Today we were at a lake playing with some awesome water play-structure things they have there.  A woman and her son walk up and start playing alongside us.  She was asking me about Luke and we got to chatting.  She shared some big hardships in her life and struggles they were going through.

I eventually shared that we were there because of a baptism.  She seemed kind of shifty at that remark.  As our conversation continued, I felt God nudging me to ask her about Jesus.  Now, I’ve done this many a times… but I am always nervous at this point.  I almost always have a little argument with God like “are you sure I should ask that??”.

We ended up having a conversation that I have literally had dozens of times in similar ways.  We’ll call the woman Tanya for this example.

Me: “So… do you know the Lord Jesus?”
Tanya:  ”Well… I volunteer at a church ya know.”
Me: (I continue looking at her for more explanation)
Tanya:  ”I serve at the Salvation Army.”
Me: “That’s wonderful, but I didn’t ask you that.  I asked about your relationship with Jesus Christ.  How is that going?”
Tanya: “Well… I haven’t been going to church regularly…. but I do pray…”
Me: “That’s great, prayer is a great way to talk to God.  But I didn’t ask you about that either.  So, do you know about your condition and why you need Jesus?”
Tanya:  ”Umm… what?”
Me: “Why do you need Jesus?”
Tanya:  ”I need God for everything.”
Me:  ”True.  But why do you specifically need Jesus.  Why did Jesus have to die for you?”
Tanya:  ”I dunno… why?”
Me:  ”Because, you’re a sinner.”
Tanya:  ”Me?!?” (looked surprised and possibly offended)
Me:  ”Yes.  You’re a sinner and I’m a sinner.  We are all sinners.  As it says in the Bible:  All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  And it also says that: ‘No one is righteous, not even one.’  We’re sinners, which is why we need Jesus’ salvation.  We receive that by faith, it’s not about the things we “do” but in the relationship with have with Jesus.  So… how is your relationship with Jesus?  Did you come to a realization of the depth of your sin?”
Tanya:  ”Um, yeah.  I did.  My relationship is good.  Well kind of.  Well maybe not.  I dunno…. (trailed off).”

At that point Luke decided to run off, so I told her about a good nearby church, said a blessing for her family, invited her to come over and join us at our BBQ, and said good-bye.  It appears that something was going on, I only pray that God is using that to bring her to Himself!

I’ve had this same conversation SO many times.  People turn to religiosity rather than Jesus.  They see going to church, prayer, or service as “works” that please God.  Ultimately this is an attempt to buy off God’s favor rather than be humbled by our sin and seek the glorious grace that is freely offered to us (praise be to God for that!).

Check out Justin Taylor’s summary of Tim Keller’s analysis of what love is.  I really like this breakdown and simply Bible references!

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/07/24/how-to-love-one-another-affirm-share-and-serve/

Here’s a sermon I preached at Oasis Church in Rochester, titled “Community Clothed in Christ”.  I share my testimony and then preach on Colossians 3:9-14.  This is the first sermon I’ve preached at a church.  It is not video, it is the audio and slides sync’d together.

I missed a piece of my intro.  I am an Urban Missionary and Church Planting Candidate with the EFCA at Hope Community Church.  I think I hit my stride at about 12 minutes in.  I was a little flustered at the beginning since Luke kept trying to run on stage and screamed when he couldn’t.  I guess that makes sense considering how he acted when I practiced at Hope:

Luke on stage with a duster while I practice my sermon at Hope.

Here’ s the sermon:

So I was reading this article in Wired magazine:  ”Stress doesn’t kill us, but it makes everything that does kill us much worse.  Inside the search for a cure” by Jonah Lehrer (Aug 2010).

The article begins with a story about Robert Sapolsky, who studied baboons in Africa.  He is a devote Atheist and accordingly gave the baboons all names from the Old Testament to mock the Bible and Hebrew school, which he saw as anti-Darwinian.  He said “I couldn’t wait for the day that I could record in my notebook that Nebuchanezzar and Naomi were off screwing in the bushes… It felt like a pleasing revenge”.

Through his study of baboon social status, Sapolsky came to “discover” that stress is related to physical health.  Baboons with lower status were less healthy and lived shorter lives due to the constant “stress” of being in a lower status and not having control of their life.  He became a “revolutionary” that linked stress to physical ailments, like bone-loss.

