Welcome Others as Christ Welcomed Us

April 12th, 2012

I remember the first time I stepped foot into the meeting room of a campus ministry I’ve never been to. I brought my friend along for mutual support and almost instantly, thousands of questions and anxieties began compounding through my head as the night drew nearer.

For some reason, when you’re walking into a new church or Christian gathering, where you know nobody and nothing about how things are going to be, your senses become heightened to an extremely sensitive awareness of every minuscule detail: the body language of others around you, the choice of worship songs, which Bible verses are plastered across the bulletin, what people are engaging in conversation about, or the general dress code.

You start reading into everything, become overly critical, and find yourself judging other’s actions even when they haven’t particularly done anything wrong towards you. When I finally mustered the courage to walk through the doors of the classroom, I first noticed that nobody rushed at me and my friend with open arms, a loud cheer bursting from their lips, with an eager excitement to learn every single aspect of our lives.

After the night concluded, I instantly noticed that nobody talked to us after the service was over, with my friend and I awkwardly glancing around in hopes we would be spotted. We soon ended up migrating to the door and I literally stepped in the middle of the doorway, contemplating whether we should make more of an effort to get to know others. The desire quickly vanished; we stepped out into the dark, and never came back.

These experiences are memories you don’t forget. Yet, the irony of this experience was that my friend and I were involved with another campus ministry where we were charged with an underlying responsibility of welcoming newcomers…and that was a responsibility I wasn’t doing well to uphold. And even though some of these newcomer feelings were unreasonable and almost foolish, you find yourself unable to think rationally when put in a situation like that.

From then on, I vowed to welcome every single new person that walked into our fellowship room. And yet, this passionate zeal slowly diminished over time, occasionally popping up its curious head through a regret or vague longing to approach the awkward bystander, but shortly disappearing through a myriad of excuses.

I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum, and it’s safe to say that it’s challenging to introduce yourself as a new person or greet a newcomer. It’s very challenging. There’s always a feeling of unease putting yourself out there, as if the person’s acceptance or outright rejection (at least it seems to be that way) defines entirely who you are.

So we’re careful to reveal ourselves. We make easy, comfortable chit-chat that doesn’t go beyond the “I’m good” response to “How are you?”. We keep our guard up, cautiously treading through conversations as if everyone was out to get us, a calculated “trust” that ends up pushing others away. We fear rejection and awkwardness, so we stick to those that we’re close toand unintentionally seek to divide into cliques rather than build community.

I’ve definitely been guilty of committing the surface level responses to other’s genuine questions that desire to get to know me better. And yet God is revealing that this is not how it should be. There is something deep within all of us that screams for a sense of community, a community that God has designed for us to encourage, edify, love and support one another as we grow together as one body, regardless of being a newcomer or someone who’s been going to the same gathering for years.=

I stumbled across a passage in Romans that addresses this very issue and provides a foundation for us as we learn to selflessly welcome others:

Romans 15:5-7 says:

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

God desires us to live in such peace and harmony with each other that we can truly be one voice that glorifies Him. And this is exactly how we can achieve this sense of harmony and joy: by welcoming everyone, just as Christ has welcomed us into His family.

I’m reminded of Romans 5:8, that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is how deep His love reaches, that although we completely rejected Him, deliberately sinned against Him and outright pushed Him away, He still loved us through it all, and died a gruesome death to wipe all those transgressions away. How then, can we not even show just a glimpse of that love to new people around us?

With a profound awareness of our value in Christ, may we learn to step outside of our comfort bubbles, push through the pain of the unknown, and walk in love and grace, extending Christ’s love to others.

Author: Micah Shyu

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Who’s Really In the Driver’s Seat?

April 12th, 2012

“I need You to soften my heart and break me apart; I need You to open my eyes and see that You’re shaping my life.

All I am, I surrender!

Give me faith to TRUST what You say, that You’re good and Your love is great. I’m broken inside, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE.”

