Quiet Strength

Matt. 2:14 “But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.”

Confidence is key, right? That’s how the phrase goes… Everyone knows that confidence unlocks ones ability to be a leader, attract another, and be successful. As a culture we respect those who project strength and assurance, we value their opinion.

Id argue that one of the main elements of raps influence in the masses stems from the rapper’s overt confidence that they are the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! Every song shouts who they are, and what they made happen for themselves, and we all sing along because we deeply desire to have the confidence Eminem, Drake, or Lil Wayne puts into words. It makes sense- shout about how you tough you are, and maybe everyone will believe it.

But

When we look at Jesus we see a level of strength that is rarely found in men on Earth today. Here is a man who in the blink of an eye could release millions of angles to destroy every living creature on planet earth, but instead he stands before ants (men) and let them spit in his face, accuse him unjustly, and beat him sensless. He stands, a chained bloody mess, before a crowd of thousands all unanimously calling for his brutal death. He carried his own cross nearly half a mile through jeering crowds, being driven by whips like an animal. He laid motionless on his cross as spikes merged his flesh with the wood. He was raised up before the city of Jerusalem, an innocent man dying shamefully between two criminals. When he finally speaks, he cries out over the crowd, over the city, and over eternity “Forgive them, for they know not what they do”.

True strength is shown, not shouted.

Dont Be Kanye West

Don’t Be Kanye West

If you have not heard of Kanye West’s latest stunt at MTV’s VMA’s, I will assume that you have been giving your life to missions in a completely remote, cannibalistic land, or you are a card carrying senior citizen.
The news of Kanye upstaging 19 yr old Taylor Swift to yell unintelligently about Beyonce’s video being the “GREATEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME” rocketed through twitter like a highschool cheerleader avoiding the chess club in the school hallway. (Side Note: Have you seen Beyonce’s video? Its three girls dancing in unflattering one piece bathing suites for 4 minutes. I think the greater issue here is Kanye actually thinking that video is the greatest of all time).
At first viewing of Kanye’s intrusion I brushed it off as the yearly egomaniacal rant we have come to expect from Kanye, but as I thought about it through the night I got more and more angry, livid, actually. Thats when I determined the 3 aspects I will never be like Kanye in, and if you have read this far, I invite you to continue reading about the three areas you shouldn’t be like Kanye West.

Area #1. The Ladies.
Other than Kanye being piss drunk, I cannot determine why he would ever make such a big deal about Beyonce. Jay Z is her actual husband, and I didnt see him crying on stage (I dont see him making a full album of autotune either). Maybe Kanye felt like he was doing Jay Z a favor, standing up for his crew or something. Either way I have determined to never put a lady in the predicament he put Taylor Swift into. I recently saw an interview with the living intellectual Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson where he stated “Id like to see Kanye come up and try and take my award”. Firstly Fifty, Id like to see you actually get an award, but the statement he made is absolutely correct. I’d love to see Kanye swagger on stage to steal Eminems spotlight, we would get a live UFC fight between the two. Lets see the little man that Kanye is pick on someone who isnt a female.
Females innately are looking to men for protection, and it is our God mandated purpose to never put a female into a position where they are fearful, degraded, and most of all dishonored. A man is called to lay down his life for his wife, and it starts by first putting your sisters (ie anyone of the female gender) safety and well being before yourself. Where is your sense of honor Kanye West? The nation was shocked not because what you did was rude, but because deep in our core humanity knows evil when it sees it. What we witnessed was more than a man stealing a womans spotlight. We witnessed a man holding up a mirror to our culture, and the depths that the concept of being a man has fallen too.

