I’ve learned so much as an Associate Pastor the past couple of years, but the one thing that keeps coming up is how my zeal to make things work can also have a negative impact on people that I’m ministering to. What I mean by that is I can be so focused on my ministry at the expense of the people I minister to…not being sensitive to how they are doing, how they are feeling, and where their spiritual well-being truly is.

“I found that love is a lot more closely related to work than to play. It has a lot more to do with being a servant than with being a hero. When I set about the task of loving, I usually end up giving instead of receiving. Love inevitably costs me something…”

~ Bill Hybels

As a guy, I’m set on fixing things and making things right. That’s just the way I’m built, and it doesn’t help that I’m an engineer. However, when I get into my “fixing” mode, I tend to not be as perceptive to how someone else is doing. I just listen to the issues and try to “fix” the issues, but that’s only from the surface. There’s usually something deep down that I’m missing because I’m really not listening. Fixing the surfacy issues is all I’ve been concentrating on and, in essence, my “fix” becomes just a band aid.

This can be so apparent when it comes to relationships, especially in romantic ones. A man can be so focused on winning the girl that he doesn’t really think about where she is at in life, and how she’s doing, how she is feeling, and in general, her well-being. He’s focused more on his own feelings and whether or not he’s making progress with her. But, where does she fit in all of this? He has been blinded by the  zeal to win her heart and has become self-centered and lacking nobility. There is no hero in that…there is no servanthood in that…there is no love in that.

Love does cost something, and it usually means setting yourself aside…sacrificing your desires – setting your needs and wants aside. As a pastor, I have my own metrics that measure “how well we’re doing” as a church. I can focus on numbers, I can focus on how much the offering was on Sunday, and I can focus on how well my ministries are doing – you know, the surfacy stuff –  but my zeal for my calling can blind me from what is going on in each of the people God has entrusted me with.

I need to be reminded of why God has called me to be a pastor in the first place, and that’s to be a shepherd. It’s simple: each ONE matters. There’s no church building involved, there’s no awesome ministry program involved, and there is no concert-like worship experience involved. All it takes is love, and that involves some work on my part…on our part. It will take love that is sacrificial and we’ll need to ask God for the courage to do so. If we navigate our zeal towards loving people, then we can see lives impacted…not my way, but God’s way.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

~ Philippians 1:3-6

Behind the Scenes dated Tuesday, October 17, 2006

“God is in Control.”  That’s always easy to say, but sometimes it’s hard to follow through on what we say because we really want to be in control.  Many times the situations in our life that we face often result in us trying to take control of them to fit what we think would be best for us.  If God isn’t doing it the way we want, then maybe He’s really not doing anything at all.  Someone dear to me wrote, “God becomes weak which allows the devil to gradually chip away at our trust, peace, and joy. Without trust, we take our lives into our own hands, desperate for some kind of control since God can no longer step in on our behalf.”  This is so very true.

“…for it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose.”

~ Philippians 2:13

“…when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

~ 1 Thessalonians 2:13

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

~ Romans 8:28

God is always working in your life and paving the way for things in your life.  Sometimes things are just not apparent and you really don’t see anything happening, but that’s when God is working all the more.  You might be stuck in a rut or you feel like you’re going nowhere, but God knows what you’re going through and He wants to make things happen for you.  This is when your faith is tested…when you have to believe God’s sovereignty in your life, so you move on with full joy knowing and believing that He has everything under control.

You can look at your past and put puzzles together to see how God was orchestrating certain things in your life.  Back then it most likely didn’t make sense at all, but when you look at how some things seemed to happen almost coincidentally…that’s no coincidence…that’s God working in your life and perfectly placing them at the right moment to get you where you’re at.  Sometimes, you just have to be aware that God is working.  You need to look at things He’s doing and where He is leading you.  I think that this is the toughest thing to do, but I do know that when you spend time with Him, read His Word, and have that solitude to just listen to Him, those things are much more apparent to you.

