Carpe Diem: What Are You Chasing?

 Carpe diem, or “seize the day,” as it’s often translated in English, is a phrase I first heard as a high school student. I thought it was an exciting motto, but also thought it felt a bit daunting: as if each day was either “seized” by doing something big and amazing, or it was lost—a failure.

It was later in life, as an adult whose walk with Jesus had matured, that I better understood what carpe diem could look like if applied to my faith. For a believer, seizing the day looks less like grand acts and more like running a steady race—being faithful in the small things and following the Spirit to bring light and love wherever we are called.

I recently saw “the believer’s definition” of carpe diem demonstrated in the five days of Ride for Missions (RFM). Each morning, forty-two cyclists—ranging from ages 13 to 80—rose, went out, and rode their bicycles an average of 75 miles. Their efforts as a group raised over $110,500 in support of Rosedale International’s (RI) missions around the globe!

But as impressive as that total is, what stood out to me was the way each rider seized on unique moments when the Spirit led. They shared the purpose of RFM with strangers, shared personal testimonies, and prayed with people they’d just met. They seized the day one mile at a time—encouraging each other through the heat and exhaustion, focusing on the truest pursuit of life, and being Jesus to the world around them.

While Rosedale Network’s finest athletes were biking across Maryland and Delaware, a slightly larger athletic event was also taking place. At breakfast and dinner, our RFM group took time to tune in to the Olympics and see how these amazing athletes were doing.

While the athleticism on display was incredible, I was blown away by the Olympians who took their moments in the spotlights to give glory to God. My favorite example of this was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American athlete who broke her own world record in the 400-meter hurdle to win the gold.

A two-time Olympian—the best at what she does—pointed her audience away from herself and toward Jesus.

In the press interview following her race, she said, “I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, He’s given me a drive…I have a platform, and I want to use it to glorify Him. Whenever I step on the track, [I pray], God, let me be the vessel through which you’re glorified whatever what the result is—how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform. Regardless of what happens, He’s going to get the praise through me.” A two-time Olympian—the best at what she does—pointed her audience away from herself and toward Jesus. Talk about seizing the day!

In recent months, I too have felt the Spirit prompting me to seize the day. My role at RI gives me the privilege of connecting with Rosedale Network congregations all over the nation. Years have passed since some of your churches have been visited by an RI representative, and I wanted to change that. On September 1st, my family embarks on a month-long journey across the plains and western states, with plans to visit a dozen Rosedale Network congregations along the way.

In addition to this adventure, I set a goal for myself—to run a personal 5k every day, no matter the weather. By doing so, I hope to raise $20,000 to purchase a much-needed vehicle for RI’s Short-Term Programs.

One day as I was training and preparing to depart for this fall tour, I listened to Crowder’s new song. The lyrics read, “Got me wondering what I’m chasing/…what on earth am I doing?” These lyrics really struck me, reminding me to stay focused on bringing the presence of Jesus to my work, my personal life, and this 5k. I look forward to visiting so many of you and worshipping with the body of Christ in eight different states this month. I look forward to seeing parts of the country I have never been before. And I look forward to faithfully running 5k every day. I want to seize the day in each community we visit and, following the example of my RFM crew, I want to tell those I interact with about my Jesus and how good He is.

I encourage you to think about what you are chasing. I pray you will follow the Spirit’s lead to seize the day through both big opportunities—like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone—and small opportunities—like our RFM riders. We never know how our interactions with strangers, the love we show, or the kindness we give to others may point the way to Christ.

As I run my 5k every day, I invite you to join me! You can find daily updates on my Instagram account (@mtbaker79) or on RI’s social media channels. If you’d like to join me on my run when I am in your area, shoot me an email at mike@rosedaleinternational.org. To find my schedule or donate toward my goal, visit rosedaleinternational.org/5k/. Let’s do this together—carpe diem!

“- [DASH]” words and music by Ben Glover, David Crowder, Jeff Sojka, Louie Giglio, and Toby McKeehan
© 2024 9t One Songs; Achtober Songs; Ariose Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Inot Music; sixsteps Music; Sojka Songs; worshiptogether.com songs
CCLI License # 11508057

Hope

For me, like many of us 2020 was a tough year. So many things we are used to doing didn’t happen and the things we use to mark the calendar where shut down. I found myself at the center of a hurricane as I tried to lead a church through a season like I had never experienced. I like everyone else was trying to figure it out and make my way through. Yet as the leader I was expected to know, understand, and not make mistakes. I became the piñata of everyone’s frustration and fears. Like piñata do if you hit them enough I broke.

