Taken with iPhone. Edited with PictureShow.
A Challenge:
If you would like to be challenged along with me, I am currently taking my time through a series by David Platt called “Radical”. I must provide a warning though, this series will most likely challenge everything you’ve ever seen/experienced in “american christianity”. It is a call to look at what the Bible says about being a TRUE DISCIPLE of Jesus.
I’ve said enough. The link is below. I would love to walk through this WITH you. Feel free to email/text/comment/call/write a letter to me to discuss. I would desire nothing more than to chat about the current state of christianity in the US with you.
Talker vs Doer
I watched a movie I do not recommend this evening. But the opening monologue was so powerful and actually the most memorable part of the whole movie. So much so that it still has me thinking as I try to sleep. Allow me to share:
You got two kinds of people in this world. You’ve got your talkers, and you’ve got your doers. Most people are just talkers. All they got is talk. But when all is said and done, the doer’s change the world. And when they do that, they change us. And that’s why we never forget them. So which one are you? Do you just talk about it, or do you do something about it? Because believe you me, all the rest of it is just coffee-house bull*&%.
Well, which one are you? I’ve been thinking a decent bit about it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I am, unfortunately, more of a talker than a doer.
Oh, but I want to be a doer!!
And if you were to talk to me, you would think I’m more of a doer because of the amount I talk about doing.
But I know better.
I know that on a consistant basis I think about how much time I spend on the things I want to do. I know how much time I spend on the things that do not last. I know how much time I spend talking about things that do not advance the Kingdom.
We are all professional rationalists, and I am your king.
I desperately desire to DO more. Not out of obligation or duty. Not out of guilt or even remorse.
But out of an understanding of WHO Jesus is, and out of an attempt to follow His perfect example.
If we all decided to talk a little less, and do a lot more, I think we might just be able to salvage our reputations as “christians”. As the above quoted text states:
But when all is said and done, the doer’s change the world. And when they do that, they change us.
Let’s be doers.
Good To Be Back!
Well, it has been a very good and refreshing couple weeks.
It has been so good to be back in Atlanta and catch up with some great friends. I am so blessed by them, and so grateful to be a part of their lives. I had so many incredible conversations this week with people that desire to see God glorified all over the world. God provided a place for me to stay not about 4 blocks from where I am working. So amazing!
I also had the privilege of spending a week in Myrtle Beach with my whole family the week before I moved here. My sis and her husband came in from San Diego, my other sis and her husband and my niece from Dayton, and my parents from Nashville. It was so nice to have the family together another time of the year other than Christmas. We had such a relaxing time and it was so good to catch up and hear all that God is doing in my family.
While we were there, we decided to all take a day and share a short devotional on what God was doing in our lives. Interestingly enough, and not to my surprise with the way God keeps us guessing, all of us that shared, talked about the same subject. I know for me, lately I feel like God has really been challenging my view of “christianity” in America.
I’ve been asking a lot of questions…to myself mostly.
But it seems as if I’m not the only one asking questions. I really think the Spirit is moving across America, challenging believers everywhere to really seek out what it means to be a follower of Jesus in America. I think that we are on the verge of a breakthrough, and I believe if we listen to what the Lord is saying to us, we are going to see some lives changed!!!
Is anyone else seeing what I’m seeing?
On a side note: My friend Nathan left for Lebanon for a month starting today. This is an incredible man of God who has a servants heart. Please keep him and his team in your prayers. Feel free to follow his blog here: His Kingdom Come . I know there will be some incredible truth and some amazing stories shared. This is a great chance to invest in the eternal simply by praying.
Changes and Community
It is official: I am moving back to Atlanta.
To some, this will come as a surprise. To others, well, I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it. Ha. The last couple months here in Ocala have been pretty difficult. I’ve been fighting with my feelings of wanting to come back to Atlanta verses my feelings of making the decision to come down here in the first place. But what it all boils down to, is my “word of the month”: Community.
I’m learning a lot about this subject right now, and it seems like almost every conversation I’m having revolves around this topic. The importance of community amongst believers is so very vital. And it is definitely possible to be around and immersed “christian” culture and not be in community.
To do life together.
To build each other up.
To pray for/with each other.
To challenge each other to grow.
To spend time together.
These are some characteristics of living in community. These are things that I had in Atlanta that I miss most of all. Sure, I love the feel and the energy of the big city…but that’s not why I’m coming back. As I look back at the last couple months of my life, I don’t see very much growth in any area of my life. Which just tells me something needs to change. I have friends in Atlanta that love me and want to see me become the man God has called me to be, and I need them.
I’ve learned a lot about myself here in Ocala, and I’m sure down the road I’ll look back and have learned a few more lessons. Thank you to everyone in Ocala and NTBC that made me feel welcome, I’m sorry the visit was so short. I’ll pray that God continues to use you all to reach your community for Him. Please pray for me that God will direct my steps.
