Andrew Kaser Unscripted.

Closing the Gap

2012-01-03T22:32:00.004-05:00

I'm going to paraphrase a quote I heard once;
"One of the biggest gaps of the Christian faith is between the size of our God and the size of our prayers."

This convicts me deeply. What if the real issue is not the amount of time we spend 'praying'? What if the issue is not the 'method' of our prayer?

These are both very real and critical components to prayer. In fact if you look at the header to my blog, you'll know that I'm passionate about 'praying without ceasing.' It's what I call the momently life. A life of momently conversation with God. This pursuit has changed my life (obedience, gratitude, perspective, trust, purpose, peace, joy). For four years I've given myself over to this one calling (sadly I fail more than I succeed). All this to say you'll not find a bigger believer of more prayer, more often, than me.
But what if these are not the biggest problems with our prayer life?

About two months ago I was walking along the fall colored forest of my 'papaw trail' at Potato Creek when I sensed God saying; Andy, it's not just the amounts of your prayer, it's the size of them.

This rattled my soul. How much of my prayer life is diluted with too much of my humanity?
I resolve that my prayers need to have more size to them...more breadth. I need to speak boldly to the infinitely powerful God I love. I need to pray less for my health and safety and more for the audacious dreams God has put on my heart. I need to pray less about me and more about the Kingdom of God in me. I need to stop praying about what we can do and start praying for what only God can do.

I've resolved that I must close the gap. How about you?
What would you pray for if you truly believed God had the power and desire to answer it?

Ephesians 3:20-21

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Jesus at the center?

2012-01-01T22:58:00.000-05:00

I love questions. I don't always like the answers.
I have a lot of questions stirring inside my soul. Some of them have been percolating for months.
There are the personal questions, and then there are the 'Leader of Suncrest' questions. I've learned that they often function as one.
Usually it comes down to asking the right questions. Maybe this will help you as it did me.
The question isn't; "God, what is your plan for my life?"
The question I should ask is; "God, what is your plan? And how can my life fit into it?'
I want to know where God is at work and join Him there.
That's the prayer for my life and the prayer for my voice into others.
The answer doesn't come quickly. It doesn't come easy. It comes through time with Jesus.
So this is my journey of this new year.
It's not to put Jesus at the center of my life. But to put my life in the center of Jesus.

How Do I Lead?

2011-10-13T10:13:00.001-04:00

There is always a healthy tension between following and leading. There's also a tension between being content with who I am and aspiring to be a more effective leader. But the granddaddy of all tensions for me in my leadership is hearing how 'everyone' else is successfully leading and appreciating all of the 'ways' they do it, while still remaining who I am and acting on what God has called ME to do. I question too little what others say I should do and too much what I sense God is telling me to do. It's time for me to unpack who I am...who God is...and where He is calling my heart to join His in every facet of leading.

Here's some of what I'm sensing...

1. My desire to be relevant and 'successful' must decrease and my only desire is to communicate by words and actions to my brothers/sisters of humanity - YOU are loved. YOUR story matters.
2. It's great for me to have well informed opinions about my culture, but what matters is that my leadership is rooted in the intimate and permanent relationship with Jesus - who I find the source of my words, counsel, and guidance. My leadership has to come more from the mystical than from the moral.
3. I'm a vulnerable servant who needs the people as much as they need from me as a leader.
4. I must be willing to confess my brokenness and sin and journey.
5. My maturity as a leader is the ability and willingness to be led where I'd rather not go.
6. I'm called to help people hear God's voice - so they can be comforted, healed, and sent.

7 Things I'm Learning...

2011-09-29T21:39:00.001-04:00

1. God is right. My wife and I are one. I need her...and the more in rhythm with God I become, the more He's transforming me into the husband she deserves. I want her to have all of me...wholehearted devotion.
There is great power in my praying wife. There are days when I question if I have what it takes. And then she shows me the presence of God. She says she believes in me...and believes in our church. When God lives within me and she lives alongside me there is nothing I can't do.
2. I have to keep one eye on where God has me and one eye on where God is taking me. The day to day 'good' functions can, if I'm not careful, consume me. I can't always respond with reaction, I need to respond with forethought and wisdom...through ongoing communication with my Father.
3. I must stop worrying about battles that God has already won. Sleepless nights. Fear. Worry about whether people will show up. Worry about if we'll have the funds to stay alive and so that we can be ridiculously generous to others. Worry that we won't reach people fast enough or effectively enough. There is one calling that trumps all others - go...love...partner with God to show people the 'good news.'
4. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be! I haven't arrived, but I'm more intimate with God than I used to be. I'm not perfect, but I'm being transformed. When Joshua crossed the Jordan River - the promised land - God told him to set 12 stones up as a alter to celebrate - before they had even defeated the first enemy! Let's celebrate little beginnings - it's amazing what God can do with little. We should celebrate anything that is 'better', not just things that are 'perfect.'
5. Anybody who says something negative about me is not a prophet. God has called me to a great project and I cannot stop this great work...I can't be distracted. Don't let anybody steal the joy of the Lord that Jesus died to give you. I'd rather spend my time starting fires instead of putting them out. If the criticism is just to distract and derail me - I cannot let it rob me of my joy.
6. I do not have to completely understand God in order to obey God. I don't know why, but God rarely tells me what's next until I go to the first place he told me to go. I have to stop trying to finish something before I've even allowed God to start it in me. God blesses obedience. God doesn't have to explain himself to me for me to trust him.
7. Our greatest days are ahead of us...

While We Are In Motion...

2011-08-18T23:07:00.000-04:00

I'm going to ask that you pause for a moment and breath this in; "The Spirit guides us while we are in motion."
This is powerful. It walks alongside the idea that 'as we go' God allows us to see and hear Him. It shapes a deep conviction inside me. We will only see God in the ordinary days of our lives when we are watchful every moment. Yes there are times where we powerfully and miraculously sense God's presence and provision when we 'withdraw to lonely places' to be with our Father - like Jesus modeled. It's crazy to think about doing life without these moments of one on one intimacy. But it's just as crazy to think that God put us on this earth to notice Him at work only once or twice in our life!
To walk with God is to join God where He is at right now. As you are going, He guides us to the next step. I've learned that God rarely gives the big picture map to us. And He doesn't put little pins along the important places of discovery. We just take one step at a time. We respond to where God's Spirit leads. We can only do what we know we are supposed to do right now - in this moment. Sometimes I confess I wait until I get all the information. I know all the answers. I find my 'supposed' peace in playing through all the scenario's in my mind until I've resolved a confident and pretty safe next step. You ever done that? I've even thought it was the most spiritual thing to do - just wait passively until all the stars align and then I'll 'know' it's what God wants. Honestly, when this happens, it's probably too late. Too late? Yeah. Too late to see the incredible miracle that God had in store for us or through us.
Peter walking on water and my kids learning to walk teach me the same principle; if I'm going experience the life I'm meant to live I'll have to take steps of faith. I will weeble, wobble, and yes - fall down. But God celebrates the steps I take...not condemn me for the falls I make.
Only Peter took a step of faith. Only Peter experienced a miracle.
The Spirit guides us while we are in motion.

Ordinary?

2011-08-10T23:22:00.000-04:00

This pic says a lot to me. It convicts me. It's not an issue of good vs. evil. It's an issue of common vs. valuable. What's it say to you?
Ordinary people. Ordinary days. Do I believe that God can use ordinary people on ordinary days to partner with Him to accomplish something miraculous? Something extraordinary?

I just came across a guy who claims his mission is to 'pull back the veil of heaven to reveal what God is doing right now to connect with people in need on earth.' I love it. Don't get me wrong, the veil is already torn - that's all Jesus. He alone provides access to the Father. But let's be honest, much of our ordinariness is because our heart doesn't fully believe we have complete access to God.
What if God was trying to get our attention right now? How did he speak to people in the scriptures?
1. Directly (remember Moses and the burning bush saga?)
2. Angels (Mary and the coming baby Jesus)
These were used very rarely. So how else does he speak, act, and move? I'd suggest it's the most common of all...
3. Through ordinary human beings in ordinary days.

What if I'm a living link between heaven and earth? People without awareness of God and their being made aware?
I want to be sensitive to God's Spirit in me...I want to sense God opportunities right in front of me...where so many see nothing at all. I want to live in ordinary days with my eyes fixed on Jesus and the moments of opportunity He creates for me to meet people in need. I know some ordinary people who see God everywhere...and almost all the time. They've been a link for me. That's what I long for O' God. Lace my heart with yours...bind it to yours...let it beat in the same rhythm as yours.
What if...

Simon. Jesus. And Jane Doe.

2011-06-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

I've always been fascinated by the story of Simon, Jesus, and the unnamed woman. Simon (a man of religious clout) is indignant. Jesus was dining at Simon's house when suddenly a woman barges in, sits at Jesus' feet, and begins washing his feet with her hair and tears. If Jesus was really a prophet, He would not allow this. We can assume she was an outcast, not socially or spiritually clean...presumably a woman involved in the sex industry. She weeps with gratitude for this Jesus - who loves her in a way she's never been loved before. She, maybe for the first time in her life, feels clean, whole, and treasured. This woman has so much forgiven she has a greater capacity to love. "Simon, you think you have so little to be forgiven for, so you love so little. You’ve been a pretty religious guy...brainwashed from your childhood and religious experience to believe that what you do qualifies and entitles you to be close with God. So Simon your capacity is here (Jesus holds his fingers close together) and this woman's is here (Jesus holds his arms wide apart)." (That's my paraphrase).

It demands a question. What’s Jesus telling us to do? Go sin like crazy…and then come back and you will be a changed person? Then you'll be able to love and live at an optimum level? Let me be candid and say this is a really dumb idea. If you've messed up like me you know the baggage for poor decisions is not easily, if ever, let go of. Jesus could mean Simon's problem is that he doesn't understand how sinful of a man he is. He just didn't get it. I think Jesus is giving us an inside look at how lives are changed. Change comes when we personally grasp the power of the cross. It comes when we have a heart that breaks with gratitude. Imagine the change...when we inwardly grasp our need of an audaciously loving Savior.

I want to be Jane Doe. I want to wipe the feet of Jesus with my tears. Forgive me when I let the mess of someone else blind me to my own need of a Savior.

I need more time postured at His feet.

What is my F.A.Q.?

2011-05-30T22:57:00.006-04:00

I'm reading the book 'Sticky Teams' and came across this quote; "Rather than trying to figure out what everybody wants them to do, leadership teams have only one question: what does God want us to do?" This is so true. It's not the easiest thing to drive at, but it's what matters. When it comes to the health of our church, this question has to drive me. It has to be my F.A.Q. It has to be THE thing that I fall asleep thinking about and THE thing I have to awake thinking about. There are unending 'good things' that could be implemented into the life or our church. I can't even focus on the 'best' of those programs, ideas, events, projects, etc. I have to walk humbly with God. I have to stand at my crossroads. I have to posture my heart in God's presence. I have to speak. I have to listen. And then the most challenging step of all - I must obey what I hear God asking of me.

In some ways I need to catch my breath. I have been running on 'old fuel.' I've been leaning so hard on what I know God had called me too. I've been running so fast with the vision that He put on my heart years and months ago. But I believe God is a fresh God. His mercies and His vision is new every morning. How do I know what God wants? I need to spend some quality time...some quantity time...being washed anew in the Spirit of God. I need to continually pray...so that I know His voice.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

And here is the thing, whether I'm being used by God to create a church or being used by God to be a great husband, dad, and friend - the question is the same. "What does God want me to do?" And once I am confident in that, do I trust God enough to do it?

The more I ask this trust question, the more I sense God asking me a more compelling question. Who does God want me to be? Doing and being are radically different things. I can do what God wants me to do...and still not BE the child He wants me to BE. As for me, I'm on mission to BE and DO...
God always seems to answer my FAQ (God, what do you want me to do?) with His own FAQ (Andy, do you trust me enough to do it?).

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and the heart to obey. In Jesus Name, so let it be.

Creating Culture.

2011-04-28T14:14:00.001-04:00

Creating culture is never easy. So much of it is essentially unseen and there isn’t some measuring device to tell us how far along we are. I admit I’m fascinated by what could be…what should be…and what must be for Suncrest Walkerton. I’m constantly analyzing and evaluating what God is doing in our church’s midst…and where He’s taking us. This week I’ve resolved to pause for a moment. I am capturing and celebrating the beauty of what God has done in and through us all.

Easter Sunday was truly an experience that blew me away. So much energy. So much excitement. So much anticipation. Sunday morning is only a part of who we are as a church. But for this one hour the culture I’ve always believed God has called us to create was fanned into flame. I could literally feel the presence of God’s Spirit. I could see the accepting love of Christ in the eyes of people. I could sense that people were receiving a special interaction and conversation with God.

I am humbled and excited we had the largest attendance in our history. But it’s so much bigger than that. I’m thankful for Aleigha Baxter’s heart as she transparently lead us more deeply into God’s affection. I’m thankful for Kelly Kuehn who used her voice’s unction to sing a prayer to God on our behalf. I’m thankful for every heart that was invited and responded. Thankful for every story. Thankful for those who are ‘all in’ with Suncrest and our mission – and who invited friends to come. Thankful for all the people who put so much time, energy, and heart into creating an environment for God to be seen and heard. Thankful for the children’s workers. The worship team. The greeters who welcomed and also stood holding the bread and wine. The cookie bakers. The set up people. The prayer team. I am thankful for everyone who is burdened with the truth that they are being used by God to change lives.

There is something else I’m excited about. Our Easter celebration was not some production or show that was outside of who we really are. It genuinely reflected what matters to us. It was something we experience every time we gather as a community. Messy people with real struggles, real hurts, real pasts, real futures, real stories. I’m convinced that our purpose is to clear the clutter and noise of life so that together, we can experience the consuming presence of Jesus.

Creating culture? Yes. And God gave us all a glimpse that we are moving in the right direction. I see spiritual formation happening. I see that when we lift the name of Jesus He draws us to Himself. I see the value of authentic community – and that we are more complete and beautiful together than we are apart. I see that I’m not the only one who believes ‘every story matters.’

I’m overwhelmed by the beauty of what God is creating IN us here at Suncrest.

Be sure to check out our pics here.

"Goodness Is Not The Absence of Badness"

2011-03-11T14:02:00.002-05:00

"Goodness is not the absence of badness. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right." I love that quote. Somehow we've bought into the fallacy that the greatest victories in life are the things we've said 'no' to. As though the chief goal in life is to compile a resume of things we've refrained from. Don't get me wrong. It's important to say 'no' to unwise choices. "No" can keep us from a lot of heartache and regret. But if that's all there is, it feels rather empty doesn't it? Does it makes sense that God plants creativity in our soul and then have the entire beauty of our existence be measured by what we can avoid? Seems shallow. To say that my kids will please me most by what they 'don't do' is crazy. Better they discover and dream of a better world...and fall as they run...than to never have left the confines of safety.
We need to reverse the curse. Instead of seeing our holiness solely as the by product of subtraction, we should give heavier weight to the life of addition. It's time that Christianity becomes more known for what we are for instead of what we are against. It's time we obsess less on what we haven't done and more on what we've been called by God to do.
I have things I regret doing. They've crushed me. I can't take those things back. But the real danger is that these things will keep me from a deeper regret, not living out the destiny God calls me to. Greater things are yet to come. My story is not over. Neither is yours. My story. Your story. Matters.
Instead of standing still, may I have the courage to join the movement of God.

Jump.

2011-03-10T14:58:00.000-05:00

God makes his living by putting us in the right place at the right time. The problem is that we either are to preoccupied with the mundane or to scared to capture His sacred moment for us.

It's crazy. I wonder how many times we pray for some great movement of God and then when He presents it, we cower away. Do we embrace uncertainty? Are we willing to risk looking foolish? Do we wait to long to jump in? Do we over analyze things that might happen or could happen? Let me confess I'm guilty.

But there is a question that really reaches into my guts. Do I have the courage and the trust to risk my life for the cause of Christ? I'm convicted by what Mark Batterson said; "When we don't have the guts to step out in faith, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him." Here's the thing, when we risk, it's often only because there is a good chance that we will receive some reward for it (praise or promotion). Yet the One who called us to it, prepared us for it, walked with us through it, and blessed us because of it, seldom gets the glory due Him. When I think that my taking a risk could actually bring glory to God - it changes everything!

What if my growth in Christ is directly related to my seeing and jumping into God's ordained opportunities? Do I see myself as mature? Or am I so stuck on myself that I can't see past myself and the cost I may have to pay? What if the thing that seems like a 'cost' to me is actually the 'blessing' that God wants me to have?

I'm convinced that my biggest regrets in life will be the God ordained opportunities I failed to chase. Sometimes you just have to jump.

Peacemaker?

2011-02-28T15:12:00.001-05:00

Peacemaker. It's how I'm wired. I don't like conflict. I don't like the raising of voices. I don't like seeing people in pain. I hate abuse. And even though some of the guys I love the most enjoy ultimate fighting, it's quite strange and barbaric for me.
I hope that when people think of me they think of someone of peace...who loves unconditionally and genuinely likes people. Today God shed some light on this peacemaking concept. It was word smithed in such a way that it caught my attention.
Being a peacemaker is not being an appeaser. I have to be honest. I've always struggled with this. I've almost always seen peacemaking including having to have people like me and value what I have to say...sometimes at the cost of not speaking complete truth in order to get past the tension. As I see it now, that's appeasing. Tragically we can miss being true peacemakers and bringing healthy awareness to a situation all in the masked reality of appeasement.
I'm asking myself, are there relationships in my life....conversations I need to have...areas I need to lead in...that are being hijacked by a wrong definition of peacemaking?
I honestly don't have a hateful bone in my body, but I think if I'm not careful I could miss some God moments by being an appeaser. There's nothing peaceful about that.

Simplify

2011-02-20T21:39:00.003-05:00

It's hard for me to get rid of stuff. You never know when you might need it right? As soon as I get rid of it, I'll need it the next day (or so it may seem). And then there's the whole notion that everything I have is worth more than it actually is. I just read that the experts have even tightened their philosophy. They used to say if you don't use it in a year, get rid of it. Now they have moved it to six months! I do think there is a place for sentimental value and some things should be kept - they give us great memories of a pleasurable experience in life. Who can't appreciate some tears looking back through memorabilia that represents sacred moments in our story?
Yesterday we slayed 'my room' in the basement. Rachel is a minimalist. Thank God for her or my house would be packed to the gills. Over the years though I've grown closer to this minimalist concept. I like quality over quantity. And we have reduced our stuff and made Goodwill very happy! It's not about 'throwing away', it's about 'giving away.' Everybody wins!

I'm learning that outer order contributes to inner calm, and sweeping away a bunch of unloved, unused stuff has freed my mind and given me a joy boost. I came across this list and wanted to share it - hope it helps you consider how you might simplify:
Does this thing work? I was surprised by how hard it was to admit that something was broken wasn't my time to fix. Why was I hanging on to these things?

Would I replace it if it were broken or lost? If not, I must not really need it.
Does it seem potentially useful—but never actually gets used? The little clock I got for being the employee of the quarter is nice and all, but c'mon....it tick - tocks way to loud!
Was I “saving” it? I often save things for future use and never enjoy them now...and sadly ever!
Does it serve its purpose well? For example, we have a lot of “cute” kitchen objects that don’t really work.
Has it been replaced by a better model?
Is it nicely put away in an out-of-the-way place? Just because things are nicely organized doesn’t mean they’re not clutter. No matter how tidily a thing is stored, if I never use it, why keep it?
Does this memento actually prompt any memories? Sometimes I automatically keep things that fall into the category of “mementos,” assuming that they’d set off some sort of response, but they don’t. But I still have my giant softball trophies and deer heads!
Have I ever used this thing? I've had great intentions, but it's never going to happen. Example: Fire Ring. I love my grass too much to ever have a fire ring!

So how bout you? Do you have a lot of clutter? What I'm finding is that what is true with our stuff is also true with our mind and even our time. I don't like living in a place where my mind is always racing. Always feeling two steps behind and trying to think two steps ahead.
It was good to see you North Liberty Goodwill. I will see you again soon - the garage is next!
Here is what I'm thinking...'get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.'

