The Forgotten Ways

Those of you who know me have heard me express my passion for Jesus. You've heard my desire to display the beautiful way of Jesus and to make students of Jesus. You've heard about my desire to plant new churches. Not just plant churches that exist for themselves but that exist for the purpose of joining God is the restoration of all things, namely the human heart.

But why? Why spend your life in this way? Well, there are many good things to do with one's life. There a some great things. But I believe there is only one ultimate thing. When you're talking about "ultimate" there can only be one, that's what makes it "ultimate". And I've found God as revealed in Jesus to be that ultimate thing to spend one's life, my life, on. Knowing God, glorifying God and enjoying him forever is the bent of my life.

"Glorifying" God can be kind of vague. But what I have found is that God is glorified in following Jesus' teaching. And after He rose from the grave he had some last words, "Go and make disciples/students/apprentices of all people groups, baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I've taught". And herein lies the void. Why plant churches? To make more and better students of Jesus. People don't hate Jesus but they tend to hate the church. And why? Because we speak one thing and do another. We are not disciples who have bent their lives on becoming like our teacher Jesus. We say, "But we've got all our teachings on Sunday, Wednesday night services, bible studies and social events and still we can't make real disciples!". In spite of all we do we still fail at making disciples like the early church did, or the Chinese church. But what if it is exactly because of how we do things we fail to make disciples? And this is why I desire to plant churches. To do things different. And with the grace of God see different things happen.

A great book that has spurred much thought about just this topic is The Forgotten Ways by Allen Hirsch. So if you're an aspiring pastor/leader or current one I would recommend it.

The Church is not a social club for people who have decided to mentally ascend to Jesus as the Christ. It is a group of people to have surrendered and are in the process of surrendering all they have to join in what is Ultimate, Jesus and his redemptive actions in the world, namely making students of Jesus. Let's throw off all the other crap that is not accomplishing this.

Race Pics from ICEMAN

Thankful for what?

Fall

Man, it's one of those fall days...rainy, cool, cloudy. Makes me want to take a nap in front of a fireplace or something. Guess my space heater will have to do...

Are you a real Man?

So some of you know my interest in masculinity and men being men. Well I found this short clip that really nailed it on the head. So... are you a real man?

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More pics from ICEMAN

ICEMAN Came!

Here's a recap of the ICEMAN adventure. It was a fantastic time! We left Muncie at 1pm with Jeff, Mark, myself and all are bikes and gear loaded in Jeff's Subaru. We rolled into the hotel, which was a 4-star or better hotel about 7:30pm and checked in. We found out there were 4 restaurants in the hotel so we found one with a pasta buffet and chowed down.
After laying out our clothes for the next day we made quick use of the huge garden bath with jets...separately of course...and went to bed.
We rose at 6:30 and down stairs we went to eat a breakfast buffet. Then we packed up our bags and bikes and drove 20 minutes to the start line to get Mark ready for the race. He started at 9:30 while Jeff and I got to wait until 10am. There were about 60 waves going out every 5 minutes! Yeah...that 3000+ people and half a day to get them all out on the course.
Now for a race review.
The weather was ok. We expected much worse. it was 40 degrees and spitting rain with overcast skies. Approaching the start line there were about 60 other racers in my category so I nudged myself up to the front of the line so I could get a good start. And I did, hitting the trail at about 5th place. I quickly moved up to 3rd place as I tucked in behind two other guys as we made some separation from the pack. about 4 miles into the 27 mile race we started catching previous waves and we passed a LOT of them! At around mile 5 the two guys in front of me passed a couple people and I had to wait a few seconds to do the same and when it was time I yelled out "passing on the right" and the kid in front of me jumped out in front of me to pass at the same time. He kept doing this 3 times as if he and I were racing eachother and he didn't want me to get in front. But he was in a totally different age group! Anyway, one time he did this lead to me slamming on my breaks, going up into a front wheelie and endoing over my bars. And that led to a woman crashing into me! We were all ok but I lost to two guys I was pacing off of and was determined to pass that little jerk of a racer......sorry.... he was young and didn't know better I guess. Anyway I passed him w/o saying a word and made it my goal to catch the two leaders.
I didn't ever find them again. But I knew I'd put a gap on the group behind and was sitting in third place. So I just tried to ride hard and keep my momentum. It wasn't hard to do. The trail was sandy but the rain had packed in down and made it quite tacky! Was regularly riding at 17-18mph and bombing the downhills which had large portions of loose sand at the bottoms. But I found that the faster you hit the sandy spots the better you got through them. The hills were not much to talk about until the last 9 miles or so. The started to get steep. Not to long but steep. Most people were walking up them while pushing their bikes. Anita's Hill was one of those such hills. I was able to ride all of them w/o walking and even had an old man cheer me to the top of Anita's Hill and then push me by my seat over the crest! I felt like I was in some french road race or something!
All was well with less than 1 mile left to go and sitting in 3rd place, counting my winnings ahead of time, when a rider passed me. Now no one had passed me all day and so I had to ask the question, "Hey, what age group are you....?" "Huh?" he yelled. "Are you 25-29?" Waiting a few seconds to consider his answer he says, "yeah I am...are you?" And then I knew there would be a sprint to the finish. As though to show no competition between the two of us I said, "Yeah I am...and we've got two guys ahead of us.." My diversion tactic didn't work I guess cause he took off and so I took off on his tail until we hit another steep hill. I saw him really slow down in the middle of the hill so I attacked not know if this was the last hill or if there were more. I got ahead of him by about half of bike length but then he fought back and pulled ahead and the strain was too much for me. I couldn't catch him. He beat me by 8 seconds. It was a fun fun finish for the day!
Here are some pics from the trip.
Post race activities included sipping some local Michigan brews and playing Guitar Hero in the Meijer kids trailer! Oh, and results! Jeff got 13th and Mark was like 60th out of 75... yeah... but he got a 91% accuracy score on guitar hero which was unprecedented that day!

THE ICEMAN COMETH!

So... I thought I was done racing too, after the Brown County Breakdown. But come to find out those who placed 1st in their age group at the end of the season in the Dino Series got invited to compete in the ICEMAN COMETH race in Travers City Michigan. It takes place this Saturday.

ICEMAN COMETH VIDEO

There's a couple good videos that give you and idea of what kind of race this is. Here is one of them.

Jesus For President.. Cast your Vote Today AND Tomorrow

A fellow in his 70's came in the bike shop just now and asked, "Have you voted yet?" and I answered, "No I have not". He said to make sure I do and that he's never missed a vote. Then he was on his way. But the truth is I voted yesterday, today and I'll vote tomorrow too.

