The Pursuit for Meaningful

February 12, 2012 2 Comments

This post comes from a weird place.  As I’m typing it, I am listening to David Crowder sing about his need for rest and strength in the presence of God.  Meanwhile, images of Diane Lane and John Cusack fill the screen in the background.  All have me thinking about purpose, love, and what I want out of life.

What’s great about the movie Must Love Dogs is it really pegs having a perfect picture of what is we want versus making compromises when it seems like something will never happen.  What a synonym of human nature.

I really want what’s meaningful, and I want God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will in my life.  But how many times do I try to speed things along or give up hope when growing impatient and start my own path toward something I know won’t be as satisfactory for the sake of instant gratification?

Sometimes, it takes seeing a reminder of my greater hope to realize my foolishness or detour from the will of God and remember there is something better out there than reaching for what I can easily grasp in the present.  God is so perfect that I don’t always want to wait for his perfect timing.  And that is a synonym of ridiculous.

Impatience often leads to faithlessness.

What I need to remember is pursuing the meaningful in life means following, obeying, and at times being still and knowing.  Why rush things?  Why substitute perfection for the current?  God’s got this.

May I always go after God wants most out of me in every moment, and not veer from the plan to make way for something less satisfactory.

I love God.  He loves me.  I want what he wants for me to happen to me.  That is all.

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Quiet Here Means Loud Elsewhere

January 27, 2012 Leave a Comment

… like tires screeching to a halt loud!

CRASH!

Yep.  For one week now, I have been dealing with being hit not once, but twice last Friday night (T.G.I.F!)

In short: I’m okay.  The other two drivers are okay.  The passenger of one of the two drivers is okay.  The sheriff’s department declared I wasn’t at fault.  The ball is rolling.  God is still God, and he is good!

In other news, I have been hard at work and enjoying building my knowledge of the tax business.  There is always plenty to learn (just go to IRS.gov and search for “pub 17″ if you don’t believe me).  It’s definitely off the beaten path of church communication, but I’m still getting to help people every day, and that is rewarding.

If there’s any word I can use to sum up 2012 so far, it’s growth.  New job.  New incident to deal with.  A renewed experience of God.

Less than thirty days into January and I’ve been completely taken aback at how much God’s Word has become a part of my life.  By that, I don’t simply mean I’ve opened my Bible and read it.  Before I got to that point, I was spoken two through a megaphone about how much I need it.  Then, I continued on my reading plan in YouVersion.

And last week, my church joined thousands of others in leaning more about spending time in Scripture and actually doing it on a daily basis.  (Stop and think about that last sentence.  Thousands of churches are engaging in the same books of the Bible at the same time over the next forty days.  Just imagine what that’s going to produce!)

In other words, a lot of big things are happening, and I continue to try my best to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to know what to do next.

I certainly hope life has been treating you well.  In case it hasn’t, remember:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

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Audio Post: Thanking You!

January 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

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Three Years!

January 19, 2012 1 Comment

Today is an exciting day for me.  Three years ago, January 19 fell on a Monday.  It was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  The next day was the Presidential Inauguration.  As you can see, a lot of historic things were going on around that time.

It was also a day where I decided to start a new venture.  After really enjoying my college years of blogging on the one-time coolest kid in school, MySpace, I found out that starting a “big boy” blog can be tough.  People don’t comment as much.  People don’t see what you wrote as often without steady promotion.  This, along with some serious writer’s block, discouraged me into closing the doors of several blogs.

But I knew I wasn’t finished writing online.  Every time I saw one of my friends had a new blog, it made me miss having my own hunk of space on the Internet.

I began 2009 with a goal in mind to do one thing new every day.  I’m honestly not sure how far along I got on that goal, but some cool things did happen that year–I gave Twitter a second chance; I got interactive with Scripture reading on YouVersion; I got back into the awesome life-changing experience that is small group Bible study; and I also started this blog.

Although there have bee large gaps between postings at times, I have enjoyed being able to come here and write what I’m feeling.  And knowing I’d probably just start another blog if I shut this one down over being in a dry season, I decided to keep it going!

