Jad and Kal

Currently listening to With Everything by Hillsong

It's the 9th of September. A few months ago the 9th was just another day on the calendar. Depending on what I was doing, it might be a significant day or it might be just another day at the office.

A few months ago the 9th of any month became special, even sacred.

Ang and I have some friends who we love a great deal who are pregnant. This amazing time in their lives has turned into a bit more than they had planned on when they discovered that the twins boys were actually conjoined. Despite the doctors best efforts to discuss things like termination, John and Shawna have stood up, for the Glory of God.

Stood up sounds too soft, too weak. They have demonstrated a faith and a strength that is unbelievable. I've always enjoyed these two, I have always admired their strength and unashamed worship for the Father. But the worship they demonstrate these days is different.

You hear it in their voices, you see it in their actions, you sense it in their presence. They are inspiring people, regardless of the outcome, demonstrating just what it looks like to walk by faith and not by sight.

On the 9th of each month, Ang, Carter and I join dozens of others who fast all throughout the month for this wonderful family of 4. This day has found me in 4 different cities doing a variety of things but we each find a way to fast and pray for this couple and their wonderful kids. When we first approached Carter with the idea, he said, "I will fast for more than a day if it helps the boys be healthy."

Years ago Carter was in John and Shawna's wedding. I had the honor of helping to marry this couple and watching my son in his little tux look up at John and Shawna that day and I realized he was learning something about love, purity and what it means to follow hard after God. Of course he has always looked up to them, especially John because he's a drummer and what little boy doesn't want to be a drummer!?

A couple years back I had the privledge of being a part of John's ordination into ministry. I went back and found my notes for what I said to him that night, buried in my moleskine I carry with me everywhere. I shared 3 verses that night but its what I closed with that comes back to me now.

At the very end of my message to both John and our friend Tyler I asked them to pour their lives into my son Carter. If my impact on them had meant anything, if they could, would they pass who they were as men of God into the life of my little boy.

And then I closed with this passage from Psalm 17:5.

"My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped."

These words are true of you. May they always be so.

My friends, your journey is long and it is just beginning. Please know we are walking with you and we love you. Thank you for what you have taught me. Thank you for what you have modeled for the church. ...for the Glory of God...

To find out more about John and Shawna and to join their journey check out: "...for the Glory of God..." on Facebook.

Unity Part Two

Currently listening to She (for Liz) by Parachute

Not much to say, just a Word for the day. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that our unity can contribute to the validity of what Jesus did. Does that mean when we act in disunity we bring that truth into question? Convicted today by what this means not just for the church but for my own family.

Happy Labor Day.

Peace and Unity

Currently Listening to 5:19 by Matt Wertz

You heard it here first, we are studying the book of Ephesians next summer at Know Sweat.

As I begin to dig into what the theme will be, what it will look like, what passages we will cover and what words or images we want to bring to life at the week, I've been struck by two words that sound soft but are actually just the opposite: Peace and Unity

There are a lot of things "we" are good at.

There are also a lot of things "we" could use some work on.

I wonder what it would look like if we lived life as the church known for our unity and peace. It seems to me and my naive perspective that a lot of the other "stuff" would work itself out if we focused on these two.

Think about the last conflict you had. If things had been seasoned with a spirit of unity and peace, could it have turned out different? better?

Tracing

Currently Listening to: Tracing by John Mayer

It's my favorite John Mayer song. It's my least favorite thing to do when coloring. Tracing.

Everybody in my family colors differently. We might all start with the same supplies and even the same picture but when we are done, they all reflect our personality and skill. Or in my case, lack there of.

I've thought about how this applies to us as believers a number of times and if you'll indulge me, I have a thought.

What if we are all different because we're supposed to use who we are to color our picture they way God made us? Now stick with me, I'm not saying faith is open to interpretation and we should all go off in the wilderness and hug trees.

The way I see it, the picture is exactly the same. It is constant. It doesn't change. The way it turns out can be different.

It's God's picture and He has entrusted us to bring flavor and color to it. It was not meant to sit there plain. Call me a heretic but I think the method changes. Call me a heretic but I think the message can change too. I'm not saying scripture has changed its meaning, I'm saying how we bring it to light can change a persons perspective. Why else could you hear 4 sermons on the same passage from 4 different people that all emphasize something different and all of them are truth and all of them teach you something different?

Let's say the picture is God, faith, hope. The way we color it is how we, as the church, bring it to life.

Maybe I'm stretching things a bit but I have a questionthat deserves an answer:

How are you bringing God's picture to life?

**Artwork used by permission from Brynn Gilchrist

Lead or Confront

Currently Listening to: Fences by Phoenix

I grew up hating confrontation. I inherited this from my upbringing. It turned my stomach and I found any way possible, even living with decisions I hated to avoid it.

Then something happened.

These days I don't get out of bed praying it gets to occur but I've come to realize that when done right (still learning this part), its way easier than the frustration I lived with by avoiding it and it makes life much, much better.

I have also discovered that meeting a problem early on is easier than waiting until it becomes an enormous issue. I know, right? Who thought?!

I was sitting in a meeting a while back when the reality struck me that as leaders of people, we have a choice between leadership and confrontation. What I realized is that by leading well, people know what to expect and we are able to guide and interact with them in such a way that confrontation is rarely necessary. If we choose to be lax on our leadership up front, we are defaulting to the reality of confrontation. Whether its over missed expectations, wrong results or miscommunication, if we don't lead, we'll have to confront.

Or you can choose the method I lived with for years of being stuck in frustration and doing nothing about it. I don't recommend that approach if you're asking.