Relationships

2011-02-03T22:51:00.000-05:00

I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks. I'm convinced that because of my story God has allowed me access into the story of others who are struggling or have struggled in their relationships. My heart breaks for people who are hurting and confused...and seemingly without hope. When you're in the dark woods, it's a lonely place. You don't know which way to turn, who to trust, how to cope, or what to do. There are many people in this place. There are more that have been there at some point in their life. And then there are those who will be walking there in the future. My hope is that God would use this series to penetrate the heart. I know meditating, thinking, reading, and praying about how to communicate my heart has been a challenging blessing. Challenging because it makes me have to be honest with myself and look at my story. Blessing because God has been, and is, in it all. Blessing because I have tasted grace first hand and want others to experience it too. Blessing because I think God is offering us the chance to make some shifts in our relationships that could save us from a lot of pain in the future. For those who've been hurt deeply - there's a lot of value in learning from and moving on. For those who haven't, there's tremendous wisdom to learn from the life of others - and especially the heart of God. Certainly there is nothing more amazing in this life than healthy relationships - the way God designed them and gives us joy and purpose through them. There is no greater gift than to love...and to be loved. We all want that. I hope you'll join us for the next three weeks as we laugh, reflect, and seek God together...

Our Steps Take Us Somewhere

2011-01-19T22:57:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure where I first heard that. It is so elementary. And yet so difficult to see because we seldom equate that it's the summation of all our tiny little steps that actually led us to some grand moment in time. We see random and uninspired steps throughout the moments of our day as insignificant. We see the the big moments as markers on the map, but fail to acknowledge the winding roads that lead to that destination.
There's another truth in this statement. Our steps either take us one step closer to seeing God or one step further. I know God is everywhere. I know His presence is limitless. Even those that say He cannot be around sin need a reality check. In fact, God is often more consuming when His creation is in deep despair. But think through the statement. We are all walking somewhere. Pause for a moment and look at your feet. Which way are they facing? If you continue in that direction, where will it lead? I think there is incredible value in writing down where you want to go. But in our hurry and haste we often lose sight that our small steps lead us in a totally different direction and unless we alter our course, we will never get there.
We know what a difference one degree off can be for a golf ball and for a jet airplane. So it is with our steps.
You've heard it said, be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear. But I tell you, be careful little steps where you go.

Jeremiah 3:21-25

The sound of voices comes drifting out of the mountains,
   the unhappy sound of Israel's crying,
Israel lamenting the wasted years,
   never once giving her God a thought.
"Come back, wandering children!
   I can heal your wanderlust!"

"We're here! We've come back to you.
   You're our own true God!
All that popular religion was a cheap lie,
   duped crowds buying up the latest in gods.
We're back! Back to our true God,
   the salvation of Israel.
The Fraud picked us clean, swindled us
   of what our ancestors bequeathed us,
Gypped us out of our inheritance—
   God-blessed flocks and God-given children.
We made our bed and now lie in it,
   all tangled up in the dirty sheets of dishonor.
All because we sinned against our God,
   we and our fathers and mothers.
From the time we took our first steps, said our first words,
   we've been rebels, disobeying the voice of our God."

Checking our compass is a moment by moment decision. What will it take today for me to turn the attention of my heart to the only One worth following? He is the Way back home.

God Loves You Because of Who God Is, Not Because of Anything You Did or Didn't Do.

2011-01-19T22:09:00.001-05:00

"God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do."
Let that sink inside my soul. Let me take some deep breathes and let that fill my lungs. Let my heart beat to that written truth. Let my soul yearn for more of God. Oh to know the mysteries of how far and wide His love is for you and me. Let me fade away in the Glory of His presence. It's all about God. He's the center. He does not change. My good or bad does not sway His vote for me. I am wholly His and He is wholly mine. I need to momently capture that. Most importantly I need to let God love on me...and let that love flow through me back to Him.
This much I know, this world hurts. But the love of God heals.
Inhaling the breath of God in this moment...

Psalm 51:15-17 - Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

2011-01-07T14:46:00.001-05:00

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Love God. Love people. That’s what Jesus compressed all the purposes of life into. If this is true, why do I often miss it? Why do I look at all the other stuff in my life, in my day, in my sacred moments of life and weigh them with more credence than love? Why do I try so hard and worry so much about things that are unrelated to true love?

In the past I have performed many funeral services for families. In my years of speaking I’ve probably done 2 to 1 funeral messages to adult Sunday morning messages. Most would find that a little odd…to those I would say, yes, I am odd! But honestly, meeting families and hearing their stories – even seeing their stories to some extent, has shaped me tremendously. God’s given me the opportunity to love families of stillborns, young children, murder victims, prostitutes, suicide victims, plane and car accident victims, disease victims, and sometimes just people who lost a loved one from old age. Sometimes families have good things to say about their deceased, sometimes they don’t have a kind word at all. And without exception, it comes down to love. Did they love or not? Invest in love or in neglect?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit alongside Donna Borlik (our children’s director) and her family as they sat bedside waiting for her mom to pass from this life to the perfect life…a life in the presence of God. It was humbling to hear story after story of her family, and of her mom. Not every chapter is perfect, but it’s filled with love. Tuesday I get the privilege of honoring her – and honoring Christ. And at the end of another earthly story one conclusion still holds true; All that truly matters in this life is that you loved.

The NEW

2011-01-01T12:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2011! I know I shouldn't wait for a date of the year to make some shifts in the processes of my story, but I confess, I do. After reviewing our goals last night - family and personal - it's exciting to see what God has done. And it's humbling to see the ways I've missed the mark. The good news is that today is a NEW day. I can't help but revisit our family verse from last year as we launch into this new year; "continue faithfully in prayer, being watchful and thankful." So now we introduce the Kaser paraphrased verse for this year; "Love always."

I love the picture above. I know you may not feel like you're on full heading into this new year. In fact, when the clock struck midnight your crisis probably didn't fade away. And yet we need to be filled with hope that God is for us. God is always in the NEW. It's a NEW Year. A NEW chapter of our story. A NEW moment to capture. And I'm thankful for every person who God intersects my path with - and the incredible opportunity to love them in Jesus Name.

Revelation 21:5

"He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The Launch.

2010-10-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

What an emotional ride. It made me feel a little numb actually. I'll never forget that "Launch" morning. When you've been working relentlessly, praying unceasingly, hoping unconditionally for God to open the flood gates for months - even years in some ways - and then it's here. Honestly the day is still a blur to me. I regret being so charged up that I didn't capture the joy of watching God do what He promised He would. It stretched me. At 9:50 there was only few people who had made their way into the auditorium. Standing outside I can remember the feeling in my gut of 'oh no'. An even bigger 'oh no' is watching the people's faces who have invested in this step of faith with us. Wondering what they were thinking as we approached the ten o'clock hour. It was in that moment that God said, "Andy, c'mon. Don't be a punk. Don't worry. I'm in this. Always have been. Always will be. I'm at work here." Something amazing happened in that next ten minutes. God encouraged us. We don't always get to see God answering our prayers. But on this day we did. Every single person that walked in God invited. And we celebrated. We are honored and thrilled with anyone who wants to be a part of this journey. Every single person brings incredible value to our family...our story. We have seen God already do some incredible things. We've heard some incredible stories. And yet there is an energy and excitement in us that sincerely expects even greater things ahead. We do not just see this as starting a new church. We believe God is calling us to a movement. Everyone matters. Our stories matter. And greatest of all, we are part of the story of God. It doesn't get any better than that. I'm humbled. Grateful. There's nothing more encouraging than the many comments of "I could sense the presence of God." I could too. He's here.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

People of the Second Chance

2010-09-23T23:46:00.000-04:00

What does it really mean to have a second chance? I know it doesn't always feel like we deserve it. I know there are times when it feels like it can never be a reality. But God has something to say about this topic. In fact he painted some pictures and drew some maps for people to show us there truly is hope. I am thankful for Suncrest and their commitment to offering the grace of Christ. I love that we are launching with this. I think there are people everywhere...hurting, lonely, confused, and without hope. Or maybe it's just that we've been lethargic. Maybe we've been going through the motions of life, and when we pause to look back at our life we realize we haven't done anything to add value to our own life, or the life of others. This is a new day friends. God makes all things new. He's a God of the second chance. Everyday. You gotta love Him. Or at least you have to admit it sounds like an amazing offer. You're invited to come walk with us. We aren't perfect, but we are committed to hearing what God has promised...and to follow Him.

Unleashing.

2010-09-19T23:06:00.001-04:00

I don't think it's ironic that Greg Lee felt led to launch two new campus' of Suncrest with a message series called "People of the second chance." If we are going to connect with different people than are currently connected, we must speak about the radical grace of God. The greatest challenge is ourselves. Somewhere along the way we've heard and embraced the notion that our actions determine our worth. We have to distance ourself from all the 'religion' language and assumptions that we have about what it means to be part of a church. If we are going to leverage the truth that 'your story matters' then we have to live out grace in every nook and cranny of every story. If we are honest, we all need a second chance every day. Today I will make decisions that could have been made better. Choices that I should have been more thoughtful of long term. Take out even the 'big mistakes' and we actually find an even greater tragedy - choosing mediocrity over greatness. Or choosing not to do something that could have made a positive dimension to another person's life. No matter how you slice it, we all need un-ending second chances. What drives me is that I actually believe there are people in my community who are looking for a community - a space - to walk with God in. All I know is that there are people who need to be given a second chance. I am committed to being a person of the second chance. I'm committed to lead a community of the second chance. Because I am a living example of the grace of God - the God of the second chance.

I came across this quote, not sure of the author. "The revelation of my brokenness will unleash the Holy Spirit in your midst." I have the audacity to believe it. Why? He's already unleashed. Not because of anything I've done, but because as stories emerge, it becomes more clear of God's interaction and movement. And stories are already emerging. God - we trust you. We need you. We long for you.

So what is your story?

Step in

2010-08-13T21:49:00.000-04:00

It’s so easy to see the ‘bad’ in a story. It’s pretty easy for me to remember the dumb moves that a Bible hero made. It pretty much marks them for life, or in their case, thousands of years!

Take for example Peter. I call Him ‘pipe up Peter’ because on numerous occasions he was quick to speak and slow to listen. In today’s passage we find Peter about to do something that no one has ever done before (except Jesus of course). Think about it, in this story he sets a record…he makes history. It’s a feat that has never been done since. He walks on water.

The reality is we can focus on his rebuke or his faith. No doubt he took one for the team, because his mistake in the story allows us all to learn a valuable lesson about trusting Jesus.

I invite you to pause and read the story in Matthew 14:22-36. So what did you think? I guess I’d just like us consider his incredible faith to ‘get out of the boat.’ No one else jumped in the water. No one else had a fraction of the faith that he had. No one else was as passionate about the embrace of Jesus as Peter was. So it begs a question for our soul. Are we missing out on chances to express our faith (albeit small)? Are we missing out on chances to passionately pursue Jesus because doing so is a huge risk? Are we so afraid of failure or shame that we never take a step into the unknown.

I think there is more tragedy in times we fail to move than in the times we move and fail. What if in the economy of God His measurement of joy is found in taking the first steps toward greatness, and not in how well we stood after taking that step? Don’t get me wrong. It matters how we finish. But it also matters that we have the faith and passion to take the step toward Jesus without knowing any of the answers prior to it.

Is Jesus asking you to come to Him? He is. And what really matters is that you get out of the boat.

Mercy.

2010-08-12T21:00:00.004-04:00

I am not much of a guitar player. In fact I haven’t even held one for two years. But one of the first songs I remember playing (where I could actually tell it was a song) was called ‘Create In Me a Clean Heart’ by Steve Green. It became a prayer song of mine. It is composed out of Psalm 51… a pure cry for the mercy of God. How often I forget in the natural and fleshly trajectory of my life that it is God who supplies mercy. I can’t do more to earn it. I can’t try harder or will it to come. It is a pure gift of God that comes by His living, moving, and breathing within my soul.

It’s important to define mercy. Mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve. We deserve wrath, but God withholds it from us.

Hear David’s cry to God for mercy. Hear his utter dependence on the mercy of God to pour kindness into his depravity. Certainly David was wrestling with his human condition. Clearly he was seeing his lack of cleanness in the midst of God’s holiness. In his brokenness he cries to the One who offers unconditional mercy.

Have Mercy on Me O' God (Psalm 51:1-19).

Blessed In Abundance

2010-06-05T13:21:00.002-04:00

One of Those Days.

2010-03-04T14:30:00.001-05:00

We've all had 'one of those days.' I proudly say today was one of them. A thousand things consuming my mind - and at one point even turned into a physical ache in my brain. So I did what I didn't have time for, but should do more often. I took a walk. I packed the ipod buds in my ears, turned it to some instrumental ancient hymns, and walked across the street to my God space. I walked. And honestly, I cried. For seven days I've leaned in on this notion of seeking God and what that means. As I walked I cried because I really do feel like I'm seeking and yet I still feel very much 'overwhelmed.' So is that good? Or bad? From God? or Not?

I'm not a guy who believes God is just always out to 'teach us something.' I know people say that a lot, but I think we do stupid stuff and then God uses that stupid thing to teach us, but he doesn't initiate our stupidity. He doesn't trip us so we learn to get up again. He just helps us back up. The past couple of days I have been memorizing some Bible texts...training myself to let them become a part of my rhythm in life. They are all centered on the notion of 'seeking' God. And there are always dichotomy's in that. We seek Him and yet He's already found us. We seek Him and yet He's already there. God asks us to seek Him with a 'whole' heart. He says if we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found by us. So I asked the question, what's the measure He uses? Certainly there's not a scale of 'seeking.'

I've read all the verses on seeking God. And I know that there is something about this call of God that is an all or nothing deal. There is a direct corrolation between our focus and His being seen. Seeing God doesn't happen on accident. Something happens that initiates our attention to seek. The truth is, I can't seek at all. It's God's Spirit in me that initiates the desire inside me. So listen to this crazy thought...God requires that we seek Him...and He even has to be the one that initiates us seeking Him...and ultimately it's His Spirit in us that allows us to see Him when we seek Him! I know. That's enough to make your head hurt.

So anyway, I'm walking. I'm crying. It's still cold out...like 20 degrees so my snot is running like a faucet and I'm trying to wipe my nose, clear my eyes, and think straight. I'm talking out loud. God. I'm hurting here. I'm seeking you. I'm tired of thinking of all this stuff around me. I just want to see You. I want to know You are still right here with me...in me. Straight up - just you and me here. I want to know the mountain I'm climbing is by You, of You, and in You. God I don't want to see a sign or some mystic cloud formation. I want You.

In those steps I kept hearing a chirp and I was wondering what happened to my ipod that how it sounded like a chirp or a skip in the song. Suddenly my head was about taken off by a bird. Through my tear covered eyes I watched a bright red cardinal perch on a branch about 3' foot above my head. I stopped and looked up. Beautiful. Bright. And immediately God spoke (not verbally so don't get wierded out); 'Andy. I care about the birds of the air. I know when one of their feathers is out of place. If I care and created the beauty of this little bird, how much more do I walk with you. I'm for you. I'm here.'

I stared at that bird for another minute as I cried. How long does a cardinal usually sit on a branch 3' away from a crying human and play stare down? Not usually this long. And then as quickly as he flew in, he flew away.

And for an hour I walked. And I cried. And I talked.
But mostly I listened.

Perspective.

2010-02-17T09:35:00.000-05:00

"Keep things in perspective." I'm sure you've heard it said to you before. But we all know it's easier said than done. This morning I drug my carcass out of bed at 3:15 am and hit the road to grab the Hummer Limo. From there I drove in some nasty, snowy weather to a pitiful home in Benton Harbor. It was plastered with 'Beware of Dog' signs and sat in an area that's frequently on the news for all the wrong reasons. The only thing that made me feel safe was that it was so early and there weren't any humans stirring about.

After waiting for a while, out came the mom along with 4 children probably in the 5-10 year old range. I was picking up a family to take them to the South Bend airport. You could tell that they had never seen the inside of a limo before and once they learned they could lower the partition between me and them they sat in a little row watching me drive. I tell you this because today was one of those days where God had me step back and look at my life in perspective.

One of the children is a 9 year old boy. They were headed to Disney World in Orlando Florida. Not one of them had ever been on an airplane, including the mom. They were headed there because of the generosity of an amazing program called 'Make a Wish Foundation.' I picked up a young boy who is in his 'last days.' Perspective. Can you imagine the single mom's emotions? Can you imagine knowing one of your children is entering the last phase of their life? Can you imagine the little boy and all the hours he's had to spend in the hosptial - all to find out that there is no cure? Maybe he doesn't even know it? Maybe he does? Can you imagine the confusion for his siblings? I wonder what their perspective of God is? I wonder if it matters to them where they live or what they eat?
I could obviously go on, but all I really wanted to do was step back - and consider the things of this world, and the things I value in this life.
We all have days where our perspective is challenged. Today was one for me.
Perspective.

Advocate.

2010-01-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

This church is being formed by the Master potter's hands. We are all such raw material - our stories colliding with hope. It's amazing how relationships form so deep and rich, yet quick, when you commune transparently. God's vision in me was no doubt to be a part of creating a community where your story matters. Sometimes chapters are glorious. Sometimes they are ugly. But I am my story. You are your story. It sounds peculiar to say that humility and honesty cuts through a multitude of sins, but it seems that is the way of Christ. As a 'leader' I've sensed that my effectiveness is how well I can push myself back and let the God of mercy, grace, and love take the stage. The more unseen I become the more I can let Him be magnified. Tonight as we gathered in a dimly lit living room the conversation began to flow - and the Spirit of God led the dance. It centered around 'advocates.' How are friends different than advocates? The more we dove in the more we recognized how different they really are. An advocate is with you no matter what. It was said that 'an advocate is there for you just because of truth - compassion for the person as an element of God's created humanity. With an advocate there isn't always a two way relationship. It's not about what you can get from the person...the relationship of an advocate is between him/her and the cause (what's intrinsically right), no matter who the person is. A friendship is more a two way relationship, give and take. A friend isn't always an advocate, and an advocate can be a stranger. What are the qualities of an advocate? Do we have advocates in our life? Ironically we could name some, but the number is fewer than we might suspect. An advocate doesn't focus on what you've done, but on who you are. Do you have 'friends' you can't tell everything? I had to take a breath for a minute when one of us said; 'I've just met most of you people three weeks ago, and this is the only genuine group of advocates I have.' So what's your story?

I sense everyone in the room tonight wept at God's call in our life as we are part the vision of God in our lives to create a community of advocates for people we know, and those we don't know. As the naked prostitute was dragged to Jesus for 'justice of her crime', Jesus was her advocate. The kosher law said one thing, Jesus responded in love, compassion, and the 'right' way to broken humanity. He never had met her in his life. Yet he was her advocate. We are a community of imperfect people who offer hope. As we looked at each other around the room we confessed we need advocates. And if there are only a few advocates in our lives, isn't that probably the case for others? It may not be popular. It will cost us something. But we know this - God has called us to value this - to pursue this - and we are. It's special. God's presence was so rich tonight. And I know that I have a few more advocates in my life...and they...theirs.
Creating a community where your story matters...no matter what. You matter to God, and to us.

Giving Yourself Over To Something Greater Than You Are

2010-01-28T12:48:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was talking about King David and the concept of personal sacrifice. Sacrifice is a sensitive subject. But Greg paraphrased something about David's heart. He said; 'I will not sacrifice anything that doesn't cost me something.' It made me squirm a little bit. To think that my giving in any way may not even be what a sacrifice is, is awkward. You mean when I give something I don't want or need anymore away - it's not sacrificial? Yeah, I guess that is what it means. It's a good and noble quality to give anything, but it falls short of what I'd call sacrificial. And it makes me question how well I actually sacrifice in my personal life. I feel like my family is quite giving, sometimes it really does hurt. But I have to confess, most of my giving is not on the 'sacrificial' wavelength.

That is true with my money and my things, but it's also true with my time. The things that Andy needs to get done is unending. There's just not enough time in a day. It makes it hard to 'serve' or 'help' when there's so much and so little time. But I've been challenged by God this week. He put a thought inside me, and that same thought was then was randomly brought up in conversation about 10 minutes later by someone else. The EXACT same thing. So the question on my plate today is...Andy, are you willing to sacrifice? Not just give, but sacrifice? Something that will cost you something?

I have to be able to feel it. It's going to hurt. It's going to cost me something.

