Kevin & Sondra Rush

Soon, I'll be 60yrs old...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 May 2016 14:08:00 +0000

Not really, but stick with me.

I heard this song, 7 Years by a Danish band named Lukas Graham, on the radio earlier in the week, and can't stop listening to it. Turning 35yrs old yesterday, I continue to reflect on life and this song speaks so much truth to me. Life is about what stories we live and tell, the relationships we invest in, and the hope we hold on to.

What story do you believe? Who do you believe in? What voices do you hear in your head? What hope do you fight for? Who will you keep in the trenches of life; to fight for, along side. Will they fight for the hope you lost along the way? We need each other. Life and relationships can be hard, but they are good. Life is but a vapor - be present, be fully alive, today.

I'm so grateful for my God, my family, and friends who God has placed around me. It's a life worth living and a story worth living. Thank you for loving me.

"Soon, I'll be 60yrs old, will I think the world is cold, or will I have children bore me?"
#lifeisshort #liveit #lifetothefull #hope #eternallife

Keep Calm and Carry On (Discipleship)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 03:32:00 +0000

When walking with someone in a discipling relationship...

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." - Philippians 4:6 [MSG]

Don't sweat the little things.

Terry Crews' Sex Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 14:56:00 +0000

I bet you thought I got a virus or something and were hesitant to click. Or maybe you are here to see something kinky. Naughty! Either way I'm glad you took the risk and I hope you keep reading.

Terry Crews' sex experiment had nothing to do with infidelity or kinkiness. Instead Terry Crews powerfully shared on Huffing Post what he discovered about himself and his marriage from having a 90 day "Sex Fast" with his wife. Yep, 90 days! Watch this 90 second clip...

Crews says, "(for) 90 days -- no sex, all relationship, all talk, all cuddle. I found that at the end of that 90 days ... I knew who she was, and it wasn't about 'Let's go out because I know I'm gonna get some sex later.' It was like, 'Let's go because I want to talk to you. I want to know you'."

According to Crews, "every man has a desire for intimacy." "To be known and loved."

In a culture that has embraced a strong male being someone who subscribes to the playboy's sexual fantasy and conquest, Terry calls that out as a front. Going against the grain, he powerfully speaks to a depth of a man's soul that I believe can only be met by God. And as an extension, God gave us marriage to mirror our relationship with Him. This counter-cultural message must have struck a nerve with someone. More than 2.5 million views in less than 3 days. It has got some serious attention.

What I love about this short 90-second clip is that Terry Crews gives a more compelling vision of marriage and sex within marriage then I've heard in 30+ sermons about sex. That includes the ones I have given. #preachingfail

Questions for Church Leaders: How do you cast a compelling vision for marriage, sex, and what it means to be a man? Are you willing to be as vulnerable and intimate in saying what Terry said about men's insecurity?

Final Question: Men, are you willing to fast from sex?

Some of you know I'm involved with a relational/sexual healing ministry called Living Waters (LW). Last year I went to a week-long intensive as a LW participant. Almost a year ago today as a matter of fact. While I was there God revealed to me, among a host of other things, that I was trying to have my wife validate me with sex in place of the deep need for love that could only be filled by Him. I discovered I was trying to take from her sexually instead of receiving her fully. To be known and to be loved by her in response to the love I've found in Christ. I confessed this to Sondra when I returned and tons of healing flowed into our marriage. Our marriage continues to flourish as we submit to God's love for us which is beyond reason.

I think it's worth prayerfully considering a sex fast with your spouse (1 Corinthians 7:1-6 NIV). Talk about exposing your need for affirmation, pleasure, and identity. To be known and to be loved, and not just pleasured.

A part our calling is to help churches experience healing from relational and sexual brokenness. If we can help in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out. Email kezrush@gmail.com.

The Flux Capacitor of the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:04:00 +0000

Can you believe that we have actually arrived in the FUTURE of the movie Back to the Future :: Part II? They got a lot right, but I can't help but feeling disappointed. Where's my hover board? Where's my automatic resizing clothes? Why doesn't my car fly? What an EPIC FAIL.

