simplicity

Our God is extravagant. He is more awesome than words could attempt to express. His depth and glory are beyond anything I could dare try to describe. He is the Creator of all things. The totality of his being is unfathomable. This is the God I worship.
What makes him even more spectacular, in my eyes, is that he is the lover of our souls. He is deeply and profoundly in love with his unruly creation. In the outpouring of this love he sees fit to listen and respond to us as we pray. As I write this I can't help but think that God is in the small stuff.
At Bridgeway I have been blessed with the opportunity to sit down with some guys who have already met Jesus and know him as their savior. This is exciting because we hit the ground running with the concept that Jesus is our strength, our guide, and the author of our faith. These are essential points to grasp onto along the process of life recovery.
However, most men I meet with have little or no concept of God. Sometimes they simply don't believe because it hasn't really ever entered into their lives as an option. So many of these men have never touched a Bible. I mean it... never even touched one... let alone open one or read one!
So where do you start with these guys? One simple prayer.
No, I'm not talking about a prayer of salvation. I'm not talking about, "Pray this one pray and you are saved from the flaming pit of hell."
I (and many of the other counselors) have seen lives change through suggesting the faithful praying of these words:

"God please show yourself to me."

That's it. Nothing else. I tell the guys that if they wonder if they should pray anytime- just pray this. When you find yourself praying for some other reason- add this to your prayer.
"God please show yourself to me."

The product of this prayer has been amazing. Through seeking God is this way God is not limited to our understanding. He's not boxed in by our demands for a specific sign. He's not constrained by our preconceived notions about him. We let go of the leash and let God be God, per se.
Every man I have suggested this prayer to has come back to me with a story to tell about how God showed up in his life. One man sensed a peaceful presence at a stressful time. One man perceived a vision of a lighted pathway toward a sober life. One man was awakened by a voice in the night calling his name and urging him to pray. One man was led to read a message in a book that spoke of God and cut to his heart. One man saw light cast onto his bedroom wall in the shape of the cross. Every man has returned with a story.
Have I made my faith too complicated? Do I demand signs of God in ways that are only pleasing to how I want to see him? Likely so.
We can not constrain God to any creation of man, but we can limit our vision in such a way as to never see the vast array of ways that God reveals himself around us.
Let God out of the box and keep it simple. Remember, this magnificent and mighty God whom we seek after desires of us the faith of a child. That just makes him even more awesome somehow.

state fish: bluegill

I've never really liked Illinois. I don't have any problems with the people or anything, it just seems like every time I travel through the Land of Lincoln I have a bad experience in some measure. Construction is always terrible through Chicago, traffic in Chicago is even worse than the construction, on/off ramps seem to have been designed by M. C. Escher, the drivers are erratic, gas stations along I-39 take pleasure in not posting their prices within viewing distance of the highway... I could go on, but I will spare you.
(The whole tollway issue is a sore spot and I don't desire to tackle that matter at this time. Simply trust that I am understating my opinion when I say that I am displeased.)

Maybe Illinois doesn't like me... Anyway...

On my last trip through the "Prairie State" I discovered some things to do as I traveled the road:
1. Listen to approximately 5 Mark Driscoll sermons.
2. Catch up on some calling.
3. Think of as many clever synonymous adjectives as possible for describing Normal, Ill.
(average, ordinary, typical, standard, usual, plain... to name a few)
4. Wonder what "Illinois" means.
(Origin of state name: Algonquin Indian for "tribe of superior men." Interesting.)
5. Eat a bag of Pizzeria flavor COMBOS snacks, drink two cans of RC Cola, polish off a handful of grandma's cookies, chomp down a bag of Andy Capp's Cheddar Fries, graze on some Arby's curly fries, drink a couple travel mugs of coffee, etc... There was more, but I think you get the picture.
(For the record, I did not eat all of that food on one leg of my journey across the flatlands, but rather on the whole round trip which equaled around eleven hours.)
6. Sing along with a variety of CDs switching between lead and backing vocalist at my own discretion.
7. Ponder my future.
8. Admire the bleak brown and grey landscape as it stretches on for seemingly endless miles amidst the gloom of a routinely (another synonym for normal) overcast day as the only signs of life are the terrible drivers who have apparently lost all sense for the safety of their common (synonym) man as he just tries to get home safely for crying out loud! Oh... uhhh... yeah, sorry.
9. Marvel at the number of exits that display a sign stating that "NO SERVICES" are available in the town.
(No services? No gas stations? No rest stops? No restaurants? Not even McDonald's? I speak from experience when I say that this is not a pleasant sign to see after drinking a couple cups of coffee and some RC cola my friends. No, not pleasant at all.)
10. All this stated, I tell you that the best thing I did along the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System was to pray.
I am ashamed to say this, but I admit that it has been quite a while since I've prayed for such a sustained period of time. I don't exactly know how long I prayed, but that's not the point. The matter at hand is that as I was getting depressed about not having a traveling partner, I was reminded of God's presence with me. I shared a ride with my Savior this weekend and it was good.

