Pete Wilson, husband to Brandi, dad to Jett, Gage and Brewer, pastor of Cross Point Church, author of the book Plan B and all-around great guy is joining us girlies today on the blog. Welcome, Pete!

Thanks for having me, Marla. And I do wear women’s sunglasses, so I’m sure I’ll fit right in with you ladies.

(Okay, I totally just made that up. Well, not the part about the girly sunglasses. He tells all in his new book. But he didn’t really say that. From now on, all the words in italics will really and truly be Pete’s.)

Let’s start over. Hey there, Pete. We’re going to dive right in if that’s all right with you.

(It’s all right with him.)

You talk in the book about how stuff we do for God can become an idol that we worship more than God Himself. It hurts to admit it, but I totally get this. How do you keep from this kind of idol worship in your own life?

Great question.  A lot of times in our life we get so wrapped up in the “doing for God” that we forget about the “being with God.” It suddenly becomes how much I can get done and how many people hear my message. When the words “my” and “I” come into the conversation when you are speaking about serving God, then there’s a problem.

(Um, ouch.)

For example, the flood that happened here in Nashville recently. Our staff was out everyday that next week physically cleaning up homes and spending time with those that were devastated by the flood. We challenged them to replenish themselves every day before going back out. Taking time to “be with God” so the focus of the day never wavered.

(Pete’s church pulled together in an incredible way, helping out their neighbors in need. They even got some national TV coverage, which leads me to my next question.)

Let’s be honest. You get a lot of praise from a lot of people and, frankly, I think you deserve it, but what I’m interested in are specific ways that God keeps you humble. Care to share?

I do get a lot of praise, but with that comes criticism. I’ve found the two almost always go hand in hand. While I appreciate the input from everyone, I usually try to eliminate the highest praise and the worst criticism. That leaves a balanced portion of praise and criticism that is encouraging and constructive. And, while I can still learn from people on the edge, their praise and or criticism doesn’t carry the same weight because it’s directed at one of my messages, or one of my books, or one of my interviews. They don’t get to see the totality of my life or see into my heart.

I allow the people in my inner circle to speak freely to me and their praise and criticism carries a weight that I don’t give others. This is the only way I know how to be accountable but not go crazy from all the opinions of others.

I can totally relate to this, and I’m going to come back to your words when I’m tempted to let criticism crush me and keep me from doing what I know God wants me to do.

Okay, back to the book. Another part I really, really like is where you talk about shalom–”all things the way they are supposed to be.” You say that according to the Bible, we’ll experience shalom. But not yet. You also say, “Some people–usually called idealists or dreamers or visionaries–have a more acute sense of shalom. They feel the disconnect between what is and what should be more intensely than others.”

Whoa. I have always felt this way but had no idea how to express it. Where did you come up with this idea, and are you one of those wacko dreamer-people?

Ha! Yes, I’ve been called a wacko on more than one occasion. You know I really have nothing to back up my idea other than just personal experience. There are some people who seem to be more sensitive to the fact that things are not the way they should be. I feel this most intensely when I’m walking with people in our church who have had one personal tragedy after another or when I’m serving in a place like India. I often pray, “God, never allow me to grow numb to the disconnect. Never allow me to grow numb to the pain of others. Never allow me to grow numb for my desire of ‘shalom.’”

Nice. I like that. Okay, moving on to your better half for a minute. (Hi, Brandi!) I think it was Angie Smith that said you “married up.” I happen to love your wife (forgive me, but I read her blog religiously and yours sporadically), and I think Angie might be on to something. Brag on Brandi for a moment if you will.

First of all I think you should read my blog more regularly. Secondly, you are right. I did marry way up. My wife Brandi is truly my anchor. My life can get crazy at times and she has been with me through every single up and down experience we’ve had in ministry. I fell in love with her from the first weekend we met and that love continues to grow over time. She’s the most patient, caring mother I’ve ever seen. I stand in awe of her daily for how God is using her life.

That’s awesome. Really, really awesome.

Okay, another personal question. I’m always interested to know what kinds of dreams and aspirations God planted in people’s hearts at an early age and if they’re living those dreams now. I wanted to be a mommy and a writer. And maybe a librarian or a missionary. What vision did you have for your future when you were, say, in 2nd grade?

Well, I wanted to be a rock star. I had the band name picked out and everything. We were called Fragile Crate. We were horrible. Then I wanted to be in politics. I was sure of this one as well. The aspirations that I believe God placed in my heart were to be in a vocation that helped people. Whatever I did, I wanted to help people. I eventually discovered that politics probably wasn’t the best use of my time if I really wanted to help people.

