Strangers

Watch this:

"Strangers"

I wish that I could leave this video as it is, with no explanation needed. However, this IS an assignment, so here goes everything I've got. 

     The first time I watched this video, it was at a youth retreat in November. The weekend we spent up north was incredible, and a lot of time and effort was put in to making the weekend a great experience for everyone. Of all that went on that weekend, the three minutes and thirty-three seconds I spent watching this video were probably some of the best minutes.  It's such a simple message, and I think that's the reason it caught the attention of so many. 

     The phrase "going deeper" is used often in church circles, whether that means reading your bible more, praying more, or just being a "better Christian". But, I think everyone gets too caught up in checking tasks off their "Christian List", or exhausting their brain trying to find the "hidden meaning", that we miss the simple message that's always been there. 

Love

     I'm reading (another) book called "The Misunderstood God" by Darrin Hufford, and in it, he mentions the ever famous (or infamous) 1 Corinthians 13. You know, "love is patient, love is kind". That one. We've all heard it. He suggests replacing the word "love" with "God", because if God is love, they're interchangeable. Take a look, it's pretty awesome:

God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast. He is not proud. He does not dishonour others. He is not self-seeking. He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  

Cool Eh? If we want to live like God, and long to be more like him, read the passage above a few more times. That's a pretty good place to start. There is no secret code, or special manual to follow. Being a christian isn't about  good deeds, or church attendance. It's about a raw, radical love that I'm still trying to comprehend. But hey, you've got to start somewhere, right? 

    Just as the video above mentions, we never know how our actions are going to affect other people. Every person has the opportunity to be unbelievably influential just by simply living. If you've never thought of that before, take a second to understand what that means. Your life can, and probably has influenced so many other people's lives and decisions just by simply being you.  So give 'er a try. Live a little. Love a lot. Be a stranger.  

         

In My Father's Eyes

       I didn't want this to become book review central, but when thinking of what to write about, it just so happened that my ideas grew from a book I've recently begun to read. The small group that I'm a part of decided to study the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.  

       This book is all about challenging ourselves to live radically for God. However, it wasn't the challenge itself that caught my attention and provoked my thoughts. It was simply the first chapter that explores the wonder of God's creation. In it, Chan describes the incredible galaxies, intricate deigns of nature, and all the other amazing things that we don't even think twice about.

       This simple reflection on God's amazing talent - if you can call it that- made me wonder what sorts of labels He would take on here on earth. 

       The beautiful sunset, and scenery more than qualifies him as an artist. Nature itself creates such beautiful music that he would be, no doubt, a musician. Scientist, writer, gardener, teacher, doctor -  the list could go on forever. If God created everything, He could be anything, if He were to walk among us. 

       I'm a chronic doubter, about pretty much everything in life. I wouldn't say that I sell myself short of things, but I'm a doubter no less. Everyone doubts themselves at one time or another. Whether about their place in life, their talents, or their purpose, we all do it. When reading this chapter, and taking a moment to soak in the glory of God, I realized something that shattered my fears like glass on pavement. 

       I take after my Father. I may not be perfect at it, but I can write, like He did. I may not be the best-of-the-best, but I can create music, like He does. I may never achieve perfection, but I'm learning from the master Himself. 

       You see, there's a reason God created the world to be so diverse, and then placed millions of people on it.  Everyone has a talent, gift, and passion inside of them, that was placed there at the beginning of time. Every being on the earth possesses qualities that directly reflect those of their heavenly Father.  

       I don't know about you, but this was a sweet realization. The God of the universe "gets" me. He understands me. Inside and out. In every area of my life, He knows what's going on, because He created me, and every gift I've been given. Nothing can surprise Him, or catch Him off guard, because He's already been there, and done that. 

       God could not be a more proud parent, seeing His children pursue the talents that have been reflected from Him. I'm  just beginning my careers as a writer, teacher, counsellor, and probably a handful of other's that have yet to be discovered. And in His eyes, I'm doing just fine.  

