Are you ready to suffer?

I went running again today. You might be thinking that this is about how much one might suffer while running (like I do) but, oh contrare, it is not.
I was listening to Francis Chan's What's So Great About Jesus (part 3) on my run today. It's funny how this past week or two, there has been a lot of talk about suffering for Jesus' name. We discussed how the church might actually explode if we were persecuted for believing in His name. We discussed how we would laugh and rejoice the whole way to the police station riding in the back of a cop car because we were preaching the Word of God. We discussed how close the Christian community would be if we were persecuted. Like I said, there was a lot of discussing.
We talked with Mr. Timothy Bickel (Great earthly father and servant of Christ Jesus) about this and how we wished it would happen. He kindly told us that we should not pray to God for harm to fall on other Christians... and he is so right. But he also told us that we should pray that God's will be done on the Church so that we may better serve Him / wake us up... whatever that might mean. We told him of our desire to be arrested for Christ and he kindly told us again that if that were to happen, it would probably mean that all rights as a prisoner that we now have, would be out the window. That we would be taken to a cell and literally be flogged like the apostles. Now when he said this, inside I went, "Oh, that doesn't sound as cool." None the less, I'm still willing to do it. Just the severety of what might come from suffering for Christ never really hit me. I've never really had to suffer. Ever.
So back to What's So Great About Jesus (part 3). It came to the end, and at this point i was done running and was fully listening to his words. He spoke of a story that happened two years ago on April 18, 2007. Three Christian's were killed for the sake of Christ. They were doing a Bible study with some people from the area who had said they were interested in knowing more, but when they began reading the Word, they pulled out their knives and tied them up and proceeded to torture them. At this point, I thought to myself..."holy cow, that is intense." He proceeded to talk about the funeral and the wives and what they said in response to this (Which by the way was, "Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do. I am deeply sorrowed by this awful event but my husband is with God. I am serene." and "His death was full of meaning, because he died for Christ and he lived for Christ. Necati was a gift from God. I feel honored that he was in my life. I feel crowned with honor, I want to be worthy of that honor.") and how they had kids and what not. Intense.
Not until Chan said,
"We know that He did not leave their side. We know that their minds was full of scripture strengthening them to endure. We know that in whatever way they were able, with a look or maybe a word they encouraged each other to stand strong. We know that they knew that they would soon be with Christ... I thought about being in that room and looking at your brothers going, "Hold on man, just hold on. You know where we are going. You just hold on. Just hold on just a little bit longer. You know where we are going! Don't you deny Him. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let's take it!" And the way they would look at each other and just go, "hold on."

After those words, I burst out in tears. While I was crying, I wasn't even sure why I was crying and I had to stop and think about it. I knew I wasn't crying because this is horrible. I wasn't mad that they suffered. Not at all. I was crying because this picture is so beautiful to me. I placed myself in their shoes and imagined my friends next to me. Looking at them and saying, "Just hold on." and them looking at me and saying, "don't worry, You can do it, Just hold on." "Christ is here with us." "We'll see Him soon." Just typing these words is making me cry again. To imagine a bond so strong between us and then between us and God. To imagine looking into tear filled eyes telling them it will be over soon. Suffering together for the sake of One Purpose.

Could you do it?



Here's two articles on it:
http://www.intouchmission.org/wp-content/uploads/0706_martyrs-in-malatya.pdf
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016106.php

God Is: Philippians 2

This was good, but once again hard. I'm finding it hard to find words that really depict him without using the cliche words... which I did. I've decided that God is indescribable. Honestly, human words do Him no justice. I wish I truly spoke His language, it would mean so much more.

Philippians Chapter 2.... GOD IS:
Verse 1: encouraging, unifying, comforting, tender, compassionate
2: Purposeful
3: Humble
4: Concerned

6: Humble
7: Humble
8: Humble & Obedient
9: Exalted
10: Powerful
11: Glorified & Worthy

**Side note** All of these verses (6-11) were clumped together. I thought it was so ironic that the first three had to do with how completely humble Jesus was and the last three had to do with how God put Him on high...the complete opposite of what you would expect from humble.

