Believe

Christy and I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Illinois once again this year. We also use this time to celebrate Christmas with my family. As usual, it was a blast. It was especially fun this year because our niece is nearly 2 years old. Watching her open Christmas presents was hilarious.

Our Thanksgiving/Christmas vacations together are always fun. We usually try to fill part of our time with going somewhere unique. This year, we went to the Festival Of Trees at the Illinois State Fairground in Springfield. Basically, it's just a big building filled with Christmas trees and gingerbread houses that are decorated in special ways. The trees and houses are judged and awarded prizes.

Speaking of gingerbread, fresh homemade gingerbread men were for sale. We maimed a few. They were delicious.

The theme this year was "Believe." Most of the trees and displays related to this theme. It was interesting to see all the different interpretations of the word "Believe" for Christmas time. There were many trees that were dedicated to believing in Santa (obviously). There were trees dedicated to believing in magic and miracles. There was a tree dedicated to believing that the Chicago Bears will win the Super Bowl (seriously). There were trees dedicated to believing that cures would be found to various disease. There were trees dedicated to believing in angels. The list went on and on.

I understand that most of those things are good and fun things to believe in. But it did make me a little sad that when the hundreds of people who were involved in decorating these trees heard the word "Believe" in reference to Christmas, the first thing that popped into their heads was Santa, magic, sports, cures, or angels.

Overload

I don't think I am alone with my feelings about conventions. There is a part of me that really loves them. But, there is also a part of me that really dislikes them. Allow me to explain.

I love them for many reasons. Often at conventions I run into friends that I haven't seen or heard from in a long time. It's a great chance to catch up, remember old times, and hang out. I also really enjoy listening to the speakers at the main sessions and the workshops. I realize that there is so much to learn from others and I always look forward to hearing the perspective of other people on different issues. The exhibit areas of conventions are also something I look forward to. It's always amazing to me how many resources are out there to assist me in my life's work and passion.

There is also the part of me that dislikes conventions. My main reason for dislike is the fact that I am the type of person that gets overloaded with information and overwhelmed by it quite easily. Then I get frustrated because I have a hard time envisioning how to get from where I am to where I would like to go based on everything that I've just learned.

All that being said, the National Missionary Convention had a bit of a different effect on me than most conventions. All the things I love were present. But, instead of disliking the information overload, I was inspired by it. By the end of the convention I was tired and a bit overwhelmed, but I wasn't frustrated. What I am beginning to realize is that God is on a mission, and because I follow Jesus, I am on a mission as well.

As I looked around me at the convention, I could see with my own eyes people who are on this mission all over the world. I could see that there is a need for people to be a part of this mission everywhere. While that can be overwhelming, it is also exciting because the possibilities for what part each of us will play in this mission are endless.

And, while we all have different roles to fill, the method of the mission should be the same for all of us - "Total Self-Denial."

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" -Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

Compelled

Christy and I will be attending the National Missionary Convention this Thursday - Saturday in Cincinnati.

I attended this convention once before as a Youth Ministry intern. I don't remember a lot about what went on that weekend due to the fact that I had a bunch of responsibilities and probably not a lot of time to enjoy the conference.

We are really excited about listening to the speakers, learning from the workshop leaders, and visiting the many booths. I think it will be a great feeling to be surrounded by so many who have truly gone outside the camp. I am sure that by the end of this weekend I will have had my eyes opened to so much. I don't even have a clue about what is going on in most of the world when it comes to spreading the Gospel. I hope this convention challenges me and reshapes my world view.

Be The Remedy

I went to see David Crowder Band last night at Bogarts. It was only the second time that I have seen Crowder live and both times I have been really impressed. His recent projects, A Collision and Remedy, play constantly from start to finish on my iPod.

I love the theme of his newest album, Remedy. It's great how he is using his platform to inspire us to change the world we live in. On his current tour, he has asked that those attending bring socks and towels when they come to the show. Those items are then distributed to local homeless shelters. It is such a simple thing, but I think it is great. Not only does it meet a need right in our community, but it also communicates to the thousands that are attending his concerts that there are many things we all can do to show love to those we often ignore. I really like how Crowder made a point to explain that we need to continually be the remedy in this world and there are a variety of ways for us to accomplish that.

Followers Of The Call - Area 10 Project

When heading off to begin college, one of the most important things to think about is who you are going to room with. Many people choose their roommate in advance. They may choose a friend from High School. They may choose another acquaintance that they had met somewhere along the way through activities they had been involved in through their teen years.