As I read the article, I thought it was funny that Sapolsky’s whole life work simply proved a truth he could have learned if he had paid attention to the Old Testament!  As King Solomon wrote almost 3,000 years ago:

“A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Pv. 17:22)

So now Sapolsky is trying to invent a “cure” to stress using gene therapy and other drugs.  Now, I’m skeptical when anyone tells me drugs are an answer to stress… I’ve been down that road and that sure doesn’t work!  Hey Sapolsky, maybe you should read your Bible some more, because the answer is right there! God tells us that if we trust in Him rather than focus on this World, we won’t have a need for stress!

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:4-7)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. (Ps. 34:4)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. (Ps. 94:18-19)

Peace comes from knowing that God will make all things work for good (Romans 8:28).  God cares for us more than we can imagine, which He demonstrated by giving His own son to die for our sins.  He is the answer to stress, not chemicals.

(Updated 7/21/2010 with new PDF which includes recommendation letters)

Hello there!  Since I became a Christian in November 2007, God has had us on a rollercoaster ride!  Read our “About” section to catch up on some of those amazing stories!

This last May I finished my third year of ministry training at the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) at Hope Community Church.  Through that time I have grown in my passion to see Christians live out their faith in service to others and to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into this lost and broken world.  In June, we took a call to be Urban Missionaries in the Twin Cities with the North Central District of the EFCA under the leadership of Tom Mouw.  We’ll be helping launch a wholistic ministry called Caring Friends, which focuses on empowering people to reach the emotional, social, mental, physical, and spiritual needs of those in their community and their relational spheres.  We believe this will start a movement that will bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the broken, and new life to those dead in sin.  We see Caring Friends as being a catalyst for transformed lives and neighborhoods, for launching other ministries, for effective evangelism and discipleship, and for urban, multi-cultural church-planting.  We do this all for the glory of Jesus’ name!

Please read our letter for more information and to learn how you can help support us financially and in prayer!

Click to open PDF. Adobe Acrobat Required.

Or click here to open the PDF in Google Viewer (no Acrobat required)

A few weeks ago I was stopped outside of a Christian ministry building to do a free blood pressure test.  The woman who helped me told me I have the blood pressure of a healthy 19 year old (PTL!).  She asked me what I did to stay healthy.  I said I eat a lot of salads (thanks to my wonderful wife’s devotion to nutrition!) and exercise a lot (especially running after Luke!).  She shared with me about her community health organization.  She said she’s there to share about the benefits of nutrition and exercise for those with high blood pressure.

Since she was stationed in front of a Christian place, I asked her where she worships.  She said “oh, here and there.  Ya know, where ever the spirit is at.”  I asked her for clarification and she said, “Well, I believe in anything with spirit.  Jesus and Buddha, they were teachers about the spirit.  I’m happy wherever I find spirit, with my Christian friends or with my native friends and their animal spirits.”  She expressed a very typical relativist understanding of faith.

I asked her if she thought any of them were true, considering they all say completely different things (Jesus and Buddha could really not be further apart in what they taught.  Buddha was an atheist, Jesus claimed to be God.)  She said “well, they all are true, whatever works for you”.  I then said, “Let’s say I came to you and I had high blood pressure.  You would tell me I should eat a nutritious diet and exercise, right?  You make a definitive claim:  this is what is right for you.  But what if I said, ‘well, exercise might work for you, but I don’t think it’ll work for me.  I think eating fast food for every meal is what will lower my blood pressure.’  What would you say to that?  You just said it is about whatever is right for you right?”.  She replied, “well… people like different kinds of food.”  I answered, “True.  But you made a truth claim that nutrition and exercise will lead to health.  You’re saying very definitively that something is true for someone else.  And you should, because that is the truth.  In the same way, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the way to life.  And I’m telling you, that is the truth.”

She sat and looked at me, contemplating what I said.  Unsure of what to say.  The silence was broken by a man in distress coming up to get his blood pressure taken.

So I guess it is okay to be relative about spiritual health, but not about physical health?

I was at Seward Coop with Luke the other day.  Luke LOVES the Coop, because they have kid-sized carts.  Great store!  All the employees are super friendly, especially toward kids!  We do love it there.

Luke was walking around pushing his cart with some of our groceries in it.  He was looking at some stuff and I told him not to grab it.  We walked by an older gentleman who laughed and said “Oh look at that shopper.  Just go ahead and grab whatever you want and put it in the cart.”  Seemingly innocent right?  But he just encouraged my child to directly disobey his father.  He was in earshot of me just giving Luke instruction, then chose to contradict it.

