Veiled no longer...

One thing that has stood out to me the most in the reading of this second book is how, because of Christ's finished work on the cross, we have been ushered into the actual presence of God! The curtain separating the Holy of Holies from "normal" people was torn in two. The veil was removed. Whereas previously, only the highest priest - trembling with fear for his life - could enter the room where God's presence was, now anyone can "enter" that room...amazing! The God of the universe, the God of the atom, and everything in between, defeated death so that WE could be in His presence, so that HE could be with us. Again, amazing!  I can honestly say that I cannot think of a single day of my life when I have not felt His presence with me. Even as a young child, I conversed with Him about everything, all throughout the day.  I still do. The very thought of NOT having Him near me, with me, within me terrifies me - there would be nothing worse on earth!  Having free access to God, through Christ, having Him want me to be with Him - this is what Christ's finished work on the cross means to me. Plus, I know that not only is He with me at all times, He is also with my loved ones, even though we live in different parts of the country. What peace that brings!

Chapter 5 - In One Sentence - To Truly Reveal the Heart, Someone has to Bleed

“He is not trying to squeeze us into an alien mold.”  I Peter 2:11 says, “Dear friends I urge you as aliens and strangers in this world to abstain from sinful desires.” 

This chapter reminded me that the heart of Christ expressed in His body, me and you, actually appears alien and perhaps feels alien or weird at times.  I like Peter's matter of fact approach to this tension -- To live in God's mold as you were intended categorizes you as strange and alien.  

I felt convicted while reading.  I felt convicted that the “alien-ness” I feel is a revealing to me of my selfish heart that seeks its own glory and seeks to self-preserve (ALIEN) instead of self-give (NATURAL).

God’s pushing me today to see dying for my enemies with no strings attached as the “non-alien” and thus natural impulse of God’s heart in me.  

In other words, God is pushing me today to be His church, His body, poured out in unconditional, sacrificial love. 

My prayer is that my the eyes of my heart would be opened such that I would not see crucifixion (metaphorically and literally) as the end of life but instead as the very beginning of life.  For my crucifixion reveals the heart of God.  My crucifixion reveals life.  For Jesus, from the bosom/heart of the Father bleeding from a cursed tree, is Life.   

In one sentence – “To truly reveal the heart ….. someone has to bleed.” 

chapter 4 No More Separation

When I think about no more separation I am reminded of the fact that so many do not accept God with us.  They don't want God with us. They desire separation.  Yes it cost Him everything, which is a great amount. And yes it cost me, but that really isn't much compared to Him.  I desire and cling to His promise

Chapter 4 - The Cross -- An Eternal Weapon of Mass Creation That Simultaneously Wrecks, Transforms, and Inspires

I used to credit this line to Dietrich Bonhoeffer but after many Google searches I haven’t found anyone to whom I can give credit for the following quote.  Maybe I dreamed it.  

Whatever the case this quote has informed my journey with Christ and was echoing through my heart and mind as I read chapter 4.  “The bible is a handbook for those being sacrificed.” – Source Unknown

I will likely for all time in this age and the age to come always marvel that Jesus didn’t use the political, social, religious, economic, and military systems of this world to crucify Romans but instead used the political, social, religious, economic, and military systems at His time to be crucified on behalf of Romans, Greeks, me, and all fallen creation. 

As I think about Jesus using the fallen systems of a fallen world to die for us and broken creation, I hear 1^st Peter’s words about the gospel, “Even angels long to look into these things.”

Here’s the whole passage in context:

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. I Peter 1:10-12

When I catch a glimpse of God’s heart in the message and ministry and sacrifice of Jesus I can’t help but confess, “Once again I look upon the cross where you died.  I am humbled by your mercy and I am broken inside.”

I am always perplexed and amazed at how God’s mercy (at the cross and in His people) breaks me, humbles me, and yet at the same time inspires & invigorates at the deepest level. 

Looking at Christ on the cross creates in me one of the most unique spiritual and emotional experiences I’ve known in this world for seeing His cross simultaneously and instantaneously pounds into my core God’s promise, “I will turn your mourning into joy.”  At the cross I simultaneously and instantaneously worship Jesus with broken mourning  and glorious joy.   At no other place  than the cross do I feel shame & guilt more piercingly exposed and at the same time at no other place than the cross do I feel forgiveness & acceptance more extravagantly offered.

That crazy, mind bending, soul sifting cross!!! 

The song I quoted earlier Once Again has a refrain that repeats over and over, “Thank you for the cross. Thank you for the cross.” 

After reading chapter 4 that refrain is my prayer, “thank you for the cross. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

To wrap up this post I'll borrow from Darrell Johnson’s borrowing of John Stott’s writings:

“Let John R.W. Stott summarize this understanding of the cross: ‘Of course any contemporary observer, who saw Christ die, would have listened with astonished incredulity to the claim that the crucified was a conqueror. Had he not been rejected by his own nation, betrayed, denied and deserted by his own disciples, and executed by authority from the Roman procurator? Look at him there, spread-eagle and skewered on his cross, robbed of all freedom of movement, strung up with nails or ropes or both, pinned there and powerless. It appears to be total defeat. If there is victory, it is the victory of pride, prejudice, jealousy, hatred, cowardice and brutality. Yet the Christian claim is that the reality is the opposite of the appearance. What looks like (and indeed was) the defeat of goodness by evil is also, and more certainly, the defeat of evil by goodness. Overcome there, he was himself overcoming. Crushed by the ruthless power of Rome, he was himself crushing the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). The victim was the victor, and the cross is still the throne from which he rules the world.’

At the Cross

Wow! What a chapter! At the Cross the battle is won!  Such a weak looking moment turns out to be the most powerful moment in Cosmic history!  Through death - death dies!  I am reminded of the Apostle Paul's words of encouragement in II Cor. 12:9-10 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”   Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To often I can become preoccupied with the lie that strength is found in strength.  The Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ's true strength (power) is made perfect in embracing weakness! 

