hi there.

More and more I am of the opinion that comfort zones are misunderstood. I don’t mean to say that we don’t know what they are; I mean that we simply don’t understand how we come by them.

I don’t know if it’s a recent societal development (I use the term “recent” loosely) or if it is a natural human instinct, but general consensus seems to be that if it makes you uncomfortable, stay away from it. Going a bit further, the feeling of “uncomfort” stems from, I believe, fear of the unknown.

I hear people talking about getting out of their comfort zones, and that’s good. It makes me feel like they understand what they’re talking about… but I SEE people living within their comfort zones getting frustrated with routine and the mundane.

Comfort zones don’t grow on trees. Nor are they living beings which wander the earth in search of someone bored with which to pair up. You can’t wish comfort zones into existence, they don’t necessarily grow as you age, and people can’t buy them and give them as gifts to those yearning to grow.

Comfort zones are simply uncomfortable zones to which we have become accustomed. Sometime in your life you may have decided, “I’ll eat this strange cuisine that is foreign to my culture” and now it is no longer strange and you have no problem enjoying said cuisine. Someone else you know may not have come to that decision point yet and thus doesn’t know what the cuisine tastes like and therefore fears it.

Example: my family went on a cruise a few years back, and if you’ve ever been on a cruise you know that the lunches and dinners are all-you-can-eat appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Every night I would order a few things I had not tasted before, and now my seafood horizons have been greatly expanded.

Specifically, one night I decided to order escargot… also known as snails. If you’ve never had snails before, it scares you and grosses you out; it’s uncomfortable thinking about eating them. But if you’ve decided to buck comfort for the sake of growing (or perhaps adventure), you would know that they feel and taste a lot like butter-slathered stuffed mushrooms and is therefore not an uncomfortable idea.

Do you want to develop a larger comfort zone? My challenge to you would be to face your fears and decide to get uncomfortable.

Today is May 2nd.

Yesterday we had a cold front come through that dropped the temperature from the mid-80s to the 30s in less than 2 hours. Last night I saw snow on the radar. Today it is raining w/ 25+ mph winds.

Today is February 90th.

When I was growing up, pastors scared me; youth ministers freaked me out a little bit, but they were goofier so I could handle it; & volunteers were like my parents/friends. There’s something about the position of authority & leadership - along w/ an appropriate amount of relationship distance - that seems off-putting when it comes to ministers. For some reason we tend to see our pastoral staff as the apex of holy, the ones who know it all & have experienced it all, the ones who never leave the church & only listen to KLOVE.

Here’s the truth. That’s not who they are. I’m currently, essentially, potentially, a “pastor-in-training” (PIT) & go to school w/ a lot of other PITs. Heck, even some (most) of my professors are Ps. I’ve been baptized into the sub-culture of pastoral leadership, though it may soon look a little different than Ps nowadays. So here are a few things I think everyone should know about my generation of ministers.

1. We’re weird, quirky people - each in our own way. Ministers are just as prone to make mistakes, say stupid stuff, & look like fools as anybody else in the world. I see this every day at school. Ps and PITs tend to be slightly off people. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, one could swear that “awkward” would be the prerequisite to many of my classes or the friend-groups I see around campus. It’s one of my favorite things about PITs, to be honest. There’s just something real about it.
2. We all have a sense of humor. & sometimes it’s twisted. But we’ll have to in order to survive our ministries. Especially those going into or currently involved in youth ministry. It’s a lesson we’re currently learning from our mentors. And if you see a minister moving OUT of youth ministry, he’s either a) lost his sense of humor or b) is too old (that little side note was free).
3. About 94% of us play guitar, 51% of us play piano, & 22.3% of us can sing well; but nearly 100% of us secretly want to be worship leaders anyway. So watch out.
4. If your youth pastor in a few years has any combination of glasses, a beard, a tattoo, &/or a Mac, there’s a good chance he’s going to be post-modern. And if you don’t know what that is, don’t ask that guy or he may try to convert you. Even if you’re already a Christian.
5. We will be just as well versed in at least 1 geeky universe as we will be in the Bible. Whether it’s going to be Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, we will be able to quote that faster than the Bible on most days. It’s an unfortunate truth, but given the media-driven world we’ve grown up in & when you account for the fact that many of us are just now beginning to ask the right questions, I can tell you that I can name every principal character in all 3 of those universes better than I can name the 13 apostles.
6. Until we’ve had a solid 5 years of full-/part-time ministry under our belts, expect some obscure lessons from Old Testament books. A lot of the classes teaching us how to properly read & interpret Scripture & prepare sermons deal w/ OT writings. Also, Hebrew is cool. So be looking for Hebrew tattoos while you’re at it.

