Be Thankful - Create Hope

Thanksgiving is coming up in just over a week. The time of year we take the time to slow down and examine what we are thankful for in our lives. As we approach this Thanksgiving, I have really been trying to live a lifestyle that is not about me. Things are changing in my life. Good things are happening. It has been a long journey for me the past few years. I have gone through my trials and hardships... most of my own doing. Things are looking up though now. 

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, we all should really take the time to slow down and analyze life. Are you where you want to be? Have you accomplished what you thought you would this year? Maybe you have, but maybe you haven't. It is a great time of year to be thankful for what has happened, or hasn't happened. 

As Thanksgiving comes and goes, look outside of yourself and be a blessing to someone. It might be the only thing they can be thankful for this year. People are hurt, in need, and desperate for a glimpse of hope. We can be that hope to them! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Rejoice!

The Absolute About Absolutes

For the most part, the current and the upcoming generations believe that the are no absolutes. Ok, so maybe they do believe that 2+2 always equals 4, but when it comes to the everyday things that we encounter...anyone can be right. I believe that I will ruffle some feathers with this post. I ask that you join me on this topic, and give any feedback that you want. 

What is truth? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, truth is defined as: the real facts about something. In today's society, there is this growing belief that no one is incorrect. They just have a different opinion. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines opinion as follows: a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something : not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

While I think that having opinions is a good thing, I do not think that we need to be encouraging the idea that everyone is right. We are so worried that we are going to offend someone if we tell them no, or disagree. What is wrong with that?

People wonder why our society is not progressing. Well I believe that this issue is the root cause!

It is time to wake up people. You might not be right about everything. I know that I am not right about everything. It is ok to disagree with each other, but that disagreement should lead to resolution, not confusion.

It is time to step up, be confident in yourself, and address the world. You will receive opposition, but in the end it is going to be worth it. There are absolutes, and they are absolutely true about you. If you don't think there are absolutes, are you absolutely sure about that?

In the end: respect each other, be open-minded about things, seek the absolutes, and journey forward in a way that creates organization and not chaos.

The Adventure Within

Adventure. It is something that we all crave. 

I was reminded of my desire for adventure this past weekend. I went to Lake Michigan to celebrate my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. We pretty much spent the whole entire time outside. Kayaking, jet skiing, swimming were just some of the things that I enjoyed while I was up there. 

On my last day, me and my brother went kayaking. We kept going and going. When we had gotten a ways off shore, we both looked at each other and said, "I could get used to this". At that moment, I started to analyze my life. I was reminded of how much I enjoy adventure when we were out there. 

As I have said before, I am going to change the world. And with this recent reminder of how much I enjoy adventure, I am looking forward to the adventure laying before me. 

As I move forward, I am looking to find people to join me in my adventure. Maybe it will be you? Who is going to join me? I want people to join in the cause and reach those who need God's love. If you want to join me in my conquest feel free to let me know. 

There is an adventure ahead!

Photo Credit: Sam Phen
http://adventuresofjames.co/

The War is Real

Podcast of Blog

Imagine a world that is coming to an end. One that is in war, without power, and void. Maybe it is not hard for you to imagine that. For me, it was not something I really thought about until last night. It is something that is gripping me at the core.

I watched The Book of Eli last night, and it made me think. If you have not seen the movie, or need a refresher, Denzel Washington (Eli) is on a quest to deliver the last bible in the world to some safe place out West. Along the way, people try to slow him down and stop him from completing his quest. The setting for the story is in a new world. A world that was destroyed by a flash and run by country styled gangs. I recommend this movie to anyone who has not seen it, and recommend to anyone that has not seen it in a while to watch it again.

The movie got me thinking. How well do I know the bible? Do I know it so well that I have portions memorized, or even the whole thing memorized? And the answer I came to is that I need to know the bible more. I want to equip myself for battle. The battle that has been spiritual for a lifetime, and a battle that is becoming more and more physical everyday. 

It is time for a wake up call!

