Cross Conference

This past week all of URBN Experience has been attending the Cross Conference. This conference is geared more towards overseas missions than those here on U.S. soil, but there was still plenty to learn! I was so encouraged by the multiple speakers and guest who themselves first heard of Christ because someone had been bold enough to share the Gospel with them. Throughout the week we heard talks on everything from Cross Cultural Difference to Business as Mission. My favorite talk and the one that really struck me was one titled "What Do Cross Cultural Missionaries Cross Cultures for?" This speaker started out by telling everyone that they should "Give a Damn for Christ." WAIT! WHAT? I know, right? This guy is speaking at a conference full of Christians and he just cussed and called everyone out and probably offended about half the people in the room. As offensive as it may seem, he was going somewhere with it and in the end it all made sense.

Many of you reading this and most of us that were in the room have heard or read the story of the poor widow in chapter twelve of the book of Mark verses 41-44.

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

These two coins that the widow had given were equivalent to about a half of a penny and were referred to as a "damn."

Did you get the connection there? A "damn" is worth about a half of a penny, meaning it is practically worthless. This is where we get the phrase "I don't give a damn." Insinuating that the subject is not worth talking or caring about. However, in the story of the poor widow we see that she gave all she had and she did so in faith. HERE'S THE CONNECTION: As the widow gave and gave faithfully, we too should care enough to (insert word here) and (insert the same word here) faithfully for the sake of the Gospel.

What Does it Mean to be Unashamed?

un·a·shamed [uhn-uh-sheymd]
1.not ashamed; not restrained by embarrassment or consciousness of moral guilt: a liar unashamed even after public disgrace.
2.open; unconcealed; unabashed: to eat with unashamed gusto.

As you read through this post I encourage you to reread the definition on "unashamed" several times and ask yourself "What does it mean to be unashamed?"

In chapter one of the book of Romans verses 13-18 we read about Paul, a man on a mission to share the word of God. Here we see his excitement and eagerness to go and make Christ known. Verse 16 in itself tells us that Paul is unashamed:

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile."

What would it look like for us to live in light of the Gospel with the same motivation and desire as Paul? This guy literally could not sit still! Verse 15 tells us that Paul was eager to go to Rome to preach. How eager are we to tell our closest non-believing friends and family about the Gospel? If we're honest with ourselves the answer is probably something like "Dang, that's like my biggest fear." Why? Are we ashamed of the Gospel? If we're not, then why aren't we picking up our things and going with excitement like Paul to share the word of God?

My prayer today is that we would not fear rejection, but that we would find our identity and satisfaction in the Lord; Let us find ourselves eager to share the Gospel as Paul did, completely unashamed!

Hope in God

Are you finding hope in God, or finding hope in things getting better?

Why Are You Cast Down, Oh My Soul?
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
“O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42

Almost Halfway

It is so crazy to think that I have been living here in Louisville for five months. Never would I have thought that after graduating from college I would find myself living missionally in a city, away from everything I have ever known, rather than landing a dream job. Perhaps my "dream job" was much to small of a dream or rather too narrow. No, I'm not using my degree nor am I raking in thousands of dollars with each paycheck, but I am gaining so much more than that! I cannot begin to truly put into words what it is like to live here and to be humbled and reminded of God's love and grace for us each day! God doesn't promise us an easy life, with this in mind I find myself clinging to Him all the more.

"May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, 'God is Great!'"

Psalm 70:4

The Rich Man vs. The Poor Man

I encourage you to read the following scripture and reflect on your own life.

"So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife."

2 Samuel 12: 1-10

What a convicting piece of scripture! No one wants to think of themselves as the rich man, but if we're all honest with ourselves I think we can admit to being the rich man at some point in our lives. How often do we take the things we have for granted or have all that we need (and probably more) but still aren't satisfied? The good thing is we can find satisfaction in God and God alone!

Doing it all in Vain

This week in our "Bible in a Year" reading plan we are hitting 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and multiple Psalms. Today as I was reading I was reminded of how often I do things for myself, my pride, my ego, and am completely selfish. Verse 1 of Psalm 127 says "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." This hit my ego this morning, and it wasn't a soft blow; it hurt. As I meditated on Psalm 127 I began to ask myself how often I do things in vain. How many times have I tried to do something without going to God first or checking my motives? If I am doing these things without the Lord, then they are all in vain. My efforts are like chasing the wind. They are useless.

My Prayer today is that I would have more of a desire to glorify God in all that I do rather than glorifying myself.

Louisville's First Snow!

These past few days have been quite different than any winter I have experienced in the past 15 years of my life. I'm from the south, like the deep south, and we don't really get snow. If and when we do get snow it is hardly ever enough to cover the grass let alone the roads. Although this winter storm that we are experiencing is nothing in comparison to many places, it's enough for me. As you probably could have guessed by now, the kids in Shelby Park had no school today and probably won't have it on Monday either. Now this here, despite the literal freezing cold temperature, is a great opportunity to spend time with them during a season when we hardly ever see them due to school hours and limited daylight. That's just what we did! Being the kids that we all are at heart we put on our warmest clothes and headed out to the park in hopes of running in to some of our neighbors! Here are some pictures of our adventures:

Let my Heart Sing Psalms to You!

Pslam 92: How Great Are Your Works

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp
and the melody of the lyre.
4 You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
5 O Lord, what great works you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
6 Only a simpleton would not know,
and only a fool would not understand this:
7 Though the wicked sprout like weeds
and evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever.
9 Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 But you have made me as strong as a wild ox.
You have anointed me with the finest oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.
12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
13 For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
15 They will declare, “The Lord is just!
He is my rock!
There is no evil in him!”