So as the summer continues to unfold, God never ceases to blow my mind...tonight was through the simpleness of a meal:::.
Amidst the week of blistering heat, sun burn, screaming kids, fire hoses, soccer camp, practices and games, our group of the chicago eagles decided to spend the evening serving in a soup kitchen.
Having just returned from Brazil i was somewhat ready for the poverty we found at the downtown chicago homeless shelter, but i wasn't prepared for the reaction of comparison that would develope in my head.
We prepared a nice meal of tacos, watermelon, and ice cream--a simple effort at appeasing natural hunger needs faced by billions every day--and we prepared smiles and sensitive hearts and prayerful attitudes for the more difficultly mended spiritual needs faced by everyone every day.
We hadn't been at the shelter for more than 30 minutes when all the sudden i began singing the song "Carried to the Table" by Leeland..::..specificall the chorus::
I'm carried to the table,
seated where i don't belong,
i'm carried to the table,
and i'm swept away by his love...
I'm well aware of the materials ways in which i've blessed, and recently time spent with those blessed with a lesser portion in these areas has opened my eyes to the brevity and in-importance of those things and areas we usually list first in our "ways we are blessed" commentaries...
but the time spent with those has continuously opened my eyes to the amazingness of the fact that God opens his life and arms to me, and carries me to HIS table...and seats me at his table...a place i know i don't belong...not only that, but he carries anyone who lets him carry them::
i'm doing a terrible job at portraying my thoughts...but just the fact that he loves us so immensly and unconditionaly...to bring us in and bless us with his presense and sustenance dailiy...something we do not deserve...amazes me...brings me to my knees
and here at this table...we lose sight of everything that doesn't matter:: our brokeness, our needs, ourselves...and we're just captivated by his lavishing lovings on us...
i imagine my soul looked very tattered, tired, and undeserving when it walked up to heaven's gates looking for some form of sustenence...and then when it saw the extent of how Jesus truly wanted to care for it...all the sudden the meal didn't seem so important...nor did the brokeness or state of my soul...cause he carried me...
:::into his presense:::
(encourage everyone to follow the link to the song...it might help explain the ramblings typed above)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Lord I Wanna Yearn
So i have officially been state side for 2 days now, and i would be lying if i told you it was adequate time to process everything that happened in the last two weeks, and now i fully understand what God was doing and teaching on our trip to Brazil, but i think 2 days has given me enough time to come up with a few stories i would like to share::
::to inform::to encourage::to challenge::
1::.
Right after landing in Rio de Janero, our group of 40 split into two smaller groups of roughly 20. i was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Teresopolis ( a city north of Rio in the mountains) to work with Projecta Crecer (project grow) for the first week. It was here that we met Marlin and his family. Marlin is a pastor and founder of Project Grow, and he had this great idea of starting and forming soccer leagues and camps that have Bible studies attached before and after games (kinda've like upward sports....but MORE emphasis on the Bible...sports are superflous anyway ;-)) Anyway, this man is the walking embodiment of burning to tell others about the gospel...like so many christians he tries so hard to contain the gospel inside of him...but that's just because it's flowing out of him anyway, and if he gave recless abandon to it, he would scare the living day lights out of everyone he wants to share with. (It's a strange analogy i know, but trust me, this man loves Jesus and wants for EVERYONE he touches to love him as well)
After working with the project for a few days helping them with the camps and sharing out testimonies and the gospel with the kids (seeing around 20 make commitments for Christ (allelujiah)) We started working on our main project while in Teresopolis::. Morro de Chillo (Hill of the Gun). Morro is a favela, a slum, a place where you are born into and never get out, a place where girls come easy and drugs come cheap, a place where dirt, filth, wretchedness, and sin are the norm. After starting at the front gate to this other world, and walking 15 minutes up the hill through the streets, we came to the field. It wasn't more than 6 small trees fashioned into two goals, 80 yards of dirt, and a cliff, but it was one of the most beautiful fields i've ever played on. Kids followed us up the hill and when they saw the soccer balls hit the dirt they came running and wanted to play. So that's what we did. For a solid two hours we played soccer, doing drills, playing matches, just skipping around the field, holding kids, handing out hugs and smiles left and right, investing in their life, simply trying to love them in a neighborhood where agape is not well known at all. While we're playing with the kids, parents, pimps, prostitutes, drug lords, beggars, the destitute and almost everyone else in the favela came and was watching from the hill...wonering why these american soccer players had come to their slum. THen we called all the kids in and anyone else who wanted to listen as well, and we told them why were there.
