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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Differences

May 14, 2010 Leave a comment

We let our differences separate us too often.  It doesn’t take much to permit us to put up walls around our ways of doing things.  There have been fatal arguments over something as silly as which car make is better.  It’s ridiculous that we fall into a trap of our way being the only way.  I’m not talking about the bigger things in life such as faith here, but rather the smaller things about everyday taste preferences.  When we seclude ourselves from the things that aren’t necessarily going to be something we like, we are limiting our contact and relationships with others.  That’s why we should embrace differences.

Lately, I’ve found myself getting in some petty arguments.  Not even arguments really, but more so if one person says, “night,” I will say, “day.”  It’s really cut me off from learning from people; my friends at that.  I don’t think we should ever get so set in our ways that we can’t bother to appreciate what others are into.  Yet I do this.  The more I think about it, the more I realize it happens.  Not cool at all. 

Relationship-building shouldn’t just be about building on the things you and a person can relate to, but also the things you cannot.  If you want to befriend someone who only likes the things you do, acts like you, thinks like you, etc., then stop reading and just go stand in front of your mirror.  I bet you’d get bored talking to yourself pretty quick.  That’s because we need more out of life than what we can offer ourselves.

Therefore, keep an open mind about things.  I’m not saying throw away your morals.  Remember, this isn’t about any morally objectionable things anyway, but rather the things like restaurants, TV shows, music, etc.  Expand your horizons.  That doesn’t mean you will like all of them.  You probably have a favorite way to get home, but that doesn’t mean you don’t know about other possibilities.  Know people for who they are, and for what they enjoy out of life.   Do this for the sake of letting others share their lives with you.  It does matter, and you won’t regret it.

Thoughts?

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Furniture Store and Place of Worship

January 27, 2010 Leave a comment

I remember the first time I drove past the side of an IKEA on my way to Charlotte, NC.  I saw a big, blue building with yellow letters on it, but I didn’t know much about it.  Days later, I heard a friend get excited about going there on a Charlotte trip she was taking.  It seems like I’ve heard about IKEA regularly since then; even seeing it in the movie (500) Days of Summer. 

IKEA, you have my attention. 

None of this made me really want to consider going.  After all, it’s a bunch of furniture, and that’s not my idea of a trip destination.  That was until I read this post on my Bible study leader’s blog last week.  The post speaks of how exciting of a shopping experience IKEA is; even comparing it to Disney. 

The night of my next Bible study, I asked what was so special about IKEA.  I was then presented with all the wonders of going there.  When you walk in, you’re given supplies to help you shop.  There is a level that is nothing but showrooms–literal “rooms” simulating apartments, dorms, houses, etc.–and a second level where you do your actual shopping.  There’s a restaurant, and since IKEA is Swedish, so is the food.  I was told you can spend hours there.  The furniture is sleek and contemporary, and the price ranges are pretty affordable.  As if this didn’t do the trick, I was then handed an IKEA catalog to get a little taste for myself. 

I want to go to IKEA now.

What I ultimately walked away with are thoughts on how I to share about my church with someone in a way that produces the same result as IKEA being shared with me.  What do I say or do when telling someone about my church?  Like IKEA, do people want to hear how big and modern it is?  Should I tell them we brew fresh Guatemalan coffee; that when they walk in, they will be handed items to help them connect to the worship service? 

While all of these things are part of creating a positive and memorable reaction upon arrival, I’m not sure that’s what people want to hear about when you’re sharing about your church.  After all, they could just go to IKEA for most of what’s mentioned above. 

People who are considering going to your church are looking for answers, and not a free donut.  Tell them about what your church has meant to you.  Share your story.  Tell them about the lives you’ve seen changed.  Share with them the things God is doing in your church.  Help them become hopeful that where you worship is a place they may get their answers.  Then feed them a donut and hand them a program once they’re there.  Pray for them, excitedly share about where you go, and lead them to a place that may leave them saying, “I want to go to church Sunday.”

Take these things I’ve mentioned, and then go all “IKEA” with them.

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Upside Down

January 15, 2010 5 Comments

I live in a little city called North Augusta, SC.  You’ll find it on Google Maps if you click the zoom button enough times.  North Augusta is where I’ve lived all my life.  I grew up in a church that is part of the cityscape.  I now go to church in the facilities I went to high school in.  I’ve taken many walks in Riverview Park.  I remember when the arrival of a Walmart Supercenter was a big deal.  North Augusta is my home.

What I have a hard time imagining is what would happen if all of my surroundings were turned upside down.  What if some of the landmarks of the city crumbled to the ground?  What if a majority of the people I know lost their homes instantly?  What would it be like if every street I went on in North Augusta was filled with devastation? 

