FSM Wednesday Rundown 2/3/10

I’m pretty excited about a series that we are going to be starting next week, 2.10.10, on the 10 commandments.  The series will be titled, “The 10 commandments : OT vs NT.”  The study is going to help us understand how Jesus incorporated these commandments into his teachings, and into the law of Christ.  As I was preparing for the start of this study, I came across Exodus 19:18-19. 

“Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and it’s smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.  When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered Him with thunder.  Ex. 19:18-19

Upon reading this, my mind was filled with so much visual imagery surrounding this verse.  What did it look like to Moses and the Hebrew people as they stood at the foot of the mountain and watched God come down?…the Holiest of holies touching down on our soil.  I picture something like the scene of the alien arrival in the movie “Independence Day;” a burst of flames and smoke as God entered our atmosphere and His presence sat down upon the top of Mount Sinai.  The sight was so overwhelmingly powerful, the people stood at a distance and refused to draw near. (20:18, 21)  They even requested that only Moses speak to them for fear of dying if they heard God’s voice. (20:19) 

We, the NT believers, have full access to the throne room of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  He died, bearing our sins, and created a way for man to commune with God – the veil tore from top to bottom – an invitation for us to come and abide in Him.  In Exodus, Moses received this invitation from God.  The mountain quaked as it’s peak erupted in fire and smoke, yet Moses gathered his courage and entered the thick cloud where God was. (20:21)  Is this not a picture of our churches today?  Many gather near the presence of God, yet few actually enter in.  We feel the drawing into His presence, yet we also feel the fear of allowing God to consume us – to invade us.   But it is those who enter in that are changed forever – that will see the greatness of God in this life.  We closed out our night together with an invitation to enter in – to conquer our fear and step into the cloud where God is.  We should be careful not to approach the throne room of God casually – the presence of God is truly powerful, explosive, and invading, yet He invites us with love and grace to enter in and abide in Him.  And we will be changed… 

FSM Wednesday Rundown 1.27.10

A staple verse for student ministry (and one of my personal life-verses) is 1 Tim. 4:12.  “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct (life), love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”  Our students took this verse and dissected the five areas in which we are to be setting the example.  The beautiful thing was…I didn’t teach it.  The student leaders took these areas and taught their peers what it meant to set the example in speech, life, love, faith and purity.  I can stand up in front of teenagers and share all day and have minimal impact compared to when the group sees one of their own, a teenager, leading the group. 

Jordan Wilson stood in front of the group and shared about what it meant to set the example in the area of speech.  To encourage instead of tear down.  To speak wisdom, instead of foul language.  Parker Love shared with the group about setting the example in life – to use every area of your life and conduct to bring God glory.  Meghan Proctor shared examples from her own life about setting the example in love.  She used examples from 1 Cor. 13 and talked about we should show the world how to truly love one another.  Ryan Spencer talked with the group about purity in relationships, motives and life and being an example for those younger to look up to and follow.  And then our leadership shared testimony about setting the example in faith.  It was amazing to see the Word come alive and speak for itself.  As ministers, many times we feel that we have to manipulate the Word, or make it flashy or entertaining.  But the Word is able to cut straight to the heart all by itself.  Our students were more nervous than entertaining, but the Word was powerful through their teaching and testimony.  God used them, despite their inexperience and young age.  He used them because they were willing. 

I’m incredibly proud of students, who are leading at a level beyond their years.  They are passionate about God and about their group.  They have a desire to grow and to learn – and I believe that’s all God needs to take them places where He can glorify Himself through them.  It was a great night in which God moved through the student leaders as they led their own age group.  At the end of the night, the leaders saw God use them in a great way, our entire group was given a strong word and an example to follow, and one teenager chose to give their heart to God and make Him their Lord. 

In my opinion, it doesn’t get any better than that.

