Are you ready for your dome-piece to explode? I thought so… but it’s ok… it’s one of those good type of explosions. Not the kind where brains go all over the place or anything… more like an awesome explosion, kinda like when the guys in the circus get into the huge cannon and fly across the room… and don’t send body parts everywhere. Perhaps this was a lame example. but ALSO perhaps, you should leave a comment suggesting a better one. You are correct in assuming this last statement is there in an attempt to pad my blog stats and make me feel TOTALLY better about myself.

The bible tells us that we are each unique and all have a different part to play in the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:8). I probably didnt need to pull the whole “the bible tells us” line on you… because odds are, you have probably figured this out already by noting things like: why some weirdos consider Ringo the best Beatle, or why some of us actually respected the Beatles enough to just pretend like Ringo didnt exist at all. or why some people enjoy Paul Walker movies… while others don’t enjoy self-inflicted eyeball torture. The point is: Each one of us is a special snowflake. (i would’ve put a less sissy analogy, but once again… nothing came to mind… don’t judge)

ready for cerebral hemorrhaging?

The Bible ALSO tells us (there is that phrase again).. that we are all a part of one body together. One in mind (Philip 2:2), one in body (1 Cor. 12:13), and one in spirit (Ephesians 4:4). Maybe you didnt understand the impact of that last statement. If we are all different, how can we all be one in spirit? doesnt “being unique” mean the opposite of “being the same”?

*enter the brain mushroom cloud*
(dont worry. if you are smarter than me, and this isnt wreaking havoc on pre-concieved notions like “things being the same is opposite of things being different” all this means is that we should be friends… so you can take every test for me from now on)

we have already established that each one of us is a different flavor of frozen yogurt (obviously not pinkberry, because they only have like 3.5 flavors… i’m just gonna say what we are all thinking: LAME). have you ever tried mixing EVERY flavor together? it becomes this awesome flavor known as “puke-your-brains-out”. need more “real world” examples? Potassium and Water (for all you chem nerds out there). Little kids and Broccoli (also resulting in barf). Or Penguins and microwaves (dont worry, no animals were hurt in the making of this blog). In the natural world, when you mix different things together, you get explosions, and every once in a while a viral you-tube video that people laugh at, but are secretly glad that they werent part of. People are the same way. It’s OBVIOUS that Star Wars nerds and Trekkies don’t naturally get along… as a matter of fact, Trekkies really don’t get along with humans in general… they are cool with vulcans though.

Back to the bible. Now it’s easier to understand how incredible it is that not only are we supposed to just “get along”, but we are unified, all working together towards one goal. That is nuttier than a squirrel!!!! (ok, perhaps metaphors/analogies aren’t my spiritual gift). But when i think of it, there is only ONE of me, and i have a hard time working towards my OWN goals most of the time. Isnt it incredible that God is bigger than our innate ability to clash with literally everything around us? under his umbrella, team edward and jacob can set lame movies aside and work together for the glory of God. Tom will finally stop manically torturing Jerry? Itchy and Scratcy will… no, i think i’ll stop there.

How amazing is He, that He can accommodate every unique person. He is intentional enough to create us to be unique, and have a place and a purpose for every different person. He is bigger than my political stance (yes… even militant hippyism). He is stronger than my selfish tendencies which cause me to go into “sabotage mode” while working in group settings. He is deep enough to allow for someone who is the complete opposite of me to also work for Him and be a part of His plan (1 Cor 12:20).

God is so good, that he would even give a quirky/clashing person like ME a place in his plan.

Author: Will McDonald

The seasons of the church calendar and the liturgy that accompanies them are for me the rhythms that draw the sacred down into my everyday life. As we are getting ready to start the season of Lent—the forty days before Easter—I have been overwhelmed by the way God has been preparing my heart for it through everything from Ryan’s messages on Sundays to random conversations with strangers.

Lent includes a few distinct periods: Ash Wednesday (February 22 this year) is the first day of Lent; some Christians participate in a service where they are marked on the forehead with ashes as a sign of repentance. The five weeks of Lent are a time for us to consider our need for a Savior, and many Christians participate in some form of fasting and giving. Holy Week is our annual remembrance of the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection, including Palm Sunday (celebrating Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem), Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper, and Jesus’ new commandment to love one another), Good Friday (the crucifixion and death of Jesus), and Holy Saturday (a day of quiet when Jesus lay in the tomb). Lent ends with Easter, our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

While Lent is not a practice specifically mentioned in the Bible (you won’t find it in your Bible’s dictionary or concordance), it has its roots in the earliest days of Christian practice. When the early church leaders realized that Christians had become too comfortable and complacent, someone suggested it was time to call them back to their senses, and the Bible offered some clues about how to do that. Lent recalls the 40 days Noah spent on the ark, the 40 days Moses spent listening to God give the law, the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the desert learning to trust God, the 40 days Elijah spent in the wilderness before hearing God’s still, small voice, the 40 days Jonah did penance for Nineveh, and the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and being tempted by Satan. All these times spent in the desert and the wilderness were awful, but if we learn anything from how often this practice is repeated it is that this time in the wilderness is necessary for our faith.

