A "Radical" Life

Word to the Wise

2012-01-23T14:31:00.000-05:00

It would help if I were smarter.

Or is it, "...was smarter"? (Just in case your'e curious, I looked it up...both are technically correct). Either way, intelligence sure would come in handy. "Knowledge is power," after all. Don't believe me? Maybe it's just because you don't know better.

But knowledge isn't everything. I could learn twelve languages, but still not understand the ways of God. I could study my brains out to learn everything that math, science, history and art have to offer, and it would probably help me a lot in life...but it wouldn't help me understand my purpose for life.

Nope. I'd much rather be wise than smart, thank you very much (this is a really good thing, since I'm pretty ignorant about most of life). After all, both the wise and the smart still end up in the grave, but only one will be prepared for what comes next (relatively speaking).

But what can I do about it? How can I "gain wisdom"? If I wanted to be smarter, I'd study more. But where does wisdom come from?

Job 28
“...do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living.
It is not here,’ says the ocean.
‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
It cannot be bought with gold.
It cannot be purchased with silver.

“...do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
Destruction and Death say,
‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’

“God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.
He made the laws for the rain
and laid out a path for the lightning."

Wisdom comes from God.

So if your looking for answers to life, ask Him.

You won't find it in a book...unless it was written by Him.

"Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! Though it cost all that you have, get understanding. (Prov 4:7)

Win or Lose, God is God

2012-01-14T15:04:00.001-05:00

IT DOES NOT MATTER whether Tim Tebow and the Broncos win or lose tonight.

Don't get me wrong, I want them to win...badly...especially since they're playing the dreaded Patriots! It would give me great satisfaction! I promise that I will be jumping up and down, celebrating such a victory if it happens!

But here's the problem. If they lose, all the anti-Tebowers will rejoice and some will even go so far as to say, "See...there's no God helping him win," or "God doesn't care about football," and they'll feel somehow vindicated and relieved. If they win, some over-zealous Christians will start analyzing it to death, as if the improbable victory proves once and for all that God exists.

Here's what I think (not that it really matters):

I think the football game tomorrow has zero bearing on God's existence.
I think that God can do whatever He wants. And if He wants to use football to point people to Him, He'll do it (even if you think it's stupid).
I think that despite what your perspective is on the whole thing, literally millions of people googled "John 3:16" after last weeks win. People are reading about the love of Christ because of this.
I think that Tebow understands that the game isn't what matters most (even if his fans don't). He wants to win, of course, but he knows that football is just a game - God and people are what really matter.
I also think that Tebow knows full well that he has an incredible platform to point people to Christ and help people...and he's using it for just that.

Maybe God is helping him win.

Maybe He's not.

I'm honestly not sure which it is.

Either way, I'm pretty convinced that He's at least using all this for His purposes.

And either way, people need to get off his back and root for the guy. I know many of you are tired of hearing about him (and yes, some of the articles written about him are ridiculous). But we're not talking about football here. We're talking about a good guy who is serving those in desperate need on a weekly basis, and who is making a BIG difference in many lives. Why on earth would you not applaud that?

As for my fellow Christ-followers who are reading this...please understand that Tim Tebow is NOT Jesus. I promise, he screws up a lot, just like the rest of us. Don't put him on such a pedestal that your faith is determined by his life. Perhaps we should spend our efforts praying for the guy to not collapse under the pressure that comes with being a star athlete.

Tebow is going to win some games and lose some games. Win or lose, God is God.

In the meantime, I say ROOT FOR THE GUY...not for his football skills, but for the example he's displaying.

asking God to break your heart

2011-11-16T16:36:00.001-05:00

The most powerful bridge of any song I know is in the middle of a Brooke Fraser song called "Hosanna":

"Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

Everything I am for Your Kingdoms cause

as I walk from earth into eternity"

My son, Elijah, is especially obsessed with this song...to the point where, some days, he asks us to play it every 30 seconds...literally. Frankly, it gets annoying. We're often saying, "NO Elijah. No more for today, okay buddy?" We sing it to him before putting him to bed every night. But hey, at least it's a song we love!

I've gone from singing it repeatedly just to get him to go to sleep, to actually worshipping as I hold him. It's a pretty sweet deal to hold your child and worship the God who put him in your arms at the same time. The song has become a nightly prayer for me.

When you pray for God to break your heart for what breaks His, or to see people the way He sees them...watch out. It will cause friction in your life. It will require change. It will get uncomfortable and require sacrifice. And people will probably think you're misguided, too emotional, or just plain crazy. Probably all three.

Erin and I began praying for these things a few years back, and He responded. He began opening our eyes to see people the way He sees them, and it wrecked us. He pointed out several passages of Scripture we had conveniently ignored or reasoned away, because they required too much. And we made some seemingly significant changes in response. But, as we often do, we fell back into our old habits. After all, it was a lot easier the old way. We got sucked back in to complacency and justifying, of comparing ourselves with others instead of Christ.

Thankfully, God has been not-so-gently reminding us lately of what He once laid on our hearts.

At the end of Schindler's List, you see Oskar Schindler breaking down, wishing he had done more. Here's the dialogue from the movie:

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more.
Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.
Oskar Schindler: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...
Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did.
Oskar Schindler: I didn't do enough!
Itzhak Stern: You did so much.
[Schindler looks at his car]
Oskar Schindler: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.
[removing Nazi pin from lapel]
Oskar Schindler: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. [sobbing]
Oskar Schindler: I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't!

That's a pretty good way to describe how Erin and I feel right now. Some, who don't know better, tell us we've given up plenty. While we have made some very small sacrifices, we still have far more than we need. The rub for us comes not from feeling like it's wrong to have those things, but from knowing that we could help more people if we were willing to live without them.

Please hear me on this: It's not that I think it's wrong to have nice things, as if it's some sort of sin. It's just that I can't bring myself to do it anymore. This newfound love for others won't let me, daggonit! It's not a result of feeling guilty. I'd just rather help someone else instead of helping myself. It's simply a response to the grace and love He's shown me.

1 John 3:16-18 says this: "...we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

The ugly truth is, I have seen my brother in need. And I have material possessions that could be used or sold to help him. And I haven't done it. Which begs the hard question: Then how can the love of God be in me? May sound harsh, I know. But hey...not my words. That's just what the passage says. Besides, how can I really argue with it? I know it's true. If I have chosen "things" instead of "people"...well, that's not exactly a replica of the way God loves, is it?

Why do you think Jesus had "no place to lay his head"? (Matt 8:20) Or that he mentioned that fact in response to a disciple telling him he'd follow him wherever he went?

Why did Jesus tell us the story of the "sheep and the goats" in Matthew 25? "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me...I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me...Then they will go away to eternal punishment." It's pretty hard to argue that Jesus didn't mean that literally.

Why does Isaiah 58 tells us that if we want for God to hear our prayers, we need to "loose the chains of injustice...to set the oppressed free...share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked, to clothe him...spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed..."

Oh, I could go on and on. I don't claim to have it all figured out, and I certainly don't judge anyone who thinks differently than me. Erin and I are just desperately trying to figure out what we're supposed to do with all this, because we're pretty comfortable and pretty bad about showing love to those around us (as opposed to just saying we love them).

The bottom line for us is that we must do something. Something more than what we're currently doing.

We asked God to break our heart for what breaks His and to see people the way He sees them. And as a result, we simply can't continue to just give a list of reasons as to why it's "okay" to have things that have zero kingdom significance. Of course we could justify it all away...and maybe even use Scripture to back it up! That's not the point. He has opened our eyes to see the needs of those around us. Plain and simple: Either we respond to those needs by making some "sacrifices," or we continue to ignore them.

The "love your neighbor as yourself" commandment means loving everyone. We're to love the rich, the poor, and all in-between. We're to love old people and young people, white and black, believers and unbelievers, good looking and ugly, brilliant and mentally handicapped. All. The way God loves us. And loving them means more than just saying we love them, but showing we love them ("not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth"). We're not too bad at showing love to the people who are like us; who we relate to the best. But what about the rest?

I challenge you to earnestly and consistently start praying for God to break your heart for what breaks His and to help you love others the way He loves. See for yourself.

picking yourself up

2011-09-21T16:49:00.000-04:00

If I'm honest, I'd have to admit that I'm a lousy follower of Jesus. "Inconsistent" doesn't even begin to describe me. One week, I'll be so fired-up and confident and passionate about all that God has done and is doing in me, and two weeks later I'll have become so bogged down with "life" and busyness that I'll be feeling distant from God and worn out, trudging through life.

There have been multiple occasions in my life where I have felt as if, in that moment, I am becoming a true follower of Christ for the first time. Crazy, I know. After all, I grew up in a Christian home. I was baptized when I was 12. I was a leader in our church youth group, went to a Bible college, earned a degree in youth/music ministry, and have now been in ministry for about 13 years (yeesh...is that right?...wow). You'd think I'd have a pretty good grasp on the whole God thing.

And yet, I have these moments (like today) where suddenly, things click, almost as if it's for the first time. It's all so clear. The story of God and, more specifically, Jesus, makes more sense than ever. It's a "aha!" moment that translates into a deeper, more mature and much more bold faith. A faith that radically alters my prayer life. My family life. My ministry. My relationships with others. My finances. My possessions. Everything.

So things are great right now. The reason? God continues to pursue and wreck me, even when I push Him to the side. That, and I refuse to stay in such a place of dry place. When I'm there, I feel as if I've been hit by a linebacker in the chest, and I'm lying on the ground gasping for air. I have a choice in that moment to keep lying there, hoping for the best, or to fight to pick myself off the ground. Allowing God to be anything but central to my life leaves me feeling weak and lost, wandering around like a lost puppy. I lose all sense of direction and purpose, and I HATE it.

So lately, I've been taking more time to study and think and pray, even if I haven't felt like doing it. And this morning, I took about 3 hours to shut up and listen. I got away from the noise and stared solely at Gods creation and didn't say hardly a word. Turns out, God wanted to talk.

It's inevitable that if you pursue God, you'll find Him, because He's pursuing you too. It's not as if you start chasing Him and He runs the other direction. If you're bogged down with life right now, start fighting to get back up. Change some priorities. Create some time to breathe and think. Pursue God...He won't ignore you.

thanks, mom & dad

2011-07-20T14:08:00.007-04:00

In many ways, my life has followed a common path. Grow up. Go to college. Get married. Get a job. Have kids. But I, like you, have a unique story within the common story.

To say I grew up might be a bit of a stretch. I still feel very much like a kid sometimes, and I certainly act like one. When I'm around a bunch of adults talking about adult things such as mortgages and loans and insuran

ce, I feel like I may as well still be a 12-year-old without a clue as to how such things work.

But besides that, I didn't grow up the way most people grow up. I lived in a log cabin without running water or electricity. We collected rain water to wash dishes in and take sponge baths. Seriously. And we lived in the middle of the woods up a 1/2 mile mud hill that necessitated 4-wheel drive and big tires which sometimes still weren't enough on rainy or snowy days. Living the way we did often involved hikin

g up and down multiple times in whatever crazy whether we were having, with loads of groceries or clothes or whatever else we need to get from the vehicle stuck at the bottom of the hill. Heck, before that, we lived in a camper for a few years, literally inside the fence of some friends' cow pasture. So that was different.

No, my family isn't Amish. Just a little crazy (in a good way!). My unique childhood is something I'll be forever grateful for. We had (and have) an incredibly tight-knit family due, in part, to our lack of distractions. When we got a TV, it had a 5" or 6" screen, was in black and white, and was hooked up to a car battery. We played board games together by lamp light or lanterns. We read a lot. Played in the woods. We most definitely LAUGHED together. Loudly. And vacations together were never on the table of things to cut out when money was tight. Somehow, my parents made it work, because it mattered to them for our family to have that time.

And now, here I am. 34 years old (I think...yep, that adds up). We adopted two incredible children 3 1/2 months ago. And so obviously I'm thinking a lot about how we're going to raise them. We live in good neighborhood in a nice, comfortable home complete with electricity and running water...ever air conditioning! We have cable and internet. Our fridge is stocked full of food (as opposed to the cooler we used for awhile growing up). There are distractions all over the place for our kids, especially when you consider what they came from. And we have no idea how to afford a family vacation.

But the truth is, those things only matter a little. The family I grew up in wasn't close just because of our circumstances. I didn't fall in love with Christ because I grew up in a log cabin. It definitely helped to not have all the "stuff" that comes with normal childhood, and I want to impress that on my children as well. But the real reason our family was close and I fell in love is God was because my parents made family and God priorities.

When you make God the biggest priority in your life, you're going to stick out.

My parents still stick out. Sure, they live in a way that is quite common is some respects. They live in an old farmhouse now. Mom is a nurse practitioner and dad does maintenance and groundskeeping at a church. Not all that unusual. But how they conduct themselves is actually quite rare. For instance, their home practically has a revolving door on it from the hordes of people that come to visit, eat, do Bible study, or live with them. I'm convinced that you couldn't find a more inviting place on the planet. That's because they don't just hang out with people. They invest in them. They pour into them and quite willingly delve into their messy lives, not to try to fix anyone, but because they genuinely love them and want to help if they can. Quite rare indeed.

I want to be more like mom and dad. What I do for a vocation and where I live are small pieces of the puzzle. What matters most is how I conduct myself. My general life may follow a common pattern, but I want the details to jump out. And I think that if I'm actually following the words of Christ the way my parents do, there is no alternative. In general, people do not live the way Jesus tells us to live. So to live such a life tends to force you down an uncommon path.

I get scared sometimes thinking that my life looks like everyone elses. And it does in many ways. There is still a lot I need to change. But I also am grateful that I can honestly look back at the life I've lived to this point and know that there have been many hard decisions I've made along the way that were the result of following Christ, not the crowd. That's the example my parents set for me and that's the example I want to set for my kids.

Thanks, mom and dad, for the example you continue to be for me.

understanding God

2011-07-14T13:34:00.005-04:00

I'm grateful that it's only my understanding of God that changes, not God Himself.

I've been reading a lot lately on the concept of grace as well as on all the heaven / hell discussions that are going on. The weight of these subjects is great. They're topics with eternal consequences and they need to be understood to the best of our ability, not glossed over hoping it will all work out in the end. It's not at all like talking about whether drinking is okay or giving out helpful tips for a marriage. This is much more significant. Actually, that's a severe understatement. This is crucial. We must spend much of our time and energy thinking about such things. Our understanding of these topics lays the foundation for the rest of our lives and how we live them. If you don't believe in the idea of grace, it affects the decisions you make. And if believe in grace but misunderstand how it works, you live accordingly. If you believe hell to be a real place, it will show in how you live your life just as it will show if you don't believe it exists.

Over the years, my understanding of how God works has solidified greatly. Don't get me wrong. God is INFINITELY bigger than me. His ways and thoughts are ridiculously higher than mine, so I will never have God completely figured out. Not even CLOSE. There is a lot about God and how He works that we simply can't fathom, but there is also much that God has made clear and wants us to understand. There are sooooo many very strong opinions out there of how it all works, and all sides can be quite convincing. If you don't know Scripture, you don't know what to believe. So if someone gives you a convincing argument, you just end up saying, "Oh. Okay." You may think it sounds good or sounds weird, but you don't really have any reason for it beyond what feels right or what you've always been taught. Believe it or not, the pastor at your local church isn't the final word on the subject. On any subject. Neither is anyone else. Just God.

I've debated whether to share my thoughts on this for fear of controversy, and then I thought, "Well, that's stupid!" God has a BEAUTIFUL and perfect plan in place. Why would I not share it? But I will reserve those thoughts for another post, because I don't want to take away from the heart of the message that's already been laid out.

There are some topics we can't afford to be lazy on. If you're not sure what to make of "Jesus," it's beyond crucial for you to figure it out. If you only have a "general idea" of how grace works or why we need it in the first place, you need to dig deeper and grow some roots. If you like the idea of heaven but aren't sure a loving God would send people to hell, you'd better be able to back it up with Scripture, because the consequences of being wrong are eternal.

Yes, it takes work to get there. It takes a lot of brain power and time to read. Don't you think it's worth it?

things that matter

2011-06-22T10:07:00.005-04:00

I'm always surprised to find that there are people who actually read this blog. I feel highly inadequate to compose anything worth reading. I make a ton of mistakes in my spiritual walk and I don't feel like I'm very good with words.

But I get reports that say that quite a few people are, in fact, reading these ramblings of mine. And for whatever reason, I think God wants me to keep doing it. After all, if He can use all the screwed up people we read about in Scripture to accomplish the unimaginable, it seems that He might just want to use my little 'ol inadequate self too. But trust me, if these words somehow affect you for the better, it's only the result of HIS movement to draw you into a deeper relationship with Him.

I must confess that I've let the busyness of adjusting to a life with kids affect my spiritual life. My mornings by the water before work are very difficult to squeeze in (I think I've done it twice since returning from Africa). And once the kids are in bed, I'm pretty wiped out and usually check out and go to be early to keep from getting too exhausted...because it's hard to connect with God very well when you're exhausted all the time.

In the past, my best times to really think and pray and read and focus have been first thing in the morning and before bed. Those times have been erased. The result? I've been left feeling spiritually dry. I'm yearning to return to the place I once was. I'm hungry for the deep intimacy I've known before. It's not a crisis in the sense of losing ones faith, but once you've tasted the goodness of constant communion with the Creator, it certainly feels like a crisis.

The truth is, it has nothing to do with our kids. Ellie and Elijah are INCREDIBLE and gifts from God, given out of pure grace. If anything, they should inspire me all the more to bow before Him. The heart of the problem is really a problem with the heart. I'm trying to come to grips with the simple truth that I have not made Him the main priority. Sure, He's been a priority, but one of many.

It makes me sick to my stomach to confess that to you. But I'm sure you can relate.

A lot of you reading this have kids and have hidden behind that excuse for far too long. I get it. It's HARD. You're spiritually dry, but what are you supposed to do? How can you find time for solitude and prayer and reading and serving when you have kids pulling at your legs, needing your attention from sun-up to sun-down with work in-between and a house that needs taken care of and bills that need paid?

You adjust. You refocus. You re-prioritize.

What will matter most in the end is not your kids. Hear me out on this and keep reading before you write me off. I'm not saying they're not important. Of COURSE they are. They matter more than almost anything else. All I'm saying is that what will matter the most in the end is Jesus. Not your kids. There can only be one thing that matters the "most" and I'm sorry, but your kids do not trump God. You cannot serve both God and your kids. When you're standing before Him, it will be much more clear to you than it may be right now. But I promise, in the end there won't be any doubt as to what you should have built your life around. Make your kids a priority, but make Him the priority. And in turn, your kids will learn what matters most from the example you've set.

So I'm adjusting my schedule. I'm not squeezing God into it. I'm building my schedule around Him. I'm listening to podcasts again. I'm reading books that motivate me. I'm praying more and taking time to think. I'm shutting off the computer more and leaving the remote untouched.

If you struggle with this, I can assure you it won't get better if you just sit there with good intentions. Act on them.

knowing your neighbors

2011-05-24T14:19:00.004-04:00

I sat by the water for awhile this morning, so I could breath and think and pray. Soon after arriving, a carload of people parked next to me. Five people in their early 20's I would imagine, tumbled out of the car to fish, smoke, and drink a case of Vault. Good times. Immediately, f-bombs started flying and my concentration started waning.

But it got me thinking about my role as a follower of Christ in such a situation. What's the right thing to do?

Option 1: Sit there and ignore them.

Option 2: Walk out and say, "Hey, do you guys know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"

Option 3: Something in the middle where I simply befriend them and see where the conversation leads.

Option 1 is easy. Doesn't require, well, anything. Of course, it doesn't produce any fruit either. But I could relax and do what I came to do, and get what I needed out of the day.

Option 2 is stupid. If I had any chance of telling them about Jesus, I just blew it by being an idiot. My chances of them listening to anything I have to say after such a statement would then diminish to approximately .7%. And I know that technically I'd be "asking" them if they knew Jesus, but really wouldn't I be saying something more like, "You're definitely not Christians because you wouldn't be talking like that if you were. Or smoking...Christians certainly don't smoke. Pretty sure it's in Scripture somewhere." In other words, they'd hear "I've decided you must be bad people and that you need me to tell you all the things you're doing wrong, because I'm far superior."

Option 3 would generally be the direction I would go. I'm a firm believer in the idea that the best way to tell people about Jesus is to build relationships. Be their friend, show them you care about THEM, and then, when the timing is right, bring the conversation around to all the God/Jesus/church stuff in a very non-foreceful and loving way. Sometimes this happens immediately, but usually, it takes more time because in our culture, people are most likely not going to listen to you until they know they can trust you.

I played the scenario out in my head and decided to stay in the car. I didn't think I could build a relationship in the situation we were in. I racked my brain for anything I could do or say after walking up to them that could possibly lead to anything helpful, and decided I could end up doing more damage than good. I probably should have at least prayed for them at the point, but I guess I'm not that spiritual.

I've given a lot of thought to this as the day has gone on though. I was reminded once again of an entirely separate culture from what I know. They're from the same town, speak English and are white just like me (okay, they weren't nearly AS white as me, but you get my point). Even though we're very similar by most definitions of "culture," we're worlds apart. We speak very differently, we likely have different values and we look and dress very differently. I would severely stick out if I hung around them. I never have any interaction with that culture any more. Why not?

So I decided that getting out of the car would be a mistake. But it got me thinking about how badly I need to get out of my bubble and make a commitment to be more intentional about building relationships with people outside of my "culture." And I've decided it needs to start with my neighbors (not figuratively speaking...literally, my next door neighbors). I want to, over the course of the summer, invite each of our 5 immediate neighbors and families over for dinner with no intentions other than to get to know them better. I'm ashamed to admit that we haven't done this already. I've made this commitment before, and failed. We know all our neighbors of course, and we talk to them fairly regularly and get along great. But honestly, it's all a bit superficial. We need to invite them into our home...and see where God takes it.

Interestingly enough, as I've sat in this coffee shop writing this, 3 of the people from the water and one of my neighbors walked in. Hmmmm...

I'm hoping that writing this inspires other followers to be more intentional about building relationships as well. We MUST stop going through the motions and live out our faith. Otherwise, our faith is dead and useless.

first church of the consumer

2011-05-18T10:00:00.005-04:00

Church is not about what you get out of it. Somehow, we'd adopted this idea that the local church is there to meet our needs, but that was never the intent. And it's because of this mindset that we tend to "church shop" based off of what we like or don't like about the preaching, the music, the children's ministry, etc... We critique our services based on how we "felt" the morning went rather than whether or not WE brought our best to God.

"The little things that might irritate you about your church might not be as big of a distraction if your focus is on what you are giving of yourself, rather than on what you are getting out of it for yourself." (Cathy Little - "First Church of the Consumer")

And I might add that if you do in fact love your church, be careful that you don't let the church become a distraction from your relationship with God. That might sound weird to some of you, but I've seen far too many people who are obsessed with "my" church rather than "the" church or more importantly, God. They LOVE going to church, but not BEING the church. For them, it's all about the experience. They love singing the songs and the whole vibe the church puts off, and they love all the cool things it offers. And that's great! But while their relationship with the local church is great, their relationship with God is lacking quite a bit.

Either way, church isn't about YOU. It's about the God who created you. So, stop consuming and start giving.

For my friends who already go to church, you should definitely check out this article: First Church of the Consumer

life

2011-05-17T09:52:00.004-04:00

I'm back. I'm regaining my momentum and passion rather than simply surviving and transitioning.

