An Easter story that makes all the difference…

I believe this is the first Easter I have experienced outside of the U.S. and it’s been quite the experience.  Here the Colombian culture has been greatly influenced by the Catholic Church and the celebration of Semana Santa (Holy Week) consists of resting, visiting family, and church processions which back up many of the streets.  Yet Easter appears to be the quietest day of this week-long celebration, no work, no Easter eggs, no bunnies, no candy…  Just Church.  

I enjoyed the rest, even though most businesses were closed when I desired their service or products.  It was good to experience Semana Santa and Easter Sunday differently than what I have been used to, and it certainly encouraged me to think more about the significance of Christ’s resurrection for me and for the Church, and even for those who don’t share my spiritual beliefs.  

A dear friend and mentor used to remind me every Sunday, “Jesus Christ is alive, and that makes all the difference.”  When I came back to what Dave had said, I think this sums up Easter for me, for the Church, and even for those who wouldn’t find themselves in church in twenty years.  If Jesus Christ is alive, that makes all the difference.

I Corinthians 15 says, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.   If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  (I Cor 15: 16-19, ESV)

If Jesus Christ is alive, if he conquered death, this means that God is faithful and his promises are true and that should make all the difference in how we see God.  If not, if Jesus Christ did not conquer death... we are of all people the most to be pitied. 

I hope that this fact brings forth many of the other beautiful and convicting realities of our faith.  God wants to provide for us, sustain us, protect us, and use us to make known His love.  It means that when Christ asked us to make disciples of all nations he didn’t say get people in Church because that is where salvation is, he meant make disciples who make disciples.  

I write this in love, but I think there are many times we must revisit our understandings of scripture.  Making disciples isn’t necessarily about getting people in church to say a prayer of salvation, it is about teaching people to search and know God, empowering them to find understanding on their own, so they can empower more people to search for, to know, and to make visible the invisible attributes of our God.  Unfortunately, I think we fail at this all too often.  Not always, but too often.  If we wish to see the Kingdom of God here on earth in our generation, if we wish to see our message reach all people, all languages, all cultures, then we must return to the source, Jesus.  It is much more than a prayer, it is an understanding that we are a body, we all have different giftings, different passions, and we respond differently to many of life’s pleasures.  Yet, we share the same purpose, that we glorify God with one voice.

This post is not to discourage you from leading people in prayer, proclaiming Jesus lord of our lives.  No, it is to open discussion that salvation can come outside of our reproducible model of evangelism, and that discipleship is more than a prayer.  What good is ‘the prayer’ if we fail to form relationships with the prayers, if we fail to show them Jesus, if we fail to disciple them.  Yes God is good, He is sovereign, and I believe many times he disciples people Himself through his Spirit.  But that is not to say we are not responsible for inviting people to know and experience the life that God has desired for them, beyond a single prayer.  May we not focus so much on cultural restrictions we’ve placed on ourselves in the church.  Salvation comes from faith, and faith alone.  If we fail to remember that our litmus test for discipleship is our fruitfulness, and not only that we bear much fruit but that our fruit should last, then our focus isn’t on creating disciples.  When we accompany someone in their desire to profess that God is real, that people are imperfect, and the Christ died and rose again, that He is faithful, then let us show that Christ’s resurrection makes all the difference by being a church that makes disciples who make disciples, as Steve Saint puts it.

Again, my writings are about concerns that stem from my pursuit and my desire to make and see God known among the nations, to heal wounds from church and religion with people who have been hurt by people professing the name of “God”, and to see the church one day glorifying God with one voice (Romans 15:6).  Is it heresy to ask that what we often see in church may not always be Biblical?  Is it too sensitive to ask that is it possible that many people who are in church may not be saved?  Is it possible that people can find salvation without ever finding themselves in Church?  Am I making you uncomfortable by wanting to challenge truths that appear more cultural than Biblical?  And am I wrong in wondering if we realize that because Christ is alive, which makes all the difference, that we should be drawn to know for ourselves, and not from what we here, who is our God?   Is it wrong to ask if the sole purpose of the Church is to make visible the invisible attributes of God through the process of making disciples who make disciples, and not necessarily through worship music and a sermon?  

