S- Matthew 9:11-13 "But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'why does your teacher eat with such scum?' When Jesus heard this, he said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do.' Then he added, 'Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.; For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'"


O- When the Pharisees saw Jesus with tax collectors and other sinners, they were appalled because their view of being religious was to not associate with sinners. Jesus challenges them to think about the point of a passage in Hosea 6.6 (NLT) that says "I want you to show love, not sacrifices." He then plainly states that He is here for the sinners not those who think they are righteous.

A- I've been thinking a lot about the conventional church lately. Churches today have a lot to offer from recovery programs, to woman's programs, youth ministries, men's ministries, pet ministries. (Alright, maybe not pet ministries). But we offer so much to so many different people to get them to come to church. The problem is that there are a lot of people out there that won't come to church simply based on the fact that they don't think they're good enough to come. People know they aren't perfect and that they are sinners, but they still won't come to church. In the midst of trying to make our church buildings comfortable for people to come into, I think we've missed the point of needing to go out to the hurting people that no matter how seeker sensitive our churches are, they won't come in the doors, because they don't feel "worthy" to come in.

Think about someone who is sick, say with a self inflicted wound or an STD, something that they had a part in making themselves that way. Even though the one place that can cure them is the doctor's office, the last thing they want to do is admit their guilt and shame in putting themselves in that position. It isn't until someone comes alongside them and helps them move beyond that guilt and shame that they will come to the doctor to get healed. I think it's the same way with us as followers of Christ, we need to go out to those who are hurt and know they need help, but are too ashamed to ask for it. We need to go alongside them, help them move past their guilt and shame and see their need for God, before we bring them into our churches.

P- God help me to identify those that are hurting. Help me see how I can come alongside them and help them experience you. I pray that those people will have the courage to be helped and the humility to admit that they need you.

Blink

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell

I started this book on my retreat last week and finished it on Friday. Gladwell brings up a lot of interesting thoughts about how we make decisions and how we think and discern thoughts in the unconscience part of our brain. If you've ever had a gut feeling about something that's your unconscience talking. He talks about how those gut feelings we have are usually more accurate than the decisions that take hours and hours of contemplation to make.

Malcom Gladwell brings us some very interesting ideas, ideas that are good to think about when it comes to our decision making and why and how we make the decisions we do. My only critisism is that he stirs up a lot of ideas, but doesn't really come to a conclusion about how to apply these principles to our lives and decision making. All in all, it was a good, thought provoking book. Malcom Gladwell is a brilliant man.

Wake Up!

S- Psalm 59:4-5 "Wake up! See what is happening and help me; O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, wake up and punish those hostile nations."

O- David is angry with God. It's as if God is asleep in David's life"

A- Have you ever felt like god isn't here? Like God is oblivious to what is going on? When I think about those who are hurting and struggle with AIDS and hunger, war and violence, I feel the way as David did. Wake up God! Do something! Then I think about the fact that there is no way for me to know God's plan or the plan for those who are hurting. All I can do is have faith in God and His Lordship and Sovereignty.

P- God, I pray for those who are hungry today that you would satisfy them. those who are dealing with violence that you would protect them. Show them a glimpse of your plan for them, and how you are Lord and in control.

Books I Read On My Retreat

Cut by Patrica McCormick

So recently I've been turned onto reading teen fiction. I've also learned that it's best for me to walk into a book store to pick what teen fiction book I want to read because that way I see what is being offered to students (rather than just buying it off of Amazon). Anyways, when I went into Barnes and Noble on Saturday, I was shocked by what saw. Close to 80% of the selection was either about issues such as cutting, drugs, addiction or witchcraft and the occult. It shocked me a little.

So, this is one of the books I read on my retreat.Cut is about a girl who is a cutter in a treatment facility. What is great about this book is that it talks about the process that she went through while she was there, the unfortunate thing is that it never really got down to the reason she cuts.

It does talk about the guilt and the hurt that goes on in families and is a good read to remind those of us in youth ministry why we do what we do.


Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

So when I bought this book, for whatever reason I didn't notice that is old, very old, 1971 old, which is especially old since I was looking to hear about current culture. Anyways, the book is supposedly a true account about an anonymous girl's decent into drugs. It's a diary account which is awkward to read. I enjoyed the first person account of the story and it would be beneficial to read as youth workers or parents that aren't aware of what goes on in the drug culture.



They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball

This is a book that I've been trying to finish reading for about a month now. I finally was able to finish it and am stoked about it. For anyone who doesn't know Dan Kimball is one of the pastors at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, CA. Dan is one of the pioneers of the missional church movement and has great insight in emerging generations.

The idea of the book is that in our culture, "the church" has a bad name. Non-Christians, want to know about Jesus and are interested in having conversations about Jesus, but they want nothing to do with the church.

One of the biggest realizations for me is the idea that before we can even start to talk to emerging generations about Jesus and salvation, we have to get past the bad reputation we have as Christians and The Church. This book is at the top of my list of books that are shaping the way I do ministry and interact with people as a Christian, it's a must read.

Books That Have Shaped Your Ministry/Spiritual Life

What books have shaped and/or helped your ministry and spiritual life?

Any thoughts?

Thank You God

S- Psalm 9:1-2 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be flled with joy because of you.

O- David talks about how he sings praises and tells about what God has done in his life. He tells how there is joy because of what God has done.

A- I don't thank God for what He's done in my life enough. I need to make it more of a habit.

P- Thank you for my wife
Thank you for my daughter
Thank you for placing me in a ministry position, where I know you want me.
Thank you for family that wants the best for Me, Heather and our daughter
Thank you for helping us find an apartment so quickly
Thank you for friends who care about me

Hume Lake Retreat

So I'm heading of to Hume Lake in a few minutes to just hang out and get refreshed. Hume has a great program for pastors that allows them to come and stay at Hume for three days for free. Heather and I have gone in the past, but this is the first time I'm going by myself.

For the last year or so, I've been trying to leave twice a year for a personal retreat. I do some reading, praying, try to re-focus myself in ministry and life. These retreats are hard for me because even though I'm an introverted person, I like being around and interacting with people. Anyways, this one seems especially hard when I have a pregnant wife at home and it feels like the last month with having to move and things going on in ministry, has just been crazy.

My hope is that the next three days would be a chance for me to get focused on some crazy ideas of youth ministry that have been floating around in my head. I want to be able get these ideas to the point that I can express them to others so that I can talk about them. Oh yeah, I also have a 5 page paper to write on St. Gregory the Great today. Anyways, pray God will help focus me on this retreat and pray for Heather as she's home the next couple of days, give her a call or send her an email, or hit her up on Facebook if you can.