Luke | Heart of the Matter

September 27, 2009 By Luke 15 Comments

The Bible on Stewardship

“I don’t care if ‘the cattle on a thousand hills’ are the Lord’s (Psalm 50:10), because He isn’t giving them to me.”

“I need to be good steward of what I have or else it will fly away (Proverbs 6:10-11). That’s stewardship.”

“I wish I could buy this or that, but I can’t. I have to serve God with my money, what little of it I have.”

“I can’t just buy whatever I want. Certainly not with the way my finances are right now!”

Right?

Actually, no.

While we need to be good stewards of our money, God has a slightly different perspective on what stewardship means.

See, I used to rather despise God’s provision for me. “Sure, God,” I’d say. “You give me enough to live on, but that’s it. My life is miserable because I’m just barely making ends meet.” And all the while I knew that I was just being ungrateful, because He really was blessing me more than just to get by… though not by much. So I was just ungrateful, wasn’t I?

I was poor and ungrateful. And did I mention miserable?

*****

In January of 2007 I had had enough. It was right after another really horrible Christmas: you know, the time when it is better to give than to receive? I couldn’t bear to give because I didn’t have any money in the budget for presents. I couldn’t believe how much we had spent, and was convinced that Brittany and I were going to lose our house or something for our irresponsible spending during the holiday season. I was at a breaking point.

I finally decided to try a thing I’d heard about many times before that my dad called “The Party Tithe.” This concept comes from Deuteronomy 14:22-26. I’ll quote you the KJV because that is often considered the strictest translation, but feel free to look this up in your favorite version. Here’s verse 25:

And thou shalt bestow that [tithe] for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.

We are told by God to take a tenth of our income–on top of the tenth we’ve already tithed for His Kingdom purposes–and spend it on whatever we want as a way of rejoicing before Him.

Brittany and I agreed to put a tenth of what I make into a Party bank account. This account, then, would pay for gifts, eating out, games, movies, splurge items, vacations, and anything else I feel like slipping in there.

Parties and Stewardship

I cannot express how incredibly freeing this has been.

My guess is that it feels as good, if not better, than being debt free. Why? Because I am no longer indebted to my “stewardship” to scrimp and save every penny. I can rest in the joy and peace found in trusting God to take care of the rest. And He has. Because, just like regular tithing, this is about resting in God rather than trying to make ends meet on our own. He provides, and He also gives us rest. That’s the point of taking a Sabbath, of tithing, and the Party Tithe. When you start doing it, life gets better.

Imagine that: The Bible suggesting a way of life that leads to greater freedom, more joy, and even more partying.

That’s exactly how God works. But when I was trusting in the god of money, I wasn’t free, I didn’t experience joy, and I never really partied. I felt poor, beaten down, and constantly enslaved to a budget. Now, I have an entire “spend without guilt” fund that is God ordained. God has commanded that we spend a tenth of our money on rejoicing before Him.

It has been over a year and a half since we started the Party Tithe, and life is so much better. I’m still learning to let go of money and spend it with joy because of God’s goodness to us, but we go out to eat once a week, we can purchase gifts (even for ourselves), and we flew out to California last Christmas to spend time with Brittany’s folks.

And the Party Fund has never been larger.

Luke Holzmann is the son of John and Sarita Holzmann, founders of Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., in Littleton, CO, where he is the Media Relations Specialist. He attended Biola University, in La Mirada, CA, and earned the BA in Motion Picture Production. You can find his work at http://www.sonlightblog.com/, production-now.com, and lukeholzmann.blogspot.com.

May 14, 2009 By Luke 8 Comments

Whenever I teach Sunday School, I spend about 10 minutes at the end of class doing “Random Bible Question Time with Luke.” This the part of the show where you can ask me anything you’ve ever wondered about God, religion, or the Bible. Over the years, we’ve dealt with all sorts of questions ranging from, “Is there someone named Bob in the Bible?” to, “Why does God allow bad stuff to happen?”

My mom suggested that I start posting my answers here every now and again as encouragement for you. And I thought that was a great idea. So, here are a few of the questions I’ve had in the recent months, and how I answered them:

Is there anyone named Bob in the Bible? No.

What’s the difference between Catholics and Christians? Catholics are Christians, just another form of Christianity–much like the different denominations. We hold different views on some things, and do our services in different ways, but we all believe in Jesus and His death and resurrection for our salvation.

