she still calls me daddy

In his book, She Still Calls Me Daddy, Robert Wolgemuth takes on the vital issue of building a new relationship (different) with your daughter AFTER she walks down the aisle. Wolgemuth dedicates this book to his two sons-in-law after thanking them for still allowing him to be involved in their life. Right away you are reminded of how vital this "new season" of relationship is to a newly married woman. This daughter no longer looking to be led by her father, instead her husband, but still appreciating this vital relationship with her daddy to be healthy and growing. Wolgemuth takes the 7 things that he believes every father should provide for a daughter, and gives them a fresh look as a father provides these to his now married daughter living along new leadership. Wolgemuth suggests the 7 things are: Protection, Conversation, Affection, Discipline, Laughter, Faith, and Conduct. One of the most important chapters is chapter 3, in which Wolgemuth suggests that a vital role of a father is to safeguard his daughter's marriage. In other words, looking for ways to help her marriage work rather than trying to get in the middle of it or tearing it down. I am so thankful for my own father-in-law who helps encourage my marriage with his daughter so well! A new marriage, Wolgemuth writes has to be "released from the familiar and set free to establish their own normals". In chapter 6, Discipline-the art of letting go, he writes, we can "either evaluate or we (can) celebrate, if we choose to stand back, fold our arms, and evaluate our grown kids, we'll live in constant frustration over our inability to change them." I think that Wolgemuth is correct when saying that letting go is a lost art in parenting and is one of the biggest frustrations of young marriages. This is pretty good resource especially for those in the empty nest season of life.

remember haiti...is there anyone listening?

Let's keep praying for the people of Haiti and all the relief workers. Rejoice Church will be taking up a special offering for Haiti on Sunday, Feb. 14th. We will using the offering to give to 3 particular organizations. 1) Mountain Faith Mission 2) Samaritian's Purse 3) World Relief. Between these three organizations both small and large, we will be personally sending a worker from our church through Mountain Faith Mission and helping many people in the mountainous areas. Then Samaritan's purse is one of the most effective relief groups providing water, shelter, counseling, and the gospel. Thirdly, World Relief has had a presence for several decades in Haiti and has been helping with clean water, blankets and pastoral leadership.

In our prayers...

forgiveness, brit hume and tiger woods

Forgiveness? Who would have ever thought that the topic of forgiveness would cause so much tension! It all started, when Fox News analyst Brit Hume suggests that for 2010, Tiger Woods turn from Buddhism and toward Christianity. His explanation (see above video) is that Christianity offers true redemption, forgiveness and restoration, which Buddhism does not. Obviously his words were surprising to his co-workers and to national news. What do you think? Does Buddhism offer true forgiveness? Does Christianity offer true forgiveness through faith by grace in Jesus Christ? Needless to say, Brit Hume has been taking some heat on the "airwaves" and on news media across the nation and youtube.com

Good news: Rejoice Church unashamedly believes that Jesus Christ is the one who offers forgiveness to anyone who believes. We believe that Jesus is the only one who can forgive us of our wretched sin both public and private. We understand that God's Word, the Bible, teaches that all of us are in the same condition without Christ. The human race is deserving of only God's wrath, and eternal judgement. That only Christ offers hope for this life and the next.

Have you received forgiveness from Jesus Christ? Do you extend this same forgiveness to those around you? May each one of us have the courage that Brit Hume had to present the good news of Christ in a loving and winsome way to those who are far from Him! -casey cariker

forgiveness and apologies seem to go hand in hand

Yesterday, I (Casey) got the opportunity to preach to the Rejoice Church North Campus about forgiveness. The challenge was for each of us to consider obeying Christ by making forgiveness a spiritual discipline of our lives. It seems real easy for me to desire forgiveness from others, but not always freely desire to forgive others. Then on other occasions I seem willing to forgive and forget but refuse to want to ask forgiveness or even say humble words like: I'm sorry, will you forgive me?! In fact, sometimes asking someone to forgive you can be harder than any possible act that requires words. Recently I started reading "The Reason for Sports-A Christian Fanifesto" by Ted Kluck. This book really is just a simple collection of essays about life, sports, and Christ. It's a easy read and light on the brain. ha! But overall, Ted does a good job challenging each one of us to look at all of life, including sports through the life and teachings of Christ. In the first chapter, "It's Hard to Say I'm Sorry", Ted after telling as story about his own son, Tristan being willing to apologize after making his neighbor's nose bleed...Ted writes the following:

