The Journey

A Couple of KIVU campers Doing their thing

Muslims, Christians, and Jesus

He's an international speaker, author, and wonderful friend. Today, he came by to speak to our students about Middle Eastern Issues, and the relationships between Christians and Muslims.  Carl Medearis came by today, and took a couple of hours to speak to our students about how to view other religions.  What a wonderful surprise, and what a wonderful treat for the students!!

Check out his book, Muslims, Christians, and Jesus.  It's a great way to look at what's going on in REAL TIME!!  God is good!

Check out Luke's Blog

My buddy Luke Parrott posted a new blog about the end of term 2.  Be sure to check it out at Luke's Blog

Did you see her?

Well, if you were out doing something last night and missed Jordin perform her new single, Battlefield, then you missed out on a great one.  So, here you go.  Check it out.

Hey, My Friend Jordin Sparks is on Idol, May 13th

 

Hey guys, My buddy Jordin Sparks is scheduled to debut her new song "Battlefield" on American Idol May 13th.  You're going to want to be sure to tune in.  I've heard the song, and it's PHENOMENAL!! 

So let's support our family of friends, and Cheer Jordin on as she takes the American Idol stage back.

If you want to hear the song, just check it out here at her website...Jordin Sparks Official Website

Congrats SCC and the Crew. What a night!!

 

It was a night full of emotions, as the 40th annual GMA's were held last night in honor of the great Christian artists of the day.  There were moments of high energy, wonderful praise, and even the blind quartet from Alabama ended the show in style. 

A great friend of mine was involved in the making of the video Slow Fade, By Casting Crowns.

But the house came crashing down, when Steven Curtis Chapman stood on the stage accompanied by the boys, Caleb and Will Franklin, and sang this....

 

At the end of the night, Steven and Mary Beth took the stage to accept the Artist of the Year award. 

With tears streaming down my face, in light of a family who have walked through horrid tragedy, I cheered as the announcer read, "and the award goes to Steven Curtis!!" 

So a Big Congratulations goes out to SCC and the crew.  You guys are doing so much to help us understand pain, grief, mourning, and trust in a God that continually reconciling all things unto Himself. 

Thanks.

It's Only Fitting She Sing

It's only fitting, one of my favorite people on the planet would sing the national anthem.  So here you go.  It's the best version I've ever heard.

I just got a Text

I just got a txt from a buddy of mine, and He's at the game in Glendale.  Jordin singing the National Anthem, kicking the NFC championship off.  Come on Cards and Eagles, I'm looking forward to a great game.

Way to go Jordin!!

WAY TO GO JORDIN!!

As you know, we are BIG Jordin Sparks fans here at the Journey.  She was featured on the people's choice awards, and guess what??  Well, just watch and see....

We Need Your Help

Ok guys, I don't ask this often, but I want you to take a special look at a friend of mine.  He's a tremendous asset to our place out in Colorado, and He's in a contest that will get him to NYC.  So, if you have a free second, go on this site and vote for him.  Check this out.  Talent At WORK!!

Vote for me in this contest!

Submit entry

Contest details

Are you Ready for an Unbelievable Family Story...Check This Out.

I was running around the country with a good friend of mine, Tim Blacke.  Tim was the national tour director for Josh McDowell a few years ago, and became a dear dear friend over the last couple of years. 

Tim called me last March and explained that he was going to have to go to the Mayo Clinic and have tests done on his brain.  He said it was nothing, but I figured if he was going all the way to Mayo, there must be something to it.

Well, long story short, Tim had Brain Surgery this last summer, and now is recovering and picking up right where he left off.  But, as many of you know, the insurance companies are chasing him with a $97K bill that they say was pre-existing. 

I know insurance people have to make money, but here's a guy that gave his life to see thousands come to know the Lord, and after they re-did some of the paperwork they found him to have this brain condition before his papers were official. 

So we were driving to Dallas a few weeks ago and Tim told me of his idea to help cover the insurance bills.  His son Colton started asking questions about how he could help out around the house and get a job to fund some of the stuff he liked.  Mind you Colton is in Elementary school, but he went to Tim and said, "Dad I want to start a company so we can raise money for your medical bills."  I'm sure after both Tim and his wife wiped the tears from their eyes, they decided to start a business venture. 