I say all of this out of love. I just wish people would look at ministers less like holy aliens & more like volunteers because, let’s be honest, if we could still do this full-time & not get paid, we would. We excel at it & seem like we know a lot because we love serving Jesus in ministry so much that we put a lot of time into perfecting whatever capacity we’ve been called to fill. Ministers are only really different in title. Please don’t let that scare you.

Warning: Hypocritcal statements ahead.

I just read 1 Cor. 5 & all I can think about is the backwardness of the Church. We picket & protest & rebel against those in the World who do not uphold our standards; but we aid, defend, ignore, or otherwise let slide the atrocities being done in the Church (I know, that was heavy & emotive language…).

First of all, the World is held to the natural standards God has set in place for everyone & they will be judged according to how they measure up. However, being surprised or upset when they fall short & reprimanding them w/ Scripture is just silly. James talks about praising and cursing w/ the same mouth, but can we really expect someone who hasn’t been heart-changed for the Lord to follow this moral (& primarily Christian image-retaining) standard? Of course not. They don’t care. Why should we expect them to? Our job is to instead be w/ them in their sinning & just be that encouraging light that’s always pointing towards God. The behavior comes after the heart-change, & even then not in our expectations or time-table. Let God work on that heart, we’re just pointing the person in the right direction.

Secondly, as an accountability partner who has an accountability partner, calling out a brother-in-Christ on a no-no is one of the hardest things to do, but I think it’s one of the most important things to do. We can’t tolerate those in the Church poisoning the well; the wolves in sheep’s clothing, if you will. In 1 Cor. 5:6-8, Paul likens these people to leaven and the Church to bread. Long story short, leaven is bad & it only takes a little to raise (or ruin) an entire lump of dough. He suggests cutting them off from the family.
Even just this morning, my Evangelism professor was talking about a man who used to attend a church he pastored in California. When the church found out the man owned a store that promoted and distributed pornography, they asked him to rescind his membership. This may seem harsh, but tolerating such Worldly behaviors not only reflects badly on the church (you know, Christ’s bride), but it is also further destroys our credibility as Christians. Who’s going to listen to the pastor of a church who allows a porn-dealing “Christian” to be active in ministry & witnessing (& by the way, I wouldn’t be so sure he was a Christian; if he’d had a heart-change, his behavior would have changed accordingly. Pornography is not pleasing to God). Though you will be happy to know that they allowed this man to remain a church-goer there. How could they not? If he was indeed an unbeliever, then they were called to love him and accept him as he was. We all are.

So there are my 2 points: let’s not be so shocked when the World acts like the World, but let’s be appalled when the Church acts like the World. There’s no place for that; we’re just dirtying ourselves up by sleeping w/ our culture, & that’s not God’s desire for His children. Just read the Old Testament.

This may very well be a cynical post. But I suppose that’s okay.

In my YouVersion Bible app reading plan today I was in 2 Cor. 11. The Key Idea is that we can’t avoid obstacles associated with change and it goes on to talk about the inevitability of obstacles and how to appropriately face them (which you can read for yourself in the plan “Change Before You Have To”).

