New Beginnings

So here begins a new school year. New students. New schedule. New extracurriculars. New relationships built. And most importantly a new chance to be the man I want to be. As I often share with people my experience this year with our Haiti trip I talk about the devestation, the children, the ministries, and the Morquettes. But what I found to impact me the most was the fellowship I had with an amazing group of christian friends! How awesome that I was able to get to know some people who truly seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Our host while we were down there was such a gracious, good, and Godly man. Then on our team I met men and women who were full of the Spirit, gentle, humble, and with the hearts of a servant. This trip made me take a look at my own life. Am I the man I want to be? Am I the man God wants me to be?

I reflect upon the men who have influenced my life. My Dad, more than anyone. My youth pastor, Terry. The men I have prayed with every morning for years; Don, Nye, Ben. A lifelong childhood friend, Joe. College friend and co-worker, Dave. James & Kevin, teammates from Haiti. Each one has inspired me to be a better man. I see how God has put each of them in my life at various points in my life. Even now, as I create new friendships, I see how they are pushing me closer to Christ. Those are the friends a man needs. Ones who won't hesitate to tell you that you're a stubborn butthead or a sinful jerk.

So I've decided there are some things that I am going to work on this school year. Some things that I have seen in my character that I don't like and I know that Jesus doesn't approve of.

1) I will take deliberate time to talk to God every day.

2) I will put my wife before all other worldly concerns.

3) I will not gossip and will be deliberate in the words I speak at work.

4) I will not be ashamed to stand for Him when no one else will.

5) I commit to being a prayer warrior for those in need.

6) I will make time for friends.

Some of these things I've already made some progress on this summer and hope to continue the trend through the school year. I see an awesome opportunity for me to be a Godly man in my school. I want those around me to see Jesus before they see me. It's kind of like a rededication of my heart. I'm just so excited to see God work in/through me. This trip to Haiti has opened my eyes to those in need, God's will, and my life. Time for some refocus.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

The Church

Take a look at Acts. You don't need to read the whole thing, just glance through and see if you notice a trend. It occurred to me, thanks in part to the section headings, that Acts is as much a story about the church as it is about Paul, Peter, Barnabas or John. When I read Acts I am struck by the incredible number of locations that it covers, and in each one we find a group of brothers greeting the apostles! The story of Acts highlights the house churches of the early Christian church. Just look at the headings. In Thessolonica, In Berea, In Athens, In Iconium, In Corinth, etc. It seems that everywhere these men went, there was a group of Christians there.

So then I started thinking; how did they get there? Well in the early christian times the only way for a new group of believers to appear was for someone to go and spread the good news of Christ. I picture in my head the Mediterranean region with one large firework going off right over Jerusalem. Every spark of that explosion representing a disciple heading out to share the story of Christ and His resurrection. The news spreading like wildfire.

Yesterday we met with some friends of ours and we talked about Haiti. One of the organizations in Haiti is all about starting house churches, spreading the good news in places of darkness. We talked about how this mentality echoes the methods of those in Acts. These men are willing to head out and risk everything to share the message of our Savior. How cool is that? In the shadow of voodoo and superstition and violence and slave trades these men step forth with a boldness that seems common only in 'poor countries'.

But then again, maybe it has less to do with the country and more to do with the man. You see when you have the mentality that Paul and Peter had you become willing to risk everything for the sake of Him who gave up everything for you. When your priorities are set by God rather than by your culture, or your job, or your money, or your sin you are suddenly opened up to do amazing things. To say things that no one else is willing to say. To be used by God.

That is pretty incredible.

Ephesians 6:19 - Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

What would you do?

Acts 14: 19-20 ... They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

Wow. So the guy gets stoned so badly that people think he's dead and they drag his body out of the city. Then by some miracle he survives and then goes back into the city?! This is the power of God working in men. I mean who would go back into the city where you had just been stoned and continue doing what you were doing? I have to say, I don't know if I would.

Persecution is a scary thought, especially for those of us here in America where persecution is only as bad as risking someone's disdain. We live in comfort, and despite the strengthening anti-christian views being propagated by the media and government, we get to worship when, where, and how we want. What privilege. But where is our passion? Where is the zeal with which Paul fearlessly made known the mysteries of the gospel? We have the freedom here to share the Good News with everyone we meet, yet we don't. What is the worst that could happen to us? Maybe they won't want to keep talking to us. Maybe they will repent with a broken heart! But what are we afraid of?!

