Looking For Sparks: Lessons from a "Modern Day Drifter" - Lesson 2a

Have you ever known a lone-wolf Christian? I'm sure you have. Now here's an even more pertinent question, have you ever known an effective lone-wolf Christian? I’m going to say that you have not. And if you have, please, introduce this person to me. I truly want to meet them.

Why do I, with a great degree of certainty, say that you have never met an effective lone-wolf Christian? Well, in a nut shell, the very idea of a lone-wolf Christian is antithetical to the nature of Christianity. Christianity is, and always has been, a relationship based belief system that is structured around dependency. Most notably on our dependency as fallen beings on an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving Creator God who has, for the purpose of redeeming His helpless creation (us), revealed himself through

• Primarily: His inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word
• Secondary: His natural revelation in His creation, specifically through: nature and the commonality of the human condition expressed in the need of a redeemer

Even the Old Testament Jews were known by God through a relationship. Don’t believe me? Well, they were God’s chosen people (Ex 19) for one. In fact, the very word for "lovingkindness" used in the Old Testament is often times the Hebrew word that evokes the image of a covenantal relationship between God and his chosen people.

Therefore, our dependence upon God is paramount in our Christian life. However, to say that our dependency upon God is the only kind of fellowship necessary in the Christian life is preposterous.

If I have learned one thing in all of my travels, it is the need to surround myself with believers who have, what I call, that special “spark”. Notice that I didn’t stop at the need to surround myself with believers. If you walk away from this blog with the notion that you merely need to surround yourself with believers, you’ve missed the point. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers is a given (Heb 10:23-25). But so is being in the midst of nonbelievers (Matt 28:18-20).

What I’m speaking of, is surrounding yourselves with people who are so in love with Jesus, that they are just about glowing with the radiance of God. (Example A: Moses and God Mono y Mono) (Example B: Stephen’s Appology)

These guys were literally glowing (well, Moses was at least) from the Glory of God. Think about it... It got to the point that Moses actually started wearing a veil (backfired later) because he freaked out the assembly when they saw him. I mean, they couldn't say, "Moses, have you been standing too close to the nuclear reactor again?", now could they? Nope, they were like, "Yo dude, you're kinda freakin us out here with the whole shining face deal." Now, I don't know anyone who is so close to the Lord that they actually glow. I'm not gonna lie, that'd freak me out to.

But there is another kind of spark inside of us. That is the life that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Check out Jeremiah 20:9. Even though the Holy Spirit had not yet been given at that time, I think that he illustrates quite well what I'm talking about.

You need to look for those people who have that "burning fire" inside of them that is uncontrollable. AND YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THEM TO BE APART OF YOUR LIFE!!! I'm going to speak about the various kinds of examples that the Bible gives us as far as what these relationships might look like in my next post, but I can not impress upon you how important it is to get these kind of people in your life.

Find people who have something different about their personality, character, love for the Lord, and even about how they carry and present themselves to others.

Here's some things that you may consider when trying to get involved in the life of people who you think have that special spark:

• Ask them to dinner to get to know them better: Guys, it is perfectly ok for you to ask another guy out to dinner (for this purpose). Probably don't want to phrase it like that, but you already know that. And if it's someone of the opposite sex, be casual and upfront. For Pete's sake, you're trying to get to know them, not ask them out on a date. If you're afraid that your intentions may be skewed or misinterpreted for some reason or another, let them know up front that you would just like to get to know them.
• Find out what their interests are and ask them to help you with whatever that interest may be: But only do this if you happen to at least somewhat share this interest. I love golf, so I may ask someone to go play golf... two stepping, etc.
• Engage in conversation with them... AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY! This is probably not that big of an issue. I mean, if you've asked a person to hang out with you because you believe that there is something different about them, you're more than likely going to want to hear what the person has to say.
• Invite them over to watch the big game/fight/whatever: Here's a shoe-in for all the guys out there that aren't quite comfortable asking some dude we don't really know to have dinner at IHop with us. (Girls don't seem to have this problem) Have a grill out and smoke some dogs on the grill and invite them to come over for the game. If your in Texas, its an automatic yes.

