DS3 Blogging

Something is broken

A few weeks ago, as I was cleaning the kitchen, I accidentally broke my roommate's mug. It wasn't his favorite mug, but it will be missed. Obviously, I promised to replace it. To remind myself of what it looked like, I saved a couple of large pieces. They are sitting on a counter in our kitchen as I type this post. Those broken pieces have me thinking about the lives we lead. 

Truth be told, something is broken in each of us right? Sometimes, things brake by accident. Sometimes it is the intentional act of another that causes brokenness. And possibly most often (but least admitted), we brake ourselves. Regardless of how, who, or when, we are all broken on some level. And we need spaces where we can confidently express our brokenness without fear of rejection. But...

Admitting our brokenness does not heal our brokenness. We often say, 'just talking about it makes me feel better.' Maybe so. But at this moment, as I talk about my roommate's broken mug, it does not all of a sudden produce a new one. There is still a broken mug on our counter and that needs to change. 

It is one thing to admit brokenness, it is another thing to revel in it. 

It is one thing to admit brokenness, it is another thing to justify it. 

It is one thing to admit brokenness, it is another thing to get used to it.

We were not designed to live consistently broken. Over time everything good in us leaks out. Pretty soon people we encounter will get hurt by the slightest touch. And eventually, we will forget that although we are intrinsically valuable, we are also on the planet to serve a higher purpose. Brokenness, even admitted brokenness, must give way to healing and restoration.

There are very few people in my world who have a hard time admitting their brokenness. Most of them update their fb statuses with the evidence everyday. But it is a short list of people in my world who are willing to move from admitting it to dealing with it. 

Yes, someting is broken in each one of us. But we do not have to stay that way. 

 

 

The Why behind the what...

I am beginning to feel the changes that have already begun as far as my job and my calling. The pull to be on campuses and reach young adults that are not connected to the local church has never been stronger. I am both excited and anxious about the future...trusting that Jesus is leading me every step of the way.

There is a long journey ahead. I am determined to finish my time as a staff member at CRC well. The next few months are packed with trips, opportunities, planning, study, rest, and more. And we will be raising money for the new ministry, primarily through the 218 Campaign, through the rest of the summer. I have already had moments where I wondered if I was the right guy for the task set before me. 

Sometimes, when we are so focused on the 'what', we need to be re-inspired by the 'why'. This clip by Nathan Chud always reminds me of why I am still in ministry to young adults, particularly those on campus. It is the why behind the what...

 

What's your 'why'? Why would you continue to push towards a specific goal? Knowing the 'why' makes all the difference when that 'what' seems distant. 

Why the 218 Campaign?

I am spending a great deal of time telling people about the 218 Campaign. This is our first effort at raising funds for the new ministry to college-aged young adults that is starting this fall. Every donation we've received so far has a story. And it is not just 'real' adults who are contributing. Our community of college students and young adults gave over $3700 during the last two weeks of March to get the campaign started.

One of the young adults who gave $218 to the dream of reaching the 250,000+ young adults in Northeast Florida emailed me to tell me why. 

It’s easy to make yourself a part of something just because deep down you fill it will fulfill you, but for me choosing to partner with 218 Campaign had nothing to do with bettering myself. It all falls back to what we really find is important in our life and how we can pursue that more than anything else. Are my time and possessions so precious that I can’t spend them on someone else for their sake? I chose to partner with the 218 Campaign because I feel this is an opportunity for someone else to benefit from my investment.

God has brought many things into my life this past year, including new friends, college ministry and a desire to seek more than just comfort in my life. Of all the things He has brought me, I would have never expected him to give me an opportunity to do exactly what many people have been doing for me;to provide college students a chance to not just experience but lean into God’s love. If there is one thing that I have learned from college ministries like ACCESS218 and UNF Community Night, it’s that if we let go of the imperfections of the world and lean into God’s perfection, our needs become clear. We need Jesus as much as, if not more than, children need their parents. Thanks to college ministries I have found a God-shaped peace in my life, and it is my hope that others may have that opportunity too. No matter how big or small the 218 Campaign grows in its movement, it will give college students the opportunity to see God’s love in action, which is something I know is worth my time and possessions.

This is why I am happy to talk about the 218 Campaign. Would you consider joining us? Go to www.218campaign.com for more info.

