The Only Way To Live

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The One Thing We All Don't Do... AND WHY?

Today I woke up and had this fascinating thought… Isn’t it funny how starting your day off in prayer can be one of the most challenging things in the world?  Because you know, as well as I do, that we will wake up and have this urge to pray.  We will even go as far as to make commitments to wake up a half hour early every day to pray.  And isn’t it crazy that most of us have these great intentions to pray, yet for some reason or another prayer always seems to get pushed off to “sometime later”. 

And here’s what I find it crazy about all of this, is that we ALL have this voice in our heads to pray… yet we ALL decide to do it later.  And it is crazy to me how it is the one thing that always gets pushed off until later.  And the reason I believe this happens is because prayer is the very thing that Satan is afraid of.  Because there is power in prayer…

If you unpack Acts you will see that every great act started with prayer.  In fact the entire church started with prayer (Acts 1:14).  120 people were in an upstairs room praying when the Spirit of God fell, then the those same people busted out of that upper room full of the Holy Spirit and 3,000 people got saved (Acts 2:41)!  And then those 3,000 devoted themselves to prayer and the Bible says it was followed by the signs and wonders of God (Acts 2:42-43), so much so that just 2 chapters later the church had exploded to over 5,000 men (not including women or children so)!  And here’s what’s crazy, it all started with prayer!

All the sudden you start to put all of this together and it is no wonder why the Bible teaches us to pray!  There is no wonder why it is the one thing in scriptures that we are commanded to devote ourselves to, pray without ceasing, and to continue in day in and day out (1 Thes. 5:17)!  Because there is POWER in prayer!

And one of the most crippling things you or I could ever do is put prayer off until “sometime later”.  Because you know as well as I do, we wake up, say we are going to pray, then one thing leads to another, we say we will do it later, and what happens?  We don’t pray!  And so here’s where I am at with all of this… the next time you think to pray… DON’T PUT IT OFF UNTIL LATER!  Pray NOW!  Because there is power in prayer!  God moves when you pray!  Do not let the enemy steal this great power away from you.  Satan knows the power in prayer.  So the next time you are compelled to pray and you think I will do it later, understand that is the voice of the enemy trying to steal the wonder and activity of God in your life! 

And now… just imagine what God would do with a praying generation…  

[chrispasik-blog]

One Thing To Remember

There are a few things in the Bible that always strike a chord with me when I read them.  They are phrases like therefore, because of, or, in this case, do not forget this one thing... The reason for these phrases sticking out is usually the writer is coming to a great conclusion about what he has just bee writing about.  And in 2 Peter 3, Peter says look there is one thing to remember... 

2 Peter 3:8-9- But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Now this is crazy, because Peter says hey I only want you to walk away with one thing, but there are 2 thoughts that Peter throws out here:

1.  Judgement is coming

Peter says that for God a day is like a thousand  years.  The reason Peter says this is because if you back up, Peter is saying the judgement of God is coming.  The second coming of Christ is coming.  There will be a Day in which God will judge the earth.  And today, just like back in Peter's day, we do not think this is ever going to happen.  And the temptation with this is as follows in the Fall Out Boy song Thnks Fr Th Mmrs:

"Say a prayer, but let the good times roll, In case god doesn't show"

This has basically been the mindset in all generations since the first century... Is God going to ever show?  And if not, heck let the good times roll... right?  And Peter is saying... WAIT!  Not so fast... because there is a day, God is coming, but understand a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.  God is outside of time, he is coming, but... then the second thing Peter says is...

2. God is patient

Now this is fascinating, because God shows the whole reason why he is doing what he is doing... He is waiting patiently!  But we can't understand patience as God does, because as Peter states, we have a timeline.  But our problem is we cannot even understand life without time.  And here's where this thought comes together because we can't forget God is outside of time.  A day is like a thousand years.... But he is patient!  And what's he patiently waiting for?  Finish the verse... He is patient...not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

AND in this we see that Peter throws out 2 thoughts, but remember he only wants us to take away ONE thing... And what is the one thing?  It is the heartbeat of the Gospel!  It's the very fact that the only reason judgement day hasn't come is because God is patiently waiting for His people, meaning the Christians, to spread the Gospel to the people that God has placed directly in your life!

And this thought has just been shaking me to my core today, because that means... the only reason Jesus hasn't returned yet, the only reason the second coming hasn't happened, the only reason evil still exists in our world today is because God's patiently waiting for YOU and for ME to take the Gospel to the people who don't know Him in our lives!  And the hope... SALVATION.  The call... THE GREAT COMMISSION!

Just let this thought sink in... God is patiently waiting for you and for me to love on the people in our lives... The people we pass by every single day at work, at school, in our homes, our family, our neighbors... think about all the people you pass by every single day... 

Here is the one thing to remember... The only reason Jesus has not yet come back is for the hope of salvation for the people who are lost in your life and in mine!  And right here Peter is saying... Hey I have 2 thoughts...judgement is coming and God is patient. But there is only ONE thing to remember... God is patiently waiting for YOU and ME to tell someone about Jesus today!

[chrispasik-blog]

Where the natural meets the supernatural...

One of the things I think about often is the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I don't know what it is maybe it is the man in me, I don't know, but I am fascinated with the idea that when you become a Christian the promise is that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, it will come with power (Acts 1:8).  What I find sad is that there are many Christians, even many leaders in the church today acting with no power.  