Why do all Mormon Temples look the same? I’m not sure about the Temples, but every Book of Mormon is the same. That way people can say, “Turn to page 125″ and everyone will be at the same spot. We don’t have that with our Bibles. But Mormons like that their books are uniform. The way Mormon Temples look probably has roots in the Masons, a group Joseph Smith used as a foundation for many of the things he instituted in Mormonism.

Why is the Devil’s number 666? The Bible doesn’t exactly say. However, Numerology may play a part in this. If I remember correctly, six is the number for imperfection and man (it is one less than seven, which is the “perfect” number). Three may mean the three persons of God–Trinity–and so perhaps it is the number of an imperfect god. But I don’t know, exactly. On the other hand, Numerology is fascinating. Each letter in Hebrew is given a value, and you can do some fun stuff with words that way. For instance, if you add the value of “Mother” and “Father” together, you get the value for the word “Child.” Cool, eh?

Where did Jesus perform the water into wine miracle? Cana in Galilee.

Can you believe in two religions (Christianity and Judaism)? First, we need to remember that you can be Jewish in two ways: Ethnically/socially and religiously. I have a little Jewish blood in me, so I’m part Jewish by heritage. You can also believe and follow Jewish teachings, which would make you religiously Jewish. There are also Messianic Jews, who believe that Jesus was the Messiah. And that’s the big difference between Judaism and Christianity: Non-Messianic Jews don’t believe Jesus was the Savior and are still waiting for the Messiah to come. And that’s the important difference: Jesus. You can follow other practices and customs–much like our different denominations–but the important thing is Jesus. So, yes, you can be both Jewish and Christian, but you need to get Jesus right.

Why are bunnies and eggs part of Easter? Easter used to be a pagan celebration of fertility, and bunnies breed very quickly. And eggs are also a symbol of new life. These symbols stayed when we started to celebrate the new life we have in Christ when He died and rose again.

Okay, class dismissed. If your parents are here, you can leave with them. Have a great week!

Feedback? Did you like this? Would you like more of these? Or are you thinking, ‘Please, Luke, don’t give us any more of your answers to random Bible questions!’ Be honest. I think this kind of thing is important, but I don’t want to bore you or drive you batty.

luke Luke Holzmann is the son of John and Sarita Holzmann, founders of Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., in Littleton, CO, where he is the Media Relations Specialist. He attended Biola University, in La Mirada, CA, and earned the BA in Motion Picture Production. You can find his work at http://www.sonlightblog.com/, production-now.com, and lukeholzmann.blogspot.com.

April 1, 2009 By Luke 4 Comments

April 1 is a big day.

Google typically announces some crazy new thing; Blizzard too.
Sonlight launches it’s latest catalog, and also sometimes updates the look and feel of the site.
People play practical jokes on one another.
And April 1 is the day I bought my house.

The Search

While Brittany and I were still in school we didn’t know where to look for a house. I loved Colorado, but I was about to graduate with a degree in Motion Picture Production, so staying in California made a lot of sense. And so we started praying. Not all the time, mind you, but every once in a while. And we prayed that God would get us the “right house in the right place.” I also wanted an unfinished basement where I could set up a studio, and a back door that led to the basement in case I ever got any clients.

I connected with a real estate agent and went house shopping. None of the houses he showed me were even close to what I wanted. And so I got home and moped around. I complained to my parents, “I don’t know anything about buying a house. How am I supposed to do this?”

My dad reminded me that my little brother’s best friend’s parents were moving, and had kept the house off the market until I had come by. Their house was in Englewood, near my high school. The next day I went to look, and instantly fell in love with it. The house was perfect, and even had a back door that went down to an unfinished basement; not to mention the three sheds, small pond, hot tub, or great neighborhood with a 4th of July party every year.

The Blessing

Shortly after closing on the house, Brittany and I got married out in California and I drove her and our stuff to our new home.

And it was home. It was our home. But we decided that since God had blessed us with such a wonderful house, we would keep it open to others. And since the day we moved in, there have only been a few months where someone else has not lived with us or stayed a night. We host church small groups. We have parties. We welcome in people selling Girl Scout cookies or religion. And now we are working on welcoming home three children from Kyrgyzstan.

