Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Twenty Fifth
I read this blog today about "gaining credibility", as a young person this was an awesome post, good encouragement.
http://bradlomenick.com/2009/03/19/gaining-credibility/
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Twenty Fourth
So I created a twitter account today, which just officially means I am now owned by the computer and all it's crazy antics. Here is the link http://twitter.com/Dun86 . I wrote a devo that I will be sharing with a group of high schoolers in a week, in FLORIDA! Tell me what you think:
I am a whore. But it’s not just me you too are whores. Shocked?
If you read through the Old Testament you will find a number of times when God refers to his chosen people as ‘His adulterous children.’ In Ezekiel 16, this is most clear. The Lord refers to His nation as a child who was born and then cast aside. Squirming, covered in her own blood, the child kicked. Her death would be imminent without intervention. But the Lord passed by, took notice, and began to care for the child. He cleaned her and dressed her in fine clothes and jewellery. He watched her grow from a young child into a young woman. And the Lord entered into a covenant with her, and she became His wife. She was very beautiful, because the Lord had made her so. Yet she shared her beauty with others, instead of reserving it for her husband. She took the attractive clothing her husband had made for her and transformed them into shrines to worship. She remade the gorgeous jewellery given her by her husband into idols to revere.
She has become an adulteress. A whore. And so have I. I am that whore.
In the Jewish culture before you were married you entered into a betrothal period. This was a period where a husband and wife were considered to be together but they could not yet share a bed. The betrothal included vows, and for either person to break those vows would make them an adulterer. And the results of adultery were divorce, or worse, death. After a period of time the groom would come for his bride and then there would be a huge and celebration then they would be brought together as husband and wife and then they could live the rest of their lives normally.
As Christians we are betrothed to Jesus Christ. We have entered into a relationship with the Lord. We have made a vow to love Him and serve Him alone. We have promised to be faithful to Him alone. At our baptism, we forsake all others who may pledge for our allegiance, and we become His bride. As a bride, I am supposed to love and place Jesus, my groom, above all in my life. But I fail in this. I sometimes love to sleep in more than I love to get up and have a quiet time of reading the Scriptures and prayer. As a bride, I am called to be faithful to my future husband. But whenever money gets tight in my home, I often find that it’s much easier to put my faith in worry than in the God who can meet all my needs. As a bride, I am expected to remain pure both in what I see and hear, but also in what I think and do. But my innocence is lost so quickly in the age of the media, combined with my lack of self-control. In actuality, whenever I embrace somebody in my life as more important than Jesus, I am committing adultery. If my job consumes more of me than my Jesus, I am prostituting myself out. If I forsake Jesus in order to indulge in any sin, than I am a bride who sneaks out on her groom and sleeps with another.
But here is the great part about our relationship with Jesus. Ephesians 5.25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing [a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Jesus loves His adulterous bride. So much that He gave His very life up for her. Our infidelity has dirtied us and our disloyalty has blemished us. But this sacrifice by Jesus frees us, who are whores, to wear white on our wedding day. We are forgiven as we walk down the aisle. We are in His eyes, the most beautiful and most precious bride that the world has ever known. And He is the one, by His death and burial and resurrection, who has given us that beauty.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Twenty Third
So this is Anathallo- Bells....
So this post is brief yet full of intellegent information. (Of course non of it is from me, quotes from people I really look up to.)
Actually first I thought you would like to know that everyone on staff here at the church thought I looked like Fidel Castro..I wasn't sure how to take it, so I accepted it as a compliment.
"How can you be worried about changing the soul when you don't care about the body that holds the soul."
-Dr. Martin Luther King
"Strength is not measured by overcoming your weakness, but by bearing the weakness of others."
-Lenski
"You devolop unity by having a common goal and when that goal is the obsession of life, unity will just happen."
-Francis Chan
"You can gauge the value of a relationship by the level of discomfort you are willing to endure to make that relationship better. You can gauge the amount of value you place one someone who your leading by the amount of discomfort that your willing to engage to see their full potential."
-Steven Furtick
"We created a religion using the name of Christ and convinced ourselves that God's optimal desire for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, worry about nothing. Yet Jesus' death wasn't to free us from dying, but to free us from the fear of death. Jesus came to liberate us so that we could die up front and then live. Jesus Christ wants to take us to place where only dead men and women can go."
~Erwin McManus
"Look here, you people say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone."
-James 4.13-14
So this post is brief yet full of intellegent information. (Of course non of it is from me, quotes from people I really look up to.)
Actually first I thought you would like to know that everyone on staff here at the church thought I looked like Fidel Castro..I wasn't sure how to take it, so I accepted it as a compliment.
"How can you be worried about changing the soul when you don't care about the body that holds the soul."
-Dr. Martin Luther King
"Strength is not measured by overcoming your weakness, but by bearing the weakness of others."
-Lenski
"You devolop unity by having a common goal and when that goal is the obsession of life, unity will just happen."
-Francis Chan
"You can gauge the value of a relationship by the level of discomfort you are willing to endure to make that relationship better. You can gauge the amount of value you place one someone who your leading by the amount of discomfort that your willing to engage to see their full potential."
-Steven Furtick
"We created a religion using the name of Christ and convinced ourselves that God's optimal desire for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, worry about nothing. Yet Jesus' death wasn't to free us from dying, but to free us from the fear of death. Jesus came to liberate us so that we could die up front and then live. Jesus Christ wants to take us to place where only dead men and women can go."
~Erwin McManus
"Look here, you people say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone."
-James 4.13-14
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thirty- second
So, Common's new album was just released, and this song is awesome!
So Craig Groeschel and Steven Furtick recently posted a challenge on their blogs and that is "If you think something good, say it." I love this. When you think of something encouraging say it, don't sit around and assume they know what your thinking just come out and say it. Many times as a MAN (say that in a deep raspy voice, that's what real men sound like) I feel less manly when I tell another dude they sounded really well when they lead worship or spoke well or anything like that. Some people don't "say it" because they don't want people to think they are being fake.
It's a small yet huge challenge. When a compliment for someone comes to mind, say it! It builds unity between people but more importantly it could make someone feel very encouraged and that may be exactly what they needed to hear.
So just say it!
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
So Craig Groeschel and Steven Furtick recently posted a challenge on their blogs and that is "If you think something good, say it." I love this. When you think of something encouraging say it, don't sit around and assume they know what your thinking just come out and say it. Many times as a MAN (say that in a deep raspy voice, that's what real men sound like) I feel less manly when I tell another dude they sounded really well when they lead worship or spoke well or anything like that. Some people don't "say it" because they don't want people to think they are being fake.
It's a small yet huge challenge. When a compliment for someone comes to mind, say it! It builds unity between people but more importantly it could make someone feel very encouraged and that may be exactly what they needed to hear.
So just say it!
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Twenty-Ninth
One of my all time favorite rap groups: Jurassic 5
I realized today as I was reading through my past blogs that there isn't a lot of humor or light hearted topics. This is unfortunate, because I joke around a lot, probably too much. So on that note let's lighten the mood a little.
I'm a city boy through and through. But I love to be outdoors and fish. So I'm a city boy with country boy tendencies. Two stories come to mind, when I was a freshman in high school (before the country boy tendencies) me and a few friends wanted to go camping, fortunately one of my aunts lives in some remote woods so we asked if we could have our camp there, of course she said yes. Actually she and a couple of my cousins slept in another tent, well half way through the night my friends and I hated this idea of camping, it was cold and hard to sleep (plus there were ants), so we walked inside and slept comfortably. (while my aunt and cousins were still out suffering).
I love to fish, it's one of my all time favorite things to do. But when the flies come out, I get PISSED! I feel like all I do is swat at these stupid things. My friends laugh at me, they wont necessarily be looking at me but they can hear me smack my head and yell at flies, of course they don't have a problem with it, because they are true men. I haven't told anyone this, but I have actually missed some fish becuase I am to busy getting rid of these flies.
