Travel

Jen and I just made a 32+ hr. road trip across country. All I can say is, "Wow. God Bless all those truckers!" I'm not sure how they do it day in and day out. That's brutal. Now I see why most truckers aren't slim and trim. All you can do to pass your time is eat crappy food. I think the healthiest thing I ate on the trip was beef jerky.

Reflections on Mark 4:1-8

As I read through the familiar parable of the sower, it is interesting to think that we all fall into one of Jesus's soil categories. What kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you? Am I placing myself in an environment where the maximum amount of growth can happen? That's definitely one of Jesus's point. Seeds don't grow well on hard paths, rocky places, and spots where there is shallow soil. This type of environment is not conducive for a plant to take its roots deep and become steadfast and secure.

As I was talking with a buddy it"s interesting to see that there are a great number of people who place themselves in a pretty healthy environment and yet they still remain stunted. They simply don't grow and blossom. They do not reach the zenith of God's potential. What's up with that?

I think it is fair to say that just because you are connected to a church does not mean you are becoming all that God created you to be. Connecting with a church community does not mean you are growing and experiencing life change. You might meet others who are...and you might live vicariously through them. I would say this is where most of us live. We live Christianity through others. God is not pleased with parroting Christians! Christians who mimic and use the language of other Christians. We have these types of Christians in spades. I have been one of them and it's easy for me to slip back into that type of Christianity. It's grotesque and not what God wants for us.

God longs to work in our lives, but there is an initiative and responsibility on our part. Holiness or our becoming more like Jesus does not happen by accident. It takes time and discipline. We need to pursue God in prayer and his revealed word and ask him to show himself to us and radically change us. We need to pour ourselves out and serve others. We need to live in a community that encourages these things as well.

I'm Hurt

Ok, so I woke up last night with a pretty severe pain in my big toe (I've been waking up with a lot of pain lately). I'm not going to lie, I'm befuddled as to why my toe hurts so bad. Have you gotten hurt and have no idea how it happened? If you're like me, you start to come up with some pretty bizarre ideas on how it may have happened.

As I laid in bed wondering why my toe hurt, I tried to replay the day and recall if I fell or kicked something. Quickly moving past that I had no earthy idea how I got injured, I started to wonder if I got mysteriously bit by a spider or some insect during the night. Too tired to turn on the light, I decided to wait until morning if that were the case. Morning arrived and I discovered the pain did not seem to be from a deadly insect or spider...at least there seems to be no visible signs of a bit mark. Then my mind started to play tricks on you. I went from a spider bite to...I ate a Burger King whopper before bed. Maybe the whopper did something funky to my toe. This was the first time I've had a whopper in years...a coincidence that my left big toe is throbbing? I'm not quite sure.

Finally, I came to terms that my toe pangs are mostly likely not from a whopper and I started to wonder if I had cancer of the foot. Could I be dying and this is merely the early signs of my disease? I suppose this is a possibility (although not very probable....at least I hope not). Jen said it could be arthritis. I refuse to believe I am old enough to suffer from arthritis. I'll go with the whopper before arthritis! My new diagnosis is sleep walking. Although I know of no instances of this occuring in my past (in other words I don't have any stories from Jen or from friends and family), maybe I got up during the night and kicked something. Who knows? It's a mystery.

Mark 4:1-8

As I prepare for the second part of my I.C.E (Invest, Connect, Empower) talk tomorrow, I am struck by the mysterious nature of "connection." Connecting people to one another (e.g. community) and to the Church seems to be both intentional and organic. In other words, there is no set formula on how this takes place. I fully believe we have to be strategic, but at the same time I know God is the one who has to establish and make sure they take root.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus seems to address this issue. The farmer is intentional about scattering the seed and he recognizes that there needs to be the right environment if the seed is going to grow and flourish. Yet the farmer really doesn't have any control over the process. The only control he seems to have is that he needs to put the seed in the best possible environment (e.g. a place where there is good soil).

My prayer is that I will be an individual who is intentional about cultivating an environment for my wife, children, and friends where they can connect well with others and with God. I know I am not ultimately responsible for their growth, but I feel like I am responsible about placing them in the best possible environment.

Connection

I visited a nearby church this evening (because I have a paper that I have to complete for a summer class) and the message was on "Connection." I was excited to find out it was on this topic since this is precisely what I will be speaking on this Sunday. The speaker's main point when it comes to connection was: God works by his Spirit through his people.

I couldn't agree more, God uses his people to reach others. The Church is God's MO for reaching the world. He has no only means. He has chosen to use his Church to reach people who are far from him. The only problem I had with the talk was how self-focused it was. Her point (repeatedly stated) was that they need to come together and connect as a family. She wanted connection, but she didn't really want them to connect with those outside the church (at least it seemed that way).

As an outsider looking in, I could tell that this church really loved each other, there seemed to be a lot connection and love present, yet at the same time I noticed that this wouldn't be a very comfortable place for someone who wasn't connected to their church. There was a connection, but no connection. I can say that because not one individual greet me or introduced themselves to me. I could have introduced myself to someone, but honestly I didn't think it was my job as an outsider. Now, I didn't walk to my car crying (partly because I have a group I am connected to), but what if I was an individual starving for connection and I decided to try a church? It would probably be the last time I tried one...at least this one.

