Wine.

So it has been over 2 years since I have blogged but I think there are few things I have learned over the past two years that maybe I can speak about that maybe can challenge some thinking.  I recently read a blog from an up and coming recording artist, Michael Gungor.  He talked a lot about the mundrum vibe of "Christian" music and it's lack of soul.  I have my own thoughts on that but I will leave that for another day.  In the middle of the blog he talked about drinking alcohol.  His only scripture reference is the one that everyone loves to use, John Chapter 2, the wedding where Jesus turns water into wine.  MY GLOVES ARE ON!!!

This has been used for generations to advocate alcohol consumption among Christ-Followers.  My argument is this...leave this one alone.  This scripture is a poor argument.  In fact the use of the bible as a whole is a poor argument for alcohol consumption and abstinance.

Jesus was at a party, a place of tradition.  People were going to a simple Hebrew wedding.  The wedding was going to have the same elements that every wedding has had for a millennia.  And from a economic standpoint, the parents were going to put the most expensive wine out first!  Every good lush will tell you, if it gets the job done, why break the bank? for Traditions sake however, there will be wine at a hebrew wedding.

The truth is yes it was not grape juice.  It was live cultured liquid derived from grapes made in wineskins to induce alcohol.  Alcohol, a substance we use to SANITIZE.  1st century Israel did not have the water purification systems we enjoy today, and they were not going to break tradition and be creative at their festivals.  The reason they drank wine was because it was a necessity!!!!  Water was used for animals and bathing and when you could get ahold of clean water, which was rare, for drinking!  All they had to drink was what would not kill them...top of the list was wine!!!

So back to the wedding, simply purifying the water would not have been much of a miracle.  Through science we all have a Brita system now.  But turning water, possibly water used at the entrance way to clean peoples feet by servants, into high quality beverage, that was a sight!

This part here is me reaching, but everyone does realize that Jesus did not even want to do it!  I sometimes wonder why.  Probably because He saw all the war my generation is waging with older generations, separating churches so folks would not have "one less sin to worry about".

I am not advocating one way or the other with alcohol consumption, if you want to drink than drink. It is not a sin or else the bible would have said so. However if God has given you a platform, I say be above reproach and abstain.  This issue is still too volatile.  And the scriptures are clear on leadership responsibility.

I say this... stop using the scripture to justify this behavior.  It will not answer it.  Paul says to not be drunk...the alternative is not "moderation", the alternative is to keep on being filled with spirit.

When we try to use the scripture out of context and historical tradition to make a point we run the risk of defacing the image God is trying to establish in this generation.  We are on the verge of his return, things are going to be different.  Especially the stuff that lives in the "gray" areas of our morality and doctrines.

Pan.

One of my favorite movies growing up was Hook.  Robin Williams at his best, next to Mrs. Doubtfire.  A man overwhelmed with the pressures of family and work gets to relive his childhood as the greatest childhood fantasy, Peter Pan.  As I get older, I realize how I wish I could do that.  For one, childhood was simple and consistant.  The change in your life simply happened but it was still scary.  There was Neverland, where things never changed, river always flowed, the Lost Boys always won (except in my Fantasy football league), your imagination is what put food on the table, and you never grew up.  You stopped.....growing.  Than there was Cptn. Hook.  The imagery of adulthood to a child.  Rules, responsibilities, and evil!  I fight everyday to not be Cptn. Hook, I do not want to be the person everyone hates and reviles...especially my kids!  I want to be the hero!  Just like Peter Pan never grew up, neither did Hook.  The very essence of Neverland is anti-leadership.  No change. No obligations. No catalysts...except Pan.  This was Peter Pan's world, his fantasy.  Then why did he leave?  What caused him to escape the fairy tale to the bedroom balcony of London's Wendy Darling?  Boredom?  Sure.  Curiosity?  maybe.  But underneath, I believe it was leadership and the need for change.  An inner turmoil, that there was more.  There were voids that had to be filled.
I say all that to say, I see a lot of people enjoying the same things they have enjoyed for ages and never change.  The same things still excite them.  Unless they are exposed to something outside of their world. To be exposed to something outside your sphere and to go back to the sphere to explain it or take people there makes a leader.
Where have you been that others need to go?  What have you been shown that others need to know about and see?
I am Peter Pan.  Sure, there are days that I stay in Neverland too long, but God has allowed to me to enter worlds unknown to my native land, so I can be a witness to what He is doing.  So I can show those around me what is really out there.  Peter Pan was the only character really allowed to come and go as he pleased.  But every time he left he got older.  Think about it.  bangarang!!!!