We love soccer:::::But we love Jesus More, and it's only through him that anything and everything we do is possible:::::He came to forgive us and save us from our sins::::Simply because he loves us....and wants nothing but our lives in return. Ultimately, God is the judge of true salvation, but that day close to 25 kids came to the center circle to pray and ask Jesus to come into their hearts. (((I'll write more about some of my reactions to Morrow Later...but it was truly an amazing experience)))
2::.
The week after Teresopolis we were together as a full team again, this time in the Rio de Janero City area. Apart from children at the camps, The guys team had not seen anyone come to accept christ after one of our official matches (game played with older men closer to our age). The girls had had 1 girl decide to place all her hope in Jesus, and that was truly an amazing experience one of the first nights there, but still the guys had yet to see anyone speak up about learning more about Christ. WE arrived at our field with plenty of time to warm up and watch the girls play, but there was a problem...the security guards would not let us onto the field to play our matches...which was a massive bummer because we had brought the church's new sports ministry team with us that day so they could see how we play and share with the teams we are playing with (all about encouaraging the work that is already going places, that way when we leave--they can keep it going longer better faster stronger than we could). So the guys team decides that God has a reason for this, and we're gonna have to hit our knees to figure it out...so that's what we did. All 20+ of us knelt outside the stadium and began praying, confessing that we weren't ready to invest all of us in God's mission that day, asking that God would provide a place to play, or at least the chance to share...that God would be God. Then someone comes up and says that there is another field we can play at...so we load EVERYONE onto the bus (all four teams that were there to play) and head to the other field. The girls played their game, and the guys just hung out with the team we would be playing later, juggling passing just enjoying fellowship and relation. After we played our match 2 of our players shared their testimony, and we asked if any of them would like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. 3 Teenage boys stepped forward....i was amazed...not because i didn't think God could do it.....but because He knew what he wanted done that day....and to us it looked like the day was falling apart between our attitudes and the first field scenario and various other things...but God is God, and He is Good.
Concludings:::.
There are so many thoughts and stories i wish i could convey to everyone in a blog post, or in a story over coffee for that matter, but that's just unrealistic. THe trip was amazing, and God totally showed that he can use anything, even a round ball, to bring people to his name. And it is only HE that can do it...it's not that the Chicago Eagles and our Team are this great entity that brings people to Christ...He brings people to himself through the spirit...we were just the tools, those who were listening and willing to be used at that time and in that place that he had instituted.
I titled this post after a shane and shane song i found myself singing alot in Brazil...i don't know why....but for some reason it was this trip that opened my eyes to the fact that God can be found if we look...that he is constantly moving and wants us to see his movement and get caught up in it...that he has a purpose and an intention for every day we are alive....He is God of This City...and greater things are yet to come...but we his followers need to be yearning for him...reading sufficiently, praying constantly, and living by faith (even when it doesn't make sense)...Longing for God, desiring to see him move, expecting him to change your life, is something that doesn't belong in a missions trip....
it belongs in a missioned life.
::to inform::to encourage::to challenge::
1::.
Right after landing in Rio de Janero, our group of 40 split into two smaller groups of roughly 20. i was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Teresopolis ( a city north of Rio in the mountains) to work with Projecta Crecer (project grow) for the first week. It was here that we met Marlin and his family. Marlin is a pastor and founder of Project Grow, and he had this great idea of starting and forming soccer leagues and camps that have Bible studies attached before and after games (kinda've like upward sports....but MORE emphasis on the Bible...sports are superflous anyway ;-)) Anyway, this man is the walking embodiment of burning to tell others about the gospel...like so many christians he tries so hard to contain the gospel inside of him...but that's just because it's flowing out of him anyway, and if he gave recless abandon to it, he would scare the living day lights out of everyone he wants to share with. (It's a strange analogy i know, but trust me, this man loves Jesus and wants for EVERYONE he touches to love him as well)
After working with the project for a few days helping them with the camps and sharing out testimonies and the gospel with the kids (seeing around 20 make commitments for Christ (allelujiah)) We started working on our main project while in Teresopolis::. Morro de Chillo (Hill of the Gun). Morro is a favela, a slum, a place where you are born into and never get out, a place where girls come easy and drugs come cheap, a place where dirt, filth, wretchedness, and sin are the norm. After starting at the front gate to this other world, and walking 15 minutes up the hill through the streets, we came to the field. It wasn't more than 6 small trees fashioned into two goals, 80 yards of dirt, and a cliff, but it was one of the most beautiful fields i've ever played on. Kids followed us up the hill and when they saw the soccer balls hit the dirt they came running and wanted to play. So that's what we did. For a solid two hours we played soccer, doing drills, playing matches, just skipping around the field, holding kids, handing out hugs and smiles left and right, investing in their life, simply trying to love them in a neighborhood where agape is not well known at all. While we're playing with the kids, parents, pimps, prostitutes, drug lords, beggars, the destitute and almost everyone else in the favela came and was watching from the hill...wonering why these american soccer players had come to their slum. THen we called all the kids in and anyone else who wanted to listen as well, and we told them why were there.
