Haiti-April 2010

Thanks to all who offered support financially and more importantly through prayer.  The experience was nothing less than amazing! Witnessing the move of God in the village of Guibert and in the lives of us who went to help was spectacular.  By no means was I left out of the move of God.  My selfish reason of hearing from God and experiencing Him move like I’ve never seen before was fulfilled on Sunday when we we’re privileged with attending a Haitian Church.  The scripture, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” came alive and now holds new meaning to me.  To see the unexplainable joy in the lives of those who had experienced such enormous destruction, death and personal loss was inspiring to say the least.  The entire experience left me feeling blessed and cursed at the same time:  Blessed that I live in America where clean running water is wasted on washing cars and the fact that I even have a car, a surplus of food in the pantry and a closet full of clothes and shoes…. Cursed that I live in America where clean running water is wasted on washing cars and the fact that I even have a car, a surplus of food in the pantry and a closet full of clothes and shoes.

Send Ryan To Haiti

I will be leaving to go to Haiti in April.  I will be joining 13 other people who are going to build homes before the rainy season sets in.  If you would like to help me raise the $1700 its going to cost to travel over there you can donate through PayPal here.  If you would like to donate to the organization that I am going with you can go to stepstonesmissions.org.  Thanks for your help!

Danger? What Danger?

I was on facebook this morning and saw the post of a great man named Mike Brister who is in Haiti doing what God has called us all to do.  Here is his post:

Mike Brister Awakened in Haiti at 4:30 this morning by an aftershock. Loud pop followed by deep rumble and the building moving. Please pray that God will calm the fears and open the hearts to receive the one true hope of Jesus Christ?

Then I came across this quote from NewSpring Church:

Open doors for the gospel often come by way of the danger accompanying an active faith. And freedom for ourselves—and those who do not know Jesus—comes only by way of trusting in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

I was convicted by the lack of danger in my life.  Do I really live a life for Christ like He told me to live? The Bible says that in this world we will have trouble.  Although I do have my share of problems, I can’t think of one that is because of my faith. Most are caused by my poor decisions NOT my faith in God or my obedience to His commands to go into all the world and make disciples.  I so easily get caught up in the “stuff” of the church that I quickly lose focus of the meaning of church, Jesus and telling others about Him.

Danger? What danger?  I live a safe, comfortable life.  I sit here in my comfortable chair with my laptop in my lap lurking on facebook drinking a cup of coffee with my daughter watching cartoons as I leave others, like Mike, to do the work God has called all believers to do.  God have mercy on me. God have mercy on us all who say “missions is for missionaries.” God have mercy on us the church as we sit back and worry about our next program, event, high attendance sunday or “scheduled revival” and forget about the lost and broken world.

Out Running God

Kinda stupid to think that we can out run God but so many times that’s what I do.  Often I try to read God’s mind (as if that were possible) and “help Him out” by doing things or pushing for things that I think are what He has planned for me.   For instance,  I recently came across an opportunity that would give me satisfaction, self pride and fulfillment if I was able to do it.  So I pushed and planned and hoped for weeks to no avail.   The opportunity passed and I was left in a worse place than I was because in the planning and pushing for what I thought was a good idea for God to do I neglected my current responsibilities creating more work and headache for myself and family.   I have a self-inflicted sickness of not being content with where God has me at the moment.  For some reason I feel that the grass will defiantly be greener on the other side.   “If only______ then we could _______” or “If I could do __________ then I would find fulfillment.”  I seem to always overlook the scriptures that say to work with your hands, live a quite life and whatever you do do it as if working for the Lord.