The pain of separation

The word separation brings to mind so many things, but ultimately it makes me think of pain and abandonment.  Reading this chapter causes me to reflect on the reality of my own sin and how it separates me from God.  That God Himself would pay the price for me is a love that is overwhelming! To accept the reality that there is NOTHING I can do to bridge the gap is humbling.  In this season of advent, I am reminded that Christmas and Easter are not separate stories to be told, but one amazing love story about a Savior who "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  (Phil 2:7-8)  I am so thankful that "The separation is gone!"

Mercy Bomb -- "In light of the cross we can be sure that the Fire does not consume us; it only consumes that which keeps us from being who God wants us to be." - Darrel Johnson - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 pushed me to hear afresh John the Baptist's proclamation to Peter and Andrew while they followed Jesus at a distance on a road -- "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).  

As I beheld the Lamb of God in chapter 3 (the one who washes His disciples’ feet with his garments in degrading humility and then washes away the sin of the world in His blood in absolute degrading humility) I felt an intense welling up within me of heart thumping wonder and "Jesus, I DON'T DESERVE THAT!!!!!!" gratitude. 

 I am reminded by the chapter that Christ's gospel redeems with unstoppable, cosmic shattering power.  His love poured out is fiery, white hot mercy that melts hearts and spurs motives and actions that can change any population (like for example a population of students. :)) 

His love poured out can move (and groove) a population from self-possessed, withdrawn pride to an uninhibited dance of sacrificial kindness and ecstatic joy.  I am left by Chapter 3 astounded and punch drunk from the soul-pounding amazing kindness and faithfulness of Christ.  Through chapter 3 I am hearing afresh another proclamation from John the Baptist in John 3:30 - "He must become greater, I must become less."

Ransomed to be Free

It never occurred to me that when Jesus became human it was forever (p.34) and I'm not sure that I agree. The book goes on to say that He became sin (and so does 2 Cor.5:21) but he didn't stay sin. He defeated sin! Now I need to live a life that reflects that sin has no hold on me...and I can only do that with Jesus' help.

Good Friday? Good indeed!

Chapter 3 - "No More Separation" is a chapter that I need to read once a month!  Better yet once a week, better still.....I need to hear Jesus' words, "It is finished" daily!

Pg 50 - "At the cross God suffers the abandonment so we never do! The cry from the darkness that shook the earth, split the rocks, opened the graves, tore the huge curtain has become the declaration: "It is safe to enter the Holy One's Presence. Come, just as you are. Everything that needs to be done has been done.  Forsakenness, alienation, abandonment are finished. Come!......There is nothing we can do to gain access to the Holy Place..... 
-Ritualism will not do it
-Moralism will not do it
-Mastering right doctrine will not do it
-Adopting the right lifestyle will not do it.....no of them overcomes the separation.  None of them opens the curtain. None of them opens graves!" (It is finished Pg 50-51)

I read that and my spirit cries out YES! Amen!  Then, not too long after, I find myself putting my faith in ritualism, moralism, mastering right doctrine, adopting the right lifestyle.  I am not comfortable with NO SEPARATION between the Holy One and I so I create the neccessary separation through the following!

1. Ritualism - I and everyone else must attend church, be in a bible study, tithe......faith in ritualism creates separation between me and the Holy One.........and me and everyone else!

2. Moralism - I and everyone else must obey the 10 commandments and the 600+ rules and regulations the priests attached to the 10 commandments.......faith in moralism only reveals my own depravity and sin to me and everyone around me. 

3.  Mastering the right doctrine - I am right and you are wrong.  If you want to be right you must believe what I believe.....faith in the right doctrine is telling people to NOT put their faith in Jesus but in law.  I am pretty sure faith in doctrine is PRO-REID and ANTI-CHRIST!

4.  Adopting the right lifestyle -  (See 1-3 above).   Author Parker Palmer states our predicament well in this quote....  "I pay a steep price when I live a divided (separated) life - feeling fraudulent, anxious about being found out,  depressed by the fact that I am denying my own selfhood.  The people around me pay a price as well, for now they walk on ground made unstable by my own dividedness.  How can I affirm  another's identity when I deny my own? How can I trust another's integrity when I defy my own?  A fault line runs down the middle of my life, and whenever it cracks open - divorcing my words and actions from the truth I hold within - things around me get shaky and start to fall apart.   (Palmer, Parker, A Hidden Wholeness. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2004, 5) 

Everything that needs to be done has been done. Forsakenness, alienation, abandonment are finished. Come!......There is nothing we can do to gain access to the Holy Place..... The way is open. Come, just as you are.  There is nothing to fear!

There is nothing to fear!
There is nothing to fear!
There is nothing to fear!

Chapter 2 It is Finished - Torpedoes of Futility and Thundering Faith

Chapter Two “The Ransom That Sets Us Free” uses the words captivity, bondage, and freedom a lot.  With these concepts the following proclamations are given: 1. We are released from captivity. 2. He frees us from bondage. 3. He makes the exchange (His life for ours.) 4. His voluntary exchange was costly. 5. Jesus thinks we are worth the price. 6. We are now His. 

All these proclamations brought to mind for me the verses in Romans 8:20-27.   

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

These verses remind me that the will of God is to reveal Christ in frustration, bondage, groaning pains, and weakness.  (Italicized words all came out of Romans 8:20-27) He even reveals Christ “our hope and savior” in the midst of completely clueless prayers (I am super glad for this HOPE!!)

I am emboldened by chapter 2 to trust the infinitesimal, teency bit of Faith of Christ within me that spurs me to pause for a moment and perhaps whisper  or maybe just grunt or groan this very, very, very basic request, “JESUS, HELP ME.”

Chapter 2 and Romans 8 reveal that in response to even my most feeble & timid expression of trust in Him, God always thunders on the grandest scale (perhaps in realms I don’t necessarily perceive clearly or understand)   “NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”   In other words, little desperate prayers during a seemingly futile, frustrating day have full-tilt cosmic impact because God is such a good God with incredible, unimaginable power.

