facebook

just read an article that mentioned Facebook is worth more than $15 billion dollars.



The Internet site is not even five years old and the CEO is 23.

I read these staggering articles and my mind races around like NASCAR at the Daytona 500. How in the world did that happen? How do you even begin something like this? What do I want to be when I grow up?
Part me feels as if I'm falling behind in life and the other part of me sees a great bay window of opportunity.

I desire to make a difference, yet seem to lack that inner gear that some are able to shift to. Professionally, I have always been the worker, never the innovator. "Show me what to do and I'll do it....then I'll go home." That attitude will only get me so far. Not that I want only worldly success, but I would at least like a bit more passion about my career.
Sadly, that is true for me in my walk with Christ as well. The passion nowadays only flickers like a candle in the wind. I cannot manufacture feelings or this drive to see the world come to Christ. I want to see it happen, I just have a hard time these days getting off the bench to contribute.

The good news is I was created to impact the world...for Christ.That is what God says about me. That is my calling. It is in me somewhere. I do have that gear I can shift to that will shake the world around me. It might not be through the headlines of CNN Money or FOX news or through some website but it will make the angels in heaven sing. I must allow myself to enter into this place and believe it is there. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." My prayer is to allow the Holy Spirit to fan the flame that flickers and light the fire again.

So, I guess for me all I want is for Jesus to write on my wall " well done good and faithful servant"

I'm sure I would have 15 billion reasons why that would be cool too.

do you feel sick?

"those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Luke 5:31-32


We spent a week in San Diego this past July and it truly was one of the best places in the country to be. I couldn't grasp that this place even existed in the states. The weather was amazing and the views were so picturesque. But today, this wonderful place lies in a blazing inferno that is destroying the homes and lives of many, not to mention the damage done to the environment.





It makes me realize how fragile life is.

It is great to see the relief effort taking place. Lessons learned from the Katrina disaster has helped the situation in southern California even though it is still grim. These are the times that we come together as a human race. We can see the danger, we can see the need... so we react. I'm thankful for that.

Unfortunately, when it comes to our spiritual needs, we are not so quick to react.

Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance.

If you were to poll the average person, my guess would be that they would say that they were not righteous. They would probably make a reference to some mistake they made in their life and hope that when they die they will be allowed in to heaven. Biblical, it is sin that keeps us from this desired location.

Our society has such a twisted view on what sin is. The word "sinner" or "sin automatically births thoughts of particular actions one does. The word itself also seems a bit old fashioned. The fact is, sin encompasses a whole lot more that just actions. Sin invades our thoughts, actions and motives. It encompasses our whole beings. Instead of the word "sin" how about using the word "sick" in its place. We are sick and we don't realize it.

How is it that we are sick? For one, if we say that we have no sin (sickness), we deceive ourselves. Second, there is none well (righteous), no, not one. (Funny how Jesus did not come for those that are well (righteous), but for the sick (sinner)). Third, there is none who seeks after God, because we seek after ourselves. Fourth, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified. Fifth.....you get the picture.

Sin is like high blood pressure or kidney failure. You can go almost your whole life without realizing it and then one day....its too late to fix it. But, if caught early, the effects can be reversed!

Thankfully, Jesus is the great physician. In Luke 6, multitudes of people came to Him to hear Him and to be healed from their sicknesses and diseases. It says that " they sought to touch Him... (as)power went out from Him and healed them all."

I love the picture that paints. Jesus left no one out, He healed them all. He took all the time needed to meet everyones need and everyones prayer. His compassion for the people overwhelmed their sicknesses and infirmities. For once, it seemed, the worlds problems had met their match. This, I believe is only a foreshadowing of His return when this becomes reality.

Until then, can we recognize that we are sick in the eyes of God and need healed? We need to seek Jesus and hear from Him and let Him heal our sicknesses (sins), before it's too late.

28-24

Buckeye Post-


Saturday at 3:30pm I will be at Ohio Stadium cheering on the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes as they face the Michigan State Spartans. This game for me is not like the others.

