Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

- Philippians 2:14-16

I have a tattoo on my forearm that says “Shine”.  When I was debating whether or not to get it, I wrestled with the “Why?” questions.  Why get a tattoo?  Why the word “Shine”?  Why on that place of your arm.  My answers to those questions were very intentional.

I didn’t want to brand myself, with like a permanent W.W.J.D.  I wanted this tattoo for conversation starting purposes.  I wanted it on my forearm, so people would see it when I shook their hand.

As for the word “Shine”…

Following Jesus means we are continually exposed to His Light. This marvelous light never goes out, but shines forever. The light of Jesus dispels darkness, reveals truth, and illumines our hearts with His love. The longer we walk in His light, the more we learn and grow in His ways. As we lead others, we are honored to express the benefits of walking with Jesus and enjoying His light.

By no means am I saying that to shine the reflection of God’s glory, you need a tattoo.  My question to you is how are you shining the reflection of His Light?

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

-1 John 1:5

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

I was able to go on a mission trip a few years ago, where the group of guys built a church for a community in Honduras  that had a pastor, who had a flock, but needed a meeting place. I signed up for this trip, because finally there was a mission trip that my skills could be utilized greatly. What skills you might ask?
Grunt labor.

Yes, I know not many people possess the skills it takes to do
grunt labor, but I am one of the few. I learned a lot about mixing cement, squaring up the walls of the building, and strategically placing big rocks so that the main road to the church would stop eroding.  All of those things that I learned required tools, the right tools.  A shovel,  sand, and work when it wanted to cement mixer was needed to make a cement mix that would hold the concrete blocks in place. Some string, a couple of wood stakes, and a level eye were used to square up the four  walls.  For the rocks, we mostly used muscle and brains.  It was like a real life game of Tetris, we had to fit the rocks in specific spots so that the road wouldn’t give way.  All of that work wasn’t done for a pat on  the back, but for God’s glory, and the most amazing thing was that it  inspired the locals to pitch in and serve their own community.

Following Jesus’ example of serving others is a choice. When
I acknowledged the mercy and grace that Christ displayed on the cross for my sins that was the day that I freely chose to follow His will.  The examples that we read about in the Bible about Jesus serving others, provides opportunities for our free will to choose the right thing.  I think the wrong question was asked several years ago.  Instead of asking ourselves W.W.J.D., I think we need to start asking W.D.J.D. (What Did Jesus Do).  The model of servant hood that He displayed for others to see was for us to take notice and choose to do the same.

We need to set aside our selfish desires and choose daily to serve others. This, from personal experience, is the hardest thing to do.  Every morning my prayers consist of making much of what God wants, and not my wants.  Now, with full disclosure, this doesn’t
always happen.  And when it doesn’t I get in a funk, it’s such a distinct difference to what doing His will feels like, that it is easy to recognize repent and return to His desires.

Looking for opportunities to serve others helps to develop a caring and sincere heart. This doesn’t come naturally to most
people, it is something that needs to be worked on and intentionally done.  The best advice I can give to someone that is looking for opportunities is to first set aside your selfish desires and think W.D.J.D., and second know your strengths and weaknesses.  Know what abilities God has gifted you with so that serving someone won’t be a question, but an action.  Also, if you feel like serving others monetarily, create a budget.  Budgeting your money shows you changes you can make, so that you can honor God more than your wardrobe.  On a side note, if you want to get started serving others right away, but don’t know where to start.  Go to www.craigslist.org, and then click the appropriate state and city that you live in, and then click on the wanted section.  This section is a place where people can place wants or needs that they might have.  Pick one, and help meet a specific need of someone, that’s what Jesus did.

When we choose to think of others more than ourselves, that action becomes a tool in God’s hand to touch and change  many lives. I mentioned earlier that some of the locals, in the  community where we were building a church, began to help us which in turn they were helping their own community.  The group of guys on that mission trip, allowed God to shine through them and use them as tools to build His church and expand His kingdom.  So my question for you and me is, are we grabbing the right screwdriver and being the  right tool?

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to
everyone, to win as many as possible. -1 Corinthians 9:19

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Back in high school, I ran a six minute forty-five second mile. It was my best mile time ever, and no I couldn’t do the same right now.  But, I’m working on it.  Once I dreamed of competing in a triathlon, then I woke up and figured out that I had fallen asleep watching the Ironman Triathlon and figured I was being encouraged through osmosis, and changed the channel.  Maybe someday I will compete in the Ironman Triathlon, I have made it a life goal.

Easter to me, is a great time to stop, reflect, and refresh in what God has done, and is doing. Many of tweets, and Facebook statuses that I have read simply say “He is risen”.  That might sound redundant to some people, and what I would say to you is dwell in that fact, be renewed and refreshed that Jesus Christ died, and rose from the dead so that we can live a life with purpose and meaning.  I don’t know how many marathons, triathlons, decathlons, or teflons you have watched, but they all have one thing in common.  The runners have opportunities to be refreshed along the way.

