Awaken Ministries

Sometimes, I come across a book, article, or blog post that states the point I want to say so well that about all I can do give them the credit and quote them! This happened for me earlier this week when I was reading the weekly email update from Redeemer Presbyterian’s West Side congregation. It was written by Reverend David Bisgrove. If you have followed this blog for some time you know that when in New York visiting Laura’s brother, this is where we worshipped. (note: Her brother recently moved to Miami so I’m sure our New York trips are going to be few and far between now!)

Anyway, I think that those of you with Facebook or Instagram accounts will be able to relate to what Rev. Bisgrove wrote about. I am really sure this probably even impacts your kids (or grandkids if you are a grandparent) exponentially more than you! Check this out:

“Today marks the unofficial end of summer, and the end of what one recent article entitled “On Instagram, the Summer You’re Not Having” (by Valeriya Safronova in the 8/19/15 edition of the New York Times) called the “prime side effect for the millions of people who have Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat accounts” the Fear of Missing Out (#FOMO). In other words the constant stream of primarily upbeat curated images we post and peruse over time can, according to a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, create envy as they make us feel that the “mundane middle” in which we live most of our lives is somehow inferior.

As I reflected on the article in light of the start of another ministry year I was reminded that it is in the mundane middle where we most model and glorify Jesus (emphasis mine). It is through the sacred mundane acts of compassion and kindness, prayer and worship, sacrifice and forgiveness–done in Jesus’ name that God’s Kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). So no matter what your situation, know that God has gifted and called you to live in light of the one whose “social media profile” would have included this description: “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).”

So, what are your thoughts about this? What can we do to let others–mainly those 40 and under, but anyone can fall into this trap–realize that life isn’t always going to be a great event or a really great time? The vast majority of life falls into the “mundane middle” and that is usually where we can best be the salt and light for the world.

I needed to hear this message myself this week. My problem isn’t that I get jealous about social media posts, but rather that I tend to forget that life and work can at times be really difficult. Somehow, I still get surprised by this! Thank God for some great friends who pray for me and keep me grounded!! I hope and pray you have people like that in your life. If you do, why not take some time this week and thank them!

More to come…
Jeremy

When I was around 5-years-old, I remember repeatedly praying for my little Star Wars action figures to come to life. Yes, this is actually true! I remember waking up each morning just thinking for sure that they would be alive and then………!

Now that I’m older I’m not really sure what I would have done with them if they did come alive. I mean really, think about that! Well, don’t think too hard.

The point of this story of a silly 5-year-old trying to figure out what faith actually was–is that I think a lot of adults we know still have this level of understanding of who God is. They think that God is somewhere between Santa Clause and a guardian angel. So, they tell him what they want or ask him to bless what they are doing and then their faith is wounded when they don’t get what they want or what they are doing falls apart.

To an extent, most of us still probably struggle with this to a degree. I know I catch myself still doing this more often than I care to admit.

Ken Boa (whom I have quoted from before) in his book “Conformed to His Image” sums this up better than I can. He talks about how as Christians we must repeatedly make the choice to love God more than this world. Otherwise, “the gifts of God will take the place of God, and our relationship with him will consist more of wanting things from him rather than wanting him alone. This is more of a mercenary arrangement than a true friendship; if we treated our friends this way, they would soon avoid us. But in his amazing grace, God does not abandon us. Instead, he patiently draws us to himself, and though it may take decades, he brings those who seek him for his good to the realization that these goods are empty without him,” (p. 333).

This week, let’s evaluate our quiet times with God. Are we just listing off things we want from Him? Or, are we truly seeking to know and love Him more?

More to come…

Jeremy

Last night I finally watched the movie “American Sniper”. To say that it was intense would be a huge understatement! There are many, many topics for blog posts I could write about, but what struck me most profoundly was how much hurt and deep pain our fallen world has.

The movie gives an account of an American soldier–Chris Kyle–as he serves multiple tours of duty in Iraq. The movie goes back and forth between his time in bloody building-to-building battles on the streets of Iraq and his time at home between tours trying to re-acclimate to civilian life after experiencing war conditions for months at a time.

The movie deepened my already strong appreciation for our soldiers and veterans. They sacrifice so much.

So, after the movie as I am sitting there with tears in my eyes, I am thinking, “Why does it have to be like this?” “Why is the world so messed up to the point where the cycle of violence and war are repeated over and over?”

Obviously, we live in a fallen world that is not as God intended. He didn’t intend for any of this. But He gave us free will and this is what we have made of it.

God still loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. He will come again to set this world straight, but until then we are to be about His work while we wait.

