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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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?

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.