Living His Mission

This past Sunday (the 22nd of March) we looked at the when of discipleship and the goal. The when…as you have hopefully ascertained from the above title…is immediately. We saw this in the story of the 4 fishermen…Pete, Andy, Jim and John…Matthew 4:18-22. In the case of the calling of both sets of brothers we see that they left everything immediately to follow Jesus. In the case of the 2nd set of brothers, the cooly named “Sons of Thunder”, we see that they left their boat (the family business) and their dad (the starter of the family business…which now may have been out of business) to follow Jesus and make His business theirs…therefore their goal His…to seek and save those He misses the most (the lost)…Luke 19:10.

In Matt’s story (Levi who we know as Matthew) we see that he just plain got it…Luke 5:27-32. Looking back, Luke speaks of the enduring story of Matthew’s life in verse 28, “And leaving everything(I think everything means everything), he rose and followed him.” Luke is looking back…he has heard the report about Matthew and now gives the account that Matthew left everything. And Matt got the fact that since Jesus came to seek and save, that was now his calling and goal. In the story we see that he immediately brought Jesus into his world and to his friends. If he needed Jesus…and Jesus finding him and calling him was so profound and life-changing that he would leave everything…surely his friends needed the same! Thanx for getting it Matthew. I want to be more like Matthew.

Have you had any ‘immediately’s’ this week? Have you been looking…watching…listening? I have to confess that sometimes I get so involved(and thereby tuned out to those around me) in my own agenda, I can forget why Jesus left the beauty and splendor and crazy, amazing fellowship with the Father and Spirit in heaven to come to this rock called earth…ouch…makes me want to sing a few lines from a Kris Kristofferson song(if you can figure it out, send me a comment). A friend shared how she responded immediately this week and invited her non-believing-in-God friend(I so love an honest person) to church for Easter. Way to go.

Where is my immediately today? Where is yours? There’s really no need to think it through when God speaks to your heart and leads you to speak to someone about the love of Jesus. If we do it in love…understanding humbly that once we were there…how can we go wrong? Speak and let God work. Speaking’s our job…the rest is His. People will accept an invite to an Easter service(such a lame word)…Easter is it!!!

Enough already. Let’s go for it together. Write to me about your immediately’s and lets spur one another on to love and good works!!!

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Hello again hello…yes I am a fan of Neil Diamond…not that particular song (I believe that a wretching sound would best describe my feelings for that song)…but the good ones!

It’s been way too long and I’ve thought of blogging often, but as you can see I haven’t. Sitting in my second office…Panera around dinner-time watching people walk by and covet my table since I am only drinking coffee and appear to be settled in for the night…and contmemplating the Sunday preach. I am going to try to stick with the one verse I journaled about…stop laughing…Galatians 3:22. What a merciful God that He does whatever it takes (most of all sending His own Son to the Cross) to get us to see our deep need of a Savior instead of law-keeping life. We can’t do that anyway even though we think we can. Jesus took the law from the surface to deep inside. I am so thankful for that. I thought I was pretty good as you can read on the My Story tab, but thankfully He showed me otherwise. He is a good God!

Anyway…I am not a teacher, so I will stop there. My wife hasn’t been sleeping well lately (which could have something to do with my snoring), so I sent her for a massage which is something she would never do for herself. Now, don’t get excited…I’m not usually that thoughtful…but Jesus loves my wife and He helped me today:) She’ll be back to get me in a bit, then we’re off the hospital to see new life and congratulate some parents…out for a quick bite…pick up a pizza for the kids…and then sit in bed and watch “Australia.” Then, I am hoping my wife gets a long night’s sleep which lasts deep into the morning. She deserves it…she lives with me:)

That’s my life today. Got to spend some time with Christopher Robins earlier today and glad he is recuperating and will be back to save the church from just having me in the office soon.

Hanging on to Jesus…Jeff

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Hey all,

A few reminders for this week at Living Hope in the Joe and in the Ville.

Thursday evening from 5-7 in the Ville we will be handing out candy to approximately 1000 kiddos and their parents at their annual Halloween on the square. Please be in prayer as we serve the community and get our name out there. We do not have childcare at this time, but are always looking to connect unbelievers to Jesus and connect any believers who don’t have a church home and may feel called to affect college students as part of a local church to the local church, whether it’s ours or another church who loves Jesus. Friday night is Halloween and for those of you who live in neighborhoods where kids still go door-to-door it’s a great way to connect with the people Jesus misses and be light in darkness. Go for it as God leads! Saturday night is the Hoedown in the Joe at the Living Hope building. Invite your friends and let’s have fun together. We should be the funnest (I believe that should be most fun) people on the face of the earth. We serve the God who invented fun, so let’s glorify Him in it. Hope to see you all there and meet lots of new people.

The cross – I am currently reading, “Boy meets Girl” by Joshua Harris. Yes, I know I’ve already met my girl, but I am always looking for resources to help people of all ages who are still looking for that special someone. In it, Josh quotes from a book by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes, “When God Weeps.” Here’s just an excerpt….”The face that Moses had begged to see–was forbidden to see–was slapped bloody Exodus 33:19-20. The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth’s rebellion now twisted around his own brow…’On your back with you!’ One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier’s life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds his molecules together? Only by the Son do ‘all things hold together’ Colossians 1:17. The victim wills that the soldier live on–he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings. As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm–the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless–the nerves perform exquisitely.”

Even as we look to Christmas, we look to Jesus who was born to die for the sins of His people. What an amazing Savior!

Peace.

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10.15.2008…a bit after 10pm!

