Zach Crowley . com

Be You

2012-02-27T15:41:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, God dropped a bomb on me...a spiritual bomb that is. I didn't see it coming, and it rocked my world. Naturally, I thought I would share it with all of you. So here we go. You can either live from a place of shame, or you can live from a place of authenticity.

I know some people who are very insecure. They are always trying to make sure they say and do the "right" things. Everything about them is a promotion of an image: their house, their clothes, and even their actions. They have this hyper self-awareness. Their thought life sounds something like this, "What are they thinking of me? What should I say? How am I appearing? How am I standing?". They are always watching themselves through this kind of "third eye."

Sound familiar?

I'm going to be real vulnerable with you today. Sometimes, I'm this type of person. Over-analyzing. Worried. Fearful. Concerned about my self-image. Here's what God told me: You can either live from a place of shame, or you can live from a place of authenticity. Often times, when we're concerned with what others think of us, it's because we are afraid of feeling shame. We are afraid to be our true selves because of the possibility that someone might not like us.

I've heard people say, "If people knew the real me, they wouldn't love me." The truth is, if people knew the real you, they could really love you! We have to take an "assertive stance" in life. This is where we relate to people using authenticity, openness and honesty. Psychologist Diana Fosha calls it "feeling and dealing." This is where the person matches up his inner feeling with his outer dealings.

Everyday we can choose to live from a place of shame or a place of authenticity. Have the courage to be who you are. Express your opinions. Embrace your personality. Be comfortable with the person God made you to be. As you do, you'll leave behind the shame and fear you've felt for so long.

Be you.

Zach

Laugh At Your Problems

2012-02-24T13:42:00.000-06:00

"You shall laugh at destruction and famine."

- Job 5:22 (NKJV)

Our verse for today seems strange the first time you read it. Laugh at destruction? Laugh at famine? That can't be right. Maybe that was translated wrong into English. Or, maybe it is correct. Maybe this verse holds a secret to getting through tough times.

When things in your life are going bad, it's easy to get down on yourself. When you are facing disappointments, your negative emotions will tell you to be down and discouraged. You'll feel self-pity trying to set in. In tough times, you run a greater risk of losing your joy. That's why this verse tells us to laugh at our problems. During these seasons of life, you have to find ways to experience laughter and humor.

If you become depressed, your brain activity shuts down, you lose your creativity, and you isolate yourself from friends and family. But the darkest days are when you need all of those assets the most. Being joyful by laughing and enjoying even the small things reduces the effects of stress, increases brain activity, and heightens creativity. All of these things can help you overcome your problems.

Laughter is one of the greatest stress relievers God has given us. One study showed that people who laugh regularly are 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack than those who don't. Today, find something funny that makes you laugh out loud. Not chuckle. Not laugh on the inside. Laugh out loud. Release that joy into the atmosphere so everyone can hear it. As you do, your natural endorphins will kick in, your stress will decrease, your brain activity will increase, and you'll experience inner joy that will carry you through your problems.

Live. Laugh. Love. Just For Today.

Zach

Magnify Your God

2012-02-23T15:05:00.002-06:00

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

- John 16:33

In the movie Patch Adams, Robin Williams stars as a charming, medical student who uses humor to help heal his patients. Early on in the movie, an interesting scene takes place between Patch and a patient named Arthur Mendelson. The two are seated next to each other, and Arthur grabs Patch's hand and holds up four of his fingers.

Arthur: "How many fingers do you see?"

Patch: "There are four fingers, Arthur."

Arthur: "No, no! Look at me."

Patch: "What?"

Arthur: "Look at me. You're focusing on the problem. If you focus on the problem, you can never see the solution. Never focus on the problem! Look at me. How many do you see? Look beyond the fingers. How many do you see?"

Patch: "Eight."

Arthur: "Eight. Eight! Yes, yes. Eight is a good answer. See what no one else sees. See what everyone chooses not to see out of fear, conformity or laziness. See the whole world anew each day!"

This little scene provides us with a life long lesson. Jesus told us that we would have a lot of problems throughout our life, but He also told us that He is the solution. You may be facing some problems today. You may be struggling financially or emotionally. Maybe it feels like your family is falling apart. Maybe you're facing overwhelming problems at work.

Here's what I know: if you magnify your problems, you'll minimize your God; but if you magnify your God, you'll minimize your problems. Like Arthur said, "If you focus on the problem, you can never see the solution." Instead of going around talking about how big your problems are, you need to start talking about how big your God is. Remember, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. Make the decision today to start magnifying your God. Start proclaiming all of His promises over your life, and step into the victory He has in store for you!

Let Go and Let God

2012-02-17T13:44:00.000-06:00

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

- Jeremiah 29:11

I was getting a massage one day and the therapist was working on my neck. She was moving my head around in all different directions. She told me to relax and allow her to control my head. She moved my head left, right, up and down. Again she said, "You have to relax and let go." Again she moved my head in all different directions. I was trying to let her control the movement, but I couldn't fight the urge to move my head myself. Again she said, "You have to let go." Then I remember shouting (in my head), "I don't know how to let go!"

The same can be true in our relationship with God. It can be extremely difficult to let go and let God. Our verse today tells us that God has a good plan for you. I know that can be hard to believe, but you have to change your attitude. Start saying, "I don't live by what I see. I live by what I know, and I know that God is good. I know that God is faithful." Just because it's dark right now doesn't mean blessing is not on it's way. Maybe it feels like wintertime in your life, but know that springtime is coming.

God's plan for you is to prosper. His plan includes hope and a future. The key is to surrender to Jesus. Many of us have no idea how to let go and let God. If you're like me, you're a control freak. But the sooner you come to terms with letting go, the sooner your life will begin to turn around. Your decision to let go will unlock the blessing of God on your life. As you give Him control, you'll begin to see more of his favor, protection and wisdom. Decide to be bold today. Decide to trust in His promise. Decide to let go.

You Are Set Apart

2012-02-07T10:47:00.000-06:00

"...I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations."

- Leviticus 20:24

Some of us come from a long line of alcoholics. Perhaps depression runs in your family. Maybe no one in your family has ever gone to college. Maybe a middle-of-the-road, barley get by mentality is all you've ever known. Sometimes our heredity can be so dark it seems impossible for us to overcome.

Here's what I know: You always have to overcome your history if you're going to touch your destiny. Our verse for today comes from Leviticus 20:24 where God said, "I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations." Your family may have a dark past. You, yourself, may even have a dark past. But God has a message of hope and healing for you today; you are set apart. You are called to overcome everything in your past. You are called to rise up and take a hold of an abundant life.

When doors look closed all around you, when your surroundings look limited, when you feel like you're in chains, remember, God is still at work. He's promised to walk with you all the days of your life. Keep your hopes up. Keep expecting. Keep believing. If you fall, get right back up and press forward with even greater determination because He promises to break the chains and open doors of opportunity in your life.

This is not a message from me. This is a message from God. God has set you apart. You were made for more. You're going to be the one in your family who breaks the addiction. You're going to be the one who rises up higher. You're going to be the one who overcomes depression. God is breathing new life and new hope in your direction today! Believe it, declare it and expect it!

You have been set apart!

Zach

Wrecking Balls & Scaffolds

2012-02-03T11:41:00.000-06:00

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

I've found that most people in this life will try to bring you down. They will try to tell you that you're not good enough, that you don't come from the right family, that you're too dumb, too old, too young, or too slow. I call these people wrecking balls. They're only satisfied when they're tearing someone else down. Long ago, I decided that instead of being a wrecking ball, I'd be a scaffold.

A scaffold is a temporary platform used to provide support for a raised framework. You, my friend, are that raised framework. You're trying to reach the next level in life. You're trying to rise up higher. If you're going to be successful in doing that, you need to surround yourself with people who are scaffolds. These are people who are there to temporarily provide you support. Scaffolds are the people who live out 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." These are people who speak words of favor over your life. They encourage you by saying you can accomplish your dreams. These are the ones who say, "You are valuable. You have something special to offer this world. You're a world-changer."

I constantly make sure that I'm surrounded by scaffolds. In addition, I make sure that I'm being a scaffold for others. Make a commitment today to become a scaffold. Start encouraging the people in your life. As you do, you'll start to draw in scaffolds around you. You'll start to find yourself surrounded by people who are for you, not against you. Rise up higher today. Climb the ladder to a better life, and make sure you take someone else with you.

Building you up,

Zach

Getting an F isn’t THAT Bad!

2012-02-02T17:05:00.000-06:00

I spend a lot of time around overstressed and overworked teenagers.Each one is desperately trying to get good grades. The fear of failure lurksaround every corner. Every time one of them starts to tell me how stressed outthey are about school, I tell them, “getting an F isn’t that bad.”

I mean honestly, even if you get an F on a test, you canalways do better on the next one. Even if you fail a class, you can always dobetter next time. I see so many teachers and parents putting too much emphasison what grade a student gets. School isabout learning, not grades. You can get straight A’s all through highschool and college, and still be an idiot. It’s about learning the material fora lifetime. It’s about training your brain to be a better sponge to soak upeverything life has to offer.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the purpose of grades.I mean, they do measure what we have learned. But I think we have taken it alittle too far. Maybe there should be less of a focus on getting straight A’s.Maybe the focus should be on getting our students to try their best and learn asmuch as possible. If the emphasisshifted from grades to learning, we would have students who would enjoy schoolmore. They would be excited about learning, because the fear of failurewouldn’t be hanging over them. Perhaps they would even be less stressed-out andable to enjoy their lives. I mean, they are still teenagers. They should beenjoying each day. They should be excited about their future. They shouldn’tfeel like they’re not good enough.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher or teenager, I’m glad youdropped by to read this. We should strive to do our best. We should be eager tolearn. But it’s not about gettingstraight A’s, and getting an F isn’t that bad. Learning is a lifelongprocess. Take your time. Enjoy the ride. Shift your focus from grades tolearning. As you do, you’ll rediscover the excitement behind learning newthings each day.

Next Level Faith: Expect It

2012-01-31T09:46:00.000-06:00

The point of this series is to take your faith to the next level. The first step in having an authentic faith in God is to Believe It. You have to believe in the promises of God no matter what circumstances you are facing. To read that post, click here. The next step is to Declare It. As you start declaring the goodness of God over your life, you will walk into the abundant life He has in store for you! To read that post, click here.

The final step is to Expect It.

Something special happens when you start expecting to beblessed. Most people never reach this level of faith. We all go through hardtimes. We all need a miracle sometimes. Sadly, most people sit back and say,“Well, if it’s God’s will.” But God didn’t create us to sit back and do nothing.God created us with will. He created us with a spirit.

Your will power can help you accomplish great things inlife. I’m not even talking about the Holy Spirit right now; I’m just talkingabout your spirit. Your will and determination can help you overcome a lot ofyour problems in life. Too many people are sitting back, waiting on God to dosomething in their life. It’s time you decided to do something with your life.It’s time you started going out with confidence, expecting for God to blessyour efforts.

Once you believe in the promises of God, it’s time to startdeclaring it. Once you make it a habit to speak words of faith, you can startexpecting God to bless your life. God does want to encourage you. He does wantto help you overcome your problems. He does want to give you hope and a future.It’s time you got up, went out, and starting expecting God to show up. Put someaction behind your faith, knowing that God has prepared the way. You should beso excited about who God is, that you can be excited about who you are inChrist. Expect His blessings today!

Believe it. Declare it. Expect it.

Zach

Next Level Faith: Declare It

2012-01-25T13:02:00.000-06:00

In yesterday's post I started a 3-part series that will help you take your faith to the next level. The first step in having an authentic faith in God is to Believe It. You have to believe in the promises of God no matter what circumstances you are facing. To read that post, click here.

"As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob."

- Psalm 75:9

Something special happens when you make the transition from believing to declaring. You see, believing is something that takes place on the inside of you, but declaring is when you start speaking words of faith over your life. Declaring is something you do when you step out in faith. It's where you say, "Okay God, I'm trusting in your Word. I'm taking a stand. I'm declaring Your blessings over my life!"

