David The Stud

This is a tribute to David and how he basically defines awesome.

The Old Testament is filled with people who made God angry. Who turned from God. Who even insulted God. Even Israel, God's chosen nation, had a whole slew of kings who totally disregarded the LORD.

But not David. No. David was the ultimate leader. He set such an amazing example in so many ways that I wanted to take time to point out a few things.

Of course we have David's childhood. Defeating Goliath. Epic. Here is a guy who sees a problem, seeks strength from the LORD, then fixes it. Problem solved. I think a lot of Christians today need to take a lesson from David. Quit tip-toeing around issues and start solving them.

Then there was Saul. This dude hated David, even tried to kill him. Twice. Both times David had a chance to kill Saul. But didn't. He forgave Saul.

What a stud.

Then we get to David's kingship over Israel.

Not only does he bring the entire nation of God back together under one government, but he also brings back the Ark. Basically, David establishes God's nation of Israel into their home and makes them a stable nation. David also provides us with an example of worship as the Ark is brought into Jerusalem (this is where he sings my favorite Psalm...found in 1 Chronicles 16).

But what I really want to focus on is David's obedience. A common word used in stories of David is "inquire." David is constantly inquiring of God as to what he should do.

Literally, before he makes any major decision, he asks God what to do.

So here's a guy who's got it all. He is the most powerful man of the most powerful kingdom, and he is still asking the LORD what to do.

But it gets better!

David wants to build the temple. As per his custom, he first asks God about it, thinking that the answer is somewhat of a no-brainer (why wouldn't God want him to make a temple?). Even his obvious decisions are placed at the feet of God! Anyways, David asks God about it, and God says no.

Apparently David has shed too much blood to build the temple.

What does David do? He takes God's answer and obeys it! He starts to make preparations to build the temple, then tells his son Solomon that he will have to do it when he is King!

Of course David had his support system of friends to help him out (known as "David's Mighty Men". And of course David had his sins and sinful habbits (Bathsheba). However, David still provides us with an awesome example of what Christians should be like. Especially leaders.

And that's why David is a true Old Testament (and maybe the first) stud.

Love Affair

Anyone who does anything is familiar with the idea of burn-out. You know, the state of doing something so much that no matter how much you love doing it, you've grown tired and can even come to a point of discontentment.

If you are a part of a ministry (aren't we all?) then you've probably heard some horror stories from the burn victims of church volunteer groups, and probably heard even more tips and ideas on how to deal with burn-out....so here's one more metaphor that might help you with burnout....

Consider the first time that you met your spouse/significant other. At some point, you realized, "Hey, I should get to know this person, he/she's pretty cool." You then develop a relationship and start to imagine all the great things that relationship could be. It's awesome at first, and you start to spend more and more time with that person. Well, some people spend too much time together at first, and start to grow sick of each other (You see where I'm going with this). This, is burn out...

Now, picture the moment you found God. You realized that He is right there and always has been. You think to yourself "Self, this whole Jesus guy is pretty awesome and I have got to get to know him better." Soon enough, God starts to give you tremendous ideas about a ministry for you to work with or even start. You begin working on this idea so much and you invest so much time that you forget what it was that brought you there in the first place:

God's love for you.

I recently went through this situation, and I realized that I need to get back to my simple love for God. Not that ministry is bad or that it needs to be abandoned, but don't forget the honeymoon stage of your love for God.

Don't be afraid to cheat on your ministry with a few nights in the presence of the LORD.

Trial and Error

Recently, I started a new job as a youth pastor in Grand Rapids. It's been really great, and I am very blessed by the opportunity to serve. However,when I first received the good news that I would be working at my dream job, I went through two of the roughest weeks of my summer.

You see, before I got this job, I had a great need to trust that God was going to provide for me. I was facing unemployment. I was running out of funds. I was depressed. I was forced to rely on God and seek comfort in His arms.

And it was a beautiful thing.

Naturally, when I received the job offer, I wasn't worried about finances. I wasn't depressed. I essentially was cured of a need for God. So for the two weeks between the job offer and my starting date, I meandered through life, just passing time until I began my God given work.

I didn't seek God....I didn't look to Him for guidance, or help, or comfort. It's sad that I needed trials in my life to be close with God, but without them, I was lost.

