God & Noodling?!

I'm a "city boy" to the core, but I have a great appreciation for all-things-outdoors. Earlier this week, while watching Hillbilly Handfishin' - a reality TV show about "noodling," (that is, fishing for catfish using only one's bare hands) I heard something that reminded me of the Christian walk.

The men on the show used two terms that caught my attention. The first term was "Feel the Thunder," which seems to refer to the moment when the catfish rams into you as you are blocking its hole as it tries to escape. The second term is "get bit," because the catfish will bite your hand and this allows you to catch it.

What is interesting to me is that these terms, which don't initially sound positive, are! Feeling the thunder, to me, would seem to mean "a strong storm is coming." Living in places (TX, New Orleans, Indiana, KY) where weather can be severe and dangerous, I'll pass on "feeling the thunder" in its normal context. Getting bit would not seem, in any way to me, to really be a good thing. I think of mosquitoes, babies with sharp teeth, angry dogs, bats and Dracula. No dice on feeling good about getting bit. On Hillbilly Handfishin' these terms are both good things, because feeling the thunder and getting bit means you might be near a place of receiving your prize...the catfish.

As Christians feel the thunder and get bit in life, I pray that the results are good..."Better than Catfish" good. May the result of adversity, challenge and struggle in our lives be a great reward, in heaven and on earth. It is not always easy to believe for a great reward when times are tough. God is on our side. His plan is good - even when we feel the thunder and get bit.

Blessings,
adaryll

Thank You, Christ-Follower.

I sense some Christians need to hear this: "Thank you for your generosity."

I'm working on an upcoming class. I paused in the middle of my preparation to thank God for Christ-followers who faithfully, obediently and cheerfully give.

A collection of people go to churches - both mine and yours - regularly and give. As a result of the generosity some time ago from Christians where I live and attend church, my church was able to buy a copier. This copier helps serve and resource THOUSANDS of people, every week, from age 0-(really old).

I truly believe the Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9) and just want to encourage all of you who cheerfully give. It is no small thing to me that I am able to prepare for a class, am able to access a copier, and consequently am able to port a small stack of papers instead of lugging multiple books around.

Thank you, God's people, for giving. I know it's no small thing to give in today's economy. Your giving does have a large impact. Your giving does more than pay for a copier. Your generosity helps serve people around the world. Your giving provides clean drinking water, sends out and supports missionaries, helps provide housing and all other sorts of things. I just wasn't sure, today, if you - giver - hear the words "Thank You" enough. That's why I wrote... today. Thank you! For the copier, and for everything else your generosity does.

(In case someone's wondering, I will recycle the paper. God's people ought to take care of the earth. That's another conversation for another day). :-)

#disciple

"Our life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to live every day and get something out of it. Don't make any excuses.”
– Herman Edwards

It all starts today, every single day. As I approach my fortieth birthday at the end of this year, I’m feeling what everyone said one might feel around age 40 – physically, emotionally and spiritually. In a word, “Wow!” Everything changes. If I had not been prepared for this and for other monumental stages in my life, I’m fairly certain I might be freaking out a little bit right about now. Forty years? I mean, chances are I have fewer years left on the other side of 40 than the first. And it only feels like yesterday that I was very young. Time flies…fast!

Life is difficult, but through the investments that have been made into my life I can say “Life is so good.” Perhaps the best thing that has happened to me in my life is the men of the Christian faith who have poured into me, men like John Strappazon, Curt Hall, Jerry Abbott, and Ed Newell. These men have really helped me understand what it is like to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What can I ever do to repay them? I finally get it. Just.Keep.Discipling. Or “#disciple” as I will start talking about more often on Twitter. Be a disciple, make a disciple. These are the aims of my life, and I will be one and make one with everything I’ve got for as long as I live (and who knows, I might even get more than 40 more years on the other side of 40!).

