What keeps you coming back to Jesus?

This is a question I have been asking a number of my friends in small groups and just hanging out. I have received a variety of answers. One of my friends said, “Jesus keeps dragging my butt back to Jesus.” And this is true at the core. Jesus brings us back to Jesus. Obviously, the fact that He is God is something that keeps us coming back; but I think each of us has an even more personal answer.

In normal friendships there are specific things that make us friends. It can be a whole slew of different characteristics: acceptance, steadfastness, kindness, playfulness, tenderness, strength, laughter, joy, simplicity. It could be the way a friend listens to you or draws you out with probing questions. Maybe your friend lets you win in ping-pong or shares your interest for desert storm trading cards ☺. Whatever it is, we are drawn to people for a reason, and I think it is no different with the King of the Cosmos—there is an attractiveness to Him like no other and there are reasons that we keep coming back to Him.

What is it for you? What about the God-Person of Jesus Christ keeps you coming back to Him again and again? For me, it’s that he knows me, he loves me, he is trustworthy, and he makes me laugh.

I will describe the first two together: he knows me and he loves me. A couple of months ago I was spending time journaling my heart movings to the Lord in a little place called Panera Bread. I was wrestling with the Lord on whether I should continue to bring him the longings, hopes, and dreams I have, that seem to be broken again and again.

I know I’m not entitled to receive anything, so I wondered what he wanted from me. I was also re-reading entries from earlier this year. One entry was titled: "People I need to love by faith"—and one of the people on the list was myself, with 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 next to it. So I opened up my Bible and read from this address with the lens of God looking at me.

As I read, God reminded me of his great incomprehensible knowing of me. He KNOWS me—ALL of me. He formed the aspirations, dreams, desires, and yearnings of my soul. And he is hoping right alongside of me for them to come to fruition. It says in verse 7, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

As I read these words it reminded me of God’s hoping of things for me. His delight in seeing me receive his blessings. His joy when I receive them and his care for me and endurance with me as they do not come to fruition. He bears, believes, hopes, endures all things. He knows me and he loves me, and this causes me to trust him more.

Next, he is trustworthy. Need I say more? His track record is inscrutable. He never fails, leaves, or forsakes me. He ALWAYS comes through. He is faithful and trustworthy and selfless and kind and good—and his faithfulness means I am safe and secure no matter what. This makes me want to come to him more.

And lastly, he makes me laugh. He does. He brings a jab of humor, sometimes with a hint of sarcasm, and other times I trip over my own foot on a perfectly paved street and he is laughing with me. Sometimes he reminds me of an old memory, his presence with me in it and how hilarious it was. He is the funniest person in the universe and can bring a smile to my face like no other. He warms my heart with laughter.

These four things (and I am sure many others) are what keep me coming back to him again and again. He is indeed the giver of all good things and there is none like him. And in the end, if asked, I think we would respond in like fashion with Peter as accounted by John in chapter 6, verses 66-70.

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

It is in the Holy One of God that we have trusted, the only one who has the words of eternal life. He is so attractive.

Bringing the attractiveness of Jesus into the chaos with you.

Bringing Jesus into the Chaos

During our commissioning at our STINT Briefing in August where we were preparing for our year in Mexico City, God broke my heart more for the people here. There has been a lot of chaos and mayhem down here because of the recent presidential elections, which were very close in votes. The loser has been rallying people to protest and different parts of the city have shut down. So I was starting to worry about all the chaos we were going to be walking into—wd. the girls be safe, is it wise for us to be there, and other concerns. I was worried about walking into the chaos of it all—and I heard Jesus say to me—“I want you to bring Me into that chaos.” God was showing me this was a great opportunity for His glory to shine in the midst of great chaos. This is an opportunity to bring hope and light, love and forgiveness, to people who so desperately need it. I sensed God inviting me to trust him with my life & the lives of my team, and walk into a dark situation, bringing them the light and hope found only in Jesus Christ!

A couple nights ago I shared this with the team and Skye told me that Jesus had shared the same thing with her on the metro on their way over to meet us. She was thinking about the chaos of things and heard God say to her…”Invite me into this chaos.” I told her it’s so neat how God is speaking similar things to his people—she stopped me and said—“The exact same things.” She was right. God is speaking the exact same things into his people and is inviting us to trust him and believe him to bring HIM into the chaos. We are inviting him to bring about a spiritual revival among the people of Mexico. Would you please join us in asking God to bring it about. Trae lo Jesus! Trae lo!

