Finding God in Mexico

I was reminded this last week that God transcends national boundaries. In the midst of a political heightened time in our country and many discussions about the boarder and issues in Mexico, I have forgotten what an amazing country Mexico can be! My wife and I were truly blessed this fourth of July when we received an offer to join a students family at their property in Mexico off a beautiful picturesque river. It was intended to be a little prep trip for an upcoming discipleship camp we will be having there in August. It was just what we needed!! I have forgotten what quiet actually sounded like. It always amazes me how the noise of life can drown out the voice of God, and as soon as we make time to be quite God speaks.

Thank you lord for being so faithful to give me opportunities to meet you in the midst of the noise and busyness of life. You continually offer refreshment and life that I so desperately need yet so often fail to recognize.

Bobblehead

Super sweet bobblehead. Go Padres!!! Make your own here http://www.xmbaseball.com/

Jesus was a Jew

Time Magazine has come out with "The 10 ideas that are changing the world" at #10 Re-Judaizing Jesus. The new idea that will change the world is that Jesus was a Jew!!! It is no new Idea that Jesus was Jewish, the proposed problem is that we in the western world have taken Jesus and his teachings out of the context of an eastern Jewish culture. The Emergent Church has tended to embrace this philosophy of a Jewish Jesus, yet they have done a pendulum swing from the Evangelical world in that they over emphasis the Jewish context in Jesus' teachings often adding more than what was original intended. The Emergent Church has brought some amazing depth to the teachings of Jesus, yet they have often gone too far. The modern day evangelical church has done Jesus' Jewish culture wrong as well. Evangelicals are often found using a few contextual examples of Jewish culture to support theological ideals backing beliefs and values of our western culture. Is it even possible for us to truly understand the complete context of the 1st century Judaism that Jesus grew up in, and then filter our exegesis of scripture through these ideas. In fact Judaism has changed so much that it only has a small resemblance today to the Judaism that existed during Jesus' day. Even the Jews that lived during the time of Jesus did not understand the meaning of many of His teachings and they were immersed in this ancient eastern culture. Those that did understand Jesus' teachings only understood through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. In Luke 8:10 Jesus states "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you , but to others I speak in parables, so that, though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand." NIV. It seems that every few decades since the time of Jesus we have had new ideas about the meaning of the scriptures, yet these new ideas seem to only support a tolerance to current values or a radical pendulum swing from current culture. No matter through whose eyes the scriptures are seen it is the Holy Spirit that gives us eyes to see and ears to hear. The truths of a fallen world and a human race in need of salvation spans across all cultures and times. What do you think?

Fathers Day

So this year was my first official father's day. I have been hearing the saying "like father like son" a lot lately. My son has a lot of my qualities and characteristics but I don't know if this is so good. I so want my son to copy me but only the God refined traits, there is so much I still wish to work on. It got me thinking about what an amazing challenge it is to be a father. As a father I have the responsibility to represent God the father to my son, what an incredible responsibility. I know that no matter how hard I try to be a Godly man for my son to emulate I will some how mess him up. In life we have all experienced father wounds, some deeper than other's that have lasting effects on how we as men will raise our son's. It is my prayer that as a father I will represent God as a loving father. I praise the Lord that he is the best father we could have, and he is so faithful to show us the genuine love of a father. May we as men continually look to our heavenly father for our example of being Godly dad's to our sons and daughters as we try raise a legacy of God honoring generations to come!!

Year 27!!!

So this week I turned 27. I had a birthday week instead of a birthday, I figure why not prolong the celebration of another year of life for a few extra days! I am so blessed as I look back at life and what God has done over the years. I can honestly say I am content and wouldn't want life to be any different.

Here are few things I have learned in my 27 years of life!

1. A Godly life is made in the small moments not the big ones. It's the small ones that prepare you for the bigger stuff.

2. Life is a journey enjoy the scenery, let God be the guide.

3. Don't pick up 200 pound coolers full of soda and water past 27, I threw my back out for the first time in my life, I feel old!

4. Spend time loving those God has given you relationships with you never know when those relationships might end.

5. Being a Dad to my son Caleb and husband to my beautiful wife Angelina is the absolute best gift and stewardship I have ever had. Don't take for granted the precious treasures the lord gives you in this life.

6. Life is not easy, don't expect it be because it is not about you. It's about God!

7. Anyone can be a man, not everyone is a man of God, I deeply desire to be a man that honors Him.

There are way more but just a few I have experienced this last week! On to another year 28 here I come...

I love my wife!!

Tomorrow Angelina and I celebrate our 3 year anniversary!! I am amazed at how quickly time has gone by and how much life has changed, for the better of course. I am even more in love with my wife today than the day I meet her. Her compassion, and loving soul has changed my life forever. I could not imagine a single day with out her by my side living life as a partner in so many things. I thank the lord for such an amazing women to share my life with and to experience all that life has to offer together. I will cherish her all the days of my life. If the first three years have been this great, I can not wait till year 50 or 60!!

Song of Solomon 6:3 "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine"

Radical living in a Comfortable world

I have been challenged lately by the type of Christianity that we the American Church promote. As I see the next generation of Christians grow more apathetic, I see that we as the church have failed to give them a picture of Jesus that stands for something significant. Instead we have painted a picture that Jesus is found on Sunday's in pews and mid-week bible studies, in fun events that do nothing for those in need. Christianity in America has become a private personal religion, where claiming Christ as savior brings no discomfort or change in life. The problem is that we in America are comfortable, our whole country revolves around our comfort. I drove down a paved road today with nicely painted lines, detailed by neatly manicuring bushes no one owns, and trimmed grass to make our community look beautiful. Yet the world we live in is not beautiful, it's dying and broken. We live in a fake reality of comfort and security. Does anyone feel the same way? It's time to start being a church that refuses to stay comfortable, that refuses to make Jesus a feel good ideal, a set of motivational principles . Christ died a brutal death for a broken and ugly world that we may live a life of love and discomfort for God's glory and God's kingdom! As Americans we are called to live a radical life in a comfortable world, not an easy task, but one we must seek after!!