My Lifesong

We leave for Mexico on Saturday. I am excited. All these months of planning, praying, and preparing for this week are coming to fruition. God has been busy breaking me down in getting me ready for the trip, and I know He is going to rebuild and restore me.

We’ve faced obstacles. We’ve been told not to go. I’ve even received a few emails from people that were somewhat negative of my views.

The Enemy was on full assault…because he is scared. He knows that when we are the Body, we advance the Kingdom.

And he’s failed. This trip is important because it is what God calls us to do. It’s important because we learn a lot about ourselves, our friends, and most importantly, God.

We will be blogging during the trip. Please, follow along with us, as well as all the other Traders Point trips at http://servingtheworld.org.

As the good Doctor would say – Allons-Y!!

I received this month’s Amor enewsletter. This is the letter from Gayla Cooper Congdon, Founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of Amor ministries. Please read.

The Power of Our Words

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is those things that make a person unclean.” Matthew 15:18

“The Church ought to live out love. Woe to her if she does not do that! Woe to her if by her silence and by all sorts of dubious excuses, she becomes jointly guilty of the world’s outbursts of hatred! Woe to her if she adopts words and slogans that originate in the sphere of hate.”

This is an excerpt from a letter by Pastor Walter Hochstadter, a German pastor and hospital chaplain in France during the Second World War. He secretly sent a letter with this in it to 1,000 German soldiers at the Russian Front.

We all have heard “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And we all know that isn’t true. Words are powerful and when spoken with anger and a mean spirit they can leave an indelible print on someone long after a bone has healed.

Long before the shootings in Tucson and the discussion it created about our national rhetoric, I had been thinking about some of the most surprising things that have been said to me these past two years, especially in reference to Mexico. Rhetoric from fellow Christians that I have come in contact with while traveling and representing the Ministry.

Imagine how I felt when a couple of years ago I was sitting with a pastoral staff and church leaders discussing their church’s upcoming trip to Mexico when one gentlemen informed me that there were people in the church that just hated Mexico and Mexicans! In my most diplomatic voice – and those of you that know me know that I don’t really have a diplomatic voice – I spoke very softly and told him that given the words of Jesus to “love our neighbors” hating Mexico and Mexicans is just not an option for Christians.

I have honestly been appalled at how many folks have taken it upon themselves after I have spoken at their church to tell me what they think about Mexico, immigration issues, gun control and even our president. And the anger in their voices belies an attitude that borders on the hate that Pastor Hochstadter speaks of in his letter.

You can imagine my shock when once a complete stranger walked right up to me after the service and told me that they would never go to that “Godforsaken country of Mexico!” Why would someone feel a need to say that to me?

Last fall Chuck Colson and Jim Wallis came together to create a “covenant of civility” for those in the Church to express differences in a kind and thoughtful way that would reflect respect for one another. Many well known pastors signed it.

As bothered as I am about our national rhetoric, I am more concerned about what is being said in the Church. This passage in Matthew really speaks to the fact that what comes out of our mouths is a true reflection of what is in our hearts and I’m saying that some of it is just not good or acceptable.

In Proverbs this is an important topic. There are references to words, lips, mouths, tongues that appear about 150 times in the 31 chapters. Why? Because our tongue is moving all day long and it tells the story of what is going on in our hearts at the moment. And what we say is not always in harmony with the holiness of God. I also believe that this is a spiritual problem we all face, some more than others, in that we all have problems with our mouths!

Years ago when my friend Mike McClenahan was the youth pastor at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, he started making the yearly trip to Mexico each spring with his group. Our staff loved eating with them because they had become well known throughout our Ministry for their delicious meals. But what affected me most was how he and the other leaders created an intentional atmosphere of kind words and encouragement with over 100 students.

As the students lined up for their food you never heard, “ugh I don’t like that” or anything derogative about what was being served. Their thankfulness to the servers as well as for the food was so evident and it had such a positive impact on their group as well as those of us that came in contact with them. After eating you always walked away fed and with more than just food!

My challenge to all of us during this season of Lent and Easter is to use words that genuinely reflect Christ’s nature and his character of love. Let us remember the power of our words. And may those of us in the Church be unified in civility towards one another in spite of differences. It is my prayer that those who are marginalized in our world hear and see the love of God in the power of our words and deeds! That is why Amor Ministries exists.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

This Sunday Nicole and I were stars at church. Before every sermon in this series there has been a video of couples competing in “Minute To Win It” events. The men and women had split the first two competitions, so we were the tiebreaker. When we filmed the challenge, it was to be a best 2 out of 3 endeavor, and I won the first two. Somehow I got guilted into making the 3rd match winner takes all, and I lost. Well, I gave my word, so that was that. On Sunday, Bob declared it a draw due to various things (I’d already won 2 of 3, he gave Nicole advice on how to do the headbob better, it probably suited the sermon series if it’s tied). Anyways, it was fun.

The sermon was focused towards single people and how they should prepare for relationships and marriage. I wish I could have heard this advice years ago – I could have been better prepared for Nicole and been a better husband from the beginning. Still, I can apply this to myself even now, so it’s all good.

The biggest takeaway I had this weekend was this – we can’t have the benefit of the relationship without putting the necessary work in to it.