Let me say this very clearly, I love the church.  I love going to church.  I love my church communities.  I will support any church as long as it carries the name of Jesus as savior.  There are also many churches out there who are making disciples that make disciples. However, I believe we should challenge that which appears to be a watered down version of salvation, and that which keeps us from truly living and enjoying this life that God desires for not just the church, but for all people.  I will ask and plead people to challenge me, that I myself am not running, or leading others, in a direction which is anything less than the life purposed for His disciples.  I do not wish to pretend I have the answers, I only have questions, but I hope you can join me in better understanding who our God is and what He desires for us.  This is the church, the body of Christ, no?  To challenge and be challenged in love, having been given grace for our imperfectness and an undeserved love for our sinfulness, that one day we may glorify God with one voice in complete harmony (Romans 15:1-6).  

So amidst the chocolate, the presents, the parties, and the Easter bunnies, I hope we return to this simple truth of our faith…  Jesus is alive, and that makes all the difference.

In Grace and Love, and in the celebration of Easter...

Cyrus

From Life to Art

The beauty we’ve been given,

Is in that which is unseen;

And although unseen, we hold confidently to its’ reality

In a secret balance of faith and passion.

For a painter is not a painter,

Until he approaches his canvas.

A writer is not a writer,

Until she captures creativity through the power of words.

A traveler is not a traveler,

Until he courageously walks away from the security of certainty.

In everything we start with nothing,

Faithfully holding onto what could be;

And although we cannot foresee successes or failures,

With passion we must pursue Everything. 

The same holds true for love…

For a friend is not friend,

Nor a neighbor a neighbor,

Until kindness is given freely, expecting nothing in return.

A brother is not a brother,

Nor a sister a sister,

Until they have carried each other’s burdens.

A mother is not a mother,

Nor a father a father,

Until they experience true love’s sacrifice.

So in our desire to truly live

We must approach our canvas,

Walk courageously,

Carry one another’s burdens,

Love sacrificially,

And vulnerably embrace our imperfections,

It is here that life becomes art,

And our lives an empty canvas,

Waiting to be faithfully and passionately approached. 

Dedicated to my dear Aunt Debbie.

Spend and be spent...

These last few weeks have been life changing, and still have much farther to go on this trip.  Even before leaving my mind has been occupied with words, how we use them, and often times which ones to choose. 

These last 8 months of my have been putting together a “covertly” Christian organization, the Become a Human Project.  While my convictions and direction come from my faith and love for my creator, my heart has been unsettled about how we, or I, often make attempts to point people towards Jesus.  That is what we are called to do right?  Point people towards Jesus, tell them about our God, make disciples? 

I find this topic to be much like a love-hate relationship.  Why, when I tell people about Jesus and often include scripture verses to emails and text messages, do some people not want to hear about my God?  Why do they seem to close me out when I present them with what I call truth? Why don’t they understand that I just want to save them? Can’t they realize that they need Jesus, just like the Bible says?  Why is it that I can’t seem to forget about them either… I mean I've done my job as a good Christ follower, right?

The answer to all these questions can be found within the questions themselves, in a few key words.  Bible.  Need.  Save. Truth.  Sin.  Evil. Convert.  Heaven.  Hell. These words are not icebreakers to those who don’t share my beliefs; in fact, they often keep people from continuing the conversation or prompt them to put up their best defense mechanisms.  I don’t blame them.  There are a lot of people who have been hurt by religion.  But that doesn’t answer my question, how are we supposed to tell them who Jesus is, and how are we supposed to make disciples if people don’t want to listen to our preachy vocabulary?  Doesn’t the Bible tell me that salvation, Jesus, and its message are for everyone?

The beauty is, it is for everyone.  That is why relationship, understanding, and sensitivity are so important when exploring how we truly make disciples.  Someone who has no understanding of the Bible or its terminology are often offended by the fact that we Christians are set out to “save” people.  I want to reach the hearts of those people.  Even though they may not understand me, they should know that is not you, or me, who are doing the “saving”, but God. 