12: Revered
13: Active
14: Respectful, Humble
15: Blameless, Pure, Father, Light
16-18: Worthy
20: Genuine
22: Servant
24: Confident
25: True doctor
26: Longing for us
27: Merciful
30: Martyr

God is too good. Better than we may ever know.

Emily

Do colossians Ch 2.

I wanted to add this to my previous blog but it didn't fit so I made a new one

I like this:
"How could a loving God do that? I always ask, how could a just God with 700,000 "I don't cares" going up to Him a second, and not go, "You want to see chaos, You think Virginia tech was chaos? There you go..." Why Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus? Because without Jesus, everything falls apart.
... The church is not a room with four walls and a ceiling. That is a building where the church gathers. See this thing of the church is so unique. Francis says, "the church is a group of people who have been bought out of the dominion of darkness and have been redeemed and have had their sins forgiven and have been placed now uniquely in the kingdom of light, this kingdom of the son He loves, they've been place inside of this body in which the head is Jesus Christ." I've been placed in a unique place. This group of people here which is amongst you there are some that are the church and there are some that aren't. See I don't want anyone to be lied to to think that just because you come to a building once a week on Sundays, that you are the church. The church is not a building it is a group of people that understand that they have been redeemed bought out of the dominion of darkness, out the slave market of sin, and have been placed in this unique new body called the church of which Jesus Christ is not only the head of the dominion of darkness but is also the head of the Church. You were created in the very image of God. Then when you get saved you get recreated more specifically in the image of Jesus Christ.
... The church is here for its head, Jesus Christ. We are here today not to make you happy, we are here today to let you know that you need a right relationship with God. You need to be redeemed, bought of the slave market of sin, you need your sins forgiven. You need to be placed in this Kingdom of Light. Why? Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, JESUS!"
-Todd Nighswonger - Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Califonia. What's So Great About Jesus? (part 2)

Prepare

So I just finished running 4 miles. The best part is that I didn't stop and I finished it under the time that I had allotted for myself. Which was 44 minutes and 54 seconds. I finished in 43 minutes and 4 seconds. haha that is SO slow. But I was happy for not stopping. I'm then thinking about how lately I've found a need to get in shape and want to really push myself to see how far I can go.

There's the recap, now let us get up to speed. Everything's been about Jesus lately. Like it always should be. Honestly, part of me is excited for Jesus to come back. Now, I'd like you to know that I myself do not believe that when the "end times" come that all Christians will be swept up to Heaven. I believe that we will in fact have to endure what everyone else does until the time Jesus physically comes down from Heaven and then (if we are not dead yet) will be taken up to Heaven. It's kind of how the Bible put's it, so that is how I take it.

Now my thought: What if we endure this in our lifetime? Will we be ready? Do you understand how much running we will be doing? Both physically and mentally. We will be running for our lives and running to tell the world that Jesus is legitimately near. Not "near" like He will one day come back but "near" like He will come back in exactly 3 years and four days because according to the Bible we are currently enduring __(blank)___ prophecy of the book of Revelation. Which at that point we may have needed to memorize because all Bible were burned and confiscated. No longer can we go to a Hotel and find a Bible in the drawer... they're gone. Seriously though. What if I have to be prepared to save my family. To fight for my family. Then the thought came that I should learn to fight ha ha. Are we prepared to lead large masses of people (or few)? Because we will need to. It will be our responsibility to do this not just pastors. When family members and leaders die, will we be prepared to step up and take on what they were doing?

Maybe we will see this day, maybe we won't. But we should be prepared either way just in case. It is our responsibility, not theirs.

God Is: Philippians 1

My great friend Emily told me that our sweet friend Nicole J told us of another way to study God's living word. She said to read the Word looking for ways to describe who God is. I normally read looking for ways that it can help me instead of looking for ways to know my God better. Though naturally I will get to know Him better by reading my way and understanding what He expects from me, but I really wanted to try this to see what would happen.