"The cross and the gospel, are by nature offensive. It's off-putting to suggest that sin exists in a world that tries so hard...to justify it. As athletes, we want to thank God for our touchdowns, write "all things are possible" in marker on our wrist tape or shoes, and kneel in the end zone after we score. But that's only half the story. We want to live like Jesus. Give talks. Maybe even start nonprofit foundations. But perhaps the most Christian thing we could do, from stage, is acknowledge our own sin. And as fans, we need to realize our role models are human, sinners just like us, and extend the grace to forgiven when they sin and act for their own self-interests."

It's my prayer that I will be a person who is willing to forgive others as Christ has so infinitely forgiven me. Then on many occasions when others experience the forgiveness of a brother or friend or co-worker, its in those moments they will be drawn to the greatest forgiver of all-Jesus Christ. And for that: I will never apologize.

-casey cariker

fatherhood at thanksgiving

Here is a great story on a family that was separated by trials, circumstances, and choices. Recently the son has been reunited with his father. The son has always wanted to be loved by his father. The father had no idea he had a son. During Thanksgiving, no matter your family situation be thankful for what God is doing in your life and how much He is willing to pursue you through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

Read article here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4688219

The dirty "A" word-adultery

Over the last several weeks, I have had the privilege of meeting with several guys to eat breakfast, pray, and discuss how we could better lead our homes for Christ. It has been real encouraging seeing several of these guys who come from different backgrounds, grew up in different hometowns, most have different seasons of life, and many face different challenges. This week, we continued reading the book, Point Man, by Steve Farrar. Today's chapter, Real Men Don't, discussed the dirty "A" word-adultery. Farrar discusses the fact that when a husband cheats on his wife its not just an affair but adultery. And with adultery comes tremendous consequences like losing your marriage, damaging your influence with your kids, losing friendships, hurting your witness to those outside of Christ, being removed from leadership, and suffering almost insurmountable emotional damage. Here are a few more quotes from the book:

*We have seen too many leaders in recent years who have preached righteousness in the pulpit while practicing unrighteousness in some hotel room.
*Righteousness must not only be found in our pulpits, but in our homes.
*The modus operandi (for all men) should be to flee sexual immorality. See I Cor. 6:18
*He quotes Boake Carter, "in time of war, the first casualty is truth."
*We are in the greatest danger of all when we think we are safe. (Stand heed unless you fall...)
*Each divorce is the death of a small civilization.
*There is nothing wrong with desiring happiness, but horrendous problems develop when we become disobedient to obtain it.
*Forgiveness is available to all. But forgiveness does not automatically restore the privilege of leadership.

Have you ever suffered negative consequences regarding someone's choice? Have you ever personally lost a friendship or relationship due to adultery? Just today, ESPN came out with a story about one of their leading baseball analyst who is taking a leave of absence from his commentating in the middle of the playoffs. Why? Evidently he has been having an affair-committing adultery-with a co-worker. He is married and has several children. It is important to feel the pain that he and his family and this co-worker are all currently feeling. It is important to pray for each of those people that they will experience the forgiveness of Christ and the freedom to obedience he brings. It is important to exam each one of our own lives to set up specific boundaries and accountability so that we don't suffer the same things. After all, its because of grace we can be forgiven, and its because of grace that we remain free from the same sin. May God continue to raise up Godly men at Rejoice, in our cities, throughout our nation and in this world to lead our families and point others to Christ. That is a real man! -casey

i am second

No matter where you are on the football radar this is a strong video for multiple reasons:
1) It reminds us that sports is an activity for enjoyment but not for worship.
2) That heroes are people we look up to not idolize.
3) That college football players are in many ways still late teenagers or young adults.
4) That ultimately God calls us to lead for Christ no matter our sphere of influence or platform.

