"It's a cut-throat game, and the game is hearts. Do I throw off avoiding the risk or see my hand chances slim? Risks are high and hearts at stake, I count these cards to see a hope. Today, I shoot the moon, because I see the reward and the reward is good.
To fight is hope.
The cards lye upon the table and I, I lay down the hearts..."
I
was recently turned onto pool skating. I have never been interested in riding a
short board, that is until a good friend of mine, Robby Kohnen set up a deck
for me and took me to the skate park in Englewood. I began skating around on a
short board and soon learned how to drop into a pool. I began to feel like I
was surfing a wave. A big, 6ft concrete wave. I was LOVING it. I started to
feel the pumps, and pick up speed. I was getting higher and higher on the turns
as centripetal force kept me pressed tightly to the 6ft concrete walls. It felt
amazing...
Then,
I ran out of speed. I fell off the wall, tumbling to the bottom of the pool. I
found myself in agonizing pain. I reached for my ankle. Robby from the top of
the pool says, "Oh man, I'm watching your ankle swell up." Within moments my
ankle looked like a squishy, puffy tomato, and I.. I was wondering just how I
was going to get out of the pool...
I think Mr. Bob Barker hit the nail
on the head when he said, "The price is right". There are some things that you
just look at and know that the price you pay is worth the cost. I'd skate that pool again, because the
price of pain it was worth the cost of this newfound passion.
In
Matthew 11:18-19, Jesus says,
"For John the Baptist came neither eating
nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and
drinking, and they say 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and "sinners" ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
Jesus, our savior, from the very
beginning of creation new the "worth" of relationships; in fact that is why He
created us. Then He gave man the blessing of women so we too would not have to
be alone. God counted those relationships of so much worth that he sent Christ
to die for our sins when we had turned our backs on Him. God looked at "you"
and said, "The price is right."
We
are born and bred for relationships, friends, family, wives/husbands, God, it
is how we survive.
Sometimes,
there is a cost to relationships. Jesus himself was looked down upon because he
wanted to love the unlovables. He counted them all of worth.
When was the last time we took time to love those that we
normally would not love? To say that the price of my 5-10 minutes of saying
hello is worth the impact that it could have on someone's day, or even life?
The strange ones, the loners, the goths, the dweebs, the
"too cool for school" guys and gals, the unwed mothers, the cripple, the
handicapped, the ugly one from work, their life... It's worth the cost.
Your life, it's worth the cost.
You are loved and it is "our" job to love. Will you join me
and say,
"Criss,
cross, applesauce", I say to myself as I tie the black laces of my 3 year old
blue and white Vans skate shoes. I feel the pressure pushing up into the arches
of my feet where my sandals normally lack support. I stand up from the futon,
wiggle my toes in the tips of my shoes, feeling strong, ready to take on the
world.
A
smile comes to my face as I begin to think about what the day will look
like. Church, lunch with Leslie,
baking cookies with my mid-high girls, and walking the streets of Venice
passing said cookies out with a hug and a simple, "God loves you". It's the
start of a new day...
God has done so much lately that it is overwhelming. Tears
fill my eyes even now as I type this and think back on the love that He is pouring
out in this city. Just 1 week ago, I found myself sitting in my red beach chair
that my parents blessed me with, reading a book called "Weird" by Craig
Groeschel, and dreaming up what to do with the mid high youth group. I watched
in my head as God poured out this vision on the discipleship walk, the life of
a "Fisher of man"
Mark
1:17-18 says, "Come, follow me," Jesus
said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets
and followed him.
Something
is brewing here. Something good. I watched as God unfolded this concept more
and more. He never called us to be prepared. No, He called us to walk. He
called us to tie our shoes, and walk down the road, through the dirt, and into
the storms. He called us to walk the straight and narrow; a road that is marked
with suffering; filled with pain, filled with persecutions, rejections, and a
life of servant hood. He called us to be last. He has called us to a life of
loving our enemies, and bending low as we lift others up. It is a weird life in
which we have been called too.
So
why do it? Simon and Andrew didn't know what they were signing up for. They had
no clue. They heard His words, His heart, saw him teaching the thousands, and
feeding the hungry, these were nice things, but not worth what was to come.
Something weird started happening. He healed the sick, He walked on the water,
and He raised the dead. Suddenly there is power behind the words. They watched
Jesus get taken in the garden, and heard that he was going to prepare a place
for them. They watched him hang on a cross, and then saw the empty tomb.
It
was power, it was truth, it was hope, it was joy, it was filling, it was weird,
it was promise, it was grace, it was LOVE that pushed the disciples on and into
the heart of God.
