Jesus is Hispanic

I had a really neat experience this morning.  I have preached in many different places and to many different kind of people.  But, I had my first experience preaching to our Hispanic congregation this morning.  I have done this while in Nicaragua on mission trips, but this was different.  It was on my turf....at my church....in our youth worship area.  As I stood in the back of the room while worshiping something began to occur to me.  Jesus is Hispanic!  I'm serious.  I didn't understand the words to the songs, but the Holy Spirit was definitely present in what they were singing.  With arms stretched out, somehow I could understand what they were saying!  I Love You Lord!  I mean in that moment I understood how multicultural Jesus is.  He is Hispanic, Chinese, South African and believe it or not American!  His language transcends any language or cultural barrier that man could ever build.  As I was driving from my goodie run to Wal-Mart after church the thought hit me that we are more the same than we could ever think.  We are brothers and sisters in the same kingdom, serving the same King. We are fighting side-by-side in the trenches for the same purpose.  To see a generation of people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.  I know this isn't mind-blowing in any shape or form, but for me today was a fresh revelation of God's Kingdom.

great quote

"Once in seven years I burn all my sermons;  for it is a shame if I cannot write better sermons now than I did seven years ago."  -John Wesley

Your spiritual formation process

This is like the easiest blog post of my life.  I simply want you to answer the following for me.  This is something I really need you to do as I am writing an article and need your feedback.

What does your spiritual formation process look like?  What are the key strategic things in your process that keep you focused on God?  Also, what are the roadblocks that sometimes get in the way of that process?  Told you it was an easy question, but is it an easy answer?

Defining moments

Isn't it funny what you tend to remember?  I have some pretty cool memories that are serious and heart-felt that I will never forget, but...most of my favorite memories are off the charts unexpected.  For instance....Behind my house as a child was a bridge that crossed over a small creek.  I was so little I don't even remember when this happened, but I remember the event.  I was on the bridge swinging on the railing when my feet slipped and I was holding onto the railing screaming for dear life.  My mom heard me and bolted to my rescue.  I remember playing in a championship game when there was 3 seconds on the clock and we were down by 2.  My teammate tossed the ball in bounds to me at half court and I slung the ball only to hear the net swoosh.  As my teammates were piling on top of me I looked across the court to see my dads huge work boots running across the court to congratulate me.  A more recent memory took place only two years ago as I took a small group of students camping in North Georgia.  We hiked to the highest point in GA and by the time we walked back down our bus was snowed in.  We couldn't get down the mountain and had to be rescued by the local EMS.

These are only a few of the memories I have that were unexpected and yet define some of the best times of my life.  These are the things we remember because they are exciting, unscripted and life defining at times.  However, these are not the moments that developed me into the man I am today.  I am who I am today because of the scripted moments of my life.  You know....those things that I do day in and day out.  These are the moments we tend to forget bc they are so normal and well, forgettable!  Even thought that is the case, those moments are the ones that are most important.

As I think about the processes of life it is in the forgettable moments that we are defined.  The day in and day out mundane acts that lull us to sleep actually are the real defining moments of our life.  It is the tenacity of the man of God that pours over the word and passionately searches for the heart of God day in and day out that defines what that man will become.  Yes, these moments are often mundane and even, dare I say, boring at times.  I mean we don't see the waters parted or chariots from heaven every time we pray, but we pray so that our Father knows our voice.  So that when we need the waters parted as life is caving in we are known by the Father.  So, as your day comes and goes day after day and in retrospect your spiritual man is being neglected remember it is the day to day and makes the greatest difference.

Luke 9:23 tell us that if we are to be God followers we will deny ourselves and take up our crosses to follow him.  Are you living out this truth in your daily life?

THABIT......