All I Have...

Tonight we sang:

Jesus all I have is You
You're the hope I'm holding to
I might weep but still my faith
rests in You
As the heavens hold the skies
It's Your hand that holds my life
And Your love will lead me on
When all else is gone


I don't know what it was about these words tonight, as opposed to the many other times they have been sung, but something in the midst of this confession made my heart feel secure.  We all have to deal with life every now and then, and it never seems to get any easier.  It never seems to come at you with any less aggression or hatred.  And sometimes we're not always ready for it.  It's an incredible feeling to know that it's okay to get knocked down, and it's okay to cry out in desperation...because on the other end of those cries there is a God anxiously waiting to prove His strength.  I've never been able to really deal with life on my own.  It's much more common for me to sweep it under the rug and be done with it. God has time after time lifted the corner of the rug, and made sure that I knew that wasn't good enough.  It wasn't good enough until I recognized that I don't have what it takes to make it through this life by myself.  I'm so thankful that I know even during the most intense trials of my life, I can cry out and my faith will only intensify.

Heh, I'm a die hard Cowboys fan...even if they're 1-5 this season and just lost their quarterback.  I can always hope that they'll pull it out in the next game.  Sure, they let me down from time to time, but I can still hope....right?
I'm glad that my hope in Christ doesn't work that way. That would be rather depressing, and the worst emotional roller coaster ever.  My hope in Christ is something that I hold on to because I know that every week, every day, every second.....the victory is His, the power and the glory are His.  He can't lose.  I'm so thankful that despite the severity of any situation I'll ever face, I'll always have Him as my hope I can hold on to.

I've recently had an opportunity to be there for one of my students in a serious time of need.  I think we all take our minds for granted.  They're so unique, so creative, so imaginative, so intricate.  Unfortunately, they can also be destructive, aggressive, and hostile.  This student of mine is an incredible young man.  He's been through the trenches of the teenager milieu.  His heart is for hurting people.  He genuinely desires to take care of people.  Unfortunately, his passion for compassion has been detrimental at times, consuming so much of his own mind and energy that there's not enough left for sanity.  It's a scary feeling, a scary thought, to imagine your own mind turning on you.  I can't fathom the level of vulnerability he must be feeling.  It hurts my heart just to know that he has to deal with this.  I know there's an answer, and I'm going to do everything I can to lower him through the roof, and hopefully right at the feet of Him.  Any and all prayers would be much appreciated in this process.  I pray that we will all remember, that when our friends are gone, our families are gone, our money is gone, all our securities are gone, even our own minds.....that His love will lead us on, and that all we have...is Jesus.

Discipleship...

Soooooooo, this whole thing called discipleship.  It's got me thinking.  How does it work?  What's the importance?  Is this a job for the professionals?   And so on and so on.  Of course I would get to thinking while reading.  This is kinda wierd, and dangerous.  I never really used to read anything in my "spare time".  I'm a terribly slow reader, so I get frustrated easily when reading longer (or what appear to be longer) books.  However, lately I've found a slew of reading material that has really peaked my interest.   I have no doubt that there has been some divine intervention in the discovering of said books, but I'm okay with that.  Most recently, I picked up a book I was encouraged to read by my buddy Jeff.  It's called "Radical", by David Platt.  I would only encourage you to read this book if you're serious about your faith and want to dial in the focus on your walk with Christ.  In Chapter 5, there is a wonderful subtitle, which says "Discipling or Disinfecting".  I find this section especially appealing because it hit home pretty hard.  Being that I lead people in ministry in the body of Christ, I was a little convicted to analyze my approach against the writing in this section of Platt's book.

I grew up in a conservative, Bible-believin', southern Baptist church.  Everything was structured so well, from children's ministry (Shoutout to my mom!), to students, and up on through the gray-haired folks.  Sunday mornings were very informative and to the point: I needed to live my life in a manner that is pleasing to Jesus.  I guess I always understood this as "don't do bad stuff" and "don't be a sinner".  Well, I've come to recognize that I'll always be a sinner here on earth, and I'll probably make some mistakes from time to time......sooo......bummer.  David Platt points out that there is so much more than that.  Despite that it is what most churched people feel they are taking home from "church", that's really not what Christ had in mind when it comes to changing the world.  Instead of taking all our time to make sure we're little angels, we should be mobilizing our hearts and minds, and infiltrating a world so desperately in need of Jesus.  There are too many people dying without the understanding of what it means to have a relationship with Christ.  

