trials, wisdom, and worthless religion

This blog goes out to Kenny Wu. The inspiration for analyzing James 1.

2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I’m not sure that is ever my first response when I feel I am going through trials. However, it is a very valid point. The trials you face always make you learn how to meet them next time. When you doubt something, you have two choices. Become apathetic. Or dig up some answers/ peace about it. That’s why when you doubt God,  you always come out the other end knowing more why you believe in him. Joy is tough to come by though. I wish I could live my life like that. To have that immediate response of joy to go through tough stuff. It is hard to always believe you will come out the other end stronger, though we always do.

6-7: …But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord…

I always read about asking the Lord for wisdom and you will be given it. Then I wonder why i’m not any wiser when I pray for it. I forget to read on. Just like anything we pray for, If you aren’t rock solid confident that the Lord will come through, why should he reward you or grant you your prayers? Exactly, he shouldn’t and doesn’t. We must pray with the faith that God can literally move mountains, but as the verse goes on to say, not supposing they will. Tricky stuff really. Though the basic point i get. trust. always comes down to that doesn’t it? Pray with the trust that God is in control, can answer you, and will reveal himself.

19-20: …let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.

We all know this one. Do we all do it? maybe you all do. but I don’t. I was just angry tonight at that return guy for the bills for not taking a knee. I mean literally mad. And I don’t even really care about who wins. I think listening is crucial to any relationship or convo, especially if you eventually want the other person to listen to you! Slow to speak is difficult. James goes onto to talk about the tongue more later.(I also love when the word requires shows up. I like seeing the standard that God sets. It is un-compromise-able.)

23: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…

STOP RIGHT THERE. That might be the most essential verse to anyone pursuing God by reading scripture. If you are reading a chapter a day from the bible to check it off your list, stop. it doesn’t impress God, and that action is prone to being a hearer of the word. I’ve done it tons.  A chapter a day to day i’m a good christian. glaze through it. say hmm. mumble a prayer and move on. foolish. When will we fall in love with God enough to want to truly know what He is saying to us. His word is right there for us. And when we go after it, this is the most important verse….DO IT! I suppose that NIKE is a religious company.

lastly 26: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

This is a shout out to those of us who go through the motions and do what we think needs to be done but deceive ourselves in other areas of our lives. Don’t lie to yourself about where you are at. That’s always a good prayer to start with if you are unsure. God, where am i? really, where am I? what am i missing? how am I not honoring you? What can I do to love you more? If we all honestly seek those answers, I believe our lives would be better off and we would be able to have joy in trials, be doers of the word, and be slow to speak and anger.

blogging is apparently difficult

Thought i missed a few days. pfff, it’s been more than a month. My schedule isn’t crazy, dunno why i’m not here. I think i might make this more of a journal again cuz the pen and paper have faded. I don’t have much to report other than the excitement i have for a possible mega ACF church plant in Philadelphia. Start the countdown. Two years until We take over Philly for Jesus. Pray that God opens up doors and the floodgate can be opened for souls to come back to him and for Philly to get turned on its head. The possibilities are endless!

4 years in the making…

Three fellowships in Two Weeks

I have done it. I went to Cru, Navs, and ACF within a two week period. It was a long journey, but i am back. I made it. My findings are unique. I know i have a very hard time resisting the urge to compare, contrast, or….judge. Yes, I am a judger. It is my biggest sin, or at least most predominant. To counter that, i will display self-control by not posting anything hating on anyone (because i’m sure God simply gives me a check for sin and check for fruit of spirit and since they cross each other off, I’m still saved…joke) However, i have one frightening fact for all three of us. We still suck at welcoming and outreach! No one said a word to me at Cru or NAVS, and my fear is that people who have visited ACF for the first time have experienced the same thing.

