grateful

I've noticed that in many ways grace perceived does not reflect, or agree with, grace revealed in my life. The evidence: to me, Jesus 'changes' depending on circumstances. In reality, it is me who changes, not Christ. I allow fear to overcome me and shape my decisions and reactions; I allow insecurity to drive my incessant need for importance and acclaim; I entertain lust for the many unnecessary things my heart desires; I choose unforgiveness and it chokes the love right out of me. I am nothing more than a product of my situation. And through it all I drag Jesus, accusing him of untimely inactivity and unresponsiveness. I reduce grace to something that now belongs to me and something that I need to figure out so that I can live right.

Grace is a new second chance. I am undeserving of God's grace and inexplicable acceptance of who I am...not what I might be, but who I was and what I am presently. So for me to begin to grasp God's grace given through Jesus' sacrifice, then I simply need to let myself be accepted by God...period. I'll be honest, letting myself be accepted just as I am is difficult because I know who I really am. The baffling thing is He knows who I really am also AND He loves me intensely. That's just tough to deal with. It really seems way too good to be true.

And yet...
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

You can do NOTHING to improve your position with God. It was he who chose us...in the position we were already in. He did not project forward or anticipate who you might be before he chose you. He loved you when you were filthy and as you are filthy.

He searched for me and found me and accepted me as I was and as I continue to be. Quite honestly, I was too stupid and self-consumed to find him. He knew it. I now know it and forever I am humbly grateful.

'Catholican'

Read this.
I think you'll find it interesting.
I did.

hmm...I'm curious to know what you think.


grace. peace.
Guy

preemptive praise

John 4:47-54

There are moments in our lives that are absolutely pivotal to our future. It is in these moments that I believe we have the opportunity to either become or back down. We all want to become; we dream about it when we are young. Somewhere along the way, in the midst of settling reality and responsibility, we lose the ability to dream. We need reasons and explanations for things outside of our normal to make sense. Our normal can become so small and narrow that when we see others doing anything different we are amazed.

There is a core value that I live by: In order to see things you've never seen, you must be willing to do things you've never done.

In Jesus' encounter with this royal official in John 4, there is something of enormous value that is to be recognized: preemptive praise. His son's healing took place before he saw it but as soon as he believed it. How do we know the royal official believed? His response. His actions revealed his heart. He didn't question Jesus or try to force him to go to his son.

When we face moments where questions can spoil what God has spoken, we should practice preemptive praise. Thank him for what He will do because of what He has spoken...and then respond accordingly.

Read the story.

'The man took Jesus at his word and departed.'



one love...one life.
Guy

up is down, right? ...or left?

Some days are just tough. There's no getting around it...they're just not easy. During those times words seem hollow and the days are long. It's easy to forget what it's all about, pull back and wait for the day to end. If I can be a bit transparent here...it's been that way for me recently. Honestly, the past few weeks have been the most difficult stretch I've experienced in quite a while. Everything seems more difficult. My knee jerk reaction is to wonder in frustration what is going on...? I chase these thoughts around to no end. And in these moments my conclusions don't usually add up. I second guess myself, and I get confused.

I pray only to hear nothing.
I wait only to feel alone.
And then...the day just ends.
Nothing magical. No breakthrough.

But then...another day begins. And in that day are hours that have not yet been lived that have been given to me, entrusted to me. God has a plan that is bigger than my difficulties in every way. It is up to me to choose his plan, that day/everyday, not my difficulties as the determiner of my destiny.

What is good is not always easy and what is easy is not always good.


Psalm 18:33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.

Catalyst '09

Catalyst is easily one of the premier gatherings of young leaders in the country. This year, they are taking it to a whole 'nother level. You can interact with what's going on at Catalyst at Backstage.

So we're hanging out at Catalyst this year for a couple of days...and it's an amazing experience. I figured I'd share a few thoughts about each speaker. Hope you enjoy...
________________________________
Andy Stanley/Session 1
-'What man is a man who does not leave the world better.'
-Every leader leaves a mark...good or bad.
-You'll never recognize your greatest opportunity until it's passed...take it or miss it.
-You won't realize the significance of what you do until it's done.
-Joshua 23:8-15
-'God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to him.' (Charles Stanley)

Malcolm Gladwell/Session 2
-We overestimate the value of additional bits of information.
-Miscalibration = excess information - overconfident
-'Incompetence aggravates me. Overconfidence scares me.'
-As an organization grows, leadership must change/develop.

Shane Hipps/Session 3
-Christianity is fundamentally a communication event.
-How you say something means more (or equal to) than what you say.

Tony Dungy live interview. HUGE highlight for me. Coach Dungy is so well spoken and engaging. Here's the one quote that stuck with me and leaves no question why he's one of the best coaches/men/leaders the NFL will ever have.
"My job as a coach is to help my players be the best they can be on the field and the best men off the field."

Rob Bell/Session 4
Is Bigger Better?
-Inverse fidelity; With the example of the widow in Luke 21, Jesus challenged perception. Somehow, her less was more.
-We often compare ourselves to others and the life we see them living.
-10 Commandments; first 9 commandments are measurable and quantifiable, BUT the last commandment is a reward for doing the first 9.
-If you do the first 9, you won't want anyone else's life...the reward is not wanting someone else's life. You'll find satisfaction/fulfillment in your life.
-Sabbath is necessary for you. It reframes and adjusts our perspective.

Matt Chandler/Session 5
I have to admit, I didn't write down many notes for Matt Chandler's session. The reason, I was really caught up in what he was saying...sounds stupid, right? Well, it does now, but I actually felt like I got more from observing and listening. Here's a bit:
-Hebrews 11:29; May we remember what we're caught up in.
-God's plan (history)...this is our opportunity to be who we should be - not striving and creating strategies to be someone else.

Francis Chan/Session 6
-Trust the word of God and the Holy Spirit to be 'good' enough.
-Often, we try to think of things only in terms of new...unique and obscure, but the Cross is enough. Jesus is enough.

Chan really broke away from the normal and shared from his heart...and then all 13000 attendees shared communion together. It was definitely a sacred moment.

I'm looking forward to Day 2.