Pushing Through

Right now I am in a weird place somewhat. I just turned 30 years old! A few years ago that seemed "really old" to me, and I wasn't looking forward to reaching that milestone, but now I have embraced it and "I feel great." I am as busy as I have ever been with ministry, and I am loving what I am doing. I love the new tutoring program that I am coordinating, I love the guys that I have the opportunity to disciple right now. I have been living in the Woodlawn neighborhood for just over a year now, and the south side for almost 4 years, and I love where I live. Although I have my moments when I am really frustrated in my singleness, overall I feel pretty content and confident that God's got me, and that marriage and a family will come when it is time. I am surrounded by some great friends and co-workers

However, sometimes in the midst of all of this I feel unsettled. Sometimes I feel anxious. Sometimes I struggle with doubt. Sometimes my faith isn't that strong. Lately, I have been feeling a sense of spiritual weariness. My devotional life lacks a sense of passion. I feel like I am doing it more out of a sense of obligation rather than because I am thirsty for it. I am reminded of a quote that Dr. Fuder used to share. I think Stephen Olford said it. He said, sometimes that you have to "push through until duty becomes delight." Last week I was reading through the Psalms where David repeatedly says that he "delights" in God's laws, or his precepts, or his truth. I was convicted, because as I read it, I knew that I couldn't make those same claims right now.

I think this is what faith is really all about...."pushing through until duty becomes delight."

Challenged...

This morning I listened to a message by Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson that they preached together at the CCDA conference this past weekend in St. Louis. The theme of the conference was "Show Me Jesus Beyond the Walls." The title of Efrem and Phil's message was "Beyond The Wall of Paternalism." The text they focused on was Acts 15, and they prophetically challenged the church to pass the baton so to speak to the next generation and across racial and cultural lines (which is a power issue at its core). I could write many pages on the message but there was one particular thing that Efrem said that I really heard. He said that we (the church) must not get "stuck in an age based (elder dominated), race based (whites always in leadership, always holding the reins), class based (excluding the poor), suburgan funded systems that will no longer work in an ever-increasing, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural world." He added, "the systems that we uplift to fund and sustain churches and para-churcheswill have no relevance in 2025 (referring to our world radically shifting toward urban and multi-ethnic)."

This isn't necessarily the first time that I have been challenged by a message such as this, but it hit me in the chest so to speak this morning. Let me explain why. I am a white male. I live work, and worship in an African American community. I work for a para-church ministry with a white executive director (who I love and respect) and a predominately white (great people) board. As a part of Sunshine as an organization, I am challenged by a few things: 1) Are we serious about doing all that we can (working with intentionality and fervent prayer) to see our board and staff better reflect the community? 2) Are we burdened that the majority of our donor base is white and suburban? I am not saying that we do away with our current donor base - praie God for our donor base. What I'm asking is are we being intentional about seeking new and addtional donors in minority communities and churches? 3) This one relates closely with number one - Are we serious about indigenous leadership development? Not, do we talk about it...are we doing all we can (again working with focus and fervent prayer) to see God do it?

I am also challenged by this message on a personal level. As a white male who feels called to leadership (I have tried to run away from leadership like Jonah, but God won't let me), what does that mean for me in an increasingly urban and multi-ethnic world. Let me share a few foundational things before I share how I am challenged. 1) God is sovereign. He made me white - fair skinned, blond hair, blue eyes, tall, somewhat burly:), etc. He placed me in Paw Paw for my growing up years, in Albion for college, in Grand Rapids for transition, and now in Chicago. He has a purpose in my "white maleness" in this increasingly multi-ethnic world. 2) I have heard many white brothers and sisters of mine in conversations about race and culture say stuff like this: "oh what do I know I'm just white," or "I'm just a dumb white guy," or "I'm just ignorant and white," etc. I think you get the idea. I reject that. We (white brothers and sisters) need to quit saying stuff like that. Do we really believe that? And if so, how is that helpful. We need to be HUMBLE and we need to be LEARNERS, but we are not dumb, and our perspective and our culture is not irrelevant. 3) I recognize though that because I am white (and especially a white male) that I am a benefit of "white privilege." The systems in this country are set up to benefit me (and people that look like me). I never have to look to hard to see positive images of people that look like me. When someone is referred to as the "all-american boy" they usually look just like me. I am not followed around in stores. I am never asked to speak for my whole race. I have no problem in financial institutions (they rarely ask to see my id). I am treated fairly by the justice system. The student life activities on college campuses are catered to me. I think you get the idea (I could keep going). I think it is important to recognize this and be honest about this.