So
why do I do it? Because it IS power, it IS truth, it IS hope, it IS joy, it IS
filling, it is weird, it is promise, it is grace, it is LOVE!
He is! He is the
"I AM", and we are not called to sit around. We are called to walk. We are
called to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, to tie our shoes, and not
just read, but walk and experience first hand the power, truth, hope, joy,
promise, and love of Christ Jesus.
If only we are willing to stand up and take on the world...
And
so, the vision grows still, and the walk goes deeper. The next few weeks, the
youth and I will dive into the depths, the heart, and the walk, as we become
"fishers of men."
The
senor high youth at Grace United Methodist Church set out on a mission this
past Wednesday. A mission that would take them to a realm they had never
expected.
6:15pm: Some youth show up early and begin praying, asking
God;
"Where should we go? What should we do? To
whom shall we talk?"
7:00pm: We set out broken into two teams in search of the
things we heard from God.
My team
was in search of a woman wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans, and sandals. We
envisioned her having a child. The term "Heartbreak" burdened our hearts.
The other
team went in search of a Mary or Joanne, wearing a purple floral dress,
somewhere near the Publix and Ross.
After a while of searching and not finding my team is about
to give up when suddenly Elizabeth Hayley say, "That lady has a kid!" Not only
did she have a child, but she was wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and sandals!
We run
over to meet her, her child and her friend. All went well. Both we excited,
although we talked more with her friend than her. Toward the end of the
conversation we finally ask, "This may be too personal, but has there been any
heart break in your life recently?"
She
responds with, "Yes, my husband was just sentenced to 30 years in prison!"
God
showed up in her life that night!
The other team? Well, they had headed out to that Publix. No
luck there, they began heading for the Ross, walking distance away. About
midway they remember/notice that there is a Joannes fabric shop right in the
middle of the two stores. They begin wondering if Joannes is a place and not a
name??
Glancing
in the windows of Joannes, they see her! A woman in a purple floral dress! They
rush to meet her, asking her if her name is Mary...
"No,
its not... but my middle name is!"
BAM!! Did God just send a bunch of high schoolers out into
the city with a Person, Place, Description, and NAME?? Yes, yes He did.
They prayed for her Parkinson's, and that ended the night.
Treasure found, mission over..... Right?
WRONG! The next morning I am sitting in my office, when
Trina, the secretary at the church comes in. She sits down and tells me...
"I just got off the
phone with a woman who wanted to be introduced as the 'Woman in the purple
floral dress'. She said she woke up in the middle of the night, went to the
restroom, and was able to clean up the restroom TOTALLY pain free. This
morning, she said she woke up remaining pain free..."
God just rocked some peoples worlds this last Wednesday. Be
bold, be courageous, and step out!
I get the privilege of writing
about Grace United Methodist's youth group, "Summit". We are a group that is
dedicated to reaching out to the teens and young adults from grades 6 to 12.
Through worship, Bible Study, fellowship and outreach, we grow closer together
and closer to Christ.
The youth groups are exciting to
me. I am watching young middle school youth reach out to peers, bringing them
to the feet of the cross, laughing, learning and growing.
This month is an exciting month to
me and for the youth group. Both the senor high youth and mid high group is rising
up to something new. We have just finished a 6 week study on Romans 12: 1-9, "Living
sacrifices and one body", and we are now putting our studies into action. The
group is dividing up into different body parts, one of fellowship, one of worship,
one of outreach and one of teaching.
This is
a dream come true for me. Literally! When I came to this position just a few
months back, this was the dream/vision I came with; "To grow the group to place
of not just receivers, but givers." I felt the call to bring this group into a
place where they were intentionally recognizing their gifts and talents (Romans
12:6), and putting them to Kingdom use (Romans 12:1). Some of our youth are so
gifted in fellowship, bringing people together, welcoming them, and extending that
so needed brotherly love, or "Philia" (greek word for a type of "Brotherly love").
Others are gifted teachers, and others have a heart for outreach. I am excited
as they are beginning to step into those gifting and callings.
It
brings me joy to say that this coming Wednesday, Nov. 9th, we will
be stepping up and stepping out into our first outreach since I have taken this
position. Much of the time we have spent over the last few months has been
building up to this, and I am beside myself with energy as we begin this next
step in our walk of faith. We will be going into the streets of Venice and
taking on a "Treasure Hunt". A treasure Hunt is asking God for visions, words,
scripture, direction and guidance. We close our eyes and mouths, and open our
ears. If one closes their eyes to see a girl in a pink shirt, blue jeans and a
bow in her hair; while another feels a burden to go to a certain place within
the city, then we pack up, move out and head that way with our eyes open and in
search of the girl. When we find her, one or two of us will then find an
opportunity to share the message God has laid upon our hearts for her. (True story from a mission trip to Belleglade,
Fl, 2009)
It is a
bit crazy, a bit awkward, and a lot bit stretching. It is a step of faith in
which we surrender our reputation and our comfort in order to pursue the heart
of God. In Romans 12:1, we are called to die to ourselves, and offer our bodies
as living sacrifices. In that same verse we are called to be "holy" or "set
apart", and so this is the body that we are trying to join. It is a body that
is not afraid to teach the word, to reach out in love, listen to the burning
bush or whispering wind, and worship with all of our hearts.