What if being “saved” could be vocalized differently, taking into account the persons cultural and religious background?  Isn’t it the same that those who are saved have found a friend in Jesus and a deeper understanding that we are image bearers of God created to do good works and make Him known?  If we put it that way, might we open up doors for conversation that all people can relate to?  It isn’t that we are hiding who God is, or who Jesus is, it is that we are beginning to understand our call to evangelism is more than saying the name of Jesus or quoting a scripture to those who don’t want to hear it. 

First we must be Jesus, we must be a friend, and we must use our gifts and talents that God has given us to make him known.  For some, that may be presenting the Gospel in culturally sensitive ways giving proper recognition to Jesus and siting scripture the whole way.  For others I think it may be presenting Jesus in a way that breaks cultural barriers and may be non-conventional and at times a little “covert”.  But the truth remains, the charge is there, we are to go and make disciples, but that doesn't mean it will be easy or the same for everyone.

Paul urges us to first be a friend, it is all over his letters and evident in his actions.   “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.  To those under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law...  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak, I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (I Cor 9:19-22)  Again, hey says, “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also ourselves, because you had become very dear to us.”  (I Thes 2:8)  “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”  (II Cor 12:15). 

I hope that in this I have not convinced anyone to present a watered down version of the gospel.  In fact, I hope that you have been encouraged to present the gospel in its entirety.  If we truly wish to make disciples, we have to be willing build lasting relationships with believers and nonbelievers.  It has to be more than bringing our friends to church to let the pastors do all the work; and it has to include pursuing all people, while remaining sensitive and full of love. Leading someone in a prayer of salvation and repentance must always be accompanied with discipleship, what is the point of creating large groups of “converts” and allowing them to all melt away?  That is not the model that Christ, or the apostles, left us.  It was a lifetime investment, founded on relationship, in which they would gladly spend and be spent, so that God would be known. 

First be their friend, and when Christ in you builds a relationship with them… they will listen.

A little encouragment goes a long way...

This last week has been full of very unexpected and encouraging surprises.  Being home has been amazing, but presents its own set of life’s challenges.  Between text messages, phone calls, letters, reminders, emails, and even a surprise visit, God showed me just how important encouragement is for the Body of Christ.

I am reminded of Paul, and what he writes in Colossians about why he struggles for them to know the mystery that is Christ:

…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:2-5

In Paul’s absence he writes to fellow believers for a few reasons.  Yet the first of these reasons is so that their hearts may be encouraged, and I strongly believe that the other reasons come as a result of his encouragement. 

The result of encouragement connects people in love, and directs them towards the riches of full assurance and understanding of who God is and who Christ is. Why do I believe Paul is writing out of encouragement?  Because faith is tough… There is no hiding the fact, life in Christ will be difficult.  We are told that we will face trials, persecution, and possibly death for what we believe.  Additionally, it is crucial for the message of Christ to withstand plausible arguments, feel good philosophy, and unhealthy human traditions.

Friends, this is why encouragement so important for the body of believers.  For anyone who walks in faith, we need encouragement.

So here is my request. Take ten minutes out of your day this week to encourage someone.  Not just Monday, but every day this week.  Here is the catch, do not fabricate the encouragement.  Even though encouragement should be based on truth, I believe you can always find something encouraging to say to everyone.

Be creative, send a text message, write a thank you note, make a video, draw a picture, or write a poem, there are more ways than one to offer encouragement.  I promise you, you will be amazed at what a little bit of encouragement does to those receiving it, but don’t forget to make note of what it does to you.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for build up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

That He may put sin to death...

It only seems right to journal about the season of thanks…  I love the sentiment, and the opportunities to tell others just how grateful you are for them, but I feel the most thankful when I see others using this season to slow down enough to remember that which they are thankful for.  This “slowing down” from the busyness of our day-to-day lives has to be the greatest thing about Thanksgiving.  Let us not forget how important it is to slow down, reflect, and give thanks.

