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?

Josh & Brenda's Haiti Mission Trip

Haiti Mission Trip with 9 students this July 5-12. You can best help us by your prayers for us and our students for open eyes, broken hearts, and servant attitudes. If you'd like to support us financially as well please click the button below to make a quick, easy and safe donation to help send us tell Haitian children about Jesus!

Blessings!

Josh & Brenda

Our Generation (the poem of a 14yr old)

This poem inspired me. It was written by a 14yr old boy, which I find amazing...

Unless we turn things around...

Be still my soul and wait

Be still my soul...Oh Lord I wait upon you. I wait, and in the waiting I know...
I know that you are God... That you are Holy, and true, just, righteous, fair, worthy, unshakable, you cannot be tamed...your unrelentingly seeking your fame!

You are love,the truth, the way, the light, the door, the good shepherd, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...

You are constant...
Consistent...

You are Good, and you work all to THE good...YOUR GOOD. You reward the righteous, you uphold the righteous, you fight for the righteous, you are the defender of the weak...the lifter of heads, the righteousness that I claim...

Great is your name, it's awesome, you are mighty, beautiful, your creation is magnificent, a wonder to behold...

Your word is life...my life, your word is  truth...my truth, your word is peace...my peace, my ever present help in trouble and storm...

You are kind, patient...very slow to anger, compassionate...you care for me!

You have impeccable timing!
You are limitless, you cannot be exhausted, you see, you hear, you speak...

Oh Lord when you speak! The great trees of many generations quake down to their roots, the sun refuses to shine, the moon pales, the waters are still...

Your voice is mighty and kind, soft and terrifying, loving and firm, bold and meek...

When I seek you I am fulfilled...when I seek you I will find you when I seek with all of my heart...

My heart...it's yours...here it is I humbly give it...
My heart your home..the wonder of it!
Your presence is the best part of me, when I recognize You and what you're up to,
It's the best part of my day!
You are the greatest gift, you are holy & humble, your judgement's are never rushed, you always understand...

You see the end from the beginning, you exist in the now...always!
You are holy, good, kind, severe...and I need you here with me now...

More than food, better than bread, greater than sex, or power of fame...Your name is greater than any other thing...one thing I ask and earnestly seek...

To sit at your feet...

Amen

"Do this"

Minding your own business you are traveling along be-bopping to the latest hit song on the radio when all of a sudden up jump some guys who beat you up, take your money, phone, and clothes and leave you in the ditch to die. You can barely lift your head up off the ground and you are choking on a mixture of blood and dirt when you see someone well dressed approaching. Your heart leaps and you call out for help…in a whisper at first, and then louder. You see him stop, look at you, make a disgusted face, and then keep walking. Your heart sinks! Did he not see you? He was looking right at you! You call out for him over and over as loud as you can but he doesn't come back, he’s gone. 

A few hours later you wake up sweaty and sunburned, your head is pounding with a headache; the wounds are now attracting flies and gnats. The part of your lips that aren't caked with blood are dried and cracked, and your throat is a dry as the desert ground you are lying on.

But what’s this?! Another man is approaching, you call out, now as loud as you can, and barely a whisper comes out. He stops, he looks, you have no doubt this time that he sees you and you hope that he’ll reach down and help you; you’re not sure how much longer you’ll last. But, he doesn't speak a word, doesn't reach down to help you up, he keeps on walking. In sheer exhaustion and despair you close your eyes thinking to yourself, “this is it, I’m a dead man”. 

The next thing you know, you feel two gentle hands wiping away the blood and dirt from your face and your wounds. You try to open your eyes but only the left one will obey, the other is swollen shut. You try to speak but nothing comes out. The man who is cleaning your wounds encourages you to lie still and quiet, to rest. He has a kind face…but hold up a minute; you can tell he’s a Samaritan! You were raised by your parents and other adults that they were to be hated. They weren't to be trusted; they were only half Jews and didn't keep the whole law!

But still, the kindness and compassion in his eyes and voice…He finishes cleaning your wounds and begins to put a soothing medicine on them, which he quickly covers with bandages. He then slowly lifts you up from the ditch giving you a chance to steady yourself on the only leg that isn't throbbing in pain. Then he helps you get on his donkey…it’s a this point you see that the sun is going down and you wonder where he’s taking you at this time of the day. 

You awake with a start and  realize its morning, but  you're no longer on a donkey or outside, you’re in a soft warm bed! The sun is high in the sky and streaming through the window, it must be lunch time, your stomach growls to confirm it. A man comes in with a tray of food which you want to devour but you take it slow…you ask him where the man that helped you was. He says that he’s gone, but not to worry, he had given instructions and money to feed and house you until you were healthy and strong enough to be on your way again. You marvel at the tremendous kindness of a man who didn't know you, and didn't owe you that kind of care. Two men had seen you first but kept walking...what made the third man, the Samaritan stop?

Why would this man be moved enough to stop, have compassion, and act on it to help me?

For the Record

For the record...

There are few things to me

As therapeutic and fun

As thumbing through a stack

of used movies and music

Each has a story, owned by one or perhaps many

It could have come from across the street

Or from another state

The smell of the store

The stains on the floor

Who owned this before?

Why is it here now?

Did they outgrown this sound?

Were they hard up for cash?

(Lord knows I've been there too!)

Maybe he had two?

Or the wife said it had to go

It may have been junking up the garage

and they just needed the room

And so it became trash

Expendable

But in me it's found a home

A new place to crash

So for the record...

Thank you to whomever

Let this go from your possession

It will now bring me joy

For it's now come home to me

A treasure found and lost and found again

Excellence is a habit

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

I've been chewing on this quote for about a week now and have decided to use it as an overall mantra for the year to go along with our families focus on creativity in 2014. 

Hopefully this takes us one step closer to our lifelong goals of creating as much as we consume, and giving away as much as we live on. A 50/50 lifestyle. A few books that have inspired this way of thinking (if you're interested) are:

1. 7 by Jen Hatmaker
2. Radical by David Platt
3. Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner
4. An arrow pointing to heaven by James Bryan Smith (about Rich Mullins life)
5. No Compromise by Melody Green (about Keith Green)
6. Crazy Love - Francis Chan

I want to get in the habit, day after day of pursuing excellence and producing excellence. I may miss my mark more than I hit it, but I'm looking forward to looking back (that seems oxymoronic doesn't it?) on the year and seeing how many times I hit what I'm aiming at. At least I'm aiming at something...most years I've aimed at nothing specific and hit it every time. 

Here goes!

Josh