Who Am I?

 1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.  Leviticus 19:1-2

How to Forgive

Isaiah Core is a good friend of mine and also works with me in the youth ministry program at St. Paul.  He indeed understands what it means to be a “good and faithful servant.”  One of the great joys I find in him is his willingness to recognize ministry opportunities even in the most menial tasks.  Not only does he do these things but offers them as a sacrifice of service with a joyful heart.  He shared with me a post that he wrote back in 2006 when he was learning all over again how to forgive.  He had recently ended his plans to wed and was hanging on to Jesus for strength.  Recognizing the pain he was enduring in this time, the words he offers in the following post are even more powerful.  –trey

23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 5:23-24 

How to Forgive – Isaiah Core

How does one forgive those who hurt us? In what ways do we sin by withholding Forgiveness?

Christ says throughout his ministry Love your neighbor and enemy. Now, it is simple to forgive someone who is not close to you. People who are not close to you do not know your deepest darkest secrets. They may offend you, but it is easy to forgive them.

Forgiveness is hard when someone like your best friend hurts you. Your best friend knows everything about you. Your best friend, who is suppose to be there day and night for you is idolized into something great and when he or she hurt you, it cuts very deep. Likewise with a family member, who exploits your fears because they want you to do some selfish act. Family issues are family issues, and the girls and boys that go through these ordeals usually come away scarred for life. How is forgiveness possible in these situations? What person in his or her right mind could forgive someone like that? This is the question of the ages.

So, Christ said that we must forgive those who hurt us. He also said if you do not forgive those who hurt you. In return you will not be forgiven. This statement has huge ramifications. Christ did not give us rules because he wanted to weed out anyone who felt pain and anger, but he wanted to tell the people who held grudges to try let go of the hate that could kill you. I personally have been though some rough times. A young girl broke my heart recently. I still struggle with forgiving this young lady, who has really hurt both my family and me. It has been a long road, but I am at a point now that forgiving her is really easy.

My path of reconciliation with this young woman began when I told Christ through prayer that it is impossible for me to forgive her. Then I asked for Christ to help me forgive her. I asked Christ for the strength to forgive her.

Christ is not some deity reigning on High and condemning every mistake we make. He is here right beside us in the muck and mud. He is here and when we ask him for help, seeing as he is the One who with his dying breath forgave the people who crucified him. He is also the one who can help us become more like him. He knows we are human, and he knows that forgiveness is something that takes months even years to accomplish.

Rely upon the Lord who continues to be our strength and light. He will help you forgive those who are unforgivable.

Prayer:  Father teach me how to forgive.  Amen

Love is . . .

One of my greatest joys is to surrounded by a group of friends that are wise, loving and a joy to be with.  Today’s guest blogger offers up an oldie but a goody.  You may have done this exercise before, but it’s power is still present in its words.  Let this exercise pour over you and be filled with the succinct power.  — trey

Love is . . . by Amy Prather

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind…” You’ve probably read this before or heard it. Go to any Christian wedding and it’s read. Go to any Christian bookstore and it’s there to hang on your wall. You can give it as a wedding present, place it on a calendar, keep it on a bookmark.

Back in the dark ages when the world was young and I was in youth – LOL! – my youth director did a small study on these verses. It rocked me to the core. Twenty-five years later it still resonates in my soul.

Basically, you replace the word “love” with your name. I’ll do it with you. Are you ready?

___________ is patient. Amy is patient. What? Not hardly! If patience is a virtue, then I’m not a very virtuous woman.

___________ is kind. Amy is kind. OK, that one’s not so bad. Most times I’m kind, but what about that person I’ve passed on the street, what about that girl/guy I made fun of in school? Oops! Forgot about that. Guess I don’t score as high as I thought I would.

___________ does not envy. Amy does not envy. Man, another one! I’m not doing so well, maybe the rest will be better.

___________ does not boast; ___________ is not proud. Amy does not boast. Amy is not proud. Well I thought things would get better but not so far.

___________ is not rude. Amy is not rude. This one’s kind of like the one on kind. Most times I do an OK job of this. But what about when people are rude to me/you? Not so easy is it.

___________ is not self-seeking. Amy is not self-seeking. Hello! This one is ugly!

___________ is not easily angered. Amy is not easily angered. Yeah, right, have you been to my house?

___________ keeps no record of wrong doings. Amy keeps no record of wrong doings. Grudges are something that I can pretty much keep at bay. Pretty much. How about you?

