Like An Avalanche

Every so often a song comes out that truly speaks to you. When I was in middle school I heard a song titled "Every New Day" by Five Iron Frenzy. This was one of those songs for me and has since been my all time favorite song.

In 2007 a friend of mine, Brett Mernin, wrote a song titled "Like A Father Does". This again was one of those songs that made me reflect on who I am and what I believe.

The next year "Mighty To Save" was released and again, became one of those songs that reminded me of who my Savior is. That same year my friend Brett wrote another song titled "To Lead Us On" at the request of my wife-to-be and I. To this day that song is still one of the most meaninful songs to me.

This year a new song was introduced at AWOL: "Like An Avalanche" by Hillsong United. I don't know exactly what it is about this song - the lyrics, seeing it change people's hearts as they sing it in worship, or that it puts words to a Truth that I have not been able to articulate until now about the grace of Jesus. Whatever the case, this song has become one of those songs that just reaches out and grabs hold of my heart. I hope it does the same for you.

Cooking at Room Tempurature

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." - Jesus in Revelation 3:15-16

I was dwelling on this verse the other day. Although I have heard people talk about this "lukewarm" idea before, it just never really made a ton of sense... at least not logically. The idea has always been explained to me that "Jesus doesn't want Christians who only live out their faith half-hearted. He wants only red-hot, on-fire, fully devoted Christians, and if you're not that then you're better off not being a Christian at all."

This has always just bugged me. I mean think about it, why would Jesus be more okay with someone who is "cold" that he would with someone who is "lukewarm"? Wouldn't Jesus rather have a lazy "saved" person over someone who doesn't believe in him?

After my Senior year of high school I got a job working for the City of Fridley. When I applied, I was hoping to work with my buddies in the parks department, but instead I got the job working in the sewer department. So all summer I shoveled leaves off of sewer grates and hosed out the inside of sewage pipes.

Every day I would pack the same lunch: turkey and cheese sandwich, an orange, a bottle of water, and a bag of chips. I remember that every time I ate lunch I would spend about 5 minutes washing my hands because of everything that had sprayed onto them while on the job (yes... mostly poop).

On my last day of working there my boss surprised us and bought us lunch, so I thought I could save the lunch I packed for that day and eat it for dinner. So I tossed my lunch into my back seat of my truck and finished off the day of work.

About 3 weeks later I started to smell this awful smell in my truck. I tried to ignore it for about another week, but the smell got so bad that I couldn't even drive without my windows having to be down. I started digging through my back seat to figure out what the smell was when I pulled my lunch bag out from under a stack of blankets.

I opened the bag and I almost vomited. Everywhere I looked was mold. I dumped out everything in the yard (rather than the garbage... I wasn't the brightest kid) and saw where the mold had started. A green and black fuzz completely covered the turkey sandwich inside of a small baggie and made its way out of the bag and onto the orange (which also started to grow it's own color mold), the bag of chips, and all along the rim of the water bottle.

But this is was lukewarm food tends to do over time... it gets moldy. And if it's not thrown away then the mold gets on everything around it.

I went back and read that "lukewarm" verse today and read the verses that followed it.

"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked... Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:17, 19-20

Why do "lukewarm" Christians enrage Jesus so much... because they don't really think they need Jesus. They think they have everything, but they have nothing. They think they are good, but they are wretched. They think they are forgiven, but they won't even repent. Jesus knocks at the door, and they yell back, "I'm good here Jesus. I hear you, but I've got everything I need now."

I think lukewarm Christians make Jesus so angry because they are the ones who turn people away from Jesus. They show off their self-righteousness. They pridefully gloat in how religious they are. They make sure everyone sees their successes and prosperity, and they do all of this in the name of Jesus. They are the mold that gets on other people who are looking for a savior.

If you're "cold" you still won't receive the treasure of heaven, but at least you won't prevent others from receiving it too. This is the condition of the "lukewarm" Christian. Which makes me ask the question of myself: Is this me?

Unfortunately (and embarrassingly), often times it is. Is this you?

Where in your life have you settled for anything less than Jesus?

How have you thought of yourself as better than someone else today?

When have you chosen to leave Jesus at the door?

Praise God that He loves us enough to point out our absolute need for Jesus. He tells us about being "lukewarm" not because it makes him angry, but because he doesn't want us to be unaware of our absolute need for Jesus.

Liar (pt 3) - Knowing Jesus

If you haven't already, I want to encourage you to read the previous 2 blogs. In them I tried to reveal that Satan is a Liar whose Job is to take away what we have in Jesus, and that we need to be aware of the lies that we individually are attacked with. It is profoundly important that we know these two things before we move on to today... knowing Jesus.

