2:00am At The Diner

The Golden 29 on 29th.

2010-12-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

I just realized today that it has been a month since I posted anything on the blog! Yikes! I thought it was only a couple weeks. The time has been taken up with traveling, interviewing and reflecting on my life. Thus, it seems fitting to write today about a birthday I had two days ago. Especially as you get older birthdays are a good time for a gut and heart check on where you are. Have I accomplished what I hoped for until now in my life? What does the next few years and seasons look like for me? Where am I going? Am I giving God glory with my life? All those questions have been, and were particularly on my mind and heart as I celebrated a special birthday...

... on Monday I turned 29 and my birthday for as many years has been November 29th. When I realized this one of friends said: "It's your golden birthday!" I don't think I had ever heard that expression before, but perhaps that is because I haven't experienced it until now. I imagine it is much less weighty if your birthday was on the 3rd of the month, like my sister's, but when it happens later it is a reminder of how "old" you are getting. Age is a relative thing, I am certainly not old in comparison with many, but it is significant when you leave a decade of your life as I am about to do. When I think back over the last 10 years so many significant milestones have happened in my life. Here are just a few:

1. I graduated from college with my BA degree.
2. I moved across the country and lived in Colorado for 5+ years.
3. I graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity degree
4. I moved again, to California.
5. I have been to so many places in US I never thought I would go when I was younger: Mississippi, Louisiana and New Orleans, Alabama, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico, Latvia, London, Arizone and New Mexico, to name a few...
6. I have made some of my best friends in the world...
7. I have worked as a long term substitute teacher, and a youth pastor...
8. I first purchased a macintosh computer.
9. I left my teenage years.

These are just a few of the things that have happened in the last ten years of my life. When I look back on those things I feel grateful. I have many friends who have gotten married and are starting families by now. If you asked me ten years ago if that is something I would have thought would happen to me I would have said yes. And to be sure, those are hopes and dreams of mine for the next ten years of my life. But I have had the opportunity to do many things, such as moving, getting degrees and traveling, that my friends didn't have. I am very thankful for what the Lord has given to me.

On Monday, I had one of the best birthdays I've ever had. In the morning, before I left I had breakfast with two of my dearest friends in the world, Josh and Hannah. I left Los Angeles and drove through some of the most beautiful beachfront I have ever seen in the US along the Pacific Coast Highway. I stopped in Malibu, CA and bottled up a piece of the Pacific Ocean to remind me of my time there. I continued the drive up through Santa Barabara and San Luis Obispo until I came to San Jose. I spent most of the day driving... but that was just find with me. It was time to reflect, dream and decide where I was going to go for the next season of my life. In the evening, back in San Jose, I had dinner with my other dearest friends in the world: Jason, Laura, Chris, Cassie, and my newfound friend KP. My birthday was simple... two meals and a drive... but it was incredibly life giving to me. I suppose as you get a little you appreciate the little things.

As I looked out at the Pacific Ocean during my stop in Malibu I realized one very defining reality for the next season of my life: I'm an adult. I entered my twenties as a college kid with no cares and the hardest thing I had to do was set my alarm. Now I have bills to pay and more time behind me. I'll be 30 next year... but one thing I resolved on the shores of the Pacific is that I will never stop living life with joy, laughter, awe-inspired passion, and a love of people. No matter what happens. Life will get hard and I will never be a kid again... but I hope to live with youthful passion until the day the Lord calls me home--whether that is tomorrow or when I am 100-- for the Glory of God and the Sake of Gospel.

PS--- I have like five posts I had in my head that I haven't written... stay tuned for "City of Angels" tomorrow!

Balloons.

2010-11-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Halloween. I am not a huge halloween fan but it usually provides opportunities for fun with kids. And as Christians, it often provides an opportunity to engage the culture for the gospel. Enter Willow Glen Baptist Church in San Jose, CA... a church I have been attending for the last month and where one of my best friends pastors. For the last 22 years they have put on a "Harvest Carnival" on a Sunday around Halloween and where no less than 700 people come and attend. This year there were 1300! In a matter of three hours! People from all walks of life and all sorts of costumes showed uplast night. I saw cops, transformers, scream characters with a bloody face (which made me scream), animals, etc. They all came to jump in the jump house, throw bean bags at a huge wooden clown, try to catch gold fish, and... get a free balloon.

At the end of the night I looked up into the roof of the rented tent to see a vast array of balloons which had been released by small children. Perhaps this is the reason many children came back to get a second balloon because they had "lost" the first. It always amazes me what enthralls little children. Give them a balloon and it can calm the loudest cry and dry the wettest eyes. As I considered this I wondered: are we as adults any different?

Of course I am not speaking about something as simplistic as balloons, but there are things in our lives that serve as our adult balloons. So many of us worry and stress about our financial security. We are on the verge of tears. We are wailing and crying because we are scared of what will come next in our lives.... and then we receive a paycheck, or a monetary gift, and we are happy and pleased. We received our balloon. And just as quickly as we received that pacifying balloon, we lose it by spending money. Or maybe for some of us it is security in relationships. We feel like our lives are falling apart and then that person whom we hurt comes back and accepts our apology, only to have us hurt them again the next day. Or maybe it is our jobs, our family, our homes, our future, the political figures we follow, etc... you get the point. We all carry (and lose) balloons.

Now, certainly I am not against giving balloons to children. I love balloons too! What I am calling our attention too is how often then can control our lives. I would even say that so many of us put our hope "in" those balloons. When we do this they become, as I have mentioned in previous postings, an idol. A false god. Recently I was attending a group and the topic of hope arose in conversation. A distiguishment was made between things we "hope for" and things we place our "hope in." When we hope in something we are placing all our trust and faith in that item or person. When we hope for something, we recognize that, while we desire that person/item/security/etc., our ultimate trust is not in that thing but in something greater. Consider Paul's words in the letter to the Romans:

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his won Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died---more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [...] No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39, ESV)

Indeed, I pray that our hope is found in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. I pray that our hope is in the Gospel of Grace. Balloons are not bad, but when our hope is found in them it is sin. When our hope is in anything but the living God of the Bible it is sin because we have elevated that thing to the place of God in our lives. We can hope for other things. It is not bad to hope for financial security, or a marriage relationship, or a vacation, or a better job... but don't hope in those things.

I was reading today in Time Magazine an article about the future of the United States. It actually was a very interesting article about how we need to focus the majority of energy and investment on our major metropolitans areas because they are the wave of the future. The argument was that they produce most of our GDP and 2/3 or the people in our country live in them. As I read this I couldn't help but wonder how many of those people who live in those cities have placed their hopes in balloons that will eventually fly away or get popped.

I pray today that we will not hope in balloons, but that we recognize one day they will deflate, or fly away, or pop. And when they do... I pray that we will laugh and move one, because our hope is found secure in Christ.

For God's Glory and the Sake of The Gospel.

Chocolate Covered Bacon.

2010-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Since I advertise that I write about God, life, and food... I feel the need to commnet briefly on a nee item I consumed last Friday in Santa Cruz, CA. The town is a laid back beach town with a beautiful pier reaching out into the Pacific Ocean. On this pier there are numerous shops for clothing, souveniers, and food. On this Friday afternoon all I wanted to do was grab a cup of coffee and go sit at the end of the pier, staring out into the ocean. As I walked into this espresso shop I discovered that they also had lots of sweet treats to complement your coffee. One they advertised was chocoloate covered bacon.

I couldn't resist trying at least one, because it seemed like an odd pairing to say the least. They even promoted a "hot and spicy" bacon, which I chose not to eat. After I grabbed me coffee I went down to the end of the pier, sipped my coffee and took a bite out of the bacon. The sensation was one of chocolatety goodness of the outside, but then I hit the bacon. It was chewy, as you expect bacon to be, and I had to chew it for a few minutes. After the first bit all I remembered was the bacon; the taste of chocolate had been swept away. Thus, chocolate covered bacon really turned into me eating bacon and drinking coffee on the end of the pier. Which begged me to ask the question: who's idea was this? Because it was an awful idea.

The San Francisco Treat--Part Three--Reflections on The Gospel In The City

2010-10-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Every day that I wake up I am burdened and saddened by the amount of people in this world who need Jesus yet are blind to experiencing his saving grace. Even now as I sit at a coffe shop in the middle of San Jose I pray for all the people here who do not call Jesus their savior. It is rare that I find someone who calls Jesus God in this place and I am sure it would be even less if I were sitting in San Francisco. So, I would like to offer a few reflections from my trips to San Francisco and provide some suggestions on how to pray for, not just San Francisco, but so many of our American cities.

First, as Christians we need to recognize that humans being want to ultimately live for themselves. This is the definition of sin: when we put ourselves in the place of God. I tend to think that many people who come to large cities, especially if they are not Christians, are into living life however they want. They generally have a lot of money (Because you need it to live in the city). They perhaps want to be in the party scene. Or, as is the case with so many people in Manhattan I have found, they want to see what the city can do for them. Those are of course charicatures of the city, but in general we as people want to live for ourselves. We need to pray that God would break and humble our own hearts as well as people in the cities.

Second, there are all sorts of temptations that come with the city. I imagine there is all sorts of trouble and debauchery to get involved with if you live in the city, and especially San Fran. As I walked down Haight I caught wind of several people smoking marijuana and who knows what else. The city is filled with eccecltic people who need Jesus. We need to pray fervently for their salvation.

Third, we need to realize that people in the city NEED JESUS and the freeing power of the Gospel. When Christianity first started to spread in the first century it spread first and foremost in THE CITIES! Rodney Stark did a great job of chronicalling this phenomenon in his books The Rise of Christianity and Cities of God. The Gospel spread because people were living so close to one another that there was constant contact with other people. Once people were converted the good news spread quickly, almost like a virus. If someone gets sick and they are living in a city filled with people there is a good chance that other people will get sick also. If the missional code can be cracked in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Chicago then the Gospel will spread like wild fire. Especially in cities like those where the urbaness is compact.

We need to pray for our cities. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit does an amazing work of revival among the cities. We need to pray the God raises up people with a heart for the city and a desire to enter into the mission field. We need to pray especially for the cities where people don't want to go. I specifically think of San Francisco and New York. Those are two cities that I love and want to see people come to know Jesus. Imagine if people caught a vision for those two places and those cities became known for their spiritual ferver rather than lostness! We have a big God with whom all things are possible!

San Francisco is for sure a lost place. There are not many Christians there. And that is precisely why we should pray for the city. That is precisely why we should pray about living there and transforming it fort he sake of the Gospel and the Glory of God!

The San Francisco Treat- Part One

2010-10-28T13:24:00.001-07:00

I visited San Francisco for the first time 10 years ago and, I must admit, I was not incredibly excited about it. It was part of a week long tour that took me all over California. San Fran was the beginning of the week and I remember thinking..."Ok, New York is way cooler." I enjoyed some of the sites we went to, but perhaps I wasn't seasoned enough to completely enjoy it. This was not the case on my third visit yesterday (My second one was very brief a few months ago). I had the grand fortune of visiting with my good friend KP, who gave me "The whole San Francisco experience." :) Thanks bud! Since I generally try not to write a novel on my blogs, I decided there is too much for one blog. I labeled this part one, but I am not sure if it will stop at part two or continue. Over next two months I hope to go back a few more times. Because San Francisco freakin' rocked! With cultural savviness, a strong public transportation infrastructure, and sports experience to rival New York and as beautiful as any city you will see, San Francisco is well worth at least one trip in your life time. I am fortunate I am working on 3+. So here you go...

THE FULL HOUSE: Pridefully I will admit that I was a huge fan of Danny Tanner and his kids when I was a wee lad. DJ (The older sister) was way cute but far too old for me. I had my eye on Stephanie since she was my age :). Additionally, who could argue with the adorable Michelle, as portrayed by the Olson twins before they went insane. Uncle Jesse was soooooo cool (John Stamos seems to not have aged a day since the early 90s) and Joey was the funniest guy ever (Rush Hour Renegades anyone??????). The best thing about Full House was... the house. They lived in this cool row house in the middle of San Francisco (I had no idea where it was when I was younger, but I liked the 49ers). In the opening shots they drove over the Golden Gate bridge and chilled in Golden Gate park, which I found out yesterday is nowhere near the actual house used in the shots for the Tanner House. The acual house is a good 5-10 minute drive away and is part of a section of houses called "The Painted Ladies." KP and I drove up and had a difficult time getting a parking spot, but KP made it work out because, as he said: "This is San Francisco-THEY DON'T CARE!" This would be a recurring theme this weekend. As we got out and looked at the Painted Lady Houses the most AMAZING thing happened. On the front window of one of the houses there was a sign that simply said "THIS IS NOT FULL HOUSE." I wondered if numerous people had walked up to the door and asked for a tour of their house to see, ignorantly, where the show was filmed. KP and I had a hearty laugh and then walked around the back of the houses to see where Kimmie Gibbler lived.