I guess my point is that it's time to analyze the way we do "church" as individuals.  Are we going to take the wisdom and knowledge we learn on Sundays and apply it to our everyday lives? Are we going to impart this wisdom with people around us, to offer hope, encouragement, and strength?  Are we going to  encourage others to take the wisdom we share with them, and share it with others?  Are we truly discipling others, or are we just pumping the hand sanitizer, only to go home and wait for next Sunday morning to come?

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" -Jesus

commUNITY

So as you know I've been on a "community" kick, and will likely be there for quite some time.  The more I read and the more I write about it, the deeper I want to dig.  Call me an emergent thinker if you must, but I think there's something really special behind the idea of community.  As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that Jesus thinks so too.

"My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me.  May the be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" -Jesus, John 17:20-23

I believe it all begins with our fundamental understanding that Jesus is exactly who He says He is.  He is God's son.  He sacrificed Himself that we may have a restored relationship with God the Father.  It is through Him alone that we may gain salvation.  Now we (the church) may have some conflicting views on things such as worship, baptism, communion, etc, but ultimately, Jesus is Lord and that's our message.  That's our gospel.  I find it rather interesting as I read that people invest so much time and thought into writing books and blogs in an effort to provide how-to's for churches around the world (ironically, most people are only writing concerning the American church).  I mean, is there really a cookie cutter pattern to follow to "reach the lost"?  Surely not, otherwise Paul would have had no need to say: "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.  To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul didn't have any patterns to follow when it came to sharing the gospel.  His goal was to do whatever was necessary that people may come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.  Period.  He knew that what was most important was to first establish a relationship with Christ.

Rich Mullins once said "[other areas of the world] underline different parts of their Bibles than we do...but maybe there are some basic truths that are big enough that we can find unity in them...I'm not sure that truth is quite the way we understand it.  I'm not sure that truth has to do with statements of belief as it has to do with truth is alive, and that it is a person, and that person is Jesus."

Ultimately our focus must be on presenting the message of love and hope that is in Christ Jesus.  Let us be united in this fundamental belief that the world may know He is who He says He is...  After all, that's what He prayed for..


side note: In case you don't know anything about Rich Mullins, I'm sure soon I'll create an entire post (or series of posts) about him.

Environmentalist...

I've decided recently that I'd like to become an environmentalist.  Before you freak out and think I'm going to buy a Prius and start eating organic foods (not that there's anything wrong with that), let me explain.  I've learned under several qualified individuals the ins and outs in ministry.  For the most part, I've learned the importance of structure, discipline, and building relationships with both leaders and students.  I've learned to become organized and actually care about the calendar.  I've learned how to program events and ministries in order to get people involved.  I'm not, by any means, perfect at any of these aspects of ministry, but I get the idea.  If you haven't yet heard, I'm on a "community" kick.  That term, and it's Biblical  description (located in Acts chapter 2), have literally consumed most every conversation in my life for the past couple months.

I love math.  I love to have the answers and know how to make things work.  I like that 2 + 2 always equals 4.  In the same respect, I like knowing the right ways to do ministry in order to see people have genuine encounters with our living God.  The problem, as I see it, is that there is no program that's right for everybody.  Everybody will experience God in a slightly different way, whether that be in the stillness and quiet of their prayer closet, or in the midst of chaotic ping pong tournaments after midweek worship.  I want people to experience authentic, Christ-like community, but I can't make them.  I can't program community.  I can't structure community.  However, I can help create an environment that is conducive to generating natural (organic) community.  It all starts by shifting my focus from the health of the ministry and refocusing on the health of the people.  A healthy environment will promote healthy people.  I want a healthy environment.  Ergo, I'm becoming an environmentalist.  Oh and by the way, I'm hoping to get an F-150 in December :)

When it's time to change...