They asked Colton what he would like to do to learn how to build a business.  He said he loved to listen to books on tape.  So Tim contacted Jim Weiss and worked a deal to buy some of the classic books read on CD today. 

Father and Son developed a Website, and guess what....They're up and running!!  It's so awesome that a Father can pass on skills to his son, and all the while, the son is excited to be successful so he can help dad to pay off some medical debt.  I'm telling you, this is the greatest story of a family dynamic I've heard in a long long time.

So if you're looking for some last minute Christmas gifts, cruise on over to www.kidsnreading.com and help support my friend.  Not only will you get one of the classic books read in a masterly skilled voice over, all the profit will help a good family.

To my good friend Neil.....

an ode to Neil...

'you are the truth warrior...'

that's all I got...

http://www.snopes.com/science/cookegg.asp

An Ode to Brad Ray

Brad Ray once rode an aerosol can to the moon to punch Neil Armstrong in the throat!
-Drew Crowson-

One of the greatest parts about walking this journey, is the people you run into along the way.  At our place out in Colorado, we've got some really special people, who literally, hold each other up in the good times, and the bad.

Well yesterday, they came together again, for the wedding of November.

It was our buddy Brad Ray, who decided to tie the knot yesterday, and it was a celebration like none other. 

You see, Brad has been around our place for the last 8 years serving in various roles, but committed to the cause.  He's an integral part of the mission we're trying to accomplish, and yesterday, I couldn't have been more proud for my friend. 

And, as I looked around the room, I saw people from Colorado, Kansas City, Mobile Alabama, and right here in our back yard Protem Missouri.  HA!

There were lots of laughs...

Plenty of hanging out...

And a Huge Dose of my buddy Chase Moore....

All in all, it proved to be another great example of a tight knit group of people who go to the ends of the earth to support and encourage each other. 

Don't forget the people along your journey, they are the most fun part of life's travels.

A Wonderful Understanding of World Events

Are you ready for a wonderful look at the three major religious groups of the world?  My good friend Carl Medearis has just released an awesome explanation of Muslim life as it relates to the Judeo-Christian heritage many of us know so well here in the west.  If you're interested in trying to understand basic Muslim ideas, or you're trying to relate to Muslim friends, Carl is the MAN!  His take on life is real.  He's a guy that you can sit and talk to for a long time about world events, and the relationship these three mono-theistic faiths have together. 
I'm telling you...this is a must read for those of us interested in understanding the world as it spins today.  Carl has a unique way of finding common ground so the walls of bigotry fade away, and people can just be people. 
He's influential in major universities across the country, and is connected with the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.  This guy knows his stuff. 
All that said, Go ahead and click on the book over to the right, and it will direct you straight to the publishers website.  Pick up the book.  You won't be disappointed.

A Friend, Closer than a Brother

I know it's weird. 

He's in dreadlocks made of some kind of horse hair.

He has a Rastafarian hat on.

And he's pretending to be some sort of Reggae Rapper.

But that's ALL DREW!!

He's been a wonderful addition to our staff out here 2008, and I'm thankful for guys like him that make life way more fun to live in.  Thanks pal!!  You're doing a great job.

A Whirlwind of Emotions

It has been a whirlwind of emotions this weekend, and I'm finally back in Durango. 

We went to a funeral this weekend, of a little girl who was tragically killed in a car accident. Jamie Jo and I landed at 3:00 pm Friday afternoon, and it was straight to the church where there were thousands of people pouring their lives over this unbelievably hard event. 

It's just not supposed to be that way!  The world isn't supposed to end so soon for such a small child. God didn't create a world where death reigns, did he?  It was really hard.   

I must admit, my faith was rocked a bit when I heard the news, but when I heard the guttural moans of people who were audible groaning in mourning, it was all I could do to muster the faith to think and ask, "I know  YOU still have a plan, but this day is not supposed to happen. Is it?"

It was all day with family and friends.  Lots of hugs.  Lots of tears.  Some bearable, and others...well, others took the very stability out of MY legs.  Not to mention the strength of the family going through the event. 

It wasn't until the actual funeral, that I really felt God speaking through the darkness. 