Yesterday I voted for Jesus' Way as I relied upon him to love my neighbor as myself, I voted for Jesus today many times already as I resisted the temptation to make my day all about satisfying my selfish desires, and I plan on voting for Jesus tomorrow as I show up for work on time and encourage my friends to serve others before themselves.

Whether or not you vote for the president of the U.S. and other government officials today or not...don't forget to continue voting tomorrow and the next for the change you want to see in the world.

Jesus, let your government come on earth as it is in the heavens.

Surely the world will be changed more rapidly by millions of people being transformed by Jesus from selfishness of heart to true inner goodness than by getting one person in a position of power.

Me Crazy? No This Guy is Crazy

Check out this off-road unicycle rider!

http://www.columbia.com/pioneers/?pioneer=heaton

Missional

"A church which pitches its tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling. ...[We must] play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, and live by improvisation and experiment." -Hans Kung, The Church as the People of God

"The church, when true to its calling, when it is about what God is about, is by far and away the most potent force for transformational change the world has ever seen. It has been that before, is that now, and will be that again." -Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways

What do you think about that? Do you believe that? I am moved by that statement and slapped by it at the same time. What am I doing? What am I living for? How am I making my life count? Is my local church just a local social club? Have we forgotten our roots? That great people who turned the world upside down. Do you think the new president of the United States has more power to change the world than the church? Of course, most of us do (see our bumpers, t-shirts, buttons, signs in yard and commercials). Though I have some doubt, I feel it deep with in me that it is true that "we by far and away are the most potent force for transformational change in the world".

Check this out. How many followers of Jesus and his Way were there in AD100?
A: AD100 as few as 25,000
How many followers of Jesus and his Way were there in AD 310?
A: AD 310 up to 20,000,000!

HOW DID THEY DO THIS?
How did they do this?
How do we again harness this passion and power and purpose to be the agents of transformational change in the world?

How to bless...

Numbers Chapter 6
22 The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '

27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

To bless people, we somehow, mysteriously, put God's name on them and God blesses.

Could this be Next?

A friend has invited myself and my teammate Jeff Frame out to Arizona in February to race the famous 24 hours of Old Pueblo. Could this be the next 24hr race? We'll see...
My lovely wife reminded me that this is over Valentines Day and is not that romantic...so we'll not be going to Arizona!

Brown County Breakdown 2008

WoW Wow Wow! This year was the 4th year the Hoosier Mt Bike Association put on their fundraiser even called the Brown County Breakdown. And this was the 4th time I've taken part. Here's what it is. Only this one time per year do they connect 100 miles of trails that cover 4 counties and include the famous Brown County State Park trails, Nebo Ridge trails, Hickory Ridge trails and Combs road trail. Via horse trials and fire roads these great trails are opened up to mountain bikers who travel from all over the midwest to spend all day on their bikes at the peak of Fall colors to take in the beauty, thrills, and..........SUFFERING!
Can I just tell you I experienced beauty, thrills, fun, joy, fellowship and all but not until today, 4 days later could I remember those good things because all I could recall for the last few days was the suffering! Year 1 I tackled 35 miles, year 2 60, year 3 65, so I knew this was the year to go for the big 100. I had raced a great season and gotten in great cycling shape and the kicker was I had a great teammate to ride with the whole way.
The day started with awesome weather in the 50's. Usually it starts in the 30s and 40s. Jeff and I gave each other a fist bump and said "let's do it!" as we took off from the start. We cruised at a moderate pace through BCSP and reached one of the highest points in the park called Hesitation Point where we saw a really large group of riders hanging out eating and drinking. We thought, "I wonder why they are just chillin' there?" as we crossed the road and headed into the bombing downhill toward the campgrounds. This part was filled with flowing sections with small jumps where we carried speeds around 20mph and also had technical rock sections where you had to place your tire just right and balance at slow speeds. We popped out at the campground happy to see some roads to ride on before it led us to the horse trails and fire roads which were historically pretty crazy. So we downed some GU and drink as we cruised on the pavement. We waved at campers cookin' breakfast and kids playing ball. Then we hit the dusty and rocky horse trails. These things are fast and furious! 20+mph downhills with what we like to call "baby heads" (baby head size rocks) scattered all over the place make for a thrilling ride! But everything went smooth other than a tree limb that was hanging over the trail that smacked me bloodying my lip. As the trail narrowed we realized we were being led down to the secret cabin sag stop.
This was our first rest and were feeling great. We didn't stay long. Just enough time to eat at PB&J and fill up our water. Then we took a mile of gravel road to Nebo ridge. This trail is about a 1.5 mile climb and it becomes an 8 mile roller coaster where keeping your momentum is the key to a super fun ride! We knew that our tendency was to go out too hard so I led this section and intentionally coasted on the downhills and just cruised up the climbs we wanted to conserve energy because neither of knew what was coming in the last 40 mile section of Hickory Ridge. So we finished up the great Nebo Ridge trail and hopped on some paved road that quickly turned gravel until we got to the second sag stop at hickory ridge. There we found another blue grass duo playing so good ol' tunes as we fed ourselves and filled up our bottles. We were told that this next section was pretty remote and was made up of two loops of 15 and 25 miles. We joined two other guys and went for the 15 mile loop. It was really a fun section of jeep roads and pretty flowing single track. When we finished and came back to the sag stop we said to ourselves, "I think we're gonna do it!" With the affirmative we headed out for the last 25 miles of Hickory with a guy we met from Evansville. We heard that this was the toughest section of the day and they weren't kidding!
All I can say is suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer suffer and suffer! It was beautiful and all with the super remote sections of woods and streams. We saw huge pine forests where the trees where taller than I've ever seen a pine tree grow. It was amazing but I couldn't enjoy too much because I thought for sure my legs were going to seize up with cramps or simply fall off! From the SAG stop we rode on a gravel road that just would not stop climbing. It was so steep it even had a friggin switch back! What is a switch back road doing in Indiana anyway? Geeze! When we finally entered the single track trail it didn't give us any time to recover b/c it sent us bombing down into a valley immediately! It's cool to be in a valley except that you know there is nowhere to go but up! And we quickly did have to go up and these ups were steep and they were loooong! There was at least two more of them that I had to walk up. At this point I'm feeling nautious and my legs are wanting to start cramping up. I'm thinking...well I not sure that I was thinking! I was just hurting! From that point on, at about mile 55 it was simply a "suffer fest". There was the joy of the downhill and the road sections but everything else was suffering.
We finally made it out of there and sat for a while at the sag stop to recuperate. Then we headed back toward combs road that I had a history of walking up and cramping up on. I just sat on Jeff's wheel thinking, this is gonna hurt real bad. But when we got there it actually seemed much shorter than the last couple years, that was good. But we still walked up a good part of the trail.
After bombing down Nebo, a wonderful treat, we took the short one mile or so road back to the secret cabin sag and lo and behold they had PIZZA KING! And I think Jeff was a little concerned as I ate about 5 or 6 pieces! It was great. We didn't stay too long for fear our legs would think we were done. And we knew the horse trails to get back to the Mt. bike trails at BCSP were gonna be a test for us at this point in time. So we headed back up the trails soon found ourselves walking again. There were periods of 30 minutes where we didn't even talk to one another we just heard uuugh aahhhh ssshhhcht and foot steps. I was already telling myself, "I will never do this again, never again will i ride this far, this was too far, it's not worth the suffering". But something happened when we got back to the mt bike trails at BCSP. Maybe its cause Im really familiar with them, I know they have so much flow or that we're only 10 miles from the end or what but I had a new surge of energy. There still wasn't much talking but you could tell in the way we were riding we were feeling a little better. We were getting a little air over some jumps and carving some turns.
Finally we fly down the last downhill and pop out of the woods to see the finish line 300 yards away. I'm in the lead and I turn back to look at Jeff as if to say "were here man!" and Jeff thinks I'm challenging him to a sprint finish! And next thing I know we are going balls to the wall on the last 100 yards. I tuck in behind him to get a draft and then 25 yards left I pop out and come up next to him to finish neck and neck! Not sure where that energy came from but I probably shouldn't have done that because I felt so drained I could hardly think straight. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sip a beer. All I could do was shower and lay down in the back seat all the way back to Muncie! I was done! I didnt want to see another bike for a month, I didn't was to plan on doing this ride again, I had suffered more than ever in my 28 years of life that day. But now....I'm glad I did it. I'm ready to get back on the trail though I'm still soar in my legs and knees a bit. There's something about it that keeps drawing me back. The pushing yourself farther than you think you can go, taking risks and overcoming them, being out in creation. God teaches me so much from Mt. Biking. There are so many parallels He gives me.

