Monday, December 7, 2015

on Islam

If you're like me you've seen a lot in the news these past several weeks about shootings, acts of terrorism, call for more conceal gun carry permits, call for more gun laws, and the list can continue and continue. It's enough to make your head spin! How can we as the body of Christ be the salt and light of the world in times that seem more chaotic than ever? How can we seek to reconcile the world back to Jesus when the world seems more divided than ever? Well, I will tell you it is not easy, but God does call us to pray for and share the good news with Muslims all over the world. Here are some things to remember.

1) God never promises us to be safe.
  Safety is very overrated in the eyes and mind of Jesus. Now, granted harm is never wished on anyone, but our priority on safety above all else is not very high on Jesus' radar. In fact Jesus' promised that the world hates you (John 15:18) and (1 John 3:13). All who live Godly for Jesus Christs will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), and all those who live for Jesus Christ will suffer trials and persecution. (1 Peter 4:12)

  Those are some grim verses, and I will say that making sure your family is safe is very important. However, it cannot be the most important thing. One thing all these verses had in common was that all of them included a blessing for the oppressed, persecuted, and afflicted person because they were suffering on Jesus behalf. Throughout Christian history the church has flourished when brave Christians sought to pursue peace, spreading the gospel, loving the lost, and living bold, unashamed lives for the Kingdom. This Advent season dare to do something risky, send a card to a long lost friend, look to repair a seriously broken relationship, buy coffee for a mother who looks down on her luck, volunteer at your church, and the list can go on and on. Safety is important, but not the most important thing.

2) Balance the Bad with the Good.
  Bad stories of people doing bad things sell newspapers, drive view counts on websites up, and make news outlets money. Seek to promote in your neighborhood, school, or community people doing good things. Good stories don't often empty news stands, but they uplift and encourage troubled hearts. Islam is a very deep, multi-faceted religion and is getting some very bad press. It does have good people who follow Allah. Look to highlight and promote that wherever you are. Look to pursue understanding, strike up conversations, and possibly even build friendships with Muslims and many different kinds of people that are different than you.

3) Look to have your heart changed by the Holy Spirit.
  Don't ignore your feelings. If you're feeling strongly negative about Muslim people or any other major issue that is relevant in our society today. Do some soul searching about those feelings. Because more times than not our feelings our indicators of the condition of our spiritual lives. Pray regularly and pray big. Look for people who will be honest to encourage you and help build you up in the faith. And finally begin listening to Christian music or even wholesome music, because a lot of our personality and spirituality is shaped by our music. Don't ever stop trying and don't ever stop pursing Jesus Christ who will lead you in one of the most worthwhile, fulfilling journeys of your life!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

on Proverbs 9

  For many of us this time of year we come into many situations where we feel our faith is being attacked. Whether it be through the ACLU demanding a Nativity scene be taken down from a town square, a store demanding their employees to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, or even a major coffee chain not putting any holiday symbols on their coffee cups, I will say in these situations we often feel that our faith is being unjustly attacked. As we've plowed through Proverbs, one of my goals is for you to see the big picture in what God is doing in our world today. Our hope is that as life continues to unfold in this ever crazy world that we as the body of Christ would learn how to respond with love and kindness no matter what:) Here's what Proverbs 9 has to say.

Proverbs 9:4. . . "Let all who are simple come in here," Wisdom says to those who lack judgement.

  Good sound judgment is something that can be taught. Let me repeat this, you can learn how to make good, Godly decisions with every area of your life. Often times people need to learn and experience the pain of making poor decisions, but in many cases good decision making skills comes from listening to wisdom, diving into the word of God, having a teachable spirit, and learning to think before speaking or making decisions.
   I want you to know that you are being invited according to this verse to come into the house of wisdom. It is not an elusive thing. This holiday season, I want us to reflect and live with a spirit of thankfulness and wisdom, but in so doing I want us to examine feelings that we may have toward the church, God, and life in general. Some of these feelings may be great and others not so great. I want all of us to ask, "Why am I feeling this way?"

Proverbs 9:10. . . "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
  This verse if your looking for a life verse could very well be that. I would encourage you not to be afraid of God, but rather have the word of God, the commands of God, and your relationship with God influence and affect every area of your life and decision making. You will never be the same:)

Proverbs 9:17. . . "Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious."
  One of the biggest red flags for any behavior is if you have to hide it from others. Behavior that is only done in secret is often very, very wrong. Be mindful of that. Seek to hold yourself and your loved ones to a higher standards as we all vigorously pursue the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Do you see any examples of good sound wisdom in our society or any examples of poor judgement today? Let me know what you think:)

Thursday, November 12, 2015

on Proverbs 8

  God continues to guide and lead us. Life as we know it isn't a short jog, or even a medium sized race. Life is a marathon, and if you're like me sometimes you can get very tired from running. But, the good news of the Gospel is that we worship a Savior who will scoop us up in His arms and run for us in those moments. Let's look at Proverbs 8!

