Category Archives: Journal Entry

A Pauper’s Prayer, an Insult, a Joke, or Something More?

Its funny to me the reactions I get toward my cd title. It reminds me of the chapel services I used to lead at GLCC. After almost each one I would have some students thank me while other students would tell me how I offended them. The last few reactions I’ve had toward my cd have had a similar split. I had one guy read it who was obviously rich (or in serious debt and denial), laughed and just kept walking. Another fellow picked it up, read “prayer, and sinner” in the song titles and became offended and said, “I don’t like to talk about those things,” and promptly walked away. “Who does?” I thought to myself. And still I’ve had others thank me for the music and the honesty.

I was thinking of the guy who got offended and the Spirit whispered something- Probably the most devastating claim to the evangelization of the Gospel, especially in a culture that worships “self”, is that we are sinners and that we need Someone greater than us.

It is a tough pill to swallow, but the side effects are blessings. We have the opportunity to become something more than what we could make of ourselves. We take part in a greater cause than recycling, feeding the poor, or world peace, because with Him we are dealing with the eternal.

I want to run down this path even if I am an insult to some and a joke to others, because I serve a God who makes water into wine, who takes a meager meal and feeds thousands. My God makes paupers rich.

God bless,

Brian

Psalm 1 with my New Testament Glasses Unashamedly On

Blessed is the Man who walked to counsel the wicked,
who made a way for sinners and ate with them,
and sat in their seat and got mocked for it.
His delight is to fulfill the law of the LORD
and to live it day and night.

He was nailed to a tree,
and from Him come streams of living water,
which yields the fruit of the Kingdom in season
bringing eternal life to the believer.

Whatever He does is good.
Even for the wicked there is hope.
They are priceless and not to be thrown away.
Therefore the wicked have a chance at salvation
for Jesus died for both the righteous and the sinner
and invites them all into His assembly.

For the LORD watches over us all,
and doesn’t want anyone to perish
but to believe in Jesus and live.

Top 10 Reasons Beards aren’t Cool

1. Beard gets caught in zippers.

2. Food gets in it (could be good or bad)

3. No one smiles at you, probably because they think you’re a biker or viking.

4. You look like a Geico cave man.

5. Attracts cougars, true story.

6. Kids pull on it.

7. Hair gets in mouth and throat.

8. Ingrown hairs.

9. Get mistaken to be old enough to be your wife’s dad, another true story.

10. It doesn’t really give you special powers.

Top 10 Reasons Beards are Cool

1. Getting slapped doesn’t hurt.

2. Protects face from sunburn.

3. You no like, shave.

4. People think you’re a biker or a viking, either way they leave you alone.

5. Instant fellowship with other beard growers – like Chaco people have with other Chaco people or motorcyclists.

6. Braiding it makes you look like a pirate.

7. Keeps you warm in the winter.

8. Traps water during summer.

9. No zits.

10. It pretty much gives you special powers.

A Greater Victory

Today at church I witnessed a 3 Star General from Saddam Hussein’s army get baptized. The lead pastor at Trinity has been talking with him about Jesus for a while now. He learned a lot about the General’s past as a soldier under Hussein’s rule. When Saddam ordered his men to kill innocent people, the General wouldn’t obey. He went to prison for his actions. As a devout Muslim he read the Koran and followed it closely. It says (more or less) that to kill innocent people is to anger Allah.

Through their conversations, the General found Jesus to be who he was seeking for and decided to commit his life to Him. His conversion brought up thoughts to me about Osama. When the General came up out of the water, I was one of the first to stand clapping. My emotions caught me off guard, I didn’t realize how compassionate I was to his story. Truly the victory was greater.

I couldn’t help but feel pain at Osama’s fate. It would’ve been an even greater victory to have witnessed that tyrant seek forgiveness for the atrocities he had committed. It would’ve been an even greater victory for him to have submitted to the One who already had holes in his hands and feet for us rather than to receive the one he got in his head.

I fully respect and appreciate the work of the Navy Seals and what they accomplished for the sake of the rest of us still here. But after witnessing the General, I wished it could have been Osama’s story too. I understand that conversion for Osama wouldn’t have saved him from the justice he was due here, and he may still have been killed, I’m simply saying that the victory would have been greater.

Two Villians and a Hero

Earlier this week, I had the honor of celebrating my Grandpa’s life with my family; a life spent in the Word, seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom in this world. It was a very somber yet uplifting time as his sons, my uncles and my Dad, each spoke about his imprint on their lives.

It was also earlier this week that I heard news of Osama bin Laden’s death. It struck me soundly the difference between these deaths. One a loss to us but gain to him, the other a gain to us but loss to him. On the one hand, a man who sought to serve, and on the other a man who sought to slaughter. Both deaths were celebrated, both with tears and cheers but for very different reasons. Both deaths were celebrated with a feeling of fulfillment, both deaths brought news of a bit of peace, but again for very different reasons. One we celebrated as his just reward brought him before the Lord to reside with Him in heaven, the other we celebrated as his just reward brought him to hell.