So here are some things that I am challenged to do individually...

1) I must be intentional about seeking mentors who do not look like me. I have done this, but I have not been consistent enough with this. I need to sit at the feet of minority leaders/mentors and learn from them.

2) I must continue to read books, newspapers, magazine articles, etc. by African American and other minority authors. I must continue to listen to African American and other minority speakers and preachers. My learning must never stop.

3) In ministry (in Chicago and beyond), I must be committed to indigenous leadership development. I must continue to evaluate and reassess how I am doing in this. I have got to truly be burdened by this.

4) I must be a voice in the white church, celebrating what God is doing in the neighborhood and the nations. I must celebrate the beauty of the history and culture of the community I am currently living with the community that I came from. I must be transparent of the way God has changed my perspectives and challenged my prejudices in order to challenge people to self-examine their own perspectives and prejudices. I must be a bridge builder.

5) I need to ask God for wisdom in whatever position and ministry he has me. I must be certain that He is leading. I must seek godly council who will point out blindspots and check any hint of paternalism.

I am excited to see what God is doing in the neighborhood and the nations. He is at work. I hope that He continues to challenge me to slow down to process and then press.

Amen?

A New Start

Two weeks ago my lap top computer was stolen out of the ministry office. It was stolen in the early evening, but it was discovered as missing until the following morning. I was definitely mad and frustrated when I noticed that it was missing...and realized that it had been stolen. Now I know that stuff is just stuff, and I like to think that I am not materialistic (at least I try not to be). But it wasn't just the missing computer that made me upset. I was most upset about the things that I had stored on the computer: pictures, music, Bible studies, messages, etc. Much of my work over the last 5 years or so was saved on that computer. I later discovered that I had some of my work backed up on my flash drive, but not everything could be retrieved. I have prayed that my computer might be returned. I have prayed for the young man who I think took it. I have also asked God to show me the lesson in it. I'm not trying to over-spiritualize the situation, but I think this circumstance is an indicator that it's time for a new start. It's time to seek God and to create some new stuff...some "fresh manna" as Dr. Fuder calls it. It's time for some new Bible studies and some new messages.


Thank God for insurance. I was able to purchase a new lap top yesterday. Therefore, I hope to get back into blogging on a more regular basis...

Life & Death & The Village

Last Friday night a 14 year old young man was shot in an alley a few blocks away from my condo building. He ended up dieing on the sidewalk directly across from my building. All of this happened around 8pm on Friday night (the 14th). I had ran home around 9pm or so to check something, and it was then that I discovered what happened. There was yellow tape blocking off the scene of the crime, and there were cops everywhere in the street. I had to run the van back to the office, and then walked back to my house thinking about what had happened. As I walked I prayed for the family and friends that were effected, and I prayed for peace (shalom) in the streets that night.

Saturday morning I was off to Ann Arbor for a football game, but the reality of what had happened hit me again on Sunday when I returned from church and saw young people (some of who I recognized from Sexton school) gathered near a memorial they had created for the young man. His name was Dalvin Miller. He was 14 years old, and in the 8th grade at Sexton School. This past week - Thursday - I attended his funeral. I had never seen so many young people at a funeral as probably 75% of the attendees were kids. It was hard to listen to his siblings share poems about how they were going to miss their big brother. It was hard listening to several community leaders (principal, coach, etc.) talk about the potential that this young man had.

