Cease...Ceasing...

I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the mindset that I feel has invaded a lot of what we consider "Christian Culture".

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God."

I believe in this text whole heartedly and know there have been times that this was like a warm blanket of grace to me. However, I do not feel this is the end all and be all of an individual's faith journey. I believe in this, as a moment of worship. I see this as a moment that should make you feel alive and loved and safe and cherished and never forsaken.

But...

I think I've seen this used as an excuse to not actively pursue. Not actively serve. Not actively give. Not actively lead. Our faith should be active. There should be a constant longing for your sanctification to be moving more rapidly than it is. And yes, sometimes that means to stop and worship. But sometimes it means to chase harder and more ferocious than ever before. I want to stop being okay with just "being okay". I podcast Matt Chandler (The Village Church in Dallas) every week and I've heard him say many times (and I believe this to be true), "It's okay to not be okay...it's not okay to stay there."

Now, I want to be clear, I think there is a place for both. I think both are even required of us. This is when worship becomes a life style.

I guess I've been praying more about what it is I need to be about. What areas of life do I need to be more actively involving my faith in? Am I leading well, by example, for the sake of the Gospel and to make Christ more famous? I would never want to be known as complacent and uninterested because I "ceased striving" for longer than I should have. I've decided that it's time to cease...ceasing. It's time to be actively involved in the work that Christ is doing all around me and inviting me into.

So, what is it that you feel you're being drawn into? It may be the greatest adventure of your life and you may even be stirred to a greater level of worship than even when you are being still [and knowing that He's God].

Like Peter, being asked by Jesus to push out into deeper waters, I want to be ready for the catch.

Struggling To Be Still,
ZS






Image from: http://www.billmarshjr.com/tag/use-action/

What is the "will of God" for me?

This morning I preached my last sermon as an Elder of Gateway Fellowship Church.

I could probably tell you a lot of different things about why it was time for me to step out of this position.  However, in the end, it was quite simply time.

So I spent my last half hour, of speaking with our people, dealing with a topic that I feel I can speak to more now than I could have 7 years ago or 13 years ago (the two previous times I felt lead to step away from a ministry/leadership position in a church).   I decided to tackle the topic of "Some Things to Remember About God's Will".

I'm not a big "topical preaching" kind of guy, so I did my best.  Here is what I came up with.

Some things to remember about God's will:1.) Just because one work is finished doesn't mean you are finished. 2.) Just because it seems easy doesn't mean God is in it. 3.) Just because it seems hard doesn't mean God is in it. 4.) Seek. Pray. Listen. Follow. Seek. Pray. Listen. Follow. Etc. 5.) Remember that what you do doesn't really matter. How you live does.  "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 ESV)

God's will is not really tied to what you do vocationally but learning to live life with opened hands.  If there is little that people remember about my time with GFC in Royse City, I hope it's this.

I do not really know what is next for my family and I, but I do know that we will wind up in the place we always have...right in the middle of the will of God.

In the end, I echoed the words of Paul, and pray this is what I'm always known for:
"For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preach by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11-12

Stay tuned...
ZS

Casa de Luz

We had the great pleasure of visiting an orphanage for children with disabilities today.  The orphanage is called Casa de Luz (Lighthouse), which is so fitting for the experience we had with the people there.  These are children who were abandoned by their families because of the extent of their disabilities, which is heart wrenching to think about but I try to reserve judgement because it's likely they are being cared for more at Casa de Luz than they would've been by their families.

The pastor who runs the orphanage is also the man who started it.  He started this work because he and his wife have a child who was born with a significant and profound disability.  As they begin seeking out help with care for their son, they found there was nothing available.  So, they started rescuing children like their own son.  The pastor now lives on the site where the orphanage is located, but the day to day work with the children is accomplished primarily through volunteers who are nothing short of angels of mercy.

There are many things that I could write to try to explain to you the experience but I will allow some pictures to tell the story.

This is our new friend Ruth.  She welcomed everyone with a huge smile and a hug.  Such a sweet spirit in this little child.  

We were able to help out with lunch.

I love this picture for many reasons but focus on the faces of Ruth, Jacob, and Eli.  Ruth, just so happy to have someone helping and giving her attention.  Eli, watching closely all that we are doing (he was very cautious and watchful for the first 30 mins or so we were there).  Jacob, processing all that he is seeing around him.  I was so proud of my boys today with the way they interacted with the kids at this orphanage.  The kids here have some very profound and severe physical and mental (probably also emotional) disabilities.  I have worked with kids with special needs for years and this scene was still somewhat shocking for me.

But, check this out...

Wheel Chair Races!!!

The kids (both the ones who live there as well as my own) had so much fun racing up and down the hall.  All of a sudden, these were just kids.  Like any other kid in any part of the world.  

I'll leave you with one last image, my favorite from the day.  Jacob and his new BFF Ernesto. 

After lunch, Jacob pushed Ernesto up and down the long hallway for the rest of the time we were there.  They both brought so much joy to the children at Casa de Luz today.  I've said it before and I will continue to say, I believe (because I've prayed for it since before they were born) that my boys are world changers.

