Connecting People to People and People to God

Top Moments of 2009

Top moments might not be quite right- maybe top things of 2009.  

• In Peru-one night right before one of the outdoor services services one of the team members, Sue pulled me aside.  She put my head between her hands and stared into my eyes and said "Don't hold back, God's gonna do some amazing stuff tonight."  So I didn't.  I preached from John 5 with all of my heart.  When the time came at the end of the message to call for a response I asked a simple question- the same one Jesus asked the guy beside the pool, Do you wish to get well?  What makes the night memorable isn't the hundred or so people that came up asking God to do something for them but one little boy that I had the honor of praying for.  I was praying in english and he only spoke spanish but I know it was a special moment for both of us.  I can't wait to see that kid again.
• While in Peru we built 5 houses.  We pulled up to the first house and I was shocked that people lives in these conditions.  This family of 4 lived in two little rooms with a single light bulb to light each room.  They used the bathroom in a hole in the ground with a tarp half hanging to give them some privacy.  We noticed they had a coffee can with shredded paper that they used for toilet paper.  At the end of construction I was asked to pray over the house.  The family was so happy to have their new home.  We built for them something they could've never afforded for themselves.  I remember them heaping praise on us and smiling from ear to ear.  All I could think of was- they don't need to be thanking us we merely gave them something every human should be able to enjoy.  
• January 2009 Heather and I decided to expand our family through adoption.  The past year we've done all the paperwork, and just this week our final home study was approved so our name and profile is out there for birth mothers to chose.  The one question we get a lot is- why?  Truth is, our hearts in it.  We believe we have a good home to raise children.  We believe we can offer a great home to a child that he/she can be nurtured in when he/she would otherwise do without.  We want to change one life in the greatest way we know how.  The other answer is also simple- when God calls you to do something you don't ignore it.  When he calls both you and your wife then it's pretty much a no-brainer.  These next few months are going to be a wild ride, I know that already but I'm so excited!
• The Montana trip I took last summer.  We all arrived at the Missoula airport wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.  We all left with a new friends and life changing experience.  So many things were formative about those eight days.  The honest and hard conversations about our personal weaknesses, flaws and compensations.  The time of reflection in nature.  I remember sitting on the top of a hill soaking in the hot montana sun and the silence was deafening.  The suddenly below me I saw an eagle soaring on the currents, it caught an updraft and was then above me and it began to let out the loudest screams.  Simple amazing.  Or hiking up those three mini mountains and finally working our way to the highest one when I let out the most primal yell I could generate.  We thought it was our imagination at first but after a few attempts at duplicating we discovered that we could hear my echo respond several times, like a normal echo, then it would go silent for about 10 seconds then from a completely different direction we could hear it again.  Vastness.   
• Being a leader can be pretty lonely.  When you're the sole leader it's as if you're carrying sole responsibility for the organization you're leading.  That might not be a reality but that's what it feels like.  I will always remember 2009 as the year new leader's at The Bridge stepped up and began to carry that burden with me.  I can't even begin to explain how beneficial this is for me.  I sleep better at night knowing these three men are there to help lead this thing God has called us to.  We are a great team and God has gifted us all differently so that we can be most effective for Him!  Thanks Jim, Todd and Robbie.  I don't know what I'd do without you.
• The Bridge Church- I can't say it's always easy but I love leading this group of people.  They are a group that is in love with Jesus.  They take seriously the idea that Jesus is Lord of their lives.  They also take seriously that their relationship with Jesus should be worn on their sleeves, in their hearts and come from their mouths.  They believe that Jesus is the greatest things that has ever happened to them and that he has greater things for them.  
•  My running group, Bros and Hos.  Yes, I'm a pastor and I'm in a running group called "Bros and Hos".  There I said it, and I feel better now.  They are a fun group to share running, conversation, and life with.  They were there for our LONG training runs for Shamrock Half and then the Marine Corp full.  My favorite moment with the group has to be the day before MCM we all met downstairs in the lobby of the hotel to go out for a short 2 milers.  It was cool to just run the streets of DC for a few minutes with the people that had endured all that training together.
• Family Vacation in the mountains of VA.  We take a fall vacation every year and I LOVE IT!  We go hiking, we play games, we find new places to explore.  The best part is that we're a family with no distractions of work or worry or any other things.  I LOVE this part of the year.  It's so fun to spend time like that with the people you love the most.    

Top moments of the past decade.

I'll put these in sequential order.  Here's my understatement of the decade- My 20's were pretty formative for me.