I'm still not too sweet on Illinois. We're trying to work through our differences.

listen

You may or may not have heard about Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. If you haven't heard of this guy, do yourself a favor and download some of his sermons. If you have heard of him, don't believe everything you hear.
Over the last number of months I have been listening to his sermons as I've downloaded them from the church's site. He is an excellent bible teacher and an engaging speaker. Sometimes his illustrations are unorthodox. So what? So he's unorthodox... we're not in an orthodox culture. Get over it.
Seriously, set aside an hour or more and listen to a sermon. (You will need at least an hour, by the way.) God has used Mark's messages to speak to my heart and enlighten some portions of the Scriptures that I hadn't previously considered.
Again, that's Mark Driscoll... Mars Hill Church-Seattle.

home

Home. Sometimes just saying that word brings warmth to my innermost being. Thinking of home can soothe my nerves and bring a reminder of peace to my mind. I have the opportunity to go back to Wisconsin this weekend to join my family for some birthday celebrations. I'm going to see my mom and my dad. I'll get to spend time with my brothers and sisters. I'll be with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and maybe some cousins. I'M GOING TO PLAY WITH MY NIECES! (I'm excited about that, if you couldn't tell.) Home.

Though I won't get to go there on this trip, I do think of how whenever I return to Faith Chapel in Green Bay I am returning home. I know that when I walk through the doors I will be greeted by friends who have become family to me. I love them and I know that they love me. I have cried with them. I have sweat with them. And you better believe that I would bleed with them, if called to do so. This is true for my family by spiritual birth just as it is with my family by natural birth. I am a blessed man.

I couldn't be more excited about the days that sit before me. I'm going home. Most importantly, I am going home to be with my family whom I love. Home without family would just be another house. It would be a residence. But a home is far more than a building. I don't go home just to experience nostalgic feelings of things I've done and people I've been with. I can go to my alma mater for that. I can look through scrapbooks and photo albums and drawers of keepsakes (a.k.a. junk) for nostalgia. Home is about family and the experience of love NOW. We don't long to go home because of history. We long for home because we know that when we are there we will experience anew the love of family and friends. Some people haven't ever experienced home within the houses they were raised in or with the people they have spent their time with. They yearn for home and don't know where to find it. Bono of U2 described these feelings while singing, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for..."

People of God, please open your eyes. As the word says, he who has ears, let him hear. The people of this world are trying to find their way home. They are seeking after a home that they've never seen nor experienced. They don't know where to find it and don't know what it looks like. These people are trying to find "it" in relationships, sex, houses, cars, money, drugs, dogs, success, entertainment, politics, alcohol, violence, religion, athletics, children, power, travel, organizations, nature, and so on and so on and so on... We've all heard people say that they don't know what they're looking for, but they'll know it when they find it. We laugh and dismiss this notion, but I believe it is absolutely true.

We know what home is. We spend our lives searching for our way there. People of God, we are called to be the family that some have never had. We are called to care for the widowed, poor, and orphaned. We have been set apart and commissioned to carry the message that all people can find home at the foot of the cross. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is home. He is our brother looking out the window and waiting for us to come through the front door. God is the Father who is out in the lawn who stops his work to envelop us in his capable and welcoming arms. We are home... family is home... God is home... heaven is our home.

