Declaration from Christopher & Nathaniel Calnin on Vimeo.

Resurrection Injection from Greg Simas on Vimeo.

Does it mean letting Jesus take all of your fears, desires, ambitions, plans, everything and transform them into His for the sake of the gospel?

Can we really pick and choose which parts of our lives Jesus can lead us in?

Check this out if you are a little curious.

Yes, these ideas might seem radical to the world but the Gospel is still the Gospel. When we are instructed to follow the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind how can you fail if you give yourself over as a bondservant? That is what Paul did and his life radically changed the world. Jesus promised us with His words and his life that these ideas might step on some toes, but a Kingdom-led heart is the type of heart that the Lord will use to transform hearts, save lives and change the world.

If that is radical, well then I want to be radical.

THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY WE’VE GOT!

Help the Lost.

Help the Broken.

Vision Sunday 2010 from Hillsong Church on Vimeo.

Passion is described as ‘any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.’ With that said, you could say that a person’s passion directly correlates with how much they love/hate the stated object. Now keep in mind that passion can does not have to be solely an extroverted emotion to be powerful and real. On the contrary, I would assert that introverted passion, used as fuel in the right ways, can be just as powerful to the person filled with that passion. Anyway you look at it, expressions that result from passion can be contagious and be used to ignite radical changes in a persons stemming straight from the person’s core – and that is extremely dynamic.

The reason I make these claims is to say that passion is deeply woven into our affections – our fond attachments, devotions or even our love – and our affections determine our actions. As a follower of Christ I am called to both cultivate and fight for my affection for Christ.  It is Christ who I love and choose to follow and thus all of my affection and passions must flow from that relationship.

At the beginning of the year, a roommate of mine introduced me to the teachings of Matt Chandler, the pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, Texas. I can’t believe I didn’t run across him before but in his walk with the Lord he makes sure that two things are being taken care of – 1) staying open/connected to the Father and 2) making sure that the things that stir his affection for Christ are being cultivated and the things that hinder that affection are being identified and dealt with.

Number 2 is HUGE. I have been looking through an extra lense lately and noticing that people who are cultivating those things that stir their affection for Christ are the ones that have a powerful relationship with the Lord. This cultivation, when continually applied, will turn your world upside down – guaranteed! When God-centered evaluation is a lifestyle you will always have THE true perspective. That is because we are no longer evaluating or cultivating ourselves but asking the Lord to do it. It is only then that our hearts will mirror His. And when that happens deep passion, authentic joy and true love radiate from our hearts and penetrate the lives around us. It is at that point, that eyes are opened to how glorious the love of Christ is and how it can overcome everything on this earth.

Tonight, I went over to a good friend’s house who is a devout Muslim. He is at the Masjid at least once a day and seeks to be truly submitted to God. He is currently studying Electrical Engineering as a pHD student from Pakistan. Obviously, he is very busy with is studies however he loves that I came over tonight and feels blessed by it. In fact he encourages me to come often, for he believes that mercy follows the hospitable. He will soon be over to my abode. He considers me a brother and we laugh and share thoughts about the world together, often caring more about one another than the world thinks we should.

This world can not divide what the Lord desires to make united. I love you God, You are truly glorious.

Pakistan

It was my birthday on the 16th; I am officially 24 years young! Praise God! Life has no guarantees and to be so healthy and awake to life at this time in my life I truly feel blessed. The fact is, we should always feel blessed, whether alive to the gospel of God and its ensuing grace or not… we are alive and that alone is worthy enough for a ‘joy bombing.’ 

This week everyone I know kept a secret from me and it turned out to be a secret that would bless me for a lifetime! Ha, I’m just sitting here at my ‘favorite little liberal coffee shop’ (as some like to call it) and pondering what that truly means. This is not just something that can be a blessing for a day or even a week but it can have a drastic impact on my life. For instance, I know deeply how much I am loved. Yes, I knew it before my birthday but I have never been blessed like I was this past Sunday, August 16th, 2009. It was powerful. It has lifted me up in a way that I have never felt before. 

I woke early Sunday morning thinking that I would be playing an early round of golf with my dad, seeing my friend Van baptized in the afternoon and spending my evening going to Midtown Community Church. That might not seem like a birthday but I was totally content with that and in many ways I believe it was the Lord who calmed my spirit to that agenda and I was actually full of joy for the day to begin. Well, my dad and I ended up not playing golf at dawn. I got out of the shower and and was greeted by my parents, a cup of coffee and a handful of cards. One was from my parents but the one that one dictate the rest of my day was from Claire (Preface- ADPi has rush all around my birthday and I knew I probably would not see her on my birthday because of it). It was a lovely card but at the end it told me to go to the West Egg and eat breakfast at 9:00am. I started laughing and I told my dad that Claire didn’t know we were playing golf and she thought I was going to my favorite breakfast spot. That’s when my dad said, “I think you should do what the card says.” HA, WHAT?!?! Funny joke….right? It wasn’t a joke. And that is how the day started. From then on I ended up going 8 different places and meeting people at each spot. It was incredible. Each person was there to meet me and later on at the right time they gave me the next card for the next location. 

Life is all about relationships.

