The Rush

Everyone wants a new experience. Some want to see the world, some want to climb a mountain, some want to sky dive or drive fast or master a trick on a skateboard (seriously), or "feel" something by drinking or smoking or snorting. Hey, that's the world you live in. You and your student struggles with this at some level. To experience, to feel is to be. Incidentally, this is also why young people have such a hard time overcoming sexual temptations--but that's a post for another day.

But, as Huey Lewis pointed out 25 years ago, we "want a new drug, one that does what it should." All of the benefits with none of the side effects.

God intends for you to have a "rush" in following him. Illustrations:

• Your neighbor stops in for a chat over coffee. You've been praying for an opportunity to finally speak eternal words to her and she just shared how empty her life feels since her mom died. You feel the endorphins kick-in and know this is an opportunity from God: RUSH.
• During the Sunday sermon last week you were convicted that your anger towards your teen aged son is sin. Your impatience is completely self-focused and based upon your expectations of his performance. You were reminded in that quiet moment that God's expectations of your behavior are often met with your own willful disobedience. Now it's Tuesday night and the trash is definitely NOT out yet. Will you boil over (again) or bring your thoughts back to Scripture?: RUSH.
• You can't think of the word "father" without flashbacks and your heart beginning to race inside. You've told yourself that you've forgiven him, but this summer is another reunion that you're dreading. The dread grows everyday, and those closest to you are the ones suffering because you get more irritable and harder to understand all the time. Discussions about the reunion always end in anger. You know that Scripture helps you understand that forgiveness is a conscious decision to no longer hold something against someone, and that you are only enabled to do that because God has forgiven you so much. You are faced with a reality: forgiveness is a choice that must be chosen again and again. Will you?: RUSH.
• You know that your relationship is inappropriate. But it feels (old drug) good. The way you make each other feel must be right! But every time you make the choice you live for hours and days knowing that you are showing the world around you that you really don't take God seriously. In the quiet moments you make the decision to clean things up--and this time for good. You'll see each other tonight (again). What you gonna do? RUSH.
• If your spouse just did things your way, and in your timing, your marriage would get so much better right? Peter could not have been serious (could he?) when he said that a godly wife will make headway with her unbelieving husband if she just lives out God's grace and learns to take her objections to God instead of her husband. He's planning another summer of softball and boating. RUSH.

You get the idea. What if the big RUSH of the day for me had little to do with beating another level in Guitar Hero and had more to do with allowing the fruit of the Spirit to be tended and nurtured in my every choice? What if I were so consumed with this goal that it caused me to see again how far I am from that goal and how much I need God to work in my spirit in order to feel the rush? What if the people around me began to see little changes that show that there's less of me and more of him? What if my desires toward spending money (and giving it to others) were challenged as I ordered my life to live simply and give generously? What if the most exciting thing that happened this week was that I remembered to pray for my wife because I knew she had a hard day coming up? What if I left work early one day to go home and talk to my kids?

RUSH.

Too busy

I guess there is complete irony in my heart as I type this. Like many of you I am responsible for getting some pretty major things off the ground each fall. I plan the school year calendar for 7th-12th grade at my church, plan the Sunday School curriculum, re-write the youth group curriculum, communicate all this to my 20 small group leaders and then make sure it all gets mailed out to parents. It's what we all do.

Tonight is my leaders meeting. The details of the calendar are coming together. Today is about checking the details of the curriculum through about Thanksgiving, printing it out, making certain small groups are set and then training my volunteers. Some of them should probably be doing the training tonight because they are experienced and passionate!

With all this on my plate today I found myself thinking, "So what?" So I got the stuff printed and handed it out. The lessons have come together (and they look great to me). I have been busy for weeks trying to pull this together as I live the regular busyness of life and work. And now it's together, and I'll hand it over to my leaders tonight.

I want to share the truth, and I want my adult leaders to be ready to do so, too, but it's my life (and theirs) that our students need. The information must be backed up by a corresponding obedience to the truth and a willingness to share our lives with them. (1 Thess 2:8 says, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.")

So right here in this moment when I probably should be scurrying around trying to finalize another detail I sit down to write. I can't help but think that the more beneficial thing to do would be to pray for my small group leaders: Jason, Ehren, Linda, Danielle, Heather, Liz, Connie, Ben, Nikki, Mike, Lori, Bryan, Kent, Lyn, Heather, Terry, Jeanie, Carol, Brenda and even me. Oh ya, I need 3 or 4 more, Lord. Especially guys. Help me, Lord!

I long for these people to walk closely with the Savior. I long for them to be familiar with the Word who is Jesus. The Spirit is going to have to fill their mouths with the words of life to a generation of rich kids. The rich kids have heard this all before. If any of them come to Christ it's going to be a miracle because they trust themselves so much, and their parent's wealth. I did that, too. But it's possible if we trust God for a miracle.

So as I prepare for the curriculum and the calendar, I may just fail by succeeding at all the wrong things. Lord, stop my busyness and help me pray!