Living in the Upside Down

“Living in the Upside Down” As a believer in Jesus Christ, we have all probably heard the clichés that the Christian life is like a journey, a marathon, not a sprint, etc. And you know what, I like a good road trip as much as the next guy, (especially if there are snacks and a snappy playlist) but some days, I’m just tired. The kind of tired that a nap cannot cure. The kind of tired that Bilbo Baggins describes in “The Hobbit” as “feeling thin, like butter spread over too much bread.” Haven’t we all felt this way at one time or another? Just trying to make it from one day to the next with this weariness deep down in our guts. Not sure if we are making a difference for Christ as we struggle in our marriages, parenting, work, etc.? What are we to do? After all, as believers we truly are blessed to have the presence of the living God within us, so why so downcast? Why so tired? Where has the joy of our salvation gone? This is soul tired, and it solely has a singular upside down cure. The truth of passages like 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 contain our answer. Here, we are encouraged to “boast about your weakness” and you cannot help but ROTFLAAFBYHBLN (roll on the floor laughing and accidently fart because you had beans last night) right there in your office. It is so counter to how we feel that we often cannot reconcile our feelings with the truth of Scripture. But look closer, because feelings are tricky, they change on us, but the solid rock does not. The Apostle Paul, writer of 2 Corinthians, certainly had reason to be tired, even discouraged. Think about it, the man survived a stoning, shipwreck, poisonous snakebite, and imprisonment just to name a few struggles. All for the sake of spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul begged the Lord to remove this unknown “thorn in the flesh” on more than one occasion, but the Lord simply replied, “My grace is sufficient for you” …but notice His response didn’t stop there…He goes on to say “for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What an upside down way! Our strength seen as weakness, but our weaknesses, born up by His strength will win the day?! What a strange way indeed, but a way for which we should be thankful. So today, as this follower of Christ walking “the long obedience in the same direction” (Eugene Peterson) who just wants to lay down in the road and take a nap…boast in a God whose grace is more than sufficient to accomplish or “power” all that He has for us to do. Where we are tired, let us call on Him to be our energy. Where we are lacking in compassion, let us call on His heartbeat for the lost and lonely to become our own. Where we lack the power to go another step, let us call on Him to be our strength. And finally, when we diverge from the path and lose sight of our joy, let us call on Him to bring us back, look into the eyes of our great Savior, and respond with a song of praise that declares, “You are my joy”, because His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness! You are loved!

2014 Music Favorites

1. Switchfoot - Fading West 2. Brooke Fraser - Kings & Queens 3. Needtobreathe - Rivers in the Wasteland 4. Coldplay - Ghost Stories 5. Crowder - Neon Steeple 6. Johnnyswim - Diamonds 7. Young Oceans - I must find You 8. All Sons & Daughters - Self Titled 9. Rend Collective - Art of Celebration 10. Lecrae - Anomoly Honorable Mentions: Colony House - When we were Younger Unspoken - Unspoken Jars of Clay - 20 Switchfoot - Edge of the Earth ep

The Needy Preacher

Some sermon messages come easy...(or perhaps I should say easier) because I've definitely experienced the topic and can pass along wisdom gained from it. Some are harder to deliver because I'm currently learning them as I write them to preach them. Of course though the hardest messages I must preach are the ones I don't think I need. (Go ahead and laugh, you're allowed. It is a silly thought after all, and worthy of a giggle at the least.) Martin Luther said that "we preach best what we need most" and it's in times when I have these ridiculous thoughts of having "solved" a particular issue or "dealt" with a particular problem in my life and have nothing else to learn from it that i need that quote most. I have a confession to make, and it may not shock you as it shocked me when I fully came to realize it. Ready? Here goes. Deep breath aaaaaand exhale... I need Jesus. Everyday. Always. I cannot outgrow the gospel... and I will never "arrive", this side of heaven. That's why the Bible talks about the Christian life as a long distance run where we must "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." Keep my eyes on Jesus...keep running...stay in my lane, don't look around at others or get caught in the comparison game...keep running my race that He has set before me. As I grow and mature as a Christ follower I've come to realize one thing more and more...I am a needy person. And what I truly need is Jesus, and Him alone. So I seek to shake of the sin that so easily entangles me and keep running with my eyes on the one who's never lost a staring match. I am honored that the Lord has given me a platform to speak into teenagers lives, and preaching is one avenue that I am able to do that. May it be said of me after my final breath that I was both faithful to my calling, and lived a life fully dependent on my God. The Needy Preacher, Josh Mixtape Monday #2 - "Songs of Autumn"

