…Love…

I’ve been reading and studying a lot over the last month to prepare for teaching at the BSU this semester.  Here’s where I’ve landed: love.

This is going to be our study point, our springboard, if you will, into the life that Christ called us to.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”

This shows up in one form or another in Luke 10, Matthew 22, and Mark 12 … and we see where Jesus is quoting this from Deuteronomy 6.

I don’t have any idea how long it will take us to walk through this little section of a passage of Scripture … but I know it won’t be a quick study.  I mean really … what will it take to just begin to scratch the surface of the kind of love that we are called to and is commanded of us (this is the Great Commandment)?  This is an easy passage to read, and not really consider.  Jesus commands us to love with our entirety.  What does it mean to love with all of our heart?  Our soul?  Our mind?  Our strength?  And what needs to be removed from our lives in order to do that?

As I consider what it means to live that kind of love on our college campus I’m bombarded with the fact that culture is rapidly changing … what was once an effective ministry has little impact now … what was once an effective way of communicating is now considered “stone age”  (I heard of a girl this week who sends over 18,000 texts a month … and has relatively few phone calls).  The fact that the culture is changing so rapidly around us leads me to think that our old “methods” may not be the right ones anymore.  HEAR ME NOW … the MESSAGE has not and will not change, but the METHOD of how we relay that message must change if we are going to effectively engage the ever-changing culture around us.  This isn’t just the case on college campuses, the culture is changing around you no matter where you are … take a day and observe your surroundings and then compare that to a “normal” day from the last 2, 5 or 10 years and see what changes you find.

… that was a tangent. I have read and heard this statistic (and there is a lot of debate over what is the most accurate percentage) … George Barna and his research group say that roughly 60% of Christian students (we are talking about Christians here … who were involved in church through high school) will leave church after high school.  Mark Batterson, author of “Primal” (which you can see my review HERE) says that the question we are tempted to ask when we see this happen is “what is wrong with this generation?”  when in reality the question we should be asking is “what is wrong with the Church?” (Big “C” Church) Maybe we’re not loving like we are called to here in the Great Commandment … if students are leaving the church at this rate, then we obviously aren’t portraying a compelling picture of Christ by the way we are loving them.

Ezekiel 36:26-28

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave to your forefathers; you will be my people and I will be your God.”

At the moment of salvation, when you give your heart to Christ … He gives you His heart, and this act of love should cause us to love differently, because we now have the heart of Christ!  What breaks His heart should break our hearts, and the way that we see Him loving should be the way that we are loving.

The answer that Jesus gave to that teacher of the law when he asked ‘what is the greatest commandment’ … that answer seems like a really simple one when we read it … I mean he boils it down to a couple of sentences ( if you include “the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself”) … how I wish it really was that easy! We’re gonna take it one word at a time in our Bible study, this week: Love the Lord your God with all your heart…

… trying to learn what it means to love the Lord my God with all of my heart this week …

Thoughts on what it means to love God with all your heart?

-E

Coke or Soda or Pop?

What do you say?

Coke?

Soda?

Pop?

Where are you from?

Curious to see what happens here!

Go!

Primal by Mark Batterson … a book review

I have been following the blog of Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C., for a while now.  I recently saw that he was releasing a new book and was giving bloggers the opportunity to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing it on their blogs.  I signed up for the chance, and for whatever reason … my blog was selected to review the book “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity”

After reading his previous books “In a pit with a lion on a snowy day” and “Wild Goose Chase” I was excited to receive my free copy of “Primal” from Multnomah Books, and have enjoyed reading this latest offering from Batterson.

Batterson centers this book on the Great Commandment and says …”the quest for the lost soul of Christianity begins with rediscovering what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.”  Batterson challenges that it is not enough to just love God with your heart or soul or mind or strength … loving God in one way isn’t enough.

After a visit “to a rather non-descript church off the beaten path” during a visit to Rome, Mark began to wonder if “our generation has conveniently forgotten how inconvenient it can be to follow in the footsteps of Christ.” Over the centuries Christianity has evolved in lots of ways and Batterson’s challenge is for Christianity to see a reformation, but that this reformation won’t come from the pursuit of finding some new program or system; but that it would come from a return to our primal instincts of compassion (heart), wonder (mind), curiosity (soul), and power (strength).  The book is broken down into four sections each striving to go further into the heart, mind, soul, and strength of Christianity.  Batterson’s writing style is easy to read and littered with illustrations that include personal experiences, scientific and historical studies as well as scripture and application.

I’d be happy to recommend this book to my small group leaders or pastors who are looking for a sermon series.  Although I’m positive that it won’t take an author or a cleverly written book to begin to call Christians to a reformation, I do hope for the day when reformation/revival will sweep across the globe.  I know that everyone is different and not everyone will appreciate this book or feel like it is something that was earth-shattering for them … however, if “Primal” gets even a few Christ followers to return to seeking, serving and worshipping god with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, then I think it is well worth it.

