Head in the Clouds?

I think often of those that have come and gone since the beginning of time. They had their beliefs and all wondered what, if anything exists beyond the grave. Generation after generation we populate the earth and generation after generation death swallows us up.

And so it's our turn to fill these vacated seats as living, breathing beings; nearly all of which fearfully anticipate the fate we all face. Is it from dust to dust or is it dust to dust to spirit? As Christ followers we believe in the spiritual and anticipate, that like Christ, we too will be resurrected to dwell with the Creator God; a hope that gives us peace as we believe loving characteristics are what defines Him.  But one of the most difficult fears for people to process is the certainty of our expiration and therefore the fearful anticipation of whether or not all things become final and complete in that moment; a fear that often paralyzes its host.

I don't know about you, but when I think back to those that have come and gone, I actually feel a sense of encouragement. You see, we all want to feel a part of something; a community of sorts.  It's a common human trait to purge loneliness and seek communion and commonality with others. Ultimately, this is likely the reason death draws such great fear because it's a moment we must journey alone and we're scared that we may end up alone; separate from those we may leave behind.  So here's my point: YOU'RE NOT ALONE. We've had multiple generations come and go before us, all taking this same journey and walking the same path. Look around, we're all in the same boat! We're all working to preserve life and extend our expiration date. We all wonder the same things. While some of us have hope that we will continue to live beyond the grave in relation with a loving Creator, some believe they're laid to rest in an eternal sleep. My faith pushes me to believe the spiritual, but even if we fall into an "eternal sleep," I'd personally be content with that. We can't control the unknown and it becomes a futile and paralyzing process when we try.  

So why do I write about this? As Christians, we have a selfish tendency to invest ourselves in the eternal because it gives us an intoxicating sense of peace and comfort, temporarily defending against the reality that our lives are short. Herein lies the problem.  This comfort keeps us focusing on the "peaceful eternal" (as though we were already there) and hinders us from vigorously pursuing the mission of the "here and now."  This comfort is completely contrary to the message of the gospel. The fruits of our eternal investment (i.e. salvation) are what should be lived out here and now.  Doing so achieves our hope for living eternal life beyond the grave but MORE IMPORTANTLY empowers us to leave a living legacy that lasts far beyond our death. How? Through our daily, Christ-like actions. Why? Because true salvation is the life changing process that draws us away from the ego-centric self and towards the outward expression of love for our fellow-man. Especially towards those that are still enslaved by sin with no direction on how to break free from it's bondage. 

The sooner you come to grips with the fact that this life is a mist, the sooner you will pick up your cross and do the will of God TODAY.  Don't get to the end of your life and realize it never truly began.

So spend life as though today's actions are all that will live beyond the grave but continue to hope for eternal life through the salvation of Christ.

Depressing thought or simply reality smacking us in the face?

Wasting Away in Jesus-ritaville



There are too many already vacationing on heaven’s shore;
All the while many near you are unintentionally knocking on death’s door.

The taste of your “forever” is so sweet you become drunk with comfort;
Refusing to get on your feet because doing so might actually take effort.

Back off me, I said I’m pretty sure I believe;
Continuing to defend until you once more achieve your cozy reprieve.

Parts of the Bible make sense and I really appreciate the morals;
Never realizing its purpose isn’t to create nifty catch-phrases like “never rest on your laurels.”

You may have even wrongfully thought that phrase was straight outta’ the Good Book,
But you wouldn’t know either way because you never took the time to look.

Out of this ignorance the competing philosophies of "knowing them by their fruits" and "salvation by works" have become intertwined;
Causing some to think the tree of the philanthropic atheist
bares juicy peaches and plums combined.

The line between righteousness and sin is made out to be so hazy and skewed,
You wouldn't dare take a stand on either for fear of appearing rude.

So you continue to play church, munching on spiritual tea and crumpets;
Just hangin’ out while you wait for Christ and his angels to blow their trumpets

For too many it's the end you long to see;
Meanwhile you miss out on everything you were created to be:

Leading a horse to water and watching it drink;
Watching truth and light expand as sin and darkness shrink.

Witnessing lives align more closely to the original intentions of the Creator;
The opportunity to live the adventurous life of an instigator...

Instigator of truth, hope, mercy, change and fulfillment in life;
But too many pass up that “front-line” role because they don’t want the strife.

So you say you were called to be a “behind the scenes kinda guy;”
Try explaining that to Peter who hung upside-down on a cross to die.

Pretty sure he didn’t want to go out that way,
But he LIVED his principles ‘til the end; unwilling to sway

Instead, donations to the local shelter become the extent of your outstretched hands;
As if you could build a ladder to heaven from unused soup cans.

So what is it you are asking me to do?

Choose a side and stop going through life so comfortably in the middle,
So others might know where you stand without it being such a riddle.

Until then, I’ll respect the atheist far more than you,
At least they come to battle armed with a well thought-out point-of-view.

And please be smarter than what you hear on TV:
"You too can taste this heavenly goodness for a small fee

Donate $300 to the number flashing across your set,
And get ready to see God do amazing things when I buy this private jet!"

Yea, this is more than your typical case of “buyer-beware;”
Those money hungry people are no better than the pigs in your local county fair.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand,
It’s time to get off the beach and out of the sand.

Start living a front-liner kind of life;
And newsflash: “It doesn’t have to cut everyone like a knife”

Just keep the message simple as was the intention,
The supernatural simplicity of the gospel still goes beyond comprehension.