And I really believe one of the biggest reasons we see this in the Christian church today is because I honestly think many of us (and I say us because I am in this with all of you) are acting completely lazy.  And the one thing God keeps bringing me back to is the idea were the natural meets the supernatural.  Meaning that in order for the supernatural power of God to come into our lives, we first need to step in and do the what is natural.

And to really unpack this idea I have been highly encouraged by this passage of scripture lately... 

2 Samuel 10:12- Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

Now to really understand what this verse really means let's put some context around it.  David has just become the King.  He is fighting what seems to be almost everyone in the known world.  It seems like almost everyone is against him, and right here David and his army has been surrounded by the Ammonites.  And I love this because while surrounded Joab, who is the leader of David's entire army, says these words to his men... He says, "Be strong and let us fight for our people and the cities of our GOD.  The Lord will do what is good in his sight."

Now I love this for 2 reasons... 

1.  Joab understands God's sovereignty.  One thing that I must confess is that I miss this concept often.  I miss the fact that God's will is God's will.  He will do whatever he pleases.  Nothing happens in this entire earth without God knowing about it and allowing it to happen.  And yes I know that statement is a hard statement to swallow, but according to many, and I mean many verses in the Bible, God holds the whole world in his hands, he knows every little thing, and he can do and will do exactly as he pleases (Is. 46:9-11).  

2.  Joab says "Be strong and fight"!  I love that, because Joab and David fought literally a ton of battles, and they always understood God's sovereignty.  But, secondly, they also understood strategy.  They knew that yes God's in complete control, but that doesn't mean we don't have to plan an attack.  And if you back up in 2 Samuel, you will see that Joab split his men up.  THey had a plan.  They attacked the Ammonites strategically and logically.  They planned a way to win, and they did!

And here is the simple learning that God is teaching me... There are many times it seems like your circumstances are overwhelming.  It could be a situation at work, with a family member, a friend, maybe you are in leadership at your church and you are just feeling like the enemy is beating the snot out of you...  I don't know where you are at, but the one thing that I do know is that I feel like my circumstances are overwhelming all the time... and that's when we look to God and say God where are you?  Or God I could use a little bit of that Holy Spirit power... right?  But here is what I am learning more and more, is that overwhelming circumstances happen often.  And if we want to see the supernatural occur in our lives, then we have to do the natural and let God handle the supernatural.  

What I mean by that is this... Joab strategically planned how to overcome his enemy.  He came up with a game plan, it a was a good plan, it was a well thought out plan.  Then after he took the logical and natural step he then trusts in God, and says "God will do what is GOOD in his sight".  And they go to battle.  That is where the natural meets the supernatural.  It's when we as leaders, and Christians, strategically plan and work hard to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God, and then we step into those plans trusting in God's sovereignty to accomplish what is GOOD!  The problem I see often in the Christian community, is we would rather sit around and do nothing and then blame God and/or call him powerless.  When here's what I am learning, just because we have the power of God, doesn't mean we get to be a lazy thinker or an irresponsible planner.  Look we have the power of God almighty, but the only way to tap into that power is to first take the logical and natural steps of hard work and planning.  And then if we would have the guts and boldness to trust God, step into the plans, and give all the glory to Him... here is what I know... That's when the Holy Spirit comes on us, and that's when the power of God is unleashed in our lives!

And here's what pumps me up about the future... Imagine what would happen if we would be more bold, work really hard, plan strategically, and then step into that plan, saying win or lose, rise or fall, God's will do all that is GOOD according to His will and His purpose...  Imagine the power in a life like that... 

THAT'S THE KIND OF LIFE I WANT TO LIVE!  A LIFE WHERE THE NATURAL MEETS THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD!  

[chrispasik-blog]

A Letter to UNITEdownriver

Well here we go... this week is going to be one awesome week as we watch God do what only God can do.  And I know there is so much emotions that come with this it isn't even funny.  And just to catch you up... This week at UNITE, which is the college ministry I pastor, we are begging God to bring it and save the people in our lives we bring.  The challenge is that we all need to be obsessed with reaching people.  And so this week we are asking everyone to bring 2 people with them.  

Now whenever you do a week like this there is a whole lot of crazy emotions flying around.  And maybe it is just me, but there is excitement, anticipation, maybe even some doubt, or maybe some hesitation... but that is why for all of us... I want us to come back to a Psalm that David wrote... and it is Psalm 105:1... Which says...

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."

There are 3 reasons I want all of us to come back to this during a week like this... and the reason is...

1.  Give thanks to God!  

That's HUGE!  I want to be a group and live my life in utter thanks to God!  Like that has to be the foundation of our joy is in God, what Jesus did on the cross, and then from that we spring a fountain of love and thanks to God!  That has to be our starting point, and so for me, I just want to thank God for all he has done.  First in my life... I am about to have a baby in a few weeks, I have an awesome, amazing, wonderful wife, and I have the privilege of leading the greatest college ministry on the planet!  Thank you Jesus!

2. Call on the name of the Lord

Again, I can't stress that this is HUGE that we tap into this... Because there is nothing we can do alone!  God is God!  And there is no one like you God!  You are BIG!  YOU ARE HUG!   You are GOD!  And so God this week, lift us up to accomplish your will in our lives!  God do what only you can do... We are here, send us, use us, let what happens this week shake eternity and blast open the gates of heaven this week Father!  God save souls!  God draw people to yourself!  God change their heart of stone into a heart of flesh!  God we are calling on your name... God MOVE!

