Did you know…

Here’s a follow up video to my last post. Very interesting video. Enjoy.

If you reading this then you already know that ANYONE can have a blog these days. Social media (ie Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc) have taken over the way this generation communicates. We don’t call, we text. We don’t e-mail we facebook (and seriously my spell check needs to accept that “Facebook” is a word, heck it’s a noun/verb/adjective). When was the last time you sent someone a FB message and then were annoyed by how long it took them to get back to you?

The video below was just so startling to me at the magnitude of the impact social media now has. It isn’t a fad that will pass. Sure new things will come, and quickly, but the truth that we communicate differently is here to stay. It is a shift in the culture we live in. And at this point to say “I’m not really a Facebook/Youtube kind of guy” is like saying “I really think electricity has run its course…its on the way out.”

If this is true and the most powerful communication tool is directly in our hands how will we use it. Its something to consider the next time you’re on FB playing Farmville, Fishville, or Milli Vanilli (Trying for a pun…too much??? Perhaps). The next time you find yourself in hours 3, 4, or 10 of YouTube videos ask yourself, “Is there a way I can build the Kingdom of God with facebook?”

Is it a silly question? I don’t think so. The people on your FB page are more likely to avoid a product if you post a negative experience. Conversely, if you praise a restaurant you went to your FB buddies are likely to try it as well. Do we use our social media to show people the gospel that we say drives our existence?

You don’t have to post the Roman road as your status and I am certainly not endorsing those “if you believe in Jesus you’ll make this your status…if you don’t you hate God” messages. No its simple, you believe in the gospel…check. The gospel, the good news is fundamentally the way you see the world…check. Why not just work in something…anything really about how God is working in your life. How your excited about church tomorrow…how you enjoyed church yesterday.

**Authors note: To make this work you might actually have to let God work in your life and you might actually have to believe the gospel…but that’s another post altogether. **

Hey, just food for thought. Enjoy the video. God is Everywhere.

I recently updated to the newest version of software from Word Press (the platform that runs my blog). And as is the case with most “upgrades” it has been a huge pain. I’ve been working for over a week to fix what wasn’t broken before I “upgraded”. Note the use of quotation marks because I can’t adequately express the sarcasm.

Don’t get me wrong…I love the new toys. I have techno-joy! But it has been a joy learning a lot about code. I’ve been reading and editing code, so finally after all these years I can truly call myself a Coder. Its a great day.

I know this wasn’t the most interesting post so to make it up to you enjoy this video. Its a band called Boyce Avenue and I’ve really enjoyed them the last few weeks. Until next time, God is Everywhere.

I mentioned this on my facebook a week or so ago, but I’ve got more to say and being that this is just the forum here we go. I have grown extremely weary of the wall to wall coverage of Tiger Woods. I’m tired of hearing about his press conference and I’m tired of the speculation being made about his personal life. At this point I, not a golf fan, really only want to know when he’ll be returning to golf. Anything else, don’t care. I stand by my original comments that his personal life none of my business. As a matter of fact I would extend this to almost any celebrity.

Tiger Woods is a golfer. He is a very good golfer (possibly the best ever, but I neither have the credentials nor do I care enough to make that argument), and he makes a lot of money on endorsements because he is the best in the world. I’ve never really understood the idea of endorsements. If I buy Nike golf products I’m still not going to be a good golfer, and really did anyone think Tiger ever drove a Buick?

The ONLY reason this is a news story is because ESPN, TMZ and all the other outlets know they can make a buck off our voyeuristic culture that will tune in to head the latest scrap of gossip about Tiger. The depths the tabloid culture sinks to is to say the least disturbing, but it exists only because we consume it at an alarming rate.

Tiger is just the latest celebrity to find how curious we are. Here’s the top and bottom of it, He’s a golfer! If the story is not about golf then Tiger should not be in it. What Tiger did to his family was horrible but that’s just it…he did it to his family. I’m not a part of that family and he doesn’t own me any kind of explanation or access. What happens off the golf course is not my concern nor could I care about it less.

The idea that Tiger should be condemned for his actions more than anyone else is just silly. The moral outrage just startles me. Again I’ll emphasize that I think his actions were horrible and I feel for his family, but he’s not a role model. He’s never said, “be like me.” Perhaps I’d understand if he was a spokesperson for focus on the family or something, but he isn’t, he’s just a golfer. If you look up to Tiger or you allow you kids to look up to Tiger without being parent enough to give them context then you deserve the fall you got when he fell off your unrealistic pedestal.