Here's a link to some pics http://gallery.me.com/fzryasky/100059

Becoming Human?

Is our body any more than a hinderance to our spiritual life? Seriously? "I messed up, I'm only human!" Only human?
Where does our body fit in with "Salvation"? "Oh, Salvation comes because I have made a conscious decision to trust Jesus to forgive me, but won't see the real result of that until I die and go to heaven." Seriously?
Did Jesus have an actual body? Real flesh, real blood? Did he have calluses on his feet from walking and on his hands from building and crafting things of wood? Some blatantly say he "only had a form of a body but not real flesh and blood". That would be called Docetism. And that would be blatantly wrong. But some really don't believe he did but in a more subtle way that may not even be clear to them. It's seen as an underlying theme in the statements people make as noted above.

What's the point?

The point is that if you don't think Jesus had a really real body then Salvation is not have any bearing on our real bodies. It's only to guaranty a spiritual existence after death. And that's only half true, thus it is false.

Why are we not blown away when a christian leader falls into sexual sin? Or why aren't we surprised when a Christian person remains bitter their whole lives? Should not we be surprised when a person does NOT continually mature and grow into the kind of loving human being that Jesus was? We are surprised when people ACTUALLY CHANGE! What is up with that except that we have an underlying belief that Jesus primarily came to change our reality after death but not our lives today.

I'm fired up b/c I am in this same position. I want to believe the things that I think about. And I mean believe them at my core and thus reflect them in my being. I believe Jesus had a flesh and blood body and that Salvation is just as much about living the kind of life that Jesus lived as it is spending eternity in paradise with Him. The Body is NOT simply a hinderance to my spiritual life but exactly the CROSSROADS OF EXPERIENCING IT!

"God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, He that has the Son has life." 1 John 5:11-12
"I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his LIFE." Romans 5:10

Wait a minute..."saved by his LIFE"? I thought we were saved by his...death... well which is it? Yup! Let's think about that together.

24hrs of DINO results

Well, it started out really fast. 9 miles laps in about 43 min. Then when night fell we put on our lights, one on our helmet and one on our handlebars so we could see. That slowed our laps down to closer to 50 min. We had about 2.5 hrs to rest in between riding. While the other three people rode there laps, I would change my clothes and lay down but b/c I had taken in energy drinks and my heart was racing so much I could only see the trail and trees flashing before my closed eyes. I think I managed 15-30 min of sleep each time I had a chance to lay down.
But morning came and I was the first to race a morning lap and it took me back down to 44 min. It was refreshing to see the light again. We were really getting tired of trying to see through the fog and dust. Almost everyone had some kind of slide-out or wreck during the night portion including Jeff's broken chain with 2 miles to go. He just rode his bike like a scooter to the finish.
We were always riding in first place. By the end we had over a one lap lead.
Our goal was to break the record of 28 laps in 24 hrs which was set last year. We thought we could get 30 laps in. With 80 minutes left we finished our 28th lap and I set out to do my best to pull a 40 minute lap so to somehow give Jeff a chance to do the same so we could reach our 30 lap goal. So I put the bike in the big ring, which I hadn't ridden in the whole time b/c the hills and technical riding, and rode as fast as I could at that point. When I got close to the finish I realized I was already at 42min. But I kept up the pace just for the heck of it and came across the line with hands up high and met my team mates who had already cracked open a nice cold beer that we toasted to "us, the 24 hrs of DINO team champs".
We actually won the "team spirit award" for our good attitude, our pursuit of a new record and our punctuality to the start/finish line to meet the incoming rider. This was a pleasing surprise! We were given a digital action video camera made just for action sports.
So here's to a great, victorious season!

Here is a link to some pictures from the weekend
http://www.flickr.com/gp/22452033@N05/BFMifE

24 Hours of DINO

Tomorrow at Noon our 4 man team will be running from the start line to our bikes and riding the 10 mile single track, through the woods, mountain bike trail at Winona Lake, Warsaw. We could cover as much as 300 miles in the 24 hours. The winners last year finished 280 miles but with a 6 man team. So like a relay we will each ride a lap or two then "tag" off in the transition area and the next person will do his lap(s). In between laps we'll have a camp site set up with tents and food and fun and relaxing.