Maybe you could say I'm a pampered country boy...either way, I will always claim to be city boy.
It's only fitting to show a clip from the movie City Slickers:
Be Conversational and all that jazz...but more importantly laugh and have fun, it does a body good
I realized today as I was reading through my past blogs that there isn't a lot of humor or light hearted topics. This is unfortunate, because I joke around a lot, probably too much. So on that note let's lighten the mood a little.
I'm a city boy through and through. But I love to be outdoors and fish. So I'm a city boy with country boy tendencies. Two stories come to mind, when I was a freshman in high school (before the country boy tendencies) me and a few friends wanted to go camping, fortunately one of my aunts lives in some remote woods so we asked if we could have our camp there, of course she said yes. Actually she and a couple of my cousins slept in another tent, well half way through the night my friends and I hated this idea of camping, it was cold and hard to sleep (plus there were ants), so we walked inside and slept comfortably. (while my aunt and cousins were still out suffering).
I love to fish, it's one of my all time favorite things to do. But when the flies come out, I get PISSED! I feel like all I do is swat at these stupid things. My friends laugh at me, they wont necessarily be looking at me but they can hear me smack my head and yell at flies, of course they don't have a problem with it, because they are true men. I haven't told anyone this, but I have actually missed some fish becuase I am to busy getting rid of these flies.
Maybe you could say I'm a pampered country boy...either way, I will always claim to be city boy.
It's only fitting to show a clip from the movie City Slickers:
Be Conversational and all that jazz...but more importantly laugh and have fun, it does a body good
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Twenty-Eighth
Check it: new music by The Cool Kids- Delivery Man (sorry the video quality is poor)
So it's Christmas time, and everyone always says certain things around this time to make it sound like receiving gifts isn't what's important. Those things people say are "Jesus is the reason for the season," and "It's about giving not receiving." My question is do we mean those things, or are we just trying to make things sound better for ourselves, justifying the receiving of gifts? I'm not anti-gift giving, I think it's a cool idea, but if we say it's not about gifts, then why do we still give gifts to people?
My heart has been on a roller coaster the last few weeks, I am trying not to be a scrooge, but I'm just struggling with the giving of gifts to people who really don't need any more "things." If you going to give a gift, give it to someone who needs something, give something that means something, not something that will be broken or thrown away in a year. I'm sure my thoughts will be hashed out eventually, but I am just convicted with this whole idea of receiving gifts we don't really need.
If I can suggest anything (that is if you want to listen) instead of spending outrageous amounts of money for people, maybe try spending a little bit of money to bless those who really need it. And don't just spend money on someone, invest in someone who needs help.
I've changed the title of the blog a little, "Love takes balls"..be bold this season, love someone because they NEED it, love someone because Christ has called us to love God and love people, Martin Luther King once said, "How can you be worried about changing the soul when you don't care about the body that holds the soul." DO something no one else is bold enough to do in the name Jesus, but also do it in genuine love.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
So it's Christmas time, and everyone always says certain things around this time to make it sound like receiving gifts isn't what's important. Those things people say are "Jesus is the reason for the season," and "It's about giving not receiving." My question is do we mean those things, or are we just trying to make things sound better for ourselves, justifying the receiving of gifts? I'm not anti-gift giving, I think it's a cool idea, but if we say it's not about gifts, then why do we still give gifts to people?
My heart has been on a roller coaster the last few weeks, I am trying not to be a scrooge, but I'm just struggling with the giving of gifts to people who really don't need any more "things." If you going to give a gift, give it to someone who needs something, give something that means something, not something that will be broken or thrown away in a year. I'm sure my thoughts will be hashed out eventually, but I am just convicted with this whole idea of receiving gifts we don't really need.
If I can suggest anything (that is if you want to listen) instead of spending outrageous amounts of money for people, maybe try spending a little bit of money to bless those who really need it. And don't just spend money on someone, invest in someone who needs help.
I've changed the title of the blog a little, "Love takes balls"..be bold this season, love someone because they NEED it, love someone because Christ has called us to love God and love people, Martin Luther King once said, "How can you be worried about changing the soul when you don't care about the body that holds the soul." DO something no one else is bold enough to do in the name Jesus, but also do it in genuine love.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Twenty-Sixth
Well I had the most memorable nights of my entire life last night. Seriously it was incredible, and it can only be intro'd by this song and this picture:
So this will be short; I don't do this often but I thought everyone would like to know I have had a run in with the law. For those who don't know I am living with a family while I do my internship and these people have an alarm system hooked up to their house, I know the code so it's not a surprise when I walk in and hear beeping. So last night I was over a friends house watching the football game and got home a little late. As I walked in I turned the alarm off and locked up and headed to the basement where I stay.(On a side note please remember this house is surrounded by woods, like all around, it's so far hidden no one ever comes back there, why they have an alarm I don't know.) So I head down and watch the news and get ready for bed; of course my night of TV watching was capped off with the DVD release of the movie The Strangers (which looks absolutely horrifying). So I lay in bed trying to forget about the creepy people and about 5 minutes later I hear talking outside my window. I tense up and don't move a muscle and then I see flash lights swirling around and then one shines straight into my room. By this point I have wet myself about 5 times and was thinking I was going to have to either A. Run and scream or B. beat the crud out of someone (now I was leaning more towards A; which is why I was still frozen). All of a sudden I hear one of the men say the door is open, this is about the time I start thanking God for the life he has blessed me with and asking him to make my death go quick so I wont feel any pain. And then the shouting starts, "Sheriff's dept. is there any body in here!" Now in split second here are my thoughts, "(sigh of relief) I'm not going to die..oh crap what have I done?...should I answer them...of course..what if they shoot me when I answer..."
I yell out "yeah and I'm coming out of the first bedroom!" Note that the door they came in from is right next to my bedroom door. After yelling that, they yell back "Come out slowly with your hand where we can see them!" (my thinking again goes back to I might die; also note that I am in just my boxer-briefs- pleasant sight) I slowly walk out with my hands up and out in front of me (I see two officers with lights in my face and their hands on their gun holsters ready to draw; you would have liked if I said I was staring down the barrel of 9 Mil....I wish I could say that too) and they begin yelling "who are you!" I tell them I am an intern and living with the people who own the house. As they start a conversation I simply ask if I can go put some clothes on, they follow me into the room and watch me dress, just to make sure I wasn't doing anything dumb (awwwkward). They proceed to tell me that the alarm was set off and the door they entered from was left open, I then tell them to search the house. I know this isn't my house, but I WILL not sit back and let them question me when there might be someone in the house, I don't want one of those creepy characters from the movie to be standing above me at night!
Well long story short, no one was in the house but the alarm was triggered after I came in and the door was left open. Strange mystery but creates a great story. After the cops left I did my own search of the basement, which doesn't really make since, why I would go look for someone after two cops with guns did. The best part is I layed back down in bed and texted a few people of my story and fell right to sleep. Ironic, you would think I would have stayed up fearing for my life. But I was tired! Well that's all I got.