There is definitely an excitement knowing that God is working for your good.  Things may not happen today, but they might happen tomorrow.  We just have to have the joy knowing and believing that He’s still there…that He’s still working.  We can’t let fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety hamper or tarnish our joy and our faith in Him and His abilities.  He is much bigger and much greater than we could ever imagine.  Those things He was working on in your past may be directly related to what He’s about to do for you today.  How exciting is that?

Tired…weary? dated Thursday, September 28, 2006

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

~ Matthew 11:28 & 29

It’s always tough going to the gym sometimes.  Actually, I think the toughest part is trying to get your lazy butt over there, but once you’re there, it’s easy.  Sure, it’s a lot of work and you get pretty tired, but it’s a good kind of tired.  You feel good about yourself because you know that you’re keeping yourself in shape and it’s worth it. You feel good knowing that the extra muscle you put on and the fat you burned off will pay off in the summer time when you can show it off in a bathing suit.  Yup, that’s a feel good kind of tired.

But, we also have that kind of tired that brings us down a bit…it’s the kind of tired that leads to weariness, exhaustion, and fatigue.  Some of this could be caused by too much work, too much stress, or just plain too much crap on your mind.  Sometimes they’re decisions in our lives that are big ones…ones that may have a huge impact in our lives.  We can go one direction that may lead to happiness or disappointment, or we can go another direction that might lead to happiness or disappointment.  We may be torn one way or another with these kinds of decisions.  Is God leading me one way, or is it really me leading myself in that direction?  Is this what God would want me to do?  Is it the right thing in my life…or is it the right time in my life?  Like I said…”too much crap on your mind.”  We make ourselves weary just by over-analyzing things…I’m good at that…I’m an engineer.

The dictionary defines weary as “become or make tired or impatient.”  Interesting that impatience can lead to weariness.  Sometimes we want things in our lives now…we can’t wait.  This is likely caused by the [culture] we live in where self gratification now is the key to happiness…why wait…charge it!  The crappy thing about impatience is that it usually leaves you in an unhappy state.  What you thought was good for you at the time probably wasn’t.

One of my best friends shared an analogy with me a few days ago.  When he was in high school, he wanted this sweet car.  He knew that if he could have it…he could attract more girls, he could go anywhere and do anything he wanted.  It would be freedom for him, solve all his problems, and bring the happiness he was looking for.  But, one day, his dad told him that he should bring it by the auto shop and have the mechanics take a look at it first.  He did.  When the mechanics were done with their inspection, they told him that there were problems with the engine, the transmission, and it was in a wreck in which the body work wasn’t done right.  My buddy was totally disappointed, but he knew that if he would have bought the car without first having the experts take a look at it, he would have had to put more money into it later.  It was good that he took the advice of his dad and listened to him.

That’s great advice.  Many of us place a burden on ourselves that is much greater than our Heavenly Father would want to take on, but we insist.  Whether it’s because we want something so bad or having to make a tough decision, God tells us to let Him handle it with us.  His burden is light.  He says, “Take my yoke upon you…for my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”  He wants to help us with our burdens and let Him take it, and instead take the lighter burden He gives us…a burden that does not weigh us down…a burden that we can handle…a burden that gives us rest for our souls.  That burden may be different for each of us depending on what we’re already burdened with, but it’s a burden that we don’t have to worry about or be weary from because He is carrying it with us.  Maybe it’s a burden that really matters because we’re learning phenomenal things from Him.  We just need to realize that He’s the expert and He knows what He’s doing…listen to Him, trust Him, and let Him love you.  You’ll find all the rest you’ll need.

Potato Chips dated Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I was flying back from Albuquerque today.  I flew there last night for a meeting with one of my suppliers today, and jumped on the plane afterward.  I was sitting next to a couple of guys talking about all the weird stuff you can buy on eBay.  You can find almost anything on eBay, and it’s amazing how many people will actually bid on the most odd and unique things.  Some of the things you can find are french fries and potato chips that look like Elvis, or the Virgin Mary, or even Jesus.  How do people notice these things?  Do they go through the whole bag looking for the likenesses?  I don’t know, but I do know that I’ve been eating potato chips for quite some time now and I haven’t seen Elvis or Kermit the Frog in any bag of Ruffles.  Of course, I probably ate them if there were any.

