Nathan, Trisha & Gwyneth

Posted on January 8, 2008 by Scott Ranck
Several years ago now, I met a really lovable pastor named Rick Lawrenson. He pastor’s a really cool church in the Outer Banks of N.C. (OBX) Rick has a son named Nathan who also loves the Lord and is an awesome worship leader. He ended up leading worship at the same church in the OBX. Nathan married the love of his life and her name is Trisha. I’ve met Nate on a couple occasions but have never met Trisha though I feel I’ve come to know her recently. Trisha has Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that steals the healthy function of her lungs. She is also 24 weeks pregnant with their first daughter Gwyneth. For what seems like forever now, this precious young couple has been in a battle for both Trisha and Gwyneth’s lives. They are at Duke Medical Center receiving great care but the life and death decisions are being made on a daily basis now.
 
The amazing part to me is seeing the Lord give strength in spite of human weakness. To be so young and have such a great outlook, faith and hope is a witness to all around. There is much love and support from family, friends and church family but I would ask all who read this to pray for all involved like there is no tomorrow. You can learn more and follow the events at Nate’s blog site http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com/ If you need some inspiration in your own life I encourage you to read the blog!
 
"Father, please pour out your strength on Trisha, Nate, Gwyneth, Rick, Gail and all the others who are near. Give Dr.’s and medical personnel wisdom beyond their training. If you please, spare both lives and use them powerfully as you have already to give you glory. Provide for their every need. We have no where else to turn but to you, Lord. We come to you through the name of Jesus Christ. Let it be so!"
 
Scott
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Spirit VS. Flesh

Posted on December 23, 2007 by Scott Ranck
Galatians 5:16-23 discusses the battle that rages between the nature God plants in the Christian and the nature that is ours by birth. The Bible describes this as the Spirit against the flesh. I’ve discovered there isn’t anything called "splesh." By that I mean there isn’t really an in between, I’m either being controlled by the Spirit or I am being controlled by the flesh there really isn’t any other option. Often I hear and probably have said, "I used to really be bad in this area but it is way better than before." Let me make this more clear. I recently heard someone who regularly looked at hard core pornography say "You don’t really know how much better I am than I used to be, now I don’t look at anything nearly as bad as I used to." It dawned on me recently to ask, so is that motivated by the Spirit or by the flesh? Flesh is flesh, the scale of depravity really makes little difference except maybe in the consequences. It is just like someone saying I used to get drunk daily, now I only get toasted on the weekends. It isn’t motivated by the spirit so there is only one other option. I fool myself by grading my sin on a sliding scale because God doesn’t. A good question to ask oneself is simply, is this desire of the Spirit or is it from the flesh? A good way to deceive oneself is to ask how I’m doing compared to my worst days, after all that never really has been the standard. Just something to ponder. My most recent thoughts.
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My first half marathon

Posted on December 3, 2007 by Scott Ranck
I ran my first half marathon Sunday morning at 7am in Brandon, Florida. In fact, it was my very first race of any length. It was a beautiful day. My sister Michelle and my niece Jaime came down to join me because they are veteran runners. I was under control pretty much, I’ve heard and read adrenlin and excitement can lead a runner to take off too quickly and then die at the end. I guess I experienced a little of that. My goal was to run an 8 minute per mile pace and for the first 9 miles only two of them exceeded an 8 minute pace all the rest were in the 7:40-7:55 pace. Something happened at mile 10! There were no water stations in any of those miles and I was out of energy and my legs didn’t want to keep the pace. I struggled on the last four miles but still made it in at the time above. I think if I would have stayed closer to the 8 minute pace at the beginning it would have been better but I have no way of knowing. All in all it was a great experience and pretty exciting having my wife Gayle, daughter Lisa, and mom Shirley cheering me on at the finish line. Coming in the last mile I thought it would probably be the last race I ever do but after a couple hours I was already thinking about how to improve my next one! Oh by the way, I finished 8th out of 17 in my age bracket. Jaime finished 3rd in her age bracket!! I was 94th out of 304 over all.
 
Scott
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Talking about U.N.’s landmark report on warming – World environment- msnbc.com

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Scott Ranck

I’ve been thinking alot about global warming and the whole craze towards going "green." Recently it began to dawn on me as someone who is in the business of trying to get people passionate about something, how difficult that really is to accomplsh. I was wondering how someone with as little charisma and appeal as Al Gore could achieve rock star status. I was wondering who or what is behind all this? I’m sure there are not really that many "tree hugger" types who really care that much more about the environment than their own personal convenience and comfort so how could this movement get so much traction from so many different places? How could something that is so unverifiable and is challenged by many very good scientists become such a world wide crisis? Why is it so important to the global warming activists that "the debate is over." If you challenge some of their bogus science or question their conclusions you are considered a nut bag, why is that?

