Reinvention

I've read a lot of Facebook posts about how the school year has either begun or is about to begin in the near future.  It reminds me of the times, about a million years ago, when I was of school age.  

While I hated the idea of summer ending, part of me looked forward to the prospect of new beginnings.  

You see, usually by the time the previous school year wound down I had pretty much driven everyone crazy.  I made dumb mistakes or said the wrong thing to the wrong people (especially teachers) and was as anxious to get away as they were to be rid of me.  This was not just true in school, but in my home church as well.  Summering in Michigan was, to me, like when Superman would get away to his Fortress of Solitude.  I could recharge or, in my case, reinvent myself.  

A few years back I began my journey of my most recent incarnation of reinvention.  I had been on a path that I thought was true.  But my wife saw that I was following a person (whom I thought was following God) rather than following God Himself.  She didn't nag or tell me that what I needed to do.  She prayed.  God eventually opened my eyes.  I saw that I was in actuality being led away from God rather than closer.  And upon further examination I realized that if I wasn't pleased with the man I had become it was safe to say that neither was God.  So I took the necessary steps to right my path.  Often there is pain involved in the process.  It was as if I was being pruned.  I don't know if trees have a sense of feeling, but as a human, it sometimes hurts to have that which we held close cut from our lives.  

Giving myself a new name, Jimmy, was part of the reinvention.  I use it as a reminder that I am no longer the person I once was nor will I ever go back.

Reinvention is not in and of it self a bad thing.  In retrospect some of my attempts at reinvention went over like a fart in church- (I'm talking to you 17 year old Jimmy with the bad mullet!)  I think it's a good thing to reflect on the past and address that which needs to change.  But now, as I continue on this spiritual journey, I have come to realize that it's futile to attempt reinvention on my own.  While I'm pretty awesome, I am only human.  My wisdom is limited.  

I need to seek God's wisdom and direction.  

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of being the main speaker at a camp for the Middle School students of the Iowa Division of Foursquare Churches.  I honestly believe that God as much of a work in me as He did through me.  He has reignited my passion and reminded me of my calling.  I don't know exactly what that means.  I want to be cautious not to push so hard that I follow my own desires more than God's direction.  But I do know that I have to seek direction from Him.

I ask that you join me in prayer not only for God to direct me, but that He also make His plan and call on YOUR life clear.

Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

Post Camp Thoughts

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Middle School camp for the Iowa district of Foursquare churches.  There were about 28 kids and combined with teen leaders and adults the number of people totaled somewhere in the 50's.
I've been the speaker at camp in the past but the fact that it had been a few years and that the directors of the camp were the parents of one of my spiritual mentors, I was a bit nervous.
On the drive down I kept a close eye on the G.P.S. and surfed the radio dial.  But when I got about an hour or so from my destination the nerves were really taking over my thoughts.  Although I had been praying and asking others for prayer, I decided it was time for some heavy prayer.  I realized that I'm just a flawed vessel that God chose to use for His purposes.  I'm nothing more then an extroverted A.D.H.D. goofball who has a story for everything.  But when I allow God's Spirit to work in me and through me great things can happen.  So I committed every aspect of the week to Him- my actions, my words, my thoughts, everything.  .
Then I pulled up the "Cool Christian Stuff" folder on my MP 3 player.  How Great Thou Art, the Carrie Underwood/Vince Gill version came on.  The song has always been one of my favorites and Carrie's version brings me to tears every time.

Later, after getting slightly lost (the camp doesn't appear on the G.P.S. I borrowed) I arrived at camp.
Walking in to a situation of being the stranger walking in to a group that all knows each other can be a bit intimidating.  But God said "Just be yourself, I got this."  At the first leader meeting the director, Cheri introduced me and told them that I would be sharing a little of my story at evening chapel.  I made some comment like "It's going to be awesome, you'll probably cry; don't forget to bring Kleenex."  It's funny how getting my first laugh relaxes me.  From that point on I was fine.

The kids were amazing!  Very well behaved and good listeners.
A couple highlights:
One night I gave an illustration of how hard it can be to hear God when we've got so many distractions.
I had one of the kids come sit on a chair and told him that I was going to give "the phrase that pays" and he had to repeat it.  But before I gave him the phrase I brought up a couple other people.  I had one speak continuous Facebook status', I had another give baseball play-by-play, one acted as the nagging girlfriend asking to be taken places.  I had one of the moms come up too (because it's not always bad things) and tell him to clean his room and do other chores.  And 2 more came up and just had a conversation.
And I said "Oh yeah, gotta have music!"  And played a Metallica song as performed by a cello group Apocalyptica.
I then said "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10.)  I asked him what I said.  He replied "I don't know, it's too hard with all the distractions!"  I told him, and the audience, that I couldn't have put it better myself.
Here's the super cool part... The next day his cabin leader told me that later that night he asked "So what's this 'asking Jesus into your heart' all about?"  And after talking for a bit, Karl, the leader led the kid into a relationship with Christ.