This was a little disheartening. Although I agree that there is something unique about Christian community. It's is beneficial and helpful 0n a lot of different levels, but if our Christian community never reaches outward then it never reaches God's full potential. People are hurting for community...Christians need to connect with them. Are you willing?

The Big 5

Here are some of the tips I talked about on Sunday to help people "Invest" in a relationship. I prefaced all this with a much needed statement. When we "Invest" in people we are inviting people into our lives, not the church. We're not looking to produce door-to-door evangelists, we are looking to challenge and equip people to invite people into your life because we believe community is where transformation can really happen .

Here are some things that may help...

1. Walk, Don't Wave

Waving is a nice gesture, but no meaningful relationship comes from a wave. When you see your neighbor take out the trash, why don't you walk over and have a conversation with them instead of giving a wave.

2. Find Common Ground

In other words, look for a connecting point that resonates with you. If you love sports and you see someone wearing a team you like or dislike, ask questions, tease them about how your team is better, etc.

3. Get their Contact Info (Facebook, cell number for texting, Twitter, email, etc.)

Don't be creepy about this! If you're part of a network (school, parks, sports, etc.) and you know you will see this individual again, you don't have to ask for their digits the first time you meet, but if you have a great conversation with someone and you know you probably won't see them again...you gotta get their information. What's the worst that can happen? They won't want to be your friend...I've had plenty of experience with that...it's not that traumatic.

4. Invite them to a Social Event

Once you get their contact information (which I hope is legitimate), make sure you invite them to something low-key and fun. Go grab a coffee or beer, go to sporting or park event, invite them to play video games if that's your thing. It doesn't really matter what it is as long as it is low-key and fun (and appropriate).

5. Don't Do This Alone!!

Do something fun with someone else you know. Don't feel like you have to do this by yourself. It's easier to meet others in a group...plus it models this lifestyle to those you bring with you.

Invest

Yesterday, I started our series entitled, I.C.E. This is a series that is designed to challenge and equip our church to become intentional about pursuing people, especially those outside the Church. I talked about how this is not something that was intended to bring discomfort, but merely what followers of Jesus do. Did not Jesus actively pursue people, especially those who were far from him? He most certainly did. Yet, why is this so hard...and SOOO uncomfortable for us? I don't have all the answers for this question, but one thing I do know. Jesus did not mandate us to pursue people to make us miserable. In other words, it is not as though he likes to see us squirm and this was a good way to bring this about.

Rather, I think the very opposite is true. He knows something profound...we were created to be relational. Just as our God is a relational God (both with himself and with us), he created us to be in relationships with him as well as with others. Relationships are for our benefit and joy! This might be the reason we think hermits are weird. It's abnormal to live in isolation. Not only that, this is why solitary confinement is a punishment. We don't want to be alone, we want to be relationships with others...it's life-giving.

Therefore, even though it may be uncomfortable for us to pursue and initiate relationships with people, it really is for our joy and benefit. Think about the relationships you are the closest with, whether romantically or platonic, all of them share the same common denominator....someone took a risk and put themselves out there and something great came from it. When we live like this on a more frequent basis, the possibility of reaching people for Jesus and becoming greater friends along the way are endless.

Thankful

I've spent the last week in Minnesota spending time with family and interviewing with a few different churches within the Twin Cities and central Minnesota region. Even though it's a semi-stressful time since I'm not exactly sure what the future holds for us all, I am deeply thankful to have a wife who is sympathetic and encouraging and two energized kids that are a lot of fun to be around. Although I wish I had a job in the bag awaiting me when I arrive, I know that God loves me and cares for me and has never lets us down the past. He has constantly provided for us and I have no reason to think that he won't continue with his perfect track record. All I know is that I'd rather be jobless and walking with God and enjoying my family, then secure and coming home to a miserable, unhappy wife and kids that don't want anything to do with me. There are scores in both camps.

Off the Grid

So, I spent the last two days with my family and in-laws at the family cabin. Being the city-slicker that I am, it was quite the experience. The cabin is absolutely beautiful. It's tucked back deep in the woods out in the middle of nowhere....and I mean nowhere. Even though there was no running water, electricity, plumbing, etc. It was a very enjoyable weekend. The outhouse was the scariest part, but I have to admit that it was very well maintained....well as much as an outhouse can be maintained!

The next closest town is called Hackensack, MN...population 285! We went in town for the firework show. Yes, if you can believe it, they had a firework show and everyone in Hackensack showed up for it. It was quite the spectacle, especially when I went to the bathroom and some gentleman who had a little too much to drink decided to barf in both the urinal and the sink! Glad he didn't spew on me.

I am also pleased to write that I am quite the fisherman too. I don't want to brag, but some things just need to be shared. I caught several fish. It shouldn't matter that the fish I caught were oversized sardines with Ben's plastic batman fishing pole. I was just pleased I was catching something. Normally, I don't catch anything so I'd rather throw back minnows than sit there and be mocked by the smarter fish. Great memories and great times with family! Can you ask for anything better?