DO something…

There will come a time in each person’s life when they will be confronted with a situation, in which, talking will not solve the problem.  They will have to do something.  Indeed, there is a time for talking – but then there are times for action.  In the movie, “John Q,” starring Denzel Washington, there is a point when talk will no longer produce results.  John and his wife have been standing over the hospital bed where their son is lying.  Their son’s heart is not keeping up with the growth of his body and he is in immediate need for a transplant.  The problem is that John’s job does not provide them with insurance.  They will, in no way, be able to pay for the cost of the transplant and the hospital has just communicated that they will not help them financially.  No money, no insurance…no surgery.  They pleaded with the hospital, pleaded with people they knew…and yet fell far short of the necessary funds for the transplant.  What now?  This is the point where John realizes that talk will not be enough – it will accomplish nothing.  He will, in the angered and urgent words of his wife, have to “DO something.”

We are a people that love to talk about the problems we see…we talk about problems with church and politics, the rich and the poor, schools and workplaces, yet very rarily do we allow our “talk” to convert into a more productive “action.”  Spend some time on Facebook and I bet at least one of your friends has this post as their status,

“Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment – yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 40 TV stations. 99% of people won’t have the guts to copy and repost……” 

Sure they have the guts to repost it…it requires no action!  It’s just more unproductive talk.  Does the fact that someone posts this as a status update help feed the hungry child in America?  Does it help provide homeless with shelter?  No, it’s just more noise added to an already over-crowded conversation.  Where are the people that are actually going to DO something to help the hungry child and the homeless man or woman?  Is it the responsibility of 40 TV stations to bring relief to the suffering?  (It won’t be the government…)

In James 1:22, it says, “But prove yourselves DOERS of the word…”  Don’t just read what the Word says – DO it!  Live it…let it become who you are.  There has been such an inbalance of talking over DOing among Christians that the world has no idea what Christianity is all about anymore.  The world needs to see that Christians are not only posting about the wrongs they see in their status updates, they’re doing something about the injustices in the world today.  Sure, it’s going to take sacrifice, but from what I understand the Word to say…it’s not about us.  Christ came to serve and to seek and save the lost.  Good thing He went further than just talking about our sin…He endured the cross, because our spiritual freedom required Him to DO something.   Having the knowledge of what He did inspires me everyday to DO something to help others, in Jesus name. 

I didn’t organize a collection site for supplies to go to Haiti because I had nothing else to do.  I definitely didn’t do it for me.   I did it because talking wouldn’t help the situation.  I needed to DO something in order to make a difference in the life of those who were hurting.  What are you doing to help the hungry child?  What are you doing to serve the homeless man – to help him regain his life or overcome his addictions?  Are you talking about it?  Do you NEED a church or organizational function to serve your community?  It’s time that we, the people, pull our hands out of our pockets and help others.  I don’t think it matters whether we help someone in Haiti or in Arizona…as long as we’re DOing something.  Or we can keep talking about it…

(If you’re looking for an avenue to give, they’re all around.  For Haiti, give to the Red Cross by texting 90999.  $10.00 will immediately be sent to the Red Cross Haiti Relief, and it will be added to your cell phone bill.  You can also donate supplies, such as snacks, blankets, first aid to Crossover Community Church or other organizations that are DOing something to make a difference.  It’s not hard to find a place to give, foreign or domestic, if you’re truly looking to do something to help.)

