Be Still

As summer draws to a close we look back with gratitude; for campers returning from rainbow trail with a renewed energy towards grace. For all those volunteers and donations for what was another amazing year at Day Camp, showing the love of Christ to the least of these. Another backpacking trip where there was hail, campfires, laughter, and just a touch of hairy potter. Finally a summer that was an amazing example of the power my congregation has to be a beacon in our community.

As I look towards fall I am both excited and exhausted. Excited for the conversations, the youth groups, the events, and just the time I get to spend doing ministry in this amazing church. Yet I am exhausted from a slowing pace after a very full summer. So the question is how to I recenter on ministry when I am still just trying to catch my breath?

Psalm 46:10

Be Still and know that I am God

Be Still and Know that I am

Be Still and Know

Be Still

I moments that we look to the future, the horizon, even the next task at work or school we have next on our plate. So this fall I am challenging myself and the rest of our congregation to look at our feet for just a moment. To take a deep breath and be ok with the idea that God’s call for us in some of these moments is to Be STILL. Not run head first into the next adventure but to take a grateful heart to a place of stillness and reflection.

Taking an evening with the family to schedule a dinner where there isn’t a phone, tv, radio, or distraction and laugh together, talk together, and just be together. These moments will help us understand God’s call for us to be still.

As most of you know I am a huge nerd and my nerdiness has a strong foundation of T.V. shows, cartoons, music, and yes movies. The most influential of all being Star Wars. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a Jedi, the greatest of which was Yoda. When he first meets luke, all Luke wants is to go “meet master Yoda now”. Yoda has to tell Luke 3 times he needs patients. It was at this moment that Yoda say’s “I cannot teach him he has no patients”.  He pokes Luke in the chest and says “All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was... what he was doing. Adventure HUH! Excitement HUH! A Jedi craves not these things”

So my challenge as we creep towards Halloween is that we as a congregation can look at our feet. Put our minds on where we are and what we are doing. We plan to our next great adventure, we prepare for the excitement of advent. Let us take this time to breath, talk of this moment, and

Be Still

The Well That Can't Run Dry

Recently we have been talking so much about stewardship and our call to serve both the church and our greater community. I found myself wrestling with the idea of “grace freely given” because of the conversations. The idea, that God’s love and Grace flows from an endless well, that we will never be able to give enough back to or be grateful enough for this gift. Yet God does call us to lives of action, not a demand, but a call. When we answer this call it is usually started with excitement at the possibilities of what we can do for God. Yet about half way through our hard work and grit we find ourselves finding things to complain about. If it is a mission trip, we grumble about the heat or dispersion of the work load. If it is a fund raiser we find that the clean up and energy expelled yielded less than we anticipated in giving. If it is encouraging our congregation to find how our new congregation worships, we grumble about how we miss what the old congregation used to do.

I find myself wrestling with the church we are, the church we want to be, and the church God is actually calling us to. I don’t think any of these 3 places are the same place. Not by active struggle, nor the desire to make Holy Spirit into something it’s not. No, the struggle I see is that we are stuck in the middle of our mission. We have fought as a congregation to become better than we were and now that we have been on this journey for a while, the grumbling might start as we push to go further.

So why would this push make me think about “grace freely given” and the “well that does not run dry”? Simple, what happens when the work that has been put forth puts us into a place where we finally feel like we don’t need to thirst for a little while? When we don’t think we need the well? Right now we are comfortable with worship, we are safe in giving, we have enough service to put a check in the box of work. If we push for more that means we will become thirsty once again, and isn’t it nice not to thirst, even for a moment.

A pause is nice, refreshing, and needed but it is not what we as the body of Christ are called to be in the world. Romans reminded me what we are:

12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern 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.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 

11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are a living sacrifice, not a part time nor convenient sacrifice. Be a living sacrifice! Give when you have little to give, serve when you have been worn weary, and through it all find joy, hope, patients, and faithfulness in prayer. Giving thanks to the one who gives you and this congregation strength to be living gifts to God.

It’s like most of our parents taught us, “If it were easy, everybody would do it”.

But can we? Can you?

My Brother's HOA is Hilarious.

So a little while ago I was at my brother’s beautiful home. We had just set up a new basketball hoop for his kids, so as well-mannered and responsible fathers… is that laughter… I am taking names. We of course had a dunk contest… crushed it. Afterwards we of course had the 3-point competition and this is where our adventure takes, A TURN. I lob a shot towards the hoop it bounced straight up, and with the slowest bounce I have ever seen. The bounce was so slow I literally had time to say, “there is no way that breaks the window, Right?” the ball lightly taps the front window of my brothers how and Shatters it like the dreams of an Iowa girl getting off the bus in Hollywood hoping to be a movie star. SHATTERED. As we stood their wide eyed, and for me at least, embarrassed. We realized well the windows were single pain 30 years old and let in more heat than the Broncos offensive line. So my brother started the process of replacing his front windows. He quickly realized he had to deal with the three scariest letters in home repair. H-O-A. That right, before purchasing his new windows, he had to get the color, shape, size, and company approved by the.. H-O-A. You see the home owners association is an organization meant to keep a neighborhood on the same footing. Keeping yards clean, houses visually appeasing, and the most anal and nitpicky amongst the community busy for 2 Tuesdays every month. Really HOA’s are there to make a community play by the same rules. So that one house doesn’t destroy the esthetic or code the community agrees to.

This has many upsides. Great looking homes, high property values, heck some even have a community pool that is inside your HOA dues. Yet this has some downsides. Like, I don’t know, being threatened with a fine because you haven’t had a chance to paint your chimney the HOA approved color because you work two jobs and are passionate about the work you do at your church. This downside also made it so my brother had to work for almost 6 weeks before getting his Window replaced, and while waiting on the HOA he got contacted… by the HOA… about his broken window. So do you see where some frustrations might start to build.

There is a belief that to live in God’s HOA (Heart owners association) we have to work to follow all those rules. These items that make us proper Christians to live in God’s neighborhood. By keeping our actions consistent. Coming to church Sunday, giving a base tithing, and trying to do a service project once a year. We fulfil our side of the covenant. Sadly, that is the old HOA covenant with God. We have so much to do to live in God’s community. As if we can act close enough to perfect that God will pass by us on his HOA walk though. Our cloths are clean enough, our words are clean enough, our handshake is firm enough. As long as we appear to be right with God, that must be the case. It isn’t, we will never be good enough for God’s HOA. “For No human being will be justified in his sight” Romans3:20. With Jesus the covenant was changed.

