Waiting for Home; from the Perspective of a Two-year-old (guest post by Liesl Parks)

“Plane! Plane! Plane!” It was the first of a thousand times we would hear the plea from my two year-old. Recently I flew out to Texas to visit my family. I flew there with just an infant and flew back with the infant and our two-year-old, who loves planes. Emory is just old enough to understand the basic concepts of time, location, and travel, but not old enough to process the fact that there are usually several steps to go through before getting to our final destination. He loves flying. We told him that he would get on a plane tomorrow and then see “Dada.” I’m fairly certain that tomorrow doesn’t compute in his brain yet.

Emory did a lot of waiting on our journey. He waited throughout the six hour drive to Dallas with my parents who were catching an international flight the next day. He waited while we were in stand-still traffic on the fringes of Dallas. Nonnie (Grandma) was quick to supply Emory with Youtube videos of monkeys, cows and planes….Emory’s current favorite things. There wasn’t much that would quiet the crying infant, however. It’s common knowledge that babies are only happy in a car seat as long as the car is going 40 plus miles an hour.

Emory waited through the night in our hotel room, sandwiched between Nonnie and Papa in bed. It wasn’t that he was unhappy in the present, he loves being with his grandparents, but he was constantly looking to the future…to tomorrow. He couldn’t understand why it was taking so long. He waited yet again through the continental breakfast, another car ride to the airport and then came the longest waits of all—in the airport. Thirty minutes in line to get our “lap child boarding tickets” seemed like an eternity. At least at every turn around the tape in line we came across the same fuzzy plane-bound puppy for Emory to pet.

Then after that we waited to board. I over-heard a stewardess tell the ticket taker that the plane we were waiting for had to be unloaded of its current passengers first, and that someone had thrown up on the plane so would take extra time to clean. My infant was a sweaty, crying mess smashed against my chest in the carrier and cried harder if I tried to sit down—I was exhausted at this point—and Emory was in terminal melt-down status (as my sister and I like to call it). We were 45 minutes late to board, but I have to say it was worth the wait to avoid smelling or sitting in vomit.

We finally made it on to the plane. And we finally made it home to Dada. To Emory it felt like an eternity, to me it was a day. A very long day, but just a day. I saw the big picture, Emory saw the short-term. Granted, waiting is one of the hardest things to do.

Why does God ask us to wait? He has always asked his children to wait. How long did Noah wait to enter the ark? How long did Abraham and Sarah wait for a son? How long was Joseph in prison? How long did it take the children of Israel to enter the Promised Land? Years! Some of them waited 100 years or more.

I, like Emory, have asked God for things over and over. I feel like even in the last year almost all of my prayers have been answered wait, or no. We’re talking about big life things. Not, “please don’t let it rain today” or “please let my favorite Voice contestant win” but huge, life-changing things. I can count at least three or four big requests recently that were backed with the most fervent faith I’ve ever mustered that God answered no.

Each time I prayed I was sure that my faith was finally strong enough. And every time another request was answered no I felt my soul crushing again. Was it because my relationship with Him wasn’t as strong as it has been in the past? Was it because I really didn’t have enough faith? Was He simply trying to teach me something? I’m usually not satisfied by the answers to any of these questions. But in a small way, our travels to Texas helped me to remember the big picture; I am like a 2 year-old compared to God. "My thoughts are not His thoughts and my ways are not His ways" (Isaiah 55:8). For now, that is enough. Our travels through life ultimately bring us to eternity and unity with Him—our “Dada.” Everything then will be made known; everything then will be made right.

Favorite Books List

Fiction

Young Reuben Land has little doubt that miracles happen all around us, suspecting that his own father is touched by God. When his older brother flees a controversial murder charge, Reuben, along with his older sister and father, set off on a journey that will take them to the Badlands and through a landscape more extraordinary than they could have anticipated. Enger’s novel is at once a heroic quest and a haunting meditation on the possibility of magic in the everyday world. (Taken from Amazon.com)

Peace Like a River (2001) may be my favorite novel to date. I've always believed that if a book (or movie) is mediocre but has a great ending then I would consider the entire book (or movie) to be good or maybe even great. This one, however, is so good throughout and somehow gets even better at the end (an ending of which I will never forget). Peace Like a River allows for the possibility of the miraculous as well as a glimpse of the afterlife. My brother and I love filmmaking and I have always said that if this book is never made into a movie then we would do it together one day. A must read!

