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1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God is more concerned about WHY we do something than WHAT we are doing. God examines our heart and we should take the time to do the same. Here’s some questions to ask:

1. Why am I doing this? What is my motivation?
2. Would I do this if nobody ever found out?
3. I’m I doing this simply to make myself look good and to impress others?

It’s not about rules and it’s not about rituals. It’s about loving God and loving people. That’s it.

This truth is so simplistic, yet so profound. We tend to muddy it with so many other things and loose sight of it’s importance.

Love God. Love People.

Tonight my wife and I are opening up our home to about 25 volunteer leaders from our church. We are looking forward to hanging out with them and getting to know them as we spend time together. This morning I read a passage of scripture that talks about having dinner with God. Could you imagine? In Psalm chapter fifteen David talks about what it takes to get on the guest list and how to avoid the blacklist. Listen to how the Message Bible describes it:

“God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.”

These are some pretty challenging prerequisites, some are more challenging than others for me personally. Could you imagine the impact our lives would have if we lived everyday like we are going to have dinner with God?

The Earley family has some exciting news. Last week we relocated to Gaithersburg, MD where I am overseeing the Life Groups ministry of Church of the Redeemer. Church of the Redeemer is a multi-cultural and multi-site church in the Washington DC area. Although Maryland is far away from family, this is kind of a homecoming for us. Mandy and I previously lived here from 2003 to 2006 and our daughter Gracie was born here during that time. We have very close friends here and greatly admire our Pastor. Most importantly we believe that Church of the Redeemer is where God has called us to be long term. We have really sensed God orchestrating this move back to Maryland. Although we will deeply miss our family and friends in Oklahoma, we know that following God’s plan is what’s best for us and our family and friends. We are excited about the path God has placed us on and we have high expectations for what lies ahead.

I’ve recently taken up running and I am really enjoying it. So, I thought I would share some of the ways that running has been benefiting my life in hopes that it may benefit your life as well.

1. It allows me to destress and unwind. My life can tend to be busy and at times a little chaotic. Even though I enjoy and embrace the chaos, I know that I need to have strategic outlets in my life to help me manage stress.
2. It reminds me that I am alive. Everyday is a gift and sometimes we just need a little reminder. A quick run is a great way to be reminded that you are alive.  
3. It gets me outdoors. It is very easy to spend every waking moment inside, especially if you enjoy technology like I do. Nevertheless, nothing quite compares to running as the sun rises or under the stars.
4. It provides a place of solitude. It can be difficult for me to get away from the noise of life (including the good noises). Some of my greatest insights come from unplugging and being alone with my thoughts on a run.
5. It prolongs my life. This is the most obvious, but also the greatest benefit. I want to grow old with my wife, live to see my daughters become mothers, and accomplish all that God has for my life. The catch is, that I have to take responsibility for how that is going to happen. I must purposely invest in my health. 

Plan B by Pete Wilson is a book that helps you gain clear perspective when the circumstances of life become unclear. It addresses the question: “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought he would?” 

Each of us either have or will experience a time in our life when we must answer this question. Pete Wilson does a great job of using stories from both the Bible and today to unpack how God can use our “plan B situations” as a catalyst for spiritual growth. In addition to Plan B being a great read, it is also a great resource. I believe it is going to bring a lot of hope and healing to a lot of people. Not only will it help the reader deal with their own “plan B situations”, but it will also equip them to help others. 

To learn more about Plan B and Pete Wilson be sure and check out planbook.com.