This is not to pat myself on the back at all. I’m a terrible host–but thankfully my wife is much better. This is just a blazingly clear example of how I have been blessed so I can be a blessing to others.

Remembering

But here’s the problem: I worry.

Much like the Israelite who wandered in the desert and complained about a lack of water, lack of meat, and lack of strength, I grumble about my tight budget, my clogged plumbing, and my lack of good record keeping (which is really problematic since it’s tax season). But the solution to such discontent and worry is not to think happy thoughts or try to improve my attitude… at least, that’s never worked for me. Rather, I must remember all the blessings I have had–the times God has come through for me in the past–so I can have legitimate hope for the future. But the past is long gone and today’s problems are very close, which is one of the many reasons I find it hard to keep the past in mind. And that is why God commanded the Israelites to set up visual reminders for themselves; mostly piles of stones… which wouldn’t be very effective today.

So, instead, I’m having a party at my house today. It’s a time we can get together with friends and family and celebrate a very real blessing in our life and a reason to have hope for God’s provision in the future. I’ve wanted to host such a party for years now, but have never done it. But today, I’m stepping out in a new act of faith. A spiritual discipline, if you will. And you’d better believe that parties can be spiritual disciplines. They certainly were for the Israelites.

What about you? What blessings do you need to remember? And which ones do you need to celebrate to help you remember?

March 2, 2009 By Luke 1 Comment

Pinocchio wants to be a real boy.

But how?

Pinocchio’s journey of self-discovery through exploration, temptation, and danger ultimately ends him in a place of selflessness and new life. And there is likely a lot we can learn from his tale. But his literary existence hasn’t seemed to help us much.

Like Pinocchio, we have a similar question. I just got back from a men’s breakfast at my church. This morning we started to consider the question of what it means to be a real man–and, by extension, a real woman. The speaker mentioned that as a church we struggle to answer this question.

But I think our entire society is saying the same thing: “I want to be a real ~~boy~~ man/woman!”

My sister-in-law is currently working on a collaborative art piece that asks the question: What does it mean to be a woman? And I can think of many films that ask the same question for men; Fight Club is the epitome of such films. It’s not just the church that’s looking for an answer, it’s our entire culture. And, for whatever reason, I’m feeling the weight of that question these days.

And that’s why I like bloggers so much more than speakers. The guy today kept saying, “Men in America need _____.” Over and over again. I felt like I was listening to a guy read from a “Men Need” Google Meme. While I could relate to some of what he was saying, it wasn’t personal. But out here on the blogosphere we talk personally: I need. I think. I’m dealing with.

And I like that.

Pinocchio really only gets into trouble when he sets off on his own–or with people who don’t care about him. And Fight Club demonstrates, in a rather twisted way, our immense need to belong to a community that encourages forward motion. And, really, the Bible says the same thing in Hebrews 24-25:

…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

All that to say: I am glad for the communities and people God has put in my life here on blogosphere, at work, and at church. And I look forward to the day when I too will become a “real boy” with the help of my friends and family.

May you draw closer to the people who love you and can encourage you in your journey toward being the woman (or man) you are supposed to be.

January 28, 2009 By Luke 7 Comments

We just finished a series on “Dreams” at our church. The messages were taken from the life of Joseph who had two dreams early in his life and had to wait a long time before they were realized. Along the way he encountered two other sets of two dreams, which he interpreted and insisted were true by faith in God bringing about his own yet unfulfilled dreams. This is significant stuff, and probably one of the many reasons why Genesis slows down to focus on this guy.

boxdreams

The basic thrust of the messages was that we need to keep looking for the dreams of God in our own lives, and be persistent in our faith that God will bring them about.

I struggle with that.

Dreams

See, I’ve always been a dreamer. I’ve also been one to throw myself completely into pursuing a dream. I don’t just go half way with these things. I pursue my dreams with gusto and faith. My current dream is adoption, so I’m going for three children at once. When I believe I’ve got a dream from God, I go for it.

…and thus far, the dreams are still just great expectations.

After one Sunday morning earlier this month, my mom asked what I thought of the sermon. I told her that I thought people needed to be more careful about dreams. “Look at my life,” I said. “I’ve had lots of dreams, and what good has it done? I think God does give dreams and brings them about, but what about the times when He doesn’t? I just don’t see enough examples in Scripture to believe God wants to give everyone these kinds of dreams. I think it’s foolish to push dreams on people when many times they aren’t realized.”