This morning I had a doctors appt at the University of Minnesota. I was listening to a podcast sermon by Mark Driscoll on my drive to the U. I love listening to music when I drive (Anberlin, Flyleaf, Red Hot Chili Peppers...), but lately I have just needed some good Truth to be spoken into my life, and podcast sermons by Mark Driscoll fits that bill!

What I love about Driscoll's teaching is, first, that he teaches the Bible, and second, he isn't afraid to rebuke (aka: call you out on your crap). I love this because Jesus did this!

"And Jesus rebuked Peter saying, 'Get behind me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man'" - Mark 8:33

"Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me... woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." Jesus in Mark 14:18-21

"You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Jesus in Matthew 12:34

"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" Jesus in Matthew 23:33

The list of places where Jesus rebukes people and calls out their sin is incredible!

Now I confess, when I think about Jesus I want to picture the "Minnesota nice", always encouraging, always blessing, always lovey-dovey, smiling Jesus. I want to picture the Jesus that doesn't rock my boat or require me to change. I want to picture the Jesus who is always okay with who I am, even when I am living in sin, and will maybe suggest ways for me to feel better about myself...

Does this Jesus sound familiar to you? Unfortunately, this is the Jesus that many "Christians" have bought into... This Jesus is simply a lie. The problem with this Jesus that I tend to picture (and maybe you do too) is that ultimately this Jesus doesn't care about my eternity.

The Liar, Satan, has gotten so many people to believe that Jesus is something that he is not. The "Nice Jesus". The "Tolerant Jesus". The "Everybody-Goes-To-Heaven Jesus". Maybe your picture of Jesus is the opposite. The "Wrathful Jesus". The "Strict and Legalistic Jesus". The "You'll-Never-Be-Good-Enough Jesus". When our picture of who Jesus is isn't actually Jesus, our entire belief system becomes built on a lie.

The Liar is crafty. He knows how to wound us. He's built entire communities around lies and evil; communities that you probably know about... maybe you're in one...

But when we face the Liar and his lies; when we fight for Truth and look for relief... we find Jesus! The one who comforts those who are hurting and rebukes those who are evil. The one who finds us wounded and comes to restore us. The one who finds us living a lie and walking in sin and calls us out on our evil.

Jesus doesn't just want us to enjoy our life, but he wants us to enjoy our eternity. It's no wonder that the Liar's job is to take away what we have in Jesus.

So I ask you... Do you know the real Jesus? Have you read about him in your Bible lately? Have you talked to him lately? Have you let him comfort you and forgive you? Have you listened to his correction and rebuke? ...or have you let the Liar lead your life?

I want to leave you with 2 sections of Truth. One with many things Jesus thinks about you when you belong to him, and one with many things Jesus needs you to be called out on so you leave your life of sin. I encourage you to take the Truth of Jesus to heart. Let yourself be comforted in his Grace, and let yourself be convicted by his Love.

Words God uses to describe YOU once you belong to Jesus:

   Accepted (Rom 15:7)             Friend (John 15:14-15)                Redeemed (Gal 3:13)

   Adequate (2 Cor 3:5)              Gifted (Rom 12:6)                        Royalty (Rom 8:16-17)

   Beautiful (Is 61:10)                 Guarded (2 Tim 1:12)                   Strengthened (Eph 3:14-16)

   Beloved (Col 3:12)                  Known (2 Tim 2:19)                      Thought About (Ps 139:17-18)

   Blessed (Jer 17:7)                  Loved (Is 43:4)                             Treasured (Ps 83:3)

   Cared For (1 Pet 5:7)              Noticed (Ps 33:13-14)                    Valued (Mat 6:26)

   Cherished (Eph 5:29)              Perfect & Complete (Jam 1:2-4)   Victorious (1 Cor 15:57)

   Delighted In (Is 42:1)               Prayed For (Rom 8:26           

   Forgiven (1 John 1:9)              Protected (2 Thes 3:3)

Sin God may be calling YOU out on so that you can live in the Truth of Jesus:

Acting Wrongly in Anger (Mat 5:21-22)                  Refusing Godly Correction (Jn 8:43-47)

Being Self-Righteous (Mark 12:38-40)                  Ripping People Off (Mark 11:15-17)

Causing Sin in Others (Mark 9:42-47)                   Speaking Evil Words (Mat 12:36-37)

Dishonoring Your Parents (Mark 7:9-13)               Tolerating Sin (Mat 18:15-17)

Getting Drunk (Luke 21:34-36)                               Worrying (Mat 6:25-26)

Judging Others (Mat 7:1-5)

Justifying Evil (Mat 15:1-9)

Lusting (Mat 5:27-30)

Putting an Extra Burden on Others (Luke 11:48)

Liar (pt 2) - Know The Lie

It was a Saturday morning this last summer and I woke up to a bright sunny day. No school, no work, no worries... Do you ever have those days where you wake up and feel like you can conquer just about anything? They don't come too often, but this was one of those days. So I thought, "Today, I am going to conquer the art of flipping an egg."