Thanks Jesus for being the author of life, salvation, & meaning in all circumstances.  Thanks for sabotaging my routine with torpedoes of futility and frustration so that I would turn my attention from created things and direct my attention to you, the Living Hope, for “in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:24. 

The Ransom That Sets Us Free

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Why? Why did He do it? That is the question I have been wrestling with this week in response to chapter 2. 

Pg 31. - "He looks at us and sees that we are in bondage from which we cannot free ourselves."

I struggle seeing the bondage of law, sin, unseen spiritual forces, vanity, and death in my life on a day to day basis.  I do not struggle however seeing the bondage of those things in other peoples lives.  This dichotomy only reveals that the bondage of law, sin, unseen spiritual forces, vanity, and death all exist in my life yet I choose to ignore them. 

"Lord help me to take the sin and evil in my life seriously! Help me fully embrace your gospel of redemption."

-Reid

It is FINISHED! There is nothing we can do to add to what Jesus has done for us. I think people want to "add" something to what Jesus has done because we inherently desire some kind of self righteousness. This chapter has helped us see that that is in no way possible. God is HOLY. I don't think I can even comprehend what that means, but I am so thankful for His death for me, bearing the punishment and wrath of God against my sin. Hallelujah! May we walk humbly in this knowledge and share this good news with others.

Just and Justifier

The words look strange paired together, and the concept is surely strange if you consider it alone. These two words describe God in his seemingly contradictory roles: the role of the just judge, and the role of the compassionate redeemer.
They're found in Romans 3:26, printed on pg15. The character of God continues to astound me and gives a sense of wonder that he is concerned with the trivial matters of our lives.
He is the ultimate standard of good, the epitome of holiness, and the antithesis of everything that is wrong with our world. But he is also the seeker of the lost, the changer of lives, and the lifeline of those destined for defeat. He knows we can't ever be perfect enough, but because of his love, he provided a way to make a right relationship with him.
A metaphor that helped me understand how God was still holy, even while allowing his creation to struggle in sin, was that of a guillotine. When mankind sinned, our head was put into the wooden stock, having been sentenced to death. But the blade of God's wrath stayed in its place, waiting for us to repent and be saved.
But Christ was put into the stock instead, and down went the blade.

Dan
(PS thanks for your patience as I dealt with adjusting to a new life during 1st quarter- I'll try to blog more regularly)

Living the Dream

"And all we need do now is throw ourselves into the arms of this God, offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Amazing love, how can it be, that thou my God, shouldst die for me? Who could have ever dreamed up such a God?" (It Is Finished, 24) 

 Colossians 1:27 - To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The words written and spoken among gospel centered teams (like this one at Jim Elliot) provide a real-time, vivid revelation of this life-long question "who could have ever dreamed up such a God?"

Well, the rhetorical answer is "God dreamed it." But what stops me in my tracks is that your life (Colossians 1:27) in this community reveals God's dream. You are the unique revelation of Christ's person in this world. You are His body. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?" I Corinthians 3:16

 Working shoulder by shoulder in a team effort (1 - Jim Elliot Team) while prying beneath the facades of fashion and etiquette through mentoring (2 - Jim Elliot Mentoring) is an amazing one-two combination punch into hearing and seeing God's person.

For in teamwork and mentoring God's extraordinary testimony is expressed in the perfectly unique form of each team member, mentor, and mentoree.

Ultimately God's dreams are not fake dreams, they are the very heart of everything that's genuine and true. And when you commune with Jesus and ingest His presence, His word, you are the living expression of all things true and real. You are the living expression of Christ.

So cheers to the left-brained-right brained, male-female, introverted-extroverted, logical-emotional, conservative-liberal, law-prophets witnesses that make up the team at Jim Elliot.

I listed these 1-2 combinations because all these 1-2 combinations highlight the unique witness that God has made each one of you to be. The 1-2 combinations remind me that each and every moment of our time serving together is packed with potential to see God's incredible, too good to be true (thus dreamy) heart in the countenances and words that we share in our work together.

The way that God's word reveals itself with such diversity among His people blows my mind. His creative capacity is beyond (for me at least) imagination and thus dream like -- but its real.

His creative capacity expressed through you is truth for Jesus is the truth and He is speaking and living truth before us right now as we serve each other and the students at Jim Elliot.

 In short, can I dream up such a God? Of course not, but your unique witness establishes in me the reality of that dream. Your unique witness reveals Christ in you the Hope of Glory and it is stunningly beautiful.

would I have understood?

pg. 8 - ..."But would we have understood what was really happening?"...  this sentence struck me this morning as I was reading the preface.  I continued reading but it came to mind again... would I have understood what was going on?  Would I have taken a moment to slow down, smell, hear, feel what was happening?  I want to put myself in the place of imagining all that He went through for me.  I want to read it, "stick my eyes in my ears", but at the same time I don't really want to be reminded, because it is easier not to.  It is easier not to face it - to stay focused in my busyness and not to understand what was really happening.  What was done at the cross was done for me... it was done for all of us at Elliot... and for every student in our mentor group..."everything that needs to be done is done."  I pray that as mentors we can share our struggles and model a lifestyle for these students that shows the grace and the power of Christ right through those weaknesses and struggles - that we may we live, fully aware of what was done for us and understand what was really happening.

"Simply have not understood who God is...."

Pg. 16 - "No human being, however good or noble, has lived up to God's expectations.  Those who claim they have, simply have not understood who God is and what He expects."

I have been  wrestling around with this quote as it pertains to mentors and young people at Jim Elliot.  Young people are looking for mentors, role models, examples to pattern their behavior and lifestyle after.  At the same time, young disciples of Jesus struggle with "religion vs. relationship", "faith vs. works", "performance based theology vs. grace & truth."

Young disciples of Jesus are struggling with the same issues I struggled with twenty four years ago when I was in high school and truth be told I am still to some degree struggling with those same issues!  (page 9): "For the longer we stand beneath the cross, the more we realize that we desperately need to have happen what happened. And either we believe that it has happened...it is finished...or we will spend the rest of our lives trying to make it happen ourselves." Pg. 16 - "No human being, however good or noble, has lived up to God's expectations. Those who claim they have, simply have not understood who God is and what He expects."

