We live in a world where grace is of the premium. We are quick to ridicule, judge, and tear down. As much as we love a good comeback story we also love the dirt of a great fall. Especially one’s where all the kings horses and men cannot put Lindsey Lohan back together again. We like grace when we receive it but it is tough for us to give. Or is it. Think for a moment of the past couple years. We have seen a many great fall.
Brittney Spears

Tiger Woods

Michael Vick

John and Kate Plus 8…well…maybe!!!

Either way you get the point. We say that our world is graceless and we thrive off of trashing others, but I have had more conversations with people lately that said they love seeing these people beat the odds, receive grace, and rise to greatness again. As I thought about this, this is true. I have never met any of the above, but I longed to see each of them make it. Is it strange that I was always scared that I would turn on the TV and Brittney would be dead? Why? I have never met her, don’t really care for her music, and have no personal ties to her. Yet for some reason I wanted her to make it. This past week I watched all four rounds of the Players Championship. Why? One, I like golf. But two, I want to see Tiger do well. Everyone has their opinion on him but he is human and he, as much as me, deserves second chance after second chance.

Why? Because we like Grace. In fact for most of us it is easier to want it for others than for ourselves. We love to see others make it, but for us, when it comes to ourselves, we are simply…Ashamed by Grace. It seems to me, especially in church circles we will sing Amazing Grace, and read books like What’s So Amazing About Grace, and study together things like Gracenomics, and even follow one of my favorite organizations People Of The Second Chance, yet we ourselves think the grace that everyone is talking about is for someone other than us.

Those people have overcome.

Those people are special.

Those people have resources to receive grace.

We think that it applies to everyone but us. We are ashamed to receive it. It is as if we don’t want to receive grace because we fear that there is a limited supply and someone more deserving should get it. We think that our transgressions are too big for grace to cover them. We fear receiving grace because that would mean people would have to know what we did. We are ashamed by it because it proves that we are not in control. We are ashamed to receive it because we feel that we simply don’t deserve it. And you know what…?

Your right!!! In fact that is by definition what Grace is.

It is the getting of something we don’t deserve.

None of us deserve it. That’s what makes it so incredible. In fact receiving grace is not something that Christ wants us to be ashamed of, but is the very thing he wants us to receive and then scream it from the rooftops because he died to give it to us.

Today may we be people who are no longer ashamed by grace, but are ashamed when we don’t receive it.

I noticed right at the beginning of one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament it started with the phrase “Grace and Peace to you in…” I am not sure why this struck such a chord with me but my interest was peeked. I turned to another book of Paul’s and read the intro phrase “Grace and Peace to you in…”

Sure enough, the more I turned the pages the more I learned that Paul started most his letters this way to the churches he was writing to. Then I had this thought…

Could it be that simple?

Could Paul have just unlocked an unspeakable truth to me that has always been right there in its simplest form?

Honestly…Yes!!! It really was that simple. Now you may be asking the question of “What is that simple?” Well, I am glad you asked.

Notice that Paul does not say “Peace and Grace.” In fact the order is quite important. He puts Grace before Peace. Funny how that works. I think of all the times that I have tried to feel peace before offering grace to others. As I went through the myriad of times in my life where I have tried to do that I realized that it never happened. I have never had a moment where peace preceded grace for me when I had been hurt or offended and was trying to move forward. The only time that I ever found true peace was when I offered grace first.

Grace offers us love.

Grace offers us joy.

Grace offers us transformation.

Grace offers us redemption.

Grace offers us a new start.

Grace offers us friendship.

Grace offers us newness.

Grace offers us second chances.

Grace offers us intimacy.

Grace offers peace…peace that surpasses all understanding.

So today I say to you “GRACE AND PEACE!!!” May you now find peace because you have been extended grace, and may you now give grace in order to help others find peace.

there were a few in the internet world that were stoked to have filled their instant gratification desire. the world that we live in is funny. there is no longer a save and buy mentality. we live in a buy and pay off world now. however, what i have noticed is that it seems that we are a lot more unhappy and less satisfied with whatever that thing is that we used to instantly gratify ourselves. what would happen if we waited, saved and then purchased?

first, i wonder if we would even buy at all if we waited?

two, i wonder if time would allow us to appreciate and purchase things that would matter a little more?

three, i wonder if we would still feel the emptiness that stuff seems to bring?

your turn…what do you think?

ready…set…GO!!!