The movie plot is basically the same in all three movies. The plot is to fix the future (or past), by going to the past (or the future) to make things right. They were trying to fix the broken relationships when the previous timeline was altered. Confused? I know.

In the movie it takes an incredible amount of power, 1.21 gigawatts, piped into the flux capacitor to make time travel possible.

In many ways the good news of Jesus is the same. God created the world good, but our broken relationships destroyed the original timeline. Making the world, but a shadow of what it was intended to be. Jesus became the way and God's spirit became the power to restore the brokeness of our world. The Good News of Jesus and his resurrection restores our relationships (with our God, image/identity, others, and with creation itself) and the bible says it even it is active in our past, present, and future. In the work of Jesus our past is justified. In the work of Jesus our present is being sanctified. And in the work of Jesus our future is being glorified.

The Gospel is more powerful than nuclear blast pumped into a flux capacitor. It changes your past (justification), present (sanctification), and future (glorification). It's really good news! Trust Jesus.

Walk In Their Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:46:00 +0000

Do you ever think about those who are around you? Do you know what it is like to walk in their shoes? Think of the people who you see everyday. The places we work and play. Do you know what they are going through? Henry David Thoreau wrote, "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?"

Sondra just interviewed with the Cleveland Clinic last week. Her nurse manager mentioned this video to her and how much it impacted her and her team.

We should never look at people a part from their humanity. We need to look at them as infinitely loved by God, and infinitely in need of God too.

Just.
Like.
You.
And.
I.
Infinitely in need, Infinitely loved.

A common exercise I have people do who want to live on everyday mission is to go to places and just sit and listen. That's it. Sit. And listen. Then reflect on these questions.

What if I walked in their shoes...

What pressures are going on in their life?
What is their biggest need?
How can I pray for them?
How can I bless them?
How could I pray and ask God to bless them? (Something beyond my ability to offer)

Walk in their shoes, love them beyond reason. You never know what someone is going through until you sit, and listen. Try it, then come back and share what God's Spirt taught you.

One Word: Prowess

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:15:00 +0000

prow·ess

Noun

Skill or expertise in an activity or field.
Bravery in battle.

Synonyms

valor - gallantry - valour - bravery - courage - heroism

If I could only speak one word into someone's life I think that word would be love (gk: agape) or Jesus, after all I'm a pastor. But a close second would be prowess. I'm not overly charismatic, typically describing myself as charismatic with a seat belt, but I do believe that everything is spiritual. That your mind, body, relationships, even your work is connected to your spirit. That your physical, emotional, social, and intellectual health is connected to our spiritual health and vise-versa. They can't be separated.

In the Story of God, aka the Bible, it clearly shows us that we are saved from ourselves, but we are also saved FOR a battle. Not FROM it.

It's not a battle against people, organizations, or the government for that matter (flesh and blood), but against the dark powers at work in our-lives and world. Who's intent is to rule the deepest part of our being; our spirit, our soul.

It also tells us that we are called to live our most heroic life now in response to the one who has one the ultimate victory over death and destruction - Jesus. And to lock arms in battle along side others warriors in God's community. It tells us that we are each unique. We are given a unique story, gifts, strengths, and we are saved for the battle, not from it. That we are given a story to enter into a larger story, and although we may fail our God will not. That your whole life will be given to a prowess of love.

To Church Planters and Pastors, I'd say - prowess!
Are you brave enough to always step out and trust God? Do you know your skills? Do you ask and work to bring people around you with different skills for the battle? Are you battle tested and continue to hone your expertise? Do you have prowess?

To the Artist, I say - prowess!
Do you do your art with skill? Are you brave enough to tell the story God is laying on your heart? Do you live your life with valor and courage to those who God is leading you? Or do you run from community because you hide behind your art. Afraid to share your art because it is the only thing that gives you an identity. Do you have prowess?

