Restoring Leadership pt. 1

 

I've taken quite a hiatus from blogging. I needed to focus on ministry and simply spending time with God without thinking, "How could I blog about this?" Through that time, I've been reading a "church leadership" book and studying through Nehemiah. With so many books on being a leader, I wanted to see from Scripture what characteristics a leader or how one should lead looks like. I think I found myself needing to restore my own leadership as a minister. Nehemiah is where I found myself. So, I will be giving my insights on leadership that I have discovered in the book of Nehemiah. Nothing groundbreaking, earth shattering, do these 5 steps and you will have the perfect ministry type of insights. I simply think we can get caught up in the hundreds of books about leadership or try to find the quick steps to building the best ministry and miss it all together. Or we simply get in a rut and do not even see we are simply maintaining something and not actually leading.

Restoring Leadership Begins By Seeking God Before the Work
I cannot count the number of times I have crafted an "awesome" message for teenagers or planned the best event ever expecting to see the greatest responses by students since the Billy Graham days only to find that it was just another thing. I remember once planning to be a speaker for a youth "revival" for a mission trip I was a part of. I was hearing that we should see a couple hundred students and it will be great. I was pumped and I took so much time crafting my message that seeking God was an afterthought. So the time came and besides my handful of students on the trip with me, we had about five youth show up. I was devastated, angry at God for the work I put into this and only to find my work was in vain. How arrogant of me! God used that to teach me a valuable lesson in humility as a leader and to know who truly is the Leader.

Our story begins with a man who faces a problem. His people have been taken from their homeland for years. Their city is is ruins and it seems God has left them. Nehemiah is struck at the heart by the situation and desires for change. The people of God have likely become a little complacent and comfortable with their lives. So, Nehemiah in his distress and desire to see things made right jumps right into a plan, reads some books about leading a nation back, and gets some people to help along the way. No! Nehemiah 1:4 says, "When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

When is the last time you (I include myself) actually wept and mourned for our people we lead? In the SBC we are "concerned" for declining and plateauing churches, missionaries being brought home from the field because money is no longer available, and students losing faith after high school. I put concerned in quotations because I wonder how concerned we are. I see new books, programs, and blogs about how to fix the problem; yet the problem remains. Where is the call to weep, mourn, fast, and pray for our state of affairs? If we are called by our leaders, how much to we really heed the call? Leaders, how are we giving the call to our people? First, it begins with us being broken by reality and the Spirit of God. I'm guilty as many who feel bad for a day about something then move on. Its almost like we have spiritual ADD and the next "fix" grabs our attention, but does not actually provide a solution. Nehemiah wept and mourned for days...days! Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:1). Mostly we prescribed this Beatitude to being spiritually broken for the sake of salvation. Yet, brokenness is a characteristic of the believer because it's foundation is in humility. Humility is a great reminder of how little we really know, how strong we really are, and how much we entirely rely on a God greater than us. In leadership, we can forget about God and unintentionally (sometime intentionally) "dethrone" Him and place ourselves on a throne of our kingdom. So, no matter what we face as leaders- change in the church, backlash from the community or culture, spiritual attack, etc. we must first remember that God is ultimately leading us and the people under our care.

In the midst of his mourning and weeping, Nehemiah also prays and fasts, again for days. Tied greatly to humility, the act of prayer and fasting as a leader is critical. It first places us under God and should remind us who He is and who we are. Also, seeking God first through prayer and fasting keeps us from being tossed to and fro by the next big way to lead. It keeps us from trying to find the church that is doing it "right" and imitating them or deciding what we think is best for our churches. Prayer and fasting means we seek God's vision, plan, heart, and strength for the tasks at hand. For example, Doug Fields is one of the best Student Minister's in the field. He's written books, spoken at conferences, and led many younger Student Minister's along the way. There is nothing wrong with that, but what was successful for him may not be at my church or yours. Seeking godly council is important, but seeking the God who knows our churches, communities, and the future is by far greater! Leader, what is the vision of your church? What is the plan to achieve that vision? Is it Tim Keller's? Andy Stanley's? Mark Dever's? Thom Rainer's? Missional guy with thick rimmed glasses, skinny jeans, a beard, and rocks a flannel shirt from the Catalyst Conference? They all offer great help and insight into church leadership, but they are not the source of ultimate truth for our leadership!! I encourage us to start anything we are leading our people in to pray and fast. Not for a few hours, not for even a day. Follow Nehemiah's example that is found in the source of all truth-Scripture- and take days to seek God.