Proverbs 8:7. . . "My mouth speaks what is true. My lips detest wickedness."
I will say if you as a follower of Jesus can live this verse out and let it become the central part of your life. They you will be very near to reaching Christian perfection. Lying is one of the most damaging sins not always the most egregious, but it often has a role in many other sinful actions. Learn to find ways and people that will hold you to a higher standard and push you to be honest in school, on your taxes, at your job, in your home, and the list can go on and on.

Secondly, know your Bible. I think our country is mixed up and bankrupt morally, for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is because people have lost a lot of Biblical knowledge. Know what God's word says about big things such as politics, money, the poor, and even smaller issues which often seem big such as Starbucks' Christmas cups. Your lips will detest wickedness when this occurs in your life.

Proverbs 8:13. . . "To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

This verse really hits home to me. Because, I struggle with this a lot. I'm not a very humble person, but I know in good's word we're told the first shall be last, the meek shall inherit the earth, and God gives grace to the humble. How does one avoid prideful decisions and pursue humility? Well, unfortunately there aren't classes or a magic formula that allows one to become more humble but here are a few things to consider.
1) Thank people for what they do for you. (Thank your barista, barber, parents, etc. This will take the attention off of you and put it on someone else).
2) Pray each day for God to use you for His glory. (Many of our prayers can be self centered, but this is a prayer God will say yes to).
3) Volunteer or do something without being asked. Many folks say well, "I'd love to help but nobody asked me." That often times is true, but. . . what a huge difference you could make if you volunteered!!! Ask your parents what you can do around the house. Ask your pastor where you can volunteer in church. Ask your coach or boss if you can pick up any slack. I'm sure there are plenty of things that need done, and they'll be happy to help after they get up from having fainted because this has never happened before.

Live intentionally for the Kingdom. Don't just coast or assume things and opportunities will come to you. Pursue them joyfully and be amazed as your heart overflows with joy.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

on Proverbs 7

God's word is still relevant. One of my goals in this entire journey with you is to allow you to see how vital and active God's word is for today. Proverbs 7 is written with some amazing metaphorical images as well as with some great advice to people of all ages to live by and for their lives to be filled with great meaning and hope. Let's dive in!

1) Proverbs 7:7. . . I saw among the simple. . . a youth who had no sense. This series of verses uses the "adulterous woman" as the antagonist/villain in this chapter. One thing needs to be clear in all of this, the adulterous woman refers to more than just an adulterer, this woman can refer to someone who causes you to look at inappropriate things, go to sinful places, and do sinful activities that don't have to be sexual in nature.

The good news is the adulterous woman doesn't have to have the final word. They won't always win, but they are dangerous, very dangerous. So, know where and what tempts you. Know where you're vulnerable. Protect your Achilles' heel and seek out people in your life that will understand what you're going through. Finally, pray, pray, pray, pray, and when you're finished pray some more. Know that prayer does work, changes you, and changes the heart of God.

2) Proverbs 7:25. . . Do not let your hearts stray into her path. The heart is the key. It is the lifeblood of our lives and it also is the spiritual thermometer of our souls. Wickedness and evil deeds are always an indicator of a corrupt and evil heart. Guard your heart. Fill your heart with goodness. Speak truth at all times. Above all seek the face of Jesus with all your heart and see the face of Jesus in everyone you come across. I'll be the first to tell you life is hard, complicated, and messy but works of wisdom such as Proverbs help us navigate some seriously murky waters.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

on Proverbs 6

Proverbs is an amazingly challenging book. It causes us to really think about pertinent issues by giving the reader the encouragement and tools to pursue a life of walking in wisdom. In this day and age when information comes and changes at incredibly fast paces we need something consistent in our lives and Proverbs provides us with one overarching theme that all followers of Jesus need to live into: seek wisdom and you will end making decisions that will lead you closer to God and experiencing his blessings. Let's dive into Proverbs 6!!!

6:6: Go to the ant you sluggard. . . this short reminder is telling us to be ants!? What is the writer thinking?? Well, what we can see is that this verse is written in a commanding tone. The writer doesn't say please go, go when you have the time, the writer simply says, "Go!" The writer is urging the reader or in the original case the listener to learn from the ant to prepare for the future.

He uses the example of an ant storing its food during the summer, so when harvest comes he has enough to eat. The command and tone of this series of verses is simple: work hard, prepare, learn, and regardless do something with your life and your time on this earth.

6:16-19: There are six things the Lord hates, seven things that are detestable. . . The writer than goes on to list those things and spell very clearly what God truly hates. I do want to point out that in that list most of the things that the Lord hates are deemed somewhat small and near the bottom in our fictional conception of the "sin ladder." The only one, hands that shed innocent blood, would be near the top and probably be labeled as a "bad sin." Most of the sins we would see as minor such as haughty eyes or a lying tongue.

I don't want you to miss the principle or the idea here. The main idea is that all sin destroys our relationship with God, eliminates closeness with Jesus, and will effect us whether or not we choose to admit it or not. This year make it a priority to pray as a family, attend worship, serve together, forgive each other, and encourage each other.

6:27: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without being burned?

