Advent 2009

I was reading USA today (usually I find myself avoiding the local the paper, which I affectionately call... "the fish wrap") and came across this headline "Some in $4.6B Christian industry copy designs, logos" an article about the christian "knockoff / copycat" logo industry... here's the link  http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-18-christian-copyright_N.htm


It's a sell out... of all the things we say, I don't the the God that is the source of creativity wants us spoofing an ad campaign. So now more then ever I am into the principles behind the Advent Conspiracy:
Worship Fully- That all of life is an act of worship.
Spend LESS - Be a steward of the powerful resources God has given you... it's all HIS! 
Give More - OF Your SOUL! Give presence not presents!
Love All - That by our love we could radically change our generation.


This is the hill to die on, God loved us so much, that he stripped himself of every power and advantage to be with us, speak to us and then redeem us. He came inside a teenage single mom, born in a barn, and changed the face of history. 

With the money we saved on gifts we are sponsoring a well for a 3rd world country. Love is a powerful thing. Join us in the story...

asked

I am asked a lot by folks who want to grow in faith "What do I need to do to be _______?"... I usually reply well, what are you doing to grow? That is where the answer is. I see many people as wanting to grow big but not dying to the things that make them big. In the years I coached football the hardest thing to see was players with talent but no work ethic. The lack of persistent work and working through rough spots just left them as players with talent but no character. Then comes the test in a game... a hard down conversion, a big play from the other team and it is your character that responds, not your talent. Will you do the right thing, hard thing in a hard situation? You only know when you're in it. So when I am asked what do i need to do to be a ______ christian? The answer that works is... whatever it takes. What is the deepest most gut wrenching desire of you existence? If it is God you will develop the character and persistence to get there. If God is not that most basic need then you will keep bumping into that question... What do you need to do to be a __________ . 

John 12:23-25 (New International Version)

 ²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

It is a tall order but not impossible, the greatest forward leap is when you are just honest with God and ask Him to stir up that passion again. So seek Him now and see what He does...

... I think you'll be surprised!

Shalom

walk

It’s been a while since I’ve posted; yes I suck as a blogger and it has been good. During this time off there is a song by Jackson Browne that has been a bit of a theme.

“Well I’ve been out walking. I don’t do that much talking these days, these days.

These days I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do, and all of the chances I’ve had to.”

I’ve just been walking with Jesus and learning to re-connect with my soul again. As of late I am not just a fisher of men but a fisher of fish as well, and God has seen it fit for me to depend more on him as I take people fly fishing. I have learned a lot. Learning to listen as I hike, learning to trust him with every literal step, and learning to move with his voice in a much more intimate with God in the garden.

The last verse of the song “these days” says this… “don’t confront me with my failures I have not forgotten them.” Well Mr. Browne, my failures have been needed instructors, some are friends, some I choose to leave in that place and time. All failures people, choices and shortfalls have their place. Only in a place of resolution can you be reminded of these and be at peace.

Walk on…

Cup of right

There are moments when we get things right. Not just do the right thing but be the right person in that context of doing the right thing. I had s chance to be a part of that when as a group we came together to bring to the community a conversation on fair trade coffee. Starbucks was gracious enough to brew not just our their coffee but all the fair trade brews; as well as host some great informative conversations and documentaries.

Some ask why do this? How was Christ displayed here?

Matthew 25:44-46 (New Century Version)

⁴⁴ "Then those people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?'

⁴⁵ "Then the King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.'

⁴⁶ "These people will go off to be punished forever, but the good people will go to live forever."

I think when we get it right it is a beautiful thing... The fair trade movement was started by missionaries in 1950 by teaching people to raise or produce marketable commodities to improve their local economies. Coffee being the second most traded commodity on earth, next to oil, is a great opportunity to keep farmers growing coffee and not drugs.
This is OUR baby... OUR idea... and the world is buying in!

Was there a gospel message, an altar call and an offering. No, absolutely not! So if you don't understand this then you probably don't understand our church... because I will answer your doubts with a question. Since when has an act of love needed an altar call?

... I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to
do for me.'

When we get it right, it's a beautiful thing.
If you want to order some great fair trade coffee or cocoa and support farmers and great mission work; visit our website on the sidebar.

Shalom

Interesting quote 4

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Interesting Quote 3

Hastiness and superficiality are the psychic diseases of the 20th century, and more than anywhere else this disease is reflected in the press.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

walked away

It was just another quick stop for a cup of coffee when I bumped into an old friend. First it was a great exchange of pleasantries when she just seemed different. I asked what was going on and in one of those "you know that you know" moments I asked her where she was in her faith journey. She had just converted! From Christianity! I could just feel my heart sink in my chest from her words as she could not stop talking about this great experience. She used to talk this way about Jesus, but not now.

See... I am sad not just because of the eternal consequences. I am sad because she, like so many others, are the products of exactly what we have invested in. She never "cussed, drank, smoked, chewed or ran with guys that do"; she behaved well. Yet, she was not taught to be a disciple; taught of the way of transformation. She never understood that change, life change, comes from the inside.

I converted to Jesus because I understood His sacrifice to be true. I follow Jesus because He loves me enough to change me; change the patterns that keep me in bondage. Until you let Him transform you... you're a dry secularist... all the drivers of your addiction are laying in wait while your behaviors are kept in moderation. We need to be bold enough to be discipling people with the whole truth. To be the ones that show them the power of God to transform and to set them free. Salvation is not about a form prayer it's about a transformed life. So I hope you will re:think this and look to model and teach this living from life from a transformed inner world... lest you too be converted! Think not... that's what she said!

Shalom