I confess to this community that too often I am concerned with making people think I can and I have lived up to God's expectations.  When I/we fail to embrace our own brokenness we involuntarily demand everyone around us to change.  This usually is carried out through exerting influence, authority, and power through a role (Teacher, mentor, administration, principal, CHRISTIAN!!!). When this happens I cease being an authentic person.  I deprive myself of grace and truth sabotaging the abundant life freely offered in Christ Jesus for a self manufactured counterfeit.  When I/we fail to embrace our own brokeness I/we fail to recognize an opportunity to grow in character and maturity.  Rather I/we continue the facade - "No human being, however good or noble, has lived up to God's expectations. Those who claim they have, simply have not understood who God is and what He expects."

Young disciples of Jesus will always struggle, but they should have mentors who are brave and courageous enough to not only tell them but MODEL to them a lifestyle that puts to death pride and image knowing that to die to those things is gain and to live is CHRIST!  

(II Cor. 12:9-10)   - But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

May we be a mentor community who is strong by being weak!

-Reid 

I've Got to Stop Trying to Help Jesus!

As I began reading It is Finished, I was struck by a passage in the preface (page 9): "For the longer we stand beneath the cross, the more we realize that we desperately need to have happen what happened.  And either we believe that it has happened...it is finished...or we will spend the rest of our lives trying to make it happen ourselves."  Why do I keep thinking that Jesus needs my help?  Why do I think that if I just read my Bible more or criticize my fellow believers less, Jesus will love me more. Jesus loves me PERIOD! It is finished!

I love the way...

I love the way this author puts basic Christianity in simple, understandable terms, yet causes us to seriously think about what we believe! One thing that struck me in this chapter was how all cultures throughout history have stories or explanations for God and what He has done - everyone, everywhere, has an inner yearning for the things of God, and only He can satisfy.

On another note, I'm looking forward to what Mr. Johnson has to say in this particular book, but again I'm not - I cringe when I hear details of what our Lord had to go through. I used to go to Chuck Swindoll's church, and he once gave a sermon on the details of the crucifixion - I'll never forget it, though at times I wish I could. I wonder how detailed this book will be...perhaps it's something none of us should ever forget.

 

-Kathleen Elliot

IT IS FINISHED!

New book begins next week!  I am Looking forward to all your great insights!

-Reid

trusting

As I finish this book, two things stand out to me, both on page 143.  First - Jesus says in Hebrews 2:13: "Here I am..." That says it all. I have always - always - felt His presence with me, as a little child, as a "maturing" adult. He is here, with me. And He is also with my children and grandchildren in Idaho, and with my children in Colorado, and with my husband on a business trip to the other side of the world.  Which leads me to my second point: TRUST. This is one of the simplest things to do, yet also the most difficult...how do I really trust as I am here alone, as my family is so far away...I think it gets down to control. I don't have any control over my family - not that I ever really did! But God does, indeed, have that control. So to leave them in His hands, and simply trust, is what is required of me. And then, I do know, whatever happens - He is here, and there.
So, my focus now needs to be on these words from page 143 (and I will TRY to remember them):
     "To trust God is the greatest act of worship. To trust the Father is the greatest response that we can give to the revelation of the Father. The Father deserves trust. Given who He is, He deserves the trust of humanity. In every circumstance. At every moment. Not to trust is a huge affront to His glory. Not to trust is to say, 'You are really not as good as You claim to be; You are not as faithful, merciful, powerful as You claim to be.' Trust is the highest form of worship."

Losing at Winning, Winning at Losing - Who is Jesus Wrap up

Final Post - Who is Jesus?

Hide and Seek ranks as one of the top games my three year old Son Caleb loves to play. What's funny about Caleb's slant on the game is the way he scores the game. For Caleb the joy of the game is not being successfully hidden but instead the joy is being successfully and immediately found. As soon as the counting stops he is squeaking and chirping so that I find him as soon as possible. Caleb's version of hide and seek is foolishness to how I've been trained to play the game of hide and seek or any other game.

Crazy Caleb would rather score points for the other team (me the seeker.) Who does that? Why does Caleb choose to lose the game?

Well, Caleb is so drunk with joy at being united with His father (me, the seeker) that all other score cards (successfully hiding and winning the game) are tossed out. Winning the contest is far, far secondary to communing in His Father’s love. In the game, he’d rather DIE a LOSER in order to LIVE a WINNER at intimacy with His dad.

In Christ, I see the same boldness, confidence, passion, & radiant surrender in the last chapter of Who is Jesus?

Like Caleb, when playing hide and seek with God the Father Jesus says in Hebrews 2:13, ““Here I am, and the children God has given me.”

Darrell Johnson writes, “Do you hear what Jesus is saying? Those steeped in the Bible, in the Old Testament, as the author of Hebrews would have heard it loud and clear. “Here I am.” The Father is finally getting an answer to the very first question He asked humanity. In the Garden, in the Garden which had become a Cemetery because of the sin of Adam and Eve, in the castle where the princes and princesses had rebelled, God calls out, “where are you?” And the humans hid from God, afraid to come out from behind the trees. “Where are you?” “Here I am.” “Here I am,” says the representative human. “Here I am,” says God the Son as one of us. “Here I am,” says the One who is us! “Here I am – and all the children You have given Me.”

Knowing that Christ hides with me and cries out with me is what sports analysts would call a “game changer.” This game changer gives me the assurance to honestly ask myself,

Hey Steve, are you hiding in the garden?
Hey Steve, do you need to play hide and seek with Jesus and have Him hide with you so that He can cry out with you – HERE I AM?
And Steve, how does it feel to know in those moments of confusion when perhaps you don’t even want Jesus, he wants you & pursues you & cries out for you when you’re too spent & ashamed to ask for help? (Romans 5:8)

When I think of my son Caleb and how he loses the competition to win at love, I can hear Christ’s gospel proclaimed over Caleb and me when Christ says, “the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (little children)." (Mathew 19:14)

Who Is Jesus = Who is Reid

Listening to the Father say Who Jesus is has encouraged me to listen to the Father and Jesus say who I am!!! Ok, I know this is about Jesus but reading through Hebrews and hearing the Father and Jesus talk about each other makes it really hard to not hear them talk about who we are! Because who they are makes us who we are!!!!!!

