What kind of love?

I was watching one of mine and Jaim's favorite chick-flicks last night.. One of the best things about movies is that, depending on what is happening in your life, you pick up completely different things when you watch it multiple times.

Anyway, I was watching a scene in the climax of the movie, at which point the boy who is in love with the girl has lost her to another guy. In a conversation with someone, he is asked, "Well, what kind of love it is? Is it love, big love, or great love?" Not understanding the difference, it is explained, "Love you get over in two months. Big love you get over in two years. And great love... Well, great love changes your life."

While it can be argued that the first two might not be true love, the point stands. Great love changes your life.

As I sat there watching, my mind drifted to real life. My love for Gary has absolutely changed my life. I find myself still sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for his call, trying to get dinner ready so the moment he walks in from his day he can relax, hating every morning when he gets up and leaves for work. My life is far from what it was before Gary.

And then I thought about my love for God. Has it changed my life? Is my love for him something that I can easily forget and discard? Or is it something that wakes me up every morning to meet with him, that keeps me anxiously awaiting his voice, that will lead me into the darkest pit, simply because I know it is there he wants me to be? What kind of love is the love I have for Jesus?

In that simple moment of a chick-flick drama, I was challenged on my love for my Saviour. It has changed my life. But I pray it never stops changing me. Because it is then that I have lost out on the fullness of the greatest love I could ever find.

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Lesson for Today: Oprah is on her way out after 25 years... Wow.

On Your Mark, Priscilla...

Back to a Catalyst overview... Priscilla Shirer (daughter of Dr. Tony Evans who is definitely worth looking up and listening to) was the next speaker. A dynamic Bible teacher, Priscilla challenged us through the life of Joshua. From Joshua 3-5, she observed four characteristics of a strong leader:

1. Acting immediately in response to God
2. Acting fearlessly
3. Acknowledging the Presence of God
4. Anticipating God's miracles

Each one of those is a life lesson in itself, let alone trying to implement all four at once. But then, Joshua had years of watching Moses act those out before he was given the chance to demonstrate those traits in leadership. 

Can you imagine if all the leaders of our church worked at those four things? To act in response to God, and to act immediately and fearlessly. To acknowledge Who God is as we act, and His sovereignty over the situation. And to anticipate that He is going to work in a mighty, supernatural way. Think of a single situation in which all of us in some sort of leadership within our church were to act out those four. We would be an unstoppable force through which God would transform this community in a way we could only dream of.

We pray so hard and so long that God would work in this church and this community. Maybe He is just waiting for all of us to be the leaders He wants us to be - to act immediately and fearlessly, knowing He is in control, and expecting the miraculous - before He pours out His Spirit like a mighty flood over this Island and surrounding communities. Maybe we need to stop waiting for Him to be ready, and realize He is waiting for US to be ready.

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Lesson for Today: I got 6 high fives today... It was a good day.

He is calling us out...

The church is HIS Church. Forgive us, Lord, for ever thinking differently.

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Lesson for Today: Welcome to Moe's! And soon to come: Welcome to Chipotle.

Want to Help?...

On Monday, we got a call from Pastor Eric of the Buffalo Dream Center. Every year, the BDC does Boxes of Love, a program that distributes food and toys to over 4,000 families in Buffalo. The toys and food are donated. Monday morning, he gets a call from Indiana, where a big bulk of their food donations for this program comes from. "We are so sorry - we won't be able to give you the food for Boxes of Love this year." Disappointed, but knowing God would pull through, Pastor Eric hung up. Later that morning, he gets a call saying over 8 tractor trailer-full loads of food are coming his way!

You see, Extreme Makeover Home Edition is in Buffalo this week. And every city they go into, they bring food to distribute to the charities within that area. Through a set of circumstances, the food is all going to the BDC (to be organized and then distributed) because no one else had the space to store all of that food. 

A few weeks ago, while having dinner with Pastor Eric and his wife, Michelle, he told us that he had warehouse space for Boxes of Love already. "Its so out of the ordinary. Every year, it comes down to the 11th hour before we find someone to donate warehouse space... I know something is coming because getting warehouse space this early is far from normal." Well, now he knows why.

Not only did one tractor trailer-full of food back out just in time for over 8 to come in, but he had more warehouse space than any previous year, earlier than any previous year. All because God knew they would need it to store the food in. The food that is needed for Boxes of Love will be distributed, and the rest will be given to charities all through the city.

