Steering Through Chaos

I recently read through the new book Steering Through Chaos by Scott Wilson. The book has some great leadership insight to leading in ministry. I really enjoyed the book, and got a lot from Scott's many years of leadership. I especially enjoyed how other leaders gave insight in this book to confirm the concepts Scott was teaching. This book is a must read for leaders in transition.

You can purchase the book here: Steering Through Chaos

Hear No Evil

Matthew Paul Turner's Hear No Evil is great. I really enjoyed the stories of his childhood growing up in a super conservative Baptist home. Hearing his stories of purity, and learning to really see God through the middle of it was very inspiring to me. I laughed a lot during this book with it's humor and truth. Turner says the things that so many of us wish we would. I really feel like I made a friend in Turner through this book (maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to meet him). I really enjoyed the relaxed style of this book, and the heart he poured into it. This book is fun and heartfelt. I recommend it to anyone wanting a new perspective on Christianity. Purchase the book here: Hear No Evil

This book was provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

What if?

A lot of stuff has been running through my head lately, and a conversation with a friend last week really got me thinking. What would the church look like if we really lived out the Bible and the Christianity it portrays instead of the Christianity we Americans have made it to be.

What if we actually took Matthew 28:19 seriously:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Or if we took the great commandment(Matthew 22:36-39) and really applied it to our lives:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Or what if more followers of Christ would live the life of a disciple risking their very life for Christ's namesake.

Or what if people actually realized just a fraction of how important they are to God. And really realized the power and true love of John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Or what if the church really lived in community and actually acted like Acts 2:42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

And maybe we would make a bigger deal about the poverty in our own country, the poverty abroad, the Genocide in Darfur, the struggles of Uganda, the struggles of Congo, the people still living in human slavery, or even care more about a country like Haiti and not just because it's a buzzword and everyone else is doing something, but because the Love God has for us, and we want to share.

I don't know what all this would look like, but what if?

What does this look like for you on a personal level?

I have a Dream

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.


I have a dream. One day through my dreams the world will change. I may not see that day. I will strive for that dream. The dream is much much bigger than me. I cannot accomplish my dream by my own means. My dream is not about money, power, or things. Do you have a dream? Is it bigger than you? Can you do it on your own? Will it affect others? I dare you to dream beyond yourself. Seek that desire deep down inside of you. It is much beyond you, you were created for it, and only you can make the difference YOU were created for! Martin Luther King Jr’s dream went much beyond him. Even to his grave. Are you willing to even give your life up for your dream?

2010.

Well here we go! It's another year and big things are coming! 2009 was insane. I can't believe everything that happened. From graduating MCUSA, to Sleeping Life, to living in North Liberty and working for Life Church. So many great things happened, and I'm so thankful for them all. Thankful to have a faithful God who loves me. I know 2010 has a lot in store, and I'm excited for it all. Here are some of my "resolutions" for the year.
1)Write a book. I have the idea, and plan on actually doing it this year. I know I planned on it last year, but it just didn't happen.
2)No soda for the entire year. Time to be a little healthier.
3)Run in five different running races this year. One of which will be over marathon distance.
4)1 blog entry per week. Well we tried this last year, but failed as well. Lets go again!
5)One year bible reading plan. Well here we go year 3!

I have a few more goals, but won't list them all. It's not the most fun. What are your goals or resolutions for the year?

On a less task driven level I want to love God and love people like I have never done before. I want to push to a new level in my relationships to serve others as much as I possibly can.

Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

This book is freaking amazing! Mark Batterson explores the Lost Soul of Christianity, and breaks it down to it's core. The book gives a refreshing look at the Great Commandment and Commission. I really enjoyed this book, and have been quoting it in conversation since I started reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to look into their relationship with Christ, and looking to be a part of the next Reformation.
Amo Dei.


This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. Click the WaterBrook Link to purchase this book online now!

Conviction of Love

Love Chapter: NIV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It is not rude, it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:16

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Love Chapter: NIV with a little description of Jesus, because He is fully God, and fully man.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not Jesus, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not Jesus, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not Jesus, I gain nothing.
4 Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 He is not rude, He is not self‑seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs.6 Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Jesus never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and Jesus. But the greatest of these is Jesus.

Now here comes the conviction! Can you describe yourself like this? I can't, but it's something to strive for.