When you speak a blessing it is instantly released. God's favor instantly goes out. Genesis 27:33 says, "I have blessed him and it cannot be taken back. He will be blessed." Do you see how powerful a blessing is? When you speak it, it will happen! There is no stopping a blessing. Think of it this way, when you have a bow and arrow, once you pull back that arrow and release it, it takes off for its target. Speaking a blessing over your life is the same thing. Once you release that blessing, it takes off for its target. The best part is that speaking a blessing over your life is easy. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you are smart, funny, athletic, skilled, etc.

Today, put a focus on declaring the promises of God over your life. It's not good enough to simply believe it. Words have power. Use your words to declare favor and blessing over you, your family and your future. As you start declaring the goodness of God over your life, you will walk into the abundant life He has in store for you!

Believe it. Declare it.

Zach

Next Level Faith: Believe it

2012-01-24T11:48:00.001-06:00

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

- Matthew 21:22

The next three blog posts will be about taking your faith to the next level. Today we are going to start with Believe It. This is the first step in having an authentic faith in God. You have to believe in the promises of God no matter what circumstances you are facing.

Sometimes it can be hard to trust that God has your best interest at heart. It can be easy to look around at your life and feel defeated. Maybe things didn't work out the way you planned, but God is still in control. You have to choose to believe in His faithfulness every day. Our verse for today comes from the book of Matthew. It simply states that if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. That's a powerful statement! You will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. But notice what that promise is dependent on. It is anchored in your belief. You have the power to unlock God's blessings in your life. You just have to believe it.

Today, get your mind going in the right direction. Choose to believe in the Word of God. Choose to believe that He is faithful and that He has your best interest at heart. Your problems and circumstances can be terminated by the blessing of God. You just have to believe it. Have this attitude today, "I don't live by what I see, I live by what I know. I believe that God is for me, not against me. I am more than a conqueror. I have Almighty God working on my side!" As you take on that mentality, you'll rise up to the next level, and you'll begin to see the blessing of God poured out onto your life.

Believe it,

Zach

Seesaw: Worry & Worship

2012-01-18T15:03:00.000-06:00

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

- Matthew 6:27

In yesterday's blog post, I discussed how entitlement and gratitude are like a seesaw. When one goes up, the other one naturally goes down. To read that post, click here.

Today we are going to stick with the seesaw theme. Worry and worship share the same type of relationship as entitlement and gratitude do. You see, worry and worship are like a seesaw. When one goes up, the other one naturally goes down.

Jesus taught us that worrying can never add anything to our life. When we worry, we are really just wasting time. Time that was given to us by our Father. Time that is supposed to be spent bringing glory to Him. Mary Schmich once said, "Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum."

If you are worrying and stressed out, you are acting like there isn't a God! People should be able to look at your life and say, "Wow, you are dealing with so many different problems, and I can tell that you care and are responsible, yet you don't seem worried." When people think that way about you, you are able to show others the peace that comes from having a relationship with God.

The solution to getting rid of worry is to redirect your devotion. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Remember, in an instant, God can bring the right people into your life, the right opportunities, and the right resources to take you to a whole new level. But in order to go to a higher level, you have to have a higher way of thinking. You can’t allow worry and fear to fill your thoughts because fear actually blocks God’s blessing. Instead, fill your mind with the Word of God.

Make the choice today to raise your level of worship so you can lower your level of worry. Realize that God is watching over you. Start saying, "God is my protector. God is my provider. I will praise God during this trial. I don't live by what I see. I live by what I know, and I know my God is good. I know my God is faithful." As you do, your seesaw will shift. You'll become less worried, and you'll receive the full measure of God's blessings on your life.

Worry don't work,

Zach

Seesaw: Entitlement & Gratitude

2012-01-17T12:53:00.000-06:00

"Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation."

- Psalm 79:13

A few weeks ago I was on a spiritual retreat in Springfield, IL for a class called Shaping the Heart of a Leader. It was a week filled with peace, reflection and growth. Our days consisted of both class time and personal reflection time. During one of the class sessions, we took a 10-minute break to stretch our legs. During that break, a classmate and I walked over to a table that was filled with snacks. At the beginning of the week we were told that we could "make ourselves at home" and eat anything we wanted. As we were approaching the table, my classmate said, "I hope they refilled the snacks." I responded by saying, "They better have."

Instantly a little voice popped into my head saying, "Where did that sense of entitlement come from? They better have... Since when did I gain ownership of those snacks? When did I stop being grateful for what I had."

Here's what I know: entitlement and gratitude are like a seesaw. When one goes up, the other one naturally goes down. Sure I was hungry and wanted a snack, but that doesn't entitle me to have a snack. That food was a blessing. I just didn't realize it in the moment. The Psalmist says that we should give thanks to God forever and ever. That includes the snacks I thought I was entitled to. In that moment I had to readjust my attitude. I had to start counting my blessings.

Our sense of gratitude starts where our sense of entitlement ends. Make the choice today to lower your sense of entitlement so you can raise your sense of gratitude. Realize that we are entitled to nothing in this life. It's only by the grace of God that we can even get out of bed in the morning. Instead of saying, "I have to go to work today. I have to take care of my kids today. I have to do the laundry today." Start saying, "I get to go to work today. I get to take care of my kids today. I get to do the laundry today." Start realizing all of the blessings that God has given you. As you do, your seesaw will shift. You'll become more grateful. You'll start thanking God for His greatness. And you'll step into a life full of praise and blessing.

Gratefully serving you,

Zach

Peace in Christ

2012-01-16T09:45:00.000-06:00

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful."

- Colossians 3:15

Peace is something I have always longed for in life. I spent years searching every "nook and cranny" of this earth trying to find it. I tried to fill the hole in my heart with everything imaginable. I tried partying. I tried popularity. I tried responsibilities. I tried relationships. I tried athletics. I tried academics.

Then I tried Jesus.

Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Maybe you feel like you're living in the darkness today. Perhaps circumstances in your life feel like they are out of control. Worry and fear surrounds you. Peace is the last thing you have, yet it is the one thing you desperately need.

Maybe you're living in hate today. You're holding on to bitterness and anger. Someone did you wrong, and they "deserve" to pay. However, like MLK pointed out, hate cannot drive out hate. He understood the point of our verse for today; "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

So where does your peace come from? Money? Power? Popularity? I don't know about you, but for me, I'm choosing Jesus. In Him there is true peace. Peace that never ends and never leaves. Choose today to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, and have an attitude of gratitude toward the Lord. No matter what you are going through, know this: God is good, and He is with you. Believe it and declare it over your life today.

Peace be with you,

Zach

Designed

2012-01-02T21:00:00.001-06:00

"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made [designed]; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows very well."

- Psalm 139:14

Designed. It’s a word that means a thousanddifferent things for a believer. As Rick Warren said, “God invented us, like a man invents an engine. A car in made to run on gasoline and it would not run properly on anything else. God designed the human machine to run on himself. He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, there is no other.”

In the original Hebrew text, the word 'fearfully' means: with great reverence and heart-felt interest and respect. The word 'wonderfully' means: unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous. Let that sink in for a moment: When God designed you, he had heart-felt interest. He designed you to be set apart, unique and marvelous. Allowing those truths to sink into your spirit today can elevate you to the next level in life. It can help you get your joy back. It can help you change your attitude about yourself. You're not worthless; you were designed by God.

God wants to encourage us; He wants to help us grow in character. Each person is an artwork, a masterpiece by God. Scott Adams once said, “Creativity is allowing yourselfto make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” I think the same thing istrue for our lives. We are all a piece of art designed by the Ultimate Artist.We are not perfect; we have some mistakes. However that’s what makes usspecial. That’s what makes us art.

You are a beautiful piece of artwork. You were designed by the Ultimate Artist. You were made for more than an ordinary life. You're a victor, not a victim. Believe it and declare it over your life today. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Zach Crowley

Don't Judge, Just Love

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-06:00

Have you already decided what your New Year's Resolution is going to be? I'm willing to bet that your New Year's Resolution has something to do with changing a behavior. You probably want to add the behavior of working out. Maybe you want to get rid of the behavior of smoking cigarettes. But before you convince yourself you need to lose ten pounds and quit smoking, consider this: It's not about behavior modification, it's about spiritual transformation.

All of us have the ability to change and modify our behaviors. That's a skill we learned when we were very little. From the first time your mother yelled at you for putting a small object in your mouth, you began to learn right from wrong. When the new year approaches, everyone evaluates their life and attempts to change some behavior they don't like. The truth is, 50% of New Year's Resolutions will fail before the month of January is even over!

So what's the trick? How do we create a New Year's Resolution that will actually, permanently change who we are? Here's what I know: It't not about behavior modification, it's about spiritual transformation. Your Resolution shouldn't be something that can be measured by a scale or a number. Your Resolution should be focused on inner change, not outer change.

In 2012, make this your goal: Don't judge, just love. Now, I'm not simply talking about becoming better at monitoring your words and behaviors so you don't offend others. I'm saying, take off your eyes of judgement, and put on your eyes of love. You see, this type of goal will actually force you to experience spiritual transformation. You can't stop judging and start loving simply by guarding your behaviors. You have to actually reconstruct the way you see people.

Too often we judge people without knowing their stories. We haven’t walked in their shoes. We don’t know the struggles they’ve been through. We don’t know how they were raised. We don’t know the challenges they face. All we know is, “He sure is unfriendly.” Or, “She wears strange clothing.” Or, “He has some hang-ups.” The truth is, people are the way they are for a reason. If we took time to know their stories, we would be much more forgiving. If we understood the battles they’ve fought, the pain they’ve endured, the people who’ve done them wrong, we would give them a lot more mercy.

- "Every Day a Friday" by Joel Osteen

I’ve been forgiven much, so I try to love even more. If I err, I’m not erring on the side of judgment; I’m erring on the side of mercy. Our attitudes should be, But for the grace of God, that could be me. If not for God’s goodness, I could be struggling with an addiction. I could be insecure, angry, and dealing with all kinds of issues. I’m not judging. I’m showing mercy. I won’t be critical. I’ll be understanding.

My mission statement in life is this: I’m not the judge. God is the Judge. I’m not here to straighten everybody out. I’m here to help bring hope and healing. If you'll make sure you see people through eyes of love, not eyes of judgment, I believe God is going to give you more wisdom, blessing and protection in 2012 than you could ever image. I believe He will take you to places you've never even imagined. When you start seeing people how God sees people, you experience spiritual transformation that will last longer than any behavior modification can.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Zach

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What's Next, Papa?

2011-12-28T11:02:00.000-06:00

Picture a father and his young boy at an amusement park. They have been spending the whole day together; laughing, playing and enjoying each others company. They have been pigging out on the best food. Drinking the largest sodas. Riding the coolest and scariest rides. They just stepped off one of the best rides of the day. Each of them is wearing a smile from ear to ear. This could possibly be the best day of this young boy's life. As the two begin to walk away from the ride, the young boy tugs on the dad's shirt and says, "What's next, Papa?"

Here's what I know: if you're going to be successful, you have to be able to change. Life changes and you must adjust with it. My time at Parkview is officially over at the end of 2011. I have decided not to stay on staff. However, for the rest of the school year, I will still be involved as a volunteer at High School Relevant and Jr. High Energy. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Parkview staff and congregation. I have poured my heart and soul into this ministry and these students. In return, I have been blessed beyond compare. The lessons I've learned will stay with me for my entire ministry and life. I have a great sense of peace about my decision to leave. While I have absolutely no idea what my next step will be in life, I know this: I'm in God's hands. He is in complete control of my life. He brought me to Parkview, and now, for the time being, He is pulling me away from Parkview.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.

- Romans 8:15-16 (The Message)

These verses describe my life right now. I have an adventurously expectant attitude. I'm thankful for my past, but I'm excited about what God's getting ready to do in my life. God has given me a vision and mission for my life; help bring hope and healing to as many people as possible. I don't know where I'm headed next, but I know God has already gone before me. He's paving the way. He's directing my steps. I'm trusting in Him to make my paths straight as I follow him with an adventurously expectant attitude.

I feel like a little kid at an amusement park with his Dad. We have been spending the whole day together; laughing, playing and enjoying each others company. We have been pigging out on the best food. Drinking the largest sodas. Riding the coolest and scariest rides. We just stepped off one of the best rides of the day. Each of us is wearing a smile from ear to ear. This could possibly be the best day of my life. As we begin to walk away from the ride, I tug on my Father's shirt and say, "What's next, Papa?"

My Morning Routine

2011-12-27T11:53:00.000-06:00

Did you know that every morning youhave the opportunity to set the tone for your whole day? You have to wake up in the morning and get your mind going in the right direction. If you don't, the world will get your mind going in the wrong direction. You will start hearing those negative voices, "You can't afford to pay the bills. It's going to be a long day at work. Your marriage is failing. Why even bother? Quit trying to stay sober. Give up. Quit trying to accomplish your dreams. You'll never make it."

I like to work under the philosophy of Aristotle, who said, "It is well to be up beforedaybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom." I enjoy waking up early. That's how God designed me. Maybe you're the same way, maybe not. Either way, when you do wake up, you have to set the tone for the day.

Here's how I start every morning:

I watch a 2 minute leadership video from John Maxwell.
I read an email devotional from Pastor Joel Osteen.
I have coffee and breakfast while reading the Bible.
When I get into my car, I allow myself a moment to calm down and get in touch with the Spirit. Then I ask Him to bring to mind someone who needs prayer. This allows me to pray for people I normally wouldn't have thought about.

You should also establish a routine for yourself. If you don't like having a structured routine like me, here's a simple idea for you: Everymorning when you wake up, find a reason to give God thanks. Before you thinkabout your problems, thank God that you are alive. Thank God for your children. Thank God for you eyesight. Thank God you have a place to live. Thank God you have a job to pay the bills.

As you find a reason to givethanks, I believe it blesses the heart of God. When you put God first and decide to go out with a grateful attitude and a positive frame of mind, you'll not only feel better, but you're going to draw in the good things of God. You are paving the way for success and victory. If you'll stay positive, I believe He'll pour out more ofHis favor and blessing and lead you into the destiny He has in store foryou!

There I Was, There You Were

2011-12-27T11:43:00.000-06:00

This poem was inspired by my dear, good friend, Ryan Cooney.

There I Was, There You Were

by: Zach Crowley

There I was, there you were.

There I was, lost and alone.

There you were, happy and at peace.

There I was, scared and confused.

There you were, fearless and enlightened.

There I was, a lifeless soul.

There you were, a soul full of life.

There I was, with no reason to live.

There you were, with reasons to give.

There I was, in need of an angel.

There you were, eager to save me.

There I was, there you were.

I'll Shut Up Now

2011-12-24T13:58:00.000-06:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year! For the past week I've been trying to figure out what I should write for my Christmas blog this year.

At first I thought I would simply reinforce the idea that Christmas is all about Jesus. It's so easy to get swept away with different things during the Christmas season. It seems like the "to-do" list just continues to grow. As the stress increases, we get more and more distracted from the true meaning of Christmas. Here's the truth: God is perfect. Sinless. Holy. The rest of us, well, we are kinda the opposite of that. There is a gap between us and God. In order to bridge this gap, God sent his one and only Son into the world in the form of a man. On Christmas we celebrate his birth.

Then I thought maybe I would just talk about my Christmas experience this year. I feel more and more blessed by the Lord everyday. Now don't get me wrong, everything isn't perfect. There are plenty of problems in my life. I feel like my walk with Jesus is more like an uncoordinated stumble than a peaceful stroll. I heard this line in a song the other day, "God is good, but life's still hard." Ain't that the truth! Each day we can choose to focus on the negative, or the positive. Happiness is a choice, and we have to choose it. We have to constantly keep our mind going in the right direction.

Then I thought I might talk about our services at Parkview Christian Church this year. It was simply unbelievable. God is so good to us. We had Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a great sermon, and a candlelight ending as we sang "Holy Night." Everyone in the building walked away with an overwhelming sense that God was indeed WITH us. It is astonishing to think that Jesus came to our place, took our place, and invited us back to His place.

Finally, I realized this: God said it best, so I'll shut up now.

⁶ For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,

MIGHTY GOD,

EVERLASTING FATHER,

PRINCE OF PEACE.

⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be NO END.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on AND FOREVER.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

-Isaiah 9:6-7

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Is Everything Okay in Your Heart?

2011-12-20T13:44:00.002-06:00

Feel free to do this exercise as often as you want!

Is everything okay in your heart?
Are you mad at anybody?
Are you waiting for someone to come to you, to make things right?
Have you had any imaginary, extended conversations with anyone lately?
Do things come out of your mouth on a regular basis, that you have to apologize for?
Have you secretly celebrated somebody's failures in the last couple of days?
Anything going on that you hope nobody discovers?
Is there a question you hope nobody ever asks you?
Have you lied recently to somebody that you love?

"Heavenly Father, teach me to guard my heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Amen"

Joy and Meaning

2011-12-19T16:47:00.000-06:00

Joy and meaning are two things I feel we can never have enough of. Meaning is what drives us to get out of bed in the morning and accomplish our dreams. Joy is what sustains us throughout the day as we face hardships and setbacks. Yet I have found that we are a nation of exhausted and overstressed adults raising overscheduled children. We use our spare time to desperately search for joy and meaning in our lives. We think accomplishments and acquisitions will bring joy and meaning, but that pursuit could be the very thing that’s keeping us so tired and afraid to slow down.

A little while back, I challenged myself to figure out what were the keys to having more joy and meaning in my life. So I asked myself one question, "When things are going really well in my life, what does it look like?" Here are some of the answers I came up with:

I'm active in my faith (going to church, serving others, praying).
I'm reading a book for fun.
I'm waking up early in the morning.
I'm not worried about what other people think.
I'm not too busy. I make sure my schedule has room for the things that really matter.
I'm avoiding the temptation to be a perfectionist.

These are just some of the answers that I came up with. You're list might look similar, but most likely it will look entirely different. God created everyone with different passions and personalities. We all have different "things" that help us have more joy and meaning. This question helped me gain insight and wisdom into how God created me. It allowed me to see what pathways I had to take in order to have more joy and meaning. I pray that it will do the same for you.

So go ahead, get out a piece of paper, and ask yourself, "When things are going really well in my life, what does it look like?" If you have a family, you can do this exercise together. Ask the question, "When things are going really well in our family, what does it look like?"

Comment below and let me know what's on your list. I'd love to learn from you and so does everyone else who reads my blog. We all have something to offer. Let's get our joy and meaning back together!

Zach

Life is Your Playground

2011-12-06T09:48:00.001-06:00

"I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

- Luke 18:17 (NLT)

Most people think life is about going to college, getting a job, getting married, raising kids, and trying to save a little money. But if you ask me, I think that's a limited perspective. If that's your goal, you just limited your life. You just put up barriers that will prevent God from taking you to a higher level. Think about this: everything you know about life has been told to you by people who are no smarter than you. Don't just listen to their "rules" on life. Explore the world and make something more out of life.

Your life is what you make it. If you don't want limits on your life, don't put any. Don't tell yourself you could never be extremely successful. Don't tell yourself you can't do this or that. Life doesn't have to be so structured. It doesn't have to follow the same patter as everyone else. When you start evaluating your life based on its similarity to others, your life loses its uniqueness. You become bland. You become ordinary. The truth is, God didn't create you to be like everyone else. Your life isn't supposed to look like your friends. You are unique. You are special.

Life is your playground. Swing on the swing. Climb on the monkey bars. Slide down the slide. Sure, you'll get some bumps, bruises and scratches along the way. But hey, that's part of the journey. Quit looking at life like it's some ordinary, structured routine. You are meant to live an adventurous life. Once you realize that life's greatest adventures are waiting just beyond the limits of carefulness, you'll begin to experience the life God has planned for you.

Have fun,

Zach

Quit Filling Up On Junk Food

2011-12-04T16:12:00.001-06:00

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

- Romans 12:2 (NLT)

The human brain is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Regardless of you IQ, you have a very powerful weapon at your disposal. The problem with such a powerful weapon is that it can be used for good or evil. Your thoughts have to power to lift you up, and they have the power to drag you down. They can help you achieve the next level in life, or help you go backwards.

Our culture is all too ready to infiltrate your mind with negative ideas and thoughts. There are countless television shows that are highly inappropriate and negative. Yet, these shows are on during primetime hours every day of the week. I'm talking about shows like, "How I Met Your Mother" "Family Guy" "South Park" and several others. These shows are filled with vulgar language and inappropriate concepts. In addition, they glorify alcohol and sex. Is it any wonder why there are so many unplanned pregnancies in the United States? Don't let me get started on the music that is "popular" nowadays. I don't think I even need to make a case that these songs do not glorify God.

I've learned this concept in life: if you put junk in, you'll get junk out. If you don't want to become like the people you see on TV, don't watch them! If you don't want to end up like the people singing those songs on the radio, you shouldn't listen to them. If you don't want to end up like the people in the magazines, you shouldn't read them. What you give your attention to will shape your heart and character.

God's Word makes it very clear that we are not supposed to copy the behavior and customs of this world. Your mind is the most powerful tool you have; don't waste it. Instead of filling your mind with inappropriate jokes, fill it with uplifting scripture. Instead of watching that TV show, watch a sermon on iTunes. Get your mind going in the right direction. Take ahold of every thought and make it obedient to Christ. Remember, what you put in is what you get out. If you put junk in, you will get junk out. Start filling your mind with God honoring things, and He will supply you with a blessed, flourishing life.

Zach

Don't Give Up

2011-12-02T12:44:00.001-06:00

"Let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."

- Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

It can be easy to feel like giving up. There are so many forces working against you. Some days it can even be hard to get out of bed. Maybe you are ready to give up today. You might be ready to give up on your marriage. You might be ready to give up on your kids. You might be ready to give up at work or school. You might be ready to give up on your dreams. Maybe you're even ready to give up on life all together.

Let me encourage you today. Don't give up. Instead of walking around talking about how big your problems are, start talking about how big your God is. When you start speaking praises over your life, all the forces of heaven will be called to attention. I can just imagine God, sitting on His throne in heaven, saying to the angels, "Look at my child. Can you hear the praises that are coming from his mouth? I'm going to bless him for his faithfulness!"

Scripture tells us that at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. I know it may seem impossible right now, but change your attitude. Start saying, "I don't live by what I see. I live by what I know, and I know that God is good. I know that God is faithful." Just because it's dark right now doesn't mean blessing is not on it's way. Maybe if feels like wintertime in your life, but know that springtime is coming. Don't give up on your marriage. Don't give up on your dreams. Don't give up on your life. Instead, lift up your head and get ready for the new things God is going to do.

Don't give up,

Zach

Run Your Own Race

2011-12-01T16:55:00.001-06:00

"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."

-1 Corinthians 9:24

It's very easy to feel insecure nowadays. There are people all around us who we admire and look up to. The media bombards us with ideas about the "right" clothes to wear and the "right" cell phone to have. To add to this, the internet now provides us with a "best life" snapshot. When you read somebody's tweets or scroll through their photos on Facebook, you're seeing a snapshot of somebody's best life. You see, the problem with comparing yourself to others is that you don't know the story behind the glory. No one is perfect. Everyone else is just as jacked up as you are. The sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be.

Or how about this, ever worried about saying the right things at the right times? Ever get caught up in your worries about acting the right way? Researchers found that 25 percent of the people you meet will not like you. The next 25 percent won’t like you but could be persuaded to. Another 25 percent will like you but could be persuaded not to, and the final 25 percent will like you and stand by you no matter what.

At some point, you have to come to the realization that you can't please everyone. No matter how hard you try, there will always be someone who doesn't approve of what you are doing. There will always be times where you do or say something that you shouldn't. This strive for perfection will wear you out.

When you get to heaven, God is not going to compare you to your friends. God's not going to compare you to your pastor. God's going to compare you to you. The good news is, nobody can be a better you than you. Start running your own race. Be comfortable with the person God made you to be. You can't get distracted and lose your focus by comparing yourself to others. You don't have to impress anybody. You have nothing to prove. Be secure in who you are.

Run your own race,

Zach

You Matter More Than You Think You Do

2011-11-30T15:23:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I wrote about how there are so many people walking around feeling defeated. They feel like they are failing in life. I stressed the importance of knowing that you're doing better than you think you are. To read that post click here

As I kept thinking about this concept, I realized there is another piece of information that you need to know: You matter more than you think you do.

