Wholly Dependent

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13

Each year, between 3.4 and 4.3 million students graduate high school, some go on to college while others choose roads less traveled, like the military, entrepreneurial endeavors, the family business, or some spend time, “finding themselves”.  After spending a week vacationing with my good friend who is also the high school pastor at our local church, I couldn’t help but think back to my own passage into adulthood.

I graduated in June of 1986, in front of friends and family with my diploma in hand, and a commitment to the people I’d spent nearly a decade with, “to be friends forever”. Within 18 months the friends of my youth became fond memories as the declaration of college majors put us all on divergent, life-altering paths.   Even those friends, who chose similar paths, found themselves with a whole new lifestyle, support structure, and “justifiable” opposition to maintaining the relationships of their youth.

Nearly twenty years later, on June 10, 2007, my heart stopped following its stubborn inclinations as I turned to the Lord in full repentance and faith to not only trust in Him, but to also turn from the godless myths and idols of a corrupt generation.  Family, friends and acquaintances that knew me prior to that day, continue to ask, what happened.  Some have come on the journey with me and some have not.

As well intentioned as we are about maintaining friendships, when we turn from one life to another, we sometimes open the door to relationship causalities.  Unfortunately, our old “friends” may not understand, may not want to be a part of, or don’t feel they have a need to head in the same direction in which we’re headed. Some even claim that they are on the same path, but ultimately end up on a road very different from our own.

The Good News

I remember attending my first reunion after high school.  Everyone eagerly waited to see what this person, or that person looks like now.  What so-and-so was up to. Or, how I could get plugged into so-and-so’s high-level contacts.  Or, maybe just have a night to reminisce about the good old days

Imagine, for a second if you showed up to your high school reunion, or were reacquainted with an old friend, and your news wasn’t about some big firm that you just signed on with, or some high-level contact that would be “a huge benefit” to your friend.

Imagine, that you showed up and proclaimed, that you had figured out how to deal with the whole issue of death!

As I think about past acquaintances or relationships that have been distanced due to the new path that by grace alone, God put me on nearly three years ago, I’m both humbled and thankful for the open doors and the opportunities he has provided to close the gap.  And even though the challenges inherent in living for Christ in a world that has been programmed to “live for themselves” sometimes puts you at odds with formerly close friends and family, we are commanded to obey the Lord’s instruction.

Too often, we choose popularity over obedience.  We do and say things that we feel will make us right in our circle of friends, and not do and say things that will be pleasing to God.

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I tell you” Luke 6:46

We can choose to take our blessings, go about our business and answer at the judgment seat of Christ, or we can take every opportunity to represent the truth to former and present acquaintances alike, opening them up to the only thing that could ensure “eternal friendship”.

"But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant," Matthew 20:25-26

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.    Ephesians 4:1-3

There are no “ties” in tennis

I’ve been a fan and an avid tennis player for nearly 20 years.  For a significant portion of those two decades I would play not just to win, but to dominate. And while the person on the other side of the net may have had fun, I rarely considered their feelings. My “take no-prisoners you’re here to serve my wishes” mentality was unfortunately encouraged by a worldly attitude that saw my competitive nature as “acceptable”. I’ve always believed that how you approach sports is a good measurement of how you approach life.

This general attitude in my tennis game was ever more present in my relationship with my wife…the girl of my youth who I promised to love, honor and respect till death do we part.  It’s ironic that a game that gave me so much pleasure would ultimately serve to bear witness to the change manifested by the Spirit finally convicting me to treat my wife as who she was…the daughter of the glorious risen king, Jesus Christ!

Where does “Love” come from?

There are many stories surrounding the origins of the use of the word “love” in tennis.  The most notable and widely accepted is the Flemish word for honor, “lof”.  Around the time of the Protestant Reformation, England received a wealth of immigrants from the Low Countries.  At that time tennis was predominantly played for money, if a player scored no points, the phrase “omme lof spleen” would have been applied… he “played for the honor”.

