Hunting for the Light

I have a friend Hunter; he’s 13 and attends my church. Recently Hunter started a blog titled “Hunting for the Light”. His most recent post blew me away! It restored my hope in the future for both our nation and the church! This is what he wrote:

I just had this running through my head for a few days I don’t know what it really is but this is it.

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What if you believed you could fly would you jump?

What if you had the faith to move mountains would you push?

What if everything in your life was taken away would you have faith that everything was going to turnout?

NEVER stop believing!

Do yourself a favor, stop by Hunter’s blog and leave him an encouraging comment. I can’t think of a better way to sow into our future.

Hunter you rock!

Tom

How Can I Make My Church Grow?

In my travels I often have an opportunity to talk with pastors. In these conversations I’ve discovered that one of the foremost questions on the mind of American pastors is “How can I make my church grow?”

Asking how to make a church grow isn’t a bad question, it’s the wrong question. Here’s a better question for pastors to ask – Lord, what are you doing and how can I do it with you? If we honestly knew what God was doing and were able to faithfully cooperate in doing it with him, then it really wouldn’t matter if our church grew or if it didn’t. We’d be doing the will of the Father and in the end that’s all that truly matters… right guys?

Could it be that it’s all just a test, a test of our character, a test of our integrity, a test of our motives and a test of our hearts? Of the servant faithful with ten minas Jesus said…

'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'

In the economy of God’s Kingdom faithful stewardship of small matters like 100 days wages qualifies you to take charge of ten cities, wow! Could faithful stewardship of a small church qualify us for greater Kingdom oversight and responsibility? Scripture points to - yes.

Maybe, just maybe if we refuse to compromise to get big, we’ll refuse to compromise when we are big. And maybe, just maybe if we do compromise to get big, we will compromise to stay big.

Oh God, raise up shepherds and fathers who will be faithful in the small matters. Men who truly have clean hands and pure hearts, incorruptible men with untainted motives. Oh God make me just such a man, amen.

© Tom Zawacki 2008

Safe vs. Good

In C.S. Lewis’ classic “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Peter asks the Beavers if Aslan is “safe”. Mr. Beaver offers a profound and revealing response…

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

“Safety” along with its twin brother “comfort” have become foundational tenets of American church culture. In our compulsion to grow our churches - making them sensitive, welcoming and inviting we have emphasized the nature of God characterized by the Dove and the Lamb while forgetting that He is still very much the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Somewhere over the past few decades we began to portray God as safe and with that label has come the notion that he is not only safe but weak and small and powerless as well. Sadly God has become smaller in our eyes and sadder still, we have become bigger.

If the truth be told, we would honestly admit that we do not know him. We know of him. We know his stories. We know what others have told us about him. But we do not intimately, personally and experientially know God. For if we truly knew him - The Lord of all lords and King of all kings, the Creator of all that is or ever was, if we truly knew this all powerful, all knowing Lord of Glory, we would know like Mr. Beaver that – no he isn’t safe, but he is indeed very good.

Maybe like me, you’re dissatisfied with a safe, controlled, constrained, in the box kind of God. Maybe like me you long to personally experience the majesty, sovereignty, awe and wonder of the Lion, the good Lion?

If so, know this, He’s always been there and He’s waiting for us even now – just outside the boundaries of our traditions, our rituals, and our comfort zones. If you listen you can hear him, in that mighty roar is the call of your name… go after it, go after him. Is he safe? Of course He isn’t safe, He’s a Lion, but he is very good and you can trust Him!

© Tom Zawacki 2008

Passion & Conviction!

In my previous post I issued the challenge “What Will You Fight For!” coupling it with one of my all time favorite movie scenes from Mel Gibson’s Braveheart. Answering my own question “What Will I Fight For” left me with a pile of refuge I realized I am NOT willing to fight for.

One of the cable networks has been playing Gladiator repeatedly the past few days. I love that movie. It stirs passion within me at a very deep level.

Most movie quote websites prominently posted the revenge scene dialogue where the now Gladiator Maximus finally has his opportunity to stand face to face with Emperor Commodus the former friend who murdered his way to the throne including Maximus’ wife and young son. Removing his mask Maximus reveals his true identity to a stunned Emperor Commodus and says:

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. I will have my vengeance, in this life... or the next."

Powerful scene, but not my personal favorite, the picture at the top of this post is from an obscure scene earlier in the movie. Here the yet to be murdered Emperor Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris) offers the Roman Empire to Maximus – and I love his reply.

Marcus Aurelius: You have proven your valor once again, Maximus. Let us hope for the last time.

Maximus: There is no one left to fight, sire.

Marcus Aurelius: There is always someone left to fight. How can I reward Rome's greatest general?

Maximus: Let me go home.

Marcus Aurelius: Ah, home.

Marcus Aurelius: Won't you accept this great honor that I have offered you?

Maximus: With all my heart, no.

Marcus Aurelius: Maximus that is why it must be you.

Like Maximus, I will NOT fight for fame, for fortune, for title, for position, for glory, for a worldly measure of success, to build my own kingdom, or any man’s kingdom. Oh God make me a man after your own heart. May your passion surge through my soul! May I have the passions and convictions of Wallace and Maximus until my final breathe – so be it.

© Tom Zawacki 2008

What Will You Fight For?

What are you willing to fight for?

What are you willing to suffer and bleed for?

What are you willing to die for?

Your Life?

Your Family?

Your Faith?

Freedom - Yours and Others?

Passion, Love?

Destiny?

Truth?

My horse is ready, I'm fully equipped, reins in my left hand - sword in my right. Who will stand with me? Who will join me at the crossroads of evil and love... saying thus far and NO MORE! Who will ride with me? Who will fight with me? Who will bleed and if need be die with me?

Oh God raise up men of honor and valor in this hour, true men, leaders with passion in their eyes and fire in their bellies, men like William Wallace who refuse to bow to evil, men who will stand for truth. Oh God raise up such men, oh God make me to be just such a man.

Oh God,

Oh God,

Oh God...

(C) Tom Zawacki 2008

Superman

My entire life I have been fascinated by supernatural phenomenon. As a small boy I would often daydream and fantasize about having super powers. During these daily adventures I would fly, exhibit super human strength and I always, and I mean always, beat up the bad guys. As you can well imagine, I loved reading comic books and of all the many and varied superheros to choose from Superman was. of course, my absolute favorite!

Maybe it’s because on the outside I felt like the mild mannered, nerd-ish and often ridiculed Clark Kent. But inside, deep inside, hidden under all my disguises, I knew I wasn't a Clark Kent, I was really a Superman. Doing right things right, rescuing the damsel in distress, defeating evil and fighting for truth, justice and the American way! Yeah, that was me, that’s what was really hidden behind those nerdy glasses.

Alas, I am no longer a child… but Superman still lives in my heart.

I am 48 years old and I am convinced today more than ever that I was indeed created to live a supernatural life. You see, the most super of all men to ever walk this Earth, He lives in my heart. And nothing is impossible for him, nothing! He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres - He never fails!

His love has given me the courage to shed my Clark Kent disguises… little by little, day after day I’m learning to live in my skin. It feels weird but it feels... good, it feels... free. It feels... real. Now if I can just find a phone booth… ;)

© Tom Zawacki 2008