Christ’s covenant isn’t that we are to work to live with God, but that Christ wants to live with us. Those whose homes and hearts had been ravaged by wear and tear. Some of us can empathize with this. My home has bushes that are untrimmed, yards covered in leaves, both my living room and family room covered in the toys of a highly active 5 and 3-year-old, even my bedroom has shoes and clothes at the foot of the bed. My heart is the same, overburdened with the stress of work, with the worry that my son is doing well enough in school, the fear I am not supportive enough as a husband. Both my heart and home show that beating of use over time. Christ see’s our wear and tear and says it is not what the house or heart looks like that matters. It is a much simpler question. Is it open? Is your heart open to those who are in the most need? Is your house open to those who knock? Are you willing to show your imperfections not to emphasis your own frailty but to Glorify the strength of God?

For what becomes of Boasting? It is excluded. By what law?  By that of works? NO, but the law of faith. For we Hold that person is justified by faith, apart from works prescribe by the law.

Our New Heart Owners Association Covenant is clear. No matter how Good you make yourself look. No matter how many houses you build, no matter how many services you attend, no matter how many sermons you give. We are all justified by the same thing. A faith in the one who presented you his grace. If you have the cleanest house with the best décor, or you have have a home covered in toys, spaghetti stains and dog hair. Grace has been given to you through Christ jesus our lord. We can not do enough to move into God’s subdivision.  So God sent his son to live with us. To live in our imperfection. To live in our frailty, fear, and selfishness. In Christ Jesus God signed up for our HOA. “The Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. For all have sinned and short of the glory of God. They are now justified by his Grace as a Gift. “ Our Homes and our hearts are impossible broken, just as God designed. So that we may not depend on our own works, but only on the grace of God.

In this imperfection God’s HOA calls us to one simple thing. Believe. Believe his love abounds over you. Believe you can be his hands and feet. Believe you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Believe the community of believers are imperfect but can do impossible things. Believe in yourself, for you are a creation of God. Just Believe – It’s a covenant we all can sign. This covenant frees us from the burden of unreal expectations. This covenant frees us from self-loathing, fear, and frailty. For in that covenant of belief we are given a gift, for in that Belief in the Son, We will be Free Indeed.  -Amen

How i Met your Baggage

My amazing wife and i are watching one of my favorite shows of all time, How I Met Your Mother.
It is a really fun sitcom that usually has some morality thread through an episode. This last week we got to an episode that made me really disagree with their premise. Ted (the main character) is struggling to find a  woman who doesn't have baggage. Through the episode, he finds he also has a huge chunk of baggage, but lucky he meets a girl who will help him carry it. For a moment he seems happy, until she unloads all her baggage onto him. Now this baggage ranges from living with her brother, too many cat, hates star wars. Then there is his baggage which was being left at the alter.

My problem comes at the idea of having to share each other load of luggage for a relationship to work. The idea that we are forever weighed down by our past like a weight around our necks and if someone is ever planning on loving us they have to help carry the weight. I know i am blessed in a relationship where i feel we don't have much baggage but really the weight of our past isnt what drives my amazing wife and I. I had a hard time connecting to this episode and i think i know why.

WE ALL SUCK! We all have something in our past that has changed us in a negative way (our baggage). The glory i have found is that i have a personal bell hop. I companion who is always ready to take my luggage to my next stop so i can enjoy my life's adventure unencumbered. !Spoiler Alert! it's Jesus. That is the easy short answer and now all your problems are solved, please don't forget to tip your waitress...

If only it was that easy. Our baggage weighs us down going into knew relationships every time we meet someone. Fear about what they will think, intimidation at the thought of their judgment, and even hatred of those who appear to not carry any burden at all. These personal hesitations have NOTHING to do with the other person! They are actually just what we see when we think about ourselves weighed down by our past. Others see you as God sees you, in this moment, imperfect in your perfection.

We must see ourselves as God sees us, and in doing so find peace. In that peace find the true feather weight of our personal baggage, that we are not doomed to be burdened with it because God has called us to focus on his mission for us. That calling in our hearts that makes us whole without the need for adulation That mission is always forward and never back! Eyes focused on the world God asks us to create everyday filled with hope, joy, and love.

Paul tells us his realization in his letter to the Philippians 3:  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. Have you strained to move on from your past? Have you let go of that luggage and let the Grace of Christ bare the load? When you do you can Press toward the goal God has called you to in Christ.

The only person holding your baggage is YOU. So i pray for you, that you may let go of those things that hold you back from being the brilliant being of light you are. 

So here i stand, on the wrong side of the Cross telling you that you are a Luminous being, not this fleshy crude matter. I ask you to drop those things that hold you back! Your fear, sorrow, and pain is exactly that, Yours. It may have helped shape you, but you can never let it define you! 

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Fruit of the Spirit (RTLC 2015)

You are not some special little snowflake. You are not a rose in a field of dandelions. You are not the only one like you in the world. I have heard these things from parents and none of them are true. They aren’t true about you, they aren’t true about me, and they aren’t true about anyone. Except Chris Pratt…. He, He is just great! Now if I were to say anything about individuality and “specialness” it would be this. You are an Aspen Tree. Some are tall, some are short, some are ugly, and some have things carved into them. You are an Aspen Tree, you are different from other aspen trees but only if you look REALLY close. Other wise you are just another tree in the forest.  The reason is because YOU are broken, YOU are imperfect, YOU are damaged goods. You are a MEAT SACK with a stone heart that is crumbling and so is EVERYONE ELSE.

There is good news though we have a specific set of tools to help polish our stone heart.  These Tools are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. Unfortunately, more bad news, your tools are just terrible. They are weak, rusty, and breaking.  Your love will fail the one whom deserves it because of personal resentment. Your Joy will fail you when faced with true devastation. Your peace will fail when the waves of life’s trepidations hit you. Your patience will crumble under the weight of expectations. Your Kindness will last only as long as your love for the person whom is testing you. Your Goodness will disappear when selfish desire arrives.  Your Faithfulness will only last as long as you need it to, and then it will be as fleeting as a summer breeze. Your Gentleness will only last as long as your self control allows. Long story short, your tools are weak and frail.