Enjoy the Silence

“Word” by Madeleine L'Engle I, who live by words, am wordless when I try my words in prayer. All language turns To silence. Prayer will take my words and then Reveal their emptiness. The stilled voice learns To hold its peace, to listen with the heart To silence that is joy, is adoration. The self is shattered, all words torn apart In this strange patterned time of contemplation That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me, And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended. I leave, returned to language, for I see Through words, even when all words are ended. I, who live by words, am wordless when I turn me to the Word to pray. Amen.

BELONG

Just wanted to get some things worthy of celebration out there, and give you the opportunity to share in my joy! I've been keeping a journal which I've deemed my "Collide Celebration Journal" (very original I know, you can slow clap for me if you wish) and wanted to give you an update on what's been happening in our Collide Youth Ministry this summer.

Our Collide Leadership team started the summer with a singular focus, and the singular theme of "Belong". We truly believed that if we could create an atmosphere where teens felt like they had a place; had a voice, then we would see continued spiritual breakthrough and growth. We set out to create this culture by giving each of our adult leaders a chance to share their stories during our Wednesday night Collide services. Each adult has shared from their heart times when they felt they belonged, times when they felt left out, times when they felt they'd helped a peer belong. What a great God we serve who weaves our pain, joys and life experiences into a beautiful tapestry for His name and His glory! These stories have begun a bond between adults and students that in this age would take months if not years to accomplish.

We also kicked off our Collide Student Leadership team which is at the time of this writing at 20 students and growing!

We've given the students a charge to focus on being inclusive, rather than exclusive with newcomers. Often times in youth ministry we see a group which is content to stick with who and what they know with very little chance for new students to break into the "circle of friends." We pushed them to seek out visiting students with the mindset that this is no "youth group" but a "youth ministry", and a youth ministry that they play a vital role in! A youth group is a gathering of people but a youth ministry is not just a gathering, but a gathering in motion, on the move, in action for Christ! Not only should our established students feel they belong here but so should anyone who visits or just stops by to check it out.

Our continued emphasis on family, and shared experience with events like our annual MEGA Relay, Collide Family Dinners on 5th Wednesdays, and Care Groups has also been a point of emphasis to the tune of the largest attendance we've ever had at a Collide meeting for MEGA Relay. We've also had over 60% of our students plug into a Care Group since February this year!

We have begun prepping our leadership students to share their testimonies during Collide services, stretch beyond what they'd be comfortable doing in going on a mission trip to Haiti in July, (of which we had 10 respond to the call) and attend an attempt to do Youth Camp in a way we've never done before at "Element Camp" in August. Each week it is our goal to give away more and more of the weekly ministry to the students. We believe success isn't based on numbers of students around, but numbers of students bought into the vision that they are a crucial part of any ministry that takes place. As a peer they will have opportunities in their schools, sports teams, band, drama team, etc. that we adults never will and we must equip them for the Lord's call!

Well, the results are in, and with a great kick off to the summer with MEGA Relay and our Student Haiti Mission trip, we've seen a momentum like never before begin stirring. The Lord is up to something, and it's not just an emotional response soon to fade, but a fire that He has continued to stoke in each of our hearts with each new week. Students are hungry for God's word, going out of their way to participate in prayer services at the church and other churches, proclaiming the name of Jesus at the mall, on Facebook, and at the beach! This is just the beginning!

At our "Element Youth Camp" last week we had students take a stand and respond to the call to leave comfortable Christianity behind, knowing that is not the Lord's design for our lives. They have begun to rise to the challenge to live a radical, sold out for Jesus faith that isn't content with our plans, and our goals with Jesus tacked on at the end. It's all in for Jesus! With that being said, we had a student who'd been attending Wednesday night Collide for a few months give her life over to Jesus for the first time at camp! Not only that, but it was my honor to baptize her the last night of camp along with 6 others who chose to rededicate their lives to Christ and His call. We also prayed over at least 10 of our students who felt the calling of the Lord on their life to pursue full time vocational ministry! Can you feel the power of the Holy Spirit all over these words as you read them?!