3. Make known to the NATIONS what you have done

God we ask all of this in your name so that the nations... the nations will know all that you have done!  God we do not ask for simple things, but for great things!  God we want to see your power and presence so that what happens this week will spread throughout the earth!  God make a name for yourself through us!  God use us!  This is all for your glory, not our own!  

And with that... here's my final thought as we go into this week... UNITE... BEG GOD TO MOVE FOR HIS NAMES SAKE!  Beg God to use you to bring people to His saving grace.  God I love you, use me, use UNITE, we are in your hands... Make known the riches of your Glory through us!

I love you UNITE!  Let's change the world one life at a time this week!

[chrispasik-blog]

For A Weary Pastor

The irony of this blog is so funny, because more often times then not I am the one who reads these types of blogs because I am the weary man in need of encouragement.  And even funnier I am about to blog to pastors and here's the kicker... I don't really have any pastor friends and/or pastor followers... Seriously, like outside of the AMAZING staff at Metro South Church that I serve with, I don't really have any pastoral friends... But I guess that's what is funny about the internet world is that you can blog your heart out and you can think in your own mind it matters... lol... but in all seriousness... what I am about to talk about today I know the Holy Spirit will lead his weary servants that need His comfort to read this post, because today I honestly believe that what i am about to say has been spoken to me by God almighty... hence be being up at 4:48am (who else would be up this early!).  But as this thought came to me I was in bed God just started speaking to me to get up and write this... And just so you know this barely ever happens... I'm not that crazy guy who thinks that God is always speaking and I have this profound word no one else has... But here's the deal when these moments do happen my heart and mind just leaps at the very fact that God is alive, real, and speaking... How AWESOME that is!  And my prayer is that for the rest of my life I will always wake up at the sound of His voice because His words are sweet to my mouth, sweeter than honey (Ps. 119:103) and how they restore the soul (Ps. 23:3)!  Now on to what I woke up to say...

One of the things that stays close to my heart is the very fact that I want to finish the race of ministry and finish well.  I know that this sounds weird, especially if you know me, because I have only been doing full time vocational ministry for 3 years, but the one thing that caught me by surprise was how taxing ministry can be.  And i don't care if you are a pastor or not, here's the one thing everyone needs to know... Ministry is war!  Seriously... And the one thing that scares me more than ever is wearing out to the point of quitting.  I never want to be the cliche story of a young guy who set out the conquer the world for Jesus, and then ended up getting burned out, quitting, taking a mediocre job just to get out of the very thing that used to make life worth living.  And that's why I just want to point out a few obvious things to pastors out there. And my whole hope is that pastor... if you are reading this... these will be words that keep you in the game and these words will spur you on to greater things!

1.  You didn't choose ministry!

Now this point I know seems to be a little bit bothersome to most people... and I get that.  But let me explain, because this is one of the most comforting thoughts in the world to me.  Because when you really think about it... Who really chooses to be a pastor?  Like I know we aspire to pastor, I know we want to pastor... Like I get those things, but if you are reading this and you are a pastor then here is what I know... what you go through on a daily basis... call it what it is... It stinks!  Seriously... Like it hurts being a pastor.  It's hard being a pastor.  It is the greatest weight that has ever been placed on your shoulders, because look hurt people hurt people.  Sinning people sin.  And guess who has to clean up the mess of hurting people?  Guess who gets to hear and council people with sin?  And guess who has to try to always be the light of Jesus to the darkness of this world?  Guess who?  You do!  You have to hear about the hurt, you have to see the pain, you have to deal with more than you ever wanted to deal with and here's what's even crazier... and if you are anything like me you never even saw this coming... is that when your people hurt... You hurt for them!  This is something that no one else in the world can understand unless you are in ministry... You hurt for your flock!  You deal with real hurt and pain for your people.  There are moments you can't sleep because you have names and faces racing through your mind.  And then through all of that Sunday is coming (or whatever day you teach on) and no matter what you have had to deal with, no matter what you are feeling like emotionally, you have to take the stand, preach and teach the world of God with boldness, and do with with a smile on your face!  

And here's the thought that comes to your mind... Who would ever choose this?  And come on now... Don't be fake, be real... because I know you think this, because it has crossed my mind a thousands times... We think why did I ever choose to do this with my life?  Right?  Like who in the world would ever choose to do this?  

And here's the best thing I can ever say to a pastor who is struggling and dealing with this... because here's the answer... NO ONE!  Seriously...  No one chooses to go into ministry... and I know we don't like to think this way.  We like to think we had everything to do with every decision we have ever made... And please don't make this into a Calvanism thing... That will rob you of this very thought... because it's not about that, but what this is about is the very fact that God... think about this... God Almighty looked down from heaven and created you and chose you to do His good works so that what you do can bare GOOD fruit!  Man think about that!  God chose you, he has gifted you, and he has appointed you and placed you exactly where you are at for a reason.  And look that thought is all throughout the Bible... Jer. 1:4-5, John 15:16, Rom. 13:1, 1 Cor. 12:28... and I could go on and on... But here's the deal... God chose you and here is the one thing we have to sink our teeth into... Because God chose you and God doesn't choose losers!  Did you hear that pastor!  God doesn't choose losers to lead His people! He chose you!  