Okay, maybe not a teflon. But this is Easter to me.

Today, I choose to take in the thirst quenching, strength providing love that Christ showed on the cross. Maybe you’re like me, and you need to reach down and tighten your shoe laces, then keep running.  Use today to be refreshed, and reminded that a life, The Life died for you.

But it didn’t end there.

He rose, He rose from the dead for you and for me.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to
finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the
task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. -Acts 20:24

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

I tried something new tonight for the first time. I went to Starbucks with a friend and ordered a venti orange blossom green tea, with lots of honey.  I have never had anything other than some sort of coffee product, so I decided to be different and live on the edge.  It was different, but very tasty and definitely something I would get again.

The tea was needed to calm my nerves for what was to happen during the rest of the night. Tonight we had a “Night of Worship” along with the Lord’s Supper that we always have the Wednesday before Easter Sunday.  5 words sum up the whole night.

God was in that place.

In the past 6 years of serving on a worship team, I have never heard what I heard tonight. The band began to play, and I couldn’t hear them.  I had a temporary freak out moment, I checked my levels to make sure I was getting a meter reading.  I was.  Then I realized what was happening.  The crowd was louder than the band.  Just to explain how this didn’t make sense, the band is facing me, and are being amplified by speakers.  The crowd is facing away from me and all I could hear was them.

The first thought, after realizing what was going on was the story of the shepherds being frightened by the heavenly host of angels singing “Glory to God in Highest”. I truly felt the body of Christ uniting as 1 to proclaim the greatness and majesty of the God we serve.  But it didn’t end there.

As the night progressed, my eyes saw something that broke my heart. It was during the big chorus of “How He Loves”, and I saw a young boy with his arms as stretched out as they could be.  He was going for it with all of his might.  To see a child in all of their innocence fully engaging in the worship of the God that saved them, makes me wonder why I let so many things get in the way of passionately pursing what God has for me.

So, after being filled up by the wonders of an almighty God, my wife and I stopped at a gas station on the way home and got a slurpee. A delightful end to an amazing night.

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

I have a problem justifying how
long I should be off the wagon before getting back on. I know that getting back on is the right thing to do, but I still feel dirty, ashamed, and timid.  In my head I tell myself that it is okay that I’m not back on the wagon, because I have to get everything back in order before I can proceed.

As my family and I begin to prepare for this Easter season, I am reminded of a story that took place around this time, which has all of the same implications. Luke 22:32(b) says, and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.  There
are two actions stated in that verse, turning from something and strengthening others.

These words were spoken to Peter over 2,000 years ago, by Jesus. Jesus had just told Peter that before the rooster crows 3 times, he will have denied the relationship that he and Jesus had with each other.  Peter was one of the elite 3 out of the 12 that was in Jesus’ inner circle.

You cannot hide anything from God, He knows all past, present, and future. That should be more freeing, and liberating, then binding, and constrictive.  Jesus told Peter that he was going to lie about knowing Him, but Jesus also told him that He would be praying that his faith in Him would not fail.

That prayer continues on…

Jesus still prays that prayer for all of us. He has not set us up to fail, nor does He want to see us fail.  But He knows that it will happen, and when it does, we are to turn again, and strengthen our brothers and sisters.

For those that have just fallen off the wagon, or are waiting for the right time to get back on, NOW is the time to do it. Do not put off until tomorrow, what can be done today.  Get back on the wagon; He is waiting with arms open wide.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” –Luke
22:31-32

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

of these great ideas, big plans, dreams that no one could fathom?  Then a few weeks later, this question comes:

“Why didn’t I act on that?”

Our non-action is a case of non-momentum.  Dave Ramsey has a great illustration for
momentum.  He calls it, his “Momentum Theorem”

Focused Intensity, Over Time, Multiplied by God,
Equals Unstoppable
Momentum

If you dream God sized dreams, or think God loving thoughts,
or even pursue the passion of God’s heart, your results will be
exponential.  But, you need to have
momentum, your focused intensity over time has to be combined and multiplied by

“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Anyways…

Going through this whole process of pregnancy with my wife, I have become more and more in awe of the intricacies of God’s hand print in all things.  Maybe you don’t even believe in God, Buddha, the Pope or whom/whatever.  That’s okay, but there is no way you can say that a higher power doesn’t exist.  Yes, I know that’s a bold and harsh statement to some people.  But the “Big-Bang” theory is only true for guns, when you pull the trigger you hear a big bang.

It amazes me that a being that lives and grows inside of another being, doesn’t and isn’t told what to do next.

So, after sitting through about 3 hours of this class, my mind was expanded beyond belief trying to fathom all of blueprints that God has placed in us, and in nature.  Then, this statement came from our instructor, a licensed, educated, and tenured registered nurse who has been in labor and delivery for almost 15 years.