Energy Creates Energy

2010-01-23T09:30:00.004-05:00

There are things that zap your energy and excitement and then there are things that are physical, emotional, and spiritual steroids. They say it takes energy to create energy - and that's what the Suncrest people do for me. The top pic is (L-R) Greg, Me, Doug, and Jared. We walk as one into the next phase of our journey. It is going to require great risk, adjustments, sacrifice, trust, prayer, and communion with God...but we are already hearing stories of how God is intersecting our story with people's stories...and ultimately to God's story.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent in Dallas TX as a part of Leadership Network's multi-site lab. The bottom pic represents a group of churches around the country. This next year we will continue to walk through this together allowing God to sharpen all of us in learning and adjustments. I'm blessed in so many ways and I walked away even more encouraged with the multi-site movement. I know how I'm wired, and of all the diverse strategies of Kingdom building and walking with people through life change, I can see how God has had me in a season of 'waiting' for such a time as this. No doubt that doing this movement of God is best done in community. Aloneness is not an option. Never was, never will be. I'm thankful. Truly thankful. How great is our God.

(Re-Posted from greglee.wordpress.com)

I took three of our staff to Dallas this week to meet with multi-site leaders from around the country. It’s no secret that our multi-site strategy is going to ramp up here in the coming months with plans to launch 2 more campuses this fall.

I still can’t believe we get to be included in some of these leadership circles, but it makes me especially thankful for Leadership Network and the focus of their role with the Churches across America (and now, worldwide). Their simple purpose is to “connect innovators to multiply”.

I’ve benefited so much from them individually and now our team is fortunate to be surrounded with churches in the trenches tackling the same initiatives AND have the best thinkers in the multi-site movement in the room with us. Special thanks to Greg Ligon from Leadership Network, Mac Lake from Seacoast Church and Kevin Penry from LifeChurch for letting us soak up everything you have to offer.

"God is in the NEW' ~ Greg Lee

2010-01-21T09:23:00.001-05:00

"The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the numerical growth of the Body of Christ, the renewal of existing churches, and the overall impact of that Body on the culture of any city.

Nothing else—neither crusades, outreach programs, para-church ministries, mega-churches, consulting, nor church renewal processes— will have the consistent impact that dynamic, extensive church planting has. This is an eyebrow raising statement, I know. But to those who have done any study of the subject, it is not even controversial."
Tim Keller

Martin Luther King Jr.

2010-01-18T16:16:00.001-05:00

Today honors the leader whom God's Spirit burned within. He had a burden to speak of God's truth knowing the cost he would ultimately pay. He said; "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live." As I have read his story today I seem to capture his heart in ways I never have. I'm not sure what your definition of a hero is, but there is no doubt that he fits mine. I think humanity could learn a lesson from him. I know this because he was a guy who was convicted. He was burdened. And He did something about it. There are dreamers. There are leaders. It seems that few actually have the faith and courage to put the two together. He did. And not only ought African Americans or anyone with non-white skin be grateful, so too should the whitest skinned amoung us. Humanity should be grateful. Why? This man was led by the Spirit of God. As I reflect on what he stood for, and what was important to God, I'm convinced that he couldn't have stood for anything of greater worth. The truth that we are all created in the image of God...and where our beauty is in our creative diversity. I'm certain that there is nothing more beautiful to God than when we as humanity love one another - especially in our differences.

God birthed in Martin a dream. And with God's Spirit in him he initiated a movement. A movement that continues today.

All I know is that the more I learn about his heart, the more grateful I am that God led him and empowered him to love his neighbors. God is a just God. And there was...and still is...injustice in this world. I hope I can be an activist of peace in the ongoing movement. I'm a better man because of what he did. I hope that people can say that about me someday.

Here are some MLK quotes that captured me;

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.

I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

The time is always right to do what is right.

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

It's Not My Trying That Makes Me Alive.

2010-01-15T13:43:00.002-05:00

I'm sure you've heard it said. I'm sure you've tried it. And if you're like me you've found out that it doesn't work that way. What is it? The idea that if you are not 'feeling God' or 'sensing His presence', then you need to 'pull up your bootstraps and try harder.' It cerainly isn't God's fault that you don't see Him, so logically, it's yours. We've been taught, maybe not with words, but by actions, that the extent of your 'knowing God' is in direct relation to the amount of time, energy, and strength you give to the relationship. It sounds good right? As though the destiny is in our control. The ball is in our court. It's like we think that God gives us yummy treats and blessings when we obediently perform little tricks. But sadly it's led many people away in disappointment, despair, and frustration. I think it's important to confess that if we are counting on our self and our efforts to connect us to God, we are doomed for failure. Not just some of the time. All the time.
I'm not suggesting that we just walk through our experience of trying to follow Jesus whimsically and randomly. That's as ridiculous as trying harder. I'm just leaning in on the notion of the way I always learned Phillippians 3:12-13; "press on toward the goal to take hold of the prize." I recently read a quote from a woman that said; "feeling the need to be perfect, but being certain that we are not ever going to get there can result in our playing the role happy Christian or Good Samaritan or Willing Worker or Gracious Benefactor, when in reality we are busy hiding sins of resentment, anger, doubt, and despair."
When I hear that I hear the ugly sound of religion. The joyless push to meet all the shoulds and oughts. I mean seriously, if we think the ultimate success of following Jesus is a matter of being sinless we negate what Jesus came do on our behalf - and further, it's a miserable place to be...a failure with no hope.
I think I've grown up missing Paul's point of Philippians 3. I sense vs. 10 is the climax; "I want to know Christ." I liken it to my own relationship to Grace, Si, and Zalia. I wouldn't be satisfied if my kids were angelically perfect. Said the right things. Did the right things. Nor would I feel good if they felt like that was their focus to get my attention and affection. As though that would me my ultimate desire. Not at all! But inspite of their imperfections, to know that they just want to be with me and 'know me' as their crazy dad...that's what gets me excited and satisfied. It's awesome when my son wants to go get firewood with me, not because the work is fun or it's what he should do, but because if dad's going - he wants to be with me! So why can't I see that my Father in heaven wouldn't want the same thing?
I'm all about giving my life over to God. Not always practical and successful at it. But I can honestly that there is no greater desire within me than to know Him. I want the intimacy of knowing God and being known by Him. I know that my relationship is ongoing, ever perceiving, and deepening just by choosing to be with him.
And the more that examine the paths I take the more I realize the work of the Holy Spirit in me is the source of oneness I have with God. Not just how hard I try or how much I pray. It's the Spirit of God that draws my heart in rhythm with the Father. It's the Spirit of God in me that allows me to Christ - and the direction He's heading. It's the Spirit of God in me that allows me to hear the language of Christ. I know God because God...period. It's all about Him. I'm all for disciplines, but not for trying harder. The funny thing is, the harder I 'try' and rely on myself, the further I end up being from Him.
Isn't it crazy? The things I try to get, the Father has already given.

Transparent.

2010-01-13T21:12:00.002-05:00

Have you ever struggled with the whole idea of God's gift of grace - and how it comes alongside our 'response' of receiving it? I'm aware that the gift is not fully enjoyed when I choose not to receive it, but that doesn't take away the giver's heart in their giving. It doesn't negate the fact that He gives - even if I say 'no'. It's similar to those who give with conditions. Here is a gift - but you have to use it for ______. Could it be that God is this kind of giver? I mean surely He wouldn't dare give a gift to a person who later in life would walk over it or abuse it...or not fully appreciate it? Would he? I guess I'm not here to answer the question, just to offer that it seems a little unsettling. Every time I see the gift of the Gospel, of grace, or of God's love, as 'valid' based on my response, there's something that doesn't feel right in me.
I know I'm not suggesting that there isn't a place for human response to God. That's "cheap grace." But the Gospel is not a bilateral contract where God meets his end of the deal and I must meet mine otherwise the contract is void. I wonder if the 'response' is really as simple as a sincere and grateful heart, attitude, and action, for a grace-gift given and received unconditionally in love? This much I know; my response is the all out thankful and grateful response to Jesus, who offers in my place the obedience and faith I need to be a son of God - a place that I cannot, in my sin, possibly offer.
Maybe this all seems like a play on words. But it means a lot to me as I envision my role in the Kingdom of God - and His call in my life. Ultimately my need is to view God more sovereign and Andy more dependent. I need to put my trust in God, not in Andy. I need to put my hope in God. It's gotta be more of Him and less of me! Why? My sanity, my joy, my significance in 'becoming the least of these' depends on it. And I want my life to be ALL about HIM.
My ministry? It's important that I decide now it's about Him. It can't be my job or pressure to create some dynamic sermon so that it's possible for Jesus to connect with the lives my path intersects with. Jesus alone is the Living Word of God and He's already the living sermon prior to any words I let come out of my mouth. My word's do not heal, bless, convict, or transform. God does. All my words do is bear witness to what God is saying to the people as the Word of God. My task is to be so intimate with God that I can see Him and hear Him - so that I can know where God is going so that I can be an accurate 'preparer of the Way.'
The good news is that God is still speaking to His people. I follow God, watch God, converse with God because I love God. The by-product is that more clearly share with people what the Lord is saying - where He is going - and lead with passion in His direction.
So all God is asking me to do is know Him - trust Him - and follow Him no matter where He goes? Yep. That's the greatest way for people to see Jesus. I'm training to be so 'in line' with Him - that as people see through me - they see the One worth seeing and following - for themselves.
I need to be so full of Jesus that I become...transparent.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

2010-01-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

"For God so loved the world, that He gave..."

Have you ever noticed that some people who are not proclaimed 'Christ followers' seem to be more caring, respectful, and nice than many who are? That's never settled well with me. What does that mean? What does that say about our values and committment to the Way? First off I say that 'Christ followers' are not perfect. There are feelings, emotions, and actions that will never allow a perfect and accurate reflection of Christ in my life. I'm training every 'moment' to walk in a more pure and honest rhythm with God, but I confess I am not there yet. I also don't think God is surprised to hear that from me. God expects us to fail. He's never suprised. That's where Jesus enters the scene - and the reality of grace and unconditional love wrap themselves around my soul. Love? I think love is a significant place to sink into. And I think it's a place where my heart burns for people who have chosen to follow a path that does not lead to God. I am not interested in making 'converts' of people - I'm burdened that they inherit the capacity to be loved and to love without conditions or 'if' / 'then' contracts. That's not how the love of God works. And I meet people all the time who think that's the way it is. I meet people and have conversations with people who live in fear. But the Son of God has come to set us free - mainly from our fears in this world. God is for us! All of us! God says that there is no fear in love.

Love? This is what I want for every person. To know they are loved by God. No matter what. Even if they try their best for God to not like them, it can't be done. The love that the Father loves Jesus is the love with which followers of Christ share through their union with Him. This love is not something we can create on our own. It's too rich, too deep, too eternal, too spiritual. It only comes by abiding in Christ (John 15:1-11). It's a love that cannot be welled up with human ability. This love I have for you - for all people - is only and entirely the fruit of being loved by God - and walking momently in a relationship with Christ.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you, abide in my love." ~ Jesus

Redemptive Ministry?

2010-01-09T08:23:00.001-05:00

I meditate tonight on what it means to 'minister' and what 'ministry' really is. Certainly it isn't a going out to people so that I can 'take' Jesus to them. He's already there! The Spirit of God is present and actively engaging. So maybe it's the actuality and reality that Jesus is here and active that gives me a 'ministry'. The more I lean in, the more it becomes clear to me that it's the Holy Spirit's mediation and presence that makes my 'ministry' possible. It's God. Not Andy. My role is to make aware the presence of God - to identify Him and to be a witness of who Jesus is. It's to act and react with the heart of God - and the truth of his unconditional love and everlasting life.
I came across this quote today; "Pastoral work must give the highest priority to the kerygmatic affirmation "you are forgiven." The whole movement of the gospel moves in this direction. It also must help people identify grace in their lives in its specificity as forgiveness of sins and equip them to be faithful in the thankful response of Christian discipleship through their communion with God."
I like that. I think it brings me back to affirming that God is everything. It also frees me of all the hats that a 'minister' is supposed to wear.
Someone once said; "My ministry is not redemptive. Only Christ's ministry is redemptive." It is by the Spirit that we are joined to it.
As I join the movement of God I walk as a man who responds in faith, repentance, and obedience because of the love of Christ - not the condition to recieve it.
And I'm convinced that what is true for me is true of everyone I meet. And I don't take God there - He's already there.
Ministry is for everyone - and it's exciting stuff...momentum.

Grasping With All My Might.

2010-01-03T21:43:00.001-05:00

If anything of significance and life change is going to happen, Jesus is the one who has to show up. Maybe it's within me...but in one way or another, the presence of Jesus must consume or nothing changes. That's the reason why I give myself over to following Jesus. I want to be a part of change - in me, around me, and through me. And I know it can't happen without the initiation and invitation of Jesus.

So what else does this mean? I think it means I need to realize that "ministries" in and of themselves are not redemptive. Only the ministry of Jesus is redemptive. Only Jesus. Period. Many may suggest that this is a cop out to 'ministering.' But I think it's the opposite. I'm suggesting that God in me - is the source of hope that people need...so in all things I need to give myself over to being saturated with Jesus.
As I meditate tonight on my 'ministry' and the upcoming role God has invited me to play in humanity, I think God wants me to see it as sharing...or coming alongside...Jesus' ministry. Wherever He is - there is the church!
This new year allows me another moment to look unto the 'new.' I've mentioned before that Greg Lee was right - the Scriptures lay overwhelming evidence that God is in the 'New.' He loves 'new!' So I see my resolution for this year a mere continuing of God's revolution in me. My ministry is singular in practice - to live in the presence of Jesus. I train (not try) myself to be in a place to have eyes to see Jesus...and ears to hear him. I simply want to move where God is moving and doing what God is already doing. I want to be watchful for what God is up to so that I can be hot on his heals.
I guess it's nothing more than being like my one year old daughter. Everywhere I go there she is. She does the same thing with her mommy. She loves to stand on our feet and grasp our legs with all her might. She's along for the ride. She doesn't want to miss anything. And the closer she is to our presence, the more at peace and alive with joy she is.
That's how I want to be with my Father...my perfect Heavenly Daddy.
He's moving and I don't want to miss anything.

Marriage.

2009-12-22T12:55:00.005-05:00

Most enter into it. Most feel the beauty of it. Some experience the hurt of it at some point. Everyone has to put energy into it to keep it alive. The size of my library of Relationship books proves that there is much to be said on the subject of healthy marriages. The reality is, most couples will journey to, or through, some form of 'loss'. Whether it's outward betrayal or an inward seperation. I came across this paragraph in a book that wasn't even about marriage, but I totally agree with what he says. I know many marriages that are 'together' - but certainly far apart. This is just something to wrestle with - and to examine your own heart for the energy YOU into your marriage...
"Another form of widowhood is being married to a distant, untrustworthy spouse. There are many who sleep each night with a living corpse who will rise the next morning, brush his or her teeth, expect breakfast, adn complain about the day ahead. It is onerous to imaging waking up next to a person whom you don't love and whom you know doesn't love you. This is living-death widowhood. Sadly, many marriages die while both spouses are still breathing. In most cases, in order to survive such emptiness, many give up their own drama, turn themselves over to watching other people's lives (TV, sports, church, romance novels) and slip away into a vicarious fantasy life."
You would probably agree this is tragic. And my hope is that it makes you lean in on your own heart and soul and consider how much energy you give to the one whom God authored into your story - to be one with - forever.
I dream of a community that upholds one another - breathes life into each other...and become part of each other's stories in a powerful way. I trust there is greater beauty when people walk together.

Our Past Serves Our Future?

2009-12-22T12:33:00.004-05:00

The storybook of my life. I can imagine someday my great great grandchild sitting on their dad's lap, all cuddled up by the fire, as he reads them the story of my life. What will it say? What picture will it paint as he reads through my journals? How will my story reveal the hero that God has put within me? Will my story be bigger than me? Will the characters in my story love me? Will it begin something that God continues to use to change the world?

Greg Lee said; "The tragic parts of our past should serve our present and future."
I love that. And as Rachel and I, along with some others seek Christ and pray to discern how to 'cast the vision' of our journey, we have conversation around our 'story'. What's in a story? Characters. Plots. Antagonists. Hero's. Tragedy. Victory. Some of our story is comedy, some is tragedy, some is amazing, some is kind-of boring. I'd like to suggest that we are not just a random story, we ARE a story.
Tonight I continue to meditate on God and His word - and thoughts about articulating how valuable a person's story is in the big picture of life.

Here are some further thoughts of Dan Allender seasoned with some of my own thoughts along the way. Hope they help you embrace your story - and consider how God is in it.

I can do the utterly impossible because the presence of eternity beats inside me. It is eternity - and the longing for the presence of God - that fuels my passion. All passion is founded on pain, grown through risk, and marked by the decisions we make in the face of tragedy. It is in the midst of tragedies, both past and present, that we will see how the waters of suffering have cut our terrain and formed the contours of our character. More than anything, tragedy shapes our identity and character.

God orchestrates all of the influences in our life to blend a symphony of themes that reflects his purposes.

Perhaps the reason we don't party well is because we don't know what to do with the tragedies that linger on in our life. To see His glory we must enter into and read our tragedies with confidence that they will end better than we could ever imagine. In the midst of affliction we become either our truest or most false self. We wrongly believe that we will be happy if we can escape the past. But without the past we are hollow plastic beings with common names and conventional stories.

Every life is a story with a unique meaning. We don't just have stories, we are a story. God writes our story so that we will enlighten others and reveal his own story through our story.

Our stories are not to be read and written merely for our own benefit. My story is your story and all our stories are for God. Therefore, I am to read, write, edit, tell, and celebrate your story as much as my own. Thats is multiplication of story.

We can love our past- even the parts we avoid or regret- only if we understand that our story is written for the benefit of others' stories in the future. We can only truly love our life when we see our story birth new and more glorious stories.

We are called to see the past as given and the future as unmade and aching to be written.

Capturing The Moments...

2009-12-19T19:53:00.000-05:00

So What's Your Story?

2009-12-10T21:20:00.002-05:00

If fingerprints are unique and diverse, how much more then are our stories? Immeasurable. I began immersing myself into another book written by a guy (Dan Allender) whom God has formerly used to help me see past myself - both accomplishments and especially the failures. It has been a long struggle to truly see myself as God sees me (or at least trust that in some measure He sees beauty in me). I've never been a proponent of cheap grace and in many ways it seemed easier and more logical to just sit there. Not any more. It's time for some new chapters. Some fun chapters filled with risk and adventure...even mixed in with some good ol' fashioned stupidity (not to be confused with foolishness). Without it we probably don't ever see the things we were meant to see. I think that stupidity to man can be 'life' to God. Anyway, I'm sold out on my belief that God allows us to be a co-author of our story. In many ways we get to choose the course of our story. He allows us to dream...have burdens...and move in those directions. Ultimately, I want my story to reveal the glory of God - his mercy, compassion, love, and grace. I also think it's important to remember that our story is not a bunch of random events that have no value or purpose. As though I'm here and now only because of a series of events that happened without any supernatural forethought. No one has a story like mine. God doesn't want me to rip out dark and old pages of my story and only use the seemingly triumphant ones. The old and new are both vital in my story. Your story. Our story.
So where am I going with all this? God is speaking with one voice into Rachel and I, along with some fellow travelers, that this reality of 'story' will in many ways fashion the ways we move in the future. It's the beauty of EVERYone's story that we will celebrate. It will be the 'measuring stick' of success in our community. How are we freeing people to embrace their story - and see the ways that God is joining their hand in penning the next chapter of their life. My life. Our life. We are burdened. And we have decided that we must do something about it.

Back to the book; To Be Told, here are some quotes to let rattle around in your spirit;

"God is not merely the creator of Life, He's the author of life."

"Even when tragedy has nothing to do with physical death, it still involves a form of death in the shattering of Shalom, or harmony. Life involves tension. Tension is living in the gap between certainty and uncertainty. We always begin with what we know and are irrisistibly drawn to what we don't know...curious. There are no safe risks."

"Adversity introduces us to ourselves."

"I can't change my tragedies, not can I really eliminate (fully) the characters in my story, but I can write a new plot. I am both co-author of my life and editor of my future."

"Their (most Christians) assumption is simple: if I live a good life, love my kids, do my best at work, support the PTA and the church and my kids' sports, then my life will have been good. But is this a good ending as God views endings? It's not a bad ending, but it misses what any truly good ending requires- the ardor and the sacrifice, the passion and the blood."

"What makes my life a glorious bestseller is taht my plot reveals not a mere moral or lesson but the very person and being of God."

"Lives that are "normal" and predictable don't hold our attention. It is only when huge obstacles arise that a story becomes compelling."

"Good stories tell about the intersection of desire (subjective expectation) and tragedy (cruel reality)."

