Category Archives: Life

Who’s Ya Daddy!!

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42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

So what does that text have to do with daddy’s? Everything! When I was boy I emulated everything my father did. I wanted to walk like him, talk like him…I wanted to be him, and until I came to know Christ, he held the highest place in my life. He was a great dad.

This is a natural outgrowth of our nature. We come to emulate, hold the desires of, and do the things that those we hold in the highest regard do, even if we don’t perceive that we do.

Jesus was pointing this reality out to a group of blinded men who believed that God was their Father, but looked and acted nothing like Him…as He said, these mens works, ways, and desires all looked like Satan. They were murderous, liars, deceivers, and falsely pious. None of theses are characteristics of God, but of Satan, the enemy of our soul. So what story did their lives tell? Though they said with their mouthes that God was Lord and Father, their lives betrayed their profession.

So the big hanging question is this…what or who do you hold ultimate in your life, and what story is your life telling? Does it match the story of your mouth? Does it match your profession? Or do you pay lip service in an attempt to create a reality where your life, though it doesn’t match that of God the Father, is excused by Him because of a prayer you prayed or profession you made?

There is no neutrality in this, you have a father, beyond the flesh and blood one you may or may not know, and your life tells of which one you emulate, and hold in the highest place in your life…so, who is your daddy?

Mike Vick, Mission, and the Gospel Kingdom

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Life presents unique opportunities or mission, in all settings and all places…the hope is that your eyes are wide open to see what is right in front of you.

Nearly ten years ago Dr. Frank Igwe, a long time friend and brother now, had a late night conversation, dreaming about what it would look like to leverage my then budding athletic career to get access to students in the public school system, to give them a strong message of hope, life beyond their circumstances, and the gospel veiled in language that would not get us kicked out of the school permanently.

That late night conversation in a run down campus apartment has blossomed into the not for profit City A.C.E.S. Though we birthed this together I have since taken a secondary role, primarily acting as consultant and lead speaker at events, while Dr. Igwe acts as C.E.O. We had our first pilot event in Harrisburg, PA two years ago, and have since then gone back to Harrisburg, where we served 1800 inner city schools, and today Philadelphia, where we served nearly 1000 more.

This was an amazing opportunity, that brought with it a clear message…that these students could be more than the soil that produced them. That they were designed, and created with purpose, and that the seed of greatness has been placed deep in their hearts by the great designer who gave them life. I had the opportunity to share the gospel in a manner of speaking, and it penetrated, even the principal and several teachers who informed me they were on the verge of, or fully gave in to tears. This is not an opportunity to pat my self on the back, but to give praise to the Holy Spirit who was so evidently and clearly at work…it was amazing! Th gospel…bringing teachers and student to tears…in a public school…only a great God could do something so spectacular.

This particular event I also had the opportunity to share the stage with Michael Vick, once great Falcon football player, and now NFL hopeful, who is trying to reset his life. Backstage we had a moment of semi-rich conversation where we discussed our brief stint as “team mates”, and I was able to genuinely ask him how he was doing. I saw what seemed to be genuine brokenness in his eyes, and had the opportunity to briefly share the gospel. It was a great day indeed, filled with promise for Christ Kingdom going forward in many lives.-19125_564873916466_48504819_33099023_1963098_n

Mission is most often not wrapped up in professional’s (Pastor’s) directing non-professionals(The congregation) in what to say and do on a Sunday morning in the building where the church gathers, but rather, it is where we do life…where we turn what seems to be work or even play into an opportunity to see one more heart introduced to the seed of the gospel. It’s your turn, where is the Holy Spirit directing you?

Vantage Point

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Today we had a young lady visit who was a part of our young adult community in rural Tennessee. The first thing she said to Breanna was, “I didn’t know y’all lived in the ghetto,” with typical southern drawl.

Vantage point matters…it matters in how we often interpret all facets of life, and depending on what vantage point we have, we may see two completely different pictures.