Simply signing up for this race sealed our spot at the first place mtb team in the state! We are very excited about that. We also ended up with some individual state champions and national off road bike association (NORBA) champions.

Jeff Frame ranked 1st in the state in Sport and 7th in the Nation in his age group
Jeff Bracket ranked 2nd in the state in Beginner and 1st in the Nation in his age group
I ranked 2nd in the state in Sport and 1st in the Nation in my age group!

It was a really fun season. We plan to do more recruiting of sponsors soon since we have stats to flaunt! But we will have a little celebration next week at the Heorot, one of our faithful sponsors for this year.

Oh Baby!

You are looking at our new addition to the Biggerstaff Family, Baby Biggerstaff! Yes, we are pregnant! Baby is only about 12 weeks old but is already moving around flailing it's arms and legs. We are so excited to share this with everyone now. In March we decided to take a cabin vacation away from everything and specifically pray if God would have us pursue parenthood and we both felt at peace that we should stop taking our precautions and begin to trust God's timing to bring it about. And He saw that the time is right! So we expect Baby Biggerstaff to be born April 5th of 2009. Thank you for sharing in our Joy and praying as God prepares baby and us for a whole new world.

"For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
-Psalm 139:13,14

Capri by Colbie Caillet

A Heart Revealed

I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.
Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep,
but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk
or a snooze in the sunshine.
I don’t want enough of God to make me love a black man
or pick beets with a migrant.
I want ecstasy, not transformation.
I want warmth of the womb, not a new birth.
I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack.
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.
— Wilbur Rees

Are We Serious???

Just read this scripture this morning as I was struggling not to dose off during class and it woke me right up and inspired my heart.

"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ-that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ." -Col 3:1-4

Liferoot Reunion for Love146 Benefit

September 5th 7pm-9pm at Common Ground Christian Church on the corner of 46th and Illinois street in Indianapolis there will be a benefit concert to raise money for a great cause. Love146.org helps rescue sex trade victims and raise awareness that it plagues our world and even our nation. Come enjoy music from three different bands and donate some flow.

From Our Epic in Brown County

Last Tuesday Jeff Frame and I went on what we like to call an Epic ride. Now Epic is defined as "noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style
2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.
4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.

As you can see it involves something long, heroic and great. For us it was a 6 hour 58 mile mountain bike ride through Brown County State park into Hoosier National Forest and back through Brown County State Park again. There were crashes, endo's, flat tires and lots of eating, sweating, pain and rehydrating. We even wore the lube off our chains had to borrow some WD40 from a park employee on our way back! Here's a little video or two for ya!

And can I just say that my desire for a great Epic ride stems from something deep within all of us. It comes from our original purpose of being united with our Creator in a deeply adventurous relationship.

Following The Way,

Upside Down

Peter the disciple of Jesus and some others got worried when they heard Jesus tell a young rich man he couldn't enter the kingdom of the heavens unless he gave away all his riches. When Jesus said, "it's easier for a camel to go through a needle eye then a rich man to enter the kingdom" they asked "Who in the world can be saved then? We've left everything to follow you! What will we get for this?" And Jesus' reply? "No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or homes or land for me and for the good news will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this life and for life eternal. BUT many who are first will be last, and the last first."
From Divine Conspiracy Willard says, "Jesus knew that much of what Peter and the others thought to be important was not really so, and that what they thought to be of no importance was often of great significance before God. Their thinking would have to be rearranged before they could understand their "reward" for leaving all to follow him."
I wonder what things I think are important that God doesn't think are important at all. And what things God thinks are important that I don't give a thought about...What are rewards from God that I think are a burden.
Willard says again, "In general, many of those thought blessed or "first" in human terms are miserable or "last" in God's terms and visa-versa.

DINO MTB Series Video

Here's a taste of what our mountain bike races are all about. I'm in this video twice wearing a gold and black jersey and riding a red and white Trek. Enjoy!

Westwood Race

The team did well today. Lot's of Personal Records! For overall placements I got 3rd and Frame got 5th in Sport. Brackett got 5th in Beginner and Malaby got 2nd in Clydesdale.
I wrecked at some point in the race, can't remember if it was the first or second lap. But I was about a minute ahead of everyone in Sport after my first lap. Jen handed me a fresh cold bottle into my second lap and shortly thereafter it popped right out of my bottle holder and I didn't want to stop and get it so I rode on for my next 4 miles w/o water. A nice Expert rider obliged my request for a drink 3 miles before the finish. It was a beautiful day and the trail was in great shape! Hope to post some pics soon.

Shalom,

The Shack and God's Nearness

I read The Shack recently and one thing I loved about it was that it really highlighted the joy filled temperament of God. The other thing that really has stuck with me is the picture of God's intimacy with humanity. As I was reflecting on this I was reminded of how Matthew uses over and over the phrase "kingdom of the heavens". When we pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven" don't we think "far off in Heaven"? I do. But the Jewish understanding of "the heavens" is way different. Remembering biblical examples such as Hagar in the desert (Gen 21:17-19) Moses on the Mountain (Exodus 20), Abraham at the alter with Isaac (Gen 22), Jacob seeing the ladder with angels going up and down (Gen 28) all mention God speaking from "heaven" or the "heavens" which was THE SPACE RIGTH AROUND THEM. And this is most clearly seen in the incarnation of Jesus of course who being the Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. The heavens is the space right around us and Our Father who art in Heaven art right around you right now.
Thanks be to God.

"And behold I am with you even to the end of the age"- Jesus

Deflated

Well, what can I say...you win some and you DNF some. I DNF today...that's Did Not Finish the race at Muscatatuck Park in North Vernon today. We arrived with time to run a practice lap to scout out the trail. We found it rocky on the descents and muddy by the creek crossings yet hard packed on the ridges. Basically, a little of everything. At start time my team mate Jeff and I were coasting along in 3rd and 4th place just waiting for our moment to strike when BANG! A sound I've never heard before that sounded like a rock ripping all the spokes off a bike wheel filled the air. I yelled out, "What was that?" and Jeff, right behind me, said, "That was you!". A rock had ripped a hole in the side of my tire and all my sealant and air had just rushed out! I was done. After two unsuccessful repairs I was deflated. I walked my bike back up to the tent after only 5 minutes of racing. You win some and you DNF some.