Focus less and less on the endless religious rhetoric,
And more and more on the principles that made Jesus historic.

This is where the teaching must end,
and where your journey must begin.

You’ll have to seek and find it on your own;
asking that the living wisdom of the Holy Spirit be made known.

You must be willing to leave the comfort of your Christian bubble,
In fact, blast that motha’ and leave it in the rubble.

PS: Don’t let your fear of death be the weak engine that keeps your faith in-line;
It’ll keep you frozen until that final day when you’re out of time.

The reality is that one day you will be washed and buried,
And in those final moments don’t regret turning down the workload you could have carried.

Do you want to continue wasting away in Jesus-ritaville, or start living a fulfilled life here and now?

"Imagine All the People"

We complain about the persistent sins and injustices in this world. We blame God for the wrongdoing and evil things that happen at the hands of other men. At first glance it appears to be a viable criticism. If God is supposedly all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowledgeable, why doesn’t he intervene when his supposed “children” suffer the injustices of this world? There are a few directions we could go with this but in the same spirit of John Lennon, let’s “Imagine” for a moment a world where such evil, sinful tendencies didn’t exist.

In order for this “imagined” world to exist, the current freedoms allowing a man to pursue evil, sinful things could not exist. Therefore this very same freedom that also allows a man to pursue righteousness and great things; setting himself apart from the masses and leaving a legacy that lasts for generations, could not exist. We often forget that choice is what allows men to freely pursue endeavors that afford him the opportunities to be distinguished, great, legends, heroes, set apart, etc.; all things we naturally want whether we pursue them for evil or good or realistically speaking, pursue anything at all. If we didn’t have the opportunity to distinguish ourselves from the masses or if we were all perfect clones of one another inhabiting the characteristics of a righteous God there would be no distinction; no individuality. Basically put, the lack of distinction would steal any opportunity for greatness or hope of being set apart. Yes, it would solve the issues of injustice, war, poverty, abuse, wrong doing; all of which would no doubt be a beautiful, beautiful thing. But wouldn’t this world without distinction then lead to a world lacking any substance? Substance including the things pursued but not yet attained; goals strived for but not yet accomplished; the pursuit of goodness and kindness; opportunities to bless and be blessed; the joy of seeing progress and change; pursuing love and seeing this love grow even in the midst of brokenness; experiencing the power of forgivness; appreciation for good things; appreciation for anything.  Why do you appreciate good food or good sex?  Because you've tasted the opposite; the bad and broken side of both.

Could these things exist if there was no evil? If these substantive things didn’t exist, what would be the purpose? If there is no purpose, wouldn’t our existence be absolutely pointless?

I have a feeling if the model were different and we were all clones of a loving God in action, we would somehow find a way to blame him for not giving us the freedom or the opportunity to be distinguished or set apart. Do we contradict ourselves when we demand freedom while at the same time praying that all people would inhabit the righteous characteristics of God? It seems to me that you can’t have both.

I guess I have trouble “imagining” what this world would look like. Even though we expect heaven to be this way, our attendance or absence there ultimately begins with the choice to accept Christ and spend eternity in his presence or not; again, beginning with the freedom to choose.

So as I read through my thoughts, I’m left with this summarized view of the existence of sin:

A world without sin is a world without choice.
A world without choice is a world without freedom.
A world without freedom is a world with no distinction.
A world with no distinction is a world with no greatness.
A world with no greatness is a world with no substance.
A world with no substance is a world with no purpose.
A world with no purpose is pointless.

The Weight of This World

Today was a pretty good day.  Besides the fact that I didn't have to use my AK...I was able to squeeze out a PR on my Split Jerk at 265lbs and though extremely ugly, made it count.  

It's been a little rough as of late making the time to sit in front of the ol' Dell 5500 when I've got 2 awesome kids awaiting my crowd favorite kangaroo-hop-down-the hallway stunt, and any new Jim Carey-like impersonations I can conjure up (since my "old silly faces" don't pack the punch they did when they were brand new...2 days ago).  I've also got a wife that needs a break from her crazy day (cue 2 toddlers and a newborn reference), several things going on at work, and a pretty hefty training schedule of nearly 2 times per day/6 days a week.  So yea, welcome to the insanity the Woolfenden household likes to refer to as "our blessings." 

I have every intention to begin writing on and referencing the principles I discussed in my last post, but after I got done with my workout today I couldn't help but feel in awe of the weight I feel both from this world and for this world.  That small amount of weight on my back is representative of the huge burden so many of us carry around on a daily basis.  Whether it be our own sin, hurt from our past, brokenness from loss, regrets from poor choices or whatever; its a load to carry.

One of the consistent threads you will see woven throughout scripture is the basic, yet powerful principle that Christ made himself the load-bearer for anything and everything we carry with us.  Who did he say he came to save?  The broken, the weary, the sick, the lame.  Why?  Because these are the ones who recognize they have a burden needing to be unloaded.  The ones who claim they are strong enough on their own don't see the need for a load-bearer. 

The funny thing is, we all fit this wrinkly, left-in-the-pocket, fresh-out-the-washer, 3-dollar bill.  If you're human....boom, you're broken, lost, weak, sick, lame, etc.  However, Jesus uses these terms because he's looking for those that are willing to look outside an ego-centric "inner strength" and realize their own "sickness", so when he calls they can instantly resonate with his message and take action; action that will lead them to the cross; the place that continues to bear the weight of our world if we let it.  If we do allow it, we are literally allowing Christ to bring light (i.e. truth, healing, grace, forgiveness, mercy, etc) to the areas of our lives filled with darkness (i.e. blindness, no direction, unanswered questions, lost hope, etc).  It's here you will find rest for your soul.  It's here you will find a home.  It's here you will no longer walk alone.  It's here you have someone offering to bear your burdens.  It's here you will finally put those burdens to death.

