#OC12 has begun!

Around 5,000 ministry leaders from all over the world have gathered in Atlanta this week for the Orange Conference. Although I could not join them in person, I enjoyed watching the opening session live online Wednesday night. I felt like I was worshipping and learning right along with my fellow brothers and sisters!

Here’s some insights I gained from watching the opening session:

Reggie Joiner spoke about the "messiness" of the gospel. God has called us to go into the world with His truth and love. That doesn’t mean it is always easy. Jesus experienced ridicule, opposition, pain, and sorrow. But He endured. He went to the cross, but He rose again to life. He sent His disciples out into a messy world to share the story and teach the good news. We are called to go and make disciples too. As we invest in people in our ministries, we can be sure that it will get messy sometimes. But it’s OK. Jesus knows messy, and He has promised to be with us. As leaders of the next generation, we are helping to prepare children and students for the messy world, helping them to trust a God who is bigger than our imaginations.

The opening session also touched on the growing diversity of our world and our neighborhoods. We have been called to love God and love our neighbors. The love that the Father has poured out on us inspires us to lavish that same love on our neighbors. The world needs a true incarnation of the love of God. Reggie Joiner pointed out that our love is the one thing that sets us apart from the world. Jesus Himself said,

“This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” – John 13:35 CEB

I fear that too often we allow our differences to hinder us from living in that true love, both outside and inside the church, including differences of worship style, doctrine, or ministry practices. Beyond our church and denomination, we as followers of Jesus can be united in the simple truths of the gospel and in God’s love.

The Orange Conference does a great job of bringing together leaders from all over the world, from different denominations, and from all the ministries of the church – children’s workers, youth leaders, family ministers, senior pastors. Each member of the Body of Christ has an important role to play. This includes all Christians, not just those in full-time ministry. When we work together, doing our unique part, we can live as the Church God intended us to be. Living united in His love allows the Church to be a shining light in the world, sharing this love with our neighbors.

May your heart be filled with the uncontainable love of our Heavenly Father in a way that inspires and enables you to truly and radically love your neighbors – all of them!

Looking forward to more Orange this week!

The Resurrection and The Life

Praise the Lord for a new day! It's March. Springtime is coming. Out of the deadness of winter, new life.

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" - John 11:25 CEB

Jesus spoke these words to Martha, following the death of her brother Lazarus. Jesus was reassuring her with the hope of life in the midst of the shadow of death. Although these words were spoken so many years ago, the question Jesus raised is still directed to us today: Do you believe this? Take some time to reflect on Jesus' question. Consider your response, as if your life depended on it. It does.

Book Review – The Donkey Who Carried a King

The Donkey Who Carried a King was written by R.C. Sproul and illustrated by Chuck Groenink. This picture book presents young readers with an interesting look at the events surrounding Jesus' death. 

The book begins with the story of Reilly, a young boy who feels dejected because he is continually the last one picked when playing games with the other boys. His grandpa tells him the story of Davey, a donkey who lived long ago. Davey was never given any jobs to do, until one day some men came looking for him. Davey ends up carrying Jesus into Jerusalem as people put their coats down, wave palm branches, and shout praises to the King. 

Davey feels special that he was given such an important job; however, after this experience, he feels too important to do menial tasks. However, after their elders help them realize that Jesus was willing to carry the cross, Davey and Reilly decide that they should do whatever task God gives them to do, whether big and glorious or small and seemingly insignificant. This is an important truth for all Christians to grasp. 

Children will connect with the feelings and experiences of eight-year-old Reilly, and they will also enjoy hearing the biblical story from an animal's viewpoint.

I liked the subtle historical details that were woven into the story such as the reference to famous donkeys in history, including Balaam’s donkey. I believe that the illustrations were culturally accurate, from the appearance and clothing of the people, to the wall around the city and writing inscribed above the doors of the houses. The illustrations throughout the story and on the cover and end pages used earth-tone colors, which seemed appropriate for the story. The font size of the words on some pages varied, larger at the top of the page and smaller at the bottom, which I did not feel was necessary, but it did not take away from the overall story.

At the end of the book, there is a section for parents featuring questions and answers for discussion, along with Bible passages and application points. This section helps to further explain the meaning of the events in the story. This would be a good book to read on Palm Sunday as Holy Week begins to help children learn what happened during these events. The book goes beyond the Triumphal Entry to talk about Jesus' journey to the cross, helping children to better understand the reason Jesus had to die.

Disclosure: I am to receive a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust Publishing as compensation for my review.

What is God calling you to do? Mark 8:34; John 13:14-15; Colossians 3:17, 23