Unlikely Heroes

Tim (left) and Mike (right) seeing each other for the first time after the transplant (nothing more comical than listening to two grown men drugged up, talking, and caring for each other)

When you are involved in seeing Jesus impact people God gives you a window into some of the most unlikely of heroes that He works through.  This past week I had an amazing opportunity to see one of the greatest stories and miracles I've ever seen.  Tim on the left donated his kidney to Mike on the right.  This for me is like a modern story screaming off the pages of scripture.  

Mike and Mary have been a part of Awaken for a few years now and have walked through their own challenges as we all do.  However this past year their challenges became the news that none of us want to hear; Mike needed a new kidney.  While placed on the transplant list and waiting for God to provide a miracle Tim and Wyonna who have become a part of Awaken in the last year or two heard of a brother's need that lead to this amazing story of an unlikely group of heroes.  Tim and Wyonna gave a kidney.

When I asked Tim why, his simple response was "obedience".  "God told me to do it so I had to do it."  Per his words God was "not on his radar before Awaken".  Mike and Mary at the same time are unlikely heroes as it takes someone with boldness to accept someones willingness to give them a new life.

I praise God that He allowed this story to be told on the tapestry of Awaken Church and we were all witnesses.  It is a beautiful picture of life and how God works through His people in many different ways to give life.  Pray for these families as they recover and have had many opportunities to share their faith in Jesus.

Mary is Mike's wife (left), Tim pre-op, and Wyonna his wife (right)

Mike pre-op who just received Tim's Kidney

The Question Nobody Wanted Asked

This past week was a powerful message about God's restoration that I don't believe we often times consider.  We like the idea of God restoring us.  We like the idea of God creating us new.  Do we understand however that often times when we go to Jesus we don't only receive more than we bargained for, but we often times have to give more than we bargained for.  

We are reminded of this in the story of Jairus the synagogue ruler and the woman disease stricken with constant bleeding in Mark chapter 5.  Jairus goes to Jesus to ask for Jesus to come immediately to heal his daughter who is dying.  Jesus begins to follow as a crowd presses in who is determined to see another shock and awe event.  A diseased woman in the crowd seeking healing herself sneaks in and touches Jesus' cloak.  It says instantaneously power like dynamite left Jesus and the woman was healed.  Jesus then becomes the prosecutor asking the question that nobody wanted asked: "Who touched me"?  The woman didn't want asked; she simply wanted to sneak in and sneak out for physical healing.  The disciples didn't want the question asked as they are figuring Jesus helping a prominent religious figure may help get Jesus back on track with a group who is finding him more and more unfavorable.  Then there is Jairus, the man whose daughter is dying, who is thinking and begging can we just hurry.  

The question that nobody wanted asked.  Nobody!  The woman just wanted physical healing, Jairus just wanted his daughter to live, the disciples just wanted Jesus not to upset anymore people.  But Jesus asked the question that nobody wanted asked.  I don't believe this is too far removed for us.  I think Jesus is constantly asking us questions that we don't want asked.  I believe they are questions of unmaking, questions that tear down false believes that we've built about us, about God, and about the world we live in.  I believe they are questions of convictions and redirections and challenging insights to where our hearts really are at times.  Again questions none of us are comfortable with.

So what is restoration?  In order to find restoration does there first need to be an unmaking; an unmaking of belief's, an unmaking of selfishness, an unmaking of the things that draw us away from the things of God.  You see the diseased woman just wanted to find physical healing, but through the questions Jesus wanted to bring emotional and social healing to someone who was a societal outcast. Jairus just wanted his daughter to find physical healing, but Jesus wanted to help Jairus find healing at a deeper level of trusting God with that which is most cherished, family.  Then the disciples are learning Jesus is about more than they originally thought.

What is the deeper healing or restoration God is wanting to do in our own lives?  We must often times lose ourselves to really be found.  Here lies the unmaking.

(below is the song we challenged our people with this past Sunday)

(here is the entire message from this past Sunday about the restoration process God is up to)

Wonder of the World

Reading the other day I was reminded that our beginning as people began in Genesis 1.  Yes this is the creation account and many of us read through this saying, "la, la, la... I could recite this."  Still others may read through this and say, "yeah so it is a list of things God created."  Yes this is the place where God created some of the Wonders of the World I've attached below.

Grand Canyon

The Great Barrier Reef

Komodo Island

The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights

The Victoria Falls, World's Largest Water Fall

Yes in this Genesis account God made these things listed above and many other things in nature that seem to take our breath away; only if pictures could do justice.  However it is a major theological mistake to skip over this and simply say this is the account of God's Creation.  Yes I said Theological Mistake.  The reason is found in verse 27 and 31 where we find the pinnacle of God's creation: MAN!!  Here we are told we are the Wonder of His creation, the pinnacle, not these things listed above.  We are image bearers of God, meaning we reflect His Glory.