It wasn't until I started my work here in Michigan that I recognized my constant need for God's sustaining power and wisdom. I also recognized that the LORD has graciously provided me with trials so that I can learn to grow close with Him. As Paul says in James and 1 Peter, we should be thankful and even rejoice in our trials because God is using them to love us.

So I would encourage and challenge you to look at your trials in a different light, and maybe even pray that God would provide trials for you so as to have an opportunity to grow.

The Production Assistant

Working at church the other day, I noticed a copy machine of sorts printing off bulletin inserts at break neck speeds. I began to recognize how much the average American church invests in it's Sunday services. A majority of the church operates much like a theatre or show place. (The point of a church is not just the service, but a lot of effort does go into it)

Every week there is another service, come rain or shine. Each week is spent in preparation. Sermons are written. Songs are rehearsed. Bulletins printed. PowerPoints created. Coffee and cookies are baked.

This happens every week because God strengthens the church body, but also because He has created the church volunteer. Here's the thing about volunteers, they rarely get recognized for what they do.

Sure the church has paid staff to do much of the organizing and planning, but let's be honest....the church RUNS on volunteers (and the volunteers run the church....)In the church-body analogy so often used in Scripture, the volunteers could be considered the blood. Moving throughout the body and supporting everybody else.

But seriously, they make everything happen, and usually without us noticing. That's the mark of a great volunteer. They are sneaky and do things without being asked (or without looking for recognition) and often go unnoticed. They are like the perfect Production Assistant....

Ministry wouldn't happen without their support. They central to every evangelical effort and discipleship growth. Crucial to the work of the Kingdom.

So here's to all of the church volunteers. Thank you SO MUCH for all you do. Making Sundays happen in sanctuaries, gyms, libraries, kitchens, and hallways week after week. Overcoming all obstacles with a positive attitude screaming, "The show must go on!"

(Again, church is NOT about the Sunday service, nor should worship be viewed as a production or show...this was merely a comparison used for creatively describing the role of volunteers)

Driver's Ed

It's been a while since I last blogged, so what better way to return than with an analogy. This one comparing our Christian faith to driving....

For sake of simplicity, I'm just going to list off the ideas and thoughts surrounding this comparison.

The rules of the road (the Law) are set up....but we all ignore them. Some more than others, but we are all deserving of citations regardless of the extent of our speeding.

Similar to grace, not many people receive the punishment they deserve for disobeying the rules of the road.

Everybody is a perfect driver in their own mind. Seriously. How many times have you had somebody criticize your driving? How many times do you criticize the driving of others? Remove the plank guys....remove the plank.

Driving doesn't work well when you are focused on doing other things at the same time (texting, food, makeup, etc.) Neither does Faith.

Finally, there's the police. When we do our sneaky little U-turns, rolling stops, and yellow light daredevils, we always check for the police to see if they're watching. When we do see a cop, we slow way down, use our indicators, and drive like we're back in the student car. How would you live your faith differently if you knew God was watching you at ALL times? Oh wait....He is.

So for some of you self proclaimed driving experts, seasoned drivers, or sweet sixteen-ers....maybe you should re-examine your driving habits. Maybe it's time to check into Driver's Ed....

God's Staff....

Lately I have been really excited for what God has planned for my life, but I've also been very honored and amazed at what God has me doing already. It occurred to me yesterday that God has called me to lead His people in worship. God wants me, of all people, in His band.

What an honor!

How amazing is God's grace that despite my flaws and sinfulness, He still wants me to lead His people. It's amazing to be used by God. He also reminded me yesterday that He wants me to disciple His young adults.

Again...what an honor!

So here is a list I have recently come up with to help put some of this in focus. Picture God as a father (shouldn't be too hard to imagine) and all of us as His children (almost like this is a Biblical analogy). Try to recognize how much a parent cares for their children and they want nothing less than the best for them.

Pastors: God trusts you to mentor, grow, and provide for His children
Teachers: God trusts you with His children's education
Nurses/Doctors: God trusts you with His children's health
Politicians: God trusts you to run His household
Businessmen: God trusts you to financially care for His children
Military/Police/Firemen: God trusts you to protect His children

This list can go on and on...but the point is, that God trusts each of us with His favorite and most valued part of creation. How awesome is that?!?