Freedom for freedom

Jen and I were talking about freedom since we just celebrated the freedom of America yesterday. In an attempt to define what we commonly call "freedom" we landed on this; "The ability to do what I want when I want". I can pretty much say with confidence that is, in general, what was celebrated by most in our country yesterday. I'm positive that this holiday holds much deeper meaning for many in the U.S. Nevertheless, God used this holiday to remind me of my Freedom in Jesus today.
John 8:31-36
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants[a] and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I love this passage. And I think we can easily insert "Americans" in verse 33 for the word "Abraham's descendants" Go ahead and read it out loud using "Americans". Come on, don't be embarrassed. Nobody's lookin'.

And look at the picture of Family you see. It's family language. It's like he's saying, "You're acting like a slave or servant that's picking through the trash for your dinner. Hoarding all you can because you don't know if you'll have enough for tomorrow, thinking of only your survival. But, I'm setting you free. I'm the True Way. You're in the Family. There is an abundance in the Family so come to dinner and eat. Follow me to the table, I'll show you the Way"

God reminded me that my freedom is not the ability to do what I want when I want but, in fact, my freedom is to Want and Do what is good and loving. The ability to become what I was always meant, created, and intended to be, a member of God's family and being about the business of the Family. He reminded me that I don't know what's best for me and therefore doing what I want when I want is many times harmful to me and others. But through the life of Jesus I have seen the kind of person I was created to be. And through the death of Jesus I was freed from the chain of my selfish desires. And through the resurrection of Jesus and his dwelling in me I was given a new heart that is being shaped with new desires and the power to live them out! That is the freedom I'm celebrating today! I'm so thankful that the Son has set us free!

C.S Lewis said it's not that we are too hard to satisfy but that we are far too easily satisfied. We're happy playing in a mud puddle when we could have a day at the beach with our Father. Freedom is to desire a weekend at the beach with the Father and strength to take his hand as he pulls us out of the puddle.

Still on a Roll!

We had another great team performance this weekend in Portage, IN for the 3rd race in the DINO Mountain Bike Series. Here's a team photo after the race. I placed 2nd overall Sport, Jeff placed 3rd overall Sport, Thad placed 4th overall Expert, Jeff Brackett placed 8th overall Beginner and Mark placed 1st overall Clydesdale!
Next race is July 6th at Muscatatuck Park, North Vernon, IN. Check out our team webpage here http://bkbikes.com/page.cfm?pageID=78

Boise or Bust!

Boise, ID was great. We went to see if God was leading us to consider this as a potential move location and church plant when our time is up here in Muncie and he definitely spoke to us. It wasn't through the great landscape, or the great people or the connection with creation right out our backdoor but it was from a conversation at Big City Coffee Shop. I was writing my prayers in my journal saying that I would really like to connect with a leader from the Vineyard Church in town, who seems to be doing some good things, to get the spiritual pulse on the city and see how churches are cooperating together and if a new church plant would be welcomed. And not five minutes after writing that prayer guess who walks up to our table... One of the worship leaders from Vineyard Church! He noticed Jen was reading "The Shack" which he was also reading and when he mentioned he was from the Vineyard I was blown away and told him I was just praying that I could talk to someone there. He began to tell me about what they're doing in the city and how they are partnering with a couple churches to feed the hungry and house the poor. He mentioned that the city is generally friendly toward the church and that the City could really use a good church in the heart of the City (just where Jen and I wanted to be). It was simply amazing how God showed us He was in this pursuit and discovery of where we are to be after Muncie. Needless to say, Boise will continue to be in our prayers and our ears attentive to God's voice as it pertains to that City. Enjoy the pics!

The Absence of God

My head is spinning.
When it comes to feeling as if God far away, I'm usually the one asking, "What did I do wrong?"
It's a similar kind of question as "Why is there suffering in the world when God is good?" But, I don't want to go there.
What is going on when you one day begin feeling as though the presence of God is gone? And that day turns into weeks? Or Months? What does that mean? Did you do something? Does that mean God is different than you thought? Do you even care enough to notice?
I'm going to process "out loud" some things I recently read by E. Peterson,

Many don't notice in the story of the Exodus (Isreal being saved out of slavery from Egypt) that prior to their freedom God is silent for over 400 years! What was He doing? There aren't many teachers of scholars talking about that fact. Peterson says, "That they haven't made much of it is unfortunate, for this seemingly unending stretch of the experience of the absence of God is reproduced in most of our lives, and most of us don't know wyat to make of it. We need this Exodus validation that a sense of the absence of God is part of the story, and that it is neither exceptional nor preventable nor a judgment on the way we are living out lives." WOW!

This doesn't usually fit into our mindset of Salvation. For those who have graduated from Salvation being 'what happens after I die' to 'living a new ressurection life today and forever' we struggle with God not being sensed in our lives today. It's not "normal".

"But it is normal" says Peterson.

See the prayerbooks, Psalms, or Church history and we'll see that, "Belief in God does not exempt us from feelings of abandonment by God. Praising God does not inoculate us from doubts about God. Meditating devoutly on God's word does not establish us securely in "the arms of Jesus." does not insulate us from all feelings of abandonment, darkness and aridity."

Psalm 22
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words
of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest."

Check this out!
"Jesus hanging on the cross used this same prayer at the very moment that he was completing the work of salvation! On Jesus' lips this prayer validates the experience of the absence of God as integral to our participation in salvation.

Why do you stand far off, O Lord?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Ps 10

How long, Oh Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me? PS 13

Why have you forgotten me? Ps 42

Wake up God! Why do you sleep, O God?
Awake! Do not cast us off forever!
Why do you hid your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? Ps 44

You get the point....

One more quote by Peterson,

"These witnesses ot the experience of God's absence in the country of salvation are enormously important. They are rarely celebrated, whether in or out of church-this is not an area of life that most of us take kindly to-and not infrequently suppressed. But (here we go!) given our consumerist tendencies to shop for a god or goddess who will cater to our appetites for coziness and good feelings, they are necessary. Necessary to keep us alert and attentive to the mystery of God whose "ways are past finding out." Necessary to prevent us from reducing God Almighty to god-at-my-beck-and-call. Necessary to place disciplined constraints on our collective (especially North American) "spiritual sweet tooth." Necessary to enlarge our readiness for salvation beyond our carefully fenced in and devoutly tended backyard spirituality gardens.

Any understanding of God that does not take into account God's silence is a half truth-in effect, a cruel distortion-and leaves us vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation by leaders who are quite willing to fill in the biblical blanks with what the Holy Spirit never tells us."

For those who read it all, what are your thoughts? Its a bit freeing for me. That Jesus felt and was separated from the father and in that moment completed the work of salvation, tells me that not sensing God presence does not mean I'm out of His will or walking on a road other than the road of Salvation.