I yearn to be with my family. I hope to be with my church family. I long and thirst and desire to be with my Heavenly Family. This is who I am and how I was made. This is who you are too. I want to have the heart of my Heavenly Father. He expressed the comfort of home as he said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest." This is the heart I want to pour out of me because there are lonely people with no home who need to be shown the way. What about you? Do you know where home is?

divine health

Can anyone explain why it is so easy to lose my hair, but so difficult to lose my weight? Yeah, it's time to drop my excess baggage. The winter weight must go as I prepare for the ever-important church softball season. I'm going to start going to the health club down the road and working this body back into shape. I view my steps toward healthier living as not only a physical exercise, but also a spiritual one. It is additional training in the development of discipline- which will carry over into the various aspects of life. Most importantly, discipline with my body can aid discipline with my spirit. Exercising regularly can be an act of worship, if done with an appropriate mindset. So, since the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it's time to start cleaning up the temple a bit.

insomnia

Life is odd. Here I am at nearly 2 o'clock in the morning typing up a post. I'm tired. I really am tired, but I can't seem to fall asleep. The moment I lay my head down upon my pillow I find myself as wide awake as I could possibly be. Why? Who knows? It seems there are nights that I simply can not convince my brain to cease the constant bombardment of thoughts. The concerns of the day scurry about across the ridges and ripples of my mind. Synapses keep firing away like they're waging war against Mr. Sandman and his sweetly peaceful dreams. The day replays in my mind, fast-forwarding through the lulls to dwell on the most significant events a while longer. Conversations buzz in that internal ear. Each idle word or foolish utterance haunts me. Every sin heaps upon my chest and I suddenly become aware of my sin's weight.

But the Lord calms the storms and stills the waves. He does this also for me as I relinquish my feeble attempt to control my life while prone upon my posturepedic perch. It's hard to pull the reigns of my life out of my white-knuckle grip... but what power do I have? I am no God. I don't even have the power to do what I want to do. Instead I do that which I know I should not do. This heart of mine indeed is wicked and surely deceitful. Let go Gregg. Breathe again. Pray. Always pray.

My Lord, forgive me for the sins of my day. Please still my troubled mind and bring me peace. Deliver me from the anxieties I cling to with false hopes of possessing the power to change even the most miniscule detail in my life. You are sure to forgive in your grace, mercy, and love. You also delight in giving rest to those whom you love. Thank you, my Savior, for being my rock and the crafter of my dwelling place. My desire is to abide with you there in accord to your perfect will. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus

There is a song that has always cut me deeply to my very heart. God has used it to convict and inspire me in all periods of my journey. Andrew Peterson's song "Come, Lord Jesus," off of his Carried Along album, is both poetic and poignant. Please take the time to read the lyrics and, if you have the time, take a listen to his music.

Tonight in the line of the merchandise store
While they were packing up my bags
I saw the pictures of the prophets of the picket signs
Screaming, "God hates fags"
And it feels like the church isn't anything more
Than the second coming of the Pharisees
Scrubbing each other 'til their tombs are white
They chisel epitaphs of piety
Oh, there's a burning down inside of me
'Cause the battle seems so lost
And it's raging on so silently
We forget it's being fought

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Amen

It's taken me years in the race just to get this far
Still there is no end in sight,
There's no end in sight
'Cause I've carried my cross into dens of the wicked
And you know I blended in just fine
Well, I'm weak and I'm weary of breaking His heart
With they cycle of my sin, of my sin
Still He turns His face to me and I kiss it
Just to betray Him once again
Well, I've got oceans down inside of me
I can feel the billows roll
With the mercy that comes thundering
O'er the waters of my soul

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen

Tonight in the light of the gathering rain
I could hear creation groan
And a sigh rose up from the streets of the city
To the foot of Heaven's throne
Oh, and the people hear the sound of a sweet refrain
An absolution in the fray, in the fry
It tells of the death of the one for the lives of the many
More than any picket sign could say

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen

calmer

Waves of thoughts crash upon my mind.
The world desires to penetrate my heart.
The seas and the storms seek to overcome me.
Why am I so willing to oblige? Do I not know better?
Yet your Word has been written on my heart O Lord.

"Quiet. Be still."

Your voice rings out, cutting through all commotion.
No longer do the waves crash- eroding my moral stronghold.
No longer do the fears pierce.
Peace sets in by your clarion call.
You are the calmer of the storm.

sola Scriptura

God's word stands alone. A dear friend shared with me this passage. It has touched me and so I must share it with you. I feel no further description is necessary- just let the Word speak to you.

