The Journey

Check out the new Summers Family Missions Blog

2009-06-11T08:50:00.000-06:00

check it out HERE:

I Hope You Fail...

2009-06-05T08:01:00.003-06:00

"I hope you fail!"
This has got to be the most mean spirited and discouraging thing someone could wish on you or say to you...or is it?
Does God ever allow us to fail?
Does He even enable the failure to occur?
As we look through the old testament we see that His people constantly were failing and struggling, whether it was surviving a drought or becoming enslaved by a foreign power. So what is the common thread in these failures?
They always drew people back to God for their strength and reliance in Him.
When it comes down to it, any endeavor we undertake is a failure without God.
What about the failures that come when we are trying to serve Him and working for His kingdom first? Great question, I always think back to the old sports motivational quote that says, "that which does not kill us makes us stronger". Overcoming is a huge theme in the Bible.

Jeremiah 1:19 - "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

So the next time you feel like you've failed take a moment to give everything you have and are to God, seek His heart and ask, "Am I doing this in my strength or His?"
Maybe when it comes down to it, the very thing you failed in was just too small for what God actually wants to use you in and it takes God sized dreams and reliance on Him for it to happen.
Then when it happens, He's the only one who can get credit...Think about it.

Do I Pray like this? I want to everyday...

2009-05-08T22:41:00.000-06:00

Saint Francis of Assisi Prayer

Lord, make an instrument of your peace.
When there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master; Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

The Blessing of the Sun...

2009-04-08T22:38:00.006-06:00

I heard today on the radio that today is the Blessing of the Sun, a tradition in which the Jewish rabbis say a special prayer in tradition to the belief that the sun has returned to its original place in the sky when God put it there at creation. This happens only once every 28 years.
The fact that it happened today is even more rare in that it only occurs on Passover once every 1,000 years.
This struck me in a profound way as I reflect about what God has been doing in my life.
When we passionately pursue God's purpose for our lives and the Holy Spirit stirs that passion to come alive, we start to look at all our life experience and realize, "Everything in my life has been preparing me for this moment."
I don't want to just let this moment pass me by. I want to passionately pursue the Holy Spirit's call to live that life of adventure he has designed me for.

Surf Trip in Samar...and visiting pastors in the barongis

2009-03-31T06:10:00.006-06:00

We just got back from a 2 day trip to eastern Samar, one of the better unknown surfing spots in the world. Due to its difficult access, it is a highly unknown area for beautiful beaches and surf.
I'm excited about the potential of partnering with the church in Guiuan (pronounced -Gie-wan)to assit in the construction of a building for meeting. Right now they use the pastora's home (lady pastor, see top pic)
Anyone interested in being a part of a team that builds an amazing church building for around $5000? Imagine your church being able to equip another church in spreading the gospel clear across the world for a fraction of the budget it takes for a similar sized church in the U.S. Pray with us that God would reveal his timing and plan for this church.

Along the way we also met an young Australian woman (Amanda, bottom picture) touring southeast asia. We invited her to join us, we sensed she was searching for more than just great surf, but true purpose and meaning to life. She states that she found a lot of meaning in 'Buddhism'. We were able to share our faith as Christ followers with her and we're continuing to pray that she discover the truth of salvation in Jesus Christ...

Here are some pics of our 2 day journey...

Philippines Missions Trip, report 1

2009-03-29T16:43:00.003-06:00

We're now in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines.
We arrived yesterday morning, cleaned up, went to church and then went out surfing in the afternoon.
No better way to beat jet-lag!
It is absolutely beautiful here, we are staying right on the ocean.
Definitely not a bad placed to be called as a missionary.
The people are very neat and they are very open to the gospel.
The Filipino Christians are the sweetest people.

Today we travel to the island of Sumar, 3 hours away. We are purchasing land to build a church, we will visit the pastor's training school, and then catch some waves off of one of the best breaks on the islands. This will be a 2 day trip. Pretty awesome.

Continue to pray for us and the people and that God would use our time as we connect with locals and support the Alstons, our missionary hosts.

Would you know a Burning Bush if you saw one?