Area #2. “Jack***” – President Obama
I would love to write out the full word, but I have a feeling I’ll get called in Pastor Marco’s office if I do. The shock of what Kanye did climbed all the way to the Oval Office, and in an interview a couple days later audio was leaked of our president calling Kanye the above statement. In the past 5 months this statement is the first from Obama’s mouth that both Republicans and Democrats fully support Obama on (now if he can only get Kanye to insult Healthcare he might actually get somewhere). You know you have hit rock bottom when the President of the Free World (who is also black if you didnt know) calls you a “Jack***”.
Lately in our culture we see the pervading “logic” that “peoples opinions mean nothing”, but when viewed through the above circumstances we see how that statement is false. Though we will all screw up at certain points in our lives, it is important that we watch our words, our actions, and our responses if we ever desire to be viewed as a leader or impact others in a positive way. I recently read an insightful statement from Bono on his work w. ridding Africa from abject poverty, it said “Being a celebrity is currency, and I intend to spend mine wisely”. Kanye’s outburst cost him more than his pride, it cost him dearly in his celebrity status and standing among the Americans that buy his albums and support his causes. If your desire is to affect the world around you in a positive way towards change, make sure you never do something where those who look up to you will think in their minds “Jack***”

Area #3 Let Go My Ego
If you dont get the above play on phrase, you must not be from the 90’s. We all know Kanye has an ego the size of Saturn (there are pictures of his ego taken w. the Hubble Telescope posted on Nasa.com), but that has always been put up w. for….well…I really dont know why we have put up with it for so long, maybe because “Graduation” was a good album. Kanye isn’t the first person to let his unfiltered view of himself get the best of him, and certainly wont be the last, but I beg you to use the opportunity to check yourself to see if people are repulsed by your lack of humility. Like the old saying goes “Pride comes before a fall”, we see politicians, preachers, and recently talk show hosts fall from public grace from outbursts or affairs gone embarrassingly public.
The scariest place for someone with influence to find themselves in is one where they are untouchable. If no one is able to talk to you straight or call you into account w. certain areas in your life then take that as your first sign of a major problem. Some of the most annoying people to be around are those that you have to tip toe around eggshells in every conversation hoping to not say the wrong word, phrase, or opinion that will set their ego spiraling into an awkward argumentative state- those people have gotten that way because they have not understood the same thing Kanye West has yet to understand: YOUR NO BIG DEAL! It does not matter what you have done that is so great! Know this reader, whatever you do will always be outdone in some way at some point by someone else, whether ruling the world of Hip Hop, the Church world, or the intellectual high ground it is all fleeting.

So Kanye, why dont you come back down to Earth, bow your head, and live like someone who doesn’t deserve whatever good is in his life- only then will you begin to understand why you exist, and who you exist for.

Triple Threat

Campaign: The Real Jesus

Blog: Triple Threat

Matt. 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”

Do you know the person that is incredibly good at everything they do?  They seem to have a Midas touch- everything they do turns out awesome.  Later on in life the person who is good at everything isn’t that big of a deal, in fact, no one really cares, but in your high school days that good at everything guy reigns supreme.

In football they have a phrase to describe this good at everything guy. The word is: Triple Threat.  This label is given only to those that can run the ball expertly, kick the ball expertly, and pass the ball expertly. As you can imagine these Triple Threats are hard to come by in the game of football.

When Jesus Christ came to Earth over 2,000 years ago he came as a triple threat, obviously not in football, but a triple threat in leadership and authority. In the Old Testament we see three primary offices of authority: The Prophet, The Priest, and The King. We see people like Elijah walking in the authority of a prophet, Melchizedek as the authority of the priest, and King David as a mighty king. These men were anointed in one of these leadership areas and could not operate in both at the same time. They also were not the fulfillment of any of these areas, instead they operated completely under God- doing what works he set forth for them to accomplish. All of these men were not perfect or sinless and many failed to do exactly what God would have them do: except Christ.

Jesus is the expert and literal fulfillment in all three of these anointed roles, making him the original Triple Threat. He did more than prophecy, he fulfilled prophecy. He did more than present the sacrifice, He became the sacrifice. He was more than a king, He is the King of all kings. Over the next three blogs I am going to write about the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King individually and in more detail than we covered on Friday Night, and we are going to determine how it effects our Faith, Church, and Lives.

