I’ve been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan and have been really challenged by a lot of what he has to say.  I love that Chan’s ideas are so firmly founded on Scripture and that he seems to really get back to the basics.  I decided to post a few of his thoughts and leave it at that.

“We’ve conditioned ourselves to hear messages without responding.  Sermons have become Christian entertainment.  We go to church to hear a well-developed sermon and a convincing thought.  We’ve trained ourselves to believe that if we’re convicted, our job is done.  If you’re just hearing the Word and not actually doing something with it, you’re deceiving yourself.”

“I think sometimes we assume that if we are nice, people will know that we are Christians and want to know more about Jesus.  But it really doesn’t work that way.  I know a lot of people who don’t know Christ and are really nice people – nicer and more fun to be with, in fact, than a lot of Christians I know.”

“There has to be more to our faith than friendliness, politeness, and even kindness.”

“True faith is loving a person after he has hurt you.  True love makes you stand out.”

“The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don’t swear, and good church attendance.  Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered.  That’s for the ‘radicals’ who are ‘unbalanced’ and who go ‘overboard’.  Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering.”

“Jesus’ call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing.  The thought of a person calling himself a ‘Christian’ without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.”

“Following Christ isn’t something that can be done half-heartedly or on the side.  It is not a label we can display when it is useful.  It must be central to everything we do and are…we are on a never-ending downward escalator.  In order to grow, we have to turn around and sprint up the escalator, putting up with perturbed looks from everyone else who gradually moving downward.

If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend that you take the time to do so.  It has lit a fire within me, and I pray that it leads to more than just conviction, but to action and to being more intentional in my pursuit of God.

Over the last few weeks, some of the men at Suncrest have begun meeting on Thursday mornings at 6AM for Men’s Fraternity.  While it has not grown like I wished, I’m excited that there’s a new group of men willing to get up early and come discuss what it really means to be a man and what the Bible has to say about being a man.

I like Men’s Fraternity for a few reasons:

1. The video teaching by Robert Lewis is excellent, and I think it is critical for men to hear the message that Lewis is carrying about manhood.  Many men these days, if asked, couldn’t give a clear vision of what it means to be a man, much less, tell you how to get there.  Men’s Fraternity helps to develop a Biblical definition of manhood and a plan to assist men on their journey.
2. The teaching is followed by time where men can share their stories and discuss the day’s teaching.  I enjoy hearing about people’s lives.  It’s interesting to me.  And I find that as I sit and listen to the stories from other men at various stages of life, I learn a lot from their victories and from their struggles.  It’s also nice to hear that I’m not the only one struggling with issues and to connect on a level where friendships can be formed that go beyond the surface.
3. It gives me confidence as it shows me practical ways to be a better husband, father, son, and follower of Christ. 
4. I’m an early bird, and I can’t imagine a better way to start your morning than with a look into God’s Word, a cup of coffee, and a donut (or two). 

By the way, Suncrest’s East Campus Worship Arts Director Kevin Richardson put together an awesome promo video for Men’s Fraternity that still makes chuckle.  Check it out here.

Our family had the joy of spending Sunday night at Faith Church in Dyer, IN at an event called Kidz Blitz!  Kidz Blitz is a high energy event filled with games and excitement that is fun for the whole family.  How often do kids get the permission in church to jump around, scream and yell, make a mess, play games, and just let themselves go?  Kidz Blitz, however, was not just about fun and games.  Throughout the night, the host continually connected the games that were being played with Biblical truths and challenged those in the audience.

While I was expecting a spiritual message of some sort during the event, I was not really prepared for how God was going move in that arena.  The host reminded parents about the power of the example that they are setting for their children each and every day and challenged them to step up to the plate and accept the responsibility God has placed on them.  The night ended with an invitation for both the parents and children to make a decision for Christ if they hadn’t already done so.  The response was incredible as parents and children flooded down to the front of the room.  It was pretty awesome.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to have some fun with Brisa and Brice, but what I’ve appreciated even more is the chance to continue the spiritual conversations with my kids, especially Brisa, as the week has continued on.  I love that Brisa is curious.  I love that she’s asking questions (though I don’t have all the answers).  I love that, when I asked her if she understood the message that was presented that night, she indicated that she didn’t have it all figured out but that she understood that Christ died for her.  Kidz Blitz was a great reminder of how much I love my kids.  And it was a an even better reminder of how much Christ loves me. 