Disciple is both a noun and a verb. Check this out:
*dis•ci•ple
   [dih-sahy-puh l] verb, -pled, -pling.
–noun
1.
Religion .
a.
one of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
b.
one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
c.
any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
2.
any follower of Christ.
3.
( initial capital letter ) a member of the Disciples of Christ.
4.
a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines ofanother; follower: a disciple of Freud.

–verb (used with object)
5.
Archaic . to convert into a disciple.
6.
Obsolete . to teach; train.

It’s true. Life really is not a dress rehearsal. I’ve tried to, by the Spirit of Holiness, give it everything I’ve had, but I can still improve on leading in His strength, His knowledge and His wisdom. After all, that’s what a “#disciple” does? Right? No excuses. I have dreams, I have plans, and somehow I believe God has even bigger plans and dreams for me in His story.

Simply put, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I’m going for it, and I’m going big! I expect great things, no excuses.

How about you? Everyone is a disciple. Everyone follows someone or something. Who are you following? What are you expecting? Any advice for me as I “go big” in my journey?

*Source: dictionary.com

Plucker!

'Carpe' translates literally as 'pluck', with particular reference to the picking of fruit, so an accurate rendition (of 'Carpe Diem') is 'enjoy the day, pluck the day when it is ripe'. The extended version of the phrase 'carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero' translates as 'Pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the future'.
Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/carpe-diem.html

With all due respect to "Seize," "Pluck," in my opinion, is a pretty cool word. What kind of "Plucking" are we doing?

Have you ever sensed the tension of both going full-out and resting? I find myself in a phase of life where I'm just beginning to appreciate the balance of work and rest. When I work, doing it all for the glory of God, I find myself even more effective and excellent when I follow up the full-out "plucking" with a good, intentional time of rest.

I believe there are times to "pluck" or seize the day and there are times to retreat. Additionally, I believe there are several different areas of life to "pluck" at varying times of life. Unfortunately, I sometimes feel I need permission to rest. Additionally, I am a hypocrite in this area. I preach resting far more than I practice it. I am thankful for folks who bully me into balance. If you own a Covey Planner, you know about planning your week according to your Roles - Physical, Social/Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual, and to plan each "Big Rock," or the one big thing you'd like to see occur during that week. I believe a balanced life is lived more effectively when we pluck balance. Work and rest.

I oftentimes ask my children, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" No matter how they answer, my next question is always the same, "What else?" I don't do that to be mean or to try to over-burden them. Instead, I am simply, in a small way, trying to prepare them to understand they will, as individuals, each have several roles. Within each role, there will be the opportunity to Pluck the day and there will a necessity to rest and retreat...so that the next time to "pluck" will be even more effective.

How are you doing with life? With balance? I am fully aware there are lazy people out there, but most of the friends I have chosen are go-getters. They are aggressive "Pluckers." Have you, friend, learned to aggressively rest so that the next time you pluck you are doing so in a healthy way? Are you plucking to the detriment of those around you? Is your plucking being done in excellence, or is it the dry bones, "all I have left" kind of plucking that really is not all that excellent? What kind of plucking are you doing? Do you pluck only as you work or have you begun to understand the importance of being a "Plucker" for rest? I'm asking myself the same question, often.

Thanks for listening. I'd love to hear your responses either here or on Facebook.

I Couldn't Have Said It any Better

I want to share today some words from a wonderful Christian apologist, Ravi Zacharias:

The Scandal of the Cross
There is a striking verse in the New Testament, in which the apostle Paul refers to the cross of Jesus Christ as foolishness to the Greek and a stumbling block to the Jew. One can readily understand why he would say that. After all, to the Greek mind, sophistication, philosophy, and learning were exalted pursuits. How could one crucified possibly spell knowledge?

To the Jewish mind, on the other hand, there was a cry and a longing to be free. In their history, they had been attacked by numerous powers and often humiliated by occupying forces. Whether it was the Assyrians or the Babylonians or the Romans, Jerusalem had been repeatedly plundered and its people left homeless. What would the Hebrew have wanted more than someone who could take up their cause and altogether repel the enemy? How could a Messiah who was crucified possibly be of any help?

