Bard Letsinger

Wasting Time Well

A movie debuted the summer before my senior year of high school that was destined become a classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. At the time I had all these decisions in front of me to make as well as the pressure I felt from  coaches, teachers, parents as well as myself to succeed and accomplish all the goals that were set before me. But then one line from the movie changed my whole perspective. 

This week at Renegade Church I did a message called “Time Well Wasted” in our series “Life Lessons from Brad Paisley”. The song and the clip go together well. Life does move pretty fast….and then unexpectedly, poof, it’s gone, and we look around wondering "What just happned?!?" Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 9:9 “Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity;” The Hebrew word for  “vain/vanity” means breath or vapor. Simply, life is like the soap bubbles kids play with, existing for a brief moment... then gone, poof, with little evidence that it was ever there. So when we think about all the things we stress ourselves out trying to accomplish, what good are they if they cause us to speed through life and miss out on all the relationships and moments that truly make life rich?

Take a minute to listen to the advice of Brad Paisley, then figure out where you need to stop, look around and stop letting life pass you by.

 

Don't Let Your Battery Run Down

The other day I took a morning ride and met a friend at Starbucks to discuss him leading worship at Renegade. It was good to find out we have the same vision of how worship should be. Pretty stoked about our conversation. He was going to pray about it and get back to me. After the meeting I headed back to the house. When I ride the Harley I focus on riding. Thinking about anything else can quickly put you in traction, or a coffin…neither is a pleasant thought. However, with so much going on as soon as I pulled into the garage my mind immediately shifted to all the things on my to do list.

A few hours later I went back out to grab something from the saddlebag bag and the lights on my bike were on. CRAP!!! When I pulled in I cut the engine but obviously I did not turn the bike off. I tried to start her up but she did not even come close to turning over. My bike is a 2006 and still equipped with the original factory battery. I should be putting the charger on the battery on a regular basis, but I get so busy that I forget, I don’t have time, there are other more pressing matters, and the excuses go on and on. By putting it off however I pushed it way past its limit and now it’s almost dead.

Lately I have noticed that I have done the same thing to myself. I have not been able to focus. I feel tired and when I try to concentrate it’s like my brain is in a fog. Because of it I keep doing goofy things, like forgetting to cut the power on my bike. The problem is obvious. I have been running all summer without a break. Since January we have been working to launch Renegade Church. May I went to Peru on a mission trip and came back just in time to start a gig as the between innings MC for the Generals. Then in July my wife and kids were sick then entire month. I was so busy I even missed the last two rides with my motorcycle group. The entire summer has been go-go-go.  I have not taken any time off to recharge my own internal battery. 

Don’t let yourself get run down. Take an afternoon off, go fishing, take a ride, plan a vacation with the family where you can just sit and relax. We all need to take time off to recoup and recharge our personal batteries. It took almost 48 hours for the little yellow light on the battery booster to turn green the battery to fully recharge. If it did not take the charge I would have had to go buy a new battery. But if you let yourself rundown you can’t just go out and buy a new you.

Is it o.k. for a Pastor to Punch Someone Square in the Face?

Before anyone gets their underwear in a bunch I already know the answer to the question I just ask…and it is definite “maybe” depending on the circumstances.  Now before you start referring me to anger management classes let give you the back story.

This past week my daughter Kailee had her first dance recital. It was a big event, especially for a five year old…o.k., almost six year old. She spent the last six months working hard, practicing her routine. It was amazing how seriously she took the whole thing. The afternoon of the recital Kailee was so excited; she could not wait for the curtain to go up.

As the proud dad I was excited as well. The morning of the recital I swung by the store and picked up some flowers to give her after the performance. Guys, here is a heads up. Giving flowers to a dancer after a performance is tradition in the theater. And 98% of girls, no matter their age, love flowers. There are several reasons why. First, flowers are pretty and girls like pretty things. Also, flowers smell good and girls like thing that smell good. But here is the most important reason, and that is that flowers, on a conscience or unconscious level, let them know that you are thinking about them when you were not with them. When you personally hand that special girl in your life flowers she know you thought about her so much that you made a special effort to go out of your way, personally pick something out, pay for it, and carry it around until you could hand them to her. To most women, and even little girls, that means the world to them.

