May 2007 Archives

Here we go...
Tomorrow night hundreds of teenagers and college students around the St. Louis Metro area will gather at the REALM to be a part of something bigger than us. The collaborative effort of several groups in the area including 2 Rivers, Harvester Christian, Mosaic, FCA and etc. will be in attendance to be a part of giving hundreds of pairs of shoes away to people in need in South Africa. This is just the beginning, just a glimpse of coming together and cultivating our culture. This is how it looks to live life together...to be in community...to be a part of something bigger than us.

Much love,
Here we go...

F

26 May 07

What is $38 worth to you?
That’s about a one month supply of Starbuck’s coffee drinks or going to the movies twice this month and getting popcorn and a drink. It may be a new shirt or pair of shorts. $38 could be the amount you will spend this month on going out to eat with friends or how much you will spend on iTunes getting your new favorite music.

OR…$38 could put a pair of TOMS shoes on a child in need in South Africa, not to mention you get a pair too! You could play a part in a story that is bigger than your own.

Next Wednesday night, May 30th, over 500 students will gather at the REALM to be a part of this bigger story, to play a role that will change the life of a child in need. Bring $38 to get a pair of TOMS shoes and give a pair of TOMS shoes. Your purchase will guarantee that a child in South Africa will receive a pair of TOMS shoes on your behalf on the next shoe drop in November.

Be a part of history…you can change history!

F

26 May 07

Last year we recognized that the months and the time that we have in summer gives us a glimpse at how life could be in college. For instance...there seems to be more time and less responsibility, students stay up later and get up sometime in the afternoon hours. You tend to get jobs and then do whatever it takes to NOT work. There is less supervision, someone telling you what to do and when to do it. All this leads to an unfocused life. When we live life unfocused it is very difficult to navigate through all the “stuff” that comes our way. It is near impossible to be focused when we are lazy. An unfocused life is an unprotected life. We cannot afford to live life not protected, there is just too much stuff that comes our way.

How will you live this summer?
Where will you spend your time, your money?
What will you allow to distract you and keep you unfocused?

On the other hand, this could be the best summer of your life, for all the right reasons. There will be endless opportunities for you to engage in life and make fulfilling, lasting memories.

It’s our choice!
I look forward to life with you this summer…

F

17 May 07

I often talk on Wednesday nights at the gathering about taking a journey together. Sometimes I will say something like, “let’s explore this (whatever it is) together, “ or “let’s go on an adventure.” As I reflect, I see the incredible journey that I have embarked on and where it has taken me. I see how God has molded and shaped who I have become and continues for who I will be.
Recently I read this line in an article, “faith is a journey, not a destination.” You know that I am not one for clichés, but this thought spurred a reaction in my heart. It made me question how I view life. It is very easy to get caught up in living life and lose sight of the journey.
A couple thoughts about the journey; First – I don’t take it alone. The journey most times (if not always) is communal. We take the journey with the community that exists around us. We need each other. We are designed for relationship, relationship with God, relationship with others. Second – It’s always designed to drive me toward God. The journey teaches us the needs that exist to live life. God knows what we need because He is what we need.

Take the journey, but don’t journey alone. It wasn’t meant to be that way.
It's worth it.

Live,
F

14 May 07

Can you see them? They are there, uniquely placed all over your soul, all over your heart, all over your life with the purpose of shaping who you are becoming. The fingerprints of God are evident in our lives… unmistakably, undoubtedly His. They are difficult to see, practically invisible to notice with eyes that only see what we want, what we think we need, what we think we have to have to satisfy our souls. They get lost in the debris and rubble from the battle that has waged within our souls, a battle for our attention, for our focus, for our hearts. Unfortunately, we get used to living life in the ruins of what was, or what could be, or even what should be. We dream, only to wake up to the reality of…this! And so, life becomes mundane, stagnate and ordinary. We get trapped in between what if and what is. Meanwhile, God continues to leave fingerprints all around our lives vying for our attention. Everyday, 3,000 advertisements attempt to fascinate our imaginations and arrest our attention for a moment. There is a lot noise between you and the voice of God.
If you listen carefully, you can hear it…if you look intently, you can see it. The fingerprints and the voice of God are everywhere!