List.

Last Saturday night I was given the opportunity to speak at Portside Student Ministries at Crosswind Church.  If I was honest, it was weird speaking to them.  The group of kids I ministered to has all graduated and are in my College group.  So it was a fresh crowd that I desperately needed to build a relationship with!  I know one thing, they love to worship and pray!  I spoke about becoming a counterculture...rather than a subculture.  The world does not need another group of people who just go with the flow and create their own version of whatever has been done.  The world needs to see Jesus in a way that goes against the flow and expressed in ways that knock current trends out of the park!  However, no matter how cool we are with our faith based shoe lines and non profits, the way we are the most "against the flow" is LIVING out these things on a daily basis:
Love of God
Love of neighbors within and outside of the covenant community
Seeking the welfare of all people
Defying hatred and greed
Feeding the hungry
Clothing the naked
Bearing each others’ burdens
Choosing self-sacrifice over the sword
Redistribution of resources for the purposes of social uplift
Wonderful marriages
Love of enemies
Sexual purity
Healthy conflict / resolution in the midst of quarrels
Learning more about the Scriptures as an open-minded community of disciples
Healings, signs, wonders and the unleashing of all forms of creativity
Justice for the marginalized


That is what an unbelieving world need right now.

Connect.

So in a couple months I will be celebrating my 5th wedding anniversary.  It has been an exciting time for me.  I am who I am today because of my wife.  She affirms my faith and is always there to spur me on in the times of difficulty.  When I took the position at Crosswind we were still dating, but she left with me to simply attend and even volunteer her time in the student ministries.  She did not have to do that but she loved me.  Time and time again she has proved that.
It seems in many ways a man reverts back to being a child when he gets married.  I suppose he clings to the boy inside of him more because the weight of responsibility gets so high everyday he is married, he wants to remember the day when he had no responsibility.  Life was easier then.  Someone else took care of you, when you did something stupid you got punished, but you still kept a sense of dignity.  Your days were filled with what you wanted to do and how you wanted to do them.  You had your identity and people loved you for who you were.  But you can only connect so far with them.  You could only go so far in relationship and still keep a sense of purity in your faith life.  You went to bed alone...left your own devices and thoughts.
Then she comes along.  She has been waiting for you.  Waiting for you to get it,   to hear what she has been hearing, to see what she has always seen.  She had the same issues, she wants the same things.  The same faith.  Then you take a step, to sacrifice your identity and be known also for hers.  To live for something greater for yourself and ....grow up.  I tell you, its worth it.  But after 5 years you connect on levels you never thought were possible.  I don't just mean sex...sex is temporary, based on sensation and the moment.  If your tired, hurt, or not "feeling it", its not a good basis for a relationship.  But when you look into her eyes and see everything you want and want to be, there is nothing greater.
So are wiling to connect on deeper level?  You have a choice.   Are you wanting  to move into areas of Gods heart that can only be seen through marriage?  Are you willing to be married for reasons greater than sex?  Are you ready to take some responsibility and connect?

Millennial.

For the past 5 years I have led a small group of young people ranging from the ages of 18 to 28 years old.  When I first started, I had about 15 people but when the school year started it dwindled down to 6, then it would rise up to 20 then back down to 4.  at one time, 1 person came...thanks Heather!  We met in peoples living rooms, yards, and even a gas station!  Then a core group of young people and a influential parent came into my path and now I am consistently running 25+ every week.  I have even taken some of these young to Kenya!!!
These young people only have 2 things in common, they are out of high school and they are trying in some form to seek God.  Their needs are all different....very hard to keep up with.  Their personalities are all different.  Their view of God is all different.  They all still come.  Some are under challenged, but still come.  Some are living in blatant sin, but still come.  Some feel like they can't relate based on maturity levels, but still come.  Some live for it, and still come.
Regardless of your generation, the ages of 18-29 are crazy years.  You can get married early thus forcing you completely into another life stage.  You can have a baby out of wedlock or off your plan and not know where you fit in.  You can be bogged down with a bachelors or masters degrees or a new career and never have any time for people except colleagues and study buddies.  So what is the common ground for the age group?  The need for God.  What is the point of a small group for the age group?  To encourage a desire to serve that God and live according to His plan.
So for the under-challenged?  What is God wanting you to take action on to help the least of these?  Your generation needs you!  To the one in blatant sin...  Listen to your pastors and stop!  Talk to someone! Forgive those who hurt you!  Life is happening! Grow up! Your generation needs you! To the ones who can't relate to your generation...it's probably because you are called to lead it!  Embrace your true calling and find healing for your insecurities, your generation needs you!  And to the ones who are just enjoying the ride, be on your guard!  You can easily become one of the above...your generation is going to call on you eventually.
In the meantime, I will continue to meet with this generation in whatever style, venue, or structure needed...but it will always be about our Risen Savior Jesus...the Redeemeer of this generation!

