The Insomnia Chronicles

unstoppable WORD.

I was reading in 2 Kings yesterday (part of YouVersion daily read on my iPhone) - it was the story of Josiah in chapters 22 & 23. A couple things jumped out to me...

• There's NO excuse. Unlike his Father or his Grandfather, Josiah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" - despite becoming King at age 8. He deliberately chose the a much harder path and refused to be normal. It says he "walked in all the ways of his father David". This means he had to dig 13 generations to find a role model - now, that's determination!!  The truth: you can't blame your parents or grandparents for your behavior or sin.

• The Word of God is so powerful! Josiah did not even know the Word existed - the godless & wicked culture of his day (and those before him) had attempted to bury & destroy the Truth. They replaced it with immorality, greed and the worship of idols. But this didn't work... As the Bible of Josiah’s day rose from the heap of rubble, so, too, the attempts of so-called "higher critics" and skeptics to "bury" the Bible with their doubts and criticisms have come to failure. Josiah heard it and immediately knew it was God's Word and he changed everything in his life & influence in order to follow it.

follow THE Leader...

have you ever really looked at the story of the "rich young ruler" in the Bible (mark 10, luke 18)?

i see something so amazingly sad in this story.  now, before i go on, you've got to remember that this is a real account from the life of Christ - not a parable. it proves the timelessness of the Word of God - for this is a clear depiction of today's generation - yeah, from our american culture...  ok, back to the story:

with great passion & sincere desire, this young man throws himself at Jesus' feet and says, what do i need to do to get a free pass to the promise land?  he's basically saying, i'm down with your whole new way of doing things, i like it... a lot,  and i want in!  but this isn't like any other job interview he's ever had.  it seems great at first,  Jesus throws the little dog a bone:  He basically says, you want to go to Heaven? - no problem, be a good boy and obey the 10 commandments.  the young guy thinks to himself "i'm IN!" as he humbly responds, "i've done those things my whole life."  thinkin' Jesus will now toss him the keys, he begins to breathe easier... then Jesus drops the bomb!  He says, oh one other thing, you've got to get rid of ALL of your stuff: money, music, toys, relationships, and anything else that competes for the Lordship of your life. give that stuff away and I'll make you my disciple.  don't miss that part: He said "MY DISCIPLE" - Jesus loved this guy and was ready to break manmade superstitions and add a 13th dude to his team.  what an offer!

Storm Training

Last night, I was caught in the middle of a serious storm.  It wasn't life-threatening, but it was still really powerful.  Wind, rain, and crazy lightening.  I was at Commerica Park for the Tigers game, when all of the sudden everyone was asked to quickly clear the stands as a storm was eminent. My daughter, Courtney, and I made our way to the concourse and then stood amazed at the electrical show that was happening over the city skyline within our view.

Life brings some pretty crazy 'storms' too... sometimes suddenly. Some of these 'storms' can be anticipated & predicted, but others come out of nowhere. Either way, 'storms' are meant by satan to destroy and by God to develop.  It comes down to WHO you belong...

"When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever...The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.The prospect of the righteous is joy,  but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing" Proverbs 10:25, 27-28.

• How do you handle life's storms?
• Can you rely on your righteousness to sustain you?
• How has a 'storm' developed you into something/someone greater?

standing firm, Chilly

(Note: As part of my devotions, I try to read a Proverb each day)

What God Hates...

Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:

1.       eyes that are arrogant,
2.       a tongue that lies,
3.       hands that murder the innocent,
4.       a heart that hatches evil plots,
5.       feet that race down a wicked track,
6.       a mouth that lies under oath,
7.       a troublemaker in the family.

Proverbs 6:16-19. msg.

Hmmm...  many, if not most, of those things are somewhat avoidable - or at least should be, however, what really jumped out at me today as I studied Prov. 6, was that one that it says God  "loathes with a passion" - a troublemaker in the family (in your home or your church).  Wow. It's so easy to think it's no big deal when you are provoking others, complaining about them, and always finding fault in 'the house' but God can't stand it.

We should hate the things God hates.

No justification or expecting everyone else to figure out when you're 'joking' or 'messin' - simply STOP.

• you ready to eliminate ALL seven?
• do you hate the things God hates?
• will you choose peace?

lovin' the family, chilly

Baggage Claim.

