Below is an edited version of a facebook message I sent to several of my college friends concerning the issue of christian community on the campus of my alma mater. I pray you are encouraged and challenged to new ways of living.
I can't help but feel that God desires to do soooooo much more in that area (community) though. I have recently begun to plug into a church plant down here called antioch. www.antiochnorman.com One thing that God has been revealing to me through this amazing group of people, is how powerful community is. God desires to use the body of christ. At antioch we've been going over the spiritual gifts in a sermon series on the Holy Spirit. I confess, that on the overall, the gifts are a fairly new thing for me. While I have experienced many myself, including giving words of prophecy, prophetic song, and have had such things spoken over and into my own life by others, it is not something that was dealt with much to at all at SC. Going through this series, has made me realize just how much God desires to pour those things out on us!! And just how life changing and powerful they can be when used properly!! For the gifts to work properly, the body must be working together, and the body must be seeking after the Father.
As I've stated before, I believe SC has no real sense of christian community as a whole. There are some AMAZING hearts on campus! But there is no strong sense that we are bound together in Christ as family. Why?? The more I think and ponder on this, the more I believe there are strong ties to the SC curse. Overcommitment. One thing about being in powerful, intimate, passionate, and God seeking community, is that it is freakin inconvienent!! It's hard!! It's a commitment to other people to focus and invest time and energy into each others lives! But when we are so busy that we don't have time to think, much less meet together with the sole focus bein on knowing God better in the context of the Acts 2 community, how is the body suppose to function properly? I believe that some of the small groups on campus are a great place to start. But this isn't something just for a select few. There are believers on the SC campus that are drowning in lies, are being held in bondage by their past, and are living inside prisonal fortresses made by their life experience and they need people who will love on them and speak truth into their lives and walk with them through it all.
You are ALL leaders on the SC campus. People will listen to you, people will follow you. As such, I want to challenge you to take the first steps towards full community. I know, this prolly seems like my idea and I'm trying to force you into implementing it. Yes, it's my evil plan to save the world...(five iron anyone?) My prayer is that you realize how truly important this is. Use Acts as a general guide. If you want to know what the fullness of christian community looks like, go read that. But there are some things to consider. Heres where the rubber meets the road.
Here are my suggested steps.
1.PRAY!!! Again, I'm bringing this to you for consideration. But I don't believe that God would lay it only on my heart for SC, and not put it on the hearts of anyone thats still there. Pray for insight, guidance, wisdom, heck even motivation and clarity if you are struggling to realize this.
2.Cut some stuff out. I am sooooo serious. Now that I'm out from under the overcommitment curse, I realize just how debilitating it can be. So much so, that I will even go as far to say it is a Satanic attack on the lives of many people. Not all, but many. Pretty hard to "sit and wait upon the Lord" if you are running around with your head chopped off. Make sense? Seriously pray about cutting stuff out so you have time to commit to spending in purposeful fellowship with one another without being rushed and cramming it into an already busy schedule. We make time for what is important to us.
3.Be in worship. Not just in chapel, but on your own!! YAY! I am a VERY strong believer that being in the presence of God has the power to change lives and break chains of oppression. We don't worship to 'feel' God, we worship to give to God what is rightfully His!! Worship can change lives and situations! I'm becoming more and more a fan of having some sort of worship at every purposeful gathering of believers.
4. Be in the Word. God speaks to us and fills us up from the word. I know for me, the more I take in, the more I can pour out. The more I pour out, the more I glorify God and impact lives around me!!
5.EAT! Food just brings any group together.
6. Commit. Community is hard. It's takes being open and at times vunerable with one another. It's not convenient, but it's totally worth it.
7. Lastly, if you lack anything...ask for it!! Wisdom, knowledge, revelation, gifts of the spirit....anything. Ask for it. He WANTS to pour it out on you!!
Pray about this. I'm not there, I don't want this to be something that you try to do because a friend of yours is all fired up about it. Do it because you want to and feel it's important. If you aren't feeling any of that, again, ASK! Seek God out on it. Don't rest until you have an answer from Him. Anyhoo, I pray that SOMETHING in this novel speaks to you or encourages you in some fashion. I love you all and pray for your personal ministries. Ciao!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Peacefully Troubled
Monday I ended the day with a sense of troubled peace. Maybe a better way of putting it is peace in the midst of a troubled heart and mind. A conversation at work did NOT go the way I expected it to at all. It started with me telling a coworker about the events that transpired at church on Sunday morning and in the evening, and ended with me being shocked, hurt in a way, and reeling from the severity of the response.
Sunday was a CRAZY day for me. God gave me a word for a guy during church, which was both awkward and awesome!! After I gave the word, I felt such freedom in the worship. It was crazy! I really felt that for one of the few times in my life I was able to open up fully in the midst of corporate worship and praise the Lord…well, freely. A lady on the worship team spotted me in the back, and felt like she was suppose to come back and pray with me. So she did! (Kinda obvious I guess, or I wouldn’t be writing about it. HA!) The crazy thing about that, was that I was as far back in the building as I could physically be, and the lady, being in the band, was at the very opposite end, yet she still saw me. Blows my mind a bit. Definitely a God thing.
Later that evening, I attended the gather where a guy from (Scotland/Ireland…not sure) spoke about prophecy, what the Bible says about it, how it should be done, the checks and balances, etc. The Lord gave some words of knowledge during the service, namely about sickness and pains people were experiencing. Then we gathered around those people, and prayed for healing. The guy I (and another man) prayed for had some shoulder pain, and he said it was healed! YAY!
I was telling my coworker about all this Monday at work. Having had conversations about God, and knowing a bit of where he stands in his beliefs, I expected some skepticism from him. To have a pat on the back of sorts and a “If you believe that, that’s nice.” But he ended up getting about as worked up and I would say almost angry over it as I’ve ever seen him. Definitely NOT the response I was expecting. To paraphrase his response, “It’s just a magic show. I can’t believe you’d ever buy into that. They just want you to get tied into to what they are doing. They’ll be wanting your money soon. If they have such great healing power, why don’t they heal everyone’s cancer, or heal starving people? I can’t believe that a loving God would heal a shoulder, but not cancer. God doesn’t do that.”
Needless to say, I sat dumbfounded, in shock, and not really sure what to say, what to think, or anything!! I definitely hit a nerve. And where theres a nerve, theres almost always experiences that formed that nerve over time. He told me some things I won’t share here that put perhaps a bit of the puzzle together for me. But that still didn’t lessen the blow. What hurt the most was his perception of the events and of me. He had the idea that I suppose most people, including myself up until recently, have about ‘healing’. They picture a gathering where everyone is whipped into a frenzy by a celebrity preacher personality. The celebrity is walking around slapping people on the forehead, yelling ‘be healed’! And the majority of such “ministries” are VERY shady in my opinion. I felt like he was lumping me, my faith, my experiences, the gathering I went to at Antioch, the speaker, and the church of Antioch itself in the bowl with those questionable people. That HURT!! Such things are NOT me, NOT my faith, and NOT my church.
I’m still a bit bewildered sitting here even now. I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t like that AT ALL! The speaker wasn’t claiming to be a healer, no one was in an emotional frenzy, there was NO forehead slapping, no yelling. And none of the flags I look for in shady ministries were raised. Those being that the ‘ministry’ is focused on one person, that the power of healing is from one person, or that such things are only found in that place, with that church. He can disagree with me on the belief of God healing, I’m totally ok with that. But don’t group me in with those questionable ‘ministries’ and individuals, cause again, that’s not me, that’s not my faith, and that’s not my church.
