The Journey

The End of The World As We Know It

Continuing on in our discovery of Matthew, this morning I was reading through Matthew 24 again.  Remember, it was a few days ago I brought the idea to "the Journey" that Jesus was actually revealing the end of the age.  I didn't get many comments about what the end of the age actually meant, so we'll continue on with a few options.  1.) The end of the age could be the end of Israel as Jesus and the disciples knew it.  2.) The end of the age could be the end of a certain mid-eastern way of thought.  3.)  The end of the age could mean the end of a religious ideal, or as my strict eschatalogical conservative friends point out, 4.) It could mean the end of the world. 

We'll see if He clears it up in the coming verses. 

It was verse 3 where the disciples asked, "What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?"

"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (v. 4-8)

So we can understand Jesus to say there will be people coming to deceive, there will be wars, nations and kingdoms will rise against each other, and there are famines and earthquakes. 

Those who are watching closely for the coming of the Christ have tried to point out the severity of these bullet points as THE signs we are living in the last days.  I'm not saying we aren't, but as we look throughout the course of history, hasn't this been the case since the beginning? 

Scientists point out the severe earthquakes that formed our mountains, continents, and island nations.  So earthquakes have been the case for a while.

Famines are noted even back as early as Biblical times.  Remember Joseph and the 7 year famine of Egypt?  That was between 6 and 10 thousand years ago.  So famines have been around.

We know Paul dealt with false Christs as early as his first epistle, Galatians.  Remember, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:6-9)

We can deduce, false prophets have been around since Paul's time, deceiving people away from the gospel. 

And War?
Wasn't War and nation rising against nation part of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus...well, all the way through?

So what do we do?
What do we do with people who are on the street corner conjuring up the fear of global disaster, apocalyptic demise, and a need to turn from their wicked ways because 'time is running out?'  Are they in their right mind?

Well, for the sake of understanding I don't have ANY IDEA when, what, or how Jesus is returning. 
I don't know what it really looks like.
I have no idea other than what I read in the BIble, and deduct from the studies of great men who have gone before me. 

The important thing to note....

Jesus is coming, and THAT'S HOPE!!

Hope there will be a good King come back to the world.
Hope there will and end to this disease ridden planet.
Hope, we will live in a world where people will finally live at peace

But I'm jumping ahead of myself.  

Jesus answers His disciples.  The end of the age will begin with signs like birth pains.

Birth pains are the beginning signs a woman is about to give birth to new life. 
It's not very pretty.
In fact, for three of our five children, I watched as the birth pains started small and seemed to be bothersome.  But, as the day went on, the birth pains effected my wife in such a way...well, let's just say if men were to endure such distraught, there wouldn't be a population problem.  That's for sure!!

The point is, it takes birth pains to usher in new life.
It takes a time of intense pain to move on to a new beginning.
And it seems as though Jesus is pointing to a time that will bring about a 'new age.'

It's important we continue to keep our eyes on the end goal.  As ages pass, and birth pains consume our attention, it's important to know the point is NEW LIFE! 

Therefore, if Jesus refers to the 'new age' as something that's already happened, let us celebrate the pains that ushered Him in.

If He's referring to 'new age' as the end of the world, let us celebrate rather than fear the coming of the newness!

May God bless you today as you seek His heart.

May we know, together; the heart of Jesus. 

Grateful

We just finished up our Winter Retreat '09 with youth from Syracuse, New York.  We went up to a camp about 2 hours north, and I spent the last three days with some AMAZING teenagers. 

I watched a packed meeting room of teens worshiping God with all they had.
I listened to Youth Pastors talk about the plight of youth ministry in the North East.
I heard students talk about everything from theology to dating, and some even searching for God to show Himself fully to them in their day to day lives.

My heart is full.
I'm grateful for the God of the Universe who says, "Blessed are the Pour 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." (Matthew 5:1-5) 
I'm grateful for a God who says, "I'm with you!"

This weekend was another incredible moment of reflection for me.  Teenagers need venues to seek God, and I'm so thankful to be a part of those times.

For those of you who were praying, let me report with full confidence, God showed up in a supernatural way!  May He bless you richly, and deeply today. 

