A Time to Slow Down and Pray

The world is so much bigger than our little lives, isn't it? When conversation centers around houses, rentals, apartments, cars, loan payments, phone payments, and bigger, better toys is there any room to consider what's happening in the hurting world around us? There are riots on the streets of Baltimore, ten thousand plus have lost their lives in Nepal, and brothers and sisters in the faith are relentlessly oppressed by ISIS in the Middle East. Now I must ask myself... why am I not using my foundation of blessing to tarry in prayer for the world.

We have to be careful not to loose ourselves in guilt. Rather, let us evaluate our lives and discern how we can help. Let us give thanks for what we have been given, then let us also be ready to give whatever we can for those who have lost so much.

Then let us go to our knees in prayer for the nations. We who are in fortunate circumstances let us give of our time, our finances, and our hearts in prayerful consideration for those whose lives are being ripped apart. There is something God can do through any willing heart. Therefore let's carve out 15-30 minutes or maybe even an hour or two of our day and pray for a world that is breaking before our very lives.

May Christ heal the broken!

It's Time to Get Out There!

"The Church is like a salt shaker," said Ravi Zacharias in one of his RZIM broadcasts, "and we are the salt crystals all warm and cozy encircled with shiny glass windows..." He goes on to say how no one wants to acknowledge the fact that the purpose of being salt is to be dissolved into this boiling pot of soup we call "The World." It's a scary prospect, because as Ravi puts it, "...you know that when we get into that soup it's going to gobble us up."

Ever since I graduated from college with a degree in Pastoral Studies, I've wondered why I haven't felt particularly compelled to pursue a full-time pastorate. Everyone says I would be great at it. I can preach a good sermon, I have the "Pastor's Heart," I love to serve and counsel, but I've experienced something that has caused me to think about that pot of soup. I now look around and realize that I have been in this pot of soup for three years. Now full-time, vocational ministry seems to have fallen short of something.

From what I have observed, church ministry has unfortunately become more so a service unto the saints, rather than to the lost. All of our media Bible Studies, our preaching from the pulpit, the techy sanctuaries are all well and good, but there is a restlessness in my spirit that I cannot deny. It's time to get out into that soup! I am convinced that if we stay in our shiny, warm salt shakers too long that we will lose our saltiness, that is our effective purpose!
For now, I am in full-time vocational service for the Saints of God and it has been a wonderful source of provision. Oh, but I cannot shake off this desire to get back into the world and be used of the Holy Spirit much like the Apostles were in the book of Acts. What might that look like in today's 21st Century America?

The dream I am pursuing may look something like this: I have found that my skills work well in the coffee shop/cafe environment. I love pulling shots, steaming milk, making sandwiches, and waiting on tables. Even more so, I love building community with people from a variety of backgrounds. Therefore this cafe will be a safe, public environment where everyone would feel welcome. It will be a place where my loudest witness for Christ will be how I run the business. At the same time, I will always be ready to verbalize my witness whenever the opportunity arises.

There will be risks. There must be risk, otherwise why would we need faith? I am talking to people who are already doing this same type of thing. The more I visit them, the more excited I become. So join me as I pursue this dream that God has given me. I invite you to keep me accountable. Ask me how it's going and keep me in prayer. Ultimately, the words of Ravi Zacharias rings in my ears, "...remember, that once we get into that soup, that soup will never be the same again!"
So come on Church, it's time to get out there!

Life Without Home Internet

When we think about giving something up, we envision a gaping hole wanting to be filled. Whether this be a habit, a favorite desert, soda, or something else, we simply can't imagine life without certain things.. So was the reaction from many of our friends when we announced we were disconnecting our home internet. "How will you socialize," some from church asked.
It is truly amazing how dependent we are on instant access to the internet. Now mind, we did not disconnect to make a statement, but it has opened our eyes to a remarkable truth. Our lives have become so tied to the Web that we can scarcely imagine our lives with out it. Just think, it was only a little over 20 years ago that the Internet was becoming a thing. Online gaming become popular in the 2000's (Yet I was content playing Simm City by myself).

To put our rapidly this change took effect, consider my older brother's generation vs. my own. We were both committed to Royal Rangers (our denomination's Boy Scout's equivalent). When he went to leadership camp, my brother experience a strong sense of comradery among his peers. Eight years later, all the guys talked about was the latest multi-player game and they showed little to no initiative when it came to our camp priorities. I was bullied by them and felt very much alone during those weeks at camp. It seemed I was the only one who had any desire for achievement.