One thing that has struck me is how young people process their grief in various ways. Some of them seem to be numb, others very emotional, some stoic. I wonder who they talk to to help them process this. I wonder if adults are making time to listen. I wonder how an event like this shapes a young man or a young woman's life as they process experiencing the loss of their best friend, classmate, or teammate. I also wonder if those who talk about retaliation, really know what that could mean.

At the funeral, the principal from Sexton shared an African proverb that I have heard many people quote over the years. She said, "it takes a village to raise a child." I really like that proverb. The thing that troubles me is that I think the church is supposed to be that village. I think it is supposed to be the "village of Christ" so to speak that is supposed to raise a child. It's ironic that on that Friday night his body ended up on a sidewalk outside of a "commuter church" located within the community. Another sad fact about the events of that evening is that eyewitnesses say that shortly after Dalvin was shot, as he lay there on the sidewalk, a man walking by bent over to look at him, and then stepped over the body and kept walking. (It somewhat reminds me of the story of the Good Samaritan.) As I think about it tonight, I'm challenged by what it means to have a "village mentality." What does it mean to truly be a neighbor? What does it mean to "go and do likewise?"

I'll admit that this concept of neighboring is somewhat new to me (where I grew up there weren't really that many neighbors period - Paw Paw). I'm challenged as a Christ-one though to think through more of what it means to be present - a ministry of presence. I am convinced that when violence occurs in the neighborhood, that it's not the time to retreat. It's not time to stay inside. It's not time to withdraw our families. It's not time to move our churches. It is time to be salt and light. It is time to be present. It is time to get to know our neighbors. It is time to speak to the guys on the corner. It is time to pray...it is time to pray while walking through the neighborhood.

I'm still processing all of this...I'm learning...

Legacy

I was asked to submit a write-up about the Legacy Conference for our e-newsletter called "The Flashlight." I thought I would share what I submitted...


We recently co-sponsored a discipleship conference called the Legacy Discipleship Conference. The focus of all of the workshops and general sessions was to grow as and to make disciples of Jesus Christ. More specifically, conference attendees were able to choose from four different workshop tracts: Basic Doctrines, Hermeneutics, Evangelism, and Community Impact. All of the general session speakers focused on what it means to “make disciples.” We were reminded that the command within the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is to “make disciples.” We are instructed to “go,” but this is not a command. As Herb Hodges puts it in his book entitled “Tally Ho The Fox,” “The verb means ‘as you are going’ or even ‘since you are going (pg. 39).’” What that means is that we don’t have to “go on a trip” in order to fulfill the Great Commission. We should be fulfilling the Great Commission “as we go” to work, to school, to the store, etc. “As we go,” we are commanded to make disciples. The question then becomes, “what is a disciple?” A disciple is a student, a pupil, a learner, a follower. In other words our command is to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ with a vision for impacting the world. The Great Commission reminds us that God has “the nations” on his heart. It is truly an amazing mission and vision. Hodges later asks, "Christian, is your vision God-big for his glory? Where are the plans, the dreams, the visions, the strategies for total world impact that truly tax the miracle resources of God? Where is the strategy that requires ongoing miracles for its sustenance? Where is the vision that is so big that human resources (whatever the kind or amount) cannot possibly sponsor it? The only eternity-sized vision any of us will ever need is in the Great Commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ (17).”


At the Legacy Conference it was evident that God is doing a work within the urban centers of our nation, raising up world changers for his Name’s sake, who are committed to the Great Commission and who have the neighborhood and the nations on their hearts. I was humbled and challenged over the course of the 3 days there. There were approximately 350 youth and young adults in attendance at this multi-site Chicago based conference. Please pray for all that were in attendance as we continue to build on the momentum that the work of the conference created. For more information you can check out http://www.legacyconference.homestead.com/home.html. The conference is scheduled for August 14-16 in 2008.


Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”

A God Sized Vision...