I have so many questions and frustrations. Where is the balance of community and outreach? Is there a guideline to follow in the Bible? Who is willing to admit their own selfishness is the reason that they aren’t as welcoming? How did Jesus manage to love the disciples and love the tons of people he ran into daily so effectively, other than the obvious answer, He’s Jesus? Do we even understand the proper persepctive of community? I know it’s more than just people who get together and like talking to one another. What about the aspect of community where people gather genuinely in the name of Jesus to grow, lift His name, and pray for others?

How does one…me…get so cynical at times? I know, for me, it’s also easier to focus on the negative things of ACF or stuff in general than it is to focus on what’s going well. I guess i’m just not really aware of ways that God has really impacted people through ACF. I mean really impacted. I know my life would suck if it wasn’t for ACF and how God has ministered to me through the people here and in the past. I don’t get that sense from people now as much as i used to in earlier years. I feel like there is a lot of surfacey type reasons for coming. “i made friends there”, “I like to hang out with my friends”, “I can’t go to ACF tonight, i have to study”, “I don’t feel like going (cuz it’s all about me)”

ACF wasn’t created so that people could make friends with similar backgrounds. It wasn’t created as a convienience to get a Jesus fill. It wasn’t created for people to feel like they can’t come because they are too much of a sinner….It was created as a place where students would come out of priority, desire, passion for what God has in store. For what God would do through others there, or better, for what God would do through them to help others. A place where one body comes together to conform to one voice as we lift His name in Praise.

This was semi-long. If you got this far, congratulions. You are one of the few. I heard you are suppose to feel better after your journal your “rants.” So, if that’s the case, than the long-winded blog entry pushed people away from actually reading it and thinking i’m an awful person and yet, i always got to get it out of me. Two birds with one stone and three fellowships in two weeks. Do that math…

Are you Satisfied with your life?

Sweet band and sweet song. Don’t know much about them other than Pete Horning introduced me to them and they have played at Young Life conferences or camps.

The Forgotten Blog

Howdy. Let’s pretend i have an audience of like 11 people. I am down to 3 and one is probably my mom after a vacation from blogging for the past month. Everyday was one of those I will blog today kind of days. Unfortunately, everyday was also a “eh, don’t feel like it, i’ll blog tomorrow” kind of days. Not to mention the day i swear i did blog and now am confused cuz i don’t see it posted. So maybe I dreamed it?

break synopsis:

frequent activity- did nothing

best part- road trip to the three C’s of the south: Columbia, Charleston, and Charlotte with Lauren. Stellar

Best part of the best part- i supported local art in Charleston by purchasing a photograph, it feels awesome. now instead of saying i wish i were that guy that bought local art type things, i can be the guy who judges other people for not….after all, how else do they make money?

surprise- Rockband 2 for Christmas…it’s awesome, though you must know a little about drums to do the drums, very tricky. Multiple appendages at the same time is never an easy task.

new fav band to check out: Paramore

number of job applications/ inquiries- 37

number of positive responses- 0

number of scam, shadeball company interviews – 1

Weather difference in one day- Charlotte, 70 degrees, West Chester 27 degrees = 43 degrees of change

Lesson learned, again- laziness and putoffedness, does not mesh well with scripture reading and growth

realization- I have one semester left at Penn State…crazy…time to finish well, love more, learn more about how to be like Christ, absorb all of the good things in ACF as i can because they don’t happen that often out there in the “real world” of churches. Share wisdom, listen to more of it. learn where what i have is not wisdom and mention that to those i “shared wisdom with”. no more new years resolutions. just better attempts to be a human being all the time, not held to a year or one category. Let’s do this…

Massacre avoided

Sometimes, as an administrator, you have to make decisions for the greater good. That’s how i felt when i decided assassinations could not occur a half hour before ACF or after. There could have been a major massacre or drop in attendance, either is not good. I also find it funny that no one had a water gun nor does Walmart sell them. hilarious. It’s a race to see who can get a gun first. Assuming everyone can get one at home, does anyone feel safe waiting that long to get a gun. It was also unfortunate that Amy Banta drew Travis Crouse in the Assassination pool. And she killed him last night. hilarious again. He was doomed. I love knowing who has who and hearing and watching all the paranoia. I really hope a kill happens over break from a Lancaster kid, that will make my break. and the fact that Aaron Henning is playing is also hilarious. Good times, can’t wait to see how it plays out.