___________ does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Amy does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. I think that I don’t delight in evil – I hope that I don’t – but rejoicing in the truth? What if it’s truth that we don’t want to hear?

___________ always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Amy always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Protects? I protect myself but what about others? Trusts? No. Hopes? No. Perseveres? No.

At the end of this you may be feeling like I do – that I am a hopeless, selfish, neurotic mess.

But here’s the good news. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

That’s it. Despite our impatience, unkindness, enviousness, boastfulness, proudness, rudeness, anger, Christ came to earth to take that away. He died for all our sins. Amazing.

Now go back and substitute the name Jesus where you put yours.

Jesus is kind, Jesus is patient. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud. Jesus is not rude, Jesus is not self-seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails.

All these statements are absolutely true. Jesus embodies all these characteristics of love. Jesus was love. He loved us so much that he was willing to die for you and me.

Prayer:  Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Amen.

Keeping your Spiritual Balance

Our guest blogger and good friend Matt Ritchie has a word on solitude and community. One of the neat things about this particular post is its relevance. He shared with me that he has witnessed just recently how these simple thoughts have had a profound impact in the life of someone he shared them with. Don’t take lightly the simple things, for often they are the most important.  — trey

” 32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
Mark14:32

Matt Ritchie, Running with the Lion

In order to maintain a spiritually balanced life, we need at least two things: solitude and community. Solitude occurs when we are still and quiet, ready to listen to God. Community occurs when our true selves are known and loved by others, and where we come to know and love others as they truly are. Both experiences – solitude and community – are places where we encounter God. In solitude, we are given an opportunity to examine our lives and reflect on how God is at work in them. In community, we see God reflected in others and hear his voice through the words of those who follow him.

Without both solitude and community, our lives lose purpose and accountability. We become blown around by whatever events happen to be occurring at the moment, and we grow confused, anxious, even depressed.

In our culture, it is difficult to experience either solitude or community. Even when no one else is around, it is difficult to find true solitude. Television, radio, email, and cell phones constantly invade our consciousness, allowing us to avoid the silence in which deep reflection on our lives becomes possible. And even when we are around people, our relationships are often superficial. Our conversations tend to focus on “safe” subjects – topics that don’t put us at risk of rejection – rather than the things that really matter to us.

Today, make a decision to live for a short time in both solitude and community. Take ten minutes to turn off the cell phone and to step away from the email; use that opportunity to have a time of silence in God’s presence. Then, when you are done, take ten minutes to be in community with someone. Tell a friend about a spiritual or personal issue that is really important to you at the moment, and invite them to share one with you. You don’t have to “solve” each other’s problems – just spend some time sharing and hearing about things that really matter to each of you.

Prayer: God, I’m here to meet with you, come and meet with me. I’m here to find you, reveal yourself to me. Amen.
(From Ten Shekel Shirt, Meet with Me)

Rights and Responsibilities

 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.

1 Corinthians 9:15 

Reading:  1 Corinthians 9 

In the above verses, Paul spend the first part of the chapter describing how he was entitled to many things including money, food and shelter.  These things he and his buddies have earned not only because of their service but because the Bible commands that it be so, but Paul says, no way man!  I want to make absolute sure that you have no doubt that I did these things because of my love for Christ so that you won’t doubt.

Entitlements.  Ummmm.  What a fun word.  Just saying it is to incite a controversy.

“Those lazy folks don’t deserve it!”
“We should care for those who need help!”
“It’s killing our economy!!”

Well, I want to talk to you about entitlements in your life.  What have you begun to take for granted?  What do you expect just because you breathe?  What do you give in return?

The truth is you aren’t entitled to anything.  You are lucky and get what you don’t deserve.  What you deserve is consequence of your sins.  Yeah, me too.  God gave us what we don’t deserve and aren’t we lucky?

What is the point of all of this?  Be like Paul.  Recognize that even though you are seemingly entitled to much, do your share.  Do all for the glory of God, for He is GOOD!

 Prayer:  God thank you for all you are and all you are not.  –Amen

Bold Faith

Today our good friend and guest blogger, Amy Prather, shares with us about bold moves in faith.  — Trey

Bold Faith – Amy Prather

I was putting up Halloween decorations the other day in my front yard. This woman came walking up the sidewalk toward me.

