Friday, December 31, 2010

Post-Holiday Blues and a longing for something more

The longer and longer I live (only 24 years so far, but I feel older) I realize more and more that any longing and desire for anything in this world will always dissapoint. If you are like me this past week (that week between Christmas and New Years) may have been pretty blah, boring, a let-down, felt some sort of disallusionment.

I have been busy a lot this past fall, so was really looking forward to relaxing and doing nothing this past week and a half. Now that I've been doing absolutely nothing this past week., I feel lazy and that I should be doing something, accomplishing something. And as soon as I am knee deep in business in the next week or two, I will want rest again. So it seems with everything in life, the presents and all the hype around christmas time esepcially point this out to us. All the hype building up to the holidays, then they dissapoint, and we are off looking for our next high. The next thing we can look forward to, hoping that will totally fulfill us.

I think C.S Lewis sums this unmet desire in our hearts up best.
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my own true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”

This rings so true

Now many Christians would point out and say, that means we must then never seek pleasure or have any fun and make our sole goal to honor God and nothing else matters. And would point to the book of Ecclesiastes to make this point. That the message behind Ecclesiastes is that all is vanity in this life, only God will fulfill. And this is definately the main point. But I have now read Ecclesiastes many times and it always intrigues me. I see now that obviously the main point is that we should pursue God, but this however does not mean neglecting earthly pleasures all together. It means we enjoy them with proper perspective and understanding.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 reads " I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime, morever, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor- it is the gift of God"

A commentary on this verse reads " As we do good work in our generation, the preacher gives us permission to celebrate the good things of life -eating and drinking and enjoying the pleasures that God has made for us to enjoy. Of course, it is always a temptation for us to live for earthly pleasure, serving our appetites instead of serving Jesus. The good things in life so easily become our gods, which is absolute vanity. But the way to resist temptation is not by avoiding everyting. Rather we avoid idoaltry by gratefully receving the good things of life as blessing from God."

So that longing in your heart, will never be fulfilled here on earth. Our job is simply to do good for God, love Him with all of our being. Work hard, but also enjoy life and the pleasure of it, such as friends, sporting events, entertainment, food, festivals and such. Just don't let it be your God.

Friday, August 20, 2010

In case of creative emergency break the glass cage of routine

I've heard this before, but haven't acted on it much. Why? prolly b/c my routine is comfortable and safe. Why would I leave it. But when I leave it, is when God speaks the clearest to me. Perhaps b/c I have stepped out in faith, I have given up my comforts, to be on God's timeline, to be at His decision to speak to me, relying on him and Him alone, beucase all I know is gone.

Especially in creation, perhaps b/c it is something God has created, but so are humans, the internet, books and coffee. But perhaps in creation, or at least parts of it that have not been misused and abused yet, help us feel God more clearly, it is unadultered beauty.

It helps us re-create and create. Perhaps when I have nothing I am comfortable with or acustomed to, to help me hear God's voice; is actually when I hear His voice best. Becuase His ways are higher then ours.

Simple Faith

No doubt I appreciate my PC Study Bible, google search, youtube, commentaries, internet and books. And no doubt I do believe that they are tools that God uses to help equip us to expound upon His word. But just as any tool, they can become a crutch and can soon control us. They can control our creative process, they can even hinder us from hearing from God, when they are supposed to help us better understand what God has spoken to us.

Sometimes my faith is in my tools to help me communicate God's word. I believe more in the tools then the toolmaker. Today I had just my Bible and a notebook. All I could do was listen to God speak and write it down. I was stuck, but stuck with the only things I needed, a heart to listen and faith that God would speak. And that He did.

God often speaks most clearly to us when, we are most desperate for Him. When we have exhausted all other options, we seek His face. God lvoes to use our weakness and foolishness and remind us its not about us. But its all for His glory

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Are we working for God or allowing Him to work through us?

Discerning between the lies of the devil and the Holy Spirit's conviction can be often difficult. Difficult in ministry as well. Becuase in ministry your goal should be to let God do things through you, but we are often faced with the rival idea and concept to do things for God, instead of letting Him do thigns through us. So we can have all the right intentions in ministry and want to do all the right things, but we can have all the wrong motives, or attitudes. In such a peformance driven society, especially in the workplace, it is easy to succumb to that mentality in ministry. When something is not going well or not succedding, not succedding fast enough as we want, not going the way we want it to, we try to reconcile it, by figuring out what is wrong with what we are doing. And it is then that we get to focused on us. And the devil will creep in and feed us those that it is all up to us to make things work.

