There is something really intriguing about luggage. It comes in so many different sizes, colors and shapes. There is an infinite possibility of suitcases to match every personality. For the past five years I have used a duffel bag that has served me well. It has an array of colors: maroon, green, blue, tan, and peach. It also has many patterns and shapes, it’s very awkward. It looks like a mix of South America and Africa.

Throughout the years, my duffel has acquired some holes, tears and broken zippers. To this day it carries the wounds of the past . I have to admit, I haven’t taken very good care of it, yet it still gets me going from one location to another. It feels as if it has been with me all this time, when other people in reality have come and gone. My duffel has been like a loyal companion, experiencing the same travels I have. There is going to be a time, however, when I get a new duffel bag. I will not be able to allow the wounds of the past to affect my travels and life . Maybe yours is getting pretty old, and starting to effect how you live your life. we all carry our own type of duffel-bag, suitcase, or backpack.

What if we all got new duffels? Better yet, what if we unpacked our luggage, and instead of carrying around this heavy load, we just presented each new piece of luggage in light of the Lord. Look at Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble “.

This is realistic, we can live with this peace in our hearts, consider Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Because in all honesty we can’t keep storing our past and problems in a bag and have them hurt the people that get close enough to unzip our history.

If we experienced situations of hurt, such as abusive parents or mistrusting boyfriend or girlfriends, we can’t allow those things to rule our lives. My new duffel-bag is going to be awesome, because in the world according to Jiryis, our duffels are girded in truth, graced with transparency and are lighter than air. This duffel bag is a relationship with my creator, in which His image is engraved in me. I can offer up these situations in my relationship with Him, and know I can get my wounds sown up and my soul renewed.

Pslams 51 :12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

(Remember, I wrote this a while back)

I woke up yesterday at 10 am, an hour before my first class. I ate lunch at noon and finished up my classes by 3pm. I walked back to my dorm room and spent about an hour on the Internet, facebook, finding Photoshop brushes, youtube, and CNN. After that I played about an hour of Halo 2. Then I walked to dinner, checked my mail and sat in the warehouse for a bit. Afterwards I worked on some homework and watched a couple episodes of The Office. By this time I was very tired, so I went to bed.

Many times I feel like I’m wasting my life away, sitting through lectures that are structured by a flawed system of education, playing virtual games, and constantly looking towards the future thinking things will get better. A lot of times we think about our past, when we were younger, and want our lives to be like that again.

I remember how much fun I used to have with my friends at recess, chuck E cheese’s, and DZ- Discovery Zone. I remember watching cartoons before having to stand outside for the bus. It’s almost as if I am starting to think that the best parts of life are in the past, when I was younger. How much time do we spend in frustration due to responsibilities, deadlines, monetary issues and personal lives? We feel all these things and then long for the way things used to be.

If we are all hung up on the past, and desiring for that rather than what we have now, how does that reflect our understanding and appreciation of our present lives?

I hear too many people in class saying things like “I wish he could just give us our notes so I could get out of here.” Or things like “ I can’t wait to leave this place, it’s so fake and messed up.”.

We say things like this because we are longing for something else, a different lifestyle, an easier lifestyle, the lifestyle that we had when we were younger.

Maybe instead of desiring this, we should learn to embrace our past for what it was, and start living our present lives to the fullest, Now!

We need to learn that our current lifestyles can be just as appreciated and desired as the lifestyle we used to have. How does God see us when we desire our past more than what He is giving us now in the present?

We have around 12 hours in our day to spend doing whatever we want to do. How are you spending those twelve hours? When I looked at the way I spent my twelve hours, I was disappointed. We could be doing blessed things for God in these twelve hours, as well as have a God- centered attitude while doing them.

When was the last time we sat in silence? When was the last time we wrote in a journal or diary for longer than 20 minutes? When was the last time we actually prayed a list of prayers that has been piling up? When was the last time you took a week to research, meditate, and then write a class paper?

