seek.

Relentless.

Powerful.
Terrifying.
Holy.
Alive.

These are words that come to mind as I think about the God I observed, experienced, and saw in the 5 days I just experienced. I returned last night from more time with high school students on the shores of Lake Erie near Sandusky, OH. I went as a counselor and I had great opportunities to invest in students, but I gained so much from this time. So, what did we do, you ask?

worship.
We flat out glorified the Almighty God. I don't know that I've ever been a part of more raw, vulnerable, crazy, undignified, sincere praise to our God through singing, prayer, and scripture. These kids allowed Christ to transform their hearts in worship as they surrendered all.

fellowship.
Our worship was also seen in the genuine fellowship with each other. I heard someone say that one of the best ways to get to know God is through getting to know his people. He created us in his image after all. We ate together, laughed together, prayed together (lots of prayer - kind of like the early church seemed to do it), sang together, talked together, etc.

fun.
I had more fun than a person should be allowed. Cedar Point has never seen a group of 170 people have so much uninhibited FUN. we chanted, played loud games, froze (see later post), sang, yelled, danced. Wow. Too much.

broke.
We let the God we often try to hide from BREAK US. We were broken. We were humbled. We admitted the things that we are scared to bring into the light to each other and to God. And when we came out of hiding we didn't even blow up (see this video for context).

sought.
We examined what it meant to seek God. Our inspiration was Jeremiah 29:13:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

• What does it really mean to seek God? With all your heart?
• What would a true seeker of God look like?
• What would a church seeking after God with all of its heart look like?

I got to watch well over a hundred high school students ask these questions...and commit to seeking. They counted the costs and committed to seeking. This was not your normal camp where high schoolers come together and have an emotional and maybe spiritual high and go home slightly changed.

These kids were changed...and so was I.

So, I'm curious. What do you think a true seeker of Christ, one seeking with all of their heart, would look like? What would be some defining characteristics or words you would use to describe them? I'd love your thoughts.

fasting? really?

I was perusing a magazine today and noticed that it suggested fasting as a solid weight loss mechanism that included several other health benefits. What are the "rules" you ask?

1. a 36 hour fast, once a week
2. don't fast unless you're in good shape and eat right already
3. start off easy
4. bookend the fast with the right meals
   
5. pace yourself (how can i pace something I'm NOT doing)
   
6. mitochondria become more efficient (this is sweet)
   

Other benefits?

1. you'll enjoy the food you eat even more
2. you may also protect yourself against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke

I might be crazy but this article reminded me about something that I have done some thinking about. It was a good reminder to me that Jesus thought it a good idea that we fast. In Matthew 6, Jesus says, "When you fast...don't yadayadayada. But when you fast, do yadayadayada." For some reason, Jesus thought we would just do it, and I have some ideas why it might be of value (purely my ideas):

1. It reminds us of our reliance on things beyond ourselves.
2. It helps us to focus and center ourselves on things beyond feeding our desires.
3. It can open up time to devote in worship of the Creator.
4. It can serve to provide a healthy view of the thing we are fasting from.
5. It can add discipline to our lives.
6. It can maybe even be healthy when done correctly (this is purely a physical gain, is that okay?)
7. It can be a sacrifice in order to focus more clearly on God's leading.

These may be way wrong. I encourage you to challenge them. These are just thoughts I quickly typed. I'm not telling you that you should go fast today, especially if you know it would be harmful to your body.

But, why don't we talk about it or do it like Jesus talked about it or did it? Has the pendulum swung so far away from this practice that we no longer consider it important? Is it even important?

All I know is that it took a random health magazine to remind me once again that fasting has value. Maybe Jesus wasn't joking around when he talked about it.

One of my favorites...bittersweetness

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

...you will have trouble.

You...

...WILL...

...have...

...TROUBLE!

I haven't necessarily had a lot of "trouble". I've had some. I think I'll have more.

How can I remember no matter what, even in the middle of the trouble...

...that Jesus said he overcame the world...ALREADY?!?!

Not sure, but I'm trying. I think it's important and I'm so grateful for the hope and promise Jesus provides.

Praying for those experiencing more "trouble" than me tonight.