Baptizing Charlie

I had the privilege of baptizing Charlie last Sunday during our 10:00am adult service. It was an awesome experience all around!

Charlie and his family are very special to me. His father, Mike, is a member of my Wednesday morning Men's study and one of my whitewater rafting partners. His mother, Suzy, is our Women's Ministry team leader at FVCC. She is so optimistic and keeps me laughing all the time.

Just a couple of months ago, I had the privilege of presenting Charlie with his God & Me award during a Cub Scout ceremony. This was an award for walking through an extensive study of the Christian faith and beliefs. As an Eagle Scout and a Pastor, this was a great experience.

While I would love to take credit for Charlie's faith and spiritual growth, I believe the credit falls to Mike & Suzy for doing an awesome job raising Charlie and his brother in a strong, Christian home. Great parenting, guys!

Family Emergency Plan

I saw a commercial this evening that reminded me of something I would see in the background of movies like V for Vendetta (2005) or Children of Men (2006). Both of these movies are set in the not-so-distant future when the world is falling apart and there seems to be no recovery. (This is not an endorsement of these movies; they are simply provided for illustrative purposes.)

The commercial I witnessed tonight began with innocent-faced children asking their parents how long they should wait after school... after soccer practice... after piano lessons... before going to a friend or relative's house. The sincere but stern voice-over then stated, "Will your family be ready in case of a terrorist attack? Make sure your family has an emergency plan in place."

What?!? I didn't see that one coming...

I understand that we live in a world where terrorist attacks are possible. I understand that we live in a world that is much different than it was just seven years ago. But have we already moved into the not-so-distant future as portrayed in Hollywood science fiction?

Along the same lines are all of the recent advertisements from the CIA seeking out new recruits. Have you seen these? Isn't the Central Intelligence Agency supposed to take a more subtle approach to recruiting?

Please understand that I am not making a political or social or even spiritual observation here. I am simply lamenting the recent historical turn-of-events and wondering aloud what the future holds for my children and grandchildren.

Honestly...this is why I don't watch the news. Call it avoidance if you will, but it seems like everything on the news deals with death, destruction, greed, etc. I would much rather watch Man vs Wild or Survivorman. After all...if a major terrorist attack happens and the world falls apart around me, I am taking my family into the wilderness! Remember Red Dawn (1984) with Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, and Lea Thompson?

Sorry for the most depressing post I've ever done, but that commercial really got me thinking...

Weekend at the Lake

A couple of weekends ago, Ethan and I went camping with some friends at Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin. We had a great weekend hiking, climbing, swimming, fishing, and connecting with God through His creation.

The forecast for the weekend was rain...all weekend. We were very fortunate that we only experienced a few sprinkles and one major shower (which we had advance warning of thanks to some friendly neighbors in the campground).

The first day at the Lake, we decided that the guys would go hiking and rock climbing on some of the bluffs surrounding the lake. We parked at the trailhead and hiked to the top of the bluffs. Alex and Jay started setting up the top rope when I quickly realized that Ethan & I needed to be at the base of the cliff...not the top. One of the guys asked if Ethan could rappel down the 100 foot cliff. I don't think so!

Alex said he thought there was a shortcut up the trail some that would lead to the base of the cliff we were climbing. Russ, Ethan & I started off in search of the shortcut. We never found it, but there were some possible routes if we were simply willing to go bushwhacking. Ethan was game, so down we went.

We got down about 100 feet - slipping and sliding on the mud, holding on to roots of trees - only to find ourselves at the top of another sheer cliff. I left Russ & Ethan there for a minute while I scouted out a new route. About fifty yards to the north, I found a 150-200 foot boulder (talus) field that presented the best option for descending the rest of the bluff face.

Ethan was a little skeptical at first, but he soon got the hang of downclimbing the boulders. There were a few times where Russ & I had to pass Ethan down a drop that was too big for him to climb down. By the end of the climb, Ethan was doing it all on his own and picking out his own routes. It was awesome to see him overcome his fears and enjoy a new challenge. The rest of the weekend, he was looking for any opportunity to climb on some boulders!

