12 posts tagged “loving god”

Last night we kicked off Gr8ness, our summer youth group, and it was awesome!  Here are some quick thoughts about the night:

This time last year I was in the process of buying my first home.  To describe me as "overwhelmed" during that time is an understatement.  I was clueless about loans, insurance, inspections, and closings.  Through God's grace, I was able to buy the house and enjoy it over the past eleven months.  My parents did a ton of little repairs when I first moved in, and since that point, I've had to do very little.  However, this past tuesday, I experienced what owning a house often brings... plumbing problems!  One of my sinks decided it was not going to drain properly, so I set out to become "Rhodes, the Roto Rooter."  My first step was to call my dad.  Yep, I'm 25 and not ashamed to admit that I need dad's help.  I'd be dumb not to call a man that can fix everything.  You know when you're a kid and you think your dad can do everything.  Well, that thought for me never changed.  My dad is awesome!  I've called him at least a dozen times since saturday.  (My lawn mower broke saturday then the sink stopped up tuesday.)  Anyway, I call dad first, and he gave me several options.  Options 1,2, and 3 did not work, so I'm currently on option 4.  Option 4 is using a plumbing snake, and frankly, I've yet to fix the problem!  But I'm not going to give up yet.

One of my favorite words to use is "intentional."  It's a word that describes the actions and words of someone with a purpose.  Oftentimes, I find myself telling others, especially college and high school students, to be intentional with their time, their conversations, their actions, their time on Facebook, and life in general.  It's not only an encouragement that I give to others, but it's also a challenge for myself.  I'm constantly telling my leaders to be intentional with their conversations at Crash and One, middle school and high school youth group respectively, and other youth events.

When I was in high school, our youth ministry did a sports camp for the children in our community.  We taught basketball and soccer to 1st-6th graders.  Due to my inability to play soccer, I taught b-ball all week.  At one point during the week a young kid walked up to me and asked me why I wore the type of socks that I was wearing.  Quick sock background:  Before ankle socks became the craze, I rocked them!  Yes, I am stepping out and saying that I was part of a trend before it was trendy.  It is a rare occasion for me to be associated with any type of trendy clothing.  Unless an old t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops become trendy, my style will rarely reflect "new, cool, or trendy."  Anyway, I rocked the ankle socks because I was a golfer.  You see my life revolved around golf during the summer.  Well, you can't really play golf without shoes, so the summer tan line was absolutely ridiculous to say the least.  I chose to wear ankle socks, so my tan line didn't come halfway up my leg.  Back to the story... so this kid questions sock choice, I explained the reason why I wore them and thought nothing of it until a week later.  The kid's mom came up to my mom at church the following Sunday and proceeded to tell my mom that her son had come in from playing basketball one afternoon after camp with his long socks pushed down into his shoes.  She asked him why he was doing something like that, and he said, "That's how Michael wears his socks."  Wow!  I influenced a kid's choice of socks!  

Hello World (or two people that read this blog not including my family)!  I thought I was going to make it two months between blog posts, but I actually found time to sit at my computer and write.  I'm not going to say that this has been the busiest time of my life, but it has been a crazy few months.  Needless to say, blogging took a major backseat.  Here are the highlights and lowlights of my life since...Thanksgiving:

• Thanksgiving in South Carolina was awesome!  I love my family.  I love my friends.  I miss Charleston.  I'm really glad Erica got to join me.
• I had been to the doctor once in my four years in Louisiana, but I've been four times since Thanksgiving.
  
• I had my first wreck and received my first ticket.  I hit a car in the back going at least 2 mph and no more than 10 mph, and the girl called the cops and claimed that she hurt her neck.  It was a stupid driving mistake, and I hate that she got hurt.  I have a court date for February 29.  I'm kind of bummed that it's a leap year now.  If it would have been a normal year, I wouldn't have to be in court.  (Some of you may get that by the end of the blog.)
• I finished another semester of seminary work!
• I had another wreck.  It wasn't my fault this time, and no damage was done to either car.  I'm still baffled how someone can attempt to turn into a parking lot from a middle lane of traffic without thinking a car just might be in the right lane that is meant for turning vehicles.  For the record, that's two wrecks in two weeks.
• I had another wreck THAT DAY!  Yep, you read correctly.  That's THREE wrecks in two weeks, AND TWO IN THE SAME DAY!  My driving record was squeaky (yes, that is a highly intentional use of that word) clean two weeks prior.  Quick summary of wreck number 3:  I'm stopped on the interstate, and a car hits the car behind me who hits me and knocks me into the car in front of me.  My car looks fairly sad right now, but it's still drivable.  It goes into the shop next Monday.  Thankfully I didn't get hurt in any of the three wrecks.  PRAISE GOD!  As I'm writing this, I feel like there has to be some correlation between the number 3 and driving cars.   Any rednecks with me?
• Christmas in South Carolina was awesome!  I love my family.  I love my friends.  I miss Williamston.  I'm glad Erica got to spend time with her family after sacrificing the previous holiday with them for me.
• New Years was great with the exception of the Clemson loss on Christmas Eve.  I got to spend a few days with Erica's family in the Shreveport/Bossier area.  They're great!  I really enjoy spending time with them.

