Hurdles

For the past two weeks we have been trying to encourage our students to invite they're friends. During both our Middle School and High School times we encouraged our students to come down and write they're hurdles down. Here are some of the hurdles we are facing.....


I'm afraid to let my walls fall down.

My parents don't know their parents.

Pride

Shy, afraid of others thoughts.

I'm afraid of being judged.

Fear.

My friends think it's (Church) a joke.

My parents don't want to be responsible for another kid.

Afraid of what my family and friends are going to think.


There are obviously more, but this is a good start. The thing I try to remember is that I at one point and time felt the same way and many adults still battle some of these barriers. I did find it disturbing that a student can't bring friends because it inconveniences her parents. Anyways, this is where my mind has been the past two weeks. Please pray for these students.

Me, Me, Me.......

In the Christian world there are several things that can harm the Church. I personally think that these can be categorized as diseases due to the severity. The first thing we battle is complacency. Complacency defined is, "a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc." Complacency is a condition where many of today's Churches find themselves. We like doing what we do, but we couldn't tell you why we do what we do. We have our assigned seats and don't attempt to reach out to others. We stay in our circles where things are safe and comfy. We don't stretch our faith, because we don't allow ourselves to be put into situations where we will have to lean on God. We don't like to be challenged and pushed to do more, because that requires effort and sacrifice. We can't see past ourselves. This brings me to the second disease that haunts the Church. Narcissism. Narcissism is a condition in which we love ourselves more than anything else. If you were to look this word up you would also find the word vain. The word Narcissism comes from Greek Mythology where a young man by the name of Narcissus was told to be so in love with himself that he couldn't find a partner that met his standards. (Yes partner, it's Greek Mythology so go with it.) Then one day he found himself in the forest hunting and became thirsty. When he knelt to drink from a deep pool and noticed his reflection in the water. It was his reflection that he fell in love with.



The Church in a since is like Narcissus. We are consumed with ourselves. Many Churches today can't see past their front doors and minister only to those who are within the body of believers. When we the Church takes this approach we become enamoured with our reflection and don't move on. When this happens the communities in which God placed these bodies of believers suffers.

We have got to remember that we don't own the Church. Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:18-19, "18And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it." Jesus clearly states that it is his Church and nothing, not even hell can compete with it. The Church is an unstoppable force, a force that is placed by God in places of need. We have got to let go and get uncomfortable for an amazing God.

Haiti

James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." As many of you know Hati (a small country to our south) just endured one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. This bit of news hits close to home for the simple fact that one of our compassion children lives in Hati. We do not know how he's doing or if he was effected, but we know that this will be a difficult time for everyone in the country. So now we have the great task of working out our faith. We have the opportunity to "look after orphans and widows". So here's what you do, send a text!


HOW TO HELP

The State Department's DipNote blog writes that "for those interesting in helping immediately, simply text 'HAITI' to '90999' and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Or you can go online to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps Mercy Corps to make a contribution to the disaster relief efforts."

Forgotten God

I am currently reading Francis Chan's "Forgotten God". I'm about two chapters in and already find it to be very thought provoking. Here are some thoughts from the book......

"There are, of course, dangers in this, since the Bible is meant to be interpreted within the context and accountability of faithful community. Yet even with that qualification, there is still a need for those of us nestled deep within the Christian bubble to look beyond the status quo and critically assess the degree to which we are really living biblically."

Biblical living requires sacrifice and can result in suffering. If we are to truly live the life Christ called us to live we must sacrifice. What's scary is that these sacrifices can result with the loss of life. So many times we find ourselves comfortable with our suburban lives and routines. We are only aware of the now. We tend to neglect the fact that Christ called us to more then a mundane routine. The life of Christ is exciting you never know for certain where you will be asked to go. All we know is that when we follow Christ with everything we have we find ourselves in the center of His will.

The problem is we're invested. We have kids, secure jobs, and bills to pay. We believe that our problems are too big for God's Spirit to handle. We make excuses and try to reason with God. Instead of following, we hide or go in the opposite direction (see Jonah). There is freedom in submitting to God's will and knowing that God's Spirit will lead us to the place He wants us to be. God's plan is better then our plan, we just have to let go and submit to the plan set before us.

So here is our plan. At the end of this month we will be putting our house on the market. Where will we go? We don't know, but we do know that God will lead us in the direction He would have for us to go. Do we have a plan? Yes, sell our house so we can go whenever He calls. Our goal is to be open to God's will and to truly allow His Spirit to move in and through us, or to move us all together.

God, wherever you lead, we will go!