The answer is no. When you as a person stray to close to sin you will get hurt and others around you will get hurt. Because we as humans do not live in a vacuum we live with each other and our decisions affect others. Understand what tempts you, your weaknesses, and be honest with friends and family of how through their help and the power of the Holy Spirit you can overcome them.

Question (Feel free to reply below or on Facebook) What role does the Holy Spirit play in our Christian walk as we pursue wisdom?

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

on Proverbs 5

We have been so blessed to see God's goodness and wisdom pour out through Solomon in these short but powerful Proverbs. Always remember that following God and doing what he says produces relationships that are blessed, situations and experiences filled with joy, and a life that has few if any regrets.

Proverbs 5 starts out with a dire warning: beware of adultery. This is especially true today when sexuality is more confused and twisted than ever before. Proverbs 5 is a grave reminder that our sexuality is a gift but if used in the wrong way it has grave consequences. My challenge to you is to make a commitment to pray every day for God to be Lord over every area of your life including your sexuality and that is far more reaching than many people think.

Proverbs 5:2, "That you maintain discretion and your lips preserve knowledge. . ." Discretion is absolutely huge! In a society where we live to get the excess, indulge in any pleasure, and have little to no self control learning discretion in all areas of life is crucial. I'll be the first to tell you: discretion is hard but not impossible. Know where you are weak. Have the humility to allow others to tell help you and hold you accountable. This is a process not an event, be patient as you learn discretion and you will find wisdom.

Proverbs 5:11-12, "When your flesh and body are spent you will say, 'How I hate discipline. . ."
Proverbs is a hauntingly beautiful book, because Solomon one of the most wise men in the world indulged in pleasure after pleasure often despising discipline. He should have learned and seen the pain that David endured with Bathsheba but he didn't learn. Solomon was blessed by God with great wisdom and an amazing opportunity to build the temple, but I can't help but think these two verses apply to his life better than most any other verses in the Bible.

My prayer is that you fall in love with the word of God again each and every day.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

on Proverbs 4

The word of God is very relevant to our society and our current culture. Proverbs' overarching message: pursue wisdom, understanding, and discernment speaks volumes in a time when it seems that we all hear is noise. Our desire in this journey is that you would take the words of Proverbs to heart and learn to seek wisdom, ask questions, listen before you speak, and follow Jesus passionately.

Proverbs 4 brings out an incredible habit that all young people should follow: listen to your parents.

Vs. 4:1- Begins the chapter listen to your father's instruction. Now, I will say that a mother's instruction is just as valuable and sometimes even more so than a father's. But, what I'm getting at is we need to be teachable people. No one has fully arrived in terms of having a perfect character, ability, or spiritual life and trust me this list can go on and on. Have the humility to be teachable, admit a mistake, and learn from others it will go a long way in building a satisfying, spiritual life.

4:5- "Do not forget my words or swerve from them. . ." If you've ever read the book Pilgrim's Progress it is a great allegory of our spiritual lives as followers of Jesus. Christian is on a journey to the Celestial City, and on his journey he is tempted by many different people and events that try to swerve him off his journey and goal. Our life is the exact same way. We are all tempted by various events, people, and things and we begin to lose sight of wisdom and understanding when we allow these temptations to cause to swerve. Recognize what tempts you and begin to pray powerfully that the Holy Spirit would equip you with the courage to resist the temptation.

4:24- "Put away perversity from your mouth. . ." Wow! What a nugget of wisdom. Proverbs has many abstract ideas and metaphors, but the book has very concrete things to do. This is very concrete as the verse finishes by saying keep corrupt talk from your lips. Words are powerful. They can heal, destroy, build, and tear-down. One big step many of us need to make is to have our speech be filled with life giving words of hope. Let's hold each other accountable to that.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

on Proverbs 3

Proverbs is an amazing work, because not only is it very well-written, but the truths presented are timeless. I'm firmly convinced that the wisdom presented in Proverbs is life-changing and will bring about habits that create successful, God-fearing adults and teenagers in all circumstances.

Here are a few verses for you to meditate on:)
1) Proverbs 3:5-6: Many of use learned this verse as a young child in Sunday school, youth group, and maybe even Vacation Bible School. This verse is so powerful, because of the simplicity of its message. Trust in the Lord. I would encourage you to allow yourself to verbally say every morning, "God, I trust in you." Notice how God will guide you in the great times, calm your heart in the troubled time, and will direct your path to lead an effective/incredible life. God's on your side.

2) 3:9-Honor the Lord with your wealth. This command of wisdom is tough for almost all of us myself included. When God starts creeping into our allowance, checkbook, etc. we may begin to feel the pinch. But, this moment is directing us to a truth that we may have to give up something small (coffee at Starbucks, movie theater ticket, new shoes) so someone may be able to gain something greater: salvation message, ability to feed the hungry, communicate the gospel to an unsaved person, etc. God will be honored regardless, and He is gently encouraging us to allow Him to control our wealth.