  After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. (Amazon)

The Light Between Oceans (2013) brilliantly explores the moral dilemma that takes place between people who see a certain situation through different eyes. What if something that seems wrong to one person is seen as a gift from God to another? Who's to say what is right? Not only is the storyline compelling but the fact that this book is set in Australia just made me want to read it. Heck, the cover is awesome too!

   

The Space Trilogy (1938-1945) by C.S. Lewis includes the books Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. Even though I have not yet finished this series, I am going to go ahead and recommend it because it is so different and more imaginative than anything being written today. Each book takes place on a different habitable planet in which Dr. Ransom is sent by the Divine powers to carry out a specific task. Before Narnia, Lewis explored other planets; planets which may have not yet fallen like earth has.

*My wife, Liesl, also recommends: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Non-fiction

Biography of World War II hero Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and then survived more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war in three brutal Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. (Wikipedia)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010) is one of the greatest stories of our time. That this man survived everything he did is nothing short of miraculous and perhaps one in a billion chance. The book was just recently made into a decent film by director Angelina Jolie. What Jolie failed to do, however, was tell the whole story. How can you leave off the entire end of the story of which many may find to be the best part? Where did Zamperini's strength come from in order to stop his drunken outbursts and spells of PTSD? Where did he find the strength to save his marriage? And where did he find the strength to forgive the very men who tortured him in prison? This story is a must read for every person. Period. I appreciate Hillenbrand's willingness to just tell the story as it was told by Louis, whether she believed what happened was possible or not.

A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it. (Amazon)

Same Kind of Different as Me (2006) gave me hope that people can really change if you give them a chance and if God is in the details. As stated above, no one can dream this kind of story up. It inspires us to reach out and love our fellow man but gives hope even in the midst of pain and loss. This book gave me personally the courage I needed to step out in faith and help "the least of these." Each of these books in the non-fiction section will have an atheist second guessing his position on life and God. If these stories are true, then there somehow has to be Someone looking out for us.

The Yanomamo people of the Amazon- endangered children of nature or indigenous warmongers on the verge of destroying themselves? Now for the first time, a powerful Yanomamo shaman speaks for his people. Brutally riveting, the story of Jungleman is an extraordinary and powerful document. (Amazon)

Spirit of the Rainforest (1996) absolutely blew me away. We've heard stories of indigenous people who live like this but hearing a first hand account is something else entirely. I must say, this is a tough book to stomach. It is full of violence and cruelty. There are stories of murder, rape, abuse, and incest. Unimaginable living conditions and sicknesses that wipe out entire villages. This book is not for the faint of heart. So why am I recommending this book? Because even here there is a glimmer of hope in a place so completely devoid of God and ruled by evil. The author chose to tell the story just as it was told by Jungleman. The author does not claim Christianity so there is no certain angle at which he was coming from. Even to a skeptic like him and a people group immersed in the worship of evil spirits, God can still choose to reveal Himself.

*Also recommended: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness in the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson, and Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell.

Theology/Christian Living

Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics and non-believers bring to religion. Using literature, philosophy, anthropology, pop culture, and intellectual reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand against the backlash toward religion spawned by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God. (Amazon)

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008) is a powerful work for all believers and seekers. I have probably referenced and quoted this book more than any other book I've read. I have recommended it and given it as a gift more than any other as well. Not necessarily because it is the greatest book I've ever read but because it is so logical and practical. Keller says, "Belief in God is an unavoidable 'basic' belief that we cannot prove but can't not know. We know God is there. That is why even when we believe with all our minds that life is meaningless, we simply can't live that way. We know better."

What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between "cheap grace" and "costly grace." "Cheap grace," Bonhoeffer wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship....Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again. (Amazon)

The Cost of Discipleship (1959) is essential reading for all believers. In his most well known work, Bonhoeffer famously states, "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." Following Jesus should never be taken lightly. If you have ever read a biography on the life of this man, then you understand how the above themes played out in his life. He did not just write about them. He lived them out and died for them.

