Nick’s Walk

I am in the middle of spending the weekend with murderers, rapists and drug dealers. It’s great. I feel no fear or even social discomfort. In fact, I feel very much at home.  I know saying it like that makes me seem very heroic or very much in need of therapy. How about this. I am spending the weekend with sinners who are struggling with their walk with God, some of them are residents of Angola and some are not. That may be the better way to say it. I am continually amazed by the inmates that come through our Kairos program. Almost without exception they are gentle, well-manner, willing to listen and hoping for change. I wish I could say that about the folks that show up at church on Sunday. No doubt these guys have made some terrible choices with often life long consequences, but haven’t we all. I have no trouble identifying with the inmates my age and thinking about “there but for the grace of God…” I can’t help looking at the younger ones, their lives incredibly turned down a bad path, and think of my grand children.  One of the great problems in modern […]

On Sunday I had the honor of officiating at the marriage of my grand daughter.  Here’s the essence of the message I delivered. On these occasions it’s traditional to talk about the nature of love. Recently I read a great definition: Love is acting in the best interest of another. Love isn’t a feeling or promise or emotion. It’s all about action, action that is completely non self-centered but rather focused on another person. As much discussion as there is at weddings on love, I don’t think it’s a failure to understand love that trips up marriages. I think marriage problems are based on four myths about what marriage is all about. Here they are: THE COMPLETION MYTH. You often hear those in love talking about how the loved one completes them or is their “everything” or their “better half.” While it’s certainly true that the marriage relationship is special and that God created us with a hole. It isn’t true that our spouse is suppose to fill that hole. God creates a need in each of us that only He can complete. It is a fatal mistake to expect our marriage partner to fill a need that only […]

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Just a couple of years ago we were holding three Kairos retreats a year at Angola and averaging 42 guests for each retreat.  It was a strain on our volunteers and support base, but the results have been real and dramatic. Because of a new commitment to follow precisely the rules from Kairos International  we are down to two retreats a year averaging 30 guests each. That’s less than half of the number of residents served each year. Because of financial restraints our November retreat may have to be reduced even further. I understand the need for rules and I know that bigger isn’t always better, but I have to think that numbers matter.  Our church, for example, lost some folks a few months ago. Our numbers are down. We are seeing some new faces, but are low on experienced members. I would think that almost everyone who remains believes we have a better church because of it, but we have fewer dollars coming in and fewer volunteers to carry on the mission of the church.  Last Sunday our Pastor taught on being “Better Before Bigger.” It was a wise and good word. Nevertheless, I have to believe that […]

I have mentioned several times on this blog my involvement with the Kairos Prison Ministry at Angola. We have a retreat weekend planned beginning November 7. We are very short of financial support for this weekend. If you are able to help in ANY way please email me (nick@nicksigur.com) and I will advise you where to send checks. You can find out more at kairosangola.net Preparing for this ministry and a family wedding next weekend have kept me busy. I hope to be back to regular blogging soon. Be blessed. Nick

It was an interesting weekend in college football. Four of the highest rated teams in the country lost to unranked opponents. LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia, and South Carolina all lost. They lost in what we call “Trap” games. They had either come off of great victories the week before and/or were looking forward to “bigger” games in the coming weeks. They got trapped. We are subject to trap games in our lives. We tend to prepare ourselves for the obvious challenges: operations, tough tests, difficult weeks at work. We tend to think “I got this” for the fun things, the holidays, the routine events of our lives. Like great football teams, we can get trapped. We forget some of the most important lessons of life. 1. Everyday is an important challenge. No day is meaningless. Any day can be a turning point. 2. We need Jesus for everything. We don’t have anything under control. Stop trying to grab back the steering wheel just because you think you are on the right track.  3.  No one should be overlooked. Anyone can trip us up or lift us up. Everyone is important and potentially powerful as an enemy or an ally. […]

I am no political expert and I will prove it today with this blog. It seems the government shutdown/slowdown is over. The parties have reached an agreement. It seems no problems have been solved and the agreement is really just an agreement to put off the disagreement until next year. Each side is blaming the other for shutting down the government. I don’t care who’s right and who’s wrong. I did learn a few things from this. 1. My life was not affected in any way by the shutdown. This makes me feel a little better. I think we are way too dependent on government. It seems the government had to really go out of it’s way to make the shutdown noticeable. I understand it wasn’t really a shutdown, but any sign that our dependence on government is not complete is a good thing. 2. This country is run by clowns.  3. I am reminded that many of those who spend time studying the end times note that there is no mention of the United States at the end. Now I think I know why. 4.  The end must be really close.  5. Some trust in chariots and some in […]

If I end up in a nursing home, I want to lead a bible study. Max Lucado When I read Max’s words yesterday, they summarized for me so many thoughts I have been having lately.  1. It’s all about service. Max is a really smart guy, but it’s not about what he knows, it’s about what he does. He has written a ton of books, leads a church, blesses the body. We are so tempted to judge our Christian experience by how we are blessed instead of how we bless. Some of us think Christianity is a school of thought. Although we can always learn more, at some point we need to put it into practice.  2. Our obligation to serve never ends. He isn’t looking forward to a “rest” home. He intends to serve just as long as he is able.  3. Fewer words are best. Max has written a lot. I have always enjoyed his books. They are short, readable and convey a simple message. His one sentence above is a great example. 4. We don’t know the end of the story. Max begins his thought with “if.” We really don’t know what  lies ahead. I don’t […]