Here's an all around good rule for doing whatever it takes to get these certain people as apart of your life. Be friendly. If for some reason they are too busy or can't sew into your life for some various reason or another, move on. That sucks, but you can't force companionship. Some people you hit it off with, and some you don't. I just want to reassure you that you are not going to develop relationships by being a stalker.

Remember that your relationship with Christ is of chief importance, and that your relationship to fellow believers is secondary, albeit vital. Seek after the Lord with the entirety of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), seek Him and His kingdom first (Matt 6:33), and delight yourself in Him (Ps 37:4) and He will put these kinds of people in your path.

-Jeff

When Everything Stops: Lessons from a "Modern Day Drifter" - Lesson 1

What happens when the ever changing lifestyle you've become accustomed to comes to a halt? What happens when your routine of shifting timezones and places comes to a screeching stop, and the adventure that you called life has now come to a standstill?

You see, in the last four years, I've made three trips to China (including living there for a summer), three extended trips to Hawaii (2 for semester long stints, and 1 for a summer), I finished my college degree, and I moved to Texas to start my seminary training exactly one year ago today.

But now, having stayed in a single place for an entire year straight, I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life. If it's alright with you, I'd like to be a little transparent with you tonight. I'm not going to lie to you, I don't really like it that much. There aren't too many days that go by when I don't want to trade in my shoes for my favorite pair of slippers (flip-flops for all of my fellow haoles out there), and head back to my island home of Maui.

But you know, we must all be shaped and formed within the rigors of life if we are to be capable to contend with what it dishes out to us. The Marines have a system that they call the crucible that every Marine recruit must complete before they are allowed to graduate basic training. And the more specialized job assignment that they have, the more training they must go through.

And as I was contemplating this analogy in my own life, I see that the Lord has had me all over the world doing various things. Whether it be teaching English in China to kids anywhere from 3-14 y/o; to helping start a college ministry in Maui; to being a marine naturalist working with the public on the Pacific Ocean, my life has been truly blessed beyond anything that I could put into words.

And I've also seen that just as a Marine who has graduated basic training may have to go "back to school", if you will, to become more efficient at his/her particular job, so have I. Often times, a Marine will be with his unit serving, and then be called back to get more specialized training so that when he rejoins his unit, he can be a better Marine and help serve his unit to get their job done. And that's exactly how I feel sometimes.

I feel as though I've been pulled from my unit, specifically in Hawaii, and am now back at boot camp once again in Texas. And let me tell you, I long to get back on the front lines.

But here's the deal, sometimes we get reassigned...

I'm now the college pastor at a local church in Grand Prairie, and who knows where I'll be going from there. Hear my heart though, I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I have been blessed with a wonderful Church home here in Texas (more about that later).

Look at what Jeremiah says:

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! (18:3-6)

and Romans says:

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (9:20-21)

Now before you bust my chops for taking scriptures out of context, let me just say that I know what I've done. I understand that God is speaking to the nation of Israel in Jeremiah about the exaltation, humbling, and destruction of nations at his will, and that Paul is speaking of God's right to perform his plan of salvation however He chooses to, but go with me on this for a second.

Both of these passages have everything to do with the sovereignty of God. Now, if God is sovereign, then we find that those of us in His service do as He says, when He says, and how He says to do it. We are the clay in the hands of the potter. As He shapes us and molds us, we don't look back at him and ask, "Yo God, why am I in Texas and not in Hawaii. That's not cool God!" Instead we ask, "Alright God, why have you moved me from Hawaii, aka the nearest thing to heaven on Earth, to Texas? What are you trying to teach me, and how am I to be used during this time?" You see, it is a condition of the heart.

