tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16530933773618455022024-02-19T22:24:06.662-08:00A day in the mind of BrandenThe random rantings of a crazed youth pastorBrandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-11067946208686659252010-09-02T07:44:00.000-07:002010-09-02T07:56:58.855-07:00Do you love me?Have you ever had a tough year? How about a tough few years? I don't know if I can say that the entirety of the past few years has been tough. There have certainly been amazing things taking place. I have a great church, great wife, great house, and great friends. I have however found myself filling my life with things that are causing me to fall further away from my God. <br /><br />See, before I went to <a href="http://ecola.org">Ecola Bible School</a>, I spent time praying and studying the bible every day. Every day during bible school I prayed and spent time in the Word. Since then, it has been a constant struggle.<br /><br />I have heard from so many people, "Man, I wish I was in full time ministry. Just thinking of the fact that I can study the bible as my job is amazing." What they don't realize is that being in ministry makes it harder to read the bible for yourself. It is a constant battle. <br /><br />Recently I have been convicted.<br /><br />Convicted over my lack of spending legitimate time with Jesus. <br /><br />I heard God ask me, not in an audible voice, but a voice in my spirit, "Branden, do you love me?" "Of course I love you, look at how I serve you and preach your word" "Then why don't you spend time with me" Then, a dagger just shot through my heart. I realized I had neglected HIM for his work. Did I listen? No. I continued on my merry way. Shortly after, we had the same conversation. Same result. Finally, about a month and a half ago I heard "Branden, do you love me?" and for the first time I was able to answer honestly. "No Lord, I don't." I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Jesus. He is my life and my salvation, but do I LOVE him? No.<br /><br />I had lost my first love.<br /><br />My conversation with Jesus might sound familiar because it is the very same conversation Jesus has with Peter at the end of the book of John. He asks him three times if he loves him. Then he responds with, "then feed my sheep (or lambs)" I had those backward. I was feeding the sheep without truly loving Jesus like my soul needed.<br /><br />So, my journey for the past month or two has been just diving into HIM. <br /><br />So, I ask, do you LOVE him? Have you neglected your first love for something else? <br /><br />On a side note, I have really had the sense that God is going to do something big. I have a sense of revival and that he is going to legitimately raise up a generation to change the world. I get the sense that it is going to happen soon. Will you join me in seeking the face of God to be instruments in his work?Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-46113620519116035792010-05-18T10:38:00.001-07:002010-05-18T11:44:12.318-07:00The Gospel According to Wedding Photography <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/brandencampbell/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>588</o:Words> <o:characters>3354</o:Characters> <o:company>Rolling Hills Community Church</o:Company> <o:lines>27</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>4118</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->My wife is a photographer. She's pretty dang good at it too. I might be biased, but you can see for yourself that <a href="http://katiecampbellphoto.com/">Katie Campbell</a> is legit. Ok, now that the shameless plug is over, back to photography.
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<br />This morning she was watching a photography conference on the internet (I would rather watch paint dry) but while I was getting ready the guy speaking said something that struck a chord in me. He said "the bride and groom spend almost $10,000 on their wedding but when it comes to photography always skimp”.
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<br />Isn't that so true though? I was like that. Thank goodness my wife knew better.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Let's think through this logically.
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<br />The cake is about $500-Temporary
<br />The reception $3,000-$5,000- Maybe 2 hours long
<br />The decorations $500-Temporary
<br />The dress $500-$1,000 (for normal people, some spend tens of thousands)-You wear it once
<br />The tux- $100- Rented, temporary
<br />The misc stuff- $500-temporary
<br />The Honeymoon- At least $2000-1-2 weeks of your life
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<br />Most weddings on the conservative end run around $10,000
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<br />So, we spend unbelievable amounts of money on all of the things that give us what? You might get a great experience, maybe some good food, a great cake, and some sweet memories, but what do you have left when it’s all over? NOTHING.
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<br />When it comes to the one thing that will last the rest of our lives, what do we do? We get the cheapest photographer we can find that, at best, will give us some photos that resemble a wedding album circa 1980.<span style=""> </span>I have heard countless couples say, “The one thing I regret about my wedding is that we skimped on photography”. Why, because it’s the one thing that we have to show for our weddings. It is the one thing that will last us the rest of our lives and yet we give the least amount to it...
