Grow Always

The Ramadan Intrigue

2008-10-18T11:28:00.004-05:00

There's something about Ramadan that particulary intrigues me--to be more specific, it's the sheer discipline of Ramadan that baffles me.

This picture from Time Magazine shows a man breaking the fast at a soup kitchen set up in London. In the words of the former U.S. Olympic gymnast coach--"How you can do this?"

When I step back to the world's perspective and observe the two religions of Christianity and Islam--I am attracted to the dedication and commitment of the Muslim faith. Rarely do you find this level of commitment among Christians.

"Why?" is the question I want to ask. If Christians would truly embrace what they believe, the weight of eternity would radically change their lifestyle.

A Little Book Review

2008-10-17T14:59:00.002-05:00

10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know

Ensnared by Performance

"The minister who forgets his calling will become ensnared by performance. The ministry of prayer is imperative on the agenda of a God-called pastor. Ministers fail morally when they cease to experience personal devotion before the Lord daily. Ministers forfeit their leadership, influence, and ministry when they do not spend time with God daily."

I cannot expect to change ‘the world’ until I let God have more than ample opportunity to ‘change my world by changing me first.’

Here’s a sample of the type of truths I’ve been digging through for the past few weeks via Floyd’s 10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know. I finished this morning and wanted to blog my experience.

The truths highlighted are not profound or cutting-edge; in fact, they’re not the least bit complicated. But they are essential. Floyd’s book has reminded me of the importance of prayer and daily devotion to our God. Stage lights, new worship sets, bible studies—these are not the foundation of ministry.

Our very desire in ministry is to spur the people on into their own devotion to Christ. How then, in the midst of such, can we forsake the same for ourselves?

“Ministers fail morally when they cease to experience personal devotion before the Lord daily.” Thanks Floyd for your simple truths. My hope is to always maintain Christ as the anchor of my ministry, and life.

Vicente Fox & Government

2008-09-25T21:29:00.003-05:00

The guest lecturer just finished his speech here at UT Tyler. I certainly wish I would've realized the thrills of academia before my senior semester.

It was wonderful to sit and listen to the former president of Mexico--as a former president, as a fellow human, as someone of a different culture, as someone who has risen from little to achieve great goals.

I don't see the benefit of a large government, of high taxes & much social intervention, because a free market & democracy have proven themselves over and over again. I do, however, believe in social responsibility--who doesn't?

So where is the elusive happy-medium? Should governments be held responsible for the welfare of it's citizen's? I can't foresee any policy that says otherwise.

On 1 Peter 1:16

2008-02-10T14:26:00.002-05:00

Be holy because I am holy.

Who looks upon a world teeming with fallen and broken people and says, Hey, you should be holy like I am holy?

If I could be honest, I would say I feel unequipped to obey this scripture.

One-on-One with Chandler

2007-01-03T17:32:00.001-05:00

Wow. I just finished a conversation with a guy that I deeply respect--Matt Chandler. I really respect godliness merged with authenticity. In fact, I long for it.

We talked some about Paul's mission work in Acts 17. Paul wasn't pitifully offended by the non-believer, he quoted their poetry for the sake of His gospel.

That's what I want to be like.

The thought of rising above our self-referential christian utopia to a place where I can truly connect with the rest of culture resonates within me, That's it. Jeremy, that's it.

What does a Bible reference do for a non-believer? Shouldn't we seek to connect & relate?

Anything but Invincible

2006-11-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

Within weeks, four people I once knew--dead. 4 people, 3 seperate car accidents, a 2 week time frame. Additionaly, my built-like-a-rock uncle had a tremendous bout with death after a routine surgery and at this very moment machines are beeping in ICU, hooked up to my invincible uncle. (as of Nov. 13, 06) And yet another friend, someone I looked up to, was just moved out of ICU into another wing of the hospital. Finally, one other family member is on a fast decline as well, and will soon die. We put up the Christmas tree early this year so that we wouldn't have to if he were to die.
Some deaths deemed avoidable, others unexpected. What does it mean that those 4 killed were all under the age of 30? Nothing. A long life, retirement, and the chance to get things right with ourselves, our families and our God is not our right as mere men.
How invincible I once felt.
Death is not unthinkable--it's our very destiny. It is appointed for man to die. Appointed. We as sons of men are destined to die, then to face judgment.

A New Spin

2006-10-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

I cannot hold it in.

"Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not." -Jeremiah 20:9

I apologize guys. I know that I began this site to document my trip to Kenya, but I desperately want to make mention of Him. I want to write, and to teach.

Thanks for Understanding,
-jeremy

Best of Both Worlds

2006-10-18T00:50:00.000-05:00

I've thought a lot recently. I lay awake now, in the silence of the early morning hours listening to the meditative music of the Spy Game soundtrack. It makes me think of Kenya--my recent trip to Africa and to those people whom God used to flip my world upside down. It reminds me that I really want to be used greatly by God. (and "reminds" is an important word, because I often forget amidst the distractions of the day that life is spiritually rooted.)

"But Mary kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart." -Luke 2:19

"Meditate within your heart [while] on your bed, and be still." -from Psalm 4:4

"Be still and know that I am God." -from Psalm 46:10

I know that it seems ironic, but I believe that to increase my effectiveness, I need to slow down, ponder, and meditate on the things of life. How does this all tie together? Well, effective football teams save their time-outs until the final moments of the game, and when they get in a bind they simply pause time and ponder a plan.

