Everything In A Tidy Box

Husband, Father, Pastor, Coffee Aficionado, Android Enthusiast. Theologically Conservative, Socially Progressive.

[kurioskurion]

Last Words

Last words can be so powerful. It is human nature to desire to leave a positive memorable legacy with our loved ones. In those rare cases, a legacy transcends beyond one’s immediate family network and extends to culture on a grander scale. We can think of easy examples of this: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and of course, the greatest example of culture changing legacy, Jesus. There are many more. What we fail to realize is that all of us will leave a legacy of some kind. Whether that legacy is positive or negative, grand or small, life changing or uninspiring is purely up to us. 

One of my favorite scenes of Last Words comes from the fictitious account of Doc Holliday in the Movie Tombstone. After observing countless adventures between Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, we see their friendship blossom into brotherhood. We’re even reminded of this friendship with Doc’s famous words when after jumping into harms way to save Wyatt, a companion said, “Why did you risk yourself, Doc?” Doc retorts, “Because Wyatt Earp is my friend.” The companion says back, “Shoot, I have lots of friends.” Doc, “I don’t.” We then come to the end of Doc’s life as he succumbs to tuberculosis.

“Live every second. Live right on to the end. Live Wyatt. Live for me. Wyatt, if you were ever my friend...” - Doc Holliday (Tombstone)

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of watching Dr. Strange. It was a pretty cool movie. I consider myself a fringe Dr. Strange fan. I’ve read quite a bit of the comic title. But never got deep into the mythos of that character. The ideas of multiple universes, time and dimension altering magic, and powers beyond the senses was always hard for me to latch onto. But I did enjoy the movie. There was one very poignant scene right in the middle that moved me.

**** Mild Spoilers for Dr. Strange coming! ****

Doctor Strange is conversing with the Ancient One. The Ancient One is the head of the mystical order that Dr. Strange has joined. She’s very old. She’s also used magic to protect earth from other powerful beings. She’s seen many things past and future. But communicates that there is one scene she sees in visions but never sees beyond. She knows that what she sees must be her end because all living creatures have an end. She tells Dr. Strange that time and death are not the enemy of mankind. In fact, death gives life purpose. That we all have a set amount of time... to create legacy. This scene, right before her death, is the turning point for Dr. Strange. It is here that he chooses to forsake selfishness and embraces selflessness. It is a powerful part of the movie. 

Of course, I do not believe death is the end. Nor do I believe that death gives life purpose, necessarily. I do believe that all of us were created to be eternal beings. That we all have life beyond this mortal coil. But the lesson that we all will face death is a stark reality. We must choose what to do with the time allotted to us. 

There are many other examples of famous last words. What are some of your favorites? Here’s the point. We all will leave a legacy. We all will have an opportunity to communicate one last thing to those we love and cherish. What will it be? 

Ok. No more jumping around the point. It is time we get uncomfortable. As I was pondering this thought after Friday night (movie night), I stumbled upon an example of last words. It made me very uncomfortable. It caused me to start thinking about my words much more closely. I try to be intentional with what I communicate. I fail more often than I succeed here, I’m sure. Here is the moment of my uncomfortableness: If I were to die this very moment. A meteorite crashes through the roof of the coffee shop I’m sitting in and breaks my body. Tomorrow, friends, family, neighbors, enemies, strangers, people pull up my Twitter feed or Facebook wall, what are my last words? What about you? We present to everyone this public image of what we stand for and what we value. But what if our life is snuffed out, what picture does our social media profiles paint of us? What do we value? What do we stand for? What is important to us? Is it political? Is it earthly and temporal... mere pleasures that will dissolve? Is it family and loved ones? Is it God? Is it about serving others or having others serve us? I tell you, as I stared at this real life example, this sobering thought hit me like a ton of bricks. 

Most of us will not write a grand dissertation, book, or speech. Most of us will never have a large audience. Most of us will not “go viral”. But all of us are creating a legacy right now with our online profiles. If a meteorite were to crash into your world right now, what legacy are you leaving? Perhaps we need to take time to clean up that profile and make character change. Would it be possible that our last moments of mortality could match Jesus’s? With His last breath he forgave others, took care of his loved ones, selflessly shared faith and salvation with someone who needed it, and then with a “It Is Finished” ushered in redemption for a mankind who didn’t deserve it. 

Time, we live by it's counting Time, the beating of the drum Time, it tells us when we can Or what we cannot do

But our GOD is not held by time Nor is He restrained By it's hard bindings

[kurioskurion]

A Hateful Heart

*As this post starts really dark, I think it’s appropriate to post the last paragraph first.*

As a Christian, observing hate-filled language from our national leaders, I have been reminded of the true Universal Leader. He is the only One that can look at the heart and condemn. Rather, He looked at the heart and died. As the hip-hop artist Propaganda said: “That same breath God breathed into us, to create us; He gave up to redeem us.”

There have been some incredibly vitriolic things said during the Presidential Campaign of 2016. There’s easily enough to fill a book, sadly. It’s almost as if we’re becoming numb to the horrifically unpresidential comments thrown from all sides of the party lines. This will be my sixth presidential election I have been able to participate in as an adult. I can say in my short time as an adult, this is easily the worst, shameful, hateful election I have ever seen. That should certainly be without debate. 

One comment made, as an emphatic statement, during the second debate really caused me to pause. This statement came in the middle of a remark regarding Hillary Clinton’s inappropriate and deplorable declaration that half of Mr. Trump’s supporters are deplorables. Donald Trump said, “We have a divided nation, because people like her -- and believe me, she has tremendous hate in her heart. And when she said deplorables, she meant it.” She has tremendous hate in her heart... I will admit, this statement really upset me when I heard it. 

There's a darkness in my skin My cover's wearing thin, I believe I'd love to start again, go back to innocent And never leave.

My first thought was: How could a person truly declare they know someone else’s heart? How can he make a statement as absolute as this. Does Clinton truly have tremendous hate in her heart? How absurd! Only God can see the heart and determine the motives of man, true? That has to be in the Bible somewhere (Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Samuel 16:7). How dare a man declare that he can see the heart of anyone and make such an outlandish claim! Sure we can observe words and actions and determine the moral fabric of such... but to claim we know someone’s heart? That it’s full of hate? Absurd.

My second thought was: Is anyone’s heart tremendously and truly full of hate? What I mean by that is, is there a person, anywhere, that has no room for love, compassion, and grace in his or her heart? That their heart is so completely black that there is no room for goodness? I would even make a case that the worst terrorist imaginable has someone he loves. That even the worst criminal, who has done the most atrocious acts, has love and compassion toward someone in his heart. Clearly this statement was hyperbole. But haven’t we heard enough hyperbolic garbage this year? Absurd.

Hang with me... because my third thought is coming up next. 

Don't give up now A break in the clouds We could be found There's nothing wrong with me It's just that I believe things could get better.