The End of the World, according to Jesus

Every generation has an obsession with the end of the world.  Most are tragic endings when the sun explodes, the earth turns on itself, and most tell the story of the end of humanity. We LOVE this stuff!!

Movies like 2012, Armageddon, the whole Left Behind Series, even to some extent the Twilight series, make us feel vulnerable and tease our natural sense of fear into a false sense of pandemonium.  

I've never been one who enjoys engaging in the manipulation of people's fears, but...Jesus did have something to say about the time when the world would wind down.

"How Is the world going to end?" the question the disciples asked even in Jesus time. 

Matthew 24:1-3 begins to explain,

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

So...evidently there is an "End of the Age" because there are signs that will point to a specific time. 

The Question is...What does that mean?  What is the end of the age?  What age are we talking about here?

Is Jesus setting the stage to reveal the end of the world?  Or, is He merely talking about a time when the end of the age of the disciples would be finished?

I can't wait to go through Matthew 24 with you and see where Jesus will take us on the "end of the Age."  One thing I want you to remember though,

FEAR IS NOT FROM THE LORD.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1), so as we discuss the coming of the end of the age, let us not be fearful. For greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.  No matter what the world has to offer, we must remember, GOD CREATED IT ALL ANYWAY. 

So it doesn't matter if we talk of 'One World Governments,' 'One World Currency,' or even the talk of 'Anti-Christ,' For God is even more powerful than all those things.  (although we probably won't cross those words unless necessary)

It just frustrates me that there are those believers out there who continue to use fear to manipulate people to give finances, power, or influence.  It's a disgrace to the honor of the King of Kings, and I will NOT be one of those. 

So let's talk about Matthew 24, together.

Let's discover what Jesus meant on this, the last of His teachings before the Cross. 

May we allow the Word of God to help us re-discover the Christian Worldview. 

I'm heading out East, SYRACUSE!!

I'm heading out East Today to Syracuse, NY.  I'm so excited!!  I'm going to be with some of the greatest people on earth.  The last time I was here, I met some incredible teenagers, parents, teachers, and Pastors. 

This time, I'm going to be with some folks on their Annual Winter Retreat!!

Please pray for....

Clarity-That God would speak Loud and Clear to the people at this Retreat
Safety-As I travel, the issue of safety and patience continues to rule the roost.
Home-As Tiki has come home, Jamie and kids have more to deal with, and it's tough being away for these times.
Good Reflection Time-I'm seeking God's Face, and I'm expecting some great time to reflect on His Beauty!

Thanks so much.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your prayers.  The Lord is moving around the country, and I'm excited to see how He shows up in Syracuse this weekend. 

Inside OUT rather than Outside IN

Once again, Matthew 23 spoke to my soul this morning. 

Isn't it amazing how the Bible has the timeless ability to convict us, allow us to contemplate, and keep us within a standard of God's message?

This morning I read, " Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean"

Matthew 23:25-26 

This one is so easy.
How many of us truly live on the outside as we are on the inside?
Still further; how many of us live on the outside like we thought we should, but our inside is pretty dirty?

It's the law of humanity.  We always bow to the social pressures to 'fit in' or to look like we 'have it together' but reality tells us, no man woman or child on this planet has life all figured out.  We all go through stuff.  We've all got issues to deal with.  We all have dark closets in our lives we'd rather not open up to the world.

The Fashion world speaks boldly to how important it is for us to 'look good' on the outside.  Doesn't it? 

Pretty models.
Artistic clothes.
Make-Up artists.
Bold set designs for shows.

It's all about the outside.  Isn't it?

And when we move to faith...

How many people do we know within the last year that were living double lives, all the while trying to look like God was smiling blessings down on them?  They were trying to 'look good' on the outside.

How many times have we seen high profile people who are acting like they do the "God" thing, yet we know in the dark hallways of their lives, they're just trying to sell a bill of goods.  They were polished up on the outside.

Or maybe more frank....How are you at cleaning out the inside of the cup first? Are you just trying to look good outwardly?