"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Col. 1:9b-14

uncomfort zone

The comfort zone is a dangerous place to be. I just think about people who have become comfortable in their "roles" in the church. We are creatures of habit and routine. I understand, believe me... I like having my routine. My daily grind helps me to evaluate what I get accomplished in a day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all routine is bad. I just think that allowing ourselves to get into a routine with our spirituality- getting into a comfort zone- can become hazardous to our health.

When I look at the ministry of Jesus I see a man who was constantly coaxing people out of the comfort zone of works-based religion and into the faith-based relationship of faith. He challenged us to come out to him amidst the uncertainty of the wind and the waves. Do you see it? Do you see what Jesus was showing us? He has told us that what we perceive as safe and secure is only illusion. There's greater security walking with him amidst the storm than there remaining in the bow of the boat.

I nearly didn't come to St. Charles because I wasn't able to visit and "check out" everything first. I like to know what I'm getting into, but this time I was stripped of that security blanket. I had to rely on prayer and faith. He enabled me to step out in faith and has blessed me greatly. My faith is developing and my involvement in the lives of the lost has never been more active than it is at this moment. The thing that excites me is that there is far more to come just over the horizon!

Please hear me when I say this- I'm not endorsing a reckless faith that says that God will bless my every whim. No. What I am saying is that we must live in the mystery of the guidance of God. As He leads, so shall we follow. We just shouldn't be surprised when God's call sounds out into an area that is untested... untried... Unbelievable.

fess up

Okay, admit it- you've been watching the David Hasselhoff video... No, No use hiding in shame. Just step out into the light and confess that you've been enjoying this guilty pleasure. I bet you've even shared the video with someone in the office or cubicle next to you... What? You thought I wouldn't know? Come now... I couldn't possibly have been the only one who got a couple chuckles out of the massive studded eagle adorning the Knight Rider's back.

Now, obviously there isn't any true shame in watching a harmless David Hasselhoff music video on your computer- that is, unless you are doing so while you're on the clock for a company and you should actually be doing your work instead. But let's admit it... each day we do act on fantasies, pleasures, and desires that often lead us away from the perfect plan of the Most High God. No, Hasselhoff is not a sin (but Baywatch may be).

I sin. I sin every day. I feel guilt and pain over the sheer number of transgressions that God will bring to mind as I ask him to reveal them to me. Maybe there was a certain way I looked at someone. Maybe there was something I said that spoke pain into another person's life instead of bring the joy of spiritual encouragement and edification. Whatever the sin- it remains this simple fact... it is sin.

What do you do with sin when it rears its ugly head in your life? Personally, I have sought to stick my head in the sand. When I realize faults I desire to run from them. I want to cover them up. I want to shift the blame. I want to hide. I want to run away from the God who desires to walk with me in the cool of the day. I want to sew up some fig leaves. You know what I mean, don't you? Yes... you do.

The Scriptures describe our response to sin in a different light. Haven't you realized that so many of our natural responses in life are actually barriers to godly living? And when we do realize this tidbit we seek to change our ways- because we want to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Right. So why is it that when our knee-jerk response to sin is to hide it, we press on in the thought that it's okay?

Oh, but Gregg... I confess my sins.

Who do you confess to?

I confess my sins to God.

Good. How do you confess these sins?

I confess my sins quietly in the dark of night to God and God alone.

Be honest. This is the way you do it, isn't it? I'm not saying that this is entirely a bad thing. We must confess our transgressions to our heavenly Father- seeking his forgiveness and his power to enable us to cease such unholy actions. BUT, the Scriptures reveal more to this situation than prayer alone. Don't the words of Christ describe the express command to make amends to your brother when you have sinned against him (before bringing your offering to the altar)? This is a humbling action, isn't it? Yes it is. Such is the will and command of God. In our humility, we can see him. In our weakness, his strength is made perfect.

What about Scriptures that speak on confessing our sins before the gathering of the saints? Whooooaaa! Wait a minute! Confess my sins to the other people gathered at church? Yes. What is the shame in this? Why not? Why should I fear this? It is to the pleasure of God that I am obedient to his will. Has He ever asked me (or you) to something that has been of harm or detriment to me? No. Is He not the Good Shepherd who knows what is best for His flock? Yes. Is He not the heavenly Father who wants to give His children only good things? Yes. He does not seek to harm us. The harm we fear is from the others who are hiding behind the a thin veil of pleasantries that is supposed to represent a real Christian.