Here is my third thought: When I calmed down from the rhetoric and thought more deeply about the statement, God convicted me of my own unrighteousness. In the eyes of a holy, majestic, just, and perfect God every single one of us is black through and through. My good works, my good thoughts, my good deeds are garbage in the sight of the Creator of the Universe. You see, I cannot in good conscience judge another’s heart when mine is black. And here I am, teetering on the edge of Worm Theology:

“Worm Theology is a term used for the idea in Christian culture that in light of God's holiness and power an appropriate emotion is a low view of self.” (Thanks Wikipedia)

Ah, but here is where Jesus comes in! Jesus the Righteous and True! Jesus the Rescuer! You see, because of Jesus’s great love and sacrifice we do not have to live with this heart of hate! We do not have to succumb to blackness of sin that’s placed upon us. Because of Jesus we can be redeemed, made holy, washed clean, and exalted as adopted sons and daughters in His holy kingdom! Hallelujah! This wonderful theology is more powerful than Worm Theology. This is Sanctified Theology!

“Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:8-11

My friends, if you have not found purpose, love, meaning, and grace in Jesus Christ yet, allow this time to convince you of your need for Him! He promises freedom and life for any who seek Him for it. He promises relationship and a place in His goodness for any who desire it. Faith is the key to the kingdom. Belief is the motion that pushes the key in the lock. Commitment to Him as Lord and Savior is the act of opening the door. 

As a Christian, observing hate-filled language from our national leaders, I have been reminded of the true Universal Leader. He is the only One that can look at the heart and condemn. Rather, He looked at the heart and died. As the hip-hop artist Propaganda said: “That same breath God breathed into us, to create us; He gave up to redeem us.”

“Don't give up now A break in the clouds We will be found Rescue is coming now.”

[kurioskurion]

My Politic Is Jesus

Last week I was publicly accused of "siding with a liberal agenda" and "using my Facebook as a political tool". That day has caused me to do a significant amount of thinking and prayer. I drafted the beginnings of this post the day of, but felt prudent to wait, think, pray, edit, scrap, edit again... and now post. I understand completely that many will disagree with my conclusions and that’s ok. The human race has always been a multi-colored soup of opinion. I do feel that my thoughts have great merit, but I do not expect everyone to share them. I have never felt the need to write a post like this before... Explaining my politic. I suppose, it’s ultimately my fault as I’ve publicly shared my opinion on some issues... issues that are currently very political. Knowing our social networking times and since there is very little separation between public and private, I feel it is necessary to explain my world view. I was challenged by this term even today, “world view”. It was said that, “we need to develop not a world view, but God's view toward the world.” I believe this distinction is very significant as my own conclusion of God’s view toward the world has shaped my opinion. This opinion transcends far above politic. 

So you see, my opinion is not driven by politic. It is driven by Scripture. It is driven by my belief that ALL people are created in God's image, are precious, and deserve grace, redemption, peace, and love. 

Therefore, my opinion is not an opinion, it is a conviction. I have always held that I honor God's kingdom before man's kingdoms. My convictions have never endorsed a person. My convictions endorse a God who desperately wants people from all nations, all tongues, all backgrounds, all struggles to be reunited with Him. 

So, yes, my convictions, then, include refugees, Muslims, immigrants, homosexuals, transgenders, and anyone else mankind may deem undesirable/dangerous. I must value a “system” that also values these same people groups.

I endorse no man or woman for any political office. I am an independent and will always be an independent. I cannot endorse a man or woman because no political man or woman will ever hold to every value of God's Kingdom ethic. Who I will or will not vote for matters not, because I endorse Jesus and Jesus alone. I embrace a cruciform, enemy loving, socially generous, pacifistic theology... because I believe that is what Jesus instructed His followers to do. 

Why do my convictions make others uncomfortable? Why do my convictions seem to be radical? It is because they do not mesh with our modern Christian-American ethic... and I get that. 

"Believing in the divinity of Jesus is the heart of Christian orthodoxy. But believing in the viability of Jesus's IDEAS makes Christianity truly radical." - Brian Zahnd 

Therefore, I cannot be labelled a Republican or a Democrat; Liberal or Conservative. If you want to label me, then label me a Jesus Follower. Every post I have put on Facebook has been a reflection of this Jesus Politic: All Life Is Treasured By God. 

"Theologically Conservative, Socially Progressive." 

Has been my tag line on twitter for years. Why? Because I believe Jesus was theologically conservative and socially progressive. I'd rather follow in His foot steps than anyone else's.

Here are a few books that have influenced or affected this Jesus Politic. However, understand that these books are not Scripture. I do not believe they are inspired or authoritative. They have simply caused me to think:

Gods at War - Kyle Idleman

Farewell to Mars - Brian Zahnd

Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence - Preston Sprinkle

Crazy Love - Francis Chan

Prototype - Jonathan Martin

My journey into this Jesus politic started years ago when I first heard Derek Webb’s song “A King and A Kingdom”. 

It should go without saying that these thoughts, opinions, conclusions are mine and mine alone. I do not speak on behalf of the church I am ministering at or the staff I minister with.

[kurioskurion]

In Defense Of The Lock-In

Have you ever had that moment when you ask yourself, “am I actually doing this?” Currently, I’m staring at my fingers as they type and I’m wondering if they are doing this action all by themselves! Is this article actually being written? Who has commandeered my brain and decided to draft this? Surely, I must be crazy! OK... fine, look, an article was shared with me about two weeks ago titled Why It’s Time To Kill The Lock-In. It was a very well written article and upon reading the title, I was like, “Yes!! Finally someone is writing concrete reasons to kill off this Youth Pastor/Leader destroyer of events!” Then the funniest thing happened. I read the article and kept thinking to myself, “I don’t disagree with this author’s conclusions. In fact, in my experience, these negative premises do not fit with what I’ve seen.... maybe I am a closet Lock-In fan!”

I’ll link the article at the bottom. But what I thought would be fun for today is to write a rebuttal to the main points of this article. Hopefully this will build a case, at least for Cross Road, to continue having this particular event. Before I begin, please understand that I know the Lock-In is not the perfect event. There are valid concerns with this kind of party. However, as you will soon see, most of these concerns can be resolved with careful, precise planning, a solid volunteer base, and with clear communication of expectations. So let’s begin.

The article’s first point: They don’t grow the Kingdom

It is in this point the author makes a case that the amount of time, money, and energy spent on his event did not grow deep meaningful disciples of Jesus Christ. In fact, he was able to build relationships but nothing deep happened.

While it is understandable that this could happen, really how deep into spirituality can an exhausted teen at 4am get? I believe this concern is indicative of an incorrect expectation. Let me explain. I have learned over the span of 11 years of youth ministry and about 20 lock-ins, that this particular event is not the most effective opportunity to teach and instill deep Holy Spirit changing connection to God. A lock-in isn’t and shouldn’t be a discipleship moment. If one has the expectation of grand Kingdom building, then yes, this event is not going to be effective at all. If the expectation is to have a party, then the lock-in is a great opportunity to do so. 

Here is my expectation as I plan, prepare, and implement a lock-in: I expect students to enjoy themselves and their friends, to introduce a friend to their circle of Christ followers, and give students a chance to strengthen, connect, or re-connect relationships with each other. That’s it! We have had “spiritual lesson” times, guest speakers, etc. But the expectation is purely relationship building. The reason why I have this basic of expectations is because I would rather devote the vast majority of my time during weekly programming for the Kingdom building aspect. 

