Everybody wants to be seen, everyone would like to be heard. How much a deal is it for people to hear and see you? Look around society today everybody is searching for their 15 minutes of fame. A few months ago I heard a song that caused me to start thinking about this exact same thing. Christian Hip Hop artist, Lecrae has a song titled "Background". This song is currently one of my favorites. You may not be a fan of hip hop music or christian music or even the combination, but this song's lyrics speaks volumes.
The lyrics of the song tell a story of someone not doing everything right, making mistakes and not being perfect. Trying to suggest that if we move ourselves to the background, imagine what could happen. I want to share the chorus of the song.
I could play the background.
I could play the background.
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way.
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead, lead, lead.
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead, lead, lead.
And I can play the background, the background.
And You can take the lead.
Every time I hear this song, I am reminded about John the Baptist telling others about Jesus. John 3:30, "He must become greater; I must become less." This needs to be the case in our lives too. We need to realize that God is bigger than any accomplishment, disappointment, success and failure. Everything we have is because of Him, nothing we have done. If we want to be heard and seen by the only audience who matters, we need to move ourselves to the background.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Focus
This last weekend I had the chance to watch "Soul Surfer" with some students here in Columbus. I left the movie very moved and inspired by the story of Bethany Hamilton. Who is a professional surfer with loads of talent, but a passion to follow God's plan in her life. Oh by the way she lost an arm on a shark attack!
As the movie went on I was thinking about how blessed I am in many areas including being healthy (besides maybe a little on the heavy side, which I am working on!) but even with all the blessings how ungrateful I can be.
The turning point in the movie, the part that really spoke to me was after the attack. Bethany Hamilton became frustrated because she couldn't surf like she once was able to before the shark attack. To get away from everything that had recently happened she went on a mission trip with her youth group to Thailand. The group was going to do some work in the country after a tsunami had ripped through part of their country. On that trip she learned a lot and was exposed to many different problems those people were struggling with. One thing she was able to do, was help a little boy who was displaced from his family learn how to surf and come out of his shell, her eyes and heart were opened.
She spent so much time focusing on surfing and being the best surfer she could be to that point in her. Instead of realizing God's love and doing what we can to share God's love. At that moment she decided to shift her focus when it came to surfing, she ended up becoming an inspiration to many as well as becoming an even more accomplished surfer despite of her disability.
Leaving the movie I was struck with the idea of where is my focus? In the society we live in we are always looking for the biggest and best things out there. Instead of what the situation is right in front of us. I feel very blessed to have a God who loves and forgives me in all my short comings. To have been blessed with an amazing wife and awesome son and the family I have been blessed with. I also feel very blessed to serve at an amazing church, with such an incredible group of kids to work with and outstanding families who strive to make God first in their lives.
My new focus is now to focus more on God and less on me. Stop focusing on something that doesn't seem to come in clear. Instead trying to step back and pray that God helps me see the right picture. The picture is the life He has blessed me with. He has given me that life for a reason.
As the movie went on I was thinking about how blessed I am in many areas including being healthy (besides maybe a little on the heavy side, which I am working on!) but even with all the blessings how ungrateful I can be.
The turning point in the movie, the part that really spoke to me was after the attack. Bethany Hamilton became frustrated because she couldn't surf like she once was able to before the shark attack. To get away from everything that had recently happened she went on a mission trip with her youth group to Thailand. The group was going to do some work in the country after a tsunami had ripped through part of their country. On that trip she learned a lot and was exposed to many different problems those people were struggling with. One thing she was able to do, was help a little boy who was displaced from his family learn how to surf and come out of his shell, her eyes and heart were opened.
She spent so much time focusing on surfing and being the best surfer she could be to that point in her. Instead of realizing God's love and doing what we can to share God's love. At that moment she decided to shift her focus when it came to surfing, she ended up becoming an inspiration to many as well as becoming an even more accomplished surfer despite of her disability.
Leaving the movie I was struck with the idea of where is my focus? In the society we live in we are always looking for the biggest and best things out there. Instead of what the situation is right in front of us. I feel very blessed to have a God who loves and forgives me in all my short comings. To have been blessed with an amazing wife and awesome son and the family I have been blessed with. I also feel very blessed to serve at an amazing church, with such an incredible group of kids to work with and outstanding families who strive to make God first in their lives.
My new focus is now to focus more on God and less on me. Stop focusing on something that doesn't seem to come in clear. Instead trying to step back and pray that God helps me see the right picture. The picture is the life He has blessed me with. He has given me that life for a reason.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Ch Ch Ch Changes
A wise person once said the only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. This weekend I learned a lot about how wet a diaper can get and hold when thrown in the laundry, but that is a different story. I am excited about changes here at church with the children's ministry.
Next time you are in the building I encourage you to look at the new and improved children's ministry wall. The wall has a new look with a lot more information. This wall could not have been completed without the hands and feet of God. The idea came from my wife who is very creative as she came up with the design of the wall. The labor came from some awesome students who helped with painting the wall and boards, also hanging of the boards.
The next big change will be with the new children's ministry room which we will start working on this summer. I am very excited to start this project as the elementary students will have a space of their own. I want to thank the elder's of ECCC for their encouragement and support as this vision plays itself out. Nonetheless God is alive and well, doing some awesome things here at ECCC, I pray that God is alive and well in you and that each day we allow him to help us grow and change more into HIS image.
Change may not always be the most comfortable thing for people to experience or go through, however when God is leading the change it is incredible to see what HE does. All the glory to HIM! I am looking forward to the way in which HE will work in the lives of people and students here at ECCC in the very near future.