Its sad to think about how such things have been used to prey upon people in the past. Things that God desires to be for good have been taken out of biblical context, belittled and perverted to a point, that when the genuine real deal happens, it’s hard for any of us, including me, to accept or believe without serious reservations. I’ll be the first to admit…even typing this makes it feel a bit crazy and the cautious skeptic within me stops and says “wait a minute”. Could the guy that I prayed over been lying when he said his shoulder felt better? Sure! It definitely crossed my mind. I’ll never know for sure whether it really was or wasn’t. But what I DO know without a doubt in my mind, is that God CAN heal and DOES heal!! And that many times He desires to honor us by working through us. So if the guy said he was healed, who am I to say he absolutely wasn’t? If God can save me from my sin, and redeem me from that thing over which I have no power on my own, how much more able is He to physically heal?
How did it end? I later apologized for hitting a nerve, and tried to assure him again that the happenings of the gathering were not like his ideas of the situation. Did it do any good? I don’t know. I won’t apologize for my beliefs and the exercise of them, but I think that sensitivity in this area is definitely needed in the future. I feel that he lost some respect for my faith and beliefs. I pray not, but only time will tell how big of an issue this really is to him. I do feel God’s peace about this situation, I feel I need to hold my friend in prayer. God knows whats going on. Ultimately, I know all I need to worry about is being faithful to go where the Father leads, not how people respond. Lord give me strength.
Sunday was a CRAZY day for me. God gave me a word for a guy during church, which was both awkward and awesome!! After I gave the word, I felt such freedom in the worship. It was crazy! I really felt that for one of the few times in my life I was able to open up fully in the midst of corporate worship and praise the Lord…well, freely. A lady on the worship team spotted me in the back, and felt like she was suppose to come back and pray with me. So she did! (Kinda obvious I guess, or I wouldn’t be writing about it. HA!) The crazy thing about that, was that I was as far back in the building as I could physically be, and the lady, being in the band, was at the very opposite end, yet she still saw me. Blows my mind a bit. Definitely a God thing.
Later that evening, I attended the gather where a guy from (Scotland/Ireland…not sure) spoke about prophecy, what the Bible says about it, how it should be done, the checks and balances, etc. The Lord gave some words of knowledge during the service, namely about sickness and pains people were experiencing. Then we gathered around those people, and prayed for healing. The guy I (and another man) prayed for had some shoulder pain, and he said it was healed! YAY!
I was telling my coworker about all this Monday at work. Having had conversations about God, and knowing a bit of where he stands in his beliefs, I expected some skepticism from him. To have a pat on the back of sorts and a “If you believe that, that’s nice.” But he ended up getting about as worked up and I would say almost angry over it as I’ve ever seen him. Definitely NOT the response I was expecting. To paraphrase his response, “It’s just a magic show. I can’t believe you’d ever buy into that. They just want you to get tied into to what they are doing. They’ll be wanting your money soon. If they have such great healing power, why don’t they heal everyone’s cancer, or heal starving people? I can’t believe that a loving God would heal a shoulder, but not cancer. God doesn’t do that.”
Needless to say, I sat dumbfounded, in shock, and not really sure what to say, what to think, or anything!! I definitely hit a nerve. And where theres a nerve, theres almost always experiences that formed that nerve over time. He told me some things I won’t share here that put perhaps a bit of the puzzle together for me. But that still didn’t lessen the blow. What hurt the most was his perception of the events and of me. He had the idea that I suppose most people, including myself up until recently, have about ‘healing’. They picture a gathering where everyone is whipped into a frenzy by a celebrity preacher personality. The celebrity is walking around slapping people on the forehead, yelling ‘be healed’! And the majority of such “ministries” are VERY shady in my opinion. I felt like he was lumping me, my faith, my experiences, the gathering I went to at Antioch, the speaker, and the church of Antioch itself in the bowl with those questionable people. That HURT!! Such things are NOT me, NOT my faith, and NOT my church.
I’m still a bit bewildered sitting here even now. I tried to explain to him that it wasn’t like that AT ALL! The speaker wasn’t claiming to be a healer, no one was in an emotional frenzy, there was NO forehead slapping, no yelling. And none of the flags I look for in shady ministries were raised. Those being that the ‘ministry’ is focused on one person, that the power of healing is from one person, or that such things are only found in that place, with that church. He can disagree with me on the belief of God healing, I’m totally ok with that. But don’t group me in with those questionable ‘ministries’ and individuals, cause again, that’s not me, that’s not my faith, and that’s not my church.
Its sad to think about how such things have been used to prey upon people in the past. Things that God desires to be for good have been taken out of biblical context, belittled and perverted to a point, that when the genuine real deal happens, it’s hard for any of us, including me, to accept or believe without serious reservations. I’ll be the first to admit…even typing this makes it feel a bit crazy and the cautious skeptic within me stops and says “wait a minute”. Could the guy that I prayed over been lying when he said his shoulder felt better? Sure! It definitely crossed my mind. I’ll never know for sure whether it really was or wasn’t. But what I DO know without a doubt in my mind, is that God CAN heal and DOES heal!! And that many times He desires to honor us by working through us. So if the guy said he was healed, who am I to say he absolutely wasn’t? If God can save me from my sin, and redeem me from that thing over which I have no power on my own, how much more able is He to physically heal?
How did it end? I later apologized for hitting a nerve, and tried to assure him again that the happenings of the gathering were not like his ideas of the situation. Did it do any good? I don’t know. I won’t apologize for my beliefs and the exercise of them, but I think that sensitivity in this area is definitely needed in the future. I feel that he lost some respect for my faith and beliefs. I pray not, but only time will tell how big of an issue this really is to him. I do feel God’s peace about this situation, I feel I need to hold my friend in prayer. God knows whats going on. Ultimately, I know all I need to worry about is being faithful to go where the Father leads, not how people respond. Lord give me strength.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Spotlight
For quite some time now, I’ve questioning the way we do things as a church in the area of music. All facets, from worship teams and worship leaders to Christian recording artists. Is it just me, or does everything these days seem like a performance? Even our Sunday morning worship times? Everything it seems, from the lighting setup to the clothes that are worn. We say with our mouths that’s its not about us, that its about God, so why are there so many spot lights on us?
My friend Joel Alejandre and myself had a discussion concerning this topic at the acquire the fire gathering in Tulsa last winter. One thing we noted was that we found it interesting that we tell kids to be in the world but not of the world, yet looking up front to all the bands and speakers…whats the image conveyed? We found it very interesting that 9 out of 10 christian bands all look the same. Whats up with that? While I will allow that for some in those bands, the way they are dressed is really the expression of who they are. But I have trouble believing that every one of them is like that. I can’t help but feel that at some point some caved in order to “look” the part.
What about worship teams and worship leaders? I was watching a video on youtube earlier tonight of a powerful and anointed worship song being performed at one of the largest churches in the country. While the song was VERY well done and I continue to listen to it even now while writing this. But watching the video of the whole show going on around the band and singers saddened me. The spot lights were on the team, the lights were off in the audience. All the band members looked the part. They all looked flashy and trendy with their hair styled just right. Is this really pointing people to the Father in the midst of worship? The spotlights are on the team….but where is the spotlight to God?
One of the most powerful and effect mass worship times I have personally attended, and has stuck in my mind, was the overflow service in Stillwater. What I LOVE about this service, is that there are no spotlights on the worship leaders or the band. It’s dark. The room is lit by candles around the outside, and by the large projector screen up front. For me, this made the words on the screen pop out so much more. I felt drawn into what they were saying. I wasn’t distracted by a person in the spotlight…I was fully taken up and whirled about in the presence of God. It was just God and me. It was totally not about the band or any of the people up front. I loved it. It was all about God.
That being said, I believe that there are times and places for people to be highlighted, and that it’s totally ok to have spotlights, fog, trendy looks, etc in the midst of a worship set. One thing I’ve heard about this kind of worship set is that many times people with bad experiences enjoy attending such places because it feels less like church. I believe that God calls different places to different styles of doing things in accordance with His will and what He’s doing. We are the body after all, with different gifts, different styles, and well….differences!! It’s so beautiful and amazing!!! But I still can’t shake that feeling that God is calling more leaders, teams, and bands into anonymous shrouded leading. I don’t think it would just be one place. So why aren’t their more??