GOLDEN GATE PARK: Our next stop as a little less exciting. We drove through Golden Gate Park on our way to Haight Ashbury. This was the Central Park of San Francisco, although as KP said, not quite as nice. However, I thought it was quite beautiful and green. There wre lots of museums and paths to walk/run along. There were plenty of people sporting small dogs throughout the park. As we exited along the coastline, we made a left on Fell Street on our way to the next destination. Along that road we saw, what seemed to be a police car, with an interesting marker on the tail. It said "UFO PROTECTION FORCE." I made it known that I wanted a picture of it and KP immediately made an illegal U-Turn with the mantra "It's San Fran I do what I want!" We pulled up behind the car and I snapped the ridiculous photo as we continued on.

HAIGHT-ASHBURY DISTRICT: Unfortunately our adventures must conclude today with this entry due to time. If you are not aware, Haight Ashbury was a magnet for a huge hippie population in the 60s. People would come to play their guitars, do all sorts of illegal things, and just hang in San Francisco. It became quite famous over the years and is a standard tourist stop if you come to the city. Fortunately, we went during the week so it was not quite as busy, so we busted out our guitars and decided to jam on the street. However, before that our stay in "The Haight" began with an amazing parking spot right at the corner of the Haight Ashbury. We were blessed with parking spots the entire day, which made us postulate that perhaps Jesus wanted us to be there that day :). After eating at an amazing restaurant (They had an unbelievable crepe special with some minty water!) we walked through the district with our guitars to Amoeba Music, looked inside, and walked back to find our corner.

KP and I had decided a few days before that we would bring our guitars to jam in The Haight. Our mission: to write a worship song in the minor key. We plopped ourselves down, KP decided to take some "Facebook" pictures of me, and then we played. Playing your guitar on the street was not an uncommon thing in this part of town, I had already seen numerous people on our walk. Still, we managed to attract some attention with people who were walking by. One gentleman even stopped, got really excited to see us and gave us both a fist bump. At that point we felt we had arrived as hippies in Haight Ashbury. So we decided to pack up our guitars and head to Pier 39....

That's all for today unfortunately. Stay tuned for stories from Lombard Street, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and if you are lucky, our walk around Giants Stadium during game one of the 2010 World Series!

When Dreams Go Unfulfilled.

2010-10-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

It's 12:41am and I am the need for sleep is starting to capture my eyes... but I just came home from having a conversation about disappointment and life. I have recently been pondering on my life when I was a high school senior. I remember all the dreams that I had of changing the world. Dreams of traveling to different countries, perhaps just to visit or to do mission work. I had dreams of meeting the love of my life and starting a family. Dreams of going to Hollywood or New York City and starting a ministry that would save people through the Gospel and for God's glory. I had dreams of being an actor and meeting famous people. When I graduated from college I moved across the country to Denver on a grand adventure to experience life outside of the Jersey Shore. I enrolled in seminary with the dreams of being a pastor and changing the face of the American church. I was passionate about youth ministry, about family ministry, about proclaiming the Gospel. I was passionately about the city. Not a particular city... just the city in general because that was where the people were. I was passionate about people.

I'm turning 29 next month and I was reflecting with a friend about how life has changed as I approach 30. First of all, I don't feel 30. That seems old to me. In some ways I feel older, as if I have lived longer and am more mature. In other ways I feel like a kid who has just graduated from college trying to figure out how to live in the adult world. The truth is, I'm not. I am an adult and all the dreams that I still have of living in different areas of the world and experiencing different things.... well it feel like that time is fading even though the desire is still there. The expectation is to settle down and start a family. That is the difference between my late 20s and my early 20s... its feel like there is less time and more expectation. So, as I reflect on those dreams I had... some of them I achieved, but others have gone unfulfilled.

I wonder what dreams you had for life that went unfulfilled? As you look back on your life.... is this where you pictured you would be when you graduated from high school? I suppose I pose that question because recently I have been struggling with some disappointment in life. To make it real... I have some much desired to have a full time pastoral ministry position and to find my wife. Over the last two years I have watched many of my friends achieve those things while it feels like I've been left behind. I believe in a Sovereign God who is in control of everything in my life... but there are times when I deal with the human response to disappointment. I once heard it said... "All you need to do is live long enough and you will suffer." Not that I am suffering as much as the person being persecuted for their faith in Africa, or the person with a terminal disease, but we all have or will experience suffering. And we also will probable have some dreams that go unfulfilled.

What does the future hold for me? I hope I get to rejoice as the Psalmist did when he said "Though sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning." The truth is, wherever life takes me and wherever the Spirit leads, I hope to live life with joy. We often equate happiness and joy when they are not the same. We can be joyful... but still be suffering a great deal. We can be joyful even though our dreams have gone unfulfilled. We can be joyful because through everything Jesus has won the victory on the cross and our hope is secured through him.

Some of my dreams have not been fulfilled. But many have been. I hope that wherever I go I would be joyful and give glory to God.

Its 1:04 am... and sleep has taken me.

When Idols Die.

2010-10-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

It was difficult to get out of bed this morning. I wanted to stay asleep and not really believe what I had witnessed the night before. The pain was still too near. 12 hours ago I sat on the couch in my living room taking in the horror that was a New York Yankees defeat. The Yankees loss was not just a loss, it was a slaughter. Worse still it came at the hands of the Texas Rangers, who while not of par with the Boston Red Sox, were one team I did not want to see beat the Yankees lose to and inflate the already disproportionately large egos of Texas people. As I write this the Yankees have already won game five and still have a chance in the 2010 American League Championship Series, but hope still seems difficult to find. When I woke up this morning... one of my idols was about to die.

The language I use may seem harsh, but think about the idols in all our lives. An idol can be defined as something so important in our lives that, should we lose it, our life would feel hardly worth living (kudos to Tim Keller on providing a wonderful definition). Sports is a huge one. When I lived in the NYC area people would call the talk radio shows and complain for HOURS about how bad their sports teams were doing. If the Yankees, Mets, Jets, Giants, Knicks, Rangers, etc.... lost a game it was as if the whole city took a punch to the gut. The same thing was true when I lived in Denver and the Broncos lost. On Monday morning lots of people would call in sick because they had to recover fromt the loss. In the same vein, let's consider a variety of relationships. Right now I am sitting in a gelato cafe in Palo Alto, CA... minutes from the headquarters of one of the most powerful social networking sites in the world: Facebook. People will go into a state of depression once a relationship ends (Even if it is an unhealthy one). Additionally, people have no problem sitting on Facebook for hours hoping that someone will post on their wall, write them a message, IM them, etc.

Idols run rampant everywhere. I could offer more examples but you get the point. The other problem with idols is, even if we recognize them in our lives, most times we don't want to kill them. Idols have given us a false purpose or meaning. They offer promises they can't fulfill. For instance, I walked into this gelato shop tonite thinking that the creamy goodness would make me feel wonderful... then they tried to charge me 5.75 for a very small cup. Worse than Dippin Dots! Idols most times paralyze us from achieving the things we dream of, even were meant to do. Consider the porn addict, or the drug user who just can't stop, or the person who continues to fall into debt and cannot stop spending, or the person who feels like they need to be the savior in all the relationships they get into. Idols weaken us. They keep us from greatness. So why can't we just let idols die?

Today I made my second California off day adventure. I went to Stanford University in Palo Alto, hence why I am here. The campus is GORGEOUS. Palm trees line the main entrance. Either side of the road had open green areas. After I parked next to Foster Field I walked the campus, which was filled with historically spanish looking buildings that screamed education. I had to dodge the people on bikes... which seemed like everyone on campus! All this was as I made my way thru the history building, campus bookstore, and others so that I could find the "main quad." Once I finally found it after an hour of walking, I sat there and thought... "Wow! What life is here on this campus!"

Then I began to think back to my days of graduating high school and heading to college. I remember the youthful vigor that I had and a passion for changing the world and achieving my dreams. I still have many dreams and many things I want to do before the good Lord calls me home by his grace. But I couldn't help but think that I need to kill the idols in my life that are keeping me from living every second of every day for Jesus. Those 18-22 year olds at Stanford will experience the same thing. They will have to combat idols for the rest of their lives (especially if they are Christians and recognize that idols are bad). My hope and prayer is that they will work on killing their idols and letting them die. I want to kill mine so that Jesus has COMPLETE control of everything that I do.

Because the truth is: when idols die... then we can truly live.

It's Raining In California.

2010-10-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, and Monday for that matter, my stereotypes of sunny California were blown to pieces with wet, sweet smelling, rain. To which I posed the question: "It rains in California?" Yes, indeed it does. For this east coast child, I am quickly realizing that I have many pre-conceived notions about life on the west coast. Here are simply a few thoughts.

First, I thought California would be a lot more transient. I thought there would be people who had lived all over the world, or the country for that matter, who came to California to find the promised land. Quite frankly, I believed California would be more like Denver, where it was hard to find anyone who grew up here. To be sure, there are people from different parts of the world and the ethnicity is very diverse. But, there are a lot of people who are from here and have stayed here. Which, in many respects like people from the northeast. People love where they grew up and remain there, making a life for themselves from womb to tomb. Additionally, a lot of people I have met are very Calicentric in their thinking... not have traveled outside the great state of California.

Second, I pictured California beaches with lots of people laying out and tanning. While this may be the case in Southern California, this is definately not true of NorCal. While there are beaches they are definitely cold and windy.

Third, I thought people would be friendlier in California. The opposite is the case. I would say that the social skills of the general California public are more in line with the northeast rather than Denver. People don't really want you to talk with them. They are private... or prideful depending on your definition.

Those are just a few misconceptions I had. And while they may be true... there are certainly a lot of thinks about Cali that fit my expectations. For example, the language is definitely cool and hip. I keep hearing the word "Hecka" being used a lot. Hecka is essentially another way of placing emhasis on what you are saying. For instance... you could say that it was a "hecka good concert last night." Everyone out hear has an Apple computer, iPad, and iPhone... pretty much Apple is helping to currently define popular culture with technology. The weather is great... even though it rained one day.

On the day that it rained my good friend Chris preached a message about the new humanity from I Peter. He spoke about how each of us... if we have been redeemed by Jesus... are on a mission to helping saving a dying world with the Gospel of Jesus. He spoke about the diversity that is in California and put forth the challenge to get out of our comfort zones and serve the Sovereign God who made the world by bringing him glory. Later I thought, it doesn't matter where you go in this world... God is on the move and is in the business of saving people. Even in the midst of a rainy California day, God is still at work.

I hope that wherever we live we are seeking to bring God glory if we know Jesus. And that the Gospel is central to everything that we are.

Monterey.

2010-10-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite authors in American literature is John Steinbeck, of Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men fame. Unbeknownst to me, Steinbeck was born and grew up in Salinas, CA and spent a considerable amount of time in Monterey, CA (On the northern coast of California). I always appreciated Steinbeck for his realism in depiction of American life. He also lived and wrote during the Great Depression... funny that he should resonate with some of us as we have lived through, what is presumptuously being called, "The Great Recession of 2008-2009."

I mention all this because, in the midst of my continuing California adventure, I engaged in my weekly exploratory adventures (A goal I set for myself while I am here). I heard numerous times about the beauty of Monterey and as I drove in on Hwy 1 this morning I understood why. Beautifully set on the coast of California, Monterey is a pictueresque beach town. The Santa Lucia Mountain Range serves as a background for this beautiful city on the beach. The climate is very temperate year round, not too hot or cold. The town is alive with a busy tourist industry and lots to explore. Cannery Row, again of Steinbeck fame, is a cool little downtown strip with lots of shops and culture. I ate lunch at a sweet little deli called "Austinos," and partook in some Nestle Tollhouse cookies from their store. Also, they have a stand alone DIPPIN DOTS store! All this is right next to the peaceful waves calmly knocking up against the docks.

