Old Friends

I just saw some old friends on facebook. People I used to know well, people I grew up in church with and people that knew me well growing up. When you get a snapshot of peoples lives, as you do on facebook, it's hard to tell what's going on in there lives FOR REAL.

For example, the snapshots I saw of these friends were pictures of them drinking and partying. Now, I remember as a teen hearing of the events that they'd go to and get smashed (never being invited), so I'm not super surprised, however in my mind, I am very quick to judge what they are doing, assuming they were only there for drunkedness rather than just fun with each other and a couple drinks.

That is a piece of me (the judge) that I thought was gone...but here it reared it's ugly head in the matter of seeing one picture. Now, I could be right and they were all purposfully getting wasted and living in the moment of debauchery or as could be just the same truth, they had a couple of drinks to slake their thirst...whatever the case may be, seeing snapshots of their lives isn't enought for me to determine.

It's nice meeting old friends and new on facebook, yet I wonder if we as a younger generation put too much stake in how it reveals us, or tells us about one another. It has the tendency for us to cultivate judgemtal feelings either for the good or for the bad...give me your thoughts if you got em.

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Desiring More...

Have you ever been in a pace where you just can't get enough: information, Jesus, study, reading, love, fun, deep understanding? Well I feel I've been there for awhile. There's just something in me that desires...well, more! I feel like all the knowledge I have, isn't enough, all the Jesus I have is definitely not enough...I just want more.

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Thinking, Acting and Being like Jesus

I've been reading a lot about the Life and Person of Christ. His life strikes me, shocks me and puts me in a state of awe.

I sit and look at the people he hung out with, how he interacted with them and how he loved them. Jesus NEVER stopped loving anyone. His love is what conquered his enemies, his love is what won people to Himself and His love is what draws me to Him as well.

I was reading this morning a blog written by one of my youth leaders entitled "love in a bottle" and totally agree with everything he said. Jesus never gave out fake of love, but true, undying love. His love lasts and is pure, but the love we accept and (sad to say) give out is not always the same.

When I read books about the church, the world's outlook is much more at odds with us than it is at Jesus. A book I'm currently reading highlights this in it's Title: They Like Jesus, but not the Church. It highlights how we as a church have in fact been dishing out fake love which has necessary requirements to it, similar to a night club that needs a person to "be on the list" to get in.

Jesus NEVER wrote a list of people who could be recipients of His love. There were people who rejected it, but it was always offered. Sometimes, the church has it flipped I think. We have requirements on our love: you need to dress like A, or you need to talk like B before we will accept you.

That's NOT the Jesus way. I've been extremely convicted about how I love...As Alex (the leader who wrote "love in a bottle") was concerned about people receiving love. We shouldn't (as Alex said) accept ANY love that is not true, God-like love. I want to take it a bit farther and say we shouldn't GIVE any love that isn't pure or true either. The world needs to see a movement of love like it's never seen before!

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Traveling Light

When I saw the title and the cover of Max Lucado's book: Traveling Light, I thought it had to do with light as in light bulb, however it has to do with light as in not heavy.

This book is full of Godly wisdom about releasing burdens unto the Lord and all of the ideas come from Psalm 23. Max brings a lot of this Psalm to light for me. As I read what he says about specific portions of the Psalm I find myself saying more often than not: "I NEVER KNEW THAT!!"

When I can look at a piece of scripture that I've heard numerous times and glean new insight from it, the way I have been, I get excited and overwhelmed by the Truth of it all.

I have been truly blessed by this book and have received a lot from the Lord...check it out if you have time!

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Fitness Challenge!

The office staff at Living Christ Church is going to undergo a fitness challenge. The goal is to lose our un-wanted poundage. Today was our first weigh in. I am at 217 pounds and hoping to go back down to 185-190 pounds. That's about 27-32 pounds I wanna get rid of. I will update our progress each week...stay tuned...

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My Reads...

Right now, I am reading another set of lots of books. I am so hungry for knowledge it's kinda freakin me out. Anyways I am now reading: Revolution by George Barna (ah, its ok), Jesus Brand Spirituality by Ken Wilson (decent, hope he elaborates), Traveling Light by Max Lucado (really good book about releasing burdens...loving it!), They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball (interesting and challenging read), The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis (good stuff, almost done) and lastly Showdown by Ted Dekker (just for fun). What are you reading???

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Last Night (Tuesday June 3)

Last Night's youth group was all about"The R-Files". We've started a new series which is seeped in REDEMPTION...thus the R-Files. The teens thought the title a bit lame, but I like it. I talked about my prayer for redemption from my school debt as an opening story. Then I moved to the powerful story of Ruth and Boaz as the kinsman-redeemer. I shared with the students that we can sum up the idea of redemption into two words: PAID FOR. Meaning that when something is redeemed, it is paid for, done, finished.
I also shared that redemption is a ONCE FOREVER type deal, saying that once that certain debt is paid for, you needn't pay it again.

We're going to be running through numerous stories about redemption and highlighting why this word, or idea is important to our daily lives!

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3 Youth Pastors...

What do you get when you have 3 youth pastors in your family??? Crazy times and crazy pictures! Here's my favorite picture from being in Pittsburgh with m family------------------>

That is my little nephew Evan, whose pants were a little big for his tiny butt. My brother thought it funny (as we all did) so he snapped this picture.

This was my little sisters graduation party, but my brothers and I still had fun...
















Lastly, my little nephew Evan (there is another nephew Elliot, but he's still too small to be doing much picture worthy...can't wait til he comes of age..) wanted to put my glasses on...this was the result------------------------------->

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