That's huge!  Because this is what I know is that we forget that we have been called by God.  We forget that we have been commissioned by God.  We forget that we have been chosen by God himself and  yeah you may feel exhausted, you may feel forgotten about, you may feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you may even feel like quitting, but understand God chose you!  He chose you!  Stop and think about that!  Because the God of the universe chose you!  

And look I am preaching to myself at this point too... Because there are days, weeks, even seasons of ministry that I want to quit!  And look that's scary to say because I have only been doing this for 3 years.  And it freaks me out that I have been all over the map with this in such a short amount of time... But the one thing that gives me comfort, the one thing that I love to think about, and the one thing that keeps pressing forward to the goal and to stay in the battle is the very fact that God chose me!  It is the most unbelievable honor that you and I cannot miss!  God chose you!  Take heart with that, because God chose you and God wants you to finish the race...

And then the only way to do that... and I am convinced of this... 

2.  Fan the flame

This lifts right from scripture... and let me just say this is the most important thing you could ever do for your people and yourself is fan the flame... Listen to these words Paul writes to Timothy... Look at this...

1 Timothy 1:3-6- I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God...

Now I want you to stop and re-read this... because you know all to well this passage of scripture, but re-read it, because Paul is writing to Timothy who was a young leader in the church.  Paul knew Timothy would be carrying on the same burden he had and the same burden you have now... and what does Paul write to Timothy... he says Timothy I am convinced of your faith... right?  He is like Timothy you have earned my trust, I have faith in you, and I have seen you in action.  I have seen your heart, I know it is true, and I know you are the next one to lead this generation. And then Paul says something unbelievable in verse 6 where he says "and for this reason"... what's the reason?  The reason is that he is filled with faith and about to step into leadership, he has been chosen by God to lead the church, and he says for this reason "fan into flame the gift of God..."

And just stop and think about what he is saying... Paul is saying first of all your faith, your place in ministry... it is a gift!  And oh how sweet that gift is!  But then Paul says fan that gift into flame meaning you have got to do something to keep the fire lit.  Or in others words... Pastor there will be a day when your fire starts to dim.  There will be a day when you feel tired.  There will be a day when you wake up, you feel like you can't move on and the Holy Spirit leads you to this moment to read this post from a guy you don't even know so that you will understand the very fact that your flame will dim, and that it is imperative that you fan that flame!  Meaning you have to do something to keep the fire lit!  You have to fan into flame the gift of God!  It is as if Paul is writing to Timothy understanding the struggles of ministry... It's as if he understands the struggles that will come his way... and Paul's advice is something we miss so often as we are so busy leading everyone else we forget to lead ourselves!  And right here Paul is telling Timothy look you want to finish the race, you want to lead well, you want to do all God has planned for you to do?  Then here's the deal... fan the flame!  Fan the flame!    

And that's huge!  Because listen to me, the reason people are showing up to hear you preach and teach is because you have a flame in you!  You have the Spirit of God in you!  And people want to see the flame of God lit up in you so bright that you can lead them to Jesus!  They want to see that what you have burning inside of you is real!  It is genuine!  And that even though all hell might be breaking loose in their lives, you are the fire burning so brightly that it leads them to Jesus!  So that no matter how dark their world is they can look at you and see your faith in Jesus burning! 

And here's the deal... for you to do that... you have got to fan the flame!  You have got to!  You have to figure out a way to stay lit!  Because the moment that fire goes out... listen o me it is the beginning to the end... and here's the deal Paul knew that... And that's why right here Paul says to Timothy, Paul says to you, and Paul says to me... Fan the flame!  Fan the flame!  Fan the flame!  Don't miss that...  Fan the flame... 

And here's what I think that means... In the most practical way I think I could ever put this... Ask yourself this question... what stirs my affecting for Jesus?  What is the one thing that lights you up about Jesus?  LIke what is that one thing that when it happens you feel closer to Jesus then ever before?  What is it?  What fans your flame?

And here's the best advice I could ever give someone... whatever that one thing is... here's the deal... DO THAT OFTEN!  It is such a simple thing, but oh how we miss the simple things of life that keep us lit... More often then not we will spend all of our time prepping sermons or meeting with staff or doing the business of church that we forget to stop, understand we were chosen, and then fan into the flame the greatest gift in the world... the faith that leads us to Jesus!  We have got to fan the flame!  Because we are at war.  We are battling.  And we grow weary!  We do... but that's what's so comforting about all of this... is that God chose you and the very best thing we could ever do for our people is to fan our own flame... because when we are bringing brightly, when our faith is shining, and Jesus is lifted up... what's the promise of John 12:32 that HE... Jesus will draw ALL men to himself... But Pastor you have to lead.  You have to burn brightly.  You have to show them Jesus... That's your call by God Almighty... He chose you to lead and we have got to... listen to me... we have got to fan the flame... For HE, meaning Jesus, is the hope of the world... and it is our job to lead people to Him!  And here's the deal, how can we do that while weary?  We won't... And here's the deal... for me... I want to finish the race strong... As a Christian, as a Husband, and as a Pastor... I want to finish the race strong... And for me the only way to do this is to come back to these 2 simple truths... God chose me and I have to fan the flame.  And here's what I know... there will be ups and downs... probably this afternoon I will need to read this myself and remind myself of this... But this is what I know if I keep coming back to this... My flame burns brightly!  And I praise God for that!

