The Journey

Crazy Love. Ch. 3.

In Chapter 3, Chan asks us about Loving God.  Where do we get the ability to love God?  And, what frame of reference does someone need in order to love Him?

It's so sad today, as so many people have a poor fatherly image.  When the phrase 'God the Father' is used in scripture, the only images they can come up with are one's of abuse, neglect, or downright poor feelings. 

It's no fault of their own. 

Words mean things.

Phrases in our lives cojure up images that , quite frankly, are impossible to rid from our life experience. 

We are who we are because of our life's experiences. 

So the trick in understanding who God is, centers around our ability to re-fashion the images we have of a loving father.  We have to seek with almost a purity of idea, casting aside the old, and looking at the way God is described in the Bible.  It's the only way we can fall in love with a God apart from our own personal way points set inside our personal GPS.

I invite you today to seek that God. 
I encourage you today, to look for a God that has an identity outside your experience.
I hope for you today, that you can fall in love with a God who loves you enough to sacrifice Himself, that you might have life. 

This book is simpe, yet profound.  I encourage you to pick it up. 

Crazy Love. Ch. 2. You Might Not Finish This...

If you've joined us on the journey for a book reading, you know we're reading right through Francis Chan's Crazy Love.

The First chapter we discussed, described the Bigness of God.  It described the creation of the world in context of a God who made all things, and in Him that all things hold together.

I was talking to a group of High School Students at the local coffee shop the other day about how BIG God is. 

One girl piped in, "I just want to get closer to God.  I feel like I'm so far away." And I find this is more the rule, than the exception. 

Most students that meet God on a retreat or a High MountainTop adventure have trouble walking with God through the real world.  I can understand why, but it pains my heart to hear teenagers that are struggling to have a relationship with the creator of the Universe. 

I know, It's tough to relate the man-made retreat atmosphere to when you have to go back and face the 'real' world.  Sitting in front of a Calculus book, or an office making phone calls, doesn't exactly give the romantic inspiration to know the Creator.  (no offense intended there, its just that Calculus and I have a bad history together)

But the Bigness of God is important.  We must be a people who understand the relationship with something bigger than our self, and the smallness of the world we occupy.   In Chapter two "You might not finish this Chapter" Chan goes to great length to point out how small mankind really is. 

Chan quotes the book of James and says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes?" (4:13-14)

Yesterday I sat on the plane with a wonderful lady who works for U.S. Air.  We talked for the whole flight from Durango to Phoenix about the spirituality that exists inside of every human being. 

I think, in the middle of our conversation, this chapter started becoming more clear.  She was telling me how her life is a culmination of spiritual decisions, and she looks for the deepest meanings in life.  She said, "I'm not a religious person...but..."

As I sat there and listened to her story, it just kept getting clearer, "this is what we're all searching for."

We know there are forces bigger than ourselves out there, and as you walk through your life, you have to decide what forces you're going to serve.

Everyone knows you can't control what happens around you.

You can't control your health, you can only manage it.
You can't control your finances, look at the economic melt down happening.
You can't control who likes you and who doesn't.
You can't control the outcome of life.

I mean if you really boil it all down to the lowest common denominator, We really can't control whether we live another heartbeat or not.  (I think That's the reason for the title of Chapter 2)

So today, the question is...Who are you going to serve? 

Will you serve the things you know you can't control?

Or, do you take a risk?

Do you try and discover a force in the universe described as the "Alpha and Omega," "the Morning Star," "Jehovah," "Yahweh."

Will you be looking for someone that claims to have "the whole world...in His hands?"

It's up to you!

Once this is certain.

We are all on a road that leads to death, and it's our life here that is a "vapor" in the wind. 

Who are you going to serve?

How Much is God's Kingdom Worth To You?

The response to the Book Club yesterday was overwhelming.  Evidently there are a lot of you who are out there looking for a way to grow in your spiritual world.  I guess that's no surprise.  The readership of this blog, and many others like it, are on the rise as we're all just trying to figure out what the foundations of the Christian faith are, and how we can put them into daily practice. 

Crazy Love is a great way to start!!

Yesterday we started talking about Chapter 1.  It's titled, STOP PRAYING!. 

At first glance it seems like Chan is trying to play on a little shock value with Christians, but as you read through it, His challenge to stop trying to use God as a genie or someone to just call on in troubled times is amazing. 

