light show participant

I could have had my head gently nestled into my pillow this past Wednesday night.  Instead, I was driving towards Greenville at about ten after midnight in the sticky heat.  I was storm chasing.  Off in the distance, I could see the silhouette of the thunderheads lit up by the machine gun-type lightening that flashed in the clouds.  What a beautiful light show!  I could have been in bed, I thought, but instead, I chose to chase this storm and I’m glad I did.  I love storms!

Did you know that Jesus prayed for us?  Some 2000 years ago, he said this prayer that was directly for his disciples and any believers that followed after them – which is us.  This prayer is found in John 17.  He prayed that instead of us falling asleep with our heads nestled into our pillows; that we would see the light show.  He wanted us to see the lightening, the beauty, the power and the very joy that the Father had given him.  He wanted us to know that an eternal and infinite and abundant kind of life is possible as we continue our lives in this world.  He wasn’t concerned about our attempt to vacate this world and live in a better place; he wanted us to infect this world with his love and power and unity.  He wanted us to observe and participate in the beauty of his light show. 

We can go to bed if we want.  The thing is, the world isn’t always cognitive of what God is doing behind the clouds because the world sleeps - the world doesn’t truly know the heart of God.  If we’re sleeping, we’re not going to see his light. 

There’s this quote that has become quite cliche but holds truth, “Be in the world and not of the world.”  Although Jesus doesn’t say this verbatim, this is what he’s saying when he prays for us.  When the world sleeps, drive to see what God is doing and stay in rhythm with him.  When your friends and peers seem to have their heads snuggled into their pillows, continue to participate and observe in the light show.

May we infect the world with the presence of Jesus.  May our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions and our words continue to bear the fruit of Christ.  May we not fall asleep - may we not become 'of the world.’  May we pursue the show of light - may we continue seeing and spreading the beauty of God in this world.  May we be the light of the world.

a day off

What a day!  It was our day off and it was a great day.

Never have I struggled with taking a day off until I entered pastoral ministry.  Now that I've been in this kind of ministry for four or so years, I've learned that if I don't set strict and regimented boundaries for myself, that day off I've been looking for simply won't happen.  Seriously, it's a struggle.  If I'm not careful, I can find myself talking to my wife about ministry.  I can find myself thinking about ministry.  I can find myself talking through the things I have to do or the conversations I have to have.  If I'm not careful, my day off can turn me into a think-tank.  A think-tank day off isn't a day off at all.  So, that's a little about us, our day off, and how we struggle with it.

If I could rank our day off today, I'd give us a B.  The first half of the day, I found myself thinking through every ministry detail possible.  Should we do this or should we do that?  What conversations do I need to have this week?  What could I think or say to impress that person (it's sad but more often than not, I find myself thinking such toxic thoughts).  How should we structure this next weeks service?  How involved should I be in that project?  What do people think of me?  What if….?  And these thoughts can go on and on and on with no purpose or end in sight.  They're literally exhausting and when they take place on my day off, I'm worn out by noon.

This morning, I found myself worn out and exhausted by these cyclical thoughts.  I'm ashamed that I even have them.  Because a good pastor wouldn't think such things, would he?  Seriously, it's so embarrassing to have these thoughts, it makes me want to puke.  They're worrisome, heavy, redundant and never-ending.

My wife thinks I'm being attacked (in a spiritual sense).  Around our house, we call this sort of thing "the raid."  And when the raid comes, it's so easy to become punctured and lacerated by the predatory teeth of doubt, worry, fear and stress.  And we know when the raid comes, it's usually a sign that we're doing something right, but it's so hard to think that way when you feel like a shark has you by the waist.

This morning I was attacked.  The raid came.

In the afternoon, I was able to spend some time by the pool with my face in my Bible as well as a Dallas Willard book.  There's a reason Jesus referred to the Word of God as bread - it's food that nourishes the soul.  Between the turns of the pages, I would meditate on what I just read and pray about it.  It's amazing how a raid can be flipped on it's head with intentional time soaking in the words of God.  Soon, the negative questions began to fade.  The fear and worry and anxiety vanished.  God began to pour himself into my heart and it was exactly what I needed.  This afternoon, I felt shalom (peace from God).

This is the part when my day off actually became my day off.

