2012

Last night I saw the movie 2012 with some of the guys. Like most end of the world movies, it was great entertainment, but not much more. I mean, there was this one scene that just killed me. John Cusak is in Yellowstone National Park on the top of a mountain as the caldera is erupting. (If you didn't know, Yellowstone is a dormant volcano, and has been dormant for about 600,000 years. According to scientists, over the last few million years, the supervolcano has erupted 3 times, in period of about 600,000 to 700,000 years. So, it is due.) So Cusak, who is in the middle of this supervolcano eruption, gets into a camper and starts driving. His daughter is sitting behind him and looks in the rear view mirror and seeing something similar to the mushroom cloud from Nagasaki rising behind them. Of course, the Cusak is like "everything is going to be fine." So, John Cusak, in a camper, starts driving down a mountain as the blast from the eruption of the Caldera of the Yellowstone Supervolcano is chasing them. They make it out of course.

Anyway, the movie was filled with scenes like that. They were totally awesome, but predictable. It would have been more realistic if everyone died. But then there wouldn't have been a movie, so I guess I will just have to live with Hollywood overdramatizing everything.

So, this movie got me thinking. It starts off in 2009, as a typical day around the world. People are going to work. Kids are playing. The surfer dudes in California are surfing. Everything is normal. But in three years, the entire planet basically blows itself up.

As the movie is over, everyone leaves the theater. I go to the bathroom because that is what I do after movies. Teenagers are hanging out in the mall waiting for their parents to pick them up. All is well in New Philadelphia, Ohio as well as the rest of the country. So I am thinking, after seeing a movie like 2012, does anyone appreciate the fact that they are alive. I mean think about it. Think about how many things in the universe have to be so perfect just for life to exist. And on top of that, how many things in science have to remain perfect for life to continue to exist... For 6,000 years.

The Earth has stayed in orbit. The moon hasn't decided to fly off into outer space. No asteroids have devastated our planet because of our magnetic field. We have a magnetic field to protect us from solar flares and asteroids! Have you ever thought about that? Just like in Star Wars, our planet has a force field around it! That is sweet. Trees and plants take in what we exhale, and give off what we inhale. Because of gravity we can walk around without flying off into space. And this fact just baffles me. All molecules are held together by an intermolecular force. If that force was any different, then everything in existence would break apart and nothing would be in solid form. Our bodies would essentially fly off into space in trillions of microscopic pieces.

So I am thinking about these things and I am like, Wow, God really has to have everything under control for us to live. And I read verses like Isaiah 40:12 and Isaiah 42:5, which say


"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?"


and


"This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it"

It is absolutely incredible that we can even take our next breath. Countless miracles need to happen every second in order for us to live. This is just astounding. And the crazy thing is, we keep on living, but rarely take any time to marvel at the fact that we exist. Look at your hand. Look at how perfectly it is designed. How you can control each finger and move it to pick up stuff.

I have heard a lot of people say things like "I wonder what is going to happen in 2012." I have said that. But when I think about it, I should be thanking God every day that we are still here. And we have been here, hurling through space around a massive ball of fire on this big hunk of molten rock for at least 6,000 years. And every day I wake up, and see the sun rise in the east, and I think, "How much longer is this thing going to go on?" How much longer will we be able to live on this planet without chaos happening? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that with every passing day, the Return of the King draws nearer. And my spirit roars inside of me whenever I think about the Day. Until then, we will all keep living. Keep existing. Keep loving.

It may be in 2012. It may be tomorrow. It may be some other time. But King is coming.

"He who testifies to these things says, "Surely, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." Revelation 22:20-21


JN

Meditate on the Goodness of God

I was sitting in a coffee shop today and Travis said something to me that really hit me where i was at. Recently, my mind has been going about 1 million miles an hour. I feel like I am always thinking about the spiritual realm, and dwelling on it. For example, I was at the gym today, and I was thinking about how Satan attacks me and what I can do to defend it. I know realizing where Satan attacks us is vital if we are going to fight against Him through the Word. But I was working out. The gym isn't a place where I want to be contemplating the depths of spiritual warfare. At the gym, I want to get a good workout. That's it. My mind can't handle anything else.