He talks about the wonders of the universe.  He pulls out some interesting facts about creation, i.e. 'Did you know a caterpillar has over 228 muscles in it's head?' 

The overarching theme...Stop talking all the time, and start looking around at the wonder and majesty o God. 

So this morning, I was working through Matthew 13, and found this, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field" (v.44)

My question to you this morning is simple...How much is the kingdom of heaven worth to you?

Is it worth spending some time in quiet bewilderment at the beauty of a Creator?
Is it worth taking some initiative to discover it's minute details?
Is it worth time observing the vast expanse of the Universe, and meditating on it's purpose?
Is it worth spending your life's savings to go and, like the man in the story, buy a field knowing it's in the middle of the field?

After reading the first chapter of Chan's book, and reading through Jesus' account of what the Kingdom is going to be like, this morning, I'm spending time in quiet meditation. 

Oh God, you are my God, and I will forever praise you.
Oh God you are my God, and I will ever praise you.
I will seek you in the morning.
And I will learn to walk in your ways.
And step by step you'll seek me.
And I will follow you all of my days.

Book of the Month

We decided a few weeks ago, here at KIVU, that we wanted to spend some time as a full time staff working through good literature.  We want to continue growing and probing our knowledge of God, while we seek to develop a community whereby God can be glorified in all we do. 

So, we decided our first book through September was going to be Francis Chan's book titled CRAZY LOVE!

If you'd like to join us on this adventure, go ahead and cruise on over to Amazon, and pick up a copy.  We'll be posting reviews, comments, and insights as we go through the manuscript, and try to glean great principles from one of today's most popular pastors. 

Rest assured, this "book of the month" isn't going to simply be a course in pop Christian literature.  We're going to read some easy stuff, some hard stuff, some secular stuff, but overall, we'd love for the readers here at andybraner.com to be committed in developing our minds as we experience God in real time. 

I hope this will be an encouraging time for you to feel like we're all reading the same stuff, and if you've got some suggestions, feel free to post them on the comment section below. 

I will categorize our readings under the section called books.  So when we cover chapter 1, you can just click on the category called books, and read and review at your own pace. 

I hope this is a useful piece of andybraner.com, and my goal would be that we could grow in knowledge, wisdom, and favor with both God and Man. (Luke 2:52)

God bless, and thank you so much for your outpouring of support in recent days.  It has been overwhelming to see God's people rally around us as a camping community and offer to help in any way they can.  I'm grateful to have friends like you.

A Read to Expand your Boundaries

I just started reading this interesting account of the Words of Jesus.  Phyllis Tickle spent a great deal of time trying to synchronize the words of Jesus in this one of a kind "paraphrase" type narrative. 

This is a book that has really begun to ask some tough questions that I don't regularly think about.  Mainly, Jesus' humanity as it mixed with divinity, reading the scripture through the lens of the surrounding environment, and it's forcing me to take another look at the relationships Jesus had to the people He was around when He said what He said. 

Ms. Tickle has taken extraordinary care to prepare the reader of Jesus to make minute detail observations so we can hear the message as it was intended to be said.  For, as you know, communication is hard enough when you're sitting down with someone over a cup of coffee.  Surely a book that is over 2000 years old must be tough to nail down the exact meaning of Jesus' comments. 

Interestingly enough, Tickle found that the majority of Jesus' message was about "end times."  Huh.  Who would have thought?  But as she compared and compiled all the verses together, Jesus was concerned with the "end" more than He ws concerned with feeding the poor, helping the needy, or living a life worthy of following. 

One thing is clear, Ms. Tickle is honest in her assessment.  She's quite clear in her communication of what we know historically about the words of Jesus, and the things we assume.  I love the authentic way she tries to get to the heart of Jesus' ministry, and I look forward to pushing through to the end.  

This is a great book for you Jesus followers trying to understand the heart of God. 

A Book for All Ages

I got the dreaded call from my 2nd grader's teacher the other day, "Would you come in and tell the kids what it's like to be a real author?"  I immediately recalled the movie CITYSLICKERS, where Billy Crystal went into his kid's class for career day. 

The dad who talked before him was a firefighter, and he told stories of saving people from burning infernos. Then it was Billy Crystal's turn.  He got up to explain what a radio ad executive does selling airtime.  It was hilarious, at the time, but now it was my turn to go to the career day, and I hated the thought I was going to wind up sounding like Mr. Crystal.  Every dad wants his kids to be proud of him. 

So I thought...

