Currently The Christmas Attic By Trans-Siberian Orchestra see related

CONNECTED!!!

Ok, I’m finally back!

Recently, I attended the Fusion event at Great Lakes Christian College.  And one of the worship elements we were challenged to do was to write on various poster boards our answers or reflections on different subjects.  One of these subjects focused on your “favorite scripture”.  As I read over them was deeply moved by the representation of almost every book in the bible and how you could see a message being sent from the collection of different scriptures.  Here a few that caught my eye…

Luke 1:37:

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

James 1:19:

“My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

Hebrews 13:3:

“Don’t forget about those in prison.  Suffer with them as though you were there yourself.  Share the sorrows of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.”

Job 38:11:

I said, “Thus far and no farther will you come.  Here your proud waves must stop!”

John 1:2-3:

“He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that He didn’t make.”

Job 13:15:

“The light disturbs the haunts of the wicked, and it stops the arm that is raised in violence.”

1 Peter 5:7:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”

1 John 4:9:

“God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”

Job 21:21-22:

“For when they are dead, they will not care what happens to their family.  But who can teach a lesson to God, the supreme Judge?”

I cannot help but question why these scripture were chosen?  What was it that put these scriptures on each person’s radar?  Why these scriptures and why now in this present season of life?

 Did they encounter their scripture during a time of frustration and adversity?  Was it through encounters with other people?  Did they find it in the midst of tragedy?  Could it have been a simple referral from a friend?  Was it in the darkest of corners at the latest possible time?  Or was it simply in the small still voice of God in a time of worship?

I don’t know, but the mystery intrigues me.  But what I do know is this…as I was looking over the piece of art being used as a tool to honor our God, I found myself being connected to others in the room in a very real way.  Some of whom I knew and some who I have yet to meet.

 God, through His Word has connected all people for all time.  A recent reminder of how I am connected through a spiritual heritage by the obedience of a man named Abraham and a King named Jesus has challenged me to continue this heritage, this ancestry that has been handed to me and includes me without condition.  Each time I encounter the Word, I am connected to those who have done the same.  We do not have to do our “quite times or study times” at the same time to be united in His Word.  God’s Word is sufficient for not only answering life’s questions and struggles, but also sufficient for bringing all of God’s people together.

Today, encounter God in His word and you will be encountering your brothers and sisters also!

FAITH--NOT ABOUT ME!!

Hebrews 11:3

“By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

Yesterday I finished my personal bible study in the book of Hebrews and I am seeing this book in a different light than before.  No surprise here because that is the uniqueness the Word of God brings when you take time to encounter it.  God’s Word is applicable any day, any where, any time.

During this study of Hebrews, it became clear to me the power of Jesus’ life in my life.  So many times in this book you find the reminder that your faith is not about your effort to have faith, but the willingness of Jesus to provide something of worth to have faith in and then give us the capability to believe. 

I love this not because its more “stuff” on faith, but because it sets us with the proper perspective.  In my life there have been times in which I have made the effort of “having faith” or even being faithful about myself; my effort, my endeavor, my accomplishment.  But faith that comes from not seeing really is about the accomplishment of God.  I don’t believe, I would believe in anything or anyone if it wasn’t for the faithfulness and power of God.  The things that I put my faith in that I cannot see are believable because of God and His willingness to create such things of worth.  I believe or I have faith because God creates purpose in things worth believing.  So the ability, the reality, the calling to have faith is once again about God and not about my efforts or convictions.

So today, the rest of this week…when you encounter things that give you hope, things that you believe in with all your heart, thank God for making those things and know they were created for you to believe in!

RHYTHM

Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves…So God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself; male and female He created them.”

Genesis 1:26-27

“Rhythm”

This last weekend some of the area youth ministries gathered at Wolverine Christian Service Camp for a Sr. High Retreat.  Our theme was “Rhythm” and we unpacked it by asking 3 questions…

Do you know the song?

Are you in tune with the song?

Can you perform the song?

As I personally experienced this theme and participated in this retreat, I found myself really contemplating these questions.  But what captivated me most was the concept that the song of our God is being played all around us.  This song does not end and is being played everywhere.  Just the reality that we serve a God that is performing for His people and this is born out of a love for us compels me to stop and listen.  And not just listen to the song, but embrace this song.  Embrace it in such a way as to become one with it knowing the lyrics, the melody, and the overall message.  An embracing that places this song in every imaginative location possible…my “computer”, my “iPod”, my pre-set “radio stations”, my heart, and my mind.  Zephaniah 3:17 says that Lord sings for His people and that this song is an exaltation over His people.  He is excited to offer us a song.  According to this scripture, a song born out of love; a love that calms our fears.

Am I in “Rhythm” with my God?  Am I listening and even performing the same song as He is?  Am I passionate about the very same things as God is?  Is my heart breaking over the same things that break the heart of God?  Do I invest in the same things and same places as Jesus does?

If not, it is time to get back in Rhythm with God.  It is time to go back to basics…listen to the song, learn the song, and have it become your playlist of life once again!!

And if you are in Rhythm with God, then turn the song up as loud as you can and sing it with all you heart, song, mind, and strength!!!

SUMMER 08

SUMMER ’08

"But Lord, You have remained the same forever!  Your throne continues from generation to generation.  Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to You again!

