Deep Fry

This summer, as some of you know, we've been talking about fullness through the lens of unity; however, I believe not only should we be capturing this in the question, ‘ Lord, How do you want to fill me ’, we need to be asking, ‘ Lord, are you able to fill me? Am I allowing you to fill me? If not, what needs to be activated…what needs to be stirred up in me before you can fill me?’   You see…before we have a container that can receive what God wants to fill us with, we need to have a container that can hold what God wants to fill us with. And after processing this conviction, I submit God wants to do some patch-work in our hearts this summer where our faith is activated to the next level. But Cam, ‘ How do I activate my faith? ’ By trusting God. By not only by saying "I believe", but “I do” and “I will”. God wants us to trust him like Peter did when God asked him to walk on the water. Have enough faith to know he won't let you drown....

When I say ‘set the table’, what immediately comes to mind? Dinner? Chore? Family? ‘Power off’? I know for me I’m reminded of one my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies: the classic “Food!” chant in Twister when the chasers try to convince Jo to swing by her Aunt Meg’s for some sustenance.      However we approach the phrase, chances are we’re thinking about one of life’s most basic essentials being satisfied. After all, we can’t live without consuming nourishment. Yet, while physically, cravings are interspersed, continually coming and going, when we talk about spiritual nourishment, we’re talking about a completely different kind of filling. You see, often times, we talk about spiritual hunger and fullness in exclusive terms (i.e. gotta get hungry, then I gotta get filled, and then I gotta get full, stay full, etc.) But when we dive into the Word, we find that’s not how it works. ‘Cause as we inevitably find, there’...

It was the epitome of fall in a season of rise; hence, why I can still remember the date. October 29, 2011. T he day my dream of a youth worship team went under construction. Like most hopeful endeavors, despite early buzz, not all was smooth sailing. For the first few years, the revolving door would churn out several talented youth and youth leaders. Each time, a setback to momentum. Each time, a temptation to wonder why. Yet, amidst the turnover, the guest acoustic appearances, and solo keyboard sets, the dream carried on. By 2014, the tide was turning. New faces in familiar places. The hope of persistence shining over the horizon. Still, it wasn’t until October 26, 2016, almost five years to the day of first practice, that the right blend of talent and teaming would intersect and set the stage for the Gate's first youth worship band. Flash-forward to two days ago and for the first time I’m playing keys during service (s...

Context : In this chapter of Jeremiah, we find impending disaster for Jerusalem. Need proof? Check out the opening line: “ Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin from the midst of Jerusalem !” Not exactly the most calming intro in the world, right? Later we read more specifically the war and destruction coming against Jerusalem and the peace she once possessed.  However, in the middle of the chapter, we also find a familiar theme unfolding in God giving his people an opportunity to repent…to consider his ways (v. 16-20 ).  Let’s read… Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) - This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV) - Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your sou...

Going off the ‘D’ statement, we find four components in motion: Increase my love for your supremacy (God’s power/authority) Increase my trust in your wise purposes (includes God’s perfect timing) Decrease my personal influence  Increase my joyful faith However, before we can break these ingredients down,  we must first  define “decrease”... Decrease : Dying to self in a way that allows God’s kingdom ¹  to come into greater view. With that said, we can better understand how this "D" applies in John 3 , where o ur two mortal protagonists, Nicodemus and John the Baptist, are coming to terms with their “decrease”. For Nicodemus, Jesus is challenging him to see the kingdom of God as separate from any earthly kingdom and to know Christ as the only way to that kingdom; however, for John, Jesus is essentially inspiring him to do what he had been doing (i.e. to make a way for him baptizing in his name )...  a different way .  Thi...

So today, I stop by my favorite hole-in-the-wall sub shop to get my favorite hole-in-the-wall sandwich only to find my order is completely ready to go BEFORE I request it. At first, I'm confused thinking the bagged contents I'm receiving belong to someone else. But after an initial balk, the lady behind the cashier assures me, ' No, no. It's for you. I saw you through the window before you came in the door .' As wink provoked smirk, I couldn't help but ponder the moment as I walked out. If we want to mature in our kindness, it's worth noting as spontaneous as it may occasionally seem, true generosity/compassion not only recognizes the needs of others, but anticipates the needs of others...pointing people in the direction of God who knows what we need even before we ask for it. “ And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows wh...

Recently, I had a conviction: I may be leading youth to truth, but am I leading them to awe of who God is? I may be giving factual, credible evidence as to why reading the Word, praying, to having quiet time with God will benefit your relationship with God, but am I passionately modeling a life prostrate before him? As I considered the answers to these questions, I couldn't help but return to what we’ve been discussing this month on spiritual hunger. But before I continue, let me just say there are a lot of personal definitions of spiritual hunger out there. While many do a great job of capturing the beauty of desire, not as many capture how blessed we are to confront and rise above our depravity. Why? I’m not sure. All I know is that a genuine hunger for God cannot be separated from a purified fear of him (i.e. loving what God loves, hating what God hates) which, in turn, cannot be separated from how we were divinely created. Oh, how ...