Becoming an immediate father of two children who speak a different language, have several health concerns, and throw tantrums has been an adjustment. Many seem to think it's like a fairy tale and that we must be on cloud nine. And we are. Seriously, it been amazing, but that doesn't mean it's been easy. The transition is a lot for Ellie and Elijah to take in. Yeah, they're living a much better and healthier life...they live in America have a mom and dad now. They have toys, and food, and running water. They have a house, and warm beds, and clothes. But it was only 1 1/2 months ago that they had known nothing outside of a small orphanage in Rwanda Africa. It's a lot for them to take in and adjust to. So, while they've been adjusting and figuring out their new life, parenting has pretty much consumed us. We've loved it and anticipated most of it, but we've definitely been in survival mode.

Today I feel like the fog is lifting and I can see a bit more clearly. Life has been breathed back into my lungs. I'm gaining control of my new life...and my emotions. I'm feeling a renewed hunger and passion for leading worship, being a pastor, and devouring Scripture. I'm again eager to spend time in solitude and silence so that I can hear better. I want to soak in knowledge from books and blogs and sermons and friends.

I must be a better follower so that I can be a better leader, both to my family and to my church. In a way, nothing has changed. My circumstances certainly have changed, but my purpose has not. Christ is the center of my life, not my family. They're certainly next in line, but if they observe me putting them above all else, even God, then I will have only led them astray from the point and source of life.

God has blessed me to the point of absurdity. I can't get enough of my incredible kids and my beautiful wife. I love my job. I have far more than I know what to do with. And most importantly, I've been given this incredible and undeserved GIFT of grace and life with Christ. Eternity with the Creator of the Universe!

I don't deserve any of it.

I need to spend more of my thoughts on what I have been given, and my life needs to reflect some gratitude for it. Life is good.

yesterday

2011-02-19T08:47:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a very big day.

I'm honestly trying to sort out all my thoughts, and journaling helps me with that. After 34 years of life, 12 1/2 years of marriage and 20 months of going through the exhausting adoption process, we saw pictures of our kids for the very first time.

It came the same morning I was leaving for a worship leaders conference in Atlanta. Needless to say, I did not leave on time. I'd had a bad night of sleep...which translates to me sleeping on the couch (not b/c Erin makes me...just so I don't keep her up!). So I slept in much later than normal. At 8:00, I crawled off the couch and wabbled my way sleepily over to the laptop, wondering if maybe today could possibly be the day.

After four e-mails loaded quickly, one incoming message was taking forever to come in. I knew that our long-awaited e-mail would have several attachments to it, so I was trying to not get too excited. After all, we've been down this road before. Our hopes get up only to be let down, over and over again. When the e-mail came up, the message line said "FW: Matching File". But the e-mail address looked familiar, so I looked back at the e-mail we got when we received our referral and, sure enough, it was the same address. My heart was racing. My whole body was shaking.

I carried the laptop into the bedroom where Erin was sleeping. She rolled over and saw me standing there with the laptop and said "Did it come?!" I said, "I'm not sure. I think so!" So we slowly and shakily opened the e-mail and saw the pictures of our kids for the first time.

I was surprised to find myself NOT crying. I think I was just in shock. We made several phone calls and sent several texts and e-mails, and I took off a wee-bit late for my conference. It literally took about 45 seconds before I started breaking down.

And then last night, I had the privilege of worshipping the Creator of the Universe in an intense and powerful worship service. The One who has held us up through all of this. The One who has done the impossible in raising up the $30,000 needed to bring these kids home. The One who has shown us in dramatic ways just how faithful He is when we step out in faith to do what we believe He's calling us to do, knowing it will fail if He is not behind it. It didn't hurt that we were led by Chris Tomlin, Nathan and Christy Nockels and Matt Redman, or that Louis Giglio spoke.

And it was a great reminder of what I hope to be a constant them in our lives and in parenthood. And that is: It's not about us. And it's not about our kids. They are not everything. He is everything. Our kids will NOT be the center point of our lives. Yeah, they're going to be up there! But God is the head our household. We're bringing these kids home because of Him. And our kids are going to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God comes first in our family.

I slept VERY well last night.

robocop vs. things that actually matter

2011-02-17T08:29:00.003-05:00

I read an article this morning about how the fine people of Detroit have, in only six days, raised over $50,000 in an effort to revive the city. What exactly were they raising the money for? A RoboCop statue. Amazing what can happen when people get behind such a noble cause! (insert sarcasm here). I bet the homeless people of Detroit are going to be pretty stoked to see that statue go up!

Okay, okay. I'm a little edgy this morning. Drinking my coffee faithfully, but it would appear to be failing me. I'm finding this stretch of waiting for pictures of our kids to be rather emotionally draining. I'm tired of waking up morning after morning, knowing the e-mail might have come, only to be let down once agin. It wears on a person. I absolutely know without any doubt that God's got it. That His plan is best and that He knows what He's doing! I just want to see our kids' faces.

And then I read stories about RoboCop...or about how we're trying to build a 53 billion dollar high-speed train system...or about how Justin Bieber is unimpressed with our health care system, and I can't help but get frustrated. How have we gone so far off the mark? How is it that we can so easily turn a blind eye to things that actually matter, and instead become infatuated and fascinated by things that don't? We've proven that we're more than capable of pouring all kinds of energy and money money into something that matters to us (even if we don't have the money). It's just that the things that matter to us are often not the things that matter to God, and therefore are things that don't actually matter.

you don't know everything (and neither do i!)

2011-01-21T13:19:00.005-05:00

Did you realize that more than 38 of the 50 chapters in Genesis are all about Abraham and his family? I've been reading through it again, and I'm once again blown away at how cool and powerful God is. When He says something to going to happen, it's going to happen. You can't stop it. He is in control and knows all...and is ridiculously faithful.

This is a summery of those 38 chapters. Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but give it a chance if you don't know the story very well. It's pretty amazing what God did...

When Abraham was 75, God told him he would have more descendants than he could count, even though he didn't have any kids. 75 years old! I don't know about you, but I've not met a lot of 75 year-olds having kids. After 10 years of waiting and God NOT giving them kids, he and his wife Sarah took matters into their own hands and Abraham slept with Sarah's maidservant, Hagar - apparently doubting God's promise. That son was named Ishmael and from him came the Arab nation / Muhammad / Islam.

13 years after he was born, God FINALLY gave them a son...Isaac. Abraham was 99. Yowser. He'd definitely have been one of those guys that you assume is a grandparent, but is really the dad...or in this case, you'd assume he's like the great-great grandpa. "Impossible!" you say? "Clearly that's made up!" Look, if I didn't believe in an all-powerful God, I'd be inclined to agree with you. But I DO believe in an all-powerful God...so why would I doubt that He could do this?

Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. Jacob was renamed "Israel" and through him came Judaism / Christianity. So, from Abraham's kids came both Islam and Christianity.

Jacob had 13 kids. Yikes! One of them was a guy named Judah, whose descendants include small names like King David and um, JESUS. But none of Jacob's family would have survived (and therefore fulfilled God's promise to Abraham) if it wasn't for what God did through another one of Jacob's kids...Joseph. To make a long story short, Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery, landing him in Egypt. God rose him up to be second in command only to Pharaoh in all Egypt, and it was because of Joseph (and God speaking through him) that Egypt knew in advance that there would be a severe famine for 7 years. So they were ready for it, and no one else was...which eventually brought Joseph's brothers all the way down to Egypt to beg for food. The whole family ended up moving there, which saved the lives of Abraham's descendants. So, if God had not brought Joseph to Egypt (even though I'm sure it seemed horrible to him at the time), Abraham's descendants would have died of starvation, and God's promise would have not held up.

The cool thing is, Joseph somehow knew it was God's plan all along. When his brothers begged for forgiveness, he replied with "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Pretty smooth, Joe. Maybe you're a doubter and think is all far-fetched. I'm not here to argue with you. But I am here to say that if you believe God can create something out of nothing (and if you don't believe He can, I'm not sure you understand the concept of "God"), why would you have a problem believing these incredible stories?

Is it so hard to believe that the God of the universe can give a 99 year old man a child? Or that He knew about the famine well in advance and moved people around to save Abraham's descendants? Or that a young virgin girl could give birth to the Son of God? Or that somehow Jesus' death and resurrection can save you from your rebellion against God?

And how hard is it to believe that God has a plan for your life and knows all, just as He did with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Joseph? I know it can be hard to see because our view is limited. But God's view is NOT limited and He can do anything He wants. Believe it or not.

Maybe you don't understand Him or how He works, but would God really be God if you did? Who are we to claim we know more about how the world should operate than God? Let go and admit that you don't know everything.

what are you focusing on?

2011-01-06T14:00:00.003-05:00

January 6th, 2011

Thursday. 2:22 p.m.

Well, it's been an interesting week. Some good things, some not-so-good things.

The good: I've been making some changes to try to get ready (as well as one can get ready) for kids. I've been getting up consistently early to try to adjust my body somewhat for all the lack of sleep that's on the horizon. And I've been exercising each morning, eating better, and studying Scripture (going through a "Bible in a Year" program). I've pretty much always done the Scripture thing, but it's kind of nice having an e-mail reminder telling me what passages to read.

And while we haven't received our referral yet for our adoption, there have been several other families that have been approved...so things are moving! After exercising each morning, before I go to get my shower, I check the e-mail...just in case. What an incredible moment it will be when I see one titled "referral" and Erin and I get to see pictures of our kids for the first time. Tearing up just thinking about it!

I also found myself walking into each our kids rooms this morning to pray for them. Very cool.

The not-so-good: Well, I can't really go into details on here. It's nothing bad, really. Just reality...and a little frustrating / discouraging. BUT, as I told Erin, "If we haven't learned that God is faithful after all we've been through, we are truly dense." We would be complete idiots to think that God is somehow not in control anymore.

Actually, now that I'm writing this out and sorting out my thoughts, I guess it's really been a pretty good week! Funny how you can have so much good in your life and focus solely on the not-so-good, letting it control you.

presents

2010-12-13T09:53:00.006-05:00

Monday, Nov 13

10:15 a.m.

It is impossible for mere words to adequately express how I feel. Friday morning, Erin and I finally received our long-awaited "Letter of non-objection" from the Ministry in Rwanda!!!!!!

Everyone has been SO kind about it all and are truly excited for us, but most don't realize just how momentous of an occasion this was. And since this is published online and not a true personal journal, I can't divulge into ALL the details of what truly make it remarkable, but suffice it to say that if there was ANY doubt that God had called us to adopt from Rwanda, it's gone.

God has cleared the path in a way that only God could do. What a rush to step out in faith to do something that will absolutely fail if God is not behind it!!! Oh, how I wish more people would do that! Too many Christians are missing out.

For the first time in the 19 months that we've been on this journey, we feel like we can exhale. We can let ourselves be excited. And, man I have I been excited! I seriously can't sleep at night because I have a bagillion thoughts running through my noggin. I feel like little kid on Christmas Eve who can't sleep because they're thinking about all the presents under the tree.

And that's exactly what these kids are. Presents. Gifts from God. You may call it "blessed" - I call it spoiled.

And I know it's going to be harder than anything I've ever done and that it comes with enormous responsibility. But we're praying desperately that we never forget why we began this journey in the first place. These are kids who have no family. Who need a home. Who need a mom and a dad to guide them, and love them, and care for them, and teach them about life and God.

In the meantime, I need to pick up some Melatonin to help me sleep...

blahness

2010-11-29T11:39:00.003-05:00

November 29th, 2010

Monday - 3:00 p.m.

Feeling kind of "blah" today. Like I'm in a fog. Call it post-Thanksgiving blues or whatever, but I'm desperate to get back on track. Physically, spiritually, mentally.

It might be the copious amounts of food I seem to continue to consume, post holiday. It might be the overdose of football...something I was pretty convinced was not at all possible. It might be the lack of discipline to exercise for several weeks now, or the simple and sad truth that I tend to lack spiritual discipline during holidays and vacations.

Certainly, the whole adoption process isn't helping matters. Things are not exactly moving quickly. Rumors float about the adoption blogger world of just how long things are going to take, and frankly it's depressing. Today's one of those days where I'm just tired of waiting. I want to hold my kids.

It's no single thing that is causing my blahness - it's the cumulative result of all of them.

And yet I know that I'll soon snap out of it and all will be well. I'll stop consuming food at a Kobayashian rate and will cut back on the pigskin as well. I'll start exercising again and digging into Scripture. I'll stop staring so much at computer screens and television screens, and pay more attention to faces and creation. And even though I have zero control over our adoption process, at some point we WILL get our kids and the wait and frustration will be well worth it.

I am blessed beyond all reason. God, disturb my slumber.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Php 3:13-14

your heart

2010-11-22T10:25:00.003-05:00

November 22, 2010

Monday, 10:26 a.m.

I busted a string about 30 seconds into the first worship song yesterday morning. I used to break strings all the time, so I'm pretty used to just moving on and leading through as if nothing happened. When a string breaks, it throws all your others strings out of tune because the tension on the neck changes. So, my guitar sounded pretty terrible and I had to get through three songs without letting it be a distraction for people worshipping. Yeesh.

My eyes might have been closed during the entire three songs. I was trying so hard to get into the right frame of mind and to think about power of the words I was lifting up. But the harder you try to worship, the further you get from it. It was just such a huge distraction for me, though I do think we succeeded in pulling off a time of authentic worship. People noticed the string breaking, but they moved on.

I didn't have any strings with me, so I had to drive home for a new one (thank goodness we live close!). On the drive, I was praying for God to use the worship despite the string, which of course is a silly thing to pray. We worship in response to God's movement, not in response to all the strings of a guitar remaining intact.

I also found myself praying for forgiveness for being so distracted. Another silly thing to pray. And then this thought popped into my head: Just because my head was in the wrong place doesn't necessarily mean my heart was in the wrong place. It was quite a comforting thought, really.

I think most people in my position would have been distracted. And I don't think God was all that concerned that I was having so much trouble focusing. What mattered to Him was my heart...and I'm proud to say that my heart was good. My intentions were good. My devotion had not wavered.

I think we tend to put a lot of undue stress on ourselves sometimes, trying so hard to do all the right things to make God happy, as if we could earn His love. Somehow, even though we all know better, we just can't get it through our thick noggins that God's main concern is our hearts, not our actions. Certainly, we should strive to please God. But what pleases God? Avoiding bad things and doing good things? Hardly. Our hearts trump all.

And not-so-surprisingly, at College Church last night, this is precisely what Michael Beaumont talked about. I say "not-so-surpsisingly" because I've noticed that this is how God does things when He's trying to teach me something. It keeps coming up. Over and over and over. And it's not coincidence and it's not that I'm just noticing it more because it's on my mind. It's because God is pursuing me relentlessly until I get it. So...thanks Michael for letting God use you (again).

How's your heart?

peace

2010-11-17T18:36:00.003-05:00

November 17th

Wednesday, 6:42 p.m.

Some days, God is hard to see. Others, He's quite obvious. Today, He was obvious.

9 hours. Beautiful scenery. My Bible. My bike. A good book. Coffee.

This was my day.

Early this morning, I drove out to Palmetto Bluff here for a much-needed spiritual retreat. Most of my day was spent in silence. Just thinking and talking honestly with God. Listening. Reading Scripture. Absorbing creation.

I could think more clearly than I had in quite some time. It didn't take as long as usual to feel at peace again, something I was most grateful for because it meant I could thoroughly enjoy the rest of the day.

I think God was easier to see today because I made Him the priority. No technology got in my way. The day was blocked out for HIM. Oh, that more people would do this!

I am simply blown away by God's generosity in my life. He spoils me rotten. I am at peace again, the way I should always be...

even if

2010-11-15T10:27:00.003-05:00

I am unaware of just how big You are

I am unprepared to stand in the presence of You who breathed life in me

You are more faithful than the greatest friend

You are more loving than I can comprehend

I am unworthy to call You my Father

I am unworthy to call You my Friend

So even if the sun won't rise

And even in my darkest times

Even if the world around me crashes down

Still I choose to trust in You

Let my heart do what my eyes can't do

'Cause even if You're silent, I believe in You

God in the highest, You have rescued me

I don't deserve You or the grace that You've shown by setting me free

Well the truth is we have no right to question Your ways, or even stand in Your light

And the truth is we cannot see the picture that you're painting

of what has been and what will be

fundraising with God

2010-11-01T09:45:00.004-04:00

November 1st, 2010

Monday - 9:45 a.m.

Great weekend. Got a lot accomplished, relaxed some, and had a great time of worship with my church family. And tonight, we get to hang out with the Beaumont girls and watch the Colts!

It's officially "National Adoption Month." We're one week away from putting on this big ol' Adoption Fundraising Open House, which has consumed a large part of our time and energy lately...but we're excited!

It's interesting the reactions you get from people when you talk about fundraising. We've heard it all. Most people are very kind and supportive, but there are others that don't think we should have even started the process if we didn't have the money. And I can appreciate that. To many, it looks like we're just being irresponsible. That we should have planned better. That we should have at least had something set aside before we took off on this journey.

But what do you do when God clearly calls you to do something? Say, "Ummmm...sorry God. We'd like to, but now's not a good time for us financially"? Ha! I don't think so. Instead, we said, "Okay God. If you're asking us to do this, we need You to provide...because we've got nothing."

Oh, what we would have missed out on if we had not stepped out in faith. I still can't even fathom how it is that God has used the people in our lives to provide around $25,000. I can't even wrap my head around that number. I can't think of how it's even possible. It is truly a modern day miracle. God stepped in and did the extraordinary, doing what could not be done without Him. Don't try to tell me we've raise $25,000

That's why we will shout it from the mountaintops. That's why we talk unashamedly and quite specifically about our financial needs and about what He's already provided. If this was about us and what WE are doing, it probably should rub people the wrong way that we talk so openly about our money. But this is GOD'S story, not ours. When people hand us a check, we know it's because God moved their heart to do so in response to our cries for His provision. And He has not let us down. He has blown us away with His goodness!

So, really...the remaining $5000? Please. What basis would we have to worry about it? God will provide. And when He does, we will brag on Him.

stupid flyers

2010-10-26T09:26:00.004-04:00

Oct 26, 2010

Tuesday - 9:27 a.m.

Last night, I found myself getting really antsy. And frankly, kind of grumpy (just ask Erin!). I was working on a flyer for our big Adoption Fundraising Open House that we're doing Nov 8th, and I kept getting interrupted. And it wasn't going the way I wanted it to, so I was getting frustrated. And then I started getting frustrated at the simple fact that I was getting frustrated. I knew that once I got some work done on it, I'd feel much better. And I did. The whole thing was really quite stupid, and I feel foolish for letting it happen.

Blame it on a lack of sleep I guess, but I never used to get that way. Ever. Everything used to roll off my back like it was no big deal, even if it was a big deal and should have bothered me. For a while, I thought: "Well, it's just because I've grown up. I have real responsibilities now and that's just how it is." And I suppose there's some truth to that, but not much.

If I didn't believe in or follow the God of the universe, I could understand my anxiety. If I didn't believe the promise of Heaven, of course things would get to me. If I didn't know what Scripture says about worrying or hadn't learned about grace, then I would have every right to worry.

But I know better. I know what Scripture says. I know about and believe in God's grace and about Heaven. So, why do I still have times that I worry? It's stupid. I mean, for crying out loud, the flyers for our event aren't that big of a deal. Why let it eat at me?

It's certainly NOT that I didn't know or believe all the promises of God. It's that I let myself get sucked in by the things of the world, and temporarily took my eyes off of what matters. And I sank. For some reason, I couldn't stop focussing on those stupid flyers and forgot that they have absolutely zero effect on anything eternal. Now that I got some work done on them, won in fantasy football, and got in a good nights rest and a good chat with God, I'm good again. I'm at peace.

I just want to stay there.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

a blog about blogs

2010-10-25T15:05:00.004-04:00

I used to journal all the time, and it really helped.

I was able to process through all the random thoughts rolling around in my head (a small miracle!). If I was stressed, I wrote about it. And generally, I'd feel a lot better once I'd regained perspective. If I had a new theological insight I was pondering, I could write out my thoughts and reason through it much more clearly. If I was upset or confused or doubting, journaling made me reason directly with God. It seemed that when I would write out my questions and frustrations to Him, most of my worries suddenly seemed silly. I would know the answer to my question before I could finish writing the sentence. It was therapeutic.

And then I started blogging.

I never intended for it to replace journaling, but it has. A "blog" is supposed to be an online journal. A "web log." A diary for all the world to see. But it's a rather difficult thing to pull off and I'm not sure I've come across a true personal online journal. This blog certainly is not one. How do you write out your thoughts and not alter it in some way knowing that other people are going to open your journal and read it?

And so, instead, we use blogging to share our thoughts on a particular subject, give our our perspective on life, keep people informed about something (www.addingasmith.blogspot.com), or to sell things. By the way, I think these are totally legit and good reasons to blog. I follow about 60 blogs myself...none of which are actually journals.

I'm not sure how to pull off a true online journal, but I'm thinking of giving it a whirl. I'd have to leave things out, of course. Names, for instance. Or awkward situations with people who read my blog. And I know that I even as I write this sentence, I'm probably altering it some way because I know people are going to read it. But I need to get back to actual journaling...for my own sake.

I realize I could just pick up my old journal and start writing again, and I have. But I think there's a lot of value in reading what other people are thinking, so I'm going to put it out there. I think. We'll see how this goes...

turn off the noise

2010-10-11T14:18:00.007-04:00

I want my life to matter. I want to make a difference. The last thing I want to is to wake up one day and wonder why I didn't do more with my time on earth. And my guess is that this is true of you too.

But much of life feels like a blur, doesn't it? Most of us are typical Americans going from one thing to the next, just trying to keep up with our schedules...schedules filled with "good" things, mind you. We are BUSY. Noisy. And consequently, somewhat anxious.

Not many people I know take time for intentional solitude, but I think it's the secret ingredient to a peace-filled, difference-making, perspective-keeping life.

Why do we feel like we always have some noise? That we're being selfish and lazy if we take 5 minutes to think? That we'll go crazy if we DON'T have the noise when in fact, we'll go crazy if the noise continues?

Today I took the whole day to think. Must be nice, you say. Wish I had the time to do that. Just wait until you get your kids. I understand that I can't relate. That I can't even fathom how busy we're going to be when our kids finally come home. But I refuse to bend to the lie that says I'll have no time for quiet.

If I get the solitude in, I connect with God and am at total peace because I've had a chance to think and be reminded of the big picture. A chance to lift up all concerns and praises to the Creator of the Universe. A chance clear my conscious and come clean with my shortcomings. An opportunity to be reminded of the promise of heaven and that my time on earth is short. Of what matters and what doesn't.

It's my times of solitude where change happens in my life. And if you're not changing, you're not following. Following Jesus demands change.

You may think I'm a jerk, but I won't let having kids steal that from me. In fact, having kids is that much more reason to fight for the solitude. I want our kids to see me setting the example...that what matters most to their dad is spending time God. And besides, with all the additional chaos in our lives, I'll need to clear my head more than ever!

How could you ever expect to hear from God if you never take the time to listen? If you argue that you don't have time, I would argue back that you've simply filled it with things that are more important to you. It's no wonder so few people ever feel God's movement in their life.

We were meant to make a difference with the very short time that we have here. And let's be honest...we all feel like we have more time that we really do.