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<br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wedding photography I like our lives. We are so consumed with the temporary and fleeting world that we will not look just a tiny bit into the future to see what truly matters.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br />The bible equates the relationship with Jesus and his Church (you and I) as a wedding. Our relationship with Jesus is a wedding ceremony. Our lives are the preparation for the wedding feast. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br />What do we do with this preparation? We spend the bulk of our time, talent, energy, and money on things that are fleeting like cars, homes, clothes, ipods, tv's, popularity, parties, and to pay for it all we work ourselves into oblivion. Meanwhile, we spend the least amount of time, energy, and money on the one thing that lasts forever, the advancement of the kingdom of God. The bride of Christ has ONE purpose that all of our little purposes filter through. That purpose is advancing the kingdom of God by living our lives on mission and sharing Christ with the hurting and broken world. What we do give all of our money to is creating awesome memories and living comfortable lives so that, at best, we can live in mediocrity.
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<br />I was talking with a guy the other day that has been a Christian his entire life. I asked him what his purpose in life was. He told me "My purpose is to be more like Jesus and be a good Dad". Though those things are not bad, they are just mini purposes in the midst of the greater purpose. I think he missed the point.
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<br />Our purpose in this life is to live on mission. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation reaching out the lost and broken world. There are appx 5 billion people on this planet that are in search for something more. They are broken and with out hope. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To have killer pictures at the end of your wedding means you might have to sacrifice something temporary. It costs money to have an amazing photographer. Likewise, to live a life on mission will have a cost too. You might have to give up something temporary to have something to show for all eternity.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We will all stand before Jesus one day and I don’t know about you, but in that moment, when I am surrounded with the people who came to know Christ through the mission he set me on, I want look back on the album of my life and say “It was so worth it to spend so much on my photography”.</p> <!--EndFragment--> Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-37912682865828593652010-04-02T12:19:00.001-07:002010-04-02T12:31:13.977-07:00Good Friday or Dark Friday?Good Friday, a day celebrated for thousands of years by Christians as the day in which our Savior was crucified. I wonder though if we have thought about how dark that day really is?<br /><br />For the first followers of Christ that day was not good.<br /><br />This was a brutal day when all hope was dashed. Hope for your future, hope for your nations future, and hope for humanities future was taken and killed. What you once saw as hope for the world now hangs on a Roman cross lifeless.<br /><br />Death.<br /><br />We never know how to handle it. Especially when it is the hope for the future. These disciples saw nothing but death. They saw no way out of their pain, anguish, sorrow, and brokenness. They felt alone, abandoned, and lost. Peter Denied him and the rest left him.<br /><br />They left him in the moment of his most need.<br /><br />Can you imagine what they felt? No closure or ending.<br /><br />What none of them saw was that death had to happen so that resurrection could come. The death of Jesus isn't the end. Death HAD to happen.<br /><br />We have to have death to have life. Life is what Jesus promises. <span style="font-style: italic;">Do you need life?</span> Maybe it's time to put something to death on this dark Friday. Is it your sorrow, addiction, rage, selfishness, loneliness, or whatever it is you wrestle with. Maybe it's time we allow for resurrection to take place.<br /><br />Friday is here. Death is here. Resurrection is just 2 days away.<br /><br />What do you need to put to death?Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-68071722307335844752010-03-09T13:59:00.000-08:002010-03-09T14:15:17.357-08:00Preaching JesusSomething that I have recently been wrestling with is discouragement. It is the single biggest way for Satan to attack me. I can be praised a hundred times a day for what I am doing but one negative comment can cause me to spiral downward into a bit of a depressed state. The problem with ministry unlike any other job, is that it never ends. When I am discouraged about "work" it throws my life off. That sucks.<br /><br />I preached this past weekend in the main service.<br /><br />It went well.<br />Very well.<br />I really felt like God was moving in more ways than I even know. Who would have ever thought that a little punk with three years experience and no degree from Spokane would have the opportunity to preach at Rolling Hills in front of thousands? Not just that, but be looked at as legitimate.<br /><br />As I was driving home I started thinking of all the people that were praising the message. It's the typical "Wow, great job, you were awesome." If I were being honest, I could have sucked it up big time and people would still say that. Still, I was thinking that no matter how many people came up to me, it would take one negative comment to shatter my whole day.