There is a peaceful feeling here. Monterey is almost an oasis between the hustle and bustle life of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The people walking along the strip seem full of joy and peace. Perhaps this may be a glimpse of what heaven will look like.

I also visited the rockin aquarium they have in town. Who knew there was so much happening under the sea (Apparently Sabastian was right!). There were more species of sharks than I knew what to do with. There were tons of sea otters, which look like they were just chillin the entire day. The penguins looked like a bunch of awkward middle schoolers as they waddled around their cages. There was tons and tons of sealife that was everywhere in the aquarium and all I could do was marvel at God's hand in Creation. There is a whole other world beneath the sea that God created and is Lord over. As I watched the school of fish bob and weave as one entity... I continued to be amazed at God's creative work.

God is certainly good. He created Monterey with all its peaceful attractions... and he created all the sea life for His glory.

In-N-Out Burger and The Will of God.

2010-10-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

One of the glorious things about spending some time in California is the opportunity to partake in some local delicasies. Arguably, the most famous of which is the In-N-Out Burger fast food chain. Last night I devoured a number 2 meal while keeping my modesty by shying away from going "Anima Style" (I know this sounds weird so I shall elaborate. Animal style simply means that on, either the burger or fries, the cooks will put a smattering of onions, thousand island-esque dressing, and melted chesse on the item. YUM!!!!). I have loved In-N-Out from the first moment I ate it... and so last night I wrote down a number of reasons why I love In-N-Out Burger:

1. You can pretty much only get it in California (Save for a few other western states)... which makes it a local commodity. YUM!

2. Four words: Double Double Animal Style. YUM!

3. It means I am most likely in the beautiful sun!

4. It means I am close to some of my best friends in the world!

5. The Logo (See above.). So dope.

6. It means I am wearing Rainbows (Sandals--which I also love).

7. I am also close to the ocean and mountains... most likely!

Since I advertise on my blog heading that I write about food, I felt this blog title was appropriate for today.... now onto part B of my title.

The will of God. I was once told that more books have been written on the Will of God than any other subject (perhaps an exageration... but there are a lot). People are fascinated and determined to find God's will for their lives. Makes sense... who really wants to be outside God's will (If you are a Christian). For my part I know that I am desperately trying to seek the Lord's will... that's why I am in California right now! With that in mind I wanted to share a list of things I have realized about God's will:

1. It may... or may not... involve a personal preference. I suppose it depends if that preference will bring glory to God and is in his timing.

2. More than likely it will involve suffering. I Peter 4 talks about what it means to suffer for being a Christian. Peter writes "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it come upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (v. 12-13)."

3. It will bring God glory. If you are doing something... you should always ask: Does this bring God glory? Does what I am doing honor God? If the answer is no then it is probably not God's will (Is. 43:7).

4. It may involve, and most likely will involve, God calling us out of our comfort zones... like he did with Abraham in Genesis 12.

5. In the end, God is SOVEREIGN. In other words he is control of everything and we need to trust that if we are seeking him with all our hearts (As Jeremiah exhorts us to do in ch. 29 of his book), he will honor that. The main thing is not that we are pursuing God's will, so to speak, but that we are pursuing GOD!

Those are just a few thoughts. Kevin DeYoung wrote a book a little while back entitled, "Just Do Something." His main argument was that nowadays there are so many choices that a lot of us sit around waiting for the perfect choice, believing that it will one day come to us. Conversely, DeYoung says we need to simply go out and do something with our lives. If we are pursuing God, not doing anything that is against his moral will, if we are loving people... then we can do a lot of things! But the bottom line is that we need to pursue God.

I know that sounds simple, but perhaps God's will is simpler than we make it out to be sometimes. Much like the menu at In-N-Out Burger.... another item for my list of why I love the place.

In conclusion... we should eat In-N-Out to the GLORY OF GOD!!!!!

What Do People See?

2010-10-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

"Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." (I Peter 3:14b-17)

Have you ever gone to a public place and done some "people watching?" This is one of my favorite past times... and present times. I used to do a lot of acting and in preparation for some roles I would go to the mall, or the boardwalk, and watch people. I would observe their mannerisms and their little ticks, hoping that I could use something for a character role that I would play in the future. In the course of this activity, it was always interesting to see what you learned about people and their lives. You can usually tell if a person is depressed, or looking a little shady, or someone who is joyful. As I would do these observations I would often wonder to myself... what do people see when they see me? Have you ever asked that question?

Reading through my devotions this morning I came upon the above verse and its challenge, "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." This, of course, assumes that people see a hope within us. So I have been doing a heart check this morning. Do people see hope in me? Do people see the life that comes only from Jesus in me? And even if it is there... can people see it through my actions?

The truth is, I fear, that many of us go to church and put on the happy Christian face... but as soon as we go home that "joy" has dissappeared. We think that our Christian life is like a job that we punch in and out of. This is simply not true. As followers of Jesus we should be overflowing with the joy that comes only from Christ and the Gospel. If Jesus has truly transformed our lives... where is the change? Where is the hope? Are we engaging in, as author Jerry Bridges puts it, Gospel-Driven Sanctification where we are letting the truth of the Gospel transform our lives every single day?

The challenge that I offer to myself today is that when people see me, all people not just some people, they would wonder why it looks like I have hope and joy. And when they ask that I would be able, with a clean, clear conscience, to proclaim the story of Jesus.

The Fear of God.

2010-10-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

When I was a little kid I was always afraid of the dark. Let me clarify that, I was especially afraid of the dark when I was alone. I was about 4 years old when I was bestowed with my own room in my grandmother's house. It was a big house and on the creepy side. If the TV was not on when I was falling asleep... I would lie awake for hours because I heard various sounds and noises that would freak me out! Too much for a 4-year-old! To this day I still get scared when I am in a house all by myself and it is dark. I am always listening for noises and prepared to defend myself if need be!

I think all of us are afraid of something. To be sure, there are many things in this world to fear. With the possibility of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, wars, muggings, and a variety of other things.... our world is dangerous. Compile all those images running through your mind with the Biblical principle of fearing the Lord. The question that might come up in your mind is... why would I want to fear God??? Shouldn't I see God as a refuge to run to when I am afraid?

For sure, that is also a Biblical image of God. He is our refuge, our ever present hope in times of trials. However, if that image is not balanced with an understanding that God is bigger than anything we could possibily fear in this world, we do not have a correct view of God. He is God over everything and all things hold together because of him. We were created for his glory (Is. 43:7) and are here on this earth to make him famous and draw people to him. God is a God of love, justice, goodness, and... wrath. The latter is an image that we don't like to talk about but it's true. God is a God who punishes sin and does not delight in wickedness.

Scripture tells us that if we seek the Lord like "hidden treasure," then "you will understand the fear of the Lord (Prov. 2:5)." The simple fact is this: as we draw closer to God... we see how holy he is. This is a truth that John and Moses knew too well. John was ushered into the throneroom of God in Revelation 4 and Moses was in the presence of God in Exodus 33. Both left changed, with a right understanding of exactly who God is. He is a God who is so holy that he cannot look upon sin... but is so gracious that he sent his only son to save us from wrath. He is a God whom we should healthily fear.

In my own life.... I find myself being more afraid of things of this world than God. The truth is... God is in control of everything in this world. It is not my boss I should fear... but the God who is in control of every situation. It is not a fear where I want to run from God, rather it is a fear where I understand how powerful he is. And that is comforting, because it means that nothing can defeat God. He is sovereign and in control of everything. As I look to the future, with uncertainty, I desire to draw near to God and continue to understand what it means to fear him. Because, strangely to us mortals, as we continue to fear God we will find comfort, strength, and wisdom.

California.

2010-10-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago I got on a plane for the very first time in my life. Those who know me well can picture the spectacle. I was like a kid taking his first ride on a roller coaster. As the plane took off I screamed and put my hands in the air, feeling as if it was the greatest adrenaline rush I had ever experienced. To some extent it was. Little did I know it would begin a love-affair with me and flying. It also was the very first time I experience life outside the tri-state area of the northeastern part of the United States. Up to that point I had lived, breathed, and experienced all things associated with the New York City metropolitan area. In fact, I would say I was unaware of life outside the northeast. This would all change as I hopped on this flight that was... California bound.

Six hours later my plane landed at SFO. Getting off the plane was like stepping into an exotic world of west coast life. That night we took a very creepy (yes... it was dark and unknown) drive to Livermore, CA (45 minutes east of San Francisco) where we would spend our first few days of a week long performance tour.

I write all this because, yesterday, ten years later I drove through Livermore, CA on my way to re-connect with one of my best friends in San Jose, CA. It was a surreal experience as I remembered the sites I first saw as an 19 year old college student. Beautiful hills and giant windmills have never felt so familiar :). As I drove down the east hill into Silicon Valley, I caught a glimpse of the bay and marveled at a dream ten years in the making. It was a dream that I would one day get to live life in California. Whether I will stay long or not is not the point, rather the point is that I made it. I drove, not all at once, across the country and will now live on the opposite coast of where I was born. Wow! It was one last adventure for my twenties. So surreal that I will turn 30 next year... and making it to California was something I have wanted to do for so long.

Now the real adventure begins. The adventure I refer to is the one of following Jesus into the great unknown. As I write this post I have no idea where I will be in the next two months. I could stay in California. I could once again be living outside of NYC. I could be back in Denver, CO. I could be some place I haven't even thought of yet. As I look ot the future my desire is to be led by the Spirit wherever he would take me. I want to be at the center of God's plan for my life. If that is California or NY or CO or wherever... so be it. One thing I have learned in almost 30 years of life is that Jesus often takes us on a journey to reach the destination. Much like my journey across the country... its been a great ride and I can't wait to see where else the Lord takes me before he calls me home, by his grace and for his glory!

Stay tuned for more California postings in the weeks to come.

Elder Brother Lostness

2010-03-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

"Sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge... once we have Jesus's deeper definition of sin we should be able to recognize it, and it is crucial that we do. We will call it 'elder brother lostness.' ... the first sign that you have an elder brother spirit is that when your life doesn't go as you want, you aren't just sorrowful but deeply angry and bitter. Elder brothers believe that if they live a good life they should get a good life, that God owes them a smooth road if they try very hard to live up to standards (Timothy Keller, Prodigal God, 43; 49-50)."

I have been revisiting Tim Keller's, The Prodigal God, in my reading time the last few weeks and I have been struck again by what a wonderful exposition of the Gospel it is. He takes the Parable of The Prodigal Son and unpacks in a magnificent way so that we see our own sin and lostness in the characters. In the above passage Keller points out Jesus's redefinition of sin and gives a convicting statement about what it means to be an "Elder-Brother." Here are some key points I have been revisiting in the book.

1. What does it mean to be a prodigal? The definition of the word is actually as follows: recklessly extravagant; having spent everything. Most people tend to focus on the folly of the younger brother... but Keller makes the point that in the reaction of Father (Who is certainly a figure for God) we see a truer form of what it means to be a prodigal. The Father gives much wealth away to the son who squandors it... and then takes him back into the family. What that means is that the younger son is now an heir again. In the same way, God recklessly gives his grace to us, sinners, and accepts us as we are through his grace. That grace come through the CROSS where Jesus spend everything for us so that we can be accepted into the family of God! In that way he is the Prodigal God.

2. What does it mean to be an elder brother? This section has been convicting for me because I am elder brother. So many times I think that if I work hard for God he will reward me. That is what elder brothers do... they think if they live a good life they should get a good life. But the fact is that when I do that I putting myself in God's place. I am saying, "God I did this so I should get this." That is religion... it is not the Gospel. In the parable, the elder brother is furious at the Father because he accepts the younger son back. But that is exactly what God does with us! He recklessly gives us his grace! How often have we looked at someone and said "I am not as bad as that person?" Or when have we thought God should reward us for something we did? That is performance based religion. I hope and pray that I would be a person who lives out the grace of the Gospel and praises God for his prodigality to me!

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE!

2010-03-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends of faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the ressurection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)

All of us, myself included, are worshippers of something. We worship fame. We worship youth. We worship money. We worship video games. We worship popularity. We worship talent. We worship technology. You get the picture. The problem with all this worship is that we are worshipping the wrong things. And, ultimately, we are made more and more into the image of the things we worship. The Bible has a word for this: IDOLATRY--and becoming an idolator is a sure fire way to waste your life.