To the Greek, the cross was foolishness. To the Jew, it was a stumbling block. What is it about the cross of Christ that so roundly defies everything that power relishes? Crucifixion was humiliating. It was so humiliating that the Romans who specialized in the art of torture assured their own citizenry that a Roman could never be crucified. But not only was it humiliating, it was excruciating. In fact, the very word "excruciating" comes from two Latin words: ex cruciatus, or out of the cross. Crucifixion was the defining word for pain.

Does that not give us pause in this season before us? Think of it: humiliation and agony. This was the path Jesus chose with which to reach out for you and for me. You see, this thing we call sin, but which we so tragically minimize, breaks the grandeur for which we were created. It brings indignity to our essence and pain to our existence. It separates us from God.

On the way to the cross two thousand years ago, Jesus took the ultimate indignity and the ultimate pain to bring us back to the dignity of a relationship with God and the healing of our souls. Will you remember that this was done for you and receive his gift?

You will then discover that it is sin that is foolishness. Our greatest weakness is not an enemy from without but one from within. It is our own weak wills that cause us to stumble. But Jesus Christ frees us from the foolishness of sin and the weakness of our selves.

This is the very reason the apostle Paul went on to say that he preached Jesus Christ as one crucified, which was the power of God and the wisdom of God. Come to the cross in these days given for our contemplation and find out his power and his wisdom.

Ravi Zacharias is founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

I Want...A Lot!

Have you ever asked yourself, "What do you want?" In an exercise of honest self-discovery, I realized, I want a lot! I learned, for starters:

I want to be the best disciple of Jesus Christ I can be.

I want to be the very best husband in the world.

I want to be the best dad to a son.

I want to be the best dad of a daughter.

I want to be the best friend I can be.

I want to be the best dog owner.

I want to be the best pastor I can be.

I want to be the best saxophonist I can be.

I want to be the best softball player I can be.

I want to be very, very good cook, especially on outdoor equipment.

I could have gone on, but I stopped there. Will I get all of this stuff? Life is short, you know? I believe it's a good thing to turn to Scripture for an answer. I am reading, almost exclusively, from the Psalms and Proverbs these days (except for Bible studies or church sermons when I absolutely have to read somewhere else). These Wisdom books are just so meaty to me in my life right now, I just tend to camp out on these great passages. Psalm 145 is wonderful. I encourage you to read all of it, today. Among it's many wonderful verses is one that spoke particularly to my issue:

"You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." v. 16 (NASB)

What an amazing God we serve! I don't know about you, but sometimes, I feel a little low and a little pessimistic about life, the world, and my present state. However, when I re-evaluate my situation in light of passages like Psalm 145, I remember I serve a gracious and merciful God. Situations and circumstances are seen in a brand new light.

What do I want? What should I want? I can want anything I want! But ultimately, I hope I want what He wants - the Glory of His kingdom.

God has always taken care of me, no matter what. I am not sure why I lose that perspective sometimes. He has been so good to me. I will praise His name. I am tremendously blessed.

What do you want? How can I help you? Better, how do you believe the God who created us will help you?

The Boy

I am really excited about my son's life right now. He is 8 years old. He gave his life to Jesus Christ when he was 4. He did so most sincerely. If you ask him, to this day, when he crossed the line of faith, he will tell you exactly what was happening when he was 4 years old and how he took the steps of faith.

Before my children were born, I decided my children would have to really be accountable in their steps of faith. I would lay a solid foundation, but the Christ-walk was to be "owned" by them.