TV Guide

Just thought I'd give you some insight into what was on the TV in my house tonight as we got the kids settled down before bed, did some laundry, and posted on the blog...

America's Funniest Videos - the old ones with Bob Sagget (my kids are big Full House fans, so they love to see Danny Tanner in a different light)

NBA Finals - Congrats, Spurs!

Throwdown with Bobby Flay - wings this time...and Bobby lost!

Ace of Cakes - that guy is awesome! Who else uses power tools to make cakes?

American Chopper - Australia bike...not my favorite bike they've ever done...

Donald Miller & David Crowder

I went to Willow Creek Community Church last night with some friends and fellow staff members from FVCC. We went because the David Crowder Band was leading worship and best-selling author, Donald Miller, was speaking (Blue Like Jazz; Searching for God Knows What; Through Painted Deserts; To Own a Dragon).

I've got to tell you... it is so refreshing as a pastor of a church to simply be another face in the crowd during a worship service. I didn't have to worry about people missing their cues. I didn't get anxious when the microphone didn't work (which happened last night; it was really encouraging to all of us pastors to know that happens to them too!). I didn't keep watching the clock wondering if we were going to end on time so we could get people out of this service and in for the next service.

I really appreciated Donald Miller's words last night. Using the story of Joseph, he walked through the elements of a great story - a great protagonist; negative turns in the form of pain, suffering, struggle, and rejection; positive turns in the form of healing, redemption, and acceptance; and a great ending (and it doesn't have to be a positive ending - think Friday Night Lights).

He challenged us to embrace the negative turns in our story...to understand that the challenges and struggles we go through only add to the greatness of our story. As a follower of Christ, we already know the ending of our story. As a result, we have the freedom to embrace the positive and negative turns life throws our way.

One of my favorite illustrations he used last night was from his experience hiking to the great Incan city, Machu Picchu, in Peru. The hike to this UNESCO World Heritage Site takes 3-4 days, covers 26 miles, and crosses three mountain passes. About three miles into the hike, the guide stopped at a fork in the trail.

He stated that if they were to take the trail to the right, they would arrive in Machu Picchu in about six hours. If they took the trail to the left, they would arrive in the city in three days after hiking another 23+ miles. He told them that the Incas only allowed individuals bringing goods into Machu Picchu to take the trail to the right. Everyone else had to take the longer and more challenging trail to the left. The goal was that by experiencing the more arduous journey of the longer trail, the citizens would appreciate the city - the destination - even more.

After hiking the trail to the left and arriving in the city three days later, Miller shared that his appreciation for the city was exponentially deeper than the tourists who took the bus to the famed city. In the same way, we will one day look back on our lives and appreciate the struggles and challenges we experienced because they helped us grow in our faith.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

Sports Parents

Karen and I entered a new realm of parenthood last night. We are now official, card-carrying members of the Sports Parents Society.

This week marks the beginning of Ethan's athletic career. (One which I am sure will end with a Hall of Fame nod as a south-paw pitcher in the Major Leagues.) We ventured out as a family last night to his first t-ball practice through the Sycamore Park District.

Before practice began, one of the coaches called the parents over to check-in their children. As Ethan & I walked over, I noticed a single-file line quickly forming. I was impressed with my fellow Sports Parents as we behaved in a calm, orderly fashion. We were not going to be the kind of Sports Parents you read about in the newspapers and see in the amateur cinematography on the local news stations.

But just as quickly as I made this mental note, it began...

Other parents, who weren't willing to follow the precedence set by myself and the other Sports Parents, shunned the line and huddled around the coach waiting for any opportunity to seize her attention away from us rule-following, line-forming parents. We were gracious, though, since this was the first day of practice.

But in the midst of this whole experience, my mind had already gone back to my days in school where there were two classes of students - the jocks and the rest of us. I remembered how the jocks - so it seemed - didn't have to follow the rules. They had a personal relationship with the coaches that seemed to transcend the need to do what seemed right and appropriate by the rest of us.

