Like Father, Like Son

There was a movie many moons ago when I was a pre-teenager called Like Father, Like Son. It stared Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron (1987). The plot of the movie was a gender switch of Freaky Friday. Well the movie portrayed both characters as the dad being a stuffy doctor and the son being lazy and unmotivated (sound like any modern day family). The story unfolds to describe both the father and son as they begin to understand each other through their particular struggles each face as a professional and a student. I remember watching it and thinking if only my dad could understand who I am and what I am about. To be honest, I did not want to know truly who he was or about, for at the time, like most pre-teenagers was at odds with pops. Be that as it may, fast forward 21 years later, just a bit over 2 decades I have realized in one conversation with my father that we are so much more alike then I ever had imagine.

The similarities range from personality, to personal experiences in school, to how we process information. I was listening to my father I was chuckling inside and out loud of the things he experience in his youth, and thought I am replaying deja vu moments of my youth. At that moment I thought how weird is this that a man I knew, but barely knew as a kid, developed the same walk of life. It is also not a surprise on the other hand, for we truly in many respects become like our parents whether good or bad. I think all we can do is hope that we take the good and discard the bad or change the elements to allow us to become more effective citizens of the Kingdom of God.

I remember growing up and in my 20's that my aim was to divorce myself from all that my father was in personality, character, person and etc., but as I sit here and type these words, I am believing how wrong were my thoughts. God knitted me specifically in my mother's womb with the DNA make-up of my parents to create a one of kind person in me (thank God that mold is done with.. lol). For I a product of the specific details of my parents in genetics as well in how they handle life as it was work out in front of me.

Now what is generally the question most will ask, well for me, I am going to be doing what I know what I am to do, but this insight illuminates more of how God crafted me and why I was born into the family I was, though I dislike the painful experiences, but I am becoming grateful for the family I am part of for from it I came to be and the man I am becoming.

I hope this personal anecdote helps bring in perspective we are mirror representations of our parents, whether good or bad we ought to embrace that God purposely placed us in that place for reasons greater than us. At least that is where I am with it.

Only You (God)...

Hello to all my dear friends... my last post was about understanding my draw to those God is leading me to minister too. I must state this understanding always is developing into something that appears to me overwhelming to complete or even start. Hey I am just saying that I know my tendencies and that I am a person that doubts himself, just being honest. However I do know this that no matter my tendencies and even the doubt of myself fades away to the assurance of the Lord that He will complete what He started within me (Phil. 1:6).

In the last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions of personal and ministry related issues that I am walking through. Not to add on top of those issues being a transitional period in life of where to go to graduate school, finding suitable employment and being proactive in finding a helpmate. So I have been drawn into the music and the lyric simplicity of David Crowder. I will say this with emphatic tone, this man is blessed by God in his music and lyric writing. I am come to be in awe of God's gifting in this young man, hear me rightly... I praise God for his ability not David Crowder. Though David has been obedient to use it rightly unto God. Anyways, the song that puts everything into perspective for me is Only You. The lyrics I have added to this post. I encourage you as I have been doing, reading, listening and making this a prayer to God for Him to take control no matter what the outcome may be in our situations. I am confident that it will bless you.

One thing I am learning is breath deeper and knowing that God is closer than I think.



Only You, by David Crowder (Illuminate)

Take my heart, I Lay it down

At the feet of you whose crowned

Take my life, I’m letting go

I lift it up to You who’s throned


And I will worship You, Lord

Only You, Lord

And I will bow down before You

Only You Lord


Take my fret, take my fear

All I have, I’m leaving here

Be all my hopes, be all my dreams

Be all my delights, be my everything


And It’s just you and me here now

Only you and me here now


You should see the view

When it’s only You

Understanding my draw through the Curves...