Yea, I know I JUST made a new post, but instantly I'm feeling compelled to write another one.  It has to do with the song from the last post.  To quote myself (at risk of feeling a little narcissistic),"I have since re-written the melody of this song but the lyrics are the same."  You know when I first read that song in a Hymnal I thought it had a great message.  Something that would apply not only today, and in the 60's, but until Christ's return really.  Then I took it to a piano-playing friend of mine who promptly busted out the sweet tune written on the page.  You know, what was once a sweet tune to someone in the 60's isn't all that sweet anymore, to an 80's kid.  I believe my classic "I'm unhappy" facial expression said it all to my friend.  I went home and tweaked it a little, and now I appreciate the song much much more.  I never thought it was without value from the beginning, but I needed to adjust the way I shared the message in order to appreciate and accept it.  Know where I'm going with this yet?

There will come a time in our lives when our message doesn't seem so sweet anymore to others.  It may, in fact, provoke the "I'm unhappy" face from them.  The problem is simple.  Our message is perfect, flawless, inspiring, hopeful, loving, compassionate, unequaled, righteous, powerful, and complete.  Our method of communicating this message is what becomes lost in translation.  Where it was once all the about singing alongside a giant pipe organ, maybe now a nice piano solo would do.  Where a nice piano solo was once the buzz of a generation, maybe now a full-on guitar solo is what's necessary.  Different people have different ways of hearing your message.  Maybe it doesn't seem as sweet because we haven't taken it off the page and made it our own.  The point is, Christ Jesus hasn't changed.  His unfailing love doesn't change.  His grace and salvation never change.  The method God uses to deliver His message.....well, read Exodus 3:1-21, Numbers 22, any of the gospels... and find out what He did to reach people...

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Rainy Day...

Yea, it's raining outside here in San Antonio....Actually, we are supposed to get winds up to 40mph here today.  It's kinda strange, maybe a little creepy, but more than anything, comforting.  There is an old hymn written by Barbara Fowler Gaultney in 1960 called "My Lord is Near Me All the Time".  Now I was born in 1985, so I'm not going to act like I'm a huge fan of it's original music styling, but I am rather fond of the lyrics:

In the lightning flash across the sky
His mighty power I see
And I know if He can reign on high
His light can shine on me

(I'll skip the chorus for now so you can have the full effect)

When the thunder shakes the mighty hills
and trembles every tree
then I know a God so great and strong
He can surely harbor me

When refreshing showers cool the earth
and sweep across the sea
Then His rainbow shines within my heart
and His nearness comforts me

(Here's the chorus)

I have seen it in the lightning
I have heard it in the thunder
I have felt it in the rain
my Lord is near me all the time
my Lord is near me all the time


You know, it's crazy how songs like this get overlooked because they're in that book that hangs behind the pew each Sunday.  I have since re-written the melody of this song but the lyrics are the same.  It may not be the most appropriate at all times, but I know every time I see lightning, hear thunder, or feel rain, I think of this song.  Then I'm reminded that He is, in fact, near me all the time.

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Salvation is Here...

OOOOOOOHHHHH BABY!  Am I excited tonight!  As of 8:42pm tonight, September 1st, 2010......I have....ehem, WE have, a new brother in Christ!  Special congrats to Zach on making the best decision anyone could ever make in their life!

It's exciting to be a part of what God is doing.  It's also humbling to think that all the time setting up chairs, testing sound and lights, and preparing worship set lists, pale in comparison to the 30 seconds of prayer that change a life forever...I'm reminded that there is nothing I can do to bring people salvation....that is His job.  My role isn't to bring people to the Lord, but help them to recognize that He's already here.  Salvation is already here, because He is alive, and He lives in me (thanks Hillsong).  Salvation waits the arrival of heart after heart of the people that have just been passing it by for so long.  What He has given to me ought to be a breathtaking billboard for those who have yet to know Him.  I love Jesus.  A lot.  I'm so excited to see what he continues to do through the life of the students at the church.  I'm excited to be used as an example of His love....His grace....His salvation.  I just pray for strength and courage to do my best to be an appropriate advertisement for my King.

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Salty Manure...