Here is the Best news. We have a carpenter who has better tools than we do. 2000 years ago our carpenter waded into the river Jordan.  Had hands placed upon him and was plunged into the waters of the river. When he reappeared above the waters the spirit entered him. (Matthew 3:13-17) That same spirit enters us at our baptism gives us the Fruit of the Spirit. That singular fruit has multiple attributes that give us the ultimate tools we need. We gain the ability to tap directly into the bottomless well that is God’s Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control, and in these gifts we will never be left wanting. Christ describes it best in John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; MY peace if give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

It is God’s gift to us in the Holy Spirit that we can tap into. A love that will never fail or falter  and forgives no matter how many times forgiveness is asked. A joy that surpasses all understanding. A peace that will calm the waves in the middle of a storm. A patience that has waited Three days before reveling to the world the Greatest News of all time. The kindness to those who did not ask for it nor did they deserve it, but instead a kindness that is freely given.  A goodness that will be poured out from the heart of the one who was sent for the world’s sake. A faithfulness in the one who formed your heart from clay and with a snap of his fingers sent that heart into a flutter. Finally, a Gentleness that will be lead by the self control of the man who gave his life for yours.

Now I might be on the wrong side of the cross here, but I started this with the idea that you are not special. We are not pretty flowers in a field of dandelions. Instead I insist that we are all Aspen trees. Aspen trees are diverse and bend to their environment, so none of them look alike. Yet they all have roots that are interconnected. They all have scars caused by someone else. They all have leaves that give comfort to those below. Your story may be hard and painful, but you aren’t the only one who has gone through it. Your story may be weird and privileged, but you’re not the only person who feels conflicted. Your story is not a magic little snowflake, and that is NOT A BAD THING. To think that you are the only one who can understand what you are going through is a LIE. A Lie to yourself and a lie to the world. Until you realize that we are all in this together you won’t be able to get past your brokenness. To dive into the Fruit of the Spirit we are gifted with. The best part about aspen trees is that their roots grow together. Until one tree is actually two. Two trees wrap themselves together to make four. Until the whole forest are many trees with one set of roots. We are rooted in Christ, and that means we are all not that special, but we all receive the gifts. Sorry if you thought you were a butterfly in a pod of caterpillars.

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.” 

The Angry Christian Dilemma

    So I have attempted to write a post when something in the world moved me to post an important opinion. Lately, and by lately I mean the last several months, I have been far too angry at politicians, religious leadership, and in some of the things I hear coming from my own congregation to write a post without it coming off as me “yelling at heathens”. That is my problem i find myself too angry to write something that doesn't come across as finger wagging. I find myself and an ANGRY CHRISTIAN - 

    For Palm Sunday I challenged myself to write a dramatic piece for service instead of a regular sermon. I found myself writing from the view point of two disciples watching Jesus as he goes through the day of Palm Sunday. As I characterized these two disciples I found myself pealing back the layers of the two very distinct sides of my own heart.

    First we have Andrew, who heard Christ’s call to humility and service. Seeing Christ as humbling; riding on an ass, healing the sickest in the community, and calling for the children to come and listen. Clearly as a youth director I like the last bit the most but it all comes down to service. A King who made himself a slave for the sake of the world. My heart yearns to be that kind of servant. One who gives all that he has for the sake of the world, and for no greater goal than to make the world better with nothing more than my actions and heart. Yet what Andrew missed was a great fire inside him. He didn’t dare take any radical action, to say or do anything that might alienate anyone in anyway. For lack of better words, this side of my heart is kind of a wimp.

    Second we have Peter, you might now him as the man who cut off a roman centurion’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane.  He was on the “road to revolution” bandwagon. You might even say he was the one who was driving it. He wanted a KINGDOM for Jesus and not just a church to rise around him. He wanted to fight and over turn what he saw as a corrupt church and government. He wanted radical action for a radical leader like Jesus. He was ready to take drastic measures no matter the cost; who it hurt, who would die, what would be the consequence. This is why when I wrote about Peter he was most excited when Jesus TOSSED TABLES and WHIPPED BANKERS. He saw people manipulating the faith for personal gain and want to burn those responsible to the ground. This side of my heart is HUNGER for action, and to invoke change in a very real way in the world! This side of my heart wants Preachers who ask their congregations for Multimillion dollar jets to be dragged into the street and flogged. This side of my heart wants politicians who say when a woman has her baby cut from her womb that is was “God’s wrath for allowing abortions in America” to be publicly stoned for their ridiculous blasphemy.  I want most of the Indiana house of representatives to realize they are not CHRISTIANS. They are, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, fearful hate filled bigots that remind me of what a human would look like if God made us from SNAKE SHIT instead of mud. 

     So I look at these two disciples that I found inside my own heart and have only one questions. Can I be an ANGRY CHRISTIAN? Can I be a follower of Christ, a follower who is called to preach the gospel at all times, forgive abundantly, love joyfully, live hopefully, and serve endlessly? Can I be Angry with those who take the word of God and distort it to be used as a tool of discrimination, those who use the joy God gives as a wealth acquiring industry, or worst of all saying that when horrendous things happen it is God’s perfect justice?

So here I kneel, on the wrong side of the cross, and I look to my lord and a pray. Dear savior let my heart be ever focused on your service. Let my words be as light, shining into the dark places of the world bringing encouragement, hope, and safety. Let my actions reflect those of the lamb whom sacrificed everything for this world. Let me learn patients when I see your love being twisted. Patients to help those who are more confused than encouraged. Patients to walk the gospel journey and not just preach it. Patients to wait upon the lord.  When all of my words fall on the rocks and break, let me take heart in the words from Galatians 6. 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

As I speak to my God, who is a paradox, I find understanding in the paradox of my heart. That I should be set on fire and passionately live an outspoken gospel, while making sure my actions match my beliefs. I can be an angry Christian. Christ was outraged in Matt. 21:12-13 I can be outraged when people use God to make money in illegitimate ways, but it is more important to remember the next moment in Matt21:14-16 that while he was Tossing tables of the greedy and wicked, he turned to those who need healing and cured them. The children who cried out hosanna were a blessing and not a nuisance but the most joyous of praise. For my wrath will never turn a human heart but will only allow myself to be tempted. For if someone is preaching an impostors gospel they only deceive themselves. God cannot be mocked and men reap what they sow. I have to SOW love, joy, peace, patients, and let God’s spirit correct those who have strayed from his path. I can be angry, but I should never let that anger control me. So to answer the question that started these ramblings, NO, I cannot be an angry Christian. An angry Christian is someone who allows their emotions to control them and not the holy spirit. Yet I can, and actively find myself, a Christian who gets angry, but as Galatians reminds me, that is my load to carry and not a burden to put on others. We have to remember above all the Hate we see, above all the greed, above all the bigotry, we must correct this world GENTLY. We reap what we sow, what have you been sowing?