The Legacy Discipleship Conference just ended last Saturday (the 11th). I think that it went really well, and that people were both impacted and challenged. I could probably write 6 or 7 blogs about it. Shortly after the conference I revisited a book that I had started previously but never finished. The book is entitled "Tally Ho The Fox" by Herb Hodges (I am still not far enough into the book to discover where that title comes from.) The first chapter focuses on having spiritual vision. I just wanted to share few quotes...

"The Creator-God of the Bible never lacks giant creative ideas, but where are His common saints who are seeing from His viewpoint strategically, and getting on their hearts strategically what God has on His (pg 8)?" Hodges later asks, "Christian, is your vision God-big for his glory? Where are the plans, the dreams, the visions, the strategies for total world impact that truly tax the miracle resources of God? Where is the strategy that requires ongoing miracles for its sustenance? Where is the vision that is so big that human resources (whatever the kind or amount) cannot possibly sponsor it? The only eternity-sized vision any of us will ever need is in the Great Commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. If your pulpit is not obsessed with the terms "make disciples" and "all nations," how can God possibly be expected to put Heaven's approval upon it? Without this magnificent obsession, the pulpit of your church is marked by "no vision (pg 17)."

Father God, strengthen my faith. I want to be a man that dreams dreams for You..."God-sized dreams for Your glory."

Amen?

Jesus on the street

In Matthew 25 verse 40, Jesus states, "...I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Could it be then that we can have face to face encounters with Christ on the street, in prisons, at shelters, in food lines, etc.? If Matthew 25 is true, and I believe it is, then what does that say about me when I don't have time to acknowledge one of my brothers on the street. What does that say about churches who don't have any type of consistent and intentional ministry to the poor, but yet "have church" Sunday after Sunday?

Yesterday, I took 4 men from Pittsburgh up to the Uptown neighborhood to engage people in conversation on and around Wilson Avenue. We split up, and we had been on the street nearly and hour, before I met Tony aka Papa T. I was walking by the dollar store that he was sitting in front of when I heard him say something about 63rd and Cottage (the intersection that I live near). I stopped and asked him if he was from that neighborhood. He then explained to me that he had grown up in that neighborhood. He had been drinking, so not everything that he said made a lot of sense. However, as the conversation went on I asked him what he believed about Jesus. I told him that in the last few weeks I had talked with people who think that Jesus was a good man, a prophet, and/or a good teacher - but not the son of God, and not God in the flesh. As soon as I finished my question, Tony's eyes got big and he got very animated. He passionately stated that Jesus is Lord, God's Son, creator of the heavens and earth. He then looked me in the eye and told me that it doesn't mean anything for me to live off of 63rd and Cottage if I am not there to be involved in and serve the community, and if I'm not there because of the Lord. He continued, saying that if I truly believe in Jesus that I have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to be ashamed of at all. I told him that I worked with young men from the neighborhood, and I asked him if he had any advice for me. He once again looked me straight in the eye, and told me passionately to tell them about the Lord.

My conversation with Tony really messed me up. I told him that it was nice to meet him and that I hoped to see him again. I walked back to the van challenged, and encouraged, and in awe. I am convinced that God spoke to me yesterday as I sat there outside of the dollar store. Could it be that I had a face to face encounter with Jesus Christ right there on Sheridan (Matthew 25)? Who needed to be ministered to yesterday...me or Tony?

I want Jesus and the gospel to continue to mess me up in this way.

Challenged At A Mosque

The last few weeks I have had the opportunity to lead our various Bridge Builders groups (missions teams) on outreaches throughout the city. This past Friday I accompanied the group to the South Asian Friendship Center located on Devon St. in the neighborhood known as "Little India." Whenever we take groups there on Friday, the staff from SAFC take us for a mosque visit. We attend a Friday service and then have the chance to dialogue with a leader from the mosque. On this particular Friday the person who spoke to us was a 60ish year old woman named Mary. She spoke to us for probably 20-30 minutes on the core beliefs of Islam - without looking at any notes. After she finished, she allowe us to ask her questions. Several of the high school and college students that were with me asked her some challenging questions regarding her convictions and core beliefs. Although, at times flustered, she answered the questions with conviction and passion. Even though I obviously didn't agree with everything that she said - I was really challenged by out time with her. I asked myself whether I could stand before a group of Islamic high school and college students (and their leaders) and articulate the core beliefs of Christianity with Scripture to back it up. And then, would I be able to field challenging questions from the students? I left thinking about these questions.

