I am doing something for the next couple of days that I don’t know if i have ever done.  I am taking a personal retreat.  I am really seeking the heart of God on many things.  Dreams, passions, vision…etc.  I am so excited to be using The Storyline Conference as a major piece of it! I was struck by how much money and time I spend on so many different things to make my life easier or better or more efficient, but when was the last time I actually spent money, got away and did a serious inventory and self examination of my life. What kind of man, dad, friend, lover, hero, villain, or saint am I? What are my weaknesses, my blind spots and my greatest temptations?

My desire is to have some time to just think on my life; my past, my present and my future.  I want see God in the storyline of my life but also to make some changes so that the trajectory of the story becomes even better.  When I read about the Storyline Conference my heart skipped.  I have appreciated Donald Miller, his heart, his authenticity, his vulnerability and his love for Jesus.

So I watched this and was sold…

So when was the last time you stopped, carved out time in your life to do some focused self-examination? If you are anything like me, the answer is probably, not for a long time…if ever. The time is now.  At least for me!

I love the church I am a part of. It is a true community of messed up people that are seeking to live as followers of Jesus. This past week we asked ,

“Is the Gospel Worthy of Your Generosity?”

It is a question that cuts to the core of selfishness and fear. It causes one to really wonder if they believe that God is Lord of all and that they can trust him with everything. This video that we showed just talks about how The Gospel is causing life change in people. Not a punch list and pat on the back of what we have done, but just a reflection on what God is doing and how we long to keep that the main thing.

So watch it and really ask yourself

“Is the Gospel Worthy of Your Generosity?”

WATER

I have loved Living Water and their work for years now.  This year they have introduced an incredible gift for Christmas. Check this out:

A physical gift card that allows one to ENTER THE STORY of a village somewhere in the world that desperately needs clean water!!  It is a cause oriented relation gift that allows the gift-reciever and friends to huddle around a computer, type in the redeem code on the card, and then put that money to work in a chosen village or area somewhere in the world!!  What an incredible tool to use for friends, family, acquaintances and for our family our kids.

We are putting one of these cards in each of our kids stockings.  On Christmas morning, along with many other fun things there will be a moment when they open these cards and the the consumer morning takes a screaming halt to ENTER THE STORY of a country, a village, a family, or a person that desperately needs clean water and is dying with out it!!

So join me…watch this incredible video and go purchase a card and  join me and my family in our new Christmas tradition – WATER!!!

because CHRISTMAS [IS] CHANGING THE WORLD!!!

Christmas [is] changing the world from Living Water International on Vimeo.

My good friends at i5810 media asked me to go interview someone for their Hope to the Hungry campaign to raise money for Rescue missions that help the homeless.

I love hearing and seeing stories of life change. You know those stories that are crazy and wild and are only created by God. I got the chance to sit down with one of these God stories. His name is Brian “Head” Welch. He is the ex co-founder and lead guitarist of the band Korn! God has used this guy in great ways. Take a few minutes and watch!!

What is God doing in your life??

Rwanda, a 9 Year Old & A Forever Changed Family

Many of you know about our adoption of our amazing daughter 4 years ago.  It still amazes me that we have her and she is ours.  The complications of the adoption were many and at times we were told it wasn’t going to happen. I will never forget the day I was standing in the Minster of Family and Genders office in Kigali, Rwanda and out of the depths of my heart and holy justice came these words

I will do what you need me to do…I will drive all over your country and get whatever papers you need with whatever signatures you need but I WILL NOT LEAVE RWANDA WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER!!!

I will never forget the look on the ladies face when she just realized Aslan had stepped into her office !!  At the time Rwanda didn’t really work with adoption agencies and so this was an independent adoption.  I had no idea what was going to happen, but after 7 weeks of begin stuck in Kigali, Rwanda and then Nairobi, Kenya and then back in Kigali, Rwanda and then back in Nairobi, Kenya, getting another US Ambassador and US Consular from another country involved, crying and praying and crying some more…we boarded a plane for home!!

It still brings me to tears even as I write this…I wanted to share this Adoption Story through pictures!! Enjoy!!!

What about you??   Why not adopt??

HAUNT (hônt) – To come to the mind of continually

I have been reading a ton about Mother Teresa lately. Her life and how she lived has begun to haunt me, in the best of ways, on a daily basis.  I can see her humble, love filled eyes and the way she scurries down the roads of the poorest areas in the world and under her breath she whispers  Ek… Ek… Ek…

But Why?…this is why:

She has been spurring me on towards love and good deeds. She has been leading me to be in the world but not of the world. She has been showing me that the greatest of all these is love. She has been modeling to me that the most important thing is to love God and love your neighbor. She has been challenging me to find Jesus with the poor, oppressed, thirsty, hungry, social outcasts and those on the margins of society. She has been teaching me to deny myself, take up my cross daily and follow Jesus.

I am so grateful for those that are more concerned about The Kingdom then selfish gain!

I totally wish I was at this conference.  Adoption of course is close to our hearts and has changed our family forever!! Luckily they are streaming the whole thing!!  I believe with all my heart that the world will see the LOVE OF JESUS as the church rises up to solve the orphan crisis around the world and right next door…including the foster care program!!

Watch and share!!

I like this song. Why? Because it makes me think and I like that.

I don’t know about you, but I have had very weird and messed up views of God and Jesus most my life because of being raised in a conservative, monoethnic, american christianity. Is that okay? I don’t think so….

I think Gungor has done a great job of capturing some huge concepts and redefining some damaging misconceptions in this tune.

Give it a listen and really think about how you view God!

What are some common misconceptions about God that you have believed or find yourself defaulting to??

My Haiti trip was incredible!!  So many things to process, so many images burned into my mind. People always ask me what the “best” part was or “what was it like?” I still don’t know how to answer that question. A lot of joy and sorrow.  A lot of laughter and crying.  A lot of questions and no answers.

With that said the one of the “best” parts was walking into LSM’s Homes of Hope and seeing boys and girls that were rescued out of modern day slavery, rescued from death, rescued from abuse and now in a loving home with a mom and dad. The kind of hope that can only be seen in the eyes of an orphan who has realized the are no longer one, will take your breath away and make you want to be about something bigger than yourself.

That was the “BEST” part…realizing once again that God has called me to be about something bigger than myself, to speak for those that can’t, to stand up and help those that can’t. another good reminder about what I want to be about…DO JUSTLY | LOVE MERCY | WALK HUMBLY

I have a passion for seeing orphans find forever homes whether that is in their own country or being adopted into another culture. It is pretty clear that the heart of God breaks for the mother and fatherless. 3 years ago, my wife and I adopted a beautiful 9 yr old from Rwanda, Africa.  This has played a huge role in our lives and it has forever enlarged my heart for those that don’t have a family.

In less than week, I will be jumping on a plane, traveling 9 hours to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where I will stay the night.  The next morning I will get on another plane and fly only 750 miles off the coast of Florida to Haiti to love those that have been forgotten. For one week I will be loving on orphans and visiting Homes of Hope ran by a great organization called Loving Shepherd Ministries.

I am sure there will be some really high highs and some really low lows. My hope and prayer is that I will love beyond myself. That when I give a child with HIV+ a hug and run them around on my back that I wont be thinking about a disease but about the hope that is seen in their eyes and the connection that we share through love. As I walk past collapsed buildings that people are still trying to pull out dead bodies that I wont disconnect my emotions but I will feel deeply.

It isn’t always the easiest to selflessly love and to feel a depth of sorrow. I don’t always want to.  It isn’t always fun.  It isn’t comfortable.

But isn’t that most like the character of Christ?