And can I just say, Pastor, I love you... I pray for the church daily... Greater things are yet to come in your life... You have been chosen, God doesn't choose junk, but it is your responsibility to fan the flame... Don't give up... Don't throw in the towel... Fan the flame...

[chrispasik-blog]

Monday Hangover

Ok let me explain before the emails come flying in from people who think I am a drunk.  This has nothing to do with that.  One thing that I feel every single Monday is like a truck has hit me.  I have never been drunk before, so to say the least I have no idea what a hangover feels like (and yes I'm proud of that...ha!).  But here is what I know, every Monday I feel as though a truck has hit me from doing ministry all weekend long!  And that's when I journal to God!  It is my alone time with Him that He speaks, and this morning as I was praying and just going over what happened this weekend I was overwhelmed by what He started speaking to me.  So sometimes on Mondays I just have to write what He has showed me, and this is it!  So bare with me, as the title of the post says, it's Monday and I feel as though I'm hungover (just to clarify again, that means I'm just exhausted from doing minstry).

So to catch those of you up to speed, I am the pastor of a college ministry called UNITE.  And to say the least God is MOVING!  And this past weekend, we challenged everyone to live out their faith, bring people you are closest to so that they can hear the Gospel, and then we will watch God save souls!  And well, let's just say, Friday was AMAZING!  We watched UNITE catch fire, we watched people bring people, and we then watched 7 people stand up in front of about 200 college kids and admit that they messed up God's plan for their life, they were stuck, and they needed Jesus to set the free!  It was an unbelievable night!  And then to add to it, I can't even begin to tell you the people that also recommitted to Christ as well!  So with all of that said, it was an unbelievable thing to see God move!  

So today here is what I feel God pressing on me... Friday I couldn't sleep after UNITE.  Seriously, Saturday came and we had a UNITE hangout and I was buzzing!  Like seriously I think I was high off the Holy Ghost (this is a joke, I really wasn't... but i felt like it).  And to explain a little bit about me, one the the things in this life that matters most is reaching people for Jesus!  And Friday, that happened!  And I think there are 2 thoughts that come to my mind with all of this...

1.  How did this happen?

2. Why would God do what he did?  

And to me this is so simple but I'm so in AWE of Jesus with all of this.  So first off to explain the How... How this happened... God moved... PERIOD!  The reason people met Jesus was because we prayed and begged God for this to happen.  I want everyone to understand the power of prayer.  When we pray, GOD MOVES!  PERIOD!  We did a whole entire series on this called "Your Favorite Weapon", and the whole purpose was to teach that prayer is powerful, it moves God and it also moves you!  And the very first thing I don't want anyone to ever forget is God did this, because we prayed!  John 14:13-14 says Jesus will do whatever we ask... that means anything... as long as HE, meaning God, gets the glory!  And look we asked God to move, and he did!  

And that leads me to my next point... Because just rattling off that verse can be confusing to some people and it can also lead us down the "name it claim it road".  If you don't know what that means you are better off that way... But the next thing is why?  Right?  Why would God have said yes?  Why did God do what he did?  Why us?  Why me?  Why UNITE?  I mean it is the question that has been prodding away at me for so long... even when UNITE was just beginning and we were watching this thing move and grow... it's always been this question of why?  And for the first time I think I understand why... Go back to John 14.  There is this little phrase in John 14:13-14.  Read the verse in full-

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do.

 Do you see it?  The clause, the thing that makes this verse so powerful, Jesus will do anyting you ask, SO THAT- don't miss that- so that God gets the glory, so that God is made famous, so that God is glorified in the Son!  Or meaning, in Jesus!  And I think back on Friday and I am still pumped, but this verse explains it all.  The reason God blessed it, the reason God did what he did was because the prayer wasn't God make UNITE larger, God get my girlfriend saved so we can be "equally yoked", God do this for me and I will do this for you...  There was no trade offs, there were no clauses, and there were no if you do this... then I wills... I honestly believe the true honest heartbeat of UNITE came out Friday when we all began to understand it's for God's glory and then we prayed... And from there forward our prayers were: God move!  God save souls!  God you have set us free, now show that same power, that same glory, that same grace to our friends!  God do this for your glory to create worshippers for you!  And God most of all, make a name for yourself!  And because it was about HIs glory and His fame the promise in all of this came true!  Because when when we pray for God to make His name famous, to make His glory known, and for Him to glorify His name through Christ... The promises of God leap from scripture!  And it's always been this way.  Track briefly through the Bible: the reason God chose Abraham was to make his name famous.  The reason God parted the Red Sea was to make himself known.  The reason God has been and always will be redeeming His people to Himself is for His own name and his own renown... Look at this...  Ezekiel 38:23 when God's people went astray yet again... look at this...  

And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'

And even go back to John 14:13-14- 

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do.  

Are you getting this?  Are you seeing why God does what he does?  It is to make Himself known!  It is always to make Himself famous!  And here's what's crazy, He has been doing that from the very beginning, and He is STILL doing this today!  I am in AWE of all he did Friday, I am in AWE of all he will still do, and I am anticipating and will continue to BEG God to keep moving, keeping saving souls while making His name famous through our future!  What an awesome God we serve, what an awesome Savior we have, and what an incredible group to be a part of... A group who understands, it's not about me, it's about His name and His renown!  And because of that, Friday God saved some!  