We often think of doubt as the opposite of faith, but could it actually strengthen our relationship with God? According to John Ortberg, best-selling author and pastor, the very nature of faith requires the presence of uncertainty. In this refreshingly candid look at a life of faith, he traces the line between belief and unbelief: less a dividing line between hostile camps than a razor’s edge that runs through every soul. His findings point us toward the relief of being totally honest. Questions can expand our understanding, uncertainty can lead to trust, and honest faith can produce outrageous hope. Written from Ortberg’s own struggle with faith and doubt, this book will challenge, comfort, and inspire you with the truth that God wants all of us—including our doubts. (Amazon)

Faith and Doubt (2008) can help us better understand the relationship of doubts with our faith. This was a much needed book in my life as doubt has always seemed to play a part in my beliefs. It helped me to understand that I am not alone in my doubts and that we must first "believe something before we can doubt anything." This is also a very quotable book and have used it much in my teaching. Ortberg says, "I know something about how it works. I know that if you never believe, if you never trust, you will never know. Sometimes a leap of faith is the only form of transportation."

In this classic, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War Two from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith. (Amazon)

Mere Christianity (1952) is a classic work that every Christian should read. Just do it. Even if some of the writing flies over your head, just continue to plow through it (some of his books tend to do that.) I am forever grateful to him for leaving us such an important work. Lewis says, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...But who do you know who lives like that? (Amazon)

Radical (2010) opened my eyes to alot of things. If you're interested in comfortable Christianity then you probably shouldn't read this book. Platt gets to the heart of things by looking at passages of Scripture that many people avoid or gloss over when teaching them. If we are actually seeking to take up our crosses and follow Jesus then this may come into conflict with our pursuit of the American dream. In a Christian culture that is looking more and more like the world, we must leave our lives as consumers and become producers. If you read this book, just be prepared for anything.

*Also recommended: Crazy Love by Francis Chan The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken and The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch


That's all folks!

The State of the Church

 

            It’s no secret we are living in a time when the culture we find ourselves in is now changing at an exponential rate. Hardly anything is constant anymore. We never really know what’s going to happen next. In his book, The Forgotten Ways, Alan Hirsch brilliantly sheds light on the reality of our situation:

            “Only fifty years ago, based on what we know from the past and a thorough assessment of current conditions, we could forecast future with high levels of predictability. We would then develop a strategic plan, with milestones along the way, and expect that, all things being equal, we could achieve the desired result. It was called strategic planning, and it was based on the idea of slow continuous change. The future was just a projection of the past with some adjustments. Now, because of constant innovations in technology and the resultant redundancies of whole industries, hypersensitive global markets that react to the slightest disturbances across the globe, terrorism, the shift of geopolitical forces, etc., we are living in an age where it is just about impossible to predict what will happen in three years’ time, let alone twenty. In other words, change for us is discontinuous, and it is increasingly rapid. And it is a real threat to the institutional church, which doesn’t normally respond well even to slow continuous change.”

            I couldn’t agree more with Hirsch. Rapid change is taking place all around us but the church is always slow to make the proper changes and adjustments in order to reach people in the here and now. I am in no way saying we should change the message to fit the culture. Plenty of churches have fallen into this trap. The Truth of Scripture remains the same but we must contextualize the message in order to reach our culture today and not our culture fifteen years ago.

            Change begins with us. As a Christian, I don’t believe Jesus died and rose again just so we can have a pep rally once a week and talk about it. I know you would agree with me, too. So, why do we keep doing it? Probably because we know we need to do something, and this is just enough to feel good about ourselves yet not be uncomfortable. Oh Christian, I assure you, there is nothing comfortable about the cross. It flies in the face of the selfishness and individualism that runs rampant in our society today. With Jesus, we must actively take up our cross and follow Him, not passively sit and keep a seat warm. And why do we keep trying to make Jesus a part of our lives instead of the whole? We are quick to call Jesus our Savior but hesitant to call Him Lord. He does not become one without the other.