It is truly great to see people some and comment, follow this blog, and have my friends write about and like posts on Facebook, as well as give me some retweet love.  It’s very encouraging.

I’ve been able to do some great things on here, too.  Highlights include my first book giveaway (ever!) with Granger Community Church’s Communications Director and author of Less Clutter. Less Noise: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales, Kem Meyer!  Not to mention my second book giveaway with pastor/author/my small group leader, Gene Jennings for his book Laughing with Sarah (see outtakes here).

My goal for this blog has remained the same, and that is, in addition for the random stuff that pops out of my head, to bring forth inspiration, thought and further action.  To that extent, it’s been great to share what God has put on my heart, my reflections of what I’ve experienced, and ways people can get involved in changing the world.

Thank you for letting this be a place you’ve visited over the past three years.  I look forward to continue sharing things that I hope serve as motivation.

P.S. If you’re thinking about starting/shutting down a blog of your own, I hope this serves as a nudge to keep at it.  Your thoughts can and will impact somebody.

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Revival

January 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

I’ve got one word on my mind as I write this: revival.

For the past two weeks, I’ve watched God do some incredible things with the potential for many more on the horizon.

Personally, He has led me on a journey to fall more in love with His Word as I seek to live a life on fire about Him and read Scriptures daily.

Collectively, I’ve watched Him take the generosity of 44,000+ college students and leaders and use it to prevent, end, and restore slavery in the lives of many.  Freedom is a costly venture, and the resources God has given us can make it spread to millions who only know bondage.

In the lives of friends, I can’t get over watching God work in so many people’s hearts and stir them towards seeking Him.

God continues to heal and make whole what is ill and fractured.

And the Church.  Oh, the Church… it’s only the beginning.  Honestly, just get ready for what’s ahead.  It will be truly unforgettable and move you to the path of righteousness heading right for the throne of God.  He wants to do some incredible things in the midst of our gatherings.  Let me give you some examples of what’s happened at my church in the past couple of weeks:

- Our weekly attendance has averaged over 1,700.  As we prepare to break ground and build a permanent base of operations, our current venue can barely contain everyone at times.

- God is stirring the hearts of many and making them mindful of worship, justice and compassion.  Just this past Sunday, the message was centered around the missions being done and coming up in the community, the state, and in places such as Guatemala and Southeast Asia.

- Child sponsorship greatly benefits the children you see on those laminated postcards.  This past Sunday, attendees had the opportunity to sponsor thirty children on-hand.  Out of those thirty, 28 will now have a loving relationship with someone who can pour into their lives as Jesus pours into them.  Amazing!

- Coming up over the next 40 days, my church will be joining many others nationally and globally who are preparing to learn, love and live God’s word in a major emphasis on Scripture reading and studying.

- As part of the 40 day emphasis, more small groups needed to be formed in order to accommodate everyone with the weekly curriculum.   So far, over 30 new small groups of people going through this live together are now in motion!

- There is also something in the works that has the potential to radically rock our community in a powerful and continual way that I can’t really divulge on at this time.  Just trust me: it’s going to be great!

And those are just SOME of the highlights!

When I look at things like that and I follow my friends on Twitter and Facebook and see a fresh passion in them and the people in my small group, I know that something only God can orchestrate is going on.

This year is starting out strong for the Kingdom of God as I see it.  The time for sitting comfortably is over.  Action doesn’t need to be taken anymore; it’s happening right now.  Are you on board yet?

Wherever you worship.  Whatever office or classroom or call center you get to carry Jesus Christ into.  However you’ve been placed to speak boldly about the Gospel.  Let it happen.  Serve others.  Love others.  Lift the name of Jesus high above others.

Make this a year of revival.

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Passion to Paper: Attempt #3 [Community]

January 11, 2012 Leave a Comment

It’s a gathering of tens of thousands of people.  It’s four days of corporate worship, messages, and prayer.  It’s, among other things, huge.  Passion conferences give you plenty to do on a grand scale.  At the core of Passion, though, is togetherness with others.  It’s opening up about what’s going on in your life, as well as helping others with what’s going in theirs.  Just about as much as anything else, Passion is about community.