This is
an exciting time, both in my heart and in our youth group. I know that God is
going to do and is already doing some amazing things within the walls of this
church and within the hearts of our youth. Be excited with us, be in prayer
with us, intercede for our youth and encourage them when you see them. Don't be
shy. Ask them about this week to come and what God is doing in their lives. They
each have a story to tell and a lot to look forward too. These are this
churches future, these are your sons and daughters, grandchildren and great
grandchildren, but more importantly despite age, they are your brothers and
sisters in Christ, growing learning, seeking, hungry, passionate, reaching out,
stepping out, asking, teaching, waiting, listening, and living right beside
you. Love your brothers and sisters, and teach us how to love as well.
This last week I was approached by one of the sr high students, a mid high youth leader named Evan Kranz. "I feel like I have a lesson to teach on Sunday." he tells me.
5pm Sunday evening Evan and I sit down in my office so I can truly hear his heart behind the Word, and fine tune the plan if need be. He nails it. Right out of Romans 6, "slaves to sin, freedom in Christ", Evans heart is to share the idea of love, and forgiveness, under the title "Rebound".
A tennis player once said, "It doesn't matter how good I get, I will never be as good as a wall"
In Evans heart the idea of bouncing back, rebounding back into the arms of Christ, comes alive in the message he shares.
The mid-high youth begin arriving around 6pm, after some chips and salsa we load up and head for the basketball court. We get into a competitive full court game of Basketball, where I got punched in the chest by a certain "Hannah E." Delaney Chambers calls a time out just to tell a girl that she likes her headband, and sweet quiet Hayley comes alive, ripping that ball out of the competitors hands, blocking shots and just going wild. She was a wild card pick, but dominated the defense.
Jack with the free throws and Jake with the 2's. Emily showing off and getting aggressive made for an interesting game.
Somewhere in the middle of the game, just before Delaney's time out, Delaney looks at me, looks at a basketball court on the other side of the fence, looks back at me and asks,
"Can I go recruit that girl to play on our team?"
I look over to see a young girl shooting hoops with her father; "Yes Delaney, yes you can go invite her to play."
Delaney runs over and moment later returns with a girl named Diana, (the one with the nice headband).
Diana joins in the game, and is quickly noted as one of the MVP's.
Diana scores the winning point, and leads my team into victory!!!!
Something amazing happened somewhere in here that touched my heart. I had a "proud papa" moment. I got lost in so much of it, from the thought of a youth leading youth, to the sight and reality of the open hand and open heart that Delaney thought to have in the middle of our basketball game. Tell me that the love and light of Christ is not alive in the youth of today, and I'll tell you that you are wrong! God is alive, he lives in them, He speaks through them, He is here...
The
"Human Pyramid", it is something that has been done since before cheerleaders
cheered, before the Swiss found cheese, since before time...
Ok, so perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the
fact is, they have been around for quite some time. The "complexities" of the infamous Human Pyramid are few,
3-4 people across the bottom, 3 in the middle, 2 above that leadi to just a
single male or female, standing atop the pile of gigglers below. Simple...
Tonight,
a freshman in high school, Evan Kranz, who helps me lead the mid-high youth
group on Sunday nights, stepped out in faith and led a Bible study for the
first time. His heart, his confidence, and the gift that God has so lovingly
given him blew me away.
He
shared from Job 36:22-24
God is exalted on his
power. Who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed his ways for him or said to
him, 'you have done wrong'? Remember to extol His work, which men have praised
in song. All mankind has seen it, though only from a distance, How great is God-
beyond our understanding!
Highlighting
the last part of this, we are called to reach out. "Mankind has seen 'His glory/power', though only from a distance".
We
can't beat Him, can't tell God that He is wrong, He is exalted on His power,
ALL have seen this, though only from afar!
It is unmistakable. It is impossible to miss the glory and
the power of God. Look west to the setting sun, or even better feast your eyes
upon the suns daily rise upon the eastern horizons. Look to the mountains, to
the seas, to the animals, to the trees. Look around and you are sure to see it.
We all have, but what frightens me is that we have only seen it "from afar".
How
is it that we understand the body, how is it that we understand the oceans? How
is it that we learn? We get up close and personal.
