love,

jack

Well… they weren’t.

Six days ago, I drove Whitney to the hospital praying that this would be the day we met our son. I was worried about Whit, because she had been in so much pain and we knew that something wasn’t quite right. When we got there all seemed to be going to plan. She was 4cm dilated and the nurses were preparing for the normal waiting/pain game that is labor.

Five minutes later, the doctor burst in the door, and with trepidation in her voice said that something was wrong and we had to do an emergency C-section, immediately. Excuse me?!?!? What? We’ve had a prefect pregnancy! We were stunned to say the least. But at that point you pretty much trust them a go with it. Whitney’s blood platelets were dangerously low (50’s when they should be 150’s!) and we had a small window to get the baby out safely. We prayed, and I encouraged Whitney as they whisked her out of the room to the OR. I wasn’t allowed to join.

I was anxiously pacing the floor of the empty hospital room with my mom sitting in a chair declaring and praying the truth over Whitney and Smith. I found myself in a situation I had never, ever been. My wife was in God’s hands. My child was in God’s hands. Even though the complications and the fear was hard to take, I’m so grateful for that moment. Because this journey had started off in the place that I’ll forever strive to keep it… in the hands of God.

I shared in a previous post that true humility, is knowing your place. In that moment, I knew my place. I knew Whitney and Smith’s place. We were children of God, and nothing could separate us from God’s love and protection!

As I was praying and pacing the floor, a nurse popped her smiling face around the open door. “The baby is here! He’s 7 pounds, 8 ounces, beautiful and has wisps of blonde hair! And mom is doing fine.”

Ten minutes later I was holding my son in my arms and beaming with pride. I was smiling from ear to ear, overwhelmed by the great love of God the Father. And quite thankful that my son was WAY better looking than I could have imagined! And that feeling that everyone told me about? Well, I can’t really explain it. You’ll just have to have a kid to find out. : )

Enter the airport. Now, the touring band life is an interesting one. When we do “fly dates”, this usually means a 4am lobby call at the hotel after having gone to bed at 12:30 or 1AM. You walk out into the cold black abyss and hope that you make it to the airport with your driver’s license, phone charger, and underwear. At the airport we haggle with the ticket agent and pray that we won’t have to pay 8 millions dollars in baggage fees, then we go through security, yada yada yada. Ya’ll know the drill. Any ways, my ONE shinning beacon in all of this early morning madness is (you guessed it)… Starbucks. And Jesus of course, but… you know what I mean!

The smell of espresso wafting through the terminal is like the whisper of the serpent in the garden. For real! Not joking. But when I’m tempted, I remember that my “trial” of passing up a coffee shop is laughable when compared to actual suffering. I remember that 1 billion people in this world don’t have access to the very thing that I sometimes despise. Water.

Let’s help these people. It’s a very simple choice. I’m giving all of the money I would have spent on beverages other than water for 40 days . What will you do to help? You could give up a few drinks a month and donate the money. Be creative. As we combine prayer and giving, the world will be transformed.

Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.”

And pride is depending on something other than the God who fashioned us. Jesus understood this. He was God in every-way, yet he subjected himself to human standards so that he could show us how to depend upon the Father. That’s the mystery and beauty of the trinity. That God the Father had the ability to humble himself before the world, through the act of God the Son.

Jesus gave up his “right” to win, and humbled himself before the cruel Roman soldiers and the angry Jewish mob. He knew that even though He was God, he still had to be obedient. He played by His own rules, and the world was shaken and transformed by the power of it.

Can you give up your “right” to always be the victor? Would you be willing to go the lowest lows… the embarrassing situations… all for the sake of being obedient? For the sake of being dependent upon God?

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Soon I’ll be posting a full sermon on Humility on my podcast. Check it out! Next on my blog we’ll discuss my progress with 40 Days of Water, and it’s practical and spiritual ramifications!

Some of you would say, “Really? Giving up coffee and cokes is a HARD for you?” Well… yes it is. I’ve been running to coffee for a comfort drink for the past couple years. I mean, I am WAY into it! I spend more time deciding which of my twenty mugs I’ll use, than I do actually making the coffee. My drinks of choice are: Mochas, Lattes, Americano’s, Flat whites (for my aussie friends), and the good ol’ cup of black drip coffee. When I think about it, there’s a lot of time and money wrapped up in all of this. Which brings me to my second point…

There are many people in the world that don’t have the luxury of “giving up coffee” or cokes, or beer. They’re just too busy trying to find one particular drink. It’s a drink we take for granted. Water.