Jesus is/was a glass case of the Father's Character!
Looking at Jesus, hearing the Father say who Jesus is actually reveals who the Father is!  I am having a hard time using words trying to describe the Word become flesh. 

I want to thank everyone for the last 9 weeks and the journey we took together via Who Is Jesus. I don't know about you, but for me this study has helped me see Jesus in a "more real" way throughout the day. I believe the study helped me see Him and hear Him more clearly.  I am reminded that relationship with Jesus is not a study or a program - it is a person!  My encouragement and challenge to you and I is to continue pressing into the person of Jesus like never before. There is no doubt in my mind teacher, mentors, and students will need "John-like" figures to their "Peter-like" responses to Jesus (the study from the training week before school started). And more importantly our Peter-like responses will demand a need for a John-like mentor team to never give up on each other......... "It is the Lord Jon, It is the Lord Dottie, It is the Lord Michelle, It is the Lord Mike, It is the Lord Kathy, It is the Lord Dan, It is the Lord Steve, It is the Lord Reid!"

Always pointing each other to Jesus when we ourselves cannot recognize Him. If we want the students to experience Jesus - it starts with the us Mentors!

-Reid  

Jesus - Walk into our lives!!!

A very small paragraph has been in my face this week- really all my life....

Pg. 109-
"Given who He thinks He is, He has every right to walk into our lives, interrupt our plans and command us: "Come to me. Follow me. Lose your life for Me!"

Come to me - all day long - from the minute I wake up the Spirit of Jesus whispers to me, "Come to me." What do I do?
Do I obey?
Do I ignore Him?
Do I say no to Him?
Do I say yes to Him...but then never come?

More often than not I respond with a yes! I respond, "YES JESUS!" - but then fail to pick up the feet of my heart and head and move towards Him. 

JESUS - "Come to Me"
REID - "Ok - hold on Jesus - I am almost done with this...be right there!" (Sound Familiar?)
JESUS - "Lose your life for Me" 
REID - "Jesus mucho take it easy on the death talk! You came to give life and give it more abundantly remember?........- what is with all this crucifixion talk?
JESUS - "Follow ME"
REID - "Jesus why do you keep telling me to follow you?  I thought I was!"

Pg. 109-
"Given who He thinks He is, He has every right to walk into our lives, interrupt our plans and command us: "Come to me. Follow me. Lose your life for Me!"

We Are Weak

"I Am He"

John 8:21-58

Why Jesus

Why Love Jesus

What is so special about Jesus

The  Feast Of Tabernacles

The Water Ceremony

The Light Ceremony

The Festival Liturgy

Devine Pronouns

Who Jesus Claims to Be

Multiple Occasions of Jesus Claim

John 6

John 18

Mark

In Light of Who Jesus Claims He Is


We hung him on the cross and left him to die without anyone standing up for him in anyway as the son of God was put to death.  We are so weak and Jesus was so strong to tall ALL the sins of the world away for us and we continue our behavior as if he never did what he did so we can be what we are. 

The Potentially Dark & Oppressive Consequences of Seizing Control - Chapter 6

Several months ago my son was sick over a weekend and we spent many hours on the couch plowing through nearly 200 pages C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia.  At the same time I was reading through chapters 5 and 6 and found them and actually all of Who is Jesus as a powerful commentary about Narnia living. 

During a pause in our read-athon  I chatted with Kyle my son about the Calormenes (I think they are called.) I talked to him about how their speech is unique from the speech we find in the two previous books  Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe & Magician's Nephew.  The Calormenes speak with multi-syllable words and formality.  They have a highly developed set of rules pertaining to social conduct and C.S. Lewis reinforces the formality and structure of their civilization with their vocabulary and speech patterns. 

When I spoke with Kyle about their speech we were sharing about the subtle ways that C.S. Lewis (brilliantly in my opinion) creates unique pieces of "stand alone" literature while at the same time tying them to a series.  I never thought for a moment as we chatted that perhaps he was also making a powerful, extremely relevant & personal-to-me poignant point about my susceptibility to the dark side of spiritual warfare.  He nailed me .....AND I DIDN'T SEE IT COMIN' - until Chapter 6.

Although the Calormenes are a huge empire, they have no interest with invading Narnia, a small land.  They don't want to mess with Narnia because Narnia they believe is infested with ancient demons & dark magic.

I didn't connect the their fear of Narnia with their formal speech until I read chapter 6 of Who is Jesus? 

The Calormenes have no time or space for the demonic realm because they have filled their relationships with laws & rules of conduct.  Their relationships are epitomized by ROLES and prescribed rules of conduct.  They walk according to the ROLE. Speak according to ROLE.  Since they are so "in control" Narnia appears "out of control."  They are masters of ROLE CONTROL. 

The connection is powerful for me. I think C.S. Lewis' point is and will continue to be that in those places (like where I grew up) where we think demonic activity is explained by physics, chemistry, and fall under our "control" are actually the places where demonic activity runs most rampant.  

The Calormenes want to remain isolated from ancient demonic activity.  The irony/reality is that the bondage of spiritual oppression was far heavier among the Calormenes; they simply denied its existence and resisted the light of truth which would reveal a "things" ultimate spiritual nature.

Simply put -- this chapter and in a very vivid & emotionally stunning way The Horse and His Boy, have knocked me to my knees and spurred me to confess: "Oh God, I say again, when I think I'm in control, that is again Lord actually when I am out of control" and perhaps easy prey for dark magic. 

Savior!!! Keep saving!!!!!