This type of thing happens to me once in a while. It especially happens when I am surrounded by godliness and really growing in my love for Jesus. Sometimes, I can't sleep at night because I am consumed by thoughts that...well.... let me just say they aren't healthly or good right before I go to bed. So, I told Travis this, and he looked at me and said something so simple, but so true. "Meditate on the goodness of God." I was like, "wow. Okay, I can do that.... yeah..." It was the most comforting thing I heard all day. So I ask, what does meditating on the goodness of God look like? For me, it means thinking about the cross. I think about my past, all the times that I have been prideful and rebelled against God, and how through that, He 'demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us'. Romans 5:8

I think about that verse and I am like "holy crap!". I am amazed that the King of the Universe loves me and shows his love for me through the most brutal, painful, death ever invented... crucifiction. Did you know that they had to create a word to describe the painfulness of cruxifiction. Excruciating. Yeah... when i found that out I was like... 'wow'

And then I start to think about the physical blessings God has given me. A godly loving family, food, clothing, more possesions than i ever need, people in my life who love me and accept me for who I am, talents, dreams, feelings, the sky, the mountains, the ability to travel to Colorado with my family this summer, being here in Ohio.... I could go on and on.

I think John Piper said it best. "God is glorified when we are the most satisfied on Him". As I meditate on the goodness of God, I am most satisfied, and He is glorified.

I feel such a peace right now. Travis and Don are in their litte office as I am typing this. They are just enjoying each others company... something that always puts a smile on my face whenever I observe them. It makes me think of my best friend who is at Greenville College now, and how much I want to see him. And it makes me know that God is God. He is so good. All the time.

So, smell the flowers today, drink the company, and meditate on the goodness of God. And he will fill you with the peace that trancends all understanding as you trust in Him.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9


;)


JN

morning

As I stepped downstairs this morning, I was surprisingly overjoyed to see that frost had covered our lawn like a blanket. It was relatively early, about 7 o'clock, the house was still asleep... except for me. I love those moments. I love them because they are the only time during the day that I can be alone with my Lord. There is something about the morning that is so soothing and tranquil. In our living room, there is a picture of a sunrise coming over these emerald green hills. On it there is apart of Psalm 5, which says;

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectations".

I love that image. I think of myself waking up to the dawn, somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. The sky would bleed orange and red, and I would just sit there, being in a state of captivation by my Maker. I'd have a dog too. He'd be running through the little meadow beneath the mountain. I would watch him from a distance. His name would be Jonah and he would be a Golden Retriever. Just me, Jonah, and Jesus.
I get so excited just thinking about that. I daydream about moments like those a lot.

But, Ohio will have to do. It was a beautiful morning. Jesus was present in our living room, and on our porch. And that is all I need.

JN

With Everything

Seth and I are sitting in the living room. Hillsong's With Everything is playing on our speaker system. I can't help but wonder. I feel as though sometimes I am so selfish and self-addicted. So many times all I think about is Josh. My heart can be so prideful. Jesus said "any of you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be My disciple." Luke 14. If these are the words of King of the Universe, the Living God, the One created you and the computer screen you are staring at and the keys that i am typing... then why do I desire myself and my dreams so much more than Him? To love Jesus with everything... it is all or nothing.

A few weeks ago I was sitting on my bed upsatirs in the ministry house. I had been really homesick. I didn't want to stay here. I had no confidence in myself. I felt like my life was welling up to nothing because I was so focused on myself. And then I read that verse from Luke 14. It completely tore me apart. I asked myself if I really could continue living for myself while trying to live for Christ. I couldn't do it. It is an aweful feeling knowing that you are intentionally ignoring the Creator or the Universe, yet claiming you love Him. Over the last 4 or 5 months, God has been ripping my selfishness apart. In very painful ways, he has showed me that to think I can be His disciple and at the same time live a self gratifying life is absoulte foolishness. So a few weeks ago, I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling, contemplating whether I wanted to stop following God because he requirements are so demanding, or, ask Him to change my heart so I would live fully devoted to Him with my will being His will. I was thinking about moving to Colorado on the spot, or spending a the rest of this year hitchhiking around America. I would have done it too.

C.S Lewis said that God is the "hound of heaven". I have been running from Him for so long, half heartly following Him. God chased me down, tackeled me, and told me that I needed to choose. So I chose.