God is stirring, students and adults alike are responding. We are slowly waking from our slumber and allowing the fire our the gospel of Jesus Christ to fuel our every waking moment. Our schools will NOT look the same, our workplaces will NOT look the same, our sports teams will NOT look the same...God is ready to so something HUGE, something only He could orchestrate, and we are placing ourselves under the waterfall of His mighty grace to receive from Him the very love that the world needs us to pour out on them.

We are choosing to join the Lord Jesus in what He is up to...will you join us? Because in Christ you Belong here!

The Mountain with You

Sometimes you meet us in the valley, in the heat of the battle when we need you most, but today...

Today, you are calling me up the mountain to be with you. I can see you at the halfway point of the mountain stretching out your hands; inviting me to come with you. You are smiling, and I can see the holes in the hands that you are extending to me; reminding me of the cross; reminding me of my atonement, reminding me of the price you paid. Your eyes are fierce and wild, yet tender and compassionate. I'm undone, as I feel you looking into the deepest parts of my soul and I'm ashamed of what you will find there.

But you reassure me without speaking a word. You've known all along what's inside me haven't you? And yet you still invite me into your presence, you are inviting me up the mountain where the air is clear and fresh; where I can rest. Who am I that you should take an interest in me?

You want to stand in the wind with me and look out upon the beauty that you've created. You want to sit and talk with me about what's on your heart, you want me to share my heart with you...even the ugly parts. You want to begin to shine your light into the corners of my soul, drawing me ever closer to you. Oh to be like you more and more, forevermore!

I take my first step toward you on the mountain, its difficult as I hear the to do list screaming my name, demanding that the work get done. My head begins to turn to my tasks and off your face, but your eyes...your eyes! They command my attention and I take another step...my legs start to yearn for a full out run and I pick up my pace, each step toward you easier than the one before. Finally I'm at a full sprint and I hit the foot of the mountain and charge my way upward.

I want to take my eyes off of you for fear of tripping on the loose rocks or a misplaced step, but I dare not. I stumble many times and my pace slows almost to the point of stopping, but I'm too close to you to give up now. One last step and I've grabbed your hand. Your smile broadens into full faced grin and you laugh, you laughed so hard! I take delight in your joy and though I'm exhausted you don't even wait for me to catch my breath...you start running up the remainder of the mountain.

Somehow, I find an extra gear I didn't know I had, a reserve of energy I didn't think possible and we are running hand in hand at what I would say a dangerous speed. I'm not scared though, I'm not afraid of falling, I'm not afraid because...I'm with you.

We break through the clouds and reach the top! It's quiet save for the strength of the wind. I look to you and see you standing with your arms spread wide and eyes closed, so I lift my arms and close my eyes. I feel much like a child imitating his father, but I don't feel foolish or ashamed.  For a minute I feel out of balance like the wind might throw me to the ground, but I regain my senses and enjoy the whispers of the wind as it hits my exposed skin.  How full of stories and mighty power it is!

At last my legs cannot hold me any longer and I sit, you remain standing with your face to the wind a few moments longer and I can see the look of contentment on your face. I long for that same peace in my soul. Sensing this, You sit, and we rest in silence. I don't even need to hear you talk, and I don't feel pressure to say anything, I simply want to be with you. It's probably only minutes, but it feels like hours as I feel my soul is filled with a peace that comes from knowing who you are and who you belong to. Your presence consumes me, and I am content.

I feel safe to share my heart with you, even the worst parts...the parts I wouldn't share with anyone. You don't speak a word of judgement or condemnation you simply say, "I love you, my grace is sufficient for you." Over and over you say that with each new encounter of wickedness in my heart, "my grace is sufficient for you", and I trust you to replace my brokenness with your life.

I can take no more, as it feels like my heart is so full it could tear from my chest; no longer to be bound by the constraints of my body or of gravity. You say with great compassion, "This is life, freedom and liberty, go share it now." I take one last deep breathe, drawing in the power of the wind as I realize it's time for me to go and I stand...my legs are rested, my mind is clear, my heart is full, I feel whole again. I look one last time into your face and you say, "I've always loved you and I always will." With that I smile a smile that turns into a great big belly laugh and I start my journey down the mountain. Over my shoulder I speak simply, "I love you...thank you".

The journey down is slower and my mind pictures the last image I have of you, your smile... until at last, I'm at the foot of the mountain. I look back up and shout, "until we meet again"!