— “Give Me Faith” by Elevation Worship

The coolest thing about the lyrics to this song is that they explain how we often feel in our walk. I suppose I shouldn’t speak for everyone; I’ll make this a little more personal. When I look at God, I can easily give Him my future with regards to work and school, but for some reason, I can’t trust Him with my future relationships. I don’t trust the God of the universe and His timing and His plan in regards to guys; I hold on to that because I need control. I need to be in the driver’s seat of the car because “I’ve GOT this, God. Go on and fix the other stuff in my life.” As if my past relationships were any bit of a success… I’m just finding it hard to SURRENDER.

surrender: (verb) cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.

Look at that. Read that through a few times. Did you catch it? Resistance to an ENEMY OR OPPONENT. Ouch. When I am not actively surrendering to God, I am resisting Him, as if He is my enemy. That’s the exact opposite of what I want in my relationship with my Lord and Savior, my God and my Creator.

Whether I see it or not (and I mostly am blind to it), He is shaping my life. He is molding me and making me into the person that I need to be for the man I will one day marry. I’m not going to pretend like it’s easy to trust, because it’s not, but that’s why it’s called stepping out in faith. It takes belief that God is who he says He is and trust that He will do what He promises (thanks, Tim Reilly, for that one).

Romans 8:28 says:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Where are you lacking in trust or failing to surrender? His plan for us may not be what we want or happen when we want it, but trust in the God who created every star in the sky and knit you together in your mother’s womb. He’s sees you today in your worry and distress and He’s got His hand outstretched, saying, “I’ve got you. Come to Me.”

Author: Ana Acosta

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We Are the Body

April 11th, 2012

Luke 4:18,19 (NIV):

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

This past week, I was blessed to be a part of the team from Awakening who went to Peru. I will start by saying that God did some amazing things during this trip. I am going to highlight some of those things. As we landed in Lima, we were greeted by our contacts, Christen and Christian. Both have been serving on Young Life Capernaum staff for the past few years and it is so prevalent that they are doing the ministry of God. Because we were there working with Capernaum, our focus was on children with disabilities. On Monday, our team made the hour-long drive from Lima to Pachacutec, a tiny city amongst the shanty-towns. We were going to a birthday party for a precious three year-old girl. Because of her disabilities, her life was never celebrated; but her third birthday was going to be different. We had balloons, a cake, drinks and were surrounded by twenty other kids from the orphanage. This sweet girl was at the center of all attention for the afternoon.

On Tuesday, we departed from Lima and drove to Cieneguilla, the location where we would be holding camp for the children who would be joining us. Now, camp was a big deal. We were supposed to have thirteen kids joining us for the three days of camp. Because many of them were from orphanages and had disabilities, they needed approval from the government to come with us. The night before, we had gotten word that a few of the kids still hadn’t received approval and some were getting sick. As a team, we spent time in prayer, asking that God would change those circumstances. The next morning, by the grace of God, all children were approved and well enough to travel! Praise Christ! As we were prepping for these children to arrive the following afternoon, God was doing a big work in all of the hearts of those who were on the team. We all had different realizations, but two stuck out the most to me. First, these children are our brothers and sisters in Christ. No disability could change that. Second, it didn’t matter how uncomfortable (insect bites, stomach pains, etc…) we were. The circumstances of these precious children are constant. They’re always uncomfortable and they aren’t complaining. What an awesome reminder, right?!

Wednesday afternoon, camp began! None of them and none of us knew what to expect. As these kids pulled up, some were quiet, shy or to themselves. But by the end of the week, these kids were laughing, joking and loved being around us. Many of these children were unable to speak clearly and walk. That made it difficult for our team at the beginning. Most of us didn’t have experience with children in these circumstances. By the end of the first night, it was like second nature to us. Playing games, dancing or even wiping drool from their faces became more enjoyable as the days went on.