I was honestly taken aback by the thoughts entering my mind about these parents. I began to jump to conclusions and form opinions about them that were completely biased and uninformed. My tension was rising, but I wasn't about to let it show...

A few minutes after check-in, with Ethan out on the field meeting the rest of his coaches, Karen and I settled onto our blanket with our two-year old daughter, Morgan, to watch practice. Almost immediately, a pair of the rule-breaking, line-shunning parents stood directly in front of us effectively blocking our view of the field and the amazing athleticism of five and six year old kids.

Even though I knew they were not going to be there permanently - they were, after all, just coming closer to hear the coach go over the rules - I was immediately frustrated with them. There was plenty of room to stand around the coach without blocking our view. How in the world could somebody be so inconsiderate? Don't they realize that this is our little boy's first-ever team practice? What would they think if I stood in front of them and blocked their view?!?

So here I am...a pastor in a church...an easy-going, roll-with-the-punches kind of guy...going internally ballistic about people I had never met. What in the world just happened to me? Why I am thinking these things?

Now I understand why Sports Parents do crazy things. I don't condone it, but I understand it.

Forty years from now, as Ethan is being inducted into the Hall of Fame, I hope the only amateur video anyone can find is of me cheering from the sidelines and congratulating my fellow Sports Parents. And there will be...as long as everybody forms a straight line and nobody blocks my view of the field.

Caribou Question of the Day

What ship bears the identification number - NCC 1701?

The Crazy Ones

Here's to the Crazy Ones!

The misfits...the rebels...the troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

Because they change things. They push the human race forward.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

[Author: Apple Computers, Inc - adapted from a commercial]

Fatherhood

My accountability partners and I are reading through the Bible this year; we are currently in Proverbs. I was reminded this morning of the following words from Solomon's personal plea to his sons...

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

As I read these words this morning, I pictured myself sitting down with my children providing them the wisdom and guidance they will need to live as children of God. I'll be honest, there are times when I feel I don't know what to say or I am overwhelmed in trying to explain the world to my children. There are times when I just want to keep them in the house and away from the pain and heartache they will inevitably experience as wanderers in this world.

I watch as my 5-year old son becomes more observant of the world around him. I sit in amazement as I realize he is already discovering that women are beautiful and wonder who taught him to say, "Hubba, hubba!" when he sees an attractive woman on the television. I listen as he begins to try on new words he learned from the kids at school or the kids in the neighborhood... sometimes saying them softly and hesitantly because deep inside he knows he shouldn't.

I wonder at times how simple the world must be to my 2-year old daughter...sleep, eat, play...repeat. I sit in amazement as I watch her nurture a baby doll (preparation for motherhood starts young, doesn't it?). I understand her need to ask, "Why?" all the time and am amazed when my answers placate her need for knowledge.

How simple it would be to remain distant and aloof from my children. How simple it would be to ignore the words they choose and to turn a blind eye to what they see on the television and in the world around them. How simple it would be to avoid answering their questions and simply reply, "Because..."

But I choose not to ignore. I choose to guard their hearts and satisfy their thirst for understanding. I choose to love and nurture and discipline and guide them on this path. And this choice requires sacrifice.

There are times when I don't get to watch what I want or do what I want. There are times when I must overcome weariness and laziness to be this type of father, but this is the very thing God has called me to do. This is the mantle that I can not, and should not, put down. This is the mantle that can not be carried by any other person. I am their father, and I will be until the day I die.

I know there will be times when I fail (there have been so many already), but I must pick myself up and learn from the failure. And with humility, determination, prayer, and perseverance...press on.

Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matt 5:6)

How often have we suburban, diet-frenzied Americans glanced past this verse without truly grasping the lesson Jesus is trying to teach us? Is it possible for those of us who have never experienced near-death starvation and thirst to truly appreciate this verse? In Jesus' day there were people walking around who hadn't eaten a substantial meal in weeks and who, living in an arid, desert region, knew thirst for water like we will never appreciate.

Perhaps we would do well to spend a few days in the desert with no food and no water and then re-read this verse. Maybe then we will understand how deeply we are to desire and pursue the righteousness that only God can offer...