Now I know this sounds silly, but some people just have a gift where they can flip a half cooked egg without breaking the yolk (you know who you are). Some people can even do this without a spatula! I, unfortunately, was not born with this gift, but on this particular day I was ready to master the art of egg-flipping.

I got in the car and cranked up Piano Man by Billy Joel (this is the song I jam to when I need to get pumped). All excited, I sorted through about 20 cartons of eggs looking for the perfect dozen that were going to help me reach egg-flipping genius. I found the perfect batch, paid for them, and headed out of the grocery store.

I got to my car and set the carton of eggs just above my door so I could unlock my car. As the door swung open disaster occured right before my eyes... the eggs began to fall...

With ninja-like reflexes I reached out to catch the eggs, but to no avail. The carton crashed to the ground and the eggs began to ooze all around my feet. I bent down to pick up the now-slimey carton to find only one egg still intact (my egg-flipping skills would have to wait for another day).

But this whole event got me to thinking, "Aren't the shells supposed to protect the egg?" I think this is sometimes how we think of Jesus. "Jesus, aren't you supposed to protect me from this? Why do I feel exposed and hurt? What's the point in having you around if you can't even keep me safe?"

These are the questions we ask because of the lies that we have believed. Satan (the Liar, remember) is not an idiot. He knows that we, like eggs, are fragile. We can withstand a good amount of beating, but if we get hit too many times or hit in the wrong spot... we crack.

I mean think about it... the longer you know someone, the more you are going to understand them. Think about your friends. Which ones do you know the most about? Chances are you know the most about the ones you have been friends with the longest. Satan has a lot of time to get to know us and figure out where we are vulnerable, and THAT's where the lies can creep in.

"You're father never said, 'I love you' so you must really be unlovable." "Look at all of your failures. You are a complete screw up!" "That boy doesn't like you? It's probably because you're not beatiful."

When these lies get fed to us over and over... it's hard not to break; it's hard not to start to believe them. But remember, the Liar's job is take away what you have in Jesus. Sometimes he does this by getting you to believe that what Jesus thinks about you isn’t good enough. Other times by getting you to believe that you aren't good enough for Jesus. And still other times by telling us that Jesus simply isn't true.

So what lie has broken you? What lie has been beaten into you? What piece of your life have you let Satan steal from Jesus?

Now back to egg one more time. We know that eggs are fragile and easy to break. But did you know that if you squeeze an egg at the ends of the oval shape it won't break? The egg shell is designed in such a way that when place in your hand in the right position, it can withstand an absurd amount of pressure! This is what it's like when our lives are centered on the Truth of Jesus Christ.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” - Psalm 139:13-16

Jesus knows you. He knows your weaknesses. He knows your most vulnerable places... Yet he loved you even before you came to be. He comes to bind up your brokenness and bring you a life of hope that goes beyond any lie Satan can promise you.

But do you know Jesus?

Liar (pt 1) - Knowing Your Enemy

We are going to be doing a 3 part blog series on the topic of "Lies". Today, we begin with knowing our enemy... the Liar.

When I was in 3rd grade my basketball career started. My team - the Hornets. At the time my basketball hero's were Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb because they were short (like me) and awesome at basketball (unlike me). My team was alright, I believe we ended the season at about .500 for wins and losses. But, because it was only 3rd grade, everyone made it to the playoffs.

Somehow my team managed to pull of 3 wins in a row to make it to the championship game against the undefeated Spurs. Theses guys were taller than us, faster than us, and could shoot better than us... well, I should say they had 1 guy who was all of these things.

Before the game, my coach got us into a huddle while the Spurs were warming up. He took a knee and said to us, "You see that guy (pointing to the Spurs all-star)? He can shoot, dribble, rebound, and block better than anyone. If you can stop him, you can stop this team!" We spent almost the entire game double-teaming that kid and nearly shutting him out of the game. The result... we won the championship by 1 point.

When we know our enemy and know how to defend against them, we have a greater chance of beating them. This is also true of our enemy, Satan.