Always remember:  Just because we aren't willing or (respectfully speaking) "able" to give up our burdens, does not mean Christ isn't waiting to accept them.  Brokenness and sin is a process; laying down your burdens is a process...so why wait to begin this process?  If you don't know where to start, find someone who does. 

Burst My Bubble....Please

For those of you not fluent in Chritianeese, Christians have this thing we call the "Christian Bubble."  It's a comfy little place; a cozy nook dressed with all the amenities of a 5-Star hotel.  It offers made-to-order sermons at the touch of a button, church volunteers eager to greet you with service and smile, hot coffee and a warm muffin, any book you desire to fill a specific "spiritual-kick" you may be on, people who speak the same, often Treky-like language, and to solidify my analogy...yup, a fitness center.  I mean shoot, who would ever want to stray far from that path?  It feels good right?...RIGHT!

So here's the deal.  In no way (I repeat: "in-no-way") is this post a planned attack on the ministries of the modern church or any one church in particular.  I can appreciate the intent and the proven ability to drive people through those church house doors; doors that ultimately lead to a sermon (hopefully) based on Biblical truth; truth that can change hearts and change lives with the power of Christ.  I get it.  However, I DO want to suggest that these comforts promote exactly that...comfortable living.  And while they entice them to walk through those doors, how much is being done to get them out the door and on the streets where they belong? 

When the "training grounds" are filled with so many great amenities it can be difficult for individuals to break free from those show-cased comforts when they walk out and hit the battlefield for Christ.  I mean come on, let's not forget who we are: the enemy to the wicked; the hated among the evil; the mocked among the "higher-minded;" the radical among the "mystics" and so on.  But yea, comfort definitely makes it difficult to burst the proverbial bubble or at least the desire or the "want-to."

So what kind of evidence or knowledge am I bringing to the table?  Only the fact that I've lived in this thing nearly my entire life.  I've had glimpses of life "outside the bubble" but usually those were circumstances by which I was the "mission field" and not the one bringing "the mission." 

I'm tired of living in this thing, and I'm frustrated because it is completely and entirely MY FAULT.  Therefore, my goal over the next few weeks is to begin processing life outside this bubble as it relates to my Christian faith and put forth energy and practice at explaining the staple things that we-Christians take absolutely for granted (i.e. sin, salvation, the human condition, goodness, evil, heaven, hell, etc) and do so in such a way that not only speaks truth to the non-believer, but also revitalizes the hunger and pursuit of Christ for those of us claiming to follow Him. 

I'll end with two notes: 

1) If we are followers of Christ, we should feel compelled to share with those that don't know Him the joy and freedom we experience as a result of our salvation.  But how can we do that if we don't even know how to engage them in a language they understand?  "Sinful," "fallen," "evil," and "saved" just aren't good enough.  We should know how to explain each one of those terms in a way that is completely in-line with scripture.  Are you there?  If not, why not?  What will you do to get there?  Are you willing to break from the bubble and pursue those that need Christ?

2) Never feel as though you have arrived in the things of Christ simply because you know a few buzz words.  These words/terms represent the tip of an infinite iceberg.  If we are to mature as believers and ultimately be the ones maturing others, we should have a solid grasp on what these mean....NOT to believers, but to non-believers.  I believe that as we learn this fact, we will realize the true depth associated with such magnificent terms.

So yea...ringading-ding; it's time to take up your cross...who's comin' with me!!??  Oh yea, you should hear a very loud POP as you walk out the door followed by what would seem to be a wheezing piece of rubber losing all of it's air...

Atheism: A Layman's Response...(literally just one response)

*Image from reclaimingthemind.org

A recent response to atheism, aspects of modern science and a declaration of my faith:


If you’re an atheist reading this, it is likely that we will not see eye-to-eye. Why? We have both heard the arguments and we have both concluded that our position makes more sense. I’ve read books like Richard Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” and while challenging, I am personally pushed onward towards a Creator and beyond the core principles of atheism. While atheists tend to be highly educated, very intelligent and well-learned individuals, they more than any should realize that we have not “arrived” in the things of science OR the things people consider spiritual/supernatural (i.e. the things not proven by a “microscope.”)

So, what is the evidence for a Creator? We could start with the logical question “what/who set creation in motion?” Then we can go beyond the science of a literal microscope and start with the obvious yet complex human responses to love and emotion. Where does it come from? Is it simply the natural response to reproduce and then to protect? Every time we look at our kids with love and affection, do we have feelings that seem to go well beyond the natural desire to keep them safe and help them survive in order that the circle of life may be pushed onward? Is it possible that we love them with a passion and pure emotion that goes “beyond the microscope?” Where do these complex emotions come from? Why do we care if our wife goes and F’s another dude? Beyond the obvious right and wrong that sustains a culture and perpetuates growth, why do we naturally care about liars or hypocrites or infidelity? If we are only particles, matter and chemicals…who cares about any of these things? Why do you care about a person’s belief in a god? If you align with this thought pattern, our very belief in or indignation towards a god is no different than our stomachs telling us we’re hungry. So why care? Why even engage in the argument? Why love your kids? Do we simply protect them, feed them and help them sustain a new generation? Would we not miss them if they were taken from us? And if we do, is it only based on a frustration that we weren’t able to push our DNA forward?...Really???? Why do we care about any aspect of relationship?