FSM Wednesday Rundown 1.20.10

1 Corinthians 10:23 is one of those verses that just won’t leave me alone – it is constantly poking me and prodding me to be mindful of things that I do….because someone is always watching.  This past Wednesday, our students took a look at 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 and piggybacked what Ryan Spencer, one of our seniors, taught last week.  Ryan taught the students that we are all leaders – we are all lights.  We can shine for the glory of God or we’ll shine to glorify something else.  We can be a leader in our spiritual walk or we’ll lead others to whatever else has consumed our lives.  I agree with Ryan;  we ARE all leaders and we’re constantly leading those who are weaker than us.  They will imitate our actions and disciplines.  Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 8 when he says, “But take care that this liberty (not being under law) of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” (v9)  We, as maturing believers, must be mindful that those who are younger in the faith are watching us – they’re looking to us to find direction, understanding, permission – even answers.  In verse 10, Paul says, “For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?”  The issue was that the mature believers knew that there were no such things as idols – there was no God except God alone.  So, some of the mature believers were not bothered to eat meat in the idol’s temple, for they knew that there was nothing holy about that idol, therefore the sacrifice was meaningless.  A younger believer though, who did not have the understanding that the idol was fabricated, would see the mature believer consume the sacrifice and they would walk away imitating the act without the understanding, therefore committing a sinful act.  Paul concludes this issue by saying, “if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.” (v13)  Paul understands that his actions, with or without understanding, will be imitated.  He is a leader always, so therefore, he will make changes and sacrifices so that he will not cause someone weaker than him to stumble.  All things may be permissable for him, but not all are beneficial…they may be permissable for us, but they may not edify the Body.  There are things that I enjoy, but I have chosen to give up…not because they tempt ME, but may possibly tempt someone weaker than me.  I am responsible, as a leader, for those who imitate my actions.  In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of  God.”  If I use the glorification of God as the gauge for my actions, then I can live with giving up some of the things I enjoy - so that all men might see Christ in me.  Besides, I’m not here on this earth for me anyways.  We ARE all leaders and we are all being imitated…even now.  Your light is shining….what are you illuminating?

Not Goodbye…See you soon

Last night, I was privledged to watch a godly woman pass from the pains of this world into the arms of her Creator.  My grandmother, who has fought and suffered through these latter years, finally stopped fighting and allowed herself to experience perfect peace in Christ.  I couldn’t help looking over her last night, wondering what she was seeing and experiencing…what it feels like to actually see the things – the Person – we’ve only seen through faith in this life.  She was an incredible person and has left a great legacy behind that I will be able to share with my daughter and child to come. 

This loss has also left, however, a broken heart for a man who loved his wife for 67 years.  I watched my Granddad try to remain strong for his family, yet feel the overwhelming seperation from a woman whom he has loved for the majority of his years alive.  After the tears, the goodbyes, and the final hugs, my granddad begin to share with my brother and I wisdom about marriage, love, and priorities.  When someone who knows the trials, the joys, victories and losses of a 67 year marriage, you should listen when they speak of what’s important.  I want to share with you some of the things that he shared with us so that their marriage legacy can go beyond the Lawson family name, but maybe bless your marriage, or marriage to come, as well.

He began speaking of how their marriage started.  He was a Navy solider, leaving to go overseas to fight in WWII, she was at home taking care of their first child, who was less than a year old.  He spoke of how it pained him to step on the train and leave his family behind.  They never had a plan.  Each step felt like a step in the dark, but he said they never really had to know what the next step would bring.  He said they only knew two things:  “…our love for each other, and our love for God.”  Everything else just seemed to fit.  My grandparents never had a lot of anything.  They weren’t wealthy.  They didn’t own a big house, live in the best neighborhood, or own several cars, but they had love.  Love for God and the love they had for each other kept their marriage alive – but not JUST alive – fresh for 67 years.  A couple of weeks ago, when my grandmother was still speaking and responding, my granddad bent over and told her, “I love you.”  She responded playfully with, “I love you more.”  That’s what I’m talking about.  Give me some of that in my marriage, because I want to look at my wife after 67 years and say, “I love you more.”

As I experience the funeral proceedings this week, I’m glad to know that I will not have to question my grandmother’s eternity.  I’m glad to know that because of the investments she made into her own spiritual journey, and made into my father’s spiritual journey, I have been taught and chose Christ for myself, therefore I don’t have to question my eternity.  I am secure.  I’m also proud to be connected to a marriage that endured and enjoyed 67  years of love.  My greatest hope would be that my marriage would learn from the wisdom and example my grandparents set.  That I would love my wife, and love God.  I’m thankful for my grandmother, for the memories, and for the legacy.  This is not a goodbye…I’ll see you soon.