I struggle with my flesh on this, but life is not about us. As much as we think we should be happy, rich, able to do what we want...we are called to live above that as Christ-followers. I am not saying that it is wrong for us to be happy, or any of those things, but is that what our focus is concentrated on daily? As Christ-followers, we are called to reach the lost. We are called to love, encourage, and support. It is something I am learning and trying to do more in my life, and it is not always easy.

There are so many people in this world that are lost and hopeless, and we, as Christ-followers, have the answer. We know that there is an endless hope. That we have something that keeps us going when we feel like we cannot go on. Why are we not actively reaching out to those who need that in their lives? Honestly, I do not believe that a lot of people realize what they are missing in their life. They are actively seeking to find the answer in something, or someone. 

What does your conversation look like with others? What do you spend the most time talking about? The things that you invest your time, talent, and treasures in are the things that you will talk about or share with others. So that brings me back to the movie. How well do you know the bible? Are you taking the time to invest in what is so foundational to our faith? Those words are God-breathed. It is His guide for us. 

I know that I am going to change the world. And the only way that I can do that is investing my time, talent, and treasures in what we are called to do...reach the lost. Join me on my journey to change the world. To bring hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, and grace to the lost. Not by our power, but by the power that we are given through Christ. 

My Broken Heart for a Broken World

My heart is broken.

Today, I had time to retract from the world and just listen. Time to hear from God and just be still. During that time today, my heart was broken. It dawned on me how many people really do not know the Lord. It is not that I do not think about that, or realize what a lost world we live in today, but today it just seemed to grip me more then it has before.

I come into contact with, literally, thousands of people everyday and am in a position where I get to invest in people. Giving them a smile, their caffeine fix, or calling them by name... I impact people. It makes me think, look back, and see how I could have impacted people in my past interactions. Not to get stuck in the past, but to look, reflect, and move forward. 

Do you make the effort to really connect with the people you come into contact everyday? I think that we could really effect world if we would take more time and effort to really connect with people. I am definitely not perfect at always making that extra effort and time to really connect with people, but it is something that I strive to do everyday and I see it really impact people. 

People are very guarded today, and a lot of it has to do with the amount of hurt people experience in life. I want to change that! I want to connect with people at a deeper level and impact them in a positive way. I have always thought that I am going to be a world changer, and maybe the way that I will do that is by really connecting, loving, and impacting people at a personal level. 

I want to live a life that is going to bring people to the Lord! I desire you to join me and change this world. 

Take some time, slow down, and just embrace the quiet. Realize who you impact, reach, and interact with on a daily basis. Remember, you are a priest. You impact the world everyday... How will you move forward? 

Change the World

You know that feeling that you get when you know something is going to happen? Well recently, I have realized that I have been having one of those feelings. I have been having the feeling that I am going to change the world.

It is crazy to look back and see how my life has unfolded so far. I have grown so much through the experiences I have had and the council I have been given from so many important people in my life. I know that everything I have gone through has built who I am today, and I am excited to move forward and see what is in store.

There is a lot of excitement in my heart when I think about the idea of changing the world. While I do not know how that is going to specifically play out in my life, I know that I am going to make a difference. I have a heart for people, and I want to do what I can to make people's lives a little better than they already are through God's grace.

I currently work at Starbucks in Carmel, Indiana, and have realized the impact that I am already making in people's lives. I have customers approaching and opening up with me, which has been a real privilege, about their lives. It makes me a little nervous that I can impact people so much, even in a quick exchange at a coffee shop. It makes me think about what I do, and how I approach my job. While it is easy to go to work and get by with the least amount of work possible, I challenge myself daily to rise above the urge to be lazy and pour my everything into what I do. Some days are easier for me than others.

I am currently studying Religion at Liberty University, and am excited to see how that is going to play into my life. Whether I become a pastor, worship leader, make a career at Starbucks, or whatever God has in store for me, I know that I will be thoroughly equipped to make the difference I am supposed to make in the world.