"Stories don't give answers, but they do offer perspective."

"The story we are to live and write doesn't truly begin until we face what we have lost and then turn to see the horizon of uncertainty ahead. Our story will gain momentum and depth only to the degree that we honestly embrace both loss and fear."

"A dream without suffering is little more than fantasy. Risk involves bleeding."

Innovation Lab Bound...

2009-12-04T20:44:00.003-05:00

I'm really excited about an invitation to be a part of this experience with Greg, Doug, and Jared - the Suncrest Crew. January 19-20 - Dallas Texas. What an opportunity! I have a feeling Rachel and I are taking some huge steps toward the ride of our lives.

It begins with an on-site 24 hour lab experience designed to take your team from where you are to where you need to go. Your team will look honestly at what’s not working and why, explore roadblocks and develop both radical and incremental process plans to move your team to success.

From our physical meeting space to our facilitation methods, you’ll be taken out of the ordinary workshop experience to an unexpected discovery based approach. Be prepared to move and create, stretch and explore. You’ll release your creativity by manipulating objects and transitioning to different discovery and learning stations. Using the latest in innovative thinking processes and the most talented facilitators, we’ll transport you from sitting and soaking to moving and doing.

Additionally, your team will participate in two online lab days in your own offices spaced six and twelve months out from the initial gathering. Our expert facilitator will connect you via live video with other teams, using a state of the art video conferencing platform, where you’ll have the chance to share team updates, celebrate success and identify your sticking points and areas for improvement. The final online lab day will focus on implementation updates and unique exercises in sustaining forward movement, innovation and assessment.

Movement...

2009-11-19T15:05:00.003-05:00

Interesting. The term 'Christian' is used 3 times in the Bible. 'Disciple' is used 250+ times! In the four gospels the greek word translated 'to follow' is used 61 times. I'm convinced that I'm not alone in that I'd rather be known as a Christ-follower than as an adherant and follower of the Christian religion. I'm even more convinced that the whole 'Jesus deal' is not meant to be about an institution of Religion, rather a movement. Jesus began a revolution - by movement. I wonder what went wrong? Why do we measure our lives by what we have instead of where we are going? I want to 'move' in the direction of Jesus. I want my life's rhythm to be a movement of following Jesus. So what is our measuring stick? I have been thinking a lot about that. I think it's about my story. I think it's about what Jesus is doing in me right now. I think it's about what Jesus is doing around me right now. And then the often times difficult part, because of my stinking flesh, is to actually go where He's at...so that I might move where He's going.
I also wonder about the idea of 'making disciples.' Maybe a better way to think of it is 'forming disciples.' For me, that is a beautiful picture. Of God, in His strong and weathered hands forming me...in spite of my malfunctions and impurities...He somehow has the grace, mercy, and power to make all things new.
If we want to get literal, we'd see that when God said for us to 'make disciples' he literally said...'as you are going (movement) make disciples. All this to say that our lives are transformed and we ultimately transform others...as we are moving and following Jesus.
I land on this truth. If I am going to follow Jesus, I will be shocked at where I may end up going. I am learning more than ever that God's movement is often unpredictable, radical, and crazy. It requires a lot of trust. And that is exactly where movements happen. I'm all in. And yes, I know I too am crazy. So is my wife for dreaming and trusting with me. So are my kids. We are unpredictable. I don't even know the big picture. But we see Jesus 'moving' and we are following. Here we go.

Adding Layers.

2009-11-18T14:17:00.003-05:00

Spiritual practices are about the momently life. They are the ways I actively become the person who has "eyes to see and ears to hear." This life is about experiential living with increased resiliency and consistency. It is the difference between living in 'survival mode' and 'thriving mode.' The momently life of Christ living in me is in essence staying awake to God. Many become awake to God, but the art of momenlty living is in abiding awakeness.
It's easier to say than to live. But, the rhythm of engaging with Christ momently is the life worth pursuing. The great discovery that I didn't assume I'd find is that routines, normalcy, ordinariness, and habits are essential in this way of life. It seems contradictory...as though following Jesus closely would rid us of any of these ways. It was when I paralleled them to God's perfect created design of breathing, eating, sleeping, drinking...that I realized a certain structure is healthy to the spiritual life.
I confess that I have begun (it's a poor rendition I'll admit) yoga. Don't laugh. Because of my back pains I've had to come to grips with reality. I am about as stiff as an old board. Maybe stretching to the physical body is like my need for disciplines for my spiritual soul.
So what does all this mean? When Jesus came he ushered in a 'new' Kingdom of God...which means a 'new' way of life...new priorities, commitments, vision, and peace.
I'll unpack my thoughts on this further in my next post. I still wrestle how to understand it myself.

A Grey Story

2009-11-14T19:25:00.004-05:00

The Kingdom of God. I am a part of it. So are you. It's not a place. It's here and it's now and every breath, every heart rhythm I'm living in an awareness of God in me and the world around me. And yet even in that beautiful and glorious filled movement - I still have the capacity to act selfishly.
So my story? It seems that with every chapter of tragedy there emerges the opportunity for a chapter of significance. Or maybe they are in the same chapter. Maybe my chapters are really the summation of every part of my life - elements I choose and the ones chosen for me. The particles I can see and remember along with the ones that are unseen or forgotten. I guess that's the beauty of my life. It really is about what God is doing in me, alongside me.
I weave my story with some more elements of Donald Miller's thoughts...
*Every conflict, no matter how hard, comes back to bless the protagonist if he will face his fate with courage. There is no conflict a man will endure that will not produce a blessing.
*When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are...when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you'd be surprised how much you like spending time with God.
*It wasn't necessary to win for the story to be great, it was only necessary to sacrifice everything.
*Great stories go to those who don't give in to fear.

This all takes me back to Rachel and I's sessions in Colorado with dear friend John Walker. A story is not scripted for us. And I believe he was right when we suggested life is more grey than black and white. That scares a lot of good Christian people. It kind of sounds like heresy. Oh well. It's not heresy. So I will concur that it is better for people to embrace and live in Christ in this grey Kingdom of God. All I know is that I am completely in love with my indescribable God, my beautiful Rachel, my amazing kids, my family, my friends, and pretty much in love with the strangers around me...and by God's grace I even usually love (at least some of the time) those who don't like me. Then there's ultimately the love and grace of God - and being adopted as his children. That's black and white. But everything in between is pretty grey. The way all that love unravels through me is where the black fades and the white darkens.
I think when it comes to story, we try to take everything happening in and around us...including the thoughts and actions of others...and try to judge them all in a nice package of black and white. I have to confess that God's thoughts aren't my thoughts and His ways not my ways. It doesn't work. It can't work.
I think God finds beauty in the grey.
It's all about our story...and how it collides with His...uniquely ours.

Donald Miller - Creating our story

2009-11-12T20:31:00.007-05:00

In the chaos of life it's rare that I pick up a book and get so engrossed in it that I roll through it in mere few hours. But I did today. Ironically, one of the only other times was by this same author; Donald Miller. Two weeks ago I had the chance to hear him in person in Chicago as he reflected on his pursuit of 'life as a story.' His latest life story is called "A Million Miles in A Thousand Years." Our life really is a story. I don't want my story to be written for me. I don't want to get to the end of my life and realize I wrote a rather dull and dry story for my life. But tragically, as I sit here on my 34th birthday, I realize not all of my life has been leveraged for the sake of others - or a sense of fully living. How do I know that? Well, it's amazing how many random events add up to fill the memories I have of my life.
Anyway, here are some highlights that Don initiates - and concepts God has stirred emotionally in me when I read them. I'd recommend if you have a pulse and you care about your destiny...that you read this journey.
*Nobody remembers easy stories. Characters have to face their greatest fears with courage. That's what makes a story good. If you think about the stories you like, there's probably lots of conflict. There is probably death at stake, inner death or actual death...These polar charges, these happy and sad things in life, are like colors God uses to draw the world.
*Most of our greatest fears are relational. It's all that stuff about forgiveness and risking rejection and learning to love.
*The great stories go to those who don't give in to fear. Fear isn't only a guide to keep us safe; it's also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.
*(I wonder) if the reasons our lives seem so muddled is because we keep walking into scenes in which we, along with the people around us, have no clear idea what we want.
*Every creative person faces resistance when trying to create something good. Resistance, a kind of feeling that comes when you point toward a distant horizon, is a sure sighn that you are supposed to do the thing in the first place. The harder the resistance, the more important the task must be.
*People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain.
*(God speaking through the beauty of his natural creation) Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter, and you can create within it even as I have created you.

Glory in our mess.

2009-11-12T13:25:00.002-05:00

The weekly worship experience...sometimes we leave informed. Other times we leave inspired. Maybe there are times we leave with a plan for change. On Sunday I left with a mixture of each of these ingredients. The reality is that as Doug verbalized scripture and concepts, the Holy Spirit was breathing strength and encouragement in me. The question I have to ask myself is; “Do you really trust God Andy? I mean really trust him? Or do you give your energy over to ‘helping’ God out?

It’s a great question. Am I in control of my own destiny? Because if I am, I’ve made a pretty pathetic run at it. I mean if my life’s worth is fueled with the ‘good’ I’ve done, I’m not sure it provides any good content for someone to say at my funeral. The heartbeat, or to put it the Suncrest way – Big Idea, is that God is involved in us. The battle is His. And the good news is that our ‘limp’ or ‘handicap’ (that we pray for God to take away) is the very thing that keeps us attached to a dependence on God. It is the thing that allows us to keep Christ at the center, and the thing that gives people the ability to understand, empathize, and relate to. The thing that should most disqualify us from making an impact on humanity is the thing that God uses to bring good. Another example of the upside down Kingdom of God.

Doug used a powerful video illustration to drive this point to the center our souls. Lonely, lost, hurting, desperate, desolate, malnourished, decrepit people who pray for ‘healing’ in some capacity…and yet God remains silent. God is not distant, he just seemingly resists that prayer. As the story unfolds we begin to see the light switched on inside them…and they worship knowing that God has a purpose to our weakness and frailty.

Doug used the story of a guy with a funny, long, and hard to spell name. So why Jehoshaphat? Here’s a brief summary; He’s a King commissioned by God to engage the battle God’s way – not his own way. God’s way always sounds insane. His confession; “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you (God)." His response; "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Doug even sang this for us…you would have had to been there!)God’s victory; “And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. (Kaser’s paraphrase – the victors worshipped and put their trust in God and they did not use one of their manmade weapons to defeat the enemy…the enemy destroyed itself. God has a knack for using the low to humble the strong).

So what’s this all mean for us? It’s not about us. It’s about God. And what is impossible with man is possible with God.

“God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.”

And that is a promise that makes me dance with gratitude and peace.

Growing Smaller? Exponential Movement.

2009-10-25T22:01:00.005-04:00

I had one of these gadgets. The Little Professor was introduced in 1976. I wonder if 'churches' have for too long only concerned themselves with growth by addition. I wonder if it's possible God meant for the 'Church' to live 'Bigger' through multiplication. I think it's funny. Or maybe it's more sad? Maybe it's both. Big churches probably struggle with a superiority complex. But worse yet are small churches that despise 'big' churches. I'd call it jealousy. There's a hint of ungodliness as smaller churches degrade the large church down the street all the while putting their entire energy on the goal of 'getting big' themself. Ironic? I'll let you answer that. But can you imagine a church prayerfully considering a capital campaign for the purpose of multiplying campuses? Can you imagine a growing church deciding not to build a bigger building on their large parcels of land? Can you imagine a decision not to add more spaces so there can be more programs going on? I can. And I'm living in the DNA of one. I love it. And I love them for going against the flow and following the Spirit of God's movement. A group of people abandoning attraction and absorption and pursuing a movement. Abandoning the notion of 'my church' for the Jesus way of 'His Kingdom.' We can wait and hope they come or we can move in and live amoung them and with them. I'd say 'big' isn't God's measure of success, but certainly growth is. Health is. Churches can track worship attendance, but maybe we really need to figure out how to track how many marriages are healthier and growing in our community. We can track how many programs people come to, but maybe we need to figure out a way to track how well we are serving our neighbor. Maybe we need to track how much time we spend in community events compared to church events?
I guess I'm just saying I'm honored and blessed to walk with people who 'get it.' God himself designed us to birth new 'living' beings...they grow and mature...and eventually reproduce. The goal of an organism is not to get big and fat, but to stay healthy, lean, and full of life and movement. To live in such a way that we give ourselves away to others for the purpose of revealing the glory of Christ.
Reproduction makes sense in every arena of life. So shall it be with the church.
Exponential multiplication...it's a movement I want to be a part of. I sense it's where God is taking His Church (people). Lord let Your 'Kingdom' come.

Watching. Walking. Worshipping.

2009-10-25T21:24:00.003-04:00

The momently life. I'm officially a little over a year into this pilgrimage and it really is amazing. I've come so far, and yet there is still so much landscape yet to cover. It is becoming more rhythmic. One of the greatest affirmations I've recieved happened a few weeks ago when Greg Lee - a dear brother, friend, and mentor - said; "you seem to pursue a constant awareness of God." He's right. That's where I'm at. I'm constantly looking for Him. Watching Him. Listening for Him. I don't always hear, or see, or feel Him. But these seasons leave me being quite raw with God - crying, inwardly yelling, confessing, and even a little bit of begging. All this to say I'm leaning forward. I don't know where I'll land or when, but I know God is with my family. And I trust that He's purposeful in our 'waiting.' Learning to see God and hear his voice is the real purpose of my prayer life. I genuinely am trying not to plead that God gives me my purposes. Instead, I'm striving to give Him my attention to what He is doing around me and in me. I'm just asking God to show me what He sees and what He's doing. He seems to running our life's dreams parallel with Suncrest's dreams and that is some exciting and humbling stuff. So we walk. We pray. And I'm not sure what your definition of a miracle is, but it's my hope and prayer that I align myself with obedience and perseverance...and I'm praying for a miracle. This dream will require God to interupt the normal rhythm of not only our life, but the lives of others who may walk in oneness with us. Miracles? I believe in them. And I'm praying for one. So now I walk. I pray. I watch. I worship. I seek to momently live Colossians 4:2.
So the Suncrest team is always leaning in 'next steps'. Mine this week is to carve out three 30 minute sections of time to sit and listen. My prayer? To see what God sees. I have a hunch I will see people differently. And I have a hunch I'll have an urgency and greater capacity to ask God to take me where He's going.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Multi Site...I'm leaning In.

2009-10-23T22:49:00.002-04:00

A few months ago I went with some Suncrest staff to exponentialconference.org in Orlando Florida. This was a pre-conference dinner session with Alan Hirsch and Ed Stetzer. Great stuff on the multi-site movement and what truly matters. Good stuff!

Tremors.

2009-10-07T22:37:00.005-04:00

You know that feeling of anticipation when you know the sunrise is about to crest the horizon? Or how about when your child is born and you get to hold them for the first time?
I feel kind of like that right now. Just getting home from engaging with 6 other men I could sense genuinely care about me and who lean in on Jesus every day of their life. I don't know how our paths will cross in the future, but for that hour and a half I sincerely feel like Christ's presence saturated us.
Anyway, here I am. As I drove home I was overcome with emotion. It was like I was a treasure hunter who had been searching for 6 years for a treasure he was convinced was hidden beneath him. Every day digging, picking, and scraping away the soil to discover the lost treasure. Most days finding nothing at all. A handful of days finding such little pieces that most would consider non proving points, but to me they were enough to keep me searching. And then after so many years you yourself are ready to take your last shovel, convinced yourself that maybe there really is no treasure after all. Maybe you misread the map? Perhaps this was just some morbid game of the mind after all. All that it is in you drives you to keep hope alive. It is like 'willing' yourself to hope. It is that unexplainable burn inside us that beckons we continue. That conviction and whisper inside our soul that keeps us waking up and pursuing the prize.
The past couple of days I have sensed God unearthing some things before me. Things I had long forgotten I had once prayed for or pursued so specifically. I started to see cracks in some past opportunities that I passed up but have since regretting I had. It's like I look back and see that God was with me. In me. Around me. They have been hard to see clearly...like cloud formations that our imagination creates shapes out of. To others its insanity, but not to me...I see it! There has been some intense times of praying and fasting. Thousands of miles of conversation between Rachel and God on my behalf. Some overtime searching. Some raw conversations with Jon, Doug, and Greg. And for some reason an enhanced hope and belief that the treasure still remains beneath me.
Tonight as I drove my mind started replaying some of the prayers. Some of the shovels. Some of the fragments unearthed in days past that kept me digging even though they were hardly evidence of any treasure or purpose.
I am getting excited. God is moving. I am convinced that as I have surrendered to the truth that it's all about Jesus - and have sought Him as the only treasure, that I know have eyes able to see the 'other things added unto me.'
I know now that treasure of great price has been found. In fact He found me. It's a cruel game of hide and seek. I sought to be found.
But there's more. It's beginning to shake. I don't know what is emerging beneath me for my family and I. But I do know that God is the source of the quake. And I am liking what I am seeing. It's bigger than anything I could 'ever ask or imagine' (Eph. 3:20). Ironically that is our family verse for 2009. He's not finished with me yet. And I can feel the birthing pains of something God is forming within me. I sense it is going to be a journey that will capture my heart for the rest of my days. So now I pray for rhythm. I'm going to need it in my pursuit of Jesus and my family. I sense God is shoring up the relationships that will emerge for His movement within all of us.
I lift my heart in praise to the maker of heaven and earth. I adore Him. And see with each new shovel that He whispers 'I am with you.' And that's all I need to hear to keep shoveling...one scoop at a time. For such a time as this.

Childlike Faith...

2009-09-09T19:01:00.003-04:00

I was privileged to ride my bike alongside Rachel this morning as she ran. Out the door at 5:30 am...darker than the ace of spades...and dodging vehicles in the night. All I can really explain is that God was there. He is here. He consumed that exercise session with conversation between my heart and my brides. In the darkness and heavy fog the stillness and silence was almost deafening. I don't even remember pedaling to be honest. I do remember as we approached our home that I said; 'I wish this experience was not ending'. It was as though her heart was feeding mine...like they were beating as one with no distractions, space, or time between us. She is so wise. So discerning. I think I understand now the significance of her run. She spends it with Jesus. Verbal conversations of the echos of her heart and I got to listen in today.
At one point she was telling me of a conversation she had with Grace the other day. Grace told her they were asked in Sunday school 'if you could ask Jesus one thing, what would it be?' I'd bet there were sunday school questions that would make the theologians proud. Questions like; 'Why is there suffering?', 'Why do some people not believe in God?', or 'Where is Peter?' But Grace said she asked a question and the others looked at her with a sense of 'that is such a dumb question.' Rachel and I loved her question. I think it gets at the heart of the relationship we should have with Jesus. What was the question? 'Jesus, what's your favorite food?' She told Rachel she felt bad because everyone was saying 'God doesn't care about meaningless things like food and besides we don't eat in heaven anyway.' Hmmm. Guess I missed that part in the Bible. But at the very least, Jesus walked on planet earth for 33 years. I bet he had a favorite food. Perhaps this all sounds 'ramblish', but for me it says that her heart is concerned about the simple and sincere relationship with can have with Jesus. He is our King. Yes. He is our Savior. Yes. And He's also our friend. I wonder if Jesus is more excited when we ask Him what His favorite food is more than he is about (as Rachel pointed out) 'what did you write in the sand in front of the woman caught in adultry?'
All I know is I'm proud of her. I think it was a great question. I think it's a question you ask someone you love and talk to often. I'm proud of her. And I want her childlike faith and sincere desire to be in Jesus' presence every moment. May Jesus find my heart curious for Him.

More Wrestling...and Worshipping.

2009-08-30T21:38:00.005-04:00

The premise of the book I wrote about yesterday is that rabbits reproduce faster than elephants. How's that for some sex education! Rabbits are simple. Elephants complex. In church talk, it takes more resources, time, energy, you name it - to reproduce a 'big' model. A mega-church is visible and takes a huge amount of money and resources to reproduce. Not with simple churches. "A plague of rabbit churches could transform a nation." It's at the very least something worth considering. Maybe I'm missing the author's intention, but I'm sensing that the above picture is their premise; Rabbits in the hand of the Creator.