"If this is your final destination, you may claim your checked luggage in the lower level at baggage claim, carousel 9."  ~ I yawn, stand, grab my backpack out of the overhead storage compartment and stagger up the narrow aisle.  I thank the flight crew, they respond, "have a nice evening"... I emerge from the jet-way into the main terminal and begin the long walk down the seemingly-endless terminal.  Following the signs to 'baggage claim,'  I stumble onto the down escalator and exit it into a sea of stressed people in all directions. Their are luggage carousels everywhere I look... "where's number 9," I think to myself. All I really want to do is walk out those automatic doors and sit down in the awaiting car but no, first I must push through the crowd, locate my bags, drag them off the revolving conveyor belt, re-check the luggage tag, then reassemble everything so that I can make it out the door... "ugh"... 

All at once, someone taps me on the shoulder and joyfully says, "welcome home!"  He offers to take all my bags, hmmmm, "YES, thank you." - He says, "here, I'll take your backpack too" but, I say "nah, I got it"...

Sometimes we find it easier to give God the ‘big’ stuff that we
drag behind us but not the ‘smaller’ stuff that’s attached to us…

But, you see, me must give God everything, including the 'briefcase/backpack' addictions that we carry. An addiction is anything that ‘master’s’ you… suitcases & trunks: substances/porn/sex/money … or,  backpacks & wallets: tv/facebook/texting/food/self.  "…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him…" 2 Peter 2:19.   It's not noble to carry the things that Jesus wants to remove from our backs, it's STUPID!

We need to trust Him more & more and admit that our obsessions, infatuations or idiosyncrasies are, in truth, addictions.  It's time to give it all to God and get going...  "Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

Want to hear more?  Check out Podcast (click earbuds in right column >>).

Bagless, Chilly

• Are you totally honest with God (and yourself) about your addictions?
• Who knows your business & is committed to God enough to call you out?
• Are you going steady' with an addiction?  ... if yes, BREAK UP!
• What step do you need to take, NOW, in order to move on.

...it happens.

Sometimes people say and/or do 'icky' stuff... words like: unfair, untrue or undeserved leap to the forefront of your mind. But maybe it should be embraced rather than defied.

Persecution or opposition is a mark of every true Christian... The Old Testament prophets found it so, men like Amos, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. So did the New Testament apostles. And down through the centuries of the Christian church, until and including today, authentic Christians who refuse to distort or dilute the gospel of grace have had to suffer for their faithfulness. The good news of Christ crucified is still a 'scandal' (Greek, "skandalon" = stumbling-block), grievously offensive to the pride of our generation.

IF you're real, you don't have to pick a fight -- attack upon your life and character is unavoidable. But as you stand up and through such an onslaught, Christ's power becomes more and more evident to the cynical & sarcastic culture hiding in the shadows of a lie.  Soon light will reveal all...  until then, press on.

yours in the fight and the victory, chilly

1. had a rough day or week lately?
2. get falsely accused or have something blown out of proportion?
3. if yes to 1&2, rejoice (Matt. 5:11-12)...
4. now, grow thicker skin & get back to the battle!

shameless promotion

I wanted to make all of you aware of a couple of super cool opportunities available to you. Real Church has two amazing programs that will equip you as you strive to become a dedicated disciple, sold-out servant, and powerful prayer warrior. Whether you're fresh out of high school OR recently emerging from college/mc, there is a place for you in the Motor City!

X-MIN, student ~ post high school (18+)

A post-high school hands-on ministry training and discipleship program like you have NEVER seen or experienced before... GUARANTEED.  God's call on YOUR life is unique and specific... our new and improved X-Min program gives you the opportunity to receive specific training, discipleship & ministry opportunities EVERY day! We have partnered with Global University to provide every student with a solid, Biblical foundation for life and ministry.  And, after completing your training with Global, you are free to go on into deeper studies with them OR literally choose from over 30 schools in the area or across the country.  In today's church, "ministry" should not be restricted to just Bible School graduates - no way - a relevant, culturally aware church needs people from all walks of life and training. This isn't a new concept - it's an Acts thing...

Students may choose to take one year, to simply to get grounded in God's Word & Prayer prior to going on to college, university or vocation. Or, they may choose to stay and do a second year which will prepare them further for specific ministry. 

X-MIN, intern ~ post college (21+)

It's here. A new opportunity for YOU to join the team at REAL Church. This is for grads... college/university, MC, and, of course, X-MIN. Custom designed for the "20 and 30 something" postmoderns of America that burn with passion for the lost, that want to make a difference in the lives of those around them EVERY day... that want to know Him more intimately... that want to BE the church and not simply attend one... you in? Come and experience LIVE ministry in one of the most culturally diverse cities in America.
X-MIN Intern Program offers valuable opportunities for ministry to people in these three categories:

1. Those who are considering a career in ministry and would like hands-on-training and experience before pursuing full-time church employment.
2. Those who sense God calling them to ministry for only a short period of time prior to other secular employment.
3. Those aspiring/ interested in becoming a church planter or being part of a church planting team.

