Smoking through Romans

 For some reason I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s power and His standards lately.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading through Romans, and in chapter 3 Paul makes it clear that there is a standard we need to meet and without Christ’s power we fall way short.

As I was reading through Romans, I was reminded of one of my favorite illustrations of God’s power. You see if you’re like me you sometimes get caught with this idea that God can only work in people’s lives in certain ways, and under certain circumstances.

I sometimes have this mentality that because God worked like…this before, He must always work like…this in every situation. God however doesn’t play that way. He plays by His own rules, and His own standards.

He works in people’s lives however He pleases. This truth came to me in a crystal clear fashion, when several years ago I heard a prison chaplain share about how God had radically changed the life of one of the prisoners he ministered to each week.

Chains are gone

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. 

You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. 

It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Masterpiece

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous ... You were there while I was being formed ... You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.” Psalm 139:14-16 (LB)

Ah yes, Psalm 139. I’ve often said “if I had a dollar for every time I “prescribed” that passage in my ministry over the years, I’d be a very rich Pastor.”

This passage has been very influential in my life because it conveys the truth that each of us is unique according to God’s plan and purpose. He doesn’t make junk, and He has a customized plan for all of us.

In this day and age of comparison to others and a skewed view of what success really is, I love this passage even more, and I wonder if I’m doing all I can do to show my daughter that she is God’s special masterpiece, created uniquely in His image, and what about my son? Am I doing all I can do to model what a Godly man of character is all about, because his “heroes” in life don’t even begin to do that Justice.

By Your Side

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Relief agency that strives to be there for the “least of these” when war, famine, natural disasters and whatever else befalls the world’s neediest people strikes and strikes hard.

Whether it be children who need heart transplants in countries that don’t have the technology, SP responds with the “Children's Heart Project”, or when disasters like Katrina, Tsunami, and Typhoons hit SP Relief and Development teams are often among the first to be there by the side of the victims with supplies and the love of Christ.

With the recent catastrophe that Hurricane Sandy has brought to the Northeast and beyond, it's so great to have the dedicated team from Samaritan's Purse on the scene to help bring relief in the name of Jesus.

Forgiveness

Blew it? Needed forgiveness? Thought you were too far gone? Check out this song by Toby Mac and realize that it's there when you need it!

Thank You

I've been doing some thinking lately about the kinds of things that inspired me to get involved in full-time ministry in the first place nearly 25 years ago.

I'll admit that it wasn't for the money, or the lifestyle that ministry could afford me. It wasn't for the power and fame that might some day come my way, and it certainly wasn't for country club perks.

So if it wasn't for all the things that many people strive toward a certain career path, then what was it?
Well, I don't know if I can point to one defining moment when I knew for sure that ministry was the path for me, but I do remember conversations, affirmations and encouraging statements from my Youth Pastor, teachers, coaches and other mentors that God had placed in my life.

I received all kinds of input from people that I respected, trusted and allowed to speak truth into my life, and God used it to help shape not only who I was but who He wanted me to become for His glory.

I remember being inspired by the words and actions of my Youth Pastor and challenged and driven by the goals of my coaches. There was a definite level of passion, and purpose in everything they did, and it was contagious.

Thumb Swear and Bend It

I remember one time a few years ago I was working on some things in my office getting ready to go out on one of my teaching, and preaching excursions when I heard a loud ruckus coming from down stairs.

It was really loud, and definitely had the sound of a major argument going on. Someone was displeased and didn't mind letting the other participant know about it, and quite boisterously at that!

The argument reminded me of the time when I was actually trying to get some studying done in my room in college and a loud “fight” broke out among the “scrabblenerds” who were taking part in their weekly Friday night festivities in the dorm lounge.

All of a sudden I heard…crash, bang, pow, smack and another crash followed by this passion filled statement “SNUFFLEUPAGOUS IS TOO A WORD”, and as I burst into the lounge to see what was going on, I walked right into a royal rumble over the fact that the thesaurus was not only wrong, but the writers of it were idiots and didn’t know how to define a word.

Give Thanks!

David's Psalm of Thanks
1 Chronicles 16:7-36

7 That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD :

8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13 O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,

Cheers and Church?

A few years ago I traveled to Mexico City, where I had the chance to do some teaching, preaching, networking and encouraging.