What I'm talking about is not a blind subservient faith. No! It's ok to ask questions! What I'm talking about is submitting to the will of God in our lives so that we can have the maximum impact on those around us for the cause of the Kingdom of God. Just because I don't like something, doesn't mean that I can't submit. If you think for one second that Jesus was thrilled about the prospects of going to the cross, you're ignorant and have clearly never read the gospel accounts. (sorry, truth hurts sometimes) Just because I don't feel like doing something, doesn't mean that I can't do it. You see, feelings and emotions are controlled by the flesh. However, we are not to be controlled by the flesh, but instead, we live by the Spirit of God. When we love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30), we see that our will controls our emotions and/or feelings, and thus we can follow through with whatever God has set for us to do despite what our feelings say.

There is so much more that I want to say about what I've been learning lately, but this blog is already much too long (as usual). Therefore, I'm going to write a few more on the things that I've learned as I've traveled in the service of the Lord in the very near future.

But before I let you go, do this one thing for me. As you go about your day, ask the Lord, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me by having me where I'm at in my life?" You'll be surprised what happens when you ask God the right questions with the right heart attitude.

Goodbye for now,
Jeff

Olympics, Commercials, and Fulfillment

So I’ve been watching the Olympics fairly religiously for the last couple of nights. In fact, even while I was two-stepping last night, I found myself glued to the TVs at Billy Bob’s watching Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson go 1-2 in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition (congratulations ladies).

But much like the Super Bowl, the commercials have been quite entertaining. The one that really caught my attention though was one for United Airlines (I think).

It opened with a woman and a man (cartoon) embraced in a hug, and as the woman breaks away, she removes her heart and slips it into his jacket pocket as they once again embrace before she leaves on her trip across the ocean.

Throughout the rest of the commercial, she’s gives a business presentation, goes sight seeing in what looks to be someplace like Italy, and even runs into a curious little bird who flies right through the hole where her heart once was. Throughout the entire commercial, she has this hole from her heart, and no matter what she’s doing, it just can’t be filled until she gets back home to Mr. Right who hands it back to heart. Now that she is with him once again, she is whole.

Now, being the hopeless romantic that I am, I was thinking to myself, “Awww, that’s nice.” And would even like to be that guy who is the only one in the whole world with her heart, and the only one who can give it back to her and fill that hole in her life (how bout we keep this between us though, I’ve got a reputation to uphold).

But then it hit me.

We as people do this all the time. Young men and women alike give their hearts away to whoever their boyfriend/girlfriend is at the moment, and very rarely protect themselves by guarding their heart.

But their flame doesn’t always have to be a person either. How about the Olympic athletes? Would it be safe to say that many of them have given their heart to their respective sports? I don’t think that would be a far cry at all. What happens when their career is over? Or when injuries happen? Or when they fall off their apparatus, or foul out, or when they don’t do anything wrong but because of someone else’s folly, they’re eliminated?

And what about those who have given their hearts, like the young woman in the commercial, to another person? How many times have we all consoled a friend who has been hurt by someone, even when it was unintentional by the offending party? What happens when that person who we’ve put so much time and energy into walks away and leaves us devastated in the wake of an emotional breakup?

You see my friends, we were all created to give our hearts away in some form or fashion. The question is, to whom or to what will you give it to? When we give it to people, or objects, or expectations, we are inevitably let down. Why? Because no one and nothing on this earth is perfect.

However, there is hope. You see, we were created by someone to give Him our heart. It is by no accident that we have within us a desire to give ourselves away to something. It is because there is an Almighty, perfect, loving God who has shaped us in our mother’s womb (Ps 139:12-14), and knows everything about us (Ps 139:1), and still loves us enough to adopt us as sons and daughters (1 John 3:1). And here is the love that has been poured out on us, while we were still in sin, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust. (Rom 5:8, 1 Pe 3:18)

But the question remains… Who or what have you given your heart to? You should feel free to try whatever you like, but please know this, if it is anything but Jesus, you will never be satisfied. The simplicity of salvation is what makes it so incredibly beautiful. While it is nothing that we have done for ourselves (Eph 2:8-9), Christ has done everything for us (Rom 5:6). And instead of it being some esoteric journey to find inner-enlightenment within our own wicked hearts (Jer 17:9-10), God has set his plan of salvation in motion so that all we would have to do is confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead, then we shall be saved! (Rom 10:9-10)

Won’t you consider that today my friend? Would you look at the Son of God who gave himself for you and say yes to his invitation to new life? Would you say yes to his grace and love that was poured out for you on Calvary? Would you accept the forgiveness that he freely gives? Would you accept him as Lord? I can not put into words how much I deeply wish that you would.