Example… the neighborhood in Atlanta that I live in and am in the process of planting Renovation Church in is Grant Park. Grant Park is the largest neighborhood in the city, and a historical landmark community. The neighborhood is experiencing great change and urban renewal. Young professionals live here, and more are moving in. We are 32% above the national average for residents making over 100k a year, yet there are many homeless people I see everyday…living outside my loft, and involved in our gospel community. This creates a beautiful tapestry of different peoples when you add to it the people who have lived in this neighborhood for 20 plus years.

Also interesting is because of the renewal of this city neighborhood, my family can not afford one of the $300,000 bungalows in our own neighborhood. This is the starting price for a 3/2.

Here is the point, where we see a beautiful neighborhood, a great life in the city, and a chance to incarnate Jesus in the concrete jungle,our visitor today saw a place to be feared, or as she said, “the ghetto.”

So the big idea…vantage point helps determine worldview. In the greater scheme it has implications for everything, even faith.

What do you see when you look at God? A chance gain things or a chance to gain Him? What do you see in the Church? A chance to serve or a chance to be served? How do you see your city? As your personal playground or a mission field?

The Changes

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New layout, new name, new reason for writing…something shifted inside me, and so did my focus on what I share.

For over a year now I have been writing under the title “There is no spoon”, but since this move to Atlanta, and the shift in my focus, and change in my environment, I felt compelled that it was time to write more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, a missionary, in the city. To share the personal struggles, doubts, and fears of what that life looks like, and all surrounding victories and failures.

It really isn’t vastly different from what I have been writing, it is now just labeled accordingly. I hope this doesn’t sway you (whoever you are) from continuing to journey with me in my pursuit of Jesus, and desire to show Him off to the world.

You can read this in the about section, but I will include the new blog description to expedite that for ya…I know, I am so kind -;)

When I began to follow Jesus I realized something…I was now part of an ancient story. One that has been unfolding for centuries, for generations, and now Jesus had invited me to peer into this unfolding mystery. How is that God becomes man, but remains God? How is that God loves man with such ferocity that He would come to earth as the Great Missionary, on the Great Rescue Mission for His children? How is it that on this mission He would live perfectly, die unjustly, and return victoriously? How is it that He, who stood before creation, with eternity in His hands, would give Himself over in an act of selfless love? Why would He subject Himself to His own creation? And how is  it that I would be chosen to be a part of this epic love story, and because of it, be invited to then share this story with the world.

This blog is a place to express my continually becoming…continually becoming what He is making me,and shaping me to be, and the struggles, fears, and doubts inherent in this journey. This is also a place to express the fears and failures of sharing this epic love story with other urban dwellers, disconnected from their Father.

Once called to Jesus, we are all invited to do as He did. To incarnate ourselves among a people,and share the love and passion of Christ and His gospel with them…not only in word, but in deed. Not only with our voices, but with our lives. I am an urban missionary, incarnating Jesus in the concrete jungle.

I hope in this you too will come to follow this Jesus and His way, becoming a part of His story, sharing His gospel as a missionary to your world?

I had a flashback….and surly would have gone to jail

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When I was about eight or ten I was walking to the bus stop, and these guys rode by in a truck, flying rebel flags, and yelling racist crap out of their windows….it was really up setting for a kid to experience, and I never forgot it.

Yesterday I was walking home from the train station in the rain…it was a nice warm rain, so I didn’t mind at all. On my walk home I have to go under a bridge that collects rain run off…maybe you see where this is heading already.

There was a young woman walking in front of me, and someone behind me…this is a major train stop by my loft.

Every other vehicle that came by purposed itself to drive closer toward the middle of the road as to avoid covering us with “under the bridge” drainage water…except this one red truck.

I saw them coming and actually managed to get close enough to the wall to not get any on me, but the girl in front of me, who was dress very nicely, got soaked…I mean soaked, with nasty rain run off, and I was pissed.

I suddenly had a flash back to when I was a little boy as I saw them all turn around to look and see if they had gotten us, as they pointed and laughed.