We love soccer:::::But we love Jesus More, and it's only through him that anything and everything we do is possible:::::He came to forgive us and save us from our sins::::Simply because he loves us....and wants nothing but our lives in return. Ultimately, God is the judge of true salvation, but that day close to 25 kids came to the center circle to pray and ask Jesus to come into their hearts. (((I'll write more about some of my reactions to Morrow Later...but it was truly an amazing experience)))
2::.
The week after Teresopolis we were together as a full team again, this time in the Rio de Janero City area. Apart from children at the camps, The guys team had not seen anyone come to accept christ after one of our official matches (game played with older men closer to our age). The girls had had 1 girl decide to place all her hope in Jesus, and that was truly an amazing experience one of the first nights there, but still the guys had yet to see anyone speak up about learning more about Christ. WE arrived at our field with plenty of time to warm up and watch the girls play, but there was a problem...the security guards would not let us onto the field to play our matches...which was a massive bummer because we had brought the church's new sports ministry team with us that day so they could see how we play and share with the teams we are playing with (all about encouaraging the work that is already going places, that way when we leave--they can keep it going longer better faster stronger than we could). So the guys team decides that God has a reason for this, and we're gonna have to hit our knees to figure it out...so that's what we did. All 20+ of us knelt outside the stadium and began praying, confessing that we weren't ready to invest all of us in God's mission that day, asking that God would provide a place to play, or at least the chance to share...that God would be God. Then someone comes up and says that there is another field we can play at...so we load EVERYONE onto the bus (all four teams that were there to play) and head to the other field. The girls played their game, and the guys just hung out with the team we would be playing later, juggling passing just enjoying fellowship and relation. After we played our match 2 of our players shared their testimony, and we asked if any of them would like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. 3 Teenage boys stepped forward....i was amazed...not because i didn't think God could do it.....but because He knew what he wanted done that day....and to us it looked like the day was falling apart between our attitudes and the first field scenario and various other things...but God is God, and He is Good.
Concludings:::.
There are so many thoughts and stories i wish i could convey to everyone in a blog post, or in a story over coffee for that matter, but that's just unrealistic. THe trip was amazing, and God totally showed that he can use anything, even a round ball, to bring people to his name. And it is only HE that can do it...it's not that the Chicago Eagles and our Team are this great entity that brings people to Christ...He brings people to himself through the spirit...we were just the tools, those who were listening and willing to be used at that time and in that place that he had instituted.
I titled this post after a shane and shane song i found myself singing alot in Brazil...i don't know why....but for some reason it was this trip that opened my eyes to the fact that God can be found if we look...that he is constantly moving and wants us to see his movement and get caught up in it...that he has a purpose and an intention for every day we are alive....He is God of This City...and greater things are yet to come...but we his followers need to be yearning for him...reading sufficiently, praying constantly, and living by faith (even when it doesn't make sense)...Longing for God, desiring to see him move, expecting him to change your life, is something that doesn't belong in a missions trip....
it belongs in a missioned life.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
a strong tower
the last few days have been awesome getting to know the players out here and seeing what the ministry is going to look like.
I think i can almost say with 100% certainty i have not been a part of a group that has been this honest and open about their faith...like faith and christ's working in our lives isn't something that comes up randomly, it's purposefully brought up, at least 80% percent of conversations start, deal with, or end with jesus...in some capacity--it's amazing...
....it makes me wonder what i've been doing with my life thus far...if He can work through our open and honest conversation amongst those who already know him, how much more of an impact can my open and broken conversation have on those who do not know him the way i do....would they want to know him better....would they decide to follow him...will they be turned off to the idea of christ's power???....
the honest answer to these questions is i do not know...realistically cause i have not tried...but i can say that is going to change this summer, that is going to change tomorrow...because we do not have a faith of timidity, but of boldness and confidence in God's power to work.
here's a verse God showed me this morning that kinda've applies to this (you draw the connections) but really just spoke volumes and provided mounds of comfort and encouragement:
II Samuel 22:29-31
You are my lamp, Lord, you turn my darkness into light . . . with your help i can advance in my walk and climb walls . . . because you, your ways are perfect, your word is flawless, you protect those who take refuge in you.
doing my best to live this daily
thanks for all the support and prayers! i'll update once more before we leave for brasil! be praying for the hearts and spirits of everyone we will come in contact with tomorrow! The spirit can change lives!