It actually was not as easy and I expected, because God is so great and pretty much every word describes Him.
My results:
Philippians Chapter One
Verse 2: Giver of grace and peace
6: Completer
7: Shares His grace with us ---> Generous
8: Truth, Loving, Affectionate
11: Righteous
12: Resourceful
13: Disburser (of His good news)
14: Encourager, Courageous, Fearless
16: Love
18: Worthy
19: Hero (saves us), Helper
20: Confident
21: Heavenly, Perfect
24: Concerned
25: Sacrifices for us
26: Joyful
28: Fearless
29: Consents to the fulfillment of us
30: The word is struggle. I looked it up and found : To contend with an adversary or opposing force and I thought, "Yeah He does that, but the opposing force has already been beat." So the word is now VICTORIOUS.
Scrolled down and found this definition for struggle; Makes a way with violent effort.

As i was typing this, I thought it was crazy that he can be so many different things in such a little amount of time and verses.


I want you to know that I wrote this at 12:35... not 930 in the morning.

Nothing.

I just really love Jesus. Honestly. I want to follow Him through all the days of my life.

Full Circle

God is really amazing. I know it's cliche but whatever. I can't think of a better word. Fabulous? Outrageous? Everything? God just is and that makes it wonderful.

God loves me so much that He affirms my doubts in less then 10 minutes through an inebriated man who intruded on our Q'doba dinner in Royal Oak on Saturday night at 230am. Though the frequency of people we talk to has gone down, the intensity of the conversations have increased exponentially. With tears in his eyes, this man told us that he has the passion in him, but basically he can't let it out yet. What could I do? I love this man.

I love the guy who looked at us with complete and total conflicting ideas running through his head. The pain was evident on his face, "Do I go with my friends or do I stay and talk to two people who want to share with me eternity?" Though I did not hear any of his conversation, I knew the look and I felt his pain. My heart broke. Only to find out his prayer was to be saved and help for his addiction. It's like God told me the severity of the situation before I even knew what it was.
Thank you God... For everything.

So we heard today at Sunday morning church about sharing the Gospel. We heard at lunch about the evil that runs rampant through our world. The effects that are had when we acknowledge the desires of our flesh. Romans 13:14. We heard tonight at Lighthouse about sharing the gospel. About going in and knowing the culture of the people we are talking to. Being with these people and sharing our lives with them. 1 Thessalonians 2:8. We need to go out there and do it. Share our faith. 2 Timothy 1:7. We are at a pivotal point in our lives. Do we listen or do we ignore? These people need us. Share what is so important. Let their lives be made complete by a single act of a conversation. Plant the seed. Do your part.

Today before lighthouse I was told that (like everything else) the Bible is complete in its entirety and can be brought full circle too. We (multiple times) flipped open the bible, randomly, selected a verse, randomly, read each verse (the most we did tonight was three verses), and every time each verse connected... regardless of where it was in the Bible. Thank you God for your amazingness.

After Lighthouse we prayed because, yes, we cannot get enough of God. All I want to do is just praise Him.
"Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come."

24 hours a day.

Critics

So my Tuesdays are typically the longest days of my life. Wake up at three something ish and then don't get back until about 10:30... ouch.

Basically, I'm really sick and tired of people being so critical about life. Every little thing. These people can always do it better, they have always got the answer, they are always right. Give it a rest. Arg. Seriously. It must hurt to go through life trying to think of words that are constantly negative. Don't the books tell us to accept, approve, and appreciate? Yet, I feel like we do this the least.

Plus, in most situations, if you don't have the fruit on the tree, you have absolutely no right to try and tell anyone a better way for it to be done. Absolutely none. Until you can demonstrate that you can take advice from people who are where you want to be, you will never be the person giving advice - pretty much because you are not where they want to be.

So yeah, it's a little blunt, but whatever. It's just ridiculous. We are a product of our environment, so if we want to be good we best surround ourselves with a great environment.

On to people doing bigger and better things: Jon Ketchum. Rocks my socks and I'm pretty much downloading his brand spankin new EP off itunes. And now it's done downloading. Sweet!!! 6 songs of pure bliss. Yay Jon!

