What would you do with your last days?
Over the last couple of days I have to say that I was not all that excited about what I was doing and who I was at the time. So just like many people I started having a pity party, until I saw this video:
(Make sure that you take the time to watch the whole thing.)
So if you are like me and you are having a tough day and you feel that your life is just to hard. Then I challenge you to watch this video and remember the song “Clouds”. Thanks to the family & friends of Zach Sobiech.
What are the ways that you see God reminding you of how blessed your life really is . . .
Walking through the Aurora Theater Weekend
Where the Aurora Theater shootings occured
As this last weekend has been a blur of action and emotion for the city of Aurora. I am taking the next couple of days to get my thoughts together. It is my hope for the next couple of weeks to share what I have experienced and seen. It is an opportunity to share from the perspective of a father, community member, and as a pastor. I pray that over the next couple of weeks we will walk together and experience this tragedy in a way that helps us learn in many different ways. Keep praying for the community and the families that have been hit so hard through loss and injury.
What were you doing when you heard about the Aurora Theater shootings?
Father Christmas for Fatherless
As we get ready for Christmas this week I have been spending a lot of time thinking of being a father. Some of the greatest memories I have had as a father has been watching my kids on Christmas day. They each have allowed me to see some amazing moments of pure joy as well as great excitement for the time of the year. We have special traditions that my wife and kids have come to almost be so excited about that when we expereince them they are ready for next year.
But what I have been walking through is that over 1/3 of children today are living in fatherless homes. Now I want to say something that I think is very important. If you are a single mom, I want you to know that you have the toughest job in the world. You have to fulfill two very distinct roles in the lives of your kids. I pray every week for the single mothers that I know attend Elevation. But I do believe that we need to let those kids know that there is a father for the fatherless and he came on Christmas to be the everlasting Father.
Psalm 27:10 (NLT) 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.
I pray that through out this Christmas season that each and everyone of us takes the time to think of those that are walking through this season with out knowing the one true Father, Jesus Christ.
How can you this week love on the fatherless?
Occupy – The Home
I have been watching and have been curious about the OCCUPY movement and all that they are doing. I think that no matter what your political persuasion is that their intent is good when it comes to those that are losing homes during this season of life. So I am thinking about starting my own OCCUPY movement. It is the OCCUPY your home movement and it is for fathers.
Facts compiled by the Department of Justice
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
90% of all homeless and runaway youths are from fatherless homes.
85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders are from fatherless homes.
71% of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes.
70% of youths in State institutions are from fatherless homes.
75% of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are from fatherless homes.
85% of rapists motivated by displaced anger are from fatherless homes
I am encouraging and praying that we can rally fathers to OCCUPY their homes. To see that the need to be at work or even at play all the time is damaging our country more then the housing crisis. I believe many men have not had the benefit of a father themselves so they are just continuing to follow in their own fathers foot steps and some where along the line things need to change. We need a group of men that are discontent with the way that things are going with families today and they need to lead by OCCUPYING their homes. By lovingly leading their wives and children, by spiritually setting the bar for their families, and by showing their community what a difference a father can make when he OCCUPIES his home.
1 Samuel 22:2, 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.
These are the same men that would be later referred to as David’s mighty men. I pray today that we will have fathers that are just discontent with the way things are going and that they choose to OCCUPY their homes.