We continued walking merrily around the store.  Then Luke decided he wanted to go, so left his cart and ran off.  I asked him to push his cart to the front registers and he decided to sit on the ground and yell instead.  A woman next to him watched and laughed.  Seemingly innocent right?  But she’s encouraging my son to be disobedient and rebellious.

Disobeying your father is sin.  Scripture is clear when it says “honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12, Eph. 6:2).  The Bible tell us that rebellion is akin to practicing witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).  In ancient Israel, dishonoring your parents was such an incredible offense that it was worthy of death (Ex. 21:17).  That is because sin leads to death, as James tells us:

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

Sin is not cute.  Sin leads to death.  Right now it may look cute on a child, but no one wants to see what happens when that child grows up.  A rebellious child unchecked becomes a criminal, an abusive father, a cheating businessman, or simply a failure in life.  And that rebellion leads to death, as it invokes sin in others and will lead to his own eternal death away from God.  What starts small now will reap a harvest of death later, if not checked by discipline and correction.

So please, kind sir, do not encourage my child toward death!

(Updated 11/14.  Strikethroughs are already received.  Thank you SO much for all your generosity!)

For those who desire to bless Baby Corban or who desire to bless us as we begin our new trek as Urban Missionaries, we wanted to share some of our “stuff” needs.

If you are in the area, we would be blessed by food!  Please bring us a meal.  Bring something we can share, we’d love to have you over to join us for the meal and catch up!  If you are not in the area, we also accept mailed gifts of dark chocolates or other sweets

For Corban:

- See our Target Registry to send us something!  Target Gift Cards are greatly welcomed!
(We are fairly good on clothes, but always can use cute outfits
– *** WHITE NOISE MAKER (we need 2.  This is a real big need for us.  There’s one on our registry.) Thank you!!!
- Air Purifier
– Nice Baby Blanket
- Diapers size 1 and 2 (and 5 for Luke).  And Wipes.  Little babies poop 5-8+ times a day!
– *** Changing Table and/or Dresser (used fine) Thank you!!!!
–  Small blender (for baby food… our ultimate chopper burned out)
- Diaper bag (the current one is too small for 2 guys!)

For Luke:

- Sandals (Nike size 9, others probably size 8).  Prefer black with straps that keep them on when running around.
- Size 8 and size 9 tennis shoes for running around.
X A big dresser for his clothes. (received!  Thanks!)
– Either a toddler bed or (preferably) a bunk bed. (we got a car bed, thank you!)
– 3T Jeans (couple pair)  Thank you!!!
– White Noise maker
– Toddler-friendly board games
- Toys, like Thomas Trains (especially other characters), Hot Wheels Cars, and anything you build with.
– Chair or glider for his room (Corban will be taking the glider we have)

For Us:

X Couch or Futon (used and in good condition is great) (received, thanks!)
- Coat Rack (used ok)
X Burley (used ok) (received, thanks!)
X Area Rugs (receieved, thanks!)
- Vacuum
- Book Case Received… thank you!
- Deep Freezer
- Dishes and Glassware sets (We’re using the ones the former tenants left behind)
– Filing Cabinet
- Bikes

Corban  is a Hebrew word that means “a gift or offering dedicated to God; not to be used for secular purposes”.  The root of the word is “to be brought near”, as in how we offer ourselves to be brought near to God.

The word comes from Mark 7:11, where Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for using man-made rules to nullify the Word of God.

9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:9-13)

This will be an ongoing reminder to Corban of God’s command (God’s Word) to honor your father and mother!

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Baby Corban (What does Corban mean?) arrived on Wednesday, 7/7/10, at 7:59am.  He weighted in at 9 lbs, 5.6 oz, pushing nearly 22 inches long (bigger than Luke!).  If you’d like to bless us and Corban, we posted some things we need in this post.  Contact us if you need our address.

God truly blessed us!  The birth went as well as we could ask.  Luke did great for those caring for him during the day.  Corban came out healthy and happy and even slept fairly well the first few days!  Thank you Lord!

us at the hospital

Luke holding his brother

Hugs

"Hello"

Baby Foot

Corban napping on the bed

Daddy and Luke holding Corban