Here’s what I know —

In the midst of all of the hype about the economy that has seemed to leave people asking a lot questions, here’s what I have to offer you:

Psalm 24:1-2

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it on the seas

and established it on the waters.”

 

Psalm 93:1-2:

“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;

the Lord is robed in majesty

and armed with strength; 

indeed, the world is established, firm

and secure.

Your throne was established long ago; 

you are from all eternity.”

God is not scared of the economy, we shouldn’t be either.

He formed the earth and everything in it.  His Kingdom has been established for eternity.  The Kindgom of God was not established on the foundation of any economy or investment firm, and it will not fall.  The opposite should be true.  

Here’s what I know — I’m not very political, and for some reason, I’m not really worried about what is going on, but I know this:  Put your hope in things that aren’t seen, rather than what is seen.

Hopefully that is of some comfort for you!

Much love.

From “Crazy Love”:

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied and made me thirsty for more.  I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.  I am ashamed of my lack of desire.  O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.  Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed.  Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.  Say to my soul, “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.”  Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”

–A.W. Tozer

Don’t overlook the little things…

I’m reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan right now.  The book is incredible so far, and I’m just starting the fifth chapter.  Trust me, it’s good…pick it up.

One of the main points Chan makes in the first two chapters is that we have somehow gotten to the point in our lives where we have spiritual “amnesia.”  He states that we’ve become somewhat numb to the majesty of God that is displayed everywhere around us.  A lot of times I find myself asking God to speak clearly to me or even to show himself to me in a more tangible way.  What I’ve been learning in this book is that God is constantly showing himself to me (and us) constantly.

It seems so elementary to think of that way, but its true.  God is everywhere, but we’ve somehow found away to overlook the Majesty of God in our everyday lives that is being displayed in an enormous way.  It makes me wonder what we’ve missed out on?  Hopefully not much.  

But either way, here’s my advice.  Take in God’s creation.  It’s everywhere.  It’s so easy to overlook and assume to be “normal” when, in fact it’s completely abnormal that God cares enough to show himself to us in the ways that he does.  Seriously, notice the little things.  

Chan goes on to paint the picture that creation and the story of Christ is God’s way of getting on his knees, and proposing to us.  All we have to say is “I Do.”

That’s a pretty Crazy Love if you ask me.

Crazy Love

Today, I’m starting this book.  It’s by Francis Chan.  

It’s called “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God.” I’m pretty excited to say the least.  I’m sure it’s either going to tell me how to love someone, or how God loves me.  I’m sure it’s going to be a different perspective. 

Actually, I’m not sure of much about it, but I am sure i’m going to love it.

Last First Day Of School.

In honor of my last first day of school ever.  Here are the old-time-y-classic-hold-a-sign-in-front-of-your-door-with-a-message pictures.  I even mis-spelled “school.”  Guess I better go to re-enroll in kindergarten.  

 

Hello, again.

It’s been a while since I’ve updated this bad boy.  My apologies.  So, I’ll cut to the chase and say what I need to say…in the words of John Mayer.

It’s crazy how you go through seasons of spiritual highs and spiritual lows.  You know what I mean.  It’s crazy to live life one day close to the heart of God and the next day be living life feeling completely dry.

I’ve been at the latter of the two for the past couple of weeks.  Sometimes, it just feels like God is a million miles away…and to be honest I think that’s how God plans for it to be.  I’ve learned that through that dryness, desperation sets in.  Desperation that leaves you in a place where you seek Christ for redemption.  See, I’ve experienced God working in my life in some incredible ways.  It’s true, I’ve been there and done that.  I’ve tasted and seen what the Lord can do when your eyes are fixed on Him in an active pursuit of Christ.  And it’s real.  I’ve also lived life in that place of brokenness and emptiness…and I’ve found that brokenness and emptiness are the sum of a life lived in sin that ultimately separates you from that abundant life.

Reading through the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, you see Jesus doing his thing.  Healing the sick, raising the dead…you know, that sort of thing.  You see Jesus redeem.  You see Jesus give people significance.  You see Jesus give meaning to the meaningless, and life to the lifeless.  It’s just who he is.  It’s what He is about.  He’s about ultimate redemption.

Here’s the encouragement that I’ve found:

Hebrews 13:8 says that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  

There is the hope.  The same Jesus that healed people 2000 years ago still heals today.  The same redemption that was given through Christ back then is available for us even now.  That blows my mind.

So that’s where I am right now.  Christ is redeeming me.  And Christ can redeem you too.  Be encouraged today.

Success?

I get a lot of quality time to ponder the deep complexities of life when I’m in the shower.  Last night as I was getting so fresh, and so clean…..clean, I found myself asking these questions:

• What is considered successful?  
• How do you measure success?

It’s a very general question….but I’m still interested in coming up with some sort of answer.  

Here’s what I think.  I think that success can be measured by your effectiveness.  

 

……Or is your effectiveness measured by your success?  Or do they go hand in hand?  Can you be effective, and not successful?  Can you be successful and not effective?  It’s hard to make sense of.  

Oh man, see, this is what’s been going on in my head.  It may be a pointless debate, but nonetheless it’s interesting to think about.  But I am curious to know a definition of success and how to measure success.

So, what do you consider the barometer for success?  How you measure it?  And what is considered success in ministry?

This is awesome!

I was just now checking some blog stats to see what kind and how much traffic my website has been attracting.  There’s a section where it shows you what search engine terms people have used to get to your site.  Well today I saw this:

That is awesome to me.  It said “i aint scared to go i believe in jesus.”  That rocked me.  Seriously.  

If that was you who typed that in the search engine, and are for some reason on this page….your faith is amazing to me.  

Big things are meant for you kid (or adult, either one.)  Don’t be scared to “go,” there is too much at stake for us to be scared…you’ve got one life to live, don’t miss your opportunity to play your part in the story of God redeeming his people.  Believe in Jesus dude, that’s all you need.  Thanks for stopping by.  Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.

Oh, and you’re obviously from the south, which is evident by your elegant use of the word “aint,” which makes you that much more awesome to me.

The week 4 crew:

Here’s our week 4 crew, not to mention the final group of kids for the summer. They are from Lyman, SC.  They rule.  I’ll be honest, I sure do wish that I was only a fraction as cool as they are when I was going to high school.  Yep, they are that cool. Their coolness is that colossal.

Oh, and in other news.  This is my newest addition to my coffee mug collection:

Welcome to the family!  I see a lifetime of happiness ahead of us.

The Plow.

I had a little downtime today during some On-Campus activities…no one wanted to play with me for some reason today.  I was alone out on the flag football field for a good hour with no intentions of wasting that time.  Good thing I had my Bible with me.  I’ve learned never to leave home without it, because there’s no limit to when and where God can speak to you. 

Anyways.  I ran across this verse:

“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”  - Luke 9:62

I think I’ve had my hand on the plow a lot of times before with some crazy ideas and crazy visions of Gods plan for my life as apart of the movement to see his kingdom advanced here on earth.  As I read that verse today, it took me back to times where I dreamed like a kid in respect to what I was going to do with my life and ministry.  

No, I haven’t taken my hands off the plow, but I do believe that I’ve drifted away from dreaming of things bigger than myself, things that only God could make happen, for the sake of my own comfort.  I’ve “looked back,” if you will.

I do confess though, of underestimating God’s ability to do “immeasurably more.”  

The plow is there for a reason, and we should be sure to keep our hands on it and not look back to second guess ourselves….because the moment we take our hands off the plow is when we constipate the wheels of a mighty move of God.

As my good friend Clayton has put so elegantly, “If you’re passionate about something, you do it regardless, without considering the consequences.”