What arrests your attention?
Will you allow yourself to see God’s fingerprints and be captivated by His love?

Psalm 34:8
“Taste and see that the Lord is good…”

F

9 May 07

“You can’t have a temptation in life without a craving in your soul.”

This statement has intrigued me since the moment I heard it. The thought that I can actually get a glimpse into my soul at the things that I crave through the temptations that come my way. Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4 with food, “…tell these stones to become bread,” because he was hungry after fasting for 40 days. Jesus’ response “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
What did he mean by this? It’s not about this material world, but only through God can ones deepest longings and cravings be satisfied. Here’s the reality, if Jesus would have turned the stones to bread, out of God’s will, it would have NEVER satisfied his hunger. It would have just been like eating rocks, empty promises of satisfaction and fulfillment.
What God had been trying to teach us was not to make the same mistake that Adam and Eve made. They saw the fruit and they thought that is what they needed to live. There was a craving, and so they were tempted. How many things do I crave outside the will of God expecting fulfillment and satisfaction, only to receive emptiness and distance from God?
The same tactics that satan used to tempt Adam and Eve are the same tactics that he used to tempt Jesus, which is the same way he tries to tempt us. It is God who has made you with needs and it is God who longs to satisfy those needs.
When temptation comes your way (and it will) to satisfy “that” craving, whatever it may be, will you trust that God has an opportunity waiting for you if you are obedient?
Will we trust that God is good enough to satisfy the deepest longings, desires and cravings of our souls?
Do you believe that Jesus is what you need?

Gen. 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Deut. 8:11 “Be careful that you do not forget…”

F

7 May 07

There are few things better for someone who invests their life into people to “get it”, than actually watching them get it. Whatever “it” may be… it is incredible to watch and play a part in the process of people “getting it.” This last weekend the 8th grade guys took part in a “rite of passage” event called the crucible. The event is designed and intended to showcase the characteristics of a godly man followed by a series of “tasks” that illustrate these characteristics. (a short description).
Contrary to belief, (for obvious reasons), you actually can learn something from a middle school student. These young men learned and experienced the essence of true COMMUNITY, the world where ME is a distant second, if on the map at all. It was amazing to witness these young men do whatever it took to make sure that everyone… let me say that again (well, write it again) EVERYONE was successful. No one quits. No one is left behind. No one fails. If one did, they all did. The essence of pure community… the essence of sacrifice… the essence of love. It was a beautiful sight.

“They will know that we follow Christ, by the way that we love.” THEY GOT IT… will we?
Are we prepared to whatever it takes to create community?

F

2 May 07:

I recently read Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. He shares some incredible insight into the CORE of who we as human beings are…

Q: Is it possible that we as human beings are in this constant battle between engaging and disengaging from our cravings?

…That our souls are created to crave; to crave things that bring life and health, and at the same time be trained to crave things that can be destructive and devastating to our lives, to our souls?

WE WERE DESIGNED TO CRAVE! But to crave something, we actually have to desire it. There has to be something @ our core that longs for it!

It’s NOT a question of whether you CRAVE God or not…
The question remains whether or not we will engage in RELATIONSHIP with Him?

F

2 May 07

I have always wanted to write. What? I don’t know. Books? I think I have too much A.D.D. to focus that long on a particular subject or thought. Articles? Interested. Journal? Tried that on realmnoise.com, didn’t get real far. But recently I have been introduced to the world of BLOGGING. Yes, i have decided to go to the darkside. For some of you, you are like, “hello, where have you been?” You see, I don’t have a myspace page or a facebook page. I just write my thoughts and ideas in a journal by my bed. So, this blog will more or less act like a “journal” of sorts that I pray will spur thought and continue the conversation.

Many of the topics that will be posted will have to do with the conversations that we will have on wednesday nights at the gathering, where the community of the REALM meets.

I have been encouraged to just write. This blog is an attempt to get over the fear and just write. I invite you to join me as we explore thoughts and idea’s, create and cultivate change and engage in life.

Greetings,
F