Following Jesus is Not Easy

I have to be honest, following Jesus is not easy. Especially if you follow the Jesus who is committed to our growth and maturity as human beings made in the image of God.  A lot of us (including myself) are prone to avoidance and staying in the same place. We avoid the places in our lives that need healing, current circumstances that are difficult to handle, and decisions about the future.

However, God is committed to engaging those places where we have weakness and are scared to tread, and he desires for us to do the same. His goal is our sanctification. Consider this passage from Hebrews:

"And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

                     “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
                       and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  
                      because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
                       and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

(Hebrews 12: 5-11 emphasis mine)


I have avoided maturity in my own life like the plague. When faced with a choice I have chosen to not carry my cross more times than I would care to admit. I instead choose anxiety & fear over death to myself so that I may experience the resurrection of Jesus. 

This cannot be the way of a follower of Jesus. We cannot so easily succumb to fear and the desire to see our kingdom come, our will be done. I recently heard a pastor say that anxiety and fear are the direct fruit of pride, the result of our way being correct and the worry that God wont get it right.

As you have followed Christ, think back to where you were and to where you are now. Have you grown? Do you look more like Jesus today than you did yesterday? a week ago? a year ago?

That's the measuring stick. Not our accomplishments, not our public image, not our popularity. We can feel frustrated or even hurt by God when things dont turn out the way we thought in our lives. Next time those feelings of hurt or frustration towards God come up, allow yourself to see a bigger picture, outside of current circumstances.

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

(1 Corinthians 13:12 emphasis mine)

God is big, very big. He is committed to our development and growth. He is committed to loving us fully and doing whats best. He is committed to our restoration in Him so that we can be that for everyone we encounter.

We are called to be a light in dark places, and you cant give what you dont have. 

We are called to make disciples and lead people towards Christ, and you cant lead where you haven't been.

Stories from the road, Part 2: George's Story

George:

Let me tell you about George. Totally never expected to meet him. Me and my 4 friends encountered him in Minnesota on our road trip out to Montana.

When we met George he was panhandling, trying to raise enough money for a bus ticket to Virginia. We offered to buy him some food, and all went to the Mall of America together.

While there we ate, shared stories, and walked around for a few hours, enjoying each others company. George told us how he has been traveling since he was 17. He hit the road shortly after his father passed away and over the last 15 years has never been in one place for very long.

While in the mall we stopped at a barnes & noble. George asked if we had any good book suggestions, something to read while he is traveling.  One of us suggested the book "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge, it seemed fitting since George has such an adventurous spirit.

I told him it was a book about hope, and he responded "Boy I could really use that right now." Wow. Perfect timing. You better believe we made sure he walked out with a copy.

I wish my words could perfectly capture how positive of an experience it was for George and our group. The time with George showed me how God perfectly plans our steps and puts the right people in our path. We just need to be discerning and faithful to respond when we hear the prompting of The Holy Spirit.

Stories from the road, Part 1: Dwayne's Story

I need to tell you about 2 people I met while traveling this month. First, let me provide context.

The past few weeks have presented many circumstances that have been threatening to plunge me into despair.

Many of you are aware of some of the situations (i.e. The shooting in Vegas I witnessed), but there have been many more challenges that both myself and my loved ones are facing. Overall it has been a mix bag of internal and external difficulties, and it has all felt very overwhelming.

But, Christ is Lord and Savior, and knows what he is doing. He has very purposefully put 2 people in my path these last few days to minister to me: Dwayne & George.

First, Dwayne's Story.

Dwayne:

I met Dwayne at our Las Vegas laundry project. He was there to get his laundry done for free. So, naturally I thought to myself "I'm gonna go meet this guy and be Jesus to him." Only, I forgot that where the Spirit of God is, mutual transformation happens.

We ended up talking and sharing stories for over an hour. Dwayne told me his story of being involved in a gang, turning his life to Jesus, and becoming involved in church. He also told me of his eventual disenchanment with the church, his life of many struggles, and his desire for community.

However, what kept coming up with Dwayne was theme of Gods faithfulness. Dwayne told me that he has seen God come through too much to ever be done with him for good. Dwayne lives this out by being faithful to help others when given the chance.

Being that I was hearing this the morning after I witnessed a man kill a woman and then himself, I needed to be reminded of Gods faithfulness through even the toughest situations.

Dwayne provided encouragement and a new perspective, I am a better person for having spent time with him this past week.

Faded? or Glorious?