If you are wondering about the second villain, it was Hitler.  My Grandpa was 30 when Hitler committed suicide, if April 30 1945 is the correct date, and was 95 the year Osama died. Hitler died at age 56, Osama at age 54. Both died ingloriously. If these were the world’s dark book ends to my Grandpa’s life, they only helped to reveal the luminous presence of Christ in him.

I know all three of these men have influence that will stretch far beyond their years here, but I rest in the confidence that the Light will prevail. I am grateful for my Grandpa and the work that the Lord did in his life, the presence of Christ has spread from his life to the rest of us, glory be to God.

Brian

Thoughts by the River

I got the chance to enjoy a nice quiet moment while Betsy gave the trips a bath. I was out listening to the evening sounds when the songs of birds give over to the chirps of frogs. When the sun’s last light fades from the blue and takes with it her color. I began to share thoughts with my Creator by the river Grand.

I will always be impressed with those who strive to be more than they are, more than what their circumstances would permit, more than what life in this world tries to make of them. This evening, my hat went off to all those who struggle. My heart went out to brothers of mine who face issues in common yet daily take up their cross in pursuit of becoming more. Then it went out to all who face weaknesses of all kinds in their own character, in their own mind, heart, and body.

To the faithful and unbeliever, God bless you. May your striving produce fruit to give you strength for your journey. In your steps, one after another, you follow the One who paved this way whether you know Him or not. May His grace invite you to lay down that which you cannot change by yourself, may His strength encourage you to walk in higher steps than in an endless cycle of failure and regret, and may His love surround you with the confidence that He will bring you through.

Again God bless you, and Christ be with you, may His Spirit guide you in a direction that leads beyond this life from all that entangles. And in the words of Bono, “walk on”.

Peace,
Brian

Concert at South Lansing Christian Church

It was a great time tonight with all those who came out to hear us. It especially was an honor because I knew most of the people there. Thank you all so much. I was going to claim the right to take a bathroom break at any time during the show but I held together pretty well so it was a good night. 🙂 Plus you guys were so much fun, this concert has ranked as one of the best ones we’ve done.

Wally Lowman, the worship guy at SLCC was an incredible help. He did our sound and made us sound great. Thanks man, you rock. Frank, SLCC’s senior minister, was there too which was cool. Most of the time, the church leaders take the night off when I come in, but not Frank. He was there trading stories of Rich Mullins and other memories. Lots of fun, plus he drove the bus which brought in the GLCC students. Thanks Frank.

Thanks to Megan Kidd who ran the merch table. She did a great job and the T-shirts she made were very fun.

And thanks to Susie Finkbeiner, she came and represented Better Way Imports- a company devoted to helping those freed from sex slavery. She gave an encouraging message of how we can get involved to change what is going on around the world to free those enslaved in such a demoralizing practice.

Thanks again to everyone who came out, you made it a blessing to us. God be with you.

Brian

The Tale of Two Tales

The power of story is easily seen from the Garden to the Final Day throughout Scripture. Somehow it is usually split between the two tales of “can” and “can’t”. The tale of these two that is impressed on me today is the one of the 10 and the 2. The 10 told the tale of “can’t” and they were so convincing God’s people were halted. The power of the tale of “can’t” prevented them from entering what was to be theirs.

The 2 told the story of “can” which was later to be fulfilled by Jesus Himself.  What He did forever opened the door to “can”.  May you be persuaded by the power of “can”.

The Church of Greater Lansing Food Drop

Today was a day of days for me, an experience I won’t soon forget. It was a mix of feelings, one that we were changing the shape of Lansing, and another that all we did was a drop in the bucket. But for those people in the bucket that we were dropping on, we were a much needed blessing indeed.

I came solo so I got teamed up with a pastor from Penway Church of God, Doug Irving and his son Jaxon. After a very spirited rally of worship and encouraging words from a team of pastors from the Greater Lansing Area, and a special appearance from Mayor Virg Benero himself, we were sent out with a load of boxes containing food for families in need in the region. We started off from Holt High School, where we met at and celebrated Jesus together, then we got our boxes and headed out with a map to the specified sites. The boxes, purchased by offerings given by 30+ churches, contained food enough to supply a family for two weeks.

The first family Doug, Jaxon, and I arrived at was an older lady named Maurice (I think). We delivered her box and offered to pray for her. She was an older lady dealing with some sort of auto immune deficiency. Doug offered her a prayer of healing and encouragement that seemed to unlock emotions that were bottled up upon our arrival. By the time we left she was crying and praising Jesus.

At another site, we met with an older man named Charles (again, I think). He had a major heart condition and in the combination of the food drop, Doug’s prayer of healing, and our successful/semi-hazardous attempt at pushing a neighbor’s car out of a ditch, I think God’s heart condition for Charles and his neighbor was communicated.

The person I had called and tried to arrange as a partner in this event canceled on me, but told me to do my good deed for the community anyway. I wish I would have had the words to tell him this wasn’t about doing some sort of deed that makes you feel good about yourself. For me, it was about someone much greater than I reaching out through His children to those in need of something much greater than a box of food. This fellowship of believers set out to minister to those in need with the love of God and in doing so, were a Spirit inspired response to Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

“…to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.”

God bless you Lansing, may His Spirit dwell richly within your people.

Brian