What if we were people, honest in our conviction, true to our hearts, and simply lived in a world where we knew people are just people? 

What if we had the freedom to live life together, no matter the struggle, because we all had each other's best interest in mind?

What would happen if instead of trying to be the moral police for everyone else, we just took a long hard look at our own behavior, and tried to match it with God's transformation power in our lives? 

I would venture to say, Christianity would have a better name, if we just lived in honesty.

May we be people who care about the heart, rather than trying to command behavioral change in people.
May we be sensitive to the movings of the Holy Spirit in our own growth, and the growth of those around us.
May we be honest in our faith, knowing we all faith, and walking with others who fail, so that; we can come out stronger together.

It's why we do what we do.

We try to give teenagers the Freedom it takes so they can develop a deep faith with the God who sits on the throne of Heaven and Earth!

If you have teenagers, or you know some teenagers than need to experience this kind of freedom, don't hesitate to click on over to http://www.campkivu.com, and join us for an exceptional 2010 summer. 

God bless!!

The Haunting of Christian Faith

This is the section of the gospels that haunts me everyday.  I know it sounds like an over-exaggeration, but it's true.  The essence of the faith is something all devoted followers desire, and the fear of walking through this life and getting it all wrong...well, it is the core of my being.

Jesus confronts the religious leaders again in Matthew 23 when He says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel"

I consider myself a teacher.  A teacher of the gospel.  Probably much like the Pharisees thought back in Jesus' day.  They were people that surely thought they were doing the right thing, but somehow were mis-guided, mis-directed, and motivated by selfish righteousness rather than the beauty of God's laws. 

They knew the scriptures backward and forward.
They taught of God's redemption bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
They molded their existence to be pure and holy before God.

But in doing so...they missed the whole point.

You see, the haunting of the Christian faith is that we will turn life into some grand production. 
We'll see the law, and totally miss the spirit.
We'll find comfort in the lists we create, and as long as we check them off, the demon of apathy rests like a blanket over our souls, keeping us from the MOST important things.

The Pharisees actually took the law so serious, they counted the grains of spice and tithed them as the Old Testament taught them. 

Have you ever seen Cumin?
Go and open the jar of dill in the spice rack.

They are the smallest of all spices, yet the Pharisees were dedicated to counting every grain so they would line up with God's law.  It was right.  It was true.  It was the way God taught them to be different in a society of selfish gain;  but they forgot.

Although God gave them the law to tithe, the most important parts of God's message to us is to seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. 

Too often, we get caught in the same stuff.  Don't we?

Our lives turn into Christian production for the sake of production.  We put on good shows.  We try and dedicate every area of our lives to pleasing God.  We desire SO MUCH to live within the confines of God's righteousness, and all the while we personally stand on the sidelines when it comes to major issues like global slavery, human trafficking, and orphan care. 

We've reduced those actions to "that" faith, referred to as a social gospel, and we continue trying to build a personal life God will find pleasing.

Well, what if personal faith is only one part of the equation.
What if God desires our pious dedication
What if God wants our tithe....

As well as a care for people around us.
What if he wants our holiness, ALONG WITH our partnership in caring for the world.
What if we are putting all our emphasis on the small things, and we're missing the overall message of God's reconciliation.

Oh people of faith....

May we continue searching for the heart of God in everyday life.
May we not rest comfortably in our devotion, as we watch those God loves so much slide into injustice.
May we love God so much, and devote ourselves to His mission so much, that our devotion comes as an outcropping of our desire to see His message reach the poor, the afflicted, and the hurting in the world. 

This is what Haunts me.
This is what Scares me.
This is what I long so diligently to know...The Heart of God.

This is my calling to the teenagers of the world.

For "religion God our father finds pure and undefiled is to care for the orphans and the widows; AND to remain unstained from the world." James 1:27

When we Act out our faith

Continuing on with our study through Matthew, I was cruising through Matthew 23 again this morning.  It's such a sobering look at Jesus' lashing out at the religious leaders of the day.  For sure I don't want to simply throw religious leaders under the bus, as I am one; but the call for religious leaders to continue being honest with their own heart as they practice faith is un-deniable. 