An authentic Christian is one who is vulnerable and true. Genuine Christianity is lived amidst the muck and mire of this life while straining to press into the light and glory of the next. Jesus showed us a life that displayed its abundance in true relationships with open and broken people. The people who got closest to Christ were the ones who could not hide behind masks any longer, but instead found hope in laying the shards of their shattered lives at the master's feet. Authentic Christianity is approachable. It is not contained in the ivory tower on some hilltop where the saints gather to bask in faux righteousness. The Christian life is bold. It is found in the nitty-gritty of daily living. And it is honest about all things... trial, triumph, sin, and salvation.

Each day I live, I commit the sins of Adam. I like the way Mark Driscoll describes this point. He says that the start of Genesis does not speak only of what happened, but describes to use what happens... each day. Every day we play out the scenes in Eden's garden. You do, I do, ...every day. Somehow I see fit to continue acting upon notions that cross my fallen mind in a perplexing attempt to bring spiritual death upon myself despite the great Life that dwells within me. This is the life that we live. This is the battle we are engaged in. We fight forces unseen in the world around us as well as beneath the surface of our our skin. For me, my greatest adversary is seen as I peer into the mirror. I still see that old man that Paul speaks of in his letters. I identify with the great struggle of conscience he describes in Romans 7. Paul's point is not lost on me though. He describes a way to live that is fueled by the mighty power of God's Holy Spirit. The same force that hovered over the deep and was involved in the initial creation is still involved in powering the waves of change that make me into a new creation. Amazing.

We all sin. Life does not end there. God has provided another way.

Ask God to guide you through a fearless moral inventory of your life. Seriously, be honest with yourself. Then, admit to God, yourself, and another person the exact nature of your transgression. Seek that God would forgive you and remove the sins from your life and character. Pursue forgiveness and reconciliation with those whom you have wronged. Make amends. This is the biblical approach to dealing with sin. Don't hide, thus retreating into darkness. Rather, confess and reconcile so that you may live in Light.

American Idol

I am convinced this guy will be the next American Idol. Some people have heard of him, some have not... Alledgedly he was in a TV show for a while. I don't know. All I know is that he's got the look. He's got the voice. He's got the moves. He has a clear abundance of natural charisma. He's got a lot of leather on... David IS your next American Idol!



(Did you notice he got totally dissed by the little girl who gave him the teddy bear? Sorry Hasselhoff... no kisses for you.)

cry baby

How do I say this without sounding like a real pansy-boy? I'll just say it- I'm crying more lately. I'm not only crying, but really experiencing the fuller richness of emotion. Perhaps this doesn't seem like a major revelation. Sure, the heavens aren't parting and organs and harps and angels aren't bursting forth in glorious song, but this is something important for me- as a man and as a man of God. Generally I have always been more laid back in demeanor. I'm a "take it as it comes" kind of guy. I look back over the years and remember myself as being truly sensitive, empathetic, and kind. I have in the past cared for people so deeply that I have earnestly felt the pain of their hurts and shared with them the labor of their struggles. This is who I had been, but not who I have been. Within recent memory I have not been a man who would care so deeply. I'm uncertain as to what changed me or when the change took place. Likely, the transition occurred over an expansive period and resulted in a series of minor changes that were so inconsequential that I never perceived them. I just remember laying in my bed in college one night, after hearing some heart-breaking news, thinking, "I really should cry now. Why can't I?"

Have you ever experienced this? Have you ever found yourself with a heart that has somehow been hardened? I don't doubt that my situation was caused by a conglomerate of compounding issues... heartaches, hangups, abuses of my emotional being, sin... What truly matters is that my perspective shifted from the love of others toward the cold inner sanctum of myself. I became inwardly focused. Over time I became consumed in increasing measure with questions. How could I bear any more heartache? How could I prevent anymore heartache? How could I escape from the pain of life? How could I give others the impression that nothing they could do to me could ever faze me? How could I make myself a more steadfast and reliable leader? How could I regain the focus needed to accomplish my own goals? How could I attain the varied objects of my desires? The questions and excuses could continue to roll out in numbers rivaling the blades of grass in the front yard. What it all boils down to is the fact that I zeroed in on "me." Life became about Gregg. My ego was something to be managed, but not perceived. Oh no! No one in the church could ever come to realize that I deal with... pride.

