Being Cautious

There is a lot of sickness going around lately-strep throat, colds, stomach flu and just about everything else you can think of. It has made me a little paranoid as I spend time here at the church (especially about the stomach flu-no repeated projectile vomiting for me please!) It has caused me to be cautious as I interact with people and to limit my contact with them. I have also now developed a habit of using Germ-X every time I walk by the bottle in the lobby.  I have literally used that stuff at least 20-30 times since Sunday night. I am so worried about the doors that I am touching and the desire to not be sick that I don't want to take any chances at all.

As I read in James 4 this morning, I wondered why I don't take that same approach to sin. I should be concerned with avoiding sin and doing whatever I can to cleanse myself, but I get lazy with my discipline and find myself sick spiritually. What would happen if I was that adamant about staying clean and being with God? How different would my spiritual health be? What impact could I have in my family and in ministry if I was that devoted to God and less addicted to sin?

Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:8-10

Be Careful What You Wish For

I shared a quote on my Facebook & Twitter today from C.S. Lewis-"I don't want my image of God, I want God." While that quote sounds good, and it is easy to "like" it, we might want to be a little careful of what we wish for. 

When God reveals who He is to us, we cannot remain the same. God is not someone to be trifled with. He is compassionate and loving, but also great and powerful. The honest truth is that an interaction with God will ruin us for this life as we start to see the potential of life with Him. There are no stories of people coming into contact with God and remaining the same.

Scripture is clear that when we honestly seek God, He will reveal Himself to us.  Once we see ourselves in His light we can't reconcile who we once were with who we need to be. We are faced with a choice-to allow Him to change us into a new creation or to turn our back on Him and follow a path that will ultimately lead to our own destruction.

Self Analysis

I am a question-asker. Questions of other people's perceptions, directions of ministry, effectiveness of what we are doing, or my own relationship with Christ will all fit the bill. I was looking back through some old files tonight and came across these questions to ask of yourself:

1.   Are you serious about living this life?

2.   Are you stepping out of your comfort zone?

3.   What are you doing right now that is forcing a deeper reliance on God?

Challenging questions, but worth asking if you want to grow in Christ.

The Week That Was

Well here we are a week later and God is continuing to do His great work in this race. Sometimes we run alongside at a good clip and other times it is a laboring run where we push through because we realize the ultimate goal.  He never told us that it would be easy, but He has promised us that it would be worth it.  The victories are still coming and yet there are greater things still to be done!

• The Arizona mission team is thumping along-we are nearing the end of our fundraising
• We are blessed by the generosity of so many people at Northridge & those elsewhere as well
• This Saturday marks one month until we leave for AZ
• The Well & Awakening are booming as we hit two months in-almost 80 total people over two nights!
• We continue to see decisions as youth & adults are baptized into Christ-it never gets old
• Great message from Mike this weekend on End Times-powerful & moving!
• The youth ministry here is blessed with incredible youth partners-wouldn't do ministry without them!
• I enjoyed our parent meeting on Saturday morning-it an intense time of seeking a godly way to raise our youth
• Had a camp planning meeting last week for Woodland-very excited about a new adventure for camp this year
• Also a bit sad as it will be my first time not doing camp with my good friend John Porterfield in 6 years
• In the middle of all this work I am blessed to be married to the love of my life and have three unique, creative & beautiful daughters

Overcome

Alright-I'll admit I still can't find a blogging rhythm & that posting song lyrics is a cheat, but this song has been rolling through my head and I want to share it.  I'll put a video at the bottom as well.  Truly anointed lyrics and good for all to reflect on.

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love

Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only son perfect and spotless one

He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victory is Yours

All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory,
worthy of all our praise, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever,
awesome and great is Your name,You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan

You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb

and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome  

What a Weekend!

The title sums it up appropriately-it was truly an incredible (and quick) weekend:

• Left Milledgeville on Friday to drive to DeFuniak Springs, FL for a spiritual retreat with FSU and their Christian Campus Fellowship
• Spoke 4 times in 36 hours on the Holy Spirit & God brought it!
• Worship led by Dan Cole & Kelsie & Nathaniel was incredibly passionate
• The sound of 90 college students singing their hearts out in a small room blew me away all weekend
• Change of place + change of pace = change of perspective
• The ministry that Michael Mears is leading at FSU is beautiful to see in action-the compassion that he has for these college students is admirable and it was a true pleasure to be a small part of it all
• I am continuing to pray for Garrett-a young man that didn't anticipate coming to this retreat-in fact, doesn't go to FSU-but was there with a friend.  God is working on his heart!
• Northridge had 765 in attendance yesterday! Wow-just simply wow.
• 765 people brings lots of logistical issues-praying that we can work through these so that more people can hear what God has to offer
• The Arizona team ran a perfect BBQ while I was in Florida and Northridge blessed us by helping to raise $2400 for our trip in one morning!
• Last night at The Well was simple & yet powerful. I am so grateful to be surrounded by incredible servants & youth that want God's truth.  We are still figuring it out and maturing, but the future with God's Spirit is so bright!
• Thanks to God for having me here in this season to be part of what He is doing!

The Struggle

"The struggle to the top alone can make the heart swell."
Albert Camus

This quote rolls through my head quite a bit.  It is often misread-Camus' intent is not to talk about struggling alone, but that sometimes the difficult journey holds more rewards than actually arriving at your destination. I have to believe that it is true-I am holding fast to that thought now. 

It is difficult to create a new culture in a church & in an area that has been around for so long.  There is so much teaching to be done, so much patience to be had, leaders to develop, foundations to build, and prayers to be prayed.  I'm not afraid of hard work-I actually relish it-but it can be frustrating as you continue to push along and not see the results you are hoping for or expecting.

Some days it frustrates me more than others.  I have this great desire to see ministry blossoming and people living out their faith on a consistent basis.  I invested 6 1/2 years in Florida and God did great things in spite of me there.  I don't want to recreate a Florida environment in Georgia, but my aim is to see young people (and us older folks) passionately following Jesus and desiring to do His great work.  It is going to take some time and the lessons that He is going to teach me (and His church) through the journey will mold and mature us into the church He designed us to be. 

I pray that I would not grow weary as we do His great work.