Low Expectations

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to spend time with our Bridge Builders group (89 college students here for the week) as they had a chance to meet two pastors who serve nearby us on the south side. My intent heading into the morning was to do a brief orientation with the group and then to leave. However, after staying and hearing Bishop Peecher share I decided to stay with the group for their time with Pastor Brooks as well. God was definitely sovereign in orchestrating my time yesterday morning. I heard two amazing testimonies of the power of God displayed on behalf of His people through two pastors and two churches. Both men shared how God did the impossible on their behalf. It both inspired me and caused me to reflect on what I am believing God for. Do I believe that God can do amazing things in and through me, through Sunshine, through my church (Christ Bible Church), etc?

This morning I read a daily devotional from "Experiencing God" by Henry & Richard Blackaby entitled "Raising Our Expectations." It states, "Too often we settle for much less than what God wants to do through us. We read in Jeremiah 32:27: 'I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?' and we answer, 'No Lord." Yet, when we face difficult situations we begin to qualify our belief in God and lower our expectations of what God will do. It is one thing to God could perform a miracle in the Bible, or a thousand years ago, or even in the life of a friend; it is quite another matter to wholeheartedly believe God can do anything He chooses to do in our lives!" Later, it asks the following questions: Do you sense there may be far more that God wants to do through your life than what you have been experiencing? Ask God to show you what it is, then be prepared to respond in faith and obedience to what He tells you.

These last couple days of experience and reading made me want to re-visit a question that Floyd McClung threw out for the new year, "What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?" If I'm honest, I don't often think, dream, and pray for BIG things. I too often articulate a faith in a BIG God while asking and expecting "normal things" to happen. I want to grow in this area, dreaming big dreams, praying big prayers, and trusting in a big God.

Lord I believe, but help me in my unbelief. If I could quote my dear and trusted brother from the Bay, "You feel me?"

A Few Minutes

The following is a video of Francis Chan responding to the persecution of Christians that is currently going on in India. It is hard to watch, but I would encourage you to watch it all the way through. When you are finished, I encourage you as Francis does to spend a few minutes in prayer for the Christians in India. This really puts things in perspective.

Keep Praying, Keep Giving

Our young people are raising money all this month for kids their age in Haiti. This has kept the tragic events in Haiti on my mind, as we continue to talk about it, continue to pray for them, and continue to raise money. I have prayed that even as the media and the cameras shift their attention elsewhere, that we "the Church" would not be quick to move on. The road to recovery is going to be a long one for the people in Haiti, and we need to stand with them. The relief agencies, the development organizations, and the Church in Haiti need our ongoing prayer support AND they need our generous giving. Last weekend at camp we focused our attention on 1 John 3:16-18. This passage makes a direct correlation between Jesus display of sacrificial and selfless love on the cross, and in turn our response in showing sacrificial and selfless love to others. We cannot separate the two. They go hand in hand. Verse 17 states, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no compassion (compassion always leads to compassionate acts) on him, how can the love of God be in him?" The recent events in Haiti serve as an "in our face" opportunity to BE the Church and to respond with compassion. I am so encouraged by our young people at Sunshine who "get it" and are giving generously and praying sincerely about this!

The following is a video that was produced by "Churches Helping Churches" (a non-profit organization that was started by Pastor James McDonald and Pastor Mark Driscoll in the days after the quake to assist churches in Haiti) entitled "Who Will Rise Up?"



This second video was produced by Reach Records for a song entitled "Far Away" written by Lecrae. He performed it live at a Hope for Haiti event in Minneapolis. All of the proceeds from the song and from their Hope for Haiti t-shirts will go to relief and development work in Haiti.



This 3rd video, is a song written and produced by Kirk Franklin entitled "Are You Listening?" It features an all-star cast of gospel artists. All of the proceeds from this song will also go to the relief and development efforts in Haiti.

Flashlight Update

I just posted an update on our ministry blog, the Flashlight, entitled "Still Sore From Camp." We were at Sunshine Cove this past weekend for our annual winter camp retreat. It was a great weekend!

The Flashlight

I am now doing the updates for our ministry blog at Sunshine entitled, "The Flashlight." I have done a couple of updates in the last two weeks, and I hope to update it a couple of times a month. Click on the link above to check it out!

We Can Be More

This is just another example of how God is working in and through the art form of hip hop for His Glory!