Life became a great chess match. Satan loves this. He doesn't have to win the "major" battles at the outset, not when he call whittle away at the defenses by corrupting the heart within. Small compromises now will lead to massive failures later. Somehow, I think there's someone reading this that is dealing with this same matter right now. Take heart.

We point fingers at Pharaoh so quickly and set our sights on his sins. We make bold accusations and claim that we could never let our hearts be hardened to God's will... blah, blah, blah. Empty words. Every time we say "no" to the still small voice, we turn away from God. Every time we willfully sin, we turn away from God. Every time we place our desires and comforts above the needs and pains of others, we turn away from God. This is the steady and nearly imperceptible hardening of the heart that presses on in the lives of believers each day. Each and every day! NOW! At this time someone whom you know and care for is deafening his or her ears to the voice of God. Right now. Why are we not praying for each other? We must stand together.

God spoke tome through Ezekiel. Good stuff- really, you should read it sometime. In Ezekiel 36:25-28 God says, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God." Take a deep breath. Read that again, if you may. Let that soak in deep within your mind and heart. God will pluck from us the heart of stone that we have created in our own self. He will remove the impurities. He will fill the void with a new heart and a new spirit. He will again be our God. This is profound stuff. It is because of this that I can cry again. I care again. Because life is about God. Everything is about God. This is how the Spirit moves us to follow his decrees and keep his laws.

When we love God, we love others more. Funny how that works isn't it? Please, don't wait another day to conduct a fearless moral search of your life. If you must, pray that God removes that heart of stone. And go ahead and cry a little if you need to, it's okay.

contact

I visited the weekly chapel meeting on the Lindenwood University campus last night. Their meeting is called "SHIFT" referring to the need to shift our perspectives to ones that are in-line with the will and person of God. It was good that I decided to get off my backside and go because I was able to establish a few good contacts for ministry on the campus as well as meeting some other local planters/pastors who are seekingto impact the young adults of St. Charles County. Networking is a good thing. Hopefully we will all be able to share in Christian unity in order to advance a purpose that is larger than our own. This is all about Jesus after all (and before all and in all).

progress

Everything is going so well here in St. Charles County, MO. Crosswinds Church is on the brink of some amazing breakthroughs as we seek to missionally impact the community through not only reaching out to the lost, but going out to find them. We have made a bold decision as leaders in this church to leave behind an "if you build it, they will come" mentality. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, showed us a new way of ministry by modeling a loving pursuit of souls by leaving the 99 and seeking the one. We simply must go out from among our safe and comfortable fold in order to find that one. The prodigal sheep aren't going to stroll in just because of our whitewashed steeple. After all, this why they're "the lost", right? Ministering to in-patient clients of Bridgeway Counseling Services has begun to flourish. Seeds of faith are being sown, cultivated, and harvested through God's work in the hearts of the clients in Bridgeway and the spiritual counselors from our church. We are on the cusp of gaining occupancy of our church building which will usher in a great abundance of more men and women in addiction recovery seeking spiritual counselors. There is so much happening that it can be difficult to place ourselves proactively ahead of the tide, but God is still faithful to provide the direction and strength needed to satisfy his will step by step.

On a personal note, I am enjoying my time here in Missouri and developing strong relationships that will certainly continue on regardless of where God's path takes me in the future. I'm learning a great deal about God, life, ministry, loving people, the Great Commission, and myself. I'm keeping busy with working, reading, reporting, blogging, reading, networking, and reading. Admittedly, I do get lonesome from time to time as I wait for God's timing (perfect, but seemingly slow) in directing me toward marital companionship. I find great peace and delight in the relationships built with friends both here and in Wisconsin. God indeed is my portion and he is faithful to satisfy my mind, heart, and soul as I seek out his plan. I am just so deeply grateful that I have been chosen of God to be used as an instrument for the delivery of his Good News to the dark world of the lost and hurting. It is my sincere prayer that you, wherever and whomever you are, will be so moved by the Spirit of God to accept a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ and to go out and share this blessing with all who have not yet heard the life changing... no, life-giving message. Thank you for your time and your prayers. Blessings to you.

walk with them two

I have listened to so many Christian teachers and pastors speak of our civil liberties and our duty to stand up for our rights as Christians in a fallen world. Honestly, I don't quite know how to respond. What rights does a dead man have? Paul didn't pull the, "I'm a Roman citizen" card every time he faced persecution. Why not? Perhaps it is because he believed Jesus when he was told that the world would hate him and persecute him and say all manner of evil against him. If the days and the world were wicked when Paul walked the earth, how much more wicked are they now?