As I was waiting for my frostbitten fingers to thaw out this week,  I was browsing through The Times and came across what I thought was a brilliant idea.  The brilliant idea…NeighborLink. 

NeighborLink is a web site that invites residents and organizations to seek free assistance from their neighbors and invites residents to join volunteer project teams to provide free assistance.  The site puts those in need in touch with those who can give it.  Pretty cool!

Why?  According to the site, the founders of NeighborLink desire to respond to the love of God they have received.  They believe that God is pleased when people, out of gratitude for what He’s done, extend kindness to others, especially to those in need.

…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.  -Matthew 25:40

Looking for a project or place to serve?  NeighborLink has one local web site to assist those in Porter County, IN.  Sounds like a great place for individuals, families, and community groups in northwest Indiana to connect, serve, and share the hope of Jesus Christ.

This weekend at Suncrest’s East Campus, we began a new series titled “Making Change”.  In the first sermon of the series, “Creating Room to Breathe”, Greg discussed the idea of creating margin in your life, specifically financial margin, and challenged us with the following scripture:

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.          - 1 Timothy 6:6-9

I cannot get that scripture out of my head.

If all I had was just food and clothing.  That’s it.  Nothing else.  Food.  Clothing.  No TV.  No iPod.  No computer.  No car.  Nothing else.  Just food and clothes.  Would I be content?

The question of finding contentment with just food and clothing is so poignant to me.  While I want to say yes, I know if I was really honest with myself, the answer is no.  And what’s so sad about that is if you keep reading, the scripture says…People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

How many times have we seen that?  America is evidence to the truth of this scripture.  Look around and you’ll see mounting debt ruining lives, homes forclosed, fraud schemes landing folks in prison, etc. 

So how would you answer the scripture?  Would you be content?

So, when I was young, I had a record player.  And, next to doing my best to dominate the neighborhood kids in every game we played, one hobby I remember enjoying was just sitting and listening to books on my record player.  Sounds a little boring now that I look back on it, but I think I enjoyed the idea of relaxing in my room and being entertained.  It was just easy.

Fast forward about 20 years, and the situation is much the same.  Except now, rather than swinging for the fences in my back yard or spending hour after hour shooting baskets in my driveway, I spend much of my day commuting.  So I figured I might try something that I enjoyed back in the day.  No, I’m not bringing a record player along with me in the car, but I did pick up an audio book from the library. 

I’m new to audio books.  I’m not sure how well the audio book experiment will work, because I generally try to read books that will challenge the way I think or grow me in some way, and I often find myself wrestling with page after page.  I guess I often need to visualize things to really grasp them, and I’m not sure if the audio book experiment will foster that sort of thing.  I guess I could pause or rewind the CD and reflect, but I’m not sure it’s the same as being able to pour over and reflect upon the written word.

So here it is.  An audio book experiment.  I know it’s not a new thing.  I’m sure many of you have listened to books before.  But for me, it harkens back to a time that I really enjoyed.  Sitting in my room.  Just me and my record player.   This time, however, I’m hoping that the experiment leads to more than what I once wanted: entertainment.  I’m hoping that the audio book experiment will turn my commute into an experience.  Not just a drive down the road, but a time to reflect, to contemplate, to wrestle with my thoughts, and to pray.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about running a mini-marathon in Indy in May.  I actually planned on running the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (which included running around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), but things don’t always work out as planned.  As I’m spending time with my family this weekend, I see on the Indy news that the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is full.  35,000 entries.  Not so sure I’d enjoy running with 35,000 people anyway.