today we slept in…well in parent world that means 7:30am. we got up, went to the chiropractor, and then laura took me over to southlake town center for my birthday gift from her. when we showed up the whole place was blocked off and they were having an art festival. we took the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the art and the weather. we ended up at the Boardroom, which is a really cool place for dudes to get their inner pampering on. laura had got me a 6 month membership to the club. I AM STOKED!!! we then ate turkey legs, grilled cheese, and gyro’s and headed home.

a lazy afternoon on the couch led to my favorite birthday treat…yellow cake cupcakes, filled with peanut butter and toffee and covered in a chocolate and peanut butter icing. we skyped in my parents and had a great time of opening gifts and sharing virtual cake. so there you have it. hope you have a great weekend.

Me and Laura on the Patio at ZAZA

arts festival in southlake

cupcakes

oreo cupcakes

the best cupcake ever

His story is one that I am sure Hollywood would love to have for a script. It would be a number one box office hit. It is full of intrigue, famous people, drugs, and glitz. There is a dramatic conversion experience that almost makes Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts look like a typical Sunday walk down the aisle. I have to admit that I have been completely entrenched in listening to this story this morning. It is an incredible story. The life change is unreal. He is now a pastor and God’s used his story I am sure to lead countless people to Christ. Here is what made me stop and wonder if the approach was to much for the one he was sharing it with.

When he finished the individual looked at him and said, “There is no way my story compares to that. I just want to know that Christ loves me. Does he Love me?”

WOW!!!

It made me stop in my tracks as I tried to not stare or look up from my table. Now listen I am all for dramatic stories of life change. Parts of my story have been that way too. But I wonder if sometimes we tell the over the top story thinking that it will draw people to Christ or if we tell it in hopes that it will draw them to us. The reality is that what the world really needs to hear is not how dramatic our story is, but that Christ simply loves them dramatically.

I have been guilty of trying to allow my story to overshadow the story of Christ. It has never been intentional, but if I were to really examine my heart I know it to be true. In fact my guess is, is that many of us have done the same. Today my hope and prayer for all of us is that we would simply show and tell the world that Christ LOVES them and their story…drama or not!!!

How can you share with the world that Christ loves them today?

I would like to call up my 16 year old self and have coffee in some vintage little nook that you can only find in one of those little eclectic towns. I would love to look myself in the eyes and just search my soul. I would love to guess what I am thinking. I imagine my younger self’s first thought would be, “Wow, that is me 15 years from now. When did I get so old?” Then I imagine I would be thinking what kind of things do I want to know from the older me?

I would like to join me for coffee.

I would love to see the anticipation in those eyes 15 years prior to today.  I would love to hear what he is so excited about. I would love to hear about the girl he is dating, the classes he is taking, the job he has, and the relationship with his family and friends. I would love to see what gets him stoked and amped up. I would love to ask my younger self why he wants to change the world. I imagine he would have a lot of wisdom to impart to me. However, I could not let him think that, because I am sure he is a pompous little know it all. I guess some things never change huh?

I would like to join me for coffee.

I would love to see how respectable he would be to himself. He was quite a schmoozer back in the day and my guess is that he would still be one, even with himself. I would love to ask him what he plans to do with all those crazy dreams he has swirling around inside of him. I would love to talk to him about his faith and when he is going to finally decide to grow up and live it out. My guess is that he may ask me the same thing. I would love to ask him why he thinks that the acceptance of others is more important than grades, God, and family.

I would like to join me for coffee.

I would love to tell him that he is going to grow up to be a preacher. I imagine that he would laugh at me when he heard me say it. He would spout something off to me about wanting to be a lawyer, but I would just smirk. He would know by that smirk that it was real. I would love to tell him that he would be moving to Illinois and then to Texas. Man I bet he would think that was the funniest thing he had ever heard. Illinois maybe, but he cannot seem to fathom Texas. He would look at me like I am an idiot for even saying Texas. I would love to tell him that when he gets to college he will be smitten with a girl that will change his life. He will laugh really hard at that, because 16 year old me has no desire to stay with one girlfriend yet alone one person. I would love to tell him that he will have two little girls that will rock his world. I notice when I say that, that his face gets a little more serious. He cannot seem to get his head around the fact that he would ever be a father and have the responsibility of someone else’s life. Finally I would love to tell him that he will have the opportunity to reach literally thousands through speaking the truth about Christ and his word, but some things I will simply let him figure out on his own.

I would like to join me for coffee.