I want to share about one circumstance in particular. This young lady was the product of incest. She was, later, raped by her two brothers; both resulting in two pregnancies. This mom weighs forty pounds and wears a toddler-size three. She comes from extreme poverty and her disabilities only make her circumstances more difficult. When she was pulled up in her wheelchair, the last thing she wanted was to be at camp. She cried, threw fits and didn’t want to participate. By the end of the second night, she was beginning to smile and had no desire to cry. When we said goodbye to her on the last day of camp, we could see that God had done a huge work in her life already. She was smiling as she boarded the bus. Our contact, Christen, said she had never seen this young woman smile this much. How great is the God we serve?!

Throughout the week, we had “team time”. Every night we would come together, worship and share our testimonies. Many of my teammates had never heard the stories of the other members before. As the nights went on, it was very clear that we could see God’s work in our lives and it was a blessing to share in that with those who were on my team. To hear God bringing freedom from addiction, pride, eating disorders, sickness and death brought tears to my eyes. Those stories are some of the fondest memories of the trip.

So, what did I learn? Great question! We all need love. As I had the opportunity to love on kids who don’t usually receive love, God broke my heart for these precious lives. Lives in which disease, rape, death, abandonment and disability are what makes up their story, it’s impossible for God to not move through a person. As we spent hours playing in the grass, just loving these kids, I was reminded of the goodness of God. Through these situations, we don’t see any goodness. BUT, that’s why God is so powerful and so good. He knows what he’s doing. He has a plan and purpose for the lives of these children. In short, I learned that love goes a long way. If that means pushing a wheelchair, wiping drool, feeding a meal or even laughing with these kids, God is seen through the love of his people. When we love like Christ loves us, it’s impossible for us to not be changed. Be encouraged and quick to serve those around you this week.

Author: Nicole Presley

 

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Lent: Holy Week

April 11th, 2012

Holy Week, the last week of Lent, is our annual remembrance of Jesus’ last days. It includes 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). Because these days leading up to Jesus’ death—the most difficult, most scandalous event of his life—were the most difficult days of his life, we believe they deserve extra reflection.

But this can be problematic for some of us: we know the story, recognize all the familiar parts, let our eyes gloss over the words and the words run off our hearts. We aren’t scandalized by the story anymore—and we ought to be shocked by crucifixion. This was one of the cruelest, most unjust things ever done; it was also the moment when God did the most loving thing of all. How do we reconcile those two conflicting views of the crucifixion? The point is not to reduce it to a catchy phrase or an easy formula. The point is to stay there, to let the story wash over you, like a huge wave, knocking you off your feet, rinsing you out, breaking you down, leaving you with nothing but awe and sorrow and gratitude and love.

Lent is about walking through the trials of Jesus: we enter into the wilderness with Jesus for the 40 days of Lent and we enter specifically into the pain of his death during Holy Week. As we enter into the suffering of Christ, we begin to be shaped into the likeness of God; the character of God takes root in us as a community, and the whole world ought to look at us and see what God is like, what God’s kingdom is like. As we live through Palm Sunday, may we recognize and welcome Jesus for the king he is, not the king we want him to be. As we go through the Last Supper, may we better understand what it means to be part of this new covenant and to be a servant like Jesus. As we go through Gethsemane may we learn to watch with Jesus, to stay with him, and to learn from his anguish the lessons of love. As we suffer through the agony of Good Friday, may we better understand how the kingdom of God comes by sacrifice.

The story does indeed lead to the cross, but that is the moment—in a way that still catches us off-guard—in which God’s purposes are fulfilled and his kingdom established. We share the journey of Christ’s sorrow and pain so that we can share the joy of his victory. Lent ends with Easter, our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Sometimes we are too good at being solemn and we forget that we live through these painful days remembering Jesus’ death because we know resurrection day is coming. This is the preparation for the coming party, but we can’t just skip to the end. And the celebration will be so much greater now that we know what it took to get there.