I wonder how much time the “potato chip likeness finder” people take to search for these likenesses.  What kind of passion do they have searching through potato chips and french fries?  Do they even really spend all that time to begin with?  Do they just stumble on the potato chip likeness?  It seems, though, that people are truly looking for something to see likenesses such as Elvis, the Virgin Mary, or Jesus on a potato chip.  Are their minds playing tricks on them, or do they want to see something so badly that they do see the image on the chip?

I know that many of us search for things in this world to try and fill a void in our lives.  Most of the time, I think we’re looking to be accepted, valued…loved.  We try to find fulfillment in monetary gain, keeping up with the Joneses, or even looking for love in all the wrong places.  We want this so badly that we “see” images of a good thing in something as worthless as a potato chip.  We place a higher value on things that make us feel good, but only temporarily…then we try to look for more and it always results in disappointment.

I was reading “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller the past couple of days.  It’s sad that I have to be on business travel to find time to read.  I read a couple of chapters where Donald Miller writes about how people focus on comparison and rank…that people need to be above others, or that they need to be accepted by the “higher ranking” people in order to have value.  Their identity depends on it.  But he says something that is totally awesome…that Jesus came down from heaven…a place where all the emotional needs we have are met by God.  He is really the only One who can give us fulfillment, and He is the only one who can show us unconditional love…a love that tells us that we’re worth it, that we’re valued, that we matter to Him.  We really didn’t have to seek Him out.  He came down as a man and sought us out.  Imagine that.  Jesus came down from a place where everyone is loved, everyone is valued, everyone matters, and all our needs are met.  He came down to us to share that love and that fulfillment personally…to give us hope, peace, and joy.  We don’t have to search far because His passion is to seek us and to love us.

Maybe we’re a bag of potato chips, and He’s searching each one of us.  But, instead of looking for likenesses of Elvis or Kermit, He’s looking for us to accept His love…that we will reflect Him.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

Hmm…you can’t find that on eBay.

Clarity dated Thursday, April 26, 2007

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~ Matthew 6:33-34

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

~ Romans 8:24-25

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

~ Psalm 119:11

I don’t know how many times I’ve spoken to people about God’s clarity and vision for their lives…I wonder about that myself for my own life.  Is what is being presented to me right for me?  Is what I think is right for me, truly right for me?  What if I’m the one deceiving myself?

It’s interesting how desires can take control of a lot of what we perceive as common sense and wise decision-making.  How much of it is truly guided by what God has been teaching us, or telling us all along?  I admit, I have problems trying to discern what God’s will is for my life because I tend to fill His words with my own.  I get confused, disappointed, then discouraged ‘cause I just don’t know what the heck is going on.  I realize that my mind has to change…that my perceptions and perspective needs to change.  I can’t look at things based on what I understand, but trust and acknowledge that God knows best.  I have to change my mind in that my perspective is seen through God’s eyes…not my own.

My Building Brothers group discussed this subject a lot this past week.  How do I change my mind and how can I view things from God’s Holy perspective rather than a finite human one?  Filling your mind of things Holy is what you do…that means truly reading God’s Bible for edification…to learn from it, to fill your heart and your mind with it…to meditate on it…and to memorize it.

Think of the game “Tetris” where you try to fit weird-shaped blocks into voids in order to lessen the stack…kind of like “Space Invaders.”  When you play Tetris for a while, you kind of get hooked on it.  You start to walk around and notice how something could fit into a weird shape…like a mailbox fitting in a void in a wall, or how you stack baggage in the trunk, or how many monkeys can fit in a barrel.  You think in shapes and blocks and how they can fit in other shapes and blocks.  You spent so much time playing this game that you start looking at the world in a whole new perspective.