I don’t have the answers. I don’t have all the questions. I’ll be the first to admit that this entry certainly isn’t one of answers. It’s simply questions. But I think it’s questions that need to be asked, even though I'm not sure we will like many of the answers we get.
My friend Joel Alejandre and myself had a discussion concerning this topic at the acquire the fire gathering in Tulsa last winter. One thing we noted was that we found it interesting that we tell kids to be in the world but not of the world, yet looking up front to all the bands and speakers…whats the image conveyed? We found it very interesting that 9 out of 10 christian bands all look the same. Whats up with that? While I will allow that for some in those bands, the way they are dressed is really the expression of who they are. But I have trouble believing that every one of them is like that. I can’t help but feel that at some point some caved in order to “look” the part.
What about worship teams and worship leaders? I was watching a video on youtube earlier tonight of a powerful and anointed worship song being performed at one of the largest churches in the country. While the song was VERY well done and I continue to listen to it even now while writing this. But watching the video of the whole show going on around the band and singers saddened me. The spot lights were on the team, the lights were off in the audience. All the band members looked the part. They all looked flashy and trendy with their hair styled just right. Is this really pointing people to the Father in the midst of worship? The spotlights are on the team….but where is the spotlight to God?
One of the most powerful and effect mass worship times I have personally attended, and has stuck in my mind, was the overflow service in Stillwater. What I LOVE about this service, is that there are no spotlights on the worship leaders or the band. It’s dark. The room is lit by candles around the outside, and by the large projector screen up front. For me, this made the words on the screen pop out so much more. I felt drawn into what they were saying. I wasn’t distracted by a person in the spotlight…I was fully taken up and whirled about in the presence of God. It was just God and me. It was totally not about the band or any of the people up front. I loved it. It was all about God.
That being said, I believe that there are times and places for people to be highlighted, and that it’s totally ok to have spotlights, fog, trendy looks, etc in the midst of a worship set. One thing I’ve heard about this kind of worship set is that many times people with bad experiences enjoy attending such places because it feels less like church. I believe that God calls different places to different styles of doing things in accordance with His will and what He’s doing. We are the body after all, with different gifts, different styles, and well….differences!! It’s so beautiful and amazing!!! But I still can’t shake that feeling that God is calling more leaders, teams, and bands into anonymous shrouded leading. I don’t think it would just be one place. So why aren’t their more??
I don’t have the answers. I don’t have all the questions. I’ll be the first to admit that this entry certainly isn’t one of answers. It’s simply questions. But I think it’s questions that need to be asked, even though I'm not sure we will like many of the answers we get.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My first 911 call...whoa!
Today definitely ranks, without a doubt, as one of the most exciting days at the bike shop to date. Not to mention being a landmark moment in my own life! I called 911!!! HA! Never thought I’d be doing that. Heres the scoop kids.
It’s a couple hours before close at good ol’ Bike One of Norman. Myself and my coworker Chris are both working with customers, selling bikes, having our usual good fun. I’m in the process of trying to wrap up a sale when a guy comes in pushing a department store bike. He’s lookin a little worse for wear, but is coherent, and overall functioning ok, so we didn’t think anything of him. We say hello, tell him it’ll be just a minute before we can help him. He’s checkin out some bikes we have sitting adjacent to the work area, then suddenly sits down right in the middle of the floor saying he feels like he’s gonna throw up or pass out!! Needless to say, not the usual reaction we have from someone upon entering the store! We are used to seeing sticker shock upon the realization of how much quality bicycles can go for…but never this!!
We begin our inquisition! Are you feeling ok? Can we get you anything? Is there someone we can call? All we can get out of him is that he is sick. I’m going to say that it was my Wilderness First Aid training that kicked into gear at this point…just so I can feel good about dropping $200 on it. I try to make inroads some more with questions about how he is feeling. He is becoming more incoherent and we aren’t getting anything substantial. All he'll say is that he is sick. Won’t say what he’s feeling, just that he’s sick and that he doesn’t want us to call anyone. Fishy, fishy, fishy… Chris and I have to physically help pick him up off the floor to set him in the chair that we procured for him. He is shaking, head in hands, and things are NOT getting better.
By this point, everyone in the shop is getting a little freaked out. Chris, myself, the customers, all of us, are wondering what is going on with this guy. Chris and I are both thinking drugs of some kind, whether intentional, or an accidental combination of substances. With his eyes being all jacked up, the shakes he has, and the fact he’s being so tight lipped about it all, again whether intential, or a side affect of whatever is happening, is not helping his case. I grab my phone, go to the back as to not alarm anyone, and make the 911 call, all the while thinking of how funny it is that my voice and call-in are being recorded and will be on file for years to come, just like what you hear on the cop shows!! HA! Oh what a joy it is to find humor in the idiosyncrasies life has to offer.
I come back out front, continue my work trying to get this bike rolling for two young college ladies, who are just as freaked out and wide eyed as me! Thankfully they don’t seem to mind that the distraction of a delirious shaking man is making me take three times as long as normal to finish prepping their bike. Finally a police woman shows up and takes over. When everything is said and done, we’ve got two police cars, a HUGE yellow fire truck (you’d think Bike One was burning down judging by the size of the fire truck…I swear it was the biggest one they have), and an ambulance all sitting outside of Bike One. HA! Chris and I couldn’t help but later laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all! Neither of us had ever seen anything like it!
To make an already long story short, the man goes to the hospital and all ends well for us. I hope and pray it does for that man too. Definitely an exciting day. I don’t think I’ll forget this one any time soon! Oh life…the curve balls you throw us….
It’s a couple hours before close at good ol’ Bike One of Norman. Myself and my coworker Chris are both working with customers, selling bikes, having our usual good fun. I’m in the process of trying to wrap up a sale when a guy comes in pushing a department store bike. He’s lookin a little worse for wear, but is coherent, and overall functioning ok, so we didn’t think anything of him. We say hello, tell him it’ll be just a minute before we can help him. He’s checkin out some bikes we have sitting adjacent to the work area, then suddenly sits down right in the middle of the floor saying he feels like he’s gonna throw up or pass out!! Needless to say, not the usual reaction we have from someone upon entering the store! We are used to seeing sticker shock upon the realization of how much quality bicycles can go for…but never this!!
We begin our inquisition! Are you feeling ok? Can we get you anything? Is there someone we can call? All we can get out of him is that he is sick. I’m going to say that it was my Wilderness First Aid training that kicked into gear at this point…just so I can feel good about dropping $200 on it. I try to make inroads some more with questions about how he is feeling. He is becoming more incoherent and we aren’t getting anything substantial. All he'll say is that he is sick. Won’t say what he’s feeling, just that he’s sick and that he doesn’t want us to call anyone. Fishy, fishy, fishy… Chris and I have to physically help pick him up off the floor to set him in the chair that we procured for him. He is shaking, head in hands, and things are NOT getting better.
By this point, everyone in the shop is getting a little freaked out. Chris, myself, the customers, all of us, are wondering what is going on with this guy. Chris and I are both thinking drugs of some kind, whether intentional, or an accidental combination of substances. With his eyes being all jacked up, the shakes he has, and the fact he’s being so tight lipped about it all, again whether intential, or a side affect of whatever is happening, is not helping his case. I grab my phone, go to the back as to not alarm anyone, and make the 911 call, all the while thinking of how funny it is that my voice and call-in are being recorded and will be on file for years to come, just like what you hear on the cop shows!! HA! Oh what a joy it is to find humor in the idiosyncrasies life has to offer.