Cops are good people. (but very scary when they come into the house yelling at you)
So this will be short; I don't do this often but I thought everyone would like to know I have had a run in with the law. For those who don't know I am living with a family while I do my internship and these people have an alarm system hooked up to their house, I know the code so it's not a surprise when I walk in and hear beeping. So last night I was over a friends house watching the football game and got home a little late. As I walked in I turned the alarm off and locked up and headed to the basement where I stay.(On a side note please remember this house is surrounded by woods, like all around, it's so far hidden no one ever comes back there, why they have an alarm I don't know.) So I head down and watch the news and get ready for bed; of course my night of TV watching was capped off with the DVD release of the movie The Strangers (which looks absolutely horrifying). So I lay in bed trying to forget about the creepy people and about 5 minutes later I hear talking outside my window. I tense up and don't move a muscle and then I see flash lights swirling around and then one shines straight into my room. By this point I have wet myself about 5 times and was thinking I was going to have to either A. Run and scream or B. beat the crud out of someone (now I was leaning more towards A; which is why I was still frozen). All of a sudden I hear one of the men say the door is open, this is about the time I start thanking God for the life he has blessed me with and asking him to make my death go quick so I wont feel any pain. And then the shouting starts, "Sheriff's dept. is there any body in here!" Now in split second here are my thoughts, "(sigh of relief) I'm not going to die..oh crap what have I done?...should I answer them...of course..what if they shoot me when I answer..."
I yell out "yeah and I'm coming out of the first bedroom!" Note that the door they came in from is right next to my bedroom door. After yelling that, they yell back "Come out slowly with your hand where we can see them!" (my thinking again goes back to I might die; also note that I am in just my boxer-briefs- pleasant sight) I slowly walk out with my hands up and out in front of me (I see two officers with lights in my face and their hands on their gun holsters ready to draw; you would have liked if I said I was staring down the barrel of 9 Mil....I wish I could say that too) and they begin yelling "who are you!" I tell them I am an intern and living with the people who own the house. As they start a conversation I simply ask if I can go put some clothes on, they follow me into the room and watch me dress, just to make sure I wasn't doing anything dumb (awwwkward). They proceed to tell me that the alarm was set off and the door they entered from was left open, I then tell them to search the house. I know this isn't my house, but I WILL not sit back and let them question me when there might be someone in the house, I don't want one of those creepy characters from the movie to be standing above me at night!
Well long story short, no one was in the house but the alarm was triggered after I came in and the door was left open. Strange mystery but creates a great story. After the cops left I did my own search of the basement, which doesn't really make since, why I would go look for someone after two cops with guns did. The best part is I layed back down in bed and texted a few people of my story and fell right to sleep. Ironic, you would think I would have stayed up fearing for my life. But I was tired! Well that's all I got.
Cops are good people. (but very scary when they come into the house yelling at you)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Twenty-Fifth
Wow! Sorry it has been so long since the last post, if you haven't forgotten about me I promise this one will be somewhat long and I fully expect to get some questions, if I don't, great that means I have less to worry about.
Here is a song by Leeland(read that as if I am a radio DJ, preferably Casey Casum)
So at the risk of sounding morbid, I do not fear death. I know for those who know me know I have always said, "I don't want to die yet, there is so much in life that I still haven't experienced and want to." But honestly what is better than an eternity spent praising God? Of course I want to get married (sex) and I of course I want to experience the joys of having a child, and watching them grow up, and seeing what it's like to be 50, and all the other things that happen in life. But we are talking about an almighty sovereign God, who put me on this earth to serve him, why wouldn't I want to join him at his throne? Think of it this way, say you get a job that is absolutely incredible, a job where all the benefits are perfect and when you mess up, although something should happen, your boss says "it's OK, try it again," a job where you never get fired no matter the screw up. A place that you always want to go into work. Wouldn't you want to meet the boss of this incredible organization?
I have always, since high school, loved the verse Philippians 1.21 "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." I always liked the verse for the first part, to live is Christ. I understood that to live this life I should live as Jesus Christ did. Of course I'm doing that perfectly (ha! there's lie number 1). But as I go through life I am constantly asking the question (no I will not say what's on those awful bracelets) what is the next right thing to do? By living life by one event at a time I feel I can slow things down and find the next right thing to do.
But the second part of the verse, "to die is gain" has always been something that I looked over. (that's a big look over) There are two options in life, (as Christians) when we are blessed with another day to live we are to love/live/serve/ and be like our Saviour Jesus Christ did. And if we do all this then to die is a gain. It's crazy I know, but I don't fear death. Do I sin? (ha umm every single day) Of course we all do, whether you understand that as sin or not, we all screw up, but my joy and understanding comes from something called grace. I had a conversation with a lady in a coffee shop the other day about grace and she (as the cigarette dangled from her mouth, she was cute until she put that thing in) said something that even Christians get hung up on "so if you believe there is grace does that give you an excuse to sin?" My response was one that I think a lot of Christians need better understanding on, "absolutely not." See grace isn't so we can sin, grace is there in case we do sin. (which we will...oh how typed words are confusing) My words mean nothing, let the Bible clarify:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:1-9)
The definition of grace is "receiving something good that you do not deserve" and the definition of mercy is "not receiving something bad that you do deserve."
I don't fear death because God, through Jesus Christ, has blessed me with grace and shown me mercy.
James 4.13-14 says "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
With an understanding that my life is a mist or a vapor then that means I should live my life as Christ, and if I do that then to die will be a gain. Guys our time here is short, why waist it on meaningless things? In a time when the economy is going the way we wouldn't like, why as Christians should we worry? Our rewards are not in the stock market or a stimulus plan (which wasn't a good idea, in my 22 year old with no money, opinion), our rewards are in Christ alone. Him glorified is the thing we should live for, money is a blessing that we should share with the poor. (I'm pretty sure Jesus said something about a rich man and a camel going through the eye of a needle..in case you forgot it's Matthew 19.24)
Please don't see this post as being a testament to me hating life. Ha! It's the opposite I praise God everyday for another day, and I mean that. I love the ministry God has called me to and I am excited to see where He is going to take me on this ride and how He is going to use me. I want to experience marriage, children, growth, the future and all kinds of things, but if I don't then awesome because my rewards are in heaven.
May you, as Christ followers, live a life that is honoring and glorifying to the Sovereign Lord and live a life that Paul talks about in Philippians (the verse I talked about earlier, have you forgotten already?) And if you think I am a complete idiot I would love to talk about it, seriously I love to talk, can you tell?
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Here is a song by Leeland(read that as if I am a radio DJ, preferably Casey Casum)
So at the risk of sounding morbid, I do not fear death. I know for those who know me know I have always said, "I don't want to die yet, there is so much in life that I still haven't experienced and want to." But honestly what is better than an eternity spent praising God? Of course I want to get married (sex) and I of course I want to experience the joys of having a child, and watching them grow up, and seeing what it's like to be 50, and all the other things that happen in life. But we are talking about an almighty sovereign God, who put me on this earth to serve him, why wouldn't I want to join him at his throne? Think of it this way, say you get a job that is absolutely incredible, a job where all the benefits are perfect and when you mess up, although something should happen, your boss says "it's OK, try it again," a job where you never get fired no matter the screw up. A place that you always want to go into work. Wouldn't you want to meet the boss of this incredible organization?
I have always, since high school, loved the verse Philippians 1.21 "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." I always liked the verse for the first part, to live is Christ. I understood that to live this life I should live as Jesus Christ did. Of course I'm doing that perfectly (ha! there's lie number 1). But as I go through life I am constantly asking the question (no I will not say what's on those awful bracelets) what is the next right thing to do? By living life by one event at a time I feel I can slow things down and find the next right thing to do.
But the second part of the verse, "to die is gain" has always been something that I looked over. (that's a big look over) There are two options in life, (as Christians) when we are blessed with another day to live we are to love/live/serve/ and be like our Saviour Jesus Christ did. And if we do all this then to die is a gain. It's crazy I know, but I don't fear death. Do I sin? (ha umm every single day) Of course we all do, whether you understand that as sin or not, we all screw up, but my joy and understanding comes from something called grace. I had a conversation with a lady in a coffee shop the other day about grace and she (as the cigarette dangled from her mouth, she was cute until she put that thing in) said something that even Christians get hung up on "so if you believe there is grace does that give you an excuse to sin?" My response was one that I think a lot of Christians need better understanding on, "absolutely not." See grace isn't so we can sin, grace is there in case we do sin. (which we will...oh how typed words are confusing) My words mean nothing, let the Bible clarify:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:1-9)
The definition of grace is "receiving something good that you do not deserve" and the definition of mercy is "not receiving something bad that you do deserve."
