The Real Thing

Maybe this will move you?

2011-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Recently sat at a training conference for international student ministry. Heard from a man named John (name changed to protect identity) from a large Arab-Muslim nation. He came to America as the top student in this nation from a devout Muslim family. In his story he shared how he was loved and so powerfully welcomed by this group of Christian students when he arrived here. He shared how God had radically moved in his life and had changed him. He had several dreams and things in the dreams came true. He accepted Jesus as his savior about two years ago now. He challenged us, spoke clearly to us, and allowed us to ask questions. He then asked us to pray for him. Seemed innocent enough. However, I had no idea what was about to hit me. He asked if we could pray because he must go home at the end of this semester. In his words he said that he must live in this nation and he wants to be able to go to church, but doing so could cost him his life because people know how he gave up Islam for Christianity. He did not ask us for wisdom in making the decision on whether to go to church. In fact, he simply asked for protection because there was no way that he could live without going to church and worshiping God.

I ask a question. What if we all had that attitude as Christians? We live in a nation that freely allows us to worship and go to church, yet many of us choose not to. Be like John and choose to.

Labeled: Loved

2011-04-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Heard a challenging message tonight from Andy Stanley. Think about this, every person you see, have seen or ever will see is loved and valued by God. That is an amazing thought. If we can take this to affect our beliefs, which will affects the decisions we make, which will ultimately affect the outcome of the Great Commission. Think about that. We must remove the labels that we place upon people. As Christians we tend to put labels on people such as atheist, homosexual, muslim, sinner, prostitute. This happens when God has only one label: LOVED. Let this challenge our thinking and change our actions.

RADICAL

2011-02-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

God gave me a vision this morning. In short where this can be read I was standing in heaven behind this Vietnamese or Chinese man of some sort. He was beaten badly and was awaiting entrance to heaven. (I don't know about the Theology of this, but this is what God gave me.) As I begin to talk with this man he tells me that he has just been beaten and killed for his faith in Jesus Christ. Some people may call him a radical or something like that. Even I would call him that. As I continue to talk to him I become very intimidated. I wonder if I could truly allow myself to die for the Gospel. As he finishes his story as asks me what I did in life. As I stammer and try think of anything to say.
Finally I respond, "I went to church every week. Oh yeah and I once gave $100 to missions."
He responds, "Wow, you must have faced severe persecution and made very little money."
Needless to say the man was not impressed. It really hits me at this point. Wow I am such a radical. I have attended church in a nation where it is perfectly legal to do so and I have never given to the point which it hurts. I am such a radical.
I stand here with a man that has led thousands to Christ and faced beatings and the threat of death every time he went to church. I can't talk about the amazing things Christ did through me or what I say God do. As the man enters heaven there is a crowd of people so happy to see and are there because of him.
Who might be there to meet me? That is the question I felt God asking.
I have spent an entire week tweeting and posting about radical Christianity. I believe God is calling us to return to radical faith. We have to or we will stand at heaven and without a doubt if you know Jesus as your Savior you will be there, but what will you have to talk about?
I am now so convicted about being annoyed by the guy who preaches down on the square or seeing a guy walking down a path with a megaphone. I should be challenged by them.
God is calling for us to be radical. We have to choose who we are going to serve. When I stand before the judgment seat of Christ and he asks me what I did I want to have lots to say.
We as Christians need to stand out from the world. Take off the camouflage because now we blend in and the further we stand out, the more we will attract the world.
Revelation 3:16 I must be hot not somewhere in the middle.

Website

2010-02-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a beautiful sight. Starting to wonder if I live in Texas or somewhere in the arctic. It's a good day to get Starbucks, a haircut and work on the BREAK website. Be looking for it soon.