The lowly God.

I think, at least for today, that one of my favorite things about God is the fact that he is not afraid to stoop down; to take a position much lower than what he rightfully deserves. I don't think I fully understand , but it is very beautiful to me.

Monday evening, against the urgings of my body to head home and vegetate, I traveled to a local outreach that my church is partnering with as part of a plan to step beyond the walls we so often forget separate us from the very people we are called to love and support. God had been working on my heart for a while, so the beginning of this week marked the time for my body to follow suit.

I wasn't overly impressed when I finally found the place. The parking lot is big enough for three cars, if one person parks in the handicap spot. There is no ornate sign designating the location; in fact, I passed by it once before having to double-back. My first thought was "This is only a small headquarters. Nothing of great importance (with this organization) happens here."

I entered into the building and greeted a man waiting in a seat in the reception area. The entire building was vacant. Within moments another man emerged, shook my hand, and invited us back into a room surrounded by out-dated computers, an old piano, and a - from what I could gather - dysfunctional organ. There was a big-screen projection t.v. against the wall. We sat at a table facing it.

The man introduced himself, asked a few questions, and began to lay out the details of what the organization was about, its history, and where we might fit in. The entire time he spoke I felt embarrassed. Not for myself, but for this building and everything in it. I felt as if I was taking part in a first-time marketing scheme for some business venture that would never break ground. He showed us a 5-minute video that did little to ease the awkwardness.

After a tour of the facility, including the numerous rooms under construction, he brought us back into the meeting room and inquired about our desires for volunteering - who we were, where we were gifted, what we wanted from this experience. I shared with him about God's movement in my relational life - fostering a desire to love and encourage people. As he talked with the other (only) person who showed for the meeting I felt stuck...I was going to have to volunteer here, somewhere, out of obligation now.

And then God changed me.

I looked around the room and stopped feeling so embarrassed. It seems the smiling faces of the real people in the introductory video had finally burrowed their way inside of me. I thought about the big-time organizations spending millions of dollars to fix the wrongs on this broken world. My heart broke. Everything here (in this world) is still broken.

And I wondered to myself what God was going to do with this little rag-tag organization that seemed very unprofessional. Very ill-equipped. Suddenly, very powerful.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
(Philippians 2:5-8)

He who was God, is God, became nothing. Humbled himself. Died.

This humble God can do anything he wants. And I am of the mind that he wants to change the world, in some distinct way, through a little, unassuming building and the people way over their head inside it.

I hope to be a part of this.

Devotions, Part Two.

I was blessed with the chance to write another set of devotions for Southland. This time they are on the topic of understanding the role the Holy Spirit plays in the life of a believer. Hopefully they will be an encouragement to you.

Click Here To See Them.

Note: As stated with the last batch of devotionals I posted - these writings are property of Southland Christian Church.

Virginia Tech. (Thoughts)

Of all the things I have read since the unfolding of events at Virginia Tech, I think this is quite possibly the best explanation and best argument for our next step.

From: Desiring God Blog

"While others are already making the Virginia Tech massacre a political issue and looking vehemently for someone to blame, let us remember that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Our hearts and the murderer’s.

No x-ray machines, revised gun laws, or fired college presidents will solve the problem. We need new hearts (Ezekiel 11:19, John 3:3). We need Jesus."


Regardless of one's religious or spiritual disposition, I would argue this as truth - we need new hearts. We can shift blame to a variety of things - video games, dysfunctional relationships, gun-control, etc. - but what made that man kill yesterday was something dark within himself. All these other things, if anything, simply facilitated it. We must change our hearts - who we are - to change what we do.

I urge everyone to be silent, at least for now. Use this silence to pray - for the families of those who lost lives yesterday. For the identified shooter's family (who will no doubt enter into just as tumultuous times soon). For our own families and friends who weren't involved, but just as easily could have been.

Remain silent until the right time comes. And in that time let your words bring forth not hate, or blame - but love, encouragement, forgiveness, and support. The people who are left behind do not need increased campus security, or amended laws, or political and social speculation. They need the intimate, personal support of a community and a nation. Let us be that support.

Just Another Friday (?)

They told me I wouldn't do it. My honor was at stake.

Don't Miss It!

Thank the Lord for thunderstorms. For when you face such things, experience such power, you become blissfully aware of the truth of Scripture.

"The heavens declare the glory of Him"
For if such are merely thoughts
and quick works of his hands,
Than what but majestic is this God?

I quickly think to "The Reaping" and it's catchphrase - "What hath God wrought?" - as if the plagues of God represent him fully (as if the people who made this movie even understand the God who drafted those scourges). I imagine this is the case (because I can see it clearly in my own life right now). We see and experience things in this obviously imperfect world and that naturally calls into question the goodness of God (if he even exists to us). We are quick to forget the grandness and ability and beauty of this God of April thunderstorms - holding steadfast on present, but momentary, feelings of doubt and question.

Thankfully, that is exactly what they are - temporary. Because long after the echo of this campaign against God's shown might - the heavens (made new and perfect by his hands) will continue to eternally tell of his Beauty. And I tell you the truth, his beauty is good.

The storms and the clouds passed.
and in their wake left clear, clean, star-filled skies.
The storm was temporary (the storm is temporary)
I could see (I can see) the stars for the first time
since the storm began
My God, are they beautiful.

Empty.

Take heart, my friends, he is not just risen - but exalted.
Come near, my friends, the invitation is not closed.
His arms wide, his love beckoning, his embrace strong.
Forget what lies behind, see him before you.

I am grateful for quick morning stops like the one I had this morning at Waffle House. The food was terribly unhealthy for me, the coffee worse than I remember, but the moment of solitude in the company of fellow late-nighters a definite blessing. It was during this "meal" that I remembered today is Easter.

The significance of this day is just now starting to shine in my heart (and I say to my shame that this is not my first Easter knowing Jesus). I find it remarkable that I am just now taking hold of what a living Lord means. What a real God means. How that impacts my life in ways I never knew, nor (sometimes) wanted. I'm grateful that some of the walls are coming down.

I'm afraid to go to sleep in the next few hours because I know tomorrow I'll have to get up early to head to my grandmother's house - and that means I'll probably be my normal, cranky self. I'll be tired. I'll have sleep through the euphoria of late-night, homeward-bound revelations from God. It scares me I'm so fickle about something so incredibly important.

So I hope two things. One, I hope that anyone who might read this (and especially those who won't) will see Jesus this year. Maybe not today, but sometime before the end of 2007. I pray that he will be beautiful to you. He is glorious and I am just now waking up. I've still got those sleepy eyes that are sensitive to the sun and caked with slumber.

Two. I hope you make the decision to trust Jesus. I still feel awkward writing stuff like this, but I can't help writing the truth. I know it sounds - well - stupid. A fairy tale. A myth. A stupid religion. Whatever else.

I believe it and I love it. More accurately, I believe Jesus and I am falling in love with him.

May we all be resurrected this year.