So please...I beg you. I wish there we stronger words to convince you. Pleeeese...take regular time for intentional solitude. It could alter the course of your life. Take at least a good 2 hours to sit and think and pray. Take all day if you can. Slow down. Turn off the noise.

And please don't wait for there to be a good week to do this. Cancel something else if you have to. Cancel 5 things if you have to. And then do it again the next week. And again. And again.

Who knows. Maybe God's been trying to get your attention this whole time...

taking advantage of your good days

2010-10-06T09:51:00.004-04:00

We all have moments when we feel better than our best, and we always say--"I feel fit for anything; if only I could be like this always!" We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to when we do not feel like it. Many of us are not good for this workaday world when there is no high hour. We must bring our commonplace life up to the standard revealed in the high hour.

Never allow a feeling which was stirred in you in the high hour to evaporate. Don't put your mental feet on the mantelpiece and say--"What a marvellous state of mind to be in!" Act immediately, do something, if only because you would rather not do it. If in a prayer meeting God has shown you something to do, don't say--"I'll do it"; do it! Take yourself by the scruff of the neck and shake off your incarnate laziness. Laziness is always seen in cravings for the high hour; we talk about working up to a time on the mount. We have to learn to live in the grey day according to what we saw on the mount.

Don't cave in because you have been baffled once, get at it again. Burn your bridges behind you, and stand committed to God by your own act. Never revise your decisions, but see that you make your decisions in the light of the high hour.

"Put your trust in the light while your have it, so that you may become sons of light." John 12:36

-Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

a physical and spiritual connection

2010-10-04T15:07:00.006-04:00

It seems to me that there is a strong connection between the physical and the spiritual, particularly in terms of discipline. Learning to control what I eat, for instance, doesn't just help me physically. Sure, I may lose some pounds and maintain my girlish figure, but in the meantime I'm learning the basic principle of controlling something rather than letting it control me...a rather handy tool in my spiritual walk.

Or take exercise for example. I certainly have NO desire to wake up way before my body is ready to, only to cause it pain. Everything in me says, "NO! You idiot! You need sleep!" But in the process of making myself do it anyway, I learn a great deal about what I'm capable of and I find that the long-term rewards are worth it. To be honest, I don't wake up every day itching to dive into God's word (gasp!) But I do it anyway. Why? Because I know that Scripture works even if I don't see the immediate reward, just like exercising. I've learned that making the study of Scripture a part of my daily routine has incredible payoffs and is well worth it in the end.

The same can be said of any kind of skill really. If you want to be a guitar player, you've got to put the work into it. You've got to build the callouses. You've got to train your fingers where to go and you've got to learn scales, chords, and theory. Unless you're August Rush, you don't just reach over to pick up a guitar for the first time and instantly sound like a virtuoso. Likewise, you don't just grab a Bible and instantly know how God works. There is much to learn, and it takes discipline.

It's fascinating to me how the two are intertwined. Of course, a guy named Paul in the Bible told us this long ago: "...train yourselves to be Godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Tim 4:7-8

I used to take this to mean that we shouldn't worry much about the physical stuff, because what really matters is the spiritual stuff. But that's not what it says. Physical training isn't worthless...it's "of some value." Compared to spiritual stuff, of course the two aren't even close. But I think that Paul is implying that there is a strong connection between to the two and that we should take what we learn from our physical disciplines and apply it to our spiritual disciplines.

It goes without saying that this certainly doesn't mean that if you work out a bunch you'll be a spiritual giant. Or that if your exceedingly overweight and out of shape, you're a lousy Christ-follower. All I'm saying is that there's a connection between the two and we'd be wise to pay attention and learn from it.

arrogant christians?

2010-09-20T15:09:00.004-04:00

"How could there be just one true faith? It's arrogant to say your religion is superior and try to convert everyone else to it. Surely all religions are equally good and valid for meeting the needs of their particular followers."

This is one of the biggest arguments people have against Christianity. We insist we're right... which means we think everyone else is wrong. It's true. And it comes off as wee bit egotistic (insert sarcastic tone here).

Is it intolerant to insist that one faith has a better grasp on truth than all the others?

Hardly. Truth is truth.

And different faiths believe different things...that's why they're different faiths! The person who says "Jesus is God's son" and the person who says "Jesus was just good moral person" can't both be right. The person who says that God is a personal God and the person who says that He's just some force out there, can't both be right. Sorry, but Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity do not teach the same things. The Branch Davidians (think David Karesh) have a very different view of God than everyone else. We can't all be right. And whoever's not right is, well, wrong.

Here's the irony of the matter. Which is more arrogant and intolerant? To insist that Christianity (or any faith) is absolutely true or to insist that God doesn't exist (or at least that you can't know if He does or not)? By claiming that a certain faith is being arrogant and intolerant in saying they're right about God, you've become arrogant and intolerant in saying that YOU'RE right about God. At the very least you're saying they have no right to insist on any view of God, even though you're insisting on your view that God can't be figured out. It is no more narrow to claim that one religion is right than to claim that they're all equal. We are all exclusive in our beliefs about religion, but in different ways. All statements about God, whether for Him or against Him, are profoundly religious in nature.

If you insist that no one can determine which beliefs are right and wrong, why should we believe what you are saying? The reality is that we all make truth-claims of some sort and it is very hard to weigh them responsibly, but we have no alternative to try to do so.

So how can you know for sure? There are SO many opinions out there...who's to know which one is right? Is it even possible?

First of all, realize that our thinking about who God is and how He works doesn't actually change Truth. God is who He is regardless of what people think about Him. Misunderstanding Him doesn't make Him less Him. Believing He doesn't exist doesn't make Him go away, just as believing He exists doesn't make Him any more real.

You can't hide behind the cliche that "there's no way to know the Truth." Everything about you, every decision that you make big and small is all based on what you believe about God. You MUST do the work. You must answer the questions about what's true and false.

Keep in mind though, those of you who believe in and follow Jesus, that this doesn't give you permission to be a jerk. Or to hold your faith over people. Or to insist that there's nothing you can learn from other religions. At the very heart of our faith is a God who died for those who were against Him. A God who displays sacrifice, generosity and peace-making. We should follow in His footsteps, if we are indeed followers of Christ.

Figure out what you believe stand up for it, and then lovingly show others what you've discovered to be true and why.

(This post is very mildly plagiarized from the first chapter in an incredible book called "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller. You should read it.)

karma

2010-09-13T10:12:00.007-04:00

I have a friend who tends to mix some of the ideas of karma with Christianity. Not so much the reincarnation part, but definitely the idea that if I do something good then good things will happen to me. And if I do something bad, bad things will happen to me. Every second of every day is all about karma, so we're always feeling the effects of whether we've been good or bad. And for my friend, it's their version of God who's making all of this happen.

The difficulty with it all is that there is a thread of truth to it. And the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that a huge percentage of Christians subconsciously believe it too. Maybe even you.

It's true that you reap what you sow. In fact, the Bible talks about this a lot. Job 4:8 says it pretty plainly: "...those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it." There are consequences to our actions. If you do something bad to someone, chances are it will come back to haunt you. And if you're really nice to someone, that person will often be very nice to you. It's a general rule of thumb that being a jerk will probably cause problems in your life and being really nice may make things a little easier.

But not always.

Sometimes jerks get the royal treatment. And nice guys finish last. It's "unfair." So if you believe in karma, you end up having to find a way to excuse this away (i.e. "reincarnation"...things may not make sense right now, but your punishment/reward will be seen in your next life, so it's really okay). This is not all that much different from Christianity. While we don't believe in reincarnation, we do believe in life after death. And we believe that while bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people, God is still God and He'll act justly and take care of it all in the end.

When you add God into the mix, things get really confusing. When you're trying so hard to just be a good person do good things and still nothing seems to go right, who do you blame? God appears to be incredibly unfair and you may not like Him very much...at least until things go your way again. Then He's okay. Maybe. It's hard to tell.

But this isn't how God works. If this is your view of God, it's understandable that you're at odds with Him. But really, you're only upset with your version of God, not with the true God.

I think the real problem is that a lot of people (including many Christians) still view God as some obscure impersonal cosmic force. Things go wrong and people assume that "God" must be punishing them. If they do enough good things, they assume "God" will be appeased.

But God is very real. And very, very personal. He acts out of pure love, not out of mere rewards and punishments as if we're puppies. Chances are, God did not open up that front row parking space just for you because you've been good. It's much more likely that someone happened to pull out right before you got there...all without God's involvement in the matter.

Jesus didn't say "If you treat others nicely, they'll treat you nicely in return." Instead He guaranteed we'd have problems. In fact, He made it pretty clear that the more devoted we are to Him, the more the world may hate us. Most of the disciples and Jesus Himself ended up being murdered for doing the right thing.

God doesn't promise to make our life easy or to take away bad circumstances. But He did promise something most of us do not appreciate enough: To walk with us through the "unfairness"...if we'll let Him. This is a far greater gift than we realize. We don't hold on to this truth as tightly as we should because we're so preoccupied with the fact that we'd just rather have Him take away the bad stuff.

I'm convinced that some of you reading this are still secretly grasping onto part of the theory of karma. You feel like you have to earn God's love and acceptance, even though you may even know better. But you can't earn your way into God's favor. It really doesn't matter how many good things you do, how many people you help or how often you go to church.

Grace isn't earned. It's given. Freely. The beauty of the Gospel is that it is precisely contrary to the idea of karma. The thrust of it's message is that we can get what we don't deserve. Forgiveness. Hope. Peace. Eternal life.

God certainly doesn't love you because you've done enough good things to impress Him. He loves you simply because you're His kid. Maybe that's the harder thing for you to believe and maybe that's why you still feel like you're on a point system with Him. How could His grace really be FREE? I don't know. But it is.

Give up the fight to earn His love. You already have it. All you have to do is embrace it.

And that, my friends, is your motivation to go out and do good things and avoid the bad. Not because it earns points, but because His undeserved grace compels you to do so. After what He's done for you, how could you live any other way than in the freedom of following His lead?

You don't have to live your life hoping that some impersonal cosmic force is happy with you. Just accept your Father's grace and rest in it.

faith?

2010-09-09T14:33:00.002-04:00

Does North America lack faith?

Is this why Christianity is exploding outside of North America?

Do you need more faith?

If we believe it can’t happen, it won’t happen.

(from Jaeson Ma)

why i love college students

2010-08-25T08:54:00.004-04:00

Last night, we kicked off the college group for the new semester by gorging ourselves on free spaghetti. *props to Bob and Melody Keane!*

As I hung out with these students I'd missed all summer, and as my belly slowly expanded to contain the vast amounts of carbs I had consumed, I was quickly reminded of all the reasons I love college students.

1. THEY'RE HUNGRY. No, I'm not just talking about food here (although, that's definitely true too). What I mean is that college students in general want to grow. They want to learn. They want to establish or deepen their beliefs. They want find answers. They want to make a difference and for their lives to count. Of course, this isn't true of every college student that comes through...some are quite passive about all of it. But in general, I see the hunger more in college students than anywhere else.

2. THEY'RE FUNNY. Seriously. I just have a blast hanging out with them. College students crack me up. Maybe it's just because I refuse to grow up, but I relate well to their humor. And for them, everything is funny. They're not so uptight...which leads me to #3...

3. THEY'RE EASY-GOING. Frankly, sometimes people who are considered "grown-ups" are quite boring. It's all business. It's all serious. There's no room for adventure anymore and EVERYthing gets WAY over-analyzed. College students don't tend to be like this. They don't need all the frills and bells and whistles. All they want is community...a group of people they can hang out with. Last night, we mostly just sat around. No agenda, no games, no entertainment. We didn't need it. Even without all those things there was this constant buzz in the Keane house, because everyone was just happy to be there, hanging out with each other, catching up and eating free food.

4. THEY LISTEN AND APPLY. Again, this is a generalization. Not all college students are like this, but I find that more than in any other group I've ever led, college students tend to take what they hear and ACT on it! What a concept! If they're convicted about something we talk about in a group, I usually see it in action in the weeks to come. Of course, this is just a result of number one.

5. THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK. This is a hard one to grasp for me because it's so rare and against the pattern, but more and more I'm convinced that there's a growing segment of the new generation of college students actually don't care if people think they're crazy or weird. This one certainly is not the majority of college students, but I believe it's more prevalent than ever. And while this can most definitely backfire because it can result in not treating people with love as we should, it's also pretty amazing to me. For so long teenagers (and adults) have defined their lives and who they are by what they think other people think about them. Consequently, they don't actually have any CLUE who they really are because they're also trying to be someone else and live up to what they think is cool and acceptable. But there are so many college students now that seem to know who they are and what they believe and they don't care who knows it.

Oh the lessons we could learn from our college students! Oh that we would be more hungry for truth and apply the lessons we learn. That we would stop being so uptight and live with bold confidence in who we are and what we believe.

i know nothing

2010-08-16T16:33:00.004-04:00

I found myself just sighing as I prayed today because I didn't even know what to say. Every prayer request fell flat. I'd start praying about something and just end up saying, "I don't even know what to pray for, God. You know best. I know nothing. Please just help."

Like praying for our adoption, for instance. I've prayed the prayers a thousand times...which I think is Biblical...to be persistent with our prayers. But today it was kind of like, "I don't know, God. I've said all I can say and I don't know what's best anyway." I can pray for God to move more quickly so we get our kids earlier, but is that really the wisest thing to pray for? Isn't it much more wise to just ask God to orchestrate the whole thing? To watch over our kids and for Him to teach Erin and I in the process? I mean, what if we keep praying for God to give us our kids earlier and it's actually NOT the best thing for us or our kids? If we trust God, then we shouldn't insist He do things our way.

And as much as I've consistently grown in my faith over the years, I still feel completely infantile sometimes. I'm constantly learning new things...which is great. But it's like, "How the heck did I miss that all this time? It's sooooo obvious!"

I've learned a ton and yet I still know nothing.

We can spend hours upon hours discussing theology and trying to figure God out, and we should. But at the end of the day all we need to know is that He's bigger than us and that He loves us perfectly. You can absolutely rest in the fact that you don't need to have all the answers. He's more than capable of running the universe without you.

It may sound like I was frustrated with my prayers this morning, but nothing could be further from the truth. It was peaceful. It was reassuring. It was freeing. The sighs were good sighs.

What are you praying for? And have you really surrendered it to the all-powerful and loving God of the universe? Will it throw your faith into a tailspin if God doesn't do things the way you think they should be done? What if He doesn't give you the job you've been praying for? Or heal the person you've been lifting up? Is He still on His throne or will you lose some respect and trust for God if He allows thousands of innocent deaths from a terrible earthquake or hurricane or war?

Either you trust that God knows what He's doing and has everyone's best interest in mind or you don't. Do you really want Him to be in control?

your plans vs. your hands

2010-08-10T11:00:00.004-04:00

Don't get so caught up in your plans for your life. God is much more interested in your hands than your plans.

It's not that your plans aren't important. It's just that His plans are better. A lot better.

Maybe you've been earnestly praying for something and God seems to be sleeping. He's not doing what you're asking. You have plans and He doesn't seem to care. And you're frustrated. You're in pain. You're disappointed. Maybe even angry.

But here's what you need to understand. The reason He's not doing what you're asking Him to do is most likely because He has greater things in store for your life than the plans that you have. What?!!! Hard to believe, I know. I mean, how could His plans be better than ours? We know everything and of COURSE we know what's best for us! Our plans are perfect, right?!

Not so much. God has things in store that are so good it would blow our minds! Compared to God we know NOTHING about what's truly best for us.

God is after your joy. He's looking out for you. He has your best interest in mind...even if you think your plans are oh-so-perfect and God is a big jerk if He doesn't follow them. Look...He's bigger than you. He knows everything and loves you perfectly. What right do you have to get upset at God?

He doesn't need your plans, He needs your hands.

Maybe we should stop focussing so much on how God isn't following our plans.

Maybe we should start living day-by-day for God instead of living for ourselves.

jealous of grandma

2010-08-04T22:33:00.003-04:00

For the past 3 days, my grandma Soucie has been hanging out with Jesus. Seriously. That's crazy awesome. I know that to many of you it may sound entirely cliche to say "She's in a better place now," but it's true nonetheless. And I'm jealous.

People fear death. And for good reason if they don't know Christ. But for those of us who have put our hope in Jesus, it's actually the most exciting thing that could ever happen to us! I know that some of you reading this (yes, even some Christians), feel deep down inside that this is really just something people say to cope with the death of a loved one. And I get why people feel that way, because it sounds way too good to be true.

But it is true.

As I sat at the funeral today and saw my grandma's body laying there in the casket, I was honestly just so excited for her. She doesn't have to deal with that old body any more that's given her so much trouble for so many years. I'm sure she looked back and snorted and said "good riddance!" followed by her signature chuckle.

And then she turned around and saw Jesus. Finally.

She's 3 days into an eternity in the presence of her Creator. I guarantee she's not worried about her hair being just right any more or her clothes and make-up and jewelry all matching. No more dialysis. No more sorrow. No more pain. Just Jesus.

a 40-pound cabbage, an 11-year-old girl, and the homeless

2010-07-27T09:17:00.002-04:00

(This is obviously too well-written to be mine, but I had to share. What are YOU doing with YOUR life?)

When third-grader Katie Stagliano inadvertently grew a 40-pound cabbage in her back yard, she decided to donate it to a local soup kitchen — feeding 275 homeless people in the process. Three years later, the inspired 11-year-old has grown more than 4,000 pounds of veggies for the needy.

By Diane Herbst

It sounds like a sub-plot from Jack and the Beanstalk. When Katie Stagliano brought a single cabbage seedling home from school as part of a third-grade class project, the 9-year-old planted it in the soil in a tiny plot in her family's back yard. She watered and weeded appropriately. Next thing she knew, that seedling grew into a monster-sized, 40-pound cabbage.

None of her classmates' cabbages grew so large. Katie didn't even add any sort of magic fertilizers, or receive any special gardening tips from adults. "Absolutely not," her mom, Stacy, tells Tonic. The biggest known OS Cross cabbage ever — the "OS" in the name stands for "oversize" — was 55 pounds, according to Bonnie Plants (the company that provided free seedlings to Stagliano's class as part of a nationwide school gardening initiative). So this wasn't a record, but it certainly was something.

Some might call it beginner's luck, yet others might call it fate—because what Katie did next turned her story into a heartwarming tale that's touching people all over the world. Katie decided that her green-leafy pride and joy should be donated to a local soup kitchen, where it was made into meals for 275 people (with the help of some ham and rice). "I thought, 'Wow, with that one cabbage I helped feed that many people?'" says Katie, now entering sixth grade. "I could do much more than that."

So with the help of her parents, Katie started her own nonprofit, Katie's Krops, and began planting vegetable gardens specifically to feed the needy. She has six right now, including one the length of a football field at her school in her hometown of Summerville, S.C. Classmates, her family and other people in the community help plant and water, and Bonnie Plants donates seedlings. This past year, Katie took her commitment to a new level, providing soup kitchens with over 2,000 pounds of lettuce, tomatoes and other vegetables. Katie and her helpers are now harvesting the spring planting, and another 1,200 pounds will be donated by October.

"She just walks in like a proud little girl with her treasures in her arm," says Sue Hanshaw, CEO ofTricounty Family Ministries, the soup kitchen in Charleston, S.C., where Katie first brought her 40-pound crucifer. "I love what she exudes, caring for others. It's made a big impact on a lot of people."

Says Elois Mackey, 49, a formerly homeless mother of two who has received a weekly vegetable delivery from Katie since September: "She is showing that you can help other people no matter how young you are. I love the vegetables she brings."

Read more inspiring stories on Tonic.

Katie is a well-spoken 11-year-old who juggles the life of a school child with that of a world-changer. Swim practice, tennis matches, and studying (she has had the highest GPA of her class for the last four years) are sandwiched between daily waterings and tending. "It makes me feel good," says Katie. "I feel bad for those people who have to go to Palmetto house [a homeless shelter where she and residents recently planted a garden], but I feel good that I'm helping people."

Katie's desire to help as well as create sprouted early. "She's always been very inquisitive and wants to go above and beyond," says her mom, Stacy, 41. "It's like, 'What about this and why aren't we doing this?"

Since the age of four, Katie has placed first in competitions that include inventing a toothbrush now on sale that teaches water conservation, for the Dr. Fresh company. "When you put the toothbrush in your mouth to brush," says Katie, "it plays a rap song that says, 'Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and you can save eight gallons of water.'"

As a third grader, upset about a local drought, Katie decided her school, Pinewood Prep, needed to conserve water. Katie wrote the headmaster over Christmas break, suggesting how the school could better conserve. Soon after, the high school's advanced placement environmental studies teacher called to meet with her and work on a water conservation project. Katie's suggestions for rain barrels to catch water and other ideas were soon implemented throughout the school. "As a parent, I am so moved," says Stacy. "I say to her, 'I hope some day when you are a parent, you have a kid who is as amazing as you so you can see it from a mom's perspective.'"

Much of the thanks goes to Stacy and Katie's devoted group of helpers, including her 7-year-old brother, John Michael, who has toiled in two of the gardens to plan pumpkin patches.

Since February of last year, master gardener Lisa Turocy has not only sat shoulder to shoulder with Katie planting and giving advice, she's transformed her entire front yard into a garden with 600 seedlings. "If I can help her change the world," says Turocy, "that's awesome."

Locals Linda and Bob Baker, golf professionals with 41 acres of farmland set along a rutted dirt road on the outskirts of Summerville, gave Katie some acreage for a garden. Bob lugged his John Deer tractor to Katie's school to till the soil, and taught Katie how to drive the machine. Says Bob: "It makes you feel so good to see someone that young with that amount of compassion, step in there and really make a difference."

Since she started, Katie has been contacted by schools and parents as far away as South Africa looking for advice on planting gardens of their own, specifically to help needy individuals in their communities. And Katie’s story has inspired supporters to donate to Katie’s Kropsto help her buy irrigation equipment, fertilizer and other supplies for her six gardens.

As one of Katie's best friends told Tonic, most kids their age mainly like to watch TV and play on computers; they don't like to do what Katie does. Another friend, Anna Semar, 11, who was inspired by Katie to grow her own vegetable garden, says: "If there were more people like Katie the world would be a better place."

the most important thing about you

2010-07-20T13:28:00.006-04:00

"The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God."

- A. W. Tozer

This is true of everyone reading this...even if you don't believe in God. What you believe about God affects every area of your life. If you don't believe He exists, then you make all decisions about how you live your life through that filter.

The vast majority of you reading this probably believe in God, but we may think of Him in different ways...which affects how we respond to Him and consequently, how we live our lives.

The following is a basic list of various concepts of God that people have (props to Louis Giglio for the list!). Are you one of these 11?

1. The faceless, nameless, distant force God - There's this thing, this force, out there that just feels right and good...I don't know what it is, but something is making all this happen.

2. The OnStar God - He's always there when I need help or some direction...but I really don't pay too much attention otherwise.

3. Granddad God - He's a really really gentle and sweet old man. He may have lost a step or two (since He's been around for SOOO long), but He's always there for me and may even slip a $20 in my hand from time to time.

4. Scorekeeper God - All He cares about is the number of good things I've done verses the number of bad things I've done. If I'm above a certain number of points, I'm in. If not...well...I'd just better be sure I do enough good things to make up for the bad and hope for the best.

5. The Doomsday God - God is actually is rooting for me to mess up...to fail so He can clobber me.

6. Stained Glass God - God lives at the church, loves the organ and doesn't like a lot of ruckus and noise. I can kind of live however I want...but not in God's house. There, I must be still and shut up, and sing music that I don't like but apparently God does. His house, His rules.

