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Lie To Me*

// November 25th, 2009 // View Comments // Adrenaline, All, Ministry

Lie To Me* is Fox’s brand new hit drama, now in it’s second season. The show is centered around Dr. Cal Lightman, a world-reknown face-reading expert. His expertise is reading “microexpressions,” the near instantaneous, involuntary expressions or gestures shown by a human when they are trying to conceal an emotion. They are the slight changes in the face that reflect in a split instant, what people are truly feeling inside. Microexpressions are the same whether you are in America, Africa, Germany, or Iraq. It is a universal truth test. The entire premise of the show is built around the idea that absolute truth is most accurately revealed from the inside out.
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525,600 Minutes From Now

// September 30th, 2009 // View Comments // All

In the movie, Transformers, there is a part toward the beginning of the movie when Sam Witwicky is trying to get Michaela Banes into the car to join him on the adventure that would begin as they discovered the deepness of what they were about to be involved in. Bumble Bee had just defeated Barricade to protect Sam and Michaela, and now was ready to take them to meet the rest of the Autobots. Michaela is really not into what had just happened, and is ready to run away, when Sam asks her these words:

“Fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?”

I love that. When you look back on your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Don’t you want your life to mean something?
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Last Night's Big Win

// February 25th, 2009 // View Comments // Adrenaline, All, Ministry

God has been doing some amazing things in our youth ministry since the first of the year. In January, we began talking about friendships and how they can influence our lives. Many students talked about how that was the best stuff they have ever heard on friendships and the importance of those you let in your inner circle.

That avenue continued as we talked about launching small groups to be the friendliest place in the city. In a recent survey of things most looked for in a youth ministry, over 70% said that the number one thing they want is a friendly atmosphere where they can be themselves. We have worked very hard to create that environment at Adrenaline.
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ENGAGED!!!

// December 6th, 2008 // View Comments // All, Personal

This week was a huge milestone in my life, as well as a wish-come-true for many friends of mine. This week was Malia’s birthday. And my birthday present to her was an engagement ring! She had been asking for some time when we were going to get engaged, and I kept assuring her that it was coming. But she did not expect me to ask her on her birthday.
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This Year, Give Presence

// November 25th, 2008 // View Comments // All, Ministry, Personal

My incredible soon-to-be fiance wrote this, and I thought it was worth sharing.

Human beings have such an ugly tendency to be selfish. It’s not news. We all know that selfishness winds an invisible thread throughout the essence of every person. The holiday season broadcasts the selfish weakness of God’s creation with a resonance of a boom microphone with messages like, “What do you want for Christmas?” And “you deserve_________”.

I believe what was once intended to help celebrate the glory of God’s most definitive act of mercy has become a tool to skew our line between need and want, desire and necessity. Commercialism has taken the name of Christmas, the representation of the purpose of Christmas, and fluffed up the most significant moment in human history. Somewhere lost in the glitter of our tinsel, garland, little lights, massive inflatable snow globes and amazing food, lays the message of God’s love for His creation. The message is hidden, but it’s a message of giving. It seems as though we’ve become caught up in giving with the purpose of receiving something in return. In reality, God gave the first Christmas gift: a life. He only longed for relationship from us. Not a watch, expensive perfume or cashmere, etc. rather; He desired us. He so longed for communion with us that He gave.

How often do we give, just for the sake of giving? It doesn’t have to be monetary; it doesn’t have to be expensive. But, how about just a note letting someone know we care? Or baking an extra 12 cookies for someone? Giving doesn’t have to be expensive. Giving just has to be sincere.

My prayer this year is that with all of the economic turmoil, that we would re-focus the purpose of giving. That my own giving would be consistent and that I would remember the faces of people who have nothing. I pray that God will burn the image of a person on each of our hearts, so that we can offer up a prayer and perhaps, a meal or warm blanket. I pray we won’t lose our purpose in the frenzy of commercialism. I pray that Christians will begin to act instead of gossip, pray instead of scowl and hug instead of turn away.

Christmas can [still] change the world. This year, Give Presence.
- Taken from Advent Conspiracy

Pray for India

// September 5th, 2008 // View Comments // All, Personal

This email came to my inbox today, and I thought I would share it. It’s incredible how much the American media is saturated with election stories and the National Conventions of both of the major political parties. So much is the case that this story is not even found on American news sources. International links will follow.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!
AUGUST 27, 2008
Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India,

We have never seen anything like this.

We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work.

But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage….

And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media…. Let me explain….

A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and “reconverting” people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend.

Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up…”Kill the Christians!”

And the horror began….

In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.

Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa… they are right in the middle of all this chaos.

In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and “finish the job.” Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. More police have come to offer protection.

In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace.

In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill.

Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in a house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road…. even women and children.

At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: “We stay with our kids…. we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.”

More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days…. supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down.

The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times.

Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved… that is our heart’s cry. If we can take these thousands of throw away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will be transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom.

The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations….

Blessings!
Dr. Faiz Rahman
Chairman/Founder
Good News India

India: Christians face ‘reign of terror’ in Orissa, says church official
India tells Vatican it is capable of handling Orissa situation

The Perfect Storm… Within

// June 20th, 2008 // View Comments // All

I saw this article in my RSS feeds today, and it caused me to wince a little when the gravity and reality of it hit me.

The Perfect Storm… Within.

by Lane Douglas

When it comes to a love/hate relationship with the cinema, no other movie comes nearer and further from my heart than M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village. Being left speechless at unforeseen endings in The Sixth Sense and Signs, I approached Village with high expectations. Instead, I left with high aggravations. The movie was predictable, and I had the plot guessed within 20 minutes. I hated it. (Which is why I will wait for The Happening until DVD.)
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They Like Jesus, But Not Us – sermon

// May 8th, 2008 // View Comments // All, Ministry, Personal

I preached this at our church Sunday night. It isn’t original material, and some of it I have talked about in previous posts. Anyways, enjoy, and comment if you like.

*Note: I preached this to several older church members. So I was careful.

 

 They Like Jesus, Just Not Us [68:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Belong before belief

// March 31st, 2008 // View Comments // All, Ministry, Personal

“People in emerging generations need to belong before they will believe. We try to get them to believe before they belong.” – Dan Kimball, They Like Jesus but not the Church

I ran across this quote today, and it really nailed me. For the last few weeks, I have really starting noticing that my students aren’t really feeling connected with each other as well as with me. How can I teach principles of God’s Word if i don’t even know them? I sat here writing sermons and teaching materials and really didn’t even know what my students needed. God is really helping me to unlearn some things and relearn others in this ministry.
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They Like Jesus But Not The Church pt 1

// March 5th, 2008 // View Comments // All, Ministry, Personal

I don’t even know where to begin. There is a lot going on in my head right now. Lately I have been really thinking through what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. As I look at the average American church and the culture of today, I am growing more and more dissatisfied. I recently began building a youth ministry in the heart of a city that is 50% college age and younger. But we aren’t attracting anyone from that age group to our church. Being in this community has caused me to ask some really hard questions about what I think youth ministry and ministry in general is and should be.
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