Lunch with Doug Fields

In late May Pastor Dave and I will be traveling to Lake Forest, California for a ministry conference at Saddleback Church. Saddleback Church is the ministry home of many of my heroes: Rick Warren, Kurt Johnson, and Doug Fields to name a few.

So when I found out that I was definitely going I began to pray for an opportunity to meet with one of these heroes of mine, and the Lord came through bigtime! It was just confirmed to me that on May 21st I will be having lunch with Doug Fields!

Now you may have no clue who Doug is, so let me give you some perspective. In Star Wars terms, Doug Fields would be Master Yoda. In basketball terms, Doug Fields would be Michael Jordan. Seriously, the guy is the Pastor of the biggest student ministry in America. He's written some of the most important books ever written regarding youth ministry, and the whole "purpose driven" concept originally came from him...that's right..."purpose driven" started in Saddleback's Student Ministry long before Rick Warren ever wrote a book about it (little known fact).

I'm sharing this with you today because I truly see this as a blessing from God that I want to make the most of. Would you please keep this meeting in prayer? God's given me an hour with one of the greatest minds in ministry, and I want to soak up as much as I possibly can. Here are some specifics that you could pray for:

1 - that God would give me the questions to ask that I and Charter Oak Church's Student Ministry could benefit most from
2 - that the meeting would be protected from distractions or cancellation
3 - that Doug and I would both be mentally and spiritually ready to dive in to this conversation
4 - that this meeting would bring some new insight regarding ministry in general
5 - that Doug would be greatly blessed for sacrificing his time for me

Thanks so much for your prayer cover!

Grace and Peace

What a tough week

Yep, true to form...I predicted it in my last blog. This has been a tough week. The enemy is ticked off at me, and the attack is well under way. But let me just go on the record to say, "I'm doing fine." Despite the long hours, tough conversations, and high stress, Jesus' blood never fails me.

That felt really good to type, so I'm gonna type it again.
Jesus' blood never fails me!
Jesus' blood never fails me!
Jesus' blood never fails me!
Jesus' blood never fails me!
Jesus' blood never fails me!

You know, on a week like this there are a few things that I make a point of reminding myself. I've felt the leading of the Lord to share them with you here as it might help you to see my "anchors in the storm"...or at least be good therapy for me to type it out. So here goes, when I'm under the enemy's attack I make a point to regularly remind myself that:

God is in control.
There is no scheme of the enemy that confuses God. There is no attack that surprizes God. And even at the highest level of warfare, satan is at the lowest end of authority. Can I get an "amen" to that?

God is on my side.
In this epic battle between Jahweh and satan, God (Jahweh) protects His own. Oh, the enemy may come after me with plans to steal, kill, and destroy, but God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble. "What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 God is on my side!

Christ is the Victor.
The enemy may prowl around LIKE a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but Jesus IS the Lion. He's the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! In short, satan is a poser, a wanna-be. Even when he is at his strongest, he must bow to the divinity of Christ. The Apostle Paul put it like this, "...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, and on earth, and UNDER THE EARTH..." (Philippians 2:10) That verse helps me to realize that the devil is nothing more than a schoolyard bully who's about to get his comeuppance. Jesus is the Victor! Hallelujah!!!

I am His beloved.
Like a husband protects his bride; like a father protects his family; like a mother-grizzly-bear will rip you to shreds if you mess with her babies, I AM HIS BELOVED. And His love for me sets me apart. And His love for me causes Him to meet my needs. And His love for me is gentle when I'm hurting, incessant when I'm straying, and ferocious when I'm in danger. Oh, if you want to pick a fight with God, then mess with one of His beloved...He simply will not stand for that.

This is not a fight against my fellow man.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12) Therefore, I am called in Christ to not hold a grudge, begin to hate, or even personally engage in this battle. No...the war is Christ's to win, and "The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14) Which is why He tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

I hope this helps you in your moments of attack. I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses on warfare: Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,'Do not fear; I will help you.'"

Last night

Last night started off as any typical Sunday night would. Around 4:45 students began flooding the hallways of Charter Oak Church, and another evening of Student Ministry was upon us. First came the Junior High programming, which was awesome...We've been discussing spiritual warfare in our current teaching series, and, to get the conversation going, we've started each night with a different kind of war. Last night was a marshmallow war. I bought 1,000 marshmallows, and we had an all out free for all in the Christian Life Center. There were marshmallows EVERYWHERE! Seriously, it was so cool...next came the small group time. They were so focused in their small group discussions that I was nearly in tears. Then came the teaching time, and we laughed and laughed at one another as we focused on the concept of being "real" with God in our prayer lives. It was a good time. In fact, it was so good that I was getting really excited about the Senior High program that was about to begin.

The Senior High program began with the same marshmallow war...which was quite an experience for all as during a quick dodge I tore my pants from the zipper all the way down to my knee...seriously, I nearly "freed willy" in front of our entire Senior High group....I didn't have a second pair of pants available at the time, so let all God's people thank Him for duct tape! Anyways, after the war was over we began the praise and worship segment of the evening, and that's when things went to a whole new level. What I mean to say is that when the band finished the last song that they had planned to play, some of the students asked if we could keep singing...I felt the Lord nudging me to do it, so I continued to play. And, wow...words can't really capture what happened over the course of the next hour. In fact, I've spent the better part of this morning just trying to relive it in my head.

As I continued leading worship, students began approaching the altar and the cross on stage. Other students began to gather in groups praying and laying hands on one another. There were tears. There were shouts of praise. There was dancing. There were people just laying on their face. There were students thumbing through their Bibles. There were students gathered around the foot of the cross that was on the stage. AND THERE WAS JESUS...healing, ministering, touching, liberating, loving, saving, encouraging...it was pure; it was holy; it was beautiful, truly beautiful...