This cant be done without help, though. Not only do they have to move all that food into the warehouse, but each tractor trailer is a hodge-podge of items. So it needs to be separated and organized. On top of that, they need volunteers to pack the bags for Boxes of Love.

If you want to be a part of this awesome opportunity, leave a comment or email me (jess.asbach@yahoo.com). I cant stress enough that, not only does the BDC NEED volunteers to make this happen, but you will be blessed beyond belief by being a part of this. Here is your chance to feed the poor as God calls us to do over and over again in His Word.

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land the the LORD your God is giving you... give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15

God is all over this situation. To distribute food, toys, and joy in the Name of His Son is something He's all about. And He pulled through big time. Thats the God we serve.

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Lesson for Today: No lesson. Other than God really is awesome. :)

Calvin...

This past Friday, we were in Richmond looking for the location of Bottom's Up, a mom and pop pizza place. While driving around the city, we saw a homeless man on the side of the street, holding a sign, asking for money. We were stopped at a red light and as I continued to watch him, my heart broke for him. I wished I had a McDonald's gift card, or something else useful, to give to him. But the light turned green and my window of opportunity to help him closed.

We finally found Bottom's Up and learned that a table for five would be a 45 minute wait. So we put our name down and decided to wander the city in the meantime. As we did, we found ourselves unintentionally back on the street where this man had been standing. My heart silently rejoiced as I saw God opening our window once again. We walked up to him, handed him some dollars, and asked if we could pray for him. Looking a mix of grateful and slightly confused, he readily agreed. "Calvin, my name's Calvin," he told us when we asked. So we stood there and prayed with, and over, Calvin. 

We left him with a "God bless you" and some extra money in his pocket - but my heart still felt heavy. Feeling like we had simply thrown money at a problem, I knew we needed to do something more. So we decided we should go back and invite Calvin to dinner. This way, we could not only feed him, but build a bit of a relationship with him. So we wandered back and asked Calvin to dinner. But he declined. "I just had some McDonald's and Im full now. Thanks though." After pressing if he was sure, we left Calvin to stand there with his sign and went on our way.

Two things impressed on my heart from our interaction with Calvin. First, in order to meet a need, it is imperative to know what the need is. Deep, huh? But so often we act on perceived needs, the needs we assume someone has. However, meeting a perceived need rather than an actual need doesnt help that person any. In trying to help Calvin, I wanted to meet his need for food, when in fact, that was only what I perceived his need to be. And in doing so, I didnt meet his actual needs. I still believe we did what God asked us to do. And there is no regret in that. But when serving others, we need to be focused on finding out what the need is; we cant be concerned with simply meeting a need. This is why partnering with inner city ministries is vital. 

The second thing I walked away from Calvin with is that ministry is everywhere. Sometimes we have this idea that we have to be set up in the right circumstances and take months of preparation to participate in outreach or serving ministry. But its all around you. Its in the person who sits next to you at work. Its in the neighbor on his driveway three doors down. Its in a homeless man on the street when you are on vacation. Dont think ministry is something you always have to go find. Its all around you. And understanding that will change the way we "be the Church."

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Lesson for Today: Mice like peanut butter. It works, oh, so well.

You are the Light of the World...

This week, Im on vacation. And Ive been reminded of a few things. First, Lucky Charms are as good as I remember them to be. And two large bowls for breakfast is never enough. Second, Walmart is universal. And third, I am blessed to live in Buffalo where the cold weather comes by the beginning of October.

But aside from those, I have also been thinking a lot about outreach and service while down here. And how much my generation loves to fight for social justice and help the poor. Its in. Its trendy. Its what we enjoy to do.

But serving others isnt enough. So many in my generation go out and help the poor once a week or find a project to help with every month, and walk away from completing a good deed to feel satisfied and fulfilled. Its almost as if, in a prideful way, we say, "Im so great for having helped that poor guy who couldnt have done it himself." This isnt what Christ has called us to.

He has called us to a holy life. All of our life must be set apart, not just the one hour a week we give to the needy. Our speech must be holy, our mind must be pure, our actions towards our middle class neighbor must reflect God's love. We have not only been called to serve, we have been called to holiness. And holiness cant be in a single aspect of one's life. It has to infiltrate it all.

You are the light of the world, Jesus told us. We need to realize that a light is light, through and through. No more picking and choosing what part of our lives we allow to be light, and what parts we will harbor darkness. Be light or be dark. For in today's world, picking both sides is as good as picking no side.

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Lesson for Today: In a Pickle and Buzz Word are two very entertaining games.