What are the chances that in this life…you will hit a bump in the road. I hate to say it but its a %100 certainty. The more I study Acts and the Scriptures…I am truly convinced that we should never be dead in the water when we hit a ‘speed bump’ in life.

Somehow our Christianity has made us safe. It has tamed us and converted us from people Jesus wanted to be dangerous to people that are really only a threat to ourselves. Most of the time we are paralyzed by fear or a sense of responsibility. What if our responsibility focus was shifted from ourselves to each other? Yes I mean community…what if we faced our fear of letting people in the door of our homes and our hearts? That may just be the most adventurous thing most of us could do…

Its time to make our lives unexplainable outside the Holy Spirit. I for one know that while my life isnt always safe…it is far too often.

living//PC

There are a few moments in life when we stop for a second and reflect on what Jesus has done in us and through us…and it usually brings tears of joy and a swelling feeling that ‘Jesus’ got this one.’ This is one mans reflection…

I have spent the better part of the last 3 months asking myself this question…What does it mean to be Spiritually Formed? More and more I am becoming aware of how un-spiritual I actually am.  A few days ago someone emailed me asking what to do about a spiritually dry time in their life.  And that stirred at thought in me…not only what does it look like to be Spiritually Formed, but what would it look like to have a spirituality that wasnt part of me but it was me?

People ask all the time ‘What does Profile//PC mean?’  I am convinced that this season, these next few weeks while reading Acts together, can and should be the launching point for so many of us to being making our spirituality less a part of us and more who we are.  To be Spiritually Formed simply requires being formed by the Spirit.

living//PC

A few days ago I went for a run in a city I was unfamiliar with while visiting some friends. I got up and almost didnt go for that run but I am eternally greatful that I did because it was an experience I never want to forget. Running through the streets of that unfamiliar town I ran literally right in front of a Planned Parenthood facility. I should say that I know PP does more than just perform abortions but for all intent and purposes it has been the largest proprietor and the face to the abortion epidemic in America for years.

That moment recalled an experience that I had almost 3 years ago, one that changed my life forever and one that I have never shared. A friend had been in a relationship with a guy who seemed to be the right one. He had a great job, promised her the world including a family. The relationship progressed quickly and well…she ended up pregnant. It was a fearful and joyous experience, and in many ways Jesus was very much a part of the situation. I am convinced that even when things take place outside of God’s design that He is so obsessed with us that He still chooses to become part of even the most unideal situations. And this was one of those situations…He was there because life was created and He was invited through prayers of fear and uncertainty to be part of the situation.

Shortly after the pregnancy was confirmed Mr. Right decided that this was the wrong situation and began applying pressure to have the child aborted because it wasnt ideal for his work and idealic future to have a baby at this stage of life. needless to say there were promises made ‘if you do this we can stay together and make it happen later when we are ready.’ And even more needless to say a few weeks in…he checked out.

Then there was the proverbial dilemma for my friend…she was alone, fearful of having to raise a child with no support. After much fear and trembling she decided that the pregnancy had to end. This story really isnt about me…but somehow I became part of it, not because I am great or because I have stellar wisdom, but simply because of divine providence.

The day had come and gone for the abortion and she last minute decided it wasnt the right thing to do. Then…a week or so later the pressure built again, like it does for all of us when we are in a hard spot and another appointment was scheduled without telling friends and family, myself included that the abortion was actually going to take place. The day of she text me ‘I know that you dont approve and I dont blame you, but I am going to the clinic, I cant do this alone, I just cant.’

I did the only thing I could think of…find the clinic. A text conversation continued for some time until I confessed to her that I was actually sitting in the parking lot praying for her. I wish I could say that day she walked out of the clinic and today has an almost 3 year old little girl that I have had the privilege of watching grow…but that isnt what happened. The truth of that day, if a picture could be taken, was my friend driving away from the clinic that day while I collapsed to my knees in the parking lot.

For a long time I thought so much about how broken my heart was over the situation, then my thoughts drifted to Jesus, and yeah I am convinced His heart broke that day, but I realize something else today. While His heart broke, His arms opened once again to a young lady that undoubtedly loves Him and has had hell thrown at her for the entirety of her life.

There are a lot of people that will read this and say…wow Shane it was so big of you to go and sit in the parking lot of an abortion clinic and try to convince her not to follow through with it. But if I can stop you please allow me to. Heres why, that day had nothing to do with me…nothing. It had everything to do with the King of the Universe wanting His daughter to know how much, no matter what she has done…period, that He still adores her, and is madly in love with her.

My hope is that day and the painful weeks, months and years that followed she felt the hope that Jesus had that day for her. To be totally transparent I fell to my knees that day in the parking lot of the clinic and wept…again not because my heart broke but because I knew the pain that she had just caused herself and the lie that she was still clinging to that she didnt deserve anything more than to be judged and seen as a failure. A failure? Jesus lived, died, and lives today for the chance to show people like my friend that He is bigger and isnt just at work practicing loving kindness but that He IS LOVING KINDNESS.

I have a passion…its not mine its HIS..and its to share HOPE..and the simple truth that life can be hope filled and hopeful….but only through Jesus, God, and the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

living//pc

I have read through this a few times…hope you will take a minute and check it out yourself…thoughts?

francis chan on leadership.pdf (click to download)

For the last 5 years I have had a friend…who at times was one of the closest to me, always listened and was always faithful. But seasons change…life pulls us in different directions…and when we listen our destiny calls through the Holy Spirit and asks us to lay certain things down that don’t feed the single thing He has called us to.

