Remembering the big picture, even in the small details

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

 Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

Our church just finished our annual Christmas Blessing for those who are in a bind this holiday season.  I am the person who administrates and coordinates this event for around 50 families (or about 200 kids).  If you know me, the words “administrate” and “coordinate” are pretty much never mentioned as being in my skill set.  Many times, I must admit, I lost site of the “why we do this” because I was buried in some very daunting and unwanted details. 

As families came this weekend to pick up presents, I once again remembered the purpose of this ministry.  People where incredibly grateful.  There where plenty of tears, hugs, and words of appreciation for everyone!  There were also those who showed remarkable love and integrity by forfeiting their gifts for those they knew needed it more.  Several even returned packages intended for others that they had accidentally picked. This was at the expense of extra gas and time on their behalf.  This Christmas season, may we not forget the love and compassion that Christ has extended to us, may we never get so buried in the minutiae of life that we don’t recognize opportunities to bless others, and may we not miss the bigger picture even in the smaller details.  

How To Make Better Decisions

How to make better decisions

I have made my very fair share of poor decisions so this is something that has come out of a lifetime of trial and error.  I have made some decisions in life where I made moves that affected my whole family.  How do I know what I’m supposed to do?  How do I know if it’s me, God, or the devil that’s giving me an idea or an urging.  I know I’m not alone in this.  Praying over a decision is probably the greatest prayer request I receive. 

Who should I date/ marry

Should I take this new job over the one I currently have?

Should I buy this house?

Should I go back to school?

Should I _____________________  (place your request here).

Over the last two decades I have whittled down a checklist that has proven pretty effective at clarifying my decision making. 

1-    Who are “people of wisdom” in my life and what do they have to say about it?  People of wisdom are people who have been where I want to go and can help me get there.  They are people who are not afraid to shoot straight with me and tell me the truth.  They are people who pray and I know they pray for me.   

2-    Is it something I am having to force to happen?  Am I having to kick doors open or is God opening the doors for me?

3- Is it moral, legal, and ethical?  For me, the Bible sets the standard on this the way a ruler sets the standard in math.  It is the bottom line (but that’s for another discussion)

4-    Do I have any kind of “gut check”.  When something in my gut says something isn’t right, I have learned not to ignore that.  Each time I do, I end up regretting it. 

Do you have any safe guards in your decision-making?  

What do I want to be remembered for?

I perform about 20 funerals every year.  Each has a unique flavor to it.  Some are very heavy and heartbreaking, such as a funeral I did for a 24 year old who was killed in a car accident.  For others, like a feisty 80-year-old Italian grandma, there are lots of laughs, hilarious stories and family hugs.  The mood of the funeral largely depends on the family, the personality of the deceased, and the circumstances behind the death.  There is also far more peace for those who know that their loved one is in Heaven. 

What stands out the most to me is that no matter what age or socio- economic status, people will remember you for three or four things. 

This got me thinking, what will I be remembered for?  My guess is:

1-    My love for my family.  (having some nerdy fun in the picture below)

2-    My service to God and ministry. 

3-    Being a die hard Hokie fan.  Wow.  Really?  Yep.  I would guess that’s what people will remember me for. 

The cool thing is that I can change it if I really want to.  There is still game time left on life’s clock. 

What about you?  What three or four things do you think you will be remembered for?  If you could change it, what would you want your life to have stood for?

Bowl Games, New Years, and Great Expectations

My Hokies were in town this past Friday for the Russell Athletic Bowl.   I got a great deal on four tickets for Gina the boys to join me.  (Sophia would view going to this game, or any game, as cruel and unusual punishment).   The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights!  I was ready for the GREATEST BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR!!

Honestly, the game was ugly. Rutgers took the lead 17 seconds into the game.  I’m glad our defense was good because we couldn’t run, pass, or block.  The entire first half would have had me pulling my hair out had I had any.  My expectations went from seeing the greatest bowl game of the season to trying to figure out how to fire our entire offensive staff DURING HALFTIME! 