Interesting. I don't have cable so you can imgagine my excitement that the Bears were to be on 'regular' t.v. tonight. I only get about 5 stations, and NBC is always the full signal station. Not tonight. This is the first time I have not gotten the station. All this to say, I guess God wanted me to have conversation with Him with Rachel and to continue my journey through The Rabbit and the Elephant. This is good stuff! It's good tonight because Tony has me wrestling with God through Luke 10. It's increasing my hunger for God and for His passion for lost people. Most of you know Rachel and my prayer and that our journey is passionate about what Greg Lee terms 'the New'. "God is always in the new." I am challenged by the sub-heading 'Trust God to provide the strategy and the workers.' Here is the reality. Rachel and I just prayed about this very thing exactly about 30 minutes ago! God's Spirit in me is whispering to my spirit in this moment...'Kaser. All I need is a yes from you. You say yes, and I promise you I will provide the rest. You can trust me. You put your energy on the 'yes, Lord, we will' and you will begin immediately to see what I have been at work doing in You and in others. So what will it be Andy? Do you trust me?' There He goes again...answering my questions with questions!
Tony puts in this line...and it's a promise that aligns with the character of God; "If Jesus sends you somewhere, you can have confidence that He will accompany you." God will provide the resources. He will lead us to the hurting because He is most concerned about their need. The sick. That's where God's pursuing. I want to join Him.
So here's the deal God. I'm in. The answer is yes. Rachel and I are in. Our kids are in. I'll end with that tonight. As soon as the words exit my mind as a yes, surely the enemy seeks to grab it, add fear, throw some pinches of inadaquacy in, and push that yes right back inside me. So Lord, in your strength help me say yes...momently. To seek you momently. To worship you momently. So as that song says, Lord I will worship while I'm waiting.
If you are a reader of this blog, please join me in prayerfully reading and re-reading Luke 10. Surely this reality of 'harvest' is deeply in the heart of Christ. What if God asks you what He's asking me? All I know for us is 'yes.' But that is a hard three letter word to say. There's a lot in that little word. It's hard to say. It's even harder to keep.
Yes.
And I will worship while I'm waiting.

The Rabbit and the Elephant.

2009-08-29T08:17:00.004-04:00

I was fumbling through this new book that Doug Gamble had on his desk, hoping he'd get the hint to offer it to me for borrowing. And He did! It has taken until last night to get to some content that excited me. I do not normally give a book past the first two chapters, but some reason I did, and God has really pulled out some things and challenged my thinking. I wrestled last night heavily using my evernote account. Here are some of the books reflections and my thoughts. Ultimately I am hungry for Christ and seeking to be more intentional in seeing God's movement and the Holy Spirit's promptings. I'm a year into this path and I'm just blown away by how much more God I see and hear in my every day life. I'm in love with Jesus and this momently life with Him. So with this foundation, I can't help but keep dreaming of community. It's like I can picture the scene in my mind.
"Imagine a people with their hearts on fire and a church that consistently seeks God's face, learns his will, and then obeys it.
We cannot expect a movement of God to come easily. We need people to 'pray' the price."
'Andy'; I can hear Him say...'Why wouldn't God call you to pray more? To talk to him more? Why not 3 hours a day in prayer. Is that a waste of time? Why not pray with your team for 3 hours a day? Too unproductive? Why not spend one day per week in fasting and prayer? Why not ask your team to do the same with you? Why not become a fluid team who trusts in the movement of God and His promise to draw people to Himself and initiate transformation?'
A.T. Pierson; "From the day of pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three. And no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined."
So am I willing to pay the price for an ongoing and sustained move of God?
"Our time is never boring or insignificant when it's led by the Holy Spirit.
Non-religious Christianity. It's the kind of spirituality that cannot be contained in a box or placed on an agenda. It cannot be programmed or reduced to a curriculum. Wolfgang Simson; "Programs are what the church resorts to when the H.Spirit leaves."
There really is a lot self reflection here. Maybe the challenge for those of us who have been following for a long time is being able to peel off all the layers of religion that have wrapped themselves so tightly around our hearts. "There should never be enough structure that the church can survive without the presence of God." I'm scared. I'm scared that we have put fences around our ability of 'experiencing God'. I think we need to make space for God's Spirit to move in us. Again I sense God asking me; "Andy, what if?"
God's answers most commonly come to me in the form of a question.
I love God. I love how He loves me. And I love how He invites me to consider 'what if?'

Greatness.

2009-08-21T22:02:00.007-04:00

"Lets not confuse what it means to be great with what it means to be famous. i think to be famous is what you do for yourself and greatness is what you do for others." Erwin McManus

Rachel and I have had some great conversations this week. With each other. With Greg Lee and Doug Gamble. With Josh and Amy Walker. Family. Friends. And with God. It seems that God is creating a monumental chapter in our lives...one of those early chapters that ultimately determines the conclusion of a life story. This week some amazing thoughts came from some people we have tremendous love and respect for. I know prayer is not a magic button, but for us it's a matter of exercising a discipline of obedience. It's trusting that God longs for us to include Him, invite Him, and beckon Him. He is the sovereign One. There is power in our prayers - our words and groans rush the heart of God and there is evidence that persistence really does go noticed and appreciated by God. The other obvious thing - obvious now that I've actually journaled and am watchful of it - is that when you pray specifics it's easier to see God's answers. They become more clear instead of giving us the chance to wonder if it was Him or chance. When we pray specifically for wisdom, clarity, and discernment - and He answers us, it's not a coincidence. Ever. It's God's kindess.
The truth is, we pray so that we can draw near to Christ. We pray so that we can hear what God is wanting to speak into our souls. We pray so that we can see humanity through God's eyes. Our prayers are really for one purpose - to know Christ. If my prayers are for anything other than knowing Him more intimately - it's about me instead of about Him.
I love the above quote. And it is with great pleasure that Rachel and I pray our family would be about greatness. That's where our hearts beat. How can we most effect the lives that interact and engage around us? How could God best use us to reflect the loving, graceful, powerful, and eternal Jesus?
I know that whatever the answer is, it begins with Christ IN me. The 'whatever Christ does through me' is the overflow of what Christ does IN me.
May my life sacrifice all things for the sake of others.
So let it be.

Overflowing Living Water

2009-08-14T22:06:00.003-04:00

It's all about Him. I say that a lot, but it is so true. Everything good comes from Him. He pours Himself out. His sacrifice alone creates life. Rachel and I continue to pray as one that He unveils Himself continually in our steps. I praise Him for who He is and what He's done - and His promise for what is yet to come.
My desire is to be so filled with Him that I'm like Jeremiah - I cannot hold Him in. I love what it says in John 20 after the resurrection – “Jesus breathed on them.”
"Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
That is my prayer in this moment. I want to breathe the very breath of Christ. There is nothing more satisfying than absorbing Him with every sense possible. Few times in life can I sense His closeness as I do right now. I know He's always positioned in me, but there are times when you cannot see, hear, or feel His presence and movement in and around you. I'm grateful that He lifts us up just when He knows we truly need to be confirmed in Him.
Oh God I want more and more of You. Take my heart and form it to your likeness. Take my mind and transform it to want what you want. May my eyes see as you see. May my heart beat for what your heart beats for. May your living water overflow from my cup. Give me wisdom. Give me discernment. Give me peace. Fill me with your Spirit.
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Isaiah 26:9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
Psalm 42 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

So let it be.

I'm seriously blessed to be a part of this...

2009-08-11T22:09:00.004-04:00

This is the video that was created by Suncrest to give a glimpse at their heart for (as Greg Lee put it) 'the new.' He painted a convincing picture of how God’s bias is toward the NEW…from new life to new churches.
I just think it's cool how they are sold out for the NEW. Many of churches have become sunken iron ships because they sailed around and gathered resources for themselves...hoarding them unto their sinking. God calls us to give to His work...His new work. I have never yet heard of a story where someone or some church proclaimed that they gave too much away to others and God didn't return in 10 fold in blessings. Truth is, I never will hear that story. I'm just blessed to be alongside their journey...our journey. And I'm also thankful that my children are in an environment to see that God is so much bigger than us...and our little morsel of planet earth we call home.

Earnestly with Anticipation.

2009-08-11T21:28:00.004-04:00

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

In some ways, I feel like I've been in a desert the past 6 years. From failure to victory, to wandering and home, to confusion and clarity, to good days and bad days, to praising Him and sinning against Him, to questioning Him and listening to Him, to hope and hopelessness...I've pretty much experienced every emotion and reality of my soul. This month has already been unprecedented in hope and affection for my perfect Heavenly Father. He really is the sovereign One. He's above all and yet invades every ounce of my being - every fragment of my soul. He pursues me with passionate infused grace. He lifts my chin when my weakness has left me unable to lift my eyes to Him.
This Psalm echos my heart. And the climax is that profound word 'earnestly.' It is in direct opposition to 'sometimes' and 'haphazardly' and 'non-chalant' and 'when convenient.' It has that 'all in' verbage.
Lately I've been earnestly seeking my Father in prayer. I know it sounds cliche. But I'm serious. I mean I've re-organized my life and schedule around this idea of 'seeking Him with a whole heart and contrite spirit.' I've had to make a concious effort to break out of the mundane and get back to the sacred heart of my first love. Some of the most significant times in this journey involve praying with Rachel. It's been 11 nights in a row. I know it sounds sad...only 11. But I'm happy beyond measure.
Today was an amazing day. God showed up when to be honest, I didn't really see it coming. Rachel says that's evidence it was God. I couldn't have shaped some amazing conversation to come along any better...at a better time. I feel like the son who's dad tells him he's proud of him. I think that paints the most accurate picture of what I'm feeling right now. Believed in. Wanted. Significant. Loved.
God showed up through the words of my dear friend Doug Gamble at Suncrest today. Earnestly I seek God. And today God affirmed that He too earnestly seeks us.
And that is amazing. Early will I seek Him. Earnestly will I seek Him. Momently will I seek Him.
And yet before I ever considered seeking Him, He seeks me. It's momently. It's relentless. It's unconditional. It's eternal.

Chocolate Fast.

2009-08-02T21:04:00.004-04:00

I don't want the chains of my bed and sleep to keep me from seeking my Father. I want to long for my Father as Christ did. I want to hunger for God like David. I pray that the Spirit in me helps me to have a desire that burns within me. I want this holy fire to stir my soul and burn the chains that bind me from entering into that sacred and intimate one on one experience. It needs to happen early before my day becomes filled with self-indulgence. "No man gets God who does not follow hard after Him, and no soul follows hard after Him who is not after Him early." I guess there is no other way of slicing it other than laziness. At the very least it's an issue of priority.
So what else must I do in this August pursuit? Today Rachel and I had a wonderful bike ride together. It was a perfectly created day for us to devour. As we went through the trails the sun would dance through the trees. In the midst of that ride I discussed how addicting some things must be to people. The conversation started with the inability of someone, who is a young man with young children, unable to quit smoking even after having two heart-attacks. It migrated from that to a personal level - what things have a hold on me? What in this August month would be a challenge for me to give up? What could I fast from that would lead to increased prayer? So my wife went there. She thought of the ultimate pleasure in my life. Chocolate. Yep, you heard it right, c-h-o-c-o-l-a-t-e. One month, no chocolate -nada, zilch, zero. I once went 3 years without this sacred taste of pleasure, but for the past 10 years I pretty much have needed a fix of it daily...sometimes hourly. So the deal is, starting at midnight tonight I am fasting from my lover. When I have the urge, it will prompt me to pray. If I obey, this will lead me into more prayer than I've ever spoken. It is not some self-righteous thing, it's just a simple opportunity to laugh and then to thank God and pursue Him in that moment. Rachel's doing it with me. She rocks. I tried to talk her out of the idea because it's a gift from God to help me function, but it didn't phase her. I'm not sure she eats one billionth the chocolate that I eat, but we are one - even in our chocolate rejection. I've fasted for 24 hour periods numerous times, but I think this is going to be a far greater challenge. My plans are to stay up until 11:59 pm and swallow my last molecule of cocoa for a month.
So the next quest is in motion. Get up early. Fast from chocolate. And most importantly speak and listen momently with Father concerning His plans for me, my family, and our ministry. I love August. And I love that God is in us, in this, and in me. Here we go! Amen.

The August Journey.

2009-08-01T20:36:00.006-04:00

"The principle cause of my leanness or unfruitfulness is owing to an unaccountable backwardness to pray"(Newton). That is a significant statement laced with deep truth. Everything about my life - inner and outer - is in relation to my life of 'prayer' - intimacy with God. Luther said; "If I fail to spend two hours a day in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day." Wow! Seriously, I don't want to admit it or make prayer sound like some regimented stoic act (stupid), but when sincere and wholehearted (wise) prayer is blessing waiting to happen. I'm currently trying to understand the significance of Jesus' praying early in the morning. He n ever came right out and said 'pray early in the morning', yet that is what He did. There has to be some rhyme and reason to it. I never have found where Jesus withdrew around a noon and prayed. Not that He wasn't momently with His Father, but even in that life he still 'withdrew' to lonely places to be intimate with the Father. With the random chaos of my days...work and no work, kids up early, Rachel getting up at 4 am, etc. it is not going to be any easy next step for me. But, unfortunately, God is calling me to it. I've even considered asking God if 12:01 am would count because that is more me than the 5 am time slot, but still no 'yes' yet from Him. I don't really think the time is the issue, but timing is. It must happen daily. It must happen in rhythm. It must be the 'pre' anything of my day. I have to express to God and committ myself to a posture that I sincerely want God and I am willing to do anything, anytime, anywhere, to meet Him.
I'm struggling how to phrase what I am feeling. I guess more than anything I want Christ to me the center of my affection. I want Him to be my first. I want Him to be my all. I want Him to be my center of attraction...and the greatest way of modeling Jesus to do that, is via the amazing gift of interaction (prayer) with God.
Tonight before my children's bed time, our family knelt around our floor and held hands and we prayerd. We haven't done that in a while. We shared our 2009 family verse; "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21). I believe God is doing a great work IN us. In our family. In me. And although I'm not momently convinced (my flesh) I truly am opening my hands, posturing myself in trust that He is indeed working and has bigger dreams for us than I do. His ways far greater than my wildest imagination.
So tonight begins the August journey for Rachel and I. I know she connect with the Father daily. And I look forward to joining her on this path. Eyes wide open to see Him. Ears wide open to hear Him.
Speak to us Lord, for your children are here - waiting on You. Unveil my eyes. My ears. And especially my Heart that I might know you more. Amen.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Grateful.

2009-07-30T21:23:00.004-04:00

Momently conversation with the Father - empowered and enhanced by the Holy Spirit and given freely through Christ. It's not only the unleashed power in our lives, it's the joy of our salvation today! It's the soil of peace. I am learning and have looked through the stories that compose my life and I proclaim that when there is intimate connection with God (conversation and communication) obedience, joy, peace, compassion, and blessing arise. When I'm not exercising my soul with constant communication (prayer) there are little chapters of tragedy.
"The character of our lives will be determined by the character of our prayer."
I don't just nod my head and say this is a true statement by E.M. Bounds, I've lived it, felt it, seen it. It's true. My life changes daily. It will either be for the better of the worse...for me and for those I love around me. I again go back to this breakthrough nearly a year ago of this whole life change I've surrendered to. With all that is within me I believe in the momently life - unceasing conversation and observation with God. Without it my life is fragmented. It's weak. It's bleak. It's blemished. It's awkward. It's fearful. It's selfish. Whenever my eyes shift attention, the Spirit of God brings my sight back to Him. Sometimes that takes a minute, sometimes a day, but the love of God in me 'compels me'. He is why I do what I do. It's all about Him IN me. What is true for the tending of my own soul is true about my relationship with my wife and children. It's also true in my interaction with humanity and my ability to be a vessel for the flowing life blood of Christ to the lost. Bounds says it this way; "Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still."
Surely in and of myself I really am insignificant. But IN Christ - in momently communion with Him (prayer) I can see, touch, taste, and hear my fellow hurting humanity with the very DNA of Christ. That is amazing.
With the Father I need to talk more. Listen always. Trust now. I need to deny my 'self', lift my eyes, and engage with Him...momently.
This is a confession of my lack of committment to see through the complexity and uncertainty of my life. It's a confession that I have not arrived. It's a confession that I still question. I still struggle. I still wonder. I still cry. But tonight is a good night. Today was a good day. God's favor is new EVERY morning. With gut wrenching worship and cry out MY GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART! Your greatness captures all of me in this sacred moment with you - and my heart is wholely grateful. I give thanks to you - for YOU are good and your love and mercy endure forever! One moment at a time. Unceasing.
I'm grateful. And I love you.

It begins...

2009-07-24T21:47:00.003-04:00

God and Andrew. It's time for me to forget about where I'm headed or where I've been and even what I'm doing. It sounds so wrong when I type it. But, it's time to praise and give my devotion to Who I'm with. God has been breathing into my lungs His Spirit and with each breath over my nostrils I am given new life. How quickly my passion and devotion and self-worth can focus on good things, all the while missing the Great One! Today was a great day. Re-embracing Jon in a heart to heart conversation about God in us. We consider where we've been and where we are at. He's walked with me in the woods. He has guided me, mentored me, loved me, and much like a Father puts his daughters hand in the hand of the groom, he has put my hand more firmly back into Rachel's and my Savior's. I love him dearly. And we continue to sharpen one another in the depths of our faith. We sat on rocking chairs on his cabin porch in the wilderness overlooking the pond. The simple things captured me. The sacred things. Wildflowers and hummingbirds. Fish rippling the water. Pond lillies opening with the warmth of the sun. And seeing God in all of it. Hearing God in Jon's voice. Seeing and experiencing the simplicity of conversation in Jesus.
Tonight has been a good night. Re-kindling the momently love with my wife. She's amazing. In this conversation and reflection I sensed God leading me to descend the stairs to my office. On the shelves are hundreds of novels and books, some new and some worn and weary. I prayed God to lead me back into Him - and to give me direction on where to begin. So here is the short list; The Bible, Power Through Prayer (E.M. Bounds - pictured), Experiencing the Trinity; The Pursuit of God (A.W. Tozer), and The Cost of Discipleship (Bonhoeffer). These are more than meals in my journey. They are the holiday feasts. They have been sacred moments for my soul, where God met me intimately and powerfully. I've got my books in my hands - praying the Spirit of God lead me more deeply into His presence. I come with one prayer - that I may know you more Lord. I want You more. Amen.

God's Word Lives

2009-07-23T22:03:00.002-04:00

I love this picture. It reminds me that I have to keep jumping in. It's fresh repetition. I've been just meditating on God lately. I shouldn't be saying 'lately'...I should be saying 'since I gave my life to Him.' But reality settles in. All I know is that I have been searching for His heart with increased intensity...and there are days my hope seems to be dry and withered. But then I remember passages of old - and this is just what the Spirit spoke to my heart tonight. Perhaps it could add some significance to your position in life as well. I'm going to just lay back and let this settle in. Fill me with Your Spirit of hope O' Lord. Amen.

Romans 8:25-28
25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2009-07-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

The 'Royal Excursion' Treatment

2009-07-21T10:21:00.002-04:00

Nine of our t-ballers and their fams enjoyed a day out at the ball park last week. Shannon Kaser (what a great last name) let me take the stretch Hummer to the big city of North Liberty and pick everyone up for a Silver Hawks game. The looks on their faces was priceless. He also hooked us up for a 'field of dreams' experience. Each kid was given a baseball and allowed to go out on the field. The players autographed their baseball and when it was time for the anthem, each kid had his name announced as he ran out with one of the players to their position! What a Riot! I always talk about 'capturing' the moments of our lives - and all of us definitely had a memory captured for the rest of our lives. Thanks Royal Excursion and Shannon Kaser for blessing us! Any time we can spend with our kids and capture moments together is an amazing day that God has given us! Aside from the $3 bottled water - what a grandious day indeed!

Hummer's Wed.

2009-07-20T10:28:00.004-04:00

Saturday I had the privilege of standing before Rick and Tabitha as they took an oath to be followers of Jesus as Husband and Wife. There is nothing like an outside wedding - the canvas of the the heavens overhead as we prayed God's best on them and in them. Maybe you know them, maybe you don't. But right now...please pause and pray for their new life and their next steps. Pray for wisdom, for direction, and ultimatley for the Holy Spirit to consume them and guide their hearts IN Christ. He's my cousin...and we welcome Tabitha into the family too - she's crazy for joining our ranks! May your joy be complete IN Him...as you love each other with all you have within you. To best worship God, we give our best to our marriage! Blessings cousins. I love ya.

Check Out Suncrest East Blog

2009-07-08T21:34:00.002-04:00

We are blessed in this season of our lives to be welcomed by the family at Suncrest Christian Church. I'm thankful for relationships...and for the heart beat of reproducing churches. It's an honor to walk alongside. Observe. Serve. Worship.
http://suncresteast.org/

My Response Is To Worship...

