Ordering a Big Mac from Chick Fil A

I have a frequent need to change the beat to my rhythm of life. Where some may prefer to get the same chicken sandwich with the same toppings at the same restaurant, I prefer to change things up frequently. This can often lead to bad decisions when it comes to food choices, as ordering something you are not sure you will enjoy can have its downside when you don't end up enjoying it.
However, this art of changing things up also has frequent benefits.
Here are a few:

1. New beat, new you. You will discover new things about yourself. This is probably the most obvious benefit. If you are thinking to yourself, "I already know what I like," consider this: people change, yes, even you. Convinced you'll never enjoy a Will Ferrell film? 1. How dare you! 2. I guess we have different tastes in comedies. 3. Have you seen Stranger than Fiction? It is not a typical Will Ferrell film, but it is a film that most people, regardless on there opinion of Will Ferrell's comedy antics enjoy. Perhaps after watching it you'd have a new opinion: that you don't like most Will Ferrell films or you might even pull a complete 360 and become a fan of his comedy, too.
I used to hate the thought of having a large group of people look at me. Then I got stuck in a theater class where I was able to perform in from of people as someone other than myself (a character). Stage performance eventually led to me being more comfortable being in front of people as myself. There may be parts of you waiting to flourish that you haven't even discovered yet.
2. New beat, new dance. You will become more innovative. Having the courage to try new things will allow you to get out of the "this is the way things are done" dance. That's a dance that leads to
inefficiency within organizations and has put and will continue to put the Blockbusters of our world out of business. Whether you are trying new things as a part of your job or for hobbies, the mindset of changing the beat has a tendency to overflow and will allow you to think differently. So maybe ordering a Big Mac at Chick Fil A won't lead you to enjoying a large beef sandwich at an establishment dedicated to chicken, however, that mindset could lead you to developing something new somewhere else.
3. New beat, new drummers. You'll become more connected. Going new places, trying new things, and branching out will inevitably lead you to a larger network of connections. While this thought of meeting new people can in itself be a major hurdle for some to jump over, having connections in new places can frequently lead to mutually beneficial partnerships.   

Is Google killing you?

In one of my final semesters in my undergraduate program at the University of North Florida, I took Philosophy of Media Culture. It wasn't exactly what I expected the course to be, but there were certainly things we spoke about that I remember clearly, even now.

There was a class that we talked about the information age that we live in and how having the facts on anything you would want to know a Google search away is having an impact on society.

I love Google.  I love that it came from very simplistic beginnings and has made itself into quite possibly the most lucrative technology company that is in existence today (if you want the full list of the top money-making tech companies, I suggest using google).

As great as Google is, I fear the thought of our society using it as a crutch. When we get so dependent on Google for all of the answers, we could be limiting our abilities to create.

While the argument can be made that Google speeds up our thinking when we search for ideas, I beg the question: are you going to find any sort of original thought by googling it? Obviously, the answer is no. We google to see what others think and often probably because we don't want to use our own precious brain power on the topic.

The internet connects us to people all over the world and is an amazing tool for brainstorming, because of that. Brainstorming is something people have always done, but googling streamlines the process.

We no longer have to ask people we know-- who may or may not be qualified-- to offer an opinion, we can now ask total strangers. Or better yet: read the answers total strangers gave to other total strangers who had the question we had before we did.

Brainstorming is fine, but my critique about asking google for all the answers for everything is that I believe doing so is often gets results that have no creativity in them. It's like you have a desire for a piece of artwork for your house, so rather than going on a quest to find that perfect piece of artwork, you go to Target and buy that same generic piece that two of your friends have and (although you haven't been inside their living room) so does your neighbor across the street.

Where would we be if the great inventors of history just took the "I'm feeling lucky" result for what they should do today and just did that?

So if you find yourself looking for answers to questions on google, you should consider these questions:
1. Am I looking for factual information that I don't remember or don't know? If so, google it!
2. Am I looking for an original idea? If so, look within yourself for an idea. You just might surprise yourself with how creative you are. 

Where I am headed

About a year ago, I was on a CCW launch to Romania. While there, I had a moment in which I experienced God's presence in a way I hadn't before. This sent me from a personal desire to one day work with youth at a capacity at which I would be able to have a positive impact in their lives to being at a place where I was confidant that this was something I was created to do in our public schools. I am on a track to become an educator. I've now taken the first of a few certification exams needed and the plan for the fall is to add part time substitute teaching and online classes to my already busy campus ministry life.
I thought I would post (because I do so often) so it could be known by any friends and family interested. I appreciate your support as I move toward a new stage in life.

In my hometown

For over a year now, CCW has been very invested in the issue of Human Trafficking, through our efforts which we have named They Matter.

Modern day slavery: millions of people around the world and here in the United State are forced to work in brothels, fields, and factories for little or no pay.
Our focus in CCW has been in Northeast Florida, where our ministry is present and slavery is also present.

I was 16 when I first heard about human trafficking. A man in my hometown of Palatka was forcing homeless people to work on his farm. At the time, it seemed like a terrible, but very rather rare case. I didn't give it much thought. While I was in college, I heard bits and pieces about human trafficking, but never delved deeper into what was happening. Mostly, my concept on trafficking was, "it's an issue for the UN and people with international power to handle."

Last year, at Passion 2012, we were awakened to how real this is and how it is present in our everyday lives in the products we use. We were told there could be 27 million people globally that are enslaved.