The article’s second point: They require a lot of work and money

The author here describes how he had spent a lot of money and time pouring into this annual event. This is a quick rebuttal for me. I can’t remember a lock-in where I spent more than $50 of budget money. Sure it takes time. But all good events do. Here is something I’ve learned about lock-ins. They don’t necessarily have to have a lot of grandiose plans to be successful. Students just want to play and have a fun time. The hide-and-seek game at 2:00am that cost me a grand total of $5 on flashlights and approximately 15 minutes painting them glow in the dark has become one of the most popular and sought after games of the year... minimal cost, minimal time, not super fancy, insanely fun. 

The article’s third point: Nothing good happens after 3 a.m.

The author describes a moment of hell from his experience and his peer’s experiences in this section. They’ve caught students engaging in sexual activities, drug use, assault, students disappearing, etc. It’s a pretty bleak picture and as I read, I found myself agreeing. Nothing good does ever happen after 3am. But then I realized, again, in 11 years of ministry and about 20 lock-ins... I have never, never, not once experienced anything remotely close to what the author described. Sure I’ve had to break up some PDA before. I remember having to step into a heated argument between two students and stop them before a fight broke out. But I’ve never had the horror of sending a student home due to egregious rule breaking. 

Why is this, I wonder. I believe it all comes down to careful planning, sticking to the program, having a solid saturation of adult volunteers, and, most importantly, limited free-time. Make sure the students know what the expectations are before the night begins. Then limit free-time and the only thing happening after 3 a.m. is fun!

The article’s fourth point: Its not healthy

This is actually the one point in the author’s article I agreed with the most. He focused most on the health of the student. Personally, I believe the teenager can bounce back from an all-nighter quickly and completely. The adults, however? There’s a good reason I am beginning to schedule only one of these per year. 

The article’s last point: They set up false expectations of ministry

This is the point I probably disagreed with most. 

“Lock-ins set up a fake picture of what youth ministry is supposed to be. People start to think: It’s supposed to be wild and crazy with lots of games and food! It’s supposed to be a big event that gets bigger all the time! It’s supposed to be high-energy, pushing-the-envelope type stuff!”

Quite frankly, if the people in the church have this notion of what youth ministry is all about, the youth leader needs to reexamine his or her purpose of ministry. My purpose of ministry has been the same since day one: 

Teach students the character and nature of God. Impart to students the beauty of God’s love story for them. Entreat to students the importance of family, parental honor, and guidance through wise counsel. Develop in students a holistic trust in God, in order that through life’s triumphs and failures, blessings and curses, fair weather and storms, they will have a perfect Focus to guide them through their journey.

I know without a doubt that it takes more than just a lock-in to accomplish this purpose. What it takes is weekly relationship building, counsel, teaching, worship, fellowship, and community. The bread and butter of the ministry at Cross Road occurs on Wednesday nights, not during a once a year party. I pray that, this is the true expectation of ministry we have set up for ourselves at Cross Road. 

At any rate, this was a fun little article to read. I never knew I would be so passionately in favor of lock-ins! What are you thoughts? Who wants to help with the big lock-in this New Year’s season? 

Here is the article for you to read: Click here.

Here is a funny youth pastor made video about lock-ins.... I laughed:

[kurioskurion]

We Change. We Have To.

Are you a Star Trek fan? Or a Star Wars fan? This can be a polarizing question. If you’re a big fan of sci-fi, you more than likely have a strong opinion. Personally, I’m a Star Wars fan. But I have watched every Star Trek film and a lot of the TV shows. I’ll certainly admit, I enjoy Star Trek. Most of the films are entertaining. Some of them are very forgettable. But I heard great things about the newest film, Star Trek: Beyond. I happen to agree with most of the critics, I enjoyed it! 

Again, I like to mention, I am not a movie critic. I have no real comprehension of what is good cinematography and what isn’t. I have had no formal training. My only hobby is that I like to watch movies and I love to find spiritual parallels in film. I also like to mention that I may spoil things in movies when I write about them. So, keep reading only, if you don’t mind those spoilers. 

One thing I have always loved about Star Trek is the picture of the future world it portrays. It’s widely known that Star Trek as a whole believes in the future. The future that humanity will one day achieve peace, utopia, and world unity. Part of the beauty of this future is that all of humanity comes together in solidarity and acceptance. Once man has the capability to travel the stars, it leaves their petty differences and war behind to form a perfected world of unity. 

Over the course of hundreds of years, mankind makes new allies with different species around the galaxy. They have to fight new wars against new enemies. But eventually, mankind and their allies form the Federation of Planets, form peace with their enemies and the galaxy is in perfect shape. 

This galaxy of perfection is exactly what is being threatened in this new film. The main villain, Krall, was a former war general before the Federation. After the Federation forms and peace is achieved, Krall’s purpose as a warrior was no longer needed. He was given a space ship to command, for exploratory reasons. During a mission, he is stranded on a planet with no hope of rescue. However, he comes across a biological weapon on this planet. It prolongs his life by hundreds of years, but as he waits, he also becomes convinced the answer to humanity is not peace but war. He crafts a plan to plunge the Federation and all of humanity back into war. 

Here enters our protagonists as they attempt to stop Krall because Captain Kirk and his crew value the society they have worked so hard to sustain. They value peace, prosperity, and equality. They value utopia far more than war, violence, and gain from force. 

In the final moments of the film we see this dialogue between Kirk and Krall:

Krall: Unity is not your strength. It is a weakness.

Captain James T. Kirk: I think you're underestimating humanity.

Krall: I fought for Humanity! Lost millions to the Xindi and Romulan wars. And for what? For the Federation? To sit me in a Captain's chair and break bread with the enemy!

Captain James T. Kirk: We change. We have to. Or we spend the rest of our lives fighting the same battles.

I found great inspiration by this last line from Kirk. I believe it was a challenge from the film writers to us as people. It’s no secret our world is extremely divided right now. I know that I’m still young and have a lot of life left to observe. But in my short 39 years, I cannot remember a time when our world was as divided as it is now. I cannot remember a time when our country was as divided as it is now. War, hatred, racism, violence, will destroy the fabric of any society. “We change. We have to. Or we spend the rest of our lives fighting the same battles.” The idea of pacifism rings deeply in my soul. I believe the Jesus way is the way of peace, even peace with enemies. I believe the future, perfected, world will be one of unity and peace. 

I am not naive to think that mankind can reach this on its own. I do understand that God will have to build it for us. But we can try. We can try to help those around us and show the goodness of God, His character of peace and unity, now. We don’t want to spend the rest of our lives fighting the same battles. 

If you’re a Christian, like me, don’t you want to help bring change? Don’t you want to help bring God’s kingdom to earth now? Don’t you want this perfect world that Star Trek offers? Yeah me too.

Of course, this whole thought of Star Trekian utopia could be complete farce. You decide!

[kurioskurion]

Just A Kid

It’s no secret I’m pretty fond of my boy. Honestly, how could anyone not be completely enamored with him?! Once you take a look at his deep, innocent, world soaking brown eyes, you’ll fall for him. One thing I love about Henry is his ability to talk to anyone. He isn’t shy at all. Just look at this little guy:

So here’s the story: Henry and I were at Natural Grocers the other day. Me getting some coffee beans and a gluten free baguette. Henry getting an individual pack of fruit snacks (he’s really the smart one here.) Also, Henry, was wearing one of his favorite shirts, it’s a dark blue t-shirt with a great white shark on it. This nice lady, whom we’ve never met, was simply in love with Henry as he hopped around, sang songs, and growled at me like a shark... you know just being awesome like he is. She innocently asked him, “are you a great white shark?” He curtly replied, “nooo... I’m just a kid.” His reply was not only wonderful and hilarious, it was also very poignant. 

