ENGAGE Retreat and Hebrews 11

So I just got back from taking about 30 student leaders in our high school ministry on an overnight retreat. I'm just now getting to know these students so it was a blessing hanging out with them on a retreat like this. There's nothing quite like driving a van full of teenagers singing "Grin Again Gang" for 30 minutes straight and telling stories of a barber named Bill, his doll-faced wife, and and the dinosaur he tried to shave {don't ask}! I'm learning that transitioning into a new ministry is a lot like being a space shuttle making a re-entry into the stratosphere. It's a bit bumpy and awkward at times but the payoff for persevering is well worth it.

During the retreat I shared a devotion with these students. The Lord had put the topic of "real faith" on my heart. We read from the incredible faith chapter, Hebrews 11. What amazes me about this scripture is that you see what it means to really have faith. In the case of everyone mentioned in this chapter (From Noah to Rahab to everyone else in between!) there is a specific "faith progression". First, God made a promise. Then the person with faith risked it all by believing God. Then God showed up in a HUGE way. But none of the people were shown exactly how everything would turn out before they lived by faith and believed God.

The scripture that burned a hole in my heart was the last part of verse 27. When talking about Moses, the writer of Hebrews says, "he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." What?! Does anyone else see something weird here?! How in the flip do you see something OR some-one that's invisible?! Then it hit me. The more often I risk it all to live by faith the more often I will likely see God. If I never live by ridiculous faith I probably won't see the invisible God. Moses saw him who is invisible because he believed God and obeyed Him. The result: God showed up! Moses saw God show up! Moses saw God!!

This idea seems to carry even into the New Testament when we look at the ministry of Jesus. The end of Matthew chapter 13 tells us about Jesus going to his hometown of Nazareth. He had grown up there which made it difficult for the people there (parents of the kids he played with, teachers at the local school, etc.) to believe he was actually Messiah. They did not have faith. The result is what seems to me to be a haunting scripture.

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (Matthew 13:58)

There seems to be a connection between believing God and seeing God move. Rather than doing more miracles in a place where unbelief reigned in order to prove who he is, Jesus instead does few miracles. All because these people lacked faith.

The bottom line for me is this: I don't want to miss God. I don't want to not see the invisible God. May my life be one of ridiculous faith that I may see God move in powerful ways. And if He chooses not to move in the ways I long for Him to I will still believe that He must have a better plan than I ever did!

I believe that God has brought me to this place. I believe that God has brought me to this ministry for such a time as this. I believe that God has brought me to these students. I believe that God has brought me to these adult volunteers. I believe that God has led me to this city. For such a time as this I find myself here. I believe that God is getting ready to unleash a whirlwind of power. I want to risk it all for the sake of my King. And if I perish I perish. But either way..... I will see God

My Trip to Philly

Last week I went on my very first trip with the high school students of 12Stone. With the help of some incredible adult volunteers from the ministry I led a trip into the inner city of Philadelphia, PA. We spent the week doing ministry on Kensington Avenue. It's one of the most broken and dark places I have ever been. The streets are laced with prostitutes (male and female), drug dealers, and crowds of homeless people. The graffitti-clad buildings cast shadows over the people while the air is constantly filled with the sound of booming-bass from cars thumping the likes of Chris Brown and Nelly. And all the while time seems to stand still under the elevated train that covers Kensington.

Throughout the week we worked with some incredible people in an organization called AIM. These people have such a heart for the people on Kensington Avenue and all those living in Philly's inner-city. They actually live there year-round. They minister full-time to the broken people who fill those streets. 

We walked the streets of Philly having providential conversations with the homeless, grilling them hot dogs, serving them steaming coffee, and praying for them as they expressed needs. Much can be learned in a week like this. The LORD taught me some staggering truths during my time in Philly (The Birthplace of America). I'd like to share a few of them now.

• -I've been incredibly judgemental toward the homeless and their plight. I've acted like a jerk toward them my whole life. I need to grow up. I repent.
  
• -I see why Jesus chose to spend so much time hanging out with the "riff-raff". There's not an ounce of pre-tense in them. They're just happy you're there.
  
• - Processed hot dogs smothered with sauerkraut and canned chili can actually taste good when you're eating them with hurting homeless people in Philly who really appreciate them.
  
• - People living on the streets care about the same thing I do like the presidential election, the war in Iraq, and whether or not the Braves will beat the Phillies in the NL East.
  
• - There's so much more to Christianity than just Bible studies & church attendance. Start to serve and give yourself away to those in need and you'll realize this.
  
• - The only real difference between those of us living in the suburbs and those who sleep in the dark alleys of Kensington Avenue in Philly is where we sleep and live. Our struggles are the same. Lust, selfishness, addictions, anger, greed, and pride to name a few.
  
• - The absence of fathers who care for and lead their families seems to be the root of all this brokenness.
  
• - People in Philly really hate the Dallas Cowboys. I mean with a vitriolic hate.
  
• - Flyers fans are psycho!
  
• - One day even the darkness, sin, and despair so visible in a place like Kensington Avenue will be defeated by Jesus Christ. Every knee on Kensington will one day bow to the King.
  

Here's to you, Philly! Thank you for the lessons.

Finding Jesus in the Craziness of Life

For the past few weeks I have felt as if I'm a man on a unicycle, jumping ramps while juggling knives and trying to eat a granny smith apple while blindfolded. Yes, life has been just that crazy for me. Now, I've learned over the years that life in full-time vocational ministry is always pretty insane, but the past few weeks have been a bit unorthodox even for me. As you can probably tell I haven't even been able to shave out a few minutes to do some blogging! Just a few of the tasks I have been in are as follows:

• Interviewing, answering questions for, and hiring 7 new summer interns for the Student & Young Adult Ministries of Big Valley Grace.

• Seeking the Lord's will as to who our new Junior High Pastor will be.

• Setting up who the speaker & worship band will be for this October's EVENT sponsored by www.hisecho.com.


• Writing 8 sermons in the span of 2 weeks to preach when we take our High School Students down to Mexico on our Mission Trip.


• Writing the regular weekly sermons and attempting to continue my normal weekly routine of church meetings, emails (many which have gone unanswered b/c I absolutely hate email with a jihad-like passion), phone calls, and counselling meetings with parents.


• Oh....and to top it all off I am one of the primary planners for our Mission Trip which we begin in just a few days, taking over 215 people from our High School Ministry (175 of which are high school students).

Now, you need to understand that I'm not complaining about any of this. I mean seriously, when you compare it to the kinds of storms say the 1st Century Christ-followers endured this is like a Kindergarten field trip! I do, however, confess that throughout all of this my heart has been yearning just to sit in quiet and hear from Jesus. What's interesting is that even though all of the previously forementioned tasks I have been involved in are good things they in no way bring my soul true satisfaction or rest. I mean, they all have to do with things I love; casting & implementing a vision, dreaming MUCHO GRANDE dreams, investing in young leaders and preaching the Word. But at the end of each day something in my heart still longs for more of Jesus. And so I go to bed each night and realize once again that the scriptures are for real. It's during times like these when I remember the words from that Asaph Psalm:

"You're all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth!" (PSALM 73:25)