Author: Alicia McClintic

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Leadership

April 6th, 2012

One of the most appealing aspects of Awakening is the many different areas that people can be leaders in. There is truly a position for everyone to use their skills here. I recently saw an incredible example of the way just a little bit of leadership can help out an entire group. A few weeks ago I went to go watch my old rugby team play at San Jose State. They were playing Fresno State, a team that, historically, has not been very good. Unfortunately this year SJSU wasn’t very good and both teams, A and B side (kind of like Varsity and JV), lost. During the B side game I noticed a team that had a severe lack of leadership and it showed in the way they played. They did not play as a team and were getting frustrated and mad at each other by the end of the game. Then something very interesting happened. Two weeks after the Fresno game they played UC Santa Cruz and the B side played 300% percent better (coach’s words) than they had the game before. The funny thing is that the team was basically the same except for 3 confident veteran players that were helping out that day. Three players might seem like a big difference but, in rugby there are fifteen players on each team; so it was not necessarily that these three players were all stars on the field or even individually that good. No, the thing these players brought was leadership. When things were going poorly on the field they were able to keep the team calm. And because of their knowledge of the rules they were able to explain to the newer guys exactly what they were doing wrong and how to avoid doing it again. The team’s confidence grew as the game went on and they ended up winning the game by a large margin, a feat that I thought unachievable based on their performance in the prior game. It was interesting to see how such a small change in leadership could affect the entire group.

Just like in sports the Church needs leaders too. In Exodus 18:17-18, Moses realized that he could not lead his people alone, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people that come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” There was no way that he could tend to the needs of all his people by himself so he decided to choose leaders from out of the tribes, “He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens (Exodus 18:25).” Now I don’t think that everyone is called to be leaders of thousands but I do think that we were all given gifts that can help out in some way. Because you never know who you will influence or how much your help can mean to the entire team.

Author: DJ Avilucea

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The New Earth (Heaven Pt. 3)

April 2nd, 2012

Having already discussed why it should be important for us to set our minds on Heaven, I want to direct our minds to specifics concerning what Heaven will be like. This week the question I hope to help answer will be: what will Heaven, the place itself, be like? So lets get right into it.

One of the first things to think about when we consider our eternal home is John’s reference to it as a “new heaven and a new earth” in Revelation 21, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” (Rev. 21:1). What does this name infer? I would think it suggests that Heaven will be a new (and vastly improved version!) of the current Earth, hence John referring to it as a “new earth.” Peter also writes, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13) and the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, writes, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

Furthermore, the idea with a new heaven and new earth is that they will be coming together in a beautiful collision that God has foreseen since He first had to separate His dwelling from ours at The Fall (Genesis 3:22-24). This is an event made possible by Jesus dying for us, acting as the bridge between man and God, making relationship possible. John continues to talk about his vision of this event, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God’”(Revelation 21:2-3). We can expect God to be with man again, as in the garden of Eden, and Heaven – His dwelling place— to be on Earth.

Lets take a quick detour to recognize that the New Earth I’m talking about is different from the current Heaven, often referred to as the “Intermediate Heaven.” The latter is a place that people go to right now when they die, and it’s not purgatory (which is nowhere in the Bible) but a temporary Heaven also filled with the very presence of God. It’s also filled with God’s people, resting, praising God and awaiting God’s judgment to come on the earth, and the resurrection of our physical bodies (Revelation 6:10-11).

For more on the “intermediate Heaven” read this short blog by John Piper.

Another thing I should briefly point out is that much of my interpretation in this blog is taking these verses from a literal standpoint. Now, this doesn’t mean that they don’t still have symbolic meaning, but really can have both types of meaning at the same time. An example is that the “river of life” described in Revelation 21 could be both a literal river and a metaphor for God as a healer and His gift of eternal life to us. A possible scriptural basis of support for this standpoint is when the New Jerusalem is described in Revelation 21, where John describes the angel measuring the city, “He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement” (Revelation 21:17, italics mine). That phrase in italics seems to say, “hey it’s really this big! Not just a spiritual form of measurement.” Many Christians have come to believe that taking verses like these as merely figurative is taking the spiritual high ground, so it’s important to consider and challenge our assumptions in the way we interpret scripture. I have had to challenge mine as I’ve edited this post side-by-side with a friend who challenged my interpretation of scripture.

