Panic Mode?

I have been dreaming with a few friends over the last year about doing something that would bring together hundreds of people to impact my neighborhoods. We came up with the idea of doing a painting blitz and neighborhood cleanup just before Thanksgiving. We have already painted 16 houses and the mechanics of doing this hasn’t been too difficult to figure out and see God work. So what’s the big deal with doing 10 houses on the same day and having a big celebration at the park in the area?

Well – it is easy to say all of this but to actually see God bring us 10 families to help, gather almost 300 volunteers and then to see most of the supplies for painting, cleanup and lunch donated is truly a miracle. I love to dive into the waters and even attempt to swim out further than is safe but this is truly something that is bigger than Dave can handle on his own. Each week I have seen the Lord provide in truly surprising ways. I usually do get the jitters before a big event. I am learning to trust God, delegate better to my network of New City/Barrio Nuevo friends and see some great results.

I write this before the event to be reminded that my real goal is not a big event but to see one life touched. I want to see a kid who has been raised around gang violence, poverty and a lack of Gospel Love have an opportunity to see that life is a beautiful gift and doesn’t ‘suck’. I know that what happens on this one Saturday is really just a link to many other events God will bring about to see South Phoenix become a better place to live, where the neighborhoods really become communities.

It isn’t easy for me to let go of the details and trust the Lord. I want everything to be perfect. Yet, the reality is that I have 13 different teams who will be doing their work without me having my fingers in what they are doing. God is going to work in spite of my ocd! My hope is that the kids we have be loving on over the last year will get a better sense of what God can do and that in the end the little person does matter and the Jesus came to give them the best life possible.

Please pray with me and for the 300 that will help out and the many families that will benefit from this Make a Difference Saturday.

Dave

Spiritual Junk Food

Spiritual Junk Food? 2 Tim 4:3-4

Intro: What is your craving? I have to be honest that at times I crave a taco, hamburger or even a Sonoran Hot Dog. Is there anything wrong with wanting something different or off the wall? The reality is that for most people our diets reflect our lives. We are a nation into fast food that ends up being mostly junkfood. The problem is that we treat our spiritual lives no differently. We want a God that caters to our cravings and never says no to anything. We are flooded with too many examples in the news, movies, TV and internet that reveal the ultimate end of a junkfood life and the spiritual mess that follows.

#1. How can someone reject the real spiritual food of Christ for fast food religion?

Paul is in prison facing his death and is wanting Timothy, his special helper, to be prepared for the real world around him. The unfortunate reality for Paul and Tim is that many of their team have decided to pursue the short cuts in life. They are tired of hearing about servant leadership, sacrifice or watching Paul’s life go down. They want the good life with all of the pleasures and prestige. So it shouldn’t surprise us that there are many people today in the church who have been tricked or as Paul says have their ears tickled with a new approach. We no longer talk about sin or rebellion against God but about learning from our mistakes or even farther off that there really isn’t such a thing as right or wrong any more. We have made the gospel into moral relativism where everything is right and nothing is ever wrong. God loves everyone, there is no hell and there is no heaven.

This sounds great until the impact of this lifestyle hits home. It is one thing to think about having an affair or leaving your spouse. When you actually do it the discovery is that life is worse off and that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. How can something that is so good and right for us end up leaving us bored and dissatisfied in life? These are tough questions to answer but if we don’t we may end up no different than some of Paul’s followers who ended up getting hook on fast food that tasted great but ultimately kills them. Solomon rightly says that there is a path that seems right to a man but the end leads to death.

#2. How can I avoid becoming hooked on spiritual junk food?

I know that I have been driving over long distances and always see something that looks like water or a lake in the distance. As we get closer it never fails that the image disappears instantly. I think one of the greater needs of people is to truly pursue the truth. Paul is saying that many in his day and even more so our day have gotten hooked on myths or mirages. This is something that we make up that isn’t true but ultimately end up believing it as if it is true. Man is good at making up his own religion that caters to his own passions and needs.