• Living with "the guys" my senior year of college.  Ten years later many of those guys that I lived with on the top floor of that terrace are my closest friends.  I say in regular contact with all of these guys, mostly via email, sometimes on the phone and occasionally when we find ourselves in the same city we get together to talk.  It's always as if I just sat with them the day before and shared life with them.  This sounds cheese but sometimes just waking up and knowing men like these are alive in the same world as me gives me encouragement.  JB, Nate, Steve, Anthony, Jason M., Jason C., Brian, Jamie- thanks guys.  I love you! 

This makes me think of the lifeguard chair in the student center, Mitchell tainting the back of the music building, the REC TAL hall, a Solid Oak Christmas with the reindeer in the shower, the structural integrity alarm going off, hosing Brooks off through the window, Bronco boy and the carnage we brought into his life, Dendrinos vs. Cerda, and more TP in the trees than we knew what to do with.  

• Graduating college.  To this day I'm sure some of my middle and high school teachers would wet their pants if they knew I graduated college.
• June 16, 2001- getting married to the girl of my dreams.  She keeps getting more beautiful as the years go by and I can't imagine living life without her.  She makes me laugh like nobody else, is the easiest person I know to talk to and I simply love being in her company.  By far this is the best decision I ever made.  
• Feb 2002 getting my first (and only) job as a youth pastor.  I love those kids.  I still keep in touch with many of them and it's cool to have such an integral part of their teenage years.  They taught me that success can be measured in lives influenced not in the money that is made.  They taught me that heartbreak comes when you pour yourself into other people- but it's worth it.
• March 3, 2004 that beauty can come from ashes.  It was on this day that I gave the message at my little brother's funeral.  Which to date has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  But it was this day that I learned that God can use even the darkest, hardest, most heart breaking events to change lives.  I know that today some of the kids that were at that funeral, that are now in their early 20's now, that remember the hope that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
• March 3, 2005 I learned that God's promises are good.  One year to the day of the hardest day of my life I had one of the happiest as I held my first born son, Nathan Douglas (Douglas after my brother).  
• February 11, 2007 the Bridge Church launched.  Our first service was pretty awesome as we packed out the cafe area of Western Branch Lanes.  The last 3 years we've weaved and worked our way through what we believe God has for us.  It's been incredible to just keep following His plan with complete faith that He has great things to do through us.
• March 14, 2008 the birth of my second son, Seth.  Completely different from Nathan but equally as part of my heart.  It's through Seth that I learned the heart has an infinite capacity for love.  
• January 2009 Heather and I decided to expand our family through adoption.  The past year we've done all the paperwork, and just this week our final home study was approved so our name and profile is out there for birth mothers to chose.  We're so excited!  
• March 22, 2009 I completed my first half marathon.  I figured I'd finish but was more than happy with my time of 1:43.  This was an important event from me because it marked the culmination of a 2 year journey in which I lost about 150lbs and got in the best shape of my life.  

And that's it for 2000-2009.  Stay tuned for top moments of 2009!  

Humans Part One

It seems I haven't been doing much writing lately aside from the New Testament commentary.  Which is a shame because I really like writing, it's funny because knowing I need to write actually motivates me to think about something to write on and in those times of concentrated thinking I usually benefit.  I'm not normally one for New Year's resolutions but this year writing more just might have to make the list. 

I've been thinking about human interaction a good bit lately.  We all have them, some are more important than others, some we take for granted and some we squeeze for all they're worth.  Some opportunities we miss unintentionally, others we miss and don't care.  This series of ideas came to me rather quickly.  I scrambled for my phone to get them all down in time, the first bit came on suddenly and then trickled into my thinking over the past few days.  These are tried, scientific or based on research.  They are based on my life, personal interactions and of course are my from my personal vantage point of someone in the middle of all this- not on the other side looking back.  

Human Emotions.  

The height of human emotion.  I have found that there is no height to which the human emotion can take us.  Whatever the happiest moment in your life is you can remember it.  You can lump a top five happiest moments in your life. And even all the good moments that don't make the top five or top ten you still can recall.  You know what it's like to talk to a very good friend.  You know what it feels like to laugh so hard your stomach hurts, to see the work of your hands or a hard earned goal finally accomplished.  If you're a highly relational person your "happiests" are relationally based, if you're task oriented your "happiests" are likely achievement based.  Either way you know the height of human emotion.  To be hugged, to be cheered for, to be supported, to be loved unconditionally, to be told "I'm proud of you"...any number of things can bring it about but the height of human emotion.  Sometimes it spikes, sometimes it's a feeling of contentment but you know it when you you experience it.

The depth of human despair.  A failed relationship, the death of a family member or close friend, a job loss, financial failure- as much as we hate to think about it and as much as I hate to even mention it we all can relate and recognize it.  When you're in one of these, right smack in the middle of one of these it feels as if someone turned off the light and not only are you not sure where the switch is but you're not even sure if the light will ever come back on.  The depth of human despair trumps any physical pain.  Most broken things can be mended in a timely fashion, but the broken heart can only heal with time and even then the scars on the heart remain.  

