Sort of an impromptu post here. Shayla and I both have class on Tuesday night and typically we get coffee and go for a walk in order to catch up on the day, sometimes pray together, and just relax before class. Tonight as we were on the "final approach" to our classes there was a fork in the sidewalk that led to our two respective buildings. Normally we are running a little late (to us that means we'll make it to class on time rather than 5 minutes early lol) and therefore say goodbye and split at the fork. But tonight it made her night that I took the extra 20 steps to walk her to her building. I'm sure she felt loved and felt all warm and cuddly, but for me it was just a simple extra 20 steps.
When it only costs you 20 extra steps to make someone's day, do it. Small acts of selflessness (even the ones that aren't that costly to you!) keep relationships alive and make them thrive. True love is selflessness in large doses like Christ on the cross and in small daily doses like 20 extra steps. One thing I have learned about love in my relationship with Shayla is the value of small, daily, even unnoticed acts of selflessness is invaluable. Our relationship would probably quickly wither if we stopped these little acts. If you're in a relationship, do something impromptu to serve your other half; if you're not, serve a friend. If you really want to go the extra mile plan something specific that you can do to serve the other person, but don't do it for the recognition or for the expectation of a return on your investment. It's not an investment, it's a sacrifice.
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..."
Episode 2! Listen as Ryan Brackett and I talk about the idea of church shopping and do some follow up on last week's episode about church AV production and worship. (Episode 1)
This may surprise you, I listen to a lot of podcasts. This may not surprise you, I'm opinionated. My friend Ryan Brackett is away in South Asia and we don't get to talk a lot. One Saturday we finally got to FaceTime and had a really good two hour discussion. We thought we might record it and see if other people would like it. So, we are trying a podcast about church stuff, christian thoughts/ideas, random culture things, whatever catches our attention really... So the link is below, it's only 22 minutes, if you like it, leave a comment (either here or on soundcloud) so that we know!
Rain may be one of the best fitting metaphors of God's love. It's out of our control. It falls on everything, the grass, the crops, the concrete, the buildings. Everyone needs it and the good soil needs it to grow. For soil that is ready, receptive, and maybe even thirsty for it it not only hits the surface but sinks in, and becomes part of the soil. For the concrete that is resistant to it, even it can't help but soak a little up, and it is inevitably worn down by it's pitter patter over time.
I woke up this morning to a soft gentle rain outside my open windows. It was overcast and just gently and steadily raining. It's quite possibly the most peaceful thing I could have imagined. This week has been incredibly stressful and busy and I just kept going to bed frustrated every night and a little discouraged. Then I wake up to God gently taking my hand and showing me he's bigger, he's refreshing, and he gently loves. It took me a while to get this but now I understand that sometimes God loves to give good, beautiful, and perfect gifts to the ones he loves. Sometimes for no particular reason at all other than just to make them smile.
“Take me to that place Lord To that secret place where Where I can be with You You can make me like You Wrap me in Your arms Wrap me in Your arms Wrap me in Your arms”
My Dad is an avid small gardener. He loves growing his own tomatoes, peppers, sometimes cucumbers, etc. We live in a major metro area in the suburbs but there’s a little patch of country garden on the side of the house that is well managed and taken care of. His pride and joy (and honestly best tasting) are the tomatoes.
He recently got some “wild Everglades tomato plants.” Yeah, a strain of tomatoes that started growing wild in the Florida Everglades and can produce fruit much later into the year, even after it starts staying above 80 degrees at night (which is when most normal tomato plants stop producing fruit). He said they look pretty ugly, more like a weed than a typical tomato plant. He was skeptical at first, but about a week ago he sent me this picture.
It produced lots of little cherry tomatoes that he said tasted great! He sent me this text along with the picture, “It’s about the fruit, not the plant.” He has this method of gardening that produces incredible tasting fruit; only water the plant if it is going to die. They don't need to be watered every day, only when they need it. It was only after he sent me that text that something clicked and I replied “Dad, that would make a great sermon illustration.” I was thinking of John 15 and how we only survive by staying connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ. But what is the purpose of staying connected to the vine, of being a part of this vine that is Christ and his church? It’s not for the vine to just grow and grow and grow (although that is definitely one purpose, it’s not the primary focus), the purpose of the vine is to produce fruit.
My point in drawing this out and explaining what clicked in my head is this: when you, as a Christian, feel like you aren’t getting the nutrients you need to grow lots and lots of fruit, maybe the Father is only watering you a little bit in order to produce fewer yet “better” fruit. Remember it is not about you, and how good you look, it’s about the fruit and the Vine first, then you.
This is more or less the transcript of my graduation speech for the 2014 graduating class at Johnson University Florida on May 2nd, 2014.
Alma Mater is a Latin term
that translates to “caring mother.”It
has been used affectionately for a student’s first college or home college
since the early 1700’s in England.Alma Mater is appropriate because it is really
only at college that young men and women are away from their parents for the
first time and living on their own.The
world is a harsh place and our “caring mothers” extend, to a lesser degree, the
warm, safe, wonderful, protected bosom that a mother provides for her
children.She allows them to grow up and
figure out who they are in the world.
This
place has been our alma mater for the
past four years.An alma mater is made up of people, lessons, memories, and mentors.We have sat with our classmates, friends, and
peers in class, chapel, D-groups, church, and apartments.Our mentors and teachers have taught us
invaluable lessons inside and outside the classroom.But what will make this place and time stick
out to us 20 years from now are the memories that we made here.Don Miller says it like this, “good stories
have memorable scenes.”I will remember
my roommates and I singing happy birthday to Ryan Brackett Sophomore year at
midnight wearing funny hats and interesting costumes.I will remember the late night conversations
in the living room solving the problems of the world with my roommates.I will remember the constant rabbit chasing
in our tech meetings in LB-1.I remember
watching everyone make cardboard forts.I remember spending hours making that colored powder at Amos’ house so
that we could make it last 5 minutes for everyone to throw at each other.I remember every semester for the past four
years “Da Jesus Book” a Hawaiian translation of the Bible has been pulled out
and read at every study night event in the library.I remember the frequent late nights at
Denny’s finishing a group project at the end of most semesters.
Make a list of
those memories.Keep them in a folder
where you can go back and reflect on them when you’re lonely in ministry and
tired of work.The days are against you;
they will be long and trying.This
speech should typically remind you to stay focused on Jesus the rest of your
life.We have all failed to do that even
here at some point because of finals
or projects that occupy our minds; imagine how much easier it will be to leave
Jesus by the wayside when work, bills, and a family comes into play.
This place is not
only designed to be a shelter for our last stage of development but a training
ground.What have we been trained in?
Professor Bundy
has taught us how to deal with not only other people’s issues, but also our
own.Somehow every class turned into a
counseling session where Bundy sorted out our issues in front of the whole
class and at some point managed to shout “woe is me!”
Professor Sias not
only tells the best stories but has taught us how to understand and connect
with people – something she does intuitively.
“Don’t be an
idiot, Dwight.”“You could say that…” “You
don’t know anything about Jesus.” Yes, Dr. Hardin humbled us and taught us his
love of READING the Bible and studying it.He trained us to be critical in our interpretation, challenged our
preconceived notions, and explored and explained the full story and context.He taught us whom Jesus really is and definitely
made sure those who ventured to learn Greek were kept humble.
Dr. Hartley taught
us how to understand the power of a good story, and that if we want to be taken
seriously as Christians, that we need to learn how to communicate well.
Dr. Peters with
his soul piercing blue eyes and question “how are you?” taught us how to defend
our faith, understand why we believe what we believe.He gave us previews of what we will encounter
in the world we are entering into.More
than that, he taught us to give the benefit of the doubt and to always have
compassion along with wisdom.
Dr. Ritchie taught
us that if we don’t want to repeat history and make the same mistakes as
previous generations we have to understand what happened and why. His vocabulary is only rivaled by his
repertoire of pithy one-liners.
Doc Smith has
forgotten more about the Old Testament than I will ever learn and he has
written more books on it than I’ve ever read.
Each of these
professors, and the ones I have not mentioned, has contributed to different
facets of our education.They have
passed down knowledge, helped us understand how to solve problems
(interpersonally and intrapersonally), and taught us how to study, learn, and
teach this generation and the next about Jesus.
We are leaving
this safe place of our alma mater and
venturing out into the real world, where Bryce can’t help you make a payment
plan since you don’t have enough money to pay for things right away.Where you actually have to pay for A/C,
Internet, TV, water, etc.But more than
that, we are going into a world where we are increasingly the minority.Morality, absolute truth, traditional family
structures, work ethic are all changing and we are on the shrinking side of the
arena.
These people
behind me are passing the baton on to us.Now we have to stand and take
our place in the world.We have to teach
others not just knowledge we have acquired but how to learn, think critically,
interpret, etc.We have to preach the
Gospel to this generation.We have to
counsel those who are hurting and fighting with one another.We have to lead people before the very throne
of the Father while not getting in the way ourselves.We have to be light to the world in a time
when it is desperately needed.
In the midst of
lesson plans, sermon writing, worship set planning, helping people work through
issues, and just work in general we cannot forget that we ourselves are
unfinished, incomplete.We have to
“continue to work out our faith with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
Christianity, is
in essence, about becoming more like Christ.In story terms this is called “character development.”Character development does not happen in a
void any more than a piece of metal becomes a sword by sitting in the sun.
Graduation
speeches are supposed to be encouraging and uplifting saying we can conquer the
world!But leaving here is more like
Bilbo leaving the Shire than the 300 leaving Sparta.Friends we are leaving “home” and venturing
into a whole new arena.
Satan is always
going to be against us, and honestly if he’s not, you’re probably not shaking
him up enough and need to work harder.Satan will attack us through pride, loneliness, lust, laziness, insignificant
arguments and distractions like getting too caught up in where the flowers
should be placed on stage, that the sound guy didn’t unmute the mic quick
enough, or didn’t preview that video that he played on the screen of the
chapman center during the middle of a class banquet…
One
of my favorite writers is Donald Miller and in my D-group here with Jordan Stancil,
Robby Williams, Tony Webb, and DJ Rodeffer we had it drilled into our head that
“every good story has conflict.”There
are around 12 words for the concept of trial, test, persecution, or conflict in
the New Testament. They appear a combined number of 217 times in the New
Testament alone.[1]We read our Bibles right friends?So why are we surprised when we face
trials?It shouldn’t come as a surprise!
“In this you
rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by
various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than
gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:6-7)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness.And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
“If the world hates you, know that
it has hated me before it hated you. (Jn 15:18)
“If they persecuted me, they will
also persecute you.” (Jn 15:20)
“I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace.In the
world you will have tribulation.But
take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
“I have said all these things to you
to keep you from falling away.They will
put you out of the synagogues (out of society).Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is
offering service to God (and humanity).And they will do these things because they have not known the Father,
nor me.But I have said these things to
you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” (Jn.
16:1-4)
And that isn’t
everything!I could go into Nehemiah how
everyone was working on the wall with weapon in one hand tool in the other or
Job who’s entire life and story focuses a period of suffering.Don’t shy away from conflict, friends.
I know that I am
proud to be a Sun of Johnson University Florida.Character development has been difficult
enough here in this protective place; I can only imagine what it will be like
when we leave…But more trial presents
more opportunity to become more like Christ.That intimidates me.We can’t
conquer the world, but we belong to someone who already has and has adopted us
as his own family, and in that we have confidence and hope.We also have confidence in the instruction we
have received by the men and women seated behind me. We must leave our caring mother, we must push
forward, and we must continue the kingdom work that has been set before us.
Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. _______ Video can be watched here: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/5196051/events/2966272/archives
My church here in Kissimmee has been going through a series
that focuses on the Tabernacle and how Christ has now made us the tabernacle
and his dwelling place.One particular
Sunday my preacher read an excerpt of Exodus 36 which is where construction of the Tabernacle begins.
You have to understand who I am to understand
why this has stuck with me and why it has impressed upon me enough to write about it.I am a tech guy, I love going to concerts;
sometimes if for nothing other than the lights and chest slapping bass that comes through the subs,
I really could care less who is playing sometimes.But I have wrestled with my passion for tech and a “good show” and how
much of that should be included in worship services. My generation is increasing the desire for more tech in Sunday morning worship and churches are beginning to spend more on A/V equipment.For a long time I wanted LEDs, intelligent
(aka moving) lights, creative prop/stage design, fog, haze, lasers (okay maybe
not lasers), in services at my church.I, at the very least, have always wanted to expand and take things to the next
level of technical production.But then
I am hit with the memories of when my most powerful worship experiences have
been…They are usually with one acoustic
and a circle of 3-60 people just singing their hearts out, not caring what they
sound like, raising hands, swaying, etc. without amplification, without EQing,
without any lyrics on a screen…So why
do I want tech so much in services? Why has God given me so many opportunities to expand my knowledge and proficiency in the A/V world? How do I use this to glorify him without distracting people by an amazing "show?" I
have wrestled with these questions for a long time, longer than most people would
guess.
Anyways, back to the Exodus 36 Sunday.Exodus 36 (you actually have to go back
partially into Exodus 35) is about how God selected two artisans to oversee the
physical construction of the Tabernacle and the articles that would be placed
inside the Tabernacle.God selects
Bezalel and Oholiab to work, train, and oversee workers on what would become
the center of the camp of Israel for decades to come(centuries if you count the time at Shiloh after the conquest)—even more than that, the Tabernacle was very model
by which we understand how our own bodies are a tabernacle for God today as
Christians.
Bezalel and Oholiab were, by Biblical standards, ordinary men.They did not part seas, save countries from famine, make everlasting covenants with God, build a boat to save humanity… you
get the picture.These guys were just
really good at carving wood, stone, working with gold, silver, precious stones,
etc.Matter of fact, it says that the
Lord had put these skills into them.These two ordinary men would be responsible for building (and probably
maintaining) God’s dwelling place among Israel for the next few decades.