Really my complaint is just that I can’t watch Sports Center or PTI without have to endure more about Tiger. I know football is over but can’t we find something to talk about. Sadly for Tiger if this story broke in the fall it wouldn’t be a headline for more than a couple days. It would have been buried by the land slide that is the BSC and the NFL. But because it’s a slow time in sports news we’re stuck hearing more about Tiger. Maybe I just miss football…that’s probably it!

Throughout the month of February AMP has been seriously ridiculous. No, seriously, that’s been the whole month. We’ve been talking about the ridiculous. About how it’s crazy that God would love us this much and how God works in ways that sometime just don’t make any sense at all (ask Abraham about that). But in the midst of our ridiculous theme God decided to seriously work.

We’ve been leading up to this week for several weeks now. Laying the ground work by discussing how God’s ways are not limited to the things that make sense to us (thank goodness), and we talked about difference between grace and justice.

Justice is getting what you deserve. I asked the students if they were promised $10 for cutting the grass what’s the 1^st thing they want when they got done. Of course they want their $10 because that’s what they deserve. On the other hand, I asked how they’d feel if their parents came around at the end of the month with a tab. What if they wanted your part of the rent, food money, or utilities? At that point no one was as interested in fair play. We only want fair when it’s convenient for us.

Grace is not getting what we deserve. Grace is our tab being picked up by someone else. Grace is more than we can understand and more than we can ever repay. God’s grace is limitless and there is nothing we’ve done, nothing we can or ever will do that can over shadow God’s grace. And though we’re quick to think, “sure that true for everyone else but not me” there are no exceptions to grace.

All this leads to this week’s AMP. With the idea of grace and God’s unusual plans in mind we turned to the cross. Only God could have come up with this plan. God created. And God created not so we’d just bow down but gave us the will to choose God. We being the infinitely bright creatures we are we chose everything else.

But God had us covered. What does any good parent do when their child falls? God picked us up. Why? Because God loved each of us so much that God give Himself in our place so we could know true life and real love. It wasn’t so God could lord it over us forever and remind us of our failure but so we would be reminded of God’s love. Jesus was the Word of God and that word was a love letter. Every insult hurled at Christ as he walked to the cross was an “I love you”. Each nail was, “I choose you”. His death was a sonnet that shames all other poetry. His resurrection was a declarative, “You are mine!”

But still in light of all that we are scared of what we might have to give up to receive this grace. Of all the seriously ridiculous ideas, this is the winner. Oh no, we might not get to sleep around, or watch filthy movies. How could we settle for the love of the Holy, Infinite, and Glorious God of everything if we don’t get to see Saw 83. Our God loves without limits, and that is seriously ridiculous!

This week 3 of our students decided they couldn’t live for anything less than God’s love and they accepted Christ as their Savior. Even as I write this 24 hours removed I am still overwhelmed by the magnitude of that truth. Three souls I love with my whole heart will worship with me for all eternity now. Yesterday I was worried about the songs the band would play and the video I’d show and all the while God was busy rolling out the welcome mat for the kids. God is amazing and good and everything else I can’t even begin to describe. Our God is just seriously ridiculous.

The second day of skiing is always a little more difficult. First, you’re still very sore from the first day of skiing. Second, your first day’s experience messes up your second day. If you did really well the first day you almost always go into the second day a little too overconfident. If your first day “didn’t live up to expectations” (translation you spent more time horizontal than vertical) then you go into the second day one bad fall from calling it quits.

Our second day stated well. We broke into several groups. The crazy jokers who thought there wasn’t a hill too steep. Then there were the ones who could stay upright most of the time but also stayed more to the medium difficulties.  And finally there were was the conservative crew. Though we got them to some of the tougher trails (and they did excellent) they really needed to stay to the more familiar runs.

Throughout the day it was really cool how everyone took turns skiing with everyone else. The groups mixed naturally and easily. We had a good time skiing then hanging in the lodge, and back to the slopes. We stayed to ski at night because throwing yourself down a mountain on two skinny strips of wood isn’t “fun” enough, let’s do it in the dark.

Unfortunately, our night skiing was interrupted by injury. We had one student take a bad fall. Not because of anything he did anything wrong or stupid, but just because falling happens. I’ve got to tell you, it’s always fun, as a youth leader, to get the phone call saying one of your students is at the first aid station about to go to the hospital with a broken arm. Good news/bad news, his arm ended up not being broken but he did have a mild concussion. At this point he’s doing good and just taking it easy while everything settles back into place. It was a sour note on an otherwise great trip.

Off the slopes the trip was equally positive. Our group had good chemistry and for the most part got along really well. One night we had an impromptu jam session in the hotel hallway. Almost the entire group sat out there for over an hour just singing through most of the praise songs in our folder. It was cool to watch something so pure just happen. No planning, no powerpoint, just worship.