It has been a long while since I have posted something, this post will be connected to the last on community. As a graduate removed about a year or so, I have been in a place where I have been asking a lot of questions from: Why in the world am I not able to live on my own?; Why is it hard to find a newer job where I can make descent money? Where are you God? Can I continue down this road? When am I going to find that special woman? When am I going to get ahead?... There is a list that could gone for a long, long, long time in a galaxy far away from here, but I won't bore you all with those. Have you notice a theme in those questions (questions that wrong to ask, but it is the tone I have been asking them in towards people and towards our Lord Jesus), it is all about ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME....

I realize this not a shock to any of my close friends, for they can tell you when I am all about me, and not much else. Though I try hard not to make it about me, but at the end of the day, it is about me and my selfish wants.

What does this have to do with understanding my draw? What is your draw Mike? Well I am about to tell you, first my draw is to the Heart of God, "the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;" Ps. 19:8

This is what has allowed me to come to this conclusion this far, and I tell you honestly if God allowed to be a pit viper I would be dead by now... I have had a passion for youth for a long time, probably since I was in high school, I knew then I wanted to work with students, did not how or in what manner. Then my 20's hit, man they were a blur, like a 1960's acid trip party, where did they go. Around my mid twenties I sense I had a passion for College age students as well, maybe I was just graduating with those high schoolers, maybe not. Then as God would have it, he brought me to a place a small place in a Upland area, where I can see now that God started to reveal more of what it is I am to do. Simply and shortly put... Family Ministry, Youth, and College. Why? Well If anybody has read one of my first posts, they can assume that my life as a child suck, it did mostly. I have always wonder what a normal family was like, or as normal as we can make it, but a better statement is thus, what is true community, how does this play out in Church, Society, and individuals. There is no place more essential then a family to understand as parents, children, young adults, mature adults, relatives of all kinds, fictive included how community it lived out.

It is in these settings that followers of Jesus Christ, aka Christians, should, need to, have no choice, better do it, or else, display community. I know your mind is racing with: what does this look like, how is this done, how does the larger Church play in this role, etc... I am not saying I have any answers, for in myself I have no wife, nor children I am raising, but what I am saying is that I understand this is the target group in which my focus will be on. I do know that as I humble myself before the Lord, He will direct my path in how to discover answers to people's questions, and even the ones I have.

I am grateful for the many brethren that have help formed and shaped me into the man I am today, I know without that community of brethren I am could not be here today typing this blog in this fashion. So if any of you are reading this, THANK YOU for giving to the Lord, in which was given to me. Wow I have said a lot, that is what I get for not posting in along time. The adventure began 32 years ago, and it is still on going, I am looking forward to what is in store.

I leave with this... " In a Christian community everything depends upon whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. Only when even the smallest link is securely interlocked is the chain unbreakable." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from Life Together

Community

Just last night I had over some close friends of mine and we had some dinner and some good conversations. I must say that if I could do this twice to three times a week, I would do it in a heart beat. It is amazing what good food and great company can do for the souls of many. Especially when there is a kindred spirit from all parties. Helping to create an environment for such things to occur is definitely a gift that I am learning that I have. Maybe that is why I am draw to opening a Coffee House/Bistro.

Well I titled this post on community for this simple purpose we are meant to have deep relation connections which each other and there is no better way to bring that into focus with a home cook meal that allows relationships to transcend through the ambiance. I little note must be said here that a portion of the people from last night are close friends from out-of-state, they are family not just friends. I have learned from them that relationships are built in close encounters such as a lunch at a person's home or dinner. Go figure when we want to go out and eat and try to duplicate such close intimacy of family and friend's.

Community is a important aspect of all humankind, it is built into our innate DNA, so I encourage you all to try it yourself and see the results and see how those relations develop deeper. When it was recorded in Acts when the disciples broke bread and had fellowship there was a deep connection for they realized that they needed each other to continue on in faith, for apart from it they would utterly fail on their own attempts. Yes, you might be saying there are other implications of such an example of Christian fellowship, and you are right. But remember this if we are reaching out into this world and being that light what better way to live life and rub shoulders and develop deeper connections with those who we are witnessing to if not in your home over a meal or dessert labored in love to shower them with the Good News of the Gospel. Just saying we have abandoned, me included, this priceless gift of serving others to allow a connection to be made for the sake of our innate need of community.

