LoveMercy Baltimore Countdown #LoveMercy

I’m sitting here in my hotel room in Baltimore, MD, a day and a half before nearly 1,000 students and leaders will converge on this city and hotel, reflecting & praying about the upcoming youth convention- ‘Love Mercy Baltimore’.  It was 19 years ago, that I as a 12 year old was deeply moved at a conference just like this one (Cincy ’90), where God spoke to me and planted the seed for my call into full time ministry.  As a middle school student at the time, I had no idea what to expect or what I was getting myself into.  All I knew was that I would be traveling to another city with my youth pastor & middle school friends, we would get to hang out in our own hotel room for 3 nights and I had a pocket full of cash for food and whatever else my 12 yr old soul desired in the moment.   What I didn’t realize, was that God had something so much more grand and indescribable than I could have ever dreamed waiting for me… a life changing encounter with Him.

It was 19 years ago almost to the day, then I was radically moved and called to live my life, from that point on, in undying devotion and service to Christ, my Lord and Savior.  It is my prayer that there are many students and leaders, who will be traveling and arriving in the next 36 hours, who will experience an awakening and encounter with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords here in this very hotel, unique in its own way, that would forever change and transform those in attendance, to lead their generation passionately to Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God everyday of their lives.

And to think, I have an opportunity to serve on a team of leaders/directors who Love God & Love Others, in leading this conference here in Baltimore, to impact students, who are in the same position I was in, 19 years ago.

To Him, who is able to do, immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Your will be done.  May YOU INCREASE and i decrease.  May we be your hands and feet.  In Jesus name, Amen.

(Check out this song we will be singing throughout the convention.  It is my prayer personally and for the each person in attendance.)

A Christmas Story vs. The Story of Christmas

One of my favorite times of the year is Christmas.  The snow, the gifts, the tree, Christmas music and Christmas movies bring back fond memories of Christmas past.  One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is A Christmas Story.  I think every family in America can relate in some way with the scenes and emotions emulated in that Christmas classic.  Gifts (Red Rider BB-Gun), shopping, visiting Santa and even being totally exhausted after all the gifts under the tree have been opened.

But when I think about the story of Christmas, as written in the Bible,  I read a story of  God becoming flesh, being born in a feeding trough, born in weakness and selflessness.  A king, Jesus, that chose, that chose to be born different than the world of the day.  He showed up as a baby.

What if we look at these two stories… and really wrestle with what story we are to enter this Christmas

What if… we spent less, by giving more.  More of ourselves relationally, just as Jesus did for us.

Check out theses videos…