7. Homeboy God - God's a great friend. I don't see His as all that powerful and wrathful. But He's a really great friend who's always there for me that I like to hang with.

8. E-bay God - God is where to go to get stuff that's hard to find and get rid of stuff I don't want anymore.

9. ME God - I call the shots for my life. I'm in charge and I decide how my life is going to play out.

10. No God God - God doesn't exist. At all. And it's incredibly frustrating to me that in order for me to even say that I don't believe in God, I have to say the word "God." People only believe in a higher power because it makes them feel better.

11. PC God - I believe God is non-offensive, non-abrasive, non-absolute. I choose what I like about God and ignore what I don't like about Him.

Whichever of these views you of God you adhere to, it affects everything else in your life. You choose how to approach situations in your life based off your understanding of who God is and what He's like. The real question is, "How does GOD want us to see Him?"

And I think the answer is pretty clear in Scripture. Read the New Testament and you'll see a constant theme. God wants you to take all His attributes and wrap them up in one clear picture:

12. Loving Father - God is my Dad. He adopted me as His own and even promises that I am heir to His thone! He wants what's best for me...even if I don't understand why He does the things He does. He's not some distant force out there. He's not there just to help me from time to time. He's not slipping in His old age, He isn't keeping score, and He definitely doesn't want to destroy me. He is everywhere, not just at church. And And He's so much more than just a good friend or a guy to go to get rid of my guilt or to make me feel better.

He is the one and ONLY God who loves me UNCONDITIONALLY....even though He sometimes may seem abrasive and offensive. After all, we're just kids. We think we know everything when in reality we don't see the whole picture the way Dad does.

Whatever you think about who God is and how He works dramatically affects how you live your life. Even if you don't realize it and even if you refuse to admit it.

On a side-note, if your view of God is incorrect then it only stands to reason that you will respond to God incorrectly. So...we'd all better think long and hard about this one. We can't just assume we've got God pegged. There is nothing more important, no higher priority for your life than for you to figure out who God is.

bless me?

2010-07-13T09:55:00.003-04:00

I am blessed beyond all reason. And so are you.

So why is it we are constantly praying for God to bless us? Why has "God bless America" become our motto?

This is not the Biblical example for prayer. The Biblical example includes mostly thanking God for already blessing us and asking Him to simply give us what we need.

Maybe the problem is that we define "needs" differently than God does.

Or maybe the problem is that we tend to come to God right before we do something and ask Him to bless it instead of allowing Him to guide our decisions in the first place. It's "Hey God, this is what I'm doing, so bless it" vs. "God, I want to bless YOU with all my decisions and with the way I live my life, so please guide my every step."

See, if you do it the second way you don't NEED to ask for God's blessing. If He has lead you to where you are, He's already in it and IS blessing it. All you're energy can be used to thank God for already blessing you and to figure out ways you can point all the attention back to Him.

The Bible doesn't say to invite God into your plans.

It says to follow His plans (which are already blessed).

FYI, Louie Giglio talks about all this in such a powerful way...you should really listen to this.

for the love of God

2010-07-07T09:01:00.004-04:00

If you were to ask the average Christian sitting in a worship service on Sunday morning to summarize the message of Christianity, you would most likely hear something along the lines of "The massage of Christianity is that God loves me." As wonderful as this sentiment sounds, is it biblical?

Isn't it incomplete, based on what we have seen in the Bible? "God loves me" is not the essence of biblical Christianity. Because if "God loves me" is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?

God loves me.

Me.

Christianity's object is me.

Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for the music that fits me and the programs that best cater to me and my family. When I make plans for my life and career, it is about what works best for me and my family. When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will choose according to what is best for me. This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture.

But it is not biblical Christianity.

God loves us for HIS sake.

This may come as a shock to us. You mean that God has an ulterior motive in blessing us? We are not the end of His grace? And the answer Scripture gives is clear. Indeed, we are not at the center of His universe. God is at the center of His universe, and everything he does ultimately revolves around him.

Does this make God selfish? How can God's purpose be to exalt Himself? Whom else would we have Him exalt? At the very moment God exalted someone or something else, He would no longer be the great God worthy of all glory in the universe, which He is.

(from Radical by David Platt)

a message to my non-christian friends

2010-07-03T15:44:00.003-04:00

I feel like some of you might quite possibly find my blog offensive. I'm always posting it on Facebook and I often wonder if some of my non-Christian friends are just like, "SHUT UP! I'm SO sick of hearing about your faith...that I don't share. I wish you'd just respect MY beliefs and not shove your religion down my throat." After all, I'm rather upfront about my convictions and don't really hold back. And I talk about Jesus a LOT.

I guess I just want you to know that my goal is not to offend you. That I care. That I'm in no position to judge you and would never try to. And that I'm not trying to shove anything down anyones throat. If anything, I hope I'm offending Christians, not you.

And I'm hoping that you realize that I write this blog and share my faith purely out of love. Think of it this way. If I truly believe that you need Jesus in your life in order to spend eternity with Him (as opposed to and eternity without Him), it would be incredibly UN-loving for me to not try to tell you about Him out of fear of offending you. You may find it irritating and rude, but nothing could be further from the truth (well...maybe the irritating part, but not the rude part!). I really would be a jerk of a friend if I DIDN'T talk to you about Jesus.

Even if you disagree with my beliefs, I desperately hope that you understand that one thing. I'm not trying to be offensive...I'm just trying to help. It's like discovering the cure for cancer and not telling anyone. I just can't do it. I've got to tell everyone I know.

Please know that you are loved. I have absolutely NO right to judge and certainly don't think I'm any better than anyone else or have everything figured out. Heck, I'm pretty messed up myself! I just want you to know the One who can save both of us. That He's real and it's not some story made up to make us all feel better. Frankly, what you or I think doesn't affect what's TRUE. And what really matters at the end of the day is what's true. Your or my belief or disbelief in Jesus doesn't determine whether or not He exists. So my real desire is for you to pursue TRUTH...no matter your background or bias or past run-in's with Christians and church.

It's because I care that I've got keep trying to tell you.

making disciples

2010-06-28T12:50:00.004-04:00

It's slowly occurring to me that when Jesus said "go and make disciples," He might have meant more than just helping someone believe who doesn't.

There are many who call themselves Christians who are not, in fact, following Christ. There are many who do believe in God, but are not actually disciples of Christ. There are many who proclaim that they love Jesus, but nothing about their lives (other than church attendance and clean language) would indicate that it's true.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

So perhaps "making disciples" includes helping such Christians to learn to apply their faith. Perhaps it can mean helping believers see that Christianity is so much more than believing in Jesus. It's living for Jesus. It's hard. It requires sacrifice. It takes discipline. It demands action.

"...go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Mt 28:19-20)

the Church

2010-06-21T12:47:00.004-04:00

There are a lot of Christians these days who are burnt out on Church. There is a movement of believers who are so sick of the apathy and luke-warmness and "show" of Church that they are completely abandoning it. They think, "all the churches are screwed up, so I'm done. I still believe and all, but I just can't do the church game any more."

And some of the concern is legit. To be honest, I get pretty fed up with Christians too (here comes my time to rant...beware!) There are days where I just get really tired of it all. Tired of the Christians with a severe lack of enthusiasm for the One they conveniently call "Lord," but don't really let Him lead their lives. I get tired of feeling like there are very few people who are actually living what they read in Scripture...if they're reading Scripture at all.

For a lot of people, Church and faith have ceased to really be about God and have really become more about "ME." We are consumers. We want everything on our terms and done our way. And if one Church isn't living up to our expectations, we'll pack up our things and move to the next one that we think will provide all our needs. Because heaven forbid we attend a church that doesn't think exactly what we think or have all the right programs, music styles and humor/serious quotient.

And even for the people that stay in one place, it still seems like there's such a lack of authenticity. Of genuine love for our Creator. It's as if people go to church, week after week, even serving with a smile on their face and a genuine love to be there. But outside of church, nothing about their lives stand out. They're not doing anything for God that really takes any faith. And they aren't going out and making disciples. I mean, isn't it rare to find people who are consistently and eagerly sharing the good news about Christ with people? Heck, I'M not very good at it...and that frustrates me.

And yet, like it or not, the Church is everything. It's the Body of Christ, collectively, not just some random building. It's the method He's chosen to spread the incredible, life-altering news about the grace and freedom He offers through the cross. It's meant to be our support system, to build each other up in our faith. This is the same Church that Jesus founded through Peter saying, "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt 16:18)...which means you're stuck with it! This is the same Church that Jesus was so passionate about that He made a whip and turned tables on end to drive people out who were making a profit out of it. "His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'" (Jn 2:17). Jesus Himself loved the church so deeply that He acted in outright rage when He saw it being abused.

This is the same church that Jesus loved SO much that died for her (Eph 5).

So yeah...we're definitely a group of screwed up people. But we're a group of screwed up people who are designed to do life together. Mistakes and all. No church does everything right or meets all the needs (and most definitely, no church meets all the preferences!) But please...for Christ's sake...don't give up on the Church. Maybe we should spend our efforts earnestly PRAYING for our Church and SUPPORTING it instead of picking it apart. We'd be much stronger if we'd stop tearing each other down.

I want to live BOLDLY and adventurously for Christ and be willing to die for His Church. I desperately want to be used by God to further His Kingdom. I want for everything about my life to point to HIM. I want to read His Word with passion and to apply it to my life no matter how crazy it may look or how hard it is. I long to hear God to say in the end, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

It's not easy...especially with so much negativity and apathy in the Church. But I for one believe it's still worth fighting for.

punishment

2010-06-16T15:26:00.004-04:00

I'm curious. For those of you who believe in God...

Do you believe that God punishes us right here and now (not just at the end) when we disobey Him? I'm not talking about consequences. Of COURSE there are consequences for our decisions. But I'm talking about God actually stepping in and DOING something right then and there to punish us.

Any Scriptures you can find would be just swell. I want to know what you all think. I know which way I lean...I've been studying this concept quite a bit and have a lot of thoughts).

(Do I even have enough readers who are willing to comment on this?! Hmmm...not sure...)

redifining "missionary"

2010-06-11T15:05:00.003-04:00

"I've been challenged by the example of other churches to study my local community with the evangelistic intentionality of a missionary. To ask questions like "If I were a missionary to another nation, how would I view my life? What decisions would I make about where I live or how much I need to live on? Where would I spend my time so I could form friendships with unbelieving people? What would I seek to learn about the culture so I could befriend and clearly communicate the gospel? What are the idols and false gods people are worshiping?

"Ask these questions, and then apply them to your current location. The mission field is right in front of you. Imagine how this kind of evangelistic urgency could be used by God to touch your campus, workplace, neighborhood, and community."

(from "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris)

how God sees you and why you should listen

2010-06-07T08:13:00.005-04:00

You may not care, but a guy by the name of Justin Rose won the Memorial golf tournament yesterday. It was his first win on US soil (he's English, I think). I didn't really watch hardly any of it, but I happened to turn to it when he was walking off the 18th green to be greeted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. And then by his wife and his son. He held his little boy up in the air, absolutely beaming, and his kid immediately broke out in a round of applause for his dad. Which only made Justin Rose smile that much bigger.

Apparently I was the only one who thought it was cool, because I can't find a picture of it this morning...but what a proud moment as a dad. I can't wait for moments like those.

And I was thinking about how his son really has no idea that his dad is an international golf star and celebrity. That he's a really big deal. All he knows is that he loves his dad, and that's all that really matters. Think of him putting the pieces together as he gets older and starts realizing just how amazing his dad is.

This morning, I was reading in a Joshua Harris book called "Dug Down Deep" where he was talking about God being our father. "When God saves us, he doesn't merely forgive us or ransom us from sin; he adopts us (Ephesians 1:4-5). In love, he makes us his children. He grants us all the rights and privileges of natural-born children."

I think it's this father aspect of God that helps me understand Him the most. I was fortunate enough to grow up with an amazing father, so this is maybe easier for me than for some of you reading this. I have a dad that I absolutely want to emulate. One that taught me what unconditional love looks like.

Keeping in mind that God took me in as an adopted son helps me realize 2 things.

He loves me the way a real dad does. Unconditionally. God says to us: "I love you right now. You have a relationship with me that isn't changed by your performance. I am you dad. You are my son. Nothing can change that. I love you. I am always your Father." This helps a lot when you feel like a schmuck for screwing up. It's good to know that our dad just wants what's best for us...that He may be really disappointed or even angry because of some stupid act of rebellion on our part, but He'll never stop loving us.

My relationship with Him isn't about keeping a list of rules. I do what He says out of love and respect and trust. Because He knows more than me and wants the best for me. "Turning away from sin isn't about what I'm not allowed to do. I don't want what displeases my father. I want to love what he loves. How can I take joy in what grieves the One who has loved me with an everlasting love? I'm not trying to live up to some church standard or self-imposed standard. The truth of God's adopting love for me means I'm not obeying to get into his family or even to stay in the club. I obey because I'm already in. I'm family. There's incredible safety in that."

I don't think we really have any clue just how big our Dad is. We think we know...but we can't really grasp His fame or power. But as I grow up, I'm beginning to understand just how special and enormous He is. It makes me want to brag that I'm His kid. That He adopted ME. And I want to shout to world that if they're looking to be taken in by the ultimate loving Father, He's ready and waiting with arms wide open. No strings attached.

All I know that I love my Dad, and that's all that really matters. I think I'll just sit back and applaud, knowing that He's beaming simply at the thought of me being His kid...even if I don't understand just how amazing He really is.

perspective

2010-06-02T14:31:00.007-04:00

Sometimes I wish that I could watch my life from God's perspective. Don't you? I know...it wouldn't really be healthy in the long run or God would have set it up that way from the get-go...but I wish there was a way to never lose sight of the big picture.

If I could just look down on my life and constantly be reminded of God's plan for the world (and my role in it), everything would make so much more sense. I certainly wouldn't worry as much about stupid little things and I'd spend more energy on things that I should be concerned with. I'd stop wasting time. I'd help people more. Tell people I love them more. Tell people God loves them.

But from my viewpoint here amongst the crowd, things can get...well...cloudy I guess. It's a "can't see the forest for all the trees" kind of thing. When you see from our perspective, it's hard to consistently remember that God's got it all under control. It's hard to get our priorities straight because all we see is OUR lives and OUR problems. We know better, but we tend to forget that there's more to this world than what we see.

This past week, I got to hang out with a bunch of college students in Colorado. It's amazing to me how just 30 seconds of sitting on a boulder overlooking the mountains can clear my head. I'm so tiny. I'm just a speck on a mountain that I think is enormous, but of which is nothing compared to the size of this planet...which in fact is just a tiny part of our small solar system (which is a minuscule part of space...considering it's infinite and all). How can I possibly look at creation and not be reminded that God is infinitely bigger than me and that He clearly has everything in control? It's one of the reasons I love the mountains so much. They give me perspective. I'm instantly reminded of God's majesty and my role on earth.

We are ALL in constant need of this. And honestly, you don't need mountains to gain perspective (although, they ARE awfully helpful!). We have to consistently take time to be alone with God. In nature. Without the noise.

I know everyone learns and connects with God in different ways, but I have a hard time believing that there is a soul on the planet that doesn't need this. We MUST take time to get perspective. If you don't do this, you create a false reality. You think your life is going along well-enough, but your eyes are closed. And we must do this CONSISTENTLY (have you noticed a theme here?). To be reminded of what matters and what doesn't. To slow down and think. To sit in awe of God's power and know that He really is still in control even if our lives seem crazy.

I know I've written about all this before (many times actually), but I just can't get away from it. I'm lightyears ahead of where I used to be on this. And it would be really dangerous for me to play the comparison game because I don't hear much about other people really living this out. But I still don't do it nearly enough. I still fill too much of my time with noise, ensuring that I keep my perspective limited.

And it's really nobody's fault but mine. Who cares how busy I am? There are no excuses good enough. This is absolutely a top priority for my life (and dare I say it should be for you too).

I am vowing to get out in nature more...on a weekly basis...for some one-on-one time with my Creator.

What about you?

(You know you need it...is anybody with me on this, or am I crazy? Wait...don't answer that.)

make a difference

2010-05-11T08:19:00.004-04:00

I've got a plan to practically wipe out poverty. I'm quite serious! And with it, we'd also wipe out all kinds of disease. More people would be educated. And I think we'd all just get along better. What on earth could it be?!! I know, you're antsy for me to reveal my plan. So, without further ado...here's my plan to to practically wipe out poverty:

First: Everybody in the world with enough to eat would, every 3 years, set aside 10% of that years food for the poor. So, we'd all eat 90% of what we bought and we'd donate the remaining food to distribution centers around the globe. Think of how much food you alone would collect in one year! If everyone in the world did that, it would be an overwhelming amount of grub! And then, of course, the food could be handed out to anyone who had need. No, it wouldn't solve world hunger immediately, but I really believe it would make a HUGE dent. Millions of lives would be saved. And over a few decades, I bet there would be very little hunger compared to how it is now.

Second: Every seven years, everyone in the world would cancel all their debts. You laugh, but I'm serious! If you loaned money out, you would simply forgive that debt. And the money that was loaned to you would not be required of you. I realize that our world (and especially America) is built off the idea of loans and that we're talking about billions upon billion of dollars...and that this will never happen. We're too greedy and too used to our lifestyles to do something so radical. And it only works if everybody does it. But imagine if the law demanded it. World-wide. Sure, initially there'd be a lot of people and companies really hurting. But over time, I bet we'd think twice about "loaning" something out and people and businesses would learn to actually live within their means. And the economy would smooth out dramatically. Yay! It wouldn't be perfect, but we certainly wouldn't be in the mess we're in today!!!

Third: Everyone learns to simply give to people in need, without expecting anything in return. Okay, so this one would require a change in attitude instead of a law demanding that something happen...but it sure would flip things upside down! Actually, the fact that it would NOT be demanded would be part of what would make it work. There's a joy that comes with unselfish giving. Peoples' needs are being met and you wouldn't be secretly thinking, "Errrg. How do I know I can trust them with this money? They don't deserve this! They'd better repay me...or at least show some gratitude!" Nope. None of that. Just pure and generous giving when you see a need. I dream of living in a world where people would give so freely and not be so tightfisted.

Okay, okay. So I didn't come up with these ideas. You got me! But they're good, aren't they?!! And I really think they'd work. After all, God came up with them.

Deuteronomy 14:28-15:11

Here's the thing. After the fall, God put a plan in place so that people would be taken care of. So that people would not go hungry or be in need. We're supposed to take care of each other...and not just the people that we like. Everyone. But look at the world we live in. It's not pretty. And think of how different things would be today if everyone always lived by those guidelines God set up in Moses' day! Wow. If only we'd listen and trust that His way is better...

But get this. While our government certainly isn't going to make any laws that people cancel their debts every 7 years, you and I can still do the first and third things. Why not save 10% of your groceries and help people with it? That's pretty simple, isn't it? It won't save everyone, but it will most certainly make a difference in people lives and it might even save some. And we could all certainly stand to apply the third lesson and stop being so tightfisted when we see someone in need. Again, that's just a change in attitude.

Food for thought.

does God have a specific plan for your life?

2010-04-29T07:54:00.003-04:00

Ah, I bet THAT title got your attention, eh?! This is from Donald Millers blog for today (he's the guy that wrote the best seller "Blue Like Jazz" and several others). It's too dang good for me not to pass on... I'm not even entirely sure that I agree with everything he says, but I like that it makes me think.

I want to write an essay saying the statistical chance of God having a specific plan for your life is roughly 1 in 227. I’d base that statistic on scripture, because scripturally, for every one person God had a specific plan for, there were 226 He did not. Joseph was in, Benjamin was out and so on.

Okay, I haven’t actually done the math. It may be 1 in 250 or 1 in 95, but that is hardly the point. The point is we think God is going to tell us exactly what to do, but chances are, He isn’t. It’s just not a Biblical idea.

God does have a general desire for everybody, for them to be reunited with the Trinity through Christ, and for them to have food and shelter and relationships, but I don’t believe God has mapped out a plan for your every day, or even for your every year.

My friends who disagree and think God has a specific plan for everybody are mostly sitting around waiting to hear from God. Meanwhile, God’s plan for them, apparently, is to shop at Bed Bath and Beyond and quote the latest Saturday Night Live skit. Quite the plan.

I contend with this idea for a number of reasons, but the main reason is that I don’t think God is a control freak.

Imagine visiting a friends house for dinner for the first time. You sit down at the table and the father, who sits at the head of the table, tells each of the kids, and the wife for that matter, what and when to eat. Then he tells them what to wear to bed, when they will be getting up, where they will be going to college and who they will be married to. Later, you tell your friend you thought their dad might be a bit controlling. You secretly believe their family to be dysfunctional. But your friend is offended. They think it’s perfectly normal to want to please their father in everything they do. And they are right, it is appropriate to want to please ones father. The only problem is, their father is NUTS!

God, on the other hand, isn’t nuts.

If God is fathering us, He is helping us discover what is good, right, pure, and worthy to pursue. He teaches us morality and ethics, but also gave us a heart filled with desire and longing. It’s as though God sets before us a big sheet of butcher paper and hands us a box of crayons and tells us to dream.

I’ve a friend whose wife is a counselor who does this very experiment with kids she counsels. She gives them a sheet of paper and some crayons, and based on how they respond, she can tell whether or not the child has a dysfunctional relationship with their parents.

But I could be wrong. Here’s how you know, based on scripture, whether God has a specific plan for your life:

1. If you are a virgin and you get pregnant anyway.

2. If your donkey talks to you.

3. If an angel wants to wrestle.

If any of this happens to you, God is definitely at work. He also wants you to see a counselor.

And there are a few more. You get the point. If God has something specific for you, you’ll know, I promise. But if He is setting a box of crayons down in front of you (a box of crayons called life) then by all means draw. He’s taught you right from wrong, good from bad, beautiful from profane, so draw. He will be with you, proud of you, cheering you on, so draw. He loves you, so draw in the inspiration of the knowledge of His love. Draw a purple horse, a red ocean, a nine-legged dog, it doesn’t matter. Lets stop being so afraid. Lets live, and show the world what it really means to be grateful we don’t live in a dysfunctional family.

my life as a hippie

2010-04-26T21:49:00.005-04:00

I think I'm becoming a hippie.

As if it wasn't enough that I keep changing my facial hair, have a slight obsession with coffee shops and quite seriously would love to own an old VW van that runs on used vegetable oil, Erin and I have now started eating "organic" and shopping at farmers markets. Heck, we're even making plans to grow our own garden! And to top it off, I went to a simulcast last Tuesday that was all about Biblical reasons we should be taking care of our planet...made me want to stop using plastic bags and hug trees.

I'm not gonna lie. I always thought "organic" food had to be nasty. I equated eating organic with eating slightly chocolate-flavored tree bark. But the truth is, most of it's actually much better than non-organic stuff! Especially apples! Dang. Them are good. Granted, I will still never eat most of the uber weird stuff that people like Kim Smith eat, but I like knowing that what I'm eating won't preserve my body for several years longer than it should after I die.

Maybe you think that's weird. I sure did. I seriously used to laugh at people who did such things. I used think people just needed to relax and enjoy life! But things have changed.

Our kids will have been living on an organic diet. Imagine coming to America for the first time after living your whole life eating all natural food and being introduced to McDonalds! What are chicken McNuggets really made out of anyway? Is anything about a double quarter-pounder real?

