Leave it to Linus

“My trouble is Christmas, I just don’t understand it.” – Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown was a symbol of ineptitude and futility. He was a subpar pitcher; a horrible field goal kicker; a horrible salesman; and a mediocre trick-or-treater! His incompetence gave rise to perhaps his most famous saying: “UGGGHHHH!” Christmas, the hap-hap-happiest time of year, could even be screwed up by Charlie Brown.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown laments about his problem with the Christmas season: “My trouble is Christmas, I just don’t understand it.” Just as with Thanksgiving and the football debacle shows, the self-ascribed psychologist Dr. Lucy proves to be no help. Her idea of Christmas is attaining and trading real-estate. Charlie’s best non-human friend (and frankly more successful canine pal) has his own image of Christmas. Snoopy is out to win this year’s decoration and lighting contest with cash prizes. Sally, his loveable little sister, lays out in pen that she is out to get old Santa Clause to give her the presents she rightfully deserves!

Linus is always the voice of reason. In perhaps the most famous Christmas words since “God bless us, everyone!” Linus gives his Christmas speech, quoting Luke 2.8-14, reminding the Peanuts gang of the point of Christmas.

When I think of Christmas, I think John put it best in John 1.14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” When all is said and done on that night in Bethlehem, God was dwelling among us! That is the point of Christmas.

As I read through the Gospels the point takes on more clarity. Taken just from the book of Mark, Jesus is: tempted (1.13); angry (3.5); deeply distressed (3.5); rejected by his family (3.21); being laughed at (5.40); spitting (7.33); disrespected and ignored (7.36); hungry (11.12); Mocked and insulted (15.20); forsaken (15.34)! The humanity of Jesus jumps off the page at you, and this list wasn’t even complete. I counted many more. That night in Bethlehem; God took on flesh and remained!

Christmas wasn’t just one night in Bethlehem; but 33 years in Israel, where God walked and experienced among us! It was God undergoing the frustrations and sufferings of humanity!

That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown! But every year it is good to be reminded by Linus of how we should not only live at this time of year; but every day! “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4.15)

The Grinch Redux

“How could anyone not want Christmas to come!” The Grinch sure hated it? Was it the shoes that were too small? The head screwed on wrong?

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!


Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.


It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.


It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.


But I think that the most likely reason of all


May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1957)

Whatever the reason, he hated the season! (unfortunate rhyme)

It was before the commercialism and the unfortunate accident with the reindeer that befell Grandma! It was prior to the rise of fruitcakes and that dreadful “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas song”! I have written previously about Herod’s feeble attempt to stop Christmas from coming; but the greater question is “WHY”?

During Jesus Ministry there were numerous times when people didn’t want him around. Think of the people of the region of the Gadarenes. Jesus shows up and heals the demon-possessed men and they pleaded (parakaleo) him to leave, just as the demons pleaded (parakaleo) with Jesus to send them into the pigs (Matthew 8.28-34). I guess seeing power in practice can frighten some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

The Pharisees tried to get rid of him after he healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Matthew 12.9-14). I guess seeing love trump law would alienate some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

When Jesus returned home and tried to teach in the synagogue, the people took offense (skandalizo) at him (Matthew 13.53-58). Skandalizo is the word from which we get our English word scandalize. It usually implies a removal of the offender (Matthew 5.29-30; 18.9; 24.10). The people in his own hometown wanted him to go away. Just three verses prior they were amazed at his teaching; now they are offended. I guess seeing a native prophet (hb. nevi if you want to continue with the theme) can offend some people! (unfortunate alliteration)

But what was Herod’s deal? During Jesus’ ministry, he was not shy about telling people to make a decision about him. He knew who his family was (Matthew 12.46-50)! But this baby; what was really polarizing about him? It was usually when Jesus taught that some people would get angry; but now well before he told his first parable, or gave his first sermon, Herod was angry!

I have very few Christmas songs that I enjoy. The North Point’s iBand is a nice change of pace for me (check them out here); but I really only like a couple Christmas songs. My personal favorites are “Hallelujah He is Born” (Sawyer Brown does a great rendition here) and “Little Town of Bethlehem”. There is one line that stands out to me in “Little Town of Bethlehem.”

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;


The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (Phillips Brooks, 1867)

Herod saw the possibility of his throne being usurped. He wasn’t the only one who would be scared. On that night the world met the Savior and was force to decide what to do with him: To Worship or to Worry! (the alliteration is just flowing now)

John said it best:

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1.10-11)

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3.19)

He came, though men would try to stop Him from coming (Herod i.e. The Grinch) and men would argue and rebel (the Pharisees); and now we must decide how to receive him. Will receive him as the Magi and Shepherds did offering praise; or as Herod a threatened politician whose only thought was: "I must stop Christmas from coming somehow!"

The Misfit

As I was watching Rudolph the other night, the plight of an anthropomorphized reindeer wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. Instead it was the words that one of my professors spoke in college about Mark 15. Mark Scott, in summing up the crucifixion, said: “there he hung; between two criminals. Just like his ministry, he spent time with losers.” I would take it one further: just like his ministry and his crucifixion, so to was his birth.