3) 3:31-Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways. The sad truth is our society is extremely violent from video games, to movies, to real life incidents, we are living in a very violent world. This truth is timeless that the only thing stronger than the violence of sin is the love of God. Pursue peace. Learn to pray for the violence that so afflicts our world today. Vow to rise above the violence, and my prayer is that if you've been affected by violence that you would somehow find it in your heart to forgive.

I would love to hear examples or ideas concerning vs. 3:27, "Do not hold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."

Monday, September 14, 2015

on Kim Davis

  Unless, you've been away in Antarctica for the past six months, you've more than likely heard about Kim Davis. She is the KY county clerk who refused to grant marriage licenses to homosexual couples in her county. Kim went to jail for this position, faced amazing public scrutiny, and is now back at work. We'll see what the future holds for Kim, but I want to bring up a few big points on this issue.

1) Kim Davis stood up for her beliefs.
  Despite whether or not you agree with her, and I know there are many great Christians who fall on both sides of the argument, what can't be denied is that Kim Davis was willing to go jail for her beliefs. Her stance took courage. If faced with a similar situation when one of my Christian beliefs and convictions was under question would I have the same courage? I'd like to think so. You are more than free to draw your own opinions on her, but understand the woman is willing to stand up for her beliefs.

  One important thing needs to be said and that is to make sure your beliefs line up with the word of God. Both sides on the Kim Davis' argument have legit reasoning say their side is right from the Bible. The hope is that Kim did not take her stance before spending much time in prayerful meditation before God, and we hope that her stance is not a media stunt.

2) There really are no winners here.
  In the long run there is and has been little understanding and few if any signs of reconciliation towards people who differ on their opinions of gay marriage. If you support ideals and causes like Kim Davis you'll be more adamant about them and if you oppose them you'll be more likely to stop and oppose similar causes and people in the future. My encouragement is to seek friendship and fellowship with those who disagree with you on gay marriage and other issues. Dialogue, converse, engage, on these issues, but always do so in a spirit of love. Never stop breaking bread with people over a disagreement, because what you unites you in Christ is far greater than whatever separates you.

  Learn from Kim Davis. Allow Kim Davis to challenge you to explore your own beliefs. Know that Kim Davis is a beloved child of God, but never let your opinions of Kim Davis or any other issues that are divisive in our country today cause you to break fellowship with a fellow brother or sister in Christ.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

on Proverbs 2

Proverbs is a wonderful book and a great reminder that wisdom is a great asset in our quest to further the Kingdom of God here on this earth as well as push back the forces of evil. Chapter one set the stage nicely with these closing words, "But, whoever listens to me will live in safety. . ." It is important to note in the original manuscript there were no verse and chapter notations, so whoever eventually broke it down began chapter two at a great point.

Chapter 2 is written nicely in a cause/effect mode. The writer most likely Solomon states that if the reader or listener most likely his children pursues wisdom and acts wisely these are the effects: understand the fear of the Lord, find knowledge of God, and understand what is right and just.

This is one of the shorter chapters in the book. But, the content is really, really good.

2:11, "Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." What a great reminder to be wise, frugal, know your limitations, and understand the power of importance of learning how to say no. Surround yourself with good people, who will be honest with you and challenge you to grow in your faith. They will help bring about discretion and and understanding.

2:19, "None who go to her return or attain the paths of life." This verse talks about the adultress in v. 16, meaning temptation/sin/foolishness etc. it is fairly clear of the consequences of going after such fleeting pleasures. But, the good news is that through Jesus and his sacrifice on the Cross all the penalty for chasing after fleeting pleasures has been taken care of. Live knowing this, be at peace, and seek wisdom and truth all your days.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

on Romans 1

  As youth group leaders it is so important for us to be immersed in the word of God and to allow ourselves to be changed by God's goodness. There is no perk other than a better understanding and deeper love for God's word, but I do strongly encourage you each week to dive into our lessons and study together. My hope is to blitz through all of Paul's letters, to answer questions, and to have his passion for spreading the gospel be an encouragement to you. Let's dive in to Romans 1.

  Paul wrote this letter to some of the most persecuted Christians during his time. They were right under the nose of the Roman emperor and many lived fearing they would be arrested or killed on a daily basis. Paul's letter to them helped outline basic theological truths, answered many questions about being a Gentile (non-Jewish person) and a Christian, as well as offered guidance to live out their faith. Dive into the word, be changed by it, pray that the spirit would illumine truth in the word, and don't be afraid to ask tough questions of the word.

  Let these verses challenge you:)

Romans 1:12- "That yours and my faith might mutually encourage each other," What an incredible idea! This is our goal for youth ministry in ten words. Our faith should be encouraging to teens and vice versa. If we live this out and pray this would be a reality in our youth ministry there is no telling all the amazing work God can and will do through us.

Romans 1:16-17- Needless, to say there is A LOT of great stuff here. First, is that we should not be afraid of the gospel. Since, it is the power of God for salvation and to change our lives and our world. Proclaim the gospel and let people know, Christianity was never meant to be a private aspect of your life. Second, is that the righteous will live by faith. Paul is referencing a quote from the prophet Habakkuk, and the truth is fairly clear you won't always know where God is leading you or how every situation will turn out, but be assured that God loves, is in control, and is good.