At a time of the year when people seem to be making resolutions and setting goals for the new year, if returning to the roots of Christianity and digging deeper into the Great Commandment of Christ would fit in your list, then consider  “Primal” as one of the first books you read at the beginning of 2010.  You can get it by clicking this link: “Primal”

I pray that as you read that you will be challenged not only to further your understanding of the concept of what it means to love God, but that you will be called to act on that understanding, and thus the reformation begins…

-E

Primal by Mark Batterson

I mentioned in a previous post that my blog was selected to be on a “blog tour” to review Mark Batterson’s new book “Primal” from Multnomah Books.

Well … I got my copy in the mail this weekend and started reading today.  I’ve enjoyed his other books I’ve read and look forward to finishing this in the next week and getting my blog review up and ready!

If you could choose any new release to read, what would YOU choose?

-E

BBC (Barb Body Challenge) update…

So a week ago I posted about being challenged by Carlos Whittaker at Ragamuffinsoul.com regarding this time of year where schedules not only get busy because of school, work, holidays, etc, but that they are also filled with copious amounts of food and sweets and all of that “good stuff.”  So he challenged anyone who would join him to work for the 30 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas on their personal health on 3 levels … Physical, Spiritual and Relational.  You can refer back to my last post to see the 3 goals that I set for myself during the “Barb Body Challenge” … I thought it needed a fancy name … sounds more important that way .

Here’s my update:

Physical: I’m still doing pretty good on my workouts … I’ve moved into the 2nd section of P90X which means new workouts, which means variety, which means its fresh and ‘exciting’ to do something new.  The eating part … I’m doing ok.  I’ve cut out most fried foods (for now) and I’m trying to be more conscious of what I’m eating.  However, I’ve had the opportunity to host a few different groups at the house for dinner and such, and although I love doing that, I don’t necessarily cook the healthiest foods for those, and seem to always have leftovers … so still working on getting better at that!

Spiritual: I’ve made it through the first verse of the 5 that I selected to memorize during the challenge.  My list includes several verses dealing with things that God has been teaching me lately … many of them are familiar verses, and ones that I know … but have never taken the chance to intentionally work on memorizing … This week was Galatians 2:20 “I have been cricified 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.”

Relational: Since Thanksgiving I’ve had the chance to see and/or talk to a couple of my good friends.  The last week I’ve had 2 really good conversations with friends over the phone that I hadn’t visited with in a while, and it was so good to talk with them that it made me wonder why I wasn’t better at keeping in touch with people, and made me excited to make some phone calls and talk with other friends!

This semester has flown by so quickly, but it has been an amazing time for me.  I’m learning so much, and being challenged in new ways.  I shared with my family over Thanksgiving that it felt like I had a very “adult job” now, but I catch myself sometimes thinking that it’s really cool that I get paid to do something that I enjoy so much.  I’m blessed that God counted me worthy of such a position, and pray every day that He would live through me, because I know that I cannot do this on my own!

Hope everyone is doing well!

-E

Thanksgiving to Christmas … the challenge

So,  I was able to go home for several days over Thanksgiving week.  I got to see friends in Jeff City, spend time with my parents, see my extended family, and spend time at my brother’s as well!  It was great!  HOWEVER … if you read this thing, you will remember that I started doing P90X 3 weeks ago … and its actually been going well.  I’ve been committed to the exercises and actually lost about 9 pounds before going home for Thanksgiving … then … well, I didn’t do so great at home!  I mean it is just a little more difficult when there are little snacks ready for the taking, and copious amounts of desserts at Thanksgiving dinner … and usually this is the time of year when those pesky little extra pounds start to make a comeback … BUT when I got back this morning, I read Ragamuffinsoul, a blog I follow discussing the same frustration and a challenge was presented.  I’m taking him up on it.  Here’s what he says:

“You heard about that worship leader getting drunk that night and rolled your eyes…
That pastor who has been flirting with his secretary makes you nauseous…
You can’t believe they let their kids get away with that…

All the while, from Thanksgiving to New Years, you live the most hypocritical life imaginable.
You stuff your face with food till you can’t walk, multiple times, and gain some lbs. in the process.
You let your serving God replace your knowing God.
You ignore your family because you are too busy volunteering and helping someone else.

I see no difference between the first list and the second list.
So let’s stop using the holidays as an excuse to stop being healthy.
Let’s kick off this season with 30 days of physical, spiritual, and emotional health.”

