Search

This past week was spend basking in moments of beauty. The kinds of moments country songs are filled with- like toes in the sand and ocean breezes.



In those moments there was this underlaying search. Hoping that maybe enough waves and sun rays would fill me up.

Kicked it off with a visit to Elevation Church; then spontaneously, after waving goodbye to the waves, our last stop was a visit to Elevation again for the first night of the Code Orange Revival. Even after a week in paradise- I was still searching.

Still searching as a sang about how "Strongholds now surrender" and declaring "Let it be done."

Still searching as we opened our Bibles to Isaiah 55 and read:

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah‬ ‭55:9-11‬ )‭

I am not a farmer. But I spend some time in my childhood naming worms and covering seeds with dirt. So I can pull from my memory imagines of agricultural breakthrough. We a bud breaks the soil for the first time as a little green speck against the brown soil: breakthrough.

Though in that image the little green speck of green seems so weak- still I want to be that little speck. I want the newness. And the the tender care of a Grand Gardener that waters.

Sand.
Searching.
Singing.
Soil.
Speck.

Even after last night, there are parts of my heart and mind that are still searching. That are reaching for that Isaiah 55 rain to come down from heaven. And there is a part of me that knows to not fear the searching. To not be ashamed of it because I know that I was created to seek Him.

You are invited to my house tonight and tomorrow at 5pm and then Monday- Friday at 7pm, and again next Saturday and Sunday at 5pm to watch a live stream of the Code Orange Revival and to search freely.

I hope. I pray.
That it fills you up.

It might not be the end to your search.
But it sure can be the start.
See you tonight.

still growing.

To think that is has been almost 14 months since my last blog.

Since that last beautiful moment in the snow (read about it here) there have surely been a lot of moments of growth.

But growth to me looks a lot different than when I started this blog.

In the beginning I had this image of a lovely green tree: deep roots, strong branches, and new fruit.

But now I am beginning to truly understand:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

(James 1:2-4)

To be mature and grow, I will face things that make me want to throw in the towel, that don't make sense, and aren't what I thought I was getting into. But those moments are just as much a part of the story as the moments of glory. 

Growth now looks like the community I have had the honor of being a part of for over 2 years.

Seeing the individuals shaped; that they look more like Christ.

Hearing them sing to a Savior they cling to.

Overwhelmed this morning thinking of our upcoming worship night on Sunday. The focus is on how Christ is the Author of Salvation. He surely is writing a grand story about this little community just seeking to find Him.

I get to be a part of it.

O Maker of Heaven and Earth, make something new in us. 

Baptism by Snow

They always

write cliches

like the Snow was

white

against the 

black sky.

The sky isn't quite black when it snows.

More of a 

gray.

Silver.

With the snow glistening as it falls.

Falling like rain drops-

like gum drops-

We always said in our childhood.

Drops fall

white

against my jacket

black 

as a heavy duty trash bag.

(It looks like one too.)

But it keeps me warm as I catch 

snow

in the palm of my hand.

Each drop melts.

Melts.

Disappears.

Comfort.

With each

snow

splash

in the palm of my hand;

I say:

-a name

-a worry

-a secret

He has given me a

gift: snow.

Baptism by snow:

Each drop melts.

Melts.

Disappears.

Comfort.

heart of an abolitionist

A couple of summers ago I moved in with my brother and his wife for the summer to intern at their church. My first day at their house, I unpacked my car and took my first load of stuff up to their guest room. On the bed was a book “Behind the Soiled Curtain.”

My brother told me that they had got me that book because they thought it was a book I would want to read. I quickly read the subtitle before finishing unpacking my car: “Project Rescue's Fight for the Victims of the Sex-Slave Industry.”

I left the book on the bed and didn't think much of it.

That same night my friend invited me to come to her church to watch the documentary “Nefarious.”

As I watched the film tears poured from my eyes.
Honestly as cliche as it sounds I was shocked.

I listened to a state of disbelief:

"I made $393 a month. 

You can buy a girl for $10 a night.

I went to bed with over 500 girls in 2 years, 

because they were there..."

"They ask your favorite type, 

what would you like. 

If you want dark or brown. 

