Christian Moms: Pursue Career or Stay at Home?

8 03 2010

Whether they are in the workforce or stay home many feel guilty. Why?

It is probably a really dumb idea for a guy to try and tackle such an important subject for women. The only reason I bring it up is that it seems like such a “walking on eggshells” topic. People typically have very definite opinions and sometimes offer harsh judgements towards one choice or the other. I recently conducted a very unscientific facebook query mostly to determine the level of emotion associated with the topic. Of course facebook does not provide unbiased results. Most of our friends on facebook probably share similar viewpoints to our own. That’s why they are our “friends.” However, even among ‘friends” this topic provides what I consider a volatile diversity of opinion.

One interesting trend I have noted as a pastor, counselor, husband, and friend is that in general, whether mothers choose to work or stay home, they feel a level of guilt associated with the decision. Again, I am generalizing here. Some work and feel no guilt. Some stay at home and feel no guilt. Generally however, moms that work feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children and mom’s that stay home feel guilty about not using their college degree or their professional skills to contribute to the family finances.

The choice in and of itself is not so cut and dry. Some mom’s have to work just to make ends meet. Some mothers work because a man put them in a bad situation. Some mom’s choose to work for a variety of other reasons and some choose to stay home with differing degrees of financial sacrifice. In any case, the guilt is still generally apparent. My question is why?

Why Christian Mothers Feel Guilty?

I run the risk of oversimplifying a complicated issue but allow me to make some observations.

Some Working Christian moms feel guilty for several reasons:
❑        Some “stay at home proponents” in the church pass judgements heaping guilt on their heads.
❑        They love their children and want to stay home with them but they can’t.
❑        They love their professional life more than they love their home life and they feel they shouldn’t.
❑        They are experiencing real conviction because their choices are motivated by sin.

Some Stay at home Christian moms feel guilty for several reasons:
❑        They are sometimes jokingly labeled as stupid and unproductive.
❑        They earned a degree and feel like they wasted a lot of energy if they were “just” going to stay home.
❑        Feminism, which dominates media and  education, creates a cultural bias against stay at home moms.
❑        They could feel genuine conviction for being lazy or because they make the family an idol.

How Can You Overcome Guilt?

One word. Abide. No matter the issue, guilt stems from a disconnection from Christ that effects our will and emotions. Take time now and read John 15. The chapter details the benefits of abiding with Christ. Here is my favorite part.

“As the Father has loved me so I love you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” -John 15:9-11

When we abide in Christ we are choosing to do life His way. When we do life his way, guilt goes away and instead we have joy. The big question is what commandments must I keep? Jesus answers the question.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:12

Therefore love trumps all. When we abide we receive love from the Father and freely love others in a sacrificial way. This is the pattern of a guilt free life. How does that apply to our original question… To work or not to work? The question can only be answered by asking this. “In what way can I best love the others in my life as I abide in Christ? By working outside the home or by staying home? Depending on situations and circumstances this answer could be different for different people and different families in differing seasons of life. By the way, the greatest examples of sacrificial love are often seen in motherhood. No question in our family sacrificial love oozes from mom. Be encouraged and abide in Christ. Throw off guilt but embrace conviction. Conviction is His way of telling you its time to reconnect. It’s a good thing. Jesus is your source whether you stay at home or drive to work each day.

My thoughts as a Husband and father of three (count em’ 3) daughters.

Why am I so interested in this subject? My wife and I are raising three daughters that will one day be women, possibly married, possibly with children. How do we lead them?

When our first daughter was born, we decided together that Angie would stay home. We have never had any tension over that because she felt called and excited to be a stay at home mom. Her work at home provides huge benefits for our daughters. I thought we were going to die at first financially because she was the major bread winner as a super smart accountant. We survived and in fact thrived, and for that provision, I am grateful. Angela experiences good days and bad days as a mom just like everyone else. What we have found is that the balance and peace Angela brings to our family outweighs any amount of financial compensation or professional kudos she would get if she were still working for a huge accounting firm. Does that mean she will never work again? Who knows? We just know for now she is called to be home. This is the model that our daughters see demonstrated every day. Likely this family of origin experience will dramatically effect their beliefs about what they should do as a mother.

We came to this decision as we thought about the spiritual formation of our children. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 compels us as parents to teach the commands of God to our children as we walk along the road. Our decision for Angela to stay home largely stems from a deep desire to be around in order to influence our children in the mundane, every day of life… as they walk along the road.