 And with all of that said... may this Psalm become our prayer daily:  

I will praise you, Lord my God, 

with all my heart; 

I will glorify your name forever.                                                                         

Psalm 86:12

[chrispasik-blog]

Just a thought on the war at hand...

As I was sitting still in my quite time with God have you ever felt as though he was not there?  I know you have, because for me this happens often.  Almost more then I like to admit... because aren't there are just days sometimes even weeks when I feel alone and/or that God is just not there?  You know what I mean?  It is like you are diligent to study His Word, you are dedicated to pray daily, and you are seeking Him (as much as He will allow you to) and it just seems like there are times when he is gone...

And like I said, this happens all the time, but more specifically as of late which has really thrown in monkey wrench into writing sermons that's for sure... because here's the deal, I can't write a sermon about what God hasn't spoke about and at times I just can't hear His voice!  And the week happens, time flies by, and then all the sudden here it is coming up on Friday again and I think dangit!  I have squandered my week!  I have missed God's voice!  And it is in those moments I want to run away.  It is in those moments when I want to hide in a cave.  And it is in those moments when I feel like I can't do this anymore and I feel like the whole world is coming down on me, I become incredibly inverted and that's usually when I start to freak out...  And I know you know what I am talking about... Even if you aren't a pastor of any sorts... There are moments when we just need to hear God's voice... Like we just need to be reassured that it is going to be okay, or that things will work out... or heck, maybe you just need to "feel" His presence in your life again... and that's where I want to breath life into every single one of you that read this...

I have been reading through the Psalms and I kept coming back to this idea that David was always begging God, and I mean begging God to rescue him or come near to him.  He was always pouring his heart out to God and being very honest about how wicked men are prospering.  How wicked men are coming after him.  Like if you read the first 15 Psalms even you can't miss the fact that David lived a life that was so desperate it wasn't even funny!  But here's what I love about all of this, see we read about David's story in 1-2 Samuel and we read about him killing Goliath, taking over Israel, and becoming arguably the greatest king ever to live.  He is even tagged as "a man after God's own heart".  Like that's crazy!  And we think well if I could live a life like that... If I could live a life like David then I would be able to hear God, I would be able to connect to God, I would be able to really know God is always with me, but here's what's crazy... read the Psalms!  David was always freaking out!  David was always begging God to save him!  David was always begging God to get supernaturally involved in his life to life him up and for Him to defeat His enemies... Like that's the real, raw emotions of what David went through... But here's what I am finding out... that's right where God wants you...

God wants us to be in a place where we are most dependent on Him to rescue us.  God wants us to completely rely on Him for everything in this life form great to small.  God wants us to look to Him in desperation for Him to save us, because when we are most depentend on Him, he is most satisfied in us.  When we are most desperate for him, he is most glorified in us.  And when we are at our wits end, and freaking out because we are in such a mess we can't figure out how we will ever survive, that's when we is most exhaulted and placed as SUPREME in our life, because it is in those moments we give up, look to him, need a savior, and every time he steps in to show the world how much he loves you and I.  

And look I have no idea where you are at, but for me, I need this!  I need to hear these things.  I need to preach these concepts to myself, because many of you know, not a day goes by I feel like I'm not in a war.  Many of you know there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel like I have enemies waiting for me to fall.  Not a day goes by that I don't feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, but thanks be to God for his strength and his power to lift me up out of the "slimy pit, out of the mud and mire (of this life); he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand (Ps. 40:2)."  Thank you God for defeating my enemies, thank you Jesus for saving me, and thank you Holy Spirit for placing in me your words to speak as I live the life you created me for!

And my prayer is this... as I battle, as I struggle, as I look to God for all hope "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord (Ps. 40:3b)."  Amen!

[chrispasik-blog]

Heartache and Jesus

Sometimes I just need to get something off my chest, and this is one of those moments.  But there are times when I feel trapped by my own life.  By this I mean I have been chasing after Jesus since I was 19, I am now 28, and for 9 years now I have been engulfed by the Christian world.  This is not a bad thing to a certain degree, but at the same time it is not a good thing either.  Because what I find is that when you are in the Christian world this much it seems as though everyone expects you to be happy.  Everyone expects you to have it all together.  And everyone looks to you as though you should have life figured out.  Maybe it is just my position as a leader in a ministry, this I am not sure, but it seems like every time I am around people I am leading it is like we have to put on that happy face, make sure we smile, and act like everything is great.  And just to be quite honest, I am sort of sick of it, because to be honest... Sometimes I'm just stressed out.  Sometimes I'm just freaking out, and sometimes I just feel let down, betrayed, bitter, and I am struggling to keep life moving forward.  

And let's just be honest... We ALL feel this exact same way from time to time.  We can all relate to this to a certain degree.  I remember the first time I experienced feeling like this and then had to preach that evening.  It was one of the worst feelings in the world.  I felt like  hypocrite, because wouldn't you know I was launching a brand new series called "In Motion", which was a sermon series about how God knows you, he created you, and he has plans to prosper you and not harm you.  So at that moment I can still remember gripping my Bible, freaking out, not feeling good enough... just having this emotional roller coster happening in my mind.  And to make things worse in the midst of all of that I was dealing with people biting at me and attacking me from what seemed like every side.  It was not a fun season of life, and for me the question that came to me was, how am I ever going to take the stage and preach?  Like how am I ever going to handle all of this?  How can I stand up and preach about Jesus, His plan for our lives, and how amazing his purposes are for you and for me when I felt like the world was crashing down around me?  