Then they come to you. 

It's like you order a pizza"

"Dozens of girls 

in a village of 3,000 people 

that are raped 5-10 times a day 

for money, 

for the pleasure of some guy."

(To watch the trailer of Nefarious for yourself go to: http://nefariousdocumentary.com/)

Within 24 hours I was exposed to the injustice human trafficking. Until that day 2 years ago I had no idea how big of an industry sex trafficking was.

I had no idea how many slaves there are in the world.

Right now.

Hidden in the darkness.

I set myself to break the culture of silence on the issue, on the injustice of human trafficking.

Investing my time and money into seeing slaves set free. 

My friends, I do not know the words to write to compel you to join me in fighting for these victims.

What words can you write about an issue so horrific that leaves you speechless. 

It seems all I can do is ask you.

Ask you to pray.

Ask you to create awareness.

Ask you to donate.

Donating to Set Free Akron Canton will help to set free victims of human trafficking in the local area. Please consider giving at rally.org/setfreeAkronCanton. 

Our goal is to raise $2,000 by November 26.

Consider donating even a few dollars. 

Know that your support matters not only to me, not only to the victims, but to our Father.

Until All are Set Free.

welcome & protect

A couple weeks ago I was standing in the back of the church stationed as the well known greeter.

greeter.

Though I don't like to admit it, I wasn't too thrilled to be the greeter (at least not at the time).

I am loud.
I am outgoing.
I smile.

Seems like I had everything a good greeter should have.

Standing in the back during worship one of the girls gets up to use the restroom and walks past me and says:

"greeter?"

I nod.

Then without my asking. Without my expecting. She shares with me some wisdom that changed the way I will think about being a greeter forever.

She told me that she likes being the greeter because it is a lot like being a watchman.

You stand at the door to welcome and to protect. 
To guard the door of the house. 

Such a simple concept, but provoking for me.

$5 coincidence

Currently I am sitting at Starbucks with Casey Stevens, working on stuff for the church and sipping coffee. The funny thing about this is because we came to Starbucks to write blog posts (figured it was a better environment for us hipsters).

Casey forgot her wallet, so I offered to pay for her. The funny thing is that the total of our drinks came out to an even $5. Now I drink a lot of coffee, but my drink order has never come out to an even $5.

This little coincidence lends itself well to my asking you to purchase a 1Life bracelet through this post.

Our coffee total was $5.

A 1Life bracelet cost $5.

What I am asking you to do is really quite simple. It is used in persuasion all the time to get people to commit to small donations:

This week skip a cup of coffee and buy a 1Life bracelet.

Even though this ask doesn’t seem any different from the other causes that clog your timelines, humor me in be willing to see it as different.

I have seen God ask prayers. He is faithful. That I know to be true. That I can testify too.

Prayer is powerful.

Purchasing this $5 bracelet will help build a house for a family in Guatemala.

It will also help you to remember to be in prayer for the team.

So there it is simply.

Please, purchase a bracelet as a reminder to pray for our team while they are on the trip from December 14-22. 

milkshakes & missions.

After work today I drove to Burger King to get my favorite chocolate milkshake. There I am slipping my chocolate milkshake listening to a sermon about a pastor in India who had planted 32 churches and all 32 of them have been burnt down. 50 of his family members have been murdered- killed for their faith and now they are after this pastor.

Driving my car.

Drinking my milkshake.

The sobriety of The Lord touches me in that moment.

I don't know when this sermon was recorded. It could have been years ago...

... still though the gravity of the situation was there with me in the car.

Right now people are being murdered for their faith and so many more are trapped in the kingdom to darkness leading to spiritual death. 

Some have never even heard the name of Jesus.

I understand it may seem like this is all a bit dramatic but I do not live my life with an awareness of what is going on in the lives of other Christians.

I began to pray. Jesus, I am powerless and you are all powerful. Will you send your Holy Spirit without measure to the persecuted. 

I began to pray.

As simple as that. 

In the moment when the sobriety of The Lord hit me I whispered to my Father, would you help them? Would you strengthen them.

Missions is important and needed. 

But there is power in the short, secret prayers that we pray.

In the midst of drinking a milkshake.