We went to the Ionia Free Fair.  I have a friend who is obsessed with this thing.  I, on the other hand, am not.  It's the same people over and over again.  You know the type; the adults who try to fit into little kid's clothes.  The carnie who has two teeth and who tries to talk you into buying three rings to throw around pop bottles.  The basketball hoops that are too small for the basketballs.  The blood footprints spread out across the midway.  This is the time when hicks come out of the woodwork.  I used to make jokes about the fair.  I used to say, "And that's the reason why this is a prison town."  But tonight, something changed.  Instead of my negative comments about the culture and the atmosphere of the fair, I actually enjoyed it.  I enjoyed the smell of cotton candy that lingered in the air (I focused on this more than the smell of the puke).  I marveled at the young families that strolled the midway with their kids and strollers.  I even wanted to go on a ride (I didn't...my wife said it was too dangerous and I needed to think of our family first).  I got to witness the joy on my two year old's face when he rode his first carrousel and roller coaster.  Or the excitement of my nephew as he looked at the sheep, pigs, goats, or cows.  Perhaps it was watching my mother-in-law ride a little kids roller coaster.  Whatever it was, it was amazing.  For the first time in a while, I was able to fully embrace the beauty of the moment.  For the first time in a while, I was able to take time off without the endless and mindless ideas and questions that pollute like spilled oil in the Gulf.  We went to the fair tonight, and I loved it.  What a blessing it is to love the fair!

Considering how my day went, with the early morning worry, the afternoon prayer and reading time, and the fair, I'd say it ended on a pretty good note.  I feel rested, recovered and fully in love with my family.  I feel peace.

I know my days off aren't going to come easy, but I'm going to continue to make the time and create the boundaries to foster the possibility of embracing God, my family, and my self.

Today was a great day!

handling the raid: July 1, 2012

Relationship Series: Handling the Raid

1 Samuel 30:1-6

The “raid” is going to come. 

It’s not a possibility or a question; it’s right around the corner. 

The “raid” might look like a…  Financial difficulty.  Parental challenge.  Conflict in relationship.  Depression.  Health challenge.  Family clash.  Tough decision.  Exposed addiction.  The loss of a loved one.  Argument.  A hurtful word.  Exclusion.  Uncertainty.  Not fitting in.  Prodigal sons/daughters. 

Or perhaps something will happen to the family.  And maybe after the family is taken, the very people who you thought had your back now want to ruin you.  …as was David’s story…

Loss - the kind of distress that seems to take your feet out from under you.  It takes your breath away.  It drains your tear ducts. 

And how we handle this sort of thing has huge implications. 

Some of us will create diversions.  And our diversions will affect our health and the health of those around us. 

Diversions: Sitcoms.  Facebook.  Alcohol.  Work.  Friendships.  Sports.  Success.  Hobbies.  Church… 

Because how we handle the raid is directly tied to our relationships.  And if we don’t get this right, we’ll find ourselves crippled, depressed and burned out.  If we don’t get this right, we’ll turn on each other like ravenous wolves.  Essentially, how we handle our raids will determine the promotion or absolution of the raids in other’s lives as well. 

This brings us back to our relationship with God and each other.

And before we get too far into this domino effect, let us sit and soak in the story of David. 

1 Samuel 30:1-6 

P.S.  Why stop there?  Finish the chapter if you’d like, it’s invigorating.

There’s a better way to handle the raid.

A Woman's Heart. 6-24-12

The Relationship Series: A woman's heart.

Week after week, we’ve been discovering that God is the God of relationships. 

Relationships?  Yes.

God himself is a community of self-giving lovers demonstrated in the way the Trinity is intertwined with the richness of koinonia (fellowship) – being one yet three and three yet one.  But this koinonia doesn’t stop with God; he created mankind in His image – to be in relationship with Him as well as each other.  This kind of koinonia was the way it was supposed to be – shalom.  We’ve been invigorated by the sophistication of our relationship with God and those around us.  We’ve been striving for this kind of shalom, and as we do, we’re realizing that our perfect pattern/exemplifier/demonstrator is found in the person of Jesus – the Christ.

Last week, we saturated ourselves in a story about greed, manipulation, lust, murder, conspiracy, power, and truth.  As we looked at this passage (Mark 6:14-29), we examined some of the appetites God has instilled in men.  We recognized that God made men with appetites for truth, beauty and reputation.  This week, we’ll be examining some ambitions God has inducted in the heart women. 