Are you sure Fragile Crate was horrible? Really? Could it possibly be that you used up all your creative genius naming your band? Because wow.

Wow.

So, I’m curious. Any more books in the works?

Yep, actually writing one right now. Still not far enough along to really nail down the title but I’m getting excited about it.

Ooooh! Can’t wait! Thanks so much, Pete, for taking the time to hang with us for a bit. We really appreciate it!

(He says we’re welcome.)

Oh, and I guess I should mention that I read the whole book and loved it. God really used it to knock my socks off. I could write another whole post.

YOUR TURN!

So, tell me: what one question would you like to ask Pete? I’ll choose my three favorites and see about getting you some answers from Mr. Wilson.

(I haven’t exactly asked him if he minds me doing this, but I did read his blog twice this week, so that should count for something.)

Ask away!

p.s. I got a free copy of the book, but nobody paid/bribed/threatened me to write anything nice. Free will, baby! (this qualifies as one of those legal disclaimers, right?)

As I’m reading books like this one and this one, stories of young girls being sold into sex slavery and families being ripped apart by war, I’m sad. So sad that these awful things, such unfair things, happen to people. And struck by this pervading sense that the forces of evil want nothing more than for people to feel worthless. When really, truly, they are so beautiful and valuable in the eyes of God.

We had a guest preacher today at church, a local judge who has started a program to help women get out of prostitution. He read the story of the prostitute in the book of Luke who had been forgiven by Jesus and washed his feet with her tears, her hair and an alabaster bottle of expensive perfume. When everyone else looked down on her, Jesus told her how valuable she was. And did that same thing for so many people throughout the gospels.

Two of these women that have gone through the judge’s program came with him today. They stood up in front of 500+ people and shared their testimony of how God has delivered them and loves them unconditionally. It was beautiful. They got a standing ovation and lots of bursts of cheers and clapping. The judge said something, though, that made me sad. He admitted to being a bit insecure and had wondered how we would receive these women. Break my heart.

I wonder what I can do to make people feel valuable.

When we go to Cambodia, I want everyone I come in contact with to feel like I think they’re valuable. When I walk through my neighborhood, I want everyone I meet to feel like I think they’re valuable. I want my online friends and real-life friends to feel like I think they’re valuable. I want my kids and husband to feel like I think they’re valuable.

And I can’t do this without God’s help.

Like I said, I have a lot of thoughts all tumbling around in my head, and I hope to organize more of them in words sometime soon. But, for now, here’s an amazing video of some people who used their talents to make people feel valuable last year. Gabe was able to be involved with this project here in Columbus, and the girls and I are going to help him when he does it again this fall.

It’s worth four minutes of your time. I promise.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you’ve got a second, pick a question:

1. Is there someone in your life who could use some encouragement today? How could you show her (him) that she (he) has value?

2. Tell me about a time someone made you feel valuable.

Have a wonderful Monday, friends!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 4)

Thank you, friends, for sharing in our joy! And thank you, Jesus, for your death and resurrection! We love you!

We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Yoder at Pei Wei, then went to the zoo (with 8 million other Ohioans) to see our new polar bears, then stopped at Wal-Greens for more Silly Bandz, then to Starbucks Happy Hour to split two Caramel Frappuccinos at 1/2 price, then riding bikes and playing with the neighbor kids, then to Life Group, then Little Caesar’s at 8:30 pm and bed.

The day was practically perfect in every way.

So thankful for my family, our pastor, our friends at church, our Life Group, Jesus and all of you!

Have a wonderful Monday!

limbo:

1. a region on the border of hell

2. a state of oblivion to which people are relegated when cast aside or forgotten

3. an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place

4. a place or state of imprisonment or confinement

I helped you out since it’s Monday and all. You’re welcome.

Lots going on, lots up in the air, lots I want to get done but can’t seem to find the time, lots of sighing.

Lots of opportunities for trusting God.

Going to try to put (and keep) my focus on that this week. God knows. I don’t need to. I just need to lean in to Him and trust.

Can I pray for you today?

“It’s BLUE!” I said.

“Yeah, some of the pics are blue, and some of them look normal. I don’t know why.”

Well, I know why. Because those blues are my favorite colors, and God wanted me to know He loves me tonight.

How has God shown His love for you in a special way lately?

p.s. A HUGE thank-you for your answers to yesterday’s post. Keep ‘em coming. Seriously, you have no idea how much of a help you are. BLESS YOU.

Well, technically it’s a picture of our back porch that Gabe took tonight with his iPhone.

No, he didn’t use a paint app. Those are window crayon marks on our sliding glass door.