Jesus ultimately came as a misfit; to save misfits! As I read through the story in the book of Luke (with a little help from Matthew); the misfit motif permeates the story. It really started in the 8th century B.C. with the words of the prophet Micah. Micah 5.2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me on who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” The smallest clan! O little town of Bethlehem would be touchdown for the greatest Extra-Terrestrial visit of all time. Even Micah seems to down play Bethlehem. Fast foreword to Matthew and we see a family of Misfits. Matthew 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus. All the men and women in there have problems. You don’t even get out of the first verse of Matthew without seeing 3 of the 10 commandments broken! Every one of them has issues!

Looking at Luke 2 we see more issues. We have Bethlehem reappearing. Nothing more than a village in the foothills; sitting under the watchful eye of Jerusalem and under the watchful eye of the self appointed king Herod, 6 miles away. In verse 7, we find them in a barn. They couldn’t even spare a room in the inn. Misfit! Finally, look at who came to see him. The shepherds came. Like Charlie Brown, these were the guys whose invitation to the party was usually lost. Shepherds the unclean profession. Shepherds were on the Rabbinical lists of unclean professions! They were looked down upon by the upper class and were thought to be thieves. Fits in pretty well with the theology of Luke! He seems to have a special place in the text for those the world looks upon with contempt.

How does Rudolph fit in? Rudolph and his elf/dentist friend Hermey are outcasts of society; ostracized by the jolly man himself: Santa! The world viewed their place in society with disdain. Jesus felt the same derision! When Jesus bursts on the scene in John 1.46 what is it that Nathaniel claims: “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?” Sure enough the origins of Jesus brought problems! He would be arrested and condemned to die in place of Barabbas, another “misfit.” The “misfit” whose cross he took; possibly between two of Barabbas’ men.

And so ends Jesus life. Hung on a cross; between two criminals (Luke 23.32). Luke even puts words in the mouths of the criminals that hung there! Just like the advent; just like his ministry; so to his death! He spent time with Misfits! He became a misfit; to live amongst misfits; to save misfits! Aren’t you glad we have a great high priest who was tempted and lived as we do (Hebrews 4.15) who suffered daily as we do (Phil. 2.5-8).

The greatness that took place that night in Bethlehem is that our salvation; our worth; our purpose; and our chance to no longer be misfits came that one night in a little Judean town. Jesus put on flesh (John 1.14) and visited our own little island where misfits abound. Therefore we are no longer “misfits” but citizens (Ephesians 2.19); no longer “misfits” but children of God and heirs with Christ (Romans 8.17)!

sometimes you hop into a fight you cant win

I love fighting bulls! THere are times when you hop in there and know you are going to get hit! The shots that hurt the worst are the ones you don't expect.

Up the road from the church is a middle school: Robinson. As I was heading home from work, I saw two girls yelling at each other in front of the school. One girl called another girl a name and I saw the book bags drop. In the time it took me to take of my sunglasses Girl A had a hold of Girl B's "nappy fro" (I use this term simple because Girl A used it to describe Girl B's hair). A couple sharp rights by Girl B had put Girl A in a backpedal; but if you have been paying attention Girl's A hand was stuck in the locks of Girl B's hair! So the girls are intertwined in a flurry of nails, dreds, and fists! They hit the ground with a thud and rolled down the embankment toward the street falling off the curb.

At this point I had pulled off my hat and sunglasses and pulled my truck over. I shut the truck off and hopped out. I bolted across the street just as the two girls were pulling hair and rolling down the hill into the street. Girl A slammed Girl B's head into the concrete just as I put Girl A into a head lock! They each got to their feet at the same time and I positioned myself to make a "pick" on girl A and take her away from Girl B. I still had Girl A in a headlock as i turned my body toward her to take a position between the two. I didn't quite make it all the way! Girl A threw a haymaker that did not land where she had hoped! It was her intention to land her shot in the face of Girl B; however, it landed on my Zygomatic arch just below my eye! I just held on until the principals showed up!

At the end of the day; I would rather deal with the bulls than the rough shot by a 80 lb jr. high girl! I kind of like working in the hood!

Rodeo Bible Camp 2010

I spent last week having the most fun doing ministry I have ever had. The problem is; I'm not sure why?

Theory 1: The people I was doing ministry alongside. Most of you probably remember Zac Sanger (the man I introduced you to last year in the newsletter and on this blog). I got to spend another week with him. He prefers to do ministry one horseshoe at a time. We talked a lot aboutshoeing horses (something I know nothing about) and ministry (something I thought I knew a lot about). Zac is the type of guy who will have a conversation about God with anyone and he will be the first to tell you that it has more than once cost him a client. Part of my job is having conversations about God; yet sometimes they never happen. Boldness is a quality he has in abundance. Another guy that I had the pleasure of serving

alongside was Seth Reynolds. He is the same type of guy as Zac. Willing to talk about Jesus with whomever, whenever. I had met Seth a year ago at a Rodeo Bible camp and had no idea he would be in Colorado this week. Two guys whose love for Jesus spills out of their lives. That is something that will make it fun to serve. Seth and Zac both took the time (outside of their assigned duties) to speak truth into the students lives. They have a passion for God that expands the time card. There are a ton of things I took away from that week!