Atlanta…I’ll see you in two weeks.
The Least of These…
Today I went to the post office. As I pulled up and parked, I noticed a man that seemed to be homeless approaching the future (aka, my van). My window was down and I was still finishing up what I needed to do before I went inside. My first thought was, “I really don’t feel like having a conversation with this guy right now”. So, I continued doing what I was doing, making sure to avoid any chance of eye contact. I hear very faintly, “Excuse me, sir?”, not once, but twice. I continue looking down, acting completely preoccupied and uninterested. I watched out of the corner of my eye as the man walked away.
Instantly (and I mean instantly), Matthew 25:40 pops in my head:
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Wow did I feel like a jerk. I thought to myself, “If Matthew 25 is true, then I totally just ignored Jesus Himself.” (see verses 42-43) I looked around for the man and he was still there. I finished up what I was doing, and sure enough, when I looked up again he was standing there. He said again, in a very pleasant tone, “I’m so sorry to bother you, but can you spare a couple dollars so I can get some food?” To which I replied, “Well, I can’t give you money, but I would be glad to go pick some food up for you once I finish up here.” The man said, “Would you really? Oh, thank you so much sir. Oh, and if you don’t mind, could you please get me something to drink?” ”Of course”, I said.
So, I went inside and did my deal. Left and went to the gas station/deli down the street (they have great sandwiches by the way), got the man some food and drink and took it back to him. Let me tell you, he was so grateful. I told him how much Jesus loved him and cared for him, but all he could say was thank you and God bless.
Why do I tell you this story?
Well, because I’m laying here again, another sleepless night thus far, so I get up to read Crazy Love (which I have yet to finish). Slow reader, I know. I pick up where I left off, and I promise you, the second paragraph I read is about this very topic. In fact, he quotes this exact verse! I couldn’t believe it as I was reading it, just knowing that it was exactly what I needed for right now.
I don’t know why God teaches me lessons the way that He does, but I love Him for it! I don’t quite know what I’m supposed to have learned yet, but I felt compelled to tell the cyberspace. I hope this serves as an encouragement to you, as it has for me.
Anyone have any similar stories?
Sorry for the Inconvenience…
What homeless people do:
- Make us uncomfortable.
- Take advantage of people’s kindness.
- Litter.
- Sleep in our beautiful parks.
- Smell.
- Fall into the same old sins, over and over.
- Stop us on the street to ask us for money.
- Make up lies.
- Go into restaurants just to use the bathroom.
- Remain homeless rather than go get a job.
What they also do:
- Breathe the same air as us.
- Have the same dreams as us.
- Just want to feel loved.
- Make mistakes, just like us.
- Deserve the same respect as us.
- Feel great when someone looks them in the eyes and smiles.
…and most importantly, they have the same opportunity to accept forgiveness of their sins. Which, for the record, are no more dirtier than yours or mine.
“For God so love the WORLD…”
Important People
If one is important, then we all are.
Here are a few verses I ran across today. I am continually challenged by my inward focus and how I get so easily distracted. I pray I would love God and love people more consistantly.
For this is THE MESSAGE that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, - 1 John 3:11
Purse peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: - Hebrews 12:14
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. - Romans 12:18
Welcome to, “The Future”!
I have very good news! But first, let me provide a little back story. My last blog consisted of a prayer request for transportation, but I didn’t give you all of the information. ;) Going in to last weekend, I really felt like the Lord was going to provide a car for me very soon. So much so that I went into Monday feeling like I may be purchasing a vehicle THAT DAY. I prayed about it all day, and really just spent the majority of the day looking for a car. I wrote the blog halfway through the day asking for backup prayer (which I so very thankful for all of you who did). But I went to work at 5:30pm with no real options. However, I did not lose hope! I got home from work around 11:15pm and decided to look some more.
Nothing.
I talked with a ‘good friend’ until about 1am when I decided it was:
a.) Time to go to bed.
b.) Time to look one for a car one more time.
I’d been looking on a few different sites pretty consistantly, and the first one I looked on, the second car down caught my eye. It read:
1988 Toyota Van. Low miles. One owner. MUST SEE!! $2200. (xxx) xxx-xxxx.
That was it. So I thought, “what the heck, I’ll see if they got some pictures”. I threw them an email and then went to bed. Woke up at 8am and checked my email to find that they had responded. To make a long story shorter, I ended up loving the way it looked, and got a ride to go see it by 9:30am. And by 10am I had put a down payment on what is now referred to as “The Future”! It has 57K original miles on it and is in amazing shape. I know that God totally provided this for me and I am sooo thankful for it!!!
Thank you, thank you to all of those who were praying with me.
I cleaned it up the other day, so The Future is looking bright. You can actually see into The Future.
by Aaron Coury
no comments
add a comment link to this post email a friend