Run

I love running! I have been running for years and it has now been a decade endeavor in my life. I really started engaging in running when I was 16 and it has benefited my life in tremendous ways. It's also challenged me like I would have never imagined. It's brought out a competitive energy within me as well, and this has taken me to compete in various 5K's, 10K's, long-distance relays, a half-marathon, and a full marathon. It's crazy what starting something to lose a little weight has done in transforming my life in such a tremendous way!

As I think about running this morning, I am preparing to leave tonight to travel to Jamaica on a mission trip. This will be my first endeavor to Jamaica. I've always thought of it as a very cool place to visit. Over the past few months, I've learned so much more about the nation. The place we will be going to is called Catadupa and it is a place where hope has been taken but is slowly starting to rise. I pray that our time there would continue to build up that hope that comes in Jesus Christ.

Running has taught me many things about faith, AND putting that faith into action. Jesus Christ has called us to the narrow path. You have to walk to be on that path. That requires movement and an action. In running, you have to move your legs in order to get somewhere. Running requires movement and action. We can't be stagnant - we won't get anywhere!

In our group's mission opportunity, we're moving. We could have taken the moments of these next 10 days and rested on the lake. I know I could use a few days off! But my faith calls me to action. And my faith has pointed me to Jamaica, along with all these youth and adults. I don't know how God will show up in our lives, but I do know He will! And I'm excited to share when He does on here! Catadupa is a place on my path as I run after Christ. With this, I wanted to point out some verses that I've been thinking deeply about the past few weeks. I really like these verses, and something more might show up on this blog in the coming weeks. As I've learned how to run, these verses have spoken truth to the correlation of life in Christ:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I'm going to run after Christ with a perspective of making Him known and affecting eternity. How are you going to follow after Him?

Purpose

Good morning everyone! This will be short, but I hope it is helpful! Welcome to my blog!

As a lot of you parents know, I am taking your children to Jamaica in a week! This will be the spot where I will post some updates and help you learn all that we are experiencing. I have written a number of things on this blog in the past (yes, it has been a while...), so feel free to check them out.

Also, I have another blog if you get curious for reading at atonementfargoyoungadult.blogspot.com. I'm excited for all God has in store for us this next week! Thanks for your prayers! Love, Brandon

Jeremiah 9 - 22

Hi everyone,

It's been a little while since I posted, but I am reading Jeremiah! And I am challenged by this book. Like I posted last time, I have read the book before, but I am seeing the verses with a new refreshment and I am enjoying being challenged.

What I am most gaining from reading Jeremiah is his heart for a lost and broken nation. These people completely disregard what he has to tell them from God, and yet, he still cries out for them to return to God and be healed. He despises their rebellion, but he does not want their destruction. He sincerely loves these people though they reject him.

It's got me thinking - how do I love the people I'm around? In my city? In my neighborhood?

Do I love like this?

Truthfully, I don't. I lament where our nation is going and I hate what so many young people have to go through. But I hate it from a distance.

Jeremiah didn't do this. He was right in the heart of the action and spoke truth. He had an audience that rejected him, but he still stepped out in obedience. And that's what God asked of him. Am I willing to do this?

In these chapters, there have been a few passages that I want to point out. The first is Jeremiah 10:23 - 25. This is Jeremiah's prayer and I love it. It says:

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own;
it is not for a man to direct his steps.
Correct me, Lord, but only with justice -
not in your anger,
lest you reduce me to nothing.
Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you,
on the people who do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob;
they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland."

What I love about this prayer is Jeremiah's humility and acknowledgment that the whole world revolves around the sovereignty of God. It is His plan that is being accomplished in all our lives and it is His ways that will come to fruition. We have a spot in that, but ultimately, He lets succeed what He wants. Jeremiah surely praises the sovereignty of God in all situations.

Do we look at God the way Jeremiah does? When the world around us is going down the toilet, do we believe that God's sovereign hand is upholding His children? I do. Even as I think of the United States right now, I firmly believe that we are not going through anything that God has not ordained for us. He has challenged us to seek Him and be obedient to Him. In this, He promises blessing. But it's for full obedience - not half-hearted obedience.