I can't resist His irresistable grace. Jesus chose me. How could I want anything else. How could I think Colorado would satisfy the longings of my heart. It can't.

So I am sitting here, just thinking about my 19 years of life, and how God has so clearly been pursuing me. From the time I walked on the Great Wall of China when I was three, to the basketball court in the back of Asbury Grove in the summer of 2006, to right now.

I may never go to Colorado again. And is okay. Because Jesus is the prize. And he is so worth everything that I am.

"My whole life I place in your hands,
God of mercy, humbled I bow down,
in Your Presence at Your Throne."

-Came to My Rescue by Hillsong


-JN, one of the redeemmed

Humility on a Roof

I spent the day with Ben roofing with this dude Erik Miller and his crew. We were up somewhere near Clevland, past Akron. I had prayed earlier this week that God would humble me. So, when Don asked the guys on Wednesday if any of us wanted to roof with Erik, I went for it.
I have never really roofed before in my life. If you don't know what roofing is, basically it involves ripping shingles off a roof, and putting new ones on. It sounds easy and mindless, but it is by no means. I did a decent job of ripping the shingles off, but when Bo (one of the crew guys) asked me to be his "Pitcher", I had no idea what was that involved me doing. So I had to ask him what pitching is. He just looked at me and smiled, knowing that I have no experience roofing, and said "you are the guy that hands me the new shingles so I can nail them on." I felt like an idoit. Duh, that makes so much sense.
So Bo gets his nail gun (which is wiked sick by the way... you could easily shoot someones eye out) and I hand him a shingle. Apperently there is a method to handing shingles, and I wasn't understanding it. You have to be so precise to helping the nailer if you want the job to get done quickly. Then you have to re load the shingles and move as the nailer gets closer and closer to the top of the roof. Its a lot to think about.
So Bo let me go at it for a half hour, and then realizes that I was slowing him down, so he told me to go clean up around the house. There was this big pile of gutters on the ground that the crew had just tore off. Erik told me to to put them in the truck. So, I put them in the truck, with out really thinking about it. About a half hour later, I had just finished sweeping up this awening on the other side of the house. I tried to sweep it as clean as I could, because there was leaves and dirt, and old shigles all over the place. Bo noticed my diligency. He goes "Well, you swept the crap out of that awening". Being witty, I told him "Erik told me he wanted it so clean that he could eat off it.. so mabye you should go get some of those burgers we had for lunch and dump them on the awening so you can see." Bo just smiled. He looks at me and goes... "You are a good listener, but one thing you lack at your young age is discernment." And he points to the truck where i loaded the gutter. Each gutter was sticking off the back of the truck about 15 feet.
I just stood there and started laughing at myself. The the guys were houling with laughter. Erik goes "I dont know what is funnier... the practicality that everything on the truck will fall of when we start it, or that the gutters are about 12 feet beyond the legal limit and would totally crush any car behind us if they fell of." An image of a corvette getting smashed by all the gutters falling off as we drove down 77 came to mind.

So, I asked God to humble me. He sure did. I looked like an idiot in front of an expereinced roofing crew. More than once. But the guys were really chill about it and enjoyed that I provided the humor for the day. Humor is needed on a work site or someone will feel like they want to shoot somebody. It was a really fun day. I learned a lot. And my prayer was answered.

1 Peter 5:6 says "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."


How true it is.


JN

A Cool Truth

We were up late last night for J-Time, (Jesus Time). Basically what J-Time is, is the 7 of us sitting in the living room, talking about Jesus, our past, our present, our future, and basically just hacking out life together as a biblical community. We started around 9, and slowly a few of the guys drifted off to bed. Around midnight, myself, Seth, Don, and Ben were hungry and went to the kitchen to grab a midnight snack. Don was a personal trainer back in Chicago, so all of us usually ask him fitness and health questions. So J-time turned into a wellness session in the kitchen. I ate a little, but i mostly drank water because I had already drank about 9 cups of coffee earlier that day. No Joke. Coffee in the ministry house is a frequent necessity. It is sweet, because down High Street, there is this awesome local coffee joint called the Daily Grind, and they have the best brews and beans. Yesterday happened to be Hawaiian Kona Coffee, so I was all over that. After hanging out in the kitchen we all went to bed. Last night I had a lot on my mind. I have been feeling really good about life, and where I am right now. I feel like God has me in the right place and I am surrounded by a community of people that really wanna do this thing together... really live out the gospel of Christ. But I was praying about something last night that has been on my mind for a while, and I couldn't fall asleep. On Sunday I talked to a buddy of mine who has been going through the Psalms. He reads at least 3 a day, and he encouraged me to try it. So, I read 3 yesterday morning, and was on the 4th one. And as I was lying in bed, Psalm 4 popped into my head. I don't know if it was because that was the one that I was going to read next, or if God just wanted me to read it. But, I went downstairs around 1 o'clock and opened to Psalm 4. This is what it says.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

