break the mold

I sat next to a Catholic man on a plane ride from WY to WI this last spring. In my spiritual pride, I decided to pray for an opportunity to lead him to a saving relationship with Jesus once I found out he was catholic. Little did I know that the next hour would be spent with him discipling me.


My view on the Catholic religion was very skewed growing up. I thought they worshiped the dead, were part of the mafia, and kept their bibles in trophy cases; taking them out only during exorcisms. This man was totally different. He was able to navigate his bible and scripturally explain his view points. But then he said something that completely contradicted my understanding of church history.

He looked at me and told me that Martin Luther did a horrible thing by dividing the Church, and his action has led to the thousands of denominations we now face. Did I hear him correctly? In my church, Martin Luther is hailed a saint: a captain of Truth. Maybe he is, but how can we justify the division of the churches when Jesus prayed the following in John 17: "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me"?

Contradictions from the church leave me frustrated and confused. I thought I was fleeing from that pain when I came to YWAM, because I thought everyone would think alike. Fortunately, God had a better idea.

Last week we had a speaker discuss praying the will of God into existence, and then this week we experienced a hurricane threat. There was a lot of concern and evacuation talks, despite the fact that many of the leaders said that God doesn't want people to experience homelessness. Well, if God wants us to pray His will into existence, and His will is to protect us from the hurricane, then why not pray the hurricane out of existence? Could it be that easy?

I went into prayer and asked God, "Father, is it possible to figure out your will logically, and then run around praying miracles into existence?" He answered with Isaiah 55:8, " 'my ways are not your ways, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.' " Ok, I thought, logic will fail me. Instead I need to ask what His will is so I can pray that into existence, but why?

That's when diversity became essential for my qwest. A friend said, very matter of factly, "God's will is whatever brings him the most glory." Ahh, the missing link. I have to ask God what His will is, because I don't know the outcomes of specific situations. Only He knows what will bring him the most glory. But that only led to another question.

Why is His glory is more important than the homes and lives of people in the path of the potential hurricane. He answered me through another verse; 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything for life and godliness, through our knowledge of Him, who calls us by his own glory and goodness."

That's it! The more glory God has, the more He shows His love, because He uses His glory to call us into an eternal relationship with Him! That revalation brought me so much comfort and joy, and did you notice that diversity was required to bring about that joy?
Diversity is beautiful, and can be so instrumental to our growth if harnessed correctly. The charasmatic preacher can motivate and encourage us to run in faith; while the questions from the theologan can help us stand in awe. Unity in the midst of diversity brings God glory, and people are brought into an eternal relationship.

Warning: Hard Hat Area

we started our lectures this week, and were blessed with the privaledge to hear Peter Warren speak.  He gave us an amazing week of foundation rebuilding.  I forgot how important foundation is.  Sometimes i want to build a house on sand.  I think to myself, "we can save a ton of time if we skip the foundation part.  I mean, no one sees the foundation anyways..."

I guess that's what they were thinking when they built the leaning tower of pisa.  A weak foundation eventually gets found out, plus it costs a much greater price to maintain and repair.  Sometimes, reparation is impossible.  You need to level the building and reset that foundation.

I found that out while listening to Warren.  I built my life on weak foundation, and needed to take a sledgehammer to the walls in order to reset my foundation on the rock.

My foundation was built upon Christ, but it wasn't as strong as it could be.  I remember becoming a christian as a young child because my parents were Christians.  I wanted to make them happy, and I thought the alternative to heaven was kinda scary.  In 1 Peter 3:15, the Apostle says that we need to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  I personally don't want to be the guy who kicked the dirt while mumbling, "cuz it's better than hell."

So, how did Warren help me reset my foundation?  Well, he reminded me that God created us to be in relationship with Him.  I've mutter that phrase a hundred times during sunday school, but deep down i always struggled believing it.  I knew that people will go to hell unless they accept Christ as their personal lord and savior, so I saw a conditional component to God's love.  God doesn't love conditionally though, and you need to look at the original blueprint in order to understand that. 

God created Adam and Eve in the perfect garden, with the perfect relationship with Him.  They didn't have to do anything in order to be in paradise, they just had to exist.  Unfortunately, we all make some really dumb decisions.  We lie, steal, cheat and hurt other people.  Those sins prevent us from experiencing a relationship with God.  Luckily, God wants to rebuild our foundational relationship with Him. 

The mosaic law didn't save people, so He made Himself the foundation.  The earth is falling apart, so He will create a new one.  Our relationship is hindered by an enemy who hates us, so He will cast Satan into Hell so we can enjoy His relationship to the full extent.  He will remove the pain, the hurt and evil that perverted His original plan.

I'm so grateful that my foundation has been reset, because its much stronger when built upon Christ's love.

unbelizable

God is in the business of relationship.  He uses them to face fears, find freedom, feel love.  At least, that's what has been happening here.



I met my roommate on the first day and he was a belizian who wanted to live life to the fullest.  "no fears man," was his motto, and i quickly realized that he meant it.  There were actually two belizians, and they have both helped me feel safe while outside my comfort zone.  This was very important, because I quickly discovered that i feel uncomfortable in the ocean.  There are so many dangers, and thanks to hollywood, i am very familiar with all of them.  I hear the theme song for Jaws whenever i am unable to see my feet in the water, and swimming out to the reef brought that out again.  Gratefully, both the Belizians took me under their wing and encouraged me to explore the secrets of the sea.  On my first day i saw a deadly fish, captured a starfish, and went spear fishing.  But with all those accomplishments, i still felt as though something was holding me back...

The next few days were very similar. On thursday we had a night of sharing our testimonies, and i was so encouraged by the other people.  I was in a room full of Christians who struggled just like i did.  Regardless of the faith of their parents, they were all broken.  Childhood is a battle, and we all leave with scars.  Whether it's addictions, abuse, or wishing we had a "great story" to tell; everyone feels a bit unsatisfied.  Amazingly, I think we found some of that satisfaction on friday.  

Friday started just like every morning, until one of the ladies stood up and confessed how she was hurt by guys growing up.  She was sobbing through the entire testimony, and really broke down some walls in the room.  Except for me that is.  I started to feel uncomfortable and lacked compassion because i was focusing on my own feelings.  The base director asked if anyone else had to share, and then read a bible verse that sliced my heart to the core.  I was terrified, not just because i had to confess my secrets to strangers, but because my secret involved a past that hurt girls like her.  I was that boy growing up.  i was the guy who was so concerned about his feelings, that he was willing to hurt girls.  I had no idea why God would call me to share this in a room full of girls, but He knew what was best.  I immediately broke down and was rescued by all of these strangers.  Encouragement and love was poured upon me.  Hearing people tell me that they accept me regardless of my mistakes, helped me accept the forgiveness that God was trying to give me.

Not only that, but I began to feel compassion like i have never felt before.  The next three hours consisted of people confessing their secrets outloud, and my heart broke with every word.  I don't konw if i've ever cried more in my life.  Ladies talked about how they were hurt by guys, and guys shared their struggles with controlling lust and aggression.  I realized that so many people have struggled with the same things, and want someone to say "you are not alone."  Transparency and forgiveness are essential to community, and community is one of the greatest gits that God gave us.  It breaks my heart that so many people experience life apart from that because they fear they will be rejected.  There is someone who will never reject you....ever.