RADIATE

THE WORLD RACE

2009-04-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,
first off, let me say thank you so much for following through my blog over these past few years. for the next 13 months, please click the link below. i will be blogging from the world race site to help communication to all of the people who are praying and journeying with me through the race. go to http://warrencheely.theworldrace.org .... if you want updates as i post them, you can add your email address to the update alerts section. would love for all of you to journey with me on this next year overseas!!
blessings
w

The Next Year of My Life

2009-03-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

SO...its official. I am going to be overseas with aim on the world race for the next year of my life!!!! I could not be more pumped about it. The road to this point has been crazy for sure. This started to come on the radar around january and I started to pray that God would make His will clear. I was soon after that laid off from starbucks. And after that I started to seek the Lord on what was next. After much prayer and processing things with my community group, I feel that He is leading me to join the world race and spend the next year of my life overseas doing mission work.
check it out
http://updates.theworldrace.org/?filename=june-2009-world-race-route

Please continue to pray for me in the midst of the craziness of support raising and also for my team. Also please pray for all the hearts of the people that I will be coming into contact with over the 11 months and that the Lord in His mercy would allow me to have an impact on them.

thank you all
blessings
warren

Let the Whole World See

2009-03-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

Wow. Ok. So it like midnight right now when I am writing this even though when its posted it wont be midnight because my roommate Chris and I don’t have internet at the apartment, but God just moved my heart so I had to write this down. I am listening to the Passion Podcast “You have done Great Things”… and in the middle of it Louie plays a recording from Kampala and asks the students if there is a generation there that wants to make Jesus famous in the world and the crowd erupts. It was awesome. I started to get a little teared up because God has really been breaking my heart for the whole world. And in the middle of the, the lyrics from Mighty to Save came to mind.

Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
So let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

My Savior He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to Save
Forever Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grace

So take me as you find me
With all my fears and failures
Let mercy fall again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
I surrender to you Lord

So shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the Risen King

Awesome huh? Let the whole world see!! Amen.

Psalm 84 and the Pilgrimage

2009-03-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

So I was reading Psalm 84 today. Really amazing text. Famous probably for verse 10 (thank you matt redman) "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;". As I was reading this text though today, something really cool jumped out at me that I may have just glanced over before. This was really awesome. Verse 5-7

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.

Awesome huh? I thought so to. Really cool opening looking at the truth that a person is truly blessed when the Lord is their strength. Our strength can and will fail for sure. It is when we lean into though the amazing strength that the Lord has placed in each of us that we start to experience life and freedom and joy.

Next section really jumped out at me, these people have set theirs hearts on a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a type of journey. The person in the psalm is setting their hearts towards the journey that will take them into Zion and the temple of God: The place where the presence of God was said to dwell.

I think the key in here is the person who has set their hearts on the journey towards God and what the Lord would have for them. The Valley of Baca would have been seen as a very dry and arid type place, which is often used to describe metaphorically a spiritual dry place. Also could relate to hardship. Yet the guy in this psalm is thrilled about the journey through hardship and craziness because this road will take Him to Zion and to The Lord. His heart was set on that journey and He was leaning towards that end.

Are we just as excited about the pilgrimage we are on towards God? Oh course. Until that is we see the dry Valley of Baca. Then most of the time the normal reaction would be, "uh..can we go around this". That is my honest reaction to the hard things God places in my life as I run towards Him. Yet it is the person who is looking straight towards the cross and in their hearts, they are thinking, "whatever the fastest way to the temple, I am for that. Does not matter what I have to cross through to get there, I just want to be in the presence of the Lord." Really cool thought.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and run towards Him with all that we are, we shine and find joy even in the middle of the deserts of life. And people see such a HUGE difference in the person who does this. verse 6- they make it a place of springs the autumn rains also cover it with pools. Hardships tend to not derail a phil1:21 believer. Paul got kicked in the face and was like "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" Its when we set our hearts on the pilgrimage towards the cross of Jesus CHrist that we find strength, life, joy, peace, satisfaction, power, strength, and eternal life.