I finally found my time to do a bit of reflecting after a very busy few weeks, and it would take much more than one blog post to write all that I am thankful for in this moment.  The lengths that my friends have gone to encourage me in this last week have been humbling: letters, “goodbye” gifts, hugs, prayers, emails, beard jokes, and free coffee and food.  While I will miss my home in Nashville, I was encouraged to see God at work when I left and am excited to see how much more at work He will be when I return.  Words truly cannot express how encouraged I have been by you all.

After all of the craziness of moving away from Nashville for a while, I spent about 24 hours, over the course of three days, in a car driving across the country with my new friend from Columbia.  It offered the perfect opportunity to think about all which God has done in my life in the last year, and what exactly I am grateful for this holiday season.

Here it is:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. –I Peter 2:24

This verse has absolutely wrecked me.  While I am thankful for many other things… the joy that comes from a life in Christ, and the protection and provision that God has promised me, I cannot find anything more worthy of my thanks that Jesus bore my sins, so that sin may be put to death in my life!  Maybe this finds a few of your heart strings the way it has found mine, maybe not.  But as those created in God’s image who are in constant struggle with selfish desires, pride, hatred, and all other forms of immorality, Christ promises us freedom from this so we may live as true image bearers of God. 

I am not saying that from now on I will remain without sin, even though that is the goal.  It is my hope that in revisiting this promise we are reminded that with Christ, we can put sin to death; and when people see us they see a glimpse of who God really is and just how much He loves his image bearers.  Maybe, just maybe, if we focused a little more on this promise, and actively desiring to put sin to death and live for righteousness, people will understand that what they desire is not to be around us, but to be closer to the love that comes only from God.

Friends, in this holiday season may we remember this…

We no longer have to live in sin.

We are the image bearers of true, unfailing love; and God has given us His son, Jesus, not only to bear our sins, but also to show us how to live in righteousness.

We have been healed of our sin, by His wounds.

We have been given the honor and responsibility of sharing this love with everyone.

Grace, Love, and Thanks.

I Peter 2:24-25

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Risk is Right

“Risk is right.”- John Piper

I usually don’t encourage others to read a book until I have finished it, but I feel fairly confident about this one.  So if you are looking for a book with challenging theology and convicting arguments about life and purpose, you need to pick up Don’t Waste Your Life, by John Piper.  I’ll probably wait to finish the book to give my complete list of thoughts, but there has been one chapter that I just have to write about.  Now.

Throughout the book, John Piper has been speaking to many of my current convictions and feelings about American culture and American church culture.   He has encouraged the many questions I have been asking about my own life and their need to be asked, by everyone.  Am I pursuing a prosperous life that God wishes for me, or am I imposing what my own beliefs of what it means to be prosperous?  Am I grasping the magnitude of what God has purposed me for, or am I distracted by a comfortable life or this “enchantment of security” that John Piper says so many of us fall into?  Do I truly believe that God will prepare and provide for me, or do I need to be constantly worrying about my immediate needs?  Do I think my constant preparation for the future is to glorify God, or am I trying to minimize risk of living uncomfortably? 

That is just the short list…  I have had so many questions running through my head this last year that I don’t feel this list does it justice, but that’s not the focus.  The commonality among all these questions is asking on some level if I am living life in accordance with the Gospel?  For me I feel like my life is too safe, to easy, lacking too man relationships with hurting and broken people, and too risk free to “fit” into the pages of the New Testament.  This is why John Piper’s simple statement struck such a chord in my life.

Friends, “Risk is right”. 

“On the far side of every risk–even if it results in death—the love of God triumphs.  This is the faith that frees us to risk for the cause of God.  It is not heroism, or lust for adventure, or courageous self-reliance, or efforts to earn God’s favor.  It is childlike faith in the triumph of God’s love—that on the other side of all our risks, for the sake of righteousness, God will still be holding us.  We will be eternally satisfied in Him.  Nothing will have been wasted.” [emphasis added]

(Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper)

This may just be me, but I believe my call to follow Christ has been distracted by my comfort bubble too long, avoiding risk like we avoid that awkward admirer… the knowing that they are there but hoping that if you ignore them long enough maybe they’ll just go away, kind of thing.   If I truly let the God of the Bible prepare and provide for me, as he constantly promises, I think I would be willing to risk a little more for His sake and making His glory known. 

Friends, it is my hope that we can help each other learn to risk it all for the sake of Christ, sooner rather than later.  Today I ask you to consider the things that are keeping us from living the Gospel; only we can answer these questions for ourselves.  We have been given only one life; let’s not waste it. 

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Gun Collectors

I listened to an incredible lecture by Pastor Mark Driscoll about the Spirit-filled ministry of Jesus.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pastor Mark, I offer a word of caution.  He cuts right to the chase, and goes straight for your heart.  Do not plan on listening to a sermon or lecture by him and anticipate leaving with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.  He has an incredible ability to make people truly examine their heart, their actions, their faith, and how too often we are missing the big picture all together. 

In this message Pastor Mark makes a very convincing, and convicting, analogy about our faith and gun collectors.  Gun collectors spend a lot of time, polishing, cleaning, and protecting their guns.  They buy safes and vaults for them, because these guns are important to them.  They do everything required to maintain their beautiful weapons, including not using them for their intended use…  shooting. 

How are we any different?  When looking at our spiritual lives we do the same thing.  We polish our beliefs.  We do the things that make us look good, and are vital to a life of a Christ follower.  Yet often times we lose sight of what we were intended for.  We, like guns, were created to be powerful, life-changing, and useful tools that can give and take life.  We were not created to brush up on our theology, read the Bible, join a church, invest in a community group, pursue Truth, and then be put in a safe to be kept from harm.  No, we are intended to be cleaned, polished, and prepared for our intended use, to be powerful and useful tools that can alter history, change lives, pursue the lost, and love without reserve.  

Friends, let us not be the "gun collectors" of faith... may we be used as God intended us to be used, in powerful and incredible ways. 

If you have an hour, I highly encourage you to listen to Pastor Mark’s lecture.  You can find it, and others like it at The Resurgence website, or you can go directly to the page by clicking here. 

Grace and love to you, friends. 

John 15:16,17

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.  Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other.

Tiny American Jesus

This week has humbled me.  God continually reminds me how little control I have, and that He will do what He wants if I just let Him.  Between meeting new friends, running into old friends and turning to the right page in the right book, I have been brought back to just how human we are and how much we limit what God can and will do through us… if we are willing.

Friends, be careful that we are not falling into the pattern that Paul warns Timothy about.  We are playing with a fine, and dangerous, line here in America.  We cannot be the church that turns Faith into religion by surrounding ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear, all the while denying truth (II Timothy 4:3,4).  We cannot become the church that pursues a comfortable way of living if we neglect our brothers in need.  John even challenges those who do this, “How can the love of God be in him?” (I John 3:17).  We cannot become the compromised church culture that is okay with certain sins, but claim righteousness because we are still all around good people (II Timothy 3:1-4).  We cannot put on a form of godliness, but deny His power (II Timothy 3:5).  Brothers and sisters, we cannot remove faith from the equation.

A new friend of mine said it perfectly on Thursday night.  We cannot keep pursuing our “Tiny American Jesus”.  

Catherine Booth warns us how Satan works when we live this way, Many do not recognize the fact as they ought, that Satan has got men fast asleep in sin and that it is his great device to keep them so.  He does not care what we do if he can do that.  We may sing songs about the sweet by and by, preach sermons and say prayers until doomsday, and he will never concern himself about us, if we don't wake anybody up.  But if we awake the sleeping sinner he will gnash on us with his teeth.  This is our work- to wake people up.
(Much gratitude to Jana for this timely message)

Not only do we ourselves need an awakening, people, it is time we started waking others up!

Jesus is so much bigger than this.  Paul says, “Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life,” (I Timothy 2:15,16).  If Christ can take Paul, the worst of sinners, a mass murderer of men, women, and children, and use him for a greater glory, imagine how much more he wants to do with you!    