Let your words be LIGHT – shining in the darkness.

A Finger Pointing Society

I don't know if it is the political discourse our country is pissed at, or the fact i was yelling at terrible referees at the Highlands Ranch soccer game, or the Anti-abortion bumper sticker next to the Beer is Freedom bumper sticker i saw this morning that set me off but i have come to a concrete conclusion. As a people we are doing far to much finger pointing and not enough self evaluating.

We do it every day if we mean to or not. When you are driving down the road mumbling, "this moron is going to slow!" or "look how fast that MANIAC is driving!". If you are arguing who's fault the shutdown is, or who is to blame for the education system in this country for being a steaming pile of crap. Someone else is to blame because obviously you have all the answers. FUN FACT - YOU DO NOT! Ever person does have the right answers for themselves. unfortunately we live in a world of diversity and individuality. No person will learn, speak, sing, dance, play, write, cry, or fart like anyone else on this planet. Christ knew this and made sure everyone he talked to knew about it. "When you pray  do it in a dark room so it is between you and your father in heaven" He knew life is about personal relationships not outspoken acts of self righteousness. Lives are changed in the quiet moments when relationship is valued over righteousness.

I guess what really got my goat this morning was the Anti-Abortion bumper sticker. It stated - If your fetus isn't a baby then you ain't a mother. i laughed first at the Ain't because using that kind of verbiage on such a sensitive issue made the driver not only seem like a moron but also someone who deserves no voice in such an intimate and personal issue, and the fact there was a BEER IS FREEDOM bumper sticker makes me think, "before you talk about someone else "murdering a baby" maybe you should work on your alcoholism and domestic violence issues." But what do i know, i am not in their life, or do i know the circumstance of the placement of that bumper sticker. Just like owner of the sticker has NO IDEA what a woman having to make such a difficult decision has to go through.

So here i am standing on the wrong side of the cross asking Christ what are we to do about things we truly and deeply believe in! The answer is simple, LIVE THEM OUT. Christ calls us to lives of actions not lives fighting against others, instead an internal struggle of self improvement. Not an external struggle of "BE LIKE ME OR GO TO HELL" because if i had to be like you i would hate myself, mainly because i hate assholes. We are to reflect and judge our own actions, because those are the only actions we can change. Looking down at others and judging them creates division when we should have celebrations. If you think you are ok judging because you got it right, remember what Christ said in Matthew. "Judge not lest ye' be... justified by something said earlier in this book, I'm not sure, i didn't read the whole thing its really long, but is probably in there somewhere, look in Leviticus."

Here is what the solution to our finger pointing society boils down to -
1) Stop thinking your way is always right, because you will always be wrong about that.
2) When you love one another as Christ loves us, we don't always have to like each other and that's OK .
3) If you believe in Anti or Pro something then live it out in your own life, and support those making difficult decisions without passing judgment. Because in those moments you can be Christ for someone else. Yelling at someone because you think YOU ARE God's voice is a disgrace.

The Well Dressed Misunderstanding

Driving to work this morning I was listening to k-love and a listener wrote  a question that really awoke something from my past. The person who wrote to the radio station was new to the faith. A person who was just begging their walk with Christ and had a little bit of a problem with something they were told at their new church. So their question was, “Why do people think that I have to dress really nice for church? I mean I though God wanted a relationship with the inward me and not the person I look like on the outside?” That hit me pretty hard and brought up an experience had in Pennsylvania.

When I was younger I was also confused about why people wore such nice cloths to church, or why we had church clothes all together. I finally got an answer from one of the older congregational members. He simply responded, “We are always supposed to bring our best before god. Do you think a t-shirt and shorts is really your best?” He was right, we are supposed to bring our best before God, and even though his comment about "is a t-shirt and shorts really your best'' was supposed to be condescending, that is, and most likely will be my best for a very long time.

Not saying that those are my best cloths, but they are what I can do my best in. I will even take it a step further. If God wants my very best to show up on Sundays I will arrive as I have for years.

1)Chaco Sandals

2)Funny T-shirt

3)Athletic shorts.

4)Baseball Hat

Now for the Suit and Tie crew this might seem completely unreasonable but allow me to explain. The Chaco Sandals are because I will be able to travel anywhere I need. I will be as comfortable on trail talking to a youth as I am enjoying a coffee with a concerned parent. The Funny T-shirt makes me approachable and allows me to speak freely about any topic I wish including, but not limited to my faith journey and my relationship with Christ. The athletic shorts will allow me to PLAY and PLAY HARD! For when we can drop the façade of being adults all the time and play something amazing happens. We become most like the people God wants us to be, Joy filled vessels of love. Finally a Baseball Hat because half way through the year my hair gets pretty long.

When someone asks me am I bringing my Best before God. I can smile and say yes without a single moment of hesitation.  Bringing your best before God will never have anything to do with what you wear. As batman says, it’s not who I am, but what I do that defines me.

Now I do believe we a have a responsibility when it comes to our clothing in church. For example we should always keep what we wear in the construct of living a Christly life. For example Modesty/Humility should be considered when dressing. We aren't at church to show off the Guns (boys) and we aren't at church to pick up a boy with a high/low cut shirt (Ladies).  We shouldn't dress with flash and expensive jewelry that shows wealth and success. We shouldn't wear something dirty and three days old. There is a proper amount of respect to be given to God’s houses.

Yet I stand here on the wrong side of the cross looking up at a man who wore sack cloth and sandals. I look at the ideas he stood for and the life we hear preached. I believe it can all come down to this. When we start focusing on Rules over Relationships we have missed the point. If our lives are truly focused on relationships the rules fall into place. When focusing on loving our neighbor as our selves the rules are fulfilled. But when you use the rules to lord over someone else’s head you have sacrificed relationship. So I pray for those of you who are reading this that you wear bright Hawaiian shirts, Shorts, Jeans, polo’s, suit and tie, or whatever you feel helps you bring the Best of what you have to God. Never forget that we are nothing more than Shadows and Dust. Vessels of the pure love of God, and that we can do no great things without the help and love of God. Dress for your journey and not the journey of someone else knowing God loves the heart that beats inside the shirt and not the s

My Maundy Thursday Moment

So I was headed to Maundy Thursday service excited to watch a couple of my youth read the gospel to our congregation. Jokingly I walked into the narthex talking to the kids about how they should read their roles. They young man reading the part of Jesus thought I would be a good idea to do it with a Middle Eastern accent, the only flaw in that plan was that he sounded like he was from India and was more Apu than A Jew.

