So it’s been crazy around here with EP!C & ignite. We are just returning from an epic ‘Back to the Future’ retreat 2012. Wow, what an amazing time with God and with one another. There were some true God moments and a lot of momentum coming home from such a great weekend. Now we are home, what are you going to do? That is the real challenge. Retreats, camps, special services, and even just normal every week services are EASY to serve God. It’s easy when they play the right song, the preacher really ‘preaches the house down’ and we are surrounded by our friends, but what happens when you are at lunch and real life is hitting your Christianity right in the ‘no no’ zone. I am not trying to be vulgar, but I am trying to get catch your attention. Christianity is a real life, every day, walk the walk, and talk the talk journey. Anything short of that is not Christianity. It maybe a religious obligation, but Christianity it is not.

At one of our recent prayer meetings as a youth group, a student asked the question which startled me a bit. Well, I guess I am not being totally truthful. It did not catch me as off guard as I sound. After six years in youth ministry, there is not much that catches me off guard, but the question was deep none the less. She said, “Do we really know who we pray too, who we fast too, and who we read about”?. In other words we all know what we are supposed to say, we all could pass that pop quiz with flying colors, but do we really and truly KNOW who HE is? I am not sure if I do, muchless students who are new to this. So this past monday we began our ‘Who Is God”? Series. I am looking forward to exploring the Word of God and having some true God meetings so that we can all grow closer to him.

As I end, I have to be honest. Take my man card if you must, but while I am typing this quick blog of nothingness, I am listening to Melody Gardot. This chick can sing, period. There is something about listening to someone who is so passionate about what they do. I am constantly surrounded by people who are extremely gifted and talented, but very few are passionate. Passion draws it out, passion pushes, passion will not be stopped. You can hear it in Melody’s voice, she is so passionate about her songs, her music, and the life that she is blessed to live. God can put inside you some of the greatest talents and gifts known to man, but you will constantly frail away in mediocrity if you have no passion. Passion is the key. I could spend a whole blog, and may one day, on just passion. It’s what drives me to become a better Christian, a better husband and father, and a better minister. Passion, passion, passion.

As I stop typing let me warn you though. If you ignite your passion be prepared for it to catch on. Passion is contagious, and people will gather to watch someone set themselves on fire and burn. Use your passion for His kingdom. Now let’s go do something special!

There is something very subtle that can easily be skipped if we aren’t careful. His name was not Matthew, originally. It was Levi, a name only given to a pharisaical child. Yet when we find Matthew, we find him as a tax collector who had turned his back on his culture, his family, and his dreams to sell out to the ruling government. Still we find Jesus walking up to Matthew and beckoning him with one phrase – follow me.

In 2011 we started a journey into Gods word and a deeper walk with Jesus, and in 2012 we continue that journey by doing what Matthew did – go.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Every single one of us are a Matthew in some way. Let me encourage you with the same words that Jesus called to Matthew – “come and follow”. It doesn’t matter what mistakes have been made, what issues you face, or what obstacles are in your way – just go. Your dreams were given to you by God and your destiny is in place, and tomorrow’s destiny becomes todays direction. Destiny without direction is just a dream, which will die.

2012 is going to be the year that we as a body – Go. Welcome to the start of an amazing 2012 and the introduction of our first series – “12″.

~Nate

One thing that inspires me about the life of Christ was his knack of getting to the heart of the issue. Nicodemus came to Jesus to figure him out, and we see that Jesus cuts straight to the heart of Nic’s issue – salvation. Constantly throughout the scriptures Jesus wasted little time beating around the bush, playing it safe, and being politically correct. He was our inspiration, our example, and our messiah.

Too often I find myself as a leader struggling with the idea of being a ‘good’ leader and being a ‘real’ leader. To me there should not be a difference, but there often is quiet a difference. I can only speak, write, and share through my life lenses. I by no means know it all but that is precisely the point of my writing today.

To see what the absolute core of what ‘church’ is to represent, then we must see what the first church was at its birth. If Jesus stated that He would build the church, then what did the first church look like?

Acts 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

As we allow these scriptures to filter through us, you are probably prompted by some hefty emotions. This was an astounding experience, one that those of us who have experienced ourselves can associate with. In a powerful outpouring, the church was birthed with 3000 new souls in a matter of moments. This church that Christ ensured would come was here, and spreading rapidly. Thankfully the scriptures do not stop there with an experience, as do many Christian lives. It would leave too much grey area for God to leave the rest of the story not penned. The church was created, but now what?

Acts 2:42 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

There is a plethora of life-altering principles that are woven into the fabric of these scriptures. The early disciple were so passionate, so awe-struck by what had just taken place in their lives that without a teacher, without a pastor, without prompting or pleading, they devoted themselves. This first church was composed of people whose lives were so changed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that they completely became passionately devoted followers of Christ. It is interesting to note that with the in filling of the Holy Spirit came an awe of God. I often have to ask myself what did I do with my ‘awe’. Many times I lay it aside or misplace it completely. An awe of God is meant to be a characteristic of the church.

Acts 2:44 (ESV) And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Please do not misinterpret what I am trying to say. I by no means spit in the face of our Americanized version of church culture. There is no wrong with the striving for excellence and professionalism. I am on the same team of those new-age leaders who are pushing the envelope of what is commonly accepted and expected in our churches. I applaud those of us who look outside the box of traditional church function to find creativity and simplicity. There is nothing wrong with how we reach our own unique cities and cultures, but what I am saying is that the church must never forget what it was at its core. What was the first churches function, beyond doctrine and teachings?

I discover these first churchgoers selling all their assets, living together, learning together, failing together, worshiping together, and eating together. All the while having glad and generous hearts. I am not in favor of our churches becoming cultish convents of disciples who will not venture outside their Christian reservoirs, however I am in favor of the principles that are at work. What life lessons have you been through that you can heave into the pool of knowledge? What things have you experienced, what pain have you survived, what issues have you come through that could help someone else? Let’s take those life lessons that we have learned, toss them into a pile and offer to anyone and everyone in need. It’s through doing life together, this allocating of human and emotional resources, that produces a culture of Godly, awe-inspired Christians, who devote themselves to becoming Christ-like each day.

The church was plainly a community of converts who were together in ‘common’. The church was not a building, not a conference, not even a worship service, they were purely people who had something in common. So what church do you attend? I hope you urgently become a church planter ensuing this today. No, not in New York, not in California, not even on the foreign missions field; instead start a church similar to the first church. Your football team, at lunch hour, during your break at college, your office, your neighborhood; these are great places to start a church. We must remember that the church is people who have something in common. Therefore share your resources of life lessons, ask for God’s wisdom and favor, and go start a church by doing life together.