I don't fear death because God, through Jesus Christ, has blessed me with grace and shown me mercy.
James 4.13-14 says "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
With an understanding that my life is a mist or a vapor then that means I should live my life as Christ, and if I do that then to die will be a gain. Guys our time here is short, why waist it on meaningless things? In a time when the economy is going the way we wouldn't like, why as Christians should we worry? Our rewards are not in the stock market or a stimulus plan (which wasn't a good idea, in my 22 year old with no money, opinion), our rewards are in Christ alone. Him glorified is the thing we should live for, money is a blessing that we should share with the poor. (I'm pretty sure Jesus said something about a rich man and a camel going through the eye of a needle..in case you forgot it's Matthew 19.24)
Please don't see this post as being a testament to me hating life. Ha! It's the opposite I praise God everyday for another day, and I mean that. I love the ministry God has called me to and I am excited to see where He is going to take me on this ride and how He is going to use me. I want to experience marriage, children, growth, the future and all kinds of things, but if I don't then awesome because my rewards are in heaven.
May you, as Christ followers, live a life that is honoring and glorifying to the Sovereign Lord and live a life that Paul talks about in Philippians (the verse I talked about earlier, have you forgotten already?) And if you think I am a complete idiot I would love to talk about it, seriously I love to talk, can you tell?
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Twenty-Fourth
John Mayer: (enough said)
I shed a tear today.(that's right, I said it, a man and I cried) Now in my defense I am exhausted from driving yesterday and not used to the lack of sleep from the weekend, on top of that I got pulled over, on Labor day (which can be translated into Indianapolis 500 for the average man) but I wasn't speeding, my man pulled me over for expired tags! Pulled across 3 lanes of traffic for expired tags! (needless to say I was fired up. mom I wasn't mad at you I just knew you could take it. Love you) But back to the crying thing, so I am tired,aggravated, and praying for family stuff (if you could too that would be great) and just realizing that the friends I have really do mean the world to me. (yes that does sound very feminine) I spent the entire weekend with my closest friends and I can't imagine not being friends with them. Seriously without Ben and Kyle I know things wouldn't be nearly as funny but I also know I wouldn't be as encouraged as I am when I am with them. I can't imagine living far from them, mainly because one of them will own a boat before me and I don't want to be far from that! So I think all of those emotions running and colliding into one day caused me to shed a tear, I am blessed beyond all measures and I don't deserve it at all. No matter how bad things may get in my life I know 3 things: 1.) I have a Father watching out for me, guiding me, and reminding me that this life is not mine. 2.) I have the most incredible family, that no matter the tragedy we always come away stronger than before. and 3.) I am blessed with friends that would drop whatever it is they are doing to drive hours to be there when I need them. For that I couldn't be more thankful.(Thanks Ben and Kyle)
OK that's enough with the sappy friendship talk.
I got hooked on a new sport this past weekend, beach volleyball. I love it, in fact if you live in Indy and want to play I need people to play with! Johnson fixed the volleyball court and we seriously played for hours almost everyday I was down there. If you have never played I encourage you to, I hope to qualify for the Olympics next time around. (that's a joke, mainly because my best attribute is holding my hand up saying "my bad"..but I still love it!)
Praise God! (I have so many thoughts running through my head but for some reason this is the one thing that seems to be the only right thing to say)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
I shed a tear today.(that's right, I said it, a man and I cried) Now in my defense I am exhausted from driving yesterday and not used to the lack of sleep from the weekend, on top of that I got pulled over, on Labor day (which can be translated into Indianapolis 500 for the average man) but I wasn't speeding, my man pulled me over for expired tags! Pulled across 3 lanes of traffic for expired tags! (needless to say I was fired up. mom I wasn't mad at you I just knew you could take it. Love you) But back to the crying thing, so I am tired,aggravated, and praying for family stuff (if you could too that would be great) and just realizing that the friends I have really do mean the world to me. (yes that does sound very feminine) I spent the entire weekend with my closest friends and I can't imagine not being friends with them. Seriously without Ben and Kyle I know things wouldn't be nearly as funny but I also know I wouldn't be as encouraged as I am when I am with them. I can't imagine living far from them, mainly because one of them will own a boat before me and I don't want to be far from that! So I think all of those emotions running and colliding into one day caused me to shed a tear, I am blessed beyond all measures and I don't deserve it at all. No matter how bad things may get in my life I know 3 things: 1.) I have a Father watching out for me, guiding me, and reminding me that this life is not mine. 2.) I have the most incredible family, that no matter the tragedy we always come away stronger than before. and 3.) I am blessed with friends that would drop whatever it is they are doing to drive hours to be there when I need them. For that I couldn't be more thankful.(Thanks Ben and Kyle)
OK that's enough with the sappy friendship talk.
I got hooked on a new sport this past weekend, beach volleyball. I love it, in fact if you live in Indy and want to play I need people to play with! Johnson fixed the volleyball court and we seriously played for hours almost everyday I was down there. If you have never played I encourage you to, I hope to qualify for the Olympics next time around. (that's a joke, mainly because my best attribute is holding my hand up saying "my bad"..but I still love it!)
Praise God! (I have so many thoughts running through my head but for some reason this is the one thing that seems to be the only right thing to say)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Twenty-Thrird
Here is an incredible artist: Phil Wickham
So I don't have much going on, well outside of the internship that is. (Well, that is probably the biggest lie I have told in sometime.) But it's all great stuff, I am leaving the family that I have stayed with for three months tomorrow and moving in with another family. Meeting the Baker's and staying with them was the greatest experience for me, many nights we would just sit and talk about so many different things and how different the views are that we hold, but it's a generational difference, and it's cool to get to hear a different side of things. I am truly going to miss these people, well miss living with them. Thanks guys!
I am really learning new ideas and learning so many things about leadership that will benefit me so much in the future. I was at lunch with Aaron and through conversation I realized that I have things I MUST get over if I want to be effective in leadership. The largest one of those obstacles is my fear to speak up when I see something wrong and the reason is because I see myself as too young to add insight to people older than I and people will dis-credit anything I say because of that.(some of you are shocked right now that I do know how to hold my tongue, but it's true, I process everything in my head before I say it) I am never scared to stand up for what I know is right, the times I am speaking of is when someone is only talking with a narrow minded or very objective view. Some one close to me was talking the other day about wanting to start and build a community of believers and "do life" with those people around him, and if you have read any of my blogs I love this idea, I desire it. But I also understand that if you want to lead a church you must have a system in place so that things will grow and so things stay organized and the most important thing is that people are growing spiritually. In this community I never want to get away from prayer or scripture studying, I think when you get away from that you are not a Christ centered community you are just a strong community. Understand that there is nothing wrong with that, it's awesome, but if you desire to be a church and your missing out on prayer and scripture then I have to wonder if your a church or just another loving group of people. I desire a Christ Centered Community, which translates into a close spiritually growing community. Without structure people forget what they are living for, in the book of Acts(Bible) we see people sharing and selling their things to help people and it all sounds great but just a couple chapters later we see Ananias and Sapphira taking advantage of people and stealing. Without structure things wont hold up. Community is what I desire but I understand that without structure in that, i.e prayer and scripture and teaching/preaching, the community will eventually fall apart.
I am still learning to speak up when I have insight and I understand that I will never be an effective leader until I stop being fearful and speak what I believe to be true. I need to stop thinking I am too young. I am working on that and many other things.(I'm sure I'll tell you those things eventually.)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
So I don't have much going on, well outside of the internship that is. (Well, that is probably the biggest lie I have told in sometime.) But it's all great stuff, I am leaving the family that I have stayed with for three months tomorrow and moving in with another family. Meeting the Baker's and staying with them was the greatest experience for me, many nights we would just sit and talk about so many different things and how different the views are that we hold, but it's a generational difference, and it's cool to get to hear a different side of things. I am truly going to miss these people, well miss living with them. Thanks guys!