Church Parking lot

So i left church a little earlier than my normal time and was absolutely appalled. I think once, someone let me through and had i not pushed my way in, i would still be there right now. Everyone was completely and totally all about themselves. Even when the 3 way stop sign came into play, people just up and ignored it. Seriously?!? It says stop! We are suppose to follow the law right?? people just blew through it because if they did not do that, some one would get in front of them which is the WHOLE purpose of the stop sign. One stops, the other goes after that the other goes, after that the other goes. It's a cycle that we've all grown up with and yet at church of all places we ignore it.

Seriously people. Let us drive like Christians and be nice.

MO-RO

We just got back from an interesting night in Royal Oak. I can't really say it was bad, because there were two good things, but everything else that happened was just strange. I'm uneasy about it all. That pit of the stomach feeling like... "what, huh??" you know?

So the good:

1. "They like Jesus, they won't give us their numbers and I'm still trying to figure out why we are standing here."
*classic*

2. Tyler (?) leaves for Korea in a couple days and wants a picture with two sweet girls... awesome. I'm pumped that we have pictures going on facebook. I'm not really sure why, but I'm really excited. Really excited. So anyway. We talk to them and tell them right off that bat that once they ask their question, we have one for them. So picture and talking blah blah so then we whip out our cards and ask for prayer requests. We receive back a "WHAT?!?" in unison from at least two of them and immediately following all four of the disperse to separate areas to write prayer requests without a second thought. Loved it. Then we pray with them right there in front of O'tooles in downtown royal oak. Then emily prays the gospel and it was beautiful and they all were looking at each other when she did it which made it even better. but you know what, she spoke to their souls. No matter what every other part of their body said, their souls smiled.

Now the not so good:

Emily, since you are the only one reading this most likely this is to you and what i thought the moment i walked into my room.

So we discussed demons (a little) tonight. Some people get super upset about writing down a prayer request and one guy in particular was TICKED. Dropping F bombs left and right and eventually stormed off after writing "good life" for his prayer request. But as Emily recanted the story to me I had this strong sense of demons. The fact that probably a demon was speaking through him. Why else would someone be in such a rant because we asked one simple question. Seriously, why? It's the only logical answer to me.

As I walked into my room, I thought to myself, maybe we have such a weird feeling about tonight because we didn't do what we were there to do. We walked down with the intentions of getting prayer requests, but maybe God had something else in store. Maybe we were there to fight the battle we weren't fighting but merely recongnizing that the evil side was most definitely not being challenged. I mean we have been given the knowledge to know what we have to do and how to fight it, maybe God is telling us to practice. Start your ministry here in the streets of royal oak. Who cares, just do it. You see it, get rid of it. Don't recognize and turn your back on it expecting it to go away.
That is what i thought. Pray about it I guess?
Very strange, but good night overall. I don't think we can have a bad night doing this. So thank you God for working your magic when things aren't perfect.

Wonderful

I love that I have so many fonts to choose from.

I love my Kairos group. Honestly. We make a perfect group.

I love the fact that I feel so comfortable with all of them, and I feel they feel the same way. Every time we get together to discuss our book (twice-bookwise, three times total) we hardly do. I mean of course we discuss it, but the conversations I love most come from the heart and they are merely triggered by what is written on the page. Like God himself is inspiring our words through another man's words. And the honesty that flows through our group is a awesome and a necessity. In a world where we are bombarded with lies, we need truth spoken even if we don't want to hear it. I am in love with my Kairos group.

I don't love the fact that I have to wait so long for our next encounter.

huh?

I have no idea how to use this...

I'm thoroughly confused and in need of a shower because I just ran four miles because it was nice outside and I could not see my breath <----- officially a run-on sentence.

So back to how I don't know how to use this. I added a picture. I'm adding a blog. I'm not sure how to search for blogs, all though I am only interested in reading one.... Emily's because it rocks. So as long as i can maneuver myself there, we are golden.

Bye.