            If you read the Bible you will see that God is a missionary (Gen. 3:8-9, John 10:10, 3:16, Luke 19:10, etc.). We are made in His image and are invited to follow Him. When we follow Him, we will become more like Him. The church is supposed to be full of missionary servants spreading the love of God like wildfire. Unfortunately, we have believed the lie that the church exists solely to meet our needs. Think about it. If we visit a local church, we can choose between traditional and contemporary services, decide on countless ministries that are offered in order to fit the unique shape of our families, mentally score the music and preaching on a scale of 1-10 (and decide if we will go back), show up when we feel like it, give when there is money left over etc. Please join me in admitting that we are consumers! It’s not enough to join together as a body to worship God; we have to be entertained and given free stuff to do it now. I wouldn’t be surprised if many churches today put upwards to 90% or more of their resources into Sunday mornings. Sunday, although a very important day for Christians, is only one aspect of church. We say we know this and understand this but we really don’t unless we change. The Church is supposed to be the body of Christ, a people on the move preparing the way for the Kingdom of God…everyday. Instead we have sadly and shamefully made her out to be a stationary building.

            I am about to turn 30 years old and desperately want my life to count for something. There is a sense of urgency for me because that is the same age Jesus was when He officially began His earthly ministry. Maybe this birthday is my wake up call to truly know Him and make Him known like never before. So, when I see the state of the church right now, I do feel a holy discontent. However, I am optimistic because of a collective movement of many to get back to the basics of Scripture by reemphasizing the glory of God, authentic community, discipleship, and mission. Because of this, I see a church (both local and global) that is centered on the Gospel and seeks to love and serve others like Jesus did. I see a church with a God-sized vision that seems impossible to fulfill, humanly speaking. I see a church full of disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. I see a church that plants other churches that in turn plant more churches.  I see a church where families teach their children what it means to follow Christ by their words and deeds. I see a church that lives like an authentic community is supposed to, loving, sharing, and taking care of one another so that those on the outside looking in will want to be a part of it. I see a church that hosts unsaved friends and neighbors in their homes who would not otherwise attend a church service. I see a church where the miraculous takes place in the here now and not just the past. I see a church where leadership is shared for the sake of accountability and the realization that God speaks to everyone, not just the ‘head pastor.’ I see a church that plans for the future but holds all things with open hands. I see a church that lives by the Spirit and is willing to change what is needed in order to bring God the most glory. I see a church that trains people to share their faith and disciple others rather than just letting the “experts” do it. I see a church that isn’t afraid to deal with cultural issues (gender and sexuality, marriage, abortion, terrorism, etc); things that affect us all in some way. I see a church that befriends those who are homeless or hurting and recognize that they are our brothers and sisters made in God’s image. I see a church that is willing to open up their homes to children and teenagers who do not have one. I see a church that sends out missionaries and mission teams in their own city and to the ends of the earth to spread the love of Jesus. I see a church that gives all it can spare and then some so that the Gospel will be advanced in all places and to all people. I see a church that lives on mission everyday in order to make Jesus known in all of life.

            Maybe I am an idealist. Or maybe I just want to see what will happen when the church decides to actually take Jesus at His word. I am ready to invest my life in these things but cannot do it alone. I need the church. We all need the church. The times have changed and will continue to do so. Now we must make the proper changes to reach our culture today. We can’t stay the same. Are you willing to pray and ask God if you are currently fulfilling the role He has for you in the body of Christ? That is my prayer. Who’s with me?

In honor of road tripping to Maine next week

Why do people go on road trips? I think we all feel the weight of responsibility and work that we want to escape from from time to time. You see, when you're with your best friends (or your family) on the open road and God's creation as your companion, there is a sense of freedom you feel that exists in no other place but after this life. We all want to be free and experience life like that, but most will not because of the busyness of life and priorities that will glue us to our seats. However, some will find a way... (*This is an excerpt from a road trip documentary I made while in college about 5 friends who head out West on a journey of discovery.)

This time I am headed to Maine and Acadia National Park with a couple friends to camp, shoot the stars, and maybe even see the Northern Lights. Will post my findings when I return!