We figured that if we waited for the kids to get here to change our diets, it would be an epic failure.

We've made some other changes as well. Even though we got rid of all but 13 channels awhile ago, we still had a habit of coming home and turning on the ol' boob tube. Not sure why...just purely habitual. We've been fighting that urge and spending the time cooking together instead...which has been stinkin' awesome and has led to great conversation and much better food (with leftovers!). And we sit at the stinking dining room table for crying out loud (why doesn't anyone seem to do that anymore?). We still watch TV of course, but only when there's something on we want to see. We're done with flipping mindlessly through channels just to have it on. We prefer conversation, thank you very much.

So maybe I am becoming a hippie...although I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go out protesting wars or tripping on LSD or drawing peace signs everywhere. But they had some things right. Love and accept everyone. That's pretty good stuff (although, I think they stole it from Jesus). I can dig it.

All I know is that I want to never stop growing and learning and becoming a better version of me. I want to keep forming healthy habits and fix bad ones. I want to make a difference with my life, not just go through the routines and follow the crowd. Most of all, I just want to be used by God to do whatever He wants me to do, 24/7...even if it looks weird to everyone around me. I don't really care if people think I'm weird.

If that makes me a hippie, so be it.

Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease.

camping trip journal entry - final thoughts

2010-04-14T11:29:00.003-04:00

I've been struggling since getting back from my journey to the mountains. For some reason, I feel this need to sum up the lessons of the trip in one concise thought. And I can't find it. I had SO many thoughts run through my head that I can't seem to narrow it down...and it bothers me. It just seems to me that there should be a bottom line to my trip. Something that I came back with that really stands out.

I guess the thought that seems to have been sticking with me the most since returning a week ago has been that I want to do more with my life.

By that, I mean I want to pour into people more. I want to help people more. People that I already know and people that I don't. There are many that would argue that I already do that, being in ministry and adopting and such...but honestly, I feel horrible at this. I'm no where CLOSE to where I want or need to be. Like I said in my last entry, I'm tired of sitting behind a computer screen when there are people I should be spending time with. I know that what I do takes preparation, but the balance is way out of whack.

I didn't get into ministry to spend the majority of my time preparing to do ministry.

And so I continue to stretch and grow. I'm making some changes in my everyday life that all stem from the simple idea that people matter...and they matter because they are created in the image of God and have a story. I want my life to be centered around that concept. I'm not here for me.

There is more work to be done. More people to help.

camping trip journal entry - day 2

2010-04-12T10:29:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, April 6th

9:12 a.m.

Last night was good. Really good. Read a decent amount in Psalms. Then Job. And then Matthew. All "The Message" version (I know, I know...not good for studying, but it IS great for reading in chunks and seeing the big picture.

The message of the Bible, what God wants from us, is really quite plain and obvious. So why do we miss it and get so distracted the majority of the time? It's stupid.

I also read some of "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua Harris. I think it will be a good read.

After that, I spent an hour or more (not really sure) just laying on the picnic table, looking up at the stars and talking with the Guy who made them. It was emotional. And needed. And it will most definitely happen again tonight!

Off to climb Table Rock mountain!

12:00 p.m.

On top of the mountain! SO BREATHTAKING. As it turns out, I'm really out of shape (so, it's quite literally breathtaking). Geesh. I decided about 1/2 hour in that I will NOT be climbing the mountain in Colorado this year.

It's SO quiet and peaceful here. Amazing view. Stead breeze. Fresh pine. Hawks soaring...below me.

People who don't believe in God are flat out stubborn. You cannot look at what I'm looking at and state with any conviction that there is no God OR that He's no good. It's only because people don't like the idea of God, mis-understand who He is, or think His followers are idiots that they don't believe. But He's made Himself quite obvious. People just aren't looking for truth.

Going to take some requests from home to the Big Man.

10:00 p.m.

Read the book of Romans and spent time under the stars again, praying.

Romans is an amazing book - just lays out the whole story for us. We're a mess...but God fixed it all, for good. We just have to accept His amazing FREE gift...and then live it.

It's all stuff I already knew, of course. But it's so good to just sit and read the whole things all at once and be reminded of the big picture.

A few things that stood out:

1. Am I REALLY serving others out of love, or is it really more about what people will say about me?

2. NO ONE'S opinion matters but God's.

3. I keep screwing up and God knows it. But His concern is more with my heart, not my actions. I need to be better about resting in His grace, and at the same time, fighting the good fight and consistently growing.

4. If I believe something is right or wrong, I need to go with my gut and live accordingly...no matter what the world around me tells me.

5. If other Christians disagree with what I believe, it's okay. Don't argue. They need to live by their convictions.

6. I MUST share Christ with more people who don't know the truth. I live in fear of rejection and it HAS to stop. People need to know. And if I care about them even a little, I'll face that rejection head on in order to help them. I am horrible at this is and ashamed.

7. I need to figure out a way to be around and just help people more in my ministry. There shouldn't be so much "prep" work and time in the office. It's needed, of course, but I think we're over-doing it. I feel a deep need to do less paperwork and more time just helping people. I didn't get into ministry to sit at a desk. I know our American churches work in such a way, but I don't think it's what God intended or what He wants.

camping trip journal entry - day 1

2010-04-09T16:14:00.003-04:00

April 5, 2010

8:00 p.m.

So my wife gave me this incredible gift for my birthday: A 3-day trip to the mountains by myself. My intent is to use it as an extended spiritual retreat of sorts. No computers, cell phones, ipod, radio. Just me, the mountains, a couple of Bibles and my journal.

The trip has not been quite what I've expected so far. Not bad I guess...just different. The 4 1/2 hour trip ended up taking 6 1/2. I stopped twice to fix the bike I had attempted (with limited success) to attach to the bike rack (which I had never used). About 50 minutes into the trip, it became quite obvious what I should have done. Amazing that the bike never fell off and that I didn't kill anybody! I'm such an idiot. From there I was able to relax a bit more, except that my left arm and knee were getting fried in the 96 degree heat. The car has no AC, so it was just a very hot, sweaty, sun-burning ride. There was nowhere to move my arm or leg where they would be out of the sun...although I'm sure it was quite a topic of conversation for the other drivers watching me try.

There were 2 serious accidents that slowed me to a halt for 40 min's or so each time, allowing the sun to REALLY bake me thoroughly. And there was a detour that added 1/2 hour or so. Oh, and I made a couple of (very short) mis-turns...hardly worth mentioning.

After all of that, I was within 1/2 hour of the campground when I passed a lady stranded at a busy intersection with radiator fluid pouring out of her car. To be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was help. I was hot, tired, hungry and anxious to get to the camp. And besides, I'm really bad at diagnosing car problems and I had no room in my car to drive her anywhere. But the poor lady was clearly stranded and nobody seemed to care. They'd just look straight ahead as if they didn't see her...much the same way people act when passing a homeless person. I pulled over, got out and talked with her, cleared my guitar / backpack from the front and miraculously shoving them in the back seat, and drove her...well...just a couple miles up the road and back to drop off whatever she had been on the way to drop off and then back to her stalled car where a fireman waited.

Her name was Abby. Probably 40 or so. Cursed like a sailor and didn't seem all that grateful really. She was just mad at the auto shop that had "fixed" her radiator 3 times. I'd probably be mad too.

That's what I want my life, my everyday routine life, to be like. Helping people who need help...even if I don't much feel like it. And certainly not for a pat on the back or to look good. And not even just because I know it's what God wants of me. But simply out of a deep love and compassion for people. People who need help (ummm...which would be every one of them). To realize that everyone has a story. To consistently lay aside MY wants and selfishness to put potentially ungrateful (but needy) strangers first.

Anywho, I made it. Set up camp, and got a shower (yay!). I ate a ginormous steak cooked over the fire, with a lot of mushrooms. Ahhh. Now I feel like I can think a bit more clearly.

I don't think I've ever actually camped all by myself, except for high school in the woods behind the cabin. I was surprised (and ashamed) to find myself feeling almost lonely...but more in the sense of feeling like everyone is looking at me because I'm the only one camping by myself. I'm not actually lonely...I don't think. I'm just thinking that if I were here with someone else, these kids around here wouldn't be looking at me like I'm some poor, lonely crazy bearded man, and dad's wouldn't give me that protective look of, "I've got my eye on you..."

Am I really still so insecure and shallow that I care about such things? I feel this need to announce to the whole camp that I'm a perfectly normal and like-able guy. Hmmm...that might backfire. Besides, the sun's down now and I don't feel like everyone's staring at me anymore.

And now that that's all behind me, it's cooled off and my belly's full, I'm quite in my element and anxious for what lies ahead. My purpose for this trip: To reach a new level of intimacy with God.

And I'd love to come down off this mountain with the secret to making it happen ALL THE TIME. To ALWAYS remain focused on what really matters and not to let the world or the people around me TAME me.

SPENDING REGULAR TIME GETTING TO KNOW GOD BETTER

SERVING OTHERS OUT OF A SINCERE LOVE

DEEPER FAITH / PEACE

FALLING MORE IN LOVE WITH GOD

A CONSISTENTLY FOCUSED LIFE

???

my birthday gift

2010-04-03T15:01:00.005-04:00

What it be like to head out on a camping trip to the mountains for three days, by yourself...with nothing but a tent, a bag of clothes, a Bible, journal and guitar?

No noise. No ipod. No cell phone. No computer.

For some you reading this, you can't imagine anything much more miserable! For you, this would be your idea of hell. Or maybe you think it would be great...for about 2 hours. For me, 3 days of solitude in the mountains is a little slice of heaven. And it's my birthday gift from my bride (props to the ever-amazing Erin Kay Smith!!!). I head out Monday morning for the mountains of South Carolina and a true "spiritual retreat."

I crave time alone with God. I crave to be immersed in His creation, without distractions and noise. And as much as I truly love technology, I can't wait to get away from it for a few days.

And yet I'm well aware that I cannot live my entire life that way. This is temporary. God did not redeem my life so that I could stay tucked away in the mountains without human contact. I need this time to connect with my Creator, but I've never understood the philosophy of the monks...secluding themselves from the world. We are called to be His hands and feet. We are His ultimate method for accomplishing things on this planet...helping those who need help, caring for the broken, poor, lonely, hungry, needy and lost. So, as much as I can't WAIT for this trip, I know I'll come back all the more ready to serve and work.

I'll be spending a LOT of time listening and talking with God. I kind of feel like Moses saying this, but I want to take your requests to God up on the mountain. So, what do you need prayer for? I promise, I'll take it to Him. Just let me know! You've got until 9:00 a.m Monday morning...then all the noise goes away.

the meaning of easter

2010-03-31T08:54:00.004-04:00

I think most people tend to get the wrong picture in their head when they hear the word "Jesus." I mean, we generally tend to think about a painting, right? Of a nice, gentle, cuddly Jesus, petting sheep or something. It's like we think of Jesus as a great guy who probably got beat up a lot because he was so gentle and humble and kind. We seem to focus only on the passages that talk about the gentle, loving side of Him. Have you ever noticed that when Jesus talks about Himself, it's usually about His power and authority and boldness?

You can't take one BREATH without Him.

Scan through the book of Matthew. You'll see His boldness everywhere! One of the first things He does in his first ever sermon is call out the revered and widely respected religious leaders...right in front of them. He says "I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." In other words, He said (with them standing right there!) that if people lived like those leaders, they'd go to hell. And He was flat out telling the great and mighty preachers of the time that they were going to hell.

As you keep reading, you find Him talking about things like how HE is the one who gives the thumbs up or thumbs down on who makes it to heaven (7:22-23; 10:32,33). And He speaks so powerfully that "the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law" (7:28-29). In chapter 8, his disciples are freaking out because they think their all going to drown in a boat at sea when Jesus wakes up and rebukes the winds and waves. "The men were amazed and asked 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"

He heals two violent scary demon-possessed men as if it was nothing...demons who saw Jesus passing by and shouted out "What do you want with us Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" And of course, He heals people of all kinds of stuff. Oh, and He does tiny little things like forgiving their sins. He condemns whole cities. He corrects the religious leaders about the sabbath and how it works saying that HE Is the "Lord of the Sabbath." He says He has legions of angels at his disposal. He walks on water. He makes a whip and drives people out of the temple. I could go on and on and on...but you get the idea. He's big. He's powerful. He strong. He's bold. And He makes the rules.

And yet, in 26:67 it says "Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, 'Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?" 27:28-31 says "They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him."

Quite the turn of events. It's like watching a movie without really paying attention only to look up and find the strong, powerful hero of the story (who seems capable of anything) is suddenly getting the crud beat out of him. What? DO SOMETHING! And He could have, of course...but He chose not to. Back when Jesus was being arrested He told Peter, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" (26:53-54)

But don't worry. There's still chapter 28. I love how the women go to the tomb only to find Jesus' body gone and an angel sitting on top of the stone saying "Don't worry. It's okay. Didn't He tell you? He conquered death! Go tell the disciples!" And as they are running back to town, Jesus shows up and says, "Hey" (vs 9). How cool is that?!!! And before He returns to heaven, He says "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to ME."

Look. Easter comes with a lot of amazing messages and reminders for us. It is a (TRUE) story of hope and redemption and freedom. You can draw a lot of lessons from all that we just read. To me, it's not JUST about salvation (although, that would be more than enough!). It's about power. It's about boldness. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in YOU. That's insane! So what do you have to be afraid of? Seriously. And are you really still letting your "sinful nature" control you? Really? With the power living inside of you, you STILL think you can't beat it? Come on! Who do you think you're dealing with? Do you think God is weak and unsure and soft. He's the Creator of the Universe who conquered death and redeemed your life. That's the kind of guy I want in MY corner. There is nothing to fear, because He happens to be on YOUR side! There is nothing you can't handle. There is no temptation too strong. No sin too big for Him to forgive.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7)

how to change the world

2010-03-15T15:13:00.001-04:00

"Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you." (Col.3:13 - MSG) Are you even-tempered? Are you content with second place? And the doozy...Do you forgive the way God has forgiven you? Quickly and completely? Even when the person is a big jerk and doesn't DESERVE to be forgiven? Can you imagine what the world would look like if we actually APPLIED the principles of the Bible? Even just these three? Imagine if EVERYONE controlled their tempers. If NOBODY felt the need to be number one. Imagine if we ALL truly forgave each other quickly and completely, no matter who they were or what they'd done or how unfair it was...we'd just let it go. The world would be flipped upside-down! It would be a MUCH better place to live. And we'd be happier. Much, much happier. I'm going out on a limb and saying that it is not likely that the whole world will apply these three principles...or the rest of the life-altering principles of the Bible. But YOU can. You want to make the world a better place? You want to be happier? Then start by controlling your anger. Start by not fighting to be the best at everything or always having to being right. Start by forgiving people...I mean, REALLY forgiving people. Not just SAYING you've forgiven them while you secretly wish they'd have someone treat THEM they way they treated YOU! Why don't we listen to God and just do what He says? We're so stinkin' stubborn! If we'd apply even just these 3 things, we'd be so much happier...and it would begin to change the world.

your plans vs. Gods plans

2010-03-08T11:45:00.002-05:00

So I was reading this morning about the Israelites as they were about to FINALLY reach the promised land. Did you know that there were two tribes of people that literally came up to Moses and said, "Hey, we like it here. We don't want to go to the promised land. Can we just stay where we're at?" And Moses basically said, "as long as you come with us to help fight and take over Canaan, then okay." "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23) Come on! I mean, really? You and your people were promised this amazing land by God Himself 40 years ago, you're almost there and you say, "Nah. I like it here. It's good land for our cattle." But that's exactly what they did. Look at the maps at the back of your Bible and you'll find the tribes of Gad and Reuben to the RIGHT of the Jordan river...aka, the land God did NOT promise them. Don't get me wrong, they didn't SIN by doing this. They just missed out on God's blessing. They missed out on the incredible land God had promised them. After all He had done for them-delivering them from slavery, parting the Red Sea, leading them by fire at night and a cloud by day, making water come from a rock, and providing food that quite literally fell from the sky...they STILL thought they knew more than God. Idiots! What about you? You may not necessarily be "sinning" by choosing your path over His, but you you most definitely are missing out. Quit acting like your plan is better than His. Does He STILL need to prove Himself to you? Really? He knows more than you. Don't settle for YOUR plan. It's not as good as His. Just relax and go where He tells you to go.

what matters most

2010-03-06T19:34:00.002-05:00

My beautiful bride is up north visiting family, so I've had TWO full days with no schedule...in a row! Not sure if that will ever happen again since kids will soon be on the way (woo-hoo!), so I thought I'd better not waste them.

I've used the time for solitude, growth, and for a lot of food and coffee. I read a whole book in two days....not exactly a stunning feat, but a rarity for me! I watched some movies (Shutter Island was awesome!), listened to some sermons, got some work done, rode my bike, cleaned out the cars, did some crosswords, prayed some and thought a LOT.

The result? I can't remember ever being so clear-minded. Not that I've solved all of life's mysteries or anything, but the basic truth of who God is, why the world is so screwed up, what He's doing about it, and my role in the whole thing is crystal clear. I feel rejuvenated. I feel bold. My faith is stronger than ever. I KNOW what I believe and can tell you why I believe it.

And I'm beyond ready to put it in action.

Why is it that we allow the craziness of life to slowly numb us and blind us to what matters most? We KNOW what matters most, and yet we let daily life suck it out of us. Personally, I don't want to spend my life just running around trying to get things done. Yeah, it comes with the age and culture we live in, but there is SO much more to life! I want to keep growing and making myself better. I want to learn from my mistakes and actually change. I want to know God more and more. I want every second of my days to matter.

And you do too.

No one wants to wake up 20 years from now wishing they'd done more. No one WANTS to live a life of regrets...so don't. Yeah, things around the house need done. Bills need to be paid and your job may be very demanding. But don't neglect what matters most. God matters the most. And family matters. Your kids. Your wife. Your husband. Your friends. But also your neighbors. The homeless. The fatherless. The cashier at the gas station.

I could go on and on, but you get the point. God and people are all that really matter. And not just the people who are easy to love. ALL people. Do you really want to come alive? If you really want to experience life to the fullest, then stop making it all about you. Get on your knees and serve someone. Spend your money on others...but don't just hand some random homeless person a buck and move on. You won't really be helping them, you realize. You'll just feel better about yourself. Look them in the eye and ask them their name. They have a story. Get to know them. Get out of your comfort zone. Don't spend your life just checking off lists and getting things done. Spend time getting to know God better and spend time, REAL time, with people. Do the things you've got to do, but realize that those things don't really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Life is not about your job. Oe your nice little "to-do" list. It's about relationships.

I realize that now that I've had my nice little retreat, there is work to be done. People to be loved. I don't want to brush off the chance to hang out with a friend, or get to know someone better, or to help a person on the street just because I've got to get off to my next, "very important" thing. And yes...that happens even if you're in ministry. I'm thinking clearly and I'm ready to LIVE.

Anybody else with me?

rejection

2010-03-01T14:35:00.001-05:00

Over the years I've learned that no matter how much you try and live the way you should, you will still have people who don't understand. People who take offense to you. Sometimes it's because of a misunderstanding. Sometimes it's because they don't agree with you. And sometimes it's just because you're not perfect. Yes, it's true. You can be a really, really good person - always trying to do the right thing and people will STILL be upset with you. Gasp! And it hurts. Jesus went through this too, so you're in good company. For me, it helps to be reminded of that. In John 6, Jesus teaches some pretty wild stuff. The people listening and following him responded with "This is hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Jesus lays into them a bit and it says that "from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." Ouch. I mean, we're talking about God-in-the-flesh here. I can't imagine the temptation He must have felt in that moment to do something AMAZING to prove that He had every right to say what He was saying! Jesus didn't mess up or say anything wrong here...people just took offense to Him. And I think it hurt Him. He even turns to His 12 closest friends and says "You do not want to leave me too, do you?" People will be people, and rejection doesn't necessarily mean you've done something wrong. Maybe they've misunderstood you or think you've done something they disagree with...or maybe you DID do something wrong and dropped the ball somewhere despite your best efforts. But you can kill yourself trying to make everyone happy. Nobody likes to be rejected, especially when you are really trying to do your best. But what ultimately matters is pleasing God, not man. If you are giving your best to God, doing everything you can to follow and obey and grow and do everything in love...well...people will still reject you. But it's really okay. God's opinion is all you need to be concerned with. Keep focused on what truly matters!

relax!!!

2010-02-22T10:35:00.001-05:00

Up on our mirror in our bathroom is a verse I've committed to memory...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (Hey, I didn't even have to look that up to type it!) I can't even begin to tell you what a difference this verse has made for me since it's been on my mind daily! It's a great reminder to stop freaking out about things that don't even matter. And if they DO in fact really matter, give 'em to God. Let Him take it and relax. Experience the joy and peace God intends for you. And I love how Paul threw in the whole "with thanksgiving" part. It's like he wrote this down and went back to add "with thanksgiving" because it's such a HUGE part of not being anxious...to turn your focus from what's wrong and bad to what's right and good. Amazing how applicable and helpful the Bible is. I just don't get how people find it to be outdated and boring. I don't imagine that people who feel that way could possibly be doing much reading...or applying. So how about you? How are you with this whole "being anxious" thing? Do you give it God or tend to try to conquer the world all by yourself? Do you focus on what's wrong and bad or what's right and good? Do you focus on things that don't even really matter in the grand scheme of things? Are you truly at peace the way God intends?

cultural icons

2010-02-15T18:08:00.001-05:00

Last night at college church, Scott had everyone text the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "icon." We had answers that ranged from Michael Jackson to Oprah. From Tiger Woods to the Beatles. From Taylor Swift to Dr. Phil. Technically, what we're talking about here are "cultural" icons. According to dictionary.com, "A cultural icon can be an image, a symbol, a logo, picture, name, face, person, or building or other image that is readily recognized...In the media, many well-known manifestations of popular culture have been described as 'iconic', with some writers saying that the word is overused." So this is really about popularity. If you're so popular that the vast majority of people instantly recognize your picture and name (in a good way!) even after you're long gone, you'll probably be labeled as a cultural icon. And now that we live in a media rich society, icons are popping up everywhere. Word spreads fast when you're really really good at something, people generally like you and you are making the news. Of course, I don't think any person, Christian or not, would argue that the most popular and original icon is Jesus...although, John Lennon did say once in an interview that the Beatles were "more popular that Jesus." John, I respectfully disagree. Believe in Him or not, Jesus stands head and shoulders above all other icons and He always will. The Beatles and Tiger and Michael Jackson will probably still be talked about 200 years from now, but Jesus will always be bigger. He was the first and He'll be the last. Our world will NEVER stop talking about Jesus. Philippians 2:10 says it this way: "God lifted [Jesus] high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father." Don't get me wrong...I don't think Jesus is really concerned at all about His iconic status. He's not checking His fan base or the latest opinion ratings survey. He existed before time, created everything out of nothing, and will always be. He's not exactly competing for popularity with the likes of Ringo Starr or Oprah.

the invention of lying

2010-02-10T19:22:00.009-05:00

I'm ashamed to say that Erin and I watched "The Invention of Lying" a couple of weeks ago. Yeah. Seemed like it would be funny. Nope. Should've looked into it before renting it!

For those who don't know, the movie takes place in a parallel universe where there is no such thing as lying. That is until the main character, played by Ricky Gervais, discovers that he alone can lie...which gives him incredible power. Everyone believes everything he says, because...well...if he says it, it must be true.