2009-07-02T22:31:00.001-04:00

Focus.

2009-06-17T10:51:00.005-04:00

Dave Rahn's words often come out of no where, often not even directed at me, and yet they penetrate with lazer accuracy on where God currently has my attention. "Where there is no vision, people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). 'This truism really pertains to how important prophetic vision is for a life ordered around divine guidance and boundaries. We pretty casually apply the quotable KJV to what we know about leading others. It's got a proven shelf life in our collective experience.
Leaders articulate a vision that is compelling to others. In fact, they often embody the very essence of what they ask others to do or become. This clarity of direction instills hope in people amidst the toil and hardships of their journeys.
Most leaders could increase their effectiveness by improving their skills as vision-casters. And during tough times--where disciplined extra-hard work may be warranted--very few routines may be as life-giving as the act of reflecting on the vision that the Lord has given us for why we do what we do.' Many times he has looked me in the eye with conviction and said; 'Reposition yourself to reach the young people of the community, stick around for the long haul, and you can see that community transformed.' I can't shake this. Many would say coincidence. Most wouldn't even catch it. But when I'm so tuned in and relentlessly seeking Him with uceasing conversation and observation, I must acknowledge it is from God. Mystical? Supernatural? Let's just call it God's answer to my literal cries for Him. I don't often see God in grandeous ways. I don't often see Him in those big cloud shapes in the sky moments. Which honestly makes me mad sometimes. He can do those things for sure, but for some reason He seems to make me sweat tears and turn up stones...usually multiple times...and often with long periods of silence. It can be quite frustrating. But most of the time I trust Him. I wish I could say all the time. Or at least find the joy in waiting. That is the tough part for me. You ever been there? I've recently began to be more specific with my Father. I'm trying to get away from my former way of prayer (beating around the bush that even probably confuses God and certainly leaves little opportunity for me to know if he even answered it). I just have to grow up and tell Him what I'm thinking. I have to have faith that I'm not going to offend Him. I told Him last Friday night that certain things suck right now. That was weird telling God that. But it felt good to just get it out. He pretty much just said, yeah Andy, I knew that (I forget that He already knows my thoughts). Some decisions need to be made. Some next steps mapped out. But there's good news.
Next week Rachel and I head out to CPAC (an assessment process for church planting). They poke and prod you psychologically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. They also examine our personality traits and professional experience - you name it! That makes me a bit anxious. But I'm also excited. I've been praying for a long time for some clearer direction and I put this in His hands. That's not always easy, but I'm trying. I'm excited to hear about what God is doing IN us. I'm excited about hearing men and women give some direction to focus on and areas to improve and clarify. I'm committed to hearing what God in them leads them to say. It really is a monumental week for us. God is with us. He's in us. And we humbly ask you to pray for us. Your prayers have led us and continue to sustain us.
So let it be.

Go Deep.

2009-06-11T21:36:00.004-04:00

Rachel left me a note on my keyboard this morning - attached to a torn out page to some devotional book she has. The verse that it wraps around is Luke 5:4; "He said to Peter, launch out into the DEEP, and let down your nets." This had to be a hard pill to swallow for a group of professional fishermen. Jesus was a carpenter for 'Pete's' sake (no pun intended). They were tired. They had fished all night and caught zero, nada, zippo, fish. They had just cleaned up the nets and were soon to be headed home to catch some z's. That's when Jesus enters the scene and tells Peter what to do.
I've taught this text before concerning the radical call to follow Jesus. This was the first 'awestruck' moment for Peter. In fact it kind of freaked him out. He told Jesus to get away from him; 'a sinful man.' The story ends with a powerful command and promise. 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.' Peter had no clue what in the world Jesus was talking about, but he didn't care. He was all in. The text ends with jaw dropping facts. They pulled their boats in (full of a lot of money's worth of fish) and "they left everything" (fish, boats, nets, lunch, everything)... "and followed Jesus."
The question Jesus asks me is; Andy. Are you willing to follow me? Are there any boats, fish, or gear that you are unwilling to leave behind?
The author of the devotion says it this way; 'Sometimes god calls us to leave our comfort zones and to "launch out into the deep." He does not say how deep. That depends upon how ready we are to give up the shore. The fish are are in the deep, not in the shallow waters. Our needs are met in the deep things of God. We must be in the depth of His will and purpose until our whole being is yielded in obedience to Him.'
Tonight I continued in John 6. Jesus again withdraws 'to a lonely place.' Then he comes down off the mountain and 'walks on the water.' The disciples were freaked out again. And His command echos the same thing from the devo this morning (I'm thinking God is trying to tell my scared self something). "It is I (Jesus); do not be afraid." Will there be storms? Yep. Am I freaked out? Yep. But I need to let the water cover my feet - and step in faith, trusting God with my life. He is faithful. Always.
I pray Lord that as you live IN me, You give the strength to go deep. I want to go to the marginalized people. And I know they linger in the deep. Search my heart O' God. Help me to be willing to 'leave everything' to follow you.

Lonely Places.

2009-06-10T22:08:00.004-04:00

"Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples" (Jn 6:3).
I know it seems random, but I have to just stop on this verse. Large crowd following Jesus because he is a great healer of the sick. He's a popular guy. And yet he always purposed sacred moments to spend with his 'inner sanctum.' This seriously paints a picture for me that makes me posture myself as I look in the eyes of the One who gave and gave...and still gives and gives...to me. I think that we don't reflect enough on how God has positioned us. This simple verse is one that I would have concluded was not a weighty verse worth memorizing. It would one of those random filler verses. But I'm really liking it. It just caught me as I read it. Without being wordy, I just think that the Christ is prompting me to 'purposefully position' myself to sit on the mountain with Him. It reminds me of another of my favorite sayings in Scripture, even though I confess I hear it better than live it. It says that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places". I don't know about you, but it's easy to live in the crowds (often called technology). It's not easy to live...even for moments...in the lonely places. All I know is, I need to seek Him. And it is going to be in a place without all the noise. I trust Him. He says that when we seek, we find. Pray for me. This is a momently enhancement. I think Jesus is asking me, and perhaps you, to join him on the mountain. I can't think of a better place to be. Here I go.

Modern Day Wells.

2009-06-09T12:40:00.007-04:00

Before my 'prayer walk' this afternoon at Suncrest, I've been reading some good ol' Bible. It's been amazing how much more the Spirit prompts my heart simply by asking Him to breath life into the text. I'm convinced that I could read this amazing letter from God and never let it really 'touch' me and move me. Prayer ought proceed any page flipping.
God in me just noticed an amazing progression. I get excited watching people take the faith of others and make it their very own. It's when Jesus invades them and they committ to living their lives for Him. No more shirt tail Christianity. It's intimate oneness.
In John 4 there's a woman who has had 5 husbands and is currently 'shacking up' with another guy (probably soon to be husband). Jesus is not the one that brought it up, although he knew of her complex lifestyle. Instead he initiates conversation about water with a person he shouldn't have been talking with on two fronts; a. woman, b. samaritan (non-Jew). It's the double Jewish boy no-no. But Jesus isn't much for rules so he chats with her. Read the whole story for yourself, but the part that came alive to me was how Jesus told her he was the 'Christ' and she high tailed it into town and blabbed it to everyone. I'm sure she was quite well known with many extended family members with all those marriages! Anyway, she tells a lot of people. And vs. 39 says that many Samaritans believed because of her testimony. We are talking about a woman who has what many would say is a 'sad' testimony who hasn't really lived a life worthy of having people trust her. But they do, simply because she says Jesus is the 'Christ'. Then it says (vs 41) that MANY more believed when they heard Jesus speak for Himself. I hear some progression here. In vs 42 they tell the woman, it's not about you anymore, but we KNOW for ourselves that HE IS the Savior.
I guess I just love the fact that we all have a story to tell. And we all have our modern day wells we visit. My part of the plan is to tell people and more importantly show people what it means to live IN Him and FOR Him. In spite of my 'lack of earned trust' because of my failures, some people will still see and hear my heart's passion for this immensely grace consumed Jesus. And as they come closer I give them time to process Jesus for themself. And then the ultimate climax is when they choose to 'give their life' over to the one who gave His to them. But that's not the climax. I'm not talking heaven ticket. I'm talking when they live out the here and now Kingdom that Jesus talks about. Now that's progression. And that's why I want to be a part of God's planting movement. I need to go to the wells and be me with 'people'. Mingle for no reason other than to live momently IN Christ...giving the Holy Spirit His time and trust to let the progression happen.
So let it be Lord.
Let it be with me.

Adopted.

2009-06-08T21:58:00.005-04:00

Meet my dear friend Matt. He and his wife recently planted a church in Miramar Florida. We have spent some time together down in Orlando and recently in Chicago. We both have been student ministers in Indiana and both believe with all that we are that God has called us to plant churches. He and his wife began their journey a couple of years ago in South Florida. I love to hear stories of how God moves people's spirits with dreams bigger than we can ever imagine. I had recieved word a few days ago that he (they) and their pursuit church has come to the rescue of Rachel and I. We are headed to an 'assessment' in a couple of weeks, but until just a couple of weeks ago we were unable to go financially. God, in a matter of a day rose up the support for us to go. Then I get word that Matt asks one of the sponsors if he could take their portion! Did you hear that right? He asked an organization that already was in with supporting us through this if the pursuit could fund us instead? That's crazy! It's also passion. Matt's heart is completely convinced of the church planting movement. He has seen it and felt it. He daily gets to see lives changing and stories piercing his heart of transformation and redemption. We share a common bond. A common passion. I am honored to be partnering with this Guy. God has blessed my indeed.
Now on the practical side, please pray / praise for them. Matt and Janie fly out on June 17th for Taiwan. They will get to meet for the first time their son. His name is Chase. I think that beyond anything else, this is the greatest portrait of Matt's heart. I'm proud of him. And beyond that, he and his wife are overwhelmed with this gift that God is bringing into their lives. So please pray. As you know, adoption can be a roller coaster emotionally because so much is uncertain and so much can change instantly. We pray that indeed the papers are signed and that God will allow them a return with their son.
It's the same way we come to our Father. We don't have a clue nor are we even capable of finding our way 'home.' But the Father adopts us! He loves and provides for us before we can even fathom of what or who a Father even is.
Check this out; "...he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..."(Ephesians 1:5).
He predestined (pre-created planning on God's part).
His sons (we have full rights as his children - there is no distinction - HIS).
His pleasure (he actually delights in having us as His children - screwed up and all. His love never ends. Never fails. It's unconditional).

"How great is the love the father has lavished on us that we should be called the sons and daughters of God - and that is what we ARE!" I John 3:1
Good night. I think this reality is where I want to lay my head down in worship.

I'm the branch.

2009-06-07T22:07:00.004-04:00

I've officially become religious. Well, not really, but as close as I've been in a long time. For the second evening in a row I've ridden my bike out to an undisclosed location and sat on a bridge wall and watched water flow over a man made waterfall. That's as close to 'structured' as I've seen for awhile. Rachel and I had a challenging and convicting conversation the other night and I sensed God was using her to breath some wisdom and Holy Spirit cries for me. So I'm giving this 'scheduled alone time with God' thing another shot. I admit that it doesn't take away from my quest of 'momently' living In Him, but actually enhances it. So my journey begins anew. So the other night I sat outside, read His word, and just candidly told God that I'm tired of trying to see His will for me. I told Him I'll look, but I'm kind of tired of praying and not knowing. So some would say it was just me having conversation with myself, but I believe Jesus actually speaks, and so however you want to describe it, He said ok, don't pray about it anymore. I said; fine then. It's settled.' But then He put this thought into my spirit. So here's my new...or old...idea re-tried. I've determined to no longer pray; 'God show me Your will.' Instead, I'm praying; 'God show me Your self.' He is. He always will. And ultimately that's all I really want and need anyway. What is God's will except that we be one with each other? Fully known and given over to each other unconditionally? Fully alive in each other? As I sat there this evening I couldn't help but see the vines grabbing a hold of a near by fence striving to make their way across that chasm. The Spirit speaks deep within me the words of Jesus in John 15; "I am the vine, you are the branches." Earlier in that text is says something to the effect of; "Abide in me, and I in you." There it is! I don't know why I am amazed, but that's God already answering my prayers. Andy! All that matters is that we abide in each other. Don't get all bent out of shape of going here or there, doing this or that. We go together and live the 'momently' life. I sensed Jesus leaning into me on that ledge and saying, Andy; "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish , and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified...As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." These words were recorded a couple thousand years ago, but I'm convinced Jesus spoke them directly to me tonight. And I'm hopeful that even now you too may sense Him leaning into you and breathing His words of life into you. Oh how He loves us and longs for us to live momently IN Him.

Wedding Bells And Brothers.

2009-06-06T21:18:00.009-04:00

It's Saturday night and I just got home from marrying Evan and Londa (conducting the ceremony). I have to preface that ever since I told someone that "I married my cousin this weekend." It took me a few minutes to figure out their confusion. Ok back to the topic. A few years ago I was blessed to be alongside them in the waters of baptism and tonight I was honored to share their stage as God made them one. Oneness is so crazy isn't it! I mean we simply cannot fathom what God does spiritually inside of us. His analogies are so...beyond us! And yet it allows us to humbly bow and worship and proclaim how great He is. I'm proud of them. They have been through a lot in their young journey, and yet they find themselves here - now a story of oneness in their pursuit of Jesus and each other. I'm glad I'm a part of their lives. They encourage me. And they know my committment to them reaches far beyond a few counseling sessions and a wedding ceremony. Marriage is a path. There are always obstacles and 'sincere' decisions that don't prove to be the wisest path, but God is in them and for them. Rachel and I are here for them. We pray God's consuming presence in their lives.

I also had a chance to catch up with a dear friend and his wife; Mike and Aleigha. He was "that kid" in my youth ministry. You know, the ones that have those moments when you want to look the punk kid in the eye and say; 'do you have any common sense up there?' The one's that have that spiritual gift of 'testing' their youth leaders. The crazy thing about these students is that they are the ones you can't live without. They are the ones that make you laugh and make you cry. They appreciate you and as they mature and start their own journey of life and you come back together after a season it's as though we were never apart. Even during the ceremony I looked over at him and God put in me - man I miss that kid (he's still a kid to me even though he could whip me now). They are the ones years after all the hoopla still love you and you have connection even though you've been disconnected by life. I have many 'kids' that I've had deep connection with that are out and about doing life and I'm always overwhelmed with gratitude when crosses our paths again. I loved seeing the joy in Michael's eyes today when he looks at his wife. He's the real deal. Genuine. Sincere. Compassionate. Loving. Perfect? Nah. But that's what I love about him. He knows about my imperfections. I know about his. But when we meet, we don't shake hands, we hug. We're brothers!

Then there is a guy named Chris. I hadn't seen him since he rode with me to pick up a body in Chicago (he thought I was kidding until we got to the airport!) I texted him every day for like 5 months - "I love you punk." Usually with no response, sometimes a very heart felt 'love u 2.' I think he meant the band and not me, but I was still thankful. He did sound today. I love that guy. I'm proud of him too. Except when he left the church today I texted him; 'u here?' He said 'nope.' I said; 'No hug before you leave? Where's the love?' He responds back, 'Sorry I am a jerk.' He's right. And so am I. We've all had jerk moments. It's just guys like Chris and I have had more than our fair share.
I guess tonight I just wanted to have a conversation with God and tell him how thankful I am for the young men he brought into my life. They bring me tremendous joy. They bless me. We're brothers.

Proverbs 17:17 NIV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

The Tangible Kingdom

2009-05-31T21:20:00.005-04:00

Before I wrestle with some 'churchy' concepts that this resource requires we face, here are a few stats from Barna;
Roughly half of all churches in America did not add one new person through CONVERSION growth last year.
Since 1991, the adult population in the US has grown by 15%. During that same period the number of adults who do not attend church has nearly doubled, rising from 39 million to 75 million - a 92% increase.
One of every 3 adults is 'unchurched' (has not attended a 'religious' service in the past 6 months).
Only 3 out of 10 twenty somethings attend church in a typical week.

I am not a rocket scientist, I'm a ragamuffin pursing Jesus. And as I pursue Him, along with my family, I understand that something must change. God doesn't change. Therefore, I must change. My connection to 'outcasted' humanity must change. My heart for God's creation must change. I am the one that needs to change. Something is desperately wrong with the picture that Christianity has painted of the love of Jesus. When people met Jesus as he strolled through their towns, the 'outcasts' were completely drawn to Him. They came out in droves to merely get a glimpse of this guy. Dirty, rotten, smelly, diseasy, lying, prostituting, drunken, unchurchy people couldn't resist Him. He had something to offer them. Always acceptance. Complete love. Unending compassion. Never judgement. So who disliked Him? Well, religious people disliked him. Sound strange? The people in synagogues hated him. Dedicated praying, 10 commandment abiding, sacrificing animal for their sins people. You hear the exlusivity don't you? Surely our ornate and polished up church practices haven't wondered from the Acts church? So what has happened? Or has anything changed? Hmm. It's ironic isn't it. The more inwardly focused we the church becomes, the more we reflect someone, and his name isn't Jesus. The more we 'think' we need to protect the sanctity of the church the more we become exclusive...all the while forgetting that Jesus was inclusive. He knew that with people and real life there is a thing called process. Process takes time. It takes community. It takes acceptance.
So where does it start? With Me. And many like me. Those of us who have sincerely missed it perhaps. Unintentionally missed it. Why? Because we live as though the 'outcasted' should just be beating down the doors to get into the church. Sounds great right. That is what they did with Jesus. So what is the problemo? Well, to be honest, there is really only one explanation. I am. We are. We have made programs, processes, and places the drawing point, instead of love and ultimately, the person of Jesus. I'm drawn in by what these guys suggest. I'm convicted. Sometimes even to tears. Sometimes I shout out hallelujah! This is exactly what I've been thinking and saying...and here is someone who words what my heart is feeling! Other times I'm basically drawn out by my feet, swung around by my ankles, and sent rotating through the air for a good crash landing. I need that. The reflection of these guy's hearts is doing that to me. I come away sweating at what the Holy Spirit of God is speaking to me. It is an intense wrestling match with God's Spirit in me colliding with my 'narrow minded traditional self.' I can't wait to share it. Until then, the premise is merely as the title proclaims. I hope my wording captures their intent, if not, this is what God intends in me as I process.
1. Kingdom. Just as Jesus came from heaven to earth and lived, so we shall live. Living as Jesus lived. Here. Now. Loving what he loved. Devoted to what He was devoted to. Passionate. Merciful. Graceful. Loving. Serving. Sacrificing. Heaven is great, but the Kingdom is HERE and NOW! And it's also bigger than I can imagine. It encompasses all people, all things, all principles. Jesus was all about KINGDOM! So shall we then!
2. Tangible. Living in such a way that everyone can SEE, FEEL, HEAR, SMELL, and TASTE that we indeed walk in Christ. We are one with Him. The Spirit lives in us and by his direction we live, move, and have our being. We proclaim Jesus by how we live, not by what we 'say.' We put flesh on the love of Christ when we embrace, hold, and live with community regardless of their response back to us. This way of life will ultimately reveal the glory and grace of Christ.

Instead of getting them to 'come' and be converted, we must go and love and live that they may see Jesus and as we come alongside them in community...we watch ALL of our lives be TRANSFORMED! Gone is the fallacy of 'numbered conversions' and here are the days of communal living and transformed lives!
Lord let YOUR KINGDOM COME...I want to be an usher. I love you God. Your crazy and that is just another reason I'm radically in love with You.
So let it be.

Working and Giving and Empowering.

2009-05-25T21:33:00.005-04:00

For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. (Phil 2:13)
I'm leaning on this promise of God. It is so wooing. Sometimes in the fear of floating in the sea and no sight of shore, I forget to look up. Or perhaps it's when I feel like my whole core has sank below the surface and there is deafening silence. There are some things that never change...like the rising of the sun in the east and the setting of it in the west. Even more so with God. I love this scripture translation above. It is precisely what God injected in my spiritual bloodstream tonight. God's Word becomes living and active when I pray before, during, and after I've read. It is by His Spirit that His word breathes life into my lungs. I want to know more of You O' God. God you have not just 'worked', but you are 'working.' You not just given me desires in the past, but you are 'giving' me every moment...desire and the power to please You. Gone is my excuse that I can't or I'm not good enough or strong enough or experienced enough or holy enough. I hear you tell me again in this moment that these sayings are too heavy with 'I' (Andy) and too light in 'Me'(God). Just keep doing whatever You are doing in me Lord. It's painful. Confusing. Crazy. And exciting. I trust you. I just don't trust myself. I'm grateful that You do not stop your pursuit of me even when I look back or question where you are at. I'm not sure exactly where I am at, but You do. To be honest I feel at times like the sunken guy who hears murmurs of a voice, but the water is too distorting. But for now, I'm satisfied with that. I'm going to bed with Your voice speaking the verse penned 2000 years ago for me, right here, right now. I'm Yours. All Your's.
Love You intimate Friend. Almighty King.