Such a hopeful young man, I am.

A week later my mom said to me, “I’ve been thinking about what you said, Luke. And I think you are unique in how you pursue dreams. Most people don’t do that. Most people need to stretch their faith more.”

“Sure, mom.”

I guess deep down, I don’t want people to go through this. The waiting is so hard. The sense of disappointment so strong. The fear of abandonment so palpable. And I realize that my faith is this very odd thing: I step out boldly in faith, daring God to make it happen. But at the same time, I doubt that He will. I know God can do it… but I’m also waiting for Him to choose not to. And with our adoption, I know God is working on it and will make it happen in His timing, in His way. I know He’s got this one under control. But my expectation is so great and my heart so in this, that I often can’t even find the faith to pray about it. What could I say to God? It’s up to Him, and I am at His mercy.

So, maybe, while I trust His power I’m less confident in His kindness.

Joseph

Was Joseph ever here?

It’s hard to say because we have so little record of his take on his journey. His story is mostly narrative history, not introspective reflections. We only get the facts about his dreams and the outcome. We are not privy to Joseph’s feelings and struggles. And so, when I hear yet again that I must wait for my expectations to become a reality, I don’t know how to respond. There isn’t much else I can do.

It’s almost like I’ve been tossed into prison. I have to wait for my release in hope that one day my dream will come true.

What did Joseph do while in prison? Regardless of how he felt, the fact of the matter is he went about his life as a prisoner in such a way that he was put in charge. He acted well, cared about his fellow inmates, and took on the responsibilities given to him for that time.

dad May I be such a man as I wait with great expectation.

Great Expectations

Over the last few weeks, I have had a change of heart. Well, more precisely, I find my heart is being changed. And so may I encourage you, taking a cue from the faith of Joseph, to rest in the certainty of dreams God gives. How and when will they come about? I can’t say. But God gives dreams and brings them to pass. If you, for whatever reason, no longer have any dreams from God, ask Him for some.

But if you are more like me and in a place where dreams seem more of a cosmic tease than a reality, I ask that you join me in waiting with great expectation. I remember how God has blessed me and cared for me thus far, and in faith I say it is no different today. May God remind you of His great provision and guidance as well.

No matter where you are in your journey with dreams, I appreciate your prayers while I wait for God to make my expectations a reality.

January 1, 2009 By Luke 7 Comments

I loved the book of Job in high school. I even wrote a paper on him. And Job is particularly applicable right now because he, in a way, made a New Year’s Resolution:

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. ~Job 31:1

What’s more, Job is so convinced of his ability to carry out this resolution that he stakes his marriage on it (Job 31:9-10).

… I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t do such a thing. For as much as I may resolve to get up and do a little workout every morning, I know it’s not going to happen (like this morning when I decided to take an extra long shower instead). In fact, I gave up on resolutions a long time ago. Perhaps it was my camp experiences as a kid: I’d go to camp, get “all fired up”–remember, I’m rather excitable–go forward at the altar call and resolve to change, be better, or perhaps just do a little more (or less) of something.

Odds are you know how this story concludes.

Not two weeks later I’d be left wondering why I failed so miserably. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I keep it together? Where’s God’s transforming power? Sure, I may have tried again for a month or so, but ultimately I’d just give up in despair.

What I found was that my willpower let me down, but not in the way I usually hear about it. My flesh isn’t weak in the sense that I can’t get myself to do something. Oh no, that’s not it at all. I’m an ex-National level swimmer. I’ve done Cross Country. I can get myself to do a great many things. The problem is that I find I’d rather do something else. It’s like the quote I’ve heard from smokers again and again: I could quit if I wanted to.

I agree. Absolutely.

The problem is that we don’t want to, which is why we keep doing it. And so no matter how much I may resolve to get back into shape, I know eventually I’m going to do what I want to do instead. The same is true of sins as well. And rather than keep lying to myself, I resolved to make no New Year’s Resolutions. They didn’t work.