Sometimes we need to remember our identity. We constantly try to hide ourselves behind images that aren’t really who we are. Perhaps we hide behind our job descriptions, or our roles in our family, maybe our political interests (or lack thereof), especially social status, our Facebook feed, hobbies, even our church attendance and service. But here’s the truth, none of those things really define our identity. 

The truth of the matter is we are images of the one true God. That’s our identity, shining little bulbs of God’s image walking around. Either we’re shining brightly the glory of His love, purpose, and character. Or we’re hiding that beauty behind a dark facade of what we want to identify ourselves as. 

"There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun." - Thomas Merton

This is a truth that’s even more so important if we call ourselves followers of Jesus. The stakes increase the moment we accept His lordship in our lives. The stakes become real when we communicate to the world around us that we are Jesus followers. It’s sobering, honestly, when we peel the inky layer of film called “self” off of our lightbulb and tell people around us we’re chasing after God and are shining for Him. It’s sobering because we immediately put ourselves under scrutiny. 

I struggled for many many years with this scrutiny. I still struggle with it! The thorny man in me wants to tell people to mind their own business; to not concern themselves with the things I say or do. The haughty man in me wants to tell people that I can live my life exactly how I want to and I shouldn’t be judged by Christians, the world, family, or even God. The prideful man in me wants to say that I can declare Jesus with my lips and yet live in a way that is only right in my own eyes.

"The greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their mouths and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle." - Brennan Manning

But you see? That thorny, haughty, and prideful man is merely a inky black film I wrap around my shining bulb... my bright identity of the God I was created after. I need to remind myself of who I am. I’m not a great white shark. I’m just a kid. I’m not a pastor. I’m not a father. I’m not a republican or democrat. I’m not a Pro-Lifer or Pro-Choicer. I’m not a pacifist or a weapon-legislation supporter. I’m not a person who has liberty to do or say what I want. 

I am a shining light of God’s image. For all the world to see.

As a Christian, a follower of Jesus, I have committed myself to peeling the black film off my bulb and shine that light for all to see. I shine it without pretense. I shine it as a slave, a servant of my Savior. I shine it as His ambassador. Therefore, I scrutinize myself underneath the microscope of His holiness. I do this because I believe, to my bones, that the Jesus way is the better way. I do this because I believe, to my bones, that the Narrow Way is the better way. I pray you believe this, to your bones, as well. 

If we're to be ambassadors of the King of heaven, our thoughts, words, actions, attitudes, and hearts should reflect the King of heaven. This is the daily, weekly, hourly struggle, of the follower of Jesus. This is the Narrow Road Life.

[kurioskurion]

Hope

I found out today that a close friend of mine, whom I haven’t been able to speak with for a long time, is going through a horrifically trying time right now. He doesn’t know that I know. I’m not sure it matters that he doesn’t know that I know. I’ve been praying for him and his wife for hours now. 

We need to pray for our loved ones. Even if they aren’t near us or close to us. We must believe our prayers are heard. We may never understand how God determines direction from our prayers, but Scripture is clear, He values our supplications and praise. So I pray. I pray for His wisdom and hand. I pray that He would sustain and heal life. I pray that He would soften hearts and draw His children to him. I pray for unity among the brethren. 

I also pray that my friend and his wife will find hope. Hope that comes through our faith. You see, Christianity holds the hope that Jesus has conquered sin, pain, and death. That He traveled the road less traveled, and did it perfectly. At the end of His road He gave His life, sacrificially when He was not required to. That sacrifice pays debt but does not conquer death. His miraculous resurrection on Easter morning does that. This is where our hope comes from. Not money, or fame, or people, or spouses, or children, or sports, or Colin Kaepernick, or Glen Coffee, or a president... our hope comes from a Risen Savior. One who promised great things and then delivered. One who continues to promise that death will not conquer us but we will conquer it through Him. 

It is during these times that I saturate myself in this hope. If you need this hope, I pray this post helps you find it. Listen to these two songs and allow them to speak to your heart:

And my friend, if you somehow stumble upon these words. Know that my heart is heavy for you right now. I pray fervently and long for the day when we can drink Kombucha together, fry up some wild mushrooms, and dream about God’s Kingdom again. I’ve missed you dearly. 

[kurioskurion]

The Lord Gave...

Today being August the first is quite significant for me. You see, this marks my third anniversary being on staff at Cross Road Church. Most of you know my story and the gap of ministry from 2008 to 2013. If you do not, I’d be happy to share that with you sometime. At any rate, it is during this time when I am continuously thankful for God’s forgiveness, restoration, and providence. As I reflected on this wonderful anniversary, I began to realize that I happen to be in a large pocket of incredible blessing in my life. Sometimes it feels prideful to talk about blessings in one’s life, but I desire that writing this all out will be a reflection of praise toward my God. 

“The Lord gave...” - Job 1:21

In 12 days I will be celebrating my five year anniversary with my wife. Yet another example of God creating beauty out of an impossibly damaged time in my life. I praise God for my wife. 

My daughter just turned 9 and my son just turned 3. It’s amazing to watch my little family begin to not be so little. I praise God for my children. 

My wife’s employment status appears to be solidifying after over a year of inconsistent work hours. I praise God for caring after my wife’s needs. 

Most of you saw on Facebook that we were able to purchase a new vehicle. We typically don’t like publicizing our spending habits. However, Hamilton, the sales associate really wanted to post it on his page. I’ve been friends with Hamilton since 2009, so it was natural to help him out with his business. At any rate, we traded in the car we had used to soak up a ton of debt. That little Toyota was our bridge from “scraping by” to “established married family.” So this new vehicle is quite important for us. I praise God for supplying for my family’s needs. 

The summer season of ministry is near over. I’ve seen students draw closer to God. Our youth group change from a Wednesday hang out time to an attitude of Church. Also, God has planted exciting vision in my heart for this next year. I praise God for leading, directing, and transforming. 

There’s more to that Job passage up there. It’s really easy to praise God when things are full, when we’re comfortable, when we’re surrounded by safety, when we’re basking in blessing. It’s really hard when the flip side is the reality. In fact, as I type this, I feel shame because I know there are many in our very community who are suffering and struggling right now. I can think of specific people are have difficult situations to navigate with family members. There are some who are struggling, severely, with personal sin. I know of some who are having a tough time to pay the rent. I must have a heart of compassion and generosity in this time. Why? Because of the entirety of that Job passage: 

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away...” - Job 1:21

I don’t believe that God is in the business of causing suffering. I do believe that He allows suffering to occur, either due to consequences of sin of omission or commission, or perhaps because He sees something in the future we have no concept about. I don’t believe I can ever speak for the Creator. However, it is truth that He gives and also He takes away. If you’re in a time right now when “the Lord has taken away,” I pray for you to weather this storm, to have peace, but most of all to have a steady faith. With that faith and trust, you will be even closer to the heart of God than you have ever been before. I wish I could go back in time and tell March 2010 Matt Burr what August 2016 Matt Burr knows. I’m sure it would comfort him significantly. 