Eight years was all that took. To go from a generation who could work as a focused unit, to being a divided, confused, bunch whose only desire was to get back to gaming. And now here I am, a 20-somethings adult expecting his first child. I still have a computer game I play once in a while, but I am now fully aware how consuming games and internet can be. Time that could be spent writing songs, starting a business, teaching music lessons, and one day parenting our children, all lost in an ever entangling Web. This is why Elena and I made a personal choice to disconnect our home internet.

Obviously, we still find time to be on-line. Yet, now we have ample time to do the other things we've said we'd "get around to." Let me tell you our apartment is a lot cleaner, we are learning more on how we should prepare for little Hansen, and we are developing our God given talents and dreams.

Life without home internet has not left a gaping hole, as many thought it would. Rather it has made room to be filled with much greater and more fulfilling things. Our lives feel more full than ever!

Shall we then Withhold our Praise?

"Please don't mess this up, otherwise I'm going to have a really hard time tipping you." There is little more that could make my blood boil more. It was a busy Saturday at the restaurant and I was working a double (roughly 12 hours). After having already worked 40+ hours as a custodian that week, one could understand my fatigue, but I always try to give the best customer service regardless.

This was one of those difficult tables; impossible to please, very needy, and demanding. I did make one mistake, ringing in a kids cheese pizza instead of a kids cheese burger (the buttons are right next to each other on the computer both of which start with the abbreviation "chz"). I realized my mistake as the food came out, but the kitchen produced the burger not even a minute after. So there was certainly no need to place the cards on the bill and say, "Please don't mess this up, I'm gonna have a really hard time tipping you."

If I hadn't stopped myself, I might have responded, "You know, you can keep your $6. Seeing you go is reward enough." But realizing my job is worth more than a little dignity, I forced a smile and replied, "Have a good one!"

This whole experience got me to thinking. It's really easy to tip our server when everything comes out just out as we ordered it, when our food tickles our tongues with delight, and our time with friends fills our heats with joy. Yet, it's really easy to feel like we are entitled to withhold when our server seems too busy to meet all our needs, when the food is marginal, and our burgers come out as pizzas.

And I wonder, how often do we treat God in the same way. When life goes just as we like, we look to God and say "Oh, Lord you are so, good. I feel so blessed! Thank you for this day!" Yet, when life gives us rain, and the checking account gets low, and our family stresses us out, the last thing we want to do is offer praise.

Three consecutive times the Psalmist praised God when life felt heavy. In Psalms 42 and 43 he said, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

I need to remember that despite what the world throws at me, God is still good. Just as I may sit at the table a receive marginal service, my server may still be a solid guy or gal doing their best to make a living.
Therefore let us praise God in every circumstance, for it is the World that gives us trial and it is God who, because he is good, preserves us despite what the world may throw at us.

Jesus, My Intercessor Forever

Hebrews 7:25.

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

My eyes were opened this morning. This is a truth of the Gospel that has always been before me, and now it makes perfect sense. Before we can truly understand what Christ did for the world, one must first wrap his/her mind around what God's people went through on a daily basis to get to God.

The typical church goer will have somewhat of an understanding regarding the concept of "tithe." It is typically as a tenth of all our gross income which we give back to the church. This concept has its roots in the practice of offering the "first fruits," or "tenth" of one's wealth taken to the High Priesthood. Upon receiving the offering, the priest goes into the Temple of God on behalf of the people. 

So this was the way of life. One brings an offering, a priest offers it to God, then comes out and essentially says, "Thank you for your devotion to The Lord. You are now free to go... for now. See you next time." It goes on and on for generations, until God decides it is time to do something no one expects. He comes to earth in the form of a man.

Enter Jesus.

The only people who seem to have a problem with this intelligent, witty, and authoritative "nobody" are the priests. Christ was a kind of mirror showing these puffy teachers of the law that their place of intercession was coming to an end. They were jealous. 

Yet, as the story concludes, we see not an ultimate grain offering, not a sheep or a ram, not a "tenth" or a "first fruit" from the fields. We look up and our eyes behold the Christ, who being the very likeness of God himself, is pouring out his own blood on the very same day that the rest of Israel is offering their own ritual "tithes." Coincidence?

Upon his death we read that there is a an earthquake, the sky darkens, and the temple curtain behind which the priest offered "tithes" before God is TORN WIDE OPEN. What, I ask, do you think that represents?

That was the sacrifice, then three days later... Christ is alive and will never die again.