As my wife and I sat down and engaged our imaginations to the imagery of this story (Herod/Herodias/the Baptizer), we made a few observations in regards to these three relational attributes that women seem to be wired with: nurture, emotion, and beauty.

Nurture

Herodias was nurturing King Herod, a man other than her husband.  What is it in a woman that craves to nurture?  Whether nurture comes in the form of motherhood, being a daughter, being a friend, or being a wife; women have an innate desire to nurture the people around them.  King David said that God weaves us together in our mother’s womb – nurture.  In Genesis, God makes women as a suitable helper for men – nurture.  Over and over again throughout the Biblical narrative, women have a God-given desire to take care of people.  As we see with Herodias, the ambition to nurture can bring life or death to relationships depending on whether it preserves or vandalizes shalom.

Emotion

Herodias snapped.  How dare the Baptizer call her out on her sin!  And her grudge was held inside, deep within, until the opportune time arose to strike with revenge.  We all know that men and women handle emotions differently.  Men seem to compartmentalize emotions while women seem to ball theirs into a jumbled mess.  At any time, a woman’s emotions can leak into relationships with a toxic-like effect.  This can be dangerous.  We must realize that a woman’s emotion is a wonderful gift when shalom is preserved.  When shalom gets vandalized, look out…she’s on a warpath!

Beauty

Herodias’ daughter danced for King Herod and his guests.  She pleased the men at the party with her seductive movements; she knew exactly what she was doing.  What is it about a woman that produces the desire to be beautiful?  Why does this desire often become cheap, shallow, and distorted?  When beauty only penetrates skin deep, beware.  Like nurture and emotion, God created women to be beautiful, but when outside of shalom, beauty becomes ugly. 

Irony.  The way of Herod & Herodias bring death to John the Baptizer - the one who prepared the way for Jesus.  The way of Jesus is the way of shalom, the way of life that is truly Life, the way things are supposed to be.  And in this small story, we have the ways of Herod & Herodias vs. the ways of Jesus. 

God has created men and women with certain appetites, ambitions, and characteristics.  As we live our day-to-day, may we realize the responsibility we carry.  May we recognize that we have the ability to introduce life or death into our relationships, all hinging on whether we preserve or vandalize shalom.  May Jesus continue to show us shalom.  May Christ direct us to the way things are supposed to be.  

Vandalism of Shalom

A theologian who lives around me once defined shalom as, "The way things are supposed to be."  Click here for more on this.  I like this definition because I find truth in it.  God created the world to function a certain way - Adam and Eve sinned (the Fall) and the result was a world functioning much differently than God intended.

The Fall distorted God's intent for creation,
things aren't the way they're supposed to be,
everything doesn't happen for a reason,
something broke,
shalom was vandalized.

The little boy who is beaten by his drunken dad.  The homeless person asking for money to buy food but rejects the sandwich given to him.  The way it felt when we found out he died.  The breaking of trust.  What it feels like when we get left out.  Perhaps we know stories, have heard stories, or have been involved in stories which exemplify the brokenness of creation.

Things aren't the way they're supposed to be.
Shalom has become vandalized.
Something isn't right.

And this brings up tension,
we don't like tension.
We want tension to be resolved,
don't we?

That's why many of us are fascinated and obsessed with who Jesus was/is.  Because of the vandalism of shalom, there's an unresolved tension that needs to be alleviated and we believe Jesus is the alleviator.  And we've felt it!  We've felt the overbearing and oppressive weight taken off our shoulders by Christ.  We once felt heavy and burdened, now we feel light and free and restful.  That tension is fully resolved in the person of Jesus; he fixes shalom when it gets vandalized.  Even more, Jesus not only died for the vandalism of shalom, he taught about the kingdom of shalom.  He doesn't simply lift the weight, he teaches the way.  In Jesus we find relief from the tension and learn the way of this shalom!

It hurts
but it can get better.

There's tension
but you can have resolve.

In Christ
the vandalism of shalom is washed away and make clean.

A Man's Heart: June 17th, 2012

In Mark’s narrative of Jesus’ life, we find a fascinating story that is soaked with curiosity, deceit, mystery, adultery, charm, manipulation, passion, and murder.  And no, we’re not talking about the newest NBC drama; we’re talking about a story found in the Bible. 

Read it.  Mark 6:14-29

Let’s observe three elements from the above story that seem to be embedded in the genetic make-up of men.  Call them ambitions, appetites, hungers, yearnings; they’re descriptive of how God has wired guys. 