Who likes to hear stories of how authors write books?  Kids want to hear stories, not the process it took to write the story.  And, to add insult to injury, the teacher asked me to spend the most time talking about the editorial process. (I guess they got their short stories back the other day with a few more red marks than most anticipated.) So now, not only am I NOT saving people from fiery furnaces, now I have to talk about the most boring part of writing, the edit! 

UGGHH I hate editing. 

In fact, back in college Jamie did some editing for an English paper I was writing.  The afternoon she finished her initial review,  we went to lunch and she started the conversation by saying, "Well, it was interesting!"

OHHHH NO! 

When an editor says, "Well, it was interesting," you're in for a long haul of work.

In any event, I went to the classroom, talked about writing, left a few books if they were interested in picking them up later, and left feeling pretty good about the meeting.  They were all very respectful, and they all had vivid imaginations that would make for GREAT acquisitions in a publishing world.  (Kids just think up some of the coolest stories.)

Well, it was a few days after career day, I got a call from a mom.  "My son Elliot is reading Love This!  and he LOVES IT!" 

"Really?"  I asked.
"Yea, he's on page 154 and can't get enough of it." 
"WOW!!  that's awesome"

And I couldn't help but wonder if he was "getting" the message, or if he was just trying to impress my 2nd grade daughter who happens to be in the same class?  But the more I probed the mom for what he was understanding, she continued to tell me, he's getting it.

What a joy! 

Sometimes I sit at the computer and wonder if anyone will ever read what I write, and here; God sent a 2nd grader to show me that the words in print are going to set the stage for many generations to come. 

I needed that encouragement today!  It was great.

So, last night Elliot was over at the house and I thought I'd take his picture, and share his story with the world.  LOVE THIS!  read by a second grader.  HA!!!!  That's awesome!  And who knows...maybe the world can be a little better place as we learn to love those who are the hardest to love!

Love This! Changing Lives!

I just got this e-mail this morning, and I feel like it's worthy to share with you guys.  It's unbelievable how Love This! is changing youth groups around the country.

Dear Andy,

Well, I just want to start by thanking you for being obedient to Jesus in writing this book.  I heard you speak at a ACSI convention last year in Kansas City.  I was very touched by your passion about young people so I bought 4 of these books, gave them all away except 1 for me:) 
I am a Preschool Teacher, but I am also a Children's Pastor in a busy, poor, and awesome community.  I average 100- 125 kids per week.  Anyway, on to why I am emailing you.  I am finishing a 10 week sermon series on LOVE THIS!  We are to the last Chapter NOW WHAT?  I just wanted to share with you how this has impacted my life, my kids lives, and my family.  We have changed our way of thinking and of the way we minister to people.  And we launched a summer project called:

PROJECT - LOVE THIS! – SUMMER ’08  - JUNE, JULY, & AUGUST

Make a list of People to Love.

How can you impact/love them?

What, How, When, Where???

Time, Energy, Money, Talents???

I just wanted to share how you have changed the way we think, for the good!

What a blessing to know God is using this work to influence young people in different parts of the country.  It's making a difference out here at K-Colorado, and continues to go forward.  If you're interested in checking it out, just click on Andy's Books over on the left part of the blog at the top.  It takes you right to Amazon. 

Thanks again for praying for us out here.  God is working!

Podcast for Duplicate This!

Many of you know the recent steps to make available more discipleship material for FREE!  Well now it's getting easier.

A few friends suggested that I start going through one of my books, DUPLICATE THIS! on the blog to help readers interact with the book as they read along.  Well, I've started doing it, and it's become extremely popular.  There are students, youth groups, even families, who are actively reading through Duplicate This! and watching my explanation along the way. 

This new way of blogging has been a tremendous blessing as I get to hear some of the stories coming out of this simple add on.  People are asking questions about their faith, and starting to go find answers in ways they never thought possible. 

In any event, I'm writing you today to let you know, there's even easier ways to get the messages.  I've started a feed with iTunes, so you can download these short 3-5 minute chapter summaries to your video iPod, or your local machines iTunes software.  Just open your iTunes browser, type in Andy Braner up in the right hand corner, and WALLLA!!  There it is.  I've started cataloging them under this blog's feed, called The Journey.  Just subscribe, and you'll receive updates everytime you open iTunes. 

I hope this becomes a useful tool for you, and if there is a better way, or any other suggestions, you know where to find me. 