I’ve been to Northern Mexico several times, but have never had the opportunity to visit Mexico City, so I was really looking forward to it.

While I was there I interacted with some amazing youth leaders from all over Mexico, and Ecuador.

Assembled in the classroom were students from the east and west coasts and the Northern and Southern borders and I learned that just like the States, and many of the other countries I’ve visited thus far, young people are as different as night and day depending on which area they come from. There is no such thing as a cookie cutter youth ministry.

The class I taught at the seminary was Youth Ministry Programming, and the whole premise deals with understanding your culture, your target audience and purpose before designing programs to reach them. The whole class is about prayerfully reaching out and building up a solid, healthy, Biblically balanced Youth Ministry that works in a specific culture.

So as we discussed various ways to reach young people, I was amazed as I heard many different techniques, tools and ideas, but one similar theme throughout, the discussion.

You are not alone

We started a new online connection platform at my church called "The Table Project" in an effort to help facilitate ongoing conversation among our community that goes far beyond the walls of the church on a typical Sunday morning.

One of the key ways I'm really excited about using this connection tool is in the area of prayer. I would love to see the application that this little video clip shows taking place on multiple levels throughout our community because we need each other and we need the power of prayer!

Check out the clip and come join the Table...e-mail me for an invitation link and join the conversation...You are not alone in This (whatever your current "this" may be).

The Way

I thought I'd re-post this article again as it's been a while since I first wrote it, my kids are now five years older, and my competitive nature still gets the best of me from time to time...

This past year I’ve noticed some pretty cool things taking place in the lives of my kids. They are both kind of coming out of their toddler/tyke phase and entering into a new phase where they are engaging in some of the fun things that my wife and I enjoy.

My son for instance has an awesome sense of humor. He finds humor in all kinds of things, and he’s got a quick wit about him as well (some times to his detriment).

On a recent speaking engagement in New Hampshire I took him with me, and what a great time we had. At one point in the trip he was getting kind of whiny and cranky, so I started messing with him by saying things like “where’s your Barbie?” and “did you bring your skirt?” and other jabs that got him laughing. Then a little while later he asked me for a pen, and I said I didn’t have one so he said “why don’t you look in your purse?” I almost drove off the road I was laughing so hard. He got me good with that one.

My daughter is quick witted as well, but I think her most endearing feature is her sweet spirit. She takes after her mommy with that. She is very kind and sensitive, especially to spiritual things. She is always asking me questions about God, the Bible, different characters, and all kinds of spiritual things. It’s such a joy to have conversations with her about the things of the Lord at such a young age. We are truly blessed by that for sure.

Don't Say It...Don't Say It

 Last night I was reminded all over again about how powerful our words are, how seemingly harmless comments and “funny” jokes can be taken the wrong way and sting the receiver, and how things we’ve said and done have long term effects.

I’ve written pretty extensively about my mishaps, gaffs and downright dumb calls in the past, in fact this whole “Lesson Learned” Series is built on applications I’ve been able to walk away with after messing up in some way.
Well, as I was watching the Yankee game last night, second basemen Robinson Cano was up at the plate and I made a comment that brought back another blast from the past.

Standing for the Cause

I don’t know about you, but from time to time I wonder if I ever came face to face with a real life choice to stand for what is right or die, if I would have the courage to stand. I mean in my mind of course I not only stand, I go all Rambo on my enemy, save the day, and give Glory to God in the process. In my daydream not only do I win but God wins!

I wonder if that would be the case though, if I came face to face with a direct question about my faith or my family or my country that was backed up by a gun.

On one of my trips to Kiev, Ukraine I had a chance to visit a soccer stadium that is home to a very popular Ukrainian soccer team called Kiev Dynamo. Dynamo has a very interesting history that has inspired lots of stories, books and even a movie with Sylvester Stallone (Rambo himself). As I gazed at the stadium, and remembered the story that is told about the 1942 Dynamo team, I remembered another place I visited in Kiev (Babyn Yar – which is where 100,000 Jews were executed and dumped into a mass grave by the Nazis). I wondered again if I was faced with the choice to stand for what’s right or die if I would have the courage to stand.

Metaphor of a Movement

Yesterday was an awesome day! I had an opportunity to join with over 1,000 Pastors and Leaders from all across the US and other countries in NYC for the third annual "Movement Day" with Tim Keller of Redeemer Church in NYC.