Those people are called blessed. Will you and I be one of those?

I'm Just Saying

2009-03-22T17:34:00.001-07:00

Jesus Paid It All

2009-03-21T16:12:00.001-07:00

Matt 23 and my life as a pharisee

2009-03-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

So I was reading in Matt 23 today. Cool passage jumped out at me. Verse 23 reads "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former"

So some thoughts on this. I have spent the vast majority of my time as a believer with the belief that the Lord has put a call on my life for vocational ministry. I still believe that to be true. Yet I have come to realize that for the vast majority of my walk with Christ I have totally missed the point. I have spent so much time trying to learn to be more effective, strategic, and engaging. It was all towards the end result of being a better minister (which began an idol at one point in my life). And so that is where I put all my effort into.

Yet we see here in this passage that God is more into things like, doing what right (justice), mercy and compassion, and faithfulness. The things that make us great CHRISTIANS are things like serving, humility, compassion, mercy, caring for the broken, lovers of His Word, and above all else a consuming desire for JESUS. God is for strategic and engaging. I fully believe that. But I had neglected the fact that God cares more for my heart than He does my leadership and effectiveness.

Total different paradigm. I pray that I never lose sight of what is important again.

Prov 31. (the part before the Godly wife stuff)

2009-03-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

So if you have been in church for any length of time, you have probably all heard of the Prov. 31 woman who is a perfect picture of Godliness. Yet there is some amazing stuff in Prov 31 before it ever even gets to that. Verse 8-9 really jump out at me. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

God really gets into us loving the hurting, the poor, the marginalized, and for those who can't defend or speak for themselves.

Prov 28 and the poor

2009-03-14T18:39:00.001-07:00

So I was reading through proverbs 28 today and something hit me that I had never really seen before. Verse 27 jumped off the page and floored me. "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses". What really was shocking (but later when I thought about it not as much) was the severity of God's punishment towards those who neglect the hurting, the broken, the poor, and the needy. Yet in Ezekiel 16:49 God's Word says: Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."

Ouch. Was Sodom destroyed because of sexual immorality, partially. Their sin was the result of a depravity that continued to snow ball downwards yet it appears that their sin began in pride and an indifference towards the needy and the poor. God is for the broken and hurting. And He has issues, major issues, with those who profess His name and neglect the poor. Pretty different paradigm.

The point that we should be concerned with the hurting of the world and not just change the channel to go on with dinner, but actually do something about it.

Psalm 77 and Unemployment

2009-03-12T11:23:00.001-07:00

So its like 12:30 in the morning right now and I am reading through Psalm 77 which is of great comfort. As of late, unemployment and having difficulty finding a job been an object of some great stress. There were a few different job/ministry opportunities that were starting to open up and I was at a place of loving starbucks and thinking that I would be there for a long time. And then I started to pray and put the situation before the Lord and ask Him what His will was. Two weeks later I was laid off from starbucks. Pretty clear message there and answer to prayer. So what is next? I don’t honestly know. And on top of that, the weight of unemployment has really started to set in. And its been greatly frustrating as of late just the feeling of not knowing what in the world God was calling me to. I have prayed and prayed and applied and applied… and nothing. So I have started to feel the weight of that tension. Greatly. So I was reading Psalm 77 and it was a great encouragement. The Psalmist opens with a lament and is talking about how God seems hyperly distant. He is reminded of how God once seemed so close and now the Lord does not seem anywhere near as best he can see. He seems exhausted, hurt, confused, in tears, and not even sure of how to take a next step. I can totally relate because honestly, that is something of what I am feeling right now.

Yet then He got a picture of what God has done in his life and the lives of the people of God before him.
V 12-15 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your way’s O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

He set his mind towards the works of God in the generations and the delivery of the people of God in history (the Exodus specifically).

