If you haven’t been to Catalyst, you need to. It truly is an experience and not just an event. This year’s theme is “Tension is Good” and I love the idea of tension. I’ve always found the greatest depth of faith when there is tension.

You may be thinking that this event is “too much production” and “not enough spirituality” but let me push back and say that perhaps you aren’t very teachable. This is an experience where it will make you think whether you agree with what is said or not. It will challenge your theology. The experience will stretch you.

Catalyst Conference East, October 6-8, Atlanta, GA. Register here.

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1. When There Is Tension

Check out this article: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/04/christian-millennials-prayer-church/1

By the way, Millenials are people your age (born between 1984-2004).

Do you agree? What do you think?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~James 1:2-4

Too often we settle into that spiritual roller coaster. After that high from a retreat or event our motivation starts to fizzle and then the next thing you know you’re faced with some major obstacles in your life! Where did all energy go? Why am I not passionate anymore? Why am I now faced with these trials? It’s not the emotions fizzing out that is the problem, but it’s the fact that we give up when we face trials soon after.

There is a point at which we all have a decision to make whether to press on and persevere or to just ride the roller coaster to the bottom. When we give up, we miss out on making major break throughs in our faith! What I’m talking about is the decision we’re faced with at the point of perseverance.

How do you keep going when you don’t think you can? It’s not a “let God do everything” or a “do everything yourself” dilema, but it’s both and. You have a to bite down and fight the pain. It’s like trying to hold your breath under water against someone and just when you think you want to go up for air you tell yourself a little longer. That’s not where it ends. At the same time, you have to trust God to lift you up out of the downward spiral. You know, this is just the start of perseverance.

You have to continue beyond where you don’t think you can go any further. You haven’t broken through just yet. You have to make it through the break through point. This is the point where you realize it doesn’t hurt as bad as you thought before. It’s not that your circumstances have really changed. They may or may not have, but what’s happening is that God is developing character. It’s the kind of character that matures you. It’s like a runner’s second wind. Only mature runners know how to develop and use it. It’s only runners who push themselves to that point that understand it. This is stuff God has to have the chance to do something in you.

In order to develop muscle, you have to bust your butt and lift hard. Hard enough to where it hurts because that’s when your muscle tears. But at this point, you can’t tell your muscles to grow and repair itself. You have to leave it up to God.

You will have a spiritual break through, when you persevere through trials. This is bigger than just having the right attitude or the right strength. It’s about God being bigger than the trials you face. It’s about allowing your actions to follow your faith. It’s about God getting the glory when you reach new heights in your faith.

What is it that you have to persevere through right now? Don’t give up. Don’t miss experiencing a break through in your faith.

I’ve noticed something about my own faith. I’ve noticed that I’ve found faith where there was tension. I found faith in the unanswered questions. I found faith in the face of conflict. I found faith when things didn’t go my way. I found faith in the uncertain future. I found faith struggling with God.  I found faith in the tensions of life.

Then why in the world does it feel like the pursuit of a Christian is to live without conflict? Why are so many prayers filled with fixing something? Why are all the Christian books out there about how to get your life in order? Why is the good Christian life portrayed like to the one who has everything together?

It’s been good to have faith and I’ve found it in the tensions of life. Then in the tension I will remain.

No related posts.

It’s the freedom that we have in this country that I’m thankful for. That freedom that I enjoy demands my respect for those who fought to make it possible. It’s freedom that all faiths must fight to keep in this country. For what is faith without freedom to choose?

My utmost respect and gratitude go out to the veterans that fought for freedom.

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1. Self(less) Reflection

We are nearly done with our home study portion of the adoption process and it feels like we’ve been in the process for a very long time! There’s been lots of paperwork and talking with people to say the least. There’s lots of “white space” too. There’s plenty of time to wait for things to happen such as paperwork processing and appointments, but the best thing about the wait is that I’ve had the opportunity to really learn about adoption in a deeper way. I’ve been reading tons of material on everything from the theology of adoption to how Muslims are working in orphan care and adoption. To say the least, my perspective has certainly broadened and really do see adoption in a different way than I had seen it at the beginning of my adoption journey. So, for the remaining course of our journey, I will be sharing with you the things I’ve learned about the doctrine of adoption, the history, and about the worldview on adoption. Most of all, I hope that you will truly come to understand what it is to be adopted by God.

Related posts:

1. Adoption Misconception
2. A Little Love for UGA

Church should be _______________.

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1. Self(less) Reflection

Think about it (especially you social media addicts like me). How often do you look at how many people are following you on Twitter? How about how many friends you have on Facebook? Or the enjoyement you get when people leave you comments on your blog, your notes, and reply to your Twitter posts? It’s so easy to get self consumed in yourself. It’s not easy separating yourself and the sin of self-centeredness.

It’s so easy to sit there and work on making a name for yourself…it’s so not about me…

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

How much time are you spending making a name for yourself?

illustration by MC Escher, 1935

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1. About

by Francis Chan

Is there any logic in believing that God started His Church as a Spirit-filled, loving body with the intention that it would evolve into entertaining, hour-long services? Was he hoping that one day people would be attracted to the Church not because they care for one another, not because they are devoted to Him, not because the supernatural occurs in their midst, but because of good music and entertainment?

Try to imagine what conclusions you would come to if you had no prior church experience. The things in church services might make sense to the American church-attendee, but they don’t make sense biblically.

Picture yourself on an island with only a Bible. You’ve never been to a church-you’ve never even heard of one. The only ideas you have about church are what you’ve read in your Bible. Then you enter a building labeled "church" for the first time. What would you expect to experience as you entered that building? Now compare that to what you actually experience when you attend church.

GANG RELATED
A while back, an ex-gang member got baptized at our church. He fell in love with Jesus and turned from his old lifestyle. But after several months at the church, he stopped attending. When we asked him why he stopped attending, he answered…

READ ON