Jesus Is In Sin City

 

Las Vegas

Jesus Is In Sin City As an intern at The City Church I was able to travel with a team of 30 to Las Vegas to support The Church at South Las Vegas for a week. At first Las Vegas was a clone of Seattle other than the fact that the sun was out, it was 70 degrees, and we were stuck in the middle of the desert. A few days into the trip we took our vans (or moving boxes of terror and death) right through the strip (Las Vegas Boulevard)…the place known for the flashing lights, glitz and glamour, and the origination of the phrase “What happens in Vegas…” As we drove through the strip the lights soon gave way to darkness, the hotels became motels, and the casinos became strip joints. This is the Las Vegas everyone seeks- ironically it is still far away from all the pretty lights and shows…because sin cannot help but hide. Even in a place where sin is expected and encouraged it cannot go against its nature- it seeks the dark alleys and the secluded spots. This is the Las Vegas no one sees. It is never filmed because no one would watch that movie. It is never photographed because the pictures would never be bought. It is dark, lonely, and creepy. This is the consequence of the giltz and glam. As all sin has a consequence so the Vegas Strip has its dark side. This place is the true picture of Las Vegas. As I saw this place my heart sunk for the people who have been relegated to exist in this place. These people who bought into the Las Vegas lie, and now realize just what that lie entailed. There was no laughing, smiling, or winning large amounts of cash- there was only the grim reality of a life lived in addiction. Just as I thought I couldn’t bear this place any longer our car pulled along side a poorly lit building with a large sign straight out of the 70s. This building looked no different than the marriage chapels, porn shops, or tattoo parlors surrounding it- yet there was something much more enduing about this place. It looked as though it stood before the strip and will continue to stand afterwards. The sign that caught my attention had the simple and most powerful word written on it: Jesus. The sign did not say “Church”. The sign did not say “Help”. The sign did not say “Welcome”. It merely said: Jesus. Because in the end that is what people need. More than help, money, a church, or a mentor- the people who are really dealing with the consequences of rampant sin need Jesus. They need the manGod who chases them down and turns them around even when they are unable to do it themselves. Im glad that sign said Jesus. Though Churches close down, pastors fall, and help may never come- Jesus is, was, and always will be the salvation of mankind. It isn’t a coincidence that a sign bearing the name of Jesus is in the middle of the self proclaimed City of Sin…because if Jesus were here today- that is exactly where He would be.

The parable of the little camp site.

I cannot lie…i stole this from my dad, but since he does not have a blog it is now mine by default.

What if a rich entrepreneur staged a little challenge for you and 99 other people. He brought you out to a little camp site of 1 room cottages, 100 of them …. They over-looked a gorgeous hillside on the ocean. There are 10,000 acres on that hillside overlooking the ocean, he says. I will give you each a 100 acre plot under one condition—that you take the next 3 months and gather enough material to build a mansion worthy of that property. If the material you gather can be erected into a magnificent home, I will deed the property over to you. And by the way, I will pay for all the materials. You can live in these little cottages temporarily while you plan and purchase and organize. You have 90 days beginning first thing tomorrow. The first week, everyone was gone, off to Home Depot and the lumber yard and the stone quarries. Lots to do and progress to be made. Early that Sunday evening, the folks were noticing one off the little cottages got a shinny new set of shutters. It was a nice touch and spruced the place up a bit. It really must have impressed the people next door because the very next day, they laid a whole bunch of slate down next to the front stairs of their little cottage. The neighbors all sat out that night on the new patio and had a cold one. It was great. With all the shopping going on, a deal here and there for the cottage was tough to pass up. Things got a bit more serious when the people on the corner added a whole new room to their cottage—a TV room—wow what great idea. Soon, the little camp site was abuzz with all the construction going on. Hammers and saws and backhoes for the in-ground pool. It was a flurry of activity from dawn til dusk. In no time at all that little camp site could rival any first class resort this side of the Delaware river. You would not recognize the place. Well the 90 days came quicker than anyone anticipated and with all the running around for the little cottage, not much effort was able to be devoted to the ocean front project. But when the rich owner returned right on time and demanded all preparation and gathering cease, he couldn’t help gasping at the transformation of the little cottages. This is wonderful he exclaimed, but everyone of you must move out and leave all this behind. I’m having this bulldozed in the morning. Let’s take a look at what you’ve gathered for the other side. You guessed it, not one house was ever built on the side of the ocean cliff. Most of the materials had ended up in the cottages. It’s a lot like us with eternity…. All this effort on the temporary cottage, but how much are we throwing to the other side? I think we just don’t understand the concept. Maybe it’s too simple.