Returning to the idea that the New Earth will be a vastly improved version of the current Earth, lets consider the idea that our default belief should be that the good things from this earth – those things that God has made and have not been twisted as a result of sin – should be on the New Earth. Many Christians today have bought into the lie that Heaven will be boring because there won’t be anything to do or see because there will be nothing but us and God sitting on clouds, strumming harps. But lets consider the fact that Heaven might include many good things that we also experience here but in a tainted way. Lets consider a few.

Firstly and most importantly, the New Earth will be filled with the presence of God. We experience that here, but we don’t yet see Him face to face, as His Word promises:

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:19-20

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:3

This will surely be the most awe-striking thing about our Home, and we should yearn for it like a desert nomad longs for water.

Next, we can expect the New Earth to have physical attributes like geography, time and climate, just like ours:

And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

Ezekiel 34:26-27

The prophet Ezekiel writes by God’s direction of a coming paradise with rain, trees and fruit. John had a vision of the New Earth along the same lines:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2

We can imagine there to be bodies of water and trees, even in the midst of a city, reminiscent of glorified parks.

People usually think of Heaven as a place outside of space and time, while the idea of eternity suggests not that there will be no time but that time will be endless. There are verses that this can be drawn from: first of all, in the previous verse (Rev. 22:2) months (units of time) are mentioned. And a second verse is earlier in the book, “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence” (Revelation 7:15). He talks about night and day (also units of time) and our interaction within such a structure. Given these things, we can imagine that we will write history in Heaven as well. Again, this is coming from my literal assumption of this passage. However, as Genesis describes God creating the earth, and it existing before sin ever entered and corrupted everything, “night” and “day” are mentioned multiple times.

Another thing we can expect to be on the New Earth are animals. This passage undoubtedly has a figurative interpretation, describing the idea that peace and the knowledge of God on the New Earth will be everywhere. Yet I believe that we can also take it in a literal sense, meaning there really will be animals. Read Isaiah’s vision:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9

We can also imagine there to be material items in Heaven (though we can’t bring what we have here with us, of course!). Again God tells us through the prophet Isaiah, “Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze; instead of stones, iron. I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness” (Isaiah 60:17). If this is the case, why wouldn’t there by technology, as we continue to do work that’s satisfying to us (Rev. 7:15)? Desiring to do satisfying work, why wouldn’t God allow us to continue in our God-given passions, doing things that He created us to do for good, like properly utilizing technology?

Finally, God’s centerpiece of the New Earth will be a city called the New Jerusalem.

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:10-18, 22-23

To realize the magnitude of this place, we must know that the rough area of this city would cover two-thirds of the continental united states.* It will be an extremely massive city, plenty big to hold all of God’s people if needed, from all nations, languages and cultures. And God will provide its light, while there would be no need for us to go to church because we would be surrounded by God, unable to escape His presence (as if we would ever want to!). We will be together in community, working for God, singing to God and enjoying Him and each other forever.

We can never truly imagine all of what the New Earth will contain, given our perspective from a fallen and sinful earth, but we can be sure it will blow us away. Far more than anything it will be centered around the beauty of God, and finally being in unhindered relationship with Him. However, as best as we can, lets let our imaginations be filled with ideas of what our real home will be like. I believe that doing so will free us from the dark confinements of what our lives often become here on this broken, frail, temporary earth. Our hope will become more fleshed out as we fix our minds on the good things God has planned for us when we come home to celebrate with Him and with each other forever. This is not a boring, intangible place, but a real, physical place with life and light and things to do and see. Don’t be deceived by the Devil’s lies, as he tries to paint it as a boring place you shouldn’t look forward to. God is getting ready with preparations for your Heavenly home. So now the question for you and I is, are we getting ready for it by the way we live here? Are we living lives here that reflect the joy and hope of knowing what God is preparing for us? Lets never stop striving forward for our Heavenly home filled with Heavenly rewards and filled with the very presence of God, the One whom we have risked everything for.