You would be surprised at how many people feel worthless. They feel like they are not doing anything valuable with their time. They feel like they don't matter to God. They feel like they don't matter to others. That negative mindset can keep you locked down forever. You need to let this truth sink down inside you: you matter more than you think you do.

I feel like you can never have enough affirmation. But sadly I think most people are on an overload of condemnation. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: God doesn't work on condemnation; that's the enemy's tactic. Jesus wants to set you free with affirmation.

If you suffer from depression that can be a really difficult sentence to believe. You might be saying, "Well Zach, if you knew what I've done you wouldn't say that about me. If you knew how worthless I feel, you wouldn't say that." But the truth is, you're not useless. You matter so much more than you think you do. You know how I know that? Because you can tell the worth of something based on the price that was paid for it by someone who knows the value of it. Jesus bought you with His precious blood. So don't tell me you don't matter.

You need to shake off that negative mindset. Quit buying the Devil's lives. Start telling yourself, "I am valuable. I am desirable. I am lovable. I am acceptable." If you'll go around with those thoughts playing in your mind, you'll begin to see your value change. You'll begin to see just how much you matter to God.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made! ~ Psalm 139:14

Zach

You're Doing Better Than You Think You Are

2011-11-29T22:04:00.001-06:00

Tonight I asked a group of high schoolers to raise their hand if they felt like they were failing in life or if they felt like they were failing Jesus. I was expecting maybe 2 or 3 of the students to raise their hand. To my surprise, 8 out of 10 raised their hand! That's 80% of my group that thinks they are failing.

Do you think you're failing in life? Do you think you're failing Jesus?

Here's what I told my group; you're doing better than you think you are. They made the effort to come to church on a Tuesday night. God sees that, and He will honor their efforts. I have found that most people will try to bring you down in life. They will tell you that you're not good enough. They will make you feel guilty. Here's some advice: don't be one of those people. You need to build yourself up, not tear yourself down.

Can I let you in on a little secret? You're doing better than you think you are. God watched you take time out of your day to read this. He knows your heart. He sees you're trying. Stop walking around feeling defeated. Stop feeling guilty. Guilt puts you on a treadmill; you're constantly working and struggling and sweating, but you don't move forward. It's time you got off that treadmill. When you face a disappointment, your negative emotions will tell you to be down and discouraged. You'll feel self-pity trying to set in. But instead of submitting to those negative emotions, encourage yourself: Get up. Be strong. There are good days up ahead.

It's time you started building yourself up. Start telling yourself, "I am intelligent. I am successful. I am a victor, not a victim." If you'll go around speaking favor and blessing over your life, God will cause you to increase. Remember this saying: If you complain you remain, but if you'll praise you'll be raised. Wake up in the morning and get your mind going in the right direction. Set the tone for the day, and become the person God created you to be.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made! ~ Psalm 139:14

Zach

P.S. You also matter more than you think you do. Click here to find out why.

3 Ways to Stay Thankful After Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:58:00.001-06:00

Well, it’s that time of year again. We relax. We reflect. Weenjoy family, football and food. The holidays are in full swing, whether youlike it or not. As always, Thanksgiving has been smashed somewhere betweenTrick-or-Treating and cookies for Santa. Nevertheless, it’s probably myfavorite holiday of the year. No hustle and bustle, just family and food.

The infamous question has arisen once again, “What are youthankful for?” For some, this stands as an easy question to answer. In the pastyear, some have experienced increase, blessings and abundant life. However, ifyou’re like most people in America, you have experienced decrease, struggle andexhaustion. The economy continues to put strain on our bank accounts, families,relationships and hearts. But you know something; God’s economy is not man’seconomy. It’s time you quit living in doom and gloom and started living inbloom. You’ve got to stand up, put your shoulders back, and make the decisionto be thankful.

Look around at your life; sure some things are bad, but somethings are good. You still have a house. You still have Internet. You stillhave love. You still have family. You have much to be thankful for, but youmust choose to express gratitude. You see, having joy is a choice. A choicethat very few people make. Let me offer you three quick tips to help youexperience joy regardless of your circumstances:

1. Happiness is a choice – and you have to choose it

2. Know what to ignore – don’t let little things steal your joy

3. Travel light – forgive a lot and pitch the baggage of hurt andbitterness

Your joy is a gift from God. Don’t give that gift away. Theperson who cuts you off in traffic doesn’t deserve your joy; don’t give it tothem by getting angry. Your boss doesn’t deserve your joy. Your way probably isbetter, but it’s not worth your joy. Sure gas prices are rising, but it doesn’thave to cost you your joy. After Thanksgiving is over, don’t go back to yourold “doom and gloom” mentality. Stand up and begin to get your joy back. Ifyou’ll stay in a thankful state of mind, I believe God will bless you with anabundance of joy, peace and love. Start your day off by reading these threetips. Write them down and keep them with you in the car, in the office and atyour home. You have to constantly choose to be thankful and joyful. As you do,God will raise you up to be the person you were created to be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Zach

I Have Hope

2011-11-17T20:19:00.001-06:00

This post is for the 19 million people who suffer from depression in the USA!

What Depression Feels Like:

Life is pointless. Even on a good day, you know a bad day ison its way. Depression sucks. It sucks your soul dry. Your spirit fades. Peoplecan see it on your face. They say, “You look tired today.” You politely nodyour head and say that you are. And so the lie continues. Deep down you’dreally love for someone to sit down with you, give you a hug, and cry with you.But no one does, because they don’t see it. By now you’ve learned how to maskyour depression. People don’t see it. If they would only look closely, theywould see that the real reason you don’t want to go out at night is becauseyou’re depressed. You’re not too busy, you’re just depressed. So what are yousupposed to do?

Depression makes you feel like you have nowhere to go. And evenif you had somewhere to go, you wouldn’t know how to get there. So you dragthrough the day wearing your fake smile. Heck, you even drink a cup of coffeeso that you can have some fake energy. At this point, you’ll take anything thatmight help. Yet at the same time, you know there are certain behaviors thatwill only make you feel worse. And even though you know that, you still do those behaviors. Even the motivation to get better is fading. You feel like Goddoesn’t even hear your prayer. Why won’t he answer you? You don’t like feelinglike this. You don’t want to be down like this. You don’t want to be depressedlike this. You want to get back to a place where you can serve Him. But youdon’t know where to go, and every time you try, there seems to be somethingstronger pushing back against you, keeping you locked in.

Perhaps the greatest struggle in having depression is thecompeting voices of God and Satan. Satan’s number one goal in depression is toget you to doubt the goodness and the greatness of God. On the other hand, Godis trying to get you to believe in His goodness and greatness. And in reality,God is good. We've got to believe that. We've GOT to believe that. That’s what givesus hope. God can heal depression. Now, he can use manmade tools such asmedication and therapy. But I find extreme comfort in knowing that God can healdepression.

You have to remember that depression is not a sin. Don’tfeel bad just because you feel bad sometimes. Just because you have a greatcalling on your life doesn’t mean you wont go through great seasons of sadness,depression and struggle. Often times, those who have the greatest calling ontheir life have to go through the most to be who God’s called them to be and todo what God’s called them to do. So don’t think God can't use you just becauseyou’re down sometimes. I hate when people give people a hard time becausethey’re struggling. What that does is it condemns them even more and now notonly are they down about what’s going on in their life; they’re down becauseyou’re down on them because of what’s going on in their life. And instead ofraising somebody up, we just beat them down!

Why don’t you get a little bold today, shout out “I havehope.” No literally, don’t just read it, shout it out loud. Right now, rightwhere you are. Declare that statement over your life. By doing that you’retelling Satan, “I’m not buying your lies anymore! I’m choosing a new report.I’m choosing to believe in the goodness of God. I’m choosing to live in Hislove!”

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, forhis compassions never fail.  23 Theyare new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  24 Isay to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I willwait for him.”

- Lamentations 3:21-24

Time is Money

2011-11-16T11:21:00.001-06:00

You've heard the saying, "time is money." Most people think if you use your time wisely, you will earn more money. But just how much is your time worth? I recently heard a story about how an airline company was fined for keeping passengers waiting on the runway for 3 hours! The company was fined $27,500 for each passenger. Do the math. That's $9,167 per hour. You can't tell me your time is not valuable, it's worth over $9,000 an hour!

So there you have it, your time is worth $9,167 per hour.

However, the funny thing about time is that it is the great equalizer in our world. It's constant; never changing. What does change is our value of time. Some people have too much time on their hands, so they don't value it as much. They tend to be less productive and goal-oriented in life. Other people have too little time, so they are always in a hurry. This is father who works 60 hours a week. Or the single mother who works full time and raises her kids, just barley getting by. Or it could be the child who not only goes to school all day, but is also involved in sports, clubs, and youth group.

Sometimes, our days can be so full and busy that we forget how fragile life really is. It can be easy to allow little things to creep in and steal our joy. Resist that temptation! Your time is more valuable than you think! Don't waste it by being upset and stressed out. We have to remember that each day is a gift. If we choose to focus on what's wrong, we'll miss the beauty that each day has to offer. Don't wait for holidays and birthdays to show people that you care. You have been given time that can be invested or wasted.

Everyday God gives you 86,400 seconds. Atthe end of the day those seconds are gone, and you can't get them back. Are you spending them improvingyour life and the lives of people around you? Or are you wasting them?

God is love,

Zach

If Satan Had a Podcast

2011-11-03T19:36:00.003-05:00

Attention = Direction = Destination Whatever you pay attention to, will determine the direction you go, which will determine your destination. So many people who are struggling and going through hard times say, "I have no idea how I got here." Sure you do. You payed attention to negative things, which took you in a negative direction, which led to your negative destination. If you want to rise up to a higher level of living, you have to stop subscribing to Satan's podcast. Don't know what I'm talking about? It sounds something like this...

You will never be good enough. You've put on weight. People just pretend to like you. You're socially awkward. You're not as good as that guy. You're a fraud. You know God doesn't love you, especially since you keep doing that one sin. Why don't you just give up? It's always your fault. You are to blame. You're worthless. Better try harder. Better earn the approval of others. Better stop doing that. Better start doing more of that. You don't pray enough. You don't read your bible enough. Better act like you have it all together. If people knew the real you, they wouldn't love you.

Maybe it's time you stopped listening to all those lies. In the book of Revelation, Satan is called the accuser. It says that he accuses the people of the earth day and night. If you're feeling ashamed and guilty today, that's the work of Satan. You need to unsubscribe from his podcast. You need to meditate of what God says about you. You need to subscribe to God's podcast.

I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
The Son has set me free. I am free indeed! (John 8:36)
My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Nothing can ever separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)
In all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
My light and momentary troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me. (Ephesians 3:20)
God is for me! Who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)

If you will meditate on these verses throughout the day, I believe the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to stay positive. Now, I'm not saying that you won't have any problems throughout the day. But what I am saying, is that the Word of God has the power to drive out those negative thoughts. Start downloading the content that will give you hope. Remember, Attention = Direction = Destination

We Didn't Lose, We Won

2011-10-30T09:52:00.001-05:00

Well, that's a wrap gentlemen. My beloved Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker last night to Mokena 32-31. My boys played their hearts out all game. I am blown away by the love they have for each other. They bonded together all season long, and it was that bond that took them deep into the playoffs. These boys aren't just teammates; they're brothers, friends, partners and comrades.

Like I said in the beginning of the season, my job as a coach is to produce winning athletes, not a winning record. Don't get me wrong, I love to win. But teaching them life lessons in humility, honor and respect is more important. After my players lost and shook hands with Mokena, they immediately ran over to the end-zone and created a tunnel by forming two lines. You see, after our game Homer and Dolton were scheduled to play each other. Homer was a team that we had a great deal of respect for. Their players and coaches were always kind and respectful towards us.

So when are game was over, my players decided that they wanted to create a tunnel for the Homer team to run through while taking the field to play Dolton. Our coaching staff didn't tell them to do this, they simply did it on their own. So, with sorrow in their hearts and tears in their eyes, these boys stood in two lines and cheered on another team. In that moment I realized something: we didn't lose, we won.