Jackets and Seasons

This year, I wore a jacket on Easter Sunday. I wore it because I like jackets...I am most comfortable and confident wearing them. Even though it is getting warmer in Jacksonville, I like to continue wearing jackets as a way of somewhat fooling myself that it is still cool enough for them. 

So I was ready and excited to sport my jacket...until 9am. It was so hot by that point that I almost regretted my decision. The only thing that kept my jacket on was, again, the fact that I felt comfortable and confident wearing it. Even though I was overheated most of the morning, I refused to take it off (except for the few moments I spent teaching the Bible to the kids). I was bound and determined to keep that jacket on and I was gonna love my life in the process. 

The older I get, the less I enjoy the warm weather. I have fallen in love with colder temperatures. I do not want the season to change yet. So I'll keep wearing my jackets and ruining my undershirts from the sweat stains in the process. Let me say it again...I AM NOT READY FOR THE SEASONS TO CHANGE.

In John 20, Mary encounters the risen Jesus after a couple of days of unimaginable torment. She watched Him die, and now she sees Him again. Hope which was lost is now standing in front of her. It would be a normal reaction to want to reach out and touch Him. And His response to her is, "Do not cling to Me..." I wonder if Jesus is saying to her in effect, "the seasons are changing Mary. You can no longer interact with me the way you used to...but trust Me, this new way will be even better."

The only thing worse than wearing a jacket in 80 degree weather is realizing that I have convinced myself that it is okay. Somehow, I believe inside my head that it is okay to think it is still winter when it is the middle of spring. If only this were the only area of my life where I have a hard time transitioning into a new season. I so desperately want to cling to the temperatures that I am most comfortable with. But the seasons do not wait for me when it comes to changing. They do not wait for anyone...

With the Resurrection of Jesus Christ comes this reality...EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE. It is true that wherever the Spirit of Jesus is, bondage must give way to freedom, brokenness must submit to wholeness, sin is overcome by love and grace, and death is swallowed up by new life. Crazy to think that we would hold on to the old way of relating to God and living our lives. But we do. We blame the seasons for changing or worse, God for allowing the seasons to change. But still, the seasons change...whether we like it or not.

This is true for me...the season has changed. And I mean past tense. It changed a while ago, and I need the courage to take off the jacket of false comfort and fake confidence. Things will be better if I submit...not to the season, but to the God of the seasons. What about you? Are you paying attention to the season you are in or hoping that sweaty jackets will become the trend?

It is going to be 86 degrees in Jacksonville on Easter Monday. My jacket is irrelevant.

For the City

So on Saturday, I watched a strong TED conference talk by Dave Meslin. He talks about 7 barriers that keep people from being involved in their communities, specifically local politics. It was such an inspiring talk that intended to tweet it this week. 

Then, on Sunday, I read Abel Harding's blog post on my city's desperate need for new leadership, especially when it comes to the future of downtown Jacksonville. Abel draws inspiration from the players and events that followed the Great Fire of 1901. Reading his post (combined with yesterday's TED talk), I am personally bothered (in a good way) with the current and future story that is unfolding in Northeast Florida. And further more, how that story fits into the greater story of God's kingdom.

God says to an exiled people through His prophet Jeremiah, "...seek the welfare of the city...and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7). What if this is also what He is saying to the Christ-followers of Jacksonville? 

We have tons of churches in Northeast Florida...and new ones are planted every year. This is a good thing. But I wonder what would happen if we prayed for more men and women who would seek the welfare and prosperity of this city, for the ultimate glory of Jesus? New leaders and laborers who would build up the ancient ruins and be restorers of streets to dwell in (Isaiah 61)? I wonder what God would say to that kind of prayer?

CRC's 15th Anniversary

Today was CrossRoad Church's 15th Anniversary. Hard to believe that almost 15 years ago, I was a part of the worship team for the very first service of a United Methodist Church plant in the Baymeadows area. I had no intentions of living my home church, no intentions of working at another church and definitely no plans to communicate God's word and lead His people as a vocation. It is amazing what can happen in 15 years.

 

I have spent the better part of half my life serving the CRC community. And as I talked to kids this morning about the humility of Jesus, I realized that I was serving CRC's future. So humbling to be a part of a great congregation for so long. 

