Worth Dying For

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have Holy Spirit power.
I've stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I'm a disciple of His.

I won't look back,
let up, slow down,
back away, or be still.
My past redeemed,
my present makes sense,
my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living,
sight walking, small planning,
smooth-knees, colorless dreams,
tame visions, worldly-talking,
cheap-giving, and dwarf goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence,
position, promotion,
applause, or popularity.
I don't have to be right,
first, tops, recognized,
praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith,
lean on His presence, walk by patience.
I am uplifted by prayer and labour by power.

My face is set.
My gait is fast.
My goal is Heaven.
My road is narrow.
My way is rough.
My companions are few.
My God reliable.
My mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised,
detoured, lured away,
turned back, deluded, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of my adversaries,
negotiate at the table of my enemy,
or ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up,
until I've stayed up, stored up, prayed up,
preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I'm tired of wasting time on exercise.

Jesus was a Youth Pastor

Exodus 30:14...Men 21 years and older were required to pay a temple tax of one-fifth of an ounce of silver.

Matthew 17:24-27 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others." "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. ²⁷"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum but only Jesus and Peter were required to pay the tax. That means they were the only two over 21. That means Jesus worked with those under 21...youth!

Maybe that's why I dig youth ministry.

It also means Jesus took many trips with only ONE ADULT SPONSOR!

Wow

Have you ever forgot how deeply you cared for/about something until you were asked about it?

This happened to me last night. A former student who is now a youth minister called and asked me for some youth advice. My buddy (who just had his first child) and I chat about ministry off and on but he has never asked for advice or asked straight question(s) like I was asked last night.

I have talked recently about how God has restored me to be a God-chaser. He has released me from my year long restlessness about speaking. By that I mean I have been asked several times since October 2008 to speak different places and I never had a peace about accepting them....until the work that He was doing in me was complete. It is no coincidence that the process took EXACTLY ONE YEAR. I now believe I am rightly aligned and living out of the heart He gave me. That heart poured out last night while answering questions.

Rachel asked about discipleship, leadership, relationships, etc. My heart leapt within me and I found myself caught up in God's love and His word as I answered. I still firmly believe in student ministry. I can't explain why other than that is the heart God has given me. Oswald Chambers says "The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after. The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes."

In the past I would ask God "what are you up to in all this; the chapel talks, the youth group speaking invitations, the students at school reaching out?" Why ask? Who cares? Maybe THIS is what He's up to. No preparation, no "next" thing...just this....life...one day at a time. As He presents me with choices I'll give them right back to Him. My life is being lived by the decree of God. Nothing more. I don't need to wonder anymore. That's what faith can do.

What makes your heart beat faster?

Ramblings

Ramblings and Restoration

October 13, 2008…”today will be my last day of service at UMCC.”

What a post. What a year. Last Wednesday I spoke to the youth of DC. This marked the one year anniversary of the last time I spoke to High Schoolers. Today, the 13th marks the one year anniversary of my firing. I still find it odd that I got fired from a “church” job for standing up for the Bible. Such is life.

Today also marks the beginning of a new year (sort of). God has used the students of Northland to bring healing/restoration and renew my heart for students. I’ve witnessed students listening to God, following His lead, and holding each other accountable. I received a text from a student proclaiming his salvation. I’ve had students skip lunch to ask Biblical questions. I’ve had students invite to their gatherings just because we love each other. They are the most amazing group of kids I have ever worked with (and I’ve got to hang with some pretty sweet kiddos). I find myself praying for them like I pray for my own children. I pray for their futures, their decisions to stay out of the public schools, their future spouses. I pray Nate and Sam find their wives here. There have been some things we’ve dealt with that I wish we hadn’t had to address here (public school type problems). The difference is 1) The problem is addressed Biblically 2) The problem is usually a sin issue and is dealt with appropriately 3) The student(s) are authentically remorseful and repentant. Probably the greatest attribute of Northland is it’s families. My family is growing close to several families already.

Church: continues to go well. We are still praying and seeking how God would have us involved. It’s not through small groups or nursery. We’ve tried both and have not had a peace. Michael has made the statement “You did not choose God, He chose you.” As I look back over the past year…this is so undeniably true. I left Chillicothe determined to find a job….I found nothing. I was determined to find a church….I found nothing. I was determined to speak again…I found nothing. Everything I looked for eluded me…UNTIL I GAVE UP. I quit looking for a church…and DC found me. I quit looking for a job and Northland found me. I quit looking for speaking opportunities and they started to come through natural authentic opportunities.

Final ramblings. I believe I am restored. Not to what I was…greater than what I was. I was not a Christ follower, Husband, Father and teacher. I was merely a guy who worked for a church. That job defined me and dominated my life…until God released me. I can’t thank Him enough. I have accepted his gifts of salvation, forgiveness, and embraced my calling. My first calling. When that is my focus, everything else falls in line. That Matthew 6:33 may have something there. He says to seek God’s kingdome first. Paul define’s God’s kingdom as JOY (Rom 14:17).

The joy filled life that God promises us (John 10:10) comes only when we die daily to ourselves (John 3:30), by crucifying our sinful nature (Galatians 5:22-24) accepting our new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) and keep company with Him (Matthew 11:28-30 msg).

October 13, 2008. The day I started to LIVE. Happy Birthday to me. I’m still growing but I’m closer now to where I’m supposed to be than I was a year ago.

We GOT a dog

Welcome Bolt!

You know what sucks?

Growing in Christ. You know why? Because of John 15:2 "every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

Pruning hurts. It can also be confusing. Is He trying to teach me something that I'm not learning or is it true pruning? Sometimes I feel like as I grow he prunes me two ways. 1. Surgery. quick, swift, precise cuts. 2. Without tools. Ever try to break a small limb off a young tree? You have to bend it back and forth a ton of times, break the bark, then rip it off. Ouch.

I want a dog