The main emphasis of the conference was to challenge and encourage us to think and pray about how God could use our ministries to impact our cities through "Gospel Movements"

A Gospel Movement is defined this way...

I'm Your Fan

I wrote this article about 4 years ago, and as my kids are starting the new school year I'm reminded all over again at how great it is to see how both of them are growing and really coming "into their own" in many ways. I'm very proud of both of them and continue to be praying that they put the Lord first in their lives!

Tonight as I was working with my son on his homework I recalled this conversation with him and thought I'd post it again...I'm still so glad that through it all God is our biggest fan!

With God...No Translator Needed

On Sunday at my church we continued the series we've been doing all summer on the book of Joshua. It's been a really cool series for me personally as I reflect on all that God brought Joshua and the people he was called to lead through, over, and around on their way to conquering and possessing the promise God had for them.

Themes of Courageous Faith, Deep Forgiveness, Difficult Consequences, and Incredible Restoration have been evident throughout the series to this point, and it's been a lot of fun discovering application points together.

Well, chapter 10 is where we found ourselves on Sunday and the main theme of the message was that no matter who we are, where we're from, what we've been through or any other potential barrier we might seek to erect in our lives...God is still God, and still doing whatever it takes to let us know that He loves us!

At the end of the message we watched the video "How Great is our God" World edition and it was so great to realize that one of the barriers we often have in communication (language) is no barrier whatsoever to our Great Big God!

It's so true that when God is involved...No Translator is needed, whether it's Hindi, Indonesian, Spanish, Russian, Zulu or Mandarin...a little "barrier" like language - No Problem with God!

It makes me wonder what other barriers we often put up that limit our concept of God are no problem either!

How Great is Your God? Mine? INFINITE!

God Alone

These past several months in my new ministry have been simply amazing! In just a very short period of time I have seen God at work big time in the lives of people, and as I reflect on what He's been doing all I can say is that it's God and God alone who is capable of this kind of life change.

The more I get to know God in my relationship the more I'm realizing that He is just as much interested in the "little" things in my life as He is in the "big" things.

I was planning a Bible study devotional a few weeks ago and was ready to share it with the group when I learned that one of our cell groups was going to serve at the homeless shelter in our city the same night I was scheduled to bring the devotional.

I really love going to the shelter and showing God's love in a tangible way, so I arranged for another person to cover for me that night and I went to the shelter. So, the other night it was my turn to share the study in the place of the guy who switched with me and before leaving to go to the church my daughter came home from school and shared an answer to prayer with me.

You see, as she was heading to school on the bus she suddenly realized that she had an overdue book at the library and that it was going to cost her a quarter to pay the fine.

She didn't have a quarter on her so she did what she does best...she prayed.

One of the things I love about my daughter is her sensitive spirit towards God especially as it relates to praying. She prays for me all the time! When I was traveling and speaking all the time I could always count on her saying "I'm praying for you daddy", and even now that I'm speaking pretty much every week, I can always count on her praying.

So, when she recounted her answer to prayer story I was glued to what she was saying.

She said that when she realized she owed a quarter and she didn't have one she prayed something like… "God, I don't know how you're going to do it, but I really need you to answer my prayer request. You see, I have an overdue library fine and it's due today, and I don't have a quarter to pay it. I know you can do it, I don't know how but I trust you. Thank you for always taking care of me."

What happened next is such a testament to the faith of a child and the powerful response of her loving Savior.

She got off the bus and entered her school and as she was going in the boy in front of her stopped, bent down and picked up a quarter off the ground and proceeded to say "free quarter, free quarter anyone want a free quarter?"

I wish you could have seen the joy and excitement in her face and voice as she BRAGGED on how awesome God is!

I love the fact that God is interested in the "little" things as well as the "big" things in our lives, which by the way was the theme of the Bible study I was getting ready to head out the door and go deliver at the Church.

Yep, the same Bible study I was supposed to deliver a few weeks earlier, but got put on hold so I could go to the homeless shelter. God's timing is impeccable, and as I shared Serena's answer to prayer with the group it gave my Bible study a whole new level of personal application!

 God and God alone can do stuff like that!

I've also seen Him at work in the lives of people who have come face to face with real life, earth shattering decisions and after much prayer and counsel have decided to go God's way even though it's going to require much sacrifice. These people energize and inspire me, and I'm so thankful to have the privilege of serving in a Church where God's way is proclaimed!