Caribou Question of the Day

What was Bruce Willis' character's name in the Die Hard movies?

Great Pastor or Great Dad?

Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC, made the following comment in a recent podcast: "At the end of the day, I would much rather be a great dad than a great pastor. The church can find another pastor; my kid can't find another dad...you can't be all things to all people, but you'd better try your best to be all things to your family."

One of the struggles I see on the horizon is how to balance everything that my family will be involved with - work for both Karen and me, meetings at the church, kid's activities both in the church and in the community, special events, holidays, etc.

I have had this struggle for some time, but with Ethan entering Kindergarten this Fall there is a whole new level of balance that will be needed. Soon he will have more frequent plays and sing-alongs at school that I want to be at. And then there is the future involvement in sports and Cub Scouts and... And Morgan is growing up right behind Ethan, too!

I know that many of you are already struggling with this balancing act, but I am quickly approaching my day. Keep me in your prayers...and share those tips with me through the blog. Thanks!

Caribou Question of the Day

What board game was banned in the Soviet Union?

Me & Morgan

My wife, Karen, and my son, Ethan, leave this Sunday for Florida. They are traveling with Karen's mom for a week-long visit with Karen's grandmother who lives in Englewood, Florida. I am excited that Karen and Ethan will have some extended mother/son time. On the flip-side, I am looking forward to having some father/daughter time with my 2-year old, Morgan, back home in Illinois.

While Morgan and I may not be spending any time at the beach, we are still going to have some great times together. If it warms up, I might take her camping. I will definitely be taking her hiking at some local forest preserves. We also have a couple of play dates (and lunch meetings) to attend. Later in the week, my parents are coming up for a two-day visit to help me paint our living room.

But what do you think we should do next week? Are there any places you think we should visit? Are there any 1 or even 2-day trips we should venture out upon? Let me know your thoughts, and I'll keep you all posted throughout the week...

Does God Exist?

I am teaching this Sunday during our God Questions series. I have 23 minutes to address the question: "Does God exist?" I think I need more time...

Good Friday

The following is a rough transcript of my recent teaching from the Good Friday service...

Good Friday - interesting wording isn't it?

"Good Friday" is most likely derived from the earlier English name, "Godes Friday" which means "God's Friday"

In Israel, this day is called "Big Friday"
In Germany, it is called "Friday of Lamentation"
Other countries refer to it as "Great Friday," "Holy Friday," and "Long Friday"

Regardless of what we call this day, it is the day Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of Christ as an eternal sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. In this regard, “Good Friday” may not be a bad name because of the overwhelmingly good things that came as a result of Christ's sacrifice.

We have been talking all this month about the cross, so I wanted to take a little bit different approach to our gathering this evening. I wanted to talk to you some about the meal that Jesus and his twelve apostles shared the night he was arrested.

Significance of meals in our culture today…
- Being invited to a meal is a sign of friendship, openness to doing life with another individual
- A friend who recently won a meal for 10 at a restaurant in Naperville
- I felt honored to be invited and I am looking forward to gathering together with this friend and the rest of the people she invited

Meals in the Jewish culture had great significance, and they still do. I asked my mentor to contact one of his Jewish friends and inquire about the significance. Here’s what he had to say…

“Sharing a meal with someone puts them in a special designation as a friend. It is a traditional way of elevating your relationship. An invitation to a meal is personal and should be seen as an intentional sign of desire for a friendship bond. The food is not the focus as much as the conversation and gesture of friendship.”

Do you remember the movie, Cars? In the movie there is a scene where Lightning McQueen is talking with his sports agent, Harv, who is Jewish. When Harv tells Lighting that he has tickets for his closest friends to come to the final race, Harv tells him that he better save some time to "break bread" with him when he gets to town. Again, this idea of gathering together for a meal is a sign of friendship.

This is why the Pharisees had such a hard time with Jesus eating at Levi’s house. They understood that when Jesus ate with the tax collectors, the prostitutes, and other sinners he was elevating their status in the world. The Pharisees simply could not stoop that low, but Jesus could (see Phil 2:5-11).

Now within the Jewish faith, there are numerous festivals centered around meals and fellowship gatherings…

In Matthew 26, we see the disciples come to Jesus to ask about preparations for the Passover meal. The Passover Meal was one of the most important annual festivals that Jews celebrate. We read about the purpose & origin of the meal in Deuteronomy 16:1-3…

Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover of the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib he brought you out of Egypt by night. Sacrifice as the Passover to the LORD your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his Name. Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste--so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.

If you recall, Moses and Aaron have been in Egypt for some time trying to convince the Pharaoh to let the people go out into the wilderness to worship their God. However, Pharaoh continues to refuse their requests, and as a result, God sends down several plagues onto the people.

The final act that God performs is the killing of all of the first-born sons of the Egyptians. In preparation for this, God tells the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and smear blood on the doorframes of their homes. When God came down to Egypt, any house that had the blood of the lamb was passed over (i.e. Passover).

This final act convinces the Pharaoh to release the nation of Israel and so begins the mass exodus and the official formation of an entire nation set apart for God.

God knew that the nation of Israel would need something to remind them of what He did, so He instituted the Passover Meal. In fact, Exodus 13:8 tells us that the purpose of the Passover Meal was to teach the children about Israel's departure from the tyrannical rule of the Egyptians. During the meal children are especially encouraged to ask questions about God and the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The food that is eaten during the Passover Meal has great significance. They eat unleavened bread as a reminder that when they fled Egypt they did not have time to add yeast to their dough. They eat bitter herbs which represent the bitterness of slavery. They eat a sweet paste which represents the mortar they used to cement bricks together while in slavery. They also dip vegetables in salt-water - the dipping is symbolic of royalty and freedom and the salt-water recalls the tears they shed while in slavery.

They also drink four glasses of wine, or grape juice, during the course of the meal. There are different schools of thought on the significance of these four glasses. Some say the four cups represent the four expressions of deliverance promised by God in Exodus 6:6-7: "I will bring out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," and "I will take."

Another perspective is that the four glasses represent four worlds: this world, the Messianic age when the Messiah would reign, the world at the revival of the dead, and the world to come.

Another perspective is that the four cups relate to the four historical redemptions of the Jewish people: the choosing of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the survival of the Jewish people throughout the exile, and the fourth which will happen at the end of days.

So…when we see Jesus reclining with the Twelve Apostles eating the Passover Meal, there is great significance in the ritual and in the food that is eaten. This is no casual dinner.

Throughout this entire meal, they are being reminded again of the historical reality of God interacting with humanity through the nation of Israel. They are remembering the suffering and persecution experienced while in slavery, and they are remembering the redemption and freedom they experienced after being released from slavery. In one sense, Jesus is using the Passover Meal to make them aware of the current state of spiritual slavery they were in and the freedom they were about to experience because of his sacrifice.

It is into this rich blend of history and culture and significance that Jesus institutes what we call Communion. It is after they got done with this history lesson that Jesus grabs some unleavened bread and says, "This bread is my body, broken for you."

Deuteronomy 16:3 calls this bread the "bread of affliction." Knowing what Jesus was about to go through - the false arrest, the beatings and persecution, being hung on the cross - there is great significance in this terminology.

This bread - the bread of affliction - is Jesus body. His affliction goes beyond any affliction the nation of Israel went through in Egypt. As the Apostles are sitting there thinking back on what the Jewish people went through, Jesus foreshadows for them that he is going to go through far worse.

After the bread, he takes the cup and says, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Again, as the Apostles are sitting there with this fresh history lesson, thinking about the blood of the lamb being smeared on the doorframes of the Israelites homes in Egypt, Jesus introduces a new covenant. One being established - not by the blood of an animal - but by the blood of their Lord, their Rabbi, their Mentor, their Friend.

Paul, when writing to the church at Corinth, reminds them of this reality when he refers to Jesus as our Passover Lamb.