Spouse of a PORN Addict
At the beginning of the month on Superbowl Sunday we as a church chose to also be a part of what is called “Porn Sunday”. Crag Gross and the people at XXXChurch did an awesome job of providing information as well as support to the churches that were a part of “Porn Sunday”. It was a very powerful and amazing day where we saw both men and women start to deal with their addiction to porn. But I want to share with you just a small section of a letter that was sent to me by a very brave and awesome lady that has gone through a destructive relationship that was destroyed by a porn addiction. What she shared was some things for spouses of porn addicts to work through. I felt that they were awesome to let people read because this is from someone that has gone through the fire and is on the other side with a perspective that will enable us to care for and reach not just the porn addict but their family as well. Here is what she shared:
1. I didn’t show honor – At the time, in my mind it was ALL his fault – our divorce. I had done nothing wrong. I now know differently. While I can’t change anyone, I am fully responsible for me. I reacted with rage, anger, bitterness, un-forgiveness, hatred, verbal abuse, and emotional withdrawal. Someone had quoted a verse to me earlier and was right to quote it to me, though it was used out of context: “Love covers a multitude of sins.” I now understand what that means – I had told everyone I knew of all of my husband’s faults and about his addiction for TWO reasons: 1) I really did want help and 2) Honestly, to try to make me look good and him bad. I did not honor him. While what he had done was wrong, what I had done in spreading the gossip about his addiction was just as wrong. It was not honoring, respectful, or loving. I see now it did not provide an environment where he could feel safe to be vulnerable and receive the help & healing he needed. That’s not to say he would have chosen to do that if I had reacted differently. Maybe he would have accepted help, maybe not.
2. It is ok to be angry!! It’s not ok for that to grow to bitterness. Several years later I finally did receive the help that I needed. I was able to express my anger and intense pain to people who listened and didn’t blame. But at the same time they held me accountable for HOW I expressed that anger and wouldn’t let me stay there. There is help out there and for those who have a spouse involved in pornography – THEY HAVE TO GET HELP FOR THEMSELVES. I realized I was trying to change my husband. To make him stop so I wouldn’t hurt any more. I couldn’t change him. I can only change myself. I learned to press deeply into God’s Word and let him change ME. To see my ex-husband through God’s eyes. I was able to release him and forgive him. The pain is still there, but it doesn’t control me. I was able to write my ex-husband a letter asking forgiveness for what I had done in verbally lashing out at him and the other hateful things I had done.
3. Boundaries are necessary. Pornography is progressive. It is a sex-addiction. It is wrong. It destroys families. It may not always be necessary to divorce but sometimes it is necessary to separate. Make boundaries clear beforehand and with a plan as to what will happen during the time of separation.
If are you someone that is in a relationship with someone that is a Porn Addict then I encourage you to go to XXXChurch.com and see what they can do to help you. If you are a person maybe a husband or dad that is dealing with this then I ask you to go to someone and get help right away. This is not just something that affects you it affects your whole family. If you are a lady and would like to email the woman that shared what she dealt with then please message me and I will make sure you can get connected with her. I also want to remind each and every person that reads through this that Jesus loves you not matter what you have done or where you have been and He is waiting for you.
Christmas Eve Anniversary
Today is a new anniversary for our family. It has been one year today that we moved back to Colorado to be a part of Elevation Christian Church in Aurora, Colorado. We drove into Aurora around 9:30 at night to a some-what empty rental home. My kids were blessed with snow shovels in the garage from the family members that wanted to remind them of what kind of weather Colorado had. A small Christmas tree was in the room ok, on the counter and there were very special gifts left for us. It was a great time of celebration opening gifts while we all sat on the barren floor. It was also an amazing time of anticipation. Where we as a family were excited to see what Jesus had in store for us when it came to life and the start of Elevation.
It has been an amazing year with school work, sports, jobs, and Jesus reaching people with the gospel. There is no doubt that we can not wait to see what happens in this next year. Graduations, more school, more sports, and many more people saying yes to Jesus.
I personally want to thank everyone that has prayed, that has donated, that has moved, and has joined us on this journey to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ. There is no way that we could be where we are today without all of you.
Step Out in Faith
It is almost a year now since my family and I left Northern California and moved back to Colorado to start Elevation Christian Church. There are tons of things that I wish I would have known before we started this adventure and there are tons of things that I am still learning every week. But the things that we have learned over the last year we would have never experienced if we would have never stepped out on faith.
We left last year in the middle of my daughters junior year, my sons sophomore year, and our youngest’s seventh grade year. Not the best time to move kids. But I have been able to watch God grow these kids in ways that I would have never imagined. It would have never happened if we had not stepped out in faith.