Bread, Light, and Strength

Several thoughts for the last few chapters...As Jesus proclaims that He is the "bread of life," I am reminded again about the importance of "eating" every day. I made a habit of having a quiet time many, many years ago, and for the most part have kept up that habit - though I still don't spend nearly as much time as I would like on a daily basis. But my thought here is, How can we encourage our students to develop a habit of daily "Bible eating"? So important that they feed on His word on a daily basis - so important to build that foundation. How can we help them WANT to do this?
Second thought: Jesus says that if we walk with Him, we will not walk in darkness. Oh how I hate the darkness! As I travel through this unfamiliar realm of depression (medicinally produced for the most part), I find myself fearing the darkness it brings - but I have to constantly remind myself that Jesus will and does bring light even in the midst of this. So I cling to His light and fight my way out. So many of our students are facing such dark times - just heard yesterday of two more students whose parents are divorcing, watching their faces and frustrations and fears. How can we as a staff help these hurting students to cling to Jesus' light in the middle of their personal darkness? I believe we need MORE prayer times - we don't pray as a staff very much, not as much as in the past. I'm hoping we can set aside time as a team to truly pray and lift up not only the school as a whole, and our staff members, but individual students as well.
And my third thought: Jesus as the Stronger Man - personally experienced this when my son was little. He was going through such a dark time, struggling daily in every way. We - and many family members - felt a lot of his struggles were based on a spiritual fight over him. I remember a specific time I was praying over him at night as he slept, and "heard" a spiritual battle over him, heard the words, "You can't have him, he's ours [meaning the "good" side]" and knew peace as I had never felt it before! The spiritual world is real, battles are real, but prayer is a weapon we can all wield - it's power is true. Let's really pray for each other, for our families, for our students - "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"!!

Blood Prints for Blue Prints

"He does not lay out a master blueprint for our lives." (p. 76)

 "And with loss, the temptation is to run to the past, like the Israelites in the desert. The uncertainty inherent in the journey to the Promised Land was too much to bear." (DJ, 77)

Nearly 30 years ago as a student, I remember hearing this quote (its paraphrased for sure because it has been a looong time) – “we know the uncertainty of the future by the reality of the past.”

With just a little amount of “looking back reflection” we can likely prove this theory true.

In most cases, our lives have taken some interesting and unexpected turns.

Regarding unexpected turns, one of my favorite lines from Chronicles of Narnia is in chapter 14 of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. When speaking to Aslan, the Christ figure in the story, Lucy asks, "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?" Aslan replies to her, "I shall be telling you all the time.” 

The tension of “not knowing” and yet “trusting” pounds into my mind and heart the experience of Faith. Sometimes it pushes me to confess like Thomas, “Lord, we don’t know the way.” In my confession I hear Christ proclaiming His gospel, “I am the way.”

 Sometimes when things really, really start spinning out of control I’ve asked, “Lord, why have you forsaken me?” In my question I hear Christ again proclaiming from the cross – “Into your hands (Father God) I commit my spirit.” I think it was Peter who wrote (I paraphrase) – Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful creator (like Christ on the cross) and continue to do good.

The uncertainty of the past and the future helps tune my ears to hear God’s promise that I can “take heart, for He has overcome the world. ” (John 16:33) Uncertainty for me heightens the awareness that life with God is a restless adventure of mystery and intrigue. Uncertainty reveals in a unique way Christ’s eternal promise that He “will never leave or forsake me” (Hebrews 13:5.)

Paul says “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Thanks Jesus for upholding and sustaining me by your word of power in all places and all times. Thanks for your eternal love that you demonstrate in this – while I was still a sinner and your enemy, you died for me. Yes, you did not give me a blue print; however you did give me your blood. Your body broken. Your life. And you indeed in good and bad circumstances, are constantly speaking faith, hope, and love at all cost to me and for me…..all the time. Thank you.

Can't find a stronger man!

Pg. 92 - "The powers of hell will try and not succeed. But what Jesus is really saying is that He will build His Church and the church will move into hell's strongholds and hell will not prevail against the church!"

Man I just loved that view - On the houseboat trip God's church -(teachers, mentors, Sonshine staff, and students) move into hell's strongholds in the lives of teachers, mentors, Sonshine staff, and students and hell does not prevail!  I have seen it on houseboats for years, God always wins! Every week, everyday, every minute the stronger man JESUS plunders the evil one's home.

I never tire of watching Jesus do His thing. The opportunity to be a part of His act on houseboats or at Jim Elliot is such a blessing. As Teachers/ Mentors it is easy to get caught up in our tasks of teaching and miss the Stronger-Man's act each week in the lives of the students. Don't get me wrong - the Stronger-Man works every minute within our tasks (teaching, coaching, administrating...) but when we focus on the tasks and not the Stronger-Man Himself - Jesus.........we begin to burnout.....

Remember this quote from the week of training before school started?
“One sign that I am violating my own nature in the name of nobility is a condition called burnout. Though usually regarded as the result of trying to give too much, burnout in my experience results from trying to give what I do not possess- the ultimate in giving too little! Burnout is a state of emptiness; to be sure, but it does not result from giving all I have: it merely reveals the nothingness from which I was trying to give in the first place.” (Palmer, Parker, Let Your Life Speak. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2000, 51)

Another side note - I love Jesus' own analysis of what is going on by His presence on earth: "No one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house" (Mark 3:27)

Jesus doesn't sneak into the world unannounced! 300+ prophecies of how He would come and live and die! There is no sneak attack - He was born into the strong man's house - came as a helpless infant, grew up as a child, and confronted the strong man (mano y mano) and bound him!

A helpless baby?????........The Stronger Man!
A weak Child????.......The Stronger Man!
An uneducated Carpenter????........The Stronger Man
Died on a cross????.........The Strongest Man Ever!!!!!!!

Praise Jesus!

-Reid

Consume me like a fire....