If we are only going to focus on the tangible, the physical or the touchable, we’re only looking at half of the truth; but truth nonetheless Likewise, if we only look to the spiritual, we’re missing the equally important aspects of our physical world. Adaptation and survival are definitely a big part of who we are, but I believe we are much more than this based on the things discussed above (although there are many more examples like intuition, healing, goodness, evil). This is the point at which I start to look within the realm of the spiritual. I’m skipping a couple steps but eventually I start looking for a Creator within this spiritual/supernatural realm. Here begins my pursuit to answer these questions that science alone does not; partially, yes but completely, no.

The atheist will throw out buzz words like “fairies” and “magical beings” as if to equate the Creator with these things. But it brings up an interesting point. Regarding fairies and other “supernatural beings,” where do we even get the idea of anything supernatural if we are nothing more than matter? How would we even know to make up something that isn’t purely human; something completely contrary to what we are? (Especially a God or a Creator). I guess our brains evolved to think these things? That doesn’t answer it for me. Or, is it our response to an existing supernatural presence that we couldn’t and can’t yet explain with “microscope science?” Furthermore, if science is still evolving, why wouldn’t we be able to tangibly prove the supernatural down the road? This is clearly where I differ from the atheist. I look at both science and the spiritual and they seem to focus on science alone.

So why even bother with the things of life if everything is strictly science-based? I do “bother with life” because of the supernatural element. It is here where my Christian belief takes root. Does it provide me all the answers I seek? Absolutely not. Does it provide me with a logical explanation for the questions I seek as stated above? Yes, it really does. Therefore I continue to pursue what I believe to be truth, rooted in what we call the Bible regarding our existence. Do I need this to sleep well at night? No, but I do greatly appreciate the truths regarding the human condition and the teachings of Christ. I even appreciate the Old Testament and it’s clear example of how morality and law alone are nothing but legalism and religiosity…the things that cause war and hatred and self-righteousness; the things Christ hated and clearly preached against throughout the New Testament. Is today’s church filled with religiosity and legalism? Immensely! But what do you expect from a movement whose clear mission is to bring in the “broken” and “flawed;” the ones who acknowledge human intellect and humanness are NOT enough. Some of these “converts” get on the right path and pursue the things of Christ, while others see the church as “an opportunity” and become more flawed as they pursue things that only enhance their own selfishness while still claiming to be “Christ-followers.” So atheists shouldn’t confuse Christ with people who claim they follow him for various reasons; extreme differences exist between the two.

Way too many places to go with this material but always worth getting my thoughts out regarding these subjects.

I Bleed Apollo's Creed

A few weeks back, we put together a team for an upcoming Crossfit competition in November.  It's been great to work out with a team again.  The camaraderie, the push, the accountability; all good stuff.  So, I finished writing up a "Team Creed" to help motivate us over the next few months as we look to go into St. Louis with full preparation; both mentally and physically.  Here ya go:

Crossfit is for a special breed of individual; humble, with an uncommon desire to succeed. Forged in adversity this individual stands alongside their teammates to serve them and push them; I am that individual.

It is a privilege to train the way we do. A blessing that goes beyond the four walls we call “our box.” Though we all possess different strengths and weaknesses, we push each other beyond common limits, evolving the team into a single unit that disposes of all weakness; becoming defined by our collective strengths.

 For this reason we expect to lead and be led. When I’m weak, I expect to learn and be pushed beyond the self-imposed limits that seek to destroy me (us). When I’m strong, I expect to lead and do so by example in every training situation.

 The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of ego, pride or circumstance, sets me apart from other individuals. For this reason, I remain calm and confident in the heat of competition.

 I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity because I know it’s in these moments when I am most alive and where I go beyond fitness for the body, but preparation and strength for life. I will be physically tougher and mentally stronger than my competitors. If knocked down, I will get back up…every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to exceed my own expectations and push my team towards victory…every time. I am never out of the fight…ever.

 We demand discipline and thrive on the growth pains it provides. We realize that our training is never complete. There is always room to improve upon technique, strength, conditioning, flexibility, capacity and mental toughness.

 We don’t make excuses. In times of affliction, injury or sickness our efforts remain above reproach because in moments of good health, our work ethic had been solidified. We edify and walk through the fire with our teammates until affliction is no more. The result: collective strength.

 We train to compete and compete to win. We are always ready and will not fail if we give our whole selves to those short, treasured moments of training and competition.

 These principles don’t begin and end in “The Box”, but it is here they are sharpened for life. Let’s do this!

Acknowledgment:  I used the structure of the Navy Seal creed when writing this

Uncle Pharisee...STILL Wants You!!

Laws of morality were created simply as a recognition of a brokenness or evil within our world.  They are the human reaction towards and the attempted fix for the sin in this world; a system that when implemented by itself is nothing more than an exhaustive and equally exhausting list of do's and don'ts - (Dictionary According to Jake). 

While recognizing there are several avenues I could go with this, let's continue our School for Pharisee's and break down a basic principle...conforming to a set of stringent rules and regulations is only trading one set of bondage (sin) for another set of bondage (legalism).  One comes as advertised while the other only has the appearance of something good; neither provide any true freedom.