So today is my brother Brian's birthday!  In honor of December 12, this special day, I'm going to give you the top 12 things that I've learned from the most awesome brother in the world:

• Brian taught me how to be ambidextrous.  That's right...you read correctly.  Due to Brian's height and shot blocking ability in basketball, I had to learn how to play with my left hand.
• Brian taught me how to use wood glue.  I'm sure many of you have heard the story of the Christmas mice.  If not, I may share it later.  Let's just say...I never knew wood glue would work so well!
• Brian taught me how to be myself.  Brian has never been at a loss for words, and he always has a joke or two or four to tell.  I've constantly watched him be comfortable with who he is, and it always challenges me to be me.
• Brian taught me the importance of the Army-Navy rivalry.  Mom and dad, you really have no idea how many times we hurdled the couch when Army and Navy were playing.
• Brian taught me passion.  Brian's competitive fire is up there with the best of the best.  He's never slacked off, and he's always played sports and lived life with passion.
• Brian taught me how to play golf backwards.  Actually, he simply taught me how to run to the previous hole when he decides to duck hook a ball on #5 when he's already aimed fifty yards left.  It just so happened that a car and duplex were 100 yards left of the fairway.
• Brian taught me perseverance.  He was behind in almost every 400 meter hurdle race going into the last 150 meters, and he never gave up!  In fact, he rarely got beat!  Sprint out of the gate, take it easy, and then sprint to the finish.
• Brian taught me how to throw a football properly.  Thank you UNC football camp.
• Brian taught me how to love people.  Everybody loves Brian, because Brian loves everybody!
• Brian taught me how to love my future wife.  Brian loves Michelle, his wife, and there's no doubt about it (even when she takes an hour to eat a box of french fries, haha...love you Michelle)!
• Brian taught me how to be excited about ministry.  Brian is always talking about his youth and what God is doing in the youth ministry! 
  
• Brian taught me humility.  It's not easy to admit to a church you are serving that you just recently found Jesus!  Wow!  I only hope that I can live my life with a community of believers with this type of humility.

To say the last few days have been "exhausting" would be quite the understatement.  I read a lot of blogs that begin in this way.  For example, "Sorry for not blogging lately, I've been really busy."  "Life is so busy right now."  "I'm so tired from how busy I've been recently."  First off, this blog is not about the Sabbath, resting, or resisting laziness.  However, maybe I need to take the time to write a blog about that if I ever get a chance, haha.  Onto my issue (since this is my blog)...you may be wondering why the last few days have been more than exhausting.  After spending five days at the National Youth Workers' Convention, I proceeded to head home to South Carolina for the Thanksgiving holidays for five more days.  I had such a wonderful time at both of these places.  I love youth ministry but being at home with my family in friends is so much better!  I really cherish the time that I get to spend at home now that I only get to do it about three times a year.  Honestly, those ten days weren't exhausting at all.  I came back to Baton Rouge very well rested and refreshed.  The only exception was the sinus infection I gained while at home.

Fast forward to this past Thursday...I wake up with a pounding sinus headache thinking my head could really explode from the pressure at any moment.  That afternoon I went to take care of Erica, my wonderful girlfriend, who was really sick herself with a fever.  She felt much worse than I did.  While I'm with her, my stomach decided to begin doing gymnastics...only a few of the light gymnastic events like the pommel horse and rings.  I didn't think much of it.  When I get home that night, a few more of the events were added like the uneven and high bars.  The entire male and female all-around gymnastics programs, including the floor exercise, continued in my stomach through Monday when I was finally able to go to the doctor for major stomach issues and a fever on top of the sinus stuff I've had forever it seems.  The doc proceeds to prescribe antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medicine (i'm not ashamed), an IV because I was so dehydrated, cough syrup, and a nice prick in the left buttock area with some steroids.  If I was in the NFL, I'd be suspended quicker than Ricky Williams right now.  If I was in the MLB, I'd be breaking the rules...i mean the records.  I would definitely have an asterisk by my name in the Lamb's Book of Life.  And if I was a professional wrestler, they wouldn't find out until I died or was still being put in the figure four by the Nature Boy at age 75.  Needless to say, I have a whole bunch of junk in me right now, because I didn't have anything left in me that my toilet hadn't captured over the past few days!  I'm so exhausted but getting more energy daily!  I definitely would appreciate your prayers right now.  I'm trying to do youth ministry stuff and finish up the school semester with a lack of energy. 

