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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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 #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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Sow What?

November 12, 2011 Leave a Comment

We are all investing into something.  And since we all reap what we sow, the question I have is “what?”

What are you spending your time contributing to?

or…

What will be the result of the way you’re spending your time?

When you think about living a missional life, and you think about what’s at the root of your purposes, you may still be wondering if what you’re doing is going to get you there.

First off, if you are doing what the Holy Spirit is leading you to, you are always on the right track.  But as you continue in your obedience, especially in long seasons, you may not always see clearly if you made the right choice.

What you need to know is that as you sow your time, money, resources, etc. in to something, your confirmation will ultimately come.

- If you’re sending your resume to company after company, one will eventually contact you for an interview.

- If you’re partnering with your church to give a child a gift for Christmas, you can know that he/she has received a blessing, and you have made a significant impact in the life of the child and his/her family.

- If you wake up on a Saturday morning to volunteer in your community, you are sacrificing your time and showing them you care.  If you do this under the banner of Jesus Christ, you are pointing them to Him.

- If you help a friend in need, you are showing that person your love.

What are you sowing?

I write this at a time where I find myself serving in some capacities a lot more than I have been.  I’ve been involved–voluntarily or involuntarily–in giving my time and resources to others.  I’ve been inspired and motivated to go further in my faith, and God has taught me to have more in the process.

And let me be clear: I don’t always hit my mark.  I still selfishly choose my desires and comforts over what others could really use from me.  Even if these times of rebellion, God is teaching me about my nature and how He wants me to be.  I really feel Him working in my life, and that, in itself, is a benefit I am reaping when I give for His sake.

No one can do your part the way you can.  God made you for what He wants from you.  It may get done, but without you, it want have the mark on it that was intended.

What are you sowing?  What are you investing your time, money, prayer, support, and resources in?

God will lead you, but you need decide if you’re going to sow into the things He wants you to in order to reap what He has for you.

Go with God.

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Limited Time Only

November 7, 2011 2 Comments

Sunday morning, I got to visit Passion City Church in Atlanta (see pictures below).  The message that morning was about being “missional.”  There is a lot I pulled out of that and am still digesting, but something I found to be incredibly encouraging was the part of the message based around John 7:33:

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.”

When I visited family in Massachusetts this September, on my second day there, I was helping my grandfather with a printer issue he was having.  After we got everything up and running, he shook my hand.  I then said to him, “I’ll be here all week.”  (Corny?  Yes.  But it still got over.)

There’s something about when we’re away from home for a time that puts us in a very focused mindset.  I’ve never gone on a mission trip where I’ve sat around and wondered what I was going to do.  I knew I had to make the most of my time before leaving, and by doing so, I had to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  (Not to say I haven’t had my lazy moments where I’ve needed a little ‘pep’ involuntarily added to my step.)

What about where I am right now?  What about where you are?  How are we listening to what God wants us to do and acting on it?

What really locked these thoughts into my head about Sunday’s message was how easy it is to be missional.  The Holy Spirit lives inside of me, and He will guide me to where He wants me to be.

That’s definitely something I need to embrace more in my life.

And here I am, on this planet for a limited time only.  This is not my final destination.  My dwellings are temporary.  I’ve got a permanent and much better home waiting for me.  I’m going to a place greater than anything I’ve seen or know.  But while I’m here, it’s to live on purpose and follow Jesus Christ.  It is to do God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.  It is to be guided by the Holy Spirit to complete the missions He has for me.

May I always make the most of my life.

Passion City Church Pictures:

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Next?

November 1, 2011 Leave a Comment

I spend a lot of my time these days wondering and anticipating what the next steps in my life will be.  As someone with faith in Jesus Christ who knows his passions, I am letting these things guide me in my pursuit of what is ahead.  In the meantime, I am reminded of a message God laid on my heart several years ago.  It is a constant alert that sounds off that what is next is not the most important thing.

It is easy to get wrapped up in a future that will always be uncertain for us.  Think about that for a moment: we may have an idea of where we would like to be, but things may not turn out that way.  Or, we may be so focused on where we see ourselves one day that it sometimes frustrates us to be where we are presently.  Goal-setting and aspirations to achieve our dreams is very important and vital to our quality of life, but these things should never be it for us.

If five years from today is the main thing we live for, we may be missing the bigger picture God wants us to see.  A verse that is stitched on my heart from the Bible is one of commonplace among many Christ-followers: Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God not only promises us a hope and a future, but He regularly uses our passions, gifts, experiences, skills, and abilities to help us realize the direction He wants our lives to take.  Therefore, it is easy to look at where we plan to be one day and stop there with little or no further action.

