If you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen!  I am looking forward to the NBA playoffs.  I am a true Miami fan living in Chicago.  It is exciting to know we have a player you can count on during crunch time.  Some players crumble under pressure and some rise to the top.

I am also excited about this series on stress.  I always thought I did well under pressure.  Yet, my first six years of marriage and gathering 4 children proved to be the biggest adjustment of my life.  I never new the pressure could be so great.  On one day I went from an independant single man to a family of 3!  I have no regrets and am grateful. But I have to admit, that even though I had worked with teens for years, parenting one is a whole different story.  And then throw in 3 babies in 4 years and now the kitchen stove has a bunch pots on the pressure cooker.  I will be preaching at two different locations and a youth retreat over the next three weeks.  BRING IT ON BABY!  Don't worry, I am learning the challenge is to great for me.  But I love to have a front row seat to God at work.  I will not be one of the boys who bails out when the kitchen gets hot!  I will not slow down nor back off. I will serve my family and be faithful to my call.  By God's strength and grace I will grow through the pressure and not crack up under the stress!  Please pray for me.  I need it :).

Looking forward to how far the Miami Heat will go and a milion times more looking forward to what God will do over the three weeks!

This past weekend was a real highlight. 5 services at Midway, one on Good Friday and 4 on Sunday. Met a lot of new people, worked with a great Guest Services team to make sure things were organized, and helped pray for people at the end. We have had a dramatic re-enactment of the crucifixion each year for about 20 years. Once again I saw the same scenes that our cast & crew have rehearsed. And once again it sent a chill down my spine and stirred up a lot of emotion. On the surface that might seem surprising. After all, I already know the story and I’ve seen this particular drama dozens of times. Generally I never read any other book twice and never like to see any movie if I already know what happens. So I was wondering, why is this story different? There’s at least a few reasons that stand out to me:

1. The Story of the Cross is Alive! The Word of God, His message, is alive. It’s not static, unchanging information. It is active, relevant, used by the Holy Spirit to affect us, and penetrates to the core of our soul if we allow it. In Hebrews 4:12 we read “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The drama includes words from the Bible and is faithful to the message so the Lord uses it to bring judgment and conviction. Any Christian with any sense should feel anger, guilt, love, and gratitude when they are reminded about the death of Jesus. Hope should enter us as we think about the resurrection of our Lord.
   
   
2. The Story of the Cross is Powerful! As the Apostle Paul so truly said, “For, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Cor 1:18) If you are being saved, if you have the Holy Spirit, If God is your Father and Jesus is your brother (Heb 2:11-12), then you have the ability to understand this message. As a believer I experience the power of the cross to defeat my own sin, expose the deception of the world, and protect me from the power of the Devil.
   
   
3. The Story of the Cross is My Story! Everyone likes to talk about themselves. This can be self-centered, but in some ways it is normal and healthy. Plato said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That’s not exactly biblical but it is a wise saying. Our kids love to hear the same stories over and over about their birth, first words, and early years along with stories about their relatives. The stories of their life are not all that unique but they give them context, understanding, and identity. In a healthy family it should give them a sense of significance and security. The gospel story has completely changed me so it is my story. Galatians 2:20 tells us  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” There is a clear dividing line, a fork in the road, in my life when I came to truly understand and accept the gospel message 25 years ago at age 18.

Let’s remember this story all year long. We will teach it, share it with each other, explain it to people who have not clearly heard the gospel, recall it when we take communion, review it in the Bible, and apply it in everyday life. We never get past the cross. I believe it was Martin Luther who said that “Christians need to get saved every day.” Not that we lose our salvation, but we need to remember who we are and whose we are every day. So hold on to the story. Unlike other stories, it isn’t just entertainment and it won’t get old. The gospel is alive with power and it is our story!

This past Sunday I did my best at all 3 English services at Midway to exhort people to invite friends, family, neighbors, & co-workers to one of our Easter services. I did everything I could think of: showing off the invitations, encouraging, giving a guilt trip, praying for the invites. Right after I gave the announcements at the 12:00 service Pastor Mark asked the congregation to do something unusual. He asked us all to think of someone we could invite and, if we had a cell phone with us, take out the phone and call that person right now and invite them. I couldn’t think of anyone but I began to scroll through the contacts on my phone. I quickly realized that all of the names were New Lifers. Embarrassed that I had no one to invite, I found a ‘backslider’ and called him. He didn’t answer so I left a message.

Not only did I not have anyone to call but I didn’t have anyone specific in mind to invite this week. I’m like so many other Christians. I believe in the urgency of evangelism, I talk about it, am glad when I see it happen, and take pride in the fact that our church is growing. I don’t want to see Christians simply invite other Christians but instead reach out to those who appear to be far from God and need to clearly hear the gospel. However, I don’t currently have a specific ‘love list’ of people that I am reaching out to.

After the Sunday service I ate with my family at Wendy’s and made sure I invited the worker for Easter. I’ve invited a few people already this week and am going to personally talk to some people I know today. My wife also has gone out of her way to invite a woman she knows that needs to take a step to follow the Lord.

It reminds me of the saying “We Teach What We Know but We Reproduce Who We Are”. It’s so easy to get consumed with church life inside the 4 walls of the church that we give little time and effort into trying to reach new people. As Jesus called His first followers he told them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19). Regardless of our calling, schedule, and gifting, if we are a follower of Christ then we should be a fisher of people. I’m convicted and am setting aside some time to connect with people outside of the church this week. Are you following? Are you fishing?