My wife has had to deal with conversations like, “I am not sure that we are going to be able to pay that this month.” Or, “The money is going to be there I just believe it.” All moms and wives know the pressure you feel to make sure your kids are taken care of and the bills are paid. I know that for her this has been an amazing growing opportunity to see God show up and provide. We would have never experienced this had we not stepped out on faith.
I have taken jobs and tried things that I never would have probably taken in the past. I have had the privilege to have conversations with guys and gals that I knew a long time ago about who Jesus is and what He has done and is doing in my life. I have had to learn how to lead in areas that I thought I was already prepared to lead, which I am not. I have learned that all of the Lead Pastors that I have served under were amazing men and that I was prepared by each one of them to do what I am doing today. But I would have never experienced this if I had not stepped out in faith.
I think this goes very well with this time of the year. There was a young girl that stepped out in faith a couple thousand years ago when an angel appeared to her and let her know that she was going to have a very special baby. This is how she responded, ” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant , and I am willing to accept whatever He wants.” Luke 1:39a What a way to respond to God when He called her to step out in faith.
The question that I have for you is, “What is Jesus calling you to do so that you step out in faith?” You will never be able to experience the amazing things that He has for you until you do. STEP OUT IN FAITH!
Thoughts about Sunday. . .
I am so excited to say that we have had an awesome last couple of weeks meeting on Sunday mornings. Over the last 7 months we had been meeting on Monday nights once a month and then eventually twice a month. So to take the step of meeting weekly has been an awesome undertaking as well as amazing opportunity to see God at work. Here are some things that I experienced today:
- We have an amazing team of people that are taking the mission of “Developing relational environments where people can become followers of Jesus” to a Sunday morning.
- Lives are being impacted by the Gospel. We are seeing people come face to face with Jesus in amazing ways.
- The “Sex, Money, Power: A Man Series” GRUNT. Is being used to enable men to see specific areas of life through the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been told of miracles in marriages being restored, Fathers seeing the need to lead spiritually in their homes, and hearts being softened to take deep steps in following Jesus.
- That taking care of the custodians in the school we meet at is not an add on but a ministry that is breaking down barriers to the Gospel.
As we finish this series this Sunday on Halloween I am excited to all our families dress up for church and have fun as a team. It will be a great lead into Novembers series “NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED” I am so pumped to see what happens next.
Being Prepared for Something Big
As we have prepared and prayed the verse that my family and I had all over our house in California has kept me going.
Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT) “The Lord replied, “Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”
We believe that we are going to see God do something and amazing through Elevation. Why do we think that? What would cause us to think this for Elevation? We believe this because over the last 8 months we have seen Him do amazing things time and time again. So we are living with the expectancy of what we already have seen. So this weekend we expect to see something amazing as we launch out and start the weekly services of Elevation Christian Church. Come be a part of something amazing, come be a part of something that only God can do. Go to www.elevationcc.com and get the directions to Dalton Elementary so that you can be at one of the two services we are going to offer.
Movie Monday
Now I just love to share with you all some of the things that my kids do and here is another installment in the Ninja Police Movie work. That is the name of the movies that Tyler has been doing for awhile and I have to say and I am not partial or anything but they are pretty good. Check it out.
I hope you had an awesome Easter, praise God that we have a savior that gave His life for us.
Audience of ONE
Tonight is going to be the first major gathering that we have planned for Elevation Christian Church. It is amazing the feelings that I have been feeling over the last three days. I get excited about the possibility of a group of people that will be there that will rival most SUPER BOWL crowds. Then I go to the total opposite and think well what if it is just my family and I sitting there. Both are the pictures that run threw my head. But then I am reminded that I am only responsible to make sure that I care about one:
Everything that am to do in this life is to bring praise to my heavenly Father. I am to be concerned only that Jesus is praised and that am doing all I can to let people know about Him. But you know what it is still a struggle, but in this moment right now. I am living for an AUDIENCE OF ONE. This is the most freeing thought that I can carry with me and you can too. Make this second, minute, hour, maybe this day a priority to live for just one.
