Well, good morning. This post is once again coming to you as I sit in my second office (Starbucks. See early post concerning my feelings about this blessed place). I don't have much wisdom or specific insight on anything particular this morning. I sat here for awhile trying to think of something clever to write that would make this post worth while reading, but alas nothing came.
Instead could I suggest to you to rest in God today. Cliche for certain, but no less true for each one of us. Because of my job I think I have a little better opportunity to put this into practice. Though even for me, if I'm not careful, life can zip by without relying or taking rest in God.
You may ask, "Matt, what does it mean to rest in God?" Where I would reply, "honestly only you know specifically what that means." Sure I can give you some pat answers like spend time in the Word, communicate with God and listen for his response, and get away, even if only for a couple minutes, from the distractions that get in the way of you and Christ. Now those are all valid answers and I do suggest doing them, but each of us have our own unique personalities and situations making the suggestions above look different in how we accomplish them.
You know yourself best and know what keeps you from resting in God. So, this week focus on eliminating those distractions as you rest in Him.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Arrrr...Treasure!
Something that really caught my eye when studying in Matthew these last couple weeks was a small verse found in chapter 6. Jesus is talking about possessions and money and likens what we value to treasure. Verse 21 says, "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."
Let it sink in for a second. You see, at first, second, even third glance it reads pretty quick and painless. It's when you begin meditating on it that that the barbs start coming out and poking you. What is it that I truly treasure? If I'm honest with myself I'm a little embarrassed with the list I come up with. Probably most of us have things on our list that don't belong there.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of treasure is the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with Jack Sparrow. Isn't that a natural connection, pirates-treasure? But something that sticks out to me is the never ending desire pirates have for their treasure. It's what drives them, what gives them motivation to sail the seas endlessly, and even their willingness to kill and destroy in order to capture the prize.
I think that's the type of desire Jesus is talking about in regards to the things we "treasure." If we're making things other than God our treasure we are in danger of missing out on what God intended for our lives. A little further down in verse 24 it says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." I'd like to expand that thought beyond money and like it says in James we can't be a friend of the world and God. You have to make a choice.
So, what will it be? Make a list, be honest and see where your treasure lies.
Let it sink in for a second. You see, at first, second, even third glance it reads pretty quick and painless. It's when you begin meditating on it that that the barbs start coming out and poking you. What is it that I truly treasure? If I'm honest with myself I'm a little embarrassed with the list I come up with. Probably most of us have things on our list that don't belong there.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of treasure is the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with Jack Sparrow. Isn't that a natural connection, pirates-treasure? But something that sticks out to me is the never ending desire pirates have for their treasure. It's what drives them, what gives them motivation to sail the seas endlessly, and even their willingness to kill and destroy in order to capture the prize.
I think that's the type of desire Jesus is talking about in regards to the things we "treasure." If we're making things other than God our treasure we are in danger of missing out on what God intended for our lives. A little further down in verse 24 it says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." I'd like to expand that thought beyond money and like it says in James we can't be a friend of the world and God. You have to make a choice.
So, what will it be? Make a list, be honest and see where your treasure lies.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Graduation!!
Well, it's official, all you seniors have now finished an era of your life and are moving on to bigger and better things. Right? I mean you've only spent the last 12 years of your life learning from familiar teachers, sitting by familiar friends, and eating the same cafeteria goop that has become strangely palatable over time. But, oddly enough as much as you look forward to the future it's probably equally hard to let go of the past.
When I graduated from college I struggled with this quite a bit. Living amongst some of my closest friends for 4 years and sharing countless experiences with them, that will forever permeate my memories, was a difficult thing to move on from. They had become family, my safety net when life was confusing, and even more than that they had become my life. It was hard to think of moving on without them. Who would I make late night runs for slurpees with, who's buddies house would I invade for a weekend to do laundry, and how would I survive without the weekly wrestle mania events going on in the guy's dorms? As much as I looked forward to life after college a part of me never wanted it to end.