Theory 2: Rodeo. It is always fun doing rodeo! Always fun fighting bulls!

But if I hadn't been rodeoing at the time; I still think that I would have had fun and enjoyed serving! Theory 1 is the winner!

What I learned this week; or should I say was reminded of this week was that ministry is about the people. The people you come into contact with and the people that change your life. Zac and Seth are two guys that changed the way I do ministry and changed my relationship with God. You wanna have fun serving God; find people who are passionate about Him and surround yourself with them! There is never a dull moment with Zac and Seth and they are livening up the Christian lives of anyone they come into contact with: this guy included!

Jr. High Camp

I just realized that I had not updated my blog to show the video from jr. high camp!

We went to King Solomon Christian Camp this year in Solomon, Kansas. As you can see from the video; we kept the kids fairly busy! One of my favorite parts of camp was the maze. We placed all the kids in a maze blindfolded. What they did no realize was that there was no way to get out the maze. We roped off the entrance after they had entered. The only way out was to surrender. It was a great illustration of the Christian life and accepting Christ! It was a great week of ministry that ended with our group growing much closer to each other and God!

Dino Day

Dinosaurs for years have been used (unintentionally, I believe) as the perfect example of how the Genesis account of creation is a myth. In my opinion churches have often not stepped up to give an answer to the question of Dinosaur origins and a biblical precedent for their existence. Too often, we as churches have spent our time letting the Institute for Creation Research; Creation Truth Foundation; Foundation for Advancing Christian Truth (FACT); or Answers in Genesis to answer their questions for us; however, God has given the local church the daily contact with people's lives in order to answer the questions that they have! The goal of Dino Day was to give our kids a biblical look at dinosaurs. They excavated a 18' T Rex, made their own fossils and are now in possession of an actual fossil that Colby and I picked up over at Calhoun Bluffs. We talked about Genesis 1 and when Dinosaurs were created. We discussed Job 40 and the animals that were discussed there: Behemoth and Leviathan. We ended the day with the Extinction of the dinosaurs and the role of the Flood of Genesis 6 in their disappearance.

It is our job as the local church to answer every question that our kids might have! Interestingly enough, it was the youngest kids who already knew that dinosaurs live 65 million years ago...church we are behind the game! Its time we start listening; start studying; and start answering!

A Good Man is dead because he was Good

The downfall of Uriah the Hittite was his loyalty and righteousness! Years ago a shepherd boy (David) was more righteous than God's annointed leader (Saul); and now we have a Hittite man (Uriah) more faithful than the King of God's People (David). As I read through the story of Uriah I can't help but see how his faithfulness and loyalty sealed his death.

After David had called him back from the front the first time; Uriah refused to sleep with Bathsheeba. Instead he slept on the steps to the palace because he was to be afforded no comforts while his men were at battle (2 Sam. 11.9-11). The whole predicament happened because David was affording himself comforts while his men were off at battle (11.1). Score one for Uriaih!

David would get him drunk the next day. Propositioning Uriah to go home, even in his drunken state the Hittite would be more righteous than the King of Israel was just weeks prior! David is covering his tracks and Uriah is too dependable to falter!

"In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." (2 Samuel 11.14-15)

Uriah carried his own death sentence. A man with lesser integrity would have checked the message that he was delivering, but not the man who refuses to rest while his troops were out in battle! Uriah was known by David as a fiercely loyal man. He had probably ran and hid with David and stood by him during Saul's chase. You don't get to the place in life that Uriah had attained with out some honor and dignity.

I hope someday that my integrity and loyalty will be the death of me as well!

Q: You find yourself in a deep hole. What is the first thing that you do?

A: Drop the shovel.

I would like to tell you about the last couple weeks; but in this short space I cannot fit it all here. I will give the best of it and if you want the rest you will have to look me up!

During the third week of March, I was reading through the book of Jeremiah. I came to the complaint sections of Jeremiah. If you don’t know much about the book of Jeremiah, he has a couple sections of him complaining to God about the trials in his life. As I studied them I found some really interesting stuff. A couple minutes of meditation in Jeremiah 12 led me to pray about this section. During that prayer the pride that had taken over my life reared its ugly head as I began to thank God that I was not like Jeremiah; arrogant and questioning of God. Jeremiah’s arrogance had shown up in his questioning God’s justice and God rebuked him. My arrogance showed up without the mask of justice and conversation with God. The audacity of my prayer life is absolutely exquisite. It was then that God laid the hammer on me. Pride and arrogance let me ruin relationships and hurt a lot of the people that I come into contact with regularly. The pride in what I did and accomplished, had ruined the joy I found in it. Pride stood in the way of promising relationships and any hope of a intimate relationship with God. The realization (shown by God that fateful morning) of the toxicity of my arrogance and hubris set me on the path to a lot of humbling conversations and many more to come. These discussions have been at times awkward; at times intimidating; but every time liberating! Now I have this last thing to say: “You, Church, deserved better from me.” One more difficult to type statement; but liberating! God's work in our lives is never complete. I am thankful for a God who points out our shortcomings and works with us through them! A God of so much Grace is he!

Believe Conference Tales!

If you deal with Jr. High Ministry: Believe is the one conference you need to go to. CIY has taken the liberty of making almost all the plans for you and centered the conference around your students. Seriously, as a youth pastor all you have to do is worry about getting your kids down there and back and feeding and housing them! The teaching is centered around middle school students; you are never doing the same thing twice; there is never a dull moment on stage; and you are involved in everything! It is a Jr. High ministry dream come true!

Small Groups: This year Believe hid all of the small group questions in fortune cookies. The black fortune cookie held random questions like: What is your favorite outfit that your youth minister wears?; or what is your favorite thing to eat at Taco Bell? (seriously this was really a question). The other questions were in three different colored cookies. Each small group session was a different colored cookie. Kids would read the questions in the group and answer them; there was absolutely no prep work (which if you have gone to MOVE is one of the most time consuming prep things to do). It was a great way to do small groups!

Worship: Worship was led by Johnny Scott, Hetti Marie, and Foundation Red. They were awesome! Did some Fee stuff and got the kids fired up. Mike Miyahara on guitar was melting some faces! They brought out Eric Samuel Timm, the painter (who played God this weekend) as an artist during worship! One key to Jr. High Ministry is keeping their focus! With all this stuff going on the kids were definitely focused. It was great worship.

We stayed the night at a church down in tulsa; playing dodgeball most of the night! We were still able to sleep for 5 or 6 hours. We took 18 students who had a ball. We also took 7 high school students who worked for Believe during the weekend. They had a blast and really enjoyed working for Shawn Miyahara (she mentioned me in her blog so I mentioned her back) and Nikki Palmateer. It was an awesome weekend that changed my kids lives. If you are on the fence about believe; I would rank it as the most productive Jr. High thing that I do (even above a jr. high camp during the summer).

A COOL STORY:

Right before our kids at pizza on Saturday afternoon; our boys were explaining to the Town and Country boys that girls were the first to eat. That was pretty sweet; our guys standing up for chivalry and the girls in their youth group! That is a good feeling.

Special thanks to Town and Country for letting us mooch rides down with them and letting us hang out all weekend with them. James Wright is doing a great job with their ministry and is a great asset to Town and Country Christian Church! I couldn't be more proud of my high school kids. They were a great asset to me and the Believe Staff. They had a great time working alongside the CIY team; and I think they got a lot out of it.

"This successful life we're livin' got us feuding like the Hatfield and McCoy's" -- Waylon Jennings

This was war! Every war had a beginning! KU-MU: the boarder war, started with Quantrill's raiders attacking (killing 200 citizens) and burning the town of Lawrence. Once the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri began lacing up the hightops, the war has taken shape on the basketball court. As a Jayhawk fan, I want to be honest with you readers: we hate losing, but if the choice was between KSU and MU, I would much rather lose to KSU than Mizzou! The Hatfield and Mccoy Rivalry of the mid to late 19th century began over the killing of a Union soldier after he had returned from the war. In the prologue of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliette, we learn that this is an "ancient grudge" between the Capulets and the Montagues. One can only assume what started that war. Was it wealth? power? fame? a car wreck?

The point is this: Every war had at least on triggering factor. What if it was a person? What if you were the Helen of Troy? The reason for the fighting. Homer's Illiad (with huge nods to other ancient historians) recounts the battle of Troy as Paris, the Trojan Prince, has taken (Sappho claims she came willingly others would argue she was taken by force) Helen, the beautiful wife of King Menalaus. This war was massive. Men from all over the world would fight in this war. How would you feel if you were the cause? If you were Helen?

This is the very dilemma that John Mark (know as Mark from now on) faced in Acts. Though his decision would not cost any lives, he did cause a schism in the team of Paul and Barnabs (or should I say Barnabas and Paul?).

Mark was from Jerusalem. He had seen Christian Church from its infancy. His mother's house was a place of prayer and worship (Acts 12.12). Once his cousin Barnabas (Colossians 4.10) had taken a bigger role in the ministry of Jesus, Mark knew he wanted in. Barnabas was the one who had brought Saul into the mix with the apostles (Acts 9.27) here in Jerusalem. Now years later Barnabas and Saul ask this man, Mark, if he wants to be part of the first missionary journey! That's like being asked to go to the moon, or if you wanted a pulitzer? Its not something you scoff at or hesitate on. You jump at the first opportunity, just as Mark did.

The honeymoon period for missionaries doesn't last too long. Soon the newness wore off and Mark had a problem. What that problem was we can only speculate. Perhaps it was the reallocation of power between Paul and Barnabas (notice the names are now reversed, with Paul taking a leading role for the rest of the book) probably didn't sit too well with the cousin. Maybe it was fear. They were headed to a place (Pisidia Antioch) known for its bandits. It could have been sickness or a family crisis. For whatever reason, Mark leaves (Acts 13.13) to return to Jerusalem.

This action doesn't sit too well with Paul. When the idea came up about returning to all the places they visited on the first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas began assembling a team (Acts 15.36). The subject of Mark came up. Barnabas wanted him, Paul didn't (Acts 15.37). He had deserted them in Pamphylia (Acts 15.38). The greatest team of missionaries to the date was now split up by the disagreement over Mark. Barnabas took Mark to his home of Cyprus and Paul took Silas (Acts 15.39-40).