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Matthew 23:13

This is especially poignant to me in my own journey.  I trained as an actor in my undergraduate work, and Jesus is specifically referring to the Pharisees and teachers in lieu of an acting term.  Hypocrite is actually a word used to describe someone who puts on a different character and acts out a story. 

So here Jesus combines the religious people with the art of acting.  Evidently they were making it impossible for people to enter the kingdom of heaven, and even though they thought they were in God's Kingdom, they were kept from entering it themselves. 

I've read a lot recently about a current debate "The New Gospel" versus "The Old Gospel."  It's interesting to see how certain people want to just continue ranting against the religious leadership of the day; while others rant against the people that aren't 'IN' the Kingdom. 

It seems to me here, Jesus is calling all people to be humble of heart.  Stop acting!  Live life as men and women all under God's Kingdom; rather than trying to create man made kingdoms masked as God's. 

I hope we can reach out and be people who know the Big Kingdom (God's Kingdom.)
My prayer as Christian leaders lead us into Kingdom, we can all be REAL.
It's my hope as God's Kingdom continues to be built, we can rally together, and help others understand our mission, "To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8)

Don't be mistaken, Everything belongs to Him

I'm learning so much on my travels through Matthew.  As I re-read chapter 23, I'm finding it a little less than encouraging, but so important that we learn from the mistakes of past religious leaders.

Jesus is clearly helping those who claim to teach about God, and understanding about core faith.

You know the word "core" right?

The Core is the essential, central, most important part of an organism. 

For example, the human body's core is important to functionality of every other part.

If your core is weak, then your movement is weak. 
It effects everything from athletic performance to posture.  

An athlete must have a strong core to compete at the highest level of whatever sport he or she chooses to endure.

Likewise, faith must have a core. 

See if you can see the core of the religious leaders of old...

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it." (Matthew 23:16-22)

It seems the core of the faith was in buildings.
Maybe in objects.
Probably in programs. 

But lest we forget the God of heaven and earth created ALL THINGS.  In Him all things hold together.  (Colossians 1:15-20)
A comprehensive view of God shows us that He lives here on the earth around the alter, around the gift, and in our heart.
He should be in the middle of all the worship we give; rather than worshiping an alter, an object, or some sort of gift.  

May we stop our distractions, and focus our core attention on the God who sits on the throne of heaven.
May we worship the God who created the Universe.
May we not forget the power, the majesty, and the essence of His Spirit that dwells with us in this world. 

In everything that has breath, may we worship Him today.

When Evangelism Happens

There are whole books, shelves of curriculum, and thousands of teachers that could fill this space concerning evangelism and discipleship. And believe me, I'm not arrogant enough to think I'm going to solve all the debate right here in 500 words or less.

There are so many ways to share the good news of the gospel with people. 

Life on Life.
One on One.
In a small Group.
In a stadium.

History has proved the Spirit moves in all kinds of directions, and in His own time.  So, far be it from me to sit here and write the end all be all method of sharing one's faith.  But one thing is sure...Jesus was pretty harsh on religious leaders that were shackling new followers with a system of beliefs that were unmanageable. 

Matthew 23 says this, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." (Matthew 23:15)

This passage is very strange, and deserves much discussion. 

Whether you know it or not, There is a cultural frustration with the "street evangelism" I grew up with.  It seems like all the rules have changed.  Nothing is like it was 15 years ago. People either don't want to hear it anymore, OR; they have their own system that suffices the hardest questions in life.  It's like the whole world changed overnight.  But, it might not be such a bad thing.

You see, when I was new to the faith, I had a teacher put a Bible in my lap, and he said, "If you want to be a good Christian, read your Bible everyday."  Which is AWESOME!! But I had no idea what the Bible was all about.  I didn't know how to read it, and became increasingly frustrated with the language of a culture 2000 years away from mine.  I found myself applying verses to my own personal situation, when in fact later I learned in Seminary; was TOTALLY WRONG.

But in order to be a 'Good Christian' I obeyed my teacher, and started a regimented devotional time, everyday.

(don't read too much into that.  I think reading the Bible everyday is the fuel for my soul.  It's just that my motive was wrong.)

