Shooting at Deer Creek Middle

"To have something happen such as the Deer Creek incident opens wounds for many in this sleepy Colorado town."

Today, just down the road from Columbine High School, a man carried a gun o the campus of Deer Creek Middle School. He shot two kids before he was tackled by a brave 7th grade math teacher. Both children are expected to live and no one else was injured in the incident.

This was a sobering day in the life of Littleton residents. As the quote above indicates, many deep and life-changing wounds from the Columbine shooting were unexpectedly ripped open today. As a Littleton resident myself I wonder how this could happen in such a friendly and beautiful place. I wonder, "what could possibly be so bad about that person's life the he has to shoot at innocent kids?" Did that guy look West last night and see the sun set over the Rockies? Did he see the enourmouse snow flakes fall gracefully to the ground this past weekend? Did he see the kids playing and laughing on the school property before he went on his little rampage? Did he realize that his heart was beating and his chest rising and how miraculous those simple things are?

I wonder if what people are missing and longing for is right under their nose. Psalm 139:13 says that God created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother's wombs. I wonder if more people knew and believed that if things would be different. God knitted today's shooter together too, by the way. He was created and crafted as a part of God's ultimate and good plan. Had he known that, do you think he would have done what he did and caused this community such deep pain once again?

This has been both sobering and convicting for me. Events like this remind me that tomorrow is not promised but this one has served to challenge me as well. The Gospel has healing power like no counselor, psychologist, self-help book, or doctor ever will. The Gospel is the only source of true joy and contentment. I feel compelled to tell more people about after today. Maybe if more people know about Jesus' deep and everlasting love they will be less inclined to do the things we saw today at Deer Creek.

What to do about Haiti?

A 7.0 earthquake rocks the tiny country of Haiti and all I can do is stare. I sifted through some pictures of the aftermath today in awe and thought to myself, "Now what?" Do you ever wonder that? As a follower of Jesus I feel like I should be more prepared and equipped to act than I actually am. I feel incredibly helpless, not because I'm so far away but because I literally cannot think of what I would do if I was there.

I guess I'd bandage wounds when I had the chance and try to find food and water for those that needed it. Maybe I'd start a pick up soccer game to help the kids get their mind of the horror they just experienced. I might even try to bring seperated families back together. But every time I think of what I would do I find myself shaking my head and saying, "that's not enough." We can send money, people, resources, helicopters and aid but that wont change the fact that the most violent earthquake in 200 years ransacked Haiti on January 12th, 2010.

Please forgive me if my words make you feel hopeless, helpless and out of control but the truth is, you are. We all are. Isaiah 40:8 says, "the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the Lord endures forever." This is all temporary and it's fading quickly. Compared with the infinitude of the Almighty God, our lives are like a breath. Sometimes it's OK to sink into the helplessness in situations like this. That is not to say that we shouldn't take action to help those in need. But take a second, let the dust settle. Allow this tragedy to sober you.

We are so busy running around chasing promotions, relationships, success, the American dream, degrees, ministry stuff, etc., that we often times miss priceless opportunities like these. Sometimes it takes a 7.0 earthquake to rip the blinders from your eyes so you can see what is really happening. Sometimes it is events like this one that allow us to see more clearly than ever before how little control we actually have. We are so small and yet so loved by Something so big.

So what do we do?

We pray expectantly. We pray that God would be glorified in this tragedy and that somehow the name of Jesus would become more famous. We do this without doubt because we trust and rest in the sovereignty of our Father.

We do what we can. If you text "HAITI" to 90999 you automatically donate $10 to the cause (the amount shows up on your phone bill). World Vision is taking donations and will surely make an impact with every dime given. Can you imagine the number of instant orphans after an event like this? What better time to adopt a Haitian child through World Vision or Compassion? Send clothes, food, money, yourself, letters, first aid supplies, whatever you can.

We keep on keeping on. This isn't an issue that will correct itself over night. Port-au-Prince will never be the same. It will take years to rebuild. Our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter and this will be old news in a week for a lot of people. Don't quit on those people! They need us to do what we can for as long as we can.