As I conclude my attempts at putting Passion 2012 to paper, I look at what last week was about in regards to my time in a small group with several others at the beginning and end of each day, as well as how that’s already impacted my life.

Each day of Passion starts and ends with community groups.  This is where those in attendance are divided into smaller pockets where they are facilitated for discussion and prayer.  Things get more intimate when those in community groups are placed into family groups.  These are groups of 8-10 strangers (unless you cheat) who will get to know each other, pray for each other, and by the end of the conference be thankful for a very healing time together.

The anonymity of a family group allows its members to open up more than they would with those they came to Passion with.  It also let’s in fresh perspectives about what’s going on in other colleges, campus ministries and churches.  It is both a time to grow and a time to build others up.

Given that these groups meet before the first main session and after the last main session of the day, it is tempting to skip them for sleep, to line up for the late night concert, or to have a lighter load.  I’ve given in to some of these alternatives in the past, but this year, I made it to all community group sessions.

Not only did I love spending time with my family group each night and morning, I became less concerned about what I’d be missing and enjoyed the blessing of them.  One member in particular really opened up with me about a current state in my life that he recently went through.  I was also able to share in hopes of being there for others.

As I think about Passion 2013, I can’t help but be excited about getting back into family groups and enjoying this very real and moving part of the conference.

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Human Trafficking Awareness Day

January 11, 2012 4 Comments

What do you do with the knowledge that there are 27 million slaves to human sex and labor trafficking around the world?

India.

Greece.

Italy.

United States.

Atlanta, GA.

The world.

Today is a day where you can take action.  There are many who don’t know a thing about forced prostitution, forced labor, and the closest thing to Hell this side of it people have to live in.

But be encouraged.

I was.

Yes, there are 27 million victims of modern day slavery.  That’s more slaves than anytime in the history of the world.

There are also 7 billion people who populate this planet.  A majority of those people can do something to end these injustices.

The majority can win here.

Slavery can be ended.  Now.

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Now that you’re aware, here are some tangible ways you can be a part of eliminating this tragedy:

1) Understand the meaning of “tangible.”  Knowing what that word meant changed things for me.  It means “perceptible by touch.”  It’s something that can be seen immediately, and felt by those who are waiting for it.

2) Donate to one of the following organizations:

- Do Something Now
- Word Made Flesh
- As Our Own
- NightLight International
- Wellspring Living
- Tiny Hands International
- Hagar International
- International Justice Mission
- The A21 Campaign

… or any others on your list that I missed.

3) Pray.  Pray for those trapped.  Pray for those who are enslaving.  Pray for the organizations who are doing something about it.  Finally, pray about what additional steps God may want you to take.

We can change the course of history.  Let’s.

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Passion to Paper: Attempt #2 [This is the Word of God]

January 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

I started my attempts and unpacking all that went on at Passion 2012 yesterday with a look at the amazing efforts made towards ending modern-day slavery.  The tangible gifts given to make this possible will now go forth in carrying out justice to men and women who are living in the closest thing to Hell on Earth.

Heading into Passion, there was something going on online known as Acclimate.  This was a webpage where people could connect worldwide to collectively pray for Passion, and more importantly, read the word of God.  Upon visiting, a map was shown with pink dots representing those reading at the time.  The entire left side of the page was covered with random chapters of Scripture scrolling, as they would be until the beginning of the conference…

… and that was a very true statement.

Minutes before the first main session of Passion 2012 in the Georgia Dome, Acclimate appeared on screens throughout the venue.  With ten minutes to go, people came on stage and took turns reading the Word aloud.  This was then accompanied by thunderous drums, huge bold letters, and an intro to Passion that doused us all into what would be a central theme of the days ahead.

“THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD!”

From the opening to small groups to the messages to several leaders getting on stage and reading the entire book of Ephesians as tens of thousands stood and read with them, it was made abundantly clear that we need God’s Word in our lives.