And in verse 20- You led your people God.
God is in control and that is what I have to hold on to that in the midst of my storm. For me, God has guided my life so much thus far and done amazing things in it. That I know. But I think the thing that speaks the loudest is the cross of Christ. Because it is at the cross I know that I have a loving and overcoming Savior who is crazy about me and who is in control of even the craziest of circumstances. And that is a source of strength in the midst of my unemployment and frustration over my future.

Just listen to the lyrics in this song

2009-03-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Following Jesus Cost Us Everything

2009-02-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

So lately I think the thing that the Lord has been teaching me the most is that following Him is costly. Salvation is free, following Jesus cost us everything. Its really that simple. I have heard teaching after teaching on things like the young rich ruler... where it is told that Jesus wants us to be willing just to give up everything but He is not actually going to ask for it. Not really sure that is the message of Christianity. Those who I have read about and see who have changed the world have made HUGE sacrifices for the Lord and embraced the costliness of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. We can not build His kingdom and our own at the same time. One will ultimately suffer. For some the cost will be money. For some the cost will be relationally. For some the cost will be with their own lives. Yet for me. to live is Christ. to die is gain. Let us hold to that with all that we are and embrace the cross and the calling of God into the world no matter what we lose in this earth, we gain everything in the Kingdom!!!

The Last Post

2009-02-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

So the Lord has been rocking my world with the Penn video. (See below). It was convicting for me on some huge levels. I can honestly say that I have not taken seriously the call to shine the gospel everywhere I go. It has a real shocker for me when I watched that video. So in response to it, I have been trying to share the truth of Christ like crazy. It has been really awkward at times. I was on a plane coming back to Atlanta to see the parents, and was sitting next to an older lady. Really nice person. I started a conversation with her and we talked about "church" for a little bit. We ended round one of the conversation and I started to try to sleep which was unsuccessful. I was listening to a message by Louie on the cost of Christmas. It was powerful. So then I put the ipod down and point blank asked her what she thought about Jesus. It was a little awkward honestly. But at that point, I had no idea what else to do. SOO..... she was like.. what do you mean... and I was like.. well... good guy, moral person.. good teacher,,, Son of God... what do you think about Jesus. She was like , "all of the above". To which for a second I thought I was going to get off easy. Not so much. I then added, "Only way to heaven?" And she was like.. heck no. So then I asked what she thought on that one and she gave the ole "good enough" view. So I shared the gospel with her. She was not buying it. But I was thrilled just to see what the Lord is doing in my heart if for nothing else through all of this. I have probably shared the Gospel more in the last month than in the previous year. So its been really cool and exciting. I have just enjoyed the process of trying to "pull people out of the street" (see video below). Lets keep shinning!

Hate People or Just Not Believe the Gospel?

2009-02-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

I GOT LAID OFF

2009-02-11T12:14:00.000-08:00

So today I have been informed that I am being laid off from starbucks. Kinda sucks. But I had a really cool chance to share Christ with a friend of mine in that meeting and that was awesome. My friend was surprised at the peace I had in this meeting and I had a chance to tell them that I believe in an overcoming Savior and I trust in Him. It was really cool. I know that God will open up something and I am confident in that. John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I HAVE AN OVERCOMING SAVIOR AND THAT IS REALLY COOL!!!

Convicting

2009-02-07T22:35:00.000-08:00

Closing 08 and HELLO 09

2009-01-17T13:49:00.001-08:00

What a year 08 was.. Honestly, it was probably one of the best and hardest years of my life. What have I learned? I learned that I was a greatly broken human being with an Amazing Savior whose grace has been poured out on my life in amazing ways. I learned what my biggest sin struggle was (I seriously did not see it- go figure). I learned that I was an idolator towards ministry. I saw a new level of iniquity that existed in me. I learned that you can survive on $7.50 per hour working for starbucks. Yet I have also learned of a new level of the mercy of God in my life. I have seen on an entire new level the truth that His light shines when all else fades. I have come to understand a new depth of what it means just to walk with and know Jesus. And its been amazing!! I am thankful for all the pain, because it has brought me to a place of loving Jesus more. Amen
W

heart breaking

2008-08-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

So if your anything like me, your a huge fan of new worship music being released by so many people and groups worldwide. To me, it is the voice of a new generation crying out to God. On of my favorites is Hillsong. The Mighty to Save Album might have been on the of best cd's i have ever heard. Their new album "This is our God" is awesome. On it, there is a song, "healer." It was powerful. It was written by Michael Guglielmucci. He found out a few days before (i guess- don't know the exact time table), that he had terminal cancer. He wrote "healer" through that process and sang it on the new cd. It was such a powerful story of someone staying true to Christ in the midst of the midnight hour. And it was unfortunately not true.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24212817-5006301,00.html

it turns out he was faking the illness. I know for many this is a tragic thing which totally destroys the impact of his message and what he said. I am reminded though of a passage in philippians chapter 1

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. The later do so in love knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, hoping that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter. The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true that Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Was the world deceived. Yep. Did one impactful story have nothing behind it. Yep. But is Jesus still our great healer. YES. Did thousands go after the heart of God that night. YES. And will millions more believe that Jesus is still a great healer because of the song because it speaks truth... Oh yea..

Lets pray for him and his family and against the stronghold satan has on him today.

Rejoice in Truth
Pray for our brother in his time of darkness
Believe Jesus for his restoration and victory by the power of the Cross
Praise the Lord that He is our great Healer and that life is found in Him

Blessings
W

Powerful

2008-08-19T08:51:00.001-07:00

So today I was driving in my car to see some dear friends up in Dalton Georgia and on the way I was listening to the Passion Podcast. Louie and his team were up in Stockholm and Kyiv. At one point Louie was on stage and he asked the crowd of thousands of college students from that area of the world if there was anyone here who loves Jesus and wants to live for Him. And it was like an explosion on the tape. My ears actually hurt it was so loud. But in the midst of hearing that, tears of joy began to flow. It was gripping. In a serious way. Louie did that in Kyiv and Stockholm and it was crazy both times. I am assuming that he probably did that in all the cities but I have not listened to the rest of the passion tour podcast yet. Excited to though for sure. And in that moment, it was like the Lord gripped my heart and I began to praise Him for His work in the world and pray for those students that they would be a beacon of hope into their city for the name of Jesus. It was awesome. If you are not on the passion podcast, please please please go on itunes, download those, and celebrate the work of God in the world. It is amazing to hear a generation of students around the world making a statement that they are going to make their lives about the glory of God. Check it out.

WOW- This year

2008-08-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

So it has been a really long time since I have posted on here. This year has been something of a roller-coaster for sure. Still living in Dallas Texas. Still working with Starbucks. Still going through Celebrate Recovery http://www.watermark.org/ministries/care/celebrate-recovery/ at watermark. Yet this has been a year of healing and growing in awesome ways. Its been a year filled with some great joy and some serious frustration all at the same time. Yet I know that the Lord has had His hand on my life in some very gracious ways that I am so thankful for. For starters, coming to an understanding of what in the world happen up in ohio has been quite a journey. The gist of it in case you are not in the mood to scroll down is that I was let go from the church I was serving at. The reasons at this point are pretty much irrelevant but the gist of it is that the church just did not feel like I was the right fit for the specific DNA that makes up their church. But God had His hand in leading me up there. Even though it was for such a short time. You see, I needed brokeness in my life.

As I talked with friends in my life about this whole experience, the light bulb just kind of went on in my mind. God did not lead me up to Ohio to start a college ministry. He led me up there to be broken. In Seminary, I’d worked my tail off and gotten a lot of my self-worth invested in becoming great at ministry. Somehow, I’d missed Jesus. Ministry and self-glory had become idols. I wanted Jesus’ name to be lifted up, as long as mine was right alongside it. In essence, I had become more consumed with being a leader than a lover of God. It was a beautiful moment when God helped me see this and surrender it. The Lord used this job loss to break me and ultimately free me so I could know Jesus more. Getting let go was the favor of God in my life because my heart was messed up and it needed fixing in the only way God could get my attention: brokenness. God is mighty to save – and He saved me from myself.

So now I am on a great mission to fall more in love with Jesus, grow in humility, learn to be faithful, and discover the heart of truly living for the Glory of God. It has hurt at times more than I could even imagine. But Jesus has been amazing through it all and I am so thankful for His transformational grace that has brought me to where I am. I am experiencing more freedom and victory in my life than I ever have and it has been awesome. Thank you to all for your prayers through this season. Its been the hardest yet best year of my life.

You Are

2008-02-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Lord You Are:
Life Giver
Star Breather
Hope Bestower
Alpha
Omega
Beginning
End
First
Last
Savior
Sustainer
Deliverer
Pride Breaker
Sin Hater
Mighty Lord
Powerful God
The Glorious One
The Beautiful One
The Only One
Alive
King
Messiah
The Great I AM
Conquerer
Father
Healer
Rescuer
Redeemer
Sovereign Ruler
Infinite
Everlasting
Never Failing
Never Ending
Holy
Righteous
Pure
Perfect
The Lover of My Soul

The Barbarian Way

2008-01-31T15:51:00.000-08:00

So I just finished reading the Barbarian Way my Erwin McManus. Very good read. What is a barbarian? It seems as communicated in the book that it is an individual who breaks from the status quo and pretty much lives life with an unhindered, intense passion. The Barbarian Way of Christianity would appear to be a necessity within our culture. Christianity has been reduced, largely by American culture, to something where people place their faith in God to get a quick fix or make themselves feel better. Even seriously Christians could fall into the trap about reducing the axiom of the faith. Jesus said follow me and more times than not, we say, "No Jesus, you follow me" hoping to have our faith enhance our world here. Yet the call of Jesus is to take up ones cross and have our hearts crystalize in the direction of God and not look towards the things of this world to satisfy and bring life. The barbarian way is one in which a believer abandons trying to get God onto his/her agenda and surrenders into God's will for their life, regardless of whether that path entails suffering and hardship. John 16:33 says that we are to take heart as believers knowing that Jesus has overcome the world! And so living as citizens of heaven, the call is to embrace a path that leads to being passionately in love with Jesus to the point where we look towards Him as our only hope and satisfaction in life. When we do that, we will lose all for Him to gain all in Him. Great read. I highly recommend it.

When Life Hurts

2008-01-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

So..2008 has started. And it is nothing of what I thought it would look like a month ago. There are many new roads ahead of me that honestly I did not expect to have to walk down. I am no longer at Ginghamsburg Church which came as a surprise. I am back in Dallas Texas trying to figure out life and what the Lord is doing in the midst of this crazy storm that I appear to be in. These past few weeks have been some of the hardest in my life. On many levels, I have struggled with confusion, frustration, anger, and all the while trying to keep my eyes on Jesus.

I decided to sit in on some classes here at DTS while I was trying to figure out what is next. In the midst of BE107, Dr. Bramer was talking about pain. Some how in the midst of this, a passage in James jumped out at me.

James 1:2- 4 - My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Brokenness is a part of life. And it appears that this is God's allotment for me in this season. My prayer is that I will be transformed more into the image of Christ as a result of all of this. Maybe this season has less to do with me doing for God and becoming more like Him. Lord knows I could use some more teachability and humility in my life. May His will be done above all else. Because life is about Him and its not about me.

The Missional Worshipper

2007-09-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been thinking about what the core of the Christian life is grounded in and I have come to some conclusions that I believe to be pretty right on. God's will and passion for the follower of Christ is to be and equip others to be missional worshippers of Jesus Christ for the renown of His name. That simple. As best as I have been able to process through so far, the life of a believer boils down to this simple concept. So the next question would naturally be what is a missional worshipper. I am still trying to process through on how exactly to define it, but I have been able to think through the context in it and have come to the conclusion that being a missional worshipper is grounded in 5 major components. 1) Dedicated to the Renown/Glory of Jesus Christ 2) Passionate Worshipper of the Son of God 3) Embraces authentic community 4) Lives missionally and 5) Serious about Biblical Maturity. Embracing these 5 areas is what being a missional worshipper is all about and I believe is at the core of the Christian faith. All components of the faith, or at least the ones that have come to mind, can and do fall into one of these 5 areas. I would love to hear others thoughts on this matter. More to come on expanding each of these areas.

Dayton Ohio

2007-08-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

So as of yesterday I have officially accepted the College and Young Adult Minister position at Ginghamsburg Church in Dayton Ohio. I am very excited about the move and getting the chance to be a part of the movement of God in the area!

The Worst Day of Travel Ever

2007-07-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

So Wednesday I came back to the states from London. It might have been the worst travel day of my life. It started like any other day of travel. I arrived at the church to get on the bus with the team at 7:00am thinking that we would be totally fine. My flight was listed for 45 minutes earlier though and i was not paying that much attention to the situation honestly. This was completely my fault by the way. So when we get to the airport, everyone is on time except for me seeing as my flight left a little earlier. So when I check in the ticket counter employee tells me that I can't check in and that it will be another 200 dollars to standbye for the next flights to atlanta. So right off the bat I am now down 200 bucks for the day and flying standbye which is never my favorite thing. So I am like "ok. fine. lets just try it." I standbye for the Atlanta flight and don't get on. So my next option is JFK in NYC. If this one does not work, then I am stuck in London another day which honestly would not have been that bad of an option. I love it there. But I end up making the flight and now I am off to NYC. The flight is around 7 hours and at the point the day has not been to bad. Frustrating? Oh yea. But all in all not that bad. Little did I know that the nightmare was just beginning. So I arrive and it appears as if my bags have been lost. B-E-A-UTIFUL. So I wait and wait. Finally they show up after the bag service had been shut down. Miracle? It seemed like it. It took an hour and a half to clear customs. And now there is no chance of getting out ot JFK so I grabbed a taxi cab with someone I met on the plane who worked for delta and went over to Luguardia. 45 minutes later we get there and at this point I am starting to get sick. I have no clue what it was but I was starting to feel horrible. So with the weather problems and cancellations, the line was like 45 minutes long to get a ticket. And true to form, it does not rain it pours. There was this woman who I would have paid Jesus to rapture right then. She was driving me crazy. Her name was Mrs. Brooks and she let everyone know.She was upset because the people at curbside checkin were going to charge her an extra 25 dollars because her bag was overweight. She was irrate about it. And I can totally understand why. It's not as if that rule has not been around since the 70's and everyone else has to follow it. So she is rating and yelling at the ticketing people and demanding to see the manager for all 45 minutes. At one point I was on the verge of giving her the money just to get her out of my hair. So with her over amplified voice, my headache, and feeling sick, I was not having a good day. So finally I get up to the ticket counter and get the ticket only to find that all flights are delayed and I am about 65 on a standbye list of 110. So now its looking like I am going to have to sleep in the airport. All the hotels in the area are already booked and they already sent my bag to atlanta so I am just sitting perfect. So I wait and wait and start feeling worse and worse. About that time I randomly bump into a friend of mine from Buckhead Church, Kyle and his girlfriend. They are stuck to. It's so nice how God brings people into your lives to share your burdens. So at one point we are convinced that we are not going anywhere and so I come up with this idea of renting a car and driving. Seems logical because nobody wants to stay in the airport till 8pm the next day. But after Kyles parents said he could not go, we decided to just wait it out at the airport. Still feeling worse on the sick'o meter by the way. So then I get a call from the friend that I caught the cab with and she tells me that tons of standbyes are getting on and so we go back in and see a glimmer of hope. On the last flight of the night which now was leaving at midnight with the delays, we barely got on. Miracle 2. At the airport, I could not figure out where my car was but finally found that. I pulled into my parents house at 3:30am feeling like I had been hit by a train and had been up for what was close to 28 hours with the exception of about 2 hours of sleep on the planes total. I came upstairs, talked to my parents for a minute, and crash. It was the worst travel day of my life. So if your reading this and thinking I am a pessimist, there is a point to all of this. I got home. Despite all the frustration, waiting, sickness, annoying people, and life craziness I got home. In our lives as believers, we are never promised that life on this side of eternity will go great. This is not our best life now. Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will have trouble in this world but to take heart for He has overcome the world. We can rest peacefully in the truth and joy that no matter how hard the journey is, not matter how short or long the layover, no matter how many annoying people are around us, and no matter how healthy or sick we are, at the end of the day because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we will get home and that is the true future hope that all believers have in knowing that one day Jesus will return and take us to be with Him forever.