 The light of the world! Just like bread, we humans cannot survive without light....without The Light!
As the author points out - Jesus' timing is everything. When my "Reid-made light" burns out that is when Jesus the light of the world shines the brightest.  He is so gracious and patient with me. He will allow me to burn my own weak and feeble wick (constructed out of sacred undergarments - all stuff done in the name of nobility) for 8 days (or so) and then He takes a stroll through my treasury (things I think are valuable) and then calls out to me....."Reid.........I AM the light of the world...not you! Stop trying to be Me...Only I can be Me and only you can be you."

My only response is repent and worship!  May The Light Of The World come and consume me like a fire burning away all the darkness within me.

"You Need Me as Much or More Than You Need Your Next Meal" - (DJ, 54)

"You can make it without most of what you have but you cannot make it without me." (DJ, 54) This chapter was very inspiring and a great reminder for me that Jesus and His banquet table truly is the Alpha and Omega of every story and the Alpha and Omega of space and time. Thanks Jesus for wrapping flaws & strained relationships with your banquet of grace and hope.

God's Story

I love the reminder that all of Scripture points to Jesus.  It is all about Him!  From "In the biginnning" to the Revelation revealed to John, it is all about redemption through Jesus.  He is The Lamb, The One Who Baptizes, The Son of Man and The Bread of Life.  It is not about me.  I tend to focus on a verse or passage, but it is one continuous story.  To really understand Jesus, the person, I need to understand God's love story from the beginning.  Then I can truly say thank you for "the Bread that comes out of heaven and gives life".  It is a powerful reminder that God desires a relationship with us and the only lasting satisfaction comes from Jesus!

Bread of Life

Jesus claims to be the bread of life that will always satisfy. Always satisfy? Yes! Always satisfy. This fact that Jesus will always satisfy is hard for me to swallow!  I know it to be true in my head but my actions at times tell another story.  I lack the patience in my relationship with Jesus to allow Him to satisfy me.  It is like taking a bite of food and not being instantly full!  Ridiculous - I know!   Being the insecure guy I am I loved on page 54 where Jesus pays mankind the highest compliment. We as earthly creatures can only be satisfied by heavenly food! We are the creatures who's hunger and thirst can only be met by the great I AM. So awesome! I know that to be true - only He can satisfy. Then why so often do I turn to junk food (worldly stuff) to nourish my soul? This chapter helped me close the gap on that question. I find that I am like the people - eat of the bread and then demand a sign. Eat of the bread and then challenge Jesus to perform. All the while missing out on the feast Jesus himself lays before me.....Him...anytime - anywhere!

Take eat...this is my body broken for you!

-Reid

The Son Of Man

I stand in awe of the Son of Man! I am obsessed with Jesus! I know that sounds weird but I mean it in a good way. Ever since I was a little boy Jesus fascinated me like no other! And through this chapter "Son Of Man" He has done it again. I am left with so many questions:

1. How could He get away with calling himself the Son Of Man?.....because it was Him!!!

2. If this was the most regular way He referred to himself in scripture then how come we don't refer to Him as the Son Of Man today?....I have attended church for 38 years, worked full time / part time in many different denominational churches for 23 years and still to this day never have heard Jesus referred to The Son of Man on a regular basis.  I have never even heard a sermon on it!  Why? (I really don't know the answer)  

3.  He "Turns the tables upside down" on our understanding of Daniel's vision by living the "prequel" of the vision. Serving instead of being served, taking judgment upon himself....and so on and so on. Why? How?

When I ask Him these questions He continually whispers how much He loves me (us). 

Jesus - there really is none like you!  You are God!!! And I stand in awe of you!

-Reid

"I love You Jesus. I am yours! I will risk it all to follow You." - Page 51

Facing a possible death sentence and rejection from loved ones, Mansour cries out "I love you Jesus. I am yours!" My prayer last week for Jim Elliot and my own heart is that God would fill the emptiness in our hearts with His life and love. Mansour's spontaneous outburst of ecstatic praise in the face of suffering reminds of both the joy and pain that comes with authentic Christ-like discipleship. I hope that the testimonies being written right now in the students and staff at Jim Elliott resound with the same passion and sacrifice that we read in Mansour's story. Dear God, please create new, joy-filled, and passionate hearts by your faithful word of power at Jim Elliott this week.

Worth the risk?

We've asked our Mentor Group girls the question, "Who IS Jesus?"  As I've thought about their possible responses, I have asked myself that question as well. I've known my Savior since I was a small child. I've really never known life without Him. So who is He to me? I don't want to grow stale in my relationship to Him. I've read the Bible front to back, memorized hundreds of Scriptures, led and been in many, many Bible studies. Yet how much do I really know HIM? I think it's time to pursue a new level of trust, new level of depth with my Savior. In reading chapter 3, one question stood out to me - when the Muslim man asked, "Why is Jesus worth the risk?" (p. 39)  Now I ask myself that as well...and then I ask myself, "What risks have I ever taken for Jesus?" I have Christian family members (almost all, including 2nd and 3rd cousins even), Christian friends (do I even have ONE non-Christian friend??), and Christian co-workers. I live in a safe "bubble," away from the risks of being a Christ-follower. I can only hope that my faith is so strong that it would, indeed, stand up to any persecution.
I read something in my devotional this morning that fit perfectly, and I want to quote it here:
     "Jesus said, 'No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also' (John 15:20). And remember, they didn't just persecute Jesus. They crucified Him.
     It's said more than forty-five million men and women during the twentieth century were put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ. In more recent times, the estimate of those who are persecuted for their faith has been between 160,000 and 170,000 a year. Imagine! More than 10,000 Christians dying for their faith every month. More than 400 a day!
     This morning while you were getting up and trying to decide what to wear, what to eat, somewhere in the world, a man or woman, or child, was paying the ultimate price for their relationship with Jesus. Why do we cringe when someone simply raises an eyebrow when we mention our faith?
     It's time you and I had the courage to stand up and speak out for Jesus. If He is filling our hearts, how can we help it?"               (Anne Graham Lotz, Fixing My Eyes on Jesus)
So, on to a deeper walk, a deeper trust, so I can honestly begin to say "Yes" to the questions posed on pg. 51: "Will you trust Me? Will you trust Me with your relationships? Will you trust Me with your careers? Will you trust Me with your finances? Will you trust Me with your future?"
Kathy Elliott

Tanking Up in the Morning

On the Day of Pentecost, "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit," but they were accused of being filled with wine. I am looking to how I may "tank up" every morning, and to keep "topping off" throughout the day. Ephesians 5:18-21 comes to mind: "...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ toGod, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." Like being filled with wine, being filled with the Spirit affects how I see things, how I talk, how I react, etc. Thank God He does not leave me on my own to conjure up my own will-power (which for some of us, just doesn't go very far). But to daily invite God to do an act of God in me and through me, and then watch Him go...is a blast!