Random Thoughts

Well It's been about a month since I've blogged about anything and I really feel pressured to post something. Since it's been so long since my last post here are some happenings and thoughts. I'm not sure how relevant this is going to be so here it goes.....

Christmas -- Brandon came back and spent the night with us. He spent Christmas morning with us and received a nice big back pack, poncho, chess board, and hygiene items. The guy ate more then I have ever seen.

Football -- Alabama is the best team in the country (according to a tainted system). And regardless of what you Texas fans think, Bama still would have won had Colt McCoy not been injured.

Church -- Ole LMBC is still here. We have gone through a significant amount of transition, but things are looking good. It was good to see Matt Brewer, I wish we had more time to hang out and connect, but he will be back very soon.

Family -- Tanner is literally a moose. He eats anything you put in front of him. He is definitely a Mama's boy, but that's alright. Riley just turned three and is a pistol to say the least. Amanda is still working hard and takes great care of us.

New Years -- First of all I would like to go on the record by saying resolutions are a waste. They are a one time commitment that many of us can't keep. So enough of the negativity, what if these resolutions were quarterly or monthly. Better yet, what if they were daily. Scripture tells us that His mercies are new every morning so what don't we make these commitments daily. Commit to lose weight every day. Commit to stop ____ habit everyday. Commit daily.

Future -- We don't know where we will be in six months, but we know we will go and follow wherever God leads. Our house will go on the market at the end of this month and we will then wait as we look for God to reveal His will to us.

Random -- Marc McGwire admitted to using steroids. Hopefully this doesn't surprise you! Brett Farve is in the playoffs again. It would be nice to see him get another Superbowl, but I won't stick my neck out and make a prediction. American Idol is starting up again, so maybe we will watch that so Amanda doesn't make me exercise during commercials of the biggest loser.

I think that's it..... Next time I will have something more meaningful!!

Brandon

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break. Right now I want to share with you about our Thanksgiving. This year Thanksgiving took on a whole new meaning for our family. Last Thursday morning I went into down town Atlanta to pick up a friend of mine. This friend happens to be homeless. He isn't homeless by choice, but because he can't find a job. Brandon, joined us for Thanksgiving last Thursday and had a great time. It goes without saying that Brandon blessed us as much as we were able to bless him. The most important thing I learned from Brandon was that I need to be more appreciative of the things God has blessed me with. God has allowed Amanda and I to have a great home, even though we complain about it. We have a leaky roof amongst other problems, but we have a home. Brandon taught us to be content with what we have and to stop being frustrated with where we are at right now. It goes without saying that taking Brandon back down town was a very difficult task. It's not easy to drop someone off behind a dumpster and know that he has no where to go. It's not easy to go to bed at night on a big comfy bed knowing that Brandon is looking for a place to shield him from the weather. All too often we find ourselves saying that we are starving and have no idea what the word really means. While Brandon was with us we gave him a new winter coat, gloves and hat. To see the tears in Brandon's eyes as he thanked me and hugged me brought everything into perspective. I'm not sure what Brandon took away from his time with our family. My prayer is that he felt like he was part of a family again. I hope he felt loved and safe. Brandon brought on a new meaning to Matthew 25:34-41. Check it out, "34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." So my question to you would be this. What are you doing for the least of these? What are you doing to impact lives? The truth is this, I look forward to the journey God has in store for my family and Brandon. I can't wait until that day when God allows us to help Brandon get off the street. I praise God in advance for allowing me to be a part of Brandon's spiritual journey. God is going to do big things in this relationship and he is going to reveal himself to Brandon in a big way. I'm so happy that God has allowed me to be a part of this! My goal in all of this is to point Brandon to God by the way I live!

Thanks

Well, the anticipation has begun. It is the week of Thanksgiving, and many of us look forward to the feast that awaits us. Many of us look forward to spending time with our loved ones. Many of us dread this week altogether. Personally, I love this week. I love thinking about the things I have to be thankful for. I'm thankful for a beautiful and loving wife, a great marriage, healthy kids, parents who are close enough to live life together. I'm thankful for a great job and God's provision. 1 Chronicles 16:34 tells us to, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." I love this verse. David's Psalm of praise has a lot of good in it, but to think that we serve a God whose love endures forever is crazy. Forever has no ending, it's continual, never changing, it's forever. Forever is a word that we cannot comprehend. There is no ending so we do not understand how long it will last. There is no beginning so we do not know how long he has been loving us. Our minds are not capable of understanding forever. It's never changing. So, with that said; I give thanks to the Lord because he has blessed me and my family far beyond my imagination. He is good, perfect, whole, and loving. His love endures forever. What are you thankful for? Don't lose sight of the fact that we all have something to be thankful for regardless of our circumstance.