Songs listened to while blogging:
1. Hosanna - Hillsong United
2. Lay me down - Chris Tomlin
3. Dance with me - Jesus Culture

Safe in His Arms and other Asides

Traveling...with kids...on a plane...to Texas...Fun right? I say that somewhat sarcastically because yes, it can be fun to vacation with kids (at least I've been told that by others and very much look forward to it some day), it can also be highly frustrating. This season of our married life is difficult because our three kids are all under the age of six. When we go anywhere together it better be well worth the trip and we are definitely going to get our monies worth. 3 car seats, a pack-and-play (aka we pack it so you can sleep in it), blankets, snacks, etc. This too shall pass...("either it will pass or I will pass" - Mark Lowry)

We just got back from a family vacation to Texas and rather than drive which I would liken to the "machine" in Princess Bride (I mean I'm very brave, but no one can withstand the machine) we gathered our traveling circus and boarded a plane for a two and a half hour flight.

Now, I don't know about you but I don't want to afford two and a half hours of snacks because that is literally what it would take to keep them quiet for that long (and it would "eat", pun intended, into our vacation budget of $17 dollars. Okay, we had a bigger budget than that, I may have been exaggerating a lot)...So stuffing their faces full of the Sunday School staple goldfish (which is probably what manna was in the Old Testament right?) and Tang (just kidding, there was no Tang, I'm cheap but not that cruel, besides they would have had orange tang mustaches) we soldiered on.

The plane trip to Texas was fine, kids did well...much better than I was expecting. Brenda handled them like the champ that she is and I really didn't do much, she really is an awesome mom for those who didn't know that already...

The trip home is where I'd like to settle, because it's where I learned something about God and myself through one of my kids.

My daughter Kimmel (named after our dear friends Andrew & Susan Kimmel from Texas) is a beautiful little girl with a goofy smile and a winning personality...she's in the copy stage where she copies everything anyone says or any noise that is made. (translated for those without kids...it makes car rides loud and repetitive) She's currently 18 months old and toddling around, and it was through observing her behavior on the plan that I got a clearer picture of how God interacts with us.

Ever notice with kids that the more tired they are the faster they seem to move, the more wound up they seem to get? I mean, for goodness sake, try and catch a toddler that is over tired, it's like trying to capture the combination of NFL football hall of fame running back Barry Sanders, a slippery fish, and a hummingbird. (sorry you got mixed up in this Barry, and thanks a lot for making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers your personal highlight reel throughout your career)

Well this phenomenon happened to Kimmel on the way home. After waking up and corralling our many bags, back packs, and car seats through the airport we happened to board the plan right at normal nap time. Well, she was having to be held for take off and wasn't having it, she was a floppy-fish-whiny-wind-up-monkey-toddler that had no interest in laying down and napping. But I just tightened my hold on her as she thrashed and flopped knowing from times that if she would just lay her head down she'd be out in seconds.

Sure enough, her struggled to keep moving grew weaker and weaker, and finally she lay her head on my shoulder, snuggled up with her blanket, her heartbeat calmed, and eventually it almost felt like our heartbeats were in sync...at rest, and she was asleep just as we took off for Tampa.

I got to thinking about how as a Christ follower I'm like my little toddler...consumed with busyness, with going and doing, much of it very worth while kingdom work. But sometimes I'm so tired and need to rest but I speed up..."I can't stop! There is one more phone call, email, text, facebook conversation, sermon to prep, planning, leading...people need me!"

All the while my heavenly Father steadily holds me to His chest whispering the thoughts only a creator can have for his treasured creation. I am safe in his arms...I am safe to rest. I NEED to rest. He reminds me that the work I do for him is not to earn his love, I already have that, it's not to keep his love, I can never lose that...I am His and He is mine. I love because He first loved me, I serve because He first served me. I rest because I am safe in His arms and I need to recharge, to slow down and allow him to reaffirm His love for me.

Same for you...don't forget to slow down daily and allow your heartbeat to sync to your heavenly Fathers...He loves you and you don't have to work to earn that love, He loves you simply because you are His. I know I need that reminder often.

By the way, Kimmel slept for all but 15 minutes of the flight and those 15 minutes she was the happiest, sweetest little girl you could ever ask for. I think we're all the best version of our selves when we are rested. Don't you?