Now maybe you didn't have as good of an experience through high school as I had in my 4 years of college, but all the same you became familiar with it and in even the smallest ways will probably miss different aspects of it. It's natural. If you're not missing it at all then you're a cold heartless person or home schooled. (I can say that because I was home schooled.)
My point I guess is this. Cherish your past. Appreciate the memories and experiences you had and understand that they shaped you, for better or worse, into who you are today. But also embrace your future. As unfamiliar, or for some as scary, as it may seem God has more in store for your life than where you're currently at. If all of us stayed where we felt most comfortable and familiar we would miss out a lot that God wants for our lives. For it's in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar places that He is shaping us and drawing us closer to him.
When I graduated from college I struggled with this quite a bit. Living amongst some of my closest friends for 4 years and sharing countless experiences with them, that will forever permeate my memories, was a difficult thing to move on from. They had become family, my safety net when life was confusing, and even more than that they had become my life. It was hard to think of moving on without them. Who would I make late night runs for slurpees with, who's buddies house would I invade for a weekend to do laundry, and how would I survive without the weekly wrestle mania events going on in the guy's dorms? As much as I looked forward to life after college a part of me never wanted it to end.
Now maybe you didn't have as good of an experience through high school as I had in my 4 years of college, but all the same you became familiar with it and in even the smallest ways will probably miss different aspects of it. It's natural. If you're not missing it at all then you're a cold heartless person or home schooled. (I can say that because I was home schooled.)
My point I guess is this. Cherish your past. Appreciate the memories and experiences you had and understand that they shaped you, for better or worse, into who you are today. But also embrace your future. As unfamiliar, or for some as scary, as it may seem God has more in store for your life than where you're currently at. If all of us stayed where we felt most comfortable and familiar we would miss out a lot that God wants for our lives. For it's in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar places that He is shaping us and drawing us closer to him.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Open Mouth - Insert Foot!
Ever have one of those foot-in-mouth experiences?
The other night after The Refuge I was talking with a couple of the leaders and as we were chatting a lady had walked by on the nearby sidewalk and stopped to ask a question. It was almost fully dark so I couldn't see this lady that well. She went on to ask if we were a part of a church and what the our church was all about.
Well, having just hung out with a bunch of youth all night the first thing that popped into my head was the Sunday school answer "God." So, before I could rationalize this specific response I blurted it out, along with a little chuckle. What I didn't notice is that this lady wasn't joking around as I had hoped she was. Instead she looked right at me and said, "what's so funny about God?" Quickly we also realized that she was definitely on some kind of drug and wasn't thinking logically or cohesively.
Even though I know that a logical person would have taken my answer in jest and not taken it so literally it definitely made me stop and think about how I represent God to others. Are we so quick to make light of what God really means to us? I definitely will think twice before answering another question like that.
The other night after The Refuge I was talking with a couple of the leaders and as we were chatting a lady had walked by on the nearby sidewalk and stopped to ask a question. It was almost fully dark so I couldn't see this lady that well. She went on to ask if we were a part of a church and what the our church was all about.
Well, having just hung out with a bunch of youth all night the first thing that popped into my head was the Sunday school answer "God." So, before I could rationalize this specific response I blurted it out, along with a little chuckle. What I didn't notice is that this lady wasn't joking around as I had hoped she was. Instead she looked right at me and said, "what's so funny about God?" Quickly we also realized that she was definitely on some kind of drug and wasn't thinking logically or cohesively.
Even though I know that a logical person would have taken my answer in jest and not taken it so literally it definitely made me stop and think about how I represent God to others. Are we so quick to make light of what God really means to us? I definitely will think twice before answering another question like that.
Starbucks Revelation
So, I'm here at my second office (that's Starbucks for those of you who may not know) and I had a moment of pause as to why this place is so comfortable and refreshing to hang out at. Besides the obvious one-of-a-kind flavor of Starbucks coffee I had to make a list of what draws me here.