It is so interesting that the baby instinctively knows exactly how to maneuver itself to be birthed out of the birth canal.

My mind officially exploded after that statement was made, and yes there is a specific pattern that a baby instinctively follows to make it through the birth canal.  I was filled with the thought that a human’s instincts, is nothing more than the presence of God’s hand.  I don’t need these types of instincts or wonders of nature to prove to me that there is a God.  I know that there is, and I know that He placed a blueprint in His’ son to come and die for the sin’s of the world, so that I can experience the love that God has for me and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

That blueprint, my mind might never fathom, and that’s okay, because His love for me is more than enough.

-Lance
“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Why would the creator of the universe be jealous for me?  One would think that if someone is jealous for me, they must desire something that I have.

There are not many things that I own, or abilities that I have, that people want.  I mean no one is coming up to me and saying things like, “Your car is the shizzle, where can I get one of those?” or “Those are some fly kicks, where can I get me a pair?”  The most recent thing that someone has actually said, “I wish I could do that” was about my beard.  I was “gifted” I guess you could say, with the ability to grow a pretty thick beard in a short period of time.  My wife hates it when I have a beard, and I like it sometimes because of the variety.  Other than facial hair, no one has been jealous for me.

Five or six years ago, a new song came on the church worship set.  “How He Loves”, originally written and sung by John Mark Mcmillan.  For me personally it is one of the most humbling songs that make most of God, and His love for us.

There is this one line in it that makes me stop singing and just go into deep thought about what, why, and how that could be.  I am sure many people have asked the same question about that same line.

No, I am not talking about the one that David Crowder has shied away from.

“He is jealous for me.”

Of what?

Why?

How?

Paul put it so eloquently in Colossians 1:16-20.  He goes on to say this:

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

His jealousy for you and I is so great that He willingly died for us, so that we would be made holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him one day.

So yes, He is jealous for you, because He loves you.

-Lance
“Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.”

I heard it this afternoon, from my co-worker, so I turned around to see what was wrong.  To my surprise she was smiling, not crying, or in mourning over what had just occurred during her phone conversation.

Why do we say good grief?  Is grief something to be good about?  Do we really mean good grief, when we say it?  Because if we mean what we’re saying, then we mean that a keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss, and sharp sorrow, or painful regret, is a good thing.

That doesn’t sound good to me.

When we say it, we usually say it as an exclamation of dismay, surprise, or relief.  That sounds much better or gooder…

Is grief a good thing?  Yes, it is.

Yes there will have sorrow, suffering, loss, and affliction, but there is hope…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

-Lance

Reading that line doesn’t do it justice when you are trying to convey the raspy, deep, and intimidating voice of “Macho Man” Randy Savage.  I grew up, much to my mom’s dislike, watching wrestling.  You know WWF, now the WWE, WCW, and ECW.  None of that sissy role around on the mat wearing overall spandex, ear protectors, and competing in a weight class so no one gets hurt.  I’m talking about the real stuff, high flying off the top rope, blood gushing out of the forehead, bone breaking slams on the mat stuff.  My favorite wrestler, of all time, would have to be “Macho Man” Randy Savage.  “Macho Man” was originally one of the good guys.  He looked very intimidating with his massive muscles, and his high flying atomic elbow.  Randy Savage wrestled for the little people.

Then things changed.

The “Macho Man” converted to the dark side, and was a part of the NWO, New World Order.  This group of wrestlers was defying all rules and regulations that governed the organization they wrestled for.  I didn’t like the “Macho Man” after he changed from his, for the people, persona to his, pardon my French, screw you attitude.

I too have changed a lot over the years that I have been on this earth.  I don’t watch much wrestling anymore, I have developed some passions and hobbies that I didn’t have before, I’ve gotten married, and my wife and I are expecting our first child, a boy.

But, there is one thing I am working at not changing into.  Ever since learning that we were going to have a baby I have been fighting the urge to become a “Macho Man”.  I have heard so many stories of new fathers that use the excuse that they don’t know how to take care of baby, so that’s why they let the mom do it.  Now, I understand that there are some physical/scientifical things that men cannot do, to help their child.  But it honestly it sucks to be lumped into the “cultural norm” of dads that are too macho to help with their newborn son or daughter.  About 75% of the people that I either know, or strangers that have striked up a conversation about our future son, have assumed that my wife will do everything and that I won’t know what to do so I won’t lift a finger to do anything.

Here is my rant.

Guys, dads, if you have a newborn, toddler, or young child, you too are responsible for raising and taking care of them.  Too long have we let a few “Macho Man” dead beat dads define what society calls the norm.  If you don’t know what to do, read, ask questions, and research it.  The information is out there, it’s up to you and I to put away our pride and learn it, then do it.

-Lance

P.S. For those of you that think my attitude will change after our son is born, it won’t.  You can hold me accountable to that.