Yet the bothersome reality is that I have seen change in my life. The most notable is with daily Bible reading. I “struggled” with that for years [read: I resolved to, and eventually gave up... again and again]. I would be inspired by the stories I heard of kids who wore out their Bibles with use. I knew it was good to daily spend time in the Word. I could totally have made time if I had wanted to. But as much as I wanted to, I didn’t. Somewhere deep down I didn’t want to take the time. And my will is strong, so I’m going to do what I want to do.

Eventually I got fed up with not having a daily “devotional” time. I knew I wasn’t going to spend an hour on such a thing. So, instead, I decided to read a chapter a day (except weekends) and if I skipped a day to not sweat it. Five minutes, tops. If the chapter felt too long, I would let myself stop in the middle. I could make myself do it even if I didn’t want to.

I’d love to say that now I spend three hours reading Hebrew and praying for the persecuted church. I mean, that’s what happens, right? We start on a spiritual discipline and then God makes it grow into some huge passion of ours. Before you know it, I’m on my face every morning weeping over the wonderful insights God has given me. Wouldn’t that be cool?

It would.

But my story is a little different. I get up, take a shower, and then come back and read a chapter aloud from the Bible to my wife (who is still mostly asleep). If the chapter feels long, I stop somewhere in the middle. Every once in a while I skip a day. But, surprisingly, that is very, very rare. I’ve discovered I can work with a discipline.

What’s the difference, then, between a resolution and a discipline? It may simply be semantic, but in my mind the implications are huge:

A resolution is about life change, a shift, something you are going to alter within yourself now and forevermore. More importantly, I can fail at a resolution.

Discipline is about a small consistent practice, something I’m going to add (or subtract) from my life on a regular basis. It’s a process I hope brings change, but a process, not a destination or accomplishment (“I read my Bible in a year” is an accomplishment). And while I could give up on a discipline, I can’t really fail it. What’s more, a discipline allows me to challenge myself, my will, to do something I may not really want to do. But it’s an opportunity for improvement, and just like getting up at 4am for a swim practice is not something I want to do, it’s something I can get myself to do as a discipline. Any resolution made for such an early morning routine would be futile. Not interested.

So since I’m not as holy as Job–and I know for a fact that I’m not–perhaps this year I will focus on one–or three small disciplines.

But don’t you dare try to resolve to take up some disciplines. To quote a famous little green dude:

Do or do not do. There is no try.

Why?

Because when I try, I eventually decide I’d rather not. But if I just start doing something in moderation and grace, I find I do more.

May we find joy in the New Year as we grow in disciplines.

December 3, 2008 By Luke 9 Comments

This month I’m going to give you two tips for the price one.

Pretty cool, for sure.

With the Christmas season upon us, and the school year well underway, you’re likely wondering about two things. One: What do I get my kids for Christmas? And two: How can I help them be more interested in our read aloud time? Thankfully, I’m here to give you a single answer to both those questions. I hope you find this suggestion helpful:

Tip 1: Buy Legos for Christmas

I know Legos are expensive, but they are also one of the best toys available. They are great for almost all ages and last a long, long time. However, keep in mind that while the model like sets (such as Star Wars) are really cool looking, they are more model than toy. So, get sets that allow for a lot of creativity, and not just a diorama. (That extra tip is free.)

Brittany and I have made it a family tradition to ask for a Lego set every Christmas. And so far, we’ve done well. Not only is it a blast to assemble the new set, there is something nostalgic and timeless about the sound a wrapped Lego box makes when you gently shake it.

But Legos are so much more than a great gift idea. They are also an incredible learning tool. And I don’t just mean in the geometric, spacial, construction, design, imaginative way either (though those also apply). No, Legos are great for literature.

That’s right: Literature.

Tip 2: Let your kids build with their Legos while you read

Every so often I come across comments from mothers who find that their children don’t focus well during the read aloud portion of school. For them, Sonlight–the quintessential literature-rich homeschooling option–isn’t a good fit because their children need something tactile and more active than snuggling and listening to a great book.

And really, what child hasn’t become disinterested in reading from time to time? I mean, if a model student such as myself <cough cough> can find himself in la-la land, perhaps the same is true of others.

To help with this problem my sister sometimes doodled, but I have never been the artistic type in that regard (and I think my occasional blog graphics attest to that fact nicely <smile>). So, drawing didn’t work for me.

But Legos were fantastic. The directions, if I chose to follow any, were made up of pictures with no words. I could build to my heart’s content and never lose track of what was happening in the books.