 

So, my 3 benchmarks are:

Physical – lose 10 pounds by Christmas and develop healthier eating habits …

Spiritual- memorize 5 new verses before Christmas

Relational- be intentional about re-connecting with some old friends

 

So, here goes nothing … I’ll keep you updated on my progress!

Tomorrow is December!  Can’t believe it!  Hope you are all well!  Maybe not physical, spiritual or relational … but what are your goals leading up to Christmas?

-E

I love the college calendar!…

So, a lot (not all, but a lot) of my work schedule is dependent upon the collegiate calendar … like when students are gone on breaks, it means some of my regular responsibilities don’t happen … For example, this week we get Thanksgiving break starting tomorrow.  So, this week I’m able to go home and spend some quality time with friends and family.

I can hardly believe that the semester is almost over. Only 2 weeks of classes left after Thanksgiving break, then Finals, then … Winter Break!

I have a lot of reading that I would like to accomplish over these breaks, so we’ll see how that goes.  My blog was actually selected to be part of a book review “blog tour” for Mark Batterson’s new book “Primal”  So, I’ll receive the book in the next week or so, read it and have to review it here sometime before Christmas.

There is so much to be thankful for this year.  Good health, awesome family, great friends, an amazing job/ministry.  So let’s hear it folks … what are the things you are most thankful for this year?

-E

P.S.  The new Phil Wickham cd is amazing …

All things new …

So this seems to be a recurring theme in my posts lately … things being new, new job, new places, experiences, etc.  Here are some more:

1) I’ve had the opportunity during the time I’ve been here to visit a few different churches, and haven’t rushed into getting involved for a couple different reasons.  Number one, wanting to make sure that whenever I do get involved that it is the right place, and number two, I haven’t been able to be around very consistently so far these first few months.  Next week I’ll be meeting with the pastor of a church that I’ve been to a couple of times (it is actually the church that I went to when I was in Cape Girardeau in 2005) to talk about the possibility of getting involved in a small group within the church and some potential ministry opportunities that I can be a part of to start volunteering in the church.  I’m excited about that!

2) Also, as of today it has been exactly one month since running the Chicago Marathon (man where does time go!) That being said … I lost between 15-20 pounds during my training for the marathon, without even changing my diet … just from the level of activity.  Well, due to nearly a month of relative inactivity since the marathon (and a cruise and birthday celebrations in there) … I’ve gained most of that back!  So, I’ve started a workout this week … I figure if I actually put it on here, that I might have some mental motivation/accountability to keep it up … have you seen the P90X infomercials?  Yep, that’s what I’m doing.  I bought it a couple years ago, started it, then hurt my ankle and couldn’t do it for a while, gave it to my brother for a while, and now I’ve started again … so here’s hoping that in 90 days I’ll be “ripped”  HA!  It really a pretty intense program, so we’ll see!  Maybe I’ll even be brave and post my before and after pictures if the results are noticeable! … maybe.

3) Again with the “new” theme …

2 Corinthians 5 :17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”

I’m recognizing this more in my life, and realizing that as I submit more to what the Lord desires for my life that my thoughts, desires, priorities are shifting … I have definitely noticed how God has specifically healed my heart of some past hurts, and changed my outlook on those things.  It’s just been very encouraging to finally see how God has worked in those situations and to live in the “newness” of those realizations … if that makes sense.  It does to me!

Taking a group of International Students to the City Museum in Saint Louis this weekend … should be fun.  Maybe some pictures to come!

Anyhow … things are good, and I hope the same is true for you!

-E

good-bye 30 …

Well, another year has come and gone … and I must say that with all the hype about turning 30, and a bunch of people who said I should dread it … It has actually been one of the best years of my life!

There has been so much change this year. Some of the major headlines of my year: No Shave November (okay maybe not a major headline, but fun nonetheless), AFRICA, leaving a church position, making some unbelievable new friends, being challenged in new ways, summer in Jeff City, taking a new job – and being stretched by it every day, I trained for and ran in and finished the Chicago Marathon, and I experienced support and love of friends and family unlike many people ever have the fortune of experiencing.

Thank-you 30 for proving all those nay-sayers wrong!  Bring on 31!

Here are some photos to go with the highlights:

The beard:

AFRICA:

Jeff City Friends:

New job:

Marathon:

sorry it’s sideways…

 

Hope your year is great!

-E

Really, are people that interested??

I get no fewer that 10 new visits per day to my blog from people who have been sent to it after searching for Ho-Ho’s and Swiss Cake Rolls … all because of this post.

I need to know … are people REALLY that concerned about the differences between Swiss Cake Rolls and Ho Ho’s … I mean we did this for fun, but c’mon now … HUNDREDS of people have come to this post…  makes me laugh!  That particular post has been viewed exponentially more than any other … glad to know snack cakes are so important!

-E