Next is Now!

Just wanted to share this video I used in teaching the other day. What we easily view as “whats next” or around the corner, is actually happening now. So don’t blink and pay attention to culture!

Don’t Settle for <

It’s certainly easy along life’s journey to wonder why we haven’t ended up where we thought we would. It’s easy to sit back and wonder why we aren’t further than we are, or why life hasn’t turned out like we would have wanted it to, but while we are all STILL on the journey we can’t give up. We cant settle down, slow down, or even become satisfied with “the way things are” if we are meant to do something, be somewhere, or be a part of something…else

In Genesis Chapter 11:10 we begin reading about the lineage of Abraham. Abraham’s father Terah was on his way to the land of Canaan. Now this city Canaan is important because it represented something. It represented a future, a land where God was taking him and his family, a land full of sustenance and promise. It was the “promised land,” and certainly the goal for Terah to reach. But the Bible paints us a very sad picture. Check out verse 31

“Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together” from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.

The Bible says that along the way to Canaan that Terah SETTELED. As he was on his journey to receiving his promise, he settled. He gave up. He sold-out. He quit. He set his tent stakes down in a land that was less-than perfect, a land that was “good enough” to live in, but much less than what he could have had. He settled in Haran..

It’s easy for us in life, especially for those who are Jesus-followers, to settle in “lands” that we know aren’t where we are supposed to set up shop in. We get bogged down with life, worries, people leaving, things not going as planned, and the ever present element of life called TIME. TIME goes by, and as we walk on our journey (sometimes with friends or sometimes alone) we decide to settle because we haven’t reached our “promised land” yet. We settle in “Haran,” just as Terah did, only to die without ever doing anything, instead of dying for something. There are many Christians and non-Christians that I know that are settling in Harans every day. The settle there because of fear of what it looks like to leave, to grow, to sacrifice, or to get over IT. Haran feels safe, comfortable, and of course they have already been through so much. So why keep going right?

My word to you is.. GET UP and GET GOING! Even if you have put your stake in the ground two years ago and it is all rusted out.. GET UP and GET BACK to walking towards the PROMISE! Follow the dream God has put in you and don’t settle. Abraham’s father was so close to his promise, but gave up right before he saw the journey pay off. Listen.. Life is hard, very hard. And I have become accustomed to finding out that it almost never works out as planned or imagined, but that is ok. It’s in those times we find out how good a painter God is because he constantly changes, with just a few brush strokes, our situations in life.

Joseph didn’t give up when he was in a pit, sold into slavery, or lied on and put in jail; he held onto the promise that one day he was going to bring life to a nation as it went through famine. No matter what his current circumstance was, he knew he was on the journey and he couldn’t settle.

Look how close Terah was..

So may you..
Be encouraged.
Drink from the Living Water and be refreshed.
Get Up out of Haran.
Canaan is just around the corner..
It’s waiting for YOU..
Get Going..

Creativity is healthy

A bit of creativity goes a long way folks.  Wether you are a small group leader, a teacher, blogger, or in whatever you do, using a bit of creativity helps anything and everything.  Deciding to teach in a different way, utilizing new methods and ways, can engage those people in your group, congregation, etc that usually arent engaged and those that have become bored.  Seriously.  I know, especially in teaching our highschool class “link,” that I have to change-up the ways in which I teach our students.  Between using music, videos, group activities, etc, I can’t rely on one example or idea to rule my class.  I have to engage those that are readers, those that learn visually, and those that are intrigued by competition.  So, in the spirit of creativity, enjoy how the city of Stockholm used creativity to encourage people to take the stairs.. literally…enjoy

article from Freakonomics inside the NY TIMES

Blog Posts to My Students (For Students ONLY!)

Anyone can look around these days and see that there is a continuous onslaught of information, ads, and all types of media vying for our attention each and every day. You can’t go anywhere without being bombarded by “stuff” trying to get you to buy something, do something, be something, or change something. We live in a world that is constantly changing: ideas, values, and beliefs as well. The world won’t let you have a moment of “mental silence” or even let “you be you,” without trying to change you..

As I was thinking about this current generation of Students coming up within our churches, I thought to myself, you guys have the greatest opportunity to make a change this world has ever seen. This world is full of ideas, cliques, groups, and different beliefs and if I had ONE shot at encouraging YOU, in the midst of all that, this is what I would say…

First of all….HAVE FAITH!

That doesn’t mean “If God wants it done, he will do it” kind of faith either. I mean FAITH that makes things happen, FAITH that lasts, and FAITH that is contagious. Students, you ARE THE CHURCH OF TODAY there is no doubt about it. All throughout the scripture God used people when they were young (i.e David, Daniel, Samuel, etc) And all those men of God did phenomenal things because they had great faith. They believed that God could use them to slay a Giant, set a captive nation free, stand up against a fiery furnace, and lead a country to follow the one true God.

You are young but I’m not doubting you for one second. God wants YOU to have faith that is BIG! Faith that says “I can reach my school, my community, and build my church.” Faith that allows God to use you not only in Sunday service to sing a song, but on Monday to encourage your teachers, on Tuesday to talk to that friend about Jesus, on Thursday to reach out to that other friend going through a divorce, and on Friday night to say “no” when the so-called “Christian” friends you are hanging out with decide to be “not so Christian.” You have to believe that at any time God can use you and wants to use you. That God can make a difference through you and it isn’t up to someone else to change the world.. It is up to YOU.

You have to have faith that takes responsibility…

If you don’t reach your school who will? If you don’t get a burden for your community who will? See the problem with many students in your generation is that they don’t feel very responsible for what is going on in their church, schools, families, or communities. And that is far from the truth!

If you have faith like young David, then you can go pray for that new visitor, you can be a light to your family members who constantly mock you for being a Christian or doing the right thing, and you won’t be afraid to reach someone in your neighborhood and bring them to your church. Take responsibility and let God work in YOU…EVERY…SINGLE…DAY! And see what he does when you pray those big prayers and believe him for great things!

Secondly have faith that lasts…

Too many students these days don’t stick with anything. It’s hard to focus when you have band practice, choir practice, student leadership, club meetings, church services, youth rallies, etc. I understand that.. But in the middle of busy schedules sometimes you let Jesus drop off your schedule and radar. You let him take the back seat, and forget about him until Sunday (and that is even if you remember to go to church). You have to have faith that lasts no matter what friends go to church or don’t, no matter who doesn’t listen to your pastor, or who gives up on God. YOU have to say in your heart and with your lifestyle (yes I said lifestyle) that I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS AND NO TURNING BACK! I will listen to my pastor, I will go to church, and this Apostolic message is the only message I will: teach, listen to, and live! Faith that lasts doesn’t give up when people talk about you, faith that lasts doesn’t slow down when people leave you out, faith that lasts doesn’t weaken when your pastor corrects you, and faith that lasts doesn’t quit when other people decide to quit.

Have BIG FAITH & Have LASTING FAITH!

(hold on cause this is a three parter)