In fact, there were days that I retained more information because I was building with Legos than if I hadn’t been. If your children are completely disengaged, their minds will wander to other ideas and leave you reading to yourself. However, if your children are occupied in one area, they are free to listen in as you read.

Time and time again I have heard from other parents who find that their children who seem to be lost in another activity actually grasp more of the material than those who merely sit and listen.

So, if you’re wondering what do about gifts and how to help your children stick with the literature you are reading, I suggest Legos.

Perhaps Lego should come up with a new slogan instead of “Play on …”. Something to the effect of: Lego: Love to Learn and Listen.

Eh, nevermind.

Instead, just focus on the love to learn with your great book selection, and if your children need something to do, give them some Legos.

It worked well for me… and look how I turned out.

Okay, maybe not. Instead, consider the fact that the human mind can think faster than people can talk–which is a good thing because if we couldn’t it would be a long time between sentences in a conversation–but this can encourage the mind to wander. So, nip this in a bud and give your tactile/energetic/less-than-willing-listener something to do with his or her hands.

The only potential drawback to Legos, which we experienced in our house, is that large amounts of Legos in large plastic tubs can be rather noisy. It is best to let your children spread the Legos out on the carpet or rug at the beginning. That also makes it easier to find the piece you’re looking for.

It can be a hassle to pick up the Legos when reading time is over, but with practice it can become a relatively quick and painless effort. Just make sure your vacuum doesn’t eat any of these precious pieces of plastic.

Just to be clear: I am not a Lego spokesperson. I’ve just been a happy user for over 20 years.

Me and Duplos

Of course, the same can be said of ice cream as well. But that would be a different post.

Me and Ice Cream

A thick, red, two by two anyone?

Learning Environment: 10 Tips That Helped Our Homeschool
Encouraging the Love of Literature
The Remedy For Big Tears and; Little Attention Spans?
Motivate Your Child to Learn Using These 4 Steps

November 5, 2008 By Luke 13 Comments

I was going to write another brilliant article.

I spent several days fussing with it, getting feedback, and rewriting.

I was going to shed light on the mystery of sanctification and give you a reason to find comfort and hope no matter what you were going through.

I was going to do this… and then I realized that I couldn’t.

And that bothered me. I have a responsibility to write something profound for you to read. I had accepted this challenge and was failing.

Finally, after beating my head against my screen for another three hours, I stormed upstairs to start dinner. As I fumed at the tuna, my wife, Brittany, came upstairs and stood by me. “Can I pray for you?” she asked.

“NO!” I scowled, realizing at that moment that I should have been praying instead of trying to write for the past several hours. “Fine,” I spit, after a few moments of stewing. She prayed that God would give me wisdom as to what to write, that what I wrote would be effective and important, and that God would be glorified in what I wrote.

Oh, right: God.

I had taken on the pressure and worry of proving that I was a good writer, an insightful person, and worthy of being the lone male voice on this blog. I wrote brilliant articles. People loved what I had to say. My posts changed lives, for cryin’ out loud!

And with a simple prayer my wife gently took the focus off me and put it back where it belonged: On Him.

Without love I am a clanging gong, a noisy cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). And I had been making a hideous racket. In fact, my lack of love was due to my intense pride. I wasn’t thinking about anyone other than myself and the praises I would get: What a brilliant young man you are, Luke Holzmann!

So I wrote this instead as an attempt to get my heart straight, my head in line, and my pride out of the picture. But that’s only going to happen by the grace of God because pride is a sneaky foe. C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters wrote about how if a man becomes humble, all that needs to be done is make the man proud of his humility.

It’s the joke of: They gave me a medal for being humble, and took it away when I wore it.

But that isn’t even right because saying, “Oh no, I didn’t write something insightful,” is false humility and equally prideful.

In the end, if anyone compliments me for this article, I can truly, honestly say, “Only by the grace of God because I am not the brilliantly insightful man that I want to be… at least, not without God making me so.”

So, I guess I did end up writing about sanctification: I’m still in process and very much in need of God’s grace.

Isn’t it incredible that He uses me anyway?

Oh what manner of love the Father has given unto us…

Better yet, read all of 1 John 3. That passage is a stark contrast to what I have already written. Perhaps someday I’ll have a better grasp on sanctification. Until that day, I’m resting in His grace and thanking Him for allowing me to write articles.