And we get caught in that trap. And we forget that in ministry we are simple the pipes, the tools, the conduits, that bring what is most important God, He does the work, He just works through us. We forget that it is God who orders our steps. That it is He who places the vision and plans in our hearts to begin with. It is His plan. It is Him who changes peoples lives, it is Him who brings in the people, not us. But the devil wants us to believe that it is up to us and we start to believe him. Next thing you know we begin to question. Not only do we question what can we do to fix the situation. But then we begin to question if we should even be doing what we are doing. We question if we should be doing what God calls us to do. And that is doubting God. WE lose our fatih, our faith becomes weak, we want to give up. This is a dangerous place to be, trusting in our own efforts and not God. WE believe the lie that it is totally up to us to bring in the people, change their lives. And we begin to believe that it is entirely our fault that stuff doesn't work. It is then that the enemey has us trapped. WE are believing it is our job to do everything and leave God out of the equation and we doubt Him. And then we wann quit becuase everything seems too difficult. Everyway we turn is a lie from the devil, if we secced, we are caught up in our own ego and pride. If things are too difficult we wanna quit, becuase we forget that God brough us there.

We get so wrapped up in all that, that we miss the most important part of just simply staying faithful and obedient to what God has called us to do, and the vision He has given us. This is all that matters in ministry, staying faithtful and obedient to what God has called us to do, regardless of how difficult it may be. Becuase God brings the results, not us. And staying faithful to God can be just as difficult when things are going very well. Becuase then comes the temptations to think it is something we are doing to make ministry succeed. And we get stuck in the ministry games and forget to stay faithful to God.

I am not saying that we play no part in a ministry succeding or not. I believe that the Holy SPirit reveals to us things that we may be doing wrong. I have found that the voice of the Holy SPirit has beeen that still small voice reminding us of the simple, basic things that are so very important though. Like one on one time with people, instead of programs. I find that I usually brush these things off as small little things, but then come to learn the are the most powerful.

And I find that the things I worry about and try to control so much are the things that my flesh speaks to me to worry about. I find that my fleshly fears, that I usually can't control, scream the loudest. While the things I can control and that the Holy Spirit is convicting me of, I ignore and waste my time on things I can't control. And again I forget to stay faithful and obedent to God;s plans and vision and leave the rest to Him. It is so important to learn how to hear the Holy Spirit's voice in our lives. That small, consistent, voice, that you know is from God. We find it in the the quiet. WE find it when we put things in persepective of who God is. We find it when we renew and transform our minds (Romans 12:2) We need that time with God in stillness, we need to learn to listen to God. We are too busy listening to ourselves

It is also so very important to have a clear vision and clear calling from God before starting anything. Becuase when things get difficult and the enemy is telling you to quit, you will have something to stand upon and say this is what God called me to do no matter what happens, good or bad. I will stay faithful to the vision. And this can be difficult, you will start to 2nd guess if you were called for that vision. So it needs to be clear so you have something to all back on and say I will do my job and do my best with this vision God has given me and leave the rest up to Him. I will do my best for my audience of one, God. Staying faithful to what He has called me to do, nothing else.

What is the vision God has called you to do?
Are you doubting it?
Are you listening to yourself or God?
Are you trying to do God's job in your ministry?
Are you letting God work through you or are you working for God?
Are you playing the game of ministry or staying faithful to God's vision?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Greater Song - Paul Baloche

" I see the heavens proclaiming you day after day and I know in my heart, that ther must be a way,.... to sing a greater song to you..." - Greater Song -Paul Baloche>>>Creation cries out showing the goodnes of God, the greatness of Him. Everyday they bring glory to God and sing a song to Him.

How much more should God's people, who are created in His image be singing a greater song than creation. Becuase we are the apex of His creation. Humans should be sining the greatest song to God. A song with our lives. A song by singing through our righteousness, a song through our love, a song by bringing justice to others. A lifesong if you will.All God's creation is created to bring Him glory.

And we see the mountains singing to Him and creation all around us. But the pinnacle of His creation, us, we fail to at times.If the creation around us can tell people about God, then we, being made in God's image, should be able to so much more...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

So Imma try to blog more

So I'm gonna try to blog once a week now, I think its a reasonable goal for myself... Leave some comments and read what I write so I'll be inspired to keep writing and not take 6 months at a time off....

Common Grounds Coffee House

The Vision

1) First and foremost this will function as mainly and solely a coffee house. To be missional >> to give the Germantown/Mt.airy area a free coffee house
>>place for local musicians and artists
>> Safe place for people in Germantown/affordable as well
>> For the community
>> Not going to be marketed as Christian at all
>> But we want people to know that we follow Jesus through our conversations with them and the people they meet there
>> We want deep spiritual conversations to happen naturally and organically

2) Gives people of Calvary a tangible place to be missional.
Instead of always having to try to bring people to church, this provides a place to be missional, to go out among the lost. Go have a cup of coffee and listen to them, find out what the gospel means to them. Gives a perfect example of what it looks like to be missional for people at Calvary and us.