I am beginning to realize what could actually be if I/we were to commit everything to the single cause He has called each of us to (our destiny’s). How powerful could our lives be if everyday we lived every moment driven and lead by the Holy Spirit? If I am honest…I am realizing or better yet now understanding just what that actually means…Its the force that makes me as questions like ‘How much do I actually love Jesus?’ If I am honest Im convinced that my life would look much different than it does if I truly loved Him for who He is not what He can do for me.

Francis Chan wrote in Crazy Love ‘For much of my life I was satisfied with my relationship with God, I was still giving Him leftovers [instead of the best] but because I was giving Him more than the people around me I figured I was doing ok.’

For the last 5 years I have had a great friend…we have spent quiet, secluded, uninterrupted intimate time together many times.  But sadly that time has come to an end…our destiny’s have diverged and if I am truly listening that relationship has become more of a distraction rather than a catalyst to chasing Jesus.  Seasons change, and they are usually weird, its rare that we have clarity this side of a season…but always on the other-side things seem to make sense and we see what He was up to the whole time.  There’s always a plan, cause, and a calling for each of us, I am just now embracing the reality that sometimes I am scared to take a risk to find out what the next step looks like.

I know that there is a single thing Jesus called me to do…and yeah part of my days, weeks, and years have been spent doing that very thing…something tells me its time to grab a hold of that one thing and run with it…hope you will join me…I think this is truly the heart of a PC…

More tonight…

living//PC

Last season ESPN did series of behind the scenes at training camp across the NFL. One edition was with the Bengals, and of course it highlighted Mr. Chad Ochocinco. At one point the camera caught a candid conversation between Ochocinco (the worlds most interesting football player) and his coach. In his words, ‘I want to be the best ever, I wanna be better than Jerry Rice. And I need you to help me.’

At first I thought, wow he really is passionate about being good…but then I sat back and thought further into the process of Chad’s thinking and realized, he isn’t trying to be his best, he is just trying to be better than someone else.

How often do each of us do that? WE quit chasing who Jesus called and created us to be and begin trying to define and identify ourselves based on values from someone else. Greatness in the Kingdom means being like a child, Jesus words not mine. Kids are impressionable and teachable, maybe Jesus was on to something deeper than just a cute analogy.

If our only focus in life is to be better than someone else, we will never become the best version of ourselves, we will only become a bad version of someone else.

Colossians 2:10

living//PC

Last year after I read Francis Chan’s book ‘Crazy Love’ PURE spent a few weeks talking about what the character of a passionate Christian would look like, and what it would mean to live passionate christianity (live//pc).  Profile//PC 1 was  the single most transforming moment in PURE’s culture…This year its back…not to do the same…but to go further…and ask a couple simple questions ‘How much do I actually love Jesus’ and ‘How do I grow up spiritually’ all centered around 1 idea ‘passion isnt an emotion, its a lifestyle fuled by the power, presence, and person of the Holy Spirit.’

You might have noticed a few FB and Twitter profile pics changing…just our way of saying…we’re in this together…join us!!!

Can’t wait to spend the next few weeks at PURE together…it will be heart, life and world changing…bring your friends…you dont want to miss this!

living//PC

A couple nights ago I watched an ESPN ’30 FOR 30′ documentary about a crazy man named Matt Hoffman.  Matt set the highest air record on a BMX bike back in the 90′s at nearly 30 feet and nearly died trying to do it again a 2nd time.   Freestyle BMX  is pretty much inconsequential in light of destiny and growing up spiritually, but…something Matt said stuck in my head and has played like a broken record for days now.

Near the end of his interview Matt states that “My worst fear is growing old and dying with a body that isn’t worn out.”  As those words left his mouth my mind began to race.  First thought, ‘what a loony dude.’  Second thought, ‘I don’t want to be crippled when I am old.’  Third thought, ‘He might be on to something.’  Then is struck me…while Matt’s focus is leaving a legacy in a sport that is cool to watch but has no bearing on eternity, he might be genius and not even know it.

Its amazing to me that a man could be willing to sacrifice his family, his life, and his body to do something he loves.  Yeah he will be marked as a crazy man by some, but by many people like Matt are followed and idolized as heroes because of their undying commitment to a single thing.

Then the final thought that went through my head. ‘Could any one say I was a crazy man and laid it all on the line for what I loved?  What do I love?’  See I am convinced of one thing…that I don’t love Jesus enough.  If this guy will sacrifice it all to ride a bike…why is it that I am so unwilling to lay it all down for the God of Creation that adores me and gave everything to have a life long love affair with me?

I’m not sure how much I actually love Jesus…where does that leave me?  Not sure…share more tonight.

Tonight we launch Profile//PC 2 hope to see you there.

living//PC

Could you imagine growing up to the point where you learned to speak and talk and then having your development come to a screeching halt? Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about staying a toddler, I am asking you to imagine being a fully grown adult with the emotional and educational capacity of a toddler?

I am convinced that if we drew a parallel to our spiritual lives most of us could recognize some similarities. Maybe we should call it Spiritual Developmental Disability, haha I’m not sure. But I am sure that in some to some regard each of us can relate to the idea.

See the difference between Passionate Christians(PC’s) that become world changers and lukewarm Christians isn’t much. Simply said the only difference is being honest about where you are and responding to your developmental disability. Truth is that it really isn’t much of a disability…its much more of a choice to not grow, develop, worship, pray, tithe, serve and read the word…and experience a HUGE, loving Creator God who adores you.

My heart is convinced that its time for us to Grow Up. Tonight will set the stage for the next several weeks for the intensity of Profile//PC 2. Tonight we are going to engage the single idea of what it means to have the key to fullness in Christ…hope you will join us.

living//PC