I read verse 8, and was like, "wow God. Wow. Okay, I will go upstairs, lie down, and sleep because I am in Your safety." It was pretty sweet, because I tend to be a insomniac and 9 cups of coffee don't help at all. It was even sweeter, because it has been a long, long time since God hit me with a verse to help me where I was at. And that is because I don't read His Word enough. I could right a lot more about that... but I will save it for another blog. So, I got up, went back to bed, and fell asleep within the next 10 minutes. God's Word is truth. I am really re-learning that right now. I hope this encourages you today!

JN

Alive

On Saturday I rode Don's bike down to the gym to workout, but when I got to the gym, all the lights were off. I was a little confused, because it was only 6 O'clock, and I thought the gym stayed open until 9. But, it turns out on Saturdays, that it closes at 5. So, a little disappointed, I decided to walk around the mall for a little while. (The gym is right next to the New Towne Mall). I like walking the mall a lot. A lot of my friends don't, because they feel like malls bombard people with advertisements have a really depressing feeling about them. But for myself, I really enjoy them. I like just walking, and observing the kinds of people I see.
So on this particular Saturday I noticed something about malls that I had never noticed before. As I walked by the kiosks, I passed benches. Sitting in these benches would be people. Usually there was just one person in a bench. The type of people varied, Hispanic, Caucasian, middle age, elderly... but there was one thing in common with all the people sitting on the benches. They had this blank stare on their faces. They were staring into nothing. Now, I don't know anything about any of these people, but watching them got me thinking. I wonder why there are people in America who spend their Saturday's sitting on a bench in a mall, just staring into space.
America has everything. It really does. Anything you want you can get in this country. That is the American Dream after all, isn't it. If you work as hard as you can, then your dreams are possible. We have been given the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But is happiness achievable? It seems like all we ever do is pursue it, we never obtain it. Sure, I have meet people who seem happy for a time. But it hasn't lasted.
So I wonder what those people on the bench feel like. I wonder if they feel like they want to experience true joy, but they can't. I wonder if they want to be loved, accepted, and really feel alive, but for some reason, no one loves them, no one accepts them, and they feel dead on the inside. Sometimes I feel like that. A lot of times I feel like that. There are so many times in my life when I feel like I want people to accept me, like me, and love me. I want to be good enough.
But every time I start thinking and caring about that, it leaves me feeling more insecure, more like a loser, and more like I am dead on this inside.
I believe the heart of every human being wants to experience life and joy. But we have this warped idea of where life and joy comes from.
I read this passage of Scripture earlier this week which pretty much struck me across the face and convicted me of my self-addiction in my life.
Jesus is talking about the cost of being his disciple and after saying you have to love Him more then anything he says something which is incredibly hard to swallow. He says "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has, cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33
I have been a follower of Christ for about 3 years now. For much of that time, I loved God. But I loved Him with conditions. I was like "God, I love you, as long as you make me feel comfortable and I don't have to risk everything, and don't have to talk to people I really don't want to talk to. And, oh yeah, get me to Colorado so I can live in the Rocky mountains."
For the last few months, God has been hammering into me that it is not about me. It really isn't. If I (any of us) are going to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, we must understand that life is not about us. It isn't about what we want. It isn't about being comfortable. I have really just started to get that.
Maybe the reason I have felt dead inside is because I am self-addicted and have looked for happiness in the wrong place. Jesus offers joy, life, and true peace. He offers it in Himself. And he requires us to give up all we have if we are to receive that offer. I am just realizing that.

JN