We talked about “the call” we each have on our lives. We heard about Moses’ call, out of the normal day-to-day rut, into God’s extraordinary plan. We learned from Elisha that God isn’t limited to what we expect. And from Joshua we saw that God calls us whether we feel ready or not.

All in all I think we had a great trip and I wouldn’t trade my students for anything. I have been blessed with an amazing group and I love each of them. Alright enough of the sappy stuff. I’m looking forward to next year’s trip and I’m excited to see what God will do with the seeds planted this week.

God is Everywhere.

Our first day on the slopes couldn’t have gone better. The conditions were amazing. There was fresh snow overnight and it continued on and off most of the day. The sun poked out a few times to give a little relief from the wind, but we also got to see the snow blowing around which is a sight this Georgia boy has only seen in snow globes.

I was very proud of all of our first time skiers. They (As I am writing this Josh is sitting next to me taking great offence that I have yet to mention the snowboarders who also did well. I know, it’s a bit annoying but there you go. We all have a cross to bear. [He is also correcting my grammar])…as I was saying, they all made great progress and even tackled a couple blue runs.

Its interesting that some folks just take to skiing and are just off and running for some we had to work step by step to build their confidence. At the end of the day we all made it down the mountain in some form or another. Some quickly, some slowly, some gracefully, some…um how shall I say…less gracefully, but no one was left on the mountain.

One of the biggest challenges when on the slopes is facing a new hill. On a familiar run you know where the tricky spots are, where you need to control your speed, and where it’s best to open it up and build momentum. On a new trail you’re never really sure what is coming. It can be paralyzing. Standing at the top of a steep drop not knowing where you’ll be when you reach the bottom there is no sane mind that isn’t at least a little concerned and for most of us it just pure terror. But as of this publication standing at the top afraid has never gotten anyone to the bottom.

We all face those terrifying moments in life. We are always happier sticking to the familiar than venturing into new and often scary waters, but in the moments when we feel least capable is when we find God being the most sufficient. God is because we aren’t and that’s why nothing can seperate us from the love of God. Neither height nor depth, not black diamond or mild concussion, God is with us in all of it. One might say God is everywhere.

The Christmas gift was a tradition begun by the early church as a way to help those who needed it. So the natural progression of course over the last 1500 years is the cluster of “I, Me, My” that Christmas has turned into now. How did we go from feeding those with no food to the mountain of over indulgence?

Of course, for the sake of full disclosure, I am not one to abstain from much of the Christmas gluttony, but I think its important to keep a little perspective. This week I read one of the most well known verses in the Christian tradition, and I think I may have put it in its true context for the first time. Thanks to Tim Tebow most everyone knows Philippians 4.13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” But when you pull back and read all of Phil 4 you see Paul is not describing the ability to perform superhuman works.

Paul was thanking the church for their help to him in troubled times, and he assured them that he had had times of great need and time of abundance, but in either Paul knew that Christ would carry him through. Likewise, we should be more reliant on Christ’s prevision and less on our own plans and schemes.

At Christmas, as I sit in the middle of a tower of wrapping paper and watch Cee play with more toys than she knows what to do with (secretly waiting for her to go to bed so I can play with my new toys), I am reminded that my family is richly blessed, and that in all things we will be preserved by the hand of Christ, and we will honor Him for that. God is everywhere.

PS. After writing this it came to pass that Aiden Hardeman was still born early Christmas morning. Daniel and Nikki, the Odd Kouple, have been in many of our prayer for months now. We all knew the prognosis, but as I read the message about Aiden I couldn’t help but break for my friends. While the pain had to be great they are the embodiment of this passage. Though their pain has been all too bitter they have glorified God through their struggle, and have been thankful for God’s mercies. They have live what it means to do all things through Christ. Please pray for my friends.

Snip, snip, snip. Approximately 7 sec and it was over.  She was afraid it wasn’t going to be enough but I had come this far and there was no turning back now. We did it. I’m glad I had a friend with me, it made sure I would be too embarrassed to cry.

No more ponytail, no more hair ties, no more…

That’s right; I went in and cut my hair today (Yes, that was a lot of build up for that, thank you). It’s been coming on for a while now, but I just crossed the 10 inch mark Locks of Love requires for a donation. There was a lot of flip flopping on my part. Part of me was ready to just do it and get it over with, but on the other hand its not exactly a decision that is quickly reversed. I finally decided that I would cut it when it was long enough to donate to Locks of Love.

For those of you that may not know, Locks of Love is a great organization that provides hair pieces to kids suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Their goal is to help sick restore a little bit of normalcy to their lives. I highly recommend them to anyone interested.

