The chances of survival are 725 to 1

Hey there. So I am watching Empire Strikes Back, and it is awesome. Anyway. A little less than one week till Boone. So thats fun. Thinking about getting my ears pierced, so that would be interesting. Lately I have been feeling odd about going back, no question I want to get back to see people, friends and the like. Really just being in Boone is great, a sense of freedom and such. But this time, its weird. It this restlessness ya know? Being unsure if I am where I am supposed to be. I don't really have any other options, so for now, I will go back to Boone. In these odd feelings I've been having, my leadership with InterVarsity has been prominent. So to get myself more focused into the mindset of leadership, I decided to see what the bible has to say about leadership.
The one passage that stuck out the most to me was this:

Matthew 20:25-28

25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Leadership is a position of servitude. I don't just mean it is a position of service, but one of lowering of ourselves in service to others. John 3:30 John the Baptist says of his work "He must become greater; I must become less." We are, as Paul calls himself, bond-servants of Christ. We lower ourselves so that He may be lifted up. We are to lead by example, as Jesus did. Take this for example John 13 1-11, Jesus washes the disciple's feet, then says this:

John 13:12-17

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

What Jesus is saying is pretty straight forward. We are to serve each other, in a place lower than them. Does that mean physically washing the feet of those around us? Maybe. But I think it had other applications too. I think what Jesus is getting at is a heart issue. Lowering ourselves physically is one thing, but having a humble heart is something completely different. I talked about humility in one of my previous blogs, so scroll down and have a look at it. Service to others, done in the correct fashion, is service to God. Remember the words of Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

This reminds me of the song "God of Justice" by Tim Hughes

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out

Really good song, kinda outlines what I've been talking about tonight. Especially that last verse. Have a look at Micah 6:8 in parallel to that. Just thought I would suggest that as a side note.

We have to have a right heart as we serve, because theres a good chance that in service to others, we are going to run across things we don't want to do. Philippians 2:14-15 says "14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." In our humble and Christ- like service we are beacons of light that reflect the glory of our almighty God. So as we serve, as we lead, we have to keep a right heart and a clean mind. Everything for the glory of God.

That was just on my mind this past week.

Here is a selection from "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix from the album "Axis: Bold as Love" Also, notice the prominent figures from Hinduism on the album cover.

Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales
That's all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind.

When I'm sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free
It's alright she says it's alright
Take anything you want from me,
Anything.
Fly on little wing.

Anyone Can Dig a Hole But It Takes a Real Man to Call It Home

So, as of late. I have been feeling this helplessness of sorts. I am here, in North Carolina, in Lexington, in my house. The people I care about are not in those places. I want to be able to help them with things, be there for them when things happen, encourage them when they face problems. I feel like I can't. I know that there are ways around all that and maybe I am not exhausting my resources. When a lot of people face something hard, have something troubling, they turn to this verse:

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

But I have been looking at the verses around that.

Philippians 4:10-14
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

This passages has taken a few different forms for me in the past couple months. While I was in Kenya, verses 11 and 12 were really important, being content in all situations, in abundance and in need. The process of learning that was an interesting one, ask me in person sometime to explain it. The experience gave me a new appreciation for the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman here are some words:

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Really the song didn't mean all that much to me before Africa. Now I have a whole new perspective on what it all means. In abundance and need. The bridge of the song, You give and take away, You give and take away, My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name, is really striking to me now. God knows what He is doing. He gives, He takes. His wisdom is infinite. He takes something I want, or even something I love, who am I to argue? Romans 8:28 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. God knows what He is doing. Blessed be the name of the Lord, whether in abundance or in need. Blessed be the name of the Lord whether He gives or He takes. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Back to the passage in Philippians. Now verses 10 and 14 really catch my attention. The Philippians cared for Paul, and he didn't need them to fix everything, he rejoiced at the fact that they cared. In verse 14 "Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles." He didn't need someone to have a instant fix, he needed someone to have concern. This makes me see, and I hope this applies to you, that I don't always need to be able to fix everything. I don't always need to have an answer. But I do need to care about those around me. I try to do that the best I know how, and that is all that we really need to do. Honestly, we don't have the strength to fix our lives, much less fix others. But. As the verse 13 or Philippians 4 famously says, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Our strength from Christ. In Christ alone. So we don't need all of the answers. We just need to love and care for others as Christ loves and cares for us. I have no reason to feel helplessness. The people I care about are in the hands of the one and only God. God knows what He is doing. Not just for me, but for my loved ones too. It comes down to trusting God. Hope that applies to you all too.

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

A selection from August Burns Red's song "Meridian" from the album Constellations:

The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert. [Jeremiah 31:2]
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. [Jeremiah 31:4]
I am the painter making this mess a masterpiece.
I will rebuild you up again.

With Less Blood in my Head than Usual.

Sometimes thinking makes my brain hurt. I got a nosebleed this evening. I blame my brain. oh well. I've been think through some of the things I've been hearing/reading lately, I thought I would share.