Next time you are in the building I encourage you to look at the new and improved children's ministry wall. The wall has a new look with a lot more information. This wall could not have been completed without the hands and feet of God. The idea came from my wife who is very creative as she came up with the design of the wall. The labor came from some awesome students who helped with painting the wall and boards, also hanging of the boards.
The next big change will be with the new children's ministry room which we will start working on this summer. I am very excited to start this project as the elementary students will have a space of their own. I want to thank the elder's of ECCC for their encouragement and support as this vision plays itself out. Nonetheless God is alive and well, doing some awesome things here at ECCC, I pray that God is alive and well in you and that each day we allow him to help us grow and change more into HIS image.
Change may not always be the most comfortable thing for people to experience or go through, however when God is leading the change it is incredible to see what HE does. All the glory to HIM! I am looking forward to the way in which HE will work in the lives of people and students here at ECCC in the very near future.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Courage
What type of courage do you have? Are you someone who is a courageous person or someone like the lion from the Wizard of Oz who is searching for courage? No matter how much or how little courage you have, realize that all the courage we need can be found in Our Creator.
Think about the courage David had against Goliath. Also the courage that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 or even the courage Esther had to stand up to the king. All 3 of these stories show people who demonstrated amazing courage in difficult times. All their courage came from the same source.
Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." How simple, how easy is that for courage?? Each one of us needs courage in different situations, times and circumstances in our lives. The next time you need courage put all your trust in God, he can do amazing things and wants to do amazing things through you. Want proof, just read the 3 stories above.
Do not let a lack of courage stop you, have the courage to be who God created you to be.
Think about the courage David had against Goliath. Also the courage that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3 or even the courage Esther had to stand up to the king. All 3 of these stories show people who demonstrated amazing courage in difficult times. All their courage came from the same source.
Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." How simple, how easy is that for courage?? Each one of us needs courage in different situations, times and circumstances in our lives. The next time you need courage put all your trust in God, he can do amazing things and wants to do amazing things through you. Want proof, just read the 3 stories above.
Do not let a lack of courage stop you, have the courage to be who God created you to be.
Monday, February 14, 2011
What Are We Doing Here??
Each person likes to feel accepted, desires to be wanted and a part of something. People spend time trying to find out where that is and what that could be. What is the church today doing to help people feel apart of something, feel apart of a family, be a part of a relationship with each person's Creator?
This last weekend I was able to teach a lesson on the idea of treating people the way Jesus would treat them. I am excited I was able to share that lesson with the elementary students, but I have a feeling many adults throughout God's family needs to be reminded of this from time to time. The passage for this lesson came from Mark 10:13-16, when Jesus is spending time with the children.
Reading through this passage different times, reading through the lesson I just kept thinking back to the idea of Jesus never caring about a person's age, history or who they were. Jesus constantly was looking at the heart of people. Giving each person a chance, giving each person an opportunity. Which leads to the question, what are we doing here for God's church? Are we extending God's love, message and the attitude of treating others the way Jesus would? Instead of putting our own beliefs, thoughts and man made ideas before the message of God?
I want to encourage you to read Mark 10:13-16, think about the responsibility God has given us to love, encourage and reach others. Then ask ourselves, what are we doing here?
This last weekend I was able to teach a lesson on the idea of treating people the way Jesus would treat them. I am excited I was able to share that lesson with the elementary students, but I have a feeling many adults throughout God's family needs to be reminded of this from time to time. The passage for this lesson came from Mark 10:13-16, when Jesus is spending time with the children.
Reading through this passage different times, reading through the lesson I just kept thinking back to the idea of Jesus never caring about a person's age, history or who they were. Jesus constantly was looking at the heart of people. Giving each person a chance, giving each person an opportunity. Which leads to the question, what are we doing here for God's church? Are we extending God's love, message and the attitude of treating others the way Jesus would? Instead of putting our own beliefs, thoughts and man made ideas before the message of God?
I want to encourage you to read Mark 10:13-16, think about the responsibility God has given us to love, encourage and reach others. Then ask ourselves, what are we doing here?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Determined
During the month of January we have been talking about the word "determination" with our elementary students on Sunday morning. We started with Moses, Joshua and Caleb. The last few weeks we have been talking about the determination Paul had throughout his ministry. With each lesson, with each person we have studied there has been one common theme. No matter who we are each of us have hurdles in our lives.
The verse that we have used to tie everything together is Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us". Each of our lives are a race in which we are trying to reach our end goal, that goal being eternal life. In order for us to get there we have to be able to handle whatever hurdles show up in our paths.
This idea of determination is something that not just kids, but each person needs to clothe ourselves with determination. What are you going to be determined to do today, this week, this month and this year? How are you going to handle the hurdles in your life when they show up. If nothing else each of us should be determined to make 2011 a year in which we remove our wants and needs in life and strive to live every minute of every day for the ONE who made it possible for us to make it over and past our hurdles.
The verse that we have used to tie everything together is Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us". Each of our lives are a race in which we are trying to reach our end goal, that goal being eternal life. In order for us to get there we have to be able to handle whatever hurdles show up in our paths.
This idea of determination is something that not just kids, but each person needs to clothe ourselves with determination. What are you going to be determined to do today, this week, this month and this year? How are you going to handle the hurdles in your life when they show up. If nothing else each of us should be determined to make 2011 a year in which we remove our wants and needs in life and strive to live every minute of every day for the ONE who made it possible for us to make it over and past our hurdles.
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