Author: Jeff Oleson

 

 

*Pg 242 in “Heaven”, by Randy Alcorn
For further study on Heaven, read “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. Along with the Bible, that book was my chief inspiration for this blog post, and has probably impacted my life more than any other book.

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Good News

April 2nd, 2012

Have you ever had good news that you couldn’t help but share?

It is not hard to share exciting or new updates in our lives. Maybe you recently got engaged or found out you were going to have a baby. A new job or promotion is something that we just can’t keep to ourselves. High school seniors can’t wait for the day to spread the news that they got into the college of their dreams.

Good news is not a chore to share, it is a intricate part of who we are. We all are heralds of some sort. We all “sell” people on our preferences, by sharing an idea, possibility or event. Luckily we live in a day and age when we have the technology and know how to acquire and deliver information the second it happens. We have never had such a great opportunity to share, proclaim, include, allow and answer a question that so many of us have probably struggled with since we understood that our toes are connected to our body.

Why are we here?

The good news is that are existence on this planet wasn’t accidental. It was not a random act of events that somehow allowed you to feel emotions like happiness, fear, jealousy and embarrassment. The good news is that you are exactly where you are, in life and in this moment in time, by design, by a creator who desperately loves and yearns to know you.

Good news, by design, is a opportunity to share and connect with others, allowing them to be invited into the story with excitement and anticipation. People are drawn to excitement, they are drawn by the story teller explaining the joy and contentment that can be had by the good news in which they get to tell others. When something earth shattering is to be told, rarely do we share it as Eeyore would to Tigger. We would also not use a monotone voice like Ben Stein in Ferris Buller’s Day Off. Our voice’s decibel seems to rise and fall based on our stories details. The animation that can be seen through our body tells the story without someone having to hear what we are saying.

We have no problem getting people’s attention when sharing something that we are passionate about, even if they don’t necessarily agree with what we are saying. Our heart’s default is to share news that can or will change lives for the better. If we are willing to be a spokesperson for a great sale or a new product that just came on the market. Then we should be able to share the good news about Jesus Christ. If Jesus really is who he says he is (the Messiah, the Lord of our lives, God with skin, the perfecter of our faith) and we believe that he is, then shouldn’t we be God’s spokesperson? Or do we not really think that he is who he says he is?

Greg Laurie says that there is 3 reasons we don’t share the good news that Jesus is Lord: it makes us uncomfortable, we are unconvinced, and we are uncaring. So which one is it for you? There have been times in my life I have been all 3, but more often than not it is because it makes me uncomfortable and I don’t like feeling that way. At one time I was unconvinced, but through countless hours of study and a willingness to look at all faiths with an open mind, I placed my trust and faith in Jesus Christ almost 11 years ago due to the evidence of the resurrection. Often, I will be uncaring towards others and literally forget that I have a responsibility to live life on purpose in front of them while being prepared, if asked, to answer any questions that may pertain to my God. When I reflect on sharing the good news with others, 1 Peter 3:15 always comes to mind:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

It is hard to swallow, but often times we answer questions no one has asked. We get so excited to share the hope that we have that we forget to wait for the God given opportunities to share. Easter, like Christmas, can be a great time of year to look for those opportunities. This is the time of year when people will accept invitations to church and start spiritual conversations out of pure interest. When these opportunities arise, answer their spiritual questions and let them know what this season is all about.

What is the Gospel? (Good news)

The apostle Paul writes it very clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Paul goes on to say in verses 13 & 14:

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

So we can either trust Jesus because he is who he says he is (he proved it by rising from the dead) or we can deny him and who he claimed to be. But it all hinges on the resurrection, because either we can worship and know a personal, living God or we can’t. If he rose from the dead… he is who he says he is and he wants a deep and personal relationship with you. Instead of arguing with friends, or trying to convince someone that God created the heavens and earth in 6 days and then rested on the 7th, let’s make the main thing, the main thing:

God came to earth as a man. Lived among us. Died for us, taking the punishment we all deserved because of our sin (defiance of God’s will for us). After 3 days in a grave, defeated the one thing that no one before or since can lay claim to: death. He then appeared to over 500 people, over a 40 day time span, and then told us to go and tell others this good news (matthew 28:18-20). He made a way for everyone to receive this invitation into God’s story of reconciliation. Jesus ascended to heaven and promised that one day he would be coming back for his children (those who trust in him as Lord and Savior).