2009-03-18T00:15:00.000-06:00

Mark Batterson in his new book "Wild Goose Chase" talks about what the Celtic people referred to as 'thin places'. Where the natural and supernatural are barely separated. This is more than a place, but an awareness of God at work in our world and the relationship He desires with us and what He is calling us to.
There are many Bible stories that we've heard about but never really grabbed a hold of the Truth God is speaking though them, ie. the 'Burning Bush' that Moses encountered. As I read and reflected on this story I began to ask myself (w/ Batterson's help) if I'm missing out on burning bush experiences.
Naturally, you would think, "How could I not notice a burning bush?"
But think about all the distractions we have in our day, think about the busyness, meetings, text messaging, phone calls, email, and Facebook time we have. Is it possible a bush could be burning and we simply could walk right past it without ever realizing it?
Check out Exodus 3
"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."
Notice that the bush catches his attention, he stops what he is doing, and goes and checks it out.
How often have we seen God reveal himself or seen Him moving but we think, "I'm going to have to check this out more sometime."
Verse 4:
"When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am."
I know you're with me now, once he stops, drops what he's doing, only then does God speak. And then Moses answers in an amazing way, "Here I am." Three seriously profound words that are easily overlooked. Words that speak of not just presence, but availability; openness.
Notice what happens next in verse 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
What's so significant about this besides the fact that God is talking, which is just way cool to think about.
It's realizing the environment that God is speaking to Moses, he's at work. He's doing his mundane, everyday job of tending sheep and God shows up. Not only that, God tells him that where he is working is a Holy place, why? Because of God's presence. How often to we take for granted God's presence in the mundane activities of our life?
And then God gives the command for Moses to take off his sandals. This is pretty much the modern day equivalent of God saying, "Turn off your cell phone, turn off your computer, I want to talk with you."
Wow! Wouldn't that be awesome? I would love for God to talk to me like that. But then again, maybe he wants to and is waiting, I just haven't noticed the burning bush because I'm late to another appointment and I'm talking on my cell phone as I write an email that should have been sent yesterday...seriously, I'm really busy...

The Value of Connection

2009-03-10T23:43:00.000-06:00

Today has been a great day of revitalizing connection and visioneering of other youth pastor's in the rocky mountain district. Sometimes the most effective way to be more productive and accomplish what God has given us the abiliites to do, is to take time away to examine what exactly it is we're doing.
To think and pray about the big picture...Lee Terry talked to us about, "What is the cause, we're truly concerned about?" The answer should be, 'the casue of Christ'.
What God has called us to do is fufill what Jesus began and modeled with his life.

I am reenergized to not only do youth ministry but equip our students to be youth doing ministry.
in the words of Robbie G: come on Jesus!

An Anti-Resolution

2009-01-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not big on New Years Resolutions. I don't believe that waiting until the beginning of another year is a good reference for looking to make improvement in your life. Most of the time resolving to do something is more about 'me' than 'others'. I need to lose weight, I need to have better habits or stop the habits I already have. Notice the "I" factor. Inward focused.
I'm trying to change my perspective to be more externally focused. What is God teaching? What does that person need?
Jesus showed us servant leadership when he washed his disciples feet. Not necessarily a pleasant task. Ever notice that the 'best life' is typically counter cultural to what the world would deem great living?
John 10:10 - "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." (the message)

White washing doors...I never knew painting could be so spiritual.

2008-12-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

I've been painting today. Whitewashing doors actually; makes me think of Tom Sawyer.
The goal was to paint the bathroom and kitchen and then my bride reminded me I wasn't done painting all the doors in the house; at least not the final coat.
When we bought our house the doors were circa 1981, super dark brown...needless to say well overdue for an update.
The thing is, after putting the first coat on, it was pretty clear it would need a second coat. I went from door to door, easily circling around and putting on another layer, no big deal. Well after a couple hours of this, it gets old. So I stopped; cleaned up and put away the brushes. You know what? The doors looked so much better, it completely changed the feel of the house; Bridget was thrilled.
Jesus talks about standing at the door of our heart and knocking, seeking to be a part of our life. But the previous verses confront complacency.
Eugene Peterson put it this way when he paraphrased scripture in The Message...
Rev. 3:
15-17"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

18"Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

19"The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

20-21"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors!

22"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

You know what, it's easy to approach our lives like I did with the doors.
"It's so much better than it was." "Nobody will really notice."
The doors look great from a distance, but if you get close, the old brown is showing through in places, and until I started putting on the final coat did it become obvious how much they needed it; the process wasn't done yet.
It's the same way with our lives. God's redeeming work is a never ending process. Sanctification, that process of our lives being cleaned out by the Holy Spirit should constantly be happening. When it is, it's easy to see how far we've come, and how much we need God's grace and salvation each day.
Let us guard our hearts from being satisfied with where we came from and focus on where the Holy Spirit desires to take us...on an incredible journey.
Well, back to work...I've got another coat left to paint.

Is Thanksgiving a word or lifestyle?

2008-11-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

As I think about Thanksgiving I think about turkey. I imagine sitting at a table surrounded by family eating way too much and then watching football and waiting for room to open up in my stuffed gut to pack away some homemade pie.

Interestingly our national holiday "Thanksgiving" can be a time when we tend to live it out the least as a lifestyle. Granted there are those who rally their own sense of self-fulfillment of "doing something good" during the holidays through charity and volunteering. But by and large the typical act of thanksgiving will be a 30 second bowing of our heads before we overeat.