So no matter if you are a Poke, Longhorn, Aggie, Sooner, Golden Hurricane, Razorback, Red Raider, or don't enjoy football at all, take a minute to watch this video and be encouraged by two young followers of Christ. -casey c.

learning leadership from those leaving a legacy

Just ran across Will Mancini's blog about Chuck Swindoll's talk today at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. See: http://clarityevangelist.typepad.com/will_mancini/2009/10/10-profound-lessons-from-the-catalyst-godfather-.html Chuck Swindoll received the legacy award, he is 70 years old and was the former president of Dallas Theological Seminary and recent preaching pastor at Stonebriar Community Church. http://www.stonebriar.org/ Chuck Swindoll is also known for his worldwide radio bible program called: Insight for Living. http://www.insight.org/

Here are his 10 lessons from 50 years of ministry:

It’s lonely to lead
It’s dangerous to succeed
It’s hardest at home
It’s essential to be real
It’s painful to obey
Brokenness and failure are necessary
Attitude overshadows actions
Integrity eclipses image
God’s way is always better than my way
Christlikeness begins and ends with humility

praying continually and at all times, big and small

Do you find yourself praying more or praying less? Isn't it amazing that God can hear all prayers and all times, whether big or small, spoken loudly or whispered in the recesses of our mind! I'm so thankful that even when my heart yearns with a concern or prayer God knows it. This week, I find myself flooded with thankfulness of the good and perfect things that God is doing in so many people lives. I also find myself praying for many needs in our Rejoice family and throughout the world. This week I have been praying for a friend and spouse who were facing some major health questions. Today they got some really good news that their tests were negative and that was a huge positive! Today, I prayed for a family who filled out a Sunday communication card-they asked for prayer for their son and his emotional needs and social skills. I don't know who it is or their name-but God does. So I am praying for them. I have been praying for my relatives who are facing court battles with their children. God I want to lift up my brother-in-law Daniel while he is serving our country and Iraq in the middle east. God, I want to pray for my friend Gary and his healing from ear and jaw problems and my friend Eric in Nashville and his recovery from brain surgery. I find myself praying for the 14 people who have been baptized in the last 2 months at Rejoice, the many teens who have given their life to Christ...the three families that just attended church recently who I know are going through marriage difficulties! Last night, I was praying that God will continue to raise up men in our church who want to lead their families toward Christ. This morning I got to meet with 16 of them who are learning what it means to be the POINT MAN in their homes because of the gospel. Today, I found myself praying for a friend who had a "routine" procedure, but I also know that any time you have to go to the hospital and get a huge shot with lots of meds, it isn't routine. Today, I found myself praying for my family and thanking God for them. Praying that my wife would have a great day, be encouraged and reminded that God is using her in great ways to impact our children and our community. I have been praying for my son to grow in his understanding of who Christ is and his need so that he could come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. My prayers have been also for my daughter that God will give her a heart of learning, obedience, and an ability to communicate with her words. The nations who don't know Christ comes to my mind, all those people, so many needs...
Lots of things to pray for and about...What are you praying about? What do you sense God asking you to pray about? When was the last time you were overwhelmed with all your needs and it drove you to actually pray? -casey

nehemiah: reforming our lives in order to rebuild our communities

This past Sunday we started our REBUILD preaching series from the book of Nehemiah. One of the main teaching portions of this book is that God has called Nehemiah to be a catalyst for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem which was a city for God's people and glory. This seemed to be an impossible task, since Nehemiah lived 800 miles away, the walls had been broken for mnay years and the wall was 4.5 miles long. The walls also covered 960 acres, which is about 1. 5 square miles. This task that Nehemiah had for leadership was incredible. Tons of people challenges, money needs, families represented, cultural understandings, opinions by multiple generations, expectations from thousands, enemies at bay, etc... What is really incredible is the task was accomplished in 52 days! Wow. However, when I think about how impossible this task was and yet it was accomplished by God through people in 52 days, that has me thinking. What could we accomplish if we set our minds, hearts, and souls toward over the next 52 days. What might God want to do amongst us and within us over the next 52 days? God could save a marriage over the next 52 days if we were willing to be led by God and serve our spouse. God could reorganize our finances in 52 days and take us from drowning in debt, to setting a new course, and having a new plan of action. God could enable us to forgive something or someone that we have been bitter towards for years in just 52 days. God may even want us to see more life change in the next 52 days than we have seen in the last 52 months? Who knows what God will do, if only we will set our hearts toward His plan over the next 52 days! -casey

Nehemiah: reforming our lives in order to rebuild our communities

Quick: What do you know about the book of Nehemiah? What can you tell us about his leadership, his culture, his task? How do you think it relates to our own lives? Join with hundreds of others this Sunday as we gather to look at how we can reform our own lives in order to help rebuild our own communities! -casey

free leadership church conference on wed. at 9 am

Tomorrow a conference called "The Nines" will be held, beginning at 9am CST. Rejoice will be hosting it all day at the south campus in the band room/ampi-theatre room. If you would like to join the Rejoice Staff just email me at ccariker@rejoicechurch.com -casey

need some ideas for christmas? guys-expecting company?