The result of Nehemiah's faithfulness to seek God was a vision, plan, and the means to accomplish the goal. It was not easy and required incredible amounts of hard work, but blessing was received. In addition, a people were led to do incredible things-life changing things that impacted who they were and those around them. This is what I want to see happen!! So, I am determined to take more concerted time and effort to prayer and fasting in my leadership as a minister, husband, father, friend, etc. Will you?

Something's Missing

I attended a concert last night where we heard things like- I'm Turn't Up, Why y'all scared to be different, I'm unashamed, etc. Lecrae is notorious for his passion for Jesus, music, family, and the gospel being reached to people. His energy is seen on stage and is always felt in the audience...well usually. I've been to roughly 6 or 7 of his shows now and typically end up leaving in sweat from the jumping around/dancing (I mean rhythmic movement) as we enjoy the music and message being displayed. Last night, there were pockets of this happening, but overall it was rather dull. It looked like most worship services I attend on Sunday. Standing, watching someone perform as we halfheartedly participate. I suspect that venue, culture, and audience had much to do with the atmosphere of the night. But, what if it didn't? What if what I saw were people who have lost the joy of salvation;  the undignified aspects of worship that can come about? The pictures above are of David dancing undignified before the Lord as He is overjoyed by God and His work. Jeremiah 31:3-4 it states,

"Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. 
 I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
    You will again be happy
    and dance merrily with your tambourines.

The people of God are a people known of joy in the salvation of God and sometimes that manifests in praise even praise through dancing. I am not saying that worship services should become something undignifed and look like that scene from the Blues Brothers:

What I am thinking is what if our young people now cannot even express incredible joy of salvation in an environment where it is typically expected? What does that mean for our worship services? I understand that the Spirit moves people to worship and that we don't actually create it for people. I know that we can make environments places where this type of expression can take place. But more so, do we teach our people how to show the joy of our salvation? Do we regulate it to what we deem "appropriate"? 

I know everyone expresses their passion for the Lord differently. I typically do not raise my hands or jump around in a worship service. But if you sit next to me close enough you probably hear me. I sing loud as an expression of my worship. Not sure why, but that's how I express my passion in worship. I encourage you to be expressive in your worship of God. Who He is and what He has done is incredibly powerful and amazing; why suppress ourselves to show anything less than joy?

Maybe what I see is nothing, maybe there is something there. I just know that I am becoming increasingly tired of passive, disengaged, joyless expression of our Lord and the salvation He brings in all manners of life specifically in worship. This is not happening everywhere, but I feel like I sense it more and more.

Disturbed or Convicted?

 

"And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment..." -John 16:8

"...I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple...Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King,  the Lord of hosts." -Isa. 6:1, 3-5

I remember the day I first felt the Spirit convict me. I grew up hearing the Bible and the gospel, but one day I actually heard it. It was an evening I was laying down to sleep and I couldn't get settled. I was in the 5th grade and my spirit was wrestling with God. I was feeling the heart wrenching truth that I was not right. Despite having a father for a pastor, growing up in church, and living relatively good it was not enough. Eventually, in that wrestling match God broke the sinew of my heart. I began crying and prayed to God to save me. I recognized that I was a sinner in need of Christ to make my heart and life right with Him. I knew the very basics of the gospel as it finally penetrated my heart, but it was enough. The next day I followed up with dad at a youth service and we talked more about salvation.

I tell my story because I was confronted in my quiet time with this quote from my devotional by Oswald Chambers, "Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin; we know the experience of being disturbed because of having done wrong things..." I was struck by this statement because I believe my initial interaction with God in my salvation was conviction. The weight of heaviness on my heart and the immediate recognition of needing Him reveals conviction. However, what has happened since then at times of confrontation with God and my sin nature that likes to make an appearance in my life? Do I still face conviction or am I simply disturbed? What about many believers today in the Church?