So what will we say to our girls? We will say, “Get as much education as you possibly can get. Learn a trade, a profession, a skill. Understand that you and Christ are enough. If Jesus leads you to marry and have children then understand that being a wife and a mother is a high calling. Take into account the Scripture, your relationship with Christ and ask yourself how you can love others best as you abide.”

Ok… let the comments begin. I am braced and ready. Everything above is in love and from a heart that wants moms to experience joy that comes from abiding in Christ and making decisions that are a reflection of that relationship.


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Trust the Lord With the Impossible

12 02 2010

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” -Exodus 14:14

As a person driven by intentionality, remaining silent is difficult. Sometimes all there is to do is to be silent. There are some things we can not handle even with intentionality. Buried in the story of the Exodus is a verse that amazes me. “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” When Moses said this to the people they were literally between a rock and a hard place. In front of them, the Red sea and behind them, the mighty armies of Egypt.

As most of us would do in this kind of desperate situation, the people of Israel began to complain and whine and place blame on Moses and God. In perhaps one of the most compelling motivational speeches in the Bible Moses said to the people…

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you and you have only to be silent.”

Why would the Lord fight for me? In Exodus 14 He had a couple of motives. First, He loved His chosen people. Second, He always keeps His promises, and finally, He is determined for the world to know He is God. (Exodus 14:18)

As a follower of Christ the same is true for you. The Lord will fight for you in the impossible places. You have only to be silent.

There is one thing though. Check out Exodus 14:15. “Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” It seems that at the same time we are called to silently trust, we are also required to take an obedient step forward. For the people of Israel this meant stepping forward into a massive body of water. That kind of forward movement requires an act of trust.

Here is the take away. When faced with the impossible be it your marriage, kids, finances, career, etc., in your obedience, silently trust knowing the Lord is fighting for you. Take a step forward in faith. After all He loves you, you are His chosen people, and in the end His Name will be glorified through your impossible circumstances.


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President Obama: “Live and love as we see fit”

30 10 2009

There is a theme throughout the Bible that describes a horrible tension between God and humanity. It began in the garden of Eden as Adam and Eve chose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3). It continues to this day at every level. It is the ramification of a simple question every person must ask about how they live.

Will I do what is right in my own eyes or will I do what is right in the eyes of the Lord? Because humanity has an insatiable lust to rebel against the very words of God, people, families, kings, and cultures historically find themselves in the midst of horrible consequences. This is the result of the choice to do what is right in our own eyes verses what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

Take some time to read the following passages of Scripture. See how God describes the kings of Israel. My synopsis is simple. When the king does what is right in his own eyes, so does the entire nation. When the king does what is right in the eyes of the Lord, so does the nation. (Generally).

Not an exhaustive list but here goes:

  • 1 Kings 14:22 and following: “Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 1 Kings 15: 1 and following: Abijah “…his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.”
  • 1 Kings 15:5 and following: David “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 1 Kings 15: 11 and following: Asa “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 1 Kings 15:26 and following: Nadab “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 1 Kings 15:34 and following: Baasha “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.”
  • 1 Kings 16:30 and following: Ahab “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before Him.” (Check out how he dies in 1 Kings 22:34-38)
  • 1 Kings 22:43 and following: Jehoshaphat “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 1 Kings 22:52-2 Kings 1 Ahaziah “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
  • 2 Kings 18-20: Hezekiah “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” 18:14 “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.”

Why does God take the time to describe the choice of the Kings: to do right in their own eyes or in the eyes of the Lord? Consider the plight of Samson in Judges 13-17. As a man set apart by God to lead the people, Samson chose to do what was right in his own eyes most days as the Scripture describes in chapters 14-16. The sad result of this kind of leadership is found in Judges 17:6 just after Samson dies.

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Judges 17:6)

How does all of this relate to us? Recently, President Obama signed ground breaking hate crime legislation under the banner of civil rights. The legislation is one thing but not the focus of this blog. Instead I would like to draw your attention to President Obama’s comments after signing:

“This is the culmination of a struggle that has lasted more than a decade. Time and again, we faced opposition. Time and again the measure was defeated or delayed. Time and again we’ve been reminded of the difficulty of building a nation in which we’re all free to live and love as we see fit.“

Read the entire speech here.

In my view there is a simple explanation for this. President Bush certainly did not do everything right. But for the better part of the last decade he served as a President who tried to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Granted it was not perfect and some of it was tragic but he sought the Lord. I think this is why the Hate Crime legislation was never signed… until now. President Obama is now leading us to do what is right in our own eyes. To live and love as we see fit. There are terrible ramifications for living the way we see fit.