And even to this day I still feel these feelings.  In fact, last week at UNITE (the college ministry I have the honor of leading) it was a vision night where we cast vision for the ministry, and here's the deal... Those nights are some of the most fun nights in the world if you are the preacher!  You literally get to yell, scream, and spit as people clap about Jesus, and then I get the privilege of watching people latch on and jump on board with the mission of the ministry and launch into all God has called us to...  I love these nights!  I love preaching my heart out on where I see Jesus taking us, but here's the problem with last Friday... I didn't feel like preaching.  And it is in this moment I think we can all identify with what I am saying.  There are things in this life or seasons of this life where we "should" be firing on all cylinders, but what we find is that there are just times when we have to deal with emotions, heartache, betrayal, etc.  There are just things in this life that press on us.  And if you are anything like me we scream out to God in those moments for help, but it doesn't seem to help.  And I'm not saying that it is because God isn't listening, he hears the prayers of the righteous (Pro. 15:29), but I am speaking emotionally.  Doesn't it seem like when you are screaming out to God saying God something has got to change, God my heart is growing cold, I'm getting bitter, God help me!  It seems like nothing emotionally changes...

And that's where I want to just speak today to hope to encourage all of us.  I have been studying the life of Jesus quite a bit (which I think we all should forever), and I have found that Jesus felt everything I just described.  He even felt it to the same degree we do.  But we don't get that... and let's just be honest, we look at Jesus and we know what he did on the cross, but we think he is the smiling Christian person we all see at the Christian book stores, and we all hate them.  But we think those exact same things about Jesus.  We think he was always happy, nothing bad ever happened to him, and we think that the emotional roller coaster of life we live through didn't affect him.  But this is what He has been blowing my mind with lately, which is so rich in wisdom it isn't even funny... In John 13 Jesus is starting to invest the last of His life here on earth with his disciples.  They are in a room, they eat dinner, and at that point in John 13 the Bible says that he wanted to show his disciples the full extent of His love for them, and he did this through washing their feet.  And we don't need to get into all the details of it, but Jesus was showing all 12 disciples the greatest act of live he could think of, outside of the cross.  Now think about this... This is Jesus...  And he is doing all he can to express his deep, heartfelt love for his disciples and then in the middle of that he says this...

John 13:18- “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.

I read that, and that breaks my heart, because imagine if you are Jesus.  Place yourself in His shoes... He is showing everyone the full extent of His love, and in the middle of serving His disciples, in the middle of this epic foot washing, Jesus then predicts that one of them, even though he loved him and was in the middle of showing them all the fill extend of his love, would betray him and as scriptures put it "lift his heel against Jesus".  That's a bad deal!  And after all of that this next verse just placed everything into perspective...

John 13:21- After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

Now stop!  Don't miss this... Jesus was troubled in spirit!  Jesus was upset.  Jesus was in the middle of doing minsitry, loving on His disciples to the greatest extent, and trying to do everything he could to teach them how to love the world around them, and in the middle of all of that the Bible says Jesus' spirit was troubled.  Meaning Jesus dealt with the exact same emotional roller coasters we deal with every single day!  Jesus was human.  Jesus went through everything we go through.  He even went through heartache, disappointment, and betrayal.  Jesus felt exactly how you feel when we are down, when we are disappointed, and when we just simply don't feel like smiling.  Look Jesus knows and understands what that feels like... And I love that!  I love that Jesus knows our heartache.  He knows when we are just pounding on the door of heaven feeling disappointed, feeling depressed.  Jesus knows what all of that feel like... And because of that, what a comfort it is for us to be able to have a savior that relates to every single situation we could ever be in!  And that's why the writer of Hebrews says...

Hebrews 4:15- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Jesus went through everything we go through and he can symapthize with us in our weaknesses.  And for me, there are times when I feel like I can't pick my head up.  There are times my heart is aching so bad it feels like depression is sinking in.  And there are moments in life where I don't feel like anyone else in the world understands where I am at or where I am coming from, but thanks be to Jesus that we have a savior, an almighty God that stepped out of heaven for you and for me so that he could come to us, relate with us, and understand and sympathize with us in our time of need!  Which is why Hebrews 4 ends so elgantly...

Hebrews 4:16- Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Did you read that?  approach the throne of grace, meaning Jesus, with confidence knowing that he understand us, he knows us, he created us, and yes he came to us and had felt what we have felt, morned how we have morned, wrestled with disappointment like we have wrestled with disappointment, and dealt with heartache even how we have delat with heartache.  And the Bible says take confidence in the fact that Jesus... Jesus... Jesus understands and knows all you are going through and if we would just come to him, we will find grace and mercy to help us in our time of need.  

And I don't know about you, but I need this so bad.  I need grace because I get bitter when disappointed.  I need mercy because my heart grows cold when I feel betrayed.  And I need Jesus to step in and help me get through today because there are sometimes when I don't feel like smiling, I don't feel like preaching, and there are sometimes when I just don't feel like I deserve any of the blessings He has given me... but thanks be to God for Jesus... He didn't just sit in heaven expecting us to serve him, he got down and served us, related to us, and came to us...