I have been called a conspiracy theorist, but, a truck full of white guys…and me, and two Arabic women walking under the bridge…is that why they did it? Hmmm

The light turned red as they drove by, and for a split second I turned, and considered running up on their truck, until I realized, 1) I am a grown man and that is unacceptable, 2) I would probably go to jail, because when I got there a beat down was immanent.

So I prayed, asked the ladies if they were ok, and kept on walking home… what a day on the metro.

The long road to Charleston…and back home again: Certain death and being stranded

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We left for Charleston on Friday to go and spend the weekend.  I spoke Sunday morning at Santuary Church, and we had a great time. The entire weekend was great…Shawn and his team were amazing hosts. Getting there was another issue all together.

Last Wednesday we went to sears and bought four brand new tires. I won’t divulge what we spent on them, but suffice it to say they were not cheap. I’m sure, like me, you would assume that the purchase of four new tires would mean a smooth ride in…not the case. About four hours into the trip on a back road outside of Aiken, SC we had a major blowout.

The next hour and forty five minutes was spent trying not to be crushed by my own truck. After getting covered with tire huz getting the spare from beneath the truck, I placed the jack under the frame, as I have done several times before. This was one of those threaded hand crank type of jacks, which are terrible by nature.

I drive a Nissan Armada, which is about the size of a Suburban, so that would be certain death if this thing fell. Twice the jack slipped…tread just gave out when the truck was jacked all the way up. The second time it slipped, it fell so quickly that the jack dug a hole into the black top on the side of the road. At this point I am exhausted and frustrated trying to get this thing to work, and praying that we don’t get stuck on the side of the road all night.This last time I began cranking this thing again and it was holding this time.I have never changed a tire so quickly. I think I could definitely work for Nascar now.

Coming home was another adventure all together. When we checked in to our hotel, although the Sanctuary had arranged for our room, the very (I’ll choose to say rude here because it is nicer) person at the front desk insisted that we put down our card to hold the room. They placed a hold on our card that didn’t get released and won’t get released until after the holiday. This hold locked down our account, completely unknown to us.

We left for home yesterday, and were on the same back roads where we had the blow out on Friday. We stopped at a gas station, and when I went to prepay for the gas my card was denied.Three times denied. So there we are, in Aiken, SC again, with no money, our credit card at home (because we have been transitioning to an all cash system) and a quarter tank of Gas…with 199 miles to home.

We still had $17.50 on a gift card that had been given to us, and so we drove, and drive until we just couldn’t…and on a quarter tank of gas, and the $17.50 that would give us another quarter tank when we were about 99 miles out we made it home.

I still don’t know why we encountered so much insanity getting there and back again. And I still don’t know how we made it home, driving with hardly any gas at all. I have no answers, I am just grateful to God that I didn’t get crushed by my truck, or stuck in the middle of no-where South Carolina.

Return to Sender

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Yesterday I had the privilege (sarcasm) to pick up two children from a foster home, where their things had been loaded up in boxes and set to go prior to their arriving home from school. When they stepped off of the bus, their excitement at seeing my vehicle in the drive (I was supposed to be picking them up just to hang out this week) quickly turned to sadness and tears when they realized the reality of the situation…they were being returned.

Just like a pair of socks that your grandmother mailed you for the third time, or an ugly dress that you didn’t have the heart to tell your dad you didn’t want, or a package that was sent to you by mistake…they were set to return to sender.

I don’t know if any of you have ever felt unwanted, or unloved…I don’t know if you have ever had more than ten  “homes” in the span of a year…I don’t know if you have ever been sent back like a broken item that has been purchased, but found to be unsatisfactory…but if you haven’t, I don’t know that it is possible to grasp the pain that comes along with that, or the eventual numbness that comes when it happens over and over again.

If you pray, pray that Jesus would protect these little ones, and that the decisions of their parents will not linger with them forever. Pray that their wounds would heal, and their hearts would mend. Pray that one day, even though the package was not exactly what was ordered, that they would not so quickly be returned to the sender….

Lent Refelections: Joy

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“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of HAPPINESS,” an American mantra…it’s our right as designated by law. Happiness is wonderful, happiness brings pleasure, but, happiness is fleeting.