It’s amazing when God throws the same scripture (II Corinthians 12:9,10) at you day in and day out.  Especially when He is trying to remind me just how weak I am.  Then it turns into an incredible revelation when we realize that even in our weakness, God not only wants to use us, but He is made strong! He didn't design us perfectly that we might depend on our own strength, but that we might depend on Him.

Here is the bottom line, our Jesus is much bigger than the Tiny American Jesus that so many of us pursue.  He has incredible plans and adventures for every one of us, but until we are willing to bring faith back into the equation we will continue to struggle with poor theology, we will continue to surround ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear, and we will continue to wear a form of godliness while denying His power. 

As Oswald Chambers reminds us, God has chosen you (John 15:16), let Him have His way!
(My Utmost for His Highest, October 25th)

Brothers and sisters, may we stop pursuing a Jesus that is limited to our own cultural values, but may we see Him fully, in His entirety.  May we realize how weak we are, and just how much we desperately need a savior to depend.  May we start waking people up to these truths, and may we let him have His way. 

II Corinthians 12:9,10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Muscle Cars and Mexican Food

With only 5 days and $140 (could have easily been less if I had been 25 years old), I bopped around the Pacific Northwest meeting people, celebrating the wedding of my old roommate and his beautiful wife, and experiencing God around every corner.  I didn’t have much time to explore Seattle, Tri-cities, and Portland, but was there long enough to know that I want to go back. 

Grant and Laura’s wedding was beautiful.  Beautiful bride and bridesmaids, sharp groom and groomsmen, muscle cars, family, friends, and Mexican food…  all the secret ingredients to a perfect wedding.  Congratulations to the newly weds!  I am so glad was able to make it out there for the special occasion, and was grateful for the added bonus of doing a little traveling with my friend Ben Bosse (I saw some of the most interesting things while traveling with Ben) and being able to do a little exploring of my own. 

In all of this bouncing around Washington and Oregon, meeting new people and seeing old friends, I was reminded how much I love hearing people’s stories.  Where they are, how they got there, where they aspire to be, and how they feel God plays in to all of that.  Fortunately I met some pretty kind folks at the wedding, on the road and while visiting a friend at Portland Bible College (PBC), and everyone had a story.

Sarah was my ride to Portland.  She does interactive media for the Trailblazers, combines fashion and her love sports, and loves to tell it like it is… I learned a good bit sharing a ride with her, specifically that girls can know what they are talking about when it comes to sports.  Do not test her knowledge when it comes to Basketball, guys.

Dale helped me kill time at Safeway while waiting for my friend Ben to get off of work in Portland.  He recently turned 83 years old, enjoyed sharing prostate jokes, has been in Portland since 1953, is now currently on a diet per doctor’s orders, taught me the meaning of the word “tumescent”, and left me encouraged that one day I might be as young as him when I’m 83. 

While Dale and I didn’t share the same spiritual beliefs, I think his many years of living still left him with some wise words worth sharing.  Do everything that you can so you don’t miss anything you could have done.  Not bad advice for anyone, but could be greatly misleading if we only do things for ourselves.  I think he meant for this statement to be focused on both our own passions and love for others.  If any of my new friends in Portland are reading this, check in on my buddy Dale at the Safeway where NE Fremont runs into NE Sandy Blvd.  He likes to sit at the tables outside and watch for the moon between 5:30 and 7:00 pm. 

Solomon was a traveler we met with some friends from PBC on his way to Seattle. He reminded me that people aren’t always a product of their own decisions, and sometimes life is harder for some than it is for others.  Both of Solomon’s parents died by the time he was 13, was emancipated at 15, and has been traveling the country since 16.  He is 23 years old and loves to read.  Even though he seemed to have little, he was very content with what he did have.  I’m sure Solomon wouldn’t mind any extra prayers, if you remember it would be greatly appreciated. 

My friend Ben from high school introduced me to a ton of amazing people at PBC where he just started going not to long ago.  I didn’t get to spend as much time in conversation with many of them, but was incredibly encouraged by their faith, obedience, and pursuit of God.  What God did at PBC was truly amazing, and a total answer to prayer.  I am forever grateful for my short stay here and cannot wait until the next time I run into these friendly faces again.  Thanks to all of those who fed me, drove me around, prayed over me, and delivered some very prophetic words from the Lord.  God is certainly using you all for awesome, awesome things.  I will be thinking about you guys and praying for you often. 

As for now, back in Nashville… landscaping, cleaning pools, coaching soccer, teaching climbing, and just trusting in Jesus for whatever is next.  Adventure on, friends.

You have to live, you know?  If you want to go anywhere in the world, pick up a book and read it.

-Dale

Costly Grace

"Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. . . . It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." - D. Bonhoeffer

I came across this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Facebook. Ironically, the pastor who posted this for his status is a distant cousin of mine.  If my Facebook research is correct (not sure how credible this would be in academia), Frederick Eaton is a cousin to my Uncle Nate… who knew, I have a relative in Canada, and he loves Jesus. 

While I have never met or spoken with my distant cousin, I am grateful for these powerful words.  How great the price that was paid for my sins.  This statement helps put into perspective the conviction that I pray this grace holds in all of our lives: It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. 

Friends, this grace is a gift; and as Bonhoeffer reminds us, it must be sought again and again.  We will never reach a point in which we no longer need grace.  Yes, Jesus promises us to put sin to death (Romans 8:13-14), but we can only do this when the Spirit lives in us, when we seek the truth of the gospel again and again, and when we let God’s word reign true in all parts of our lives… not just the little bit we take with us to Church on Sundays. 

I have yet to meet someone who reflects the humility and authority of the Spirit who is not constantly in the Word pursuing God’s will for their lives, or who is not seeking the gospel again and again.  It will not happen.  The grace we so desperately want does come through faith in God, but it does not stop there.  Faith should not stop in our home, it must change the way we look at, and live, the callings in our lives.  Let this cost of grace, that cost a man his life (the Son of God), send you in a passionate pursuit of an unimaginable adventure with our God.  When we just begin to understand the cost of grace and the power of God that is exactly what faith becomes… an adventure! 

Believe me, this adventure will not be confined to your church building or home…  this faith will take you places to seek out people you never thought you would.  It may not be to another country, but it will be to where there are lost people.  Brothers and sisters, may we never forget the cost of grace. 

I John 3:23-24

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Gracious Uncertainty

My Utmost for His Highest- April 29
Gracious Uncertainty.

"... To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring... We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the tasks He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises."

Can we really only be certain of one thing, God? All other aspects of life are subject to change at any given moment, conducted or orchestrated by God himself? Is this one way we perceive faith? It's hard for me to believe that in actively seeking God we are less certain, and at the same time I feel like I know exactly what Oswald Chambers is talking about. While I believe the usual routine is to look for God in our uncertainty, trusting that God is in control allows us to accept the uncertainty and even turns it into contentment or excitement.

In my personal experience I am not upset by uncertainty, but I cling tightly to the things that I am certain about (even in during my spiritual lows). I am certain that God is a God of love, I am certain that He continually has my best interest in mind (even in the toughest situations), I am certain that my God has a plan for me (even if I don't know what it looks like), I am certain that I will mistakes (and hopefully learn from them, I am most certain that I will never truly know what happens next.

Is it my certainty of what is uncertain, or of what is certain, that truly keeps me sane? I do not know, but I am comforted in knowing that I am certain of God and God's love for me, and I am certain that he is in control and not me. To me it sounds like a great recipe for some "safe" uncertainty.

I John 3:2

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

This has brought me to an understanding that certainty is only found through faith in God, and even though there are things we can be certain of... we will never truly know God's plan for us until he has mightily worked through us. Living a life in "uncertainty" really challenges one to trust God, building on their faith. Many of the things that we know to be true and only true by faith....

So what can I do with my uncertainty? Draw as close to God as possible, and he will draw near to me... giving me comfort in my uncertainty and possibly some clarity.

Sleep tight, don't let the Sharks Bite... That's Snot Funny...