Just over 110 days till Christmas? Looking for an early Christmas present for your dad or grandfather? Tired of having to wear really nice clothes around the house? Any better ideas? -casey c.

training on leadership for free!

Next Wednesday, Sept. 9th, 2009 ( a week from tomorrow), our church staff will be hosting a free web conference called "the nines". Our staff will be gathering for lunch and a specific one hour of these 9 minute leadership talks. The great news is that you don't have to be at Rejoice Church or any specific building to be encouraged by 75 Godly leaders across the nation. You can go to http://thenines.leadnet.org/ You can register for free, get it on your computer, watch it from home, bring lunch to work and then eat it at your desk, etc.. There will be 75 leaders who will present one thought for 9 minutes. Check it out! -casey c.

small drama or GRAND STORY

“Your life is much bigger than a good job, an understanding spouse, and non-deliquent kids. It is bigger than beautiful gardens, nice vacations, and fashionable clothes. In reality, you are part of something immense, something that began before you were born and will continue after you die. God is rescuing fallen humanity, transporting them into His kingdom, and progressively shaping them into His likeness-and he wants you to be a part of it!”-Paul Tripp
In way areas of your life has God recently been reforming/changing? In what ways has (the) Holy Spirit be conforming you into the likeness of Christ? Who is God asking you to help grow in this same process? -Casey Cariker

young leaders at rejoice

Recently, at Rejoice South we had picture day. It was a lot of fun to see tons of pics of the different individuals, families, and new people that God has been sending us. This picture was one that got my attention. Not because they are all new to Rejoice but because of their potential. Tonight, I began to think about each one, their different faith stories, their different family situations, their unique personalities, their specific gifts to the body of Christ...then I began to pray for them. "Father, will you remind them of your supernatural love today. Awaken them to the Spirit of God that you have given them upon surrendering to your grace. Open their hearts so they can worship passionately, transform their minds so they can think biblically, open their hand so they will give generously, give their feet a new direction/purpose for live, and help them use their words for your glory!" Amen.
-casey cariker

logan mccormick, Christ-follower and new international missionary

I got the chance to sit down with Logan McCormick today. Logan just returned from an international missions trip to the closed country of Morocco. Logan joined with a group from the United States to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need in Morocco as well as look for opportunities to spread the Gospel.

Q: Logan, what most surprised you about Morocco? Probably the culture. It was my first time out of the country and first cross culture missionary trip. So the idea of being in a strange place, with a different people group, with different preferences, religions, foods, customs..all of it was extremely eye opening.

Q: What were some of the things you enjoyed the most in Morocco? Spending time with our team from the United States, learning their callings and backgrounds. Playing with the Morocco children, making them laugh even though I couldn't speak their language, walking on my hands to put on entertainment, just overall trying to be a servant and an example of Christ.

Q: How much is the gospel needed in Morocco? Horrible! 99% are Muslim, 5 times a day people are worshipping, praying to a dead false God. People who are Christ-followers face death for converting to Jesus. It is overwhelming. It is really hard to understand.
Q: What did you feel like God taught you or revealed to your heart in Morocco? He taught me to have patience. I wanted to change the community in one trip, but I have to trust in His direction and care. I need to be thankful for my family and place to live. I need to be more aware of the work of Christ in the world.
Q: Let us know about some of your teammates/co-workers in Morocco... I enjoyed spending time with some leaders from our church, learning from other leaders and cross cultural missionaries...learning from people who have literally given decades of years in foreign places for the sake of the gospel is inspiring.
Q: Any last thoughts? I just want to thank everyone that financially supported me and prayed for me. It wasn't easy for my family to let me go. I'm praying that God will encourage and repay everyone who helped me go on this trip of a lifetime, hopefully I will get even more opportunities like this one!
-thanks Logan-Casey Cariker

82 year old Christ follower by cindybeall.com

Dear 82-Year Old Follower Of Christ written by Cindy Beall at www.cindybeall.com
So, how have you done it?
How have you managed to maintain your faith in Christ all these years?
How have you handled the changes that you have certainly seen in your 82 years on this earth?
How have you dealt with the heartaches that you’ve most assuredly endured?
How have you chosen to trust God when everything around you seemed to be in shambles?
How have you done it?
Because, quite frankly, I want someone to ask me this when I’m 82 and I’ll need to know what to say.
You inspire me.