Here I was a pastor and questioning everything. I even began to ask what is the point of church? The place that was supposed to be safe was now toxic and destroying me and my family. My hope was in Christ, but it did not rest there alone. It had become tangled into so many others things, such as activities and successes. God used 2020 to begin to untangle me. He revealed things in my life that had to go. I am thankful for 2020 for me it was a time of revival and self check. I did not like what I saw or what I was becoming. I needed to get back to the basics. It is and always will be a heart issue and mine needed to return to God. I never left but had stop surrendering 100% all the time and I was reminded of that in 2020.

So where do you put your hope? What things do you hope for that aren’t Christ like or kingdom building? 

This morning I read 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 and verses 8-10 stood out to me as I reflected on hope. 

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/2co.1.8-10.esv

We can not rely on ourselves! We must rely solely on the Lord, that is where we put our hope. He delivers us each and everyday and will deliver us again, so where do you put your hope?

What is Normal?

https://radical.net/somethingneedstochange


Right before COVID-19 started I finished the book Something Needs to Change by David Platt. Having lived 3 years oversees in a third world setting I agreed and identified with much of the book, and the struggle David wrestled with on his trek. Yet I struggled with how this applied to America. I agree with the title something needs to change, but what, what needs to change in the America church? What a loaded question, right. I mean depending on who or what generation you ask you could get tons of answers. Then Covid-19 struck and many of us where forced to slow down, stay home, and in a sense experience a sabbath rest. I hope like me many of you in that time took time to reflect and look deep into your relationship with God.

As tension grows over next steps, finances, and how to reopen I realized my very question was being answered. I kept hearing over and over we need to return to normal and get back to church. I was struck by the depth of those statements. First what is normal? Was normal good? Where we being the body? Where we truly ministering to the hurt and lost or where we stuck in traditions and routines, hence living in a fish bowl? 

The second aspect of those statements is, get back to church. When did church become a building? When was it defined by a structure? Is that not the very thing the Pharisees and Jews battled Christ on for three years? Is not church the body? Can’t we still serve the body outside of a building?

These are the many questions I have been wrestling with and praying about. Yes we need community and to be together and it is easiest done at a building or agreed upon location. Yes routines in spiritual discipline is not bad and sometime necessary. Yet in the normal are we letting the Spirit lead or a better question are we letting the Spirit lead at all? Are we willing to look at outside the “normal” box to see where God is leading and working. Are we willing to be mobile if needed or is the anchor so strong to a building and routines that we miss the very things Christ is trying to teach us?

I realize I posed more questions and have not really offered any answers. The simple reason is, that I think the answers will vary church body to church body. I don’t think there is a “one fits all” answer, which is what we want. I think God woke us up and got us out of our routines and the building. I think he reminded that he is still working and it is by his strength not ours. He also reminded us to rely on him and be dedicated to his scriptures and prayer not our comforts and routines.

I do look forward to being back with my local body being able to fist bump, hug, and see those face to face I shepherd. I don’t feel in any of this I stopped shepherding, but do miss community and life together.    

I also believe SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE and I believe that is not returning to normal. I think we where missing to much in the normal. Maybe it is time to redefine normal or maybe it is time to understand in God’s work there is no normal. The way he served was fluid and changing. It was generally counter culture and anything but normal. If you don’t believe me reread the gospels and see what was normal about Christ. We are called to be disciples and live, serve, and love like him.

I know me personally I don’t want to return to normal. It is time for a change at least in my life and in the way I served. I am thankful for this time to have sabbath and see what God was showing me and I hope others took time to ask and wrestle with the same questions.

A lonely place

It has been almost 2 years since I have blogged or written anything down. Today I realized I need to return to sharing thoughts. No matter what I do or say someone will like it and someone will hate it, that is the world we live in. 

I have now been a pastor of a small country church for 3 1/2 years and it has been the loneliest job I have ever experienced. Moving to Africa and being one of the few white people around and not speaking was easier than this role God called me to. In the three previous churches I worked in I was a part of a staff, a team, a family. We met together, shared together, and made decisions together. In a small country setting it is you and when it fails it is you same as when it succeeds. No matter what you decide someone will not like it and tell you about it, yet forgot to thank you when they appreciate something. 