God blesss....happy podding...and thanks for making this possible.  I can envision a generation changing as we continue seeking God's truth and His intention for everything we do.

Sharing Love With your Friends

What is the most important part of your life?  I don't mean the latest Christmas present you got from your friends or your family, but when you search your soul, what is it that you want to share with people? 

Is it money?  Do you think it a necessity to share stuff with people, so you can have friends that admire and admonish? 

Is it friendship?  Do you want to share life on life experiences with true friends so you know who you can count on and who's REALLY going to be there when life matters?

At the core of my life, those closest to me know, friendship is fun; but living life with someone is so much more.  It's not merely about showing up at an event, or going to out to eat every now and then.  No, it's sharing life's highs and lows.  It's meeting someone where they are in life, and valuing them for who they are, not what they are or what they've accomplished. 

I write about this new book again, not because I'm trying to make this a sales pitch, but I was reading another chapter the other night to see if it still makes sense after months of editing and production, and I remembered why I chose to write this particular work.  I love walking with people through hard issues. 

I love asking hard questions and exploring life together.  It's in my DNA.  To know someone at their core, no matter they believe what I believe or not; but to explore those parts of life that make us most human are so exciting to me. 

And I think that's why I'm still doing the work I do out in Colorado.  Living in a community with people who are fellow so-journors in life is so exciting.  To watch a teenager climb to the peek of a mountain, or hear stories of their first real mountain bike ride is so much fun.  It's like I can share those experiences personally with them so we can create all the relational things together hat make life so rich.

Almost like Jesus says in John 15, "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't not know what his master is doing; but i have called you friends, for all that i have heard from my Father i have made known to you." 

Friends....those are the people most important to me in life.
Those are the people I want to share the most intimate things about me.
Those are what we are to God...Friends.

The danger for us is when we allow the snippet of pride to enter in our minds.  Those times when we think we have more to give than someone else, or worse; more to get. 

I can't wait to walk some friends through this book and explore their deepest belief systems.  To find out what makes someone tick, not to convert, conform, or convolute their own personal choices; but to ask hard questions that compel all of us to search for complicated answers. 

I was just reading a little last night, and thought I'd share some thoughts.  I hope you enjoy.....

PS.  I just got a light system in, so as soon as I figure out how to plug it all in, I'll be trying my hand at a video cast or two.  WHEW...just call me Mr. Techno....HA!!!  Until then 

Duplicate Is Released

Have you ever wanted a tool to help you when you want to talk to someone about spiritual issues?  I have. 

Sometimes I find it hard to just start a conversation about God, Christians, Jesus, or whatever moral issue is reigning the day.  You know how it is. 

You start talking about sports, or music, movies, or cars, and then you want to take the conversation somewhere deeper, but you don't know how?

Well, Duplicate This! is for you. 

I started writing a devotional book for Christian teenagers, but it ended up being a book about taking a journey with someone else to find out how to approach spiritual living from a different point of view.  You can read this book by yourself, but the most effective way to read it is with someone else.  It's a "let's take it a chapter at a time" and discuss what's going on type of book.  Unlike other devo books, there are no answers in this book that lead to easy.  This book will facilitate deep conversations as you begin to wonder how to look at your life, and really start asking hard questions. 

Why do we worship?  Why do we go to church?  Do we have to read the Bible to Love God?  All these issues are covered, and the coolest thing is, you can read it with a Christian, and Atheist, a Buddhist, a Mormon, a Muslim, all under the guise of learning to live like Jesus lived. 

So, go check it out.  Amazon just released it, so you can click on the book to the right of this article and it will link you right into the store. 

Happy Reading.  I'm sure you'll Love

Love THIS!

Released in February this year, LOVE THIS! has been an incredible resource for teenagers and youth pastors around the globe. 

This summer, there were students that found it an incredible resource, as they try to navigate their own Christian journey in a world with so many pre-set ideas about what a "Christian" looks like, acts like, and represents the Love of Jesus to an unbelieving world. 

Growing up I never wanted to be an author.  I didn't aspire to write a book, or be someone who is some sort of authority on a topic, and to be honest, I still don't.  But...the ideas represented in this book are straight from my heart.  And...my hope is as you read through the different chapters and learn how to look at different people groups like Jesus did, you too will be encouraged to go out and center your faith around a message of love.

The world is waiting for a few Christians to step up, and LOVE THIS!

You can pick it up at www.amazon.com.