I come back out front, continue my work trying to get this bike rolling for two young college ladies, who are just as freaked out and wide eyed as me! Thankfully they don’t seem to mind that the distraction of a delirious shaking man is making me take three times as long as normal to finish prepping their bike. Finally a police woman shows up and takes over. When everything is said and done, we’ve got two police cars, a HUGE yellow fire truck (you’d think Bike One was burning down judging by the size of the fire truck…I swear it was the biggest one they have), and an ambulance all sitting outside of Bike One. HA! Chris and I couldn’t help but later laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all! Neither of us had ever seen anything like it!
To make an already long story short, the man goes to the hospital and all ends well for us. I hope and pray it does for that man too. Definitely an exciting day. I don’t think I’ll forget this one any time soon! Oh life…the curve balls you throw us….
Friday, August 14, 2009
Meeting the Deeper Need
Last week we had a man come into the bike shop wanting help. Problem was, he had been in several times before. He is possibly homeless, stunk to the heavens, and was trying to use the system for all it was worth. He quickly got on our nerves. He kept asking us to help him because “things were a little hard right now.” If it wasn’t us giving him something for free, and was wanting to use our tools. My coworker eventually turned him away and told him that we wouldn’t help him. If he wanted to pay like everyone else, we would be more than happy to help.
It wasn’t the fact that they guy was asking for help that annoyed and bothered us, it was how he was asking. He wasn’t sincerely interested in getting the problem with his bike fixed because he needed it, he just wanted to get from us what he could without having to work for it. This became very evident as he originally came in about a flat tire, all the while carrying on about how hard times had been for him, then once we said no to that, he moved right in to using our tools to do some work to his bike. He was unphased. He was trying to mooch. To use us to get what he needed while putting out the least amount possible.
This interaction stirs up a mixed variety of emotions. On the one hand, I was glad to get rid of him because of his annoyance. On the other, I recognize that as a Christian, I am called and commanded to love the lowly, to help those in need, and to give to those that don’t have. But at the same time, I question whether or not Jesus would want me to encourage negative behavior within another person. Yet again raising the question, "What is it to love our neighbor?" The very reason my coworker and I didn’t help him was because we knew the moment we did, he would be showing up all the time, and probably bringing several of his mooching buddies with him. No bueno on several fronts for everyone involved. The encouragement of his actions and unhealthy behaviors being top of the list.
Oh how I wrestle with this. I want so badly to help those who have need, but at the same time not encourage their behaviors that have put them in the position they are in. For the Discipleship mission trip to Alaska we read the book, “Deep Justice in a Broken World” by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell. While I confess that I have not read the book in it’s entirety (and how I hope Ashlee Alley is not reading this! HA!), it brings up a point in loving people that lays heavily upon my heart. It is said best in a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
“On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”
We as Christians are called to do more than give to the needs, but to eliminate the need in many cases. Which goes so much deeper. I understand the concept, but I confess that in the majority of instances, including last week’s incident, I know not of how to go about eliminating that need. I do not fully understand or know how to even begin going about the restructuring of the Jericho roads around me. This is definitely a topic of life that I have no answers right now, only questions.
Lord, be my light. Give me inspiration and insight into these things, that I might truly understand what it is to eliminate the REAL needs of those around me. Then give me the strength and focus to follow through with the full implementation of those things. Amen.
It wasn’t the fact that they guy was asking for help that annoyed and bothered us, it was how he was asking. He wasn’t sincerely interested in getting the problem with his bike fixed because he needed it, he just wanted to get from us what he could without having to work for it. This became very evident as he originally came in about a flat tire, all the while carrying on about how hard times had been for him, then once we said no to that, he moved right in to using our tools to do some work to his bike. He was unphased. He was trying to mooch. To use us to get what he needed while putting out the least amount possible.
This interaction stirs up a mixed variety of emotions. On the one hand, I was glad to get rid of him because of his annoyance. On the other, I recognize that as a Christian, I am called and commanded to love the lowly, to help those in need, and to give to those that don’t have. But at the same time, I question whether or not Jesus would want me to encourage negative behavior within another person. Yet again raising the question, "What is it to love our neighbor?" The very reason my coworker and I didn’t help him was because we knew the moment we did, he would be showing up all the time, and probably bringing several of his mooching buddies with him. No bueno on several fronts for everyone involved. The encouragement of his actions and unhealthy behaviors being top of the list.
Oh how I wrestle with this. I want so badly to help those who have need, but at the same time not encourage their behaviors that have put them in the position they are in. For the Discipleship mission trip to Alaska we read the book, “Deep Justice in a Broken World” by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell. While I confess that I have not read the book in it’s entirety (and how I hope Ashlee Alley is not reading this! HA!), it brings up a point in loving people that lays heavily upon my heart. It is said best in a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
“On the one hand we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”
We as Christians are called to do more than give to the needs, but to eliminate the need in many cases. Which goes so much deeper. I understand the concept, but I confess that in the majority of instances, including last week’s incident, I know not of how to go about eliminating that need. I do not fully understand or know how to even begin going about the restructuring of the Jericho roads around me. This is definitely a topic of life that I have no answers right now, only questions.
Lord, be my light. Give me inspiration and insight into these things, that I might truly understand what it is to eliminate the REAL needs of those around me. Then give me the strength and focus to follow through with the full implementation of those things. Amen.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Blessed....but less
My mom, grandma, and sister all came to see me today. It was good to see my family and catch up on the happenings. Everyone is still doing well. Though I confess it is harder and harder to look and see them all getting older. Especially my parents and grandparents. Reminds me just how short life truly is.
While here, the four of us ventured over to Mardels, the ‘get anything Christian (ie: mentions Jesus and has a fish or cross on it)’ store. I was needing some new tunes, so I picked up a couple of CDs. My sister got one as well. Kari Jobe is the womans name. www.karijobe.com I’ve been familiar with her for a couple of years now and have been nothing but blown away. She was a worship leader at Christ for the Nations institute for a time and I believe is now a worship leader and music pastor at gateway church somewhere in the Dallas area.
I quickly snagged the CD and copied it quickly before sending it home with the family. While it was downloading I read through the acknowledgements and thanks. In the back was a note from Kari explaining how the album came about and how God grew and inspired her over the course of the project. One thing she said struck me powerfully.
“People are affected by our obedience(to God).”
No truer words could have been said. Many times it is in the patient waiting that God brings about the ultimate miracles and gives us that last bit of inspiration and knowledge that is needed to achieve all that God desires for our lives and our work. If Kari hadn’t been patient and obedient to the leading of God, the album wouldn’t have been all that God desired it to be. And it is good! I’m glad I don’t have to listen and be disappointed by what a lousy album a lack of obedience would have resulted in. Would God have blessed it? Yes, but could it have been all that he desired and planned it to be? No. It is in the follow through that the fullness of blessing is found.
That makes me wonder that if in my life I often times sell myself short. Lately I’ve been having conversations with a friend of mine that have been challenging me (and I think them) quite a bit. One question that has come out it is “Are we selling ourselves short of something better?” The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!” We have been. While our conversations have been limited to a couple areas of life, it definitely carries over and permeates everything. Do I desire to see the fullness of God lived out in every aspect of my life? Or do I lack obedience and follow-through, and thus, end up with something blessed…but less.
Lord show me the areas of my life where I am settling for less than what you have. Abba, then give me strength and perseverance to follow-through with the removal of these life choking weeds in my life. For your strength is all I have. Your breath, my only intake. Your word, my only nourishment.
While here, the four of us ventured over to Mardels, the ‘get anything Christian (ie: mentions Jesus and has a fish or cross on it)’ store. I was needing some new tunes, so I picked up a couple of CDs. My sister got one as well. Kari Jobe is the womans name. www.karijobe.com I’ve been familiar with her for a couple of years now and have been nothing but blown away. She was a worship leader at Christ for the Nations institute for a time and I believe is now a worship leader and music pastor at gateway church somewhere in the Dallas area.