I would love to share something deep i learned from ACF last night, but as Aaron pointed out, i had to dodge out so i could go take pictures of the robotics club capture the flag tournament. exciting i know. So i will just mention some trivial things like i love Adam Jepson, he’s awesome. It’s wild how many people have paired off as well. I’ve been here 5 years and never seen so many couples. crazy. congratulations Phil on the lady friend and sticking to  your guns and avoided facebook official things. it doesn’t rule you. I will miss Anna Jepson mainly cuz she always tells me i look like a stud. and let’s face it, it’s sweet to hear and will be missed. ha. Freshman Steve H. is the man and really good at guitar. that was awesome. I have a friend. his name is Salim. He is also cool, just a little quiet.

Set-+-+

• Let God arise :: Chris Tomlin
• Everlasting God :: Brenton Brown, arranged by Lincoln Brewster
• Still :: Hillsong United
• I celebrate the day :: Relient K
• Little Drummer Boy :: Katherine K. Davis

Magic Carpet Ride

Yea, i thought the carpets were sweet and homey, i hope you all did as well. At least our bums won’t hurt as much from sitting on them. 

I’m pumped for retreat, hope you are.

I’m pumped for worship night next week, it will be great. we have a lot of surprises and different things that are going to happen up our sleeve. i urge you to make it out. We will continue our experiencing God series through this worship service. There will be opportunities for worship, prayer, journaling, communion, scripture and whatever you want to make out of it! come hungry!

Last Night

• My Glorious :: Martin Smith
• Cannons :: Phil Wickham
• All who are thirsty :: Brenton Brown
• I run ::Forty Days
• Salvation :: Charlie Hall

Last first day of school

The human brain is an amazing thing. It can do more than we probably know. One thing i do know, is that the brain knows when 4 years of college were completed. And it knew as i walked to class for the first day of my 5th year that i should not be there. It knew this whole thing should have been done. Pollock road, 40 gagillion people, class, faking paying attention. It know. It was surreal.

All that aside, i do love it here. I can easily put up with classes for another year if it means i can partake in all the other greatness. the people, the fellowship, the growing, the football, the general gloriousness. I mentioned before that i am pumped for worship team. To expand, i am super pumped for ACF in general. This is going to be the biggest year we have had since i came to Penn State. The leadership here at ACF is incredible. As i was looking around the ACF exec retreat, i realized how many awesome, dependable, hard working, faith based, Christ Committed, people were on exec. I am not only blessed, but also honored to be here another year and to be a part of that team. Keith Hodge is the best president ever. or at least he will be. Kyle Horst, aka Bravo, is an awesome guy and his dedication to putting the bible studies together was really cool. both adam jepson and Ben roberts are like the poster children for why their class is so awesome. ACF will be a great place to serve, be filled up, feel welcome, and everything else the Lord needs to do this year. I know it.

Few random things: met the coolest guy ever. An asian-Australian named Alex. He is in my finance class and is on an exchange program. thick Australian accent. Really cool guy. Say hi if you see him or hear him.

and just to mention bummer happenings, my wallet is either lost or stolen. judging on my lack of faith and trust in mankind, i am going with stolen. So replacing everything will be fun. They have my social security number so it’s like i’m really starting a new life!

Cool lyric to reflect on:”This is a place for the broken. This is the hope of the world…Here in this place mercy is flowing. Here in this place is the glory of God. All things are new in the presence of Jesus, Father we stand amazed…Here in this place”

God hit me with that today, and a lot over the past few days. It was powerful for me. This place can be any where. a church service, the car ride home, your bed room alone, in your deepest sorrow and regret, or when you don’t even want to talk to God. This place is Penn State. In the midst of the lowest of lows, of the number three party school, mercy is flowing and the glory of God will not be held back. All things are new. Not after long thought or multiple prayers of repentance. The second after you think you failed, you were made new by the cross. we stand amazed Father, at what you will do in this Place, what you will do at Penn State. Think Big. Because this is the place for the broken and yet gives sooo much hope…

The Charlotte Wrap-up

If it wasn’t for classes, i would be 100 percent stoked to come back to state college. I will have to settle for 98 percent and have to deal with my tough work load of 12 credits i suppose. Anyway, i wanted to give a summer wrap-up of my time in Charlotte. Think about it, how many times at ACF or anywhere do you have to explain in 2 sentences your summer. The invention of the blog allows you to say, i’m not telling you, because i can’t shorten it to 2 sentences. if you actually care, you can read my blog. haha. i doubt i will say that, however the option is there.

Charlotte, NC. The fastest growing city in the nation. Right when you drive into the city you will see at least 10 huge buildings being constructed, so they aren’t messing around. This past summer, i was the grassroots marketing intern for the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA team…that’s basketball) It was a very fun time. Before the summer it was down to charlotte and philly for internships. i decided to take the leap of faith and move into a city i didn’t know live on my own in a single bedroom apartment and adventure into the real world…a life without friends. 

Charlotte is a gorgeous city. very manageable, very clean, very safe, very friendly. I lived in an apartment 9 miles south of the city. Traffic was a little crazy, but only because southerners don’t know how to use the left lane. So through my internship, i was responsible for the branding of the Bobcats. any interaction with the public came through our department. we would be at a slew of live events. Every Thursday Charlotte would meet in a central area for Alive after 5. a place for live music, food, and booze. Us at the Bobcats would take advantage of this and show up twice a month with our tent, an autographed item, and our prize wheel. I would try to convince people to register to win the signed jersey (get their email addresses) and then they could spin the prize wheel for free and win a t-shirt, or hat etc. We would also show up at United Way functions, run golf tournaments, set up and run the Mugsy Bogues jr. basketball camp, and help organize the draft party at Whiskey River. We basically were around to convince the public the bobcats are coming around and will start winning so they should invest in the team by getting tickets or whatnot. needless to say, i walked away with a lot of free stuff. So if you don’t know what colors they are or what their logo is, you will soon.

Aside from the internship, i originally was planning on coming down alone and rocking the whole no friends and much solitude thing. I thought i needed it and it would be great. I later realized how much if would have sucked if that was the case. However, i ran into a girl i used to work at Summer’s Best Two Weeks with, named Laci. we were good friends at camp. This allowed me to not only have a friend in Charlotte, but have someone i could be real with and talk about my faith with, it was awesome. She was down with road trips too, and if you know me, you know i was all about that (ps charleston is an awesome place!) Having Laci there this summer was such a blessing. Having a friend, getting to meet and get to know her friends, having them show me around the city, and visit churches was all fantastic. On top of that, Laci and I used to lead worship at SB2W so getting her thoughts and input for worship was great too. And her voice is stellar so i pimped that for vocal lessons. hollar. This was another way God pulled through and blessed me much. His way was different than mine and yet again, his way wins. who’d have thought? right?

Lastly, my goal in Charlotte was to visit a lot of Churches because the South knows how to do worship and rock it well. So i went to around 7 churches and just soaked it all in observing how they did things, taking ideas, and learning new songs. I even had coffee with one of the worship leaders from Elevation Church which was an excellent source to learn and share from. And…on our road trip after charleston, we went to Hotlanta to check out North Point Community Church home of the Steve Fee Band. and when we went, Louie Giglio was speaking! awesome speaker for sure!

All of this was a great experience for me as i prepare for ACF worship this upcoming year. I learned a ton and have a new passion for worship and organizing the experience. I am pumped. I’m ready for the year. ready to serve. ready to try and love people like Christ does. ready to receive mercy when i fail at that  

There you have it. My summer in a condensed, yet detailed story. So, when you ask me how my summer was when you see me, i will of course say “good”, but you will know what i really mean…