what’s most important

I have finally found a little bit of quiet from this day as I sit outside on the deck.  There is a strange serenity to our backyard at night; a huge transition from the activities that happen during the day.  It seemed fitting, earlier, to end this day alone and enjoy some “me” time outdoors.  Little did I know that my “me” time would soon turn into “us” time as my wife and daughter would join me on the deck to sit around the fire burning in the chimneria.  The quiet place that I was pursuing quickly turned into conversation and squeals as my daughter watched the fire pop sparks into the night sky.  My need for “me” time faded as I watched the fire-light dance against my wife’s face.  I know that I am truly blessed.  It seems sometimes that schedules and situations can drown life away as we go through the routines of everyday life, but for me, God has given me a refuge in my family.  Just being around my daughter, feeling her tiny hugs, hearing her say “I love you daddy,” brings life, schedules, situations, all into perspective.  There’s nothing more important than the time we make available for God and family.  I am a better man today because of God’s grace and the love I experience everyday from my wife and daugther.   Father, thank you for the gift of family and for the life-giving love they give me everyday.  I am blessed beyond measure!

Rafting the Water of White

This past weekend, I was able to take a group of High School students white-water rafting on the Nolichucky River in TN.  I enjoy rafting, but probably not for the same reasons as everyone else.  I don’t raft for the thrill.  It’s been a while since the upcoming rapid caused my heart to pound with adrenaline.  I guess maybe the smaller rivers of the East Coast have mellowed-out for me.  After you’ve done the Gauley River in WV, everything else just feels small and indifferent.  For me, I love the color in the mountainside.  I love the sheer cliffs of the gourges and the sights of wildlife in their element – seemingly unaware that people are floating by.  So, this past weekend, I did more watching than I did paddling.  Sure, I enjoyed experiencing the class IV rapids, but I found much more enjoyment from watching what was happening around me. 

This year, I was able to raft with the guys who had little-to-no experience in navigating the river.  For them, the class IV rapids held that sense of awe and fear that, for me, has long passed.  I watched their facial expressions as we neared the front edge of the rapids.  You could see the uncertainty and “can-we-go-back-now” gleam from their eyes, yet there was a drive deep within them pushing them forward, causing them to pound the water with their paddles with fervency.  As the boat cleared the bottom of the rapids, the valley erupted with victory hoots and excited screams.  They were hooked and are now looking for class V’s. 

It’s sad to say, but many of us have found that our spiritual journey’s hold no excitement for us anymore.  We can only cling to memories of when our adrenaline would pump as we experienced life in Christ.  The discovery of Scripture and community with other Believers – even the drive in our prayer life that caused us to stay on our knees – has faded as we have moved on to the “bigger and busier” things of life.   There’s danger, though,  in losing respect for something so powerful.  Even the smaller, less advanced rivers require respect from those who raft them.  Likewise, when we lose respect for the upkeep and disciplines of our spiritual life, we replace that which was designed to give us life for things that will only leave us wanting.   David wrote of this in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.”  Some of us need to run back to He who first put the excitement, fear, joy, etc. in our daily walk and find real life in His salvation.  Our conversion was not meant to be a one-time moment and then the joy fades, but rather a live-giving journey in which Christ reveal Himself to us daily.  Jesus’ prayer for us is that we would know the Father as He knows the Father. (John 17:3)  So, are you looking at life’s rapids through the same eyes you did when you first believed or have you left the path to pursue something else?  You know, I’ve rafted these waters before, but by watching those who were experiencing it for the first time, I found some passion reborn.  Lord, restore unto me the joy of Your salvation.

the faith found in persistence

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gives us the parable of the Persistent Widow.  This passage is not new for me, nor have I discovered anything necessarily “fresh” about it, other than a new blatant reality that we need to be praying persistently and insistently before Almighty God.