Romans 1:28-32 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Join me as we continue to pray for our President and our nation.  We all need Jesus.  I have been some of the things listed in the Romans 1:28-32 passage.  Thank you Jesus for the forgiveness you offer to all peoples on earth.  We cling to your promise that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We cry out to you and we come back to you! Help us do what is right in Your eyes.


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Why the Obama Panic from Christian Parents?

11 09 2009

Last week as the press released the President’s plan to address the nation’s public school children, conservative American parents panicked. As a Pastor, with very conservative values, I am particularly concerned with the reaction of Christian parents. I believe the negative reaction to the positive message delivered by President Obama actually became what Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, called a “national embarrassment.”

I understand the emotion of the reaction to the President. Today I received an email from the American Family Association on HR 3200 sponsored by nine leading democrats. As part of the proposed health care reform plan, HR 3200 makes provision for “school based health clinics.” According to the American Family Association the bill will “authorize Planned Parenthood, as a sponsoring facility to run a clinic during school hours on the grounds of public schools, with absolutely no accountability to either parents or school administrators.” It is this kind of legislation that causes Christians to take offense at a political agenda diametrically opposed to the very Words of God (Psalm 139:13-14).

The reaction of Christian parents last week stems from either fear or anger. As people of the Bible we recognize this administration’s ideology related to abortion clearly denies the directions of God as a much higher authority.  As Christian parents we become angry for the generations yet to be born and fearful of God’s impending judgement on this country that we hold dear.  Abortion is just one of the issues. The lack of support for biblical marriage by the administration and the endless propaganda targeting the next generation ( t-shirts, you tube videos and kids books) and a negative response understandably manifests itself in the hearts of Christian parents.

However, the harsh reaction of some Christians to the Presidential speech likely did more harm than good. I agree with Dr. Mohler,  ”Conservatives must avoid jumping on every conspiracy theory and labeling every action by the Obama administration as sinister or socialist.”  When we do that we actually respond out of fear instead of faith.

Consider Romans 13:1-7. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” All world leaders including President Barack Obama are given authority as a ruler by God. This does not mean that Obama recognizes this or makes decisions accordingly.  It does mean, as people touting a biblical worldview, we must respect the office of the President whether we agree with his positions or not. We should pray for him always and support him when his leadership is not contradictory to the Word of God.

In the case of President Obama’s speech, made available for parents to read ahead of time, many Christians reacted with disdain instead of seizing the opportunity to support the President and pray for him (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Next time, before we react, let’s gather information, consider the Scriptures, think and pray. Of course we will always stand up in protest when we recognize leadership contrary to God’s Word on specific issues.


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President Obama’s National Address to Students

4 09 2009

An interesting question is facing school officials and parents alike concerning the announcement of President Obama’s national address to students in schools across the country on September 8. Today the protests rage from some conservatives claiming a classroom venue for Obama’s speech is a wildly inappropriate attempt at liberal indoctrination targeting the next generation. School districts across the country are making decisions largely in reaction to the protest. Some school districts are affording parents the opportunity to opt out of the speech and associated classroom discussions. Other districts are making the speech available only to secondary students and still other schools are making no provision for exclusion at all. How should a Christian parent respond?

I have two daughters in public school. We received a letter from the school last night giving us a clear and fair option to withdraw our children during the speech. Thank you to the school for recognizing parents as the final level of authority in the education of children.

In my view there is a proper biblical response to this situation and an effective way to lead our children using President Obama’s speech as a “God Moment”.  This is my plan, not as a pastor but as a dad charged with leading my children spiritually.

  • Last night we used the letter from the school as an opportunity to pray for President Obama. We will pray for him every night in the remaining days leading up to the speech. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
  • We talked about respecting the office of the President even though we passionately disagree with the President’s personal positions on abortion, healthcare, big government, foreign policy and other issues. Christ is Preeminent and He has allowed Barack Obama to be President of the United States at this time in our country’s history. (Colossians 1:16-20)
  • We are confident that our children know enough of the Scriptures to think critically.  We are asking our kids to listen to the speech and make a list of anything that contradicts the Bible.  This is a great exercise for them and contributes to the development of biblical worldview. (Of course we will be viewing the speech as it becomes available so that we can have a “Faith Talk” around the content.) (2 Timothy 2:15)

As a Christ-follower and a dad this is where I must embrace the truth of the Shema (Dt.6:4-9).  We will use the presidential speech to teach our children biblical truth. We will teach them that biblical truth (God’s Word) is higher and more authoritative than even the words of the President of the United  States. At the same time we will teach them the importance of praying for President Obama even as he takes positions contradictory to Scripture. All of this “… as we sit at home and when we drive along the road, when we go to bed, and when we get up.”