<br /><br />I got home and checked my email. First it was one then two, and finally three emails within an hour of being home in regards to the service. Each of them were long detailed emails about the people's life and how that message touched their lives in powerful ways. It was at that moment God spoke to my heart.<br /><br />He said "Branden, even if 2500 people hated your message but those three were transformed by my Spirit, it was a success."<br /><br />See, the enemy wants to make us think that we aren't good enough. He wants us to become discouraged because most of the people in our lives aren't where they should be spiritually. He wants us to feel like we are ineffective and that life is meaningless. What was impressed upon my heart was that it's not about those people. It isn't about the 99 it's about the 1. Praise God for the three that were impacted!<br /><br />So if you are discouraged and the voice of Satan is tearing you down, remember, it's always about the 1!<br /><br /><br />BrandenBrandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-6652060223816293832009-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:002009-10-24T13:00:17.877-07:00Crazy in loveIs it enough just to "know" Jesus? I have been reading Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love". it is one of the most convicting books I have ever read. It really does make me ask some really tough questions.<br /><br />Can I really love Jesus but not give sacrificially?<br />Can I be a Christian and selfish?<br />Can I follow Christ if I'm not willing to give it all up?<br /><br />I want to live a self-sacrificing, whole- hearted, fully alive, life with Christ, but there is a problem...<br /><br />I get in the way.<br /><br />Do you know what I mean? Do you ever get in the way? I want to live a radical life for Jesus but<br /><br />I don't want to be stretched.<br />I don't want to be persecuted.<br />I don't want to be uncomfortable.<br /><br />I pray everyday that I can become more like Jesus. I want to love fully, give freely, heal wholly, and live radically. I'm not there, but I want to be. I will continue searching him out. I will keep pursuing my God with wreck-less abandon until the day I see Jesus face to face!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-40165559084302217882009-10-11T18:36:00.000-07:002009-10-11T18:53:05.241-07:00ForgivenIt's ok to not be ok, it's just not ok to stay that way.<br /><br />This is what I want my youth ministry to be about. Real, raw, and authentic. Isn't that what church should be?<br /><br />We recently started a new series based on Saddleback's "Life Hurts God Heals". It is a program based on a step study for the hurts, habits, and hang-ups in life. I knew that it was a need but did not know what would happen. Wednesday the first step was admitting you have a need, pulling off the mask, and realizing you are powerless to control your circumstances.<br /><br />This generation is broken.<br /><br />They are hurting.<br /><br />They need healing.<br /><br />We saw the beginning of transformation. I believe that these are the moments that we need more of. We need to see lives radically changed by the Gospel. Don't we often forget the unbelievable transformation we have seen in the lives of those around us?<br /><br />In the midst of all of this I have been reading stories from Sanctus Reel's website based on their song 'Forgiven'<br /><br />http://sanctusreal.squarespace.com/<br /><br />Truly, I'm excited to see some of our stories. I am ready to see God move.<br /><br />Are you ready?Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-84083167402734648992009-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:002009-08-03T20:21:32.602-07:00SacrificeHave you ever asked yourself what it means to sacrifice? Ever since my trip to Uganda I have been asking myself what it means for Americans to sacrifice. If we were being honest a tithe, if you are smart with your money, is not a sacrifice. 10% of our monthly income usually comes out of our abundance. When I read scripture the call of Jesus is not something to take lightly. When he called disciples he called them to a life of sacrifice.<br /><br />Time.<br />Money.<br />Energy.<br />Life.<br /><br />This past month I have been reading the books of Matthew and Mark.<br /><br />I have been convicted.<br /><br />Broken, by the words of Jesus.<br /><br />Jesus tells his disciples "If you do not take up your cross and follow me you are not worthy to be my disciple"<br /><br />Really? Not worthy? Could that be true? Isn't Jesus supposed to be all inclusive?<br /><br />I have been so convicted by this statement because of what his words mean. The word for cross is the word crux. Because of how excruciating the word for the Roman Crucifixion became a curse word.<br /><br />So, to take up ones cross is really an ultimate sacrifice. Can you do this? Can you give up your very life? Are you willing to give it all up for the cause of Jesus?<br /><br />We don't have the threat of being hung on a Roman cross,<br /><br />but what about your wealth?<br />What about your future security?<br />What about your status?<br />What about your job?<br /><br />We need to be asking ourselves can we sacrifice our comforts for our God?<br /><br />Do you need to sell all of your possessions and move to to the back woods of Africa? Of course not. BUT we need to be willing to. We need to constantly be asking God, how we can sacrifice.<br /><br />Father, I want to be willing to sacrifice any and all that you want me to. What do I need to sacrifice? Father, help me love you, serve you, and do everything you want me to.