And for you fellow Christian, would you begin to find your contentment once again in the one who has given you life? Would you move to leave behind the comforts of this world that you and I put our hope and trust in, and instead, rely on Christ to show us how to live by the Spirit of God? I would encourage you to do just that. May we truly walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the desires of the flesh.

-Jeff

Dang Skippy I'm a Fundamentalist.... I guess

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Fundamentalist You are a fundamentalist. You take the Bible as the foundation of your faith and read it very literally, and it shapes your worldview. Non-fundamentalist Christians have watered-down the Gospel in your view, and academic study of the Bible stops us from 'taking God at his word.' Science is opposed to faith, as it contradicts basic biblical truths. Fundamentalist 89% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 82% Reformed Evangelical 75% Emergent/Postmodern 61% Neo orthodox 57% Charismatic/Pentecostal 43% Classical Liberal 36% Modern Liberal 11% Roman Catholic 11%

Ok, Hold up, hold up. I'd just like to clear some stuff up here...
1. "Non-fundamentalist Christians have watered-down the Gospel." Ok, I'm not afraid to admit that I have some pretty strong opinions on pretty much everything, and yes, sometimes this is one of them. However, let it be know that I know that I don't have a corner on the market when it comes to all things spiritual. I know the one who does, and try to draw closer to Him (no not Jerry Falwell or Paige Patterson... "Him" would be Jesus) , but other than that.... Let's just say that I'm not one of the guys who thinks that I can't at least learn something from other Christians who may not hold every doctrinal viewpoint that I do.

2. "Academic study stops us from 'taking God at his word". Why in the world would I be in seminary if academic study stopped me from taking God at his word? Heck, I'd save myself a whole lot of time and energy if I thought that way. And, secular academic study of the Bible doesn't scare me either. Truth is like a lion. There's no need to defend it. Let it loose and it'll defend itself.

3. "Science is opposed to faith, as it contradicts basic biblical truths." Um, for all those of you who think that science is evil, you may feel free to go ahead and hop on the next plane to the middle of nowhere and proceed to lead your life like a cave man. Actually, scratch that, you can't fly there because science brought us the airplane, so you've got to swim your merry way to whatever deserted island that you're headed to. Science is a wonderful thing! And who were the innovators of the arts, including science, during the renaissance? The Christians. So here's what bugs me... why is it that we've gotten so scared of the magnificent field of science to withdraw from it, and instead allow some yahoos who only have their expertise in the physical world go on and on and on about the existence, or lack thereof, of a creator/god/higher being; when they have no clue or training about metaphysical things? Seems like we've allowed microscope wielding, pocket-protector toting, bullies get the better of us because we are convinced that just because science doesn't always fit into our idea and worldview, that we should dismiss it completely. How ridiculous!

Ok, there's my hot sports opinion for the night. I told myself that I was going to bed early tonight, but thanks to the Urban Squirrels, that didn't have a chance.
-Jeff

p.s. I have no idea why the text-sizer-thing-a-majig isn't working on the last 2 paragraphs.

Thank you Dahda...

This is an excerpt from my personal journal from 2006. It's about my grandmother, and her influence on my life during quite a turbulent time in my life. My grandfather had passed away that summer, and it was weighing heavily on me at the time. I was serving as a missionary in Maui at the time, 5000 miles away from home, and was pretty homesick. As I remember, this was about 2 1/2 - 3 months after Papa went on to be with the Lord, and it was really the first time that I was able to sit down and have a good cry about it. There are a few people who leave a lasting impact on your life, and she has done that in mine. So, this is just one way that I can say thank you to her...

"…I miss Papa, and his death still stings like a knife through the flesh of my heart, but He (God) is faithful. I am enamored by Dahda. She defies my understanding of love. If there is any women who I would pray that my wife is like, it is her. My unrelinquished tears are no longer able to be held back, as I must take a minute to clear my eyes. I can not imagine the pain and the loneliness that she endures. Papa was gone a long time ago with the Parkinson's, but Dahda never wavered. Steadfast, she stood by his side, even when there was no reward for her. There was nothing that awaited her everyday at that hospital except for pain and agony. And yet, through the only kind of love that matures from school children's playground infatuation to 60+ years of faithfulness and devotion, she was able to endure. And I sat there. I sat there as the time drew to an end, when that race that Papa had run came to a finish. I was there when she took his hand and put her head by his and whispered, "I love you. I love you." I was there in the room as she continued to remain faithful to Papa as he went to be with our Lord. As he drew his last and stepped over the river onto the banks of the other side of eternity. And as I pause to wipe the tears from my eyes, I wonder, "How many tears have fallen from the eyes of this angel? How many nights has she cried herself to sleep?" If there has been anyone who has taught me the meaning of love, it has been her. If I have but one desire and one request, it is that God would grant me this one thing. That my wife will be half the woman that she is, and I will be all of the man that she deserves. Thank you Dahda, for your witness to me. Because of it, I have seen the love of Christ made flesh in you."

-Jeff

The Christian's Haircut...

Original date of writing: Satuday, Nov 4, 2006 - Maui, HI
Revised/reposted: Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - Ft Worth, TX

Have you ever been faced with something that you know that you need to do, but you just didn't want to/didn't have to the time to do it? Take me for example. I need desperately to cut my hair. Have I? No. Am I before I get home? Of course not. But why? Well, I'm in Maui, where it doesn't really matter what my hair looks like. I've got nobody to impress out here. Would it look better shorter than it is in its ballistic, out-of-control state that it presently resides? Sure it would. But I just don't have the time, or the inclination to do so at the present.

Sometimes I wonder if that's the case with our spiritual walks. Is it that we are in a place of comfort/apathy that says, "It doesn't matter what it looks like?" Or even worse, "It doesn't look the best, but it sure does look better than his/hers, therefore, its ok. Don't worry about it." Is the apathy of our culture deafening the outcry of the Cross? Are we in a place when we say, "I'll do it later"? Have we come to the marketplace of ideas trying to pawn off our sacred, absolute truth for some other trinket of far lesser value (if it holds any at all)? I think that a lot of us have. Including myself. Shall we heed the battle cry of the Cross demanding us forward inch by inch into all of the world, making disciples of all men? OR, will we instead sit on our blessed assurance waiting for someone else to charge into the fray? There are absolute truths in this world, and we have the greatest of them all. Jesus loves you, died for you, and wants to take your soul and renew you with His righteousness. And yet we feel that we must incorporate other thoughts and ideas in order to be "Culturally relevant."

I say that we stand on the firm foundation of Calvary (1 Cor 3:11), realizing that the blood laid down that day on a cursed tree (Gal 3:13), has given us the right to stand up in love and to proclaim the truths of the Word of God. There is but one name by which all men shall be saved (Acts 4:12), the name of JESUS CHRIST(John 14:6). And it is by that name that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that HE is Lord (Rom 14:11). There is only one way to get to heaven, and that is not of our own doing, but instead by the undeniably single greatest act of love in the history of world (Eph 2:8-9). That the creator would reconcile the creation to Himself by sending His Son on the cross to die for our putrid souls (Rom 8:1-4), and upon the acknowledgement of His lordship leave His Spirit to dwell inside of us earthen vessels (Rom 10:9-10).

If we should long to find truth (John 3:16-18), If we should yearn to have understanding of the things not of this world (1 Cor 1:26-30; Is 55:9), If we should desire to make our lives count for something far greater than just a "good life" (1 Cor 15:12-19), we must acknowledge the one who created it all and seek His face (2 Chr 7:14). That is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has never failed me yet, nor shall he ever. To Him be all praise, honor, and glory forever, Amen.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility: but when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger... I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game's afoot: follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!"
-William Shakespeare
King Henry V, 1599