Brandon Liebe

Today I find myself reflecting on the amazing opportunity I had this weekend to preach to the wonderful people of Pathways Church. The topic was to live a lifestyle of gratitude; to take Thanksgiving from a holiday or event, and realize that we should be thankful for everything we have, and have endured up to this point, and allow it to motivate us to do big things for the Kingdom of God.

As I sit here and think, my mind wandered to a missions trip I took as a youth pastor to Northern Ireland. I had no idea the real (and spiritual) battle that happened between “Catholics” and “Protestants” in that country until I witnessed it first hand. Yet, it was amazing to meet the people of Pillar Christian Church in Portadown who lived through the struggles. What was amazing is that they lived out a life of gratitude! They did not keep the residue of their countries past, but allowed it to motivate them to run straight into the “taboos” for the purpose of showing Christ’s love! Every day they were breaking down cultural barriers as they pushed forward to lift Christ up. This is a perfect example of not letting your past hold you back, but allowing it to motivate you.
While touring the city of Belfast (by the way it was cold and raining and I was on the top of an open top, double-decker tour bus…) we drove past a pub called, The Garrick (pictured). On the side of the building were inscribed the words:

“A nation that keeps one eye on the past is wise,
A nation that keeps two eyes on the past is blind.”

The message: When you stay focused on your past you can’t move forward, but when you recognize it while pushing on, it becomes motivation to do great things.

God has given you a gift; it’s called your testimony. None of us deserve it, but all of us should use it do advance the cause of Christ.

In the beginning of the book of Acts you read the story of the Day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit fell with the noise “like the blowing of a violent wind” and “tongues of fire separated and came to rest on each of them.”  This caused them to speak in other tongues so loud that the people on the street heard it!  I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say that their passion wasn’t from their past, even though they had been with Jesus (remember, when He died on the cross they all went back to fishing).  I don’t think that they were even caught up in what was happening in that moment.  I personally think that they were as exuberant as they were because Jesus had promised that when the Holy Spirit fell they would be empowered to do amazing things for the Kingdom of God!  The fire wasn’t for the moment; it was for what was about to happen!  They got “Fired Up” to actually go do something!
Continue reading “The “Fire”” →

Throughout this week I have been weighing some different things that I should write this blog about.  There is a ton of things happening in our world right now and taking the forefront in our nation are the elections and corresponding campaign ads wherever you turn, and Hurricane Sandy blasting the east coast.  Almost anytime of the year you could watch the news and get depressed but during this time you cant even get relief from commercial breaks!  One word that keeps ringing through it all is Broken.

Homes on the east coast are broken. Mass transit systems are broken. Both candidates agree our government is broken (at best it’s just financially broke).  And in the wake of it all are people whose lives seem broken.  Now I don’t think that God sends natural disasters to lower the hammer and punish us all, but I do think he allows some things to happen so that we can be in the best possible place to be open to Him and receive Him.  That place, unfortunately for us, just happens to be when we are broken. Continue reading “Broken” →

Very few things about father-hood break my heart like hearing my 2 year old say “I can’t do it.” Now, I realize that many times it is just him being a 2 year old, (he’s in the stage where his answer to most things is “no.”) but everything in me wants to make sure my son knows that he can do anything he puts his mind too. Even more important than his strength is the fact that the bible promises us that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13)

Last night I started to explain this to Brody and started to make him repeat Philippians 4:13 every time he says the phrase “I can’t.”
Continue reading “Yes We Can!” →

My 2 year old is at the stage where he “reads” everything.  I love just sitting there and listening to the stories he makes up from the books he “reads” to me.  The other day Amber and I were in our room getting things put away and situated from our recent move and I stuck my head around the corner to check up on him.  He as sitting at the kitchen table, Amber’s computer open, and was sifting through our pile of mail.  He picked up one of the credit card statements and was studying all the numbers.   In response to my question of what he was doing, he replied, “Reading stories.”  Knowing that he was holding our statement I asked, almost sarcastically, “What’s that one about?”

He answered with, “It’s about Jesus.”

After a quick chuckle with Amber, and letting it resonate a bit I turned to Amber and thought out loud, “I hope our bank statements tell a story about Jesus.”

Now this isn’t a money blog, it’s a priority blog.  I’m asking you to take a look at where you are spending your resources. Continue reading “Priority Check” →

Yes, that title was placed there to grab your attention but I promise it will make sense! Before I start let me say this; Geese are vile animals…

So, this morning I decided to start running in the mornings again.  We have gotten semi-settled in our house here in Appleton and got to bed at a decent time so I set my alarm early and got excited to run on a sunny, unusually warm, early April morning.  Our house is located downtown Appleton and not far from the Fox River, a seemingly perfect place for a beautiful morning jog.  I wake up, run to the corner of my street where it turns to head down to the river (.25 miles – Thank you, NikeId app), and take the turn to head down to the beautiful park running along the Appleton Yacht Club.  Now, mentally, I am hoping you are going exactly where I was going this morning… Sun coming up over the calm river, beautiful docks along a long T-shaped pier… then it caught my attention.

For those of us who grew up near water in the spring up here in the North we know one thing, where there is water, there are geese.  And where there are geese there is an abundant supply of “goose droppings.”  My beautiful morning run went from jogging peacefully along a path that wound along the river, past a perfectly manicured park, piers, and gorgeous boats…  to dodgin’ dookie! Continue reading “Dodgin’ Dookie” →