Most Amazing God

2009-05-18T16:28:00.001-04:00

IN.

2009-05-16T22:01:00.007-04:00

I'm always grateful for the chance to share my heart about the 'momently' life. Tomorrow morning I get that chance. Being in a season of not having opportunities to share what God is doing IN me in a corporate setting is a tough one for me. It's my pleasure. It is what God has put in me. Some people get excited about cars and cubs. Yes I love the Cubs too and even pray for them on occassion. Some people were made to cook, to build buildings, or sing with the voice of angels. Not me. My purpose is to talk about Jesus and giving our life to Him. Eric Liddell said that when he ran he 'feels God's pleasure.' For me that's opening up my heart and letting people see Jesus in me. It's letting people see my journey and hear my story and how God invaded it - and still does every day. Tomorrow I talk about momently. This shapes my life in every way. I believe Jesus can change the world. He already has. And He has told us how to live with Him - by living IN Him.
John 15. Check it out. It's never 'with Him.' It's always 'IN Him.' There is a huge difference. And I believe it's time for the church to transform from 'relationship with God' to living IN Jesus and Jesus IN me. I just don't think relationship language really cuts it anymore. Our culture and my generation has too many different concepts of what 'relationship' really means. It is aquaintance? Is it friends with benefits? Is it an occassional text? Or facebook friend status? There is intimacy in "IN" that is not found in "with".
In Christ I live, and move, and have my being. His heart is withIN me. And considering all that I know about all of me, that's amazing. He is amazing. He in me. I in Him. In this moment, I fall and worship.

It is well.

2009-05-10T21:57:00.004-04:00

Francis Chan said; Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying Jesus that doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, "there are two days on my calendar: this day and that day".
It's not easy living in the place Chan talks about. In many ways it sounds un-Christian as much as Christian. It's difficult to seperate how I was brought up in American 'Christiandom' from the radical trusting way of Jesus and the first Christians. On my way to Chicago today in the wee hours of the morning I found myself worshipping with a surrender I haven't had in a while. I know it's dangerous, but I had my ipod in one ear listening to podcasts. It was as though God was face to face with me. He was pleading with me to listen to Him. To see Him. And to seek Him with greather passion and intimacy. He's right. I even blurted out at Him, 'Lord I want to 'want' you more. But it sounds so sad that I would have to ask you to help me 'want' you. It's ridiculous. Why do I have to ask you to help me to 'want you.' But I do want you more. I want to burn for you. I want to hunger and yearn for YOU! And as sure as I'm sitting here I confess I need you to help me with even that. I hate to admit it Lord, but I do. I confess it. I'm longing and pursuing the momently life - and yet I am ridiculously distracted by stuff. I'm tired of 'stuff.' Stuff in my life is both good and bad things...and anything that is outside of momently living within You is stuff I do not want occupying my soul.
Momently. I know it's the key to you and me Lord.

Ok. Sorry for the rundown of my conversation. It went on for a while but that was the gist of it. Annie Dillard said; "How we live our days is...how we live our lives." She's right. But I think it can be broken down more simply. Her statement is a fraction that can be reduced. I believe it's 'how we live our moments is...how we live our lives.' I need to have candid conversations about the reality and condition of my heart and soul with God. I'm not going to tell Him something He doesn't already know so I may as well just come out with it. I just want to discover how to live each moment with Jesus. And I add - and actually WANT to. I want to WANT to live each moment in surrender to Him. Obedience. Joy. Peace. All of it. Every moment so that at the end of each day I can look at the summation of my moments and realize I have been with Jesus for all of it. Every breath. Every step. Every bite. Every look. I've always said that the greatest compliment someone could say about me is that 'Kaser is a guy who has been with Jesus.' I'm chaning that thought. Now it's more important that it could it be said of me that 'there is a guy that IS with Jesus...right now.'
I'm tired. Time for bed. Going mountain biking in the early morning. God in me. Momently.
It is well with my soul.

PS. My wife is an amazing woman. She runs away with the prize of MOY (Mom of the Year). She not only lets me dream, but she dreams with me. I am supreme chaos and unsettled, and although she's organized, she lets me chase after God. Sometimes I find Him, sometimes I have no clue where I've run. She's a fountain of trust in God. I love her. And there is no one like her. No one. She pretty much just rocks.

New Thing In Chicago

2009-05-06T21:35:00.005-04:00

I'm alive and strong when I've exercised or basked in it. I'm weak, afraid, and confused when I haven't. So obvious. Yet so quickly substituted. His living and active Word. At our New Thing gathering in Chicago this past Monday, I love that this is the first thing we layed in. His presence. His Word.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Colossians 3:23-24
This was the passage given to a gathering of New Thing guys in Chicago to meditate on and discuss in a small group. The Spirit really illuminated that first word for me. This season of my life has brought more requirements of me to 'trust' God than really any time in my life. I'd like to tell you I'm Mr. God Trust Guy. I'm not. Every moment I am trying - and I have many conversations with God that go something like this; Lord I hope you provide...will you please just give me a little nugget of affirmation and direction...just a glimpse...Oh yeah right...Yes Lord...I trust You. It's a vicious cycle because as soon as I say yeah I trust you Lord, I'm back to asking God for some kind of affirmation that He is still with me. He is. Sometimes I have no visual. I have no sight of a sign or a cloud formation in the form of an angel. I just have to trust Him. Trust that He is with me when I cannot hear Him or see Him. That's not always easy. Especially when you hear how He is showing up in other people's lives and you can't see Him in your own.
That word 'whatever' is large. I don't really like what I'm doing right now. I don't enjoy the fact that I have about 4 part time jobs that exhaust me and stress me. I don't like that I have no health insurance. But here is what I know, whatever I am doing...I lazer focus my attention and remember that I am doing it for God Almighty. I am not here to please man, but the King. Any one else struggle with that? Anyone else ever feel like there worth revolves around what they 'do'? Or how people perceive you? Appreciate you? I'm certainly in a 'whatever' phase of my life. I have no clue from one day to the next what I'll be doing or where I'll be doing it. But I know God is with me - and therefore He is in it. He's all in and that excites me. It keeps me taking one step at a time - often times with no clue where He's even taking me. For now, that just needs to be ok. So I travel. For Him. With Him.

Give. Give. And Wrecklessly Give.

2009-04-29T11:04:00.006-04:00

My Mamaw and Zalia. I just read that verse about the poor widow who gave everything she had to Jesus. I can't read that and not praise God for my Mamaw. Mamaw...she'll tell you she doesn't have much. In the eyes of our culture, she's right. She probably has less stuff than anyone I'm really close to...social security check to social security check is her reality. It's not the life most would dream of. But God. I love those two words together...But God. Mamaw has given her Life to Jesus. She lives with not much money BUT a whole bunch of GOD. She is a hero of mine. And in ways she'll never know, she has changed the world. Why? Because she's given out of her poverty - ALL that she has. Now let me transition that to this...
I'm sitting on a charter bus at a casino...it was filled with 50 senior citizens who are now inside 'surrendering' some cash. Great people. Funny. Lively. I watched them run (ok...some in wheel chairs and walkers)inside with great excitement. Who knows, maybe I'll take home a newfound millionaire. As I sit here, I'm reading Francis Chan's book 'Crazy Love' and wrestling with the whole idea of 'giving.' It's strange to my human self. I mean we are to enjoy life. Be guilt free. Enjoy our toys and nice homes as the very blessings of God. I even question this whole dichotomy of 10%. It sounds so strange to me. It seems like a false 'comfort' that I'm not sure God ever intended the church to live by. I mean I hear Jesus saying give your LIFE away. Follow ME. And I don't hear even a hint of 10%. Casino's? It's not really giving, because true giving is done with no intent of a return. They have expectations. It isn't like they give with a grateful heart - saying 'thank you Lord, I give this gift to feed the hungry and medicate the sick.' In a sense, it is a loss. I'm all about giving. But giving in the heart of Christ is able to lay it's head down at night knowing they changed how someone would forever see God and feel the touch of Jesus. If you haven't guessed, this whole story is nothing about casino's or the people who surrender their money there, heaven knows I have my own 'throw away' activities. This is about me. My heart. And God answering my questions with more questions. The war around me with one side saying; 'save and provide and be the man of responsibility...and show what I can do' and the other one saying 'give and give and wrecklessly give until you have nothing left to give...and then watch what GOD does'.
Ultimately giving equals loving. It is a pure form of love. Love has no I's in it. I think that's significant. If I give with hope of return it's about me...and thus the opposite of love. Francis challenged me to take I Corinthians 13:4-8 and replace my name (Andy) with (love) and see how it sounds. Try it. It makes me sound like a liar and a punk. Pursuing Jesus is gravity defying. It's not natural. Chan using the analogy of an escalator. "We are on a never ending downward escalator. In order to grow, we have to turn around and sprint up...putting up with the perturbed looks from everyone else who is gradually moving downward."
This sounds kind of 'works' related, but I don't mean it that way. Grace is the only way to live. But God within me - Holy Spirit unctioned - is asking me to give more of my LIFE to Him. To trust Him. With ALL of my life.
Henri Nouwen said; "It is hard to bear with people who stand still along the way, lose heart, and seek their happiness in little pleasures which they cling to... You feel sad about all that self-indulgence and self-satisfaction, for you know with an indestructible certainty that something greater is coming..."

Luke 9:25 "What good is for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose his very self?"
My answer is easier to say than live - Nothing.

Obstacles.

2009-04-27T19:59:00.005-04:00

Today was my first fix of the year of my mountain bike drug. Off to the park to tackle the terrain of roots and rocks. I confess I barely made it. In addition to grazing my head (good thing I wore more helmet for the first time) on a fallen over tree and being stopped dead in my tracks when my crank hit a rock - I was quite winded. So much so that I had a severe spiritual battle on my hands. My body cried stop. The ego that God put within me said Lord help me. I'm proud to say God within me strengthened me to go on - and I made it! Woohoo! I'm not sure I will be able to walk tomorrow, but the Bible says to let tomorrow worry about itself so I'm going to just follow that verse for once. It was another momently experience with Jesus in the wilderness. It is amazing how much absorption of God I can get when I simply put myself in a position and posture away from the clutter and noise of my life. As I continue on this momently life I understand that there is a real enemy trying to divert my attention and my devotion from the Father. Today he reminded me that much of this New Thing adventure will be uphill. Yes there will be times of downhill to catch my breath, but there are times when I have to rise up, lean forward, and give all I have within me. He told me that this was going to be an extreme adventure unlike any my spirit has ever seen or tasted. There will be moments I will want to quit. I will be tired. I'll question if its worth it. I'll listen to the voice that I'm not good enough, strong enough, disciplined enough, or in shape enough. I will be enticed to take the short cut back to camp...especially when no one else will ever know. Not today. Not when I'm momently with God. I'll know. He'll know. I'm in this in His strength not my own. Every moment. Every breath. Every pedal. Every obstacle. Every sunrise and sunset. One pedal at a time. Unceasing conversation and observation with God. Momently.

Hate Coffee. Addicted To Starbucks? Yep.

2009-04-20T21:37:00.006-04:00

About a month ago the guys at Suncrest and my beautiful wife introduced me to the Vivano. The rest is history. I've had 3 vivanos in a day and half - a sausage biscuit and a slice of lemon poundcake. This is the South Beach location - it rocks. I went in with no shoes and no shirt and I got service! So here I am in Orlando until Thursday at Exponential. Tonight we ate and listened to Ed Stetzer and Alan Hirsch unpack the term 'missional' which ironically they both are ready for us to move on from defining to living it out. I'd say that makes sense! I took a page of notes on some cool dialogue, but this is the heart of what Jesus opened up my heart and is pumping through my blood. It's life giving in our journey of 'church planting.'

"Planting missional churches"
A lot of people fall in love with the model instead of the people and the mission.
Don’t plant the church in your head. Plant the church the community needs in hearing and seeing Jesus. We’ve been deeply scripted in methods and great ideas are left undiscovered. Ecclesiology must express itself in different cultures. We have to unlearn (leave them aside for a while) just as much as learn. Go back to Jesus. Think freely. Think missionally. Learn the culture before you can interpret the mission. Plant the gospel with that person. Use that experience to shape your mission. The gospel will create the church. Give it time.

First Stop. Miami.

2009-04-20T08:06:00.004-04:00

The Florida journey begins...with the splendor of the King. Momently observation of God around and in me. I could see His glory revealed today. This was my sight after jumping back on the highway after a snooze at a rest area in the Everglades. I was headed to Miami to meet with a guy named Eddie. Pray for him. He is an elder at a church there that is struggling financially. I look forward to connecting with him again today for a tea. My afternoon allowed some time to walk along the ocean - it is a sacred activity for me. I love to hear the lapping of the waves slam into the sand on my feet. The ocean lures me. I can understand how Jesus was drawn to water and the many lessons he taught either on the sea or on the beach. I had a good day with Jesus. At the end of the day if I can say that, it has truly been a good day. I love it when God's Spirit IN me connects with my spirit. Today I head to Orlando and let Exponential begin!

one small window...

2009-04-14T20:47:00.005-04:00

I peeled open my Bible today to some fresh words - it's amazing how God filets open newness from a text that I've read many times. It's because His word is living. Moving. Breathing. Active. It's personal. And I'm momently asking the Father to unveil Himself through that moment's reading. It has changed the way I follow Jesus. It has changed the way I hear Him in the ancient - yet present - sacred text. This call is to Jeremiah. I hear God breathing life into him as he readies for battle...in my world the battle is in trusting Him and loving as He loves.
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to
everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the
LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now,
I have put my words in your mouth.

I know I'm no Jeremiah. I'm no prophet. But I believe that He has known me before I was ever conceived. I do believe He wants me to 'fear not.' And I do believe His promise is universal of our souls - He will rescue us. He already has through His Son. I mean this is pre-Jesus stuff here. Not now! We live post human Jesus. That changes everything. Yes Everything.I am a humble nobody. Yet He says I'm somebody. I'm ready to go. Let's get this party started. I recognize that I have one small window in the slice of eternity as I live here. Just one small stone in the mountain. I want the light to shine through me. Christ in me, I want to change the world.

Exponential

2009-04-13T22:03:00.006-04:00

Join my wife and others and I in praying for the opportunity to go to Exponential 2009 in Orlando. It is one week away...still saving up for a plane ticket to get there and hear what God would want to say to the spirit within us. Rachel and I's heart go as one even though our physical selves remain apart - and this is a monumental lift off into our NewThing experience. Please pray for us...Lord let your Word fall on us...we are listening...

"THE ART OF MOVEMENTS"

God is moving and at work all around the world and wants us to join Him in similar ways here.

"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find him-though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist." - Acts 17:27, 28

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people have ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God." - A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1961)

We want every attendee at Exponential to understand that God is moving and at work around the world and to be actively looking to join Him where He is moving and at work.

How we think about God will shape the vision of our churches and therefore how we do the work of God. While there is an increase in interest and participation in being a reproducing church (church planting & multi-site) in the west, the western church is being held back by two basic thoughts pertaining to God: First, that He is static, rather than moving and second, that He has a western bias rather than being God of all creation.

We wrongly think of God as static rather than dynamic and moving. In our effort to acknowledge God as King and Lord, we often think of Him as sitting on His throne, making rules and demanding that we must come to Him. While it is true that God is King and Lord, He is also a Creator and on the move. We see this God on the move in the first pages of Genesis: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2) Jesus reinforced this idea of the Father and himself being creators in the gospels: "Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.'" (John 15:7) It's clear that the early church understood that God is active and moving when Paul explains: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." (Acts 17:24)

We also tend to think of God with a western bias rather than a God of all creation. This is seen in everything from bumper stickers that say, "God bless America," to how little we know about our world outside of the United States. The Old Testament shows us a God who is omnipresent: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" (I Kings 8:27). And the New Testament declares a God who is not limited by space or time: "He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28); "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (II Pet. 3:8).

A 'New Thing'

2009-04-02T20:41:00.005-04:00

Life is filled with detours. In the past three months I have been substitute teaching, delivering caskets, funerals, body removals, and obtaining my Commercial Driver’s License for driving Charter Buses / Limos. So basically I’m living the phrase ‘will work for food.’ God has a sense of humor and has given Rachel and I many laughs in His processes.
As many of you know through conversations I’ve had with you face to face, YFC has been making some cut-backs due to Elkhart County’s economic status. Whereas our St. Joe county ministry has been less impacted financially, they have determined to focus their mission solely on Elkhart ‘Lifeline’ (court referral/at risk) ministries. This means they have made the decision to cut our St. Joe County YFC Campus Life (campus outreach) ministry.
The result is that in the next few months I will be transitioning out of director of YFC. I will be remaining through June so your support is more important than ever to finishing this chapter well.
The exciting news in all of this is how we now see the ways that God has been with us in this process. What we didn’t know was coming, He did. We are saddened by their decision to cut off the ministry here, but we certainly want to celebrate the gift of God in these last three years. Where one chapter ends, another begins. We see clearly that God has been preparing our family’s heart for a new adventure. The transforming work of God’s Spirit in me this past year has been amazing. I am humbled and in awe of the grace and power of Christ. This transformation has given me energy, peace, trust, and faith that I’ve never experienced before. He is the calm in this raging sea.
This crossroads is where we you as a financial and or prayer partnership shifts direction. We hope you will prayerfully consider continuing to support us in this “New Thing.” I will be a New Thing Leadership Resident for one year at Suncrest Christian Church in St. John IN and Central Christian in Chicago IL with the emphasis being on learning the culture and DNA of church planting. During this year there will be much training and observing and ultimately Rachel and I will be putting some flesh on God’s dreams for our lives. The purpose is to take what God has called us uniquely to and allow His Spirit within us to begin a launch strategy for a new church plant wherever He leads us to go. This training is crucial. We are humbled and blessed to be selected to become a part of New Thing. Rachel and I went through an extensive screening and assessment process to determine our skills, passions, and leadership abilities. He has opened an amazing door of relationship building and support network that will be in place for the rest of our lives.
So, beginning in June, Rachel and I travel another new journey. We really believe that through this He is establishing what He has been preparing in us for a long time. And we trust that we are on the beginning verge of a “New Thing.”
Thanks for being a part of our journey. We invite and hope that you will continue to walk with us in the most exciting and risky step of our lives. It is all about Him. And we are following Jesus. Every moment. One step at a time.

In Christ We Praise God For You,
The Kaser's
Andrew, Rachel, Grace, Silas, & Zalia

2009-04-02T13:11:00.002-04:00

So where are we headed? Why are we going? We are not seeking a thing. Or a place. But we are seeking the Father. The Son. Through the Spirit within us. Momently. God said it long ago, and He still speaks it deep within us today. We can hear Him. And we joing hands in trust. This is the next step of the journey. One step at a time.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:19

Pursuing Jesus. Pursuing Family.

2009-03-31T23:08:00.003-04:00

How He loves us. How we love Him.

Sticky Church (Duct Tape)

2009-03-31T16:13:00.003-04:00

Last minute invite (thanks Doug!). So here I am at Suncrest hangin' with some guys I look forward to growing with this next year...and forever! You will be hearing more about that soon. My family and I are overwhelmed with this opportunity the Father has lavished on us.

How about some content? Here is what God ultimately summed up what I heard today. This is the thesis..."A fancy front door can hide a leaky back door – as long as the front door is bigger than the back door, people think the church is growing. When you only keep track of numbers and not people, you never really know when your not ‘growing’." Hmmm...that is definitely something to maul over. I think there is a lot of unchartered truth in this!

I Am.