When I first got in the chair the very nice stylist was patient with me in my last minute cold feet, but as she measured she was concerned that I might not have enough hair. She was afraid she’d have to cut it too close to get the full 10 inches. But I was in the chair now. No turning back. “Just do it” I mumbled to her. I was glad my friend Bekah came with (the same Bekah who made a midnight run to Wal-Mart the last time I had a hair related saga). She dutifully took pictures and attempted to distract me. 20 min later it was over. I had my new dew and a baggy with a long use-to-be-attached ponytail in it.

Hair grows back (most of the time, now a little more slowly and thinner than it use to), and in the grand scheme of things it’s not that big a deal. I don’t mean to be overly nostalgic or anything. I just wonder if I’ve now crossed some line, and if I did am I ok with that. I’m beginning to think I’m developing multiple personalities. My students constantly remind me, both verbally and with our increasingly differing world views, that I’m not a kid, but at the same time I don’t feel like an adult. I’m stunned very time people ask me a question expecting direction. I’m even more surprised to hear that I have an answer. Its good to know though when I feel the weight of age pressing down I can remind myself that I happily watch Phineas and Ferb on the Disney channel, by myself.  God is Everywhere.

Are Christians in the church the most selfish generous people or are we the most generous selfish people? Why are we all so focused on having life our way? What we want, what we like. At this rate the songs of our faith will be “It’s All About Me”, “Lord I Lift My Name On High”, and “Have Mine Own My Lord”. When did Jesus ever teach us about getting our way? I remember Him specifically saying our ways are not God’s ways, I remember a lot denying ourselves, but I’m still trying to find the passage where God tells us that making sure things are “just the way we like it” is at the top of God’s to do list.

(Before I continue, let me make this disclaimer: The following comments are intended for the Church as a universal body and are not issues specific to any one body of believers. If anyone is offended by any of the comments below I am sorry you are, but they most likely apply, so if you are thin skinned stop reading now and let us avoid any unpleasantries that will likely end up back on this blog as a later entry.)

I’ve been in ministry for about 9 years now (pastorally speaking, that’s almost 10 years and that adds weight to what I’m about to say), and I am always astounded by the generosity and selfish that we, the church, display. I have been blessed by individuals and families that have selflessly given money to send a needing youth on a trip, or provided for a need without any fanfare, but then those same people will flat out refuse to consider changing anything about the way they do church to reach those same youth. A good while back I was told, in the same sentence (no punctuation, a comma at best), by a nice older lady that she hates that there aren’t as many youth in the worship service, but don’t go bringing that band in.

Basically we are upset that people who don’t like fish aren’t coming to an all-you-can-eat seafood spread, and the ones that are there aren’t getting much to eat. I know my opinion on this issue will be disregarded by some and it is true that as a youth pastor and modern worship leader I do have strong opinions; however, don’t hear this as a discussion about music. That would be missing the point. No, this is about reaching a generation.

I am scared to death that if we continue to call the youth in our Church the “church of tomorrow” that tomorrow may never come. With students leaving the church at the rate of nearly 80% after high school our tomorrow is looking thinner and thinner. Youth need to know about Jesus TODAY! Why are we not doing EVERYTHING in our power to reach youth and children? Some would say we are, but what message is it when the youth have “their time” in a separate youth area, and the kids have their own area, but the main worship and the heart of the church is not geared to reach these young people. They are ignored but expected to come and sit and listen to someone talk to their parents (and in some cases their grandparents) about things they can’t relate to. No wonder they are leaving the church.

I’ve never met a parent or grandparent that wouldn’t instantly trade their life for their young one. We will give money to send them on trips, we will get a youth pastor to teach them, but we won’t allow their music in our church. Isn’t it the responsibility of the mature to make allowances for the less mature? When Cee became a part of our family I had to change. For years I have always gotten up and turned on Sports Center (again, Tiff, the more mature one making allowances for the less mature one), but now Cee wants to see Mickey in the morning. What if I said I’ve watched Sports Center for years and that’s just how I wake up so Cee need to learn its value or I’ll put a TV in Cee’s room and she can watch Mickey in there while I watch mine? I would never do that (while Tiff was around…just kidding). Cee needs me more than I need Sports Center.

Church I’m not saying that we have to do thing any certain way because the truth is not in the music, or the décor. The truth is found when we are more interested in saving souls than the backdrop it happens on. Youth aren’t saved by cool leaders or the newest programs. They’re saved by the Gospel and by people who love them enough to tell them about it. A gospel built on music or appearance is not a saving gospel. Salvation is only in the Gospel of Christ and the last time I checked the His Gospel has never had a soundtrack (though if it did I’m sure Zondervan would have optioned it years ago). Until we are willing to give up EVERYTHING to save souls we will never be more than really generous selfish people. God is Everywhere.