Jesus Freaks is a book written by DC Talk. It tells stories of persecuted Christians that have followed in Paul's footsteps, never letting up. These stories scare me. They humble me. They challenge me. I want to be able to have that boldness. But what is it that inhibits me? My own fear maybe? Kind of a lame excuse though considering where I live. I don't know what holds me back. But I definitely want to shine. I want to start with my actions. I want people to see me as a man of faith. A man of integrity. A man who is different than the men of this world.

As the school year is approaching and I prepare to head back to my classroom, I resolve to be that man of God that I need to be. From the first day I want to reveal the character of Christ. True I won't be stoned for my faith, and the "persecution" that I face is nothing compared to what others are going through. But I want to live my faith.

Holy spirit please fill me with conviction. Reveal to my heart the ways I can show the love of Christ in my workplace. Help me to be the man of God you are calling me to be. I want people to see you in and through me. Help me to filter my words so that they are always honoring to you. God, please help me to shine for you. Convict me of my fear, shame, and trepidation at living and speaking for you. You are worthy of a servant as bold as Paul. Please help me to be that man.

Spiritual forces

How often my thoughts return to Haiti. I was reading Acts 13 today and part of it talks about a sorcerer. This referred me back to Ephesians 6 starting in verse 12. The armor of God.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This has reminded me of the nature of the war we fight in. How often do we just float through life, unaware of the battle raging around us. A battle with eternal significance. While in Haiti, Hubert told us a story of a woman who was possessed in their hospital. Not full on projective pea soup and head turning, but just about. The demon in her yelled, screamed, and laughed as the team prayed over her. It even tried to offer Hubert "winning" lotery numbers if he just left it alone. They continued to pray and the demon was cast out. Even cooler, the woman accepted Christ!

It reminded us of two things. First, that the invisible is real. There are forces around us that seek our destruction and the destruction of His kingdom and WE are his army. Second, that God is way bigger than all of that!

So this morning, I want to enter the day fully equipped to enter this war. During one of our devotions down in Haiti, we talked about how foolish it is for a soldier to enter a war without a gun, or helmet, or armor. But how often do we go off to war in nothing but our underwear? I mean, do I deliberately contemplate the significance of the battle for souls around me? Do I look at people with the eyes of Christ? Seeing their value and then being willing to fight for them?

Unfortunately I so often just get comfortable and float through my days. Heedless of the fight I should be fighting. I want to be active in God's Army. In fact, I want to lead the charge!

God, please use me. I recognize the spiritual war around me and I desire to be an active part in it. I know that you are bigger than the enemy. Please help me to take your Word and wield it as a sword. Protect my soul from the enemies attacks and give me the discernment to know when they are coming. Thank you for being my God and King. Thank you for rescuing me from a life apart from you. Thank you for dying for me, Jesus.

Almighty Healer, Master Physician

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

—Matthew 8:2-3

Leprosy was a disease that ravaged the body, caused severe disfigurement, and in some cases it causes necrosis of appendages and limbs. Those who had it were separated and put in leper colonies so as not to infect the general public. This man knew Jesus could heal him. I mean, that is crazy faith! So often we in America say we believe that God can heal us from sicknesses. But how many people have the faith that this man showed? Do we really believe that God is the Almighty Healer? Do we believe that He can heal us from even the most severe diseases?

God is so gracious and good to us. I am thankful of all the ways he has blessed me. I know that I have faith that God can heal any ailment, but sometimes I feel like I expect God to heal any ailment. I've never been faced with a serious health problem in my life, but I have experienced plenty of hospital waiting rooms in my life. My mom has had more than her fair share of health problems and, to be honest, my expectation was that she would always pull through and be OK.

But as with every coin there is a flip side. Am I just as OK if God has a different plan? Maybe His desire is for me to struggle with a health condition that will follow me all the days of my life. Am I OK with that? Maybe his desire is for me to come home to him sooner than I was expecting. Am I OK with that?

The point is, God is in control. I rest in Hands. And there is no where else I'd rather be. My heart may fear the unknown, but I must be assured that He is more than able to carry me through whatever I go through. How awesome that our God is so much bigger than sickness. Than cancer. Than death. Praise Him! What a mighty God we serve!

As the leper, I have faith in God's healing power. I know that His will is supreme to earthly restraints of disease and death. I just can't get over how incredible that is. He made me. He gave me life. And he sustains me. Praise be God.