Lent is the season for confessing our sin and brokenness, and Lent teaches us that true wholeness comes through sacrifice. Lent is in many ways about death—death to ourselves and our desires in preparation to remember the tremendous sacrifice of Jesus’ own death for us. But that’s not the whole story. Lent reminds us that we must die in order to fully live; it is not simply death, but death in order to be reborn. Nature echoes this paradox: seeds must die to grow, stars die to birth galaxies. Jesus himself said we must die to live. If we live in a constant state of self-indulgence we will never live a whole life. When we deny ourselves, die to our wants and needs, wholeness seeps into us and we can live the good, full life that Jesus promised to us.

I was specifically reminded about Lent by Ryan’s sermon last Sunday, “What if we all had the TIME?” (if you missed it, listen to the podcast here, and if you were there you already know it’s worth a re-listen). I’ve recently realized how cluttered I have let my life become, and Ryan reminded me that relationships, especially my relationship with God, cannot exist without margin. If I have filled up all the spaces of my life with my own junk, then I have left no space for God to meet with me or to move in me. “If you are feeling dry, lost, unable to hear or see God,” Ryan said, “could it be that you are not seeing God move in your life because you have filled up all the margin? When you create margin for God, God will create margin for you.” This is the point of Lent.

Lent is about giving something up in order to create space for God—space for you to acknowledge God’s presence, space for God to meet with you and you with God, space to grow and to be changed. This is time for us to get away—to spend time in the wilderness, so to speak—so that when Resurrection Day comes, our hearts are ready for it, better able to understand the enormity of Christ’s sacrifice and more ready to be changed by it because we have sacrificed something ourselves.

Lent is a time to realign our lives and to reclaim the margin. This is a season to create new habits, learn new rhythms—and to unlearn all the harmful habits and rhythms we’ve picked up lately. All of us are addicted to something. Lent asks us to identify God as the most important thing in our lives by labeling our addictions and crutches and letting God replace them. In setting aside our addictions we set our priorities straight and learn what it means to put God at the center of everything. We learn what it is like to live by the grace of God alone and not by what we can supply for ourselves.

The most traditional observation of Lent is fasting. My Catholic friends fast from meat on Fridays in addition to giving up some other thing, but a Lenten sacrifice could be anything. One of my “addictions” is chocolate, so one year I gave up desserts for Lent. Others I know have fasted from soda or from eating out or even from shopping. I’ve fasted from media, too, turning the time I would have been spending watching TV or on the internet into space for prayer and reflection. Ryan challenged us to a media fast last week—you could continue that media fast throughout the season of Lent. Modify it if you need to, like limiting your consumption of media to only an hour a day, for example. Consider giving up that daily trip to Starbucks and donating the money you save to a cause. “Significant Sacrifice” is a movement prepared by Lifewater International, encouraging you to fast from a luxury item (your cup of coffee, cable, using your car when you could walk) during Lent, and to donate the money you save toward fresh water in third world countries (watch this video for more information and ideas).

Lent is also a time to consider adding a spiritual discipline to your life. I think silence is one of the most frightening things for us, but it is necessary for the care of the soul. One year for Lent I practiced the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude, spending Saturday afternoons and evenings in silence and breaking my silence on Sunday morning at church so the first words out of my mouth were literally songs of worship. Last year I was commuting more often and longer distances than I ever had before and I loved listening to music and NPR while driving; for Lent I gave up listening to the radio in my car and used that quiet time to listen to God instead. It shouldn’t be surprising that I was able to hear God more when I turned down all the other noise in my life.

Both in ancient times and today, Lent is an opportunity to consider our lives, remember our need for a Savior, and release things that have become an obstacle to trusting God. Fasting or praying during Lent does not impress God or earn God’s approval; instead, it helps us remember that we are saved by Christ alone and we are shaped as we share in His sufferings. If you have never participated in anything like this before, I’d like to challenge you to try it. You don’t have to give up something huge, but it should be something important (giving up bacon isn’t much of a sacrifice if you’re already a vegetarian). Ultimately, the point is to create space—margin—for God to move and speak in your life. And I guarantee that if you habitually create that space, God will show up—or maybe you will realize that God has been there all along but you were just too busy or too distracted to notice.

*Here are some resources that have been really helpful for me about fasting and spiritual disciplines. This year the scheduled scripture readings for Lent include a lot of passages from the gospel of Mark—consider reading through Mark and re-living the life, work, death, and resurrection of Jesus during Lent.