Yet when I study the New Testament this is not the model of church one guy doing "all" the work and making all the decisions. Now don't get me wrong we have elders and board members but it still falls on my shoulders and the people complain to me and not the others. We have become a consumer based society and church. I came in today to get filled up and you didn't meet my needs. I didn't like _________ you fill in the blank. Then people leave, stop coming, or throw tantrums until they get their way. Again this is not biblical. In fact Christ let those people walk away.

We should come to church full because we spent our week walking with God. We come together to encourage, sharpen, and share what we are learning. Of course we have bad weeks and at times we may come leaking, but the pastor job alone is not to fill us. He will assist in the fill up, but it is up to us as we spend time with our Father as well.

We are the body and we each have gifts and across the American church we need to act like a body that cares and loves each other. We need to be willing to serve others no matter who they are. We need to rely on the Spirit and obey what it tells us. We need to use our gifts and share our struggles. 

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:9 

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We are the priesthood now! Each of us who claim to be Christians. Our bodies are the temple and we transform into one body/temple which is Christ. So we all have a role in this journey. None of us get to sit back and let others do the work, we are called to do the work that God prepared for us ahead of time (Eph 2:10)

By doing the things we are commanded it is no longer a lonely place to serve but one of joy and hardships. It will still be hard and have its ups and downs but sharing and doing life together takes away the loneliness and isolation. The enemy works hard to isolate us it is time to obey Gods command and fill each other as we are also filled. 

To show the world a different life and way to life. To bring hope, peace, joy, and love to those around us. To give them a glimpse of heaven here on earth and a taste of what is yet to come in Christ return. 

That is why I choose to write today. I am tried of being lonely and the bad guy. I want to share what I learn to help encourage others who may be in a lonely place as well. That we are not alone at all in fact we are in this together. 

A me culture.

I have noticed a huge trend in America since returning from Africa. It is all about me! I need me time, I need to relax for me, me me me me. We truly have become a self centred culture. Apple correctly named everything "I" you fill in the blank. It is all about how you feel, what you think, being open minded, everything to make "me" you happy.

 I totally agree we need sabbath time, but that time is not supposed to be all about us it is supposed to be time we spend reconnecting with God. Have we forgotten Rome was a me culture right before their fall. More importantly have we forgotten that without God we are nothing. It can not be all about me, what I think, what I feel, because I am by nature a sinner and selfish. Romans reminds us that left to ourselves we are dead in our sin and transgressions.

Friends we are suppose to live for Christ, live by Christ, live according to Christ. Christ sustains us! Christ refills us! Christ is our breathe! Christ should be our focus! As we live for Christ we take care of our body because it is His temple and he has works for us. As we live for Christ we sabbath, because he told us to, He reminds us he is our bread. As we live for Christ we realize He is all we need period. Just as Christ told Satan in the desert all I need is the Father he sustains me.

My wife recently read me a quote it said
" I don't need a open mind, I need a cannon mind. Every thing I believe and fill my mind and heart with comes from the 66 books of the Bible called the cannon".

 We spend so much time on ourselves. We say we have no idols in America, but our idol is ourselves. My prayer for the American church in 2017 is we wake up to what we really need. We start living for God 24/7, we spend our time worshipping him, praying, fasting, studying, have sabbath with him. Listening daily to what he has for us that day. Living as disciples and making disciples each and every day.

Let Christ be your everything. Lay down all your idols at his feet and began to live out your faith in the way God intended.

Do we really need to know?

For the last five months we have begun to settle into a new life. I'm not sure we will ever be normal again as living overseas kind of ruins whatever we think of as normal.

A former student was passing through on his way out west and stayed the night at our house. He asked a lot of great questions, one that stuck with me was this: Did God have a bigger purpose for you in Africa than just serving the village for three years? You went because you were called, but why leave? You loved your job, your community, your friends, and life was good. You served three years and now you are home and all of what you knew is history, so was it just to serve the people there or was it bigger than that?

What a great question. I have chewed on that one for awhile. God always has something bigger in everything we do and it is training for what is to come. In the moment the answer is of course we left because he called, but that first year in Africa was tough. It was not the thing you find in newsletters and updates, in fact it was tough at times to find much to report back. It was when we returned and reflected on the bigger picture that we were able to see what we came away with and how we changed as a person, couple, and family.