On Being a Father

       I'm not a very emotional person. When I found out I was going to be a father, I didn't react much. I just knew it was time to buckle down and take another step toward maturity. Part of me fought the idea, only revealing my selfishness and the need to die to myself and grow up. I mean, I had always really wanted kids but when you are actually on the path to becoming a parent, reality sets in. For the most part, no more late nights with friends. No more going to the movies all the time. No more two-week long road trips. It seemed like countless people told me that when I saw my child (or held him) for the first time, I would be overwhelmed with love and affection for this tiny person. So, when my son Emory was born I waited for these feelings but they never really came. I loved him because I was choosing to and I did my best to take care of him and protect him but it felt mostly out of obligation. Honestly, the first thought that came to my head when I saw my son was, "Who's kid is this?" Maybe that was just because he had a ton of dark brown hair and looked like a hot mess (I don't know). I know this may sound heartless but it's just the truth. I confessed these feelings to my wife, Liesl, a few weeks later and surprisingly she revealed she had felt kind of the same way after we left the hospital. A sigh of relief came over both of us. We jokingly shared with one another how much we loved Emory on a scale of one to ten (Sorry. Not going to give you our responses. I know you're already judging me!). After talking about it, I remembered that Liesl and I had fallen in love slowly; it wasn't love at first sight for us. It took time for our love to grow and mature, making it all the more rich and deep I believe. I know children are different but maybe this was similar and just part of the way God wired us. Over time, however, our affection for Emory grew (Liesl's a little faster than mine). Each week that passed, my scale was getting closer to ten (Stop judging!). 

       Even though I have always loved my son, it's nice to have the feelings that go along with it now (I get to spend half of each day with him, too! He is constantly making me smile and laugh). Ultimately, though, love is a choice. Feelings come and go. Affections can change. But when you commit to a spouse and your future children, you become a picture of how God sees us and loves us. That's why loving your family is so important. We are an open letter to the world. 

       I love the verse from Zephaniah 3:17 that says, "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing" (ESV). Just as we rock our children to sleep at night or pray over them or sing to them, so our heavenly Father does for each of us. And He loves our children more than we ever could. But as a father, I am a picture of what my children will believe about God (at least in part). There are holes in my love, as I have revealed, but our Father's love is perfect. And no matter what we do, He loves us ten out of ten every time. As messed up as the world we are living in right now is (and we can't protect our children from everything), we must seek to love our children as best we can the way God loves us. I desperately want my children to believe God is loving. What better gift can I give them? All for now.

Blessings,

Kyle

*I recently put together a short video highlighting Emory's life thus far. Our second son will be due mid-October. I guess I will have alot more filming to do. Enjoy!

Jacob: A Story of Transformation

      
           My uncle once asked me if I had ever seen someone’s life completely change because of a relationship with Jesus. After thinking about it for a bit, I realized that, yes, I knew of people like this but not really anyone I was close to. Or most Christians I knew had become one when they were younger. All of that changed, however, when I met Jacob.

            Jacob was your typical high school kid. He liked girls. He played sports. He went to church. But he was also very shy and quiet. He would come to youth group on occasion where I was youth pastor and even attended a winter ski retreat once. He seemed like a good guy but I could barely pry two words out of his mouth so I didn’t really have any sense of where he was on his faith journey. One day when the youth group was serving at a homeless shelter, I got a call from Jacob saying he wanted to join us. Before that I hadn’t heard from him in a few months. For some reason that day he seemed different. He was more outgoing; he played with the kids, and helped with yard work. Something in him was changing. Little did I know, God was already beginning a work in him.

            That summer I was planning on taking the youth to a beach camp. I had invited Jacob but it seemed unlikely he could go because of summer lacrosse commitments. I gave up asking him until I found out he had sustained a sports injury and wouldn’t be doing any running for a while. After much urging from his mother and I, we finally convinced him to go. He seemed happy enough about it but was skeptical of the coming experience. His skepticism of the camp was confirmed when we arrived. The leaders and counselors were way too crazy and happy for him. He and Rama joked together, “Looks like this week was a waste of $260!” But they soon realized this was more than a bunch of people with a case of Buddy the Elf syndrome. These people had real joy. Real love. And they wanted to share it with everyone.

            The week was full of sessions that included music, live drama, and challenges from God’s Word. It didn’t take long for Jacob to feel the need for a real relationship with Jesus. He went forward immediately after the first session to be prayed for and begin his journey of following Jesus. The conviction was palatable as he shared with me everything God was telling him, tears streaming down his face. Jacob was completely letting go of his old life and wholeheartedly embracing the new. He was dying to himself and it was painful but it was the only way to truly follow Jesus and live.