Do I know what I believe and why I believe? I'm not questioning my faith. This is not a doubt session. I'm challenged when I consider how well I could articulate what and why I believe. I say that the Word of God is the foundation of my faith, right? Well then, why does my passion for the word waiver? Why is my discipline in it weak at times? Am I thirsty for it? Do I long to share it with others?

My Biblical negligence should spark a sense of urgency, and a greater desire to be in the Word and really soak it up. God help me on this journey.

Continuous Transition...

I was talking to my dad on the phone tonight about different things going on at the ministry I work at (Sunshine). He made the comment, "You guys are always going through continuous transition." I agreed. I have felt that way ever since I came on staff full time in January of 2004. I know that there are certain things that have made this constant sense of transition a reality: moving from one community to another, moving from one office to another, and staff coming and leaving. I wonder sometimes though if all of this continuous transition is a good thing. Is it a sign that God is at work? Or is it a sign that we need to tighten things up? And going beyond the ministry that I work for, will I always feel like I'm in a state of transition? Since the fall of 2000 I have lived in 9 different places. I have had several different roommates. In my time of ministry, I have done many different things, been many different places, and seen young people come and go. Is life just a continuous transition? Does it always have to be like this? Thinking about this, makes me grateful for the "neverchangingness" of God. He is constant. He is faithful. He NEVER changes. He continues to walk with me through each and every transition. He is steadfast, immovable.

God help me to lean on You and truly trust You through each and every transition.

Spiritual Heritage

I recently (beginning of May) had the opportunity to take a week's vacation and hang out with my family in Simi Valley California. My grandpa and grandma Clark live there - as well as my Aunt Becky and cousins Matt, Alicia, and Emily. The trip was very refreshing for me, and I came back feeling very thankful for my grandparents. They are amazing people. Over the course of my week there we ate breakfasts, lunches, and dinners together, and had plenty of time to talk. My grandpa is now 89 and my grandma is 81, however, their faith and dedication to the Lord is as strong as it ever was. Spending time with them made me reflect on how I want to spend my life, what really matters, and what it takes to remain faithful to the Lord (perseverance). I don't ever want to retire in the typical American dream sort of way with golf, fishing, seniors resorts, etc. Lord willing, I want to serve the Lord in some capacity well into my retirement years. Seeing my grandparents lives reminded me of Paul's words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

What Are We Gonna Do About It?

All of the recent violence in the community has made me think a lot and has challenged me. Part of me gets angry with the system, the police, the mayor, the media, the politicians, etc. Part of me gets angry about the one’s that pulled the trigger. I think mostly I’m upset with the church, and I’m challenged personally as a part of the body.

I read Ambassador’s article this morning entitled “From the Concert, To The Classroom, To the Corner.” I think for us (meaning us and the body of Christ) we could change the title slightly to “From the Program, To the Classroom, To The Corner.” Ambassador talks about how he feels they have unhealthily focused so much on the concert/stage that they have become unbalanced and have at times neglected personal spiritual disciplines and time on the corner (serving, evangelizing, and just having a presence). I think we fall into the same thing. We spend the majority of our time doing stuff (programs) or preparing/planning stuff. Now I don’t think we need to cut programs I know they are important, and I am not saying that we don’t need to plan and prepare well, because we need to be doing that with excellence. The problem comes in when we go weeks without sharing our faith with a non-believer who we often times walk by or drive by on the way to our “programs.” The problem comes in when we don’t have time to get to know the people in our building, let alone the people on our block. We have neglected the “ministry of presence.” We should know the police officer’s by name who patrol our block. We should be attending the local CAPs meetings faithfully, and we should be taking the youth with us to these meetings. We should be involved in our local block clubs, and if our block doesn’t have one, we should work to start one. We should be involved in the local schools. The principals and teachers should know our name. The local alderman should know us, or at least the people in his/her office should if he/she is not accessible. We should be shopping in our neighborhood, and getting to know the business owners. We should be eating at the local restaurants regularly. We should get to know the guys standing on the corner. We have got to be salt and light – we have got to have a presence.