I’ve been asking God to still the swirl so I can hear Him speak.

So far, I’m hearing, “Quit fighting the stillness.”

We’re getting there.

Faith was sitting in her wheelchair, signing gorgeous black-and-white photos of herself. My heart just ached for her. You could tell how hard it was for her to get the Sharpie to write how she wanted it to, and she looked so sad. She was a stunningly beautiful little girl just a few short weeks ago, and she looks completely different now. (She is still beautiful–she’s just put on a lot of weight from the steroids and her face is puffy. This is so hard for her.) I just can’t imagine being in her shoes. Or her sweet mama’s.

Please pray for her family and take a minute to encourage them if you would.

We got to chat with the World’s Best Teacher–Livi and Ava’s kindergarten teacher–whose name happens to start with K, the letter of the day. She loves Jesus and loves kids, and I love her to death.

Tomorrow Nina and I get to spend the day at COSI with Ava’s class. And then watch Livi and Ava each play a soccer game.

I’m blessed. And life is short. And I want to spend it doing the most important things.

I sometimes feel like I don’t know what those are. Or I feel like there are too many important things to fit in my day. But I know that’s not true. I know I often confuse urgent with important. Or what I want to do with what God wants me to do.

I think I need to spend some time with Him, asking Him to show me what’s most important and how that should play out in my day-to-day life.

Question for you: What’s most important in your life? And how do your actions reflect that?

And a special thank-you to Jennifer (all 4 of you), Joyce, Joanne, Joslyn, Jenna, Jess (both of you), Jennie, Jonna, Jane, Jenny and Josiah for playing the Name Game yesterday! You squeaked past the M’s but didn’t catch the A’s.

And if your name starts with K, here’s your chance to win the whole Kit and Kaboodle. Give me a K!

Have a great weekend! Remember what’s most important!

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, and each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilty offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied, by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

–Isaiah 53

I have to be honest (even though it’s no fun), but I’ve mostly let this Lenten season sail right on by without giving it much thought. I’m still reading my Bible and praying, but I haven’t really even taken a moment to think about Christ’s death, let it truly sink in, and then praise Him for His sacrifice and love. I know that life as a Christ-follower isn’t about a bunch of things I need to do, but still.

Jesus, forgive me for my indifference to your suffering.

Last year, my friend Joanne did this with her girls, and I LOVED the idea. This is a pic of us from last year, but I plan on doing it again today.

Isaiah 49:16–I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

Thank you, Jesus. Even when I forget you, you never forget me. When I’m not faithful, you still are. You never change, and you will always love me. You proved it once and for all, yet you keep proving it over and over again. I’m thrilled to be yours.

When I say it, I mean, “oh, that sweet little thing! She was just trying her best!” It’s like a happy little mixture of love and pity. But pity in a good way.

Am I making any ever-loving sense? Maybe there’s really no distinction.

So, tonight was a little rough around the edges. Gabe had a wonderful first day of work (and my day at home was fairly okay too), but like any First Day, it can drain you. So, he was tired, I was tired, and the girls were pretty tired too (Livi got 3 hours of sleep at a sleepover Saturday night).

Anyway, I might have maybe yelled at them while they were getting ready for bed. I had bills and taxes on the brain, and Livi has this thing about money–”When can you pay me the money you owe me? When can we get this? When will we have enough money for this?” So, when she said, “When can we get new toothbrushes? We’ve had these since right after Christmas.” I’d had it.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY RIGHT NOW! DO NOT ASK ME AGAIN FOR ONE SINGLE THING THAT COSTS MONEY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Yes, she understood.

So, they’re all in bed (together), and I’m reading Acts 2. Lest you think I’m this amazing mom who (besides never yelling at her children) reads Scripture every night to her brood, please know that I started this nightly “tradition” last night with Acts 1, after a long, long drought of no reading before bed.

Anyway, it’s going swimmingly. They’re asking questions about the Holy Spirit. Nina’s questions are a combination of comical and heartbreaking. I read about the people being baptized in the Holy Spirit and Ava says:

“When can I get baptized?”

“You want to get baptized?”

“Yes.”

“That’s awesome, sweetie.”

We start to talk about it, and Livi pipes up, “Does it cost money to get baptized?”

Bless her heart.

“No sweetie. Jesus already paid for it. Isn’t that awesome?”

And it cost a lot more than money. It cost his blood. Thank you, Jesus.

I can’t even imagine what sweet, darling Faith is going through, what her mama is going through, the whole family, and everyone who loves her.

Please pray with me that God will heal this beautiful little girl.