I quickly snagged the CD and copied it quickly before sending it home with the family. While it was downloading I read through the acknowledgements and thanks. In the back was a note from Kari explaining how the album came about and how God grew and inspired her over the course of the project. One thing she said struck me powerfully.
“People are affected by our obedience(to God).”
No truer words could have been said. Many times it is in the patient waiting that God brings about the ultimate miracles and gives us that last bit of inspiration and knowledge that is needed to achieve all that God desires for our lives and our work. If Kari hadn’t been patient and obedient to the leading of God, the album wouldn’t have been all that God desired it to be. And it is good! I’m glad I don’t have to listen and be disappointed by what a lousy album a lack of obedience would have resulted in. Would God have blessed it? Yes, but could it have been all that he desired and planned it to be? No. It is in the follow through that the fullness of blessing is found.
That makes me wonder that if in my life I often times sell myself short. Lately I’ve been having conversations with a friend of mine that have been challenging me (and I think them) quite a bit. One question that has come out it is “Are we selling ourselves short of something better?” The answer is a resounding ‘Yes!” We have been. While our conversations have been limited to a couple areas of life, it definitely carries over and permeates everything. Do I desire to see the fullness of God lived out in every aspect of my life? Or do I lack obedience and follow-through, and thus, end up with something blessed…but less.
Lord show me the areas of my life where I am settling for less than what you have. Abba, then give me strength and perseverance to follow-through with the removal of these life choking weeds in my life. For your strength is all I have. Your breath, my only intake. Your word, my only nourishment.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Idols of Egypt
Here is the devotional I wrote for the recent mission trip to Alaska. May it bless and encourage you.
“And I said to them, cast away the destable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” -Ezekiel 20:7
As Christians we are called to be, “in the world, but not of the world.” We hear this in Sunday school, church, rallies and at conferences. It has become a staple of sorts for living “a Godly life.” I think the thing we many times fail to fully define is what constitutes “the world.” With the failure of knowing what the world is, comes the failure of following through with being “not of the world.” How do we live in the world, but not of the world?
Enter Ezekiel 20:7. I love this verse, because set in context for us as new testament Christians, it speaks directly to this issue of “the world.” The verse is speaking to the time with the Israelites were in the foreign land of Egypt as slaves. Egypt was a foreign place to them, having different customs, different forms of dress, and different religious beliefs. While being fully surrounded and immersed in the world of Egyptian culture, it was hard for the Israelites to not begin to take on the Egyptian customs, the Egyptian forms of dress, and the Egyptian religious beliefs. But we see how God is calling His people to remember who they are. They are NOT Egyptians. Therefore, they, the chosen people of God, shouldn’t take on the beliefs and characteristics of the Egyptians, because its not who they are!
In the same fashion we are foreigners in a land. Christians should not so easily adhere and take on the ways of the culture that surrounds us. We should remember that we are the chosen people of God, grafted into the vine by the master gardener. As such, should we defile ourselves by following after the “gods” of our culture? The pursuit of wealth, immoral sexual pleasures (sexual activity outside of marriage), fame/popularity and the pursuit of “cool,” are three that come to mind immediately. But idols are not always so easily recognized. An idol, simply put, is anything in our lives that is more important to us than God. That could be everything from kittens to our TV watching.
We are not finite beings. When we die, we are just beginning to live. We are not just meant for this world, but also for the next. Realizing the reality of eternity, and that we are not promised tomorrow, can transform our daily lives and help us to recognize and weed out the “idols of Egypt” that we are holding onto in our lives. Idols hold us back from the things God has planned for us because we are distracted from who we really are. Francis Chan says it best, “Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come.”
Oh Lord, reveal to me the idols I hold in my life. The things I cling to more closely than I do you and your word. Enable me to see with an eternity perspective. That I may see what is truly of worth and pursue those things, instead of settling for the idols of this foreign land I am living in. By Christ I ask this. Amen.
“And I said to them, cast away the destable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” -Ezekiel 20:7
As Christians we are called to be, “in the world, but not of the world.” We hear this in Sunday school, church, rallies and at conferences. It has become a staple of sorts for living “a Godly life.” I think the thing we many times fail to fully define is what constitutes “the world.” With the failure of knowing what the world is, comes the failure of following through with being “not of the world.” How do we live in the world, but not of the world?
Enter Ezekiel 20:7. I love this verse, because set in context for us as new testament Christians, it speaks directly to this issue of “the world.” The verse is speaking to the time with the Israelites were in the foreign land of Egypt as slaves. Egypt was a foreign place to them, having different customs, different forms of dress, and different religious beliefs. While being fully surrounded and immersed in the world of Egyptian culture, it was hard for the Israelites to not begin to take on the Egyptian customs, the Egyptian forms of dress, and the Egyptian religious beliefs. But we see how God is calling His people to remember who they are. They are NOT Egyptians. Therefore, they, the chosen people of God, shouldn’t take on the beliefs and characteristics of the Egyptians, because its not who they are!
In the same fashion we are foreigners in a land. Christians should not so easily adhere and take on the ways of the culture that surrounds us. We should remember that we are the chosen people of God, grafted into the vine by the master gardener. As such, should we defile ourselves by following after the “gods” of our culture? The pursuit of wealth, immoral sexual pleasures (sexual activity outside of marriage), fame/popularity and the pursuit of “cool,” are three that come to mind immediately. But idols are not always so easily recognized. An idol, simply put, is anything in our lives that is more important to us than God. That could be everything from kittens to our TV watching.
We are not finite beings. When we die, we are just beginning to live. We are not just meant for this world, but also for the next. Realizing the reality of eternity, and that we are not promised tomorrow, can transform our daily lives and help us to recognize and weed out the “idols of Egypt” that we are holding onto in our lives. Idols hold us back from the things God has planned for us because we are distracted from who we really are. Francis Chan says it best, “Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come.”
Oh Lord, reveal to me the idols I hold in my life. The things I cling to more closely than I do you and your word. Enable me to see with an eternity perspective. That I may see what is truly of worth and pursue those things, instead of settling for the idols of this foreign land I am living in. By Christ I ask this. Amen.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Almost revelation
As I sit here tonight, reflecting even more about the recent transpiring events of finding an apartment, getting an interview on Monday at Hastings, and further making connections, I can’t help but feel like there is a giant cosmic plan being played out. One I can almost glimpse, but not quite. Think V for Vendetta, where, seemingly unrelated events are all connected into a much larger and deeper plot that spins and revolves and is so much bigger than just one person. That is exactly how I feel. It is the manner that things are playing, that everyday, there is the subtle expectancy of great things that continues to grow deep down within me. I feel something is in motion that is bigger than just me and those around me, yet, at the same time, everything is connected in ways that we cannot see.
I continue to wrestle with finding a faith community to plug into and share my giftings, experience, and knowledge. Not only that the community and body would be edified and encouraged, but that I would be grown as well by being immersed and surrounded by their gifting, experiences, and knowledge. For I realized long ago, that everything is not about me. I actually just had a conversation with a friend today about how when I call myself a Christian, I am saying that my life is not my own. I gave my life away to gain something better. I do not live as I wish to live, but I live as the one I follow, trust, and surrender to wishes, leads, and directs me to live. For instance, I think there is nothing wrong with having the occasional alcoholic drink, all in moderation of course, yet I have the personal conviction that I should not partake, no matter what. Too what end? I do not know, but I trust in the one that is greater than me. I trust in the one that saw through shame, mockery, flogging, and crucifixion to see my lost and tainted self/spirit/soul, died and rose again, that I might have a chance to live and experience life to the fullest. Talk about living life for more than yourself. That is an ultimate example of selflessness. May I never forget it.