All of this is going to take a lot of “knee work” (prayer) and disciplined and fervent study of the Word of God. And it is going to take a lot of discipline and accountability to maintain balance in our lives. Finally, it is going to take a lot of hard work (1 Cor. 15:18) in His strength (John 15). Why shouldn’t we be exhausted when we go to bed at night? Why shouldn’t we be working long hours 6 days a week? If we are serious about doing Kingdom work, I think this is what it takes.

Africa Revolution

It has been too long since I have posted a little somethin, so I thought I would make a comeback by givin a shout out to my guy Allan. He just started a new ministry venture called Africa Revolution. You can check it out by clicking on the link in the right margin.

Its purpose is to connect churches in southern African with churches in the States in authentic relationships in order to learn from one another, serve one another, and to work together in the fight against the AIDs epedemic, and to care for orphans. The method used to see this happen is year long internships for students from the states in which they live incarnationally in African communities/cities and work alongside churches there who are engaged in holistic expressions of the gospel in their communities. Another huge piece of this internship is to gain a deeper understanding of God's heart for the poor, the oppressed, widows, orphans, justice, and racial & cultural diversity.

Allan recently left a very secure position at another ministry in order to launch this ministry he feels God has called him to. He is in the process of raising funds, and is praying and working through the details of what God intends for this ministry to be. As I think about what Allan is doing I am reminded of something that I read this morning in "Spiritual Leadership" by Oswald Sanders. He states, "The greates achievements in the history of missions have come from leaders close to God who took courageous, calculated risks (p 127)." The wife of Archbishop Mowll said, "The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution."

I pray that I won't succumb to "comfortable American Christianity." I pray that God will give me the boldness to be a risk taker as I follow Him.

Amazing Grace

The following story was in a devotional book called Seeking Him that our staff is going through right now. It really made me think about the amazing grace of God...

If a young man is killed through some random act of violence, and his father tracks down the guilty person and kills him, we would call that vengeance. If, however, the father calls the police and the murderer is arrested, tried, convicted, and executed, we'd call that justice. If, at the trial, the father pleads for the guilty man's life to be spared and the judge and jury consent, we'd call that mercy.

Now imagine this: in addition to pleading for the guilty one to be spared, the father actually appeals to the judge to release the offender into his custody and care. Miraculously gaining approval, the father takes the young man into his heart and home, adopts him, and raises him and loves him as his own son...that would be GRACE!

Ephesians 2:1-9
And you were dead in the tresspasses and sins in which you once walked... and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Big Willie Style

No this is not "my lovechild from my former marriage" - this is my nephew Wilson. He will be 3 on April 2. He is a future football and basketball star. You can just sense it at a young age. He is also a future missionary of the gospel. I am not sure if he will end up in urban America like his uncle, but I am praying that he will one day come to know and love the Lord.

The Basics

At a recent Phat Friday service I was challenged by a Christian hip hop artist by the name of Tedashi on "the basics." He started with a sports illustration...Every great team does the basics well. For example a good football team blocks, tackles, and runs the ball well. He then flipped it to the spiritual side and challenged us with the reminder that in order to live victoriously as Christians, and to make an impact for Him we need to focus on the basics. The basics are...
(1) Prayer - talking to God
(2) Reading the Word
(3) Sharing our Faith
(4) Fellowship
He reminded us that God has not made it hard or complex, he just asks that we focus on the basics.

