#drew dahlsten

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Priorities: Do You Know?

It seems to me that the priority of the church is mixed up.

"Whoa Drew, that's a bold opening statement. What do you mean by that?"

Well thank you for asking.

But let me preface this by saying that I think the church is well meaning. I think their intentions are good.

With my disclaimer out of the way can we proceed?

Yes?

Excellent.

I think the priority of the church has become about making sure that people know about Jesus. Not, mind you, about making sure that people know Jesus but making sure they know about Him. An important distinction.

What other reason is there for all of our different denominations (or non-denominations I suppose)?

You have to be baptized to go to Heaven.

Yeah and it has to happen when you're a baby.

No, it doesn't have to be then.

Ok well you have to take Communion every week.

No, every day!

No that's not necessary.

Whatever. Can we agree that you need to confess to God every time you sin?

No way. Jesus died to forgive all sins. Past, present and future.

It's exhausting to even think about having those kind of discussions. I'm not saying issues like those aren't important or relevant but those shouldn't be the priority.

We're too busy asking everyone if they know this or know that about Jesus or how He works. Maybe we should ask a different question.

"Did you know that Jesus knows you?

"It's true. But not only does He know you, He knows all your deepest darkest secrets. All the thoughts that you are scared to think because, frankly, they scare you. He knows those. And you know what? Even knowing everything that is wrong with you He still loves you. So much. He even died so that you can be free from those haunting thoughts and feelings. So you never have to feel alone again. So you can always have hope. So you can feel love. Know love.

"He did this all for you. For no other reason than this. He loves you."

We can try to teach people about Jesus all we want. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. But no matter how close we get to Jesus, no matter how much we learn about Him, there will always be someone better equipped to teach others about Jesus.

Coincidentally, His name is also Jesus.

So maybe our role should be to introduce people to Jesus. To show them someone who will love them no matter what they do or have done. To support and love them like Jesus does. And if they have questions or just need someone to talk to then here I am. But I'm not here to bring you into my denomination (or non-denomination).

I'm here to bring you into the family.

[pineappleisgood-blog]

What Don't You Believe?

I visited a church with a friend this past Sunday and it was...

Interesting.

The pastor opened his message with the obligatory small talk about the Super Bowl and his spiel about who he was pulling for. (The Ravens I think?)

But then he started in on his message. The theme? Abundance.

Well color me intrigued. Now which direction is he going to take this?

He started by saying something like, “I’d just like to start off with reading some things that other Christians believe about God’s abundance. This is from a Christian website.”

Uh oh.

He went on to say things like, “This website says that ‘God has blessed all of us equally. All we have to do is claim it.’ This is on a Christian site. ‘It is your right as a Christian to be successful in your business and finances.’ Really? This is just not true.”

I couldn’t believe it! Why would you limit a God that you worship as God Almighty. Do you know what Almighty means?

I’ll admit I didn’t listen to the rest of the message real closely because I was looking at verses that supported the fact that God wants to bless you. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

John 10:10 (ESV) 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It baffles me that during praise and worship there are songs that talk about the power and the goodness of God and then you would turn around in the message and say that not everyone is blessed equally.

Because if people aren’t blessed equally does that mean that God has favorites?

Does He love me more than you? Does He love you more than me? What about different races? Does he like black people more than white people? Or what about Americans more than other people from other countries?

Of course not.

Any 2 year old can tell you that Jesus loves everyone just the same.

Anyway, I walked out of there feeling a little weird. I wasn’t mad that the pastor had preached what he did. I was a sad though. Not only did he preach it, but he believed that. And a large majority of the congregation probably did as well.

They don’t believe that God loves everyone equally. Or they do but they don’t understand what that means.

I’ve used this in a previous blog post but it’s so good and it applies here as well so I’m going to reuse some material. So I apologize. 

This is an excerpt from the book The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker.

----------------

“Do you believe in God?”

She nodded.

“Do you believe he is infinite?”

Another nod.

“And that he is a God of love?”

Yes.

“You’re sure? It’s one thing to believe in God, but an infinite God of love is quite another thing. You really believe this?”

Yet another nod.

“Do you go to church?”

She shook her head. No.

“You don’t bow your knees with the mentally ill hypocrites who throw the humble to the wolves. Instead you believe in a loving, infinite God. Is that right?