Yet I digress, the reason my heart called me to write was during service we had a moment were our community washed each other’s feet. A remembrance of the moment Christ knelt before his disciples and in the second greatest act of humility was a servant. Showing the world that, though he was the king of kings and lord of lords, he must serve before all the world. My heart yearns to do exactly as Christ asks me, but I don’t always remember that.

So as I was preparing to serve someone by washing their feet a little hand grabbed mine.  A blond haired pastors daughter looked up at me and smiled. I gestured towards the chair and said, “Would you like to have a seat?” She shrugged her shoulders and hopped into the chair with a thud. As I knelt on one knee and slowly poured the warm water over her tiny feet I felt my heart jump. I living the life God called me to through the gifts he gave me. This moment was perfect. I am called to serve the youth of my congregation and the world. In this moment I felt complete, I felt whole. When God has strengthened you with gifts, no one can feel complete or whole  until you actively use those gifts to better the world.

That wasn't even the best part. After taking the beige towel and drying her little feet something unexpected happened. She jumped up out of the chair with a big toothy smile and said, “your turn”.  I have to admit I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting these little tiny hands that gripped mine only moments ago to attempt to lift my giant, pro basketball-esk, feet and pour water over them. Yet that is exactly what happened. I sat in the chair watching these tiny hands lift me up and wash the feet of the one who thought he was called to serve. It is a very powerful moment when a servant is treated like a king by those whom they love and adore. The moment hit me in the chest like a cinder-block.

So here I stand, simply at the foot of the cross. Remembering the King, who washed the feet of those whom he loved. I can only imagine what must have been going through the hearts of those who were being served in such a humble way, by the lord our God. There are very few things in this world that can change a heart. A sunrise upon a mountain top, finding forgiveness for a grieves offence, but of all the moments of this world. Finding one who is King, whom is worshiped, looked up to, idolized, powerful, and willing to kneel before others, is the most powerful person on the planet. Christ is the standard to which we attempt to live a full life. If this is truly a calling then we are all called to serve, to give of ourselves to the world that may not thank us, may not accept us, or even respect us. In turn we also have to allow ourselves the humility to let others serve us. When our feet are dirty, when our heart is breaking, when our will power is not enough, allow the lord and his servants help. Allow yourself to need someone else. It is not weakness to be served, it is weakness to deny that you need help. So when I saw those little hands lift my feet I was reminded that no hand is too small to serve and no person is too big to be humbled. 

The Facebook Privacy Delusion

So I have noticed a trend on facebook lately that has mostly gone unnoticed by myself until a conversation with a concerned mother. The fear I see running around facebook and through the heads of many parents is, “My privacy is ultimately important and I don’t want anyone seeing my facebook pictures, updates, ect. That I don’t know, and somehow using those against me at work, church, ect.” I have seen updates saying please switch your privacy settings, and please don’t like or comment on my statuses because I don’t want other peoples friends to see them. Well after the onslaught of these things I have come to a very important conclusion.

PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU!  (Pardon my French)

Listen, If you find yourself worrying that one of your friends, friends, friends might see a picture of yours or an update you put on facebook and that might embarrass you, then you need to re-evaluate your ENTIRE LIFE. If you are putting something onto facebook that you would be ashamed if someone you didn’t know would read or see, then it is something you should be ashamed you did or said in the first place. Also, if you have an EGO that is so large that you believe complete strangers or “friends of friends” really care about you, your picture, your life moments, you are WRONG. I have seen in my feed people I don’t know because my friends are tagged in their pictures. Like most of you I see my friend, say “that’s nice” and move on without a second look at anyone else in the picture. I am sorry to burst your bubble but unless it is your friend, no one cares about what you look like or have to say. You need a big cup of Humility and a second helping of humble pie.

MORE IMPORTANTLY…

I am an Evangelical Christian. I believe my life should be a testament to my faith and my God. There for I would want the whole world to see my updates and my photos. I don’t care who likes, comments, shares, or tolls my postings. The more recognition the better. If I spur conversation about the validity of creationism v. evolution v. inelegant design I am doing something right. If I am presenting the message of Christ which is love your God and love your neighbor, I am doing something right. It was St. Francis of Assisi who said preach the gospel at all times and use words only when necessary. Since facebook is mostly words I think we could amend it to say Facebook the Gospel at all times and use verses when necessary.

That is what we are called to. Using any means to preach the gospel. Facebook is an amazing way to show how the gospel is alive and life changing. So for me the idea that “anyone can get to my updates or pictures” isn’t really inciting fear but opportunity. It is a way to show how my personal relationship with Jesus Christ has changed who I am in a very real way. I have heard “what if you’re a role model for young kids and there are pictures of you smoking and drinking”… Well I am a role model for kids, and If you look back in my facebook, which you are free to do, you will see in the past I have picture of my socially drinking with large groups of people, the hip would call it a party. How can I justify trying to be a “role model” and be ok with pictures of DRINKING! Because I am not a hypocritical tool box who thinks the only way to help kids is to show a holier than thou life style. I will give you a minute get some water for that burn, it’s cool I’ll wait!

In those pictures I was 21, in a social setting, and drinking responsibly. Three things I would hope to instill in my kids. Knowing there is a time to party and celebrate, but God calls us to lives of moderation. Moderation in drinking, moderation in language, moderation in everything except love. So instead of asking who can see your facebook, maybe you should be saying what am I saying with facebook. Once our hearts are turned to what we are saying, that questions changes. It changes to I wonder who else can see my facebook? Or Who else can gain from my facebook?

So here I stand, on the wrong side of the cross wondering if I am shouting God’s word loud enough. Am I a big enough mirror shining light into the darkness? Am I a bright enough candle flickering against the imposing and overwhelming shadow? If I can take anything away from peoples fear about who can see their facebook information it I would be this. First, Less people want to know about you than you think. Second, Maybe you should refocus what you are putting into the world as life giving so that people should care about what you say and do. Finally, If we are truly living the life God calls us to then we should not be afraid of someone finding out who we used to be, because the person we are now is a reflection of Christ in the world, and that should not be hidden like candle under a basket but put on a stool to give light to the whole room. Mathew 5: 14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Why does God let bad things happen?