So the question I pose is: what is true Thanksgiving?

A word, holiday, prayer, or is it a lifestyle?

When we live a lifestyle of Thanksgiving our perspective of living changes.
What do we do with our day? Do we treat it with purpose? Do we live intentionally numbering our days as Moses speaks of in the Psalms?

How do we live out thanksgiving for living in a country that defines freedom?
Do we take it for granted not knowing anything else? Or do we expose ourselves to the lack of freedom around the world, and then with the power of perspective live each day with a little more purpose than the day before?

Ironically, surrounded by all of the freedom we have, there is a tendency to abuse the system. The selfish sinful nature we possess pushes us to see how little we can get away with doing rather than keeping a perspective that we are not guaranteed tomorrow so I simply refuse to settle for anything less than my absolute best.

Today can impact eternity.

When we embrace this truth in our life we begin to live "Thanksgiving."

Visit www.globalrichlist.com for a perspective on being thankful in terms of wealth.

Great Quotes for the Day...

2008-10-29T14:43:00.000-06:00

Mark Batterson: "The shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory." quoting unknown.

Erwin McManus: "If you can conceive accomplishing your dream, your dream isn't big enough."

Mark Batterson: "Dreaming begins with praying...Praying is dreaming."

The Lock Box Theory

2008-10-29T14:15:00.001-06:00

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The greatest birthday ever!

2008-10-08T23:19:00.000-06:00

I recently celebrated the greatest birthday ever.
This year I turn 30 on October 27th. But the birthday I'm referring to is not my own but that of my son Riley who turned 2 on October 2nd. Now if someone knows me real well, like my wife for example they understand that I'm not real big into the self celebration myself, in fact I have a hard time getting really into anybody's birthday, which I've learned is an area I need to work on since I'm married.
But since the birth of my two boys life has changed in huge ways. I look at life through a totally different lens of perspective.
Now the great thing about a two year old is that they don't realize it is their birthday and there is no built in expectations yet. For Riley's birthday dinner we went to Costco and he got his own hot dog and lemonade. I'll be honest I almost felt a little guilty gettin' over on the kid for a $1.50 but he liked it and I got to deal with lemonade induced insomnia from the lil' guy. I think it was around the fourth time he tried to get me to play with his trucks at approximately 3a.m. that I swore of anything but water or milk for the kid.
The next evening we celebrated as a family with the grandparents and great aunt and uncle and great grandma. It was during the opening of gifts that I felt like once again the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about a father's love; our Heavenly Father's love for us.
Now trying to coral a two year old and convince him that sitting down so he could open presents is not an easy task on any occasion but compound that with the recently eaten birthday cake had him whipping laps around the house faster than usual. As he stopped long enough to observe eveyone sitting around watching him you could see that he was assessing the situation and trying to process what was going on. The gifts were placed in front of him and with a little coaxing he begin to reach into the gift bags to see what the fuss was all about. He began to pull out his favorite, toy cars. With oohs and aahs that can only be made by a two year old he held each one as a precious treasure. In that moment pure joy was pouring out of every fiber of his being. I looked around the room to see the looks of love on the faces of the loving relatives as they watched. Do you know what I saw? Joy and Love that may have actually exceeded that of Riley, because they understood a deeper truth. When you truly love someone you love to see them receive more than getting yourself. As I squeezed back tears in my eyes the apostle Paul's words came alive as he reflected on Jesus teaching that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'(Acts 20: 35)
The other profound truth is that Riley received these gifts because he is my son. MY parents, aunt, uncle and great grandma love him because they first loved me.
Jesus said that the greatest command was to love Him and a close second was to love others. This love is lived out in two ways. We love others because we realize they are a child of God and second we love them as we love our self. At minimum we desire to see their needs met.
4,000 kids died today because they didn't have access to clean drinking water. As Americans we will spend over $18 billion on make up. Think about it...we spend the equivalent on feminine face paint what would provide clean water to every third world country in the world.
So the question becomes, how do we bring Joy to the heart of God? How do we show him love? By giving to those who don't have what we do; the life changing relationship we have with him. To partner with God, see what he's up to and join with others who are going. Let's give of ourselves, let's stretch our faith, and step out and live an exciting life that reflects the heart of God.
May this truth come alive in your life. May the needs that are so vast in the world around us be met by passionate followers Christ who simply aren't satisfied with the status quo but passionate desire to change history because of their love of God and their love for others.

Where are we looking?