Do you see something missing about God here?

Just as important as having a destination, we need to make the journey.  God is with you always.  If you are following Him, He is taking your current place in life and using it to lead you into your future.  That is what I would consider “hope,” and when you look at it that way, it shows you one of the two promises of Jeremiah 29:11 is yours immediately.

So, what’s next?  That is a question we may find ourselves asking or being asked.  But that is also only half of the solution.  God has stitched our lives so tightly with His purposes, but they are not merely for some time far off.

Rather than constantly looking at outcomes, look at what actions you are going to take right now.  What does God want to do with the breath you are breathing?  What about with the feet that are resting as you read this?  What does He want you to do with this very moment?

God is a God of the now.  So, let us all ask ourselves: what’s now?

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Ten Years Later

September 11, 2011 2 Comments

As I woke up this Sunday morning, it was clear to me what today’s date was.  It’s a day that’s been remembered for ten years.  A day that tragedy struck and a people united.  Today is the tenth anniversary of the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

I’ve reflected on how hard it is to believe that all of the events of 9/11 happened ten years ago.  It led me to think about where I was, as I have thought about this on each anniversary.  I was in 11th grade at the time, and changing classes between second and third period when I received some of the secondhand details from an acquaintance in the hallway.  When I walked into my SAT Prep class that morning, the TV was on, and I was staring at a hit twin tower in New York City.  It wasn’t long after that I was watching a second plane fly into the other tower live.  After that, I saw them both fall.  I also watched news of the Pentagon attack and the failed fourth plane in a day that had us all not knowing what would happen next.

Some teachers had televisions on that day and let us watch.  Others went on with the agenda.  Neither decision was made halfheartedly.  I took a test in Geometry and watched President Bush address the nation in English.  It was an school day to remember.

That afternoon, I didn’t get to record the weekly radio segment I had at the time, but I did get to gather with those at the wrestling training session that evening.  Even going into the next day, the mood and procedures were still uncertain.  We spent time grieving, learning, and also continuing on as a nation.  That night at church, I remember my youth minister saying there was no telling what things would be like in six months.  The first Friday night football game at my high school featured a pastor leading us in prayer, reflection, and affirmation.  Anything I did for the first time after 9/11, such as working a shift at my part-time job, felt different.  I wasn’t sure where we would go from here.

Even as I think about these things now, there is an overwhelming certainty that today is about more than me and where I was.  It is good that we remember how we were affected, but for many of us, there is so much more to be looking at today.

On September 11, 2001, families were devastatingly torn apart, and they have been because of the events on that day, for the last ten years.  From passengers to businessmen to responders to soldiers, lives have been lost.  Children have grown up without mothers and fathers.  We, as a nation, have been introduced to a front of terror.  The lines of discrimination over nationalities and religions have also been cut deeper.  Because of the horror caused by these attacks, people’s lives have not been anywhere near whatever normal they were before.

Today, I think about those people, and I pray and hope we will move forward as a country united.  We are people created in the image of God, who loves us.  Let us not forget the tragedy that happened ten years ago which is still being felt today.  Love one another.  Be there for each other.  Pray for the broken.  Give where you’re able.  Do what you can.

May God be with those who are still personally feeling the pain of 9/11.  Like a lady on TV said last night when asked about how hard the tenth anniversary was since she lost her husband in the attacks on what was also their wedding anniversary, every one of them is difficult.  It’s not about the number ten.  It is about lives.  Today, you are in my hearts.

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Ordinary Missionaries

August 20, 2010 1 Comment

When you think about long-term missionaries, you may think about people who are living on the ends of the Earth, partnering with a church or ministry to go and make disciples.  However, let me stretch your scope just a little.  Couldn’t this title also apply to people who, while they may not be on an “official” missions opportunity, have followed God’s lead to where they live, where they work, and to do whatever He asks?  I think so.

That brings me to two couples: one who are newlyweds living in one of, if not THE, most remote places in the United States.  Another are following God’s lead to graduate school, as well as the call they both have to end injustice.  What they are and will be doing is changing the world and furthering the Kingdom of God forever.  These are ordinary missionaries doing extraordinary things.