And that spoke to me.  I’ve already heard God tell me the same thing just a day before the conference, and throughout it, I was constantly reminded in some powerful ways.

There is no better way to live in communion with God, have the power of His Holy Spirit stirring in our hearts, and boldly speaking His Gospel to others than to spend regular time in the Scriptures He breathed.

I thank God so much for beating me over the head about this all week.  I want nothing more than to continue to hear from Him.

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Passion to Paper: Attempt #1 [Freedom]

January 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

If you’ve been following my tweets and status updates over the past week, you know I’ve been a part of something major and newsworthy called Passion 2012.  These four days in Atlanta, GA stirred my heart, rocked my world, and allowed me to hear from God and take action with my generation towards ending injustice around the world.   If you weren’t there or didn’t watch online, it’s going to be really hard to capture all that went on for you.  I will start with what media outlets have been covering, and what is one of the most unique collective efforts in philanthropy I’ve ever seen: Do Something Now.

All participants of Passion 2012 were asked to come prepared to give towards the cause of freedom.  Six organizations were selected and woven together that combated human sex and labor trafficking by prevention, rescue, and restoration.  The goal for the estimated 44,000 in Atlanta and those watching and giving online was $1 million.  Halfway through the conference, that goal was exceeded!  By the end of the four days together, students, leaders, and viewers had raised over $2.5 million, which would be accompanied by a $500,000 donation to total $3,066,670!!!

More about that number:
- That is the amount of money given by the conclusion of the conference.  It is not pledges.  It is the physical and tangible currency that is going to organizations who will use it to help free others.

- These organizations go on raids in places sex trafficking is taking place, provide safe houses for those who have been victimized by these horrible injustices, help educate others in efforts that trafficking won’t happen, and provide new beginnings for those who have lived in slavery and bondage.

- Freedom efforts will impact several countries around the world, as well as provide funding for a new special victims unit in one of the United States’ largest hubs for human sex trafficking, Atlanta, GA.

- Not only were the original organizations funded, but also several on a back-up list in case the total was exceeded.

This is so exciting to me!  I am a firm believer that the Church should be the main ones solving the problems of the world.  We are here glorify God, and that means honoring Him with our worship, with our gifts, and with our actions of eliminating injustice.  It’s what we sing about.  It’s what we read about in Scriptures.  And January 2-5, 2012, it’s what we did with our time together in Atlanta!

Not only that, but we were all asked to each bring a towel and a pack of socks for Atlanta’s homeless shelters.  There were 36,000 towels donated, and 156,000 pairs of socks!

AMAZING!

God didn’t design the Church to gather, sing songs, laugh at the preacher’s football jokes, then peace out in time for lunch unchanged.  We are called to action, and giving the resources needed to fuel others is one of the ways we can take action.

The freedom hand. Constructed by Passion 2012 participants to stand tall at Georgia International Plaza for the week. Materials used included items found on The Department of Labor's list of top goods produced by forced labor and child labor around the world.

Now that Passion 2012 has dismissed, there are 44,000+ who have returned to their communities where real issues exist at home.  What will happen next?  Let this first week of the year only be the beginning of doing something now!

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Starting 2012

January 1, 2012 2 Comments

This morning, I made a prayer and proclamation to Jesus that I wanted to start this year on fire for Him.  This was during a wonderful church service I could have stayed at forever.  It was so great, I didn’t even realize until later in the day there was one extra song in the set list.  Everything just flowed in a way that the worship went seamlessly from song-to-song.  All I could do was praise Jesus and thank Him.  What a way to start a new year!

I mean it.  I want to live each day on fire for Jesus.  I want Him to be so relevant in my life, He radiates out of every pore.  I want my skin to be pale in comparison to the color He will bring to it this year.  I want people to look at me and know, above all else, Jesus matters most in my life.

That’s what I’m feeling so far about this year.  Each day is its own accomplishment, and this is a journey to be taken one day at a time, living for the One who died for me.

I’m ready for a year of Jesus!

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