I continue to wrestle with finding a faith community to plug into and share my giftings, experience, and knowledge. Not only that the community and body would be edified and encouraged, but that I would be grown as well by being immersed and surrounded by their gifting, experiences, and knowledge. For I realized long ago, that everything is not about me. I actually just had a conversation with a friend today about how when I call myself a Christian, I am saying that my life is not my own. I gave my life away to gain something better. I do not live as I wish to live, but I live as the one I follow, trust, and surrender to wishes, leads, and directs me to live. For instance, I think there is nothing wrong with having the occasional alcoholic drink, all in moderation of course, yet I have the personal conviction that I should not partake, no matter what. Too what end? I do not know, but I trust in the one that is greater than me. I trust in the one that saw through shame, mockery, flogging, and crucifixion to see my lost and tainted self/spirit/soul, died and rose again, that I might have a chance to live and experience life to the fullest. Talk about living life for more than yourself. That is an ultimate example of selflessness. May I never forget it.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Life...a terrifying mess of beauty
I’m currently in the middle of my third week in Norman, Oklahoma. Still staying with my friends Molly and Jimmy. They’ve been amazing and very supportive. Life….good, but crazy. Starting a new job, beginning to seriously look for a second one to supplement income, and starting to look for an apartment for the first time ever in my life. Absolute craziness. As I sit here at Hastings, enjoying my day off from bike shop work and enjoying the pizza that I had with my friend Emily, I reflect back on the last couple of weeks and I still feel scared, but optimistic.
On the drive down to Oklahoma, after leaving the wedding of my two good friends Jen and Joel, I was filled with such a sense of expectancy that goes beyond words and brought me to tears. I cannot explain it. The whole weekend was filled with such bittersweetness. I, leaving home, striking out on my own for the first time, and too do a job that has no “real future”, but is something I have so far loved. And also a new start for my very dear friends the Alejandre’s. Jen and Joel both have grown to be some of my closest friends, advisors, and in some cases confidants. To see them married, in such a sweet, tender, and touching way was quite exciting. Though I found that it too brought me back to that bittersweet reality that I was leaving all that I had known.
I truly have left all that I have known. Even with going to college there was some structure and peace because there was a program to follow, and everyone around was in the same boat. There were instant friends and a new roommate to help with that transition. Moving here, I know four people, and going to work at a job that will barely cover my bills…and even that is a stretch of the imagination as I am currently looking for a second job just so I can make ends meet once student loan payments kick in. Makes me wonder why I decided to forgo a ministry position at a church that, while it wouldn’t make me rich, would provide for all my needs.
But even in the midst of such uncertainty, I cling to the ever present rock in my life that is the Triune God. In this time of shifting sand, I cling not just to Jesus, not just to the Father, and not just to the Spirit, but to all three. Three in one. In them is found peace, contentment, and joy. I know without a doubt that God has led me to Norman for reasons not yet revealed. Things that are beyond myself. For me this is most readily seen in my hunting for a new church. I’m not necessarily looking for a place that I like the building, service style, or even the people! But first and foremost I’m looking for a church where I can use my gifts, abilities, and past experience to encourage and edify the body of Christ.
My move to Norman, my job choices, all of it, is not about me. If it was up to me, I’d be working at a church in Colorado Springs, spending my weekends hanging out with my peeps at Eagle Lake Camp. If it were me, I would not be in central Oklahoma enduring humidity, crap pay, and a different brand of loneliness than I have run into in the past. Haha…but I trust in the plans of the One that is beyond my comprehension. I trust in the plans of the friend that has never led me astray. I rest in the arms of the healer that has never hurt me. All glory, praise, and honor is truly due to His name, and to no other. I still hold the sense of expectancy that I felt on the start of my journey. I can’t wait to see what that feeling was all about in its rich fullness.
On the drive down to Oklahoma, after leaving the wedding of my two good friends Jen and Joel, I was filled with such a sense of expectancy that goes beyond words and brought me to tears. I cannot explain it. The whole weekend was filled with such bittersweetness. I, leaving home, striking out on my own for the first time, and too do a job that has no “real future”, but is something I have so far loved. And also a new start for my very dear friends the Alejandre’s. Jen and Joel both have grown to be some of my closest friends, advisors, and in some cases confidants. To see them married, in such a sweet, tender, and touching way was quite exciting. Though I found that it too brought me back to that bittersweet reality that I was leaving all that I had known.
I truly have left all that I have known. Even with going to college there was some structure and peace because there was a program to follow, and everyone around was in the same boat. There were instant friends and a new roommate to help with that transition. Moving here, I know four people, and going to work at a job that will barely cover my bills…and even that is a stretch of the imagination as I am currently looking for a second job just so I can make ends meet once student loan payments kick in. Makes me wonder why I decided to forgo a ministry position at a church that, while it wouldn’t make me rich, would provide for all my needs.
But even in the midst of such uncertainty, I cling to the ever present rock in my life that is the Triune God. In this time of shifting sand, I cling not just to Jesus, not just to the Father, and not just to the Spirit, but to all three. Three in one. In them is found peace, contentment, and joy. I know without a doubt that God has led me to Norman for reasons not yet revealed. Things that are beyond myself. For me this is most readily seen in my hunting for a new church. I’m not necessarily looking for a place that I like the building, service style, or even the people! But first and foremost I’m looking for a church where I can use my gifts, abilities, and past experience to encourage and edify the body of Christ.
My move to Norman, my job choices, all of it, is not about me. If it was up to me, I’d be working at a church in Colorado Springs, spending my weekends hanging out with my peeps at Eagle Lake Camp. If it were me, I would not be in central Oklahoma enduring humidity, crap pay, and a different brand of loneliness than I have run into in the past. Haha…but I trust in the plans of the One that is beyond my comprehension. I trust in the plans of the friend that has never led me astray. I rest in the arms of the healer that has never hurt me. All glory, praise, and honor is truly due to His name, and to no other. I still hold the sense of expectancy that I felt on the start of my journey. I can’t wait to see what that feeling was all about in its rich fullness.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Countdown is On!
Less than two weeks till I walk. Providing I pass History of Philosophy 2 and Italian. :S No bueno. I can do it. Just gotta stay buckled down. Still haven't heard back from the bike shop. It's been a week, so I think I'll call today and check in. I hope this pans out, cause I need a job, and I feel such a peace about pursuing things that direction. Prayer please? Thank you! Feels weird to actually be somewhat on top of homework. Its a good feeling though!!! Haha, back to the books I go.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Chasing the light instead of finding the flashlight
Tonight, while thinking and praying about some things I wonder if God wants me to say to a friend of mine, the reinforcement of a principle of faith came to me. The things I was praying about was singing. About encouraging this individual in the paths that God has for them. And that while they have sang well in the past...but I believe that God has gifted this individual to sing at a level they cannot understand presently. But that they will only achieve such a level of performance and sound by being filled with the Holy Spirit in the midst of worship and being annointed for such work. I'm not sure they have ever had such an experience. I could be wrong. But more to the point....I began to think of the times in my life when I felt such an outpouring in my voice. One I cannot claim as my own. It was such a wonderful thing. A feeling of elation, joy, and peace rolled into one that I cannot put into words.
This got me to thinking. How often do we as christians chase after these "mountain top experiences"? We run from worship service to prayer time, to conferences, to a new church. All the while seeking to experience this "high" of sorts. But is the mountain top God? NO!!! It comes from God, but it is not God. I relate this to how some cats will chase a point of light on a wall or floor. They see the light, and they will chase, and chase, and chase. Constantly trying to "catch" this thing they want, but cannot grasp. We know that the light comes from a source. Either a pointer or a flashlight.
In much the same way, don't we chase after these fleeting mountain top feelings of being close to God, yet all the while MISS the oppurtunity God extends to us of knowing Him personally? If the cat realized that the source of the light was within it's grasp, don't you think it would then be far more interested in the source instead of the light? Why would it want to continue to chase something it can't grasp, when it could play and interact with something tangible?
