Joy in His Word

While we were in Haiti, we got to spend one week on the Northern coast of Haiti in St. Louis de norte. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The average person lives on less than a dollar per day. St. Louis de norte was the poorest part of Haiti, So our team was in the poorest area of the poorest country. When you walk outside, you see poverty in people's faces, living conditions, and road quality. Trash was everywhere. St. Louis de Norte, a beautiful mountainous region less than a mile from the ocean, did not have a single street without massive amounts of trash. Everywhere you looked the devastation of poverty in this nation was evident. It breaks your heart, makes you angry at yourself and your country, changes the way you want to live, changes your definition of the word "need," and even sometimes cripples you emotionally.

In response to what we saw, our team agreed to participate in a grocery ministry the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission had to offer. This ministry aims to provide food to those who simply can't afford it. Along with providing for their physical needs, this ministry gives the people of Haiti a precious bible for their spiritual needs. I say "precious" because bible's are extremely expensive and hard to come by all throughout Haiti. With money that our team members themselves donated and money we had raised as a team, our group went down to the local market to purchase different groceries. Now, the Haitian market is an experience in and of itself, but that's neither here nor there. Our team had enough money to purchase 8 different bags. We bought things like eggplants, carrots, rice, beans, meat, flour, candy, and bananas. Our group then split up into two groups with four bags each. Our charge was to take these bags to wherever we feel led. We walked around for about 30 minutes until we got to the more remote areas of St. Louis. Of course the further from the center of town we got, the quality of houses continued to get poorer and poorer. At one of the four stops, we went to a man's home who seemed to have a rather large family with a rather small house. We walked up to him, gave him the bag, and gave him the gift of food in the name of Jesus. He accepted the gift with almost no emotional expression, and then he let us pray for him and his family. Our team had one bag left to give, so we shook his hand and left to start on our hike up a mountain to give the last bag. As we left his front yard I looked back for one last glimpse at the family. After we had left, they gathered around the bag to explore through the contents. Make no mistake, this family was poor. I watched them began to scream out loud and lift up there hands. This man had found the bible buried underneath the grocery items and had lifted it up for the family to see.

I saw something in them that I myself did not have. This family living in a poor family in a poor region in a poor nation was shouting for joy because of God providing for them the word of God. Their emotions said it all. Their hunger for His Word was greater than their hunger for food. They had a joy in His Word. I take his word, his truth, his life he so freely gives for granted. Scripture to them was important, sacred, fresh, God-breathed, and meaningful. Am I hungry for his truth that will set me free?

Spiritual Inadequacy

The day before our mission trip to Haiti started, our team had the privilege of having a share time to better prepare our hearts for the upcoming trip. An interesting question was asked: "What are you most afraid of about the upcoming trip?" Of course Michelle Matijevich said spiders, some talked of language barriers, and others talked about how hard it would be to not be in a leadership position of control.

However, there was one answer that was a common theme among college age people including myself. (does 23 still count?) As the fact that we were leaving tomorrow set in, many of us were afraid because we felt inadequate to share the gospel and serve in His Name due to struggles and sins in our life that we were bringing into the trip. Why did it take me the day before my mission trip to have a willingness to deal with that inadequacy or weakness? I knew inside that God was desiring to make his love known through me, but how is that any different than any other moment throughout the year when I am in Lubbock? It's not, but I make it different. I realize many times I focus on fixing myself instead of looking and asking God how he is longing to transform the people around me and myself. There have also been times in my life when I focus so much on ministry that I forget and ignore really what God wants to do in me. It's crazy to me to see how naturally a lifestyle of being apart of God's royal priesthood, a minister, a preacher, or a christian still intersects with God transforming my own weakness. I think it is apart of God's desire to grow the whole of me and not just part of me.

I also think spiritual inadequacy is the first tactic the enemy uses to keep us from sharing his gospel. I think we need to do a better job of recognizing that. Kelly McCuaig encouraged us by sharing "Remember that if anyone is in Christ, you are a new creation! Live in that promise."