So, I went to church for the first time last Sunday and I was able to play bass in the praise band. Now I have always had something to say about the music in my church, but now is not the time for that, I play when I am called to serve. I enjoy it, because I enjoy worship. Whenever I play bass, I like to add a little extra to what I am playing, and there are times when I get the impression that doesn't go over well with some of the church members. Later that night I was talking to my Dad, he also plays with the band. My Dad said something like "so I heard your little extra riffs you decided to throw in there this morning." I am fairly sure I replied with a sheepish "yeeeeahhh" kinda thing, but my Dad return with "I am glad you did that." He told me that he has been feeling like the cookie-cutter approach to worship that our church subscribes to doesn't quite fit the reality of worship. That as long as your heart is in the right place, the notes matter far less than we think. He said something that has stuck with me: "If God has placed something on your heart to play, then play it. Don't fear what people are thinking, just follow God." While we have to use our discretion as to what is distracting to those we are leading (This part is kinda about worship leaders) we have to follow what God has placed on our hearts to play and say. Something I learned in Kenya, with worship, the notes don't matter, at all. At first glance Kenyan worship songs can be painful, wrong notes, out of tune instruments, keyboards, and worse yet keyboard drums. But when you see the people and really experience it, it is all about God, not people. Everyone is worshiping and worshiping well, we could learn something from these people. Now this part applies across the board. As long as we are following God, then we shouldn't fear what those around us think or say, they may not understand why we do what we do, but it isn't important that they understand, it is important that we continue to rightly follow God.

Humility before God is empty worship without humility towards others. - Adam Gilbert

This quote is a recent favorite of mine, I first hear it while in the Rockbridge (RB) worship track, if you don't know what RB is then I'll explain. RB is a retreat at the end of the school year where all of the InterVarsity (IV) chapters in the region gather, and the students attend tracks, where they learn and grow with students from the surrounding area. I was in the worship track, we led worship, it is awesome. This whole humility thing is kinda big. I can't say it better so here is what some of our awesome staff workers have to say, this is specifically for worship leaders, but I think it applies to all of us:


Jesus’ Example of Humility - Philippians 2:5-11

(1) Jesus’ humility before God the Father led Him to make Himself nothing and humbly serve others

(2) His humility before God led Him to humble Himself and become obedient to death

(3) To give glory to God the Father meant living a life of humility before others.

Our Call to Humility and Unity- Philippians 2:1-4

(1) True worship is reflected in how you are humble with each other

(2) It’s when you consider others better than yourself

(3) when you treat each other with compassion and tenderness

(4) when you deny your own selfish ambitions for the sake of others

(5) taking up for each other when someone’s been unjustly wronged

- From facedowninworship.blogspot.com

Living like Christ is living in humility. yep. thats that.

Here's an bit from "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service from the Album Give Up

I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly
You will hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
When this is guiding you home

Being Seekers.

Ok, so. Been reflecting on some things. You know, stuff I learned in Kenya, and how those lessons are starting to carry over to not-Kenya. Knowing the future is impossible. Having a good idea of what the future holds, again, impossible. So. What do we do with that? Living your life, and living it well, takes a certain amount of trust in God(by certain amount, I mean all of it). I think theres an element of confidence in ourselves needed there too. That we are looking for God, consciously seeking Him. Jeremiah 29 says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. When we seek Him with all of our heart. Not when we sorta look for God. We are called to seek the Lord, and it isn't like God is saying "seek me and I might show you something" He is saying he will. It might not necessarily be what we want to see, but God's plans aren't always what we want them to be. Matthew 7 says: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." God wants us to seek Him, God wants to show us things(Matthew 10:26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.) and all the things He shows us has a purpose, yes, even the painful things. We grow and learn. God isn't a mean kid with a magnifying glass, and we aren't ants. Suffering is meant to draw us closer to God. Pain is meant to grow us, stretch us, and strengthen us. God loves us more than anything else. (see John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-end) Psalm 40 says "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." We wait patiently for our God. Part of seeking God is waiting for Him to respond. Patiently waiting. I have learned quite a bit about patience in Kenya, and I am continually learning more about it here back in the US. If we seek, God will show us, maybe not on our timeline, but lets be honest, our timeline doesn't really matter. God knows what He is doing. It is our job to seek Him, and let Him show us, guide us, and move us into action. Therefore, we must be ready to take action when we feel called to. God knows what He is doing. God won't just leave us in suffering if we are truly seeking Him. So how do we seek God? Well, it is really that good old Sunday school answer: prayer and reading scripture. Something I learned in Kenya. Prayer is powerful. It can do amazing things. Reading scripture gives us a deeper understanding of God, and the things He says. I read the gospels all the way through on my ministry assignment, and I saw the things that Jesus said in a whole new perspective, every time you read it, you get something new. Its cool! There is plenty more I can say, but sermon over for now.

From "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons Album "Sign No More"


And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

Amerika.

First blog. mmk. so. I haven't done a lot of this. So lets see what happens. I've been in America for a week now. It has been interesting. For those of you who may not know, I spent the last two months in Kenya, doing assorted missions work and such things. It was one of the best, craziest, most difficult experiences of my life. Some awesome things came out of it. Goodness.

So the team was awesome. Man, I miss them. I didn't think I would be missing them so much. It isn't debilitating, but still. Meh. It was such a great experience to meet all these awesome people, to grow and learn with them and all that. Just awesome.

It has been really great being home, with family and all of that. Its nice to do a bit of nothing for a while. I know I'll get bored in a bit, so lets hope I find something to do. Three weeks till Boone. I am pretty ready to be back at school, to be back involved with IV, to be with my Boone peeps again. Lets see if I am still ready once school gets fired up again. Who knows. We'll see.

I'm gonna keep this one short. But I am going to end entries with some song lyrics I like or something like that.

This is a section from Mumford and Sons "Roll Away Your Stone" from the Album "Sigh No More"

"It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart"