First Week of Seminary

My seminary experience online with Liberty University is off to a fast and furious start. I am really enjoying it so far, but it does require a good bit of time. This past weekend I read “Jewish Backgrounds to the New Testament”…358 pages. Pretty interesting stuff..just a ton of reading in a short time. This week I have viewed 4 video lessons. So far we have covered…
1. Introductions: Isagogics, Testament v Covenant, and Bible Geography (Part 1)
2. Bible Geography (Part 2)
3. New Testament History
4. Judaism

I was supposed to read the book this week. Next week was supposed to be the 4 lessons and Test #1. I am leaving Monday morning for a mission trip to Costa Rica with our senior class. I am working ahead so that I can take my test before we go. That way, on the trip, I’ll only have to do some reading and not watch any videos or do any online work. Hopefully it’ll all work out alright.

Some folks have asked how Distance Learning is working. I’ll show you what it looks like on my big screen TV. I am taking the picture from my “study area” on my futon. This is much better than an 8am lecture hall!!

Burn for You by Steve Fee

If you haven’t heard this CD, you should check it out. “We Shine” and “Glorious One” are my two favorites right now.

Visit Steve Fee’s Website

Tony Dungy // Beyond the Ultimate

I have always enjoyed seeing people take an opportunity to share Christ when they are on a platform that can reach a lot of people. Unfortunately, this can also be abused. Often we hear athletes thanking God only after they have thanked everyone else they could think of. Click the link below to see hear Tony Dungy, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, share what is most important to him. This has been really consistent over the past several years as Coach Dungy has been interviewed.

Coach Dungy sharing Christ

Metal Chairs

I love metal chairs. They bring back fond memories for me of being in high school and going to church. I remember every Wednesday and Sunday night that we would have tons of metal chairs set up in nice neat rows up in the youth ministry area at our church. When I started driving, I would arrive at church early. I remember spending many hours with my youth minister helping set up those chairs. We called it “Chairs 101″. I always asked Dyer why it was so important to set the chairs up so neatly. Why not just have people set up their own chairs? Why not just set up a few and see if people don’t just get the idea to set up more on their own?

Dyer told me that he felt like one of the most important things he did in ministry was to set up chairs. He always insisted on setting them up in nice and neat rows. He said that for the most part, no one ever thinks about the chairs unless they aren’t set up or if they are a mess. He wanted the chairs to be a background piece that was taken care of so that people could come in and be welcomed into the place of worship. Dyer did a ton of cool things in youth ministry over the years. He continues to be a great mentor in my life, but above all, I remember how important chairs are.

I have never forgotten that lesson. He told me that almost 13 years ago. I have now been in youth ministry for over 6 years and agree that chairs are at the very heart of what ministry is about. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I’m supposed to do and who is supposed to do what. Then…I start setting up chairs and it all seems to make sense. I am supposed to set up chairs because it gives people a place to sit when they come in for worship. By touching every chair, I also have an opportunity to pray for the people who will be sitting there. I pray that God would take away their burdens and distractions and fill their cup by His grace.

This year has been an added bonus with back-to-back chapels. That means that we set up 300 chairs each week that are used by 500-600 students and staff. Each chair is at least 2 opportunities to impact someone’s world for Christ.

Sometimes I get tired of setting up the chairs. Then I have to remember that other people are tired too. I may or may not be able to do much about their burdens, but at least I can set up a chair for them to sit in so that they can rest and hear from God.

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Moses on Leadership and the Glory of God

Exodus 33:12-23

12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

My prayer concerning leadership is exactly what Moses has experienced here. Even if someone can’t see God face to face in my leadership, at least they can say that God has been here and can trust that.

I understand that without God, my leadership is not distinguishable from any of the other squawking out there.

REST

Exodus 20:8-11 (NLT) 8“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work, 10but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Anyone else struggling with this one?

Chase the Lion

I read a great book a few months back called “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson. Mark pastors National Community Church in Washington, DC. He also blogs pretty regularly at Evotional.com.

Here is the main idea of the book. I have really enjoyed soaking in the theme to Chase the Lion.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

Victory…at least for a few moments

This has been a crazy week. We have Homecoming tonight. We’ve been here until well after midnight a couple of nights…I got in the bed at 2:15 this morning! Next week is Spiritual Emphasis Week, one of my biggest projects of the year.

I’ve been so busy that some of my emails have piled up. This morning, my main project was to take care of all of them. For just a few moments…the inbox is a lonely place!! It is a nice feeling to have an empty inbox.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23-24

Time to get to work

I guess I better head out to get a new lunchbox and backpack. I got a letter from Liberty saying I’m in! I start work on my Master’s in Christian Leadership the end of February. I believe God is leading me towards becoming a principal. I know it is because of the great principals I have known that have challenged me…thanks Greg, Steve S., Steve W., and Wanda. One day I’ll be going to the principal’s office and I won’t have to be as nervous about it as I used to be!

Mighty to Save

I hear the voice of God in a lot of different places, but most often through worship music. This week in chapel we did “Mighty to Save” off the new Hillsong album. The words of this song have resonated in my heart. If you haven’t heard this song, you should check it out. I am putting the lyrics in this post. He is moving some huge mountains for me right now!!

When everyone needs compassion,
And love that never fails,
Let mercy fall on me

When everyone needs forgiveness,
Kindness of the Saviour
The Hope of the nation

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My god is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything that i believe in
Now i surrender (and i surrender)

Shine a light in and let the whole world see
Singing, for the glory of the risen king
Jesus, Shine a light and let the whole world see
Singing for the glory of the risen king