When his mom ends up on her deathbed and is in tears out of fear of dying, he "lies" because he can't stand to see her in pain. He tells her that she will live in a mansion and be reunited with everyone she's known and loved who has also passed on. He tells her there's no pain there. Just love and happiness. His lie is overheard and everyone is amazed, and soon the whole world is waiting anxiously to hear more. Eventually, He tells the mother of all lies and says that there is a "man in the sky" who watches us and decides whether we go to a good place or a bad place once we die based on how we live.

And it gets much worse and much more sacrilegious. It just wasn't funny.

In an interview, Gervais (who is both the writer, director and star of the movie) said, "I've been an atheist all my life. But I always knew that my mum asked me when she was dying if there was a heaven, I'd say yes. I'd lie...I think it's how religion started--as a good lie."

I think that's a pretty common belief. That people believe in God because it makes them feel better. That "religion is a crutch for weak-minded people." It's all just psychology, you see. Believing in God makes all the pain somewhat tolerable. It's just a coping mechanism.

And I can't argue that for some, this is absolutely true. There are people who never really think about any of it...they just like the idea of God and heaven and all the warm-fuzzies that come with it. I can see why atheists and agnostics think "religious" people are just being fickle. This theory makes perfect sense to the person who doesn't "buy" into the whole God thing. It seems ridiculous to them that there could possibly be a God, because you can't see Him and things are a mess here on planet earth. There's no proof. And by golly, if you're even half-way intellectual, you'd better have proof before you buy into anything. It's simply too good to be true.

Look. Just because believing in the God of the Bible gives a person hope and comfort is no reason to dismiss it as false. There's no reason to equate such people with gullibility. There's no denying that believing in the God of the Bible and His promises DOES tend to make a person feel good...but it's certainly not WHY we believe.

I'd like to believe that my wife is madly in love with me. After all, it makes me feel really good believing that someone cares so much about me. And I'd argue that there's plenty of proof that she loves me. I see it in how she looks at me and in all the little things she does for me. And history would certainly indicate that she truly loves me for who I am. My theory has been tested and proven...to me. I'm pretty sure I'm right about this. But technically, there's no real scientific proof of her love for me. She can't prove that she loves me...not really. But I know she does. There's no doubt in my mind. I'd stake my life on it.

Should I doubt her love for me because it's convenient and makes me feel good? Should I doubt her love for me because there's no scientific proof? Isn't it too good to be true? I mean, maybe I have just convinced myself that she loves me because I don't like the idea of her not loving me. Maybe I'm staking too much on this idea that she actually cares that deeply for me. Maybe I shouldn't have committed to this marriage unless I had some concrete proof of her love.

Or maybe I feel like I already have plenty of proof.

And don't tell me believing in God isn't the same as believing in love. They are synonymous. God = Love. They are both intangibles. You can't scientifically prove either (although, many scientists would agree that science actually DOES point to God), but you can see their evidence everywhere...it's just a matter of whether or not you accept it. And while both may make you feel hopeful and good, it's certainly no reason to doubt them!

Honestly, I'm not in this for ME and what I can get out of it. I've committed my life to this because I've seen plenty of proof. It's kind of ridiculous to doubt Him with all the evidence I've gathered. Maybe Ricky Gervais would find that awfully convenient, but I mean it. I'm not lying. I guess you don't have to believe me, but that certainly doesn't make it untrue.

the here and now

2010-02-05T12:35:00.002-05:00

Many of you may not realize just how brilliant my amazingly beautiful wife is. How could someone be so beautiful AND intelligent? I don't know. But she is. For those who don't know, we've helped start a college church on the USCB campus and we're taking turns writing a blog each day of the week. Erin wrote yesterday...it's too good for me not to share.

So I was thinking the other day while driving in my car about how it seems in life we are always waiting for the next big event. Jeremiah and I talk a lot about our adoption and how we can't wait until we can get our children, but we also talk about how we want to make the most of the time that we have while it's just the two of us. Are we excited for what God has in store for this next big step in our lives? Absolutely! Are we going to focus so much on what's to come that we forget about what God wants us to be doing right now, today? I hope not!

See, we have wanted children for a long time now. And I have to admit that there were times in my life where the thought of having kids consumed me. It was something that I longed for so much that I was missing out on what God had for me right there in that moment. In so many ways I am glad that I went through that time in my life. I think that I appreciate all that I have more and when we get our children I will realize even more what a gift from God they are. But when I think back on that time in my life I realize that I missed out on so much because I was so focused on the future and what was down the road for me. I missed out on so many opportunities that God had right in front of me because my focus was down the road.

So you might be wondering why I'm sharing all of this. I think that in your late teens and early twenties your life gets so focused on your future. Don't get me wrong, seeking God in your future plans is an incredibly important thing to do. But sometimes I think that you can focus so much on things like what job you are going to get, who you're going to marry, having kids, making a lot of money that you forget that God wants to do something in you and with you right now. I think that our society puts so much pressure on success. For men I think there is a huge amount of pressure to be successful in your job and to make a lot of money. For girls I think that you get a lot of those same pressures but you also get more pressure to get married and have kids. I spent a long time feeling out of place because most of the women in my life had children, I felt like I wasn't all that I was suppose to be because we didn't have kids. I have friends my age that are still single and have had constant pressure to feel like they aren't who they should be unless they are married.

My thought in this whole thing is as you focus on your future plans don't forget about the here and now. This time in your life is so unique, a time that God can use you to do things that you will not be able to do once you have a career, get married, have kids. Be open to what God is calling you to do today to make a difference. Maybe it's an unpaid internship that you've been thinking about taking even though it doesn't make much sense financially. Maybe it's spending your summer in Africa or Haiti, loving people that are so desperate for love. Maybe it's loving that roommate that gets on your nerves every day. Maybe it's simply living a life that brings glory to God and when people look at you they see evidence of God working in your life. Think about it, pray about it. Don't just let God lead your future, let Him lead you today.

entitled vs. entrusted

2010-02-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

(from "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Sterns)

...it is not our fault that people are poor, but it IS our responsibility to do something about it. God says that we are guilty if we allow people to remain deprived when we have the means to help them. It is our moral duty to help our neighbors in need. We cannot look at their situation and simply say, "Not my problem." Neither can we sit smugly in our comfortable bubbles and claim no responsibility for the disadvantaged in our world. God did not leave us that option.

The American dream often promotes this view of money: "I worked for it, I earned it, and it's mine to do with as I please." This suggests that we are "entitled" to any income that comes to us because we worked for it. But that's not what the Bible tells us about our money or possessions. In fact, the biblical view of our resources is just the opposite. It teaches that all we have or receive comes from God; He has simply entrusted it to us. There's a big difference between ENTITLED and ENTRUSTED.

LOVE ME!

2010-01-25T16:32:00.000-05:00

I've always found it difficult to teach about the #1 commandment. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." - Deut. 6:5

Really? Can you COMMAND someone to love?
Apparently, if you're God, yes you can.

But how? How do you learn to truly love God with everything? I mean, I can't just walk up to you and say, "LOVE ME!" and expect that you'll be able to do it. Maybe you could tolerate me or even like me a lot, but to love me with everything you have? To be willing to lay down your life for me? Let's be honest, I can be pretty unlovable sometimes. I'm messed up and I'm wrong about stuff all the time, just like you. I have no RIGHT to command you to do ANYthing, yet alone to love me!

Then again, if ANYone could COMMAND you to love them, it would have to be God, right? Just because you don't always see eye to eye with Him doesn't make Him unlovable. After all, He's GOD. Creator of everything. If you disagree with Him about something, it's just possible that He's right and you're wrong.

So how do you fall in love with God?

I think it starts the way any relationship starts. You get to know Him. Would Erin and I have fallen in love if we never took the time to get to know each other? I'd have seen her from a distance, and noticed her undeniable hotness...but love? And if my wife can love me the way she does, with ALL my imperfections, then it only makes sense that the more we learn and understand about the one and only PERFECT God, the more we'll fall in love.

Okay, so maybe you don't think He's so perfect.
But that's because you don't know Him very well.

God's command to love Him is not egotistical. He happens to BE perfect and is therefore deserving of such love...unlike you, or me or ANYONE else. His command is also an invitation to get to know Him.

So take some time to sit and talk with Him. Ask Him to help you understand Him better. Dust off your Bible and find out what you can about Him. Come to places (such as The College Church!) where people are talking about Him. And talk about Him with other people who are also trying to figure Him out.

But please understand that love takes time. You won't wake up the next day, head-over-heals in love, just because you read a chapter in the Bible. Kudos to you for doing so, but don't expect a tingly feeling right away. Just take some time to get to know Him. I'm telling you, the more you understand how unbelievably GOOD He has been to you, the more you can't help but falling for Him.

chatting with God

2010-01-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

We just don't get it.

Prayer, that is. Maybe you've misunderstood it or thought it was something it's not...or maybe you feel like it has to be all flowery and sound just right before God will hear you.

But in all honesty, God doesn't care how you sound. It's not about using a bunch of "Thee" and "Thou hast..." and "Thou shalt..." phrases. It's not about where you're at, who you're with, or what time of day it is. It's not even about standing or sitting in just the right position, or about holding hands! I mean, I feel like some people treat prayer like they're trying to call God on a cell phone with bad reception...that if they'd just walk outside and up a hill...and stand on one leg...and talk loud enough, MAYBE they're voice will get through...if God's not in a bad mood.

Look, God created EVERYTHING out of NOTHING. I think He can hear you just fine. And you don't have to talk with anything but ordinary, everyday language. And He doesn't struggle with mood swings.

You know what He cares about? You know what matters most about prayer? Your HEART.

Just be real with Him. He knows what you're thinking anyway, so don't try to hide if you're angry, confused or doubting. I mean, SERIOUSLY...you and I get to talk with the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE anytime we want! Why don't we get that? Why do we act like that's no big deal?

So take some time today to chat with the all-powerful God. He's a "come-as-you-are" kind of guy.

back to my roots

2010-01-13T11:19:00.003-05:00

I think I've been having a bit of an identity crisis as a blogger.

I read a lot of other blogs. And the truth is, it seems everyone can write these days. They're clever and well-written. And there's a billion of them. To be honest, what I'm offering seems...well...lost in the shuffle. I know, I know...poor me!

Hence, my lack of posts lately. I think, "What could I possibly offer? Who's really going to read this? Maybe I should try to be more clever...or funny...or serious. Why did I start this whole blog thing in the first place?"

And then it hit me. I need to get back to my roots.

Look. I'd be lying if I said it didn't matter to me if anyone ever reads this. And I'd be lying if I said that I don't care if people don't find it to be a good read.

But this was never about me.

I enjoy blogging. It helps me sort out my thoughts. And I don't want to get caught up in comparing my blog with all the others. This blog, my friends, isn't about me. It's about the God of the Universe. I don't want to get sucked into worrying about who's reading and what they think. No offense...it's just that what you think of ME doesn't matter. Not really. All that matters is what you think of God.

Maybe there are only two people who will read each post. One, a follower of Christ and the other, a beautiful soul who hasn't really decided if they believe all this God stuff. In either case, I want to make the most of each post.

I started this blog hoping to get people, Christian or not, to THINK. It's just too easy to go through everyday life, going through the motions. I refuse to let that happen to me. And I want to challenge others to not let it happen to them either. THAT is why this blog exists.

If you're the one Christian reading this, my question to you is: Are you really LIVING, or are you just trying to get by each day? To me, it seems that most of us are totally missing out on the life of adventure and faith and joy that God calls us to! For crying out loud, WHY?!! For some, it's because you're too stinkin' busy (yeah, I said it!). For others, it's because you're too tired. For some, it's because you're so focused on yourself and what you DON'T have that you don't even realize what you DO have. Many are so busy always putting all of their hope in the NEXT stage of life that they will never experience what God is doing NOW. We make life about us. Sorry, but it's true. Can I just ask you then, how can you expect the Holy Spirit to move in you? Sadly, our lives end up looking pretty much look like everyone else's. Pretty sure that's not what God intended. I promise you, life with God - truly being led by His Spirit - is ANYTHING but mundane and routine!!! If you're in survival mode, can I just challenge you to get on your knees and BEG for Him to wake you up?!! Beg for His Spirit to really take over. Step out in faith...for real. Trust Him. He's big enough.

If you're the one non-follower reading this, my question to you is: What are you doing to figure out for sure what's real and what isn't? I'll keep this one simple. If you're in this in-between stage where you just don't know what to think about it all, figure it out. After all, the answer to this question about God will affect EVERYTHING. Every decision you make. How you react to tragedy in your life. How you view death. Understanding your purpose on this planet. There is no greater decision you could possibly make. So figure it out. Crack open a Bible and start reading. Ask a Christian who's not off their rocker for some help understanding it. Go sit out somewhere in nature, turn off all noise-making devices, and think for awhile.

Ah, it feels good to get back to why I started this in the first place.

Sorry for the detour.

nuggets of chocolaty caramel goodness

2009-12-10T08:09:00.003-05:00

God's been teaching me too much to share all the details with you. I'd like to, really I would. It's not that I'm being a snob and hording all the intel for myself. Really. It's just that I can't even wrap my mind around all of it, yet alone explain it to someone else. Maybe you live near me and we can grab a cup o' joe at the Perk and try to figure it out together...but on the off chance that never happens, here are some nuggets to chew on:

1. We need to stop focusing so much on God's will for our lives. You can't be serious! Ah, but I can! This is a concept from Francis Chan's new book, "Forgotten God" that I find fascinating. The point is that God's will for your life is to follow what He's telling you to do that day. Don't worry about what's going to happen a year or 20 from now. Just know that He's got things He wants to do through you TODAY. Listen. Follow. Act. Sleep. Repeat.

2. Recognize what you've been blessed with. Always. We have a tendency to focus on what we don't have and ignore all that we do have. Seriously, I think this could flip your life upside down. Truth is, you may get 10 compliments about something and then someone comes along and tells you they think you stink. What do you focus on? And when you're freaking about life not going the way you planned, or even just your day not going as planned, instead of being Negative Nancy or a Grumpy Gus, try thinking through all the good things in your life. You know, like being able to breathe. Steak. Friends. Family. A house. A car. Oh...and grace. Follow Irving Berlin's advice and count your blessings instead of sheep when you're worried and can't sleep. Try it for 30 days straight and just see if you don't smile more and live a longer life.

3. The majority of Christians are totally missing out. For some stupid reason, we don't like to talk about the "Holy Spirit" very much. Mention God and most people aren't too offended. Mention Jesus, and a lot of people feel uncomfortable. But to mention the Holy Spirit really freaks people out. I mean, the HS is only for whacked out, overly charismatic freaks who mess with snake handling and spin around in circles speaking in tongues and then collapse on the floor for no "known" reason, right? Not quite. The Bible talks about the HS over and over and over. He's part of God, so don't write Him off. Before Jesus left this earth, He said that it was better for Him to go away so that we could all get this incredible gift of the Holy Spirit. Really? You're telling me that it's better for Jesus to go away and the HS to come instead? Yeah. Because Jesus was God living with us while the HS is God living in us. I'm telling you, if you've ignored the whole "Holy Spirit" thing because you think it's freaky, not only are you ignoring a HUGE part of God (not a good thing to do), but you're missing out on being led, comforted and empowered by God.

I could go on, but I think I'd run the risk of a bunch of you checking out so I'll stop.

Hope you have an amazingly swell day.

does God respond when you pray?

2009-12-03T08:09:00.003-05:00

I keep coming back to this concept that's all throughout Scripture that, if you really want God to respond to your prayers, you need to live in a way that honors Him. Not a difficult concept to grasp really...but it seems that so many of us get frustrated with God when He doesn't do what we ask, as if we're the ones in control and He's messing up.

The first question you should be asking before ever going to Him with your requests is, "Am I right with God? Am I coming to Him with these requests knowing that He's pleased with my heart and my actions?"

Peter hits on this hard in his letters. He even tells husbands to be considerate with their wives and treat them with respect SO THAT nothing will hinder their prayers. (1 Pet 3:7)

Psalm 34 says "He must turn from his evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

James tell us that "the prayer OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN is powerful and effective." (4:16)

Isaiah 58 basically says that we are people who SEEM eager to know God and what He wants us to do..."AS IF they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God." He says that if we really want Gods direction, we need to live right. We need to not make our requests about US. We need to "loose the chains of injustice...set the oppressed free...share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter." THEN, it says, if that's the way your living, THEN "you will call and the Lord will answer...you will cry for help and he will say, Here am I."

Look. It's simple. Living right with God brings power to your prayers. If you're not living right with God, your prayers are severely hindered.

If you are praying and praying for something and not receiving an answer:
1) Check your motives.
2) Check your life - both what your doing and NOT doing.

rice challenge

2009-11-09T15:17:00.003-05:00

In attempts to help our church members to get a glimpse of what others around the world deal with, we threw out the "rice challenge." We challenged our church to try living off of nothing but one cup of rice per meal, and water. We told them to try it for a day, and then try for 3 or for a whole week if they can.

Not gonna lie. I'm struggling.

And it's only been 24 hours. Seriously. I'm a pansy.

Maybe you didn't know this about me, but...I EAT A LOT.

But the message is getting across. We literally have all the conveniences in the world. If we're hungry, we just go to the fridge or pantry and get it. Or we run out to the store or gas station, or drive through a fast food joint to grab a burger. No big deal. Yeah, we "don't have the money," I know. But, the truth is, we do have the money. And so we grab our snack or a whole meal and don't think a thing of it. Our "hunger" only lasts a few hours at worst.

The majority of the world doesn't have that luxury.
When they're hungry, they just have to...well...not eat.
And when they DO eat, it's not much.

So as I sit here with my stomach growling and my head pounding from lack of food and caffine, I am brainstorming ways that we wealthy Americans can spend our wealth on those who need it around the world. I, for one, am not going to just sit around in our cushy lives while the world suffers. Can I solve world hunger? Probably not. But I CAN make a difference in MANY lives...and I will.

And so can you, if you're willing.
Don't tell me you can't...you CAN.

So now that I've learned my lesson, can someone get me a cheeseburger?

thoughts...

2009-11-03T09:20:00.002-05:00

If you go against the grain, you get splinters, regardless of which neighborhood you're from, what your parents taught you, what schools you attended. But if you embrace the way God does things, there are wonderful payoffs, again without regard to where you are from or how you were brought up. God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.

If you sin without knowing what you're doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you're doing, that's a different story entirely. Merely hearing God's law is a waste of your time if you don't do what he commands.

Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.

But...since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.
Having faith in him sets us in the clear.

God sets right all who welcome his action and enter into it, both those who follow our religious system and those who have never heard of our religion.

(selected verses from Romans 1-3 - MSG)

coffee fundraising!

2009-10-26T10:28:00.001-04:00

Love coffee? Or do you know someone who does?

We're SO excited to be able to announce a new fundraiser for our adoption. COFFEE!!! It's a really cool deal started up by a guy who has adopted in the past and understands firsthand the difficulties of raising money for an adoption.

Here's how it works. We have a website to sell coffee from (link below). For every bag sold, $5 goes toward our adoption! It's that simple!

There are 6 different beans to buy (including Rwandan...and I can tell you first hand that Rwandan coffee is AMAZING! I've also heard the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is amazing as well). We even get a percentage for any t-shirts, scoops, mugs, hats or bags that get sold too!

And FYI, 2 bags of coffee cost the same as 1 to ship!
You can even sign up for a membership!

Makes great Christmas gifts!!! (just sayin')

FOLLOW THIS LINK!!!

asking "is it true?"

2009-10-21T13:21:00.002-04:00

(well worth reading...from www.stuffchristianslike.net)

This is going to come as a shock for many of you, but I wasn’t popular in high school.

I know, I know, given the unibrow, constant braces, and tap dancing lessons, you would think that I would have been homecoming king. But that wasn’t the case. I was a bit of a loser. And by “bit” I mean “big” and by “big” I mean “wicked big.”

I just wasn’t popular and although I’ve committed to raising my own kids as dorks, I was taken aback when my daughter confessed something the other night at dinner.

L.E. is in kindergarten. After three years at a small local church preschool program, she’s started her journey through the public education system. And last week at dinner she told us, “Mary told Janice that I was a big, fat loser.”

She just threw that sentence out on the kitchen table in between forced bites of vegetables. And it sat there for a second, with my wife and I not knowing quite what to do. With big blue eyes, L.E. looked back and forth at as, silently asking a loud question …

“Is it true?”

She didn’t use those words, but that was at the heart of her confession. Someone had called her a big fat loser so she asked the people who have known her the longest, “Is it true?”

Am I big?

Am I fat?

Am I a loser?

Although my wife and I tried our best to talk through the situation with her and assure her it was not true, 10 minutes after we had conversationally left the subject, L.E. burst into tears at the table. She wouldn’t talk about it. When we asked her what was wrong she laughed it off and hid her face in her milk glass, desperate to hold it all together, but the question “Is it true?” kept pushing tears out.

That’s a tough question and I wish it was one that we all left in childhood.

But it’s not, is it?

If I’m being honest, I ask myself “Is it true?” sometimes when I get a negative comment on this site or a hateful email. Someone tells me I’m a horrible writer or a horrible Christian or a horrible anything, and I start to wonder, “Is it true?”

Have you ever asked yourself that question?

Has someone ever told you that you were fat? Or untalented? Or unqualified? Or hopeless? Did a divorce try to tell you that you were broken, a job loss tell you that you were worthless or a parent that you were less than the child they hoped for?

Have you ever found yourself asking the question, “Is it true?”

We all do at some point and the challenge is that we often try to find the answer to that question in the wrong place.

When I feel wounded or hurt, I often feel tempted to ask Google Analytics, a web traffic tool, if I’m any good. I want to open up my statistics and look at all the pageviews and say, “See, that’s not true. I’m not worthless, look at all the countries that have read this site.”

And maybe if you don’t have a blog, you go somewhere else for the answer to the question, “Is it true?”

Maybe you go to a memory, and try to relive a time in your life when you felt popular or loved.

Maybe you ask a new car or a new pair of shoes or a new anything your question.

Am I old? Is that true sports car?

Am I ugly? Is that true new outfit?

Am I dumb? Is that true new laptop?

And we ask and ask and ask, but regardless of the answer, regardless of if our loved ones provide a temporary salve to a question that hinges on our true identity, something gnaws at us.

The only thing I think we can do in that moment is ask the only one who really knows the answer to the question, “Is it true?” And that’s God.

He, unlike your friend, unlike your boss, unlike that shiny new toy you purchased to try to beat back the feelings of inadequacy, He knit you in the womb. He knows you like no other and He loves answering questions like, “Is it true?” and “Who am I?”

The Bible is riddled with verses where God gives us glimpses of who we are, but one has stuck out to me over the years. I’ve written about it before and I’ll write about it again because I heart this verse. It’s Isaiah 30:18. The first half of the verse says,

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.”

I love that idea, because it loudly answers, “Is it true that I am unloved” by saying, “No, God rises to show you compassion. He longs to be gracious. He gets up in the morning with compassion in His big God heart for small feeling you.”

I don’t know what in your life might have caused you to ask the question, “Is it true?” but I hope today, that you’ll think about a new way to answer it.

Regardless of why you’re asking that question, the answer might be:

“No, it’s not true. You are not that word, that thing, that label someone or even yourself is asking you to wear. Showing you compassion is the reason God gets up in the morning. That is what’s true.”