Disturbed vs Conviction  

To be disturbed by sin is to simply be troubled by it. It is nagging, sometimes weighing, and stays with us. Conviction can be the same, however, the key is our response to it. Our response to being disturbed in America leads to disregard. We are great at it! Why? We are trained to do it? When we are disturbed by something we might think about for a bit, feel a little bad, fleetingly speak about change, and then forget about it. Or we do not like it and find a way to escape it by watching TV, eat "comfort food", play video games, buy something to make us feel better, etc. To be disturbed might move us from our comfort for a bit, but we quickly find a way to get back to comfort.

Conviction, however, cannot let you move away from it. Conviction breaks down your very core emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, to a complete recognition of who God is and who you are. The passage I reference in Isaiah shows this well. Isaiah is confronted by God and immediately is broken. Not just emotionally breaks down, but cannot do anything but lay down before Him. Conviction removes comfort and leaves us uncomfortable. Why? Change is required! So, how does conviction take place based on Isaiah 6?

1. We are confronted in the presence of God
This is a place believers visit much anymore because it is uncomfortable...at first. To enter into His presence requires our spirits to be checked against a holy God. This means the discomfort of removing the sin before Him. What follows-- peace, comfort, grace, mercy, love, hope, purpose, etc brings us to a place of rightness. I see very few people, myself included, so deep in the presence of God that conviction permeates the believers life. Instead we like to stay on the fringe of His presence to get the feeling of disturbed to easily disregard it and think we've made things right with Him.

2. Recognize God as King
Isaiah describes God as a King which gives us a picture of what he is thinking, feeling, seeing; and then he eventually calls Him the King. Conviction shows us who we are in light of God. We are unworthy. I think about movies that feature amazing kings and how his knights are willing to die for him and when they enter his presence bow in reverence. That should be our response to God as our King. The problem is sin creates other kings the compete with the King or make Him just another king in our hearts and minds. Again, another reason being simply disturbed is easy to work through. God is just another king vying for my heart. Conviction reveals the true nature of God and how He is the King.

3. Conviction leads to humbleness
Isaiah says "Woe is me..." revealing a heart of humbleness. He is surrendered to the King and confesses before Him who Isaiah is. To be disturbed rarely leads to humbleness. It leads to discomfort and a look for a quick fix to remove the discomfort we feel. Conviction leads us to say we need You, Christ the King, to make the proper change in us. To our dismay, the changes necessary may require discomfort for a little while to dethrone the said little kings in our life. Our culture has taught us that discomfort is unnecessary and to be avoided. I think about the recent college president who had students complain because they felt "victimized" by a chapel sermon on 1 Corinthians 13. They were faced with a chance of conviction and respond accordingly. Instead they were simply disturbed and took up residency with pride.

We must not be scared of conviction, but embrace it like a spiritual discipline. We cannot bring it upon ourselves, but when the Spirit convicts do we follow through or let it disturb us? To make it a practice is to consistently be in the presence of God, allow His presence to reveal who He is, and humbly accept our position before Him. Thankfully, His grace, mercy, love, salvation, and life change follows conviction. Simply being disturbed by the Spirit's working in our lives leads to shallowness of faith, and less of the abundant life Christ talks about.

Suffering As a Troublesome Meddler

The newest shot heard around the Christian world: Starbucks infamous red holiday cups. I usually don't jump on the bandwagon of the next thing to blog about, but my morning quiet time and devotion led me to a response in all the madness happening. For the most part, many who are like-minded are appalled at the negative response and the claim of supposed persecution taking place on Christians. Then there are others who are in support of "taking a stand" over some cardboard for Jesus. Some, like social media personality Joshua Feuerstein who tell his followers to tell baristas their names are "Merry Christmas" forcing baristas to write Merry Christmas on the cups and even say it. So, is this really something a believer should be concerned about?

1 Peter 4:12-16 speak of suffering/persecution and how our response should be:
 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;  but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Suffering will happen, but it is shared in Christ's suffering
Suffering and persecution are common in the life of a believer of Jesus. However, suffering as Christ suffered is more than just daily life trials or certain traditions and comforts are threatened. Suffering comes because Christ is boldly being proclaimed that suffering/persecution would look like His. How did Christ suffer? He was verbally assaulted, abandoned by family and friends, beaten, plotted against toward death, wrongfully arrested, cast out of society, was not believed as God's Son, and ultimately killed. Maybe...maybe one could make the case that something like this cup incident is a casting out of society, but it is more over tradition than the name of Jesus. I fear as a group, American Christians have forgotten it is about the person of Jesus and not traditions we stand firm upon. Even more, how does a coffee cup really impact one's life for the gospel? Instead, buy a cup of coffee for someone and share about God's love and redemption through Jesus. If that person throws hot coffee in your face or begin berating you for crazy beliefs then you can claim suffering/persecution. If this happens, rejoice that you have joined Christ in the mission and work of redemption and that God's Spirit rests upon you. If they reject your offer of coffee or of Jesus, then move on...its not suffering.