I am really learning new ideas and learning so many things about leadership that will benefit me so much in the future. I was at lunch with Aaron and through conversation I realized that I have things I MUST get over if I want to be effective in leadership. The largest one of those obstacles is my fear to speak up when I see something wrong and the reason is because I see myself as too young to add insight to people older than I and people will dis-credit anything I say because of that.(some of you are shocked right now that I do know how to hold my tongue, but it's true, I process everything in my head before I say it) I am never scared to stand up for what I know is right, the times I am speaking of is when someone is only talking with a narrow minded or very objective view. Some one close to me was talking the other day about wanting to start and build a community of believers and "do life" with those people around him, and if you have read any of my blogs I love this idea, I desire it. But I also understand that if you want to lead a church you must have a system in place so that things will grow and so things stay organized and the most important thing is that people are growing spiritually. In this community I never want to get away from prayer or scripture studying, I think when you get away from that you are not a Christ centered community you are just a strong community. Understand that there is nothing wrong with that, it's awesome, but if you desire to be a church and your missing out on prayer and scripture then I have to wonder if your a church or just another loving group of people. I desire a Christ Centered Community, which translates into a close spiritually growing community. Without structure people forget what they are living for, in the book of Acts(Bible) we see people sharing and selling their things to help people and it all sounds great but just a couple chapters later we see Ananias and Sapphira taking advantage of people and stealing. Without structure things wont hold up. Community is what I desire but I understand that without structure in that, i.e prayer and scripture and teaching/preaching, the community will eventually fall apart.
I am still learning to speak up when I have insight and I understand that I will never be an effective leader until I stop being fearful and speak what I believe to be true. I need to stop thinking I am too young. I am working on that and many other things.(I'm sure I'll tell you those things eventually.)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Twenty-second
Music time: Aaron (not the guy I'm interning under, but another Aaron)
I am such a somber kind of mood. I walk in to my office and the first thing I read was a horrible tragedy that occured yesterday at Cinicinnati Christian University, a school where many friends have gone. Here is a link to the story I read:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS0107/808210387/1055/NEWS
I am so sorry for the loss and I honestly cannot even imagine the emotions this family is going through. The thing that really angered me was the comments people left at the end of the story, there was no compassion at all. This makes me sick, the whole thing makes me sick. I don't understand how you can forget something like a baby (but again I'm single and obviously have no kids, that I'm aware of) but in the same breath I can honestly say I have been praying for this lady and her family all morning. I am certain that bad things do happen and I am certain that being a parent and a teacher can throw your schedule off a little and make you forget the easy things, but a baby?
Either way I am in a somber mood and will be all day. I think in times like these is when the church really needs to step in and love and FOLLOW UP with these lady. Continue to lift her spirits and continue to encourage her. I think it is so easy to be there for a family while the tragedy is still fresh in our minds, but it is the coming months that are really trying for a family, trust me I know.
This one is short, becuase really I don't have much to say about it. I know to you all who don't have the same worldview I do are reading this and I'm sure this sounds very "christian-ey" (yes i created a word) but I ask that you just put yourself in this ladies shoes. Try and feel the pain and hurt. Sorry this seems so, depressing, but it's just all I can think about.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
I am such a somber kind of mood. I walk in to my office and the first thing I read was a horrible tragedy that occured yesterday at Cinicinnati Christian University, a school where many friends have gone. Here is a link to the story I read:
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS0107/808210387/1055/NEWS
I am so sorry for the loss and I honestly cannot even imagine the emotions this family is going through. The thing that really angered me was the comments people left at the end of the story, there was no compassion at all. This makes me sick, the whole thing makes me sick. I don't understand how you can forget something like a baby (but again I'm single and obviously have no kids, that I'm aware of) but in the same breath I can honestly say I have been praying for this lady and her family all morning. I am certain that bad things do happen and I am certain that being a parent and a teacher can throw your schedule off a little and make you forget the easy things, but a baby?
Either way I am in a somber mood and will be all day. I think in times like these is when the church really needs to step in and love and FOLLOW UP with these lady. Continue to lift her spirits and continue to encourage her. I think it is so easy to be there for a family while the tragedy is still fresh in our minds, but it is the coming months that are really trying for a family, trust me I know.
This one is short, becuase really I don't have much to say about it. I know to you all who don't have the same worldview I do are reading this and I'm sure this sounds very "christian-ey" (yes i created a word) but I ask that you just put yourself in this ladies shoes. Try and feel the pain and hurt. Sorry this seems so, depressing, but it's just all I can think about.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Twenty-one
O.A.R.- "this town"...the significance of this song choice is that I will be watching them live this Friday...YESSIR!!
Well, it's been a while. But I'm back so every one can now stop crying and anxiously waiting the next time I wrote something.(I say all that just to build up myself, I know no one is eagerly waiting to here what is going on in my crazy mind.)
Well now it's time too fill you in on whats been going on.(trust me it will be a mess) So I went to a conference last weekend that was really awesome, since I am the intern under the lead minister I get to go on all the sweet conferences and this was one of them. I feel that my leadership skills are being matured and I really look foreword to seeing the knowledge that I gain throughout the course of the year.
Well here is the insightfully confusing mind of me. So about this time last summer I felt a strong passion to do a church plant. I jumped on this like a fourth grader at a birthday party. I was all for this idea, I searched areas that had no churches for few or dying churches, I started looking at organizations that helped people start a church, I was sold out on this idea. But then I started thinking about logistics and because of age and money, or the lack there of, I wrote it off in my mind. A few months go by and this thought came back into my head, like before I was sold out on it...but yet I again I wrote it off. This happened a couple more times throughout this past year. Well this whole summer I have been trying to really figure out what God's plan is for me, praying that He will show me the direction. Well at the conference last weekend it came back. Now this conference was a leadership conference so the speakers were mainly from churches and were leaders in their churches. But Bill Hybels (a prominent leader in the church) interviewed a couple people, go figure they were people who had a dream and a vision and a calling and nothing was going to stand in the way of their dream. Well the first woman is the founder of Teach-for-America, an organization that takes the top teachers in America and places them in very low income schools to provide a great education for kids. This woman was 22 when she saw this vision and was 23 when all this started. Age was not going to stand in the way of a vision.(When I heard this I thought, "oh no, God is getting ready to shake me.") I was floored by this woman's drive. But the next interview was another woman who graduated at 22 and went to the stock market and found herself trading millions of dollars. Well after a couple years she felt God calling her to go into the prison systems and teach men how to become entrepreneurs and how to maintain a business. But in order to do this her and her husband had to put all their money into this mission. So she tells this story about how they gave ALL their money to this and even took an early penalty hit on their 401k (i don't know what that means but it sounds bad) and then moved to Texas. Well the night they got to Texas someone broke in and stole everything they owned. They had nothing. (At this point I KNOW God is holding me up and just slapping me in the face saying- "hey are you hearing this? Yeah, I got you.") What are the odds that the same things these young women went through and God brought them through are the exact same things that I make as an excuse that I can't do a church plant?
Well after the conference I understood God was trying to tell me something and I knew all I could do is pray about it. Well I chose to try and let this church plant thing just sit, I mean I still have a year here and then one more year of school. So there is at least 2 years before I can/want to do anything. But what happens next is hard for me not to say it was God's hand coming at me again. One of my close friends Anthony a.k.a Tangy came into my head and I decided to call him. Now understand that this guy has a calling from God that is incredible, it's much to long to get into but know it deals with supporting missionaries, it's incredible. Well in the past we have talked about planting a church but like usual it passes. Well he brings it up. We get into this huge discussion and find ourselves just laughing a nervous laugh because we are unsure what God is trying to do, but we we know he is doing something. And I have enough faith to understand that if He is calling me to do something then He will take care of me.