The path we were made for is worship of the living, true God of the Bible. He manifested himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ. So when Paul says in Philippians 3:7-11 that everything he has he considers "rubbish," he is giving us an example. He had every reason to be proud of himself (v. 1--6), but he acknowledges that everything he has is from Christ. And on the day of judgment, when we stand before our God, we can plead nothing but the blood of Jesus who has paid our penalty. My hope and prayer is that we will worship the one true God and not the things of this world. Please don't waste your life on anything but Jesus.

SWEETLY BROKEN

2010-03-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of it's suffering I do drink
Of it's work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

LEGACY- Hearing and responding to the Gospel of Grace

2009-09-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

"If you hear the Gospel and it does not bless you, hear it again. If you read the Word of God and it has not saved you, read it again. It has the power to save your soul! [...] Oh if men would search for salvation as though it was hidden treasure!" (Charles Spurgeon)

This morning, like most mornings, I sat looking at my face in the mirror. About every two-three days I notice that it is time to take the razor and give myself a good, clean shave. Since I care about my appearance, and my comfort, I chose to take the razor and pare down the growing hairs on my cheek and neck. However, this day was different than most. As I looked in the mirror, I stopped and examined myself. I don't know if you have ever done this before, but if you have did you ever look into your own eyes? Have you ever stared into your own eyes and asked the question... what am I building with my life?

I remember this was one of my favorite things to do when I was in high school. I would stand in front of the bathroom mirror and look myself in the eye. Most times this was because I was practicing for a part I had in a play but other times I asked myself the above mentioned question. James uses this illustration in the first chapter of his epistle. He exhorts believers to look into the mirror and examine themselves, essentially to see if their life is matching up with the faith they proclaim.

As I think about my own life, I often wonder if my life is matching the faith I proclaim. While at the youthful age of 27, I concede I am not old at all, I also realize that I am not as young as I once was. I have completed two degrees in higher education, I have made many friendships and built relationships with people around the country, I have traveled all over the world, and yet I still am asking myself the question- what am I building with my life? Is my life matching up with my faith? What will be my legacy?

My father was a great man. So was my grandfather. I have a picture of them next to my bed. In fact it is a picture of all the men who bear my namesake. The Robert Philip Erbig's... of which I am the fourth and only remaining. As I look at myself in the mirror that question continues to infect my heart. I want to live a life that makes a difference. I want my life to be characterized by a humble dependence on my Savior where he gets the Glory for everything that I do. I want my legacy to be one where Jesus is seen through my actions and life. I think that's what James was talking about in the first chapter of his letter to the church.

Has anyone else asked themselves this question? If you are reading this I hope that it challenges you to strive towards a life that builds a legacy for Jesus. He is the only thing that matters. His grace is something that should drive us to our knees and cause us to respond in humble obedience. We should seek him with our very lives! When we do that- his legacy is secured in us.

A Fall Favorite Returns...

2009-09-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

I love the fall. Leaves change. Colors abound. And the Pumpkin Spice Latte has returned to Starbucks. Go get one!

PS- Forgot to make this note in the last post!

HUMILITY (Part One)- A grace filled return to the blogosphere

2009-09-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

As my friends have been quick to point out... I have not posted a blog since January 22... or this year. The previous blog on my site was posted by a gentlemen who shall remain nameless, but brilliant. And so, after a long hiatus from the blogging world (let's just say I was running a life-marathon and then resting from it), in the words of the great poet Michael Scott, "I'll be baaaaaaacccckkkkk..... AND I am baaaaaaccccckkkkkk."

With this return, I can think of no better subject to write on than humility. Let me begin by saying that I am NOT a humble man. I am proud. I think I am the greatest thing on the face of the earth. The world does indeed revolve around me. Unfortunately, like most people I was not totally aware of this area of sin. But then I was blind sidedly convicted as I read the opening chapter of CJ Mahaney's book "Humility." Here is his definition of humility: Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness. Now that is quote to meditate on. As I sat there enjoying my pepperoni pizza from Il Vicino my eating started to slow as I gazed off in the distance. The question on my heart was "Am I humble?" And when I was honest with myself I had to answer: No, I am not. I am sinful and I should fall to my knees as I consider the holiness of my God.

Some of us rarely think about the topic of humility. Why would we? In a world of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs, and Unlimited Cell Phone plans we have all created our own worlds where we play God. There is even an application for the iPhone called "Pocket God" where you can create your own civilization and rule over it. When you are God why do you need to be humble? But the truth is we are not God. And we must assess ourselves in view of the holiness of God. Each and every one of us is sinful and depraved before God. Only by his grace have we been saved through faith. For that we should be eternally grateful. As I look at the holiness of God in comparison with how sinful I am... I have no course of action other than to be eternally grateful.

This has huge implications for our homes, work, our family, our church, and our career. If we are not humble then relational discord will no doubt break out in the previous arenas. My hope is that, as each of us lives our lives, we would be humble. After all, Christ gave us the perfect example of humility as Paul wrote in Philippians chapter two. Humility shows other people that Christ has made a difference in our lives because we were given a gift we did not deserve. We must throw off pride and focus on the grace we have been given through the cross of Christ!

The bottom line is this: We must be more humble! When that happens lives will be changed and legacies will be built.

death by breath (or why the world needs christian rap)(or i've been reading stuff by david crowder, can you tell?)

2009-05-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

i love Christian rap. unfortunately, there are those who do not share my sentiments that i feel are misguided. its curious that even when the themes in a genre differ from their mainstream secular counterparts, those that claim they simply oppose a genre because of said themes continue to dislike many rap artists and songs with Christian themes. see, i'm in the fortunate position of enjoying Christian rap for its subject matter and secular rap for its common non-sequiter ridiculousness (i hear you screamin dad). however, let me just explain my first statement. from the initial moment when i heard "Jesus is Still Alright" by DC Talk sometime within the first eight years of my life, i decided i preferred rap with a Christian flavor when it came to music. granted i am a fan of many other genres and Christian rap has come a long way since the birth (and subsequent dissolution; still waiting on the reunion) of DC Talk, rap has a way of delivering the Gospel that is unique to itself. in any other genre, the subject of God becomes somewhat narrowed by the repetition of a mere few themes (namely greatness of God meekness of man, stupid stuff we do, all great stuff). however, the rapid rhyme- based format of rap creates a necessity to get creative with the subjects within a song. now, when one has this mandate in addition the the constraints of being Bible- based (not a bad thing!) and sensible (somewhat), the result is usually a very thoughtful and theologically- based number. in a way, the call to be a Christian rapper is the call to be a well- studied theologian.

having said so, let me explain what's going on with the graphic (this is somewhat related). while listening to Breathin' to Death by my man LeCrae the other day, it struck me how profound and unsettlingly true the song is. if our death to ourselves should bring about Life, then our own life will bring about death. i can't tell you how much it bugs me when i hear the cliche "you're not really living unless you're _________." is that so? does my heart start only when i'm plummeting from a plane at 30,000 feet? is a lack of hallucinogens in my system equivalent to a multi systems failure? before someone goes off, let me just say that i do know the concept of a metaphor or whoever, but when such a blatant and ridiculous comparison like absence of life is so commonplace, it reminds me of the cavernous pitfall which is the lie of "life" that so many people buy into. they define their lives by these horrible, damaging (often times; if not, less than God- centered) activities that they think are bringing them meaning and purpose. but they're really just breathing to death. being this caught up in one's own life and own interests brings about the only real death there is: that which comes from rejection of the Source Jesus Christ.

favorite righteous rap lines:

"Satan's taking lives like Ethan Hawke..."

-Azriel

"swagga that's hotta than summertime in Nevada..."

-Group 1 Crew

"even if you don't know systematic theology, yo eschatology, you know Jesus is who ya otta see..."

-LeCrae

"when we spit, get a grip like boots in gravel..."

-Flame

Marriage.

2009-01-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

No. That is my first comment on this blog. Because I know that some of you have already made assumptions based on what I titled this entry. I say no, not because I don't have a desire to get married, simply that at this juncture I am not. However, I have thought about it lately because of some devotional passages and conversations with friends. What I have concluded is that, sadly, we have a very low view of marriage in our current culture. Over the past few years I have witnessed a number of marriages end, people who were close to me and some who were not. And it breaks my heart each time I hear another story of a couple breaking up.

I believe that statistics are starting to tell us the we are leveling out in the divorce rate. Children are reacting somewhat to growing up in an era where divorce was rampant. The election of Barack Obama, and his outspoken stance that we need good fathers in our homes, I believe will have an impact on the family in certain sectors. But at the same, I work with students, and I know that so many of us are buying the lie that a marriage commitment is simply based on feelings. In a book I read recently, the author noted a survey of students who were asked when it was okay to have sex. The majority response was "If I love someone enough." The problem with that, she commented and I agree, was that our children have bought into the lie that feelings are more important that God's design and standard for marriage. For the many divorces I have seen, I think too many have let feelings be the barometer of success.

If we take this example to our relationship with Christ, we run into a problem. How many of us who call ourselves Christians would say that following Christ is always easy and feels good? Certainly not. And the Bible even paints a beautiful picture of a marriage between the Bride (The Church) and the Bridegroom (Christ). Charles Spurgeon comments that on earth Christ "exercises towards her (us, his bride) all the offices of a husband. He makse rich provision for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume his name, and share in all his wealth. Nor will He ever act otherwise to her. The word 'divorce' He will never mention, for 'He hates divorce' (Malachi 2:16)." Women, how many want a husband like that? Men, how many want to love our wife like that? How wonderful, comforting and glorious is it to know that now matter how often we sin against God. No matter how many times we turn our back on him. No matter how often we run to "other lovers," he takes us back. He will never leave us. He will walk with us through the greatest pain of life. Make no mistake, when we turn our back on him and walk away, it pains him SO deeply. And there lies the reality that we have a God who can "sympathize with us in our weaknesses."

If you are reading this, my challenge to you and me, is that we would get a godly perspective on marriage. Commitment trumps feelings. Sacrifice trumps selfishness. Forgiveness trumps anger and bitterness. And humility is needed on the part of both, as we lay the one who knows us so deeply at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior.

Marriage is not easy... or so I hear. But I have high hopes when I finally find the love of my life. For now, I am learning to constantly surrender her to Jesus and become more like him.

Snow shoeing.

2009-01-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

I have lived in Colorado for nearly four years. The national stereotype of the Colorado population is that everyone who lives here skiis or takes part in some form or winter outdoor extreme sport. I had some aspirations when I moved here that I would become a skiier or a snowboarder or whatever else was available. However, after one skiing experience in my first year where I was taken down the mountain on a snowmobile because I thought I was going to DIE, I gave up hopes of becoming an olympic champion. Not to mention the fact that skiing requires A LOT of money!

I have taken much more to the summer activities of the mountains: whitewater rafting and hiking. This past weekend at a good friend's bachelor party near Copper Mountain, I realized that there was an equivalent to hiking... snow shoeing. If you are not familiar with what this entails let me just paint a picture. Imagine you have all the gear necessary for skiing on your body, minus the helmet, but instead of putting on skiis you wear what could loosely be described as "clown shoes." Yes, the snow shoes makes your feet at least four times the size that you are accustomed to working with. This is to ensure that you will not fall through the deep snow. In addition, there are metal "spikes/claws" on the bottom of the shoe to keep you from slipping, or to fight off a bear if so needed.

We began our hike up a four mile trail in these snow shoes and I quickly realized that I inappropriately attached them to my feet. I had to stop about four times before the shoes were attached adequately and would not fall off. Meanwhile, the largeness of the shoes was causing me to walk in a leaping fashion forcing me to use muscles that would usually lay dormant during such an endeavor. About halfway through the hike, a sharp pain developed in my lower regions because of the good, albeit strenuous exercise. As I climbed and climbed I felt more and more like I was dragging one leg to the finish line and I hadn't even been injured! By the grace of God I got to see the beauty of creation at the end and during the hike, and I made it back to the bottom.

