My Epic Journey

I am a passionate person.  Very little people see it, but I am definitely a passionate person.  When I am happy, I am passionately happy.  When I am contemplative, I am passionately contemplative.  When I am generous, I am passionately generous.  When I am angry, I am passionately angry.  It is that last part I get most nervous about.  When I get angry, I have this passion come over me to right the wrong.  As a result, I have often said something I regret and didn’t mean or did something that was selfish and inappropriate.

Then I read Isaiah 34.  I see that God gets angry as well.  And though, for a second I may feel justified with my anger, I notice some differences between God’s anger and my own anger.

1.  God’s anger is a righteous anger.  God is angry about a lack of respect for Him and His people.  My anger is mostly centered on my own pride and how I feel hurt.

2.  God’s anger is just.  He is angry only toward those who deserve His anger.  He doesn’t just “fly off the handle.”  He is calculated and fair.  I, on the other hand, take it out on everyone, if they deserve it or not.

3.  God’s anger is complete.  After reading Isaiah 34 I sit in silence at how extravagant God’s anger is.  He says in verse 10 that it will span generations.  Sounds extreme, but God’s anger is complete.

After reading Isaiah 34, in anticipation I look forward to reading the next chapter and see that in the end, it is with that vengeance that He comes to save those He loves (35.4).

I must remind myself that my anger is is never appropriate if it isn’t a righteous anger, an anger directed at direct disobedience of God.  I must also remind myself that vengeance is never mind to give.

Just read this from Tony Morgan at www.tonymorganlive.com.  Very challenging and fitting.  Good read for all leaders.

Several weeks ago I was thinking about how little we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christ-followers. I began to consider how I live out my life, and, I was convicted…which, by the way, is one indication that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. I thought it might be good to consider the conversation here especially as it relates to leaders in the Church. Based on that, here are…

10 Signs that We Don’t Believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

1. We are experiencing anxiety and bitterness in our lives rather than joy and kindness. (Galatians 5:22-23)
2. We can’t remember the last time we prayed for the people we lead. (Romans 8:26)
3. The churches we lead aren’t growing and reaching more people. (Acts 9:31)
4. The churches we lead aren’t outreach focused. (Acts 1:8)
5. We think it’s our responsibility to convict people of sin. (John 16:8)
6. We are stuck in sinful patterns rather than pursuing the things of God. (Galations 5:16:17)
7. We think we have the power to change people. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
8. We are more concerned about the rules than we are our freedom in Christ. (Galations 3:2-3)
9. We think we can explain the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
10. We are creating division and aren’t promoting unity within the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

It might be good to begin the week and this next season of ministry by studying and praying through this list. My prayer is that your life and your ministry would continue to experience its fullest potential in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Every year our High School ministry does a winter retreat called The CHILL.  Last year was a tough year.  We talked about Purity and how to remain pure in today’s sex-inundated culture.  This time last year our high school staff was deep in research and development on the topics of sexting, sex, masturbation, dating, etc.  I say all that to say that this year it is so much more refreshing. 

This year our focus is on becoming ONE with God, the Holy Spirit, Yourself, and Others.  No more weird and awkward internet searches or talks at the brainstorming table with our volunteer staff.  This year it is wonderful to talk about how we are or are not connecting with God.  We have already had great conversations about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and what that mean not only personally but in the context of community as well.

Perhaps all of this is why I am so EXTREMELY excited about this year’s CHILL.  On February 12th-14th, we will embark on an exciting journey in search of connectedness and fullness with the God, ourselves and others.

In preparation for this year’s CHILL I have been engrossed in Francis Chan’s newest book, Forgotten God.  It is a look at the Holy Spirit’s role in our life and how we often if not always forgot about His presence, role and work in us as children of God.

I am excited about not only what the re-introduction of the Holy Spirit is doing in my life but what He may do in the lives of our High School students at and after The CHILL.

Please be praying about what God will do at this year’s CHILL and what He is doing in preparation for it.