The close of the chapter is Paul warning the Roman Christians of the dangers of sexual sin and immorality. I'd be very interested to have a discussion here or on Facebook about that:). 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

on Proverbs 1

My goal first and foremost is that you really fall in love with the word of God above all else. I pray that God's voice becomes the voice that you earnestly and genuinely desire throughout all areas of your life. This will be supplemental to normal youth group lessons and devotions:)

Proverbs 1 is a great way for Solomon to start out the book. Shortly after he prays for wisdom in 1 Kings 3 he is confronted with two women who state the baby is there (1 Kings 3:24). Solomon's wisdom is unmatched in his day and maybe in any day. But, as many of us know Solomon was not without faults. There is a big lesson to learn that all of us are human and temptation finds all of us.

I don't want to make these long but meaningful. Feel free to dialogue in the comment section. A few verses I want to highlight in chapter one are below definitely read the whole chapter because it's a good one.

1:7- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. . ." if this is the desire of your heart and you live life into this truth then you've arrived near the state that John Wesley would describe as Christian perfection. Learn how to listen for God, have moments of silence in your life, and understand that wisdom (knowledge applied) originates in God.

1:10- "If sinners entice you do not give into them. . ." The enticement is really, so I think the if is better understood as when. Verse yourself in the word and be very aware of what sin is and the effects it has all of which are very damaging. Also surround yourself with great people who have the courage to speak the truth to you in love.

1:32- "For the waywardness of the simple will kill them. . ." This verse I admit is fairly terrifying, but it's implications are fairly simple. It's time for those who follow God to grow up. I still have growing to do and so do you, and I think this verse really hits home and sets the stage for the rest of the book.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Thankfulness

Let's face it the church needs to be held to a higher standard. Period. While we as the body of Christ have been and are able to accomplish much by the power of the Holy Spirit in these days, there is so much more that needs to be accomplished. When the average person is asked to describe the church or even their church the words often used are frustrating, boring, irrelevant, and the list could go on and on.

But, if we're really called to be the light of the world shouldn't we expect more, live greater, risk more, and pray prayers that are larger in scope. Part of the issue is that Christians at all stages in maturity get called to live lives more closely aligned with Jesus all the time but many of them often don't know where to begin. The good news is there isn't one starting point but many for a person to choose from. My hope as this year is about 2/3 over is that the church would develop a serious attitude of thankfulness as we lead up to Thanksgiving.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul urges the church of Thessalonica to give thanks in all circumstances. Good or bad, times of wealth or times of want, and no matter what we as the church are called to give thanks. As a follower of Jesus Christ learn how to be thankful and grateful for your life, your circumstances, your family, and your possessions. Start with one a thing or area of your life a day and verbalize what your thankful for. Post it on Facebook. Text a friend. Bring it up at a coffee shop. But, let people know that you are thankful for many areas of your life. A thankful church is an effective church. A grumbling church is a dieing one. Let's strive to be effective in these days.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

on the Amtrak crash

  As I'm writing this post the dust is settling on the horrific Amtrak crash that sadly killed seven near Philadelphia last week. Lives being claimed by, families torn apart, and futures cut short all embodied the horrific accident on the Amtrak just last night. As we dive into these ideas and thoughts I want to make one thing extremely clear. Horrible, gruesome accidents wherever they and whatever they involve have one thing in common: all of them affect human beings in major ways. Let's dive into some ideas and thoughts about the horrific Amtrak crash.

1) The Amtrak crash shows us in real, profound ways that life isn't fair.
  Fairness is often the yard stick that we use to measure a lot in our life. It starts when we're young, "No, Brian you cannot have a cookie before dinner." My response would often be, "That's not fair." My response was often subtly cloaked with the inference behind my tone, I want it! Whether it be a cookie, A on a test, raise at work, invitation to an important event, and the list can go on and on we often pull out our fair card when we don't receive the things we want. I do find it funny and this is just a thought for you to chew on, but we hardly ever claim, "That's not fair," when we receive something unexpected that we didn't deserve. As I'm writing this I can't recall one Christmas that I handed any of my presents to my parents or grandparents and said, "It's not fair that I got this beautiful new toy take it back."

  In looking at the horrific situation that took place last night, the only conclusion that one can draw is that it is not fair why normal, ordinary people who boarded an Amtrak last week and now people are crowding churches and funeral homes to say good-bye. Answers aren't always forth coming in these tough situations. Maybe it was poor driving? Maybe it was a failure to execute in the construction of the track or vehicle? I don't know. But, one thing I do know is that few answers will bring peace. Life isn't fair in many ways, Jesus promised that he was going to prepare a place for us in his father's house (John 14:2), but we have no idea of knowing when we finally arrive at this beautiful mansion. Be thankful every minute that you're on this earth, but know your future is in God's hands alone.

2) Learn how to have a presence in life's uncomfortable moments.

