What if....

     When I started this blog a few months ago, I had every intention of regularly updating it with new posts, life experiences, and more. Then life happened. What I mean is that, even though my intentions were genuine, blogging was not something that I prioritized into my life. I see this same scenario in the lives of Christians when it comes to our intentions vs our priorities. We make intentional commitments to follow Christ wholeheartedly, only to find ourselves right back in the same rut. During my recent week at youth camp, there were many students who were at the altar asking God for help with the very same struggles and vices from which He delivered them last year at camp. At the conclusion of our closing service, the district youth director asked all of us to share statements with our group that began with "What if." I looked at my guys and said, "What if we showed up next year at camp completely free of the junk that we gave to God at this year's camp. Just imagine the incredible growth you will experience with God between now and next year if you build upon what happened this week."
     I think the same applies to everyone of us who follow Christ. We say things like, "I need to spend more time in prayer." or I'm going to get up early tomorrow so I can spend time with the Lord." and "I need to fast more often so that I can be closer to God." All of these spiritual disciplines are great. However, one thing I have learned throughout my numerous times "trying to be a better Christian" is that God desires our obedience more than our sacrifice. Tithes, offerings, daily devotionals, and times of fasting are all part of the Christian life. But without obedience, they are like the useless sacrifices mentioned in Isaiah chapter one. The Israelites were trying live double lives as they continuously partook in acts of evil and yet still gave sacrifices and offerings as if God could be bribed. This reminds me of my life before becoming a follower of Christ. Once or twice a year I went to church and came out of the cathedral feeling as if I just added a few brownie points with God. As if God needed John Carter! Let's get back to Isaiah chapter one.  In verses 16 and 17, the Lord simply told them,

"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause."

The bottom line here is that God wants our obedience. We need to get to a point in life when we are tired of being tired, sick of being sick, and ready to turn our backs to all the things that have kept us from having a true relationship with God. From that attitude comes a heart of obedience. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is the point when sacrifices, offerings, and various disciplines become true acts of worship that the Lord deems acceptable. What if...

Opening Remarks

     I remember the first time I ever walked in the doors of a church after I made a commitment to follow Christ. I showed up with three of my buddies and their families. We smelled of cigarette smoke and breath mints. There were about twelve of us in all. As we walked in the door, the greeters met us with a smile and a bulletin. Before they could show us around, the ladies who invited us came running toward my crowd. They hugged all of us one by one and gave us the grand tour of the church. What I felt was something greater than anything I'd ever experienced before. It was the love of Jesus Christ. This church, led by Pastor Fred Franks, reached out to my family in a way that no one had ever done before. They helped us get plugged in to the family of God. As a result, my entire household made decisions to follow Christ. As a result, I stand here today with a God-given calling to duplicate that same experience into the lives of as many people as possible before the Lord decides to take me home.

- Love God, Love People, Work Hard