There is no point of this post except to point out that the human emotion, the human heart, the human soul, has no bottom and it has no ceiling.  There is no height and there is no depth that can be defined.  I suppose this ties in to the fact that the soul is eternal, the soul is the one part of the human that, like God the creator, is eternal.  Therefore the only limitations placed on it are the limitations we place on it.  And we often do place limitations on our emotions, to keep us from hurting.  But i have found the more I try to protect myself from hurts that may or may not come the more I rob myself of the ability for joy and happiness.  

It would almost be nice if we could wake up and know what emotions the day would bring.  That way we could brace ourselves, prepare ourselves, but life's not meant to be lived like that.  I think we have to go into each day vulnerable, emotionally naked, ready to be ourselves and accept others for who they are.  This means experiences to.

Yesterday was Christmas.  I had the joy of seeing my boys open their presents.  They were so happy.  I was happy that they were happy.  They some family members came over.  Of the kids that came over none of them have a "normal" family story.  Each child is being raised by a grandmother, or a great grandmother or a sister or an aunt.  Two of the children celebrated Christmas this year with their daddy in prison.  It broke my heart.  Then I stood at the side of the bed of a dying woman.  She lived a hard life.  Death will bring relief for her.  I didn't know what to feel... the knowledge of frailty of life came to mind.  Then I sat in a room with 20 family members as they showered us with money to help us pay for the adoption that we will see come to fruition in 2010.  I felt supported and encouraged.

All of that in a little more than 12 hours... There is no height or depth of human emotion.  And some days we experience a little of them all.  

Hebrews

I know I'm more than a few days behind on this.  Two reasons.  The first is that I was actually doing well keeping up with the reading but had plans to put all of Hebrews down at one time.  Then I got busy this weekend and didn't get to the last three chapters so here we are a few days late and heading into the holiday season where time seems to get away from us and routine gets thrown out the window.  I was part of a bible study group this fall that worked through the book of Hebrews so I have lots of thoughts and memories of conversations we had as we worked through the book.  

Hebrews 

1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His son.

The gospel of John introduces Jesus Christ as the Logos, the word.  Colossians 1 introduces Christ as the spoken voice of creation.  It's clear that God the father speaks through God the son and it's as if Christ's entire life is the spoken word of God.  It's so easy to get caught up in learning about God and about the bible and getting caught up in the Old Testament stories or Pauline theology but clearly it all points to and runs through Jesus Christ.  

3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

This speaks not only of being in community with people that love God but to be in community with those that will encourage you.  While those two things should be synonymous they often aren't.  

4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

This verse is loaded for someone to enjoy.  I hope you do.  

5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

The source.  The reason for, the power behind.  Reject any religion and any faith in which Jesus Christ is not the SOLE foundation.  Reject any church or any preacher or teaching where in which Jesus Christ is not the SOLE source of salvation.  Anytime you hear Jesus AND---stop listening and run.  Jesus.  Jesus.  Jesus.  He is the source of eternal salvation.  He alone.  

6:4-6 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good words of god and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  

7:22 So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.  

9:17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for is is never in force while the one who made it lives.

Jesus had to die to make the new covenant, the covenant of grace, valid.

9:26 Otherwise, he would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Jesus died once for all.  The work is done.  The work is complete.  There is nothing left for him to do to redeem our souls.  He said it himself "it is finished."  

10:22-23  Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  

This ties in to the OT method of repentance and forgiveness...

11:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

What?  Faith.  

11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God much believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

11:16 they desire a better country.

Do you long for something more?  My confession is that I spend a considerable amount of time and emotion and mental energy to make my "country" here better.  I can find myself obsessing about it.  But the truth is there's something more and greater to long for.  So often I don't.  I'm not gonna beat myself up over it but I wish I had a little more perspective in that area.  

12:1 Great cloud of witnesses

I believe this verse is talking about the Hall of Faith as mentioned in chapter 11 but  a question for you to ponder is- who is your hero in the faith?  A parent?  A teacher growing up?  A friend?  Just curious.

13:5  Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, 

13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them.

I preach on this one at least once a month.  Not really.  It's a loaded verse though, that's for sure.  We hate authority so much.  I know I do.  I was thinking about this the other day- it's hard to trust a leader that won't submit to another's leadership.  

Titus and Philemon

Titus and Philemon

Is it just me or do others like these small books?  It feels great to sit down for 15 minutes and read a book of the Bible.  I imagine myself sitting down receiving a letter from Paul and deciphering his words to apply them to the current situation of the church as well as the situations in my own life.  I know that sounds a little nerdy but that's what I envision when I read "the word of God is living...".