Caleb and Allison
Imagine God laying on your heart a remote part of Alaska with a population near 4,000, an extremely high suicide rate, long periods of night sky, where a gallon of milk is six dollars, and the feeling that you will one day live there.  Then, imagine your fiancée, to whom you don’t want to admit God has laid all this on your heart, telling you he’s feeling the same way and has applied for a job there.  In short, that’s the story of Allison and Caleb.  After taking a trip to Kotzebue, Alaska for school, Allison knew she’d be back one day.  What came from this was an amazing testimony to obeying God.  Today, Allison is in Kotzebue working in the career she went to school for.  She’s now been married over a month to Caleb, who first moved to Kotzebue in February after starting the job he applied for.  They are both active parts of the church they attend, and are living lives for Christ on display for others to see.  One can only praise God and expect how much of an impact Kotzebue will have because of Caleb and Allison being there.  They have truthfully followed Him.

Patrick and Charity
Their story was shared from the stage of their church to the congregation at the end of each of August 1 worship services.  These two leaders, the recently engaged Patrick and Charity, both have an adventure ahead of them that doesn’t stop with their December wedding.  With worship and justice on their hearts, they are making the move to Colorado to attend the University of Denver.  Patrick is going for his international business degree (IMBA).  Charity is going for a degree in International Disaster Psychology.  With his degree, Patrick wants to form a for-profit company that gives back to a world in need (think TOMS shoes, for example).  Charity’s degree gets her ready to meet the needs of disaster victims head-on–be it natural disasters (flood, tsunami, earthquake, drought, etc.), manmade disasters (war, terror, torture, human trafficking, etc.), or an epidemic, such as AIDS.  Both are passionate about ending human trafficking.  They also want to continue doing ministry and leading worship, traveling along the way.  Patrick and Charity are an amazing team who want to answer the very call God has placed on their lives.

In sharing the stories of these people I know, I think about how nothing is impossible with God.  I also think about how following Him can take any of us to places we never imagined going.  We’re never alone.   God equips us with His Holy Spirit, and with others to take part in life with.  When He asks us to follow Jesus Christ, He asks us to trust in Him, obey Him, and seek the way He wants us to go.  This is an open invitation to anyone.  Ordinary people like Caleb and Allison.  Ordinary people like Patrick and Charity.  Ordinary people like you and me.

What are you going to make happen with this extraordinary God?  He will direct your every path.  Where you live, where you work, where you go to school, and every part of you that makes up the rest of your life are things He has a plan for.  The life of a Christ follower is the life of a missionary.  There is no separation.  Live on mission for Jesus Christ.  Accept the extraordinary gift of being an ordinary missionary.

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God Works in Our Steps of Faith

July 26, 2010 Leave a Comment

Two questions: What do you want to change in your life?  What are you doing about it? 

Addiction: Are you trying to get out of an addiction that has held you down for weeks, months, years, or decades? 

Career: Are you looking for the job opportunity that lines up with your passions, talents, and abilities?

Finances: Are you ready to become debt-free?

Health: Want your insides to stop looking like a grease trap?

Church: Want to find a good church to call “home”?

What are you doing about it?

You may be praying, and praying in faith even.  I challenge you to take it to take things a step further.  It’s not praying alone that will bring about change in your life.  It is walking with God in obedience and taking steps of faith to do something about your situation.

God honors our faith, and we need to always be putting it into action to honor Him with it.  Otherwise, we just have words, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs (more on this here). 

So, what do you want to change in your life, and what are you doing about it?

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20

June 22, 2010 2 Comments

I’ve been reading a book called Radical by David Platt.  In the book, Platt spends some time talking about how we measure the success of churches.  While it’s easy to go down the trail of “instead of looking at it that way, look at this way,” one of the points he mentions has stuck with me the past couple of days.  He talks about the commandment of going and making disciples, and the number of people doing this meaning a great deal.  So, instead of looking at the amount of people in a Sunday morning gathering, look at how many are mobilizing the mission of Jesus Christ to the corners of the Earth.

At TrueNorth Church, one such number for the past week has been 20.

Right now through June 26th, 20 people have gone to Guatemala to help out in any way they can in carrying forth the name of Jesus Christ.  20 people are running a Vacation Bible School this week.  20 people are delivering supplies and doing various relief efforts in helping Guatemala recover from the volcano that erupted there recently. 20 people are giving up some of their summer, a week’s worth of pay or a week’s vacation time for the Kingdom of God.

I encourage you to pray for these 20 people over the next few days.  Their trip can never have enough of that.  This is also the largest group TrueNorth has ever sent to Guatemala, where our partner church is.  Therefore, 20 is a number worth rejoicing.

To find out more about the present Guatemala trip, as well as the names of those who are on it, click here.

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