I guess all I can ask is that you pray. Not just for me but pray and ask God what he is calling you to do. Where is it that you can be tool for Him? Pray that God's vision to save the lost is your vision. Pray that His heart is yours. But understand by praying for these things you may be called to do something you think can't be done, but remember that God is so much bigger than the struggles we create in our mind.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Well, it's been a while. But I'm back so every one can now stop crying and anxiously waiting the next time I wrote something.(I say all that just to build up myself, I know no one is eagerly waiting to here what is going on in my crazy mind.)
Well now it's time too fill you in on whats been going on.(trust me it will be a mess) So I went to a conference last weekend that was really awesome, since I am the intern under the lead minister I get to go on all the sweet conferences and this was one of them. I feel that my leadership skills are being matured and I really look foreword to seeing the knowledge that I gain throughout the course of the year.
Well here is the insightfully confusing mind of me. So about this time last summer I felt a strong passion to do a church plant. I jumped on this like a fourth grader at a birthday party. I was all for this idea, I searched areas that had no churches for few or dying churches, I started looking at organizations that helped people start a church, I was sold out on this idea. But then I started thinking about logistics and because of age and money, or the lack there of, I wrote it off in my mind. A few months go by and this thought came back into my head, like before I was sold out on it...but yet I again I wrote it off. This happened a couple more times throughout this past year. Well this whole summer I have been trying to really figure out what God's plan is for me, praying that He will show me the direction. Well at the conference last weekend it came back. Now this conference was a leadership conference so the speakers were mainly from churches and were leaders in their churches. But Bill Hybels (a prominent leader in the church) interviewed a couple people, go figure they were people who had a dream and a vision and a calling and nothing was going to stand in the way of their dream. Well the first woman is the founder of Teach-for-America, an organization that takes the top teachers in America and places them in very low income schools to provide a great education for kids. This woman was 22 when she saw this vision and was 23 when all this started. Age was not going to stand in the way of a vision.(When I heard this I thought, "oh no, God is getting ready to shake me.") I was floored by this woman's drive. But the next interview was another woman who graduated at 22 and went to the stock market and found herself trading millions of dollars. Well after a couple years she felt God calling her to go into the prison systems and teach men how to become entrepreneurs and how to maintain a business. But in order to do this her and her husband had to put all their money into this mission. So she tells this story about how they gave ALL their money to this and even took an early penalty hit on their 401k (i don't know what that means but it sounds bad) and then moved to Texas. Well the night they got to Texas someone broke in and stole everything they owned. They had nothing. (At this point I KNOW God is holding me up and just slapping me in the face saying- "hey are you hearing this? Yeah, I got you.") What are the odds that the same things these young women went through and God brought them through are the exact same things that I make as an excuse that I can't do a church plant?
Well after the conference I understood God was trying to tell me something and I knew all I could do is pray about it. Well I chose to try and let this church plant thing just sit, I mean I still have a year here and then one more year of school. So there is at least 2 years before I can/want to do anything. But what happens next is hard for me not to say it was God's hand coming at me again. One of my close friends Anthony a.k.a Tangy came into my head and I decided to call him. Now understand that this guy has a calling from God that is incredible, it's much to long to get into but know it deals with supporting missionaries, it's incredible. Well in the past we have talked about planting a church but like usual it passes. Well he brings it up. We get into this huge discussion and find ourselves just laughing a nervous laugh because we are unsure what God is trying to do, but we we know he is doing something. And I have enough faith to understand that if He is calling me to do something then He will take care of me.
I guess all I can ask is that you pray. Not just for me but pray and ask God what he is calling you to do. Where is it that you can be tool for Him? Pray that God's vision to save the lost is your vision. Pray that His heart is yours. But understand by praying for these things you may be called to do something you think can't be done, but remember that God is so much bigger than the struggles we create in our mind.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Twenty
I am so happy I can plug this video. (This will make my family proud. YEAH DUNBAR CLAN!!!)
Two of the guys in the video are Pro Bass fishermen, Chris and Bobby Lane.(Yes I know I am a dork for knowing that and a dork for saying Bobby is one of my favorite anglers.) But I have to post that as an intro to my weekend. I am leaving today for my favorite time out of the whole year, this is the time that me and three of my closest friends get together for a weekend of fishing. It's the biggest tournament I fish in, the Plantation Elite Series.(By tournament I mean us four get together and fish on a couple trolling motor boats and whoever catches the most wieght wins. I hope to post a picture of my (soon to be) trophy) There is really no prize, just something we like to do. I love these guys and can't wait to get out in a boat and fish with them. It's such a refreshing time away to fish, hangout, and to catch-up. And on that note I'm off to catch a lunker(fishing lingo for a BIG fish)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Two of the guys in the video are Pro Bass fishermen, Chris and Bobby Lane.(Yes I know I am a dork for knowing that and a dork for saying Bobby is one of my favorite anglers.) But I have to post that as an intro to my weekend. I am leaving today for my favorite time out of the whole year, this is the time that me and three of my closest friends get together for a weekend of fishing. It's the biggest tournament I fish in, the Plantation Elite Series.(By tournament I mean us four get together and fish on a couple trolling motor boats and whoever catches the most wieght wins. I hope to post a picture of my (soon to be) trophy) There is really no prize, just something we like to do. I love these guys and can't wait to get out in a boat and fish with them. It's such a refreshing time away to fish, hangout, and to catch-up. And on that note I'm off to catch a lunker(fishing lingo for a BIG fish)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Monday, July 28, 2008
Nineteenth
We're taken it back to the old school...Marvin Gaye "Got to give it up"
I want to write a book.(I think everyone says they want to write a book, especially ministers,) Serously though I really want to write a book. I know what the topic is and yes I even have a rough idea for the title, the title would be "Living a 50's life in a Post-Modern generation" (good isn't it?) The idea was sparked in my head when I was doing some sermon research for the lead minister on a topic that will be coming up here in the next month or so, the topic was "I don't have to go to church" (of course he is against that statement, but it is a common misconception with people that call themselves "believers") In my research I found myself reading a lot of passages in Acts and found myself really studying those books and I loved it!! The things that I learned from Acts was that people in the early church depended on each other, they lived in community with each other. When someone was struggling with anything people around them stepped up and helped them and their family. It's truly amazing when you start to think about and read through the book (yes this is my plug for you to pick up that dusty bible and read through the book of Acts!!)
I love this concept of living in community and living with and for other people. I have already decided I more than likely wont have a retirement fund, why? Becuase I want to give things away, I am not foolish I understand completely that I need to support my family and I will. What I am saying is if the Lord is blessing me with an overflow I want to be able to help out the families that are in my community that don't have much and can't support their own kids, I want to help becuase I want to live in a community where the people love and want to be with the people around them. I will always support my family but I want to be in such a close community that I know if something happens to me my neighbor will help my family out or if something happens to him I WILL support his family in whatever way I can it may not just financially. I understand that one person can't support his family and another family but when there is a community all the people will step up and help.
This is all kind of leading up to the idea of my book. You see when I look back to the older generations and the struggles they were going through people relied on one another. People were close with their neighbors and had a comfort with those around them and wanted to spend time with them.
Black people know how to throw a cookout!! It's true, go to a park sometime in the summer and there is usually families/friends all having a good time. There is usually one big guy grillin' with a huge smile on his face and just having a good time, grilling and dancing.(I want to learn from this man the art of BBQ-ing, I have picked up on a lot of things but I am convinced that noone can BBQ like a black man, they know what they're doing!!) I WANT THIS!! I desire to get a big BBQ going and invite the nieghbors over and everyone is just having a good time, no worries of anything going on in the world just grillin' and chillin'.