It is tempting to sit back and just think that Jesus better come back soon because I just can’t take this any longer. But, I don’t think that is what He has in mind. I do think He wants us to wait on Him (see for reference Psalm 130 that we studied yesterday at church). I also think He wants us to be working on His behalf while we wait.

What are you doing while you are waiting on the Lord? Do you find yourself paralyzed by the pain and hurt around you? There is no shame in that since it is easy to be consumed in your pain and the pain of others. And we are called to share one another’s burdens. However, even in the act of sharing one another’s burdens, you are actively fighting against the paralysis we can experience. But, with God’s help, there is also a time to go on the offensive, so to speak! We can–armed with the Holy Spirit–help bring about restoration to this world, one person at a time. Will you join the response:

“Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.”

More to come…
Jeremy

This past Thursday and Friday I went to the Global Leadership Summit put on by the Willow Creek Association. I went to this about 3 or 4 years ago and I’m not sure if I changed or the Summit has changed, but I loved it!! The messages and the speakers were excellent and I stayed up late both nights debriefing the messages and working to apply them in my life.

Now, I can’t possibly sum up all the messages in one sentence but there is one quote from Craig Groeschel–the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv–that seemed to summarize the main message I heard over the two days. He said that we need to be thankful when God gives us the “gift of disorientation”.

What?! Nobody likes to be disoriented! But, the message is that God sometimes has to disorient us to shake our thinking away from the comfort of what we know and routinely do and back towards Him and His ways.

There is a lot of sense there when you think about it. We tend to form routines for ourselves to help us deal with the busyness and noise in our lives. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with routines and over time a lot of positives can come from healthy routines.

But, sometimes when we hit a mental or spiritual “growth spurt” it is after something or someone has really done something to us to disorient our routines. I know when I went to a Walk to Emmaus weekend about 10 years ago, I was questioning some of the practices that are implemented that clearly took me out of my routines. But, as the weekend progressed, I found my disorientation turning me to Christ in a way that deeply grew my faith.

I know we usually try to avoid being disoriented–and I don’t think we are ever meant to stay disoriented long-term–but sometimes maybe we need to put ourselves in positions that are disorienting. Then, let God do the work He needs to do in us.

More to come…
Jeremy

God has a way of giving us excellent visuals as we read the Bible. For example, in Jeremiah 2:13 as the Lord is making His case against His people he says, “They have abandoned me–the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”

I know I have dug several cracked cisterns over the years that certainly did not hold water! I wish I could tell you that I have always turned to the fountain of living water in good times and bad. But, that just isn’t the case.

We can’t hide our sins from Him. He sees all and knows our hearts. We must daily go to the fountain of living water to make sure we are fixing any cracks that may be developing in our foundation. This is where the Holy Spirit can work in us and can work to develop a steely resolve to live for Jesus!

I haven’t seen the musical “Amazing Grace” yet, but in reading a review about it in World Magazine I came across this lyric from the John Newton character:

“It was not in me to change, but God in His mercy has called me by name, and He lifted me out of the pit of shame”

May the Holy Spirit work in your life this week to lift you out of the pit of shame and place you in the fountain of living water.

More to come…
Jeremy

First off, I want to give an update from last week. I have an appointment today (Monday) with the Barnabas Crisis Pregnancy Center in Peoria. I hope to find out how I can plug-in to help them as they minister to those who need help.

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This week I read the story of Hezekiah and how when he becomes deathly ill, God saves his life and grants him 15 additional years. What does Hezekiah do with his extra time that God gives him? Well, according to 2 Chronicles 32:27-30, he did some good things with this extra time.

However, when the envoys from Babylon came, Hezekiah foolishly showed them EVERYTHING he had–his weapons, his gold, his spices the whole royal treasuries. Isaiah tells Hezekiah that everything you just showed the Babylonians–they are going to carry it all away to Babylon–even his own sons! Hezekiah’s response is pretty shocking. He tells Isaiah that this is a good message because at least there will be peace and security in his lifetime.

Wow! Do you know anyone that is so caught up in the moment that they are willing to sell out the next generation! Is this how we should respond to God’s blessings in our lives?

I’m afraid it is a temptation that we entertain more frequently than we care to admit. We have been blessed by God in so many ways, but yet why do these verses resonate with me:

“For the leaders of my people–the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds–are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming. Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain.” (Isaiah 56:10-11)

Our culture can lure us to sleep very unsuspectingly, can’t it? I know that is the case for me, anyway. Isaiah’s words were harsh for me to hear, but only because I felt like he was speaking to me!

Let us hold each other to the standard where we are blessed to then be a blessing to others!!

