5 Dollar Faith

I don't want to have a 5 dollar faith. Sometimes, well recently in some areas of my life, I have felt that way.
Pastor Craig Groeschel spoke at Catalyst, and it was intense.

Three things really spoke to my heart.

1) God Ruin me. I pray that God will continue to break my heart for what breaks His. Right now it is the homeless situation in this city. My heart is breaking for the people who are addicted to drugs, alcohol and who are going through hell right now. Yesterday I saw a guy who was so drunk at 8:30 in the morning that he just kept falling over in the middle of uptown. He was desperately trying to grab a hold of one of the crosswalk posts, but he kept missing. When I ran over to help him, he was just so broken inside, and so drunk. Luckily there was an officer who was near the scene, saw the whole thing and called the medics to come and take him to the hospital. I later found out from one of the other homeless guys that he was in the middle of the street at 4am punching and yelling at cars. That breaks my heart and God has put this vision of seeing homeless people who are broken healed by the sheer awesomeness of Christ.

2) God Heal Me. I need God to continually heal me as I struggle with the issues in my life. Broken relationships, daily struggles as a man of God fighting Satan, and the temptation to freak out when I get really stressed. I pray that God will continue to show me the issues in my life that I need to surrender to Him, and to run to Him, not from Him. I am human just the rest of us, and I have my own baggage as well.

3) God Stretch Me. God is really stretching me right now. With Senior Year Thesis stuff, work, Church, and pouring into people, I am stretched. It is such a blessing to be stretched for God's Glory, but honestly, it sucks sometimes. Gina yesterday, really encourage me yesterday at Fuel Pizza. Sometimes she said, it is God's will for us to love people from a distance...because we no longer are a blessing, we become a burden. This reminded me that I have to make sure that there are people pouring into me, while I am pouring into others. It's part of this process. Balance, Gina said is hard, but it is soo needed. It was such a blessing to spend time with Gina yesterday. She really spoke to my heart, and I am so thankful that she asked me up front, "so what are you struggling with." Even though God is stretching me, pulling me, growing me, He still provides people in my life who can come along side of me and encourage me.

(I took a nap, and now I feel so much better) Time for Small Group!! YAY!!!!

CATALYST-"Louder Than Words"

Andy Stanley has got to be one of the greatest preachers out there, and his messages really hit home. Not only does he incorporate humor, and real life stories, but the way he presents the Gospel is amazing. He is so easy to follow, but do not let that make you doubt. Andy Stanley really challenged me at Catalyst.

Here are some of the notes from his sermon "Louder Than Words," that really hit home in my heart.

1) Moral Authority means an alignment between our creeds and our deeds.
As a Christian, I want what I say about Christ, and being a Christian to align up with how I act out my faith.

2) INFLUENCE. Andy said that all we have is Influence. It is at exact value. In other words, it means that what we say and do can radically alter history. I believe that what I say and do impacts others around me. It is the determining factor in showing someone the love of Christ.

3)Moral Superiority= sacrifice & Obedience to Christ. As Christians, we need the Holy Spirit to move in us, to direct our steps, our actions. The Word of God has the final say in all things, but do we really see this as true. I know in my own life, I try to trump God's word with my own word, and those words of others around me. I sometimes doubt the word of God. This Moral Superiority is all about us using the word of God, praying for the Spirit to intercede on not just our behalf but others, and taking the steps to make our creed and deeds match.

4) Public alignment= the mission and the vision. What is our goal as Christians, and the Church(body of believers)? church(institution)? Do we project the message of Christ, or do we try to own it, make the Gospel serve our needs? For too long, I have seen churches and people take the Gospel and make it fit their needs. I my self have done the very same thing in the past. I pray that we(Church) can become one in Christ, and seek and save that which is lost, together. (Luke 19:10)

5) FORGIVENESS- our message should be that. Since we have been forgiven, then we need to forgive others. How can we live out our faith, when we have bitterness in our hearts. How can our creeds match up with our deeds, when we are walking around with bitterness?
Sometimes I struggle with this one. The people in my past sometimes haunt me. The things that I have done, and the fights I have had with my friends sometimes haunts me. I am not an angry person, I just sometimes loose it. I have been better at forgiving, and asking for forgiveness from my friends in the past. It sucks, ya know, the people who really really wronged you, or the people you really really wronged. But lets face it, we need to get over it. Christ has called us to live in His Glory.

Jesus, I pray that You continue to convict me of my own sin, and that I can humbly lay it all down at the foot of the cross. Jesus I pray that You do the same to this generation, and that by Your Grace and Mercy, You, Jesus, make us one. Lead us in the path that leads to righteousness.
Thank You Jesus, Amen.

CATALYST!!! "Bradelyn's Post"

So I just got back from an amazing CATALYST experience. I am really tired, and God has spoken to my heart so much these past two days. I have lots to say, but more importantly my vision is stronger, and more focused than ever.

Here is Bradelyn Levi's post. I really think yall need to check it out. I hope to be able to write some blogs with her soon. She is an awesome friend, a voice of clarity in my life. She is really on fire for Christ. I hope her post will encourage you and really challenge you.