We sang a old favorite this morning, "I Will Never Be"  One line struck me in a brand new way: "There are higher heights, there are deeper seas. Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me." I realized that this was my prayer some 15 years ago, and it has fresh meaning as a I head into a new season of ministry. 

I'm so thankful that God led me to CrossRoad. So much of who I am is because of the love, life and lessons I've learned among those great people. I am looking forward to what the next 15 years will bring (and I'll be 45 and still look like I'm in my twenties!)

True Justice

By the time we get to 2 Samuel 12, King David has broken 3 commandments (adultery, covet, and murder). The prophet Nathan is sent by the Lord to confront David. He then tells David a story that he knows will appeal to his sense of fairness and desire to see justice executed for all in his kingdom. It works. David wants the bad guy killed and the good guy avenged. Nathan then reveals that David indeed is the bad guy.

Of many lessons in this story, one that may be missed is every just person is capable of their share of injustice. This is important. When we hear stories of racism, violence and fraud, most will say to themselves, 'I would never do something like that'. Truth is, given the same upbringing, stresses, frustrations and options (or lack thereof) you probably would do the same thing.  

There are people out there who give tons of money to homeless shelters and unfairly pay their workers low wages.

There are people out there who fight for civil rights and then commit domestic violence. 

There are people out there who blow the whistle on child abuse and are also a tad racist. 

The story of Nathan rebuking David says to a modern world, it is not enough to be willing to stand up and fight for justice. Justice must permeate every relationship and every action. Otherwise, we will end up defending small sheep and leaving dead soldiers unavenged. 

This Moment

Temptation convinces us that this moment doesn't matter. It suggests that what we do after hours is no one else's concern. It makes our lives and perspectives small. When we give in to temptation, we prove that we are not strong enough for anything more than what we have.

Grace says, 'every moment counts and can lead to something greater'. Grace seeks to make our lives and perspectives bigger. It gives us the ability to contain more. 

David obviously did not think that sleeping with Bathsheba would matter. But it did. Later in 2 Samuel 12, God will say (through the prophet Nathan) that David despised (thought lightly of) Him and His Word. David's actions will also make it easier for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme Him. I am not sure David meant to do all of this when he invited Uriah's wife to his room. This moment counted more than he could have known.

We will all be faced with temptations this week and next. We will all be tempted to believe this look and that comment do not matter in the long run. Unfortunately, none of us are smart enough to know for sure on this side of the moment. I am not convinced it is even worth the gamble.

What if we assumed that every moment counted? What if we allowed grace to consistently enlarge our lives so that temptations seemed puny compared to what could be ours in the future?

Investing in a dream...

This weekend, we have the chance to invest in the dreams of some really special guys in Angola. Here's an excerpt from a recent Reclaim Gathering blog post:

Salvador, George, Tony, Gomez and Carlos have risen up as leaders among the boys.  They are hard workers and contribute to the needs of Quessua, a UMC center for education and religious study.  They regularly make personal sacrifices in order to lead, encourage and instruct the other boys at the boarding school. They teach Scripture and lead the boys’ choir. They are committed students and work faithfully at all that is put before them. They seek God with their whole lives.

These boys will have the chance to attend universities in Africa and all around the world. We felt it would bring significant meaning to this year's gathering to invest in the dreams of these young men. So for all of those who did not make it to Reclaim, join us in spirit by making a donation that will help our friends in Angola.

All of this reminds me of what we read in Acts 2 regarding the first community of believers: "And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:45)

Donate today -- www.reclaimgathering.com/angola/

Be a Hero

At our UNF and JU Community Nights, I have put forth the idea that every single one of us is a hero. I really believe this, especially when I read the story of David and Goliath. 

What inspires a young shepherd with no experience in war to stand up to a 9 foot tall warrior? Something in David had to affirm that for that moment, his job was to be the hero. Couple that with a deep knowledge that the Lord would be with him, David rises to the occasion and defeats the giant. 

What would the world look like (heck what would Southside Jacksonville look like) if we all knew that we were heroes? How different would we act if we knew that at any second, our moment to humbly, but courageously step up to a challenge would be in upon us? 

The mindset of some human beings is not to think this way. I understand why...we can't save everybody, we can't solve every problem, etc. Seems to me though, there are enough giants in this world for all of us to pick up a stone and take a shot. I think if more people would be willing to do it, we'd see more giants fall. 

So go ahead...be a hero. Somebody out there is counting on you.