So in the same fashion, why do we chase so hard after, and revel so intensely in, the light? When the flashlight, the source of that light, is within our grasp? God desires that we seek him with "all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and with all our strength." Not seek the "feeling of me" with all we are. He says SEEK ME with everything we are.
I pray that we be a people that seek God first, understanding that the "mountain top experiences" are a part of the journey, and a part of our faithwalk, but not the sum of it. May we always seek the flashlight, and not just the light!
This got me to thinking. How often do we as christians chase after these "mountain top experiences"? We run from worship service to prayer time, to conferences, to a new church. All the while seeking to experience this "high" of sorts. But is the mountain top God? NO!!! It comes from God, but it is not God. I relate this to how some cats will chase a point of light on a wall or floor. They see the light, and they will chase, and chase, and chase. Constantly trying to "catch" this thing they want, but cannot grasp. We know that the light comes from a source. Either a pointer or a flashlight.
In much the same way, don't we chase after these fleeting mountain top feelings of being close to God, yet all the while MISS the oppurtunity God extends to us of knowing Him personally? If the cat realized that the source of the light was within it's grasp, don't you think it would then be far more interested in the source instead of the light? Why would it want to continue to chase something it can't grasp, when it could play and interact with something tangible?
So in the same fashion, why do we chase so hard after, and revel so intensely in, the light? When the flashlight, the source of that light, is within our grasp? God desires that we seek him with "all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and with all our strength." Not seek the "feeling of me" with all we are. He says SEEK ME with everything we are.
I pray that we be a people that seek God first, understanding that the "mountain top experiences" are a part of the journey, and a part of our faithwalk, but not the sum of it. May we always seek the flashlight, and not just the light!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Too hard...too fast
This week I've once again been reminded of the very important lesson of not pushing my body too hard, too fast. It actually sets you back more than it helps. Consistent training is the key. Only when there has been sustained consistency can intensity be added. I tried to add too much too quick. After an AMAZING bike ride at Camp Horizon Sat with my friend James Sanders I was feeling really good. I went out Sunday night for a short little jog around the "campus mile", which actually is .75 of a mile. It was right before bed and I didn't want to do too much that would "keep me up". Afterwards, I did some hops. Mainly to work on my calf strength. I did two sets, and felt them straining at the end of the second set. Debated a third set, and I thought, "Hey, the harder I push the stronger I get!" Um, no. My legs were crap in basketball class Tuesday. My calves weren't overly sore, but had been strained too much to be effective for getting my 235 pound body up to speed on the court. Ugh. Yesterday my schedule and the weather kept me inside. Today life piled up, my parents came into town on their way to my aunts funeral, and yet again...I didn't get out. Tomorrow is bball class, and at least some elipical and stationary bike in the gym. This weekend?? Perhaps Horizon again...we'll see what happens. But this time....consistency, not intensity. :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time to grow up and take food seriously!!
Last night I was doing some thinking and praying about recent events that had transpired in my life and one of the most jaw dropping revelations I have had in recent time hit me. I'll copy what I wrote in my journal. I feel it's about as concise as I can get.
2-4-09
Interesting thought hit me tonight. More like revelational thought. Rev McClure (a local pastor and mentor) and I had a conversation a couple weeks ago about my lack of prayer due to a lack of thankfulness. He held me accountable, citing scripture on thankfulness, and afterwards I could feel God tell me, "it's time to grow up!". I'm so thankful for this man and his wisdom and insight. His influence in my life. So thankful. Tonight, the thought occured to me that "how is MY lack of thankfulness God's problem? It's my problem. God has provided the food for me. It is a blessing. Something that so many of my brother and sisters in the Lord do not have. I should be thankful for it with a heart of humility and reverence. If I am so deluded that I can't feel any gratitude over a meal, then I don't deserve the gift of that meal. I should then immediately start fasting until I become hungry enough that I can be truly thankful for such a thing as easy access to food.
This for me brings up connotations of being the body. My actions are directly linked to the lives of my brothers and sisters both those near me, and those around the world. My life impacts another, which impacts another, which impacts another, which then goes across the world and brings relief to a suffering brother or sister in the Lord. And vice versus. Because of this we need to do everything we can to minister, not taking for granted the smallest but much needed things in life, such as meals. The Father hasn't provided these things for me to in turn squander them. He provides them for reasons. How would I feel if there wasn't enough food, and I went without so someone else could have, because I believed that the work they could accomplish from being strong and nurished would bring about real change that might eventually bring about a better place for everyone. And then to watch that person squander that gift. To indulge in it, and never seek to make things better. How guilty am I?! How guilty are we the church?!Thats how I see the body. I have been given meals so I have the strength, focus, and energy to do all He has for me to accomplish. When I don't accomplish those tasks, taking for granted the smallest of gifts, it doesn't just hurt me, it hurts the body. Because my actions, or lack there of, affect those around me. Oh how I need to keep that in mind. Bless you Mr. McClure, bless you , and all glory be to the God that lives within you.
2-4-09
Interesting thought hit me tonight. More like revelational thought. Rev McClure (a local pastor and mentor) and I had a conversation a couple weeks ago about my lack of prayer due to a lack of thankfulness. He held me accountable, citing scripture on thankfulness, and afterwards I could feel God tell me, "it's time to grow up!". I'm so thankful for this man and his wisdom and insight. His influence in my life. So thankful. Tonight, the thought occured to me that "how is MY lack of thankfulness God's problem? It's my problem. God has provided the food for me. It is a blessing. Something that so many of my brother and sisters in the Lord do not have. I should be thankful for it with a heart of humility and reverence. If I am so deluded that I can't feel any gratitude over a meal, then I don't deserve the gift of that meal. I should then immediately start fasting until I become hungry enough that I can be truly thankful for such a thing as easy access to food.
This for me brings up connotations of being the body. My actions are directly linked to the lives of my brothers and sisters both those near me, and those around the world. My life impacts another, which impacts another, which impacts another, which then goes across the world and brings relief to a suffering brother or sister in the Lord. And vice versus. Because of this we need to do everything we can to minister, not taking for granted the smallest but much needed things in life, such as meals. The Father hasn't provided these things for me to in turn squander them. He provides them for reasons. How would I feel if there wasn't enough food, and I went without so someone else could have, because I believed that the work they could accomplish from being strong and nurished would bring about real change that might eventually bring about a better place for everyone. And then to watch that person squander that gift. To indulge in it, and never seek to make things better. How guilty am I?! How guilty are we the church?!Thats how I see the body. I have been given meals so I have the strength, focus, and energy to do all He has for me to accomplish. When I don't accomplish those tasks, taking for granted the smallest of gifts, it doesn't just hurt me, it hurts the body. Because my actions, or lack there of, affect those around me. Oh how I need to keep that in mind. Bless you Mr. McClure, bless you , and all glory be to the God that lives within you.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Back to the bike...and back to who we TRULY are!
This year especially, mainly since the summer, I have become aware of how I miss certain things I used to do quite frequently. Mountain biking tops the list. Working as a wilderness counselor at Eagle Lake Camp in Colorado afforded me the awesome oppurtunity to ride on a weekly basis on some awesome trails. Ya know what...I miss it, A LOT!!! I love to bike. While it's not a big enough priority for me to push tons out of my schedule just so I can ride, I find that I derive a higher level of fun out of these less frequent outings.