While knowing what has been put on my heart is great, it also comes with great responsibility. I have to move forward in a way that is pleasing to God, and hold myself to a standard that is above the world. And that has been something I have been learning to do. I also am learning to be content and satisfied in the current place God has me placed. As humans, we have this urge to go further, be better, etc. And that is something I have to fight internally, because I am were God wants me right now. I do not think that it is bad to want to do more, but I cannot get caught up in the more that I miss the now.

So yes, I am going to change the world!

If you want to pray for me, I ask that you ask God to pave the way for me. That He will go before me in grace and soften people's hearts so that He can use me to reach those that are lost, as well as those who need encouragement. I also ask that you pray that I will be strong in Him, so that when I feel like I cannot, I can because He can.

Blessings,

Nick

At the Mention of HIS Name

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to celebrate the greatest event that has taken place, ever. We celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is something that should cause us to take a look at our lives, and discover where our roots are really grounded.

I came across the song "Revelation Song" by Kari Jobe tonight, and wanted to take you through the lyrics of the song.

"Worthy is the Lamb
Who was slain"

Those lines alone really put me into a place of humbleness. Thinking about the fact that Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb, died for me is crazy. Why would He, in all of His glory choose to die for me? Why would He choose to save me from my sin, and the eternity I was destined for in hell? The simple answer is that He loves me. That kind of love, agape, is unheard of and has not ever been shown so clearly.

"Sing a new song, to Him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat"

We have such a compassionate God that He would choose to sit on a seat of mercy. Yes, God is just, but He chooses to be merciful to those who choose Him. When we deserve eternal suffering, but have been set free by His mercy, why wouldn't we be offering God a song?!

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise be to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore you"

God is worthy of our praise! Even before sending His son as our sacrifice, God deserved our praise. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Almighty, I AM, Creator. How much more does He deserve our praise after sending His ONLY Son to die for us? Thinking about who God is, and what He has done for me, I cannot help but want to make Him my everything, and adoring Him!

"Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory, and power be
To you the only wise King"

I love this verse because it takes some of the biggest things in nature and relates them to God. He is bigger than these things, but it paints the picture of how GREAT God really is.

"Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery"

Is there something in your life that makes you lose your breath, or just step back and take in the beauty? Imagine the thing that is the greatest of them all. It doesn't even compare to Christ. As a matter of fact, Christ name is filled with wonder. The greatest things that we see don't even compare to His NAME alone, let alone His character! His name, alone, is power, breath, and living water...now that is a marvelous mystery.

Easter is a time to remember Christ's sacrifice for us. A time to celebrate our FREEDOM in Christ alone. Like I said before, it should be something that really makes you look at your life and see where your roots are really grounded. It should cause you to analyze your life.

My challenge to you, and myself, is to be in a humbled enough place to really be awestruck by the mention of Christ's name.

Could you imagine if we all did this?! Our lives would be changed forever. Our lives would be found satisfied, humbled in the mercy of the Lord, and have great meaning.

The Starbucks Lifestyle

I am sure that many of you have been to a Starbucks coffee shop at least once in your life. If you have not, I would highly recommend going into a store and experiencing what it is like. It might just change your life.

I have worked for Starbucks Coffee Company, on and off, for almost 4 years. It is by far my favorite job that I have ever had. I started with Starbucks back in August 2009 in good old Fort Wayne, IN. At that point in my life, it was the first job that I had ever had. I worked there until about April 2010 when I was let go for being tardy to work. Needing a job, I found my summer filled working for a landscaping company.

While working at my job in landscaping, I realized how much I missed working at Starbucks. I found out that they could not rehire me until 6 months had passed from my release with the company. So I stuck it out, and worked my landscaping job until I was eligible for rehire. At the 6th month mark, I applied to Starbucks again and was quickly rehired.

At about the one year mark since I was rehired, I was approached by someone asking me to come with him and help start a company. Being an entrepreneur at heart and needing the extra money, I was lured away from my job at Starbucks. I remember one of my coworkers at Starbucks telling me before I left, "You are going to come back. They always do". 

Some time past and I found myself missing Starbucks again. I asked myself, "What is it about that place that always has me wanting to come back?". Sure enough, I am currently back at Starbucks in Carmel, IN, and I plan to stay with the company for a long time. 