That had to be rough on Mark. To be the one who is fought over. The one causing the dispute. Chronologically this is the last we will hear of Barnabas. He isn't mentioned again. How would you feel if you were Mark? The dispute had to have some kind of lasting effects. Paul was probably just as disappointed in him as he was that Barnabas wanted to take him. These are the kinds of wounds that linger for some a lifetime.

Though Barnabas fades away, Mark resurfaces. Nearing the end of his life; perhaps just days or hours before his execution, Paul asks for Mark to come to Rome with Timothy, because he is helpful to his ministry (2 Timothy 4.11). Paul mentions him from an earlier imprisonment in Colossians 4.10, and we have to wonder if the instructions were about his rehabilitation for Paul? It matters not, at the end of Paul's life, he wants Mark to come to him! Paul just spent time telling Timothy about those that have deserted him: Demas, Crescens, and Titus. We aren't sure of all the circumstances here or whether they left on good terms, but needless to say, Paul is alone (aside from Luke). Bring Mark!

So many times our arguments are final. All to often our differences are relationship ending. We harbor resentment and anger; hatred and aggression. Paul, during a hectic first missionary journey, was deserted by a guy he thought he could trust! Like the rope that is holding a mountain climber, often the resentment and anger are the only thing that still attaches us to relationships. I don't know what Mark did to get reinstated or whether it was Paul's grace and mercy towards an old friend, whatever it was it is an example.

We can't hold onto our petty ministry differences any longer. No longer can resentment rule the attitudes of our heart. We may not agree on everything, but no matter how great the wound, forgiveness and understanding can fill it. Ministry philosophies and ministry dedication differs; family troubles are handled differently by all; and some people are just hard to get along with. They will abandon, infuriate, and tear down. They will act apathetic, lethargic, and illogical. Paul felt all these from Mark, but in the same way that Jesus felt and bore all these as well, Paul found ability to forgive.

Bring Mark, for he is helpful to my ministry (2 Tim. 4.11)! The original title for Mark was: "helper" (Acts 13.5). Good to know he ended the same way he started.

"What we fear is what we’re subject to; our fears define our master." -- Erwin McManus

I am scared of a couple things. When I first started fighting bulls, I was pretty scared. I saw a guy get runover pretty good and I had a difficult time putting that out of my mind. Only the person who did my laundry that night could tell you how scared I really was! Now, I am able to put that out of my head to do my job in the arena. There are however a couple fears that I have trouble getting through. I am claustrophobic (scared of small, closed spaces); paedophobic (fear of babies); and aquaphobic (fear of drowning or water). The fear of new born babies comes from a recurring nightmare that I have about me reaching up to catch a foul ball at a baseball game (a personal goal of mine); the problem is that I was holding a baby prior to lifting my hands. I look down just in time to see the baby liquify on the ground. It is a horrible nightmare that I have about once a month or so! I dont fear water so much as I fear swimming in places where I cant see my feet and putting my head under water. The claustrophobia is more a fear that the elevator doors wont open. I have so many problems.

When I read through Acts, I noticed that fear seemed to play a specific role in the book. Fear in all but 1 case (Acts 9.26) is a literary device used by Luke to differentiate which side of salvation and faith a person falls on. Like a black hat in a western of the ability to see both eyes of a person in a manga book, depending on what a person fears is the signifier of their relationship with God.

In cases of fear in believers the object of their fear is always God (aside from Acts 9.26). The church was gripped with fear because of the actions of God when he killed Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and in Stephen's speech as he relates Moses' interaction with the burning bush in Acts 7. The Church feared God himself as well (Acts 9.31; 10.35; 13.16) and Cornelius was scared silly by the messenger God sent to him during his vision in Acts 10.4 (which if you are unfamiliar with Luke's writings is a common place when God sends a messenger).

On the other side of the great dividing line of fear is the fear present in non-believers. They fear the punishment of men. They are commonly afraid of the men in power over them. Twice a leaders of the Roman Army is fearful because he has been keeping Paul, a roman citizen in chains (Acts 16.38 and 22.29). Not only are they afraid of people who are in charge of them; but they fear the people under their jurisdiction. Non-believers are shown to be in fear of being stoned by crowds if they take the apostles away (Acts 5.26). The men without a relationship with God were also fearful of spirits at least once. After the seven sons of Sceva were beaten and bloodied they were scared of the spirit that did this act. Finally, the non-believers are fearful of death. In an interesting sandwiching of fear near the end of Acts we see the sailors fearing death not once but twice during the soon to be shipwrecked. Paul, during the night an angel came to him and told him to not be afraid (Acts 27.24). So in the midst of a fearful ordeal; God reminds his followers that he is in control.

Perhaps the funniest events of fear in the non-believers in Acts, is them fearing for the one who should be fearful! In Acts 23 Paul is placed before the Sanhedrin. Paul does what Paul does and he starts an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. While they are arguing, it became so violent that the Roman commander was afraid Paul would be ripped to pieces (Acts 23.10). Paul apparently was unavailable for comment, but seemed unfearful.