Since joining up on blogspot, I have found an old cycling aquitance of mine, Cameron Chambers. http://kcdirtbikeracing.blogspot.com/ Cameron is a....um, well....good rider. I'm not sure if he's still classified as a pro, semi-pro, or what. But he's a fireball on wheels anytime he mounts on a bicycle. The man is a sick rider. I'm a good technical rider, and this guy will float through stuff on his Sunday afternoon cruise that I'll be peeing my pants just walking over. He holds the title of being the 2005 national 24 hour mountain bike champion. Thats right, he rode his bike offroad for 24 hours straight faster than anyone else did that year. I think you get the point...he's fast. But also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
I say all that to set up an comparison. If you read through camerons blog, you tell right off that he does a ton of mileage, is on his bike all the time, and loves to suffer. (Sick little freak isn't he? Haha.) Me on the other hand...I'm doing good if I get out for 45 minutes once a week and if I have to suffer through more than 15 seconds of a climb, I'm whining. Ok, so thats an exaggeration. But does that mean that I enjoy riding my bike any less than Cameron? I don't think so. It's simply that we've found different balances in our lives. For Cameron, it's riding all the time passionately. For me, well, I have other things I enjoy doing as well. I don't feel a need to get on my bike everyday and go suffer. I enjoy riding when I get the oppurtunity, but there are a lot of things in my life that will take priority over a bike ride.
This brings up one of my favorite things about the mountain bike community. I can go on a bike ride with Cameron, and even though I'm gonna get smoked, we can both enjoy the trail and swap stories about different sections. Revelling in our mutual interest. We have something in common. The love of the bike. That love is displayed in different ways. But we both derive some form of enjoyment from suffering up a long, nasty, technical climb. And neither one of us can enough of the child like excitement and euphorium that comes from bombing downhill on a sweet piece of singletrack. We are both hopelessly addicted.
I think this also carries over to being a Christ follower. We are a body. Each of us has a love for God, but that love is displayed in slightly different ways as we are all gifted uniquely. Also as we perfer slightly different ways of expression. There are Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Non-denominationals, and the list could go on and on. But the important thing to keep in mind is that we were all bought with a price. By the blood and suffering of God-incarnate. How often have we allowed petty differences to come inbetween us. I'm not saying we should join up and become one church. HAha, I don't think we could ever agree that much. But what I AM saying, is that we should be able to love one another enough to work together. Encouraging each other. Knowing that we are brothers and sisters, united in love and by the Lord. Whether we like it or not, we are commanded to love one another. Through the worst and the best of times. May we learn how to be true to our convictions, while loving others with love that was shown to us. What a powerful demonstration of the love of God. People that disagree on so many points, putting those differences aside to work together. Our world as we know it would be turned upside down.
Since joining up on blogspot, I have found an old cycling aquitance of mine, Cameron Chambers. http://kcdirtbikeracing.blogspot.com/ Cameron is a....um, well....good rider. I'm not sure if he's still classified as a pro, semi-pro, or what. But he's a fireball on wheels anytime he mounts on a bicycle. The man is a sick rider. I'm a good technical rider, and this guy will float through stuff on his Sunday afternoon cruise that I'll be peeing my pants just walking over. He holds the title of being the 2005 national 24 hour mountain bike champion. Thats right, he rode his bike offroad for 24 hours straight faster than anyone else did that year. I think you get the point...he's fast. But also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
I say all that to set up an comparison. If you read through camerons blog, you tell right off that he does a ton of mileage, is on his bike all the time, and loves to suffer. (Sick little freak isn't he? Haha.) Me on the other hand...I'm doing good if I get out for 45 minutes once a week and if I have to suffer through more than 15 seconds of a climb, I'm whining. Ok, so thats an exaggeration. But does that mean that I enjoy riding my bike any less than Cameron? I don't think so. It's simply that we've found different balances in our lives. For Cameron, it's riding all the time passionately. For me, well, I have other things I enjoy doing as well. I don't feel a need to get on my bike everyday and go suffer. I enjoy riding when I get the oppurtunity, but there are a lot of things in my life that will take priority over a bike ride.
This brings up one of my favorite things about the mountain bike community. I can go on a bike ride with Cameron, and even though I'm gonna get smoked, we can both enjoy the trail and swap stories about different sections. Revelling in our mutual interest. We have something in common. The love of the bike. That love is displayed in different ways. But we both derive some form of enjoyment from suffering up a long, nasty, technical climb. And neither one of us can enough of the child like excitement and euphorium that comes from bombing downhill on a sweet piece of singletrack. We are both hopelessly addicted.
I think this also carries over to being a Christ follower. We are a body. Each of us has a love for God, but that love is displayed in slightly different ways as we are all gifted uniquely. Also as we perfer slightly different ways of expression. There are Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Non-denominationals, and the list could go on and on. But the important thing to keep in mind is that we were all bought with a price. By the blood and suffering of God-incarnate. How often have we allowed petty differences to come inbetween us. I'm not saying we should join up and become one church. HAha, I don't think we could ever agree that much. But what I AM saying, is that we should be able to love one another enough to work together. Encouraging each other. Knowing that we are brothers and sisters, united in love and by the Lord. Whether we like it or not, we are commanded to love one another. Through the worst and the best of times. May we learn how to be true to our convictions, while loving others with love that was shown to us. What a powerful demonstration of the love of God. People that disagree on so many points, putting those differences aside to work together. Our world as we know it would be turned upside down.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Lance Armstrong...mellowing?
So who hasn't admired Lance at some point in time for some reason or another. I know I certainly have. Seriously, what cyclist has daydreamed they were Lance climbing the alpe D'Huez while they themselves were scaling the local big bertha hill.
To be honest, while I respected Lance for his accomplishments and feats he'd overcome, I've always had a certain reservation about him personally. He always seemed cocky to me. But now...I'm wondering if that is changing. Tonight I was watching cycling videos on youtube and came across several about him. I myself thought his return to cycling was stupid. I've always been a fan of the "quit while you're on top" mantra. But now, after watching these videos and having read a couple of articles about it all. I get the uncanny feeling that perhaps Mr. Armstrong is mellowing out. I actually respect his reasons for returning. Its more about his livestrong programs, and less about himself. He openly admits that he isn't the rider he once was, and will never be that fast again. Only time will tell if his motives and intentions are true. But for now. Kudos, Lance...kudos. God Speed in your mission.
To be honest, while I respected Lance for his accomplishments and feats he'd overcome, I've always had a certain reservation about him personally. He always seemed cocky to me. But now...I'm wondering if that is changing. Tonight I was watching cycling videos on youtube and came across several about him. I myself thought his return to cycling was stupid. I've always been a fan of the "quit while you're on top" mantra. But now, after watching these videos and having read a couple of articles about it all. I get the uncanny feeling that perhaps Mr. Armstrong is mellowing out. I actually respect his reasons for returning. Its more about his livestrong programs, and less about himself. He openly admits that he isn't the rider he once was, and will never be that fast again. Only time will tell if his motives and intentions are true. But for now. Kudos, Lance...kudos. God Speed in your mission.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Hello brand new step
With my upcoming graduation from college and soon to be move into the "real" world. I'd figured I'd get a new blog to boot. This will be my random thoughts on life, exciting (to me) things that are happening in my life, and about the things God teaches me as I go through life. Be patient, I'll have everything up and running full tilt within a week or so. To get things moving I'll post my most recent entry from my old blog. Hoped you get something from it.
Blind? I am...
The clarity that time in the word and in prayer brings is so often INCREDIBLE!! Sadly, something I have not been as faithful at lately as I need to be. Something I have been reminded of very recently after I spent some focused time in prayer and the word. This makes me wonder, why? If everytime we seek out the things of the Spirit, we come away so immensely blessed, fulfilled, and encouraged. How come we have such an obversion to doing those things? Hmmmmm....
Blind? I am...
The clarity that time in the word and in prayer brings is so often INCREDIBLE!! Sadly, something I have not been as faithful at lately as I need to be. Something I have been reminded of very recently after I spent some focused time in prayer and the word. This makes me wonder, why? If everytime we seek out the things of the Spirit, we come away so immensely blessed, fulfilled, and encouraged. How come we have such an obversion to doing those things? Hmmmmm....
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