After the recital was over I went back stage with my wife to get my girl, hand her the flowers from her dad, and tell her how proud I was of her. I wish I had a picture to show you the look on her face, but I don’t, and that is o.k. because the one in my memory will live with me forever. As we left the back stage area I got to see many other dads have the same type of moment I just had with my daughter. It was a great evening.

Afterwards we all went out to for a celebration dinner at one of my daughter’s favorite restaurants. It was apparent a lot of people from the recital had the same idea so the rest of the family went in to get a table while I locked up the car. As I walked in I was joined by another dad with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Me being me I started a conversation, “I take it you just came from the recital too?”

I could tell he was frustrated “Yea…Our first one. No one told me I was suppose to get flowers.”

“It’s a tradition in the theater.” I said “Don’t worry, you’ll know for next year.” We continued into the restaurant where both our families were already seated.

“Well, if you ask me” he responded as we approached his table “this is all a bunch of CRAP.”

And THAT is when I wanted to punch him in the face…figuratively, literally, verbally, you name it. Everything in me held back going off on the guy. Honestly, I wanted to yell at him “Are you an idiot!?! Sorry, rhetorical question!! You think this is ‘crap’ because she is not a boy and into hunting, fishing, or golf, something you get!!!"

Then his daughter saw him. “YOU GOT ME FLOWERES!!!” she exclaimed. I will remember the joy on that little girls face as much as I remember my own daughters.

I lead over and whispered where only he could here “Apparently it’s not ‘all bunch of CRAP’ to her…remember that.”

We have to remember, it is not all about us. Men, we may not understand our daughters dancing, cheerleading, ice skating, love of ponies, or whatever ‘girl’ thing they are into, but we do have to be there for them and take a genuine interest in their activities. If you act like you don’t value what they are doing they will take it that you don’t value them. 

Oh, and no matter how much you feel like it, don’t really punch someone in the face.

Why I Cried On My Anniversary

As many of you know from reading my wife’s Facebook status her anniversary gift brought me to tears. Many of you were texting her asking her “What was it?”, “Why did it make him cry?” I could just show you, but you would not quite get it unless I give you the back story.

Our wedding anniversary in January 4th and this year Mollie and I celebrated 18 years of marriage. On our anniversary we have a tradition of going out to dinner and, being the first week of the new year, we take time to reflect on the past 12 months, the trials and triumphs, and talk about what we want to accomplish during our next year together.

As many of you know the past few years have been tough on us ministry wise. My dream job, being the Small Groups Pastor at my home church, that I spent six years training for was taken from me by an interim senior pastor who did not have a clue what he was doing and given to someone else, a great guy, but who had no experience in Small Groups. (I was put in charge of overseeing the Greeters ministry). Budget deficits and having a position that made more since to be staffed by a volunteer led to me having to leave the church l loved. Last summer another church hired me to plant one of their campuses. They let us spend an entire weekend packing up our entire house to move knowing full well that on the following Monday (the day I was to start) they were going to tell me they decided not to plant the campus and I did not have a job with them after all. (We still have yet to unpack all the boxes). And this Fall I was a finalist for the Senior Pastor position at a great church north of Atlanta, one that was a perfect fit for my personality, style, and vision for ministry in the church… and they chose someone nine years my junior (another great guy who was also a great choice) from a church I turned down a position with a decade ago to instead go to seminary and train for my dream job at my home church.

Needless to say the review of the past year during dinner was kind of a downer. (I laughed as I typed that last sentence.) Mollie ask me "What do you see yourself doing, what is it you want to do?"I started running with the vision I feel God has given me for a church. A church that is into Christianity and rejects the Church-ianity that rules most congregations. A church that is willing to take real risk, not just willing to dip their big toe outside the box, with a vision of doing whatever it takes short of sin to reach people for Christ. A church that REALLY has a “Tradition of Being Untraditional”, willing barbeque the sacred cow at the drop of a hat. A church that has real mature believers that when they get older in years (40’s, 50’s and up) are mature enough to put aside their personal preferences in music, style, tradition and do what it takes to reach the next generation for Christ.