I think i can almost say with 100% certainty i have not been a part of a group that has been this honest and open about their faith...like faith and christ's working in our lives isn't something that comes up randomly, it's purposefully brought up, at least 80% percent of conversations start, deal with, or end with jesus...in some capacity--it's amazing...
....it makes me wonder what i've been doing with my life thus far...if He can work through our open and honest conversation amongst those who already know him, how much more of an impact can my open and broken conversation have on those who do not know him the way i do....would they want to know him better....would they decide to follow him...will they be turned off to the idea of christ's power???....
the honest answer to these questions is i do not know...realistically cause i have not tried...but i can say that is going to change this summer, that is going to change tomorrow...because we do not have a faith of timidity, but of boldness and confidence in God's power to work.
here's a verse God showed me this morning that kinda've applies to this (you draw the connections) but really just spoke volumes and provided mounds of comfort and encouragement:
II Samuel 22:29-31
You are my lamp, Lord, you turn my darkness into light . . . with your help i can advance in my walk and climb walls . . . because you, your ways are perfect, your word is flawless, you protect those who take refuge in you.
doing my best to live this daily
thanks for all the support and prayers! i'll update once more before we leave for brasil! be praying for the hearts and spirits of everyone we will come in contact with tomorrow! The spirit can change lives!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
I just got the Itinerary
So after driving to chicago today and spending a solid few hours trying to memorize everyone's names, where they're from, and what they want to accomplish with the ministry this summer--the director steps up to the mic and seriously made my dad.
Here's the itinerary and primary guideline for this summer:::
:::Love Jesus with all of your being, and do as you please:::
This is a concept i've been working on and struggling through for a few years now, this concept of living worship, of letting your love for Jesus be what drives and determines your actions--and be what is pleasing to you.
I don't know, just think about that: Christ came to give us an abundant life, a life full of options for us to do so many things-and all in a way that is pleasing to him and ourselves::
I don't know, it's a lens worth putting on and examining your life through.
grace and love
Here's the itinerary and primary guideline for this summer:::
:::Love Jesus with all of your being, and do as you please:::
This is a concept i've been working on and struggling through for a few years now, this concept of living worship, of letting your love for Jesus be what drives and determines your actions--and be what is pleasing to you.
I don't know, just think about that: Christ came to give us an abundant life, a life full of options for us to do so many things-and all in a way that is pleasing to him and ourselves::
I don't know, it's a lens worth putting on and examining your life through.
grace and love
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I read it in a book once...
somewhere early in elementary school i picked up a book entitled "Charlotte Eagles: Biographies"--the book told in simple fashion the stories of professional soccer players who gave up their blossoming careers so that they could better use their abilities to serve Christ and evangelize.
Being the young Bible enthused soccer player i was, i could not get over the idea of how cool it would be to play the game i love all for the glory of the God i love. i've done my best over the years to leave a positive influence on teammates, opponents, campers, coaches, all hopefully pointing to my creator....but i've never completely felt a peace about it. Soccer still served my purposes just as much if not more than a missional out reach i would have liked for it to have been.
In 8th grade, my homeroom teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, it was during this time i was debating my call into missions--but i responded with a vote of confidence saying that i wanted to use soccer to spread the gospel--not really sure if it would ever truly work out
6 years later, now while using soccer to pay for college, our coach introduced us to a man who says he worked for the Charlotte Eagles and wanted to talk to us about using our gifts in soccer for a higher calling...one of eternal significance.
I don't know how many more years God will allow me to play soccer at the level i enjoy, but i do know that he has the rest of my life to place me in situations he will want me to share the love of Jesus with others. Lucky for me, he has given me the opportunity to do both this summer--in the propper order: Him first, and soccer is just the bonus.
Myself and about 40 other college christian student athletes will be working with the Chicago Eagles-the collegiate summer version of the book i read years ago. I'm a little nervous, a little scared, and a lot excited to see what all God has in store for everyone, including myself, this summer.