Check out the first single "We Can be More" (Ft. JR), from Sho Baraka's highly anticipated sophomore album Lions & Liars! Get it now on i Tunes

Everyone wants love. Everyone needs love. Everyone at some point has expressed or experienced love. However, love is so misunderstood and abused. With "We Can be More" Sho attempts to communicate love from a perspective that goes beyond the contemporary views of lust and selfishness.

For another taste of what you can expect from the Lions & Liars album, check out Sho Baraka's Revolutionary Died video. A revolution is coming 3.30.10

Don't Waste Your Life

I first was introduced to the Don't Waste Your Life concept in the summer/fall of 2008 when I read John Piper's book entitled "Don't Waste Your Life." It was around that same time that Lecrae released his single by the same title. The video for the song is show below, and his lyrics are just below the video. The beginning of a new year is a good time to think about how we are "spending" our life, or in other words what are we "devoting ourselves to?"



I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die
couple of em thinking they'll be livin in the sky
but while Im here livin man I gotta ask why
what am here fo I gotta figure out
waste my life/ no I gotta make it count
if Christ is real then what am I gone do about
all of the things in Luke 12:15 down to 21 you really oughta go and check it out
Paul said if Christ aint resurrect then we wasted our lives
well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive
everyday I'm living tryin show the world why
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try
better than pretty women and sinning and living
to get a minute of any women and men that you admire aint no lie
We created for Him outta the dust he made us for Him
Elects us and he saves us for Him Jesus comes and raises for Him
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser
he made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him
resurrects him so I know I got life matter fact better man I know I got Christ
if you don't' see His ways in my days and nights
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights
man I lost my rights I lost my life
forget the money cars and toss that ice
the cost is Christ
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price

Suffer Yeah do it for Christ if you trying to figure what to do with your life
if you making money hope you doing it right
because the money is Gods you better steward it right
stay focused if you aint got no ride
your life aint wrapped up in what you drive
the clothes you wear the job you work
the color your skin naw we Christian first
people living life for a job make a lil money start living for a car
get em a house a wife kids and a dog when they retire they living high on the hog
but guess what they didn't ever really live at all to live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall
to die is gain so for Christ we give it all he's the treasure you'll find in the mall
Your money your singleness marriage talent and time
they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine
that's why it's Christ in my rhymes That's why it's Christ all the time
my whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines
I refused to waste my life he's too true ta chase that ice
heres my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ
If he's truly raised to life then this news should change your life
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights

Ten Things To Think About In The New Year

I recently was challenged to think more intentionally about this new year by a good friend's (Allan Greig @ Africa Revolution) blog entry. This short list was actually sent to him by a Pastor/Missionary out of Cape Town, Floyd McClung. Here are ten questions to think on as you continue into 2010...

1. What’s one way, you could utilize time, to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. Who are three people you can disciple more intentionally?

6. What is the most helpful way you can build community with a few other followers of Jesus this year?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing can you plan to do this year that will matter most in ten years? In eternity?


Shout-out: This picture is for you Gus aka Pastor Aaron!

2009 In Books

I am still in reflecting on 2009 mode (somewhat), and a friend of mine inspired me to look back at what I had read and share it with others. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every book on the list below. I did not read a bad book in 2009. I would recommend each book on the list, but probably for different reasons. If you would like more of a cliff notes review on any of them, shoot me a message and I will give more insights. I will say that the book that challenged me and impacted me the most this past year was "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I ended up reading it near the beginning and then at the end of 2009. I will most likely do a "highlight" post on the book sometime soon. Anyways, here is my 2009 book list:

“Let Justice Roll Down (autobiography)” by John Perkins
“Holy Discontent” by Bill Hybels
“The Next Evangelicalism” by Dr. Soong-Chan Rah
“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan (I read this book 2 times!)
“Heavenly Man (autobiography)” by Brother Yun
“The Hole In Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns
“Amazing Grace In The Life Of William Wilberforce" by John Piper
“Valuable Selections From the Writings of George Mueller”
“A Chance To Die (biography of Amy Carmichael)” by Elizabeth Elliott
“Save Our Sons” by Carl Ellis
"What He Must Be If He Wants To Marry My Daughter" by Voddie Baucham Jr.

Marks Of A Christian

I love his concluding statements, "...To build a Church that doesn’t live like the rest of the world…you’ve gotta live like that! You’ve got to have a flavor about your life that is risky, and radical and different!

