This is Not a Game...

This is not a game. Let me preface this entire writing by saying it will not be something to add to this poison spitting contest. To divide, to dismantle. That being said... let's dispel some miscommunications, shall we?

Dear Trevor Keezer of Okeechobee, Fl. You're no hero. Please stick with me long enough to understand however i'm not saying you're the problem here, but i believe that stories like this one are symptoms of a very delusional body of believers.

For those who haven't heard the story click here to do so.

I believe that we belong to a family that is meant to leave behind a legacy of more than t shirts and pins. Trevor, no one was asking you not to read your bible in the break area. No one was asking to not show the absolute best service you could to every costumer that came through there and no one was asking you to not go the extra mile when a co worker needs a prayer and encouragement.

Church, let's get our hands dirty.

Let's stand against real injustices with words of peace and cause change. Let's stop spitting poison at each other with the objective of building our own kingdoms. This is not a game and i'm tired. if we're being honest, i'm angry. Not at Trevor, and again i'm sorry to take aim at you Trevor to prove a point. My point being there is a very active enemy we face. He's raising our kids and teaching us politics. He's sleeping in our homes and in some instances i believe we've seen him in our churches. and guess what... He could give a crap what kind of pins we wear. But he trembles when we speak words of peace and healing in the name of our King. He shutters when people hear that they can be restored from all the lies of his sick kingdom. So let's.

Church, let's get angry.

A friend recently told me that the best leaders are the angry ones, because they're the ones who think things need to change and change them. Not destructive, not negative, but angry. Angry is ok. Because, let's face it, those of us who are content with the way things are aren't leading anyone anywhere.

I'm hopeful because i know that there are people in my life and in this city who read this and feel a fire. Feel encouraged that there are others who aren't ok with where we are and want to build something better. And there are hundreds of people in this city that have already begun the work. I wont let this blog come off as a finger pointed at all christians saying everything is wrong , because that's not the case. I was just reminded very recently that very often we can be a large part of the problem if we aren't careful.

Be encouraged. Let's guard our hearts and therefore our words. That we wouldn't spit poison and negativity within this body of Christ. This is not a game.

Sweaty, Awkward, & Honest...

I watched him walk way to his house today with a Dr. Pepper in one hand and another unopened one in the other... It's a good 3 mile walk from the church to his house but he insisted he walks it all the time.

Sebastian came to us Yesterday for the first time. Walked down to our offices after he was found wandering around the church without a reason, covered in sweat from his walk from school to here.

"I just moved here from california."

"My parents were recently divorced."

"What's your story David?"

"Ya i believe in Jesus. Like i think He can turn stones into food or other things that hurt people like me might need."

"My dad is a satanist and thinks places like these are for fools.... i'm still not sure if he's right or not, but i had to see for myself...."

Wow... lots strange thing to be hearing from a kid for the first time. We skipped right past our favorite bands and sports and b lined "my dad is a satanist." I'm not gonna lie, i've spent the better part of my arguably young life in ministry. We prepare for moments similar to these but it seemed to me that in this moment i had to filter through conference upon conference and 5 years worth of break out sessions to know how to handle this broken kid. I've been trained like crazy for years on how to break down walls and get people to open up. How to do so without making them feel uncomfortable, but this kid spared me the games.

Honest and strange eyes stared back at me spitting brutal truth. "I really don't know what i believe but i know that ending up like my father is my absolute last resort. You think God might let me be something better...?"

... Ouch.

Here, i've ben looking around the room for a way out of one of the most awkward talks of my life and then i'm reminded in the most brutal of ways... this is what i'm here for. Sebastian was outright begging me for the explicit Gospel. And it broke my heart to realize that the Gospel truth wasn't my first reaction. I told Sebastian the story of Saul/Paul and how the God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances picked him up and used an murderer to become the greatest teacher in the New Testament. He seemed hopeful and excited.

Aside from the Dr. Peppers he left that day with a bible and promised to come back this past sunday after reading John 1 & 2. He didn't. But i'm hoping that he wanders into my office again soon. Sweaty, awkward and honest. i hope he comes to remind me of why i'm here and what my priorities are. And i'll work with my office door open until he does.