Other brave souls, like myself, allow the institution they are attending to choose their roommate for them. I am not sure what goes on behind the scenes when people are getting matched up (my guess is that it is pretty random), but supposedly there was some method to the madness when it came time for me to go to Cincinnati Christian University in 1994. At least I like to think that I didn't fill out that questionnaire about all my likes and dislikes for no reason.

The bottom line is that my college actually did a good job in my case. I know that this doesn't happen all the time, but I was given a great roommate who has become a life-long friend.

Chris Barras is a guy who I believe is truly following God in an awesome way. He and his wife, Abby, are doing an amazing work called the Area 10 Project in Richmond, Virginia. You can read more about this project by clicking the link on the right.

One thing that I noticed about Chris as soon as I met him was how talented he was. I was blown away by his musicianship. In fact, I had been playing guitar for a little over a year when I got to college. I was excited that I was going to room with a fellow guitar player. When I finally heard him play, though, I was actually quite discouraged. This guy was the same age as me and yet he was so far ahead of me with how well he played. For example, my best song and pretty much only song was "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", while Chris could rock out on just about any song you requested, including "Everything I Do, I Do It For You", which drove the ladies crazy. I was so jealous.

Since college, Chris has continued to grow musically. He sings, he plays guitar, he plays piano, and he probably does a bunch of other stuff that I don't know about. He has even written and recorded many songs.

His talent is not just limited to his music. Chris has always been a strong leader. He is also very creative and he is a great visionary. Once again, these qualities are so evident in him that I often get jealous (wow - I think have jealousy issues).

Anyway...I believe all these qualities, combined with Abby's gifts which are also amazing, have lead Chris and Abby to where they are today. They are doing a very important, and very unique, work in Richmond. I love what Chris has written in his blog about living in the city. I love his heart for the city. I love his willingness to follow God's call into a part of the world that many of us would never choose to go. There are so many pockets of our culture that we ignore for one reason or another. Maybe we write them off as hopeless. Maybe we can't believe that we would ever fit in there. Maybe we don't believe that God would ever want us to leave what is comfortable and "successful."

Chris and Abby not only heard God's call, but they also listened and followed. Right now they are raising support for their ministry. Right now they are raising awareness of the need. Right now they are creatively casting a vision for the ministry that God has placed before them.

I hope that the way Chris and Abby follow God's call is inspiring to you. It inspires me. God calls each of us in a different way. I realize that not all of us will be called to plant a church in Miami, FL like Matt and Janie. Not all of us will be asked to start a new ministry in downtown Richmond, VA like Chris and Abby. What is inspiring about Matt, Janie, Chris, and Abby isn't just that they are involved in exciting and challenging ministries, but what's inspiring is that they LISTENED to God. I pray that all of us will listen to God when He calls - no matter what.

Please pray for the Area 10 Project.

C-R-U-N-K in the U.S.A.

Christy and I went to the Family Force 5 concert at The Underground last night. It was an awesome show. The place was sold out and the crowd was very into it. Out of all the times that I have seen FF5 live, I'd have to say this was by far the best.

There was one depressing moment during the evening, though. As Christy and I were standing in line, we couldn't help but overhear the conversation that the teen girls behind us were having. They were discussing whether or not they were old enough to get into the concert without having an adult with them.

One girl asked the other, "When were you born?"

The other girl said, "1994."

Suddenly the reality of the situation hit me. I graduated from High School (Go Maroons!) the same year that the girl behind me in line was born!

Questions immediately popped into my head.

Does it make me cool that I am into the same music as a teenage girl?

Is it good that I don't view myself as being 31 years old?

Is everyone in this line wondering what the old guy is doing here?

I decided not to worry about it and enjoy the show.

As we were leaving the concert I noticed that sitting along the wall on a bench near the exit were many adults who obviously had brought their kids to the show. The looks on their faces screamed, "Get me out of here. It's late and my head is pounding from all this loud music."

I thought to myself, "Man, they're old."

Nightmare On My Street

Trick-or-Treating on Main Street in Williamsburg is very popular. This year True Life Christian Church set up shop on a vacant corner. We handed out hundreds of small bags of candy and hundreds of pens to those that were taking part in the Halloween revelry.

On December 7 we will be on that same street corner, but this time we will be doing something much different (although we'll still be wearing costumes). Once again we were asked to put on a Live Nativity during Williamsburg's annual Christmas Walk. I can't wait to see what kind of live animals we can round up this year. I vote for Alpacas.