HOWEVER...along with that honor comes responsibility. We are all called to be good stewards and give God nothing less than our best. Thankfully, we don't (and shouldn't) rely on ourselves because God is working in us and giving us the strength to do what He needs us to do.

What's your staff position?

He Bled....

One of the most important aspects of Christ's life was His blood. It was through His blood that we were made clean, that we were forgiven, that we are even able to have faith. He bled on the cross so that we can live.

But that's not the blood I want to focus on here.

Christ bled before the cross. Before His torture. Even before His arrest. He sweat blood.

In Luke it says that Christ sweat drops of blood as He prayed; "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but Your will be done."

Christ always served as an example, and here He shows us how to deal with the struggle of following the Almighty. Christ knew what God wanted Him to do, but He couldn't do it. At least not on His own.

Christ prayed for God to find another way, but Christ also prayed for God to give Him strength to do His will. Essentially, Christ had to rely on God to be obedient.

Often God asks us to do things we don't want to do. It's alright to be scared. It's alright to not want to. Christ was scared. He didn't want to. So don't feel bad when God asks you to do something and you're not jumping up and down for joy.

Deal with it like Christ did. Pray for strength. Pray for obedience. If Christ needed God's help to be obedient, don't feel bad if you do too.

Some Worship Thoughts....

Over the past 36 hours or so, I have had a few ponderings regarding the practice of worship....these are my thoughts....(again, in random order)

To start, I am super thankful that God has chosen me to lead His people in worship. To make music to the King is truly an honor and I am thankful that God's grace covers my insufficiencies to the point where I can do that. I'm extremely humbled every time I remember that my feeble attempts at music are for the Almighty.

Raising of hands in worship...I think it is a really cool thing...but is it overdone? Why do we raise our hands for only certain types of worship? Shouldn't it be a consistent thing?

Tonight, I tried to worship without singing, but rather listening. It was cool to hear the Christian body and imagine what the music in heaven would sound like. It was also cool to hear the Spirit moving. What wasn't cool, however, was that I noticed I didn't get the same feeling as when I am singing. Said a different way....perhaps I enjoy the sing-along part of worship more than the praising part. Make sense? I mean, it's easy to feel the "joy" when we are singing our favorite songs...so maybe that "joy" we thought was heavenly based turns out to be karaoke based....I dunno....

Finally, the worship grading system. Yeah, I critique worship sets. The musicians. The song selection. And typically I show no mercy. It's a really good thing God is merciful in accepting my worship, because if He were as harsh a critic as me then nothing short of Hillsong or Crowderband would be good enough....

The moral of the story (or blog) is that worship is something that both puzzles and amazes me. I am so grateful to be able to praise my LORD, I'm just not sure about a lot of aspects....

Thoughts?...

Some Thoughts....

The following is a list of random thoughts I had throughout the day that I thought I'd share with the blogging world (or at least those who read this). My head has been quite full recently, so I decided to let a bit out.

If the LORD came down and gave you the answers to any three questions, what would they be? What do your questions reveal about yourself?

Remember breakfast? Eggs, bacon, sausage. Yeah, we should bring that back.

Writing music...it's a love hate relationship.

Ever ask God how His day went? Ever get a response?

Infatuation vs. Love...which is stronger?

Shoe tying = pain in the butt....Let's make velcro acceptable again

Taco Bell...it's a love hate relationship

Being a fish would be the pits, you're stuck with one facial expression your entire life.

Hair

This be the result of my shaving endeavors this morning. I decided to compare faith to hair while not-so-neatly trimming up. This isn't really a useful analogy, rather just a set of my random ponderings.

Everybody has hair of sort (some more than others). What's more, everybody's hair is different. The reason for this difference is because (like faith) there are two contributing factors to hair styles.

You are born with certain hair characteristics (much like people are born into certain traditions). People then choose what to do with the hair they are given (much like some people leave or embrace those traditions)

Nobody keeps the same hairstyle for their entire life. They go through a trial and error process until they find one that they like best. Those hairstyles are form of expression, and they say a lot about person. Your hairstyle is a lifelong process that really never stops. We care enough about it to constantly make it work. How many of us are satisfied with our faith and have stopped adjusting?

Here are the two parts that I really do like:

1) Hair requires maintenance....It's not something you can just leave alone, you have to continuously pour into it. Our faith requires constant attention as well. How many times a day do you look at your hair in the mirror or adjust it. How many times do you examine your faith?

2) Hair is constantly growing. Economic recession, stress at work, relationships, and successfulness can't help or hinder that growth. Hair grows consistently through all things. Does your faith?

Sorry to any hair sensitive readers...Especially bald ones. I promise your ticket to heaven doesn't depend on your hair cut....

Other thoughts on the hair-faith analogy?

Waiting....

Ever heard the phrase "I can't wait until...."? It's really a silly phrase when you think about it, because if you can't wait, then what else are you going to do? How do you "not wait" for a future event?

Webster defines "waiting" as "remaining inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens"

How many of us are in a state of waiting? Waiting for that special someone. Waiting for that awesome career. Waiting for graduation. Waiting for summer.

Whatever it is that we're waiting for, we seem to do so in a passive state. We wait until that special happening to start living our lives. We live them as though they haven't really started and everything until that ultimate event is just the warm up.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see cases of people who could have lived their lives in a state of waiting, but didn't. Women such as Sarai, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah were all considered barren, which was a big deal in those days. A woman's role in society was basically to raise a family, so these women faced a huge struggle. But they didn't just sit and cry about it, rather they prayed about it. They worked towards their goal. In the end, God blessed them with children. You may have heard of them, they were Isaac, Jacob, Joseph & Benjamin, and Samuel. God had work for those women to do before they had children. He had a plan for them.

So I would encourage you to use that silly little phrase and "not wait." Don't spend your life waiting for that special someone to walk into your life. Don't just sit by and hope that job falls into your lap. Enjoy school while it lasts. And make the best of winter while it's here (or at least try).

Or maybe you are waiting for the wrong thing. Maybe that special someone is already in your life and you are ignoring it. Or maybe you are supposed to do a different job than you thought.

Whatever the case, pray about your time of waiting, and ask God what it is that you are supposed to be doing instead of sitting on your hands and marking days off the calender.

Live your life now. Don't wait.

God's Hands

Here's a simple lesson I was reminded of tonight....

The past week or two I have been getting really frustrated with one of the ministries I am involved in, mostly because I have been getting a lot of grief from various people and I don't know how to handle it.

The problem is that everybody wants something different and I can't satisfy them all, so what do I do?

The lesson to be learned here is that all ministry is powered by God. The LORD provides everything for a ministry, and as a result we need to rely on Him.

That was my problem, I wasn't relying on Him. I was taking all of this grief from people personally. I was personally trying to solve all of the problems.

This doesn't work.

I snapped at a friend of mine today for something that wasn't her fault because I was getting so worn down trying to do it all myself. Throughout this evening, at a worship event, I was pretty crabby and not very useful.

So this was not only hurting me, but other people, and probably affecting my ministry.

So do yourself and everybody else a favor....put it in God's hands.

Survival Faith

Here's a scenario that got me thinking a bit....

Let's say you somehow get stranded on a deserted island (inspired from LOST) and you will be on that island for the rest of your life. The worst part is that you are completely alone (According to Jack you're gonna die then).

So you are facing a lifetime of solitude with no contact to the outside world.


What does this mean for your faith?

No more church. No more evangelism (unless you want to convert the native crustaceans). No more good works (Faith without works is dead)

Seriously, what happens to your faith then? I reckon you get a lot of prayer time, but would your faith increase or decrease? If faith wouldn't survive this ordeal, does that then mean that our faith is dependent on the presence of others?

How can a Christian live out their faith in such circumstances?

I suppose what the question really comes down to is this. Can you continue in your faith if it is just you and the LORD? You may be able to physically survive on the island, but will your faith make it?

True Love

Well friends, tis Valentines day, and I thought I might share my ponderings on the subject.....Don't worry, I'm not about to whine or complain....

One of my friends, Kieth Kosmal, highlighted the fact that a day devoted to love has become one of the most depressing days of the year for most people. Often called "Singles Awareness Day", many reflect on their own life and feel sorry for themselves for not being in a relationship with that perfect other....

And so this day should be depressing to us single folk....right?