That’s how you start seeing the world in a new perspective…that’s how you see your life in a new perspective.  Reading the Bible and memorizing passages is key.  So, through whatever situation you find yourself in, God’s words fill your mind and you can immediately draw from it the strength and clarity you need.  You will see how it fits in the empty voids in your life.  We can’t fill those voids with other things, such as material goods, money, or even people.  Those voids…those weird-shaped voids in your life need to be filled with the true and perfect shape of God’s words.

We can’t worry about things we don’t have control over in our lives.  I tend to do that sometimes, especially when it’s something I don’t quite understand or a situation that didn’t work out quite the way I planned.  The thing is, those things we don’t understand are things that are fully understood by God.  You may even look back and see how God has been giving you hints about something in your life to get you where you’re at, or just to remind you that He is still there…that He is still watching out for you and looking out for your best.  As a Christ Follower, we can’t forget that we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in prayer and also speaks to our hearts – by groans that words cannot express…you may know that feeling – a peace or an unsettledness.

If something is unclear to you right now…be encouraged because it is clear to the One who loves you and has your best interest in mind.  He will clarify it for you soon enough.  Spend time in His Word…fill your heart with it, then you can discern your will versus His will.  You’re not alone in this.  When you see what He does later, maybe you’ll appreciate His surprise for you a bit more…that maybe trust and faith is so much better than clarity.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

~2 Corinthians 5:17

I spent a few days this past week looking for an apartment closer to work and to church. I’ve been living in my townhome 30 minutes away from these two locals for the past 9 years now, and I’ve come to realize that I’m still not very fond of change. Growing up in a military family, we moved around every three years, and you’d think I’d be used to this by now. Apparently not. I’m a creature of habit, but I’m also very sentimental about things, so leaving my home of 9 years is not very easy for me. I like familiarity, so venturing into the unknown, or unfamiliar, takes a lot of effort on my part.

I think that’s the way it is for a lot of us. We tend to entrench ourselves in the familiar whether its in regard to how we deal with situations, who we hang out with, and our lifestyle. We’ve always done things a certain way and its the only way we know how. We either don’t want to do things differently or we just have a hard time doing them differently. It’s an adjustment that isn’t very easy to do.

2 Corinthians 5:17 was the first Bible verse I ever memorized only because that was the verse the Sunday school class, that I visited years ago, was learning to memorize. It’s simple: those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ are new creations. Everything that made them who they were before is now in the past…gone, but now there is something new…the future. At that moment, who you are is now determined by Jesus in your life.

I can write several blogs explaining this Truth, but what I really want to focus on is the HOPE that comes from it. Wherever you are in your life, Jesus provides you hope for a future beyond what you know. You may be coming out of some difficult situation in your life, or you might still be wading in it. How you deal with it no longer has to be the way you’re used to dealing with it – the old way is gone…your way. Now, look at the new way of placing your hope and trust in Jesus. It’s not always going to be easy to do because that’s not how we’re used to dealing with things…it’s an adjustment and a change in our perspective, and it means letting go of your control and letting Jesus take the wheel.

After visiting six apartment complexes, I finally found one that seems best suited for me. I know it’s not going to be like living in my own home, and it will be a huge adjustment – like putting up with loud neighbors and trying to be considerate myself by keeping my stereo down. But the benefits of being closer to church, work, and friends far outweigh my usual routine of driving 30-40 minutes to get to said locals and friends. This huge change in my life doesn’t look so bad anymore when I look at it from a new perspective…not from the old.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

~Romans 12:2

Let’s rewind a bit. For several years now, since high school, I’ve been told by many people that I would make a great pastor. Even just a few months ago, I was told the same thing. One of the many questions I get is, “Have you ever considered being a pastor?”. Well, to answer that question, “yes”. In fact, I am serving as the associate pastor for Forefront Church in Littleton, CO. But, how do I know that is truly a calling from God or just something I thought would be cool to do…I mean, everyone seems to think I would be a good pastor anyway, right?