Here was a group boys who just had their dreams shattered, and their first response was to cheer for an opposing team. I have never been around a group of young men who would even consider doing something like that. I am still in awe at the class and respect that was displayed by my players. That one, unselfish act demonstrates the character that these young men have. Each one of them has a very bright future ahead of them in football. More importantly, they have a bright future ahead of them in life. The character that these boys have will allow them to accomplish all of their dreams. Remember to dream big boys, because there's no limit for young men like you!

Today, my heart is filled with a sense of accomplishment, because we didn't lose, we won.

God bless,

Coach Zach

Life Is Like a Box of Onions...?

2011-10-25T10:41:00.001-05:00

Cutting up an onion is always terrible. No matter how hard I try, I always end up crying. While shopping in a small-town store, I noticed they had "Onion Goggles." These were HUGE goggles that you could wear while cutting up an onion to prevent crying. I remember thinking to myself, "That's so ridiculous." Yet, a small voice in the back of my head said, "I wonder if they work?"

Life is like a box of onions, you never know what you're gonna get. We spend so much time planning out our steps in life. We organize and strategize with the idea that it will lead us to the life we want to live. When in reality, we have no idea what's in store for us. Only God, the one who created you, know's what you were created to become. Only He can see the final product. Only He can peal away the layers of your onion.

"A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?

- Proverbs 20:24

It's good to have a plan. It's good to be organized. It's good to have dreams. But many of us forget that it's the Lord who directs our steps. It's the Lord who understands the way, not us. Trying to direct your own steps in life is like cutting up an onion; you will end up crying, I promise.

Figuring out who you were created to be is a lifelong process. A process that only God can bring about. Every once in a while you do something that surprises you, and you catch a glimpse of the person you were made to be. You help someone nobody else noticed. You get a good grade after studying hard. You have patience with your children. You have patience with your grandparents. You give a compliment to someone you love. You refrain from saying something you normally would.

As you do, you catch a glimpse of why God made you. He just pealed away another layer from your onion. You can see, for a fleeting moment, who God created you to be. Only God knows who you were created to become, and He is continually guiding you toward that version of yourself. It's a lifelong process, which can sometimes be discouraging. Ready for the good news: God's not discourged. He is patient and persistent, and He is more concerned with you reaching your full potential than you are.

Running Though of the Day: "Am I letting God peal away the layers of my onion or am I trying to cut up the onion by myself?"

The Porn Pandemic

2011-10-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

The other day I was visiting another church and had some time to kill. They had a "library" there so I browsed around and found the book, "Eyes of Integrity: The Porn Pandemic and How It Affects You" by Craig Gross. Before I knew it, I had "read" (skimmed) through the entire book. This is a topic that greatly interests me. I have found that the #1 problem for teenage boys is pornography. I have watched students become engulfed in the world of porn. It consumes their thoughts and causes them to doubt their salvation. Here are the thoughts and tips I took from this book. All of the following is taken from Craig's book:

"Porn takes people farther than they want to go, costs more than they want to pay, and keeps them longer than they want to say."

"Porn is a 57-billion dollar industry making more than the combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball teams in America."

"Curiosity is usually the first step to an all-out addiction."

Identify the Level of Addition

First you need to figure out if you are addicted and what level of addiction you have.

0 - The person has never been exposed to porn and would not know what it is.

1 - The person has had brief expose to some visual stimuli but is unaware to some stimuli but is unaware of the effects of full nudity.

2 - The person has had exposure to full sexual content and is curious about it; when viewed, an internal urge desires more.

3 - The person has viewed porn and has a lingering desire for it. If given an opportunity, the person will engage with it.

4 - The person thinks about porn, pursues it, hides it, wants it, and consumes it regularly.

5 - The person can't go a day without it.

So where do you fall on this scale? Are you a 2? How about a 4? What if your a 5? If you find yourself on the higher end of the scale, you NEED to implement the following practical advice into your life.

Go online where other people can see you.
Download X3Watch onto your computer.
Keep your spouse/girlfriend in the loop.
Use positive visual triggers. This means keeping a bible verse on a post-it note near your computer. Or you can print out this blog and keep it next to your computer. Or, you can use any other visual reminders that might help you.
Remember the real story behind porn. If you don't know the real story, click here.
Talk about it. Get an accountability partner who will ask you the tough questions and keep you committed to the process of becoming free from porn.
Bring resources to others. Share this blog with someone you know who is struggling or tell them to go to http://www.x3watch.com/
If you mess up, own it. You have been living a life of lies long enough. It's time to be honest with yourself and a trusted person.
Have a purpose for being online.
Remember, there is help. There is freedom from porn in Jesus Christ.

I hope you were able to find this information useful. The church needs to step up and talk about this issue more. The less we talk about it, the more shame a person feels when struggling with it.

Do you have any practical tips to overcoming porn? Please post them below in a comment.

I Get by With a Little Help From My Friends

2011-10-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

Life is hard. Plain and simple. There's no way around it. There is no easy road. There is heartache around every corner. As Pastor Rick Warren says, "Life is a series of problems: Either you're in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one." But that doesn't mean we can't have hope!

Earlier today I was going through an old phone of mine, and I found a text message that I had saved on it. I can still remember the moment I received that text. It had been a long, January night in 2010. I had been texting back and forth with my best friend, Kevin. We were talking about life and the struggles we were facing. During that season of my life, I was feeling defeated. I was confused why God had allowed certain things in my life. I was lost and hurting. I was longing for more purpose and passion. I'll admit, I was having a poor outlook on life. Doubt filled my mind.

"How can God use a sinner like me to do anything good?"

"Why would God let bad things happen to me?"

"Would it be easier to just give up?"

"Why is God always picking on me!? Why doesn't He go pick on someone else?"

"How am I supposed to overcome all that life has thrown at me?"

Then Kevin sent me this message, "You will see the reason one day. When you are helping other people through your stories it will all make sense why God had that path and plan for you." The moment I received that text, I felt the presence of God with me. I immediately got tears in my eyes. I knew Kevin was right. Some day, it would all make sense to me.

In that moment, Kevin gave me the hope that I couldn't seem to find for myself. He helped me change my perspective on the entire situation. Sometimes, I get by with a little help from my friends. Sometimes, that's all we can do.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." -Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Shot to the Heart and You're to Blame

2011-10-10T11:51:00.001-05:00

Imagine someone walked up to you and shot you in the heart with an arrow. You wouldn't only be mad at that person, you would be in a ton of pain! Now, if you were smart, you would get to the hospital as soon as possible. Then, they can take out the arrow and your heart could begin to heal.

So if that's the smart thing to do, why don't we do it?

When I look around the world, I see three types of people:

Not saved, not free
Saved, but not free
Saved and free

Some people are not saved, because Jesus is not their Lord and Savior. If thats you, I invite you to click here and discover who He is.

There are also a few people in the world who are both saved and free. They know Jesus Christ, and they are living the abundant life He promised us.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destory. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly"

Then, there are the rest of us. The "saved but not free" people. We know Jesus, but we don't know this abundant life He talks about. We are walking around defeated, hurt and tired. You see, we have all been shot in the heart with an arrow before. In fact, we have been shot by many arrows. Now, I don't mean litterally shot with an arrow, but mentally, spiritually and emotionally. We have all been hurt by people in the past. We have been mistreated by our parents, abused by our boyfriend/girlfriend, and made fun of by our peers. Sometime, we even shoot ourselves in the heart. We get caught up in sins that bring us pain and discomfort. They tear at our soul and wear down our heart.

Every time we see that person, or think of that situation, its like that person is pushing that arrow deeper into our heart. The pain is real. The emotional scars are deep. We need healing. We need someone to remove the arrows from our hearts. That someone, is God.

God alone has the power to bring you healing. God can and will remove the arrows from your heart, but you must let Him. This means you need to learn to accept grace and love from Him and others. You need to allow those concepts to work on your heart over a long period of time. You need to go deeper in your relationship with God and your relationship with others. Maybe you need an accountability partner. Maybe you need a counselor. Maybe you need a mentor.

If you want healing for your heart, get it! Don't wait until tomorrow. Start right now by clicking here. There is freedom, healing and hope waiting for you in the arms of Jesus.

Running Though of the Day: "I want to be saved and free!"

Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would

2011-09-30T15:55:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading the book, “Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would” by Chad W. Thompson. This turned out to be a fantastic book thatwill prove beneficial in my ministry and life. I wanted to write this blogsimply to share Thompson’s insights on the topic of homosexuality. Thefollowing is a list of passages or phrases that I highlighted from this book.

The Cause ofSame-Sex Attraction

“…environmental factors such as a child’s relationship to his peers and sexual abuse or molestation can affect sexual development.”

“…most researchers have come to the conclusion that sexual orientation is likely determined by a complex interaction between a person’s genetic makeup and their environment.”

“…anything that creates a sense of disconnect between achild and his or her gender can cause homosexuality.”

“It seems apparent that some homosexuals choose as sexualobjects people who have characteristics – physical, personal or both – in whichthey themselves feel deficient.”

“If I do experience homosexual attractions toward anotherman, it just means I’m not receiving enough of the right kind of love…”

“Homosexual behavioris, obviously, something people must choose to engage in, just as heterosexualbehavior is, but neither homosexual nor heterosexual orientation is initially a choice.”

“In joining with the same sex erotically, the needy childwithin seeks in adult form the affirmation and emotional intimacy from the samesex that was never properly attained in childhood.”

“Richard Cohen writes, ‘A man is looking for his fathers’love through another man, and a woman is looking for her mother’s love throughanother woman.’”

Help for Those WhoWant to Change

“No one, gay, straight, or ex-gay, should feel shunned intosilence about what is certainly a traumatic struggle.”

“Nonsexual affirmation, when properly internalized, willdevour homosexual attractions. But homosexual strugglers require a constantstream, not a single dose.”

“…nonsexual touch, surrogate, and camaraderie – have beencrucial to my healing process because they all facilitate the retrieval ofgender identification.”

“For me, the ability to show vulnerability around my malepeers has been particularly significant to my progress in overcominghomosexuality.”

“The most powerful healing agent in my life has been thepresence of real life men who have offered me the nonsexual and nonromanticlove I’ve needed…”

“…to undergo the process of change using any method thatdoes not include fervent, personal prayer is useless.”

“The process of change takes time because it rides on the sanctificationprocess, which is a lifelong process…but a genuine desire to change, coupledwith a spirit of prayer and a strong support system, can overcome allobstacles.”

“For a list of psychotherapists trained in this area,contact the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.Their website is www.NARTH.com .”

How Should LovedOnes Respond?

“How would Jesus love?” This is the question we must askourselves daily. In all situations, regardless of the people involved, we mustask, “How would Jesus love?”

“Jesus didn’t wait for us to acknowledge our sins beforefilling us up with his love (1 John 4:19).”

“One man put it well when he said, ‘As a gay man, I’ve foundit’s easier for me to get sex on the streets than to get a hug in church.’”

“So we must show love to homosexuals regardless of whetherthey want to change. Real love does not demand anything in return.

“…one can take a stand against the mistreatment ofhomosexuals without supporting homosexuality.”

“I did not tell anyone they had to change anything about themselves.”

“Paul knew the Holy Spirit would eventually address the sinin their lives (1 Corinthians 4:5).”

“Paul wanted so much to win the Gentiles over that he waswilling to present a morally neutral position on idolatry in order to findcommon ground with them.”

“…recognize that many people who struggle with their sexualorientation, whether gay or ex-gay, are scared to death that they’ll berejected by their friends and family if they disclose this struggle.”

“…remember, no strings attached. You are not trying tochange them; you only want to love them.”

“Ed Dobson, pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids,Michigan, writes, ‘If a new convert leaves a life of drug addiction, but sixmonths later falls back into the habit, we usually demonstrate patience andunderstand. But when it comes to homosexual behavior, if someone reverts tothat lifestyle after conversion, we often show little grace.”

In summary, in order to help someone who struggles withsame-sex attraction, we must first love them (regardless of whether they wantto change). Jesus became flesh when he entered into our world to love us. Wemust “become flesh” to those who are around us. The best way to “become flesh”to people is to identify with them. This will allow God to create opportunitiesfor you to share your faith with them. LikeI’ve always said, people wont care that you know until they know that you care.