Any sensible person would agree, that in any given day …even hour, we can swing on a pendulum from happiness to sadness to anger, to pain, and back again. Happiness is a state of being influenced by our external circumstances from moment to moment. Therefore, there is never any guarantee that we will be happy because it depends on what is going on in and around us, only in that moment.

So then what do we do? Because we have all been here, and are here day to day. When traffic is light, I am happy, when it’s parking lot thick (often in Atlanta) I am not happy…often furious (pray for my fallacy)

New relationship…overwhelmingly happy…they don’t love me anymore, life is over. New job, overwhelmingly happy…get laid off, crushed. Great first date, so very happy, they don’t call for a second date…”something must be wrong with me.” There are hundreds of examples we could think through.

So then, what do we do? What are we left with?

Joy is distinguishable from happiness because it is not circumstantial, it is not dependent on moment by moment external events, and it does not change from moment to moment as a wildly unreasonable child does when they don’t get their way.

Joy is distinguishable from happiness because it is not an earned right, but a wonderful gift from Jesus. Joy is steady, Joy is  tangible, and Joy is not marred or changed by the external trauma’s of our lives.

It is the Joy that those who follow Jesus are supposed to have in innumerable measure as that it so distinguishes the difference in how we respond to life, and all of the hell that it often holds, that it can’t be missed, and it can’t be mistaken.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)

Jesus promises to give us His joy, and it is this Joy that so magnificently distinguishes itself from the happiness that comes in waves, and leaves in an instant. If you want to be complete, find the beauty in Christ’s Joy…

Lent Reflections: Life

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I announced on Monday that my wife and I are having a new baby. I was, and am so excited I almost don’t know what to do with myself. While rejoicing in this, it got me thinking about what an incredible, and beautiful thing a new life is…and what an incredible gift it is.

There are innumerable processes that take place in the human body to even allow such a thing to happen,  too many for me to number now. But to look at the transformation that takes place, from the embryo growing inside of my wife, to the little girl that now runs, talks, yells, cries, laughs, dances, and jumps around my house,  is too much for words to even capture. She is the embodiment of the fullness of life. Free of worry, free of shame, free to just live.

This observation is three fold….first, how could anyone ever look into the eyes of a child, and take his/her life? I know the extenuating circumstances…What if the woman was raped? What if the baby will be handicapped? What if the mother is a teenager? But, the bottom line is that those circumstances, which are so adamantly thrown around to defend this practice, are not the norm…they are anomalies. In fact statistics tell us that most women who have abortions have them because the baby would not fit their lifestyle at that time.

We have to see life as valuable, as precious, as beautiful…as a little girl, twirling in our living room, who could have never been had followed the trend that we could not afford to have her at the time

Second, I want to reflect on and celebrate life, because it is truly a gift from God. We are not here by accident, we are designed, planned and purposed for a specific role in our given time on earth. And in Christ, we can be as a child,  free of guilt and shame… free of worry  and fear…free of feeling like life is one series of meaningless events after another, as we grow closer in our pursuit of him.

I woke up in a tornado that I caused

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There are some incredible things happening with Renovation Church. I can’t reveal everything right now, but suffice it to say that God is moving barriers and opening doors to see this thing happen. With that in mind, there are several things to be praying for.

My blogging has slowed down significantly because right now I am burning the candle at both ends. I am willing to admit that I may have bitten off more than I can chew

  • I am working with Cornerstone about 40 hours a week
  • I am working on Renovation Church everywhere in between
  • I am in seminary full time (12 hours), because the scholarship I received mandates it
  • Oh yeah, and I spend time with my wife and daughter
  • Bottom line, something must suffer, and right now it is my not sleeping enough

I have no quick answer right now. No clear solution, but I know that very soon something must give, and I don’t want it to me.

Over the next several blogs  I will share some of the writing I have been doing during this lent season, and all of the business that is surrounding it. It is my favorite form of thoughtful prayer and meditation, and just one way that I connect with God.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers…

Shalom