Stupid mistakes or sin does not equal suffering
 Peter states that you should not suffer as a murder or thief or evildoer. Why? Cause its contrary to the gospel and it is not suffering. You have sinned and suffer either consequences for your actions. Interestingly, Peter also says not to suffer as a "troublesome meddler". Here is the great sin of many Christians today involved in the unnecessary debates and public outcry. The word Peter uses is unique and not seen much in Greek. Scholars understand this to mean someone who involves themselves in the business of others. One scholar I looked into even said implications could be an over zealous denouncing of pagan habits. To be a troublesome meddler is to essentially be one stirring up controversy for the sake of generating "suffering" that is not really suffering at all. What if the supposed "war on Christians" that runs through social media is nothing more than believers being troublesome meddlers and many have fallen prey to it? We know that Scripture speaks of a spiritual war taking place that influences our physical world. But, have we actually fallen into a trap that brings more upon us than we really should experience?

We are to not be ashamed of suffering as a Christian
When we truly face suffering for Christ, we should not be ashamed. What does this look like? How about the hundreds of Christians in Iraq who were demanded to renounce Christ or face death? To be ashamed is to deny the person of Jesus. The apostle Peter knows something about that...3 times in fact he was ashamed. Thankfully, grace extends even in those moments of weakness. How about those moments we must speak truth to others about the gospel and risk life, security, employment, housing, slander, the loss of a friend or family member? If we cannot speak God's truth then are we not ashamed? Whether a cup represents Christmas right, from a business that could care less about whether you believe in Christ or not, is not suffering. In fact, it makes our faith look petty, foolish (not as Paul speaks of it), and built on traditions and not a Person.

Last Thoughts
Recently a Facebook post from a church member of a former church I attended stated that a young woman from the Middle East was baptized in the church. The pastor who baptized her spoke in her native tongue and was asked several question. Two of them were: 1) You are aware you will suffer persecution as a Christian? and 2) Are you willing to die for Christ?. Wow! Not, if your coffee cup carries no Christmas message will you "die" for that? Our God is big enough to make His name famous, He doesn't need us to do it for Him. What He wants is for us to submit to His kingship, deny ourselves, our "rights", and be open to His work through us! Finally, remember that as believers we are to love one another and correct one another in love. This "debate" should not lead to further division or fighting. It should lead to a laying down of self and loving one another as Christ loves us.         

 

Some Truth of Student Ministry

Confession: God smacked me right in the head today with some truth about ministry that I had either forgotten or taken for granted.

For the last several weeks our Student Ministry has been doing flag football with the guys. For the most part we have had great turnout every week. Today, however, 3 guys showed up. Why? I don't know. More than likely many others just had a busy week and weekend and needed the rest today. Others maybe didn't want to be there. Regardless 3 showed up. At first it was just 2 and a 3rd showed up 30 minutes past our start time. I was ready to "close up shop" for the activity, but decided I would run the track for a mile and let the guys throw the ball around. Why run? I needed to clear my head and talk to God. In the time it took me to run I watched these three simply have fun. They didn't care that we didn't have a huge game. I did and I was not happy. Again, God gave clarity in just moments. I was witnessing an older youth take time to teach and play football with 2 younger ones. I was missing the picture that 3 youth and I were connecting, building relationship that is more important than any flag football game. The four of us eventually sat down and just talked about life. Simple and complex things. Life was shared.

Here me out any youth minister who might read this, especially those serving in small towns.

Ministry has right moments, not just events
Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of a time for everything. Essentially, the writer says that all things serve a specific purpose in the right time. For today, it was the right time to get to know these 3 youth better. It was a chance to invest quality time that may not always present itself. Jesus invested into 12 men who did incredible things for the kingdom. What if these 3 are to be like the "12" for me? What if I had simply just let the moment pass and not invested? What opportunities would I have missed? When things to do not go as planned, the numbers we look for as ministers is smaller than anticipated, or what we have accomplished seems like failure; perhaps we are missing the "right moments" that God has planned. We must moved passed ourselves and see His work instead.

