10 Things that have Changed My Life: #4- Xanax

The summer before my junior year in high school I developed a crippling, mysterious illness that would change my life forever.  It started out with recurring panic attacks which soon led to a full blown panic disorder accompanied by agoraphobia.  I thought I was going crazy (I guess I kinda did, actually).

While the medical search was on to figure out what was causing this, my family physician prescribed the anti-anxiety drug Xanax to help me get through the debilitating fear that had captured my life.  Xanax became my lifeline.  My key to a normal life again.  I could not be awake without being on it and I most definitely couldn’t leave the house without being on it.  I was a “clock watcher”- always watching the clock to make sure I was still under the influ... err, protection of my miracle drug.  As I developed a tolerance of the drug, I was forced to take more and more, many times to the ignorance of my parents or doctors.  The depression followed soon after.

I shy away from the term “drug addict” for a few different reasons.  For one, I was a blue-collar participant.  All my drugs were legal and out of a prescription bottle.  Also, while I do believe I was addicted to it, and had to take other drugs, have counseling, and work at getting off of it- I never went through many of the lifelong struggles that drug addicts often face.  Christ’s grace found me before that, praise Him.

So how did Xanax change my life?  Well, it led me to the cross.  It buckled my prideful knees until I was forced to die to myself and find a glorious life in Christ.  To this day, when I am frustrated, depressed, or anxious, the temptation of finding some Xanax to fix everything pops up in my mind; but I fight the temptations with prayer and remembrance of the depression and afflictions of the drug and also the long hard work I undertook to be free of it.  These little temptations help me always stay focused on the cross and to never let my pride swell up to what it once was before life, and God, shattered it that summer and the following year.

10 Things that have Changed My Life: #3- Learning Hebrew and Greek

I am currently working towards getting two undergraduate degrees, one in Christian Theology and one in Biblical Languages.  By God’s grace I only have one more year left... (depending on what I want to do for graduate study)  The areas of study for the Biblical Languages degree are the languages of (biblical) Hebrew and (biblical) Greek.  Each is broken down into a couple basic grammar classes and then some increasingly intense reading and translating classes.  I am done with my Hebrew studies and in my last class (Senior Seminar) for my Greek studies.

Being someone who failed Spanish in high school, learning the languages was challenging to say the least but I found that with the right motivation anything can be learned.  One of the many things that happens when you fully learn a language is that you truly start to understand syntax, grammar, and semantics.  This leads to a whole new world of reading texts.  

The impact that learning these languages has had on me goes well beyond what the words mean- anybody can figure that out through google.  What it has taught me is how to truly read a text.  It teaches you how to ask the right questions.  Before I knew Hebrew and Greek, I would look at a verse or passage of Scripture and think it was fairly basic and elementary.  Now almost any text contains question after question and is embedded with hours of truth, theology, play, and worship.  Learning Hebrew and Greek, though challenging and sometimes frustrating, has changed my life.

Has anything you’ve learned ever changed your life?  Please comment and share!

10 Things that have Changed My Life: #2- Sky Ranch

Sky Ranch.  Two words that bring an incredible measure of joy to my heart.  If there was ever anything in my life that caused me to believe that God works out all things, even the tiniest details, for His glory- it would be the story of how I arrived at Sky Ranch and what happened there that summer.

The end of my freshman year of college found me quitting my job as keyholder at Lifeway Christian Bookstore and looking to get away for a summer to “find myself.”  I started looking at different Christian summer camps at the request of my mentor Janelle, who had told me that it would be a great summer and just what I needed.  Originally I applied, interviewed, and had hoped to land a job at Camp Ozark.  They did not offer me a job.  As a last second scramble, right before summer arrived, I faxed off interviews to as many camps as I could find online and received an invitation for a phone interview from two of them, one of them being Sky Ranch.  I first received a job offer from the other camp and was about to take it when I was offered a job at a closer, more established, and better paying (I won’t lie..  haha) camp called Sky Ranch.  I accepted and looked forward to a summer of relaxing, playing with kids, and forgetting about my problems.

I could make this story very, very, very long but I don’t think it is wise.  You can ask me for all the details if you really care, and haven’t heard them already.  As it happened, camp did not turn out to be the stress-free summer I was looking for, but rather a summer of growth, stretching, and leadership training.  I learned so many things that summer that I cannot even begin to list them off: what it means to be a leader, what it means to be a servant, how to love someone well, what true community is, how to lovingly correct someone, how to handle conflict, how to sail (thanks, JP!), how to give every ounce of energy and effort you have to a ministry, and the list goes on.

When I recall my summer at Sky Ranch, I refer to it as the period in my life where God grew me from a boy into a man.  I can now see it as the period of my life where God was growing, shaping, and molding me into the person and leader that I am today.  I thank God for Sky Ranch and for getting me there- all in his perfect timing and wisdom.

Have you had a period of time, or a circumstance or situation, that God used to absolutely change your life?  Please comment and share!

10 Things that have Changed My Life: #1- Mentors

My walk with Christ and my ministry have both been grown exponentially by the presence of Godly men and women in my life, willing to encourage and rebuke me.  Shortly after Christ found me, he brought a man named Tony into my life (Tony was a teacher at my high school; who had also taught me in 8th grade).  