A muffled yes.

“Well. That’s very good. Then it will be pretty easy for you to understand that the love an infinite God of love has for each person is also infinite right? That there’s no limit to how much he loves you. You can’t say that he loves this one only this much and that other one that much, because in God’s economy his love is unending. Yes?”

A dip of her chin.

“This is common knowledge, shared by even dumb priests and pastors. But most clergy do not have the mental capacity to understand what necessarily follows. There is no greater love than infinite love, which is God’s love. When you love someone infinitely, there is no one that you love more. You. There is no one that God loves more than he loves you. Do you follow?”

She stared with plate-round eyes, but he was sure she did follow.

“You see, everyone is God’s favorite, even mentally ill, which is most people, but don’t let me digress. They are God’s favorite, too, all of them. This is possible only because God is infinite and can therefore have more than one favorite without violating the meaning of the term. He can have multiple favorites and each one is truly a favorite, receiving the greatest God has to offer, which is infinite. Follow?”

He paused but pressed the final point, so eager was he to tell her.

“The point is, you, are God’s favorite.”

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If I am God’s favorite wouldn’t he want to give me everything?

When we say that “God is Love” do we really mean it? Why would Love not bless people to the fullest?

Well on Tuesday morning I was reading in my devotional about people who witness miraculous healing and then ask the question.

“What about me?”

And I realized that these people don’t have a question about the capability of God. They just saw a miraculous healing, they know He can do it.

They question His willingness to heal them or to bless them.

As if they aren’t good enough to receive healing from God.

Well I have news for you. 

You aren’t good enough to be healed. You aren’t good enough to live eternally with God either. It’s true.

But thankfully, that’s not the end of the story.

Jesus is good enough. In fact, he’s more than good enough. He’s perfect.

And it gets better. He died so that you could be perfect too. His blood isn’t covering your sins and your problems. It totally wiped them away so that when God looks at you all He sees is the perfection that is Jesus.

Do you get it yet? Do you see what this means?

It means that you are perfect in God’s eyes.

That’s incredible news!

The “problem” with this is that we try to make it too complicated. We think in our minds that we deserve death or at the least some form of punishment so we tell ourselves that bad things come from God to punish us for our sins. But that’s not what happens. Jesus wiped all our sins away; past, present, and future. Understand this.

God isn’t mad at you.

He loves you. That’s it. Not anger, just love.

Romans 8:38

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Ephesians 1:7-8, and 19-23.

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Did you see that in verse 19? “...the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in him.”

So the question people have isn’t “Can God?” We know He is all powerful. He can do whatever He wants to. The question is “Does He want to bless me?”

Yes. Yes He does.

I have a lot of people in my life that I love dearly. When bad things happen to them I share in their pain because I hurt to see them hurting. When good things happen to them I rejoice with them because it makes me happy to see them happy. If I could, then I would give them everything they want and need to always be happy. That’s not in my abilities but it is within God’s. And check out what Jesus says in Luke 11:13.

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Matthew 6:24-34 says this.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

If He cares about the flowers then He most certainly cares about you. He loves you. He doesn’t condemn you for your sins.

Romans 8:1

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

No condemnation. At all. It’s just love coming from God.

So accept it. I know it sounds too good to be true. It is too good to be true. But that’s what makes God so incredible.

It is true.

So let me ask you something. A question that is good for all of us to ask ourselves.

What don't you believe?

Do you not believe that God could love someone like you? Do you not believe that God is powerful enough to heal you or give you what you need?

I assure you. God can give you everything you need and He wants to give it to you.

To quote one of my favorite people on the planet.

“God loves you. And there’s nothing you can do about it!.”

          -Dave Duell

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The Wall

There once was a country. This country was in a lovely land and had wonderful relations with all of the surrounding countries. The country had beautiful mountains with snow tipped peaks that turned a dazzling purple when the sun rose behind them in the east and sparkled like millions of diamonds when the sun set and shone on them from the west. There were also rich and fertile plains upon which farmers enjoyed bountiful harvests of grain and other crops. The many forests were teeming with life of all kinds; animal and plant alike. There was a tree that grew deep in the largest forest that grew a magical fruit. It was the only tree of its kind in all the world. The fruit of this tree could cure any disease or wound with a single bite. The people of this land were honest, cheerful and helpful to stranger and friend alike. Always willing to share a meal or bed with a stranger. The nature of the people reflected the behavior of their leader. He was a benevolent and kind leader. Seeking only to prosper his people, he did not seek great power but wielded what was given to him justly and for the benefit of all.