The believers in Acts had plenty of reasons to fear. Paul says that he has "been in dager from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers." (2 Corinthians 11.26) Paul was no stranger to danger, but did not fear. The early church was in constant danger, but did not fear.

I fear a lot of things: uncertainty; bills; the upcoming lessons I have to write; etc. Fear has become a constant in our lives. Looking at the early church, fear was something that they did not deal with. Fear is something that they did not do. When God is in Control: fear is not present! Great in principle; tough to live out. Paul reminds us in Romans 8.27-29:

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Next time fear comes, think back to the early church and the unfamiliarity they had with fear? Great in principle, tough in practice!

"Love is the highest goal to which man can aspire." -- Viktor Frankl

Everything Jesus took, was an act of love! Jesus said: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13.34-35)

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WORD MEANS! The word love. I have said it to people not really understanding it. I have proclaimed it to women without the foggiest idea of what it means! Jesus understood it very well and gave us a perfect picture as he lived his life. I believe that in 3 chapters of John we see a clear picture of what Jesus meant in his love.

Love: Serves -- John 13

Jesus put a towel around his waists and, taking the job of the lowest slave in the house, washed the feet of the disciples. The purpose: to "show them the full extent of his love."(John 13.1) In this picture of his love, he sets an example that we should do as he has done for us. (John 13.15) Love, Serves! "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10.45)

Love: Thinks of Others First -- John 14

Jesus tells his disciples: "If you love me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." (John 14.28) Love: Thinks of Others First! Jesus left the comfortable confines of heaven alongside his great and glorious Father to walk the earth; and now he is ready to return. If these guys loved him they would glad to let him go! I understand the reluctance, but I also understand what Jesus is claiming. Earlier, he had told them that if they loved him they would obey him (John 14.15). Obedience is placing the will of others above the will of self.

Love: Sacrifices -- John 15

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15.12-13) Jesus constantly sacrificed for those around him. His life was constantly interrupted; he was constantly queried and probed by those who didn't deserve the time. He taught the things of God to people who didn't understand and connected with people of all classes.

All of these conditions of love ultimately came together in his work on the Cross. It was there that his service came to fruition! It was there where he bore our sin and our iniquity! It was there where he was sacrificed and he laid down his life for ours! The cross is the quintessential act of love!

When I look at my own life; I have misunderstood "love." Love is not something to be gained; but something to be poured out. It is ultimately the emptying of oneself. Here in lies my problem with love: selfishness. I love me! Service is a reordering of vision from inward to outward! I stand in my own way of serving. Why would I think of others, when I enjoy thinking of myself so much? Its hard to sacrifice when I value myself above all others!

Apologies are in order for some of you. I had no idea what love was when I said it. I had no idea of the depth to which it goes! Alexander Dumas was wrong in his book The Three Musketeers, when he said: "Love is the most selfish of passions!" True Love is the most selfless of all passions as Jesus showed us.

I just cant believe that for so many years I lived by Dumas' philosophy instead of Jesus!

The Twenty Taco Challenge

Notice there are only 17 wrappers!

Pride and arrogance have no place at the table. Hubris and over-confidence shouldn't make an appearance either; however, as I sat across from one of my high school students tonight, these were the traits he was relishing!

Last night after the purity dinner, Tyler Ward, Kosten, C.J. Spence, and I went to Taco Bell and Dairy Queen. As we were ordering, Tyler became enamored with the Grande Meal. Apparently he has never looked that closely at the menu. The Grande meal is a mix and match meal consisting of 10 items of either hard tacos; soft tacos; or bean burritos. Tyler wanted a meal like that.

I informed him that there was no way he could eat 10 of anything. In a brash reply, he told me that he could finish not one but two Grande Meals. For those of you keeping count that is 20 items. In a bet only to be surpassed by God and Satan of Job 1; I took his wager!

Tonight was the night where this would be tested. AFter youth group Ireland, C.J, Aaron Jones, Austin and I headed to Taco bell to see if Tyler could complete the Herculean task of twenty tacos in the course of one meal. The argument rose as to how long a meal lasted. Was it 45 minutes? an hour? hour and a half? How long was a meal? We gave him 45 minutes!

He started off well.

First couple tacos went down well. Then the T-Bell staff came out and let us know that should he complete the task he would get 5 free tacos. One night of abdomen problems apparently has a price of $3.50 in store credit? But now the stakes were raised. They were taken to a whole notta level!

Around 8 tacos in (15 minutes) I began to get worried. He was going well and had a good rythym going (in no large part to the coaching of Austin and CJ; and the ever present optimism from Ireland). Meanwhile Aaron Jones regaled us with tales of battles and fights from his childhood with a brief shout out to the "fire thumbs."

13 tacos in (32 minutes) he began to slow down. He had started too quickly. There is a feeling; a notion that only people who have been around sports can recognize: its the look in the eye of the athlete when they realize the loftiness of their dreams; and the pain it will take to get there. Tyler had been wounded with the 13th taco!

At 17 1/2 tacos the deal was done! He was finished! Like Paul in 2 Timothy, he had fought the good fight and had come to the end of his race; it just so happened that it came 2 and a half taco shells short of where he had previously envisioned the line.

