Authentic

A long time ago I went to Dallas, Texas with my family, home of the Dallas Cowboys. My dad and I are huge sports fans so while we were there we decided to go tour Texas Stadium. We had the chance to see behind the scenes of the stadium, check out the inner workings, and the highlight of the tour...we got to walk out on the field. There we stood, in the middle of this massive astro-turf field where so many plays in football history had taken place. Legends of the game had walked the same steps I was walking. I think I even have a picture somewhere of me being tackled on the field. It was very cool to say the least. I almost felt like I had to tiptoe across the field to not damage it. Of course after they had toyed with our emotions like that, the next stop on the tour was the Pro Shop. Hundreds of items for sale, t-shirts, hats, cups, footballs, pictures, you name it. Well as I said, I’m a big sports fan but not necessarily of the Dallas Cowboys. So articles of clothing with their logo on it didn’t interest me too much. But what caught my eye was this 8x10 acrylic frame with a green star sealed inside. See this wasn’t just any star but it was a star made from the actual turf of Texas Stadium. They had just replaced the field the year before we went to visit. Superbowl teams, legends of the game, hall of famers had run across this little green star. As I looked at this frame I picked up the box that it came in and this is what sealed the deal. There was this piece of paper that had a little story written on it but at the bottom it said this: “Certificate of Authenticity” and it had a signature beside it of the man who gave this guarantee. This was an “authentic” piece of sports history. So I bought it. I still have it tucked away in a box waiting to be put back on display. What does this have to do with anything? I was talking to someone the other day about ministry. It is a new opportunity for them and with no formal training in the area they are going to be working in, I was trying to explain what it was going to take to grow that particular group of people. I tend to be over descriptive when I talk; hoping that at least one thing I say will register with them. But as I was talking one word kept coming out of my mouth. AUTHENTIC. I just kept saying what they are looking for is authenticity; they want to know you’re real. They want to see that what you say and what you live will actually line up. They are going to be watching you long before they start believing you. The world today, I believe, is looking for authenticity. So I woke up today thinking about this word. AUTHENTIC. What does it really mean? I looked it up, and the definition jumped off the screen at me. (Because I looked it up online, who really uses an actual dictionary anymore?) This is what it said:“of undisputed origin; genuine.” Now I know what you’re thinking. You already knew that. So did I. But I didn’t say the meaning shocked me, I just said it jumped out at me. See the reason I bought the little green star was because of a word on a piece of paper that came with it, “AUTHENTICITY.” That’s what made it worth something to me. I mean I could go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and buy a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet, cut it in a star shape, put it in a frame and try to sell it as a piece of sports history. But the difference would be that I have nothing to back up my story. The origin of the star would be heavily disputed. When people look at our lives do they see authentic followers of Christ? Is the signature of Jesus on your life? There are a lot of people that walk around proclaiming to be Christians but their actions would dispute that fact. It is not enough to tell people that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” If He is not that in our own lives, why would people believe that He is going to be that in theirs? As a pastor I do a lot of counseling. I always tell people up front that I am not a licensed therapist or even a formally trained counselor but I’m going to give you practical advice based on the word of God and my own personal experiences. I feel kind of like Peter when he told the lame beggar; “silver and gold I do not have but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” I may not have a lot to offer in terms of diplomas and titles but I do have an authentic faith in Jesus Christ that He can help us to overcome any obstacle in our lives. I have that faith because I've watched Him do miracles in my own life. Our goal as Christians should be to live a life of faith and devotion to God that is undisputable. There should be no area of our lives that when people look at us they can say; “well I know they say they're a Christian but did you see what they did, or did you hear what they said, or I hear that they….” A life of authenticity leaves no room for question. If I’m going to tell you that Jesus is my source of joy and happiness, then I better not be trying to find those things anywhere else. If I tell someone that Jesus gives me peace in every situation in life, then I better not walk around telling everyone how worried I am about life or go off on people because I’m stressed out all the time. If I’m going to tell people to trust God in their finances because He is my provider when I obey His word, then I’d better be tithing and I’d better not be spending money I don’t have, and I’d better be the steward God called me to be and I’d better not stress about money all the time. And when I tell people that my relationship with Jesus is the most important thing to me, I had better live a life that backs it up. People are not looking for a bunch of meaningless words. They get lied to all the time by people, by commercials, by movies, by self-help books who try to tell them what’s "real." They are looking for authenticity. Your life may be the undisputable proof that Jesus is the origin of true peace, joy, love, acceptance and LIFE. I’m asking myself today, “Am I an Authentic Christian?”

Restart

I have grown up in the age of video games. I have seen the evolution from Atari (or for those who couldn't quite afford that, Odyssey) to the current age we live in with PS3, Xbox, Wii, online interactive games and countless others. If these games have taught me anything about life, it's that when you don't like the way things are going or you just want a fresh start, then you simply have to press the restart button. Well, welcome to my restart button. I was born and raised in church and have known nothing but ministry as a vocation my entire adult life. From the time I graduated high school and I started traveling around the world doing ministry to my current role on staff of a growing church. From a single bachelor to an ecstatically happily married man and father of two with one on the way. Ministry is what I know, it's what I live. But, I've grown restless. I feel there is more waiting that I have not quite grasped hold of just yet. I'm searching for that defining moment. Since I reluctantly started in ministry I've been drawn to the story of Moses. His story is something to marvel. Destined to be murdered as a baby for being born a male in the wrong place at the wrong time, his life was spared. Raised in a palace and given every opportunity in life, until he made a mistake. Granted, it was a big mistake. But let's face it, mistakes are mistakes and sin is still sin. Moses goes on the run, he gets married, and then this man who once walked the halls of Egypt's palace, finds himself serving as a shepherd to his father-in-law. How the tables have turned. Then suddenly...a defining moment. He's walking in the field and sees a bush on fire but not burning up. Exodus 3:3 declares the defining moment: Then Moses said, “I will now TURN aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” I read this again just today and the thought hit me...How often has God been right beside the path I'm walking on and I didn't notice? Or maybe I noticed but I didn't slow down enough to "turn aside and see." What if Moses had decided that the burning bush wasn't important? What if he was in too big a hurry tending to the sheep and thinking that this was all he had left in life? What if he wasn't curious, what if he wasn't looking? What if my defining moment is right beside me and all I have to do is TURN? So here I am. This is my restart. This is my TURN! God what are you doing and what have I been missing? Speak to me God, I'm here and I'm turning my life over to you. I'm tired of complacency and I'm ready for whatever You bring me to next.