Whether we realize it or not many of us take our beginning as man back to Genesis 3, which capitalizes on the Fall.  I don't deny we were born in a fallen state, separated from God, with no hope of ourselves.  But we are told in Ephesians that God knew us before the foundations of the world.  That means our beginning goes back to you and I as God's Wonder of the World. 

Our reflected Glory is renewed then through Jesus.  Yes without Jesus we are hopeless and lost and don't give a true reflection of God's Image.  Yes I would even agree that there is a battle of the flesh within us.  But you are something amazing now in Jesus.  You are capable of good because of Jesus.  You are the wonder of God's Creation, you reflect God's Glory and believing anything less than this is not humility, but shame and pride.

Be reminded your original glory is greater than any of these images above and take our breath away.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 12-13, 18; Philippians 2:15-16; Matthew 5:16; Romans 7 (Paul makes distinction between his flesh and his "inner being" that comes to life through Jesus)

Death & Life

Death = the end of a life of a person or organism, the destruction or permanent end of something.

Life = the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding... vitality, vigor, or energy.

We often forget that we are born into death. We are told in the scriptures that outside of Jesus we are dead to the things of God. We are reminded that we originally were created to have a real, lasting, loving, vital, close relationship with the God of the universe. We are told that we were to walk in harmony; to walk in conversation with God.

However there was a death that happened inside of us when (Adam) we decided to turn to our own ways and ignore the ways of God. We decided that our ways were better than God's ways.

Fortunately God loved us more than we loved Him or ourselves. God loved us to the point of taking responsibility for our running if only we would allow him. There is nothing like going from Death to Life. We are born Dead to God, but thank you Jesus that we don't have to die dead to God. Instead we can go from Death to Life.

There is nothing more wonderful than to see someone make that decision of going from death to life. This past Sunday God did some incredible things and we saw two people who were dead and now today can celebrate life because of their decision to allow God to love them through Jesus. Praise Jesus!!

Are You Being Moved?

I told our people this past Sunday that Extreme Transformation comes from Extreme Commitment. I explained that for us to see an extreme change in our hearts, our lives, in who we are as a sum total there needs to be an extreme dedication to pursuing Jesus this new year. During this challenge I encouraged them to examine their lives and ask what is it that I am holding onto that Jesus is asking me to let go of.

We carry all kinds of hurt, uncertainty, betrayal, aloneness, whether it is from maybe a parents divorce, a spouse leaving, a friend hurting us, a job that doesn't work out, etc... Jesus wants to carry us through all of these "messes" and use them in His story of transformation in us. A story of His working in our lives to never leave us the same.

I was listening to a song the other day by a popular band called Lifehouse. Part of the lyrics in one of their songs struck me. It said, "How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you."

I simply want to ask, are you being moved?

Story

What is your story? What does your life tell? What do others see as they look at your life? Is there joy, hope, constant struggle, constant trial, growth, fear, grace, mercy? Does God have anything to do with your story? If so... what?

I know probably a popular question, but have we truly stopped to consider our response? I am currently speaking through a series at Awaken entitled Storytellers. I believe that each of our lives are a story set to the backdrop of life. No matter what our life shows whether with pain and struggles or/and excitement and adventure God is telling something. What is God telling and how does that have anything to do with me? If we look deep enough at our life's story I firmly believe we will find God at work.

What if I told you your story is even a unique tapestry that God is intertwining with the lives of others to tell of his mercy and grace. Yes your story doesn't stand alone. Sometimes hard to comprehend being that we live in a very individualistic society. But as you look at other cultures, through the scriptures, and deep within our lives you will find a larger story that you are only a part of. Yes you are part of something bigger. I don't want to go there, but isn't that part of our internal groaning? To be a part of something bigger.

You are through your Story part of God's Bigger Story. We don't stand alone we stand together with our stories united showing our need for God, his desire for us, and how he leaves us changed for ever. All through a story of mercy and grace. Isn't that the true gospel of Jesus? Isn't that what the church is supposed to share?

Let's share our stories. Go to the Awaken website that is attached and find the Sorytellers link to a feed of stories that together create a tapestry of God's moving. Or click the following link.

STORYTELLERS

Desperatly Wanting

This is an old song that reminds me so much of God's pursuit of us. It makes me wonder how many are living in this kind of hell "Desperately Wanting" more, but not knowing what that is. Who do you need to tell about Jesus?




"Desperately Wanting"
Past the road to your house
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know

I remember running through the wet grass
And falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting

When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again.

[Chorus:]

Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren't born
And if they bring up your name
Well they'll say you won the war.
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right

Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you'll never know.

Take back your life and let me inside
We'll find the door if you care to anymore.
I remember running through the wet grass and falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately Wanting.