My son is owning his faith. I have placed hurdles in front of him to test his faith. He has passed every test. I had decided, again before my children were born, that they would own their testimony. My vision of their baptisms? "This is my child, and this is their testimony..." Then THEY speak, then I baptize. I'm not throwing them any bones. To me, the stakes of following Christ are too high. Own your faith kid. You'll have to do it the rest of your life, so your baptism is a great place to show the world, this is MY faith! The boy has recently told me how he plans the logistics of his baptism to go. Way to man up, boy! :-)

He is no angel. he is a normal little boy. Mischievous, disobedient at times, and just flat-out "you're gonna get yourself killed" crazy a lot of times as well.

But the boy is truly, daily, growing in the understanding he is forgiven. The boy finds, more and more, his identity in Jesus Christ. The boy is growing in his faith every day.

Do you know, that in Christ you are a new creature? Do you know that in Him, the old has gone and the new has come? Do you know that in Him you are covered by the blood, paid for - once and for all - at the ultimate price. I just can't get over HIS wonderful grace. I'm thankful that even a child can get it.

Are you like the boy?

After the Altar - Sex

Hello After the Altar Community!

First of all, thank you for braving the elements to attend class tonight.
Also, it appears some of my notes did not make it to all of you, so I am placing them here. If you have any other questions about tonight's talk, please email me at ajordan@southlandchristian.org.

Only 2 more classes for After the Altar and then...(We'll see!!!)

Resources to check out:
Books: Red Hot Monogamy, Sheet Music, Intended for Pleasure
Seminar: Wellspring, Feb. 18-19
Videos: Song of Solomon http://www.gotothehub.com/ and Love and Respect
Christian Sex Expert: Joe Beam
Blogs: The Generous Wife, The Generous Husband, Simple Marriage

Questions
What is one thing that you heard tonight that will cause you to think and discuss more about Biblical sexuality in your marriage?

What reasons do you believe caused the failure in church history to remain faithful to the Bible’s positive approach to sexuality?

Is there any sexual activity in marriage that you feel is clearly not appropriate for Christians? Why?

After the Altar Community

The "After the Altar" Blog is not up yet, so I will be writing here until it's ready to go on the Southland Christian website.

Until then, enjoy getting to know me through past blogs

25th MLK Day

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day everyone. Today is the 25th Celebration of the National Holiday.

I fear there is still much work to do to really honor the day.
If I hear, on Thanksgiving, "we should be thankful EVERY day;" on Christmas, "We should celebrate the birth of Christ EVERY day;" on Easter, "We should celebrate our sins being covered by the blood of Christ EVERY day;" then what does it look like to celebrate the meaning of this holiday every day?

I think it looks like celebrating Hope.
I think it looks like celebrating Opportunity.

As an African-American, it's easy for me to happy today. I am a little disappointed that the holiday seems to be politicized. This is not a day only for members of any one political party! [I'm not a Democrat, a Republican, or any of those U.S. political party members. I am a child of God, and that means more than being a part of any political party. It means, on a day-to-day basis and for an eternity, I get to be a part of THE party - here on earth and for an eternity in heaven when my soul leaves this flawed body.]

No, this is a day for ALL of us. It's about Hope. It's about Opportunity. If African-Americans were not around, you can bet some other group would be the victim of discrimination this very day. We live in a fallen world. Yet, on this day we have the opportunity to celebrate.
Hope. Opportunity.

I have hope in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I have opportunity to impact this world through His power. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a flawed man like you or I, but he took advantage of his opportunity and shared hope.

I pray we all take advantage of our God-given hope. And opportunity.

If you agree (or disagree), holler!

2011 - New Things!

After over a year of not blogging, I have discovered reasons to take up writing again.
My family now lives in Lexington, KY and I currently serve at Southland Christian Church.
(www.southlandchristian.org)

I am looking forward, tonight, to beginning a class called "After the Altar" at Southland Christian Church. I pray for marriages everywhere, and for a blessing on the folks who will attend this class to strengthen their marital relationships.

In the class we will discuss Pain, Money, Sex, Power and Discipline. If you are in the area, I hope you can join us, for 5 weeks in Lexington beginning tonight, Wednesday, January 12 at 7 PM in Bldg. B.

Until then, stay warm!