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ~ John 15:5 (NLT)

My short answer to you is that it takes a true relationship with my God and…faith. I can’t do anything outside of Him. I just don’t have the power. It’s a question of me doing it God’s way or me doing it my way. Knowing what God wants to do in your life and what He created you for requires a relationship – spending time with Him in prayer, worship, and reading the Bible. You don’t get to know anyone if you don’t spend time with them, communicate with them, and do life with them. Think about that a little…it’s pretty straightforward, but I wonder if we often forget about it. There’s a difference between knowing and doing, or head knowledge vs. heart knowledge. I’ve heard some couples say that they know what their significant other is thinking before even they do, or have an idea how they would react to a certain situation. How did they get there? True relationship. That’s the same way it is with God. You won’t have much of an idea what He wants to do or how He wants to do it if you don’t have a true relationship with Him.

Faith is the confidence of what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. ~ Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Another thing is faith. That’s a tough one, especially when you think about trying to build a relationship with someone you don’t see everyday…or at all. I can’t really answer that for  anyone, really. But for me, I must follow after God faithfully. I don’t know what His plans are, but I have any idea in my heart what He wants to accomplish through me. I just don’t know how He’s going to do it. That takes faith, and sometimes it means that I have to step out into the unknown and out of my comfort zone for Him to show me. I can’t hold back. It’s a lot like the apostle Peter when he stepped out of the boat and in the midst of the storm, walked toward Jesus on the water. He was doing pretty well until something in him held him back…he began to sink…because he lost faith. I’m not sure if he lost faith in Jesus, but maybe he lost it in himself. I can tell you right now that God believes in you, and He has a lot of faith in you and your abilities and gifts…after all, He gave them to you. You just need to step out of the boat once in a while and allow Him to do what He wants to do…through you.

 I’m looking for one who will wait and watch for My beckoning hand, My eye – who will work in My manner the work I give, and the work I give not pass by. And oh the joy that is brought to Me when one such as this I can find – a man who will do all My will, who is set to study his Master’s mind. ~ Zac Poonen

As for everyone telling me that I would make a good pastor, or if I ever considered becoming one…well, I’ll just use that as confirmation that I’m heading in the right direction.

Whatever Your doing inside of me, it feels like chaos, somehow there’s peace. It’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see…

This is just an excerpt from one of my favorite songs by Sanctus Real called, “Whatever You’re Doing”. It’s about life, really. Life that any one of has experienced or will experience. A time in our life when we realize that we’ve been “broken” for a long time, but not really sure how to fix it. It’s a time in our life when we need to be restored from the difficult times we’ve faced, the wounds we’ve received, and the pain that seems so unbearable. It’s also a time to revaluate who we really are and where we belong.

I guess the most fearful thing is not knowing what lies ahead, and hoping, praying that it’s better than what we just experienced. At this point, surrender is the toughest thing to do. Surrendering to God is even tougher. It takes faith, trust, and hope that God knows what’s going on and that He has our best interest in mind. Sometimes it may be even tougher to know that He has our best interest in mind according to His will. What is that exactly? Is it better than what I think is better? The comfort I take is in knowing that He loves me, so whatever it may be, He has it under control. That, in itself, is just as tough to accept, but if you understand love and what it means when it is unconditional, then there’s really no way to doubt it.

Our country, the United States of America, is going through some difficult times right now. There are a lot of doubts, a lot of fears, and a lot of uncertainty. Its an election year, its chaotic, and the citizens of our country have to face a difficult decision. Unfortunately, some decisions were made without us and whether we agreed or not. Some folks are hurting, some folks are worried…is the economy really as “doom and gloom” as its been cracked up to be? Is our next president really going to make the right decisions for our country? Is God still here?

I can tell you that God is still here and that He is in full control. Whether you believe that or not, its okay because I believe it. This is a perfect time for the church to provide some hope in our country, to encourage those who are downtrodden, to help those who need help (financially, physically, mentally), and its a time to show others the love God has shown us. It’s simple, really…do you know love and do you understand what it means when it is unconditional? We don’t have to look far. Imagine if we all could make a difference one life at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time…just by being authentic, approachable, relational, and just plain loving…that’s something heavenly.