Guess what? Yup, we still haven’t finished the passage from Job. There’s still more to uncover. We haven’t looked at the grand lesson from Job. We still haven’t read over the great challenge for all of us as finite created lights of God. 

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 

- Job 1:21

May the name of the Lord be praised. It doesn’t matter if we’re living in “The Lord gave” or “the Lord has taken away.” The response is one and the same: The name of the Lord be praised. Why? Because He is God. He has given us breath. He has given us relationship with the Creator. He has given us purpose in existence. He has given us the chance to experience love, comfort, and peace. Because His way and His being is sweeter than anything else this world has to offer. 

Examine your life, which are you:

“The Lord gave” -----> Response: “The Name of The Lord Be Praised.”

“The Lord has taken away” -----> Response: “The Name of The Lord Be Praised.”

[kurioskurion]

Worship, Unity, Outhouses

Camp season is just now dwindling to a close. This year was certainly not without a lot of adventure, adversity, and spiritual growth. One thing I’m constantly thankful for is that, while camp is primarily for the student’s edification, I have never had a year when my own godly walk hasn’t deepened. 

We decided to do camp differently this year. As we all know, different is mostly difficult. It’s natural for us to get into a certain way of doing things. I’m very proud of our students for trying something new. My prayer through this experience was that God would speak to their hearts. I firmly believe that anytime the Word of God is spoken, time is not wasted. We had some bumps in the road, just getting assimilated to a new thing. But glory to God for teaching us, convicting us, and allowing us to worship. 

Obviously, I cannot speak for the students of our youth group, but I wanted to share a few things that God placed on my heart during my two weeks away from home. Wow… two weeks away from my family. It was incredibly tough. Thank you, my church family, for supporting me and my family. I know of the times you checked in on my wife, helped her out, mowed the lawn, etc. You all are such a blessing to me. 

During Middle School week, I was struck by a simple yet profound thought from Genesis 4. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but rejected Cain’s. A lot has been said about this important story but I kept coming back to, why was one accepted but the other rejected? There does not appear to be any instructions for how to perform sacrifice. So it couldn’t have been Abel sacrificed an animal and Cain produce. Besides we see in the Old Testament law that sacrifice of crops is a valid form of sacrifice. I believe it all came down to the heart. Abel was truly worshipping God, while Cain was not. Have we examined our hearts in regard to our worship? Do we simply go through the motions during church or camp chapel services? Does God accept or reject our worship. It was a sobering thought that I hope the middle school students in my cabin remember.

Church was the word for High School week. How can we develop an attitude of unity when living with, playing with, learning with, and worshipping with others whom we do not know? We need to realize that God’s Church does not stop at Cross Road. That we would realize that there are many many people out there who are different than we are in lifestyle, passions, hobbies… yet we have Christ at our center which unifies us. What a tough concept to accept! I believe, that the high school students caught a glimpse of this truth. Obviously we will not abandon the importance of local church. But I hope that students learn to appreciate the complexity and beauty of Church. Part of unity is learning how to be critical in thought without being disagreeable in attitude. This is hard when there is a new speaker we’re not used to, or counselors we don’t know really well, or worship that isn’t our style. We had some incredibly deep conversations about lesson topics this week. Nothing that was unbiblical or poor theology, just point of views we haven’t considered. I hope our students know that we must personally be diligent in our study of Scripture. That we cannot simply accept a message as truth without judging it according to God’s Word. 

So let’s talk outhouses. During the high school week of camp a group of college students from Pioneer Bible College were volunteering as counselors. This created a situation where we had an abundance of counselors! Rather than taking a group of students for the week, I asked the camp director to allow others the privilege and I would simply do whatever he needed done. You guessed it, outhouse duty! I have heard others say they would clean toilets for Jesus. I never thought there would be a time when I would have to live that. I must admit, especially the day I came across a hornet’s nest and got stung on the lip, that I felt underutilized, wasting my time, and simply not doing what I was supposed to be doing. It was halfway through the week when God spoke to me. He told me that I was to clean outhouses and pray. I will open my spirit to you, my friends. I have never been the strongest prayer warrior. I mean, I pray, but it has not been the strongest facet of my spirituality. But this last week, God and I talked a lot. He reminded me of my calling, of my incredible church family, of His goodness and perfection, of salvation and restoration. He reminded me that students need Jesus and need to learn to live with Jesus! What a refreshing time! 

All in all, this year’s camp season was truly a different one. But it was a camp season to remember. Will we do things exactly like this next year? I am unsure. But I do know that I will treasure moments from this year. Thank you all again for your prayers! Time to get a day of rest and start getting ready for school to start!

Extra Credit: What happens when the Aaron, the camp director, wears a full camouflage suit and hides in the forest? Well just watch:

[kurioskurion]

Worship, Unity, Outhouses

Camp season is just now dwindling to a close. This year was certainly not without a lot of adventure, adversity, and spiritual growth. One thing I’m constantly thankful for is that, while camp is primarily for the student’s edification, I have never had a year when my own godly walk hasn’t deepened. 

We decided to do camp differently this year. As we all know, different is mostly difficult. It’s natural for us to get into a certain way of doing things. I’m very proud of our students for trying something new. My prayer through this experience was that God would speak to their hearts. I firmly believe that anytime the Word of God is spoken, time is not wasted. We had some bumps in the road, just getting assimilated to a new thing. But glory to God for teaching us, convicting us, and allowing us to worship. 

Obviously, I cannot speak for the students of our youth group, but I wanted to share a few things that God placed on my heart during my two weeks away from home. Wow... two weeks away from my family. It was incredibly tough. Thank you, my church family, for supporting me and my family. I know of the times you checked in on my wife, helped her out, mowed the lawn, etc. You all are such a blessing to me. 

During Middle School week, I was struck by a simple yet profound thought from Genesis 4. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but rejected Cain’s. A lot has been said about this important story but I kept coming back to, why was one accepted but the other rejected? There does not appear to be any instructions for how to perform sacrifice. So it couldn’t have been Abel sacrificed an animal and Cain produce. Besides we see in the Old Testament law that sacrifice of crops is a valid form of sacrifice. I believe it all came down to the heart. Abel was truly worshipping God, while Cain was not. Have we examined our hearts in regard to our worship? Do we simply go through the motions during church or camp chapel services? Does God accept or reject our worship. It was a sobering thought that I hope the middle school students in my cabin remember.

Church was the word for High School week. How can we develop an attitude of unity when living with, playing with, learning with, and worshipping with others whom we do not know? We need to realize that God’s Church does not stop at Cross Road. That we would realize that there are many many people out there who are different than we are in lifestyle, passions, hobbies... yet we have Christ at our center which unifies us. What a tough concept to accept! I believe, that the high school students caught a glimpse of this truth. Obviously we will not abandon the importance of local church. But I hope that students learn to appreciate the complexity and beauty of Church. Part of unity is learning how to be critical in thought without being disagreeable in attitude. This is hard when there is a new speaker we’re not used to, or counselors we don’t know really well, or worship that isn’t our style. We had some incredibly deep conversations about lesson topics this week. Nothing that was unbiblical or poor theology, just point of views we haven’t considered. I hope our students know that we must personally be diligent in our study of Scripture. That we cannot simply accept a message as truth without judging it according to God’s Word. 