Now this country was in a time of great prosperity and all signs pointed to a time of even greater success to come soon. But then everything changed. A neighbor country, and a friend of the country in our story, was attacked by a country they had once called friend. The leader of the country in our story grew worried and began thinking of a way he could protect his people from the same happening. He called all his chief advisers together and finally came up with an idea. He would build a giant wall around the borders of the country to keep invaders out.

Construction on the wall began immediately and within a years time it was completed. It was truly a massive wall, standing as tall as ten men at places and as thick as three. It completely surrounded the country with only a few entrances and exits along main roads; and these were heavily guarded.

The ruler, his mind at ease from the threat of invaders, turned his attention back to helping his people. He was elated of course, for he had prevented his people from being attacked by invaders from beyond their country. He had acted preemptively and saved much heartache and war. His country was once again thriving. But it did not last long.

Within a year, problems were occurring that had never happened before. With the wall in place, blocking most routes in and out of the country, trade was cut down drastically. Farmers could not afford to send their crops the longer distances to an open gate while traveling traders were also fewer in visiting the country. Even if they wanted to visit many were turned away by the guards at various gates. Farmers were left with a surplus of crops but no one to sell them to. In order to provide for their families, many turned to thievery to get food and other necessities. This in turn led to a growing distrust among the people of this once friendly, trusting and honest country.

The farmers were not the only ones experiencing problems with the new wall however. Before the wall, traders and traveling shows had been frequent visitors among towns of the country. They had been a source of news and stories from the outside world for many people who had no other access to such stories. And of course the traveling shows had offered entertainment for the people of the villages. With the wall in place, these things came far less frequently, if at all. Some people adjusted to this and went along with their lives but there are adventurous souls everywhere. Those that heard the stories from the traders and had something within themselves awaken. Without the stories from afar, many of these adventurous souls packed up their belongings and went to find the adventures they had heard for themselves. Many of these people left the country all together, others ventured up in the mountains or deep into the forest, and still others died along their journeys from exposure to elements or lack of food or drink.

With trade severely diminished, many turned to other ways to provide for themselves and their families. Winter was approaching and everyone needed firewood. The people turned to cutting down the forests for firewood. The trees fell at alarming rates and soon there were hundreds of miles cut from the forests, then thousands. It was while one man was cutting down his own section of trees that he discovered the tree of the magic fruit. Immediately recognizing it for what it was, greed seized his heart. Where before, the fruit of this tree was shared with those who needed it, now it was hoarded by the man and sold for exorbitant prices. Others begged him to just tell of the location of the tree so they might also sell the fruit. The man refused them all. One day though, while he was gathering more fruit to sell, he was followed to the tree and confronted. The man was killed and his killer grabbed an axe and cut down the tree of the magical fruit so no one could take advantage of its fruit again. The last tree fell and the last magic went out of the country, for it had held the last traces of magic in the land. But then greed and a few quick axe strikes had rid the land of all magic.

Crime, murder, and disease in the land increased dramatically each passing day and soon word of all this and more reached the ears of the ruler. He could not understand it. He had built the wall to protect his people but it was quite clear that it was destroying them from the inside out. He sat to ponder his question but could not come up with an answer. None of his advisers knew either. He decided to leave the palace and walk among his people to better find why the wall had failed.

Walking among his people he was deeply grieved. There was bitterness where before there had been joy; suspicion where there had been trust; and worst of all, condemnation where there had been forgiveness. Not able to watch anymore he began to return to the palace. On his way he was stopped by a young boy asking for a coin to eat. The ruler gave it to him, but then asked that the boy answer a question for him. The boy agreed and the ruler asked him why he thought the wall had caused all this strife. The boy paused a second before telling the ruler that it had kept all the bad out. The ruler nodded in agreement and puzzlement but then the boy continued. He said that while it had kept all the bad out it had kept all the good out too. 