God's Joyous Being

A newborn baby. The sun setting over a body of water. The elderly dancing together on their 50th anniversary. Teems of Killer Whales jumping out of the ocean. The snow capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The loving tears shed by a bride and groom on their wedding day...

"All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness."- D. Willard Divine Conspiracy

God is indeed joyous and indeed lives an interesting life!

Surrendering

I'm thinking about these words from Jesus today in Mark 8.

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?"

God, let your will be done today. (white flag prayer :)

The eyes of the Lord search throughout the earth to strengthen those who's hearts are fully devoted to Him. -II Chronicles

Boasting About Tomorrow

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, send a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that..."

I've been reminded of this scripture from the book of James lately. Things just aren't going the way I planned them. And it's difficult for me to deal with at times. But in these times I'm thankful to remember that my life is but a mist, here today and gone tomorrow. I need to make today count. To do good today. To love God by following Jesus today and love my neighbors too.

So today, Jesus, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven in my life and through my life.

Violence

Violence spawns more violence.

Except in those "Little Jesus People".

They absorb violence and in return, offer love.

Mtb Race Pic

Last week was the non-points race kick off to the DINO Series. It was muddy and there were not many people there compared to last year...but I was there! And another trusty teammate of mine. I won't even go into the details but ends up on my first lap of 3 I topple over my handlebars going down hill and crush my shoulder on the gravel trail. Ends up I separated my AC joint. But 4 guys pass me as I stand for about 90 seconds there and assess the damage. I could still move my arm though it hurt so I jump back on the bike and go. By the third lap I've caught up and passes three of the four guys and end up 4th in Sport (out of 11). I like to say I would've been first if I hadn't of wrecked but anyway. Here's a link to a picture that was taken of me on my first lap at the race. Enjoy. http://www.dinoseries.com/photos/tuneup/TU0460.jpg

fear-of-the-what? II

To continue the conversation a bit farther on the fear-of-the-lord Peterson notes that none of the available synonyms in the English language- awe, reverence, worshipful respect - seem quite adequate. They miss the punch delivered by "fear-of-the-lord" Ok, so what do we do from here? Well he gives us some ideas of how to cultivate the fear-of-the-lord. AND ISN'T THAT WHAT WE REALLY WANT MORE THAN BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OR EXPLAIN IT?!!
"The primary way we cultivate it is in prayer and worship - personal prayer and corporate worship. We deliberately interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves and attend to God, place ourselves intentionally in sacred space, in sacred time, in the holy presence - and wait. We become silent and still in order to listen and respond to what is Other than us. Once we get the hang of this we find that this can occur any place and any time. But prayer and worship provide the base"
Peterson says, "Fear-of-the-lord" is the best term we have to point to this way of life we cultivate as Christians." Basically, A world has been opened up to us by revelation in which we find ourselves walking on holy ground and living in sacred time. The moment we realize this, we feel shy, cautious. We slow down, we look around, ears and eyes alert for what God is saying or doing. The moment we find ourselves unexpectedly in the presence of the sacred, our first response is to stop in silence. We do nothing. We say nothing. We fear to trespass inadvertently; we are afraid of saying something inappropriate. Plunged into mystery we become still, we fall silent, all our senses alert. This is the fear-of-the-Lord.

Or we don't...

More later.

Fear-of-the-what?

LORD! What's up with the Fear-of-the-Lord? Eugene Peterson says this "stock biblical phrase" is just what we need when we wonder how it is that we live responsively and appropriately before who God is, who he is a Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And isn't that what, we who have been redeemed by Jesus, want to do?
Well, it turns out that the meaning of this phrase/word is illusive and maybe that's a bit of a good thing. We can't simply file it away and box it up in our mental dictionary.
First let's clear the slate and understand that fear-of-the-lord is a "bound phrase". It's four words in English (two in Hebrew) that are bound together, making a single word. Here's the deal. The meaning of this new single word is not the sum of all its defined parts, fear+of+the+lord. Fear-of-the-lord is a word all its own. We don't look up "fear" then "God" in the dictionary. Doing that gets us way off track according to Peterson.
Just consider that for a couple days and I'll add more content later.

Ps. There are around 138 occurrences of this word mostly in Proverbs, Psalms, Isaiah, Chronicles and Duet' Duet' Deuteronomy! Take a look!

Wisdom from Mother Teresa

The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is shalom.
- Mother Teresa

Guess The City

Love of Torah or Torah of Love?

We're all familiar with with the parable of the Good Samaritan, right? A religious man after asking how he could inherit eternal life hears Jesus respond with, "Love God and Love your neighbor". And in response the man asks, "Who is my neighbor?". What he was really asking is, "Who is pure?" which was really a question of, "Who is worthy of Love?". And so responding to this deeper issue Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. What we miss is that in this story the Priest and Levite who pass by the beaten man weren't cold hearted toward the man as we usually think. They were passionate about follow the Torah which said NOT to touch dead people or they would breach their purity. The only corpes they could touch were close family all others would cuase impurity even if they got so close that their shadow touched it. So, they crossed to the other side of the road to follow their love for the Torah. What Jesus reveals is that out of their love for the Torah they have missed the point! This was a Torah OF love!

So here's the question: If we are to love God and love others, Jesus is asking his audience, what happens when love-of-God-as-obeying-Torah comes into conflict with love-of-God-as-following-Jesus That's a tough one, for all of us. But for Jesus the answer is clear: Loving God properly always means that we will tend to the needs of others.

Easter More than Eggs?

I feel I could write passionately from a couple angles this Easter morning. For instance the way the god of materialism has captured the minds of so many on wonderful days of remembrance such as today BUT even more passionately I am full of hope this morning.

Just looking on the nightly news, listening to the gossip at work, hearing of wars and genocide around the world, heck even paying attention to our own thoughts we can see clearly the effects of, the first man, Adam's choice to eat of the fruit in the garden. And it's not only effected humans but the way humans have cared for the rest of the world. I would bet we might struggle to recognize the world if it were not affected by our thousands of year of maltreatment. But consider this mind blowing statement by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5,
"For if, by the sin of the one man, death reigned through that one man, HOW MUCH MORE will those who received God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ."

HOW MUCH MORE?! What?! You see I believe the life, death and resurrection (Easter) of Jesus can exponentially effect our lives and our world for good compared to the evil that has entered through the effects of Adam. And its not just the cross that makes it so. For if it were just the cross we would be forgiven and that's it, Jesus would still be in the grave. But we needed power to conquer sin, to rise above it and so Jesus provides us with that as well by rising from the dead which is what I and Christians all around the world celebrate this morning.