Maria's older sister stood at the podium and started talking about her own engagement that went down only a few short days ago.  She talked about calling home, talking to Maria, and Emily just recalled the weirdest moment of the conversation was when Maria asked, "So, What did you say?" 

She thought it a bit childish, "Of course I said yes." They laughed together and started talking about something else. 

The conversation went on for a few minutes, "So what did you say?"  Maria asked again. 

"I said yes."  almost put off that her younger sister was asking the question. 

Then toward the end of her tour down memory lane, she looked at everyone in the congregation and explained how she had entered in an engagement with her groom, but it was only a few months ago that Maria entered in an engagement with Jesus. 

She told another story of how Maria asked to know who Jesus was only a few weeks earlier, and had decided to start her relationship with the creator of all things.  This little one was interested in knowing how to begin comprehending Jesus, the one this wonderful family continues talking about.  It was a touching told story paralleling the older sister's engagement to her physical new man, and this little one's engagement to a spiritual God. 

She kept asking "What did you say?"

Her final words to those of us listening...."Just like My groom set the proposal table for me to accept, Jesus has set the proposal for us all...I accepted my grooms proposal...Maria accepted God's proposal invitation before her death...So...What do you say?"

And the light beamed through the dark clouds once again....

God is at work.  Even in the tragedy of death.  God is still at work. 

Thanks for praying and thinking of our friends.  They need the body of Christ to continue to stand in that place between the physical and the spiritual.  Thanks for being available.

What do you say?

Through the Dark Clouds, Reys of Hope

As I wrestled this morning with the "Why questions," of tragedy, I came across this beautiful picture of restoration.  By now you've probably heard Steven and Mary Beth Chapman's daughter Maria Sue was tragically killed yesterday, but her legacy is only beginning.

This morning the dark clouds of doubt were overshadowing anything good, and this afternoon the sun is already to break those clouds away. Isn't it just like God to take something so horrible, and begin turning the tide with His love and Grace.  He is still in the business of restoration.  And even through the mourning process of weeping and being sad, He's still on the throne orchestrating His master plan.   

In lieu of flowers, the Chapman family has requested that any memorial gifts be given to their adoption ministry called Shaohanna's Hope.  In memory of this precious life, they are already giving more of themselves, more of their love, and more hope to orphan children around the globe. 

I'm amazed at the peaceful nature of people swimming in the tides of tragedy, as they are able to conjure up the peace that passes all understanding.  Would you help give another child a chance? 

Click here for Maria's Miracle Fund.  Let's give more hope to another generation. 

A Friend Gone but Not Forgotten

He was a joy to all who knew him.
He knew a lot about God.
He asked some great questions.
He never wore shoes, at least anywhere he could get away with it.
He walked with a confidence I admired.
He longed to know more.
He gave his heart to people he didn't know.
He was brutally honest, humbly gracious, approachable, and fun-loving. 

Today is Josh Lantz' birthday.  He would have been 21 today, but life took his earlier than it should have. 

I miss you buddy. 

You're smile was contagious.
You're faith was as solid as anyone I know.
Kids loved you.
Staff admired you.
You're will to change the world has been unmatched on my journeys. 

You might not be here to let us all know, but I do.  I know you are clearly "with the Lord."  Wherever that is, I know there's a group of people who aren't wearing shoes, and laughing outloud.  They're praising the Father with loud voices, while you play your tattered guitar in the shadows, out of the spotlight, honest as you know how.

Happy Birthday, my friend.  Tell em I'm coming...and when I get there...we're gonna party!!

An Awesome Weekend Wedding in Dallas

From time to time I have the incredible pleasure of watching a student grow from a boy to a man.  Many times they only spend a year or two with me, and then life sweeps them up into jobs, careers, relationships, or other parts of the world.  But this weekend, I had a really neat opportunity to be the reverend for one of my good buddies.

He started coming in 1999, and has been a student and a teacher with me ever since.  He's got a great heart of loyalty, and married a young lady equally as impressive.

It was such a fun weekend, hanging with old friends, spending time with their family, and most of all re-kindling the view of marriage vows and relationships. 

