Insights on American Theology

What’s the problem with American theology?

It's not the styles, or the stages – it’s our mentality

While people of the world

Loose their life for Christ the King

We’d rather sit in comfort,

Then raise our voice and sing

---

What would the church look like

if singing Sunday morning

Meant risking your life?

Would you show up? Would I?

---

We need to learn to sacrifice,

For the sake of Jesus Christ

We need to get off of our selves

And learn to pray (really pray)

We have no time to delay,

What if Christ came back today?

Would you be able to testify,

That in your life you glorified

The only One who’s worthy,

With all your might?

Would you? Would I?

---

What’s the problem with Church priorities?

It’s not the programs or attendance, it’s the lack of empathy.

In other countries they follow Christ,

Even if it means they lose their life

In America, we get excited

Over football Monday night

---

What would the church look like

if saying no to yourself

Meant following God’s will?

What would you say? What would I?

---

Who cares if you have a Lexus?

With bumper to bumper?

What does that do for the man who’s damned to hell?

Does your family love you more?

Cause their involved in every activity?

Have you shown them with your life,

The selfless love of Christ?

Christmas - Finding the Balance

I Love Christmas Time.
I love everything about it. The celebration of our salvation,the parties, the musicals, the family, the presents, and the decorations. This year I'm not able to put up decorations because we're preparing to move to North Carolina. While this is difficult for a Christmas-holic, like me - it's good for me to focus on the true reason to celebrate this time of year. It has nothing to do with lights, and trees and presents. It has to do with THE presence of God with Us. Emmanuel means God with us and that's exactly what He did.Praise God!

My struggle, I'm finding at Christmas time, is balancing things like the parties, the musicals, the rehearsals, etc with spending time with friends and family. Maybe it's because we're about to be away from all the people and places I've come to know well, but I'm realizing as great as musicals and parties are, it's extremely easy to let that overshadow spending time in community with those we love. Part of being a follower of Jesus Christ is showing His love, in a personal way to those we know. I don't know if my priorities are beginning to change with a new chapter beginning in my life, but I know that I would rather spend a quiet evening alone with my bride, or an evening with friends than in a 3 hour tech rehearsal.

That's not to say I don't enjoy Christmas and Easter presentations, I do! I look forward to certain times of year, because I feel like there's an obvious avenue for the arts to be used in the celebration of God with us, in us and through us. I enjoy finding unique music, well written dramas and combining all that to bring out the best in people while they glorify the Savior through their craft. This year's musical at Central is amazing! The story is original, the music is unique and edgy! In fact, out of all the musicals we've done since I've been here this is the most personal for CBC. The fact that it was birthed out of a ministry happening in our youth group makes it real.

So where is the balance? How does one find it and practice it? More importantly, how can one help keep those he leads in balance in their own lives?

Father in heaven,
I pray that You would help me discover balance in my life, especially in the area of my family and the passion for ministry You've instilled in me. God I want to glorify You through the arts in the most excellent way I can, but more than that I want to glorify You through how I love my family.
Thank You Lord, for grace and 'do-overs' for Your children.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

And here we go...

Last night was such an emotional night!

We told our church that we were moving in January, to Huntersville, NC to serve at Independence Hill Baptist Church. I knew it was going to be tough, but I didn't know how tough! Telling the Choir, praise team and drama was the hardest. Angela and I have grown so close to so many of those guys and girls and having to say goodbye is going to be one of the single most difficult experinces of my life! Just telling them was tearful. The friends we have made at CBC have been so amazing, sacrifical and loving - a true picture of God's character. The exciting thing is that they will conitine to serve like that because of how much the love Jesus! 

Now we have to get ready to pack and move. But before that, we have finals, a christmas musical - which is going to rock, and graduation. It's going to be a busy December. Stay tuned!

Father in Heaven, 

Thank You for grace that is greater than ALL our sin. Thank you for always being ready to pick us up and hold us when we're hurting. Father keep my eyes focused on You and my heart broken over my sin and the sin of a lost and dying world. Let my broken heart be made whole only by Your love.

Reflections...

Ever present

You are Constant,

You won’t relent,

Won’t Circumvent who You are in me

For Your glory, for History.

Zealously You protect me

Thankfully, on bended knee

I bow before Thee

Gladly

Giving you Everything

Giving You anything.

Spewing all I’ve held on to

For You. For You. For You

For You’ve absolved, resolved, involved

You’re life into mine,

Combined together, forever, less of me,

More of you, more of You

More of your grace, love, mercy, devotion,

Commission,

adoration,

vision,

compassion

Wont give in, Won’t back spin,

Wont wait until someone else dives in

Listen. I’ll listen, I will Listen

To You. To You. To You

Devotional 10/1 - John 19:17-24

Father,
I pray that as I read your word this afternoon, You continue to remind my spirit that You are God over all gods, Lord over all lords and true and only Awesome. Lord, keep my spirit broken and tender over my sin and the things I do and don't do which Your Holy Spirit directs me to do. Not only to remain broken over these things but to move to action to restore that which has been taken, claim victory over past battles and peace in the midst of absolutely crazy times I pray also that as I read Your word, You would show me I should do because of the words written. Lord, show me how I may better obey you in my walk with men and with You. I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Meditation:
As I was reading I slowed over the words "Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called the Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha."