ACE

American Coaster Enthusiasts (www.aceonline.org)

Hilarious in my opinion. My friend Graham and his wife April just stopped by Brian & Christine Virtue's place where I am hanging and we heard some fun stories of his mom and sister and the group of roller coaster enthusiasts they belong to. His mom has ridden over 550 different coasters all over the world. They plan their vacations around coasters and when traveling to Europe they didn't visit the Eiffel Tower or other historical and famous locations--they visited coasters. You can visit their website posted above. I laughed so hard hearing their stories.

one word answers...

quickly insightful and fun...

yourself = intricate
your partner = some-day
your hair = short
your mother = thoughtful
your father = gregarious
your favorite item = laptop
your dream last night = odd
your favorite drink = manhattan
your dream home = spacious
room you're in = quiet
your pleasure = laughing
your fear = unchanging
where you want to be in 10 years = transforming
who you hung out with last night = fellows
what you're not = uptight
your best friends = known
one wish list item = car
your gender = male
the last thing you did = pelicula
the last thing you ate = sushi
your life = complicated
the last person you talked to on the phone = davidchan
who are you thinking of right now = friend

A Tribute to JH

It may be hard to see the person in this photo but this is my tribute to a very good friend of mine--Joshua Hardester aka Josue. He has been the one who has baptized me into the sport known as futbol to most of the world. I still love and play futbol americano, but I now have a love of the game we call soccer in a way I never did before because of Josh's influence on me this year. I played in my first match since fourth grade after our goalie tore his hamstring in the first half. And the real shocker was that I played pretty well. Everyone was amazed that hadn't played before (other than fourth grade when I was pretty much riding the pine for the year). Anyway, from there on out we played for fun every Saturday and every Sunday we played in a league.
I've always loved to play sports in general, but now I was gaining real knowledge on the soccer field that I had never had before. In a baseball or football field I had the knowledge--those places felt like home. However here, I was a foreigner in quite a few more ways than being from another country. But it's been an absolute blast.
However, along with playing, Josh has shown me the ropes on jerseys, wrapping your shoelaces around the shoe to tie them up well, pointing out the key players, and then going on to tell me where they have played over the past 15 years, what their favorite color is, and what type of cheese they like to eat on their burgers. He knows them all, and I am better for it.
So, with that...a warm heartfelt and bellowing thank you. The year wdn't have been the same without you. You'll be missed.

futbol - tiempos buenos

Mi equipo de futbol. We have no real current uniforms, which is hilarious when we're out there playing, because the other teams have matching everything with their names on their backs. But, we have a good time for sure.



Hanging outside of Benjamin's after my last soccer game of this year. My wingman is the guy who goes by the nickname "Padre" who is on my left. Benjamin is to my right. It was such a blast playing with these guys this year and playing forward is rad.

Lent & savoring Jesus

Well, if you made it through my last on Lent then you are more up to speed on where I left off. Along with pursuing these things with my friends previously mentioned, I also invited my team here in DF to pray about whether they wd. like to participate with me in some way in this; and on Thursday they all shared specific things they are giving up for His closeness, as well as specific things they will be doing. It was really a neat and encouraging time to listen to the things they are giving up for our sweet Jesus, things that are precious to their hearts and are going to stretch them. I am smiling thinking of it even now. I am so proud of my friends and their courage.

Through prayer & consideration here is what I decided to do:
What I am giving up/fasting from:
+ I am giving up all films for the next 40 days. I love watching movies and know that there are days when I haven't spent time with God, but I take time to watch a movie, and I want to give that up to be closer to Him. (Also, because there are 4 ten day periods, I am going to add something every 10 days to surrender or fast from—probably things like playstation, watching any tv, and listening to music). I know they may seem small, but movies and music are near and dear to my heart and every time I think of going to a movie, it will remind me how much more worthy of my affections Jesus is, and I hope it spurs me on to delight and trust in Him more.

