Hiding is No Big Deal...Right?

Last Sunday was Father's Day. This is the 2nd Father's Day without my dad. As I thought about my relationship with him, I realized just how much of my life was spent hiding my youthful transgressions to curry praise from him. That in turn prevented me from experiencing the unconditional love he offered and expressed at those times I could not hide the error of my ways. I wonder just how much I missed by hiding mistakes and struggles with my dad.

As I learn more about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, I am seeing a God who knows me better than my dad (continual sin and all) and loves me whether I share (repent) those transgressions, mistakes, or struggles with Him. While my "hiding" prevented my dad from having more opportunities to share grace/love/discipline with me. My hiding, not sharing, not repenting, doesn't prevent God showing His grace/love/discipline for me, it prevents me from seeing it and in turn Praising Him for it. As I continue to prepare for seminary this fall, I plan to bring all my concerns to Him and watch in wonder as He meets every need, forgives every sin, and graciously calls me into account. Free to hide no more!

What are You Doing to Excercise Your Faith....

At my mens small group meeting, one of the guys talked about his retired marine friend, who talks to young people about the benefits of joining the United States Marines. He talks to both men and women in the local WalMart, Home Depot, or Giant Food, not as a paid recruiter, but as marine just wanting to let them know they have an opportunity to consider the corp and a better life. That caused the group to ask the question why don't we naturally approach people about the benefits of knowing Christ?

So we began to talk about what we know about the people in Military Service and what makes some of them so passionate.
* We talked about how every solider knows the history of their service, unit, and platoon.
* How every solider or sailor goes through a common basic training. A training that teaches them skills they will need to care for their fellow solider/sailor and endure difficult situations
* How every solider/sailor then practices, in planned exercises and combat zone situation, helping each member and see how the training works in practical situations.

As we continue our training to be a Christian Ninja, (mature christian) what in our schedule is intentionally designed to help us see the fruit of God's training in practical use. When do we make time to practice serving the poor and needy. When do we make time to sit with the lonely or friendless. When do we schedule time to pray with others and look to see God's faithful response?

Check out the calendar for times I will attempt to intentionally use the skills the Holy Spirit is developing in me in practical situations. Please feel free to join in on the practice and post some of your intentional exercises...

What do you Remember from Sunday.....

Hey Fans,

It is my hope to hear what the Holy Spirit left with you from Sunday's Worship Services and Celebrations. It can be something from the sermon, song, hymn, prayer, or creed. Please identify the church, pastor, worship leader, worship team, or author depending what you remember.

This week I was at City of Hope Church, Columbia, MD. Pastor Irwyn Ince was preaching on 2 Timothy 3:10-17. He reminded me that Paul's reward for preaching and living the Gospel was prison, stoning, rejection by the religious establishment, and death at the hands of the Romans. Am I really called to preaching this gospel? Are you called to live this gospel?

What do you Remember from Sunday....

Hey,

It is my hope to hear what the Holy Spirit left with you from Sunday's Worship Services and Celebrations. It can be something from the sermon, song, hymn, prayer, or creed. Please identify the church, pastor, worship leader, worship team, or author depending what you remember.

What I remember comes from the Sunday Worship Service at Chapelgate. Pastor Mike Khandjian was preaching from Galatians 2:1-10 and the freedom we have in Christ. Through his preaching on this passage, I realized I am free from any tradition that doesn't help me see the awesomeness of God. I am free to follow Christ with no expectations. I am free to love unconditionally. Free to understand that what we do cannot not change what God will do, but it does have an impact on who I am and how I see the world the the God who created it.

What do you remember?

Why a Ninja....

Whether a knight, a samurai, a ninja, or a special forces sergeant, all posses a combination of practical skills and a vast knowledge of law and history. That combination creates a religious like commitment to a leader or idea.

As I start my directed path toward full time gospel ministry, the journey will involve both exhaustive study of God's Law in seminary and the development of practical skills via a Presbytery Internship. This combination will hopefully help me see just how faithful Christ has been and will be in the future.

How does being a ninja fit into this journey? At this point, my thinking is that as my knowledge grows and skills improve, I will be called serve in very different and difficult situations depending on God's faith.

It is my hope that as I walk this path, you will come along. You to can be part of falling in love with God's Law as I share the ideas from professors, pastors, and mentors. You can be exposed to much of the practical training I will receive from counselors, small group leaders, community leaders and pastors.

I hope this will not be one way but you will add through your comments on blogs and posted links. Together we will testify how the freedom found only in the Holy Spirit allow us to love with no expectations and share the Gospel in both word and deed.

Come along and discover the faith God provided for us to become a mature (ninja like) Christ Follower...