We needn't look any further for this truth than in the Old Testament.  Inside, we consistently see the shortcomings of morality.  In fact, the OT seems to be God's long-standing example of how much "The Law" and adherence to that law is NOT enough.  It could be said that The Law was only created to show us that on our own we could never fulfill the standards of righteousness; a gauge to show that we are broken and left to our own plan would continue to break ourselves against this law.  In the NT we see Christ note this time after time in his encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducee's; individuals who only sought to uphold The Law for their own gain.  Christ followers are pushed towards righteousness for very different reasons; that others might see and taste the goodness of Christ in them and through them.  The funny thing is, pursuing Christ ends up fulfilling both purposes; salvation for the self (righteousness through Christ) and salvation for others (Christ's righteousness lived out). 

Final Note:  Non-conformity to the world for the purposes of morality looks very different than non-conformity to the world for the purposes of Christ.  Which do you pursue: morality or Christ?

Forward Thinking

We should always look for opportunities to "pay it forward."  It frees the soul when we bless others; especially when done so chearfully.  Sometimes the most fulfilling acts of kindness are when we provide for complete strangers. 

We should never forget that even the smallest acts of kindness can change someones life; setting them on a path that can literally alter their past, present and future circumstances for the good.  Look for those opportunities.  If nothing more, do it for the simple fact that it will transform your own life for the better. 

Uncle Pharisee Wants You!

How To Be A Pharisee Tip #101:  Get so caught up looking righteous that you forget the need to pursue righteousness. 

As I continue to create posts that deal with the human condition of sin, I want to make a very clear distinction between my growing hatred for sin and a self-righteous, Pharisaical attitude. 

It's not natural for us to hate the things our flesh is craving for.  It is natural for us to crave self-piety and a sense of "arrival" in the things of God.  I write about the dangers of sin and their enslaving nature because the more I can expose sin for what it is, the more I become aware of my ever-increasing need for Christ; the more I realize my need for Christ, the less I desire the things of the flesh; the less I indulge in the desires of the flesh, the more I allow Christ to shine through me; the more I allow Christ to shine through me, the less Pharisaical I become; the less Pharisaical I become, the more I can genuinely reach people with the truth about sin and it's enslaving nature. 

It can appear to be a fine-line between legalism and the pursuit of righteousness.  One is sinful; one is necessary.  Don't allow the former to overshadow the latter. 

Just One More...

"Just one more."  "Just one more time." 

These are the famous last words of those who have come to realize their sin is enslaving them but refuse to let God change their heart.  They continue to allow pleasures, sensations, feelings, desires and habits to be the worshipful center of their lives.  The alcoholic says "just one drink, I can handle it this time;" the glutton "one more splurge, then I'll start a diet; the adulterer, "just one more fling, then I'll work on the wife;" the pornographer, "just a few more clicks then I'll ask for help;" and the list goes on. 

The thing is, people that use those phrases above "get it" and yet they still choose the flesh over the Spirit; bondage over freedom.  Just like the golden calfs in the OT, these people choose rediculous things over The One who gives abundant life and freedom both now and in eternity. 

Sin isn't a freakin' diet that you choose to do "one more time" and then start fresh on Monday.  It's a matter of the heart.  If you have the attitude "one more time," you're heart is clearly fixed on the flesh and "one more time" equates to "one more dig" into the grave of a damned soul.  Just sayin'...

Ready by Relationship

We shouldn’t need to “rise to the occasion” but rather step in and do what we have trained to do (i.e. “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; criticize, rebuke, and encourage, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Being ready to “speak graciously, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

Are we prepared for this? Are we in such relation with Christ that we are ready AND willing to step in and do the work he is ready and willing to give us? The Creator of the Universe wants to use you and I to communicate his goodness to all people and see them set free from the bondage of sin. (Yea, that’s Brad Pitt x Infinity on the awesomeness scale). In fact, he has set up a system in which it may be the only way for others to see His mystery revealed. This being through the transformation of us who were once defined by our sin, but are now set on a path of insight to see sin for what it truly is; bondage and slavery. Therefore, we have salvation; the recognition of the brokenness and slavery within sin and Christ providing the means by which to live in its bondage no more.

The wisdom and insight provided by the Spirit and through scripture has given us the opportunity to taste the presence of God in this life; here and now. The more we can turn from sin, the more we can taste the original goodness in all things that once were in the beginning and that will be in eternity with Christ.

So how do we get prepared to live out the 2 verses above? Our preparedness comes through the pursuit of Christ. The more we pursue a relationship with Christ, the more freedom we have from the bondage of sin; the more freedom we have, the more goodness we taste; the more goodness we taste, the more joy we have about that goodness; the more joy we have, the more we feel compelled to share that goodness and joy with others that they too may be released from the bondage of their sin; the more we share with others, the more people come to Christ and share in His goodness; escaping the hell in the present as well as the hell to come (i.e. the eternal absence of the presence of God where no goodness could ever exist). 

So when are we ready?  We are ready when we are in relationship.

(And Yes, God does like long, hand-in-hand strolls in the woods)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye...The End is Drawing Near!!-1/1

Unicorns...Proud Steed of "The Guardians"???

It totally hit me today that there may be some serious theological connections between Unicorns and Guardian Angels.  Through much study and meditation, I have uncovered what I believe to be the proud steed of Guardian Angels...the Unicorn! 