But for now…I would just like to join you for coffee!!!

What would you say to your “15 years ago” self?

Now for me there are all sorts of church leadership parallels to this story. You can fill in your interpretation. Here are some of mine:

The monkey is church people and the tiger is the pastor.

The monkey is the pastor and the tiger is the church people.

The tiger is Satan and the toddler is a fresh young Christ follower.

The monkey is the world and the church is the tiger.

I am the monkey and you are the tiger.

You get the point. There are plenty of parallels to go around. So what about you. What parallels do you make? You have to watch the video of it. Check it out below.

]]> http://freshairpoetry.com/2010/08/31/the-monkey-mocked-the-tiger/feed/ 2 http://freshairpoetry.com/2010/08/30/dontlooktocompete/ http://freshairpoetry.com/2010/08/30/dontlooktocompete/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:47:59 +0000 Trevor http://freshairpoetry.com/?p=1987

Monday…

What is in a name like Monday?

Today there are a lot of things in that name. Today I am tired. I think in a good way, but a delirious good way for sure. Yesterday was an incredible whirlwind. I cannot express the things that I continue to see God doing in my life, the life of others and the life of the church here in Roanoke and across the nation. Yesterday at Newspring Church in South Carolina they had over 500 people give their lives to Christ. Elevation Church saw the same by way of first time decisions for Christ. In Compass Roanoke we saw one…AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!! What I realized again yesterday was no matter if it is 500 or 1 the celebration is the same. Whether it is 500 or 1 God is still rejoicing over them all. Whether it is 500 or 1 the angels throw down the rock show of all rock shows for them..EACH AND EVERY ONE!!! I am thankful for the movement of God that is taking place right now across the Kingdom of God. The awakening that is coming from its slumber. I am thankful for Perry and for Steven and the many other churches that are speaking truth and life into people. I am thankful for the fruit of all their labor and efforts.

Today instead of being the church that is jealous of the bigger and seemingly better church, find refuge in being the church and beacon of light to the community you have been placed in. Instead of being indignant that you are not the church of hundreds of decisions, be thankful that your church had “A” decision this weekend. Don’t look to compete, but look to complete the body with your work. Pray for those that are having mass decisions, because I know that they are praying for your one. I pray that churches across the globe have thousands of decisions for Christ. I pray that Newspring and Elevation Church have 2000 plus next weekend. I pray that we at Compass Roanoke have two or more next weekend. More than anything on this delirious Monday morning I am simply thankful that God is moving in his Kingdom. Thankful that life is evident and victory is being proclaimed.

What are you doing today to encourage the body of Christ? Who are you praying will know the love and salvation of a God that we have not always accurately put on display? Are you taking light into the darkness or simply hanging out with other light bulbs where you light has no real impact?

With all that said here are a few highlights from our day at Compass Roanoke Yesterday:

• Yesterday we saw Megan baptized in the pool at the hotel we meet. IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!

• Her boyfriend  jumped in the pool fully clothed afterward to celebrate and immediately regretted that decision, but did not regret celebrating.

• We had a young man named Greg join our church first service. Seeing his joy and love for a place of acceptance was incredible

• We finished up our series on Proverbs and I believe that it has changed the face of our campus in Roanoke

• We saw people find HELP from God for the first time in a long time. BEAUTIFUL!!!

• I saw people offer HELP for the first time in a long time to people around them yesterday.

• I know that I say it all the time, but our set up and tear down teams are UNBELIEVABLE!!!

• We had to add more chairs in our second service for the second week in a row.

• People cheered again this weekend when we told them we were moving to the new elementary school in Roanoke.

• I saw more new faces today than in any other weekend we have had in a long time. People are bringing people.

• The message this weekend was my favorite one I have preached this whole series. Reminding people of when, who, and how to offer help is riveting.

• Mark 4:35-41, John 6:60-69, and Mark 9:17-29 are three of the greatest examples of Christ showing and bringing help!!!

• Jesus calls us to higher living and though his teachings are easy to understand, living out his teaching are hard.

• GOD IS ALREADY MOVING THIS WEEK. WHO ARE YOU MOVING WITH YOU TO BE A PART OF THE JOURNEY!!!

So there you have it. That is just a little bit of what happened this weekend. Know that you are all being prayed for and loved this week. Cannot wait to see how God moves this next weekend not only here at Compass Roanoke, but all throughout the Kingdom. Have a great week!!!
LIVE AS LIGHT!!! John 12:46