Starting Young

Today at the Journey Campus, there was a video shown talking about whether what a child learns at 4 will affect them when he/she is 14. or 24. As a dad, that really struck me. Heather (hawt wife) and I have, since London has been able to understand better, talk to her about God. At first it is a bit akward. What do you say to a 1-year-old? Sadly, this is enough to stop many people from doing it. However, as we've continued to talk with her, it's become one of our favorite things to do.

The other day, as Heather drove past the church with the girls, London began to point at the church and scream "DADDY GUITAR!!!" Heather then began to say things like "yeah Daddy plays guitar at church. He plays for Jesus. He's saying 'thank you Jesus for the snow.'" It's that simple. London continued to thank Jesus the whole way to my parents house.

Every night as we lay London down to sleep, we pray out loud for her. At first it's kinda odd praying while a toddler repeatedly pokes you in the face going "Daddy doin?" However, it is now one of the moments in the day that I look forward to most.

As believers, we have to start talking to our children young. What if when they're grown, they could look back and not remember a single day that they didn't know the love of God.

I asked a student yesterday what he thought the biggest number in the world was. After thinking for a moment, he responded confidently with "89." If you were to ask London, she would probably begin counting to 10, skipping 4 as always.

Children don't understand deep theology, but they understand 89. And they understand "1235678910 YAY LONDON!" Just because they're young, doesn't mean they can't begin to learn to thank Jesus for things like snow and watermelon slushes from Sonic.

What if you could look back, and never remember a day that you didn't know of the love of God?

Be the church

So today I went up to ASU and picked up my diploma. Woot woot! But that's not what this blog is about.  While there, I walked the halls of the Student Union, remembering how much I love being on a college campus. However, it's different when you're no longer a student, but an alumni. Wow... totally just realized that I'm officially an alumni. But when I was a student, I saw others as well... other students.  Fellow classmates.

However, today, I saw these students differently. They are children of God. They are the future. They are important. They are loved by the most high King who reigns over everything that is!

But how many don't know?

How many have heard that, but don't believe it?

As I looked into the faces of these students, my heart began to pound inside my chest. I wanted to stand on a table and scream "JESUS LOVES YOU!!!" I wanted to grab those kids and tell them that they are valuable. They are indeed something.

There are more than 11,000 students attending ASU every day. Students coming from different towns, states, and several from different countries. We have a job to do. We need to be the hands and feet of Christ and go to these Children of God and tell them of the love that is Christ.

I'm so grateful to be a part of a movement here in Jonesboro that sees that need.  I praise God for what He's beginning to do through Central's Journey Campus! Please join us as we pray and seek of how we can reach these precious lives. Let's pour out love on these students. May God use us to bring about change on the campus of ASU.

Just gonna be transparent here

I'm in the process of falling in love with God. That statement may sound odd and a bit confusing, because it was for me when I first thought about it. Before anyone worries, I am a Christian. I whole-heartedly believe that Jesus Christ died to save us all from sin and that without him, we would be nothing. So here's where falling in love comes in. Heather (my wife... who's hawt) and I were talking one night after a bible study she attended:

"How did it go?"
"Good. Found out I don't love God, but good."

We began to talk about what it means to really, truly, and unconditionally love God. And as the time has passed, I have begun to try and really seek out what it means to say "I love God." The passage where Jesus asks Peter "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:15) comes to mind. Peter's response is "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Here's where I steal some info from Mr. Dan Reeves.

In the Greek, the word Jesus uses for "love" is a word that means unconditional love:  agapeo. Peter responds with a yes, however, the word he uses for "love" is one meaning brotherly love: phileo. This is not an uncondtional love. I think it's how most of us would respond, if we're honest.

"Yes, God, I love you, but it's finals week and I'm really busy. Plus, I'm so tired and my girlfriend and I are fighting, but I really meant to read my bible the other day, because I know how much that would mean to you."

Do we care about the will of God and HIS glory above all else? Are we truly concerned that above all else... that God be glorified? Can I be ok with knowing that in Heaven, I won't be married to Heather?(Matt. 22) Are we truly willing to share in Christ's suffering as described by Paul thoughout the New Testament.

Take a look at India. Or China. Or many of the nations overseas. When a person there says that they're a Christian, they know very well that that means they could very likely die. The idea of simply going to a church, sitting in our assigned seats, mumbling along with the song and texting during the public reading of scripture, and going home to get ready for "Grey's Night!" is absolutely absurd to them! Yet we (at least I) have gotten all to comfortable with looking our God straight in the eye and saying "I love you... too a point." Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not cool with that anymore. I can't continue to get up every day, putting on my Christian mask and go about my day failing to realize that the God of the universe... loves me. Unconditionally. No terms. No 2-year plan or dropped calls. God loves me. God loves you. And I want to love him back.