Let's break this down:

Wings...check

Loyalty...check

Supernatural...check

Mysterious...check

Allusive...check

Able to eliminate you with one single thrust...check

Unless you can prove otherwise...Ride Uni's Ride!!!

Chasing Culture?

All Rabbit Trails...

Nothing I write about is an original idea (total understatement).  Sure they're my own thoughts, but they're only rabbit trails of books I've read, messages I've heard, movies I've sat through and songs I've listened to.  None of us have any truly original ideas, especially as it pertains to Christianity.  And if there were any "original ideas" claiming to be Christian, we should probably steer clear of them anyway (i.e. Mormanism, Jehovah's Witness, etc).  However, although we're not creating any new ideas (and shouldn't be), I think the way in which we communicate these ideas should seek to be original and specific to the generation in which we live.  Just like Paul communicated differently to the Greeks and Hebrews, highlighting very different things about the nature of Christ yet conveying the same core message, I think we have an obligation to communicate the message of Christ in a way that can be understood by our generation and culture; all without watering down or losing the effectiveness found in scripture.  But therein lies the problem, because as our church culture becomes more and more "culture-like," the more ridiculous and far-reaching commands like "pursuing righteousness" and "putting our flesh to death" appears.  This is even true regarding "staple" theological beliefs such as the existence of hell.  It could be that in the pursuit to reach culture, we've lost our way regarding the things of Christ. 

So the challenge to myself and you handful of readers is, how do we effectively communicate the nature of Christ to those both in and out of the church walls; all without watering down or straying from the original message? (i.e. "living in the Spirit," "narrow is the road," "taking up our cross daily," etc.)  What does our own life need to look like in order to effectively communicate these things?  How do we get past the "well you're just as sinful as me" mentality when trying to sharpen other believers?  How do we keep from becoming Pharisaical and religious in our approach and appearance?  (Comments are open so share your ideas).    

Crap...I Got Cremated

How is it that we develop funny little beliefs that make no logical or Biblical sense?  Perfect example: cremation.

I remember growing up and hearing people say how wrong cremation was. And their arguments for these beliefs?:  "We are defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit." "When we are raptured, we will have no body to rapture."  Those are my 2 favorites.  I have a couple questions for these people.  1) In Genesis, what did God say we were formed out of?  Dust  2) For those people that were buried "whole" even a hundred years ago, what are they now?  Dust  3) What happens to us when we are cremated? Quicker process but same result...Dust  4) What happens if someone is burned alive?  Outta luck?  5) If our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (which I believe it is while we are living) does the Spirit just hang around in that body after we're dead? 

If God created us from dust, I'm confident he can "God-breath" us whole again. And please don't take this as mockery because it's not intended to be that. However, I do want to convey the message that we shouldn't so easily accept every little belief that comes down the line. Use the brain and logic God gave you to pursue the truth, then see if you can reconcile that "perceived truth" with scripture.  Otherwise, these little "false beliefs" which have no meaning as it pertains to salvation, becomes what defines us; religious people with a lame, illogical belief structure that turns people off.  And since when did religion save anybody? (Although I'm sure it has pushed numerous people away.) 

PS:  I'm all good with either cremation or "whole" burial. I honestly think it comes down to a matter of preference. Going through the "whole burial" process can be symbolic of recognizing and respecting the body God gave us, but at the end of the day...its just a ritual.  We're not in that shell anymore and even with cremation we can celebrate that individual and shoot....maybe even make them a central piece of our fireplace mantel.  Just making a point.

Wait for it...Wait for iiiiit...

Why do we wait to change our circumstances? We know the truth and choose so many times to do the opposite of what we know to be true. We let ourselves speak vile things, we laugh at disgusting jokes, we lust over things we see and want, we covet what others have...the list goes on. We do all these things under the title of being a Christ follower. Sin nature and all, it just doesn't add up. It's one thing to be ignorant of the truth and partake in these things, but it's entirely different when we know the truth and blatantly walk the opposite way.

How many times have we said, "God, forgive me for these actions. Please give me your mercy and grace."  This prayer is all good if we are truly seeking repentance (i.e. the recognition AND turning from a sin).  Because isn't his mercy and grace for those that are repentant?  If we're not repentant, why do we think we're receiving his grace? And therefore, what makes us think we're saved?  How can we be saved when we don't hate the things God is trying to save us from?  Doesn't salvation start with the recognition of our sin and the brokenness that IS sin? Once we say we believe that and vow to pursue that saving grace, how can we then choose to go against that belief?  And if we do, were we ever really saved in the first place? Maybe...maybe not.  Because isn't salvation also known as being born again? And doesn't being born again mean that we have killed the old self and become a new creation in Christ, in essence Christ-like? And though we aren't fully made new in Christ in this life due to the sin nature we consistently battle with, aren't we still supposed to seek righteousness?  In fact, aren't we commanded to seek righteousness?  And coming full circle, isn't the pursuit of righteousness ultimately defined by our repentance or at least our seeking repentance?

No one should have said following Christ was easy.  But then again, it's the simplest thing in the world.  The basic recognition of our flawed and broken selves.  Once we recognize this for the first time, it's easy to continue to recognizing it; if we allow. It's then up to us to choose how we will respond to these actions. Like Judas to his greed; though he recognized his sin, he justified it, denied repentance and ultimately chose sin over Christ. It's ironic how we mock him for giving up Christ for 30 pieces of silver but think about our own sin. What do we betray Christ for?  What do we replace him with?  A cheap laugh and a crude joke?  A few extra possessions?  A 10 second orgasm in front of your computer?  An intellect that "makes more sense?"   

I'm the last person to answer these questions, but it's worth allowing ourselves to be challenged.  If we do, whats the worst that's going to happen?  We push away sin and draw closer to Christ? 

To close, seeking repentance and righteousness is completely opposite of being a Pharisee.  They weren't seeking righteousness (i.e. God's approval), they were seeking man's approval.  Don't be a Pharisee.  Be a Paul who self-titled himself "the greatest of all sinners."  Why?  Because the closer he got to Christ, the more apparent his own sin became.  The further you get from Christ, the more manageable your sin appears, therefore you lose the basic need to repent from that sin and turn back to Christ.  And finally, as you walk further and further away, you enter that no-mans-land of "Once Saved, Always Saved" or "Fallen from Grace."  Screw the theological debate...Why would you want to live there????

What is CrossFit?

Forged in Adversity

Most people have their hobbies.  Some golf, hunt and fish. Others bowl, frolf and build. Then you have the ones who seem to care about little more than eating and drinking.  There are lots of different hobbies out there.  In my line of business we seem to have a lot of golfers and hunters; neither of which I know anything about.  Colleagues ask me, "Since you don't golf or hunt, what do you do?" I say, "Well, not much. I crossfit and hang with the fam." That really is about it.  Fitness related activities have always been great opportunities for me to test what I'm made of from both a mental and physical standpoint; with more emphasis on the latter until lately.  Between working out and the fam, I really don't do much of anything else.


Outside of my own sin, nowhere do I find more evidence of raw affliction and weakness than in my journey to be highly fit.  That's why I appreciate it so much.  The principles and lessons represented in "adversity-by-fitness" translates into all aspects of my life. My basic theory: "the more I push the limits of my current state of comfort and weakness, the more I will learn to never quit in any aspect of life."


Nowhere is this theory more truly realized than in the ultimate training grounds; Crossfit. Since I started 7 months ago, I have never been in more situations where I wanted to quit while at the same time compete, push myself beyond self-imposed limits and grow stronger both physically and mentally.


This leads me to the main point of this post. I don't think we can put a value on activities that teach us critically important lessons about life such as perseverence, character, community, strength, discipline, endurance and attitude; to name a few. While I believe there are hobbies that can also address some of these things, I can't think of anything more holistic than elite fitness activities. This could include many different sports, but for me in this moment of my life it happens to be Crossfit.


I think it would be a complete waste of time and energy if we didn't seek to make a purposeful connection between 1) pushing the physical and mental limits of our comforts and 2) daily living including but not limited to: marriage, friendships, raising kids, employment, sickness, health, sin, righteousness, freedom, loss, grief, joy, persecution, faithlessness, belief, loneliness, legacy, temptation, leadership, giving...the list goes on. The average American has very little understanding of discomfort; myself included. So I find it is that much more important to put ourselves in situations that will help us grow stronger for when the discomfort does come; forged in adversity. Because we can be assured, adversity will come.


Crossfit has given me the daily opportunity to push myself beyond what I though possible for myself. But it hasn't been until lately that I've really begun to make a conscious effort that every time I step into that gym, I will work to push well beyond "comfort" therefore reaching deep into the untapped portion of my potential; a place currently being occupied by my roommates: weakness and affliction.


For years I have pushed myself pretty hard but never made that purposeful connection to literally use every workout as an opportunity to prepare for the adversities of life. Only by a generic default had I received any "beneficial crossover" from hard work to life. I was so short sighted that I primarily focused on the superficial things like looks, competition, winning, losing, and the like; things that can only push you to limited depths. When you start saying, "I'm not letting go of this bar", or "I refuse to stop running" for the purpose of linking this current state of mental and physical adversity to preperation for life...get ready for growth!  I'm finding this purposeful connection is very difficult to maintain and honestly, difficult to practice. When I hit the gym, in order for this principle to work, I have to make a conscious choice going into that workout that I will not give up for this very explicit purpose; I will not quit because doing so is literally making me weaker for life.


Our default is to ride the grind, pushing just enough to think we gave it our all. Don't ride the grind, create more grind and dig into it.  We're preparing for things that are unknown.

Oh, sickness and injury make the journey even more impactful.  Something I am currently learning.

To close, one of my favorites: "Pain is nothong more than weakness leaving the body."  Go get some!

Really???

My Stomach is Growling

"If there's no God at all, then human beings are nothing more than accidental, complex collections of matter and energy and my very indignation towards the evil in this world can be likened to that of a growling stomach.  The very things that drive me away from or towards a God are nothing more than molecules bouncing around in my brain."

Belief in God poses all sorts of challenges and curiosities, but this????  I just can't buy that we are nothing more than a collection of matter.  What about the basics like love and emotion?  Bouncing  molecules?

Rambo - Motivational Speech

Motivation Just Doesn't Translate

Just the motivation to stay disciplined doesn't mean we will be (this includes getting huge tattoos on your chest).  Motivation and desire are only pieces of what it takes to live a disciplined life; pieces filled with not much more than good intent.  And from my own experiences, good intent rarely translates into action.  So I am constantly asking myself "what is discipline and how do I live a more disciplined life?" 