Amazing Creative Costume

You have to check this out!  I wasn’t impressed when I first saw this because I thought it was just a photoshop technique, but it’s actually real. Check it out.

now what

Yesterday was a frustrating day that ended good.  I spent the majority of the day restless and anxious.  Work was no place that I wanted to be and I was eagerly waiting an email or phone call with good news that has yet to come.  I say that I trust God to do with me as He pleases but the truth is, if I could direct God I would.  For some reason I believe that I know what is best for my life while I quote scriptures that say God is in control and that His plans for me are for good.  Why can’t I believe what I know.   After my rough day of sitting around being anxious and wanting to be anywhere but here;  we ate, bathed the kids and put them in bed.  Then my wife and I sat in the quite and read.  Something I rarely do.  My brain seldom slows down enough to sit and read.  But, I was able to finish “Crazy Love” (the second book I have ever actually  read cover to cover – the other was “Every Man’s Battle” in case you were wondering).  The book left me with a “now what” mind set.  Now what?  What will I do?  The book is filled with awesome truth that cuts deep and to the heart, but will I let it take root and allow God to produce His fruit in my life?  Will I actually begin to care about the things He cares about?  Will I love love?  I pray I do.  I don’t want to be lukewarm.  I don’t want to live a safe life.  I want to be used as a tool for God.  Pray with me that God begin to open up my eyes to His work and open doors for me to join with Him and serve Him where I am now not waiting for perfect conditions to be obedient.

Broken Barriers

It’s amazing how technology has broken the barriers of the space time continuum ( I really have no clue what that is, it just sounds cool).  I follow Nick Khoo on twitter.  Nick is a video editor/designer at Hillsong in Australia and his post this morning was, “It’s twenty ten everyone! It’s twenty ten!!!” I still have 13 hours till I can say that. It makes me wonder what’s going to happen when Jesus comes back.  Is it possible that He could come back on two days at once….hummmmm interesting.

KNOW1NG

I watched the movie KNOW1NG last night.  The story line was interesting and the visual effects were pretty good but it left me a little uneasy.  The movie mixed sci-fi with Biblical themes to create an apocalyptic thriller.  Although I liked the Biblical themes I was not a fan of equating God and angels to alien life forms. Overall, the movie was creepy.  Granted, every time an angel appeared in the Bible it said, “Do not be afraid,” so the idea that angels create fear isn’t far off. I just don’t think real angles are dark figures who hang out on the fringes, stare and whisper to children.  Although, at the end of the movie the angel/aliens transform into a pretty sweet looking idea of what angels may look like.  If you can watch the movie with an eye open for the Biblical themes of prophesy, the “prodigal son,” the rapture and etc then you will probably find the movie interesting.

Philippians

“Press on.” “Surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.” “god of their stomach.” “Without fault in a crooked and depraved generation.” “Work out your salvation.” “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (segments from Philippians)

Wow. Philippians is a powerful little book. There are so many little nuggets buried; well, not even buried, just laying out there for us to take hold of.  What stood out to me today was in chapter 2 verse 12. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, buy now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” I know that we don’t work to earn our salvation and there is noting that we can do that makes God love us more but God spoke to me this morning and gave me this picture: move the the work “out” over one space and it gives a whole different perspective that we can totally understand and connect with.  Just about all of us have played sports or understand the concept of athletics.  With anything from baseball to jenga practice makes perfect.  We have to workout in order to train our bodies to be better at what we do.  I believe that this is what Paul is talking about here.  We have to work at being a better Christian (little Christ).  Just seven verses up Paul tells us that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ. That is going to take some practice!  I think Paul was either an athlete or at least was a fan because he used sports analogies to communicate the struggles, victories and process of living for Christ.  Bottom line: I have to continue to train myself, to workout, and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me…”

More on Unity

Crazy! More scriptures on unity:

…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the pond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all… (Ephesians 4:1-6)

ONE. That was the them of a youth conference not too long ago and I didn’t get it (for one the didn’t convey the message of Unity very well in my opinion, but that’s another story). But in light of what God has been showing me the past few days, this is just another example of what our life and attitude should be as followers of Christ.  “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” Paul could have stopped right there. That’s enough to make me see that I don’t measure up.  Just a chapter over Paul tells us to be Imitators of God… and to live a life of love, just as Christ love us and gave himself up for us… (Eph. 5:1) Unity could be summed up in this unselfish love because we’ve all heard it said that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for another. But there is also this in Romans 13:8-10:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing deby to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and what ever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

In closing…

UNITY = LOVE