Think about that.

A relationship takes work. Love – the feeling – will not sustain it. Love – the verb – is needed for it to work. Bob put it this way – Love is a commitment, not a feeling. There are times when I don’t feel loving towards Nicole, but I honor my commitment and love her. When I do feel loving towards her, I don’t let it change the way I honor my commitment towards her. I never let me feelings dictate how I love her. My commitment dictates that.

I am happy that we are relatively low-drama. Our discussions aren’t bad, and we usually solve our issues quickly. Still, we aren’t perfect, but we don’t fight much. That’s a testament to God more than anything else. He guides us and helps us stay focused on honoring each other. We work things out because He has made us better. Our spiritual maturity has grown over the years, and that will be the case every day of our lives. We will strive to honor God and each other.

With that being said, despite Bob calling it a draw, Nicole won. Much as I hate to say it, we agreed on winner takes all, and she beat me. Congratulations honey.

I love you.

Found this on Bob’s blog, and I thought I should share…

I have been silent for a month, but I have not been quiet. We are pretty much settled in, and we are putting roots down. I haven’t written much, but yet people have visited my site. I wonder – who is reading this? Why?

I ask because I haven’t had any comments, and I would love some feedback on what I post. I feel like I am crying out into the wind, and nothing comes back to me. I know, it’s not polite to beg…but I am begging. Please interact – I value your input.

In the six months since we’ve left Indy, we have been going full tilt trying to get settled in and get the house ready. We had family over for Thanksgiving, and it was a great time. We are getting to know more people at Lifepoint, and we are grateful that God is leading us to where He wants us.

Yesterday we got to hang out with Kari and Ramiro and their cute daughter Abby. We talked all evening and had a blast. We then got together for lunch today and had even more fun. Last weekend we got to hang out with Sam and Amy, and we had a great time with them too!! We are excited to see where these friendships lead.

We won’t lie – we miss our Indy family and friends. But we know that they are supporting us and that makes all the difference.

minisrty and social media.

This was on my friend Bob’s blog.  Very thought provoking.  I use social media, but I am not trying to build a brand.  I don’t want to be famous.  I just want to connect.

Much like Paul.  I am never going to be cool, but I will try to be your friend.  I will become what I can to reach you.

But above all else, I will try to let God use me as He will, and let that be my driving Force.

This year I led the Mission Trip to Mexico. It was an amazing/awesome/
tiring/draining/uplifting/
encouraging/recharging trip. Nicole was able to go with me this year, and she had a great time. She was a hard working machine!

Being in charge of the whole trip was an honor, and while I did have some bumps in the road to deal with, God brought everything together.

In this first post, I want to highlight the pride I have in my wife. She was worried about how she would handle the work and the campsite, but I believed in her. Still, she had to experience it for herself. And she was amazing! She sawed, hammered, chicken wired and stuccoed like a pro! The campsite wasn’t a big deal in the end. She was a trooper.

When I asked if she was willing to go again next year, she said yes – as long as we aren’t pregnant at the time.

So…is it wrong to pray that she can’t go next year?

I love you Nicole!!

Ok, so they probably aren’t the first to do anything like this. BUT – they did Youtube it. Some people have complained that this shouldn’t be done in a church, but if they truly love God and He is the main focus of their marriage, then it’s cool.

What, you don’t think Jesus danced at the wedding in Cana? He taught Michael how to do the Moonwalk!!

Jake posted a link on the HSM Leader's Blog for leadership development, and I love the article he used.  

Here is what popped in my head as I read it:

I love the imagery that the thread that holds our webs together is God.  When we aren't connected to Him, everything falls apart.  It doesn't matter how beautiful our web is – without God, it doesn't matter.  Too often God is seen as a hindrance, and we try to remove Him from the equation.  Because of Him, the web of our relationships with others is strengthened.  We can love others in the truest sense. 

And the world hates it. 

It tries to tell us the gospel is wrong. 

It tries and it fails.

It fails because the world can't win.  Jesus has already overcome the world.

I struggle with selfishness.  Always have, and I will until the day I am called home.  Yet I overcome it through the strength that Christ gives me.  He's broken those chains of bondage and showed me how to love the way that He loves.  He's broken my heart for what breaks His. 

And I am thankful for that.

My response to show the world that the gospel is TRUE.  Christ is REAL. 

And that He loves us.

The world lost Michael Jackson yesterday. It seemed to be the only thing anyone could talk about last night. It is sad and unexpected.
I firmly believe that he is my generation’s Elvis. Michael’s influence is all over the place. If you like music videos – thank Michael. Thriller, Billy Jean, Beat It – in the early age of MTV (back when they actually played videos), these videos helped set the standard. Like Usher or Justin Timberlake? Heavily influenced by Michael. Ever do the Thriller dance? Thank Michael.
His influence is all over, and his musical legacy is on the same level as Elvis’.
It’s because of Michael that I can appreciate the marriage of music and visual arts. A great song can be enhanced by a great video or a great dance. A sermon or speech can be reinforced by the right song. And for me, it all started the first time I saw the video for Billy Jean.
Thank you Michael. You will not be forgotten.