I hope this post is not to disjointed in this idea, I am convinced more and more that community is so needed in this age of modern technology and impersonal relationships.

Well summer brings many awesome events from going to the ballpark, to the beach, family vacations, river runs and etc. There is another tradition of the Church during the summer for children ages from K-6th grade, this is known as Vacation Bible School (VBS). I went when I was a child, and have been a leader for several summers. I am not blogging to slam the idea of entertaining kids during the hot summer months that show them Christ our Lord and Savior. But I am going to say, why is that Mega-churches feel that they have to a Disneyland feel when they have such an event that is supposed to lead children closer to Jesus. I was with my aunt dropping off my cousin this morning at VBS at a mega-church, and I felt that I just walk into the "Happiest place on Earth!!!" It was filled with long lines, anxious children, staff that seemed to know what they were doing, parents waiting to send their children off to the land of VBS for 3 hours. What are the expectations of having a Disneyland feel for a Kingdom of God experience? I know I am a cynic about being too flashy and too pop-culture, my view tends to lead me towards why do not have VBS for parents that need a refresher course in how to communicate the basics of the Gospel to their children. I am perplex in how the Church continues to spend money in areas that have such a minimal effect on the target(s) in which they are hoping that a few seeds will spring up and grow into mighty harvest of believers. My question from this experience is this... Who are the ones responsible for planting seeds of belief within children in regards in having a Faith in Jesus?

What Makes a Coffee House, is Just the Beans?

Alright, for those that like a good Coffee House, what makes a Coffee House great?

What makes it a home away from home, actually living up to it's name...Coffee House?

What are key elements that make you keep going back to your favorite CH?

What Are some things you wish they did or wish they do not do?

Where is a good location for a CH?

What is the average age(s) that are drawn to a CH?

There are probably more questions to be asked, I am asking for the simple reason, I am planning on opening one in the next 5 years. So I need good input to help me develop a great business that is more than just a business. I want to only do this if it will impact the Kingdom of God for spreading the Gospel to all people. Let me know what you all think?

Throw it and it Will stick, hmmmm????

I heard recently that a person was going to throw theology at their youth until they get the concept of Jesus is and how to explain their point if asked by others. I have two issues with such a statement,

1) Did Jesus ever throw huge theological points at those that are beginning to understand truth? I think not, He called for behaviors to change, as they would grow their level of understanding who God is would as well.

2) Throw ideas and concepts at people without being relational, meaning understanding the level of maturity of those who we teach is like throw heavy wet mud at a brick wall. Most of it will stick, but in a short time period it will assuredly start to break apart and have no firm foundation to keep it to the structure.

So then how can we as youth ministers teach theology and keep it relational, an age old question that sends many into heat debates to settling for complacent teaching. I believe one must know who his audience is and taking an approach that will best communicate God's truth that will allow God's grace to grow within. If we do not humble our methods for the grace of the Spirit's ever changing in young men and women, all we will have spit-fire believer's. (spit-fire - believer's that have knowledge that can only spit what head knowledge they know, they have no clue who Christ is at a intimate knowing). If we are not concern for what Christ was concern for, which is a lifestyle change or better termed... a change of behavior. I was reminded today that most of the New Testament primarily speaks to putting off old behaviors and putting on new behaviors of Christ. Think about it, the Gospels to Revelation is about changing our mindset to that of Christ's, because if we do not change our behavior our words will not mean diddly squat.

Two verses come to mind Romans 12:1-2, Colossi ans 3:1-14. Passages to meditate upon if we want theology to stick withing our young men and women's minds, challenge them to put off and put on Christ, and the understanding and the study of God will become more of a passion for them to discover.