Remember, we aren't even capable of loving these people aside from the grace given to us by our Creator. Trust Him as you go and make a difference in Haiti.

Help-Portrait

Have a camera?

Wanna help out folks in need?

Check this out!



Remember: the "Hope" part is Jesus. This kind of stuff is really empty without Him.

Kivu Promo

Christian camping is changing. Camp Kivu (formerly Kanakuk Colorado) is pioneering a new, ground-breaking method for impact teenagers and college students for the Kingdom of God. This thing has potential to completely change what the world thinks of Christ and His followers. Check out this promo video that my talented bro in law put together to get the word out.

This is good news. Share it with everyone you know.

Live Blogging :: BONO

The Church...Three Years Later

2:31
I find it hard to take lifeless ceremonies in churches. I go where the life is.

2:30
We couldn't find $25 billion to greatly reduce poverty and death by AIDS in the world but in no time we found $700 billion to bailout the banks....

2:20
Intuition is greater than intellect

2:18
"'Where the Streets Have No Name' has really bad lyrics" (False)

2:12
We believe that "love thy neighbor" is not advice...it's a command

2:11
The church is currently in the lead and no longer in the rear

2:10
The church has begun to do incredible things for poverty and AIDS

Live Blogging :: Wess Stafford #TLS09

Leveraging Your Past

Book

Bio

Compassion International

9:33
On that day I hope that as Jesus wipes away the tears from my eyes he also wipes the sweat from my brow because His coming so wonderfully interrupted the work I was doing for His kingdom.

9:31
a is coming when there will be no more tears. No more pain. No more sorrow. On that day the sky will split wide open and we will run into the arms of our Savior

9:30
Forgiveness means giving up our right to revenge

9:29
If you don't forgive the people that have hurt you you carry them around like a burdon on your back. Rent free.

9:28
Assignment: spend 30 min looking the mirror asking and answering questions about yourself

9:27
Climbing the ladder of success only gets us to a point where we are alone. That ladder is leaning up against a very pointless wall

9:25
Does what you lead bring you to tears? Does it move you?

9:24
He sees poor children as dying embers that need a little fanning. That's what Compassion does. Fans little embers back into flame. Amen.

9:15

Child psychologists are amazed at the amount of pain and suffering children will absorb in order to protect those that they love.

9:12
This man is truly broken. He feels pain, sorrow and compassion for abused and impoverish children like no one I have ever listened to. Amazing and yet dislodging

9:11
Terrible things can happen when children are a second rate mandate

9:10
How often to missionaries go to save souls and not to love people?

9:07
They don't care what you know until they know that you care

Live Blogging :: Andrew Rugarsira

Check out Andrew Rugarsira's company: Good African Coffee

8:54
The best kindness you can demonstrate is by helping people help themselves.

8:52
Africans assume that the best help they can receive comes from other countries. It needs to start coming from within

8:51
Africa is a continents of innovators, consumers, great products, people, relationships

8:50
Aid creates chronic dependency and undermines the integrity of the recipient countries

8:49
Aid is fungible. It is impersonal and conditional.

8:47
We need to change the conversation we need to change the narrative.

8:46
Africans don't need handouts. They need market share

8:46
Our negative perceptions of Africa are so hard wired in us. All we see is poverty and never opportunity

8:43
Aid has worked for most other continents but not Africa. Africans need to figure out how to work their way out of poverty. Handouts are not the answer

8:43
Trade. Not Trade.

8:42
Integrity is being truthful about what you need to do to get out of a difficult situation

8:36
It takes great entrepreneurship to live on $1 a day

8:35
What do you think about when you think of Africa?

Lead Where You Are

"Lead where you are" is the main theme every year for the Leadership Summit hosted and organized by Willow Creek Community Church. Never before has that phrase meant as much to me as it does today.

I've been overwhelmed with the fact that God has placed me where I am. In fact, unless we are living in complete and intentional disobedience to Him, it is safe to say that we are always where He wants us to be because He never loses control. Obviously, He calls us out of that place for short times to go on mission trips, vacations, journeys, etc. But, in general, we are where are supposed to be if we are an active follower of Jesus Christ. Whether you realize it or not, understanding that you are where you are supposed to be has enormous significance!