4 I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud.5 I am not rude, I am not self‑seeking, I am not easily angered, I keeps no record of wrongs.6 I do not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 I always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Looks like I have a few things to seek Jesus and work on. Do you?

Crap Work

Sometimes in life we have to do stuff we really don't like. We constantly have to do things that we don't want to do, but they help us either get to where we want to be, or help the things we do like to do.

Example of doing something that will help us later. Right now, I hate accounting. I hate the homework, and I really don't enjoy the learning of it. I have to take it to get into the Marketing Program at Iowa. I want to get a degree in Marketing, not because I'm so excited about marketing, but because I think it is somewhat interesting, and I think it will help me with eventually planting a church. Too many churches lack wisdom on the business side of things, and when I start a church, I don't want to be one of those churches, this is why I want to do Marketing. Unfortunately this means I have to do some stuff I really don't like to do, but it will help me get to be where I want to go.

This whole idea reminds me of worshiping God. While I was in Masters Commission I learned a lot about worship, and they taught me a lot about what it means to worship. There are two ways we worship God; when we want to, and when we don't. I am realizing, (even though I was taught it sometimes takes a living example to realize some things), that it is very important to worship God when we don't want to. Not that worship is about us, but it is much more beneficial to us when we worship even though we don't want to. It shows God our faithfulness, and it opens to door for him to change our heart to be more like His.

What are you doing that you don't like? Or what should you be doing that you are avoiding, and will help you get where you need to go?

Rescued

Psalm 118

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

I need him. I cannot do it by myself. This is a constant reminder everyday. He rescued me from myself, and by his power, not mine, do I change. I surrender to him. I am comforted by him.

Major Success

Our Love Wins Campaign yesterday rocked! I had hoped for about 6 or 7 volunteers to have two teams and hopefully touch about 60-70 homes. We had 17 people show up, and we hit about 250 homes! It was 34 degrees out and snowing. Pastor and I had decided to cancel, then all our volunteers started showing up, and said "why wouldn't we? It's Iowa, it'll just get colder, we can handle this" so we went. We met a lot of people, and helped out a few. Yesterday was really introductory, and just got to meet a lot of people. We ended up doing some work, as one family did not have running water working in their home, but we are getting it hooked up for them. Hopefully we'll get that project done tomorrow, as a few of us go back in the afternoon! I love this! Such a great day! Jesus is good. On our way to live this thing called church and love everyone!

Welcome to the Revolution: Love Wins Campaign

This weekend we will be starting our new outreach program for Life Church! It will be called the Love Wins Campaign. On Saturday October 10 at 9:15 am we will be meeting at the Coralville Rec Center to go over how everything will work, and to pray before we go out at 10:00 am. We will be done around 12:00pm.

We will be going into one of the trailer parks in North Liberty on Hwy 965. What we will be doing is knocking on doors and talking to the people in the trailer park. We will be offering to serve these people in many ways (yard work, house work, mowing, painting, raking leaves, cleaning, conversation, prayer, or anything else we can do on that morning). We really want to serve our way into these people's hearts. The whole goal of this campaign is to share the love of God, to be known in the community, to build relationships with the community, and to find out their needs so we can better serve them.

We will be going on 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, and on 11/21 to the same area. We are still working out details, but we will be doing a Thanksgiving activity on the last Saturday for the neighborhood, as it is the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you can come please try and come the following weeks as well, so we can build solid consistent relationships and share God's love for these people.

I know this may be a little nerve wracking and stretching, but please take the step out of your comfort zone and to share God's love for these people. Before we go out I will be going through details on what to say, and coaching on what we'll be doing. If you have any questions please contact me.

Let's go BE the Church.

Matthew 25:33 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Extraordinary

I am currently reading Extraordinary by John Bevere. It's a book about living life for God, pleasing God, and living an extraordinary life. I personally am not a huge fan of it. It's pretty deep, and well honestly I'm not a huge fan of so much "Christian" language. I think you'd enjoy this book if you've been a Christian for some time, but if you're anywhere near the beginning of your walk I wouldn't recommend it.

Here is the summary from the publisher:

There's a question that troubles many believers: "Why am I not experiencing more joy, more hope, more satisfaction, more intimacy, more power, more everything in my Christian life--didn't Jesus promise that?"

He did promise an abundant life, but too many people are trapped by the curse of "the ordinary." They have accepted the wrong idea that following God means losing individuality, creativity, and a passion for achieving lofty goals.