October 8, 2008 By Luke 10 Comments

I don’t pay attention to dates much. I no longer carry a PDA or a watch. I almost never look at a calendar. This is why I consider it a blessing that my wife’s and my anniversary is 7/10, her birthday is 8/10, and mine is 9/10. Seven, Eight, Nine… on the Tenth. Good stuff.

And that’s why I’ve had my heart set on us getting our kids on 10/10.

When you read this it will be the 8th. That means I want the kids the day after tomorrow.

Brittany and I assumed we would simply have kids. That didn’t happen, and so we considered adopting. The more we thought about adoption, the more we liked the idea. So we took the plunge and began the adoption process. And then we began talking. And the more we talked about the kids, the more I wanted to hold them on October 10th.

As I write this, it is still theoretically possible for Brittany and me to be in Kyrgyzstan by the 10th. But if I’m still in the country when you read this, unless I’m getting on a plane, that dream isn’t going to be reality.

And I realize I’ve been here before.

1AD

It was the summer before my senior year of high school. I had recently returned from a three week leadership training program in Europe. I had spent the last three years passionately proclaiming Christ at my school (a local public school after eight years at home; I’ll tell that story sometime), and I was now at summer camp. The speaker told the story of a man who saved a person every single day for a year. He then encouraged us to consider what God wanted in our lives and to move forward in faith in that. After that session, he told us to go outside and find a rock as a symbol of the certainty of God’s promises. It was a “Promise Rock,” a tangible reminder for us while we prayed.

And pray I did. In the weeks leading up to the start of school, I regularly prayed through the yearbook from the year before; face by face, and name by name. I also fasted for my school on a weekly basis. God wanted to save my school, and I was going to move forward in that certainty and pray for a person a day to come to Christ. I even gave it a handy name: 1AD.

My 1AD Rock

All God needed was someone willing and available, and I was that man. It wasn’t my responsibility to save souls, that’s God’s job, but I was the conduit that God was going to use. And if not me, that would be okay as well, but not as ideal.

I was praying. Others were praying. We were all stepping out in faith for this radical revival that God would change hearts and minds.

My mom cautioned that sometimes it takes awhile for things to move forward, and that I shouldn’t get too discouraged if no one came to Christ in the first couple of months.

I smiled. “Okay, Mom. I know.”

But come on. God wants to save people. He’s just waiting for us to act so He can move. Just have a bit more faith.

I had faith. I had more than a mustard seed, and I was moving forward in the power of God, walking in His promises, acting in faith, and resting in His grace. I knew I couldn’t do it, and I was relying on Him to make it happen.

Collapse

You didn’t hear about the incredible revival that swept through Englewood High School in Colorado, did you? No one from my school was interviewed by Focus on the Family, Acquire the Fire, or Teen Mania. I wasn’t asked to speak at any Christian events.

1AD was a flop.

But it was much worse than that.

I was the leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes “huddle” at my school, and our numbers dropped from the 40 people we had after Columbine the year before… to four. Our weekly prayer group dwindled to me, a friend of mine, and my sister. I was unable to pull a repeat of the “Worshipfest” held at my school the year before. In other words: My ministry completely fell apart.

Epic Fail.

I fell apart, too.

I entered my Christian college a shattered man. I had failed God. He had failed me. Every missions event and chapel was a lie. Every enthusiastic proclamation about God’s promises was a slap in my face. God wants to save people? Puh-lease! What a bunch of crock!

Answers and Outcomes

I wish I could tell you, “I have since come to see that God was actually….” But I can’t. I have no idea what God was doing that year. I mean, sure, I relate to people who are going through similar things. I can caution people against crazy expectations. And I have a completely different view on evangelism and high school ministry. But I don’t know what the lesson was. I don’t know what I learned, or was supposed to learn.

But I’m okay with it now.

I still tear up when I think about it. I still get angry sometimes. I’m very wary when people talk about God’s will, His promises, or His desires. But I’ve come to rest in God again, I’m just far less certain of what He wants to do.

So where will October 10th find me?

I’m not sure. But I am learning to give up and throw myself on God and His plan… even if that means failure, defeat, disappointment or rejection.

It ain’t easy, but it’s where I live.