            Throughout the week, our youth group met each night to share what was going on with one another. Jacob’s openness and honesty with the rest of the group helped create a safe environment for others to share. The Holy Spirit was definitely on the move among our group as one after the other shared what God was doing in them and the need for change to take place. Confession and tears followed by many hugs was the norm that week. You cannot recreate that kind of environment again in hopes of sparking a revival. The Spirit must be on the move and people must be willing to do whatever it is God is leading them to. No deals. No excuses. Just total surrender.

            As a youth pastor, I have often wondered when a student has had a profound spiritual experience at a camp or on a mission trip, if it will really stick or not. Just like Jesus’ parable of the sower, was this seed in Jacob’s life planted in good soil? When we returned home, Jacob seemed like a completely different person. At youth group, he no longer just talked to his friends, but to everybody. He started hugging everyone too and telling them God loved them. Before long, others followed suit and we became one of those “hugging youth groups.” He invited his friends to church and established a wider influence with kids at school. He began having a heart for the down and out, and the lonely. He started reaching out to homeless people, as well. He decided to pick up the guitar and begin learning worship songs so he could help lead music. He got baptized. He would read the Bible and pray for long periods of time and then discuss specific verses with me that needed clarification. He was directly involved with other students coming to Christ, having an eternal impact. When others shared testimonies at youth group or at a baptism service, Jacob’s name would get brought up more and more as someone who had an influence on them. We began a discipleship group for high school guys of which Jacob was a part and would help lead. He began going on mission trips and growth continued. When he struggled with things, he confessed them and sought accountability. When he had doubts, he dug deeper into God’s Word and kept praying and believing. I share all these things not to exalt Jacob as a spiritual hero but to show what God can do with one person who is truly following Christ. He didn’t make a plan about how he would follow God someday “later in life,” nor did he make excuses for the here and now. He simply sought after God upon leaving that summer camp and didn’t look back.

            Jacob is one of the most humble people I know. He wouldn’t say any of these things about himself and that’s why I’m doing it. He went from being one of the shyest and most reserved people I’ve ever met to one of the most outgoing I’ve ever met. Any psychology class will tell you that a person’s personality does not really change like that. How is that possible without Jesus? He is a disciple through and through and he is helping others to become disciples too.

           
            Jacob is now a sophomore at Liberty University. He continues to lead worship for youth and is helping teach a college-age Bible study. He prays with people on the spot if they are in need. He is actively seeking what direction God wishes to take his life. The most recent description someone shared with me about Jacob is this: “He is just like a little Jesus,” they said. These are profound words. When was the last time you or I were described in this way? May we all seek to become like a little Jesus.

Blessings,

Kyle

The Lion of Judah (or Theology with Thirteen-Year Olds)

          
            The lion roared from the other side of the giant roll-up door…“Reese, Jesus is the Lion of Judah. Today is the day of salvation!” I exclaimed… A roaring lion doesn’t usually bring comfort, but in this case it did.

            A little over a year ago I had the opportunity to take a group of around 40 students on a winter retreat conference. With that many middle and high school students, a trip is never without its drama but God had some things to teach and reveal to me that weekend as well as the students. In ministry, I think we sometimes get this notion (sadly enough) that God is working miraculously in other places but not so much with us. When we hear stories of awesome things happening at “my” church or in other parts of the world, we can become encouraged yet discouraged at the same time. But in the midst of counting heads, enforcing curfew, and bussing kids around, God was up to something.

            On the second night after the conference was over when all the kids were exercising their free time, I was surprised to find one group of mostly middle school boys, and one or two high schoolers, having a serious discussion in their room. Now when most guys this age have discussions, it usually consists of (but is not limited to) Minecraft strategy, the zombie apocalypse, or the latest video game. I mean, I had literally just walked out of my own room of middle schoolers who were getting ready to play a game of  “zombies in the dark” (whatever that was). But this other group of guys was in the midst of something deep. I came in and sat on the edge of the couch as the discussion continued unhindered. Apparently God had been speaking to Reese throughout the weekend about a relationship with Him. Reese wasn’t interested in just jumping into something without having thought it through long and hard. I didn’t know Reese very well because he was just friends with some of our regular attendees. This was only the second time I had met him. I realized in just a short time though, that even as a 13 year old, this kid was incredibly deep and contemplative. So, what was this whole discussion about? Basically Reese had been asking questions about God, a relationship with Jesus, and living the Christian life while one by one these other guys took turns answering him. And let me tell you, these were not your typical middle school answers. These were solid, Biblical ones. Granted, I might have explained things in a little bit different way but the beautiful thing about the whole discussion is that I really didn’t have to. As Christians, we believe we have the Holy Spirit of God residing in each of us, speaking in us, to us, and through us, no matter the age. I sat there for nearly an hour with a subtle grin on my face, never uttering a word. This theological discussion with mostly 13 years olds wasn’t started or finished by me, and I was the youth pastor.

