I first listened to this message a couple months ago…spoke to me deeply then…listened to it again this morning…Hope it speaks to you the way it spoke to me.

-Shane

(click on the image to take you to the video)

That grace filled characteristic which often defines me when I lead is something that is often absent in other areas of my life.  For me the translation has never been made well into love/romantic/dating relationships.  Truthfully I have been terrible at this.  Not always but often my grace is short, my patience non existent, and I am unthoughtful.

So why does the translation not happen from one place to the next?  I am not sure what it is for you but for me…it’s fear.  Fear is an ugly, nasty beast that can devour our potential and crush hearts.  I have seen that happen at my own hand.

Here’s the real core of the issue…Fear isn’t a primary emotion.  Its a response to something else.  Fear for me is the bi-product of something deeper…PAIN.  Trials are always pain filled…always.  That’s just their nature.  But in the midst of the trial for me…the pain can be processed and can become a healthy tool that generates grace, kindness and affection in deeper ways than I could have ever imagined.

Last year I shared something about fear…my fear of marriage.  And there was deep clarity in it…I will post it below.  Truth is that when we don’t address the fear and live through it to see the pain…we repeat the same cycle.  Only He can heal the pain…and He can.  I am living proof and someday that story will be the most powerful story I can ever tell…but until them…

My realization:: My pain from the past has created fear in the future and will destroy possibility in the present. 

Fear is a cage that hearts, dreams and destiny die in…No Cages…No Fear…Just Faith.

Taking risks crushes fear…time to take some risks.

-Shane

I was telling my sister a few days ago that…even though I hate the place of trail and pain God has always met me there.  Always.  In my desperation, after I do the silly thing of doubting Him and running to people, and I consciously run to Him he always responds…and when He does He speaks and speaks loud.

Silver lining…in the midst of the fog…clarity can come.  The downside, often clarity comes at the price of pain.  Lesson…don’t run, don’t hide…embrace the pain knowing clarity will come if we cling to Him.

-Shane

–(Joel 2:32).

Why do not I call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down and devise schemes and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord?

–C. H. Spurgeon

If you are remotley like me…this is like big huge slap in the face.  Why?  Because if you are anyhting like me…you are like Spurgeon and don’t run to God when life is hard…you or actually we…run to people to find comfort and answers.

So now that the guilt trip is over…two questions remain:

 Why don’t I run to Him first?  And how do I change my habit of running to people first?

We have a disease…a disease exclusively relegated to human beings.  Doubt.  Doubt that He is really as big, loving, personal, and grace filled as His Book, His story, His Son, and Spirit say He is.  Nature doesn’t have it…because if it did there would be days that the sun wouldn’t rise because it would doubt its ability to provide life for all of creation, but it doesn’t is has a deep conviction and knowledge that God is going to throw her back up in the sky and keep her there…every…single…day.

My thought…if He cares enough to throw the sun up every day.  Hold it in perfect position so we can spin around it in synchronized perfection.  Making each planet rotate on an axis and ours just the perfect distance from the sun to sustain life…why would He ever fail to pick up His kids when…their hearts are broken, their bodies are hurting, their families are unraveling, and death creeps in???

Why don’t we run to Him?  We doubt He will actually show up and do something.  How do we change our habit of running to people?  Take a risk…run to Him first…cling to Him first…and then ironically He always has a way of bringing people around you in the moment you least expect Him to…to let you know…your doubt was silly and He is still God.

Trials:  heartbreak, divorce, cancer, death, finances, depression, stress, school, and family are real…so lets talk about them.

Don’t Run…Don’t Hide…it’s time to talk about them.

see ya tonight.

-Shane

I know in my life there is always an odd correlation between what God’s is doing in my life and the experiences I am walking through and what He is doing at PURE.  So if you ever feel like He is talking directly to you at PURE your not alone.

And in the interest of transparency I’m in that place too…where sadness can easily creep past a blessing of clarity to a catalyst for depression…

So what do we do when life hurts?  It always does from time to time…its not a matter of if but a matter of when…so when life rages what do we do?  Sometimes there not quick answer…if you’re in that place this is for you.

Life is fairy tales and a dose of reality
colliding with a fury
there after they realize one is need of the other
and the other is in need of the one
there is peace that becomes the things dreams are born from
- author unknown

-Shane

live//PC

We accept grace in theory but deny it in practice.