2009-03-15T19:31:00.009-04:00

If you have been praying to God for a good book idea, here is His answer; The Prodigal God by Tim Keller. You heard it right, not the prodigal son, but the prodigal God. He unpackes this most famous Spiritual parable with profound clarity that pierces the heart - especially if you have been following Jesus for many years. God's Spirit within me was awakened through Tim's reflections. Prodigal is an adjective meaning; a. recklessly extravagant b. having spent everything. Do you hear Jesus in that? There is no sense me unpacking the book. I'm begging you, no matter where you find yourself - skeptic, critic, or forever a disciple of Jesus - you will hear the gentle thunder of God's voice. It will penetrate to the marrow of your bones. "Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6).

When a paper asked the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" the theologian G.K. Chesterton wrote in a response; "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G.K. Chesterton."

This is the heart of and soul of a man who has tasted, seen, and digested in his own life the profoundly beautiful grace of God! Certainly the boy who took off to live large without concern for the Father was lost. So was his 'goody' old brother. He just didn't realize it. He said; 'I've never disobeyed.' Really. Never? Keller had a professor who said that the problem between God and Pharisees (people who live morally 'right' but who have no relational experience or need of a Savior) is 'not their sins, but their damnable good works.' We truly must 'learn how to repent of the sin under all our other sins and under all our righteousness - the sin of seeking to be our own Savior and Lord.' Have you ever 'obeyed' because you know its the right thing to do? As though your right choice is the ultimate victory and 'now you will' getGod's blessing. This is filthy and churchy. It's not gospel. I know when I've repented when my spirit agrees with the Holy Spirit and I desire to do 'good' in response to God's grace, not to get his blessing. It's slaps God's face to think that our 'doings' merit his blessing. He's already paid the price. It is by HIS GRACE that we already have His blessings! I am grateful through this journey with Tim Keller that more strings have been cut on my 'big brother' heart. In many ways I am the wayward son. And in many ways I am the 'old brother.' When the truth is, I am a son of the prodigal Father.

He's recklessly extravagant and He spent everything. For you. For me. For All.

So what's wrong with the world? I am. What's right in the world? Christ in me. Lord work within me to help me love what you love - as you love it. Amen.

Blessed Prison?

2009-03-11T20:54:00.005-04:00

Injustice? There was a guy sitting in jail for a crime he didn't commit. That stinks. But there is good news, he hears the voice of God; "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that youu do not know." His name is Jeremiah. He's the guy who said he could not ever turn back or be silent; "his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." In his present darkness he was still dreaming about his life's greatest ambition - living out God's calling. He must have been meditating about God and his situation and then God spoke clearly. I think we often pray without thinking about what we are actually saying. It is as though we are thinking; 'God, you're missing the point here. I need (insert something here). Aren't you paying attention!' But God speaks to Jeremiah what He tries to speak to you and I. It is much deeper than answering your 'grandious' prayer need. I've heard it said this way; Andy, the reason you need to be momently with me is that I fashioned your imagination to be a playground where you and I can hang out and I can explode your mind with dreams. Andy, I am going to enlarge your dreams, bust them out of the seams you have sewn around them. Andy, just ask me and I will slowly unveil my dreams for your life and how you will change the course of humanity. You can pray about a job. You can pray about your sinus infection. Those are worth praying about. But Andy, I want to tell you how eternity will be impacted through my dreams for you and Rachel.'

I say all this humbled by the fact that Jeremiah is in a prison cell. It is not a high impact, world changing place to be. Yet God is there. God is preparing Jeremiah's heart. God is concerned about the means to the end, not the other way around. God doesn't concern Himself with the amount of time it takes. He is not concerned about the falls on our way. But He is concerned about our hunger and passion to live out His dreams. Why? He loves us. And He loves people. And for Rachel and I, it comes down to the simplistic fact that we love God. And we love people. So Lord, in this 'prison' season of our lives, we hear you; 'I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do now know.'

I love you Lord. Thanks for playing with me on the playground tonight.

Contentment?

2009-03-09T19:54:00.005-04:00

Have you ever heard this verse misused; 'Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)? I have. In fact I'm sure I have butchered it myself. Usually it's taught that the more obedient I am, magically the more God rewards you with your desires. Or, there is the Buddhist approach (althought Christians wouldn't dare call it this even though it is what it is). This is where the more you eliminate your desires the more holy you become. These are both crazy renditions. I have come to find that the more 'momently' I seek Jesus and deepen my affection for Him the more awakened I become to the Father's passions in my life. In other words, the less 'me' I seek and the more 'him' I seek unveils what the core of my heart really longs for. I believe that part of our human 'curse' is our ability to settle for mediocrity. Some erroneously call it 'contentment'. Contentment is trusting and living that Jesus is enough. His love endures forever. It doesn't mean we lounge on calm seas. It does mean we walk into the storms knowing God is with us. Contentment has been confused with complacency. And complacency is like carbon monoxide - you can't see it or smell it, but it puts you to sleep. How tragic. But there is a cure. Through Christ the curse is reversed. Contentment creates Christ's courage IN me. It requires I walk into risk. If it sounds easy, it probably isn't of Jesus.

Jesus is the desire of my heart.

Last Friday I bussed some students and staff from a local 'religious' school to Chicago. Two hours overhearing conversation that was so 'religious' I wanted to vomit. Conversation over 'purgatory', the Lord's Supper, Hierarchy of Bishops, and being 'blessed' by the Pope. The bus had a stinch to it. I waited patiently but never once heard about the love and grace of Jesus. Then a day later, Saturday night...that led into Sunday morning there was a Jesus moment for me. I was 'called' to use my recently aquired CDL (commercial driver's license) to transport 50 highly (some only mildly) intoxicated people on a charter bus. It was outside my box, but inside God's. I sensed God's Spirit within me being satisfied. It was not that I delighted in the activity of the people, but God in me was delighted that He was a beacon of hope in a rather hopeless place. He was trying to bring satisfaction into people who were satisfied with something that would wear off the next day. God in me loves people. All people. And my passion for Christ is leading my heart to love in places that before I would never go. To hold up people too weak to walk. But now...God in me goes. He holds me up. I in Him. He in me. It's amazing. I have found 'contentment' in places I never would have imagined. Truth is, I know which group of people made Jesus sick. And I know why he leaned in on the sick people who admitted their sickness. I don't know why it took my little heart so long to understand why Jesus hung with the people he hung with. Or maybe I do. Much of my life has been about 'me.' I have been complacent... thinking it was contentment. I have been religious, thinking it was 'right.' Nope. So what do you think?

This is a new day. I am His. I pray God's Spirit IN me helps me yearn for Him. Only then will I understand the depth of the desires of 'my' heart. I'll learn they aren't my desires at all...their His desires within me. I love You Father. Son. Spirit. What do you have planned for us this weekend?

"I am doing a new thing" (God)

2009-03-04T16:40:00.006-05:00

The challenge is living a life with intensity in a singular direction. It is knowing God has a destiny for my life. It is trusting that this destiny is not waiting on the horizon for me, but is something that God has put 'within' me. There are some significant decisions on the horizon for Rachel and I. There is no fear. No worry. Much care. Much peace. We trust that God within us will help us navigate and stay focused. We ultimately know where God is taking us. He just hasn't given us the exact road map. I am learning that God seldom operates in the future. He enjoys the present. He enjoys this very day and the momently life we share with Him.

I awoke this morning to read my email - another sacred breath of grace from my wife. "Morning Babe! I was reading in Isaiah this morning and this was my "key verse" so I wanted to share it with you:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
The interesting part is that later in this same "speech" of God He states, "Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence." He desires us to move on to a new thing with Him, but we dwell in the past and want to argue our innocence - which of course is not innocence at all since we all screw up. After He states that He is doing a new thing, He goes on to explain that the new thing is blessings in a different environment - places we would never expect them. He also says, "I am He who blots out your trangressions for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." Don't you think that is ironic that He says it is for His sake - why not our sake? I think He is stating that He desires a new start with us even more than we do! Whoa! Anyway, I just wanted to share my wandering thoughts with you! Love You! Rachel"

I have been reflecting on this. I've been told, as you have I'm sure; 'you have to forgive yourself.' I'm not sure that's possible. But it is possible to open my palms to my Father without fear. And in some supernatural the One who loves me unconditionally blows my sins away. I watch them fly from my palms transforming into light dust by His grace. It creates a new freedom. Momently conversation and observation becomes a joy and there is a spontaneous reaction to the faces around me. Prayer is alive and automatic. Indeed I am free. We are free. Rachel and I are on a quest with God. It's a 'new thing.' We are One.

Whisper.

2009-02-21T20:44:00.004-05:00

I was abundantly blessed to meet with my friend and mentor Dave Rahn yesterday. I made the trek to Huntington and had some rich heart to heart soul bearing conversation over the famous chai tea. With confession comes restoration. Whether it be Jon or Dave or others, biblical friendships are life giving and life sustaining. They are one of the truest forms of Holy Spirit visitation. This much I know, I'm the chief sinner of any organization I'm a part of. And I also know that God has intended I become an extraordinary example of God prevailing in any crisis. God's dream for my life includes everything that He has allowed me to go through. I have heard in my spirit the echoing voice of God when Jesus told his dead and rotting friend; "Lazarus come out!" I can hear it; 'Andrew come out!' My grave clothes no longer bind me. The smell of death and decay have turned into the aroma of deliverance. We sipped. We laughed. We even got teary eyed. We swapped books and phrases. Talked family, leadership, and God sized dreams. I am thankful to God. Whenever we position ourselves in Him, we can't miss His voice and embrace. "The unknown with God is always better than the known without him." I believe this. God creates my story. Your story. I often go too fast or go too slow. I miss the warning sign and slide off. I cause damage to myself. I don't always make the right turns. And yet God (I love these three words together), And yet God always invades our story with redemption. My story will be that God took my weakness and turned it into strength.

"Faith is not measured by success, but by faithfulness." Wow. My goal is to expect. Not merely exist. I want to live my life to the fullest by enjoying God and having Him enjoy me. 'When an infinate God comes to dwell in a finite being, dangerously beautiful things begin to happen. The fire within me becomes an eternal flame that cannot be put out.'

I'm pursuing. He's revealing. Rachel and I are one. We dream as one. I'm finding that pursing God makes every breath of my life satisfying. I'm learning that pursuit brings satisfaction and depth. When I pursue Rachel. When I pursue my kids. When I pursue Jesus. Then. Then it is indeed 'well with my soul.'

I love you Lord. And I love your sweet whisper.

Sliding In My Chips.

2009-02-18T20:59:00.006-05:00

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

This is a heavy statement. It's one that I have to read and re-read. Chew on. Digest. What if this is me? Can I leave security and certainty (even though this is actually a facade)? You mean trust God before He even tells me where He is taking us? Go? Now? I pray to my God that He would be pursuingly patient enough to keep my heart in expectation of His whisper. I don't want anything to keep my family and I from living the life God has created us to live...this life of our dreams. Many times the only thing keeping us from truly living, as Erwin has said, is to let go of a life so good that it betrays the great. Am I willing, if God were to ask of me, to let go of everything I have right now to grasp ahold of that which God longs for my family and I to have tomorrow? Maybe you have heard of that tragic epitaph that read; "I refused to let go of what I had." I don't want even the smell of that near my grave. I don't want to confuse "comfort with peace, belief with faith, safety with wisdom, wealth with blessing, and existance with life." Abraham had a stable life. Abundantly more stable than mine. God called him to put on his shoes and walk away from it all to discover new pasture. 'Give up the present for the future; believe that tomorrow can be better than today. Trust me, the unknown is worth leaving all you know. Lean forward; do not shrink back. Expect more.'

Honestly, my family and I are standing at a crossroad. I feel the weight of a husband, father, and child of God. I don't know from one day to the next where His supply will come from. But it's not mine to bear alone. He is with me. There is peace. The load is enormous, but it's weight is light. God has given me everything and then some. I am wondering if this life that God has given (it's all from Him) me today is the very thing that He is asking me to sacrifice tomorrow. It's crazy. I have become so attatched to what He has given me that I have allowed them to become an anchor that keeps me docked at the shore instead of sailing new unchartered oceans. Lord increase my faith. It's from you. Increase my trust. It's from you. I'm yours. I am pursing you with wreckless abandon. I'm all in. I'm sliding my chips to the center. This much I know, although it's easier to say than do, I am willing for anything that enhances and draws me closer to You and to my family. If I can say 'yes' to these two simple questions, it's of You. And I'm in. Far more Lord. Far more.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3).

She's Mine.

2009-02-14T06:42:00.006-05:00

I am not sure about the history of significance of Valentine's day. Perhaps it's another Hallmark Holiday? Never the less, regardless of the day, I want to shout from the rooftops how Great is our God and how blessed I am for the gift of Rachel Lynn Kaser as my wife! She is my valentine. My bride. My partner. My best friend. My companion. My 'Oneness' girl. This morning, as all mornings, I arise and call her my love. She's amazing. Profound. Prayerful. Pure. She has danced on the mountains with me and wiped my wounds in the valley's. She has layed hours on lounge chairs with me; walked miles upon miles and miles of beach sand hand in hand with me; and sat through more hours of counseling than most would be willing.

Yes she is my valentine. But more significanly she is my beautiful wife. I am a blessed man. Yes she is an amazing mom to my children. Yes she works harder than anyone I know. But the greatest joy and pleasure she gives me is her passion in revealing the glory of Christ. The way she dreams God sized dreams with me. The way she believes in me. The way she daily forgives me and trusts in the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in me. She lives in communion with God and that is the greatest, richest, deepest, and most eternal gift she could ever give me.

I love her. She is mine.

Momently.

2009-02-12T16:27:00.004-05:00

If you are a frequent reader of my often confusing thoughts, I apologize that I about to be redundant. I am so captivated by this truth of 'momently' living in the Spirit. My life has changed forever. It has taken me 33 years filled with great stories and hurtful tragedies. Victories in the cause of Christ and failures of sin and shame. Obedience and disobedience. Our lives are a story and in the pages of our novel there are chapters that are life defining. In a movie they are called climactic moments. They are the parts that everyone talks about. The reality is, this chapter of my story is profound. I most sense the Spirit of God in me right here and right now than ever before in my life. Don't get me wrong. There are times in my life when I 'felt' closer to God. There are times when I was much less 'sinful.' But never has there arisen such a security, calmness, and peacefulness of who I am as a child of God. Never has there been a time where I have felt so free to live and dream. This morning I am reading and GOD whispers through His word in Colossians 3 and 4 some amazing truths. I invite you to read them. But chapter 4 verse 2 is where the Holy Spirit of God magnatized my eyes and my heart. I am a New International Version guy but while subbing I was using my CEV because it's smaller. It is amazing what happens when you switch things up because just by the changing the english wordage and giving it some new flesh God spoke to me. It caught me. It reads; "Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful." That's it! It defines in God's own words what my heart has been trying to describe. To pray without end through unceasing (momently) conversation and observation with God. Never stop! And as I am talking and listening in conversation - be alert to give praise for who God is, what He has made, and what He is doing in this moment of my life! I have found that living in anticipation of seeing Him at work in life allows me to witness Him in ways I have never seen Him. It has brought me joy beyond measure. It has brought me awareness and supernatural peace. It's not an easy discipline. Especially when I see in terms of a discipline. It really isn't even a discipline. It's a life. It's how I interact with humanity, especially my wife and children and the lost. It's how I find joy in unknown times. It's how I trust that today is my best and my life gives Him glory in this very moment. I honestly know that if I were able to keep this clarity of Jesus in my sights and longings I am destined to know Christ more intimately each day. That's what really matters. That's it. I will be the husband of my beautiful wife's dreams. I will be the dad of my children's dreams. I will be the servant of my communities dreams. If I live in the rythm of momently with Jesus. Rhythm. Interesting isn't it. Not many times in my life has my 'outward' life been more out of rhythm than it is right now, and yet in Christ, I am more synchronized to His every word and step than ever. Momently.

Imagination Starved?

2009-02-10T08:17:00.004-05:00

I know it's not spring yet. I know the earth where we live is going to be quieted with the whisper of frozen arctic air. But today I will rejoice in this gift of God. Yesterday evening as my family and walked and Zalia strollered, it was like a prison break. Humanity was like ants coming from their hills. For a brief moment there was life again. People waving at each other; saying hi with actual smiles on their faces. It was indeed a fresh breath of heaven. If the Son has set us free, we are free indeed!

My daily nourishment from God's word was ordained for this day. The question brought is; "is our imagination starved for God?" Nature is a divine gift of God. There is great worth and value in it. From every breeze, reflection of the moon, blossoming bud, or cloud in the sky. It is God visiting us. He is quenching our hunger and thirst for our starved imagination. The truth is 'the test of our spiritual concentration is bringing the imagination into captivity.' So, is my imagination focused on a idol? On my predicament? On my failure? On my career? My dreams? It is grueling to not look at your life's experiences when we are starved. But if our imagination is not lazer focused on Christ we have no power. Darkness overcomes us. There is but One source to look. Where does my help come from? The Father. Son. Spirit. Period.

Certainly the changing seasons are of God and there is beauty in them all, but I confess that warmth and sunlight adds warmth to the souls of most. The morning sunrise today was captivating. The air literally has a spring smell. As I write I hear the chirp of birds who have been silenced for months. Whereas this has been, perhaps, the warmest and contented personal spirit I've ever had, my mouth salivates today for the living God. Even in my alert state with Jesus, I can't help but become more hungry for Him and His creation today. "I lift my eyes up, to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). My eyes have scanned many places. I have sought help for many wants and needs from many sources, and in the end they never satisfy. Only in Christ, and Christ in others, is my soul left satisfied. The things of this world certainly can bring a masked moment of satisfaction, but it whithers as soon as it is grasped. But not the Lord. His satisfaction never deteriorates. It never leaves me hungry. Never thirsty. Never afraid. Never alone. Today I am looking up to the splendor of my King. I will not take my eyes off Him. I with thank Him in every observation. Every chirp. Every child's yelp in the warmth. I will lift my eyes up! And then listen to the rest of that Psalm;

3"He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

How Great is our God!

The commission of my Father today is to 'rouse yourself and deliberately turn my imagination to Almighty God. "Imagination is the power God gives a saint to posit himself out of himself into relationship he never was in."

Are you starving? Or in the least a bit hungry for something sweet? Is your imagination dry? Join me today. Step outside and look up. Look around. Let us not see things. Let us see the One who made those things. Let us breath in the One who gives us life. Let us see HIM. And let us Praise HIM. Praise HIM with all we are. Our utmost strength. Our sincere heart. Give HIM all we have within us. Let it ring!

Isaiah 40:26 "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

Prayer.

2009-02-05T09:26:00.006-05:00

I love this picture. I love how my son is shielding his eyes - laboring at seeing what I am seeing. It reminds me of what is often my hearts desire with my Father. I want to see what God sees. I want to experience the beauty that he experiences. I don't want to miss anything about Him. I want to always be hand to hand with Him. Never letting go. I want to be with Him. Every moment of every day. Is it possible?

"Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray."

In my quest to be a man who 'prays without ceasing' (momently observation and conversation) I have had to say goodbye to 'way's of thinking' that have always been in my mind. One of the errant thoughts is the idea that prayer fits us and prepares us for greater works in God's Kingdom. I've viewed it as a means to a greater end for God using my life. I've thought that the amount of my prayer will equal the amount of significance I can be. Perhaps there is truth in these statments, but taken literally they leave little room for mere relationship for relationship sake that God desires. They have a sense of nobility to them. Isn't it good of me to pray so that I can be a better person to the world? Isn't it noble? Honorable? Humble? Perhaps. But I've missed the center. I've jumped around the core of this divine blessing of prayer.

Confused yet? What I'm trying to say is that prayer is not the instrument we use to obtain greater works, 'Prayer IS the greater work!' I love those first four words in the above quote. To pray is the battle. When I am aware of the Spirit in me and His voice...His leading...my entire life is fluid, joyful, and powerful. But prayer requires a lot of faith and trust. I am convinced that we don't pray as much because we can't see 'physical' results. Rarely do we see the answers to our prayers. In fact there are times when it seems like God acts opposite of our prayer. And yet God says we are spiritual beings. All this to say that I have decided to sell all I have for the investment in prayer. I am all in. And I believe that God usually works in the unseen. I know we will be in awe of what God is doing in our prayer life. I know that one day we will see it. We will see how our conversation with Jesus changed the course of humanity. We will see how our prayer life accomplished abundantly more than our physical service ever could have. Don't get me wrong. I love to serve. God loves us to serve. Our hearts ability to be available is significant. But prayer is the battle. True life happens in communion with the Father. Can you hear Him? A Father and a son. Together. Engaged. Intimate. Trust. Compassion. Energy. Safety. Significant.