Red Square: Trees, A Park Bench, and Students

Every week we go on campus to the University of Washington with the Generation Interns. We witness, we talk to international students, and every week 2 of us open air preach in Red Square (The main part of campus which EVERYONE walks through while switching classes). This was my week to preach. I knew it was coming- I felt it. I looked up during announcements for merely a second which was more than enough time for Jon Smith to tell me it was my turn. 
I like preaching. I feel at home when im preaching. I exist to worship, I live to preach. I was nervous to preach on campus…in fact, everything in me didnt want to preach. Firstly, I would have you know that i am not a fan of open air preaching…I dont think it is very effective, and i hate adding to the sterotypical screaming Christian (ex. TURN OR BURN!). All of my convictions were telling me to not preach- its not like the people hear you anyway. People merely laugh and walk by. Besides the only people who scream things on campuses are the crazies, but I honestly felt in my spirit I was supposed to preach. Also my authority told me I was going to preach, and based on that alone i would preach.
When we arrived at Red Square I chickened out. I couldnt do it. Ive never been afraid to speak in front of people, but this….this scared me. Maybe it was because I knew I was supposed to preach, but my logic was telling me to RUN! I cannot describe to you how badly i do not want to be a character on the movie “SAVED!”. 
As the square began to fill up my heart began to sink. I refused to preach. It went against everything I believed. So a girl took my spot. My friend Meridith spoke to me about how I would never know how just a word could impact someone, but my argument was that they would only hear a word because no one stops and people just laugh at the loud, crazy Christians! Meridith left me to philosophize away what I knew I was supposed to do, and she got up and preached- incredibly well. 
Finally I gave in. I got up and I preached as loud as I could- and believe me…it was loud, very loud. I felt like an idiot. These people werent even hearing me! They were laughing, some dudes were making fun of me…i cant blame them. I stumbled through my message. Trust me, it was bad. I captured no ones attention- I made no direct points, it was….sad.

To be honest I wasnt preaching to the lost…I was preaching to interns. I “knew” no one would hear my message except interns who were actually standing there so i preached to impress the Christians who were standing around. I preached to show off my skill at it. I preached because I am prideful…because of that I sucked. My words were about God, but my thoughts and heart were on myself…no wonder it was such a horrible experience. I walked away feeling defeated, stupid, and frustrated.
I checked my facebook last night and recieved a comment from my friend Smitha who goes to UW saying this “I heard someone in my law class who was impacted by your preaching on campus today : ) Thought you should know”. 

I still dont know exactly how I feel about open air preaching, but I learned something very valuable yesterday…I learned that the Holy Spirit knows what He is doing. I learned that preaching is about the people, not the preacher. I learned that just one word truly can affect someone. I learned that I am unlearned. I learned that when Mary was telling the servants “Whatever Christ tells you to do, do it” was actually a message to us as servants of Christ. 
Most importantly I learned that it is easy to do Christianity in church. Its not hard to preach to Christians. Its easy to practice Love for those who Love you. Its even easy to talk about souls, but when it comes down to actually doing something about saving souls it takes a true love for souls. I learned that I do not love souls like Christ does. There is a story where a famous revivalist brought a young preacher to a window and asked the young man what he saw. “Trees, a park bench, and a couple of students” was the young mans answer. Crying, the revivalis said “Do you know what I see? I see souls…Lost Souls.” 