A Beautiful Thing

During the month of December some things happened in my life and in my parent's life that reminded me of the beauty and the blessing of the body of Christ when we work together and care for one another. First of all, my dad was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer in November. As soon as we got the news, brothers and sisters in Christ both in Michigan, Illinois and all over the place began praying for my dad. Not only that but several couples from my parent's church who had gone through the same thing in their lives (meaning prostate cancer) either called my parents or went and met with my parents to encourage them and to give them wise council when considering the treatment options. Throughout this time my church here in Chicago has prayed for my dad and mom. Then, the night before my dad was to leave for Detroit for his surgery some close family friends from my parent's church came over and prayed with me and my parents. Someone else made us a food basket to take to the hospital. Several people called my dad as he was driving to Detroit to tell him they were praying for him. Two of my uncles and one of my aunts came to Detroit and stayed in the hotel and were there for the surgery. My parents have felt the love and support of the body and it has been a beautiful thing to watch.
Then during the month of December I got support gifts from several different people unexpectedly. God's timing always amazes me with these gifts, and people's generosity always amaze me with these gifts. Living on missionary support has definitely been a growing experience for me. It has been amazing to see God time and time again provide just what I need, at just the right time, and often times using His people, the body of Christ, to do it.
I have been reminded of 1 Corinthians 12, and I have been thankful for the body of Christ. Though as members we all have our issues, when we work together and encourage one another, it is a beautiful thing.

The Necessity of Humility

I am currently doing a Bible study called "Seeking Him: Experience The Joy of Personal Revival." This is my second week working through it, and it has proven to be very convicting so far. This week's study was entitled "Humility: Coming to God on His Terms." Honestly, when I began the study on Monday I was thinking to myself that I was a pretty humble guy. I mean I am not one of those loud arrogant people. It hasn't taken long this week for God to convict me of my own pride and self-focus. CS Lewis once said, "If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud...If you think you're not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed."
As I looked at various Scriptures this week one thing was clear is that God is not a fan of pride. Psalm 10:4 says the pride keeps us from seeking God. Proverbs 8:13 says that God hates pride and arrogance. Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride goes before destruction. Obadiah 1:3 tells us that our pride deceives us. James 4:6 states that God opposes the proud. The authors of the devotional I am doing states that, "pride is a roadblock to revival." They later add, "Pride blinds us to our true spiritual condition and causes us to think more highly of ourselves than we should. ... Pride keeps us at a distance from God." Pride hinders our intimacy with God and keeps us from truly seeking Him because it leads to a faulty self-sufficient and self-righteous mindset. When pride creeps in we are less likely to humbly seek God in repentance and brokenness and neediness before Him.
God is drawn to humility. Isaiah 57:15 says, "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." God responds to humility. We can have intimacy with the God who "inhabits eternity" when we come in humility.
I have got to get to the office so I will leave with one last quote to think about. Jonathan Edwards once said "A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom."

Love & Basketball

Scene-ario 1
The 1995-1996 season was my senior year of high school basketball. I had looked forward to my senior year of high school basketball for a long time. I had lifted, ran, shot a lot of jumpers, and played pick up games year round for several years in preparation for my senior year of basketball. When I was in grade school I even dreamed about playing varsity basketball. When the fall of 1995 finally came I was anticipating a good year both personally and as a team. The leading scorer from our rival high school had transferred to our team and the juniors that were coming up to the varsity team were very talented. On paper we had the perfect team. We had size, we had shooters, we had ball handlers, we had it all... on paper. On paper we should have went undefeated. On paper we should have won the conference. We should have contended for the state championship...on paper. However, we were missing something. We were missing "it." We didn't have the right chemistry. We were only good on paper.
Relationships are sometimes the same way. We prepare for them. We are excited about them. And sometimes they look and feel really good... on paper. We have a lot in common, we have similar interests and passions, we even have mutual friends. We seem to be perfect for each other...on paper. But maybe we're just missing something. Maybe we're missing "it." Maybe we didn't have the right chemistry. Maybe we were only good "on paper." You feelin me?
Scene -ario 2
My senior year in high school one of my good friends that I had went to school with and played basketball with since 5th grade got cut from the team as a senior. He had always been our point guard, but our senior year he got cut from the team. The thing that made it hard was that he pretty much thought it was a given that he was going to be on the team. I mean he had the talent and the ability. Again, on paper he should have made the team, but he got cut! He was frustrated. He was angry. He even cussed.
Sometimes in relationships we "get cut." We thought it was a done deal. We thought we were "on the team." We thought we had what it took, but we got cut. It seemed great on paper, but we got cut. We get frustrated. We get angry. We even cuss. You feelin me?
Scene-ario 3
Sometimes after you "get cut" you don't want to "play the game" any more, at least for a while. You kind of need to take some time off to regroup. You put yourself "on the bench" so to speak. You "watch the game from the sidelines." The time of this "off season" varies, and often coincides with how sure you were that you were "on the team." After a while you get the urge to get back in the game. Sometimes it takes a call from "another team" inviting you to try out. Or sometimes a talent scout tells you you're once again "good enough" to "make a team." But regardless of what it takes, most athletes want to make a team. They want to finally be on a winning team with one special teammate. And that is what keeps them motivated to "stay in shape." You feelin me? Can I get an Amen?