Then I had a youth pastor say, "If you want to be a good Christian you have to go down to the streets and share your faith with unbelievers.  After all, it's the Great Commission."  So that's what I did.  I started sharing my faith with everyone I ran into contact with.  I shared with the gas attendant, the subway sandwich artist, and the car mechanic.  I left tracks in bathrooms all over the country, and felt it was my responsibility to share the good news with every person I ran into.  Again, there is nothing wrong with sharing your faith,  but I look back and see my motive was all wrong. 

I just wanted people to hear that Jesus died for their sins.  I really didn't have a comprehensive view of what it means to follow Jesus after they accepted Him as their Savior.  I had no point of reference for what it meant to put actions to faith, and when I look back I saw it as more of a rescue mission, rather than a full on life changing faith.

I felt like if I could only get people to confess their sins, confess Jesus as savior, and believe God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) then I would be doing my mission.  It was up to someone else to deal with them after that. 

The problem is...not as many people are lining up for the lifetime discipleship job. 

Don't get me wrong, sharing Jesus is essential to who we are.  After all, He alone is the one who has defeated death, reconciled evil, and gives us ANY hope for the future.  But we must be careful not to just leave people out in the cold.  Just because you can mark down the number of people you shared Jesus with, doesn't mean you're doing the best job. 

I think this is what Jesus is saying.

You travel all over the world to make a convert, but you're not helping them see the beauty of the gospel in life after they've decided to follow Jesus.  You've not shown them the freedom, and abundant life God came to give.  You've not helped them see the persecution that is on the horizon and how to handle it.  You've not guided them to a place where they can have a habitat worthy to incubate their faith to maturity. 

And it's this reason why I do what I do. 

It's why I write books.
It's why I speak all over the world.
It's why I do the camp thing out at KIVU.
It's why we're developing programs for teenagers to understand what it means to share their faith, and also be Do-ers of the word.  (James 1:22-25)

It's not simply enough to read your Bible and go on Street Mission trips.  Those behaviors should be outpourings of a core change inside.  (2 Cor. 5:17).  Because when Jesus truly comes into the heart of man, EVERYTHING CHANGES!!

May we be people who don't just act our faith, but rather; do out of a core of change.
May we praise the God of the Universe for Saving us from death, sin, and life as it is in the now.
May we be a people who can hope in the reconciled Kingdom to come and as people begin understanding the faith, may they become co-laborers in the New Kingdom. 

May God Bless you Today!

It's A KIVU Christmas

Many of you are planning on waking up at some strange hour tomorrow morning to get the greatest deals on the hottest gifts for the Christmas season. 

From year to year I watch as people go into a heard mentality to pick up a t.v, an iPod, or the latest toy Hasbro has for us to consume.

Here at KIVU, we've got a gift for you.
You don't have to wake up at 3:30 am, to plow people over.
And this gift, is one that will set your teenager, or teens in your community, on a track for spiritual success.

This season, you can give your teen 13 days in the beautiful Colorado Mountains at Camp KIVU.  Our goal is to provide an excellence in camping, coupled with a foundational look at the Christian Worldview.  Over the last 10 years we have developed a community of believers from around the world that are beginning to understand what they believe, why they believe it, AND they are able to articulate their faith to others in their community.

We White Water Raft
Mountain Bike
Rock Climb
Back Pack
Fly-Fish
Endurance Sports
All as a vehicle to develop a generation strong in their faith, and in their community.

If you'd like to give a student 13-18 years old, a foundation of faith that will last a lifetime.

1.  Go over to our website at Camp KIVU

2.  Click on the registration link

3.  Put down a deposit to hold your spot for the specific dates you're interested in attending.

And that's it....You're in.

4.  Then click on the lower left hand side of this Blog where it says, download Christmas KIVU Pdf, and print out the greatest stocking stuffer you can give your family.

If you'll call our registration department, we'll provide a T-shirt, and a coffee mug for you to give away during your Christmas season.  (limited to those who sign up from now till December 15)

Come join us this summer 2010.  It's sure to be our greatest summer EVER!!