That is why it was sooo special. It was a birthday that I was able to spend with all of my friends and I felt so encouraged that they wanted to be apart of it. Ha, even Midtown sang Happy Birthday to me so that I could get my next to last card! I was awe-shocked. Every time I read a new card I would start to tear up. I knew that I was getting my socks blessed off and I felt as though I didn’t deserve it. The reason I felt like I didn’t deserve it was because I live in a world that has not yet fully embraced the Kingdom of God. My birthday ushered in a Kingdom atmosphere. That is what life is about, ushering the Kingdom of God into this world through love and relationships. Claire set up everything and made sure it was executed right down to the second all because she knows the characteristics of the Kingdom of God. She is an Ambassador to that Kingdom, as am I.

Only Acts of the Kingdom can meet the needs of this world. We need more of these atmosphere shifts. Sooner, rather than later, these Kingdom pockets will collide and a truly Kingdom movement will take place. This movement will awaken a nation, a generation and a world to the Kingdom Love – the only love that can satisfy. Hearts will be opened and minds transformed, I tell you my friends that will be a glorious day! My brothers and sisters gave that love to me on my brithday…I cannot wait until this world can taste and experience that love on a daily basis, without ceasing! Thank you Jesus.

Two weeks ago I journeyed up to small town, North Carolina by myself not knowing what to expect. These are the events from that trip chronicled two days later by an email I sent out to close friends…

May this encourage you….
In January, I went to a good friend’s wedding and on the way back on an early Sunday morning I got a speeding ticket – 91 in a 70. In addition to that, the police officer tacked on a reckless driving charge to the original speeding citation. 

I did my research and it was not good. Citations similar to mine were running at $350 plus a 60-day suspension of my Drivers License in the state of North Carolina. To top it off, in Davidson county you had to show up to traffic court, no matter the speed (or hire an attorney). 

So Tuesday I left for Lexington, North Carolina to go to court. My mom and brother prayed with me before I left and I started the 5 hour drive up. I had been dreading the drive by myself. I felt like this was such a waste of time, money and energy. But the drive quickly passed and that night I settled into my hotel room so that I would be ready the next morning.

Most mornings, when I am at home, I try to use the same cup to drink from. It has a sunflower on it and on the other side it has the NIV version of Psalm 143:8 – “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you.” As I ate from my continental breakfast that morning, the words above quickly passed through my head. I should never have been going so fast on the highway, but the Lord was letting all of this happen so I had to focus on Him. It was hard because I just wanted to get out of there but He continued to have mercy on me. So I packed my bags, dressed up, and went to court.

Like all courtrooms it was packed with people, but I quietly found a seat in the front row and folded my hands across my lap. As I sat there I continued to pray. The officer started calling people up alphabetically. Thats when I heard the first story. A lady had been driving 9 mph over the speed limit and was in turn ordered to pay $15 plus a $121 court fee. At that moment, I had ceased praying and my heart dropped. Immediately in my head I added $121 to $350 and it did not look good. 

Another man came up and had a similar citation to mine and he was ordered to pay hundreds of dollars plus the court fee. Ahhhhhhh! This is not good for an unemployed college graduate. As you can tell at this point i had stopped my internal conversation with the Lord and fear had set in. 

Then the assembly-line like process had finally caught up to me and I was called to the appointed area. “Mr. Jon Christopher?” I responded nervously, “Yes, Ma’am?” Surprisingly she claimed, “Thank you for honoring this court and dressing up so nicely today, I really appreciate it!” “Your welcome, Your Honor,” was my response this time with more confidence. Then the prosecutor read off the citations and the Judge quickly chimed in. “How about we waive all of the offenses and give a docking fee of $50. Thank you for dressing so appropriately today and next time slow down (with a smile on her face).”

WHAT! Are you joking!?!?! 

I was given a ticket to hand to the cashier outside of the courtroom and I quickly walked out hiding the child inside of me that was overflowing with happiness and thanking God for the favor and blessings he had showered on the whole situation. It had been divine intervention! Nothing else could explain what had happened, not even the words I am writing to you know.

I gave the ticket to the cashier and she told me that everyone behind the counter had wondered if the Judge was ever going to do this again since she hadn’t given grace like this is years. She showed her co-workers the ticket and I couldn’t help my self. Ha, Praise the Lord! I payed my fee and left. I knew my dad, claire and my brother had been praying for me but at that moment my spirit could feel the presence of my moms prayers. I called her but of course she didn’t answer. Once she called back and I told her the story she almost started crying. She was so happy and told me that was exactly what she needed to hear. She had been praying for me and that morning there was a crisis in the family and she was having to be there for one of our cousins. It increased her faith and she continued to be faithful and be there for her cousin. In the end, I think it is safe to say that my trip ended up not being a waste of time, money and energy but a blessing in disquise!

I knew I was suppose to send this today. May it encourage you and increase your faith, for it has surely increased mine. 

Anything is possible with the Lord and may we seek His presence continually….
Psalm 105:4
Mark 10:27

The post is long, I know, but so refreshing. Talk about a favor shower that I did not deserve!

I titled it “Joy Bombing” for now because of a couple reasons….

1) JC Ryle claimed in the 1800s that “it is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or chilling look.” I agree.

2) and because I wanted to express my view of life from the title… I want to be a Joy Bomber – constantly raiding life around me with uncontrollable happiness and love that becomes infectious and pushes away the deadening hold the world has on us.

I think this is the start of something that will be very beneficial.