Truth.     Jeremiah 31:33 and Romans 1:18-32

What was it in Herod that made him respect John the Baptizer?  Why did Herod like to listen to this prophet?  There’s something inside of men that draws them to truth.  We like someone that “says it how it is.”  We enjoy honesty, logic, and ideas that make sense.  Give us the truth and we’ll be happy, but not too much truth, right?  Herod put the Baptizer in jail when he spoke too much truth.  When John told Herod to stop having an affair, Herod put him in prison.  This is the “too much truth” part.  Guys are ambitious for truth, but sometimes, truth hurts.  Truth has a way of messing with a man’s ego.  Herod appreciated the Baptizer’s truth until it got personal - real truth always seems to have a way of getting personal.  Like Herod, a man’s ambition for truth can be a powerful tool, if he allows it.  Truth can liberate to bring life, but it also can devastate and bring chaos.

Beauty.    Proverbs 6:20-29 and Psalm 27:4

What was it in Herod that made him offer a dancing girl half his kingdom?  What was it about this girl’s beauty that caused Herod to make such a stupid decision?  Apparently, it was Herod’s birthday and he gave a banquette to guests of high esteem.  When a woman came out and danced for him (this woman was the daughter of the woman he was having an affair with), he impulsively told her she could have half of his kingdom.  Men have an appetite for beauty, but this appetite can become warped.  A man’s acknowledgement of beauty can produce beauty in itself, but a man’s unhealthy acknowledgement of beauty can produce a ripple effect of destruction.  For Herod, a moment of unhealthy lust led to the Baptizer’s death.  In a moment of weakness or a time of lust, a man’s ambition for beauty can be the difference between life and death. 

Reputation.    Esther 9:4 and 1 Timothy 3:7 and Revelation 3:1

What was it in Herod that made him behead a man he listened to and respected?  Why did Herod value his reputation more than John’s life?  After Herod offered half his kingdom to the girl, she conspired with her mother as to what she should ask.  Her mother, still harboring bitterness towards the Baptizers truthfulness, asked for John’s head on a platter.  When the girl returned to Herod, she presented her request in front of his friends.  Wanting to keep the reputation of his word, Herod accomplished her request.  Men are created with a drive to have a reputation.  Like truth and beauty, the quality of this reputation can be the difference between life and death. 

Something interesting happens in this story.  These three hungers were about to be perfectly illustrated in the person of Jesus, all the while the prophet who was introducing (paving the way for) Jesus as the messiah was killed by Herod's distortion of these three hungers.  What?  Yes.  Herod's warped hunger for truth, beauty, and reputation killed John the Baptizer, and John the Baptizer was doing the intro for Jesus, the one who demonstrated truth, beauty, and reputation perfectly - beautiful irony all wrapped up and bundled into one little story.  Herod's dysmorphic hungers lead to death while Jesus' holy hungers lead to life.  

As we celebrate Father’s Day, may we recognize the tension men live among.  Between the ways of Herod and the ways of Jesus, the fathers among us need our prayers, encouragement, and support now more than ever.  May we appreciate what our father’s do (and have done).  May we learn to recognize the weight they carry and may we do everything we can to love them and inspire them with an agape kind of love.  Today, tomorrow and the next, may our fathers be inspired (“may they continue to breathe”).

what it is to us isn't always what it was to them

Relationship Series (Week #1)


A phenomenon transpires when the words "Spirit-filled" get thrown around.  

I'm a people watcher, I've always been.  I enjoy going to public places in observation of the differences among people - it's entertaining and even humorous at times.  

Did I just see a guy wearing that shirt with those pants?  There goes the Red Hat Society.  That kid is sagging his pants down to his knees!  Why have the big/dark/thick rimmed glasses become popular again?    And when it comes to glasses, why do all these kids wear the same LMFAO sunglasses?  Oh, and what's the tattoo on that guys arm say?  

I've always found it amusing to note the different reactions displayed when the words, "Spirit-filled" is said.  This is an incredibly fascinating phenomenon.

Eyebrows become raised with suspicious concerns as people think, "Uh oh, you're one of those people."  Nods grow with exaggeration when people want you to know they're Spirit-filled.  Eyes glaze over and drift off into the mid to far distance which lets you know that this person has no idea what you're talking about.  A look of anticipation comes over people's faces as they sit on the edge of their seats waiting to hear exactly what you mean.

