Set Your Mind Above

Our dear friends and family who just moved to the area have two cemeteries on their property. The gravestones are nearly 200 years old, overgrown, neglected, and forgotten. The lives of these folks have long since been forgotten, and it brings the light the following reality: we will all be the same way too. We will be forgotten by everyone. Everyone, that is, except the Lord. While a generation comes and goes, one day we will all stand before God and give an account of our lives. Knowing this, it should remind us of this truth: it does not matter how many friends you leave behind when you die, it only matters whether or not you have a friend in Jesus. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Your spine is supposed to have a 35 degree bend at the top and base, but mine is 15 and 12. While going over my x-rays with my chiropractor, I asked him what the plan was. He told me it depends a whole lot more on me than it does on him. If I'm not doing my work at home with PT and implementing the things he's equipped me to do, and I'm merely getting adjustments, we'll be figthing an uphill battle. Let me ask you this...how important is your children's spiritual development? I have many tell me very important, and it's for that reason they have found a local church with lots of opportunites for youth. But friends, your children can hear the best lessons each week - but if you are not doing the work you are called to do by God at home with your children, then you are going to be fighting an uphill battle. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

On my way home from Georgetown, KY the other night, I ran into a bit of trouble...literally. My trip was going off without a hitch, until there was one...literally. Someone had dropped a hitch with a massive drill bit being used as a pin on it in the middle of the road, and didn't see it in time with it being so dark and I hit it. Shredded my tired two minutes from home. That figures. We have to be careful because we could do the same to others, and I don't mean leaving things in the middle of the road. I mean leaving a stumbling block for others. Our actions do not only impact us, they impact others as well. Before we do the things that we do, even if we know they are pleasing to God, we should first consider the impact they might have on others coming up behind us. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

My son went flying past me with a piece of paper he looked proud of. When I asked him what he had there, he said it was a drawing for Jesus that he planned to give to him when he saw him in heaven. Doesn't that just melt your heart? It's not about the picture (which was amazing by the way, it was a bunch of crowns) - it's about the heart behind it. Before the throne of God in John's Revelation, the 24 elders cast down their very crowns at the foot of the Almighty. But in reality, they presented the same gift to God as my son: they gave their everything. The question that remains for us is this: are we willing and ready to do the same? Because that's all God truly wants from us, the only gift that matters, our heart. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

We bought our son who just turned 4 a trampoline for his birthday! It wasn't that hard to put together, but it didn't come with anchors. So, we ordered some online. I delayed putting them on because of how busy our week was, thinking I would just do it this upcoming weekend. Well, I wasn't anticipating a huge thunderstorm last night with big wind gusts. Thankfully, we still have a trampoline, but we got lucky. Well, what happens when storms come if we are not properly anchored in Christ? We will end up flying far away from where we once stood spiritually. So when is the best time to make sure your faith is grounded? That your children are grounded? Don't wait until things get hard - don't delay. Do it now. You never know when things are going to get more difficult. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

My youngest daughter loves watching the birds, so my inlaws purchased us a clear birdhouse that mounts to our window for her to watch them eat and nest. As the kids waited for a bird to arrive, they asked what would happen if we ran out of seeds. I told them God would feed them like he does every day, and they responded, "Just like you feed us?" That's right kiddos. We need childlike faith. Yes this economy is tough right now, but we should be as free from anxiety as my children are when it comes to what they eat and wear each day. God tells us that if we seek his kingdom first, he will provide for us the things that we need. And to teach that lesson, Jesus also goes to the birds. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

I came home for lunch expecting to hear my children greet me at the door, but had forgotten they were on a play date. So I sat there eaching lunch in silence, which is very rare. You would think I would enjoy it, but actually, I missed them. Sure our house is chaotic more often than not, but it's where we all belong: together. In the same way, children belong together with us in worship. Can they be loud? Yes. Distracting? Sure! But Jesus said "let the little children come to me." You don't want to wait until you're sitting in silence in an empty church with no children before you realize that lesson. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

I was driving around Danville with a friend who had never been to my little town before when he said, "Danville: quite simply the nicest town." I asked why he said that, and he pointed to the water tower. Friends, I have driven past this tower a thousand times and never seen that. He noticed it after seeing it once with fresh eyes. That is often how scripture discovery goes. We might have read something a thousand times and still not noticed something, but then someone brings something to our attention that we just have never seen. When you think you've got something down, go back and look at it again. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Children's television programs are not what they used to be more often than not. Rather than promoting what is good and right, imorrality and godlessness are promoted and packaged as something that is "good" in the form of a cartoon. If we're not careful, we'll teach our children to accept the lies of Satan because they were packaged in the fun form of a fire truck or a dinosaur. Isn't that one of the greatest tactics of Satan? To disguise himself as an angel of light? He is the master of deceit. He's so good at it, we can even start to beleive that which is good is really evil, and that which is evil is really good. We must be aware, and we must not allow ourselves to be fooled. Let's listen to the voice of Truth. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Welcome back after an extended break to the new Season 4 of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! Over the new year, I started working out again because I really needed to. Actually, I joined CrossFit - and I realized just how out of shape I am. But thankfully, I'm not expected to keep up with everyone who has been there for years. I'm just expected to do my best and modify things to my level. We must be sure that we do the same for new Christians. Often, they take the plunge and become a part of the body of Christ, but are immediately thrown into classes that are far above their head. We need to modify things to their level, and ensure that they can really grow at their own pace so as not to become discouraged. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