(remember I wrote this in College) What if we weren’t required to go to chapel on Tuesdays, or required to do mentored ministry, or attend SFG (spiritual formation groups)? Would our hearts be pulled to those things? Would we want to feed our spirituality with spiritual things in the 12 hours a day that we have? I don’t know we would in our world, but in the world according to Jiryis, we should live our lives to the fullest in complete appreciation for the present.

The last time we met, you peered into the world according Jiryis. We saw how fallen and short of Gods glory I really am, as well as how we yearn for a ‘Walgreens’ perfect world and should take the extra step to strive for it. Now that we are on a second date, I would like to get a bit more intimate with you.

The campfire at Starved Rock camping grounds was keeping my kneecaps warm and toasty. Turns out that torn up jeans are not the best of attire for camping. I was in a deep discussion about the spiritual world when I suddenly looked up to the lit up heavens and witnessed a shooting star. I have been on this planet for 20 years now; it took this long for me to finally see a shooting star. When I saw it, I was coated with a stillness of awe and tranquility. I had never seen such a spectacle. It was so captivating, it made me feel as if they sky was being ripped open, and only I was permitted to watch.

This feeling of serenity, this calming of the heart, this arm hair raising sensation, gives you a new appreciation for life and our relationship with God.

You can find this feeling throughout your life if you look closely, and when you find it, you wont ever forget. Those few seconds of silence immediately after listening to a heart piercing, or just awesome, song. The still pauses between (my then proff.) J.K. Jones’ sermon on the Holy Spirit stirring our lives. Or the equally “wow” feeling of walking outside from the chapel and seeing yourself through the truthful and convicting eyes of Rob Maupin (another proff).

I am in love with you Lincoln Christian College (remember, I wrote this in College). Sure we have our arguments, but when I walk across the warehouse parking lot and see the illuminated clouds stretching for hundreds of miles, I cant help but feel as if all of it is hugging me. As if I am being carried through my life by the love of the Holy Spirit. I feel complete and inspired.

Do you feel it? Have you allowed yourself to listen to those stirring silences of luring spiritual passion? I’m not claiming to know exactly what I am writing about with this whole spiritual feeling, I just know that in the world according to Jiryis, this feeling heartily exists.

“Welcome to perfect, USA. A town where everyone gives 110%, even when tipping. Here, elevator music isn’t the usual. Windows are self-cleaning, and even though life never gives them lemons, people still make lemonade. Of course we don’t live anywhere near perfect, so there’s Walgreens with everything needed for the real world. That’s Life. This is Walgreens.”

http://youtu.be/prJZistw-Dc

For all you wise and sinless, don’t listen to a word I have to say for I am (remember I wrote this a while back) only a sophomore in college. Recently I have been thinking heavily about certain matters in my life. First of all, thinking heavily is a big deal for me. I usually don’t think before I do something. My name is Jiryis and I’m the guy that accidentally puts metal lined plates in the microwave and then says that the microwave is stupid. Second of all, when I think really hard I usually end up with more questions than answers, leaving me with the mindset of ‘thinking too hard only causes you to think harder.’

When I say “Recently I have been thinking” I mean today at the café when I opened a door for an older woman, twenty thousand thoughts flooded my head. How many feet does it take for you to not have to open the door? Is it different for everyone?
About ten feet away from that thought, I figured it out. Ten feet. For me it’s ten feet. It sounds mean, and not very Christian like, to say that I will exclude you from my generosity if you are more than ten feet away from me. The reality is, that is how we think, and if you are denying it then please write a book on how we can be as sinless as you are.

I find it very discouraging, and I am very disappointed in myself, that this is the reality and nature of our fallen selves. Ten feet is my limit. It disappoints me that I only give ten feet of kindness, ten feet of generosity, ten feet of desire for the truth, ten feet of effort on studies, ten feet of loving the unloved, ten feet of maturity.

In my dreams, I picture that ‘Walgreens’ example of perfect. I Picture a society where we add 1 to everything. Instead of 10 we make 11. Instead of holding the door open at 10 feet away, make it 11 feet. How many more would feel loved and encouraged? How many more would seek God? How many more would be fed and nurtured? How many more would hug you when you enter through the gates of Heaven?