Our world is driven by pretty much one thing, maybe two, power and money. So I started wondering where is the money trail of the global warming path. Then today the UN’s strong statement has come out in the press. We need a global fund to support the poor countries, ahhhh there it is a global fund no doubt managed by the UN. The fear tactics in the release are ridiculous. The old and poor most at risk in this big crisis and it is coming much faster than previously thought. . .in other words, lets hurry up! SHOW US THE MONEY and give us control of your country! Level the playing field by regulating industry to death in the US while excluding China and India. Regulate building to death through environmental friendly building codes, strangle the US economy and bring those proud American’s down to the rest of the world’s standard of living!

Here is my prediction, in the next 10-20 years the earth will be relatively the same as it is today. Our efforts or lack of them are not going to change much of anything. Global Warming is nothing more than a huge global grab for power and money and we are all pawns being used on the world stage. There is wickedness in high places.

Scott 

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Blessed!

Posted on September 28, 2007 by Scott Ranck
One year and eight months ago now the Lord allowed me to become part of the Chesapeake Utilities Florida Division family! It has been one of the best fits ever for me as far as employment goes. I really enjoy my work and what I do suits my personality perfectly. A couple of the photo albums I’ve posted here are directly related to my work. The Jupiter Beach trip was a company sponsored two night, three day thing our company provided for employees and their families. We stayed at the plush Jupiter Beach Resort. The pictures of the Belleview Biltmore Resort in Clearwater, FL was for the Florida Natural Gas Association Operations and Marketing Conference. I had the privilege of leading a round table discussion one afternoon for three different groups of people. I felt honored to be in the role, especially since it was a state wide event and I’m so new in the industry. The resort was amazing. It is the largest, occupied wood frame building in the US. It was built in the late 1800’s and is the kind of place royalty would have stayed in the day. It needs some major renovations but the new owners are putting 100 million dollars into its renovation. You had the sense of history, and wonder as you walked the halls thinking about all those who have also walked the halls. I’m thankful for the blessing in my life. It is more than I deserve but I accept as a gracious gift for this season of life.
 
Scott
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Follow-Up to July 5th My Circle

Posted on September 20, 2007 by Scott Ranck
Since learning the lesson I wrote about in "My Circle," I have been amazed the number of times the Lord has sent me affirmation through someone without me seeking it out. Strange things, humorous things, and often things right in the areas I wanted affirmation the most. For example, I am very concerned about physical fitness. I am in training right now for a half marathon. I lift weights a couple times a week. I have maintained myself pretty well for a nearly 54 year old guy. So, the other night my wife and I were out for a walk and this jogger stops his run and asks me if I won a car from "Men’s Health." He said, he had seen me out running without a shirt on and thought I was the guy he saw pictured in a magazine that had won a car through some fitness challenge. He said some other nice stuff and jogged off! I can think of a half dozen or so times since writing that article that I clearly knew, and smiled in knowing, the Father was sending me some affirmation! It has really helped me become much more sure of who I am in Him. I know it has freed me to not seek affirmation on my own for myself. He is trustworthy with any area of life you choose to trust Him in. Live to feel His smile on your life.
 
Scott 
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God’s Sovereignty and My Position

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Scott Ranck
For most my adult life I’ve been in senior leadership. During my time at all the churches I’ve been a part of I have either been the senior leader or part of the senior leader’s team. That is like the last 28 years of my life. I’ve been in a part-time role at church for the last year that finds me about three layers of management below the senior level. I have chaffed at that the whole year. I’ve been half-hearted and on the verge of quitting numerous times.
 
A week ago on my morning run I sensed the Lord asking me, "Do you believe I am sovereign?" I said, "yes." He continued, "Do you think then if I wanted you to be a senior leader you would be?" Again, I said, "yes." He said, "Maybe you are where I want you for this season of time to learn how to follow so one day you can lead better!"
 
My eyes were opened and I surrendered to my position and apologized for my being unmanageable as well as half-hearted. I apologized to the young man who I report to at church. Just like that, my repentance brought a new found joy to my role. My whole attitude changed on a dime. I’m excited to serve in my capacity and learn all I can learn. What an amazing thing it is to know the Lord and learn from Him.
 
