lady from another country aprroached Charity, our small group ministry assistant, with her wooded YES chip & said her YES to faith in Jesus was on the table.  Here's where it gets really good.  She said that, in her culture, when someone made a significant life change, they changed their name.  So, she had started the legal process of changing her name because of her new life.  WOW!  This is obviously not a shallow commitment.  It's obviously far from cheap Christianity.  EVERYTHING CHANGES!