"He carried His own cross." - Why did John write this? What was it significant? I know there is probably a more historically accurate reason for this, but as I read it, I think to myself "He didn't look for someone else to carry His cross" even though he'd been beaten beyond recognition, spat on, the crown of thorns pressing into His head. He carried HIS cross. Because He knew that's what The Father wanted for Him to do in order to save humankind.

If Jesus had put down the cross and said "forget it! You can carry that thing - YOU DESERVE IT!" First, He would have been right. Second, He would have missed His calling and we would have lost the opportunity to have salvation in Jesus. Thank God He carried His own cross. If He hadn't, I can't even begin to fathom what would have happened. Because Jesus did what he was called to do. If Christ had put down the cross, we might have never seen the Power of God to restore a dead person to perfection!

How often do I complain about a burden I am to carry? Maybe its a job that I don't particularly care for, maybe it's a relationship that isn't the easiest thing to be a part of, maybe just getting my lazy butt out of bed in the morning! All these things are crosses of sorts God has called me to carry at this time.

If I choose not to carry my burden, what is the ramification I'm not even aware of? How by me either choosing not to carry it, or complaining about carrying it, am I robbing myself or the people around me of the blessings God chooses to bestow upon His children during times of trial and pain?

Application:
I will be mindful of my heart and spirit and when I start to complain about something, I will stop and thank God for the opportunity for Him to show His power in the midst of that 'cross'.

Memorize:
"Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha."

John 19:17

And Just Like That...

...Summer of 2008 is almost finished.

The back-to-school sales have started, teachers are beginning to go back for training, and students are beginning to get that panicked look on their faces like “O no! We only have a few more weeks?!?!” I just read through the last 3 years of August newsletters I had written, honestly to get some idea of what I was to write this year. It’s hard because I wonder what I can write to encourage, uplift, inform and challenge each reader of this article. Maybe I’m flattering myself, maybe people don't even read this blog. I hope that’s not the case, but I guess I’ll never really know. What I do know is that this summer there have been some amazing things happening in our church. First off, the revival services each Wednesday have been great! Each week I have been able to attend, I have been blessed and I’ve heard that the weeks we weren’t here God has spoken strongly through each of the speakers and pastors. What have you done with all the information and biblical insight you’ve received this summer? Thought about it for a few minutes or days and forgotten about it? Written it down on a piece of paper or a journal and let it sit there taking up space in a book? Or have you really began to apply it to your life? The same thing goes for John’s sermon series on Love we just finished up. Each week – he has issued a challenge to us as followers of Jesus. Have you stepped up or stepped back? In the Christian walk – there isn’t just a neutral setting. I believe we are always either moving forward or moving backwards.

The Youth have had some amazing opportunities as well – this year at youth camp God broke many of them of things they had been holding on to. We had several kids begin their journey with Christ and several more rededicate their lives to Him. When I asked them what’s the hardest thing about coming home after camp, one of them replied “…bringing back what we learned and applying it to our daily walk and how we interact with others who don’t know Christ”. Adults, both young and old – please read this with your entire attention and heart. Our youth need examples of people who live out their daily walk to show the love of Jesus to EVERYONE. Jesus, as one of His last commandments He left us before he was crucified, told us to have love one for another. That we will (or should) be known for our love. Love lived out is obvious, it’s evident by a selfless life.

This summer is one for the books – great camps, great conferences, great revival services…

There is an ellipsis on the end of that sentence intentially – what you do with all you’ve been given this summer is the rest of the sentence. Don’t just gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge – APPLY IT! LIVE IT!

Speakers, Struggles and Tuneing...Willow Creek

Yesterday was the first day of the Willow Creek Arts Conference. I love getting up here. I love the setting, I love the trip (even with the waiting!), I love the change of pace, I love the refreshment, I love the challenges, I love the encouragement, I love the time spent just reflecting...I wish there was more of this type of time. Sometimes there's some tough things brought up as part of a speaker's message and I wish we had more time in between sessions to think and talk and reflect or write about it.