What I realized in this experience, being the theologian/pastor that I am, is my ultimate depravity. In the midst of pain and hard work, the only thing I could think about was my pain. As the beauty of creation swirled around me and declared the glory of the Living God, all I could think about was myself and when the hike would end. We all have to confront our sinfulness every day, and perhaps God was teaching me a faith lesson through snow shoeing. In our daily lives, it is so easy to be caught up in the worries and stresses of life that we forget God is sovereign. God is bigger than any pain or strain or problem that comes our way. And living a life that is Christ centered requires us to be dependent on our Savior. I once heard a great definition of stress and worry from Francis Chan: When we get stressed out and worried we think we are more important than we actually are, and that God is not big enough to handle our problems.

So... I recommend the activity of snowshoeing to you. If may be painful but it will show us some great truths about life: our own depravity and the greatness of God. May you cling to the hand of your Savior today!

Knowing God.

2009-01-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I shared some thoughts on the sufficiency of Christ and his work on the cross. My mind has been running extra fast on theological thoughts because I am in the process of preparing my doctrinal statement for heavy scrutiny by the Denver Seminary faculty. While I think this process is good and extremely beneficial, it has also helped to uncover some spiritual things in my own life, particularly in the area of knowing God. Those of us that have attended seminary will inevitably at some point, go through a complex of thinking we know God better than those around us. I certainly have. Being able to parse Greek verbs and make long theological explanations to simple questions gives off an attitude of superiority. However, I would submit that wherever we are in our relationship with God… humility needs to be first and foremost. An so, God smackd me in the face as I meditated on a chapter of J.I. Packer’s “Knowing God” this morning. He asserts that despite all our knowledge about God, we may not actually know him as well as we think. Here are four tidbits from the chapter that show the evidence of knowing God…

1. Those who know God have great energy for God.

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus, do you have great energy to do his work? I’ll admit, there have been times in my life that I have felt like I had seemingly unending energy for the work of the Gospel. And there have been times when quite the opposite were true. But if we do not have energy to serve our Lord, how are others to see that we know him? Truly knowing God is seen when we expend every ounce of our energy serving him.

2. Those who know God have great thoughts of God.

Last week in the high school small group that I lead we took some time to pray and declare God’s greatness. This is a great way to start our prayers as we meditate on who our God is… but do those thoughts dominate our minds throughout the week? If we want to know God we need to allow all our thoughts to drift to our Great God.

3. Those who know God show great boldness for God.

This includes but is not limited to sharing our faith with those around us, even if it means rejection. Those who know God are not afraid to speak on his behalf and let that boldness be evident in their life. Maybe that happens at school, work, or in a family that doesn’t know the Lord. Maybe that boldness happens in how we handle our finances or our future. While the boldness can be manifested in many ways… it remains that if we know the Lord, we will not be afraid to admit it.

4. Those who know God have great contentment in God.

Hmmm… perhaps this is the most difficult one. I know in my own life I show little contentment. I am always looking to buy the next sleek technological device, or take a cool trip, or complain to God that I don’t have some of the things that I want. God’s answer most often to me is… MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. We often want more, but if we know God it will be seen in our contentment of him.

I would encourage your to meditate on Philippians 3:7-11.

Sufficient.

2009-01-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

Sufficiency. I want us to think about that word for a minute. What does it mean? It used to mean that something was "enough." However, our current American, indivualistic, bigger is better, I want just as much as the next person as skewed our understanding of the word. As a society we have lost sight of what it means to have enough, look at where we are in the economy. People weren't satisfied with a one bedroom condo, they need to have a three bedroom with a full basement ranch house even if it was out of there price range. We go out to eat a buffet style restaurants and each several plates when we can really only handle one. We will but the newest plasma screen HD TV even though our savings is running dry... but we have plenty of credit. We are more concerned with our outward appearance than our inward motivations.

Sadly, the church has come to mirror this cultural trend. As a body we are concerned with flashier Powerpoints, larger sanctuaries, and Starbucks style coffee areas. As individuals, we have bought into the world's sales pitch that if we only "do more" then God will accept us and reward us. But that is not the Gospel. That is a self-centered way of ensuring our place in heaven. Some might say "If I only do more, give more, sacrifice more then I will earn the right to be called a child of God." All those things are good, but our hope for the future rests of the sufficient work of Jesus on the cross. Nothing we have done or will ever do can earn God's love... it is a free gift that was given to us by the sacrifice of the our Savior. When he spoke the words "It is finished," it truly was done. Everything sin that we have committed in our life was paid for with Christ's blood.

When we think that we are more important than we actually are, Jesus whispers these words to us...

"My grace is sufficient for your, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

It is not our power, but his that will get us through the day. When we surrender to him and declare our dependence then Jesus and can truly guide us.

Jack Is Back.

2009-01-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

A new day, a new Bauer. That is the tagline for the new season of 24 that began last night. If you read my blog about "24 Redemption" back in November, you know that I am an avid 24 fan. In fact, I just completed my DVD collection of the first five seasons... so if anyone wants to borrow them I am willing to loan them out (Season six was the weakest and I am comfortable not owning that one)!

The new season looks very promising... from the first two hours. Much of what has come to be expected of 24 has been revamped. There is no longer a CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit), the show takes place in Washington DC (Not LA), and there are lots of new faces including a female President (Are they trying to predict the future again?). One thing that hasn't changed is that many people are still questioning Jack Bauer and not listening to his judgment calls. And, even though they won't say it, Jack is being employed by the FBI on a "provisional basis" for the day (hmmm.... sounds familiar). As always, the purpose of the day is for Jack Bauer to save the world from the bad guys.

I am excited for all the new changes, which most likely are in place to correct the short comings of season six (Not to mention the addition of Renee Walker who is totally cute and totally going to hook up with Jack!). It will be interesting to see how all the varying plot lines play out, but the first two hours have raised many questions that leave the viewer wanting more... I will be on my couch with Chinese food at 7:00 tonite and every Monday night from here until May.

One of the greatest strengths of 24 has been their ability to comment on and mirror current events. With torture a hot topic in the political realm these days, the show decides to open Season Seven with Jack at a Senate hearing for his use of Guantanamo tactics to obtain information. Later in the show Jack comments that two worlds have been created: "Our world, and the people we are trying to protect... we owe them the truth." This is why Jack Bauer is the most intriguing and honorable character on television and why so many people are drawn to him: he is a man of honor who we will always take at his word (something he doesn't give lightly). I recently read an article which Kiefer Sutherland (Now an exec. producer of the show) gave to TV Guide. In the interview he admitted that Season Six got "off the mark." But, he said that he "still believes in Jack Bauer." I think America, as many points of debate that come our way, is looking for a hero like Jack Bauer who loves his country and is willing to "adapt" to the changing times and do what is necessary to protect America.

Funny, but I think that Kiefer's sentiment is shared by those of us who are in ministry. The greatest task of the 21st Century Church is to adapt so that it can effectively minister in the new cultural surroundings. In addition, just as Bauer's line of work can get messy so can ministry. It is not always easy to to the right thing or the thing that the Lord is calling us to do, but it necessary. Sometimes people get hurt. Sometimes we make mistakes... but thank God for his GRACE! The tagline mentioned above was "A new day, a new Bauer." Through Jesus' forgiveness we are made new, despite our failings. As ministers we place our hope, not in Jack Bauer, but in the figure that he may symbolically represent, Jesus Christ. I will forever be amazed and grateful for what Jesus did on the cross. He did what it took to save us... he satisfied the wrath of God, took away our sin, defeated sin, hell, death, and Satan through his atoning work and made us new! Because of the cross we are secure and sure of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Jack Bauer may be a great hero... but Jesus is the ultimate hero.

Watch 24... and think about what Jesus did on the cross as you watch.

Death by Love.

2009-01-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

The latest book I have been delving into is Mark Driscoll's Death By Love. Let me commend this to you as an awesome read... go to the Westminster Online bookstore and BUY IT! www.wts.com. It is one of the most practical explanations I have ever read about the atonement. Reading through a few chapters I even wanted to accept Jesus again for the first time. Driscoll has the gift translating deep theological truths into solid life applications....

This book will certainly convict you of any sin you have in your life and make you think deeply about why and how Jesus died. Jesus took the wrath of God on himself and became our substitute. He conquered sin, death and Satan with a mighty blow and stands between us and them as our warrior savior. No matter how much anyone wrongs us, we must remember that Jesus is our New Covenant Sacrifice and satisfied the penalty for all our sins. If someone hurts us, they may deserve punishment... but Jesus already took the punishment and died a horrible death so we do not have to. By doing so he took away our sins and made us clean! Jesus is our Savior!

Too many times, whether we have a long past or not... we forget that we need Jesus. So many of us, including myself, create functional saviors in our lives... whether at that is TV, alcohol, friends, drugs, sex, money, work, etc. We allow things to come into our lives that will make us feel better, things that we think will "save us" from the problems that are in our lives. But the only true answer to those problems is Jesus. Let us get out of his way, stop trying to be the hero and let the one who can do it all take over. Look to the cross of Jesus.

Behind Closed Doors.

2009-01-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

I am always fascinated when I hear that a sports team has had a "closed door" meeting. In this case, "closed door" means that the media is not allowed in the clubhouse. Usually this occurs after a surprising loss or when it looks like the team is going in a wrong direction and probably won't make the playoffs. At the news conference after the "closed door" meeting the first question to the manager is something like "So what did you say to your team... joe, bob, wilt... whatever the coach's name is?" I get frustrated every time I hear a ridiculous reporter ask this assonine queston... because if the manager wanted you to know what he said he would have allowed you to come into the clubhouse in the first. In response to this absurdity the manager usually offers some standard response that generally revolves around what is going on. Or, if the manager has a lot of gusto he/she will respond like this: "That's between me and my team." Of course the reporter takes this response as a personal attack because he/she thinks they are entitled to know everything. The fact of the matter is that the manager gave the truthful answer, it was none of the reporter's business what he said and, thus, the reason the meeting was "closed door."

I have recently been thinking an awful lot about prayer lately and am challenged by Jesus' instructions on prayer in Matthew 6. This is the only place in the Bible where some actually teaches us how to pray. Jesus first tells us not to pray in public like the hypocrites who like to be seen. He goes on to tell us that when we pray, we need to go into our room and close the door (6:6). Before Jesus even teaches his disciples how to pray, he tells them WHERE they should pray. Why? Because Jesus is trying to get across the idea that prayer is a personal thing between us and God. The purpose of prayer is for us to connect in an intimate way with our Creator... the God who loves us. Prayer is a time for us to lay our hearts bare and share the deepest part of ourselves with our God.

However, so many of us (including myself) don't get this. We still come to God with our long list of needs and problems... expecting God to wave our magic wand and change everything. But that's not how it works. I absolutely believe that God will intercede on our behalf, but he is more concerned with his relationship to us. And if we are not concerned about our relationship with God... he will feel distant, the same way a relationship, friendship, or marriage can become distant when we do not spend time with the other person.

I think part of the reason we don't fully open up to God is that we like to think we can handle everything on our own. Tim Keller in his book The Prodigal God, said that is the essence of our sin. Sin is not about disobeying a list of rules, the bottom line of sin is that we want to be our own savior. When we are our own savior then we don't need God. When we don't need God the only alternative is for us to save ourselves... and I don't know about you but I don't trust myself that much. Jesus needs to be the hero of our story and he needs to save us from ourselves, as Mark Driscoll would say.

This is where prayer comes in. When we spend time with our Savior and Lord everyday... behind closed doors... we realize just how much we need him. The things we share with our God behind closed doors are things that we would not share with the public media. They are, as the manger with gusto would say, "Between us and our God." In this Jesus words ring true... when you pray go into your room, close the door, and get real with God.

WaWa.

2008-12-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

Those of you not from the NJ/PA area probably have not heard of a small convenience store called "WaWa." In fact, you probably just chuckled when I mentioned the name. Be quiet. Its true. I know the name sounds like something that babies say when they want a drink. But somewhere along the way an ambitious entrepreneur decided he/she would take the name and make a convenience store chain.

Now, for all you haters out there... I will defend the store despite its ridiculous name. And, for those who are not down with Northeast Culture (Josh... yes I named you), this is indeed a culture watch. Last night at 11:30pm a sharp pain arose from my stomach as I hungered for a late night snack. After moments of pondering what I should get a light bulb sprung to life in my head: SOFT PRETZELS! Yes, I love pretzels! And, again if you are not familiar with the northeast, particularly Philadelphia, the BEST soft pretzels are made here. Being based in the general Philadelphia area, WaWa has incredible soft pretzels. So I decided to take a ten minute drive into Red Bank, NJ (taking my life into my own hands) and procure a delicious soft pretzel. And no pretzel would be complete without a solid bottle of Snapple (made from the best stuff on earth). As I walked up to the counter, removed the plastic from my wallet and slid the magnetic strip through the machine, my mouth watered. I could not wait to get that salty, highly carbohydrated goodness into my mouth. I quickly ran to the car, started the engine (to keep me warm), ripped open the bag and savored what I had been anticipating.