Are you living in that promise of being a new creation?

Are you allowing God to grow the whole of you, not just part of you?

Are you sharing Him?

Are you overwhelmed with inadequacy?

Haiti: The Enemy Has Been Defeated

As many of you know, I spent the last week on a mission trip with 17 other people in the city of St. Louis de norte, Haiti. I am still processing many of the things I saw and circumstances I experienced, but I hope this blog will be a great way to share with you how God moved on our trip.

Here is what people say about Haiti. Haiti is 20% Baptist, 80% Catholic, and 100% voodoo. This statistic just goes to say that it is very culturally acceptable to be a christian and also to practice voodoo rituals. Going into my Haiti trip, my picture of voodoo practices came from James Bond and Indiana Jones movies. Anybody? Anyways, on the last day of our trip, our team traveled an hour to "tour" a voodoo temple and monument in the surrounding area. The first place we went was the voodoo monument. This monument was actually the base of a crumbled catholic cross which was placed on a 300 foot hill overlooking the surrounding village. When we got there our hearts truly broke. People would take this 15 minute hike to bring pictures or letters or articles of clothing to burn in holes to represent prayers. I was unsure if these prayers were to bless, to curse, or both. There were about 5 Haitians at the monument when we arrived. One was a witch doctor making a woman with a donkey tail walk around the crumbled cross 5 times so her prayers would be answered. It sure seems to be a human condition that we try frantically and crazily to fix our problems. Some of us try other religions; others of us simply practice pure selfishness. There was also a boy whose body was shaking violently and making wierd demonic noises. It was dark. We had been instructed to not take pictures, to not make a scene, and to be very nice because our facial expressions were a witness. As you look out over the city you can't help but realize what this monument means. This voodoo monument was laying claim to the territory of this village in the same way the cross had laid claim to this city 100 years ago. I think before this trip I had heard a lot about spiritual strongholds and territorial spirits, but the picture of what was unfolding before my eyes in this city and at that specific spot helped me fully grasp what a spiritual stronghold looks like. So, naturally we prayed. Our team joined hands around the crumbled cross and asked for the sacred voodoo spot to be redeemed, for God's light to penetrate the darkness, for God's love to grip the leaders of the voodoo following. It was a prayer we prayed with faith. We were leaving the next day and knew we would not see results while we were in Haiti. However, listen to these verses I was blessed with reading this morning:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to maked it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

There was a war waged on that hill that day overlooking the city, and I firmly believe that divine power was sent to demolish strongholds. I give God glory and thanks for the work he did, he's doing, and will do to redeem this spiritual stronghold.

who we are

I am 23 years old, and a year out of college. To be honest it is a hard place to be. (I hate to admit that something has been hard on me.) I'm at a transition stage in my life even though I am surrounded by most of the same people and have the same day-to-day occurences. I think as a 23 year old I have subconciously put pressure on myself to do something great right now. I want to feel accomplished in what I do. I want my career to take off. I want to have success in whatever I do. I think I am learning my family and American influences and tendencies. Things like the greater the title of what I do, the more accomplished I feel about what I do. I want to be the best at whatever I do.

All of these things are tendencies and influences which are clearly apart of my logic, thinking, and decisions. I am not proud of these lines of thought. I am proud to have a God who continually transforms my body, mind and spirit. I pray that God will continue to give me the mind of Christ as it pertains to my future, my current work, and the fruit I bear.

A friend of mine, Scott Latham, asked God during is quiet time, "What are we to be?"
God's response,"Scott you are to be a tree: a shelter for those passing through who need shade and rest, a place for them to climb up and see a vision of who they are to become. But Scott, you are to be immovable none the less."

As Scott was sharing this with me, I realized how once again God was longing to redefine what my ministry looked like. I am gladly becoming the director of mission/campus life at the Wesley Foundation. It is a role which has more definition than I have had as an intern this past year. However, the vision Scott recieved helped me have more vision and definition about who I am to be as a minister than any title of pastor could ever have.