Reflections On The Letter From The Birmingham Jail - Part One

On Monday I read through Martin Luther King's "Letter From A Birmingham Jail." It had been a few years since I had read the letter. It is amazing that a letter written in 1963 is just as relevant to the American Church today in 2010! I am going to share a few portions that I have highlighted and reflect on them. I will start with a "powerful" portion of the letter, that I am not sure I will add much to. Keep in mind that he was writing to his fellow (white) clergy men, explaining the urgency of the moment for working towards equality & justice, and exhorting them to become involved with the movement. Here he uses words to paint a picture of the stinging effects of racial segregation and inequality...

"We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) and your last name becomes "John," and your wife and mother are never given the respected title "Mrs."; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness"--then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience."

Opportunities To Support Haiti

Everyone is probably well aware of the recent earthquake and Haiti, and all of the lives that have been effected. Let's all continue to be in prayer for the thousands of families that have been effected by this event. Let's also be lifting up the Church in Haiti, and the many relief and development agencies that will be serving there around the clock in the coming days and weeks. Pray that God would strengthen their hands and empower them as they work, serve, love, and be present in the name of Christ. Let's pray that God would somehow use this tragedy to draw people to Himself!

I would also like to challenge everyone to give towards the relief and development efforts. Here are some ministries/organizations that will be responding in the aftermath of the earthquake:
1) World Vision
2) Samaritan's Purse
3) Food For The Hungry


If I learn of any other ministries/organizations that are doing ongoing work in Haiti, I will share them ASAP.

Update:
Another organization that I just learned of this morning is called Yele Haiti. The musical artist Wyclef Jean started this organization in 2005, and they are doing ongoing community development work in Haiti. They are receiving donations to aid the victims as well.

A Life Changed

I came across this video testimony on my brother Kevin Gwin's blog. This is Lecrae sharing his testimony on the 700 Club television show. For those of you who have never listened to Lecrae, you need to check him out on I-Tunes or wherever it is you go to sample music. I discovered Lecrae's music in the summer of 2004, and God has used his music and his passion for the Lord and His work to sharpen and inspire me.



I'm with you Lecrae! By God's grace, let's rebuild the city!

From Hoarding To Generosity

Recently, a good friend of mine challenged people on his facebook status to give their stuff away now that they have received new Christmas gifts. He wasn't challenging people to give away their gifts necessarily. He was challenging people to give away stuff they no longer need as a result of the new stuff they received. He then took it a step further and stated to not just give away our "junk." I really liked his idea. It reminded me of a message that I had preached on "Hoarding" two years ago from James chapter 5. The word "hoard" means to amass or reserve or lay up. In America we have become very skilled at hoarding. We stack things and store things and organize things in our cupboards, closets, basements, etc. We have even made the "Storage Business" a VERY lucrative one (think about that for a second!). The problem is that as we "amass" things/stuff, there are people in our own families, on our blocks, in our cities/towns, in our country, and around the world who could be blessed by the stuff we once "needed."

So with just a few days remaining in 2009, I want to challenge you (& ME) to examine your closets, cupboards, garages, basements, storage units, etc. and honestly consider what you can (or even should) give away. I would echo what my friend stated, "don't just give away your junk." Be creative. Think about who could make good use of your stuff. Research places online that will distribute resources to others. Pray and think about someone who could utilize something you have been "sitting on." Let's all repent of our hoarding, and give generously! Let's all do it either before the new year is upon us, or to start the new year!

Here are some ideas of who to donate to...
(1) If you are looking to donate clothing, toys, books, furniture items, or kitchenware, 2nd Chance is a great place to donate to. 2nd Chance is a ministry located just off of 67th & King Drive. The first floor is a "second-hand" retail store. It is set up very nice, and has a great selection of clothing and household items. If they can't use your donated items, they pass them on to homeless ministries such as Pacific Garden Mission. The second floor of 2nd Chance is a transition home for women ages 19 to 25 and their children.

(2)If you have computers you are looking to donate (either lap tops or desk tops) our/Sunshine's Community Technology Center will gladly take them. We will either refurbish them for immediate use in our computer labs or potentially give them to one of our class participants. We also share donated computers with our partner ministry, Africa Revolution, who ships them to South Africa and Swaziland to be used in church based computer labs that are doing amazing empowerment ministry!

(3)If you don't live in Chicago, the Salvation Army is always a great option. Or contact your church and ask them for a list of places to donate your items to.

If you are interested, share who (non-profits, ministries, churches, nations, etc.) you have given your things to - in the comment section. This may spur our collective creativity in generously giving.

James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Charlie Bit Me

First of all, I have to give a shout out to my good friends Josh and Christy Axe for exposing me to this. This video makes me laugh every time. Enjoy...