What I am committing to do:
+ Do an Examen Of Conscience every night before going to bed/or in the morning when I wake up (this involves the following method: 1) Be still for a moment and quiet your mind. 2) Consider God's presence around you. 3) Go back in your mind to when you first woke up today/yesterday. Watch the scene, as if on film. This may lead you to pray for patience, greater love, courage, or other things. 4) Continue through the day, going from scene to scene. As you reflect on them, some scenes may fill you with gratitude and others with regret. Write down some thoughts about this and bring it to the Lord. You also may be led to pray for some of the people you were interacting with during the day. 5) Honestly, what do you want or need from God at this moment?)
+ Take Tuesday evenings and spend an extended time with the Lord in reflection, meditation, reading, and prayer.
+ Asking God to make me a person who is clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Col. 3:12).

I know there are things God needs to change in me and things I need to die to. As Nouwen said above, "There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen."

Growing up I wd. hear people say that they gave up a specific food for Lent, like chocolate, and I never really understood what it was all about. I mean, I knew it was about going without something before Easter, but I didn't catch the heart of it in that phrase, "I gave up chocolate FOR Lent." And if people ask me why I won't go to a film with them I want to show them the heart of the matter. I want to show them that Jesus is supremely valuable and worth fighting for. That He is the treasure of my heart and that ""I gave up watching films for 40 days to savor Jesus more than His gifts." This is the heart behind Lent. Not giving up something for a concept, but giving up something so that we can savor Jesus more above all things.

And so, for people who don't know much about this practice, I don't want them to need to wonder. I want them to know that Jesus is worth me sacrificing little things as well as great, and worth giving up things like films and music and chocolate. And that He is worthy of me fighting to make Him the champion of my heart.

Like Nouwen's prayer, I pray you find our sweet Jesus again and in finding Him anew and afresh, you will savor what you find above all else. In His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures forever (Ps. 16:11)!

Pressing on to know Him more with you (Hosea 6:3).

Cuidate,
ECS

Thoughts on the meaning of Lent

There is a group of guys I met with for two years in an LTG (Life Transformation Group) before I moved down here to Mexico City last fall. I now have one here, but those other guys and I still keep in contact via email and voice from time to time, and they often keep me in the loop by inviting me to do some things they are doing together in the word, as well as helping me continue to grow and process life with them. Well, Don invited us three others to join him in doing a devo every morning from a book during LENT and to pray about some things God may be inviting us to surrender or do during this season leading up to the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His little devo on Lent is below and what I decided to do as I sought the Lord follows it. I hope it encourages You to surrender those things that may be keeping you from more deeply connecting with the incredible joy found in Christ, and taking on things that will help you connect with Him.

Here is the brief words Don shared with us on the subject which I found very insightful and helpful.

“I wanted to give you a brief devo on LENT to prepare us for the season:

Lent refers to the forty days leading up to Easter. The Lenten season is set aside for self-examination, spiritual renewal, and growth. In many churches, it is seen as a time for fasting and abstinence, for alms-giving and acts of mercy, for repentance and prayer.

Augustine describes the season of Lent this way, ‘In what part of the year could the observance of the forty-day fast be more appropriately instituted than that adjoining, so to speak, and touching on, the Lords Passion?’

People may choose a variety of ways to observe Lent in their personal lives. Some choose to give up something for Lent; this may free them from a bad habit or a distraction or may simplify their lives, and it allows for more time to spend in studying Gods Word or in prayer. Others fast, to cleanse their bodies and to identify with the poor. Some choose to commit themselves to acts of mercy, to giving of their money and their time to service in the Kingdom. Some use these 40 days to focus on a particular portion of scripture or on a devotional book that helps them to journey with Christ to the cross. In all of these ways, people use this season for deeper reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death on Easter.

A Prayer for Lent, by Henri Nouwen
‘How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting, and prayer? How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of the season without even being aware of it? But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent? How can I rejoice fully in your Resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death?
Yes, Lord, I have to die with you, through you, and in you and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your Resurrection. There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.... I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it. O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen (A Cry for Mercy: Prayers from the Genesee; Image Books, 2002).’”

The above thoughts really remind me how much I allow God’s gifts to take the place of God Himself. I am so aware of my need for Him, but can be so unwilling to make sacrifices to seek Him to fill that need. And I realized I need a season like this—a season of being more intentional about sacrificing things to get closer to Him. So, I began to pray and ask Him what it is He was desiring me to surrender, and what it is He is desiring me to do in this season.

In my next message I will share more about what I decided to do. This message was going to be super long, so I broke it up into two. I invite you to pray about what God may be inviting you to give up or fast from in this season, in order to enjoy Him more and experience His presence anew.

Best to you,
ECS