Freshman in college, 8th graders at Irons Junior high, 45 year old pastors, school teacher's, how is God longing to redefine what your ministry looks like in your world?

Are the words you speak life giving? Are they a catalyst towards people relizing God's purpose, vision, and plans for their life?

Are you an immovable tree? Do you have deep roots and a firm foundation of who God has called you to be?

Does the prescense of the Lord in your life offer peace to others?

I love unpacking this picture, love to hear how God speaks to you through this!

An incredible testimony

I have a friend named Sean Quereshi who I have known for the last four years. Sean was born into a Muslim family and has been a devout Muslim for the last 21 years of his life. This is his story and testimony of how God changed his life:

"May 22nd, 2010. The night that Jesus opened my eyes and I could see for the first time was unlike any other. Spent the day talking to a good friend about how we sometimes miss God’s big picture for us and had to catch myself from time to time because I would start talking about Jesus and how good He is. Haha so Jesus didn’t just show up on one night and rock my world, but instead he took an icepick and slowly started to chip away and unfreeze my heart and reveal His love for me. But at Midnight Worship, everything seemed perfect and even if you didn’t believe in God, you couldn’t deny a spiritual presence in the room. The message was good and the music just sang in tune with every bone on my body.

But somehow despite the loudness of the place praising Jesus, a stillness swept over me and I drifted into a childhood memory. I have a terrible memory so this is literally the only childhood memory I can remember and I strongly believe there was a reason now why I remember it so vivdly. I was 4 years old and we were visiting Pakistan. I went with my dad to go buy some bread and a local outdoor market. I’m not sure how I got distracted, but for a child my age it probably wasn’t easy. I somehow lost where my father was, but then saw a man that was dressed exactly like him so I started following him home. When he got to his house, he closed the door behind him with me still standing outside. I was so confused, so I started knocking and that slowly turned into pounding as I couldn’t understand why my father wasn’t answering my distressed call. After awhile, I left and somehow made it to a dark alley and tears started flowing from my eyes, as different thoughts ran through my head: my father doesn’t love me, maybe I did something wrong, why wasn’t I a better son. I’m not sure how long I was there until I saw a bright light defeat the darkness around me. It was one of my father’s relatives on his motorcycle so thankful that he found me because my father was worried sick about me being lost. I can still remember what I said when my father found me, I said in hindi, "Sean goomo, baba dunliya" or in english "I was lost, but my Father found me."

The impact of that illustration is that even though I was seeking and knocking and praying God would open the door for me, I wasn’t knocking on my real Father’s door. Instead my Father knew me, but I had lost Him for 21 years and laid crying in a dark alley trying to fix myself up so my father would like me again. But “No one knows the Father except the Son and to those to whom the son chooses to reveal to Him.” That relative who came and wrapped his arms around me was Jesus and he took me back home so that I could rejoice with my true Father.

I opened up my eyes at Midnight Worship and tears were rolling down my face and I thought the whole time I had my arms crossed around me, but they were at my side, something else was holding me tight. My Father was holding me tight. At this point, I turned to my friend next to me and asked him what I had to do to be saved and he prayed over me and I surrendered myself to Jesus around 1:50 am on that late Friday night."

This image of God our Father absolutely made cry. I praise God for his grace that has continually been poured down. May God's name continue to receive glory as his story is passed on. I am super stoaked that I can now call my friend Sean a brother in Christ. Share his story; he wants it to be shared.

A Dear Goodbye

Today, I said goodbye to an incredibly dear friend. I am awful at goodbye's, and today I think it is important for me to look back on a friendship that has meant a lot to me. As many of you know, Annette Fetzer is leaving the Wesley Foundation to follow the Lord's calling in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was a sophomore involved in the Wesley Foundation when I first met Annette. Throughout countless situations these last four years, I have had the priveledge of sharing the gospel and allowing God's movement with her. I cannot begin to express nor did I quite realize the impact she has had on my life until these last few days when I reflected back on our friendship. There is power when we reflect back on our lives because as I recount the moments in our friendship, God has used this friendship as a means of showing God's grace to me wherever I was at. Here are 10 powerful, fun, cute(sometimes) stories from the time I got to spend with Annette.