  Unexpected is one of the toughest moments people have to endure during their earthly journey. Heart attacks, car accidents, brain aneurysms, strokes, accidents at work, and so on all sadly claim people way too soon. Unbearable sadness almost always grips those who experience the loss, and for us who aren't family or extremely close friends to the deceased we can't fathom the pain they're in. Since we can't relate we often find it difficult to muster up the words to say, and for many of us that means we stay away. Because we don't offend or hurt the person(s) dealing with loss more than they already are hurt.

  I will admit our intentions are often noble, but what people really need is someone that will listen to them, cry with them, and let them know they have a good friend in the midst of some very dark days. Learn how to be comfortable in the midst of situations that have few answers. But, most importantly learn how to point people to the God who has ALL the answers.

Friday, May 8, 2015

on Poverty

  As the chaos of the Baltimore riots settles down and as William and Kate and the rest of the world continue to gush over Baby Charlotte we are reminded once again that this world is not fair. Some are born into a life of servants and trust funds while others into poverty. Some young people are given every opportunity while others it seems are just victims of a never ending cycle of poverty. Here are a few thoughts on poverty as well as a challenge to give and give generously.

1) The poor matter a whole to Jesus.
  As I write this I sincerely hope that this can be a renewed mindset for you going forward. My prayer is that your heart wouldn't become calloused but rather become broken by those who don't have enough. Jesus proclaimed in Luke 4:18 that he was anointed to proclaim Good News to the poor.  In Luke 14:13 he encourages that those who are throwing a banquet to invite the poor and oppressed. In Luke 11:21 he reminds the disciples and his followers, "To be generous to the poor and all will be made clean for you."  Jesus' kindness even inspired Zaccheus to give generously back to the poor!
  In my opinion this is the heart of the gospel, lifting up those who are struggling. The struggles can range from physical, to emotional, to social, and for many people they are financial. Jesus' desire is that everyone would be a lifted up from their struggles, from their pain, and from not having enough. The craziest part of all is that he almost always uses human beings to do it. Christ's example inspired the early church to share everything and give to those who were in need (Acts 2:45). Peter and John were inspired to heal a blind beggar near the the temple gates (Acts 3:1-9). The list can go on and on, but one thing is clear if the poor mattered to Jesus they should matter to us as well, because Jesus did promise to us that he would be going away, but the poor would always be with us.
2) Learn to give generously.
  We aren't going to to have a long post today, because poverty is a complex issue. I will be the first to admit, I don't understand nearly many of the facets about poverty. But, I do know that God is good, and one day God will make all things right.
  Many of you reading this post might say, I don't have nearly enough money to pay all of my bills, my family has five mouths to feed, or we have extensive debt how can I/we give to help those who are poor? That is a great question, and I do want to assure you that in no way should you give to the point where your family suffers and has serious consequences. But, I do want you to ask yourselves do we as a family/individual need to visit Starbucks twice a week? Do we need four televisions in the house when we honestly can only really watch one at a time? Does every single person in our family need an Iphone? I think when we start to address poverty in our society by looking at our abundance and excess that clarifies things very clearly where our priorities.
  The poor will always be here. They are in need of things other than money. This summer weed out clothes you don't wear anymore and donate to a local shelter. Clean out your storage garage with furniture that you haven't sat on for years and donate it to your local salvation army. Offer to become a part of a local tutoring group that helps underprivileged students raise test scores. The list can go on and on. The poor matter to Jesus greatly, and likewise they should matter to us as well. 

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

on The Theory of Everything

  This inspiring yet heartbreaking movie chronicles the early career of Professor Stephen Hawking. The movie begins with Hawking as a young Phd student at Cambridge and it allows the viewer a rare glimpse into his struggle with MLS. Tears were shed when at the age of 21 Hawking was diagnosed with the awful disease, but one could not help feel a sense of personal triumph as he did not let the disease ruin his spirit or limit his academic work.

  Throughout the movie we watch as Jane struggles to provide Stephen with quality care while maintaining the rigors of having three children. A sign of a great movie is that it triggers some sort of emotional response in the viewer, and I couldn't help but feel sad that the disease was slowly paralyzing him, but I also felt overjoyed that Stephen was able to do so much despite being so physically limited.

  His goal in the movie is to come up with a unified theory/equation of the entire universe, a lofty goal I must say so myself. I'll let you watch the movie as you come to the conclusion whether or not he accomplishes this goal or not. But, I do challenge you to ask yourself, "Could his equation be complete if he put God in it?"

  Overall in terms of quality I give the movie 5 out of 5 stars, the story moves along nicely, the acting is brilliant, and while it won't keep you on the edge of your seat in terms of suspense I don't think you'll be disappointed. Some of the humor and themes are above young viewers' heads, but overall the movie had very little language or sexual material. I will give it a 3.5 stars out of 5 in terms of family friendliness.