In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Seriously, do you know anyone who does this?  Can you imagine life where divisive people were warned and then just dismissed if the behavior continued?  I can and I imagine it looks bit like paradise.  

Philemon

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

I love that Paul goes to bat for his slave friend.  This book is always so endearing to me because Paul is basically giving Onesimus a letter of reference.  I imagine it reading like this in 2009- Listen.  I know your slave ran away.  But he's a believer now so you need to forgive him and cut him some slack.  If you must punish him then let me take the punishment but let's face it, you're not gonna do that because I saved your life and you owe me- big time.  So back up and get a little perspective.  Here's your new brother in Christ.  

I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 

2 Timothy

2 Timothy

A couple of things I really like about 2 Timothy.  

1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

2:11-13 It is a trustworthy statement; For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny himself.  

I love that last part.  When we receive Jesus Christ the Spirit dwells in us.  Therefore we are united with Christ and when our faith falters we are not denied but instead Christ will not deny the part of himself that lives inside of us and so he remains faithful.  That's good news.  *I'll be preaching on this soon.

3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  

1 Timothy

1:8-9 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, fo rthe ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers...

2:3-4 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Chapter 3 I've spent a lot of time in this passage this year organizing and gathering qualified elders to serve at The Bridge.  It's been quite a journey and one I articulated in a letter to the church as we put these elders into place in January.  If I think of it I'll upload it here later today. 

4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

I am continually amazed at the universal Grace God shows to all men! 

6:7 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 

2 Thessalonians

2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if fromus, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 

Apparently teachers at the time were teaching that the end had come and that heaven was just a few moments away.  And then they waited and were confused.  Lots of talk about false teachers from Paul.  Paul had authority as a believer, he saw Christ, he was a student of the scriptures from his day as a pharisee.  He was the total package.  He took false teachers seriously. 

My personal note about false teachers.  Most of the time they don't think what they are teaching is false.  I have met very few people that I believe were doing it for status or financial gain unfortunately that doesn't make it any less destructive.  Correct, with gentleness and love. 

2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

The anti-christ:  We(believers) need to do ourselves a favor and stop saying that every communist (worldwide)or democratic (domestic) leader is the anti-christ.  I mean by odds one day you'll be right but until then you're making us look like crazies.  So give President Obama a break today.  Maybe even pray for him like the rest of the bible tells you to do.  ;)

3:1 Pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you.

3:14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. 

1 Thessalonians

This is believed to be Paul's first epistle and you'll remember from reading in acts taht the church is young.  Like anything young is was bound to make mistakes, be misguided in some instances, need additional guidance and correction and overall just need clarification as to the gospel they were now professing faith in.  You'll see the book littered with encouragemen and doctrinal correction.  Thessalonians always surprises people at the amount of "end times" materials it has in it.  As does Matthew 24 and 25. 

1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 

Chapter 2 There are apparent false teachers in the church using their talents to make profit and worst of all to lead people astray.  Paul defends his ministry with kindness and gentleness but no room for confusion either.  He did not come with flower speech or with greed or for glory.  But he came with gentleness like a nursing mother to nurture the young believers to walk with God and toward his glory.

3:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have allen asleep in Jesus.

Evidently people that followed Jesus were dying.  The living believers were confused wondering why these peopel saw death if new life is found in Christ.  Paul has to explain that this new life is to come and in verse 16 gives us how it will go down. 

Chapter 5 You're on your own.  Don't believe everything  you read...unless it's in the bible. 

Christmas Giving [updated list]

Nige, boy, age 6 wears a size 7/8 and he wants a nintendo ds, spiderman stuff, and games.

Leah, girl, age 4 wears a 6/7 and she wants a dora doll, clothes and a doll stroller.

Dominic, boy, age 10 wears a size 12 he wants a nintendo ds, games and a sweater.

Ahmir, boy age 2 wears 3t clothes and he likes puzzles, dora dolls and clothes.

Tagila and Regina are sisters and are 12 and 13 years old.  They both wear small (jrs) and would like clothes and a gift card.

Keith, boy, age 13 wears size 16 and he would like clothes and a gift card.

The Bridge Church was seeking for a way to provide for families this Christmas that might otherwise do without.  One of our regulars contacted Social Services to identify some families that had specific needs or wish lists for Christ.  We are receiving donations from now until Dec. 20.  So time is short, don't delay.  Any toy donation will be put to good use, remember these lists are guidelines.  

Drop offs should be made at the church (3201 Western Branch Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23321) on Sundays between 8-11 am or by appointment info@thebridgechurch.tv.  Thanks in advance for all of your generous donations!