I took some time after the tragedy in Connecticut before wanting to write something about it. Now that my heart has had time to calm and refocus on the truly important I found a couple incredible voices poking through the fog of anger and hostility.

The voices I heard were that of anger, and more specify anger towards “why would God let this happen”? This question has always troubled me. I feel that it has become a scapegoat to the real problem in the world. Humans are predisposed with the urge to be evil. If you think that isn't true than I am sorry to say you are wrong. People are born with the animalistic nature to survive and in that desire comes the ability to do unthinkable evil for self preservation. Yet it is because of society and, in my opinion, religion that we have gained an understanding that we can grow as a community through positive means and collaboration. Unfortunately because this evil still remains in humans it (the evil) sometimes gets the better of our weaker citizens. And yes I do mean weaker; weaker mentally, weaker physically, weaker emotionally. And because this evil can take over they make the choice to give into this evil inside them. It is this choice that makes the shadows cover our world. It is this choice that makes horror, fear, and sadness sweep across nation. God doesn't let things happen. We are not this Sims where God starts a kitchen fire and deletes the door. God has created us with free will for the purpose of not being in control. If God was in control then our Worship would be irrelevant. It would be the dull tones of a compliant robot. We, as humans, have free will and because of that our evil hurts the world.

Yet in the same stroke when people choice evil it makes, even more so, the choice to be heroic and good shine brighter; the teachers who bravely stood between evil and the innocent, the first responders who ran towards the sound of malevolence, and the out pour of prayers and concern for those who have paid the ultimate cost.

We, as humans, have been given the ultimate weapon. Choice. People then have the challenge of seeing and making the right choices. God doesn't let bad things happen, God simply watches bad things happen with hurt on his heart, just like the rest of us. If you ever ask “why does God let bad things happen?” please take a moment and ask yourself “Why do I let bad things happen?” the answer is the same.  Because you do not control the actions of anyone but yourself.

Having said that do I believe that God tried to put people in the way of this terror? Yes. Was there an attempt to sway the heart of that young man? Yes. Did God put into place everything to change the choice this young man made? Yes. Do I believe God wants the power to change the world with his cosmic powers? NO. God doesn't want to change the world God wants Us to make the choices that change the world. He controlled everything long before we were ever here. To be honest, I think with that kind of control and understanding he could see everything that was going to happen. With humans and the insertion of free will the foresight was gone. After careful consideration I don’t think God can see past decisions not yet made. Much like in the matrix, no one can see past a decision they don’t understand.

So here I stand on the wrong side of the cross asking does God let bad things happen? Yes, because he doesn't control those who choose evil. Yet the more uplifting thought should be that when evil/darkness/gnashing of teeth comes to the world is when good/Light/comfort are reveled to not only be in greater multitude but has greater impact. Yes bad things happen, but you can’t enjoy the sunny days without the understanding of the rainy days.

May God Bless you and your family this holiday season. Hug the ones you love that much closer as winter drapes over our land. Smile a little more as darkness seams to linger a little longer this winter solstice. Love a little bit easier as there seems to be more anger in the world. Live like today is the most important day you have, because we don’t know when today will be our last. 

The Wisdom of Youth which sounds like Truth and that stars with T and that begins the Trouble my friends!

So just a little bit ago I spent an amazing week tucked in the mountains of Colorado at one of my favorite place.  A little Lutheran camp where kids found out a little more about the amazing grace of our father brought to us by the Son, produced by the Holy Spirit, and the executive producers Steven Spielberg and Brian Grazer. Yet with this amazing week I found the amazing amount of accidental wisdom that comes from the questions, comments, and realizations of high school youth. So here are just a couple of the amazing things I learned about the youth, myself, and my faith.

First, in the world there are two aggressive and competing theologies on the history of our world. There are creationists who believe, God said let there be light, flicked a switch, and there was light. This is their Fact. To them, the fact is that God the father, created everything, with the wink of his eye, like Mickey Mouse in fantasia making the brooms and mops dance and work, brought something into nothingness. For those of a scientific mind the fact is that there were a compression of molecules and matter that was constricted into the smallest of spaces collided with a particle traveling faster than the speed of light. This caused a reaction that expanded the matter causing nuclear reactions that created stars, galaxies, planets, and eventually life. This is their fact.  Through the conversations with these youth I have found the one thing much more convincing and powerful than either of these two contradicting facts. The Truth behind the matter and unlike most of my writings the capital T is not a typo. I have found my Truth in the creation story and in turn most of the Old Testament.  The Truth I have found is that God did create everything. He spun the galaxies on his finger, she wove in her womb the essence of life, and it balanced the physical with the metaphysical. I believe the Big Bang happened on God’s command. I believe life evolved from the mud of the earth just as the bible says, and I also believe the evolution from that mud can be found in the theories and scientific evidence of our smartest scientists.  The Truth is that these two facts are not contradictory but walk hand and hand, and in that cohesion I find Truth.

Second, I have found that every one of God’s gifts can’t be as simple as, “here is the gift, the end”. Every gift can be broken down in to multiple levels and attached to different parts of our lives so that there isn’t a single action, decision, or word that can’t be completely rapped in God. This week at camp I discovered the complexity of GRACE! That being the Love of a father that is unearned and unexpected, which leads to the Father’s expectation of us to no longer be sedentary, to the true joy we find in expressing that same grace to others. I saw this in the youth at this high mountain adventure of ministry. I saw a child finally accept that no matter what their past was that love can was over their scars and bruises. I lavished in the fact those who are young in faith can take up the cross and bare it to the world unafraid of the world that my persecute them for it, because they can take heart in the Truth that Christ has concurred the world. (John 16:33) Finally the joy I felt when I saw all three come together as a teenage boy hung out my window on the interstate trying to make other vehicles smile with a thumbs up and a wave, and when they were shot down or frowned at by other cars only a single word was shouted from his lips. GRACE! As if to shout that without joy and love the world is empty. So to you, the unjoyful, the naysayer, the person who demands their life be based on facts instead of Truth. I, much like the kid I look up to, must shout the Truth I know about this world… GRACE!