3) Functions as a place for hope Re-Found to meet
-helps give us validity in neighborhood by having no hidden agendas as a coffee house
-but people will trust us and when we let them know about our services and other things, they will feel comfortable, b/c relationships will be developed >> relationships are key today
-helps us reach those who would not come to church
-we are trying to reach a disillusioned generation
-many see no need of a traditional church

4) Creative ministry approaches through our Friday night coffee house
-once a month on a Friday or occasional Saturday nights we will have creative ministry nights to further engage the community in a deeper presentation of the gospel
Examples>> worship nights, movies, creative ministry approaches, doubt nights, dialogue nights, connections with arts community to talk about arts and God

The vision for the site at Wayne Ave is for Hope Re-Found and Calvary as a whole to have a tangible, on-going, relational way to be missional. The vision for a coffee house God placed on the heart of Pastor Andrew and was confirmed by the core members of Hope Re-Found and God working in their hearts. It made sense in terms of an ongoing mission to be a part of. To impact a community, to impact the arts/music community with truth, beauty and goodness, a place for people to go to have deep, meaningful, personal conversations about God with friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. Also this will serve as a place to connect with young adults and serve as the new meeting place for Hope Re-Found.

This vision fits the God-given talents and gifting of a lot of the people in Hope Re-Found. This vision has also excited a lot of other people as well, who realize we need new creative, ways to reach people where they are at. It helps connect with people who would normally never be reached on a Sunday morning. In the words of Mark Batterson in the book UnChristian on page 146 says “So why did we build a coffeehouse instead of a church building? Because Jesus didn’t hang out in synagogues. He hung out at wells. Wells weren’t just places to draw water. Wells were natural gathering places in ancient culture. Coffeehouses are postmodern wells. To borrow sociological term, our coffeehouse is a third place where the church and community can cross paths.”

Big things in Philly

So for this past year now I feel like I have had the privelage to hear bits and pieces of different plans and passions God has laid on so many peoples hearts for the city of Philadelphia.

1) A bunch of my friends from Valley Forge Christian College, you know who you are... who all wanna start churches in Philly.

2) A huge convoy of hope this year in Philly. @ 10 different locations this time, they usually only do 1... And this one is interdenominational... how awesome.... September 25,2010. http://hope4philly.org/

3) The Philly Project by Allison Park church, Jeff Leake and Brad Leach from Detroit, Michigan... check out their video http://vimeo.com/11930369... its pretty hott
... They want to plant a church planting church network in Philly

4) Philadelphia Tabernacle of David http://phillytod.org/ A group that wants to pray for the city and undergird local ministries and churches with prayer.

5) Alan Vincent - a guy who has helped churches all around the world. And God put Philly on his heart

6) Destiny Church http://destinychurchphilly.org/ a chuch plant in port richmond section of Philly

7) Coffee house scene ... I've met quite a few of these people who wanna connect to outsiders through coffee hous venues

8) My small part >> Common Grounds coffee househttp://www.commongroundscoffee.org/
Our small part in the NW section of Philly. We are in for an awesome ride...

A Greater Song - Paul Baloche

" I see the heavens proclaiming you day after day and I know in my heart, that ther must be a way,.... to sing a greater song to you..." - Greater Song -Paul Baloche

>>>Creation cries out showing the goodnes of God, the greatness of Him. Everyday they bring glory to God and sing a song to Him. How much more should God's people, who are created in His image be singing a greater song than creation. Becuase we are the apex of His creation. Humans should be sining the greatest song to God. A song with our lives. A song by singing through our righteousness, a song through our love, a song by bringing justice to others. A lifesong if you will.

All God's creation is created to bring Him glory. And we see the mountains singing to Him and creation all around us. But the pinnacle of His creation, us, we fail to at times.

If the creation around us can tell people about God, then we should be able to so much more...

Been a long time

So......where to start.........

1) I got married...... December 20th, 2009..... the day after a 20 some inch snowstorm.. interesting wedding day... most of the people, except for a few out a staters, surprisingly showed up.... reception was awesome....... so many people that made our wedding happen ... def God don't know how we coulda pulled this out on our own..........Def gotta thank the body of Christ....all our friends and family and Calvary Assembly of God family... from our photpgrapher, wedding cake maker, caterer to everyone else who helped us out free of charge your awesome all of you

2) I'm on staff as a young adults pastor....awesome opportunity to start a young adult ministry and everything..... and I'm a school bus driver too, ironic b/c i've had to drive people around my whole life and hate it lol..... God works in mysterious ways

3) Opening a coffee house ....Common Grounds coffee house www.commongroundscoffee.org
A totally different kind of Christian coffee house... we have no agenda each night and we allow non christian artists to play... we just want the church to meet culture and interact with them... its in Germantown/Mt.Airy section of Philadelphia.....a great arts scene...........and best of all we dont meet in a church basement, we meet in our own place which is totally awesome (thanks to me) jk.... more like God's providence and awesomeness

4)Awesome stuff is happening in Philly and i am so glad to be a part of it.... can't wait to see what God does with common grounds.

5) I added to list of things I wanna do... so far..... plant a bunch of churches in philly, open an actuual coffee shop (business), open a barber shop, open an after school program center, open a tech school,

So still haven't had any time to process graduating over a year ago now, bc my year has been so crazy