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Be B.O.L.D.

I just wanted to share a little bit of camp with you!

I am currently at Riverbend Retreat Center near Glen Rose, Texas for the second week of Kidz@Kamp 2011.

I love camp (in fact, I’ll be at 7 weeks of it this summer), but I really love this one. I have been leading and speaking here since 1997. It’s one of those long term commitments that’s feels like your building a legacy.

In fact, yesterday, a young sponsor came up to me and said, “When I was 10 I came to this camp. You ate lunch at my table one day and that night I gave my heart to Jesus. Thank you.”

After that comment I truly understand the Old Testament phrase “blessings and curses”… She made my day and man I felt old.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a little of camp with you. Below is the message from the first night as we were setting the theme for BOLD from Joshua 1:9.

If you’re a part of the CrossPoint faith community I am sure you’ve heard all the stories, but looking through the eyes of several hundred 3rd-5th graders will still be a fun experience… Enjoy!

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

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You call that worship?

The following video clip is a teaching/story I have been telling for years (12 to be exact), but I have never captured it on video.

A few nights ago I was asked to speak at the first ever CrossPoint Country worship/concert event. It was more than awesome and hope we can do it again soon.

It was the perfect time to share this thought and I hope it’s an encouragement to you.

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Courage is not the absence of fear…

Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the completed action in the face of it.

We often confuse courage with stupidity. We watch some guys take unnecessary risks, or tackle extreme obstacles for no purpose and exclaim that they are fearless.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Often, the ability of some to do things others can’t simply because they aren’t afraid is not courage, it’s chemical physiological.

  • Some people aren’t afraid of heights… good for them.
  • Some people don’t fret confrontation… kudos.
  • Some people don’t get rattled no matter what… yeah them.

When these folks walk straight into the circumstances that others cringe away from, this is not courage; for them, it’s normal.

Courage is displayed when those who are overcome with fear displace that obstacle and operate in direct opposition to what’s going on inside of them.

That’s courage.

First Timothy chapter 1 verse seven says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

 

Many of the fears we experience are not legitimate. A legit fear is one God has given to keep you safe: fear of big dogs, guys with guns, etc.

Most of the fears we have are  illegitimate, simply obstacles that keep us from moving in a the direction we need to move in order to heal relationships, advance our career, grow in faith, see the miracle!

We are afraid of consequences:

  • What will people say?
  • How much will it cost?
  • What if I fail?

This is the kind of fear we must fight. This is the kind of fear that requires bravery. This is the kind of fear that God said He gave us power, love and discipline to bust through.

You’ve probably already thought of one or two (maybe a dozen) areas that have held you paralyzed with fear.

It’s not going to get any better. It will never be easy. It’s going to take real courage.

It is time to step up…

Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the completed action in the face of it.

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Don’t be dumb

There is a difference between dumb and ignorant. Unfortunately, I have experience with both. To illustrate I need to reach back into the far recesses of ancient history… yesterday.

Yesterday I spent about 15 minutes looking for my car keys. I finally found them when I looked under some furniture in the living room. No, they weren’t under there. But, to lift the chair I had to clear my hands, so, before moving the chair I had to set down the… keys… why yes, I do have two graduate degrees. Why do you ask?

Ignorance is a lack of knowledge. When you are ignorant, you can’t even be expected to make a good choice because you don’t have the resources for it.

Dumb is having the right information and resources, and still choosing wrong.

Again, ignorance is bad choices because you didn’t have an option. Dumb is a bad choice that was your option… and that’s just… dumb.

I had a high school football coach that loved to say, Continue reading “Don’t be dumb”

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Sharing Our Faith…

If you have any questions about what is playing above, I’d love to speak with you.

If what you see playing above makes perfect sense to you, I’d love to hear from you.

If what you see above confuses you, thrills you, makes you angry, or does nothing at all inside of you, I’d love to connect with you.

The decision about what to do with Jesus is the most important one of your life. Feel free to email me at andy@crosseyedlife.com.

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Intentionality

As a pastor, one of my greatest joys is watching people in the church get excited, grow and develop deeper and deeper passions for Jesus.

This is most clearly evident in the lives of people who are retuning from mission work. Excitement produced by a little fear mixed with complete dependance, wrapped up in abnormal relationships and fellowship, all against the contrast of our lives back home.

In 20+ years of ministry I have seen (and experienced) the “Just Got Back Home Blues” innumerable times. They are somewhat justified because the experience on the mission field was so real, so raw, so amazing that home by contrast seems fake, plastic or even irrelevant.

A couple of years ago I was on mission in Europe and Asia and new that I’d be hitting the blues in just a few days. So, as I wrestled with myself on the rollercoaster ride that so often is personal spirituality, and I stumbled a crossed a word that nailed me to the wall… intentionality.

So, whether you are coming back from a summer mission trip, heading out on one, or you are staying home and trying to realize that you live on a mission field already; please take time to view this short video and lets get intentional.

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INTENTIONALITY