Welcome to parenting Christ-followers in post modernity.


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The Sexualization of our Kids

19 08 2009

Recently our church discussed this issue of human trafficking around the world and what we could do to combat the problem as the church of Jesus Christ. Human trafficking is the selling of people into slavery either for laborious work or to supply the demand of the illicit and illegal sex industry around the world. Often the victims of human trafficking are children. As a dad of three young daughters I was particularly disturbed to discover the numbers of young girls around the world that are sold into prostitution. I was even more disturbed to learn that this issue was not just a problem in Thailand or Nicaragua but that my city was a major hub for human trafficking in America. I learned that Interstate 10, which is 1.5 miles from my house, is the leading corridor for sex trafficking in the United States. All of the sudden the sex trafficking of children became closer to home than I wanted it to be.

What feeds this monster?  The short answer is demand… and we can do something about it.

There are the obvious issues that feed demand for sex trafficking such as prostitution and pornography.  Let me reveal something that may be less obtrusive than pornography or prostitution.

Let’s go to your house or my house.  Come  with me to the aisles of Target or Wal-Mart.  Check out the girls clothes at any major department store. Watch the disney channel for a few minutes but look with this filter. What products, shows, clothing lines, or messages are subtly sexualizing our kids at very young ages?  Why is it that the disney channel has TV shows that depict 12 year olds in dating relationships? Why do half the shorts available for my daughters to purchase have words written on the seat  like “Pink” so that the eyes of people naturally focus there?  What about the Bratz dolls for really little kids?  Take a look at how those dolls are dressed.  Angela and I saw one Bratz doll collection that appeared to be a toddler, dressed like a stripper, dancing around a pole.

In America we sexualize our kids subtly though it is becoming more and more obvious.  In my mind this is the beginning of children being sold into sex slavery. My logic is as follows.  In our culture people are exposed to pornography at younger ages than ever before. Couple that with the onslaught of what we deem mainstream and “OK” for our kids and we have a problem.

My wife and I believe we can do something about the sex trafficking of children and it begins at the lowest level.  Our home.  Here’s how.

  • Monitor TV channels and shows that depict children in dating relationships at a young age.
  • Monitor internet usage and provide clear guidelines.
  • Teach our girls to dress in a God-honoring way while allowing them the freedom to choose what they like.
  • No shorts with writing on the rear.
  • The buck stops with Dad on bathing suit choices.
  • No Bratz dolls.
  • Be aware of subtle messages around us sexualizing our children.
  • Teach our kids the difference between a biblical worldview and the culture.
  • Demonstrate how to dress, speak and live in a culture full of lies.
  • Teach them at appropriate ages about dangerous people.
  • Do all this with a clear sense of peace and faith, not fear!

The sex trafficking of children flows from a perverse demand that is fueled by the sexualization of kids.  Join me by going against the flow in your home.

For more information about the reality of human trafficking and how you can help please visit the International Justice Mission.


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My Own Grief Story

30 07 2009

On August 4, 2008 my mom died at the age of 59.  This is my story of grief in the months following her death.

I choose to tell you this story because grief is widely misunderstood in our culture particularly among Christians. We want it to be quick and easy.  Done after the funeral and the provided meals and the sympathy cards. We want to make it better so we say things like, “She’s in a better place” or “God must have just wanted her home.” We think life just goes on for those closely related to the situation just as it does for the average funeral attender.

Just yesterday, almost a year later, I sat in my truck outside the gym listening to a song… weeping. For me, that was a good thing.

Everyone has a different experience with grief. Your relationship to the deceased is a factor. Did you lose your mom, your friend, your spouse, or your child? Every situation is different and every person grieves differently. In college and seminary I took several classes related to the grief process. The text books say it works like this: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Seems very clean and predictable.

My experience is much different than that process. I don’t ever remember being in denial. I think my pastoral work around dying people gave me experience enough to see what was coming. I don’t remember bargaining. For me grief has been more like this: Anger, Anger, Anger, Depression, Anger, Anger, Anger, Depression, Acceptance.