WaWa was a huge part of my college career. 2:00 or 3:00am WaWa runs were common at Eastern University in PA and I made my fair share of trips, as evidenced by a slight (hehe) college weight gain. Whatever your feelings on the WaWa name or your experience at the store, I think you have to agree that the pretzels are... "A little slice of heaven." When I get to heaven, I think Jesus will be eating a pretzel from WaWa.

East Coast.

2008-12-19T18:57:00.000-08:00

It is 10:00pm on a rainy, cold and uneventful night in the central part of New Jersey. I am sitting at the lone Starbucks in a town of 70,000 people, wearing my NY Yankees beanie and sipping a, currently lukewarm, cup of Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. I know what you might be thinking right now... doesn't a 27 year old single guy with a gregarious personality and tons of energy have something better to do on a Friday night?? The truth is no. The close friends of my youth have fled to other, more exciting (seemingly), parts of the country. Diners, such as the newly redesigned Middletown Diner, are poised for business but the novelty of the 2:00am diner run fades away in the wake of my late 20s and the lack of companionship. The allure of an empty Starbucks, my Bible and a keyboard is more appealing. Its funny how that works sometimes? As much as I love being around people... sometimes space is required-to reflect on the relationships of the past.

In our current technologically revolutionized world it seems like we are never at a loss for "relationships." Social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook have redefined the way we are "plugged in." People can't go to sleep each day without checking "updated status" reports from their friends. Its funny, I thought that status reports were something Captain Kirk asked for after an attack from a Klingon vessel! Text messaging and mobile phones (notice I used "mobile" because I wanted to sound more British) have truly allowed people to have contact with people "24/7," while at the same time becoming the ultimate poster product of American Individualism. But as a friend of mine is quick to point out... are those really relationships?

This brings me to my "East Coast" title, because when I return to the East Coast I am reminded of the stereotypes: People are rude, overbearing, terrible drivers (my sister almost killed me 5 times while driving home from the airport), impatient, fast paced and work long hours. The cynic would say that the stereotypical East Coaster does not due relationships well. Some work til all hours of the night on Wall Street trying to make a ton of money in order to acquire "happiness." However, those of us who either grew up here or have spent some time know that those on the east coast are some of the most authentic people you will meet. They may "tell you like it is" but they also like to "take it like it is." Some of the most authentic and caring people are my friends from the east coast, who I know will always "have my back" (perhaps even Soprano style). Words from an east coast insider... the rest of the country gives the right coast a bad rap.

It is the relationships I made in New Jersey that brought to life the words of Hebrews 10-12. Church was about "spurring one another" to pursue Jesus and to "never give up meeting together." I've known a few people who deserve to be in the"hall of faith" and I felt like I was surrounded by the "cloud of witnesses." The race that I am now running is because of the relationships and the unbelievable examples of those who invested in me throughout my childhood and adolescent years--those who still love me with the love of Jesus. My friends from the east coast give meaning to the "fierce love" that Jesus has for his children. They may work hard and be rude sometimes, but no one will ever accuse an east coaster of being inauthentic or getting lazy when it comes to running of the race to pursue the "author and perfecter of our faith."

Much like the Yankees never lack in pursuing their free agent prize. Halla back C.C.!

AIRPORT.

2008-12-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

I did not get on a plane until I was 19 years old. Those who know me will not be surprised that during the flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco I was like a kind in a candy store. I got to look out the window and see the magnificent rays of the sun like I had never seen them before. As we soared through the black, dreary clouds that covered the Philadelphia Aiport and burst through them to see the sun, it was like being "born again." It was like seeing life with new eyes. As I looked down to the ground below and say the smallness of the streets and the lights of the population centers, I was so excited. I love flying. I love to "experience" new places. The flying experience is especially potent when I get to fly somewhere I have never been before. But even when I fly somewhere I have been, I still get exited. Why is that?

As I sit here in Denver International Airport, I am reminded of the experience every time I get to fly. I love to people watch, and there is not a better place to see lots of interesting people than at the airport. People in an airport have a certain rhythm to their lives. They all have some purpose, some place to go. The question I get to try to answer is, "Where are they going?" Because each person has a story.

The airport also gives me a purpose. I have a destination, some place I am trying to get to and I am the kind of person who likes to know where he is going. I hate being in limbo and wondering what will come next. BUT! That is the tension. I also enjoy the mystery of the journey. While airline travel does not have a ton of mystery, the unexpected is still possible. For example, my flight was delayed today. I didn't expect that to happen. The weather was beautiful this morning in Denver, but the flight was delayed. The unexpected makes life interesting. I also don't know who I will sit next to on this flight or what the conversation will bring. That is the mystery.

There is also something about being 35,000 feet over the earth and soaring through the clouds that feels adventurous. It feels exciting. When I look down on the middle of United States each time I take a trip from Denver to New York, I get to see the world's from God's perspective. He cares about each person on this earth and he sees each one of us simultaneously. He knows us very deeply. And, perhaps, that is why the airport is such a good example of the Christian life. As followers of Jesus we all have a destination, eternal life. But we will all meet new and exciting people along the way. We never know who we will meet, some will stay in our lives for a while, others may last a short time, and still others may be out of our sight as quickly as we said hello. The task, the purpose and the excitement of that journey is to live! To live with the purpose of showing the love that my God showed me when he shed his blood on calvary. To live with the intention of caring for people the way our Father cares for us. There is a great opportunity to do that in the airport.

I love adventure. I love journeys. I love new and exciting things... after all, I hate it when I am missing something. Life is too short. And I think that that is why I love flying. I want to see as much as I possibly can, to live as fully as I possibly can, and impact as many people as I possibly can before my Savior calls me home with him. The airport is a reminder of my mission. The airport is a reminder of why I live.

Redemption.

2008-11-24T10:10:00.001-08:00

NOTE: This is another culture watch but the title was too cool to pass up.

On Sunday November 23, 2008 I was one of the millions of fans to have their appetites satisfied. For a year and a half, amidst financial crises, Georgian invasions, international olympics, foreign wars, and uncertainty of the future Jack Bauer has been absent from our television screens. If you have never seen the blockbuster Fox televisions series "24" then you are truly missing out. The show occurs in real time (24 hours in a day) and Jack Bauer always manages to save the day just in the nick of time. He is promoted as the "savior" of America, a man who truly loves his country and will do whatever he has to to protect and save its citizens. If you are a bad guy... LOOK OUT!

I think the reason for America's fascination with 24 and Jack Bauer is that we see everything we want to be in him. We see courage, strength, no nonsense, and sacrifice. If I was ever in trouble I would want Jack Bauer at my side. He has the ear of presidents and is always willing to lay down his life for the greater good (Very utilitarian). This past Sunday's "Redemption" 2 hour movie event was no different (Warning! If you haven't seen it I will disclose some details). At the end of Season 6, perhaps the most disappointing in the series, we saw Jack sitting on the edge of cliff seemingly not knowing what would come next in his life. In "Redemption," we find out that Jack has been running all over the world trying to avoid a subpoena from the Senate where he will be questioned about his use of torture (If you have seen the show, you know torture is not something Jack shys away from). He is currently in Sangala, Africa staying with his friend from the marines "Benton," who runs a school for orphans.

Another major backdrop for the episode is the election of the first female president...hmmmm. Apparently 24 has to be first at everything (i.e. David Palmer, who has claimed he had a part in Barack Obama's election), is this a prediction for the future? She is about to be inaugurated and is undergoing the final stages of transition from President Noah Daniels (Who took over for Wayne Palmer last season). I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I found out that Daniels would not be on the show this season. He was easily to most idiotic, immoral, bigoted, annoying character that the show has concocted (Yes that is how I really feel). Meanwhile, back in Africa we learn that Sangala is about to undergo a political coup and all American citizens are being airlifted out. The new warlord wants to recruit new members for his army. So he heads right for Benton's school. In steps Jack, and in true Jack Bauer fashion he kicks some butt! Jack saves the children, gets them to the American embassy, and helps them be airlifted back to the US... but not with out cost.

Jack faces a choice in the final scene of "Redemption." The children can only go if he goes with them, AND if he goes with them that means losing his freedom. What do you think Jack does? Of course he sacrifices himself. As many times as Jack does this, for me it never gets old. The selflessness of Jack Bauer is something that I aspire to have... because it is what my savior did for me. Throughout the New Testament, the word "redemption" is pretty important. There are various Greek words used for "redemption" but they all have to do with the idea of "saving." If someone has lost their freedom and is on the verge of slavery, a third party can intervene and save them... in this case, Jack.

Jesus died on the cross so I can be redeemed. I was a slave to sin and lost my freedom, until Jesus laid down his life for me. When I watch 24 I see the Gospel in popular culture. No other character on television shows us the meaning of sacrifice as Jack Bauer. He is real. He undergoes pain. He makes difficult choices. More than that, he makes us feel the need for a Savior. In that respect, Jack Bauer shows my need for Jesus. I need a savior. I need someone who will redeem me. That someone is God in the flesh, our great God Jesus Christ.

It is good to have Jack back. But it is even better to have Jesus.

CULTURE WATCH!- "W." "Eagle Eye." "Quantum of Solace."

2008-11-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

As a student pastor I have come to realize that the impact of media on today's 21st century American landscape is enormous. Statistics tell us that youth culture, largely influenced by media, changes every six months, which means that if we do not keep up we will be outdated quickly. The amount of information out there can be intimidating, so I want to begin a segment of my blog devoted to something I am passionate about: the understanding of American popular culture. My hope is that parents, students, and anybody who chooses to read will gain a better understanding of what's out there and filter it through the eyes of faith. So... here is the first installment of "Culture Watch!" And it features the three latest movies I have seen...

"W."

Let me begin by saying that I am fascinated with George W. Bush. I know that can be an inflammatory statement in today's culture, and I do not deny that he has made many mistakes but I wonder if, underneath the media scrutiny, there lies a human being who really wants to do what is right for the country. That is what I took away from my viewing of "W." Those that go see the movie, I think, will view it through their own political lens and, inevitably, will each read political messages into the movie. However, I think the main thrust of the film is to show Bush as a human being with flaws and as someone who may have "missed his calling" (Take that as you will). The film traces his life from his fraternity days at Yale, his meeting of Laura at a family cookout, his first political races in Texas, his conversion to being "born again," running his father's campaign for president, and scenes from his own presidency.

I will say I enjoyed the movie. The strongest point was the acting performances. Literally I think Josh Brolin was more Bush than Bush himself. The other actors were equally as good. Based on that alone I think the film is worth seeing. However, if you are an avid Bush fan understand that most of the messages that come through will probably appear to be a reinforcement of the pop culture image of the President. He is presented as honest, but unintelligent. There is an underlying story about George W. and his father. Apparently everything Bush does is to please his father... including going to war in Iraq (Which is probably the most inflammatory story line of the film). Based on some other reviews I read, I would have to concur that it probably be better if this film came out in five years. If that were the case we would know the fuller extend of the Bush Administration's actions. As it is, the end of the film left me wanting more and that can only come with time. My overall recommendation is to see the movie. If you can go into the film with an open mind and an appreciation of the acting you will enjoy the film. If you go in hoping that the writing will vindicate the President, you will be disappointed. My hope is that you can do the former and enjoy the film.

"EAGLE EYE"

This was the typical action film. I enjoyed the movie while I was watching it but it is not one that I would purchase or even be disappointed if I did not see again. If you are looking for something to do on a Friday night and the movie is down that the dollar theatre, definitely go see it. If you want to wait until it comes out on DVD that would be fine too. I don't want to ruin the story line so I will only make a few general comments. Shia Lebouf is himself in the film: funny, high energy and fun to watch. I have only seen him in Transformers and Indian Jones so I have yet to determine whether he is an actor of some talent or simply an emerging pop icon. However, he is enjoyable. The story line, once all details are revealed, will feel like some you have seen before (In fact someone commented to me that if reminded them of an older movie they had seen). The movie is pretty clean except for some action violence and it will be pleasing for the average teenage movie watcher. If you are out of the teen years... it probably will not be your thing.