To Parents, I say - prowess!
You are called to lead your kids into battle with love and truth. How are you doing? Are you sharpening your skills as a parent? Are you stepping out with valor to show them love and truth, even when it is easier to sweep it under the rug? Are you cowering under the responsibility or are you stepping out with prowess?

In your Marriage, I say - prowess!
Are you laying your life down for your spouse? Are you heroic? Are you a constant student of loving them? Or do you focus more on how they need to change to fit you? You need some prowess!

To Everyone, I say - prowess!
You are saved for the battle, not from it! And you are the only you this world will ever see, and our world needs you. Allow God to shape you, discipline you, challenge you, and of course love you into the most heroic you that you could ever be. Be you and be full of prowess!

Where are you joining the battle? Who are you locking arms with?What skills are you honing? Where is God calling you to fight the darkness?

/ˈprou-əs/

A Prayer Appetite

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Often I can't hear Jesus because I forget what his voice sounds like (John 10). I'm often hungry because I don't feed my appetite for God (Ezekiel 3:1 and Revelation 10:9).

Too often I pray without changing the radio station to a frequency with less interference.
Too often I desire God's things or directions without getting to know God himself.
Too often I come to God's word eating hot dogs (a.k.a. tube-steak), instead of a porterhouse.

Mmmmm... porterhouse

I feel awfully silly praying when I'm not in his word, partaking in his story. Read it, soak in it, and pray the scriptures. Then you will hear his voice, and you will awaken to a wonderful banquet with an amazing God, who will take you to places you've never imagined. He will whisper words you have been longing to hear.

Feed your prayer appetite!

Come to Table

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:13:00 +0000

If you have been around me or CityEdge very long you know I am border lined obsessed with a vision to center your life around the Table, Text, and Towel. That we are all called to experience and offer love beyond reason, a journey with God, and a mission to serve the city.

The Table is arguably the most compelling image of the three. I've spoke at lengths on the importance of community and mission being formed around the Table. That we should be an inclusive community that loves beyond reason as God did and does. Jesus shared his table with followers, sinners, and the worst of sinners - self righteous religious people (a.k.a pharisees).

Jesus told a parable in depicting God's invitation to a great banquet. That he wanted everyone to come. And he had plenty of room, saving a seat for everyone. His only request was that you respected the Host and dressed as he asked. I belief this points to respect for God and humility when you are at the table. After all the prideful did not come, rejected God's invitation, and even killed God's servants.

God is a God who opens his table to us, and calls us to open our tables to others.

I think that we gather around the table for two reasons - to celebrate and eat. After all if you love someone that's what you do - eat with and celebrate them.

Eating is a constant reminder that we need something outside of ourselves to sustain us. We need to invite both the sinner and saint to come eat at the table.

Oikos, Aliens, and Mr. Rogers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:07:00 +0000

What? What is Oikos? And what does it have to do with aliens and Mr. Rogers?

First of all we kicked off a new series at CityEdge two weeks ago called Won't You Be My Neighbor? We are exploring how the early church cared for and changed their neighborhoods. In lots of ways Mr. Roger embodied all kinds of values that the early church did. Like Fred Rogers, we are learning to love our neighbors and neighborhoods.

What's oikos mean? And no it's not yogurt that turns everyone into John Stamos. My good friend Mark Pratt taught this past Sunday at CityEdge explaining Oikos brilliantly. I highly recommend you listen to the podcast. But the readers digest version of oikos is your extended family - your family and friends, your networks and neighborhoods. Often translated household in the Bible.

So what does that have to do with aliens? In his message Mark discovered a word play in Ephesians 2 that he fully believes Paul, the writer of Ephesians decided to use. I believe so too. In the Greek Paul uses oikos and paroikos. Seen here in the Greek of Ephesians 2:19

"ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ ἐστὲ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, "

In english it says, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."

I love that an OIKOS for PAROIKOS! A family of aliens and strangers! Perfect for Halloween. God's family is made up of exiles and foreigners. People who would not naturally belong together belong to each other through God's radical love. His church becomes an extended family that reaches and adopts other misfits from their network and neighborhoods. This is the function of our CityGroups at CityEdge.