-Casey writes: When was the last time you sat down and spoke to someone who has pursued Christ for many decades? It is so encouraging to be around a person who has understand the love of Jesus for many many years, they still have the fire/zeal of God in their eyes, they still weep when talking about the cross...they still rejoice when someone far from God is reunited with God through Jesus...they still are faithful to the local church...they long to be in the presence of Christ in heaven, but they also long to see another generation take Christ to the nations...This week spend a few moments learning from a long time Christ-follower. -casey cariker

have you noticed "the noticer"

What have you been noticing about your world lately? Do you fly through life only noticing your relationships, your needs, and the things you are interested in? In his book, The Noticer, Andy Andrews does a good job writing an interesting narrative about an elderly homeless person who noticed many important things about several different people and families. He notices damaged relationships/marriage, leaders who need wisdom, people who need a hand up, young people who need encouragement and so on. Andrews does a great job writing a simple, easy to read narrative. This is a book that I could recommend to people who need to grow in their understanding of making an impact on others. However, I "noticed" that several concepts in the narrative were real similar to other books that I have read. For example, Andrews talks about how each one of us express our love for others, especially in a marriage, yet what he noticed sounded just like Gary Chapman's book on Love Languages. Overall this book was worth reading, it was catchy in its story telling, it made a few good points, but I wouldn't call it a 'must read'. I give this book 3 stars. -casey cariker

dear mother of young children

(written by Cindy Beall at www.cindybeall.com)
Dear Mother of young children,
Your days are long, aren’t they, precious? You are so tired of telling that 3-year old to pee-pee in the potty you could scream. And you often do. You wonder when your newborn is going to sleep through the night so that you can sleep through the night. You never knew just how precious sleep was until now.
You dream of days when you can walk through the grocery store alone. You will hear another woman’s baby cry and you’ll be overjoyed because it is, in fact, another woman’s baby…not yours. You might even start skipping as if to say, “I am sorry she is crying, but your baby can cry the whole time for all I care because I don’t have my children. I AM ALONE!”
You count the hours down until the afternoon nap. You will battle with them for a bit as they fight off the impending sleep, but you know the battle will be yours. They doze off and you pray that the next 120 minutes will actually feel like 240. You complete the household duties that never seem to disappear and then sit down for a much-needed, much-deserved rest before the natives awake.
The dreaded time frame from 4:00 - 6:00 in the late afternoon is not to far away. You wonder what you’ll do to calm the cries this time. It’s commonly referred to as Arsenic Hour because you don’t know whether to give it to them or take it yourself. But you make it through, manage to prepare a decent meal for your family, and bathe and bed them so that you can grab 20 minutes of time with your husband before you doze off due to sheer exhaustion.
It won’t always be this way.
When that youngest turns five and heads off to kindergarten, you will wonder where the time went. Sure, you will enjoy your 2.5 hours of freedom each morning because your city only has 1/2-day kindergarten, but your eyes will light up as you see his cute, little self bouncing toward you in the carpool lane. You’ll inquire about his day and hope he shares every ounce of it with you so that you will not miss a thing.
Your older child can brush her own teeth, dress herself and even make herself some lunch. You offer to help her and she graciously replies, “Oh, no thanks, Mom. I’ve got it.” And you smile a little because you are proud of the little lady she is becoming, all the while holding back the tears that the child that once peed on your hard-wood floors now goes to the restroom like a normal child and even makes her own meals.
You will enter new seasons and what once drove you over the edge will now be a distant memory that brings a smile to your face. You will wonder where the days went when your sons foot begins to get as big as yours.
You will not even be able to remember the last time you didn’t sleep through the night. There will be no more diapers, wipes, sippy cups or pacifiers. The faces that once stole your heart away will begin to look like little people. And those little people will start looking like young adults.
So, hang in there. Some days all you feel like doing is hanging. And that’s okay. Try your best to enjoy each day to it’s fullest with these priceless gifts you’ve been given. Because trust me when I say this, you will miss this.
I sure do. -written by Cindy Beall at www.cindybeall.com -posted by casey cariker