Do not fear, don’t worry about it. He knows it’s hard for us. It’s challenging and very tough to push our limits from the 10 zone to the 11 zone. Am I putting you down? Am I making you feel bad? Does this mean that from now on I’m going to open the door for every single person on campus no matter how far away they are? No. All I am giving you is the world according to Jiryis.

With the changes to VIVE’s structure, we’ve all been taken out of a certain comfort zone. Attending a worship service is easy. All you have to do is show up–which is more difficult for some.  Services are great for mass communication and corporate worship through singing, communion, and preaching. But worship services don’t facilitate application or physical engagement with what’s being taught. I like the diagram above, and I read it like this: Worship Services on the left side; smaller gatherings of people in the middle on route to the right side, which I would say consists of serving, accountability, and mentoring.

Our generation is known by two different names: “Y” which is boring. But also “The Millennials.” Which just sounds cool, so we’ll go with that one. The span of this generation  roughly consists of those who were born between 1980 and 2000. The Boomers are, for the most part, our parents. What I’ve heard on a regular basis is something along the lines of this: “My parent(s) are Christians, but they don’t really live it out. They just go to church regularly.” Countless times I’ve heard a Millennial tell me something like that. And they’re bothered by it. The disconnect between belief and action is appalling! How can you say you’re Christian and not be serving those in need? How can you hoard your money for a nice retirement or blow it on a third car when people are starving?

So I hear these points of frustration and think, “WOW, this generation is really going to take ‘church’ to a whole new level.” What I’ve yet to be convinced of is whether that’s true. It sounds good to say these things and to declare all we’re going to do to be the hands and feet of Christ, but I want to see it. That means being Christ out in the community, at schools, at restaurants, at your job, in the local churches.

Some of our people just volunteered time over the weekend to help with a community celebration. Was it rough and gritty? No. But was God honored by the willingness to serve and the time spent in conversation with people? Yes. We’ll have opportunities for the rough and gritty stuff. But sometimes people prefer such projects because they want to escape what, in my opinion, is more difficult; namely, having significant conversations…building into people for the long haul if necessary.

We’ll do our best as VIVE to facilitate social justice projects and opportunities of all kinds, but whatever we do may it be done in a spirit of unity: Ephesians 4:4-7  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Amen.

If you haven’t heard, VIVE is no longer a Sunday night worship service. There are a number of reasons we’ve made this decision, and lest there be any confusion allow me to explain.

Sunday nights created space for a couple of really good things. One, community happened as relationships were built. It’s been awesome seeing guys and gals who wouldn’t normally be hanging out with each other talking and laughing, enjoying meals together, and playing kickball. Another great product of VIVE Sunday nights was the avenue it provided to get people into Life Groups. Life Groups are smaller groups of people that get together for study, conversation, accountability, and more. This is the primary means for significant community and relationships to be built at Harvester Christian Church.

What Sunday nights, albeit unintentionally, did as well was create a barrier between the college/20s ministry of Harvester Christian and Harvester Christian. In other words, there was very little connectivity between our ministry and the rest of the church.

With Zach Bolen, our worship/creative leader extraordinaire, moving to work for Mars Hill‘s U-District in Seattle, the time was ripe to make the change we felt was coming sooner or later. SO, what’s all this mean?

Sunday mornings at 11am VIVE will truly meet as the college/2os ministry of Harvester. We’ll be in chapel 101 every Sunday morning except the 4th Sunday, when we’ll hopefully be out serving the community or other churches together. Over the course of each weekend, there are currently 4 worship service opportunities with a 5th coming Sept. 17/18. So if you’re a college/20, please connect to one of those services. Our family goes Saturday nights at 6, so come sit with us if you want.

Beyond Sundays, our hope is that VIVE people would become active agents of change in the ministries around the church, throughout the community, and wherever your life already happens (school, work, apartment complex, restaurants, coffee houses, etc.). We have some fun monotony buster-type activities planned like movie night, football and pumpkin day, and an awkward family Christmas party.