The first thing that comes to mind is the atmosphere. When I come in it feels familiar and warm, a place that I've had long conversations with good friends. The staff usually greets me with a smile and makes me feel welcome. They make an effort to memorize my name and favorite drink. When I come in it almost seems like another family that I belong to.
The second thing that comes to mind is consistency. I always know what to expect when I come to a Starbucks. Sure I know "my" Starbucks more intimately, but I could be across the world and know with confidence that the drink I order there would taste identical to what I'd get at home. This is a key selling point that Starbucks rests in knowing consistency wins consistent business.
So, in light of these observations it made me think about the church. Are we a place that creates an atmosphere that people feel comfortable in? Do people walk through our front doors and know that they will be greeted with a genuine smile, that their names won't be a casualty of common courtesy? Will they feel excepted as part of the "family?" Unfortunately I think the church body often doesn't present this kind of atmosphere. Furthermore, people should be able to see consistency in the body of Christ. Too often we see many different agendas and representations of who God is throughout the global church body. Why can't we walk into any church anywhere in the world and know that we'll get the same God.
The first thing that comes to mind is the atmosphere. When I come in it feels familiar and warm, a place that I've had long conversations with good friends. The staff usually greets me with a smile and makes me feel welcome. They make an effort to memorize my name and favorite drink. When I come in it almost seems like another family that I belong to.
The second thing that comes to mind is consistency. I always know what to expect when I come to a Starbucks. Sure I know "my" Starbucks more intimately, but I could be across the world and know with confidence that the drink I order there would taste identical to what I'd get at home. This is a key selling point that Starbucks rests in knowing consistency wins consistent business.
So, in light of these observations it made me think about the church. Are we a place that creates an atmosphere that people feel comfortable in? Do people walk through our front doors and know that they will be greeted with a genuine smile, that their names won't be a casualty of common courtesy? Will they feel excepted as part of the "family?" Unfortunately I think the church body often doesn't present this kind of atmosphere. Furthermore, people should be able to see consistency in the body of Christ. Too often we see many different agendas and representations of who God is throughout the global church body. Why can't we walk into any church anywhere in the world and know that we'll get the same God.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Perspective
Ever have those moments when you look at something that seems "old-hat" or "familiar," but for whatever reason this time you see it from a fresh perspective that illuminates new understanding and revelation? I had one of those moments last night in my life group. We've been working through the Truth Project, put out by Focus On The Family, in our Life Group on Monday nights and last night the speaker was describing social order and how it mimics the trinity.
For example, the Father and Son are one, the Son is submissive to the Father and from the Father and Son comes the Holy Spirit. You look at the family, the man and women are to join and become one flesh, the women is to submit to her husband while the husband is to love his wife. From them come children. In the social order of the church we see that Christ is the head and the church body is the bride. Christ loves the church as a man should love his wife and as the Father loves His Son. We are told that the leaders (church) are to watch over the "flock."
He went on to talk about the idea that life is a string of relationships and that every form of relationship is found in the trinity. Intimacy, community, unity, fellowship, love...it's all there in one person. There's a lot about God that I don't comprehend and this is only scratching the surface of God's grand design, but it is reassuring to know that I serve a God of order and purpose and somehow I'm an intricate part of that.
For example, the Father and Son are one, the Son is submissive to the Father and from the Father and Son comes the Holy Spirit. You look at the family, the man and women are to join and become one flesh, the women is to submit to her husband while the husband is to love his wife. From them come children. In the social order of the church we see that Christ is the head and the church body is the bride. Christ loves the church as a man should love his wife and as the Father loves His Son. We are told that the leaders (church) are to watch over the "flock."
He went on to talk about the idea that life is a string of relationships and that every form of relationship is found in the trinity. Intimacy, community, unity, fellowship, love...it's all there in one person. There's a lot about God that I don't comprehend and this is only scratching the surface of God's grand design, but it is reassuring to know that I serve a God of order and purpose and somehow I'm an intricate part of that.
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