Who are you called to love beyond reason?
Who belongs in your oikos? Your spiritual family, a CityGroup?
Who is the paroikos in your network and neighborhoods who needs a family?

Eat What's On Your Plate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:18:00 +0000

Often in church's you hear questions like, when are we going to go deep? Or where is the meat? I assume they are referencing 1 Corinthians 3, presuming that the teacher is only giving them milk and they are ready for the next level spiritually.

As a preacher/teacher I find that people think it is more about having some new information that will "wow" them. They think it is more about bible knowledge. More than just knowledge it is about learning to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. There is nothing wrong with information, but Jesus did not come to give us information to the full. Google did. Jesus came to give us life, and life transformation. Transformation happens when we listen, hear, and respond to what God's Spirit is doing in our-lives. Are we being obedient to what we already know we should be doing? What was just taught? Love your neighbor as yourself, be slow to anger, etc. How are we doing?

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. - James 4:17

To go deep has little to do with meaty teach and a lot to do with eating what is on you plate! Maybe we should be asking, "Have I eaten what's on my plate or am I just playing with my food?"

A Ninja, A City, and the Power of God

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Proverbs 16:32 says, "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city."

When I think of a warrior, I think of ninja. I think of Kung-fu. Kung-fu literally means; learning or practicing anything that requires patience, energy, and time to complete. I believe that learning and practicing self-control in our lives unlocks more potential than a city has resources! But self-control is nearly impossible to obtain on our own. We would be better off trying to conquer a fortified city, then conquer ourselves alone. We need the power of God! God's active Spirit in our life, and a community to keep us accountable to what He wants to do in us!

At CityEdge we are in a series called Practice Makes Perfect. We are learning to make space for us to recognize and respond to what God is doing in our lives and the lives around us. Join us as we submit our life, and practice making space for God to change us!

When Missional Expressions Launch A Gathering

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:24:00 +0000

Today I was humbled to get an email from Al D'Angelo, a good friend of mine from RiverTree Christian Church. He contacted me asking me what I would do, if I were to launch Worship Gatherings again, since they are two weeks from starting another Gathering in a new city that they already have Missional Communities in. You could call this a campus or multi-site approach, I would just call them Gatherings or Celebrations, but that's another conversation for another day. Anyhow, I gave Al my two cents and thought I would share it hear on my blog.

When launching your Gatherings I think your main goal need to be setting that environments (public space) culture. You and your team need to have values which become your filters. Values allow you to quickly make decisions, and it trains potential leaders and leaders to lead and not just do.

At CityEdge our Gathering values are...

Simple, but excellent environments (some would say light-weight, low-maintenance)
Emphasis on hospitality to the outsiders, to guests.
We are documentary directors, storytellers, and artists inviting everyone into God's Story
Everyone needs an extend family, everyone needs a backyard mission - CityGroups (our Missional Communities)
Kids are important to us because they are important to God.

Here are some mistakes that I feel most missional expressions make when starting Gatherings. And we made most of these too.

Devaluing or being negative about the Worship Gathering to emphasis Missional Communities. No need for that. Both are important and have different purposes, be upfront with what those are.
Devaluing systems. Especially database, weekly follow up, and communication to guests and missional people alike. You still need a system / plan / approach to communication at every level - Gathering, Missional Life, Missional Leaders, and Sojourners.
Gathering too often, too soon. We did three monthly preview Gatherings and then launched weekly gatherings. I'm not sure, if I would do weekly Gatherings until we got to critical mass. Probably three or four healthy Missional Communities. Last month changed started taking the last Sunday off for Serve the City Sundays where MCs live out their mission-vision to love beyond reason.
Live up to simple, but excellent (or light-weight, low maintenance). That sometimes means spending money on things that will save your team from heavy lifting. Heavy lifting burns out the best Kingdom Servants. I recommend buying the best rolling cases you can afford, if you are portable.
Personally, I haven't figured out where traditional marketing goes for a Missional Gathering. But I know you have to be careful with your message, if you are going to do it at all. It leads people to a product and not an experience with the living God. Lends to attractional gatherings.