Lamentations 4:19-21

Summer '08:

Well Summer 08 is over and now we are in another school season.  The holiday season is fast approaching and with that will come the lovely weather we all come to love to hate.  Summer 08 was a season of perspective for me.  I saw many things.  I experienced many new things as well as more of the same.  None of it was a wash.  Camp went well and God did some of His greatest work.  But I will be honest that it cost me.  Time, money, and ministry.  It was too much to try and handle and for the 1^st time in a long time I was brought back to the days of being a rookie.  At times I found myself having things in place, but then a moment later, I found things crumbling around me.  I learned once again it is not my responsibility to make things come about or even come to fruition.  That is God's responsibility.  My job, my calling is to be obedient so that God can work through me.  And I continue to struggle with that.

MCC's Youth Ministry went well in our summer months.  I did not achieve all my goals, but it was a start.  I believe it was a summer that paved the way for future summers and showed us the power of people coming together with a purpose.  It saw us add to our adult volunteer team as well as give birth to a community seed within this volunteer team.  Also this summer gave me an opportunity to see some of my students.  I mean really see their hearts and mind and to get a feel for where they are at with life.  I would like more time in MCC's YM in the future summers to do this very thing.  All of this is a part of building a ministry.

Here are some insights that I received from the Summer of 08:

Don't ignore your responsibility to be organized and cover the details, but in the end that is not your power.  If you're obedient, He will take care of the rest…

One life can impact many lives!  Do not underestimate what God will do through one person in one moment…

There are times in life when you must step back and simplify in order to fulfill what has been given to you to do and be.  Do not fall captive to the thinking that says "more is better"…

Sin will be present in the midst of ministry.  We cannot be surprised by this.  But what is important is to seek Him who can forgive and heal and to remain focused on what he is calling you to do.  Satan's greatest tool can be to keep us focused on our sin instead of the Hand reaching out to lift us back on our feet…

I love coffee way toooo much!!..

Dual video screens in the van are a wonderful thing!...

I love biking more now that when I was a kid.  God always provides a way out of our inadequacies and failures…

I am more convinced now than ever before that there are those people & experiences that are brought into your life to do nothing but leave their imprint on your heart…

There needs to be a time in each of our lives when we pray simply for our vision to be understood by those around us.  Clarity is the lost discipline of the disciple's walk...

A cup of coffee with a partner & friend can make an entire day.  Let this be your act of worship some time in the next few days or weeks, with someone you need or who needs you.  Thank you David Honeycutt, Sarah Koutz, Mike & Julie Nichols, and the Guinns!  You helped make vacation a God experience!...

No matter whom you side with, sometime or another you will be captivated by the "underdog",

Go Cubs Go!"…

B-day 08

“…put your trust in the Lord Your God, and you will be established.”

2 Chronicles 20:20

Yesterday I turned 38 years young.  I’m not sure what that means or if there is anything significant about this.  But I do know it has been a 38 year Journey of experiencing this thing we call LIFE.  This journey has been full of failures, adventures, passions, successes, people, and of course way too much food.  It’s ironic that as I write this that there is a song playing on my iTunes (set to shuffle) that played a significant role while I experienced freshman orientation at GLCC in the fall of ‘89.  It was a song that captured my attention and really helped me to see that I was not at GLCC by coincidence, but that there was something God-like that would be coming my way very soon.  I would never be the same again!

Yesterday I got a b-day call, in the morning, from a very special person in my life, whom God placed in my life via Rock Lake Christian Assembly.  God has chosen to keep her in my life and once again as I look on my journey I see the importance of connections in the community we call the Kingdom of God.  In fact when I just recently checked my email, I encountered an onslaught of emails, as well as,
Facebook and MySpace messages that were from people in my life, both past and present.  I was in awe of the love and goofiness that I read and was impacted by.  That is a special gift from God…a gift that proves to me the investment in people should never be underestimated nor ignored.  People matter.  Who matters in your life?  Tell them…show them!

Yesterday, I set apart to just simply spend time with God all day.  Sounds silly doesn’t?  But as I approached my b-day a week away, I decided to take it off and to do something I have not done in a while…spend it with Him entirely.  I went to one of our metroparks and did some hiking.  Not rough hiking; more like a rugged walk.  I chose one of the trails and went for it!.  WOW!!  The beauty, diversity, and symbolic messages God spoke as I walked, or should I say worshipped, was nothing short of empowering.  I saw Him, heard Him, and even sang to Him as I encountered the grace of His creation.  Once again another wonderful gift given to me by my Lord & King… 

“Randomness”

“My thoughts are completely different from yours.  And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

As I walked many things caught my attention, but one was overwhelming.  The trail turns to the right and what I thought was a mistake by me became a special moment.  The trail turned and I thought maybe I had lost my way and was in the wrong place, but the trail climbed for a brief moment and then led me to a field or you could call it a “cove” of brush, small & large trees, and bushes.  There was no organization to this area.  Everything seemed to be randomly placed and there seemed to be minimal tree line to give it shape.  But there was a beauty about this random scene.  Everything was healthy and seemed to hold its location.  It was a peaceful spot.  I spent probably 5-7 minutes at this location just soaking it in. 

There are times in life when things don’t line up and there seems to be no order.  But within this there can be a hidden beauty we often miss because we want structure and order and everything in its proper place.  I was reminded at how creative our God is and how random the Kingdom Life can be.  But in all of this God is still in control and all of creation is to honor Him no matter where it is placed.