Our response can reveal our value or lack thereof of each student
I'm sure there is a better way to word this point, but to clarify let me ask a question. If I had canceled my plans of the game at 3:30 and missed the opportunity, what do I say about the significance of the boys that showed up? They aren't worth my time because more guys didn't show? Yet, Christ tells us to seek out all people to share the gospel with, to share life and joy with. My original thoughts were anti-Christ's teaching when examined deep enough. Graciously God spoke and helped me realize this truth and instead I hope these guys saw that I cared for them despite my plans not coming to fruition. Who knows how that will impact them or how that investment might come back into the ministry.

So, check yourself and your thoughts when you are in the position I was. Remember, that we are called to bring Christ to all people and all size of groups. Your response can possibly make or break a student in how they understand your view of them. I think we are all guilty of this at some point. Let's help students remember that they all matter.

It's okay to "remove" yourself from the situation for clarity
As ministers I wonder if we sometimes feel like we are supposed to be Superman to our students? When we get frustrated, tired, sad, etc. we shouldn't reveal those emotions because they aren't strong. However, it shows we are human and sometimes need a break. Even more, those emotions come to us when we are most self-centered. This was especially true in my case. I needed to "de-center," and be re-centered upon Christ and His mission. I believe that is a more important lesson to be caught by our students than we give credit for. So, in the middle of activity or events, if necessary, pull yourself away to be re-centered when plans do not go our way. Even if it is for a couple of minutes, the clarity the Spirit can bring could the the catalyst for something incredible.


So, for many of you this may be a "duh!" blog post. For some it may be a time to reflect. I believe that all of us need these reminders from time to time. It doesn't matter how much of a veteran or rookie of a ministry you are. For me this day has been a little of both. I know what I have written about, but reflection was needed to be a better minister down the road. 

Sports and Leadership

A recent news article has emerged in the world of sports concerning professional player Adam "Pacman" Jones who assaulted another player from a different team by banging his head against a helmet. Currently, Jones is facing a $35,000 fine. The article comes a few weeks after another of high school players targeting a referee who they felt made a bad call. Each act committed by these players could have repercussions resulting from serious injury to those they assaulted and a choice that could effect the rest of their lives...maybe. Jones and the team will appeal the fine he has received and it is quite possible the young men who targeted the ref will have their actions chalked up to a "dumb teenage decision" with lesser consequences than they should receive. What does this mean for parents, youth ministry, athletics in school, and in the professional (I almost use this word lightly) world?

1. Athletes (People in general) must be held accountable for their actions
Most should gather that a $35,000 fine for Jones' actions is nothing compared to the amount of money he makes. Essentially the consequence does not match the behavior of the man. Even more, he will appeal the consequence given to him by the league instead of owning to the decision he made. I think that our teenagers see this and believe they too can "fight the system" to have lesser consequences. Again, this may happen anyway as the standard we as a culture hold teens is lessened over time. I believe the Jones incident reveals a deeper issue of culture too. People in general do not want to be held accountable for their actions and find ways to shift blame to an outside source. Why? It's a part of our make up. Genesis 3 reveals our desire to not take responsibility as Adam blames his wife, she blames the serpent, and then they indirectly blame God. Scripture calls us to more though. We see that we should recognize our wrongdoing, seek the one offended, and make amends.

As parents, ministers, school employees, etc. we must help teens learn accountability for their actions. We must help them learn that it is harder and much more noble to admit failure or wrongdoing, own it, and reconcile the mistake as best can be done. If we do not, we create privileged youth who feel they are above any standard set for them. Perhaps that is the case, they know of a higher standard and actually desire to be held to it, but adults do not actually provide that for them. In many cases we are not able to hold a standard necessary to teach youth about life because the culture in general does not accept it. We must begin somewhere though. A good place is through athletic programs, our ministries, and in the home.

2. Leadership is strong, but to what end?
Regardless of how professional players feel about being leaders and looked up to by younger athletes, the fact remains they are leaders. Their actions on and off the playing field or court teaches younger people. There is an identity associated with being an athlete and thus, a way to live/act under said identity. So, when NFL players can abuse women/children, possibly cheat, and then act violently toward others; our youth will follow suit in some way. Therefore, we see strong leadership coming from our professional players, however, the kind of leadership we see is not positive. Now, I don't want to generalize all professional athletes as many are doing great things with their notoriety and exemplify positive leadership. But, as a culture we must do something to change the leadership that is negatively effecting our young men and women.