Merry Christmas Eve
Today we are going to be on the road traveling from Arizona to Colorado. The last stretch of travel that we will make as we move there to start a new church. What I want to say is “Merry Christmas” to the new, old, and not yet met people that will make up Elevation Christian Church. It is truly to be one of the greatest gifts that Jesus has ever given to us as a family, the gift of stepping out on faith. May we all experience it in this coming year.
To Michelle, Danielle, Tyler, and Morgan,
As a Husband and a Father a could not be more blessed with a better family. You are each the greatest gifts that Jesus has given to me on loan. We are going to rock out Colorado.
Mark Batterson “Primal” Blog Tour
Over the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of reading the books that Mark Batterson has written. It was also my pleasure to be able to listen to him share about the amazing things that God has been doing in the church that he pastors in Washington D.C. at a seminar for church starting at “Exponential”. Each time I have cracked the pages of one of his books I have be fortunate to learn something new about God, have a great time doing it, and been challenged to step out on faith. It was through reading the book “Wild Goose Chase” that God spoke to my wife about starting a church. It was through the reading the book “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy day” that we as a family felt the spirit speaking to us as a family to set life goals and take the fight to this life that God has given us. In his newest book “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity” I have been impacted beyond my anticipation. In this book there is a great gathering of the historical, the biblical, the analytical, and the creative.
“Have you ever noticed how many times Psalms tells us to sing a new song? That creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen times. Evidently God gets tired of old songs. He doesn’t just want you to worship Him with your memory; He doesn’t just want you to worship Him with your memory; He wants you to worship Him with your imagination. Love isn’t repetitive, Love is creative. As love grows you need new lyrics and new melodies. You need a new song to express new dimensions of love. If you tell your wife that you love her the same way over and over again, she may stop believing you at some point. Why? Because your words are an expression of memory instead of an expression of imagination. It’s half-hearted because it is half minded” Mark Batterson “Ritual” pgs 110 – 111
I think that this is a book for everyone that calls themselves a follower of Jesus should read. It pushes and prods in ways that enables you to really grasp some old areas of faith in new ways. This will be a book that I read as well as my whole family, this is a book that I am excited to say has as much of my ink in it from marks and high lights as what the book originally came with when it was printed. Take the time this Christmas season to share with those around you a great expression of what it means to follow Jesus in some new ways. LET’S GO PRIMAL!
Band of Brothers
My most favorite movie series is called “Band of Brothers: The men of Easy Company”. In this series of movies your truly get to experience what it was like for a group of young men that go from training to be soldiers to becoming battle hard veterans and heros to their country. I encourage you to take the next few moments to just share in the words that they share about their battles and their lives.
It is the statement that Dick Winters makes at the end of this clip that gets to me the most. ”I served in a company of heros!” Won’t it be great at the end of your life to be able to say that you served or you did life together in the company of men that you can call heros. Heros to their wives, heros to their children, and heros in their faith. I pray that you are able to find that “Band of Brothers” that you may walk through life’s battles together.
Who can you go to when the battle is on?
Music Monday
I just love this guys music. Michelle and I were even able to go and see him on our Anniversary last year, he is a great entertainer and I appreciate the lyrics that he has in his music as well as the way that he sings the standards. Just some fun music that we all enjoy as a family. Michael Buble is family music at the Bloyer house, you might find it blaring as we sit down at the table for dinner, when Danielle is doing homework, or when we get the chance to sit out on the patio enjoying evening. Hope you enjoy.
Singing in the Shower!
First day of summer break and I catch my youngest daughter Morgan singing in the shower. It is awesome to hear her sing but it was hilarious to get caught while making the video.
Pretty awesome that she loves to sing worship songs in the shower. She even extends grace to her crazy dad for making a video of her singing. I love my kids.