More to come…
Jeremy

After taking a few weeks off for the summer, my plan was to write a blog that talked about the benefits of rest and the importance of focused time with family. But, a story broke this week that really has called me to go in a different direction.

The Center for Medical Progress released a video of a high-ranking member of Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of aborted babies organs and tissue. This story truly broke my heart. But not only for the most obvious reasons of defenseless babies being killed and dismembered for sale. My goodness, this story came from America! Or, for the matter-of-fact way in which the Planned Parenthood executive discusses how the doctors can perform an abortion in a certain way to save the organs that will be sold.

No, what hit me the hardest after the shock of the story is that I realized that I will have to give an account for what I did to defend the defenseless. I say I am “pro-life”. I vote for “pro-life candidates”. But what am I doing to help mothers who are considering abortion? I can’t sit back and claim to not be able to do anything to help those who are unable to help themselves.

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FINAL THOUGHTS AND NEXT STEPS

I feel so tempted to just sit back and shrug my shoulders and think that some problems are just so large that I can’t do anything about them. But, is that would Jesus would have me do? Is there times in the Bible where He looks at the disciples and says, “Well guys, it is what it is. I know it just doesn’t seem right, but the opposition is well-funded and has a hold on the culture so we will just have to make the best of things.” Reading that even sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it!

So here are some next steps for us if you, too, feel as though something has to be done:

1. Start thinking of yourself as an “agent of restoration”. We are called to be God’s agents here on earth to restore what has been lost.

2. Unless you have thoroughly prepared, please don’t argue with hard-core pro-choicers who are just looking to suck you into a debate. If their heart doesn’t allow them to truly listen to what you are saying you can’t change their minds anyway. All that does is run you a great risk of looking poorly. Focus instead on what actions you can do to help support the pro-life movement.

3. Commit to praying for the ending of abortion.

4. Volunteer and/or financially support local non-profit pregnancy care centers. This week I have identified 3 in my area that I am prayerfully considering supporting with my time. If anyone has a particular place they support I would love to here from you.

5. Get informed! Here are two great materials I have been introduced to in the last week:

A. Chapter 4 of “Restoring All Things: God’s Audacious Plan to Change the World Through Everyday People” by John Stonestreet and Warren Cole Smith
B. Listen to the July 10th podcast of “Listening In” with special guest Scott Klusendorf. I can’t tell you how much that conversation will inspire you!

More to come…
Jeremy

As much as I try to be a “glass-half-full” type of guy, I seem to daily battle my natural bent of being a “glass-half-empty” type of guy. Thankfully, God has put people around me–especially my wife–who help me in my daily struggle.

So when I read Psalm 37:4 which says to, “Take delight in the Lord” that really gives me a refreshing perspective! In helps me turn from taking a defensive posture that says, “Gosh, I hope I don’t screw up (name that important thing going on today)!” and turns in on its head! My focus needs to be delighting in the Lord who saved me with the blood of His Son on the cross.

In fact, if you scan Psalm 37 you will see all types of words to strengthen your faith during the daily battles we face:

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;” (v. 1)

“Trust in the Lord and do good.” (v. 3)

“Commit your way to the Lord:” (v. 5)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;” (v. 7)

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” (vs. 8-9)

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” (vs. 23-24)

The Psalms never cease to amaze me in how they were written so long ago but yet often times seem like they could have been written today!

What Psalms do you find yourself returning to over and over?

If you haven’t visited the Psalms in a while, why not make this the day you dive into them. I know that you will hear God speaking to you through them!

More to come…
Jeremy

Oh, how I am a weak man when it comes to certain things! Satan knows this and of course uses those very things to make me feel worthless to the Kingdom of God. I think this is one of his most effective ways of taking out Christians and marginalizing us by constantly reminding us of our failures and how weak we are.

Mark Krupa doesn’t know it, but he gave me some great encouragement via Facebook this past week. Normally–as evidenced by how often I post on Facebook–I am not a big social media fan but Mark had two posts that seemed to be laser pointed right at me.

His first post directed people to Bill Hybels sermon last Sunday at Willow Creek. It talked about grace and really challenged me to re-focus on this area in my life–and also to make sure I am extending grace to others like Jesus extends to me!!

I will quote his post from this past Friday:

“Advice for when we mess up: ‘Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or deliver you; they are worthless. The Lord will not abandon His people, because of His great name and because He has determined to make you His own people.’ (1 Samuel 12:20-22 HCSB)

Summary: don’t STOP with God when we’ve sinned–that makes a bad thing worse–Turn TO Him!”

Thank you Mark for those words!!! Did you need to hear those words today? Is there someone you know and love who needs to hear those words today?

More to come…
Jeremy