thelokey

It's strange to me how the mistakes of history seem to be repeated but somehow the good things seem to get lost. About 2 years ago I was introduced to the idea of contemplation. Since then I've done a lot of reading about ancient Christian spiritual practices. For someone like me who likes history and philosophy, it's been a nice adventure to learn how 2nd and 3rd generation Christians "practiced" their faith. The practice (or "discipline" as it's sometimes called) that I would like to write about today is called "Lecto Divina". Literally translated, it means "divine reading". Now, before I go on, I understand that this may be old news to you and you may already be using this practice in your own spiritual journey. If so, great! If you were like me two years ago, this may seem strange, almost "new agey"...Just keep reading. I would say a lot of Christians (myself included) approach scripture much like a textbook, to be...

Lately I've had less time for myself to do the things I enjoy. Right now instead of getting some much needed sleep before a LONG day tomorrow, I'm writing this blog post. I have made time to upload a lot of new pictures of what's going on right now. So if you click on the "Photo Gallery" link to the right, you can see those. If a picture's worth a thousand words, I can shut up now. Enjoy. http://pics.thelokey.com .

This is a totally different subject than what I planned on writing about so this will be a little short. Keep in mind that my goal is not to offend, but rather to inspire thought. Have you fulfilled the Great Commission in your own life? Now I know that some who read this may be ordained ministers so the answer could be "yes". I myself am an unordained minister (long story) and I can say with no hesitation that my answer to that question is "no, I haven't". To make sure we're all the same page (literally), here's the exact passage. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Here's my problem that I'm trying to reconcile, Can I fulfill the Great Commission within the average Baptist church? My short answer is "no, I can...

So tonight at 11:30pm I will be on a plane heading to Lima, Peru. From there, we'll catch a connecting flight to Cuzco, Peru. About 7 years ago, I turned 18 and got on a plane bound for Jamaica. Little did I know what the next 7 years would hold that would end up with me taking a group of high school students half way across the world. It really got me thinking about God's will. Back then, I couldn't even imagine the life I have now. My plans for my life were basically opposite of how God knew my life would turn out to be. It's funny how we plan, dream, and prepare for a future that almost never turns out the way we thought. How much worry we put into making sure our lives go the way we think is best only to have them turned upside down on the day that God decides it's time to set His plan in motion. It's amazing to think about how everything that has happened took place to bring me to this point, this place. God has been faithful, He has brought me through ...

These last two weeks have been...difficult. The transmission on my car went out, I've been sick, summer camps are coming. Well, it's been hectic. But in true "God-like" fashion, my walk with Christ has been strengthened through adversity and I can clearly see God at work all around me and in me. For example, replacing my transmission is going to cost around $1500-1600. This adds up to about 95% of our savings account. A couple of things that I have concluded from this...1) God was not surprised by this turn of events. 2) God has provided us with the money to be able to get the car fixed without going into debt. 3) At the same time He is providing a way out, He's taken away our safety net (AKA the savings account) so that we have no choice but to rely on Him. Which brought me to a weird place. Now we're in a situation where we MUST rely on Him to be all we need. In my morning prayer time I was praying that all this car stuff would be settled and the replac...

Right now I'm sitting in a room of about 17 Middle School students all praying and reading their Bibles without saying a word. I'm on our Middle School Spring Retreat. It's just a weekend get away that we do every year. This year I've been reminded why I do what I do for a living. I find students absolutely fascinating. The way they ask questions, the way they are changing, the way they are willing to accept change and new ideas. I love it! I love it even more that I and Crissy get to play a part in it. Their time is almost up. So what are you passionate about. How does God use that passion in your life?

This Sunday I'll be singing a song in our AM worship services. I've sung countless songs (literally), but this is by far the most difficult song I've ever attempted to sing. Here are the lyrics... i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream i repent, i repent of living like i deserve anything of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife in our suburb where we're safe and white i am wrong and of these things i repent i repent, i repent of parading my liberty i repent. i repent of paying for what i get for free and for the way i believe that i am living right by trading sins for others that are easier to hide i am wrong and of these things i repent bridge i repent judging by a law that even i can't keep of wearing righteousness like a disguise to see through the planks in my own eyes i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity i repent, i repent of confusing peace and idolatry by caring more of what they think than what i know of what we need by dom...

I grew up going to church. More correctly I grew up at church. It was the epicenter of my social world. My friends were at church, my girlfriends were at church, my family...you get the idea. I've always seen church as something I am supposed to attend because I am a Christian. I don't think so anymore. (Stay with me, this is going somewhere) It comes down to this one question... "Do I have to go to church, or do I get to go to church?" (Maybe that's two questions in one.) Your answer to this question will really determine whether your church-going (or non-church going) is healthy. Let me pause here and say explicitedly that I'm not "anti-church". Here's what I want to accomplish...I want to make people think about whether they can have a successful relationship with Christ without ever entering a church building. I've looked through a lot of scripture and here's the things I've found that characterize a growing disciple of Christ.....