<br /><br />Amen!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-17276582392494588142009-07-25T15:25:00.000-07:002009-07-25T18:01:09.113-07:00Uganda and BeyondI'm sitting on my couch, in my apartment living room, on my computer, staring at my T.V, and thinking about the 8x8 shacks that we encountered in Africa. These "homes" would not even be suitable for our pets to live in here in America, but people live in these conditions...<br /><br />Heart breaking.<br /><br />Convicting.<br /><br />Why do I have so much and they have nothing? Better yet, why do WE have so much yet think we need more? These are question that will haunt me for the rest of my life.<br /><br />I hope.<br /><br />I want to be asking these questions. I want to have my heart break for the things that break God's heart. I have only been home for a few short weeks and I can feel the memories of what we saw, smelled, and experienced fading into a distant past...<br /><br />I titled this blog Uganda and Beyond because I wanted to share some thoughts on Uganda and what I have learned. I asked every one of my students on the trip to tell me what they learned. Not, "I'm gonna be more grateful for what I have" but what God genuinely taught them. Now, it's my turn. We are beyond Uganda and I'm ready to share it with the world.<br /><br />Uganda was amazing.<br /><br />I fully expected to come home and want to sell all my possessions and give it to the poor. I thought for sure the things I witnessed would be too overwhelming to come home to. What happened? Well, I'm glad you asked.<br /><br />I came home on fire.<br /><br />Not on fire for any one place. Not Africa, not Uganda, but people. More importantly students. What I witnessed in Africa was a group of people who genuinely prayed believing God for miracles, and guess what? They see them. They truly and whole-heartedly believe that God is their provider no matter how destitute they are. Everything was passionate and it was on fire for Jesus.<br /><br />I came home convicted.<br /><br />Not as much over spending, but over passion. We have more resources, talent, and ability in the American church to be radically changing the world, yet we are passionless. I was passionless. We sit on our hands and watch the world fade. We watch our families and friends fall further and further into the oblivion that will be eternity for them without Christ.<br /><br />I came home on fire to see a generation rise up and take it's place as world-transformers.<br /><br />I am ready to take a stand with my students at RHCC and begin taking ground in a long time losing battle with Satan. It's time for us to see a generation that will rise that will not lift up our eyes to false idols, but to trust in Jesus. It's time for us to change the world.<br /><br />I came home ready to see the students at Rolling Hills, my leaders, and the rest of the congregation madly in love with Jesus and ready to take a stand for him! God did a lot in my heart, my mind, and my soul over the past few months. Won't you join me in helping Jesus transform this generation.<br /><br />May the grace and peace of Christ be with you<br /><br /><br />Branden <><Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-16997580739664339812009-06-13T14:29:00.000-07:002009-06-13T16:10:43.271-07:00I love all other CulturesI love all other cultures.<br /><br />The people groups, languages, and even the way they dress, it intrigues me. I genuinely wish I could speak every language in the world. I want to be able to relate to all of them in their own way.<br /><br /> I love all other cultures,<br /><br />but for some reason the people on the African continent scream out to me.<br /><br />Every video I have watched, story I have read, or person I have talked to has made my heart scream for them.<br /><br />Why? Are the people of Africa so different than the people in Mexico, Guatemala, or Nicaragua? No! They are all plagued by the same poverty, disease, and brokenness. I can't honestly tell you why I have such a love, but it lives in my soul.<br /><br />I love all other cultures,<br /><br />but I hate bugs.<br /><br />I also hate meat that isn't chicken, pork, or beef. I am not a huge fan of going without showering, beds, in filth, or things that smell bad.<br /><br />Why then am I going to Africa?<br /><br />Is my passion for the people of Africa big enough to surpass these issues?<br /><br />No,<br />But my love for Jesus is.<br /><br />My God is a God that hears the cries of the oppressed. He loves he unlovely, touches the untouchable, and feeds the hungry. He is a God that loves with a deep and passionate love that is beyond my comprehension.<br /><br />My God has called me to love.<br /><br />He has also called me to serve, and to pour my life, talent, and resources into other people.<br /><br />I am going to Africa to look into the eyes of a hurting people and say "God has heard your cry, I can't fix your pain or your problems, but I can love you and tell you that there is a God that infinitely loves you"<br /><br />I love all other cultures.<br /><br />Including the one I live in.<br /><br />So, as I embark on this journey half way around the globe I pray that I remember that my God is a God who hears the cries of the oppressed...<br /><br />Even here.<br />Even Portland.<br /><br />The most important thing I can remember is that My God is a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and he has given me the task to love people and to SHOW them that He has heard their cries. In Portland or around the globe!