Did the title get your attention?  Victory.  Okay, now that you're here, I've been reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and it's been ruining me......in a good way.  Just finished chapter 4, titled 'Profile of the Lukewarm'.  I have to say, this chapter calls for a serious amount of introspection, so introspect I did!  Here's my conclusion:

It's difficult to think about this fervently loving God being so ready to accept me where I am, for who I am, only having the intention of making me.....well, a better me.  Despite the fact that I come nowhere close to the mustard seed with my faith, He has all the faith in me.  Despite the fact that the time I spend thinking about Him is very meager in comparison, He is always thinking of me.  Despite the fact that I can find my commitment to Him lacking, He is always committed to me.  Are you catching my drift here?  HE IS ALWAYS DOING HIS PART!!!  Yet at times, I find myself falling short.  Unfortunately, this happens all too often, sinking into the "lukewarm".  I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here (my apologies if there really is someone named Debbie Downer out there), but I think there is a time for introspection, on His terms.  Time to look into ourselves and try our best to see what God sees in us.  Yes, there will be shortcomings.  Yes, there will be faults.  Even more than that, I can recognize that it is because those very shortcomings and faults that Christ's strength is made that much more perfect.  What I once thought was an incredible strength is now that much stronger, and stronger, and stronger.  He will never stop.  He will never give up.  He will never surrender.  He loves me too much.

The more I recognize His ever-increasing strength in my life, the more effective I want to be as the salt of the earth.  The more I see His hand holding my life, the more I want to bring out the taste of everything He is to this world.  The more I want to do my part in building His Kingdom.  "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out" -Luke 14:34-35        If I am to be the salt of the earth, than I want to be the best I can, because He is worth it.  Whether that means bringing out the flavor in a fine food, or helping to make manure be an effective fertilizer, I'm all in.  Because He is worth it.

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Accept or Follow?

So I was scanning through some of my favorite websites tonight while I was lying in bed.  In case you're wondering, my top 3 most visited sites (outside social networking) are mcphersonguitars.com, churchmarketingsucks.com, and right now, yahoo.com (specifically for fantasy football).  I was reading a post from Brian Gaffney on churchmarketingsucks.com and got to thinking.  What's the big difference between ACCEPTING Christ, and FOLLOWING Him?  I know, I know, there's a huge difference, right? Then why do we become okay with just accepting Him, rather than truly following?  This is a question I feel I'm going to ask myself everyday for the rest of my life.  Wake up in the morning, hit the snooze button. Wake up again in ten minutes, then think, "Am I going to be okay having accepted Christ in my life, or will I follow Him today?"  As much as I want to follow Him, I can recognize plenty of areas in my life in which I tend to just be accepting.  I wholeheartedly believe that me spending time NOT following means I'm wasting hours, days even, with mundane activities and religion, yet not doing much to further the Kingdom.  I don't know about you, but I want that Kingdom to be rocking with people when I get there, and I'm pretty positive He'd like that too.

It's interesting.  Back in the day, you would have this wonderful scenario with a rabbi and his disciple.  Yeah, they had their own disciples.  Remember, a disciple is defined as "follower, adherent, student, devotee, learner".  So these disciples wanted to learn everything they could from the rabbi.  It wasn't that they chose to accept the rabbi's authority and then hoped to hear them say some cool stuff along the way.    These disciples spent their whole day, whole life, devoting themselves to following every step the rabbi took,  literally.  They would stay so close, in fact, that the dust from the sandals of the rabbi would be caked on the cloak of the disciple by the end of the day.  Ever thought of Jesus as our Rabbi?  Or about being a real disciple?  Can you see the dust from His sandals on your legs? Accept Him, or Follow Him.  As for me, I choose to follow.

With His Love
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Yep. I have a blog now.

Well, in an effort to join the modern world of communication and social networking, I've decided to create a blog.  It is my INTENTION to keep this thing update quite frequently, but no promises just yet.  Maybe the more people actually read it, the more I'll write.

As a first blog post, I'm gonna share a little about what's on my mind as of recent.  The word "community".  It's officially the buzz word in my life right now, and it's been plaguing my thoughts and dreams.  Everything I try to plan, create, structure, schedule, all seems to have something to do with "community".  Even the name of our Student Ministry recently got an overhaul from "FUEL", to "the FUEL Community".  I don't know exactly the length of time this term will be taking over my life, but I'm really excited to see all the good that will come from it.  There's just so much that is in the word "community" that describes how we (the church) should act, react, and respond to the people around us every day.  Anyway, get excited, because more on community will come.  Also, if you read this, let me know......follow me, tell me on Facebook, something.

Love God.  Love People.

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