Again, it is in the midst of this amazing blend of history and culture and religious turmoil that we see Jesus institute an act that Christians 2,000 years in the future would celebrate. Communion is an invitation to a regular meal-gathering with Christ.

We need to view this invitation in the same way as if a modern-day friend would invite us to a meal. It is a sign of openness and friendship. It is a sign that Jesus wants to take our relationship to a whole new level.

As we move into our times of communion, I want to encourage you to imagine yourself sitting at that table with Jesus. Knowing what you know about the significance of meals in the Jewish culture….knowing what you know about the history of the Passover Meal…knowing what He was about to go through, imagine hearing Jesus say to you, "This is my body, broken for you. This is my blood, spilled for you."

College Reunion

Karen & I packed up the kids and made the journey downstate last weekend for an annual reunion with the Christian Campus House at Eastern Illinois University. With grandma & grandpa watching the kids, it was primarily a much-needed, much-appreciated date night!

We had a great time reuniting with friends we hadn't seen in years and with friends we saw a week ago. It is interesting how you end up hanging out with the exact same group of people you spent so much time with in college. We did the cursory conversations with people we knew from back-in-the-day, but the majority of our time was spent talking with people we have stayed in contact with since college.

(The temptation is there, of course, to promise to try to stay in contact better, but we all know those are mostly empty promises. I am doing better at not making those and just accepting the realities of life.)

We ended up heading out to Steak-n-Shake with some friends following the banquet where we all enjoyed milkshakes and cheese fries and remembering again what life was like before kids. Although, by 10:00pm, we all accepted another reality...we do have kids, and we cannot stay awake much longer because we are exhausted and the kids will be up before the sun rises tomorrow morning.

For all of my fellow EIU/CCH grads...see you next year!

Gospel of Grace

I am "reading" two books right now - Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas by Jud Wilhite and The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. I say "reading" because I am listening to an audio version of Manning's book while driving the car.

Both books discuss the nature of grace and the misunderstanding many Christians and non-Christians have about this attribute of God.

The questions are timeless: what does grace really look like? What does it mean to hate the sin but love the sinner? How am I supposed to love those who continue to sin day in and day out with seemingly no regret or remorse?

Jud talks about this in his book...how his view of grace was rocked by a few sentences by C.S. Lewis.

Lewis stated that there is someone each of us loves even though we don't always approve of what they do. There is someone we accept even though we don't like all of their actions.

That someone is me. No...not me, Chris Genders, but each one of us.

We don't always approve of everything we do, but we still love ourselves. We don't always like all of our actions, but we accept ourselves.

If we can extend grace to ourselves who continue to sin day in and day out, we had better extend grace to others. We need to find a way to look past their sins - whether they be sins of intention or sins of ignorance - and extend the love of God to every man, woman, and child who was made in the image of God. After all, this is what God did when he extended his love to us.

1 John 4:7-10
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

I'm Sorry I'm So Cheap

The following is a great article from Jarrod Jones. I received this in the most recent e-newsletter from Relevant magazine...

I sat in a coffee shop the other day minding my own business. I had a cup of joe at arm’s length, my face buried in my laptop, a newspaper folded to my right, and a Bible sitting to my left. I was looking busy and religious. People came and went as always, and I paid no attention until I overheard a patron say to the barista, “Can I order a cup of hot water?” It shocked me a bit. Who has the guts to order a cup of hot water at a coffee shop where people are spending five bucks for lattes and macchiatos?

After rolling my eyes, I turned to see what character I’d discover. He appeared to be in his mid-20s. He didn’t look thoroughly homeless, but close. His clothes looked like they hadn’t been washed in a couple of days. It seemed he hadn’t showered either. I noticed that the barista was taken back a tad by his request too. The guy sensed it, no doubt, because he sheepishly said, “I’m sorry I’m so cheap.” His words softened me, but I was still suspicious.

Hot water in hand, he walked over to the island counter, which provided the sweeteners, half-and-half, skim and whole milks, honey and so forth. Unwillingly, I caught his eye. I looked away, burying my face deeper into my laptop. From the sound of things behind me, he was producing his own drink concoction. He sat down directly in front of me, a little to my right, about three feet away. His choice of seating made me think, “He’s calculating his move. Any minute now will come the sob story.”