So many looks, so many understandings.

Spirit-filled - a phrase that brings up all sorts of ideological and experiential baggage.

What is it and what does it do?

In the book of Acts, we see that Jesus tells his disciples to "wait for the gift my Father promised."  He said, "John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…"

And then one day, as the disciples all met in one place to celebrate Pentecost (a Jewish holiday recognizing God giving the Law to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai), they became Spirit-filled.  Luke, the author of Acts, explained it like this, "Suddenly a sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them."  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in their native languages as the Spirit enabled them.  Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Egypt,  Arabs, and others were able to hear "the wonders of God" in their own languages.  

The early church became Spirit-filled.  And not long after, 3000 people accepted Jesus to be the Anointed one from God (the Messiah, the Christ).  

Acts 2:42 characterizes this Spirit-filled community (church) and what it devoted itself to in these four ways:

1.  The apostles' teaching.  

The apostles had just finished spending close to three years with Jesus.  Many of them left their jobs, homes, and families to learn under this rabbi (Jesus was a rabbi in early Judaism).  When Luke says "apostles' teaching," we must recognize that the apostles were teaching what they learned from Jesus, and that Jesus spend much of his time teaching what is now known as our Old Testament.  And Jesus didn't stop at the Old Testament, he came proclaiming the inauguration of the kingdom of God.  Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to learning from Jesus.  

2.  Fellowship.

The Greek word here is koinonia.  This word has meanings conveying community, oneness, communion, united participation, partnership, union, being of one mind, and so on.  Imagine 3000+ people devoted to koinonia.  The thing is, koinonia wasn't just explicatory of their relationship to one another, it was also explicatory of their devotion to following Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God.  They became devoted to one another as their ultimate priority was the kingdom.  Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to fellowship (koinonia).

3.  Breaking of Bread.

The early church made eating together one of the things they devoted themselves to.  Eating together was a way to share their time, their homes, their lives and their love.  Breaking of bread also has indications of the Lord's Supper.  Not only did they eat together, when they did, they took time to pause and reflect on what their Christ had done through the work of the Cross.  Furthermore, they celebrated the fact that Jesus was now with them in Spirit.  Those that were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to the breaking of bread.

4.  Prayer

For the early church, prayer wasn't simply a private/personal act; prayer had a communal element as well.  Praying together bonded the community as one as they conversed with the Lord.  Jesus instructed his disciples on how to pray (not necessarily what to pray).  It is important to note that the early church's devotion to Jesus' teachings would have included the Lord's prayer.  Those what were Spirit-filled devoted themselves to prayer.  

As noted by Luke, the book of Acts portrays the "fruit of the Spirit" in the context of the church.  They were filled with the Spirit, not only individually, but as a community as well.  As they became Spirit-filled, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  This was the fruit of the Spirit for the church.   

Have many of us misunderstood the meaning of "Spirit-filled?"  Possibly.

Before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, may we remember what the Spirit did to the church.  May we realize that it had implications for the community - far greater and not limited to personal spiritual experiences.    May we allow the Spirit in our churches and may we see its fruit.

In Breath. In Rhythm. Inspired. (Part 2)

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Last Sunday after church, we decided to go to the beach.  It was a hot day and we were looking to relax by a local lake.  As we were getting our boy's bathing suits on, we heard a rush of ambulance and police sirens.  We didn't think much of the commotion as we made our way down to the water, but when we got there, we realized that something was wrong.  There was a mass of hysteria in the air.  We noticed hundreds of people lining the shore.  Almost all of them were looking in the same direction.  As I followed the direction of their sight, my eyes arrived at the focal point of activity.  A 19 year old boy had been underwater for 10 minutes and the paramedics were trying to resuscitate him.

Time stood still.  Eternity seemed to pour into the moment.  For 15 minutes, CPR was performed.  Every second seemed like a minute, every minuted an hour.  Horror and fear gripped the family who watched as their loved one was unconscious.  In panic and desperation, they embraced each other, hoping that their brother/boyfriend/nephew/friend would take a breath.