Some people in the world will walk miles just to find dirty water to drink for the day. And then the work starts again the next day. Some kids can’t go to school because they have to spend so much time finding water for their family. Not to mention the diseases that are caused by unclean drinking water.

We can help! After 40 days, I’m going to donate all of the money that I would normally spend on coffee, cokes, juice, and every other drink that isn’t water. This money will go to an amazing organization called Blood Water Mission, who are doing incredible work providing clean water in Africa. (They’re also fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and making A LOT of progress.)

Let’s take this challenge. And as we fast some things that we really enjoy, let’s pray for those in the world that are fighting to survive this very minute. Let’s make a small sacrifice so that they can live.

There are things that I know in theory. Goals that sound great when I talk about them, and lofty ideals that are wonderful to think about. We dream, because God designed us that way. We’re the creator’s creation, and our creator happens to be VERY… creative, so naturally, we follow suit. It’s in your DNA to dream for bigger, better things. (Some of you may have let this gift fall asleep, but now’s the perfect time to wake up.)

Here’s the catch though. When you have a dream or desire (one that’s in harmony with the word of God, of course)… the only thing left is DOING IT!

Do you want to write a book? START IT!
Want to write a song?? WRITE IT!!!
Want to preach?? PREACH!!!

Now, you have to be willing to do these things WITHOUT recognition at first. Whatever it is, do it because you love it, not because you want showers of adoration from the masses. Promotion will come, but first focus on DOING the actual stuff.

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. -Goethe

“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…” Ephesians 3:20

Jesus did many things in his short life. He broke down most of the accepted standards of righteousness. He affected the sinner, loved the mean people as well as the nice ones. He was willing to heal the daughter of the powerful centurion, and was also willing bring healing to a blind peasant by spitting in mud and slapping it on his eyes. He changed everyone he came in to contact with. He lived in perfect balance. He would go alone to pray, but he also gave face time with everyday people and cared about them as well. He is drawn to need of ALL kinds. Poverty, pride, fear, borken hearts, confusion. He addressed EVERYTHING! Heals EVERYTHIHG!

So, my question is this. In an age of cool hip social justice initiatives, have we lost sight of a very powerful component? This component is the pure truth of God’s saving power through Jesus.

I feel blessed to be in a generation that’s stepping up the plate to take care of the poor. BUT, we can’t forget WHY we’re doing these things!

1) Because it’s a human right to eat, have water, and be free.
2) That these human rights only exist because a merciful God gave them to us.
3) This God has ONE plan of salvation for mankind, and that’s through Jesus.

Let us worship our God. Take this worship to the streets. Meet peoples needs. And have the boldness to not just show them the truth, but speak the truth as well.

John 3:16

I want to apply the profound attributes of God to the ordinary things of life. As I see God’s beauty and majesty I will fall to my knees in the authentic humility that only comes from His presence. True humility will cause us to venture into the dangerous places of life in order to please our maker. As we lose our pride we’re willing to stand on a soap box in the street to preach the truth. We’re also willing to be quiet, even when we have all the right things to say. As we learn to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit directing us in His will. Every moment can become an adventure. Eating, sleeping, preaching, writing, loving, exploring, and fighting for something bigger than ourselves.

These scriptures tell me a few things…

1) Seeking God’s face is important. Intimate, personal communion and conversation is what God longs for.

2) Our heart is the center of this relationship. In the scripture the heart actually gives a “verbal” response to God. Is my heart talking and responding to God? Or is it disconnected? Unplugged?

3) As I keep my heart connected, this journey takes patience and I’ve GOT to be strong. Because the enemy will attack ANY advance I make to God from my heart.

4) If I’ll just be courageous, I’ll win. God is so passionate about my heart, that He’ll fight for me. As I wait… as I pursue Him… there’s only ONE possible ending. It ends with me and Him in paradise no matter what. There’s no fear when I’m living from that place!