I do like In n Out Burgers and whenever I am out in the East Valley and close by I am drawn to get a number 2 with onions. There is nothing wrong with getting your favorite taco, burger or dog on occasion. If this becomes your only source of food than you are in trouble. The real obstacle in life is that as long as we never really connect with the living Jesus and allow fast food religion to be our God we miss out on the best in life. I don’t mind getting a burger at BK or McDonalds but it isn’t the same as In n Out! I can play church, do good things, read the Bible and even talk to people about Christ but until I have a life transforming experience and understand the way that grace, mercy and forgiveness works I am in the dark.

Conclusion: Life is a struggle but God can help keep you on track! I think one of the things I am learning as I age is to be more honest about what I can and can’t do. I think most of us in our youth truly believe that we are invincible and immortal. I still dream big things for the kingdom and Jesus but I see that all of this still comes back to taking baby steps each day to do what is right, in the right way with Jesus interacting with me along my life journey. I need to admit that I am going to be tempted at times to take spiritual short cuts and substitute fast food for good food. I may even become flabby or lazy. The good news is that Jesus is into transforming our flab and laziness into spiritual fitness.

We need to learn from both Jesus and Paul’s example that even in the worst situation, Jesus hanging on the cross and Paul facing his execution, God is able to keep us focused on what is most important. When you allow your craving to totally take over you end up loosing your taste for what is truly good. Jesus is the ultimate bread from heaven who is able to satisfy that hunger deep down inside!

Senseless

I got a couple of texts yesterday afternoon from one of my teens. She was obviously mad as ‘hell’ and didn’t have anyone at school to scream at. I texted her back and asked what had happened. She went on and described how her hommie or boy friend had been killed the night before in a fight. At first I really didn’t believe what she was saying. Why would anyone go after a 15 year old for his wallet and his cell phone? I could see someone coming after me for my iphone and wallet. They wouldn’t get much out of the wallet but the phone would be worth a bill at least. She couldn't txt or talk because she had to go to class.

I go online and find a very short report on the teen’s death. I switch on the evening news and hear what happened. He was walking on a major street when approached by two other teens that wanted his wallet and phone. He threw them down and took off running. They continued to chase him and someone in a car also went after him. They eventually caught up with him and literally threw him in front of oncoming traffic. It turns out one of their friends probably is the one that ran over him. The police show up and the teens all disappear including the one driving the car. Why? Is this type of violence really worth the risk to end up killing a young teen for a wallet and cell phone?

I have the plague so I had my Anne call up our teen who knew this boy really well. She was ready to go off and get even. It is so difficult to talk about justice and sanity in the same breath when someone you love has been senselessly murdered. I don’t know how this is going to impact the work that we are doing in South Phoenix. I pray that it will help me see the urgency for working between Hispanics and African Americans. How is possible to hate someone so much that you are willing to risk everything to take their life for a wallet and cell phone? It won’t be long before the South Phoenix Police catch up with these teens. The reality is that regardless of what happens to them this 15 year old son, brother, friend or hommie is dead.

Dave

Yeah - Dave Does Get Mad

I think there is this perception that I never lose it. Well after being gone for a week at an amazing conference I walk into my office. I always check out my fish tanks. There is always the possibility that one of my big fish could actually choose to jump out of the tank or get into a fight and end up out of the water. As I am looking at my big tank with fish that are all over 1 foot long I notice that my little blue shark is no where to be found. As I am looking at the Red Tailed Catfish I come to the conclusion that the protrusion out of his stomach is my little Blue Shark. I was ready to physically take the big fish out of my tank and shake it until my little blue shark came out. I was MADDDDDD. I knew that I should have transferred this little guy into my other big tank where his size would have been fine.

Last night we had our normal Tuesday Night dinner, singing and study. I have been sick the last few days and knew that last night would be my best moment. We had a couple of newer kids which some times can mean a disaster or nothing at all. A couple of the kids kept going back into the kitchen area to hang out which was a no no. So after politely having a couple of different teens go back to get their attention I finally got up and screeched at them. It worked they all come out. Then as we continued to sing a few more songs it was obvious that the older group wasn’t singing but talking. I decided to get their attention and ask them to leave so the rest of us could sing. Wow – I think I got their attention. They walked out shocked that I would do that.