The more I think about it, the more I see it as the trained ability to see beyond "the moment" therefore consistently viewing life and all of it's little pieces from a "big picture perspective."  It's the ability to be fully aware of your current state; living every moment with an equal amount of focus AND foresight.  Think about it.  In times when we lose or forsake discipline, what are we doing?  We are making a conscious choice to forgo our "big picture plan" for some type of immediate, "in the moment" gratification or want.  If we're on a diet, our big picture plan is to lose weight, be more healthy, live longer, etc.  So if we choose to eat healthier, do well for a week, but go back to the same routine we were on before the diet, we have chosen to forgo our long term goal for the little moments of gratification we will encounter by not being on that diet.  And what are we left with?  Good intent.  Where did good intent get us in this scenario? No where. 

The same can be true from a spiritual level.  There are times when we can be so motivated to pursue righteousness and seek the will of God for our lives.  And never is this more true than when we are faced with the guilt of our own sin; especially persistent sins. "Man, I have to make a change.  I can't go on sinning this way!"...2 weeks and 100 good intentions later, we're right back at it.

So how do we translate that motivation into discipline?  I think it starts with training ourselves to see beyond the moment, while also seeing it for what it is and then begin to piece together the things that make up the big picture.  Motivation is only the indicator of where we want to be, NOT how we will get there so we use motivation to establish our goal.  Let's use a common male issue and establish a goal to address this issue:  "I want to be a man with a pure heart and I refuse to continue my blatant worship of the female body" (i.e. purposeful indulgence in lustful things).  Ok, good intentional plan established, now you have to build the framework of WHY and HOW you will actually carry out this goal. 

So you start building the big picture and uncovering the reasons WHY for our plan: "If I look at pornography I am harming my relationship with my wife and therefore my children.  These actions could lead to divorce, separation and at a minimum a broken relationship because critical relational energy is being spent on things besides my wife.  I am blatantly dishonoring God and choosing to put female parts and pieces on the alter that was reserved for Him alone.  God has said the sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God so my own soul is potentially at risk (especially if it is a persistent choice to place this sin above God).  If I love God, why don't I hate this sin enough to stop?  Is his mercy and grace for the habitual sinner  (the "sin manager" aka Pharisees) or is it for the repentant? (i.e. the one who recognizes their sin and actually turns from that sin)."

In the HOW, you set structure and accountability.  "I will not allow myself to look at things that may lead me down the path to lust.  I will establish like-minded friends that sharpen me and challenge me towards successful implementation of my plan.  I will pray for wisdom to see tempting moments for what they really are.  I will pray to see women the way God sees them.  I will dedicate all sexual energy towards my wife and my wife alone.  I will pray, pray, pray.  I will seek to live life in the Spirit.......Etc., etc. 

Insert any number of different sins above, but training ourselves to think this way can only help us see the big picture.  The more we see things from this broader perspective, the more focus and foresight (discipline) we can have in the thousand little choices that we deal with on a daily basis that ultimately define WHO and WHAT we really are.  The sum definitely defines the parts.  If we desire to be something, it's time to turn that desire into action.

How Can We Discount the Supernatural?

Isn't it funny how fickle we are? As Christians we believe strongly in life governed by a Holy Spirit. Like Paul says, we should live life "in the Spirit". So using those as our foundation, fickleness and life in the Spirit, why do we so easily discount the supernatural? We always look for and seek the touchable, the tangible and the intellectual, but don't those things exist primarily in the flesh? If we believe in the supernatural i.e. God, why don't we accept the supernatural workings that we believe are all around us? Why do we expect God to transform the working of his Spirit into tangible or intellectual things just because that's the way we want it? That's like saying we demand a mute person to verbally speak to us since that's the way we communicate thus showing no regard for who they are as a person or the state they're in. And wouldn't you be cutting off any potential communication with this person? He might as well not exist if you're making it impossible to communicate with him.

Now, am I likening God to a mute individual? No. But I am suggesting we discount who God is and the way he speaks to us. If we had a deaf child, wouldn't we SEEK to learn sign language in order that we might communicate with him? Yes! That's pretty much stating the obvious. So why don't we seek to learn the language of the Creator!? He has clearly laid out his plan for communication and the way he operates (again, his Spirit) so why not pursue that? And isn't pursuing the Spirit ultimately the same as pursuing Christ? They seem to go hand-in-hand.

So let's take it a step further: if we aren't sensitive to or can't discern the supernatural, is this a sign we aren't seeking Christ? Couldn't this be an identifier that we are acting primarily in the flesh and are showing little regard towards the Spirit? So when we find ourselves looking for the tangible, the touchable or even the faith-by-intellect, aren't we clearly far from our goal? (i.e. life in the Spirit or relation with Christ) Aren't we cutting off our ability to live this life in consistent communion with him? And if we do that, why would we expect anything from God let alone our "calling" or "purpose" or "plan" to be revealed.

So, if we do the things we talk about above, all we end up with is a belief that exists by intellect alone; a knowledge of something we believe to be true; a biblical understanding of who Christ is but never allowing him to continue to show himself beyond what Genesis through Revelation has revealed to us. Ultimately, we eliminate the ability to be a Paul, a Moses, a Noah or used in the way they were: supernaturally!!! And unlike these men, we sit on the sidelines and read about what has been done in and through them instead of getting in the game and BEING these men. Our call is being constantly communicated by the Holy Spirit but we must first be willing and able to hear. The difference between Christian living in the flesh and in the Spirit is simply "knowing" (flesh) and "doing" (the spirit). Knowledge alone would be a complete waste of time. And do we even really "know" if we aren't living life in the Spirit? I mean jeez, even the demons "know."