I was obsessed with skepticism. I was convinced he was setting me up—my leather briefcase-toting, cell-phone-addicted, laptop-hypnotized, coffee-sipping, spoiled-rotten Christian self—for a handout.

He began skimming through the pages of a book. I lifted my head from behind my laptop, peered over his shoulder and noticed words on the page like “attitude, success, achievement, strength.” Then I watched him slowly raise the cup to his mouth, pause and take a sip of his hot water. And that did it. Suddenly, a stereotype shift occurred in me. The curtain lifted to reveal that I was the stereotypical one—a self-absorbed, cynical-thinking, judgment-bearing, Bible-toting Christian. On my throne I had singled him out and analyzed negatively his every move. I labeled him and judged him. I was the “cheap” one.

The Lord emptied my heart of cynicism and filled it with compassion. Then He took i t a step further. He pressed me to put hands to His compassion. “Jarrod, talk to him.” I’m not one to say that God audibly talks to me, but I felt a heavy pressing of His Spirit on my heart. I confess with regret and disgrace that I didn’t. I exited the coffee shop after a quick trip to the restroom. With every step I took toward my Explorer and away from the coffee shop, the Lord’s pressing words faded.

Jesus had uncrossed my folded arms of judgment and placed in my hands soothing waters of compassion. The Spirit wanted to quench his thirst, and instead I quenched the Spirit. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water … truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded,” Jesus said (Matthew 10:42, TNIV). Cold water soothes. Hot water burns. Cold water quenches a thirst; hot water mocks it. I not only missed an opportunity to present him something better than hot water, I denied him a hand out of it.

Offering cold water is not just an opportunity to share the Gospel with words, but to share the Gospel with hands. Had I to do it over again, I would have invited him to my table, bought him a grande cup of bold and sweet coffee, chatted with him about March Madness maybe and inspired him in his pursuits. If he was game, I would have set up a time to meet again and take him to lunch. I would have bought that book for him following our conversation and dropped it onto his table as I headed out the door. With his heart encouraged, his trust assured and his stomach full, I would have offered him the priceless One, the One who quenches the deepest thirst, Jesus. But I completely missed it. I left him thirsty.

Have you noticed anybody “thirsty”? Just look at the office or desk or cubicle or table next to you. There are thirsty people everywhere, longing for cold, living water. They’re not thirsty just to hear about it, but to taste the spiritual living water overflowing from our lives. I’m going back to that coffee shop next week, and the next. I hope to see him again. If I do, a cup of cold, living water and a hot latte will be waiting for him. And then, seeing him through the eyes of Jesus instead of the eyes of judgment, I want to tell him, “I’m sorry I was so cheap.”

Author: Jarrod Jones

Jarrod Jones is the author of The Backward Life (Baker/Revell). You can visit his website at www.jarrodjones.com.

Las Vegas

I am back home and back in the groove of life in the greater Chicago-land area after an amazing time in Las Vegas. It truly was a joy to "do life" with my friend and mentor, Loren Trethewey, and his wife, Deanna, for four consecutive days and nights.

All of our previous mentoring times were 1-2 hours at the most. This was non-stop conversation from the time we got up until the time we went to bed. It truly was a relaxing, refreshing, encouraging, inspiring, educational, and challenging time.

Aside from the intense conversations I had with Loren & Deanna, the highlights from the trip include...

• seeing the Strip in person - especially the fountains at the Bellagio and the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris casinoe
• touring Hoover Dam - what an amazing piece of human construction
• hiking and rock-scrambling in Red Rock Canyon - I could have spent hours in this place
• visiting Central Christian Church and seeing what God is doing through this church to reach out to the unloved and overlooked
• conversations with Chris Trethewey and other leaders at Central as we hashed out universal and cultural leadership principles and swapped resource recommendations

I cannot wait for another opportunity to travel west. And, yes, Loren & Deanna...Karen and the kids will be coming with me for the next visit!