Who are these people you ask?

Well, two of them are recent members of our baptism class that were faced with a difficult decision. Follow the Lord by being baptized publically proclaiming that they are followers of Jesus and set themselves up for future banishment, disowning and persecution when they return home, or not go through with it.

Where is home? China...Why the risk? They are members of the Chinese Communist party which enables them to be gainfully employed back home. If they go public with their new found faith in Christ, they will be in big trouble.

Guess what...they did it! They counted the cost, prayed about it, sought counsel, prayed some more and boldly in the name of Christ identified themselves with their Savior...talk about inspiring!

God and God alone can do stuff like that!

God has been working in our church and it's so awesome to see how He is creatively changing people's lives.

Then last week right before the service one of our Deacons pulled me aside and introduced me to a lady who recently came to know Jesus as her Savior.

He translated our conversation as she spoke Mandarin. She said that she started following Jesus in September and wants to give Him everything.

She owns a Sushi restaurant in our city and wanted me and the Deacon to come to her restaurant to remove all the IDOLS that were everywhere inside the place.

She said "I'm a follower of Jesus now, these Idols have got to go!"

I stood there in awe for minute, and said "let me get this straight, you want us to come and rip down and destroy idols in your restaurant because you want to put God first in every area of your life including your business?"

She said "that's right, I also want you to pray over the restaurant, pray over me and help me dedicate this place to God's glory!"

So that's what we did, and what an incredible experience it was to stand in the middle of a sushi place surrounded by two trash bags full of broken down idols, standing with a brand new Christ follower who realizes what it means to put Him first and pray for God to bless, I'm telling you it was awesome!

God and God alone can do stuff like that!

 So, as I reflect on the many ways that God is working, I'm continually amazed at His power, His creativity and His attention to the "big" things as well as the "little" things.

All I can say is to God alone be the Glory!

Legendary

This past week I had the opportunity to go to Ecuador on an Operation Christmas Child distribution trip. To say the least it was amazing!

In just a few short days my team and I had the opportunity to take part in six different distributions in the Manta and Puerta Viejo region of Western Ecuador. We visited churches, a Samaritan's Purse Hospital, a woman's Prison and a school, and in every location we gave out gifts that were used like a boombox proclaiming to the children that JESUS LOVES YOU!

I wish you could have seen the faces of the children and experienced the joy of the leaders who love these children. The use of a simple gift was just astounding to me, as I saw the power that it packs when given in the name of Jesus!

The whole time I was in Ecuador I kept thinking about how amazing it was that in this very country some 50 years ago one of the single most tragic missionary killings took place not far from where we were.

It's a story I grew up hearing about, and actually is one of the main events that God used in my friend and ministry partner's life that caused him to dedicate his life to God's service. To say the least it was a powerful time for me this past week.

Every distribution we went on I kept thinking about the word legendary, because that is exactly what happens when we step out and serve Him...God becomes more and more legendary in the lives of people, and His fame spreads!

Check out the excitement and joy that took place at one of the distributions...

Pretty cool huh? Well, that's what it was like at every single one, and at every single stop along the way I met some people who were becoming Legendary among their friends and family because of their love for Jesus and their love for His children.

Then during one of the evening sessions we heard from some missionaries who are sharing the love of Jesus with the Waodani Indians in the jungle and as I listened to them share about what God is doing in that tribe and that whole region the concept of legendary became more and more vivid to me. The picture below is of a group of Waodoni who are not only believers but are being used of God to share His love up and down the river and all throughout the jungle.

This got my attention for sure, and then when the missionary said that the very spot they were standing for the picture is the exact spot where the five missionaries were speared to death in 1956, I lost it.

She went on to say that the ground that the enemy used to claim their lives, God has reclaimed for His glory so that His fame would spread (He has become Legendary).





The week was one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had as every where I went I saw God's hand at work in the lives of ordinary people who are being used of God to become legendary spreaders of His fame!

Then the last night in Quito we had an incredible time of praise and worship as well as debriefing all that we saw God do. It was so cool to hear how God had impacted each of us in different ways. Then just when I thought the evening was over and we were wrapping up in walked a person that I had been thinking about the whole time, but never in a million years did I expect to see in this setting.