God can still use my gifts in what seem unrelated to the
kingdom to not only grow it but to make it something that leads people to focus more and
more on Him.The Tabernacle was
not itself worshiped, it reminded people of God’s presence and was a place to
worship and pray and focus on Him. God takes ordinary people with seemingly unrelated skills and uses them for His glory--even tech guys.
How else can God use your seemingly unrelated skills to help
point people towards Him?I really want
to hear what stories you have or what ideas you have about using your gifts and
talents, post them in the comments below.
Two weeks ago I was driving back from Jacksonville
to Kissimmee and over the 2.5 hour drive I heard this same song four times as I
was flipping through the stations. My jaw dropped the first time I heard
it, but I shook my head and said to myself that it had to be about something
else… Then I heard it again, and again, and again… There was no mistaking
the message.
I normally don't listen to "pop" music,
it's just not my thing, I usually just find it annoying, but that's a matter of
taste. This song was offensive. It was gross, it was vile, it was a
picture of evil. I am not one to quickly label things evil. I'm not one
to quickly condemn something. But after hearing this song a few times and
understanding the message of it, I'm pretty confident in calling it the
embodiment of temptation.
I'm a guy. I am a Christian, but I'm a
guy. I have and sometimes still do struggle with lust and temptation.
Proverbs 5-7 have been very encouraging to me as I have matured and
learned to submit myself to Christ even in the situations of temptation.
The main message of those three chapters is warnings against adultery,
which is any kind of sexual interaction that steps over the line of what God
deems holy and good. But what really made my jaw drop is Katy Perry's
embodiment of the woman from Proverbs 7.
For at the window of my
house
I have
looked out through my lattice,
and I have seen among the
simple,
I have
perceived among the youths,
a young
man lacking sense,
passing along the street near
her corner,
taking the
road to her house
in the twilight, in the
evening,
at the
time of night and darkness.
And behold, the woman meets
him,
dressed as a
prostitute, wily of heart.
She is loud
and wayward;
her feet do
not stay at home;
now in the street, now in the
market,
and at
every corner she lies in wait.
I knew you were
You were gonna
come to me
And here you are
But you better
choose carefully
‘Cause I, I’m
capable of anything
Of anything and
everything
She seizes him and kisses him,
and
with bold face she says to him,
“I had to offer
sacrifices,
and today I
have paid my vows;
so now I have come out to meet
you,
to seek you
eagerly, and I have found you.
I have spread my couch
with coverings,
colored
linens from Egyptian linen;
I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh,
aloes,
and cinnamon.
Make me your
Aphrodite
Make me your one
and only
Don’t make me
your enemy, your enemy, your enemy
Come, let us take our fill of
love till morning;
let us
delight ourselves with love.
For my husband is not at
home;
he has gone
on a long journey;
he took a bag of money with
him;
at full moon
he will come home.”
So you wanna play
with magic
Boy, you should
know what you're falling for
Baby do you dare
to do this?
Cause I’m coming
at you like a dark horse
Are you ready
for, ready for
A perfect storm,
perfect storm
Cause once you’re
mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going
back
Mark my words
This love will
make you levitate
Like a bird
Like a bird
without a cage
But down to earth
If you choose to
walk away, don’t walk away
It’s in the palm
of your hand now baby
It’s a yes or no,
no maybe
So just be sure
before you give it all to me
With much seductive speech she
persuades him;
with her
smooth talk she compels him.
All at once he follows her,
as an ox
goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast
till an
arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a
snare;
he does not know that it will
cost him his life.
All to me, give
it all to me
Temptation is deceitful. Satan starts easy,
inviting you, making the place smell lovely, "it's safe to be here, don't
worry about what this could mean…" But by the end, it's demanding
"give it all to me" even your very life. This song
drips of temptation and I refuse to even hear it anymore.
Men, we have so much more to offer to our wives
or future wives. Don't toss the best of yourself at just anything or
anyone. Love is not supposed to be demanding. True love does not lead
to death, lust and temptation do. True love leads to life, selflessness,
and more pleasure than a wayward woman ever could.
One final note, I know songs are catchy. I
get it, lol I can't help but sing "royals" because it just gets stuck
in my head all the time. But be careful what you just sing when you
aren't actually thinking about anything… Don't let this song get caught in your
head. It's more sinister than that. It's not just a random country
song about a truck or a lake, this song is the embodiment of temptation.
We have to be careful what we represent to the world. This is not a
message of hope and love like that of the Gospel, therefore should have no
place in our ears, much less our heart, and God forbid, our mouths.
And now, O sons,
listen to me,
and be attentive to the
words of my mouth.
Let not your heart turn aside
to her ways;
do not stray into her
paths,
for many a victim has she
laid low,
and all her slain
are a mighty throng.
Her house is the way to
Sheol,
going down to the
chambers of death. This is a short clip from a reviewer of the 2014 Grammy's
Here's a full clip of her performance at the Grammy's… Beware.