Author: Alicia McClinitic

“We love because he first loved us”. – 1 John 4:19

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:16

As I’ve been thinking about love (crazy, because it’s Valentine’s Day), I think about the love of Christ. I couldn’t tell you how many people wished me a “Happy Single Awareness Day” or heard someone complaining because they didn’t have a special someone to share today with. Well, my friends, that shouldn’t be our focus. If we look at Jesus Christ and the ultimate gift of love that he gave us on the cross, shouldn’t that be consuming our thoughts? And not just on Valentine’s Day, but everyday? Jesus set the example of what love is by enduring the cross to take our sin. No love from any earthly person will compare to the love that came from that sacrifice. We will always be let down. Always. Our parents, siblings, spouses, friends and significant others will inevitably disappoint us. But, praise Jesus, we will never be disappointed or let down by the love of Christ!

In 1 John 3:16, it talks about how we should be laying our life down for our brothers and sisters. That’s not just our blood brothers and sisters; these are our siblings in Christ. These are the people we will be spending our eternities with in heaven. If Jesus was willing to endure the cross and take on the sins of all mankind (past, present and future), why aren’t we loving people like we should? What is stopping us? I encourage you to be quick to love those who are in your life. Be a person who is known for the love they show. We know what love looks like because Jesus Christ loves us and pursues us constantly. Let’s love others out of the love we have for our Savior.

Author: Nicole Presley

Just so everybody knows…I stole ALL of these thoughts from my older and wiser brother (Brooks Elliott), and he’ll probably write about it in a book someday. BUT, I have his permission to use it for this blog!
When you read 1 Corinthians 10:31, what do you think of? In this verse, Paul says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Most of us use this verse out of context. Although I think there is some truth to the way we use it- to give God the glory no matter what you’re doing, that’s not exactly what Paul is saying here. In order to get the full context of this verse, we have to go back to chapter 8 where Paul begins his discussion about food sacrificed to idols. Throughout the next 2 chapters, Paul tells his readers (that are Christians) to give up some of their liberties/freedom that they have in Christ, if those things are going to cause someone else to stumble as they watch those Christians live life. In his example of food that is sacrificed to idols, Paul notes that as Christ followers, that particular food is no different than any other food, because we believe that there is no God but one. (Which means “idols” are just pieces of wood/material with no divine value.) However, he tells the members of the Corinthian church (and anyone else that follows Christ) not to eat it. The reason: “Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.” (1 Corinthians 8:7)
So, it is your job, if you are a follower of Christ to “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. (1 Corinthians 8:9-12)
Paul goes on to say, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” (1 Corinthians 9:19) Paul is doing EXACTLY what Christ calls us to do in John 15 when he says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:13, 17).
All of this isn’t a black and white picture of what’s right and wrong. Paul even says,  “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23) He is telling us that when it comes to setting an example, our decisions ought to be rooted in our love for God and our love for others. We want people to love God and experience relationship with Him, right? So when he says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” in verse 31 of 1 Corinthians 10, he is talking about it in the context of protecting other people’s “consciences”!
Are you living in such a way that other people are drawn to Jesus? Or are there things you’re doing that are causing other people to stumble/sin as they watch you…even if it’s not an issue of sin for you? Sometimes we need to give up those freedoms. We need to lay down our lives for our friends. Even when it’s inconvenient for us. I’d challenge you to examine your life with this call in mind.
Live Jesus today!
Author: Whitney Elliott

As I was walking to class on Tuesday afternoon I happened to smile at a young woman standing in the middle of the path in front of me. “Do you want to help save the California State Parks?” she immediately asked. Shoot. I’m not good at getting out of these situations. I can’t even hang up on sales calls. It’s seriously a problem. I know what you all are thinking: “It’s easy. Just don’t make eye contact, don’t smile, just walk on.” But it’s not that simple for me. First, I just like smiling—smiling’s my favorite. Second, I am sympathetic to the plight of these people; no one likes to be ignored, so I smile at them and then get sucked in. Maybe if I had been looking at the ground, I would have only glimpsed her REI hiking boots as I walked past, but it was too late for that.

The young woman—Annie—introduced herself and her cause. I listened, nodding along and smiling or looking concerned in all the appropriate places before getting the chance (and the nerve) to say “No thanks, I can’t give any money today, but good luck.” She nodded her head in understanding. “It’s difficult when you’re a student. I just had to cancel my Netflix subscription to keep up my monthly pledge, which was super hard, but when you think about what’s really important, the decision’s easier, right?” “Yah, that’s true,” I agreed.

Her words stayed with me as I walked away. I was struck by Annie’s commitment to this cause and her willingness to sacrifice something important to her for something she felt was of greater importance. Donating money from a cancelled Netflix subscription might not seem like a large sacrifice to some, but it struck me as very significant. When confronted with Annie’s sacrifice, I felt really convicted. Recently I have found myself in several different situations that have made me think about the nature of sacrificing, giving, and being generous. I realized that I had been silently making excuses for why I could not sacrifice more for God and the Church. I don’t have money right now—I’m living paycheck to paycheck. I just had to buy books and pay tuition. The list goes on. After my conversation with Annie, I realized how hollow those excuses actually are.