I'm excited to say that I am where I'm supposed to be. I know with great certainty that I truly am where I'm supposed to be because I've spent a large part of my life trying to avoid where I am today. I was just telling my wife that a little house in the suburbs with a wife, a dog and a suitable income was not in the cards for me until I met her. Up until my Junior year of college I was all about bucking the system, pursuing poverty and martyrdom in a foreign country, and doing everything I could to avoid the American dream that I was raised in. I never really felt at home in the white middle class suburbs that I grew up in for the majority of my life. I always spoke very negatively about those areas as if the people who lived there hadn't seen real need because they were immersed in a bubble in which there were only concerns about landscaping and charter schools. Boy was I wrong.

I even went to great lengths to break myself of the suburbian way. I tried homelessness for a year in college but to no avail. Sure, I didn't have a house but I had everything I needed and much more. I spent two Christmas breaks in China with some of the poorest people I've ever seen. I went with the hopes that God would call me there permanently to live a life of poverty and perhaps even have the privilege of dying for the sake of the Gospel. That desire was stifled when I tried to take a trip to Nepal and do "dangerous" ministry in a dangerous place. The trip was canceled for reasons that I can only attribute to God's providence. I have done everything I can to avoid affluence and yet I cannot seem to get away from it.

As I write this I'm sitting in our little ranch home surrounded by even bigger, wealthier homes. I'm writing this post on a lap top that cost more than my first car. I'm going to eat yet another meal very soon and I'm not going to worry about anything happening to me and my wife tonight as we sleep because this is a really safe neighborhood. I'm living the very life that I vowed to avoid. Is this a failure on my part? Have I abandoned the very things that God had called me to? Have I given in to the comfortable life? As of today, I can honestly say no to all those questions.

I am here, in this house, in this neighborhood, with this income and this lifestyle because this is where God wants me to be. Sure, He could call me out of it and into a mud hut in Africa tomorrow. But today He has me here. I know that I can't help but be where I am because I have gone to great lengths to ensure that I wouldn't get here. And yet here I am, 24 years old, I own a home in the suburbs and have few financial worries if any. I can only attribute this to God's providence and control over my life

So now what? I'm here and it's the right place for me to be but what does that mean? I'll tell you what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean that I refuse opportunities to do inner city, rural or over-seas ministry. That is still a very real and plausible possibility if God wills it. It also doesn't mean that I start living as though I'm a white middle class married man. By that I mean I don't need to have a nicer car, house and yard than my neighbor and I don't need to upgrade my possessions every three years just because I can. I can still live a generous, thoughtful and Christ-like lifestyle even though it will be drastically different from that of my neighbors.

As of today our neighborhood is our mission field. We haven't really thought of it that way until now but it's painfully clear that we need to make intentional efforts to maintain that perspective for the rest of our lives. We cannot help the fact that we are here because it is a result of God's will for our lives. However, we can help from becoming complacent and "normal" by reaching out to our community in love and being the hands and feet of Jesus here in Littleton, CO. the relationships we are building with our neighbors took on new meaning today. They are not just people that we wave to as we water our plants in the yard or pick up the paper in the driveway. They are meaningful hearts and souls that need hope and fulfillment just as badly as I do. We intend to show them Hope and Fulfillment in the coming years as we embrace our suburbanness and seek to expand and enhance the Kingdom of God.

Thankful for: a fresh understanding of my current situation.

Kids Around The World

This organization is devoted to building playgrounds for kids in communities that have experienced a disaster or some kinds of turmoil. They believe if they give the kids of the community hope, they then have the opportunity to present the hope that Jesus provides to the whole community. It's a pretty cool company. Check it out


Building Playgrounds and Building Hope Around the World - June 2008 from Kids Around the World on Vimeo.

Now what? Sheep Food

The Messiah is alive. Our fears, doubts, questions, frustrations, and anxieties have been settled. So now what? Can you imagine the restlessness the 12 must have felt? Thankfully, Jesus gives them some instruction.

We refer to it as the Great Commission but that's just a fancy name for "what Jesus told us to do." He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt 28:18-20). It's that simple. Jesus wants His followers to multiply. In short, "Disciples, go make more disciples."

John decided to emphasis a more personal commission a the end of his gospel that might give us a better idea of what disciple making looks like. If you recall, Peter denied Jesus three times before His crucifixion. So, for redemption's sake, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" All three times, Peter says, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." To which Jesus responds with something like, "Then feed my sheep." It's a simple cause and effect relationship. If we love Jesus, we will feed His sheep. That's the essence of the Great Commission and often times the purpose of John's gospel in respect to the Synoptics, to explain the essence or meaning of the events.

Now we must ask some important questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Who: Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray..." We are all sheep. Everyone needs to be fed

What: When Jesus is nearing the end of this 40 day temptation fest in the wilderness, Satan approaches Him and says, "Make those stones into bread." To which Jesus replies, "Man does not live on brad alone but from every word that comes from the mouth of God." He's quoting scripture from Deuteronomy 8 which is referring to the manna that God sent from heaven to the Israelites. Even though God provides food for our physical bodies, our souls are starving for soul food. Sheep food is Scripture.

Where: If you check out Acts 1:8 you'll see that Jesus tells us to start in our back yards. Based on His whereabouts when He said these things He was commanding tha we reach the whole world, even the world we live in. We don't have to go over seas to share the good news. This perspective should not be used as a cop out to keep us from going to other nations. More so, it should give us a more complete picture of where Jesus wants us to take the information we have.

When: Now. The imperative command, "Go," leads me to believe that Jesus didn't want us to sit around playing video games and eating Doritos while the world lives in darkness. It is the increasing apathy of humanity that would cause us to even ask this question to begin with.

How: There are millions of ways. That's the beauty of our faith. Although the content of the good news is never changing, the context always is. The way in which we present this good news is as simple as understanding the clearest possible way to communicate it. We should take into account both how our surroundings receive messages and how we are best equipped to send them. For instance, I like to speak in front of crowds. Not because I like the attention but because rhetorical communication comes naturally to me. My wife, on the other hand, hates speaking in front of crowds. Is she less equipped to share the good news than I? Absolutely not! Julie has a gift of compassion that I'll never have. She enjoys meeting people's needs and loving them through difficult situations. That's why she's such a great nurse! I would be a terrible nurse. I'd get fired the first day for telling patients to "suck it up" and calling them sissies.

Some of the disciples were writers so they wrote books. Others of them were good with numbers and organization so they organized early church assemblies. Others were good at drawing a crowd so they did just that. The Great Commission is simple: Go and tell mankind that Jesus offers rescue from inevitable consequences and fulfillment that is far greater than the sum of everything in this world.

Go and make disciples of all nations.

Thankful for: A clear missions statement

Kanakuk Colorado Went To Rwanda

There is a little sports camp nestled amidst the peaks of Southwestern Colorado called Kanakuk that I can comfortably call home. I've been a part of that family for a long time and, although I will not be on staff this summer, I am proud to just to be affiliated with them in some way. I've done the youth ministry thing in different churches, parachurches and contexts for a few years now and I don't think I've ever seen a group of students understand Jesus' desires like the kids from KCO.

I've seen thousands of kids experience something at an event or retreat but never really attach themselves to the calling and compassion of Christ. I've also seen thousands of kids come through KCO and finally latch onto what God is doing on this planet. Even more exciting is the the compulsion to do something that these kids act on immediately after leaving the gates of camp every summer.

I'm proud of these student. I watched this video through the haze of my own tears because I was seeing the love of Jesus spread to human beings all over Rwanda. I love being a part of this family. I love seeing students act on their convictions with bravery and courage. I love seeing the hands and feet of Jesus impact the world through His followers.

The video above was filmed and edited by my super cool brother-in-law Joe. He recently built a company from the ground up that is devoted to addressing our planet's water sanitation problems. Find out how you can help Joe out here.

Thankful for: Selfless teenagers that understand the importance and purpose of human beings

Class Assignment: A Reponse

Below is my response to the question posed in the previous post. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have said all of these thing upon my first transparent conversation with Zach. I've found people far more accepting to this stuff spread out over a few interactions. Nonetheless, this was the best way for me to complete the assignment. Feel free to let me know what you think.

I'll answer this as though I'm actually talking with this friend who will be known henceforth as Zach.

Well Zach, thanks for telling me your story! I'm very glad you were able to share all of that with me. Please feel free to share anything else you want with me any time. I'd love to hear more about your life. There were a few parts of your story that caught my ear.
I definitely detect a tone of skepticism as you talk about your faith and the faith of your parents. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems as though you think most Christians have it wrong. You also made several comments about some of your Christian and non-Christian friends growing up. You and I both have a similar tendency. Sometimes I look at Christians, even though I am one, and wonder how I could subscribe to something so strange or counter-cultural. What I've come to find is, Christianity is about Christ, who He is and how He transforms His followers. If we always look to Christians, who are imperfect and finite, for direction we will sometimes be disappointed. Christ is our ultimate example for how to live.

You also mentioned a few conversations with some of your more radical Christian friends who told you to pray and seek God's guidance. Just as in the cases of many other Christians, you felt like no amount of praying could truly help. Your doubts are not uncommon but in 1 Peter 5:7 we read, “Cast all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you.” And Matthew 11:28-30 reads, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus isn't surprised by our questions, concerns and convictions. We can be transparent with Him just as you and I are being transparent with one another.

You talked about conversion but, to be honest, converting means a lifestyle that looks differently than it did before. Granted, you probably aren't dabbling in the things that you said God hated but it doesn't sound like you've quite latched onto what Christ is offering. In Revelation 3 we see that God does not desire us to be lukewarm. That is, we are to be hot or cold. Merely shifting to a more moral yet spiritually passive lifestyle is neither hot nor cold. I've struggled with this before. Sometime I think it would be easier to just fly under the radar by being good but not so good that it's noticeable.

The unclarity of interacting with God in personal terms is something He's aware of. He sent His Son Jesus to be our mediator. His Spirit is in our midst working on His behalf and we can experience that personally by recognizing that. Conversion can be a process. Jesus calls us to be His disciples and that means something entirely different than merely walking an aisle or praying a prayer. A life converted to Christ is one that recognizes His interacting with us through His death on the cross. It is the recognition and acceptance of the salvation He offers free of charge. Recognizing and accepting these things requires confession, humility, and it will result in a renewed lifestyle.

Being a disciple of Jesus isn't all about do's and don'ts. It's about the grace and mercy that He offers us through His crucifixion and resurrection. I appreciate your honesty Zach and I hope it was OK for me to be honest with you in return. I meet with a small group of people our age on Sunday nights to talk about this stuff. I'd love for you to join us. You might even get some of those questions answered.

Thankful for: Hope for a transformed life through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, my Lord

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE: Madonna and Malawi

I had plans this morning. I got up before 6 to get some stuff done before I headed off to church. My plans were changed as I stumbled across this film. 

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE is a film/foundation funded by Madonna focused on the orphans and HIV/AIDS victims of Malawi Africa. I was wrecked as I watched this. The first video is the trailer for the film and the second is the film in its entirety. I challenge you to watch and then act in compassion.

And now the feature film....

Let us not forget that we too were orphans in desperate need of a heavenly Father. We were hungry, thirsty, naked and needy. We suffered from a disease far more debilitating than HIV/AIDS.....sin. I pray that this film will not only force you into action but also into thankfulness. Human beings have hope because Jesus has come and is coming again. He lives and so can we when we attach ourselves to His eternal hope. 

I'm writing this on my expensive laptop, in my fancy house with warm clothes on. I just finished a cup of coffee that cost as much as a hospital visit in Malawi. I'm about to eat the first of many full meals today and then jump in my expensive car to head off to church where I'll sit in comfort and listen to a pastor speak of hope. Hope is living and active. It is a part of who we are and it is offered in its fullest form through Christ. Let us never take what we have for granted that we might bring a hope that is alive to people who need it desperately.

Thankful for: Brokenness