I then went on to explain to the others the importance of respecting the Lord and one another. When we talk on top of each other we don’t hear anyone and the real tragedy is that someone new doesn’t understand what is that we are doing??

My lesson learned is to let my feeling out more often to get more people to be respectful of the Lord. It’s also fun to watch the reaction and then see whether anyone thinks that I am going to cool off and forgive which I always do.

Dave

Yuck! I'm Sick!

I know one of the things which I hate to ever admit is when I am sick or out of it. I guess because I was raised by a mom who was always the type to jump right in and do something she ingrained in my head this notion that being either lazy or sick wasn’t something we did. (At least not too often.)

Yesterday was a great Sunday. I had an opportunity to talk about New City at New Valley for both services and make a push for our New City Painting Blitz on Nov. 21. I could tell by the last presentation that I was feeling totally out of it. I still had my own church to do. So after scarfing down half a quesadilla and part of a chicken tostada I took a nap. I actually feel asleep and got a good 2-hour snooze. I did my normal routine with getting a bunch of different kids. Now that we have the van it makes it so much easier to pick them up. We had a good worship time and then afterwards were able to talk with a visitor who had found us through the Internet.

As usual the kids/teens talked me into letting them hang out at the park before taking most of them home. So I tried to go out and do some basketball but decided to go back to my truck and do nothing and let 30 minutes pass so I could get home. So we do the typical drop off and it turns out that one of the girl’s family is at her brothers, which mean I have to take her there. (This wasn’t that far off the beaten path.) Then another one of our regulars got stuck at a friend’s house and needed me to get him and then take him home. So I get home around 8:30, which isn’t bad considering I had to make a couple of special trips.

Last night I decided to cancel all of my appointments for today and attempt not to do much of anything. There is this paranoia going around with the H1N1 that you could get sick and never get better. My wife is always quick to chime in that we can’t die until God wants us to go home. This obviously is true but I don’t want to increase the opportunity. I am learning that rest and slowing down does have its merits. I felt blessed because one of my kids asked if something was wrong because I sounded different. I explained that I was coming down with the flu and was on slow motion. My head is a little fuzzy so I am going to stop.

Dave

Be Prepared! (Sermon summary)

Be Prepared –2 Tim. 3:17

Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Intro: Boy Scout days – Rock n Roll Marathon I grew up mostly in Glasgow Montana on an Air Force Base out in the middle of nowhere. The only thing there was to do except for school was to get involved with Boy Scouts, play sports or get in trouble at school. I was fortunate to have an awesome Boy Scout Troup and young airman who was the leader. This meant we did lots of crazy things and were taught what it meant to always be prepared to face anything in life. Having too much extra time I made it to Eagle Scout, the highest rank, with the help of Ron Wilkinson my Scoutmaster. Today it isn’t cool to be involved with groups like this but looking back I really think it was great to learn how to live outside in the wilderness without any help. Paul wants to make sure that Timothy and the rest of us are prepared to face anything in life and be ready to respond with the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be a child of God? John 3 Jesus got into a discussion with Nicodemus, a religious leader of his day, about what it meant to be born again or become a child of God. Nicodemus didn’t understand the difference between spiritual birth and physical birth. The talk that Paul has been given to Timothy wouldn’t make any sense unless Timothy has a spiritually alive focus in his life. Just as we have been talking about how dumb it would be to go to church, read your Bible, tell others about Christ and then not believe yourself and benefit firsthand from knowing Jesus.

How do you become a child or literally man/woman – person of God or one who follows Christ? Most people have heard of John 3:16 which tells us that the basis of our having a relationship with God is based upon Jesus who gives his life to make up for what is missing in our lives. God’s judgment is put on Jesus instead of you or me and we end up with God’s peace and a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. It makes no sense to talk about being adequate and ready to do good works if we don’t know Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Simple questions – do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Have you given your life to Christ and confessed that you are a sinner saved only by God’s amazing grace through the gift of faith?