“Hello, my name is Mary.”

“Hello,” I said, thinking she was a neighbor, “my name is Amy.”

“I’ve got some beautiful fall wreaths in my truck I’d like for you to look at,” she said.

“Thanks, I appreciate it, but our family’s funds are really tight right now. Really tight. I would, but I’m not going to be able to buy anything,” I said. “Good luck with it though.”

She said thanks and began to walk away. She stopped, turned around and said some of the boldest words ever, “Amy, do you believe in the power of prayer?”

Read Luke 8:42b-48.

Ok, so imagine the scene. Jesus is preaching, teaching and healing throughout the country. Massive crowds are being drawn to the man who must have had the most magnetic personality ever.

Imagine the most crowded place you’ve ever been, multiply that by three, add in the smells of a mass of unwashed people, dust, animals, trash. So many people that I imagine the disciples formed a ring around Jesus, a wall of bodies to protect the Savior. The Bible says the crowds “almost crushed him.” Ever seen a paparazzi mob scene with celebrities? I think even the biggest crush of people I’ve ever been in or seen can’t be compared with the crowds who were clamoring for Jesus. He was bringing hope. Not celebrity, not points at a ballgame, not the latest fashion. Hope. And the world was desperate for it.

So, you’ve got the mass of people that Jesus and the disciples are trying to wade through. People are yelling, elbows are flying, children getting trampled. And in the midst of this a woman touches Jesus’ cloak. The moment she touches his cloak he feels it. He feels the healing flow into her body and out of his.

This may seem astonishing to you, until you look into the history. Women in ancient times were considered property. You could beat your wife with no repercussions; you could have your wife killed for certain crimes. Women were put on earth solely to serve man and make babies. That’s it.

So here’s this woman. She has been bleeding for 12 years. For Jews this was really bad. No one could be associated with this woman. She was “ceremonially unclean.” For 12 years she couldn’t worship, couldn’t participate in festivals, couldn’t be around anyone. Twelve years. She was probably craving human touch, a hug, a friend. But because of the law she could have none of those things.

I imagine she’s sitting in the doorway of her house and the massive crowd begins to pass by her. She asks what’s happening and someone tells her a rabbi with miraculous powers is coming. She knows deep in her soul that this man can help her. He is her answer.

So she begins making her way through the crowd, the massive horde of people. Stumbling, falling, getting stepped on, people pushing her aside – yet she still continues undaunted, overcome by the feeling that this man – Jesus – can change her life. Boldly she fights on until she gets to the edge of the disciples. The people are crushing in around her. She stretches out her hand and manages to touch the edge of his cloak and is healed. She knew that all it would take was a brush of her hand against his cloak.

Bold, so bold! This bleeding woman boldly went after what would make her whole.

Just like the woman in the Bible, Mary did one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen. She stepped out in faith that it would be OK for her to ask if she could pray with me. She did. She stopped everything and prayed with me in my front yard for five minutes. She had no idea who I was, if I believed, if I would spit in her face or tell her she was going to hell. She stepped out in bold faith. Not only did she bless me, but she now one of my “saints of the faith” that I look to as an example.

Simple words. Do you believe in the power of prayer?

Simple actions. Touching a cloak.

Bold faith.

May you be “filled with Holy Spirit” and speak “the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31

A-Mazing

Last year when I was attending classes (continuing Ed) at Perkins School of Youth Ministry as SMU, I had the opportunity to walk a prayer labyrinth.  I was greatly distracted by my own thoughts in the beginning and finally began to center myself and do some chatting with God.  We had a good chat, but if I remember correctly I vented a little and He spoke to me some things I didn’t want to hear, but I came to have peace with the message He had for me that day.

Each year at our Passion Week Services, we offer our youth the opportunity to walk the prayer labyrinth.  Outside the door, there is a notebook where the youth can record their thoughts about their experience.  The entries range from nice to deeply profound.  When we take time to talk to God, we begin to hear the meaning of life.

I was introduced to a website that has an online labyrinth.  It is from the Methodist church out of England.

The following is the description from their website:

A labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool that leads the traveler along a meditative path. Through images, words, music and actions we hope that you are able to consider your spiritual journey and be inspired and challenged.

Give it a whirl.

http://www.lostinwonder.org.uk/