It takes all kinds!
I love being a part of a diverse group of people I think that it started by growing up in Montbello in Colorado. We were exposed to so many different people, different nationalities, and different lives that it made a huge impact on me. My mom loves to talk about the Hell’s Angels that lived down the street that came and killed the rattle snake that was next to our fence. Or about the guys that moved in the house across the street at Midnight and then in three weeks moved out around the same time of night. Just to have the police show up the next day looking for them. We were on football teams and in church groups that had tons of different people in them, we all just thought that was the way it was supposed to be in life.
Everyone’s weLcome, nobody’s perfect, anything is possible
That is what I see in Elevation Community Church. That everyone is welcome. What I want people to understand is this, I don’t care what people look like, (If you are a person that wears CHURCH clothes you won’t like this church) I don’t care where they have come from (Just so you know we all won’t be the same color), I don’t care what they have done (You can be a CEO or a CON), and I don’t care if you even believe what we believe (Everyone has to start some where). What I care about is that you feel welcome and that you realize that there are going to be “no perfect people” in this church and that starts with the Lead Pastor. Some of the people that are going to be coming to Elevation will be able to share stories about me that will exemplify that. (All family members will sign gag orders, brothers for sure) Why because I am not perfect I have never been and I never will be, in fact I am going to say right now that I am going to make mistakes when it comes to starting this church. But people need to understand that, “Anything is Possible”.
Matthew 19:26 (NLT) Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
I do have to say that I struggled for several weeks with how I wanted to write this value and I talked with Pete Wilson and he said it so I have to give him props for the saying, and yes I used it. May we see that through a relationship with Jesus Christ anything is possible.
What area of your life do you see as impossible? Would love to walk through this with you.
Bloyer Bowling
Hey I just wanted you to see the seriousness of the bowling day that we had as a family last Monday. I want you to know that by no means am I looking to go on the tour, but someday, I can dream can’t I?
Car Conversations
So this last week I have had awesome opportunities to have conversations with my kids about life, faith, dating, sex, and funny thoughts. I think that so many times that we jump in the car turn on the radio, maybe plug in the IPOD, or even pop in a DVD for those with the kick-in systems. Then we forget that we have time with our spouse, time with our kids, heck time with God where either we or they are captive. So I know that I am in a state where you have to have hands free phone. I have not heard of a hands off life law when it comes to our families. Take some time this week to turn off the radio, shut off the T.V., and stop some of the noise of life so that you can hear from your family and from God. It is time for the men that call themselves followers of Christ to take the lead and take their place in being the men of God. Have BIBLE will drive.
You may not use your phone, but I read. Just kidding, but you can talk
What are the topics of your latest car conversations? What have you learned to do to talk with others in your life?
Family Stories
I love a good story. Especially when it is a story about someone that is either in my immediate family or in the family tree. Several posts before I wrote about my grandfather Warren C. Bloyer and what I had found in his sermon bible. This last week my mother shared with my a story that she recently heard about how my grandfather Warren came to know Christ.
Back in Iowa where he was living a preacher went door to door inviting the kids of the area to attend a Vacation Bible School. So Warren and his brothers went to the Vacation Bible school. It was when the second week of the VBS came my grandfather was the only one that went back for the second week. There he received his first bible. He was so excited about this new relationship with Christ that he would spend three hours sitting in the outhouse reading the bible.
It was not long after that happened that one day his father trusted in Christ. It was the day that one of his brothers was killed on the road in front of their house. His father went out onto the road next to the young boys body and right there trusted in Christ.
What an awesome story, what a heritage, what a legacy these men have placed in my life. What is sad is that I never knew this until now. I think that these are the types of stories that we should be sharing around the dinner table with our kids. How the lives in our families have been changed by Christ. Who knows what these stories will do for them and for us when it comes to seeing where we are going and where we have come from.
What stories are you sharing with your kids or family about what Christ is doing in your life? Take the time this week to share about what things are happening in you.