As his beloved children, Christians ought to “play” in such a way that our whole life adorns the teachings of our savior, Jesus Christ.   We are to bring honor and glory to the Son through our walk, “not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Serving to Love him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind

So often in the midst of competition, instead of walking as “children of light” we yield to the world’s definition of good sportsmanship…we blur the lines of what is in and what is out as far as “acceptable” in the heat of battle.  If we are salves of righteousness (Romans 6:19), then our actions should bring glory and honor to God, and not attention to ourselves.  We live by his rules and his Word alone.  “Let us not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of our mind,” (Romans 12:2).

So the next time, I step out onto the court, regardless of who is on the other side of the net, pray that I always remember who it is I serve and the price that was paid to be a “prisoner of the Lord”. “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:18

I stepped on to the court yesterday and unlike so many times before, I had an overwhelming sense of appreciation for the person on the other side.  It became so clear that this was an opportunity to praise God not just for the capacity to perform in corporal bodies, but to have the means and times appropriated for which to enjoy time together.

Throughout the game, I didn’t have to remind myself to take it easy.  Simply put, I enjoyed chasing down the oft sprayed, strayed and out-of-bounds balls. It was humbling knowing that every ball I returned, would be an opportunity for the person on the other side of the net, to improve their own game.

When we were done, I walked over and put my hand on my wife’s shoulder and let her know how well she hit that day.  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her as encouraged about her game, and her hitting partner as I did yesterday.

There are no ties in the game of tennis; there is always a victor and a loser.  As devout Christians, I can think of no better score then “lof”, one that brings honor to our Father in heaven.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

In 1999, as fall slipped into winter, I found myself packing my belongings and moving for the 25th time in my life – it was just shy of my 31st birthday.  Now before judgment is passed on the perceptual lack of stability, I must state for the record that my upbringing was relatively stable.   The moves in my younger years were never very far, always within the same school district.   The moves in the later years were more out of curiosity and restlessness in my soul, yet still I maintained close proximity to my starting point.

Fast forward ten years later, and that 25th move has stuck with me for an entire decade.  I bought the whole, “live, work, play” in Aliso Viejo motto hook-line-and-sinker.  For those who know me well, they understand that my boundaries don’t extend north of the 55, or east of the 405. I’m what I like to term, “a community shut-in”.

Since becoming a Christian three years ago, my heart has grown for the lost. Unfortunately, my flesh keeps trying to convince my mind that the lost only exist in Southwest Orange County.  My days feel empty when I’m not expressing the love I have for Jesus, sharing the good news or reconciling people to the propositional objective view of God’s word.  And I can do it all from the comfort of my own backyard, or so I thought.  The Bible clearly tells a different story – praise God for changing my heart to match His will.

His will is that I take a journey.  To a part of the world where darkness reigns and the harvest is great but the workers are so few.  It dwells in stark contrast to the world I so comfortably sit in today.  It will separate me from the family I love dearly, the friends who are in my ministry field, and the brothers and sisters in Christ whom I’ve come to know as family.  But, that’s just the point.

My Home Church

I came to Christ in full repentance, and turned from my stubborn inclinations right in the parent room of my home church. I’ve seen my wife grow as a godly woman through the fellowship she has with other godly woman maturing in Christ, right at my home church.  I’ve watched my two girls grow in their love for the Bible right in my home church.   I’ve grown close to other brothers, and seen some who claimed to be but were not, finally repent of their sins and declare Christ as their Lord, right at my home church.  I’ve seen full declarations and outward expressions of faith by hundreds of new believers, right at my home church.  I’ve watched our pastoral staff, and our wonderful pastors lead a flock to new heights in our community outreach and bringing new believers to the feet of Christ, right at our home church.

I’ve grown in my love for our wonderful savior, Christ Jesus, right at my home church.

I developed a heart for ministry…right at my home church.