Soli Deo Gloria,

ZS

Baseball, Baptism, Beach, and Sun Burns

I think the Texas Rangers Dominican Academy has become one of my favorite places to be. Last summer when we came I had the opportunity to see lefty phenom, Yohander Mendez. Today I had the opportunity to see Juremi Profar, Jurickson's little brother, play SS for the Dominican squad in a MLB sanctioned DSL game. I'm grateful for my new buddy Stosh Hoover for helping us get in and feel welcomed. 

(Juremi Profar #7)

This was a great experience, but pales in comparison to what the afternoon brought. 

We went to Boca Chica for lunch and spending time on the most beautiful beach you can imagine. After lunch and spending some time playing in the water I had the honor of baptizing my oldest son, Jacob, in the Caribbean. This is something we've been talking about for quite some time. Jacob has wanted to be baptized for a while but going to a church that meets in a day care we were needing to wait until this summer when we can fill up out outdoor, portable, baptistery (inflatable pool). No greater time or place than while we are here in the DR, a place we've grown to love, as a family. I will never forget that moment as long as I live and my hope is it will be a defining moment in my precious son's spiritual life. The sights and sounds of Dominican culture surrounded us while my son experienced one of those BIG MOMENTS. (Will post a video soon.)

Just a quick reminder, friends, Christ is anywhere and everywhere you are. Will you stop to recognize His work?

Oh, also, we got sunburns. 

Soli Deo Gloria,

ZS

Casa Juvenil Tercer Cielo

(My new friend, Levi. Levi is a #worldchanger.)

I was given the opportunity to go teach an English class tonight in Santo Domingo. 

Julio and Mercy go to the capital every Monday night to teach English to junior high and high school students. This is a ministry started by former New York Yankee, Dámaso Marte (a really cool ministry, here's more info http://www.scoreintl.org/ministry/casajuvenil/). I had the opportunity to talk (and I use that term loosely) to the high school group. 

Some thoughts from the hour I spent with them:

1.) I must learn to speak Spanish. 

2.) Dominican teens are not that different than their American counterparts. They enjoy facebooking, listening to music and hanging out with their friends. 

3.) I have to learn Spanish. 

4.) There are a lot of good people working to make the world a better place to live. 

5.) Something good and redeeming came out of the Yankee's organization (Dámaso Marte). 

6.) I really need a second language. I'm leaning toward Spanish. 

7.) Love, appreciation, kindness, humility, passion, these are universal and cross every known language barrier. 

8.) Does anyone own Rosetta Stone, Spanish? JK I'm rolling with my FREE Duolingo app. Btw, I'm going to learn to speak Spanish. 

I made a deal with the students. I told them I'd come back next year with more Spanish if they'd promise to have more English. 

¡Julio y Mercy, necesito su ayuda!

(See what I did there? Spanish. Thanks google.)

¡Salud!

ZS

Santa Alicia

Just a day full of joy. 

As we approached Santa Alicia it didn't take long to realize we were going to have to abandon the vehicle and seek alternate means of transportation in...

Jacob taught an art lesson for the kids (and many of the adults) and did such a great job. I could not be more proud of him for doing so many things that I know made him uncomfortable. Watching him interacting with the kids and helping them brought so much joy to my heart. About 20 mins into it, he looked up at me with sweat pouring down his face (btw, Jacob typically doesn't like being hot...at all) and said "Daddy, I want to stay here forever!" This is a common response from people who have the opportunity to visit Santa Alicia. 

After the art lesson we divided the kids up and Eli was able to do the one thing he REALLY wanted to do on this trip...play baseball with the kids on the batay. I threw batting practice to the kids for about an hour...took a pretty good pounding. Felt like Roy Oswalt circa 2012 out there. 

(This is me pitching to Ariel, the little boy we sponsor through @25Projectorg.)

(Eli rounding 3rd after taking me deep.)

(A good picture of Jacob drilling one off of me for a round tripper.)

In other news, the big chicken coop (or is it coupe?) we built there last summer is still in tact and full of chickens. 

Until next time, Santa Alicia...

ZS

Every Tribe and Every Nation.

We had the opportunity to worship with the family of International Baptist Church in Santo Domingo this morning. Such an incredible experience. The worship through singing and preaching were both so go. I was stirred and inspired by how passionate this church chases after Christ in worship.

During the "informacíon" part of the gathering they talked about the upcoming baptismal service they will be having. There were probably about 40 names of people who will be baptized next week. So stinkin' cool. 

Also, they gave all 4 of us these head sets where someone was translating the entire service to us in English. That was kinda the "WOW factor" for the Snow Boys. They thought that was pretty awesome...ok, I thought that was pretty awesome. 

Pray for Jacob tomorrow as he teaches an art class to the kids (and possible most of the adults) at Santa Alicia. We went and picked up the materials he need after church this afternoon.  

Ok, I've got to get back to what I was doing...

ZS