Food.

Another Friday.  Since I have been thinking about about blogging.  I have never been able to get a certain crazy thought out of my head.  So I figured I will blog about it.
I am certain for the past 28 years of my 30 years on Planet Earth, I have consumed something from McDonald's once a week.  Whether it be a delicious Quarter Pounder or a cone, or a Big Coke and snack wrap, something from the fast food giant has went into my belly!  Talk about faithfulness!  Devotion has nothing to do with it....its habit.  Some want to say craving, but I want to give the human body more credit than that.  I don't think it wakes up in the morning saying, "man if I don't have 2 all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun right now...I am going to blow this house up!!!!"  Its all in our head.  Every habit we have is in the head. The brain is going to find the fastest way to get what it needs, and when you have easy access to anything, like a McDonalds that is in full eyes sight of your front lawn, that is the default.  The brain is amazing!  How many have been there?  You say you want to eat better, but you start thinking of all the time it takes to make a healthy home cooked meal and BOOM....instant defeat.  I don't have that kind of time!  30 minutes to make pasta?  wheres my app for J and P?  (That would be awesome!) Anyways we live in a day in age where the brain is going faster than it ever has, thus receiving more input than ever before.  To slow down would give 98 percent of the world a migraine.  Last week, a hurricane hit the east coast and left a lot of people without power.  It forced them to slow down and remove the world of instant input aside for a moment.  Its been raining all week.  Peoples social media has been on overdrive!
I don't really know if I have a point except maybe stating the obvious.  I maybe have questions, like, how much constant input and easy fixes can the brain take?  Is quantity overcoming quality? what is the brain not doing well to get the easy fixes and fast input?
I am writing this on my Sabbath.  My day where I do no work and try to honor a God who took His time to make me into everything He wanted.  To spend time with my kids that are so precious and cute and rotten!!  To spend time influencing a generation through a simple blog. Instead of complaining about the weather and how depressed it makes me, to listen to rain fall onto the roof of a house that God has blessed me with and know I am safe inside.  To do nothing and honor Christ through it.   Slow down and take an excedrin.  Some things are worth stopping for and listening to.

Pensive.

My first blog.  A chance to speak my mind and share some of the experiences I have had. To be who I am. An Influencer. An Artist.  A Pastor.   This may only happen on Fridays.  As my life is right now, there is a short window right after lunch that my wife is at work and the kids are taking a nap...and I have the day off!  When I turned 30, I had a friend tell me I should start blogging.  She said it would have a lot of value.  So here goes.  7months later....
I can remember when I was in college and I had this pet peeve of the question, "whats wrong?"  I always seem to be the source of that question in those days.  I look back on pictures and videos now and think," wow, now I know why? I always look upset or "somewhere else"'.  One day, a girl finally put the right word to my face. Pensive.  thinking passionately.  Thats me.  On a whim, I can escape to some place and be the vessel, the person, the life that I always wanted.  When I have that face, that is where I am.  Perhaps it is a defense mechanism I have established because of the bad things I have experienced growing up.  That is a good argument.  It could be I am just prideful.  I want to be valued and accepted.  In my head I am.  that could work too.  Maybe you are reading this and you are thinking,  I am doing that right now, because this is the most boring blog ever!"
I am a natural escape artist.
However the good experiences of my life, which are quite a few, have slowly been turning those escape tactics in to moments for great forward thinking and vision.  I would escape for hours and create artistic ideas and concepts that have benefitted a lot of situations and people.  My faith is one of those positive things.  It is the one thing that has validated my imagination and furthered my visioneering.  I have been found by a God who loves me and cares for my future and life. In those pensive moments, He has shown me His heart and His purposes for my life.  Sometimes I listen and sometimes I don't.  There are times I want escape on my own and have my way, my visions.  But like Peter Gabriel writes, "No matter which way I choose, I come back to the place you are."  I always end up back at the feet of Jesus Christ.
How do we get there?  For me its the face of my children, the love of my wife.  The support of a colleague.  The challenge of a friend.  Or it can be the supernatural invasion of my thoughts by the God of the Universe telling me ,there's more than what I can think or imagine planned for me if I will surrender.  Keep being pensive.  God can meet you there.