2008-09-30T12:30:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago my son Riley taught me a great lesson in perspective. That our view and focus can limit our ability to see more or imagine more when God wants to bless us beyond what we can imagine. So how did a less than two year old tell me this? Well let me give you the setting.
In the youth ministry that I lead we have created a youth center known as the 'youth building'; creative huh? I our y.b. we have a cafe stocked with food and candy. A popular item are the 5 cent 'Red Vines'. If you know anything about red vines they are the equivalent of poor man's Twizzlers, classic licorice. It didn't take long for Riley to get a taste of a red vine. From then on he was hooked. Every Wednesday after service when he gets in there he quickly heads behind the counter and starts pointing at the red vines. He is soon seen stomping around the room, red licorice hanging from his mouth, red slobber running down his chin onto his shirt, and a content look on his face.
On the night of this particular life lesson, some of our student leader girls decided to treat those who came early to 'otter pops' flavored ice. No if you know anything about cheap sugary snacks you know that flavor ice blows red vines away any day, no comparison.
Riley had never experienced flavor ice so I thought it might be fun to give him this treat for different. As usual he made a bee-line for the red vines. He was so focused on wanting his usual that he began to throw a fit as I tried to get his attention to show him the flavored ice, a cool stick of blue raspberry. He began to cry, point and beg for the red vine. He was completely closed off from hearing my voice or giving me the attention I asked for. If he would have simply looked he would have seen a much better option; mysterious and exciting.
It was at this point that I realized God was teaching me a great lesson. I also realized it was the perfect object lesson for a group of teen guys gathered at the bar tearing into their own flavored ice.
"Check it out guys. Riley is so determined to get something he knows that he won't give me a glance to show him something new and better. We're often the same way in our relationship with God. He desires to bless us beyond what we can imagine. He is our father who loves us more than we know and if we can take our eyes off of the things we selfishly desire He will give us opportunities we never conceived."
For some of us that's a new job or career path, for some it's a chance to receive a better education, for others it's a ministry opportunity we never dreamed about, and for others it may be owning a home for the first time. When God is our source the possibilities are unlimited. But too often we live in a very small world based on past experience where at some point we stop looking for something greater. We resign ourselves to a comfortable life attempting to avoid trouble, but at the same time missing out on what God is calling us to. We say we trust God with our lives yet resist the Holy Spirit speaking into our hearts...
I crouched down to Riley's level, put my arms around him and looked into his eyes. I spoke calmly, "Riley is want to show you something." He whined and wiggled. I picked him up and sat him on the counter top. The colors of the flavored ice grabbed his attention, his crying lessened. He pointed with an inquisitive whimper.
"That's what I've been trying to show you buddy. Would you like to try one?" He nodded yes, not fully grasping what he was agreeing to, but with a curiosity that was growing. As he grabbed a hold of the cold treat a smile began to creep over his face. He placed the snack to his lips and a contented giggle gurgled out. I just smiled and winked at the guys as they watched...

What a 1 year old teaches me.

2008-04-29T13:47:00.000-06:00

I have a one year old son Riley.
He is beautiful and most of the time happy.
But he is an awesome example of our sin nature.
Selfishness with a body.
He can be very demanding.

My wife and I taught Riley sign language and he has learned many words including eat, more, please. (This is his favorite.)

It is so funny when he really wants something: he does one of two things.
He starts crying, whimpering and demanding whatever object has his attention that minute. If it is something he is allowed to have we tell him he has to say please, by signing (rubbing hand on chest in circular motion). More often than not he gets really angry and will throw himself on the ground crying. We try not to laugh. You would have thought we asked him to do something completely unreasonable.

The second approach is that he sees something and begins to vigorously rub his chest in the motion for 'please'. Thinking he has unlocked the key to getting whatever he wants. It can be hard to tell him no when the object he asks for is not something he should have. He cries, feelings hurt, not understanding why, when he asked so nicely, he did not get his way.

It is often the same way with prayer and life.
We think just because we ask God really nice or get really pushy about it that we should get it.
But we don't usually see the big picture (that being the future consequences).
God often says no because it simply isn't the best for us.

Consider today if your prayers are geared to match God's desire for the best in your life, or your personal expectations of what you think should be...

Living Thankful?

2007-11-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to live Thankful?

Can you really be Thankful if you don't recognize that everything we have and are; is a direct result of God and the fact that He IS.

Can we really be Thankful if we think that we provide for ourselves exclusively?
Do we really sustain ourselves without outside help, guidance, or direction.

The concept of a 'tithe' is the act of giving a portion (old testament history reflects 10%) of what we have back to God. Not because 10% is His, but 100% comes from Him.

When we realize that the life we have is not our own we suddenly become thankful for the last breath we took, the loose change in our pocket, the bed we sleep in and the extra weight we carry (and desire to lose.)

How is Thanksgiving lived out in your life?