There seemed to be two causes for commotion.  The primary attention was on the boy.  As I glanced over the mass of people lining the beach, I noticed clusters of people huddled together in prayer.  For the most part, people's attention focused on the horrific drowning scene.  But something else was happening.  A party was taking place.  There was about 40 people packed under and around a pavilion.  This pavilion was 15-20 feet behind where the grief stricken family was sitting.  Why was this party causing commotion?  Because unlike the hundreds of people who stopped what they were doing to watch and pray for this unconscious boy, the party continued as usual.  These 40 people were yelling, swearing, laughing - as if someone WASN'T dying.  The first cause of commotion was the boy who was dying on the beach.  The second cause of commotion came from disbelief as this 40 person party continued to go about their festivities oblivious to the drowning boy.  I kept seeing the dying boy's brother turn around and look at the party with disbelief.  Not only was he being embraced by the horrific truth of mortality, he was being enveloped by a cloud of disrespect and irreverence.  Not only was he worried about his brother's drowning, he was probably wondering if anyone cared.

The party went on as if no one were drowning.
--------------

And the thing is, I just got done teaching about Isaiah 6 by using a motif about breath.  I went from talking about breath in church, to witnessing someone die from a lack of breath.  This scenic contrast happened in less than an hour and a half.

From the beauty of breath…
to death by drowning.

And it messed me up.

Not only did the scenic contrast mess me up, so did the party under the pavilion.  Why didn't they care?  Why didn't they quiet down?  Pay attention?  Show some reverence and respect?  Why?

The reason it bothered me so much is because I'm one of those people.  I've had an Isaiah 6 kind-of-moment.  I've taken a breath.  And while I can be so concerned with "church stuff," or my life, or my opinions, or my problems; there are people around me that aren't breathing.  I can be so concerned with my "party under the pavilion" that I fail to recognize those who are drowning.

If we look at Isaiah, we notice he didn't just take a breath for himself.  No, he used his breath to teach others how to breathe.  If we look at Jesus, we see that he avoided the "party under the pavilion" and directed his attention to those who were drowning.

I want my breath to give breath to others,
to inspire others to faith.
I want the beauty of God to be seen in the way I live my life.

I don't want to be ignorantly consumed with the "party under the pavilion" (whatever that may be),
or to focus on "me" and "my world."
I don't want to be self-absorbed or narcissistic.

Like Isaiah, may you become a messenger for God.  May you not only take a breath, may you continue to breathe.  May your breathing be inspiring.  May you be aware of the drowning.

"You are the light of the world."

In Breath. In Rhythm. Inspired

"In breath."

"In rhythm."

"Inspired."

Did you know that the word "Inspiration" has two meanings?  The first one we're all familiar with: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something.  The second one is a bit more interesting: the drawing in of breath.  I've always equated breathing with respiration, but inspiration?  Interesting.

Meet Stig Severinsen.  

Stig is an accomplished swimmer and free-diver.  He's also set numerous world records in breath-holding.  He is known in free-diving circles as one of the best in the sport.  In 2010, he swam 236 ft under ice, breaking a previously held record set in 2000 by 30 ft.  Later in 2010 after inhaling pure oxygen, he held his breath for 20 minutes and 10 seconds.  Now, Stig works with athletes and teaches them proper breathing techniques.  He writes books, hosts conferences, and trains professional athletes to breath.  

There's an interesting dichotomy about Stig in regards to "inspiration."  He went from being one of the best in the world at an uninspired sport, to being one of the best inspirational teachers.  He went from being known as a breath-holder, to being known as a breath-teacher.  From being one of the best underwater, to one of the best above water.  

Have you ever tried to hold your breath underwater?  

There seems to be three different stages one goes through.  

1.  Initially, you can submerge into the water and pretend that you don't have to breathe.

2.  After a while, you begin to feel and acknowledge the need for breath.  At first, you stubbornly fight the urge to breathe, but with time, this urge becomes stronger.

3.  As the urge significantly increases, you're no longer able to hold your breath.  You surface and gasp at the first opportunity to breathe.    

We were created to breathe.  Being underwater and holding our breath is unnatural and opposes the way the human body functions.  Being underwater is being out of breath, uninspired, and out of rhythm with the way things are supposed to be.  

This is about that.  This isn't really about breathing, this is about our relationship with God.  This isn't about being underwater, it's about embracing God's intended order for creation.  This isn't about being inspired (being mentally stimulated), this is about being inspired (the breath of God).  

Some of us live in the first stage of breath-holding.  We pretend, justify, rationalize, and ignore God's existence and/or order.  We do what we want and we're offended when anyone tells us we're "out of order."  "How dare anyone tell me how to live my life!"