God Delivers

This morning I read Acts 12 and it got me thinking about God's power to deliver. Peter was in jail because he would not stop proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Herod had four squads of guards watching him. He was bound in chains and locked behind barred gates. God came to Peter's aide in a miraculous way, delivering him from captivity.

When I think about God's power in my life I need to remember that he has the power to deliver me from my captivity to sin. I struggle daily with a desire to live according to His will, but I am human. I fail. I give in to pride, greed, selfish ambition. Yet God is bigger than all of that. When I feel my heart gripped in battle with my sinful nature I need to call on the God who can deliver me.

Of course my mind returns to Haiti. I think of the stories I have heard from Hubert (our host) about the stranglehold that voodoo has on his country. So many Haitians still believe in some voodoo or superstitious beliefs even while claiming to be Christians. But God has delivered so many of them. I think of the Haitian woman who was demonically possessed and after it was driven out she gave her heart to Jesus.

My battle isn't against demonic possession, but I need God's deliverance just as much. The desire of my heart is to live a life worthy of the King I serve. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want my Father to be proud of me. I know I will stumble and that is when I need to find peace in his mercy and grace. On our Haiti team there were people whose hearts were so evident to all. There was a peace, gentleness and humility that surrounded them. It was clear that they are actively submitting to His will and because of that their lives are being molded into Christ's image.

To steal a quote from my friend James, "I am somewhere between who I used to be and who I want to be." That quote expresses an active desire to pursue God more. Every day. Every breathe. Can I say that I do that? No, not really. But can I say that I want that? Yes. More than anything. My heart yearns for the Holy Spirit. I thirst for God's word. And I desperately need the mercy of my Savior.

Lord, please take control of my heart. You know where I stand. I come humbly before you yearning for a life worthy to be called yours. Please continue this work in me and help me to desire you more than anything else in my life. My words, my heart, my soul, my life are yours. Mold me into the man you want me to be. I want to submit to your will. Thank you for your unconditional love. Praise be to God forever and ever, Amen.

Musings on Haiti

As I sit here in my air conditioned home and type on my new computer amidst our HGTV decorated house, I can't help but feel that my heart and mind are still in Haiti. Lisa and I have been awake now for about 8 hours and all of our conversation revolve around Haiti. I know the excitement will fade as reality tries to wrestle control of my heart, but I want to take a moment and reflect on our amazing trip. I want to put into words the things God has taught and shown me so that I can hold on to them.

I knew before I headed down that I would come face to face with an earthquake ravaged country. I knew that my heart would break as I held the children. I didn't expect it to be as intense as it was. On the surface you find a country that has been shaken to it's core. It's people so terrified of going back into buildings that they choose to live in slowly deteriorating tent villages. The children of Haiti often left to fend for themselves, not only physically, but emotionally as well. The vast stretches of rubble and trash seem to go unnoticed by the Haitians walking by.

What struck me the hardest though was the joy I found in Haiti. I was reunited with our host, Hubert, who has such an amazing heart for his country. His vision, if realized, would return Haiti to it's place as the "Pearl of the Caribbean". His wife, Junie, is a force to be reckoned with as she heads an orphanage, school, and a hospital. Then there were the children, their simple smiles as they worshiped God were incredible. All at once they forgot the pain, hunger, and fear that surrounds them and they got lost in the praises of the Most High.

And then there was our team. When I say that God put together the best team possible for this trip that is an understatement! The skills that each person brought were made known throughout the week as God took hold of us and used us to do His will. New friendships were made, and old friendships reinforced. Two incredible team leaders who have a heart for Haiti. A social worker with and overwhelming compassion. A big teddy bear with a bigger heart. Two crazy elementary teachers willing to do anything to make kids feel loved. A kids worship pastor with a heart for hurting children. Two quite and gentle servants stretched beyond their expectations. A young woman whose eyes have been opened to the needs beyond our borders. And a servant wise beyond her age with a desire to be God's hands and feet wherever he calls her.

What an incredible trip. But through all of that, what did God impress on my heart? When I submit to His will, the door is opened for Him to do great things in and through my life. From the history of Haiti to the yearning eyes of children in pain to the lives of my teammates, God has shown me what He can do. I am humbled my his power and I have found a renewed fear of the Most High God. The faith you find in America is not the same faith as you will find in third world countries. We worship with flashing lights, big auditoriums, full bands, and projected lyrics. This week we came before God with our voices and our hearts and I felt Him more than I have in a long time. I don't want to forget that God is God and I am not (to steal a quote). I want to recognize His power and hand in my life. And I want His spirit to lead me wherever He wants me to go.