Mollie ask me "What is keeping you from launching it?"

My response, "Fear... what if I mess it up, what if it fails?"

Mollie then handed me a box and in essence said “Then go for it”. This is what was inside. 



  

For those of you who cannot remember the verse, Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJ).

Now you know why I cried.

So…anyone out there ready to be part of something bigger than themselves, like nothing Victoria has seen in years? Let me know, I can use you and we can grow together.

It’s time to make a difference. Are you ready?

 

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Star Wars in Concert Family Birthday Trip

Birthdays at our home are pretty much a weeklong celebration. We celebrate the actual birthday, but since that is usually during the week we wait till the weekend to have the party. Then there is usually some event we go to that is the main birthday present.

My clone, Braiden, a major Star Wars fan, turned 11 this month. His “big present” was tickets to "Star Wars in Concert". This new tour features Anthony Daniels, the actor and voice of C3PO, narrating the Star Wars story while a full  symphony orchestra plays the music of Star Wars while movie clips play on the largest High Def LCD screen to ever go on tour. Also on tour are costumes and props, like the full Plo Koon and Kit Fisto costumes uses in the movies. They of course had a full Darth Vader suit as well as a Chewbacca suit and one of Padame Amidala ceremonial costumes from Episode 1.

Below is just a quick taste of the concert. And yes, that is a full orchestra on stage playing under the movie clips. Gives you an idea of just how big the HD-LCD screen is.  

Follow this link If you would like more information on Star Wars in Concert. Now Star Wars may not be your family’s thing…but what is? Do you know? If not figure it out and plan a family outing. Take some time and make some memories with your family. Family excursions can be trying at times, but they are also a key component of the glue that holds the family together.

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My Girl, a Boo Boo, a Big Red Chair, and a Lesson in Priorities

Today I was sitting in the “Big Red Chair” in the living room, listing to an podcast and doing some research for a sermon series I got an idea for this morning. I had just gotten situated and rolling when out of the corner of my eye I catch my daughter skipping by. Then behind me, over the volume of my iPod, I hear a “THUMP” and the crying started. I knew immediately that Kailee had run into the column going into the kitchen. I also knew she was fine (not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last). The worst it could be was a bruised knee or arm. Still, she came to her daddy in tears.

Now “The Choice”. Give my girl a hug, tell her “toughen up, you are o.k., go on” and keep working, or take a few minutes and be daddy. Honestly, I wanted to do the former. But you know, what I was doing would still be there 15 minutes later. Web pages were not going to disappear. Pod cast can be paused. Thoughts will come back to me…maybe…with a little prompting. But my girl, this moment, is right here right now and will not happen again. Ten years from now I can only hope she will want to come and sit down in the “Big Red Chair” with her dad, cry on my shoulder and tell me all about it when she gets hurt…but if I won’t sit with her today I know she is not going to want to sit with me tomorrow.
 
So I ask my girl if she wanted to come sit with me and she quickly crawled over the arm of the chair to get into my lap. We cried together over her boo boo, then the "Tickle Bugs" and "The Claw" attacked and we laughed and played for 15 minutes. Probably the best 15 minutes I will spend all day. Soon she forgot about her boo boo and with a kiss on the cheek was on her way, heading to do whatever it was she was heading to do when she ran into the column.

Where are your priorities? What would you have done? Many times I blow it. I do not always get it right, but I got it right this time. If you save a company, make millions of dollars, create millions of jobs, write a book that changes the world, or even create and teach a sermon series that changes lives or build a church that has thousands of people in attendance every Sunday, but lose your family in the process you have accomplished nothing. Do something important today by putting aside the unimportant stuff (which may be your job, your "To Do List", your appointment book, your hobby, your TV show, etc.) for a few minutes and spend some time with your family. The moment you take today is one you can't get back tomorrow.

Homeschool Family on Extreme Makeover Home Edition Coming to Victoria

Just over two years ago the Extreme Makeover bus pulled up where some friends of mine were staying and Ty yelled thru his megaphone, "Good Morning, Woodhouse  Family!" Considering that medical bills had them only a few days away from being homeless this could not have come at a more perfect time.

