soulthirst cafe

Yesterday, I had one of those proud dad days.

You see, one of the fourth-grade teachers at my son’s elementary school has a severe kidney disease that requires her to be on a dialysis machine four days a week. For the last week, the school has been promoting a Coin Drive to help raise funds for this teacher’s escalating medical bills. Yesterday afternoon, some kids from the school were going around the neighborhood collecting money. One of Caleb’s classmates came to the door looking for change for the Coin Drive. Caleb went to his room, opened his wallet, and came back with a $20 bill. Caleb’s classmate was shocked and actually encourage him not to give so much.

That night, I told my son that he looked very much like Jesus earlier. The Bible says that when we were dying, Jesus gave his life so that we might live. Jesus saw the need and gave his all to meet that need.  And while $20 may not seem like very much to the majority of us, it was all my son had.

Yesterday was a good day.

For more info on this fourth grade teacher, Rhonda Vasquez, or if you would like to contribute to the fund, go to http://rhondavasquez.chipin.com

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him.(Mark 14:43-46)

Jesus was betrayed with a kiss. It was the right action, just the wrong motive. Judas gave lip service to Jesus as though he respected Jesus. “Rabbi!” he called Him. Judas kissed Him on the cheek which was a sign of greeting and respect. But Judas’ heart and actions were far from right. And while “nobody’s perfect” Judas was intentionally dishonoring God.

God is not impressed with lip service or activity. He does not look at the outward activity or appearance, but rather He looks at our hearts. (1 Samuel 16:7).

How’s your heart? Are you doing a lot of activity that seems spiritual, but deep down inside you’re wandering? Do you give lip service to God as though He truly is God in your life, but then rebel against Him with your actions?

Proverbs 4:23 says to guard your heart because it is the center of your life and decisions. We must always be careful to make sure we are not covering up a wandering heart with pseudo-spiritual talk and activity. While we may be able to fool those around us, we can never fool God.

Fortunately, He longs to restore, encourage and support those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Ask God to check your heart. If you are not fully committed to Him, then ask Him to bring you to that point. Your actions will follow your heart.

Tags: 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Judas' kiss., Mark 14:43-46, Proverbs 4:23

Last week I got to be a part of something pretty rare in America. The very first couple that I ever married had their 20 year anniversary. They came to Austin and I had the privilege of renewing their vow as they looked forward to the next 20 years. Here’s a before and after pic.

May 6, 1989                             May 6, 2009

And yes, that’s me 20 years ago. Still rockin’ the facial hair and some semblance of, what was at the time, a cool head of hair.

We went to lunch afterward and caught up on the past twenty years. We talked about old times and old friends and in the course of the conversation I found myself wondering why so many of the friends that I grew up with didn’t make it in their faith or in their marriages. And, more importantly, how can we more intentionally prepare people to be more successful in both of these areas. So here are a few observations that I have made over my 20 plus years of ministry that are consistent in those who’ve made it.