I do live paycheck to paycheck, but I also still have a Netflix subscription. Annie’s sacrifice might not be the right choice for me, but it certainly made me think. I read once that a life incapable of significant sacrifice is incapable of courageous action. If Annie is willing to sacrifice Netflix to save the California State Parks, I as a follower of Christ can make a similar significant sacrifice for the kingdom of God. What about all the money I spend in coffee shops? I don’t have much to begin with, but giving up one chai latte a week would be a good place to start.

Author: Alicia McClintic

Being that January 1st was just a few weeks ago, it would be easy for you to read this as a New-Years-Resolution idea; but its not for a couple of reasons. First, as a culture we tend to beat New Year’s Resolutions like the proverbial dead horse with articles in magazines, internet postings, and casual conversation topics. Secondly, a New Year’s Resolution connotes a change that you would like to make in terms of behavior modification (quit smoking, lose weight, participate in more civil war re-enactments). I don’t want you to associate this post with either of those things. I say, “Change your mind, change your life,” because I believe that the way you think about things plays a large role in how you act. For example, if you really care about animals, its probably important to you to volunteer at the SPCA. I want to discuss how you can change the way you see the world, in order to change the way you approach choices, big and small.

A few months ago, my wife and I were at a church conference and we heard one of the speakers, a pastor, talking about practical ways to make it “okay to not be okay” in your church community. The way he sees it, everyone struggles with an addiction to sin, and in turn he strives to teach his church that they need to be accepting of everyone, no matter what they are struggling with, just like people in a recovery program are accepting of newcomers. In fact, he advocates treating your spiritual life like a recovery program- we’ve all got problems, and the more willing we are to share about them, the healthier our church community will be. He had some great ideas along these lines, but he really got me thinking about how I could better go about my own faith walk, and have more victory over the areas of sin in my life. It took me a while to gather information and put ideas into coherent thoughts, and I’d like to share some of this journey with you. Maybe you’ll find something you can use in your own life.

When I started pursuing these thoughts, I didn’t know anything about addiction treatment (Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc.) other than what I’ve seen on TV. But I know a guy that knows all about it. So I talked to Terrence, a friend who has been clean and sober for over 20 years. Terrence told me that an “addiction recovery” mindset could be a good perspective to have victory over sin in my life. As a Christian I’m a sinner recovering from my sin addiction the same way that he is an addict recovering from his alcohol addiction. He says that one of the keys to recovery is to understand that it is impossible for me to make a decision to “never drink, or use drugs (or sin) again for as long as I live” and succeed. Nobody can make a choice like that last even a year, most of us probably couldn’t make it last a month. These lengths of time are too big, too daunting for us. What you, Terrence, and I can do is make the decision for a day, or maybe even just for the next six hours. And when the next day (or six hours) comes, we can make that decision again. The good news is that every time you make that decision, its a little easier to make it the next time. But its also important to note that the first of the 12 Steps is to realize that you can’t change without the help of a “higher power”. This is especially poignant for my situation, because the cure for my sin addiction is a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ. I need to nurture my relationship with him, so that I come to love him more than I love my sin. The last piece of advice from Terrence that I will share here is that every alcoholic falls off the wagon, just like every Christian stumbles, and beating yourself up over it is not as productive as getting back up to try again.

So instead of a New Year’s Resolution to read my Bible every day for the rest of my life and never sin again, I just need to make the decision each morning (or each hour!). Instead of thinking I can choose to be a better person all the time forever, I need to think about how I can choose to be a better person from day to day, hour to hour. Its more bite-sized and manageable, it’s closer to the something I can handle. Most importantly, I need to remember that very often I won’t feel like spending time with Jesus, or not sinning, but I have to make the choice. Terrence still feels like a drink (from time to time), but he has learned to choose not to. I think I can choose, every day, to have the spiritual life and the relationship with Christ that I want. I think that after years of trying and falling on my face, I can succeed.

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? Do you want to make a big life change? If you haven’t had much success before, maybe rather than deciding to change your life in a day, you need to first change how you think about what it is that you want to do differently. An interesting piece of trivia that Terrence shared with me is that an MRI shows that an addict’s brain is literally different from a non-addict’s brain, but through a successful recovery program, over time their brain will change back to be like a non-addict’s brain. So when Romans 12:1-2 talks about renewing your mind, it looks like you can literally change the way your mind works.