We shouldn't have any reason to be happy on this day (or any other day for that matter) because being single is a terrible thing. A person can only be happy if they are dating....

False.

The positive alternative (Sounds like a cheesy radio station name), is that we could celebrate the love we do have....

You know, from the Father?

Yeah...He loves us....pretty cool right?

So the question that I've been pondering is this: Is there anything wrong with the single life?

Man's purpose on this planet is to glorify God, one might even say that's what we were made for (Colossians 1:16). One could claim that the only way for us to be happy is to do what we were made to do, glorify God.

People live their entire lives happy and fulfilled without a spouse. Look at the apostles. If you do find that special someone, great, they are there to help you glorify God. But they aren't the ultimate goal, and especially not the key to happiness. Don't believe me? Ask Paul (1 Corinthians 7).

Don't get me wrong, romantic relationships are a gift from God, and should be celebrated accordingly. But like all of God's gifts, they shouldn't become idols. They can't fill the whole in your heart like God can.

So instead of whining and complaining about V-day, go buy yourself some candy hearts (although they taste so bad, why would you give them to someone you care about?), and remember that you're here to glorify God...not to find "true love."

The real True Love has already found you...

Kids These Days

Close your eyes....think back to your childhood. Amidst pleasant memories of bikes, sandboxes, cartoons, and cereal, you probably remember lots of worries and concerns.

Wait....you don't?

That's right....you don't.

The reason is because, generally speaking, your parents provided everything for you. Who worried about finances? Who was concerned with nutrition? Who obsessed over the next day, week, or month?

Nobody.

We all trusted our parents.

God the FATHER takes care of us. He provides for us. He loves us. So why are we still worrying?

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Now go back to your cartoons and cereal.

The Human Church

Disclaimer *This blog rags on the church. Lots of people rag on the church. And like everyone else, I don't really know how to solve this...so please help*

One of the few things that the church of Acts and the church today had in common were a plethora of problems. However, back then they solved them differently. Today, if someone has a problem with the church, they leave. Not even for a good reason (the music is too loud, the sermon is boring, the food's not good). In Acts 15, the church faces a huge issue (circumcision)and resolves it...

and nobody leaves.

Why?

Why do churches split over petty arguments?

Why do churches compete against each other?

What if the church is in worse shape than we thought....What if the church is missing the point....what if the Holy Spirit has left the church?

Seriously....what if the problem with the church is that in addition to driving away people, we have driven away the Spirit? What if God is so disgusted with the church that He has left it?

Isaiah 29:13 says; "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

What if all of our rules and regulations have pushed the Spirit out? What if other idols (the music, form of worship, the people) in the church don't leave room for God to be praised? Perhaps the church has become too focused on community and doctrines to be focused on God....

The church of Acts is the finest example of a church that we have, and it seems that we've ignored that example. Sure they fought and argued, but they ultimately stayed together ("and the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved"-Acts 2:47). This church was focused on spreading the glory of God and worshiping Him. Our church is focused on church.

Why is it so difficult to get back to the only example of church we have?

When you grow up....

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Most of us had an answer to this question as children, but for some reason we had no clue during high school, even college. Why is that?

As children, we weren't afraid to dream. We didn't recognize the hardships of our dreams. We didn't let anything hinder our imaginations. Then we grew up, realized that we didn't have enough money, or weren't talented enough. Sometimes we even blame God and claim that He didn't want us to follow those dreams.

Whatever the excuse, we are now afraid. Afraid of failure, afraid of others, afraid of even trying.

So what do we do? We take safe jobs, make safe plans, and dream within our safe little boxes. We have allowed the world to constrict our vision. Seriously, who grew up saying, "I want to file papers, clean toilets, go to business meetings" when I get older.

When we were younger, we had no shame in asking questions, always wondering why. More importantly, we didn't even know what normal was, so we didn't care. How many of you thought about your image as a child?


My point here is that as children, we weren't afraid to do anything, to dream anything, to try anything. I honestly believe that if many of us met our childhood selves, those little dudes would kick our butts for becoming a bunch of cowards.

God has an awesome plan for each of our lives, but we're too scared to even ask about it, let alone act upon it. So dream big, don't be afraid to questions, and relive the glory days when "normal" didn't exist. God calls us to be radicals, so stop playing it safe.