So here I stand, on the wrong side of the cross, holding in my hand a book some would call the ultimate fact on these matters, and think how wrong some people are. For me, Christ spoke in parables not because he thought the world needed more facts. God knows we have enough facts flying around. Instead Christ spoke to us in Truths. These Truths of love, life, and freedom; The Truth of the love of God that is formed in our hearts that should be a beacon for the world. The Truth that life is not meant to be squandered by selfish acts of Christianity but in the celebration of the Community Christ offers. The Truth that freedom from the burden of our short comings and the freedom to use the gifts we have been given to become the people God has created us to be. It is in these Truths that the complete celebration of Life can be found. In the love of God and one another, the Life we are called to live, and the Freedom to be exactly who were are called to be and not what the world thinks we should be. All of this I learned from High Schoolers, and the is the TRUTH. 

Legislating christian marriage

So the debate that has been stirred in America most recently is GAY Marriage. So I have felt that I needed to not just listen to talking heads, politics, or the internet. I felt that if I was truly going to make a decision about what I believe in Gay marriage, I was going to my moral barometer, the bible. The old black and white of the written word. So here is what I have found that Jesus Christ, the one I model my life after had to say about Homosexuality and Marriage.

1)

2)                                             

3)

So after Rereading all of Matthews, most of Mark and Luke, and finally diving into John, I found all of these verses in which Christ, my model for life, had absolutely nothing to say about homosexuality, marriage, and how Christian believe should be enforced at the state level.  I couldn’t find a dang thing. Yet , I have had many people try and convince me that Gay marriage is a religious atrocity, that their god demands that we keep marriage a holy and sacred institution.

                Now I am in a happy, loving, and sacred marriage. I understand the commitment I have made to my wife, my God, and myself to hold this relationship in the highest of regards. I understand the bond that I have committed to. What I don’t understand is why someone who has been divorced and remarried multiple times is trying to tell my how SACRED marriage is (Rush, Newt, Regan ßya). I am only going to be married once in my entire life, I understand the sanctity of marriage. I know many families who have been married for multiple decades. They have earned the right to tell me the sanctity of marriage. Yet none of them can put it in a biblical context for me. No one is able to accurately quote my lord and savior against gay marriage. Mainly because he had nothing to say on the matter.

                Instead I get men holding signs saying God hates Fags, and women holding signs saying save traditional marriage. The only verse of course to back this up would be Leviticus 18:22. Well if they get to pick and choose bible verses to support their beliefs maybe  I, a middle of the road, grace centered human being should do the same. For all women not wanting to let “the Gays” get married as an abomination to the sacred bonds of matrimony I humbly request you attention to 1^st Timothy 2:12.  As for men who think that god hates fags please take a quick peek at Matthew 6:1.

                As a matter of fact, throughout my exhaustive search only found one direct connection to marriage and Jesus. Christ told us that if a Man and Woman or divorced they are not to remarry for it is nothing more than adultery in the eyes of god (Matthew 19:7-8).

            So here I stand on the wrong side of the cross looking at the words of my lord and trying to figure out what my heart and mind believe about this divisive issue. I find myself at the feet of Christ in humility realizing one thing. That God does not bless the self-righteous for they have gained their reward.

The Parable of the Two Sons Matthew 21:

²⁸ “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’²⁹ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.³⁰ “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.³¹ “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”“The first,” they answered.Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

It is not what we say in this world but what we do. When we preach the sanctity of marriage but divorce is at 60%. When we as Christians ask for peace, grace, and humility but tell others that their sin is greater. When we start Legislating Christ, we have truly lost our way. I understand in my heart the purpose and need I have for marriage. It isn’t a joke to me, it isn’t something to be casually kicked around, and it is important to my faith Journey. What it is NOT is a political weapon. I believe that our government should legislate marriage. If you want to be married go to a CHURCH. If you want tax exemptions, visitation rights, and power of attorney, go to the government. Please don’t legislate my church. I understand some people don’t want Gay marriage because it is against their religion. I bet Muslims don’t want you to eat pork and Hindus don’t want us eating cow but that is not the job of Government. Religion asks us to live holy lives not force our righteousness onto others. We are given the key to the door, we were not given the right to force others through the door. Do I support Gay Marriage?  I am not sure 100%. I believe in equal rights and treatment. Do I think it there should be laws condemning it? Absolutely not! Christ calls me to compassion and love. Telling others that their relationship is completely invalid or a blasphemy is not Christian. I will support and love those who find love in others. That is Christian. Acting for love when others breath hate, acting with compassion when other bread contempt, and demanding justice when others bring devastation. That is a Christian life, one that fights what the social order demands. Even if that social order claims to be Christian. I will fight like Jesus fought, against what the religious hierarchy demands be the norm. Man is flawed and twists God to meet the needs of what makes them feel Yucky. Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day were no longer preacher God’s message but their own. Much like the political machine is no longer preacher God’s message but their own agenda. Christ calls us to understand the heart of God which is Love, Compassion, Humility, and Relationship. Hating a group of people because you think they are yucky makes you nothing more than the people in the Good Samaritan parable, and NOT THE SAMARITAN. Please world, let us be more like the Samaritan. Let us understand that our government shouldn’t be in the marriage business and the church shouldn’t be in the legislation business.

Sorry for the long post.

Just God or A Just God

IF you didn't know, on Thursday January 19^th 2012 I was assaulted outside of the Englewood Library after getting off of the light rail. I was coming from the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention and was exhausted from a long day of continuing education. A man I have never meet before asked if I had any money so he could get something to eat. I have felt called by my mission to be more like Christ to reach in my pocket take whatever I have and give someone in need......sometimes more than I should. So I gave the man a 20 dollar bill and pointed him to the Qudoba/Quiznos across the street. He then started to regale me with his tale of woe, which I listened to intently. After about two minutes of his story/,  a black guy (I say guy cause this jerk was no gentleman) runs at me full speed and socks me in the right ear as hard as he can.  I fall to my knee but quickly get back up because I have taken harder hits in RUGBY then this guy could dole out. I attempt to look at him to get a good face shot but I am a little to rattled. What I do notice is his fist in the air like he is rocky and a "WOOO" shouted back at me. Apparently hitting a white guy is like winning the Special Olympics to this moron. (No offense to those brave guys and girls who strive for excellence in the special Olympics.) He didn't take my wallet, phone, or cash. He just ran off. The young man I was talking to did take my phone, but he didn't run. He Dialed 9-1-1 and put it on speaker mode and set it down in front of me.  He and the nice Mexican fellow I was chatting with on the train stayed with me till the police arrived and then they went on their way. I was bleeding from the ear but no real damage was done physically. Actually I was lucky he didn't punch me in the nose which I recently had surgery on and had two huge splints tucked safely inside.  Emotionally I was a little bit of a wreck but that is why I have this Blog right..