I know weddings are suppose to be all about the bride and groom, but Sat. night I thought it equally as important that the family and friends there to witness the event could take part.  In fact, I actually asked the whole church to join my friends in a community covenant as we would watch, warn, witness, encourage, rejoice, mourn, and mentor these two young people as they venture on in life.  Leave and cleave is an important lesson for young people, but I'm convinced that the community of believers rallying around us in the good times and the bad, may indeed help us as humanity re-define the marriage crisis going on in America. 

It was a tremendous weekend.  Lots of laughs, a good bit amount of rest, but most of all the feeling of being with people who were real, like-minded, and interested in cheering my friends in beginning their relationship.

Way to go guys!! I love you dearly.

An Incredible Encounter in the Barber Chair

So I'm getting my haircut today at one of my favorite places here in Branson.  You know the places you go where community just happens to happen.  People coming and going from all walks of life, and the town seems to just talk.  Well, that's this place.

The owner is a good friend of mine, and it's been a fun ride watching this new place open up and take off.  It's really the talk of the town.

Anyway, so we start talking about life, hair, customers, what people want their hair to look like, and all of the sudden the conversation begins to turn spiritual. 

"So what do you really do out there in the real world?"

"Well, I'm going to Jacksonville Florida tomorrow to talk to a group of teenagers about how to love your neighbor."

"Why?  What's that all about?"

"That's what I do.  I teach students how to Love God and Love other people."

And then the conversations just turns into a tirade. 

"Are you gonna try to save me?  I've got this one client that's on me all the time to go and make sure my relatives are all going to heaven.  He says that If I'm not actively pursuing the salvation of my friends, then I may never see them again.  When we die, they're all going to hell.  I just don't know how to handle that guy...and on...and on..."Not in a boring way, but it was clear I definitely touched a nerve by bringing up spiritual issues. 

We went on a while as my hair was getting chopped off, and I just realized how intense people get when they're approached by someone who has no relationship, they have no idea what the family situation of this person is, but just because the barber provides a service once every month, this guy felt like it was his obligation to 'care for a soul.'  And I use the word care loosely.

Now I'm all for sharing your faith with someone, but when are we going to realize salvation is so much more than simply a rescue job? 

Yes Jesus came to save us from sin.  That's a fact. 
Yes we must have a heart to follow Him.  There's no question.

But this guy was treating my friend as if he needed to pull her out of a river where she and her family were drowning, with no real intention of having a friendship, or relationship. 

It was a great conversation to have, because she has already read LOVE THIS! and she knows my take on sharing your faith with all kinds of people. So it was all I could do but say, "You know that guy has no interest in your soul, he just wants you to say a mantra and be a part of something He believes in, not really someone who wants to nurture a long term relationship."

And I've seen this more and more as I travel the world. 

When are we going to stop and recognize salvation is about transformation.  It's about loving God and loving other people.  It's about doing what Jesus did, not simply asking what would Jesus do. 

Jesus sat with people and started friendships.  He sat with the woman at the well to offer her hope, not to scare her into submission in fear of death and hell.  He wanted to show her the hope of change in her life.  He wanted to give her the satisfaction of living water, not just a drive by salvation message that would keep her soul safe until she died. Jesus didn't focus on the issues she was dealing with at first, he knew she needed some hope, and by His sitting down with a Samaritan woman, he showed her that she had value.  She had meaning.  She was worth something.   

When Jesus looked at the disciples, He didn't say, "if you died tonight where will you be?"  He said, come and follow me.  Come and I will make you friends (John 15)

When will we stop the madness, and let people be people, and when they begin searching for living water that satisfies all ills, we have the water that will satisfy their souls. 

It made me sad to see my friend view religion as another somebody trying to shove a message down without a cognoscente care for the wellbeing of her person. 

Evangelism can't simply be a question and a prayer.  It must be a life on life discovery that moves someone by the love in your heart, not the fear you give them to run from.  Jesus came with a message of hope.  He came with a renewal of heart, mind, and soul.  And, the continuation of His message happens when we, those who follow Him, care enough about someone to develop rich wells of hope. 

Who knows if my friend will ever grace the doors of a church, but she will see love in my life that hopefully will conjure a desire to explore the source of that love, mainly a God who loves.

I'm committed to it!