Are we really surprised that creationism isn't taught in schools? Are we shocked that this world wants to create new human life through cloning? Are we truly flabbergasted that the slaughter of innocents has moved from foreign dictators invading war-torn countries to domestic doctors invading the warmth of the womb? I am not awestruck that these things are occurring in the world. I am appalled by the actions. I am disgusted. I am angry. But I am not awestruck that these actions are the product of the fallen and sinful world. These are examples of how man is still trying to be God- nothing has changed since eating the forbidden fruit or building Babylon's tower.

I know what you may be thinking... we must stand up against these atrocities. Yes and no. I believe we must let our voice be heard in the government where it is still permitted. God has given us his Spirit to provide us discernment and wisdom. There is a difference between the matter of teaching creationism and the matter of defending the life of the unborn. Again, I say... We should take advantage of the opportunity still afforded to letting our voices be heard in government. We don't have to simply roll over and die. We have to distinguish between fighting for civil liberties afforded by our government and for defending inalienable rights bestowed upon us by our Creator.

We must resist the grave wrongs enacted upon the innocent, the orphans, widows, poor, and unborn (to name a few). But more importantly we must change the way we live so that the Church no longer resembles to world thus ensuring a greater protection for those in need. It is the Church's responsibility to care for the needy. This is not the government's responsibility. If our churches were to resemble the Church God desires, I believe that the divorce rate would decrease, the number of unwed and teenage mothers would decline, the need for government run aid programs would be minimalized, and the rate of abortions would slow. I am an idealist, but I know that as long as Christ has not yet returned from amongst the clouds, there will always be a rift between the Church and the world. Abortions will continue and poverty will continue and evolution will be taught as a primary biological science. These things will persist, but the Church can overcome. If we are ever more willing to love all people as Christ does, we will see the world impacted as we change ourselves and our neighborhoods. Jesus told us that we will be recognized by our love- not by our programs, clothes, or our self-righteous attitudes.


How we treat our neighbors and those in need resembles how we treat Christ himself, remember? When it comes to standing up and fighting for rights, maybe God is calling us to defend the rights of those who can't defend their own. Regarding my own rights... I get terribly frustrated when I feel an injustice has occurred against me. Yet, why am I upset over the marginalization of my government permitted rights when I spend much less time exercising the freedom I am given as a believer by the one who has made me right because he alone is Righteous? Just some thoughts I've been having....

comments

I have finally corrected the settings on my blog in order to enable people to share their comments. Please join in the conversation. Let's explore the path of faith together. I want to know what you think...

a.k.a. gossip

This is a plea unto the people of God. Please communicate. Listen to one another. Express your thoughts and your feelings clearly. If you have a concern regarding a brother or a sister address that concern directly with only the person concerned. I admit my guilt in the sin of triangulation (a.k.a. gossip). Let's admit it, we like to use the assets available to us to their greatest disposal. However, simply because a pastor or an elder has a greater measure of influence, we must not continue to behave as manipulative, back-biting, pre-adolescents in order to push our own agendas through the institutional church.

If we desire to see growth of the body... if we desire to experience movement of the Spirit... if we desire to be used as catalysts for revival and change- we can not continue to permit petty gossip to invade and entangle our local church bodies. Oh I know that it's a subtle and seemingly insignificant sin, but is sin not still sin? Is gossip still disobedience to the will of God? Back-biting and triangulation of personal matters injure the already weakened body. People will abandon the gathering of the saints in favor of isolation or the pursuit of friends who won't air their dirty laundry under the guise of a prayer request.

Please talk to one another. Be clear. Be sensitive. Jesus was a revolutionary communicator. We could learn a great deal about sharing the journey of faith by exploring the depth of the compassion, sensitivity, clarity, and honesty in which our Lord communicated with those who sought after him. It's time to start sharing in the life born of loving God and others above ourselves. Let's take baby-step and start communicating effectively.

Can you hear me now? Good.