"QUANTUM OF SOLACE"

Okay... I will admit up front that I think Daniel Craig is the BEST James Bond I have ever experienced. For those readers who have an affinity for Sean Connery or Roger Moore I will respect your opinion. However, I am pleased with the more "Jason Bourne" direction the series is taking with the younger, more agile Craig. Indeed, this film is very action oriented and the car chases, fight scenes, and detective work done throughout the film is more like "The Bourne Ultimatum" than the typical Bond film. There is none of the archetypical, if cheesy Bond film lines (aka "Bond, James Bond"). There is, shockingly, little sexual activity throughout. Some can disagree with me but I thought, in comparison to other Bond spectacles, 007 gets far fewer girls than is his norm. Perhaps that is because he is still getting over his previous love interest from the first film.

Overall, this film is worth seeing. I mean, come one, its James Bond. While it is not quite as original and engaging as Casino Royale it serves its purpose. This movie is a bridge between the first and third movies of this new franchise with Craig. It ties up the loose ends of the characters from Casino and gives Bond the teeth he will need to sky rocket into his full on spy career. Go see it. And simply enjoy the explosions, unbelievable stunts, and, as always, Bond putting away the bad guys.

Modern Day Pirates?

2008-11-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know I have already made a post today but I feel that this subject must be raised if only briefly. Has anyone else heard about these ridiculous "Modern Day Pirates" that are making news off the Somalian coast? Apparently they have been stopping large oil tankers and holding them for ransom, even up to one million dollars!

I don't know about you but I when I hear about pirates I cannot shake images of Jack Sparrow and Captain James Hook from my mind. Is the Black Pearl sailing about in the Indian ocean stopping much larger ships with Exxon/Mobil labels on them? Which begs the question, where is Peter Pan and the Lost Boys when you need them?

Anyway... check it out on any news website and find out the latest news. In my view, if whatever these "pirates" are doing keeps gas under $2 a gallon they can keep right on doing it. ARRRRRRR!!!!!!

Check this link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122720952045945067.html

SURRENDER--God's desires for us

2008-11-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

Ok... so I have been a little lax on my blogging lately. This post is an attempt to catch up and send me running towards the finish line of the semester. It has been a busy three weeks so I will succinctly provide the highlights and thoughts I have experienced. Here goes...

SURRENDER That was the last topic in our Road Signs series. What I discovered as I prepared for that message was simply that I don't like to surrender. Many of us don't. We like to control our lives and have our plans for the future. But then situations come up that are out of our "control" and we have to surrender those things to God and trust that he knows what is best--as hard as that may be. The bottom line of that message was: "Divine direction begins with surrender." Until we decide we want to surrender our lives totally to God and allow his Holy Spirit to guide us--we are working against the one who wants what is best for us. If we, if I, want the direction of my Heavenly Father, I must surrender myself to him completely. Easy right? Yeah...

FRAILTY I was assigned Psalm 8 to preach in my homiletics class. Hadn't thought too much about the Psalm until this point... but it has some beautiful images and theology about our relationship with God. Let me offer three points about the Psalm. First, the use of God's name in the opening lines shows us that God is a God who wants to be known publicly. The Psalmist cries out "O LORD, our Lord How majestic is your name in all the earth!" This is a prayer to YAHWEH God declaring how amazing he is and thanking him for making himself known to us through his name. No longer is he a God who sits high above in the heavens apart from his creation. NO! He is a God who has revealed himself to his creation and who wants a relationship with him. Second, the next few verses shows a contrast between to smallness of man and the big, creative power of God. I love this contrast because I can picture David standing outside on a starry night, marveling at the creative power of God. So David pens the line "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him." The Hebrew word used in that line reinforces the idea that human beings are frail and weak in comparison to our God. Indeed, I think the psalm is reminding us that we need to surrender to God because he is strong and he desires that we are dependent upon him. How convicting. As I look to the future and think about all the plans God has for each one of us... I think his desire is that we constantly depend on him and seek him in everything we say and do. How is that for surrender? Third, the end of the Psalm indicates that God wants to use us to impact the world. He has given us "dominion," over the earth... but that power and authority comes from God himself. He has put his "image" in us and when people see us he wants them to see him. God did not just save us for the sake of saving us... he saved us so that we can live with his purposes in mind and reveal himself to a dead and dying world. Wow! That is amazing. We must surrender to him so that he can use us.

A "POOR" STORY Last weekend we took 70 leaders and students and immersed them in the heart of the city of Denver. This was our "XA" weekend and our theme was "Love the city." We did that. I was amazed at how our students will rise to a challenge when it is presented to them. Some spent three hours with homeless people at a coffee shop or handing out food on a Saturday morning. Some spent hours building a wheelchair ramp, moving garbage, and "roto tilling" a front yard in the one of the poorest sections of Denver, and some even spent an entire morning with some troubled kids from a transitional housing community. It was an awesome weekend and I know lives were changed. Each time I go into the city I feel God's heart for the poor. It is humbling. And it brings me back to the idea of surrender and the main themes in Psalm 8. We are frail and weak. I see that in the faces of the poor and homeless people we encountered last weekend. When someone has to wake up at 5:00am because they are freezing and have to get in line at the soup kitchen, you realize how little power you have in life. Most homeless people never thought they would be in the situations they are in... but then something happened. Something unexpected. It could happen to any one of us. And if it does, to where will we look for our strength? I can think of no better verse that Psalm 121... "I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from YAHWEH GOD the maker of heaven and earth." If I am ever in a situation like some of the people I met, I pray that Psalm 121 would be my life verse.

All that said, it has been a moving three weeks. God has been good and I think his message to me and to the church in the United States is this--DEPEND ON ME. TRUST ME. SEEK ME. No matter where you are in life Jesus is calling to us and reaching out his hand. He loves us. He cares for us even though he does not have to. Some of us have gone through tremendous amount of pain in our lives. As when those situations and emotions rise up within us we have a choice: trust in ourselves or trust in God. I hope that we realize how big our God is and how much he cares for us, how much he wants to heal us. I hope that we surrender to him everything we have. It is only when we surrender to him and trust in him that he can fully use us.

If this presidential election has taught us anything it is that people are longing for a life change and for hope. My prayer is that we would find those things in Jesus--the one who can truly fulfill us and sustain us. He is the God who created the world, who delivered his people from slavery, who constantly calls us back to repentance, who sent his Son in the flesh to die a brutal death for us, who rose from the grave and conquered Satan and death, who is at work in this world, and who is coming again! He says "Surrender! Trust in me! Depend on me! Because I care and I know what is best." That is the God we serve.

XA--Love The City

2008-11-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

I know I have got a little behind on my blog posts... I will do one by the end of this weekend. But I want to write this short note to ask that you pray for our "XA" weekend. "XA" stands for Christ First. This year we will be working with various organizations in downtown Denver to help the poor and hurting. We have a good number of students coming and our prayer is that they would get out of their comfort zones and become the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need it most. Thanks for your prayers. Pray for protection and that the Holy Spirit would move on the hearts of all our students. May the name of JESUS be made great!

O LORD our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8)

VISION. (Road Signs Part 2)

2008-10-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

Last week I made my first post about the Road Signs series we are doing as a youth group. I had the opportunity to talk about the path principle, which is simply this: Our direction determines our destination. In pondering, praying, and pontificating on this topic a single word came into my mind over and over again: VISION. I think the reason that I and so many other people in life get on the wrong road, or miss a road sign, is because we forget about our vision--or we simply do not have a vision at all.

Andy Stanley defined vision like this: "Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be." This is from his book Visioneering which you all should read if you have not. This principle applies to businesses, families, personal goals, and especially our Christian lives. In order to live and grow in a certain direction we have to have vision. We have to constantly ask ourselves--what is the vision that God has given me for life? We should spend all our energy finding that vision--and then NEVER forget it.

Stanley outlines two main points that every vision should have. First, the vision should come from a deep conviction. This conviction is birthed from our dissatisfaction with something and a desire to see it changed. Second, the vision should line up with what God is doing in the world. One of my friends would term it like this: "We need to connect with the movement of God." What is God doing in our community, in our family, in our hearts and where do we need to jump on board?

The main point in our Road Signs message this week is "when you see a warning sign, turn around." I think this principal is inherently linked with our own personal vision that comes from God. If we don't have a conviction about what God is doing in our lives, how will we ever know if we are going the wrong way? If we have not studied the Scriptures deeply and learned to love them, how will we ever know God's heart for the world in which we live--not to mention his personal plan for each of us? If we have not been driven to our knees by what God did for us on the cross--how will we ever change the world for Jesus? These are questions we must ask ourselves if we really want to align ourselves with God's vision, God's purpose for the world in which we live.

Too many of us go through life lacking a vision--missing the road signs that God puts in front of us. I see so many students walk through life simply wanting to have "fun." Don't get me wrong--I'm all for fun, we need to laugh and connect with people--that is part of God's plan. HOWEVER, when our desire to have fun becomes our vision we will never get anywhere in life. And, sadly, we will never do anything really great for God. Too many of us, myself included, have wasted portions of our lives because we have not pursued our vision. Or, maybe we have a vision but we have ignored the warning signs that popped up when we walked down the wrong path.

I don't know about you--but I don't want to waste my life. I don't want to want to wake up when I am 65 and getting ready to retire and ask the question: "What have I been doing with my life?" I want to come before my God and have him say "well done." Our path, our direction is different for each of us. To discover that path we need vision--a vision that comes from our great God. Don't waste your life. Discover God's vision for you. If you see a warning sign, turn around and head back to the path--because the great thing about our God is that he is a God of Mercy and Grace. Even that truth should shape our vision.

Our direction--our vision--determines our destination.

THE STARBUCKS EXPERIENCE--Some comments on loving God and loving People

2008-10-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

I have worked at Starbucks for almost 3 1/2 years. In that time I have done things I never thought I would do. First--I now regularly wake up at 3:45am to go to work (An hour so ungodly--I question why the good Lord created it). Second--I have learned a new "language" which centers around coffee. Third--I actually like coffee! It was not too long ago that I actually detested the taste of it.

For all those things I thought I would never do, I have had the opportunity to do some things that have improved my ministry. First, I have learned to love people. Now... let me say that loving people is not always easy. When people walk in the doors at 8:59pm and we close at 9:00pm, I find it very difficult to love them. When I am cleaning various parts of the store to get ready for us to close, it is hard for me to love people. When customers complain about a tiny little bit of foam on their "Grande No Foam Latte"--it is hard to love people.

But I have met so many people at Starbucks and it has taught me to appreciate the creativeness of our God. I work with people from all walks of life--Christians and Non-Christians--and I believe that God loves everyone of us and he died for every single one of us. We all need Jesus because we are fallen and broken.

I have a friend who has taught me a great deal about loving people through his actions. I have learned so much from his generosity--whether is is getting donuts for strangers in the morning, remembering people's names, or going out of his way to correct something that he said. His passion for people is contagious and inspiring. And it is those little things that go a long way towards loving people and showing the heart of our God.

Starbucks seeks to connect with people over coffee. A few months ago Starbucks decided to close down all their stores in the US. They did this because they wanted to refocus their employees on the reason they exist as a company--to connect with people and serve great coffee. During this meeting my manager quoted Walt Disney's philosophy of growth-- "No matter how big we get, it all began with a mouse." Being the pastor that I am, I could not help but notice the parallel for ministry. Because the truth is no matter how big we get as a church, in our career--no matter how busy we are it all began with Jesus. And Jesus loves people. All people. Through my experience at Starbucks I have continued to learn that no matter what I am doing in life--nothing is more important than loving the people whom God brings into my life--and showing everyone the love that My God had for me.

"It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'"--Some thoughts on humility and unleashing the church

2008-10-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

Last Friday morning, as I do most Friday mornings, I got to sleep in. The week had been exhausting. I was up late three or four nights in a row, but I had made the promise to myself that I would go back to the gym this morning. 6:00am rolled around and my alarm started blaring--it was time to wake up and go work out. Now, I don't know about most people--but I like to institute what I call the "snooze and snore" maneuver. Whenever my alarm goes off in the morning I hit the snooze button twice...okay three...alright four times! I'll admit it, I like sleep. I will delay the waking up process as long as I possibly can so that I can get a few more minutes of shut eye sprawled out on my bed. And, as happened for many Fridays previous, I did not go to the gym. Instead, a thought shocked my brain like a bolt of lightning--I had not finished my message for Sunday! I had been thinking about it all week, praying about it, even daydreaming about it in all my seminary classes but I had not finished. I realized that it was Friday... and Sunday was coming!