Now that you know a little more about me and my story with Starbucks, I want to share with you something that I think can change the world. 

Starbucks is recognized around the world for its outstanding customer service. During training, baristas are taught to not only make drinks, but how to become better at interacting with the customers and creating the "Starbucks experience". Simply, Starbucks teaches us to become servants. That is Starbucks "It Factor". 

Could you imagine what the world might be like if we all became servants? It is not always an easy thing to do, but isn't the end worth it? I know that I would love a world that was more like what I get to see and do at Starbucks. 

I challenge you to try to become more servant-like. There are simple things we can do to make a difference. While you are out, maybe just try to be more aware of what is going on around you. A simple gesture of holding the door open for someone can change their attitude for the day. 

Seeing the difference I get to make in peoples lives, in and outside of my job, makes what I do so worth it. 

Am I Light: A Story of my Life

There is something amazing about the power of testimony. We have all heard countless stories of people who have been open and shared the experiences they have had in life. When someone opens up like that, it has this way of capturing our attention. We are drawn to these moments because we can identify with the story, or part of the story.

In general, we as humans are secretive. We do not like having our lives exposed unless we gain from it. We like our skeletons hidden in the closet, where they are "safe and sound" and "never to be found".

Today, I want to open the doors of my life and expose myself to the world.

Since I was young, there have been people in my life that have invested in my life. My parents raised me well. They spent the time to instill me to be polite, thankful, have manners, etc. They did everything that they could do to set me up for success as I grew older.

As time passed, I became more and more independent and I began to make decisions for myself. In high school, I started to try and find who I was as a person. I tried different things like basketball, choir, and baseball. I began making more and more friends as I got more and more involved. As time went on, I found that I did not feel like I really belonged to any certain group, but was that guy who was kind of just floating between the groups.

Well my sophomore year in high school, I got in major trouble for the first time. I do not know if it was my way of trying to get attention, but I was caught stealing money from different places in the school. Growing up, I was the goody-goody who never got in trouble. So when I was caught, I was extremely embarrassed and ashamed. After I was caught, I went to all of the people I had stolen from and apologized, as well as paid them back. I only got a minor suspension. I was shown great mercy.

Well time passed, and I stayed out of trouble for some time. Nothing really changed in my life as I got older though. My senior year of high school I found myself in trouble again. I was caught stealing money...again. Only this time, it was a more significant amount of money. I spent the next few days at school awaiting my consequence. The administration again decided to show me grace. I was expelled from school, and was able to take my grades and make them final so I could still graduate. I do not know why they showed me so much grace. They could have called the cops on me, and I could have gone to jail. That was what I deserved, but they showed me grace.

At that point in my life, I began to start to really struggle with thing in life. I did not jump off the deep end and get more in more in trouble, but I did start to lose my foundation. My life began to spiral little by little, and I felt like I was being sucked into this vortex that I could not escape. My foundation was Christ, and the more that I felt like I did not fit in anywhere, the more I lost my foundation.

As I grew older, I discovered the party scene. It was something that I was always so scared to get near, but as I found less and less meaning to my life...I found more and more of the partying scene.

I felt so empty inside.

Growing up in the church, I knew how to blend and act when I was around my church people. I continued to party and try to fill myself, but nothing seemed to do the trick. I knew deep inside that the only thing that would fill me was God, but I did not want to give up the partying scene.

At one point it just HIT me. I knew I could not continue like I was. I called myself a Christ-follower, but there was nothing in my life that was separating me from what the world looked like. We as Christ-followers are called to be light, and I was not being light.

So, at that point, I decided to be different. I have eliminated the partying scene from my life. It has changed my life so much! I feel filled, and I know that I am filled with Christ. Day to day, I now choose to be light.
I do not have a step-by-step process of how you are to make that change in your life, but I do know the ONE who can CHANGE you!

I challenge you to look at your life and see what you are portraying. Are you being light? Do you want to be light? It might surprise you.


“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” --- Kevin Max