Where is the love?

So, I've been thinking a lot lately... (I know- SHOCKER!!!). Anyway, I've been considering what we, as Christians, can say and do to make a difference in people's lives. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more rare for people to get out of their comfort zones and reach people where they're at.


These thoughts have been focused around an event that has been creeping its way to Southwest Baptist University (my alma mater). SBU's been targeted by a gay-rights group, and today this group showed up on the campus's doorstep. Literally for weeks, I've been praying about how we should approach this situation, and whether or not I should be on campus while everything was going down. Fortunately or unfortunately, I wasn't able to be at SBU today. But I feel, on our part (Southern Hills Baptist Church) we made quite an impact!

I've been convicted that an argument or debate is the least effective way to reach people. As soon as the debate begins, the ears close and the words fly. The only way my mind could be changed about an issue so key to someone's life as this is for them to prove their beliefs through their actions. Very rarely could a word alter any of my opinions, let alone a core belief!

As I said, I've been praying for weeks about how we should approach this situation as Christians, and it's amazing to see how God's plan can make a difference! My prayers kept coming back with the message: "Love". I knew right away that we weren't to engage them in debates or try to force them into a logic-based decision.

So back to the "Love" message. I couldn't get Christ's words out of my mind in Matthew 22:34-40. In this passage, He describes all of the Law in two commands: Love God and Love Others!

Apparently God had been putting similar ideas into Rayden's head. He and Cameron (our Youth Minister) were preparing to give this group water bottles (since they were standing outside most of the afternoon) and offer our beliefs through service and love. From what Cameron said, the group was taken aback with this offer. They had been expecting harsh treatment and instead received love.

Now, only God knows what impact our actions made in the lives of these people, but I'm continuing to pray for them because I too was living in sin before Christ became my Lord. So here we go, placing another rung in the ladder.

Reality Check

Part 1:

I was just reading Mark 9:38-41 (look it up), and that got me thinking. How sad is it where Christianity has come? Sure, there are lots of good and wonderful things Christians are doing throughout the world, but as a corporate body- we have fallen far short of the goal! I have no idea how many "denominations" exist in Christianity, and I'm not really sure I want to. Even within the title "Baptist" there are a ton of subgroups: Missionary Baptist, Northern Baptist, Southern Baptist, Berean Baptist... and I began thinking about what caused all of these rifts.

I haven't gotten a chance to look at the history books to see where these Christian subgroups divided, but I'm almost positive I've got the answer: SELFISHNESS!

That word/idea/mindset/lifestyle is the destructor of Christianity. Within selfishness, we find the root of church splits, spiritual barrenness, and "fill-in-the-blank". We've all seen and experienced selfishness, whether it's coming from the outside or in. Recently, I've seen people at my church struggle, well- you might be able to say "flourish" instead, with the sin of selfishness. And honestly, there have been times where I have been battling selfishness.

This week, I've seen where Christianity needs to head. Right to where my students' hearts are! My college students were given several opportunities this week to drive this selfish attitude into the ground. We began this week's activities with two prayer walks around Bolivar, and closed yesterday with a service-based scavenger hunt. And I tell ya- my students are on fire!!! Our intent for this week has been to open the eyes of our college students to the huge need in Bolivar. We wanted to be very intentional in how we presented Bolivar to the students, and it has payed off! Our eyes have been opened to the need right around the corner, and we are preparing the students to take the message out on their own- without our prodding! We have seen the need in Bolivar, and are ready to address those needs.

The First Rung

This seems like a first date, although I've been fortunate to only have one of those! But it's a strange feeling: I'm not really sure what to say and I hope I don't have any spinach stuck in my teeth!

Haha, ice breaker! Well, I guess I should welcome everyone to my blog... I'll start off by explaining the purpose of this blog and the meaning behind the name.

This blog is a way for me to express my heart and vision when I'm not always able to see them come to actuality. I know God has something huge planned for Bolivar, MO. I have been praying for months on end, and there is an overwhelming passion building up inside me that must be expressed.

I love this town! There was a time where I never thought I'd say those words, but God has a funny way of developing passions and relationships. He placed Bolivar on my heart, and I've come to love it as my home. My wife, Mary (you'll hear a lot about her throughout my posts), and I are currently in the process of purchasing a home in Bolivar and beginning our family here- sorry Moms!

This blog is an outlet for me to process ideas and a way to get feedback from you on how I can be more effective in these missions.

Now, on to the title of the blog: Ladder Builder. This comes from an amazing analogy I heard from Tommy Sparger, pastor of NorthPoint Church (Springfield, MO). You can check them out at northpointnow.org. Tommy is a man with a vision: "It's all about changed lives!" Anyways, he came on stage one morning with a ladder. He compared this ladder to our Christian journey and said that the church has specialized in climbing the ladder, while removing rungs behind them. While the church sits on top, they ask why no one else has followed.

We have made the church a country-club.

Christ never intended for us to complicate His message or His mission. He said to "love God and love others" (Luke 10:26-28 paraphrase). I am being convicted that my purpose it to rebuild the rungs- to create accessible and desirable ways for the unreached and overlooked, whether that's on SBU's campus or in a trailer park outside of town.

I am excited (actually- beyond excited) to see what God's putting together! My pastor, Rayden Hollis: createahungrychurch.blogspot.com, has an amazing vision for our church- Southern Hills Baptist Church! And we are ready for some action...

So I'm preparing the materials, gathering my tools, and setting out to rebuild a broken ladder!