I'm personally committed to raising up disciples - I spend hours & hours with the students every week for times of training, prayer, encouragement and love.  My amazing team is also very involved in every aspect of XMIN.  We're in it, to WIN IT!  Note: we have seen 11 young adults go into full-time ministry in the last 3 years...  IF you were to sum up, "the XMIN experience" into one word, it would be: RESULTS.

But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love. Acts 20:24

• Have any questions? Email me or ask here (maybe your ' ? ' will help others too).
• Have any testimonies?  Current students or alumni jump on this!
• Want to come for a weekend visit?

Note:  We purposely keep student count lower so that we can really invest in each one on a personal level, therefore anyone interested should begin the application process asap.  The next XMIN year begins in September '08, and the cut-off is July 1, '08 (some exceptions may be made).

the 'how' of communication.

Do you ever think about 'how' you write or speak?  I'm not talking about the content so much, but rather the composition.  For how you organize your thoughts, ideas and message has a lot to do with how you are perceived and understood.  I don't simply want to impress; I want to inspire, change and lead by the way I communicate.

C. S. Lewis' advice to children on writing is good advice... not just to kids but to pastors on preaching, or anybody on talking - this includes "us" on blogging.  Read these 5 'golden nuggets' of wisdom and see IF you find yourself convicted & challenged by the way you communicate.  I'm definitely taking some inventory on the way I write, speak/preach, and blog.  We can ALL improve!

Enjoy...

1. Always try to use the language so as to make quite clear what you mean and make sure your sentence couldn't mean anything else.
2. Always prefer the clean direct word to the long, vague one.  Don't implement promises, but keep them.
3. Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do.  If you mean "More people died" don't say "Mortality rose."
4. In writing, don't use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the things you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us the thing is "terrible," describe it so that we'll be terrified. Don't say it was "delightful"; make us say "delightful" when we've read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers "Please, will you do my job for me."
5. Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

(Originally published in Letters to Children, letter from June 26, 1956.) - note: this was also shared, in part, on John Piper's blog today: Desiring God.

• Which one of these 5 challenged you the most?
• IF you could add a #6 to the list, what would it be?
• How can you deliberately change the way you communicate?
• Are you 'lazy' with your words?

Hope Dealer.

If knowledge equals responsibility - I'm in a lot of trouble (and so are you IF you read any further).

2.8 million people die of AIDS each year... 25 million die of starvation each year (842 million critically hungry right now)... close to 250,000 Christians are martyred each year...  there are at least 15 ongoing armed-conflicts in the world right now... 

In the midst of so many horrible things - some, obviously worse than others - we find many "believers" wringing their hands, complaining, and hiding.  Do we represent HOPE in a hopeless world?

Let Abraham's faith encourage you: When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!" 19 Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. 20 He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, 21 sure that God would make good on what he had said. 22 That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right" Romans 4:18-22.

God is LIFE.  He desires for us to believe in the unbelievable - and His faithfulness MUST be seen in and through us.  We have to choose to see through the barren times and hear the cries of new life!

I will not be involved in negative conversations with pessimistic, gossiping, complaining, do-nothing, believers... there's too much of this kind of junk happening in churches, work places, schools and homes where Christians are present... ugh.

Grab the Bible, QUICK, and preach the Gospel again to YOURSELF!  The Word of God is true and, despite the trials & difficulties that surround us, we can/SHOULD overcome.  JESUS ALREADY WON!  So, refuse to act like a loser. 

As for me: I WILL BE A HOPE DEALER.  Leading a generation to get high on TRUTH!  ... exuberant joy is sure to follow!!

side note:  great weekend at Real Church!  lots of new people |  lots of salvations  |  lots of love  |  lots of joy

Compassion.

 com·pas·sion     /kəmˈpæʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-pash-uhn]   –noun 

1.	a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

During "Passion Week" - I've been searching... evaluating... and, listening to God... all in a personal, simple quest for more compassion.  This word is obviously tied to 'passion' - a byproduct in fact. But, do I live it? And, more importantly, is it growing and growing in me?  When I read the definition (above), I see two parts: feeling "deep sympathy & sorrow" AND desire "strong desire to alleviate."  I think we could also explain these two terms as: attitude & action.  Maybe it's definition is revealed more and more as we experience it and act upon it... Hmmm.  St. Thomas Aquinas said, "I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it." - True but, 'no offense Mr. Saint,' I want both! 

BOOM! I GOT IT!  The answer is:  JESUS. 

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."  Luke 7:13

... so, learning compassion is learning to be more like Jesus.  That's what this week is all about.

compassion:

• do you know it?
• do you show it?
  
• does it show you?