Some of you may recognize that line, which was made famous by Tony Campolo. Tony, a born and bred Philadelphia Italian with the spit and passion to prove it, is one of the most sought after speakers in the Evangelical Christian world. I had the opportunity of attending Eastern University where Tony taught and heard him speak often. Since I graduated from Eastern I have not heard Tony speak... until yesterday when he came to Denver Seminary's chapel. I was reminded of what a good speaker he is. I want to highlight two points that I walked away with from chapel yesterday...

1. HUMILITY Tony eloquently talked about the idea of "power and authority" throughout his message. Power, he said, is something that most people seek in this world. People love to have lots of money and wear two bluetooths in their ears to prove that they are important. So many people think that the world revolves around them. Sadly, the church thinks this same way. We think that if we have a lot of money, big buildings, thousands of people in attendance, then we are important and are really making an impact for God and his kingdom. When those things happen--we may have power, but not necessarily authority. Authority only comes when we prove that we are humble enough to realize that God's kingdom is bigger than us and our egos. Authority comes when we have humbly walked to the walk, not just talked the talk. As the old the saying goes--"We have to earn the right to be heard."

Those who know me best know that I have an issue with this. I feel the need to always tell people my schedule and how busy I am. This has been convicting to me of late--because the world does not revolve around me. I am not that important. And while I may have some kind of "power" by the positions and achievements that I hold--my authority only comes from God the Father Almighty. It is through his grace that I have what I have and by his sacrifice that I have life. This thought should drive us to our knees every day as we humbly depend upon our God.

2. UNLEASHING THE CHURCH You will never hear a time that Tony speaks when he does not mention the poor. He is passionate about Christians going into the darkest places of this world to reach the outcasts and make a difference for the Kingdom of God. As Tony spoke about these things this time--I was reminded of the book and philosophy made popular by Frank Tillapaugh "The Church Unleashed"--(Originally "Unleashing the Church"). The crux behind this philosophy is that the church needs to get outside it walls and make an impact on the city in which it ministers--to all the outcasts that the people of "power" neglect. I have heard sermons recently and over the years that have communicated the need for Christians to minister in the "darkest places." In response, I say that those of us who minister in the suburbs, the privileged middle class, need to get unleashed and start serving in the darkest places. I feel that one of my callings as a pastor is to mobilize and equip the suburban church to minister in the urban community. This is Tony's challenge as well, which is relevant and convicting to all.

As he finished up with power and authority, it seemed appropriate when he used the illustration of the current Wall Street situation. All the people of power are freaking out because they realize their power is found in their money. But if we are followers of Jesus Christ--our power is in our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He is still on his throne and everything we have is because of him. Sometimes it may feel like we are in bed on a Friday and we are panicked with the things of this world. But Sunday's coming--and while I may have been a little concerned about my message on that Friday, Sunday was a great day of celebrating our God. He is the one who has saved us, redeemed us, changed us--he is the one who has come... AND HE'S COMING AGAIN! Wherever you are--HOPE in the truth of the Lord Jesus. It may be Friday--but Sunday's coming!

Your Direction Determines Your Destination: Thoughts on Road Signs

2008-10-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Driving can sometimes be a challenge for me. Have you ever gone the wrong way down a one-way street? Have you ever been driving on the interstate and gotten off at the wrong exit because you "accidentally" were in the wrong lane? Or better yet, have you "misread" a sign and started going the wrong way on the highway... only to realize a few hours later that you were not where you should be? All of those scenarios have happened to me.

If you are a little younger and cannot drive, maybe you have seen your parents do those things. But more likely you have gone into the wrong restroom (men to women and women to men), gone the wrong way around the bases, walked into the wrong classroom in the middle of a lecture, or said hi to someone you thought was someone else because they look familiar. Again, all have happened to me :).

In all of these scenarios it seems that things happen unintentionally. After all, I don't think that I intentionally tried to kill the people in my car by going the wrong way on a one way street, or waste people's time by driving the our of our way for three hours. There have been times when I have not intended to hurt someone emotionally... but I did. I have ended relationships with people. I have had relationships end with me. And my favorite line when that happens is "I did not mean to hurt you." Let me just camp here for a second. Of course we did not mean to hurt each other. No one goes into a relationship and says "Hmmmm... I wonder how deep I can wound this person." It is not our intention, but because we take a risk sometimes it can happen. If we choose to take a certain direction in a relationship there is chance, a risk that someone will get hurt. There is also a chance that the direction we take could lead to something greater.

Intentions are all well and good, but if our intentions do not lead to actions then they are meaningless. Here is the thing that I have learned and that we all have to learn in life: Our direction, not our intention, determines our destination. That is the theme of a new series I am teaching called "Road Signs."

As I am getting a little older, I have begun reflecting on that idea. I look back over my life and realize that all the decisions that I made in my life have been a direction that eventually led to a destination. I chose to go to certain college, which led to the next stage of life. I chose to move to Colorado from New Jersey to go to Seminary which was a major directional change. All the decisions that I have made in the past and will make in the future are directions that will lead to destinations. The question to ask ourselves is twofold: "Where do we desire to be... and is it in line with God's vision for us?"

As a student pastor I have seen so many young men and women make poor decisions. It is the plight of all student pastors... I am sure mine thought the same about me. We often make decisions based on our desires, but we never stop to ask ourselves if those desires line up with God's vision for us. It is often like a really scary movie, you see the young protagonist enter the dark house late at night and all you want to do is yell "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" Proverbs chapter seven talks about this idea. We see a young man making some very poor decisions in life and an older man is watching and shaking his head. The older man knows these mistakes because he has already made them in life. So he cries out to the young man "keep my words, and treasure up my commandments with you." Why? Because he knows that it is like and he does not want the young man to go through the same pain he went through. He does not want him to misread or disregard the road sign and wind up on a direction that will lead to a poor destination. I think this is the same way that God looks at us as he sees our hearts and our actions.

Our direction, not our intention, leads to our destination. I have found that to be so true in life. I don't know about you but want my direction to be God honoring and guided by prayer. As I think about this principal I realize how much I need to be on my knees every single day crying out for God's guidance because only he can help us determine the correct direction for our life. And if we take a detour... he offers grace and guides us back to the highway. But it is not his desire that we stray from the path he has laid before us. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. (12:1-2)."

My hope is that we all would look for the Road Signs in our lives. Run the race, but make use the cloud of witnesses who care about you and always look to Jesus. Heed the "caution" signs, t stop at the red lights and stop signs, dive headfirst into the green lights, and ultimately continually "Yield" to the direction that God is putting us on. Our direction, not our intention, leads to our destination.

Spiritual Implications of A Boston Red Sox Defeat

2008-10-22T21:28:00.001-07:00

This is may seem like a ridiculous topic to blog about, and it is, but I feel I need to comment. Those of you who know me best are aware that I hate the Boston Red Sox. I hate the Red Sox so much that I would be satisfied if they lost every game for the rest of their existence as an organization! Harsh I know, but this is how I am aware that I hate the Red Sox so much. The other night the Tampa Bay Rays were on the verge of allowing the Red Sox to come back from 3-1 series deficit (not the first time the Red Sox have done this). It brought back haunting memories to the worst year in New York Yankees recent history--2004 when the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead. As the Red Sox lost to the Rays--even though the Yankees did not make the playoffs--I felt like the year was a success.

A recent issue of USA Today showed ran a story about a Boston Red Sox fan who used to root for the Yankees. He had moved to Boston and became a die-hard Red Sox fan. His comment to the paper was "The Red Sox grow on you." I cannot think of a more heretical statement that could be uttered by a Yankees fan. Scores of stories from church history ran through my mind as I thought that this man was a worse than Pelagius, Arius, perhaps even some of our neo-orthodox brothers. A visceral reaction rose up in my bones as I heard this statement... it was then that I realized how much I hated the Red Sox. I felt betrayed by this young man. And being the Calvinist that I am I questioned whether he was ever a Yankees fan in the first place! The Arminian perspective may have allowed for more grace in this young man's changing allegiance.

The whole story reminded me of the Church at Laodecia in Revelation 3. The Christians there were criticized for being lukewarm and falling away from Christ. I offer this young man from Boston as an example of a lukewarm Yankees fan who should be ashamed of himself. Folks, whatever team you root for... never. never. never give in to lukewarm cheering! We cannot lose our valuable faithful to our arch rivals. I hope and pray that the Boston Red Sox loss in this year's playoffs will begin a revival of the Yankee faithful to win more souls to our cause. We cannot be lukewarm... the souls of many depend upon it!

Running Towards The Fray

2008-10-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember when The Fray got really big like two or three years ago? I think it was impossible for me to go into a diner, drive in my car, step into a Starbucks, walk out on the street, enjoy a Rockies game without hearing that familiar beat and vocals to "How to Save a Life." NO ONE could get away from the Fray. They were everywhere.

Over the last few days I have been thinking about the fray... not the band, but what it means to be in the fray of life. The messiness of life that will always be there. As I get older I realize that life can throw some curveballs at you. Things you thought were going to happen, don't. Challenges that your thought would never come your way, do. And sometimes you are left crying our to God for guidance but left wondering what to do. Sometimes others are telling you these same thoughts from their lives and you try to offer guidance. The uncertainties and messiness of life is the fray.

I was reading a book at a Starbucks the other day and it used the phrase, "We must start running towards the fray." I was a little taken back because for the last few years I have been trying to run away from the Fray. This author was speaking specifically to followers of Jesus Christ. As we minister in life, we need to run towards the fray. We need to get into the messiness of people's lives and show them God for who he really is: the God who saves, loves, redeems, transforms, is all-powerful, is all knowing, gives freedom, and is the great God of the universe. We must run towards the fray because too many people run away from it. Too many people are scared of getting involved in people's lives. We need more people like David, who was not afraid to run towards Goliath with power that comes from God Almighty.

Part of the reason I don't run towards the fray of life is that I don't like letting go of the things that I am attached to. I don't want to risk losing my security and worth. I like the relationships that I have, I like the TV shows that I watch, I like my paycheck, I like living the way that I like to live... I am attached to things and I need to let go of them so God can use me in more powerful ways. I was reading another book when I realized that this life is not all about me--it is about allowing the living God to be glorified through me. So often I get caught up in the things that I am doing and am attached too that I forget God has a bigger plan for me. God wants all of us to take the risk of running towards the fray of our lives with his power and let him show up. Because when he does amazing things will happen.

I don't know specifically what it means for you to run towards the fray. I don't know what you are attached to. Maybe it has to deal with a relationship, or a vision for your life, or how you use your resources. Whatever it is, may you run towards the fray of life, get in the messiness and let God be God. Un-attach yourself for the things of this life and attach yourself to the God of the universe who can carry you through any issue that comes about in your life. Change the world by being used of God. Run towards the fray.

Are you ready for this?

2008-10-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have never blogged before in my life. Actually, when I first that people were starting this new thing called "blogging," I thought it was synonomous with an upset stomach and something in the toilet that looked like old chinese food (see what you do with that image!). So when it was suggested that I start a blog a few weeks ago (when it was created for me), I wasn't initially on board full swing (As evidence by my lack of posts in the last few weeks). However, its time to to get going... and those who know me well know that reading my blog will be like a Seinfeld quote- "I never know what to expect, and I'm real scared (Jerry to George)."

In fact, as you read this blog it might not always make sense, you might get visions of George Costanza dancing in your head, you will probably find lots of quotes from current TV Shows and Movies, I may forget to clarify an inside joke, or something else that I am not thinking about at this moment. But I hope that at some point, as I dump out the many thing that go through my mind, you find some hope and encouragement for life an that you see a passion for the God that I love and the kingdom that I live in. Because, as many know- I do love my life!

2:00 AM at the Diner is a reference to a childhood passion of mine. I grew up in New Jersey, and when you grow up there you cannot help but get captured by the diner culture. I chose 2:00 AM because that is time when the best conversations happen and breakfast never tasted so good. Join me at 2:00 AM--and may you be part of the adventure!