So the question is… do you believe Him and do you trust Him? Have you made Jesus more than just a earthly teacher in your life, but your King and Master? Because if you have/do, he will do more than just give you a ticket into heaven at the end of this earthly life, but he will lead and use you to change this world for His purposes and Glory.

And if you have trusted him, are you sharing this good news with others? Are you living life in such a way that people around you take notice and want to experience what you experience each day by following Jesus? Are you living for Jesus so that people take notice and ask “what makes you different?” Are you then taking the opportunity to share the hope that you have in Christ? It is good news! And no matter Jew nor gentile, black or white, religious or non, everyone should get a opportunity to hear about this great God, who loves us enough to take death away from each of us that would trust him. May the God of the heaven woo you in such a way that you are compelled to love Him, and tell others about his great love for all of us. Amen!

Author: Tim Reilly

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What It Means to Give

March 27th, 2012

When encountered with the chance to give, have you ever been faced with a fear of not knowing where your money is truly going or if the time you spend helping someone is truly worth it? I find that I run into this battle of reasoning often. But in most cases, I know the real answer that giving in any form is the best choice. But, what might giving look like when we find ourselves in a scenario where we don’t know the person, or even their situation for that matter?

Spending the last two days in a poverty-stricken country like Peru has challenged my team and I on this very question. As we continue working in an orphanage compacted with children of all ages suffering from severe mental and physical diseases, our notions of what it means to help are being re-shaped in drastic and for some, overwhelming measures. We leave the orphanage wrestling with many “why” and “how” questions. Focusing mostly on the “how” for this blog, I hope that something you read here will encourage you to know God’s power and sovereignty, that no matter how great your spiritual gift is or how far you may have travelled, it is only God who can save and rescue the hearts of the lost.

This has never rung more true in my heart than this week. Since this is my first time working with disabled children, it’s been hard for me to avoid feeling slightly helpless. I don’t have any special skills or certifications and what is more, these children don’t understand my few words in Spanish, let alone any English. It’s because of this experience I have to trust that God is holding true to His promise that I am fully capable of representing His love to someone who doesn’t know the gospel. Sometimes all I can do is simply hold the hand of a child who might not even consciously know I’m there. But I know that God works for the good of those who love Him, and I believe anyone is capable of knowing and feeling the love from their Creator. God defends the cause of the fatherless, the widow and the marginalized, “for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3, ESV).

Author: Kate Anderson

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Lent: Sacrifice in Action

March 23rd, 2012

Lent calls me into leading a life marked by sacrifice, and we can do that in so many ways. We can:

  • Sacrifice what surrounds us by re-creating our physical environments to bring important issues to the forefront of our everyday lives.
  • Sacrifice what feeds us by expanding our worldview through the food and information we take in.
  • Sacrifice what describes us by re-examining how we represent ourselves and our priorities to others.
  • Sacrifice what calls us by using our unique talents to fight injustice.
  • Sacrifice what consumes us by re-orienting our everyday activities to activities that help make change in the world. (Adapted from Relentless Acts of Sacrifice with WorldVision’s ACT:S campaign.)

On Sunday at Awakening we announced the End Hunger Fast campaign, which is a really great way to put into practice the themes of sacrifice we’ve been talking about during Lent.

Nearly one billion people went hungry today. Eighteen thousand children—one child every five seconds—died today from hunger-related causes. An estimated 1.8 billion people (about 11% of the world’s population) are living in countries or regions with water scarcity. Lack of clean water, coupled with poor sanitation, results in 4,000 children dying every day.