England

2007-07-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Today was the first real day that the US team went out on mission. I am on the evangelism team. Today was my first experience going door to door. Honestly this morning I was scared to death. I have never done door to door. The morning was kinda hard. But after lunch it seemed to become much easier. I got the opportunity to lead a guy named Aled to Christ. It was awesome. He did not seem very open to the Gospel at first but then the more we talked, the more he opened up. It was amazing how the Lord was working on his heart and how His salvation happened. I had the opportunity to share Christ many more times during the rest of the day. It is amazing being here in this land. The poverty here is unbelievable. There is said to be some 80% of the population on welfare. The people here seem so down and hopeless at times. Yet God is alive and working in many of their hearts which is encouraging. Please continue to pray for the people of Wales that they would find hope in Christ. We can take heart for no matter what happens in life, Christ has over come the world!

England Day 2

2007-07-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

So I'm in England with New Hope BC on a mission trip. I must say its really nice here. England is way more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. The people here who we are partnering with are some of the kindest people full of love for the Lord. Today we have most of the day off to recover from the crazy jetlag. I woke up at 4 am and could not get back to sleep. It happens. lol. Tommorrow I we start serving in community service, door to door evangelism, teaching about Christianity in local high/middle school, and doing some other night programs. I am thrilled to be here. Please pray that the Lord would work in the hearts of the people here and that they would find hope in Jesus.

Leading Servant

2007-07-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was talking to a great friend of mine, Chris Plekenpol, about leadership and he had one amazing insight that really struck home with me. He was talking about this idea of a "leading servant" as opposed to a "servant leader". The first world is the obvious adjective that describes the something about the second word which is the noun of the phrase. The noun's are often used like this to indicate who or what someone is. In this case, a servant leader would be a leader primarily who has the heart of a servant. Yet Jesus called us to be servants of all first. Therefore it seems the phrase works better as a leading servant. That individual is a servant first who has the heart of Christ, is a missional worshipper, and wants to do all they can to encourage and edify others. The leading part is put with it to express that this individual leads, but their identity is not wrapped up in leading but being a servant. John 13, Jesus was the ultimte leader. Yet He washed feet. Is it possible that we have as a culture have become so obsessed with becoming great leaders, that we miss the heart of God to serve. Are we truely looking to build the Kingdom of God, or have we become like Babel and are truely building our own kingdom, with Jesus as the tag line for it? Leading is critically important. I don't want to downplay this at all. Yet it is more important to have the heart of God for broken and hurting people. I don't believe one can become a missional worshipper of Christ without being a servant first. A leading servant is one who seeks to serve others first and when the opportunity comes up to step up and make something happen, they are the first to do it while maintaining the heart of a servant the entire time.

Graduating

2007-06-29T16:00:00.001-07:00

So today I have finished my last exam at Dallas Theological Seminary. I am done! Wow.. I don't think it has quite set in yet but this is seriously amazing. I can't believe after 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of grad school, I am done with school for a while at least. At one point, I was thinking PhD studies but right now, I just need a break. SERIOUSLY!!!! It felt great walking out of that last final today. In an hour I am going to be celebrating with my friends and I can't wait. In two weeks I leave for England on a mission trip. I am very excited about that. I still have no clue what is coming next but I know that the Lord is in control.