I hope next month to be able to share with you the amazing details of our last minute scramble to get to Kyrgyzstan, but if that doesn’t happen, God is still in control.

What does that mean? I have no idea. But His grace is sufficient for that.

And His grace is sufficient for you as well.

August 21, 2008 By Luke 12 Comments

The Harris Brothers, authors of the popular Christian book Do Hard Things, recently published an article about two girls who “took a stand for Christ.” These girls stood up against the ACLU which demanded that they not offer a prayer at graduation. In the end, everyone at their school participated in the “Lord’s Prayer” and one of the sisters was able to share from her heart about Christ. Because of their faithfulness, both girls got full-ride scholarships to a university and the opportunity to talk on CNN.

Pretty crazy and awesome.

But let me tell you another story.

The Boy Who Didn’t Talk

This is the tale of another valedictorian. He was given the task of presenting a speech at graduation. But while preparing, he was told by the assistant principal that if he even mentioned God once, they would pull the microphone from him and he would be asked to sit down.

He wrestled with that. He knew he should take a “radical stand for Christ” and tell people about his Savior despite this worldly resistance. Right?

Right?

In the end, he didn’t. During the graduation ceremony, he gave his speech about building our future on a solid foundation. Sure, it had religious overtones, but he didn’t mention what that Foundation was.

No one complained, but no one really cheered him either.

In fact, after the ceremony, a lawyer approached this young man and asked why he hadn’t shared his faith. “I represent an organization that protects your rights. You could have said what you wanted.”

The boy shook his head. “No,” he said. “I figured if people didn’t know my stance already, a two-minute speech wouldn’t help.”

The lawyer looked down at the boy for a moment and then walked away.

Minutes and Years

I am convinced, to this day, that had I spoken up at my graduation, people would have been angry and, even worse, turned off. I had spent the previous four years talking with my classmates, discussing things, praying and fasting, witnessing, and, when necessary, using words. And so for me to stand up and proclaim Jesus from the podium would have been a terrible thing to do. I would have been preaching for me; to show everyone that I was not afraid to speak out; I was bold enough to take a stand. But had I done that, my short speech would have had little or nothing to do with my audience. My speech would have been for my affirmation, not for their salvation or encouragement.

So I did a hard thing. I took a “radical stand for Christ.” I kept my mouth shut.

And because I did that, I had a Christian man confront me for not being bold. He didn’t know, or even care, that I had spent the previous four years in earnest, individual, personal ministry. All he worried about was a big, showy display of my devotion to God. In fact, I’m not sure he even cared what my boldness would have meant to the audience–almost as if to say, “Your audience is not important. You need to speak up, regardless.”

This disregard is what bothers me. Our ministry should not be about us or our few minutes of fame. Our love for others needs to be based in our desire to serve and gently point to Christ. If that means speaking up like Megan and Mandy, by all means do that. But we must carefully consider our audience, our message, and our motivation before we open our mouths. Otherwise, we are little more than a clanging gong (1 Corinthians 13:1).

But keeping quiet isn’t a popular thing for Christian youth to do. So the resistance you or your children face may come from the Christian community around you, not the ACLU or a school administrator.

Peer Pressure

It is difficult to take a stand for what is right when those who appear spiritual disapprove. But we must be bold and follow as God leads, no matter the outcome.

Brett Harris concludes the article about the two girls by asking,

[W]hat if Megan had been booed? What if the ACLU had won? What if Megan and Mandy were made “media-martyrs” for standing up for Christ? Would God be less amazing? …I hope that Megan and Mandy’s story will inspire you to take radical stands for Christ, trusting firmly in God’s goodness, whatever the outcome might be. My prayer is that our generation would count the cost and stand anyway [like] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The problem with the questions Brett asks is that they are about us, and not about the audience. If we were to shift our focus to our audience, and ask what we should do to show them Christ’s love, then we wouldn’t care if we were booed. The fact that Brett even brings up the issue of public humiliation points the focus back on us, our affirmation, our spiritual image.

May I encourage you to take a stand for God: The stand He has called you to make. If that is to loudly proclaim, then do so. If His call is for you to work faithfully and quietly in the background, do that instead. Model this for your children, and encourage them to consider where their focus is when they make choices to stand for God. Is their focus on themselves, or on their audience?

Heart of the Matter

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