So let’s talk outhouses. During the high school week of camp a group of college students from Pioneer Bible College were volunteering as counselors. This created a situation where we had an abundance of counselors! Rather than taking a group of students for the week, I asked the camp director to allow others the privilege and I would simply do whatever he needed done. You guessed it, outhouse duty! I have heard others say they would clean toilets for Jesus. I never thought there would be a time when I would have to live that. I must admit, especially the day I came across a hornet’s nest and got stung on the lip, that I felt underutilized, wasting my time, and simply not doing what I was supposed to be doing. It was halfway through the week when God spoke to me. He told me that I was to clean outhouses and pray. I will open my spirit to you, my friends. I have never been the strongest prayer warrior. I mean, I pray, but it has not been the strongest facet of my spirituality. But this last week, God and I talked a lot. He reminded me of my calling, of my incredible church family, of His goodness and perfection, of salvation and restoration. He reminded me that students need Jesus and need to learn to live with Jesus! What a refreshing time! 

All in all, this year’s camp season was truly a different one. But it was a camp season to remember. Will we do things exactly like this next year? I am unsure. But I do know that I will treasure moments from this year. Thank you all again for your prayers! Time to get a day of rest and start getting ready for school to start!

Extra Credit: What happens when the Aaron, the camp director, wears a full camouflage suit and hides in the forest? Well just watch:

[kurioskurion]

You Don’t Have To Be Alone

Captain America: Civil War hit the theaters over a month ago. I’ve really been wanting to write a couple of blogs with thematic thoughts for some time now. Typically I write one entry for a movie. But this movie is so dense, there were a few topics that jumped out at me. One theme that resonated with me was the thought that we don’t have to go through life alone. We can and should allow others into our lives and allow others to struggle with us. It’s an important idea in our culture of “do it yourself” or “don’t let others see our business.” It is interesting how social media has created a bit of a contradiction in us. On one hand social media has bred us to have the mentality that I can air all my dirty laundry for everyone to see. But it’s very selfish. It’s an attitude that I will share my drama and issues with everyone, but I am not open to the notion of getting help or advice. What selfishness! It’s like going to our next door neighbor. Then banging on the door obnoxiously. When they open we say, “I’m baking a cake and I’m out of eggs. Can you believe it!!!” They say, “Here, I have some you can have.” Then we scream in their face, “How dare you try to involve yourself in my life!!!”

Captain America teaches us that we can and should allow others to invest in our lives.

For those unfamiliar with Captain America’s story. His name is Steve Rogers. During World War II he was given an experimental super soldier serum which gave him enhanced speed, reflexes, strength, etc. During that time, he fell in love with a woman named Peggy Clark (this is an important detail). After saving the world from a villain named The Red Skull, Cap crashes an airplane into the frozen waters of the North Pole. Presumed dead, Peggy and the world celebrate Captain America’s victory and mourn his sacrifice. But, lo and behold, Cap didn’t die! He was actually frozen and miraculously stayed alive! He was found, thawed out, and revived in present day where he can continue his heroic ways.

A huge part of his story is that his best friend, Bucky (also presumed dead) was kidnapped by the evil organization called Hydra. Bucky was also given the super soldier serum and brain washed to be secretive assassin code named: The Winter Soldier. Through the second and third Captain America films, the main storyline is Captain America attempting to rescue, redeem, and restore his friend, Bucky.

Another piece to Cap’s story is Peggy. You see, Peggy continued with her life after Cap fell into the ice. She grew old, even though Cap didn’t. She married, had children, and was widowed. Then Cap comes back. They reignite their long friendship. She is this piece of his life that he thought he lost. It’s a beautiful storyline.

Here’s where we get to my point. Captain America has, in a sense, lost everything from his life. The world is completely changed. Nothing remains from the 1940′s with the exception of Peggy and Bucky. Captain America’s story is how he tries with all his power to hold on to these pieces in his life. He fights for them with all his conviction and might. He allows others to fight alongside him. He doesn’t have to. He doesn’t have to involve others. But he does. When he liberates Bucky from Hydra, he continues to fight for him. Even when Bucky runs away, running from his sins, Cap pursues him. He constantly reminds Bucky that he doesn’t have to navigate this world alone. They can do it together.

In the middle of Civil War there’s a break in the action. Peggy passes away. It’s heartbreaking to see Cap stop every crisis that is going on, to mourn the passing of his love. Yet another piece of his life has vanished. There is a beautiful funeral scene. The image that really stuck out to me was Cap acting as one of Peggy’s pallbearers. I found it so interesting that Captain America with all of his super strength allowed others to carry in the coffin with him. He totally could have done it himself without breaking a sweat. The guy can throw a car, mind you. But here he is allowing others to invest in him and him in them. The flip side is that Cap wasn’t selfish with his life. He helped the others who were grieving.

It’s an image that we need to remember. We are all human. We all have struggles and challenges. Even the greatest among us have challenges. When will we remember our generosity and goodwill? when will we remember our humanity and help those around us who need it? In this world of “take care of my own business” we need to remember that we need each other. In the wake of yet another mass shooting yesterday, are we taking time to help those around us? Or have we buried our heads in the sand and just moving through life selfishly. Obviously, here in Kansas, it is difficult to have a direct way to help those in Orlando. But I’m reminded that I have friends who are part of the LGBTQ community. They’re shaken to the core at this. They need encouragement, help, and love. Let’s take a moment to recapture this beautiful humanity God created in all of us. Let’s help each other and allow others to help us. Life is meant to be travelled with others.

[kurioskurion]

We Are Wonderfully Made

I’m not a big fan of hip hop or rap music. I’m just not. I’ve never been able to put my finger on why. Just somethings click or don’t click. I’m sure many of you feel the same with my love of Metal music. So you get it. 

However, last week, a student of our shared with me an artist named Propaganda. Being the friend that I try to be, I put on my big boy pants and started watching some YouTube. Now, I’m not going to go travel across country to see Propaganda play a concert, but I did appreciate his art. More importantly, I came to appreciate his testimony. It was a lesson to never judge someone by their cover, especially brother or sister in Christ. We all have unique backgrounds, trials, and refinement. Propaganda’s testimony that growing up in the crucible of a deplorable environment, God had been crafting him into the son and disciple that God wanted. It’s a powerful message. You can watch his testimony here:

"My block didn't make me. The Creator did."

Thanks for sharing Propaganda with me, Mitch!

[kurioskurion]

What Is Your Motivation?

Every single Christian is involved in ministry. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Wow that could be a whole blog post by itself. Perhaps someday we could discuss that. But for now, I’ll say that I agree with the statement. Ministry is not something just “full-time ministers” hold with exclusivity. I believe that God gifts every believer and conscripts every believer into ministry. With this thought in mind, we should discover: a) what is our giftedness (shameless plug for the Spiritual Gifts class happening this Wednesday). b) where or what our ministry is. c) The point to today’s post, what is our motivation for that ministry. 