I've had plenty of time to think over the past few days though.  And the biggest thing God's showed me is that He loves me and so do a whole lot of people!  There are a few people I really want to thank!  Josh and Christian, thanks for putting up with a sick roommate over the past few days.  I wasn't much fun to be around.  Thanks for your patience and grace.  Palmer, thanks for your phone call.  I'm sure you thought it was short and insignificant, but it meant a lot that you would take the time to check on me.  Erin, thanks for holding down the fort at the office for me.  Erica, thanks for everything you've done...cleaning the kitchen, getting me cold rags to put on my feverish head, spending your money and bringing me food and gatorade, and just being here for me while you didn't feel good either!  Mrs. Lev, thanks for being my bullpen mom.  I have the most wonderful mom ever without a doubt, but it's hard for her to take care of me when I'm eleven hours away.  I know she would have jumped in the car immediately if I would have really needed her.  Thankfully, God's given me so many people in Baton Rouge that really do love and care about me, like Mrs. Lev.  Seriously, thank you for the food, the advice, the ability to be blunt and honest about my problems with you, picking up my medicine, and for the great conversation we had tonight when you brought me my first real meal in a few days.  You're great, and I really appreciate you!  Finally, if you're reading this and thinking "Michael, I'm sorry I didn't help you out.  I didn't even know you were sick."  Quit apologizing!  You didn't know.  I didn't tell many people.  I know you love me, and you would have helped if you would have known.

In conclusion, the past few days have literally been physically exhausting.  I'm excited about eating more than jello, crackers, and gatorade in the upcoming days.  I'm excited about getting to connect with all sorts of amazing people that I haven't had a chance to connect with for a LONG time.  This time has caused me to appreciate a lot.  One of the things I appreciate now more than ever is Kerri Strug's gymnastic performance at the 1996 Olympics.  Anyone that can finish all those gymnastic events with a broken ankle deserves a gold medal.  If I would have had a broken ankle this week, I really think I would have died from all the gymnastics I went through!

God is love,
Rev Run (Sorry! I've had a lot of time to sit on the couch and watch TV over the past few days, hahaha!)

When I was younger, primary or middle school-age, someone gave me one of those giant Blow-Pops.  It was one of those you dreamed of having every time you went through the grocery store check-out line with your mom but never were allowed to have.  They were huge!  They could barely fit into a small child's mouth (probably the reason mom wouldn't let me have one).  And as a child, we all dreamed of biting into that massive sucker to find the massive amount of bubble gum inside of it.   So the day arrived:  I honestly don't remember how I acquired the mammoth cavity creator.  All I know is that I finally had that thing I had always dreamed of.  I remember taking the Blow-Pop home almost fiending to unwrap it and choke myself with it's cherry goodness.  Something really strange happened when I got home though:  I realized that if I ate the Blow-Pop at that moment, it would be gone the next moment.  I was torn!  I wanted the Blow-Pop so bad, but I decided that i had to wait for the perfect time to eat it.  What would the special occasion be?  I had no idea at that point.  I simply knew that moment was not right, so I opened my junk drawer at my desk (Everyone has one.  Don't deny it), threw in the thing I had always dreamed of, and waited for the right time.  Guess what?  I remember cleaning out that drawer YEARS later and finding that same Blow-Pop.  You read correctly - YEARS LATER.  I never found the right time to eat it.  I got the thing I wanted but didn't enjoy it. 

This ridiculous story illustrates one of the things that has been on my heart over the past few years.  In ministry, we always talk about "building relationships" in order to win the opportunity to share our faith with someone.  We pray and pray and pray that God would help us establish those relationships.  We even dream of the day that we get to lead someone to Christ.  However, when God provides those relationships, we somehow fail to experience and enjoy the very thing we've prayed about.  We spend so much time talking about building relationships that we forget one of the reasons we wanted God to provide us with that relationships anyway.  At this point, I have to put a major disclaimer:  Please know that we should never de-value people to the point of only seeing them as potential converts.  Our motivation for building those relationships is completely shallow and conditional if that is how we see people.

Nevertheless, back to my point:  There comes a moment where a relationship is built, and conversations and interactions must begin to move from surface level to spiritual level conversations.  We've got the Blow-Pop that we've dreamed of, but we've stuffed it in the junk drawer waiting for the perfect moment.  Stop waiting for the perfect moment and be ready for the God moments.  Stop talking about the latest upset in college football and find out what upsets your friends.  When you ask how someone's day is, listen and engage a conversation according to their response.  It's pretty difficult to make disciples if we're unwilling to speak of Christ.  I'm not saying that every conversation has to consist of sharing the Gospel and someone confessing their sins.  I'm simply challenging you to stop waiting for the perfect time to speak of Christ.  Let Christ flow freely from your speech and your actions.  The relationship you've dreamed of is built.  The bridge is there!  Quit sitting on the side of the road trying to figure out if the bridge can hold you.  Get in your car and trust that the person who built the bridge knew what they were doing. God has given you something much better than a giant Blow-Pop.  Are you going to take that gift and throw it in the junk drawer only to never finish what God started?

