What's in a Book?

There is a local thrift store in Livermore, CA that has a great selection of used Christian books. It seems like every time I walk in there I find a great book at a great price. This past week, I stopped in and found "An Unstoppable Force" by Erwin McManus for $2. Previously, I had picked up "Uprising" by McManus for the same price. Now these were great finds for me, but I was a little sad because based on the condition of both books, it was clear that, while they weren't new, neither had ever been read.

Now, no book can be a substitute for seriously studying the Bible, but there are some authors, who, having based their writing on Scripture, can help us to have a better understanding of biblical concepts in the same way that a great sermon can get us to think more deeply about God and His plan for our lives. McManus is one of those authors for me. "Seizing Your Divine Moment" (Now "Chasing Daylight") was the book that helped me to see God's call for me to go into full-time ministry. "The Barbarian Way" helped my youth group and me see that God doesn't call us to a neat, clean and organized faith, but a raw and primitive passion. Right now, "Soul Cravings" is helping me to deal with the issues of intimacy, destiny and meaning.

Each one of the books that I have read by Erwin McManus has left a distinct impact on my life. And I know that I am happy to have found them for such a cheap price. But I wonder what would have happened had the people who donated these books actually read them and kept them. I would not have found them on a book shelf at a thrift store, but perhaps they could have had a substantial impact on someone else's life. How would their lives be different? How would they have affected their relationship with God?

As I look at my book shelf, it is filled with books that I have never read nor have plans to read. How might those book affect my life if I were to read them? Or perhaps if I were to give them away, who might they bring closer to God? What good are books that we never read other than to sit on a bookshelf proclaiming to the world, "Look how many books I have!!!" (Oh how I love books!)?

Just something to think about...

Moving Forward

I can vividly remember the day that I was promoted from the children’s ministry to the youth group. Years of anticipation finally culminated in that day and I couldn’t have been more excited. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the children’s ministry; in fact I became a Christian through the children’s ministry at my church. But there was something about becoming a “youth” to which each of us looked forward. It was a rite of passage; evidence that we were getting older and more mature.

My youth group was a place where I belonged. While at most, we never had more than 15 students, we were a close group of friends who had each other’s back. We learned about the Bible, but we also had fun. Whether inspired by retreats, bowling, pool parties, weekly meetings or Bible study, I am forever grateful for the memories that I have as a result of my youth group. I still keep in contact with many of those guys and girls, and it’s amazing to see what God has done in our lives. 5 of us have gone into full-time ministry as pastors and para-church workers. Most of us have gotten married. Some have kids. But what amazes me even more is how many of us are active members of a church. While statistics tell us that students leave the faith never to return upon High school graduation, most of us defied those odds.

Now, years later, I get to welcome a new group of incoming 7th graders into my youth group. Seeing the excitement in their eyes brings back memories: the excitement and anticipation of being a part of that group all come back. It reminds me that God is a giver of good things and He expects us to be excited to receive them. Each day if we look around we'll see the great things that He has in store for us that day. God is moving forward in His plan for us. Are we willing to follow with anticipation and excitement?

Reflections of a High School Dreamer

June 1 was the 10 year anniversary of my high school graduation. When I realized this, I took some time to contemplate where life has led me over the last decade. As I considered where I am verses where I thought I’d be, I came to the conclusion that these last 10 years can be summed up in one word: GRACE.

I had hopes and dreams. I had direction and I had the ambition to get there. I knew what I wanted do and who I wanted to be. I was on my way. But God, in His GRACE, ruined everything that I had planned. Slowly, one by one, I saw my dreams dashed, my hopes shattered, my direction confused, and my ambition tempered. You see, God had a plan for my life and my hopes, dreams, and direction were getting in the way. Rather than allowing me to continue down the road of selfishness and self-sufficiency, God rescued me from a vain and meaningless life; a life lived outside of His will. That’s GRACE. I could have never seen the perfect plan that God had for me until he took away all hope of the plan I had made for myself. It wasn’t easy, because when you’re going through tough times, it’s difficult to see anything else; especially God. Yet it was God who carried me through those years and brought me out on the other end. I couldn’t see it at the time, but I can look back and see God’s hand working miraculously in my life. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

So to the class of 2010, I can offer this advice: Be careful with the plans you make; the tighter you hold onto your own agenda, the more it will hurt when God changes your direction. Work hard, but live each day with an open mind. In 10 years, who knows where you'll be? I sure didn't, but I couldn't have dreamed of a better life!

Hope in the Midst of Discouragement

Discouragement is a fact of the Christian life. Many know this truth all too well. And even more feel the need to hide it when it comes. How often are we asked, “How are you?” only to answer with the standard, acceptable Christian response, “I’m fine”? But the fact is we’re not fine; we’re not even close. Discouragement is painful and can make you feel worthless. Discouragement never respects your time or calendar. Discouragement can make you feel like you’re alone. Discouragement is the single most dangerous place for a Christian to be because we find ourselves complacent and easily swayed into sinful behavior.

I think God knew that discouragement would eventually come to all who would seek to follow Him. That’s why the Bible is riddled with stories of discouraged people. From Adam and Eve to Abraham to Joseph to Moses to King David to Elijah to Daniel and even to Jesus and His disciples; nearly every major Biblical character, at one time or another, faced discouragement in their life and ministry.

But there is hope in discouragement. There is hope in knowing that everyone goes through discouraging times. And because of this, we don’t need to hide behind masks that falsely show the world that all is ok. We can and should talk about our discouragement. Find someone that you can talk to and air out what you’re going through because how quickly discouragement leads to bitterness. And always remember that Jesus promised “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NASB)