Dance, Dance,Dance

I'm not much of a dancer, but I have watched dancing with the stars if that counts. I don't know "bus stop" or "superman." It's even hard for me to follow the directions of a square dance caller, I mean what exactly is "a-dossie-doe." I imagine when I do dance it looks more like Elaine from Seinfeld than Justin Timberlake, but man is it fun to let it go and move. I recently read a book where our relationship with God was described as a dance with the Father, Son, and Spirit. The author explained that through Christ we have been invited into this amazing dance with God. That He created us to share in the communion life of the Trinity. I don't want to hash out all the details of the book, but how cool would it be to change our language from our "walk with the Lord" to our "dance with the Trinity." Walking involves putting one foot in front of the other, but dance involves twirls, dips, swinging, shaking, etc. We learn to walk when shortly after we are born and even take it for granted, but we have to include all of our facilities into dancing, (listening, coordination, paying attention, moving in different directions all at once). Here's another thing I know about dancing there has to be a rhythm and someone has to lead. I have found a rhythm in reading scripture, music, community, conversation, prayer, serving,  and with the Spirit leading me these things have become really sweet. 

I don't know what sets the rhythm in your life, i just encourage you to find it, when you do let the Spirit lead you and dance, dance, dance!!!

Falling Forward

I know a lot of christians who have fallen and some who pretend they never fall. I often feel like the Paul of Romans 7, but I'm really trying to live life in the Spirit he talk about in Romans 8. I use to be real scared of falling, because it would parylize me in my walk with the Lord. I would either out my shame, avoid Christ, or I would find myself moving backwards away from Him. I've figured this out that the falls are going to happen, but now I'm learning to fall forward. Each struggle is an opportunity to learn and grow closer to Christ and the closer I get the harder it is to break His heart. It is amazing that we serve a God that gave Himself up for us not only to forgive us, but to restore us. 

When we fall may we fall forward into the arm of Jesus, and let Him restore us.

  

Come, Sit, Listen

Erwin McManus says christians act as if the Great Commission of today is "Come, Sit, Listen". How did we get to this point in Christianity? We live in the kingdom of Jesus Christ and it is alive and growing! There's a song by Lifehouse called Everything, the words say "how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you, oh can you tell how can it be any better than this". We should be moved into the world to share Christ. Paul writes in Colossians "by Him all things where created and in Him all things hold together. He tell us in Romans 8:11 that we have the same Spirit living in us that raised Jesus from the dead. WOW, did you hear that? What more do we need as believers to move us out of the pews and into life with Him in His glorious kingdom? I believe it is impossible to be in a true relationship with God and be satisfied with just hearing cool things about Him on Sundays. If my relationship with my wife consisted of someone else telling me about her a few hours a week, where would my relationship be with her? How could I truly love her or know her intimately? I surly would not be able to talk about her with any kind of passion. She would really not much effect on my day to day life at all. My relationship with her in natural, tough, wonderful, growing, full of mistakes, but full of grace, it all comes through trusting, loving, talking, laughing, and simply sharing life together. Life with Jesus should look a lot like that.  He should be a natural expression of who we are, and all we are becoming  

Let's let our lives reflect Christ and what he is doing in our hearts second by second. Let's move beyond Sunday morning sermons and fifteen minute devotional and let's Him into all aspects of our lives. Let's reclaim and restore the Great Commission to it's original intent GO, and tell the world so that they can live!

Furry Face of February for Radio Free Florence

I'm a part of a really cool ministry called Radio Free Florence. We are now a christian internet radio station, check us out at radiofreeflorence.com.  We have submitted an application to the FCC for a FM frequency, and now waiting to see if we are going to get it. In an effort to raise money for the station I've join with dozens of men who have committed not to shave the entire month of February. We are taking pledges for each day we go during February without shaving. It's going to be a long stretch for some and not so hard for others. The station is on the air to bring the gospel to all that listen, as well as some real good music. Take a listen if you haven't before and stop back by if you have. If you like what you hear or want to get involved contact Kris Mead at the station.    

Sneeking in with children

I was ask by a friend of mine if I thought I would do what I'm doing now (youth ministry) forever. I told him that for the first time in my life I'm not thinking about the next move. I explained that I totally feel I'm exactly where God wants me. I absolutely love what I do! The students in my group are amazing and apart of me. I asked him this, who is it that Jesus always welcomes to Himself with a smile and open arms? He smiled and I said, the children right? I continued by asking him to imagine if we all got to heaven at the same time and we had to wait outside the gates and they were going to be open all at once and we all rushed in together. I like to think that in that moment and crazy scramble to find Jesus that he is going to allow the children to come to Him first and right now where at I'm in ministry I'll be allowed to seek up with them and I love that thought.

It's innocence of a child like faith that our Savior wants us to keep and maintain through out our lives. The choked out seed, rich young ruler let this world snuff out the relationship with the one who gives real life.