If you enjoyed that one, check out the "Auto-Tuned Version."

He Came Down

I have been thinking about the beauty of Christmas this month. I am thankful for attending a friend of mine's Christmas Bible study where he reminded us that Christmas is all about making much of Him! He is worthy of much celebration! Then this past Sunday, Pastor Ford preached from Like 2:14 reminding us that Christmas is about "Exalting His Person, Experiencing His Peace, and Exhibiting His Philanthropy!"

Here are some Scriptures worth thinking about during this season...

His Majesty
Isaiah 6:1-3
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Colossians 1:15-20
1He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Hebrews 1:3-4
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

His Humility
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

His Saving Work
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thoughts on Christmas should humble us, place us in a state of awe, and make us want to celebrate Him! He came down...God in the flesh!

Follow Up On The Christmas Store

We hosted our (6th Annual?) Christmas Store this past Saturday. It was a great day! We spent ALL of Friday sorting, pricing, and setting up the store. When Saturday morning arrived, we were ready! We had a great staff this year of Sunshine staff, volunteers, and friends. One of my favorite parts of the store this year was serving together all day. Forty-some families were able to come and shop at the store. I was outside during the store hours, greeting people as they came in and helping them load their cars if needed. That gave me the opportunity to ask people "how it went." Everyone seemed to have had a great time at the store, and for that we praise the Lord. We really wanted the love of Christ to be displayed and felt by all who came through our doors, and by God's grace I think this happened! Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions...

What did you do with the proceeds from the store?We gift-ed the proceeds to five families whom are in need of a little financial assistance this year. Pete, our youth pastor, delivered the gifts yesterday.

Did you have leftover gifts, and what do you do with them?We invited additional families to come in and shop Monday through Wednesday. In addition, we will use leftover gifts in our "Sunshine Stores" for the children in our after-school programs. In all of our youth programs: AWANA, Club 2-5-2, Horizons, and ASM - we have a mini-economy set up. Our students earn Sunshine bucks through attendance, good behavior, saying memory verses, academic progress, etc. Then every couple of months we set up a store where they have an opportunity to spend their Sunshine Bucks. This not only serves as a great incentive for the kids, it also allows us to teach financial literacy in an experiential way!

I want to thank everyone who donated to our store this year and everyone who served at our store this year! You are appreciated! I hope everyone has a Christ-filled Christmas!

The Sunshine Christmas Store

What is the Sunshine Christmas store?
Each year we ask for donated gifts from our friends and supporters. We then set up a "Christmas store" on a Saturday where we sell the donated items for 25 cents on the dollar. For example, an item that would cost $25 dollars in the department store, will cost $6.25 at our store. We invite families whom we have relationships with through our various youth and technology programs. This serves as a way we can tangibly share the love of Christ by lessening some of the holiday burden, and providing a way for parents to shop for their children and grandchildren in a cost efficient way.

What do you do with the proceeds?
We redistribute all of the proceeds from the store, by giving financial gifts to needy families in our neighborhood.

How can you(and your family or church)get involved?
Our Christmas store event will be on Saturday December 19th this year. This means we need your gifts to be collected and ready for delivery or pick up no later than noon the day before. If you can arrange drop off at our location (500 E. 61st St), on or before noon on the 18th, that would be greatly appreciated. We are asking that no gift cost more than roughly $30.00, and be purchased new. Please do not wrap the gifts. We are looking for items ranging from crayons and play-dough to clothing and gift cards.

For more information check out www.sunshinegospel.org/christmas

Jesus Wants The Rose

This is a powerful reminder of the gospel of Jesus Christ! I had to pass it on...

You Have One Life...Do Something!

Our junior high tutoring program, Horizons, is doing a Character Development unit called "Living A Life That Matters." We are basically looking at different ways in which we can put feet to our faith. We are talking about being "doers" of the Word, world changers for Jesus! We watched this video and had a good discussion on Monday afternoon. (I didn't realize this at the time, but our discussion coincided with World AIDS day.)



Some things to think about...

Many African women walk 6 miles every day for water.
On average Americans walk 6 miles every month.

Every day Americans spend 1 billion dollars DINING OUT.
Every night 799 million people go to sleep hungry!

American teens spend $101/week.
$101/week will send 2 African children to school for a year.

Life expectancy in the United States is 77.
Life expectancy in Zambia, Africa is 35.

Are you tired of people saying there is nothing you can do?

Are you tired of the excuses?…
The problem is too big!
One person can’t change the world!

Or are you going to do something?

You have one life...Do Something!

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.