It's Time to Rotate

2011-09-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I woke up early one morning and couldn't fall back asleep. I decided to go outside and watch the sunrise. As I relaxed and enjoyed this beautiful moment, a thought occurred in my mind. "If God can rotate the planets, He can rotate my desires."

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

- Galatians 5:16-18

The Bible tells us that our flesh will desire sin. We are told that this is the exactly opposite of what the Spirit desires. This passage goes on to tell us what the desires of our flesh are:

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

- Galatians 5:19-21

Those are some strong words: "...those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." If we are honest with ourselves, there are many sinful desires that we continue to give in to. If this passage is true (and I believe it is) we are in big trouble. It says we will not enter the kingdom of God. Many of us are in dire need of changing our desires. Many of us need to start being led by the Spirit instead of the flesh.

Here's the good news: "If God can rotate the planets, He can rotate my desires." God alone is high above it all. He still loves you even if you have been following sinful desires. He has the power to hold all of the planets in orbit. He tells them how to rotate so that the entire universe works in perfect harmony. If he has the power to do that, I believe he has the power to rotate your desires.

Maybe you need to admit to God that you have been following the wrong desires. Maybe you need to ask Him to use His unlimited power to rotate your desires. As you do, I believe you will begin to be in the flow of the Spirit. Grab ahold of your identity in Christ. Throw off the sin that has entangled you. Quit walking around full of shame and quit. And remember: God's love for you doesn't depend on your performance, it depends on Christ's performance.

Running Thought of the Day: "If God can rotate the planets, He can rotate my desires."

Here Comes the Bride

2011-09-07T11:33:00.001-05:00

If there is one fact I know about my mother, it's that her heart is hidden in Jesus. In order for a man to have found her heart, he must know Jesus also. This saturday, my mother will be marrying Mike Sullivan. Mike came into our lives several years ago and stole my mothers heart. It will be my joy and honor to walk the prettiest bride in the world down the aisle, and give her away to such a wonderful man.

As I think about marriage, one word comes to mind; unity. Unity is one of my favorite words. And I also believe that unity is one of God's favorite words. Even in the beginning, before any humans were created, God was all about unity; Father, Spirit, Son. After He created Adam, He said it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, took out one of his ribs, and created Eve with it. This beautiful piece of Scripture shows us the unity that God had in mind when he created the idea of marriage.

I can still remember watching the video of Mike proposing to my mom. As he got down on one knee, with excitement, butterflies, fear, and joy all flowing through his body at the same time, he said, "Alice, will you marry me?" The joy on my mother's face was something I had never seen before. She was on "cloud nine", with tears in her eyes, as she said, "Yes!".

I have found that the same is true in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus comes to you and gets down on one knee. He has a smile on his face. Inside He is overflowing with excitement, butterflies, fear and joy. Jesus stares intently into your eyes and says, "Will you marry me?" Your face lights up with a joy you never knew, you're on "cloud nine", with tears in your eyes you say, "Yes!". And from that day forward, you are never alone again.

Mom, Mike, from this day forward, you will never be alone again. May you grow closer to each other, as you grow closer to God.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan!

Love & Pray

2011-08-30T13:13:00.000-05:00

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

- Matthew 28:19

Right before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. However, spreading the Gospel can be difficult. Not everyone you know wants to hear about Jesus Christ. Sometimes it can been seen as "inappropriate" to say the name of Jesus in our schools or work places. Now, I'm not saying that it's okay to shy away from saying the name of Jesus Christ. In fact, I encourage you to never be ashamed to declare that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. What I am saying is that I have noticed there are two things that we can always do to help spread the Good News. These are two things that no one can stop you from doing.

1. Love

We can always choose to love people. We can show people our love with our word and with our actions. I have found that no one can block your goal to give unconditional, Jesus-led love. Others can reject your love but no one can stop your love. So just keep on loving.

2. Pray

We can also always choose to pray for people. No one can control our prayers. Even if someone doesn't want you to pray for them, you can pray anyways. In the book of James it says, "...the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you are righteous. You didn't do anything to become righteous. However, when Jesus Christ died on the cross, the beautiful exchange took place. Jesus took off his crown of salvation and righteousness, and placed it on your head. Then he took your sin, and placed it on himself. That is the beautiful exchange. Your sin for Christ's righetousness. And because of this exchange, you are now righteous. And in turn, your prayers are powerful and effective.

Today you can choose to love and pray for the people around you. As you do, you are planting seeds of hope, favor and blessings in their lives. Use your time wisely today and invest in the people God has placed around you.

Defending the Title

2011-08-26T14:12:00.001-05:00

As you may know, I coach youth football for the Tinley Park Bulldogs. Last year we won the championship in double overtime. This Saturday, we will begin the 2011 regular season. We have essentially the same players as last year. Only this year, we have the confidence behind us to believe that anything is possible if we: (1) Think we are talented, athletic, smart, victorious, etc. (2) Believe in our hearts that God will be with us and help us when needed and (3) Give 100% of our effort in everything we do. Think, believe, give. When you do these three things, nothing is impossible.

As we gear up for our title defense, I'm reminded of my job as a coach: be satisfied not with producing a winning record, but with producing winning athletes. To accomplish my goal this season, I will constantly be asking my players 6 questions.

1. Do you believe in God?
2. Do you love God?

“'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

- Matthew 22:37-38

Football is easily my favorite sport. However, our faith in God must always remain our number one priority; no matter what! Everyone must discover their own unique path to answering these two questions. Everyone must ultimately answer these questions with a "yes." Otherwise, the following four questions have no value whatsoever.

3. Do you believe in yourself?
4. Do you love yourself?
5. Do you believe in your teammates?
6. Do you love your teammates?

"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

- Matthew 22:39-40

The second commandment that Jesus mentions here is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus wants us to love others, but we must first believe in and love ourself. I have found that many teenagers (and adults) really don't believe in themselves. Even worse, many don't love themselves. So many people feel unworthy. They have a low self-esteem. They continue to speak defeat. I have learned that you cant speak defeat and expect victory. You gotta say to yourself what God has said about you, until you see it in your life. Once you begin to believe in and love yourself, you are free to believe in and love others.

This season is not about defending our championship title. It's about defending our title as Christians. It's about believing in and loving God, ourselves and our teammates. I will continue to do my part as their coach by impressing these 6 question on their minds.

Saved to serve,

Zach

Back-2-School

2011-08-18T09:47:00.001-05:00

Ah...a new school year is here. Alarm clocks are going off, lunches are being packed and students are running to the bus stops. I'm probably in the minority when I say that I'm excited for school to start. However, we are about to embark on my favorite time of year. The weather is beautiful, the sun is shinning, football season is starting and students are returning to school to fill their minds with knowledge.

I am praying for all my students as we enter this new year. I believe it's going to be your best year yet! I encourage you to be the hands and feet of Jesus in your school. I believe if Jesus was on earth today, he would hang out with the students no one likes. He would hang out with the kids who were always picked on. I encourage you today to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and reach out to those who need to hear a kind work. Tell them, "You're going to do great things. You amaze me with your ability. You have such a bright future." When you do that, you are giving them a blessing. Those are not just nice compliments, you're releasing God's wisdom, protection and favor into their future.

As you do those things, I believe you're going to see God's favor in your own life. You're going to have more of God's wisdom, protection and favor this year than you could ever image. You are valuable, you are special. You have something to offer your school that no ones else does. Tap into your God-given talents. Shine the light of Christ to your classmates and teachers this year. And may your heart be filled with humility, generosity and integrity.

“Heavenly Father, fill my students with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. Father, may they bear fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God and may they be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience. And may they give joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of Light. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Tension of Opposites

2011-08-15T12:15:00.001-05:00

Ever struggle with trying to do the "right thing?" Like you were being pulled in two different directions? On one side of you, is a force pulling you towards temptations and sin. On the other side, is a force pulling you towards what you feel like you "need" to do for God. You know, like reading your Bible, being nice to people, praying more often. It's easy to feel like your somewhere between these two forces, being pulled in each direction and struggling to do what is "right." I call this, the tension of opposites.

The tension of opposites is one of Satan's tricks. On one side he pulls you, with the goal of getting you to feel guilty for the sins you commit. On the other side, he pulls you with the goal of getting you to feel guilty that you're not doing "enough" for God. This tension will leave you worn out and full of shame.

As it turns out, you're not the first person to feel this way. In fact even Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament, felt the same way.

¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

- Romans 7:15-25

That passage can be a little confusing the first time you read it. Go back and read it slowly.

Paul starts out by saying he doesn't understand why he does certain things. He says he knows what he wants to do (follow God wholeheartedly) but he doesn't do it. Instead, he finds himself doing the things he knows he doesn't want to do (sin). Many of us go through the same struggle. We find ourselves stuck in the middle of the tension of opposites. We find ourselves being pulled in two different directions; what we want to do and what we don't want to do. No matter how hard we try, we keep falling into the same sins over and over again. How do we overcome the tension of opposites?

Check out what Paul says in verses 24-25, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" There's our answer. How do we overcome the tension of opposites? God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Here's a suggestion for you today, look to your left and cut the rope that is pulling you towards sin. Then look to your right and cut the rope that is pulling you towards what you think you "need" to do for God. When all that tension is released, you will fall to your knees in exhaustion. Now, simply worship the only One who can save you, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Extra resource for today: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Life's a Dance

2011-08-13T10:49:00.001-05:00

We have all learned valuable lessons over the years. Some of these lessons we have learned the easy way, and some we have learned the hard way. I myself, have learned far too many the hard way. However, I have noticed that the lessons I've learned the hard way, are the ones that stick with me the most.

Country artist John Michael Montgomery wrote a song called, "Life's a Dance." The chorus of the song goes:

Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go

The truth in that chorus is overwhelming. Life is a dance. It's meant to be fun and enjoyable. You're supposed to feel free and at peace. Sometimes you know what you're doing, and you lead. Sometimes you don't, and you follow. You simply learn as you go.

In order to learn from others, you have to be willing to accept someone's advise. This can be very difficult for us "hard-headed" people. To learn, we must put aside our pride, admit we don't know everything, and listen to someone.

Anytime you want to share advise with someone, you must remember the following sentence: They wont care that you know, until they know that you care. You may know the right decisions that your children should make, you might know the dangers that come with underage drinking, you might know how to help someone overcome a sin they are struggling with. But guess what? They wont care that you know, until they know that you care. You must first offer love and grace, before you offer truth. When you do that, it opens the door to an opportunity to teach and share with that person. Doing so, can save that person a great deal of hardship, and possibly heal them from past hardships.

So whether you're leading or following, teaching or learning, remember that life is really a dance. Relax and enjoy this beautiful life that God has given you.

Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go

Extra resource for today: "3x3=9" Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

"3x3=9" is a 3-part series dedicated to helping you examine past and current life situations in order to gain understanding and meaning as to how they affect your current mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

I Dare You to Pray This

2011-08-08T10:24:00.002-05:00

I was listening to "Bring the Rain" by MercyMe the other day and one particular line of the song kept sticking out to me. This line has been rattling around my head for several days. I have wrestled with it and finally decided that, "Yes, I will pray for that."

The line I'm talking about is, "Bring me anything that brings You glory." Notice the emphasis I placed on anything. People always say, "I want to glorify God with my life." But if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we just want to glorify God in our own way. Let me explain.

¹ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

- John 9:1-3

I'm willing to bet that no one reading this wants to one day become blind. No one wants to get cancer. No one wants to get into a horrific accident. But what if that's what God wants so he can have glory? In this story, Jesus tells us that a man was born blind simply to display the works of God. What if God wants to do something similar in your life? What if God wants to use you to bring himself glory in a major way? "Bring me anything that brings you glory." Too often we only want to glorify God in our own way. We are very happy and willing to give God glory. But very few people are willing to pray that God would bring them anything that will bring Him glory. Very few people are willing to go through extremely difficult situations and trials so that God can receive more glory. Will you be one of those people? Don't simply pray this as just another prayer. Consider what the word "anything" could mean in your life. It could mean becoming paralyzed, it could mean losing a loved one, it could mean getting a deadly disease. But if it brings God more glory, isn't it worth it? Don't we exist simply to bring God more glory?

Bring me anything that brings you glory. Will you pray that with me?

"Heavenly Father, bring me anything that brings you glory. No matter what that means, no matter how many tears that brings me, no matter how much pain comes with it, let me bring you glory. During my trials, bring me a supernatural joy and peace, so that I may glorify You through everything. Bring me anything that brings you glory. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Have You Met My Dad?

2011-08-03T13:24:00.001-05:00

Have You Met My Dad?

By: Zach Crowley

Have you met my dad?

He can fix anything.

He can resort anything.

He can lift anything.

He can control anything.

He can handle anything.

He is my dad.

Have you met my dad?

He is caring.

He is powerful.

He is loving.

He is compassionate.

He is courageous.

He is my dad.

Have you met my dad?

His name is Creator.

His name is Counselor.

His name is Teacher.

His name is Life.

His name is God.

He is my dad.

Have you met my dad?

He loves nature.

He loves animals.

He loves people.

He loves me.

And He loves you.

He is my dad.

Always Busy, Never in a Hurry

2011-07-25T12:58:00.005-05:00

Nowadays, everyone is always in such a hurry. Everyone is always too busy. In order to spend time with someone, you have to send them an email requesting a lunch or meeting weeks in advance. It seems almost impossible to schedule family parties, because someone is always busy on the day you want to plan it. In the culture we live in, busy equals successful. While that notion may or may not be true, the problem arises when we become hurried. Let me explain.

bus·y
1. Engaged in activity, as work; occupied.
2. Sustaining much activity:

hur·ry
1. To move or act with speed or haste.
2. To move or act with undue haste; rush.
3. To speed the progress or completion of.
4. Activity or motion that is often unduly hurried.

Being busy is a good thing. It means we are active, productive and striving for a better life. But sometimes I think we take it a little too far. When we are spending time with our family, we catch ourselves checking our work email. When we are having lunch with a friend, we catch ourselves texting or emailing another person. Since when did it become sociably acceptable to ignore the person sitting right across from us? We see a car broken down on the side of the road, but we tell ourselves we are too busy to stop.

Check out this story from Mark 5:

²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask,‘Who touched me?’” ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Imagine being in this scenario. Pretend your Jesus, your on a mission to heal a dying girl. I think it's fair to say that you are "busy." Then, someone touches your clock and becomes healed. You too would be curious who had touched you. But, you're still busy trying to save someone's life. You're too busy to stop and start asking questions. Right?

But thats exactly what Jesus did. Jesus turned around and asked who touched him (v.30). He didn't get an answer so "he kept looking around to see who had done it" (v. 32). You see, Jesus was always busy but never in a hurry. He took the time to care for each individual he encountered. He turned every interruption into an opportunity.

Many times, we are so busy that we never notice the people God has placed around us. Every day God places people in your life that you are meant to notice. It could be the cashier at the grocery store, your waitress, your taxi driver, your hairstylist, the homeless man on the corner, a neighbor, or a million other people. Nevertheless, there are people all around you who need to be encouraged, served and prayed for. If you are so preoccupied with yourself, how will you notice them? Are you always in a hurry, missing all of the people God has placed in your life? Or are you like Jesus...always busy but never in a hurry.

Running Though of the Day: "Today I'm going to slow down, notice and cherish the people God has placed around me."

Know Sweat Recap

2011-07-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

Throughout the Know Sweat trip I was keeping notes from each sermon and small group discussion. I thought I would post my notes from the trip for you to enjoy!

Day 1

Scripture for the week:

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

- Ephesians 3:14-21

Day 2

The SAME power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you! You can beat any temptation.

The Holy Spirit says, "Hey, let's do some things together that you never imagined you could do."

There are no insignificant people in the Kingdom of God.

Why don't I feel the Holy Spirit? Maybe He is not in you. Is there a certain "room" in your heart you wont let Him in to?

The predator waits until you are isolated, then he attacks. Don't be isolated. Stay in touch with the Holy Spirit. You can NOT sin when you are in touch with the Spirit.

Don't let Satan tell you lies.

What holds you back from giving everything to God?

Day 3

In order to grasp the love of God, you have to spend time with Him.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Read it!

You wont become a spiritual giant overnight.

Day 4

It's His power, you must surrender.

Have you ever found yourself "putting down" the power of God? (choosing not to use it)

Why is it so hard to resist temptations?

Do you want more of God? Then you need to surrender!

What if you never said "no" to God again?

The World's Value System:

Beauty
Intelligence
Money
Ability

The world's biggest lie: You are insignificant unless you have at lease one of the following: beauty, intelligence, money or ability.

If you want more, lay yourself on the cross!

His Will, Not Mine

2011-07-12T17:42:00.000-05:00

The other day I got to have breakfast with most Godly woman I know, my grandmother. She has been a devoted follow of Christ for more years than I can imagine. She has gone through more trials than the average person. The outcome of those trial has been a hero-like faith in Jesus Christ. You can’t have a five-minute conversation with her without her bringing up how wonderful our God is. I pray that I will have a faith like hers.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

- Hebrews 13:7

After eating a home-cooked breakfast (she if from the south, so you know it’s good!) we went to visit some garage sales. My plan for the day was to enjoy my time with my grandma. I wanted to shop around at the garage sales and get anything I needed. I wanted to make memories with my grandma that would last a lifetime. There is only one problem with the plans I had for that day: they were all about me. They were all about what I wanted to do, what I could get out of the day. It was all about me, me, me.

We pulled up to just our third garage sale, and there was an elderly woman working at it. As soon as we walked up to her house she offered us a free bottle of water. While my grandmother and I were shopping, this elderly woman began to have a conversation with us. During our conversation she told us that she was a 10-year cancer survivor. I found myself wondering whether she knew Jesus. The next thing I knew, I was in a 45-minute conversation about Jesus Christ with this woman. She talked about how God helped her through the passing of her husband. She devoted the last two years of her life to caring for every need of her husband. She now has no family that live in the state of Illinois. She was alone, and her soul cried out for someone to talk to.

My will for that day was to go shopping and spend time with my grandma. God’s will for me was to spend time with this woman. God wanted me to be the ears of Jesus. He wanted me to patiently talk with this woman as she shared her struggles in life. We have a tendency to be so focus on our own lives and on our own plans for the day. But, God is interested in His will, not ours.

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

- Psalm 5:3

Maybe that’s what you need to do today. Lay your requests before Him. Lay your plans for the day before Him. He is listening. He will take your prayers into consideration. But remember, it’s His will, not yours. It’s His timing, not yours. It’s His way, not your way.

God is love,

Zach

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

2011-07-08T00:30:00.006-05:00

Let me guess, you have been trying harder and harder to get certain sins out of your life. And you have probably been trying harder to read your Bible more. Well guess what, your good behavior doesn’t earn God’s favor, and your good behavior doesn’t keep God’s favor. You are saved by grace, but you also live by grace! The fact is that the only people who get any better are the people who know that even if they don’t get any better, God will still love them. Getting better is better than not getting better but there’s a better way to get better than to obsess over your need to get better. Part of what it means to get better is to not worry about if you’re getting better. You need to focus less on what you need to do for God and focus more on what God already did for you.

In life there are 3 different categories of thoughts you can have.

Thoughts about…

sinful desires.
what I can/need to do for God.
what God already did for me.

Which category do you think most about?

Which category should you think most about?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ means you don't "have to" do anything to get or keep the love of God. Take the focus off of yourself, stop worrying about where you have messed up and start thinking more about what God has done for you.

“⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

-Colossians 1:9-14

Everyone wants knowledge of God’s will (v. 9). We all want to live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing him in every way (v. 10). We all want to bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God, be strengthened with all power, and have great endurance and patience (v.11). But notice where Paul says all of these things are anchored: The Gospel of Jesus Christ (v. 12-14). Because of Jesus you are qualified to share in God’s blessings because he has rescued you and brought you into the kingdom. Because of the cross you have redemption and the forgiveness of sins. The cross holds the power to save your life and sustain your life. You are saved by grace, but you also live by grace!

You need to spend less time thinking about your need to get better and more time thinking about what God did for you! When the majority of your thoughts come from the third category (what God already did for you) then you truly experience the freedom of the Gospel.

So what are you going to do now that you don’t “have to” do anything? Once the Gospel sets you free of the pressure to do anything for Jesus, you will want to do everything for Jesus!

Running Thought of the Day: "I am saved by grace, but I also live by grace!"

Saved to serve,

Zach

Beautiful Feet

2011-07-06T17:46:00.005-05:00

Wow I haven't had a new blog post in a while. I have been SUPER busy. Our high school ministry had a week long retreat at Christ in Youth (CIY) Move. It was an awesome experience for both the students and leaders. I watched God tear down idols in students' lives and replace them with the only One who can truly fill the void in our heart! God is good!

Another reason I have been busy is because I have been spending a great deal of time in Englewood. Parkview has begun to work alongside a ministry called Urban Youth Outreach. It's an awesome ministry that gives kids a place to hang out other than the streets. There are children there from ages 3 to 18. Each one has a different story, but they are all filled with violence, poverty and heartache.

Just last Friday I was talking to an 11-year-old boy who was desperately clinging to his basketball. He didn't want anyone else to touch it. I eventually got him to play basketball with me. Through my conversation with him I discovered that his dad used to be a basketball player. His dad gave him this ball right before he passed away. My heart ached for this little boy. Here he is, 11-years-old, no dad, and growing up in an area that is filled with drugs, violence, and the pressure to join a gang.

How long before he ends up in a gang? How long before he starts doing drugs? OR will he find Christ in his life and turn away from the pressures of the world? I don't have the answer to those questions, but I do know that he has a shot at finding Christ because of a man named Pastor Keith Vosler. Pastor Keith has been running Urban Youth Outreach out of his house for about 30 years. They have no church, but they have the Word of God. And they only have the Word of God because of the beautiful feet of Pastor Keith.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation..."

- Isaiah 52:7

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”

-Romans 10:14-15

Englewood is a town that desperately needs to believe in Jesus. "But how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" These Scriptures have been burning in my soul lately. There are places like Englewood all around the world and even right down the road from where we live. I pray that you would be burdened to have beautiful feet. I pray that God would give you the wisdom and insight to know where to take those beautiful feet and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Running Thought of the Day: "Where does God want me to take my beautiful feet?"

God bless,

Zach

I will leave you with a video of Lecrae's song "Beautiful Feet"

A Closer Look at Porn

2011-06-28T08:35:00.001-05:00

Pornography is a major issue in today's society, however it is rarely talked about. I have seen many lives taken over by this weapon of Satan. In Tim Chester's book, "Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free" he offers these comments from people who struggle with porn:

"It has led me to feel at times that I can't be loved by God. This is not only because of the depth of the sin itself, but also the regularity."

"It makes me feel guilty and unworthy of his love, like he wouldn't want me in his family. I have felt ashamed to come before him and ask forgiveness at times-kind of like: 'I've done it again so he's not going to want to forgive me again!'"

"My struggle with porn made me continually doubt my salvations. I knew I wasn't saved by works, but doubted how someone truly saved could habitually struggle."

Why People Use Porn:

Boredom

Exposure

Loneliness

Opportunity

Stress

Tiredness

Rejection

12 Reasons to Give up Porn:

Porn wrecks your view of sex.
Porn wrecks your view of women.
Porn wrecks women’s view of themselves.
The porn industry abuses women.
Porn is a sin against your future wife.
Porn wrecks families.
Porn is enslaving.
Porn erodes your character.
Porn wastes your time, energy and money.
Porn weakens your relationship with God.
Porn weakens your service.
God’s wrath is against people who use porn.

The following is Proverbs 5, modified for those who struggle with pornography.

"1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, 2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of porn drip honey, and porn's speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end porn is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Porn's feet go down to death; porn's steps lead straight to the grave. 6 Porn gives no thought to the way of life; porn's paths wander aimlessly, but porn does not know it. 7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.  8 Keep to a path far from porn, do not go near the door of porn's house,  9 lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel, 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another. 11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.  12 You will say, “How I hated porn! How my heart spurned purity! 13 I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors. 14 And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.” 15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.  16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?  17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.  20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with porn? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? 21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.  22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of porn hold them fast.  23 For lack of purity they will die, led astray by their own great folly."