The Woodhouse’s story is the subject of a new book by Kimberley Woodhouse titled “Welcome Home! Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy”.Kim will be in Victoria at Walden’s Books in Victoria Mall signing copies of her new book on October 10 from 2-4 PM. Normally secular bookstores don’t do book signings with Christian writers so we need as many people to come out for the signing as possible.

What Are You Doing? What Should You Be Doing?

My wife has been out of town for a few days and I have been at the house with our two homeschool kids. In essence she left three kids and the dog at home by themselves. However, I have been doing my job, keeping up the house, feeding the kid…well at least one good meal a day, and making sure they get their school work done. All this while working, researching, writing and doing some sermon prep of my own. For the most part the kids are doing their school work and keeping up with their responsibilities around the house like clearing the breakfast dishes and feeding the dog.

Kids however will be kids. They…er we…get sidetracked, and loose focus on the task at hand. Over and over the past few days I find I am asking the kids these two questions:

What are you doing? What should you be doing?

"Braiden… what are you doing?"
"uh…checking to see if there is a Pocket God update on your iPhone."
"’What should you be doing?"
"My math work."

"Braiden… what are you doing?"
"Just sitting here watching TV with Kailee."
"What should you be doing?"
"Cleaning up the dishes."

I think after a few days he will hear that question in his sleep, which is not a bad thing. This is not only a great question to be asking our kids, it is a great question to ask ourselves. I ask myself the same questions every day. "What am I doing? What should I be doing?"

"What am I doing?"
"Scanning eBay for Harley gas tank emblembs."
"What should I be doing?"
"Helping Mollie finish fixing dinner."

"What am I doing?"
"Getting mad at the kids because I can’t hear the game on TV and just got hit in the head with a nerf dart."
"What should I be doing?"
"Turning off the TV, grabbing a nerf gun and joining the battle."

Time is the one commodity we can’t replenish, recycle or replace. Once it is gone it is gone. There is limited time we get to spend with our family and limited time to do the things we need to do to accomplish the goals we have set for our lives. If we are not carful other things can sidetrack us and consume all our time. And they might be good things…but are they the BEST things that make the most productive use of our time?

So… "What are you doing?"
"Reading a blog."
"What should you be doing?"
Only you can answer that question for you. Make sure it is a good answer.

Think You Are Having a Bad Day, Imagine Being Me and Seeing This!!!!

I have the fortune of having a unique name. In fact I believe that I am the only “Bard Letsinger” in the world. Like most people I have Googled myself…oh come on, admit it, you have Googled yourself too, and if not you should… and I am the only “Bard Letsinger” that comes up. So imagine my surreal surprise to see this… and no, is not a Photoshoped picture. 

WAIT A MINUET!!! To quote Lancelot’s page Concord in Monty Pythons Holy Grail “I’m not quite dead sir.” 

My original picture had my motorcycle in the back ground but the potential foreshadowing was a little too eerie so I deleted it. So, anything make you reconsider you life and think about your mortality lately?

What’s Wrong With This Shirt?

Today it was a little chilly (in the 40’s -50’s in Texas in April, still not buying into global warming) so I put on one of my favorite shirts.

When I come out of the bedroom my wife proceeds to tell me that it is time to “retire” this shirt. (Retire aka. throw away/put in the Goodwill box)According to her It is old, worn and outdated. “The pattern and denim collar are so 90’s” according to her.  But I love this shirt; it is comfortable, keeps you warm on cool days but does not get too hot when it warms up in the afternoon. And the colors (red, blue, olive drab) work.

So I want a second, and third and fourth opinion. Is this shirt outdated? Does it still work? Or is my wife right?  Now in her defense she wants everyone to know that she thinks the shirt looks much better in the picture than it does in person.

If you tweet or facebook your view of this, one of my favorite shirts, be sure to also copy it here to the blog.

So let’s hear it. Is my wife right or do I get to keep my shirt? It’s fate is in your hands…or in this case your post.