Some of us live in the second stage of breath-holding.  We continue to live in opposition to God, but deep down we acknowledge that something is wrong.  Perhaps we open our Bible, attend church or say a prayer as a way to seek something greater in our lives.  Although we believe in God, we fail to truly embrace that belief.  We continue in our ungodly, underwater, uninspired, out of rhythm ways; but deep down we know we're living in opposition to the Lord.

Some of us have taken a breath.  Our souls have been uninspired and out of rhythm for far too long and we've embraced the truth of the Lord.  We've not only embraced it, we've given our lives to following its authority.  We've committed ourselves to accepting Christ and becoming one of His followers.  We're devoted to pursuing the rhythm of Life found in the kingdom of God.  

Stig went from being the best at an uninspired sport to being a teacher of inspiration.

The sixth chapter of Isaiah narrates Isaiah's transformation from being uninspired to inspired.

The ninth chapter of Acts narrates Paul's transformation from being uninspired to inspired.

And whether you're pretending you don't have to breathe…

or whether you're stubbornly refusing to breathe…

or whether you've taken a breath…

today, tomorrow and the next day, you can continuously breathe…

be inspired…

and embrace the rhythm of God.  

May you breathe.  

May you be in rhythm.

May you be inspired.

May you embrace Christ and follow Him with everything you are.

Today.

join us/support us/be with us

To my family and friends,

Join us.  This Sunday, I invite you to come as I speak among our new church.  I've recently taken a pastoral position and this Sunday is the first time I'll be speaking.  This is an exciting time for Kelly and I and we're super-excited about what God has been doing amidst our church community.

Brief history.  A year ago, a few people were inspired to plant a church (an extension of Impact Church in Lowell) in the Saranac community.  Plans were made, organizing was done; we can't believe how God has showed up.  Our church has now been in official existence for the past 12 Sundays.  People from Saranac/Ionia/Clarksville/Lowell have banded together in community and have sacrificed their time and energy in order to make this happen.  God has been faithful as people are continuing to be reached in the greater Saranac community.  We're seeing 200+ people come each Sunday with an inspiring amount plugged into LifeGroups throughout each week.  We're continuing to watch a movement unfold…

People not building.  Right away from its inception, this church has been centered on a community with a desire to follow Jesus.  It's been about people wanting to be part of a fresh expression of church as well as their willingness to make it happen.  It's about people who are passionate about learning what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  It's about friendships.  It's about community.  It's about bringing the ways of Heaven to Earth.  It's centered on Christ's influence in people's hearts and souls, not a building.

Saranac High School.  This Sunday, we invite you to join us at the Saranac High School for our 10am gathering.  We'll be talking about what it means to truly live an inspired life.  If you have kids, you may want to come early (9:30) and get them checked into our KidsZone.

Join us.  Again, this will be my first time speaking among our new church community.  I'm pumped about it and I'd love it if you could join us!

a collision of moments

At one particular moment, I find myself struggling with burdens, issues and stresses that I think are specific to me and my situation.  In these moments, I feel like I'm the only one in the world with this these struggles.  I'm alone.  In these moments, even God feels a million miles away.  "Where are you Lord?"  "I need you."

   "Nobody can understand what I'm dealing with."
   "If only people knew the storm that was building in my mind."
   "Something must be wrong, this is far too uncomfortable."

In another particular moment, I find myself talking to a dear friend.  Before I get the chance to vomit all my frustrations, he vomits his.  And the amazing thing is, he's been here before.  He's been where I am.  He's experienced these things and it's made him stronger.  Together, we realize that our struggles bring a certain vibrancy to the meaning of the Apostle Paul's words when he says:

God said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As these two moments collided, I realize the beautiful friendships God continues to give me.  I realize that God is placing wise people in my life who have "been there, done that."  I realize these experiences aren't specific to me.

I'm thankful for friends, guides, and counselors.
May my "youngness" learn to value my friend's life experiences.

Thank you, friends.
Thank you, Lord.

I love church

I love church.


I love it, not because of its coffee,
politics,
buildings,
landscaping,
potlucks or pews;
I love church because I'm around people who want to center themselves on Christ.


I love it, not because the people are perfect,
dressed up,
always smiling,
pious or pure;
I love it because the people realize their flaws.


I love church, 
not because I love Sunday,
but because I love Jesus.