10.) from the first moment I stepped onto the leadership team at the Wesley, Annette always encouraged me to be "out of the box" with my ministry. This phrased has encouraged me constantly to be a minister, witness, and leader who relies on God's leading rather than the common lifestyles of pastors before me.

9.) Sometimes you just don't say anything. In africa, I had to gaurd the bathroom door for Annette because the door did not have a solid lock. It just wasn't Annette's day. Not only did she have explosive diahrea, the door seperating us had a large crack between the door and the floor allowing all sound to travel from the bathroom into the hallway. I flatly denied my ability to hear her for months!

8.) When we were in Malawi in 2007, Annette was leading a trip which was a team member. During one of the first nights of the trip, our team was having a time of worship together. Annette received a vision of the bible falling open in my hands, and the word of God being proclaimed. I was to be a minister of the good news on that trip. For years I had been called into ministry, but it was not until I received this vision where I fully stepped into the preaching gift which God had given me.

7.) Annette's thunder and lightning. Many of you have seen Annette's thunder and lightning flexing biceps. Let's just say thunder and lightning are no match for a braided, red-bearded man on a soccer field! Thanks Annette for letting me disprove the laws of physics, and even smiling as I did it.

6.) her counsel. God has blessed her with such an incredible amount of wisdom. Her ability to unpack my emotions in the moment and apply it through conversation towards my spiritual formation is simply life-giving.

5.)through working together, I have truly seen the beauty in the kingdom. For those of you that really know me, you know that I am a easy-going guy who loves to look at the big picture. for those of you that really know Annette, you know she is an incredible detail-oriented, administrative personality. Before I got to work with Annette, many times I resented people's personality's who would become so caught up in the small things that the big picture would often be missed. I learned sometimes the big picture wouldn't happen, if I didnt take the time to attend to the details. I saw how annette empowered and encouraged my personality even though it is distinctly different. Needless to say, this will forever change the way I handle a staff when I am in leadership positions in the future.

4.)Exorcism of demons....I do not want to get into a lengthy story here. In a beautiful moment in Malawi, I saw a demon cast to the foot of the cross. I saw the enemy defeated, and the Lord's provision, mercy, and unfailing love. I shared that moment with Annette, and now know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church.

3.)Annette has been there for many of my sermons that I have given whether in the US of A or Africa. After every sermon I continually remember her affirmation of my calling. I don't remember it because she said it. I remember the affirmation because I know God used her her words as a deep sense of affirmation in my spirit. Looking back on some of the sermons I have given, I needed affirmation.

2.)Leading a trip to Rwanda with her this past summer. I could put about 10 meaningful experiences just from this trip alone. This was one of the hardest trips of my life happening during one of the hardest seasons of my life. We spent a month in a foriegn country doing a mission trip where we weren't always doing things. This trip I learned their was a huge difference in leading by action compared to being responsible for people and leading them. I had to make decisions constantly that people didn't like. I received flack for it, and as a huge people person, I crumbled under the stress. Annette repeatedly stepped up in my defense, encouraged my leadership, and helped me learn from my mistakes. She helped encourage me to be strong and take a stance on the things I needed to take a stance on. This experience of leading a mission trip was drasticly different than going on one. I am so thankful for Anette's leadership to help guide my leadership.

1.)Laying hands on two women's stomach's in Rwanda and learning both barren women now have been healed and are pregnant. The holy spirit is powerful and active. Our God truly is a healer. Annette encouraged the gift of healing that I have recieved.

Annette you have been a faithful servant, and a powerful minister of God's grace. I look forward to staying in touch and hearing all the ways God will provide in your life. I love you!