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. </span><sup style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;" id="en-NIV-30599" class="versenum" value="11">11</sup><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. </span><sup style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;" id="en-NIV-30600" class="versenum" value="12">12</sup><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102); font-style: italic;">No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:10-12 </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">May the Grace and Peace of Christ be with you</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Branden</span><br /></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-32733554499028596512009-03-22T14:30:00.000-07:002009-03-22T14:32:32.172-07:00Facebook fastSo...fasting from facebook huh? Did you learn anything...I did. I realized that I use facebook as a time filler in my life. Instead of taking time to spend with Jesus, I get on facebook. I feel like I'm missing something if I'm not on. I realized that I need to be more productive in the time I have and use that time to grow in my relationship with Jesus...after all isn't that all that really matters? What did you learn?Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-47156198483631363882009-03-20T15:30:00.000-07:002009-03-20T15:53:10.502-07:00When will it end?I struggle.<br /><br />I struggle with pride. I struggle with arrogance. I struggle with lust. I struggle with envy. I struggle with a lot<br /><br />I'm a pastor.<br /><br />Shouldn't I have it all together? Doesn't my job title mean that I'm perfect and no longer in need of grace? Many people wrestle with this very same idea.<br /><br />When will it end?<br /><br /> Will there come a day when I have it all figured out?<br /><br /> Will I ever be able to kick this addiction?<br /><br />When did Christianity become about having it all together anyway? Why isn't it ok to not be ok? It seems to me that we are the only people that should understand how broken we truly are. This just isn't how the world views us.<br /><br />Sometimes I'm sad to say I'm a Christian.<br /><br />Not because of Jesus, but because of his followers. Hypocrites. That's what they call us. The world sees a bunch of happy plastic faces in our happy plastic places.<br /><br />I'm sick if it!<br /><br />Why can't we rise above our own pride and become who we really are, sinners in need of grace. I have a generation of high school students that, on the outside, look like life is going just fine. They sing and raise their hands during worship. They serve whenever they are given the chance. They do whatever they can to look like they have it all together.<br /><br />But they're dying on the inside.<br /><br />It has never been ok for them to not be ok. Pretending is their favorite game because it's easy. Shouldn't Jesus be the place for them to find refuge? Shouldn't the church be a sanctuary of peace where they can finally let their guard down?<br /><br />Why can't church be a place where we walk through the doors and the first thing you get are people who genuinely love you and care about you. What if those people prayed for you if you needed it. What if they cooked meals for you when you couldn't? What if church were a community?<br /><br />What if the addict could be open?<br /><br />What if the divorced can find refuge?<br /><br />What if the broken were fixed and the wounded were healed?<br /><br />What if it was ok to not be ok?How could you deny Jesus if you walked into the doors of a church and saw a bunch of broken sinners showing others how Jesus healed their wounds. What if we truly loved eachother with a brotherly love that only comes from God? The world wouldn't know what hit them. I truly believe that the church would be an unstoppable force in the world if the believers would stop pretending and actually start being the church to one another.<br /><br />Too much gossip<br />Too much plastic<br />Too much hate<br /><br />My brothers and sisters. May we become a community of believers that does not put on the happy plastic face. May we be true, open, and honest about our lives and the brokenness we live in. Most importantly may we love Jesus with all our heart, strength, mind, sould, and strength!<br /><br />May the grace and Peace of Christ be with you<br /><br />BrandenBrandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-28376993684840413902009-03-09T10:43:00.001-07:002009-03-09T10:53:58.933-07:00If I had a NickelIf I had a nickel for every time a Christian said these words "You're just judging me" I would be a millionaire. Each time I have heard these words they have come from someone who is in the middle of a pretty obvious sin. I have never heard it ome from someone who is genuinely following Christ with everything that they are. I mean, let's get real, when you are following Christ with your whole heart, there is nothing to hide. I have been on the other end as well. I have been on the end of feeling judged, but it was only my own conviction that has done the judging. I have never, at least to my own knowledge, judged another believer in the way they think. Isn't there a huge difference between judging and sharing truth? I think so. I came accross this interesting verse in 2 Corinthians where Paul is writing a response to something that obviously convicted the Corinthian church. They were feeling judged and like Paul was trying to make them feel guilty. They started talking about him behind his back and telling others just how terrible he was. His response was the response I hope to have with all of my friends and family that need the truth, but are convicted on their own. He says <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done." 2 Cor 6:8-11 </span>Paul was saying that whatever it was he sent to them caused them grief. It caused them to think about their lives and quite frankly it ticked them off. He shows no sorrow because he says that this sorrow led them into repentance and that leads to salvation! Brilliant! Why can't we as Christians see that when someone shares truth with us they are trying to open up our hearts and our eyes to what the Lord is truly trying to do in their lives? If we are going to walk this planet as Jesus followers, we are going to mess up. When we mess up we are going to need brothers and sisters to come in and share truth in our lives! My brothers and sisters may you open up your heart and your soul to what your brothers and sisters are saying. Take heed to the conviction of God. Don't run from God, but to God with open arms!!! May the grace and peace of Christ be with you!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-77266960866751397862009-03-06T19:34:00.001-08:002009-03-06T19:34:46.556-08:00The Right thingMost of the time I think we as people believe that whatever the easiest thing is, must be the right thing. I have been faced with many decisions in life that are tough. Making the tough decision may seem hard because we focus on people's feelings more than doing the right thing. Are people's feelings important? Yes. Are they more important than doing the right thing? No! In 1940's German and you were an anti Hitler anti Holocaust person, you would have been the minority but to stand up would have been the right thing. Likewise when Jesus had died and was resurrected his followers totaled 120 people. 120. They saw the God of the universe die and resurrect to share the New Covenant with the world. They were the vast MINORITY! Millions of people going in one direction and a few people saying that they have a new message to share. Was the right thing for them to shut up and keep the message to themselves? No. Was it easy to share the message? No. What happened? They were beaten, jailed, and eventually most of them were killed. So, doing the right thing, got them killed. Do we have to focus on being killed for doing the right thing? No we have some emotional pain and some heartache from the potential of saying tough words and hurting someone but doing the right thing, is the best way! My brothers and sisters do the right thing, the tough thing, and God will move in the midst of it!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-29696794568375651742008-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:27:56.956-08:00Let it read us.I was reading a book the other day and came across this amazing line. The book said "Let scripture read you" Now I have heard that line before but this time it opened up a new idea. Let's be honest, when we read scripture we read it to affirm what we already believe. We read passages that are familiar and we understand them, they make sense to us. They affirm what we believe. We read passages like John 3:16 and skim over it because we get it. What if, we allowed scripture to read us? What if instead of reading through the lens of how we see the world, scripture was the lens that saw us. Alright, so that may not make sense. Let me explain. Allowing scripture to read us, means that we won't understand everything. We can't explain all of God through systems and dispensations, but that he speaks and reads our hearts and our motives through his scripture. Doesn't the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">unexplainable</span> and mysterious make our God more beautiful? Isn't it all about our hearts? Doesn't he want more than anything that our hearts will seek after him? What if we read scriptures like Matthew 19:23 <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" id="en-NIV-23784" class="sup">23</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" id="en-NIV-23785" class="sup">24</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And we wept over this because we realized that we are the top 5% of the worlds wealth? What if we allowed God to test our hearts and our motives. Have I figured this out? Is there a formula to making this happen? No, but I think it starts with our motives. We must allow scriptures to read us. We must allow God to test our motives, actions, and hearts through his word instead of reading what we already believe into it...May the peace of Christ be with you.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-45909421819209365402008-12-11T09:33:00.001-08:002008-12-11T09:39:17.944-08:00HmmmHave you ever had one of those days that makes you go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HMMM</span>? I'm talking one of those days where everything is off. From the moment you wake up, until the moment you go to bed, you are truly just off. I wonder in those moments why we even decide to wake up on those days. What if we just stayed in bed. Do you think it would matter? Anyway, we had our midweek ministry night last night and our entire staff was definitely in one of those moments. I would have to say that the main culprit to our issue is prayer. This week was a prime example of doing ministry on our own. Why is it when we get stressed we neglect prayer? It's so easy, yet so detrimental to our spiritual lives. God is the one who makes the difference, not us. I can't come up with this amazing sermon that is radically life changing every week. My worship pastor can't hit a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">home run</span> every week. God, however, can and will make the difference. This isn't a profound statement, it's just what's been on my mind since last night. Anyway I hope it encourages!