Send Them Out

Because of his love for the world, he sent his son (John 3:16), God sent Joseph into Egypt to help preserve his people (Gen 45:4-8) Christ sent his Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:33), and finally, Christ sent his church (Matt 28:19-20). Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21) If we love him, we will obey his commands. (John 14:15)

I’ve watched, as many of you, the growing global spiritual famine.  I think about my own spiritual famine that lasted from the day I was born until I repented and put my trust in Christ at the age of 39. As a former student of the world, I’m familiar with all of the worldly solutions that man has to offer.  As a disciple of the risen King, Christ Jesus, I now understand that lasting change can only happen when his blood, through grace, transforms hearts by faith alone.

As ambassadors who are humbled to be conduits for God’s grace and mercy, let’s bring his blessings of a home church to all the corners of the earth.  We serve a missionary God and our hearts were regenerated to do His will. I can’t bear the thought or imagine the path that this sinner would have been on had it not been for the providential hand of the sovereign Lord guiding missionaries to plant a church in my own dark corner of this world.  Imagine your life without a home church and the blessings that come from that, imagine if the disciples before us stopped short of their full potential.

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:3-5)

I remember reading Titus 3:3-5 early in my walk as a Christian and thinking how awesome and great is our Lord! As a new Christian, desiring and craving the pure spiritual milk described in 1 Peter 2:2 I had yet to connect the Ecclesiastical definition of “foolish” to the verse in Titus. In the 2+ years since my first pass at Titus, I’ve come to grow up in salvation through the wholly dependence on the Spirit driving an internal desire to be made in the image of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Being fully captivated by his grace, and humbled by his outpouring of mercy on my life, paid for and purchased by the blood of his one and only begotten Son, I have been transformed by that grace over these past 2 ½ years in a way that this “chest-pounding” sinner could have never imagined.

My biggest regret, aside from not being in his word enough, occasionally suppressing the Spirit and choosing my own desires, trusting in myself on certain matters and not fully relying and trusting in the plans he has for me, is that I focused way too much time on the sin, and not enough time on the transforming power when we focus on the cross and the righteousness imputed by Christ Jesus.

I look back on the day that I came to the Lord, June 10, 2007 when I repented of my sins, asked for forgiveness for a lifetime of rebellion against the Creator of the heavens and earth, and by faith, through grace alone, put my full trust in him, and I’m in awe of the work he has done to bring glory to the Son.

I only wish, I had started blogging on that day and not nearly three years later.  Why?  Because I feel as if so much has been done to rid me of what my pastor calls, “big jelly doughnuts” those things in our life that we are unwilling to pass up.  I think about the prayers that could have been asked for, the glory that could have been brought to the Son, if I had just started on June 10, 2007.  But I didn’t.  Our sovereign Lord and his providential hand saw it fit to contain my words (at least on a blog) until today. And, while my fleshly desire is to look back, I know in accordance to Luke 9:62, I must put my hand to the plow and follow him by focusing on the gift of service our Lord has laid out for the redeemed.

I’m regrettably sad that the work that has been done, will not be chronicled in the way it would have had I started three years ago, but confident and trusting in the Lord, that he will complete the good work in me (Phil. 1:6), and because of that confidence, I trust that if this is my last blog, or the first of many to come, that the outward expression of my inward reality will continue to mature, and bring glory and honor to the Lord of Lord, and King of Kings, Christ Jesus.

When Paul left Titus in Crete, Titus faced the challenge of looking after men who claimed to be Christians, yet whose primary motives were money, and not seeking the face of God.  I too, have been guilty of putting worldly riches ahead of our treasures in heaven.  I ask that you pray that my heart, while at one time, was foolish, disobedient and led astray, that I am protected from the enslavement of various passions and pleasures, and that my mind and heart be fully focused on the cross, and the doctrine of substitionary atonement, carried out to reveal the indomitable expression of God’s love for his children.

My prayer is that you would not see me through this blog, but that Jesus Christ would be exalted and praised as I share and testify his unending love and amazing grace.