This is a call to Christians in America. Have you been fully obedient to God? Have you submitted to His will and plans for your life, or have you only given Him a piece? If we've only been going about giving Him a piece, then we rightly deserve what we're getting. We're not fully obeying God. We're making our own way and fitting God to our idea of what's supposed to happen. In this, we're really not letting God be our God, but rather, we're making ourselves God and calling on God to acquiesce to us. How shameful of us! Christian America - REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! We are not God - God is God! He is sovereign, we are not! He is Holy and His plans are always righteous and good. Not ours.

And this brings me to the second section of Jeremiah I wanted to bring about. Chapters 18 and 19 are some of my favorite in the whole book; chapter 18 possibly being one of my favorite in the whole Bible because of how greatly it challenges what I've thought about God and how I view others. In chapter 18, God tells Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and look at the pots. When Jeremiah gets there, he sees the potter reshaping a pot because it didn't turn out just the way he wanted. The potter creates the pot to his liking, not the pot's.

This chapter tells of how God is sovereign. He does what pleases him. Now, some of us might look at these verses and think of how wrathful God is. It's true, God's wrathful character against sin is being displayed. But consider this point - if God hadn't reshaped Israel, we wouldn't be allowed to know God. If He hadn't opened up a way for Jesus to be for more than just the nation of Israel, we Gentiles would not know salvation. In His reshaping, we've been brought the opportunity to know Jesus and have a relationship with God.

God has created every person for noble purposes and for destruction. We never know who is created for what purposes, but isn't that a scary thing to think of? When I examine these verses, I see that there are possibly people around me that God has created to be separated from Him. That's very sad, but it's also His plan and purpose. Though He yearns for every person to come to salvation, He is also omnipotent to see how sin has clouded and dissuaded these persons. We must not forget that not everyone is saved. This should move us to care about them knowing the Gospel of Jesus! We should be sharing and being obedient in sharing truth. God longs for our obedience! Let's give it to Him!

Lastly, I just want to mention one passage. Being obedient to God is not easy. But we have to continue to push after it. And God will work. His Holy Spirit will burn within us! Jeremiah writes in chapter 20:8 - 9:

"Whenever I speak out, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the world of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, 'I will not mention him
or speak any more in his name,'
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot."

God will not let us go! If we pursue after Him and fully surrender in obedience, He will not let us go down to eternal destruction. He will uphold us and defend us!

If you're pressing into Him, but having a hard time understanding, DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T GIVE UP! Strength will rise as you wait for Him! And let these words that Jeremiah declares about our God flood your soul with praise:

"But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior;
so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
their dishonor will never be forgotten.
O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous
and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance upon them
for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord!
Give praise to the Lord!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked." (Jeremiah 21:11-13)

God is fighting for you! He love you and yearns for you to lovingly follow after Him! Draw near to Him and let Him work mightily!

Love you all,

Brandon

Jeremiah 1 - 8

Good afternoon,

For all of you who know - I love to read! Hence, this website! But I've decided to change up what I'm sharing on this blog just for a little while (mainly because I'm in seminary and am reading many books at one time and it's very time consuming!). I've decided to share with you some Scripture that I've been reading and what I'm getting from these passages. I promise you this won't be every day - but I'll try to make it here once a week to share. (Also, because I can get through a lot of Scripture in a month, and that wouldn't be beneficial for anyone!)

So, here is what my newest pieces will be on - the book of Jeremiah from the Old Testament. I've read Jeremiah a few times (not many) and there is a lot I don't understand that the prophet wrote. That gives me a chance to learn from him, and hence, a reason to share of God's goodness. It's a hard book and I am not claiming to be an expert; but, I hope to challenge you to think as I interact with the text and share insights and thoughts from the passage.

Okay, let's get going!