Monday, March 23, 2015

on the Frustrations We Endure

One very common complaint amongst many folks is that there are too many big problems in our world today. The sides are too divided, people are too entrenched in their own mindset, political ideology, or the goals they may have for the future of their church, family, or even country. All the mire where it appears no progress is being made to solve issues of poverty, hunger, racial injustice, violence, war, heartache, and pain can leave a heart that is heavy and a mind that is confused. So the question remains: how do we as the body speak into the brokenness, address the pain, and are we able to do anything?? Well, let's dive into some ideas and see where that takes us. This may be a few different blog posts, but here goes nothing. . .
1) Place your anger in the right place
  If you watch the news or read the latest headlines you are bombarded by tales of brokenness, pain, and loss. Frustrations mount, discouragement sets in, and hands are often thrown out and our hearts shout out, "WHY!?" I've been there, even during my years of studying theology, church history, and scripture my mind often reflects back to the TOUGH question. Why doesn't God do something about all the brokenness and evil in the world??
  I've always been brought back to the purpose of the Cross. As Jesus hung on the Cross, and the sin of the world was poured on him, he had every opportunity to stop the Cross, but he finished the mission. Jesus endured the Cross to save you from your sin. Jesus saved all humans from their sin. The Cross is enough to satisfy sin's demands on human beings. The Cross is the ULTIMATE game changer, and the Cross is Jesus' loudest message that human beings are free from sin, can conqueror their struggles and temptations, and that all human beings are saved by Jesus' alone.
  Remember that God created all, redeems all, and desperately desires to be reunited with all human beings in glory, but we need to remember that all human beings are broken and in need of forgiveness. I hope this year we can remember that all human beings are in need of God's grace, love, and forgiveness and remember to love human beings and be motivated enough to rid our lives of sin that holds us back from living the life we were always intended to.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Journey with Jesus Day 1

  During our Lenten journey it is so crucial for us to wrap our minds around the incredible journey that led Jesus to the Cross. Our desire in this journey with Jesus is for you to use to be encouraged and inspired. In John 1 we are reminded of how powerful faithful obedience can be. In verse 43 Jesus calls out to Phillip and says, "Follow me." I want to make sure you do not miss what happens. Phillip doesn't question Jesus at all, doesn't ask what he'll get out of it, doesn't ask if it will be easy, doesn't ask if people will think well of him or even if he can bring anything along.

 All Phillip does is follow Jesus without question or hesitation. He was so inspired in fact that he tells Nathaniel that Jesus is the real deal and the one who Moses wrote about in the law and prophets. (John 1:45). Please note that all Phillip uses in his message to the others is his experience with Jesus. Going forward can we live like Phillip with unconditional resolve to let Jesus be first place over our entire life and tell others about the difference He has made and is making?

Lord, help me to be a vessel for your light and allow me to be a blessing for you today. AMEN

Monday, January 26, 2015

on Faith, Hope, and Luck Round 2

  If you watched Andy Stanley's first video we learned and saw a good foundation for our faith. The big thing I hope you took away is that our faith needs to be constant, not based on experiences or life's circumstances. Our second lesson dives into a fundamental concept that we as Christians need to wholeheartedly live out in all areas of our lives: our faith is a sure thing. Stanley's teaching dives into the popular ideas and notions of what people think about faith and how it shapes and affects their lives.

1) Faith is a sure thing. Stanley gives great real life examples of ways we misuse the term faith. Faith has been a term as Stanley points that people confuse with hope. Examples being let's have faith he'll come through. Our team might win the game if we have faith in them, and the list can go on and on. The encouragement he uses is to substitute the word hope into the above sentences. The Steelers hopefully will beat the Ravens. Let's hope she'll come home. We are hopeful they can turn things around, etc.

The difference is that faith is a guarantee and hope is more of a good chance. Stanley encourages you to bet on hope and to be hopeful in many areas of joy and struggle in your life. But, the conclusion is that faith is and will always be certain.

2) Faith is certain because of who it is in. The Apostle Paul reminds in Romans 8:31-39 that nothing that could ever happen to us on this earth could ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. The biggest challenge many people struggle with in their faith is that they forget they've placed their faith in a living God who loves them even more then they could ever ask for or dream of.

One of the challenges I encourage you to partake is to begin being very open and honest with God about your feelings, your hopes, your dreams, and expectations. God's pretty tough so he can handle some difficult things you may be going through. But, I also urge you to explore why you're feeling the way you are. The biggest mistake you can make is to allow negative feelings and doubt in your heart without working through them. Turn to the word of God and allow the wisdom of scripture to illumine your heart and mind. Ask questions of those around you, learn from their stories, and tell your story to help others understand and work through their feelings. Go with the confidence and knowledge that God is sufficient, and God is enough.

3) Joy is one of the biggest by-products of faith. Stanley was very clear in the message that your faith doesn't grow during your journey, but what your faith does do is produce spiritual fruit. There are many spiritual fruits that will be made manifested in your spiritual life. One of the biggest fruits that will be noticed and admired by others will be joy. Nehemiah reminds in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord will be our strength. So, I want to leave you with this question is the joy of following and being in a relationship permeating from your being? When was the last time you've laughed? Complimented someone out of the blue? Or even smiled?

