wrecked.

Welcome to StudentCPX Southside, Pittsburgh.

It's hard to sum up the past few days at the Burning Bush HOP in Pittsburgh. Student CPX (Church Planting Experience) is a conference that lasts about 2 weeks and has a goal of making and discipling college students to learn how to have simple churches--a church outside of the normal four wall structure. I haven't been able to blog very much about this experience because of some internet issues, but now that I can, I don't even know where to begin.

I arrived last Thursday to Burning Bush House of Prayer in Southside and was greeted by a group of spirit-filled believers who immediately welcomed me into a community. The experience was something I'm not sure I could explain completely. Imagine walking into a house full of strangers and all of a sudden realizing that they are your brothers and sisters--like for real. Crazy? Yeah, but totally part of what God actually tells us about the body of Christ. We are all sons and daughters of the Most High God. I was welcomed home to a group of the most amazing people everrrrr!

We've done a lot since then, and I'm not sure I could sum up all of it. Let's just say that before this experience I would never have walked out onto a street and asked people about jesus or how they felt about god, or if I could pray for them. I might have thought about it--but I'm not sure I would have had the confidence or boldness to do so.

Since coming here, I've encountered Jesus. I've encountered the real guy. The real heavenly father, who isn't this distant man, but rather, my dad. A guy who would let me step on his feet while we dance through life together. A guy who will stand behind me so that when I fall he's right there to catch me--and most of all, someone who pursues me. A man who loves me. A GOD who loves me. Yeah. My prayer is that everyone sees him, and grows in relationship with him--because let me tell you, my life is SO in need of a guy like this. How did I ever think I could do this without him?

God is sweet. He loves me enough to make all the lights green when I'm late, gives me a body of brothers and sisters who encourage and pray for me, and he sends love in any and every way possible. Picking up the guitar for maybe the 3rd time in my life, and learning chords so quickly I can't process it. I am beyond blessed. This man who loves me despite all my shortcomings. What a guy!

We have been encountering the LIVING Father on the streets of the Southside--from healings, to prophetic ministry during an arts festival, to baptisms in a fountain at the burning bush, to communion with oatmeal. Now, that statement has probably freaked a lot of you out--how can you be friends with God? How can he let you have communion with oatmeal, or baptize people, or how is it even theologically ok for you to do that? My answer is this: God reaches people where they are--what happens if you're in the middle of the desert and you become a Christian, how do you get baptized? Can you go to a church and be immersed if you're in the middle of the desert and you have no water? Can you have communion if your culture doesn't have wine?

Here's what I'm learning--and there is a Biblical basis for all of these things--Jesus is real. He's not confined by our four walls or our boxes. He encounters us in our darkest, deepest places where we think nobody can find us. He showers His love on the unsuspecting. I am proud to call myself a follower, and I'm not afraid of man. I'm going to do what the great commission commanded. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

This is what I was made for. My purpose and destiny is love. God has created me to be a big fish--and I refuse to stay in the small bowl. Welcome to the new normal, kids. This is my Father and He has no restrictions on His love.

Don't misunderstand. I don't come to tear down theology or the church. I grew up there, and by the grace of God I was saved there. I'm talking about the way we reach the lost and how we bring the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is present with us when we accept Jesus. I feel Him even now as I write this. I feel no qualms about what I'm being taught, or how countercultural it is. If we're really honest with ourselves we would recognize it too. Jesus WAS countercultural--he ate with prostitutes and tax collectors. This is who HE IS. So communion with oatmeal, and baptism in a creek doesn't bother me at all. Let's GO!

Profess the Lord God, let the Holy Spirit move through you and among your sphere of influence. Don't be afraid of man. Therefore, GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And you will be blessed.

If you've got some questions, I've got some answers. I'm still learning a lot, but what I've learned I'm grateful for. AMEN.