The ruler finally understood. He gave the boy an extra coin and went on his way. The wall was a double edged sword and the edge facing the people had been sharper than the one facing their potential enemies. You must be careful when you put up a wall to protect something because you can be imprisoning something just as easily as you are protecting it.

The ruler thought he finally understood and he ordered the wall to come down that very day. In three months time the wall had come down and trade had resumed once again. It would take longer for the people to heal emotionally and the land would never be the same again with so many miles of forest gone. But it was a start and the ruler had learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes if you love something you have to let it be free. Because hope of love and goodness from outside should always outweigh fear of hurt and betrayal. Vulnerability is not a weakness but rather, it is a strength, for only the strongest remain vulnerable by choice.

The End

I woke up today thinking about something I had watched on a TV show the other day. The characters were discussing the emotional wall that one of them had put up to avoid getting hurt. And it worked. It kept all hurt and betrayal out because it kept everyone at a distance and no one ever got close enough to cause pain. But the flip side was that this character never allowed herself to love anyone because that would mean getting close and getting close meant that someone could hurt her. 

As I watched this I realized how close to home it was hitting me. I have had a wall up for almost as long as I can remember. I am not vulnerable with anyone. I internalize everything that I feel and then I keep it there and project how I want people to see me. It's not healthy and it's something that I need to work on. Letting people get close to me isn't the hard part. It's letting myself get close to them that I struggle with. It's giving in to the fear that they might one day leave me and I'll be left with a hole in my heart where there used to be a whole in my heart. But that is no way to live. I cannot live with the fear of what might happen. I need to live with the hope of what can be. There is much good in this world, but sometimes we need to be vulnerable to truly experience it.

So I'll be slowly trying to lower my walls. It won't be easy and frankly, it will be quite terrifying. But I will be better for it. I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you can relate in some way as well. And I want you all to know something as well. I love you all. Truly, I do. Be blessed in your lives and make sure to smile at someone today. You might make their day but you will also make yours. 

-Drew

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Whose Expectations?

Do you ever feel like expectations are holding you back?

And I don't mean the expectations we put on ourselves. But rather, the expectations that we project on ourselves that come from other people. From the rest of the world.

Do you ever feel like the world is telling you that you can't do something because "that's not how things work."

Well I feel like that. And I have a question for the world.

Why?

Or perhaps, why not?

You're telling me my dream isn't practical? Why? If chasing my dream will make me happy then I say to you that it IS practical.

Because happiness is always practical.

Happiness is also not something to be grasped. Nor attained. It is experienced. Money is not happiness. A job is not happiness. People are not even happiness.

You can be happy with money, a job and people of course. I am not saying that happiness is exclusive from these things. Far from it. But it does not rely on these things. It includes them.

I want to travel the world. That is not cheap or, as the world would tell me, "practical." I am going to do it anyway.

I firmly believe that God has given me a desire to travel the world and God does not give us desires that He does not also equip us to fulfill.

I don't know when I'm going, nor where or how long. Only that I am going.

I know I will make new friends along the way but I would love to take old friends as well. If you have a desire to travel in your heart as well, contact me. Let's talk about seeing the world.

Because the expectations that the world has are not the expectations I have for myself. I have let the expectations of others dictate my actions in the past. But no more.

I want to experience life a thousand different ways with a thousand different people. God did not create the nations to be separate. We are all one people with many different aspects.

Just as God is one with many characteristics.

I believe there are many different people so that we can learn from each other. Not so we can live only among the people that are similar to us, never expanding our understanding of the human race we belong to.

Our differences are what make us great but we can not appreciate them as we should if we do not experience them for ourselves.

I am going to travel the world. I am going to experience these differences. Because expectations have shaped all our pasts and they've shaped mine too. And now, there are going to be expectations shaping my future.

Mine.

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Why Shooting Stars?

Shooting Stars and Other Important Things. The title of my blog. I hope that it can mean something different and personal to each individual that happens upon this blog. To me though, it means hope. We all have goals and dreams for life. So many times though we are held back. Held back by commitments, by finances, or by fear. In the end though, you are the only one who can hold you back. If you want something bad enough you should go get it. Don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something. Ever. You should always chase your dreams. Because you know what I think? We can all go as far as we want  because we are all Shooting Stars.