Alcoholics go to meetings because they know they can’t do it by themselves. Maybe if you really want to make the change, you should ask yourself if it’s really reasonable to think that you can go it alone. If you’re looking to make a change in your spiritual life, think about getting into community with people that want the same thing. Check out small groups, and when you’ve found the right one, be honest with them about what you’re struggling to change. Hang out with people that are trying to do what you want or have been successful. Spend time with people that love Jesus like you want to.

So basically, if you’re looking to change something about your life, especially your spiritual life and your relationship with Christ, try to think about it in terms of victory coming one day at a time. Don’t try to do it on your own. You need to find some people that want to make the same changes and be intentional about supporting each other with prayer and encouragement. Maybe the most important thing to remember is that God wants a relationship with you as much as you want a relationship with him (and probably even more so). And God is bigger than your sin addiction.

One last thing, Terrence wanted me to tell you that if you are struggling with addiction, be it alcohol, drugs, or whatever, he would love to talk to you about getting help. Call WestGate (408.252.3700) and ask for Terrence. Tell him Joel sent you.

Author: Joel Linscott

Five of us guys sat on couches in a triangle in my living room, talking about God on a Friday night, which I found quite remarkable for a bunch of young dudes. Our friends Josh and Nate brought along their friend Travis* to hang out. Several guys in our small group have been rescued by God out of a background of heavy drug and alcohol use. The cool thing about it is they have received God’s grace to allow them to leave that lifestyle yet stay connected to old friends that are still struggling with it and not knowing the God who can save them from it. This night was another night like several others in which one of those friends joined us.

Travis sat quietly, saying a few things here and there, as Josh and Nate talked about their lives and interests. Eventually Travis shared how he has become consumed with work, needing it to distract him from the life of drugs and alcohol he so easily gets sucked into. Josh and Nate love to talk when they’re excited about something and these days they’re really excited about God and what He’s done in their lives. They leaned forward as Travis opened up, starting to share how he no longer wants to be consumed by drugs and alcohol like he had been. Like they had been together. With Nate and Josh now hardly able to stop talking about Him, the conversation turned to God and never left Him for the next few hours and late into the night. Why should it, when He is the only One who can bring true lasting freedom from such addictions?

I loved last Friday night with those guys because there was so much honesty. Travis, not really knowing the freedom that Jesus provides, shared about his desire to be free from the imprisoning effects of drugs and alcohol. He shared how he wants to follow God more, so the rest of us tried to help him see God’s heart and what “following” Him really means.

One way I tried to make it clear was by explaining that God needs to take the place of drugs in his life. As Josh and Nate used to be, he is weak in resisting the consuming effects of certain substances. He talked about the persistent draw drugs have on him and how he realized his need to separate himself from bad situations. But the way He talked about God was as if God were someone to do things for, to simply try your best to please. This is something common amongst people who are newly seeking out God. Yet seeking God is so much more than that. Really, it’s a lot simpler than that. You get addicted to things that you find a lot of pleasure in, and God wants this to be the case for you and Him. You get pulled away from the drug and you have withdrawals. You need it again. The reason that drugs are evil, harmful vices is because they replace the thoughts, energy and willpower that we might otherwise concentrate on God. In Christian lingo, they’re idols.

God wants to be in a close relationship with you. An addictive relationship. He want to be your all-consuming source of pleasure. He wants to consume your thoughts and actions and channel your energy and devotion toward Himself, fully transforming you and redirecting you for an eternal purpose on this Earth. He desires this so strongly that he offered to you Jesus, His one and only Son, to be the bridge between you and God the Father. The truth is that if you don’t know Jesus, you’re stuck in a deep chasm filled with darkness, and Jesus is the strong hand reaching deep down into it to pull you out. One of the first things they teach you in Alcoholics Anonymous is that you’re powerless to defeat your addictions on your own, and it’s the same with all sins and shortcomings. You are weak, God alone has the power to bring you out of the pit, and He does it by offering Jesus to you as your way out. Only when you accept Jesus – this hand reaching down to you – will you have power to redirect your passions towards God as your new addiction.

We can see people selling themselves out wholly for God in His message to us, the Bible. Read about David, an ancient Jewish king and direct ancestor of Jesus, as he celebrates the Ark of the Covenant – an ancient symbol for the very presence of God – being brought into the temple:

“Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.”

“David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.’”

2 Samuel 6:14-15, 21-22

David danced half-naked in the presence of God (2 Samuel 6:20) because He was fully consumed with love and excitement for Him. Half-naked dancing makes me think of drunk people and how they lose their inhibitions and do crazy things. David was seemingly intoxicated with God and didn’t care how his wife or the other hundreds of people around saw him, even as the king of Israel. Ephesians 5:18 tells us “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” We are not to turn off our desire to be intoxicated when we become Christians, but we are to find a new expression of it. Being filled with the Holy Spirit God gives us is a way to know His will, communicate with Him and do what He commands us, but it is way more than the simple sum of those things. Being filled with the Holy Spirit rescues our misplaced addictions and refocuses them on God, so that we can’t stop thinking about Him, can’t stop talking about Him and can’t stop yearning to know Him more.