In John 8 Jesus calls out people who are lying, saying:
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Our enemy is the father of lies. Satan is a liar! He lies to us. He lies to me. He lies to you. Later, in John 10, Jesus calls Satan a "Thief who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy."

This is Satan's job description. His ONLY job it so take away what we have in Jesus. How does he do this? Through lies. Lies about your worth, your self-image, your status, your need for a savior... But, it's not the lie that destroys us; it's believing that the lie is true that destroys us.

Do you know what Jesus thinks about you? Do you know what Jesus says about you? Do you know how Jesus feels about you? When we believe ANYTHING or ANYONE other than Jesus... we have already lost.

Satan is a liar. Know your enemy and know him well! How does the enemy lie specifically to you? What areas of your life are vulnerable? Where are you not confident about what Jesus says about you? What lies have you already deemed true?

What's the Matter with What Matters

Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, go to school, eat lunch, more school, come home, watch TV, think about doing homework, check facebook, actually do homework, check facebook again, go to bed... wake up, take a shower, get dressed...

Life seems to be getting pretty predictable. I was watching 'Castle' last night on my DVR. The episode was about a man who was shooting people because God had been blessing them (aka: they were successful in their jobs) and he felt he had been cursed. He would figure out these people's routine or schedule and then wait for them in a distant building to walk into his cross-hairs.

Now I'm not suggesting that living predictably is going to get you killed - at least not literally.

When you think about the story of your life, do you think about the times that you did the same thing that you did the day before? Do you think about the fifth time that you beat Halo 3? Or, do you think about the times that something was different... meaningful? The time that you got pushed into a situation that was outside of your control? The time that you chose to do something that mattered for other people?

A year ago I found myself living the same routine over and over, and it was killing me. I needed change! I needed meaning! I needed to examine my life and start focusing on the things that mattered because my life-story had gotten pretty boring.

The outcome... I now have dozens of new mini-stories that are forever in the larger story God is writing for me: snorkeling with sea turtles in Hawaii, playing with a puppy on an airplane, teaching a few guys how to read their Bible, dancing and celebrating with friends at weddings.

I now look for opportunities every day to step outside of the mundane routines of my life and step into the things that matter most to God. My eyes are open to the story God is setting before me and I am learning how to serve better, love better, be a better friend, a better husband... but more than those, I am learning to be a better man of God.

"Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" - Ephesians 5:14-16

Wake up from your sleep, from that boring and dull life, and open your eyes to the story God is placing before you.

Your Pride Smells!

9:55pm, Thanksgiving night. I have been standing in Walmart in front of a large stack of crock-pot's for over 20 minutes waiting for the 10:00 sale to begin . There are people crowded around everywhere, who have been there much longer than I have, yet for how many people there are it is oddly quiet (I assume because of everyone wiping the drool off their chins from the great deals about to be had).

Then from behind me I hear a deep voice whisper, "Go and stand in that open space." As I turn around I see a dad holding the hand of his daughter. He loudly declares, in his deep voice, "You can stand wherever you'd like honey." Then this man leads his daughter to a tiny open space in front of the large crowd that has been waiting for over 20 minutes... and then has the audacity to say, loud enough for everyone to hear again, "Good spot hon, right next to the crock-pots."

 

This dad just used his daughter to get a crock-pot... I could not even believe it. I was appalled! I could see everyone who was gathered around giving him the stink-eye; each of them just as appalled as I was.
Since I didn't know anybody and wasn't going to say anything (probably because I am a little shy to such confrontation), I decided I would vent to God. So standing next to a stack of crock-pots and well over 500 people, I started to pray (in my head of coarse).

"God, can you believe this guy! What kind of arrogant and horrible person would use their own daughter just to get a crock-pot! God, thank you that I am not like him. I am way more patient and respectful that this chump. I even let an older woman stand up in front of me. I hope everyone around this guy at least saw my decency. God, if I ever do something as prideful this idiot I pray that you would knock me down a peg or two..."

And just as I was saying it God... it hit me... "Brian, you are just as prideful as this idiot. You are just like him, only you try to hide it."

It's funny how pride works. Some people are prideful and aren't afraid to show it - like this dad. and other people are just as prideful, but they try and hide it by pretending they are just a good person when really they are just trying to puff themselves up - like me (sadly).

Jesus talks about this in a parable in Luke 18.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

So what kind of pride are you carrying? The obvious kind or the hidden kind?

What A Load Of...

I've been running through this commercial in my head over and over, and I just can't find any logical explanation as to why this commercial ever made it on the air...