This is such a hard thing to do in our society, people seclude themselves and people do things on their own and don't want help. This is the background for my book, if I don't stop writing (on this blog) then I will end up writing my whole book on this. (And I don't think you would take the time to read it)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
I want to write a book.(I think everyone says they want to write a book, especially ministers,) Serously though I really want to write a book. I know what the topic is and yes I even have a rough idea for the title, the title would be "Living a 50's life in a Post-Modern generation" (good isn't it?) The idea was sparked in my head when I was doing some sermon research for the lead minister on a topic that will be coming up here in the next month or so, the topic was "I don't have to go to church" (of course he is against that statement, but it is a common misconception with people that call themselves "believers") In my research I found myself reading a lot of passages in Acts and found myself really studying those books and I loved it!! The things that I learned from Acts was that people in the early church depended on each other, they lived in community with each other. When someone was struggling with anything people around them stepped up and helped them and their family. It's truly amazing when you start to think about and read through the book (yes this is my plug for you to pick up that dusty bible and read through the book of Acts!!)
I love this concept of living in community and living with and for other people. I have already decided I more than likely wont have a retirement fund, why? Becuase I want to give things away, I am not foolish I understand completely that I need to support my family and I will. What I am saying is if the Lord is blessing me with an overflow I want to be able to help out the families that are in my community that don't have much and can't support their own kids, I want to help becuase I want to live in a community where the people love and want to be with the people around them. I will always support my family but I want to be in such a close community that I know if something happens to me my neighbor will help my family out or if something happens to him I WILL support his family in whatever way I can it may not just financially. I understand that one person can't support his family and another family but when there is a community all the people will step up and help.
This is all kind of leading up to the idea of my book. You see when I look back to the older generations and the struggles they were going through people relied on one another. People were close with their neighbors and had a comfort with those around them and wanted to spend time with them.
Black people know how to throw a cookout!! It's true, go to a park sometime in the summer and there is usually families/friends all having a good time. There is usually one big guy grillin' with a huge smile on his face and just having a good time, grilling and dancing.(I want to learn from this man the art of BBQ-ing, I have picked up on a lot of things but I am convinced that noone can BBQ like a black man, they know what they're doing!!) I WANT THIS!! I desire to get a big BBQ going and invite the nieghbors over and everyone is just having a good time, no worries of anything going on in the world just grillin' and chillin'.
This is such a hard thing to do in our society, people seclude themselves and people do things on their own and don't want help. This is the background for my book, if I don't stop writing (on this blog) then I will end up writing my whole book on this. (And I don't think you would take the time to read it)
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Eighteenth
Ohhh this will be good...Goo Goo Dolls
This one will seriously be very short. (I know I have said that in the past and it never happens but this time i am almost certain it will. I'm a preacher are we ever short on things to say..noooo)
I was asked by someone what my favorite Bible verses were, this made me think, not hard since I knew them quite well.
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
-Romans 12.12-13
And this next one is one that I base my life on and one that I will base my ministry in and out of the church on:
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possesions was his own, but they shared everything they had."
-Acts 4.32
I know it seems hard but it is something that people need and I think if we adopt this view/action/life style we will change what every day life looks like. A great quote is: "Strength is not measured by overcoming your weakness, but by bearing the weakness of others."
-Lenski
I pray for strength to bear the weakness of others. I want to help people emotionally and financially and spiritually, becuase I feel this is what God has called me to do.
On a different note I am going to meet up with 3 of my best friends for our annual fishing trip. I love these guys so much and this is the one trip that I look foreward to more than anything. Next Wednesday is when we meet and it will be incredible, I love deep relationships.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
This one will seriously be very short. (I know I have said that in the past and it never happens but this time i am almost certain it will. I'm a preacher are we ever short on things to say..noooo)
I was asked by someone what my favorite Bible verses were, this made me think, not hard since I knew them quite well.
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
-Romans 12.12-13
And this next one is one that I base my life on and one that I will base my ministry in and out of the church on:
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possesions was his own, but they shared everything they had."
-Acts 4.32
I know it seems hard but it is something that people need and I think if we adopt this view/action/life style we will change what every day life looks like. A great quote is: "Strength is not measured by overcoming your weakness, but by bearing the weakness of others."
-Lenski
I pray for strength to bear the weakness of others. I want to help people emotionally and financially and spiritually, becuase I feel this is what God has called me to do.
On a different note I am going to meet up with 3 of my best friends for our annual fishing trip. I love these guys so much and this is the one trip that I look foreward to more than anything. Next Wednesday is when we meet and it will be incredible, I love deep relationships.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Seventeenth
Annnd the music is: Liam Finn
So this will be much shorter than the other posts (mainly because I don't feel like writing much.) I want so badly, it burns deep inside me, to be in community with people who are always learning and desiring to be closer to the Lord. In their lives they are more than just living, they are serving as well. They live out the life of "Loving God and Loving People." I want the people I am around to be living with a loving attitude and genuinally caring about the people they are around, I want to be this way as well. I really see our society changing, I know there is so much hate and violence, but I really do feel people want solid friendships and to be in community with people. This may be my imaturity speaking but I feel people want good communities again. I want the church to be "the church", I want people in the church to get to a point when if someone is in trouble everyone around them will lift them up not just in prayer but financially and in any other way they can help. This was what the church was all about, people would sell their possesions to help someone out, I am longing for this. I AM LONGING FOR DEEP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. My heart feels like it could just burst out of my chest becuase I am ready to be at that point. I am not naive, I know that this is an incredibly hard thing to achieve but there is so much benifit that can come from something like this. I want people to "gather to the chapel" for not just celebration but for community, relationships, and love and support. Oh I am ready for such a change.
This is what is on my heart, I hope it is on yours.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
So this will be much shorter than the other posts (mainly because I don't feel like writing much.) I want so badly, it burns deep inside me, to be in community with people who are always learning and desiring to be closer to the Lord. In their lives they are more than just living, they are serving as well. They live out the life of "Loving God and Loving People." I want the people I am around to be living with a loving attitude and genuinally caring about the people they are around, I want to be this way as well. I really see our society changing, I know there is so much hate and violence, but I really do feel people want solid friendships and to be in community with people. This may be my imaturity speaking but I feel people want good communities again. I want the church to be "the church", I want people in the church to get to a point when if someone is in trouble everyone around them will lift them up not just in prayer but financially and in any other way they can help. This was what the church was all about, people would sell their possesions to help someone out, I am longing for this. I AM LONGING FOR DEEP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. My heart feels like it could just burst out of my chest becuase I am ready to be at that point. I am not naive, I know that this is an incredibly hard thing to achieve but there is so much benifit that can come from something like this. I want people to "gather to the chapel" for not just celebration but for community, relationships, and love and support. Oh I am ready for such a change.
This is what is on my heart, I hope it is on yours.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sixteenth
Here is the music for the day, Death Cab for Cutie = AMAZING!!
Well this is my first official week without my mentor being here. For those who don't know I am doing the most amazing internship under the most amazing person I have met.(I am saying that in case he reads this, hey Aaron) He is out living the life in Colorodo for sometime. It's actually his study break and I am sure he will come back revived and ready to go, which is a good thing. I had my first softball game this weekend, I am so much better at softball than baseball (yes I am bragging about myself, it's what I do.) But much more happened this weekend that can only be God stepping in the box for me.