For me it was a time of chiseling, refining and reflecting on who I had become, the good, the bad as well as showing me where I had to go to become the leader he wanted. For so long I had relied upon my gifts and personality to succeed. That served no purpose in a culture where you cannot communicate nor understand what is going on most of the time.

In our time away we were able to work on our marriage and our communication as a couple. God worked on me to become a better leader, a better listener, to have more patience, and to better control my tongue. I am still and will always be a work in progress and I do not profess to have it all figured out. Many times in short term missions we comment how it helps the person more than the place they served. For me our three years away made just as much an impact on me as it did on the community we served. I know we made a difference; we saw it and heard it. In the weeks leading up to our leaving the village the church leaders and our friends shared with us what we had meant to the village. What a blessing that time was and a nice gift from God. We still talk to those friends and are engaged in serving with them in this time of their own personal growth.

It is still a mystery to me why God called us away from a vibrant ministry we loved, to live in Africa and now on to a new church family. One thing I have decided is not to try to figure it out and instead just rest in God's mystery. Today we spend too much time trying to figure things out, instead of just being in awe of God and how amazing he is and always will be. We do not always need to know and we forget if he wants us to know he will reveal it to us. When we sit in awe of him, rest in his majesty, and marvel how he keeps it all together, it gives us that proper perspective that He is God and we are not. We were put here to worship him and obey him, not solve or debate all of life's problems. For me it is easier to worship him when I remember my role in this story and appreciate all he does for me daily.  I must remember I am not the center, this is His Story. Some problems will never be solved, but are we stopping long enough to let it be a mystery? Worship him for who and what he is, and obey what he has called for each of us on our journeys. Perhaps, as we obey and listen to his still voice some of the problems will be solved since he already has the solutions and things worked out. Have faith like a child, let some things be a mystery and just humbly obey his word and instruction in your life.

Our plans vs. Gods plans

Here is something Karen and I wrote together after talking with our village this morning. If you get our missionary newsletter sorry you read it already but many do not get that newsletter, so enjoy the read. 

Our Plans Vs. God's Plans

Since August our life has been a roller coaster ride.  People, including us, pay money to ride roller coasters, we have stood in long lines for hours to ride, we have laughed and had so much fun riding on roller coasters.  However, this roller coaster has not been anything like that.  This has been an emotional roller coaster we are riding.  Before Christmas Michael went to play basketball on a Sunday night.  Little did we know that that would start another climb on the ride we've been on.  He came down wrong on his knee and was no longer able to walk.  He has seen an ortho doctor and has had an MRI and now we wait to see what God's plan is on this ride.  Our plan was to pack our bags, say our goodbyes, and leave for Guinea Bissau in just a few weeks. Now we wait.  We wait on God's plan.

Through this journey we have seen God in many ways. Michael went from not being able to walk at all to now walking with no crutches, he claims he could run, but I'm not sure that's a good idea.  We have also seen how this has impacted the church in Guinea Bissau.  We spoke with the pastor there and he told us how when they heard, they prayed and fasted all day and night for Michael. That is humbling.  The church we came to teach and work with has taught us more than we ever imagined.  We have had many people encourage us and let us know they are praying for us and we have felt those prayers.

We hope to have answers next week on a date when we could leave, whether that means no surgery and we leave right away, surgery and we are here longer, or surgery that can be delayed and we still get to return to GB. Either way we are on God's journey and walking with him day by day every step of the way. It has been a good reminder to listen and obey his plans and let our plans be laid aside. 

Who really judges us?

Who really judges us? This is a question that is ravaging the church. The world says we the church are judgmental, mean, unkind with all of our words. All of which are true, as a human race we thrive on being mean and tearing others down, it makes us feel better. I agree we need to be Christ, filled with love and compassion, not judgmental. It is not our job to judge, but it is our job to teach what Christ said and to model his life.

Jesus said in John 12:47-50
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

So, it is correct, we are not supposed to judge. We should find love and compassion and in those things we should kindly teach what Jesus would have said. I have heard these passages taught so many times, but it is always stopped at verse 47, no one goes on. Jesus came to save, his words and commands on the other hand does judge us read vs 48 above. When we reject his teaching for our own selfish ambitions we are judged by his words. We essentially are judging ourselves because we have not obeyed his commands.  Jesus spoke on God's authority, his commands are eternal life. His life does save us and does not judge us. It is the commands He left us with that were given by the Father, this is what judges us. When we choose our selfish ways over Gods ways it is truly our decision that bring down judgment. We are telling God we know best, our ways are better, that he does not understand. We are giving into our flesh and our desires and that is what judges us. We reject his commands, we reject his ways, we reject his plan. In doing this we put the very judgement we are so quick to point to others on ourselves. So who is responsible for our action, only us. Thankfully we are not lost in this judgement. God forgives us, He died so that we may be covered by his blood. Each time we stumble we must repent and we will be forgiven, for this I am so thankful. This is why we must lose our lives to gain it, why we must pick up our cross daily. From this understanding these verses make so much sense.