The reality hit me close to two weeks ago when friends of mine found out that their 5 year old daughter has an aggressive brain tumor.  The effect that the news has had on people around the world, myself included, can only be explained as a work of the Holy Spirit.  I would never claim to be a prayer warrior, because honestly, prayer is an area that has always required extra effort for me.  But the discovery of her brain tumor has caused me to find myself on my knees more frequently and more passionately than ever before.  For this, I am thankful and saddened at the same time.  I am thankful that I am entering into uncharted areas of my relationship with God.   I am experiencing a new level of faith and intimacy that I had only hoped for.  Yet, I am saddened that it has taken an injustice in the life of a 5 year old to move me forward. 

Here are the things that I have found in my recent study of the first 8 verses of Luke 18.  First, the text in my Bible is red, which means that Jesus is speaking this parable, therefore, we need to listen.  He is trying to convey something that we need to understand so that we can pray more effectively. Second, this widow is persistent, not only in her request, but in her desire.  So many times, I see people come to God with big requests on their heart, yet when the results are not instantaneous, they give up.  Could it be possible that God was robbed of an opportunity to bring Himself glory because our desire, and ultimately our faith, was short lived?  Our persistence in our desire and in our prayers is the evidence that hope is alive – our faith is alive.  Third, the widow was insistent.  She knew that there was an injustice in her life and she didn’t approach the judge with a question, but rather a statement:  “Give me justice against my advesary.”   It’s a hard thought to think of coming to God with a statement rather than a question, but yet Jesus asked in verse 8, “when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”  It can be said, then, that faith is speaking to God what He has already promised, which is:  “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He delay to help them?  I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice.” (Luke 18:7-8)  And then lastly, there is a result of justice on the behalf of the widow.  Her persistence has paid off and she will leave the courtroom that day with her desire fulfilled. 

So, we can take from this that our faith is evident in our persistence to pray, believe, insist, desire, hope, etc.  And without faith, it is impossible to please God – Heb.11:6.  God desires for us to continue and grow in our faith, even more so than we desire for ourselves.  So, my urge to you is this – Don’t give up!  God’s justice for yourself or someone else may right around the corner, so keep believing, keep hoping, keep insisting the promises of God!  “I tell you, He will swiftly grant them justice” – Luke 18:8.

For more info on the McRae and Kate’s progress, check out www.prayforkate.com.

where have I been?

I realize that I have not blogged in several months and I give my apologies to all of my dedicated readers.  (which should total around the 0 mark)  I have been pretty cautious about putting my thoughts out there, as of late, because God has been very revealing to me, about me, over the past few months.  I am thankful for His rebuke – because I want to be better tomorrow than I am today – but man, those revelations can be rough. 

I am excited to be back, though, because God is doing a new thing – in my heart…in my family…at Reavis/Crossover.  I look forward to sharing with you my passion for the days ahead.  It’s new ground for me and I’m ready to grow.  I am certain of this, God is growing me today for greatness.  I don’t mean that in arrogance, but I am picking back up the dream that God gave me years ago and I am pursuing what He desires to do in me and through me.  Whether it is through risk or seasons of peace, I am confident that God is with me.

pretty excited…

I’m not going to lie…I love Christmas.  I love the lights, the trees, the cold, the joy, the giving, the receiving (said I wasn’t going to lie)…it’s just a fun time of year – especially with a child. 

I look forward to our new traditions that Heather and I started almost 6 years ago.  The prayer and worship in the morning before we start opening gifts is special.  I’m excited about the music in the background and the anticipation of the whole day.  It’s great.

I am so excited to watch my daughter open her presents this year.  She’s almost 2 years old and will have better grasp this year than last on what’s happening.  She’s already excited about seeing her “ernie bert” wrapping paper under the tree.  She is going to have a blast being able to rip the paper off her presents and seeing her gifts.  It was fun shopping for her this year.  I’m also excited about watching Heather open her gifts.  2008 was a tough year for her, but she handled it like a champ.  It’s not easy being married to a minister or the ministry – much less being married to Jonathan Lawson.  I tried my best to not just give surface level gifts, but really give her something from my heart.  I could not imagine a better partner and friend for me in life.  She is my queen and I’m excited about watching her open her gifts as well.  It’s going to be fun!