When I preached I looked out at Red square and I saw some trees, a park bench, and students…God help me see souls, lost souls.

Flaws. Shortcomings. Humanity.

“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” -Thomas Merton.

So maybe im dwelling on this subject of pride wayy too much, but i constantly oscillate between this subject and the subject of Grace…maybe it is because Pride is the greatest obstacle to Grace.
Awakening 08 was an incredible event. The theme was “Awaken the Real”. We wanted to focus on being transparent…humble before God and people. A fatal flaw in teenagers is the kneejerk reaction to cover up their flaws and failures, and in the church it is killing our teenagers. We have so many teenagers in our midst that randomly backslide- totally forsaking all that God has done for them. It seems to come out of nowhere, but in reality the forsaking always begins at the covering of their flaws and screw ups.
Many of you know i strongly believe that the church should be a place for the UNsaved to come, be accepted, be loved, and meet people who are wholly unafraid to be themselves. This is why humility is absolutely essential to us as Christians.
Humility makes us real.
Humility shows our flaws.
Humility shows our shortcomings.
Humility shows our humanity.

People are desperately searching for someone to relate to- and yes Jesus is the answer to desperation….but you may be the first Jesus that they meet.
People are changed by the anointing and presence of the Almighty God. Christians are supposed to be conduits and containers of the anointing and the presence…This is why i believe humility is so important- because the one thing that will singlehandedly withhold His anointing on your life- is pride.
why?

God desires to be glorified. It is He and He alone who deserves all honor, praise, and focus. Pride is mans feeble attempt to attract the attention to him(her)self. Pride desires to show our own importance- while taking eyes off of Christ.

“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.” – DL Moody

I was looking up what my name means today, and I saw in the Hebrew it meant “To descend, pour out, to humble oneself”. The Jordan river is the point of one of Jesus’ most humbling experience- letting a (flawed, sin born, screw up) human baptize Him. It was His CHOICE to humble himself.
I want to live up to my name. I want to practice Humility. Practice being real- with God and people. So that If someone meets me- just maybe they will actually be able to glimpse Christ.

Sleepless in Seattle

I have been waiting to use that line for 3 years- it being 3 in the morning actually legitimizes it.
Since its so late (or early, depending on how youd like to look at 3 am), and ive walked the hallways enough to wear a path into it…So i guess ill just write on whatever comes to my mind. 

Pride and youth are inseperable. 
My dad always says that. 
I believe its true. Im a teenager. I know alot of teenagers- and pride is…all…over…the..place. Right? Have you experienced this? 
Im not discounting myself for a moment. Im a prideful dude, but my God do I wish not to be. 

Being in a brand new environment for the past month and a half has been weird. Sometimes when im walking from the student center to my dorm room (and no one is around so they dont think im crazy)- I wonder aloud “What am i doing here?”. I knew that removing myself from my surroundings would be a challenge, but I wasnt expecting…this. Who knew that i based myself so much on my surroundings!? I have found that I am utterly unable to tell my testimony without veering off and telling groundZero’s story. I never knew just how much of my comedy was completely different, and only funny to my friends who are way funnier than me. I guess people in RI are just used to me saying what i think and are used to me being inflammatory- you know, like, “Christian music sucks” or “Christians are weird” or “Hayden Christensen is a horrific actor”- the usual. I never knew just how little I was when you took so much that i based my life on- and here i am left with… Jesus. 
Anyway back to Pride.