Tony (see left picture) started meeting with me weekly for lunch and we would pray and discuss Scripture.  He was very vulnerable with his struggles and past and brought me in to be a part of his family.  Tony’s willingness to spend time with me and be honest both contributed to creating an atmosphere where I could be completely honest and totally see-through.  To this day, few people know as much about me as this Godly man.  He helped me walk through some very monumental issues that arose early on in my Christian life and I know for a fact that I would not be where I am today if it were not for his loving guidance.

As I graduated high school, Tony was blessed with twin girls- and those two factors significantly changed our relationship.  I soon began to become really close with another Godly man and his wife- Chris and Janelle.  Chris was the worship pastor at the church I was going to (is now my worship pastor!) and led a weekly Bible study that I attended (and now lead!).  Chris and Janelle (see picture on right) have played maybe the largest role in my ministry, from guiding me along the way, to eventually becoming a Pastor at 20 years old.  I frequently have long arguments (err..  “robust conversation”) with Chris on all things theological- and have found that he and Janelle are both great at advising me on practical decisions and giving me necessary rebuke.  On a side note, their beautiful daughter (my sister!) is one of the greatest joys in my life!  Hearing her say, "I love you, Bubba" with a little smile absolutely makes my heart melt.  =)

These relationships, and others, have engrained in me an appreciation for the biblical model of discipleship by doing life together.  My greatest piece of advice to young Christians wishing to grow in their faith is to find an older man or woman who seeks after Christ- and live life with them.  Submit to their authority and learn from their wisdom.  I would not be where I am today without the love and care that I have received from the mentors Christ has placed in my life.  Praise him!

Have you ever had a mentor?  Please comment and share!

10 Things That Have Changed My Life

Can you think of any books, events, people, movies, music, or other things that have changed your life?  It could be an earth-shattering moment in your history or something as simple as an idea that totally rocked your world.  

For the next couple weeks, along with my regular update posts, I will be sharing with you all 10 things that have changed my life.  They will range from people to books, ideas to movies, and even a couple of influential moments of my life.  They will be in no particular order- and the only self-imposed rule is that it cannot be a "Sunday school" answer (i.e. 'God,' 'Jesus,' or 'The Bible'). (One of my 10 things will be a book of the Bible; but will be more specific than a "Sunday school" stock answer.)

My question to you: What are some things that have changed your life?  Please comment and share!  

The Supremacy and the Sufficiency of the Gospel

This morning I had an absolute worship party in 2 Timothy. In my personal Scripture reading I am currently going through 1+2 Timothy and Daniel; and this morning I was blown away by the passionate pursuit and reckless, abandoned love of our God! The passage I was focusing on was 2 Timothy 1:8-10:

“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But joinwith me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

There are so many awesome things going on in this passage! The call for boldness in the proclamation of the gospel, the call to suffer, and the powerful description of God’s love and grace for his children. That he would save us, not because of anything we would do, but because of his purpose and grace- all for his glory! And the fact that his unconditional grace was ours before the space-time continuum was even created! And that you and I get to live and breathe in the knowledge and revelation of that grace as expressed on the cross of Christ- the king who has destroyed death and with his sacrifice bought us life to be had through the gospel.

God has been teaching me lately the supremacy and sufficiency of the gospel. The fact that the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection is the centerpiece of all existence, reality, history, and life. The fact that the love that flows freely to us because of the cross is the very foundation of our full and rich life.

It frustrates me that so many “christians” are looking for the next christian secret to life, the next four steps, the unlocked potential inside them for conquering sin and frustration. The reality is that true change which leads to true life is not found inside of us! It is not found in trying harder or gaining more knowledge. It is found in basking in the glory of Christ’s supremacy and grace. It is found in a day-to-day seeking after more of the fullness of God’s revelation on the cross.

This is what God has been teaching me. That His revelation of love and power on the Cross is the foundation for existence. That we don’t ever “outgrow” the Gospel. For all of eternity we will be basking it the glory of Christ and diving deeper and deeper into the fullness of his grace. Tomorrow morning I am preaching out of 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 and I am so excited for a chance to look at this text with my family! May God grant us all a widening of our heart's ability to receive his love and be transformed forever.

New Series: 'Missional Living'

Hey friends,

I would like to share with you what the next chapter of life will contain for my church and also invite you to join us for it.  This Sunday, April 19th, we will begin a new sermon series entitled 'Missional Living' and we will be unpacking what it means to be a follower of Christ and consequently a proclaimer of the kingdom of God.  I am so excited for this series and am looking forward to what God will teach us all.  

Sunday I will be preaching out of Luke 9:57-62 and we will be looking at some of Jesus' most challenging words in the Gospels to those who would desire to follow him.  This will set the scene for the entire series- and we will then spend the rest of our time unpacking what it means to "proclaim the kingdom of God" as a lifestyle, an exciting and adventurous way of living.  Topics that will be covered include: evangelism, relationships, meals, attractive holiness, intentions, prayer, and a few others.

I would love it if you joined us on this journey- you are always so welcome at our church.  We have two services- traditional (hymns) @ 9:45 and contemporary (full band) @ 11:20.  The website is www.fcccdoc.org.  Invite all of your friends!  See you there!

Mike

Pastor- First Colony Christian Church

mike@fcccdoc.org