Now to the title, I have been thinking about the balance in the world. Some people call it Karma, balance, the universe’s equilibrium, and other God’s justice.  I found myself hoping that something comes around to kick this guy square in the ass. I want to believe that Karma will get him or that the Universe will do evil to those who do evil to others, but I am a Christian and I believe in a living and active God. So is it wrong for me to hope that God will bring swift JESUS JUSTICE down on a man who emotionally and physically violated me?

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

SWEET! If this guy believes in God or Christ he will be in HOSED-Ville. God will detest him and make it so that he is never fit for the work of God.

But then I remember  that if a man strikes you in the Right ear turn also to him your Left. (Luke 6:29)WELL CRAP. What am I supposed to do - - -  hear GOD!?! I mean I am violated, wronged, embarrassed. I rock rolled like a kid on a playground. Now you tell me to shake it off and not let it affect my ministry. I can’t even drive up an off ramp, see man or woman with a sign and stop myself from thinking “sorry last time I helped I got a fist in the ear! You better try the next car.” This isn’t the life God called me to.

So is he JUST GOD or is he A JUST GOD. I have been struggling with the idea that God doesn’t call us to vengeance or anger so how can we bring justice to the world in which he doesn’t bring justice to a guy who gets punched in the head. If he is JUST GOD and hangs out and watches what's going on without bringing what I would call balance to the evils of the world, why do I need to bring change when God doesn’t bring change. IF he is A JUST GOD, then what is all the talk about turning the other cheek? All the talk about Eye for an Eye is no longer the law.

So here I am on the wrong side of the Cross , literally asking God for VENGANCE against a man who wronged me. This time I do feel I am wrong though. God has called us to do the impossible from the beginning. Whether it be building a giant boat, leading a people out of Egypt, or leaving our nets and boats to follow him. So I step forward with forgiveness in my heart. I should have looked at the man who struck me and ask what he needed and how could I help. God Calls us to do the impossible. We are called to ship out into stormy seas. The world will always push down those who try to lift the world. The world will persecute those who call the world to stop persecution. The world will fight the Christ I know even while I fight for my Christ! The words that have brought me comfort in these last days I have to thank Dave Jarvis for…

John 16:33 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.”

The world will have tribulation, frustration, and complications. But take heart for Christ have overcome the world and the world will never be the same for it. 

"Evangelicals"

So I was watching Religulous the other day while I was a little restless in bed, and I found myself looking at what my definition of “Evangelical” was, mainly because I belong to the “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America”. So after taking a good look at the Erik schematics this is what I have come up with.

To be Evangelical in America is usually connected to the four guys that stand outside Sports authority field at Mile High shouting through their mega phone the love of Jesus. That he came to save our souls which are in dire need of saving. Or it is tied to a man/woman in a very nice suit on Sunday morning yelling at me through my television in-between sports center and Batman:the brave and the bold. And after watching Religulous I can understand the frustration in this country with “Evangelicals”.

Personally I am not a huge fan of those kind of Evangelicals. I understand that they are doing a very positive ministry. They are sacrificing their self comfort to preach the name of Jesus Christ and I respect them for it, but I have never found that type of ministry to be appealing. This can easily be explained because when people have to shout at me through a mega phone they give the cliff notes bible and I have read the whole book. This might be the only book I haven’t used cliff notes on when I have to study. So this small taste of Christ must be an acquired taste because when you get a cookie it will make you feel good for a moment but I have always been a meat and potatoes Christian. When you get the good news, when you shout “praise God” at a youth gathering, when you feel love and connection in huge moments those are the delicious cookies and treats God gives us. But when all you hear are those little treats, you can become a little sick to your stomach just like if your diet consists of Twinkies, ding dongs, and Girl scout thin mints. That is why people who have a meat and potatoes faith sometimes have a hard time with this “Go Jesus Go” evangelical because of the fact it is fluff and no stuff.

Yet when I was trying to put this thought into perspective, one of my Kids from youth group reminded me of my passion and adoration for one TIM TEBOW. So how on earth do I reconcile my distaste for people who have to shout JESUS at me, but my love of how Tebow can share his faith on such a national stage? After looking through a couple of Tebow’s interviews on the YouTube I have realized what makes him different. When I see someone telling me I need to love Jesus and believe, I feel pressure on myself. That, I need to do something for God to love me and I need to change isn’t anyone else’s responsibility but mine. Tebow is the shining star that is proof that a relationship with God is between a person and their God. Tebow has never told me that I need to believe. Tebow has never told me that I need to be saved. All Tebow ever talks about is his love for Jesus Christ, and his relationship with a loving and companionate God. Yes he wears his faith on his sleeve by praying before and during football games, but he will never tell you what you need to do. He brings light to the phrase “preach the Gospel at all times and use words only when you need to.”

THAT IS A TRUE EVANGELICAL. Not a person who tells YOU what YOU need to do, but a person who actually leads by example and is unashamed by that fact! A person who can be completely open and honest with what they believe without acting like they are ashamed of it.

So here I stand, perhaps, on the wrong side of the Cross looking back at those telling me that an Evangelical is one who tells people THEY NEED TO BE SAVED, and saying that isn’t what Christ calls me to. Christ calls me to be an Evangelical by what I do and what I believe. An evangelical is one who shares their story of the love of Christ without telling others what they HAVE TO DO. Coming to Christ is a choice. A deeply personal and private choice, and to think it is my responsibility to MAKE others come to Christ seems very, well, Unchristian. Christ calls me to a life of humility. (which I know is something ironic to put on a public blog) So through the jokes of “Tim Tebow” is the second coming, and “OMG Tebow is the too much of a Jesus freak”. I look at him as an example. An example of what an evangelical in America should be. He says he love Jesus and you can tell his sincerity in his statement. Hey doesn’t shout at YOU TO LOVE JESUS, he love Christ and that enough for him. He is evangelical in his actions by building a hospital in the Philippines, visiting sick kids in the hospital and praying with them, and being a clean player in the NFL which is more rare than a white guy at the Apollo. So for those people who share the good news I thank you, but we could use some more Tebow and less Scream-o. An evangelical is Christ in the world, not telling others to be more like Christ.