The Politics of Jesus

You've got to pick up this book ASAP. It's as if my mind has been unlocked from a layer Imagination Shrink Wrap. Another world is possible because we don't have to live by the "rules" we have always thought told us what was actually feasible. We don't have to (or get the leisure to) leave the governing of the earth to the government but we partner with God in caring for the needs of the world as a set apart people under and among the rest of the world. No, there are no thoughts of an uprising that violently overthrows our government but in the Way of Jesus there is hope for change in acts of subversive enemy love and revolutionary subordination or how about Christian Imagination. Consider:

"Insanity is trying to get different results by doing the same things"- don't know

Are we trying to get "our man" in the white house in the hopes that things will really change? Has that ever really made much of a difference? Really?

"One thing that's clear in scripture is that the nations do not lead people to peace; rather, people lead the nations to peace." pg 306

HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS:
Today's logic goes something like this: "Calling a ruler 'Son of God'(which is what the people called Ceasar)is out of style. No one really does that nowadays. We can support a president while also worshiping Jesus as the Son of God." But how is this possible? For one says that we must love our enemies, and the other says we must kill them; one promotes the economics of competition, while the other admonishes the forgiveness of debts. to which do we pledge allegiance? Surely, one of them must have the wrong idea of how to move history. Can a servant serve two masters?-pg 167

I could share so much more from the book but you'd do best to read it yourself and in the mean time go to www.jesusforpresident.org and click on the "book" link and read the appendix sections.

Brown Co. Cabin Vacation

Interesting

"As soon as the Gospels were written, speech without experience began to dabble with the new facts proposed by the existence of the Church...People tried to think the new life without being touched by it first in some form of call, listening, passion or change of heart."
- Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

Let's not be like that or settle for so little.

The Way is a rocky path

When one enlists in follow The Way, Jesus, one does not walk the side walks of Easy Street. One finds himself on the Rigorous Road of Suffering. But it's on this road that He finds out who he is and what he's made of. Who He is and Who made him. He finds out what is really worth suffering for and that he is in the midst of that great purpose. Following The Way strips away the comforts that keep one from the Comforter. It's a rocky path with amazing views of the horizon which is to come and it is this view that keeps one following The Way. Things are not as they should be or will be but knowing The Way is a road that leads to the way things were always meant to be is a road worth walking.

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord" -Job

The Jesus Creed

Orthodox Jews have a practice of reciting the Shema, which is Hebrew for "Hear", the first word of the text recited, twice a day. The text comes from Dueteronomy 6:4-9 and reads,

"Hear O Isreal, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them (all the time, basically)...

What it's essentially is saying and what the Jews understand is this commandment, LOVE GOD BY FOLLOWING THE TORAH.

Then Jesus comes on the scene when this practice of reciting the Shema is in full force and is asked what the greatest commandment is. The questioner was surely fully prepared to hear Jesus recite the Shema but what he heard was this,

"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all you heart,
with all your soul
with all your mind and all your strength.
And the second is this, "Love your neighbor as yourself"
There is no greater commandment than these."

Jesus amends the Shema of Judaism by adding Love for others not just God. Ultimately what Jesus is saying is we were made to LOVE GOD BY FOLLOWING JESUS AND LOVE OTHERS.


These ideas come from a book called "the jesus creed" by Scot Mcknight

Mt. Bike Team

Well, After fund raising and team recruiting and jersey designing I get to rest from the team starting process. Here's a picture of our new jerseys that are in the process of being printed. Also, for those of you who don't know much about Mt. Bike racing it IS a spectator sport and pretty exciting. Some courses are better than others in that you get to see the riders more than once per lap. But all have good music playing, live commentary on the races all are in pretty scenic location (for Indiana) and you can bring your choice of beverages and a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the racing at your leisure.
I've not had anyone come watch one of my races except Jen and my Mom (she always supportive) and brother Brad. Jen really likes watching, I even talked her into racing a race last year! She finished 3rd by the way! Even after face planting once and wrecking two more times! She's competitive. But if anyone wants to make an afternoon of it and come to a race here's the schedule for 2008:

Sat April 19 Avon IN
Washington Twp Park
Sat May 3 Warsaw IN
Winona Lake Trail
Sun Jun 1 Nashville IN
Brown County State Park ("Kentuckiana Championship")
Sat Jun 14 Portage IN
Imagination Glen
Sun Jul 6 North Vernon IN
Muscatatuck Park (AMBC)
Sun Jul 27 New Castle IN
Westwood Park
Sun Aug 17 Logansport IN
France Park
Sun Sep 14 Indianapolis IN
Town Run Trail Park


24 HOURS OF DINO

Sat-Sun Sep 27-28 Warsaw, IN
Winona Lake

Races start at Noon.

The Pursuit of God

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me your glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name. Amen" A.W. Tozer

Prayer

I'm struggling to pray. What I mean is I'm not praying at all...of late. Now I join in the group prayers of others but I'm not asking God to give me strength for each day that I might walk in his will. Not moved by the needs of others so much as to want for them more than I can personally give and so to pray for the hand of God to touch them. How can this be? How much am I missing out on? How much is God longing for deeper communication with me? How much more of his kingdom goodness might be held up in heaven instead of on earth because I'm not praying? How much more glory could God be receiving? How much more joy could I be receiving?
Seriously, why is it so hard to walk consistently in the same direction with God. I'm like a baby that takes a few steps and then falls, feels sorry for itself, cries a bit and then tries to get back up by himself instead of walking hand in hand with the Father. Maybe the monks felt this same frustration and that's why they sheltered themselves so all they could think about was Him. Surely, I'm distracted by all the stuff the world has to offer, good and bad.
If you pray, pray that I would pray. God help me pray. Spirit of God change me more on the inside. Let the roots of my life be deep in the soil of Jesus so that I bear beautiful fruit.

Fog

Seriously, What is up with all the fog the last three days? And why does it affect my mood so much? I've wanted to be a hermit all week. When Jesus comes back to wrap everything up He'll be so glorious that he'll "darken the noon day sun"! And in heaven we won't need the sun because Jesus will be our light! I look forward to that.

Hope this Sun brightens your day!

God does not call us to ease but to faithful joy

The first overseas missionary from North America, Adoniram Judson, wrote a letter to his to-be wife's father asking not only for her hand in marriage but hand in the mission of God. Be inspired.

"I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal incluence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?"

Her father let her choose...and she said "Yes".