The biggest thing i have tried to put into practice here is a “quiet strength”. Have you ever had this talk with Pastor Marco? We used to talk about the about the quiet confidence Jesus provides to us, but talking and doing are two completely different things. I have left my youth group, my place of leadership, etc. and i have come to a place where I am intern #83…which is completely what i wanted, but i didnt know just how much pride I would have to deal with. 
I try and pretend like people dont get on my nerves- but my God they do. I try and not go serious and “school” someone i think is wrong in whatever they are saying…i try and keep my mouth shut, but i hate it. There is such a desire in humans (at least in this human) to be known- for people to know what you have done, and it is unnatural to fight against these desires. It is innately in us to do our best to impress people. Which i try and do…alot.
But then I read the Bible.

I see Jesus go through 6 courts without saying a word! Finally when they get Him to speak- all He says is that “It is as you say” 6 courts! An entire night of people saying total lies to Him, beating Him, and spitting in His face…and He doesnt say a word. Dont youth think the “Fully Man” part of Jesus would be screaming inside of Him to raise himself in the air, call the armies of heaven together, and declare His glory? I bet he had an inner war over not giving into pride and letting everybody know just who He IS.

What about Paul…the greatest Apostle. He writes to the Corinthian church telling them that he did not come with fancy words, but with a power of God so that His greatness can be shown through Paul’s weaknesses. That is sick! I am able to talk. God has given me a mind for debate, and i enjoy that and speaking. I want so bad to show people just what im “oh so good at”, but then I read the very book I try and live and i see Paul telling people that He is totally fine with looking weak. 
Doesnt that just mess with your mind!? It is totally against what is normal for us as humans!
Paul resisted the urge to speak well, and use his oh so incredible talents. Im surrounded by people of which many seem to be in a rat race of talents talents talents, but when i read the Bible i see weakness, weakness, weakness. I know this isnt a very popular thing to say. 
Simply. My dilemma is that I am prideful and want to be even oh so much more prideful so that everyone can know who i am, why im here, and where i come from…but i hear God telling me constantly “Bow your head”. I try and be no better than a servant. Im beginning to wonder if we have never heard of those who were truly the best Christians. They arent saints, they never wrote books, and we dont have their story in the Jesus Freak book…maybe. I dont know. Can you tell that i wrote this at 3…now 4 in the morning?
All i know is that humility isnt popular. Keeping your mouth shut doesnt make you look cool. You dont get your name up in lights. No one recognizes your Bible knowledge or incredible mind. Its just you and God. 

And i think thats the point.

I Am Insufficient

2Cr 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Did you read that? 
Read it again. 

Paul would rather boast in his INABILITIES! He would rather talk about how incapable he is except for Christ. In fact, I remember Paul saying that one church he went to- he did so with few regal words and only the power of God. 
Let me get this straight…Paul is secure in his insecurities because in God works better when you dont get in the way. 

This note isnt for you- its for me. Im having a hard time bowing my head to others who i deem less fit than me. I have a hard time living in a quiet confidence of Jesus Christ. I would much rather boast, and take people down a few notches with my incredible knowledge in humility. Besides, being quiet never gets you noticed. Right? The quiet ones are the ones who God will use greatly- behind the scenes…like thats a bad thing. But Paul. PAUL. The greatest apostle of all is excited that He has weaknesses, so that Christ can fill them. 

Im wondering sometimes if I get in the way of Jesus too much. Maybe its not blatant pride, but I want to be loud enough that people dont know that i have insecurities, that i am incomplete, and that Im broken both by Christ- and the world. I want to be loud enough that people notice what I can do- not quiet enough that everyone is aware of what i cant do…yet, thats exactly what Paul is saying. That if he is going to open his big mouth, that he will open it only to tell you how messed up he is…in order to show you the incredible power of God. 
Sometimes i think that all our skills and abilities- the very things that God wants to use, keep us from being used because we cant shut up about the gifts and talents God has given us. I just want to be used. Thats it. I know im not the first choice. Im not the best choice. But i want to be chosen nonetheless. 

Here is my prayer: Father, please reduce me…to Christ.