Let's just take a minute and process what it took in order for this commercial to get shown on national television (many many times):

1. Someone, at a meeting about how to advertise these new diapers, had to verbally suggest, "What about an 'American Idol' type feel where babies poop in their diapers and the judges score how big the diaper gets... and it will all be to the music of "woop, there it is", but we'll change the lyrics to "Poop, there it is."

2. Whoever was in charge, then, in a moment of pure dilusion, had to think, "What a great idea."

3. Then, the idea had to be explained to a great number of advertisers and cartoon artists (I'm sure many many times in order for each of them to have a lapse in judgement and somehow be convinced that this idea was actually brilliant), who then began creating the footage for this commercial.

4. After the commercial was finished a final Approval Team had to watch the commercial and again think to themselves, "My gosh, we are actually going to show this on television... HOW FANTASTIC!"

I mean seriously!?!? Not one person on this advertising team thought to themselves "Ok, this has been a good laugh, but I should really speak up and put some real ideas on the table for this commercial."

It makes me wonder how many terrible ideas I have just gone along with because I was too afraid to speak up...

Seeking After These "Plans"

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future...'" - Jeremiah 29:11

This verse has never sat well with me. I'm not completely sure why (I'm usually an extremely optimistic person - as I'm sure many of you would agree), but every time I hear this verse I cringe a little inside and think, "Your plans for hope and prospering only happen if I work hard and earn it for myself."


God says I'm gonna prosper, then I'm taking a nap!


Maybe I've just heard one too many people use it as a cop-out for being lazy or having a negative attitude, or maybe I am just a control freak and don't like that God's plans trump my own plans, or maybe I am just selfish and don't want other people to prosper if they don't earn it...  whatever the case, this verse just tends to bug me.

But in my 10+ years of loving Jesus, I have found that whenever I am irritated by something in the Bible, God continues to brings me back to it until I learn from it.

"...Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.'"

These are the next 3 sentences after the "plans to prosper" verse. How interesting that God says, "my plans are for you to prosper, to have hope, to not be harmed, to live a better story" and then says "this is how you will find my plans".

When I read about Jesus I see a man who I gives and gives and gives... and then says, "but I want your heart" Jesus is our hope. The treasures of heaven is our prosperity. Living a story free of guilt and walking with God is our future. This should cause our hearts to seek God!

When life is hard and you desire hope... do you seek God. When nothing is going right and you need a taste of prospering... do you seek God. When the story of your life is meaningless and insignificant... do you seek God.

Jesus has a greater plan for you; one with hope, purpose, meaning... The question is: are you seeking after Him?

There Is Hope

It wasn't too long ago that I found myself in one of life's valleys. You know what I'm talking about, those times when things seem so hopeless, no matter which direction you turn or how far you look you just can't seem to find a way of escape. Those times when life just seems... meaningless...

For me, these valleys in life came when close family or friends had passed away, or when the poor choices I had made resulted in severed relationships, but the deepest valley's for me have always come from when the circumstances around me were outside of my control... and they blew up.

We all experience these valley's in life. I don't think we ever hope for them, but they are always bound to come - times when hope seems so far away and any sign of relief is just too far to see. Jesus understood this.

In Matthew 11 Jesus talks about life's valleys; about sickness, brokenness, and death... He sees the deep shadow that we can stand in when we are in the valley. Then he reminds us of who he is.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

In the darkness of the valley, Jesus shines a light of hope. Coming to Jesus is restful. When life hurts and the depth of the valley is overwhelming... Jesus gently and humbly says, "come to me... I will give you rest."

This video is a poem called "There is Hope" by Bradley Hathaway. In a short book that Bradley wrote, all that was written in a chapter about this poem was the simple sentence, "If hope were not so, I would not choose to live."

Are you standing in a valley right now?
Are there areas of your life that seem to be without hope?
Then may you find hope in the restfulness of Jesus.

Student Ministries Blog Launch

Hey Students and Leaders! It's Brian and Jason here. We are going to start a Student Ministries blog! (I know, we're as excited as you are!!)

Our hope and prayer is that this blog would be a place to have a few laughs, jot down some honest thoughts about God, and continue our walk with Jesus Christ. We don't really have a scheduled time or day that we'll post new blogs, but we'll be updating the blog as much as possible.

We recognize that the holidays can get super busy and can become the time of year when we check-out of our faith, but Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us to "...consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

As we devote ourselves to Jesus, let's not get in the habit of forgetting to meet with each other, pray for each other, and fellowship with each other.

Keep checking in and writing some comments! (*Brian : every time I write the word "habit" I want to write "rabbit". ha ha)