The tide is turning...

     I remember when I was young (I'm not saying I'm old by any means, just not as young as I once was.), it was expected that everyone you knew was Christian. Now I know this was not the case, but American society as a whole was Christian, with Christian morals (on the surface) and Christian goals. Now I look around and notice, my family and I are outcasts. We're the "weird" ones. Our beliefs about how we live our lives and what is okay are the beliefs considered to be strange. What happened? How did I go from being a kid raised in a Christian home(I didn't become Christian until November 2002, I didn't understand until then what it was to have a relationship with Jesus.) to being a uptight weirdo? 
     I left the church environment around the time I graduated High School in 1998 and returned to it periodically until 2002 when I jumped back in with both feet. While in Basic Combat Training (Boot Camp) at Ft. Benning, I went every Sunday morning, but I did that because it was a way to avoid waxing the barracks or mowing the lawn with safety scissors and a ruler. When something bad happened in my life I would visit for a few weeks before going back to my wild and reckless lifestyle. In 2002, I was invited to The Bridge, a non-denominational church on Ft Campbell, KY. I started listening to what was being said instead of daydreaming or looking at the girls. I started going to Navigators meetings on Wednesday nights and learning scripture. I even started hanging out with these Christian men, and I saw something was different about them...but what was it?
     I remember these guys weren't going out drinking and doing everything they could to take some girl home every night. These guys were getting together and hanging out. They had genuine relationships with girlfriends and wives that were open and honest. They weren't fighting and unhappy in their marriages and relationships. They were happy to be with one person for the rest of their lives. These guys had something figured out. I started looking for what it was and found that the one thing they all had in common was Jesus. They followed his teachings and loved each other as themselves. I wanted what they had. I asked Jesus into my life 4 months after I started going to The Bridge. I didn't see some amazing change, but I felt somehow better. I deployed to Iraq 4 months later and helped with a Bible Study there. On returning, I got out of the Army and got married, but I started slipping away from my faith. My wife didn't want to go to church, she said she didn't need church to believe. I tried for 2 years and gave up. She started cheating on me and my world collapsed. I was diagnosed with PTSD and returned to my parents in Dallas after she kicked me out (ironic, she cheated and I got kicked out).
     I was at my lowest, got dragged to church every Sunday by my parents, and was shoved into counseling by them as well. What they didn't know is that I was doing every self destructive thing I could think of. I was sleeping around, drinking like a fish and smoking 2 or so packs a day. I'm not proud of how bad I got, but I did. While working at a haunted house run by my old scout troop, I met Laura. Everything changed. I found myself caring what someone else thought about me. Every day I called her and talked for a hour or so, then I asked her out, only to be turned down. A week after meeting her, I got off the phone to go help with the youth group at my parents church. The next day I asked her out again and she said "Yes". I went over and took her out for drinks and walking around Uptown Dallas and the West End. We quickly fell in love and were married. I went to church with her weekly and really started to get back into the groove I had been in back in 2002, when I became a Christian. I met her friends and started finding myself surrounded by these "on fire for God" Christians, and started envying them again. I dove back in and started studying and learning the Word and found myself feeling good about life again. After finalizing my divorce, Laura and I were married.
Now, 3 years later, I find myself pursuing a Christian Studies degree and planning for Seminary. I'm going to start a disaster relief ministry, taking men out with me to learn to be servant leaders while spreading God's Word. The tide is turning... and I'm surfing the wave!

Just a little update!

Wanted to apologize for not posting as much as I used to. I am pursuing a degree in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University. To do this I am taking a full load online. This constitutes two classes every 8 weeks. It's a lot of work, including forum posting and at least an essay a week for each class. I'm still going to post here as able, but it won't be quite as often as I would like! See you around.

Paul

Where have the shepherds gone? The need for leaders not CEOs in Christian leadership.

When I look back at all of the pastors and leaders I have had in churches around the country and even overseas, I notice something. The Church was started by Jesus, who described himself as a shepherd.  In John 10:11 (NIV) he says” I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” I can’t say I have felt like any of my pastors/ministers/chaplains were protecting me. I’m not saying that they didn’t give me guidance or help. I am saying I haven’t felt that they were looking out for each individual member of their flock. Looking out for each member is as simple as a call when you notice that someone has not been at your service in weeks, or listening to the unsaid in conversations you have with your congregation.