Trey and I were talking about a hymn we sang called 'Come Thou Fount'. He had the 'A-Ha' moment to think about the line "Tune my heart to sing Thy grace". We began to talk about the implications of that line and the correlation to our daily walk. Our hearts have to be in tune with Jesus or it will be like a poorly tuned guitar or piano where the strings aren't in tune with each other. Furthermore, even sometimes there are instruments that are in tune with themselves, but when they join a larger group they are out of tune. Now I could write a book about which is worse, an instrument that is just a few cents flat or sharp or a whole or half step wrong. Neither is good. Neither is acceptable in a band. All must tune to a single note, in America, that note is "A 440". Now for those of you who might read this and have no idea what that means. It's basically a note that vibrates 440 times a second. In other areas of the world they tune to "A 438" or "A 442" or somewhere around there. But the point is a band will all tune to a single note. Do you see the correlation between that and our lives being in tune with Jesus Christ? Our "A 440"?
As this conversation went on, I added my two cents by observing on a string instrument there is a stretching that happens to the strings when they are placed on the instrument. This is our walk with Jesus. When we begin that journey, we are not stretched at all, but as our hearts begin to be more in tune with Jesus we stretch more and more until, at last, when we're taken home and made in perfect tune with our Father and His son Jesus Christ. I'm stretching more and more each day. Sometimes I fall out of tune, but the Master's hand gently turns the tuning peg to bring me back into pitch to His desire for my life.

Willow Creek is great for this type of reflection and spiritual challenge.

Alone in the Orange Grove

Last night was my first night without Tim. He'll be home Friday, but off again on Saturday. This is his first long trip since we've had Mingus, our dog. So naturally, he got to sleep on the bed. Once he settled down at 11ish, I slept fine until about 3:45 when he decided he needed to scratch. Fun times.
What else is going on in Groves-town?

• We're waiting to schedule our next test for getting pregnant and I hate waiting.
• We're praying Tim's CRV makes it till the new year so my car will be paid off and he can get his Scion.
• Getting ready for Tim to graduate from DBU on 12/19 with his M.A. Worship Leadership.
• VBS is in 2 weeks
• Youth Camp is in July.
• Groves family cruise is in 59 days!

This feels like a Christmas re-cap card. But it's my first post, so it'll get better.

Old Friends...Theology and The Kansas City Airport...or "The Journey to Chicago"

This morning Trey, my brother, and I arrived at Love Field at 5:10 AM, and checked our bags. I remembered what Angela told me about kindness getting farther than those who are rude. So, knowing that, and wanting to help someone else have a good day, we got ready to check out bags. When I got to the front of the line, I found out I was supposed to call ahead and get a confirmation number. So I was directed inside where I was to wait in another line to get a number, so I could go wait in another line to have a bag checked, to wait in another line to get a boarding pass, to wait in another line to board the plane.

We spend alot of our lives waiting. Waiting on someone, waiting on our food, waiting for the sermon to be over, waiting for the light to turn green, waiting to go to the bathroom (well, maybe not guys as much as ladies). I wonder if I do anything productive while I'm waiting? I hope I don't look back one day and regret living my life waiting for something else.

It also helps to keep a flexible, positive attitude when you're traveling, especially on Buddy Passes. Buddy Passes are free stand-by tickets which are great blessings. The catch is if the plane is full, you get kicked off for those who bought tickets. Which is where I find myself now...waiting to board the 9:30 flight to Chicago. Watching a bit of a movie, eating a grossly overpriced Chicken sandwich, and and typing this blog.

When i was in line this morning waiting to get my confirmation number I saw a group of guys I know that are in a band together. They were also going to Chicago for a Radio interview. Their Manager is a guy I grew up with and whom I had not seen in several years. On the surface the last several years he'd been, at least in my eyes, very successful with his craft. I equated career success with life success. This isn't always the case. God showed me this today in the great conversation I had with him. God's been working in his life in ways I really identified with. This realization took place not because someone else told him what to think and what to do, but because of God speaking to HIS heart.
He said something that really struck me, I guess because of it's popular culture reference. Actually he said alot of things that were good, but he talked about Christianity and how so many people today, especially people in church accept Christianity as 'what to do' just like a iphone is 'what to buy' or a type of clothing is 'what to wear'. Alot of people simply 'wear' the clothes of Christianity because it's what's been sold to them through marketing of their families or church.
Don't get me wrong, I think the church has to do a good job of meeting people's needs. But are we teaching them the formulas and lists we've come up with from the Bible at the expense of the passion Christ had and instilled in His disciples? All this got me thinking about my own life. That's what following Christ is about isn't it? Not telling others what they should or shouldn't do, but walking your Journey with Christ and showing people how amazing and awesome Christ is, with your life, not just your words and such.
I wonder how much of my life I spend waiting and not being passionate, passionate about my marriage, my job, my family and most importantly, my walk with Jesus. To understand what it is to have the Creator of the universe, God Almighty living through me?
Donald Miller says in his book Searching for God Knows What: "Can you imagine something like that, what it must feel like in the soul to have God's glory shining through you? With that much gory, that much of God shining through you, you would never have a self-defeating or other-person-bashing though again." In other words, your life would be passionate.

I eventually made it to Chicago, met back up with Trey, got our rental car and I am now sitting in a Coffee shop concluding this post. It's amazing the encounters God sets up as movements of His mighty symphony called life, I'm glad I'm in the orchestra...
I want to play passionately.