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:14-21)

 Many of you know that this has been my prayer for the youth ministry the entire semester.  As I look back at the past month, I’m blown away at how faithful God has been to answer this prayer and so many more that have been lifted up by each of you.  God has blessed us tremendously!  Nevertheless, we must always remember why God chooses to bless us:  God has a desire to bless us, so His glory, passion, and Word will be known among the nations.  The central focus of the youth ministry is God’s glory.  Every decision that is made, every word that is taught, and every relationship that is established is done with the glory of God in mind.  Our motivation for ministry comes from a pursuit of God’s glory.  The ways our programs are run reflect God’s glory.  And the results of these programs celebrate God’s glory. 

The advancement of the kingdom of God and His glory is taking place in the youth ministry right now.  As a result, the enemy is working harder than ever to destroy what God is doing.  Satan’s first scheme is to destroy the unity among the youth leadership.  He wants us to question each other, fight each other, gossip, be frustrated, and be angry.  When we begin doing these things, Satan has successfully taken our minds off of God’s glory and replaced that glory with an unhealthy desire to glorify ourselves.  A battle is raging in the youth ministry right now, but it’s not the battle many of you think it is.  Paul writes, “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” (Ephesians 6:12).  The battle is not among us.  It’s a war that goes well beyond anything we can see.  Satan wants nothing more than to steal the glory of God.

So how do we fight this battle as youth leaders?  Thankfully, Paul not only tells us about the enemy but gives us the battle plan too: 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with her readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (Eph. 6:13-18).

             For some of you, this may be your first experience with spiritual warfare.  It’s real.  Satan is real.  God is real, and more importantly, God has already won the battle!  I’ll leave you with a thought from David Crowder.  In the song “We Win,” Crowder encourages believers and hits Satan in the mouth with the following words: 

18 We Win!

Because we’ve already won
And You don’t have a chance
Yeah we’ve already won
No you don’t have a chance
It’s already done
And you don’t have a chance
Because we’ve already won!
We have already won!

             Youth leaders, Satan has already lost!  God has already won!  Strap on your armor,  remain unified as a team and fight for the glory of our King!

    We've all heard the statement in the church world and Christian circles that says, "It's not about me."  I've read it a lot.  I've heard it said a lot.  And I've said it a lot.  However, it's often a hard thing to live out in my walk with Christ and in my ministry.  I believe that this life is all about God's glory.  We are blessed with love, life, and grace that can only come from God, and these blessings happen in order for us to make His Name known to the nations.  Psalm 67 demonstrates this truth so beautifully.   Throughout all of scripture we see that God has a desire to bless us.  Now, that thought in and of itself is completely selfish if we were to leave it alone; however, if we were to add something to it, it would communicate a truth seen throughout all of the Bible:  God has a desire to bless us, so His glory, passion, and Word will be known among the nations.  I can't sit here, type this, and take credit for that statement.  It's in the Word of God; furthermore, it was pointed out to me by Dr. David Platt, one of my favorite seminary professors that I only had two class periods with due to Hurricane Katrina.  Two lectures changed my thinking and the way I view life.  One of the most profound yet simple statements Dr. Platt made the first day of class was "We (humans) are NOT the object of Christianity.  God is ("I AM")! 
    Being in a leadership position, especially in ministry, can cause us to make ourselves the object of Christianity.  We have the potential to get angry when people question our motives.  We have the potential to get frustrated when things don't go our way.  We have the potential to beat ourselves up when criticism arrives.  We have the potential to be completely insecure about our leadership capabilities.  We have the potential to experience all these negative emotions if and only if the object of our faith becomes ourselves.  Frustrations, anger, and insecurities come from a life with self as the object of faith:  "I'M frustrated because these people won't follow MY lead.  Nobody can follow MY lead.  I'M not good at what I do."  These statements are so selfish, and they do not reflect a life devoted to God's glory or a real understanding of a believer's identity in Christ.  My challenge to myself and to all of us as ministers of the gospel is to make the "I Am" the object of our faith and ministries rather than ourselves.  Is your life centered around yourself?  Is your ministry centered around yourself?  Do you take criticism as a direct reflection of you?  Do you get easily frustrated when people question you?  Do you realize how God truly views you?  Are you doing your job for God's glory or your glory?  Honestly, there are so many days that I want to be the object of Christianity, but I must constantly remind myself that it's all I AM.