What do you think? What would you do, if you where to start Missional Gatherings or Celebrations?

People, Not Projects! Don't Do Charity, Serve People!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:06:00 +0000

I'm not a fan of service projects. And I don't like charity. Basically because I don't see any life change. There is rarely any significant difference in the hearts of those serving, nor is there any real impact by those receiving.

However...

I love serving people. I love blessing others. I love extravagant generosity in the everyday because it can change lives, even our world. Of both, those who give and those who receive.

What's the difference? One thing - Our motives.

Proverbs 16:2 - A person thinks all his ways are pure, but God weighs our motives.

On Sunday, CityEdge did not gather to worship, but scattered to worshiped by serving those in our city. After fixing up and painting five porches we met for dinner. Over a Chipotle burrito, I asked them what God was teaching them through serving others. They were quick to admit their motives. They said they were thinking "Do these people really need my help? They seem able, just not willing fix their own stuff?" We talked about how this was not always the case, but how our hearts are deceptive and always say, "why should I bless them? And why isn't someone blessing me?" The simple answer to that is grace. A gift! I would say a free gift, but that is just redundant right? To have God centered grace filled motives we must we serve in response to the one who served and laid his life down for us. Then we see life change. Only then will our world be turned upside down. Or should I say right-side up.

1 Peter 4:11 - If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

Ask yourself why do I serve? Is it out of response to God's love? Am I a distributor of the love and blessing that I have received? Do people matter to me because they matter to God? Even to those who don't deserve it? Do you serve only out of your excess (your strength), or also out of your poverty (God's strength)? Am I serving in humble love?

Galatians 5:13-14 [The Voice] - God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love. For the whole law comes down to this one instruction: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I don't do charity. I serve people. I don't do service projects. I bless people. People who need God's love and grace. People like me.

What Is Jesus Teaching You?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:37:00 +0000

A defining moment in my life was when a mentor of mine started a conversation over a meeting at McDonald's with this question, "what is Jesus teaching you?" I was at a loss for words. I began scrambling for something, anything, but nothing came. As I finished tracing into the depths of my brain for something I realized I wasn't learning anything because I wasn't spending time as an intentional student of Jesus. After all, how could I have learned something if I never expected to learn?

I wasn't...
reading the bible regularly
praying and listening for the Spirit to speak
in close relationships with others who were following Jesus, who God could use to speak to me.

Therefore, there was no way I was going to hear or learn anything! This is like a student not showing up for class, but expecting to learn something. Ridiculous, right?

In school I wasn't the best student and put little effort into my studies, but by showing up I eventually learned something. Even if it was just through osmosis (a.k.a. immersion). Disciple literally means "learner" so we have to expect to learn something. We have to show up to class. To pull up a chair, listen, learn, and even dare I say "do" something with Jesus.

So...
What are you learning from Jesus? [Pause to Think]

If you are scrambling, that's probably because you aren't spending intentional time as His learner? And if you are, please share! Let's learn from one another.

Family Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:06:00 +0000

I just finished a sermon series called Family Matters and absolutely loved it. When reading the Bible I can't help, but be captivated by the imagery, language, and importance of the family in our personal and corporate journey with God.

A family that encourages and challenges, speaks truth in love, and offers grace and forgiveness is the best environment to grow children. If the church is God's family; no matter what home you grew up in, God created an environment to spiritually grow you into adulthood.

Our fathers are suppose to be loving authorities over their families, as God is over his family. And isn't it interesting that Overseers of the church have to first parent their own family well before God trusts them to spiritually parent his family.

And isn't it crazy that marriage is the daily incarnation of a true gospel relationship! That Jesus with a reckless crazy love - selflessly gives himself to his bride, the Church. And then he calls us to do the same for our spouse. The picture of the gospel embodied is marriage. Living out the gospel in our marriages changes our families, our churches, and ultimately the world.