Caiaphas

2007-06-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

I was reading through Acts 4 today and came upon a beautiful truth that jumped right out at me. The Sanhedrin had gathered together to judge Peter and John. During this time, Annas was the high priest. Not Caiaphas. Caiaphas had been only months before during the life of Jesus. He was the guy who fought so hard to make sure that his reign and power would not be taken from him. He was the high priest longer than any before and he did not want to lose his authority and power. So when Jesus came along and people started following Him instead, Caiaphas put a plan together to have Jesus killed so that He could keep his power and influence. Yet the will of God could not be twarted. Caiaphas suceeded in having the Messiah killed, only to lose the war 3 days later when Jesus rose from the dead. And now because of the ruin of the temple with the veil being torn in two, he was no longer the high priest. All the work and effort to try to keep his power did nothing in the end becasue he lost it anyway and the only thing he accomplished was that he was put at odds with God. Clearly the will of God cannot be beat and the Lord is Sovereign over world. There is nothing that is out of his control and so the best thing that we can do is to live life with open hands and say, "thy will be done." At the end of the day, it will anyway and I for one do not want to be in a place where i am at odds with my heavenly Father. I want to be close to Him and live for Him in every way and that means dying to myself and living life with open hands. The Most High is Sovereign over the Kingdoms of Men and He gives them to Whomever He Chooses.

Graduating from Seminary

2007-06-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

So I am down to my last week and a half of seminary. It has been one crazy journey. The Lord has taught me so much during this time in my life. I can't believe how much of a blessing it has been and every step along the way, the Lord has provided in such a cool and glorious way. I am still not sure what is next in this upcoming season of my life, but I know that the Lord will go with me no matter when. That is the one amazing truth that all of us can hold on to so tightly. At the end of the day, He never lets go and is always working to make us more and more into His image. I am so thankful for this 3 year journey, all the friends I have made, the experiences I have had, and all that I have been blessed to learn. Words really can't describe it.

Created for The Echo of Glory

2006-01-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

It is amazing to me at times that God has created human beings above all else in the world for the echo of His glory in the world. Psalm 19 talks about the heavens telling the glory of God. What an amazing picture. They were created to reflect the power of God in creation. They do that very well. The entire universe shows the majesty of God. The universe echoes his greatness. All of creation lives in worship to Him. Yet God created us with the ability to bring Him the most glory in all of the universe. We are created in the image of God. By being created in His image, He created us with the ability to bring Him the most glory. It is interesting though how we are commission primarily to do that. One might think that bringing God he most glory means just being obedient. One might think that bringing God the most glory of everything to do with spiritual disciplines or the right amount of church in our lives. Or maybe one might think that its all about just trying hard or dying to ones self or maybe even doing foreign missions. While all of that is great in and of itself, those things are not the foundation of living for the glory of God. The very things that delights the Lord the most and echo's His majesty the greatest is a heart that is truly in love with Him and worships Him above all else. All of creation is to worship God. Yet when the beings that are created in His image worship Him with all of their hearts, minds, soul and strength, then that very thing brings Him the most glory. Worship is the rhythm of life. It is the movement of all things. When that worship of the human heart is totally driven towards God, then He is glorified for His love, power, sovereignty, majesty, and holiness is reflected in the human heart. The more worship of the human heart that is directed to the Father, the more He is glorified. Therefore as John Piper is famous for saying, God is truely most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. It is the satisfied life of the image bearers of Yahweh that brings Him the most glory and reflects His ultimate majesty and is an Echo of His very greatness.

The Irresistible Church

2005-11-29T19:27:00.000-08:00

It comes accross as weird to me at times that more people do not love going to church. The local church is the hope of the world and Jesus came that human beings may have life to the full. Yet so many people hate walking into a local church in the morning. I personally believe that this is not what God intended. The local church should be the most irresistible place on the planet. Shouldn't people get more excited about walking into church than going to a place like starbucks? So to whomever may read any of this, let me know your thoughts. What makes Jesus irresistible? What makes so many things other than the local church irresistible? What should an irresistible church look like?
W