It’s really hard to process those numbers. Most of us have no idea what it means to be hungry or thirsty. Sure, sometimes I skip a meal or forget to eat because my schedule gets really hectic, but only someone who doesn’t have to worry about where the next meal will come from has the luxury to forget about it. On April 21-22, we are taking a step as a community toward understanding the worldwide hunger crisis by experiencing it in a 30 hour fast. By choosing to go 30 hours without food we are no longer standing by, but we are standing in solidarity with those who go hungry on a daily basis.

But more than standing in solidarity, we want to be part of the solution. More than just fasting, we’re trying to raise funds to bring us closer to a world where no children die from preventable causes. You can feed a starving child for less than a quarter a day, which means $22 feeds a child for three months, $44 feeds a child for six months, and $88 feeds a child for a year. Our goal at Awakening is to raise $4,400—enough to feed 50 children for a year. (You can donate at Awakening on Sunday nights or online here.)

The money we raise will cover the cost of meals we will help pack in the upcoming Food4Others Mobile Pack on April 27-28. This is a city-wide event, hosted by the nonprofits Feed My Starving Children and 4Others, where 1,100 volunteers will hand pack 225,000 meals (enough to fill a semi-truck) to send to starving children around the world. You can volunteer for a two hour shift on either Friday, April 27 or Saturday, April 28 to help pack meals. (Check out the Facebook event for more information.)

FAST. GIVE. PACK. Whatever you can do, we hope you’ll join us in making a difference and in putting sacrifice into action.

Author: Alicia McClintic

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Is God Really Good?

March 22nd, 2012

Galatians 5:22, 23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

This past week during Awakening, the band played a song about God’s goodness. “I’ll sing because you are good. I’ll dance because you are good. I’ll shout because you are good. You are good, good to me.” We use such strong emotions to convey that we understand and realize that God is good. When a family member gets sick, we don’t get the promotion, a relationship fails, or fill in the blank, do we still believe that God is good?

Goodness is defined as “moral excellence; virtue; kindness; generosity”. It’s one thing to sing about it, it’s another to actually believe it for our lives. I believe that knowing God is good comes with trusting him. We have to understand, regardless of the circumstance, God is good. His character backs that up. So, why do we (myself included) have a hard time trusting him? Sometimes, I have a hard time with that. (I’m about to get real deep, real quick. Braces yourselves.) There are sometimes where I feel God doesn’t show up in my life. I feel like I pray for X, Y, or Z to occur and it just doesn’t happen. Been there? In those instances, do I truly believe that God is good? Sometimes, yes, and sometimes, no. In my flesh, I feel like I can plan my life better than God can and that’s not true, is it? This is one of the many reasons I’m thankful that God is God and I am not. God has his own plan for our lives. He can see the bigger picture. He knows what will be best for our lives. His answer may be one we don’t like or understand, but that doesn’t change his character.

As I’ve taken the time to study God and his being, I’m in a place where I trust him and I know that my God is good. Now, I’m not saying I’ll never doubt or question his goodness; it’s a part of being human. But, I know he’s good because I’ve seen him bring healing, provide, bless and love me and those around me. So, why is it difficult for me to believe he’s good sometimes? Truthfully, I don’t have a complete answer. I know who Jesus is. I know that he gave his life on the cross for me as an atonement for my sins and that’s enough of a reason for me to trust him. Personally, when there’s a lack of control and I don’t fully see how a certain situation will work out, it’s hard to fully trust. I’ve been there. Friends, there is nothing more freeing than to completely surrender and abandon ourselves to the only person who can completely fill us; and that’s our Lord and Savior. I encourage you, friends, to really dive into the relationship you have with your Heavenly Father and truly begin to thank him for his goodness (along with all the other qualities). Once we begin to spend more time with him, the more we can begin to comprehend that his goodness is real. We can begin to see that he is someone who keeps his word and wants the very best for our lives. He has your world in the palm of his hands. I’m praying that you’ll be able to encounter God in a tangible way this week. Be encouraged!

Author: Nicole Presley

Posted in Devotionals | No Comments »

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