- Proverbs 5

Resources:

1. “Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power” by Tim Keller

2. “Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free” by Tim Chester

3. “X3watch” – free accountability software program helping with online integrity. Whenever you browse the Internet and access a site, which may contain questionable material, the program will record the site name, time, and date the site was visited. A person of your choice (an accountability partner) will receive an email containing all possible questionable sites you may have visited within the month.

Go here to download X3watch for free:

http://www.x3watch.com/x3watchfreebuy.html

ESPN

2011-06-11T21:08:00.005-05:00

If you focus on ESPN, I guarantee you will be able to live in the flow of the Spirit.

Right now you are probably thinking I'm crazy. Like I have lost my mind. So let me clarify something: As much as I love sports, I'm not talking about the ESPN you are thinking about. Focusing on the Entertainment Sports Programming Network will not guarantee that you will live in the flow of the Spirit. However, if you focus on the following ESPN, you will.

Encourage
Serve
Pray
Notice

It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives. It's so easy to always think about what is best for ourselves. If you can focus on ESPN, you will start to put others first in your life. When you Encourage someone, you shed a little bit of God's light on them. You can alter the course of someone's day simply by saying a kind word about them. On the tip of your tongue rests the power to improve someone's day.

You never act more like Jesus than when you Serve someone. It shows that person that you are willing to take precious time out of your day, simply to do something kind for them. Even Jesus, the Son of God, chose to serve people every day.

"...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

- Matthew 20:28

If you want to be like Jesus, you need to Pray. Prayer is your conversation with God. It's where you come before His throne and present to Him your requests. It's where God speaks to you and instructs you on how to accomplish His will. Your prayers are powerful. God is constantly changing His mind, in accord with His unchanging love, based on the prayers of His children (see Exodus 32:14; John 3:10).

Finally, you have to Notice people. Every day God places people in your life that you are meant to notice. Sometimes you notice them, sometimes you don't. It could be the cashier at the grocery store, your waitress, your taxi driver, your hairstylist, the homeless man on the corner, a neighbor, or a million other people. Nevertheless, there are people all around you who need to be encouraged, served and prayed for.

So go ahead and evaluate your day:

Who have you encouraged?
Who have you served?
Who have you prayed for?
Who have you noticed?

Running Thought of the Day: "If I focus on ESPN, I will be able to live in the flow of the Spirit."

Why God!?

2011-06-10T10:34:00.003-05:00

We have all gone through those "Why God" moments. Those moments when you don't understand why something has happened to you or your family. Those moments when you feel defeated by the world. It's when you lose your job, lose a loved one, get diagnosed with cancer, your spouse tells you they want a divorce, your prodigal son runs away from home, or a thousand other scenarios that make you scream at the top of your lungs, with tears in your eyes, "Why God!?"

So why do we go through these moments? And how do we respond to them? The Bible is very clear on this topic.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

- James 1: 2-4

Everyone always wants to know, "Why am I going through this?" James tells us, your faith is being tested. If you are going through a trial in life, your faith is being tested. Stop and answer the following three questions:

Do you believe that God is in control?
Do you believe that God is good?
Will you wait by faith until you see it?

Will you wait until you see it? When we go through tough times we want to run away. We want to get out of that situation as fast as possible. In the above verse James says that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. In the greek, the term used there is "hupomone" (hoopo-manay). Hupomone means to "remain under." Literally this verse says that the testing of your faith will develop the ability to remain under. When the pressure is on in life, we want to get out! But you must remain under that pressure. If you run every time something bad happens, you're not going anywhere with the Lord!

No matter what happens in your life, God is trying to build into you the ability to remain under. Notice the next verse, "Let [hupomone] finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." If He can get that one characteristic in your life, you will lack nothing!

Running Thought of the Day: "I will remain under the pressure so that I may be mature and complete."

Stay strong,

Zach

A Closer Look at...Heaven

2011-06-07T09:26:00.002-05:00

What does heaven look like? The bible says that heaven is this world, perfected and sinless. It is an actual place, a garden, a city, and a paradise. Heaven is a place, not a state of mind.

Will we still have our same bodies? In ways they will be the same, but improved. The negative effects of sin on your body will be removed. *1 Corinthians 15:44

What will we wear? All white to show that we are clean in Christ. (Revelation 19:8)

Will we still have our memories? Yes! You wont know less in heaven than you did here on earth.

Will we still have our relationships with others? Yes, and your relationships with others will be perfected in Christ.

What will we do in heaven?

We will worship.

We will be doing our Fathers business in heaven. (Revelation 7:15)

We will eat.

We will have a party.

The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:12-24)

Jesus is sitting at a meal with a bunch of religious people and it's really a set up. They brought in a crippled man to see if Jesus would heal him so they could accuse him of sin for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus heals the man, corrects the religious people and tells them this parable.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

²² “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

- Luke 14: 12-24

So Jesus rebukes them for their party and guest list. Jesus teaches us that when we throw a party, we should be generous with the menu and the guest list. Don’t just invite people who you are friends with. Invite into your life and home people who have nothing to repay with.

Then, one religious guy says, "Blessed is everyone who will eat with you in the Kingdom of God. I can't wait! (verse 16). And Jesus replies “you wont be there.” This still happens today. When someone dies, everyone always says “they are in a better place now.” That’s not always true. Not everyone goes to heaven. Some people go to hell.

In those days you would sent out an invitation (RSVP) to see who wants to come. Then you send out another servant to tell people the food is ready, please get dressed and come. And Jesus says that many people have gotten the invitation, they have RSVP'd, they said “yes I believe in Jesus, yes I want to go to heaven, yes I want forgiveness of sins.” But ultimately when it comes time to make that commitment in their heart, they have lame excuses.

Jesus is planning the party of all parties, will you go?
People have such lame excuses of why they are not growing deeper in their walk with Christ. So what’s your lame excuse? What keeps you from walking closer towards God?

Running Thought of the Day: I have RSVP'd to the party of all parties. Now I must get ready for it!"

That One Sin

2011-06-01T09:31:00.002-05:00

That one sin. You know exactly which one I'm talking about. It's that one sin from your past that you just cant let go of. It's that one sin you continue to struggle with today. No matter what people say, you just cant believe that God could forgive you for it. I mean, how could he possibly love you enough to forgive you for doing that. Well guess what? Not only has He forgiven you for it, He might have even forgotten about it. That's right, I said forgotten about it.

"Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin."

- Job 11:6

God will choose to forget some of your sin. Has He forgotten about that one sin? Maybe. Maybe not. I have no idea. But I do know this: Even if God hasn't forgotten about that one sin, he has forgiven it. You see, your life is not about you. Your salvation is not about you. It's all about Jesus. One day, when you stand before God, you will give an account for your life. And guess what? You will end up guilty. Plain and simple.

"I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would say. Would he oppose me with great power? No, he would not press charges against me. There an upright man could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge."

-Job 23: 4-7

The upright man is Jesus. He will state His case before the Father, and you will be delivered from judgement forever. Let go of that one sin. Live with the confidence and hope that is Jesus Christ.

Running Thought of the Day: "God has forgiven me for ALL of my sins."

God is love,

Zach

The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

2011-05-31T08:51:00.000-05:00

Self-control is the ninth and final part of the fruit of the spirit. I love that God has made this the last part of the fruit. It seems only natural to place the hardest part at the end. Depending on your personality, you may struggle with self-control more or less than others. Either way, the importance of self-control in the believer’s life is crucial.

Those who struggle with self-control are often called impulsive. Research has linking impulsiveness with many negative behaviors including, drug and alcohol additions, suicidal thoughts, and cutting. Additionally, individuals who have not properly healed from past hurts, habits, and hang-ups, are prone to having such problems. However, if you are willing you investigate past and present situations in order to bring about the healing process, you can be freed from your impulsive tendencies. The result: self-control and the completion of the fruit of the Spirit.

By now it is my hope that you have learned about the 3 concepts that you need to embrace in order to heal and the 3 “instruments” that these concepts need to come from. Implementing these into your life will bring about healing that you can feel. You will see first hand that 3 times 3 really does equal 9. The 3x3 healing process will result in the fruit of the Spirit: (1) love (2) joy (3) peace (4) forbearance (5) kindness (6) goodness (7) faithfulness (8) gentleness and (9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Running Thought of the Day: "I will allow the 3 concepts and 3 instruments to flow through my life to bring about healing and the fruit of the Spirit."

In Christ,

Zach

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

2011-05-30T19:14:00.001-05:00

Many times it can be hard to differentiate kindness, goodness and gentleness. However, there is a big difference.

Suppose you have a friend who asks you to meet him/her for coffee. While enjoying your time together, it becomes apparent that your friend invited you out to share something with you. Your friend beings to tell you about a terrible situation that is taking place in their life. Your friend is obviously very troubled and heartbroken over this situation. What is your response?

Many people choose to instantly offer guidance and wisdom. They believe they should try and offer their friend a solution to their problem. Is that what you would do? I hope not, at least not right away. While you should eventually offer your friend guidance and a solution, your first reaction should be gentleness.

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Proverbs 25:20

When someone has a troubled heart, offer them grace and love. Allow your heart to feel what their heart is going through. Sympathize and cry with them. Your gentleness will go a long way in helping them through their situation. Additionally, it will deepen your relationship with each other. When someone is struggling, you need to offer them grace then truth.

Running Thought of the Day: “Only after I have shown gentleness, will I offer advice to a hurting soul.”

God bless,

Zach

The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

2011-05-27T11:03:00.002-05:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23

Notice that the verse doesn’t say “fruits” it says “fruit.” The reason for this is that they are all interdependent upon each other. The Holy Spirit works in perfect unity. It’s like a package deal, you want one, you get them all.

Faithfulness is the seventh part of the fruit of the Spirit. One common, acceptable definition of being faithful is doing what we say we are going to do. But for Christians it goes a little deeper than that. We are called to do more.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

- Colossians 2:6-7

In this text, Paul is saying, look, you already received Jesus as Lord. Now you just have to continue to live in him. But what in the world does that mean? Live in Jesus? Paul says look at it like this, you are rooted and built up in him. Think about a tree. A big, tall, strong tree. Why is it able to stand so firmly upright? Its roots are deep in the ground. That’s where it gets its nourishment. Its roots are protected, safe and secure. You should live your life in the same manner. You are rooted in Christ Jesus. Your nourishment comes from your relationship with him. You have power over anything life throws your way!

You already know the story of Jesus Christ, you already know we won the battle, you already know how Jesus wants you to act and talk, now do what you have learned. But sometimes we look elsewhere, we get distracted. And Paul is saying, you guys must stay faithful. You are already going down the right road, don’t turn away from Christ. Don't get distracted. Christian faithfulness is a continual effort to grow deeper in your walk with Christ. Jesus calls us not only to confess that he is Lord, but also to live in Him by being faithful to Him.

Running Thought of the Day: "I am rooted in Christ, so I have power over anything that may come my way!"

In Christ,

Zach

The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

2011-05-26T10:38:00.003-05:00

I have possibly the greatest mother in the entire world. Throughout my entire life she has always offered me grace and truth (even when I was a "know-it-all" teenager). Her love has always overflowed onto others and myself. I will be forever grateful for what she has done for me. I continually thank God for her life. She has a gentle heart, she is compassionate towards others, and she obeys God’s commands. She is a living, breathing example of goodness. Her birthday is this Monday, May 30th and it just so happens that today we will be discussing goodness.

You see, goodness doesn’t simply mean we are kind towards others and love others. It also means we are following God’s commands. God has established laws for us to follow. These laws are not intended to restrict us from having fun. These laws are intended to provide us with the best life possible.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

- Exodus 20:13-16

God is simply saying, “Look, your lives will be better if you don’t kill each other, or commit adultery, or steal from each other, or lie about each other.” God loves each one of us so much that he provides us with rules to follow in order to bring about our best life possible. When goodness begins to emerge in the life of a believer, they willingly follow the commands of God because they realize the fruitful life that comes with it.

Running Thought of the Day: "God created laws for me to follow so that I can live the best life possible."

Happy Birthday Mom!