[chrispasik-blog]

The Only Way To Live

Well here we go, I never really thought that I would ever want to BLOG before, but for me... there are just some things that God is teaching me that would first be therapeutic in nature for me to share (I seriously might need counseling before I'm 30), but also I think they are amazing things that God is teaching me.  So here we go...  My first BLOG ever...ha!

Right now in my life I am really just exhausted.  I can't really explain it, but at the same time it is THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE!  And here's where I am at with everything... If I could invest into people one thing it would be to live in such a way where you are in way over your head, you are living life way beyond your potential, and you are physically, spiritually, and mentally relying on Jesus to get you through whatever you are in.  I really do believe that is what Paul was saying when he wrote that "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong 2 Cor. 12:10."  I believe Paul was living a life way beyond himself, and if it wasn't for the supernatural intervention of the Holy Spirit in his life he would have snapped! 

And for me, this is the place I have been living for the past month.  I have been doing ministry since I was 19 in bands and such, but recently have been in full time vocational ministry doing UNITEdownriver (look us up on Facebook in you are in Detroit area) serving as a College Pastor there for only 2.5 years.  And this month has been one of the most intense months of my life. 

It started when I was preparing my schedule for the summer.  I am a very planned person, if it wasn't for planning I would seriously die... not even kidding.  So through planning, I had planned to preach at a youth ministry in beginning of June, go to Haiti for a week on a mission trip in the middle of June, preach at the Cornerstone Festival in the beginning of July, preach at my home church (metrosouthchurch.com) in mid July, and throughout the summer I would still preach every Friday at UNITEdownriver (the college ministry I'm a part of).  So all of this seemed fine it started to play out.

The week before we left for Haiti I literally had to write 3 sermons.  One sermon for UNITE that week, one sermon for UNITE the next week and pre-record it to show at UNITE while I was in Haiti, and then yet another sermon to speak at the youth ministry I agreed to months prior.  So all of that happened, just for the weekend to hit, be over, and then jump on a plane to go to Haiti.  While I was in Haiti, words cannot even explain the spiritual and physical growth and exhaustion that came.  It was so good, but so draining in so many ways.  And so after a week in Haiti, I came home that Thrusday to have to preach at UNITE that Friday.  After that UNITE was gearing up to do UNITE at the park, it is where we do our college ministry outside and enjoy the 3 F's of church... food, fun, and fellowship...ha!  But that week we were gearing up for that, which is just exhausting and if it was for our leadership team I don't think I would have had the strength to do it.  But it happened and that week again I found myslef prepping for 2 sermons because I was having to do UNITE that Friday outside and then we were leaving that night to drive through the night to go to Illinois to the Cornerstone Festival.  And then at the festival, God wrecked me, gave me a new vision and new sermon to teach and so that Saturday with 2 hours of sleep, I wrote a new sermon, to get up the next morning preach it, then stay for the rest of the festival, drive half way home, get a hotel room with my wife who I hadn't spent any time with in the past several weeks, we had date day in CHicago, then drove home, which then it hit me, it was Tuesday and this weekend I had to preach at UNITE and at my home church Metro!

And here's the deal I share all of that with all of you just for this... this past month I literally preached my brains out, I traveled all over the Western Hemisphere, at least is seems that way, and I am physically and spiritually spent!  But here I am now... it's Monday, this is the first day off I have had in the past month and here's all I can say... GOD IS FAITHFUL (1 Cor. 1:9)!  He is so faithful!  I look at everything that has just happened, and I can't believe I didn't snap.  I can't believe I didn't crack under the pressure.  Like there is no reason that should have been able to do all I did with excellence this past month.  My emotions were all over the chart, my heart was all over the place, at times I had a bad attitude, I wanted to quit, and I even wanted to give up!  But here's what was so cool... in my weaknesses that's when He was strong!  His power, His Spirit, alive inside of me, pressed through my short comings, pressed through my sin, and pressed through my weaknesses and He, Jesus, literally lit up and rocked ever session I preached at!  It was seriously amazing for me to open my mouth and all Him to speak through me!  And every time I'm telling you it was His words for His people!  At UNITE we have saw about a dozen people accept Jesus this month, at Cornerstone people were crying while I was preaching, and at my home church Jesus just exploded and lit up His people!  It has been unbelievable that Jesus accomplished all of this through me! 

And I'm telling you, as I look back on this past month... I'm tired, I'm drained, I'm seriously spent, but now that this month is over all I can say is THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE!  Because this is where God shows his faithfulness!  This is where God shows His power!  This is where God steps in and makes you strong when you are weak!  And for me, this is how I want to live my life, because it is the only way to live!  And if there is one thing I could invest into anyone, it would be to live a life that is way beyond anything you could ever imagine.  Because when the odds are against you, when you feel like you can't keep going, when you feel physically, mentally, and spiritually dead... here's the deal... when you are weak, then you are strong!  Because God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit will light you up and enpower you to do unbelievable things for His will and His purposes. And for me... Look I don't know what tomorrow holds, but it pumps me up to look at all God accomplished this month through me while I was useless without His Spirit doing it all!  And because of that I can't wait to see what the future holds living life this way! 

So this blog, my blog, will be about those moments when the Holy Spirit is teaching me hard lessons, but I see that this is THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE.  Because I honestly believe that greater things are yet to come, and Jesus is just waiting for you and for me to step up, start walking, and become weak so he can strengthen us and allow His unbelievable, unexplainable, all powerful Spirit to lift us up and use us to do more than you or I could ever imagine.