"The
"complexities" of the infamous Human Pyramid are few", but the picture of it is
easy. Examine closer, and see the muscles working to balance, see the
patience of the bottom row, see the people who stand on the side and reach out
a hand to make sure the top row does not fall.
We are to be those supports to the world. We need to reach
out our hands, and bring people into the balance of Christ, into the close up
one on one relationship with our God. We are to be the ones who reach out and
bring them from "afar" into the arms of Christ.
Here
I am, 25 years old, walking through the Publix grocery store with a 5 year old
and a 3 year old in a racecar-shopping cart. They are not mine, but for the
moment I get to take them along for the ride. As I wander about the store with
my list of foods to get, I glance into the cart and notice candies, cereals,
and other assorted items that are both not on my list nor that I placed in the
cart.
"Stop
putting stuff in the cart if you want your free cookie from the bakery!" I tell
the two children as I stuff the unwanted items behind a few loaves of bread.
A hissy fit
breaks out...
Oh.. If only the two of them knew. If they only knew that I
had planned on getting them a cookie, and that this whole ordeal would have
been over a lot faster if they hadn't brought their own list of things to buy!
Why do children make it so much more difficult than it needs to be!
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore,
I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. 2
Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's
will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Last week we talked about what it
meant to be a "living sacrifice". This week, as we dig into verse 2, we begin
to understand why.
God is calling us out, asking us if
we really want that free cookie. He is telling us to open our eyes to the big
picture, the picture of His "Good, pleasing, and perfect will."
If I could only have put into words
for those 2 children the thoughts I had, if only their little minds were truly
able to comprehend what the big picture was, they would have stopped, put on
their big kid pants and enjoyed the ride and a free cookie.
If God was to speak to you through
this, I think He would say this...
"I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper, not to harm. Put
aside your grocery list, put aside your will, your desires, die to them, be a
sacrifice for me and see the big picture. Eternity is waiting, waiting for you
to stop holding up my will, my desires, my heart, my plans, my vision, and my
world with your small minded, little selfish picture of a plan. Just STOP! Die
to yourself and know that what I have in store for you is far better than
anything you can add to the cart. What I have in store for you is not eaten,
not worn away, not consumed, not effected by time. It is "everlasting to
everlasting" Now be mine, be my beloved living sacrifices and help me
accomplish the goal at hand. I promise, it will be worth the cost..."
I love my Mid-high youth. They just fill me with joy, and
un-ending laughs. Tonight, I learned that I can"NOT" trust them though... (See video)
On a more serious note,
"Is it ok if I let you walk all over me?"
Jacqueline Whittaker stands at a
good distance from the stage. Her goal is to leave the place she stand and step
upon the stage. She cannot touch the ground. The rest of the group is in a line
leading to the stage. They are free to help her, but cannot leave their spots.
Immediately, these middle school
youth begin to lay down head to toe, one behind the other. They lye down and what
happens next blows my mind. They invite Jacqueline to walk across their backs
to get her to the stage...
I am amazed as I watch this young
group work together. So willing to lye down and help Jacqueline out. Their goal
was to allow her to accomplish her goal.
Romans 12: 1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God."
"Holy", it means to be set apart,
set aside, different than the rest. Paul urges us to offer our bodies as living
sacrifices that are holy. He is
not telling us to die, or where fancy garments like the "Holy" Pope. No, he is
telling to be middle school youth. He is telling us to recognize what God's
will is! (Rom. 12:2 Then you will be able
to test and approve what God's will is, His good pleasing and perfect will.)
God has a plan, one that He wants
us to be a part of. He wants to know us, wants to have that personal
relationship with us, wants to bring us into eternal life. We can be a part of
that plan. We have an opportunity to be "living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God". It is simple, die/sacrifice your
will. Test God's will, see what it is, and make your life holy/set apart to
join in on His plan.
The question is, are we willing to
lye down, and let God walk all over us?
I know 9 middle school youth that
are...
Pray with me:
"Father,
we come to you tonight, hungry and desperate to be yours. Knowing full well the
sacrifice you made, and the debt we owe you. It's not one you demand of us, but
it is one that we long to pay back. Teach us tonight, teach us this week, what
it means to lye down and let you walk all over us. Father break into our lives
and use us as we become those "living sacrifices" that Paul calls us to be.
That our will would die, that our desire would die, that our goal would die,
that all we claim to be and hold onto would die and our lives would be holy.
Teach us what it means to be set apart, set apart from the world, set apart
from the lies, set apart from complacency, set apart for greatness, for the
kingdom, for the love, for the one true and living God. Dance on us, walk on
us, use us tonight Lord. We lye down for you...