A Logical Question

A co-worker of mine has a 2 year old son. He and his wife recently potty trained him. He was getting the #1 thing fine, but he was having a harder time using the toilet to do #2 (poop, for those of you who are not familiar with the number system). So they had to come up with some type of incentive in order to encourage him to poop in the toilet. So what they did was start giving him candy every time he "dropped a successful deuce" in the toilet. Ever since then he is quick to share with visitors, "I poop for candy."
This past weekend they were visiting family out of state. The two year old was in the kitchen with his grandma. He noticed that she had a bag of candy on top of her refrigerator. He asked if the bag of candy was hers. She told him that it was. He then asked her the very logical question, "Do you poop for candy?"

Spark The Movement

Today I drove from Chicago to Paw Paw (where I grew up). On the way to Paw Paw I listened to a new mix cd that I recently made entitled "Mega Mix." One of my favorite songs off of the cd is entitled "Spark The Movement" by the South side's own Outworld. The first verse is my favorite and it goes like this,
Verse 1
"It's been a long...long time comin
But change gon' come cause we aint gonna run
We gonna stand up strong, standin' against all wrong
A new generation of Martin and Malcolms
We'll do more than sing We Shall Overcome
We gonna take it by force, read Jeremiah 1
Starting in verse 1 but especially verse 10
We're called to be over the kingdoms and nations
To pluck up break down, destroy, and overthrow will
Be the predecessor to building and planting still
Remembering our past so our future is healed
Like digging up the casket of Emmett Till
I'm asking will my young people stand up strong
The task is real not fun people round up all the like minded
Who believe this world is strange and won't find it too weak to bring this world some change
Chorus
Let's pray
Let's change
Let's stand
Let's march
Let's walk
Let's talk
Let's start this off
Let's learn
Let's teach
Let's earn
Let's reach
Let's share
Let's care
Let's live in peace
Spark the movement! You, Spark the movement!
Spark the movement! You, Spark the movement!

This song really inspires me. I turned it up real loud in my van, and I was really feelin' it as I was driving to my parent's house today, until I realized I was in rural Michigan and that I had better turn it down (just playin). I think one of the main elements within "sparking the movement" is to stand for justice or to do justice. I just retruned from the CCDA conference in Indianapolis, and the theme for the conference was "Taking it Back - Radical Redemption of our Communities." And the one word or theme that was in every message was JUSTICE. I'll admit that this is a relatively new concept for me. For the first 22 years of my life I never remember hearing a message or sermon or Bible study on Justice. It wasn't until I went to Moody Graduate School and was shown Biblical passages (and lots of them) that make it very clear that God is all about justice. It is who He is. Dr. Fuder's life verse is Micah 6:8 - "... to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God." Right now I am thinking a lot and asking what it means to "do justice (or Spark The Movement)."

Check back soon as I continue to think about this...