He appears again to his followers and, after being with them a while, returns to the Father as their Intercessor Forever. No more priests, no more temple curtains dividing the people from God. Now everyone who confesses, "Jesus Christ is Lord," never again has to rely on a priest to get access to their Eternal Creator. This is what it means when the author of Hebrews writes, "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Because he was not only the ultimate sacrifice, but now, yes even this very moment, he intercedes for you before a True and Just judge!

More on this to come!

Inalienable Rights or Faith in Christ

Recently there has been a lot of news regarding religious freedom. Whether it's a floral shop in Washington, a cake shop in Colorado, or a home schooled family in Arkansas, from the out-side looking in one might conclude that the government is "out to get us!" In this post I will try my best to avoid taking sides and I will admit that because of my background I have an unavoidable bias. Yet, this post is less about who is right and more so about how we as Christians should respond.

The typical knee-jerk reaction to threats to freedom of religion is to run back to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. These are masterfully written documents  worthy of great respect. But they can't save us. We should and ought to defend the original, and historical context in which they were written, but we should also be prepared to face the reality that they can and will be used against us.

We often shake our fists against Congress and the Department of Justice for forcing their misinterpretations on us. Yes, I will also say that we ought to keep our legislatures accountable to a right and true interpretation of these documents. Yet, let us also not deny that there are powers working against Christ and his followers. Therefore let us not be taken off-guard when injustice knocks at our door.

Now then, how shall we as Christ's followers respond when our shops face bankruptcy or our kids are forced into public schools. Is it to latch onto our our "God Given Rights," as granted through our Founding Documents and cry out for justice? Well, yes, indeed we should not just bow our heads in defeat to the powers and principalities that oppose us. But, I believe it should be coupled with a more powerful response. What is this response?

Recently a group of Christ's followers were executed in Libya for one thing and one thing alone. They served Christ, and they refused to bow to anything else. It has been recorded that they sang praises to Jesus as they gave their lives.

Brothers and Sisters, we are blessed beyond measure to have the freedoms that God and our Founding Fathers laid out for us. Though we must fight, let us also remember that to suffer on account of our Faith is an indication that we are counted worthy of the eternal rewards Christ has in store for us. Let us stand for a right and true interpretation of founding documents, but let us also remember that to suffer for Christ's Name is a vital part of our Faith. Let us also remember that Christ has also overcome the injustices we will face in this world. May I repeat the words of Jesus himself, "yet, when the Son of Man returns, will he find FAITH on the earth?"

Where is our faith? The Constitution, or Christ himself? What speaks the truth of the Gospel more; Creating a Youtube Video describing our plight, or singing praises to God despite of what this world throws at us?

"All We Need is... Jobs?"

Of course we all remember the song by the iconic 60's band, The Beetles. It was a time when an unpopular war raged on and a young, angry, generation looked for idealistic alternatives to solve the world's problem. Back then, it was all about "love," now, according to a State Department Spokesperson, it's all about jobs. "We're killing a lot of them," said the spokesperson, "and we're going to keep killing more of them... But we cannot win this war by killing them. We need... to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it's lack of opportunity for jobs whether-" upon which she was interrupted by the interviewer.

The idea is that if one only had more opportunities to get higher paying jobs, it would lessen the appeal to join radical groups such as ISIS. This leads to a number of questions on how the State Department plans implement the strategy. According to the spokesperson, it would take working with foreign governments to provide such opportunities.

Okay, so lets say that the plan is executed and several governments are able to provide good, higher paying jobs. Will this stop the growth of radical groups? Taking from what I know of the human heart, not likely.

I work with a number of individuals who have medium income jobs. Even with all the money they make, their job still turns up short of ultimate satisfaction. One get's up, they go to work, they come home and try to have some time with family, go to bed, get up, and do it all over again. It becomes meaningless. There is little hope for their job situation improving.

Now compare a medium income job which provides little purpose to a idealistic religious desire to take over the world. Which would you say provides a greater sense of purpose?

The Spokesperson has a point, we can't just beat these movements down with military force forever. So where is the solution? My friends it is the hope, grace, mercy, sense of belonging that comes through Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ there is purpose and belonging. In Christ there is life and life more abundantly. And we, the Church can provide a path to ultimate fulfillment. This is the only thing that can compete with the appealing message of world domination, and it is the only hope for world peace.

Com'on fellow Brother's and Sisters!

Please comment on how we can articulate this good news of ultimate fulfillment to a world starved for purpose.