"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!