Sin is sin whether it is gluttony, greed, lying, hatred, sexual, it is all sin. Our job as Christians is to love each other as ourselves, to mirror Christ, but also to live out his commands. We should not judge with our words, but we should speak truth and stand up for God's commands. If our life of Christ judges others is it us judging or the Holy Spirit convicting the path of sin others are following. 
We need to be careful with our words, learn to love and not tear down, we need to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Also we should not be ashamed of the gospel, we should not be ashamed of the holy life-giving words of Christ. As we obey them they give us life, as we disobey them they are what we are judge by. We must memorize them and store them in our heart. It really is living water and the food that nourishes our soul. 

WMI

Here is a post from our family blog as we prepare to head to Africa. Well, here I am sitting in a dark room with a little nightlight and the glow from my computer. I see a sick child laying on a cot like bed on our floor, right next to the bathroom of course and a exhausted husband drifting in and out next to me in bed. He just got done cleaning up from our sick child and now we are just praying that this bug doesn't continue through our family. We are at World Missions Institute where we are learning about being missionaries in a different culture. That really isn't even a good description of what we are learning about. We have had Old Testament Foundations and World Religions by a phenomenal speaker and person, David Shenk, New Testament Foundations by yet again another wonderful speaker and person, James Krabill, we've learned about Healing Ministry, Discipling, Evangelizing, and learning about the Islam faith. We visited a mosque on Friday. That was quite interesting. The muslim people are so friendly and hospitable. The thing we have learned is the Islam faith is closely related to Christianity. One difference is they don't ever know if they will actually enter paradise. Christianity offers a relationship with Christ and promises us a place in heaven. Christianity has hope, whereas the Islam faith is lacking hope. I noticed that all the women were covered except their hands and their face. Their dress even came down to the floor and only when they walked did you see their feet. I just got this sense that it was almost as if women were sinful because of the beauty they have. As though if a man would lust after them, it would not be the mans fault but the woman's fault for not being modest enough or covering herself enough. I feel like the Islam faith is favorable towards men. With that being said, that is only my opinion from observation. I have not read the Qur'an, so I do not know what it says regarding women. It is now morning, I had too many distractions last night to finish this blog. World Missions Institute (WMI) has been such a great experience. We have learned a lot, like I mentioned above, and we have also made great friends. There are 18 kids here and 22 adults. It is so nice to be with such a great group of people. We are all like-minded, we are all leaving everything we know, we are all leaving our loved ones and our church, and what I love is that all our kids are with other kids that are doing the same thing. They have found friendship in commonality. All of their friends are doing the same thing in going someplace they haven't been, and having to learn everything new...language, culture, friends. They are even sharing sickness. :) The sweet thing is that the kids are concerned for one another and pray for each other. This is such a wonderful group of kids at WMI. The kids have a class that they go to while we are in our sessions. Their classes include worship, devotions, games, crafts, field trips, outside activities and so much more. Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) has a third culture kid (TCK) coach that talks with the older kids and gives them a chance to talk about their thoughts, fears, expectations etc. The kids look forward to going to their class and Jada and Lydia get bummed when Saturday comes and they have no class. Some difficulties that have come up during WMI has been sickness. It seems to be going through people quick, which is good. The other hard thing is our washer and dryer have died in our house. The washer never worked from when we got here. It would wash the clothes but not spin them, so we said that God was preparing us for Guinea Bissau. Then the dryer died. We are thankful for these difficulties. When we are in Guinea Bissau, life will not be perfect. Hardships will arise and we will need to adapt, and rely on God. We are thankful for these small preparations. God is good...ALL the time. Here is a picture of our home here at WMI

If you would like to help us to get to Guinea Bissau please click this link to EMM Please be sure to designate your gift to Michael and Karen Baker. Thank you so much for supporting our family and our ministry in Guinea Bissau!! Since we have been here at WMI we are so excited to get there! We only need 17%!!!! Every little bit helps!