Florida is one of the top three destinations for trafficking victims in the US. It is an issue VERY REAL and VERY COMPLICATED. Late last year, there was another trafficking arrest with someone from Palatka. Those two cases from my hometown, here in Northeast Florida, illustrate the variety in which trafficking comes in, in one case it's exploiting the homeless and the other it's taking advantage of a child.

In one case, the solution is hard to find, and in the other, a man in the article really puts out a big reason for why this happens.

So friends, modern day slavery is around you. You can choose to be oblivious and you can ignore the facts
OR you can do something.

Here's some things you might consider doing

• Educate yourself on the issue
• Educate your friends and families on the issue (raise your voice)
• Volunteer with a local organization that is working toward a solution
• Donate to a local organization that is combatting modern day slavery
• Stop purchasing items that support slavery

There are more people that are enslaved in our world than there have ever been. Make a difference and shine a light on slavery.

It's not about you...

I've had the opportunity this month to share a devotional with our leaders each week at the CCW Worship Gathering. This past Sunday, I said something incomplete.

Moses was placed in a pretty good position after birth, he grew up, not as a slave, but into a royal family thanks to a floating basket with him in it. Being that he was an Israelite, one could say that Moses was put in a great position to free the people of God from slavery. One day, Moses made a decision upon seeing an Egyptian abusing a slave to kill that Egyptian. That decision forced Moses into exile for many years. Then, God called him to free his people out of slavery.

Exodus 3:11 says, "But Moses said to God, o“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

The response God gave to Moses was essentially (in my interpretation): this isn't about you, Moses, it is about me (God). I stand by this interpretation. Freeing the Egyptian slaves was about God. 

Our service to God  isn't about us. Sometimes we will be called into situations that make us very uncomfortable, sometimes situations that make us scared, or situations that are dangerous. Serving God is about loving Him and glorifying Him, it isn't about us.

I do not say this to diminish our service in any way. Our service is important. In serving God, we are embracing His call to be disciples and make disciples of Jesus. 

We're adding pages to God's story through our service and while it isn't about us, if we embrace the call He has placed on our lives, we become major parts in an infinite story that is about Jesus.  

What is in a name?

Where does the significance of a name come from? Names have meanings, but are they able to define a person? Are you able to say that because my name is David and David means beloved, that I must be a beloved person?

I think not.

In fact, I think it is the opposite.

People define the name. Who you are and how you live creates a certain affiliation with the words [names] that identify you. I frequently hear the phrase "Oh, that's just [John Doe] being [John Doe]."

Out of context it makes no sense. Why would that story make you say THAT? In the context of knowing [John Doe], however, it makes perfect sense. People involved in THAT conversation nod and are completely on the same page...THAT IS SO [John Doe]. 

The crazy thing about name association is that for people who don't know you, your name can be tarnished with one outlier action. One seemingly innocuous act that doesn't live up to your character can change the opinion people who don't know you well have of you to, "[John Doe]: he's the guy that did *the seemingly innocuous act.*"

photo from bleacherreport.co

Since this sometimes happens, people sometimes change their names. There is a basketball player formally known as Ron Artest. In 2004, his actions played a major part in one of the most horrific scenes in sports history; fans and professional athletes at odds. He was banned from the NBA for a year.

A few years later, Artest decided, I assume, because of the negative connotation derived from his name, to change his name to Metta World Peace. Until a recent mishap in his attempt to change that connotation he was on the right track. Since the mishap, members of the media have once again started referring to him as Artest.

So quick recap:

• Artest started a fight. Perception of Artest was that he was a "bad man". 
• Artest changed his name to World Peace. World Peace changed the way people viewed [the person] Artest (now viewed as a "good man").
• World Peace threw a wicked elbow to another man's head. This was a "bad man-type action."
  
• People now call him Artest once more. 

Your words, your actions and the things that you do with your life on a second to second basis are constantly defining who you are and what your name really means.  This means that you frequently have an opportunity to change perceptions, add alternate definitions, and erase outdated information (though it will remain in the history of the origin of your name).

Every moment of your life is literally a defining one.

Why I left the church...part 2

If you have not read part 1 of this post you should do that now.

I blacked out in the parking lot of the church. Moments before I blacked out, the angry people in the car yelled at me and told me I needed to call the police. I called the police to report the accident. As I was on the phone with the operator, I began to feel disoriented. Toward the end of the phone call the operator asked me for my number and I am pretty sure I unintentionally gave her ten random numbers--thinking I was giving her my number.

As I hung up the phone, I had a soft landing spot in the grass next to the car and fell there.

I woke up to a concerned wife, followed by concerned, compassionate people.

People were leaving church and responding to an immediate need in their parking lot by being what the church is supposed to be: people living and acting in a way that represents Jesus.

Many stopped to see if we were okay. Others offered a loving embrace.

By the time we left the church, we had been given lunch by someone who stopped to check on us, asked if we needed anything (to which we declined), drove to Publix, got us food--enough to which we could share it with the people we hit,--and delivered that food to us (they also followed us home to make sure the car was going to make it there).

I stopped feeling like I had just done something terrible and began to feel the reality of the situation--it was an accident.

This moment, to me, was just a blip on the radar of what the church could be. Do you see the potential that I see here? Christ followers more concerned about the people in need in the parking lot than their lunch plans. Imagine if we could apply what happend in my individual scenario to the church as a whole.

Could the church be the solution to poverty? What about health care? Could the church be the solution to teen-suicide? What about Human Trafficking?

I don't think this is a reach, because when we begin to look outside of the walls of the church and see the devastation in the world, I think our eyes become open to the fact that the new building might not be His biggest concern.  What do you think? Are these issues the church should be dealing with?