Sunflower Seed Christianity

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Have you ever eaten sunflower seeds? You chuck a bunch in your mouth and crunch on them. You extract the meat part of the seed, and then you spit out the husk. It's trash. A little salty, perhaps, but not edible.

In Revelation 3, God tells the church at Laodicea:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Francis Chan imagines presenting the people of his church to God at the end, and having God go, pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft!-pfft! Spitting them out because they are lukewarm. As I watched this great video, I had to ask myself:

Would you be willing to give away as much as you kept?
Would you be willing to sit on the grass every week for church, so the money it would take to build a comfortable building could be used to help others instead?

Are you willing to really teach what Jesus taught? Live like Jesus lived?

This is such a challenge to me personally. 

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akumaru/1157598310/

Intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy

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Not that I am a big fan of pageants, but how in the world

did we get to the place where a culturally way-out-of-the-mainstream paparazzi blogger would help decide who would represent our country in any kind of international contest? More than that, why are we asking 20-something year old young women to opine on gay marriage and government bailouts? I think that fact that these women had actually thought about these things puts them miles ahead of most people, regardless of age.

Kudos to Carrie Prejean, Miss California, for speaking truth instead of lying to win a contest. I believe your willingness to stand for what you believe will reap you great benefit.

And to the judge who personally attacked Miss Prejean in his blog the next day: intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy.

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Transformed from darkness to light...but a dim light at first

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Great quote from Pat Morley today in his Weekly Briefing on the nature of discipleship:

"We do not become disciples through a single life-changing event—transformed from darkness to light, yes. But it is dim light. Instead, we become disciples by steady plodding, by the regular intake of God’s word, by a consistent diet of preaching, by constantly rubbing shoulders with fellow pilgrims."

http://www.maninthemirror.org/weeklybriefing/wb319.htm
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Send My Friend Josh to Thailand for a Missions Trip, please!

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My friend, Josh Wayt, is a college-aged guy with a heart for Christ. (He's the one on the right in this picture.) He has only been a Christian for a few years, but he is totally invested in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. He's been involved with Campus Outreach - a college ministry - for awhile, and he is now preparing to go to Thailand for 2 months of intensive mission work and training.

Would you help Josh out? This is probably one of the toughest times there could be to raise funds for mission work. I am writing Josh a check. Honestly, it's not in our family budget, but we'll make some different decisions so we can help Josh out. Please prayerfully consider doing the same. If just 50 people write Josh a $100 check, he'll have enough, plus be able to help some of his teammates out as well with money from his own connections.

Make checks out to Campus Outreach Florida. And they can be sent to him at 45 South Lake Jessup Avenue. Oviedo, FL. 32765. Here is Josh's support letter:

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. In the past two years I have become increasingly involved with a ministry at my university called Campus Outreach. The Lord has been so faithful in using this ministry and its leadership to teach me more of Himself and His will for my life. I am truly excited about His call to labor and build laborers for His kingdom. God has blessed me with the opportunity to go to Thailand this summer for further training and experience in this call.

On May 29th, myself, and seven other students will be departing for our two months of training and service in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Khon Kaen University has been staffed for over twenty years by Campus Outreach. Our group will be teaming up with the staff and students from Campus Outreach Thailand, and assisting them with their service and ministry to the surrounding community. Every morning our group will receive training in the word and evangelism. The latter half of our days will be spent ministering on the local campuses for several hours. This ministry will include
building relationships with students, evangelism, and hopefully, the opportunity to lead bible studies.

The trip is being funded entirely through donations. The total cost will be five thousand dollars. This will include housing, food, and any other expenses. I am very excited about the opportunity to serve and to minister, and ask that you would join me in ministry. I am asking for your support and prayers for this trip. If you are able to assist, please forward any donation to me with the check or money order payable to “Campus Outreach Florida.”

I thank you in advance for your prayers and support. God bless.

In Christ,

Josh Wayt

So please join me in supporting Josh. Send him to Thailand with me!

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