It was a valiant effort. A stunning display. When coming off a loss like that you never really are the same man; gastro-intestinally for sure; but psychologically and mentally as well. I have seen men never come back from something like that.

The Purity Dinner

Psalm 45.11: "The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him for he is your Lord."

Its tough to be a girl. At least that is what I hear! Tonight we had a purity dinner for the jr. high girls in our youth group. Natalie Holdren from Northland CC did a great job exhorting our girls to strive for a pure life. Each girl received a plate with our theme verse on it and a white rose. Apparently different color roses mean different things; red means love; yellow means friendship; and white

means purity, hence our use of the white rose.

It was a great night. The main purpose was to give our girls a night to be doted upon. Our jr. high girls had a good time I think. We had a couple high school girls there to answer questions and hang out; we had some younger girls there in order to show that the jr. high girls are examples to them. It was a really good night.

I will tell you the most exciting part for me however; involved some people who really had no business being there, but came anyway. Tyler, Kosten, CJ, Jason and Aaron were the guys who really brought the night together. The first three of these guys are students, and the last two are sponsors. Without those guys this night would not have happened. Like I said earlier, each girl was given a plate with the verse on it. These guys took the plate to them and presented it to each girl. It was an image of how guys are to serve and protect the boundaries and purity of the girls in their lives, regardless of wheter they are in a relationship or not. But it was also to give the girls ownership of their own decisions and boundaries. Guys: its our job to protect the boundaries; Girls: its your job to know and protect your own boundaries as well. We will do our part; you do yours. The biggest problem I see with relationships are times when girls dont know their own boundaries and don't have the confidence to state their boundaries.

We have a great group of girls who I hope will set their standards so high that a man will have to really prove his worth to be with them! Girls: Don't Settle! Don't settle for a guy who wont serve or protect you! Don't settle for a guy; expect the best and always remember: "the King is enthralled by your beauty, honor him for he is your Lord."

Very Special thanks to the guys for serving and to Lynda Bohlender for doing all the decorating!

A Life in the Spirit is gonna look a little bit peculiar!

There are times when the Spirit of God takes over and you have to ask the question: "You're gonna do what?"

Going through the Scriptures it happened to a lot of people:

Gideon with the narrowing down of his army from 32,000 men to 300 in order to fight the Midianites in Judges 7; a lot of people

would probably call him crazy.

Ananias in Acts 9 was called to go to the man who had persecuted and killed in order to share the gospel with him.

Peter in Acts 10 is following a vision to go to the Macedonians to proclaim the Gospel.

Our high schoolers made some renditions of some of the more interesting examples of people

who lived in the Spirit of God; speaking, acting, and showing people God!

This is Hosea and Gomer. The propehts (nevi'im) of God were God's spokesmen to the people.Not only did they carry the message of God; but often they were called to act out the very message that God had for his people. Hosea was called to marry an adulterous woman. Notice the fishnet stockings and strapless top; also there is an allusion to Nathanial Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter with the "A" emblazened on her corsett. The message of Hosea: No matter how many times we turn our backs on God and are unfaithful to him; he remains faithful to us and welcomes us back into relationship with him.

Ezekiel was another one of the prophets of God. He had a couple differnent instances where God told him to act out his message. In Ezekiel 24.15ff. Ezekile is told that his wife will die (God refers to her as "the delight of your eyes"). Ezekiel was not allowed to shed any tears about her death. He was not allowed to mourn the death of his wife. The point: Everything that they hold dear, the Temple ("the delight of their eyes") and their very relationship with God will be gone soon and they will do just as Ezekiel did and live without weeping our mourning it. Notice the use of the tombstone on the left. Apparently Ezekiel looked like Tommy Pickles from Rugrats with bling; an earring; and a Grease throwback jacket.

A second weird act from Ezekiel (mind you that is not an all

inclusive second act; there is a ton of weird stuff in Ezekiel so this is not all inclusive) is the action in Ezekiel 4. Ezekiel is told to draw the city of Jerusalem on a tablet; place an iron pan between his face and the tablet and lay siege to it. He was to lay on his left side for 390 days (one day for every year of Israel's sin) and 40 days on his right side (one day for every year of Judah's sin). The Point: You and the people will be deported for not to long because of your sin (Ezekiel 5.5-10). Nice use of the flaming catapult!

Jeremiah was another one of God's spokesmen. He had a couple cool object lessons in his book (the linen belt [13]; the Potter and the Clay [18]; the Broken Flask [19]; the Yoke [27-28]; the Scroll in the Euphrates [51]). This is a representation of the yoke that Jeremiah made and wore around Jerusalem. Throughout the book of Jeremiah (especially in chapter 28); Jeremiah was faced with men speaking words that made people feel good but were untrue. Jeremiah spoke for God; these men spoke for their own desires. Jeremiah made the yoke to tell God's people to submit to Babylon; or else face the punishment of Babylon. Tough words for a nation that had grown accustomed to doing what they want. I like the gigantic clock hanging from the yoke.