Fresh Vitality and Christian Education

Regarding "The One Who Baptizes in and with the Holy Spirit" Darrell Johnson writes, "The one common denominator for all is the experience of newness. There is a new quality of life, a freshness, a Divine nearness and intimacy, a different kind of vitality" (Page 29). This quote reminds of the verse "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." One part of Christian education that I find particularly beautiful and powerful is being able to be used as "new" creations to inspire Christ's "re-creation" (also known as recreation in my line of work) in the hearts and minds of students, staff, and parents. To participate in the transforming work of Christ brings such deep joy and meaning. I love it. Thanks Jesus for this opportunity to serve.

Dunked and Drenched

To be dunked and drenched by the spirit! To be soaked head to toe by the Spirit! To weigh a few more pounds because I am soaking wet with something fresh and sweet.  It makes me think about the kids jumping off the roof of the houseboat 2 weeks ago.  Once they commit to jumping off the roof there is nothing they can do to stop themselves from getting absolutely dunked and drenched by the Delta. I want the Spirit of God to be like that in my life.  I have committed my life to Jesus and His response to me is to dunk and drench me with His love and Spirit.  I too often quench the work of the Spirit in my life due to being critical, judgmental, prideful, and fearful. Father forgive me, create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord.

My finite mind is trying to grasp the vastness of Jesus' baptism.  So maybe I am like a glass.  Before I knew Jesus, I was empty.  I met Jesus in my 20's so I know what empty feels like...and I was!  Then I met Jesus and He filled me...He invaded me...no, He did not invade me...because it was so sweet...it was God gently permeating my being and my glass filled up.  As I have gone through life, I have knocked my glass over; I've made cracks in my glass by my wrong choices; I've grieved the Holy Spirit and thrown His water out of my glass even when I knew better.  Praise the Lord I've never been able to empty my glass because He keeps re-filling me. Each time I ask Him to cleanse me, shower me anew, then I understand more of Him and He makes my "glass base" stronger so it is steadier and less sloshes out. "Fill my cup. Fill it up and make me whole."

Zooming In On The World!

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World." The world is pretty big, with a lot of people, so lets zoom in and take a closer look. 

Hey, there I am! This means I am included in this cleansing by the Lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of Kevin. It's amazing to think about:

• I don't need to take my sin somewhere; Jesus takes it away.
• I don't need to feel something to make it go away...something like feeling bad for a certain amount of time;
• I don't have to do something great to earn Jesus' favor.

As I become aware of a sin, I confess it up to God and thank Him for the forgiveness through Jesus blood...

...And, I ask God for His Grace & Mercy to keep me from doing it again.

If I spend a lot of time fussing about it or feeling guilty, then I am not really believing that I've been forgiven.

No Bonus points for Fussing!!!

It's not about what I do; it is about what Jesus does: He takes away the sin of the world...hauls it away.

Let's zoom back out. Wow, look at all those people! There's a lot of folks out there that need to hear this good news!

Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come

Ok, so I waited until the last minute of this week to read the first chapter of our book Who Is Jesus? And I have now just read it twice and parts 3x as I read it aloud to my husband Mike. I was so impacted by
Lamb
takes away
sin
world
World
sin
takes away
Lamb
that I started to cry.

What convicted me most was the section on sin. I know my sin put Jesus on the cross but I was thinking about individual sins not sin as the "all encompassing, self-centeredness, a need to control in order to get what I want, an attitude that colors every relationship...." (Keith Miller). I wanted to shout NO NO NO but, truly, I am addicted to putting myself in the center of my personal world. I need the Lamb of the Daily Sacrifice...actually I need the Lamb of the Minute-by-Minute Sacrifice.

I praise God that I can open my heart to HIM and the guilt is taken away (the sin was already taken away).  As His blood washes layer after layer of self-centeredness off me, His ointment of love, peace, and contentment cover me. I have hope.

Worshiping the Lamb of God. Serving with the Lamb of God

I am amazed this morning with how Christ's decision to "make Himself nothing" unleashed the power to transform all creation (Revelation 21:1-5.) He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter - Isaiah 53:7. Christ, the lamb, was silenced horrifically at the cross and yet all things in the earth and under the earth and in the sea shouts and sings, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”" He redefines the enemy's most devastating emptiness (Christ's death) with meaning. Tragic discord with harmony. Death with life. Silence with praise. Encountering Christ's selflessness and humility this morning through chapter 1 compels me to drop to my knees, bow my head in wonder, and declare -- THAT'S MY LORD! MY GOD!" He's so, so good. Thanks Jesus for exhibiting such purity of power in your loving pursuit of us. Push me to trust you when I am given the opportunity to lay down my life for others like you did. In all moments but perhaps especially moments of sacrifice, may my heart sing with hope and joy, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

LOOK! LOOK!

I love the posture of John the Baptist in this first chapter.  "Look", "Look".   John's posture is pointing away from himself and pointing people to Jesus.  I think this is a great posture for ministry.  I think this is a great posture for us serving kids here at Jim Elliot. "Look, it is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Always pointing away from ourselves and pointing students to Jesus!

-Reid

Welcome To The Way Ahead

Hello JECHS -  There is no more critical question any human in any era of history can ask than, "Who is Jesus?" May this blog be a place where God reveals His Son to us individually and corporately. To the Glory of God...by the power of His Spirit....we blog!

-Reid Delgado