What does it mean to be competent? Paul is preparing Timothy for the day, which is soon, when he will be gone and he has to take over as the servant leader of the missionary movement. Paul’s point is that when you get to know Christ through reading, studying and meditating on the Word – the Bible, you become competent or able to serve God in practical ways. Paul actually uses two words that are similar to express the fact that we are both able and capable of doing great things for God because of the Spirit living in us and using us to love our neighbor as we love God.

As you look at your life how would others describe you? I am not saying that Christian are perfect, know it alls or superior to those outside the church. What Jesus and Paul both model is a humble servant leadership that is able to do what is right, with correct motivation with an eye for the person who doesn’t know Christ. This isn’t to say that God can’t continue to work in your life and give you a passion to serve and help others even when you have been disobedient and outside of God’s best.

What is the purpose of good works? It is interesting that in Ephesians Paul expresses the fact that after understanding how we come to be restored to God we need to understand the reason for us being here on earth? Paul says that we are God’s craftsmanship, literally art project, whose purpose is to do good works. So what is a good work? How do I know that what I am doing is honoring to God and takes the focus or credit away from me?

Paul is a great example that as he faced his own death in prison he seldom talked about his own situation. He was quick to see the needs of others and understand God’s heart in the circumstance before him. Paul reminds us in Philippians that we are to have the same mind or attitude as Jesus that even though he was God and deserved to be given first place he chose to be a servant leader who lays down his life. What typifies your life? Do you come across as a servant or someone demanding to be in the spotlight?

What are you going to do because of this lesson?

Make sure that I really know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It is important you understand that grace and mercy are the key elements in serving God and communicating the truth of the gospel to others. Yes, it is possible for Christians to have a sense of being able to do something for God that does have worth and goodness. Really it comes down to seeing that being a follower of Christ means I can be prepared to face anything in life knowing that God will walk with me and help me! I know that the Boy scouts aren’t as popular today as when I was a kid but their motto of always being prepared should be ours also! So let’s be ready to Rock n Roll for Jesus.

Search for Significance

I have had the privilege of attending the CCDA Conference over the last 4 days in Cincinnati, Ohio. It has been a great time of worship, teaching and being convicted. It is truly great to be around people who are like minded that have a passion for God’s heart of justice and mercy. One of the speakers that struck home the most was Bart Campalo who lives in Cincy and loves on a specific neighborhood.

I see something in my life and others where we want recognition about the work that we do. It is so easy to be in the comparison mode as believers where we want to always top someone’s work or ministry. I noticed in the worship list a mention of a name from my past, Jill Shook. I thought what are the odds that this is the same Jill from my Cal-Poly days. She had actually made something for our wedding. As I walked into the seminar it was obvious that she was a real leader in the affordable housing movement in southern Cal. I was humbled to see her list of accomplishments via a simple google search.

What struck me as Bart spoke was that he was a realist who wasn’t going to brag about a miracle but more app to talk about the shortcomings in life and that crap happens more often than not. If my life is really about pursuing attention and significance than I am working against the Gospel and Jesus. I know that so often I have this sense of whether spending time with my Black Grandmas or Art my crippled friend or taking lunch to Mr. Sanchez is truly something worthy of my time and energy. I was thinking about all of the different kids we see each week and whether I should limit my efforts to a few that I deem to worthy of my energies or whether the ‘demon’ girl with a foul mouth that is only 5 years old deserves just as much of my attention as do the couple of girls who got straight A’s last year in High School?

Most people, regardless of spiritual condition, truly believe that some people are more worthy of help than others. We all have a checklist that we live out when it comes to helping someone. What got me, I already know this, is that God doesn’t want me to discriminate about whom I should love or help. If anything I am called to throw caution to the wind and seek to love the people or kids who are furthest out there. I know that this type of life pursuit is always messy, unpredictable and full of both heartache and excitement. God ultimately is part of both the good and bad that happens in my life and others. My struggles only reflect the crap that happens in other people’s lives. As I wait to see if a little girl’s mom is in prison I am hand tied because I can’t save the mom or make sure that this young girl and sister have someplace to live that is safe and secure.

I am called to love those who are forgotten and give regardless of what others think and say. Jesus sets the standard of our love for him, as we love the least, the last and the lost.

Dave