Whatever You’re doing inside of me, it feels like chaos, but now I can see there’s something bigger than me. Larger than life, something heavenly…something heavenly.

During that time, I also asked God to place a brother or brothers in my life that would help me get back on track with my walk with Him. Men who may have gone through the same heartaches and trials as I have. Men who would sharpen me as I can sharpen them…brothers in arms and warriors for the cause of Christ. God answered my prayer.

I met Shannon during the Spring of 2006. We both attended a Bible Study on Thursday nights…it was a Bible Study that I attended for a while, but skipped out on for half a year. I didn’t know Shannon at all, really, except that it seemed his heart for God and for people was a lot like mine. I saw him a couple more times throughout the week and decided that I should probably get to know him better…so we met up for steaks at Texas Roadhouse. That’s another thing we shared in common – love for food! Come to find out, Shannon and I have a very similar past and have been through very similar trials and heartaches. We hit it off. We talked about our desires for our life, which centered around the Kingdom building of God. We wanted to pursue His will regardless of what this world may throw at us.

During the past couple of years, we’ve grown a lot in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and have truly been an encouragement to each other. We’ve shared a lot of the revelations God has given us in our lives and have shared some tough times, but were always greatful for the plans set in stone by God that are beyond us. Now, God has been leading us toward the plans and desires He has created us for in ministry. Shannon is a leader for First Priority, which exists for the purpose of reaching and discipling the next generation for Jesus Christ. As for me, well, God placed me in a team with three other brothers to start a new church in Littleton, CO, called Forefront Church.

Shannon was recently engaged to a lovely young lady, named Ginger – you can see their photo in my Flicker pages. I actually met Ginger about a year before I met Shannon. They’re a match made in heaven and an excellent example of what a couple should be like – Christ-centered. Well, today, I was deeply honored by Shannon as he asked me to be his best man at his wedding. I can’t describe how moved I was, but to give you an idea…I shed a few tears. It’s probably one of the greatest honors that has ever been presented to me.

All this to say that Shannon is definitely a kindred spirit…even his family has “adopted” me. I can’t thank God enough for placing this brother in my life as it has certainly been part of my restoration.

I love you Shannon and Ginger! Thank you!

It’s pretty amazing to think about how far technology has come. It seems like not long ago, I was still handwriting letters to mail to family and friends. Now, I just type out a quick email. Look at how far cell phones have come. Not only can we send text messages, but we can check email and even surf the internet on our phones. It’s definitely a whole new world out there…a very digital one.

But, when I think about how cool all of this stuff is, I also wonder how far from organic have we become. Instead of calling someone or just visiting in person, we can just send a quick text message. Sometimes, I even try to call a friend to say “hi”, but I get some “lady” telling me how to leave a voice message. So, I try to send a text message. I hate to say that there are times when some of my friends don’t respond…it could be because they never received the message, or they’re just blowing me off. It’s easier to screen our messages nowadays. It’s easier to blow people off because we can hide in our digital world…one that isn’t so personal anymore.

In true community and fellowship, it takes commitment from each of us to be intentional in our relationships. We can’t hide behind the cell phones or the computers. We have to go beyond a text message sometimes to really show how much we care…how much we love. There’s something about a hand written letter or a phone call to meet up that goes beyond the superficial. There is a statement made that says, “You mean a lot to me, and I am willing to take the time to spend with you. That nothing will distract me from my attention to you. I am here to help, to encourage, to have fun with. I’m here to do life with you.”

Think about this: what if Jesus and His disciples sent text messages to each other all the time? Would Jesus’ teachings to them really have hit home? Would the disciples have experienced true fellowship with Jesus? What kind of relationship would they have had?

I’m not against text messaging at all. I just challenge you to take the time by going beyond KIT (keep in touch) and HTH (hope this helps). Focus on the quality of your relationships, and not necessarily the quantity.

TTFN!