How does this apply to our series through the book of Acts? In Acts chapter 2 we see an interesting scene unfold. Men have the Spirit of God given to them; empowering them to speak God's message. Men who have no business being the mouth piece of God are now speaking not only different languages; but dialects (like boston english; and texas english)! Men with no formal training are speaking out about the love of God and the gospel. Acts 2.12 showed some men approved; Acts 2.13 showed some men made fun. "They are drunk!" was the theory they made. God instigated this by acting (pouring out his gift of the Holy Spirit) just as he did with the prophets earlier (he spoke). Now, once again, the men whom he communicated too are acting peculiar. If our lives are live in constant normality, the question must be posed as to whether we are living in the message of God? This is coming from a guy who has tried to fit in for most of my life; and if we have seen anything in our study of Acts and Scripture as a whole it is this: the message of God and the Spirit of God refuses to live within the rules and confines of our minds and our boundaries!

New Creation in the New Year!

Many times I am drawn to the writings of Paul! Sure some of them can be very difficult to understand and often times can be difficult to apply (what in the world does most of Romans mean); but for the most part he lays it out (there is a reason that the Roman Road is a very common evangelistic method).

Ephesians is one of those books that on the surface is so simple: Why and how you live and love like Jesus. But on the other hand, it can make your head spin with predestination talk and womens roles. Paul has a way of writing (or should I say God has a way of writing) to challenge the wise old believer and encourage the newest convert. Speaking to the left and right; the old and young; both sides of the coin.

In order to do this Paul has a way of using metaphors in Ephesians, in order to explain the two sides of being saved (those who are and those who ain't).

Some of the metaphors:

Before Christ we were dead in our transgressions and sins (2.1); but Christ made us alive by his grace because he loved us (2.4-5). Dead vs. Alive.

Before Christ we were foreigners and aliens; but Christ has now made us citizens in God's people (2.19).

Before Christ we were darkness; but Christ has made us light (5.8).

But perhaps the most intriguing (and hardest for me to understand) is the metaphor in the middle of chapter 4.

Ephesians 4.22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Old Self (before Christ); and New self!

The juxtaposition of Old vs. New gives me this problem: can you be old and new at the same time? For as a new creation; my old tendencies come up an awful lot. For being new it sure seems like the old!

For the next couple verses (4.25-5.7), Paul give the deeds of each life:

OLD SELF: anger (26,31); stealing (28); unwholesome talk (29); bitterness (31); rage (31); brawling (31); slander (31); malice (31); sexual immorality (3); impurity (3); greed (3); obscenity (4); foolish talk (4); coarse joking (4).

NEW SELF: speak truthfully (25); work hard (28); sharing with those in need (28); build up other (29); kind and compassionate (31); forgiving (31); imitators of God (5.1); live a life of love (5.2); thanksgiving (5.4).

We are a new creation in Christ; a sentiment Paul echos in 2 Corinthians 5.17. The old has gone. If the old has gone, why is it so present? If the new has come, why does the ways of the old self seem to sneak in an cause havoc?

What scares me is how quickly the manners of the old self creep into my daily life. When im tired they show up. When I am stressed out they show up. When I lose my head they arrive. Unknowingly I turn the corner and find them waiting there!

Old vs New: the battle is on! I am a person of habit, however. Old is comfortable. I wear clothes that I got in high school still. I have used the same kind of deodorant since 7th grade. I have bought the same exact hat every six months for the last 3 years of my life. I don't try on jeans because I will only wear one specific kind (cinch white lable) in one specific size. I am a creature of habit! Old is in my wheelhouse! Old is what I like!

But what better time to devote to NEW! New is all the things that God stands for and New is what God makes things! I am ready to be new; how about you?

What ever happened to Contra!

Since we cancelled youth group tonight I decide to go ahead and watch some youtube videos to catch up on what I have been missing in the real world. I first heard about Call of Duty 6: Modern Warfare 2 from some of our kids. I have now began to wonder how exactly this game can even be sold!

Watch this clip and tell me what you think. (Click here to watch the Clip)

Not only is the entire video disturbing, but especially the part at 4:40 where he walks up to an injured man and blows his head apart! Come on people! This is not warfare this is genocide! Hitler killed cause of race; now the game kills cause of, what, proximity? wrong place at the wrong time? Oh yeah because its a mission on a game that is fun to watch! What was I thinking?

I am the last person who would get up on a soap box and attempt to protect our kids in a vain attempt to sheltering them from the world around them; but this video game (and I am making a judgement about the whole based on the part) is disgusting.

Parents: You can argue with me if you want...I don't care; but this game should really not be in your kids games systems. I have held my peace on a lot of things and honestly not as careful as I should have been with what games are played here at the church; however, I am making the decision to start being a little more with it when it comes to games and media and I think that you should make the same decision.

It doesn't really matter how much attention you have taken in the past; start now! If you never took the time to do your research on games in the past; make an effort now!

If you purchased this game for your kid...I will pay you for it! If that is what is holding you back from getting it out of your kids video game library! I feel that strongly about it!

Some Stats:

The Game sold 4.7 million units in the first 24 hours and made $310 Million!

By comparison the final Harry Potter book made $220 million in its first 24 hours!

The Game made $550 million in the first 5 days of being offered!

Please let me know what you think by commenting below!