What have you been asking “Is it true?” about lately?

stupidity has consequences

2009-10-19T14:55:00.005-04:00

I don't get it. Why do we constantly make stupid decisions?

I mean, I think we truly desire to be known as good, honest, hard-working people. People who stand up for injustice. People who respect others and have earned respect themselves. People who make family a priority over jobs and money and selfish motives. People who don't talk trash about others. People who aren't lazy. People who are humble.

We want to be people with good morals, right?
Who value things like honesty and integrity.
Who can be trusted.

Even if you don't believe in God, these are things that most likely, you would like for people to say of you. But would they?

Why do we bend the truth to get ourselves out of a sticky situation?
Why do we tend to be lazy?
Why do we see injustice all over the place, but not DO anything about it?
Why do we get our priorities out of whack?
Why do we get so selfish and greedy and envious?
Why do we complain so much?
Why do we talk negatively about others?

Why? Because we make stupid choices. Sorry to be so straight-forward, but it's true. You and I make stupid choices. Admit it. We know better, but..."knowing is (only) half the battle. Sometimes we just don't care enough.

And stupid choices have consequences.

When did we get this idea in our heads that doing whatever we feel like will make us happy? Truth is, we desperately need discipline. We need structure. We need guidelines. And yet, we rebel against each of those things daily.

I read the first 12 or so chapters of the book of Proverbs today. For those who don't know, it's pretty much an instruction manual for life written by "the wisest man ever to live," Solomon (David's son). You should read it.

The Bible isn't just about getting to heaven...it's about how to live good, healthy, robust lives. To bring heaven to earth. According to Solomon (the wisest man ever to live), this is accomplished simply by living wisely.

I say "simply," but we're not very good at living wisely, are we? I'm not. Oh, I want the RESULTS of a life lived wisely, certainly...but I get sucked in anyway. I know what's right, but...well...that's just not enough sometimes. Why is that?

Life really would be better if you live wisely, you know? You'll truly be happier. Just make wise decisions and think before you speak. Seriously. It doesn't mean all your problems will go away, but I promise that if you don't make wise decisions, things will be worse.

Why do we think we'll be happier if we just do whatever we feel like?

And when's the last time you prayed for wisdom?

christianity 101

2009-10-01T22:47:00.001-04:00

If a person believes in a higher being who created all this, they are forced to believe either that He is entirely good or entirely evil. There is no in-between.

If a higher being created us without purpose or plan for life after our time on earth as the Bible and Christianity teaches, then it is nothing more than a cruel joke. We live, we die, and there is no point to any of it. Why would a creator do that unless they were entirely evil? Could there possibly be any good in them? Could a creator who put us on this planet to deal with all the frustrations of life (disease, hatred, murder, orphans, drugs, rape, wars, etc…) and no plan to ever do anything about it, be anything but evil? He either has a plan to fix things and get us out of this mess, or He doesn’t. If He has a plan, He must at the very least be good. If He doesn’t have a plan, it certainly brings into question His character to say the least.

Is it possible that the creator of all things could be kind of good and kind of bad? Does He have good days and bad days? Does He love us some days but is grumpy and vengeful the next? Is the one who created and is in control of everything in fact unable to control Himself?

See, I think a lot of people that believe in a higher power aren’t really convinced that He’s all that good. Even those who know better and profess He’s good still don’t act like He’s good all the time. I think people think He’s moody. They’ve seen too much evil in this world to believe He could possibly be entirely good. But you can’t ride the fencepost on this one folks.

As bad as things seem here on planet earth, it’s far from lacking anything good in it, right? The creator gave us incredible qualities such as love, beauty and music. We may have different ideas of what they look like, but no one can deny that these qualities exist in each of us. And if you believe in a higher being, then you must believe that we only have these qualities because the creator put them in us. The only motive for doing this would be out of love for His creation (us). Why else would He give us such amazing gifts? Would a creator give us the majestic mountains and the ability to appreciate their breath-taking beauty…just to be mean? Really? Just so we could have some joy on this planet in the middle of His evil scheme? And what about music? Why toy with us? Oh, and He instilled in us a sense of right and wrong…why? Every culture around the world that has ever existed believes that cold-blooded murder is wrong. Why did He give us all a sense of morality if morality doesn’t matter?

You may ask, “Okay, if He’s good and does therefore have a plan to get us out of this mess, why would He have not simply made everything perfect and kept it that way?” Heaven, in other words. Why didn’t the creator just make “heaven” and not mess with “earth?” Why would God make us endure the hardships and unfairness of life if He is so good and loving? This is where most people fall and assume He must not be all that good after-all. They just don’t get it. It’s the most common argument against Him – “Why do bad things happen to good people if God is so good and loving?” It seems like such a logical question, right? But it assumes that if bad things happen to us that God allows, He cannot possibly be good. Really? I mean, if God doesn’t have a plan to fix things, then yeah, how could He be good? In fact, as I’ve already said, I think He’d be downright evil. It’s just mean. But if He DOES have a plan to fix things, then isn’t it just possible that we’re not seeing the big picture and that maybe, just maybe there’s a reason He’s allowing these things?

The fact that we don’t understand why has no bearing on this truth and does not mean that the creator is evil. If He created everything, then it stands to reason that He knows more than us and that we only feel it is “unfair” because we can’t see and know everything like He can.

I mean, really. Does it sound even semi-logical to think that this a God who’s messing with us in some sick, twisted game He’s playing…by Himself…for no apparent reason other than that He’s evil? Does that even remotely feel right?

And consider the fact that evil cannot exist without good. Evil is the absence of good. To say there is evil is to admit there is also good. A “good” God can allow evil to exist so long as He has a plan, and still be good. But an “evil” God would have no reason to allow good.

So how would a good creator who actually cares about us, go about fixing things? The story of the Bible is the only thing that makes sense (don’t check out just yet).

God created the world, including you and me, perfectly and out of love. He actually wanted us to genuinely love Him back, so He didn’t force Himself on us or make us believe in Him, but He gave us a choice (hence, the tree in the Garden of Eden). Believe and follow, or not. It’s our choice to make – God’s not going to make it for us. But God knew, of course, that most would not choose Him despite His deep desire that all would. That all of us would turn our backs on Him at some point. And there HAS to be some kind of penalty for that. It’s not the sort of thing you can just let go if you’re the creator of the universe, no matter how much it pains you to do it and no matter how much you love your creation.

And so, before He even created the world, He planned on coming down Himself, living a sinless life and allowing Himself to be killed by His own creation only to raise back to life therefore conquering death. In other words, He took death on for us. He took the consequences of our turning our backs on Him off our shoulders and put it on His own so that the penalty which must paid was still paid. And we get to get to take on the sinless life that Jesus lived. That’s right. His perfect life becomes ours...if we want it.

And of course there’s more! He didn’t just save us from our sins so that we could walk around knowing we’re saved from our sins. That’s great and all, but we’d still live and die with no real point. But He’s also promised a life beyond this one. A life that is truly perfect and will remain that way forever, because God will finally have His world full of people who genuinely love Him without being forced.

That’s why bad things happen to good people. They must. The story of the Bible and of Jesus is the only way any of this is possible, you see. There is no other way for us to love God perfectly. There is no way that is, in the long run, better for us. Can you think of another way God could accomplish this? Do you really think you have a better solution? Do you think He should not allow anything bad to happen to us? Are you mad at God? Do you think He’s not such a good God after all?

Maybe it’s just because you’re not seeing the big picture.

God has a plan. It works. It makes sense. And, believe it or not, it’s the best plan for you AND for Him even though it costs both you and Him a great deal of pain. So He’s not just a good God. He’s beyond words.

(BTW, if you’re reading this and thinking, “makes sense…what do I do about it?”, or if you just have questions or comments, I’d really love to hear from you).

i've become the annoying guy who always talks about things you don't want to talk about

2009-09-18T14:06:00.004-04:00

If you read my blog very much, you may feel like just not reading it sometimes because I tend to focus a lot on how lazy and selfish we American Christians are. Nobody wants to hear that. But I make no apologies. I can't escape it. God is trying to get my attention. For what purpose? I don't quite know yet...but I feel like I'm being called to do more. I just don't know what it looks like yet.

Can I depress you with some quotes and very real stats again? "Why, sure Jeremiah! That would be great!"

"...if we were all poor, no one would be in a position to help another. But when some of the world is rich and the rest of the world is poor, it indeed creates a moral and practical dilemma."

"...We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies."

"More than 26,500 children died yesterday of preventable causes related to poverty, and it will happen again today and tomorrow and the day after that. Almost 10 million children will be dead in the course of a year...And even though we have the awareness, the access, and the ability to stop it, we have we chosen not to? Perhaps one reason is that these kids who are dying are not our kids; they're somebody else's."

2.6 billion people (40% of the world) live on less than $2 a day.
1 billion people (15% of the world) live on less than $1 a day.
Americans (only 4.5% of the world or .3 billion people) lives on $105 a day.

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality." - 2 Cor 8:13-14

"It is not our fault that people are poor, but it IS our responsibility to do something about it. God says that we are guilty if we allow people to remain deprived when we have the means to help them. It is our moral duty to help our neighbors in need. We cannot look at their situation and simply say, 'Not my problem.' Neither can we sit smugly in our comfortable bubbles and claim no responsibility for the disadvantaged in our world."

(These are all quotes from "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Sterns)

What's my point? We HAVE to do something about it.
That applies to those of you who don't believe in God too.
But we don't, b/c we're too stinking comfortable and would rather not think about it.

I used to think the people who talked the way I am now were crazy. That they needed to just relax and let up. Quit telling us these sob stories and guilting us into doing something. But I just can't ignore what God says about it. It's everywhere in Scripture.

If we read in the paper today that 26,500 American children died yesterday in plane crashes, we would be devastated. Our day would come crashing to a halt. Whole companies would shut down. We'd be glued to the TV. People would drop whatever they were doing to help comfort their neighbors and grieve with them. We'd do ANYTHING we could to help.

Yesterday, 26,500 children DID die. And it will happen again today. And the next. It's just that they're not OUR kids. We're distanced from the situation, so we say "What can I do?" and move on to our "busy" schedule and posh lives.

Why?

How much does this disgust God? He couldn't have made it more clear.

For those of you Christians who are just sitting there relaxing in your salvation and not letting it compel you to do something about this, you should know that God has a lot to say about that too. Read Isaiah 58. Read Matthew 25. Read 1 John 3:16-20. There's a BUNCH more obviously, but verses like these are passages we'd rather cut out of of Bibles.

Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?" (Luke 6:36)

He also said, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt. 7:19-23)

Jesus makes it clear that just because you acknowledge Him for who He is doesn't mean you're going to heaven. Sorry. I'm not making this stuff up. These are Jesus' words, not mine. I know they may make you angry and uncomfortable, but Jesus asks much more of us than just believing the right things. As James points out, the demons believe in Jesus.

Again, I don't know what that means for me yet...but I do know that adopting a child from Rwanda, Africa is only the beginning of our story. Frankly, this adoption is only a drop in the bucket of what we could be doing. Of course it's a big deal and a great thing to do...but we can do SO much more.

What are you going to do about it? How do you respond?

church the way God meant it to be

2009-09-14T15:52:00.005-04:00

(Selected lines from "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns)

Our post 9/11 world seems both too big and too hard for most of us; it's so much easier to retreat from them to take them on. On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded by friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world's violence, suffering, and turmoil outside--out of sight, out of mind.

But wait--as Christians, are we really given the option of turning away from the world's problems? Does God permit that?

Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God has always demanded more. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option.

Christian or not, you must not read this book dispassionately, as if you are somehow exempt from caring. All of us who live in this world share responsibility for takling the world's problems and showing compassion to our fellow man.

Jesus' heart was continually moved to compassion as He encountered the lame, the sick, the widow, and the orphan.

Despite what the Bible had told me so clearly, I had turned a blind eye to the poor. Now my heart was filled with anger, first at myself, and then toward the world. Where were the headlines and magazine covers about Africa? 12 million orphans, and no one noticed? Where was the Church? Where were the followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time? Surely the Church should have been caring for these "orphans and widows in their distress" (James 1:27). Shouldn't the pulpits across America have flamed with exhortations to rush to the front lines of compassion? Shouldn't they be flaming today? Shouldn't churches be reaching out to care for children in such desperate need? How could the great tragedy of these orphans get drowned out by the choruses of praise music in hundreds of thousands of churches across our country?

I have to admit that my own view of evangelism, based on the Great Commission, was about saving as many people from hell as possible--for the next life. It minimized any concern for those same people in this life. It wasn't as important that they were poor or hungry or persecuted, or perhaps rich, greedy, and arrogant; we just had to get them to pray the "sinner's prayer" and then move on to the next potential convert. Yes, it first requires that we repent of our own sinfulness and totally surrender our individual lives to Christ, but then we are also commanded to go into the world--to bear fruit by lifting up the poor and the marginalized, challenging injustice wherever we find it, rejecting the worldly valued found within every culture, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Christianity is a faith that was meant to spread--but not through coercion. God's love was intended to be demonstrated, not dictated.

When we become involved in people's lives, work to build relationships, walk with them through their sorrows and their joys, live with generosity toward others, love and care for them unconditionally, stand up for the defenseless, and pay particular attention to the poorest and most vulnerable, we are showing Christ's love to those around us, not just talking about it. Jesus clearly cared about addressing poverty, disease, and human brokenness in tangible ways.

"Preach the gospel always; when necessary use words." - Saint Francis of Assisi

resources and responsibility

2009-09-02T22:38:00.003-04:00

There's no doubt about it. In many ways, we are VERY blessed to live in America. We live in the wealthiest country that has ever existed. And there are certainly some incredibly dangerous and subtle ways that this fact may be destroying us. But I'll save that for another blog!

I know of people who have gone on missions trips and come back almost hateful toward America. And I know of many others who have gone on missions trips and come back with nothing more than, "Thank God I live in America" - but it doesn't change anything about how they live.

I say there's a balance (like there is with most aspects of life).

Look, the fact is that we DO live in America. And because of that, we don't have to do a lot of things that other countries do. We don't have to walk miles to get (and carry) water that may or may not be 100% clean and safe. We don't have to worry about things like starving to death. Did you know that 1 out of 13 children in Rwanda are orphaned? We don't have to worry about disease the way most other countries do.

But that's not a reason to ignore the people who DO have to live that way.

I don't think we have to feel guilty about the fact that we have a house with running water and food to eat. But we should be compelled to do something.

Imagine if all of us stopped buying more and more and more things that we've convinced ourselves we "need," and instead started using that money to help people across the world. Instead of buying the latest greatest whatever, we save a few lives. 5 lives for an ipod. Not a bad trade.

We can't just sit back and say, "Well, it stinks for those people. I feel bad, really I do. Wish I could do something...Thank goodness I was born here!" No, we HAVE to DO something about it!

We have the most money and resources.
Therefore, we have the most responsibility to do something.

There's more than enough food and money for everyone on the planet to eat everyday. It's just that we're keeping it all to ourselves...and having a blast doing it. We don't even give it second thought 99% of the time.

And this is the heart of God. It's all throughout Scripture. Those of you reading this who don't even know if what you think of God still probably feel compelled by this. But for those of us who believe, how much more should we act, knowing full well what Scripture says about this? How can we just not care? It's the complete and udder opposite of God's character, and yet we claim to be His children.

Why do you feel entitled to have all the nice things you have? Do you really deserve them? I know you want to feel okay about buying this and that, and on the surface, it's not really a big deal. But I for one cannot and will not. I don't think I have to starve myself or anything. I'll even take in a movie from time to time and buy myself some Starbucks. But we must stop comparing our lives with those around us and assume that we need more and better things.

We are not entitled to anything.

It's only by God's grace that we're alive.

rainy monday evening

2009-08-31T18:44:00.003-04:00

Rainy evening at a coffee shop.

Ahhhh...

It's been a good day. I actually have a week where I'm not gone for part of it. I think it's the first time in 2 months. So while I have a bunch of stuff to try to fit into this week, it's still going to be more relaxing than usual. Heck, I might even finish a book or something. Hmmm...maybe I shouldn't get ahead of myself.

Re-read the one chapter book of "Jude" this morning. Not gonna lie...it's a little odd...and inspiring all at once.

growth

2009-08-29T19:25:00.002-04:00

I never want to stop growing. I make a lot of mistakes...but it's really important to me to be able to always look back on my life and see how I've grown. One step back, two steps forward. Or sometimes, 10 steps back and 11 forward.

The last few days have been really good for me. When I wrote my last blog, I was having a hard day. I realized as I was writing that my real problem was that I hadn't made time with God a priority. I'm not talking about quick little prayers or a morning "devotional" thing. I mean REAL time. Time where I could shut up for awhile. Time where I could think. Time where I could listen.

So, I finished my blog and headed to the water.

The time I spent with the Creator of the Universe that night was powerful. It woke me up. And I realized a couple of things.

One - I needed to tell God I was sorry about a couple things. I won't get into all those details (geesh...nosy). Mostly, I need to repent of the fact that I hadn't truly been making Him a priority. Just kind of consumed with my own life.

Two - I realized that I had been letting other people's bad moods or attitudes drag me down. I normally don't let that happen - I don't think I do anyway. It seemed like there were a lot of people having a hard time staying positive that day/week. And it was affecting me. But I don't want to be the person who is drug down by such things.

God and I had a good serious chat. Those two or three hours by the water changed everything.

The next day, I got up and went to lead music for a retreat for Hilton Head Christian Academy.

And God was there too.
And He moved. He used me. He taught me. He stretched me. He deepened my faith.

I have grown. Again.

I want to be the person who's 90 and well aware of the fact that they don't have all the answers. I want to still be growing at that age and all the time in-between.
May we never stop growing.

My greatest fear would be to look back over the past 5 years of my life and think, "Man, I'm pretty much in the same place spiritually as I was back then." How sad.

After all, I serve a really big God. I'd be a fool to ever assume I have God (or life) all figured out.

And if I haven't got Him figured out, then I'd be a fool to not care enough to do something about it.

bad day...turning good

2009-08-25T16:49:00.004-04:00

Having a hard day.

It's amazing to me how being tired affects your mood so much.

For some reason, my body is DRAINED. I'm SO exhausted! And it truly has affected my attitude, even though I've tried desperately not to let it out. It's one of those days that I just feel like everyone's talking about me. I don't know if that makes sense to anybody, but I guess I'm feeling very defensive. Everything's bothering me. I'm irritable. And that bothers me! It's not who I am.

It's not like I have a bad life...not by a LONG shot. In fact, my life is unstinkin' believable!

Why do we get like this? Anybody in the same boat? Are you smellin' what I'm steppin' in?

I'll tell you why we get like this. It's because we don't take breaks.

I really just need some time to crash and think - some time to myself. I haven't had one of my "spiritual retreat" days in quite some time. Sure, I've had a vacation and days off with my wife. But I've not had time to process anything. Those times have been busy and not so quiet. I've had no time for sitting still and listening. No time to think. No time to pray.

But here's the deal. It's not REALLY that I don't have time. It's that I've filled the time with other things. Good things, but other things. I have been running around like an idiot, trying to do everything I'm supposed to...but now I'm running out of gas. When I pray, I'm pretty much saying "Good morning God..." and then my thoughts trail off and I stop talking to God. Can anybody relate?

Hmmmmmmm......

I'm realizing as I write this that I have the opportunity to take time TONIGHT...RIGHT HERE AND NOW. I had other plans...good plans. Plans to just be there for someone else. And I'll still do that...but later. Right now, I need to hang out with the Creator of the Universe and shut up and listen for awhile.

I CAN do something about this. It's not just a matter of getter more sleep. Really.

I'm heading to the water...

heaven

2009-08-20T09:15:00.003-04:00

It will be far better than anything we've seen.

So take a look out a window. Take a walk. Talk with your friend. Use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. But imagine it--all of it--in its original condition. The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers unwilted, the grass undying, the blue sky without pollution. People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed and empty. If you're not in a particularly beautiful place, close your eyes and envision the most beautiful place you've ever been--complete with palm trees, raging rivers, jagged mountains, waterfalls, or snow drifts.

Think of friends or family member who loved Jesus and are with him now. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. All of you have powerful bodies, stronger than those of an Olympic decathlete. You are laughing, playing, talking, and reminiscing. You reach up to a tree to pick an apple or orange. You take a bite. It's so sweet that it's startling. You've never tasted anything so good. Now you see someone coming toward you. It's Jesus, with a big smile on his face. You fall to your knees in worship. He pulls you up and embraces you.

At last, you're with the person you were made for, in the place you were made to be. Everywhere you go there will be new people and places to enjoy, new things to discover. What's that you smell? A feast. A party's ahead. And you're invited. There's exploration and work to be done--and you can't wait to get started.

(From "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn)

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those of us who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

I think there are a lot of people out there with a huge misconception of what heaven will be like. They think it's just sitting on puffy white clouds with harps singing all day. Ich. I don't want that, do you? I think that because of this misconception, there are a lot of people who aren't even sure they WANT to go to heaven! But the Bible describes it as SO much better than anything you could imagine. It's earth restored...the way God originally made it, and better. Perfect. We will still eat our favorite foods, visit our favorite places, and do our favorite things...but all the bad stuff is gone and we get to actually do it in the presence of God Himself.

I'm so ready.

But I'm willing to stay here and do whatever He wants me to do in the meantime. Knowing what's to come, what do I have to fear or worry about? Life gets really hard sometimes, but I'm only here for awhile. My home is not here. I'm an alien. I don't need to spend all my time worrying about making a life for myself here.

My life here is about serving others and going where He tells me to go, knowing that all the pain and hardships and "unfairness" of life here on earth are only temporary. Make no mistake...God has a plan to fix it all and you and I can't even imagine how good it's going to be!!!

making time for God

2009-08-18T08:55:00.002-04:00

Can I just be honest here? I'm an idiot.

I hate how my prayer life fluctuates. I pretty much always pray when I'm driving by myself (out loud...helps me focus...but that's another discussion). But lately, I seem to always have someone else in the car with me. Therefore, my communication with God has decreased severely...which is RIDICULOUS. It's ridiculous because I have not been making it enough of a priority to make time for it, even when my "schedule" is thrown off.

What's even more ridiculous is how much I NEED it right now. With all the stuff going on in our lives, I cannot afford to not be in constant communication with the One who has power over everything. I certainly don't expect Him to just give me what I want and make everything easier...I'm just saying that when the Creator of the universe offers to be your friend, you don't toss that to the side like it's no big deal. It IS a big deal. You don't just talk to Him when it's convenient and if you have time. You make time.

my day

2009-08-14T21:31:00.003-04:00

Great day with mom and dad.

Slept in.
Drank coffee.
Went to a coffee shop in Beaufort.
Drank more coffee.
Ate lunch at Zaxby's.
Went to another coffee shop.
Drank more coffee.
Headed to Hilton Head for an amazing dinner at the Sea Shack.
Walked on the beach at sunset.
Came home to find good friends at my house.

Thanks God for all the little things.

provision and patience

2009-08-13T12:40:00.002-04:00

Sittin' in my favorite coffee shop (The Gallery Espresso in Savannah). Doing crosswords, checking facebook, updating blogs, reading and sipping coffee. Aaaaaah. Did I mention mom n' dad are here? Not a bad day. Oh, and I had a huge breakfast at J Christophers. Mmmmm...