What is Christmas all about for you?

I struggle so much this time or year. I enjoy buying gifts for my children but of course we never have any money nor can I keep up with the Jones and what other children are getting. I am then reminded what this time of year should be about(probably should have this attitude all the time), giving thanks for what God did for us, praise his gift, and thanking him for all we have; so easy for me to see and understand, hard to teach to my young ones.
They just don't get why they aren't getting iPods, or Kindles, or Nintendo DS. They assume it is because we are poor (WHICH WE ARE NOT WE ARE SO BLESSED), not because we are choosing to not spend our money on those things. Honestly if I had the money for these things I don't need 5, what happened to sharing.
As I was working on a recent message again I was reminded and amazed by what God truly did for us not to mention the hundreds of prophecies he fulfilled by serving us. It blows me away and fills me with an attitude to serve in the same way and to share passionately what was done for me. I pray my kids see this modeled in my life. Giving gifts is not bad in fact it can be good, but why can't Christmas be about Christ and we just give gifts to our kids throughout the year as there is a need. Why do we have to take every pagan holiday and throw our Christian twist on it.
My prayer this holiday season is that Christmas will be about joy, thanksgiving, celebration, memories, times with family, and the things we will cherish forever. Not the latest toy that two months from now will either be broken or in the bottom of the toy bin.

What does your life say about Christ

As I listen to this podcast from cornerstone I am reminded of the need to crave God. Todd poised the question what does our life say about Christ? As I reflected for a few minutes God pointed out areas in my life that need addressed. In 1 Peter 2:1-3 we are told what to get rid of and what to crave, like a infant who craves milk we must crave spiritual milk. For those who have had children you know that face where a child just wants that milk. Do you am I crave God the same way?
So many times I feel dry or I just don't want to spend time in the word, I realize in those moments it is my issue I am sick. At the end of the day I need a heart transplant, I tell my students almost every Sunday it is Heart Issue, how true this really is, the more I study the more I realize that it all comes back to our heart.
What is inside, what to we worship, where are our idols? If people look at our life would they see something different or do we look like the world?
We all need a heart transplant, we all need to be redeemed by Christ, we do this by humbling ourselves and asking for a new heart and a relationship with him. We then must drawing near to him, so today take a look inward and perhaps it is time to humble admit you can't do it on yourself and you do in fact need God. Draw near to him today. You can't do this by working harder, but instead by being a baby that craves God.

What is your plan?

In a world of planning it can be overcoming. We have counselors, growth plans, growth sheets, and now life coaches. We have notes and checks lists and everything can be done remotely  and wirelessly. It all can become crazy. My caution to all including myself is to not lose sight of Christ. Plans are good, growth plans can be helpful, and goals are not bad. In all this we most be careful that we don't "plan God" right out of our life.

If I have learned anything in 32 years of life, that about time I have a plan God changes it. Sometimes majorly and sometime just little tweaks. So it all comes down to a heart issue are you willing to let God run and direct your plans or are you so stuck on your goals and plans that you stop listening to God.

Today resolve to let God plan your life don't let it become a crisis that slows you down enough to listen. No matter the good or bad the praise or hardship if God is directing our steps he will be glorified and it will work out for good in the bigger picture

sometimes there is no bow

I was reminded last night as I told the Bible story what a disney culture we really have. What do I mean by that, well that there is always a nice, clean, or happy ever after ending. As I told the story I was told it was scary, mean, and not nice. It was recommended to dumb it down. I sat there shocked. Really dumb down the Bible, that is the last thing we need to do. We have been doing that for far to long.

Instead I think we need to remember in life sometimes there is no neat ending, sometimes what happens just does not make sense. Some things we just can't complain and put a nice neat bow on it. We should not be surprised by this the Bible is full of stories that don't make sense and so is life. The one thing I do know is that God promised if we following him will not be easy. Persecution always follows kingdom proclamation. If you want an easy life do not talk about the Bible. I also Know that God promises to take care of us and that in the end no matter what if we follow him it will be worth it.
The Bible is full of amazing, unique, mind blowing stories of God showing his power to the world. Some end with great endings and some do not. In fact all but one apostle was killed for his faith, there is no bow there from a human standard, but from our spiritual nature there is nothing better.
So I think it is time to let God's word be God's word. Please stop dumbing down the stories, if there is no happy ending be okay with that, maybe there was and we just don't know the whole story. God has a plan and in the end there is a happy ever after for all of us who love him and follow him.