A satirical video was shared with me. I truly believe it was shared not as a point of criticism, because I know the one who shared it. While the video is quite humorous, it caused me to step back a moment and think about motive. Why do I passionately pursue my ministry to teens? Why do I continue to wake up every morning and work toward the growth of God’s Kingdom, especially toward young adults? If my motivation is any of the motives displayed in the video, then I am failing miserably. But I digress, watch the video for yourself.

After watching the video, I had to ask myself, do I resemble any of these types of Youth Pastors? If so, which one? Perhaps I do not resemble just one specifically, but multiples? Or, perhaps, I do not resemble one totally, but maybe one or two just a tiny bit? Am I ok if I am the “Cool Youth Pastor?” or the “Theologically Smart Youth Pastor?” Hopefully, I’m not the “Missing Youth Pastor.” At any rate, I was challenged to be none of these types of youth pastor because all of these types have horrible motives for ministry. 

Here is my conclusion, and my great personal challenge: If my motive is anything other than, firstly, glorifying God in all I do, think, and speak. Secondly, helping young adults to discover and meet God. And lastly, help young adults worship, glorify, and have relationship with that God. Then my ministry is a failure. Keep me accountable, Church. 

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

[kurioskurion]

Why Do We Love?

This week, in youth group, we are going to discuss why loving each other in the Body of Christ is so important. But, instead of talking about loving actions, we will be examining the motivation behind our actions of love. I think it is important to look at the causality of our actions. It is so tempting to prop up our “good actions” but after close introspection, our actions are tainted with selfish motives. We know from scripture that God honors obedience over sacrifice. In other words, if our motives are corrupt, the good works are not a valid sacrifice. Look at the story of Cain. What a great example. 

I came across this quote today and it rang true with this point:

“Obedience under the shadow of threat is compulsion. Christian obedience, devoid of threat and rooted in love, is what God truly wants.” 

- Nabeel Qureshi

It is true that exterior circumstances can shape our responses. But the statement: “Christian obedience... rooted in love” is what really stuck out to me. Have we taken the time to truly inspect our motives behind our actions? Do we extend the branch of peace, give in generosity, respond with encouragement, strive for edification, but all with attitude of self-posturing or elevation? How often have I been generous with my possessions only to create a situation of ownership? Sadly, I believe I’ve been there. Sadly, this is not the Jesus way. 

Again, we see that Jesus is the ultimate example for us. He gave all, not out of selfish motivation, but out of unconditional love. Just let that sink in for a moment because it is antithetical to our society. He gave all not out of selfish motivation, but out of unconditional love. 

This is what the Apostle Paul was trying to communicate to us when he wrote to the Philippians: 

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” - Philippians 2:5-8 MSG

So here lies a challenge for this week. Let’s take a moment to not only act toward others with compassion, generosity, and love, but let’s examine our motives for doing so. May we all receive the blessing from God that Abel did, who offered sacrifice with the proper heart of worship. 

Jesus > Me

[kurioskurion]

Closet Metal Head

A couple of weekends back I had the wonderful pleasure of watching a friend of mine and his band perform live at a local donut shop. They sounded great! Really proud of their work. I’ll put a link at the end of this post, if you want to support their efforts. As I walked in, I noticed some of my friend’s family members were there to support him as well. I hadn’t seen them in some time, so it was great to catch even if only briefly. 

One of the family members leaned over and said, “you do know this is going to get really loud, right?” I replied, “indeed, they play loud music and I welcome it.” She then said, “you like heavy metal?” To which I replied, “oh yes. I am a closet metal head.” 

Two thoughts: One, I chuckle that my friend’s music was described as heavy metal, because it’s not. I’d say more melodic hardcore... but hey, that’s just me and I’m not an expert in musical genres. The second thought, why did I describe myself as a “closet metal head.” Is enjoying heavy metal something to be ashamed of? Should I hide this musical pleasure of mine? Is it something to not brag about? Much like my enjoyment of tofu? So curious. So today, instead of a deep spiritual blog post, I thought I’d have some fun! I want to take a few minutes to explain why I love heavy metal and share some of my favorite songs. This post is not for the faint of heart! Let’s do this!

First of all, I find heavy metal, typically, to be exceptionally musical. When one digs into the nuances of the instrumentation it’s easy to see the incredible musicianship behind it. The rhythm, the blend of chords, the rise and fall of the arrangement, and the dynamic. If you close your eyes as you listen and substitute guitars for stringed instruments and the drums for symphonic percussion, you can almost hear the classical undertones. Don’t believe me? Check out this performance by Metallica when they performed with the San Francisco Symphony:

Another thing I love about heavy metal is that it is to it’s core, emotional. Art is supposed to stir the emotions of our soul. All art is birthed from the emotions of it’s author. Sometimes emotions can be bent the wrong way or focused in the wrong directions. But many times emotions can be positive. They cause us to think about the world around us and how God relates to us. God gave us our emotions for a reason. This is why art speaks to us at such a level. You may enjoy reading, or movies/television, or perhaps you enjoy visiting a gallery. Very rarely will you find a person that does not enjoy an art form of some kind. Why? Because it speaks to our own hearts. I enjoy Heavy Metal not because it’s angry, but because it allows me to ask the hard questions about myself and the world around me.

You take a mortal man. And put him in control. Watch him become a god. Watch people’s heads a’roll. 

- Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth

You may read that lyric above and think, Matt that’s really dark and evil. I’m sure they were attempting to make some political point. However, when I read it, I think, “Matt beware the temptation of power.” When i desire to be the one in power, to control, to take over, bad things can come of it. It’s better to let Him take control. To allow God to establish authority and to bend my knee to him. Lyrics can be interpreted in various ways. From a subjective standpoint, metal allows me to look at the world in a different way. 

This doesn’t say I enjoy all metal. I certainly don’t. Like any form of art, it can be abused and used for purely evil purposes. There are certain bands, certain lyrics, etc. that I believe have no godly or good purpose. There are other reasons I enjoy heavy metal, but for sake of time, I’d like to close here and simply share a few of my favorite songs. There are a ton that I wish I could share, but I’m limiting myself. Thanks for having fun with me this week!

Ok if you’ve made it this far, crank up the volume, throw up your rock fist, and let’s blow the roof off of this place!

Demon Hunter - Undying

“One final heart-break And blinding lights will guide our way Free us our blind state They will call us by our name Undying.”

Haste The Day - American Love

I've given my heart away To so many things So many times I've failed Help me stop this endless cycle Remind me of how it can be Take me back I surrender all Without you My heart is broken

Deliverance - Flesh and Blood

Jesus' blood has made us free But the battle still remains We contend not with flesh and blood But with spiritual darkness

War of Ages - Eternal

The undying mistakes that I've made Has set my life apart and now I'm free Live for something, Hope for nothing Regardless of what it's worth The battle for something greater

Oh yeah! Here’s my friend’s band info! Go support them!

https://www.reverbnation.com/faithinfools3

[kurioskurion]

I Am Holy

Say that out loud. I Am Holy. Do you believe it? Do you think that’s true? Have you ever thought of yourself as a holy person? I think most Christians today don’t think of themselves as holy. And rightly so as we typically fail every single day, if not hour. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with his lack of self-control and sinful lifestyle. If you haven’t already, read Romans 7. It’ll blow your mind!