I watched as Keeks hugged the cross. And then Bree hugged and held Keeks as she hugged the cross. I watched as a new girl who was in church for the first time ever accepted Christ as her Savior...a fellow student guided her through the sinner's prayer...think about that for a minute...a fellow student guided her through the sinner's prayer...Hallelujah! I watched as one student took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and threw them in the trash. And I watched as the entire group of Senior High students endured the glorious ruining of Jesus. It was absolutely ridiculous in a very good way.

When I went home after it was over, I received 124 text messages over the next 2 hours from different students who had been there. They were expressing their awe and love for Christ. What a night...

If you were there last night, then this post has probably stirred some passion in you, and I just want to warn you to be on your guard. As we've been studying in All Out War, your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And you've got a HUGE bullseye on your chest right now because you are riding such a Jesus high. Get on your knees; get in the Word; get ready. Don't be surprized if this week turns sour. Just remember everything we've been discussing...cling to the cross and cling to Truth. Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world.

Grace and Peace to you.

Have you heard of Rush of Fools?

You can check them out at www.rushoffools.com. They opened for the Newsboys last night, and I was genuinely impressed. How impressed was I?...I came home with their CD and their tshirt. Anyways...their entire 45 minute set was given to praise and worship, and it was an absolutely beautiful time before the Lord. No messing around; no rambling testimonies; no typical Christian rock show antics; just spill your guts and cry out to Jesus kind of worship. It was cleansing. It was pure. And I LOVED it! Here are the lyrics to one of their songs:

I've been here before, now here I am again
Standing at the door, praying You'll let me back in
To label me a prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be

Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

I focused on the score, but I could never win
Trying to ignore, a life of hiding my sin
To label me a hypocrite would be
Only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be

Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

They're a great band. You should seriously check them out!

Newsboys Concert

Last night I took 28 of our students to RMU to see the Newsboys in concert. It was an awesome show!!! By the way, I'm pretty sure we were the coolest group there. While everyone else was content to stay in their seats, we danced and partied in the aisle...Anyways, during a latter portion of the concert, Peter Furler was sharing his story with the crowd, and he said something that really hit me. He said, "You must grab hold of the Word of God. If you don't grab hold of the Word of God, you will grab hold of something else."

I've recently been in a season of just getting back to the Word, and it's been some of the best Bible study of my life. So that quote came to me at a great time. Peter's right, you know...We all should press in and grab hold of the Word of God!!!!

What an awesome concert!!!!

Thoughts after workstudy

I have the great honor of spending a few hours a week with a student who is doing a work-study with me. We spend the bulk of our time together in Scripture wrestling with its application in our lives, and today was no different. Today's discussion was on 2 Kings 4:8-37, The Shunammite Woman. As I reflect upon that conversation with my student, I am left with one thought. This thought:

It's AMAZING grace that Jesus has for us.

It's not average grace.
It's not adequate grace
It's not even abundant grace.
It's AMAZING grace.

It's grace like a flood when all you needed was a sprinkle.
...grace like a buffet when all you needed was a snack.
...grace like an ocean when all you needed was a swimming-hole.
It's AMAZING grace.

With amazing grace, the love of Christ comes to us more affectionately than between newlyweds on their wedding night.

With amazing grace, the forgiveness of God comes more quickly than water from a fire hydrant.

With amazing grace, the treasures of life are made more available than a winning lottery ticket.

It's grace that is stupefying.
...Grace that is beyond description.
...Grace that causes the blind to see, the lame to leap, and the mute to sing.
...Grace that brings the prodigal son home and calls Lazarus out of his grave.
...Grace that puts up with Peter's denials, David's lusts, Paul's thorns, and my many, many sins.

It's AMAZING grace...how sweet the sound!

Oh, if I could just live into the love that amazing grace affords...
if I could grow into the relationship that amazing grace provides...
if I could rest in the peace that amazing grace promotes...
How amazed would I be?

I long to know...
I'll live to know...

Something's changing

Something's changing in me, and I'm pretty sure that it is God at work in me. For example, I watched an episode of MTV cribs last night that featured Russell Simmons' crib, and when he toured his bathroom he pointed out his solid gold toilet...that's right...A SOLID GOLD TOILET...When I saw it, I became instantly nauseous. He explained that he spent $250,000 dollars for his one-of-a-kind, custom-made poop chair, and as I listened to him I became painfully aware that something is changing in me. I used to watch that show and be enamoured and impressed with the plush "digs" and luxurious lifestyle that millionaires can afford. And if I'm honest with you, I'll even confess that I daydreamed about having houses and cars and wardrobes like that. But God spoke to my heart last night and let me know that he is changing something about me.

When I saw Russell's golden toilet, all I could think of was the hungry mouths that $250,000 dollars could feed, the suicidal hearts that a quarter-of-a-million dollars could put through therapy that is so desperately needed, or the clean water wells that could be built for our brothers and sisters who live in third world countries, or...well, anything...anything else under the sun...but no...Russell would rather take that money and crap on it...literally.

Let me go on record and say, in Jesus' name, I have a problem with that.

Sure, Russell, just like the rest of us, has the freedom to spend his money as he chooses, but I am realizing that this change that God is creating in me means that God is holding me to a different standard. And what hurts is the fact that, at least on a much smaller scale, I have my own "golden toilets"...And I need to get rid of them.

Please help me, Lord, to do just that. Please help us all.