So we have to ask ourselves are our families pictures of God's love and truth? Are they places where we are planting seeds in the lives of our children raising them into spiritual parents who will lead the next generation to love God and love people recklessly? And does are churches look more like a family raising children into spiritual parents, or are they stunted in spiritual adolescence? Are we planting seeds for the future?

Found a great video made by Blain Hogan and the Willow Creek Creative Team. Enjoy!

Loving Enemies Beyond Reason

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:10:00 +0000

Until you can sit across the table from someone who is completely different than you. Someone with different morals, religion, background, ethics, and look them in the eyes and tell them you love them and mean it... you will never have an impact in the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom is changed on the edges of culture by those who dare walk the line of unshakable love and radical truth. This is what love beyond reason is. This is who our God is. Jesus in the flesh.

Be Careful to Tread on Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Don't tread on dreams...

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Inwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
~ William Butler Yeats

Often those who are rich struggle to dream God-sized dreams because they rely on themselves. Instead of seeing people as potential investors with loads of dream equity, they see sweat equity. Instead of unleashing potential, they can take advantage in hopes of furthering their own personal cause. The rich have to be fearful because they have so much to loose, and loss could be detrimental to them because it is what their identity is built upon. Risk can cripple them. That's why the rich crush so many dreams and chalk it up to wisdom. But I think Yates is on to something.

The truly creative are those who are poor. Why? Because they have not stopped dreaming. They can't because it is their life essence. It keeps them alive! Circumstances have made them geniuses of divergent thinking. I'll keep it simple... little resources + a heaping of hope = God-sized dreams! This is why innovation happens on the edges.

Check this out...

James 2:5-9 (The Voice) My dear brothers and sisters, listen: God has picked the poor of this world to become unfathomably rich in faith and ultimately to inherit the Kingdom, which He has pledged to those who love Him. By favoring the rich, you have mocked the poor. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it the rich who step on you while climbing the ladder of success? And isn’t it the rich who take advantage of you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones mocking the noble name of our God, the One calling us? Remember His call, and live by the royal law found in Scripture: love others as you love yourself. You’ll be doing very well if you can get this down. But if you show favoritism—paying attention to those who can help you in some way, while ignoring those who seem to need all the help—you’ll be sinning

I love the Kingdom of God because it regularly punches wholes in what worldly wisdom believes. It warns us to tread softly on other's dreams and love them boldly! Love others, and dream dreams with them. God drafts by a different set of rules. He chooses those who love Him and have lots of dream equity (aka - faith)!

GPS, Refreshments, and Love

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:24:00 +0000

Last night we attended Toward the City - a Missional Community in Tremont led by our good friend Mark and Evie Pratt. During that time we were encouraged to read Psalm 23 and get creative as we had some personal time to reflect on the scripture. I wrote a paraphrase of it below.

Psalm 23 Paraphrased
God you can take me where you want
because you always have my back.

You take me to the beach to relax,
to the lake to recharge.
You are a GPS for my soul.
Even when I find myself going down a dark alley,
I fear nothing.
And when you nudge, even sternly direct me back to the right road
I find comfort because I know you know the way.

When we dine together you sit me at the best table.
You bring me the houses best refreshments, pay that tab,
when no one else thinks I deserve it.
And they're right! I don't.
It's only by your goodness and love.
In that love is where I call home.

Dark Enough to See the Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:35:00 +0000

The Church was created for the edges.

To explore the unknown and venture into the dark places where religion dare not go.

She has been given an unwavering identity and hope through an inhibited and completely reckless lover - Jesus.

And that kind of love and security demands more than unfulfilled promises and empty words.

It demands a response. Action. Imagination.

It compels us toward imitation, and moves us to reciprocation.

It desires us to fiercely dream dreams into being.

And it demands we die to our fears.

It calls us, it sends us, and shakes us out of our comfort zones.

It trains us to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

It teaches us righteousness is not what or how we do, but why we do.