My friend Dewey used to live a life deeply entrenched in alcohol and the club scene in downtown San Jose. He was a salesman to dance clubs and would get into them for free even before he was twenty-one. He was severely addicted to alcohol and channeled his time, thoughts, money and energy towards it. He was good at his job because he lived and breathed that scene. Then God rescued him from this, reaching His hand down and pulling him out. Now he lives and breathes Jesus. While everyone else is posting on Facebook about the meal they had for lunch, Dewey is posting about Jesus and what He’s doing in his life. He can’t stop talking about Jesus because he’s addicted to Him. His addictive personality has been redeemed and redirected.

The same is true with Josh and Nate, as they carried the conversation about God into the wee hours of the morning. Steve and I could barely get a word in as they talked about how amazing Jesus is and how good He is at transforming people. I could feel the Holy Spirit moving as Josh – usually somewhat quiet in Bible study – spewed a flurry of gracious and truthful words towards Travis, explaining the beauty of this God that had rescued him from addiction.

So if you’re trapped in addiction of any kind, whether it be drugs, alcohol, pornography, video games or anything else, God is extending His hand to pull you out. They say that love is a drug and I know that to be true. He wants you to be in a close relationship with Him, in which you can’t stop thinking about Him and spending time with Him, like a significant other you’re madly in love with. You don’t have to become mired in a bunch of do’s and don’ts, trying to live a “good” life under your own power. As you realize how amazing He is you won’t be able to help but get drawn in. Simply redirect your addictions toward a God worth being addicted to.

*Name changed for privacy

Author: Jeff Oleson

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’, says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you’, says the LORD.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14a

I was having coffee with a friend this week and we were talking about our future goals and desires: marriage, kids, careers, education, etc… I was telling my trusted friend how impatient I was in the way my life was going. I feel like I’ve been at community college for too long. I feel like all my gal pals are on their way to getting married. (Basically, I was just complaining.) After I was done with my rant, she said something that struck a chord with me. “If God keeps me single and where I’m at until I’m 40 to do HIS will and ministry, I’m okay with that.” I was speechless. My initial response was, “I hope that’s not me when I’m 40.” (How selfish of me, right?) I have been so convicted ever since. I feel like I get caught up in the idea of the “American Dream”. No, there isn’t anything wrong with wanting those nice things for our lives; but when that’s the focus, there’s an issue. God wants to bless us. He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. But I’ve begun to realize that God’s timing is absolutely perfect. He’s preparing my heart for what’s next. He’s preparing my future husband’s heart. He’s preparing the hearts of my future bosses. So, why in the world would I want to rush that? I wrote last week how I get so caught up in the little things that are right in front of me and I don’t look to see the bigger picture. How is that stopping me from living the life God has called me to right now?

I want to go back to what my friend said. “If God keeps me single and where I’m at until I’m 40 to do HIS will and ministry, I’m okay with that.” That’s such an awesome place to be. There are many things that I am free to do right now because I don’t have a big career or children. I am so privileged to be doing God’s ministry. Yes, I do have the occasional homework assignment or cleaning my room, but there really isn’t anything that is stopping me from pursuing what God has in store for my life in ministry. I’m blessed to be serving as Awakening Church is being launched. I’m blessed to be in small groups. I’m blessed to have friends who bring up these convictions! We will never have these moments again. Once we leave our homes, jobs, etc…, our spheres of influence change. We may not get these unique opportunities to do our ministries.

So, now what? I have begun to pray the will of God for my life. I’ve been asking him to shut doors and open new ones if it’s what he wants for me. I’m asking for clarity and for friends to be holding me accountable as I’m in this time of transition. As I am doing this, I would encourage you to do the same. As I think back to how different my life would be if I were not in school, married, with kids or even in my career, I’m grateful that God has me where I’m at. This moment, right here and now, is my ministry. The people in my life. The obligations I have. This is why God’s timing is perfect. I’ve been blessed with the sphere of influence I have. No one could do what I do and I can’t do what you’re doing. As I’m on this journey to figure out what my role is, I’m excited for YOUR journey. I pray that God would bring you clarity, open and shut doors when necessary and bring people to your life to bring up these convictions. I encourage you to have someone keep you accountable in your times of transition. We can’t do this alone! Be encouraged, friends. God’s timing is perfect. He’s all knowing and is holding your life in the palm of his hand.