       So the next time you find yourself doubting, or wondering what's coming next, why not talk to the Master? The best-of-the-best. The Creator. I can guarantee He has some great ideas. 

       Luke 11:9,10 "So I say to you; Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

Live Like Joshua

     

"Joshua stood before all the people of Israel and said to the Lord:
  "Sun, stand still over Gibeon.
       Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon."
  So the sun stood still,
       and the moon stopped
       until the people defeated their enemies.   

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and waited to go down for a full day." Joshua 10:12-14

 

 When I read this passage for the first time, it was in a book called "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick. The book focuses on living audaciously, and challenges us to step outside our comfort zones and ask God to do the impossible. The book is fantastic, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, but there's an even greater message the lies in that single passage above, than could be described in any two-hundred page novel.

     

       Take a moment and transport yourself back in time, to the setting of this scene. Five armies are against your own, and a full victory is seeming more and more out of reach. As the evening approached, the leader, Joshua knew that when the night fell, their victory over the promised land would come to a close. This is where audacious faith kicks in. Joshua took this opportunity, infront of all his people, to muster up all the courage he had left and deliver one of the most amazing, unorthodox prayers in the entire bible. He asked God to make the sun stand still in the sky! To freeze time on behalf of the people that he lead into battle!

       To many, it seems utterly impossible. To me, however, it is absolutely incredible. I give Joshua two thumbs up and a huge round of applause for his courage. But this passage does make me wonder, like most things normally do - what happened to audacious faith?

       When I first read this story, the skeptic in me picked it apart, and began whispering things like "that could never happen now", and "Joshua was special. There's no way something like that could happen to you". But as my eyes scanned the page, I came across something that captured my attention. Just four verses before the climax, we are let in on the secret of Joshua's confidence:

The Lord said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid of those armies, because I will hand them over to you. None of them will be able to stand against you."

       Joshua had a secret weapon, that took everyone by surprise. And the greatest part about it is that that secret weapon is still alive today, casting out our fears and ensuring that no army will be able to stand against us. God is just waiting for us to act audacioulsy. He is God of the universe, and there is NOTHING He can't do. So why restrict ourselves to bedtime prayers and Sunday mornings? 

       What would it look like, in our society, to see the Joshua's emerge in all of us? What would happen if we decided - as an individual, a family, a church, a nation - to activate our audacious faith, challenge God to do the impossible, and pray our own "Sun Stand Still" prayers?

      I know, without a doubt, that it would be incredible. We would find ourselves caught in the middle of a movement. We would initiate change and begin to stir up the hearts of everyone around us. 

       Expect the impossible. Believe in the miracle. Live like Joshua.

               

 " The world is waiting for change. God's people are the change the world is waiting for."



   

What Teens Really Want For Christmas

       "It’s the most wonderful time of the year!" Starting back in November, stores have been fighting for our attention with their flashy displays, and over played commercials. Parents across the nation are pacing the floors, scratching their heads, and trying to tackle the annual dilemma: What do I get my kid for Christmas?

       All the flyer flipping and window shopping may not be getting you as close to the perfect gift as you thought. What do teens really want – or need– for Christmas? We might have more to say about it than you might think.


Dear Parents,
       Year after year, electronics always seem to steal the number one spot on our Christmas lists. This year, products like the new Iphone 4S and Ipad are what we’re circling in the magazines, just hoping you’ll notice. These are great gift ideas, and would no doubt leave us smiling ear-to-ear on December 25^th, but there are ways we can be gift-giving all year round.

       No, we’re not talking about Christmas in July, or having a holiday every weekend. There are ways that parents can give gifts to their children that last a lot longer than a new phone or computer.