That is the harsh reality thousands are facing in Haiti today.  What the people of Port-au-Prince call home is for the most part destroyed.  Many have lost family members in the tragedy that is presently in existence.  They are going through this where they call home.

I can’t picture spending one night in the street, and many are living this way.  There are people tirelessly looking for their family and people who have been notified their families are gone. 

Imagine if your world was turned upside down.  That is the reality in Haiti.  What you’re seeing is real.  These people are breathing the same air you are.  Those who were killed as a result of the damage are as precious as the person you love the most.  God made us all.  Would you do everything you could for those closest to you?  Do what you can for these people.

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New Year Resolutions

December 29, 2009 2 Comments

I’ve never been much for New Year resolutions.  This is mainly because I’ve either seen them be things that flop or overly relied on.  In the flop category, you have things like massive weight loss.  In the overly relied on category, you have people who say things like, “You know what? It’s a new year, and this is a new me.”  New Year’s diet resolutions usually crash and burn, and no one’s life changes based on a 10-second countdown.

Still, I’ve come to find New Year’s as a time to set realistic goals.  Last New Year, I committed to this blog, began creating it, and went forth with my thoughts on the abstract and concrete.  I’ve heard of someone else saying they will not return missed calls to people who don’t leave voicemails–if it’s important enough, they’ll leave a message.  This New Year, one of the things I’m considering is beginning Christmas savings early on so I’m not as reliant on those last few paychecks to take care of all my gift-buying. 

What are some realistic goals you want to set for yourself this New Year? Oh, and maybe it is massive weight loss or some different life decisions you need. Just don’t expect these things to happen overnight.

Happy New Year!

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Break Out the Stamps: The Result

December 2, 2009 Leave a comment

A few months ago, I wrote a post entitled Break Out the Stamps.  It was about sending words of encouragement to someone you know the way John did to Gaius in the Bible.  At the end of it, I said I would let you know how this went for me.  The answer to that: great and enriching.  We have such a wonderful gift God gives us in the ability to encourage others.  Do you realize people pay for encouragement?  There’s a whole market for inspiration, and that isn’t bad at all, but we get to personally communicate encouragement to people and use it to strengthen our relationships at nothing more than the cost of a stamp.  Amazing.  Don’t neglect being the blessing you can be to someone.

Now is a great time to write out some words of encouragement like those found in 3 John.  It’s Christmastime, and cards are going out left and right.  Who will you send Christmas cards to?  What will the say?  Who are the one or two people on your list who you can really pour into by loving them in the truth?  Don’t pass this up. 

I hope you’ll be able to write a result before this season’s over.

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It Takes Action

September 19, 2009 1 Comment

There’s a lot of talk out there and starts with a phrase like what’s wrong with the church today…People are great at forming a hypothesis about the issues around them.  If you remember from science class, a hypothesis is only the beginning of carrying out a project to conclusion.  Unfortunately, it is also where many people stop when they feel things are not as they should be in the Body of Christ.  This causes a bigger issue than what may have been the initial problem at hand.  Bitterness and apathy are now in the picture because action was never taken.

I’ve never been big on the what’s wrong with the church today…sentiments.  I try to empathize with the real people with real emotions behind them, but never find myself joining the party.  I’m more concerned about being the disciple I was called to be, making an impact with those who I was led to, and being part of the solution.  I find those three things to be a much better use of my time than the former.  If we are going to make a difference in the lives of others, our communities and the rest of the world, we need to take action.

I do, however, come back to the conclusion that there is one thing the Church cannot go without: love.  We need it to survive.  We need it to stand out.  We need it to fulfill our calling.  God is love, and the Church without God is just another secular institution among the world.  Without God, the Church  may still be a charitable, motivational, philanthropic organization, but only with God will it be what it was designed to: a living organism that is the hope of the world; making an impact for the Kingdom and leading people to the cross of Jesus Christ.

The thing about love is that we need to find it for ourselves.  It’s not hypothetical, and is as real as God.  How real is God?  That’s how real your love needs to be.  It’s the most powerful thing we have.  Don’t ever think it’s a mushy cop-out to the issues we face.  John 13:35 goes as far as to say it is by our love that the world will know us.  When people see your love, do they identify you as someone who is following Christ, or at the very least see there is something different about you they aren’t getting elsewhere?

The more action we take in the way of love–and yes, love takes doing–the more people will see us as a vibrant and vital organism that is changing the world we live in. 

Let’s stop making hypotheses about what’s wrong with the church today and start working towards the conclusion that is spelled out to all of us.  It all comes down to love.  Take action.

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