Author: Nicole Presley

I have been really convicted lately about how much I have been given in life and how little I give back. When I look at all that God has blessed me with, I cannot help but feel so incredibly loved and selfish at the same time. Because of something that I had absolutely no control over, I am able to do so many things that MOST of the world can only dream about. I was born in the United States, in the heart of Silicon Valley. I am a part of the richest population and I have given little to help those around me but have no problem spending money on myself every week. I have been blessed with not only the privilege of being able to speak openly about my faith but it is even written in the constitution that I have the RIGHT to speak openly about it. Yet, how often do I actually speak openly about my faith to those that do not know Christ? Or even to those that know Christ? I am so quiet about my Christian walk, and with the resources that God has given me, it’s embarrassing how openly I give. I call myself a Christian and love God, but my actions do not say the same. Actions speak louder than words and my actions have not been telling the “follower of Christ” story that I want them to tell.

I was especially convicted when Steve Clifford was talking to Awakening about being generous. He said one thing that really stuck with me: “A God honoring life has generosity and sacrifice in it.” This stuck with me because I try to be generous and loving with people, but I do not feel that I sacrifice much for God or to advance His kingdom. I tithe monthly (although I must admit this is something new for me) and I give my time when I can. Although this may seem like sacrifice, I feel selfish because I give my time when it is convenient for me, not always when I feel God’s leading in my life. I have become more aware of this voice in my life and am following it when I hear it, but it has been a slow-moving process. After hearing from Steve about how much I have been given in this world, especially living in the United States, I am determined to make what I have been given count towards something that is more worthy of my time and resources than a new CD or a new pair of shoes (that, honestly, I really don’t need).

What if we all gave a little more and took a little less? What if we all gave to the greater cause and stopped making the “I’m just one person, I cannot make a difference” excuse? What IF we all made the decision to STOP world hunger, preventable diseases, and homelessness AND actually did something about it? Steve gave a “what if” answer and said that if all of the church members in America gave only 10% of what the earned, and if each church gave away only 40% of what was given we could solve world hunger, most of the education issues in the world, and provide clean water for the poorest billion in the world! That is a shocking statement!! This is not every person in the world, but only a small percentage of Americans!!! We can make a difference!

I challenge you this week to give more and take less. Whether this is tithing for the first time and making that little sacrifice for God, or buying a homeless person lunch. Everything makes a different. God says: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Go. Make a difference in this world.

Author: Laura Watkins

At retreat a few weekends ago, Jay told a story about going on a hiking trip with his friend and a group of people led by a tour guide. Along the way, they stopped at a couple cliffs above a pool of water and the tour guide presented two options: they could either jump off the 20 foot high smaller, reasonable cliff or… take the massive leap off a 60 foot high towering edge of doom. One excited shout for the larger cliff led to other and yet another until the group somehow found themselves on top of a 60 foot ledge, ready to plummet into the waves seemingly miles below.

The first to take the plunge was Jay’s friend, the manliest man known to man, followed right behind by Jay himself. “Manly Man” took one step close to the edge and froze in sheer terror and horror at the sight below. He couldn’t do it. The jump was impossible, ludicrous, a quick and torturous method of suicide. Everyone behind him started getting noticeably antsy. Why isn’t he moving? It can’t be that bad can it? Sparks of ignorance from the crowd culminated into yells of encouragement while the tour guide offered tips on the proper diving form, emphasizing the importance of not looking down to avoid a grisly scenario below.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, “Manly Man” took a step and leaped, disappearing quickly over the edge with the girliest scream known to man. Then an audible, lingering silence filled the air.

It was Jay’s turn. He crept up to the front and took one look down, almost pissing his pants. There was absolutely no, no, no way was he going to even attempt this plunge of death. Right as he about convinced himself to save his own life, his friend’s cry all the way down from the water, at the utmost top of his lungs, echoed up to Jay’s eardrums: “Jump! Do it! It’s the best feeling ever!”

With that, Jay could do nothing but take a deep breath and jump. And he did it again. And again. And again.

And it really was the best feeling ever.

One of the practical applications of this story is for us to learn to dive into Jesus’ love and submit fully to Him, despite fear of the unknown or anxieties of an uncomfortable lifestyle, and find that doing so, indeed provides complete fulfillment. Yet, what stood out to me the most was Jay’s friend giving out the encouragement necessary to stimulate that step off the ledge. He experienced such joy and unexplainable happiness from God’s grace, that he couldn’t help but have that transformation overflow in his speech to others.

It makes me wonder about my own life and how life-changing and transforming I claim my walk with God is, and yet my speech to others seems stifled of encouragement, devoid of praising the undeserved blessings I received from Him. How can we live life not sharing the wonderful work God has done in our lives or not be ecstatic to jump at the opportunity to encourage fellow believers?

For some reason, it’s always extremely difficult for me to openly converse about God to others. Maybe it’s my shy nature, my fear of being judged or ridiculed, my desire to not want to sound hokey or fake or just blatant disobedience. Regardless, my experience with God’s abundant love should shatter those obstacles and help me reach out to others, to love them as Christ does. And He’s been slowly yet surely peeling back the scabs that cover my eyes, to a deep understanding that to love others is to really love Christ.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:6

Author: Micah Shyu

If you weren’t new to Awakening this past Sunday, you might have been slightly surprised to see Steve Clifford, WestGate’s head pastor, speaking from the front instead of Awakening’s pastor, Ryan. Steve generously devoted his evening to visit Awakening and spoke on the topic of money and what it means to be a joyful giver.