If you read my last post you will learn about a young woman that I think is on the verge of a life change. Well I was at the gym on Saturday (torturing my body) and she was there working out as well. Well after we were done we struck up a conversation (yes while we were both nasty, smelly, and sweaty..how attractive). Well when we were done I walked out and she went to the desk to get her things, so when I got to my car I threw a proposition towards God. I said, if you bring her this way I'll ask her to come to church. Sure enough she parked right next to me. (Now you could say it is a coincidence that she parked there and that I am looking to far into things. Well I would say to you, my God is bigger than chance.) So I kind of guilted her into coming by saying, "if you don't come and I am standing there waiting I will look like an idiot", thruth is I look like an idiot walking around this huge place anyway, with my head moving from side to side like a bobble head doll.
Long story short, she came!! When I asked her how hard it was her response took me back a little, "Well I woke and kept telling myself I wasn't going. And as I kept telling myself that I found myself in my car driving. And then when I pulled into the parking lot I told myself I was going to turn around and then I found myself in a parking spot." (God? I'd say so)
Now for all you "all Jesus no church" people I have a response. I beleive the church is such an important part of Christianity, 1 Corinthians 12.13 says that we were “baptized into one body”. The body is the church, so if I am going to have conversation with this friend of mine about God, then the church will be involved. This conversation about "Jesus not church" can go on and if you want to talk let me know and we will.
So anyway, she came!!! All I can do is praise God for what he did this weekend in her life. I can only pray He continues to work in her life and if I am needed as a tool "here I am send me." If you feel led, pray for her and pray that questions will come to her mind, questions are good-very good.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Well this is my first official week without my mentor being here. For those who don't know I am doing the most amazing internship under the most amazing person I have met.(I am saying that in case he reads this, hey Aaron) He is out living the life in Colorodo for sometime. It's actually his study break and I am sure he will come back revived and ready to go, which is a good thing. I had my first softball game this weekend, I am so much better at softball than baseball (yes I am bragging about myself, it's what I do.) But much more happened this weekend that can only be God stepping in the box for me.
If you read my last post you will learn about a young woman that I think is on the verge of a life change. Well I was at the gym on Saturday (torturing my body) and she was there working out as well. Well after we were done we struck up a conversation (yes while we were both nasty, smelly, and sweaty..how attractive). Well when we were done I walked out and she went to the desk to get her things, so when I got to my car I threw a proposition towards God. I said, if you bring her this way I'll ask her to come to church. Sure enough she parked right next to me. (Now you could say it is a coincidence that she parked there and that I am looking to far into things. Well I would say to you, my God is bigger than chance.) So I kind of guilted her into coming by saying, "if you don't come and I am standing there waiting I will look like an idiot", thruth is I look like an idiot walking around this huge place anyway, with my head moving from side to side like a bobble head doll.
Long story short, she came!! When I asked her how hard it was her response took me back a little, "Well I woke and kept telling myself I wasn't going. And as I kept telling myself that I found myself in my car driving. And then when I pulled into the parking lot I told myself I was going to turn around and then I found myself in a parking spot." (God? I'd say so)
Now for all you "all Jesus no church" people I have a response. I beleive the church is such an important part of Christianity, 1 Corinthians 12.13 says that we were “baptized into one body”. The body is the church, so if I am going to have conversation with this friend of mine about God, then the church will be involved. This conversation about "Jesus not church" can go on and if you want to talk let me know and we will.
So anyway, she came!!! All I can do is praise God for what he did this weekend in her life. I can only pray He continues to work in her life and if I am needed as a tool "here I am send me." If you feel led, pray for her and pray that questions will come to her mind, questions are good-very good.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
Monday, June 30, 2008
Fifteenth
This could be one of my favorite new artists, she is probably not new but I still like her. Her name is Yael Naim.
As I sit here drinking my cup of coffee I can't help think about my friends who are living with no hope. I met a young woman at the gym here in town and I asked a question to strike up a conversation (she was cute but my intentions were not to get her number) the question, "Is this what you want to do with the rest of your life?" Now I understand that could sound like a harsh question but it is all in the tone of your voice (my mom taught me that), and my tone was gentle and sincere, I really did want to know if this is what she wanted to do. She responded with an answer I feel a lot of people have, "To be honest chris, I don't know what I want anymore." (you ever have those times when you just know a conversation is going to be longer than expected, this was one of those.) She began to tell me her story of how she graduated from college with a bachelors in fitness training and started in a job she hated, so she left. And was now working at this fitness place which she liked but she told me she has more to her life than fitness, she likes being fit but doesn't know if it is what she wants to do with her life. She said she has been working so much lately that she is feeling tired and just knows there is more to her life than a gym. (again have you ever felt that someone is on the verge of a life change, I felt this for her) I asked her when the last time she had a day off, "at least 3 weeks ago, I work 8-6 everyday." My advice to her was to ask for a weekend off where she doesn't go near a gym, where she can go and sit outside and just rest.
I think so many of us have put so much ahead of what is important. Our families are getting pushed back becuase we have got to get those documents filed or we have to do something at the office becuase no one else will. Truth is, it will get done. Take time to rest, resting has become something alien in our society. REST. take today and just relax, if not today soemtime very soon. Pray.
I told this young lady that I would pray for her day off and her finding what she wants in this life, she was taken back. Literally she took a step back, like I had just punched her, she asked why? Simply put, "I care about you and where your life is going and I don't want to see someone living a meaningless life." (Now if there was ever a time to ask for a number this would have been it, but I didn't) She said thanks and, that, I am certain sparked something in her mind that there is more to life than work. I will see her again today as I head to the gym to torture my body and I can only hope God has put something on her mind.
My prayer for you, whoever you are reading this in the same boat as my friend, will take a day to just relax. Trust me it helps. If you believe in God, pray, if you don't believe in God and want something more, pray (have a conversation with God). And if you haven't done so in a while maybe strike up a conversation with someone, you will learn a lot about yourslef. Shalom.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
As I sit here drinking my cup of coffee I can't help think about my friends who are living with no hope. I met a young woman at the gym here in town and I asked a question to strike up a conversation (she was cute but my intentions were not to get her number) the question, "Is this what you want to do with the rest of your life?" Now I understand that could sound like a harsh question but it is all in the tone of your voice (my mom taught me that), and my tone was gentle and sincere, I really did want to know if this is what she wanted to do. She responded with an answer I feel a lot of people have, "To be honest chris, I don't know what I want anymore." (you ever have those times when you just know a conversation is going to be longer than expected, this was one of those.) She began to tell me her story of how she graduated from college with a bachelors in fitness training and started in a job she hated, so she left. And was now working at this fitness place which she liked but she told me she has more to her life than fitness, she likes being fit but doesn't know if it is what she wants to do with her life. She said she has been working so much lately that she is feeling tired and just knows there is more to her life than a gym. (again have you ever felt that someone is on the verge of a life change, I felt this for her) I asked her when the last time she had a day off, "at least 3 weeks ago, I work 8-6 everyday." My advice to her was to ask for a weekend off where she doesn't go near a gym, where she can go and sit outside and just rest.
I think so many of us have put so much ahead of what is important. Our families are getting pushed back becuase we have got to get those documents filed or we have to do something at the office becuase no one else will. Truth is, it will get done. Take time to rest, resting has become something alien in our society. REST. take today and just relax, if not today soemtime very soon. Pray.
I told this young lady that I would pray for her day off and her finding what she wants in this life, she was taken back. Literally she took a step back, like I had just punched her, she asked why? Simply put, "I care about you and where your life is going and I don't want to see someone living a meaningless life." (Now if there was ever a time to ask for a number this would have been it, but I didn't) She said thanks and, that, I am certain sparked something in her mind that there is more to life than work. I will see her again today as I head to the gym to torture my body and I can only hope God has put something on her mind.
My prayer for you, whoever you are reading this in the same boat as my friend, will take a day to just relax. Trust me it helps. If you believe in God, pray, if you don't believe in God and want something more, pray (have a conversation with God). And if you haven't done so in a while maybe strike up a conversation with someone, you will learn a lot about yourslef. Shalom.
Love Loudly..Live Graciously..Be Conversational..
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