But what I hope you’ll really consider doing right away is joining a Life Groups. That’s where you’ll build the best relationships and receiving the challenge and accountability necessary to get out of life alive.

God’s grace and peace to you,

Patrick

p.s., If you have any questions, drop me a comment here or shoot an email to pmitchell@harvestercc.org

Soooo what’s everyone doing this summer? Zach and I are just making thug rap videos. Anyone going anywhere fun? Been somewhere exotic? Punched a mule in the face?

That’s the question I asked in the sermon this week. We’re studying through the book of Daniel and seeing the crazy faith he and his boys displayed. Obviously they had prepared well in advance to face the challenges set before them (by God!).

But in chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that Daniel interprets for him. Nebuchadnezzar sees himself as the greatest of all men and Babylon as the greatest of kingdoms, and the dream reflects Nebbie’s view (a pet name). But Nebuchadnezzar forgot one key truth along the way–and he didn’t forget it so much as never knew it. God is the one who builds kingdoms and tears down kingdoms. So God gave Nebbie all that he thought was his. God was the owner. Nebuchadnezzar was a manager, a steward of the relationships, resources, and power.

And the same is true for your life. God is the one who has given you all that you have, all your possessions, abilities, looks, personality, etc. And the question is this: whose kingdom are you building with all of those things? Are you building a monument in honor of yourself? Or are you building something that points to God as the giver of all good gifts and as Sovereign over all the world?

Whose kingdom are you building? If you ask yourself that question enough, eventually you’ll have to answer it. And when you do, be honest about what needs to change.

I pray God’s grace over you when you hear his Spirit speak. Be bold.

If you’ve seen Office Space, you’ve seen the epitome of what it looks like to be UN-motivated.

I’ve been involved in ministry with people aged 18-29 over the past three years and I’ve seen, for the most part, two types of young adults. First is the motivated person. He/she has a plan for life or at least knows their next step. Now this can sometimes become borderline obsessive and result in anxiety if there’s an attempt to plan TOO much. But there’s a passion, a motivation, a longing in this person.

Second is what I’d call the apathetic person. He/she has no passion (at least not one that’s spoken). There is a complacent approach to life that assumes “life will just come to me.” Now I’m all for being patient–though not always practiced. But I don’t think this is patience. I think it’s laziness. And it’s not necessarily because this person is inherently lazy but more likely because he/she has never DREAMED a dream for their life. There’s no vision of a preferred future only a complacent present.

Am I calling you out? Yes. if you’d put yourself in the second category, I am calling you out. I’m calling you out of mundane, unmotivated living. I’m calling you towards what Jesus calls anyone who would listen. Read these red letters of John 10.10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The thief is Satan, the devil, the deceiver. He steals life. He steals joy. He kills physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But Jesus offers life–and not just life, life abundant. Life to the full. Life overflowing. If you aren’t motivated, if you haven’t dreamed a dream for your life, if you have no vision towards which you can journey, is it possible you’re being killed ever so

Unless you were living under a rock you were witness to yet another failed prediction of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (which some people lovingly call ‘The End of the World’). Harold Camping, an 80-year-old radio broadcaster, made his second failed rapture prediction, the first coming in September 1994. In all of his study and calculations, Camping seems to have missed a rather crucial biblical text concerning Christ’s return–and it’s hard to believe he missed it since it was on this billboard.

Jesus was pretty clear that nobody knows or can predict when He will return–not even Jesus. But here is what we can know:

1 Thessalonians 4.16-18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Jesus’ return is going to be very loud. The imagined scenes of loved ones just disappearing in the “rapture” and the world not knowing what happened to them is just false. It makes for a great movie or  book series though. The return of Jesus will be filled with loud sounds. The return of Jesus will also be sudden, unpredictable. The gospels say he’ll come like a thief in the night. Thieves don’t ring doorbells or call ahead. The return of Jesus will be satisfying for those who believe. We will ALWAYS be with the Lord. No more feelings of separation or isolation. We will exist together, with the Lord, in perfect community.

That’s why we can encourage one another with these words. The return of Jesus will be loud and sudden, but his return will ultimately be satisfying.