I can't even express to you how excited I am about this whole adoption thing. It's killing me that we have to wait for another year at least! Geeze! I guess it's okay...gives us more time to come up with the insane amount of money we need! I know people probably think I'm a freak when I see a cute little african american boy. I can't help myself. Just praying for provision and patience! Feel free to join me if you want!

knowing God

2009-08-11T21:20:00.003-04:00

So I was reading in 1 John 2 this morning. Really good stuff. Check this out...

"If someone claims, 'I know him well!' but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived."

Think about that. What kind of life did Jesus live? One of humility. One of sacrifice. It was a hard life. He was hated by a lot of people and was ultimately murdered.

Not exactly appealing, is it?

John isn't saying, "Hey, if you don't live a life of humility and sacrifice and just generally live a life where people reject you, then there's no way you're going to heaven." This isn't a "salvation" issue. This is entirely about how well you know God, not about heaven and hell. It's about how close you are to Him. He's saying that if you're really close to Him, you'll live like Jesus did. You'll sacrifice more. You'll give more. You'll put others needs ahead of yours. You'll obey what God says, not because you feel like you have to, but because you WANT to...because you trust Him...because you KNOW Him...and you know that He is good and His ideas about how to live life are better than yours.

See, I think Christians try to "not sin" because they're scared of hell, not because they know and trust God.

We should obey God out of respect and love, not duty.

And it's not that you never mess up. It's that your life is not characterized by your mess-ups. You're life becomes characterized by your relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Everything you do is because of that relationship.

servolution

2009-08-10T20:41:00.002-04:00

Sitting in a coffee shop (ah, one of our favorite things in the world!), working on adoption paper work. Just finished filling out a form with 19 questions about how we plan on dealing with the whole "interracial family" thing. Crazy! I think it's going to surprise me after a short time, when people look at us funny. I think we're going to forget our child's not the same color as us...until someone says something or is unashamedly staring at us!

It's been a good few days. Amazing time of worship Sunday morning...dang, I love our band! How many other churches cover U2? Hmmm?

Oh, and my ma n' pa are showing up tomorrow! We're really excited to see them!!!

Here's a challenge for you for the next 24 hours. We just started a new series at church called "Servolution." Obviously, it's all about serving. I realized that I spend a lot of time focusing on serving with the big picture of my life, but that I'm not so hot at the little things. I want to spend my life doing little things for people every day - taking care of someone's trash for them at a fast food restaurant. Giving up my seat. Helping someone carry a heavy load. Whatever. Anything! So my challenge to you is to spend the next 24 hours doing things for other people. Put them ahead of yourself. And come back to this blog and tell us about your experience!

a need for community

2009-08-07T13:24:00.004-04:00

My first blog I ever posted included the line "I want to keep this thing going on a nearly daily basis..." Ha! I was really pretty good at that...for awhile. But then we took the youth group to Panama City Beach, came back for 5 days of craziness, and left for vacation. Got back Wednesday. It has now been one month since I posted something!!! Yeesh.

My original motivation for posting something regularly was in part to create a sense of community. I want this to be a place where we SHARE - not just me sharing with you, but you sharing with me. I realized that somewhere along the line, I started feeling like I could only write something so long as it was deep and challenging and motivating. Obviously, I still want to post things like that, but I don't want the pressure, ya know?!! I want to just be able to sometimes write about random things - that may or may not have an obvious impact - just that helps us stay connected.

We need that, don't we? We're meant to do life together, not apart. We need each other.

So, I'm going to make a better effort to just stay up on this. Besides, it's good for me to get out my thoughts - you may as well be along for the ride! Sometimes things will get deep. Other times it may seem completely pointless. But it will be there none-the-less.

There are 33 people following this blog through facebook - that I know of. And I know there are others that follow it other ways. How cool would it be if we ALL (yeah, you included) started pouring into each other through this blog?! How cool would it be if this became a community of people sharing their lives and thoughts? Praying for each other. Encouraging each other. Joking around. Challenging each other. It would be almost like...like an online church! Hmmmm...

Maybe you're already getting community somewhere, and that's awesome! But you could always use more support in your life, right? I mean, life's insane. Am I crazy here? Am I the only one who thinks we need each other? That we weren't designed to struggle on our own? I say, the more community, the better.

So I want to encourage you to make a comment on this post before you leave this page. Seriously! Let's get this party started! It'll take like a minute tops. You can even be anonymous. It's easy, really!

"But what do I say?" Well, just say "AMEN!" or "I agree...we need community!" or "You're an idiot!" Or it can be something deeper and longer if you want. It doesn't matter. It doesn't even have to be about the post! Just share what's going on in your life if you want. No rules! (Well...I take that back...some rules are good). Ha!

On your mark, get set...GO!!!

believing God WILL do the impossible

2009-07-08T15:41:00.005-04:00

Here's the struggle I think many Christians face. We don't in any way doubt God's ability to do the impossible, but we doubt that He will do the impossible. For example, I have no problem believing that God can conquer our ginormous financial mountain - providing for the adoption and beyond. Of course He can. Not exactly a big task for the One who created everything out of nothing, conquered death, and can forgive sins. But will He? We know that God can move mountains. We know that God can not only heal a physical defect, but also raise a person back to life. We know that...well, that He can do whatever He darn well pleases. But I think most Christians don't pray with much confidence about such things, not because they don't think He can do it, but because they don't think He will do it.

Am I crazy here? Anybody nodding their head at this point?

I definitely feel like the disciples when they tried to heal a boy, but couldn't. Jesus' response was "O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." They bring the boy, Jesus heals him, and the disciples ask, "Why couldn't we heal him?" Jesus said, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Seems like I have very little faith then. How about you? I mean, they at least tried to heal the boy. That shows some faith, doesn't it? So, here's the question. Did they lack faith that God could do it, or that He would do it?

I've written a TON more, but I wanted to stop here and get some feedback. What do you think? Please take the time to reply and get some good dialogue going here!

I'll post the rest of the blog later...

from "Jesus wants to save christians" by rob bell.

2009-07-01T21:39:00.004-04:00

"America makes up less than 5% of the world's population. And this 5% owns a fifth of the world's wealth.

One billion people in the world do not have access to clean water, while the average American uses four hundred to six hundred liters of water a day.

Every seven seconds, somewhere in the world a child under age five dies of hunger, while Americans throw away 14% of the food we purchase.

Nearly one billion people in the world live on less than one American dollar a day. Another 2.5 billion people in the world live on less than two American dollars a day. More than half the world lives on less than $2 a day, while the average American teenager spends nearly $150 a week.

40% of people in the world lack basic sanitation, while 49 million diapers are used and thrown away in America every day.

1.6 billion people in the world have no electricity.

Nearly one billion people in the world cannot read or sign their name.

By far, most people in the world do not own a car. 1/3 of American families own 3 cars.

1 in 7 children worldwide (158 million) has to go to work every day just to survive.

Americans spend more annually on trash bags than nearly half of the world does on all goods.

Now, when many people get a glimpse of how the world really is, whether it's through travel or study or reading statistics like these ones just cited, it can quickly lead to guilt. We have so much, while others have so little.

Guilt is not helpful.

Honesty is helpful. Awareness is helpful. Knowledge is helpful.

Guilt isn't.

Human history has never witnessed the abundance that we consider normal. America is the wealthiest nation in the history of humanity. We have more resources than any group of people anywhere at any time has ever had. Ever.

God bless America?

God has.

And we should be very, very grateful.

One leader of the American government announced that 'the American life-style is not up for negotiation.' This can sound like a perfectly rational thing to say. It may even sound quite impressive to some, as in, 'We won't let anyone push us around.' Statements like this can even get a person elected. Because, after all, 'we've worked hard and we deserve what we've earned.'

But the problem is that for others in our world, this kind of statement is heard in an entirely different context.

Imagine hearing this as one of the 3 billion people on the planet that survive on $2 a day.

If you have the power, it can be hard to understand the voice of those who have no power. If you have choice, options, and luxuries, it can be hard to fathom the anger of those who don't. If you have always had enough food, it can be hard to understand the shouts of those whose stomachs are grumbling from hunger."

Make no mistake, you live a blessed life. So what are you doing about it?

missed opportunities

2009-06-29T13:59:00.005-04:00

Have you ever thought about how many opportunities you miss out on? I'm not talking about opportunities to do something fun and for whatever reason, you didn't do it. Like skydiving or something. I'm not even talking about opportunities to grow. I'm talking about the fact that maybe, just maybe, God puts people in our path that He wants us to just talk to.

And we miss it.

Maybe the clerk at the grocery store just needs someone to acknowledge their existence. A smile and a "How are you doing today?" might be enough. Or maybe a co-worker needs some encouragement. Or maybe a close friend needs someone to dump their junk on...or to be challenged about a dangerous pattern in their life.

FYI, for those of you who are not Christians, I believe this applies to you to. Maybe you don't believe it's God that directs those things, but I think you can relate to the concept of missing out on opportunities to make a difference in someone's life. To make the world a better place.

And for the Christian, how much more of a reason do you have to pay more attention to this concept of missed opportunities? If you really believe all this stuff about God and the hope we have because of Him coming here to save us, then this is not something you can afford to ignore.

This all comes to mind because of a guy we (well, mostly Erin) befriended down at the water one day a couple of years ago. This is a guy who is clearly searching for some hope and direction. We've run into him several times since, have eaten a meal with him, and just got to know him. But we hadn't seen him in quite a while...until this past Monday. We bumped into him at a restaurant. We were so excited to see him! We exchanged numbers and talked little bit, but I realized the next day that I was really rushing through the conversation. People were waiting for us, so I felt this need to make things quick. I can't help but feel like that encounter was more than chance and that he needed more than a "Hey...good to see ya!" But I missed it.

And the worst thing about it is that I had specifically told God that very morning that I wanted to be used by Him that day and would be paying attention.

I wonder how many opportunities I miss in a given week.

Why do we miss it? Mostly because we're not looking. We wake up with "ME" on the mind. We go throughout our day doing all the things we've planned out. When opportunities come our way, we don't even recognize them because we're...busy. Busy doing our thing. Busy with our agenda. The truth is, we have so much going on that we don't feel like we have time to focus on other people. We're not paying attention.

What would the world look like if we stopped being so selfish with our time and our comfort zones, and just had the conversations we need to have? What if all Christians woke up every day and prayed that God would help them recognize the opportunities to make a difference in someone's life, and then spent the day actually doing it?

Maybe, instead of it being such an "inconvenience," it would change someone's life.
And maybe it would change your life too.

hearing God speak

2009-06-22T08:49:00.006-04:00

Anyone who has been around Christianity for any amount of time knows that sin creates a barrier between us and God. No matter how "big" or "small," it separates us from our Creator. Why? Because we are turning our backs on Him. We're choosing our way instead of His. He loves us the same of course, but we have created a wedge in the relationship - the same as if a son rebels against His dad. The dad certainly still loves him, but the relationship has now been fractured. No matter how small the matter, trust has been broken and the relationship is in need of repair.

But have you ever thought about what that means? What does it mean to be "separated from God." Is it just about heaven and hell, or is there more?

Jesus' brother James wrote that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." A "righteous" person is one who is right with God. They are not living a life of sin - rebelling against God. They have sought God and repented (ask for forgiveness and turned from their sin), and have therefore become "right" with Him.

It only stands to reason that the prayer of a man who is NOT right with God is less powerful and less effective. The relationship has been fractured and is need of repair. When we live a life of sin, we kind of create this barrier between us and God, and it's not just about heaven and hell - it's about communication with Him too. The reason the prayer of an unrighteous person is less powerful and less effective is not because God can't hear us or that He refuses to listen or act. The Bible promises us over and over again that if we cry out to Him, He hears us...always. Our prayers become ineffective because we can't hear Him. We're not listening.

Communication goes both ways. It's not that our prayers TO God are affected, it's that this barrier we've created keeps us from hearing God. We desperately need His direction, but if we insist on turning our backs on Him, we will have trouble hearing Him when He tries to direct us. Romans 12:2 says "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." It's only when we are living right with God that we can hear Him clearly.

As Dave Algire from LateChurch said it like this: "You can't have clarity about decisions you need to make when the moral decisions you are making are wrong. Disobedience clouds us. Our obedience actually gives us clarity."

If you want God's direction in your life, you have to start by fixing things in your relationship with him. Tell Him you're sorry, and show that you mean it by changing. Spend time getting to know Him better. Get right with Him.

This concept has all been very fresh on my mind as we have proceeded with the adoption process. We need God's direction so desperately right now. We are relying heavily on Him. I would be a fool to throw that away for some selfish desire. God knows a wee-bit more than I do. I need to hear His voice.

Of course, the thing is, I ALWAYS need His direction, not just in times where I've stepped out in faith. It's sad how we tend to not feel like we need God as much when everything's hunky-dory. We know better of course, but we just get so content and lazy when things are going the way we want them to.

If you're just coasting along in this Christianity thing without it causing you any problems, there's a good chance you're putting yourself before God. Maybe that sounds a bit harsh, but Jesus promised us that if we followed Him, it would be hard. You may have convinced yourself that you're living right with Him, but maybe He's trying to tell you something and you can't hear Him very well because you're busy making yourself happy.

how to know God's will

2009-06-17T10:58:00.004-04:00

Listened twice to this podcast this morning (as I worked, of course!). Ever struggle with what the heck God wants you to do? Willing to follow Him if He'd just TELL you? Then listen to this podcast. Touches on the idea of predestination and free will too. Good stuff.

Check it out: GOD'S WILL: That Was Easy

the consequences of really following God

2009-06-16T08:51:00.004-04:00

Doing the right thing is hard. When God tells you to do something that requires even the smallest amount of faith, chances are that there will be people in your life who don't get it. There will be people you would expect to encourage you in pursuing the right thing, who actually think you're crazy. And the more faith it takes, the more radical it seems...and the crazier you look.

Of course, Jesus told us this would happen. "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first...If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also...I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices." Thankfully, He didn't stop there. "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy...I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

We're doing some things in our lives that some find ridiculous. "Why would you take someone in to live with you? I mean, good for you, but be careful." "Why would Erin go to Rwanda? Isn't that unsafe...and expensive?" "And why on earth would you adopt from Rwanda?!! What about having your own kids? It's SO much cheaper to adopt from the US - they need homes too! Doesn't seem like a wise financial move. How could you ask people for money? It's going to be awfully tough having an interracial family, you know."

Yes. We know.

I think some see us as the "crazy religious" people. Even some fellow believers see us this way. And we're okay with that, really. It's all part of doing the right thing. We're just doing what we're supposed to be doing, and not everybody is going to understand that. I get that and expect it. But I won't lie...it does hurt.

Makes me see a little more clearly how God must feel. How would it feel for the very people you created out of pure unselfish love, to drive nails into your wrists and spit in your face? To entirely reject you? I mean, it's all part of it. You'ld expect it. But it still hurts.

WE'RE ADOPTING!!!

2009-06-12T21:50:00.002-04:00

In case we have somehow missed notifying you, we want to let you know that we have officially begun the adoption process! We are adopting through American World Adoption from Rwanda, Africa! We want to bring you all along with us on this journey, so we've created another blog: addingasmith.blogspot.com

On this site, you can find our original letter to family and friends. Hopefully, the blog will answer any questions you may have. If not, feel free to ask!

We're really excited!!!!

why bad things happen to good people

2009-06-10T23:47:00.001-04:00

If a person believes in a higher being who created all this, they are forced to believe that He is entirely good or entirely evil. There is no in-between.

If a higher being created us without purpose or a plan for life after our time on earth as the Bible and Christianity teach, then life is nothing more than a cruel joke. We live, we die, and there is no point to any of it. Why would a creator do that unless they were entirely evil? Could there possibly be any good in them? Could a creator who put us on this planet to deal with all the frustrations of life (disease, hatred, murder, orphans, drugs, rape, wars, etc...) and no plan to ever do anything about it, be anything but evil? He either has a plan to fix things and get us out of this mess, or He doesn't. If He has a plan to help, He must at the very least be good. If He doesn't have a plan, it certainly brings into question His character to say the least.

Is it possible that the creator of all things could be kind of good AND kind of bad? Does He have good days and bad days? Does He love us some days but is grumpy and vengeful the next? Is the one who created and is in control of everything in fact unable to control Himself?

See, I think a lot of people that believe in a higher power aren't really convinced that He's all that good. Even those who know better and profess He's good still don't act like He's good all the time. I think people think He's moody. They've seen too much evil in this world to believe He could possibly be entirely good. But you can't ride the fencepost on this one folks.

As bad as things seem here on planet earth, it's far from lacking anything good, right? The creator gave us incredible qualities such as love, beauty and music. We may have different ideas of what they look like, but no one can deny that these qualities exist in each of us. And if you believe in a higher being, then you must believe that we only have these qualities because the creator put them in us. The only motive for doing such a thing would be out of love for His creation (us). Why else would He give us such amazing gifts? Would a creator give us the majestic mountains and the ability to appreciate their breath-taking beauty...just to be mean? Really? Just so we could have some joy on this planet in the middle of His evil scheme? And what about music? Is He just toying with us? Oh, and He instilled in us a sense of right and wrong...why? Every culture around the world that has ever existed believes that cold-blooded murder is wrong. Why did He give us all a sense of morality if morality doesn't matter?

You may ask, "Okay Mr. Smarty Pants...If He's so good and does have a plan to get us out of this mess, why would He have not simply made everything perfect and keep it that way?" Heaven, in other words. Why didn't the creator just make "heaven" and not mess with "earth?" Why would God make us endure the hardships and unfairness of life if He is so good and loving? This is where most people fall. they assume He must not be all that good after-all. They just don't get it. It's the most common argument against Him - "Why do bad things happen to good people if God is so good and loving?" It seems like such a logical question, right? But it assumes that if bad things happen to us which God allows, He cannot possibly still be good. Really? I mean, if God doesn't have a plan to fix things, then yeah, how could He be good? In fact, as I've already said, I think He'd be downright evil. It's just mean. But if He DOES in fact have a plan to fix things, then isn't it just possible that we're not seeing the big picture and that maybe, just maybe there's a reason He's allowing these things?

The fact that we don't understand why has no bearing on this truth and does not mean that the creator is evil. That's quite a leap in logic. If He created everything, then it stands to reason that He knows more than us and that we only feel it is "unfair" because we can't see and know everything like He can.

I mean, really. Does it sound even semi-logical to think that this is a God who's messing with us in some sick, twisted game He's playing...by Himself...for not apparent reason other than to be mean? Does that even remotely feel right?

And consider the fact that evil cannot exist without good. Evil is the absence of good. To say there is evil is to admit there is also good. A "good" God can allow evil to exist and still be good, so long as He has a plan to fix it. But an "evil" God would have no reason to allow good.

So how would a good creator who actually cares about us go about fixing things? Frankly, the story of the Bible is the only thing that makes sense (don't check out just yet!)

God created the world, including you and me, perfectly and out of love. He actually wanted us to genuinely love Him back (go figure), so He didn't force Himself on us or make us believe in Him, but He gave us a choice (hence, the tree in the Garden of Eden). Believe and follow, or not. It's our choice to make - God's not going to make it for us. But God knew, course, that most would not choose Him despite His deep desire that all would. That all of us would turn our backs on Him at some point and bring all the disorder and death and unfairness to into this world. And there HAS to be some kind of penalty for that. It's not the sort of thing you can just let go if you're the creator of the universe, no matter how much it pains you to do it and no matter how much you love your creation. The creation can't be allowed to walk all over the creator as if they're in charge.

And so before He even created the world, He planned on coming down Himself, living a sinless life and allowing Himself to be killed by His own creation only to raise back to life, therefore conquering death. In other words, He took death on for us. He beat it. He took the consequences of our turning our backs on Him off our shoulders where it belonged, and put it on His own so that the penalty that HAD to be paid was still paid. And we get to take on the sinless life that Jesus lived as if we were the ones who lived it. That's right. His perfect life becomes ours...if we want it.

And of course there's more! He didn't just save us from our sins so that we could walk around knowing we're saved from our sins. That's great and all, but we'd still live and die with no real point. But He's also promised a life beyond this one. A life that is truly perfect and will remain that way forever, because God will finally have a new world full of people who genuinely love Him without being forced.

That's why bad things happen to good people. They must. The story of the Bible and of Jesus is the only way any this is possible. There is NO other way for us to love God perfectly...the way He desires and deserves. There is NO way that is better for YOU in the long run. Can you think of another way God could accomplish this? Do you really think you have a better solution? Do you think He should not allow anything bad to happen to us? Are you mad at God? Do you think He's not such a good God after all?

Maybe it's just that you're not seeing the big picture.

God has a plan. It works. It makes sense. And, believe it or not, it's the best plan for you AND for Him even though it cost both you AND Him a great deal of pain.

So He's not just a good God. He's beyond words.

stuff christians like

2009-06-04T19:44:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is from "Stuff Christians Like." The following was his most recent post...made me laugh and so I thought I'd pass it along. Check out his blog by following the link from the "blogs i like" widget at the bottom of this page. He's hilarious! Enjoy!

Two weeks ago when my wife and I were walking out of the sanctuary at church, I found myself behind a guy from my old men's group. Although I knew him from the larger portion of the group, 100+ guys, and not the smaller portion (the 6 guys I met with regularly) we used to chat in the halls when I use to attend. But in the last year since I quit, we haven't really talked.

I didn't quit out of anger or any sort of problem. I loved that small group. It was just a long way from my house and I wanted to invest in some relationships with guys in my own community. But he didn't know that. It's hard to read someone's thoughts from the back of his head, especially if they have a tapered haircut, "tapered" being one of those words that has a very elusive definition according to the ladies at the Sports Clips barber shop I go to, but here was what I was thinking when I saw him.

"Oh snap. It's Josh. Hey, why am I saying 'oh snap' all the time these days? That's becoming a problem. That phrase is like some sort of verbal eczema spreading through my internal conversations. I need to keep an eye on that one. But oh snap, there's Josh. I wonder if he thinks I quit small group because I'm backsliding? I bet he thinks that all of the sudden I just stopped doing my quiet time, starting sinning like it was my J.O.B. and dropped out. I guarantee that if he turns his shoulder at a 15 degree angle and sees me, he's going to look and me and think, 'Didn't that guy used to go to my small group and love Jesus? I bet both of those things aren't true anymore.'

Is there a good way out of this? Should I just tap him on the shoulder and find a way to work in a quick story about the new men's group I'm part of right now? Do I have to essentially read him my spiritual resume to let him know I'm still down with the King? What's the most succinct way to establish that I'm still in love with the Lord and walking with Him on a daily basis and not living in the pig pen of life like the Prodigal Son?

Is there a way to quickly say that in a passing conversation in the hall? Maybe I should just yell, "Jesus!" like one of those guys at concerts? Or I could talk about my men's group really loudly to my wife like people at coffee shops talk loudly about all the cool things they're doing because they want you to know how cool they are. Should I do that or just slow my gait down just enough to walk behind him, essentially dragging behind him like a race car who allows someone else to break all the wind resistance?"

Thoughts like that went through my head for 2 seconds and then I made my move. I started walking really slowly, (it was slower than my normal walk but faster than how I do the worm when like Nelly Furtado I get my freak on if that helps you picture the pace I was traveling.) My wife noticed too, and teased me about it later when I revealed the reason for my pitiful pedestrian progress. (Alliteration!)

I didn't want to catch up to him and have to justify the entire last 12 months of my spiritual journey in a single sentence or be forced to scream "Jesus!" in the middle of the toddlers Sunday School area.Seems pretty reasonable to me.

Am I the only one that feels this way?