I remembered a fall day back in 1998 when the then #1 Ohio State Buckeyes faced the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in a 3:30pm game. The 98' was the team, this was our year, we were going to win it all, for the first time in my life! In fact, I was so sure of winning this game ( we were a four touchdown favorite) that I remember only watching the first half and then doing whatever I did and then catching the end on the radio....Buckeyes lose 28-24. I was not supposed to get sick over a stupid game but I thought...."I feel sick."
We finished number 2 in 1998. That is all I remember... being second.

Sure we won it all in 2002 and almost did it again last year...sooo close....kinda sick about that too, but I was watching tv this week when the Big Ten network aired the OSU MSU game from 1998.- it was like I discovered an open wound I did not know about. (Jen, I confess, I have been watching this game, you ask what game is on at 5 in the afternoon...this is the game...this is reality) I DVRd the game and have been watching it slowly- hoping to change the outcome....I thought OSU being up 24-9 in the third quarter was a large enough lead that if I somehow slowed it down, OSU would hang on to win. DVR is not that cool. OSU still lost.

So here we are once again....funny how things come full circle. We are supposed to win, just like in 98' but I'll be there this time though. In the flesh, until the clock runs out win or lose. If OSU can win, it would lay to rest the 98' nightmare and patch the sports wound that I have....if they lose...

its just a game?

28

today is my personal New Years Day celebration- some call it "birthday". Actually, I still call it birthday but in my case there is more to it:

8 years ago on this day i decided to follow after Jesus. I stepped off of the wide and spacious way I had been comfortable on and began to navigate through the crooked and narrow paths of Christ.

that decision changed the course of my life forever. Following Christ means not following anything else. At the time, those closest to me remained on the wide and spacious road, unable to part from the temporary comforts that it offered and I ventured out on my own. However, I would not be alone for long.

As walked the less trodden paths, there were others there along the way, to walk with me, to direct me, to encourage me, to lead me. There too many to name and more come along everyday. For this I'm deeply grateful.


Honestly, I can't say that I've never looked back. Many times I've wished to see those that I parted ways with be found on these paths as well. I have yet to see them.

Sometimes, I have wondered where I would be had I continued in my ways and continued on the wide and spacious road. These times of wondering were a waste at best and tool of the adversary to keep me from moving ahead after Jesus.

But as I woke up today, to breakfast in bed from my wonderful wife ( I must say...my fellow companion on this road of faith and the biggest blessing in my life), a new year had dawned.

My personal prayer for this year is Philippians 3:7-14. After 8 years of walking this path, it remains crooked and narrow, faithful to it's design. The only option is to press forward toward the goal.

So on I go....


forever greatful

The Blessed Mother

One of my issues with Catholicism is the worship and\or praying to the saints, including Mary. I just don't see that within the texts of Scripture. It frankly doesn't make sense to me. Christianity is not a dualistic religion. We worship God alone, God being- Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We are not called to worship or pray to anyone else. Besides only God can forgive sins.
However, I do wish to give Mary a bit more respect than I have recently. I think worship should be for God alone, yet, I do want to give Mary her reverent due.

What I do see, when reading Luke 1, is God beginning to move again after years of silence when He sends Gabriel to visit Zacharias and Mary. God is up to something again and you can almost sense the Spirit "hovering over the face of the waters" again. God is doing something big.

Well, Gabriel appears to Zacharias and tells him about his future son John the Baptist, yet Zacharias does not believe Gabe and its made mute until Johns birth. (Can you imagine if God acted that quickly when we don't believe). Mary though she believes the more ridiculous of the two stories, that she will be bear a child not even "knowing" a man. It is then later that she sings out and says " For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed." Mary humbly lives out her role as the mother of Jesus, the savior of the world.

I admire her faith and obedience. As His mother she had a connection to Jesus that we could never know. (Considering, she conceived Him as a virgin, how do you ever get over that?) I wonder what she felt watching Him grow in to a man. Watching Him grow in the knowledge and power of God. She has few words throughout the texts after Jesus is born, but she keeps many things in her heart concerning Him. She had to let Jesus go, just as any other mother would have to let her boy go and grow in to a man. Ultimately, she had to watch Jesus die on the cross, which to her probably did not match the promise from Gabriel that Jesus would reign over the "House of Jacob forever". Yet she never wavered. Mary lived her life faithful to God and to her Son. She truly is blessed and blessed among all women.

