In pursuit of Jesus

I just finished reading a book by Richard Foster titled, Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith.  In this book, Foster examines what he calls the six great traditions of the Christian faith: Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic, Social Justice, Evangelical, and Incarnational.

I appreciated the level of research and reflection that was obviously put into this book. It challenged me to consider some of my own biases and presuppositions. It also challenged me in my own faith. I see areas of my spirituality where I am lacking in faith and zeal.

In the first chapter of his book, Foster shares some thoughts that both convict and comfort me:

One of the best things we can do for one another, then, is to encourage regular immersion in the Gospel narratives, helping each other understand Jesus’ perceptions into life and his counsels for growth and then making constant application to our daily experience. The dimensions of this task are infinite, of course. However, for the sake of our concern here we want to consider how Jesus in his living provides us a clear paradigm for our living, especially as Jesus’ living relates to the several streams of devotion that frame the structure of this book.

I am convinced that we must dedicate a significant amount of our time to the study of the Gospels. This is where we can intimately get to know God in a way that is unlike any other portion of our Bibles. Yes, God’s story and God are the main character throughout the words of Scripture. But only in the Gospel narratives do we encounter the God-Man. It is in these four renderings of the Jesus story that, “the Word became human and made his home among us.” (John 1:14)

If we are going to be Christians, we must know Jesus. The Greek word Χριστιανός (christianos)—meaning "follower of Christ"—comes from Χριστός (christos)—meaning "anointed one"—with an ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership.

If we are truly going to be followers of Christ, people who belong to the anointed one, we must devote ourselves to knowing the One whom we follow. This must be the primary task in our lives.

For many of us, following Jesus can often seem more like a hobby than a calling. Like a pick-up game of basketball or scrapbooking, we might do the “Jesus thing” when we have a little spare time. This is not what it means to be a Christian. It means that our devotion, our allegiance, is first and foremost to God. It means that everything else we do, every word we speak, and every thought we entertain, must be in allegiance to the One who we follow. And while we may not reach that goal with perfection, it should be our goal and purpose every day.

shine!

Jason

Do Hard Things

I have been reading the book Do Hard Things by twin brothers Alex & Brett Harris. After reading this book, I feel that it should be a must-read for all teenagers. One of the amazing things about this book is that it is written for teenagers by teenagers. It is a call for a teenage rebellion against low expectations. At the start of the book, Alex and Bret invite readers to explore some radical questions. Let me share them with you here:

• Is it possible that even though teens today have more freedom than any other generation in history, we’re actually missing out on some of the best years of our lives?


• Is it possible that what our culture says about the purpose and potential of the teen years is a lie and that we are its victims?


• Is it possible that our teen years give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for huge accomplishments – as individuals and as a generation?


• And finally, what would our lives look like if we set out on a different path entirely – a path that required more effort but promised a lot more rewards?

I am impressed with the wisdom, maturity, and spiritual depth of these two young men. They are challenging their peers to consider something outside themselves and pursue a path that can change the world.

If you have not read this book yet, I would recommend getting a copy and reading it. I am strongly considering a teaching series on Wednesday nights this fall built around the material in this book.

If you want to learn more about Alex and Bret, you can visit their website: www.THEREBELution.com. There you will find their blog as well other information about their life, dreams, and passions.

One of the verses that Alex and Brett quote is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Often, Christian teenagers are more often being told what not to do than they are what to do. Alex and Brett would argue, and I agree, that Christianity needs to be as much – if not more – about what we do as it is about what we don’t do.

Are there certain behaviors and habits we need to avoid? Absolutely! But if all we do is live to avoid poor choices, we won’t discover the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10. Instead, let us consider the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:22: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”

shine!

Jason

The Lord's Army

Last Sunday, several teens and I led a class for some of the elementary-aged children. One of the songs we sang with the children was “The Lord’s Army.”

This got me to thinking. How many of us really are in “The Lord’s Army?” You might wonder what I mean, so let me explain.

When you are in the Army, you enlist and basically commit your life to the cause. You spend time training every day and focus on preparing for the battle.

There is also an option to join the Army Reserves. This group commits to one weekend a month and two weeks every year to prepare in the event they are needed.

The question I want us to consider is this: Which one of these reflects our situation in God’s Kingdom?

Are we people who are enrolled in Lord’s Reserves? Do we show up for some weekends and take part in a few weeks of serving on a mission trip or camp.

Or, are we serving in the Lord’s Army? Do we dedicate time every day to training? Are we engaged in spiritual disciplines on a daily basis? Do we seek to make the Kingdom of God our number one priority throughout every day?

When he was writing to Timothy, Paul said the following: Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

Paul’s words are as relevant to us as they were two thousand years ago. We have to decide what kind of soldiers we want to be in God’s Kingdom. We can be in the reserves, showing up once in a while in the event we might be needed sometime in the future. Or, we can be committed to the army. We can be the kind of people who look for opportunities every day to further the cause of the Kingdom of God.

As Paul finished some of his last recorded words to Timothy, he offers the following words of encouragement…

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Paul lived in wholehearted devotion to the Kingdom. It was his first priority, regardless of where he was or what he faced. His words were backed up by action. Let us be the kind of people who don’t just sing about the Lord’s Army, but ones who live it as well.

shine!

Jason

Like a morning fog

It’s hard to believe that another year has passed and another group of students is entering 7^th grade and becoming a part of our youth group. This will be the fifth year I have witnessed a new group of students entering the youth ministry and a group of seniors graduating from high school. The seventh graders I met when I moved here are about to become seniors. That is crazy!

This summer our lessons for reCharge will focus on the book of James. This is a very practical letter in which James offers a lot of good advice for living a life of faith. In James 4:14, he writes, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

What truth this verse holds. So often we get so wrapped up in the moment that we miss the big picture. I think part of the point of what James is trying to say is that we need to look at the big picture so we can more fully embrace the present.

There is nothing wrong with planning for the future or looking forward to something. However, we should never forget that today is the only thing that is for sure. In the grand scope of the world and time, our life is but a blip. But it is a blip with immense importance to God and His Kingdom.

We must learn to grasp our insignificance and significance at the same time. It can be hard to admit that in 100 years almost no one will remember us. In a culture that tells us to pursue fame and fortune above everything else, the reality is that most of us will not find either one.

Think about this… What were your great-great-grandparents names? I would imagine most of us couldn’t answer that question without asking a parent or grandparent. Now tell me what that person did for a living. That’s probably even a little harder.

So what’s the point?

I believe that the point is that in a few years, the details of today will not matter. However, the impact of the decisions you make could last for years. There are families who still suffer relational and emotional struggles because of the actions of a family member two and three generations ago. Whether it was abuse, an addiction, or some other choice, those are the things that last. Someone may not know what the decision or action was, but I am willing to bet that they are feeling its impact.

If we are going to be Kingdom-people, we need to look beyond ourselves. We need to take action based on what will match up with God’s dreams and aspirations. Rather than seeking something that satisfies us in the short-term, look for things that will impact the future. Then, even if your life is but a morning fog, it can leave behind something that lasts much longer.

shine!
Jason