Your faith in a loving, living God will produce much joy in all areas of your life. People will notice that your life is changing for the better all the time. Step out in faith each and every day of your life with the certainty that God goes with you, God knows you, and your future in Jesus Christ is set. Your joy and happiness will overflow in all areas of your life, and you will be an inspiration as you continue to live out your life with joyfulness during its painful moments. Bet on faith. Not because of how spiritual you are, how many books or Bible studies you've attended, but because of who your faith is placed in.

Feel free to think about and discuss areas where your faith has produced great spiritual fruit how has that made you feel and what did that look like?

Friday, January 9, 2015

Reaction to Faith, Hope, and Luck Round 1

 I do apologize that this first reaction from the first video was so long forthcoming. But, we are here and I will say that I'm pretty stoked. Faith, Hope, and Luck is an online study by Pastor Andy Stanley. The first lesson Better Odds contained much spiritual truth about Christians in all areas of life in our country today. Let's dive in a little bit and see what we can learn from this video.
1) Experiential faith vs. Mature Faith
  I will say that Andy presented a lot of good ideas and truths in this discussion, so it can be easy to miss something. He described experiential faith as having one's faith changed and altered based on your life experiences. For example your faith could be full of life and energized after you come back from a meaningful, spiritual retreat, but your faith can easily fall away after you receive some terrible health news from your doctor. There are countless other examples of both experiences and events in life that can either strengthen or diminish an experiential faith. 
 Stanley highlights this classic struggle very well and even suggests that many believers go through this tension almost on a daily basis. Part of the dangers of an experiential faith can be found in Jesus' account of the parable of the sower. A few things to note in this classic parable:
1) This is one of the few parables that Jesus actually explains in great detail. Most of the parables of Jesus are left unexplained, but oddly enough Jesus tells everyone what the meaning behind the sower is. Why does he explain just this one? Well, my view is that the truth and power behind the parable is so powerful that Jesus wanted to make sure no one missed it: in our faith journey we all believe in the same and Lord and Savior, but if our faith falls on rocky soil or we allow weeds to grab our heart then troubles can emerge.
  Take the time to develop a regular prayer life and relationships with Christians who are both stronger and weaker than you in the faith. Remember to be patient, because the Christian life is a marathon not a sprint.
2) The word of God should and does travel everywhere! The word travels to those who genuinely want a life change and to grow a deep faith, but it also goes to people who just want a quick fix to be happy. So, my encouragement to you is be an example of a deep mature faith. Be honest in all situations, learn to season your words with grace and love, work hard, love your family, and the list can go on and on. Human beings learn very well from example, and you could be a great example of what God is doing in your life. In the time when many people make new year's resolutions can you or your family make a resolution to more intentionally live out your faith?

Stanley goes on to quote Hebrews 4:14 as the scripture verse of his message.


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

on Into the Woods

  This will be my first of a few movie reviews coming out hot and fresh into 2015. I hope and pray that the holidays were relaxing and blessed for all this past year. One of the great truths that each new year brings is that it brings a fresh start and new beginning to all those who felt down, hurt, and disappointed by the previous year. As we journey together in this year, let us remember that learning and developing the skills to think theologically are absolutely crucial for mature Christians
  Movies, music, television, video games, books, and all forms of entertainment and amusement are areas that challenge us to think theologically about the messages that are embedded in them. Into the Woods is a fun, entertaining movie/musical that came out in theaters across the country on Christmas Day.
  Without giving too much of the plot away the story centers on a baker and his wife who learn early on in the movie that their neighbor who happens to be a witch has placed a curse on their family line. The curse is that their line will be barren. However, after the witch finishes explaining the curse she informs the baker and his wife there is one way to reverse the curse. They need to find four items: 1) a cow as white as milk, 2) a cape as red as blood, 3) hair as yellow as corn, and 4) slippers as pure as gold. All four items correspond with a different fairy tale: Jack and the Bean Stalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.
  The baker and his wife must find all these items in the woods before the stroke of midnight on the third day. It's a zany, musical adventure that leaves you guessing, laughing, and cheering all the way until the very end. The movie fairly seamlessly combines several fairy tales as it tells a new story for the viewer to enjoy. It does seem a tad long at points, and it doesn't end at the moment you would expect, but overall it was a very satisfying movie. The music was excellent and all the cast is very proficient in their singing abilities. One criticism of the story is that since it combines many fairy tales into one some of the story lines do appear underdeveloped and rushed. The bottom line is that the cast is amazing, the costumes great, special effects are superb, and the music will leave you wanting more. I give it four out of five stars in terms of quality.
  Looking at the movie from a theological perspective there are some good truths that we can pull out. One of the main truths of the movie is that our decisions do have real consequences for all of those around us. We do not make our decisions in a vacuum, and the choices we make do affect others in both good and negative ways similar to the decision that the baker's father made to steal the witch's beans. The second truth and there are many more in the movie is the idea that we need to be there for each other in the good and bad times. The characters will have both many good and sad moments during the movie, and I think you will be inspired to see how they respond. We as the church have great opportunities to respond in both good and broken moments to each other as Christ would have responded to us.
  In terms of family friendliness the movie is rated PG. This movie has no cursing or sexual innuendos. However, it does have some violent and at times sad moments. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 in terms of family friendliness.