One night, I went to my cabin to prep the message for the next morning.  I finished my PowerPoint slides and typing and I felt God say "That's not what I want you to say."  So I started to retool another message I had.  When I finished God said, "That's cute, now are you ready to listen to what I want you to say?"  So I prayed for a bit and He gave me about 5 sentences and a couple of verses and then said "Now pray!"
I didn't get a whole lot of sleep that night.  But when it came time for chapel God gave the me the words.  I don't remember much, I was just repeating what He told me to say.  But I was told by several that it was exactly what they needed to hear.

Another cool thing...
During 2 of the evening sessions, the director had invited married couples from her church to share testimonies.  When I asked what they were going to share it ended up fitting perfectly with the subject God had given me for each evening.  One even had the exact same verses written down in her notes!
If that isn't proof of God's hand in the week I don't know what is!

I also got to pray with/for some of the kids.  That was really cool!

The last thing that was really neat...
On the last day, every time I looked at one of the teen leaders, I got teary-eyed.  After lunch I realized that God wanted me to give her a word from Him.  So I pulled her aside (but still in plain view of everyone as to not be inappropriate) and said the words God had given me.  I was overwhelmed and crying like a baby.  It was the first time I've received a word for an individual in that way.  And more confirmation that God was at work in the week!

I pray that God will continue the great work He began last week.
And I have been reminded of the call and purpose God has given me.  I am reminded that I need to take every step as God directs to achieve the goals He has placed on my heart.
There is nothing as satisfying as doing the things you love and doing them for God.
I encourage all who have read this to figure out what you love, and then figure out how to do that for Jesus!

Here's the video I was telling you about... Enjoy!

God bless y'all!
 

Still Learning, Still Growing

Today is the day I celebrate the anniversary of my birth.

I thought it a perfect time to reflect upon that which I've learned, especially over the latest year of my life.  

Delete the drama

My fellow pastors at http://www.thejourneycommunity.com/ have taught me a lot.  One of the greatest lessons I have learned from them is to avoid the avoidable drama (of course they probably would have worded it a lot better than I.)  I have seen a lot of disagreements on social network sites such as Facebook.  And for a while I thought it was somehow my responsibility to set straight those that I was certain needed my words of wisdom.  But in watching these wise men and women with whom I have partnered, I have learned that some times the best thing I can say is nothing.  It's not that they don't have an opinion, but they know that it is extremely rare that an argument on someone's status on Facebook is going to end in a way other than with hurt feelings and those arguing portraying themselves in a negative manner.  

Recently, someone I'm friends with posted like a 5 word status update.  The comments immediately began coming in.  As I read some of them I started to type my thoughts.  But then I read what some people were saying.  Many used some pretty vulgar language to argue their points.  I decided it would not be the best idea to comment and canceled the post.  A couple of days later I checked back on the post.  There were over 80 comments.  As I read them my heart broke.  There were some really ugly things being said.  While I can (to some extent) understand the things said by those who don't know Jesus, it was comments by some of the Christians that upset me the most.  Some of the things were the most horrible, loveless things I've ever read.  They did not display an accurate image of the God that I serve.

It's not that I don't believe that there is right and wrong.  I take a stand for that which I believe every day.  But I have learned that social networking sites are not the proper forum for such discussions.  

I'm not very close to the person who made the original post nor do I even live in close proximity.  But if I was closer to them I would send a private message or text and tell them that I'd love to discuss the topic further.  Notice I didn't say that I would send the message and have all of the answers.  While I agree that there are times that we should take a stand, I believe that it's not always our job to offer unsolicited advice.  I have learned that often slams doors shut and causes breaks in relationships.  I've leaned to ask if someone was interested in my thoughts on the topic at hand.  

I didn't plan on having this much to say on one topic, so I guess maybe this will be a continuing series for a couple of weeks.  Tune in next time for more as I share what God has taught me in the past year.

 

I'll leave you with this for the week:

Proverbs 27:19- As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart.

God bless y'all!