We recognize how touchy the subject of money can be in American society, especially when asking people to give it away. This is interesting, because if Steve’s submission that “we [Americans] are all rich”  is true, why do you think any of us might have a hesitation to give to those who have not?

I can just imagine myself attempting to explain my response to a group of people in Ethiopia who probably know nothing about it’s like to have an abundance of clean water, let alone any sort of monetary wealth.

In Mark 12:41-44, the Bible illustrates a poor woman who offers two small coins as her tithe into the temple treasury- the smallest offering allowed at the temple. It was nothing compared to what the rich people in the crowd offered, and yet Jesus is overjoyed with the woman, and displeased by the others. It turns out, giving sacrificially isn’t about dollar amount, or emptying your bank account. Jesus is challenging the people around him to act in such a way that changes the heart from selfishness to love that is unconditional.

This makes me wonder, was Jesus ever displeased by my giving that was hardly a sacrifice to my daily living? Does the God of the universe — the “I am”– really need my $10, $20, $50 a week?

Personally, I truly believe that to give, whether it be time, talent, or treasure, because we know we can depend on our Father as Jehovah Jireh (Provider), we are acting in true “joyful giver” form.

“But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge…see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the SINCERITY of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others”

2 Corinthians 8:7-8 (emphasis added)

God also speaks to you poor college students too:

“…Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to he does not have”

2 Corinthians 11-12

Regardless of dollar amount, giving is a pre-determined act of worship, and when we worship in complete thankfulness, we adopt a spirit of generosity and joy.

“Teach me your way, O Lord”

Psalm 27:11

Author: Kate Anderson

These past few weeks, I have been really learning why prayer is so important and why it should be a significant part of our relationship with the Lord. As a child who grew up in a Christian home, I thought we only prayed before dinner and going to bed. We prayed as a family, thanked him for the food on our plates and the beds we got to sleep in and that was it. I really did not think too much of it. As I got into high school, I used God as a vending machine: when it was convenient and when I wanted something. “Dear God, I really didn’t study for my math test. Can you help me get at least a passing grade?” or “God, I really need a parking spot. Wanna help me out?” For most of high school and the beginning of college, that’s what my prayer life was like. I used God when I needed him to come through for me. Little did I know, I was in for a rude awakening. I began to question the concept prayer. I didn’t understand why we needed to pray. God is all-knowing, right? His will is ultimately going to be done, right? So, why was it necessary for me to ask God for things like community, jobs, friendships? Friends, I struggled with this. I could not figure this out. I was doing research, reading my Bible and seeking council. I wanted to get to the bottom of this. Someone had shared one verse with me and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

There it was, simply stated. God gets the glory. I think back to those thoughts of getting the passing grade or finding the parking spot and I didn’t even thank God for those times when it did happen. I applauded myself and figured I could get away not studying and the answers would just “come to me” again. So, not only is prayer powerful, but it is something we should take very seriously. I was at Hume Lake a couple years back as a counselor and our speaker spoke on how he viewed the idea of prayer. He shared that it is us coming before his throne so reverently humble and surrendering the wills for our life. Bowing down before the throne, praying within the will that God has for our lives and giving him the glory for what he is going to do.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Yes, God is going to bless us and give us what we need in our lives; but it may not be what we desire for ourselves. For me, I have a hard time seeing the bigger picture. I focus in on one tiny detail and I’m set. No one can change my mind. Friends, that’s an issue in my life. As I’ve been learning to pray God’s will for my life, I’ve been slowly taking off those blinders and I’m able to see why instances did or didn’t happen in my life. And it’s just not the big things. God wants to be a part of the little things in our lives. Even if it is finding that parking spot, being in communication with God daily is so important. As I’ve been in my small group, I’ve had the opportunity to pray for the ladies in my group. I do life with these special women. They have shown me how very different their approach to circumstances are because of the power we have in prayer. Whether it being talking with a boss, finding a job or just getting more sleep throughout the week. God is a part of their daily lives.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

I encourage you, my friends, to be in prayer and really comprehend the power that we have in Christ because of prayer. May we approach his throne in confidence knowing that God will always listen and answer those petitions in his will for our lives. Make your requests known to God. It may not be the answer that we want, but we don’t always get to see the bigger picture. God is all-knowing, right? He’s got our lives in the palms of his hands. He loves us, his children, and wants nothing more than to bless us immensely. Continue to be in conversation with your Heavenly Father. We serve a big God who can do so much more than we could even begin to dream of.

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.

Ephesians 3:20

Author: Nicole Presley