Pray For Presidential Candidates

Photo by Andrew Allen

Much has been said about each of the presidential candidates. They become banner carriers for a certain school of thought, values, or ideals. We can forget though that they're real life people and experience things on a personal level.

Even with all their faults, God loves each of them on a personal level and wants to be at the center of their lives. Just like you and I need forgiveness for sins, so do the presidential candidates. The siren song of popular opinion, political ideology, and global power can be overwhelmingly tempting and can lead them down a destructive path both personally and for those they lead. The best thing that could happen for our leaders is if they truly follow Him and His guidance for their personal lives and as they lead our country.

Would you join me in praying for each of them individually that they would submit their will to God, seek His wisdom, and experience His love in their lives?

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Snow Poetry

Whistling wind blows through the air

Snowflakes sailing here and there

Gently floating, floating down

Settling on the southern ground

Reflections from Israel Trip

I've read the Bible for most of my life so was excited when the opportunity to go to Israel with my favorite radio station, Victory 91.5 presented itself.

View of Jerusalem from Mount of Olives

Jerusalem street

Jerusalem Marketplace

I think one of the best ways to condense a trip like this into a few words is that being there makes the words jump off the page and really come alive. To walk where Jesus walked, explore the city of Jerusalem, feel the heat of the desert, see where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, hear the sounds of the marketplace, taste middle eastern foods like baklava, St. Peter's fish, shawarma, hummus, falafel, get baptized in the Jordan river, pray and worship in the garden of Gethsemane, ride on a boat on the sea of Galilee, and look across the plain of Armageddon brings the Bible to life in a way you only understand if you've been there.

Cave where large number of Dead Sea scrolls were found

Sea of Galilee

Fishermen on Mediterranean at Cesarea

One surprise was the vast amount of agriculture in the country which is maintained largely through advanced drip irrigation. When the Bible talks about the land flowing with milk and honey, our guide said that the "honey" it referred to is actually made from dates and is more of a syrup. The food we had was all quite good.

Couscous, falafel, and more

Tasty Deserts

Date Palm Tree

Pomegranates

From a topography perspective, Israel is a fairly hilly country. The Bible refers to mountains and to give a good feel, most of them are more along the lines of Kennesaw Mountain than the Rocky Mountains.

Wilderness near Qumran, Israel

People often wonder about safety in a place that's frequently in the news for unrest. By and large, I felt safe the vast majority of the time. Like anywhere, you need to be aware of your surroundings and make wise decisions if things look like they could get out of control. We saw children running around and playing quite a bit, which should give a sense of the comfort level parents had.

One of the most impactful times for me was going to the Western Wall on Shabbat. To see the Jewish people singing, dancing, and praying at the wall was deeply moving. It reminded me of the importance of praying for people I know from the Jewish faith. They believe Messiah is coming and one of my prayers is that they will come to believe in Jesus as Messiah as I do.

At the Western Wall

Another big impact was how much significance lyrics to songs take on when actually in the place where the cross was at and where Jesus walked, taught, prayed, and rose from the dead. When I sing about the Wonderful Cross the song will come alive in a new way.

Empty Tomb

Place of the Skull

It's difficult to summarize a trip like this in a few words but hopefully the above provided a taste of what it was like. I recommend for anyone to go to Israel if nothing else than for the vast amount of history and good food but also for the enormous spiritual significance.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Experiencing the Creator in Creation

Photo by Andrew Allen Photography

Since the dawn of time, God has given us beautiful waterfalls, mountains, sunrises and sunsets, forests, streams, stars, moon, flowers, animals, and ocean waves.  As a mother or father creates environments for their children to learn, grow, and have fun in, so too God has created environments for each of His children and invites us into His creation.

We will always be attracted to and seek out beautiful things. Rather than settling for cheap imitations or counterfeit beauty, choose to experience the authentic beauty of God’s creation.

You are special to Him and He wants to you to experience all that He has planned for you. No matter where you live, there's always some part of nature you can enjoy. If you haven't intentionally gone outside to enjoy nature recently, unplug the technology, turn off the noise and get out in the Father's world. That might mean a hike in the forest, checking out a starlit night, a trip to the lake, waking up early to see a sunrise, sitting on the beach and watching the tide roll in, or some other beauty of creation.

Take a Bible and maybe a journal and just spend time enjoying nature and talking with God. Some of the best times of connection with Him can come in those moments of experiencing the beauty of His creation.

This happened for me recently when I hiked to the top of Stone Mountain to watch the sunrise. Part of my reading for that morning was Psalm 65 which talks throughout the chapter about creation and God’s blessing. One verse particularly struck a chord as I watched the sunrise: “...where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.” -Psalm 65:8

You are the pinnacle of the Creator's creation; take hold of His blessings and experience His creation fully.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Mountain Top Experience

I stand upon this mountain top looking all around

for on this mountain top your presence I have found.

Oh God of wonders you’ve brought me to this place where I can see

majesty and glory Lord you reveal to me.

I feel as though I’m soaring Lord flying high and free

encouraged, thank you for this time I’m energized with thee.

Forever I would like to stay and make this place my home

but I know it’s not possible forever to postpone.

So when you lead me from this place wherever I may go

let me Lord shine a light for all to see and know.

I cannot must not keep your truth only to myself

I must tell others of your love so they may share your wealth.

Poem: Your Love

 

I've searched the world and never found a love as pure as yours

in beautiful and darkened places, peacetime and in war

From towering cathedrals to distant galaxies

your love is vast and infinite for all eternity

Constant, never changing it doesn't ebb and flow

your love is unconditional in every high and low

In times of good in times of bad in all that I go through

no matter what the circumstance your love is always true

Your love is always true

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

Path

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

Leaning on our own understanding tends to be the default option for most people. It doesn’t come natural to trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Sure, there might be certain areas that we trust Him with but with all areas, at all times? That’s a much different standard.

Using experience, logic, training, and the advice of other people are all well and good but it’s vital that we are keyed in with God. He will reveal things to us that are unknowable outside of His guidance. I’ve seen this time after time in my own life. He’ll prompt me about something that may not make sense in the moment but later becomes abundantly clear.

When I rely on my own understanding I tend to get off the path, experience rough sailing, and take detours in life. When I fully trust in Him, He guides me and even though the journey can seem confusing and/or circuitous, He inevitably takes me to places and through experiences that would otherwise be impossible.

Acknowledging Him doesn’t mean making plans and then saying, “Hey God, how ‘bout a little blessing on this here plan that I’ve made.” It means, at the outset, placing your life before Him and saying, “All I am is Yours. Guide me in the path that You would have me follow.” Only then can you be certain that you’ll end up in the place, with the people, and in the manner He would have you go.

Is there an area of your life that you’ve been leaning on your own understanding?

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

San Diego: Torrey Pines, Padres, Historic Gaslamp District

This past week I took a trip to San Diego and while there got to visit the Torrey Pines nature preserve along the Pacific Ocean as well as go to a Padres vs. Cardinals game and checkout the historic gaslamp district. Here are a few photos:

Runners be not jealous, I got to do a mile repeat speed workout along this stretch.

This guy was hanging out around my hotel along with a few of his buddies.

Debt Snowball

A debt snowball caught on camera in the wild!



See DaveRamsey.com for info on implementing a debt snowball.

Winter Wonder Run

I went for a run this past week while it was snowing and found this great spot for some pictures so came back and set up a tripod to get a few good shots. Running in the snow is fun and quite beautiful if not overly cold.

Christmas Lights

These are some pictures I took of Christmas lights in North Kansas City as well as a home close to where I live. The picture of the house is currently posted on KansasCity.com.