What makes us think that we can tackle life without a plan? It's utter foolishness, I say. Everyone expects to win the prize, but few know the requirements. What true Christian is there in the world today which does not burn to transform the world for his Savior? Wake up! We all want that! Everyone wants to be used greatly be the Lord; so what's the difference between those who are and those who are not.

If we really want to be used greatly by our King, maybe we should "seek those things which are above, where Christ is.." -from Colossians 3:1.

I'm guilty. I don't actively seek out the things of God everyday. Personally, my day is good if I have a sundae from Sonic and drive home with my windows down. So, "why does my life feel so mundane?" I ask myself. It's because I choose to do mundane things! God prepares a banquet for me everyday; I turn Him down for yahoomail.com.

"It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly unto Him." -Mr. Henry Varley

The following is from Titus 1:
"For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."

Are you a new creation? Do you practice the disciplines listed in Titus which will lead to Godliness and effectiveness? Do I?

Give this thought at least two moments: How serious am I about this whole "Christian" thing, because true Christianity is a belief which, if truly embraced, immediately causes radical transformation.

When I was younger, we would be looking for something like a set of keys or a belt; my dad would get frustrated quickly because I would mozy through the living room slowly, scanning the carpet. I can hear him now, "Jeremy, get to looking! It's not gonna jump up and bite you, you know." Well, neither is greatness. It jumps out to tackle no one.

Don't we all want to get the best of both worlds? You know, taking it easy and changing the world at the same time. But life takes discipline. In fact, I've heard it said, and I do believe, that the difference between intention and experience is discipline.

I know that I'm speaking a lot about discipline, and changing the world and all. Be careful though, discipline itself is not the key either! I know, it's crazy huh? I'm exhorting you to seek God, and those disciplines which lead to intimacy with Christ our Savior.

Intimacy with Him is causal to changing the world!

What Was Learned

2006-09-19T20:49:00.000-05:00

So what was learned from such a trip as this? Well, it would be better said to ask what God reminded me of on this trip. Why? Because the main thing that the Lord emphasized on this trip was something that I already knew, but wasn't putting into practice.

Abide in Me.

I had abandoned the habit of seeking God. I'm a pretty good pretender actually. But in Africa I was drawn so near to God. Why? Because I sought Him. (Jer. 29:13 - "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.") Our God doesn't hide Himself from us ya'll. David says again in Psalm 34, "I sought the Lord and He answered me.."
How cool is that?
You and me are like the man with the severe skin disease in Mark 1:40. Jesus is ready and able and willing to heal us if we will only come to Him. God knows our condition and our need. And better yet, He has unprecedented and relentless compassion on us.

Our Diet

2006-09-19T11:44:00.000-05:00

We were on the plane for about twenty hours. I wondered each time I got one of those hot British Airways meals if it was a "good" meal. I would think to myself, "Well, I don't much care for this plate of beef tips and gravy, but I wonder if this is a chicken-fried steak compared to African food." But, the food ended up being familiar actually. We didn't have much of a variety, but maybe that's a good thing huh? Our meals consisted of a variation of the following dishes:

Goat stew (we didn't each much of this, though)
Rice
Spaghetti Noodles
Spinach
Carrots
Cabbage
Tomatoes
Miniature Bananas
Green Oranges
Chipates (equivalent of tortillas, and a favorite)

We ate some variation of this every day, for lunch and for dinner. Occasionally, we were given beef. They kept wondering why we weren't eating the goat. "You don't eat meat?" they would ask. "Uh...well, yea, we eat meat, we mostly eat beef, chicken, fish..." So we did eat beef a few times.

Breakfast was a pretty sure-fire thing. We were given eggs (either fried or hard-boiled) and bread (either sliced bread or mmdazis, a fried bread similar to a doughnut). We also had a fruit platter for breakfasts; they came with each meal. So, combine that with a few beloved spices, including salt, Tony Roma's, Tobasco and sugar, and you have my diet for the month of August.

Our main drink was "Highlands" bottled water. There were two "tea breaks" each day. (Between each of the meals.) During these, they would set out about four or five thermos bottles on a table, some with hot milk and others with hot water. We would use this to make either hot tea or coffee. There was a lunch tray in the dining room that held all of the spices, Kenyan tea bags, coffee and chocolate powder. (It didn't take us long to learn how to imitate Starbuck's: 50% hot milk, 50% water, chocolate, coffee and sugar. Wooo baby.) In addition to this, they serve sodas in a bottle as a treat. Coca-Cola was certainly there, as well as Fanta and something called Krest, which is a "bitter-lemon" flavored soda. You can forget ice-cold anything...well, except showers.

Quick Facts

2006-09-19T11:31:00.000-05:00

Okay guys, here's an overall explanation of what happened on the trip.
First, some quick facts:

12 Americans
30 days
3 5-night sessions of camp
50 kids per week (about 50/50 boys and girls)
over 150 kids directly reached through camping ministry
camp consisted of hourly activities; each day had a night event and a 2-hour Bible study
the kids were anywhere from age 10-14 years
most of the children/people spoke English,, but we used translators as well
predominantly, we worked with the Maasai, who are said to be "99% Christian."

These are some of the basics that I hope will help you to understand what exactly it is that we did there in Africa.

Welcome Friends!

2006-09-18T17:00:00.001-05:00

Hey guys. I'm glad you were able to find my page. This page is completely dedicated to my recent trip to Southern Kenya. I wanted to be able to share the trip easily, so here we are. I've included many things that will tell you about the trip, but since it's a new page I will most likely be tweaking it for a while. So, check it out and feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.