Home from a day in the Ville. Watching the Phils doing away with the Dodgers. Just finished tucking the kids into bed. I know, my son is 15 and my daughter is 12, yet it is one of my most treasured and favorite things to do with my kids. And it’s something they still like for me to do. I’ve been away most of the day and head to the Lake early in the morning to gather with friends and pray for one another and our churches around the world. Sweet. There are days when I kiss them goodbye in the morning and get to do the same at night. Other days I get to spend much more time with them, but either way that time in the evening is comforting and in a way I never could have imagined very connecting.

If you’ve ever seen me with my dad, we still kiss each other when we greet each other or say goodbye. It’s what we’ve always done and I can’t imagine it any other way. People have remarked about how we do this. Some think it’s weird, but I love it. My Grandad Frank who just went to be with Jesus, as he got older, would always open his mouth a little too wide when I went to kiss him. At times I was like, this is weird, but then I realized that I wouldn’t get to have this connection with my grandad too much longer, so I was going to enjoy our connection and his a little-too-open mouthed kisses every chance I could. I hope my grandkids want to kiss me when I’m old.

Well, this has gone on longer than I expected. I am so thankful that God has seen fit to bless me and Chrystal with 2 amazing kids. I am truly blessed by a wonderful Savior. Gentlemen, kiss your kids. Goodnight and don’t ever stop!

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Today is the 10th of October, 2008. I am sitting at my dining room table (place where the whole fam reads and studies and leaves all their stuff…sorry honey=) with a head full of…well you know…this is my worst allergy time of the year. I’m listening to Bruce Springsteen, “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions”. It rocks or should I say folks!

I have been meaning to post for the past 2 days, but alas (a word I will use as often as possible as I like the way it sounds!) I am still trying to figure out blogdom and in the process driving Frankie nuts. Gotta make a phone call and I’ll be right back!

Well, not right back, but I’m back (like anyone could tell anyway since there is no time-stamp on my writing) after 2 phone calls and a few emails. Have you figured out I ramble and like to make asides…haha. Ok, now that Springsteen is still rockin’ on the folk music in the background, on to the title of the post.

2 days ago (October the reading in the life journal (if you want to know more about the life journal, comment back and I’ll get you some info.) was Ezra 9&10, Psalm 131 and Luke 21. What an amazing combo. I chose Ezra 9:2b for my verse of the day, “And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” Great news for leaders huh? The returning exiles of God’s nation had been intermarrying when they had expressly been forbidden to do so and the leaders as leaders do for good or bad led the way. It reminds me that as the leader goes so goes the organization whatever org it might be. Thankfully we have the greatest leader ever in Jesus and He loves me enough to correct me when needed (seems to be a daily proposition at one level or another) and provide the grace for me to repent and move forward with Him. He is amazing!

Ezra and then David in Psalm 131 show the most amazing contrite and humble hearts. A very real understanding of who God is and who we are as His creation. Deserving of nothing, yet receiving everything in Christ (who they with faith lived out their lives looking forward to!). I was humbled as I read their words. Let my heart be like theirs. We could spend a whole year just meditating on, studying and learning from these 3 chapters and then Luke 21. Jesus just sayin’ it! I wish I could say I understood Luke 21 completely, what is immediate future to them and what is the final future for this earth, but I am not there. It is way worth praying on, seeking God and the help of others who have studied it deeply. Luke 21:19 is one of those verses that reminds me of Revelation where the Spirit is speaking to the churches and to each one at some point says, “to the one who conquers”..here’s verse 19 from Luke 21,”By your endurance you will gain your lives.” By grace I want to endure. In the future, maybe I’ll write or speak more on that.

You’ve probably had enough, but alas =), here’s the last part of my application I wrote on the 8th. “But before God, full of faith, convinced of grace, I need (notice I didn’t say desire) to let the Holy Spirit and the Word with the help of truted men search my life! Ouch! I can sense my own trepidation in my Spirit. I am so Human! Deserving of nothing but having obtained all through the blood of Jesus and His Grace (Luke 15:31).”

Prayer: “Jesus, help me!”

Thanx for bearing with me through my steam of consciousness and ramblings. Springsteen rocks (musically) and Jesus is the dudliest of dudes (Thanx for the phrase Mark)!

Soon,

Jeff

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Hello blogging,

Do I really want to begin this journey? Good question. I guess we’ll see.

My wife (by the way…the hottest wife going=) and I have the house to ourselves this week. Since our daughter is entering the 7th grade, she is attending her first Oneblaze summer camp. To call it a camp though is to do it injustice. It would better be described as Oneblaze on mission together. Check out this link from my friend Rick if you’d like to know a bit more about Oneblaze. http://connectingpeopletojesus.blogspot.com/2008/07/whats-deal-with-these-kids.htm

You can also read Matt’s blog and see what’s going on during the week in St. Louis. See the videos of  healing and salvation! Sweet!

http://churchventure.blogspot.com/

So about me and my wife having the house to ourselves. Tonight we were painting our daughter’s room to surprise her upon her return. My wife commented that it reminded her of the days before kids (BK). I commented that it also gives us a chance to look forward to the day when they move into their future with God and we are again by ourselves. (Hope you’re not waiting for a great revelation.) We enjoyed the early years of our marriage BK. We look forward to the future (AK – after kids). But right now, we are really enjoying being with kids. These are good days. Very good days. God has been good to us and very gracious to us and our kids together. And we are thankful they are gathered with other kids from Newfrontiers churches around the US. We are stoked that together they are affecting the local church in St. Louis. This is what they were made for. They don’t belong to us. They belong to God and we are simply stewards with the privileged title of parents! What an amazing privilege. It’s not perfect but it is very good.

That’s it! It’s raining hard, but I am jonesing for nachos. So, here I go…nachos await.

Peace,

Jeff

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