So plans have changed.  Rather than running on May 2nd with 35,000 people, I’ll be running the Geist Half Marathon with 6,000 people in Indy on May 16th.  I have a few things to check in my work schedule, but the plan is to sign up in the next couple of days.  The training has already begun…slowly that is.  Jogged two miles on Monday and another three today.  Slowly working myself into condition.  I’ll be posting my progress on www.mapmyrun.com (great training tool…also great for finding new routes). 

I have set a few goals for my first mini-marathon experience:

• Finish.  Have to start somewhere;
• Finish in less than two hours (about a 9:10/mile pace);
• Lose 15 pounds in the process.  No need to go any further; and
• Avoid any serious injuries.

Who knows?  If all goes well, maybe I’ll consider a second in Chicago later this year.

Lately, I have been listening to and wrestling with a sermon series on LifeChurch.tv called “Practical Atheist”.  In the sermon series, Craig Groeschel presents some really compelling thoughts concerning people who call themselves Christians and actually believe in God but fail to live lives that acknowledge that He exists.  Groeschel describes the lukewarm Christian as one who wants to believe, but not be over-the-top with his faith. 

These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.   -Isaiah 29:13 

In the second sermon of the series, Groeschel lists ten characteristics of a lukewarm Christian:

1. Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
2. Rarely share their faith in Christ.
3. Do whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.
4. Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven.
5. Gauge their morality by comparing themselves with others.
6. Want to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their lives.
7. Only turn to God when they’re in a bind.
8. Give whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living.
9. Not much different from the rest of the world.
10. Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who He is.

I think if you consider yourself a follower of Christ, it would do yourself some good to look long and hard at that list above and reflect.  A few of the characteristics above really hit me, but one stood out amongst all the rest:  Not much different from the rest of the world.

When I look at the world around me, I see much that does not reflect the life of Christ.  Christ’s life was characterized by extraordinary love, extraordinary sacrifice, extraordinary compassion, extraordinary grace, extraordinary obedience, and much more that was not ordinary.  However, when I take an honest look at my own life, I’m not sure I see much different from the rest of the world around me…much out of the ordinary.  How about you…your life?  Is it ordinary?  Does it look much like the life of those around you?

Yesterday, my family got an opportunity to do a couple of awesome things:  

• Alicia and some of our friends took the day to reach out to a family here locally who was in real need, providing bedding, furniture, and even took time for a home makeover.  The fact that Alicia wanted to participate is no surprise to me because she has a heart of gold.  Full of compassion and love.  Below are a few of the home makeover pictures.  I was blown away.

• Because Alicia was away for the day, that meant I got to spend the whole day alone with the kids.  I can’t remember the last time it was just me for a whole day.  I can sum up my feelings at the end of the day in a couple of words: fun and tired.  We spent the day playing checkers, baking cookies (yes, baking and Alicia even thought they turned out well!!), and finished it off with some hot cocoa while watching Polar Express.  It was no doubt one of the best days I’ve had in a long time and it makes me appreciate Alicia all the more.  God’s really blessed me with a wonderful family, and I can’t thank Him enough.  Below are couple of pictures of our day at home.

My family much of the last several days down in Lafayette, IN with my in-laws celebrating the life of Alicia’s grandfather Leroy Smith.

I learned a lot from Leroy.  Few of these lessons were by spoken word.  Most simply from watching the example of life well-lived.  Anyone that spent time with Leroy knows that he was a devoted family man, full of wisdom, could fix anything, and always willing to lend a helping hand.  Leroy was a Christian man that was devoted to his wife for over 50 years and served her in every way possible.  A man that served not only his wife, but his family, his church, his community, and his country. 

It was definitely a sad time, knowing that my family will not be able to enjoy spending time with Leroy this side of heaven.  On the other hand, it was nice to know that a lack of time will not always be an issue, as we’ll have eternity to celebrate together some day.

It was cool to see the perspective that Leroy’s bride Helen had in a time of mourning.  To see her boasting to those consoling her at the funeral home about how great a husband Leroy was and how great a life she and Leroy had lived together.  I pray that some day Alicia will be able to tell to her friends the same things about how wonderful our life was together .