I'll start with what I do know from Jeremiah. Jeremiah was called when he was a young man to be a prophet to Judah and he was a lifer! He prophesied to Judah about their downfall by the Babylonians and continued with them into captivity. His life was long and God called him to a very hard task. This was not an easy calling in any sense, but Jeremiah responded with obedience. He took the calling and went for it, even though it would be utterly painstaking.

Jeremiah had a unique gifting to call the people of Judah on their outlandish rebellion against God and also to feel what God was feeling for His estranged people. Jeremiah is known as "the weeping prophet" and for good reason. Just from the little bit I've read, there are two voices that come from the text: God's, which is powerful in judgment and forthcoming wrath, and Jeremiah's, who's is tormented by why the people reject God. But Jeremiah's voice is God's even there. How hurt God is by our sin. Just like Judah, even today, He mourns our rejection of His ways.

Jeremiah shares what God desires, in chapter 6, verse 16:

"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."

God yearns for His people, in context, the nation of Judah, to walk with Him and walk in obedience to Him.

God has been faithful to Judah, and He reminds them in chapter 7, verses 22-23:

"For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

God is clearly deserving of praise from the people of Judah. He has proven faithful, and He just yearns for the people to see Him this way.

But Judah doesn't. Sometimes, we can be so ignorant of God's call. He is offering mercy to repent and confess our folly. But we block it out. We disregard what He wants to do, and hurt ourselves. "Are they not rather harming themselves to their own shame?" (Jer. 7:19b)


This is the situation that Jeremiah is called to. This is where he will be preaching and prophesying. This will not be a successful calling. This will be hard.

Sometimes, we think that God will never call us to failure. I know I'm guilty of it. The book of Jeremiah says otherwise.

Just an example of this from the Scripture, let's look at chapter 7, verse 27:

"When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer."

What a hard calling! But, from our perspective, we see a beautiful side of God that we don't otherwise get to understand. He is mourning our sin. When we do not turn to Him and repent, He is devastated, for His justice must triumph. What Jeremiah felt is what God feels. How He longs for His children! How greatly our God loves!

But sin must have it's punishment. There is separation and it needs a payment to bridge the gap. That's why Jesus came. In the context, Jesus is not part of the picture; but we're not a part of that audience. We get to read Jeremiah from a standpoint of immense hope for our situation! We are called from our sin just the same, but there is a greater redemption for us through the death of Jesus! "By His wounds, we are healed."

Jesus' death paid the penalty for our sins and now we can walk in the ancient paths of obedience to God! We can have "rest for our souls!"

Are you yearning for that rest? Turn now to Jesus. Ask Him to take your heart of stone and give you His heart of flesh. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins and be cleansed!

Lastly, when Jeremiah was given his calling, he was shown that it would lead to immense hardship for his life. His career would not be defined by his following, but by his obedience to God. And that was all to show him that his strength was not his own, but was God's. God was showing Jeremiah just as greatly that He is always faithful and is ever-present. "I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled...I am with you." (Jer. 1:12b; 19)

The same is true for us. It might not always be easy for us - and we might not be called to greatness in anything. That doesn't matter. The point is faithfulness in obeying the call God has given you. Are you?

Bart Millard, lead singer of the band MercyMe, is quoted to have said, "Don't stoop to the level of a king if you're doing what God has called you to do."

Love and God's blessings to you,

Brandon

Father, your word is good and powerful and always true. Thank you for your word. And thank you for the view we get to see of Scripture - especially, Jeremiah's story. His story matters. Help me as I share from my interactions, to always bring you glory through this. Lord, would you allow hearts to continually be drawn to you? You are good. I will praise you. I love you Lord and it's only for your glory that I write this. Amen.

Desiring God - introduction and chapter 1

Hi all,

I hope you are all well and blessed by the Lord!

First, off - WOW! This book is hard to read, but WOW! It is truly remarkable what it does have to show us about our God! Last night, my small group started discussing these first two parts of the book - and let's just say, that was one of the best conversations we had. How joyous we found ourselves thinking about the Lord and our strength in Him. Beautiful.