June- 15th 

Apparently my chances of being attacked by a shark are about as good as me being struck by lightning...  Thanks to Rob (my host dad) I've still somehow developed a fear of Sharks and of lightning....   last lighting storm there were two people who were struck by lightning in LA, which means my chances for getting struck by lightning just went up, along with me getting bit by shark...  (We are doing some sea kayaking in the harbor tomorrow for camp training, that's why we've been discussing this.)  Now Rob tells me, "Sleep tight, don't let the sharks bite"... where I reply, "That's Snot funny" (another one of Rob's response to my booger joke).  

So it's been nearly a week since we got back from Mexico, and already I've been down and out a good couple days with a cold...  and now I think that I may have passed on my cold to Melanie (my host mum).  Hopefully she doesn't hold it against me...

Fortunately I was still able rest up enough to play in last night's game...  We won 3-1 over the Lancaster Rattlers... moving us from 7th to 5th in the region.  We played well, and I felt I had a relatively good game considering my recovering.  After the game I was able to share my testimony, which is something we have at all of our home games.  Our "featured" player will welcome everyone down onto the field and give there story then close the evening in prayer... and last night was my turn.  

I'd write you guys my story, but I believe I included most all of it in the posting below from Mexico...  Only thing that I would include here in front of the Seahorse fans is how my story is constantly being added on too, where God has me now and where he seems to be taking me. There is no telling where I will end up, but if there is anything that God has taught me these past couple of years is that there is no use in worrying...  as long as I'm being diligent in what God has blessed me with (talents, resources, and such...), He will take care of me.  

What I've been challenged to think about this week is in correlations with Ephesians 2:8,9 and James 2:14-25

Summary:

Ephesians 2- It is by grace you have been saved, through faith- not by works so that no man can boast... 

James 2- Faith without works is dead...

Well then, if we are saved by faith and not by works... yet faith without deeds is dead... how is it that we are not saved by works.  I have heard once before this being brought up as a "contradiction" in the Bible and failed to look into it a bit further and had completely forgot about it until now.  But last week in small group we came to the conclusion that they aren't contradictory... they are complimentary.  When you read them in parallel, joined by a simple conjunction- "It is by faith you have been saved, not by works BUT faith without deeds is dead..." it makes sense. 

Now the tough questions are when to distinguish whether our works/actions are a result of our faithful obedience to God or done selfishly and impulsively.  Can we help others and not be acting out of faith?   I do not ask this to discourage myself or anyone to not help people, it is more of a challenge to truly understand the nature of our actions and if they are spirit led or not.  But to answer my previous question, I think it is possible to help others and not be acting in accordance with our faith...  That is why Ephesians states we are saved by grace through faith, and it isn't a list of good works that gets us to heaven.  Understanding and believing God's gift of grace through Jesus is all we need... yet there is that conjunction- BUT - James (the brother of Jesus) tells us that simply believing that we are saved yet failing to show it in our actions is not good enough either.  I think what James is challenging all believers to feel a sense of conviction, if we truly believe that we have been saved by grace, through faith, yet fail to show the love of Jesus to others...  how will they believe us when we tell them about our faith?  Or is the result what we see today, the label that many Christians receive because of what they claim to believe contradicts what they do- "hypocrites".  

So my questions- is there really a contradiction in these two verses?  How do we "act out" our faith?  

More to come!

June 19th-  My family is bigger than yours...  I guarantee it!

Currently I'm spending the weekend in Illinois for my cousin Patrick's wedding, I had to miss practice yesterday and will be missing our match in Bakersfield tomorrow...  unfortunate timing for me considering I had been playing well, hopefully this doesn't affect my standing in the lineup for next week.  However it's been six years since I've seen many of my cousins (27 on my mom's side), aunts, uncles, and grandparents...  I'm super excited that I get to see most all of them, minus a few, this weekend.

I just wanted to update everyone as to where I've been since I got back from Mexico and had meaning to publish this last post but failed to finish it till now...  so, continue to keep me in your prayers as well as a happy wedding and blessed wedding for my cousin Patrick and his bride to be Sarah.  

Blessings,

-Cyrus