            The next morning, we attended our last session of the conference. The speaker shared an incredible message and asked if anyone was interested in having a relationship with Christ. Reese, along with many others went forward. Myself and a couple other older youth guys joined him as we filed toward a back room to talk with him about it. We found a place to stand next to a large garage-type door among all the people. Reese had thought and prayed more over his decision since last night and seemed as if he was ready to take that first step in following Jesus. He then verbalized his desire to have a relationship with God to the three of us. As soon as he did this however, something strange and awesome happened that I’ll never forget. A lion began to roar…literally.

            Now before you think I’m some kind of crazy, let me explain. At the Smoky Mountain Opry Theater where the conference was, there were exotic animals backstage that weekend for some reason. My guess is it was for some show the following week or were being temporarily held there because of the large space. Some of the staff had made a few jokes about it during the weekend but that’s what everyone though it was, a joke. So, now that you have a sense of our setting, let’s get back to the story.

            The lion roared from the other side of the giant roll-up door. We all looked at each other in disbelief and with furrowed brows. I broke the silence with an epiphany. “Reese, Jesus is the Lion of Judah. Today is the day of salvation!” I exclaimed. If you have ever heard a lion roar it is somewhat terrifying but also powerful and awesome. A roaring lion doesn’t usually bring comfort, but in this case it did. After taking in the beautiful symbolic realization of that moment, we gathered around Reese and each prayed for him and then he prayed and asked Christ to lead his life. And as soon as he said “Amen”, our lion friend gave another roar of approval. It was perfect. It was beautiful. It was seemingly miraculous. We all hugged Reese and welcomed him into our family. Just then the side door a few feet away swung open but there was no one there. I swear my heart skipped a beat. Okay, so it was probably just the wind and the room was a bit breezy but it did give me goose bumps I’m not going to lie. We all looked back at each other and just smiled. We simply knew the presence of God was with us.

           

            Reese has since been baptized and is involved at a local church. Rama and Jacob were also a part of Reese’s conversion experience that day but had only been Christians for a little over a year before that. Reese had expressed his desire for Jacob to be there with him that day because he had seen how real Jacob’s faith was to himself. If someone’s faith was that real, then it must be true he thought. I hope to tell Jacob’s amazing story of transformation in a later post.

All for now. Many blessings,

Kyle

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. –CS Lewis

        
           The vast expanse of the universe has always enthralled me. The starry hosts of heaven shining down as I gaze up. I have always loved the stars. And the heavens constantly remind me of something not yet experienced; like going home yet never having been there.

            In this life, I believe we sometimes receive a glimpse of the world to come. And I refuse to believe I am here because the world made itself. If we came from nothing then there would be no meaning. And there is nothing in this universe that creates itself from nothing. Rational philosophy tells us, ex nihilo nihil fit (“Out of nothing, nothing comes”). So everything must come from something else. Which begs the question, how could one even find a meaningful life in a meaningless universe? To quote Lewis again: If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.

            I believe we are all searching for something, but do we know it’s God we’re looking for? Because of creation and revelation, there can be nowhere God is not. If we do not believe, it is because we choose not to. So we must choose to believe. 

            I have never been much of a writer, but I am beginning a blog to get my thoughts out there in this transitional phase of my life. I hope to write on all kinds of topics ranging from philosophy, God, the church, ministry and missions to just sharing stories about life, people and the miraculous. I also enjoy photography and filmmaking so keep on the lookout for my latest stuff. Thanks for reading.

Many blessings,

Kyle