Grief is weird. I have literally had days where I felt unexplainable exhaustion. Only half way through the day did I clue in on where this extremely “blue” feeling was coming from. My friend Omar summed it up well just the other day. “It feels like you are in prison and you have used your last phone call.  There is no more communication.” That is a depressing feeling.  Oddly, you can be busy about your day not even thinking of the loss and the exhaustion of depression can blindside you.  In November I felt that way all day one day.  I could not figure it out. When I got home I told Angie about the feeling. I thought something was physically wrong. She reminded me it was Mom’s birthday. Like a program running in the background of a computer, depression snuck up on me that day.

I have been angry, the kind where you just feel ticked off for no apparent reason.  As I have processed this I have discovered a couple of things about myself.  I have honestly been angry at God.  I know and have faith enough to believe He could have saved her earthly life in a miraculous way.  I prayed for it, fasted for it, and asked for it all the while adding the obedient phrase, “but your will be done.” However, there was no miraculous disappearance of the brain tumor. In fact the more I prayed the bigger and uglier the situation got. When I am honest I have to say, “that ticked me off.”  I also learned I did not really mean it when I prayed, “but your will be done.” I meant, “but your will be done as long as it is the same as my will.”

I also have been angry because my mom is missing out on a lot this year, at least from my vantage point. Maddie accepted Christ and will be baptized soon. Eden is in that fun 2 year old age that mom loves and Hailey is simply growing up quickly. I wrote a book this year that will release any day now. I would love to write her a note and hand her a copy. Two weeks ago I was driving from a meeting with my publisher in Loveland, Colorado back to the airport in Denver. I picked up my phone and dialed “M” for mom. I put it down as quickly as I picked it up.

Although grief seems weird, it is a natural thing. A process full of emotions designed by God to help us cope with heartache and loss. It is actually a gift. Somewhere along the way someone shared some great advice with me. If you ever find yourself grieving you might find this helpful:

1)  Grieve slowly.  You don’t have to rush it. When you feel angry recognize it and deal with it. (Exercise, pray, talk it out.)  When you feel depressed, acknowledge it. You are not losing your mind, you are grieving.

2)  Don’t take to heart the things well intentioned people say in a poor way. People don’t know what to say or how to say it. Just take it as love and concern and move on.

3)  Talk and write about it. This has been very helpful to me. Processing grief is important. The best way to do that is talk about how you feel and why you feel it.

4)  Find a group. I tell everyone to find a grief share group but I have chosen to walk this one with friends and family. My friends and family have been patient with me and lifted me up often.  Community is a must when you are grieving.

5) Grieve with hope.  I know where Mom is and in a way, for her sake, I would not want her to come back. As Christ followers, we grieve and we hurt, but we do it with hope. This may be whacked out theology but every now and then when I pray, I ask Jesus to give my mom a hug from me.  I think He does it. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)


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Spiritual Awakening in America: What will it take?

8 07 2009

Yesterday’s memorial service for Michael Jackson was amazing in a sense. Literally millions of people gathered in LA or watched on TV or online as the “king of pop” was carried in lying in a golden casket. In a perfect reflection of our culture, Christian music started the event followed by MJ originals and a speech by Brooke Shields calling on us to all smile as Michael sits in the sky with his feet dangling from a crescent moon. All the while images of Michael with light bursting from behind him, arms stretched wide, were displayed for all to see. It was more than a memorial service. It was a pluralistic spiritual experience deemed the most important event in the world on that day.

People hunger for spiritual experience. We saw clear evidence of that yesterday. My heart burned with sorrow as I watched a hopeless world turn its spiritual energy to an icon, an idol, a dead man. At the same time I saw Kingdom opportunity. When people are hungry for the spiritual, Jesus, the King of Kings, is on the move so to speak.

We need Spiritual Awakening in America. The kind of awakening where people confess their sins, turn away from them, and turn toward the one true God in fear, humility, love, and worship. What will it take to see this happen in our country?

It begins with me and you. As Christ-followers we must throw off our compartmentalized, apathetic version of Christianity which only waters down the truth and dissuades spiritual seekers. Luke 9:23 clearly teaches us that anyone who follows Christ must, “deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Together we must repent of keeping part of life for ourselves.  We must repent of living a form of Christianity that is boring and predictable and unattractive in a spiritual culture. We must repent of avoiding conflict and lacking compassion. We must reconnect with a passion for obedience. We must put away our critical spirit and instead offer the one thing Jesus has that everyone wants: LOVE.  Instead of worrying we should pray, begging Jesus to sweep across the face of America changing lives by the truth of his Word and the power of his Spirit.  Awakening is birthed in the heart of the believer and carried out by the power of Jesus.