I would like to add this thought, if I may. We need to realize that our obstacles will not always be the obvious shades of negativity we tend to paint them. Sometimes the best things that happen to us, our greatest days, and those most fulfilling of moments can be as every bit an obstacle as divorce and death. Proverbs tells us that too much honey will make one sick. My old youth pastor used to say that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
We must know our goals and maintain our focus. I can have a really productive and fruitful week at church camp, but if I focus too much on my involvement in the week or in the events themselves then I can easily remove my focus from the Who that really matters and create new obstacles.

For me as a minister, church cannot simply be my “job.” Youth group cannot only be a twice a week and three times per summer activity. My goal is to help cultivate the kingdom on earth with my gifts and my focus in this race of life is Jesus and Jesus only. Anything else is a potential obstacle.

What are those natural obstacles on your road to success and fulfillment? What has the potential to become an obstacle?

Never let yourself be blind-sided and always push through.

“Idol worship is believed to be a thing with which ancient civilizations struggled and those of us in such a free and proud culture prefer to think that our worship of God, in whom we truly believe, is not hindered by our worship of democracy, patriotism, capitalism, or self.”

For a long time, this is something with which I’ve struggled. The voice was always specific and never failed to withstand my questions and arguments. Even these days I’m hearing voices, but not as strong or as often; not as bone-chillingly depressing. I think they’re giving up. If they haven’t been before, they sure will now.

No more voices.

Check out this link (^^^) to Jon Acuff’s newest website. Participate in something I’ve recently discovered and begun advocating myself: a community of confession.

You are not alone.

Share your voices. See that there are others with the same voices. Encourage those with other voices. And if you really want those voices to give up on you, check out Jon’s blog-post on the left-hand side of the page.

It’s a simple concept. It’s a Biblical concept. Confess your fears and shortcomings with others. And always know that I’m hear to listen to your voices and share that burden with you, as a good brother-in-Christ ought to do.

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Your kingdom
An acknowledgment that the kingdom belongs to the One to whom we are praying. Our accomplishments and victories in Jesus’ name are not apart from the Father.

come,
An invitation for the kingdom to be accomplished in the immediate; for the spiritual glories of the Father to be present among His Creation.

your will be done,
Again, a request for the desires and plans of the Father to be accomplished above those of the one who is praying.

on earth as it is in heaven.
The place to which the kingdom must come and the place from which the kingdom will come.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice & be gald, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Matthew 6:9
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Our
Collective. Yours, mine; his, hers, & theirs. This is not that the One being addressed belongs to any person or persons, but that the relationship is extensive; an established relationship not only with me, but also with you all.

Father
The intimacy of the relationship between the One being addressed & the one addressing is deep. The relationship of a father to a child is one of protection, discipline, & prohibition; but also of grace, mercy, and love. A true father desires the best for his child.

in heaven,
The heights above, the upper regions; the visible heavens or the spiritual heavens; as opposed to the Earth. A phrase meant to direct ones prayer & acknowledgment upward, away from any things & people of the Earth.

hallowed be your name.
Holy, venerated, sacred; distinct & set apart from the profane of a deeply depraved Creation.

Luke 12:22
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”

These are legitimate concerns! Jesus isn’t talking about luxuries. It’s not as if he’s telling us to not worry about our data plans or where the nearest wi-fi location is… Food is necessary sustenance to keep the physical body going and clothes are a necessary shield from the elements outside of ourselves. So why is Jesus telling us that the things we label as legitimate needs shouldn’t be of any concern to us?

Luke 12:23
“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”

What’s really neat about these verses through v. 34 is that Jesus gives us more to not worry about, some things to focus on, some truths about God, and the expectations we as believers are held to.

• Don’t worry.
• God provides.
• Have faith.
• You are set-apart for God (holy).
• Focus on the the Kingdom of God.
• Be generous in dealings with others.
• Act rightly.
• Have no idols.

I believe the intent of this passage is that Jesus wants us to have transformative minds, as Paul would put it, and to be not focused on the things of this earth but on the heavenly and the things of God’s kingdom.