When I look at the stars...
well its hard for me to see any light at all.
They often seem faded.
Just a glimmer off in the distance.

Yet I know that so far away
that same star is burning brighter than I can imagine.
It's stunning.
It radiates glory.

Deep in the cosmos
I wonder what wonders await.
Because here on the Earth
I sometimes doubt things will ever change.

While wonders do await
Our goal is not detachment
from the things occurring right now
that deserve our investment.

Our investment is in those stars
shining around us all
our friends who seem faded
but who deep inside radiate glory.

The Candle

This started off as a poem, but seemed to lend itself more to a story format. Enjoy :)

"The Candle"

I can see the flicker of a candle burning off in the distance. The light is faint, but I can tell its there and that it is calling to me from what appears to be miles away. As I draw near the light grows no bigger, and I have no way to tell if it is a candle after all. Yet it still produces a sweet aroma, one that allows my nose to catch a whiff that reminds me of home. 

I get a sense though that where I'm heading, well it's not the home I once knew.  It's a new place I'm going to and even though I've never been, I feel a strange calm within. It feels like it's familiar, like I'll know what to do, how to act, and who to be. It feels like I'll recognize the light that is calling to me.

However, this isn't a tale of a journey complete. For I'm still far away from the light, wondering if it is what it seems. But  it's pulling me in and pretty soon I'll know whether to trust it or to run.

I hope I don't run. The existence of the option itself bugs me to no end. For the light promises hope and in spite of all that I possess, all I've sought, bought, wished for, and gained, hope is the one thing I've not been able to obtain. It's always been far out of reach.

Until now. The journey before was dark and it always baffled me because I was never in a tunnel or covering, the light just never came. But its here now and I wont lose it again. I will press on and I will not be overcome.

If all I ever have from this point on, is this one small light to guide my path, then I shall rejoice. I will sing and dance until I cant stand anymore, because this one small flicker is better than what I had before. If this light never grows bigger, never seems to draw near, I shall still walk upright in hope and bow no longer to fear.

The Dreamer Within

I've lost the dreamer within
It left, I just can't say when
Life became a game to survive
No place to thrive
It left but its coming again.

Over time you learn to see
Every loss and victory
The gateway to wholeness
The gateway to be
It's finding life in the misery.

The dreamer within was knocked out of the ring
Put on the sideline
Benched in the game
I forgot what it looked like
How it was to feel peace.

The feelings within buried
All the baggage carried
My soul put to the fire
My body burning away
My spirit endured all the flames.

The dreamer rose from the ashes
Made a vow to dream again
But now it's wiser
So when the misery comes
It wont crumble again.

Two stories of transformed lives.

I just want to give everybody a picture of how we are seeing God show up and change lives in the city of Canton.

I was at one of our Laundry Love Projects today in Southwest Canton and in the midst of the organized chaos of doing laundry and sharing in community with one another, I was able to have 2 very meaningful conversations.

The first was with my friend Valerie. A mom of two from my neighborhood who told me that she recently started going to church again because quite frankly, there was nothing better to do. In her return she is digging into the Bible and trying her hardest to follow Jesus.

The second was with my friend Sully, a great guy who is accustomed to tough circumstances and who has a big heart for people. Sully is set on putting away the old self, following Jesus, and becoming the man God wants him to be. The excitement in his voice for what God is doing was amazing, and his willingness to come volunteer at the Laundry Project was inspiring.

You have to understand, these conversations are so meaningful to me because I have been trying to walk alongside and consistently be in the lives of people who are struggling for the last 5 years. It can often feel like I experience more struggles and defeats in people's stories, but these conversations are evidence that there is reason to rejoice.

In the midst of the tough circumstances we may witness or hear about, God is actively working to restore and redeem lives. And while the growth in their lives may seem small, the fact that they are drawing near to God, even if they dont fully understand what that means yet, is monumental.

I wish I could unravel more of their stories for you because they are inspiring to me. I started the Laundry Love Project on a quest to help people tangibly and love them deeply, and never thought I would see life transformation happen right before my eyes.

Regardless of economic/social standing, any array of tough circumstances, or the feeling of impossibility in one's situation, nothing is too much for God to overcome. Nothing stops God from transforming lives and showing his greatness. Nothing stops him from loving us with everything.

We can't give up on people or write them off as hopeless. We can't believe that people will never get past their circumstances.  We must actively engage with people, walking alongside them and overcoming obstacles together.

And we can't for one second stop understanding that people are created in the image of God, beloved by their creator, and worthy of our all.