It was none other than Mincaye, one of the Waodani Indians that speared the missionaries to death in 1956! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Right in front of me was one of the killers that wiped out five men's lives and made their wives into widows and left their children fatherless.

I must admit I was speechless, as I sat there taking it all in. This guy was as far from God as you can get, and was used to murder God's messengers in cold blood, but as only God can do He redeemed the situation, the place, the time and the people including Mincaye, and is now using Him to spread the good news of Jesus to His people.

I found two great clips on the internet that help tell the story, and put in perspective how incredible our God is. They are both about 10 minutes long, but I encourage you to take the time to watch part 1 and part 2 and join me in praise for our God's redemptive Grace!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duqi9T6JOh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8LZFht9i4

So, as I was sitting there listening to Mincaye talk about how important it is for us to continue to share God's Carvings (His Word) with the world I wondered if the early church felt the same way I felt when they met Paul and listened to this former persecutor of God's people share with them how He was changed. It was truly an inspiring moment for me.

Then as our time was ending we were told that one of the reasons that Mincaye had traveled many hours from the jungle up to Quito was to get about 400 shoebox gifts to take back to the camp that his grandson (who is now a missionary in the jungle) is doing this next week, the place erupted!

As I continue to process all that God did this past week, I'm so thankful that He is in control and is the one that we serve. He uses us in various ways to accomplish His will, and it inspired me even more to proclaim His name because He is not only Legendary, He's Living and Active TODAY!

Signature of Divine

Signature Of Divine (Yahweh)
By: Need to Breathe

Cathedrals have tried in vain To show the image of your face. But we are, by your design,
The signature of divine. We'll always sing your name. Forever and today.

Yahweh, Yahweh...Great is your glory when you go before me Oh, we sing...Holy, Holy...Your ways are lovely. So high above me. Yahweh

The fortunes of kings and queens Are wasted chasing what we've seen. Cause we are, by your reprieve, The beauty framed by your suffering.

We'll always sing your name. Forever and today. Yahweh, Yahweh...Great is your glory when you go before me Oh, we sing...Holy, Holy...Your ways are lovely. So high above me. Yahweh

Take me, and pull me through. Cause I can't move without you. I won't leave you alone, you say. It will be okay.

Yahweh, Yahweh...Great is your glory when you go before me Oh, we sing...Holy, Holy...Your ways are lovely. So high above me. Yahweh.

Yahweh, Yahweh...Great is your glory when you go before me Oh, we sing...Holy, Holy...Your ways are lovely. So high above me. Yahweh

Ancient of Days...Yahweh!

He Reigns

One of the coolest things I've gotten to do in my ministry the last few years is to not only teach and preach in other countries, but also to be a part of worship gatherings while I'm there.

It has always amazed me how God can not only decipher but enjoys and completely understands every tribe, and nation when we freely offer praise to Him.

In Kenya, I was surrounded by sounds of Swahili, In Ukraine, it was Russian, In Malaysia, it was either Cantonese, Mandarin or Bahasa, In Mexico it was Spanish, and it was rockin and loud!

Every one of these places I've visited this past year had a very special and very unique worship flavor to it, and it was so awesome to be a part of it, and know that our God doesn't need a translator...He gets it, just how we deliver it!

The other day though, I had an incredible experience unlike any other that I've experienced. No it wasn't in Mexico, Kenya, Malaysia, or Ukraine...it was actually driving in my car with my family. We were on a long ride home from a weekend of ministry in the Chicago area, and had lots of time to talk, and sing and get antsy!

Then, all of a sudden on the radio came one of my favorite worship songs these days. It started kind of softly, and I heard my daughter let out a loud "SHHHHH, I love this song", and my son chime in almost immediately, "yeah me too", and with that they began to sing, word for word, and at the top of their lungs the praise song that has reverberated in my heart around the world during every worship gathering I've been a part of.


My wife and I looked at each other and just smiled a smile of joy that our two kids love to sing their hearts out to the Lord. For me it was a very moving moment to know that God was being praised in one of the languages that He's fluent in (which is all of them), by an 8 year old and a 6 year old in the back of a car somewhere in the mid-west. The truth of this song is so amazing, and I'm so glad that my God loves our praise, and that we can give it to Him whenever and wherever we may be.

He's alive, He's well, He's active and Above all...He Reigns!!



He Reigns – By: Newsboys

It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from
the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they've just heard
'Cause all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God's people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns