Would a Homeless Man Visit Easter Sunday?

Tonight God appointed that I meet Tom. Tom has been homeless for about 1 1/2 years here in West Seattle. He was at one point a well to do man, government job, wife, kids, homes, cars. Now he’s sleeping in a cardboard “home” close to Subway, where many homeless people are found.


I got the opportunity as a single dude without to many things scheduled and things I need to “get to” to sit down and eat some Subway with Tom for about an hour. It was one of those life-changing moments that I will never get out of my memory. I actually pray more will happen during my Subway visits.

I won’t tell you the whole conversation, but one of the things that stood out to me the most was his theme that has been ringing true in his life since becoming homeless. “Humility” was what he said, “that God nevers gives us more than we can handle.” And Tom said this with such contentment it completely amazed me. He understood himself as a servant to Jesus, as a servant to everyone else he comes in contact with (bankers, chemists, lawyers, etc). His name for himself… “a shepherd.” I was in tears repeatedly as he shared his life story, as he spoke of how he was loving others who along with him have not faired well. And yet he isn’t angry at God, angry at the world. He is “humbled.” He understands his place, that he is one small shepherd being used by the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Tom has given hope to other homeless men and women in the area, he comforted a girl coming out of her apartment in tears because she considered herself a whore.

Jesus is not just in the church-goers, the workers, the ones with jobs, like myself. Jesus’ Spirit is in these homeless men and women right here in West Seattle. Right by Subway. Jesus can’t be stopped, and He’s using His image-bearers, like Tom, you and I to do His work.

He was told about Union Gospel Mission (a ministry in Seattle for homeless men) and didn’t want to up and move tonight, but I told him that if he shows up this Sunday at my church, Mars Hill West Seattle, one of us would be more than willing to talk with him and take him to UGM if he wants to go. So, I write this post to ask you to pray for Tom, to pray how God might use Mars Hill in his life on Sunday.

I walked away changed and anticipating Sunday. I pray you have by this post. I pray you would always be accepting of the homeless in your church, even if they show up on Easter Sunday.

Piper and Pipes?

Well, when Spurgeon and others in the past used a pipe while they contemplated the glories of God in the face of Jesus, they were able to be still and silent before the Lord, dwelling on the deep truths of Scripture, the glories of God and His Son Jesus.

However this might look in your own life, I would encourage you to be quiet before the Lord, figure out what that looks like for you, and enjoy being exhorted and challenged by God "making much of you" as He ultimately makes much of Himself!

HERE is the link to Piper's recent sermon at Mars Hill Church on this very topic. All I can say is it makes me look small (right where I should be) and reminds me of how BIG my God really is! Please, please take the time to listen to this one!

Of Community Groups and Canadian Borders

Ha! What a blast this past week! I got to zoom up to Canada to visit my sis, her husband, and all her kids right after my weekend of working overnights! I know. It's just me being crazy once again. The great thing about this trip was what God had planned that I didn't know would be in store for me. But much happened when Canadian borders and Community Groups mix!

So the story goes, I had way too much stuff in the trunk of my car (one of those important things I overlooked before trying to enter into Canada), let alone the things I had packed for the 3 1/2 days I'd be up in Surrey, BC visiting my sis Kristin. That stuff also filled the back seat of my car. So to make a long story short, and to spare you the LITERALLY 50 questions I was asked (after being asked to park my car so it could be thoroughly inspected), Canada had concluded that I was trying to cross their borders so I could set up my tent and live off their land for an unknown amount of time (oh did I mention I also had my hiking backpack stowed away in my trunk with its tent, sleeping gear, and dried food containers). If you're not laughing now, you should be.

So you could probably understand why I was asked to pull over, get the full inspection and be interrogated for about 50 minutes. All fun, and all coming after an overnight of work! Isn't God funny! Of course I share all this, and entitled my blog the way I did, because ultimately I got to talk to my interrogator all about Mars Hill, Community Groups, the Connect Group I serve alongside, the Discipleship Training Program, my brother-in-law being a pastor, my love for the church, and I'm pretty sure Jesus was in the conversation as well.

I guess at the end of the day it was awesome! I think God turned a really crazy (and yes, crummy) situation to bring forth His glory and to let this interrogator know about God's church and God's people, and that I'm just one crazy dude who loves God and was trying to "make it look like" I was moving to Canada. It reminds me of Peter's exhortation: "...in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (especially to Canadian interrogators, emphasis mine) (1 Pet 3:15).

In the end God was gracious, as the interrogator graciously still let me into Canadia (of course after a phone call to my sisters to verify my whole story), I got to spend three crazy days with all 6 of my crazy nieces and nephews, and I got to spend some sweet time with my sister, Kristin and her husband Bryan. I can't wait to visit again, though I think I've learned a valuable lesson about packing for trips to Canada: LESS IS MORE!

Faces and Veils and Tents?

Amazing... I just can't get over this passage that speaks of God's glory. Of course I'm thinking right now of one particular passage among MANY that continually speak of the glory of God. Here's been the one the God has recently directed me to.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.


Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart...

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:1, 3-7)
 
Wow, I have not the time nor want to take up all the space to speak of every truth found in this passage, but what a revelation this is! I am continually beholding the glory of God! If Christ is mine, I have this Light that is now shining within me in my proverbial jar of clay (my body). The Light is the knowledge of the glory of God seen in the face of Jesus Christ! So how am I beholding the glory of God continually? Through keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, the Light! What is ALREADY true of me? I am displaying the glory of God!!
 
But how so, you might ask? Well, my face has already been unveiled through the saving work of God the Spirit, therefore I AM beholding the glory of God! Not only am I beholding this heavy, brilliant weightiness called GLORY, but this brilliance, this Light, is shining in my heart!! I am carrying it about in this tent (see chapter 5) the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God!
 
The "tent" is a great picture to put in your mind. You remember (hopefully you've experienced this) times when someone has turned a light on inside a camping tent? It creates a glow that can be seen a good distance away. Even the smallest of light that is lit within the tent hits the walls of the tent and creates a glow that is visible from the outside. Do you see the parallel now? I am like a walking tent (yeah, maybe this is a funny picture to think of, though I do remember walking around with a toy tent over my head when I was young!), and whatever is shining inside this tent of mine is what is hitting the walls and creating a glow that is visible to those looking at me! What is this glow? It is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This is what is SHINING in our hearts! It's a reality for those with unveiled faces!


Listen to Jesus' prayer for us in John 17 (this just blows me away!) The GLORY that you (God) have given to me, I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one (v.22). Jesus prayed with a promise, that we have been given the glory that was also given to Jesus the Son from the Father! This is amazing truth!
 
So what? What's the point of all this GLORY talk? Please be blown away with the gift given to us, with the stewardship placed upon us in being "tents" that shine forth the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! You are no more deeply loved than this! You have direct access to God's glory, you are now vessels carrying about God's glory, you are now lights SHINING in darkness! There couldn't be a sharper contrast. You stand out amidst this world! You just do! You have the Light within you!
 
Lastly, not only do I have the glory of God within me, but I am made specifically to bring God glory! In being a tent that displays God's glory I am bringing glory to my Creator! I was created for this purpose!
 
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
(Isaiah 43:7)
 
Yikes, so this became longer than anticipated! What do I want to leave you with? In all of this, I think it's still important to realize that we cannot give out what we haven't first received ourselves. Truly receive this truth for your own heart. Believe it in your own life before letting others know! Let it be seen in your life before you tell others to display the glory that is within them! Receive this truth first I pray, before you give it to another!
 
And for the one who may be reading this and is lost in darkness? Come to Jesus! Come to the Light, who is Jesus! Come, quench your thirsty soul! He has paid it all, taken every sin of yours upon Himself; died in your place! Now He freely offers you streams of living water! (Revelation 22:17)

Thank You Lord for Sickness and Overnights

Interesting title for my post tonight (or should I say this morning)! Well, it is completely true. This week was filled with a cold that wouldn't leave me and an overnight that was one of the worst I can remember. And yet, I thank the Lord. What?? I have to, as I laugh inside, cause ironically this blog was created for these exact things in mind. In my weakness, His glory is made perfect! In my weakness His strength can shine through!

I thank the Lord mostly because during my sickness and during these overnights I have had much time to talk with Him and think things through about where my life is going, what passions I have, who I am in Christ and how God has made me tick. Crazy how some of these questions I've never asked of myself, or asked in such particular ways and in this season of my life (which I'll never have again!). Of course God has a timing for everything, and it seems His timing for me to evaluate these things is NOW :-) And He is timely, as I have the opportunity now, with long overnights and a few restful days during the week to step back and evaluate where He has brought me thus far and where I need to keep moving ahead, by faith and only by faith! You know, the working ON your life part, and not always working IN your life. I've always been good at the latter and not so much with the former.

So, yeah. Has sickness and overnights been a rough going? This is certain! Is God bigger and better and sovereign over all these things? More so!! So what have I to complain about? What have I to be anxious or fearful about? Absolutely nothing. If anything, I can rejoice! I have a glorious Savior, Jesus and a glorious God and Father. I am a child of the King and am deeply loved and cherished by Him. And the story of my life unfolding is not about me as the climax (what a huge burden to not carry), but ultimately is about me standing with Jesus in heaven beholding His very glory! (John 17:24)

So, Jesus... may You be seen strong in my weaknesses. May I not go to despair, but hope in what You are caring out through me, Your servant. May I receive the greatest joy in all of life knowing you are being glorified, and I get the privilege of giving you all glory.

Writing Through the Night

I write this blog from my new "post" so to speak. I have had mixed emotions sharing this, but the Lord truly has blessed me with a new job and a new source of income. Of course I could say 'new,' but in all reality it's reverting to the old :-) I am once again working overnight shifts for Security (something which I thought I would stear clear of--the overnight part of the job of course). But God has a way of opening doors that sometimes are the hardest to go through, and that require a lot of faith to go through and a trust that He knows best and I really can't thwart what He is doing or wants to do in my life :-)

The worst part about this blog is that I am writing this without even my whole family in "the know" about my new work. That will be the next thing to do once I finish out my weekend of work and sleep. Of course, in taking this position, I thought I remembered what I was getting myself into, but doing 12 hour shifts through the night is another story. It has brought me to a new place of dependency upon the Father that I probably haven't been in a while. A new place of faith and trust in the Father, that frankly, I haven't been before. In many ways, though this could be thought of as the hardest thing to go through, I know it will also be a very rewarding season. Cause what better place is there to be, then at the foot of the cross and in constant need of renewed strength and life given by my Father.

If anything, this is exactly where I need to be. I've been finding that this past year has revealed much about my own life that I really haven't thought about before. Part of this "looking in" has revealed that my heart fights to take control away from God and have it myself. To give Him parts of things, but keep some of it to myself. Or maybe in the words I've used before; to fit God into my story rather than fitting myself into His grand amazing story! To stop trying to take control out of God's hands and think I can do things on my own. Well, as my older brother has recently reminded me, I'm not that BIG. I actually can't take control from God, I truly can't thwart His plans, and I can't tell God how I want things (though my heart goes there at times). If this were the case, and I actually got my requests, I think (in the words of the Gospels) I'd be receiving stones and snakes for answers to my requests, and not the bread and fish that God so abundantly provides (I hope you got that analogy). I know I'm usually asking for the wrong things, so I thank my God that He answers in His wisdom, and in His timing, and with what is best for me!

And right now, the answer is "overnight security" :-) This is a humbling reality. And yet, isn't this exactly why I created this blog, to show that God's glory is perfected in my weaknesses! Actually I'm struck at the irony of this even now. That Jesus Christ and the glories of the Gospel will be seen better when I am weak. For when I am weak He is that much stronger! And His grace is that much more evident.

God, I can only fully appreciate your grace in my utter weaknesses, and in my dependency upon You! Thank me for taking me to this place in my life once again. Help me to stay here in utter dependency through all you take me through in this life.

For while we were still weak [without strength, helpless, frail, sickly], at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners (weak), Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies (weak) we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11)

Glory and Walmart?

I had a great day driving around Seattle today, partly because there is only one Walmart even remotely close to me (yes, the single man must have his Walmart) and because it sometimes is cheaper to drive to locations to buy the product you need (i.e. movie tickets) then it is to pre-order them online :-)

While on my drive I got to hear a message by Tim Keller entitled "The Gospel for Yourself" where he speaks of glory as being "weightiness." Or in other words, when God shows up he truly shows up! What might have been a concept of God is now complete REALITY! This was what Isaiah went through in Isaiah 6. God was no longer a concept to him, though he truly did believe God existed. God had now become true REALITY; who He really was, full of glory, was right in front of Isaiah!

First off, this made me think about how often I make God out to be a concept, usually one that I easily can adapt into MY Life, and how I want Him to bless, give out and react to me. But in fact, to believe God in concept is truly to believe another gospel, a LIE. God has not shown Himself in concept, but in REALITY. He did so to Isaiah around 3000 years ago, and I get to glean from such a moment in history! Think about it, God visiting earth in all His glory, with the angels present before Him singing HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! I can't imagine. But the point is how Isaiah responded and how I should be responding to God's presence, Him truly showing up and bringing His glory into my life!

Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips (I am way worse than I thought I was, my sin is utterly sinful!) and I dwell with a people of unclean lips (we are all in the same predicament, we are all completely lost, sinful people)

And the angel brought a piece of fire (not to judge but to cleanse) and touched my lips, ...and said your sins are atoned for and your guilt is taken away (the good news that I will not receive my just judgment for my sin!). Then Isaiah said, "Here am I, send me!"

Jesus Christ and Him crucified on my behalf is what God's glory revealed to Isaiah that day, and that's the same message of glory I have received from God! That His glory has shown up, and instead of being consumed I have been covered by the blood of Jesus! Instead of a fire to bring judgment, the fire brings cleansing! My sins have been atoned for, and my guilt has been completely taken away! What a good message we have to bring to people! This is the message of God's glory!

In my reading of 2 Thessalonians today, the same message of glory kept popping up.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:11-12)


To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2:14)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be glorified, as happened among you,
(3:1)

And I've been thinking more and more lately, that my life is about revealing the kingdom of God to everyone I come in contact with (and not creating the kingdom of Paul while I'm here); revealing the True REALITY of God, in all His GLORY (weightiness). And this revealing of Himself came in the form of Christ on the cross. This is the story that gave strength and vigor to Isaiah as he was SENT by God; this is the same story He has SENT me out to proclaim. Not out of duty, but out of delight!

Sheer delight, because I was once flat on my face, buried in the mud, held in judgment in comparison to God's glory and holiness! Yet, Jesus paid for my sin! Jesus has died in my place; He has taken the wrath of God upon Himself so that I wouldn't have to bear that! And any guilt from sin, He has removed completely! How can I not delight in this!