Awakening involves the Family. Awakening is never a planned event. If we are to experience a spiritual awakening in America it will not be in the form of tent revivals or packed stadiums at first. Instead it will begin in the place that God designed for generational spiritual formation. It will begin in the home. When parents awaken to the importance of teaching the next generation the fear of the Lord, the love of the Lord, the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, a renewed spiritual legacy will ripple into the generations according to Dt.6-7, Psalm 78, Eph. 6:4 and others. When parents demonstrate an authentic life in Christ daily in front of their children, a generation will rise up that walks according to a biblical worldview. This is a key component of spiritual awakening. I think the greatest awakening America has ever experienced is yet to come. I think it is a grass roots movement flowing from the family table, the living room, and the paths of every day life.

The Church opens it arms to those who Awaken. A day is coming in America when people will gather in community with a renewed passion for Jesus Christ that goes beyond the mundane to missional living. When spiritual awakening comes, the church must already be working the Matthew 22 and Matthew 28 principles of loving God, loving people, and serving the world. I believe spiritual awakening in America will come as we are humbled.  Sometimes humility is a result of need and dependence. Will the church as the tangible representation of Jesus Christ be ready to meet needs in Jesus name in order to share the truth of the Gospel? I don’t know about you, but I see God preparing churches across the country for just this task. More and more churches are reaching out to the homeless, helpless, orphans and widows, victims of human trafficking, the hurting, and yes, even the rich young ruler who is in the process of realizing his dependence. More and more the church is equipping and encouraging the family to take the lead in the spiritual training of the next generation. More and more the church is burning bright as the culture becomes darker.  In the darkest places, the light burns very bright. I pray the Lord is posturing the church for a great spiritual awakening in America that changes our culture forever.


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A New Generation of Christ Followers… In HD!

14 06 2009

I spent last week at Kamp Kingsland at Highland Lakes near Austin.  I had the honor and privilege of serving as the High School camp pastor for the week.  Hanging out with 250 high school students for 5 days is quite a rush!  Everything from exciting rec teams and whacked out games like “egg beaters” and “wheel toss” followed by disgusting challenges like drinking a cup of blended sardines made the week spectacular.  At night…”Evening Extras” like and “80’s party, Kingsland’s got talent, and of course the traditional Legacy Walk.  

The theme of the week was life in HD.  We talked a lot about living life as a Christ follower with High Definition clarity as opposed to the tragic low res version of Christianity that so many people adopt.  The students memorized the Sh’ma, Dt. 6:4-9 in English and in Hebrew.  They studied the Word of God finding biblical examples of High Definition Christianity.  I pray they walked away with an HD understanding of King Jesus and a new passion for His Word… the very words of God.

I walked away with a gift.  A new enthusiasm.  I have to tell you, I am excited about this new generation of Christ followers. They have the potential to be the greatest generation of American Christ-followers ever.  I am begging God for it knowing that He has wired them for it.  Thank the Lord for a generation of students following Christ, demonstrating Him to the world in High Definition clarity.  Join me in cheering them on!


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Da Lifne Mi Atah Omed

22 05 2009

Interesting title?  What does it mean?

Listen to the voices of our culture.  Listen to Christian men and women as they talk and walk the halls of church on Sunday.  Listen to your children as they chat with friends, talk on the phone, or simply express amazement.  There is a sense in our culture, in our churches, in our homes, that God somehow is not present. 

We use His Name flippantly to express amazement or horror.  We have forgotten He is present when we read the Word or come to Him in prayer.

Have we forgotten that our Bible is the very words of God.  Did we some how lose sight of the fact that our churches are holy places designated for the worship of King Jesus?  Have we forgotten that God’s presence richly dwells in our homes? Do we not believe it when the Scripture teaches that our bodies are the very temple of God?  Not only is He around us but as Christ-followers, He is in us!

Da Lifne Mi Atah Omed.  Transliterad hebrew for “Know Before Whom You Stand.” In the Jewish culture these words are often found in the Synagogue above the Torah closet containing the Hebrew Bible.

What if we approached life this way?  How would it change? Would my life in Christ be different if I was constantly aware of His presence?  Would I parent differently if I was certain God was present in my home?  Would my kids live differently if they lived life in the reality of the presence of God?

My friend I beg of you… Da Lifne Mi Atah Omed.


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