When we worry about “things” in our lives, especially earthly things, we put their importance above God’s provision and thus they become idols. This is the Enemy’s favorite play, his favorite way to draw us away from God: distraction.

Jesus tells us to not be distracted by the world, but instead fully aware of the spiritual and physical needs of the world.

Let go of whatever you’re worried about. God will handle it. Just do what you have been equipped and otherwise prepared to do for today.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

mordaciouslyyours:

If your worship of God is self-centered, it’s not actually worship of God. It’s worship of self, which is idolatry. 

Where hearts are light
And soft is the snow,
Where warm is the hearth,
There it is home.

But the cold is so bitter,
The wind - it bites,
And blows and whistles
And howls all night!

Soon Winter’s ice melts
When then rivers flow;
All birds will fly north,
Warm weather in tow.

My spirits will lift
And my little toes thaw.
I’ll look to the future:
Spring, Summer, and Fall. 

Prov. 25:27-28
It is not good to eat much honey,
   nor is it glorious to seek one’s own
      glory.
A man without self-control
   is like a city broken into and left
      without walls. 

“Hallelujah”

In Hebrew: “halal” meaning “to be clear… to shine… to make a show, to boast… praise” & “yahh,” an abbreviation of God’s name: LORD (typically used as a suffix).

To say “hallelujah” is to be exclaiming “praise be to the LORD.”

Now read Joshua 6:1-20.

God delivered the city of Jericho to the Hebrew people through their use of musical (not destructive) instruments and their praising of God’s name.

Jericho fell at the sound of worship; at the cry of “hallelujah.”

Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

The prohibition of misusing God’s name has become limited to “G—d—-it,” “Oh my God,” and the like. This is not the initial meaning of this passage, though these terms certainly fall under the prohibition, and here’s why:

The command was to not use the Name of God irreverently. It was by that Name that Israel was delivered, by that Name they worshiped, and through that Name they prayed. The Name of God is holy and must be treated as such.

More than likely, this prohibition was not only concerned with how the Name was used (which was YHWH, an intentionally unpronounceable rendering of the Name), but also how the Name was represented.

An example of misuse would be:

Jeremiah 7:8-10
“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have no known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ - only to go on doing all these abominations?”

And for the few of you who reject Old Testament teachings, here’s a New Testament example:

James 3:8-11
…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Misuse of the Name, whether by the hypocrisy of our words or the hypocrisy of our actions, not only is irreverent and disrespectful to God (though that alone should cause us to stop), but also poisons our own spirit and ruins our witness to others.

“Haligdaeg”

An Old English word. “Halig” means “holy” and “daeg” means “day.”

“Holy day”

This is where we get our modern word “Holiday.”

To be fair, although the primary meaning was of religious significance, the word became secularized and its meaning more general to just signify an extended period of vacation and rest. The distinction then became “halig daeg” for “holy day” and “haligdaeg” for “holiday.”

Regardless, this settles something for me, ending a certain discussion with a small hint of irony.

Both “Christmas Tree” and “Holiday Tree” have religious roots.

2 Kings 13:1-6

A king, as wicked as those before him, is established in Israel. He lives sinfully, leads a nation to live sinfully, and goes so far even to cause God to give them up to their enemies “continually.”

But Jehoahaz, that wicked king, “sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him…”

An evil, wicked, idolatrous, God-ignoring king (for it is obvious he knew God existed) asks God for help…

“Therefore the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly.”

…and God responds with mercy.

Then what do the people do? “…they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam… but walked in them; and the Asherah [idols] also remained in Samaria.”

They respond without recognition, thanks, or repentance of their undeserved gift by living as they had previously.

I wish I could condemn the actions of the Israelites, but it would seem that this narrative is identical to the one which I live daily. This is my story told thousands of years prior.

I cry out to God. He delivers me. I disrespect Him.

Yet He continues to deliver me.

I am woefully undeserving.