Breezing through these texts does not do them justice. I admit to rushing through parts of the Bible I "know". The fact is, I don't know much. God is constantly revealing Himself through His Word- like my view of Mary. Mary was a huge part of God's plan, yet sometimes we non-Catholics are quick to put her in her place among all of us other "sinners". Sinner or not, Mary was "highly favored" by God for this task. There is something to be said of that.

Just as Paul is a prime example of how we should live out our faith as Christians, is not Mary the prime example of the ultimate mother surrendered to God and His work?

Much adoration due.

The Hardened States of America

"North America is the only continent in the world where the church is not growing," says Eric Ramsey of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board (NAMB).



Despite what some say, the United States is not a post-Christian nation. It's more half Christian and half post-Christian, trying to make up its mind. A sizeable share of Americans describe themselves as Bible-believing Christians. In many places and contexts you can still reach people simply by opening the doors and offering a worship service.

There are also places and contexts where Buddhism is better understood and more admired than Christianity. Pockets of Sonoma County, California, where I live, certainly fit the description. It's deep-blue America, defined by organic veggies, fine wines, and high tech.

"Sonoma County is a tough nut," church-planting pastor Dan Boyd of Hope Chapel told me. "America is a tough nut. We've seen it all and done it all. In America, we don't need God."- Tim Stafford- Christianity Today

The Starbuckians

If you've ever walked in to a Starbucks I'm sure you've noticed the people sitting inside the store, drinking coffee and doing whatever they do. However, most people go in and order their outrageous $9 drinks, filled with enough of "the legal drug" to keep an entire city awake and run out the door. If you are like me though and have been able to spend some extra time sitting IN the Starbucks you will see the people inside with a whole different perspective. In fact, I am one of those people. I am a Starbuckian and here is a glimpse in to our world-

1. The expensive drinks are not for us.
- We are pastors and writers and readers and sales people we don't always have the money for those so we stick with the simple 3$ drinks and leave the others for those who can afford it.

2. Actually, we are actors and we want to play roles of readers, writers and sales people.
- Lets be real here. Don't be fooled. That copy of War and Peace you see the guy in the glasses reading- he's been "reading" that for months! People who ARE readers...have ALREADY read that. (i.e Joe)Also, I may be wrong but I have yet to run in to Karen Kingsbury or John Grisham in Starbucks. Probably because they are actually writing somewhere.
As far as the sales people....well that is what I am and I'm blogging in Starbucks right now so you be the judge next time you see us "working".

3. We are in the front lines of God's work
Being a Christian I am highly aware of this. In a days time I have seen pastors come in and out, people having discipleship time, bible studies, quiet times, mentorship and conversations about Christ. In fact, people are saved in Starbucks quite a bit.
I sat so close to a meeting of Vineyard leaders one time that I was even able to chime in and throw out some of my ideas.

4. Did I mention we are inspiring actors and actresses?
I think we sit here to be discovered. Our talents run deep. I can play a good salesman....but the good salesman is actually out there getting the sale....you get the picture

5. We love commercialism. We love capitalism. We love America. We love George Bush.
- Dont' be fooled by the music that plays in the background as if it is trying to make a political point or don't be confused by the anti-establishment person that just walked in and ordered something with soy milk. Starbucks is the essence of a capitalistic country. How more established and commercial can you get than Starbucks? They are everywhere! I love how all the music that is advertised is "not-mainstream" when the place it is sold in is the very place where the stream begins.
Everyone in here is a republican. Anyone who appears not to be is acting.

6. We are in process.
We will figure it out someday. We will grow up and do the responsible thing...just not yet. We are hesitant to break away from being a Starbuckian. There is a real world out there and we aren't sure how to handle it yet. We are not ready to leave the nest.



*The workers are exempt from this post. They work at Starbucks for the benefits. They serve the drinks but you never see them just hanging out. When their shift is over, they are out the door to face the real world. They know the truth about us, yet, let us live in it because we keep them busy. Vicious cycle.