Church has become a businesslike practice. Many churches look first to the ledger and last at need, instead of first at need and God’s will and then at finances to pay for it. I’m not saying that a church should put itself at risk and take on too much, just make His work most important, not your comfort. I recently listened to a podcast of Dallas Theological Seminary’s Chapel service. I can’t remember who it was preaching, but I remember that he talked about different ministries. He posed a question, “What is your limit in pay?” One of the people he asked this answered, “I won’t work for less than $0.” That is the attitude we have to have to do his work. We have to trust that he will provide if we follow him. We have to be willing to stick our necks out for the flock. If we won’t stick our necks out, do we doubt that God wants us there? Or are we deciding that it would make us uncomfortable or take control out of our hands?

So here’s my challenge for you. If and when you take a role as a leader, be a shepherd, a servant leader. Place your flocks’ well being above your own. Most of all, trust that God is with you, if you follow him, you’ll go where he wants you. Don’t be irresponsible, be gutsy but prudent, not risking your venture but not refusing to help where needed because you are unsure of where the resources (money and people) will come from.

Rough time

I've had a rough time over the last few weeks coming up with ideas. Well, that's not quite right, I have tried to write things, and I have found that I have not been good at getting my point across in a loving a generous method. I guess I have been down with selfishness. I haven't wanted to care for others, or even look at both sides of a point. In the last few days, I've had a rough time with other things, and I find myself digging back into the spiritual side of my faith and not just the intellectual study. I'm working up a thought, "Where have the shepherds gone? The need for leaders not CEOs in Christian leadership." Look for it in the next week or so.

Also look for changes in the appearance of the site, though I love this one, I feel like it may detract a bit. We'll see.

The Book of Eli...Witnessing Tool?

                Sorry it took some time to write this, I wasn’t quite sure how to express my feelings on it. I saw The Book of Eli the Wednesday after it came out. I went to a matinee showing with my wife and there were maybe 10 other people in the audience. I had read a few negative comments about the movie, but I was excited. I have never seen a Denzel Washington film that I did not enjoy, and this one was supposed to have some biblical themes.

                There are going to be a few spoilers, but the movie has been out a few weeks so I’m not worried too much about them.

                Denzel Washington plays Eli, a man traveling across post-apocalyptic America, carrying a King James Bible west. When asked why, he tells that he heard a voice in his head which led him to the bible, buried under rubble, and told him to take it out west. There he would find a place that needed it. So he did.

                So the movie has a biblical twist. But a few things I have heard against it are: too violent, too gritty, too much foul language. All of these are things that are in the Bible, as well. So let me tell you where these people’s complaints come from.

The Language: Almost every character other than Eli has “colorful” language trickled into every sentence. But look at society today, even devout Christians let an F-bomb slip at times. And even more so we cover out intended words with things like “Dang it!” and “Shoot!”, or maybe even “Freak!” or “Fudge!” Just because we didn’t actually use the word, doesn’t mean we didn’t mean the word, and that almost makes me feel like I’m lying to myself.

The Violence: You can’t turn on the news without hearing about murders, beatings, war, or mob riots somewhere in the world. Why would anyone expect anything different in a world that has been destroyed with the Bible being blamed for it? Not only is there no organized government to care for people, where is the moral compass to guide them? This movie is 30 years after the apocalypse, people are just not moving beyond the survival phase. No faith group has stepped in to help like in Haiti. No one has united the people under a banner of God. But here is Eli, walking across America, carrying an old King James Bible, reading it every night before bedding down in the most secure locations he can find.

Too Gritty: Well, ask any sci-fi fan what the world would be like post-apocalypse. They are going to tell you dirty. They are going to tell you that trash will be lying in the streets; buildings will be half collapsed, and depending on the cause, dead bodies will either be walking around or decaying in the street as mutants eat on them and anything else that comes by. Now is this factual? Probably not completely, but partially (all but the zombies/mutants…though mutations would be likely in a nuclear apocalypse).