After five years of living without, Danville finally has it's very own free standing Chick-Fil-A! We are so excited and have been already like, 5 times lol. During the grand opening, one of the workers was serving us and when we thanked her she said, "My pleasure! I keep forgetting to say that." It's part of their script to respond with that expression, but should it be more for us? Well...as Christians, we are called to be genuine in our love and service to others. To show mercy with cheerfulness. That means that for service to truly be service, it will always be our pleasure. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

We're back after a delay for a few weeks - and that occured with the passing of my grandmother Jackie Sipe, who we called Gigi. Her funeral was beautiful, and I was thankful to get to be a part of it. After the funeral, one of the women from the church told me something special after someone had expressed their sympathy for my loss. She said, "You know...nothing is lost if you know where it is." Well...I do know where she is, and all those in Christ do not grieve as others who have no hope. Jesus has won the victory over death, and through his resurrection we have great hope! To die is gain, because it means we get to go home, to our true eternal home, forever with the Lord. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

A few weeks ago my wife and I attended a fundraising event to support the adoption agency Sacred Selections. I had hoped to win a beutiful bracelet for my wife in the silent auction, but I kept getting outbid by someone all night. After a while, I realized something hilarious - my wife and I had been unknowingly bidding against each other! Needless to say, we didn't leave with the bracelet. Well...as funny as that might be, do we realize that a house divided against itself cannot stand when it comes to any kingdom? That includes when we bite and devour each other as the church. We are called to love one another, not compete with each other. We cannot forget that we're all on the same team with the same mission, and we are called to work together, not against each other. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

We are getting ready for our road trip to North Carolina for Thanksgiving, and that means making sure the car is ready for the voyage. We're not just going down the road, we're going up into hard mountain roads that twist and turn all the way. We've got to make sure we're ready for that kind of journey. Well...how do you view your journey of faith? Jesus says that this is a serious commitment, and we need to make sure we are prepared - or else we'll end up stranded in the middle of our voyage. This is a hard road, but what is waiting for us at the end is worth every mile. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Hey! I'm alive! Thanks for being so patient with us - we've had everything from family issues to sickness going on the last few weeks. On top of all of that, while my wife was caring for three sick kids and her sick husband, she hit her foot and broke her toe. Now you would think, it's just a little toe, no big deal right? Wrong. It impacts everything. Well...that's exactly the way it is with the body of Christ too. How important do you see your role in the church? If you don't think it's indispensible like Paul says it is, it will directly impact your motivation to fulfill your role. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

We ordered some new bibles for some of our newest converts, and one of the bibles had a unique issue with it. The entire text had been bound and printed completely upside down. It's unlike any other issue I have ever seen with a bible. I had to life at the irony of it all, because, well...the Word of God is the thing that turns the world upside down. Everything about Jesus' ministry challenged what the world thought it knew about love, power, hope, etc. And to this day, Jesus continues to turn the world upside down but setting his disciples right side up again. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

My wife and I celebrated 9 years of marriage yesterday, and I am blown away at how much has changed since the day we said "I Do". We have moved three times, had three children, and worked with three churches. But the biggest differences come in our relationship: how much deeper we love, fuller we know, and intimately we understand each other. Well...marriage teaches us about our relationship to God, so we need to ask ourselves: has our relationship with God grown over the years in this way? Do I love him deeper, know him fuller, and understand him more intimately than the day I obeyed the gospel? #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

My son learned a lesson the hard way today. Even though we have often told him not to touch anything on the stove, he reached his hand up into the air fryer that was on the stove and burned his hand. Sometimes we have to learn lessons the hard way...or do we? Well...Proverbs 1 teaches us that we don't. We choose many times to learn things the hard way by not listening, and then we have to suffert he consequences. But you don't have to fall to learn you don't want to fall. Sometimes we just need to listen and obey, and take God at his word. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Today I really struggled - I just didn't know what to write. It's not that I didn't have an idea of what I wanted to say, but I just couldn't say it. We've all struggled with writer's block before I'm sure, and it's in those times you wish people could just look into your heart or your mind to know what it is you're feeling or thinking. Well...that's exactly what the Holy Spirit does when we struggle with what to pray. He searches our inward most parts, and even if the words don't come out, God knows what we're thinking and feeling. Thank God for his intercession! #SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Children want their parents attention. Constantly my kids are asking, "Dad, are you watching?" or, "Dad! Look! See me?" The idea of me watching them does not cause them anxiety but great joy, why? Because no matter what they are doing, they want to please me. Well...as children of God, how does the idea of Him watching make us feel? If the answer is fearful, then we are not walking like children as we should be. If we make it our aim to be pleasing to God in all that we do, then we should desire for him to be watching. #SetYourMindAbovePodcast