1. Faith matters. It seems as though the people who are the most successful in their relationships and in their marriages have a deep, meaningful faith. They aren’t religious. In fact, the more they grow in their faith, the less religious they appear. They move from being legalistic rule-followers to being people who really love God and love others and who have figured out that God’s life is the best life we can live. They have joy and peace that moves beyond circumstances and they trust God in every area of life. So many people think that going to church is the answer. Loving God is the answer! The more serious we get about loving God, the more we will experience His love in our lives. And I’m not talking about giving lip service to God. I mean lovingly surrendering our lives to Him, trusting Him to lead us where He wants us to be. Going to church won’t guarantee your success. Loving God will.
2. Commitment matters. Every time I perform a wedding, I am reminded of how much commitment matters. I mean, seriously, if every married couple lived up to the promises they made at the altar, promises to love, honor, cherish, through thick and thin, placing their needs before our own, forsaking all others as long we both shall live - our homes would be thriving and not just barely surviving.
3. Friends matter. Do you surround yourself with people who encourage you? Do you have people around you who speak truth into your life, not just what you want to hear? We have a tendency to distance ourselves from people who don’t tell us what we want to hear. I have what used to be best friends whom I haven’t talked with in over 15 years, simply because they didn’t want me speaking truth into their lives. If we’re not careful, we will surround ourselves with people who have no vested interest in our personal growth, who don’t challenge us to become the best we can be and who will ultimately lead us away from becoming the person God has created us to be.
4. Choices matter. Those pictures above give a twenty year snapshot of how much Dale, Kerrie and I have changed over the years. The change is pretty obvious. But the reality is the change has taken place gradually, barely noticed over the course of 20 years. Every choice you make takes you one step closer to the person that you will one day become. No one goes through life hoping they will be addicted to drugs, alcohol or pornography. No one goes through life hoping they will be divorced one day or that their kids will hate them. No one goes through life hoping they will be dishonest in business or ruined in relationships. The change happens gradually with each of the small choices we make along the way. What was a simple act of flirting turned into an adulterous relationship. A simple cutting corners in a business turned into fraud and embezzlement. A simple hiatus in a faith journey turned into years of disregarding God’s direction for life. People wake up one day find themselves nowhere near where they envisioned themselves. Every….choice….matters. You are becoming who you one day will be. Are you making wise choices today to ensure that you will become who you want to be tomorrow?

Hopefully this list was helpful. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well. If you have a thriving marriage or faith, what is it that makes it work for you? And what are you doing to ensure that if God grants you another 20 years of life, they will be the best 20 years you’ve ever had?

Thirsting for Him,

Chris

Tags: finishing well., keys to life, Marriage

I have to confess that I have not watched a minute of 24. I know, for some of you that brings my walk with Christ into question. It was one of those decisions that I made back when it started. I love Keiffer Southerland as well as the genre of a show that 24 represents. But I really didn’t want to get addicted to yet another show that I would have to DVR and then follow through what would have to be at I’m assuming around 24 hours of my life. Not to mention sitting around with my other 24ites dissecting each episode.

Which leads me to my point. How much time in your 24 hour day do you invest in media? Between TV, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Youtube and 5000 other possible social networks or media outlets, a person’s day can get pretty full pretty quick without ever accomplishing anything meaningful. I see guys who Twitter every few minutes or people who have to-the-minute Facebook updates and I wonder, “Where do you get the time to do all that?” More importantly, “What are you not doing that you could or should be doing instead of being surgically attached to your phone or your computer?”

Now, I’m a fan of social networks. I know that there is actually a lot of good things happening through modern media. But I’m also a fan of stewardship. Each of us have been given 24 hours every day and each of us will give an account to God one day for what we did with our time. I know people who are more consistent with their Tweets, blogs and Facebook profiles than they are with their walk with Christ.

And I’m not judging or condemning. I am just saying be careful. Don’t be lulled to sleep by the flickering pixels. Every once in a while, you should put the phone down, close the laptop and get out and get some fresh air. Have a cup of coffee with a friend, take your spouse on a media-free date, read a book, leave your laptop at home when you go on vacation, turn off your phone when you get home, and remember that life is best lived outside of a backlit screen.

Use your media to lead, but be careful that your media doesn’t lead you.

Just thinking out loud. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Tags: 24, facebook, investing in what matters, social media, twitter

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. (ESV)

As a child of God, saved from your former life, do not let the passions of your former life control you as though you don’t know any better.

You are called to live a life that is set apart from that world. God is different - set apart.

You should be as well.

If you call him your Father, you should live as though you are His children. You should have a holy reverence for who God is and recognize that He will not bless those who choose to live as though they do not know Him. He has purchased you with the blood of His Son, not some random goats or sheep. He has existed for all of eternity past and yet He came to live and to die for you.

Do not let that truth EVER become old.

Thirsting for Him,

Chris