We go into the third quarter and now, on top of an ugly game, it begins raining.  We are all wet, slightly cold, and losing by 10.  (Just a note here, Gina did not complain about the rain, the drunk guy who rubbed her head, the overpriced $12 hamburger with nothing on it, or sitting in the rain even when the game went to Overtime.  I’m gonna have to pay for this one later on in a major way).  After tying the game in the fourth quarter and taking the lead in overtime, I was on a total adrenaline rush. I was so jacked up; I would even let the drunk guy rub my head!  This ugly game came down to a 43-yard field goal attempt by Rutgers.  The kick was up and… NO GOOD!  Everyone was hugging and high fiving and, in my mind this game had become an instant Hokie classic.  Same pathetic offense through out, sitting in a driving rain, but all of a sudden, this was the greatest game ever!

Now, looking back on 2012.  I was so FIRED UP when 2012 began.  I started back to school, my kids were set for great things in their own academics, and my dad’s life seemed to have settled down after losing my mom.  Gina’s online store seemed ready for a big year, we were ready to make new hires and move forward at the church.  I was expecting really big things!  In short, the year flopped.  2012 was one of the roughest years I have ever had to endure.  In my family, in ministry, financially, everything was a challenge and it seemed like I was always on defense and never progressing offensively.  At the end of the year though, I look back and the final 5 weeks of the year seemed like “we won by a field goal”.  Two of my kids pulled 4.0’s in school.  I finished my degree.  Gina had to downgrade her store but it is opening other opportunities for her.  Dad retired after 45 years of ministry.  And Maddie is in Amsterdam preparing to head to Africa tomorrow and she is fired up for God.  I didn’t see any of this happening in July.  I was wondering how to just survive.  The secret seems to be in not quitting.  Press on even when the game of life does not meet our expectations at the moment.  As Matthew 6:34 in the Message paraphrase says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” 

2013 has launched.  I have some big goals and big expectations.  My challenge is not to quit in the second quarter and remember the game is not over.  Some of it is stuff from 2012, some of it is working toward life goals I have, and some is just high expectations. 

Do you set goals for the year? 

How do you do it? 

Do you consider your expectations to be optimistic, realistic, or pessimistic? 

Any advice?

...And a new blog is launched

My name is Jack Guerra. I am the father of four kids and the Husband of one wife for 22 years (only wife I’ve ever had).

Professionally, I am a pastor.  It is a career and a calling.  (Side note, I see every opportunity to minister or speak for Christ as our calling no matter what the profession).  I love what I do.  I love people, I love studying and digging into truth, I love dreaming, and I love strategic planning as to how a church can be at it’s best for the community and for the people in the pew.

Many people stop at these first two identifiers.  We can feel closed in or pigeon holed into the tasks of our job and family responsibilities.  Then there is the other stuff.  The stuff we do for fun.  The stuff we do to give back, or, “pay it forward”.  There’s always the stuff that makes us laugh, cry, and that eats at your soul.  I wrote of some of this stuff for me below. 

For some, this list will be too deep.  Too much religious stuff, to many social issues, and to philosophical.  For others, it will seem to shallow.  A lot of playing, friendship, sports and “hanging out”.  It seems to me though that the minority tends to live in either the “all work” mode or the “all play” mode and most of us live in a blended state of all of it.   And this is why I want to write this blog.  My love for God and family will come through loud and clear.  What I do will also be a prominent theme because I love what I do.  Through out the year, so will my love for college sports, friends, yard work, my Del Sol, coaching, Buffalo wings, the beach, the mountains, and all of the other things that bring spice to life. Please feel free to join in and I look forward to doing life together. 

Some of that other “life stuff” for me is:

* College football (it’s bowl season so this is makes the top of the list…Go Hokies)

* Coaching sports for kids of all ages

* Connecting with good friends

* Inner city issues

* Our next generation

* Being Italian

*  Inter-racial relationships

* Facebook (although Twitter is quickly replacing it).  

* Sharing Christ with others who REALLY want to know

*My Honda Del Sol (I love my car but at 255,000 miles, I think her best days are in the rear view mirror)

* Getting GOOD one on one time with my kids.  Not because I have to, but because I WANT to!

* Enjoying one on one time with my wife… and not just at Walmart doing the grocery shopping.   

* Gardening and working with plants.

* GOOD buffalo wings!

* Spending time with God when it has NOTHING to do with preparing a message.

* Talking with someone who doesn’t believe just like me. This can happen with people of all faiths, walks of life, political views, and orientations.  We don’t have to agree to respect one another.