I want to start with the big point that John Piper makes in the introduction about a hedonist. Hedonism is an ambiguous word that carries some negative connotations, but Piper flips our common definition on our heads! Hedonism, by definition, is the doctrine or way of life that puts pleasure or happiness as the highest good. And it is true that there have been negative uses of this style of life. But Piper calls us to pursue out a life of happiness in joy in what will ultimately always satisfy us. And that is God!

God calls us to delight always in Him and His perfect will. But, we're humans, and if you tell us to pursue pleasure, we're bound to get it wrong in our own effort. And we do. Piper quotes C.S. Lewis, from his astounding sermon The Weight of Glory, about our human state and our "great" ability at pursuing what ultimately fills us:

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promieses of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospel, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak...We are far too easily pleased." (p. 20)

And thus, this is why Piper has written his account of why God must be our primary desire and how we can living a life seeking pleasure in Him. This book is to help us see how to increase our desire to be filled with the strong things of God and to lose sight of the unfulfilling pleasures of this world.

If we're going to start taking stock in pleasure in God, we've got to see something about God: that He takes pleasure in Himself. This is Piper's goal to show us from Scripture in the first chapter. If God wants us to be for Him, He needs to be for Himself as well.

God takes great joy in His glory and He preserves it. Even with the drenching amount of sin and evil in this world, God still takes delight in His glory.

Piper uses a great analogy revolving lenses in the sense of the amount of evil here and His greater plan. How can God still be joyous in who He is and His will when there are such devastating things going on in this world? Because He is sovereign. In the example of the lenses, Piper shows that we are often stuck with the narrow lens and cannot see the grander picture. In this position, much evil occurs, and God is grieved over that. But God also has a panoramic lens that shows the bigger picture. In the bigger picture, He can see the good of His plan that will come to fruition. And He is jubilant about this!

God takes great pleasure in Himself because He is the best! He is sovereign, completely in control of all things, and it is all for joy in Him.

When we realize that He is always at work for good, we can enjoy His plan, though the circumstances might not be enjoyable. And as we enjoy His plan, and in essence, He in Himself, we glorify Him. It expresses itself in our life and God is praised!

That's good stuff. This was our starting ground, and we discussed how we can start enjoying God more this week. So, I pose the same question we were posed last night: What are you going to do this week to just find joy in God? It doesn't have to be anything great, but simple and pleasurable to you. Then thank God for allowing you to find joy in Him and praise Him in this world.

Until next week...Love you all,

Brandon

New Book for the Summer!

Hi all!

I know it's been awhile since I last posted on this blog but I wanted to share with you again what I'm learning. I actually have been reading a lot these past few months, but I have stopped sharing what I'm learning. I'm sorry.

However, I do want to mention a few books I have read and recommend them to you as well:

"Radical" by David Platt - excellent book! I can't recommend this one more. It has really shaped how I've been thinking about ministry lately and that's exciting!

"Radical Together" by David Platt - this book addresses how we change the world together. It is written for people working in ministry but if we can get together, we can do mighty things for the glory of God!

"Do Hard Things" by Alex & Brett Harris - good youth book and challenging in how we take up the calling we've been given by Jesus to rebel against what this world is telling us to be and being what we were made to be!

"Embraced by the Spirit" by Charles Swindoll - get to know the Holy Spirit better through this excellent read by renowned pastor and author, Charles Swindoll. What a great man and what great lessons we can learn from him about the Comforter and Counselor!

"The Millennials" by Thom and Jess Rainer - this was a great book to read regarding the youth coming up and my generation. It really opened my eyes to the future and how I have a responsibility in making a difference, especially in the faith lives, of many of my peers. Very convicting!

"The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns - what a powerful book that exposed the world to me and the role I have to play. There is no option. Another convicting read.

BUT...

Now, I want to share what my next few months of posts will be on.

This summer, I and a group of my friends will be working through the book "Desiring God" by John Piper. I am very excited to read this book with my friends and am excited to see how I will be challenged and changed in my desire for God. This is going to be a very busy summer for me personally, but I'm still committed to growing closer to Jesus. So join me as I share what God lays on my heart through this book. Or better yet, join our book study! There will be information on the website www.atonementfargo.org! We would love to have you join us!