Who has forgotten who?

I hear a lot that God has forgotten me or won't forgive me. I have come to wonder how many times it is reversed where it is actually us who forget God. We stop believing he loves us and will always forgive us. The Lord has promised us in the old testament and reminds us in Hebrew 13:5 If we obey him he will never leave us or forsake us.
If we obey him, oh how we forget that key part. God may correct us or even punish us, as any good father should do to children he loves. We see this example several time in the life of David, but he never left David. He does this because he loves us, and his mercy and grace in this is far better than what we deserve.
I think far to many times those of us who claim God left me or doesn't love me have in fact walked away from him first. We have decided too many times that the ways of this world are better and more satisfying.  We forget God or how much he loves us, we stop obeying him and his commands, and then when things get bad and we are not rescued we instantly blame God. Instead of taking responsibility for our part in turning away from him to chase a path that leads to death. Proverbs 16:25 reminds us of this truth, there is a path that may seem right to US, but that leads to death, because it is not God's path.
1 John 2:15-17 again reminds us that the love of the world does not come from the father and those who love the world cannot have the Father's love in them. All these things will pass away, these desires will fade, but the man who does the will of the Father will live forever. Amazing how all the Bible always works together. going right back to the promise if we obey him he will never leave us or forsake us.

So I again ask the question who has forgotten who? Who has left who? Who has truly forsaken who? Is it God breaking a promise, which has yet to happen or is it us falling in love with the world and chasing things that will give us only gratification in the short term.
Lastly lets us not confuse or father correcting us as leaving us. I need me father's correction and at time rebuke. In those times as much as it may hurt I never feel abandoned if anything I feel loved and wanted instead of shame. I know my Father loves me enough to correct me. I know left to myself I will follow the path Proverbs 16:25 talks about, I will follow the path that leads to death.
So next time you get ready to say God left you do a heart check, look to see if it is you who walked away first. Own it if you have and humbly ask for forgiveness. Brokenness and humility bring us closer to God, not pride and self assurance. Again look to David how many times did he seek God's forgiveness and it was always granted and he was always loved never forsaken. Don't' let your love for anything but God and pride convince you that God left you, instead take a look inside and see if it was you who started walking away for the path God has marked out for each of us.

Dad where did you go?

I spent the better half of yesterday at the Milton High School, helping deal with the grief of a lost student. I was blow away by the brokenness of not just the situation but of life for many students. I talked with many students throughout the day. Of all these students only 2 had intact families, 2 students where has the sanctity of marriage went? I talked to numerous young women hurting and crying out for attention, love, and help. You know the common denominator in all these girls, dad was gone. He had left for another women or family. They all claimed to hate there father, but yet truly where crying out to be loved and accepted instead of the rejection they had felt and experienced.
So Fathers where are you? Where do you spend your time? When was the last time you actually spent quality time with your children or told them you loved them? I am reminded of the last scene in the movie courageous where the main character challenges the fathers to step up. So men of God if you know God I also encourage you to step up. Let us stop the question of where is daddy and set an example for the world to follow.

leftovers

So yes I have been reading Crazy Love again and yes it rocks my world again. I have read this for various reasons and groups I have lead a total of 5 times. I never get sick of it, it stretches me and hurts ever time, but I walk away each time more in love with my Father and asking over and over, why do we think God deserves our leftovers.
God is God he decides everything and every time we try to justify ourselves and behavior we are minimizing God, and his call for our life. We are trying to make it easy. Scriptures is clear it is not easy, it was not suppose to be easy. God demands our all our very life. We need grace and God saves us from ourselves, because by ourselves we cannot do it. He forgives and love when we fall short, but why do we continue to think giving him our leftovers is okay. I don't serve him to get out of hell or because I think I have to. I serve God because I love him, because he saved me, because he is God, because I am in awe of him, and because frankly he deserves it.
God does not want our leftovers, but yet we are filled with to many excuses and we give him our leftovers all the time. As much as I am not saying fear your salvation, I do agree with two statements in the book. Do not assume your are on good soil and on the narrow road. Check your life. Has your relationship with Christ actually changed your life. Just because you are comfortable and have a good life does not mean your heart does not need a tune up. Laodica assumed they where good, and Christ let them know he wanted to spit them out. Don't fear your salvation and have confidence in his grace, but don't let your pride lead you to assuming because you have the good life that is enough. Our life for Christ will actually be marked with suffering, trials, and persecution. God will sustain us through these, but by his grace and strength not ours.

