I don't know if you've noticed it or not, but something good is always going on. With all the negativity that we are bombarded with on the news it can be difficult to find much out there that seems to be worthwhile. Yet there are men and women of God constantly on the move for His name and their stories are compelling and moving.
Have you ever heard of Matt Chandler? I don't know him personally but his story has gripped my heart (you can read it on the MSNBC website here). Matt is 35 years old, he's the pastor of the rapidly growing Village Church in Texas, and right after Thanksgiving 2009 he was diagnosed with a rather nasty form of brain cancer. He's had brain surgery and is now involved in a regiment of chemotherapy and radiation. But what makes his story the most remarkable is the way he's handling all of this. He simply wants to suffer well so that God will receive all the glory. No bitterness, no "woe is me", just God being exalted even in the midst of his cancer.
Right now there is conference happening on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary called the 20/20 Collegiate Conference. This event is packed with powerhouse speakers, not trendy bands or feel-good-about-yourself-panty-wasted-type gurus. College students are literally being hit in the face with the gravity of the need for the gospel to be taken to the world and how we as Christ followers can transform a culture that is indifferent to the gospel. There is nothing soft going on here. Instead, men of God are pouring themselves with great passion into this current generation of young disciples of Christ. How do I know all of this if I'm not there? Twitter is a marvelous thing.
Speaking of technologies such as Twitter and Facebook, both of which I am big fans of, I believe that if used correctly networking sites such as these can help to revolutionize how the gospel is heard and understood and how the church can advance. Sure, they can and are being abused, but I also have experienced firsthand the power of reconnecting with someone that I haven't seen in years and almost instantly having the chance to plant the seeds of the gospel in them. Just tonight I've been more encouraged by receiving Twitter updates from godly men that I admire than I can possibly tell you.
What is the point of all of this? In a sense, this post is a confessional. You see, I have been guilty of missing out on many things that I believe God has had in store for me. There are so many opportunities for learning and fellowship and growth that are out there for us we really don't have any excuses for not grasping them. If I was in college (and if my wife wasn't working this weekend) I would be at the 20/20 conference in a heartbeat. When I think about Matt Chandler's story and testimony, I want my next trip to the grocery store to honor God above all else. I'll be 40 this year and I don't want to look back over my years of life and ministry and regret that I was a wimp and scaredy cat for God.
John Piper has so adequately written in his book Don't Waste Your Life, "The Bible is crystal-clear: God created us for his glory. Life is wasted when we do not live for the glory of God." That's what it's all about. Leaving nothing on the table. Suffering well for His glory. Taking advantage of every opportunity and relationship that will not just grow you in your faith but bring more glory to God. These are things that we can't afford to miss anymore.
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