Hallelujah You make ALL things new

Two weeks ago I traveled over 20 hours to Wilmore, Kentucky which is the home of Asbury Seminary. Asbury Seminary has a rich spiritual tradition which includes a documented revival in the 1970's(go google Asbury College Revival). I began to read how a routine chapel service turned into an incredible revival service because students began to share their testimonies and brokenness. This chapel service resulted in over a week's worth of solid 24/7 worship and confession. Reporters from various local news channels would enter the sanctuary and would be so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that they would soon fall from the floor. Classes were cancelled(how awesome is that), lives were changed. I continued to read. I read how a group of students who were a part of the revival at Asbury went and shared all that the Lord was doing to a small Moravian church. Sure enough, revial broke out at the Moravian church, and they experienced a revival with 24/7 worship for over 50 consecutive nights. There are many stories similar to this one where students in 1970 simply went out and shared how God moved at Asbury. The result was time and time again God stirring the hearts of His people in city after city and nation after nation. God continues to this day to use the revival at Asbury in 1970 as present day tool of encouragement towards God's tranformation.

Another revival story which I myself have experienced. In the town of Ruston, Louisiana, I remember when our youth group was touched by the Holy Spirit like never before. About 20 of 100 students involved in our youth group had just returned from One Way Church Camp in Happy, Texas(the town without a frown!). These 20 students, myself included, had felt something so real during the previous week. We were ready to bring the true real world, constant communion with his Holy Spirit, back to the other 80 students who were just having a normal summer. We had a service that Sunday night where students gave testimonies and passionately worshiped together. But, the most powerful moment was at the end of the service. Jennifer, the assistant youth minister, stood up and proclaimed, " The God at One Way camp, and the God who is here tonight in our midst are both the same. In the same way you see how your friends have encountered Jesus this past week, Jesus is longing to encounter you tonight." The altars were full, lives were changed, our youth group was forever changed.

These are the kinds of stories that get my heart pumping. It is the kind of stories that encourage me to begin to dream God size dreams. What do these stories have to do with the campus of Texas Tech? I have spent 5 years on the campus of Texas Tech, and this last semester was truly special. God sent workers into the harvest like faithful servants have been praying these last few years. God raised up an army that boldly spoke the good news to the depot district, to the Sub, in apartment complexs, or wherever his Spirit led. I saw God radically transform believers and unbelievers alike. God brought unity to the body of christ. I can continue, we can continue to go on and on about all the work God has done. Some of us have experienced God's movement ourselves. Some of us have simply seen and heard how God has done miracles on the campus. Regardless, we KNOW God is active and moving. We are a part of a movement that is bigger than ourselves. Well, the semester is over, and the majority of the students of Texas Tech and the body of believers have left the city of Lubbock to return home for the summer. As a person who works in a college ministry, it is an easy tendency to already look forward to the middle of August when everyone returns. I think about how we can keep the perverbial revival ball rolling so everyone will be excited about what God is still doing at Texas Tech. I realized that in many ways I was keeping God's revival boxed up in the city of Lubbock at the campus of Texas Tech. The story of the Asbury revival began with people sharing how God was moving in different cities. The futility of my thinking in how inconvienent the timing of God's movement was right before summer became apparent. What an advantage of being a college student on the campus of Texas Tech. God literally sent hundreds of believers into the mission field from the city of Lubbock the day that school ended. You have a charge to share with your friends, families, and strangers a God who you radically experienced in Lubbock, Texas this past semester. You have a charge to experience and share this same God to the cities of Dallas, Wellington, Abilene, Sugarland, Pine Cove. God is longing to pour himself out in miraculous ways in your cities. God is longing to move in Dallas like He is in Lubbock. Are you longing for God to move in your city or are you longing to return to Lubbock? Whether you are in Lubbock, Louisiana or Luchenbach, God is longing to unconditionally pour out his love on you and the people around you. Will you be faithful to His call? His purpose? His Heart?

The God you experienced at Midnight Worship, Underground, Paradigm, is the same God that is present in your life. In the same way God has transformed your life this semester, continue to allow God to transform all of you.