What has changed

Has your relationship with God really changed the way you live your life? Or are we to busy chasing something to make us happy we will never find in the world. This is only a question that you can answer personally and you have to be honest with yourself to do so. So I encourage you to look at your life since you began to claim Christ and ask yourself am I any different than before I knew Christ.
If the answer is no then it is time to search deep within and find out why. In the parable of the sower how many of us assume we are the good soil. We grew up in church and have a good family, so how could we be anything else. We should never assume we are the good soil, that only leads to pride. Look at your life, what does the fruit of your spiritual life say. Be honest with yourself who do you serve? Who is number one really?
Proverbs says without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. Are we just trying to stay clean or are you serving God, obeying him, taking risks for him. When was the last time you actually either left the stable and got dirty or cleaned up the stable from things that only you and God know are there. At the end of the day do you realize who God is and why you need him? Or are you only after what you get from God. A man found a treasure in a field and went and sold all that he had and bought that field. Do we have that Joy with Christ are we willing to give up all we have to gain the thing that only matters or are we giving up our soul to gain the world? Christ is all we need, so back to the original question has your life changed since your relationship with God or is it the same. Take some time and get quiet with yourself and God and do some heart surgery to answer this questions today.
This is something I do periodically and each time God reveals stuff in me that needs chiseled away, it hurts but is worth it in the long run. We are in a marathon not a sprint, so prepare for the long run as well as the short sprints.

Help me

Lord as I read about Balaam this morning help me to never become so set on what I want that I miss your directions or word of truth. Lord help keep me humble and always listening to you and what you would have for me and my family. Lord keep me form becoming the ostrich with my head in the sand. Lord I love you and all of my life is yours, I will obey and follow whatever you ask us to do.
Lord in the same aspect if I need a donkey to get my attention, please grab my attention as you see fit.

excited

In C4 2 years ago we read a little book called Crazy Love, wow if I would have know the impact it would have had on the student ministry at my church I would have read it sooner. We most of those high schoolers are gone it is neat to see those who took the challenge of scripture and according to culture are doing crazy things for Jesus. Well we are going to do it again with a new group of students. I realize we will have vastly different results, but am curious how this group will deal with the challenges simple laid out in scripture. I am praying that if nothing else many more C4 students will radically follow Christ whatever that will mean to their own life. Every time I go through this book I an truly overwhelmed by God.

Nothing to Fear

This week has been one of these weeks where scriptures has just come alive in my mind and heart. I wrote down 8 sermons ideas this morning alone. One thought that ran throughout all the different passages I was looking at, is we have nothing to fear.
Yesterday I was again reading Mark 5 and the account of the demon possessed man, and these points stood out to me.
- first the demons come and bow at Jesus feet
- second the demons begs Jesus not to torture them
- third the demons knew who Christ from a distance
- fourth he again begs to not be sent form the area
- fifth Jesus allows the demons to enter the pigs
- sixth the people see God and are terrified and ask him to leave
- the healed man begs to go with God
- Jesus says go tell what I did for you
- the man goes out and tells of what Christ did for him

So we have nothing to fear, but yet we live in fear. We live in fear of what people might say, do , or how they might react. Are we any different then the people that begged Christ to leave them? Christ has won. Christ has authority over demons. Christ has conquered death and restores us. So what are we afraid of? Things of this world and the flesh, then we need to shift our focus and mindset to things of heaven.

We like the man if we know Christ are healed and he asks us to go and tell people what he did for us. We have eternal life and are no longer dead. We came to the cross and got Jesus or did we? Do you have a relationship or did you just get religion and fire insurance. If you have Christ feed your soul and obey his command like this man did in Mark 5 go tell people what he did for YOU!

I know for me personally there is a desire in my soul and heart that is only quenched by time with God and obedience to God. At times it makes me do crazy things to the worlds standards, it causes me pain in the world, but man when I obey it the satisfaction I receive is out of this world. It also makes me hungry for more, we truly do not eat by bread alone.

If you and Christ have a relationship this same hunger and thrust is in you. Listen to your soul, feed your soul, go tell others what Christ did for you. Rest in the assurance that all this world can do is take your life, but not your soul. Honestly once we lose our life, it has really only begun. We have nothing to fear so be bold today.