Scott 
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Digging Under The Wrong Tree!

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Scott Ranck
For the past several years I’ve been working hard at figuring myself out. I tend to be inquisitive anyway, but I’ve really wanted to know why I am the way I am. I recently heard about and then bought a book that came out recently. It is Dr. Keith Ablow’s book titled, "Living the Truth." All I can say is, "Oh my Gosh!" He asks these probing questions that lead you right to the core of whatever issues you may have. He directs you to find, "buried treasure," that protected pocket of pain that all through life you have protected and compensated for but never really knew it was there. Just this morning I had some major "aha" moments. I saw things about myself that tonight are crystal clear but yesterday I didn’t know existed. Almost all my earthly relationships have been affected by this wound. Many people have been hurt through the years, some discounted, some dissed, some allowed into my good graces but probably few have ever received unconditional love from me, all stemming from this area.
 
I’ve had a sense all day of freedom. A sense I’m a competent adult who doesn’t need to run from people with strong opinions, nor do they ever have to agree with me. I can give them respect and still disagree. I can even submit if they are over me and like them, though I disagree. Yesterday, I could not have done that! If you disagreed with me, I retreated like a child who was forced to obey and resented you! Today, I have a mind, I have a mouth, I can choose to use one without the other, or choose to use both. I can’t give you all the details here because it would cause hurt to others. This is my journey, I’m responsible for me. For the first time in my life I feel I can honestly love and respect people who disagree with me and even with people who let me down. When I was a child I acted like a child, but now I’m putting away childish things.
 
One of the most amazing things to me is how long I’ve been digging for the core of this issue under the wrong tree! I had assumptions the root of my emotional struggle was some where different than where I found it. Dr. Keith’s book got me to the right place to begin digging. I hope this makes sense!!
 
Scott
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“My Circle”

Posted on July 5, 2007 by Scott Ranck
Recently, there has been a cell phone company that features "My Circle," it allows you to have five or ten friends from any network you can call and not use your minutes.
 
In the realm of emotional needs, my top need has always been the need for affirmation/approval. Someone said, that young boys need their father’s approval and if they don’t receive it they tend to look for it through the rest of their lives. That would describe me. My favorite part of being in the ministry was Sunday morning on stage preaching. Gee, I wonder if there is a connection between my need for affirmation and my love of center stage?
 
Recently, I’ve noticed that I desire to have the approval/affirmation of people in roles of authority, like the big boss, the senior pastor and others in key roles. When I sense those people don’t see me or value me, it could cause me to spiral into depression or really have some negative feelings toward those people and what ever organization they led.
 
I took some negative feelings I was having to the Lord recently and He revealed to me I need to narrow "My Circle," to two! The Lord and me, period. That means, I need only His approval/affirmation, if He chooses to bring me approval/affirmation through another that will be His call. I need to learn to be content with doing the right thing for the right reason before Him. He showed me I could never get enough of what I don’t need. In this case, that is the praise of people can never meet the deep need of my heart for approval/affirmation, only my relationship with God and His approval can meet that need. Whenever my feelings about myself are based on gaining other’s affirmation, I have given them too much power over me to do something for me, they really cannot accomplish.
 
This does not mean I can live in caloused disregard to others around me, I just have to live in a very tight circle, God and me, when it comes to my value, worth and purpose in life. When this truth became clear to me, I sighed with relief and my mood instantly grew brighter. The pressure was off to a large degree. I can be free to be and do whatever the Lord desires. He can open doors no man can shut and close doors no man can open. I just need to rest in Him and strive to please Him with my life. Sorry, no matter who you are you cannot be in my circle anymore. I will live for the affirmation of ONE.
 
Scott
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Connecting The Dots facing pain, finding peace

Posted on May 18, 2007 by Scott Ranck
Over the last decade I have done some very hard work on myself. The desire was to discover spiritual and emotional health. In my current role at Bay Life Church in Brandon, FL, a study I did with our men brought all the pieces together in my mind. I ended up sitting down and writing a 112 page book. I sent it off to several publishers and to my amazement had two ask me to consider having it published with them. This week I held in my hand the first copy of the finished work. It is a small paperback book but it was just as I envisioned it. I’ve already read through the entire thing and so has my wife Gayle. Both of us feel it has the potential to help many people understand what makes them tick. For more information and ordering abilities check out my web site at www.scottranck.com. It has been an exciting adventure, I’m already planning on the sequel book.
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