       We are a chosen generation. A calling and direction has been placed on each one of our lives that surpasses all expectations – even our own. We have influence, passion and dreams that are still being discovered. We crave attention, but we are not always selfish. We need to be motivated, guided, and encouraged. We need to feel nurtured, accepted, and loved. As much as we are portrayed as stubborn and independent, we know we can’t do it all on our own. Being given the opportunity to grow in our faith and the reassurance that we are never in it alone, could be one of the best gifts you’ll ever give. Even as we grow older, we watch you everyday. You are our example. You teach us how to live and love, and we never stop learning from you. We like to talk and we love to hear your stories, even if sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.

       For us, trust is basically a two-way street, but we need you to hit the gas pedal first. Once you do, though, don’t be surprised if we creep above the speed limit. Trust and encouragement are gifts that fuel our fires, and jump start our confidence, we just need a little time to warm up.

       The world is rapidly changing. Every time you turn around, something else has been changed, updated, or replaced. Growing up in the middle of this, us teenagers are pretty used to it, and are able to catch up quickly. But, that doesn’t mean consistency isn’t something we crave. Just the knowledge that you are there for us through the good, the bad, and the ugly, is an amazing gift unto itself.

       So, what do we want for Christmas? Take a moment and set the lists and flyers aside. 

Believe in us.

Trust us.

Love us.

       These are gifts that keep on giving. They’ll last a lifetime and are guaranteed to make this Christmas one that we'll never forget.

Passion Over Paycheck

       This morning, the sky is clouded with fog. Sitting here up north, my eyes scan the surroundings across the lake. It's quiet, and I am reminded of how much I enjoy spending time  admiring the beauty of it all. Although the fog blurs the picture in the distance, it is the stillness of the lake and the chill from the wind that makes getting up so early worthwhile.

       Secluded from the rest of the world, it’s easy to forget the flurry of activity and questions that are surfacing in the minds of those back home. As deadlines approach and life continues to fly by, worry begins to take root in the minds of teens. I am no exception. It would be a lie to say that I have not been concerned with my future lately. As we are handed pamphlets and information packages for countless post-secondary schools, our brains begin to kick into overdrive, trying to answer a thousand questions at once.

Which school do I choose?

How will I pay for this?

What if I choose the wrong program?

What if I can’t get a job?

       Unlike many, I seem to have been able to suppress the stress with a mantra of sorts. "Passion over Paycheck" are the words that echo in my head. "Calling over Cash", "Blessing before Benefit", whichever cliché you prefer, that is my focus.

       As a generation of young people, ready to jump towards the future, we need to think before we fall. We need to take a step back, do a little soul searching, and discover our passion, without thinking for a second salaries, benefits, locations or social status. Programmed into our very beings, our hearts have been pre-destined for a future long before we took our first breath.

       So why do we worry? Why do we lose sleep over finances when we serve a God who provides? Everyone has the ability to impact those around them. You don’t have to be a missionary overseas, or a motivational speaker to make a difference. All you need is passion.

       Take a moment, and envision your biggest dream. The one that keeps you up at night, excited and anxious. Someone once told me that if you can see an end to your dream, then you're not dreaming big enough. If you can see your goal being accomplished, than that means you've done it all on your own. Our visions for the future should cause us to rely completely on God. Our goals and dreams should be so "out-there", that when spoken aloud, it causes people`s jaw`s to drop and their eyes to widen. To others it may seem impossible, but to you, it`s the simple reassuring fact that if God has called you to it, He will bring you through it. Why do we rush when we serve the Author of Time?

Your vision is what guides you, but your passion is what drives you.

       The future is like a foggy morning up north. Clouded by uncertainty, we grow increasingly impatient. We are restricted to seeing only what is directly in front of us, so we rush ahead in hopes of discovering clarity, only to realize that the fog has covered our tracks and we end up where we first started.

       There is one thing that is often forgotten, so before you try and take matters into your own hands, remember this: fog is temporary. As the day continues on, the fog disappears to reveal a clear, beautiful masterpiece –hand crafted and especially designed– all we have to do is wait.

　

"We plan our lives in long, unbroken stretches that intersect our dreams the way highways connect the city dots on a road map. But in the end we learn that life is lived in the side roads, alleys, and detours."

-Richard Paul Evans