As adults we are leaders to our teenagers in some manner. The question is what kind of leader. When mistakes are made do we allow them to be teachable moments for us and for youth? Are we imparting quality character in addition to skills that correlate with what we lead them in? Our answers should tell us a lot about who we are as adult leaders. Even more, it should help us see who we need to be as leaders for the sake of those we lead. Leadership is more than imparting a skill or wisdom to younger people. It is imparting a way of life.


 

A Battered Reed He Will Not Break Off

Spit on, punched, kicked, jumped, verbally assaulted, and looked upon as weird and different. This was my greatest memory of Junior High School. I just moved from a city in Ohio to a small town in Arkansas. The transition was tough because I had left all I knew and entered a culture I didn't understand and it (they) didn't understand me. In addition, I had recently become a believer in Christ and knew that my life must be different from those who didn't know Him. My faith was young and I was immediately faced with scrutiny and hurt. I didn't always handle the pain I experienced well and sometimes lashed out at my peers, but mostly I held onto it.

For many of us, Junior High/Middle School were tough years. We are working through that awkward stage of puberty, starting to change our thinking and understanding of the world, and well probably have a story of deep hurt we experienced in those years. For me I didn't realize that hurt could carry years later when I would one day see a young man I knew as a middle schooler and immediately feel anger for how he treated me. In that moment I had to forgive him and could not harbor anything further. My faith had grown over the years for sure. This memory came rushing back as I read Matthew 12:15-21 today for my time with Jesus. 

Quick Background:
Jesus has just broken rabbinic law in front of the religious elite and was challenged by them. The result was the leaders and teachers of His time to plan His destruction. He crossed the line one too many times. His response is to quote a passage of Isaiah about Himself. It's a slap in the face of the Jewish leaders and a comfort to those who have been painfully under their "rule" and for the Gentiles who faced hurts and pressure from many facets of their culture.

A Battered Reed....
Jesus says that a battered reed He will not break off speaking of those under oppressive rule and strain. A reed was used for so much: a flute, a measuring rod, pen, etc. and a whole, perfect reed was desired of the owner. The landscape made reeds plentiful and cheap as well, so it was easy to obtain them. So it was easy to find a better reed and break off the imperfect part or simply get a new one. Jesus is comparing people opposite of the religious elite as these reeds. In His kingdom, in His presence battered reeds are not broken off. Jesus is willing to work in spite of, through, and with the imperfect portion of a reed (us) to make it useful, right, and good once again. This is the process of salvation at work in us.

My experiences through middle school battered me, my soul, to a place of anger, hurt, and struggle that stayed with me. In high school I became a wallflower about my faith and who I was. I had friends, hung out with people, and did fine in high school, but I remember hating high school. I think it dealt with my not living out as I was called to do. I was battered still, but being worked on. I must continue to be worked upon as life still finds ways to batter me.

DIY Project...

Today I can look back at those experiences and see how they impacted me and made me into who I am today. I have a story that reaches teens. I have a story of redemption that reveals God's work, grace, and salvation. My wife and I love watching shows like Property Brothers or Fixer Upper. What I like about Fixer Upper in particular is their ability to see a house or piece of furniture as broken, yet redeemable. I see myself in that same way. I was once a table that was dirty, scuffed up, broken in some way that really carried little or no value  or worth in most people's eyes. I became this way because of my own sin and choices and the sin of others. It marred me. Jesus comes along as the Great Carpenter and sees the value, the potential, and the beauty. Instead of tossing it away, He takes the table and sands it down to remove the roughness, He fixes areas that are broken, He does what is necessary to make the table what it is supposed to be and even more than what it may have been at one time. I was His DIY project and continue to be. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

For anyone reading this, you too are His workmanship being crafted, created in Christ. This recreation begins in accepting who He is as God, Savior, and Lord. From there He re-purposes our hearts, our lives. He turns that which is deemed ugly, useless, or broken and says I will not cast it out. In Him you find a great craftsman working in and through you. Whatever you may have carried or carry with you that batters you, know He will not get rid of you.