Danielle turns Sixteen
I never thought that I would come to the day where my first child was sixteen years of age. But today I stand the father of a sixteen year old daughter and I have to say that I have loved every minute of it. I am so blessed with the young lady that she has come to be she lead a group of girls at a Middle school camp, she is in leadership at the High school, setter on the JV Volleyball Team, and one of the most beautiful women I know. I just pray that as we walk through life that we always remember that are kids are just loaned to us and they are only with us for a short while and then they are out on their own. My mom and dad would always say “It is a blink and then they are gone.” They were not kidding but what a wonderful blink it has been. So with that I wrote for her a little poem and I wanted to share with you with just the few words that I could what she means to her mother and I.
Sixteen years: “What a start!”
The day you were born
Life changed all around
Your mothers face was so bright
Because of the little girl
That came that night
As I held you in my arms
And looked at your face
There was no way
To imagine who you were to become today
Your smile brightens a room
And melts your daddy’s heart
Your laugh echoes through the house
And gets me to giggle just a little start
The way that you’re quick with your wit
Gets me going crazy just a bit
The intensity at which you live your life
Makes me wonder what will happen
Later just tonight
The leadership you posses
Makes others think
And you bring out their best
The way that you walk like Christ is such a gift
Your mother and I knew that you were on loan
But it is so hard to think that we will have to let go
So today as we celebrate sixteen years all we can say:
“Is what a start!”
With all that you have already said and done
I know that what is to come is going to be
Second to none
So it is as a mom and dad we pray
It is our hope that you will never stray
From the road that the Lord has begun to pave for your life
It is with that we know you will be an incredible:
Student
Athlete
Leader
Daughter
Friend
Bride
Mother and
Wife
But most of all a child of Christ
May we in many more days
Celebrate just as much with a daughter or son of yours
In God we Trust.
My Wife . . .
My heart is not my own
Because of the love that Christ
Placed in my heart through . . . my wife.
No matter what challenges or strife
May come our way in this life
I know that I have a best friend in . . . my wife
Doors may open and doors may close
But as we walk each time through those
I am content with the hand that I hold . . . my wife
As the world spins and we handle loses and wins
She has become a part of me within . . . my wife
We have traveled far and wide
And always at my side is . . . my wife
There are children in the house now
Although there will come a day
When they have all moved away
We will walk through that life stage
To a brand new page as husband and . . . my wife
I pray that we will then visit
Friends, family, and grand kids galore
Going from place to place
All the while gazing at the face of . . . my wife
And as my hair continues to fade and hers turns to gray
I am thankful for previous and future days
With the beautiful lady that God gave and I call . . .
My Wife
Proverbs 18:22 (NLT) The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the Lord.
Just celebrating Thanksgiving with the thoughts about my wife.
Discovery Kingdom – Bloyer Day
This last weekend we were able to go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. We are able to do this because someone generously gave us some tickets. So we all went to have some fun. But what we didn’t realize was how much we needed to have fun. We were there about an hour when Danielle turned to me and said we really needed to have some fun. It is so hard when everyone has things going on football, volleyball, music practice, just life in general we get going so fast. But this day we were just having fun and hanging out as a family. In fact we were able to see some pretty amazing things, like dolphins, a killer whale, white tigers, mountain lions trying to get to a bird, and roller coasters that make your head hurt. But most of all we got to see each other smile, laugh, and have fun. Check out this video of Danielle as she really seemed to get the attention of this dolphin. She seemed to have the ability to get him to stay at the glass all day long we have found out his name is Merlin. In fact we started to call her the “Dolphin Whisperer” by the end of the day. Tyler even tried taking video of us going on a roller coaster but was caught by the camera on the roller coaster trying to take a picture it was pretty funny. Morgan found out that she really likes going fast but much like her Dad doesn’t like things that spin. It was one of those special days where Michelle and I just smiled and thanked God that we get to have these kids on loan from God. The day we spent was a magical day, not because of where we were but who we were with, our kids.