I cant wait to talk about this tonight…Him, the Creator of the universe bending Himself down to be close to us…now that’s grace.

I know for myself this is something that I still don’t quite understand…but when I do stop and reflect on my junk…and I realize that He said…It’s gone…I fight back tears…Because He’s God…Perfect…and He loves me.  I still don’t get that.

But it’s time to talk about it.

-Shane

I don’t mean that to sound as horrid as it probably does. But I hope it got your attention.

During a team prayer session not long ago a deep sense of clarity or conviction came over me. These weren’t foreign words to my ears and heart in any way. But this was the time that broke through the most to the very core of my being.

It is an honor to be a leader. But…am I ready to give an account for how I led His children?

During a time of taking a step back for rest, more and more clarity came. Was it all rainbows and unicorns? No. I was telling someone how I almost felt at that moment like a messenger of doom and gloom. But I honestly believe that there is hope in the warnings.

We can plan, strategize , network and invite Holy Spirit into all of it. That’s how it should be. But when was the last time we accepted Holy Spirits invitation to US to come into HIS chamber to dine with Him?

One of my favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail. In the movie, Meg Ryan’s character is besides herself trying to understand the meaning of the phrase, “it’s not personal. it’s just business”. She exclaims in utter frustration….”if anything it should BE personal!!!”

Leaders, would you take a moment to pause right now? Is what you are doing personal? Or just business (ministry)?

Here’s a clue…when was the last time you and your team accepted our Father’s invitation to come in and dine with Him? In the midst of all the events, messages, brainstorming…when did you just STOP! Stop and LISTEN. Stop, listen and make this thing we do in ministry… PERSONAL with Him.

Me taking time to do Stop, Drop and Listen is what will affect the health of my heart. And the condition of my heart is usually evident in the condition of my leading because although we make decisions with knowledge, we lead with our hearts.

So my frequent prayer as of late is inviting Holy Spirit to search my heart and see if there is anything amiss. As a friend prayed during that prayer session…only He knows our hearts. Yes, not even I can look at my own heart and truly know without question its health. So I invite Him to come and search every corridor. Open every door, every closet. Check the basement and attic of my heart. Search oh God and see what You find. I loved the picture she had of our Father cleaning house!

I want what I do to always be personal. Personal with people but first personal with my Heavenly Father.

I was asked what I thought of that team prayer session. My response:

“It was like sweet water to my soul”

Leaders, if we’re dying of thirst ourselves, how can we lead others to drink? Drink!! And lead His children to those rivers of living water.

~Brenda Renderos (Pure Spiritual Formation Architect)

Yet there is something undeniable about the power of the living King of Creation showing up in your presence and saying hi…and I have to admit…last night…He did

This is a prayer that I wasn’t able to read last night that I hope becomes true for each of us…

Lord Jesus, we are silly sheep who have dared to stand before you and try to bribe you with our preposterous portfolios. Suddenly we have come to our senses. We are sorry and ask you to forgive us. Give us the grace to admit we are sinner and failures, to embrace our brokenness, to celebrate your mercy when we are at our weakest, to rely on your mercy no matter what we may do. Dear Jesus, gift us the ability to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention, to do the truth quietly without display, to let the dishonesties in our lives fade away, to accept our limitations, to cling to the gospel of grace, and to delight in your love. Amen.  – Brennan Manning

-Shane

live//PC

Yes we had NASCAR and yes its Easter week and yes somehow in the midst of this we had 2 people form the PURE family loose loved one…and yes I somehow ended up with the on call emergency WOL cell phone…and started back to school…but those are just circumstances right?

Long days and emotional drain should be a catalyst for us to run to Jesus…why aren’t they?  I know for me that when I am rested and clarity is present…I do…I run to Him…cancel meetings if I have to, I will do whatever I need to in order to protect my intimacy with Him.

So my confession this week…I haven’t done that.  Yeah I have prayed…I am not sure I could make it through a day without asking Him to be part of it…But the simple truth is that in the midst of it all I let the chaos rule instead of stepping out of it and allowing Him to bring peace to it.  Sounds easier than it is…but I suppose recognizing our short comings is the first step toward growth.

Excited to talk about worship and live it out tonight at PURE…I don’t know about you…but my soul needs it!

curious about tonight…here is a little preview…

-Shane

live//PC