Please be praying for safety in travel and sporting events, the sensitive hearts and open ears of everyone we share the gospel with, for boldness on our parts to share, for humility to give all glory where it is due, and love and peace to cover every action done this summer and through our lives!
more updates will be coming all summer: journalistic, reflective, contemplative, pictoral, devotional, and raw in nature!
grace love and peace
Being the young Bible enthused soccer player i was, i could not get over the idea of how cool it would be to play the game i love all for the glory of the God i love. i've done my best over the years to leave a positive influence on teammates, opponents, campers, coaches, all hopefully pointing to my creator....but i've never completely felt a peace about it. Soccer still served my purposes just as much if not more than a missional out reach i would have liked for it to have been.
In 8th grade, my homeroom teacher asked what we wanted to be when we grew up, it was during this time i was debating my call into missions--but i responded with a vote of confidence saying that i wanted to use soccer to spread the gospel--not really sure if it would ever truly work out
6 years later, now while using soccer to pay for college, our coach introduced us to a man who says he worked for the Charlotte Eagles and wanted to talk to us about using our gifts in soccer for a higher calling...one of eternal significance.
I don't know how many more years God will allow me to play soccer at the level i enjoy, but i do know that he has the rest of my life to place me in situations he will want me to share the love of Jesus with others. Lucky for me, he has given me the opportunity to do both this summer--in the propper order: Him first, and soccer is just the bonus.
Myself and about 40 other college christian student athletes will be working with the Chicago Eagles-the collegiate summer version of the book i read years ago. I'm a little nervous, a little scared, and a lot excited to see what all God has in store for everyone, including myself, this summer.
Please be praying for safety in travel and sporting events, the sensitive hearts and open ears of everyone we share the gospel with, for boldness on our parts to share, for humility to give all glory where it is due, and love and peace to cover every action done this summer and through our lives!
more updates will be coming all summer: journalistic, reflective, contemplative, pictoral, devotional, and raw in nature!
grace love and peace
Friday, May 15, 2009
what kinda he should i be?
so been kinda thinking about the kinda guy i wanna be in this world today...and i think David had the right idea, i might borrow some of these:
Be a He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
Be a He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
...kinda've a tall order...but worth striving for it think....here we go
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
POSTSECRETS
While sitting in the Student Government Association office the other day, my eyes landed on one of the newer editions of the PostSecret series. I had heard a lot about these books and websites, but had never actually taken the time to flip through the pages and read it's content.
People from all over the world have sent in post cards revealing a secret to anyone who picks up the book that they have never told before. Secrets about God, love, sex, marriage, suicide, friends, spouses, allergies, parents, school, lies, cheating, deceit, and happiness fill the pages.
Even though some made me laugh and were lighthearted in nature, i was more heart broken at what i read than anything else. Many of the statements cry of loneliness, anger, sadness.
The apostle Peter said in his first letter that we are to --Place ourselves under God's mighty hand, that he may lift us up in due time, Cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you--(I Peter 5:6-8)
So many of the hurts and secrets of our lives come from us submitting ourselves to the wrong thing or person. We place ourselves under the control of drugs, sex, friends, alcohol, school, sports, work and family-and in the end, none of them lift us up, bring us happiness, peace, or joy.
But God's hand is light and easy to submit to, and in the end he will lift us up, bring us peace and joy...because he cares for us more, better, and on a deeper level than anyone else.
We can spend our whole lives looking for someone or something we trust to put ourselves under and share our heart with...someone or something who will listen when we want them to...
...what about a God who IS listening all the time simply because he wants to...
People from all over the world have sent in post cards revealing a secret to anyone who picks up the book that they have never told before. Secrets about God, love, sex, marriage, suicide, friends, spouses, allergies, parents, school, lies, cheating, deceit, and happiness fill the pages.
Even though some made me laugh and were lighthearted in nature, i was more heart broken at what i read than anything else. Many of the statements cry of loneliness, anger, sadness.
The apostle Peter said in his first letter that we are to --Place ourselves under God's mighty hand, that he may lift us up in due time, Cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you--(I Peter 5:6-8)
So many of the hurts and secrets of our lives come from us submitting ourselves to the wrong thing or person. We place ourselves under the control of drugs, sex, friends, alcohol, school, sports, work and family-and in the end, none of them lift us up, bring us happiness, peace, or joy.
But God's hand is light and easy to submit to, and in the end he will lift us up, bring us peace and joy...because he cares for us more, better, and on a deeper level than anyone else.
We can spend our whole lives looking for someone or something we trust to put ourselves under and share our heart with...someone or something who will listen when we want them to...
...what about a God who IS listening all the time simply because he wants to...
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