God has mighty things in store to show me this summer I know! I know He has mighty things He yearns to reveal to you as well! Let this summer be a time of renewal, growth, and greater desire toward the One who loves you so immensely!

God bless you all!

Brandon

Chapters 7 - 8

Good morning everyone! It is a great day to be alive and it is exciting to be writing to you all. I hope this post finds everyone enjoying life and loving Jesus more and more.

Today was the last morning of my discussion group on "Muslims, Christians, and Jesus" and I was a little sad. This has been an excellent book to study with the men and I know they have greatly appreciated what they have learned. And a lot they have learned. Their hearts, as they shared this morning, have been changed toward those we tend to have so much fear of in our community and world. I reached a goal I had with the group and I am excited to see how they will impact the world because of what they have learned! God is good and He is doing an amazing thing in these men. I, too, am grateful for the many years of faith they express and how they have shared their great devotion to Jesus Christ. It is remarkable and worth lifting up.

Onto the meat of these last two chapters. These chapters, and even as the men expressed, are two of the best chapters in the entire book. I think Chapter 7 is worth the price of the book itself for what it shares concerning Muslims who follow Jesus.

The whole premise of chapter 7 is helping the average American Christian understand that following Jesus can happen in any culture. Carl Medearis, the author, explains that being in a culture does not make you a follower of a certain religion, it just makes you a member of that culture. Take America for instance. We have an American culture. Those who live in America and abide by that culture are called Americans, just like someone living in other parts of the world would consider themselves members of that country. The problem we do run into though is that although we do have a distinct culture in our country, we don't necessarily have a different name for it. Along with Christianity. We have a Christian culture, and those who abide by this culture could call themselves Christians. However, following after Jesus is what is most important. This is the same in Muslim contexts. They live in a certain country, so they are members of that country. They also are members of a certain Muslim culture, making them culturally Muslim. Then, there are practicing, faithful Muslims. Often what we see are only the cultural stuff; we don't get to the heart. Medearis has us look at this a little deeper. In this chapter, he asks us to examine if being called a member of a culture is what has to define us. He believes, and I wholeheartedly do as well, that you can follow Jesus and still be a member of a culture. I can follow Jesus and live in a Christian culture. A Muslim can follow Jesus and still live in a Christian culture. It can happen. This is the point Medearis is making.

The men really enjoyed this picture laid out by Medearis. It helped them examine who they are as followers of Jesus in this culture, and also, who others can be in their respective cultures. The whole point is about knowing and following Jesus. It's about living as He did and obeying His commands.

In this, we are reminded that no matter what someone calls us, if we are in Christ, ti doesn't matter. Paul said it best in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This is what we stick to and must abide in.

Chapter 8 was Medearis's wrap up chapter that reminded us of all that we had learned in the book so far. Medearis covers all the material from the previous chapters and adds a little more for the readers on how to interact with Muslims. In this chapter, he includes a list of 21 do's and don't's for followers of Jesus to remember as they have interactions. These tips were good for discussion among the men and they enjoyed knowing these. It also tied back to our sermon we heard this past Sunday.

In the sermon, the pastor told a story about Gandhi, who once considered following Christ. He was studying in England and as he went to a church to explore Christianity with a pastor, a deacon denied him access. This turned him away from salvation, and from many others following Jesus.

As I reminded the men of this story, the men realized how important it is that we know some of the do's and don't's to help us with our witness. We have so many doing destructive things toward those they don't understand. Why should we not be trying to change this!?!

And this is how the book ends, with a call to really examine our hearts and how we present Jesus. Jesus is the most important thing about our faith. He is who we must share. He must increase and I must decrease. Medearis calls us to be under the banner of Jesus, not the banner of Christianity. We can live for Him and love Him and show Him to a word so desperately in need of Him.

We all really enjoyed this book, and I think you'd benefit from reading it too. It will really expand your thinking and help you to build very beneficial relationships with Muslims.

God bless you all. Love you.

Brandon