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-19767315557355069932008-10-17T23:48:00.001-07:002008-10-17T23:52:25.545-07:00Back in TimeSo, here I am sitting in the "Hotel Lobby" at Wildhorse Canyon, the place where I accepted Jesus. It's an amazing thing to breathe the air, see the sights, and feel the emotions. Yes some of the property has changed. They've added some great stuff, but essentially it's the same place as it was 7 years ago when I was here. 7 years, where does that time go? Have you ever wondered that? What can you do in seven years? I went from being a non Christian kid who was living by my own initiative to a bible school student, and eventually a pastor. I love being in this place. It makes me feel like I did on that evening when the speaker (Ash was his name) gave the Gospel. I guess it helps me remember where I came from. It helps me see that I truly am a new creation because I am in Christ! So my brothers and sisters may this be an encouragement to you to remember the past and move to the future!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-85422942854317246822008-09-04T10:45:00.000-07:002008-09-04T11:05:51.498-07:00Won't you be my neighbor?So, the most common prayer of a Jewish person is a little thing called the Shema. It goes a little something like this. "Hear O' Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Trust in the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself" Does this sound familiar to you at all? In the New Testament a Lawyer stands up to to test Jesus. He asks him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said a very popular Jewish prayer. The man then goes on to ask about who is neighbor is and Jesus slams him with the story of the Good Samaritan. I won't go into how brilliant that was, but you should go and read it. I was thinking about this concept. Jesus tells this man that the most important commands are to Love God with everything we are, and love our neighbor. That's it. All the law and the prophets hinge on that. So is Jesus in essence saying that all humans were created for 2 purposes, to Love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and then to love our neighbors? I think I can safely say that loving our neighbor in our day in age can also be synonymous with being the hands and feet of Jesus to our world. This has some power to it. Think about it. If this is what every human being is created for, then is it only the job of the 'hyper religious' guy like oh I don't know, the pastor, to reach the world? No, if the Shema is true then it means that you were created to be the hands and feet wherever you are. It doesn't matter if you preach from a pulpit, work with pipes and wires, or you sit behind a desk, you were created for those 2 purposes. All else is secondary. Your job? Yes, what you do is only secondary to your purpose in life. In an essence, your job IS your ministry. Use it. When you are on the job site, be the hands and feet of Jesus. When you are checking people out of the grocer store, are you loving God with all that you are? For too long Christians have left "ministry" up to the pastors and forgotten that THEY are the pastors to their coworkers and friends. They are the message of Jesus to the world. So my brothers and sisters wherever you are, whatever you do, Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself...May the peace of Christ be with you.Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-3304382759648108872007-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:002007-11-18T10:26:43.874-08:00Baptism...Payday<span style="font-family: arial;">Isn't it funny how youth ministry is often a thankless job. We may never see some of the fruit of our labor, but somehow someway something makes it all worth it. When I have been asked why I do my job, the only answer I have is, for that one thing. You don't know what that one thing is until you do it, but it speaks loud and clear. Today I got to baptize 4 of my students in front of the entire church. Man that's better than payday. This in some weird, cosmic way, gives meaning to my job. So my brothers and sisters, paid or non paid youth workers, hold on to those moments. May you see that this is what we do our jobs for!<br /><br />May the Peace of Christ be with you<br /><br />Branden <><<br /></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-17236489242492370812007-11-05T11:57:00.001-08:002007-11-05T12:00:12.087-08:00Trick-Or-Canned FoodsThis Halloween for "The Garage Youth Church" was a little different than most. It was a holiday spent on something other than us. See I don't think there is anything innately wrong with Halloween. Some say that it was created out of some pagan holiday, but most people today have no idea where it came from, we just dress up and go outside. So, my high school students and I strapped on the costumes and went out in search of canned foods. It was amazing to see the peoples faces light up when we told them that we didn't want candy, but food. It's small, but another lesson in "being the message" to the world!Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-59464546639981095082007-10-28T21:26:00.000-07:002007-10-28T21:33:55.768-07:00For The Skeptics<span style="font-family: arial;">I was once a skeptic. Not the kind of skeptic you are thinking though. I was a skeptic that the youth in our ministries can never live up to the message of Jesus. We have seen it forever. The students come through the doors and talk the talk, but leave and don't walk the walk. Are they incapable? Do they have to have "life experiences" before they can live for Jesus? In my early days as a youth pastor I thought it was my job to fix the sin in the lives of my students. I would preach sermons that catered to what they deal with sexual sin, swearing, reading their bibles, and drugs. I started noticing that it wasn't me that could change them. So, I began to experiment. I took all of last year and taught them one thing. Jesus. I know that it sounds like a no brainer, but that's what I did. My goal was to get them to understand that Jesus was not a 6'2" Sweedish man with blue eyes, blow dried blond hair, and a bathrobe on, but that he came with a message so revolutionary people couldn't help but be transformed. The results were staggering. I found that I had a group of 100+ students engaged into who Jesus was. I had kids that had grown up in the church telling me that they had never heard this, but that they were ready to make a change. The youth of this world are ready to take the message of Jesus to the margins, to their parents, and to their schools. Our job is to give them the opportunity to love Jesus. My new mantra is "Be The Message" This generation is ready to do exactly that.<br /></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-43979745512112737532007-04-30T12:33:00.000-07:002007-04-30T12:45:51.543-07:00Is it Possible?<span style="font-family: arial;">So I guess I want to dialogue, and pose a question. Is it possible for Americans to ever "get it"? I mean is it possible for us in America to ever fully understand and live out the Gospel of Jesus? What I see is people that tack their faith on like it's a part of their life and not the life changing, all consuming thing that it is. You begin to ask dangerous questions when this hits you, like do people that say the right words, pray the right prayers, and go to the right meetings, but have nothing to show for their faith really have a relationship with Jesus? This is dangerous because it then makes me the judge in which case I am not. I can't judge a life, but when I read the scriptures about what Jesus' message was. I get inspired. A message about redemption, hope, and love and I look at myself and the fellow believers I don't see that message being lived out. What do we do? How do we live this message out? It's a constant struggle, but I am so inspired by my savior that I want to do what he does. I want to be like my rabbi. I also read Jesus say things like "To by my disciple you have to die to yourself, take up your cross and follow me." That's tough. It's not easy to follow Jesus, but so amazing right? So how can we inspire one another to live out the message of Jesus in a real, tangible, and radical way? How can we transform our world like he and the disciples did 2,000 years ago? When Jesus said the "road is narrow that leads to life" I think he meant it. I think that living as a disciple is hard to do, but we can do it. My challenge to us is to live the message of Jesus in a real, tangible, and radical way!<br /></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653093377361845502.post-43322608163623238812006-11-21T09:32:00.000-08:002006-11-21T11:19:48.144-08:00The "Joy" of the LORD?So this is the first official blog on the site I have written, congrats to me right? So anyway something that has been plaguing me for the past few years is the "joy" of the LORD, or the lack thereof. About two years ago I began my journey as a Starbucks barista. As a barista I got the opportunity to talk with all sorts of interesting people. I worked at one of the busiest stores in my area so my sphere of people was huge. Throughout my experience I began to see a pattern in the people, and started asking myself one question, why is it that the people who are supposed to have the "joy" of the LORD have less joy than the people who don't know Christ at all? Why are the "non" Christians often happier than the Christians? I mean aren't there promises in scripture about life and life to the full, and how about the fruit of the spirit? This poses a lot of questions to me, are God's promises not true? <em><span style="color:#000000;">The Psalmist wrote "</span></em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp;make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song;play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true;he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice;the earth is full of his unfailing love." <span style="color:#ffffff;">For the word of the LORD is right and true he is faithful in all he does. Do we really believe that? Why do the servers avoid the "Sunday Church Crowd"? Why are the Christians the mean customers? Has God not fulfilled his promise to us, or is our perspective all wrong? See I think it's the latter of the two. I think that we as Christians often have the wrong mentality about Jesus. We think that it's McChurch, all we have to do is say a number or shout a meal and we get whatever we want. When God doesn't work like that we get angry. I don't know if I have the answer to this. I do know that the promises of God are that we will have life if we only follow Jesus and give him our lives. I know that the promises of Christ are true. It is my belief that we don't need a new Christ, a new church, but a new kind of Chrstian. We need to be more like Christ, and I don't know exactly what that looks like apart from Loving God and loving people like Jesus would. So, may you understand that we have a God that IS love and his promises are true and will be fulfilled.</span></em></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /><em>Peace be with you</em></span>Brandenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051224544028809963noreply@blogger.com0