Again, Piper comments, "God does not call us to ease, but to faithful joy. He is closing in on some of you, smiling and with tears in his eyes, knowing how much of himself he is going to show you and how much it will cost. I pray that you will not turn away."

Good News

"Gospel" Why does that word not ring 'good news' in everyone's ear that hears it? Why are there so many ideas of what it is? In our evangelism class we are supposed to do some thinking about the Good News of the Gospel (good news of the good...news..).

What is it?

What does it consist of?

What are the core elements?

Here are my thoughts. The Gospel huge. It's not simply heaven after earth. It's not simply a personal relationship with God. It's not just peace in our lives. It's not just justice. It's not simply payment for my sins. It is ALL of that and MUCH more. And thus the reason for my struggle to put it into a neat, compact, explainable package.

Here's what I've been taught the gospel is. In a simple 4 point presentation:
1. God has a plan for my life, a great plan. That's great news!
2. The bad news is that I like all mankind have sinned and fallen short of God's perfection.
3. But Jesus who was God and sinLESS took my penalty, physical and spiritual death, spiritual being life w/o a relationship with God, upon himself thus opening the way to relationship with God and this great plan he has for my life.
4. Although Jesus died for the whole world, we must each accept it personally, individually by turning from our previous way of sin and toward God who now is empowering us by his grace for a new life.

Man just writing that makes me feel refreshed. I thought I was going to use this section to bash how incomplete it is and self serving and individualistic but that's not how I understand it now. But don't many of those who live in a self serving, individualistic culture see this presentation in such a way that it feeds that mentality? Probably so. Anyhow, that is a good skeleton of the gospel, or maybe it's an appetizer. You know, it's a part of the whole meal but only giving you a taste of the goodness and quality of the whole thing. So what would I add?

1. God has a plan for my life and it includes becoming what I was always meant to be. It's like the mountain bike that's always sat in the shop or been ridden to class, chained up outside, then ridden home. Sure it's a mt. bike but it's not fully alive until it flies on the single track! The best part about this plan it that it has always included RELATIONSHIP with GOD. As a car only sits and rolls w/o gas, so we only live in part until we are filled with God's presents in our lives. We were made to reflect the greatness of God!
2. I think the reality of the KINGDOM OF GOD, or maybe better understood as the Rule of God, or Government of God or Way of God is a huge part of the gospel. When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two he told them to "go and preach the kingdom of God". In the kingdom of God there is plenty for everyone. We have all we need. Therefore, we can live selflessly in love toward all peoples when before we could only have coveted and lied and stolen and harmed them! God is now President of the World, well he always has been but the good news is that you didn't know He was and in fact you were on his list of enemies and were not receiving the benefits of his governing. Man I could go on about his protection and how he has our best interests in mind and tells us about how to live in the Bible and through Jesus...
3. Guilt, Shame, Punishment, Hopelessness can be all gone because of Jesus. Just that alone is good news! God holds nothing against you. Forgiveness has been given. Jesus took your punishment on the Cross. You are not what you've done. You can now be the person you always knew you should be but never could become on your own!!
4. PLEASURE! PLEASURE! PLEASURE! PLEASURE! AND MORE....YOU GOT IT, PLEASURE! How this can be missed in the gospel. Joy is now available with out constraint. We've been going to the wrong places for joy and pleasure. We've been digging empty wells do drink from and now a well that never runs dry is now inside of us. No longer are we enslaved to hurting others so that we can find pleasure or trapped by buying things to bring us joy just to find that that very thing causes us more hopelessness when it finally fails us. No, Now we have the most valuable, soul satisfying, pleasure giving being ever among us. And what he has done is brilliant! He has wired us to boast in, brag on, sing about, spend on, dream about, write about, paint about, WORSHIP, that which brings us most pleasure and satisfaction...and that has now become HIM. So the more we find our satisfaction and pleasure in God, naturally, the more we glorify him and thus the more we live into our created purpose and thus the more satisfied we are and thus the more God is glorified and thus the more we live into our created purpose and thus the more God is glorified and thus the more we live into our created purpose and thus... you get the point! Brilliant!
5. And finally, All this with ever increasing intensity for E T E R N I T Y! We don't fear death. We will be raised just like Jesus was and is living forever in the presence of God. What's good about this is that I, again, don't have to selfishly hoard things for myself but can be generous and thus make others glad in God by introducing them to Jesus and this Good News.

Finally, even my little unpacking of the Good News is lacking so much. Just giving it more time I know I've got more I would write. And even in writing out the details I still couldn't capture it all. Maybe that's why Jesus said things like, "The kingdom of God is like a farmer who found a treasure in a field. In his Joy, he sold all he had and bought that field"

Don't Waste Your Life

My new favorite book for 2008 is Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. You can find a free online copy of the book here. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1593_Dont_Waste_Your_Life/
It's one of those books that makes you feel like a piece of crap but then gives you so much hope for the changes that can be made in your heart, mind, life and thus world. It's one of those books that I want to read every year. Because, let's face it, WE ARE PRONE TO WASTE OUR LIVES ON LESSER THINGS THAN GLORIFYING GOD BY BEING AND MAKING OTHERS GLAD IN HIM. I'm a pro at wasting my life, how bout you? Watching TV shows that I don't like in the first place but that in the end make me want things I didn't know I wanted before watching them. Spending money on the newest gadget that will totally revolutionize my life or that piece of apparel that will make me feel like the stud I wish I was... You know you've done it! But those kinds of things are wasting my life. Check this out. What kind of questions to you ask when it comes to these things?

What's wrong with it?
What's wrong with this movie?
Or this music?
Or this game?
Or these friends?
Or this way of relaxing?
Or this investment?
Or this restaurant?
Or shopping at this store?
What's wrong with going to the cabin every weekend?
Or having a cabin?

Piper says, "This kind of question will rarely yield a lifestyle that commends Jesus as all-satisfying and makes people glad in God. It simply results in a list of don'ts."

Rather how about these kind of questions.

How will this help me treasure Christ more?
How will it help me show that I do treasure Jesus?
How will it help me know Jesus or display him?

So the questions are mainly positive, not negative, How can I portray God as glorious in this aaction? How can I enjoy making much of him in this behavior?
Because, remember, not doing something bad doesn't mean I am doing something that's good and that's right, important, worthy, glorious or unwasteful.

I'm wasting my life in many ways and though I know of some changes God wants to make in me I know that in a way there will always be ways I waste it and that fact give me more thankfulness for the grandness of God's grace. Until the end comes I will continually fall short of the glory of God even while becoming more like Him.