When the world hands us it's worst, our broken hearts give our bests.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."

The true test of a gospel community, a city on a hill, is how well it shines when it's dark outside. Are we illuminating creation to its fullest daily? Are the realities of the Kingdom standing out with such clarity that you are forced to take notice because you are to busy squinting at it's sheer beauty and brightness? Or are we deconstructing his family, our lives, and even our God until it's tame enough and dull enough to blend into the background? The more I walk on the edge with other kingdom-dwellers, the more it feels like home. Exactly where I should be.

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Voice)

Jesus: And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.

No Man Left Behind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:42:00 +0000

Too often we give up on people.
We give up on caring for people God put in our lives because it gets messy.
We give up on people we know God called us to reach because it is awkward, sometimes hard.
And we chalk it up to saying things like, "it is what it is" or "only God can change their hearts."

But I think God wants us to believe in the impossible. To see others as He sees them in Christ, and graciously call them to respond to Christ's love. To pray hard, work hard, and rest hard. Relying on His power to work through us.

Ephesians 3:20 [NIV] Now to him (Jesus) who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...

Leaving no man left behind!

Ephesians 6:18 [MSG] "Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."

Complete, Not Compete

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:46:00 +0000

Do you want to know why we did a combined mailer with four other churches? Because we can either compete each other, or help complete one another. Simply put we are better together...

Be Comforted, and Slow Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:41:00 +0000

When Mylah, who is 5 months old, wakes up crying at night my wife always thinks somethings a wrong. And most of the time Sondra is right. But every once and a while we can't figure it out.

Need a new diaper? Nope, still clean.
Is she hungry? No, just ate.
Her PJs bugging her? Naah!

So what is it? When she cries I just go pick her up and dance with her. As I hold her close, I'll sing to her. As I slow dance she with her is comforted, and I love comforting her.

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. - Zephaniah 3:17

If you need comforted and you have no idea what is bugging you in the middle of the night, know that the Creator of the Universe, the Mighty Rescuer will calm your fears with His love. He is near you waiting to sing and dance with you. Be comforted. He loves comforting you.

The Creative Gap: Taste and Hunger, The Fight and Disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:59:00 +0000

I coach a lot of creative people. Some officially and others unofficially. There are two things that determine if they will become better or bitter as they create; personal taste, and the fight within them to create it. This became clear to me about three years ago when I saw an interview with Ira Glass. Watch this video typography that someone created from that interview...

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Taste + disappointment in your work = creative hunger
And hunger + the fight leads to satisfying art, work, and/or product.
But...
Creative hunger w/o fight equates to disappointment in self. It rots the soul of a creative and it is almost impossible to overcome.

Do work! When you are disappointed... create something! Make deadlines and produce. It will build a hunger. Be disappointed in your work, not in your self. Fight! I know many creatives with good taste, but it is the fight that separates the men from the boys. The artists from the amateur. The good from the great! This is... the Creative Gap.

Enter the Story - Your 9:9 Moment?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:06:00 +0000

At CityEdge one of our practices is to be Story-formed. We believe God is telling a grand narrative of healing, love, and restoration. He calls us to align our story under His story. We discover our true reality and true identity in the narrative of scripture, aka the Bible. This is where we align our story with God's story. We enter the story. This is how Matthew 9:9 looks if it became Kevin 9:9.

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Kevin sitting in a cubicle. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Kevin got up and followed him."

Where is your 9:9 moment?

Strength of Community

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:25:00 +0000

Never underestimate the importance of community and how you discover yourself through community. Several years ago I realized that I have all the resources I could ever want. Well not all, but close. I have all the information, tools, and even access to experts to create and produce whatever my heart desires (within my skill set of course). The real obstacle is knowing myself. Knowing where I'm gifted and what potential I have. On our own we deceive ourselves thinking we are something that we are not.

This is why we all think we are going to be a rock star or an actor as a child before we ever pick up an instrument or hit the stage. Putting yourself out there in a community will not only make your work better. It will make YOU better!