Nothing could be further from the truth! John Bevere builds a convincing case, straight from Scripture, for a way of living marked by extraordinary experiences and accomplishments-the life God always intended for his children.

Here is a guide to understanding God's incredible plans, and how to enjoy a life where he adds the "extra" to "ordinary."

If you're interested in the book you can order it from this link: Extraordinary

Just a Son

Well I've decided to try and recommit to the blog. I've been logging in lately and just staring at the page, not liking my background, then not posting anything so here goes.

I've got a new background, yeah it's a little dark, but I like it better. I've renamed the blog from Extreme Days to Just a Son. I've chosen Just a Son based off of, well the saying I post everywhere for my Bio and short descriptions of myself. I am not big on titles or positions. I try and be a servant and a leader in every position I am. I know who I am in God, and know that he has made me much more than JUST his son, but no other name can describe it like this.

I like Galatians 4:6&7. "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."

I know God has blessed me with so much, and will continue to bless me. My life isn't about the blessings, but about Him. I strive to live in such a way that people can see my Father's image through me. This is why Just a Son.

Answered!

Well a few weeks ago I posted a prayer request about my dad's face and my grandma Roller's cancer. Well my dad is done with his treatments, and his face is looking a lot better, he went to the doctor the last week of treatments, and the doctor said it looks good and come visit me in December. Praise God! My grandma had a complete hysterectomy last Monday, and is now staying with my parents until she is back to complete mobilization again. She is cancer free! Praise God!

Thank you so much for your prayers I really appreciate it, and thank you God for answering these prayers. All the Glory and Honor to Him.

Prayer Request

I have a few prayer requests that if you take the time to read this blog, please take a moment to pray for my family. My dad has pre-cancer cells on his face and is currently going through a process to have them taken care of, but it's hard on him. Please pray for him, and that it gets all taken care of. Also, please pray for my mom's mother. We just found out on Monday that she has uterine cancer. They are going in for more tests to see how bad it is and what not, but please prayer for her.

I really appreciate the prayers. Thank you.

Visiting.

This past weekend I visited Dallas. It was a great time to visit my friends down there. I love those people so much. I went to Relevant Church and it was really great to be with Frontline Worship again for the weekend, and heard John Alcala speak. He is the Invictus USA, college ministry, pastor at Relevant. Saturday I went to my kids' house. When I say kids I mean the kids I picked up every Sunday and took to church, which they are still going to church Praise Jesus. While I was at their apartment, which is 7 people in a two bedroom, the one boy, Giovanni, took me into their bedroom and showed me inside his wardrobe. In the wardrobe was a picture of me with Giovanni and his brother Alex. It was the only picture glued in the wardrobe. On the other door was my cross necklace that I gave to Giovanni for his birthday. I thought he lost it, because he never wore it, but he really just didn't want to lose it. I love these kids so much. It was such a blessing to me to see them again this weekend. It was a great trip and I'm so glad I got to see my friends, but I'm happy here in Iowa for the time being.

Parts to the Plan

Well I'm back in Iowa for now. I'm am going to be helping out at Life Church in Iowa City as much as possible. I am also enrolling Kirkwood Community College as well do their Pre-Business Transfer program with a plan of transferring to the University of Iowa next fall to study Marketing. Not sure how I'm going to, but I want to move to Iowa City soon, I'm currently living back home with my parents for now in North English.

Currently I am working with my Grandpa doing random odd jobs and I love it. The work is fun, and pays well, but it's not consistent which makes things hard. I may work one day, then not the next. I have a lot of time, and am finding it a constant struggle to keep on task and keep my eyes on my dreams. Not a lot of people dream in North English, and it's kind of hard to not get pulled down by that lack. I'm just trying to keep my head up and eyes ahead, and not get pulled away from what I know is right.

Happy Birthday America. I love this country.

Testing out this mobile blogger thing.

Trust

I continue to pray small prayers, and God continues to blow me away. I pray for him to provide a way to fund Sleeping Life, and he gives abundantly. I pray for an answer, the one I want to hear or even the one I don't, and he give the answer I wanted. I don't know why I continue to ask small. I think He's waiting for me to pray risky prayers, and expect big answers, but lately, I haven't been praying too risky. Today I begin to pray and dream bigger than I ever have. I may not know where I'll be in two weeks, or what I'm doing this fall, but I trust Him who is worthy of being trusted with my future. As you read this I encourage you to trust God more today, and pray a risky prayer!