But why am I writing about holiness? Recently, some of our students have come to me, struggling with daily failure, and the immense challenge of being a “good Christian.” I feel like this daily struggle certainly doesn’t just go away as we mature. Let’s face it, we all have moments when we feel we are not good enough for God’s graces. I remember learning about holiness and sanctification in a deeper way during my college theology courses. It really opened my eyes about how God views me. I was reminded of these lessons during my lowest points. It was great to share this lesson with our students and I felt I wanted to share it with all of you as well! I hope it encourages you. 

Most of us know the passage in 1 Peter that commands us to be holy. You know the one I speak of:

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16

We look at passages like this one and we think, “It’s impossible! I am a fallen imperfect creature! I am incapable of being holy! This is not fair! God, You cannot expect me to do this!” Many times, Christians throw up their hands and give up. Why even try this Jesus life? Why live a life of failure? I’ll just give up this walk and do my thing. Live life to it’s fullest, etc. This happens to students a lot right after they leave home and church and head off to college. It’s a real struggle. 

This kind of holiness or sanctification (sanctified meaning being set apart) is called Progressive Sanctification. Progressive Sanctification is our act of becoming more and more holy with our choices, decisions, and actions. It’s a very real thing. God commands us to be holy. To follow as God’s disciple, we must be actively becoming more like our Master. Think of a Karate student. That student’s Sensei requires him to act like the teacher. Block like this. Punch like this. Kick like this. Why? Because he is the Sensei. He knows how it is supposed to be done. Match his movements. You want to be a black belt? Do like the Sensei tells you to do. God is our Master, our Sensei. He is saying, live like this. Act like this. Decide like this. Because I am the Master. I am holy. I know how this is supposed to be done. 

The problem is the Church usually focuses a lot of attention on progressive sanctification, especially with our students and children. Wear the right clothes! Listen to the right music! Post the right things on Facebook! And these are important things... but if this is all we focus on, we do a huge injustice to our students and no wonder many of them walk away from the faith! THERE.IS.MORE.TO.LIFE.THAN.THIS. 

The Church fails, many times, to communicate two other truths about sanctification. The crazy thing is these two truths are more pivotal than the Progressive truth. If you have never thought of sanctification beyond your day to day actions... get ready to see life through a new lens! If you’re struggling with sinful lifestyle and the stress of the world, saint of God get ready for a boost of confidence! 

The first major truth is called Positional Sanctification. This truth is when we accept Christ as our Savior, God, and Master, He makes us positionally holy. Our past sins are forgiven. Our FUTURE sins are forgiven. Our sinful nature is forgiven. We are seen by God through the lens of holiness! He looks at us and says, “That is my child and my child is holy!” We could go to God and say, “But God, I am a liar... i fail.” He would respond, “You are holy.” Did you catch that? If you are a child of God, YOU.ARE.HOLY. Say it! Say it out loud! I Am Holy! Do you believe it? 

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Look at that passage. Paul is telling the Corinthians that they, before Christ, were awful people. They did bad stuff. But look at the end of the passage. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified. God looks at us through the lens of Jesus’ sacrifice. He sees us as holy. 

The second truth is called Ultimate or Perfect Sanctification. The Bible teaches us that when we shed this mortal coil we will be with our Lord forever. At that point, we are changed, completely or ultimately. Our sinful nature is annihilated and we are perfect... perfectly holy. Can you imagine an existence without the capacity to sin? Uhm... yeah me neither. But that day will come for God’s children! When we get down about our earthly, sinful existence, it is important to remember that this is not the end our lives. God created us to be immortal. If we have made that eternal decision to accept Jesus as God, we will be free from this struggle. It’s part of that Blessed Hope. I labor in this life knowing the future holds sweet relief for me! This obviously isn’t a license to sin... it is a challenge to live in a way that honors God! I love this passage because it has a promise that we pass over many times:

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”           - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

This beautiful picture of God sanctifying us through and through... spirit, soul, and body. But did you catch the end? He who calls us is faithful, and He will do it! God will do it! He will fix our sin problem. He will complete our faithfulness.

So if you’re struggling with day to day failure and sin. If the calling to be a holy Christian has you down and out. I hope this truth helps you today. Embrace your identity in Christ! You Are Holy! Rejoice in the truth that nothing we do on this earth will stop God from completing His work in us! All will be made right! Don’t get stuck in Progressive Sanctification (though it’s important), but live in the truth that we are and will be holy! 

[kurioskurion]

Make Your Mark

We had family movie night last Friday night. Family movie night, like so many families before ours, love this special time! We pop some popcorn, throw some M&M’s in there, turn on a family flick, and enjoy each other. Of course, Henry makes it through about 20 minutes of said movie before he’s ready to wander off and play with toys. But inevitably, Sadie and I get some cuddle and movie time. Seriously, the kids need to stop growing. I’m beginning to understand that “fleeting moments of parenthood” thing. But that’s a post for another day.

This weekend we watched The Good Dinosaur. It was s great movie about a young dino befriending a young boy, who then go off on an unexpected adventure. During their travels they meet friends and villains and, of course, learn valuable life lessons and personal identity. As you could imagine, there is a lot of good moral lessons one can glean from this movie. Doing a quick google search, there is a lot about courage, growing up, and home. For me, the movie is about the importance of selfless, sacrificial, love. 

It all starts with a scene at the beginning where Arlo’s father builds a silo. It’s an important moment for the family because he supplies for his family and allows them to survive harsh winters. He then marks the silo with his paw print. This mark is extremely important to the family. The other family members work hard to do something so important it would be deemed worthy enough for them to make their mark too. Eventually all the family members have made their mark except poor little Arlo, who is unable to conquer his fear. His attempts to contribute result in failure. This desire to please his father is Arlo’s wound. 

Enter Spot, the little caveman boy (caveboy?) that keeps stealing corn out of the silo. After stealing and making his escape, Arlo and his father are in hot pursuit! They need to stop that critter! Then the part of the movie when we see the sacrificial love of Arlo’s father. It’s the typical, father sacrifices his life for his son, image we’ve seen in many many movies before. Spot gets away but a flash flood sweeps away Arlo’s dad. 

Not much later, in a parallel moment, Arlo is chasing Spot again and gets swept away himself in the river. The rest of the movie is about Arlo and Spot becoming friends, instead of enemies, and helping each other return home. it is during this journey we find out that Spot is an orphan. His whole family has been lost. 

Toward the end of the adventure we finally see how Arlo can earn his mark. He’s grown very close to Spot. They evolved from enemies, to friends, and now to family. They’re connected. Right before they get back to Arlo’s home, they spot some other humans. Understandably, there’s an intimate connection for Spot and these newcomers. The little boy sees them as a family and misses his. He also wishes he could have family with his own again. This causes Arlo to make a choice. Does he hang onto his new friend because he needs him? Or does he let him go because it would be good for Spot. And this my friend, is the decision we need to make on an ongoing basis in our lives. Do we selfishly cling to things that we need? Or do we sacrifice things for the benefit of others. Do we use things and people to benefit ourselves, as our wonderful society so desperately tells us the right way. Or do we give it up to benefit others, which is God’s way. 

Making our mark in this world has nothing to do with courage, family, home, or fame. Making our mark in this world is becoming selfless, loving others, and giving God glory. To me, this is the lesson of The Good Dinosaur.