 The fact is Book of Eli forces us to look at what one man is doing to carry the Word to a place he feels called to. He refuses all who try to take it from him, often violently. He carries it wrapped in leather and opens it to read every night. He quotes scripture with ease and tells stories from it to a companion who joins him.

This movie gives Christians a chance to reach out to unbelievers in a different way. It’s not the “touchy feely” Christian movie. It’s not the “glaze over the bad” Christian movie. It’s not even billed as a Christian movie at all, but I challenge anyone that has read the Bible to watch it and not find biblical analogies throughout it.

Over all, it’s a great movie, and I encourage you to take your unbeliever friends to it and then spend some time talking about it.

Donations to Red Cross in Haiti

Text "Haiti" to 90999 and you will receive a text asking you to verify your donation.Respond to that with yes and you will make a 10 dollar donation. This will appear as a one time charge on your phone bill.

On Wednesday evening that had raised nearly a million dollars through this, last night they were up to 5 million. Lets help them get even more to help the disaster torn country.

Unceasing Prayer for Haiti!

I'm putting a call out for unceasing prayer for the people in Haiti. Locals, visitors, UN Peacekeepers, and missionaries all need your prayers as they face the onslaught of this Earthquake, it's aftershocks, and the aftermath. Since we can't be there helping, set aside time to spend in prayer today for them!

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The infrastructure in the capital is capable of supporting around 50,000. They have more than a million living there. The damage caused by this earthquake has caused damage to homes, hospitals, the UN peacekeepers barracks/operations center, and many other places.  Missionaries delivering Christmas presents and ministering to the people are stuck there, and we need them there.

I just ask for everyone to pray for the lives lost and the ones left behind. Spend special time today and in the coming days thinking of those whom you may never meet, but that share the love of God.

Words of a true Role Model

"I love this game. I have passion for this game. I've done what I can to contribute to this team. We made it this far, and it's unfortunate to not be able to play. I'd have given everything I have to be out there with my team. I always give God the glory. I never question things. God is in control of my life, and if nothing else, I know I'm standing on the rock."

Colt McCoy never got to win the National Championship, but as the Texas quarterback said, "God is in control." Seems like this is a guy who is going to be able to face and overcome any roadblock or challenge placed in front of him. He may shed some tears for lost opportunities, but he won't question God's sovereignty.  This is a short one, but just want all of us to take a minute and think, "Could I say the same thing?" Let's look to Colt and follow his lead, standing on The Rock.

Been a while

I've had a busy new year, but that's no excuse, I'll get something up soon. I've been working on something about Christians, what we are seen as and what we should be. Hope to have it out by the weekend, but homework comes first...

Christmas!

Another Christmas has come. A day of giving and receiving, a day of family and fun, a day of feasts, and a day celebration. But what are we celebrating? Luke tells us in Luke 2 that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be counted and while there, Mary delivered her son, Jesus. We are also told of Angels announcing his birth to the shepherds watching their flocks that night. In Matthew 2, we learn of wise men announcing his birth to King Herod.

But what does all of this mean to us. Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of the prophesy, foretold through out all of the Old Testament. He appears multiple times in the old testament, he wrestles with Jacob and is the fourth man in the fiery furnace with Daniel and his friends. His coming is told by many through the Old Testament, yet many do not believe. He proves that he is God multiple times from the time his ministry began at 30 until he was crucified at 33 for committing the crime of blasphemy. The man who was showing the world miracles, walking on water, healing the sick, and making blind men see, was sentenced to death for declaring he was God; the only one capable of doing the things he did.

Jesus was Man. Jesus was God. Jesus was a strong man, willing to die for his people. He shed his blood for us on a cross, and his last words were, "Forgive them father, they know not what they do." And then he died. Only to be resurrected 3 days later. This is the Man we celebrate the birth of. This is the Man who caused such a stir 2000 years ago. And this is the Man that promises us eternal life.

So take a moment today amidst all the celebrations to remember the Man, God, who was born in a barn and gave his life for your sins.